The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 349 Jisoo's Revenge: Hagi Sung's Life Hangs by a Thread (Bonus Chapter of 10,000 Words for Returning the World and You, Alliance Leader)
"The show's about to start, it's really rushed..."

Arriving at the parking lot of Gocheok Sky Dome, Park Jin-young got out of the car and entered the stadium through the back door with Gong Cheng, talking about the preparations for tonight's Gayo Daejeon: "There are 18 groups in total."

"There were dozens of artists, but most of them were from SM Entertainment."

Gong Cheng strolled leisurely beside him, chuckled, and said, "Of course, NCT alone has more than twenty people, right?"

As far as he knew, the list of performers released by SBS tonight included NCT, and sub-units like 2018 and Dream, all with around twenty members. In the past two years, Lee Soo-man has become completely obsessed with his "infinite expansion" project.

"By the way, I remember back in 16, when Kim Daewoo was a talent scout, he contacted you through the talent scout from SM Entertainment, right?"

Park Jin-young remembered this and asked with a smile.

It was so close! The junior next to me might have gone to SM: "Why did you refuse? I heard that SM's offer to you was an immediate debut, but you would join NCT as a member. But in SM's history, there has never been anyone who debuted so quickly. Even the most privileged members need to train for several months..."

"Generally speaking, a trainee period is necessary, even for members of royal families. However, royal family members train for a few months and then enter the debut list. Compared to those trainees who train for three to five years, or even eight or nine years, it should be difficult for them to refuse."

When old stories came up, Park Jin-young got really into talking about what happened back then.

At the time, he was convinced of his junior's talent, and his junior's mentor, Shin Kyung-ho, strongly recommended him from his alma mater. He guessed that Lee Soo-man of SM Entertainment probably cared more about his junior's looks and Chinese nationality.

He doesn't know anything about music!
Otherwise, I wouldn't have been turned away by SM Entertainment twenty years ago...

"How should I answer you, brother?"

"Actually, when I joined JYP, I didn't really want to..." Gong Cheng said seriously about his thoughts at the time. Unlike those who dreamed of debuting, this kind of thing was optional for him. His Yonsei University degree, plus his talent as a producer.

Even if he doesn't debut, he will still live a very comfortable life in the future. Otherwise, he would have become a trainee long ago, given the countless business cards he has received from talent scouts since he was a child.

"But the reason I rejected SM Entertainment back then was quite simple..."

He suddenly remembered a spring afternoon in 16 when he met a talent scout from SM Entertainment.

"Tell me?"

Park Jin-young pressed for an answer, and the two walked into the narrow corridor toward the backstage lounge of the Gocheok Sky Dome. Along the way, they encountered many staff members who stared at Gong Cheng with shining eyes.

"...Brother, do you think I need so many backup dancers?"

Gong Cheng glanced at Park Jin-young with a slightly teasing yet serious tone as he answered.

"what?"

Park Jin-young was a little stunned when he heard this, but he quickly came to his senses and couldn't help but laugh and pat Gong Cheng on the shoulder: "Aigoo, you little juicy!"

……

After passing through the narrow, dimly lit corridor, the bright lights and spacious lobby immediately opened up the view.

Pushing open the double doors of the lounge, one is greeted by a bustling and noisy environment. Many staff members and agents are hurrying between tables and chairs, chatting with some artists in hushed tones: "The props team needs two more microphone stands!" Shouts rise and fall, mixed with static from walkie-talkies. Everyone has a tense expression on their face as they prepare for the live broadcast.

On the other side of the hall, several sofas created a relatively quiet area. Some artists from other companies were sitting there, some looking down at their phones and silently reading their scripts, while others were talking quietly with their managers. Occasionally, their conversations and laughter would briefly pierce through the surrounding noise.

For IZ*ONE, this was their first time performing at such a large event. The 12 members were crammed onto two long sofas, and several other members, unable to find seats, stood behind the sofas in high heels. They had already changed into their stage costumes, and their exquisite makeup shone brightly under the lights, but they couldn't hide the nervousness and unease between their brows...

After all, the TV station staff on site didn't treat them with the same level of patience they showed to the senior colleagues in the lounge corridor.

"Squeak..."

The moment the lobby door was pushed open, the sound of it opening did not attract anyone's attention. However, Jiang Huiyuan, who was sitting on the sofa with Zhang Yuanying, was positioned directly facing the double doors of the lounge. She watched as the lights inside illuminated the two figures who were about to enter as the doors were pushed open.

A familiar face, full of vigor, an indescribable good mood – Peninsula DiCaprio!

Behind Park Jin-young stood a tall figure, several centimeters taller than Leonardo DiCaprio. Even just standing there casually, he exuded an undeniable aura. His nonchalant eyes beneath his black, tousled hair glanced indifferently at the scene in the lounge. His expressionless face held a faint smile, yet he appeared quite aloof.

A simple brown V-neck cashmere cardigan paired with black straight-leg pants and white sneakers—the seemingly casual outfit makes him appear to have broad shoulders and a narrow waist, creating a perfect proportion.

Jiang Huiyuan stared at the representative's face and figure, completely stunned!

Zhang Yuanying, who was standing next to her, glanced at Gong Chengying again and again until she was staring intently at his slightly smiling features. She clenched her clothes and hurriedly stood up from the sofa, saying awkwardly, "Representative!"

A joyful shout startled the other members of IZ*ONE around her, who quickly looked over. The remaining 11 members sprang up from the sofa and, together with Jang Won-young, bowed to greet her.

“Annyeonghaseyo, Tarot representative, we are [IZ*ONE]…”

Introducing the group name, giving self-introductions... these are training instructions that almost every idol receives from their management company before debuting.

Moreover, the boy standing seven or eight meters away could be said to have personally helped them debut. During the recording of "Produce 48", he gave them a lot of guidance and brought the show the most important exposure and traffic.

Zhang Yuanying's slender figure and bowing lowered her pure, childlike face.

With joyful eyes, they thought to themselves, "Finally, I did it, Representative... to meet you at the event, but this time, they're not trainees."

The greeting from 【IZ*ONE】 was delivered in unison, with a powerful and resounding voice.

This prompted other groups and artists at the scene to immediately realize what was going on. In addition to some newly debuted boy and girl groups this year, there were also some groups that debuted a couple of years ago, were popular for a while, and then faded into obscurity.

“Annyeonghaseyo, Tarot-senpai, we are…”

"..."

Greetings from different groups rang out in the lounge, and the previous noise was replaced by loud slogans and excited voices from each group. Many of them had never seen the world-famous superstar "Tarot" in person.

Many female idols blinked, bit their lips, and stared intently at Gong Cheng, who was standing there with a light laugh... Just kidding, in the K-pop female idol ideal world, she is undoubtedly the TOP1!

"An Ning Haseyo, I am Tarot."

With a light smile, Gong Cheng greeted everyone in the lounge without any airs, then glanced at his "junior brothers," Stray Kids, sitting in the corner. This boy group, which debuted earlier this year, had also been invited to participate in tonight's event.

The company has done a good job over the past year, and at the beginning of next year, it will launch a new generation of girl group [ITZY] after TWICE, with trainees such as Hwang Yeji and Shin Yuna.

It's clear that starting next year, a new generation of boy and girl groups will emerge one after another, and the music competitions of the three major television stations will be more inclined to promote this new generation of boy and girl groups.

Most groups are replaced very quickly by local fans; once the novelty wears off, they lose interest. Meanwhile, some established and popular groups have members who are starting to transition to new roles. This is why major entertainment companies are launching new groups to capture market share.

"..."

After a brief greeting, led by a staff member, Gong Cheng prepared to head to his lounge, passing by the 12 girls from [IZ*ONE].

Zhang Yuanying suddenly bit her pink lips and softly called out, "Representative!"

Her long, slender eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing a hint of nervousness and unease, though she was actually somewhat hurt inside… because in this long-awaited meeting between them, [IZ*ONE], the representative in their sight seemed to have no particular reaction.

Instead, his professional smile, the same one he gave to the other groups in the lounge, his faint smile and nonchalant expression, made them feel that they were insignificant in his heart.

