#(This is what we in the industry call “overthinking things”)

[liora-vespera]

Back to Us - Jungkook Oneshot

Genre: Romantic Drama, Angst, Light Comedy

Warnings: Emotional angst, miscommunication, regret, romantic tension, and light humour.

-------------------------------------------------------

The courtroom was cold, its walls painted with the silent agony of relationships coming to an end. Y/N sat on one side of the room, her eyes fixed on the wooden table in front of her. Across from her, Jungkook leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes flickering between her and the papers in his hand. The air between them was heavy, the weight of words left unsaid hanging like a stormcloud.

They weren’t enemies. Yet here they were, sitting as strangers.

The story of how they got here replayed in her mind like an old film.

It had been an impulsive decision. One she thought would make everything easier. When her family had started finding her a groom, the mere idea of marrying someone she didn’t know had terrified her. Jungkook, her childhood best friend, had been her refuge.

"Why don’t we just get married?" she had blurted out one night, her hands nervously clutching her tea mug.

Jungkook had blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "Are you serious?"

"Why not?" she had said, her voice trembling. "We’ve known each other forever. There’s no one I trust more."

He had hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Alright, Y/N. If it’s what you want."

At the time, it had seemed like the perfect solution. Their families had been ecstatic, and Junwoo, their mutual best friend, had teased them endlessly. But the transition from best friends to husband and wife had been anything but easy.

Jungkook’s rising fame as an actor only made things harder. He was a magnet for attention, especially from women in the industry. Y/N had always known how charismatic he was, but seeing him laugh and flirt with his senior actress at late-night parties had sparked something ugly in her.

"Do you have to be so close to her?" she had asked one night, her voice sharper than she intended.

"She’s just a colleague, Y/N," Jungkook had replied, exasperation lacing his tone. "You’re overthinking it."

But she wasn’t. Or at least, that’s what she believed.

Every smile he gave his co-star felt like a betrayal. Every late night spent at work added another crack to the fragile foundation of their marriage. And every argument pushed them further apart.

By the time they had reached the court, they were a shadow of what they once were.

The judge called for order, snapping Y/N back to the present. Jungkook’s lawyer began speaking, but Y/N barely registered the words. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in the memories of laughter, stolen glances, and moments when they had almost made it work.

She glanced at Jungkook one last time, hoping to find a trace of the boy she had once trusted with her life. But his expression was unreadable, a mask of indifference that mirrored her own.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to end.

---

The courtroom was buzzing with low murmurs when Y/N suddenly swayed on her feet. Her hand clutched the table for balance, but before anyone could react, her body crumpled to the floor.

"Y/N!" Jungwoo was the first to rush to her side, his voice breaking through the stunned silence.

Jungkook froze, his mind unable to process what was happening. Y/N, the woman he thought he wanted to walk away from, lay unconscious on the floor. His heart clenched in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time.

The paramedics arrived quickly, placing Y/N on a stretcher. Jungwoo climbed into the ambulance with her, sparing a single glare at Jungkook before the doors closed. The unspoken accusation in his eyes hit harder than any words could have.

The judge dismissed the case for the day, moving it to the evening session. Jungkook barely registered the announcement. His mind was elsewhere, caught in a storm of guilt and confusion.

He drove back to his penthouse, the silence of his car deafening. Parking in the driveway, he stepped into the garden, hoping the fresh air would clear his head. But as he sank into the grass, a sudden gust of wind toppled the potted plant beside him. It fell, hitting him square on the shoulder before everything went black.

---

When Jungkook opened his eyes, he was in his bed. But something was off. The ceiling fan, the smell of freshly cooked breakfast wafting from the kitchen—it wasn’t his penthouse.

It was his old apartment.

He sat up, his heart pounding as he took in his surroundings. The walls were decorated with old posters, his guitar rested in the corner, and the calendar on the desk read a date from two years ago.

"What the—"

"Jungkook!" His mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen. "Come eat before you leave!"

Leave? For where?

Before he could gather his thoughts, the doorbell rang. Jungwoo stepped in, looking as he had two years ago, his carefree grin firmly in place.

"Why are you still in your pajamas?" Jungwoo teased, tossing a bag of snacks onto the table. "We’re picking up Y/N on the way to the wedding. Get ready."

Jungkook stared at him, his brain struggling to catch up. This wasn’t a dream. This was exactly how the day had unfolded two years ago—the day Y/N had asked him to marry her.

"Earth to Jungkook!" Jungwoo waved a hand in front of his face.

"Yeah, I’m… I’m getting ready," Jungkook muttered, heading to his room.

As he dressed, fragments of memories surfaced—Y/N nervously asking why they couldn’t just marry each other, his casual agreement, the way everything had fallen apart afterward.

He had a second chance.

The realization hit him like a freight train. Whatever had happened, he was back in the past. This time, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

But as much as he cherished Y/N as a friend, he knew now that he didn’t love her the way a husband should. He couldn’t let her make that choice again.

This time, he would say no.

---

D

Jungkook stared at his reflection in the mirror, smoothing down his shirt. He still couldn’t believe this was happening—he was back to two years ago.

Downstairs, his mom’s cheerful humming filled the house, while Jungwoo’s voice boomed through the kitchen as he demanded more pancakes. Jungkook felt a pang of nostalgia.

As he walked into the kitchen, Jungwoo was already stuffing his face.

"Finally!" Jungwoo said through a mouthful of food. "We thought you were going to miss your own wedding someday, with how slow you are!"

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "You’d eat all the food at the wedding before I even got there."

"True," Jungwoo said shamelessly, raising his fork in mock toast.

Their banter continued all the way to the car. The drive to pick up Y/N was full of laughter, mostly at Jungwoo’s expense.

"Remember that time in middle school when you tried to impress Y/N with that awful magic trick?" Jungkook teased.

"Excuse me, it was not awful," Jungwoo protested. "The card disappeared, didn’t it?"

"Yeah, because you accidentally threw it behind the couch," Jungkook retorted, laughing.

Y/N joined them shortly after, sliding into the backseat. She greeted them with her usual bright smile, the kind that always lit up the room. Jungkook glanced at her through the rearview mirror, a strange mix of guilt and affection stirring in him.

"Why do I feel like you guys were talking about me?" Y/N asked suspiciously.

