The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 313: The music video for "STAY" is now available online (Please vote with your monthly tickets!)

"Did you write these lyrics?"

The steam from the bathroom hadn't completely dissipated, carrying the sweet scent of shower gel into the bedroom. Gong Cheng leaned against the headboard, looking at the notes on Lin Nayeon's phone, and asked in surprise.

The loose neckline of her cotton pajamas lay open, her slightly disheveled hair still damp. Lim Nayeon, like a quiet rabbit, nestled in his arms, her hair wrapped in a towel in a fluffy ball. Her bare face glowed porcelain white in the warm light, and beneath her light brown eyebrows, she blinked.

"Yeah, it's alright, isn't it?"

The big star, her voice slightly hoarse from making love, looked up at her husband with expectant eyes.

The memo contained some inspirations and lyrics she had written down, which were for songs she wanted to participate in writing lyrics for.

"Judging from the lyrics alone, the quality is quite good..."

"If it's important, you have to look at the arrangement, and I always feel like the framework of these lyrics is a bit familiar?"

Gong Cheng answered Lin Nalian's question seriously. If a big star wants to write her own lyrics, then he, the father of a global hit song generator, should definitely give some advice. But the lyrics in front of him, which were just a few words, were "like the same kind as 'Yes or No'".

"Oh, this is my response to the song you sang when you confessed your love to me back then..."

Nayeon's beautiful cheeks still had a faint blush from just stepping out of the bath. As she spoke, she gently buried her face in his chest, feeling quite embarrassed. "I only wrote part of these lyrics, and I wanted to collaborate with you on them..."

"Do you want to write the lyrics for the remaining half yourself? We can sing it together."

Her thinking was simple: since it was a song dedicated to her boyfriend, she naturally didn't want to collaborate with other artists—what kind of talk would that be? Moreover, for her debut album, even if it was just a mini-album, it didn't have to include the title track.

PDNIM also agreed to let her participate in the songwriting work. She has a lot of inspiration about dating men in her heart, and she wants to write it in the songs and in her first solo album, which is the most important album of her life.

Lim Nayeon thought sweetly to herself, then couldn't help but look up, pouting her sexy little lips, "So, my dear boyfriend, can I invite you to collaborate on a song with me?" As she spoke, she playfully wrapped her arms around Gong Cheng's neck, swaying it gently...

I wonder what Zhao Miyeon's expression will be when she sees her solo album after it's released?
I can't wait!
"Listen to you……"

Gong Cheng agreed without hesitation. Given TWICE's current success and her popularity within the group, a solo performance by a big star like her was expected to be quite good. If he were to feature with her, the chances of success in Europe and America were uncertain…

Since it's a Korean song, to be honest, listeners in Europe and America aren't really interested in K-pop. But in the local and Asian regions, the achievements of big stars are definitely not bad. After all, being a top member of a popular girl group, plus their own influence, is enough to raise the album's attention to several levels.

"It's okay even if it's just a music video."

As he spoke, Gong Cheng suddenly looked down at Lim Nayeon's small face, grinning with his rabbit teeth, the rabbit image becoming stronger and stronger. He then started to scheme, "But, big star, if we feature and collaborate, aren't you afraid of being caught by the ONCEs?"

"……Well."

This pointed question made Lim Na-yeon hesitate and waver. "Are you afraid of your male relative?"

While secretly showing affection with your boyfriend might be blissful, it would be terrible if, as your boyfriend said, fans found out... How disappointed would the fans be? What would happen to TWICE's activities? Would all the hard-earned popularity collapse overnight?
"I have nothing to be afraid of."

“However…” Gong Cheng leaned against the headboard, chuckling as he gently ruffled Lim Nayeon’s hair, “Even if it’s exposed and made public, public opinion won’t affect me at all, but it will ruin you and TWICE…”

He wasn't joking, but seeing Nayeon's troubled face and conflicted expression, he offered a suggestion: "I have a solution. We can collaborate and work on the music video without any problem, but next time, I need to get the members involved in my song collaboration or music video?"

"..." Lim Nayeon blinked, not quite understanding.

"Do not understand?"

Gong Cheng mischievously pinched Lim Nayeon's cheek and tugged it gently. "Silly girl, the fans already know that I have a good relationship with TWICE. If I collaborate with other members, who will specifically focus on you?"

"..." Lim Nayeon suddenly raised her head, her eyes wide, as if she had suddenly realized something. "You mean... shift the blame to the members?"

Her voice held a hint of disbelief, her face flushed slightly, and her eyes held a touch of reproach as she looked at him, "How could you be so naughty~"

"Ani, it's just a distraction."

"Besides, the company itself wants me to use my popularity to help the other members. It's good for TWICE and the other members, both professionally and personally," Gong Cheng said shamelessly. He was quite interested in making an album with his good friend Tzuyu, or collaborating on a Chinese song.

