Chapter 56

"Damn, there's always a pesky guy hanging around!" Park Min-ya pouted and said. She never swore, but now she used the term "guy," which showed that she was indeed quite annoyed.

"How is his character? Is he handsome? How tall is he...?" Park Ji-hoon suddenly asked a series of questions.

"Bro!" Park Min-ya was taken aback for a moment, then called out angrily.

"He's just a friend. It's fine to try dating him..." Park Ji-hoon tried to persuade her.

"What I said last time wasn't a joke!" Park Min-ya interrupted him.

Park Ji-hoon let out a helpless smile and said, "Looks like I need to get married sooner."

"I'm only 20, why is Bro in such a hurry?" Park Min-ya seemed really upset, stood up, and said, "Bro, wash your own socks today!"

"Uh!" Park Ji-hoon's face really turned sour.

"Ha!" Park Min-ya couldn't help but laugh at his sour expression.

"Can we let it go this time?" Park Ji-hoon, seeing her reaction, hurriedly tried to please her.

"If you say that again, I really won't wash your socks!" Park Min-ya said with a serious face.

"Yes!" Park Ji-hoon quickly responded.

Park Min-ya then smiled, turned around, and cut an apple as a dessert. Growing up, she had developed a positive and optimistic attitude.

These past few months, Park Ji-hoon had been under a lot of pressure. She bought vegetables and fruits with her living expenses. The school waived her tuition, and she didn't have to pay rent, so her living expenses were relatively comfortable.

To take care of Park Ji-hoon, she didn't take a part-time job. Besides, she had her own way of life and didn't need to work.

She was writing her second book, just like the first one, to help with household expenses. However, it didn't mean she wasn't serious. Each time she wrote, she would imagine herself as a fictional character and write with that emotion.

Human imagination is boundless! There are always geniuses who can do things others can't even imagine.

"Min-ya!" After eating, Park Ji-hoon didn't rest immediately. Instead, he relaxed a bit and then sat on the sofa, chatting with Park Min-ya.

"Hmm?" Park Min-ya turned to look at him curiously.

"Here." Park Ji-hoon took a small box out of his pocket.

"Nail polish?" Park Min-ya took it and didn't thank him immediately. Instead, she asked more curiously, "Why did Bro buy me nail polish?"

"Cheaper cosmetics are not good, and expensive ones are too expensive, so I bought nail polish. Water-based nail polish is supposed to be healthier," Park Ji-hoon said.

"My nails don't need this!" Park Min-ya showed her hands, which were a healthy pink, like shiny shells, making people envious. She didn't use much cosmetics, but she had developed many good and healthy habits from a young age.

"Don't girls like this?" Park Ji-hoon asked in surprise.

"I'm not like other girls!" Park Min-ya handed the nail polish back to him and said, "Bro, give it to Tae-yeon, Sulli, Yoo-ri, or Krystal."

"What do you mean by that?" Park Ji-hoon's face darkened, as if he was being called a playboy!

"That's exactly what I mean!" Park Min-ya said with a grin.

Suddenly, Park Ji-hoon reached out and grabbed her.

"Ahh—" Park Min-ya screamed and curled up, very ticklish!

However, Park Ji-hoon suddenly smiled and grabbed her raised ankle.

Park Min-ya realized she had only focused on curling up and forgotten about her feet. She tried to struggle, but it was too late. She felt a tickling sensation from her soles and could only laugh uncontrollably.

"What do you mean?" Park Ji-hoon gently tickled her soles and asked.

"Nothing... I... I was wrong!" Park Min-ya managed to say while laughing.

"Do you want the nail polish?" Park Ji-hoon asked again.

"Yes, yes!" Park Min-ya hurriedly said.

"That's better." Park Ji-hoon said, releasing her ankle.

"Phew—Phew—" Park Min-ya lay on the sofa, still breathing heavily, and placed her foot on Park Ji-hoon's leg as if to get revenge.

Park Ji-hoon smiled and reached out to grab her ankle again.

Before he could touch her, her foot jerked back as if it had been electrocuted.

"Ha ha..." Park Ji-hoon couldn't help but laugh.

"Hmph!" Park Min-ya huffed and sat up, taking the nail polish and fiddling with it.

