9: Chapter 9 Don't cry, I'll always be on your side.

Liu Zijun's calm greeting sounded like a thunderclap exploding beside Choi Sulli's ears.

He knew her!

He really was here for her!

Although this man knew Oppa Soomyeong, who exactly was he?

Why had he appeared here? What did he want?!

Choi Sulli's heart sank completely to the bottom, churned into turmoil by immense confusion and terror.

She bit her lower lip tightly, saying nothing, just staring fixedly with eyes that faced a stormy sea at this man who had walked up to her, yet whose face remained calm.

The cafeteria's noise seemed to be shut out at this moment.

The other members of Girls' Generation and f(x) also sensed this strange atmosphere, especially Choi Sulli's expression of immense panic, which instantly made them all look at Liu Zijun with wary expressions.

The women all stood up and moved further away. Even Kim Young-chul and Lee Taeyong began looking somewhat nervously at Liu Zijun, positioning themselves opposite him.

Victoria Song frowned deeply, looking at this man with a powerful aura with the protective stance of a mother hen guarding her chicks.

Kim Taeyeon and Tiffany Young were equally wary as they watched Liu Zijun.

Was this person's target Choi Sulli?

Im Yoona looked at Liu Zijun, then at the terrified Choi Sulli, a flicker of curiosity shining in her intelligent big eyes.

If this man was a bad person, he probably wouldn't have appeared in this manner, yet Sulli's expression left her somewhat puzzled.

"Who exactly are you? What is your real purpose for coming to our company?"

Kim Taeyeon suddenly stepped forward with Victoria Song to shield Choi Sulli, then looked up and shouted at Liu Zijun.

The entire cafeteria was alerted, and many male staff members stepped forward.

Liu Zijun's expression remained calm. He ignored Kim Taeyeon, his gaze somewhat complicated as he looked at Choi Sulli, who was peeking at him from behind the others.

He spoke slowly, "Let's get acquainted properly. My name is Liu Zijun. I'm from China, and I am Choi Soo-myung's sworn friend!"

His gaze remained fixed on Choi Sulli's face as he continued slowly, "As for why I'm here, naturally, it's for you, Choi Jin-ri."

"I promised Choi Soo-myung I would continue to look after you in his place!"

"Whether you believe it or not, that is my purpose for coming to SM Entertainment Company."

Meanwhile, Park Woo-sik, who had just arrived at the cafeteria, heard this.

Hearing these words, he finally understood why this Liu Zijun had earlier said he wanted to be responsible for f(x).

He chimed in, "Mr. Liu Zijun's resume is indeed impeccable, and he also has a guarantor."

Seeing everyone looking at him, he added with a smile, "I was wondering why a top graduate with dual master's degrees from Kyoto University in China would come to our company. So it's because of you, Sulli."

Hearing this, Victoria Song was somewhat surprised. This man who looked about her own age was a dual master's degree graduate from Kyoto University?

That was no small feat!

But this didn't make her let her guard down. Sharing the same thought, Kim Taeyeon asked sharply, "That doesn't prove what you're saying is true!"

Liu Zijun looked at Choi Sulli, gave a light chuckle and said, "Choi Jin-ri! Of course I have a way to prove it, but are you sure you want all these people to hear it too?"

When Liu Zijun mentioned Choi Soo-myung, Choi Sulli's eyes were already brimming with tears.

She suddenly darted out from behind Victoria Song and Kim Taeyeon, her lovely voice trembling as she said, "You come with me over there. Tell me, prove it to me!"

Victoria Song grabbed her arm. "Sulli..."

Choi Sulli said through her tears, "We'll be right over there. With so many people around, it's not like he can run away, can he?"

After saying that, she led the way towards the stairwell next to the cafeteria.

The window in the stairwell wasn't shut tightly. Seoul's cold wind, carrying fine snowflakes, blew in, brushing past Choi Sulli's cheeks, adding more moisture to her already reddened eyes.

She leaned back against the cold wall, hands clutching the hem of her sweatshirt so tightly her knuckles turned white. Head slightly bowed, her gaze still held traces of lingering wariness, fixed firmly on Liu Zijun who followed slowly.

Liu Zijun stopped about three steps away from her, not moving closer, his gaze resting on her small face streaked with tears.

His tone was even gentler than it had been in the cafeteria.

"I know my sudden appearance like this is indeed suspicious and frightening for you."

"If it were me, if a stranger suddenly popped up saying they'd take care of me on behalf of their oppa, I'd also find it absurd."

Choi Sulli bit her lip, finally squeezing out a tearful sentence after a long moment, "You say you're Oppa Soomyeong's friend, then show me proof. Anyone can make up a reason."

