peninsula asteroid.

Chapter 1363 Small gathering
Why did you suddenly think of participating in songwriting?

Upon hearing the MC's question, Bae Joo-hyun smiled slightly, elegantly tucked her hair behind her ear, and leaned closer to the microphone, saying, "Because I've always felt that creating is a very cool thing, and I've had thoughts like 'I wish I could do something as cool as this' before."

“When I was preparing the album, I really liked the demo of the song ‘Kingdom Come’ as soon as I heard it. Later, I heard that the song didn’t have Korean lyrics yet, and I felt an urge to ‘participate’ in it, so I tried to get it from the company.”

"So the company agreed? It seems SM Entertainment really thinks highly of Irene-ssi~" The MC immediately chimed in with a smile.

"It wasn't easy either, because I had absolutely no experience writing lyrics before, and it took a lot of determination to try it."

Bae Joo-hyun's voice sounded very pleasant, soft, as if she were recounting the whole story in a gentle and detailed manner.

The MC nodded in agreement, and the audience members also suddenly understood.

However, the other Red Velvet members nearby rolled their eyes inwardly and couldn't help but complain.

That's nonsense. Didn't Chi Jingyuan just give it to you with a single sentence?

We even heard a demo! How come we've never heard one before? The first time we heard your lyrics, you'd already written half of them.

Where did you hear that? You heard it next to Chi Jingyuan, right?
Although I was internally complaining, this was actually the answer my manager had specifically instructed me to give.

After all, the real inside story can't be revealed.

"Did you encounter any difficulties during the songwriting process?" the MC continued to ask.

"At the beginning, it was indeed very difficult because it was my first time, so I was at a loss for where to start. I had a lot of ideas and inspirations, but I didn't know how to express them with the right words and format."

Bae Joo-hyun answered this question very seriously, and it was also her real situation at the time... Although she participated in the songwriting because of some ideas and tried her best to do it well, she really didn't have much experience.

However, after saying a couple of sentences, Bae Joo-hyun paused slightly, pursed her lips, and then, noticing the subtle glances from the other members, started chattering away again: "Later, the company's producer gave me crucial guidance, and Wendy also helped me a lot..."

Upon hearing her name, Son Seungwan reflexively looked up, exchanged a glance with the quick-witted Bae Joo-hyun, blinked, smiled, and then lowered her head again.

She did offer some advice at the time, subtle reminders about English and religious imagery, but... I remember that every time she gave even the slightest suggestion, this woman would waddle off to find Chi Jingyuan.

I always feel like I'm just an excuse.

The other members were also speechless. Although "Kingdom Come" did well and unexpectedly generated a lot of buzz, it was a good song and they were happy with the results. But for them, every time they discussed the song, it felt like watching two entangled lovers showing off in front of them.

Especially when Bae Joo-hyun talks nonsense on the show with a straight face, it's really annoying for those of them who know the truth.

I'm also... a little envious.

However, the lyrics of Bae Joo-hyun's song are indeed well written... They all remember how seriously she put in at the time, thinking about the lyrics even while eating and resting, and they all felt relieved.

After all, this woman was really hardworking back then, even more so than at her own job.

"Let's sing it for everyone right now! Welcome Red Velvet to perform 'Kingdom Come,' a song with lyrics written by Irene Xi herself."

As the music started, Red Velvet members sat in their respective seats and began to sing along to the melody.

Bae Joo-hyun leaned forward slightly, and even though it wasn't her part, she silently sang along to every line of the lyrics, her lips moving gently:

Even if it's all just an illusion that will shatter the moment I open my eyes~

"Baby I will love you Till kingdom come~"

…………

"Thanks for your hard work!"

After the radio show ended, the Red Velvet members, staff, and MC bowed and thanked the staff before leaving the studio to head to the parking lot. As soon as they entered the corridor, the female idols who had been so energetic and laughing in front of the camera immediately wilted.

"Oh my god, I'm starving! Shall we go get something to eat?"

"I think there's another recording session later? I wonder if there'll be enough time in between~"

"If I don't eat soon, I won't be able to hold on any longer!"

As soon as they stepped outside, Kim Ye-rin rubbed her belly and complained, while Son Seung-wan picked up her phone to check the time.

"That crazy fan of Xiurong didn't come today. I didn't hear his voice calling 'JOY'. It suddenly feels a little strange."

"Unnie, you're so concerned about whether you should marry him?"

"Haha, she loves you, I wouldn't dare to steal you." Park Soo-young and Kang Seul-gi were bickering beside them.

