The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 300 Gong Cheng's Mothers-in-Law

#Tarot's new album will release singles gradually in early September#
"After a long hiatus since 'God's Plan,' Tarot has officially announced today that he will be releasing singles from his new album in early September. From the first pre-release track 'Exile' to the full album, each song will bear his unique creative mark and bloom in the early autumn breeze."

"As the only Asian face to win an award at this year's Grammys, this is Tarot's first album since winning three Grammys this year. With an expected 10 tracks and a suspenseful 'batch release' strategy, coupled with its deep connection to the Cashflow world tour, the tracks on his new album are very likely to become the killer app at the tour..."

#The Fog Returns#
"While global music charts were still processing the competitive landscape of the first half of the year, Tarot's comeback was like a sudden burst of light, instantly making the promotional plans for all upcoming albums seem rushed. Several local management companies announced the postponement of their groups' comebacks..."

"The combined effect of the Tarot effect and the Grammy effect has dominated trending topics in multiple countries. Tarot has once again topped the search trends on major social media platforms. Its Cashflow tour, both its first and second shows, sold out in one second on the day tickets went on sale, with scalpers selling tickets at exorbitant prices..."

#Tarot's One Shot Kills Three Wise Men#
"On the evening of August 22nd, Dispatch reported that Tarot was seen discreetly entering and leaving the mansion of 'Nation's First Love' Suzy with IU and Park Jiyeon, seemingly a case of one man and three women. As soon as the news broke, IU, Park Jiyeon, and Suzy topped the trending searches on various entertainment sections, facing a barrage of criticism..."

"Her innocent image is once again under scrutiny; the nation's first love is confirmed as a womanizer; Park Ji-yeon is suspected of having a new relationship with Tarot, a situation known as 'Tarot ruining three innocent girls with one shot'."

"In summary, since 16 and 17, in Tarot's third year since debut, [Seoul Cannon King] seems to have changed its taste, hovering between second-generation and older female artists..."

#“Cannon LINE”, Second Artillery Corps in Seoul suspected of dating Japanese girlfriend, Third Artillery Corps spotted in Jeju Island, suspected of secret rendezvous#
"..."

……

"What kind of trending topics is this kid getting into..."

In a hotel room in Gangnam District, there were about twenty people at first glance. Lim Nayeon was lying on the sofa next to her mother, browsing the trending topics on her phone. When she saw #TarotOneShotHarmsThreeHyuns# on the screen, she blushed with embarrassment.

She quickly left the trending topics list, blushing and looking at her mother awkwardly beside her. "Oh Mom, these media outlets are really making things up every day!"

Lim Nayeon grinned, revealing her rabbit teeth, and couldn't help but speak up for her boyfriend. Her mother naturally knew about her relationship with Gong Cheng, but seeing these messy trending topics inevitably led to some negative opinions about her boyfriend, and she didn't want that to happen…

"I know, I know. By the way, will Xiaocheng's parents be here today?" Lim Nayeon's mother smiled and patted her precious daughter's head. In the private room, the other TWICE members and their parents were sitting.

Some came with their whole family, while others only had one parent, either a father or a mother.

Just like the TWICE members, their parents also have their own group chat. They occasionally share news about TWICE in the group chat, or arrange to visit their children amidst their busy schedules, have a meal together, or something similar...

Lim Nayeon opened her mouth, about to speak, when Yoo Jeongyeon came running over like a madwoman, an uncontrollable smile on her face. She shoved the contents of her phone in front of her friend and shouted, "Nayeon, look! This is hilarious!"

"#Tarot's One Shot Killed Three Wise Men#~hhhh!"

"Haha, cough~" Yoo Jeongyeon laughed so hard she could barely breathe. Seeing that Lim Nayeon didn't react and her face was still quite pale, she scratched her short hair. "Isn't it funny? These days, gossip editors are really talented, coming up with headlines like this..."

Laughing heartily, she glanced out of the corner of her eye and noticed that the members of the private room, the uncles and aunts, all seemed to be staring at her.

"Jeongyeon!"

"Be honest, aren't you and Xiao Cheng good friends? You know it's just a rumor, why are you spreading it here?" Yu Dingyan's father shouted irritably. He knew Tarot; it was hard not to know a kid like that...

In the past, when Jeongyeon went home to rest, she would often bring back some seasonal fruit from her family's orchard to Seoul to share with the members and Gong Cheng. He knew that the young man really liked to eat the peaches grown in his family's orchard.

“He’s not here…” Yu Dingyan shrugged and shrank his neck, looking quite unconvinced.

Good heavens, when this bastard called himself a tomboy, nobody spoke up for me!

Lim Nayeon glared fiercely at Yoo Jeongyeon, then took her mother's arm and changed the subject, "His parents will be here too." She glanced at her watch, "He'll probably be a little later; he was filming in Jeonju this morning..."

"They should be on their way back to Seoul..."

"Oh? Then we can get to know each other better..." Lim Nayeon's mother nodded with a light laugh. She had met Gong Cheng's parents twice, once at the 16 Gayo Daejeon and the second time last year when TWICE's parents came to visit the children.

The parents on Line all knew that the child had a good relationship with their own children and had helped each other along the way, so they invited Gong Cheng to have a meal together and also asked him to invite his parents so that everyone could get to know each other.

However, when they met, their beloved daughter was not yet with Gong Cheng, or perhaps the two children were already together at that time, but the parents did not know it.

"Don't look, Mom..."

"What's so interesting about it? It's all just gossip..."

