Chapter 217: “what I Meant Was Happiness? Blessings”
In July 2013 in Seoul, the blazing sun scorched the earth, and the air seemed to be steaming with restlessness and unease.
Just as the internet was abuzz with gossip about Kim Soo-hyun, inside the taekwondo gym next to the gym beside the T-ara dormitory… no, 20-year-old Park Ji-yeon was practicing her moves one by one.
This young girl had never been one to sweat it out in a gym; she either practiced dance or martial arts.
Wearing a white taekwondo uniform with a black belt tied around her waist, Park Ji-yeon had her hair in a high ponytail, her bangs soaked with sweat and sticking to the side of her face.
Her movements were sharp and precise, her punches whistling through the air, her steps steady and unwavering.
“Ha!”
With a sharp exhale, she spun into a kick, landing a beautiful back roundhouse that cleanly struck the punching bag ahead.
The punching bag shuddered violently, the chains rattling loudly.
“Ji-yeon, are you trying to tear this place apart?”
A familiar voice sounded from the doorway, accompanied by two light sets of footsteps.
Ham Eun-jung and Park Hyomin walked in one after the other, each holding iced coffee.
The two who appeared here were both dressed casually, wearing sunglasses, and smiling as they entered.
“Wow, you’re practicing so intensely, covered in sweat like that. I don’t sweat this much even at the gym.”
Park Hyomin took off her sunglasses, looking amazed at Park Ji-yeon sweating profusely in the venue, and after her surprise, she glanced at the empty space. “Where’s everyone else?”
“They went out for a performance.”
The questioned Park Ji-yeon panted as she replied, her voice slightly hoarse. “Precisely because no one’s here, I came over to get some activity in. It’s been a while since I trained, and I kind of want to regain the instincts in my limbs.”
In response to this answer, Ham Eun-jung glanced at Park Ji-yeon’s state and frowned slightly. “But we’ve been exhausted from dance practice lately, and you’re still coming here to train martial arts? I’m worried your body won’t hold up.”
Hearing Ham Eun-jung’s words, Park Ji-yeon came to a stop, her hands naturally dropping, her chest heaving dramatically, her forehead covered in sweat.
She then grabbed the towel handed over by the other and wiped her face messily, then took the water bottle from Park Hyomin and chugged it down.
At this moment, Park Hyomin leaned in, poking her arm with a gossipy expression. “Come on, Ji-yeon, why are you suddenly practicing taekwondo? Planning to become an action actress? Or what’s up?”
“No, really, unnie. I’m just keeping my hands sharp, thinking that if there’s ever a fight in the future, I won’t be stiff or rusty.”
Park Ji-yeon tossed the water bottle aside, her tone eerily flat, as if she’d just said, “I want ice cream.”
“Huh?”
Hearing this, Park Hyomin was shocked. “Who pissed you off?”
“No one.”
Park Ji-yeon shrugged casually, but her gaze carried a sharp edge she couldn’t suppress. “Just preparing for a rainy day. What if one day I run into someone I can’t stand? At least I can act right away.”
As soon as she said this, Ham Eun-jung’s heart skipped a beat.
She naturally knew what her little maknae was talking about, or rather, who.
So she smiled helplessly, walked closer, took the towel from her hand, and wiped the sweat from the back of her neck. “She didn’t provoke you either. Relax a bit. I shouldn’t have told you about that. Now I’m getting a little anxious myself.”
Her voice was gentle, tinged with concern.
Because the matter of Big Dragon Cub and Lin Xiuyuan over there was something Ham Eun-jung had told Park Ji-yeon about. She was really worried that if the two met and actually fought, she wouldn’t know what to do.
“Got it.” Park Ji-yeon pouted, letting out a light hum, stubborn and defiant. “I’m just practicing, that’s all.”
But the unspoken words stuck in her throat: What if one day she really could beat her up?
Sunlight streamed through the high windows into the gym, slanting across her slightly youthful face that was already showing hints of sharpness.
Drenched in sweat, she stood there like a small beast not yet fully awakened, silently gathering strength for a counterattack.
Her gaze was resolute, unwavering.
……
……
2025, in the restaurant.
Big Dragon Cub, who had just been cozying up with Lin Xiuyuan, sat back across from him and quietly started eating lunch.
Mainly because the morning involved both fitness and showering, the exercise was a bit excessive. Even with enough protein intake, she still needed to replenish other energy.
During a break in eating, Big Dragon Cub chatted about Lee Ji-eun’s recent changes. “Unnie started all sorts of exercise after coming back from the Maldives—fitness and such. Before, she didn’t care, just eating and drinking, at most playing golf.”
