Chapter 45: “i Don’t Want To Become That Old Woman”
Ding bell~
Around four in the afternoon, the door of the small tavern was pushed open. The sky was still bright, but there was already a faint slant of light in the west. The street appeared quiet and gentle amid the interplay of sunlight and shadows.
Standing in the doorway, Yoona turned back and glanced at this small tavern, looking somewhat depressed as she complained to Jung Soo Yeon, “Older sister, I’m a bit upset. What does ‘pleasing to the eye’ mean? I didn’t even want this membership, hmph.”
“Alright, don’t be angry.”
Jung Soo Yeon smiled and comforted her, “Didn’t he say? As a member, I can bring you in to hang out.”
“I wouldn’t come. Although the drinks here are indeed better than other places, it’s not to the point where I have to come, hmph.”
Looking at Yoona, who was full of annoyance and unable to vent, Jung Soo Yeon smiled and said no more.
From what she knew of this second maknae, she was just momentarily angry. It probably wouldn’t take long—likely by tonight, she’d be fine.
So after Yoona vented her frustration, Jung Soo Yeon pulled her back to the car and headed to the company for some impromptu overtime.
It seemed there was a dance that needed re-choreographing. Looked like there would be more work to do.
In contrast to their busyness, the T-ara members inside the small tavern appeared much more leisurely.
Having rarely found such a comfortable and quiet place, Park Hyomin simply pestered Xiuyuan to mix several cocktails for her, planning to drink her fill.
Nearby, Ham Eun-jung sat on the sofa, holding a guitar she’d just brought from the stage, plucking the strings and having a great time.
The remaining Park Ji-yeon, after Jung Soo Yeon and the other left, walked straight to the bar counter and leaned close to Xiuyuan’s face to continue chatting idly.
“Oppa, you just said we can bring people over here. What if someday I’m in here—no, what if there’s an… old woman here? What then?”
Old woman?
Xiuyuan, who was washing the bartending tools, paused slightly, clearly not expecting Park Ji-yeon to describe her future self in such terms.
After a brief daze, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Wow, Ji-yeon, you’re so bold. If she heard what you just said, with your personality, you’d probably get beaten.”
Facing Xiuyuan’s response, Park Ji-yeon still looked disdainful.
During this time, whenever she thought about the information she saw that night, her heart felt blocked, with a lump stuck there.
“She is an old woman. She’s over 30, married and divorced, rushing toward 40—a total auntie. Isn’t she? I’m just barely an adult, hmph hmph hmph.”
Xiuyuan smiled and replied.
“Hahaha, no worries. I have a control panel here. I had someone set two programs for the door lock before. One allows free entry after verification. The other uses the camera for facial recognition, permitting only single entry. If there are multiple people, it locks the door and refuses entry.”
Hearing this from Xiuyuan, Park Ji-yeon, who was hearing about such high technology in real life for the first time, couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.
“Wow, oppa, the technology on your door lock gives me a movie-like feeling.”
“More than that—it’s even more sci-fi than movies, right?”
Xiuyuan blinked at her and smiled as he asked.
Smart as this little dragon cub Park Ji-yeon was, she instantly guessed the meaning behind his gaze.
She opened her mouth and said softly, “Indeed. That side is even more sci-fi than movies. I wouldn’t dare dream of it.”
Suddenly thinking of something, she glanced back at Park Hyomin, who was enjoying her delicious alcoholic beverages over there, then quietly leaned close to Xiuyuan and said, “Oppa, do you think older sister’s marriage will end up the same as that old woman’s?”
“Who knows? Though athletes have certain special hormones much stronger than ordinary people, with a cheating rate of basically 99.9%, the finance world is even messier than the sports circle. Anyway, I’m not optimistic, but if she can endure it, forget I said anything.”
Xiuyuan wiped the wine glass in his hand while speaking thoughtfully.
“Mm, actually these past few days I’ve always wanted to come find you, but work was too busy. Now it’s good—I can finally go over there and play properly.”
Park Ji-yeon’s words made Xiuyuan’s heart skip a beat. He looked at her with a wry smile. “Ji-yeon, you’re scaring me. I don’t even know if finding you was right or wrong.”
“Relax, oppa. I’m definitely better than that old woman. I’m very sensible.”
After saying that, she blinked her big Katolan eyes at Xiuyuan. “So oppa, can I go over there later?”
“Whatever. Anytime is fine. You know, I approached you just to see if you could help yourself or change your group’s fate.”
At this point, Xiuyuan paused, made a finger gun gesture, and pointed at the two behind her. “Just like I told you that night—think of it as me liking to watch the show, wanting to see what your futures will be like.”
Knowing that major trends couldn’t be changed, he was even more curious if minor ones could be altered.
“Oppa, you say I’m bold, but your boldness is even greater. I wouldn’t dare put myself in someone else’s hands. If something goes wrong, it’d be hard even to die.”
“This is called spreading risk and opportunity. The premise for anything going wrong is if you’re willing to give up everything, but…”
Changing tack, Xiuyuan looked up at Park Ji-yeon before him.
She sat quietly at the edge of the bar counter where the lighting fell, her white fine-striped shirt outlining soft yet upright lines.
Her hair was casually tied back, with the ends falling to the side of her neck. A few stray strands naturally draped down, brushing against her silver long chain earrings, which swayed slightly in the light and shadow.
Her softly lined features retained a cool clarity, without contrived charm or affected sweetness.
Her temperament and makeup had undergone a clear transformation compared to when they first met.
It even made Xiuyuan see the style of Park Ji-yeon from 2025 in her.
So he smiled faintly. “But seeing you already starting to imitate her, it seems you’re not willing to give up either.”
Being looked at like this by him, Park Ji-yeon felt no disgust—instead, a little joy.
Who could dislike such clear eyes?
So she answered softly, “Who would give up? I definitely don’t want to become that old woman in the future.”
“Alright, alright, stop cursing. Tone it down. If Krystal comes over and hears you say that, she’ll definitely teach you a lesson.”
Hearing Xiuyuan mention Krystal, Park Ji-yeon laughed too. “I’m a bit looking forward to it. I didn’t expect I’d get along so well with Soo Jung in the future. When is she coming, oppa~?”
Asked this, Xiuyuan shook his head lightly. “No idea. If you’re feeling bored lately, you could help me make a connection to meet some others.”
“Who?”
Park Ji-yeon was curious.
“Since we’re talking about Krystal, who do you think?”
After a moment, the realizing Park Ji-yeon went from cheerful young girl to melancholic little girl in a second, pursing her thin lips. After a while, she directed Xiuyuan to look at Park Hyomin. “If it’s to meet Sulli, Hyo Min older sister would be more convenient than me.”
“Ah, aren’t you in the 94 line?”
“Oppa, I’m from ’93.”
“Then Park Hyomin…”
“She’s close with Hara older sister. Haven’t you watched Invincible Youth?”
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