Chapter 81

"Hmph!" Jessica suddenly let out a light hum. Although she and Park Ji-hoon were also friends, her relationship with Tae-yeon and Suh-hyun was much closer. Seeing him "maneuver" between Tae-yeon and Suh-hyun, even though she knew it was a joke, she still felt somewhat dissatisfied.

Park Ji-hoon touched his nose, grinned, and secretly made a "scolded" face to Krystal.

"Phew!" Krystal tried to hold back but still let out a muffled sound, quickly glaring at him to cover up.

Jessica noticed that her younger sister, when with Park Ji-hoon, was clearly much more cheerful and talkative than when with her. She felt a bit helpless and a little jealous.

"Bro! Clear the table." Soon, Park Min-ya's voice rang out.

"Coming!" Park Ji-hoon got up.

Krystal, like a little tail, couldn't wait to follow. Seeing this, Jessica hurriedly got up as well. The three of them helped clean the table, serve the rice, and bring the dishes to the table.

"Yay—" After the last dish was served, Krystal excitedly high-fived Park Ji-hoon, then eagerly took off Park Min-ya's apron and said with a flattering smile, "Thank you, sister!"

"Rather than being tired, I'm more hot." Park Min-ya said with a smile, already sweating profusely, her apron damp.

"Go wash up quickly." Park Ji-hoon also took off Suh-hyun's apron and said to the two of them.

After the two left, Jessica couldn't help but glare at Krystal. She had never seen her so diligent and well-behaved at home!

Krystal stuck out her tongue and made a small face.

Soon, the five of them gathered around the table.

"Let's eat." Park Ji-hoon picked up his chopsticks and said.

"I'll eat." Park Min-ya and the other three then started eating.

It was really delicious!

Jessica and Suh-hyun were eating Park Min-ya's homemade food for the first time. Because they had heard so many praises, they couldn't help but be a bit picky, but they didn't expect it to be so unexpectedly delicious!

No wonder Krystal and Yoo-ri always envied Park Ji-hoon for having such a sister.

"By the way! Sister Min-ya, why do you always call Ji-hoon oppa?" After eating to half-satisfaction, Krystal suddenly asked a question that had been bothering her for a long time.

Jessica and Suh-hyun also looked curiously at Park Min-ya.

"Uh!" Park Ji-hoon's face suddenly turned awkward.

Park Min-ya smiled and gave him a sidelong glance before explaining, "Because when I was young, I looked somewhat androgynous, especially with my very masculine eyebrows, while his were too delicate. He always envied me and said I looked like a younger brother, so I just started calling him that."

"Hmm?" Krystal and the others still didn't understand.

"I'm his sister, and calling him that in front of others would definitely make him, the older brother, feel awkward!" Park Min-ya said with a grin.

"Ha ha!" The three of them couldn't help but look at Park Ji-hoon, who was almost burying his face in his bowl, and burst out laughing.

However, it was hard to imagine Park Min-ya looking like a little boy.

"No copying!" Jessica suddenly whispered to Krystal. This little one, with her eyes shining, clearly had a heart for it!

"I didn't say I would copy!" Krystal said with a look of委屈 (indignation).

"Your eyes gave you away!" Park Ji-hoon said. In this matter, he was definitely on the same side as Jessica, the older sister.

"Right!" Without waiting for Krystal to speak, Jessica chimed in.

Krystal had no choice but to pout, turning her frustration into appetite.

Suh-hyun didn't say much, just smiling and listening. Gradually, she noticed that the ingredients she had cut, like carrots and potatoes, almost all ended up in Park Ji-hoon's mouth—easy to recognize, the irregular, large pieces were hers, as she had once made them for Park Ji-hoon. Because they were too large and hard to flavor, even with Park Min-ya's skills, they couldn't be perfect, so Jessica, Krystal, and even she herself instinctively avoided them.

A sudden touch of emotion, was this the difference of being a "husband"?

Park Ji-hoon's words that day finally made her stop worrying. This time, she had proactively suggested coming to visit to prove herself and to let Park Ji-hoon know—very much in her character.

Park Ji-hoon didn't deliberately talk to her, and it felt natural.

Jessica's appetite wasn't big, and after eating her fill, she began to curiously observe Park Ji-hoon and Park Min-ya. However, it was only a moment before Park Min-ya noticed and gave her a warm smile.

She was easy to get along with! Jessica concluded.

If Park Min-ya's classmates knew this, they would definitely tease her, suggesting she try a different approach, not just as Park Ji-hoon's friend!

Because he had work in the afternoon, Park Ji-hoon left shortly after lunch, without even having time to ask how Park Min-ya's negotiations with the publisher went.

Jessica and the others didn't stay long—Krystal was "dragged" back by Jessica.

...

The rumors about Krystal didn't last long. Soon, S.M. Entertainment issued a statement, announcing Krystal's successful audition and explaining their relationship.