Park Ji-hoon started playing with his phone, as if texting someone.

Park Min-ya had never used nail polish before. After fiddling with it for a while, she found it a bit complicated and gave up on painting her nails. Instead, she secretly shifted her attention to Park Ji-hoon's phone.

He had been busy lately, and now that he was relaxed, he was sending messages to Tae-yeon, Sulli, Krystal, and others who had been in touch with him recently.

His relationship with Tae-yeon had indeed improved, at least they occasionally texted and called each other.

Park Min-ya sneakily peeked at the phone screen without being noticed.

Unlike his earlier carefree attitude, Park Ji-hoon was now very focused and mature in everything he did.

"Rest well for a few days and take care of your health!" Tae-yeon was the first to reply.

"Really? That's great!" Soon, Sulli's message arrived.

Krystal didn't reply with a message.

However, a call came soon after.

"OPPA, are you free tomorrow? I'm off, so I'll come over to play!" Krystal said excitedly.

"Tomorrow is Monday, Min-ya has class!" Park Ji-hoon replied directly.

"It's okay, I only have one class in the morning," Park Min-ya suddenly leaned in and said by the phone.

"Wow—That's great! Min-ya is the best!" Krystal's cheers came from the phone. This little one was no longer hiding her intentions!

"What about me?" Park Ji-hoon pretended to be jealous. How long had this little one known Park Min-ya? She was already closer to her than to him!

"Does OPPA even get jealous of Min-ya?" Krystal asked without hesitation. Indeed, this little one might seem cold, but she was quick-witted.

"Cough!" Park Ji-hoon cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject, "Do you have class on Monday?" Park Min-ya was looking at him with a smile, making him blush a bit.

"I can bring my textbooks. Min-ya is as good as a teacher!" Krystal had already thought about this.

"Good, as long as it doesn't affect your studies." Park Ji-hoon said.

"Okay." Krystal knew he was genuinely concerned about her studies and replied softly, "OPPA, don't slack off. Rest well and exercise more..."

Though she was just a high school student, 10 years younger than Park Ji-hoon, her detailed instructions were clear and natural.

The two sisters often took care of each other in this way.

"Understood." Park Ji-hoon didn't show impatience or gratitude, just a calm response. This was a way of expressing closeness, and their relationship was as good as any siblings.

Krystal hung up quickly as she was still working.

Park Ji-hoon and Park Min-ya chatted for another half hour before going to bed.

He slept soundly without any dreams.

The next day, he thought he would sleep until noon, but his biological clock woke him up at 5 a.m. He got up groggily and washed up.

Not seeing Park Min-ya, he suddenly realized that his shooting had ended.

Unable to sleep, he quietly went out for a morning run.

As Krystal said, sleeping all day wasn't a good way to rest. Morning runs were more beneficial for relaxation.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, and Seoul was quiet.

Occasional early risers, mostly working for a living, had a lazy and indifferent look on their faces.

It was Park Ji-hoon's first morning run, and he was still adjusting. His steps were uneven, and his breathing soon became irregular.

No one paid attention to him, and even those who glanced at him were more interested in the mall.

Seoul's prosperity was matched by a fast-paced life. Those who couldn't keep up were left behind.

Morning runners were just a part of the scenery.

The runner himself had no intention of admiring the scenery, focusing on the road ahead, adjusting his steps and breathing.

"Breath—Breath—Breath..." After a certain point, Park Ji-hoon's breathing became long and steady, and his steps became light and relaxed.

When he returned to the building, his forehead and temples were covered in a fine layer of sweat, but he felt surprisingly refreshed.

"A good habit can benefit you for life!" A gentle and loving reminder flashed in his mind, and Park Ji-hoon involuntarily pressed his lips together.

At home, Park Min-ya had also woken up.

"Bro went for a morning run?" When she saw Park Ji-hoon come in, she didn't stop stretching. Her slender waist, paired with a light pink shorts, long and straight legs, and bare feet, exuded the charm of a young girl.

"Yep." Park Ji-hoon nodded and lightly scolded, "You're already a college student, be more careful!"

"Okay—" Park Min-ya didn't seem to pay much attention, responded casually, and headed to the kitchen.