Chapter 38

"Sure!" Xu Xian nodded, feeling a bit strange instead.

Is it really that surprising?

"Did you see his sister? The prodigy!" Hyo Yeon asked with a curious look on her face.

"No," Xu Xian shook her head and said, "But OPPA Ji Hoon said he would introduce us if there's a chance, and he even bought me a book written by his sister Min Ya." She used the term "Min Ya sister" without even realizing it.

"Min Ya sister?" Hyo Yeon blinked, as if she wanted to say something, but seeing the innocent look on this little one's face, she gave up and asked instead, "What book?"

"‘No Matter What Life You Choose, I Will Cheer for You.’" Xu Xian enthusiastically told Hyo Yeon about the book's content. She was always happy when it came to books.

"Really?" Hyo Yeon's reaction was much stronger than Xu Xian's. How could a book like this be written by a girl who hasn't even reached adulthood?

"OPPA Ji Hoon wouldn't lie to me!" Xu Xian said.

Hyo Yeon couldn't help but look at her deeply again. She had always been the one with the most distant relationship with Park Ji Hoon, but after just two meetings, such trust had been established.

"Hmm?" Xu Xian saw her expression, blinked her eyes in confusion, and asked.

"Oh, don't forget to introduce me when there's a chance!" Hyo Yeon said. No one would be uncurious about that prodigy. As a fellow girl, how could she not want to meet her? It would be even better if they could become friends.

"Why doesn't sister just ask OPPA Ji Hoon to introduce you?" Xu Xian asked curiously.

"Don't you know our relationship has been a bit awkward lately?" Hyo Yeon said with a hint of helplessness. No matter the reason, after that night, their relationship had become awkward and somewhat distant. However, she would never agree to the company's demands; that was a matter of principle!

"It seems so." After some thought, Xu Xian slowly nodded. Her relationship with Park Ji Hoon had only improved because she participated in "We Got Married."

At this moment, the door was knocked on, and Yoon Ah walked in.

"Xian, I washed your socks for you, sorry!" It was about the socks.

"It's okay, sister." She didn't do it on purpose, and she had already apologized, so Xu Xian wasn't angry.

"Hehe..." Yoon Ah smiled mischievously and asked, "What did you do today?"

"Let's talk outside so we don't have to answer everyone one by one." Hyo Yeon got up and said.

Sure enough, not only were they interested, but even Tae Yeon was sitting on the side, listening quietly.

Afterward, Yoo Ri even went online to search for information about the book "No Matter What Life You Choose, I Will Cheer for You." The results surprised them greatly. It wasn't some scribble or a hyped-up "beautiful writer's work." Even fewer people knew that the two Min Yas were the same person, but the reviews were very good, and it was very popular among young people, with good sales, even making it to the 2009 bestseller list!

"Wow—" A series of exclamations followed.

Such a talented sister, why did Park Ji Hoon hide her? If not for this, the series of misunderstandings wouldn't have happened, leading to the current awkwardness in their friendship.

"I'm going to take a shower." After seeing this, Tae Yeon got up and said. From beginning to end, Park Ji Hoon never intended to introduce her to Park Min Ya, but he did so for Xu Xian, which left her feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Ah—" Tiffany and the others could only sigh softly.

These two didn't seem to have returned to their previous relationship.

...

Park Ji Hoon had another all-night shoot.

When he got home, it was almost 7 in the morning. He bought breakfast on the way back, sandwiches, and milk. The traditional Korean rice breakfast had been gradually replaced by the convenient and quick Western breakfast since McDonald's introduced the "McMorning" series in 2006. Now, convenient and quick Western breakfasts are very popular among office workers.

Park Min Ya was already up, stretching her body.

Wearing light pink pajamas and pants, with her hair in an apple bun, she was facing the window, breathing in the fresh morning air while twisting her waist and turning. Her face was slightly flushed, indicating she had been exercising for some time.

She was a girl and cared about her figure.

"Brother is back!" She didn't stop.

"Come over and eat breakfast first, it will get cold in a bit." Park Ji Hoon smiled and called her over.

"Okay." Park Min Ya exhaled a long breath before responding.

After Park Ji Hoon washed up, he returned to the living room, where she was already sitting at the coffee table, holding a small piece of sandwich and eating it happily.

"Do you like this?" He asked with a smile after sitting down next to her.

"Occasionally, it feels very fresh." Park Min Ya said.

Park Ji Hoon nodded and didn't say anything more. He was both tired and sleepy after a day and night.

"Brother!" Just as he picked up a sandwich, he felt a light tap on his side and turned to see Park Min Ya looking at him mischievously.

