Peninsula: From a supporting actor to the best actor in Chungmuro

Chapter 123 Tokyo Secret Meeting and the Cat Contract

The ending note of "Motorcycle" seamlessly connects to the intro of "Galaxy Supernova".

The nine members quickly changed formation.

Although Kang Jae-hoon couldn't understand the Japanese lyrics, it didn't stop him from appreciating the visual feast.

After four fast songs, the members bowed to the audience, slightly out of breath.

The large screen began playing the second half of the VCR.

The story follows nine people who successfully steal the treasure but are then pursued by the authorities.

The image freezes on the perilous scene of nine people standing on the edge of the rooftop.

When the lights came on again, the members had changed into their second set of performance outfits and reappeared on stage.

After performing four consecutive Japanese singles, the stage entered a free interaction segment.

The members dispersed in twos and threes on the extended stage to greet the fans.

As Kang Jae-hoon was studying the light stick, he suddenly felt a shadow loom over him.

look up--

Lim Yoona squatted down in front of him, smiling and extending her hand.

(???)

Kang Jae-hoon looked blankly at the light stick in his hand, hesitated, and then handed it over.

Lim Yoona chuckled, shook her head, and made a photo-taking gesture.

The index finger and thumb form a square, while the other hand makes a shutter-pressing motion.

(ah)

(Do you want to take a selfie with my phone?)
Kang Jae-hoon then realized what was happening and hurriedly reached into his pocket.

Jin Dayuan whispered a reminder from the side: "Unlock! Unlock first!"

Yoona took the phone and skillfully switched to the front-facing camera.

She pointed the camera at herself, made a peace sign with her hand near her chin, and winked.

Then he slowly rotated his phone and began to film the concert venue from all angles.

A pink ocean of tens of thousands of light sticks, screaming fans on both sides of the stage extension platform, and...

"ah!"

Kim Tae-yeon suddenly appeared.

Yoona smiled and turned her phone around.

Kim Tae-yeon wrinkled her nose at the camera.

After shooting.

Im Yoon-ah returned the phone to Kang Jae-hoon.

Kim Tae-yeon followed her movement and her gaze shifted, her eyes widening instantly:
"Oh my! Lady cough..."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded to her as a greeting.

(I see--)
Kim Tae-yeon waved to Kang Jae-hoon with a grin, then whispered something in Im Yoon-ah's ear.

This prompted her to turn around and glance at Kang Jae-hoon again, then gently nudged Kim Tae-yeon.

……

The interactive session ended quickly.

The members regrouped on the main stage and began the next round of performances.

Kang Jae-hoon looked down at the video on his phone—

It not only captured Yoona's perfect wink, but also the entire process of Taeyeon jumping into the frame.

In the last few seconds, the camera shakily captured his own bewildered face.

(This can be considered...)
(Exclusive perk?)

While she was thinking, Lim Yoona had already changed into her third performance outfit.

The moment the intro to "Flower Power" started, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

The pink ocean of light sticks swayed rhythmically from side to side once again.

……

The two-and-a-half-hour concert finally came to an end.

The members took turns giving their remarks in Japanese.

Kang Jae-hoon rubbed his throbbing temples—

Deafening music, incomprehensible lyrics, blinding lights, and the screams of tens of thousands of people.

(Relax?)

(It would be better to take a walk along the Han River.)
He got up to leave, but Jin Dayuan had already taken out his phone to check flight information.

"Let's go, the next flight back to Seoul is at 2 a.m.

"Ah."

As the two walked to the side entrance of the venue, a girl wearing a work badge ran over and stopped them.

"Kang Jae-hoon-ssi?"

"Yes."

"Yoona unnie said please wait a moment, she will be here after she changes her clothes."

Kim Dae-won raised an eyebrow at Kang Jae-hoon, his eyes questioning—

(What's going on?)

Kang Jae-hoon blinked blankly as well.

"that."