Shouldn't it be a series of friendly greetings like, "Wonyoung, congratulations on your debut!", "Hyewon, your stage performances have improved recently!", "Sakura~", "...", etc.

Zhang Yuanying had originally planned to exchange contact information.

But his indifferent eyes and aloof smile made her feel somewhat apprehensive...

"what happened?"

He had only taken a few steps when Gong Cheng suddenly stopped, his aloof smile vanishing instantly, replaced by obvious surprise.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on Zhang Yuanying standing in front of him. Beneath her smooth, long, curly hair was a face full of collagen, adorned with exquisite makeup, and her pink lips were glossy with lip gloss, looking quite moisturized.

She wore a white cropped top, revealing her slender waist and abs... but she was so thin that it lacked any aesthetic appeal. She was only 14 years old, the age when she should be growing and developing. Underneath the white pleated skirt, her long, slender legs were white and delicate, and she wore flat shoes.

However, he didn't have time to appreciate any of this right now, fearing that the commotion in the lounge would attract the Joker's retaliation!

So, he couldn't wait to get back to the dressing room. Plus, the live stream was about to start, and he needed to quickly check with the director about the opening lineup. They said it would be the grand finale, but with eighteen groups, where the hell were they supposed to stand?!

"I'm... fine..."

Faced with Gong Cheng's unfamiliar tone and expression, Zhang Yuanying couldn't muster the courage to say anything. "Oppa, shall we exchange contact information?"

I chickened out...

Moreover, with so many people around, she found it difficult to speak, but she was even more afraid of being rejected.

"Teacher, do you want some?"

Unlike Zhang Yuanying, Jiang Huiyuan took out a bag of colorful gummy candies from her bag, tore a small opening in it, and handed it over.

"Another weird-flavored candy?"

Gong Cheng looked at [First-Class Innocence] with some suspicion. He had eaten one during the last recording of the show, and it tasted awful!
It's almost comparable to Bae Joo-hyun's pica. As a man who had dated a woman from Daegu, the two knew each other very well. They knew a lot about what Bae Joo-hyun liked to eat and what she didn't like to eat during their time together.

For example, the things this woman eats are either so sweet they hurt your teeth or so sour they make you want to die! She's fed some weird and strange snacks to Gong Cheng, and he really can't stand them, but Pei Zhuxuan eats them with relish, definitely a case of pica.

"what?"

"So, the representative deliberately pranked me last time by saying this candy was delicious?" Jiang Huiyuan's eyes widened suddenly as she remembered what happened last time. She thought the representative really liked this kind of weird-flavored candy, which is why she brought him the same kind today.

"Prank you? I must have nothing better to do..."

Gong Cheng pursed his lips speechlessly upon hearing this, but his gaze suddenly fell on Miyawaki Sakura's slender calves. Her ankles were red and swollen from wearing high heels that were five or six centimeters high. He then glanced at the flat shoes worn by Zhang Yuanying and Ahn Yujin, who were both tall, and then at the ankles of Choi Yena, Kang Hye-won, and the others...

And their cramped sofa.

Due to the height imbalance within the group, taller members wear flat shoes, while shorter members wear high heels. This is typical for girl groups to ensure stage uniformity and visual appeal. Boy groups are similar, except they wear stilts...

"I thought you liked this candy..."

Jiang Huiyuan spoke softly, somewhat annoyed, her relaxed tone contrasting with Gong Cheng's casual conversation, as if the two were having a casual chat.

In the lounge, many artists from various groups cast envious and jealous glances at IZ*ONE and others.

Even the other members of the group [IZ*ONE] were secretly watching Kang Hye-won and Gong Cheng with envy, and listening to their conversation, even though they knew why the other groups present were spying on them.
It's all because of this representative next to me... But how would outsiders know about my family's affairs!
Perhaps only someone as easygoing as Kang Hye-won could get along so naturally with the "Tarot" representative.

"...But it's okay if you don't like it, our agency is famous for making snacks!"

"Whatever you like, I'll mail it to you! Send it to JYP."

Jiang Huiyuan spoke boastfully, raising an eyebrow. She was very grateful to this representative; perhaps without him, she might not have even debuted! And on the night of her debut, he even braved the heavy rain to drive her back to Seoul.

"Haha, when did you become so powerful in your agency?"

Gong Cheng couldn't help but laugh when he heard this, teasingly saying that if he remembered correctly, the company probably didn't even bother to pick up this marginalized person, "First-Class Innocent," on her debut night, right? Although it was true that they didn't believe she would debut, it also showed how much importance she was placed on the agency.

However, now that they've debuted, they can't be compared to their past selves...

"Alright, you guys come with me."

Gong Cheng glanced at Kim Daewoo, who looked impatient, then turned and waved and smiled at the IZ*ONE group.

Why go and represent them?

Jiang Huiyuan gave a wry smile. With so many TV station staff members around, they dared not leave without permission. A single oversight could easily lead to a scolding.

"Why are you still so talkative even after your debut?"

Gong Cheng said impatiently, then turned and left. Several group dressing rooms were already open, and some familiar faces, such as Apink and EXO, greeted him with smiles.

The members of IZ*ONE quickly grabbed their belongings and followed behind Gong Cheng's tall figure, smiling and nervously opening the doors to the lounges on both sides of the corridor. The senior members standing there bowed and greeted them.

"Noona, I'll come find you guys later~ I'm a bit busy right now." Gong Cheng greeted Apink and the others with a smile. Compared to the groups in the lobby outside, he was quite familiar with these artists who had their own dressing rooms.

We collaborated on stage together many times in 16 and 17.

"Snapped!"

The door to the dressing room, marked with a BLACKPINK nameplate, suddenly opened. Kim Jisoo, with her long, reddish-brown hair and cool smoky makeup, leaned against the doorframe, tilting her head slightly, gritting her teeth as she stared at Gong Cheng, letting out a cold laugh: "Heh..."

"Jisoo sunbaenim!"

IZ*ONE and the others quickly greeted them.

"Jisoo-ah~ We're already so familiar with each other... I won't go to your dressing room later."

Gong Cheng chuckled dryly and waved his hand, quickening his pace. He pushed open the door to the lounge, which bore his name tag [Tarot]. Once inside, he casually unscrewed the cap of a bottle of water on a nearby table and took a sip.

Turning around, he discovered that the members of IZ*ONE were standing in the lounge, looking quite uneasy. The 12 of them were crammed in the doorway, looking at each other, not even knowing where to put their hands.

Gong Cheng put down his water bottle and said casually, "Now that the recording of 'Produce 48' is over, there's no need to call me 'representative' anymore..."

As he spoke, he sat down on the single sofa next to him, raised his eyelids and looked at the trainees in front of him, who had changed a lot compared to half a year ago. The difference between the trainees when they debuted and when they were trainees before they became famous was quite large.

With their exquisite makeup and stage presence, the 12 members exude a stronger star quality than before. Just standing there, they really do look like stars.

"Representative, what should we shout?"

As the leader of IZ*ONE, Kwon Eunbi suppressed her excitement and asked nervously.

"casual……"

"Shout whatever you want," Gong Cheng said, unconcerned. He then stood up to leave, saying, "Please sit down. I'll tell the TV station staff that if they need to find you, they should come to my dressing room."

I saw that the feet of the members of IZ*ONE were red and swollen from being rubbed by high heels, so I thought I'd call them to my dressing room. After all, we worked together before, and they always called me "teacher," so helping them out a little wouldn't be a big deal.

Besides, his dressing room is just sitting empty anyway. Since he'd be going to TWICE's dressing room anyway, he might as well let Jang Wonyoung and the others use it for resting.

Upon hearing this, all 12 girls from 【IZ*ONE】 blushed with embarrassment.

She looked at Gong Cheng with deep gratitude in her eyes...

It was actually quite embarrassing; in front of this representative, I didn't even have a lounge to myself.

Zhang Yuanying suddenly felt that the distance between herself and the oppa in front of her had shrunk a bit. Oppa didn't seem so cold after all. At least they, [IZ*ONE], could use his lounge.

The lounge in sight, which represents status and prestige, is very luxurious. It is fully equipped with snacks, drinks, and all kinds of items. Even though this oppa is alone, SBS still reserved this best lounge for him.