"Only good things, I swear," Jungwoo said, holding up his hands in mock innocence.

"Sure," she said, narrowing her eyes playfully.

---

The day went by almost exactly as Jungkook remembered—photos, food, and too many embarrassing stories from their friends. But this time, Jungkook found himself watching Y/N more closely. He noticed the way her laughter bubbled up effortlessly, how she tried to sneak desserts without anyone noticing, and how she scolded Jungwoo when he tried to swipe her plate.

"Jungwoo, you’ve already eaten enough to feed an army!" Y/N said, swatting his hand away from her cake.

"That’s a lie," Jungwoo declared dramatically, clutching his chest. "I’m a growing man. This cake is essential for my survival!"

"You’ve been growing horizontally, not vertically," Y/N quipped, earning a burst of laughter from Jungkook.

"Wow, betrayal," Jungwoo muttered, pouting as he retreated to his chair.

Jungkook couldn’t stop himself from smiling. Moments like these reminded him of why he valued their friendship so much. But as the day wore on, his anxiety about what was to come began to creep back in.

---

That evening, as they all walked to their cars, Y/N pulled Jungkook aside. Her expression was nervous, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress.

"Jungkook, can we talk for a second?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Sure," he said, his heart racing. He knew exactly what she was about to say, and every part of him wanted to stop her.

She took a deep breath, her eyes locking with his. "I’ve been thinking… about everything. My family’s been pressuring me to get married, and honestly, the idea of being with someone I don’t know scares me. But with you… I trust you. You’ve always been there for me, and I can’t imagine my life without you. So… why don’t we get married?"

Jungkook’s chest tightened. He had heard these words before, but this time, they carried a heavier weight. He knew what would happen if he said yes.

He hesitated, carefully choosing his words. "Y/N… you’re my best friend. And I care about you more than anything. But marriage? It’s not something we should rush into just because it feels safe. You deserve someone who loves you as more than a friend."

Her face fell slightly, but she nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. "I get it," she said softly. "I just… I thought maybe it could work."

"It’s not that I don’t care about you," Jungkook said quickly. "I do. But I don’t want to ruin what we have by forcing something that isn’t right."

Y/N looked at him for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "I guess I needed to hear that. Thanks for being honest, Kook."

---

As they drove back, the atmosphere was quieter but not tense. Jungkook felt a strange sense of relief, knowing he had made the right choice this time.

"Did you guys have a secret meeting back there?" Jungwoo asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Y/N said, leaning her head against the window. "We were deciding how to tell you that you’re banned from eating cake at all future weddings."

"What?!" Jungwoo exclaimed, his voice full of mock outrage. "I am an important guest! The cake is my birthright!"

Y/N laughed, and even Jungkook couldn’t suppress a grin. It felt good to have things go differently.

As the night ended, Jungkook sat alone in his room, thinking about the path that lay ahead. He had been given a second chance, and this time, he wouldn’t waste it. His friendship with Y/N was too precious to lose, and he was determined to protect it at all costs.

But deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe—just maybe—there was more to their story waiting to unfold.

---

Jungkook had always thought he knew exactly what he wanted. This second chance was his opportunity to do things differently, and that included pursuing his senior actress, Minji. She was poised, elegant, and everything he thought a wife should be.

When he asked her out, she had agreed with a smile that made his chest swell with pride. This was how things were meant to be, he told himself. But deep down, a small part of him felt… unsettled.

---

The house was lively that evening. Y/N’s parents were over, chatting with Jungkook’s mom in the living room. Y/N was upstairs resting, exhausted from the whirlwind of preparations for her engagement ceremony the next day.

Jungwoo sat cross-legged on the floor, munching on snacks as if it were just another casual evening. "You know, you’re all going to miss me when I move abroad," he joked, earning a laugh from Y/N’s mom.

Jungkook, however, was unusually quiet, sitting on the couch and scrolling through his phone mindlessly.

Y/N’s dad joined him, settling into the chair beside him. "Jungkook," he said, his tone gentle, "it feels like just yesterday you three were running around the neighborhood, getting into trouble. Time really flies."

Jungkook smiled faintly. "Yeah, it does."

After a moment of silence, Y/N’s dad sighed, rubbing his temples. "I have to admit, I’m a little worried about her."

Jungkook looked up, his attention fully on the older man. "Worried? Why?"

Her dad hesitated, glancing toward the stairs as if to make sure Y/N couldn’t hear. "The man we’ve chosen for her… he’s respected, successful, comes from a good family. But still, as a father, I can’t help but wonder if she’ll be happy. You know how stubborn she can be. What if he doesn’t understand her the way someone who knows her well would?"

Jungkook froze, his mind flashing back to his previous life. He remembered the day Y/N’s dad had told him, with full confidence, that Jungkook was the only man he trusted with his daughter’s happiness. The memory hit him like a punch to the gut.

Jungkook opened his mouth to respond, but Jungwoo cut in, his voice lighthearted. "Ah, don’t worry, uncle. Y/N is strong. She’ll figure it out, just like always."

Y/N’s dad smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "I hope so, Jungwoo. I really do."

---

The conversation left Jungkook restless. As soon as he could excuse himself, he stepped outside into the cool night air. The stars were faint against the city lights, but the quiet was soothing.

He leaned against the porch railing, his thoughts swirling.

Why did he feel this way? He had everything he wanted now—a promising relationship with Minji, a clean slate to build the life he thought he deserved. So why couldn’t he shake the guilt clawing at him?

The memory of Y/N’s dad’s words echoed in his mind: "I trust you with my daughter’s happiness."

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. This was what he wanted—wasn’t it? To lead his life without being tied down to someone he didn’t love romantically?

But then he thought of Y/N. Her laugh, her scolding, her stubbornness. The way she always looked out for others, even when it came at her own expense.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. "She’s not my responsibility anymore," he muttered under his breath.

Yet, deep down, he couldn’t help but wonder if he was about to let something irreplaceable slip through his fingers.

---

The morning of Y/N’s engagement dawned bright and bustling. The house was a flurry of activity as her family prepared for the ceremony. Jungwoo had already left early to help with last-minute arrangements, leaving Jungkook alone with his thoughts.

The previous night’s conversation with Y/N’s dad replayed in his mind on a loop. Despite his best efforts to push it aside, the guilt lingered, weighing heavier with each passing hour.