While they didn't like Park Ji-hoon, S.M. Entertainment fully supported Krystal's role in the movie and wouldn't allow her to be tarnished by such rumors.

Those guys—Park Ji-hoon could guess they were people who couldn't get through the proper channels—only thought of slandering Park Ji-hoon and ignored that Krystal was an S.M. Entertainment artist.

A few days later, the rumors faded, and the final few important roles for the new movie were filled, officially entering the preparation stage for filming.

At the same time, the VIP premiere of "Uncle" was approaching.

Inviting friends was a must.

Tae-yeon, Suh-hyun, and Yoo-ri had already "reserved" their spots, making the other members of Girls' Generation somewhat jealous. After all, it was a movie premiere! And it involved a bit of face.

"Guess who he will invite next?" The girls were very interested in this. In the Girls' Generation dorm, Hyo-yun and others were guessing who Park Ji-hoon would invite next after Tae-yeon, Suh-hyun, and Yoo-ri.

"Yoon-a?" Tiffany said with a somewhat forced smile. After all, Yoon-a had worked with him on a TV drama.

"Impossible!" Yoon-a quickly shook her head. They hadn't been in touch for over half a year.

"Jessica!" Soo-young guessed. The members knew about Jessica and Suh-hyun's recent visit to Park Ji-hoon's house and could sense that Jessica and Park Ji-hoon had been getting along well recently. Most importantly, there was Krystal's connection.

In the midst of the noise, Tiffany's phone suddenly received a text message.

"Who's the text from?" Yoo-ri, who was relaxed, noticed that Tiffany had suddenly frozen after reading the message and curiously looked over.

Tiffany also froze for a moment, then pretended to be nonchalant, turned her head, and raised her hand, saying, "I guess it's Pani!"

"Ahh—" Soo-young and the others simultaneously shushed her. Such an obvious action, how could they not see it?

"I'll take a call." Tiffany got up and said.

"Conscience!" Jessica pouted and muttered. From Yoo-ri's reaction and her previous conversation with Park Ji-hoon, she easily guessed who the text was from.

The other members didn't say anything but clearly had the same thought.

Park Ji-hoon's ability to pursue Tae-yeon and keep their relationship hidden was largely due to Tiffany! Because of the incident at the end of last year, Tiffany still felt guilty, but Park Ji-hoon had never shown any resentment, which had already made them somewhat dissatisfied.

Tae-yeon also knew this, so she had no objections to Park Ji-hoon and Tiffany's conversation.

Tiffany entered the bedroom, took a deep breath to calm herself, and then dialed Park Ji-hoon's phone number.

"Pani, I'm sorry." As soon as the call connected, Park Ji-hoon sincerely apologized. Pursuing a woman, winning over her best friend was a good strategy. So, he had chosen to "win over" Tiffany, and he had indeed succeeded. Over the two years, Tiffany had played a crucial role in his relationship with Tae-yeon—so much so that even Tae-yeon's dissatisfaction involved her, proving how important her role was. Reminded by Jessica, he realized his neglect over the past half year.

Tiffany felt a sudden surge of joy and emotion upon hearing this. It was like being lost in a dark forest at night, and suddenly turning a corner to see a clear sky with a bright moon hanging high, and not far away, the lights of a thousand homes, within reach, leaving her speechless.

"Pani?" Park Ji-hoon, not hearing her response, tentatively asked.

"Ah!" Tiffany quickly reacted and said, "It's okay!"

"Um." Park Ji-hoon lightly responded and asked, "How have you been? I heard you were injured recently?"

"It's fine, nothing serious." Tiffany lightly brushed it off but then scolded, "OPPA, you're only asking now, isn't it a bit late?"

"Sorry! I've been so busy lately, almost to the point of exhaustion!" Park Ji-hoon said with a wry smile. He and Tiffany were very close.

"Who made OPPA work so hard? It's not like you couldn't take it a bit easier!" Tiffany complained.

"No, I can't!" Park Ji-hoon said with a hint of melancholy, "I've already waited for 10 years, I can't wait any longer."

"Okay." Tiffany pursed her lips and said softly, "OPPA's determination to work hard is a good thing, and Tae-yeon and I will support OPPA."

"Ha ha..." Park Ji-hoon laughed and asked, "Do you have time the day after tomorrow? The premiere of 'Uncle,' if you have time, come over."

"I'll have to check with my agent. But even if I have a schedule, I'll try to adjust it." Tiffany said.

"Thanks." Park Ji-hoon said with a smile, "That's it, I'm busy here, so I won't chat much longer."

"Do you want me to pass the message to Yoon-a and the others?" Tiffany quickly asked.

"Sure, it's good to let them know." Park Ji-hoon said, "If they have time, they can come, if not, no need to force it."

"At least I should support OPPA, right?" Tiffany said with a smile, taking on a big sister's attitude.

"No need!" Park Ji-hoon said with a laugh, "The people coming will definitely be more than you imagine!"

"Ah?" Tiffany was taken aback.

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