Chapter 24

"Hyoyeon-sshi?" In the living room, Hyoyeon was curled up on the sofa, covered with a blanket, holding a phone, and fiddling with something.

Seeing her red eyes, Sulli couldn't help but walk over and asked with concern, "Sister, what's wrong?"

"Coming back so late?" Hyoyeon didn't answer but stared at the little one in front of her for a moment before asking in a hoarse voice.

She thought she had given up, but after seeing Park Ji-hoon and Sulli become a "couple," she realized the deep pain in her heart! How could she forget? In 2008, she thought she had been abandoned by the whole world except for her family and the company, but that man still supported her openly, using the name "Girls' Generation," regardless of how many people were against him!

Living in the complicated entertainment industry, encountering such a deep emotion, why wait to seize it? Her feelings for Park Ji-hoon were genuine, without any pretense.

But, but... why did she make it through 2008, only to have such an incident happen at the end of 2009?

"Um." Sulli pursed her lips and said softly, "Sister, it's just a show."

"Go to rest." Hyoyeon said in a low voice.

As the leader of Girls' Generation, she had often suffered from insomnia due to stress in 2009, and there used to be someone to comfort her. Now, the person who comforted her had another woman—because of Park Ji-hoon and Sulli's "We Got Married," she thought of that woman from that day! After two years of understanding, she knew very well that Park Ji-hoon was someone who took relationships very seriously! When did such a Park Ji-hoon, who had a woman, participate in "We Got Married"?

Was it because of her? But clearly, it was this person who had another woman! Otherwise, why would she ignore him and not call him?

After finishing her work yesterday, she spent the whole night writing and deleting messages, over and over again, as if she were crazy!

Sulli didn't move but said with a plea, "Sister, go to sleep!"

Hyoyeon slowly shook her head and said, "I can't sleep. Go to rest, don't worry about me."

"What's going on between you and Ji-hoon oppa?" Sulli finally couldn't help but ask, "Ji-hoon oppa has a lot of wounds on his hands."

Hyoyeon didn't intend to answer, but hearing the last part, she couldn't help but tremble and look up.

"I saw everything!" Sulli nodded.

Hyoyeon felt something churning in her chest, wanting to say something several times, but in the end, she only softly replied, "Oh," and lowered her head again.

Even if he was hurt, someone would take care of him!

Sulli was taken aback. Although she was reserved in front of Park Ji-hoon, the members all knew that Hyoyeon was very "precious" to Park Ji-hoon! She would often take pictures of what she ate and send them to Park Ji-hoon, and whenever there were rumors about his poor condition, she would call to comfort him. She even wouldn't allow the members to say anything bad about Park Ji-hoon... Even she knew this, so it was clear how much Hyoyeon cherished Park Ji-hoon!

What could have happened to make these two, who were so close, suddenly become like this? Even she didn't believe it was just because of that night.

"Sister, I'll go to rest then." She decided to send a message to Park Ji-hoon when she got back to her room. Before, he had been blocked, and no one could contact him.

Hyoyeon didn't react, and only softly said "Um" after Sulli turned and walked a few steps.

Sulli felt a pang in her heart. As a member, she knew very well how much effort Hyoyeon had put into Girls' Generation, and Park Ji-hoon only knew a small part of it!

Back in her room, the first thing she did was send a message to Park Ji-hoon.

Park Ji-hoon was in a car, nodding off, as he hadn't had a good rest since the filming!

Suddenly, a clear piano sound rang out.

He suddenly jolted awake, took out his phone, and opened it.

"Oppa, Hyoyeon sister has been in the living room all night looking at her phone, and she hasn't slept yet!" Sulli's message.

His hand tightened, the phone case creaking, and his drowsiness instantly vanished.

How could he not care?

How could he not care?

Two years of feelings weren't fake!

But... although he found Hyoyeon's number, he hesitated for a long time, finally deciding to send a message, only to delete it halfway through.

However, not long after, he started writing again.

And deleted it again.

This went on repeatedly, and he didn't even notice the car had stopped until the driver called him twice, and he hurriedly got out.

Back home, he quietly changed into slippers and didn't go to sleep but sat on the sofa, his phone by his side, picking it up, putting it down, and picking it up again...