As he dressed for the event, Jungkook’s phone buzzed with a text from Minji:

Minji: "Looking forward to dinner tonight. Good luck surviving the engagement party 😊."

He stared at the message, feeling a hollow sense of satisfaction. This was what he wanted, right? A fresh start with someone who fit the picture-perfect idea of a partner.

---

The venue was stunning—decorated with soft gold and white tones, with twinkling lights draped across the walls. Guests mingled, chatting and laughing as they admired the elegant setup. Jungwoo, ever the social butterfly, was moving from group to group, cracking jokes and stealing snacks off people’s plates.

Jungkook arrived late, hoping to blend into the crowd and avoid any unnecessary conversations. But the moment he stepped inside, his eyes were drawn to Y/N.

She stood at the center of the room, surrounded by friends and family, dressed in a pale pink gown that made her look radiant. Her smile was bright, but Jungkook could see the slight tension in her eyes—a sign only someone who knew her well would notice.

For a moment, he forgot everything else. She wasn’t just his childhood friend or someone he had shared years of memories with. She was Y/N—a force of nature, stubborn and kind, and maybe more important to him than he had realized.

---

As the evening progressed, Jungkook found himself avoiding Minji’s texts and keeping a close eye on Y/N. The sight of her laughing with her fiancé—a tall, polished man with a practiced smile—made something twist uncomfortably in his chest.

During a quiet moment, Jungwoo approached him, holding a glass of juice.

"Why do you look like someone just stole your favorite toy?" Jungwoo teased, but his tone held an edge of seriousness.

Jungkook didn’t respond immediately, staring at the drink in Jungwoo’s hand. "Do you think she’s happy?" he asked quietly.

Jungwoo raised an eyebrow. "Who, Y/N? She seems fine to me."

"Fine isn’t the same as happy," Jungkook muttered, his gaze flicking to Y/N again.

Jungwoo sighed, setting the glass down. "Look, man, if you’ve got something to say, now’s the time. You’re acting weird, and it’s starting to freak me out."

Jungkook hesitated, torn between his guilt, his newfound determination to lead his own life, and the nagging feeling that he was making a mistake.

---

Later that night, Jungkook found himself on the terrace, staring out at the city lights. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Y/N, a soft shawl draped over her shoulders.

"Escaping the crowd?" she asked, smiling faintly.

"Yeah," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It’s a bit much."

They stood in silence for a moment before Y/N spoke again. "You know, I used to think you’d be the one standing beside me at something like this."

Jungkook’s heart skipped a beat.

"But I guess life doesn’t always go the way we expect," she continued, her voice light but tinged with something deeper.

"Y/N…" he started, but the words caught in his throat.

She shook her head, giving him a reassuring smile. "It’s okay, Kook. I’m happy. Really."

But as she walked away, Jungkook realized he didn’t believe her.

---

Jungkook’s relationship with Minji was, by all appearances, perfect. They were constantly seen at high-profile events, dazzling the cameras with their chemistry. Minji was everything he thought he wanted—refined, confident, and aligned with his goals.

But when the spotlight dimmed, the cracks began to show. Their conversations were surface-level, their intimacy felt rehearsed, and the laughter he once shared with Y/N was glaringly absent. Jungkook often found himself going through the motions, forcing smiles and suppressing thoughts of what he’d lost.

One evening, as Minji kissed him in the quiet of her apartment, Jungkook froze. Her lips were soft, her perfume subtle and expensive, but something felt… off.

And then, unbidden, a memory surfaced.

---

Jungkook and Y/N had been married for three months, still navigating the awkward transition from best friends to spouses. They lived together like housemates—sharing meals, teasing each other, and pretending the shift in their relationship hadn’t happened.

One evening, after a long day, they found themselves on the couch, watching a rom-com that Jungkook had reluctantly agreed to.

"Come on, Kook, admit it," Y/N said, her tone teasing. "You love these sappy movies."

"Not a chance," he scoffed, though the way he was leaning forward suggested otherwise.

A particularly cheesy kiss scene came on, and Y/N groaned. "Ugh, no one kisses like that in real life. So dramatic."

Jungkook smirked. "And you’d know because…?"

Y/N turned to him, narrowing her eyes. "I’ve kissed people before!"

"Yeah, right," Jungkook teased, leaning back and folding his arms. "You’re all talk."

Y/N, never one to back down from a challenge, grabbed his collar and pulled him in. It wasn’t a romantic kiss—it was clumsy, rushed, and over far too quickly.

When they pulled apart, they stared at each other for a beat before bursting into laughter.

"That was terrible," Y/N said between giggles, clutching her stomach.

"You started it!" Jungkook shot back, laughing so hard he nearly fell off the couch.

But as the laughter subsided, something shifted. They sat in silence, the air between them suddenly charged. Neither of them said it, but that kiss marked the beginning of something deeper—something they were too scared to name.

---

Minji pulled away, her brow furrowed. "Jungkook? Are you even here right now?"

He blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Just tired."

But as Minji turned away, busying herself with her phone, Jungkook couldn’t shake the memory. It wasn’t just the kiss that haunted him—it was the way Y/N had made everything feel natural, unforced.

---

Jungkook sat in the living room, trying to distract himself with his phone. Y/N’s dad had stopped by earlier, and the weight of their conversation lingered in his mind.

Jungwoo plopped down on the couch beside him, munching on a bag of chips. "You’ve been quiet," he said around a mouthful of food.

Jungkook didn’t look up. "Just thinking."

"About Y/N?" Jungwoo asked bluntly.

Jungkook glared at him. "You don’t have to make it so obvious."

"Come on, man," Jungwoo said, setting the bag aside. "You’re sitting here like a lovesick teenager while she’s about to marry someone else. If you’ve got something to say, now’s the time."

Jungkook hesitated, then sighed. "It’s not that simple. I thought this was what I wanted—starting over, being with Minji. But I keep thinking about Y/N… and everything we went through. The way we laughed together, the way she made everything feel so easy. I just—"

"You just realized you’re an idiot," Jungwoo finished, smirking.

"Thanks for the support," Jungkook muttered.

Jungwoo leaned back, studying his friend. "Look, Kook. You’ve got two options: let her go and live with the regret, or do something about it. But you better decide fast, because the clock’s ticking."

