ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕑π•₯𝕖𝕣 πŸ™πŸœ

To my co-kepiloona stans out there, let's mourn together cuz it hurts to know that we could've had that dance unit, but could only imagine it now πŸ₯²πŸ’”.

β€’Β°~Β°~Β°β€’

β€’ Xiaoting β€’

"Congratulations, Ms. Shen!"

"I didn't do much. Congratulations, everyone. You all did an amazing job."

I smiled proudly at the people in front of me. After successfully securing a six-month marketing project, I made sure to thank everyone for their efforts.

"... This project will make it easier for us to build direct bookings business in our website and gain increased exposure in our venue marketplace. We'll also be able to customize our listing so we are essentially putting our best cards forward for all of our customers. Again, thank you for your hard work. This calls for a celebration. Tell my assistant where you want to dine later, I'll pay for all the expenses." I smiled at them.

They didn't speak for a while before finally erupting to a chorus of cheers. I shook my head in amusement and prepared to leave the conference room with Shiro.

When we were by the door, a cheery voice called for me. I turned around to meet the shy stare of one of the team members.

"Ms. Shen!"

"Yes, Ms. Nonaka?"

She fumbled with her fingers for a second. "If we were to ask you, just hypothetically, to go with us for dinner later, what would your reaction be? This is all just a 'what if' scenario!"

I laughed at the skittish girl. "Well, hypothetically, I would have accepted it if only I didn't schedule a private dinner prior to your proposal."

"Oh," I smiled at the obvious disappointment the girl showed. I stopped myself from patting the girl's head because I got so used to it with a certain group of kids.

"Let's have dinner next time we get the chance to work together again." I smiled and received an energetic 'Okay, boss!' from her.

Shiro and I finally left and closed the door behind us. Unbeknownst to me, my subordinates seemed to have changed their opinion of me.

"See! I told you she's not that scary anymore!"

"Of course we know! She's been smiling a lot more than I could count."

"Our boss is really beautiful, I might just fall for her."

"The moment you do is the end of your career."

"What? Why?"

"I don't think she's fond of relationships 'cause I have a friend from the PR department and they were told to auto remove any form of scandals that's related with her personal life."

"... But maybe she's just hiding her lover?"

"Or maybe she's protecting the one closest to her?"

"... No way! Are you talking about Chief Mashiro!?"

"Maybe? Hehe, whatever, it's their life. But they really make a cute couple!"

"That's right! Our very own cold president Shen and her smiley and kind assistant Mashiro."

"Aww, that's so adorable!"

"Don't care 'bout that. All I know is that anyone who has the ability and gets to see our President Shen smile, is one lucky person."

"That's right!"

When we arrived at my office, I sighed in relief upon finally finishing this project with brilliant results. I sat limp on my chair. I heard Mashiro chuckle at my posture.

"You should rest, Ting."

"Maybe later. I'll just finish signing a few documents and head back up to my room."

"Okay. I'll arrange the papers that need immediate signing."

I nodded and began to think about the subordinates I just left. "Provide the team transportation back to their office. And also for their celebration later if they need one."

"Noted."

I repositioned myself and fixed my posture. "Do you think we should build a headquarter here?"

Shiro took her time and think it through. "I think we should. Aside from China, your hotels here are booming the most as compared to those in other countries. And if we're going to base it on our monthly sales forecast, we'll have enough revenue to set a building and hire employees. What made you think of this?"

"Aside from the hassle it brings to our subordinates, colleagues, and partners because we stay in this hotel, I also... want to stay here. In Korea."

Shiro was shocked but recovered quickly. "For good?"

"Hopefully. If everything turns out okay, that is."

"Oh wow, that's a surprise," Shiro gaped.Β  "I mean, don't get me wrong, but you're like a vagabond that doesn't want to settle. We stay longer in China because it's your homeland but we don't stay there that long either."

"I know. But this isn't me being impulsive, I really tried to think it through if staying here is feasible. After careful deliberation, it's a good choice if I do." I replied. "If you want to go back, I'll make sure that you'll still have work."

"No, no. I'll stay here as well if you're planning to settle down. I don't really have anyone to go back to, remember?"

We shared sympathetic smiles because although her folks are living well in Japan, they don't care about what she does. They would only call if they needed money, which Shiro would always give no matter what. Stupid, but understandable.

