novellhall Chapter 73 Caring
Chapter 73 Caring
Zhang Yuanying raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye.
The same question echoed in my ears again: "Don't your family allow it?"
Visibility is clear.
The Han Xijun that Zhang Yuanying saw was no longer the expressionless person he had been just moments before.
Her eyes look different now.
Although it still conveys "pity and sympathy," it clearly lacks the previous sense of "contempt."
He was genuinely pitying and sympathizing with himself.
Zhang Yuanying didn't understand what Han Xijun meant at first, so she asked in confusion, "What?"
Sniffling, Zhang Yuanying was still sobbing softly.
Han Xijun continued, "You're saying the whole world won't allow you to be yourself, and your family won't allow it either?"
Zhang Yuanying then understood what Han Xijun meant.
Mentioning her family instantly dispelled the sadness and grievances in Zhang Yuanying's heart.
She grew up surrounded by love.
Her father doesn't care about her grades; he only cares about whether she's happy.
Her mother doesn't care about her exam rankings; she only cares about her health.
Her older sister didn't care about her mischievous antics; she only cared whether her sister was being bullied outside.
Throughout, Zhang Yuanying's family always showed her care, always looked after her emotions, self-esteem, and genuine well-being.
We will provide the right guidance when necessary.
He will set an example by his own words and deeds to instill correct values in Zhang Yuanying.
She doesn't need to work hard to earn money to make a living.
She was the princess of the family, and could live a carefree life without doing anything.
It was just that Zhang Yuanying herself chose to pursue her dream.
In life, choices matter more than anything.
Her choice will elicit different answers from different perspectives.
It may be right, or it may be wrong.
If she chose to follow her sister's path, study step by step, go to university, study abroad, enter the workforce after graduation, learn how to run her father's restaurant, or find a new dream, it would be better than what she has now.
Zhang Yuanying entered the cruelest entertainment industry at the young age of 14, when she was still quite naive.
Forced to grow up quickly, constrained, and bound.
She was pushed step by step to a position that she shouldn't have been in at her age, and to face all sorts of deceit and treachery that she shouldn't have been in at her age.
There is no going back in this world.
As she grew up, the clever Zhang Yuanying learned to bury many things deep in her heart.
She wanted everyone to feel, whenever they saw her, that this was the image of Jang Won-young, who was loved.
She can't change the cruel rules of survival in the entertainment industry.
The only solution she could think of was to become the strongest person in the industry.
When that day truly comes, only then will she have the confidence and leverage to be her true self again.
But this path is full of thorns, and countless people have tried to climb to the top, but countless people have ultimately failed.
There were no other options; once this step was taken, everyone had to grit their teeth and go for it.
My emotions were disrupted.
To be precise, Zhang Yuanying was completely stunned at this moment.
My family certainly allows me to be myself.
Her family hopes that she will always be that happy little princess.
Zhang Yuanying was thinking that no matter when she returned home, it would always be...
His eyes gradually became unfocused.
I don't know when it started, but I find myself unconsciously putting on a mask of pretense when I go home.
She would hide her true feelings and emotions to please her father, mother, and sister, maintaining the image she presented herself in their eyes.
Han Xijun noticed all of Zhang Yuanying's changes.
Han Xijun gained a new understanding of the girl in front of him who was only 18 years old and still a high school student.
After a heavy sigh, Han Xijun said, "Only a fool would pretend to please the whole world. People who like you will like you no matter what kind of person you are, and people who don't like you will not like you no matter how you change or try to please them. For example, just be happy and be yourself."
Splash!
bang.
When Zhang Yuanying came to her senses, she looked at the empty stairwell; Han Xijun was nowhere to be seen.
He muttered, "Wait, why did this person suddenly leave?"
When the mask was mentioned, Zhang Yuanying paused for a moment, wondering when she had taken it off.
Remembering the mask she took off after coming to the stairwell with Han Xijun, Zhang Yuanying muttered, "Luckily, I didn't take it off when I was crying just now, otherwise that person would definitely think I was putting on a melodramatic act in front of him."
Raising her hand, Zhang Yuanying gently pinched the wrinkled skin on her hands, blaming herself, "Why did I have to cry in front of him? Really."
It's no use regretting it now.
In recent years, Zhang Yuanying has never broken down in front of Ahn Yoo-jin, but today Han Xijun has managed to break down her defenses.
The shame that followed.
Embarrassing.
What should I do about my image?
After putting on her mask and pulling down her hat brim, Zhang Yuanying walked out of the stairwell. She hadn't forgotten that Bai Enxi was still waiting for her at the coffee shop.
They moved very quickly.
I originally wanted to see Han Hee-joon.
Unfortunately, Zhang Yuanying looked around after returning to the first floor of the building but couldn't find Han Xijun.
Han Xijun, who had already driven to the agreed location, rested his left elbow on the edge of the driver's side door, his fingers tracing his chin, while his right hand gripped the steering wheel and stared ahead.
He wasn't distracted, but his mind was on Zhang Yuanying.
Someone he had never paid attention to before suddenly became someone Han Xijun started to care about today.
Sancheng Road.
Korean beef shop.
Upon entering, Han Xijun saw someone waving and quickly walked over.
Before I even sat down, I heard someone say, "I never expected you, Han Xijun, to go on a blind date with a female idol! Oh, is that really you, Han Xijun? So you like women, huh? I used to think you..."
splash
Pulling out a chair and sitting down, Han Xijun interrupted, "You weren't this talkative before."
The young man sitting opposite chuckled and said, "That's because we don't have much to talk about. Don't you know how boring you are?"
"Never mind, have you ordered yet?"
"Nonsense, I'm going to rip you off today. It's been six years, and this is the first time you've treated me."
Han Xijun wiped his hands with a wet wipe.
The man suddenly asked again, "Hee-joon, tell me the truth, you're dating that Wu Haiyuan, right? Otherwise, how could you possibly participate in a dating show with your personality?"
Putting down the wet wipes, Han Xijun looked at the man and said, "Zhao Minyu, you really talk too much."
Zhao Minyu shrugged and said, "Fine, I won't ask you that anymore. Come with me to the US."
"Um?"
"Our company is where you should be. KAKAO Group can't give you the support you want. In the future, our company will become a tech giant with a market value of trillions of dollars after its IPO. Come with me."
Han Xijun chuckled and said, "You also work part-time as an HR? Your company doesn't seem that great."
"Hee-joon."
Han Xijun raised his hand and said, "Zhao Minyu, do you know Zhang Yuanying?"
Zhao Minyu was clearly unprepared for Han Xijun's question. He scrutinized Han Xijun with a critical gaze and slowly said, "Compared to you, I'm a normal person. I know Wu Haiyuan, so I naturally know Zhang Yuanying. What's wrong?"
What kind of person do you think Zhang Yuanying is?
Zhao Minyu thought for a moment and said, "I really liked her when she was still with IZ*ONE. She was innocent, lively, cute, and beautiful. She was truly the nation's little sister. People who saw her couldn't help but want to protect her innocence and naivety for a lifetime."
"Now, she has changed. Maybe it's just my personal opinion, but she's just a perfect product that the capital market is working hard to create, the entire K-pop capital market."
"If a person is turned into a commodity, is she still a person or a commodity?"
Zhao Minyu stared at Han Xijun.
Seeing that Han Xijun remained silent for a long time, Zhao Minyu said, "Wait a minute, you, someone who has absolutely no interest in the entertainment industry, suddenly brought up Zhang Yuanying. Who are you? I don't care who you are, get off Han Xijun right now, or I'll have the waiter throw coarse salt at you."