novellhall Chapter 16 Sika's face is so soft, it's easy to pinch!
Chapter 16 Sika's face is so soft, it's easy to pinch!
"What are you saying! I'm just thinking about your health!"
Even after his plot was exposed, Zheng's father stubbornly insisted, "Besides, I had no idea Jessica was going back to the dorm tonight!"
Li Zhixing squinted at him: "President, do you even believe what you're saying?"
Mr. Zheng remained silent.
He tactically cleared his throat, turned to the side, and turned his back to Li Zhixing, pretending to be intently watching the TV screen.
Zheng's mother, who was standing to the side, couldn't stop laughing.
She patted Li Zhixing on the shoulder: "Alright, alright, ignore this silly guy, go and deliver Jessica."
Li Zhixing sighed helplessly and finally stood up.
He looked at Jessica with a sour face: "Let me make it clear beforehand, I'm only giving this to you because of your aunt."
"Stop nagging!" Jessica said haughtily, tilting her chin up.
Soojung's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Lee Ji-haeng, who was about to leave, and said with feigned regret, "Oppa, we've been training really hard lately and can't take time off, so we can't go to your screening tomorrow."
Li Zhixing paused for a moment, then reached out and rubbed the little girl's head: "Of course training is more important. This time it's just a supporting role. When Oppa becomes the male lead, we'll formally invite our big star Soojung to support us."
Krystal giggled and held up her little fist: "It's a deal!"
The two bumped fists.
Zheng's mother also stood up and asked, "Are you staying here tonight?"
Li Zhixing shook his head: "No, Auntie. Fangbeidong is closer to the screening venue. I'm going back to my grandma's tonight."
Zheng Ma nodded, then took a brown paper bag from the refrigerator and handed it to him: "Zhixing, this is a new course of Chinese medicine. Remember to drink it on time."
Upon seeing that familiar paper bag, Li Zhixing's features immediately scrunched up.
"What's wrong? Is the medicine not working?" Aunt Zheng asked with concern. "Are you still having trouble sleeping at night? Should I find you another renowned doctor?"
"No need, Auntie!" Li Zhixing quickly took the bag. "It does have some effect, but..."
Li Zhixing said with a pained expression, "Next time you brew this medicine, could you add some sugar? This medicine is just too bitter!"
"Nonsense!" Zheng Ma slapped him impatiently. "Good medicine tastes bitter! How can adding sugar make it effective?"
Jessica, standing nearby, sneered, "Is Li Zhixing even a man? How old are you? Why are you so afraid of hardship? It's one thing to pretend to be cool with a lollipop in your mouth all day, but you can't even take some tonic?"
Li Zhixing retorted decisively: "What's wrong with men? Does the law say men can't eat candy? You have the nerve to talk back to me? Every time you take medicine, it's like it's going to kill you, and you have to be coaxed into it!"
"Hey! Li Zhixing, are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Zheng's mother waved her hand with a headache: "Go, go, go! Hurry up and go! You're so annoying every day!"
Li Zhixing chuckled, picked up the car keys from the entryway cabinet, turned around and called out, "President, I'll bring the car back for you tomorrow!"
Mr. Zheng, sitting on the sofa, didn't even turn his head, but simply waved his hand casually: "You can drive it for now. It'll be inconvenient for you to be doing promotional work in a few days without a car."
Li Zhixing paused for a moment, then his gaze softened as he looked at Zheng's father.
"Alright then, for the sake of the car, I'll forgive you, President!"
"cut!"
A disdainful sneer came from the sofa.
Li Zhixing picked up two baseball caps hanging on the coat rack, put one on his own head, and pressed the other directly onto Jessica's head, then casually pressed the brim down, which provoked another protest from Jessica.
The two finally left the house after arguing and bickering.
……
underground garage.
As soon as she got in the car, Jessica kicked off her sandals and lifted her leg to put her foot on the dashboard.
"Snapped!"
Li Zhixing slapped her on the calf.
"Ouch! Ouch!!! Li Zhixing, how dare you hit me!" Jessica cried out in pain and pulled her leg back.
Li Zhixing, his face dark, scolded, "How many times have I told you? Do you have to put your foot there?"
Jessica was about to retort when she saw Li Zhixing lean his entire body over her.
The two grew closer and closer, and could even feel each other's breath.
The words Jessica was about to say suddenly got stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say them no matter what she tried.
Her face visibly flushed, and her eyes became somewhat flustered and unfocused.
"What...what's wrong with him? Should I get away? But..."
Just as Jessica's mind went blank and her heart was racing, she heard a "click" and Li Zhixing pulled over the passenger seatbelt and fastened it for her.
After returning to the driver's seat, Li Zhixing asked with some surprise, "Why is your face so red? Is it hot in the car?"
Jessica's face did turn even redder, but before it was half shy and half expectant, now it was purely from anger!