At one corner of the dining table, Chou Tzu-yu clung to her mother, using her little hand to shield herself from the gossip on her phone screen.

Chou Tzu-yu's mother smiled knowingly, but her tone was full of teasing, "One shot harms three sages? Haha, quoting a classic, huh?" Seeing her daughter's coquettish tone, she put down her phone and said with a smile, "You'll have to thank Cheng's parents properly later..."

"Didn't you say that you often visited them when you were in Seoul, and they took good care of you?"

"Mmm~ He takes good care of me and is very kind to me..." Chou Tzu-yu nodded happily. Originally, her brother wasn't planning to come to the dinner party tonight, but he couldn't resist her and the other members' constant nagging, and she also secretly called her aunt and uncle, hoping they could come over.

So that his mother could properly thank his uncle and aunt for taking care of him, his uncle and aunt couldn't resist his pleading and decided to come over for dinner tonight.

"Ziyu, do you often visit Xiaocheng's house?"

Hearing this, Mina's mother, sitting to the side, looked at her daughter with surprise and asked a question. Her daughter, like a turtle hiding its head, remained silent, head down, hugging her game console.

"Yes, Auntie, I usually go there when I don't have any plans during holidays. My brother and I are quite close..."

Tzuyu nodded, smiled with her lips pursed, and made no attempt to hide anything. Her words were open and aboveboard. On the other end, Sana Minatozaki raised an eyebrow, but Sana was busy being affectionate with her mother.

"Is that so?"

Mina's mother nodded thoughtfully, then patted her daughter's back, as if reminding her of something.

She smoothed her short hair and looked at her daughter with a suspicious expression.

What's going on? Don't you really like Xiaocheng? How could you let someone take advantage of you like this? No matter how good your relationship is, can you just go to any boy's house like that?

"..." Mina put down her game console, glanced at her mother's suspicious look, and said softly, "It's okay, Tzuyu and he have always had a good relationship..."

He spoke very softly...

But she didn't dare to look into her mother's eyes. The image of Haki Makoto's hateful and despicable face surfaced in her mind. Makoto-chan, if you're not with me, I'll lose all face!

Chou Tzu-yu's mother took in all of Mina's mother's actions, smiled, and turned to chat with her own child.

"..."

Kim Da-hyun sat on the sofa, her single-eyelid eyes quickly glancing at Chaeyoung chatting with Momo unnie, then at Sana's sister-in-law, Nayeon's sister-in-law, Sana's sister-in-law, and their parents not far away.

This place is practically a den of dragons and tigers! How dare the great general come here?

Is this a group meeting of all the fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law? A unified meeting of the parents?
"What are you thinking about, Dahyun..." Tofu's mother suddenly spoke up, smiling as she looked at her daughter who was lost in thought, and asked with great curiosity.

"fine……"

Kim Da-hyun shuddered instantly.

She dared not imagine how awkward it would be for the uncles and aunts present and the uncles and aunts who had not yet arrived if the "time bomb" were to explode.
The parents of the sisters-in-law, could they chop the warlord into pieces and throw him into the Han River?
In that case, she won't even have a chance to collect the Great Marshal's body!

"Oh, right, you should thank Xiaocheng properly later..."

Why thank him?

"You heartless wretch! How could you get a role in Bong Joon-ho's new movie without his connections? That's Bong Joon-ho!" Kim Da-hyun's mother lowered her voice and glared at her daughter. Wasn't she usually so sensible?
"Aigoo..." Lieutenant Kim's single eyelids widened instantly. Am I heartless?
I thanked him?

I've cleaned up so many messes for the big boss!
But the reason involved military secrets, which Kim Da-hyun absolutely dared not tell her mother. So, she could only lower her head dejectedly and change her tune, "I understand, Mom, I'll thank Oppa properly..."

How come even my own mother isn't on my side anymore?
……

"Buzz!!!"

Gong Cheng, who had returned to Seoul from Jeonju, first went back to his dormitory to take a shower and change his clothes. Then, he grabbed the keys to his G63 car, which he had been driving recently, and sped off towards Yeongdeungpo.

"..."

After picking up his adoptive parents, Gong Cheng listened to their concern and inquiries about his emotional life as he drove, wiping the windshield wipers, until they arrived at a hotel in Jiangnan.

After parking their car in the underground garage, the three of them took the elevator to the private room number sent by Minami.

Arriving at the 3rd floor of the hotel...

Gong Cheng walked behind his adoptive parents, his steps faltering, his heart pounding.

This feels like meeting my mother-in-law...

Big star, puppy, beloved student, little tiger...

Gong Cheng originally didn't want to come. He understood and deeply practiced the principle of "a wise man avoids dangerous situations" since childhood, but he couldn't resist the nagging of his mother and the other members. He also didn't expect that Ziyu would persuade her adoptive parents to come along as well...

"What are you thinking about? Hurry up..."

The foster mother, walking ahead, glanced sideways, searching for the private room number, then looked back at her son's awkward figure and called out in puzzlement.

"It's just having a meal together, why are you acting so introverted..."

"What should I do when I meet my boyfriend's parents after we start dating?"

The adoptive mother kept nagging. She was very concerned about her son's marriage. Gong Cheng's biological parents had left early and he was their only child. She and her husband had no children of their own. Xiao Cheng was no different from their biological son.

So, the dawdling son behind them carries the hopes of both families...

"Alright, alright, don't worry about Xiaocheng, who knows what the future holds..."

The adoptive father took a step forward and said with a light laugh.

