Peninsula: Please, I only want to talk about ordinary people.

Chapter 53 Something's happened at home? Not catching someone cheating?

Hyogo Prefecture.

"Nan, get up."

Sachiko Nai entered Minami Nai's room and abruptly pulled back the curtains.

The sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the bed and slowly dispelling the chill that had lingered in the room all night.

A soft moan came from under the blanket on the bed. Mina, wrapped in the sheet, wriggled and turned over, then fell silent again.

Clearly, she wasn't going to give in to her mother who woke her up so easily.

Seeing this, Sachiko Nai didn't hold back and slapped her buttocks that were sticking out from under the blanket.

"Get up quickly, Otosan is waiting for you downstairs. Didn't we agree to go for your follow-up appointment this morning?"

Mina stirred again, finally rubbing her eyes as she sat up, and said dazedly, "Okay, Uncle—"

Seeing her like this, Sachiko Nai's gaze softened.

She stepped forward and smoothed her messy hair, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as her fingers ran through it.

"I wonder if your boyfriend in Seoul has ever seen South like this, or if he's only ever seen Princess Kaguya running away with her feet turned outwards~"

Mina was stunned for a moment, her sleepiness instantly evaporated by those words, and her whole face turned red.

"Ogasan!"

Sachiko Nai laughed out loud, completely ignoring her daughter's protest. Without looking at Mina Nai, who was puffing up her cheeks, she chuckled and said, "Don't keep your Otosan waiting too long," before turning around, leaving the room, and going downstairs.

Mina looked at the half-open door, and suddenly deflated, collapsing forward and burying herself back under the covers.

What is this guy saying?! Didn't I already explain last night? Yongtai-san isn't her boyfriend!

At least—not yet.

Last night, she went home with Mei Yang, and Mei Sachiko sat in the living room waiting for them.

But the scene I had imagined—being immediately questioned about "who the man was that night" upon entering—did not happen.

Sachiko Nai simply walked over, gave her a gentle hug, and asked if she was hungry and wanted something to eat.

Mina put away all the "explanations" she had nervously rehearsed in her mind the whole way, said she was a little tired, and wanted to go back to her room to rest.

Sachiko Mei smiled and picked up her luggage, following behind her. Once inside the room, she simply asked a few questions—"Are you adjusting well back in Korea? How is your health recovering?"

Mina answered as she packed her luggage, her tense shoulders gradually relaxing.

Just when she thought that Sachiko Mina had believed the story told on the phone earlier.

Sachiko Mei said, "I won't disturb your rest any longer," and turned to walk to the door. But then, as if suddenly remembering something, she casually asked, "By the way, Minami, have you and your boyfriend made up? With your outward-pointing gait, you probably can't outrun him, right?"

Mina had completely let her guard down by this point, still looking down as she took the clothes she had brought back from her suitcase, muttering a reply.

"Who said I can't outrun Yongtai-san? — He just tripped over a rock and fell, otherwise he wouldn't have caught up with me!"

She froze as soon as she finished speaking. A cold laugh came from behind her. She stiffened her neck and slowly turned her head, her lips twitching.

"—Um, Ogasa-san, I just—"

Sachiko ignored Mina's impending explanation, simply looking at her and asking calmly, "Mina, who is Eitai-san?"

Mina tilted her head, forcing a smile as she tried to imitate Momo Hirai.

"Yongtai-san? I don't know, Uncle-san, you must have misheard me~"

Sachiko Nai crossed her arms, remained silent, and continued to watch her with a cold smile.

For a moment, no one spoke in the room; the mother and daughter stared at each other.

Mina was the first to break down; she was all too familiar with this kind of pressure that had never changed since she was a child.

She lowered her eyes, her gaze drifting to the corner of the wardrobe beside her, her voice muffled.

"—We're friends."

"Oh, they're friends."

Sachiko Mei gave a "I see" look to her face and tapped her fist against her other palm.