But he turned around and gave the lounge to them [IZ*ONE]. You should know that even his juniors [Stray Kids] in the lounge outside didn't get the same treatment as them.

"Then what about you, Oppa?"

Zhang Yuanying tilted her head back, her almond-shaped eyes curving into two crescent moons, her face flushed pink.

Does this mean I'll be sharing a dressing room with Oppa tonight?

"I'm going to TWICE's practice room, so you guys can stay here without worry. If you have any questions, your managers and TV station staff can handle them."

Gong Cheng answered casually, picked up his coat, and prepared to leave the lounge.

He was excited at the thought of meeting his girlfriends, but the thought of taking care of the puppy made him a little nervous, as he was quite shy!
But he estimated that TWICE, BLACKPINK, and Ryderbe should be very busy tonight. Unlike Jo Mi-yeon and (G)I-DLE, who only have one solo stage performance, members like Bae Joo-hyun, Chaeyoung, Dahyun, Jisoo, Tzuyu, and Momo-chan, in addition to their group stages, also have temporary collaboration stages with other group members.

Just like Son Chaeyoung, Chou Tzuyu, and Hirai Momo, tonight they will be collaborating with Ryder Bae's Bae Joo-hyun, Kang Seul-gi, and Park Soo-young to sing "Dreams Come True," a song released by SES in 1998.

Dahyun collaborated with several girl group members to cover Bigbang's song "Flower Road".

Our little monster tofu is getting better!

"Oppa!"

Just as Gong Cheng was about to leave...

"Can we exchange contact information?"

Zhang Yuanying called out to Gong Cheng again, but this time she didn't back down!
Tell me, unnie, I'm not a coward!
A crisp sound rang out in the lounge. All 11 members of IZ*ONE looked at Jang Wonyoung in shock. This maknae (youngest member) was never this bold before. Such a proactive request to exchange contact information should not have come from her mouth.

But when they saw "Tarot" standing in front of the door, they weren't surprised.

On the contrary, some people were actually quite eager to try...

Zhang Yuanying, her chubby cheeks puffed out, gently bit her moist lips, her nervous eyes fixed intently on Gong Cheng: "...Is it okay?"

But the tone was humble, almost pleading.

"sure."

Gong Cheng wondered what was going on, then nodded and smiled as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Zhang Yuanying's eyes lit up instantly. She excitedly pulled out her phone from her bag and quickly ran to Gong Cheng's side.

But as soon as she stood still, she subconsciously took a small step back, maintaining a distance that was both intimate and polite. When Gong Cheng took her phone and focused intently on typing in contact information…

Zhang Yuanying quietly tiptoed and peeked out from behind his broad shoulders and narrow waist. She took a deep breath, and the faint fragrance emanating from him filled her nostrils—the familiar scent from her memory.

She wrinkled her small nose slightly, her eyes filled with longing and satisfaction. Beneath her seemingly reserved exterior, she couldn't help but take a deep sniff!

Oppa, you still smell so good!
This taste is so pure!
SS+, top-quality item!

Just as Gong Cheng handed the phone back to Zhang Yuanying, a soft voice suddenly came from the side: "Oppa, can I add your contact information?"

Gong Cheng turned his head and saw that Miyawaki Sakura, with her medium-length hair, had also come over. Her long hair was draped smoothly over her shoulders, her cheeks were flushed with nervousness, her fingers were nervously twisting the hem of her clothes, and her eyes were filled with expectation, but she avoided Gong Cheng's gaze with some embarrassment. She had obviously mustered up her courage to speak.

"Sakura?"

Gong Cheng smiled and nodded, then exchanged contact information with her. Seeing Quan Enbi and the others looking eager, he quickly said, "Exchanging contact information is fine. Go ask Sakura and Yuan Ying for it. I'll agree."

"Adding them one by one would be too troublesome..."

He said helplessly, then walked out of the lounge decisively.

……

In the lounge, Chou Tzu-yu and Kim Da-hyun were each holding a drink they had just taken from a vending machine when they overheard many celebrities talking amongst themselves.

"Wow! Tarot-senpai, your aura has improved too!"

"He's really handsome!"

"Qinjia? I just went to touch up my makeup, it's such a pity I didn't see her!"

"...But what about IZ*ONE? What did Tarot-senpai call them for? I'm so envious of them, oh dear!"

"What's the point of envying IZ*ONE? You should envy Miyeon, at least she's had a proper relationship..."

After Kim Da-hyun and Chou Tzu-yu passed by, the chatter immediately subsided, and many celebrities greeted them.

Tzuyu nodded with a light laugh, while Dahyun put on a fake, business-like smile! The two then returned to TWICE's dressing room, and as soon as they entered, they saw the center of attention, sitting casually on the sofa, hugging May.

Kim Da-hyun glanced at her "former sister-in-law," Minatozaki Sana, who was sitting not far away, looking down at her phone. She felt that the atmosphere in the dressing room was strange.

"Why don't you go to your dressing room? You've come here to occupy TWICE's dressing room again..."

Yu Dingyan's short hair had grown long by now, with the ends hanging down to the back of her neck. She neatly tied it into a low ponytail and looked at her good brother who was teasing May, making a joke.

"Good brother, Yu Dingding, what's yours and mine?"

Gong Cheng said with a grin, but his eyes were secretly glancing at the little dog sitting on the sofa, keeping his distance from him. The little dog's face, hidden under its long brown curly hair, looked listless and was pretending to be scrolling through videos on its phone.

After I came in, I didn't even look up. I sat down next to her, but instead lifted my butt and moved to another spot without saying a word.

"What Yu Dingding?"

Yu Dingyan asked, puzzled. She knew that some fans called her Yu Dingding, but what was Dingding?

Instead, Mina looked at Miyako with suspicion, "Which Ding?"

"A, B, C, D..."

Gong Cheng looked at Mina in surprise. Could Haki Mina understand such a ridiculous joke of his?
Mina's fair face twitched immediately. She sat next to Miyako and whispered, "Where's Jihyo?"

"Park Ji-byung..."

Seeing that [Saury] had returned, Gong Cheng couldn't help but move closer to Mina and whisper to her.

"Good for you!"

Mina couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, but the thaw in their relationship and the feeling of their shoulders touching made her think that Makoto wasn't angry about what happened last time? Well, Makoto, a player like him must know what it means to cut your losses in time.

So much so that her usually cool and aloof expression was now beaming with joy.

But this close proximity seemed rather ambiguous to Chou Tzu-yu!

Her almond-shaped eyes turned cold, but she walked over calmly and handed the drink she had just bought to Gong Cheng: "You gave up your brother's lounge to [IZ*ONE], didn't you?"

The soft, gentle voice, neither too loud nor too soft, immediately made the other members frown.

Even Sana Minatozaki, who was sitting on the side pretending to play on her phone but was actually eavesdropping on Makoto Miyamoto's conversation, couldn't help but look up.

Lim Nayeon, Son Chaeyoung, Hirai Momo, and Mani all looked rather grim!

This male relative is a repeat offender!

"Inside!"

"We've recorded together before, so I'll take care of you."

Gong Cheng said frankly, "I have a clear conscience, okay?"

He and [IZ*ONE] are completely innocent, and he has nothing to hide. He hasn't been this assertive in a long time!

"You're quite good at taking care of people!"

Sana Minato said sarcastically, her anger burning inside! In her opinion, the first thing you should do when you return to Seoul is not to comfort me, coax me, or come to see me right away, but you can't just turn around and take care of other little girls, can you?
Even after we broke up, she still harasses me on Kakao every day?

There's absolutely no sincerity...

"Oh, Ani..."

Gong Cheng retorted softly, then looked into her eyes, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Didn't you fail to take good care of Sana-chan?"

"Who needs your care?"

Sana Minatosaki threw a little tantrum and said something rather confrontational.

Kim Da-hyun, noticing the sensitive topic, quickly glanced at the expressions of the other "sisters-in-law." Sure enough, Mina, Tzuyu, and Chaeyoung's faces were already quite unpleasant. She immediately grinned and sidled up to Gong Cheng, saying, "That's right~"

"How could Sana unnie possibly need your care?"

