The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 314 Rabbit-Faced Magic Clash! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
On September 2, international superstar Tarot released two singles from his second full-length album, "The Lovers": "STAY" and "OFF My Face".

"Upon release, the two singles debuted at number one and number two on the charts in multiple countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and topped the charts on major social media platforms and music platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify."

"The title track 'STAY' has once again broken the first-day record set by 'Seorita' in the streaming field. The electronic drum loop is fast-paced and the drumbeats are tight. Tarot's voice is familiar and refreshing, like a refreshing lemon soda on a hot summer day."

"Since Tarot's first full-length album last year, up to STAY, this young superstar's number of hit number one singles is approaching double. STAY has refreshed the Billboard charts today and debuted at number one. A few weeks ago, when Seorita was released, New York media commented that Tarot is rapidly devouring the streaming field like a hurricane."

"But with the release of STAY, this emperor of pop told the world that the streaming industry had entered a period of absolute dominance..."

"In Billboard's summer list of 'Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century,' Tarot is the only Asian face. Since his breakout role in 'Wheel of Fortune & X' in 2017, which brought him into the world's spotlight, Tarot has practically dominated Billboard in just two years. This has allowed him to defy the odds and successfully become one of the greatest pop stars of the 21st century."

"Billboard: Few artists can match Tarot's level of commercial success, performance ability, critical acclaim, awards, industry influence, and iconic cultural moments. Since his debut in the sweltering summer of 2016, he has carved out his own legendary path in the global music scene in a unique way. Few pop artists can become global superstars like Tarot, relying on their unique style and charm. From the Han River Bridge to the Bird's Nest, Tarot has broken through industry barriers and ceilings, achieving extraordinary career success in various fields between rap and pop music. He has never changed his identity as a creator, and has also proven himself to be the most consistent hit-making machine of this century."

……

On September 23, the release of "STAY" and "OFF My Face" sparked global discussion, with media outlets from various countries, music charts, and music critics all reporting on it.

As early as summer, "Tarot" successfully entered the list of the "20 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century". As one of the five most popular male stars in the current situation, "Tarot" is attracting global attention.

With the upcoming world tour of "Cashflow," countless fans from Europe and America have flooded Gong Cheng's personal social media accounts, hoping that tickets for the European tour will go on sale soon.

"Baka! How come the Western media are exaggerating even more than ours?! Miyazaki is the most ferocious tiger in Asia! The destructive dragon of the empire! The emperor of pop culture!"

"I'm numb. Just a year ago, I was a hater of Tarot, and now I'm Shiroko! Brother is awesome!"

"Truly the pride of our Great Hanming Kingdom! A national treasure of our Great Hanming Kingdom!"

"Fuck you! You damn Koreans! Everything is yours? Tarot is clearly Chinese, okay?"

"Tarot has practically slept with all the actresses from our Great Cold Nation, what more do you want?!"

"That's calling for cannons? That's called winning glory for the country! You idiot!"

"That's right, you shameless people from the Korean Peninsula! Miyazaki is clearly Chinese! You're so selfish! Tarot is clearly a treasure of Asia!"

"..."

……

"The Homeless Rescue Center?"

At the Sangam World Cup Stadium, Gong Cheng was not paying attention to outside opinions. Instead, he was seriously preparing for the evening concert, while his good friend Tzuyu kept talking about her plans for the two-day rest period.

"Yeah~"

"The idea for May came to me when my friends and I were doing charity work at a dog rescue center. So later, I went to the pet store and bought you a May."

Tzuyu's soft, sweet voice, coupled with her grin, conveyed a deep desire for her older brother to accompany her.

"Why does it feel like TWICE is about to start a pet-owning craze?"

Gong Cheng glanced suspiciously at the members sitting in the lounge. Some were touching up their makeup, while others were playing on their phones. The girl in front of him seemed to really like dogs, and from what she said, she wanted to adopt a stray dog.

When they bought the puppy in May, the members all expressed that they wanted to practice taking care of it before buying their own puppy or kitten.

"I'm not going to raise one anyway..."

Kim Da-hyun yawned and lay on the sofa like a bachelor.

Are you kidding me?! To raise another one like a little master just to raise one for five months? Wouldn't that be exhausting?!
Especially when we first brought her home in May, she was so small and tiny. Although she has grown a lot bigger now, she is still only a few months old. We only recently switched her to more convenient dog food. Before, we used to make her milk powder, which was exhausting!
Even though the unnies often take care of May, they are a group of careless unnies, with only Tzuyu and Mina unnies being a little more attentive.

"The 26th, I guess?"

