109: Chapter 109 The Clever Lin Xiaolu

As the yacht sat anchored in the shallow waters, the wind over the sea seemed to carry a hint of gloom because of Liu Zijun's decision.

The once boisterous yacht was now silent, save for the rhythmic splashing of waves against the hull and the occasional low sigh.

Choi Sulli curled up on a lounge chair in a corner of the deck, wrapped in a thin blanket. Her chin rested on her knees as she stared blankly at the distant horizon.

The decision Liu Zijun had just announced was like a massive boulder, causing her heart to churn restlessly.

She didn't want to hold back the group because of herself, nor did she want to change the feeling of relying on Liu Zijun.

Liu Zijun wanted her psychological resilience to strengthen, making her more independent and self-respecting, but she had already grown accustomed to depending on him.

Meanwhile, Krystal Jung leaned against the railing, maintaining her usual cold demeanor, but her brows were tightly furrowed, and her fingertips unconsciously picked at the railing.

She didn't cry or speak, yet one could feel the inner struggle she was going through.

Victoria Song walked over, wanting to offer a few words of comfort, but after a moment's hesitation, she didn't speak. She simply stood silently by her side for a while before turning to check on Amber Liu and Luna.

Amber Liu's sense of loyalty was truly no joke.

She handed a bottle of juice to Luna and whispered, "Don't think too much. Joon oppa is doing this for our own good. Looking at Sulli's state right now, she really does need to become more independent."

Luna nodded, but her eyes couldn't help but dart toward Choi Sulli and Krystal Jung, her face full of worry.

Im Yoona felt uneasy as she watched the heavy atmosphere unfold before her.

She knew Liu Zijun's decision was for the best for Choi Sulli and Krystal Jung, and she understood the young girls' thoughts; after all, for female artists like them, this was the age to reach the next level!

But seeing the young girls looking so aggrieved still made her heart ache for them.

Son Ye-jin sat beside her and gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her not to worry too much.

She, on the other hand, took things in stride and saw the situation clearly.

Im Yoona stood up and walked toward Liu Zijun on the top deck of the yacht.

He was leaning against the railing, wearing a simple white shirt and black shorts. His exposed arms were sleek and powerful, and a waterproof bandage was taped over the wound on his right chest, visible through his partially unbuttoned shirt, making it particularly striking.

He didn't disturb Choi Sulli or Krystal Jung, simply gazing at the sea in silence, lost in thought.

"Oppa."

Im Yoona called out softly and sat down beside him, her body naturally leaning against his shoulder.

Liu Zijun turned his head, and feeling the weight on his shoulder, the tension in the corners of his mouth softened slightly.

"Why did you come up? Aren't you going to chat with Yejin and the others?"

Im Yoona nuzzled his shoulder, her voice gentle.

"The atmosphere is a bit too stifling, I wanted to come and keep you company."

"You clearly care about them so much, so why use such a blunt method?"

"Wouldn't it have been better to let the company say those things?"

"Doing it this way, Sulli is bound to be sad for a long time and will definitely overthink things."

"Everyone knows how much she relies on you."

Liu Zijun shook his head and looked out at the sea again, his eyes holding a hint of helplessness but mostly determination.

"Yoona, you really are very smart! I told you I'm not a good person. This is just my way of doing things."

"Even though I care about Jin-ri, she needs to grow up."

"There are some things I must say personally for her to truly take them to heart."

"Letting the company say it would work, but once they found out the truth, they would only feel worse."

"If the company said it, she might just see it as a task and wouldn't truly understand the intention behind it."

He paused and continued, "She relies on people too much. I'm protecting her now, but I can't protect her for a lifetime."

"Even though she might never encounter those kinds of days again in this life, I still hope she can become an independent and strong Jin-ri."

"Instead of placing her hope for the world on others—including me!"

"Letting her go to school, learn to be independent, and come into contact with things outside the entertainment industry is the true protection for her."

"I don't want her to spend her life reading other people's expressions and living as a dependent."

Im Yoona hugged his arm tightly, her cheek pressed against his shoulder, and whispered, "I know, I understand. I think Sulli and the others will understand too."

The sea breeze blew past, ruffling Im Yoona's long hair and scattering some of the gloom.

She was silent for a moment, then as if suddenly remembering something, she looked up at Liu Zijun, her eyes full of confusion.

"By the way, oppa, why are you so good to Krystal, giving her the chance to choose?"

"You could have just made Sulli go to school."

"And why are you so cold to Jessica Unnie? Last time at the company, your attitude toward her wasn't exactly good."

Hearing Jessica Jung's name, a faint smile played on Liu Zijun's lips.

In his past life, her photo had been placed before him, with the claim that someone had made a great sacrifice in exchange for resources.

Coupled with a vague memory of Choi Soo-myung mentioning that Girls Generation had gone from nine members to eight.

Though he didn't know the specific reasons, he didn't have any personal grudge against Jessica Jung.

However, if this world hadn't been too disrupted by his 'butterfly effect,' her issues would eventually surface.

"She always thinks she's smart and can control everything, trying to navigate the capital circles with that little bit of cleverness, not knowing that those capitalists are all predators who devour people whole."

"If she doesn't suffer a bit, she won't know how treacherous this world is."

The smile on Im Yoona's face faded, replaced by worry.

"But Hyo-yeon Eonni introduced Jessica Unnie to some people from Hong Kong Island and Shanghai a few days ago, saying it was to pave the way for her fashion brand."

"I'm really afraid—afraid she'll be scammed, and even more afraid something will happen to Girls Generation."

"Our group looks fine on the surface right now, but things seem to have changed quite a bit internally."

"The current Girls Generation really can't withstand any more storms."

She felt a surge of panic as she recalled the incident with Choi Jae-ho.

Those so-called big-shot capitalists looked glamorous on the surface, but who knew what filth lay hidden beneath?

Jessica Jung was hell-bent on creating her own brand, but she was too eager for success and had no idea how deep the waters truly were.

As soon as Liu Zijun heard 'Hong Kong Island,' his heart stirred. Was it starting?

He glanced subtly toward the corner below the yacht deck, not overly concerned.

Seeing Im Yoona's worried face, Liu Zijun reached out and ruffled her hair. He suddenly laughed, shook his head, and changed the subject.

"Yoona, do you want to eat lobster?"

Im Yoona was stunned for a moment and nodded subconsciously.

Who doesn't like lobster? She just hadn't expected Liu Zijun to bring it up so suddenly.

Without saying more, Liu Zijun stood up, grabbed his white shirt with both hands, and pulled it off, revealing his well-defined upper body.

His physique wasn't that of an exaggerated bodybuilder, yet every part of him exuded a sense of power. The smooth lines of his shoulders and back, his firm abs, and the scar on his right chest covered by a waterproof bandage all radiated a wild and charming allure under the sunlight.

"Oppa, what are you doing?"

Seeing his actions, Im Yoona felt a bad premonition rising in her heart.