"Oppa, you should take better care of me~ I'm filming in Chungmuro ​​recently, and I'm quite nervous."

Compared to Son Chaeyoung and the others, Lim Nayeon was unaware of the relationship between Gong Cheng and Minatozaki Sana, but she felt that her boyfriend's joking and flirtatious nature was not good, just like Kim Jisoo, Jo Miyeon, and Bae Joo-hyun.

If you keep making fun of others like this all day, isn't it easy for things to escalate into a fight?

"If you're taking such good care of [IZ*ONE], why don't you share a lounge with them?"

She pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.

"That's right~"

Mina decisively joined a tour group!
Makoto, lacking self-control, is genuinely afraid that Makoto might somehow create a female confidante out of [IZ*ONE]...

“I just passed by the lounge with Dahyun, and there were quite a few celebrities saying something... saying that you have a girlfriend in IZ*ONE.”

Chou Tzu-yu also came over, holding an unopened glass of juice. Her little face was scrunched up, and she put on a serious "it's for your own good" expression, but her tone was soft: "Brother, if you're too nice to others, it can really cause misunderstandings~"

As she spoke, she sighed softly, as if she were worried for him, her eyes filled with helplessness that seemed to say, "Why don't you pay any attention at all?"

"Oppa, eat some potato chips!"

Hirai Momo stared blankly at the other members' advice!
Deep down, I just found them ridiculous. Could someone like my master ever change?
Son Chae-young shared the same thought, though she wasn't as sensitive. To be honest, she felt that most of the newly debuted artists couldn't attract their own boyfriends.

"Then I'll go?"

Gong Cheng looked at the group of members taking turns "lecturing" him and sighed helplessly, thinking, "They really need to be taught a lesson! One after another!"
Even his trusted confidant, Little Strange Tofu, put on an expression that said, "This old minister seconded the motion!"

"Let's go find [IZ*ONE], your lounge is big enough anyway."

Sana Minatozaki was furious when she looked at her little cabbage!

Lim Na-yeon nodded, agreeing that she had been too lenient with her male parent and needed to be properly disciplined.

She really can't handle it if another "ex-girlfriend" pops up tomorrow...

"Let's go!"

Haki Cheng stood up angrily, holding May, but after taking only two steps, he suddenly turned around, looked at the girls' pouting expressions, and said with a smile, "I'll go to Ryderbe's dressing room, or go to BLACKPINK."

Ryder Baby has Bae Joo-hyun, and BLACKPINK has Kim Ji-soo; they know that.

As he spoke, he swaggered towards the door of the lounge...

"You're not allowed to go!!!"

Lim Nayeon grinned, showing her rabbit teeth, and suddenly jumped up, shouting.

"We were just joking with you, brother..."

Tzuyu pursed her lips, her almond-shaped eyes trembling slightly... It was so hard for her brother to break up with Sana unnie, and then with Bae Joohyun, and there was also the ambiguous relationship with Kim Jisoo. She couldn't let them rekindle their old flame!

"..."

Sana Minatozaki didn't say anything, but her bright eyes seemed to be spitting out anger, expressing her attitude.

"~Makoto-chan~ Come back and sit down, okay~"

Mina's lips trembled slightly as she called out, trying to pull him back!
I knew it! Makoto is the real boss... His complicated relationships with his girlfriends are something they all know a thing or two about. As his girlfriends' bottom line gradually gets lower and lower, he becomes even more lawless!
Son Chaeyoung crossed her legs with a cold laugh!
I couldn't help but think to myself, "You guys are really flying around..."

……

After the brief incident, Gong Cheng naturally did not go to Ryderbebe or BLACKPINK's dressing room.

Not long after, the SBS 2018 Gayo Daejeon began.

In the waiting area, Gong Cheng ran into Ryder Baby, EXO, GOT7, Ikon, BLACKPINK, (G)I-DLE and other groups. He gave them brief greetings. Whether it was Zhao Meiyan or Bae Joo-hyun, everyone was very tactful and didn't say much during this work period.

However, many of the Taoist priests' eyes kept darting back and forth between Gong Cheng and Zhao Meiyan...

"..."

On stage, the live broadcast cameras were already on. Bombardment Meteor and BLACKPINK, as the opening duo, took to the stage first, and the crowd at Gocheok Sky Dome instantly erupted in deafening screams!

"Ahhh! Bombardment Meteor!"

"BLACKPINK!"

The cheers and light sticks for both groups rang out in the venue, but it was clear that the cheers for "Stargazers" were much louder than those for BLACKPINK. After all, as the first group to reach the top in this generation, they have reached a height that surpasses that of all previous groups to reach the top.

"Where's Tarot oppa?"

Amidst the doubts of many fans at the scene, Ryderbabe was the third to appear, followed by the other groups. When more than a dozen groups took the stage, the girl group TWICE appeared as the final act, led by Lim Nayeon, wearing a tight-fitting short denim jacket, paired with a red pencil skirt and black knee-high boots.

The nine members' outfits mostly featured a combination of red and black, with red shirts and black skirts, or red and black dresses, prompting the ONCEs at the scene to cheer with all their might, "Oh oh~! Yahoo~!"

Park Jin-young stood in the center of TWICE, and after his entrance, he stood with the other groups on stage.

"..."

The atmosphere at the SBS Gayo Daejeon was electric. On the giant LED screen behind the stage, the director's camera kept switching between shots, sometimes zooming in to capture the artists' subtle expressions while they were singing, and sometimes zooming out to show off the groups' synchronized dance formations and their impressive physiques.

Whenever a group takes the stage to the beat of the music, their name instantly lights up on the screen, the dazzling lettering combined with the brilliant lights eliciting screams from the fans below the stage, immersing the entire venue in a passionate atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in the waiting area on the side of the stage, Gong Cheng stood quietly with his hands in his pockets...

The corridor was dimly lit, with only a few emergency lights overhead casting a faint glow that made his figure appear even more upright. The artists who had appeared earlier had already finished their routines, leaving him alone in the corridor, the air filled with the sounds of music and cheers drifting from afar.

At this moment, the staff member in charge of guiding him gave him a "you can go on stage" gesture. Gong Cheng nodded slightly, then took long strides and steadily walked forward along the dimly lit passage to the steps on the side of the stage.

"Ahhh!" The audience at the Gocheok Sky Dome had just calmed down their cheers for TWICE when the screen suddenly switched. The scrolling name "Twice" disappeared and was replaced by the silver word "Tarot".

In the LED screen, under the director's camera, Gong Cheng's superior physique with broad shoulders and a narrow waist was clearly displayed. The neatly tailored matte black suit made his shoulder line appear even straighter and broader. As he fully walked onto the stage, the director's camera slowly zoomed in, switching from a full-body shot to a half-body shot...

A casual, faint smile was clearly visible on his handsome features. His eyes, hidden beneath his black, tousled hair, narrowed slightly as he looked at the audience below the stage and waved.

It instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the entire audience, with cheers and screams even louder than before, almost lifting the roof off the venue...

“TTTTarot!”

"Oppa! Ahhhhh!"

The moment Gong Cheng appeared, a deafening roar erupted from the audience like thunder. The sharp and powerful cheers pierced through every corner of the venue, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

A large number of audience members and fans stood up, stood on tiptoe and roared towards the stage, waving their silver light sticks.

"Saranghae~~~~"

Liu Zhimin and the others sitting inside stood up one by one, stretched their necks, and shouted at the top of their lungs!

Amidst deafening cheers, the hundred or so artists standing on the stage couldn't help but click their tongues as they looked down at the frenzied audience. In BLACKPINK's lineup, Jennie couldn't help but exclaim, "This guy has turned the Gayo Daejeon into a concert."

Standing beside her were Ryderbabe, the "Pao Tuan" group, and IZ*ONE, all looking on with envy at Gong Cheng, who was surrounded by cheers from thousands of people on stage. Her tall figure stood calmly under the spotlight, and under the guidance of the host, senior BoA, she stood in the very front row, in the center position.

"concert?"

