Chapter 37 The Gift

After internal voting, the company decided to use the song submitted by Han Yunxing as the title track, not only because of its high quality, but also because of the company's ambition to create a versatile and dynamic singer.

"Don't you have confidence?"

President Hong smiled and looked at Han Yunxing, whose excited eyes didn't seem to indicate a lack of confidence.

"Thank you, President! I'll do my best."

As expected, upon hearing the president's question, Han Yunxing immediately replied that she could.

Back on the sixth floor, Han Yunxing was stopped by Ren Xuanzhi, who was sitting in a booth in the rest area.

"Are you getting ready to make a comeback?" Im Hyun-sik took a sip of coffee, smiling as he turned to look at Han Yoon-sung, who had sat down next to him.

"Hmm! Oppa, is BTOB making a comeback soon?" Han Yunxing leaned back on the sofa. She had heard that her senior group was also making a comeback, and Ren Xuanzhi had been frequently seen on the sixth floor of the company recently.

Ren Xuanzhi made a "ten" with his fingers. Seeing the girl's surprised look, he smiled and imitated Han Yunxing, relaxing and leaning back on the sofa.

"It's really close, to the point where we can still run into each other even during promotional events."

Han Yoon-sung sat up straight and told Im Hyun-shik that the CEO expected him to make a comeback in September.

"Shaoyan has been writing songs lately too," Han Yunxing whispered, recalling Shaoyan's "wonderful" mental state that had been all over the girls' chat room recently.

"Hey? Were you talking about me?"

Quan Shaoyan, who was out for a stroll, saw someone he knew in the rest area and walked over with a coffee. Before he could even say hello, he heard Han Yunxing mention him.

After being hugged by Han Yunxing and greeting Ren Xuanzhi, Quan Shaoyan sat down next to Han Yunxing.

"We're discussing the company's return to the domestic market."

Jeon So-yeon had told Han Yoon-sung that the company planned to let her try out a solo career first. Seeing the artists who frequently appeared in the production studio, Han Yoon-sung couldn't help but laugh at the idea that had come to her.

Is it because Cube can't write songs that they're not allowed to make a comeback?

"It's a sweet burden, really," Quan Shaoyan said in a muffled voice, his arm around Han Yunxing's.

Having gone through talent shows and Unprettyrapstar, Quan Shaoyan gained fame, but also began to waver about whether he could do well and whether the audience would like him.

Quan Shaoyan turned his head to look at Han Yunxing, who was smiling slightly, and tightened his arms.

Yunxing is such a thoughtful and kind person. Even though she's so busy, she still helps herself release stress after noticing that something was wrong with her emotions.

Recalling how she sang and cried in the karaoke room, Quan Shaoyan felt a surge of shame and buried her face in the arm of the person next to her.

Han Yunxing felt the weight on her arm and thought Quan Shaoyan was under a lot of pressure, so she reached out with her other arm, which wasn't being held, to hug her: "Our Shaoyan is the best!"

Ren Xuanzhi really wanted to interject: "Have you guys forgotten that there's someone sitting right next to us?!"

But watching the two girls huddled together, encouraging each other, he simply picked up his coffee, took a sip, chewed on the ice, and thought to himself: When we meet, I'll make the maknae say a hundred things to praise me.

Lu Xingcai: ? ? ?

When the mini1 comeback plan was officially launched, Han Yoon-sung's schedule was filled with trips to the company. However, her consistent fitness efforts were very effective. Even her manager, Shin Lina, was worried that the schedule was too strenuous. Despite working non-stop, Han Yoon-sung was still full of energy.

Moreover, we're still in the song selection and recording stage; it won't be until the stage design and music video shooting that we'll truly become "spinning tops."

Being busy is good, though, because I want to stand on stage and sing for the stars.

*

I thought you would want to stay home and rest.

Lee Joo-hyuk sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, glancing sideways at Kwon Ji-yong carefully selecting items at the counter next to him.

“My dear friend, I really wanted to see you as soon as I got back to Korea.”

Lee Joo-hyuk secretly rolled his eyes at Kwon Ji-yong from behind his sunglasses.

Kwon Ji-yong casually replied to Lee Joo-hyuk, then turned and noticed the sales assistant's eyes suddenly light up. He smiled and said, "Please wrap this up for me."

The sofa next to him sank with gravity as Kwon Ji-yong sat next to Lee Joo-hyuk, scrolling through his phone. The message he most wanted to receive a reply to wasn't even read yet.