---

Jungkook found himself pacing outside the venue, his thoughts a chaotic mess. He replayed every moment of their friendship, their marriage, and the quiet moments that had meant more than he realized.

As guests began to arrive, Jungwoo found him by the garden gate.

"Still pacing, huh?" Jungwoo said, crossing his arms. "You’re gonna wear a hole in the ground."

"I don’t know what to do," Jungkook admitted, his voice strained.

"Yes, you do," Jungwoo said, his tone serious. "You’re just scared."

Jungkook stared at him, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Could he really let Y/N marry someone else?

---

The morning of Y/N’s wedding was chaos, a flurry of last-minute preparations and bustling family members. Guests filled the venue, laughter and chatter echoing through the halls. But amid the celebration, Jungkook stood in the shadows, feeling utterly out of place.

His mind raced with everything he wanted to say, everything he wished he’d realized sooner. He spotted Y/N slipping away from the commotion, heading toward a quiet room at the back of the venue. Without thinking, he followed her.

---

Y/N was adjusting her veil in front of a mirror, her reflection calm yet distant. The moment she noticed Jungkook in the doorway, her expression shifted to one of surprise.

"Kook? What are you doing here?" she asked, turning to face him.

He hesitated, the weight of his emotions threatening to drown him. "I needed to talk to you," he said, his voice hoarse.

Y/N glanced toward the door nervously. "Now? Jungkook, the ceremony is about to start."

"I know," he said, stepping closer. "But I can’t let this happen without saying what I need to say."

She crossed her arms, a mixture of confusion and frustration on her face. "You can’t let what happen? Jungkook, this isn’t about you."

"It’s not about me," he said quickly. "It’s about you. And us."

"Us?" Y/N repeated, her tone sharp. "Jungkook, there hasn’t been an ‘us’ for a long time. You made your choice, remember? Minji, your career—your new life. You left me behind."

He flinched, her words hitting harder than he expected. "I know," he admitted, his voice cracking. "I know I messed up. I thought I wanted all of that, but I was wrong. I didn’t realize what I had with you until it was gone."

Her eyes softened for a moment before hardening again. "You’re saying this now? On my wedding day? Do you realize how unfair this is?"

"I know it’s unfair," Jungkook said, his desperation evident. "But I can’t keep pretending like I don’t care. I can’t let you marry him without telling you how I feel."

Y/N’s breath hitched, but she shook her head. "Jungkook, this wedding… it’s not just about me. It’s about my family, my parents. They’ve planned everything. I can’t just walk away."

Tears welled in his eyes as he stepped closer. "But what about you, Y/N? Are you happy? Can you honestly tell me that this is what you want?"

She looked away, biting her lip. For a moment, the room was silent except for the sound of their breathing.

"It doesn’t matter what I want," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course it matters," he said, his voice breaking. "You deserve to be happy. You deserve to be with someone who knows you better than anyone else, who loves you for everything you are. And I—"

"Stop," she interrupted, tears streaming down her face. "Please, stop."

Jungkook froze, his heart shattering at the sight of her.

"I can’t do this," she said, wiping her eyes. "I can’t throw away everything my family has worked for. You don’t understand, Jungkook. This isn’t just about love."

He opened his mouth to argue, but the sound of footsteps approaching cut him off.

"You should go," Y/N said firmly, her composure returning. "Please."

Jungkook hesitated, his heart screaming at him to stay, but he knew she wouldn’t change her mind. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked away.

---

Jungkook sat beside Jungwoo as the ceremony began, his hands clenched tightly in his lap. Jungwoo glanced at him, his expression a mix of confusion and pity.

"You talked to her, didn’t you?" Jungwoo whispered.

Jungkook nodded silently, his eyes glued to the altar where Y/N stood with her fiancé. She looked beautiful, radiant even, but he couldn’t shake the sadness in her eyes.

As the vows began, Jungkook felt his chest tighten. When Y/N’s fiancé said his vows, she smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

When it was Y/N’s turn, the room fell silent. She took a deep breath, her voice steady as she repeated the words the officiant prompted.

"I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband…"

But as she spoke, something strange happened.

The world around Jungkook seemed to slow, the sound of her voice fading into a deafening silence. The guests froze mid-motion, their expressions frozen in time. Even Jungwoo, sitting beside him, was motionless.

Jungkook blinked, his heart pounding as he realized he was the only one unaffected.

"What…?" he whispered, standing up.

The room seemed to ripple, and suddenly, everything went dark.

---

Jungkook groaned as he slowly woke up, his head pounding. The bright light from the garden glinted off the potted plant that had fallen on him, and he blinked, trying to make sense of the disorienting scene. He was still in the garden, the cool grass beneath him, the scent of earth in the air.

The memories of the court, the wedding, the confrontation with Y/N—all of it felt like a dream. Had he really gone through all that pain? He looked at the pot that had fallen on him, still lying there beside him. It was as though the entire world had paused, and now, in this moment, everything felt oddly peaceful.

He pushed himself up, still dazed but with a sudden clarity. He lifted the pot, setting it aside, and smiled to himself. The truth was simple now: Y/N was still his.

His hand instinctively reached for his watch, and as the familiar click of the time echoed in his mind, his eyes widened. It was time—time for the trial. He was back at the beginning, before everything went wrong, and now he knew what he had to do.

---

The courtroom was filled with the usual tension. Jungkook sat beside his lawyer, a calm mask hiding the storm of thoughts inside his head. On the opposite side of the room, Y/N sat with her family, her expression unreadable. The proceedings began, as usual, and the judge asked about the status of the divorce.

"Mr. Jeon, do you still wish to proceed with the divorce?" the judge asked, looking at Jungkook.

Jungkook looked at Y/N, his heart pounding. He had one chance, one moment to change everything. He stood up slowly, his voice steady but filled with an intensity that surprised everyone in the room.

"No," Jungkook said firmly, shaking his head. "I don’t want the divorce."

There was a stunned silence in the courtroom. Y/N’s eyes widened in confusion, her lips parted in shock.

"I’m sorry, what?" the judge asked, clearly surprised.

"I don’t want the divorce," Jungkook repeated, his gaze never leaving Y/N. "I want my wife."

