Chapter 32: Lee Ye-eun, Lee Hyuk-soo, and Kwon Bo-ah bullied me

Amidst thunderous applause, Yien lifted up the hem of her skirt and rushed into her mother's arms with open arms like a little firecracker.

As he ran, he created a gust of wind, leaving the shy-looking boy on the stage to slowly walk down from the side.

"Hezhu, stop looking, eat something and go back. You haven't finished your homework for today, have you?"

Lee Hyuk-soo turned his eyes away from the table when he heard his father's voice coming from another table. He smiled slightly, and the way he held the chopsticks revealed his good upbringing. "Yes."

When he put the rice cake into his mouth, the sweet but not greasy taste made him slightly bend his eyes. He heard that this cake was made in the bride's family shop today.

He couldn't help but take another look at the two children standing together. The boy, who looked not much different from him, was next to the little girl named Yien, moving around and touching her. It seemed that he had been waiting for a long time. He even secretly reached out to pull the hem of the girl's skirt, looking very lively and active.

Although Uncle Jin's daughter hugged her mother and acted coquettishly, she still extended a hand to the boy behind her under the frequent harassment of her friends.

I don't know what's so fun about hands. Lee Hyuk Soo couldn't help being speechless when he stared at the boy holding the girl's hands together to compare their sizes and then touching and pinching them, but he lowered his head and pinched his knuckles.

It’s better to finish the meal quickly and go home to do homework.

"Well, um, classmate, can we sit here?" A cheerful voice sounded in his ears. Quan Zhilong glanced at the boy who was sitting upright. There were exactly two empty seats next to him.

How come there is no one sitting next to you when you are so beautiful? Kwon Ji-yong looked at Lee Hyuk-soo in confusion, then glanced at the other children at the table. Well, this boy’s temperament seems to be out of tune with everyone else.

Countless thoughts flashed through Kwon Ji-yong's mind, and Lee Hyuk-soo also thought, "Who is your classmate?"

Li Hezhu looked up and saw Quan Zhilong holding Li Yien standing beside him. He complained in his heart but calmly let go of his hand that was pinching his joints, pulled the empty chair next to him back, and nodded dignifiedly, "Okay."

"Thank you." Kwon Ji-yong took Ye-eun to the children's table smoothly. The table was full of cakes and hot dishes that the children loved. Shin Se-kyung, who was concentrating on eating a plate of osmanthus cake, looked up at the two people diagonally across the table and raised his hand to greet them, "Jirong Oppa, Ye-eun, long time no see, hehe."

“Shijing unnie!” Ye-eun also smiled and waved. Among the children at the table, except for Zhilong who was next to her, only Shijing unnie was familiar to her. From a distance, she imitated the aunts and uncles who came to help today to greet her, “Unnie, enjoy your meal!”

Lee Hyuk-soo lowered his head and covered the corners of his slightly upturned mouth with his hands. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly and he saw Kwon Ji-yong beside him pick up a piece of food with chopsticks and put it on the plate in front of Ye-eun. The girl was chatting with her body turned sideways, and he lowered his head to pick out all the onions on the plate, then gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her to eat quickly.

"Ah, she doesn't eat onions." Lee Hyuk-soo changed his posture out of boredom, his eyes roaming between the two of them, completely forgetting his previous thought of going home quickly.

Quan Zhilong was keenly aware of the gazes around him, and turned to look, only to see the boy who had pulled out a chair for him so gentlemanly was eating with his head down. He looked at the other person in confusion, wondering if he was wrong.

"Ye-eun, I want to eat that." Quan Zhilong pulled his hand and shook it. Ye-eun carefully avoided the carrots on the plate and scooped a spoonful of mixed vegetables into Quan Zhilong's bowl, "Here, eat it."

The tables at wedding banquets are relatively large, and the two naturally ordered each other to pick the dishes that were closer. Lee Hyuk-soo, who had been picking up the dishes in front of him, couldn't help but look at the two of them again, "He doesn't eat carrots."

Lee Hyuk-soo's garbage plate was spotless. He was a little tired of the kimchi and pork in front of him, but he still picked up a piece with his chopsticks without changing his expression.

