Chapter 48

Jin Yufan sat silently on the sofa, head lowered, not saying a word for a long time. Cheng Youli's words had been very clear, and now any attempt by Jin Yufan to comfort or persuade her would be futile. Cheng Youli was not a fool, nor was she truly innocent and naive, unable to grow up. Often, Cheng Youli could see and understand things herself.

Perhaps, as Cheng Youli said, DSP Entertainment might not formally announce the dissolution of Fin.K.L due to concerns about strong opposition and attacks from fans, but they would use other methods to achieve the same goal.

Just as DSP Entertainment did, they directly separated the four members of Fin.K.L, each focusing on a specific area, starting to develop in their respective fields.

With the four members of Fin.K.L separated and not performing together for a long time, coupled with the fierce competition and rapid turnover in the Korean music industry, it wouldn't take long for fans to gradually forget about Fin.K.L.

In fact, this was indeed the case. After the four members of Fin.K.L began their individual developments, although it was difficult for them to perform together again, they could still manage to do so once a year or so.

However, in 2002, when DSP Entertainment began to plan the de facto dissolution of Fin.K.L, it took three years, from 2002 to 2005, for the group to perform together again.

Three years in the face of the fierce competition and rapid turnover in the Korean music industry was enough to make the public forget about Fin.K.L. Even those who still remembered were likely only the most loyal fans, and not many people would remember the once glorious Fin.K.L.

Although Fin.K.L was never officially dissolved, each member developed in their respective fields, and later, they all left DSP Entertainment to join other agencies, making it even harder for them to perform together, effectively making the group defunct.

This might be the method DSP Entertainment used to dissolve the group, adopting a more indirect approach to avoid strong reactions from fans. This can be seen from Fin.K.L, and later, the same approach was used for SS501.

Perhaps because she had vented her feelings, or because she had come to terms with the situation, Cheng Youli, seeing Jin Yufan's silent and gloomy expression, reached out and patted his head, saying, "Alright, don't think too much about it. This isn't something you can solve. I and the other sisters will find a way. Come on, you just got back today, you must be hungry. Let's go get something to eat."

Perhaps from spending a lot of time with the senior member Lee Hyori, Cheng Youli had picked up some of her traits. At that moment, she didn't give Jin Yufan a chance to speak, pulling him up as soon as she finished her words, grabbing her handbag, and stubbornly leading him out of the practice room.

Feeling the strength in Cheng Youli's grip, which showed her stubbornness, Jin Yufan didn't say anything more, obediently following her out of the company. At Jin Yufan's suggestion, they found a street stall, ordered some food, and started eating.

Whether Cheng Youli had come to terms with the situation or for some other reason, Jin Yufan couldn't see any signs of her crying in the practice room. She was as usual, with a charming smile on her face, occasionally acting a bit childish, and even fighting with Jin Yufan over a piece of meat.

"Unnie, Yufan is back. We're at a street stall in XXXX. Come quickly!" Cheng Youli informed the other three members of Fin.K.L about Jin Yufan's return, then put away her phone, looking serious and a bit angry, and said to Jin Yufan, "I just called them. You really think I'm weak. I'm going to show you how strong I am and why I'm the older sister and you're the younger brother."

"..." Jin Yufan was speechless. It was just a piece of meat, was it really necessary to be so serious? Besides, who was the older sister and who was the younger brother was something neither Jin Yufan nor Cheng Youli could decide.

Although Jin Yufan was stunned by Cheng Youli's strong words, he was in a good mood. At least now, he saw the happy and smiling Cheng Youli he wanted to see. The crying Cheng Youli in the practice room was not what he wanted to see.

Therefore, Jin Yufan didn't think too much about it, giving Cheng Youli a challenging look, which made her angry. He then added a piece of meat to the plate in the middle of the table and challenged her again.

Instantly, the battle between Jin Yufan and Cheng Youli began. They used every means and method to fight for the piece of grilled meat on the plate.

The fight was intense and engaging, and they were so focused on the meat that they didn't even notice when Lee Hyori and the others arrived.

Seeing the two of them fighting over a piece of grilled meat, Lee Hyori and the others couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Alright, Yufan, you really have some nerve to fight with your older sister. I'll teach you a lesson today so you know the power of Fin.K.L," Lee Hyori shouted, sitting next to Cheng Youli, picking up chopsticks, and joining the fight.

"Yufan rarely comes back, and he's still the younger brother. You older sisters should take care of him. Yufan is still growing and needs to eat more. Don't worry, Yufan, I'll help you."

Seeing Jin Yufan fighting against two, Yu Joo-hyun didn't sit idle. Seeing Jin Yufan gradually falling behind, she laughed, greeted them, and sat next to Jin Yufan to help him resist Cheng Youli and Lee Hyori's attack.

"Alright, you two have fun. I'll just grill the meat for you!" Seeing the intense battle, Lee Jin wanted to join in, but the situation was too intense, and she was a bit hesitant, unsure of which side to help. After thinking for a while, she decided to serve everyone.

For a moment, laughter filled the entire street stall. Even passersby, hearing the laughter, seemed to forget the cold winter and the biting wind, smiling and exclaiming how wonderful it was to be young!

In the end, the alliance of Jin Yufan and Yu Joo-hyun was thoroughly defeated by the alliance of Lee Hyori and Cheng Youli. It could only be said that Lee Hyori, the senior member, was overwhelmingly powerful, and no one could match her.

The five of them didn't talk about the dissolution of Fin.K.L anymore. Instead, they chatted about Jin Yufan's situation in Taiwan. Upon learning that Jin Yufan was about to debut in both Korea and Taiwan, the four members of Fin.K.L all gave him their most sincere blessings.

Jin Yufan, of course, accepted their blessings and encouragement, bowing to show his gratitude. Seeing the four sisters who had always cared for him, and who, upon learning of his debut, had forgotten about the group's dissolution and given him their most sincere blessings, Jin Yufan was deeply moved.

The little blessings, the little tips, the little encouragements, and the little experiences shared—all of these turned into the four members of Fin.K.L's care for Jin Yufan.

Seeing the four of them, who, despite their not-so-good moods, were overjoyed upon learning of his debut, as if they were as happy as if they were debuting themselves, Jin Yufan was truly moved. In his moved state, he finally made up his mind.

After all, to ensure that Fin.K.L would not dissolve, and even to prevent it from existing in name only, he had to do something. He was willing to pay the price, any price he could accept, even at any cost, to protect Fin.K.L.

Not for any other reason, but for the care and attention the four sisters of Fin.K.L had shown him, and for the smiles on their faces at that moment.