HPDBC Chapter 1289 is finished.
Chapter 1289 is finished.
Chapter 1289 is finished.
"Mina-chan, haven't you been watching Tzuyu these past few days? Ah, really."
"Look at how smug she is! She's been showing off like crazy these past few days..."
In another van, Hirai Momo, also sitting in the back, was complaining to Mina next to her with great dissatisfaction, waving her arms from time to time. It seemed that she really wanted to punch the short face of the dark-skinned maknae.
These past few days, Chou Tzu-yu has been showing off all sorts of luxury brand collaborations and fashion shows, which has really given her enough to see. She was already quite envious and jealous, but she just pretended not to notice. Today, while getting her hair and makeup done, she actually managed to put on such a show.
Those stylists and staff were practically actors hired for Tzuyu's benefit. They were so eager to please her as members and older sisters that they were flattering and bragging. Who asked you what special edition it was? They were just babbling on like tour guides.
Hirai Momo was so angry she felt like her liver was about to burst, and she was quite resentful.
They're both from Twice, both girls, both... both beautiful, so why does this dark-skinned maknae get such good treatment?
"Seriously... Look at her, she's been carrying that shabby bag everywhere she goes these past few days, it's really too much!"
After complaining for a while, Hirai Momo became even more dissatisfied when she saw that Mina next to her was neither agreeing nor making a sound. She started panting and talking nonsense.
"A... a torn bag?"
Upon hearing her name, Mina, who hadn't said much until now, looked over, glanced at Momo Hirai's displeased face, burst out laughing, and asked cheerfully.
She clearly remembered that when Tzuyu received it for the first time, Momo-chan leaned over and stroked it for a while, looking like she really liked it.
"..."
When Mina exposed her, Hirai Momo froze in embarrassment, feeling instantly betrayed.
Fortunately, only the two of them heard this whisper. She playfully hit Hirai Momo, muttering, "I was trying to help you, and you just watched her smug like that?"
That's what they say, and that's exactly what Hirai Momo thinks too. Look how she was provoked by Chou Tzu-yu, let alone Mina.
Although Mina seemed perfectly normal these past two days, chatting and laughing as if nothing was amiss, Momo Hirai, who knew her well, knew that after being exposed by that scumbag, Mina was now keeping many things bottled up inside and not showing them much.
However, upon hearing this, Mina did not show the anger and dejection she had expected; she simply smiled and shook her head.
Seeing how good and considerate Chi Kyung-won was to Chou Tzu-yu, while Chou Tzu-yu was always in the limelight... she naturally felt very uncomfortable.
If it were before, this position should have been hers. In a sense, Chou Tzu-yu stole or replaced her position.
But... the more this is the case, the less likely she is to show it.
Everyone knows exactly what's going on between the two of them. If she shows anger or jealousy, it will only make people think she's in a state of impotent rage, and they'll only pity her.
She didn't like this feeling.
"..."
Hirai Momo pouted and muttered a few times, then, as if remembering something, added, "Besides, you two were so close before, didn't he say he'd give you one too?"
"give me?"
Upon hearing this, Mina burst out laughing again, as if she had heard something ridiculous.
But as he laughed, his voice gradually faded.
"He won't."
Mina knows Ji Kyung-won well. She knows that he is a sentimental person. Whether it was during their previous relationship or what she heard from others, she also heard that he and the girls he was close to before still had good relationships even after they broke up.
Like that Bae Joo-hyun, she kept hanging around him, and he couldn't do anything about it.
However, when it came to her, things were completely different.
Not only has there been no contact, but many things seem to be deliberately avoiding her, as if they don't want any further interaction.
Previously, Mina was very confused, puzzled, and sad... but now, she has gradually come to understand why Chi Kyung-won did this.
He could tell that she was too deeply invested in the relationship, and knowing that she couldn't handle it, she simply cut ties completely... Even the hurtful things she said when they broke up were probably for similar reasons.
From Chi Jingyuan's perspective, it seems like he's doing it for her own good.
However, after roughly understanding the situation, Mina, while feeling sad, couldn't help but feel a strong sense of anger.
My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt no pain. Only a surge of anger coursed through my veins, like a wild beast trapped in a cage, yearning to smash its bones and break free.
Who told you to do this for my sake?
But since things have come to this, no matter what, these emotions can only be buried deep in my heart.
"He's such a jerk. He knew you were there, yet he still treated Tzuyu like that."
"The nickname 'Fireworks Man' is truly fitting!"
Hirai Momo was still muttering and complaining about Chou Tzu-yu, but most of her criticism was directed at Chi Kyung-won. She was serious about it, and her tone carried a hint of childish defiance.
Mina couldn't help but chuckle, her lips curving into a smile, and her mood lightened a bit... That's just how Momo-chan is. She's a very insightful and intelligent person, but she's a bit slow to react and can be quite straightforward at times. All things considered, she often comes across as a bit goofy.
Yet it makes people feel less guarded.
"Ding~"
Just as she was wondering whether she should comfort her friend who was clearly envious, her phone suddenly vibrated slightly and the screen lit up.
A text message came in.