Just like when Mina made her first male playmate when she was in elementary school many years ago, he said with amusement, "Then I'll have to go tell you, Oto-san, that Mina has made a new friend in Seoul."

After saying that, she turned and walked towards the door.

Mina instantly recalled her father's bald, dark face and panicked.

How could she forget that, because her father found out about her playmate, she was sent to an all-girls school after graduating from elementary school?

If that doting father finds out about Yong-tae-san, will I still be able to go back to Seoul?!

"Ogasa-san! No!"

Sachiko Nai was clearly just bluffing. Hearing the urgent shout that had become distorted, she slowly turned around and considerately closed the door.

"Since you don't want your Otosan to know, then tell me properly—what's going on with that friend who's been chasing you?"

Mina looked at the closed door and knew she had completely fallen into the trap her mother had set.

She lowered her head, a surge of grievance and helplessness welling up inside her.

"I understand, I will tell, Ogasan—"

"—That's it, Yongtai and I—we're not dating yet, we're just friends for now—"

After finishing her sentence, Mina collapsed onto the bed in a spread-eagle position, as if her "confession" had taken all the bones out of her.

It was supposed to be a confession, but in reality, a lot of things were changed.

Jiang Yongtai is Minatozaki Sana's ex-boyfriend — of course, this cannot be said.

Why they're not dating yet—that's something I absolutely can't say!

She only picked out the less important parts and pieced together a "story" that was barely acceptable to her mother.

After listening, Sachiko Nai nodded, turned her head to look at her, and suddenly smiled.

"This Yongtai-san," is that the person who started playing games with you at the end of last year?

It seems I wasn't wrong back then; Nan had a crush on her back then.

Mina paused for a moment, then sat up in bed and retorted loudly.

"I wasn't in love with him back then!"

She turned her face away, not wanting her mother to see the embarrassing blush on her cheeks, and spoke softer and softer until it became a mutter.

"—He was the one who kept pestering me to play games, and I only reluctantly played with him!"

Sachiko knew she was shy, but didn't point it out. She just quietly watched her daughter, whose face showed more expressions since she came home than in the past six months.

"Really? Well, I really have to thank him anyway."

"—Why should I thank him?"

Mina finally managed to calm her racing heart, took a deep breath, and turned to look at her mother with a puzzled expression.

Sachiko's eyes softened as she reached out and gently stroked Mina's forehead, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Thank you for making you smile again—"

Mina looked into her mother's eyes, and what she saw there sent a shiver down her spine.

It contains both immense heartache for her during that period and a sense of relief that she can finally feel a little more at ease.

She pressed her face against her mother's palm and rubbed it against her.

"Ogasan————"

"Still acting like a child even at this age~"

Sachiko Mii pinched her nose, suppressing her earlier emotions, and said mischievously, "But you came back without even saying hello, doesn't that make you look like a princess of Baekje?"

Oh, no, that one is Korean, and looks more like Princess Kaguya. Your father is the Heavenly Emperor.

She laughed as soon as she finished speaking.

Mina's blush returned instantly, and she puffed out her cheeks in protest.

"Ogasan, you've got it wrong! Don't misuse allusions. I'm going home, not back to the Heavenly Palace!"

And, and I didn't miss him at all!

"Yes, yes, I misused it. You're going back to Seoul in a few days, aren't you?"

Sachiko Nai smiled and nodded, then stood up and walked towards the door. Halfway there, she turned back and winked at her.

"By the way, when Princess Kaguya returned to the Heavenly Palace, she didn't walk with her feet turned outwards either~"

"Ogasan!"

Mingi Yang sat on the sofa in the reception area, occasionally looking up at the door opposite, where Mingi Mina was receiving a follow-up appointment for anxiety disorder.

-

Suddenly, the door opened, and Mina walked out with a relaxed expression on her face, followed by a young doctor.

Meiyo immediately stood up and walked towards them.

