Chapter 33

PARK Ji-hoon's hands were indeed as XU Xian had said, with some faint scars on the knuckles, and both hands were the same.

"What did you do? How did you hurt your hands here?" TAEYEON gently stroked the back of his hand and asked softly.

PARK Ji-hoon did not answer.

Now his mind was in a mess, afraid that he might say something he shouldn't in a moment of impulse, which would be bad for both him and TAEYEON.

He was indeed moved, but that didn't mean he had feelings for her.

"Hmm?" TAEYEON, not hearing his response, her eyes slightly dimmed, then suddenly leaned in close to his face, tilted her head slightly, and stared straight into his eyes, playfully humming softly.

Although she rarely took the initiative, she genuinely liked him. After two years of being together, she was very familiar with his "weak points."

Her eyelashes still had traces of tears, like morning dew, firmly touching PARK Ji-hoon's "vital spot." Then, she briefly told him about her practice of boxing and martial arts for the movie.

As TAEYEON listened, she tenderly stroked the back of his hand with her fingertips.

After he finished his story, she held his palm against her cheek—this was a gesture he used to do often. Strangely, she hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now she suddenly became acutely aware of it.

PARK Ji-hoon did not pull his hand away, but he also did not make any further moves.

A few minutes later, TAEYEON let go of his hand and said, "That's it for today. I'll go up first. Drive slowly when you go back. Work is important, but take care of your health too." Although she didn't want to leave, she thought about his tight schedule and took the initiative to say goodbye.

In the past, she had also taken the initiative to say goodbye, but the reasons were now completely different.

"Okay." PARK Ji-hoon responded, seemingly reluctantly, and said, "You too."

Just a few simple words, but TAEYEON felt as if she had received a great reward, her face lighting up with joy, and she nodded vigorously, saying, "Okay!"

After getting out of the car, she suddenly looked down and waved her small hand at him, saying, "Ji-hoon oppa, see you later." Then, she ran back to the dormitory building.

PARK Ji-hoon was momentarily dazed.

This youthful term of endearment reminded him of the period when he was pursuing TAEYEON. He still remembered the excitement and thrill he felt the first time he heard it, which was no less than the feeling of his first love. Among the three relationships, the one he cherished and loved the most was with TAEYEON.

But the deeper the love, the deeper the hurt. He couldn't deny that he still liked TAEYEON, but there was an instinctive resistance in his heart, even to the point of rejecting TAEYEON's request to get back together.

After watching TAEYEON's figure disappear, he stayed there for a while before driving away.

Inside the Girls' Generation dormitory.

TIFFANY was not resting. As soon as she saw TAEYEON return, she asked, "How did it go?"

TAEYEON's expression darkened, then she forced a smile and said, "It's okay." She didn't want TIFFANY to worry about her anymore. And she didn't want to put any more pressure on PARK Ji-hoon.

"Okay?" TIFFANY immediately saw through her and asked, "What really happened?"

TAEYEON pursed her lips and laughed lightly, saying, "We can't rush things, right? So much has happened suddenly, we can't expect him to just move on, can we?"

"Hmm!" TIFFANY was taken aback for a moment, then said softly, "I guess so." Thinking from PARK Ji-hoon's perspective, it made sense.

"I'm going to sleep. You should rest too," TAEYEON hugged her lightly and said, "I've caused you a lot of trouble these past few days."

"It's fine," TIFFANY said, then suddenly asked, "What about our phone numbers?"

"Ah! I forgot to tell him," TAEYEON exclaimed, embarrassed, "Tomorrow, tomorrow I'll tell him!"

"Hmph!" TIFFANY huffed angrily. Although her smile was a bit forced, TAEYEON's state was clearly much better than before.

TAEYEON apologized and made promises, finally earning her forgiveness.

For the first time in days, she slept soundly, so much so that she was only woken up the next day when SUNNY pinched her nose.

PARK Ji-hoon, on the other hand, was the opposite. He tossed and turned, barely sleeping all night—constantly thinking about his relationship with TAEYEON, unsure of what to do.

But no matter what, work couldn't be neglected.

After a busy morning, he was preparing to take a nap at noon when he was woken up by a call from an unknown number.

"Is this PARK Ji-hoon?" The voice on the other end was also unfamiliar and very rude.

"Who are you?" PARK Ji-hoon naturally didn't give the caller a good attitude.

