78: Chapter 78 Take You Around the World

Meanwhile, Liu Zijun rode his electric scooter through the streets of Star City with Choi Sulli in tow.

The evening breeze lifted Choi Sulli's short hair, brushed past the hem of Liu Zijun's clothes, and stretched their shadows long.

Choi Sulli held tightly onto Liu Zijun's waist, her cheek pressed against his back, feeling his warm body temperature and steady heartbeat, her heart filled with a sense of security.

The sudden surprise of seeing Liu Zijun made her laugh out loud involuntarily, and she hugged him even tighter.

She buried her face deeper, her nose filled with the faint scent on him—a smell that brought her peace.

"Oppa, where are we going?"

Choi Sulli, sitting sideways, swung her long legs in the air. Her voice, muffled behind her mask, was brimming with excitement.

Liu Zijun turned his head and said gently, "I'm taking you to a lively place."

Over ten minutes later, the electric scooter stopped at the entrance of Star City's famous night market street.

As soon as they approached, the clamor of the crowd and the aroma of food washed over them.

Bright red lanterns hung all along the street, their warm yellow glow making everyone's faces seem lit with smiles.

Rows of dazzling snack stalls lined the street, with vendors' calls rising and falling. It was incredibly lively—truly a bustling place.

Choi Sulli's eyes instantly lit up. She jumped off the scooter, grabbed Liu Zijun's hand, and eagerly dived into the night market, full of curiosity.

"Wow! So much delicious food! Oppa, how did you know I love places like this?"

"Just a guess!"

Liu Zijun smiled and let her lead him, his gaze closely following her figure.

The variety of snacks in the night market was indeed overwhelming, leaving Choi Sulli dazzled.

Suddenly, she spotted a stall selling Tangyou Baba. Her eyes sparkled as she pulled Liu Zijun to a stop. "Oppa, I want to try that! It looks sweet!"

Liu Zijun bought two portions and handed one to her.

Choi Sulli carefully removed her mask. Seeing that no one recognized her, she happily took a bite. The scalding glutinous rice, coated in sweet syrup, melted in her mouth.

She squinted her eyes, a satisfied smile spreading across her face, unaware of the bit of syrup sticking to the corner of her mouth.

Seeing her like this, Liu Zijun couldn't help but reach out and wipe it away. His fingertip touched her soft cheek, and Choi Sulli even nuzzled against it.

Then she lowered her head again, taking small bites, but the smile never left her lips.

She really enjoyed this feeling of being cared for by him.

Last time in Paris, Victoria Song had taken her to see a doctor named Klein—something Jiang Hongshao had specifically asked Victoria to arrange.

Doctor Klein said her current psychological state was rather complex.

It wouldn't show normally, but it would erupt when she encountered unpleasant events.

The fortunate part was that her condition was improving, but all her current progress was tied to the oppa before her.

If she lost this person, her condition would worsen significantly.

Doctor Klein had quietly told Victoria Song a lot, urging her to be very careful.

That was precisely why Victoria Song hadn't beaten Choi Sulli to a pulp.

Choi Sulli was aware of her own situation, but she didn't care. If she lost the person before her, she wouldn't see anything left in this world worth holding onto.

The two strolled slowly along the night market. Choi Sulli ate as she walked, wanting to try everything—from crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside grilled rice cakes to sweet Crystal Sugar Lotus Seeds, from soft and glutinous Fermented Glutinous Rice Balls to crispy Scallion Oil Cakes.

For an artist like her, accustomed to being in the spotlight and receiving attention, this ordinary, simple life was what she loved most.

And in China, she had experienced it twice now.

Liu Zijun followed behind her, his hands soon filled with bags of various snacks.

He reminded her from time to time, "Eat slowly, don't choke," or "This one's a bit spicy, drink more water."

Passing by a stall selling sugar painting, Choi Sulli was once again captivated by the flowing syrup in the artisan's hands and stopped in her tracks.

This girl with a sweet tooth!

"Oppa, that's amazing! I want one shaped like a peach! Just like the one from before."

The artisan smiled and agreed. With a flick of his wrist, a lifelike peach sugar painting was completed.

Choi Sulli took it, cradling it in her hands like a treasure, reluctant to eat it. She just brought it to her nose for a sniff—the sweet fragrance filled the air.

She raised the sugar painting, then raised the ring on her other hand, looking at Liu Zijun with sparkling eyes.

"Oppa! Doesn't it look similar?"

Liu Zijun looked at the sugar painting, then at the ring, then at her lovely face, and nodded with a smile. "It does. Oppa wants to eat both."

Choi Sulli's cheeks flushed red. She took a small bite of the sugar painting. The sweet taste spread in her mouth, and her heart felt just as sweet.

Holding Liu Zijun's hand, she weaved through the crowded throng, stopping now and then to look at roadside trinket stalls.

She picked up a cute hair clip and held it against her head, then turned to ask Liu Zijun, "Does it look good?"

Receiving an affirmative answer, the smile on her face grew even brighter.

At the end of the night market was a riverside walkway. The lantern light reflected on the river surface, shimmering.

The two walked slowly along the riverbank. Choi Sulli clung tightly to Liu Zijun's arm, her head resting on his shoulder, still holding the unfinished sugar painting.

She said softly, "Oppa, this place is wonderful. No one recognizes me, and you're by my side."

Liu Zijun looked at her, his tone gentle.

"In the future, I'll take you all around the world!"

Choi Sulli looked up, her eyes filled with deep attachment.

"Really? But you can't even go to The Peninsula right now. I can't see you even when I want to."

Liu Zijun's heart softened slightly. He reached out and ruffled her short hair.

"I won't wait any longer. I'll go settle that matter in a couple of days, then come to The Peninsula to be with you."

Choi Sulli nodded vigorously, hugging Liu Zijun's arm even tighter.

"I'll wait for you, Oppa.

No matter how long, I'll wait for you.

If it doesn't work out, I'll quit being an artist. I'll come to China to find you, and then we can go to the old house and stay together every day."

Liu Zijun paused, looking at the lovely girl before him, and asked, "Wasn't being an artist, standing on stage, your dream?"

"If there's no Oppa, there's no light in my life. Right now, I just want to be with Oppa all the time."

As the night deepened, the two finally rode the electric scooter back to the hotel.

By the time they reached the hotel entrance, it was almost midnight.

Choi Sulli looked at Liu Zijun reluctantly, her eyes filled with unwillingness to part.

She tugged Liu Zijun's hand and gently swayed it, full of coquettishness.

"Oppa, I don't want to go back."

Liu Zijun patted her head and said, "Be good, it's too late. You have to return to The Peninsula with your members tomorrow, so get some rest early. If you don't go back now, your Mama Song is going to chop me up!"

"I'll just get a room next door. Call me anytime if you need anything."

Choi Sulli giggled foolishly. "unnie is just worried about me. She's very gentle, not that fierce at all!"

Thinking of the expression that sister had when she looked like she wanted to devour him alive, Liu Zijun couldn't help but say, "That's hard to say!"

Choi Sulli laughed heartily, then walked into the hotel, looking back every few steps.