Chapter 23 Tokyo's First Snow (9/11.18.00)

After the photos were taken, Kwon Ji-yong selected a few and posted them on social media. Of course, there were no photos of him and Anju Feng together, only pictures of dumplings and fried rice cakes.

Caption: delicious.

As soon as he posted it, VIPs liked it and comments flooded in.

"Is this Oppa's lunch? It looks delicious."

"Wow, the food looks so appetizing! I want to try it too!"

Someone asked curiously, "What are these golden-yellow foods? I've never seen them before."

At this point, a Chinese VIP started explaining in the comments section: "The one on the left is fried lotus root, the one in the middle is fried spring roll, and the one on the right is fried rice cake. These are traditional Chinese foods, usually eaten during the Chinese New Year!"

"Speaking of which, we're almost celebrating Chinese New Year! My family has been making this lately! Even my oppa ate it! The same one!"

Why did Oppa suddenly want to eat this?

"Where did Oppa eat? I want to try it too. Can you give me the address?"

Some observant fans noticed details in the photos, such as the style and decoration of the dining table, and began to analyze Kwon Ji-yong's whereabouts.

"This isn't a hotel; judging by the dining tables, it looks like a dormitory in Tokyo," commented a VIP member.

"Is Oppa in Tokyo?"

"Food that's only available during Chinese New Year, and it's in the dorm... Did Oppa make some Chinese friends?"

"By the way, the last photo Oppa posted even included a Chinese ink painting! Has Oppa recently developed a liking for Chinese culture?"

"KKK, this kind of traditional stuff doesn't seem like something a fashionable and unconventional oppa would like, does it?"

"Ugh! This isn't the style Oppa would like!"

Questions began to arise: "Wasn't Oppa holding a concert in Kobe yesterday? How come he's in Tokyo today?"

"Do you have plans in Tokyo?"

The fans' curiosity was completely ignited, and they began to speculate.

"Did you rush back to Tokyo overnight?"

"Did you go early this morning?"

Some perceptive fans sensed something was amiss and detected something unusual.

One VIP made a bold guess.

"Do you guys think Oppa has a Chinese girlfriend? Otherwise, why would he suddenly be so interested in Chinese culture?"

"That makes sense. Oppa is in Japan, so the sudden appearance of Chinese elements is too unexpected!"

"Yeah, Oppa really doesn't seem like the type to actively reach out to people like this!"

"Maybe Oppa just knows some Chinese friends!"

"Oh! Isn't it almost Chinese New Year? Maybe it's a gift from a Chinese friend living in Japan to Oppa!"

"Maybe that Chinese painting Oppa received last time was also a gift from the same friend!"

After posting the photos, Kwon Ji-yong didn't pay any more attention to them, logging out of his main account and logging into his secondary account.

"Does Ru Feng have social media? Let's follow each other," Kwon Ji-yong asked Ru Feng with a smile.

An Rufeng showed him her social media account.

Kwon Ji-yong followed An Ru-feng's search results.

An Rufeng and he followed each other on social media and had already connected. From the photos Quan Zhilong sent her, she picked out a picture of him taking a new pose and posted it.

Caption: I learned my friend's cool photo pose. Thanks to my generous friend!

KKK, Kwon Ji-yong saw it and immediately gave it a thumbs up.

Kwon Ji-yong scrolled down and saw that An Joo-feng's account was full of photos of her traveling around, including scenery, personal photos, and group photos with friends.

Seeing Anju Feng's solo photos, I think this one is beautiful, and this one is beautiful too. I saved them all.

Seeing photos of him with his friends, especially his male friends, made Kwon Ji-yong feel jealous.

Given his status, he certainly couldn't appear on her social media accounts as openly and legitimately as they did.

Kwon Ji-yong quietly opened his account and posted a photo of food with him and An Joo-feng.

Caption: I ate her delicious food, thank you so much, beautiful lady!

An Rufeng gave him a thumbs up, then put down her phone and laughed, "Let's stop with the mutual flattery, the food will get cold if we don't eat it soon."

Kwon Ji-yong also put down his phone, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating.

The two chatted as they ate, and somehow the conversation turned to Watanabe.

Watanabe is the person Anru Feng left a message for in another time and space, the person she was supposed to find.