Upon arriving at the private room, they heard a series of chattering sounds coming from behind the door. Gong Cheng's adoptive parents were both educators and were not at all shy in this kind of setting. Moreover, the couple had also interacted with the TWICE family before.

They weren't exactly close, but they weren't strangers either. Besides, their son had very few friends growing up. Although TWICE were all girls, they were all their son's friends. When their son was little, they rarely had the experience of hosting their child's friends like other parents did...

Now that's made up for it, she's especially eager for this kind of thing. After all, how can anyone be without friends? So when Chou Tzu-yu often comes to visit, her adoptive mother's hospitality and enthusiasm...

"Annyeonghaseyo~"

x2
Pushing open the door to the private room, Gong Cheng's adoptive parents greeted the children and their parents who turned around with smiles on their faces. Since his surgery, the adoptive father had almost fully recovered and looked increasingly healthy. In addition, his years of experience in education had given him a scholarly air about him.

The adoptive mother wore an elegant long dress, her medium-length hair, which she had recently cut short, draped over her shoulders, and her smiling eyes exuded an air of intellect.

"An Ning Haseyo..."

x……

The members of TWICE quickly stood up and greeted the uncles and aunts, and the parents also greeted them with smiles.

"Auntie, where's my brother?"

Chou Tzu-yu asked timidly, her dark face turning slightly red when she called out "brother".

Although the members were already used to this title, there were still so many uncles and aunts present...

"Ziyu..."

Gong Cheng entered the private room. Despite the rainy weather, he was wearing a thin black hooded sweatshirt and jeans. He then politely greeted the dozen or so elders in front of him.

"Anninghaseyo, uncles and aunts..."

Born into a family of educators, Gong Cheng's upbringing was quite strict, especially when facing his friends and female elders, he had to show them even more respect.

"Mian nai ya, there was some traffic because of the rain, I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting..."

He smiled apologetically. It was rush hour in Seoul at this time, and with the torrential rain, traffic jams were a real problem. He was already working, rushing back to Seoul from Jeonju, and then picking up his parents in Yeongdeungpo, which was already taking up a lot of time...

TWICE members, on the other hand, had a day off because their parents were visiting. They spent the day with their parents, shopping and such in Seoul.

"I'm so sorry, I really feel bad..."

The adoptive mother and father smiled and turned to chat with the parents of TWICE. After all, they had dealt with many students' parents when they worked at the university, and the couple had excellent social skills. They were also very satisfied with their son's performance.

Even as things progressed, he didn't forget what he had been taught since childhood.

"Auntie, how have you been lately?"

"..."

"Uncle, when will the fruit trees in the orchard bear fruit again? The fruit grown on our own tastes amazing!"

Yoo Jeongyeon and Lim Nayeon sat on the sofa, watching as Gong Cheng, like a sycophant, moved from parent to parent, greeting them. He was currently chatting animatedly with his father, "It's peach season now, the peaches are ripe..."

"When I went to Jeongyeon's dorm this afternoon, I brought you a lot. I asked Jeongyeon to put them in your dorm's fridge. Remember to eat them when you get back; they don't keep well, they're all freshly picked. But if you have time, you can come to your uncle's orchard with Jeongyeon and the others..."

“I’ll definitely go when I have time, Uncle!” Gong Cheng said sincerely, then turned to Hirai Momo’s parents and smiled, “Uncle and Aunt, it’s been a long time. I was working in Kyoto last time and was planning to visit you, but I was a bit busy with work…”

"Auntie, I've been eating the Tainan local specialties you mailed to me last time... Um, they taste really good... Oh right, I originally wanted to visit you when I was in Taipei for the concert, but weren't you in England then?"

"Auntie Nai, thank you and Uncle for your hospitality in Yokohama last time. Didn't Brother and Aunt come this time?"

Mina's mother smiled gently, "What hospitality? It's clearly our family who have troubled you. You're so busy, yet you still specially invited us to dinner..." As she spoke, she looked at the other parents around her with a smile.

This kid is really good with words...

"Auntie, it's been so long..." Gong Cheng greeted Sana-chan's mother.

"..."

Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, and the others sat dumbfounded on the sofa, staring at Gong Cheng surrounded by a group of parents. Dahyun clicked her tongue and couldn't help but give a thumbs up, "Aigoo, I can't even tell who their child is for a moment..."

“Dad really likes him,” Yu Dingyan said with a shrug and a complicated expression.

“Oh, Mom has a very good impression of him too…” Minatozaki Sana blinked her bright eyes happily.

Lin Na-yeon watched with delight as her mother chatted with Gong Cheng's adoptive parents. It seemed the adults were getting along very well!

"Hehehe..." Kim Da-hyun looked at her mother and Da-da-shuai's hearty laughter with a gloomy expression...

"Brother Gong Cheng, all the girls in our class like you..."

Sun Caiying's younger brother stood next to his mother, smiling shyly as he greeted Gong Cheng.

"Tell them for me when you have time to thank them for their support..." Gong Cheng shrugged and rubbed the head of Sun Caiying's younger brother. He was only a teenager, but he had grown taller since the last time they met, almost reaching 1.8 meters.

But, little brother, you should call him brother-in-law...

"That won't do. If we tell them, won't they like you even more?"

Son Chae-young's younger brother said helplessly.

"hh..."

"..."

After getting to know the uncles and aunts, the dishes were almost all served. The private room had more than twenty people, who were divided into two tables: one for the parents and one for the children. Gong Cheng tugged at the drawstring of his hoodie, picked up the orange juice on the table, and took a sip.

