peninsula asteroid.

Chapter 1448 is not me

Chapter 1448 is not me

"tomorrow?"

Hearing Bae Joo-hyun's sudden question, Ji Kyung-won held his phone and thought for a moment: "I don't have anything planned for tomorrow, but I'm going to visit a friend in the morning, so I probably won't be free until the afternoon."

"Visiting? Who is it?" Bae Joo-hyun asked curiously.

"Kim Woo-bin hyung, he's got... a serious illness, isn't he?"

Chi Jingyuan's tone was slightly somber as he explained softly, "We've worked together before and had a pretty good relationship. After he got sick, we hadn't had a chance to visit him until a few days ago when I heard from Huinu that he had just successfully completed a cancer treatment. He happened to be free these past two days, so we agreed to visit him together."

Kim Woo-bin, who once worked with Ji Kyung-won in "The Heirs," has become one of the most outstanding young actors after several years of steady development.

Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the middle of last year and had to stop all his work to be hospitalized for treatment. His career, which should have been going so far, came to an abrupt end.

However, compared to the regret over one's career, what is even more heartbreaking is cancer, a disease that inspires fear. Compared to health and life, career is no longer important.

Chi Jingyuan and he had a good relationship. He had wanted to visit him ever since he heard the news, but his condition was not very good and he was undergoing radiation therapy, so it was not very convenient.

Park Shin-hye told me that he was feeling better recently, and since we had the opportunity these past two days, we arranged to visit him.

"Kim Woo-bin-ssi, I know..."

Upon hearing this name, Bae Joo-hyun's tone noticeably lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible regret.

"So you're free this afternoon?" After a pause, Bae Joo-hyun didn't continue with this sad topic and instead returned to her original intention to ask.

"Well, what happened?"

Chi Jingyuan knew immediately that she wanted to see him, and with a slightly ambiguous tone, he deliberately asked, "Want to come see me?"

"It wasn't me..." But Bae Joo-hyun's voice sounded a little strange.

"If it's not you, then who is it?"

"Yes……"

After a brief two-second pause, Bae Joo-hyun revealed the answer with a forced smile: "It's...my sister."

"what?"

Chi Jingyuan exclaimed in surprise, thinking he had misheard.

"Oh, is that so?"

Without further ado, the young woman spoke quickly, "My sister is coming to Seoul tomorrow. I was supposed to pick her up, but I have a few extra commitments tomorrow..."

"She'll be arriving around 3 PM tomorrow. Could you pick her up for me, and then we can wander around a bit... Um, we'll have dinner together after I get off work tonight."

After saying that, to make her point, she added, "I was planning to invite you to dinner tomorrow anyway."

"..."

As if she had mentioned something that made her happy, the young woman's hoarse voice lightened slightly, and Chi Jingyuan, upon hearing this,...

He knew about Bae Joo-hyun's family situation, of course. He knew that she had a younger sister named Bae Joo-yoon, who was five or six years younger than Bae Joo-hyun. After graduating from university, she lived in Daegu. The two sisters had a very good relationship, and he often heard Bae Joo-hyun mention her.

But... knowing is one thing.

But Chi Kyung-won and she weren't familiar with each other.

"...Should I go pick them up alone?"

Chi Jingyuan hesitated for a moment, then thought of an idea: "Um, what's your schedule for tomorrow? How about I just tell your manager to ask for leave for you? You can get some rest. It doesn't matter if you have dinner or not. You can pick him up yourself in the afternoon."

"Oh dear, tomorrow's schedule was moved up because of the overseas filming in France. How can I ask for leave?"

But Bae Joo-hyun's current boyfriend had already made up his mind, and he complained, "Besides, my cold is actually much better now. I can just go to bed early tonight. I don't need to ask for leave."

"..."

After a brief moment of thought, Chi Jingyuan sighed softly and finally agreed: "Alright then."

It wasn't that he didn't want to see her, but he felt it would be awkward if Bae Joo-hyun wasn't there and he went alone.

However, since she had asked him to do so, Chi Jingyuan didn't mind... and judging from what the young lady said, it was clear that she had originally wanted to introduce them to each other.