“You know, I’m usually easily attracted to gentle and mature people, especially when they’re painters like me. But I don’t know why, even though I’ve been with Watanabe for so long with a friendly attitude, I still don’t have any feelings for him. Sometimes he even gives me a strange feeling, but I don’t know why.”

An Rufeng frowned slightly, a hint of doubt showing in her clear eyes.

Anru Feng likes gentle people and enjoys communicating with her peers. Logically speaking, Watanabe is both a painter and has a gentle and refined manner, so Anru Feng should have developed feelings for him long ago.

But when she was with him, even though An Rufeng tried to understand him, she still felt nothing for him. She always felt that something was wrong, but the feeling was fleeting and she couldn't hold onto it.

This sense of incongruity puzzled Anjou Feng.

An Rufeng continued, "Do you think my feeling might be wrong? After all, I misunderstood you before."

Kwon Ji-yong was feeling envious of her efforts to understand others when he heard this. He immediately put aside his jealousy and said carefully, "Although I haven't met Du Bian yet, I feel that you always find something strange about him. There must be something wrong with him, so it's better to have less contact with him. Although it's not directed at you, I was indeed in a bad mood the day we first met."

When he first met Ru Feng, although he would target anyone with a similar temperament to Jin Zhen'er, not specifically Ru Feng, he did have some resistance towards her at that time.

Therefore, Ru Feng's feeling was not unfounded; he felt that Watanabe must have some kind of problem.

He advised her to have less contact with Watanabe, and it was definitely not because he liked Ru Feng and wanted to seduce other men.

“Then I’ll be more careful when I’m around him.” An Rufeng agreed that Watanabe might be acting strangely, but she didn’t intend to minimize her contact with him.

Seeing that An Rufeng hadn't given up on spending time with Watanabe, Kwon Ji-yong frowned almost imperceptibly, feigning indifference as he asked, "Is he that important?"

"After all, we've known each other for a long time, so I plan to get to know each other better."

She had to figure out why she had left the message to find Watanabe; she was incredibly curious.

Moreover, the two people she can actively remember are quite significant.

This is when Kwon Ji-yong will realize the difference between people. Compared to him, Watanabe was practically born in Rome.

Ah! We can't just give them so many chances just because we knew each other before, can we? Watanabe sounds suspicious, doesn't he? Kwon Ji-yong frowned.

Seeing his expression, An Rufeng comforted him, "Don't worry, maybe he has some qualities that I don't like? Sometimes I don't necessarily like other people's good qualities."

An Rufeng wasn't just saying that to appease him. For example, she felt uncomfortable around cautious people. They were generally alright, but there was always a vague sense of unease.

She continued, "Overall, I had a good impression of Watanabe. If he really is a bad guy, he can't beat Brother Li, so I won't suffer any losses."

He had to find a way to meet Watanabe. Kwon Ji-yong suppressed his thoughts, smiled at An Ru-feng, and outwardly accepted her statement.

Kwon Ji-yong glanced at the little food left on the table.

His gaze swept lightly across An Rufeng's face, his voice relaxed and casual: "Are you free this afternoon? How about we go check out the newly opened art exhibition?"

Anru's eyes flashed with excitement at the art exhibition, but she said, "I can't go. I have to go to the vet this afternoon."

Nala was sick a while ago, and if she doesn't get treatment, she might slowly die. But the treatment is too expensive, and her aunt can't afford it. She's heartbroken.

Anru Feng had already become familiar with the person and the cat, so how could she bear to see Nala die? She took it to a veterinary hospital, and after a period of treatment, Nala has finally recovered.

Nala will be discharged from the hospital this afternoon, and Anru Feng will be picking her up.

"Ru Feng has a pet?" Kwon Ji-yong's interest was piqued.

“It was an auntie’s cat, and I went to get it for her.”

Kwon Ji-yong laughed and said, "I don't have anything planned for this afternoon. I really like cats. How about I come with you?"

Kwon Ji-yong's tone was relaxed and expectant. His purpose wasn't the art exhibition, but to be with her; he didn't care what they did.

"Didn't you want to go to the art exhibition?"

"Going to an art exhibition alone without you is quite boring." Kwon Ji-yong looked at An Ru-feng with his light-colored eyes, a smile curving his lips.

An Rufeng felt that Kwon Ji-yong sometimes gave her a slightly strange feeling, which she couldn't quite put her finger on.