As the four of them walked further and further away while chatting, they suddenly realized that someone seemed to be missing. They stopped and looked around, only to find that Bae Joo-hyun was not with them.

Where is Irene unnie?

As the group was wondering what was going on, they turned around and found that Bae Joo-hyun had somehow fallen behind and was walking slowly alone, her head down, texting.

"Unnie, hurry up~" Kang Seulgi called out, but Bae Joohyun didn't even look up. She just waved to indicate that she heard her and didn't speed up.

"Let's go first."

"What is she doing? Why does she need to send a text message now?" The group didn't wait and went downstairs, discussing as they walked.

"You're getting horny, aren't you?"

Suddenly, Kim Ye-rin uttered something surprising, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Didn't you guys feel it?"

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Kim Yerin said seriously, "When the MC asked about the song 'Kingdom Come,' unnie's tone was all raised, she was clearly in a good mood, and..."

Then, she lowered her voice and leaned close, revealing with a mysterious expression: "I was sitting next to her when she was singing just now. She changed her sitting position several times, and her legs were pressed really tightly together. Guess what she was thinking..."

"omo!"

"Are you really... really?"

"Hahaha~"

It's not just men who like to talk about these things; female idols sometimes have an edge. Their slightly risqué gossip instantly dispels the fatigue of the schedule, and the atmosphere around them suddenly becomes lively.

Meanwhile, Bae Joo-hyun, who was lagging behind, had already dialed Ji Kyung-won's number.

The interview and the singing at the end really brought back warm memories for her, and afterwards she wanted to say a few words to Chi Jingyuan.

"It's so late, did you just get off work?"

The call had barely connected, and the other person had just uttered a casual greeting when Bae Joo-hyun, about to say something, heard him let out a loud burp.

It was quite loud; even through the microphone, Bae Joo-hyun could faintly smell the alcohol emanating from the receiver, instantly suppressing what she wanted to say.

"What are you doing?" Bae Joo-hyun asked irritably.

"Drinking with friends? Are you off work?" Chi Jingyuan's voice sounded a little unsteady, and Bae Joo-hyun knew immediately that he was not only drinking, but had drunk quite a lot.

This piqued her curiosity. If it weren't someone she knew well, Chi Jingyuan wouldn't have acted so casually, nor would he have drunk so much: "Who is it?"

"Who? Hmm..."

Chi Jingyuan seemed to think for two seconds when he heard the question, and then deliberately began to disparage her: "An insignificant country woman."

Others might be confused by what she heard, but Bae Joo-hyun knew who it was the moment she heard "country woman".

Because she knew that among Ji Kyung-won's friends, he would only call two people "country bumpkins" with a mixture of disdain and affection: one was Jung Eun-ji.

There's also herself...

"Ah, is that Eunji-ssi?"

Upon hearing this, Bae Joo-hyun abandoned her plan to continue making the call, saying, "Then you guys drink, I won't tell you anymore... Please say hello to Eunji for me."

"But remember not to drink too much..."

"Hiccup~"

…………

"Who?"

Across from her, Jung Eun-ji sensed the closeness and casualness in Ji Kyung-won's tone during the phone call. She wrapped a piece of grilled meat in her hand, stuffed it into her mouth, and asked curiously.

The OST "Stay With Me" from the drama "Goblin" which the two collaborated on at the beginning of the year is one of the most popular songs of the year. Although a long time has passed, it is still a song from 2017. Such a hit song, especially one featuring collaborations between top idols, is sure to be performed on the year-end stage.

I've recently received several performance invitations for year-end stages, including year-end galas on several TV stations at the end of December, and the Hong Kong MAMA on the 12st of next month. Today is the time we arranged to rehearse together.

However, for Ji Kyung-won and Jung Eun-ji, the song "Stay With Me" was very familiar, and both of them had excellent singing skills. They practiced together for a bit and got the hang of it.

They hadn't seen each other for a while, so after practice, they decided to go to a barbecue restaurant and have some drinks.

The two were sitting in a private room. It wasn't a very luxurious restaurant; the decor around the room was a bit old, and there were black and yellow oil stains and a musty smell in some places.

But with the combination of charcoal grilling, swirling smoke, and the sizzling sound of grilling meat, the environment actually makes people feel more relaxed.

"Irene~"

Chi Jingyuan hung up the phone and put it down. When he looked up, he found that the pieces of beef he had just put down were gone. He immediately complained, "Oh, how cunning! Are all Busan people so lacking in barbecue etiquette?"

