mijobooks Chapter 872 Next time
Chapter 872 Next time
Chapter 872 Next time
As soon as Chi Jingyuan walked out of the coffee shop, he saw a very familiar face.
Bae Joo-hyun originally had her head slightly lowered, with her hands in the pockets on both sides of her coat, and she was walking quickly towards this side with small steps, as if she was going to the cafe to buy drinks. I don't know if it was because of tacit understanding or because she heard the noise, but her head, which had been lowered all the way, suddenly raised up and looked directly at Chi Jingyuan who was looking over. When she saw the face in front of her that was engraved in her heart, obvious surprise and other expressions flashed in her eyes.
"What a coincidence?"
When Chi Jingyuan smiled and greeted her, Pei Zhuxuan smiled after a brief trance, looking up at him: "You are still in the company so late? Just finished your work?"
"Yes, the meeting has been going on until now..."
"Are you here to buy another drink? Orange juice again?" The young lady leaned her head over to look at the bag in Chi Jingyuan's hand.
There were two packaged drinks in a transparent bag. One was the orange juice that Chi Jingyuan liked to drink, and the other was black and steamy...
"Yeah, you know, I don't like to drink anything too sweet."
As if he noticed Bae Joo Hyun's gaze, Chi Jingyuan nodded in response, and at the same time raised the bag in his hand a little unnaturally. He didn't talk much about the drinks, but looked at Bae Joo Hyun in front of him, looking her up and down: "Did you just finish recording the show?"
Bae Joo-hyun was wearing a light-colored coat, which was obviously one size larger and completely wrapped her body, making her look quite petite. Maybe the heating in the building was turned on quite high and the zipper was only half-zipped, revealing a dark blue sweater with a red bow tie inside. Combined with the full makeup on her face, it was obvious that she had just returned from recording a show.
"Um……"
As if she noticed Chi Jingyuan's momentary discomfort, Bae Zhuxuan glanced at the bag in his hand again, but did not linger. After hearing the other party's question, she followed the other party's gaze and looked down at her clothes, and then nodded: "I just participated in the recording of "Golden Fishery Radio Star."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Chi Jingyuan blinked in surprise: "Very good, Golden Fishery has good ratings, is it recorded by one person?"
"Ani, it's with a few guests..."
Pei Zhuxuan shook her head, then glanced at Chi Jingyuan, then looked away, and said softly, hesitantly: "I still want to thank... Thank you Chenghuan Oppa..."
Ever since Lee Seung-hwan was promoted from EXO's agent to be in charge of matters related to Red Velvet, Bae Joo-hyun clearly felt that her treatment in terms of some resources had improved a lot.
Although he does not have any heavyweight resources, nor does he have a schedule to significantly increase his popularity and national recognition like last year's "Music Bank" fixed MC, but at least he has continued to shoot for some magazines and even variety shows. This is much better than before when he was the most popular but often had no personal resources and could only stay at home.
As for the changes and why Lee Seung-hwan took such good care of her, Bae Joo-hyun actually knew the reason.
"Brother Chenghuan is still quite reliable..."
Seeing the young lady's hesitation and insincerity, Chi Jingyuan laughed in his heart, but did not say it out loud. He nodded and said, "If you need anything, just find him."
"Um……"
Bae Joo-hyun bit her lip lightly and nodded.
"..."
Chi Jingyuan smiled, looked at the little sister he hadn't seen for a few days, and was about to say something casually... However, as soon as he opened his mouth, he felt his mind was a little empty. He, who had always been eloquent, suddenly found that he didn't know what to say, and it seemed that he had nothing to say.
But in fact, Chi Jingyuan could feel that he was quite happy to meet the young lady suddenly. At the same time, deep in his heart, he actually had a lot to say, but some words were not suitable to be said at this time and in this occasion, or in the current slightly awkward relationship between the two.
And... considering that he was about to meet Ming Jingnan at this moment, and was holding the drink he bought for her, although Bae Joo-hyun probably didn't know, he still felt a little awkward and embarrassed in his heart.
Suddenly, after greeting each other with a sweet smile, the scene became inexplicably quiet.
Ji Jingyuan was speechless for a moment, but Bae Joo-hyun couldn't help but recall the scene when her agent explained the schedule to her the day before.
"...Irene, I just received news that the company has arranged a new schedule for you. In addition to being the award presenter for the Entertainment Awards with Jingyuanxi, you will also be the MC for the KBS Music Festival at the end of the year!"
"Ah? The MC of the Gayo Daejeon? Didn't unnie say before that KBS already had a suitable candidate, maybe... him and Seolhyunxi? Why did it suddenly become... me?"
"The original news was that KBS had tentatively decided that it would be Seolhyun xi, but the woman was not the key, they were still focusing on Jingyuan xi. After the invitation was sent, Jingyuan xi made a suggestion, saying that since the entertainment awards were all presented together, why not just continue to let the 'Music-Silver CP' partner together at the grand festival... KBS considered it and agreed."
"Qingjia? Was it...he who suggested it?"
