63: Chapter 63 The Dawn of Truth

Dawn had finally broken.

Choi Sulli slowly woke up in Liu Zijun's arms, her nose twitching as she caught a scent that brought her peace of mind.

She shifted her body and held him, looking at the man holding her; his brows were slightly furrowed, carrying a faint, imperceptible trace of alertness even in his sleep.

Choi Sulli reached out and gently brushed her finger over his brow, trying to smooth out the wrinkle, but it caused Liu Zijun to wake up.

The fear and despair from the previous night had lessened significantly the moment she fell asleep in his arms.

Just then, a frantic ringing and knocking came from the entryway, and a phone began to ring at the same time.

Choi Sulli glanced at her phone and her body tensed instantly; she instinctively shrunk back into Liu Zijun's embrace.

She had snuck out of the dormitory last night without telling anyone.

The person knocking was likely Older Sister Victoria Song.

Awakened by the knocking, Liu Zijun opened his eyes to see Choi Sulli's panicked expression. He ruffled her short hair and whispered, "What's wrong? Why aren't you opening the door?"

Choi Sulli pointed at her phone, which indeed showed an incoming call from Victoria Song.

Liu Zijun gave a soft smile, got up, and walked to the entryway to open the door.

He saw Victoria Song standing at the door with an unpleasant expression. When she saw Liu Zijun, a trace of complexity flashed in her eyes, and she gave him a fierce glare.

She then looked past him into the room. "Liu Zijun, you really are a beast; she's still a minor. Where's Sulli?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she spotted Choi Sulli hiding on the sofa and shouted abruptly, "Let's go! Come back with me. There's a variety show recording today. You snuck out last night, and when you weren't there this morning, everyone was worried sick! Do you have any idea?"

Choi Sulli poked her head out from under a coat on the sofa, looking like a child who had done something wrong.

"Older Sister Victoria Song..."

Victoria Song's tone was extremely frightening.

"You still remember I'm your unnie? Do you have any idea what time it is? You're an idol, and you're still a minor! Staying out all night and coming to a man's house—what if you were photographed? Do you even care about your career anymore?"

Choi Sulli bit her lip and explained in a small voice, "I was a bit scared last night, so I came to find Oppa..."

Victoria Song sighed, her tone softening slightly.

"Even if you're scared, you can't do this! Forget it, come with me to the recording site first. It'll be trouble if we're late."

She looked at Liu Zijun and scolded him to his face, "And you! Liu Zijun, she's immature, but are you immature too? Even if you like each other, she's still young!"

Liu Zijun rubbed his nose, not daring to talk back!

He just looked at Choi Sulli and said softly, "I'll walk you down."

Victoria Song was about to refuse, but Choi Sulli nodded first. "Okay!"

"Hmph..."

When he returned, before his door was even closed, he saw the room opposite open.

Jiang Hongshao stood with her arms crossed and suddenly burst out laughing.

"Dao, Jian. Did you hear that just now? 'Liu Zijun, she's immature, but are you immature too?' Hahaha..."

Behind Jiang Hongshao stood a pair of twins, who were also high-end combatants of the God Hunter Organization.

These two were not only skilled with firearms, but one specialized in saber techniques and the other in sword techniques.

The two young men looked at Liu Zijun, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

They didn't dare act like Jiang Hongshao.

"Dao, Shadow should have told you about your mission on The Peninsula, right? Go with them. Jian, you go follow Im Yoona. If anything happens with the Girls Generation members, help look after them as well."

After Liu Zijun finished speaking, Dao and Jian nodded and left.

Now only Jiang Hongshao remained. Seeing Liu Zijun's mischievous look, she wasn't afraid; instead, she pulled him back into the room.

Victoria Song's car drove through Seoul's morning rush hour; the interior was silent.

She glanced at Choi Sulli from time to time, looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Choi Sulli leaned against the passenger seat, her heart full of regret and fear.

How did she fall asleep last night? She hadn't even given herself to him yet.

Thinking about having to see Lee Ryuk-hee tonight brought another wave of despair.

Victoria Song finally spoke up.

"Sulli, I know Ji-Jun is good to you, and I know you've suffered a lot lately. You like him too, but between you two... you still need to keep your distance.

You're still young and an idol. If a scandal breaks out, it will be very bad for you."

Choi Sulli didn't speak, only tightening her grip on her backpack strap.

"You didn't... do 'that' last night, did you?"

Choi Sulli answered directly, "No! It's such a pity! I was clearly being so proactive, but Oppa still rejected me!"

"Ya! Choi Sulli, do you want to die? Has it been too long since I've disciplined you?"

"At least this Liu Zijun is somewhat reliable!"

Choi Sulli only gave a forced smile.

She knew Victoria Song meant well, but she couldn't control her desire to be near Liu Zijun.

Just as the car entered Gangnam District, Victoria Song's phone rang. It was Luna calling, her tone filled with unprecedented panic.

The voice came through the car's audio system.

"unnie! Check the news quickly! Something huge happened! The company wants us to go back first; today's variety show recording has been postponed to the afternoon."

Victoria Song's heart tightened. "What happened?"

"TJK Group's Lee Ryuk-hee... has been shot dead!

And over twenty others, including his bodyguards, several wealthy heirs, and two female celebrities, all died in the Cloud Top Bar!

Even two police officers were injured!"

Luna's voice trembled, clearly terrified.

"The scene is covered in blood, and the police have cordoned it off!"

"What?!"

Victoria Song's hands slipped on the steering wheel, nearly hitting a nearby vehicle, her face filled with disbelief.

Choi Sulli's body froze instantly, and she jerked her head up.

Lee Ryuk-hee is dead?

She immediately thought of Liu Zijun, and of Im Yoona's anxious waiting.

And Liu Zijun had been gone almost all night!

She was somewhat naive and prone to low self-esteem, but she wasn't stupid.

Having survived from her trainee days until now in the entertainment industry, she understood many things clearly.

She picked up her phone, opened the news, and seeing the pixelated scene, a faint smile unconsciously curled at the corners of her mouth.

Oppa must have done it.

She wasn't afraid, not in the least.

Lee Ryuk-hee was dead. The person threatening her was gone. She didn't have to go to the TK Club anymore, and she didn't have to throw herself into the abyss.

The massive boulder weighing on her heart had finally been moved by her Oppa; she felt an unprecedented sense of ease and liberation.

A smile appeared on her face.

Seeing this, Victoria Song suddenly shouted, "Sulli, why are you smiling? This is terrifying; so many people died."

Choi Sulli simply put away her phone, her eyes shining brightly.

"I'm fine, I just feel like with Oppa around... I don't have to be afraid anymore."

Victoria Song was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding what she meant.

Choi Sulli didn't explain. She knew that some things couldn't be said aloud.

Victoria Song hung up the phone, quickly pulled the car over, and opened the news on her phone. Overwhelming reports instantly flooded her screen.

"TJK Group Heir Lee Ryuk-hee Shot Dead; Cloud Top Bar Becomes Scene of Bloodshed"

"23 Dead! The Peninsula's Most Severe Violent Incident in Recent Years Shocks the Nation"

...

The news articles were accompanied by photos of the scene; though pixelated, the tragic sight was still evident.