My mouth is dry...

"sycophant..."

Yu Dingyan rolled her eyes and said something.

"Uh-huh……"

Nayeon, Mina, and Momo nodded in agreement. Listening to the conversation, the parents were practically praising Makoto, while the TWICE members were being compared and belittled by their respective families…

"Aigoo, Uncle Yu..."

Gong Cheng, with a pained expression, immediately opened his mouth and shouted.

Yu Dingyan's father, who was at the next table, immediately turned around and asked, "What's wrong, Xiaocheng?"

Seeing the expressions of surrender and resignation on their faces, Gong Cheng stood up and said with a smile, "It's alright, Uncle. I hope you all have a good time chatting. Don't worry about us at this table, I'll take good care of Jeongyeon and the others..."

These words sounded so sanctimonious that even Son Chaeyoung, Minatozaki Sana, and Chou Tzuyu couldn't help but turn pale.

What do you mean by "take good care of us"?

"Brother Gong Cheng, you're amazing..."

Son Chaeyoung's younger brother, seeing a table full of unnies, couldn't help but shrink back, but unexpectedly, this brother won him over in one go.

"Just a little water..."

Gong Cheng picked up a glass of drink. The parents were all there, and none of the members had any intention of drinking. But as soon as he said it, the long legs that were showing off under the table were kicked countless times...

"..."

……

At the dinner table, Lin Na-yeon's mother affectionately linked arms with Gong Cheng's adoptive mother and whispered, "Our two families should visit each other more often in the future..."

“Yes, the children are all doing very well now, and we parents…” Gong Cheng’s adoptive mother smiled broadly, but then suddenly paused, “Huh?”

Should our two families visit each other more often in the future?
"Yes, I'm in Gangdong District. I'll send you my address after the dinner. Come visit sometime, after all, the kids are all grown up now..." Lim Nayeon's mother said in a low voice, knowing it was best not to let the other parents know about her children's relationship...

Regarding idols, she is well aware of the consequences if their relationships are exposed.

But seeing Gong Cheng's mother's expression, she asked with a strange look, "Zhenya, you didn't know about this, did you?"

Gong Cheng's adoptive mother watched Lin Nalian's mother's expression and, combined with her hushed manner, instantly understood something she didn't know. Her heart jumped into her throat, her brows furrowed with anger, and she glanced sideways at her son eating at another table with his back to her.

But she quickly suppressed her confusion and anger, smiled, and asked in a low voice, "Is it about Xiaocheng and... Nayeon dating?"

“Yes…” Lin Nayeon’s mother nodded, but seeing that Gong Cheng’s adoptive mother knew about this, her strange look disappeared and she breathed a sigh of relief.

She was genuinely worried that the two children had been dating for so long without their parents knowing.

“I know, my son never hides anything from me. I’ve wanted to visit you for a long time, but he’s always too busy. Every time I call or go home, we only talk for a few minutes before he has to go back to work…”

With an intellectual smile, Gong Cheng's adoptive mother slowly recounted some trivial matters. Although she had only just learned about this, seeing a large group of parents gathered around the table, she chose to smooth things over for her son and settle the score with him later.

After all, she could clearly feel the smile and warmth of Lim Na-yeon's mother. Which parent doesn't treat their own child like a treasure?

If his mother found out about this, she would be furious.

Besides, she herself is quite angry right now...

Especially when I think of that silly girl Zhao Meiyan who fusses over me every day, and Ziyu who runs to my house whenever she has a day off…

"Yes, the children are all very busy, which is why I said that we should just visit each other more often. As for whether the children will go far together in the future, who can say for sure? But as parents, we still hope they are doing well, right?"

Lin Na-yeon's mother smiled and took Gong Cheng's adoptive mother's wrist, then picked up the phone on the table, "Let's exchange contact information..."

"it is good……"

After exchanging contact information, Lim Na-yeon's mother probably felt it wasn't appropriate to talk about these things in this environment, so she changed the subject.

Gong Cheng's adoptive mother quietly picked up her food and ate a couple of bites slowly.

I really don't have much of an appetite...

Before things could settle down, Chou Tzu-yu's mother started chatting with her again. She spoke some basic Korean quite well, but all she said was how she thanked her family for taking care of Tzu-yu in the past.

She glanced at the parents of Minatozaki Sana, Hirai Momo, and Mina sitting not far away, and smiled self-deprecatingly to herself.

Fortunately, this rascal didn't try to seduce any of the kids, otherwise just communicating with them would have been a huge hassle.

She knows some basic Chinese, but she really doesn't know any Japanese...

……

At another table, Gong Cheng and the members of TWICE were also chatting enthusiastically.

They were mainly playing a mafia game, and with the help of a dummy, they couldn't play at all. Mina was the first to be voted out, followed by Makoto Miyamoto...

After the first two were eliminated, Gong Cheng picked up some food with his chopsticks and asked curiously, "By the way, the aunt I met in Yokohama last time didn't look much like your family, did she?"

"Auntie?" Mina, sitting next to him, hesitated for a moment before realizing it was Auntie Eko. "Yes, that was my auntie last time. She's been very busy lately..."

"I can tell, she seems like a decisive and efficient woman," Gong Cheng recalled, then shrugged and said.

"Ring ring ring..."

He picked up his phone from the table, glanced at it and saw it was Kim Daewoo calling. He then smiled apologetically at Mina and the other members, picked up his phone, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window a little further away in the private room, and answered the call.