That way, it's easy for the big star to feel at ease. My involvement with the other members was just to cover up our relationship, you know~~~
In the company's opening up of TWICE's individual information, once Nayeon's solo is a great success, Park Jin-young will follow his idea from last year and let TWICE's "cherry blossom line" mainly target the Japanese market, their hometown, since three Japanese people have a unique advantage there.

The album releases by Minatozaki Sana, Mina, and Hirai Momo with each group comeback prove the love that Japanese fans have for them. It would be really exciting to think about collaborating with the "Sakura Line"!

Uh-huh! Uh-huh! It's all Uh-huh!

"Bah~"

Lim Nayeon leaned in and kissed Gong Cheng, saying, "You're such a smart boyfriend!"

"Then let's do it your way."

"But could you please take care of Sana a little more?" Lim Nayeon said this with a little selfish motive. She and Sana-chan had become incredibly close lately, and Sana had even stood up for her today. Plus, there were some people in the group who were quite unhappy about their fashion personal information incident last time...

Therefore, the two tend to stick together.

Adding to the fact that Jihyo and PDnim had said something resembling a tattletale this afternoon, she felt uneasy.

"Sana-chan?"

Gong Cheng paused for a moment, then stopped looking at him like he was an idiot and nodded gently. "Didn't you used to be closest to Jeongyeon and Jihyo? I thought you would let me take care of them first..."

"...Ani, I have a good relationship with Jeongyeon, and so do Jihyo, but lately Jihyo... sigh..." Lim Nayeon sighed. As the eldest sister of TWICE, she didn't want to get into any of that nonsense, but she was really disappointed in Jihyo lately.

Gong Cheng glanced at the big star's worried face, opened his mouth as if to say something but hesitated. He was too lazy to talk to his girlfriends about some big principles, but Doufu had conveyed to him her dissatisfaction with Park Jihyo and her conversation with Park Jin-young that afternoon.

Do you know why I'm so close to Tzuyu and we have such a good relationship?

"Are you all Chinese?"

"That's only one aspect. On the other hand, we get along very well!" Gong Cheng said calmly, not worried at all that the big star would be jealous. He then recalled, "Do you remember a long time ago, when I made Tzuyu angry in the practice room, what did she say?"

"If you encounter bad people, just go around them..."

At this point, he chuckled and winked at Lim Nayeon, "So, big star, if someone disappoints you, just stay away from her. Maybe in Jihyo's eyes, your relationship isn't that close?"

Seeing that Lim Nayeon was pursing her lips and not speaking, Gong Cheng reached out and pulled her closer to him, resting his chin on the top of her head as he quickly added, "Of course, I was just saying that randomly, I just hope you won't always be so worried about things like this."

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. I don't want to give you a lecture, because at the company, Zhenying and the manager will always give you a bunch of long-winded lectures, but if someone really bullies you, I will step in..."

Hearing Gong Cheng's words, Lim Nayeon smiled with relief, snuggling closer to him with a sweet smile. She couldn't help but look up and ask curiously, "Then what would you do if I were bullied, my dear?"

She gazed at Gong Cheng, her smiling face seemingly drawing her thoughts back to their first meeting. At that time, she had only thought, "Oh my god, how can such a scoundrel become an entertainer?" In reality, he not only debuted but also became increasingly successful, becoming her boyfriend and standing up for her, giving those guys a good beating…

"Then I'll... crush her!"

Gong Cheng raised an eyebrow, his expression quite domineering.

Lim Nayeon felt a sudden tightness in her chest, a throbbing and itchy sensation. She looked at Gong Cheng with a wistful gaze, resting her chin on his chest, "My dear boyfriend, could you please not be so sensitive when you say things like that..."

You're hurting me...

"Oh my, let me give you a kiss, a kiss will make it stop hurting~" Gong Cheng slid to his knees at lightning speed to apologize and admit his mistake!
……

Meanwhile, in (G)I-DLE's dormitory, Zhao Meiyan lay on her bed, unable to fall asleep.

The faces of Lim Nayeon and Mina kept flashing through her mind. Putting aside Lim Nayeon, Mina's act of handing water to her male friend on stage today made her quite wary...

Such a beautiful girl, with such a great temperament, can any man really resist her?
He absolutely cannot resist; this person has no willpower whatsoever...

For a moment, Zhao Meiyan was filled with worry. She had squeezed out Kim Jisoo, and then Lim Nayeon. Was she going to have to squeeze out Mina as well? Could she really win against all her competitors?

An uneasy feeling spread rapidly through her mind...

I wonder what Oppa is doing right now.
The only good thing is that Oppa confronted those who spoke ill of her at the event today, which moved her deeply. If Lim Nayeon were really dating Oppa, she would be heartbroken right now.