"...I heard these from the planning department. FNC must be so pissed off, haha...But Irene, no matter who it was before, it's you now! Being the MC of the year-end party is a very good schedule and a great opportunity to show your face. If you do well, you will definitely become a hot topic with your appearance. The company will organize some activities around this, so you have to prepare well...Oh, by the way, find a chance to thank Jingyuanxi privately. Although it's just a normal event invitation, it really helped a lot..."
Thinking of the conversation between her agent and herself the day before, and the surprise and shock she felt at the time, Bae Joo-hyun suddenly fell silent.
She knew before that she would be working with Chi Jingyuan to present the awards, but being an MC and presenting the awards are two completely different things. Chi Jingyuan had never told her about this beforehand, nor did he mention it afterwards. It just came directly from her agent's mouth, leaving her completely unprepared.
When she heard the news, she felt really confused.
...When they were dating, for some reasons, including her personal pride, the idea that feelings would become impure once interests were involved, and even the desire to maintain an equal and long-term relationship, etc., which may seem a little naive at the moment, Bae Joo-hyun actually deliberately avoided and tactfully rejected a lot of help and resources that Chi Jingyuan took the initiative to offer.
She even seemed not very enthusiastic when her boyfriend took the initiative to find good film and television resources for her. Instead, she treated a crappy online drama given to her by the company as a treasure and studied it diligently without sleep or food.
Even after being together for such a long time, she actually hasn't received any substantial help in her career or life. The only position that helped her popularity the most, which was a regular MC on "Music Bank", was something she got before she started dating.
She was just in a simple relationship and didn't think about getting any benefits. Her love interest was not some top artist from the royal family with a strong background, but just the male idol Chi Jingyuan whom she liked from the bottom of her heart.
However, times have changed. When they were in love, they pursued purity of feelings. Now that they have broken up, she can clearly feel all kinds of energy and care coming from Chi Jingyuan. There are even many things that he has never mentioned, but they still linger around her, everywhere.
This comparison really made Pei Zhu feel complicated, and at the same time, she also felt uncomfortable as if she was unworthy of the honor... But other than that, she couldn't help but feel happy and touched.
...After struggling in this turbid circle, seeing many people and things, and suffering all kinds of setbacks, I realized how happy it is to have someone you trust the most to rely on and depend on.
Too bad... they've broken up.
"..."
Trying hard to suppress the complicated emotions welling up in her heart, Bae Joo Hyun tidied her hair with her hands a little awkwardly, looking at Chi Jingyuan with a slightly wandering gaze, her voice sounded a little weak; "By the way, I haven't thanked you yet... Um, about the KBS Grand Festival MC thing..."
"What's there to thank for..."
Chi Jingyuan was actually getting anxious at this time because of the slightly awkward atmosphere. Hearing this, he felt relieved and immediately interrupted the hesitant young lady with a smile, waving his hand: "Seolhyun and I are not familiar with each other, so of course I would rather partner with you than her... We are the CP of "Music Bank"~"
As he spoke, Chi Jingyuan smiled, raised his other hand that was not holding anything, made a half heart shape on his head, and said with a smile: "When you need music..."
This is their signature action when hosting "Music Bank". Every time this happens, Bae Joo-hyun will lean towards him, stretch out her hands and clasp them together to form a complete heart, then wink at the camera and shout out the ending words "Live broadcast, Music BanK~".
Seeing Ji Jingyuan's sudden twitching action, Bae Zhuxuan, who seemed a little unnatural just now, was amused all of a sudden. She giggled with her eyes squinted and her hands covering her mouth... But she didn't come over to twitch together like she did before, she just stood there and laughed.
Feeling the strange glances from several staff members on the other side of the hall, Chi Jingyuan lowered his arms a little awkwardly, and the surroundings fell into a brief silence again.
"that……"
After two seconds of silence, Pei Zhuxuan looked up at him, and casually stretched out her right hand from her pocket, rubbed it on the surface of her coat twice, and then retracted it. After hesitating for a moment, she still opened her mouth to invite him: "If you have just finished your work, you probably haven't eaten yet... Do you want to go to the cafeteria upstairs and have something to eat?"
She looked at her ex-boyfriend with some anticipation. She didn’t know why Bae Joo-hyun suddenly made this invitation... Maybe she wanted to thank MC for something, or maybe she wanted to talk to him?
...Or, testing something?
However, facing her gaze, Chi Jingyuan smiled bitterly and shrugged helplessly: "Well...next time..."
After refusing, Chi Jingyuan immediately added, "...I have something else to do later, and Brother Zhichang should be waiting for me outside now...Next time."
"Well, is that so." Pei Zhuxuan's expression did not change after hearing that. Her beautiful eyes looked at him with a smile and she nodded lightly: "Then I won't delay you. Go quickly... Don't let Brother Zhichang wait anxiously."
"Well...I'll be leaving first then."
After a brief encounter, Chi Jingyuan waved goodbye and left quickly with his drink.