"If our maknae heard you say that, what do you think he would say?" Park Chanyeol, standing in the "Paobang" line, chatted with Kim Jennie with a smile. During the opening ceremony, no one wore earpieces or anything, and with such loud cheering, it was normal to chat quietly.

Jisoo knew Gong Cheng's personality well. Her eyes, framed by smoky makeup, paused for a moment before continuing, "He wouldn't hold a concert in such a small venue..."

Jackson Wang laughed and chimed in, "You guessed right!"

The members of IZ*ONE listened with longing and anticipation. The Gocheok Sky Dome, as the first dome stadium on the peninsula, hosts numerous large-scale events, and its capacity has always been a subject of much attention. During baseball games, it can provide 18,000 fixed seats, while for concerts and other events, through careful planning of standing areas, it can accommodate up to 25,000 spectators.

But considering that the tour that represents the second half of the year will be held in venues with a capacity of almost 50,000 people, or even venues like the Bird's Nest with a capacity of 100,000 people, and the "Sunrise Concert" by the sea with a capacity of over 100,000 people per show, and every seat is filled, it is not surprising.

Zhang Yuanying stood in the back row, her view blocked by the surging crowd of celebrities in front of her. She tiptoed slightly, blinked her bright eyes, and tried to peer through the gaps in the crowd. Finally, in the center of the first row, she caught sight of that familiar figure. However, from her angle, she could only see Gong Cheng's back.

...Amidst the enthusiastic cheers, that tall figure, bathed in the glow of the stage lights, was dazzlingly bright. He raised his chin, as if looking at the spotlight sweeping across the dome of the giant dome... Zhang Yuanying quietly watched this scene, wondering what Oppa was thinking at that moment.
"..."

After a simple opening, Stray Kids began their stage performance, while other artists went offstage one after another to go backstage to change into their costumes and prepare.

TWICE's nine members also hurriedly left the stage and rushed to the dressing room. In addition to their group stage performances, almost each of them has their own collaborative stage performances, unlike Gong Cheng, who only needs to appear on the final stage at the end of the Gayo Daejeon.

Gong Cheng then presented two songs as the finale: "Blinding Lights," currently the most popular song, and "Sunflower," the theme song from the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Choosing Korean songs would have been the best option, but in recent years, he hasn't produced or released many Korean singles for his solo albums, so he abandoned that idea.

"How is it going?"

Gong Cheng, who was a few steps behind, waited for Bae Joo-hyun in the corridor leading to the lounge. He asked her softly with a bright smile.

"Absolutely wonderful..."

Bae Joo-hyun lowered her eyelids and walked quietly against the wall.

She knew this jerk; besides harassing her on Kakao, the first thing he'd do upon returning to Seoul was definitely look for her!
However, she was still very happy, just afraid that he wouldn't come.

Little did they know, behind their quiet conversation, Kim Jisoo, frowning, quietly followed behind them. She casually took a drink from the vending machine, preparing to find an opportunity to give a good beating to a certain "newborn angel".

Tonight, apart from BLACKPINK's group stage performance in the second half of the show, she had almost no solo performances and was quite relaxed!
"..."

In a crowded and noisy place, Gong Cheng and Pei Zhuxuan chatted about trivial things until they reached the door of Ryderbebe's lounge, where he was about to leave.

He wasn't in a hurry about the matter of his girlfriend in Daegu.

Bae Joo-hyun smiled brightly, her face radiant with confidence. Just as she turned and pushed open the door to the lounge, she caught a glimpse of a furtive figure standing in the corridor, his gaze fixed intently on her. She glanced at Kim Ji-soo's expressionless face, then looked up at Gong Cheng and said:
"Come in and sit down?"

"Seulgi, Wendy and the others have gone to prepare for their collaboration stage."

Actually, she should be preparing for her collaboration stage with Twice's Tzuyu, Momo Hirai, and Chaeyoung, but the show is in the middle, so there's no rush.

"So what if Seulgi and the others are here?"

Gong Cheng grimaced at her words, feeling displeased. It sounded like they were having an affair. Although he secretly hoped to have a long talk, he suppressed his excitement and rushed back to Seoul from Meyer to participate in the Gayo Daejeon.

More than two hours later, he still had two more songs to sing in a row, so he needed a break. "Garlic Bird..."

Before he could finish speaking, Bae Joo-hyun seemed to sense that he wanted to refuse. She glanced at the corridor and saw that apart from Kim Ji-soo, who was standing like a gatekeeper, there was no one else there. The corridor of the dressing room was straight, and the artists who had private dressing rooms were all in their dressing rooms at the moment. The staff would not come over easily unless they were urging the artists to go on stage.

They were all busy in the lobby and backstage, working on the on-site machinery, sound mixing, and other equipment...

So Bae Joo-hyun grabbed Gong Cheng's wrist and pulled him into the lounge: "You came because I told you to!" The moment she entered, she gave Kim Ji-soo a rather cold look with her bright features.

Am I the other woman?
And how much better can you be! She found out during the last rehearsal that Kim Jisoo, who was being played, couldn't hold back any longer!
You bastard! Whether you're helping Zhao Meiyan or calling me a "homewrecker," it all comes down to you!
"..." Gong Cheng reluctantly entered Ryderbebe's lounge, while in the corridor, Kim Jisoo, who had been expressionless, suddenly trembled! Was Bae Joo-hyun provoking her?

She clutched the beverage bottle and quietly walked over; the door to the lounge seemed to have been deliberately left ajar.

Kim Ji-soo originally planned to find an opportunity to ambush Gong Cheng and teach this "Newborn Dawn" a lesson, but now she wanted to see if this pair of scoundrels would start colluding again.

But glancing around at the quiet corridor, no one seemed to care!
But deep down, she dared not imagine what the two of them were doing in the lounge!

In broad daylight, aren't they afraid of being seen? The more Kim Ji-soo thought about it, the more her heart trembled. So she stood in front of the lounge door, completely acting as a "gatekeeper." It wasn't to protect them; she just wanted to see what Gong Cheng and Bae Joo-hyun were doing!
Do you even respect me?!

I promised to stalk that [New Dawn of the East] for a lifetime, and I must keep my word. Not a second less than that doesn't count as a lifetime!

……

The lounge was dimly lit. Gong Cheng leaned back on the sofa, a faint smile playing on his lips, his tone slightly teasing: "Why is Nuna more passionate than before after we broke up?"

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on her without any attempt to conceal it. She wore a long white shirt dress that reached her calves, outlining her slender figure. A matching leather belt cinched her waist, and she wore white stiletto heels. While these heels didn't make her short legs appear exceptionally long, they added a touch of elegance to her aura.

Her long, straight black hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, making her already striking and elegant features even more defined. In particular, the bright red lipstick on her lips was rich and full, giving her an undeniably sophisticated and mature look.

Bae Joo-hyun smiled slightly upon hearing this, her eyes narrowing slightly with a knowing slyness: "Don't you like things passionate?"

As she spoke, she slowly walked to the sofa and sat down, but her eyes subtly swept over the deliberately ajar door of the lounge. A certain doorman, though hiding outside the lounge door, cast a bright shadow on the ground. She curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

Is the fourth mistress here to peek at the third mistress?
How intense will that anger be?

Gong Cheng followed her gaze. He had noticed Kim Ji-soo following him earlier, so he naturally knew what Bae Joo-hyun was up to!
Is this someone taking revenge on Xiuxiu by using themselves?
His teasing gaze fell on Bae Joo-hyun's bright face, wanting to see what else she wanted to do. Actually, no matter what she did, he wouldn't lose out—it wasn't his own daughter outside the door!

If Bae Joo-hyun doesn't deal with Kim Ji-soo, then Kim Ji-soo will have to deal with herself...

"Guess it?"

As Bae Joo-hyun spoke, she couldn't help but blush under his gaze. This shameless bastard! He was clearly planning to take advantage of her, but the "gatekeeper" was outside, and the person had already been invited in. If she didn't do anything, wouldn't it be a waste for the person to come and "stand guard"?

That would be too ridiculous...

"I won't guess..."

