Chapter 22

"Problem?" Park Ji-hoon looked at Xu Xian with a bit of curiosity, nodded, and said, "Go ahead and ask."

This little guy, could it be that he's deliberately testing me because of my previous statement, "I've read more books than you"?

"Oppa, what is youth?" Xu Xian looked at him and asked. Coincidentally, it was a topic related to the book he was holding.

"Youth is when you have nothing, yet you still believe that one day the world will be at your feet!" Park Ji-hoon answered without hesitation.

Xu Xian's eyes widened slightly.

She loved self-improvement books, so she was very interested in such topics. Park Ji-hoon's answer was powerful and philosophical, but what was most impressive was that he said it without hesitation!

"Anything else?" Park Ji-hoon asked with a smile. This little guy was simple, kind, and old-fashioned, with a strong sense of self. It wasn't easy to gain her approval.

"What is love?" Xu Xian blinked and asked.

Park Ji-hoon's expression stiffened slightly, and his eyes narrowed habitually before he answered, "It's like the softest noble door, yet it's precisely she who makes you unafraid of this world that can be so harsh."

Xu Xian was taken aback. Although she hadn't experienced it, his answer was simple and easy to understand. She couldn't help but think of the pain and hardships they had endured. At that time, it was only Taeyeon who was working hard to maintain the name "Girls' Generation." Was the strength that supported Taeyeon this kind of power?

"Anything else?" Park Ji-hoon asked again.

Xu Xian finally came to her senses, looked at him, and confirmed that he was no longer the "Park Ji-hoon" of the past. Not only his appearance but also his style of behavior had changed significantly.

"What is friendship?" she asked after pursing her lips.

The first question was a pure test, the second was about Taeyeon, and the third was about themselves. How could Park Ji-hoon not hear it? Although the little guy was simple, he wasn't stupid; on the contrary, he was very smart.

"Friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they will always be there," Park Ji-hoon answered softly.

Xu Xian fell silent, continuing to take things out of her backpack while carefully considering his answer.

Camera, raw food, Korean medicine... no ordinary girl's mirror or cosmetics.

Park Ji-hoon suddenly felt an impulse to back off.

Too simple, too kind! Facing such a pure and innocent girl, he couldn't help but be cautious, afraid of hurting her feelings. Even if his view of love had changed, he wasn't that bad.

"Ah—" he sighed, but it was too late when he realized it.

Xu Xian quickly looked up, her face gradually turning red, and her expression became awkward again. Previously, because the topics were of interest to her and she was familiar with him, she had relaxed without realizing it. Now, hearing his sigh, she remembered that they were supposed to "get married"!

What should I do?

"Ah-ik!" she couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation.

Park Ji-hoon quickly composed himself, picked up the camera, and asked, "Do you like taking photos?"

"Not really," Xu Xian shook her head and answered honestly, "I'm still learning." Her tone became stiff and formal again. All her previous efforts were in vain.

"Oh." Park Ji-hoon nodded, opened the camera, and asked, "Can I see?"

"Ah—" Xu Xian hesitated slightly, clearly unwilling. If it were before, she would have shown him in private, but now, with this identity, she couldn't help but think of Taeyeon.

"I understand." Park Ji-hoon smiled, returned the camera to her, and said, "I'll take you to the library next time."

"Really?" Xu Xian's expression brightened instantly.

Park Ji-hoon, seeing her sincere expression, couldn't help but smile and nod, asking, "Do you want to pinky promise?" This was the most vivid expression of emotion she had shown besides being awkward and nervous.

"Sure!" Xu Xian really extended her little finger and made a pinky promise with him.

Their hands touched, and she suddenly noticed that his skin on a few finger bones seemed to have some injuries. They weren't serious, but there were quite a few, as if they had been carefully treated. When she tried to look more closely, he had already pulled his hand back.

She looked at him with surprise and shock.

"We're here!" Park Ji-hoon said.

At that moment, the car began to slow down.

A restaurant a bit far away, with cheap prices and good taste.

After getting out of the car, Park Ji-hoon immediately came to Xu Xian's side, opened the car door for her, and took her backpack. After she got out, he closed the car door for her.

"Thank you, Oppa!" Xu Xian saw a familiar shadow in him, just like how he used to treat Taeyeon.

"Let's go!" Park Ji-hoon said calmly, trying to make his tone sound normal.

At the restaurant entrance, Park Ji-hoon first gently brushed the snow off Xu Xian's collar, then opened the door for her. After finding a seat, he pulled out her chair for her, with perfect manners.

Actually, as soon as she saw him, Xu Xian had already given up on observing this. They had eaten together a few times, and all the members praised his manners—completely natural, as if they were deeply ingrained! The person being taken care of wouldn't feel awkward.