"After the concert, I'll go with you to see the rest of the show..."

Gong Cheng pondered the schedule. The concert would end on the 25th, followed by a few days of short adjustment period. Immediately afterward, he would head to Japan to start his tour, which would then include performances in Japan, Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore, and other places. The schedule was quite tight, and his slow-paced life had to be sped up.

"Good~"

Chou Tzu-yu received a satisfactory answer and left happily.

……

At 5 p.m., more than an hour before the concert at Seoul Station was scheduled to begin, the invited guest performers started arriving one after another.

The backstage space of the Shangyan World Cup Arena is very large, with winding corridors that connect to the stage, waiting areas, various lounges, and offices for staff to coordinate the event.

The remaining six members of Bombardment Meteor arrived at the lounge and saw Gong Cheng sitting on the sofa chatting with TWICE and BLACKPINK.

Sehun laughed and shouted, "Maknae..."

"Sehun~"

Gong Cheng replied lazily, turned his head to look at him, and smiled.

TWICE and BLACKPINK members present quickly greeted the popular boy group in front of them. Although the "Ball Group" was formed later, there were quite a few veteran members in it.

"Artillery Regiment" Shuang Pu looked at his younger siblings sitting around Gong Cheng, and his eyelids twitched involuntarily.

"Good for you……"

"When Zhao Meiyan and Irene arrive in a little while, wow, the scene is unimaginable."

Wu Shixun pulled Gong Cheng aside, his voice tinged with admiration, but his mischievous grin betrayed his schadenfreude.

"hehe."

Gong Cheng glanced at him, too lazy to pay him any attention.

As fellow artists signed to different companies, everyone present had met at some point and took the opportunity to chat casually.

Shortly after, solo singer Park Jin-young made a dazzling appearance!

"PDnim..."

Amidst the greetings, Jackson Wang stared in disbelief at Park Jin-young, who was beaming with joy. Park Jin-young appeared to have just come out of the dressing room, still wearing his stage costume—a pinkish-purple gauze bodysuit that resembled a halter top on the upper body.

Her lower body was covered by a thin layer, through which the shorts she wore underneath were clearly visible. She had a dark complexion, distorted facial features, and heavy makeup that made her look very alluring. Her black hair, which was neither too long nor too short, was styled back with hair gel like a hedgehog.

Her upper body was covered by a halter top, revealing two thick, strong arms, and she had also carefully taken care of her underarms.

The guests present were all stunned. JYP artists, including TWICE and Jackson Wang, were shocked, their faces contorted with embarrassment and shame. Kim Da-hyun wiped her mouth hard, her face full of helpless speech.

As for BLACKPINK and the rest of the "Balloon" group, they tried hard to suppress their laughter.

"How about it?"

Park Jin-young laughed shamelessly, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the silent TWICE members. Seeing their heads bowed and unable to meet his eyes, he began calling out names, "Jeongyeon, you tell us."

"..."

Yoo Jeongyeon scratched her short hair, glancing at Gong Cheng for help. Seeing her good friend Hagi Cheng's gloating expression, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "PDnim's look today is very eye-catching, pink suits you very well..."

"Very sexy~"

"Haha..." Park Jin-young laughed confidently upon hearing this, and took a pair of pink sunglasses from a staff member and put them on his face. In his heart, however, he was calculating that since TWICE's individual information was opened up, Yoo Jeong-yeon's resources seemed to be limited.

"Oh right, Jeongyeon, I forgot to tell you, get ready for a regular appearance on a variety show next month, and do your best when you go."

"Moragu?" Yoo Jeongyeon's previously embarrassed expression immediately brightened with joy. "Really Moragu?"

"Aigoo, now that we've opened up access, everyone will have resources... Of course it's true, you can ask your agent for details when you get to the company tomorrow..."

Park Jin-young waved her hand, as if the issue of personal data originally belonged to Yoo Jeong-yeon and had nothing to do with her saying nice things.

The members of BLACKPINK were all a little dumbfounded when they saw this.

Resources are just given away like that?

"PDnim, could you please stay in that position?"

"That domineering gesture he made just now was even cooler than DiCaprio's..."

"I want to take a picture to commemorate this moment."

The TWICE members started praising each other, but Dahyun, holding May, lowered her head with a shifty look on her face. What a bunch of sycophants!

Park Jin-young's face lit up with joy, but his narrowed eyes stared at Kim Da-hyun's unmoved expression.

You little juice!
One last solo!

"Aren't you going to offer a few flattering words?"

