novellhall 4. Yoona's First Meeting
4. Yoona's First Meeting
The morning sunlight slanted through the thin curtains and fell on Lee Kyung-sung's face, warm and ticklish. A few birds chirped outside the window, and only a few cars drove by on the street below. The morning in Seoul in 2012 was so quiet that you could hear the wind rustling through the leaves.
He opened his eyes. No alarm clock, no prompting—his physique had undergone a significant change since his transmigration. He stretched, feeling a sense of relaxation throughout his body.
Sunlight fell on the wooden floor, casting a soft glow. The camera that had been there the night before was still on the table, but the memory card had been removed.
The phone on the bedside table was quiet, with no missed calls or spam messages.
Li Jingcheng slowly sat up, picked up his phone and glanced at the time; it was just past eight o'clock.
The system remained silent, like a stone submerged at the bottom of water, without the slightest movement. Only the memory of meeting with Lim Yoona yesterday was crystal clear.
He wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he opened the window. The sunlight was perfect, and the air was fresh. Living in a villa was really nice. On such a peaceful morning, there was no need to be so anxious. It was only a matter of time before Lin Yoona contacted him. Maybe she was already hesitating and anxious.
-
However, the luxurious apartments in Cheongdam-dong present a completely different, oppressive atmosphere.
The floor-to-ceiling curtains were drawn tightly shut, blocking out all natural light and making the room as dark as dusk. The air was stifling, without a breath of wind, with only the floor lamp beside the sofa casting a faint glow that made Lin Yoona's face appear exceptionally pale.
She was curled up on the sofa, covered only by a thin blanket, her brows furrowed, sleeping very restlessly.
She barely slept a wink all night.
Around three or four in the morning, I could barely resist the overwhelming drowsiness and managed to doze off for a while. My sleep was light and my dreams were chaotic; I could be startled awake by the slightest noise.
My mind kept replaying the candid photos taken in Nanshan, the mud-stained business card, and the unknown threats.
Girls' Generation's contract hasn't expired yet, and it's not time to renew it.
But she is the core of the team and one of the most well-known members. Every move she makes is watched by the company, the media, and millions of eyes.
Once the photos are leaked, even if she and Lee Seung-gi explain that they are just friends, it won't completely eliminate the impact. Not only will her personal image, endorsements, and fans be affected, but the company will definitely take this into account in the next contract renewal terms. Therefore, it absolutely cannot be leaked.
The more I thought about it, the heavier my heart became.
She opened her eyes abruptly, her pupils still showing lingering panic. In the dimly lit room, only her rapid breathing could be heard.
can not wait.
We can't wait until the afternoon.
The longer it drags on, the greater the risk of exposure.
Im Yoona immediately sat up, her fingertips turning slightly white from the effort. She grabbed her phone, and her fingers flew across the already displayed text message screen, typing a message to the unknown number: "Are you free now? I'd like to meet and talk."
The moment the message was successfully sent, her heart leaped into her throat. She stared at her phone screen, barely daring to breathe.
Li Jingcheng had just finished washing up; the cool tap water washed away the last trace of sleepiness. As he wiped his face, listening to the gradually bustling sounds of the street outside the window, his phone vibrated softly.
He raised an eyebrow upon seeing the text message.
Although it was an unfamiliar number, I was certain it belonged to Im Yoon-a.
The sunlight outside the window was even brighter.
He wiped his hands and replied with a single word: Yes.
Almost instantly, Yoona called, her voice urgent and strained, "Can you come out now?"
Li Jingcheng leaned against the wall, gazing at the clear sky outside the window. His voice, deep from just waking up, was unusually clear: "Okay."
Yoona spoke very quickly and in a low voice, "I'm near Cheongdam-dong. There are a few private clubs nearby, so it's relatively quiet."
Lee Kyung-sung interrupted him directly, "There are already a lot of reporters and sasaeng fans in Cheongdam-dong. It's too risky for you to go there now."
Im Yoona paused, then quickly changed the location, "There's a coffee shop on that alley next to Gangnam."
"Can you guarantee that your conversation won't be overheard by the boss or other customers?"
"Don't worry, there are private rooms there. No registration or photos are taken, so it's very safe."
Oh? Korean coffee shops have private rooms now?
Lee Kyung-sung was just curious and didn't think Lim Yoon-a would lie, so he agreed, "Of course I believe you. Send me the store name."
"it is good"
After hanging up the phone, Lim Yoona quickly calmed down, typed the coffee shop's name and address on her phone, and then contacted the owner. Once she had done all that, she immediately got up and went into the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face to try and make herself look less haggard.
Don't panic, at least don't show weakness in front of that paparazzi.