The assistant pointed towards the side door: "Yoona unnie said that if you're in a hurry, you can go directly to the parking lot to wait for her."

"it is good."

The empty and quiet parking lot was a stark contrast to the noise of the concert just now.

Kang Jae-hoon leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the ground.

Just as I was lost in thought, I heard footsteps behind me—

"Awaited."

Jiang Zaixun turned his head——

A large gray sweatshirt was draped over her body.

A black baseball cap and a face mask covered his entire face.

The only thing visible was a pair of doe-like eyes that shone brightly in the dim parking lot lights.

"The performance was wonderful."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded: "Thank you for the invitation."

"You're just being polite."

Yoona chuckled softly, "You were clearly distracted the whole time."

"..."

Caught off guard, Kang Jae-hoon touched the back of his neck: "I can't understand Japanese lyrics."

"What about dancing?"

"It's awesome."

Im Yoona tilted her head: "What exactly makes it so amazing?"

"...It is visually stunning."

Yoona's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Are you leaving?"

"The 2 o'clock flight."

Yoona glanced down at her watch—

11:03 AM.

She turned to look at Jin Dayuan:

"Manager Oppa, can I borrow your artist's place for a late-night snack?"

Jin Dayuan's gaze darted back and forth between the two men, then he suddenly grinned:
"Okay, I'll wait for you at the airport."

He patted Kang Jae-hoon on the shoulder and lowered his voice:
Don't miss your flight.

After saying that, he picked up his briefcase and left quickly, his back view revealing an eagerness.

Kang Jae-hoon watched helplessly as his manager walked away with an air of nonchalance, when suddenly he heard a "gurgle" sound.

Yoona's stomach is protesting.

She covered her stomach in embarrassment:

"From rehearsals until now, I've only eaten half a banana..."

"Half a banana?"

"Ah."

Yoona gestured with a "tiny bit" gesture: "This is only a small half."

(Rehearsals and the concert will take at least 5 hours.)
(Such intense exercise is supported by only half a banana...)
Kang Jae-hoon looked at her slender, exposed wrists—

No wonder she's so thin.

"The midfield was already struggling to hold on."

Seeing Kang Jae-hoon looking thoughtfully at his wrist bone, Im Yoon-ah's eyes flashed with a sly glint, and she said:
"But seeing you sitting in the audience suddenly gave me energy again."

Jiang Jae-hoon: “…”

(What kind of reason is that?)

But he still followed Lim Yoona into an izakaya hidden deep in an alley.

The wooden sliding door creaked.

The aroma of grilled food and the rich fragrance of sake waft over you.

Under the warm yellow lights, office workers in twos and threes raised their glasses and drank heartily. Fresh wasabi and ginger were displayed on the wooden bar counter, and the chef was flipping sizzling beef on the sizzling hot plate.

Lin Yoona led him to the innermost private room with practiced ease.

A low table was placed on the tatami mat, and ukiyo-e prints hung on the wall.

The waiter brought hot towels and menus.

Yoona took the menu and quickly slid her fingertips across the pages.

Grilled eel, sashimi platter, salt-grilled beef tongue, fried chicken cartilage, and cheese-baked scallops.

She rattled off seven or eight dishes in one go, and then added a vegetable salad.

"...Can you finish it?"

Yoona looked up, a mischievous glint in her doe eyes:

"Isn't there still you?"

"……Oh."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded honestly.

"Just kidding~"

Im Yoona suddenly burst out laughing and pushed the menu in front of him:
"The portions here are quite small; ordering these might not even be enough. Why don't you consider adding something else?"

Kang Jae-hoon took the menu and began to study it carefully.

(Grilled mackerel...)
(Tempura...)
(Chawanmushi...)
He would pause for three seconds to think about each dish, his brows furrowed as if he were studying a script.

Yoona rested her chin on her hand as she looked at him, then suddenly reached out and pointed to a certain spot on the menu:
"this is not bad."