Her voice trembled. Even though her heart was already churning with huge waves because of the name 'Choi Soo-myung', she still stubbornly refused to yield.

After Oppa Soomyeong left, there was no longer anyone in this world who protected her.

She had grown somewhat weary of this world.

Her current situation wasn't good either, but she didn't dare tell anyone easily, nor did she dare trust anyone easily.

Hearing this, Liu Zijun gave a slight nod, as if he had expected her to say this.

He raised his hand, fingertips lightly rubbing his chin, trying hard to recall.

*Choi Soo-myung, if you hadn't kept going on about this stuff in your past life, if my memory wasn't so good, I really wouldn't remember all these trivial matters of yours.*

Liu Zijun began speaking slowly, "When you were seven, you fell and cried under the tree in the old courtyard in Busan because the little boy next door snatched your peach-flavored soft candy.

Choi Soo-myung ran over, pushed that boy into the mud, then crouched down and hooked his pinky with yours, saying, 'Only I can take our Jin-ri's candy, no one else can even touch it.'

He stuffed the milk candy from his own pocket into your hand. But after you ate it, you cried again, saying the peach one was sweeter.

That day, his father gave him a severe beating, but he never said why. It was because of you."

Choi Sulli's body trembled violently. Her hands, which had been clutching her clothes, loosened slightly. Her eyes, originally filled with wariness, once again brimmed with scalding hot tears.

This incident was too trivial. Besides her and Oppa Soomyeong, not even their parents knew. How could this man in front of her possibly know about it?

"You..."

She opened her mouth, her voice choked and almost inaudible.

Liu Zijun didn't stop, continuing, "On your twelfth birthday, Choi Soo-myung was at football training camp and couldn't celebrate with you.

The night before, he secretly climbed into your room and placed a peach-shaped silver pendant under your pillow. He also left a note that said, 'Jin-ri should live as sweetly as a peach.'

Later, you lost that pendant and cried for three days looking for it. When Choi Soo-myung found out, he insisted on searching every accessory shop in Busan to buy you another one exactly the same."

Tears finally spilled uncontrollably from Choi Sulli's eyes, dripping down her cheeks onto her sweatshirt.

She remembered that pendant. It still hung on her dressing table. Oppa Soomyeong had bought it with half a month's worth of saved pocket money.

Liu Zijun's gaze and tone softened even more.

"Before he left for military service, he said goodbye to you in Seoul. You were already a trainee here by then. Oh, right, Park Soyeon was there too at the time.

Park Soyeon never understood why he didn't go to Seoul University but chose to enlist instead.

It was because of you all!

He said he wanted to serve first, then after being discharged, come back to protect Park Soyeon, and you.

Even if it meant just being a bodyguard!

Back then, you were jealous, insisting he could only protect you alone.

Especially since you two even made a pact: if you debuted before he returned, you would say on a show that your first love was a bodyguard!

He also said..."

Choi Sulli could no longer hold back. She covered her mouth and burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

"Enough..."

These were the most precious secrets between her and Oppa Soomyeong, the warmth etched into her childhood and youth.

She had debuted, but that man had gone abroad, returning only as a corpse.

And this man before her knew all these secrets.

Especially the matter about the bodyguard, that was truly a secret held deep in both their hearts.

She finally believed he really was Oppa Soomyeong's friend.

And he must be a true sworn friend. Otherwise, Oppa Soomyeong would never have told these things to anyone.

Liu Zijun watched her crying, shoulders shaking, looking exactly like the little girl Choi Soo-myung had described in his past life—the one who would hide behind him and cry her eyes out whenever she was wronged.

He simply stood beside her, not speaking, silently looking at the sky outside the window.

Only when her sobs gradually subsided did he slowly speak, his voice low and firm.

"Don't cry, Choi Jin-ri. From now on, whenever you need it, I will always stand by your side, just like he did back then. The promise Choi Soo-myung couldn't fulfill, I will fulfill it for him."

Choi Sulli looked up at Liu Zijun through tear-blurred eyes.

This strange Chinese man, appearing in her life carrying Oppa Soomyeong's last wishes, seemed to let a faint glimmer of light pierce the darkness where she was gradually losing her support.

She sniffled, a surge of impulse rising from deep within her, wanting to throw herself into this man's arms, but she stopped herself.

She choked out a call, "Liu... Liu Zijun..."

Liu Zijun looked at her and gave a gentle nod.

"Mm, I'm here."

In the stairwell, the cold wind still blew, but it no longer seemed quite so biting.

And as Victoria Song and the others watched this scene, their hearts were in turmoil.