She quickly tidied her hair, changed into an inconspicuous dark casual outfit, put on a mask and a baseball cap to cover herself up completely, and then tiptoed out the door.
-
Lee Kyung-sung received the address and glanced at the location on the map. Dogok-dong was indeed relatively remote, far from the main road, and there were no large shopping malls or entertainment companies nearby, making it suitable for a private conversation.
He gave a faint smile, carefully put the memory card away, and checked the camera again to make sure he hadn't forgotten to back it up. The system still didn't give any notifications, but he quickly organized his thoughts.
The step of snatching away Im Yoona is already halfway done.
He changed into a low-key black coat, put on a mask, grabbed his car keys, and pushed open the door. The morning sunlight streamed through the tree-lined paths of the villa area, warming his shoulders, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees. Li Jingcheng got into the car, started the engine, and drove towards the agreed-upon coffee shop.
The journey was smooth, with almost no traffic. Seoul in 2012 wasn't as crowded as it would become later. The street scenes outside the window slowly receded, and he felt peaceful, without the slightest impatience.
Half an hour later.
After parking his car, Li Jingcheng noticed a Volkswagen parked not far away. He didn't know much about car models, so he didn't pay much attention to it and casually looked away.
Before me stood the agreed-upon coffee shop. It wasn't large, with understated decor, a few green plants climbing the exterior walls, and no prominent sign; it was easily missed if you weren't looking closely. Inside, there were very few customers; it was quiet and secluded.
"Is it you?"
Lin Yoona walked quickly over from the other side, dressed in a completely covered outfit, revealing only her bright and lively eyes, which repeatedly scrutinized Li Jingcheng. Last night, the light in Nanshan was dim, and she could only make out a blurry figure; this was the first time she had truly seen his appearance.
Lee Kyung-sung didn't immediately recognize Lim Yoon-a, who was bundled up so tightly, and greeted her with a light laugh: "Yoona-ssi, you're quick."
"Let's go inside and talk!"
Suppressing her anxiety and a hint of anger, Lim Yoona left a message and walked into the coffee shop with her head down.
Li Jingcheng could tell she was in a terrible mood, so he shrugged understandingly and followed behind at a leisurely pace. Just before stepping inside, he glanced around casually out of the corner of his eye.
A black sedan approached silently and slowly stopped a short distance from the roadside. The windows were tinted dark, making it impossible to see the people inside.
Li Jingcheng paused slightly, a soft sneer running through his mind.
"Oh? A passerby, or is it Yoona's backup plan?"
He didn't care; he knew Yoona wouldn't resort to desperate measures. He treated it as routine surveillance, remaining outwardly calm, and followed Yoona into the restaurant. The owner, understanding the situation, didn't ask any further questions and led the two directly to a private room at the back. After closing the door, they were completely isolated from the outside world.
As soon as she sat down, Lim Yoona looked up at him, controlled her emotions, and asked directly to the point, "Where are the photos? What exactly do you want to do with them?"
Li Jingcheng pulled up a chair and sat down, looking relaxed. "I don't want anything, and I'm not here to blackmail you. I can delete the photos completely; I guarantee not a single one will be leaked."
Yoona nodded, looked into Lee Kyung-sung's eyes, and asked softly, "What are the conditions?"
Li Jingcheng tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his tone casually teasing, "Conditions? Buying me a coffee first isn't too much to ask, is it? After chatting like this, you can't even spare a drink?"
Lim Yoona was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting him to make such a trivial request. After a pause, she said, "What would you like to drink? I'll have someone bring it up."
Lee Kyung-sung didn't stand on ceremony and said with a smile, "Then thank you, Yoona-ssi. A hot cocoa and a grilled meat panini, please."
You're really not being polite.
Lin Yoona glanced at it, but didn't panic much. She took out her phone to text her boss, and put the phone away after about twenty seconds. She couldn't let the other side keep controlling the pace of things.
"By the way, you must be younger than me. What year were you born?"
"I was born in 1992, Yoona noona, nice to meet you."
Lee Kyung-sung didn't mind, casually taking off his mask and looking directly at Lim Yoon-a. Her skin was flawless; even without makeup, she was definitely a true national heartthrob.
Dafa,
Lin Yoona paused almost imperceptibly for a moment. She had been in the industry for many years and had seen countless male idols and actors, many of whom were handsome and refined, but she had never seen such a natural face with such good skin. It was definitely a no-makeup look.
His eyebrows and eyes were extremely sharp, with slightly upturned corners that didn't appear frivolous. His pupils were deep, giving him a nonchalant yet aggressive look. His nose was high and straight, his jawline clean and strong; his bone structure was sharp and aggressive. Despite his striking and flamboyant appearance, he possessed a lazy and unrestrained aura, a captivating and slightly wicked charm.