"Bad girl".

Lee Joo-hyuk didn't hear what he said clearly, but it sounded like a sticky voice sighing into the air.

"By the way, are these for Dami-no-na and Yoon-sung?" Lee Joo-hyuk exclaimed when he saw Kwon Ji-yong nod, "You really put your heart into this."

After the sales assistant handed the packaged items to Kwon Ji-yong, he still hadn't received a reply from Han Yoon-sung, and followed Lee Joo-hyuk back to the car with little enthusiasm.

As soon as the two people left, the sales assistants, seeing that there were no customers in the store, gathered together to discuss the matter.

"You two have such a good relationship!" The sales assistant who greeted them even imitated in a high-pitched voice, "I want to see you as soon as I get back to Korea."

"Great fortune!"

*

After the meal, Kwon Ji-yong didn't let Lee Joo-hyuk off the hook either.

They drove to a quiet bar in Cheongdam-dong. Once inside the private room, Lee Joo-hyuk took off his mask and complained to Kwon Ji-yong, "You just had a day off and you're already asking me to go shopping, and now you're drinking?"

"I really thought you started taking care of your health from then on."

Kwon Ji-yong listlessly flipped through his phone. Hearing his friend's complaints, he propped his head up with his hand and muttered, "Health preservation? Nobody cares about me. I just find it boring."

“Let’s go.” Lee Joo-hyuk got goosebumps from the resentful tone in his voice, grabbed his coat and stood up. “A quiet bar is boring. Let’s go to a club now.”

"I'm not in the mood. Wow, can't you even have a couple of drinks with me?"

Kwon Ji-yong grabbed Lee Joo-hyuk's coat and threw it onto the sofa next to him.

Lee Joo-hyuk spread his hands and shrugged, opened the bottle of liquor he had previously stored in the store, and filled the glass of the person opposite him.

After a few drinks, I finally had an outlet for what I was thinking.

"How could anyone be so mean?! They promised to call, and they absolutely won't call unless I make the call."

"Kakao, are you already getting tired of me? Lately you've just been brushing me off with emojis~"

"I sent the message yesterday after I got off the plane, but I haven't read it yet."

Lee Joo-hyuk didn't drink as fast as Kwon Ji-yong. He gently swirled his glass with one hand, propping his head up to listen to the rambling conversation from the person opposite him.

"Hmm, how can there be such a bad person?"

Lee Joo-hyuk nodded in agreement, after all, Kwon Ji-yong looked genuinely heartbroken.

"No, it's just that she's been very busy lately. Don't you also get too busy to check your phone?"

"Yeah, when I'm busy, I really don't look at my phone."

What else could Lee Joo-hyuk say? He would say whatever Kwon Ji-yong wanted to hear.

"But isn't it too much to not look at your phone all day?"

“…”

"I also have a schedule, I sometimes go home to stay, and if I stay at the company, I'm out of contact..."

"You've worked hard. Stay healthy. You haven't lost weight, have you?"

“…”

"It's driving me crazy, it's so frustrating."

“…”

"Hey! Kwon Ji-yong, am I your trash can?"

Lee Joo-hyuk couldn't take it anymore. No matter what he said, Kwon Ji-yong would refute him. Even if he ignored him, Kwon Ji-yong would still ramble on and on until Lee Joo-hyuk's ears were about to fall off.

"You two can play by yourselves." Lee Joo-hyuk took out his phone, found Han Yoon-sung's number, and dialed it.

Raising an eyebrow at Kwon Ji-yong, who had suddenly fallen silent and sat upright, Lee Joo-hyuk waited for the call to be answered.

"Beep beep beep..."

Is it powered off?

Lee Joo-hyuk was completely bewildered, and automatically filled both of their glasses with wine.

Perhaps because of the unsuccessful phone call, Kwon Ji-yong behaved himself considerably afterward, simply drinking until he got drunk. Eventually, his manager came and pulled him off Lee Joo-hyuk to take him home.

*

Han Yunxing took the phone that Shen Lina handed to her on set.

Her phone broke a few days ago, and her backup phone doesn't support dual SIM dual standby, so she used her work SIM card.

Seeing Han Yunxing eagerly turn on the phone, Shen Lina smiled and said, "It would be better to buy a new phone; the repair took two days."

"Unnie, the documents inside are waiting for me to rescue them~"

Han Yunxing looked down at her phone. The screen had been damaged by a fall, causing a connection problem, but now that it looked the same as before, she felt relieved. She decided to develop a good habit of backing up her data in the future.