He wanted to send a message to comfort her, but he knew that once he sent it, they might argue. He still couldn't forgive her for accepting that stage arrangement at that time! Once a rift was created, it was hard to mend. But even so, he still wanted to try to maintain this broken relationship.

At least, neither of them had said "break up"!

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head!

His mind had been tense, and the continuous stress today had caused a headache. A strong personality didn't mean he had no feelings; he could feel pain, depression, and insomnia... He was just better at controlling and adjusting.

Finally, he couldn't resist and thought of a roundabout way.

"Are you asleep?" He sent a message to Sulli.

"Not yet. Didn't oppa call Hyoyeon sister?" Sulli quickly replied.

"Do you have milk in your dorm? Please find a bottle for her. When she has insomnia, drinking milk helps." Park Ji-hoon replied.

"Oh. But why doesn't oppa call Hyoyeon sister?" The innocent little one. If it were Tiffany, she would say there was no milk in the dorm and ask him to bring it over.

"Thank you." Park Ji-hoon still didn't answer her question.

When Sulli got up to find the milk, a strange feeling suddenly arose in her heart. Park Ji-hoon was her "husband," but she was helping him comfort Hyoyeon?

The thought flashed by in less than 0.1 seconds.

"Sister, Ji-hoon oppa asked me to give you this milk." Sulli came to Hyoyeon and handed her the milk, saying softly.

Hyoyeon's body stiffened, hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the milk and asked, "Did you call him?"

"Sent a message." Sulli answered honestly, "I asked oppa why he didn't call you, but oppa ignored me."

Hyoyeon bit her lip and said, "Um, go to sleep, don't do these useless things anymore!"

Sulli was startled by her words and, seeing that she was getting angry, hurriedly went back.

Hyoyeon's eyes instantly turned red after Sulli turned around.

In the past, Park Ji-hoon would always remind her to drink a bottle of milk every night to help with her insomnia. The feeling of being cared for and reminded every day, though she would say it was annoying, she actually loved it very much!

Now, looking at the milk in her hand, she only felt pain, deep, bone-piercing pain! Was she pitying herself? That girl was prettier, had a better figure, and was much more talented...

But she couldn't bear it!

"Men naturally like pretty girls, but when it comes to a wife, they want someone who has a connection and likes them. Understand, future wife?"

"This height difference is perfect! Let's do a bird-in-the-cage pose, and see if I look especially manly!"

"Education isn't everything! Besides, I can tell others, 'My wife is a high school student,' how... Ah! Don't hit me!"

Those words from the past still echoed in her ears, but the person was gone. Now, thinking about these words, she suddenly realized that Park Ji-hoon wasn't actually the type to joke around!

Suddenly, she felt wetness on her face, and when she touched it, she realized she had been crying.

"My feelings are very serious!" A phrase that was deeply etched in her memory.

Liar! Big liar!

Not even a call, not even a message! Was he trying to make her live in a million-to-one fantasy?

When did his heart become so cold?

Her body gradually curled up, her shoulders trembling, and a suppressed sob echoed in the living room.

It was around 5:00 AM in the winter, a time of complete silence, and the world was pitch black.

A bone-chilling cold swept over her, and Hyoyeon had to curl up even tighter, hugging the blanket. She didn't dare go back to her bedroom, afraid her crying would disturb Sunny's sleep.

She had never felt so alone, not even during the darkest period of 2008!

Suddenly, the small, slightly blue hand that had been tightly gripping the phone lifted, and she opened the phone, slowly pressing the number 1 key.

The phone wasn't blocked, and the familiar ringtone played.

But no one answered.

Unwilling to give up, she waited for the call to end and pressed the number again.

After three attempts, the call finally connected.

"Hello!" But the voice that answered wasn't the one she was hoping for, but a clear, somewhat cold woman's voice!

Instantly, all her courage vanished, and the hand that had been holding on to the edge of the cliff let go, letting her fall into the endless abyss.

It was true!

It was really true!

"What do you want with my brother?" A dazed Hyoyeon felt the world turn gray, not even noticing the second sentence that came from the phone that had fallen on the sofa.