An Rufeng hesitated for a moment before agreeing to Kwon Ji-yong's suggestion. She nodded and said, "Nala is very affectionate. It will be very happy with you by its side."

After finishing their meal, Anru Feng, Quan Zhilong, and Li Ge went to the pet hospital where Nala worked.

The hospital's interior was decorated in a soft and comfortable style, with cute pet photos hanging on the walls and a faint smell of disinfectant in the air.

Everything here is furry, and even though there's an unpleasant smell of disinfectant, it still has a healing atmosphere that's different from ordinary hospitals.

After registering at the front desk, Quan Zhilong and An Rufeng sat in the waiting area to wait.

A little while later, a nurse brought Nala to Anrufeng and the others.

Anru Feng picked up Nala and stroked her fluffy, white head several times.

Nala is truly an adorable kitten. Kwon Ji-yong teased Nala a little while standing next to An Ru-feng, and Nala immediately looked up, her amber eyes staring straight at Kwon Ji-yong, meowing softly in confusion.

"Kiyo~"

The way she stares intently at people reminds me of Ru Feng.

Kwon Ji-yong smiled and teased Nala a few more times.

Her smiling eyes behind the sunglasses looked especially warm.

The nurse who brought the cat watched silently from the side, and the more she looked at Kwon Ji-yong, the more familiar he seemed.

She suddenly moved closer to the two of them, a hint of surprise in her eyes, and asked uncertainly in a low voice, "Oh my god, is it GD, Jiyong oppa?" Her voice was a little excited, but she quickly controlled her emotions.

Kwon Ji-yong paused slightly, glancing at his clothes. To avoid being recognized, he had deliberately worn a different style of clothing when he went out, and he hadn't brought any of his signature accessories.

Wearing a beanie, sunglasses, and a mask, how did I still get recognized?

The nurse, a seasoned VIP, seemed to know what he was thinking. She smiled and said, "I recognized your voice immediately, Oppa. And being all disguised like this makes you even more noticeable, okay?"

Kwon Ji-yong took off his sunglasses, smiled sheepishly, and nodded, his eyes pleading: "Yes, I'm GD, thank you for your support. However, I'm just here to accompany my friend to pick up her cat. Please don't tell anyone."

Looking at Kwon Ji-yong with pleading eyes, the nurse had no choice but to agree, nodding quickly and saying, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. We serve celebrities and VIPs here, and we understand the importance of confidentiality."

She whispered again, "Could you sign your name for me?"

Kwon Ji-yong took the pen and paper she handed him and readily signed his name, glancing at her nameplate in the process.

The nurse happily accepted the autograph, and seeing her own name and the message of blessing, she was overjoyed to receive a personalized autograph: "Oppa! Don't worry! I promise I won't tell anyone!"

After she finished speaking, she turned her gaze to An Rufeng with a hint of curiosity.

She's definitely quite tall, and her face is stunning. Could this be the model she heard about from the fan community?

She thought for a moment about familiar models. She couldn't recall them at all, which was strange. Such a beautiful face! Why wasn't she famous?

She glanced at An Rufeng again, keeping a low profile.

She wore a pure white turtleneck sweater underneath, paired with simple jeans and high boots, which made her legs look long and straight. She also wore a classic camel wool coat on top, which was well-tailored and reached her knees.

Her long hair was tied low at the back of her head, with the ends of the folded hair standing up. She said it looked a bit like chicken feathers, but surprisingly she thought it was very fashionable.

She wore no accessories, only a watch, and her outfit was extremely simple, yet she looked incredibly luxurious. She felt that even a casual snapshot of her current attire could rival the advertising models of high-end luxury brands.

With that kind of aura and that face, how come she didn't blush?

She was completely baffled.

If she couldn't figure it out, she stopped thinking about it and instead became curious about the relationship between Quan Zhilong and An Rufeng.

She wasn't a girlfriend fan; she was just curious and gossipy.

Judging from their interactions, there are no intimate gestures? Are they really just friends?

However, with her as a fan, even if something happens, there certainly won't be any intimate actions, right?

An Rufeng bought a whole bunch of things for Nala at the hospital, including food, toys, bedding, cleaning supplies, etc. Li Ge couldn't carry them all, and Quan Zhilong also took some before leaving the pet hospital.

