Chapter 50: Master and Apprentice Reunite

"This time, Li Zhi'en is in for it... Senior Hong Yali isn't someone to be trifled with!"

"Actually, Li Zhi'en still respects her seniors. When we occasionally meet, she always greets us enthusiastically. It's just that... she's so favored by the CEO, it's bound to make some seniors dislike her... Who can blame her for being in the spotlight?"

"Jealousy... It's all because of jealousy! Li Zhi'en has only been in the company for a few days and already gets special attention, while Senior Hong Yali has been here for over two years. It's no wonder she feels unbalanced. She's been looking for a reason to pick on Li Zhi'en, and now she's got one!"

"Shh!!! Don't say too much. If someone hears and starts spreading rumors, saying Senior Hong Yali is petty, you'll be in trouble!"

"Right, let's stop talking. Let's just watch the show... It's been a while since we've seen a conflict between seniors and juniors... This is interesting... Hahaha..."

"Hey... There's a guy walking by! I don't think I've seen him before..."

"Is he a new trainee? Isn't he a bit too old for that?"

"Ha... Not just a bit, he's way too old... People usually debut at 17 or 18, but look at him, he's at least in his early 20s, and he's just starting as a trainee? Isn't he embarrassed?"

The scattered whispers reached Li Yunzai's ears, but he didn't stop walking. He went straight to the little girl's side.

"I can prove that she was tripped by someone. You shouldn't be picking on her; you should be finding the person who tripped her!" Li Yunzai said calmly to Hong Yali.

Hong Yali frowned, but seeing that Li Yunzai was unfamiliar, she couldn't help but ask, "Who are you? I've met everyone in the company, and I'm very familiar with them. How come I've never seen you? How did you get in here?"

"How did I get in?!" Li Yunzai looked at her as if she were an idiot and said, "I walked in with my two legs, of course. Did you think I crawled in?!"

The scene erupted in laughter, and the trainees couldn't help but burst out laughing. Hong Yali's face turned pale, and she said, "You're not from the company... Outsiders are not allowed in. If you don't leave, I'll call security!"

"Unfortunately, an hour ago, I wasn't, but just now, President Bae signed a contract with me. I'm now part of LOEN... Do you want to check?"

Hong Yali didn't reach for the contract, just stood there in shock. She didn't dare to take it. If it was fake, she could call security, but if it was real? A person personally signed by the CEO is not someone she could afford to offend. Hong Yali was left in an awkward position.

Li Yunzai smiled slightly and said, "Let's just drop it. I don't want to point out who tripped her. If it gets to President Bae, no one will come out of it well."

Hong Yali glared at him angrily. At this moment, a trainee of similar age to her stepped out of the line and whispered to her, "Yali, let it go... This guy seems to be close to the CEO. It's better to avoid trouble."

Hong Yali, though unhappy, saw Li Yunzai's confident smile and felt even more uncertain. She huffed and walked past Li Yunzai, leaving the cafeteria.

"Alright, everything's fine. Those who need to eat, eat; those who need to train, train. Everyone, disperse!" Li Yunzai waved his hand, dismissing the trainees who were eager to watch the show. They all looked at him strangely, feeling that Li Yunzai seemed like a senior in the company, and they all followed his words and dispersed.

"Thank you, Senior!" The little girl bowed gratefully.

"No problem... It was nothing! You're too honest. Didn't you see that she was deliberately targeting you? You don't have to respect someone who doesn't act like a senior. A senior should act like a senior. Respect those who deserve it, and don't respect those who don't. You're here to be a trainee, not to be a servant and suffer!"

The little girl listened to Li Yunzai's advice, her eyes changing from surprise to shock. The trainees around Li Yunzai also heard his "advanced" thoughts and looked at him in shock. Li Yunzai's words completely contradicted their usual understanding. It was normal for seniors to scold juniors, but Li Yunzai was advocating "anti-oppression."

After this incident, Li Yunzai lost his appetite for eating in the cafeteria. He had many things to do in the afternoon and couldn't waste time here. He also had to meet someone and have a meal, so he might as well go now.

"I'm leaving... Bye!"

Li Yunzai said goodbye to the girl and was about to leave when she grabbed his sleeve and asked, "Senior, I don't even know your name yet!"

"Li Yunzai!" As he spoke, Li Yunzai was already moving away from the girl.

Seeing Li Yunzai's figure getting farther away, the girl ran out of the cafeteria and shouted, "Senior, my name is Li Zhi'en!"

Li Yunzai didn't turn back, just waved in response.

Leaving LOEN, Li Yunzai felt the air was much fresher, and he felt invigorated. Everything was going according to his plan. Now, he had to do the most important thing, the most crucial part of his plan.

Li Yunzai took out his phone and found a phone number from four years ago. Though he didn't know if the person was still using it, he decided to try. If the number had changed, he would have to visit in person.

At the same time, in S.M. Entertainment's dedicated recording studio for Yoo Yong-jin.

"Hey... Teacher, we're so hungry we can't sing anymore... Let us eat first!"

In the recording studio, six trainees had been singing the same song over and over again from 8 in the morning until almost 1 PM. They were so hungry they could barely open their mouths.

"Stop complaining! Can't you endure a little hardship? One more time!"

Just then, a phone rang.

"Who brought a phone?! Don't you know phones are not allowed in the studio?!"

Behind the vacuum glass, the six boys looked at each other innocently, and finally, they all looked at Yoo Yong-jin in the control room. "Teacher... It seems to be your phone ringing!"

Yoo Yong-jin was taken aback, took off his headphones, and realized it was indeed his phone. The screen showed an unfamiliar number. Yoo Yong-jin frowned, thinking it was probably a telemarketer.

"Hello?! Are you a telemarketer?! I don't need insurance or investments."

"Ha... Teacher, you haven't changed a bit in four years!"

A familiar yet strange voice came from the other end, but the word "teacher" made Yoo Yong-jin sit frozen, his lips trembling as he asked uncertainly, "Yunzai? Are you Yunzai?"

"Teacher, even with such a big change in my voice, you can still recognize me!" Li Yunzai laughed on the other end.

"Where have you been for four years? Where are you now?" Yoo Yong-jin stood up from his chair, his expression agitated as he asked.

"I'm in Samseong-dong... Teacher, you haven't eaten yet, right? Let's meet at C Restaurant. It's been four years, let's have a good reunion!"

"Alright, alright... I'll be right there!" Yoo Yong-jin said three times, then hung up and told the five boys in the studio, "We're done for today. I have something to do, we'll continue another day!" He grabbed his coat from the back of the chair and hurriedly left the studio.

"Where is Teacher going? I've never seen him so anxious... I hope nothing's wrong!"

"It should be fine... Didn't you see how happy he looked? He mentioned someone named Li Yunzai... Such a familiar name!"

"Oh, I remember now, Li Yunzai... Isn't that the name Jessica Senior always mentions..."

"Right... We rarely see each other after they debuted, no wonder it sounds familiar..."

"Do you think... This Li Yunzai is the one from... TVXQ...?"

As they spoke, their faces froze. Li Yunzai of TVXQ, a name rarely mentioned in the company, but they five were close to TVXQ and Girls' Generation, so they knew a bit about him.

"Wow... Should we tell Senior Yunho and the others this news?"

"Let's not... I just want to fill my stomach. I don't have time to worry about others. Let's go, let's eat!"

........................

On the other side, Li Yunzai arrived at C Restaurant near S.M. Entertainment, booked a private room, and ordered some dishes. Soon, Yoo Yong-jin arrived...

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