Gong Cheng was dumbfounded during yesterday's rehearsal, speechless. Looking at the rather amusing scene before him, he nudged Xiao Guai Duoxian's shoulder and teased him.

"Cut~"

"I've already flattered Oppa, so why would I bother flattering PDnim?"

With a business-like smile, Kim Da-hyun chuckled as she busily adjusted May's dog clothes. "Besides, Oppa will protect me, won't he?" she said, giving a sly smile.

I've done so many bad things for the Great Marshal, he should at least take care of me, right? It might sound shameless, but it's all what I deserve!

"I won't treat you badly!"

Gong Cheng reached out and teased May's dog head, but then came to his senses and turned to stare at the little oddball, "Huh?"

"So all that talk about how I'm a brilliant strategist, incredibly talented, and extremely handsome... was just flattery?"

"Ani! No way!" Kim Dahyun's expression changed immediately, she shrank back, and quickly assured him, "My admiration for Oppa is as clear as day!"

“Oppa is the kind of guy who will succeed at anything! Whenever I slack off in the group, I think of Oppa’s legendary achievements to motivate myself…”

Since it concerned his career development, and he had just offended PDNIM, he had to cling to the big boss's coattails! So much so that when Captain Kim said this, he subconsciously raised his voice and volume, completely forgetting that there were more than a dozen people in the lounge!

Park Jin-young's eyes turned cold. "Aren't you usually quite good at praising others?"

The faces of the TWICE members twitched slightly; Dahyun's flattery was really something else...

Kim Ji-soo stared speechlessly at Gong Cheng's smug expression as he leaned back on the sofa. This guy was incredibly shameless!

Gong Cheng didn't care about the stares of the crowd at all. Instead, he noticed that the little monster Dahyun's face was getting even redder with embarrassment. He patted Dahyun's little shoulder and said, "Dahyun, I think you'll be a great actor in the future!"

"Ani-ah! Oppa~"

"I'm not acting to fool you. Everything I just said is from the bottom of my heart! You all know I wouldn't lie!"

Kim Da-hyun quickly puffed out her chest and said as if to make a guarantee.

Seeing the smug look on General Dou's face, Dou knew that he had already clung to General Dou's coattails as tightly as he could!

At this moment, May, who was lying on the sofa, raised her head and barked twice!
Gong Cheng glanced at May, then reached out and hugged her. "Duo Xian, there's a police movie coming out recently, and they need a police dog!"

What do you think of May?

"..."

xTWICE, BLACKPINK, PUBG, Park Jin-young...

"..." Kim Da-hyun glanced at May with a slight tremor of her cheeks, "I'm afraid May won't be able to endure this suffering..."

……

The Sangam World Cup Stadium is located in the Sangam area of ​​Mapo-gu, Seoul. When viewed from a distance, the architectural design uses natural curves and resembles the local traditional kite and shield, symbolizing flight and victory.

Meanwhile, at exits 1 and 2 of the World Cup Stadium station on Metro Line 6, the area was packed with tourists and locals.

Like a massive marching army, they set off for the Shangyan World Cup Stadium...

Executive Director Long and Washboard, along with Vice President Ning, squeezed into the crowd, holding light sticks and cheering sticks, occasionally observing the people around them.

Liu Zhimin was very pleased to see that almost all of them were holding their own oppa's light sticks, wearing "Tarot" merchandise, or having "Tarot" merchandise such as small dolls and keychains on their clothes!
Oppa should be this popular...

Liu Zhimin, Jin Minzheng, and Ning Yizhuo were all tempted by some of the small doll-related merchandise. Some of them had limited-edition color schemes, and even a small doll-related item had a lot of intricacies.

The dolls are palm-sized, with handsome anime faces and furry bodies. Some wear suits, and some wear casual clothes. These aren't particularly rare items. The main thing is the hair color. The platinum blonde dolls, red-haired dolls, and blonde dolls are all extremely rare.

Even on second-hand websites, the prices listed for transactions are outrageous.

Among the many young girls in the group, there were also fans carrying transparent backpacks. Underneath the transparent rubber material, rows of "Tarot" dolls looked like they were arranged in a display case. Carrying them around attracted the attention of many Akana members!
Kim Minjung pointed to the domineering girl not far away and exclaimed, "Unnie, Ningning, it's Oppa's homemade itabag! There are several very rare dolls."

"Does he look like a Japanese person?" Liu Zhimin said casually, but her eyes were also fixed on the ita-bag.

"..."

The three arrived at the plaza in front of the Shangyan World Cup Stadium and began the ticket check-in process.

Along the way, there were countless nanny vans coming and going. The sharp-eyed Liu Zhimin spotted several of her own company's senior artists, including the disgusting Lim Yoona!

