Chapter 60: Attending ‘your’ Funeral
“What a coincidence, Ji-yeon.”*2
Looking at Park Ji-yeon who had just entered the door, Sulli’s first reaction was to look toward Xiuyuan’s side.
But when their gazes met, she only received a smile from him and didn’t notice anything wrong.
At the same time, Park Ji-yeon had already walked to the sofa and sat down. “Sulli, aren’t you busy with your comeback? How do you have time to sit here?”
Sulli, who was asked, repeated the reason she had just told Xiuyuan and asked back, “Then what about you, Ji-yeon? Why are you so free?”
In response, Park Ji-yeon’s answer made the two fall silent.
“You know our group’s situation. I’m very free right now, basically staying here every day playing games with oppa.”
Everyone knew about T-ara’s situation.
This made Sulli, who hadn’t meant to reopen the wound, a bit regretful for asking that question.
Fortunately, Park Ji-yeon didn’t mind much. After speaking, she turned around and pulled out a chessboard from under a cabinet next to the sofa. “You’re just in time today. Play Flying Chess with me. Oppa always complains that I’m childish when we play.”
“What I’m complaining about isn’t that you’re childish, it’s that you’re a sore loser.”
At this moment, Xiuyuan, who was bringing over a glass of juice, smiled somewhat helplessly. “Who loses a game, throws a tantrum, and then makes the winner go back several steps to give you another chance?”
“Ah~ oppa~”
Park Ji-yeon, exposed, got a bit defensive and turned her head with a cute whine.
At the same time, Sulli and Soo Jung, who understood the situation, laughed out loud and joined in teasing Park Ji-yeon.
The atmosphere immediately became much more relaxed.
After this little interlude, the three young girls on the sofa really started playing Flying Chess, chatting about recent interesting stories while playing, and occasionally pulling Xiuyuan in to complain about some online comments together.
After playing about three games like this, Park Ji-yeon, taking another sip of juice, looked at the empty plate next to her. “Oppa, is there more food?”
“There are nuts and fruit. The rest will have to wait.”
Xiuyuan, playing on his mobile phone on a bar stool, replied with a raised eyebrow.
“Is there anything I want to eat? I want rice cake and fried chicken, oppa~”
“No.”
Hearing this answer, Park Ji-yeon immediately grabbed Soo Jung the next second. “Soo Jung, let’s go out and buy fried chicken. It’s right next door.”
“Ah, I’m not hungry.” Soo Jung was slightly stunned.
“But I’m hungry.”
After saying this cutely, Park Ji-yeon pulled Soo Jung up and out the door, leaving a confused Sulli alone on this side.
Only after seeing Xiuyuan across from her smiling at the door did she belatedly ask, “Mr. Lin, did you need something from me?”
Her question surprised Xiuyuan a bit. “Huh? Why do you ask that?”
“I just feel like you called Ji-yeon over to send Soo Jung away.”
Hearing Xiuyuan’s counter-question, Sulli knew she was right, but was even more puzzled. “But if there’s something, you could just tell me directly. Don’t we already have each other as friends?”
Seeing his intention exposed, Xiuyuan didn’t hide it anymore and smiled. “You’re so smart.”
He then added, “Mainly, since you’ve come over, it’s better to talk face-to-face. Also, I was a bit worried that Soo Jung might feel uncomfortable hearing it, so I sent her away for a bit.”
Besides, some words about a ‘secret’, Xiuyuan still didn’t dare to leave as a message online.
Face-to-face communication was the best way to keep a secret.
“What is it?”
Now Sulli was even more curious.
Xiuyuan smiled and pointed at the small tavern. “It’s been in trial operation for a few days. I was thinking of holding a formal opening party here in a couple of days, but only inviting tavern members. So if Soo Jung were here, I wouldn’t be able to tell you.”
Sulli nodded, clearly understanding Xiuyuan’s concern, but even more curious about the party. “What kind of party is it?”
Because not long ago, she had attended many parties under Hyo Yeon’s ‘invitation’, so she thought Xiuyuan might want something similar this time.
But he slightly straightened up. “A funeral party.”
Bang~
As Xiuyuan said this, Sulli’s mind went blank, and she exclaimed in shock, “What? Funeral?”
“Yeah, funeral.”
Saying this, Xiuyuan thought of the suggestion Soo Yeon had given him a few days ago.
……
“What method?”
“Isn’t Yoona’s birthday at the end of the month? You could say you’re holding a birthday party at the tavern, invite Sulli over, and when you get there, say the birthday party is somewhere else and have her follow you.”
“Ah, Im Yoon Ah’s birthday? Would she be willing to help as a cover?”
“She will.”
“Are you sure you’re not forcing her?”
……
Soo Yeon’s idea was actually pretty good, but it wasn’t what Xiuyuan wanted. He felt that since he was going to give medicine to the young girl in front of him, he should use strong medicine.
Touching around vaguely and dragging things out wasn’t his style.
So after thinking for a few days, he came up with inviting her over in the form of a ‘party’.
After being shocked by the word ‘funeral’ for a moment, Sulli tried to sort out her thoughts but couldn’t react immediately. “Did you really say that right? It’s really a ‘funeral’ party?”
“Yeah, so the outfit on the day needs to be as formal as possible.”
Seeing Xiuyuan’s serious expression, Sulli, though confused and puzzled, still nodded lightly to indicate she understood.
A while later, Park Ji-yeon and Soo Jung, who had gone out to buy food, returned to the tavern.
Soo Jung, who had felt something was off after leaving earlier, asked Sulli as soon as she came in if anything had happened.
Sulli shook her head in denial, and only then did Soo Jung relax, though her gaze still suspiciously swept toward Xiuyuan.
She just felt something was off.
Later, the three played quite a few more games until the lights came on and nightfall arrived, before they got up to say goodbye.
Park Ji-yeon unhesitatingly suggested going to have dinner with Xiuyuan, while Sulli and Soo Jung needed to rush back to the company for rehearsal, busy with comeback work.
Before saying goodbye, unable to hold back her curiosity, Sulli walked to Xiuyuan’s side under Soo Jung’s gaze and softly asked, “Oppa, can I ask whose ‘funeral’ that party is for?”
‘Mr. Lin’ when nothing’s up, ‘oppa’ when there is—these young girls were always so interesting.
Xiuyuan first chuckled lightly, then thought for a moment before whispering back in her ear.
“There’s actually nothing to hide from you. I’m just taking you to attend ‘your’ funeral.”
At these words, Sulli froze and dazedly walked out of the tavern, only coming back to her senses when she returned to the company.
Seeing her dazed the whole way, Soo Jung couldn’t help asking, “What did you two just say?”
Sulli hesitated, then smiled lightly. “Nothing, just that I need to go shopping for clothes tomorrow.”
Been stocking up on drafts lately, forgot to schedule, sorry sorry. Everyone wait two more days, explosive updates right after going on shelves.
