Chapter 83: Touching the Scene, Stirring the Emotions

At half past ten, laughter still echoed from Li Yunzai's residence, more lively than ever since they moved in. The seven of them were eating the cake Li Yunzai made, drinking alcohol and soft drinks, and playing a game of Ludo. Whoever lost had to punish the other, and Li Yunzai had set up all sorts of interesting rules. All Bora, Lee Joo-ri, Park Hyo-min, and Park Ji-yeon were so engrossed that they forgot everything else.

Park So-yeon lay on the sofa, her head resting on Li Yunzai's lap, eating the cake he fed her, making everyone else envious.

"Park So-yeon, it's your turn to play..." Lee Joo-ri couldn't help but break the bubble around the two, beckoning to Park So-yeon, who happily got up. Park Ji-yeon also gave her seat to Han Eun-jung.

Without a word, Lee Joo-ri took a beer bottle and walked to the balcony, closing the glass door and leaning against the railing, drinking alone as she gazed at the night scenery.

Li Yunzai glanced over and saw Lee Joo-ri's slightly trembling back. He took a coat and walked to the balcony. Lee Joo-ri seemed not to hear Li Yunzai come out, only coming to her senses when he draped the coat over her shoulders.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Li Yunzai climbed onto the balcony, blew a puff of warm air, and rubbed his hands, looking down at the bustling night street.

"Why did you come out... It's quite cold outside!" Lee Joo-ri tightened the coat, the faint warmth dispelling the cold and warming her body.

Li Yunzai chuckled and said, "Why did you come out here alone... Is something on your mind?"

Hearing Li Yunzai's words, Lee Joo-ri's body involuntarily trembled, and the worry on her face was clearly captured by Li Yunzai.

"If you want to talk about it, I'm here to listen. I'm happy to be your confidant!" Li Yunzai looked at Lee Joo-ri with a gentle smile.

Seeing Li Yunzai's confident and determined face, Lee Joo-ri felt a sense of security. She then bitterly smiled and shook her head, saying, "It's not a big deal, just a touch of sentiment. Seeing you and Park So-yeon so close, I can't help but feel envious!"

Hearing this, Li Yunzai was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Do you have a younger brother?"

Lee Joo-ri nodded, then shook her head, saying, "I'm not as lucky as Park So-yeon to have an outstanding younger brother. My brother is always idle and causing trouble at school, and often fights outside. He only comes home when he needs money. He's even dating at such a young age... Sigh, it's all because my parents have always spoiled him. They still treat him like a treasure, even when he makes mistakes, they can't bear to discipline him..."

Li Yunzai understood the underlying meaning in Lee Joo-ri's words. Her status at home was far lower than her brother's, even though she was much better than him. But thinking about it, Li Yunzai felt it was understandable. In Korea, the preference for sons over daughters was still severe. Sons were expected to carry on the family name, while daughters would eventually marry out.

"Don't worry so much. Boys mature later than girls... He's still young, no need to rush!" Li Yunzai comforted her.

Lee Joo-ri sighed, "Because of my parents' spoiling, I'm almost driven mad by him... Like yesterday, he called me again, saying he was out of money, and asked me to transfer some living expenses to him... I had just received the payment for the MV, so I transferred 200,000 won to him... He can't get money from home, so he just calls me for it, but he doesn't know where my money comes from. I stopped asking my parents for living expenses a long time ago to ease their burden. I earn everything myself... Sometimes I really feel bitter..."

As she spoke, Lee Joo-ri began to sob softly, her shoulders trembling slightly, and two tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. She managed a weak smile.

Li Yunzai's expression softened, and he looked at Lee Joo-ri's side face. She was a woman who perfectly fit the Asian aesthetic, not too tall or short, with a delicate face, long hair, and a pair of bright, expressive eyes. Seeing her like this, Li Yunzai felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her and hold her in his arms.

Li Yunzai reached out and wiped a tear from Lee Joo-ri's eye. Lee Joo-ri, who had been lost in her thoughts, came to her senses, wiped her tears, and said, "Sorry, I made a fool of myself..."

"It's okay... Every family has its own troubles, I understand!" Li Yunzai smiled gently.

The deeper the love, the deeper the disappointment. From Lee Joo-ri's expression, it was clear that she was both concerned and disappointed with her brother. The more she cared, the more disappointed she felt.

