Chapter 208: July: Everyone Sets Sail Anew
On July 1, 2013, in the Gangnam District of Seoul, inside the tvN television station building.
The area in front of a conference room was bustling with voices, creating a lively atmosphere.
Outside the glass door, a banner hung prominently, with bold Korean text clearly stating: “TV Series 《Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo》 Script Reading Session.”
Inside the conference room, staff members were busy moving back and forth, with cameras, audio equipment, name tags, and character posters all readily available.
Character groupings and relationship charts were also posted on the walls, and the air was filled with anticipation and excitement for the upcoming start.
It was exactly 10 AM, ten minutes before the script reading session was officially to begin.
The conference room door was gently pushed open, and a tall figure walked in.
Today, Sulli had shed her usual sweet and casual girlish attire, opting for a sharp outfit that projected more of a writer’s demeanor.
The top was a short, dark green military-style jacket with a structured collar and a cinched waist, outlining a capable silhouette while still retaining a woman’s unique soft lines.
Layered underneath was a knitwear with a black and white floral pattern; lively and playful motifs danced within the dark tones, adding a touch of fresh artistic sensibility to the overall look.
The bottom was a high-waisted gray A-line skirt, neither ostentatious nor restrained, exuding a fitting rationality and self-possession amidst its calmness.
With understated makeup, she let her short hair strands fall naturally over her shoulders, wearing a professional, polite smile, yet unable to conceal the glow in her eyes.
This was because of the excitement and pride from her first official appearance as a “Screenwriter.”
Seeing her enter, the staff members who had been chatting in the conference room, along with several actors playing roles, quickly rose to greet her, “Writer Choi, you’re here.”
When the words “Writer Choi” were spoken by others, Sulli felt a slight stir in her heart; that gentle and glorious feeling of being recognized bloomed softly in her chest.
Her lips curved slightly, and she softly replied, “Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
Afterward, she walked to the screenwriter’s seat in front of the conference table, opened the leather script binder she carried, and took out several neatly marked script copies. While diligently checking lines, she quietly surveyed her surroundings.
This was her first time appearing on a TV series production set as an official screenwriter; previously, she had been an actress in leading or supporting roles, so her emotions were uncharacterciably complex and excited.
Before long, light and rhythmic footsteps were heard again from outside the conference room.
The female lead… Jung Soo-jung had arrived.
Her arrival was as clean and bright as the early morning sun.
Unlike Sulli’s intellectual and calm demeanor, today Jung Soo-jung had chosen a youthful style that best suited her temperament.
A neatly tailored white shirt, with the hem naturally tucked into high-waisted denim shorts, made her appear fresh and capable, exuding a playful yet unforced ease.
She wore thick-soled canvas shoes with a white base and blue trim, paired with high white socks, accentuating her long, straight legs. The look was clean and sharp, like a simple sketch, yet exceptionally refined due to her build and posture.
She casually carried a small white shoulder bag, her mobile phone held between her fingers, her expression relaxed and natural, with a smile in her eyes.
As soon as she entered, she became the focus of everyone’s attention.
“Soo-jung is here!”
“Wow, our female lead indeed! You look so vibrant today~”
Sulli, sitting in the front row, heard these voices. Without looking up, the corners of her lips curved into a faint arc, offering no reply.
Her fingertips, however, turned the script copy in her hands with even more seriousness, as if the entire world was irrelevant to her.
But the hint of a smile at the corner of her eye quietly betrayed her mood.
After entering, Jung Soo-jung first swept her gaze over Sulli in front, then bowed slightly to everyone in the room, her voice clear and crisp, “Hello everyone, I am Jung Soo-jung, playing Kim Bok-joo. Please take good care of me.”
Although this was not her first participation in a TV series filming, as the first script reading session for her leading role in life, beneath the confidence in her tone, a subtle, almost imperceptible nervousness lingered.
It was a kind of cautiousness, “wanting to perform well, yet fearing being seen through,” which coincidentally had a clever overlap with the role she was playing.
After greeting everyone, Soo-jung sat down beside Sulli and whispered, “I’m a little nervous.”
Sulli turned her head, blinked at her, and replied softly, “Today is your stage, relax and do your best.”
Her tone was comforting, yet it also carried a gentle firmness, urging her forward.
“You too, Sulli~” Jung Soo-jung, slightly reassured, also smiled faintly at her.
On the surrounding seats, the male lead Nam Joo-hyuk, along with Lee Jae-yoon, Jo Hye-jung, Lee Joo-seung, and other young actors had already taken their places.
With the arrival of this “screenwriter and female lead,” the atmosphere in the conference room gradually became more vibrant.
Everyone naturally sat down in the spots arranged by the film crew. A long table divided them into two rows, with name tags, scripts, mineral water, and several brightly colored highlighters placed before each person.
Soon, the director, PD, producer, and other main creative staff also arrived and took their seats.