The caller ignored him, confirmed his identity, and then said, "I'm warning you, stay away from TAEYEON. Don't ruin her and the entire Girls' Generation's future! Know your place, got it? She's like a beautiful sea bream, while you're just a flounder rolling in the mud! If you keep being delusional, you should know the consequences..."

"Get lost!" PARK Ji-hoon's expression had completely turned cold. Without waiting for the caller to finish, he hung up the phone. He didn't need to guess; the caller was likely from S.M. Entertainment!

After drifting with the tide for five years, he finally had the determination to make a name for himself. In this situation, it wasn't about ambition or revenge; those were just embellishments after success. The path was taken step by step. At this moment of sharp ambition, how could he possibly be willing to be threatened by a music company, even one as massive as S.M. Entertainment?

The caller, hearing the phone hang up, paused for a moment before reacting, bursting into anger. He really didn't expect that, in such a situation, PARK Ji-hoon would dare to tell him to "get lost."

As PARK Ji-hoon had guessed, someone had taken photos of him and TAEYEON together and sent them to the media. It took a lot of effort for S.M. Entertainment to suppress the matter.

Unlike 2008, the current Girls' Generation was in a period of great success, not only becoming the top female group in Korea but also on the verge of becoming a "national idol group"!

At this moment, S.M. Entertainment absolutely could not tolerate any member being exposed in a relationship! Therefore, they warned PARK Ji-hoon as soon as possible.

Since he didn't understand the situation, they would have to solve it in the company's way.

At the same time, TAEYEON's manager also found her.

However, what troubled and frustrated the manager was that no matter what he said, TAEYEON just shook her head! At first, she would argue and plead, but later she wouldn't even speak! Her small face was full of stubbornness.

"What does that person have that makes you so persistent? Average looks, average height, average career, what is it that makes you so obsessed?"

"Do you know how crucial this year is for Girls' Generation? The company will be focusing all its main resources on you. Do you want to affect Girls' Generation's future because of this?"

He had been with Girls' Generation since their debut and knew how important the name "Girls' Generation" was to this small captain, and how much effort she had put into it. Therefore, he tried to use "Girls' Generation" to shake her resolve.

"I've already given so much to Girls' Generation. Can't I have something for myself? Please, oppa, don't push me anymore, okay?" TAEYEON finally spoke, pleading with the manager, "I promise it won't happen again, okay?"

"It's not that I disagree!" The manager, seeing her expression, couldn't help but soften his heart and explained, "It's the company! The company has already contacted him. If he doesn't agree to break up with you..."

"Ah!" Although he didn't finish, the meaning was clear. TAEYEON couldn't help but exclaim in shock, looking at the manager angrily and growling, "I'm the one chasing him!" At such a vulnerable moment, the company was still doing this, and she was scared!

"You choose!" The manager didn't expect her to be so persistent. Avoiding her gaze, he left after saying this and turned to leave.

After the anger, TAEYEON hesitated.

She already knew how difficult PARK Ji-hoon's current situation was. Although it was his own choice, if S.M. Entertainment got involved, PARK Ji-hoon's situation would become even more difficult.

Should she give up?

She was distracted during the subsequent activities.

She couldn't make a decision.

Deep down, she longed for PARK Ji-hoon to call her at this moment. Just one word of affirmation, and she could withstand it! However, she didn't receive a call from PARK Ji-hoon until she returned to the dormitory.

He really had changed!

A wave of loneliness and desolation swept over her heart, but it helped her make a decision! She had already hurt PARK Ji-hoon so deeply before, how could she bear to hurt him again? Even if they broke up, it had to be PARK Ji-hoon who initiated it, not under the company's pressure!

She dialed PARK Ji-hoon's phone number.

No one answered. Without a manager, PARK Ji-hoon would set his phone to silent mode during filming.

Afraid he wouldn't call back, TAEYEON left a voice message before going to wash up.

It took more than an hour for PARK Ji-hoon to call back.

Lying on the sofa, half asleep, TAEYEON suddenly jolted awake and quickly answered the phone.

"Sorry, I just got off work," PARK Ji-hoon's voice was filled with fatigue.

"Okay." TAEYEON's heart ached a little, and she said, "Sorry, I caused you trouble again."

"Did you make a decision?" PARK Ji-hoon asked directly. He was very smart! After years in the entertainment industry, he was very experienced and could easily guess TAEYEON's situation.