The parents and family members at both tables noticed that he was on the phone, and their tone of voice naturally softened.

"Hey, bro, what's wrong?"

Gong Cheng, a tall figure, stood by the window and asked in confusion.

"Are you still having dinner in Jiangnan?" Kim Dayu asked first, then said helplessly, "There's a single in the album with static in it, probably a problem with the machine. It needs to be re-recorded. I'm letting you know in advance."

"Re-record? Okay, I understand..."

"What the president means is, how about you work overtime tonight? After all, you have to go back to the film set tomorrow. Filming for 'Parasite' is about to wrap up, and the audio tracks will be released gradually in September, so the time is a bit tight."

"Hmm..." Gong Cheng glanced at the time. The dinner party had already been going on for over an hour and would probably be over soon. He thought for a moment and then said, "Okay, come pick me up, bro. I'll send you the address. Text me when you get there."

After saying that, he hung up the phone and sat back down at the dining table.

"what happened?"

Minami and the others asked a question.

"I have to go back to the company later to deal with some audio source issues..." Gong Cheng said helplessly, and immediately picked up several pieces of food with his chopsticks and started eating.

"The audio source has been leaked?"

Yu Dingyan was shocked.

"It's not that serious. Can you say something nice?" Gong Cheng rolled his eyes speechlessly. But it was fine anyway, since the dinner was almost over. To be honest, with so many future mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law here, he was really feeling uneasy.

Who knows, maybe one of the girls has told her parents that she's dating him and is now scrutinizing him.

"..."

A dozen minutes later, news of Kim Dae-woo arrived.

Gong Cheng wiped his mouth with a tissue, put on his baseball cap, and got up to go to the table with the parents. "Excuse me, uncles and aunts, I have to go to the company to take care of some work first, so please excuse me..."

As he spoke, he took the keys to the G63 out of his pocket and handed them to his adoptive father. “Dad, here are the car keys. When you’re done later, you can drive back with Mom.”

"Drive carefully, the roads are slippery when it rains..."

"Just leave the car at home..."

As Gong Cheng spoke, he smiled apologetically at the uncles and aunts present.

"What's wrong? You're so busy? You can't even have a meal?"

The adoptive mother was already somewhat uncomfortable about her son's relationship with others, and when she heard the topic of leaving came up, her tone became a little harsher.

"Secret."

Gong Cheng smiled and quickly reassured her, "Don't be angry, Mom. I'll have a vacation before I go back to China in a few days, and I'll come home to visit you and Dad then..."

"Don't wait a couple of days..."

"After work tonight, go home. Mom has something to tell you..."

Gong Cheng's adoptive mother looked at her son's tired face and her heart softened. She knew that her son had been filming in Jeonju that morning and had rushed back, but she still wanted to find out the truth about her son and Nayeon.

"Go on, go do your job well."

The adoptive father didn't have any objections to this. How could a child known throughout the country not be busy?

"Sorry, Uncle and Aunt, I have to go now..."

Gong Cheng waved with a smile, then shamelessly said to the TWICE members at their table, "Take good care of your uncle and aunt for me..."

Sana Minatozaki couldn't stand her husband's arrogance and muttered under her breath, "Does he act like he's your parents?"

"They are clearly our parents..."

“…” Mina’s lips twitched involuntarily when she heard her friend’s mutterings.

Hehe, she can't say for sure, but I'd say it's probably true...

Be careful, your words might come true, Sana-chan...

"..."

At eight o'clock at night, the sky in Seoul began to darken. The torrential rain that had fallen in the early morning had not yet stopped, and the scattered raindrops pattered against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the private room. Gong Cheng had just left the private room...

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the towering buildings of the bustling commercial district in Jiangnan illuminate the "Tarot" logo on their LED screens as night falls. These logos range from LV advertisements to images of Armani suits to Burberry's British style.

The flashing neon lights, vibrant and colorful, shimmered with a cyberpunk-like arc of light in the rain.

The parents sitting in the private room gazed at the view outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. The boy who had just gone to work seemed not to have gone far away. His handsome features, gentle smile, and tall figure were scattered throughout every corner of the city.

"Hey……"

Gong Cheng's adoptive mother watched the incredibly popular advertisement in the rain, unsure of what to say. Whether he was a big star or a pop icon from Yeongdeungpu, in her eyes, "Tarot" would always be that son other children called "Little Ice Cube"...

"Brother Gong Cheng is really popular and amazing..."

Sun Chae-young's younger brother sat at the dining table and said something with an envious tone.

……

Back at the company, Gong Cheng began re-recording the song.

"..."

"..."

Work finished at 11 p.m.

"I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow morning, Xiao Cheng..."

Downstairs in Yeongdeungpo, Cha Gun-ho sat in the driver's seat and said to the boy who had opened his umbrella and was about to get out of the car, that they would be returning to Jeonju tomorrow.

"Arasso..."

Gong Cheng slung his shoulder bag over his shoulder, got out of the car, and, holding the Maybach umbrella that had been brought into the car, walked towards the residential building. Raindrops pattered down the edge of the umbrella...

I took out my keys and opened the door.

Gong Cheng looked at his adoptive mother sitting on the sofa, put down his umbrella, took off his shoes, and asked curiously, "Oh, Mom, what's wrong?"

"Are you hiding something from your mother?"

The foster mother looked at Gong Cheng, who was sitting on the sofa. Beneath his slightly damp, tousled hair, his eyes, which had been bright since childhood, now showed signs of weariness.

