novelnext Chapter 1245 No
Chapter 1245 No
Chapter 1245 No
"What did you say...?"
Nayeon murmured to herself, looking up as if reminiscing, while Mina, watching her unnie's slightly parted lips, couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.
Just as she was looking at Lim Nayeon, hoping that this older sister would say something that had always been on her mind...
"I've almost forgotten!"
Nayeon blinked blankly, then looked at Mina with a slightly embarrassed grin.
She had almost forgotten...
Her fervent anticipation faltered instantly, and Mina looked at Nayeon with a surge of frustration.
"It's been so long, I've almost forgotten..."
Although Mina didn't say anything, Nayeon could still sense her dissatisfaction, and she pouted and muttered something aggrievedly.
...That meal was when EXO was in Tokyo, which is almost half a month ago now. Besides, the things that Mina said weren't very important to her, so it's normal that she's forgotten some of them.
"Forehead……"
Seeing Lin Nayeon muttering to herself, Mina opened her mouth, feeling somewhat annoyed, but unable to blame her for anything.
……never mind.
Mina sighed inwardly, forced a smile, and prepared to comfort Nayeon before giving up.
However, just as she opened her mouth, Lim Nayeon, who had been looking a little confused because she couldn't remember, suddenly widened her eyes and grinned, revealing her rabbit teeth: "Oh right, it was about what you said to Mina, right... I remember now!"
She grinned excitedly, raising her right hand high as if she had accomplished some great feat and was waiting for praise.
"..."
Seeing her like this, Mina sighed silently again... She was already in a bad mood, and now she felt even more tired.
This eldest sister in the team is really unreliable... I should have asked Yoo Jeongyeon instead.
However, if you were to ask Yoo Jeongyeon, it certainly wouldn't be as easy as asking Lim Nayeon... In comparison, Yoo Jeongyeon is quite tight-lipped, and she has a particularly good relationship with Ji Kyungwon, so she might not be willing to talk about it.
"What...did he say, unnie?"
Although Lim Nayeon isn't very reliable, she has a kind heart and cares about others. Mina ignored her comical performance just now and asked seriously and softly.
"……Um."
Lim Nayeon also sensed Mina's urgency, and she recalled seriously: "We were talking about other things, and then someone suddenly mentioned your name, and then he... then Kyungwon stopped talking and took the initiative to ask us how you've been lately, and then we told him."
"So what did you guys say, unnie?"
When Mina heard the words "Chi Kyung-won didn't continue the conversation and took the initiative to ask," she nodded slightly.
"I was just saying... I didn't feel like I was in a very good state."
Nayeon started by saying that, but then seemed to realize that revealing the condition of her members like that wasn't a good thing, as it made her seem like a spy or a traitor, so she quickly added, "Mina, you haven't been looking too good lately, look how much weight you've lost..."
"It's okay, unnie, I know."
In response to Lim Nayeon's explanation, Mina simply chuckled and patted her back to indicate that she didn't mind.
Although after a breakup, most people subconsciously want their ex to know that they are doing better without them... even if it's just superficially better, they still have to put on a brave face.
But... for some reason, Mina didn't have that thought. Of course, she was aware of her own emotions and state, and the members of Twice could see it too.
Why deceive yourself?
It seems that because of Chi Jingyuan's hurtful words back then, she still harbors a rebellious spirit and doesn't mind Chi Jingyuan knowing her true situation. Deep down, she even has a morbid desire to know how Chi Jingyuan would feel if he saw her in such a miserable state.
Mina didn't know why she felt this way; she had never felt this way before.
...All I can say is that this scumbag hurt people deeply.
"Uh-huh."
Mina's small hand felt very comfortable, and Nayeon squinted her eyes in enjoyment, but thinking of the current atmosphere, she immediately became serious and continued, "Then Sehun oppa asked him why... he broke up with you, and then he hesitated for a moment and said..."
"say what?"
"He said……"
Lim Nayeon's acting talent kicked in; she coughed lightly and her expression changed instantly, mimicking Ji Jingyuan's demeanor at the time. With her eyes lowered, she sighed very softly and said in a low voice, "It's... my problem."
Both his expression and tone were slightly exaggerated, but they clearly showed what Chi Jingyuan looked like at that time.
"..."
