Chapter 51

After making the decision to enlist next month, Zhang Chengyuan re-signed a new economic contract with Park Byung-ryeol. All other terms remained unchanged, except that the expiration date was extended by three years. Two of these years were to compensate for the two years he would be serving in the military, during which he would be unable to fulfill his contractual obligations. The additional year was to compensate for the economic losses incurred by the company.

Zhang Chengyuan was the one who proactively proposed the new contract. He had always been grateful for Park Byung-ryeol's care over the years, and this re-signing was a way to repay him. Faced with this unexpected joy, Park Byung-ryeol was naturally overjoyed, deeply feeling that his keen eye had not failed him. He thought that he must redouble his efforts to support Zhang Chengyuan, stand by him through thick and thin, and gain his greater trust.

Afterward, Zhang Chengyuan informed his close friends of his decision, including Fin.K.L, Kim Tae-hee, Ha Ji-won, Yoon Eun-hye, Won Bin, Moon Geun-young, and the Oh family. It turned out that Zhang Chengyuan had very few true friends, only the aforementioned few. Although he had met many seniors and juniors in the entertainment industry over the years, most were mere acquaintances, and he did not have deeper interactions with them. This was because he did not particularly enjoy socializing and rarely attended gatherings outside of those with his true friends. As a result, he had few friends.

At university, due to frequent absences, he did not make any close friends. The person he got along with the best was Kim Tae-hee, who was from the same agency, school, and club.

Kim Tae-hee had organized a women's skiing club with some of her close schoolmates and served as the captain. Not long after Zhang Chengyuan entered the school, she, at the request of her sisters, admitted him into the club, making him the only male member. Despite their busy schedules, they still managed to participate in many club activities together. As they spent more time together, their relationship grew increasingly intimate, to the point where rumors spread that Kim Tae-hee had broken up with her boyfriend from the medical school because of Zhang Chengyuan's interference.

Of course, Zhang Chengyuan was not a third party. It was not that he was immune to Kim Tae-hee's charm, but rather that over the past two years, he had devoted all his romantic feelings to Fin.K.L, leaving him no interest in pursuing other women.

Among the four members of Fin.K.L, Lee Hyori and Seo Yu-ri were the most attractive to him. Lee Hyori was mature and sexy, with a strong allure that had left him longing since their encounter in a tent on a mountain during the summer vacation last year. Seo Yu-ri was pure and gentle, always kind and considerate to him, making him feel especially warm and comfortable when they were together.

Of course, Lee Jin and Yoo Choo-young also held a significant place in his heart, and he regarded them as family. Compared to his adoptive father in this life, it seemed that the four women of Fin.K.L were more like his parents. His non-work attire and personal life issues were usually handled by the four women. For example, all the hats in his wardrobe were chosen by Lee Hyori, his dress pants and shirts were bought by Lee Jin, almost all the household items after his move last year were ordered by Seo Yu-ri through TV shopping, and the health tea and cookies he ate daily were carefully prepared by Yoo Choo-young. His daily life was inseparable from these four good sisters.

Moreover, he had never thought that one day his four sisters would leave his life. However, now he had to consider it, because once he joined the military, he would no longer receive their care.

But what worried him more was the possibility that during the two years he would be away, his four charming sisters might be pursued by men, have boyfriends, get married, or even have children. The thought of this made him shudder. After all, no matter how loving a woman might be, once she has a boyfriend or gets married, she would inevitably find it difficult to devote as much attention to her siblings as before, as she would have more pressing concerns. Furthermore, since Zhang Chengyuan and the four women of Fin.K.L were not blood-related, their relationship might quickly dissipate once the four women got married.

Two years can sometimes feel short, but sometimes it can feel long enough for a woman to get married and have a child. This was absolutely not a scenario Zhang Chengyuan wanted to see. In his heart at this moment, the four women of Fin.K.L belonged to him, and they would always belong to him, at least until he decided to spend his life with someone else. He would not let go of them, and anyone who tried to take them away would be beaten until they dared not show their face to the women again.

That evening, Fin.K.L, who were busy preparing their fourth album, learned of Zhang Chengyuan's impending enlistment and immediately took leave from the company to rush to his apartment in Yeongdeungpo, which he had rented in July of the previous year. The apartment was spacious, about 100 pyeong, which seemed a bit extravagant for a single person, but as a new base for his connection and life with Fin.K.L, it was both discreet and comfortable, and Zhang Chengyuan was willing to spend the money for these advantages.

When the four women saw Zhang Chengyuan, their expressions were somewhat somber. They each hugged him, feeling very reluctant to let him go, but knowing that almost all Korean men eventually had to serve in the military, they did not try to persuade him to stay.

Zhang Chengyuan tightly embraced each of them, savoring their fresh scent, and feeling an unusual sense of sadness at the thought of soon parting from his sisters. If not for his rationality and the need to continue his career in the entertainment industry, he would have used every means to avoid this boring and meaningless military service.

During dinner, the five of them enjoyed a sumptuous meal and fine wine, trying to suppress their sorrow and forcing smiles, occasionally discussing interesting topics to maintain the usual warm and harmonious atmosphere. However, at some point, Lee Jin and Seo Yu-ri began to cry softly, followed by Yoo Choo-young and Lee Hyori, whose tears flowed freely on their beautiful faces, filling the dining room with a sad atmosphere.

Zhang Chengyuan hesitated, unsure of how to comfort them in this situation, fearing that any words he spoke might only make them more upset and cry even harder.

After a while, the four women controlled their emotions, stopped their tears, and somewhat embarrassedly scolded Zhang Chengyuan, "We are crying so sadly, and you remain unmoved. Are you asking for a beating?"

Zhang Chengyuan meekly replied, "Sisters, you are absolutely right. I should have given you tissues." As soon as he said this, he was met with a barrage of punches and kicks.

As night deepened, the four women, who had drunk quite a bit, stayed in the large room next to Zhang Chengyuan's bedroom. The room had two large beds placed together, spacious enough for five or six people to lie down without feeling crowded. It had its own bathroom and was furnished with a wardrobe, sofa, and vanity, with many promotional posters of Fin.K.L on the walls, from their debut to the present. The entire bedroom and its furnishings were prepared by Zhang Chengyuan for the four women of Fin.K.L. Although they did not use them often, they always felt well-rested and comfortable when they stayed there, as if they had an additional home.

The door to the room was never locked, even when the four women stayed there. They were not worried that Zhang Chengyuan would make any improper moves, as in their hearts, he was always well-behaved and obedient, only occasionally stealing a kiss on their cheeks in the morning or playfully touching their buttocks. They saw these actions as a natural part of a teenage boy's attraction to the opposite sex. Because they doted on him so much, they never found these actions offensive or got angry over them, though they might pretend to be angry.

Zhang Chengyuan had indeed been as they thought, making small mistakes but never major ones. However, on this night, he slipped into their room while they were asleep and climbed into their bed.

When they woke up the next day, they found Zhang Chengyuan with his left arm around Lee Jin and his right arm around Seo Yu-ri, sleeping soundly, with his mouth directly on Seo Yu-ri's smooth face.