Inside the lounge, Kim Ji-soo, who was listening to the conversation between the two outside the door, was completely confused. She couldn't help but turn her body slightly and glance at the scene inside. Gong Cheng, who was sitting on the sofa with his back to her, spoke casually, but she couldn't see his face clearly. However, she could hear the smile in his words.

This "Emerging Dawn" guy actually seemed to be having a great time chatting?
"Jisoo, what are you doing here?" Suddenly, a curious voice came from the corridor. Kim Jisoo turned around sharply and saw it was Apink's Jung Eunji. Seeing that she was about to pass by, she hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said:
"Senior Eunji, the lounge is too stuffy, I came out for some fresh air..."

As Jung Eun-ji drew closer, Kim Ji-soo, with her back against the door of Ryderbabe's dressing room, suddenly raised her hand, grasped the doorknob, and gently closed the door.

"???"

In the lounge, Gong Cheng stared wide-eyed, turning his head in disbelief to look at the door that creaked shut with a soft click... Hagi Xiu!

what are you doing!
He and Bae Joo-hyun didn't do anything!
In the corridor, Jung Eunji adjusted her in-ear monitor and said with a smile, "Oh, I see... I'll talk to you later, Jisoo, I have to go on stage!"

"Yes, Senior Onji!"

Kim Jisoo forced a smile and nodded. After Jung Eunji walked away, she looked down at her own foolish hand!

Anger welled up inside her. Kim Jisoo! Don't you have any self-respect?!

However, just as she closed the door, she cleverly left it slightly ajar, so that she could still "peek" through the crack inside.

……

"Aren't we just friends?"

A smile flashed in Gong Cheng's eyes. He wasn't paying attention to what was happening outside the door behind him, but no matter what, Daegu's matriarch had called him in, so there was no reason for him to leave empty-handed!
"Oh..."

Bae Joo-hyun observed the situation outside the crack in the door. The "door god" was still dutifully performing his duties, but upon hearing Gong Cheng's shameless words, her face flushed red, and she glared at him coquettishly, asking, "What do you want to do?"

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly at how much of a jerk this guy was! Weren't you still flirting with Kim Jisoo?
The person is right outside the door, how dare you...

"To celebrate our lip-to-lip friendship, shall we give each other another kiss?"

Gong Cheng chuckled softly, his smile growing ever wider.

Want to use Master Gong? Fine!
But we must ensure that "the thief doesn't leave empty-handed"...

"...Heh, could you be any more shameless?"

Bae Joo-hyun was also in an awkward position. Should she really kiss him in front of Kim Ji-soo? They usually did it in private, but with Kim Ji-soo outside the door, she was really embarrassed. But then she thought of someone pointing at her and calling her a "homewrecker"!
But then, behind her back, she flirted with her "first love," and all the inner turmoil and hesitation vanished instantly. Moreover, calling Gong Cheng to the lounge wasn't entirely to spite Kim Ji-soo; honestly, facing her "first love," she genuinely missed Gong Cheng…

She also had her needs, but she wasn't in a hurry to reconcile with Gong Cheng because, in her opinion, her ex-boyfriend's philandering nature still needed to be tempered.

"Alright, just kidding, I'm leaving..."

Gong Cheng then stood up and said with a grin.

Kim Jisoo might still be outside the door; he couldn't do something like that! Otherwise, Jisoo would be sad and heartbroken again, and he really couldn't bear it; it would break his heart!

So it was just to scare Bae Joo-hyun...

……

Kim Ji-soo, standing outside the door, felt a sense of relief upon hearing Gong Cheng's words.

But Bae Joo-hyun inside the room was unhappy. She stood up and suddenly leaned close to Gong Cheng's face, her bright red lips gently pecking at the corner of his mouth. This scene made Kim Ji-soo outside the door so angry that her face twisted and her lungs felt like they were about to explode!

You—shut up!
Gong Cheng was also a little confused, but when he thought about how Bae Joo-hyun dared to kiss him in front of Jo Mi-yeon in Jakarta, he wasn't so surprised. "Aigoo, another surprise attack?"

"It wasn't exactly a surprise attack. You said it yourself, let's celebrate our lip-to-lip friendship!" Bae Joo-hyun released his neck, raised her hand to smooth her hair, and glanced provocatively at a pair of dark eyes peeking through the crack in the door!
Am I the other woman?
You're still calling yourself Guo Jingming!
You're the best!

You still have to stand at attention and guard outside for me!

Her flushed face darkened, and Bae Joo-hyun's petite frame settled back on the sofa. After a moment's thought, she added, "As for other matters, it's not convenient here..."

She deliberately spoke ambiguous and suggestive words to Kim Jisoo outside the door!

It's what hasn't happened that's easiest to overthink!

Just like when she learned that Kim Jisoo had spent the previous few days in the United States with Gong Cheng, Bae Joo-hyun couldn't sleep for several nights, worrying that something might have happened between the two of them...

……

When Gong Cheng rubbed his cheeks and stood up with a wry smile, he guessed that our Xiu Xiu should still be keeping watch outside the door!

But he was happy to see the women getting involved in the power struggles!

But... how heartbroken must our Xiuxiu be? However, all of this is like the "growing pains" of rebuilding a chess game, and Haki is in deep pain!

So, Gong Cheng didn't linger and went straight to open the door to the lounge, where he saw Kim Jisoo with a cold expression: "What a coincidence~ Jisoo~"

He brazenly greeted her, showing no sign that he already knew she had been standing at the door for quite some time...

"Yeah, I just arrived!"

Kim Jisoo didn't want to admit to spying! Her indifferent features restored her "cool and aloof" persona!
"...Okay, I'll go back to the lounge now..."

Gong Cheng didn't want to make a fool of himself; Jisoo had already been very kind by not beating him up on the spot! But as soon as he turned around...

With a gritted-teeth expression, Kim Jisoo glanced back at her surroundings.

She gripped the drink bottle tightly, raised it eagerly, and prepared to give him a good whack!
"..."

Gong Cheng listened to the footsteps still following him, chuckled twice, then suddenly turned around and stared at Kim Jisoo, who had a fierce look on her face. He was still clutching a bottle of Pocari Sweat electrolyte drink in his hand, to prevent our Jisoo from going down the path of "illegal and criminal activities".

He chuckled and took the drink bottle from Kim Jisoo's hand. "Is this for me?" he asked, then took a sip before smiling broadly and saying, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome!"

Kim Jisoo lowered her head sullenly and responded with a single sound.

Shivering cold...

When she looked up again, a certain "New Dawn" had already walked away, pushed open the door to TWICE's dressing room, and went inside!

……

In the time that followed, one stage after another appeared at the Gocheok Sky Dome…

During TWICE's performance, Gong Cheng went to (G)I-DLE's dressing room and chatted with Song Yuqi, Tian Xiaojuan, and others for a while, while also expressing his high regard for Zhao Meiyan!

As for the previous incident where Zhao Meiyan, Zhou Tzuyu, and Mina were forced to "join forces" to take away Minato, he didn't pay any attention to it!
There's nothing more to say now...

If you don't want to do addition and subtraction, but someone else does it for you, then you can only stabilize the current situation first; you can't keep subtracting.

……

The three-hour SBS Gayo Daejeon was drawing to a close, but the enthusiasm at the venue showed no signs of waning; in fact, it grew even stronger as the finale approached. The cheers of 25,000 audience members merged into a surging wave of sound, causing the dome of the Gocheok Sky Dome to tremble slightly. A sea of ​​silver light sticks rose and fell, like a boiling galaxy, illuminating the entire venue with extraordinary brilliance.

In the front row of the inner field, Yoo Jimin, Kim Minjung, Ning Yizhuo, and Nai Yongzhili tightly gripped their light sticks, their faces flushed with excitement, their eyes fixed on the center of the stage.

When the host announced the name "Tarot," almost everyone in the audience held their breath and leaned forward involuntarily. The stage they had been waiting for all night was finally about to begin.

Just then, the platform in the center of the stage slowly rose up...

Gong Cheng's tall figure gradually appeared before everyone's eyes. The LED screen on site instantly zoomed in. His black, tousled hair was carefully styled, and he wore black retro sunglasses on his high nose. He had a slight smile on his lips and wore a red LV suit with no tie at the collar, breaking the dullness of the formal attire and adding a touch of unruly fashion sense.