This was enough to prove her place in oppa's heart, and it also showed the members how important she was to Gong Cheng. She gained face and felt secretly pleased, but what Gong Cheng said later was tantamount to saying he wanted it all... Sigh...

Mixed joys and sorrows.

……

The next morning, early autumn in Seoul, the air was crisp and cool, and a faint dampness wafted from the Han River…

“STAY and OFF My Face will be available globally in one hour.”

"At the same time, this afternoon, the company will open ticket sales for your tour shows in Japan and throughout Asia. Starting tomorrow, the three-day Seoul show will conclude, and early next month, you will travel to Japan, with the tour expected to end in October, concluding the Asian leg of the tour..."

"In November, starting in New York, then Los Angeles... and then to Germany, Italy, France, and the UK..."

"We're about to get busy..."

Inside JYP's headquarters building, Gong Cheng sat in a conference room, surrounded by Park Jin-young and a group of people in charge of the world tour.

The concert at the Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium will begin on September 22nd and conclude on the 25th, followed by a long tour. This means that Gong Cheng will be traveling all over the world for the next period of time.

"The work with Sony is finished. Once Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is released, the company will release an EP featuring the movie's theme songs."

Park Jin-young smiled and said that the four movie theme songs produced by Gong Cheng were of very good quality. He believed that once the movie was released, the theme songs would become popular all over the world, especially "Sunflower" and "Let Go". After all, Sony and Marvel had been marketing and promoting them for nearly half a year, and his junior had already recorded the music. It wouldn't be difficult to release a mini album at that time.

However, due to the order of events, the album will only be released after the movie is released first.

"Arasso..."

"Let's do it this way then. I wonder if I'll be able to spend Chinese New Year at home this year?"

Gong Cheng rubbed his temples and leaned back in his chair. In the three years since his debut, he had never been able to spend time with his adoptive parents or go back for the New Year. His packed schedule always made it difficult for him to live a peaceful life.

"Now that the world tour is over, let's rest..."

"Brother, we're waiting for you to come back strong and we'll [ATM] together again?" Park Jin-young rubbed his hands together expectantly, offering a reminder. However, the most important thing right now was his stage performance tomorrow; he had specifically asked the stage designer...

Add a water spray design to the edge of the stage, and then, with the sexy stage and your sexy figure, you can create a wet and seductive scene.

Wouldn't that cause a disaster?
"Brother, I heard you're going to do a wet and sexy thing tomorrow?" Gong Cheng suddenly remembered this and asked abruptly, then looked speechless, "My concert isn't for adults only!"

"Senior brother, sometimes we still need to be mindful of boundaries, don't we?"

Upon hearing this, Park Jin-young immediately became displeased. "What did you say? What did you say?"

"Don't you know how good I am at singing and dancing? Getting wet isn't seductive at all! It's all for a better stage! I even turned down an invitation to the Music Bank concert in Mexico for your concert..."

"..."

Gong Cheng was speechless, inwardly cursing...

You might as well keep writing those toilet paper things...

……

An hour later, at ten o'clock in the morning, the bedroom door was gently pushed open a crack...

Zhao Meiyan emerged with faint dark circles under her eyes. Her fluffy long hair was slightly messy from sleeping, with a few strands sticking to her forehead. Her steps were still unsteady from sleep as she groggily walked towards the washbasin. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of several members sitting around the sofa in the brightly lit living room, fiddling with something.

"Yuqi, what are you guys doing?"

As she reached the living room doorway, she raised her hand to rub her sore eyes, a trace of lingering sleepiness still clinging to her eyelashes: "Getting up so early..."

These past two days, the whole team has been busy rehearsing as guests at their Oppa's concert. The group's original schedule had been cleared long ago, and now they're just waiting to go to the Sangam World Cup Stadium this afternoon to continue practicing. It should have been a leisurely day where they could sleep in until noon.

"Wow~"

"Unnie, today is the day Tarot oppa's new album and two new singles are released, why aren't you paying any attention?"

Upon hearing this, Song Yuqi turned around, waved her phone at her, and then lectured her, "How can you win back your oppa like this?"

"I'm paying attention..."

Zhao Meiyan yawned and slowly moved to sit down on the sofa. "I just didn't sleep well last night, so I feel a little dizzy when I woke up." The bright living room made the dark circles under her eyes even more noticeable, but it also gave her a soft, lazy vibe.

Last night, she was so preoccupied with thinking about her love rival that she couldn't fall asleep at all. She finally drifted off to sleep just before dawn.

Ye Shuhua handed her a glass of warm water, signaling her to wake up. Then, the members of (G)I-DLE gathered around the coffee table, looking at the announcement from JYP on the tablet.