Those ugly guys in XO...

Sometimes she just doesn't understand how XO's "perfect face group" was hyped up.

And there's also Jessica Jung, and Sunny Lee...

Is that G-Dragon?

"Isn't he serving in the military?"

Ning Yizhuo spotted a person wearing a mask not far away. The outline looked very similar to the person in the mask, so she asked him in confusion.

"It seems so... but it's not a big deal."

“Here, military service allows you to book leave in advance. As long as your superior approves, you can travel.”

As a local, Liu Zhimin was very knowledgeable and gave Ning Yizhu a brief explanation: local military service is divided into active duty soldiers and public service soldiers, with different service periods and five service systems, which are assigned based on the results of the physical examination, the type of service, and the length of service.

For example, Level 5: Individuals who have had a serious illness but are capable of living independently need to undergo short-term military training.

Level 4: Physically healthy, can try one year of simple military training.

Level 3: Requires 22 months of service, has suffered injuries but has recovered well, and is capable of performing military missions...

Level 2: ...

Level 1: ...

Ning Yizhuo nodded in agreement and joined the queue to enter. Every now and then, she could hear whispers from the crowd nearby: "Bae Suzy," "Lee Sung-kyung," "Kim Tae-ri," "Song Kang-ho," "BoA," and so on.

"Is the entire local entertainment industry here? So many actors from Chungmuro ​​have come?"

"What do you think? Putting aside Oppa's influence, if Oppa had focused on making movies and dramas after 'Goblin,' Yoo Ah-in might not have been in the spotlight at all. But the entertainment industry in the Korean Peninsula is too small; he might as well have remained a singer..."

"IZ*ONE is here too?"

"They haven't debuted yet?"

"..."

Quiet whispers...

In the backstage dressing room, Kim Dae-woo led Gong Cheng's adoptive parents in with a big smile.

Gong Cheng had just finished styling his outfit for the stage and came out of the dressing room when he saw a familiar face in his line of sight. "Oh, Mom! Dad..."

For a concert in his home country, he would definitely want his parents to be there.

“Uncle and aunt…”

A chorus of greetings swept over them. The foster mother, seeing her son's handsome, radiant face and the little girls who had adored him when she entered, couldn't help but feel proud and happy.

But when she caught sight of Zhao Meiyan smiling gently by the sofa and Lim Nayeon looking enthusiastic on the other side, she felt a pang of sadness in her heart!
Suddenly, Gong Cheng's gaze became somewhat serious.

One look at Zhao Meiyan's expression and she knew that her son hadn't listened to her...

"Auntie, how have you been lately?"

Zhao Meiyan glanced at Lin Nayan, then hurriedly walked to Gong Cheng's adoptive mother's side, her gentle smile and eyes full of tenderness and affection.

Lim Nayeon immediately stood up and quickly walked to Gong Cheng's adoptive father. "Uncle, please sit down. Don't stand. Jeongyeon, get your uncle and aunt a glass of water..." She glanced back at the TWICE members and adopted the demeanor of a big sister!

Everyone had met the male adoptive parents, and the elders had a good relationship in private, and there was even a parent group chat.

Seeing her younger sisters greeting their parents with smiles on their faces, she felt very satisfied. They were all so sensible!

Sana Minato eagerly took over the task from Jeongyeon Yoo, went to the side to get two glasses of water, and handed them to Miyako's parents, "Uncle and Aunt, have some water, sit down and rest."

Hirai Momo stood there somewhat at a loss, really wanting to show off in front of her uncle and aunt!
Why? I'm your future daughter-in-law! But Kyoto Spicy Peach didn't have any good ideas, so she just picked up the snacks from her bag and spread them on the table, "Uncle and Auntie, if you're hungry, have something to eat..."

Son Chaeyoung stood up and greeted everyone with a grin, showing her little tiger teeth, though she looked a little reserved.

But seeing how warmly the unnies were treating him, she didn't want to embarrass herself by going up there. Instead, she turned around, glanced at Gong Cheng who was standing there, and went over to him on tiptoe to help him put on his earring.

Even Mina, who is usually reserved in public, couldn't help but blush and whispered, "Uncle and Aunt, please sit here, it won't be too crowded."

"What did you say, Xiao Nan?"

The foster mother knew the members of TWICE very well and knew they were her son's good friends! But she didn't hear Mina's words clearly, so she asked.

"Auntie, you can sit here, it's spacious here..." Mina's ears were so red they were almost bleeding. She raised her voice a little and said it with great embarrassment.

These are Makoto's parents...

