62: Chapter 62 The Sinking Tenderness

In Liu Zijun's apartment, the lights were still on, but the air was thick with oppression and anxiety.

Choi Sulli and Im Yoona sat at opposite ends of the sofa with a distance between them, neither of them speaking.

The clock on the wall ticked away, tick-tock, tick-tock.

Every minute and every second felt like a heavy blow to their hearts.

Choi Sulli was curled up in the left corner of the sofa, wrapped in Liu Zijun's black overcoat.

Her head was bowed, her hands tightly clutching the hem of the coat. Her eyes were hollow as she stared blankly at the floor, looking soul-less. Only the occasional slight trembling of her shoulders betrayed her inner turmoil.

Im Yoona also hugged her knees, staring at the door. From time to time, she glanced at Choi Sulli, her eyes hiding lingering worry and helplessness.

Suddenly!

The soft sound of the digital lock unlocking came from the entryway, and two pairs of eyes turned toward the door at the same time.

Liu Zijun pushed open the door and walked in, only to witness this scene.

"Oppa!"

Almost the instant the door opened, Choi Sulli seemed to have been switched on. She suddenly sprang up from the sofa and threw herself at Liu Zijun.

Her movements were forceful. Before Liu Zijun could react, she tightly hugged his waist, burying her cheek in his chest and greedily inhaling his scent.

This was the last straw she could grasp in this world, the only warmth she could touch before falling into the abyss.

Liu Zijun instinctively reached out to hold her. Just as he was about to say "I'm back," his lips were blocked by a soft sensation.

Choi Sulli stood on her tiptoes and took the initiative to kiss his lips.

Her kiss was awkward and urgent, carrying a hint of madness.

Her tongue was very clumsy, tentatively exploring Liu Zijun's mouth as if venting the accumulated fear and helplessness in her heart.

She didn't care about anything anymore.

It was as if the entire world only consisted of the man before her, and this was her last chance to be close to him.

Im Yoona also stood up, but her body froze in place, a trace of relief appearing on her pale face.

She carefully scanned Liu Zijun's body over and over. After confirming he was fine, she breathed a soft sigh of relief.

But when her gaze fell upon the two entwined figures, the light in her eyes dimmed bit by bit, finally leaving only loneliness.

Choi Sulli's kiss grew more intense, and her hands began to grope restlessly. Her fingertips slid down Liu Zijun's suit buttons, wanting to remove that barrier.

Her movements were unskilled and reckless.

The coat she was wearing also slipped off, revealing the thin dress underneath.

Every one of her actions spoke of her determination to give herself to him.

"Jin-ri!"

Liu Zijun snapped back to his senses. He firmly pressed his hands against Choi Sulli's shoulders, prying her off him with a firm but gentle touch.

His gaze turned somber for a moment as he looked at the girl before him, whose eyes were as lifeless as ash, yet who was still desperately burning herself out.

His heart felt like it was being pricked by needles, tightening with pain.

Being pushed away, Choi Sulli stumbled back a few steps and slumped onto the sofa.

She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears that she stubbornly refused to let fall. Those peach-like eyes, which used to be full of starlight, stared intently at Liu Zijun.

"Oppa, why?"

"I want to give myself to you, right now..."

"But why? Do you despise me?"

Her voice was terribly hoarse and extremely low.

Liu Zijun sighed. This silly girl was so prone to self-deprecation!

He knelt down, cupped Choi Sulli's face in his hands, and looked her in the eye. "Jin-ri, how could Oppa despise you?" he said firmly. "You are the girl Oppa cares about the most. I promised Soomyeong I would protect you, so I won't let anything happen to you, and I certainly won't let you do something so foolish."

Choi Sulli was stunned. Her tears finally could no longer be held back and slid down her cheeks onto Liu Zijun's hands.

The silly girl whispered, "Then do you not like me? It makes sense; I hate myself for having this kind of face too. Or is it that you like Yoona Unnie?"

The ashen look in her eyes grew thicker.

Liu Zijun raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from her face with his thumb.