After feeling the other person's gaze again, Quan Zhilong narrowed his eyes slightly this time, slowly scooped a spoonful and pretended not to notice. Then, as he put the food into his mouth, he turned around in a flash and caught the person who was always peeking at him, "Hey, it turns out you were watching us."

Li Hezhu: "..." This person is too lively.

He twitched his lips, not knowing how to answer. I felt a little embarrassed. Why should I tell anyone about something like peeking? Aren't they both embarrassed?

But Quan Zhilong didn't feel embarrassed and spoke to himself, "Is there a dish you can't get and you want us to help you? Don't be polite."

Under normal circumstances, Quan Zhilong would not be so friendly in front of people he didn't know well, but this was Aunt Li Zhen's wedding, so he was half the host. Quan Zhilong patted his chest and promised that he would take good care of these little guests. Ye-eun also nodded frantically, "You have to eat it with a hug."

Lee Hyuk-soo has had a calm personality since he was young. Although he has friends around him, he interacts with them in a polite and courteous manner. I was very curious to see the way the two of them get along with each other without distinguishing between self and others.

He rarely tried to speak: "Well, can you help me get the carrot cake over there?"

Quan Zhilong's expression changed. Ah, how could anyone like to eat carrots! When he picked up the carrot cake, his face was full of undisguised disgust. "Eat something else, what else do you want?"

After eating something like radish, you should immediately eat something else to fill it up. Quan Zhilong, who doesn't like carrots, thinks he is very considerate.

Li Hezhu glanced around the table, feeling a little confused.

Quan Zhilong stood and followed his gaze at the dishes on the table, then followed his gaze away. After two rounds, Lee Hyuk-soo didn't say a word and Kwon Ji-yong sat down silently. How could someone be so troubled about choosing a dish?

He took a sip of the kelp soup and sighed, "My friend, call me when you need me."

How did we become friends? The process of making friends is not right. Lee Hyuk Soo nodded and blinked, as if something was wrong, but also seemed normal.

Mr. Li was a little tipsy. When he turned around, he saw his son still sitting quietly in his seat, even occasionally talking to the boy next to him. He was so shocked that his drunkenness disappeared. He looked down at his watch and found that he had been there for three hours. Is this still my son? I had tried every means to refuse before coming here, but in the end I actually made friends with him.

He calmly moved his chair back and leaned against the backrest without feeling embarrassed at all about eavesdropping on the children's conversation.

"Which school are you in?"

"What grade?"

"Hey, so you and I are the same age, so we are close friends!"

Another little boy's voice came over. Father Li, who was a little dazed, heard that his son seemed to say something, but also seemed not to say anything.

He tried to get closer and finally heard his son sigh helplessly, "I just said something was wrong with the procedure! The names have changed from classmates to friends to relatives, but, dear friend, what is your name? Do you know my name?"

Quan Zhilong blinked, as if he really didn't know the name of this friend.

He smiled awkwardly, and Yi-eun slumped down in the chair after eating and drinking, giggling like a boneless kitten. She was already happy today, and making new friends made her even more excited. "My name is Yi-eun, and his name is Zhilong. What's yours?"

Li Hezhu sat upright and looked at the two people seriously, "Hello, my name is Li Hezhu."

"Hello, my name is Shin Se-kyung." Se-kyung had also finished eating, and trotted over, holding Ye-eun's hand, and spoke shyly.

The four children were lined up according to their age. The oldest, Lee Hyuk-soo, was almost three months older than Kwon Ji-yong, and the youngest, Ye-eun, was one year younger than Shin Se-kyung. The children were full and full of energy. They found a small corner and started playing.

The other three were squatting in the corner playing with stones. Lee Hyuk-soo was standing beside them, not participating, but smiling the whole time.

"Hezhu, are you coming back with me now?" Father Li asked jokingly. It was the first time he saw his son making friends so quickly. He was afraid that he had forgotten about his homework.

Unexpectedly, Li Hezhu thought about it, and his ears were filled with the sound of adults drinking and playing games. He nodded and said, "Let's go back."

