Chapter 4

Park Ji-hoon's whole body stiffened, and then he tried his best to speak in what he thought was a calm tone: "I was just joking with you! I'm an entertainer, how could I have a 'sister-in-law' to introduce to you?"

However, Park Min-ya was sensitive to his unusual behavior and didn't listen to his explanation at all. Instead, she stared seriously into his eyes. After a moment, just before he turned his head away awkwardly, she asked, "Did you get into a fight because of this?"

Ji-hoon wanted to say it was nothing, but considering this little one's intelligence and understanding of him, he knew that would only make her more worried. So he nodded lightly and replied, "Yeah."

"Then, what about you and your girlfriend..." Min-ya probed, seeing his eyes suddenly darken, her heart also tightened involuntarily. She murmured, "Why?" She really wanted to know what the other person found lacking in her brother!

"Why?" Ji-hoon knew she wasn't asking about the fight, and his eyes couldn't help but become a bit dazed.

Why had he, who was usually so easygoing, suddenly become so violent?

Unconsciously, his mind recalled his three past relationships.

The first one was in high school, a long relationship that ended before he enlisted—though he loved her deeply and hoped she would wait for him to be discharged, they still broke up. The second was a girlfriend in the entertainment industry, whom he also loved deeply, but they broke up because he couldn't accept her personality. The third was Tae-yeon.

He thought the first two breakups were due to his lack of deep love and seriousness, so he was even more devoted to Tae-yeon, almost to the point of pampering her.

But he didn't expect his pampering to be seen as indulgence... His thoughts flashed by, and Ji-hoon revealed a faint bitter smile, his furrowed brows slightly easing. He said softly, "Maybe I'm just tired." He hadn't broken up with Tae-yeon, but he didn't think their current state could continue.

Even after receiving the notification from Cho Da-hui today, he didn't think he would have any more interactions with S.M. Entertainment artists.

"Tired?" Min-ya frowned, seemingly understanding and not understanding, then raised her chin and said, "It's okay, bro! Relationships in the entertainment industry are like that, you don't need to take them too seriously!" After saying this, she nodded seriously, looking like an "expert."

"You're lecturing me now!" Ji-hoon reached out and ruffled her hair, saying with a mix of laughter and tears, "Wait in the room, I'll go to the supermarket to buy groceries. I haven't eaten Min-ya's cooking in a long time, I miss it!"

"Okay." Min-ya smiled brightly and nodded vigorously, helping him re-tie his scarf.

Ji-hoon left the room.

After boiling a pot of water, Min-ya looked around the apartment on her own and found the empty wine bottles that Ji-hoon had hidden, further confirming her suspicions.

After hearing the door close and waiting for a while, she pushed open the door to a bedroom—she already knew it was Ji-hoon's room.

Simple yet clean and tidy.

On the bedside, in a very prominent position, hung a large poster, apparently of the leader of Girls' Generation. She couldn't remember the name, though.

Because of Ji-hoon, she had some knowledge of the entertainment industry, and how could she not know Girls' Generation, who were popular throughout Korea this year? However, knowing was one thing, but she couldn't remember the names of all nine members, as her main task this year was the college entrance exam.

Apart from this poster, the room was filled with various books!

Could it be?

Min-ya returned to her room, turned on the computer, and searched for information about the "leader of Girls' Generation"—sure enough, there were some rumors involving Ji-hoon!

A feeling of discomfort arose.

However, being well-mannered, she didn't say anything bad about the other person but quietly searched for information about her.

In her eyes, her brother was the perfect man!

When she heard the door open, she quickly closed the webpage and ran out to greet him.

Rice, vegetables, salt... Ji-hoon was carrying all sorts of things.

Min-ya hurriedly helped him take off the various bags.

After a flurry of activity, they finally got everything settled.

"Here!" Ji-hoon took a pair of pink slippers from the last bag and handed them to Min-ya. He had forgotten to buy slippers for her, so she had been wearing only socks since she arrived.

"Wow!" Min-ya cheered and put them on immediately.

It was just a pair of slippers, but her reaction made him feel a small sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. A small detail showed that her behavior at the station wasn't just for show.

She didn't say thank you, but after putting them on, she lifted her foot to show Ji-hoon.

"Very pretty!" Ji-hoon smiled and nodded.

Min-ya then retracted her foot and said, "Bro, sit on the sofa!" She then went to the bathroom.

Ji-hoon took off his scarf and sat on the sofa.

A moment later, Min-ya brought a basin of hot water to him.

The water was scalding, steaming hot.

