Chapter 96

Feeling that Lee Hyori's mood had improved significantly, Zhang Chengyuan left with a slightly relieved heart, rushing back to the production team to continue filming. Of course, he also sincerely apologized to director Jeon Gisang and promised that it would not happen again.

Seeing his sincere attitude and considering his usual respect for acting and personal principles, Jeon Gisang forgave him. However, to avoid the impression that he was favoring Zhang Chengyuan, he pretended to scold Zhang Chengyuan in front of the crew members. Then, he called Zhang Chengyuan into his rest room and asked gently, "Is everything fine in Seoul?"

Zhang Chengyuan replied, "It's fine! It has been handled."

Jeon Gisang smiled and said, "It's about your girlfriend, right?"

Zhang Chengyuan nodded, "Yes, it is." He still had a good impression of Jeon Gisang, after all, Jeon Gisang had given him so many leaves, so he didn't think of lying to Jeon Gisang.

Jeon Gisang said, "When you're young, everyone is like this, I can understand. However, next time if something like this happens, let me know in advance so I don't have to clean up the mess for you."

Zhang Chengyuan replied sincerely, "Understood, Director, I won't do it again!"

Jeon Gisang waved Zhang Chengyuan out. Just as Zhang Chengyuan was about to leave, Jeon Gisang suddenly said, "Don't be too indulgent with your girlfriend, or you'll suffer in the future."

After Zhang Chengyuan left the room, he shook his head. He didn't care about Jeon Gisang's misunderstanding, thinking to himself, "It's not that I indulge them, it's that they indulge me! I just do what I can."

Time quietly passed, and the last day of the lunar year 2004 (February 8) was approaching. The production team temporarily disbanded, and the members returned home to reunite with their families. Zhang Chengyuan was no exception. During this short period, the ratings of "Hero" did not break the 30% mark as everyone had hoped, but each episode maintained a rating of over 25%, with the highest reaching a regrettable 29.9%. Only the most recent episode dropped slightly due to the holiday.

Additionally, the ratings of "Three Leaves" starring Lee Hyori continued to be low, with no improvement. The production company, to divert attention, replaced the director and blamed the poor ratings on the previous director, but it was still ineffective. Public criticism of the actors, led by Lee Hyori, remained intense.

Fortunately, after being comforted by Zhang Chengyuan and his sisters, Lee Hyori's mindset became much more stable, and she no longer paid much attention to these malicious attacks. Moreover, she had an unexpected joy, being selected by Samsung to endorse the Samsung anycall mobile phone and shooting and singing the mobile phone advertisement "AnyMotion" in Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia, in early February.

On New Year's Eve, Zhang Chengyuan returned to his old home in Guro District, Seoul (renamed from Seoul in January 2005). Since moving to the current apartment in 2001, and with his two-year military service and his father Zhang Donghu's frequent work abroad, Zhang Chengyuan had not returned to this old house. He would only hire a cleaning company to tidy it up from time to time.

On this day, his father Zhang Donghu, who had been away for a long time, would also return home to meet him. This was the only time in the year that he and his father would meet.

To be honest, Zhang Chengyuan did not have much affection for his nominal father Zhang Donghu, but because he had taken over the body of his son, and had spent over a year of his money after rebirth, and because Zhang Donghu often showed concern during major life events, he gradually accepted this father and treated him with respect. However, both of their personalities were too reserved, so they were not particularly close, but they both felt comfortable with this.

Around 7 PM, the two of them sat on the floor, watching TV idly. Zhang Donghu suddenly said, "You're 23 this year, right?"

Zhang Chengyuan nodded, "Yes."

"Have you thought about getting married and having children?" Zhang Donghu continued to ask.

"Not yet!" he replied succinctly.

"When do you plan to get married?"

Zhang Chengyuan pondered for a moment and said, "In five or six years."

Five or six years later, Zhang Chengyuan would still be under 30, which is not considered late for marriage in urban areas, especially for an entertainment star like him, whose average marriage age is quite high.

Zhang Donghu nodded in satisfaction, then fell silent for a while before suddenly asking, "Do you have a girlfriend now?"

Zhang Chengyuan was taken aback but felt there was no need to hide it, so he said, "Yes."

Zhang Donghu was not surprised at all. A young man as excellent as his son Zhang Chengyuan would be surprising if he didn't have a girlfriend. He didn't believe the claim that idol stars had no time for relationships. Zhang Donghu then asked, "Is she from the entertainment industry or outside?"

"From the entertainment industry."

Zhang Donghu was somewhat displeased. If Zhang Chengyuan chose a female star as his daughter-in-law, she might not have time to take care of the family. Although Zhang Chengyuan's wishes were the most important, he wanted to screen her carefully to prevent Zhang Chengyuan from making a mistake due to his youth. So he said, "Bring her home tomorrow for me to see!" Without waiting for Zhang Chengyuan to object, he got up and left.

Although Zhang Chengyuan could ignore his words, he did not want to ruin the currently peaceful but good relationship with Zhang Donghu, after all, Zhang Donghu was his father in this life, and his request was not unreasonable. Therefore, the next day, he found the four sisters to discuss what to do.

On the first day of the lunar new year, Lee Hyori, Yoo Ji-hyun, Lee Jin, and Seo Yu-ri gathered in Zhang Chengyuan's apartment to meet him. They were all called by Zhang Chengyuan. Originally, they could spend a rare day with their families, but Zhang Chengyuan disrupted their plans, so they did not give him a good face when they saw him.

