Chapter 18

“Huh?”

Krystal quickly noticed the strange atmosphere; her sisters' expressions were somewhat cold, as if they were angry. And Park Ji-hoon had no intention of getting up to greet them! What was going on? Could it be that he had also cut off contact with them?

The strange atmosphere was even noticed by the café's waiters, who couldn't help but look at the group of artists curiously. Fortunately, they remembered their duties and began to silently prepare the coffee.

"Krystal, why are you here?" After a moment, Jessica stepped forward and asked.

"Park Ji-hoon oppa invited me for coffee!" Krystal pointed at Park Ji-hoon and answered matter-of-factly.

Jessica frowned and finally bowed to Park Ji-hoon with some effort, greeting him: "Senior Park Ji-hoon, hello."

Yuri, Sooyoung, and Sunny also stepped forward to greet him, using the term "senior" as well. Since the beginning of the year, their individual and small team activities had gradually increased, and it was rare for all nine of them to gather.

"Huh?" Krystal looked at the four sisters and Park Ji-hoon again, puzzled. Weren't they on good terms?

At this moment, the expressions of Jessica and the others were somewhat gloomy, their target being the seated Park Ji-hoon.

To be honest, as girls, they somewhat looked down on Park Ji-hoon's almost outrageous behavior that day. But they truly considered him a good friend. It was hard for ordinary people to imagine that in the second half of 2008, when the whole world was dark, and among tens or hundreds of thousands of people, only one person openly supported you, how moved they would be! Even if it was for Taeyeon, they were deeply moved.

Therefore, they naturally became good friends with Park Ji-hoon.

After that day, they had all sent text messages to Park Ji-hoon, but received no response. Later, when they discovered that his relationship with Taeyeon had not improved and might even be heading towards a breakup, they called him. However, they found that all their numbers had been blocked!

That's why the atmosphere was so tense when they saw him.

If it weren't for the deep feelings from 2008, they wouldn't even be angry—being blocked without any reason, and being girls, who could tolerate that?

"Hmm." Park Ji-hoon responded indifferently, saying, "Sorry." However, he had no intention of explaining.

Jessica and the others frowned simultaneously.

Krystal suddenly felt that the situation with Park Ji-hoon was more serious than she had imagined!

"Are you off work?" Jessica suddenly turned to Krystal and asked.

"Uh!" Krystal paused for a moment before nodding hurriedly.

"Then why don't you go home?" Jessica asked, frowning.

"Oppa didn't reply to my text, so he invited me for coffee to apologize!" Krystal explained succinctly.

However, Yuri and the others couldn't help but look at her and Park Ji-hoon—Park Ji-hoon had blocked their numbers, yet he invited her for coffee to apologize for not replying to a text? What was their relationship?

Jessica frowned again. She only knew that her sister had known Park Ji-hoon before debuting, but she wasn't clear about the extent of their relationship.

Park Ji-hoon also frowned. When did he say he was inviting her for coffee to apologize? But he couldn't deny it.

"Go home!" Jessica said helplessly to her sister.

"I'll go home after having coffee!" Krystal replied, not yielding to her sister's command.

Jessica was somewhat annoyed. In the café, many things couldn't be said, and their manager was outside. They had only come in to buy coffee to take away, and time was limited.

At this moment, Park Ji-hoon stood up and said, "Take the coffee to go. I'll take her home."

Krystal, who had just been arguing, nodded.

Jessica wanted to refuse but, thinking of her sister being alone, reluctantly agreed and thanked him coldly.

The group left the café with their coffee, leaving things unclear and adding more confusion.

Fortunately, outside the café, Jessica and the others' manager had already gone to park the car. Since the incident in the parking lot, the employees of S.M. Entertainment had not been very friendly towards Park Ji-hoon.

"I have something to say to Park Ji-hoon oppa!" Before Jessica could speak, Yuri suddenly said.

Jessica and the others looked at her in surprise, not understanding why she suddenly "popped up." However, they watched as the two walked to the side.

"How come you're having coffee with him?" Jessica asked her sister.

"Didn't I just say that?" Krystal replied.

Jessica frowned deeply, just like Krystal had done earlier.

"Ah—" Krystal looked at her sister and Sunny and Sooyoung's expressions, seeming to understand, and said, "Don't worry, I know Park Ji-hoon oppa and Taeyeon unnie are dating!" implying that she and Park Ji-hoon were not in a relationship.

However, Jessica and the others were even more suspicious.

