A/N: Just wanted to say that today's my birthday!🥳 I had a blast with my family and friends so I hope you had an awesome day today, too! Enjoy the update💖

Also, today's k1sd so see y'all beautiful people in kepivilletwt!😻

• Xiaoting •

I was currently back in my office at the Mvsk Hotel. I didn't want to overstay at Yujin's house even though she said that it was fine. I felt like I was taking advantage of her kindness. And also because of other reasons.

I don't know— the way I react towards her lately makes me feel like I'm violating her when I'm not even doing anything remotely considered "violating".

I had a hard time bringing out Youngeun because she wanted to stay. Me too, I thought, but Yujin was starting to get busy while I had to handle work that needed me to constantly leave the house.

"Has the project been drafted for the new food establishment?" I asked Mashiro while signing a few papers.

"Yup. I got a copy from my assistant. Do you want to look through it?"

"No need. I'll read it once it's finalized. Who's heading it?"

"Ms. Su Ruiqi."

"Hmm," I paused. "Ah, yes, I've heard about her. She's got a good head on her shoulders so I'm expecting it to go well."

Shiro laughed. "You know I'm telling them that, right?"

"I know."

"And that would either motivate her to do well or pressure herself too much and we'll get a lackluster performance."

"I'm expecting the former. That's why I said she's got a good head."

Again, Shiro laughed. "You and your ways of leadership. Anyway, speaking of having a good head, I think WakeUp lost theirs."

I continued focusing on the files in front of me. "Your gossip can wait until break time, Shiro."

"It's about Yujin though."

I paused. I glanced at her to see if she was joking, but she was only looking at her tablet with a smile. "What happened?"

"Nothing. Just something silly, I think."

"Tell me." I said seriously and she must have felt it because she looked up at me.

"... Tone down the glare, Ting. Yujin was trending since this morning because of her collab with Ms. Cai Bing."

"So, they trended because the fans are excited for a work they're doing?" I asked and started relaxing.

"That and because it's with the Cai Bing."

I craned my head in confusion. "What's wrong with her?"

"Not her exactly, but more about the surrounding scandals on her. Both of them are famous locally and both produce good music, but Cai Bing is infamous for her flings with her colleagues. Mind you, she doesn't care what gender. It was reported that she recently broke up with her non-showbiz girlfriend of four months. Netizens are now speculating if Yujin eonnie has something to do with it because the timing coincides with everything. I just thought that it was silly for WakeUp to do this because eonnie just came out from hiatus so it's inevitable for some fans to think up of something."

The longer Shiro spoke, her volume because lower as if she was unsure while I knew that my scrunched eyebrows only got deeper.

"... I see." I stood up and turned around to look at the open view behind me through the floor to ceiling windows.

"Just so you know, I called Chaehyun and asked her how they're handling the matter. To say that Chaehyun was mad is an understatement. Management told her to keep mum because the attention they were getting will create a momentum for their OST release."

"As if the amount of fans they have needs them to resort to that kind of tactic."

"... That's what I said. But Yujin eonnie actually didn't mind."

I turned to look at her quickly. "What?"

"Yeah." Shiro coughed, but I'm sure I heard her laugh. "Come on, Ting. Yujin eonnie is an idol. She went through this even before we met her."

"That doesn't mean I can't help her in any way I can now."

"I know, I know. But Yujin eonnie really said that she was fine. Her and Ms. Cai Bing are friends that's why she didn't mind. She said that she's used to it anyway."

"How close were they?"

"I'm not sure. Back then, I've only known Yujin eonnie through the mouth of the people in her industry. As far as I know, she's friends with a lot of people, but her close friends are usually tight-lipped and few in number. Ms. Cai Bing seems to be one of the latter."

Who knows why but I suddenly felt anxious. I kept tapping my fingers on my crossed arms.

I heard Shiro giggling so I looked up. She coughed when we had eye contact. I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Sorry, just saw a meme. Anyway, why don't you just call her? Ask her if it's bothering, if yes, then you can help her."

A smiled tugged on my lips at the idea. "That's right. Okay, I'll call her. You can go do your work."

