Chapter Twenty-Nine: Let's Run a Test

any awkwardness.As the atmosphere on set improved, the actors' interactions during breaks became more frequent. Recently, Jung So-jung has been making a point of spending her downtime near Ji Chang-wo..."Crazy!" Chi Jingyuan cursed, and was about to hang up directly.

"Feed..."

Just then, a female voice came from the phone, it was Xia Wen. Her voice was soft and a little hoarse, with a clear hesitation and timidity: "Is... is it Ji... Ji Chengyuan"

This sentence made Chi Jingyuan stop his finger that was about to hang up the phone. He opened his eyes and raised them slightly, carefully recalling it for a moment, then asked in some bewilderment: "Zhou... Zhou Tzuyu"

He didn't recognize the voice, but very few people besides him had conversed with Ji Jingyuan using Xia Wen. After thinking for a moment, Ji Jingyuan confirmed the other person's identity.

It was just a momentary surprise. I met this very young trainee at the entrance of the JYP building in February. Out of a desire to look after young kids from China who were trying their luck on the peninsula, I gave them my phone number.

But three months passed and she never called. The reason was unknown, and Ji Jingyuan didn't care much about it.

I didn't expect it to come suddenly today, and at this time of all times.

"Yes, I am Tzuyu Zhou..."

After a brief response on the phone, silence followed. From the receiver, I faintly heard the sound of someone's lips moving slightly, as if they were hesitating.

"Come on, what's the matter You picked up the phone, there's nothing to be embarrassed about."

With a deep breath, Chi Jingyuan blurted out his question.

"I... I... I'm lost."

After a few seconds of silence, the phone finally crackled to life with that single sentence.

"Lost" Chi Jingyuan stared blankly, unable to believe his ears as he repeated the question.

He suddenly felt like he had entered the plot of some TV show.

"Well... I had a bad mood today and just walked around aimlessly... Didn't realize where I was when I came to my senses. You... can you help me"

Zhou Tzuyu's voice sounded a little low, with a hint of embarrassment. Her voice got softer and softer until finally, Ji Jingyuan had to lean in close to hear her.

"Well, Tzuyu-ssi..."

Ji Jingyuan's heart was churning with emotions, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. He even used formal Korean, his tone slightly sharp as he questioned:

“If you get lost, you can use the map on your phone to check your location, take a taxi straight back, or ask pedestrians and shopkeepers nearby. At worst, you can call your trainee friends, or even JYP trainee management staff – there are so many options... Am I being too redundant by looking for you”

“…………”

Chi Jingyuan's tone and rhetorical question made Zhou Tzuyu somewhat flustered. Silence fell over the phone, a deathly silence.

After a long pause, there were a few sniffles and a weak apology: "I'm sorry... I disturbed you..."

...

Chi Jingyuan, holding his phone, became agitated because the other person on the call seemed nonsensical. Then, with the words "I'm sorry," his mood suddenly calmed down.

One sentence "sorry" contains a lot of meaning, some people are reluctant to delve into it.

The figure of the little girl who stood out from the crowd and radiated loneliness in front of JYP's building before flashed before my eyes.

She is alone outside and doesn't know the way. It's getting late, so she must be a bit scared and helpless.

"Just a moment..."

Realizing the other party was about to hang up, Ji Jingyuan spoke.

"Whew…"

He let out a long sigh, clipped his phone between his shoulder and ear, and sat up straight in bed. As he got dressed, he said into the phone, "I'm on my way now. Just stay put and don't move. Tell me your approximate location and any landmarks around you."

"Okay, okay, I'm surrounded by..." After hearing Ji Jingyuan's words, Zhou Tzuyu's voice noticeably became more lively after a few seconds of silence. She looked around and then told Ji Jingyuan.

"You said that place is almost in Ruiguocun, how did you get there Wait for me."

Chi Jingyuan put on his clothes, said something into the phone, and was about to go out.

He kept using Xiaowen's voice on the phone. His two roommates couldn't understand at all. When they saw him suddenly get dressed and walk out, they were very surprised. Wu Shixun even asked, "Is something wrong Do you need help"

"Nothing serious, just a little thing. I'll be back soon. Cheng Huan, if he asks, tell him for me." Chi Jingyuan waved to the two of them and left the dormitory.