When the intro to "Blinding Lights" started playing in the venue.

The platform was fully raised, and a spotlight shone on Gong Cheng's red suit fabric. With a flamboyant and arrogant smile, he adjusted his in-ear monitor while greeting the audience.

The rapid drumbeats are as intense as a heartbeat, carrying the languid and restless energy of 80s retro disco...

"I've always longed for this~ I've been alone for so long~"

"Maybe you can teach me how to love~"

Her sexy and captivating voice carries a strong dark R&B vibe.

In the waiting area, many artists were on the side of the stage, enjoying a close-up look at the performance of this superstar who has gone from a local sensation to a global pop star. Kim Jisoo was among them, with her arms crossed, wearing a colorful long-sleeved top and a bodycon skirt with a courtly style.

She hadn't had time to change out of the costume she wore on stage earlier. She wanted to see what this song written for her was all about!
I looked around.

"This city of sin is cold and desolate."

Amidst the chorus of over 20,000 people, Gong Cheng stood at the top of the rising stage with a smile on his face. He picked up the microphone and sang while gazing at the inner audience seats in all directions, including the sea of ​​silver sound source lights at the "mountain top." From his perspective on the high platform, the dark venue looked as if it were surrounded by a "galaxy"!
Then, Haji Cheng sang even more enthusiastically!
The global success of "Blinding Lights" meant that the lyrics were almost instantly familiar to the fans at the concert!

"oh~"

"No one was there to push me forward. I'm not quite sure when you left."

Liu Zhimin had already jumped up from her seat, waving her light stick and singing the lyrics loudly! Ning Yizhuo, Nai Yongzhili, and Jin Minzheng next to her were also nodding and swaying their heads!
In the field of vision, on the largest LED screen of the Gochi Sky Dome, "Tarot's" upright figure, coupled with his red suit, is particularly eye-catching. His casual dance moves are as if he is dancing in a deserted place!
In that instant, the previously dark "galaxy" inside the giant egg suddenly had hundreds of spotlights on the dome turn on, and various colored laser lights, like laser beams, shone onto the high platform.

“oh~oh~”

On the LED screen, Gong Cheng's figure was outlined more vividly by the light and shadow, and beams of light of different colors enveloped him like a tide... He gripped the microphone tightly in his right hand, slowly raised his cheek, and the retro black sunglasses on his nose instantly became the focus of the entire venue:
"I was blinded by the dazzling lights~~~"

Immediately afterward, the director's camera focused on his face... The fragmented and colorful light and shadows hit the lens, refracting into dazzling patterns. He tilted his head slightly, making it impossible to see the emotions in his eyes, but it only added to his mystery and handsomeness.

The light patterns on his sunglasses swayed, and in time with the rhythm of the music, Gong Cheng nodded slightly. His handsome features tilted back at a forty-five-degree angle, his cheeks, covered in light and shadow, shimmered with dazzling colors: "I can't feel your warmth~ I can't fall asleep~"

"I almost suffocated in the darkness!"

……

In the lobby of Lotte Department Store in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, a huge LED screen was playing the live broadcast of tonight's SBS Gayo Daejeon. It was past 10 p.m. and the area was packed with tourists, passersby, and fans!

As Gong Cheng's radiant face appeared in high definition on the LED screen under the lights, the fans gathered in the lobby of Lotte World instantly erupted in excitement!

"Wow! Another amazing picture! A god-tier piece!"

"Aigoo... Does anyone know how to take a close-up shot like this? The lights on the sunglasses! Ahhhhh! So cool!"

"Oppa, please participate in more events! Every appearance is a masterpiece!"

As a die-hard fan of "Tarot," Lee Bo-na was among them. She gripped her friend's wrist with trembling hands and said, "This picture will definitely go viral after tonight, Eun-seo!"

As she spoke excitedly, the live stream continued to broadcast in real time. Her sexy and charming voice and the soothing rhythm of the music, which contained an undercurrent of passion, caused Lotte Department Store to erupt in cheers once again!

……

"..."

As Gong Cheng's unique voice filled and resonated throughout the venue, more than 20,000 people collectively stomped their feet to the rhythm of the drums and roared in unison, "I was just passing by and wanted to tell you something~"

"..."

"Could you please not leave this time?"

In the waiting area, many artists stared blankly at the figures and faces on the LED screen on the stage. Hundreds of spotlights reflected colors alternately on Gong Cheng's red suit. His singing skills, dance moves, and addictive voice were like "a slow-acting anesthetic for the ears," perfectly matching the song's theme of decadence and gloom. It was simply amazing!

This is the real stage...

Every move she made was fatally attractive, causing the screams from the audience to rise several decibels instantly...

IZ*ONE and other members, including (G)I-DLE and other groups, were hearing the live version of "Blinding Lights" for the first time. The captivating vocals and rhythmic arrangement made many artists in the waiting area unable to resist joining in the singing along!
"..."

Is this really written for me? Kim Jisoo pursed her lips, blinked, and stared intently at the "bastard" passionately singing on stage!
His tall figure moved through the spotlight. He took off his sunglasses, revealing his bright, smiling eyes to the camera, which in turn drew screams of support from the audience!
"Ahhhh!"

"..." Immediately afterwards, the intro to "Sunflower" began.

Hundreds of spotlights went out simultaneously, replaced by warm yellow stage lights...

"ayy~ayy~"

……

After the performance of "Sunflower" ended, Gong Cheng did not immediately leave the stage.

According to the schedule, SBS's Gayo Daejeon is about to end. All the artists and groups who performed tonight are now waiting in the waiting area, including the hosts. Now, all that's left is for everyone to be on stage, just like at the beginning... to take a group photo, and then the hosts will say a few words to conclude the show...

Dozens of celebrities took to the stage one after another. Park Jin-young took the lead and stood in the center of the crowd, smiling and waving to the audience.

Gong Cheng had just finished singing two songs and stepped aside, his forehead still damp with sweat. Then, the figures of the 12 girls from IZ*ONE came into his view. Jiang Huiyuan excitedly said, "Teacher, the stage performance just now was amazing!"

"..."

Gong Cheng gave a casual reply, and as more and more artists took to the stage, he turned his head with a strange expression and looked at the boy groups behind him, including GOT7, EXO, iKON, Winner, and Wanna One!
After greeting him, these people immediately turned around and moved to the other side of the stage, seemingly very unwilling to be in the same frame as him. Was it really necessary?

This situation has resulted in the following: the stage positioning at the end of the show was originally quite casual, with everyone standing wherever they felt comfortable, since the stage was very large, and the male and female groups were mixed together. But now, the male group has all moved to the other side of the stage, to the right of the host, BoA.

After seeing that the other side was full and there was no room, the girl group had to stand to Bao'er's left. Judging from the whole picture and the formation, the left side was almost full of various girl groups, with only Gong Cheng's tall figure standing in front...

"Isn't it?"

Kang Seulgi watched the scene unfold with a twitching smile, and whispered something in Bae Joohyun's ear.

This was the first time they had ever seen such a situation. However, it was almost a consensus among male celebrities in the industry that they did not want to be in the same frame as "Tarot". If they were in the same frame, they would be dragged down and criticized, mainly because their own fans were powerless to fight back!

He's not tall, and his looks and demeanor are even less impressive.

When Gong Cheng and Wanna One briefly appeared together during the recording of "PD48" at the beginning of the year, it was ridiculed as "Tarot and His Backup Dancers," which immediately became a trending topic on entertainment search that night...

This will cause you to lose followers and popularity!

Therefore, most entertainment agencies now treat "Tarot" differently: their female artists try to piggyback on it, while their male artists avoid it altogether!

The groups that have a good relationship with Gong Cheng, such as Ryderbabe, TWICE, and BLACKPINK, were also amused and exasperated by this scene!
"Sehun hyung, Chanyeol hyung..."

Gong Cheng also called out somewhat awkwardly, "Second Cannon, Third Cannon, at least someone can keep me company!"

Oh Sehun and Park Chanyeol stood in the "cannon group" line, pretending not to hear! Even though "Seoul Three Cannons" is a line, they have been dragged down a lot!
This youngest member is not only handsome, but he's also several centimeters taller than the rest of them...

