peninsula asteroid. Chapter 1341 Again

Chapter 1341 Again

Chou Tzu-yu felt a surge of nervousness as she sensed the gaze directed at her. Her already upright posture became even more ramrod straight, as if afraid that a casual movement might leave a bad impression.

At the same time, her round ears under her long hair also turned red without her realizing it.

Although she had met Chi Jingyuan's brother, Director Chi, a few times before, it was only a brief encounter, and he hadn't really paid much attention to her.

But this time was different. The look in the other person's eyes when she glanced at them just now was definitely one of curiosity and inquiry.

For Chou Tzu-yu, who has always harbored and strived for her own ambition, leaving a good impression on Mr. Chi's family is truly important.

But because she was too concerned, she became nervous and lost her composure.

Sitting next to her, Yu Dingyan clearly saw the subtle expressions between Zhou Ziyu and Ji Jingyuan, and asked curiously, "Ziyu, who are you talking to? You seem so happy."

She asked casually, without naming names, but it was clear she was talking to Lim Na-yeon.

However, after she asked the question, she didn't hear a reply from Lim Nayeon for several seconds. Yoo Jeongyeon looked over in confusion and found that Lim Nayeon had suddenly stopped talking. She stood there with a serious and focused expression, as if she were in class.

Yoo Jeongyeon looked at her strangely for a few moments, and when she found that she was still not moving, she waved her hand in front of Lim Nayeon's face and asked, "Nayeon, what's wrong with you?"

Nayeon finally couldn't keep up the act anymore. Her previously composed face instantly fell. She glanced to the side first, then pouted and looked at Jeongyeon with dissatisfaction: "What?"

"What are you doing?" Yu Dingyan looked at her strangely: "Cosplaying as a wooden doll?"

"No ah……"

Lim Nayeon's eyes darted around, she smacked her lips twice, frowned, straightened her back, and pounded her back a couple of times: "My back feels a little uncomfortable~"

"..."

Yoo Jeongyeon looked at Lim Nayeon, whose performance was extremely half-hearted, with a strange expression, as if she were insulting her intelligence.

"..."

However, this was quite normal for Lim Nayeon, and she was used to it, so she didn't pursue the matter: "Did you hear what I just said?"

Upon hearing this, Lim Nayeon glanced at Chou Tzuyu unintentionally and pursed her lips:

"Who else could it be?"

...She glanced over casually and saw Chou Tzu-yu and Chi Kyung-won interacting from afar. Chou Tzu-yu's little expressions were so endearing.

"So you heard me! Then why didn't you say anything?"

"I'm not going to talk about it anymore, my back hurts."

…………

GUCCI's dinner was quite grand. In addition to the usual buffet, a small runway was set up on the venue for a mini fashion show. Then, the CEO of GUCCI Peninsula gave a speech, and even senior executives from the European headquarters took the stage to give a speech, thanking local partners, praising the Peninsula's fashion ecosystem, and looking forward to the vast market and cooperation opportunities in the future.

It's clear that GUCCI really values the Peninsula market, and its overt displays of goodwill far exceed those of its top luxury peers... It's evident that the growth in the Peninsula market, and even the Asian market, must be very satisfying for them.

As a global brand ambassador and arguably GUCCI's No. 1 partner across the peninsula, Ji Kyung-won was invited by GUCCI to speak on stage.

...However, they were all just empty words, like thanking fans for their support and thanking the brand for its help.

The event didn't end immediately after all the activities; the brand also organized an after-party. Although it was called a party and included some games, it was actually an event focused on socializing.

"Hahaha……"

Seeing Ji Kyung-won, representing the brand, make a fool of himself in the game, Lim Na-yeon laughed wildly and exaggeratedly, bending over backwards, even forgetting the most basic rule for female idols: 'covering their mouths when laughing'.

Judging from her exaggerated manner, anyone who didn't know better would think she had a grudge against Chi Jingyuan.

Chou Tzu-yu, standing next to her, couldn't help but laugh, her short face scrunched up in a wide grin.

Compared to the previous activity, this aftet party was quite fun.

After a few games, the lively atmosphere eased a bit, and familiar people chatted and socialized together. Hirai Momo looked around and when she saw Minatozaki Sana sitting next to her, who seemed rather low-key, she suddenly sensed something was wrong.