He looked at the three disappointed people, took out his SGH-250, opened the cover of the phone and planned to write down the numbers of several people, "I have to go back to do my homework, give me one of your phone numbers."

The three of them blinked blankly, then looked at each other: "......?" Can they own such an advanced thing as a mobile phone at such a young age! ? And why would you be willing to give up playing for homework!

"You don't have a cell phone, so how can we contact each other?" Lee Hyuk-soo lives in Gangnam District. The children there all have well-off families and almost everyone has a cell phone for easy communication.

The four of them were silent, and Father Li laughed, "It's okay, I can contact Lao Jin, and when they have their own cell phones, I'll ask him to give you his phone number."

In 1998, the impact of peers owning mobile phones was huge. When fourth-year student Quan Zhilong was holding hands with first-year student Yi Eun to go home, he was still talking about this matter, "Why can he have a mobile phone? Why does he still think about studying every day when he has a mobile phone!"

Yien put the stationery in her schoolbag away, feeling excited and thrilled. Finally, she wouldn't have to sneak around to school this time! I actually attended a day of classes in elementary school! Reading and writing.

She was young and had no interest in mobile phones. Mobile phones that could only make calls and send messages only had one function for a child who could not read many words. "Why would I envy someone who can make phone calls? School is fun. I have to take Chinese classes three times a week. Do you want to come with me, Zhilong?"

Quan Zhilong shook his head frantically. Oh my God, this is terrible. He just met a person who likes to do homework, and now even first-grader Yien has fallen in love with studying!

Quan Zhilong, who always thought that studying was painful, was shocked. "You, you like going to class?"

His tone became more and more erratic, as if he was shocked by this magical thing.

And when he went to the company on the weekend, he was shocked again by another girl in the company.

On the same night that she accompanied her brother to S/M for an interview, Kwon Bo-ah received an invitation from the company. However, her family was well-off and she had good grades, so her parents naturally did not agree.

However, when she proved to her parents that she could balance her studies and hobbies by her determination to get the first place in the final exam, they finally compromised.

"Wow, first place! Unnie is so awesome!" Ye'en listened to Unnie's "inspirational story" with a serious look on her face. Her mom also said the same thing. Although she likes dancing now, she can't give up studying.

"Sigh." Quan Baoer wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had only been there for two weeks, but she could already vaguely feel the company's emphasis on her. Not only was her training schedule the most full, the training teachers were also the best, but there were also many outstanding trainees in the company.

For example, the little girl Yeen who we met for the first time today, is young and not even a formal trainee yet, but the teachers seem to value her very much.

Kwon Bo-ah always has a sense of urgency, and this year the company launched a group called Shinhwa. From HOT in 1996 to SES in 1997, and then to Shinhwa which just debuted this month, the company has launched an idol group every other year. According to this rule, there should be a girl idol group next year as well.

But her age... Quan Baoer glanced at Ye Eun who was still looking at her ignorantly and admiringly. Oh my god, there is a younger one here. Who knows how many years she will have to train in the company. "I heard that Ye Eun and Choi Sung Hye know each other?"

Choi Sung-hee is the captain of SES, a group that debuted last year. As soon as he debuted, he was known as the one with the "voice of an angel."

"Ouni should be training upstairs." Yeen nodded and pointed upwards. She heard that there was a practice room upstairs with a painting of blue sky and white clouds, which was much better than the places where ordinary trainees stayed.

The two chatted briefly and then Kwon Bo-ah became nervous again. Her seniors who had already debuted also trained so hard, and they were even busier after their debut. She had to take this opportunity to improve her own abilities.

What’s even more difficult is that if my academic performance declines significantly, my mother will definitely not let me come again.

Quan Baoer took a sip of water. Anxiety enveloped her like a black net. She couldn't neglect either training or studies.

"It takes two hours to go back and forth every day, so I can only do my homework during my breaks." Facing Ye-eun's puzzled look, Quan Baoer explained, "It will be too late to do it when I get home at night."

This year, she has to take the entrance exam from primary school to junior high school, and Quan Baoer's academic burden is increasing. She doesn't want to miss any available time.