Bae Joo-hyun smiled and did not leave. Instead, she quietly watched Chi Jingyuan's back as he left. In the end, her gaze slowly and quietly focused on the two drinks in his hands.
Chi Jingyuan himself might not have noticed that he was behaving a little unnaturally...but she knew him too well, and could keenly detect any small movements and changes in his eyes, as if it was her instinct.
And she also knew that Chi Jingyuan usually couldn't finish a glass of drink... and he didn't have the habit of bringing drinks to his assistant.
The smile on Bae Joo-hyun's face faded, and a strong sense of loss arose in her heart. She slowly walked towards the coffee shop.
Sure enough, if you give up and don't fight for it, no one will stay there and wait for you.
…………
After parking the car in the parking lot next to Twice's dormitory, Ji Jingyuan was thinking about the chance encounter he had just had with Bae Joo-hyun.
He is a nostalgic person, let alone his father, with whom he has experienced so many things and has so many memories.
After going through so much from his debut to now, Bae Joo-hyun is still the only girl whose breakup caused him strong emotional agitation and frustration. The feeling is completely different from that of his previous good friends, and it has not dispelled until now.
In addition, the breakup was not his original intention at the beginning, so the young lady has always occupied a special place in his heart until now.
Although they have separated, Chi Jingyuan never felt that they had lost contact. He still wanted to take care of her unconsciously. During the period after the breakup, he often thought about possible developments in the future.
"Ugh……"
Thinking of the change in Bae Joo-hyun's eyes when he finally rejected the invitation, Ji Jingyuan sighed softly in his heart.
Although I still have special feelings for her, and the bond and memories we once had are still in my heart, it’s just… after all, so much time has passed, and without any contact for such a long time, some of the enthusiasm seems to have faded unconsciously.
Chi Jingyuan hadn't realized this originally, but the inexplicably awkward atmosphere and cold silence in the brief encounter just now made him feel very uncomfortable. Now thinking back on it, he felt quite complicated.
I don't know if he's the only one who feels this way... or if Bae Joo Hyun feels the same...
"boom……"
Just at this moment the car door was opened, and the biting cold wind and snowflakes rushed in at the same time. A tightly wrapped little body arched in from the outside. It seemed that it was not very convenient for her to move because she was wearing too thick clothes. She raised her little butt with great effort to adjust her sitting position. Then she stretched out her hands that had been tucked into her sleeves, and patted her body softly to shake off the snow drops on it. Finally, she grunted and closed the door with force.
Then she took off the fur-collared hat on her head, and without a moment's delay, her watery eyes looked straight at Chi Jingyuan.
As he smelled a familiar cherry fragrance, Chi Jingyuan immediately suppressed the complicated and irritable thoughts in his heart and stopped thinking about it... Let's talk about Bae Joo-hyun later. No matter what, his current girlfriend is the girl next to him.
Chi Jingyuan turned his head and looked over. Their eyes met. Under the reading light, he could clearly see his own reflection in Ming Jingnan's pupils.
Feeling warm in his heart, Chi Jingyuan took the initiative to reach out and brush the bangs of his girlfriend's hair that were messed up because she took off her hat behind her ears. Looking at her thick down jacket, he casually asked, "Why are you wearing so much?"
“It’s so cold outside!”
Ming Jingnan was panting heavily, and her feet in round-toed boots were moving around. Her tone seemed a little impatient. She stretched out her hand hidden in her sleeves and rubbed it playfully towards Chi Jingyuan's face, as if she wanted to prove that it was really cold outside.
Chi Jingyuan shuddered, and quickly took the cold little hand that was pressed against his face and held it in his hand to keep her warm... Ming Jingnan was a person who was very afraid of the cold, to the extent that he couldn't help but feel anxious and angry.
She put her hand obediently in Chi Jingyuan's hand, enjoying the warmth of her boyfriend's body. Ming Jingnan explained with curved eyes: "We bought this down jacket together. Each of us has one. Look at this furry and very warm... Sana-chan, Chaeyoung and I went to get a manicure this afternoon and just happened to wear it together... By the way, look, it was just done this afternoon, doesn't it look good!"
She said she wanted to show Chi Jingyuan her manicure, but she had no intention of pulling her hand out of Chi Jingyuan's hand. On the contrary, Chi Jingyuan felt her hand gently scratching and arching inside...
But after hearing her say that, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but take another look at the down jacket she was wearing.
The style is indeed quite ordinary and nothing special...but it looks good on Mingjing Nan~
"By the way, the drink I bought for you..."
After taking a look, Chi Jingyuan remembered something and took out a drink he had brought from the company. After feeling the temperature, he handed it over: "It's still hot."
"Thank you, Yuan-chan~"
Although the warm hands were gone, he was still very happy to see the gift. Ming Jingnan took the drink in his hand and sipped it. At the same time, his eyes were fixed on Chi Jingyuan. He watched him shift gears and start the car. He tilted his head and asked in a low voice:
"Where are we going now?"
"Where do you want to go?"
"Um……"