"Thank you, Xiao Nan~" The foster mother chuckled softly, feeling completely overwhelmed by the presence of so many girls and having no chance to pay attention to her own son!

But looking at the expressions of Sana Minatozaki, Mina and the others, she felt that something was not quite right.
Well, this just shows they're all sensible and good kids!

Then, her foster mother slowly sat down in Mina's previous seat. Mina grinned, her fair face turning pink with a wide smile.
Seeing that the unnies were becoming even more sycophantic than she was, Kim Da-hyun felt a little disdainful!
You're not even as good as me!
But when she saw Gong Cheng's adoptive mother looking at her and calling out, "Dahyun-ah~", Tofu immediately bowed her head and smiled obsequiously, "Auntie! It's been a while since I've seen you. Look, this is oppa's little dog~"

As she spoke, she patted May's bottom and said, "Aren't you going to meet your grandparents?"

The foster mother smiled and glanced at May, but before she could have a moment's rest, Lim Nayeon and Zhao Meiyan squeezed in again, flanking her like guardian deities.

Inside the dressing room, after greeting Gong Cheng's parents, the members of (G)I-DLE, Red Velvet, and BLACKPINK silently observed this scene...

Kim Ji-soo watched as Zhao Mei-yan and Gong Cheng's parents got along very well, and for a moment she felt a little jealous!

But she didn't quite understand why Nayeon was so enthusiastic.
That's too enthusiastic...

Kim Jisoo glanced at Gong Cheng, who was smiling calmly, then looked at Zhao Meiyan and Lim Nayeon...

For a moment, a bad feeling crept into her mind. Could it be...?
Does Nayeon like Gong Cheng?

"Auntie, I've been so busy lately. I'm a newcomer, so I haven't had much time to visit you and Uncle..."

Zhao Meiyan pouted pitifully and said in a coquettish tone, "What makes you think you can compete with me? We've met each other's parents..." At the same time, her watery eyes glanced subtly at Lim Nayeon, as if to say, "What makes you think you can compete with me? We've met each other's parents..."

Seeing this, Lim Nayeon immediately huffed, showing her bunny teeth as she glanced at the members around her. Not daring to make too much of a fuss, she said with a grin, "Auntie, TWICE has a holiday recently. We'll come to visit you and Uncle together!"

"Gong Cheng always tells us that your cooking skills are excellent, and everyone wants to try your dishes..."

Sana Minatozaki stared at the boss, who was going all out with her amazing output, with her bright eyes!

Could it be that Unnie knows about what happened between me and Gong Cheng, and is standing up for me? She's such a great older sister! So loyal!

"Yes, Auntie~"

"I want to try it too..." Seeing that (G)I-DLE's Zhao Meiyan, the master's ex-girlfriend, was being a bit arrogant, Hirai Momo had no choice but to pinch her nose and step forward to echo her master's wife's words.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meiyan's expression immediately changed.

Where are my teammates? Why isn't anyone helping me...?

However, the (G)I-DLE members on the sofa behind them were meeting their uncles and aunts for the first time, so they naturally didn't say anything as intimate as TWICE.

With her soft, watery eyes blinking, Zhao Meiyan suddenly turned to look at Kim Jisoo, who was standing silently to the side, and said sweetly, "Auntie~ that's Kim Jisoo, Jisoo... I often tell you, Oppa, Jisoo unnie, and I are very good friends..."

"Didn't you say before that you wanted to meet him?"

Although this move was a bit of a desperate measure, risking inviting trouble, Zhao Meiyan couldn't care less at this point, after all, TWICE had a lot of members! Nine people!
"what?"

Kim Jisoo glanced at Zhao Meiyan, then met Gong Cheng's mother's gaze. She smiled awkwardly, but still forced herself to get up and walk over. "Auntie, nice to meet you. I'm Kim Jisoo..."

She introduced herself softly, poised and confident, but still a little shy inside. Strangely, meeting the uncle and aunt in front of her made her feel somewhat bewildered, yet she genuinely wanted to get closer to them…

As she introduced herself, she glanced discreetly at Gong Cheng not far away.

Gong Cheng remained seated with a smile, calmly adjusting his collar while cooperating with Sun Caiying in fiddling with his earrings. The mischievous little tiger pulled out some sparkly stickers from somewhere and playfully poked at them with her little hands, sticking them onto Gong Cheng's cheek.

To enrich his stage presence...

Gong Cheng ignored this and let the little tiger do whatever it wanted. It was just a few star-shaped stickers, and he felt like he was back to the days when he and the little tiger hid away together.