While saying this, Big Dragon Cub’s eyes kept glancing at Lin Xiuyuan’s reaction.
Seeing the guy across from her calmly eating barbecue, she coquettishly kicked his foot under the table. “Say something. Why aren’t you asking me why?”
“Oh, so why?” Lin Xiuyuan pursed his lips in a smile, his voice carrying a faint teasing note.
“No sincerity.”
Big Dragon Cub gave him a charming eye roll, then picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and put it in Lin Xiuyuan’s bowl. “She said she wants to get her lines looking better, tighter, perkier.”
Lin Xiuyuan, who was eating, suddenly coughed, making Big Dragon Cub laugh after she finished speaking. She quickly handed him a glass of water. “Why are you panicking? I didn’t say anything about you.”
“No, just choked a bit.” Lin Xiuyuan didn’t want the mood to get awkward and quickly changed the topic.
He had just taken a sip of water, about to say something, when he noticed Big Dragon Cub had picked up her mobile phone and was smiling at him.
“Xiuyuan~ You’ve been vanishing these past few days, and it’s not just me who’s worried. Unnie’s worried too. Why don’t you give her a call?”
Seeing Big Dragon Cub already holding her phone, what could Lin Xiuyuan say? He smiled wryly. “Fine, call her. Ask if she’s eaten. If not, come join us.”
“You think everyone eats this late like us?” She teased with a laugh, looking up at Lin Xiuyuan.
“The reason for eating late isn’t because of you, Ji-yeon?” Lin Xiuyuan’s voice carried a roguish chuckle.
At these words, Big Dragon Cub burst out laughing, then glared at him. “Xiuyuan~ You’re getting a bit rogue, huh?”
“Am I? I’m just stating facts.” Lin Xiuyuan spread his hands innocently.
Hearing Big Dragon Cub laugh again, she didn’t reply but dialed Lee Ji-eun.
A few seconds later, a familiar voice answered. “Hello, Ji-yeon? What’s up?”
“Unnie, what are you doing? Eaten yet?” Big Dragon Cub asked with a laugh.
“Just eating now, with Hyo Min. Planning to do spa later. What’s up, something wrong?”
Lee Ji-eun’s voice on the other end was relaxed and natural; she was eating Thai food with Park Hyomin.
Hearing it was Big Dragon Cub calling, Park Hyomin across from her leaned in with a smile. “Ji-yeon, come do spa with unnie.”
“No need, unnie. My skin’s fine.”
Though Big Dragon Cub was older, she hadn’t changed her habit of saying aggravating things casually, instantly making Park Hyomin huff. “Hey, Park Ji-yeon!!”
Big Dragon Cub giggled, unconcerned, and kept teasing. “Hehe~ Then you two eat, unnie. I thought if you hadn’t eaten, you’d come eat with us.”
“Us?”
Lee Ji-eun immediately caught the key point. “Ji-yeon, who are you with?”
The questioned Big Dragon Cub’s eyes flashed, and she stood up again to snuggle next to Lin Xiuyuan, coquettishly whining, “Oppa~ Unnie’s asking about you.”
The seductive coquettish tone made Lin Xiuyuan tense up, his body stiffening slightly, though that wasn’t the main reason.
He turned to look at Big Dragon Cub, one hand holding the phone, the other hugging him and smoothly sliding toward his butt crack. He really wanted to cry for help, then let out a helpless laugh.
“Ji-yeon, when did you turn into like this?”
“Like what? I’m not.” Big Dragon Cub averted her gaze, guilty and avoiding Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes.
At that moment, Lee Ji-eun on the phone had recognized Lin Xiuyuan’s voice and exclaimed, “Xiuyuan? When did you get back?”
“Just finished up last night. Ji-eun, you eat first. We won’t bother you.”
Lin Xiuyuan’s voice was gentle but seemed a bit rushed.
“No, not bothering. Xiuyuan, where are you guys?”
Lee Ji-eun hurriedly spoke, clearly not wanting to hang up.
Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan paused, saw she hadn’t hung up, exchanged a look with Big Dragon Cub, and told her their location.
After getting the info, Lee Ji-eun softly hung up and looked at Park Hyomin across from her.
Park Hyomin, who had seen this scene more than once, sighed. “Really, unnie? You’re ditching me again?”
“What do you mean ‘again’? I’ve been with you for days, Hyo Min. You need to learn to let go. Unnie’s pursuing her own happiness.”
Lee Ji-eun, packing her bag, looked at Park Hyomin and answered seriously.
Across from her, Park Hyomin found it amusing. “Unnie, you’re exaggerating a bit. What happiness could that guy Xiuyuan bring?”