Mina picked up her phone and saw that it was a text message from her mother. She immediately clicked on it out of curiosity.
However, the next second, her breath hitched slightly, and she froze on the spot.
The text message contained a selfie.
In the photo, the father and mother are standing together. The father is wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with a Gengar pattern of a grinning face printed in the middle.
The mother was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with a cute Eevee licking its paws pattern.
Mina recognizes both of these outfits... they are two pieces from the Yuan & Pokémon collaboration launched by GUCCI this time.
These collaborations were also sold in Japan, and her parents seemed to know about the collaboration and her relationship with Ji Kyung-won, somehow managing to snag two pieces of clothing.
In the photo, her parents are arm in arm, her father grinning broadly and her mother smiling gently. They are both giving the camera a thumbs-up, their faces radiating sunshine and happiness.
It's like saying, 'Look, we got his clothes! What do you think of them?'
However, seeing the smiles on their faces, Mina felt a tightness in her chest, and a wave of bitterness washed over her, seeping from her heart into every part of her body.
As I watched, my nose suddenly stung, and my eyes unexpectedly welled up with tears.
…………
"...How is Da Nang?"
"Hey, you've never been there?"
"No."
"Are there any cities you haven't been to yet? Hehe, then I've been to one more place than you!"
After a busy period, Ji Kyung-won finally returned to Seoul and is currently on the phone with Tzuyu in his music studio.
Speaking of which, he's been out participating in GUCCI promotional activities lately, and I haven't seen Tzuyu for several days. He's been too busy and tired, so lately we've only been sending text messages, and we haven't even made many phone calls.
Furthermore, Twice went to Da Nang, Vietnam at the end of last month to film JTBC's outdoor variety show "Unity Makes Us Famous," and only recently returned to Korea.
Having finally managed to get a phone call to chat, Chou Tzu-yu naturally wanted to tell him everything, and as they talked, the conversation turned to their recent overseas shoot.
"...First we went to the beach. The waves were crashing, and it was very lively with lots of people. We even played beach volleyball. But I think the most interesting place was the city. We stayed in the old town, and in the evening, Chaeyoung, Sana unnie, and I went shopping. The things there were quite unique..."
Perhaps because she hadn't spoken to Ji Kyung-won in a long time, or perhaps because she was in a particularly good mood, Chou Tzu-yu's voice sounded very cheerful on the phone, chattering away: "On the second day of filming, we went on a basket-catch boat together, which is a local specialty. Jeongyeon unnie and I sat together, and it was a bit scary because it was swaying so much, and the sun was so bright..."
"Chou Tzu-yu, didn't you get a tan again?"
She was halfway through her sentence when Chi Jingyuan interrupted her, looking disgusted and asking maliciously, "You're already dark-skinned, and now you keep going to places like this. What will you do when you get so tanned you look like an African?"
"No, I'm very careful about sun protection, okay? And I'm not tanned at all. Don't talk nonsense, it's so annoying."
"You're the one from Africa! That's going too far!"
He clearly hit a nerve with the Tainan girl, Chou Tzu-yu, who immediately jumped up and down on the other end of the line, her voice becoming urgent and dissatisfied.
I was sharing my happy feelings and interesting travel stories with him, but this annoying guy just had to rub salt in my wounds. It was such a killjoy.
"Don't do that again!"
With a soft, unintimidating warning in her Taiwanese accent, Chou Tzu-yu's tone immediately became lively again: "That boat rocking back and forth was quite interesting, but... at first it seemed really fun, but then I realized there wasn't much else to it, and there were a lot of mosquitoes..."
"...I'm not really into swimming either. When we were at the beach, all the other sisters and MCs went out to play in the waves, and they weren't even wearing life jackets! I just couldn't. I stayed on the shore from the beginning. Oh, and Nayeon unnie too; she stayed with me the whole time."
"What?"
"Hmm~ I'm a little scared." The little black girl was a little embarrassed.
"Chou Tzu-yu, you're so tall and strong, how can you be afraid of water?"
Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan immediately chuckled and habitually retorted, "So, when we go out to play in the future, does that mean we can't choose coastal cities anymore?"
But as soon as he said this, he paused slightly, and for some reason, someone who was completely opposite to Chou Tzu-yu came to mind... Mina. He remembered that she loved the beach and playing in the water. They had even thought about going to Hawaii together sometime, as she especially loved Hawaii.
Call ~
Shaking her head to dispel the sudden thought and emotion, Zhou Ziyu's voice came from beside her at the same time: "It's not that simple, it depends on the situation~"
"what's the situation?"
"If you're by my side, I definitely won't be afraid~" The girl's voice was soft and pleasant to listen to, with a touch of playfulness in her tone.
"I'm afraid!"
"Humph~"
Chou Tzu-yu snorted, and was about to retort when she suddenly heard Chi Kyung-won casually ask, "It doesn't matter what happens in Da Nang, but your airport photo these past few days has been quite popular... When did you start wearing glasses?"
Several photos of Tzuyu have gone viral online in the past few days. They were taken when Twice was traveling to Da Nang and departing from Incheon Airport. Because the photos are so beautiful, they have sparked a lot of discussion and become a hot topic online.