"I've put it on your plate for you. Look at it carefully! Have you already had too much to drink at such a young age?"

Jung Eunji retorted without hesitation, clapping the grilled meat against the edge of the grill pan a few times. Her domineering, middle-aged woman demeanor instantly overshadowed Ji Kyung-won.

Seeing Ji Kyung purse his lips and mutter a few unintelligible words, but guessing they were something like "country bumpkin," Jung Eunji started putting more pieces of meat on the grill. While grilling, she asked curiously, "Didn't you and Irene break up a long time ago? How come you got back together?"

She's not stupid; that tone of voice just now couldn't have been used when talking to an ex-girlfriend.

"Reconciliation, Ani~"

Chi Jingyuan wrapped a piece of grilled meat in his mouth and put it in his mouth. He felt the satisfying sensation of the fat bursting in his mouth, breathed out a sigh of relief, and casually said, "She has something on me and has recently ordered me to work for her."

"Huh?" Jung Eun-ji was taken aback. "What kind of job?"

"..."

Chi Jingyuan chewed twice, swallowed the meat, and deliberately kept everyone in suspense with a leisurely air. Under Jung Eunji's murderous glare, he finally got up, leaned closer, and whispered a few words in her ear: "..."

"Yay!"

Upon learning the truth and hearing such absurd and vulgar words, Jung Eun-ji was instantly shocked and enraged, immediately cursing, "You bastard!"

She thought it was something serious, like some kind of leverage or work-related issue, just because Chi Jingyuan looked like that. Who knew it was something so vulgar?

"Hahaha!!"

Seeing her like this, Chi Jingyuan burst into laughter, sprawled back down, exuding a childish sense of having successfully pulled off a prank, as well as a slight intoxication.

Due to his busy work schedule, preparations for the TV series, immersing himself in the role of Jung Ba-rin, and the rigorous muscle-building and body-shaping regimen, Ji Kyung-won has been under a lot of pressure lately. After nearly a month, his nerves have become somewhat weak, and he is in a state of anxiety and tension every day.

Today, I had the rare opportunity to get together with old friends and have a few drinks. He seemed extremely relaxed and enjoying himself from the start, even drinking a lot greedily. With an urgent need to relax, he quickly became slightly tipsy.

Although Ji Kyung-won has many friends in the industry, there aren't many close friends with whom he can talk about anything without reservation, and Jung Eun-ji is one of them.

He laughed loudly for a few moments before slowly stopping. Seeing that Jung Eunji was still looking at him with disdain, Ji Kyung-won was quite easygoing. He picked up the tongs, grilled the meat, and shook his head as he said, "Don't react so strongly. This kind of thing is quite normal."

"I'm starting to understand this now... At our age and in our professions, marriage is still a long way off, and relationships don't last long either; all sorts of things can happen."

"But what can you do when neither of you can let go? That's just how it is."

"Haha~"

But these words did not convince Jung Eun-ji. She sneered twice and curled her lip: "That's just a scumbag's twisted logic. He can find a legitimate reason for everything he does."

"You're still blaming me?"

Chi Jingyuan retorted somewhat displeased, "Haven't you been struggling with your own relationships lately? You even asked me for advice last time."

"You're comparing me to you! Ugh, after breaking up, I resolutely cut off all contact. Who's like you? 'Working' with me? Ugh, you're getting more and more shameless."

Jung Eun-ji didn't back down either, glaring back at him.

"Completely cut off contact? Even the smallest interactions involve some degree of affection, so why bother?"

Ji Kyung-won ignored the accusation of being 'shameless' and instead gestured with his lip at Jung Eun-ji's earlier words, as if to refute her extreme remarks.

However, halfway through his sentence, Mina's face suddenly appeared before him, instantly silencing him. Chi Jingyuan opened his mouth, paused for two seconds, and then didn't continue.

He raised his glass again and downed the wine in one gulp, slamming it heavily on the table with a thud. He exhaled a breath reeking of alcohol: "Anyway... I think things are pretty good now, much easier than before."

It's easy for a scumbag to not have to take responsibility.

Upon hearing his words, Jung Eun-ji instinctively thought of those words, but she didn't say them aloud.

"..."

She looked at Chi Jingyuan, who had only been drinking for a short while and was already flushed and looked a little tired, and suddenly laughed. She picked up the bottle and poured him a drink: "As long as you feel relaxed, that's fine."

"We're in this together, aren't we?"

Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan smiled, a very happy smile.