Kang Jae-hoon followed her fingertip—

"Mentaiko potatoes?"

"Yes, that's their signboard."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded and added a dish of roasted shiitake mushrooms.

After the waiter took away the menu, the private room fell into a brief silence.

Lim Yoona took off her mask and hat, picked up her phone, and fiddled with her hair a few times while looking at the screen.

"Don't you members have a meal together after the concert?"

"Kang Jae-hoon asked."

"Some people have already left, so I came out because there aren't enough people."

Yoona put down her phone, a slight smile playing on her lips: "How about you? How have you been lately?"

"Fortunately."

"Liar."

"Ok?"

Im Yoona gently touched the corner of her eye with her slender fingertip, then pointed at Kang Jae-hoon:
“When I used to see you, this place was always full of life.”

"Now..."

She rested her chin on her hand, pondered for a moment, and said, "Like a sunflower wilted by a rainstorm."

(This shouldn't be happening...)
Unconvinced, Kang Jae-hoon picked up his phone and looked at himself in the mirror.

really--

The muscle memory and temperament of "Zhao Taiwu" that have been formed over the past four months cannot be changed overnight.

"Is it because the role makes you feel too burdened?"

The question was so precise that it made Kang Jae-hoon's fingers tremble.

He put down his phone and met Yoona's gaze—

Those eyes were so gentle, as if they could embrace all darkness.

"Hmm... because filming just wrapped up, it's still a bit hard to detach myself from the character."

Kang Jae-hoon's voice lowered slightly:
Sometimes I can't tell... which one is the real me.

He described that feeling of being torn apart—

The pleasure and guilt of playing Zhao Taiwu, and the confusion and remorse after returning to one's true self.

Yoona listened quietly until the waiter knocked on the door to serve the food.

"Excuse me—"

The sliding door was pulled open with a "whoosh".

The aroma of grilled eel instantly filled the private room.

Im Yoona placed the fattest and most succulent piece onto Kang Jae-hoon's plate:
"Eat something first."

Kang Jae-hoon picked up the eel and took a bite—

The outer crust is baked to a crispy perfection, while the inside remains tender and juicy. The sauce has a perfect balance of sweet and salty, and the aroma of sesame blossoms on the tongue.

"Is it tasty?"

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded and picked up another piece: "It tastes better than the ones in Seoul."

"Right~"

Im Yoona shook her head smugly—

The sense of accomplishment from sharing this treasure is more satisfying to her than the food itself.

Kang Jae-hoon was engrossed in eating his mentaiko potato, completely oblivious to the gentle gaze directed at him from across the table. The mentaiko at this restaurant was prepared to perfection, a savory and slightly spicy flavor that was perfectly balanced by the creamy texture of the potato.

Several dishes were served one after another.

Yoona picked up a slice of sashimi, dipped it in wasabi, and put it in her mouth. After swallowing, she suddenly spoke:
"Actually, I envy you."

"Ok?"

Kang Jae-hoon's chopsticks paused in mid-air: "What do you envy about me?"

"You're capable of playing such a complex role."

Im Yoona made an exaggerated facepalm gesture:
“I may never be able to completely become another person. Whenever the camera is pointed at me, I subconsciously think, ‘Does this angle look good?’ ‘Will my expression look bad?’”

"So—"

"It's a genius's problem that you can get so deeply into a role that it's worrying."

Jiang Jae-hoon was stunned.

He never imagined—

What one considers a burden—being "too immersed in the role"—is seen as a luxury by others.

Do you know how I detach myself from the role?

How to detach?

Kang Jae-hoon subconsciously pressed for an answer.

"There's no need to pull it out at all, because it never even went in!"

"..."

She spoke lightly, but Kang Jae-hoon sensed the bitterness in her voice.

"Just kidding~"

A sly smile appeared in Lim Yoona's eyes:

"I usually eat a good meal, sleep in late, and then vent to my friends."

