193: Chapter 193 Gentle Ham Eun-jung

Liu Zijun drove away from the jk sisters' apartment complex, raising a hand to rub his brow as the scenes from the apartment earlier replayed repeatedly in his mind...

As the car moved through the traffic in Seoul, Liu Zijun took out his phone and first sent a message to Choi Sulli.

The girl didn't reply for a long time; clearly, she was busy with her schedule, so he set aside the thought of disturbing her.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Zijun dialed Son Ye-jin's number. It rang for a long while before being picked up, and Son Ye-jin's gentle but tired voice came from the other end.

"Ji-Jun, I'm out of town filming a movie. It's a closed set, so I can't return to Seoul for the time being."

"Why the sudden call? Is something wrong?"

Liu Zijun smiled and said, "It's nothing major, I just wanted to see if you were busy."

"Since you're busy, don't get distracted. Take good care of yourself."

Son Ye-jin's voice carried a hint of a smile.

"Okay, I'll contact you when I get back to Seoul."

Hanging up the phone, Liu Zijun tossed it onto the passenger seat and gave a helpless smile.

Indeed, everyone around him was busy with their careers; only he had become an "idle person" at this moment.

His original plan to accompany Krystal Jung had fallen through, and Choi Sulli, Im Yoona, and Son Ye-jin all had their own schedules.

In the vast city of Seoul, today was a rare moment of peace and quiet.

He turned the car around, intending to head back to his apartment for a good sleep.

By the time Liu Zijun woke up, it was almost dark. He was planning to grab a quick bite and then head to a bar for a drink.

His phone suddenly rang, with the name "Ham Eun-jung" flashing on the screen.

Liu Zijun raised an eyebrow and pressed the answer button. Ham Eun-jung's mild voice came through the receiver.

"Liu Zijun, are you... busy right now?"

"Not busy, I just woke up. What's up?"

Ham Eun-jung's voice paused.

"It's like this,"

"I happen to have no schedule today and made some food at home. I wanted to ask if you're free? Would you like to come over and try some?"

Liu Zijun's heart stirred, and he had no intention of refusing.

"Sure, send me the address. I'll head over now."

Anyway, since he was already a scumbag, he wasn't afraid of whether he'd get one or two more bites from the lice.

Ham Eun-jung's voice became noticeably lighter, carrying an irrepressible joy.

"Mhm! I'll send it to you right away!"

Half an hour later, following the address, Liu Zijun parked his car in front of a quiet apartment building.

This was Ham Eun-jung's own home. The complex was lush with trees and much quieter than other neighborhoods.

He rang the doorbell, and the door was quickly opened.

Ham Eun-jung was wearing a set of off-white loungewear, her hair draped casually over her shoulders. She wore light makeup, looking less glamorous than on stage and more like a gentle homebody.

Seeing Liu Zijun, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she hurriedly stepped aside to let him in. "Come in quickly, it's hot outside."

The apartment wasn't large, but it was decorated warmly and neatly.

A soft beige blanket was spread over the living room sofa, several small green plants sat on the coffee table, and clean clothes were drying on the balcony.

The aroma of food permeated the air, making one feel inexplicably at ease.

Ham Eun-jung finished speaking with a smile and turned to walk into the kitchen. Her figure in the apron appeared exceptionally virtuous.

"Make yourself at home. I'll go bring out the last soup."

Liu Zijun sat on the sofa, his gaze sweeping over the living room's layout.

Several T-ara group posters hung on the wall, along with a solo photo of Ham Eun-jung.

An open script lay on the coffee table, filled with dense notes beside it. It seemed she was honing her acting skills even during her rest.

Not long after, Ham Eun-jung came out of the kitchen carrying dishes.

Four dishes and one soup filled the table.

Ham Eun-jung handed the chopsticks to Liu Zijun and said somewhat bashfully, "Usually I eat with the sisters at the dorm and rarely cook for myself, so my skills might not be great."

Liu Zijun picked up the chopsticks, took a piece of fried pork belly, and put it in his mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a light garlic aroma; the taste was unexpectedly good.

"It's delicious, even more authentic than what's made in restaurants."

"I didn't expect you to be not only great at singing and dancing but also good at cooking."

Ham Eun-jung's cheeks grew even redder at the praise. She lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.

She served Liu Zijun a bowl of seaweed soup and said softly, "Eat more if you like it. You look like you've lost quite a bit of weight lately; you must not have been eating properly."

The two chatted casually while eating.

Ham Eun-jung spoke about the preparations for T-ara's new album, her tone full of anticipation.

Liu Zijun listened to her speak, occasionally chiming in to share some of his own experiences.

Without the constraints of the stage or the previous ambiguous testing, the two chatted about light topics like a real newlywed couple, the atmosphere warm and pleasant.

After finishing the meal, Ham Eun-jung gathered the dishes and went into the kitchen. Liu Zijun wanted to help, but she stopped him.

"Just sit and rest; I'll take care of the cleaning."

He had no choice but to sit on the sofa, watching Ham Eun-jung's busy figure in the kitchen.

This plain and real scene allowed his long-tensed nerves to gradually relax. This Ham Eun-jung truly looked like a good wife.

After finishing in the kitchen, Ham Eun-jung came out with two glasses of juice and sat down beside Liu Zijun.

Ham Eun-jung suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation.

"Oppa, about what happened at the korean beef restaurant and in the underground garage..."

"Was I too proactive? Did I make things difficult for you?"

"You know, all of us T-ara members are very grateful to you!"

Liu Zijun turned to look at her. Seeing the anxiety and unease in her eyes, a pang of sympathy rose in his heart.

He reached out, gently rubbed her hair, and pulled her into his arms, saying tenderly, "No, because you all deserve it."

Ham Eun-jung's voice dropped.

"But you have Sulli, Yoona, and Yejin Unnie by your side..."

"Sometimes I feel very selfish. Even though I know there are so many people around you, I still can't control my feelings."

Liu Zijun looked into her eyes, his tone serious.

"You are excellent and brave. Being liked by you is my good fortune. I won't let your feelings down, and I'll try my best to take your feelings into account."

Ham Eun-jung looked up, meeting his gentle gaze, her eyes slightly reddening.

She didn't speak, only huddled tightly in Liu Zijun's arms, her hands clutching the hem of his shirt.

The living room was silent, save for the occasional bird chirps from outside and the distant sound of cars.

The light in the room gradually dimmed, but it didn't affect the atmosphere between them at all.

Ham Eun-jung leaned against Liu Zijun's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, her heart filled with a sense of security.

Liu Zijun gently patted her back, the faint fragrance from her body lingering at the tip of his nose.

Ham Eun-jung's voice carried a hint of lazy hoarseness.

"Oppa! Tonight... can you stay?"

Liu Zijun's body stiffened slightly as he looked down at the woman in his arms.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes held a touch of shyness and anticipation, like a docile kitten that one couldn't bear to refuse.

He was silent for a moment, then nodded gently, his voice deep and tender: "Okay."

A brilliant smile instantly appeared on Ham Eun-jung's face, like sunlight after rain, warm and dazzling.

She looked up and took the initiative to kiss Liu Zijun's lips. This kiss was shy and tentative, yet filled with deep love.