34: Chapter 34 Oppa, I'll be waiting for you at the company.

In the practice room of SM Entertainment in Seoul at this moment, the five girls of f(x) had just finished an intensive hour-and-a-half practice session.

Empty water bottles and towels used to wipe sweat were scattered across the floor.

Victoria Song was bending over, rubbing her aching knees, while Krystal Jung sat cross-legged on the floor looking at her phone. Only Choi Sulli was still facing the mirror, repeatedly practicing the details of a dance move.

The young girl's short hair was soaked with sweat, clinging to her temples.

"Seol-ri, take a break! If you keep practicing, your knees won't be able to take it."

Victoria Song straightened up, called out to Choi Sulli, and reached for the thermos on the table to hand it over.

Choi Sulli stopped her movements, took the water bottle, and took a sip. The sweet taste diluted the dryness in her throat, and she smiled at Victoria Song.

"unnie, I always feel like the range of this wave is still off. I'll find the right feeling if I practice a bit more."

Krystal Jung didn't even look up, muttering, "You've practiced it twenty times already, it's perfect. You won't see a difference even if you practice more."

She had just replied to a friend's message when she suddenly jumped up in shock.

"Ah—! Something big happened!"

This exclamation startled everyone.

Victoria Song walked over with a frown.

"Krystal, what's wrong? Why the sudden outburst?"

Krystal Jung snapped her head up, her eyes wide and round. She turned her phone screen toward the group, her voice trembling.

"Look at the trending searches! Something happened to Yoona Unnie!"

Everyone quickly gathered around. Choi Sulli also squeezed in next to Krystal Jung, her gaze falling on the phone screen.

The trending lists on all platforms like Twitter and Instagram were almost dominated by the same piece of news.

#Im Yoona Stage Fall# #Girls Generation Japan Performance Sudden Accident# #Im Yoona's Fate Unknown#

Even the entertainment trending lists in Europe and America had related entries. The accompanying photo was a blurry shot of Im Yoona falling from the lift stage, and the comment section had already exploded.

Luna covered her mouth, her eyes full of terror.

"How could Yoona Unnie fall from the stage? Isn't the stage security in Japan always quite good?"

Amber Liu was also looking at her phone and said, "The news says there was no protection at the edge of the lift stage, and Yoona Unnie stepped into thin air..."

Several people were looking at their phones when Krystal Jung suddenly let out a long sigh of relief, murmuring, "The latest news says Yoona Unnie was caught by the security personnel below the stage. She's fine, just a bit shaken.

But that security guard suffered a serious external injury to his shoulder while protecting her. He's been sent to the hospital now, and it's not yet known how serious the injury is..."

Hearing that Im Yoona was fine, everyone's racing hearts settled slightly.

Victoria Song also said with a sigh of relief, "It's good that she's okay. That was terrifying."

However, when Choi Sulli heard the words about the security guard being injured, her heart suddenly constricted.

Her face instantly turned deathly pale. She lunged to Krystal Jung's side and gripped Krystal Jung's arm tightly.

She asked with a trembling voice, "Krystal, does the news say who that security guard is? Is it... is it Joon oppa?"

Krystal Jung was in pain from the grip, but she didn't push her away. She lowered her head to continue scrolling through the news.

"The news doesn't mention a name, only that it's a security guard sent by SM Entertainment who followed Girls Generation to Japan."

Choi Sulli's brain went "buzz," turning completely blank.

It can't be. It definitely isn't him.

She desperately tried to comfort herself in her heart, but that panic surged up like a tide, almost drowning her.

She suddenly pulled her phone from her pocket, her fingers shaking violently. After finally getting her phone open, she immediately found Liu Zijun's number and dialed it.

"Beep... beep... beep..."

The phone rang for a long time, but no one ever answered. The cold dial tone was like a heavy hammer, striking Choi Sulli's heart over and over.

She didn't give up and dialed again, but the result was the same.

"Oppa! Answer the phone..."

Choi Sulli's voice carried a sob. Tears fell uncontrollably, splashing onto the phone screen.

Seeing Choi Sulli like this, Victoria Song's heart also tightened. She walked over and gently patted Choi Sulli's back.

"Seol-ri, don't worry. There was an accident on site. Maybe Ji-Jun is busy and didn't hear the phone ring."

Choi Sulli choked up, her tears falling even more fiercely.

"But what if the one injured is oppa?"

"If something happened to him, what will I do?"

Amber Liu and Luna also gathered around to comfort her.

But Choi Sulli couldn't hear any of it. Her mind was filled with the image of Liu Zijun blocking the coffee cup for her, and the gentle look in his eyes every time he looked at her.

Victoria Song gave Krystal Jung a meaningful look: "Krystal, call your unnie and ask about the situation."

Seeing this, Krystal Jung nodded and directly dialed Jessica Jung's number.

The phone rang a few times before being picked up. Jessica Jung's voice, carrying some exhaustion and anxiety, came through.

"Hello? Krystal?"

The phone was suddenly snatched away by Choi Sulli!

Hearing Jessica Jung's voice, Choi Sulli cried even harder.

"Jessica Unnie, Yoona Unnie is okay, right? Is the injured security guard Joon oppa? How is he?"

Jessica Jung was silent for a few seconds, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness and heartache.

"Seol-ri, don't cry yet. Yoona is fine, she's just a bit shaken.

The one who was injured is indeed Mr. Liu Zijun. To catch Yoona, his left shoulder was slashed by a metal strip. The doctor said fortunately it didn't hit the bone, but he just needs to rest well for a while."

"It really is him..."

Choi Sulli's vision went dark, and she almost collapsed. Victoria Song quickly supported her.

"Seol-ri! Seol-ri..."

Choi Sulli suddenly scrambled up again, grabbed the phone, and asked, "unnie, is oppa's injury serious? Which hospital is he in now? I'm going to Japan to find him!"

"Seol-ri! Are you okay?"

Hearing everyone calling Choi Sulli's name, Jessica Jung was frightened again. She quickly shouted into the phone, catching the attention of the members.

"Seol-ri, we are still planning to fly back to Seoul this afternoon. We're already packing our things, and Mr. Liu Zijun said he'll come back with us."

"But I'm worried..." Choi Sulli sobbed.

The phone was handed over to Kim Taeyeon.

Her voice was very gentle as she said, "Seol-ri, I know you're worried, but be good. Once we're back in Seoul, you'll be able to see him."

Choi Sulli was silent for a moment, looking at Victoria Song and the others with red eyes, full of helplessness.

Just then, Liu Zijun's voice came faintly from the other end of the phone, still steady: "Give me the phone, Taeyeon-xi."

Immediately after, Choi Sulli heard that voice she was incredibly familiar with: "Jin-ri?"

Choi Sulli's tears surged up again instantly: "Oppa! How are you? Does it hurt? What did the doctor say?"

Liu Zijun had a smile on his face, his voice extremely gentle—a side the Girls Generation members had never seen before.

"Silly girl, why are you crying? It's just a minor external injury. I'll be fine after resting for a few days. It's no big deal."

"But the news said you bled a lot..."

"That's the news exaggerating. The doctor has already treated it. They wrapped oppa's arm up like a zongzi. Don't worry. We'll fly back to Seoul this afternoon. At that time, I'll go straight to the company to find you and bring you some Strawberry Daifuku from Japan, okay?"

Choi Sulli sniffled and said through her sobs, "Okay... then you must be careful. I'll wait for you at the company."

Liu Zijun comforted her with a few more words, his face full of gentleness.