novelnext Chapter 1364 Cheers
Chapter 1364 Cheers
Chapter 1364 Cheers
The meat sizzled on the hot plate, and the surrounding smoke from the grilled meat carried the aroma of oil. The two chatted casually while drinking continuously. The relaxed state and environment made Chi Jingyuan, who had been tense for a long time, feel very comfortable. He didn't even realize that he was drinking more and more and that the alcohol was getting stronger and stronger.
Ji Kyung-won's face was already clearly showing signs of alcohol... He and Jung Eun-ji used to drink together often, sometimes quite a lot. Although this Busan woman's alcohol tolerance was indeed very good, it was still somewhat inferior to his compared to hers.
But at this moment, Jung Eun-ji seemed quite normal, only slightly tipsy.
"By the way, didn't you break up with so-and-so before?"
Ji Jingyuan took a bite of grilled meat, then suddenly looked at Jung Eunji as if he had thought of something: "Have you spotted any men lately? Let me give you some advice. You know my taste... You don't even have anyone pursuing you, do you?"
"The number of men pursuing her could stretch from Dongdaemun to Busan; you couldn't even count them all."
Instantly sensing the slight provocation in the other person's last sentence, Jung Eun-ji, undeterred, glared at him and began boasting. Then, she took out her phone, swiped through the album, and handed it to Ji Kyung-won: "There are a few in here that I think are okay. Just these few. Which one do you think is good?"
Ji Jingyuan has a really good eye for people, whether it's men or women. He's known Jung Eunji for so many years, she understands him very well and trusts him a lot.
Let me see~
Chi Jingyuan became interested upon hearing this, put down his chopsticks, and took the phone. However, his vision became blurry the moment he looked at the screen. He shook his head vigorously and squinted his eyes before he could see clearly.
The first person I saw was a man in his thirties. Just then, Jung Eun-ji introduced him: "The first one is a representative of an advertising company. We met when we were working together some time ago."
"Well……"
Chi Jingyuan blinked and looked at it for a few seconds before giving his assessment: "Not as handsome as me~"
"Ha~"
Upon hearing this, Jung Eun-ji couldn't help but roll her eyes: "Let's talk about something else."
In terms of appearance alone, how many people in this country are more handsome than you?
Besides, choosing a partner based solely on appearance is something only inexperienced young idols who have just entered the industry would do, okay?
Jung Eun-ji felt nothing but utter contempt in her heart.
Of course, the main reason is... that it's simply impossible to find.
"..."
Chi Jingyuan looked comfortable, clicked his tongue as he looked at the photos on his phone, and then said, "Moreover, although single eyelids are very common, the temperament doesn't feel very good. It feels like she's the type to commit domestic violence."
"You can even tell that there's a possibility of domestic violence?" Jung Eun-ji couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.
"I mean, it feels like... this kind of face is the kind where even if he doesn't commit domestic violence, every time you see him, you always feel like he's about to suddenly attack someone."
Chi Jingyuan organized his thoughts to describe the feeling, but he didn't give a definitive answer: "However, this is just the appearance. We'll have to get to know the real personality after we meet him."
After looking at the first one, he swiped his phone to see the next photo: "This one's just so-so too..."
He flipped through four or five photos in no time and gave his opinion on each one, some were just okay and some were not good... but there wasn't a single good one.
Jung Eunji appeared somewhat resentful, but in reality, she had long been used to it... This friend seemed gentle on the surface, but was actually incredibly arrogant. She could hide her true feelings towards the opposite sex, but she rarely found anyone she liked among the same sex.
Getting a 'normal' rating is actually not bad.
"This one isn't as good as the last one..."
After Ji Jingyuan finished showing what appeared to be the umpteenth photo, he casually swiped, and the next photo that appeared was not one of the previous men, but one of Son Na-eun.
This was clearly taken privately at work, with the expressions and smiles all very casual... but when Chi Kyung-won looked at it, he felt something was slightly off.
Because she looked a little different from when he last saw her.
"This is... Naeun. I feel like she looks different again, and she doesn't look as good as before."
After taking a closer look, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but complain, "Her aesthetic sense is so mediocre. Is this something she did herself, or something her company did?"
Although he didn't spend much time with Son Na-eun before, the memories of their youthful days are still quite nice. Even after so many years, Ji Kyung-won still has a good impression of her. It's just that he feels something is off about the changes in her face shape in the last two years.
Peninsula Medical Aesthetics is perfectly normal, but whether it makes you look better or less attractive depends on the medical professionals.
"Yes, I think so,"
Jung Eunji didn't realize at first why Ji Kyung-won suddenly mentioned Son Na-eun. He shook his phone and saw that he had found Son Na-eun's photos.
She gestured with her lip: "Naeun... has never been very confident about her profile and nose."
"I really think it's not as good as it was back then."
Chi Jingyuan shook his head and sighed, then looked at Zheng Enji and instructed, "Go back and tell her that if American companies aren't doing well, she can come and ask me if she doesn't know what to do."