"Drive your car! Stop talking nonsense!" Jessica gritted her teeth and turned her head away.
Li Zhixing shrugged, bewildered. "Incomprehensible."
He then started the car and drove towards Girls' Generation's dormitory in Cheongdam-dong.
The streets of Seoul weren't congested late at night, but an eerie silence filled the train carriage.
Throughout the journey, Sika crossed her arms, sulking and remaining silent.
As they were about to drive onto the cross-river bridge, Li Zhixing broke the silence: "Sika."
"What?" Jessica asked coldly, without even turning her head.
"Once the movie is released, I'll officially be considered a celebrity." Li Zhixing's voice was no longer playful. "From now on... don't make me drive you anymore."
This prompted Jessica to turn around abruptly: "What do you mean?"
Li Zhixing looked straight ahead and said in a calm tone, "We should try to have less contact in the future, especially in public. We absolutely cannot act like we are very familiar with each other. I don't want to be photographed by fans or the media and cause any unnecessary misunderstandings."
Jessica's expression changed instantly, a mixture of disbelief and sadness in her eyes: "What exactly are you trying to say? Do you really care that much about your acting career? Being involved in a scandal with me, your idol, will affect your future?"
Listening to her barrage of questions, Li Zhixing sighed helplessly.
While waiting at a red light, he stretched out his index and middle fingers and poked Sika's smooth forehead.
"Ouch!" Sika covered her forehead.
"Are you Pabong?"
"How did I put on a mask? Isn't that what you meant?!" Jessica covered her forehead, her eyes reddening.
"Am I afraid you'll drag me down with you?"
Li Zhixing explained helplessly, "As a newcomer who just debuted, if I could get a rumored relationship with a member of a popular girl group, even if your fans curse me out, compared to the popularity and exposure I could gain, it would be a win-win situation, okay?"
He paused, then his tone became serious: "There are countless aspiring actors who dream of having some connection with Girls' Generation."
"Didn't you see those male celebrities serving in the military always mentioning your group's name in interviews? Isn't it all just to generate buzz?"
"But what good will this do you?" Li Zhixing stared into her eyes. "It will only make you get criticized and lose you fans."
Sika was stunned.
So this guy... was actually thinking of her.
Her previously erect spikes softened instantly, and her gaze became gentle.
"Well... since it'll boost your popularity, then go ahead and spread it." Jessica turned her head away and muttered softly, "Why do I have to hide it? I don't care about being criticized..."
"Nonsense!"
Li Zhixing reprimanded him without any politeness, "Have you forgotten how you were boycotted by those extreme anti-fans last year because of the scandal?"
Sika fell silent.
Last year's "Black Sea incident" remains a deep wound that these nine girls are most reluctant to revisit.
Seeing her eyes dim, Li Zhixing softened his tone slightly: "So, try to have less contact in the future, and don't let the public know that we're so close. Anyway, I'm an actor and you're an idol, so we don't usually have many opportunities to be in the same frame."
"I will tell Krystal the same thing when she debuts in a few months."
A hint of vulnerability flashed in Jessica's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
She turned her face to the side of the car window and retorted sharply, "We're different now, and... I don't care about being criticized. No matter what you do, you're going to get criticized in this industry anyway."
Seeing her arrogant demeanor, Li Zhixing sneered and mocked her mercilessly: "Really don't care? I wonder who it was that came to the film set in the middle of the night crying and wailing."
Then, he put on an exaggerated expression, pinched his throat, and imitated someone's pitiful look from that moment:
"Waaaaah... What do we do, Zhixing oppa! We're being boycotted! Am I doomed? Can I not be an idol anymore? Is the group going to disband?"
"Waaaaah... I don't want the group to disband! I trained for seven years before debuting, and I haven't even done a solo commercial yet! I haven't made any big money yet! Waaaaah..."
Jessica, who was still feeling sad, broke down instantly when she heard about her embarrassing and dark history from last year's breakdown.
"Hey! Li Zhixing!!!"
Jessica, filled with shame and anger, lunged at him, shouting, "I didn't call you Oppa! Shut up! Shut up!"
"Hey! Behave yourself! I'm driving! I don't want to die with you!"
"Go to hell! Serves you right for copying me! Serves you right for copying me!"
"Jessica Jung! Take your hand off me! Where are you grabbing?! Ouch!"
A black sedan swayed slightly on the streets of Seoul late at night, and the sounds of two people playfully fighting could be heard from inside.
The heaviness and sadness from before had long since vanished in this unseemly bickering.
……
Twenty minutes later, the car came to a smooth stop in the underground parking lot of Girls' Generation's dormitory building.
Jessica tidied her messy hair and directed Li Zhixing, "Come on, take it upstairs for me."
Li Zhixing glared at her, went around to the trunk, took out the suitcase, and followed her toward the elevator.