My phone beeped, signalling a text came in. I smiled at the name I saw before looking back again at Shiro.

"Don't forget about dinner later, okay?"

"Got it, boss!~"

She went out of my office and I turned back my attention to my phone.

==============================

Choi Yujin

πŸ‡: (Sent a photo)

πŸ‡: Just finished my schedule and i'm home now!~~
πŸ‡: When are u coming back??

After I finish signing some papers. This will probably take two or three hours more.

πŸ‡: Ugh😩 ok, i'll wait for u hereee~

Okay. Rest well. We'll have dinner outside with the kids. I invited Mashiro and you can invite your close friends.

πŸ‡: Ohhh, is there a special occassion?😯

You could say that. We won a deal that we've been preparing for more than six months. I wanted to celebrate it with you guys.

πŸ‡: WOW OUR TING IS AMAZING AS ALWAYSπŸ‘πŸ€©
πŸ‡: LET ME GIVE U A SPECIAL TIGHT HUG FOR UR HARD WORK❀️❀️❀️
πŸ‡: CONGRATS TO YOUR WHOLE COMPANY☺️~~

Thank you, Yujin.

πŸ‡: No problem~ See u later!!πŸ˜˜πŸ’•

πŸ‘

==============================

I worked extra faster to finish these documents quickly. I wanted to get back home soon.

Home, I thought, what a funny but sweet feeling I feel everytime I think of a face rather than a place associated with that word.

β€’Β°~Β°~Β°β€’

Yujin drove us towards the restaurant I reserved for us. Like always we covered up so that we wouldn't get recognized. The four teens were with us while Mashiro texted me that she was already driving towards the restaurant. Yujin told me that Chaehyun is coming, along with a producer who is also their close friend, Kim Dayeon.

It didn't take us long to arrive at our destination. I reserved the whole restaurant, so the only people here were us. And shortly after we entered, chaos ensued.

"Hiyyih! Get the hell off of that chair!" Yujin scolded Hiyyih who just smiled guiltily towards us as she stepped down.

"Yah! Hikaru, I swear for the life of me that if you don't throw that dead roach now, I'm whipping your ass back to Japan!" She shouted at the laughing teen. "It's a living grasshopper, not aβ€”"

"And Youngeun stop aggravating the situation by teasing them! Yeseo, be a dear and do something to your sisters."

"I'm just recording them though!?" Came the youngest's reply.

"Exactly! Don't keep recording and stop them!"

"... Okay, eonnie."

I laughed lowly but shut my mouth when Yujin glared at me. I poured some water in her glass and gave it to her.

"Just let them be. They'll get tired later."

"They're acting like kids who haven't gone to a restaurant!"

"We have the place to ourselves so don't stress too much about the ruckus they're making." I giggled. "Also, they're practically your kids anyway."

"If they keep doing what they're doing, I'm disowning all of them."

"We heard that!" Came the simultaneous reply from the four who were now about to sit down the table.

"Yujin eonnie, I just got adopted a week ago!" I laughed. The shamelessness of this kid is unbelievable.

"I said what I said." Yujin said in a mock serious manner.

Not long after, Shiro arrived. I introduced her to the teens since she already knows Chaehyun and Yujin. The kids seemed to have an immediate liking to her because Shiro is easy to get along with. Hikaru especially clung to her most of the night when they found out that they were both Japanese.

A few minutes later, Chaehyun arrived with Kim Dayeon. After we were introduced to each other, I signalled the waiter to serve us the food.

Shockingly, I didn't find it hard to get along with Dayeon. She was loud, opinionated, and straightforward so it was easy to talk to her about whatever topic she opened up.

I was genuinely enjoying the food, company, and night that I didn't notice the time pass by. I exchanged numbers with Dayeon in case we wanted to have a partnership that needed her skills. And also because I found it fun talking to her.

It was around 11PM when we called it a night and went our separate ways. Of course, I rode with Yujin and the others since we were temporarily living under one roof.