Mina, who had been eagerly awaiting Chi Jingyuan's answer, was suddenly stunned upon hearing it, her eyes filled with surprise and even a hint of bewilderment.
When she heard Lim Nayeon say that, she instinctively wondered how Ji Kyung-won would respond. In a brief moment of thought, the answers that came to mind were, "If we break up, we break up," "There are no so many whys in a relationship," and "Let's not talk about this."
Mina never expected that this would be Ji Jingyuan's final answer.
He said it was his problem?
He actually admitted it himself... or rather, he felt that the breakup was his fault?
Whether Chi Jingyuan was sincere or just saying it casually... but since the breakup, the emotions that had been building up in Mina's heart for many days suddenly trembled slightly, and a strong feeling of bitterness and grievance welled up from her heart.
In the days that followed, Chi Jingyuan's final, resolute words at their breakup felt like a poisoned dagger, deeply etched into Mina's heart. Every time she recalled them, the sharp pain would spread from her heart to every limb, making even breathing painful. The emotions she had poured out, the sincerity she had given without reservation, were ultimately discarded by him like a worn-out garment, as if he hadn't cared about them at all. This pain of being utterly rejected was a hundred times more profound than any verbal hurt.
...And now Chi Jingyuan has actually taken the blame upon himself!
These words were like a dull knife, slowly but precisely prying open the floodgates of emotions she had been suppressing for days. A sudden, intense soreness welled up in her chest, and something seemed to choke her throat. She hurriedly lowered her eyes, but could already feel warm tears welling up at the edges of her eyes.
However, she immediately lowered her head, gently rubbed her eyes to suppress the emotion, and when she looked up, she had a smile on her face and asked curiously, "And then, unnie?"
"And then... actually, when Kyungwon oppa said that, Jeongyeon and I didn't think anything of it, because we already thought it was his problem. But at this moment, Sehun oppa was really surprised, looking at Kyungwon oppa with great astonishment and saying..."
Lim Nayeon spoke quickly, and when she mentioned Oh Sehun, her expression changed again. She started imitating him once more, mistaking the refrigerator next to her for Ji Kyungwon, staring at him with wide eyes, and vividly portraying the surprise in her eyes as she said:
"You've dated so many girlfriends before, and when I asked you why you broke up with them, you were always nonchalant, saying things like 'it's normal' or 'it's a good breakup,' and you never took it to heart."
"You actually admitted it was your fault this time? I've never seen you admit it before. This is the first time, isn't it?"
She couldn't quite remember exactly what Wu Sehun had said more than half a month ago, but she still remembered the general meaning. She built her own understanding on Wu Sehun's original meaning and repeated it to Mina.
After saying that, she wrinkled her nose at Mina: "Jeongyeon and I didn't think anything was wrong at first, but Sehun oppa was so surprised, and after he said that, we also felt that something was... different."
Mina unconsciously bit her lower lip, her chest heaving with emotion.
Lim Nayeon is truly gifted at imitation. With her vivid descriptions, Mina easily felt the scene and understood what Oh Sehun was saying.
The more I understand, the more intense the emotions surge within me.
Just then, Lim Nayeon seemed to remember something and added, "Oh right, after I finished speaking, Sehun oppa asked incredulously at the end..."
"What did you ask?" Mina pressed.
He asked, "This time, you've actually fallen for her?"
"..."
Minami's hands trembled slightly as she asked again in a hurried voice, "Then what did he say?"
"..."
Lim Nayeon lowered her eyes, appearing deep in thought. After a few seconds, under Mina's somewhat anxious gaze, she blinked and spread her hands: "That's how it is. Kyungwon oppa didn't say anything, he just lowered his head and remained silent for a while..."
"But judging from his tone... he seems to have tacitly agreed, right?"
Lim Na-yeon took a sip of milk, resting her right hand on her chin, both speculating and satisfied with her performance.
...However, she really couldn't remember the specific details of the situation at the time. Now that she thought about it, it seemed that Wu Sehun didn't ask for such details. He only said "You actually really" and didn't say "you've fallen for her".
The last few words were added by her based on her own impression and the context.
But judging from the atmosphere, that's probably what Sehun oppa meant, and...
Lim Nayeon glanced at Mina, who was clearly lost in thought, and sighed inwardly, but was also somewhat satisfied with her own literary embellishment.