...Sana Minatozaki, who usually takes the initiative to socialize even when she doesn't have many opportunities, should be very enthusiastic and excited about social occasions like this, where she attends events attended by fashion industry figures, powerful people in the industry, and celebrities.

Why hasn't she moved much at all since then, and hasn't even said a word?

"what happened to you?"

Hirai Momo leaned closer and asked with concern, "You've seemed off lately... Are you in a bad mood?"

Looking back now, she immediately realized something was wrong... From the moment she arrived until now, whether it was the banquet or the party, Sana Minatozaki had been too low-key.

"..."

Sana Minatozaki was startled by the question and snapped out of her reverie.

Even though a while had passed, Chi Jingyuan's gaze and smile kept replaying in her mind and eyes like a nightmare. That disdain, that condescension, was like a nail driven into her heart, and she felt as if all her enthusiasm and strength had been drained away.

Occasionally, when she sees someone suitable and wants to go up and say hello, Chi Jingyuan's glance from earlier immediately comes to mind, and Minatozaki Sana instantly shrinks back, hesitant and indecisive... and feels a little inferior.

Others simply cannot understand how extreme the impact and harm of seeing the 'contemptuous' gaze from the eyes of the people she cares about and likes could be when she mustered up the courage and shamelessly tried her best.

Since then, she has not left her Twice seat, sitting there as if sleepwalking. Although it was lively around her, she felt as if she were in a separate room, completely oblivious to the noise.

Hearing Hirai Momo's words, Minatozaki Sana, who had just come to her senses, was even a little confused. She shook her head and looked around. Only after the noisy sounds returned to her ears did she realize where she was.

"..."

Faced with her friends' concerned looks, she habitually forced a smile and even stretched, saying, "No... I'm just a little tired."

"Who isn't?"

Hirai Momo was unaware of the earlier incident and didn't delve into it when she heard Minatozaki Sana say that. Instead, she immediately echoed in agreement: "I'm so sleepy too. I didn't fall asleep until after 3 a.m. last night... But looking at the schedule, we can't rest after the GUCCI dinner. We still have to go to KBS to record an evening radio show."

"I guess I won't be able to get back to the dorm to rest until three or four in the morning again..."

Hirai Momo complained about the heavy schedule with a mix of helplessness and resentment, but then offered Minatozaki Sana some advice with concern: "You probably can't sleep now... why don't you take a nap in the car later?"

After saying that, she glanced at Sana Minatozaki as if remembering something, and grinned, jokingly saying, "But you really are sleepy... You don't seem to have any energy in this kind of situation. You would have been completely exhausted by now, wouldn't you?"

"..."

Hearing her friend's words of concern, Sana Minatozaki felt a little better, and she smiled and winked at Momo Hirai.

Then, her smile softened slightly, and Minatozaki Sana pursed her lips, glanced at the lively scene in the distance, hesitated for a few seconds, and then, feigning indifference, asked in a low voice, "Momo-chan~ do you think what I did before... was effective?"

Sana Minatozaki is now even caught in a state of self-doubt and is starting to seek affirmation from Momo Hirai.

"Of course it works."

Hearing her question, Hirai Momo didn't think much of it and answered directly, her tone quite serious. However, before speaking, she glanced cautiously to the left and right, carefully switching to Japanese:

"What else can we do? You know the company's attitude. If we don't go to Japan, they sometimes show that they're suppressing us foreign members here in the peninsula."

"You're so popular, yet you only have a few lines in this comeback? Tzuyu was the same before, the most popular member of the group, but the company deliberately suppressed her. Everyone could see that. But... now..."

As she spoke, Hirai Momo seemed to have thought of something, her expression becoming somewhat complicated. She pursed her lips and then quickly moved on:

"Don't be fooled by the fact that all the schedules are arranged by the company now, and everyone has little autonomy... But when personal resources are opened up, the benefits will be very obvious."

Although it wasn't meant to comfort her, Sana Minatozaki suddenly felt much better after hearing it.

"That……"

She nodded gently, pondered for a moment, then her previously drooping eyebrows lifted slightly before she spoke tentatively, her high-pitched, clear voice sounding somewhat hesitant: "Then, wouldn't that make people think it's a bit inappropriate, like that..."

Some things are indeed hard to say.