"Nan, how are you?"

Minami smiled slightly at him and shook her head.

"Otosan, I'm fine now. Dr. Yamada said I can return to the stage normally."

"Mai-san, I only said 'You can return to the stage normally,' not 'It's okay.'"

Dr. Yamada smiled and waved his hand, then turned to Meiyo, whose brows were furrowed after hearing his words. He bowed slightly, his tone gentle but his wording precise.

"Ms. Mei, Ms. Mei is indeed ready to return to the stage. However, she has been away from her work environment for too long, and she is still a little nervous about facing the camera and the audience again."

However, this level of tension is normal in the early stages of a comeback, and there's no need to worry excessively. Just let her adapt at her own pace.

While her father was still processing the doctor's words, Mina quietly reached behind him and tugged at his sleeve.

"Otosan, I'm fine, I'm just a little nervous."

Meiyo turned to look at her, and there was indeed no trace of the forced composure she had shown before on her face.

He remained silent for a moment, then his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed a little. He turned to Dr. Yamada and bowed solemnly in return.

"Thank you, Yamada. I'll be careful not to put any unnecessary pressure on her."

Mina breathed a sigh of relief behind her father and nodded quickly to Dr. Yamada, her eyes full of gratitude.

Just now in the consultation room, Yamada keenly sensed that she had other worries on her mind, and that it wasn't as simple as he was telling Meiyo.

He asked her seriously if she had any worries lately, hoping that she would tell him, her doctor, the truth in order to complete her treatment.

Mina had no choice but to confess that it was a matter of the heart, and then immediately promised that she would handle it soon and begged him not to tell her father.

Yamada frowned after hearing this. In principle, he shouldn't hide anything from the patient's family, but seeing Mina's pleading expression, he finally nodded.

At that moment, Dr. Yamada returned the greeting with a smile.

"You're welcome, Ms. Mei. Ms. Matsumoto instructed me to make sure I help Ms. Mei well."

Besides, I'm a psychologist; I should do my best to treat my patients.

Mei Yo smiled and said, "Matsumoto is Matsumoto, and you are you. I will thank him properly later."

Yo Nai is a professor of orthopedics at Osaka University Hospital.

He specializes in drug development for orthopedics and regenerative medicine, has published over a hundred academic papers, and his professional abilities are widely recognized. He has been invited to give interviews to domestic and international media on numerous occasions and is an authoritative figure in the Japanese medical community.

Last year, because of Mina's illness, he specifically asked his good friend in the medical field, Professor Matsumoto, who specializes in mental illnesses, for help.

The other party recommended his prized disciple, Yamada, to treat Mina.

Upon hearing Meiyo's words, Yamada smiled and bowed slightly again. After straightening up, he looked at Mei Minami with some embarrassment.

"Misamo-san, would it be alright if we could take a picture together? My sister is Once, and she really likes Misamo."

"7

Mina glanced at him, and nodded with a smile to repay him for helping her earlier.

"Of course, thank you for your kind words, Yamada-san."

"Then I'll take off this robe first. My sister doesn't really like seeing me in a doctor's coat."

Yamada scratched his head, his tone so shy it was completely unlike the organized doctor he'd just spoken to in the consultation room; he seemed to be a total siscon.

After he finished speaking, he walked quickly back to his room, and when he came out again, he had taken off his white coat.

Meiyo smiled and held out his hand, "Yamada, give me your phone, I'll take the picture for you."

Yamada handed over the phone and stood next to Mina.

Meiyo stepped back two steps, raised his phone, and pressed the shutter for them. After taking the picture, he handed the phone back to Yamada and looked down at his watch.

"It's already noon, Yamada. If you have time, let's go have a casual meal together."

"Thanks to you, Nan was able to recover so quickly during this time."

"Ms. Mei, I can't accept this."

Yamada politely declined, but Meiyo waved his hand and settled the matter directly.

