Chapter 69

"Taeyeon, I feel that this Xia Hou Zhongying is a bit unreliable," Jin's father said to his daughter after they got into the car he had driven, after a moment of silence.

"Dad, what's wrong? Brother Zhongying is very good," Jin Taeyeon thought her father was still upset about Xia Hou Zhongying pushing her into the Han River, and quickly tried to persuade him, "Brother Zhongying didn't do it on purpose that time. He was also mistaken and wanted to save me." Jin Taeyeon secretly glanced at her father, whose expression was a bit gloomy, and continued in a low voice, "And Brother Zhongying later bought clothes and bags to compensate me."

Jin's father slightly turned his head to look at his daughter, who was constantly defending Xia Hou Zhongying and saying all sorts of good things about him, and sighed inwardly. Girls grow up and can't be kept at home. Taeyeon was now fully devoted to Xia Hou Zhongying. If that boy treated his daughter well, he would accept it. Taeyeon was living alone in Seoul, and if there was someone she liked to take care of her, he would feel more at ease.

But that boy was very insensitive and didn't think in that direction at all, nor could he see his daughter's feelings. If there was a chance for them to be together in the future, it wouldn't be a problem. What he was most afraid of was that Xia Hou Zhongying didn't like his daughter. The longer they interacted, the deeper Taeyeon would get involved, and she would eventually be hurt.

But such matters couldn't be forced. He couldn't directly tell the boy, "My daughter likes you, you should like her too." The words he said at the dinner were already quite explicit, almost breaking the surface, but that boy still couldn't understand. Thinking about this, Jin's father felt a headache.

"Taeyeon, you haven't been home for a long time, not even during the holidays. Everyone at home misses you. When you have time, go back and see your mother," Jin's father, unable to think of a solution for the moment, changed the topic.

"Yes, Dad, I understand. I'm sorry for making you worry," Jin Taeyeon replied and explained, "The past two months have been very busy with filming. When I don't have filming tasks, I have to go back to the company to practice hard, or I'll fall behind. That's why I can't go home to see Mom."

Jin's father nodded to show that he understood.

"The movie is now in the final stages. After the filming ends in a few days, I'll go home to see Mom on the weekend," Jin Taeyeon continued.

"Um-hum," Jin's father responded softly.

"By the way, Taeyeon, since that boy Xia Hou Zhongying has been taking care of you in Seoul, when you go home, invite him to our house as a guest," Jin's father, after a moment of silence, thought that since Taeyeon was alone in Seoul, it was impossible to keep her away from Xia Hou Zhongying. So, he decided to take the opposite approach and create more opportunities for them to be alone together.

"Ah, Dad, you're not mad at Brother Zhongying anymore?" Jin Taeyeon was pleasantly surprised when her father asked her to invite Xia Hou Zhongying to their home, thinking that her father's anger had finally subsided.

"How could I not be mad?" Jin's father said with a depressed tone, "But since you're fine now and he has some conscience, I'll forgive him this time."

Jin Taeyeon kissed her father's cheek affectionately and said with a smile, "Thank you, Dad."

"What are you thanking me for?" Jin's father looked at Jin Taeyeon with a half-smile and asked.

"Well, that, that's for coming to Seoul to see me, of course," Jin Taeyeon blushed and quickly covered up, feeling guilty.

"By the way, Dad, when you go home, don't tell Mom about Brother Zhongying pushing me into the Han River, okay?" After a while, Jin Taeyeon said in a low voice.

"Why? Afraid that the boy will be chased out of the house by your mom with a broom?" Jin's father asked with a chuckle.

"Of course not, I just don't want Mom to worry," Jin Taeyeon was really afraid that this would happen, but she couldn't say it, so she found a somewhat reasonable excuse.

"Alright, don't worry, I won't tell your mom," Jin's father shook his head inwardly, thinking that his daughter's situation was even more serious than he imagined, as she considered everything for Xia Hou Zhongying.

The next morning, Jin Taeyeon came to the film set and looked around but didn't see Xia Hou Zhongying, feeling relieved.

Yesterday, her father asked her to invite Xia Hou Zhongying to their home in Jeonju after the movie filming ended, which made her very happy. However, when she arrived at the set today, she became anxious. She was both happy and worried. The happiness was obvious, but the worry was that Xia Hou Zhongying might not want to go.

Moreover, although they weren't strangers, they weren't close friends either. Inviting a boy to her home out of the blue might make him think too much. What if he found out her feelings? Jin Taeyeon was nervous and couldn't help but be distracted.

