The Uncrowned King of the Peninsula

Chapter 257 I, Lim Nayeon, am going to confess today!
JYP Entertainment, Manager's Office
Just moments ago, Lim Nayeon was all smug, but now she's cowering and obediently accepting a scolding.

"Hey!" The manager slammed her hand on the table several times, looking extremely angry. "Lim Nayeon, do you even know how many mistakes you've made lately?!"

"First, there was his teammate's relationship. He knew about it but didn't report it, and even sent the other person to find a boyfriend, as if he was afraid that he wouldn't be discovered!"

"Then, you hit someone with your car. Such a big thing, and you didn't tell the company. You even dared to jump out and try to clear things up for someone else. You're crazy!"

"Do you know how serious the consequences would be if you mispronounced even a single word or made a mistake?!"

Lin Na-yeon lowered her head, obediently not daring to move, secretly lamenting her predicament.

That night, Bae Young-joon's final remarks essentially absolved Lim Na-yeon of all responsibility. In the following days, her manager only gave her a few words of reprimand and didn't say much else, so she thought everything was over.

Unexpectedly, she was given a severe scolding as soon as she entered the office today.

"Oppa, I'm sorry, I know I was wrong." Lim Nayeon weakly admitted her mistake, "I'll be more careful in the future..."

"What are you going to pay attention to?!" The agent slammed his fist on the table again. "You think you can get away with just saying 'pay attention'?!"

"I...I..." Lim Na-yeon trembled with fear.

"Your punishment period has been extended! All activities, whether group or individual, are to be stopped immediately! You are to take sick leave! The company will announce this to the public tomorrow!" The manager announced the punishment in rapid succession.

"Huh?" Lim Nayeon was dumbfounded after being subjected to a barrage of punishments. "W-why is this...?"

But before she could finish a sentence, her agent's questioning almost made her heart jump out of her chest.

"Why? Tell me first, why did you secretly go to see Bae Young-joon on the day of the awards ceremony?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Lim Nayeon blurted out, then realized what she had said and quickly covered her mouth.

Did they get caught going to see Bae Young-joon on their own?
How to do?
"Never mind how I knew, it seems it's true?"

"Why did you clear his name? And why did he speak up for you at the end?" The agent pointed at her, his eyes filled with deep suspicion. "Were you providing him with some information?"

"What exactly is your relationship with him? What did you do? Explain yourself right now!" the manager said sternly. "Also, why were you so kind as to send Park Ji-hyo on her date?"

Did you tell him about Jihyo's relationship?

All the evidence points to a close connection between Lim Nayeon and entertainment reporter Bae Young-joon. Although Lim Nayeon's motives are still unknown, if she really leaked the group's privacy to the paparazzi, it would be an extremely serious leak.

So when the manager checked the backstage surveillance footage today and confirmed that Lim Nayeon and Bae Young-joon had indeed been in the same area backstage, she immediately called her over.

what?
What a coincidence!

As Lim Na-yeon listened to the accusations, she felt like crying but had no way to refute them.

But how could she say it? Should she say that she had offered herself up to Bae Young-joon and was photographed in all sorts of ways?

Seeing her speechless expression, the agent became even more suspicious and raised his voice.

"Lim Nayeon, if you betray the company, the company will definitely not be lenient with you!"

"Girls' Generation can still be popular even with eight members, don't think the group can't function without you!"

what?
Am I going to be fired?

Lim Na-yeon was almost scared to death.

"No, no, no! It wasn't me, I really didn't tell him the information!" She frantically waved her hands in denial, shaking her head like a rattle-drum.

"Then, what's your relationship with him?" the agent pressed.

"I...I...I...and him..." Seeing the frightening look in her manager's eyes, Lim Nayeon panicked and blurted out in a moment of quick thinking, "I'm dating him!"

"He's my boyfriend!"

It's better to be in a relationship than to get expelled!
She couldn't think of any other reason.

"Mo?" The agent was stunned. "You and him..."

A look of sudden realization crossed his face. "So you went backstage to find him because you were on a date?" "If you're helping each other out, does that mean you're dating?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Lin Nayeon nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"I see..." The manager frowned, but the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. After all, the company had already settled accounts with Twice, so Nayeon wouldn't need to earn money for leaking information.

Looking at her manager, who was deep in thought, Lim Nayeon realized that the reason she had come up with in a daze was actually quite reasonable.

Luckily, I was quick-witted; otherwise, I would have been finished if I had been suspected of betraying the company.

Then, all I have to do is tell the company I'm breaking up with them in a few days, right?

Call ~
We escaped a calamity.

Lim Nayeon breathed a sigh of relief, secretly patting her little orange, feeling that she was really too smart.

"why are you laughing?!"

Lim Nayeon, who was secretly laughing, was startled again. "What's wrong?"

"You're laughing while hiding your relationship from the company? The punishment we agreed on continues! Go back to your dorm right now and stay put." The manager's expression softened slightly, but she still didn't let her off the hook.

"Okay, sure." Lim Nayeon didn't dare to be presumptuous, nodded obediently, and then turned to walk out.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I stepped outside, only to find that my agent had followed me out as well.

"Oppa, are you leaving too?" she asked casually.

"Okay, I'll go make some preparations and contact your boyfriend Bae Young-joon tomorrow to see what his attitude is."

"You're incredibly audacious to date a paparazzi."

The agent, frowning, glared at her and hurried away.

what?
Behind her, Lim Nayeon stood frozen at the office door, only one thought remaining in her mind.

Is it too late for me to confess my feelings to Bae Young-joon during dinner tonight?
------

A black sedan drives through the streets of Seoul.

Bae Young-joon was driving when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, which displayed a little rabbit icon.

"Oppa, are you done with work? Are you free tonight, hehe." Nayeon's voice came through the receiver, sweet and crisp, like a juicy peach, making you feel comfortable just listening to it. "Are you off work yet? Are you tired today?"

Hearing Lim Nayeon's sweet concern, Bae Young-joon smiled and hummed in agreement, "Just came from the newspaper office, what's up?"

"Nothing much, just asking, aren't you pretty busy with work? Hehe..."

"I'm hanging up now, I'm driving." Bae Young-joon interrupted her without any hesitation.

"Hey, wait, wait," Lim Nayeon suddenly panicked, "Don't hang up!"

"Get to the point." Bae Young-joon glanced at the navigation; it was still a few minutes' walk to Twice's dorm.

"Well, I just wanted to ask you if you want to have dinner together tonight?" Lim Nayeon stammered for a while before finally revealing her purpose.

"Didn't you have something to do?" Bae Young-joon asked. "If you have something to do, then forget it. Don't let it interfere with your business."

"It's nothing now. I specifically took the day off because I was afraid you'd be disappointed, hehe." Lim Nayeon emphasized her thoughtfulness while eagerly inviting him, "Let's go, let's go, let's go eat later."

"It's okay, it's okay, just rest in the dorm. I have something to do now."

Hearing Bae Young-joon's ruthless voice through the microphone, Lim Na-yeon was dumbfounded.

Something?

Isn't this the reason I just gave?

(End of this chapter)