She raised her teacup and touched it to Kang Jae-hoon's:

"Like now."

The glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.

Looking at the smiling girl in front of him, Kang Jae-hoon suddenly understood why so many people liked her—

It wasn't because of her perfect appearance or stage presence.

It's the ability to make even the most embarrassing things sound light and funny.

"……Thanks."

"You're welcome, but—"

Yoona winked playfully:
"In return... next time I'm not in good form while filming, you have to comfort me like that too."

"it is good."

"Hook."

Yoona's slender pinky finger hovered in mid-air.

Kang Jae-hoon paused for two seconds before hesitantly extending his little finger.

Two fingers gently hooked together.

Im Yoona casually pressed her thumb up to leave a "stamp":
"It's agreed."

She smiled and withdrew her hand, placing a piece of beef tongue into Kang Jae-hoon's bowl:

"Eat it quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon lowered his head and silently ate his rice.

The warm yellow lighting in the izakaya made the food look especially tempting.

What are the plans after filming wraps up?

Yoona asked casually.

Kang Jae-hoon paused in his chewing motion, then shook his head with a wry smile:

"Not for now."

"No wonder you had time to come to the concert."

Im Yoona feigned surprise and widened her eyes: "So you've become unemployed?"

"That's it."

Kang Jae-hoon picked up a piece of eel, then suddenly remembered something:
"Oh, right, there might be a job at a coffee shop."

"Barista?"

Im Yoona took out her phone and typed quickly:
"Then I'd like to order—a special Kang Jae-hoon cocktail."

"..."

Kang Jae-hoon looked at her helplessly:
"This menu item is not available in the store."

"Now there is."

Lim Yoona turned her phone screen towards him—

The memo clearly stated:

[Kang Jae-hoon's Special]

formula:

1. A genuine smile (three grams)
2. Focus your gaze (two spoonfuls)
3. A gentle voice, in appropriate amounts
4. Finally, sprinkle with clumsy cuteness.
"..."

Kang Jae-hoon stared at the line of text for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing:
"What kind of recipe is this?"

"Secret recipe~"

Lim Yoona smiled, her eyes crinkling:
"If you went to work at a coffee shop, the business would definitely be booming."

"why?"

"you still need to ask?"

Only when Kang Jae-hoon felt a little uncomfortable being stared at did she speak:
"Because it will definitely attract a lot of female customers, especially when wearing a white shirt."

"...Ahem, Bae Suzy said the same thing."

Kang Jae-hoon lowered his head and took a sip of tea to hide his embarrassment.

The smile on Lim Yoona's face visibly froze for a moment.

(Bae Suzy???)

(When did you board the train?)
She calmly took a sip of tea, her mind racing with various possibilities—

(Advertising collaboration?)

(Or was it a private gathering?)

Im Yoona put down her teacup, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at Kang Jae-hoon across from her.

He was intently picking at the scallions off the roasted shiitake mushrooms, completely unaware of the bombshell he had just dropped. (Sure enough, he's still the same old story.)
(His slowness is both reassuring and worrying.)
"Jae-hoon, when did you meet Soo-ji?"

“Last June, the day you passed by Apgujeong and handed me water, I was waiting for her to come and rent a shop.”

Kang Jae-hoon honestly replied, "I didn't know it was her at the time. Later, we met on the set of 'My Love from the Star' and exchanged contact information... We keep in touch occasionally."

"So... you're going to work at her coffee shop?"

"Ah."

Kang Jae-hoon nodded: "They said they need a signboard man."

(Kanbanlang?)
(The mascot in the white shirt?)

(Bae Suzy...)
(You're pretty good at having fun.)
"It seems someone came up with this idea before I did."

She suddenly regretted telling Kang Jae-hoon to wear a white shirt.

I should have said that wearing an apron would have been more appropriate.

"Jaehoon."

Yoona's tone remained gentle, but her eyes subtly changed:
Do you know what's most important for an actor?