"That's fine, it's just a casual meal."

Mina stood behind her father, listening to their conversation, and inexplicably thought of someone else.

That person, Kang Young-tae, who also contributed to her recovery, was currently far away in Seoul.

Her eyes darted around, she looked at Yamada, and suddenly spoke.

"Dr. Yamada, could you please send me a copy of the group photo from earlier?"

Yamada smiled and nodded, readily sending the photos over.

Meiyo asked Mei Mina to call her mother at home to let her know, and then gestured for Yamada to walk with her to the parking lot.

Yamada smiled helplessly and had no choice but to follow.

Mina followed behind them, looking down at the group photo she had just received on her phone screen, a slight smile playing on her lips.

I don't think I've explained the blind date to Yongtai-san yet, have I?

He still mistakenly believes that his trip back to Japan was for a blind date. If I send him this photo, will he be anxious?

There's no use in worrying—she's still in Hyogo!

She wrinkled her nose, opened the chat window with Jiang Yongtai, and sent the photo.

Yongtai-san, if you can still resist confessing after seeing this photo ——————

Her eyes dimmed, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

Mingyang, who was walking in front, turned around and saw that she had fallen behind, so he called out to her.

"Nan, what are you thinking about?"

Mina snapped out of her daze, put away her phone, and quickly followed after him with a smile on her face.

"It's nothing, Otosan~"

Jiang Yongtai's phone vibrated in his pocket, but he didn't have time to pay attention to it right now.

Sitting in front of me is Zhao Meiyan, who has just come down from the stage.

She changed out of her black fishnet see-through top and put on a loose white sweatshirt. Her hairstyle was the same, with a few strands of hair sticking to her forehead. Her makeup was lighter than on stage, but the glitter at the corners of her eyes was still there.

The lounge was unusually quiet, with only Kang Young-tae, Kim Sung-woo, Cho Mi-yeon, and her personal manager present.

Lee Sung-joon and Jeon So-yeon, along with the other four members, took advantage of the lunch break to rush to record a live radio broadcast.

After the radio show ended, they had to rush back to prepare for the live broadcast on Music Bank that afternoon.

Song Yuqi originally wanted to pretend to be sick to stay with Zhao Meiyan, and she had even prepared a reason, but Li Chengjun shut her down with a single sentence.

"Without you, the remaining four of us can't carry the variety show on the radio. Yuqi, thank you for your hard work, hang in there."

Although Li Chengjun's words were somewhat heartless, he had no other choice but to say them.

-

In the Gidle group, only Song Yuqi and Zhao Meiyan can be released separately to record programs without worrying about their screen time.

The other four are best left unmentioned.

As she was leaving, Song Yuqi clung to the doorframe and mouthed "Fighting" to Zhao Meiyan, her expression resembling that of a mother leaving her child alone at the kindergarten gate.

Although Zhao Meiyan was starting to get nervous, she still gave her a reassuring look, watched the procession disappear at the end of the corridor, took a deep breath, and sat down on the sofa.

After waiting for a long time, Jiang Yongtai finally pushed the door open and came in.

By this time, she had already flipped through the magazine on her lap three times from beginning to end, but hadn't absorbed a single word.

Zhao Meiyan's personal agent stood up, shook hands with Jiang Yongtai, and exchanged a few pleasantries.

When Zhao Meiyan saw him, she immediately sat up straight, with her hands folded on her knees, trying her best to maintain the composure that a "professional artist" should have, but she lacked the naturalness she showed when she was with her teammates.

"————PDnim, hello."

Jiang Yongtai sat down opposite her and nodded.

"Miyeon, it's nice to see you again. Your performance today was amazing, congratulations."

Upon hearing him say that, Zhao Meiyan's earlobes immediately turned red. She pursed her lips, suppressed the smile that was about to spread across her face, and bowed slightly.