She rolled her eyes at me but quickly left my office.

I took a sit on my chair and texted Yujin if she was busy and to call me if she was free. Around an hour later she called me.

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

Choi Yujin

🐇: Did my self-stunning sunshine Shen Xiaoting needed anything?~

🦌: ... I will never get used to the way you would greet me with the most random adjectives.

🐇: It fits you though.~

🦌: Did you hear what you said? Sunshine and Xiaoting do not belong in one sentence.

🐇: That's not true. Also! You just technically admitted that you're stunning since you didn't comment on it.

🦌: I am.

🐇: ... Did not expect that but YES TO THE CONFIDENT ENERGY!

🦌: ... Anyway, I wanted to ask you something. I saw that you were trending for your collaboration with another singer.

🐇: Yup! I'm excited for it!

🦌: Oh... You're close with who you're collaborating with?

🐇: Totally! Remember that Chinese friend I had in college? She was the one who introduced us together. Long story short, we got along great and the rest is history.

🦌: ... That's good.

🐇: It is! Was that all you wanted to ask?

🦌: ... Yes.

🐇: I see. Why though? Curious?

🦌: You could say that.

🐇: Are you sure? You don't sound like you're satisfied with my answer or something.

🦌: No, no. I was just curious. I wanted to help you take down the trends if you felt uncomfortable.

🐇: Aww~ I'm so lucky to have you! We could— (A nearby voice was heard, 'Baby, we're gonna start shooting now!')
🐇: Bummer. I need to go now, Ting. I'll text you later!

🦌: Okay. Good bye.

🐇: Bye!~

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

After I ended the call, I slumped down on my seat. I heard a woman's voice calling her baby. And I knew that she had a radio interview with Cai Bing today. Were they that close? Was it something more?

I shook my head in annoyance. Why would I care about that? Yujin said they're friends, then that means they're just exactly that.

So, I should stop being anxious for no reason.

•°~°~°•

The next few days were busy for both me and Yujin.

We had work so it was completely understandable. Just like when I was abroad, we would have less time with each other. But knowing she was  spending so much time with some other singer because they were always taking up the headlines of the entertainment news, made me feel all weird. It's like— like a mix of anger and disappointment. Not with Yujin of course, but with myself. And I never liked being unsure so it was apparent how I was getting moody.

I heard a ding from my tablet. I opened it and my frown only went deeper.

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

ENTERTAINMENT DAILY

SCOOP: Yujin and Caibing Matching Necklaces!

On a recent interview with Purr, a fan asked if they had matching necklaces. The eagle-eyed fan shared that it was sometimes seen by the fandom when Yujin has her encore stages on her concerts and Caibing when she's live on her IGram. Yujin and Caibing shared that they really had matching necklaces. Caibing gave it to Yujin when she was just a trainee and Caibing first had an overseas schedule.

Fans were ecstatic at the information. Yujin further explained that she was the one who kept pushing Caibing to buy her one because she didn't want to miss the Chinese singer too much.

"We're really close back then and even moreso now! I treasure that necklace very much." Yujin stated during the interview.

On another note, .....

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

I closed the tab and carelessly placed it on my desk. It created a loud rattle but I didn't care. I can just buy another one. I can also afford a much better designed necklace, too.

I scowled, feeling mad at myself for having such thoughts. Get a grip of yourself, Shen Xiaoting!

I heard my phone make a ding from my pocket.

It was a text from Yujin saying, 'Wanna watch some movie tonight at home?🥺🎞️ I'll make the popcorn and get some drinks!'

Just like yesterday and the day before that, I flatly declined saying I was busy. It was true. I was swamp with work— more like drowned myself with work, whispered a voice in my head.

Honestly, I just don't know how to face Yujin. I didn't know what to think of these weird feelings I had. I knew that it wasn't in the confines of being friendly anymore. Spending time with her felt like I was taking advantage of her kindness, like I was some jerk, wanting her attention all to myself.

It was unfair— for both of us.

But I knew avoiding her wasn't the solution either. She might overthink things. For now, I needed to quickly sort out my feelings to face her properly again.