The room buzzed with whispers as everyone tried to process what had just happened. Y/N's father looked at Jungkook with a mixture of confusion and concern, while Jungwoo—sitting beside him—let out a relieved breath.

Jungkook turned to Y/N, his voice softer now. "I was a fool. I thought I could move on, that I could leave everything behind, but I was wrong. I can’t live without you, Y/N. You’re everything I want."

Y/N blinked, clearly caught off guard, her eyes filling with emotion.

"Jungkook," she began, her voice trembling. "You… you can’t just change your mind like this. This isn’t some game."

But before she could say anything more, Jungkook stepped forward, cupping her face gently. "I know. I know it’s not easy, but I’m willing to fight for us. I’ve made a mess of things, but I can fix it—if you’ll let me."

Y/N’s breath hitched as their gazes locked. There was a long pause, and then—against all odds—she nodded. "Okay," she whispered, barely audible. "Okay, I’ll give you another chance."

The room erupted in shock, and the judge looked at them, utterly confused.

"Well, I—" the judge began, trying to process the unexpected turn of events, but Jungkook wasn’t paying attention.

---

Before anyone could speak further, Jungkook pulled Y/N into his arms, his lips crashing onto hers. It wasn’t the careful, tentative kiss they’d shared before—it was a kiss full of raw emotion, years of longing, regret, and love pouring into every second.

Y/N responded instinctively, her hands finding his chest as she kissed him back, feeling the warmth of his embrace. The room seemed to fade away, the noise from the court silencing as their world collided in that single moment.

Jungkook pulled away, breathing heavily, his forehead resting against hers. "I’m never letting you go again," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Y/N smiled softly, though her cheeks were flushed from the intensity of the moment. "You better not."

From across the room, Jungwoo looked at the two of them, shaking his head in disbelief. "Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath.

As the noise in the courtroom picked up again, with everyone speaking over each other in confusion, Jungwoo turned to Jungkook, his face scrunching up in a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Really, Kook? You couldn’t even wait until we got out of here to pull that stunt?"

Jungkook grinned, his heart light for the first time in a long while. "I had to take my chance."

Y/N laughed, still holding onto Jungkook. "You’re impossible," she said with a small shake of her head.

"But I’m your impossible," Jungkook teased, his grin widening.

"Don’t get cocky," she warned, but the twinkle in her eyes betrayed the smile she was trying to hide.

---

As the trial wrapped up, everything seemed to fall into place. The judge, still somewhat flustered but smiling, concluded the hearing. "Well, it looks like the divorce is off the table. It seems you two have some things to work through, but I’ll leave that to you."

The room cleared, but Jungkook and Y/N stayed behind, alone for a moment.

"I’m sorry," Jungkook said again, his eyes full of sincerity. "I’ll make it up to you. I promise."

Y/N’s smile softened, her heart finally opening to him once more. "We’ll see, Jungkook. We’ll see."

Jungkook laughed, pulling her closer. "But at least we’re starting over. Together."

As they left the courtroom, hand in hand, Jungwoo shot Jungkook a playful look. "So, when’s the wedding? I mean, it’s only fair to get that part right this time."

Jungkook rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his grin. "Maybe soon. But only if you stop annoying me."

Y/N laughed, leaning into Jungkook as they walked out, the future ahead of them bright with possibility.

The End.

[airborneace]

🧓 [OLDER ADULT] — wise

🎱 [BILLIARDS] — perceptive

😄 [GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES] — agreeable

🐱 [CAT FACE] — cute

"I'm glad you find me agreeable, at the very least. I only wish that some of the other gym leaders thought that way about me as well. If only being wise and perceptive were enough to know what to say to get people on-board with our plans. It can be a hassle to wrangle the Mossdeep twins, for example..."

Winona found herself massaging her forehead with her hand recalling what a rodeo it can be to get all of the Hoenn leaders in a room together to agree on anything.

"... Do you think that me being cute might take away from any perceived authority? I would hate to have people not take me seriously because of something like that."

"Ah! Of course. Thank you for the compliments. I don't want to seem ungrateful, after all."

[astonmartingf]

ADORE YOU ; KR7

kimi raikkonen x mclaren driver!reader

. . . your relationship with kimi was always civil, not too close like friends, but not too far apart like strangers. somehow you got stuck in a situation leaving both of you confronting your feelings for each other.

amgf still one of the best things i wrote, ever. this is my baby, the time i spent making the radio graphics was all worth it, i love this so much ughh

death of a bachelor ; masterlist

Getting called in for a private meeting with the team principal is always worrying. Usually you’re called for one of two reasons, either you’ve done exceptionally well or if you’ve fucked up. With how things are looking up, you’re clearly called in because you’ve fucked up and one of the sponsors has found something to complain about.

You were used to it, sadly. And despite his constant reassurance, you know Fernando doesn’t have that much power to help you. Paired with his recent win in the driver’s championship you kept your mouth shut from the pressure held on you.

The last thing you want is to take away the spotlight from him, it was his win after all. Despite the number of news outlets questioning his position, and the ambiguity of it all with you in the center of controversy.

All because of some harmless photos with Kimi, one that caught him off guard. Not because he was unknowingly involved, but with the fact that he only knew then just how many people loathe you in the industry who are constantly waiting for you to fuck up.

Breathing out, you shake off the million thoughts running in your head. There’s no use overthinking what has been done, standing in front of the team principal’s door you brace yourself for the worst that could happen.

Thinking to yourself that maybe this is the end of it all, that maybe they’ve finally succeeded in leaving you without a seat for the next season. The worst that could happen is Renault pulling out your contract early, and you were preparing for the worst.

The person out of your equation is Kimi Raikkonen himself- the first person your eyes landed upon entering the room. Looking around your eyes scan the room, your teammate nowhere to be found. It’s just you, Kimi, and your team principal.

“Good Morning.” You’re voice curt and short as you feel the dry scratch at the back of your throat. Sitting beside Kimi you lean towards him whispering, “What are you doing here? Did McLaren form a complaint?”

Next to you, Kimi shrugs his shoulders equally unaware. “I was called in when I arrived earlier, I thought you were the one with the complaint.”

Brows raised, you let out a small sigh in disagreement, “I don’t think I’m in a position to complain, you on the other hand, God knows what people are saying.”