"Thank you, PDnim! You really came to see our performance. I... I think I saw you on stage just now—"

By the end, her voice had become so soft it was almost inaudible.

Kim Sung-woo, with his head down, pretended to be adjusting the recorder. Upon hearing Zhao Meiyan's words, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He looked up, his expression incredibly serious, but the words he uttered sounded smug to Jiang Yongtai.

"Miyeon, thank you. This is the first time I've seen Kang PDnim cheer so earnestly."

It seems our PDnim has become your fan.

He returned from the restroom as soon as the stage recording had just begun.

He originally intended to walk over directly, but from afar he saw Jiang Yongtai holding a light stick stiffly, chanting the cheering words in a very formal manner along with the other girls. Without saying a word, he decisively found a corner to squat down, took out his phone, and secretly recorded a video.

He plans to share this "dark history" of Jiang Yongtai with his colleagues when he gets back, but he absolutely cannot let Jiang Yongtai know about it!

Unless—you can threaten me!

"Really! PDnim is already a baby girl?"

Zhao Meiyan's eyes lit up instantly, and the composure she had painstakingly maintained crumbled in an instant.

Jiang Yongtai turned his face and glared at Jin Chengyu with eyes as sharp as knives.

Sensing the murderous aura, Kim Sung-woo immediately wiped the smile off his face and pretended to open his notebook.

Jiang Yongtai turned his gaze back to Zhao Meiyan, nodding with a smile on his lips.

"Well, you could say that. I didn't expect Miyeon's stage presence to be so good."

I was so moved by the fans in the audience that I couldn't help but cheer along with them.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meiyan's smile widened, her eyes narrowed into two curved slits, and her voice unconsciously became sweet.

"No, not really, PDnim~"

She paused, swallowed hard, as if about to ask an important question, and unconsciously leaned forward slightly.

"So, PDnim, who do you think performed the best on stage just now?"

Looking into her hopeful eyes, Jiang Yongtai naturally knew what she wanted to hear.

"In terms of dancing, Soojin is outstanding, and Soyeon's rap is also very impactful —"

As Zhao Meiyan listened to him announce the other members one by one, the light in her eyes gradually faded, and the corners of her mouth, which had been curving upwards, slowly tightened.

Jiang Yongtai couldn't help but laugh when he saw her wearing her heart on her sleeve.

"However, I think Mi-yeon is more charming, which made me see Zhao Mi-yeon in a new light." This is the artist.

17

"Hey! PDNim! How could you do this?!"

Zhao Meiyan was stunned for a moment, her face burning up instantly. She finally realized that her emotions had been under his control from beginning to end, and she cried out in embarrassment and anger.

Li Chengjun, who was standing next to him, coughed twice.

"Miyan."

He was already used to Zhao Meiyan's behavior, guessing that she was so relaxed because she had worked with Jiang Yongtai before and was somewhat familiar with him.

But no matter what, the person sitting opposite me is the PD, and it's working hours, so I still need to remind them.

When her manager called out to her, Zhao Meiyan shrugged and obediently sat back down, placing her hands back on her knees.

However, the slight dissatisfaction on her face hadn't completely faded. She pursed her lips and glared at Jiang Yongtai, her eyes clearly saying, "It's all your fault! You made me get scolded!"

Jiang Yongtai shook his head and chuckled.

Today, Zhao Meiyan truly opened his eyes. However, as their fans said, this girl is not only beautiful but also very cute, which reminded him of a certain Shiba Inu.

But work was more important, so he grabbed the Shiba Inu in his mind that was yelling "How are we the same!" by the scruff of its neck and threw it away, then sat up straight again.

"Alright, Miyeon, let's do the interview first. We can chat later."

Zhao Meiyan nodded quickly, obediently waiting for him to ask a question.

"We did a pre-interview before when we were on 'Budget Travel', but this time we're doing an album promotion on 'Refrigerator Interview', so we need to ask some questions again."

If you have any new or interesting little stories to share, please feel free to do so.