……

JYP Entertainment Official Announcement:

[Tarot, an artist under our company, has launched a new chapter in his second full-length album, "The Lovers"! Following the buzz generated by the first single, another major release is today. The title track "STAY" and "OFF My Face" are available on major music platforms simultaneously, weaving a dual reflection of love and bond through melodies.]

"STAY" continues Tarot's signature narrative style, with piano melodies and electronic rhythms intertwining to create a sense of tension. The lyrics contain the delicate emotions of "wanting to stay but being unable to," and the transition between true and falsetto in the chorus is like a sigh falling softly, dissecting the struggle and longing in the emotions layer by layer.

"OFF My Face" deconstructs the state of being in love with a light rhythm. The guitar riff runs throughout the song, and the lyrics are full of the straightforward passion of being "indulged in it". The collision of the two musical styles brings out the contradictions and purity in love.

Producer Tarot explores the multidimensional interpretation of "love" in "The Lovers." Tracks from the album are being gradually released, and listeners are encouraged to find their own emotional resonance within the melodies. Five more singles are also awaiting release.

"Looks like it's another one of this guy's self-narrative songs?"

Tian Xiaojuan stared at the announcement on the screen, then glanced at Zhao Meiyan. "Unnie, it's not a song I wrote for you, is it?" she said with a smile. As a fellow producer, she had studied Gong Cheng's arrangements and lyrics quite a bit...

She discovered that almost all of his currently prolific songs were telling his own stories, and as a fellow producer, she was increasingly impressed by Gong Cheng's overflowing talent, from composing and arranging to writing lyrics. Moreover, Tian Xiaojuan learned that this guy was proficient in many musical instruments...

His talent is almost unparalleled, and his singles prove just how brilliant he is. A saying circulating online recently goes, "Tarot's singles are like selling weapons."

This is the recognition of the name "Tarot" by major music markets around the world. On the one hand, it is the catchy melody, and on the other hand, it is the speed at which he makes money and the spread of his songs. This statement also proves that the sales generated by Gong Cheng's songs and the money he earns are comparable to the profits from selling arms.

With the advent of the streaming era, which is still in a period of rapid growth, Tarot has already taken the lead in the streaming field. In the current music market, major record companies and brands of some commercial activities are paying more attention to artists with a wide influence in the streaming field.

"No way?"

Zhao Meiyan smiled gently, a surge of joy welling up inside her, but she hadn't even heard the song yet.

"Why don't we just listen and see?"

Song Yuqi also said curiously, "The announcements on the screen mostly mention 'The Lovers,' the Major Arcana of the Tarot, which is called 'The Lovers.' Thinking about Tarot cards, I can't help but sigh, 'This guy has really built a huge Tarot universe!'"

"From the stage name to the fan club, the tarot card drawing for the album, and all the concepts in the album, everything fits the interpretation of the tarot cards. It's really amazing. It's more straightforward than XO's alien concept, but it looks more romantic and beautiful, which confirms the interpretation of [Tarot]: the magnificent treasure trove of nature."

Ye Shuhua sniffed, not particularly interested in these things, but she knew that ever since the word "Tarot" became a hit, Tarot cards had sold out in major cities around the world. Some fans even posted pictures of their Tarot cards online, speculating about which Major and Minor Arcana card Tarot would draw for the next album…

After discussing it for a while, the group scrolled down to the poster below the JYP announcement.

In the vertical poster, the night sky blankets the entire landscape. Towering skyscrapers pierce the darkness, their neon signs shimmering with vibrant colors, casting dappled shadows on the rooftop walls…

The upward-angled shot made the sky appear very low, making Gong Cheng's figure seem exceptionally tall in the frame. He wore a loose brown sweatshirt, the collar bunched up at his collarbone, and distressed ripped jeans that hugged his long legs, the rips at the knees frayed. His handsome features were illuminated by the distant neon lights, which flickered in and out of focus.

He sat there on the edge of the rooftop, his hands on the railing behind him, his long legs dangling in the air. His slightly upturned face, with its shifting light and shadow reflecting the ambiguous colors of the neon lights, made his tall figure appear extremely imposing and visually striking from the angle of the shot taken from below.

His relaxed and unrestrained body sank casually into the night. His wispy bangs, slightly disheveled, with a few strands hanging above his brow bone, were precisely captured by the camera. The edges of his hair shimmered with the light of neon lights, making his handsome face half-shadowed and half-pale, exuding a lazy yet nonchalant aloofness.

"Aigoo, he's so handsome..."

Ye Shuhua stared at the poster in front of her with her mouth agape; it was so good it could be used as a screensaver.

As fans admiring the posters followed Gong Cheng's gaze, they saw the Seoul Tower, enveloped in the steel and concrete night, resembling a giant, lit candle. Slender lamps on the tower's pillars emitted a dazzling array of light, and amidst the shifting light and shadow, a line of text flickered on the pillars:

"Turning the world upside down with love..."