To avoid being punished by the four sisters, Zhang Chengyuan quickly explained the situation and his father Zhang Donghu's request.

The four women were stunned on the spot, looking at each other, not knowing what to do. Even under normal circumstances, women would feel nervous when meeting their boyfriend's parents, let alone in their abnormal situation! Should they all go to meet Zhang Chengyuan's father as his girlfriends? They all thought it was too absurd! They then scolded Zhang Chengyuan, asking why he didn't find an excuse last night to avoid this problem.

Zhang Chengyuan did not mind taking all four sisters to meet his father Zhang Donghu, as Zhang Donghu's approval or disapproval would not change his decision. However, he knew the sisters would not agree, so he remained silent, waiting for them to make a decision. No matter which one went with him, he would be extremely happy.

The four women's thoughts were not as simple as Zhang Chengyuan's. They felt this matter was related to their lifelong happiness. Whoever went to meet Zhang Chengyuan's father, with their excellent conditions, would likely gain his approval and be recognized as his future daughter-in-law. Once this identity was determined, the other three would almost be unable to be with Zhang Chengyuan, at least not openly.

After thinking for a long time, they did not know who should go. They were not thinking of going themselves but felt guilty about the other two sisters if they chose one.

The matter had to be resolved. Although it was Zhang Chengyuan's fault, they had to make the decision. After discussing, they decided to draw lots, which they thought was the fairest method.

Lee Hyori asked Zhang Chengyuan to find a piece of paper, cut it into four equal parts, and wrote "Go," "Don't go," "Don't go," "Don't go" on them. They then crumpled them into balls, placed them under a bowl, shook it, and lifted the bowl for each to choose.

The four women chose in order of age. Lee Hyori went first, hesitating and feeling Zhang Chengyuan's gestures, finally picking the closest ball. Next was Yoo Ji-hyun, who glanced at Zhang Chengyuan and casually picked one. Then Lee Jin, whose hand moved over two balls, quickly glanced at Zhang Chengyuan and picked one. Finally, the last ball went to Seo Yu-ri, who had no choice.

The four women unfolded the balls. Lee Hyori, Yoo Ji-hyun, and Lee Jin all had "Don't go," while Seo Yu-ri had a big "Go." So the result was that Seo Yu-ri would go with Zhang Chengyuan to meet his father Zhang Donghu.

Seo Yu-ri showed no joy, instead looking at the other three with a complex expression. Soon, tears streamed down her face, and she covered her face, lowering her head, seemingly afraid to look at the three sisters. Lee Hyori, Yoo Ji-hyun, and Lee Jin came over, hugging Seo Yu-ri, and comforted her, "Yu-ri, it's okay, the sisters won't blame you!" but their own tears also fell.

At this moment, Zhang Chengyuan said somewhat inappropriately, "Sisters, it's not like we're parting for life, why are you so sad?"

Lee Hyori, Yoo Ji-hyun, and Lee Jin all glared at him, saying in unison, "It's all your fault!" If Zhang Chengyuan hadn't taken all four of them, they wouldn't be in this predicament.

After being scolded, Zhang Chengyuan immediately lowered his head and remained silent.

In the car heading to Zhang Chengyuan's old home, Seo Yu-ri was still sad and silent. Zhang Chengyuan consoled her, "Sister Yu-ri, it's okay, I won't let you separate, so you don't need to be so sad!" Zhang Chengyuan was not a brute; he understood the sisters' thoughts but didn't think there was anything to worry about. No matter which sister he married, their actual relationship would not change. Moreover, marriage was still a long way off. Although he had said he would marry in five or six years to his father, it was just a casual remark, and he might not marry even ten years later.

Seo Yu-ri gave him a cold look and ignored him.

Zhang Chengyuan smiled and said, "Sister Yu-ri, your eye makeup is smudged by your tears, fix it!"

Seo Yu-ri quickly took out a mirror from her handbag to check. She didn't want to be impolite in front of her future father-in-law. Seeing that it was indeed smudged, she took out a makeup pen to fix it. After a while, she suddenly asked, "Chengyuan, did you tamper with the drawing?"

At that moment, a car sped past Zhang Chengyuan's car, almost colliding with it, scaring Zhang Chengyuan. In his shock, he didn't think much and replied, "Yes, I did."

Seo Yu-ri leaned back in her seat, sighed, and said, "I knew it would be like this."

After adjusting the car, Zhang Chengyuan sighed, "Sister Yu-ri, can you not ask such questions at such a dangerous moment? Don't you worry about an accident?"

Seo Yu-ri replied, "If I don't ask now, how can I get your honest answer? Besides, your driving skills are excellent, there won't be any problems." After a pause, she added, "And who made you tamper with the drawing?" Her tone was somewhat angry.

Zhang Chengyuan, not having time to blame Seo Yu-ri for her rashness, honestly said, "Sister Yu-ri, it's not my fault. Sister Hyori made me do it, and Sisters Ji-hyun and Jin agreed."

"How did I not know?"

"Before the drawing, didn't Sister Hyori suddenly say she was thirsty and asked you and me to make coffee? That's when they discussed it. They knew I have good hearing and could hear, so they threatened me to help them." Zhang Chengyuan answered truthfully.

"How did you tamper with it?"

Zhang Chengyuan said, "I wrote the words on these pieces of paper. When writing, I secretly marked the three 'Don't go' papers with a true qi imprint."