"What's wrong with that? Isn't this part of the job? We're not like... we still have to rely on ourselves~"

Whether Hirai Momo understood or not, she glanced sideways at the direction of the dark-skinned maknae beside her, and then earnestly advised, "But sometimes you still have to be careful, there are a lot of people with bad intentions..."

Just as she was about to elaborate on the unpleasant things she had encountered before, she suddenly realized something, her expression turned serious, and she looked at Minatozaki Sana with concern: "What's wrong? Did someone say something?"

No, not at all.

Sana Minatozaki and Momo Hirai exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with complex emotions. After a few seconds, Sana suddenly laughed, leaned closer to Momo, and shook her head with a smile: "I just ran into some things when I was trying to chat her up, so I'm in a bit of a bad mood~"

"But it's much better now~"

She gave a brief explanation to reassure Hirai Momo, then chuckled and nodded, showering her with praise that was both exaggerated and sincere:

"MOMO-chan is such a wise and intelligent girl... I wonder who will marry you in the future. Ah, you're such an enviable person!"

However, Hirai Momo didn't seem happy at all after hearing this. Instead, she rolled her eyes and looked at Minatozaki Sana suspiciously. Minatozaki Sana couldn't help but laugh at her expression.

"Haha~"

She covered her mouth and laughed, as if she had regained her liveliness.

Although Hirai Momo's words didn't contain any decisive information, the comfort from her friend did make her feel much better.

More importantly, she also realized that, setting aside external emotions such as self-esteem and opinions... no matter how disappointed or dissatisfied she was.

But in the end, she still has to rely on herself.

Even if he had any opinions or made any jokes... hasn't she always lived like this?

Even though the thought of Chi Jingyuan's gaze still made Minatozaki Sana feel suffocated.

But sometimes, adjusting your mindset and recognizing reality can indeed make you feel better.

Although this reality is indeed quite cruel.

However... as long as you work hard...

Sana-chan, you'll definitely succeed!

As Sana Minatozaki was engrossed in encouraging herself and comforting herself, Momo Hirai next to her seemed to have noticed someone, and hurriedly got up while patting her twice to remind her.

Sana Minatozaki immediately realized what was happening and quickly stood up as well. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the other Twice members were also getting up one by one, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit formal.

A figure strode over, and upon closer inspection, she immediately recognized him as Lee Byung-hun, a well-known actor from the Korean Peninsula.

Even though they had never met before and were not in the same circle at all, Sana Minatozaki recognized Lee Byung-hun at a glance; this senior's fame was just too great.

Although he has no collaboration with GUCCI, Lee Byung-hun was invited to the dinner tonight because of his status and influence, as well as the mutual intention to collaborate, making him one of the most prominent male celebrities tonight.

I just don't know why this senior suddenly came to Twice's side.

"Senior, Annyeonghaseyo~"

When the Twice members saw Lee Byung-hun approaching, they all stood up immediately, bowed, and greeted him nervously. Sana Minatozaki also quickly put on a smile, suppressing her previous negative emotions and trying her habitual way of making a good impression.

Although... she vaguely heard that this senior was not a good person.

But still, he's a very capable person.

Just as Sana Minatozaki smiled and bowed, Lee Byung-hun, whose expression was cold and aloof, passed by her. He also smiled at the right moment and nodded to the group, his attitude unexpectedly friendly.

"Hello~"

Feeling this friendly attitude, Sana Minatozaki felt a slight warmth in her heart... But the next second, this senior simply ignored her and walked straight towards Tzuyu, who was standing at the back of the group, in front of her and the other Twice members.

"Ziyu..."

Lee Byung-hun, the senior member, stood in front of Tzuyu, the maknae of the group, and his already kind smile widened even further as he greeted the dark-skinned maknae.

Seeing this scene before them, the members of Twice were stunned for a moment, and then suddenly realized that they all felt that this scene was familiar, as if they had seen it somewhere before.

Having just managed to console herself and pull herself together a little, Sana Minatozaki could only stare blankly in that direction:

Watching the senior artist greet and chat with Chou Tzu-yu warmly, and how Chou Tzu-yu, after a slight surprise, immediately and naturally smiled and replied... a sense of dark humor welled up in her heart. In her resentment, she inexplicably felt that sometimes her efforts and confidence were like a joke.