Is this a new concept for the album?

Tian Xiaojuan analyzed the situation carefully, then opened her music player. As soon as she opened the search bar, she saw the top trending search terms: "Tarot," "STAY," and "OFF My Face"...

There's absolutely no need to type it in manually...

The artist charts, song charts, daily charts, weekly charts, monthly charts, and yearly charts are almost entirely dominated by "Tarot" and his singles...

Although everyone in (G)I-DLE is used to this fact, seeing it every time still gives them goosebumps; it's almost universally true.

The group started playing the song "STAY," and as soon as the intro began, they clicked on the music video.

"Let's watch the music video first..."

"Stay, stay?"

……

After the "STAY" music video finished loading...

The first thing that catches the eye is a dark and somber scene... In front of a bedroom door, a shattered mirror, with countless large and small shards of glass, hangs suspended in mid-air. A four-legged office chair, still in the arc of being violently overturned, is tumbling amidst the flying glass shards, as if it will crash to the ground at any moment, but is held in place by an invisible force, as if time has frozen after a violent impact.

The camera slowly pans in front of the bedroom door, and in the stillness, the prelude to "STAY" begins to play softly.

The first sound to enter the auditory world was a few crisp, metallic plucked strings... In the video, Gong Cheng's handsome features, with a hint of drunkenness in his eyes, wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, seemed frozen in time, just like the opening scene.

A straight figure stood at the head of the bedroom bed, gazing at a photograph of two people on the wall. Beside him, the bedroom environment consisted of rumpled, crumpled bedding and an ashtray piled high with cigarette butts, along with various empty bottles of alcohol.

Amidst the chaos, there was an atmosphere of disorder and gloom...

"Mai Mina-senpai?"

Song Yuqi exclaimed in surprise.

The group photo hanging on the wall in the music video is framed in a wooden frame. Gong Cheng's sunny and carefree smile is slightly tilted, and his tall, broad shoulders almost fill most of the photo. To his right, the petite and charming Mina has shy and soft tears in her eyes, a small mole on her delicate nose, and a cherry blossom-like smile on her thin lips. Her fine black hair is close to her ears, and she looks like a gentle Yamato Nadeshiko. In the broken and messy bedroom, she exudes an exceptionally dazzling warmth.

At this moment, the electric guitar sound in the intro to "STAY" becomes increasingly urgent.

Suddenly, as if frozen in time, Gong Cheng glanced slightly to the side in the camera's view. Unlike the photo he cherished, his heartbroken face and slightly parted lips said, "I did everything I promised you behind your back..."

I promise you I will change my ways—even though I know in my heart I won't.

As Gong Cheng's slightly hoarse yet deeply emotional voice began to play, the scene flashed by, and Mina's fair face appeared in the music video. Her eyes were unfocused, and a thin layer of mist covered her pupils... Her tightly pursed lips and the back of her hand, which was white from gripping the phone tightly, were presented to the public.

An indescribable sadness, coupled with Gong Cheng's bitter and melancholic voice, quickly spread throughout the music video.

"I know I'll never find another lover as good as you..."

"I need you to stay, to stay by my side..."

The fleeting shot, briefly lingering on a fly, the animal standing still in mid-air, tells the audience that time has stood still.

Does time stand still?

Tian Xiaojuan stared at the screen with great curiosity. Just the opening of the music video and the moving melody and vocals were enough to draw her in! And the intro was absolutely stunning; the plucking of the electric guitar and Gong Cheng's soulful voice created a layered and atmospheric effect that was both sorrowful and…

"I was completely drunk! I took a nap, but I'm still not sober!"

"I realized how much time I had wasted by living in such a daze!"

His husky yet textured voice seemed to suddenly rise in pitch. The music video transitioned, and the camera zoomed in on Gong Cheng's tall, unruly face for a close-up shot, while the warm sunlight illuminated the street...

The sudden scene change, with the camera rewinding to a close-up of Gong Cheng's face, before the audience could even properly appreciate his handsome features, Gong Cheng, dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, his hair disheveled, leaning forward, his arms waving as he fiercely raised two middle fingers in front of the camera, his striking features and sorrowful eyes conveying an angry outburst towards the lens.

I sense that you can't empathize with me!

"If you're not by my side, I'll become a complete mess!!!"

The soaring volume and the booming throat of the vocal cords! Along with the rebellious international hand gestures, the deeply emotional lyrics seem to tell a story of a relationship that's been difficult to maintain...

"Oh my!"

"This part? And the close-up shot..."

Song Yuqi and Ye Shuhua exclaimed in surprise, "My God! Although it's sad, he's so handsome!"