Chi Jingyuan saw it by chance, raised an eyebrow and examined it for a while... He felt that Zhou Ziyu looked better in other people's photos.
"Huh? Hmm, hehe."
Chou Tzu-yu was slightly taken aback when she heard this, then immediately perked up: "I wear glasses all the time, you just haven't seen it... And what does it have to do with glasses? It's clearly because of me!"
"Did not see it."
"Tch, so you remember it so clearly?"
She didn't mind, retorted a few times, and shared her fashion tips with Chi Jingyuan. Then, as if she had suddenly remembered something happy, her voice rose sharply, becoming soft and sweet, like a bursting orange candy: "Oh yeah, do you know what happened to me at the beauty salon yesterday? Hehe, let me tell you..."
She didn't even have a chance to speak to Chi Jingyuan before she recounted the story of what happened in the beauty salon yesterday, as if she were squatting on the toilet. When she talked about the surprised looks and bewildered expressions of the stylists, their enthusiastic smiles afterward, and their friendly gestures in taking pictures with her, she described it vividly.
Every word is tinged with sweetness, as if speaking with a piece of fruit candy in your mouth. A flick of the tongue releases a light and cheerful melody, and even the pauses have a joyful rhythm.
Even across the phone and distance, Chi Jingyuan could feel the girl's joy and happiness, and he could almost see her dimples and little tiger teeth that she couldn't help but show.
Even his fatigue from a busy day was infected and made him a little happier... Hearing that the black girl was so happy, Chi Jingyuan was also quite pleased and a little proud. He didn't expect that the few collaborations he casually gave away could have such a good effect.
He didn't really care about things like the "paw pad" bag or the special edition; he just habitually prepared a few for her this time. Since it brought such good emotional value, those collaborations were worth it.
"...By the way, is it okay if I carry this bag out?" After listening to the story about the beauty salon and how she had been a little smug about how her older female teammates were envious, Zhou Ziyu suddenly asked.
"Didn't you say you memorize it every day?" Chi Jingyuan asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I usually memorize it privately, backstage, at beauty salons and stuff... I mean, I want to memorize it in public places, like airports or places where I might be photographed."
Chou Tzu-yu immediately explained, her tone rising slightly at the end, seemingly revealing her unique ambition.
"As you wish~"
Chi Jingyuan suddenly felt that this dark-skinned girl seemed to have become a little smug lately, and casually remarked without commenting.
"So, what if we get photographed?" After going around in circles, Chou Tzu-yu finally got to the point.
The "paw bag" is currently the hottest fashion item, and many celebrities and idols excitedly post pictures of themselves after getting their hands on it, easily making it a hot topic online. It's fine to carry it in private, and even carrying it publicly is harmless; in fact, it might encourage people to show off.
However, Chou Tzu-yu's bag is a special edition, and there are only a few in the entire peninsula. Although not many people have seen it, if she carries it out in public, some observant people will always notice it. Fans' eyes are as sharp as microscopes.
Once it's discovered that it's her bag that's different, it's easy to arouse suspicion and discussion. After all, many big-name actors can't get their hands on Chou Tzu-yu's bag, but she can, which makes it hard not to have bad thoughts.
This black girl wanted to show off, but she was also afraid of getting into trouble!
However, Chi Jingyuan immediately caught her little scheme and shut her up with a sneer: "Then don't bother memorizing it."
"No, I really like this bag!" The Taiwanese girl immediately started to whine sweetly, which made Chi Jingyuan feel smug.
"I've noticed that Chou Tzu-yu, you've really gotten a bit cocky lately!"
He retorted without mincing words, but after pausing for two seconds, Chi Jingyuan thought for a moment and then casually added:
"However, if you really like it, it's easy to arrange... Twice has a collaboration with GUCCI, right? I can introduce you to the president or director in charge of GUCCI Peninsula. You can take some photos together and post them online or on their official Instagram. That way, everyone will know that you have a good relationship with GUCCI, and they will think it's a gift from the official company. Then the fans won't overthink it."
"Oh, is that so?"
On the other end of the phone, Chou Tzu-yu blinked blankly, seemingly not quite understanding.
Originally, it was just because her experiences over the past few days had completely satisfied her vanity, which made her feel particularly good. She was even more smitten with Chi Jingyuan, who had caused all of this, and just casually mentioned it to express her joy.
Unexpectedly, in just a few seconds, Chi Jingyuan provided a solution, not only fulfilling her wishes but also introducing her to GUCCI executives.
Ok……
Chou Tzu-yu suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
"That's so thoughtful..." Her voice hesitated slightly, sounding soft and hesitant. "Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?"
"Neuropathy!"
This affected manner made Chi Jingyuan immediately curse: "Fine, if you don't want to do it, then forget it... This kid is just being pretentious."
Just as his anti-stupidity flared up and he was about to curse at the black woman, another work phone lying beside him suddenly rang, stopping him from saying what he was about to say.
"Wait a moment."
Ji Jingyuan gave a brief instruction, picked up his work phone, and answered it immediately when he saw that it was Park Jae-hyun calling.
"Is the script finished?"