After the inspection was over, Han Yunxing casually opened the messages.

First, I saw Han Daoen telling me she was going on a business trip, and then I saw Kwon Ji-yong say he was back in Korea.

The message was sent the night before last. Feeling guilty, Han Yunxing sent a cat peeking out emoji.

However, seeing that Lee Joo-hyuk had called her, Han Yoon-sung called back in confusion.

"Oppa Joo-hyuk, I'm so sorry, my phone has been in the repair shop for the past few days."

Han Yoon-sung's call was answered, and she apologized for not answering Lee Joo-hyuk's call.

"Yes, it broke. Did Oppa call yesterday because of something?"

The male voice on the other end of the phone finally found the subject of yesterday's conversation, briefly explaining that Kwon Ji-yong had been worried about Han Yoon-sung's recent inability to be contacted while drinking yesterday.

"I'm not kidding, that kid was really down yesterday."

"Thank you for telling me all this, Oppa."

Seeing Han Yunxing deep in thought after hanging up the phone, Shen Lina walked over.

"Unnie, could you please let me see the schedule again?"

Upon hearing Han Yunxing's words, Shen Lina didn't think much of it and immediately took out her phone to send her a recent schedule.

Han Yunxing lowered her eyes and tapped her phone screen. These two days of rest would be just enough to catch up.

After finishing work in the early hours of the morning, Han Yunxing returned home.

Pushing open the door, I saw a warm yellow light on in the living room, and Kwon Ji-yong was sitting on the sofa playing Gomoku on his phone.

The commotion at the door made him put down his phone and stand up.

"Oppa, I didn't expect it to be so late. Don't wait for me next time."

In the afternoon, Kwon Ji-yong finally received a reply from Han Yoon-sung after waking up. Knowing that she was going home that night, Kwon Ji-yong said he had a gift for her.

Han Yunxing felt a little apologetic for finishing so late today.

"I didn't want to disturb your work." Kwon Ji-yong waited for Han Yoon-sung to walk up to him, then hooked his index finger around her hand. "I'll wait for Yoon-sung no matter how late it is~"

Han Yunxing felt dizzy and her heart was pounding wildly in the gentle voice.

She hurriedly turned her gaze to the table and was pleasantly surprised to find several gift boxes on it.

"These are all for you, open them and take a look~"

Kwon Ji-yong's words prompted Han Yoon-sung to sit cross-legged beside the coffee table and open the gift box.

It wasn't an expensive gift, but Han Yunxing liked it very much.

Lowering her head to gently inhale the lemongrass scent emanating from the incense, Han Yunxing smiled and turned to the person behind her, saying, "It smells wonderful!"

Han Yunxing carefully unwrapped the paper from the coaster and placed it on the coffee table. Then, she took out a ceramic aromatherapy cup from the box.

Several daisies are outlined on the milky white cup, and the coaster is in a richly colored Southeast Asian style.

After his performance, Kwon Ji-yong didn't go straight back to the hotel. Instead, he browsed around the local shops. He brought back some aromatherapy products and coasters from Singapore, as well as refrigerator magnets from his previous show in Macau.

Seeing Han Yunxing's bright smile as he had imagined, Kwon Ji-yong's eyebrows revealed joy. The two ordinary people, offstage, looked at each other and smiled foolishly.

"Did you drink with Joo Hyuk oppa yesterday?"

"What? Yunxing called him?"

If Lee Joo-hyuk were here right now, he'd be speechless. Who was it that desperately wanted the call to go through yesterday?

"Hmm, I also said I'd go shopping with you." Han Yunxing fiddled with the baroque pearl necklace around her neck, feeling the gaze focused on her neck and a warmth spreading to her ears.

"It's getting late, goodnight Oppa."

Suddenly pushed to the door by Han Yunxing, Kwon Jiyong reacted just before the door closed and braced himself against it.

"Yunxing, does the phone call agreement we made before still stand?"

Do we really need to ask this so formally?

Han Yunxing nodded haphazardly and closed the door. Even after closing the door, she could still hear the man's low laughter outside.

-----------------------

Author's note: My hands and brain don't live in the same time zone, lol.

Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 01:10:39 on April 5, 2024 and 15:07:06 on April 7, 2024!

Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Quan Shijie's Pear_Pear_Pear_Ya 1 bottle;

Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!