The live chat exploded with comments: "Holy crap, that close-up shot is insane!", "What door did God close for Tarot? He's handsome and talented, but he's still so incredibly talented!", "God-level shot! And the song quality feels even better than 'Seorita'!"

"No wonder the music video for 'Seorita' wasn't filmed properly. Oh my god, I'm so excited I don't know what to say!"

"Oppa is so handsome!"

"Is it bad that nobody noticed the lyrics?"

"Screw you! How can you call it being a jerk when it comes to Oppa? This is called being a relationship expert, a Casanova! And this song is really catchy!"

"..." Zhao Meiyan's gentle, smiling eyes were now frozen in a daze as she stared intently at the lyrics scrolling through the music video.

For a moment, my throat tightened and my heart tingled. I wanted to speak, but I didn't know what to say!
Just like Tian Xiaojuan said before, this song seems to really be written for herself, "STAY," to stay! While trying to hold on to herself, she also frankly revealed her sad thoughts in the lyrics...

“oh~ooh~woah~”

"..."

"I did everything I promised you behind your back..."

I promise you I will change my ways—even though I know in my heart I won't.

The scene shifts, and the sun-drenched street freezes time like in "The Matrix." Pedestrians and vehicles stand still, as if the whole world has been paused. Only Gong Cheng walks and wanders through this frozen space-time...

He would sometimes stand still and stare, sometimes run and shout, his face filled with pain and struggle, trying to salvage his lost love. But the freeze in time did not bring about a change in the situation; instead, it only highlighted his helplessness and despair.

"I know I'll never find another lover as good as you..."

"I need you to stay, to stay by my side..."

The scene then returns to the moment Mina is frozen in time. After hearing the lyrics, many fans immediately felt that this song was a scumbag's diary. Her eyebrows still held a dazed look, and her sad expression seemed to make it easier for people to understand and feel sorry for her...

Her already delicate and aloof temperament, combined with an indescribable sadness, creates an even greater contrast and sorrow in the atmosphere of the music video and its lighthearted melody.

But at this moment, the camera slowly zooms in, revealing the content of the phone screen that had left Mina in a daze to the audience…

On the phone screen, a group photo clearly appeared before everyone's eyes, but it wasn't the one at the beginning of the MV. It was a photo of Gong Cheng and Mian Jing. The male protagonist hadn't changed; he had a bright, drunken smile on his face, and in his arms, Lin Yun'er gently straddled his lap, her arms slowly hooking around his neck...

Two faces close together, seemingly about to kiss!
"Holy crap! So Yoona was the mistress! Mina was the real wife?"

"Damn it, I knew Im Yoona wasn't a good person..."

The barrage of angry comments quickly turned into a barrage of attacks on Im Yoona. Many fans already disliked Im Yoona, and the fact that this older woman dared to molest their oppa in the "Soft Lips" MV made them furious, regardless of whether it was an MV or not.

Wasn't this woman also a mistress?
"..."

Zhao Meiyan's heart twitched slightly as she looked at the swirling lyrics. Could it be that Ming Jing Nan was not Ming Jing Nan, but herself? Could it be that Lim Yoon A was not Lim Yoon A, but Lim Nayeon?
Right!
Everything is right!
Fortunately, she figured all this out yesterday! It's acceptable! Besides, isn't the song called "STAY"? Just let Nayeon push it out like before...

"At the moment of parting, your caresses haunted my dreams."

The melody suddenly softens, and Gong Cheng's voice, as if bathed in warm water, flows out with an unprecedented gentleness, carried on the wind. Then, as the line "Your existence makes me uphold the faith of love~" emerges, the music video cuts to the rooftop of a tall building…

Her slender body swayed gently to the melody, like a tree swaying slightly in the wind.

"Whoosh~" The howling wind from the rooftop is captured in the music video, lifting Gong Cheng's dark, tousled hair. The strands of hair fluttered messily in front of his eyebrows, but they couldn't hide his melancholy eyes.

"I find it hard to muster the courage to entrust my trust to someone."

"I'm afraid I'll mess everything up!"

With a casual, swaying body and a soft, whispering song, the white scarf around Gong Cheng's neck swayed gently, its edges fluttering in the wind. It wasn't a flashy luxury item; simply wrapped around his chin, its white against the black of his sweatshirt, against his melancholic and sorrowful face, created a clean yet fragile atmosphere…

"Oh my God!"

"Such a heartbroken expression...tsk tsk, who on earth broke Tarot's heart?" Tian Xiaojuan first exclaimed in admiration at the guy's stunning looks on the screen, then turned to tease her unnie Zhao Meiyan with a smile.

"..." But Zhao Meiyan didn't respond. Her bright eyes were fixed on the white scarf around Gong Cheng's neck!

This scarf was a gift from me to her!

You know I know in my heart that I can't live without you.

So, baby, please stay!