"Jackson, Jaebeom..."

Gong Cheng, unwilling to give up, turned his gaze to the remaining members of the artillery regiment. Wang Jiaer shook his head with a twitching smile, "Don't fucking ruin my life!"
I'm already on stilts, and you still won't let me go?
Compared to Park Chanyeol, Oh Sehun, and Lim Young-woong, who are all 180cm tall, the height difference between him, Park Chanyeol, and Zhang Yixing (who are both around 170cm) and this youngest member is even more obvious!

"Stop shouting... just stand there~"

Mina quietly tugged at Makoto Miyamoto's sleeve, then took the opportunity to stand next to her. In terms of status, TWICE members were the most qualified to stand next to Makoto.

Chou Tzu-yu also slyly took a step closer to him...

"..."

As host BoA read from the script, golden ribbons fell from the stage, and the golden "rain" slowly descended, marking the end of SBS's Gayo Daejeon.

When it came time for the group photo... Gong Cheng turned around and realized that behind him stood Kim Jisoo, who was rolling her eyes at him slightly, Bae Joo-hyun, who was smiling sweetly, and Zhao Meiyan, who was smirking. No wonder he felt like someone was secretly pinching him!

I just don't know who did this!
Standing on either side of her were the members of TWICE...

……

After the song competition ended, Gong Cheng went to the dressing room to change into the casual clothes he had worn before. Then he opened his phone and glanced at the messages sent by Liu Zhimin and the others.

[Dragon of the Executive Department]: "Oppa, we're getting ready to leave!"

"Shall the four of us go to the restaurant you booked and wait for you?"

"..."

"Okay." Gong Cheng replied with a single word, then slung his bag over his shoulder, greeted Park Jin-young and Kim Dae-woo, grabbed his car keys, and prepared to head to the restaurant he had booked in Gangnam.

I haven't even had an airplane meal all day, and I'm starving right now!
After walking a few steps down the corridor, he saw many celebrities preparing to leave. He casually responded to their greetings. Gong Cheng's phone in his pocket started buzzing. He took out his phone as he walked and glanced at it. It was a call from Kim Ji-soo.

"Hello? What's wrong...?"

He asked curiously, wondering why our Jisoo was making that phone call!
……

"Are you still at the Gocheok Sky Dome?"

At that moment, Kim Jisoo quickly changed into a black down jacket and put on a black baseball cap. Her muffled voice came from under her black mask. She had already told the members that she had some things to take care of, so she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked briskly toward the underground parking garage.

"Yes, I'm here. What's up?"

Gong Cheng's questioning voice came through the receiver.

"That's good!"

"Let's meet. I need to talk to you about something. I'll wait for you outside the underground parking lot..."

Kim Ji-soo quickly walked out of the underground parking garage and lay in ambush in the dim night. She sent Gong Cheng a message: "Wait for me outside for a moment. I might be a few minutes late."

Damn it, I'm going to teach you a lesson today, you little bastard!

My surname isn't Jin!

Soon, under Kim Jisoo's watchful eye hidden in the night, one after another, celebrity vans drove out of the underground parking garage. She didn't see the ostentatious Maybach S680, but instead a black G63 was parked on the side of the road.

Immediately afterward, her phone rang. She answered, "Hello, I'm here right at the entrance to the underground parking garage. When you come out, you'll see a black G63 parked on the side of the road; that's me..."

Kim Jisoo instantly locked onto her target. She eagerly twisted her neck and said into the phone, "Can you get out of the car and wait for me? I'm almost there..."

She spoke softly and coaxingly, noticing that the G63 was less than ten meters away from her. She wrapped a Muay Thai-style bandage around her hand, which was of little use to her, but it made her look imposing!

"Alaso, I'm getting off now, hurry up, I have something to do later!"

With that, the phone was disconnected!
Kim Jisoo curled her lip in disdain. What's up? What kind of serious business do you have besides sleeping around with women?
How dare you kiss that wicked woman Bae Joo-hyun right in front of me today?
Can't you be a little more reserved? That wicked woman, just give her what she wants...

Lost in thought, Kim Ji-soo tiptoed to the back of Gong Cheng's car. Upon hearing the sound of the G63 door opening, she pounced on it with a fierce aura!
"..."

Gong Cheng had just gotten out of the car when he suddenly turned around, his pupils contracting! A dark shadow darted out from around the corner behind the car…

Caught off guard, he was grabbed around the waist and his arms were tightly wrapped around his waist, with such force that it seemed as if they were trying to pull him into their arms... But Haji Cheng, who came from the underground boxing ring and was good at debt collection, didn't rely on his face, but on a pair of raised iron fists!

His prowess remains undiminished!

Did I run into a sasaeng fan?!
"Oh!"

He took a "hard" punch to the stomach, but it didn't hurt! Instead, it made Gong Cheng a little excited—what a thug's exciting punch!

He instantly lowered his center of gravity, and with his left hand, he gripped the other person's wrist, which was fastened around his waist, like an iron clamp. He tightened his knuckles with the force he had developed from years of boxing and fitness training, almost crushing the other person's bones.

"Ouch! It hurts! It hurts!"

"Let go!"

Wearing a baseball cap, Kim Jisoo felt the force coming from her wrist and immediately grimaced, her eyes filled with tears as she shouted loudly! The sudden burst of pain made her voice shrill!
"Let go first..."

Gong Cheng's calm voice carried a chill, a stark contrast to the warm smile on his face on stage. The ferocity in his eyes was a ruthlessness honed from his struggles at the bottom.

You can't be lenient with sasaeng fans!

"I'm Kim Jisoo!"

"Gong Cheng~~!"

With a tearful voice, Kim Jisoo raised her head, quickly pulled down her mask, and opened her mouth to explain, her face flushed!

Gong Cheng then came to his senses, staring intently at her cheek. He loosened his grip on her wrist, but gently pulled it up and massaged it, saying irritably, "Are you crazy? What are you doing, Kim Ji-soo!"

"If you had spoken a second later, I almost blasted you flying with an elbow!"

He was bragging a little, but it was all to scare Kim Jisoo and make her realize the seriousness of the problem!
"boarding!"

...After the two got into the car, Kim Jisoo sat in the passenger seat with red eyes, rubbing her wrist, which had been pinched red, like a wronged little rabbit... This [Newborn Dawn] has such a strong grip! But she still tried to explain, "I...I just wanted to say something to you. I ran over as soon as I saw you get out of the car. I didn't mean to scare you..."

Gong Cheng leaned back in the driver's seat, pursed his lips upon hearing this, and said with a hint of disbelief, "Tell the truth."

His gaze swept across the night outside the car window, the shadows of the streetlights flashing across his face, making him appear somewhat indifferent. His phone on the center console was still vibrating incessantly, the screen flashing on and off, probably more messages from Liu Zhimin and the others, but he couldn't be bothered to check them.

"truth?"

Kim Jisoo lifted her eyelids and looked at his absent-minded appearance, and the nameless anger in her heart surged up again!

Suddenly, like a cat with its fur standing on end, she pounced on the driver's seat like a hungry tiger, grabbing Gong Cheng's neck tightly with both hands and saying angrily, "To tell you the truth, I'll fucking kill you, you 'Newborn Dawn'!"

Gong Cheng's pupils suddenly contracted as he looked at Kim Ji-soo in front of him with disbelief and expectation. She was tightly gripping her neck with both hands, her smoky makeup on her cheeks filled with anger, and her disheveled appearance was completely different from her usual gentle and intellectual demeanor.

Before he could react, he heard Kim Jisoo grit her teeth, her voice tinged with smugness, and ask fiercely, "Aren't you scared?"

"Jisoo~ You're still so young... You absolutely mustn't go down the path of crime!" Gong Cheng said, his lips twitching. Jisoo's manicured nails were scratching his skin, causing him some pain...

"Shut up!" Kim Jisoo interrupted rudely, her eyes reddening as she sniffed, looking very aggrieved. "I'll teach you to play with me and my best friend!"

"Sing me a song..."

(End of this chapter)