peninsula asteroid.

Chapter 1339 Summer

Chapter 1339 Summer

"Editor-nim, long time no see."

"I didn't expect them to collaborate with GUCCI!"

"Yes, Twice and GUCCI also have some collaborations, so it's such a coincidence that we met today."

"Haha, unnie still remembers last time!"

In the right corner of the banquet hall, Sana Minatozaki was chatting happily with a stylish woman in her thirties in front of her. Her face was beaming with a perfectly timed smile, her voice filled with enthusiastic and bright surprise, and she maintained a polite distance by leaning slightly forward.

Although the other person's appearance was only average, her smile and compliments seemed genuine, and she used her enthusiasm and occasional cute flirting to build a closer relationship with him.

The woman in front of her was named Park So-jung. She was the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine whom she had met through a friend. Although she wasn't particularly outstanding, she was considered a well-connected and resourceful person in the Peninsula fashion circle. When Minatozaki Sana returned to the banquet hall, she happened to see her chatting with a man, so she decisively came up and greeted her warmly.

After introductions, this middle-aged man was a representative of an advertising company... Compared to the somewhat aloof Park So-jung, this male representative seemed much more enthusiastic.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Sana Minatozaki could tell that the editor in front of her wasn't very interested in her approach and her reaction was rather lukewarm... because if everyone was interested, she wouldn't be the only one trying to find topics to talk about.

Sana Minatozaki could certainly sense the other person's attitude, but she didn't mind. She was already used to encountering setbacks and coldness in social situations.

Although sometimes such enthusiasm being met with indifference can be very uncomfortable, even for someone with her outgoing and cheerful personality, it can be quite upsetting.

Sometimes, when she returned to her dorm late at night and removed her elaborate makeup, she would stare blankly at herself in the mirror. Those perfunctory moments and ignored greetings would slowly erode her confidence in the silence.

But when she looks at herself in the mirror, she cheers herself up and puts on a smile again.

Ultimately, you have to rely on your own efforts.

Fortunately, Sana Minatozaki is an outgoing, cheerful, and sociable person.

Moreover, Twice's current popularity in the industry and their status in the music scene have given her more confidence. She is no longer unknown. As long as she doesn't encounter someone particularly difficult to get along with, she can always open up a conversation with her sincerity and enthusiasm.

As long as she's enthusiastic and works hard, she'll eventually reap the rewards.

"Your outfit looks really good today, unnie."

Even though the other party didn't react much to her enthusiasm, and her warm face met with a cold backside, Minatozaki Sana seemed unaware of this indifference. Instead, she leaned forward a little, keeping her voice at an intimate yet measured volume, and her eyes curved into a brighter arc.

"..."

Just as she finished speaking, she suddenly seemed to realize something, and inexplicably felt a sense of enlightenment. She tilted her head slightly and looked at the corridor exit not far away.

In that instant, my gaze unexpectedly met a pair of familiar eyes.

Chi Jingyuan stood by the pillar, watching her for an unknown amount of time. His older brother stood beside him, and for some reason, the two of them were looking at her... while her slightly obsequious smile was still on her face.

And the moment I met Chi Jingyuan's gaze, saw his face clearly, saw the smile on his face, and saw the look in his eyes.

Sana Minatozaki's eyes froze in mid-air, and before she could even relax the muscles in her cheeks, she was frozen in place as if she had been frozen.

She knew exactly what she was doing, and she also knew that her approach to the conversation was a bit... obsequious. But this scene was witnessed by the person she cared about.

The director next to him had an even more direct gaze, a casual, somewhat condescending look, as if he were looking at a cheap piece of toilet paper.

When their eyes met, Chi Jingyuan… even though they weren’t close, she keenly caught the playfulness in his smile and his equally casual demeanor.

That expression and demeanor, though only for a brief moment, were like a sharp arrow, cruelly and directly piercing her chest.

That look, that smile...

It is contempt.

It is contempt.

Is it... looking down on them?

It felt as if ice water was slowly flowing down her spine; the fingertips holding the wine glass began to feel cold, and her lips, which had been smiling sweetly just moments before, were now dry and painful.

The surrounding noise seemed to suddenly fade away, leaving only the deafening sound of a heartbeat, pounding against my sinking heart.

…………

When Chi Jingyuan looked from his second brother's angle and realized that the woman his brother was talking about was Minatozaki Sana, he suddenly froze, and the slightly casual and frivolous smile that had just appeared on his face instantly vanished.

