1novels 5. A sudden turn into a love triangle
5. A sudden turn into a love triangle
"hehe."
Yoona had already removed her hat and mask, secretly regretting that she had rushed out without even putting on makeup and was meeting people looking so plain. But as an idol who had been in the industry for many years, she quickly suppressed this little bit of embarrassment and put on a calm yet slightly playful smile. "If I had known that such a handsome young man would go all the way to Namsan for me, I should have chosen Naksan Park. The scenery would be better, and the photos would look better on camera."
"A handsome guy with a beautiful girl, no matter how you take the picture, it will look good." Lee Kyung-sung held up his camera, looking at her with a half-smile, his tone so natural it was almost unbelievable. "If Yoona is willing, I can take pictures with you right now."
Yoona?
They've even omitted honorifics?
Lin Yoona lowered her eyelashes slightly, and when she looked up again, her eyes held a clearer, more scrutinizing gaze. No wonder he hadn't mentioned the photos or the conditions since they met, instead focusing entirely on her; it turned out he was after her wallet, but his real target was her.
With her looks and popularity, she always had a constant stream of suitors. Being openly shown affection by a man with such a striking presence and appearance, she couldn't help but feel a secret sense of pride and satisfaction.
But she quickly suppressed this fluctuating emotion.
Now is not the time to indulge in charm.
bang bang bang-
A light, cautious knock sounded at the door. "Your order is at the door." The footsteps quickly faded away, and the private room returned to silence.
Li Jingcheng got up and brought back hot cocoa and panini. The sweet aroma filled the small space, but it did nothing to ease the tense and subtle atmosphere between the two. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze direct and frank, carrying an undisguised sense of aggression, yet his tone was quite dismissive, "Why didn't Nuna order any herself?"
"It's all because of you," Lin Yoona said, now completely relieved of the pressure. She rolled her eyes, her tone carrying a hint of impatience from being secretly photographed by Lee Kyung-sung, and a touch of unease from his direct stare. "You're so unserious as soon as we meet, how can you even think about ordering food?"
Li Jingcheng chuckled softly, his gaze still fixed on her face, his frankness bordering on brazen. "So, are you blaming me for interrupting your business?"
Im Yoona raised an eyebrow, understanding Lee Kyung-sung's purpose, and her tone became more decisive, "Stop playing dumb. I'm here today for the photos. Lee Kyung-sung, name your price, as long as it's reasonable, I'll consider it."
She deliberately emphasized the honorific at the end, subtly restoring the distance he had created by omitting the address. Having been in the industry for so many years, she knew all too well that this kind of confident, assertive man would only take advantage of her the more she went along with him.
Upon hearing this, Li Jingcheng's smile remained unchanged, his body leaning slightly forward, a palpable sense of pressure closing in. He knew exactly what she wanted. But the system's mission was clearly stated: the main objective wasn't to intercept Lin Yun'er, but to test if the system could send her back. If activation failed, that would be when they would discuss money; after all, the Peninsula's inheritance tax was outrageous.
"I will naturally provide the photos." His voice was deep and certain. "It's just that Nuna seems to have made a mistake."
Lim Yoona looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.
"From the very beginning, I never intended to exchange a few photos for your money." Li Jingcheng lightly tapped her fingertip, his gaze falling on her delicate yet slightly plain face, and said with a smile, "You're so beautiful, I'd rather spend more time with you than pay you."
"You!!" Lin Yoona's heart tightened slightly. She was about to retort when he interrupted her.
"Don't rush." Li Jingcheng leaned back, reverting to his nonchalant demeanor, and pushed the hot cocoa towards him. "Warm your hands first. The memory card is on me; it won't run away."
Lim Yoona hesitated for a few seconds before finally grasping the warm cup, her knuckles tightening slightly. She did admire that strikingly handsome face, and wasn't averse to being noticed by someone like him, but reason prevailed. The photos were paramount. Even if they wouldn't circulate immediately, the evidence remained in Lee Kyung-sung's hands, and since he was targeting her own people, she felt utterly insecure.
And damn it, is this how you pursue girls?
Taking photos without consent and then threatening them?
She suppressed the subtle emotions welling up inside her, looked up at him, and her gaze regained its clarity and determination. "Li Jingcheng, stop joking. A photo might just be a casual snapshot to you, but it's a big deal to me. Just tell me what you want; there's no need to keep me hanging like this."
Seeing her anxious expression, Li Jingcheng's heart stirred slightly. It was time to state his purpose directly, and he spoke slowly:
"Hanging me up? I can't bear to, I just think that good-for-nothing Lee Seung-gi isn't good enough for you."
He had also happened to read novels about courtyard houses, so he could try out the "first-time sex expert" Xu Damao's methods of intercepting women.
"..."
Im Yoona's composure completely crumbled; no matter how calm and collected she was, a storm raged in her eyes. "No way, she just attacked like that?"
Lee Kyung-sung tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his tone flat, but his eyes held seven parts disdain and three parts anger. "Does he think his model student, nation's little brother persona is clean?"
"He acts all lovey-dovey on variety shows, but flirts with female guests in private. The moment the camera cuts to him, he pretends not to know them. He does one thing to his fans and another to those in the industry. He's a master at it."
"Last year, he was criticized for the map controversy on the show, but he turned around and sold a patriotic image to whitewash it. He was humble and polite in front of people, but behind their backs, he was ruthless in grabbing resources and stepping on his peers."
"Not to mention his seemingly gentle but actually calculating nature, and the fact that he has repeatedly said on shows that you are his ideal type. Is he truly sincere in being with you, or is he just using your top popularity from Girls' Generation to elevate his own status?"
With each sentence he spoke, Yoona's gaze towards Lee Kyung-sung grew increasingly strange. Good grief, was this guy not her sasaeng fan? She knew a little about Lee Seung-gi's scandals, and while she felt good about being with him, they were still just getting to know each other. But for Lee Kyung-sung to go and search for Lee Seung-gi's scandals, and to be able to rattle off all of them at once, meant he was well-prepared.
Thinking about it this way, the little bit of smug satisfaction she felt at being so carefully noticed resurfaced. Sure enough, charm is something you can't hide. She attracts this kind of attention wherever she goes; even threats have turned into blatant favoritism—it's truly a headache.
Yoona's throat tightened, and she felt even more annoyed that she hadn't gone to the beauty salon to get a nice makeover before coming. If she had dressed up carefully, this guy might have been even more attentive.
Although she already understood Li Jingcheng's thoughts, she still spoke in a barely audible voice, asking curiously, "So what you mean is..."
Lee Kyung-sung chuckled, his eyes frank yet aggressive. "I'm more suitable than Lee Seung-gi." He wouldn't go into the specifics of why they were suitable, but he still couldn't shake the fact that he prioritized financial status. A wealthy and beautiful woman like Im Yoon-a was truly a national treasure.
Lim Yoona leaned back in her chair, blinking, feeling completely overwhelmed. One second she was terrified, worried about her photos being leaked and her being used against her; the next she realized the other person wasn't after money or resources, but simply disliked Lee Seung-gi and wanted to steal her away. Absurd, outrageous, and strangely...elusive.
Sigh, my charm is undeniable. Wherever I go, I can turn a crisis into a romantic encounter.
P.S., since I've already watched all the K-pop shows I like, I decided to write my own. Please give me your comments. Newcomers don't get exposure without contracts, and without exposure, there's no data. Exposure brings data.