Chapter 68 Paris and the Little Mermaid

At the end of March, All Star Love and their team flew to Paris to start their journey to Fashion Week, and Kwon Ji-yong arrived in Paris in advance.

"Let me tell you, we don't have to focus on Paris. Dior is a bit difficult. After Paris, go to Milan. Gi is easier to get a headline. Although the Korean market is small, it's open to the world. And you're very popular in Japan. I don't think it's too difficult to get a headline for Gi. Your style is compatible with Gi, but I don't really like Gi."

After arriving in Paris, we landed at the airport and saw beautiful women with long legs and male models with exposed pecs everywhere. Kimi, wearing Dior sunglasses, chattered to Xing Ai while glancing at the handsome guys around him.

"Kimi, that's a Japanese mindset, right? Actually, all Japanese circles are independent and self-contained, but Europe and the US really like and appreciate Japan's unique feel, whether it's music, film, or even fashion. K-pop, however, is a niche genre. Since 2019, streaming and self-media have exploded, and now, due to the pandemic, there aren't many entertainment or artists that have made it big in Asia. Meanwhile, with the vast market for pop culture, there's no need to expand overseas. This gives K-pop an opportunity, so now is truly the best time to expand its popularity."

Jeon Seong-ae saw it clearly. She analyzed the two boy and girl groups that reached the top, and found that there was certainly a relationship of timing. After her rebirth, she actually had no intention of returning to the American music scene. However, if she wanted to live well in Korea, she had to have overseas fame and "bring glory to the country", so she didn't mind using her experience and vision.

"Wow, you have good taste." Kimi said.

Kimi found that the more he worked with Xing Ai, the more he felt that this person's vision and ability were at the top level in the Korean entertainment industry. So he became more confident that his cooperation with Xing Ai could make her an even brighter star.

"That's right. Although Dior doesn't have much of a chance, there's still hope for Margiela's fragrance line." Quan Xingai raised an eyebrow.

"You're right, so the epidemic is a very good time. You know, usually at fashion week, all the attention will be on European and American celebrities or flower-growing artists. Now that Paris Fashion Week and the flower-growing artists are no longer at Paris Fashion Week, K-pop's opportunity has come." Kimi made an exaggerated expression.

"But why are you so excited?" Quan Xingai looked at his new gay friend in confusion.

"Come on, the whole Paris is full of handsome guys who are 1.9 meters tall. Aren't you excited?" Kimi pretended to be cool but had a burning heart that wanted to start a short-lived romance right away. "Oh, I forgot, you have GD, what a pity, a huge forest." He said in a mean way.

"GD and I are not lovers, okay? I am your competitor, and who knows who these male models like." Quan Xingai said unyieldingly with her arms folded.

"Tsk, you?" Kimi turned his head away and rolled his eyes. Everyone knew that GD was determined to win.

Wu Xianhao and Chi Mingzhen, who were traveling with them, whispered quietly, "These two are just talking in Japanese. Shouldn't we learn some Japanese too?"

"Why are you afraid that Xing Ai will be kidnapped?"

"No matter how bad they say something about you, you have to help them count their money." Chi Mingzhen said.

Wu Xianhao has lost 50 pounds and returned to a normal weight. He feels more confident walking on the fashionable streets of Paris. Moreover, his image has changed after Kimi came. His girlfriend praised him for becoming more handsome, so he didn't care about Ji Mingzhen's joke.

"We have GD here, so we don't have to worry about Xing'ai being abducted. He hasn't even caught up with Xing'ai yet, so he's the one who's most anxious."

Speak of the devil and he appears. In the airport parking lot, Kwon Ji-yong was waiting by the car door, with his bodyguard Tiger Brother standing next to him. In the business car behind him, you can vaguely see another handsome guy who is always with him - Lee Joo-hyuk.

"Jilong, why did you have to bring me with you when you came to Paris so early?" Li Zhuhe, wearing the same sunglasses as her best friend, asked Quan Zhilong with the car window open.

"As an excuse."

"Hey, hey, is it really okay to be so direct?"

