Chapter 8

After leaving the alley, Zhang Chengyuan continued to look for job opportunities. It wasn't until evening that he found a job as a temporary laborer on a construction site through a labor agency. Although the job was much more tiring compared to other types of work, the hourly wage was also higher, more than twice what he earned as a waiter at a fried chicken restaurant. This was perfect for someone like Zhang Chengyuan, who had a large appetite and great strength. The downside was that the job was unstable, and he might have to look for new work after a few shifts.

However, in today's South Korea, the number of unemployed people has surged, making it extremely difficult to find a satisfactory job. Zhang Chengyuan didn't pick and choose. To secure long-term work as a temporary laborer, he even gave the labor agency a little extra commission to help him find suitable jobs.

Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was the end of the year. Zhang Chengyuan had grown taller, exceeding 175 cm, and was now of medium build. Due to his long-term cultivation and hard work, his body had no excess fat, and his muscles were very strong. However, unlike most people, his body did not have exaggerated muscle lines. When he wore loose clothing, no one could tell the difference. The only thing that pained him was that he had to use some of the money he had saved for food to make two sets of extra-large school uniforms. The high cost of the uniforms made him very upset, and he couldn't help but harshly criticize the South Korean government, as they had mandated that high school students must wear uniforms.

Having been in this era for more than half a year, Zhang Chengyuan had almost completely adapted to all aspects of life in South Korea, whether it was eating, dressing, living, traveling, studying, or working. He was no different from the South Koreans. However, his heart was always yearning for the vast land of China, hoping to one day return to the secret realm on Wangwu Mountain.

These days, Zhang Chengyuan's life was monotonous and boring, but he was content. Every day, he either went to school or worked, or stayed at home to meditate and practice. Occasionally, he would talk to his father or have a heart-to-heart conversation with Lee Hyori.

Speaking of Lee Hyori, Zhang Chengyuan's heart softened. Although Daoists do not cut off their emotions, they do not often indulge in the emotional entanglements of the secular world, even regarding family ties with a detached attitude. In his previous life, Zhang Chengyuan had a sister who seemed to take good care of him when he was young. However, when he was four or five, his master took him to the sect, and he never saw his sister again, not even thinking about her much.

Lee Hyori seemed to be Zhang Chengyuan's destiny in this life. The moment he met her, he was reminded of the deep-seated brotherly affection, making him want to get closer to her. No matter what Lee Hyori said, Zhang Chengyuan listened with a smile, though he often didn't know how to make her happy. His quiet and reserved nature made him the best person for Lee Hyori to vent her frustrations.

As the leader and the eldest sister of an idol group, Lee Hyori often listened to her juniors and helped them with their problems. However, when she herself was troubled, she couldn't easily confide in others and had to keep it to herself, which made her very distressed over time. At such moments, Zhang Chengyuan, who seemed like a wooden dummy, entered Lee Hyori's emotional world. Gradually, their relationship became as close as that of siblings.

One day, Zhang Chengyuan received a call from Lee Hyori. After exchanging greetings, she immediately got to the point.

"Chengyuan, you'll be on winter break soon. When you have free time, come and see me. Also, on the 23rd, which is a Friday, we have a performance at Yeongdeungpo Square. Come and watch, and then meet us afterward, okay?"

Zhang Chengyuan smiled and said, "Sister Hyori, I understand." As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Lee Hyori laugh heartily on the other end of the line.

Lee Hyori continued, "It's settled then. I'll have my manager oppa send you a ticket. Make sure to check for it!"

Zhang Chengyuan softly said "Mm" to indicate his agreement.

Although Christmas originated in the West, it has been popular in South Korea for decades and is now a national holiday. Regardless of whether they are Catholic or Protestant, people take this opportunity to relax and rejuvenate.

A few days before Christmas, whether it was the shopping centers of Dongdaemun and Myeongdong, or the areas around Hongik University and Ewha University where young people gather, they were all adorned with beautifully decorated Christmas trees. Every shop was also festively decorated, and the entire city of Seoul was filled with a festive atmosphere.

The square where Fin.K.L was performing was located in Yeongdeungpo 4-gil, Yeongdeungpo District, just 4 to 5 kilometers from the fried chicken restaurant where Zhang Chengyuan worked. It took less than half an hour to get there by subway. This was why Lee Hyori invited Zhang Chengyuan, knowing that his time was limited due to his need to earn money for food. If it were too far, it would have interfered with his work.

That evening, Zhang Chengyuan asked the store manager for leave and left work early. By the time he arrived at Yeongdeungpo Square, it was almost 10 PM, and the performance was already halfway through. Fortunately, Fin.K.L hadn't appeared yet. Although Fin.K.L had only been active for a little over half a year, they were already loved by people of all ages in South Korea, with a huge fan base. They were only second to the more established groups like S.E.S. and BabyV.O.X., but the gap was closing, and they were even poised to surpass them. Therefore, Fin.K.L's performance was scheduled later to ensure that the large number of male fans wouldn't leave early.

Zhang Chengyuan had no interest in the K-POP music that was just beginning to take off in South Korea and had become a craze across Asia. If it weren't for Lee Hyori's invitation, he would rather stay home and watch family dramas, which, though repetitive, helped him understand more about South Korea.

At that moment, the stage was lit with neon lights, and the music was energetic. The audience was cheering and dancing. However, Zhang Chengyuan, standing in a corner, was lost in thought. The festive atmosphere seemed to have nothing to do with him. Most young people were狂欢, but Zhang Chengyuan showed no signs of it. Others might think he was a young man who had just experienced the pain of a broken heart.

At that moment, Zhang Chengyuan was thinking about his future. After half a year of intense cultivation, his skills had reached a critical point, and he could no longer make any progress. This was due to the sparse spiritual energy in the city and the ordinary quality of the food he consumed daily. After much consideration, he realized that the path of cultivation was almost hopeless, and it was time to consider another path. However, he was uncertain about what path to take and what would be more meaningful and exciting. This left him very confused.

Suddenly, Fin.K.L finally appeared on stage. The familiar voices of Lee Hyori and the others snapped Zhang Chengyuan out of his thoughts, and he listened with interest to the enthusiastic performances of the four sisters. He didn't understand the quality of their singing, but he was purely watching them. Lee Hyori and the others were already very beautiful, and in their white performance outfits, they looked even more charming and handsome. They not only made the male audience members excited and cheering, but even many female fans were captivated, wishing they could be like Fin.K.L, singing and dancing on stage.

After Fin.K.L's performance, Zhang Chengyuan called Lee Hyori from a nearby phone booth. She asked him to wait on the street in front of the square. About ten minutes later, a nondescript car stopped in front of Zhang Chengyuan, and a young man in his mid-twenties got out. Zhang Chengyuan recognized him as one of Fin.K.L's agency assistants. It was said that this person's car had been hit by Zhang Chengyuan's predecessor, resulting in a few months of salary deduction. However, he had no resentment towards Zhang Chengyuan and felt very guilty, so he treated Zhang Chengyuan very warmly.

Zhang Chengyuan walked up to him, slightly bowed, and said, "Hello, Senior Jung Jun-hyun," before getting into the car and heading to Fin.K.L's dormitory.