Park Ji-hoon had told her about this? For artists, dating was a big secret, especially for Girls' Generation after 2008! Park Ji-hoon had once said he wouldn't even tell his closest friends, yet he told her.

What was their relationship?

Now wasn't the time to ask, so Jessica glared at her and said, "He and Taeyeon had a fight, and their relationship is very bad now."

"Ah!" Krystal was taken aback, asking in disbelief, "Isn't he very, very fond of Taeyeon unnie?"

Jessica suddenly clenched her teeth. She knew about this? Why hadn't she noticed before that Krystal and Park Ji-hoon were so close? No wonder, when they first met, Park Ji-hoon looked at her strangely, and she thought he had a crush on her!

Seeing that her sister wasn't going to explain, Krystal didn't ask further. However, another doubt formed in her mind.

On the other side, Yuri finally stopped.

"What is it?" Park Ji-hoon asked, standing behind her.

"Why did you block our phone numbers?" Yuri turned around and asked.

"I have a conflict with your agency." To her surprise, Park Ji-hoon didn't hide it but told her the reason directly.

Yuri was taken aback, never expecting such a reason!

"So, that's why you're planning to break up with Taeyeon?" She paused, suppressing her thoughts, and asked again.

"Not entirely because of that." Park Ji-hoon shook his head, but no matter how Yuri looked at him, he didn't say anything more.

Seeing this, Yuri didn't waste time and said directly, "Put my phone number back!" She had to go to the TV station, and time was tight.

"I..." Park Ji-hoon opened his mouth to say something.

"Quickly!" Yuri interrupted him, urging. The agency was one thing, but she was another!

Park Ji-hoon hesitated for a moment, then, seeing her determined expression, finally took out his phone.

"Is that also why you've been crazily participating in variety shows?" Yuri asked as she watched him put her number back. It seemed like someone was deliberately spreading this information, and almost everyone in S.M. Entertainment knew.

"A bit." Park Ji-hoon said, "Done."

Yuri leaned in to confirm and warned him, "Don't block it again!"

Park Ji-hoon nodded helplessly—no wonder Park Min-ah said his personality was somewhat "soft" in front of girls! However, it was also because their relationship was somewhat special, different from the other members of Girls' Generation.

"Recently, 'Youth Over Flowers' might invite us as guests. I'll call you, so keep your phone on." Yuri finally said what she wanted to say.

Park Ji-hoon was taken aback, then pursed his lips and said softly, "Thank you." His heart felt as if something had been scorched, a sharp pain!

"I'm helping you for Taeyeon's sake!" Yuri emphasized and hurriedly added, "You should think carefully about your relationship with Taeyeon! Also, Pani and Yoonah are very angry! I'm leaving." She ran off, as Jessica was already waving at her.

"Phew—" Park Ji-hoon sighed, watching her go, then walked forward.

Krystal was still standing by the roadside.

Because of the time, Jessica and the others didn't have a chance to mention the phone numbers. They glanced at Park Ji-hoon, who was walking slowly, and turned to leave—knowing he was deliberately delaying, they simply ignored him.

Krystal already knew about his situation with Taeyeon, so she didn't blame him. When he walked up to her, she asked softly, "Is it true? Oppa and Taeyeon unnie..."

"Uh-huh." Park Ji-hoon nodded indifferently, looking for a taxi.

"Why? Who was the woman with your phone the day before yesterday? And why do you want to cut off contact with me, is it related to this?" Krystal asked a series of questions.

"Don't ask why." Park Ji-hoon shook his head gently.

"What about the woman?" Krystal watched his movements from behind, feeling a faint sense of loneliness enveloping him, and couldn't bear to ask further.

"Little sister." Park Ji-hoon waved his hand. A taxi happened to drive by.

"Little sister?" Krystal clearly didn't believe it. After knowing him for so many years, she had never heard him mention a sister. How could he suddenly have one? However, she wasn't his girlfriend, and seeing the taxi approaching, she quickly asked, "Then..."

"I want to cut off contact with you because I have a conflict with S.M. Entertainment and don't want to involve you." Park Ji-hoon knew what she was going to ask and answered directly. The same reason applied to Tiffany, Yuri, and others.

"Ah!" Krystal was startled. She didn't know about the incident that night.

"Get in the car." The taxi stopped, and Park Ji-hoon didn't say anything more. He opened the door for her, took her coffee, and handed it back to her after she got in.

Delicate and considerate.

With the driver present, Krystal didn't ask further but stared at him the whole way.

Park Ji-hoon didn't avoid her gaze, maintaining a calm demeanor.

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