Ye-eun nodded solemnly, first grade is also very busy! In kindergarten she only had to write a few words, but now she has to do homework in different subjects. She followed Quan Baoer's example and took out her homework, and the two of them lay on small stools and started doing their homework. This was what Quan Zhilong saw when he came over.

He rubbed his eyes, stepped back out the door, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open again.

The horrifying scene before him showed no change in the people in it. There were indeed two people squatting in the chaotic practice room doing their homework.

“……???” Oh my God! Ye-eun is crazy! She is only in the first grade, what is she writing!

Don’t they all go downstairs to play during their break? Why did she change when she just started elementary school? Who is the person around her who tempts her to study?

Quan Zhilong walked towards the two people with heavy steps. They were clearly in the company, but why did he feel like a poor student being isolated by the top student?

"Yien, aren't you going to play on the dance mat today?" He squatted beside Yien, who was doing her Chinese homework after class. The incomprehensible Chinese characters looked far less interesting than Tetris.

Yi Eun turned to look at Quan Zhilong, shook her head, and said as a matter of course: "No, Yi Eun hasn't finished her homework today."

Such familiar words, I seem to have heard them from someone a week ago. Quan Zhilong's eyes were empty. He looked at the strange girl next to Yien and curled his lips, "Hello?"

Kwon Baoer looked at him twice and remembered that Yi Eun and he were the two children she saw at that time. She nodded awkwardly in response: "Hello."

"Why are you doing your homework at this time?" Quan Zhilong's tone trembled. He really couldn't understand why someone would do such a thing in the dance studio. "Do you like studying?"

If you like it, then you like it. Why do you bring Ye Eun along to study as well?

Quan Baoer looked at him in surprise and shook her head, "I don't like it, I just have to study. If I don't get first place, I may not be able to come to training."

Quan Zhilong's pupils dilated, first! My mother's requirement for him was to get in the middle of the class. Even with that, he felt tired. How could he imagine that someone could get first place and train at the same time?

"Ye'en, your aunt also wants you to get first place?" He looked at Yi'en with melancholy. What if Yi'en also had to get first place before she could come for training? It would be so tiring. And learning, like dancing, requires talent! Does Ye-eun have that talent?

Kwon Ji-yong couldn't help but worry about Ye-eun. A child who initially called himself Noona must have had a miserable time in Korean class. Just like when I was scratching my head in math class.

However, Ye-eun shook her head and said, "No, I just think Chinese is very interesting and the class is also very interesting."

"..." Kwon Ji-yong just wondered why he thought so much before, Ye-eun is finished! She was brainwashed by her teachers.

When he called his new friend to tell him about this, the other party was silent for a moment, as if he was afraid of being rude but couldn't help his curiosity: "Zhilong, is your lowest score in math really over 60?"

Quan Zhilong hung up the phone expressionlessly and returned the phone to his mother, "Mom, I'm being bullied."

Han Lanji's face changed drastically, "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

All kinds of thoughts flashed through her mind. What was going on? He hadn't shown anything abnormal before. The semester has just started. Could it be that some new classmates are bullying him? Han Lanji frowned. If this was true, she would definitely go to the school to find out.

However, the next moment, the son blinked, and his face showed an expression of despair.

"Ye-eun, Hyuk-soo, and the new girl named Kwon Bo-ah in the company." Kwon Ji-yong said expressionlessly, "They used their love of learning to isolate and bully me."

Han Lanji breathed a sigh of relief and burst out laughing. She raised her hand and poked Quan Zhilong's head, "Son, Yien just started elementary school and she loves studying so much. Can you work harder?"

Quan Zhilong frowned. He was good at subjects like Korean and history, but he was really not interested in subjects like mathematics and science. "I heard that this is hereditary, mom."

He looked up at Han Lanji seriously, his face full of seriousness, "I am already the best student in our family. Think about it, Nuna couldn't even pass math before, but I at least got a good score. Fortunately, you gave birth to me, proving that there is nothing wrong with our genes."

Quan Duomei, who went downstairs to get some water, sneered, raised her hands to hook Quan Zhilong's neck, and shouted in his panicked cry for help, "Quan Zhilong, you're done!"