Am I crazy to say that to her?
Jung Eunji couldn't help but roll her eyes again, but she didn't say anything. Ji Kyung-won was obviously a bit drunk and was saying things without thinking... But this was also a reflection of their relationship; Ji Kyung-won didn't have any reservations about her.
From the way he was chugging alcohol, Jung Eun-ji could tell that Ji Kyung-won seemed to be under a lot of pressure lately and wasn't in a good state.
But she didn't ask; she just said, "If you drink, I'll drink with you."
"...How's work lately? I haven't been keeping up since I went to the US. What's Apink up to these days?"
After chatting for a while, the two naturally started talking about work. Around 11 and 12, most of the third-generation girl groups that debuted around the same time as EXO had either disbanded or faded into obscurity, leaving very few remaining. APink was one of the few third-generation girl groups that was still making some waves.
"It's still the same, but things have gotten a little better this year since I changed companies..."
Jung Eun-ji took a sip of her drink and gave a brief explanation.
Apink's repeated changes in management companies and style transformation have indeed had a significant impact on the group, but their comeback this year has brought a slight recovery.
However, it's hard to compare with its peak period, and it has now shifted its focus to the Japanese market.
When Ji Kyung-won heard that Apink was about to release two Japanese albums in Japan, he couldn't help but complain: "Release two albums in two months? I remember you already released a Japanese single album at the beginning of the year, right? Releasing so many albums like this? Are you imitating Twice?"
"What do you mean by 'released indiscriminately'? These are all albums that were prepared very seriously and with great care, okay?"
Jung Eunji glared at him, somewhat annoyed: "That's how the company arranged it. They probably have their own reasons. It's already pretty good that some albums are ready to make a comeback."
"Do you think everyone is like EXO? Just randomly wandering around and becoming a huge star in Japan?"
The woman's tone was clearly sour.
"what."
Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan put down his wine glass and began to complain: "You have no idea how miserable it was when we first went to Japan this year. We were met with disdain everywhere, and the songs didn't get a good response."
"If it weren't for me behind..."
He talked on and on about the difficulties and turning points he faced in Japan, and Ji Jingyuan also didn't hold back in boasting about his contributions.
Everyone knows what's going on. Ji Kyung-won used to act like he didn't care when he was with his group, but now he's acting childishly and trying to take credit for Jung Eun-ji.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, you're the best."
Seeing Ji Jingyuan's boastful and self-satisfied manner, Jung Eunji helplessly agreed like she was coaxing a child, and then changed the subject: "I heard that you recently collaborated with Netflix on a new TV series?"
"Yes, we've been preparing for several months, and filming is about to begin." Chi Jingyuan let out a small burp.
"You didn't even tell me, or ask if there were any suitable roles or anything?" Jung Eun-ji narrowed her eyes.
"Uh……"
When Chi Jingyuan asked this, he rubbed his nose somewhat sheepishly and chuckled twice, "It's mainly because you didn't ask me~"
To be honest, although Ji Kyung-won had some casting power, he really didn't think of Guo Zheng at all... because, in Ji Kyung-won's mind, the only actors who were really unlucky in acting were Lin and Zheng.
Look at all the dramas Jung Eun-ji has acted in since she became famous after "Reply 1997," but has any of them achieved good results?
Only Chi Jingyuan could manage such a plague god.
"and……"
Seemingly realizing that his previous explanation wasn't quite convincing, Chi Jingyuan quickly added, "There really weren't any suitable roles, and you couldn't possibly play a minor supporting character or a corpse, could you? There are only two main female characters in the entire series, one is a beautiful and mature older sister..."
As he spoke, he looked at Jung Eunji's face, gently pursed his lips, and said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes.
Jung Eun-ji was annoyed by his look, but she couldn't really say anything to refute it. She could only slam her glass down on the table with a heavy thud.
Seeing her reaction, Chi Jingyuan, as if a winner, continued to speak with increasing conviction: "There's also a fragile yet strong high school girl, who needs to be youthful and pretty, and you too..."
As he spoke, he looked over again, just like before.
This time, however, Jung Eunji couldn't hold back and retorted, "Hey, where am I not innocent? Don't you know that Apink is all about the innocent image?"
"That happened so many years ago!"
Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan waved his hand dismissively, appearing as if to say, "A hero doesn't dwell on past glories."
But then he seemed to suddenly remember something and burst into laughter.
"What are you laughing at?" The laughter sounded strange, and Jung Eun-ji looked at him suspiciously.
"When you mention this, it suddenly reminds me of the first time I met Apink, it was backstage at the Dream Concert, right..."
Ji Jingyuan suppressed a laugh, raising his eyes to recall the past: "I remember when we first met, after we greeted each other, you seemed a little strange seeing me. Junmyeon explained that you guys were going for a pure and innocent style, and then I was really confused and said..."
Chi Jingyuan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "'Innocent, does that mean thick legs?'"
"ah!"
Hearing such blatant body bullying, Jung Eun-ji immediately shouted in displeasure.