"How could that be! The girl Oppa likes most is our Jin-ri. Jin-ri is also the most beautiful girl in the world!"

"It's just that Oppa doesn't want you to give yourself to me in this state, do you understand?"

Choi Sulli looked up, staring blankly at Liu Zijun, trying to confirm the truth of his words.

"But... I... I'm afraid..."

She really wanted to say it, but Liu Zijun interrupted her.

"There are no 'buts'... Like I said, I will always be on your side!"

Im Yoona, who had been silent throughout, watched this scene. Hearing those words, she quietly picked up the overcoat from the floor and placed it gently on the armrest of the sofa.

She knew there was no place for her here anymore.

Choi Sulli's despair and dependence, and Liu Zijun's tenderness and determination, all spoke of a bond between them that no outsider could intrude upon.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions surging in her heart, and spoke softly, her voice as light as a feather.

"Joon oppa, Sulli, I'm leaving now."

Liu Zijun looked up at her and gave her a smile, his eyes filled with apology.

He let go of Choi Sulli's face and walked Im Yoona to the elevator. Suddenly, he pulled Im Yoona into a hug.

"You've been wronged tonight. You saw Sulli's state; I don't want anything to happen to her. She's only nineteen!"

"Everything has been resolved. From now on, just focus on being Idols!"

"Yoona, you were the one who walked into the tiger's den yourself."

"But I'll say it again: if you ever become afraid of me and want to leave, just tell me."

After saying that, he gave Im Yoona a kiss.

Im Yoona also cried. She actively responded to Liu Zijun's kiss, and a smile finally broke across her face.

"I won't be afraid of Oppa anymore. It's just that you're getting lucky; neither Sulli nor I can leave you now!"

"Even though I'm the unnie, I still have to worry about this little girl's feelings. Hmph... you'd better make it up to me in the future!"

She entered the elevator. Liu Zijun watched the elevator doors close, letting out a soft sigh in his heart—I hope when you wake up tomorrow morning and see what I've done, you'll still feel this way!

Silence returned to the apartment. Liu Zijun went back to the living room and watched Choi Sulli's suppressed sobbing.

Liu Zijun didn't say anything more. He just sat down beside her and gently pulled her into his arms.

Leaning against his chest and listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat, the fear, grievance, and despair Choi Sulli had accumulated all night completely erupted at this moment.

She cried heart-wrenchingly, her hands tightly clutching his clothes as if to vent all her insecurity.

"Oppa, I'm so scared..."

Liu Zijun gently patted her back, his voice soft and tender, like he was soothing a frightened kitten.

"I know, I know."

"Everything will be alright. Oppa is here; I won't leave you, never."

He held her like that, letting her cry in his arms.

Time passed bit by bit. Choi Sulli's crying gradually subsided, eventually turning into intermittent sobs.

Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, truly looking like peaches.

Leaning in Liu Zijun's arms, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Liu Zijun picked up the overcoat from the sofa and gently covered her with it, his movements so soft he was afraid of waking her.

He looked down at the tired sleeping face of the girl in his arms. Her brow was still slightly furrowed, as if she were having a bad dream.

He leaned down, gave her a light kiss on the forehead, and then used his finger to gently smooth the frown between her brows and wipe away her tear stains, his heart full of pity.

"Sleep, Jin-ri."

"With me here, there will only be good dreams from now on."

Choi Sulli seemed to have heard him. In her dream, she gently nuzzled against his chest, found a comfortable position, and fell into a deep sleep.

Liu Zijun didn't move, remaining in the position of holding her as he leaned against the sofa.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper, and snow continued to fall silently.

Inside Liu Zijun's apartment, however, it became warm and peaceful.

He looked down at the sleeping girl in his arms, feeling her breath, his heart filled with tenderness.

The clock ticked away, never stopping throughout the night.

When dawn was approaching, Choi Sulli softly called out "Oppa" in her dream and snuggled closer into his arms.

Liu Zijun looked down, once again planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, and replied softly, "I'm here.""}],