Why is it her?

"I bet she's trying to curry favor with that middle-aged woman. Her smile is so obsequious, who wouldn't notice?"

“I’ve seen plenty of women like that. I just ran into several. They’re all very cautious when they try to hook up with you… They’re just easygoing. These cheap types are really not interesting.”

He could still hear his second brother's somewhat disdainful tone as he defined the other person.

However, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but frown as he listened.

Although his impression of Sana Minatozaki had become less than good because of some things that had happened before, they were still very close friends. She would always call him "Oppa" sweetly whenever she saw him. Hearing his second brother speak so bluntly made him feel a little uncomfortable.

More importantly, compared to the typical chaebol heir's behavior, Ji Kyung-wook appears arrogant to most people, but having been an idol for so many years, Ji Kyung-won knows firsthand the survival situation of most artists and idols in the industry.

Even if his second brother's guess was accurate, he could understand it and didn't resent it.

After briefly exchanging a glance with Sana Minatozaki and noticing the smile on her face, Chi Jingyuan didn't notice anything and quickly looked away without lingering.

Looking at Chi Jingxu next to her, who was still clicking his tongue and lamenting the bad atmosphere in the industry, she rolled her eyes and corrected him: "I think your point of view is not quite right."

"It's just a social tactic and survival strategy used to acquire resources for career advancement, to gain recognition from others, or simply to obtain a sense of security; it's not a biased or despicable character trait."

"Don't always project your arrogant and dark ideas onto everyone."

"Sigh~"

Hearing Chi Jingyuan's words and tone, Chi Jingxu was quite surprised. He took a breath, glanced at Minatozaki Sana again, as if to take a closer look at the girl, then turned back, looked Chi Jingyuan up and down, and then his face showed understanding: "You know her?"

"It has nothing to do with whether we know each other or not~"

Chi Jingyuan rolled his eyes at him, looked around, and walked towards the sofa.

Chi Jingxu chuckled and followed.

"Shit, you wouldn't say something like that if you didn't know me? You couldn't even write a thesis this professionally, could you?"

…………

"Is that so? Thank you~"

On the other side, as Sana Minato looked bewildered and her pupils became somewhat unfocused, she suddenly heard Park So-jung's voice again.

Perhaps it was because Sana Minatozaki's enthusiasm and smile were truly infectious, and genuinely sincere, that even the usually reserved Park So-jung couldn't help but smile, nodding and replying, "Sana-xi is very pretty too. When we were discussing this in our meeting before, we all thought your personal style was very fashionable..."

She had achieved her goal of striking up a conversation. If she had heard her say that just now, Sana Minatozaki felt she would have been very happy.

However, she immediately suppressed the bitterness in her heart, her lips trembled involuntarily, and she forced a warm smile, her face showing surprise and delight, as if she were flattered by the praise.

Even though Park So-jung's attitude warmed up, the initial enthusiasm and awkward small talk from Minatozaki Sana had completely crumbled.

A deep heaviness filled my heart, and suddenly I lost all my strength, making it difficult to even maintain a smile.

After a brief chat, she revealed her last glimmer of hope and said goodbye softly, "Well then, editor-nim, I'll be going now."

After smiling and saying goodbye, Minatozaki Sana turned around, her steps slightly heavy. The smile on her face was visibly drooping within just two or three steps, with only her upturned eyebrows forcibly supporting her and preventing anyone from seeing what was on her mind.

Although she had only exchanged a brief glance with Chi Jingyuan, that look and that smile were still etched in her mind, impossible to shake off.

They even fell into some self-doubt.

Is she being too sensitive? Or is she mistaken?

Although it was only for a brief moment, she clearly saw Chi Jingyuan's casual and playful smile, and his scrutinizing and even condescending gaze, and it was etched in her heart that she could never forget.

Moreover, the obvious contempt on the face of his older brother, Director Chi, standing next to him was completely undisguised.

Most importantly... she was indeed trying to curry favor with others at the time.

Thinking of Chi Jingyuan's casual glance, the meaning behind his eyes and smile, it was like a cold needle, piercing the softest part of her heart unexpectedly. The sunny smile that had been piled on her face shattered and peeled away instantly, leaving only a burning, dull pain.

