43: Chapter 43 Silly Girl Choi Jin-ri

It was still very early when the five members of f(x) stood in the basement of Liu Zijun's apartment building, clutching bags of all sizes.

Choi Sulli skipped along at the very front, a gift box still gripped in her hand, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Hey! Choi Sulli, slow down, be careful not to fall!"

Victoria Song followed behind, calling out helplessly while carrying ingredients she had just bought from the supermarket.

Even though Liu Zijun had told her he'd already bought plenty of ingredients, she still bought quite a lot of things.

This is a Chinese woman for you.

Krystal Jung held a decorative wreath, while Amber Liu and Luna carried several bottles of juice and red wine; the figures of the group appeared exceptionally vibrant under the dim lights of the basement.

"Hurry, hurry, the elevator is here!"

Choi Sulli looked back and waved, revealing a face beaming with smiles.

Stepping into the private elevator, Choi Sulli impatiently pressed the button for the top floor.

The moment the elevator doors opened, she was the first to rush out and knock on Liu Zijun's door.

The door was quickly opened; Liu Zijun was wearing a loose grey sweater, the gauze on his left shoulder hidden by his outer layer, a gentle smile on his face.

"You're here, come on in."

Choi Sulli suddenly lunged into his arms, then quickly backed away, fearing she might bump his wound.

"Joon oppa, we brought so many things! Today we definitely have to make your home super beautiful and the Housewarming Feast super lively!"

As Victoria Song and the others walked into the apartment, the three who were visiting for the first time let out three successive gasps of wonder.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room were polished spotless; the sunlight pouring in added a touch of warmth to the originally somewhat cool-toned decor.

Several exquisite fruit platters and some drinks were already set out on the bar counter; clearly, Liu Zijun had made some preparations in advance.

"Joon oppa, this apartment of yours is just too amazing."

Amber Liu put down the things in her hands and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, unable to help but sigh in admiration as she looked at the Han River scenery outside.

Krystal Jung walked over to the wine cabinet and scanned the famous wines inside; her eyebrows twitched, but she said nothing, silently helping to move the ingredients to the kitchen instead.

Meanwhile, Luna began to unpack a gift box, which contained a green plant she had specially selected, intending to place it in a corner of the living room to add some vitality.

Choi Sulli took Liu Zijun's hand and pressed him down onto the sofa.

"Oppa, today you just sit obediently and leave everything to us! This is the gift I got for you; open it now, okay? Then I want to put it somewhere you can see it every day!"

After saying this, she handed over the gift box.

Liu Zijun nodded with a smile and, with Choi Sulli's help, opened the packaging.

Inside was a small peach-shaped jewelry box and a photo framed in a picture frame.

The photo was a picture of him and Choi Sulli together.

The girl stood beside him, smiling brilliantly; it was exactly the photo she had asked Victoria Song to take a few days ago.

Under Choi Sulli's extremely expectant gaze, Liu Zijun opened the small jewelry box.

Inside was a peach-shaped pendant; the core component of the pendant featured an engraved portrait of Choi Sulli—it was clear this girl had it custom-made.

Seeing Choi Sulli's apprehensive expression,

Liu Zijun rubbed her head extremely gently and said, "Jin-ri! I like it very much! Thank you. Help me put it on; I'll definitely wear it all the time!"

The apprehension in Choi Jin-ri's eyes vanished, instantly replaced by joy.

She quickly took the necklace and helped fasten it around Liu Zijun's neck.

Smelling the strong masculine scent on Liu Zijun, Choi Sulli's face turned red with a bit of shyness.

As Liu Zijun caught the fragrance from Choi Sulli, his heart skipped a beat; this was a feeling that had appeared for the first time.

For a brief moment just now, he hadn't looked at Choi Sulli as a little girl or a younger sister.

He never avoided his own emotions.

Watching the two of them, Victoria Song's heart also skipped a beat!

The kind that felt like it was clattering and falling apart.

The Little Iceberg tightly gripped the gift in her hand, then slowly let go.

Choi Sulli looked around with the photo and finally ran upstairs giggling; she placed the photo on the master bedroom's nightstand, lining it up with Liu Zijun's solo photo before happily running back to join Victoria Song in the kitchen.

Victoria Song was going to make a few Chinese home-cooked dishes; Choi Sulli helped on the side by picking and washing vegetables, her little mouth never stopping its chatter.

"Victoria Song unnie, you must make your specialty Braised Pork; oppa will definitely love it."

Victoria Song rubbed her short hair and agreed with a smile, "I know, Sulli. I'll definitely show off my skills for your oppa."

Liu Zijun placed the other four's gifts in the study and leaned back on the sofa, a trace of a smile appearing on his lips as he watched the five of them busy themselves.

Krystal Jung hung the wreath on the living room wall, while Amber Liu and Luna began placing the green plants in suitable positions.

Just as the group was busy in full swing, a knock came from the entrance.

Liu Zijun got up to open the door; the Son Ye-jin standing outside made him freeze for a moment.

Today, Son Ye-jin had completely shed her usual 'big sister' demeanor, wearing a cream-colored knit cardigan over a light pink winter dress that reached her knees, revealing slender calves, with a pair of white canvas shoes on her feet.

Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail with a few strands left over her forehead; with only light makeup on her face, she looked like a college student in her early twenties, youthful and beautiful enough to be dazzling.

Liu Zijun stepped aside to let her in, his tone carrying surprise: "Why are you here so early? Didn't you say you had a schedule?"

Son Ye-jin carried an exquisite red wine gift box into the living room and said with a smile, "I came early on purpose to lend a hand."

Just as her voice fell, the five members of f(x) who were busy in the kitchen all poked their heads out; the moment they saw Son Ye-jin, they were all stunned.

Choi Sulli still had a handful of green vegetables in her hand, her eyes wide and round.

It was only when Victoria Song nudged her that she snapped out of it.

The five girls quickly gave a respectful bow and said, "Hello, Senior Son Ye-jin!"

Son Ye-jin quickly waved her hand and then said, "Everyone, please don't be so formal; just call me unnie!"

The five of them were full of doubt—why would Son Ye-jin appear at Liu Zijun's apartment, and dressed so young and beautiful at that?

Son Ye-jin walked into the living room and naturally placed the red wine gift box on the bar counter, clearly seeing the doubt of the five.

She smiled at them: "Zijun and I are friends. I heard he was having a Housewarming Feast today, so I came to join the fun."

As she spoke, she specifically walked over to Choi Sulli; Choi Sulli instinctively wanted to take a step back, but she forced herself to stop.

Son Ye-jin sighed inwardly, but still rubbed her short hair and said with a smile, "Sulli, you've become even prettier."

Choi Sulli looked up at Son Ye-jin, then at Liu Zijun; a feeling she couldn't quite describe suddenly welled up in her heart.

A young girl's thoughts are the most sensitive.

Son Ye-jin's appearance had caught her off guard, especially the natural eye contact between Son Ye-jin and Liu Zijun, which made her sense that something wasn't quite right.

She silently walked back to the kitchen, the green vegetables in her hand lightly deformed by her grip.

Looking at Victoria Song's busy back, she suddenly felt a bit sour in her heart.

The more she thought, the more frightening it became; her inner turmoil gradually intensified, and her wild thoughts wouldn't stop.

The most terrifying thing was that a thought actually surfaced in her mind.

Senior Son Ye-jin is beautiful and mature, and she looks so well-matched standing with Joon oppa, while she herself is just an underage girl who seems destined to only stand behind Liu Zijun as his sister.

This sense of inferiority surged up like a tide, causing her originally cheerful mood to plummet instantly.