Gong Cheng's ethereal and melodious falsetto seems to linger in everyone's ears, penetrating the soul. The fusion of pop, R&B, and electronic elements makes the drumbeat of "STAY" incredibly catchy and addictive...

“oh~ooh~woah~”

“oh~ooh~woah~”

"Tsk tsk, aigoo, Oppa is really realistic..."

In TWICE's practice room, the newly arrived members were gathered around, watching the music video on the screen. Son Chaeyoung, with a complex expression, hugged May and stared at the MV on her phone. Two words: realistic...

"How much of a party animal does this guy have to be to write lyrics like this?"

Yu Dingyan clicked her tongue and criticized her good friend Haji-sung! These lyrics are really shameless, but they're truly amazing!
"Oh I'll be f**ked up if you can't be right here!!!"

"I did everything I promised you behind your back..."

I promise you I will change my ways—even though I know in my heart I won't.

Sana Minatozaki, wearing headphones and listening to her beloved Mina's singing, couldn't help but glance at Mina not far away. Was this a song written for her by her boyfriend? Or was there really something between him and Mina-chan?
"I know I'll never find another lover as good as you..."

"I need you to stay, to stay by my side..."

In the music video, Gong Cheng runs wildly in the sunlight. The bright light and his sorrowful figure seem somewhat contradictory, but every now and then, during scene transitions, there are glimpses of him dancing to the melody in a loose hoodie...

Lim Nayeon seemed to have realized something. "Dad, are you really still entangled with Jo Miyeon?"

Completely unaware of the sharp, hawk-like gaze of Hirai Momo behind her!

When Lim Nayeon moved her neck, Hirai Momo shrank back in fright, her eyes suddenly becoming "lifeless" and "wise".

"I need you to stay... I need you to stay by my side..."

At the end of the music video, Gong Cheng stands in front of a coffee shop window, his hands gripping the cold glass wall tightly. His sad eyes are veiled with tears, making it hard to tell if it's just fog on the glass or just glimpses of his own tears...

His slightly tired eyes and brows resembled those of a lost child who had finally found his beloved toy.

The camera followed Gong Cheng's gaze and slowly cut to the angle of the shot inside the coffee shop. Gong Cheng's tall figure stood outside the floor-to-ceiling window, while Mina sat on the sofa behind a wall of glass. Her slender body was wrapped in a white dress, and her elegant figure was shrouded in a thin veil of sadness in the sunlight...

She remained in the same position, a cup of coffee on the table, her slender arm frozen in mid-air, clutching the phone that had left her lost in thought... Sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating her profile, making the small mole on her nose appear like a frozen teardrop...

at this time……

The guitar melody and bass piano of the song gradually calmed down, and the camera slowly moved forward. Separated only by a wall of glass, Gong Cheng softly sang the last line of the lyrics. The ending sound was gentle and calm, but it was like a whisper.

"I need you to stay... I need you to stay by my side..."

Gong Cheng smiled sadly, and the camera zoomed in on him again, taking a close-up shot. His bewildered pupils, reflecting the sunlight, shimmered with an amber-brown glow, and his trembling eyelashes seemed to hold countless unspoken words—a plea to stay, an apology, and an unyielding longing…

"Wow! Another close-up shot! So cool!"

"Oh my god! This is the real value of being ranked number one on the list of the 1 most handsome faces in the world!"

"JYP has finally remembered how to use Oppa's face!"

"..." Amidst a flurry of exclamations in the comments, the music video came to a close...

"Holy crap, how did this guy manage to film and sing about cheating in such a heartbreaking way?" Yu Dingyan muttered in astonishment as she pressed her neck and did the rehabilitation exercises the doctor had taught her.

She never denied her good friend's good looks!

Even she was a little drawn into the scene just now, moved by Hajime's sorrowful eyes and singing voice, but shouldn't Mina be the most heartbreaking character in the MV? She's the one who was cheated on and hurt!

But looking at the screen full of comments like, "Oh my god, so what if she cheated? It's just a music video anyway, but Yoona isn't even as good as Mina!", "Exactly! Yoona is really no good, isn't she? She's not even as good as our [Nyan Palace Asks the Heavens]!", "Fuck you [Nyan Palace Asks the Heavens]!", "Find Tzuyu!"

"Unnie must be really proud of this song, right?"

Son Chaeyoung leaned over and asked about Mina. She felt that the song was about her love triangle with Mina and oppa, except that Mina in the music video should be herself, while Yoona, the mistress, should be the seemingly gentle and weak unnie next to her!
"Chaeyoung, do you want to hear the truth?"

Mina stopped what she was doing, turned to look at Son Chaeyoung, and chuckled softly.

"Inside."

Son Chaeyoung listened attentively, flashing her little tiger teeth, but then added softly, "Unnie, although we're rivals now, it doesn't affect our relationship."

