Chapter 80: The Unspoken Understanding Between Boy and Girl

After finding a relatively secluded spot and seating Krystal Jung, Chen Zhe headed to the beverage area and bought two cups of coffee, bringing them back. After all, for Koreans or Americans, coffee is a daily drink—let alone for someone like Krystal, an American-born Korean.

“By the way, Krystal, I haven’t apologized for last time yet!” After chatting and laughing over coffee for a while, Chen Zhe’s stirring of his coffee with a spoon came to a slight halt. As if reminded of something, he suddenly looked up at Krystal.

“Last time? What was it?” Krystal, who had been laughing with her hand over her mouth at Chen Zhe’s jokes, tilted her head in confusion at his sudden remark, unable to recall anything he should be apologizing for.

“The time when you were drunk and used my lap as a pillow!” Seeing Krystal tilt her head in such adorable bewilderment, Chen Zhe clutched at his chest, as if her cuteness was overwhelming his heart.

“Oh, you mean that. So, how do you plan to make it up to me?” Having gone through that awkward episode, Krystal now viewed the lap pillow incident as nothing serious. But hearing Chen Zhe mention compensation, her curiosity was piqued. She was eager to see what he’d come up with, so she didn’t dismiss it.

“Heh, that’s a secret. You’ll find out when the time comes!” Looking at the beautiful Krystal before him, Chen Zhe put a finger to his lips, signaling that it was a secret he couldn’t reveal just yet.

“Hmph, fine, don’t tell me then!” Though she guessed Chen Zhe might be planning a surprise, Krystal’s curiosity wouldn’t let her rest. She pretended to be upset, turning her head away and puffing out her cheeks like a sulky child.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore, Krystal!” Amused by Krystal’s feigned anger, Chen Zhe couldn’t help but find her even more adorable. He reached out and gently poked her puffed-up cheek, as if trying to pop it.

“Alright then, I’ll let you off this time!” Krystal froze as Chen Zhe poked her cheek, and her puffed-up face returned to normal. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she turned her gaze elsewhere, too shy to meet Chen Zhe’s eyes.

“Then it’s settled. Once I’ve prepared my apology, I’ll let you know the time and place.” Chen Zhe extended his right arm and hooked his pinky, smiling at Krystal.

“Are we really pinky-promising? How childish!” Though she said this, the upward curve of Krystal’s lips betrayed her. She didn’t hesitate to extend her own pinky, linking it with his and sealing their little pact.

Just as their fingers separated after the promise, a deliberate cough interrupted them, startling both. They quickly turned toward the sound and immediately saw someone very familiar approaching—it was none other than LOEN’s leading star, IU.

“Oh, Ji-eun, don’t you have a schedule today?” The person standing before them was IU herself. Chen Zhe quickly stood up to greet her. Ever since he’d joined LOEN, IU had always looked after him, and the two had become quite close.

“Ji-eun, it’s been a while!” Surprised at first to see her friend, Krystal soon remembered she was at LOEN, making IU’s presence perfectly normal. She smiled and greeted her warmly.

“Hehe, it’s my day off. I was just relaxing at home. But when I heard you were recording with Zhe today, I just had to come by!” Having witnessed their earlier exchange, IU winked playfully at Chen Zhe while feigning seriousness in her reply to Krystal.

“Oh, did you come all this way just to see me?” Standing beside IU, Krystal noticed her winks at Chen Zhe. Though she didn’t know why, she was long used to her friend’s antics. Without hesitation, she karate-chopped IU on the head to put a stop to it.

“Of course! Who else would I come to welcome if not you, Krystal?” IU didn’t mind the playful blow at all. She spun around and hugged Krystal tightly, rubbing her cheek against her friend’s shoulder and grinning mischievously—so much so that even Chen Zhe was taken aback.

Seeing IU’s expression, Chen Zhe was reminded of a video he’d once seen of her filming Park Ji-yeon dancing, wearing the same lovesick smile. Now he realized—it wasn’t an act; it was just how IU truly was.

“Alright, let me go now.” Seemingly used to IU’s antics, Krystal just pushed gently against her forehead, signaling for her to release her.

Watching their interaction, Chen Zhe said nothing, simply turning back to the beverage area to get another cup of coffee for IU. After all, he couldn’t very well let her sit there watching them drink while she had nothing.

“Here you go, coffee for you.” Returning with the coffee, Chen Zhe found Krystal and IU sitting together in the same spot, whispering and giggling. He walked over and set the cup in front of IU with a smile.

“Huh, you’re being unusually thoughtful today. That’s not like you!” IU scratched her head, glancing at the coffee and then at Chen Zhe’s gentle smile. She felt something was off about him today, as if she couldn’t quite get used to it.

“Ji-eun, don’t say that. Zhe is always polite and considerate!” Hearing IU tease Chen Zhe, Krystal patted her friend’s hand, sticking up for him.

“Hmm, I don’t know, you both seem a little strange today. Tell me, are you hiding something fun from me?” Scolded by her friend, IU frowned in suspicion. Sensing something amiss, she grabbed Krystal’s shoulders and shook her, demanding answers.