Jiang Yongtai started the conversation by glancing at Zhao Meiyan, who was already seriously recalling her "little anecdotes," and then asked the first question.

What are Miyeon's thoughts on the concept of "Oh My God"? How is this album different from her previous works?

"Hmm—it's just an idea."

Zhao Meiyan tilted her head and started thinking seriously.

In the past, these kinds of questions were answered by team leader Tian Xiaojuan or spokesperson Song Yuqi. She was trying hard to recall what they had said in the interview.

"So—this time it's a stronger style? Not the usual cool, it's a bit—"

She gestured with her hands, as if she could draw what she wanted to express in the air, but it was clumsy and abstract.

Jiang Yongtai took the call for her.

"A somewhat dark, sacred feeling?"

"Yes! That's the kind!"

Zhao Meiyan's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.

"Xiao Juan said that what she wanted to express this time was the feeling of light and darkness coexisting, not simply black or white."

At first, I was actually a little worried that I wouldn't be able to pull off this concept, because of my face—”

She pointed to her face and smiled confidently.

"Many fans say I look too kind and are afraid I can't be fierce, but Xiaojuan keeps saying I can, and she practiced my gaze with me for a long time in the dormitory."

The facial expressions I now display on stage are something I practiced alone in front of the mirror for several nights.

Jiang Yongtai nodded slightly and made a few notes in his notebook.

Seeing that he didn't interrupt her, Zhao Meiyan slowly opened up and added a few more words about a little episode during the MV shooting.

"If Miyeon-i were to choose her own style, which one would she pick?"

Jiang Yongtai then asked, expecting the answer to be cute, pretty, or innocent.

After all, with her face, these styles come naturally to her.

"Sexy! I want a sexy style!"

As Zhao Meiyan spoke, her expression suddenly became "alluring." She tossed her hair with one hand, placed the other on her waist, and raised her chin slightly, striking a pose that she considered extremely seductive.

The lounge was silent for a full two seconds.

Jiang Yongtai stared blankly at her, his pen falling silent.

You call this sexy?! Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what sexy is?

The manager next to him raised his hand to his forehead in exasperation; he was completely exasperated by Zhao Meiyan's obsession with a sexy style.

Zhao Meiyan had been eagerly awaiting Jiang Yongtai's approval.

She made a huge decision to do this in front of PDnim!

The reactions of the people opposite her were completely different from what she had expected. She suddenly became embarrassed and angry, puffing out her cheeks and putting her hands on her hips.

"What's wrong! Aren't I sexy? Pdnim!"

"Uh—sorry, but it was very effective."

Jiang Yongtai didn't dare look at her face, afraid that he wouldn't be able to hold back his laughter, which would be really impolite to the guest.

He looked down and circled this part in his notebook, saving it for later inclusion in the program.

"That's a great idea, but Miyeon can go back and practice a few more times, and prove it to the audience and fans during the recording."

When Zhao Meiyan heard Jiang Yongtai say this, she knew that with her current "sexy charm," she was not enough to make him infatuated with her.

She lowered her head and gave a muffled reply.

"Yes, I will work hard."

If Song Yuqi were there, she would probably have rushed over to cover her mouth and apologized to Jiang Yongtai on her behalf.

For the sake of my sister's image, let's not use this part in the show!

"By the way, I've watched Miyeon's variety show, and I remember you said you really liked Sanai from Twice, right?"

To prevent her from continuing to dwell on the setback, Jiang Yongtai quickly changed the subject.

Zhao Meiyan raised her head, having already put her earlier minor emotional outburst behind her.

PDnim has already praised himself for being very charming; he just hasn't seen his sexy side yet.

When it's time to record, we must amaze everyone, including PDnim!

She smiled again and nodded vigorously.

"Yes! I said that Sana is a senior I really admire, and her MBTI is the same as mine, and we are the same age."

I really want to be friends with her, but I've never had the chance to meet her before.