To be fair, she and this unnie had a pretty good relationship. If it weren't for the fact that this unnie was trying to steal her away, Mina unnie was her favorite member of the group…

"proud?"

"I feel sorry for you, Chaeyoung, and I feel sorry for myself too..." Mina gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "I also feel sorry for Makoto-chan..."

An album that fits the theme "Lover" has already released half of its songs. She clearly sensed in the songs that Makoto's distorted values ​​about love. Just as Aunt Eiko said, this may be a kind of psychological problem for him, which may be caused by childhood trauma.

But regardless of the process, the current outcome reveals that those past experiences have shaped his current views on love. The song "STAY," which she teased him about on the plane for its shameless lyrics, seems to be a tribute to himself and Chaeyoung...

But Mina knew very well what he had done and was fully aware of his bastardly behavior. The song "STAY" was written for all his female relatives, but they were still unaware of it.

The preface to the album "The Lovers" contains the line, "I don't know if you've come to hear the truth, but I know I've been hiding something from you because I want you to stay by my side as always."

Doesn't that already explain everything that Makoto is thinking?

"why?"

Son Chaeyoung raised her head in confusion and asked, "We haven't decided who should be sad yet?"

"Winning or losing?"

Upon hearing this, Mina couldn't help but chuckle, then glanced at Son Chaeyoung with a hint of disdain, thinking, "I'm just too lazy to deal with you!"

As for winning or losing, when it comes down to dealing with you, you won't even be worthy of being given a handicap!

Ultimately, Mina is more concerned with Makoto's inner feelings. She firmly believes that once Makoto's secret is exposed, these fools will not stay, just like the song title "STAY".

Instead, it will be like the ending of a music video, where time freezes, and even if Makoto finds himself, there's nothing he can do to change things!

Go ahead and bang your head against that wall, Makoto! I won't try to stop you! But when you're bleeding, I'll be there for you...

Then, I'll accompany Cheng-chan to get treatment and heal his wounded heart... Endure! Lurk!

"..."

Kim Dahyun was eavesdropping on his friend and Mina unnie's conversation, his shifty eyes constantly watching TWICE's every move. I have to say, he's so handsome! The song "STAY" is really shameless!

Mina wasn't chatting with Son Chaeyoung anymore. After she left, she took out her phone and watched the music video in landscape mode. The frame was frozen at the beginning of the music video, showing a photo framed on the wall and magnified by the camera...

After taking a screenshot, she went to the album and carefully and precisely compared the white lines to cut out the group photo from the frame.

Immediately, Mina opened Kakao and sent the photo to Makoto's chat window. Her slender, pale fingers typed rapidly on the screen, her nails neatly trimmed and tinged with a faint pink. When the first line of text appeared, it was accompanied by a threatening, grinning emoji.

"Dress lightly tonight and video chat with me!" (Threat)

She paused, as if remembering something, a sly smile suddenly appearing on her lips, accompanied by a blush. "Chaeyoung has been bullying me lately, so watch out, I'll teach her a lesson she won't forget!" (fist)

The moment she pressed the send button, she slightly raised her chin.

If the women's affairs can't threaten you, then let's try another method! After all, Makoto realized earlier that she wouldn't willingly expose his secrets or help him keep them hidden... but with a flick of her wrist, she could deal with Sana, Nayeon, and Chaeyoung...

She didn't believe that Makoto could sit still. Because no matter what, it was about eliminating a threat, and Makoto knew perfectly well that she was capable of doing such a thing.

So, Makoto, you'd better sit down right now! Take your clothes off!
"Dilili~"

[Little Thief\Makoto]: "Stop messing around! We're getting a little ambiguous, huh~"

"Okay... I'll go to Chaeyoung's dorm tonight and tell her how you touched my feet and how you held my hand..." Mina's cheeks flushed with excitement. Baka! Makoto~ you're really asking for it lately!
"Anyway, Chaeyoung knows we're having an ambiguous relationship, and you even admitted to her in front of her that you like me, Makoto~ Do you think Chaeyoung can handle knowing all this? I'm telling her that the nightgown she wore when she slept with you before was one I deliberately gave to her..."

"What do you think? Besides, didn't I give you pajamas as a birthday present last year? She doesn't know any of that, does she?"

[Little Thief\Cheng-chan]: "Stop fooling around, little baby~"

"To take it off or not?"

[Little Thief\Makoto]: "...We'll talk about it tonight..."

"One last time, are you taking it off or not?"

[Little Thief\Makoto]: "Garlic bird garlic bird~ For Chaeyoung, I..."

[Little Thief\Makoto]: "By the way, are you taking your clothes off?"

Mina sneered, her tone dismissive, "Want to die?"

(End of this chapter)