"Then come over as soon as you get off work," Chi Jingyuan instructed.

Upon hearing this, the young lady immediately became cheerful, and her tone became crisp and clear:

See you tomorrow night!

…………

The next morning, Ji Kyung-won got up very early and drove to pick up Park Shin-hye.

Looking at Park Shin-hye sitting in the passenger seat, Ji Kyung-won felt that she was noticeably fatter than when they last met, with rounder cheeks and a better complexion.

Of course, even if he could tell that he had gained a lot of weight, he certainly wouldn't say it to his face.

"Nice car, very cool."

Park Shin-hye's gaze swept over the car's interior decorations, her eyes lit up, and she smiled and praised, "Did Mercedes give this to you?"

"This is my own car; it's not a gift."

Chi Jingyuan started the car and casually explained, "The car that was given away is not bad... but the license plate and appearance have been exposed, and many fans can recognize it."

"Tsk tsk..."

The woman clicked her tongue, winked, and said with a hint of teasing, "Such a cool car... how many people have actually ridden in the passenger seat of yours?"

Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but recall the events.

Those who have sat in the passenger seat of this car include Tzuyu, Suzy, and Sana Minatozaki...

"Are you the fifth or the sixth?" he asked uncertainly.

"Are they all women?"

"What do you say?"

"Are they all girlfriends?"

"That's not it."

"Haha~"

Park Shin-hye burst into laughter, her laughter hearty and familiar, showing no sign of awkwardness whatsoever.

Ever since seeing Ji Kyung-won's big house in LA and witnessing him and Jung Soo-jung get together in a very short time, Park Shin-hye's image of Ji Kyung-won has been fixed.

But when Chi Jingyuan heard her laughter, he felt that she had a silly, big sister vibe... as if she wasn't as smart as before.

"How is Brother Yubin doing now?" After chatting for a while, Chi Jingyuan asked.

"Ah~"

The smile on Park Shin-hye's face vanished instantly. She sighed softly, her tone heavy: "The situation is a little better than before. I successfully completed one round of anti-cancer treatment and several rounds of radiation therapy, but I'm still very weak. After all, nasopharyngeal carcinoma... is such a torturous disease to treat."

In comparison, Ji Kyung-won's relationship with Park Shin-hye is better because of the friendship they have built from previous collaborations, occasional meals together, and holiday greetings.

"Ugh."

After a two-second silence, Chi Jingyuan also sighed.

Before long, the car arrived at its destination, Yonsei University Severance Hospital in Seoul. This hospital is one of the best in South Korea, not only with top-notch medical standards but also with good patient privacy.

The car stopped at the hospital entrance. Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye got out of the car and had just walked to the entrance of the lobby when they saw a slender woman with a gentle temperament standing not far away waiting for them.

It was none other than Kim Woo-bin's girlfriend, Shin Min-ah.

Chi Kyung-won was slightly taken aback. He had thought that Kim Woo-bin's manager would be the one to pick them up, but it turned out to be Shin Min-ah.

Ji Kyung-won knew that Shin Min-ah was Kim Woo-bin's girlfriend. She debuted as a model and transitioned into acting, and is considered a very successful actress who has starred in many popular dramas. In 2015, she and Kim Woo-bin went public with their relationship.

But the story took a sharp turn when Kim Woo-bin was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. It was thought that the two would go their separate ways in the face of this disaster, since relationships in the entertainment industry are always fragile, let alone someone like Kim Woo-bin who was seriously ill and whose life was in danger. His career was even more in jeopardy.

Unexpectedly, Shin Min-ah, who was at the peak of her career at the time, put aside most of her work and turned down many acting offers in order to accompany and take care of him, and actually focused her life on accompanying her boyfriend's treatment and recovery.

This kind of emotion, which is extremely rare in the fickle and realistic entertainment industry, made Ji Kyung-won feel a sense of respect.

"Kyungwon-ssi, Shinhye-ssi, thank you for your hard work. You came all this way to visit Woobin."

When Shin Min-ah saw them, a gentle smile appeared on her face, and she took the initiative to walk up and greet them.

Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye quickly greeted each other... Ji Kyung-won and Shin Min-ah hadn't met much, but he was quite familiar with Park Shin-hye.

We exchanged pleasantries as I followed her into the hospital.

Unlike ordinary hospitals, the VIP ward floor for top celebrities here is strictly controlled. Unlike regular wards where people can come and go as they please, Shin Min-ah led them to the VIP ward floor where Kim Woo-bin was staying via a special elevator.

Stepping out of the elevator, the corridor was eerily quiet, with thick carpets covering the floor to minimize the sound of footsteps. The doors to the wards on both sides were tightly closed, and there wasn't a single other person in sight, ensuring excellent privacy.

Shin Min-ah led them to the door of a hospital room, knocked gently, and then slowly pushed the door open.

Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye followed Shin Min-ah into the ward. It was a top-tier VIP ward, spacious and simply yet warmly decorated, unlike any ordinary ward; it was more like a small apartment.

Although the heating was on, the ward was unusually quiet, with only the slight sound of the air purifier running. On the hospital bed, Kim Woo-bin lay half-reclined, with a thick pillow behind his back and a thin blanket covering him. His face was so pale that it was almost transparent, and even had a faint sallow tinge.

He was shockingly thin, having visibly lost about twenty pounds. His cheeks were deeply sunken, and his cheekbones became particularly prominent, making him look somewhat ferocious.

Perhaps due to hair loss caused by radiation therapy, he wore a black woolen hat to cover his bald head, and his eyes had become somewhat dull, lacking their former brilliance.

He is completely different from the rugged-looking, roguish-smiling man he used to be.

"..."

Upon seeing Kim Woo-bin's appearance, Ji Kyung-won's prepared greetings fell silent.

“Jingyuan…Xinhui…you’ve come…”

When Kim Woo-bin saw Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye, a glimmer of light instantly appeared in his dim eyes, and a surprised smile appeared on his face as he spoke with difficulty.

Perhaps due to repeated radiation therapy, Kim Woo-bin's vocal cords were affected, and his voice became extremely hoarse and strained, as if each word required all his strength to utter.

"Brother Woo-bin, we've come to see you."

Chi Jingyuan strode forward to the bedside and softened his tone as much as possible: "How are you? Are you feeling alright?"

Park Shin-hye also stepped forward, her eyes slightly red as she greeted them.

"I'm fine, I'm perfectly fine."

Kim Woo-bin nodded slightly, his sallow and gaunt face contorted in a smile, yet it seemed to convey a sense of joy: "Thank you... for coming to see me..."

Hearing his words, Chi Kyung-won felt somewhat uncomfortable that the once spirited leading actor had become like this.

Shin Min-ah quietly walked to the side, picked up the warm water on the table, and carefully helped Kim Woo-bin to drink a sip.

Then I stood quietly by the window, holding an apple in my hand, slowly peeling it.

Chi Jingyuan's gaze swept around. On the bedside table were a plate of fresh fruit, a thermos, and a few books, not arranged very neatly.

He guessed that these books were probably read to Kim Woo-bin by Shin Min-ah when she had nothing to do, both to pass the time and to keep him in a good mood.

The group chatted idly, mostly with Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye inquiring about Kim Woo-bin's condition and urging him to rest well and focus on his treatment. Kim Woo-bin only responded occasionally, his voice hoarse and weak, pausing every few words to catch his breath, appearing to be struggling.

The visit was brief. Kim Woo-bin was already weak and couldn't talk much; he needed to rest. Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye knew this and didn't disturb him too much. They simply expressed their concern and support before taking their leave.

When they left, Shin Min-ah saw them downstairs, talking incessantly about Kim Woo-bin's condition.

Kim Woo-bin has successfully completed two rounds of anti-cancer treatment and more than 30 rounds of radiation therapy, and overall it has gone relatively smoothly.

"He has another crucial treatment next month, and he needs to maintain both physical and mental health."

Shin Min-ah's tone was filled with relief and gratitude: "Thank you for coming today. Woo-bin, I'm really happy today. I haven't seen him smile so happily in a long time."

"Keep it up. If you need any help, just give me a call and let me know. We'll come back in a while."