Jiang Yongtai tapped on his notebook. This was exactly what they had envisioned at the planning meeting. They could design some interactive elements for the program.

"Sanai will also be looking forward to seeing Miyeon."

The subsequent interview proceeded smoothly, completing the remaining procedures.

Zhao Meiyan is the same person both on and off camera. When she's happy, she gesticulates wildly, and when asked questions she doesn't want to answer, she purses her lips into a thin line. All her emotions are written on her face, requiring no guessing or preamble.

Jiang Yongtai closed his notebook and bowed slightly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Miyeon-i. Today's interview content is sufficient. I look forward to seeing you on the day of recording."

Zhao Meiyan quickly stood up, bowed in return, and blushed again, but this time she did not avoid his gaze.

"Yes! Thank you, PDnim. I'll do my best on the day of recording! And I'll practice my sexy expressions a lot!"

Jiang Yongtai paused for a moment, deciding not to respond.

Kim Sung-woo suppressed a laugh, put the recorder in his pocket, and nodded to Cho Mi-yeon as he followed behind.

The agent escorted the two to the entrance of the lounge and said goodbye.

After his agent closed the door to the dressing room, Jiang Yongtai remembered that he hadn't replied to the messages on his phone earlier.

He reached in and touched his phone, but before he could take it out, Kim Sung-woo leaned in, his face bearing the expression that made Kang Young-tae want to transfer him to the archives.

"Hyung, I recorded it all. I'll show it to Soobin noona when we get back—"

Kim Sung-woo made a threatening gesture, hoping to use this as leverage to make Kang Young-tae treat him better in the future, at least not to include him in every overtime shift.

"You dare!"

Kim Sung-woo wisely swallowed the rest of his sentence.

The two walked through the corridor and into the elevator. Only then did Jiang Yongtai finally take out his phone and swipe to turn on the screen.

Southern-style sauce?!

When Jiang Yongtai saw the message from Mina pop up on the screen, he thought that the photos that had been ignored for the past few days had finally received a response.

He quickly clicked on it, but his pupils immediately contracted and his heart skipped a beat.

In the photo, Mina is standing side by side with a young man, very close to each other.

She smiled and made a peace sign with her hand. The man, who was refined and clean-cut, stood next to her with a gentle smile on his face.

Did Nan-chan really go back to go on blind dates?

He hadn't forgotten the few fragmented sentences of the conversation he'd "overheard" a few nights ago.

He zoomed in on the screen; the gap between them was so close that he clenched his back teeth.

He didn't look at it a second time, and ignoring the puzzled look on Kim Sung-woo's face, he dialed the number directly.

The call ended.

Jiang Yongtai stared at the message "Call rejected" on the screen and dialed again.

The call was disconnected again, the second time.

The elevator doors opened just then, and the veins on Jiang Yongtai's forehead throbbed. The photo in his mind and Mina's words to him a few nights ago, "So what if it is?" were all mixed up, and his rationality was crushed to pieces.

He shoved the bag into Kim Sung-woo's arms.

"Chengyu, take a taxi home by yourself. I'm taking the day off today—no, I'm taking the day off now, and I might have to take it off tomorrow too!"

Go back and tell Soobin that something has happened at home!

Before he could finish speaking, he had already dashed towards the parking lot.

"elder brother!"

Kim Sung-woo stood frozen in place, clutching his bag, his mouth agape, but the words "Where are you going?" were not yet uttered.

When he caught up to the parking lot, he only heard a screeching sound of tires screeching, and Jiang Yongtai's taillights had already flashed away at the exit bend.

Kim Sung-woo looked down at the bag in his arms, then at the car that had disappeared, and blinked twice slowly.

"How am I supposed to explain this to Soobin noona?!"

He looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.

—Something happened at home?!

Jiang Yongtai's demeanor just now clearly looked more like he was going to "catch someone in the act"!

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