"Although there are almost no tourists now and there are fewer paparazzi, we should still be on the safe side. If I get photographed, I'll say I was shopping with you." Kwon Ji-yong typed to ask where Xing Ai was while answering Li Zhuhe's question without turning his head.

"Ha, it's Zhilong as expected. He's still the love-brained guy. Last year he seemed to be still insisting that he absolutely didn't want to be in a relationship with Xingai, but this year he won't 'marry' anyone but you?" Li Zhuhe simply got out of the car, leaned against the door with his arms folded, and teased his friend.

"The past is the past, and the present is the present. I am no longer the same person as before. I have gotten to know Xing'ai again, and I know what I am doing." Kwon Ji-yong did not hide his feelings for Quan Xing'ai at all.

"Why does it seem like something has happened? Did the company's blind date make you feel a sense of crisis?"

"An Xiaoxie? Maybe in the past, but not now..." Quan Zhilong smiled bitterly.

As soon as Quan Xingai left the airport, she saw the two glittering celebrities standing by the car, completely catching everyone's attention. "Oh, Zhu He, why are you here too? Are you attending Fashion Week too?"

"I'm here with someone. I'm also attending the Paris Fashion Week, but I haven't been to Paris for a long time." Li Zhuhe hasn't seen Xingai for a while, and found that the temperament of a big star in her can no longer be suppressed. Even though she was wearing a mask and looked tired all the way, it couldn't hide the lively look in her eyes.

"Hey, I came to the show alone, but there were so many people with me..."

"Is it not good?" Quan Zhilong opened the car door for the girl.

"It just shows that I'm really popular." Quan Xingai smiled with her lips curled up. As April was approaching, the weather in Europe was good, neither too cold nor too hot. The tourism industry was in a downturn, and France was no longer crowded with tourists. There was no need to worry about being run into by chance, let alone paparazzi. Quan Xingai was in a really good mood.

"Pfft," Li Zhuhe laughed, "You two really are like cats."

"Mo? Why cats? I like puppies." Quan Xingai retorted.

"Haven't you heard that joke? If a human encounters a god who feeds them every day, they'll say, 'He's so awesome!' But if a kitten encounters a god who feeds them every day, they'll say, 'I'm so awesome!' Hahahahaha, Xing'ai and Zhilong are both very cat-like. Lazy is actually a hunter waiting for an opportunity."

Quan Xingai looked at the smiling Quan Zhilong, wrinkled her nose, turned her head away proudly and looked out the window, "Really, Oppa is a puppy." It was the puppy who started to act weird ever since they had tested each other.

It was already evening when they landed in Paris. Because they were invited by different brands, they stayed in separate hotels, one to the left and the other to the right. Quan Xingai also breathed a sigh of relief. Recently, Quan Zhilong always looked like he wanted to have a long talk and be frank, which made her feel very pressured... The last conversation with the Riddler made Quan Zhilong seem like he had made up his mind.

The two of them sat in the car coming out of the airport. Quan Zhilong sent Xing Ai to the hotel where she was staying. The scenery outside the car receded in the speeding traffic. Quan Zhilong looked at the girl's profile and thought of the conversation between the two before the last dinner in the exhibition hall.

[…Relationships between people are like this, we're just walking a path together. If that friend were to stand before me again, my feelings would change. Rebuilding a relationship with someone you've broken up with wouldn't end well.]

He should give Nu that sense of security, let her know that this time is really different.

"Oppa, you have a lot of work at Chanel, so go to bed early tonight..." Quan Xingai turned around and saw Quan Zhilong speaking again with a thoughtful look.

"You...Xing Ai, let's find some time to talk." Quan Zhilong grabbed the girl's hand and asked softly.

"...Wait until you're done. Do you have a shoot tomorrow? Go and have some rest." Quan Xingai sighed.

Yes, Kwon Ji-yong had a photo shoot the next day, so he couldn't go to Star Love's hotel because he had to shoot the cover of the French version of Elle. He couldn't leave his work and go find her desperately, but he had made up his mind to confess. However, he didn't want to confess to her without any preparation.