He had already offered words of comfort, but it seemed to have no effect, so that was all Chi Jingyuan could say.

After saying goodbye to Shin Min-ah, Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye got back into the car. They had already arranged to have lunch together after their visit.

At this moment, Ji Kyung-won and Park Shin-hye in the car were both somewhat silent.

Chi Jingyuan gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his mind still replaying everything he had just witnessed in the ward.

The brief visit to the hospital left him with mixed feelings.

First, Kim Woo-bin's appearance is completely different from his previous bad-boy handsome image; he's entirely unlike the person I remember. The former top actor, with sunken cheeks, unable to speak, lies weakly in bed.

This also reminded him of Kim Jong-hyun; sometimes you really don't know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first.

Secondly, I was somewhat moved by the relationship between Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-ah...

In the fickle and materialistic entertainment industry, it is truly rare to find such genuine affection, to be able to stay by someone's side through misfortune and uncertainty about their future, to give up one's own career, and to wholeheartedly accompany and care for them.

Thinking about what had just happened, Ji Jingyuan felt a little envious of Kim Woo-bin, even though it was a bit inappropriate to say it like that.

He even couldn't help but let his mind wander and start fantasizing...

If one day he becomes seriously ill and is bedridden and can no longer maintain his appearance, will the people around him still take care of him like this?

I think...maybe.

Chi Jingyuan silently told himself this, but he, who was usually so confident, was not so confident at this moment.

Why don't we give it a try?

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but curse himself inwardly.

He called himself a lunatic.

Everyone's emotions and experiences are different, so there's no need to dwell on it.

It doesn't necessarily have to be this way for it to be genuine.

As Ji Kyung-won drove in silence, lost in his own thoughts, Park Shin-hye beside him remained quiet, her brows slightly furrowed.

Clearly, he was also caught up in his own emotions.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Chi Jingyuan was the first to break the silence.

“You didn’t say anything either.” Park Shin-hye snapped out of her daze and glanced at Ji Kyung-won.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with barely suppressed laughter, and the slightly tense atmosphere dissipated.

"Woo-bin, it really makes me sad..."

A few seconds later, Park Shin-hye couldn't help but speak up.

After a sigh, her tone shifted inexplicably: "It's not nice to say this, but seeing them, I actually feel a little envious... like, that kind of..."

She was a little unsure how to describe it, but Chi Jingyuan instantly understood what she meant and nodded: "I understand."

"Um……"

She gave Park Shin-hye a look that said, "You really felt that way too," and then sighed, "It feels like they're dating with marriage in mind."

"really."

Upon hearing this, Ji Kyung-won first agreed, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and jokingly said, "If Kim Woo-bin and Shin Min-ah break up after they recover, I, as a viewer, will be unhappy."

"Hehe, me too."

Park Shin-hye smiled, then, as if remembering something, clicked her tongue, her tone tinged with a hint of wistfulness and a barely perceptible expectation: "I wonder what I..."

The woman didn't finish speaking, but Chi Jingyuan knew immediately that she meant yes, and he couldn't help but laugh.

Sure enough, after personally experiencing what just happened, everyone would have similar thoughts and feel a sense of longing.

"Stop thinking about others. There's no point in thinking about this kind of thing. You'll regret it when you're actually lying in a hospital bed..."

Chi Jingyuan seemed to have noticed something. Looking ahead, he spoke as he drove, his tone a mix of teasing and seriousness:

"Didn't you tell me a while ago that you were dating a boyfriend, that Choi Tae-joon-ssi?"

Park Shin-hye and he have been in frequent contact and have been friends in the industry for many years. They don't shy away from discussing certain things. I heard her mention a while ago that she was dating a boyfriend.

Choi Tae-joon is also an actor, but his career hasn't been as successful as Park Shin-hye's.

"Ah."

Hearing her boyfriend mentioned, Park Shin-hye visibly perked up, her eyes sparkling with sweetness and a smile, completely in the throes of new love: "I haven't thought about it, I was just saying."

"I haven't met this person before."

"Then I'll invite him over for dinner so you can meet him?"

"Okay."