In the past, no matter what, even when she was met with cold shoulders or setbacks, although she would feel sad, she didn't really think much of it. Instead, she would be optimistic and laugh at herself, proud of her cuteness and likability, and pleased with her social skills.

But at this moment, all that previous strength was destroyed like a bubble.

'So...that's how he sees me?'

Is this why he's targeting me...?

The thought, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around her heart, making all her resolve and efforts seem cheap and laughable under that gaze.

The more you like someone, the more you care about their opinion.

An indescribable bitterness surged up from the depths of Minatozaki Sana's heart, quickly rising up her throat and choking her, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

She didn't want it to be like this. She wanted to have the confidence that comes with being born, instead of having to carefully flatter others, watch other people's expressions, and be treated differently by the company.

Why does simply wanting a little recognition make one so despicable?

Why does he see me that way?

Why does he think of me like that?

A deep and intense sense of powerlessness and grievance overwhelmed her like a tide. Her eyes stung a little. The laughter and clinking of glasses of the guests around her were clearly lively, but she felt a buzzing in her ears, as if she were isolated in a cold little world, with only a heavy grayness in her heart.

Sana Minato moved her feet quickly and laboriously, almost as if she wanted to escape from this place, from that sight, and just wanted to find a deserted corner to lick her wounds and feel wronged by this sudden pain.

"Sana, why are you only getting back now?"

Seeing Minatozaki Sana walk over and sit down, Mina smiled and said something, but then noticed that Minatozaki Sana's expression was a little off. She tilted her head and leaned closer: "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

Sana Minato pursed her slightly trembling lips, trying to force a smile while suppressing her emotions.

Then, feigning a playful and pitiful expression, she used coquettishness to mask her unusual behavior: "I just went to say hello to that editor-in-chief, but she...she ignored me, sob sob 55~"

Her fox-like eyes, with their upturned eyebrows, were brimming with tears, and her slightly pouting lips created a perfectly poignant expression, as if she had truly just been frustrated by her earlier attempt to strike up a conversation.

"Haha, how could that be? Sana-chan is the cutest."

Upon hearing this, Mina smiled and chuckled, then affectionately hugged and patted Sana Minatozaki's back to comfort her.

But at the same time, she seemed to sense something, and while gently stroking Sana Minatozaki, she said earnestly in her soft voice, "Sana-chan is working so hard, she'll definitely succeed~"

These seemingly ordinary yet gentle words made Sana Minato tremble. She subconsciously shrank her shoulders, as if trying to hide herself in Mina's shadow.

…………

Mina seemed to sense that Sana was in a bad mood, so she gently chatted with her, touching her and telling her to "try the fruit wine, it's very good."

After chatting for a while, Minatozaki Sana noticed that Mina's voice suddenly lowered. She turned her head and saw that Mina's gaze was unconsciously looking towards a place not far to her right.

Upon seeing that figure, Minatozaki Sana unconsciously bit her lower lip—it was Chi Jingyuan again.

At the same time, Zhou Ziyu, who was sitting opposite, also secretly glanced in that direction. Looking at Bae Suzy's slender back, she subtly pursed her lips.

On the other side, Chi Jingyuan had no idea, nor did he know, that his casual glance and uncorrected smile would cause such a great shock and harm to a familiar girl.

From beginning to end, he only thought that he had just glanced over there casually, and that his brief eye contact with Minatozaki Sana was nothing special; he didn't take it too seriously at all.

Chi Jingyuan and his second brother then found a seat on a sofa at the edge of the banquet hall and sat down, chatting and bickering.

Although they were seated in a rather secluded spot, location was not important; people were the most important. Those present today were basically people who had some connection or cooperation with GUCCI, and they were all well aware of Chi Jingyuan's status and influence within the GUCCI group.

So when he reappeared here, he quickly became the focus of attention for many people.

When he first arrived at the banquet hall, many people came over to greet him warmly. But now that Chi Jingxu was with him, his second brother's extraordinary aura made it clear that he was no ordinary person. Some people who were not very familiar with him, knowing better than to bother him, decided not to disturb him. This made him feel much more relaxed than before.

However, some people who felt they were quite familiar with Chi Jingyuan came over with their wine glasses in hand, swaying as they walked.

For example, there was Bae Suzy, who walked gracefully towards him, a perfect smile playing on her lips, her bright eyes fixed on Chi Kyung-won.

"Oppa, you're here~"