You don’t notice the frown forming on Kimi’s face, his brows furrowed in annoyance, “How are you empathizing with me right now? God knows how much worse you’re having it, and here you are worrying about me. I don’t care what they say about me, as long as they don’t involve you in it.” Kimi scoffs, watching the corners of your lips curl into a small smile.

“You must hate being involved with me that much.” Teasing him, Kimi shakes his head with his eyes rolling back.

A cough breaks your attention away from Kimi, reminding you that you’re here for a serious meeting with your team principal. Turning your head you see him with a big smile on his face.

Huh.

“Do you know why I called you here?” His voice reverberates in the room, leaving your throat dry. Your eyes widen, gulping before attempting to answer.

“No, you don’t have to answer.”

Pressing your lips, you shrink down back in your seat feeling the drops of sweat press against your team shirt. Your eyes widen, avoiding contact, you prepare yourself with the worst anticipating the next words out of his mouth.

“It’s all going well in fact that I’ve decided myself to let you continue with what you two are doing.”

An audible gasp left your lips, “But there’s nothing, we aren’t doing anything,” quickly defending yourself from your team principal’s accusations.

Bewildered, a loud cackle escapes his lips leaving you and Kimi in confusion, “That’s even better. Honestly, you don’t have to date each other, just continue what you’re doing.”

Kimi shakes his head, “Doing what exactly?”

“Listen, all you need to do is be seen in public. Think of it as a fake secret relationship. Just like you said, if there’s nothing going on with you two then there is no need to confirm it. Just to keep the sponsorships happy, and free publicity for both teams.”

You share a look with Kimi, gauging from his reaction he doesn’t seem to mind. Then again it’s not like anything is happening between you two, it’s like hitting multiple birds in one stone. You can keep being friends with Kimi, you keep your seat, and you keep the sponsors happy with the advertisement.

Clearing his throat, Kimi speaks up first, “You know if you don’t want to-”

“I don’t mind.” Giving him a small smile, you assure him of your consent, “I’d rather it be you than someone else, plus we get to hang out more often. Unless you don’t want to, then we don’t have to-”

“I’m okay if you’re okay with it.”

Clasping his hands your team principal is smiling over the moon, at least someone is happy with the situation,

“Well if you have no other questions, you’re free to leave Kimi.” Your team principal dismisses the Fin, leaving an uncomfortable taste in his mouth.

“Why? If you have something to say to Y/N you can say it to me as well. What are you going to scold her for? You should’ve been there to defend her against the comments, I won’t leave. Whatever you say to her, I will be here and listen.”

His sudden outburst caught you off guard, uncharacteristic for Kimi to go over his emotions like that. Though his outbursts are short it’s usually directed out of frustration, but this was out of nowhere. Your eyes dart back and forth Kimi and your team principal with conflicted feelings.

While you feel proud that Kimi defended you, on the other hand you grimace at the sight of your team principal, still and speechless.

“Well, you’re more than welcome to wait for Y/N outside but Fernando is coming along in a while- we’re having a team meeting for the next season.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll guide Kimi on the way out, you know in case he reads any of our world winning strategies.” Standing up swiftly, you pull Kimi’s arm, dragging him away from the office and out to the paddock.

It wasn’t until then you realized the awkward silence looming between you two. Looking up to his eyes, you stare at his blue ones, getting lost into the deep hues akin to a storm. In the silence, a mutual understanding was built.

And unbeknownst to you, it was the beginning of a deeper relationship with Kimi.

You were on your way to Maranello when the announcement of your transfer was released. Sinking in your seat you close your phone, thankful to be on a plane avoiding the constant ping and ringing of your phone.

It was a short-lived moment of relaxation, not long after the seat beside yours was occupied. Observing the person, your eyes squint at the sight of a familiar face.

"Kimi? I didn't know you were on your way to Italy as well."

Turning around, Kimi blinked slowly taking in your presence. "Was staying with me that bad that you need a different vacation?"

Scoffing at him, you shift in your seat facing his, "As much as I want more time for vacations unfortunately I'm going to Italy for work."

Kimi tilts his head, "Didn't know Renault moved to Italy. Are you going over factories?"

You still yourself, contemplating telling him the truth or getting away with a little lie. Not in the mood for conversation, you chose the latter.

"Something like that. They want me to check something personally. My manager arranged it for me so, I really don't have a say."

Kimi nods again leaving you to do your own things, something that you appreciate when you're with him. There's no need for small talk, it's always comfortable silence.

A few people you feel comfortable being with for long periods of time, it's either him or your teammate Alonso. Contrary to popular belief, there's no "feud" between the three of you– more on the two of them, you were somehow stuck in between their "rivalry" and just how the company milked the media for more coverage.

Truthfully faking a secret relationship with Kimi was one of the easiest things you had to do last year, purposefully being seen hanging out, going on "dates" and vacationing together without having to confirm anything, you were winning.

And the end of it all with you getting a seat with Ferrari. It was a whirlwind of emotions, not just for you but for your teammate Alonso who was poached to McLaren.

A secret you had to keep from Kimi while vacationing together. You did carry a smidge of guilt hiding him from his new teammate, but vacation meant time away from work and racing. And one thing you learned about Kimi is that he hates race talk at the dinner table.

You sit in silence catching the last hours of sleep. By the time you wake up, the plane has already landed. You feel the seatbelt around your waist, scouring the area you look for Kimi.

"You were asleep the whole flight, I put on your seatbelt for you." You blink your eyes, in an attempt to keep yourself awake.

"When did we land?" Your voice is croaky and dry, you squirm in your seat yawning and stretching.

A small smile can be seen from Kimi's face as he hands you bottled water. "We just landed, you want to go now or wait for a little while?"

A small pout forms your face as you unbuckle your seatbelt, grabbing the bottled water from his hands you take small sips feeling more awake by the minute.

"I want to go now, I want to change clothes before going to the factory." Grabbing you things you stand up leaving the plane with Kimi beside you.

"Is someone picking you up or do you want me to drive you to your hotel?" Kimi offers, putting his bags at the trunk of a Ferrari 599. The way his arms flex, as he pushes his weight, leaning upon the frame of the trunk.

You shake your head off your thoughts, "You don't have to, someone is picking me up. I guess I'll see you around then." Frankly, you booked a one-way ticket to Emilia-Romagna as soon as your break with Kimi was over.