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HOT NEWSπŸ”₯

Collab of the Year? Idol Choi Yujin Seen Having Dinner With Various Public Star Personalities From Different Industries

Famous idol sensation, Choi Yujin, was seen late last night at a high-end restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul with the following public figures: Yeseo, the rising actress from A Mircale in Cell No. 999; Shen Youngeun, the talented eSports pro gamer; Huening Bahiyyih, one of the highest paid model and socialite; Hikaru, professional player and most-followed Flinch streamer; Kim Dayeon, a genius songwriter and producer; Kim Chaehyun, the nicknamed "Golden Manager" of WakeUp ent.; Sakamoto Mashiro, the Chief of Staff of the Shen Hotels International; and Shen Xiaoting, the youngest billionaire and 23-year-old owner and Chief Executive Officer of Shen Hotels International.

Choi Yu Jin, better known with her stage name Yujin, was reportedly close with all the above-mentioned figures. Netizens were shocked with the different mix of personalities. After digging through the past posts and interactions of the star, it was found out that her sisters are among the mix. 18-year-old Choi Hikaru and 17-year-old Choi Yeseo, are said to be the idol's long hidden sisters.....

Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—Γ—

"... Okay, thank you for your work." I sighed as I ended the call with my PR Head.

After Mashiro sent me a news article of our dinner last night with the others, I quickly sent my team to take down the posts regarding this. Although we were quick to take action, we weren't quick enough because a lot of people had already seen it.

It might have been due to the fact that everyone invited for our dinner, excluding me and Shiro, had fans and casual supporters. This meant that the internet always has an eye on them.

I massaged my temples and called Yujin to ask her how they're doing.

==============================

Choi Yujin

🦌: Hi. I texted you earlier that I'm doing something about the pictures and articles, but how are you guys doing?

πŸ‡: I was told to stay at home today. I'm with my sisters and your cousin and they already know the situation we're in.

🦌: I'm really sorry, Yujin.

πŸ‡: (giggles) It's okay.~ We were just having dinner, you know. You can't control this so don't feel bad.

🦌: But still, I should have known this. We both know that your sisters don't wantβ€”

πŸ‡: Nope, nope, nope! Just accept it as it is, Tingβ€”

🐰: (shouting from afar) Eonnie! Is that Ting eonnie?

πŸ‡: Yup! She's feeling sorry about last night.

🐰: (voice coming closer) Can I talk to her, please?

πŸ‡: Sure!~ Knock some sense into her, baby.~

🐰: Yes~ (passes the phone) Hello, Ting eonnie!

🦌: Hi, Yeseo. About last nightβ€”

🐰: Shh, eonnie (laughs). First of all, I don't want to hear any sorry from you because I really had fun last night. Also, I don't care anymore if my relationship with Yujin eonnie gets exposed. Hikaru eonnie feels the same way, too! The media would have found out about it soon anyway. Better now than later, right? My company's planning to release a statement soon along with Yujin eonnie's. Hikaru is also planning to announce it later on her stream. So, don't feel bad anymore, okay Ting eonnie?

🦌: ... Thank you for understanding, Yeseo.

🐰: Thank you for taking care of us, too! Wait, Yujin eonnie wants the phone back (passes the phone back).

πŸ‡: Okay, it's my turn now. Go, shoo.

🐰: (laughs).

πŸ‡: Are you still feeling bad about yourself? If you do, I'm making Hiyyih, Hikaru and Youngeun knock some sense into you!

🦌: (chuckles) No, no. I get it. Thank you, Yujin. I feel like all I ever say to you is thank you.

πŸ‡: That's okay~ All I say to you too is thank you, right? We're even. On the other hand, what about you? Is this okay for you image?

🦌: I don't really care about those. As long as my business is thriving, I wouldn't care about what the media says about me.

πŸ‡: Oh, I see.~ I always thought that you didn't like whatever the media says about you that's why you choose to be lowkey.

🦌: Hm, it's more of a matter that I don't like cameras being shoved at my face rather than that.

πŸ‡: That's completely understandable (laughs). The paparazzi can be overwhelming most times. Anyway, let me call you later. Chaehyun needs to talk to me.

🦌: Okay. Text me if anything happens.

πŸ‡: You, too. If it's urgent, just call me. Bye, Ting!~

🦌: Okay. Take care, Yujin.

==============================

After ending the call, I smiled at my phone.

Yujin is precious to me. Because of her, I met people that I seem to have easy connections with. Not long after, they also became my good friends. Smiling and laughing doesn't seem so hard of a thing to do now because of them.

I promise to protect them better in the future.

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