Chapter 96

"Career?" Upon hearing Taeyeon's words, Park Ji-hoon couldn't help but reveal a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth. Why should he be responsible for someone else's life? And it was someone who had a conflict with him!

When S.M. Entertainment suppressed him, no one took responsibility for his life.

"Oppa, Senior Kim Heechul didn't know about our relationship at the time. He has already regretted it and apologized to me..." Seeing that he didn't react, Taeyeon continued.

"Enough!" Park Ji-hoon interrupted her, saying, "I don't want to bring up what happened half a year ago. And if you want to ask me for help, you've come to the wrong person! I'm not a saint, and I won't help my enemy."

"Enemy?" Hearing this term, Taeyeon felt a chill in her heart, sensing his intention to end the call. She panicked and said, "But, he was ordered to serve in the military because of Oppa!"

"What does that have to do with me?" Park Ji-hoon's agitation gradually cooled down. He narrowed his eyes and asked coldly.

"Does Oppa really not know?" Taeyeon clenched her teeth, saying. She didn't believe that Park Ji-hoon didn't know about this, thinking he was deliberately being vague.

After more than two days of investigation, Lee Soo-man finally found out that the reason for the investigation was due to the suppression of Park Ji-hoon! At first, he suspected that there might have been a mistake, but after calming down, he realized that such a thing couldn't be wrong.

With his strong and stubborn personality, he didn't know how to apologize or compromise with Park Ji-hoon, so he decided to send the culprit, Kim Heechul, to serve in the military. It was a good opportunity since Kim Heechul was about the right age, and it would also give him a good reputation.

He told Kim Heechul that he was being sent to serve in the military because of the past conflict with Park Ji-hoon, hoping that Kim Heechul could resolve the issue himself. He would be even happier if Kim Heechul could do so.

His plan was well thought out.

Then, Taeyeon found out that Park Ji-hoon was making things difficult for Kim Heechul.

Since the incident in December last year, her relationship with Kim Heechul had become much more distant. However, they had once been very good friends. Moreover, during the debut and difficult times of Girls' Generation, Kim Heechul had given them a lot of help. Facing such a situation, she couldn't remain indifferent.

So, she called Park Ji-hoon to plead for Kim Heechul, who could apologize in person.

"Do you mean that I'm targeting Kim Heechul?" Park Ji-hoon asked calmly.

Taeyeon remained silent. She didn't believe it, but Kim Heechul couldn't possibly lie to her about this! Moreover, it had already spread within the company.

"Sorry, I have something to do." Park Ji-hoon, seeing that she didn't even ask, lost the desire to explain and said calmly.

Suddenly, he felt the night air was cold.

"Oppa, can you help Senior Kim Heechul?" Taeyeon, hearing this, quickly pleaded, "He can apologize to you in person."

"Have you considered my feelings?" Park Ji-hoon's voice gradually became distant. "Last year, you were on his side. I know you were just friends, who met during the trainee period and had a deep bond, hehe..."

Taeyeon tightly bit her lip. At first, she hadn't really thought about Park Ji-hoon's feelings, only knowing that he had the upper hand and that Kim Heechul needed help. She hadn't expected that Park Ji-hoon's reaction would be so strong! Many people always ignore the feelings of those closest to them.

"Not, not that! At that time, I was afraid..." She wanted to explain to Park Ji-hoon that at the time, she was just afraid of hurting him, but then she suddenly remembered that she had indeed been constantly criticizing him, and couldn't continue.

"Choose between him and me." Park Ji-hoon slowly closed his eyes and asked. He knew that there was nothing between Taeyeon and Kim Heechul, but he and Kim Heechul couldn't coexist! He especially couldn't bear her asking him for help for Kim Heechul.

"Oppa, between me and Senior Kim Heechul..." A bit of anxiety arose in Taeyeon's heart. How could he misunderstand her like this!

"I know!" Park Ji-hoon interrupted her, saying, "So, choose one. Consider it a choice between friendship and love!" The original "wound" hadn't healed, and now it was being reopened again, which he couldn't bear.

"Even with Suhyun and Krystal, you didn't say anything, right?" Taeyeon finally couldn't hold back. How could she not be jealous of Park Ji-hoon's relationship with Suhyun and Krystal? But because of her guilt, she had always endured it. Now, under this pressure, she finally burst out.

"I understand." Park Ji-hoon didn't explain anything, just said calmly and hung up the phone.

Hearing the disconnect tone, Taeyeon finally reacted, and a wave of sadness washed over her. It was the first time he had hung up on her!

A gust of night wind blew in, and she suddenly felt cold.

Tears streamed down her face without her noticing.

He clearly knew there was nothing between her and Kim Heechul, so why was he so cold? She just wanted to help a friend, knowing that in the entertainment industry, every true friend needed to be cherished. It was just a matter of a few words, so why did he push her so hard?

In the apartment, Park Ji-hoon sat quietly in front of the computer, not as agitated as last time.

After hearing what Taeyeon said, he had already confirmed who the mastermind was. He didn't blame his mother for being concerned about her son, which was only natural.

At this moment, he wasn't particularly angry, but rather had a strange, clear understanding.