After sitting down, she curiously looked around the restaurant's decor. It was her first time coming to such a restaurant.

The restaurant was small, with only their table occupied, and the staff were crowded in a corner filming.

Park Ji-hoon ordered bibimbap.

Eating bibimbap in cold weather is very satisfying! The stone pot keeps the food warm, allowing you to eat slowly without worrying about the food getting cold.

In Korea, eating bibimbap is also a symbol of love. If a couple goes to a restaurant to eat bibimbap, the man must first mix the rice for his girlfriend; if the girlfriend can't finish the meal, the man must eat the leftovers to show his love for her.

It's a rather old tradition, and not many people care about it now, but Park Ji-hoon was very skilled at it. He poured a layer of sesame oil into the stone pot, then added the cooked rice and various ingredients—beef, carrots, lettuce, mung bean sprouts, enoki mushrooms, and other vegetables—then drizzled a thin layer of beef broth and started simmering it over a low flame.

Xu Xian watched his actions with curiosity.

Although Park Ji-hoon didn't cook himself, he was very skilled at making bibimbap.

"Try it!" After finishing, he picked up a bit of the beef and brought it to Xu Xian's mouth.

Xu Xian hesitated awkwardly for a moment before opening her mouth and eating the beef. "Mm! Delicious." Her eyes suddenly lit up. The meat was tender and not fishy, salty with a hint of sweetness, and had a bit of elasticity, leaving a lasting aftertaste.

"These meat pieces have been marinated for some time with a sauce made from soy sauce, sake, sugar, pepper, sesame oil, and ginger juice, which removes the fishy smell and adds a salty and sweet aroma," Park Ji-hoon explained.

Xu Xian didn't expect that such a small amount of meat would have so much attention to detail! She couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise.

"Don't rush, we'll eat it together after it's mixed," Park Ji-hoon said with a smile, even though he saw the meaning in her eyes.

Xu Xian looked at him and suddenly fell silent. From his smiling words, she sensed a faint sense of loneliness.

Simmering over a low flame.

In the eyes of the surrounding staff, their relationship was somewhat peculiar. Park Ji-hoon was clearly very considerate, but he didn't ask Xu Xian's opinion on many things. Yet, his choices were all things Xu Xian liked! However, what was strange was that they were very awkward, not like familiar friends.

The footage they were shooting felt a bit odd, and it was the first time they had seen such a strange combination.

"From now on, we are a couple," Park Ji-hoon finally said after a moment of leisure.

"Yes!" Xu Xian's body stiffened, her expression stiffened again, and she responded awkwardly. The previous agreement had been automatically ignored by her. She didn't know whether to say "sweet potato" or "hamburger."

Park Ji-hoon looked up at her.

Xu Xian's eyes were full of panic, awkwardness, and a bit of seriousness—since it was work, she had to do her best, no matter what difficulties.

"Ah—" Park Ji-hoon couldn't help but sigh again. No matter how calm he pretended to be, it was just an act!

"Um, I prepared a letter!" Xu Xian, seeing this, seemed to realize that she had been putting a lot of pressure on him, so she hurriedly said.

"Letter?" Park Ji-hoon watched as she took out a stack of small cards from her backpack, held them with both hands, and formally handed them to him.

"This is my determination!" Xu Xian explained.

Park Ji-hoon couldn't help but look at her again. He always found something magical and unique about this little girl! He noticed that her smile was so standard, only showing a few top teeth, and even when awkward, her eyes remained bright, without any hint of evasion.

Two very delicate cards, not even as big as a palm, with the word "Promise" written on them.

"Thank you." Park Ji-hoon sat up straight and thanked her before opening the cards.

A girl's heart, especially this girl's heart, was worth thanking, even if it was for the sake of the show.

Xu Xian smiled, her chubby cheeks blushing slightly. Simple thoughts are often very sensitive. Park Ji-hoon's serious attitude made her feel a bit nervous, but she was also very satisfied.

Not just girls, who doesn't want to be respected and treated seriously?

"Hello!" Park Ji-hoon read aloud.

"Ah—" Xu Xian blushed and let out a soft exclamation, picking up her water glass to hide her embarrassment.

"I am Xu Xian, who will soon become your wife," Park Ji-hoon continued reading. "We got married without knowing each other! To convey my determination, I wrote this letter... I'm already 20 years old, but I still lack experience... Although the word 'marriage' seems far away, I will treat it as a preview of the future, with a happy and open heart. Please take care of me, Xu Xian!"

"This is my determination," Xu Xian, who had already sat up straight, said again with a light smile.

Dignified and graceful.

Park Ji-hoon couldn't help but be momentarily lost in thought.