After they separated, Kwon Ji-yong returned to the hotel and his staff also arrived. A group of people were clamoring about the schedule for tomorrow's filming. A mixture of Korean, English, and French invaded his brain, but Kwon Ji-yong was thinking about his plans after work. He was texting Lee Joo-hyuk while arranging work for his agent.

-Mo? The night after tomorrow, take Xingai shopping and then to a private music club in the Marais? What are you doing?

-Please, it's important to prepare a private concert for Xing Ai.

-Okay...

That day at the exhibition, Kwon Ji-yong felt a sense of relief. Returning home, he didn't even want to rest. He pulled Oh Hyun-ho aside and asked him a bunch of questions about Sung-ae's personality and changes. He learned that Sung-ae had been in a rage the year he was discharged from the army, and that her personality had changed since she was rescued. Kwon Ji-yong suspected that perhaps she had returned at that time, and he felt a surge of regret for "little Sung-ae."

Being able to meet again was already a miracle that happened in a trillion, and it even cost Xiaoxing's love life. On the day when he figured it out, Quan Zhilong was filled with emotion and sadness. He felt that he had to do something to make up for that mistake.

He thought quietly by himself. No matter what, at least he was glad that Sarah really came back. At least Sarah was happy and so close to him. He should be content and smile.

Quan Zhilong has made up his mind. Schemes and tricks are no match for sincerity. This time, he really figured out the reason why Xing Ai didn't want to date him. He didn't want to waste time anymore. In the past, they were separated because he wasted too much time. Now that he knew Xing Ai's knot in her heart, he didn't want to continue playing the push-pull game. Before coming to Paris, he made a decision. This time he was serious. He wanted to give Nu a love experience that was completely different from the one 10 years ago. Let's start by confessing everything.

*

"Tsk tsk, do you finally feel that your senior has bad intentions towards you?" Kimi pushed the clothes rack into the room and started to choose clothes for Quan Xingai to watch the show.

"I've always known this, but he seems to have become more scheming recently. He's not as easy to understand as before. It feels like he's planning something big." Quan Xingai tapped his chin, looking thoughtful.

She did feel different and special towards Quan Zhilong, but she found that Quan Zhilong seemed to have learned to restrain himself. He seemed...hiss, indescribable, a little weird. Quan Xingai's intuition told her that Quan Zhilong seemed to have become dangerous now, and she felt that she'd better stay away from him.

"We are all men, and I tell you, you should find a boyfriend as soon as possible, otherwise you will be dragged back to the dragon's nest sooner or later. Let's see what you wear to the show. Margiela is haute couture, so there is no need to think about Dior. How about mixing and matching?" Kimi showed off a set of styles, discussing work while imparting the "love guide" whenever he had the chance.

"What boyfriend? Xing Ai has a boyfriend?" Wu Xianhao and Chi Mingzhen asked curiously when they entered the room.

"Where have you been listening? What boyfriend? That's nonsense - oh, how about pairing this new autumn and winter item with this?" Quan Xingai replied.

"This lace bra can better support your temperament, and it looks more eye-catching when paired with a national plaid skirt. By the way, why don't you date that An Xiaoxie? I have studied all your songs and TV dramas, and I think An Xiaoxie likes you very much." Kimi took a black lace tank top and matched it with a Dior classic plaid skirt.

Quan Xingai nodded and snapped her fingers. "Bingo, this bra is beautiful and elegant. It reminds me of Monica Bellucci. Let's pick out another skirt, or how about these men's pants? —An Xiaoxie, I've never liked him."

"No wonder GD didn't take him seriously, men's intuition is very sharp - yes, this one! A blue and black gradient ostrich feather skirt, a bra with men's clothing and wet hair, please, that was popular in Japan last year, you OUT! NONONO!" Kimi took out an exaggerated but really beautiful gradient ostrich feather skirt and argued with Quan Xingai.