Despite his drowsiness, Gong Cheng smiled, picked up an apple from the table, and took a bite. "I'm all grown up now, I must have secrets. Oh, what are you talking about, Mom?"

Are you and Miyeon still dating?

“Meiyan? No…” Gong Cheng shook his head in denial, observing his adoptive mother’s expression. “After we broke up, we never got back together. Didn’t she tell you that?”

"...Are you sure?" The foster mother recalled the situation when Zhao Meiyan came to their home. Once, she had actually asked her about it. When Zhao Meiyan was about to debut, she told her that she was not dating her son, but she also said that she liked her son very much.

Of course she understood that at that time, it concerned whether the child could debut, and that something like a relationship could ruin the child's future. "But Mi-yeon still likes you?"

"Yes, I like her too, but I don't plan to get back together right now. She's just debuted, and dating isn't appropriate for her." Gong Cheng wondered if tonight's meeting was a secret signal between Lim Nayeon's mother and his adoptive mother?
Then we absolutely cannot admit it!
"You like her too?" Upon hearing this, the adoptive mother's expression changed immediately.

She thought that if her son and Zhao Meiyan couldn't make it work, they could just make things clear and not affect others. After all, he was dating Nayeon. But since he was dating Nayeon, what did she mean by saying that he also liked Zhao Meiyan?
"No matter what, there are feelings involved..."

"But what about your relationship with Nayeon? I had no idea! You've even met her mother, and you didn't tell the family?" the foster mother demanded. "If I hadn't found out today, do you know how embarrassing it would have been?"

"……because……"

Gong Cheng's tone softened as he lay on the sofa. He put down the apple in his hand. He knew that his adoptive mother must be very angry. She wasn't angry that he had been dating a big star behind his family's back, but rather that he had handled his relationship immaturely.

He remained silent for a long time, unsure how to explain, "We started dating last year, and I really like Lim Nayeon."

With that, Gong Cheng sighed, rubbed his temples, and forced a smile, "Don't worry, Mom, I'll handle my own feelings..."

"You really haven't made up with Meiyan?" the foster mother asked seriously, her face stern.

"Not yet..."

Gong Cheng hesitated before answering, testing his adoptive mother's emotional state.

"Slap!" The foster mother slapped Gong Cheng's thigh angrily, saying, "What do you mean 'not yet'? Since you're dating Nayeon, you should date her properly! You brat!"

“There are many things that are hard to say, Mom, but I’ve followed your teachings since I was little and taken every relationship seriously.” Gong Cheng rubbed his thigh and said through gritted teeth, “I don’t know what the future holds for Nayeon and me, but right now, I absolutely love her…”

Hearing this, his adoptive mother leaned back on the sofa, her expression complicated. "Mom hopes that if you take a relationship seriously, it will have a good outcome, at least you'll be happy, instead of you being so pessimistic and worried about the future..."

“If you and Miyeon haven’t made up, then go and talk to them clearly… Whatever decision you make, Mom will support you. Mom is biased towards you, but you can’t hurt others…”

"Miyeon is great..."

"They are all very nice..."

Gong Cheng blurted out something as if possessed, and was immediately met with his adoptive mother's cold and stern gaze. He chuckled and joked, "Mom, have you ever thought that if you cut ties with Mei Yan, your son will be very sad?"

“I know, but if you don’t make things clear with Miyeon, that child will be sad, Nayeon will be sad, you will be sad, and your mother will be sad…” The foster mother sighed softly. Whether it was Zhao Miyeon or Lin Nayeon, they had both officially dated her son.

What about Tzuyu?

He calls her "brother" all day long; how could she not see through the little girl's thoughts...?

"Why don't you always have a long face like when you were little? No girl would be able to get close to you then," your foster mother asked helplessly. "Then you wouldn't have these troublesome problems..."

"Hh..." Gong Cheng chuckled, glanced at the family photo on the TV cabinet, and looked up at the ceiling. "Because, if that happens, Mom will be sad, and Dad will be sad too..."

As he spoke, he looked at his adoptive mother and said, "Oh, Mom, I'm all grown up now. Let me handle this myself."

“You’ve grown up, Mom can’t control you anymore…” The foster mother picked up her water glass, took a sip, then stood up, preparing to go back to her bedroom, but hesitated for a moment. “When you have time, bring Nayeon back for a meal. Now that you’re dating, you have to be fair to her and yourself…”

"Then even if we break up in the future, you won't be sad."

Hearing the footsteps and the sound of the door closing gradually disappear, Gong Cheng got up, went to the refrigerator, took out a bottle of strong liquor, and then ran to the swing on the balcony and sat down. He took a sip of the liquor and silently gazed at the vast night sky of Yeongdeungpo.

Suddenly he was no longer sleepy, and the annoyance had made him feel refreshed...

The foster mother peered through the crack in the bedroom door, watching her son's every move. Like the turning of a calendar, more than a decade passed, and memories of the past surfaced before her eyes. Her son, from childhood to adulthood, would always sit in that spot when he was in a bad mood, except that he used to be holding a guitar and other musical instruments.

Now I'm holding a bottle of strong liquor...

The swing his father built for him when he was a child seems to have swayed through more than a decade of his life.

"Stop looking, let him handle it himself."

The adoptive father stood behind the adoptive mother, patted his wife on the shoulder, and then quietly closed the bedroom door without giving her a chance to say anything more.

The foster mother sighed and crawled back into bed, lying on her pillow. "He's still just an immature brat..."