“Did I say happiness?”
“Hm?”
Lee Ji-eun smiled slightly, looked up at Park Hyomin, and seeing her puzzled expression, chuckled softly. “I said sexual bliss~”
???
In just half an hour, with Park Hyomin driving, Lee Ji-eun quickly arrived at the restaurant where Lin Xiuyuan and the others were eating. Before getting out, she didn’t forget to ask her.
“You sure you won’t come in?”
“Not going in. Unnie, you’re scaring me a bit.” Park Hyomin shook her head.
After saying this, she still hoped Lee Ji-eun would explain. After all, on the way here, she’d asked a lot, and the other had been evasive.
But this time it was even more so. After hearing the answer, Lee Ji-eun waved goodbye and turned to enter the restaurant.
That swift exit as she got out and walked away was effortlessly free and easy.
Leaving Park Hyomin sitting dazedly in the car alone, watching her back disappear from sight before muttering to herself, “What the heck? What’s going on? One after another, all like this. Is Lin Xiuyuan really a succubus?”
Two minutes later, led by the server, Lee Ji-eun arrived at the private room where Lin Xiuyuan was.
As soon as she entered, she saw Big Dragon Cub pressed against Lin Xiuyuan sitting together, the two with heads lowered, doing some secretive little actions.
Seeing the room door open, they instinctively looked up toward the doorway.
Seeing it was Lee Ji-eun, Big Dragon Cub withdrew her little hand, then wrapped it around Lin Xiuyuan’s arm again, slipping right into the cuff of his shirt.
Lin Xiuyuan looked helpless. “Ji-yeon, this is a shirt, not a T-shirt. It’ll get ruined.”
He then looked at Lee Ji-eun with a smile. “Come in and sit first.”
Lee Ji-eun entered the private room, couldn’t help but glance regretfully at the empty seat next to Lin Xiuyuan, and finally sat across from them, asking, “Xiuyuan, what have you been busy with lately?”
“Helping a member with some things.”
Lin Xiuyuan repeated this reason.
Like Big Dragon Cub, Lee Ji-eun asked the next second after hearing this, “So how exactly does one join that small tavern of yours?”
At this point, Big Dragon Cub looked up at Lee Ji-eun, lips curving slightly. “Unnie, I asked him several times before you came, and he still won’t budge. No use. We need to find an opportunity to properly ‘torment’ him.”
“I couldn’t bear to.”
As soon as Big Dragon Cub finished, Lee Ji-eun replied without hesitation, instantly making her face flush red, clearly annoyed.
Because compared to this unnie, her earlier coquetry suddenly seemed unreasonable and clingy.
With Lee Ji-eun’s arrival, the three began discussing suggestions for where to go after eating.
Lee Ji-eun spoke first with a laugh. “Play golf, like usual.”
As soon as she said this, Big Dragon Cub quickly rejected it. “No, unnie. After so many days, aren’t you tired of it? At least take a break.”
“Then you suggest.” Lee Ji-eun looked at her.
Big Dragon Cub turned to Lin Xiuyuan, clearly seeking his opinion. “How about we go hiking?”
“The 500-meter highest peak?” Lin Xiuyuan raised an eyebrow before Lee Ji-eun could react.
Hearing the response, Big Dragon Cub wasn’t annoyed but deflated. “Ah, then I don’t know. We really going golf?”
“Or head home separately for a nap?” Lin Xiuyuan smiled, teasingly suggesting. “The perfect life: eat your fill, then go back for a nap.”
At these words, Lee Ji-eun and Big Dragon Cub exchanged a look, then said in unison, “Then let’s go swimming.”*2
Lee Ji-eun then added, “Such hot weather, it’d be a waste not to swim.”
“Too crowded, right?” Lin Xiuyuan frowned slightly, clearly concerned.
“I know a private swimming pool.” Lee Ji-eun answered calmly, a hint of pride in her tone.
“Family pool too small, right?”
Lee Ji-eun remained composed, full of confidence in her choice. “Swimming pool, very big.”
“Sun’s too harsh. You two really don’t care about your skin anymore?” Lin Xiuyuan asked teasingly.
“No worries, it’s indoor.” Lee Ji-eun replied with a smile.
“Indoor private swimming pool???”
Lin Xiuyuan’s eyes widened, clearly surprised. “No way, Ji-eun, you’re a conglomerate princess.”
Just one chapter today, head’s a bit foggy. Taking a day off to rest.
Also to sort out my emotions. I’ll try to update early tomorrow. Thanks for the godfathers’ support!!!!
Finally, monthly tickets at the start of the month. Godfathers, please give your guaranteed monthly tickets!!!!