Spending your vacation with Kimi was one of the best things you've done, but the longer you stayed inside the bubble that is Kimi Raikkonen, the more you realized your conflicting feelings towards him.

And that is something you're not prepared to confront yet.

Nonetheless it seems as though the universe has a way of bringing you together— it comes in the form of sitting beside each other on the plane ride, and now seeing him through the glass window in Ferrari's headquarters.

[tuesdaykiss]

“touching toes”

rafe cameron social media au

“he’s over more and more, had to give him a whole drawer. to be honest, kinda like seeing his trainers by the door.” — olivia dean, ‘touching toes’.

synopsis: after finishing her fashion studies at college in nyc, y/n moves to outerbanks to live with her grandparents. she worries about the loneliness that comes with being in a new place, knowing only her cousin topper and other relatives… that is until she is acquainted with a certain cameron.

part - 20 | 21 | 22

masterlist

the evening after sarah’s fashion show was a blur of flashing lights, applause, and mingling with the industry’s elite. but as the night wound down and you returned to the hotel, the buzz online was impossible to ignore.

you sat on the edge of the bed in the hotel room you were sharing with sarah, scrolling through your phone. article after article speculated about your connection with rafe, all because he was sarah cameron’s brother: “caught on camera: rafe and his new flame?”, “fashion show sparks new couple rumours” and “rafe cameron’s new mystery lady — who is she?”.

your stomach churned as you read the comments beneath the posts. some were kind, calling you beautiful or lucky, but others were so cruel��� dissecting everything from your appearance to your worthiness to being with ‘the internet’s boyfriend’, rafe cameron.

“stop reading that, y/n,” sarah said gently from across the room. she was perched in front of the mirror, wiping away her makeup after kicking her heels off at the door.

“i can’t help it,” you muttered, locking your phone and holding it clutched in your hand tightly, “it’s everywhere.”

sarah turned to look at you, her expression softening, “that’s just how the internet is these days, they hyper fixate in a person and everyone they come close to.”

you sighed, dropping your phone onto the bed as you sighed, “i didn’t think it would be like this. i didn’t even think about what people would say — i mean he’s not exactly famous!”

sarah got up and crossed the room, sitting beside you on the bed. “hey,” she said, nudging your shoulder with hers, “it’s a lot, i know… trust me, i went through this with john b. but you’re strong. and if this is what you want, if he’s what you want, you can handle it.”

you hesitated, your fingers playing with the hem of your sleeve, “ i do want him,” you admitted. “but it’s scary — what if this is all too much?”

sarah smiled softly, brushing your hair out of your face, “then you take it one step at a time, together. and tonight? i think you should stay with him.”

“what?” you blinked, take aback.

“go to rafe’s room,” sarah said, her voice firm but kind, “you’ve had a crazy day, and i know he’s dying to see you, again. plus, i can tell you’re overthinking. being with him will help, and then tomorrow we can go back to outerbanks and forget.”

“are you sure?” your voice was uncertain.

“absolutely,” sarah said with a grin, “and don’t worry about me. i’m ordering room service and then i’ll facetime john b and tell him all about today… go!”

her encouragement gave you the push you needed. you quickly changed into something more comfortable, grabbed your things, and headed down the hall to rafe’s room.

the knock on rafe’s hotel room door felt heavier than it should have, your hand lingering on the wood a moment too long before you finally knocked. the weight of the day — and the worries that were swirling your mind following the fashion show — made you feel like you could potentially crumble at any moment.

the door opened almost immediately, revealing rafe in sweatpants — his chest on full display. his hair was messy, his face soft with concern as he took in your figure.

“hey,” he said gently, stepping aside and inviting you in.

“hey,” you murmured back, slipping into his room.

the place was dimly lit, cozy, and the scent of his cologne lingered faintly in the air, you set your things on a nearby chair and turned to face him.

“i’m sorry to just… show up,” your voice trembling as you spoke, “it’s just — everything today… i don’t know if i can do this, rafe.”

he took a step closer, his expression softening, “do what?”

“all of it,” you began to ramble, gesturing vaguely, “the articles, the comments, the way people are looking at me now — like i’m just some accessory to you, i’m not my own person. and then there’s topper. he doesn’t even know yet and i just — i can’t help but worry about how he’ll react.”

rafe’s brows knitted with concern, “you don’t have to be sorry,” he said softly. “come here.”

before you could protest, his arms were around you, pulling you into his chest. his chin rested lightly on the top of you head, and for a moment, you let yourself melt into him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat grounding you.

“i know it feels like that right now,” he spoke up again, his thumbs brushing over you knuckles, “but you’re not alone in this. you’ve got me and i’m not going anywhere.”

you look up at him, your eyes meeting his. “i’ve always been the kind of person who doesn’t need help,” your admitted, “not from my family, not from my friends. but with you… i don’t know, it’s different. i kind of… like having you here.”

he smiled softly, his lips quirking up at the corners. “kind of?” he teased, attempting to lighten the mood.

“don’t make me regret saying it,” you let out a small laugh, shaking your head.

“i wouldn’t dare,” he said, his voice warm.

you sighed, your smile fading slightly… the moment only short-lived. “but i keep thinking… what the hell am i doing? what are we doing? this whole thing is getting so messy… and i don’t even know where it’s going.”

“we don’t have to have it all figured out,” he said, his presence suddenly feeling quite grounding, “we just have to know what we want right now. and for me? that’s you.”

you smiled at him, allowing yourself to fall into his bed, as he settled the blanket over you, “you make it sound so simple.”

“maybe it is,” he reassured, his voice full of certainty, as he joined you in the bed.

your toes brushed against his as you shifted slightly to move closer to him; the small, accidental gesture caused you to pause. he noticed it too, a smile tugging at his lips as he nudged your foot with him.

“you’re stuck with me now,” he laughed.

you couldn’t help but smile, a warmth spreading through your chest despite your lingering worries, “i think i’m okay with that.”

as you lay beside him, your head on his chest and his arm around you, the chaos of the day felt a little farther away. his foot remained brushing against yours under the blanket, the small, tender action reminding you of how close he was, even in the quietest moments.