After tossing and turning for a while, she couldn't help but speak again, "I think Meiyan is great. She even sent me a message yesterday, asking about my health. She comes to visit whenever she has a break. A couple of years ago, before the kids became famous, she had a very good relationship with Xiaocheng..."

"But what if Nayeon is also good?"

"Since Miyeon is so good, why did Xiaocheng choose Nayeon? Could it be that Nayeon is also very good to him, but we as parents don't know it? We can pay attention, but we shouldn't pay too much attention..."

"Let him think about it himself."

The adoptive father comforted his wife, saying, "Xiao Cheng will understand..."

“Can’t I repay my own son? If he can’t figure it out, he’ll stop thinking about it and just go to sleep!” the foster mother retorted angrily. “If you don’t nudge him, he won’t even consider these things…”

Upon hearing this, the adoptive father sighed speechlessly.

“But he has done everything very well since he was a child. You think he can’t understand it? Is it possible that the child has already made a decision and has a plan? He just doesn’t want to say it?”

……

"Big star, Mom invites you to come over for dinner another day..."

Gong Cheng sat on the swing and sent a message to Lin Nalian in a very carefree manner. As for his adoptive mother's suggestion of choosing between two options, he was too lazy to do it and didn't want to think about such trivial matters anymore.

Let nature take its course...

After sending the message, he glanced at the bottle in his hand, took another sip, corked the bottle, turned around and went back to his bedroom, where he went to sleep.

……

Meanwhile, in TWICE's dorm room.

Just after washing up and getting into bed, Lim Nayeon jumped out of bed in surprise when she saw the message from her boyfriend!

After the dinner party, she was overjoyed when her mother told her that she had become close with her boyfriend's parents. She learned from her mother that her boyfriend had already told his aunt and uncle about their relationship.

So, what about Cho Mi-yeon?
Nothing to fear, hmph!
Lim Nayeon rolled around on the bed triumphantly, grinning with her bunny teeth, and replied, "Boyfriend, isn't it a bit too fast to meet the parents now? (shyly)"

[Creditor]: "Where did it go? (Tears streaming down his face through his sunglasses)"

"Stop teasing me~ (angry)" Lim Nayeon hummed a song in a light tone, "What do Uncle and Aunt like?" She was thinking that she definitely couldn't go empty-handed when she visited them in a few days!

Thinking about this, she couldn't help but feel that her mother was a lucky star! She was amazing!
……

Meanwhile, downstairs in the dorm of the catering team.

Tzuyu's mother changed into the pajamas she had brought and lay down on her daughter's bed. Now that TWICE's dorms have been relocated, each member has their own bedroom, and the parents who came today, the local parents have all gone home.

Those who came with Mina's parents went back to the hotel, while those who came alone stayed in their daughter's bedroom.

As she recalled the details of tonight's dinner party, she saw her graceful daughter emerge from the bathroom with a dark face mask on. Suddenly, she blurted out, "Baby, do you like Xiao Cheng?"

"what?!"

Zhou Ziyu's face, hidden under the face mask, immediately flushed red. She quickly took two steps forward, locked the bedroom door, and whispered coquettishly, "What nonsense are you talking about, Mom..."

Chou Tzu-yu's mother glanced around the bedroom, noting the numerous "Tarot" plush toys even on the bed, and jokingly remarked with a half-smile, "Oh, then Mom can rest assured, after all..."

"..." Zhou Ziyu's heart suddenly raced. "After all, what is it?"

She looked at her mother, who was keeping her in suspense, with some curiosity.

"after all……"

"If you don't like her, why are you asking so many questions?"

Chou Tzu-yu's mother suddenly realized something, looking at her darling's awkward manner, the arrangement of her bedroom, and the scene from the Spring Festival in Beijing...

"Curious~"

Chou Tzu-yu hugged her mother's phone and started acting cute.

"What's your relationship with Xiao Nan like?"

Chou Tzu-yu's mother changed the subject and spoke up unexpectedly.

"Mina unnie?"

Chou Tzuyu frowned, and without thinking, said, "We're very close. Unnie usually takes good care of me..."

"That's it..."

Chou Tzu-yu's mother pondered for a moment, then looked at her daughter with a complicated expression. "Since you don't like Cheng, then Mom won't worry. After all, you're still young, and your career and future are bright..."

"And that boy Tarot, too."

"What's wrong with my brother?" Zhou Ziyu asked anxiously, wondering if her mother had something against her brother.

Chou Tzu-yu's mother smiled but didn't say anything. As a shrewd person, she had already noticed that afternoon that the relationship between Mina's family and Miyako was unusual.

"do you like him?"

She asked again with a smile.

"Mmm..." Chou Tzu-yu nodded and then shook her head, her slender hands clutching the hem of her pajamas, unsure how to answer.

"Xiao Cheng is doing well..."

Chou Tzu-yu's mother stopped pressing for details, likely because many people could see through her daughter's little thoughts, but she herself thought she was hiding them well. As for Tarot, how could he not be good? He takes care of her daughter, promotes fashion resources, is handsome, and has a huge following…

After a moment of contemplation, she looked at Chou Tzu-yu seriously and asked a seemingly random question:
"Ziyu, let me ask you, if you have a toy that you really like, and Xiaonan also likes it, would you give it to her?"

"Really?"

"No toy is more precious than friendship."

After thinking for a moment, Chou Tzu-yu's tone changed from uncertain to firm, and then she said with great confidence, "Mom, Mina unnie and I are really close."