"Uh...resolve?"

Kang Jae-hoon looked up, a little mentaiko sauce still on the corner of his mouth.

"It's the sense of mystery."

Lim Yoona reached out and pulled out a tissue, handing it to him:
"Why are audiences willing to pay to go to the cinema? It's because actors don't usually appear in front of them casually."

Kang Jae-hoon took the tissue and wiped his mouth: "So..."

So I went to work as a billboard boy at a coffee shop—

Yoona frowned slightly: "It's like wasting your commercial value."

She analyzed each point one by one, counting them on her slender fingers:

"First, frequent exposure will reduce the audience's sense of novelty towards the actor."

"Second, the service industry is prone to negative reviews."

"..."

(Third, Bae Soo-ji's motives are impure.)
(If the goal is truly to drive traffic to the store, Bae Suzy's celebrity status far surpasses Kang Jae-hoon's.)
Although the last point was not spoken aloud.

But the preceding words were enough to make Kang Jae-hoon think seriously.

Yoona noticed the wavering in his eyes and pressed her advantage, saying:

"I have a job here that's more suitable for you."

"What job?"

"Pet owner".

".ah?"

Do you still remember Princess Xiao Xun?

"……Remember."

Yoona took out her phone and showed a picture of the calico cat in her album:
"It was fostered at my sister's house, but it was always fighting with the dogs."

She frowned in distress:

"Our tour is still more than two months away, and Unnie is about to collapse."

The calico cat in the photo is bristling with a fierce expression, looking all haughty and saying "Don't touch me."

Kang Jae-hoon stared at the photo for a few seconds: "It's gotten fatter."

"I'm taking very good care of it~"

As she spoke, Lim Yoona turned her phone around, making the photo clearer in front of Kang Jae-hoon:

"Scientific research shows that petting cats can lower blood pressure and anxiety levels."

Her doe-like eyes were filled with sincerity: "I think it can effectively heal your post-role syndrome."

"You only need to spend half an hour with it every day."

Im Yoona clasped her hands together and pleaded, "I'll pay you, okay?"

(Home-based feeding?)

Kang Jae-hoon recalled seeing similar part-time jobs on the forum recently—

The pet economy in South Korea began to take off in 2014.

With the increase in dual-income families, the profession of "pet sitter" has gradually become popular.

But the price is outrageously expensive:

Basic feeding costs 3 won per session, and companionship services cost an additional 2 won.

"This……"

Kang Jae-hoon couldn't help but recall the scene when he first encountered it downstairs in the apartment building—

The skinny little creature rubbed against his trouser leg, meowing and begging for food.

(She's gotten so fat now.)

(It seems Yoona really took good care of him.)
"You wouldn't want Princess Xun to be bullied by dogs every day, would you?"

Im Yoona suddenly shoved her phone screen right in front of Kang Jae-hoon's face—

In the latest photo, a calico cat is pitifully huddled in a corner, facing a snarling Maltese dog.

Kang Jae-hoon's heart skipped a beat.

"No need for salary."

He finally nodded in agreement: "I'll take care of it for you for two months."

Im Yoona's eyes lit up, and she immediately took out her phone and started operating it: "I'll send you the address and access code via Kakao."

Kang Jae-hoon's phone vibrated, and he opened the message.

Room 1103, XX Apartment, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu

Access cards are kept by the property management company.

Password: 070805

"Oh dear, it's already 12:30."

Upon hearing this, Kang Jae-hoon was surprised to realize that an hour and a half had passed so quickly.

Im Yoona neatly put on a mask and baseball cap: "Let's go."

"Ah."

Step out of the izakaya.

The streets of Tokyo were still brightly lit at 12:30 a.m.

The white light of the convenience store mingled with the warm yellow of the izakaya, while LED screens on the exterior walls of high-rise buildings played promotional videos for the latest anime. In the distance, the Tokyo Skytree shifted its blue-purple light, like a glow stick reaching to the sky.