After a few minutes of pleasantries, the host walked onto the stage area, tapped the microphone twice to test it, and then announced in a gentle, ceremonial tone.
“Thank you to all the actors and creative staff for your hard work. Today, we officially begin the first script reading session for 《Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo》. Please relax and give your full attention.”
Sulli, who had been whispering with Soo-jung, stopped speaking and her expression immediately became focused.
She straightened her back, opened the script in front of her, and her gaze fell on the title on the first page.
It was a transition in an instant, from “friend” to “screenwriter,” and also a sign of respect for the characters and the text.
She knew that from this moment on.
Her future would undergo a complete transformation.
Similarly, Jung Soo-jung, sitting beside her, slowly took a deep breath, her eyes focusing.
She understood that what she was turning through page by page were not just lines, but a new starting line.
And in the corner of the conference room, a small camera phone, fixed on a stand, hung quietly, its lens aimed at the people around the long table.
If someone were to look closely at the screen behind the phone, they would find that at this moment, it was in a video call with someone.
The person on the other end of the screen, though not present at the scene, seemed to be watching everything.
…
A distance away at tvN, in Lin Xiuyuan’s apartment, two figures sat lazily on the sofa.
The television screen in the living room, through a projector, synchronized with the live feed from Sulli’s phone. The scene displayed was the script reading session taking place in the tvN conference room, clear and real like a scene from a movie.
Lin Xiuyuan sat in the center of the sofa, with Krystal nestled beside him, her legs crossed. They were sitting very close, each holding a freshly made fruit tea, their eyes almost entirely fixed on the screen.
He watched Sulli sitting at the screenwriter’s desk, nervously looking at the script in her hand, occasionally looking up to exchange nods with the director.
Beside her, Jung Soo-jung sat in the protagonist’s seat, her face glowing with concentration as she was engrossed in reading her lines.
The scene was quiet and orderly, with an atmosphere of fresh and fervent passion.
After a while, Lin Xiuyuan couldn’t help but chuckle, “It’s amazing, this kind of script reading session from this perspective is more interesting and fun than those edited by the TV station. And for Jinjin’s first reading as a screenwriter, her aura is quite steady.”
Krystal, leaning on his shoulder, said with a gentle look and a hint of pride,
“Yes, it seems she has truly become a screenwriter who can stand on her own.”
After a few more exchanges, Lin Xiuyuan looked at Jung Soo-jung, who was already visibly a bit plump, and said with a slight teasing smile, “But aren’t we ignoring you here a bit too much? Jung Soo-jung is also a lead actress for the first time.”
As Lin Xiuyuan mentioned her, after a moment of silence, Krystal stopped talking and quietly watched the familiar yet unfamiliar figure on the screen.
She suddenly realized that this journey of saving Sulli in a parallel dimension seemed to be a rescue of her own youth as well.
As this thought surfaced, an indescribable warmth and relief welled up in her heart.
Then, she sniffled softly, turned her head to look at Lin Xiuyuan, and whispered, “Xiuyuan…”
“Mm?” Lin Xiuyuan turned his head, his gaze meeting hers gently.
The next second, Krystal’s eyes became moist, “Do you know? Actually, during the time Sulli was gone, I really… couldn’t bear it anymore.”
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan’s expression softened, and he was about to comfort her.
Unexpectedly, Krystal suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly as if clutching a lifesaver.
“Back then, in the months after Sulli left, I just couldn’t accept it. I would flip through old chat records every day, listen to her voice messages, rewatch her variety shows… As soon as I closed my eyes, I felt like she was still here.”
Her voice grew lower, and tears silently slid down her face. “I had so many dreams, dreaming she was standing at the dormitory entrance saying, ‘Soo-jung, I’m back.'”
Her voice then became even softer, but it carried a thousand pounds of suppressed emotion from the depths of her heart, and her tears flowed more and more, as if the pain of this moment had finally found an outlet.
Lin Xiuyuan remained silent, gently resting her head on his chest, as if using his embrace to shield the person in his arms from the storms of that world.
She let out a sob, her voice choked, “I always thought back then, if I could have done something, would things have been different? So when you told me that rainy night that we had returned to 2013… you have no idea how complex my feelings were then.”
She paused for a moment, and when she looked up, her eyes were already red and swollen. “But now… seeing her sitting there, her gaze so determined, her voice so clear… I truly feel like I can finally let go, and I’ve finally saved my younger self, preventing her from going through what I went through.”
Lin Xiuyuan reached out to wipe the tears from her eyes, his voice softer than ever, “While you saved them, haven’t you also saved yourself?”
Krystal nodded emphatically, but the tears couldn’t be stopped from falling again.
“Xiuyuan, I’m so happy… I’ve never been this happy before.”
Her voice was soft and carried a hint of fragility, as if at this moment, she had finally found her own peace.