"..."
With her emotions churning, Mina lowered her head, trying to keep her feelings from being expressed through tears. Nayeon seemed to know that she was feeling complicated, so she didn't say anything more, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
"Suck~"
A few minutes later, Mina looked up, sniffed, and then laughed: "Unnie, what else did he say?"
"He didn't say anything more after that... It seems like Kyungwon oppa doesn't want to say anything more."
Lim Nayeon shook her head, recalling Ji Kyung-won's expression at the time: "We were having a pretty good chat before, but after you were mentioned... his mood seemed to have soured, even though he was the one who asked about you."
“And…” Lim Nayeon recalled, analyzed, and imagined: “It wasn’t the kind of ‘hateful’ badness. I felt it was the kind of badness that made me feel a little guilty. Ugh, I can’t really explain it… Anyway, the feeling I got when he mentioned you was a little different from what I had imagined.”
"Is this so..."
Minami nodded slightly.
Nayeon's spoken expression was somewhat disordered, but the meaning was clear. She understood the emotions Nayeon wanted to express, and the expression that Ji Kyung-won should have naturally appeared in her mind's eye.
"..."
After speaking, Lim Nayeon looked at Mina, who was lost in thought, and suddenly felt that she might have said too much. She licked her lips and tentatively asked, "Mina, what's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly asking these questions today..."
Her tone was hesitant: "Although it seems like Jingyuan oppa did have some... but so much time has passed, you wouldn't be thinking about getting back together, would you?"
"Hehe."
Mina sniffed again upon hearing this, looked up at Nayeon, and met her slightly complicated gaze. After a few seconds, she suddenly laughed: "What are you talking about, unnie? I'm just a little curious... or maybe I'm just unwilling to accept it, I just want an answer."
Of course she likes Chi Jingyuan. She liked him from the first time they met, and that feeling hasn't changed over the years; in fact, it's only grown stronger.
Her heart always held a soft spot for Chi Jingyuan. From the initial flutter of attraction to the deepening affection over time, this feeling never faded; instead, it grew richer and more profound with the passing years. Even after they broke up, she couldn't deceive herself into thinking she no longer loved him.
Even though they've broken up, she won't deny that she still likes him.
The thought and impulse of 'getting back together' had crossed her mind countless times; she thought about it almost every day since the breakup.
She often tries to find out about Ji Kyung-won, follows his news... and even now she asks Lim Na-yeon about these things, which is perhaps because this thought has always been in her heart and has never disappeared.
However, as time went by, this idea gradually ceased to be the mainstream view. Instead, as the mood became increasingly gloomy and depressed, it was gradually suppressed by another emotion in the heart.
This is an emotion that is a mixture of various feelings: anger, resentment, and grievance.
No matter how love-struck a person is, they will mature after being hurt so intensely once.
Although the things she learned from Lim Nayeon and the attitude of Ji Jingyuan made her feel much better and she had many feelings... can the previous hurt be easily erased?
She doesn't want to.
…………
The next day soon came.
As evening approached, the temperature was muggy, but the area around the Yodogawa River in Osaka was bustling with activity.
The summer night breeze carried the lingering heat, and the crowd surged toward the riverbank like a tide.
The shouts of vendors rose and fell, the sizzling of takoyaki griddles filled the air, and the sweet aroma of candied apples mingled with the slightly bitter taste of beer foam.
Girls skipped by in their wooden clogs, the hems of their yukatas fluttering, the goldfish hairpins in their hair swaying gently with each step, like shimmering lights. Picnic mats were already spread out on the riverbank; some held up fans to shield themselves from the sun, others adjusted their crooked hair ornaments while looking at their phones, and couples quietly intertwined their fingers amidst the crowd.
The summer heat couldn't stop the surging crowds; the entire riverbank was already filled with bustling throngs. As far as the eye could see, a sea of black heads stretched out, rising and falling like waves at high tide. The cacophony of laughter and vendors' shouts rose and fell, mingling with the aroma of food, weaving a web in the air.
Amidst the noise, Lim Nayeon and Yoo Jeongyeon, along with Park Jihyo and Hirai Momo, who was clearly the team leader but also unfamiliar with the area, strolled around, curiously observing everything around them.