"Me? OUT? Ha, what a joke, come on sister, watching a show is not like going to a film festival, ostrich feathers are too grand, no, I don't like this, let's take a step back. This pure white women's pants? OK?" Quan Xing Ai was not afraid of Kimi, picked up another pair of pure white trousers with black edges on the bottom, and was too lazy to talk about the gossip because of the competition to wear that set.

"Okay, you win. You're right. This dress does look a bit exaggerated if it's not for the red carpet." Kimi frowned and put the dress back reluctantly.

Oh Hyun-ho was on the balcony, working on his phone. Ji Myung-jin was watching the two of them compete. When the battle was over, she said, "Isn't GD senior good? He's really into Star Love and likes you very much."

After picking out clothes, Quan Xingai curled up on the sofa again. "Liking someone and being together are two different things. Wouldn't it be better to just be friends for life because we like each other?"

"Ha, naive girl, once a man is attracted to you, he will only want you and conquer you. Being friends? Haha." Kimi laughed, and Chi Mingzhen nodded in agreement.

Quan Xingai was speechless. Well, he was right. She was in a daze and when she came to her senses, she found that only Mingzhen unni was left in the room packing her things.

"Oh, love... is so annoying..." She couldn't help but sigh.

"Oh, this is so infuriating. Xing Ai, you're surrounded by handsome guys, and there's a national treasure like GD who can't live without you, and you're being so Versailles with me. Oh, this is so infuriating."

"Oh, unnie, that's not the case... If the mermaid in the fairy tale knew that the reason the prince loved the mute girl was because he had known for a long time that she was the little mermaid, and the prince had always loved the little mermaid, no matter whether she had a singing voice or was human or not, the prince loved the little mermaid's soul, would the little mermaid and the prince be happy then?" Quan Xingai lay in his arms, blinking her eyes.

Ever since Quan Zhilong hinted at it, she finally realized that Quan Zhilong had probably guessed it, so he had always loved her, right? His struggle meant that he had fallen in love with the same person, and now he is no longer entangled or struggling - because he realized that Xing'ai and Sarah are the same person.

"The Little Mermaid? An album? Is it a new concept?" Chi Mingzhen was curious.

"Oh, unnie, don't worry about these things for now, just answer me." Quan Xingai acted coquettishly and skillfully.

"Well, I think the little mermaid needs to ask herself the answer. The prince's love is one thing, but the little mermaid's love is the key point. Does the little mermaid like the prince? Being touched is not love, and longing for the human world is not love either." Chi Mingzhen thought for a while and said.

"Oh, the Little Mermaid naturally loves him too. Then...wouldn't breaking up make the Little Mermaid sad again?"

"Why is Xing'ai so hesitant? What is the most plastic and imperceptible parasite that lives in the human body as described in Inception? It's actually an idea. No matter how small it is, it will become deeply rooted once you fully understand it. Don't get bogged down in the idea of ​​breaking up. Everyone will die. Are you going to give up your life's journey just for the possibility of death?" Chi Mingzhen patiently enlightened her.

Xing Ai is just like a child. Everyone likes her, but she can't help but think about the pessimistic ending.

Quan Xing'ai pondered. Was she stuck in a rut? Was it because those pessimistic thoughts had become parasites clinging to her mind, and then those pessimisms began to spread, growing stronger, devouring her like Cthulhu... Until she had a new life, until she finally understood the weight of life. Her reunion with Quan Zhilong made her completely surrender to love. In fact, she had always loved Zhilong... Love is love, anyway, Zhilong was also love-minded...

Thinking slowly and sorting out her thoughts slowly, she smiled and felt as if the scene in front of her was gradually becoming clearer, and the golden sun seemed to have jumped out of the horizon again.

"Tsk tsk, laughing so happily? Has the little mermaid figured it out?" Chi Mingzhen said jokingly.

"Mo, unnie, I'm not talking about myself!" After coming to her senses, Quan Xingai raised her head and refused to admit that it was herself.

If she meets that person with a golden soul and as brilliant as a rainbow, and that person is the little prince who will continue to love her even if it happens again a hundred times, then what's wrong with the little mermaid being brave again?