Lin Xiuyuan held her tighter, as if giving Krystal, who was finally willing to be vulnerable, a support after letting go.
Meanwhile, on the television screen, Sulli was turning to the second act of the script, diligently reading her lines.
Her voice was clear and distinct, with a faint smile on her face.
Jung Soo-jung, sitting beside her, looked up slightly, gazing at her tenderly, her eyes full of support and encouragement.
The styles of the two young women were different, yet they converged at this moment, in this conference room filled with scripts and dreams, embarking on their new chapter.
…
Meanwhile.
On a bustling street in the Magic City of China, the morning sunlight filtered through the gaps between tall buildings, casting a glow onto the entrance of a newly opened shop.
The shop’s decoration style was distinct, and a particularly conspicuous red banner hung at the entrance: “Warmly Celebrate the Grand Opening of Flame Yan Xuan Mala Tang Flagship Store!”
Although it wasn’t yet noon, the area outside the door was already crowded and lively.
On stage, Park Ji-yeon, dressed in a neat and clean white suit set, stood smiling brightly under the sunlight. Surrounded by equally well-dressed T-ara members, Ham Eun-jung, Park Hyo-min, Jeon Boram, and others all made appearances.
As soon as they appeared, they triggered a thunderous roar from the fans in the audience.
Support light sticks and banners rose one after another, and cheers and screams came in waves.
“Queen Ji-yeon, the most beautiful!”
“T-ara, I love you!!”
“Mala Tang, long live!!”
“Little Ming’s classmate, crispy corn!!”
“Eun-jung oppa!!!”
“Soyon, Big Soyon!!!”
“Sky king covers the tiger, our Boram is 1.5 meters tall!?”
“Qiu Li, Madam, you are forever a goddess!!”
Seeing this scene, even Park Ji-yeon and Ham Eun-jung, who had already received “future information” from Lin Xiuyuan, couldn’t help but show genuine surprise and astonishment.
Although the other members were not mentally prepared beforehand, they managed to maintain perfect composure thanks to their stage experience, smiling calmly and gracefully.
“My heavens…”
Ham Eun-jung whispered close to Park Ji-yeon’s ear, unable to hide her shock, “This scene, isn’t it more crazy than our concert in Busan at the end of ’11?”
Park Ji-yeon smiled, but her heart pounded slightly. She then scanned the sea of people, her ears filled with cheers and shouts.
“Yes… Even knowing some of the situation beforehand, standing here now… still surprises me.”
Answering softly, her gaze was exceptionally firm, and her future path became even more certain and clear.
Soon, under the host’s arrangement, the store’s opening ceremony began with a ribbon-cutting amidst fervent excitement.
The golden scissors cleanly cut the red ribbon, announcing that “Flame Yan Xuan Mala Tang’s” first franchised store, in addition to its directly managed stores, had officially set sail.
The crowd below erupted in cheers, and the air seemed to shimmer with the mixed scent of chili oil and fan enthusiasm.
As the brand endorsers for “Flame Yan Xuan Mala Tang,” the T-ara members then entered the store, began signing autographs for fans, taking photos with customers, and accepting interviews from the host.
Every gesture, every turn of their head, every smile elicited a wave of response from the fans.
A few die-hard fans from remote areas had even set up tents at the store entrance two days in advance, tightly holding onto old support merchandise and handmade photo albums.
And upon seeing their idols in person, many were moved to tears on the spot.
“We’ve finally waited for you to come back…”
“We never left.”
Genuine adoration, scorching passion, surging fan groups.
At this moment, the T-ara members truly understood what it meant: “This is not just market potential; it’s a genuine, massive stage.”
And from the back of the crowd, a discreet agent dressed in black held his phone, silently documenting the grand opening scene.
He took photos of the long fan lines and recorded the highlight moment when Tara and the others were called “Mala Tang Queens” on stage. He then quickly scribbled notes in his notebook.
“China’s offline commercial popularity is astonishing.”
“As brand endorsers, they possess strong appeal.”
“T-ara’s combined effect remains strong here, with extremely high fan loyalty.”
“Recommend planning concert tour dates in China within the next 2-3 months as soon as possible.”
“For commercial cooperation/endorsements, can approach mainland beverage/cosmetics brands.”
Upon reaching the end, he suddenly stopped writing and switched to a red pen, drawing two large circles in the blank space.
— Discuss with the company immediately upon returning, and prioritize restarting the China market strategy!
— Lots of money, few people, come quickly.
He closed his notebook, looked up at the radiant figures on stage, and a smile couldn’t help but curve his lips.
This wasn’t just opening a mala tang shop; it was rekindling the flame in the hearts of a group of people that had never truly extinguished.
…
At noon, at Incheon International Airport in Seoul.