When they heard him say he was fine, the two roommates put their minds at ease. After Pool Jingyuan left, they lay there discussing:

"What do you think he's doing out so late"

"Need I ask Didn't you hear Jingyuan just taking a phone call with someone"

The voice was very soft and it was spoken in Xiawen, I don't know who it was.

Hearing Do Kyung-Soo's answer, Woo Se-Hwan chuckled softly, looking like he understood Ji-Won very well, with an enigmatic and profound air:

"Who it is doesn't matter at all... What matters is the girl."

"Still, it’s not right for someone like Jingyuan to answer a phone call late at night and rush out dressed. The women…"

"Wow, I'd love to meet them."

…………

He was already very familiar with the area nearby. After Zhou Tzuyu described it briefly, he had a general idea of where it was. After going downstairs, Ji Jingyuan hailed a taxi and rushed over there.

I hadn't even been out the door for two minutes when it started to rain. It was a light drizzle at first.

The straight distance wasn't that far, after all, Tzuyu walked on foot. It just took a detour, with more alleyways. If you're unfamiliar with the roads, it can be quite confusing.

Xiaoyu was still drizzling when Chi Jingyuan went out. In order to disguise himself, he put on a baseball cap and a mask, and didn't even bring an umbrella. Fortunately, he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. After putting on the hat of the sweatshirt, there was a two-layer protection, and he didn't care much about the drizzle.

After getting off the car and walking for a while, Ji Jingyuan spotted Zhou Tzuyu's figure from about ten meters away.

She crouched under the eaves of a shuttered storefront, sketching on the ground with twigs.

Mingming wasn't short, but squatting there she seemed a little smaller. From afar, she appeared to perfectly blend into the surrounding hazy yellow lights and the somewhat desolate atmosphere. The sound of raindrops falling around her only served to accentuate her loneliness.

She wasn't lost in her own world, but occasionally she would lift her head to glance around. This time, as she looked up, she saw Ji Jingyuan walking towards her. After confirming it a few times, Zhou Tzuyu realized that it was the person she was waiting for, so she stood up and looked at Ji Jingyuan with sparkling eyes as he walked closer.

There was no smile on her face, but her eyes held a hint of joy. However, the feeling of grief still lingered heavily on her.

"Long time no see, Tzuyu xi, what a coincidence."

Chi Jingyuan came to her side and directly said something harsh.

Although the two people had only met once and weren't very familiar, his tone didn't feel distant at all.

Chou Tzu-yu looked at her mood was comparatively down, not very like talking.

I couldn't help but reply, "You... can you stop using honorifics We aren't speaking Korean, are we"

"No, only polite language can express my respect for you. After all, it's not every day you meet someone who gets lost while walking."

"Chi Jingyuan's voice held a hint of sarcasm as he swept his gaze over her, seeing her standing there a little embarrassed. "Come on, what are you still doing here Where is your practice dormitory"

“In XXXX.” Zhou Tzuyu reported a small district name.

"This place is pretty close to the practice dorm I lived in before."

Chi Jingyuan chuckled after hearing this. "Let's go that way first. It's not a good time or place to hail a taxi right now."

"Though it isn't too far, if you can catch it, stop it. If not, just walk back."

Saying that, he immediately set off while waving his hand to signal Tzuyu Zhou to follow him.

Zhou Tzuyu didn't refute, just nodded lightly and followed behind him step by step, slightly falling half a body length behind, not walking completely side by side.

After Pool Jingyuan arrived, he didn't show any intention of making pleasantries. He said just two sentences before leading the way.

"To get lost... you still can't speak Korean"

As they walked, Chi Jingyuan casually asked a question.

"Not very proficient."

Zhou Tzuyu glanced at him and replied in a low voice.

By the way, when did you arrive on the peninsula

Last year at the end of the year.

"It's been half a year already..." Ji Jingyuan involuntarily slowed his pace, turned his head and looked at Zhou Tzuyu with a strange look in his eyes, as if worriedly asking: "Learning for half a year and still can't communicate... Tzuyu xi, have you considered taking an intelligence test"

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novels Website"Every time, running so fast..." Ji Jingyuan turned his head to look at Zhou Tzuyu who was sitting in the passenger seat with her legs together, quietly fiddling with her hair. Hearing her slightly pa...