Lim Yoona hailed a taxi on the roadside.

He said "Narita Airport" to the driver in fluent Japanese.

Turning her head, she saw Kang Jae-hoon rummaging through his wallet. She chuckled softly, took out a few yen bills from her pocket, and slipped them to him.
"fare."

"……Thanks."

"You're welcome~"

Yoona smiled and waved her hand: "Remember to send me photos of Xiaoxun every day."

"Ah."

"besides--"

She suddenly stepped forward and gently hugged Kang Jae-hoon.

The sweet scent of peach wafts over: "Take good care of yourself."

The hug was fleeting.

By the time Kang Jae-hoon reacted, Im Yoon-ah had already retreated to a safe distance, her eyes curving into two crescent moons:

"Hurry up, don't miss your flight."

"……it is good."

Kang Jae-hoon bent down and sat in the back seat.

As the car drove away, he inexplicably rolled down the window and leaned out—

Yoona was still standing there when she saw him peek out and waved.

The night breeze ruffled the strands of hair by her ears, which shimmered gently under the streetlights.

Only when he turned the corner and could no longer see anyone did Kang Jae-hoon turn back and sit down.
-
The next morning.

Krystal Jung's van drove into the underground parking lot of OnStyle TV station.

She's here today to finalize the details of the sister show "Jessica & Krystal" with the producer.

This variety show project began preparations at the end of last year, but has been shelved for various reasons.

The schedules of the Zheng sisters and the format of the program filming were not finalized until last month.

Besides.

She also received an offer to play the female lead in SBS's "My Lovely Girl".

His partner is none other than Jung Ji-hoon, a top K-POP star who just finished his military service.

In addition, f(x) made their third full-length album comeback—

The peak of one's career.

at this time.

My phone suddenly vibrated, and a pop-up notification appeared.

Exclusive: Girls' Generation's Yoona spotted on a late-night date with a mysterious man in Tokyo, sparking rumors of a new relationship!

"Ah……"

Upon seeing the name "Yoona," Krystal Jung snorted coldly, but her finger honestly clicked on the news.

She casually scrolled through a few blurry, candid photos—

A woman wearing a mask and hat stands at the entrance of an izakaya (Japanese pub).

The profile of a tall man getting into a taxi;
The last photo is a candid shot taken from a distance, showing the two embracing on the street.

(Can you tell who this is?)

Krystal Jung casually scrolled through the comments again—

[How can you tell anything from that back view? Couldn't the reporter have taken a clearer picture?]

[Is SM Entertainment recently caught in a dating frenzy? Nichkhun and Tiffany were just photographed together, Sooyoung and Jung Kyung-ho went public, and now it's Yoona's turn?]

[Blind guess: someone from the acting world; judging by the shoulder width, he's like Gong Yoo.]

[Wait for an official response; maybe they're relatives.]

[Hilarious! Besides "colleagues relationship," what else can SM Entertainment's official response say?]

……

Krystal Jung pouted and was about to close the page when she suddenly noticed a detail in the last photo—

On the man's wrist...

She was wearing a familiar silver bracelet.

(...No way?)
Her fingertips hovered above the screen, and she unconsciously held her breath.

enlarge.

Zoom in again.

The pixels are so blurry they resemble a mosaic, but that unique, compact camera design...

The van braked suddenly.

"arrive."

Her agent's voice brought her back to reality.

Krystal Jung locked her phone screen and took a deep breath.

(calm.)
(It might just be the same model.)
(There are tons of stores around the world that sell these kinds of bracelets...)
The elevator mirror reflected her pursed lips.

(What is Kang Jae-hoon doing?)

The moment the elevator doors opened, Krystal Jung had already composed herself.

"Krystalxi, this way please."

The TV station staff greeted us warmly.

Her high heels clicked crisply on the marble floor.

step.

(If it were him...)
Two steps.

