24: Chapter 24 Seating Dispute

T-ara's performance came to an end, and the seven members bowed out, panting.

As the stage spotlights gradually dimmed, they followed the path guided by the staff toward the artist waiting area.

The path happened to pass by the staff area where Liu Zijun was; separated by a low railing, they could clearly see each other.

Park Ji-yeon was the first to see Liu Zijun; she stopped and gave him a deep bow, her voice sounding a bit emotional.

"Mr. Liu Zijun, thank you for your support!"

Just as she finished speaking, Jeon Bo-ram, Lee Ji-hyun, and the others also stopped and bowed. The seven of them lined up and said in unison toward Liu Zijun, "Thank you!"

Their movements were synchronized and sincere, drawing the attention of the surrounding staff, and even many artists stood up and looked back.

Han Jaeran subconsciously sat up straight and whispered to Liu Zijun, "Ji-Jun! This display is quite impressive."

Liu Zijun waved to them, a faint smile touching his lips, and raised his hand in a "fighting" gesture.

His gaze finally landed on Park Soyeon at the back of the line; her eyes were still red, clearly not yet recovered from the emotions on stage.

After the other members had walked ahead a few steps, Park Soyeon stayed behind. She walked to the railing and looked at Liu Zijun from half a meter away.

She tightly gripped the hem of her performance outfit with both hands, hesitating for a few seconds before speaking with sincerity, "Mr. Liu Zijun, really... thank you."

Liu Zijun looked at her, his heart softening slightly, and his tone became a bit gentler.

"You're welcome. Get some good rest."

Park Soyeon nodded, sniffled, bowed to him again, and then turned to quickly catch up with her teammates.

Han Jaeran patted his shoulder and sighed, saying, "T-ara really hasn't had it easy. They used to be the center of attention, but now even a word of support has become a luxury."

Liu Zijun didn't respond, but his eyes followed T-ara's silhouettes as they walked toward the artist waiting area, a faint sense of unease growing in his heart.

Sure enough, within two minutes, the sound of an argument came from the waiting area. Although there was some distance, someone raising their voice could be clearly heard.

"What do you mean by this? T-ara are also artists invited to perform; how can they not even have a seat?"

It was Kim Jong-hyun's voice, filled with obvious anger.

Liu Zijun and Han Jaeran exchanged a look and both stood up to walk toward the waiting area. Choi Sulli and the f(x) members were nearby, shifting their seats.

The seven members of T-ara were standing in the aisle because they didn't know where to go. Several SBS Television Station staff members stood before them with dismissive expressions.

"I'm really sorry, there are too many artists today, and there really aren't enough seats. Just wait for a while."

One staff member spread his hands, his tone completely indifferent.

All seven members of T-ara pursed their lips tightly, looking a bit lost!

"There's nothing we can do about it. It's your team's fault for scheduling so late."

Another staff member curled his lip, the contempt in his words plain to see.

Park Hyomin, this 'Xiao Ming' classmate, was about to say something more when she was pulled back by Park Soyeon, who shook her head and forced a smile at the staff.

"It's okay, we'll just stand."

But her concession only made the staff's attitude more casual, and they turned to attend to other matters.

This scene was caught by Kim Jong-hyun, who was just telling Choi Sulli and the others to squeeze in, while the SHINee members were also moving over, intending to make room for the T-ara members to sit together.

Seeing T-ara treated this way, he couldn't hold back and stepped forward to question the staff, "Aren't you being too much? You're not even arranging seats?"

Since Kim Jong-hyun was an artist after all, Han Jaeran stepped forward to pull him back, shaking his head to signal him not to escalate things.

They were just artists; they couldn't afford to offend broadcasting stations like SBS.

This was the entertainment industry of The Peninsula.

Just then, Victoria Song stood up and waved toward T-ara.

"Soyeon-xi, Ji-yeon-xi, come over here and squeeze in with us."

Liu Zijun stood outside the railing of the staff area, seeing everything clearly. His face grew darker, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath, "This SBS Television Station has such a small-minded attitude."

The SBS Television Station staff members instantly looked at him.

Liu Zijun didn't care and continued to stare back calmly.

Han Jaeran pulled his arm from the side and whispered a warning, "Don't be impulsive. This is their territory; it's not good for us to say too much."

Liu Zijun didn't listen. He looked at the two empty seats behind him—his and Han Jaeran's. The seats in the staff area were already more spacious than those in the artist area, and these two were right against the railing with an excellent view.

He suddenly shouted to Park Soyeon at the back, "Park Soyeon-xi, there are seats here, come over and sit!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it spread clearly through the waiting area, and everyone's eyes instantly focused on Park Soyeon.

She froze in place, looking at Liu Zijun in confusion, then at the people around her, waving her hands quickly, "No need, Mr. Liu Zijun, I'll just stand."

"I told you to come over, so just come. It's already too crowded there, why all the talk?"

Liu Zijun's tone carried a hint of unquestionable firmness, and he called out to Park Ji-yeon as well, "Park Ji-yeon-xi, come over too."

Being pulled along by Liu Zijun, Han Jaeran thought to himself, "Wow, this guy is something."

While Park Soyeon was still hesitating, Choi Sulli suddenly stood up from her seat in the artist area and waved to Park Soyeon, "Unnie Soyeon, come sit in my spot, I'll go sit with Joon oppa."

She spoke, and then circled out from the other side, leaving everyone looking at her back.

This little girl is so brave!

She ran to Liu Zijun's side, plopped down into his seat, crossed her arms, and turned her head away, not even looking at Liu Zijun, clearly throwing a small tantrum.

Liu Zijun looked at her pouting profile, then at the embarrassed Park Soyeon, feeling both helpless and amused.

He reached out to ruffle Choi Sulli's short hair, but she slapped his hand away, still keeping her head turned and muttering.

"I'm not going to talk to you. You only have eyes for Unnie Soyeon and don't even look at me."

These childish words were very quiet, heard only by Liu Zijun, and he couldn't help but laugh.

Park Soyeon eventually sat down, squeezing in with her members.

The SBS Television Station staff in the waiting area watched this scene with sour expressions, but no one stepped forward to say anything.

"Jin-ri? Do you have a problem with Park Soyeon-xi?"

Choi Sulli shook her head.

"After all, she is Oppa Soomyeong's first love, the one he never forgot. You and I are Oppa Soomyeong's family; we shouldn't watch her be humiliated."

Choi Sulli's nose twitched, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears!

"Oppa! When things aren't so busy in a few days, will you tell me about Oppa Soomyeong, okay?"

Liu Zijun nodded and said, "Okay! I'll cook a big Chinese meal at home then, and I'll tell you all about it."

Choi Sulli nodded, her tears nearly falling.