At this moment, the foster mother's heart was filled with...

Did I really tell Meiyan that I wanted to get to know this seemingly generous and beautiful child in front of me?
I think I heard Zhao Meiyan talk about her friendship with her son once. At that time, she felt that her son hadn't had many friends since he was little, and now that he had finally made a friend, she should bring him home to entertain him.

But at this moment, the adoptive mother's dignified and intellectual face was stiff with a smile, and she was restless and felt like she was sitting on pins and needles!
The two people beside her, Lim Nayeon and Zhao Meiyan, were both related to her son who was standing not far away! Thinking of this, she couldn't help but glare at Gong Cheng, who was standing not far away. She didn't dare to say anything, with so many people around!

Moreover, whether her son was dating Lim Na-yeon or with Cho Mi-yeon, it was all done in secret. If she were to say something inappropriate, it could damage her son's reputation, and it would be even worse for the reputations of the two girls...

Kim Da-hyun: Auntie, does your son really have a good reputation?
"Uncle, Oppa told me that you had some health problems before. My dad is a doctor, and you know him. If you feel unwell, you can contact my dad directly, or you can tell me."

Mina's small figure approached Makoto's adoptive father and whispered something.

But his face turned slightly red when he said this.

Well done! Lim Nayeon was overjoyed!

Mina is so sensible! She deserves a big reward!
Lim Nayeon gave Zhao Meiyan a smug look, and then resumed her magical exchange of blows...

"Thank you, Xiao Nan. Your father and I keep in touch, and he usually keeps an eye on my health," Gong Cheng's adoptive father said with a smile. He had a very good relationship with the parents of the children in front of him.

Mina's father, Mr. Mina, is also a well-known doctor in Japan. When we first met, he knew that she had undergone surgery and had suffered from a serious illness. They would exchange a few pleasantries from time to time and greet each other.

Seeing that her friend Zhao Meiyan seemed to be at a disadvantage, Kim Jisoo glanced at her other friend Lim Nayeon, who was looking smug, and couldn't help but chuckle, not knowing what to say.

But after thinking for a moment, she smiled and looked at Gong Cheng's mother, her voice gentle, "Auntie, then I'll pay you a visit another day?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meiyan beamed with excitement, turning to Kim Jisoo with a praising look, "Unnie, I'll take you there sometime, Auntie's cooking is absolutely delicious~"

The flattering words made Gong Cheng's adoptive mother even more uneasy!

Kim Jisoo ignored Jo Miyeon's praising gaze. Regardless of their relationship, they were both good friends. Her words weren't meant to favor either of them; rather, they were spoken in her own defense…

"Shall we take you there, Jisoo? You can come with TWICE?" Lim Nayeon grinned, trying to win over her friend, then shook Gong Cheng's adoptive mother's arm. "Auntie, you don't know~"

"Actually, Jisoo and I have been friends for many years..."

"We've known each other since elementary school~ We were classmates~" Lim Nayeon said with a hearty laugh, as if she had won a battle!
To kill someone is to destroy their spirit! Your good friend is also my good friend~
"..." What kind of mess is this?! Gong Cheng's adoptive mother, who has been teaching and educating people for so many years, has never encountered such a thing before. Now she wish she could grab her son by the ear and drag him home to give him a good scolding!
Look at the good stuff you've done!
But the environment wasn't right, so she could only nod, smile, nod, and nod again...

"..."

Outside the half-open lounge door, Chou Tzu-yu had been standing there for a while. The halo of the corridor ceiling light fell obliquely on her, casting her shadow on the light gray wall, and the reflected shadow made her tall and perfect figure even more prominent.

She pursed her lips, standing gracefully and observing the situation in the dressing room. She watched as Nayeon unnie seemed to be fighting for TWICE and arguing fiercely with her brother's ex-girlfriend, and then glanced at her brother's current girlfriend, Sana unnie, who looked like a hamster...

They have no fighting ability whatsoever; all they do is nod and agree—no, nod loudly!
She couldn't help but feel a little disdainful... How could she rely on Nayeon unnie if she didn't step up herself?

Then she looked at Mina unnie, who was getting close to her uncle not far away. She had initially understood what her mother had said, but not quite. But now, seeing the expressions on Mina unnie's face as she talked to her uncle...

Chou Tzu-yu understood what her mother meant when she said, "The best toys can be given to the best friends, because of friendship..."

"But there are some things that even good friends can't give up..."

So, she had been standing at the door for quite a while, partly to see if, besides Sana unnie and Mina unnie, she could find two more "little maids" who wanted to enter the harem...