"Unnie?"
Just as the two reached the elevator, a shout suddenly came from behind them.
Turning around, I saw it was Lim Yoon-a.
She was wrapped in a slightly oversized coat, her plain face full of weariness, clearly having just returned from a late-night event.
When Yoona's gaze swept over Jessica and landed on Lee Ji-hyeong next to her, her originally tired eyes instantly changed.
Surprise, astonishment, and a hint of grievance quickly intertwined and surged in her doe-like eyes.
Jessica, oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, smiled and took Yoona's arm: "Yoona, why are you back so late? Did you go out alone for another schedule?"
Upon seeing Lim Yoon-a, Lee Ji-hsing's expression also softened.
He wasn't exactly known for his forgiving nature; he still held a grudge after this woman unceremoniously "invited" him out of the waiting room last time.
So he just stood there, not even bothering to greet her, let alone look at her directly.
Xila walked over, holding Yoona's hand, and was about to introduce her: "Yoona, this is...."
Unexpectedly, both of them had cold faces, as if they had no interest in getting to know each other at all.
Sika found it a little strange, but didn't think much of it, and simply said to Li Zhixing, "Let's go."
"Unnie." Yoona suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but her tone unusually firm, "Our manager oppa has told us many times that it's best not to let 'outsiders' know the location of our dorm."
Jessica paused for a moment, then subconsciously explained, "Yoona, he's not an outsider..."
Upon hearing the words "not an outsider," Yoona's expression changed slightly.
She looked up and met Li Zhixing's mocking smirk.
Yoona felt a lump in her throat, but she still stubbornly said, "To me, he's just a stranger I don't know."
Jessica was a little confused. She looked at Yoona and then at Lee Ji-hyeong: "Yoona, what's wrong with you? You guys..." In her memory, Yoona had always been a very polite and kind younger sister. Why was she speaking so sarcastically today?
Li Zhixing was too lazy to pay any more attention to this inexplicable hostility.
He slammed his suitcase on the ground with a bang and said impatiently, "Fine, I was too lazy to go up anyway. Just leave the suitcase here, take it yourself."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Sika was getting anxious and was about to call out to him when she saw Li Zhixing, who had only taken a few steps, suddenly turn around and beckon to Sika with his finger: "Come here, I still have something for you."
"What else?" Sika walked up to him, puzzled.
Unexpectedly, Li Zhixing suddenly reached out with both hands, grabbed her soft cheeks, and pulled them outwards forcefully!
"ah!!!"
"You enjoyed strangling me tonight, didn't you? You just had to provoke me, didn't you?" Li Zhixing said through gritted teeth as he pulled.
Jessica was in so much pain that tears were welling up in her eyes. She screamed incoherently, "Let go! Li Zhixing, let go of me! Are you trying to kill yourself?!"
Yoona stared blankly at the scene.
Seeing Jessica unnie, who usually has a cold face and dares not provoke anyone, now acting like a little girl, having her cheeks pinched and kneaded by this man, even her angry expression reveals a kind of intimacy.
Are they... really that close?
He was as indifferent to her as a stranger, yet he turned around and became so intimate with Jessica...
Zhi Xing... Oppa, are you doing this on purpose for me?
Li Zhixing twisted it a couple more times, then released it with satisfaction, laughing loudly as he ran away.
"Hey! Li Zhixing, you're dead meat! I'll definitely kill you next time we meet!"
Sika covered her flushed cheeks and angrily uttered harsh words.
……
Inside the elevator.
Jessica rubbed her aching cheek and looked at Yoona, who was silent beside her. "Do you...dislike Lee Ji-hyeong? Is there some misunderstanding between you two?"
Yoona lowered her head, staring at the elevator floor, and muttered, "There's no misunderstanding, I just don't want to see him."
"Yoona, he's actually not a bad person..."
Yoona didn't want to dwell on it, so she changed the subject and asked, "Unnie, how did you... meet him? You two seemed quite familiar with each other."
"Him?" When this was mentioned, Sika couldn't help but purse her lips, but a hint of reminiscence flashed in her eyes. "Back then, he was short of money, so he came to my family's boxing gym to apply for a sparring job, and my dad took him on."
"This guy has a terrible personality. After we got to know each other, he started coming to my house for meals every day and he always bullies me!" Sika added indignantly.
Yoona froze, then abruptly looked up: "Need money? Go be a sparring partner?"
"Yes." Sika nodded.
"He was really poor back then. Being a sparring partner was his first job in Seoul, and later he was doing several part-time jobs at the same time, like delivering takeout at a Chinese restaurant and doing odd jobs at a music store... This guy really had a tough time back then!"
The elevator arrived at the floor with a "ding".
Jessica dragged her suitcase out, while Yoona remained frozen in the elevator.
Is Li Zhixing short of money?
How... is this possible?
Yoona was completely confused.
......