Li Yunzai smiled silently and said, "To grow up, one must go through many hardships, especially men. A man's maturity is built through these trials... You see me now, but you haven't seen what I was like before..." As he spoke, perhaps moved by Lee Joo-ri's sincerity, Li Yunzai's face showed a rare trace of melancholy.

The cold wind blew past their faces. At that moment, Li Yunzai exuded a distant aura, making Lee Joo-ri feel like she didn't know him at all.

"How can someone be so lonely?" Lee Joo-ri was momentarily stunned. Li Yunzai's lonely and profound gaze deeply touched her heart. Her small hand unconsciously reached out and held Li Yunzai's large hand, the coldness making her shiver.

Although they had only known each other for less than ten days, Lee Joo-ri had always thought Li Yunzai was an outgoing, humorous, and talented singer and songwriter. But now she realized that perhaps the Li Yunzai she usually saw was not the real him. That was his facade. The current Li Yunzai might be the real him. He didn't laugh easily, and his brows revealed a hint of worry and a touch of沧桑 (cāngsāng, meaning "weathered" or "worldly-wise"), like a mature man with many stories and a deep, rich character.

Feeling a warm hand on his back, Li Yunzai came to his senses, looked at his left hand, and met Lee Joo-ri's gaze for a few seconds.

"Ah... Sorry..." Lee Joo-ri, like a startled rabbit, quickly let go of Li Yunzai's hand, her face flushing red.

Seeing such a shy and completely different Lee Joo-ri, Li Yunzai couldn't help but chuckle, which made Lee Joo-ri start pounding him.

"What's so funny..."

Li Yunzai, pleading for mercy, said, "Joo-ri... Have you never held a boy's hand before? I didn't expect you to be so cute when you blush..."

"Cut it out... How could that be!" Lee Joo-ri rolled her eyes and raised her right hand to hit Li Yunzai again, but her fist paused in mid-air, as if she had seen something.

Li Yunzai followed her gaze and saw five people pressed against the glass door, watching them with mischievous smiles.

"Hey... Why did you stop! Watching you two flirt is more interesting than playing Ludo!" Park Hyo-min said coyly.

"I said you two came out in the cold, thinking you both liked the cold wind, but it turns out you were flirting... Tsk tsk tsk, Joo-ri, you said you had a crush on Yunzai a few days ago, and now you're making a move... That's rocket speed!" All Bora tsked.

"I didn't...!" Lee Joo-ri, flustered, jumped up and down. When All Bora asked, "What do you think of Li Yunzai? How was it working with him on the MV?" Lee Joo-ri had blurted out, "I think he's great, and I have a crush on him!"

Now, Lee Joo-ri's off-the-cuff answer had become a sore spot for All Bora.

"Joo-ri, you always say you want a boyfriend. Your criteria are: not too handsome, a bit talented, over 175 cm tall, with a stable job, and preferably a house, a car, and savings... Isn't that exactly Yunzai? Plus, he can cook and is good at socializing, so you don't even have to cook... " Park Ji-yeon giggled.

"Right, right... Joo-ri, where can you find such a good man? If you don't make a move, Hyo-min might snatch him away... She's been eyeing Yunzai all along!"

Park Hyo-min, blushing with anger, stomped her feet, "Han Eun-jung, that's a lie... I like boys like Shindong, chubby, not like Yunzai!"

"Hyo-min... Your taste is heavy..." everyone sighed.

"Is that so? Then it's perfect! Yunzai is familiar with most of Super Junior, I can introduce you to them!" Park So-yeon smiled.

"Hey... You're bullying me, I won't talk to you anymore..." Park Hyo-min, blushing with anger, turned and sat on the sofa to watch TV.

Li Yunzai smiled bitterly. Girls in groups tend to gossip, and this was just six of them. Thinking about the nine members of Girls' Generation, Li Yunzai felt a headache, wondering if he would be overwhelmed by their chatter.

"Alright... Stop teasing Joo-ri... If we have good news, we'll tell you first!" Li Yunzai, with a broad smile, put his arm around Lee Joo-ri's shoulders and pulled her closer.

"Li Yunzai... I knew you had ulterior motives!" Park So-yeon shouted, and the blushing Lee Joo-ri's face turned even redder...

Today, there are two chapters... In the next 10 days, there will be two updates... I have work to do during the day!

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