But looking at it from all angles, it seems like only Nayeon unnie is a strong suspect! But in their daily lives, this unnie and her brother don't seem to be alike. Just a couple of days ago during rehearsal, her brother and this unnie even had a bit of a disagreement...

So, Zhou Ziyu guessed that Nayeon unnie was targeting Zhao Meiyan because her brother had scolded her that day and she was holding a grudge.
Her almond-shaped eyes blinked for a long time, looking at the kind auntie, she really couldn't handle it, so she strode in with her long legs to defuse the situation. Because, among the TWICE members, she was the only one who frequently visited her auntie's house…

My relationship with my uncles and aunts is definitely much closer than with the other members...

"Uncle and Auntie~"

"Why are you here?"

Chou Tzu-yu walked in with a look of surprise and delight. Her long, rosy-red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her soft, sweet voice was filled with excitement, "Why didn't you call me beforehand? I would have picked you up!" She grinned, revealing her small, white teeth, her smile innocent and adorable.
As she spoke, she walked over to Gong Cheng's adoptive mother, who was surrounded by Lim Nayeon, Zhao Meiyan, and Kim Jisoo.

"Ziyu..."

"Auntie was just wondering why she hadn't seen you," the foster mother said, her heart pounding with joy at the sight of Zhou Ziyu's timid little face, which was both shy and happy. Finally, someone had come to my rescue! She stood up and took Zhou Ziyu's slender wrist. "Haven't you been eating properly lately?"

"Ziyu, Auntie thinks you've lost weight."

The foster mother looked warmly at the girl who was half a head taller than her, and placed her hands on the girl's taut, straight shoulders. This child, when she came to the family last year, had a face full of childishness and innocence, but now she was less childish and even more beautiful.

But she's become even slimmer. Compared to Cho Mi-yeon and Lim Na-yeon, Tzuyu is someone she treats like her own child. She's younger and has many similar experiences to her own son, which makes her feel a bit of affection for her because of Tzuyu.

As she spoke, the foster mother naturally and effortlessly moved to the open space to the side, finally escaping the encirclement.

"Because she's a celebrity, Auntie..."

"That's why you need to manage your figure~~~"

Chou Tzu-yu blinked, gazing at the genuine concern on her aunt's face, and couldn't help but curl her lips into a silly smile.

"Just because you're an entertainer, you need to eat well even more..." the foster mother said with a touch of heartache, then turned to look at her son sitting not far away, her words tinged with resentment, "You too!"

"Me too?" Gong Cheng's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Oh my god, I'm your son! Your concern is so perfunctory!" He said with amusement, breaking the tense atmosphere from before.

Besides hiding himself from the little tiger, he also exchanged glances with Bae Joo-hyun for quite a while.

"But Mom doesn't really want you as her son anymore..."

His foster mother gave him a meaningful look, and felt a wave of weariness wash over her.

I should have just gone to the audience with my husband. Why did we have to come backstage? And why am I even concerned about this brat! He's practically basking in the company of girls...

"Can't……"

Gong Cheng chuckled and said, then turned around, walked to his adoptive mother's side, and put his tall body around her shoulder. "Didn't you and Dad say I was a filial son? How could a filial son run away? Oh my god, you can't chase me away..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Che Qianhao, "Brother, take my mom and dad to the stands..."

"Remember to cheer for me, Mom~ I'm holding a concert in the biggest stadium..." Gong Cheng watched his adoptive parents' backs as they prepared to escape this place of trouble, and said with a light laugh.

"Alasso, you brat!" Upon hearing this, his foster mother paused, then turned around and came to his side. Looking at her son's handsome features and bright eyes, she reached out and straightened his disheveled bow tie.

"..."

……

"Hyunna~"

"Why don't you get to know my mom and dad?"

Just before the show was about to begin, Gong Cheng and Bae Joo-hyun stood in a corner of the corridor, and he asked in confusion.

"Because I'm observing!"

Bae Joo-hyun chuckled and looked up at Gong Cheng, then handed him the water bottle.

"Observe what?"

Gong Cheng took the water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and saw a layer of light red lip gloss still on the bottle opening. He didn't mind; he'd even kissed and peeled lip gloss for women in Daegu before. He immediately chugled the water, but felt a little nervous inside...

Observation? Could it be that they're observing my relationship with Zhao Meiyan and that Pabu, and also Lin Nayeon?

Would you like to hear my conclusion?

"Tell me about it... but don't make it so formal, it gives me a bad feeling, Hyun-ah..."