(If it were him?)

Three steps.

(If it were him!)

Krystal suddenly stopped:
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

She turned and walked towards the end of the corridor, her pace quickening.

Finally, he practically ran into the cubicle.

Locked.

Take out your phone.

My trembling fingers tapped open Kakao—

The chat history ended the day before yesterday.

[Kang Jae-hoon]: [Image]

[Kang Jae-hoon]: Senior Ma Dong-seok made a cameo appearance.

[Krystal Jung]: Senior is so cute!
(Then.)

(And then we lost contact.)
Krystal Jung stared at the screen, her fingers hovering above the keyboard, hesitant to touch it.

She recalled the scene when she suddenly fainted on the filming set that day—

After a 36-hour non-stop schedule, my body finally couldn't take it anymore.

When I woke up, my phone was full of unread messages and missed calls.

This also includes Kang Jae-hoon.

But when she saw the news that Kang Jae-hoon's radio station had been shut down—

The choice between "telling him I fainted and asking for comfort" and "pretending nothing happened and comforting him"...

She chose the third option: pretend she didn't see it.

(I didn't want Kang Jae-hoon to think I was being pretentious...)
(And yet, I don't want to reveal my equally disheveled state...)
(And I don't want him to have to take care of himself during his most difficult time...)
The result of this decision was—

This is precisely the time when we should be supporting each other...

However, they chose to remain silent because of their respective pride.

Jung Soo-jung stared at her phone screen, her fingertip hovering over Kang Jae-hoon's contacts for a long time.

(Should I just ask him if he's in Tokyo?)
(What if it's not him?)
(What if it's him?)

Frustrated, she ran her fingers through her hair, and finally opened the chat window with her sister—

Were there many audience members at yesterday's concert?

The message was marked as read immediately after it was sent.

[Jessica Jung]: Nonsense.

[Krystal Jung]: Did you see any familiar faces?

Jessica Jung: Who?
Krystal Jung bit her lower lip, hesitatingly typing:

[Nobody, I just saw the news that Yoona seems to be dating.]

Jessica Jung: ?

[Jessica Jung]: When did you become so gossipy?

[Krystal Jung]: Just asking.

[Jessica Jung]: Mind your own business.

(As expected, I couldn't get any information out of them...)
Krystal Jung took a deep breath and finally switched back to the chat window with Kang Jae-hoon.

Fingers tapped and typed on the keyboard, deleting and rewriting—

【What are you doing? 】

Too ordinary.

I saw an interesting news story.

Too deliberate.

Did you sleep well last night?

Too affected.

Finally, she gritted her teeth and sent a message:
Where did you go yesterday?

I immediately locked the screen after sending the message, as if the screen was blindingly bright.

Krystal Jung took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the restroom stall.

The person in the mirror had a furrowed brow and lips pressed into a straight line.

(Calm down.)
(It might just be a misunderstanding...)
After drying her hands, she returned to the meeting room.

PD is debugging video equipment:

"Jessica's signal is a bit unstable, let's go through the process as quickly as possible."

The screen lit up, and Jessica Jung's face appeared on the projected image.

"can you hear?"

"Ernie."

Krystal Jung sat up straight instinctively.

"Ah."

For the next half hour, the PD explained the program plan in detail—

This is a reality show that documents the daily lives of the Jung sisters, filming them 24 hours a day, from waking up in the morning to going to sleep late at night.

"The theme of the first phase is check-in..."

Krystal nodded mechanically, but her thoughts drifted to her phone in her pocket.

(Did he reply to the message?)

(If I reply, how will I explain it?)
(If there's no reply...)
"Krystal xi?"

The PD's voice brought her back to reality: "What are your thoughts on this segment?"

"what?"

Krystal Jung blinked:
"Excuse me, could you repeat that?"

Jessica Jung frowned on the other end of the screen: "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"...kind of."

"That's it, go back and rest."

"Ah."

……