Taeyeon's actions could be understood, as they didn't involve any emotional factors. However, she had ignored his feelings. After the last conflict, he had already apologized to Kim Heechul, and the conflict between them had become irreconcilable!

He could understand, but for some reason, the more he thought about it, the colder his heart became.

"Brother! It's time to eat." Just as he was lost in thought, Park Min-ah's voice came.

His heart warmed, and he got up and walked out.

Italian meat sauce pasta!

Since he came back late, Park Min-ah had made a separate portion for him.

It smelled good, but he didn't have much appetite.

"There's still a little left, Min-ah, you eat it." Park Min-ah had made it according to his usual appetite, so the portion was a bit large.

"Huh? Didn't you say you were starving earlier?" Park Min-ah walked over and asked curiously.

"I was just that hungry." Park Ji-hoon smiled and said.

"Oh." Park Min-ah looked at him, seeing no obvious signs of distress, and sat down in his seat.

"Xun Xun!" In the living room, Park Ji-hyun saw Park Ji-hoon come out, blinked, and called to the ferret playing with her.

The ferret obediently jumped onto her and rubbed against her.

Park Ji-hoon smiled faintly but didn't say anything.

"Strange?" After he entered the bedroom, Park Ji-hyun muttered suspiciously and asked in a low voice, "Min-ah, what's wrong with Oppa?"

"His mood isn't good." Park Min-ah said. Although Park Ji-hoon's face showed no obvious signs of distress, this itself was unusual!

"Why?" Park Ji-hyun asked. She, of course, knew that Park Ji-hoon's mood wasn't good!

"I don't know." Park Min-ah said.

"Ah?" Park Ji-hyun exclaimed in surprise.

"Am I supposed to interfere with his private feelings just because I'm his sister?" Park Min-ah said.

"Ah?" Park Ji-hyun exclaimed again.

"What are you 'ah'ing for?" Park Min-ah said irritably.

"I always thought you were a brother-obsessed sister!" Park Ji-hyun said with a grin.

"Maybe I've been staring at the computer too long, and my eyesight is bad. I might put salt instead of sugar next time I cook!" Park Min-ah said to herself.

"Min-ah, I'm sorry!" Before she finished speaking, Park Ji-hyun had already said sincerely.

"Hmph!" Park Min-ah huffed.

In the room, Park Ji-hoon received another call, this time from Jessica, also pleading for Kim Heechul.

If she had been the first to call, Park Ji-hoon wouldn't have agreed but wouldn't have given her a hard time. But now, he simply said, "Don't mention Kim Heechul to me!"

Jessica tried to persuade him, but he hung up the phone.

Soon after, YoonA, Yuri, and others also called, for the same reason.

Although the reason for the investigation of Lee Soo-man and S.M. Entertainment couldn't be made public, the news of Kim Heechul being sent to serve in the military had spread within S.M. It might be misunderstood as S.M. compromising due to Park Ji-hoon's popularity, but this was exactly what Lee Soo-man and the company wanted—to save face.

Park Ji-hoon's originally calm emotions gradually flared up.

Do they all think I'm a saint?

Back then, it was Kim Heechul who did those things, and after the conflict, I even apologized to him. Don't they understand how resolute I was?

No contact until death!

They only saw Kim Heechul's situation and chose to ignore my feelings! Do they think I'm the mastermind?

He had already guessed who was behind it, feeling a sense of satisfaction and a faint mockery. Back then, when he and Kim Heechul fought, S.M. Entertainment stood up for Kim Heechul. Now, his mother stood up for him, so what was wrong with that? Moreover, this was a decision made by S.M. Entertainment, and he didn't believe his mother would make such a request or even know about it. He didn't need to take responsibility for it.

Amidst the chaos, another call came, this time from Suhyun.

He pressed the answer button but didn't say a word, just waiting for Suhyun to speak.

"Oppa?" Suhyun asked tentatively.

"Um, what is it?" Park Ji-hoon finally spoke, his voice a bit stiff.

"Is it true about Senior Kim Heechul?" Suhyun asked.

"Don't mention him to me! He has nothing to do with me, and I don't want to hear his name, got it?" Park Ji-hoon took a deep breath and said. After so many calls, it was strange that he could remain calm.

It was the first time she had heard him speak to her in such a tone. Suhyun was stunned for a moment before softly saying, "Not mention... I want to ask Oppa for help, can I?"

It seemed someone was guiding her from the side.

"Wasn't what I just said clear enough?" How could Park Ji-hoon not understand her clumsy indirect strategy?

There was silence on the phone for a while.

"Tell them, if it's about Kim Heechul, don't call me anymore." Park Ji-hoon said again.

"You've really changed!" Taeyeon's voice suddenly came from the phone.

Park Ji-hoon's breath caught, and he slowly said, "Yes, I've changed! I've become selfish!" After saying that, he hung up the phone. He had heard this before, but this time it had a different meaning.

In the dorm, Taeyeon and the others looked at the disconnected phone, all falling silent.

Taeyeon's eyes were red and swollen, Jessica's face was cold, and Yuri and YoonA's faces were also grim. Just a few days ago, they had been joking and calling each other, but now it had come to this.

"If he has such a background, why did he wait for more than 8 months?" Tiffany suddenly asked.