Anru Feng took the cat to the park where she first met her aunt.

The aunt was already waiting in the park.

When she saw An Rufeng get out of the car, she immediately hurried over to greet her.

Nala, who had been sickly in Anru's arms, was now as energetic as when she was healthy, and her eyes were sparkling with curiosity and vitality again. The anxiety and despair that had always been in Anru's heart were replaced by surprise and gratitude.

Tears welled up in the aunt's eyes.

"Is it really... really healed?" Her voice trembled slightly, as if in disbelief, and she reached out to gently stroke Nala's head.

Nala seemed to sense her affection; it gently rubbed against her hand, purring contentedly and meowing softly.

Anru Feng smiled and nodded.

"Thank you so much for saving it..." The aunt's voice choked with emotion, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I don't know how to thank you enough. This cat is my only friend, and I don't know what I would do if I lost it."

“Am I not your friend?” Anru Feng feigned displeasure and chuckled softly, “Nala is my friend too, and I’m happy to help it.”

Upon hearing this, the aunt laughed heartily.

"Wait for me here." She suddenly turned and ran away.

The aunt found a nearby convenience store, rummaged through all her pockets, and soon gathered some crumpled banknotes in her hand. She carefully counted them and then went into the convenience store.

A moment later, she came out carrying a bag.

The aunt returned to Anrufeng and the others, reached into her bag, and pulled out four simply packaged bottles of wine!

She handed the bottles of wine to An Rufeng, Quan Zhilong, and Brother Li one by one, and then said to An Rufeng, "This is the best way I can thank you. I know this wine is not worth much, but it is all I have."

With a sincere look in her eyes, she invited, "Let's have a drink."

An Rufeng took the wine, knowing that it might be the result of all her food expenses. Seeing her enthusiastic eyes, she didn't refuse and readily agreed: "Okay, then let's drink to our hearts' content."

After saying that, she found a flat spot on the grass in the park, sat down without hesitation, and waved to the aunt, signaling her to come over.

She was taken aback, then laughed heartily and sat down opposite her. Her face was etched with the marks of time, but her smile was exceptionally bright.

Seeing this, Kwon Ji-yong also took his drink and sat down together: "Together."

After hesitating for a moment, Brother Li sat down as well.

The two men skillfully opened the bottles and handed them to the two women.

"Come on, let's drink to Nala's recovery and to our friendship!" An Rufeng raised the bottle, her eyes sparkling.

The other three also raised their bottles, and the four bottles clinked gently in the air, making a crisp sound.

The four men exchanged a smile, then tilted their heads back and drank heartily.

Anru Feng had tasted many famous wines, but this unknown brand of wine, though not particularly delicious, was the most delicious and purest wine she had ever tasted.

The four of them sat on the open grass, drinking and chatting, from funny stories about kittens to their own lives. Although the topics jumped around, the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

The liquor flowed down his throat, carrying a spicy kick, but at this moment, Kwon Ji-yong found it exceptionally sweet. He hadn't felt this relaxed and pleasant atmosphere in a long time.

After his debut, he would always meet with friends in pubs or upscale restaurants, and heart-to-heart talks would only happen when he was stressed or in pain; casual conversations were rare.

Now, without having to think about anything and just chatting casually, Kwon Ji-yong seems to have returned to his trainee days, when he would relax and chat with his friends at a small restaurant after training, dreaming about the future.

Suddenly, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. The pure white snowflakes, as white as feathers, landed lightly on Anru Feng and the others' shoulders, on the wine bottles, and even on Nala's nose.

"It's snowing." An Rufeng reached out and caught a few snowflakes, which quickly melted in her palm.

Kwon Ji-yong looked up at the sky, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and murmured, "Is this Tokyo's first snow?"

Nala recovered from her illness, drank with her good friends, and even saw the beautiful first snowflakes. Her aunt exclaimed, "What a wonderful day!"

An Rufeng looked up and quietly let the snowflakes fall on her face. She felt very romantic, though not in terms of love. She couldn't help but smile and say, "These pure white snowflakes are like a blessing from heaven for our pure friendship. Our friendship will surely last forever!"

Auntie and Brother Li agreed.

Kwon Ji-yong smiled slightly and remained silent.

Who wants a pure friendship that lasts forever?

This is a blessing for beautiful love.

A note from the author:

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