Chapter 89

The party continued until 12 o'clock. Everyone was an artist and had schedules to run tomorrow. They had already said endless good words to their managers to be able to come out today, so everyone was very conscious not to stay out too late. Li Zhong and the Girls' Generation members went downstairs to see off these friends. Since Park Soo-yeon had drunk too much, she stayed in the Girls' Generation dormitory and wouldn't be going back today.

"Leeteuk oppa, Si Cheng oppa, A-ra, Yeon-hee, and the others, you help send them home. Han Geng oppa, Uncle Li Zhong, and the little Crystal, you two take care of them, and also Hora." Jessica, noticing that Taeyeon seemed to have something on her mind, arranged the girls' routes home. It was so late, someone had to send them. As for Minho and Taemin, she just let them take a taxi.

Watching Leeteuk and Si Cheng take a taxi to send Gao A-ra and Li Yeon-hee home, Li Zhong also drove his car over. His car was originally parked at the styling area, but later it was driven back by Sung Yuri's assistant. "Han Geng, sit in the front, and the girls squeeze in the back," Li Zhong called out to Xiao Shuijing, Song Qian, Xue Li, and Goo Hara.

After getting in the car, everyone said goodbye to the Girls' Generation members. Li Zhong asked, "Where is your dorm? I'll take you home."

Xiao Shuijing and Xue Li both lived at home, Song Qian lived in the dormitory arranged by S&M Entertainment, and Goo Hara lived with the other members of Kara. Li Zhong first sent Song Qian back to the dormitory, as she was the closest. Han Geng also got off there, as there was a small road without streetlights leading to Song Qian's dormitory, and Han Geng could send her. Additionally, SJ's dormitory was nearby. Next were Xiao Shuijing and Xue Li, whose homes were not far from Cheongdam-dong. Finally, it was Goo Hara's turn.

"Um, can I call you Hora?" Li Zhong asked.

"Sure, Uncle Li Zhong," Goo Hara said sweetly.

"Where is Kara's dormitory?" Goo Hara hadn't told Li Zhong where she lived just now.

"Um... we live in Gangbuk now," Goo Hara said timidly, and then mentioned the snacks and half a cake she had taken from the Girls' Generation dormitory.

Li Zhong was currently in Gangnam, and it would take more than 30 minutes to drive to Gangbuk.

"It's fine, just tell me the direction, I'll take you home. It's so late, your sisters will be worried," Li Zhong said without hesitation. The rent in Gangbuk was cheaper, but it was farther from the three major TV stations. Getting up early was fine, and with Kara's current fame, living in Gangbuk was normal. Few companies were as wealthy as S&M, which let trainees and newly debuted groups live in Gangnam.

It was a cold winter night, and there weren't many cars on the road. Li Zhong drove quickly and soon arrived at the place Goo Hara had described. It was an old residential area. "Hora, we're here," Li Zhong shook the already sleeping Goo Hara.

"Mm!" Goo Hara stretched like a kitten, opened her sleepy eyes, and said, "Ah, oppa, we're already here!"

"Yep, we're here. Do you need me to take you upstairs?" Li Zhong pointed to the residential building in front, and Goo Hara stiffened, then shook her head, "No, oppa, I live nearby, and there are streetlights. You can watch me go in."

Li Zhong nodded. Since Goo Hara didn't want him to take her upstairs, he didn't insist. He waited until Goo Hara's figure entered the building before starting the car and driving back.

Not long after Li Zhong left, he didn't see that Goo Hara came out of the building she had just entered and walked to a more dilapidated five-story building nearby, a unit without a door. Under the dim yellow light, Goo Hara went down to the basement and gently knocked on the door of room 604. "Who is it?" a trembling voice came from inside.

"It's me, Hora, open the door," Goo Hara said, no longer as cheerful as when she was with Li Zhong.

A girl about the same height as Goo Hara opened the door and pulled Goo Hara inside. The door closed with a "click," and the girl's complaints could be faintly heard, "Hora, what time is it? You're just getting back... I brought cake back for you..." "Ah, cake, I haven't had it in a long time..."

Before everyone left, Kim Taeyeon secretly pulled Li Yeon-hee aside and asked about the information on the Fendi watch. She couldn't believe it was worth 10 million won, even though it was a Fendi and very beautiful.

However, after Li Yeon-hee confirmed it, Kim Taeyeon was conflicted. With so many people around and a bit tipsy, she had a hint of showing off in front of everyone. Now, with fewer people and a clearer head, she felt she shouldn't accept such an expensive gift. She and Li Zhong weren't that close, so how could she accept such a valuable gift?

After everyone cleaned up the living room and gradually went to rest, Kim Taeyeon became increasingly uneasy, tossing and turning. She checked the time; it was already past 1 AM. She wrapped herself in a blanket and sat on the living room sofa, thinking that she should call Li Zhong. She couldn't accept such an expensive gift. She would say she was tipsy and impulsive and return the gift to Li Zhong.

Kim Taeyeon secretly opened the front door, left it slightly ajar, and went out to the corridor to call Li Zhong.

Li Zhong returned to the apartment smoothly. After opening the door, he took off his suit and quickly took a bowl of instant noodles from the fridge. He was a bit hungry, having only eaten a piece of cake and some snacks at the party. He had eaten early and had a boxed meal, so it was natural to be hungry at this time.

At this moment, Li Zhong's phone rang, "Ring~ Ring~ Ring~" Li Zhong was in the kitchen preparing hot water for the noodles, and his phone was in the pocket of his suit in the living room. The door to the apartment was slightly ajar when he came in. So Kim Taeyeon heard the phone ringing in the opposite apartment.

Kim Taeyeon looked up and realized the door to the opposite apartment was open. She thought about hanging up the call to help her neighbor close the door. But as soon as she hung up, the phone in the opposite apartment also stopped ringing.

Kim Taeyeon was puzzled. Before she could think further, she heard faint footsteps from the apartment. Li Zhong's call came through, "Taeyeon, is there something?" "Taeyeon, is there something?"

Two voices! Kim Taeyeon was terrified, one from the phone, the other faintly from the apartment.

Li Zhong had heard the phone ring but decided to wait until the noodles were ready to see who it was. It was the middle of the night, so what could it be? It was probably Lee Hyori, that tormenting older sister. When he came to the living room and saw it was Kim Taeyeon, he guessed what it might be and called back.

But the call scared Kim Taeyeon, who was in the corridor.

Li Zhong waited a while, but there was no response, so he said, "Is there a problem with my phone? I'll call again!" He hung up and called Kim Taeyeon again. The phone rang from outside the apartment. Li Zhong saw that his apartment door was open and went to close it. As he walked to the door, he recognized the ringtone as the OST "If" by Kim Taeyeon. When he opened the door, he came face to face with Kim Taeyeon.

"Ah!" Li Zhong was also startled. Seeing a woman with disheveled hair and a blanket standing at his doorstep would scare anyone.

Kim Taeyeon was startled by Li Zhong's "Ah!" and looked up to see Li Zhong coming out of the opposite door. She exclaimed, "Ah, you... um..." Li Zhong, recognizing her, breathed a sigh of relief but quickly covered Kim Taeyeon's mouth when she was about to scream, "Don't scream, it's me, Li Zhong."