"But what if there's only one of this toy in the world, and you really, really like it?"

"Is he exceptionally precious?"

Seeing her taciturn daughter, Chou Tzu-yu's mother couldn't help but sigh. Then, not wanting to hear her daughter's answer, she said earnestly,

"Baby, there are many things in this world that you can't give to others, not even your best friend..."

Chou Tzu-yu raised her eyelids thoughtfully and looked at her mother.

She asked somewhat uncertainly, "For example?"

Chou Tzu-yu's mother crawled back into bed and smiled. "Like what?"

"For example, baby, your face mask has dried out, go wash your face and go to bed..."

……

The next day, Gong Cheng continued filming at the set, where his scenes were nearing completion.

One by one, the itinerary was coming to an end in an orderly manner. As for his adoptive mother's suggestion, Gong Cheng had already forgotten about it as soon as he woke up this morning.

I absolutely cannot be the kind of scumbag who abandons Zhao Meiyan...

……

I stayed on set for several days until August 27th.

Bong Joon-ho officially announced that Gong Cheng's scenes had wrapped up, while the entire crew was still filming in an orderly manner. For example, some location shooting work still needed to be done, but it would be completed soon. However, this had nothing to do with Gong Cheng's scenes that had wrapped up.

#Tarot's new movie "Parasite" wraps up filming#
#Dense Fog Coming Soon#
#Debut Night of PRODUCE 48#
#LV Ambassador Sana Minatozaki and Mina MAI attended the Louis Vuitton Haute Couture show in Mizuso District; the haute couture was absolutely stunning!#
……

"..."

On August 28th, Dior and LVMH Group simultaneously released official posters, announcing their partnership through a "double official announcement":
"When the classic silhouette of Avenue Montaigne meets the dazzling starlight of the Grammy stage, Tarot officially becomes Dior's global brand ambassador. His alignment with the brand's style and positive image perfectly encapsulates Dior's 'elegance never fades'—this is 'starting with beauty'."

"When Tarot's melodies can deconstruct the weight of a Grammy trophy, the avant-garde spirit in his creative DNA resonates with the innovative spirit of Dior's century-old workshops, making each arrangement a wearable auditory art form—this is 'Being Captivated by Talent'."

"Beyond the spotlight, Tarot's low-key approach to philanthropy, like the lingering warmth of a fragrance's base notes, perfectly reflects the brand's unwavering commitment to social responsibility—this is what it means to be 'loyal to one's character.'"

"From the haute couture shows on the banks of the Seine to the upcoming 10,000-person stage at the Bird's Nest Stadium, this two-way journey of aesthetics and talent has only just begun. We are honored to join hands with pop superstar Tarot to open a new chapter for Dior."

Dior's official website, stores, and LVMH Group's website released new posters, and on August 28th, LVMH Group announced to the world that "Tarot" had been appointed as Dior's global brand ambassador.

In Dior's physical stores in major cities and in the famous LED screens of buildings, Gong Cheng is seen wearing a black velvet suit from Dior's 2018 Fall/Winter collection. The sharp shoulder line and the gray-white color scheme highlight his handsome and unyielding features and sharp eyebrows and eyes.

In the official advertisement video, the LVMH Group specially promoted Gong Cheng's upcoming album. In the vertical video, a string of characters was signed next to Gong Cheng's elegant figure.

"Tarot, Dior's global ambassador."

Following that is a Tarot card, the Lovers card, with the words "The Lovers - Coming Soon" written at the bottom.

With the help of promotion, renowned LED brands from all over the world lit up for Tarot on the same day...

Fashion magazines and entertainment sections were all in an uproar.

"Dude, Tarot's positive image? I can accept that it started with his looks and I fell for his talent, but what the hell is this 'loyal to his character' thing?"

"Daifa, the four luxury emperors! All of them are parachuted in with the title of global brand ambassador."

"There's only one K-pop..."

"Tsk tsk, unbelievable. If we don't count Tarot, Minatozaki Satsuki, Nayeon, Mina, and Tzuyu, these are all top-tier luxury endorsements in K-pop. And now another luxury brand has landed..."

"Is it possible that these four high-end luxury hotels are just the beginning for Oppa? Have you forgotten that Oppa flew to Germany a while ago?"

"If you become a fan of Tarot, you'll think I'm lucky~"

"..."

#Fashion Darling, Tarot Dominates the World Again#
#Dior officially announces, insiders reveal annual endorsement fee reaches $2500 million#
#LVMH Group CEO personally breaks the rules of competition by inviting Tarot to be his brand ambassador, revealing just how much the fashion world adores Tarot#
#……#
……

August 30th, 8 PM.

At the recording site of PRODUCE 48, the trainees, who had finished their practice early, returned to their respective dormitories.

Sitting on the bed, Jang Won-young asked her friend Ahn Yoo-jin with some concern, "Do you think Oppa will come to the debut night tomorrow?"

"It's hard to say, it means he's so busy..."

"And if it really comes, our viewership ratings will absolutely explode! Right now, it's number one in search trends worldwide..." Ahn Yu-jin said, clicking her tongue as she scrolled through the trending topics on her phone.

"Ring ring~"

Zhang Yuanying picked up her phone and saw that it was her unnie calling. As soon as she answered, she asked, "Yuanying, my parents and I are all ready. We're going to the event tomorrow. Will Tarot be there?"

"I was planning to bring the album and photocards with me, and ask you to help me get a photo with him tomorrow..."

"..."

(End of this chapter)