"I'll do it myself!" Ji-hoon instantly understood her intention and stood up to say.

"Bro, just sit!" Min-ya forcefully pushed him back down, then quickly pinched the towel from the hot water with her fingertips, shook it, and gently wrung it out.

Instantly, her hands turned red.

"Too hot!" The little one shouted and switched to pinching the towel with her fingertips.

"I said I'll do it myself!" Ji-hoon said again.

Min-ya ignored him and, after the towel's temperature was acceptable, folded it and gently placed it on his injured mouth.

"Now it's up to you!" After confirming there were no problems, she placed his hand on the towel, patted her hands, and turned to cook.

Ji-hoon smiled helplessly, holding the towel with one hand. After she left, he took out his phone and opened the contact list to search.

Although she looked delicate, Min-ya's cooking skills were actually very good. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sound of chopping vegetables.

Not long after, the aroma of cooking wafted out.

"Smells good!" Ji-hoon lifted his head after smelling the aroma, his previously serious expression turning into a smile.

"Almost done!" Min-ya's cheerful voice came from the kitchen.

Indeed, less than 10 minutes later, her voice rang out again, "Bro! Wash your hands and get ready to eat."

"Okay." Ji-hoon quickly sent a text message, got up to wash his hands, and tidied up the basin and towel.

When he came out, Min-ya had already set the table. A hot dish, a dish of kimchi, and rice as the main dish—simple and straightforward.

"Why didn't you make another dish?" Ji-hoon was taken aback and said softly.

"Can't eat too much at night, or you'll get fat!" Min-ya wrinkled her nose, looking troubled, "Besides, two dishes are enough for the two of us, right?"

"Okay." Ji-hoon nodded and suddenly laughed, "Enough."

"Let's eat then!" Min-ya handed him the chopsticks.

"I'm almost becoming a 'mouth-opener'!" Ji-hoon took the chopsticks and said with a bitter smile.

"Bro usually works hard, so you need to be well taken care of when you get home!" Min-ya said matter-of-factly.

Ji-hoon shook his head and said, "If you keep this up, I'll have a hard time finding a girlfriend in the future!"

"No problem, I'll take care of you until you get married." Min-ya said with a smile.

"Find a good man and hold on to him!" Ji-hoon scolded lightly.

Min-ya wrinkled her nose unconvinced.

The two chatted and laughed, and although the meal was simple, they enjoyed it. However, halfway through, Ji-hoon's phone rang.

"Eat first, I'll take a call." Ji-hoon glanced at the caller ID and got up to say.

"Okay." Min-ya frowned slightly after he turned around, involuntarily eating more quietly. What kind of call did he need to avoid her for?

Ji-hoon went to his bedroom to answer the call, and she couldn't hear.

After a while, seeing the food was getting cold and Ji-hoon still hadn't returned, she couldn't help but get up and quietly go to the bedroom door.

"… Any kind of job will do, I'll treat you to a meal another day, bro." She finally heard Ji-hoon's voice, his tone very humble.

And the key was "any kind of job will do"!

Min-ya's body stiffened, and she involuntarily sniffed, then quickly returned to the dining room. From the sound of Ji-hoon's voice, the call was about to end.

Sure enough, as soon as she sat down, Ji-hoon opened the door and came out.

"Bro! Hurry up and eat, the food is getting cold!" Before Ji-hoon could speak, she pouted and complained—she didn't want him to know she had heard.

"Okay, okay!" Ji-hoon responded twice, his expression brightening.

Min-ya pretended not to notice.

She thought she had made too much, but unexpectedly, Ji-hoon's appetite was much larger than before. The two dishes were almost finished, with only a little kimchi left, and there was not much rice left either.

"Perfect for breakfast tomorrow!" She said with a smile while clearing the dishes.

"To be honest, are you being so attentive because you want to ask me something?" Ji-hoon wanted to help but was stopped by her, and he couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Yes!" Min-ya's eyes twinkled, and she said, "I haven't toured Seoul yet, so bro, take me out to see the sights later!"

"Where do you want to go?" Ji-hoon asked.

"No need, just a walk in the evening, looking at the shops and the night view will do!" Min-ya said. She wasn't really interested in "seeing the sights"; it was just a spur-of-the-moment idea, and she also wanted to help Ji-hoon relieve his depressed mood through a walk.

"Okay! Wait until you finish cleaning up." Ji-hoon smiled and agreed.

...

Because they were preparing for their first concert, Girls' Generation had few evening jobs.

After dinner, after finishing her job, Tiffany took Tae-yeon to a coffee shop they often visited.