Soon, Xia Hou Zhongying arrived at the set. Jin Taeyeon was delighted at first sight but immediately became hesitant. How should she approach him? Should she say it directly, which might seem too hasty? If not directly, how should she explain it? Thinking about this, Jin Taeyeon stopped and blamed her father in her heart. If you want to invite him, do it yourself. Asking her to do it was too difficult.

Cheng Xiujing, who accidentally noticed that Jin Taeyeon kept looking at Xia Hou Zhongying throughout the morning, sometimes frowning, worrying, and getting distracted, felt a jolt in her heart. Sister Taeyeon's behavior was very abnormal. What did her father say to her yesterday that made her like this? She immediately paid more attention to her.

For the whole morning, Jin Taeyeon was a bit distracted. She was even more flustered when facing Xia Hou Zhongying, making several mistakes during filming, which made Xia Hou Zhongying wonder what was wrong with her today. Finally, after finishing a few shots, it was lunchtime.

Jin Taeyeon ate the boxed lunch provided by the crew without much taste, thinking that she couldn't come up with a solution by thinking about it. She decided to be straightforward and invite him directly.

After making up her mind, Jin Taeyeon quickly ate a few bites and clenched her fists, encouraging herself, "Jin Taeyeon, you can do it." But her expression and demeanor were like she was going to battle, ready to die.

Jin Taeyeon, preoccupied with her thoughts, didn't notice a small tail following her from a distance.

When she walked to Xia Hou Zhongying, she saw him eating and chatting with Lee Hyori about the film's closing, and her courage, which she had just mustered, dissipated again. She didn't dare to interrupt them.

It was now the winter break for Korean schools, and the production team couldn't ask students to delay their break to accommodate the filming. Therefore, the film had to be completed before the school break and enter post-production.

As they chatted, Xia Hou Zhongying felt someone approaching and looked up. Seeing Jin Taeyeon with a worried and conflicted expression, he was taken aback and asked, "Taeyeon, is there something?"

"Ah, um, nothing, just a small matter," Jin Taeyeon was even more flustered when Xia Hou Zhongying asked, and her words were a bit incoherent.

"What's the matter?" Xia Hou Zhongying, feeling both amused and exasperated, softened his tone and asked gently.

Jin Taeyeon glanced at Lee Hyori secretly and didn't speak.

Lee Hyori found it amusing. Jin Taeyeon's behavior was clearly that of a girl in love, just a bit shy. It was understandable, as a girl's first crush was always a mix of anticipation and fear. She had been the same way back then.

From the conversation at the dinner yesterday, Lee Hyori seemed to understand something. Seeing that Jin Taeyeon didn't want her to know, she didn't mind. She smiled and said kindly, "You two chat for a bit. I'll go over there to take care of something."

Lee Hyori shook her head slightly, glanced at the clueless Xia Hou Zhongying, and sighed inwardly. This boy was too insensitive. She wondered if she should remind him at some point. As she walked, she accidentally saw a small figure hiding behind a box, eavesdropping on Xia Hou Zhongying and Jin Taeyeon. Upon closer inspection, she recognized it as Cheng Xiujing, which made her feel both amused and exasperated.

"Brother Zhongying, my dad said to thank you for taking care of me, so he asked me to invite you to our home after the movie filming ends," Jin Taeyeon, after Lee Hyori walked away, took a deep breath and mustered her courage to say.

"Ah," Xia Hou Zhongying was taken aback for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Jeonju?"

"Um-hum," Jin Taeyeon lowered her head, her face slightly red.

"After the filming ends," Xia Hou Zhongying frowned, a bit hesitant, "I still have to do post-production editing and dubbing, so I'm not sure how much time I'll have."

Xia Hou Zhongying genuinely didn't want to go to Jeonju. Facing Jin's father had already put a lot of pressure on him, and he had barely managed to get through it. Now, he had to face the entire Jin family, which made him feel a bit bitter. He had to find a reason to decline.

"Is that so," Jin Taeyeon's eyes were filled with disappointment, and she said in a dejected tone, "It's okay. I'll explain the reason to my dad. I won't bother you, Brother Zhongying."

Seeing Jin Taeyeon's disappointed expression, something seemed to touch Xia Hou Zhongying, and his heart softened. He couldn't help but blurt out, "But I have a few days off during the Spring Festival. I've already told my dad that I won't go back to China this year, so I'll have some free time then."