"What?"

"Brother and Miss Xu Xian are getting along well, aren't they?" Park Min Ya teased him.

Park Ji Hoon just smiled faintly and ignored her teasing, saying, "I'll introduce you two when there's a chance. You're both the same age, you can be friends."

"Got it, I'll help Brother!" Park Min Ya waved her small fist and said seriously.

Park Ji Hoon shook his head helplessly and said, "Don't cause trouble! Her personality is such that she easily takes jokes seriously."

"Brother is worried!" Park Min Ya suddenly leaned in close to his face and said with a smile.

"I never noticed you had such a mischievous side before." Park Ji Hoon pinched her upturned nose and said, half-laughing, half-crying.

"I'm concerned about Brother's lifelong happiness!" Park Min Ya said after freeing herself from his hand, "Mom is gone, and Dad is impossible, so it has to be me who takes care of it."

"I'll handle it myself!" Park Ji Hoon said, "I'll be at ease if you can find a good home in the future."

"I won't date until Brother gets married!" Park Min Ya wrinkled her nose and said.

"What if I never get married?" Park Ji Hoon asked.

"Then I'll never date either!" Park Min Ya said without hesitation.

Park Ji Hoon suddenly fell silent.

"Come on! How could Brother never get married?" Park Min Ya patted his arm and said with a smile, as if she didn't care about what she had just said.

Thinking about it, Park Ji Hoon smiled again and said, "Don't forget, if I introduce Xu Xian to you, no joking around!"

"Got it, Brother! I know my limits." Park Min Ya said.

"Also, she's very innocent, you..." Park Ji Hoon added, still worried.

Park Min Ya suddenly stuffed the remaining corner of the sandwich into his mouth, clapped her hands, and said, "Why does it feel like Brother is really introducing a future sister-in-law to me? We're not dating, so there's no need to be so careful, right?"

Park Ji Hoon realized he was being a bit nagging and laughed self-deprecatingly, focusing on his sandwich and milk.

Park Min Ya got up and walked to the window again, looking at the morning view of Seoul.

It's really bustling! No wonder so many girls want to find a Seoul man to marry.

After a moment, she suddenly felt a warm, large down jacket on her body.

"Uncomfortable?" Park Ji Hoon's voice came from behind.

"No." Park Min Ya shrank her body and burrowed into the down jacket, saying softly, "Brother can only sleep after taking a shower! Otherwise, the sheets and bed will get dirty quickly."

"Got it." Park Ji Hoon responded with a bitter smile.

"Okay." Park Min Ya murmured softly, then suddenly turned around, looked up at him, and asked, "What birthday gift does Brother want?"

February 2nd, today, is Park Ji Hoon's birthday.

Originally, "We Got Married" wanted to film today, but both Park Ji Hoon and Xu Xian couldn't spare the time, so it was canceled.

"Speaking of birthday gifts..." After some thought, Park Ji Hoon said, "Ribs! The ribs Min Ya made last time are unforgettable!"

"What kind of birthday gift is that? I'll definitely make them!" Park Min Ya lightly slapped him and pouted. Even in the hardest times, Mom never forgot to prepare birthday gifts for the two of them, let alone now when they were just a bit tight.

"How about a kiss?" Park Ji Hoon said again.

"That will be there too!" Park Min Ya slapped him again and said. When they were young and had no money, she would give him a kiss on the cheek as a birthday gift every year.

"Then there's really nothing else I want!" Park Ji Hoon spread his hands and said.

"I knew it would be like this!" Park Min Ya pouted and said, "Okay! Brother, go take a shower."

"Yes!" Park Ji Hoon gave a mock salute and turned to go take a shower.

Park Min Ya's lips twitched, but she didn't laugh. She was very clear about Park Ji Hoon's current situation, at the lowest point in his life, both emotionally and professionally. Everything was just a way to find joy in the midst of hardship. What she could do now was take care of him and cheer him on.

She never had the thought of persuading Park Ji Hoon to give up. Only she knew how much effort he had put in.

"You will never know how strong you are until the day comes when you have no choice but to be strong." She believed that what she could do, Park Ji Hoon could do too!

...

After a brief nap, he got up in the afternoon, hurriedly ate lunch, and went back to the set.

When he came back at around 9 PM, he was so tired he could hardly stand up straight.

Action scenes are exhausting!

"Let me rest for an hour first." After a forced smile and a greeting to Park Min Ya, he lay on the sofa, motionless.

Park Min Ya, feeling sorry for him, helped him take off his coat and gently massaged him.

Soon, Park Ji Hoon's light snoring could be heard.

However, he was quickly woken up by the phone ringing.