She glared, wanting to curse, but looking at Chi Jingyuan laughing in front of her, past scenes and memories surfaced before her eyes. She opened her mouth with a strange expression, couldn't help but lower her head, and her body began to tremble slightly. After a while, she also burst into laughter.
My first impression was so bad... It's been so long already.
Jung Eunji looked at her legs, which were already incredibly slender and shapely thanks to her fitness routine. However, the re-enactment of past events gave her an inexplicable urge to return to the time when her legs were thick.
"..."
After laughing, Ji Kyung-won took a couple of sips of wine. Seemingly a little embarrassed about the drama, his eyes darted around and he suddenly remembered the song he had just chosen. His eyes lit up as he looked at Jung Eun-ji: "It's okay if the role isn't suitable, but... hey, do you have any work lately? I'm preparing to release a song and I'm looking for someone to sing along. Perfect timing, you can feature for me, and we can sing together."
He waved his hand and said, "Or 'Spying'... which means you can sing all the OSTs for my show. Netflix has invested a lot in it, so the song quality should be pretty good."
"As for collaboration... I'll listen to it, but let's skip the OST."
Jung Eunji glanced at him sideways: "I was just asking casually. I recently took on a new drama, 'Untouchable,' a new JTBC drama, and I'm about to start filming. How could I possibly sing an OST for another drama... Don't you know that?"
"Huh? Hahaha, I've been too busy lately, you know that."
Seeing Ji Kyung-won's nonchalant attitude, Jung Eun-ji smiled helplessly, but she was also a little touched. Ji Kyung-won was just like that; he was very generous and warm-hearted to his friends and didn't care about those things at all.
"I see you..."
They had almost finished eating, but Jung Eun-ji noticed that Ji Kyung-won's face was already showing signs of drunkenness, and he was still pouring himself glass of wine. Thinking about his obviously abnormal state today, she finally spoke up with concern, "You look very tired."
"what."
Suddenly pointed this out, Chi Jingyuan seemed to be stimulated by something. He paused for a moment, holding the wine glass for a few seconds, and then slammed it down on the table.
"Yes."
After a few seconds of silence, he spoke again, letting out a deep sigh that seemed to conceal his utter exhaustion.
Then he began to vent his frustrations:
"This period has been really tiring. It's one thing to be busy at the end of the year, but it's the same every year, so I'm used to it..."
"The key issue is the role in this TV series; it's putting so much pressure on me..."
"This is a very complex and twisted character. Even I wasn't confident I could play it well. I could only study it every day and try to immerse myself in the role..."
"Do you know how uncomfortable it is to imagine yourself as a psychopathic killer? I feel like I'm turning into one myself..."
"Oh, and I've been working on building muscle for the role lately, so I haven't had a proper meal in ages. I broke my rule with this barbecue today, so I'll have to double my training tomorrow."
“I didn’t really need to do this. I could have just acted it out and gotten by. Nobody could say anything to me anyway. Just the other day, some people thought I was exaggerating and that it was completely unnecessary…”
Some complaints and emotions had been brewing in my heart for a long time, but they had been suppressed and accumulated by reason. Now, facing a trusted friend and the trend of drunkenness, I finally couldn't help but let out the words and emotions that had been building up recently.
Chi Jingyuan leaned weakly against the wall, looking up at the dim yellow light from the ceiling of the private room. The light blurred into a hazy circle in his eyes. He tilted his head, a mixture of confusion and self-mockery in his eyes.
"Ah, sometimes I really wonder, with my family background, I don't need to work hard at all. I lack nothing. Is it really necessary to work so hard and seriously, torturing myself to the point of exhaustion..."
"..."
Jung Eun-ji listened quietly to Ji Kyung-won's incessant complaints. Looking at Ji Kyung-won, who had lost his luster and was now only exhausted, she felt a mix of sadness and emotion.
Even someone who is so radiant and seemingly omnipotent in the eyes of others will still have moments of confusion and vulnerability.
After a moment of silence, Jung Eunji took the initiative to pick up the wine bottle and walk around the table from the other side, putting her glass together with the one that Ji Kyung-won had just placed there, and poured the wine.
The clear liquor poured from the bottle at an angle, the bubbles bobbing and creating a refreshing, gurgling sound, accompanied by her casual and natural words: "Who told you to be Chi Jingyuan?"
She didn't look at him as she spoke; her gaze was fixed on the swaying wine. Her tone was casual, as if she were talking about the weather, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of entitlement.
Two glasses were filled, and Jung Eun-ji handed one to Ji Kyung-won, then picked up the other for herself, raising it with a smile: "Cheers~"
Chi Jingyuan looked at the wine glass in his hand, then at the Busan girl's unique smiling eyes and clear gaze. After a moment of silence, the corners of his mouth slowly relaxed into a relieved smile. He raised his wine glass and clinked it against hers forcefully.
A few drops of hops splashed out under the dim yellow light, while the oil on the nearby baking tray continued to sizzle.
"cheers!"