Bae Joo-hyun's voice carried a hint of amusement, with a slight upward lilt at the end, "1. Jo Mi-yeon still likes you, 2. Lim Na-yeon also likes you, really likes you, 3. They made Auntie a little uncomfortable just now..."

With each point he made, Gong Cheng's brow twitched...

She paused, then smiled even more broadly, "4. Auntie really likes Chou Tzu-yu."

"maybe……"

Gong Cheng shrugged, a smile spreading across his face. "I care more about whether Nuna likes me, and I also care about why Nuna doesn't do what they do and try to get to know my parents..."

Do you think I don't like you?

"I don't think so, I'm just curious about the last question." Gong Cheng blinked. The women in Daegu aren't stupid. Lim Nayeon is alright, but Zhao Meiyan's behavior makes it clear to almost anyone that she still has designs on him!
"You really want to know?"

A hint of hesitation flashed in Bae Joo-hyun's eyes. She concealed her mischievous smile, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Hey, hurry up and tell me, Hyun-na..." Gong Cheng urged while drinking water.

"My one-year..."

When Bae Joo-hyun said this, her expression was extremely unnatural, and she continued, pursing her lips, "Five years older than you..."

"Cough cough..."

Gong Cheng almost choked on the water she had just swallowed after hearing her answer and her so-called reason!

Bae Joo-hyun quickly patted his hunched back, "Don't you know to drink water slowly? Seriously, you're so careless..."

“Ani ah…”

"Hyun, what are you thinking? What do you mean you were born in '91? If you're Bae Joo-hyun, '81 is fine too..." Gong Cheng said irritably, genuinely surprised by this reason, but then he thought about it again, and realized that women in Daegu are indeed very sensitive about their age.

Even after her debut, the topic of her age and public opinion have accompanied her to this day.

Seeing that Bae Joo-hyun looked much better, he joked, "81 is fine, but 71 is not..."

"Of course I know you won't care about these things, but what if your aunt and uncle mind in the future?"

"We're not the same age..."

Hearing his words, Bae Joo-hyun felt much better. Her furrowed brows relaxed, and she looked at him with a gentle smile.

"They don't care about these things. Actually, Mom and Dad's wish is very simple and has never changed. They just want me to be happy and healthy... Simple, right!"

Gong Cheng chuckled. His adoptive parents might object to him marrying several girls, but they would definitely not object because of age. Besides, five years might seem like a big difference at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was still five years...

"Besides, what's wrong with a girl finding someone younger? It's a matter of mutual consent. If, I mean if... I weren't with you, what if I found someone born in 2004? Eight years younger, right? There are plenty of forty-year-olds dating eighteen-year-olds..."

He patiently and earnestly reassured me, even giving an example.

After hearing this, Bae Joo-hyun agreed, saying it made perfect sense! But then her expression turned cold. "You've got to say it all!"

"You still prefer younger people?"

As she spoke, a teasing smile appeared on her face, and she reached out her small hand to pinch the flesh on his waist.

"I've already said, what if, what if..."

Gong Cheng winced in pain and quickly begged for mercy. Daegu women were too sensitive! He didn't have any friends born in 04 around him, only Li Zhi, Liu Zhen, Executive Director Zhi Long, Little Washboard, and those other kids born in 00…

You might as well find Yoona.

……

"Oh~"

"Unnie, Ningning, look, what a coincidence..."

"Isn't that the girl with the oppa ita bag we saw when we came out of the subway station? Her ticket seat looks like it's right next to us..." In the dimly lit and crowded venue, amidst the deafening noise, Kim Minjung tugged at his two companions' arms and pointed to the girl sitting not far away.

"That Japanese guy?" Liu Zhimin raised an eyebrow.

Ning Yizhuo glanced at her helplessly. Why was this woman always so judgmental? "Unnie, how can you be so sure she's Japanese? We don't even know her..."

"While I was on the subway, I overheard her on the phone, speaking Japanese..."

Liu Zhimin shrugged, revealing the answer. The three of them walked together through the aisle of the seats and found themselves next to the girl from the neon-lit area. Ning Yizhuo sat next to her.

"..."

As soon as Uchinaga Eri sat down, she took out her phone (which had a SIM card labeled "Tarot") from its case, opened the "Book Club" app, took a picture, and posted, "Arrived at Oppa's concert venue~"

Immediately afterwards, it was as if the lights in the hall were being adjusted, and the dim light suddenly became much brighter.

Uchiyoshi glanced sideways at the three girls who had just sat down beside her. The bright light shone on their faces, and her eyes, hidden beneath her bangs, looked at Ning Yizhuo, Liu Zhimin, and Jin Minzheng with surprise...

(End of this chapter)