Chapter Eighty-Seven: Two People Meet Again-Starlight Shines on the Peninsula(A traveler in a green robe wanders through misty mountains veiled in rain.)

When Lin agreed to let him go with Jung Eun-ji to the group dormitory, Chen Zhe’s eyes lit up at once, and a clear look of delight spread across his face. He had honestly expected a refusal, after all, this was a girl group’s dormitory.

“The security in this complex is very good, but you two should still be careful. Don’t get yourselves photographed.” Seeing the joy on Chen Zhe’s face, Lin sighed helplessly and gave them a few more reminders, still somewhat uneasy.

Under ordinary circumstances, a manager would never agree to something like this. But Chen Zhe was no ordinary artist. Unlike most others, where the company held the upper hand, his contract with L Entertainment was more of a partnership. Added to that, the copyright to his songs remained in his own hands, so L Entertainment did not dare to place too many restrictions on him. They treated him with a fairly lenient hand.

“I know. Don’t worry, Brother Lin.” Chen Zhe smiled and nodded at him, assuring him that he would keep an eye on their surroundings and would not be so easily caught on camera.

“All right, I’ve already spoken to Chorong unnie in advance, and she’s invited you up for a sit-down too.” Jung Eun-ji, who had been texting with her head lowered a moment ago, now lifted her head, let out a soft breath, and smiled at Chen Zhe as she reported the result of her request.

“Ah?” Chen Zhe stared at her in confusion. He had assumed that once they went up, they would simply arrive at the entrance to the group’s dormitory, say a few words with his close friend and with Eun-ji nuna, and then leave.

Instead, Jung Eun-ji had actually informed the leader, Park Chorong. But thinking about it, that was perfectly reasonable. After all, the current Park Chorong was the group’s real authority, not the soft and gentle future version.

After a few more words, Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji once again disguised themselves, putting on hats, glasses, and masks. Each of them carried a bag of fruit as they got out of the car and, under Jung Eun-ji’s lead, made their way toward the group dormitory.

“Nuna, um, what are your groupmates like in personality?” Chen Zhe and Jung Eun-ji moved quickly, and before long they were inside the elevator. The atmosphere was rather silent, and after hesitating for quite a while, Chen Zhe finally looked up at Jung Eun-ji beside him and asked in a slightly uncertain tone.

The closer he drew to the dormitory, the more anxious he became, feeling more and more as though he were walking straight into some kind of danger. Recalling, from the variety shows he had watched before his rebirth, the personalities of the members of the group, he grew increasingly guilty and uneasy. After all, among them were a number of skilled troublemakers, such as the second eldest, Yoon Bo-mi, and Jung Eun-ji standing right beside him now.

But Chen Zhe also felt that he could not be so hasty in his judgment. Perhaps their real-life personalities were different from what they showed on variety shows. After much consideration, he decided he should first probe one of the group’s best troublemakers, Jung Eun-ji, so he could prepare himself and avoid being caught off guard in a moment.

“They’re all very nice, so don’t worry. You’ve got the layer of being Harong’s close friend, and with me covering for you, there’s nothing to be afraid of.” Seeing Chen Zhe’s unease and tension, Jung Eun-ji temporarily set the bag of fruit on the floor. She reached out and patted his shoulder, soothing him in a tone so gentle that it felt rather unfamiliar to him.

“Mm, I understand, nuna.” Though he said that aloud, Chen Zhe could not help grumbling inwardly. Nuna, this side of you feels a little unfamiliar. Shouldn’t you be the kind who laughs heartily while patting my shoulder? The fact that you’re being this gentle makes me feel it’s even more dangerous.

Seeing that Chen Zhe still wore a somewhat skeptical look in his eyes, Jung Eun-ji was about to say more, but the elevator’s chime rang as it arrived, cutting her off. With a helpless shake of her head, she picked up the bag of fruit with both hands and stepped out first, while Chen Zhe kept his head lowered and followed behind her with heavy steps.

The two arrived in front of a door. Jung Eun-ji did not take out a key to unlock it right away, but instead gestured for Chen Zhe to ring the bell. After giving her a puzzled glance and seeing that Jung Eun-ji was already standing within range of the peephole, Chen Zhe could only comply and press the doorbell.

“Is that Eun-ji unnie? Did you bring back anything tasty for me? What is this!” As soon as the door was pulled open, a lively female voice rang out. Hearing it, Chen Zhe froze slightly, because that voice was unmistakably that of Oh Ha-young, the first close friend he had ever made in Korea.

Oh Ha-young, who poked her head out from the doorway, first noticed the bag of fruit in Jung Eun-ji’s hands. On the second glance, she looked at the figure standing behind her. When she recognized Chen Zhe, the very first foreign close friend she had not seen in a long time, she cried out in shock and froze on the spot, eyes wide with astonishment.

“What happened, Hayoung!” At the sound of Oh Ha-young’s exclamation, a slightly messy rustling of footsteps came from inside the room. It sounded as though several people were running toward the door at once. Along with the footsteps came several female voices asking questions in a jumble, all of them seeming quite alarmed by Oh Ha-young’s cry.

“You must be Hayoung’s close friend, Chen Zhe, right!” A few figures peered out from behind Oh Ha-young. Seeing the tall young man standing behind Jung Eun-ji, they all paused in surprise. Then, from behind the frozen group, a unique, soft baby-like voice rang out, prompting the others to quickly part to make way.

From among them stepped a girl with a perfect first-love kind of face, standing around five feet five, with a warm, motherly smile on her lips, as though genuinely pleased by Chen Zhe’s arrival.

“Hello, Senior Park Chorong. I’m Chen Zhe, Hayoung’s close friend. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Recognizing at a glance that this girl was none other than Park Chorong, the group’s real authority, Chen Zhe, still holding the watermelon, hurriedly bowed and greeted her. This time, however, he did so as Hayoung’s close friend, not as a L Entertainment newcomer or Jung Eun-ji’s acting partner.

“Chorong unnie, Ah Zhe isn’t only Hayoung’s close friend. He’s also the younger brother I’ve taken under my wing, so you absolutely can’t bully him.” As soon as Chen Zhe finished speaking, Jung Eun-ji set down the bag of fruit and wrapped an arm around his shoulder while he was still bowing in greeting to Park Chorong, pulling him upright. Then, smiling broadly with her usual hearty charm, she looked at Park Chorong.