As leaden clouds covered Seoul in late autumn, Ouyang Guang was sneering at the penalty notice. His knuckles tapped on the clause "suspended from practice for one week", making a muffled sound, just like the muffled groan that Park Junhao made when he fell to the ground that day.
When Kim Seung-hyun came in with a big bag of food, he saw him crumple up the notice and throw it accurately into the trash can, with a look of relief on his face.
"Look, I went to your favorite store to buy food!" he said as he filled the table with fried chicken, stir-fried rice cakes and squid rice balls.
"You really don't regret it?" Kim Seung-hyun handed over an ice pack and pressed it on his bruised cheekbone. "Next week we'll be teaching new moves in the choreography class, and if you stop..."
“What are you regretting?” Ouyang Guang turned his head away from the ice pack, the cold sweat on the back of his neck slid down his spine into his collar, “If you were to hear those words, would you be able to endure it?” He recalled Park Junhao’s distorted face when he said “Zhang Yixing will never come back”, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
Far from feeling any remorse, he felt that the depression that had been suppressed in his chest for a long time had finally been released. However, whenever he glanced at the dark circles under Kim Seung-hyun's eyes, guilt surged over him like a tide.
Ouyangguang turned over and sat up, his Adam's apple rolling as he said, "It's just that I've caused you to get scolded as well..."
Kim Seung-hyun waved his hand carelessly and sat down next to him: "What are you talking about! I've been displeased with Park Jun-ho for a long time, and I'll feel great if I beat him up! Don't blame yourself anymore, or I'll have to buy this delicious meal!"
As he spoke, he stuffed a steaming squid rice ball into Ouyang Guang's hand. The boy pretended to be relaxed, but his concern for his friend was hidden in his tone.
There was a knock on the door at the right time, and Kim Junmyeon, Wu Sehun and others poked their heads in. "I heard that someone wants to fast and become an immortal?" Wu Sehun shook the fried chicken bucket in his hand, "That won't work. When Yixing comes back, I'm counting on you two to practice dancing with me!"
Kim Jong-in silently put the hot milk on the table, and the mist blurred Ouyang Guang's red eyes. But Park Chanyeol put his arm around his shoulders and said, "Call us next time you fight, we'll be stronger with more people!"
Like an older brother, Jin Junmyeon earnestly told him to take care of himself. Ouyang Guang felt everyone's concern, and the haze in his heart gradually dissipated.
However, when Wu Yifan appeared at the door, the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.
"I heard you and Park Jun-ho had an affair."
Amidst the laughter, a deep voice came from the door. Wu Yifan leaned against the door frame with a stern figure, and said in a tone of admonition: "Impulsiveness cannot solve the problem. You should learn to control your emotions."
Ouyangguang clenched the chopsticks in his hand. During the most painful days of Yixing's deportation, the man who always treated Yixing as a brother remained subtle and silent. At this moment, the light-hearted advice was more like rubbing salt into the wound.
"Brother Yifan." Ouyangguang nodded in greeting, but did not open his mouth to respond. Seeing Wu Yifan's large figure leaning against the door frame, Ouyangguang felt complicated.
"Yixing, this is a lesson for you." Wu Yifan said in a quiet voice.
This sentence pierced Ouyang Guang's heart like a needle. He looked up suddenly: "Then why didn't you come to see Yixing? Aren't you friends?"
Wu Yifan's expression froze for a moment, then he regained his composure. "Everyone has their own way," he said calmly, "Not all concern needs to be shown."
"So you think Yixing should just endure being humiliated?"
Ouyang Guang sneered, and the implication was clear - Wu Yifan didn't want to be implicated. In this fiercely competitive environment, self-protection is the wisest move.
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