Sunlight streamed through the massive glass dome onto the ground. The airport was as bustling as ever, but today’s excitement escalated due to the arrival of a special group of guests.
The members of Girls’ Generation successively alighted from their van, surrounded by assistants, agents, and security personnel. Behind them, a line of suitcases moved forward like a procession.
Flashes of cameras were incessant, and screams and chants rose one after another, making the entire terminal seem to tremble slightly.
What first triggered the media’s camera shutters was not a deliberate pose to steal the spotlight, but an unfazed, elegantly stepping figure.
Among the crowd, Jung Soo-yeon stood out exceptionally.
She wore black square-framed sunglasses, her long hair falling smoothly over her shoulders, and a casual sweep of her hand seemed to gently adjust the rhythm of the breeze.
She was wearing a soft and capable light pink plaid suit jacket over a dark blue denim jumpsuit. Gold buttons gleamed slightly in the sunlight, perfectly blending fashion sense and vintage charm.
This outfit retained her usual queenly elegance while also exuding youthful, fashionable vitality, as if she had just stepped off a runway and was about to appear in a brand’s photo shoot.
The black and white contrasting canvas shoes on her feet cleverly broke the distance of the overall look, adding a touch of casual approachability and nonchalance.
She carried a small chain bag, recently off the production line, with white leather panels and a black bottom edge, simple yet highly recognizable.
Her entire demeanor exuded independence and a strong “fashion aura.”
Unlike the sweeter or more casual airport fashion of other members, Jung Soo-yeon’s look was like a walking photo shoot, highly distinctive.
Thus, it was natural for the media’s lenses to automatically focus on her.
“Soo-yeon’s airport look this time is absolutely stunning!”
“That suit was designed by her, right? It’s so stylish and has so much attitude, and it’s really eye-catching too!”
“She’s completely forged her own path; she really is a designer now!”
The reporter took photos while exclaiming, their words filled with genuine admiration.
What was even more special was that a group of Jung Soo Yeon’s fans had been waiting for a long time on both sides of the airport walkway.
Unlike other fans who waved light sticks and glow sticks, and offered gifts and flowers.
They were almost all wearing replicas of Jung Soo Yeon’s past collections: there were skirt suits, jackets, and some small handbags.
The colors were unified and the style was high-end; from a distance, it looked like a mini fashion show initiated by the fans, with an aura that was in no way inferior to the star power at the other end of the airport.
“We don’t just stan; we also wear her designs.”
A fan proudly displayed a similar jacket, their face filled with pride and determination.
Even though Jung Soo Yeon’s current design planning was still in its early stages and she had no intention of making a profit.
Her fans, however, had already turned “promotion” into a belief, an emotional connection of co-creation through their actions.
Seeing this scene, Jung Soo Yeon paused her steps, then the corners of her mouth curled into a gentle smile, and she lightly waved towards the group of pink and white figures.
Her identity on this trip to Taiwan was slightly different from the other members.
While the others were traveling purely as idols, Jung Soo Yeon had already been invited by multiple fashion institutions, independent buyers, and brand studios to participate in a week-long series of offline fashion shows, design sharing sessions, and brand exchange activities.
Moreover, several independent brands from Tokyo, Taipei, and Singapore had recently expressed interest in collaboration with Jung Soo Yeon.
Even some small fashion exhibitions had already sent her formal invitations as a designer.
Although these were not big international brands, these niche and professional invitations represented an important step for Jung Soo Yeon in her transition from “celebrity” to “designer.”
So when she looked back one last time at the fans wearing her designs, standing straight under the scorching sun before boarding, her eyes finally revealed a gentle and firm resolve.
At this moment, Lin Xiaolu, who was walking ahead, slowed her pace and came to her side, smiling, “Older sister, how are you feeling?”
Jung Soo Yeon pondered for a moment before gently saying, “A sense of accomplishment.”
She tilted her head slightly, “So, when Yoona got the lead actress role that time, was it the same feeling?”
“Pretty much,” Lin Xiaolu nodded with a smile, “like wanting to secretly do a spin, but having to pretend to be calm, and then laughing heartily on my bed at night.”
Then, a figure ambled over, it was Sunny, “Oh my, Soo Yeon, your fans are so exaggerated! Where did they get those clothes? They look pretty good for everyday wear too.”
“They’re probably replicas; I didn’t expect this situation either, I was a bit surprised.”
Jung Soo Yeon chuckled, her expression showing a hint of unexpected surprise.
After speaking, she looked up at the familiar figures walking quickly ahead, raising an eyebrow slightly, calm and not worried at all.
After all, this was the spontaneous affection from her fans, unrelated to her.
…
…
I’ll try my best to finish the next chapter tonight, and if I can’t, I’ll update tomorrow morning.
Then I’ll rest tomorrow and focus on writing, seeing if I can adjust the update schedule.
If I keep staying up late like this, I won’t be able to handle it!
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