“good, because i’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, his lips brushing against your hair, “and when we tell topper — or anyone else — we’ll do it together. whatever comes next, we’ll face it… together. one step at a time.”

you closed your eyes, letting the steady rise and fall of his chest lull you into calm. “one step at a time,” you echoed, your voice barely a whisper.

the weight of the day hadn’t disappeared, but in this moment, it felt a little easier to carry.

a/n: given the severe lack of social media in this chapter, i ended it with some visuals!

back to obx in the next chapter woohoo

taglist: @my-name-is-baby @yesshewrites1 @urbrunettebombshell @leather-n-velvet @fruitcakerafe @littlefreak-liz @wdwbts101 @akobx @lossfairy @marleymarleymarleymarley @jjmaybankmylovee @mbella607 @scream4mami @mrsdrewstarkeyy @honeyluvsatj

[modanisgf]

016. MANIAC (WRITTEN)

prev | next | masterlist

‘this was a mistake.’ was all that ran through hanni’s mind as she continued to sit in some random persons house, her friends next to her laughing their asses off.

she wasn’t sure how they had managed to convince her to tag along to this, hanni hated parties the thought of them making her gag. who wanted to sit around and get drunk with a bunch of people you don’t know?

the only people in their group sober were haerin and hanni, haerin occupying herself with danielle leaving hanni alone. with her thoughts of course, the worst time in her life for her to be overthinking.

to give more context one of matthew’s members decided to throw a party for his birthday, not notifying the friend group until a bit after their personal party had ended. hanni remembered it well, too well even as if it wasn’t hours ago now.

the group was sitting on minji’s couch, watching various movies when matthew got a call.

“hey ricky what’s up?” he said, his expression noticeably changing once ricky spoke.

“and you didn’t tell me until now? i’m already busy—“

“matthew half of the industry is going to be there, can’t you just continue your little hangout tomorrow?” ricky said loudly, allowing the whole group to hear.

matthew sighed in irritation, “fine but next time don’t tell me twenty minutes before.”

matthew hang up the phone after that, before turning to everyone.

“so basically ricky decided to throw me a party and not tell me about it, so now he wants me to be there in like twenty minutes.” matthew explains, confusion being left on everyone but gunwook’s face.

“we’re actually going? i mean, how far away is the venue?” minji asks.

“fifteen minutes..” matthew mumbles.

“bro we don’t have time for this, speak up.” gunwook chimes in.

“fifteen minutes?”

“are you serious?!”

yet they still ended up at the venue on time (ricky’s rich cousin’s house ?), much to hanni’s dismay. she never really explicitly stated she wanted to go, but she knew her friends needed a supervisor just in case haerin got distracted.

the main thing hanni was concerned about though was you, she knew if danielle was here there was no way you weren’t and after your argument a couple days before— hanni wasn’t sure if she was ready to see your face again. you had being nothing less of a bitch to her that day, making sure she knew you didn’t care about her which hadn’t left her mind since.

hanni wanted nothing more than to get over her feelings for you, but even after all that happened she couldn’t truly say she hated you. sure what all you did was unnecessary, but behind everything you said you seemed hurt.

if you truly wanted to hurt her, why would you feel bad? hanni didn’t miss the build up of tears on your waterline as you argued, making her feel the slightest bit of sympathy for you.

but overall and to the public eye, she wanted nothing to do with you. so hanni made it her mission to keep away from you at this party. and her mission ended now, your kuromi bag entering her sight causing her heart to drop. at this point the only person by hanni's side was haerin but she was too busy in conversation with danielle to save her.

you were presumably walking over there to collect danielle, sunoo trailing behind you. sunoo looked hanni in the eyes, the eye contact becoming uncomfortable as he glared at her. obviously sunoo didn't know the full story, of course you wouldn't let your friends in on how horrible you were to hanni.

you and sunoo seemed to be in slow motion in hanni's eyes, every step closer making her more anxious. she fought the urge to nudge haerin, realizing it would only make her closer to you the exact opposite of her goal at the moment.

the two of you made eye contact, the sharp look on hanni’s face making you sad. she seemed like she was doing well without you, unfortunately.

“danielle, our ride is here.” you say, noticing her perk up.

“oh okay, bye haerin!” dani waved to the girl, haerin waving back.

sunoo and danielle quickly walked away, but hanni noticed you linger a bit longer before picking up your feet and trying to catch up with your friends.

haerin raised a eyebrow at the way hanni eyes stayed fixed on where you once were. hanni wasn’t getting over you anytime soon, it was obvious to anyone at this point.

“hanni.” haerin called out to her.

“yes?”

“you need to get over her.”

a silent pause between the two proved haerin’s point, the latter sighing.

“i’m being serious, she’s destroying you.” haerin says.

“what are you gonna do once your off hiatus? aren’t you set for a tour later this year once your albums out?” haerin asks.

“i don’t know haerin, all my shits pushed back now.” hanni says, relaxing against the counter behind her.

“might not even get off of hiatus.” hanni says quietly, but loud enough for haerin to hear.

“don’t say that.” haerin warns, “hybe wouldn’t give you up.”

“are you sure? it seems like they already have.” hanni starts.

“it’s been forever now haerin.”

“hanni…”

“no don’t even say anything else, i’m just gonna get out of here i can’t do it anymore.” hanni says, grabbing her stuff.

“watch the others and tell matthew i said happy birthday and something came up.” hanni says, to which haerin nods.

haerin wasn’t going to fight with her anymore, they both knew well what was probably going to happen to hanni’s career.

haerin just wanted to keep postive.

hanni had no clue what she was thinking when she left that party. she had no ride, no hoodie to at least somewhat hide her appearance, and it was pouring rain outside.

hanni couldn’t break down out here, there was no telling if any paparazzi were around and she was already in trouble. she didn’t know what she would do if a headline got out, would it even matter anymore?

so she just sat there, staring at the ground before hearing footsteps. a voice perked up, presumably speaking to her.

“hanni what the hell are you doing—“ a familiar voice said, concerned.

“yn?” hanni said looking up.

“shit, i was hoping you wouldn’t recognize my voice.” you say.

“i don’t get drunk ever y’know that, wait nono— get away from me what did i tell you?!” hanni says in a panic.

“hanni, it’s late at night and it’s raining like crazy. can you at least let me take you home?” you say, to which she shakes her head no.

“i’ll wait for my friends.” hanni says, stubbornly.

“you can’t be serious.” you mumble, hanni not missing it.

“okay fine..” hanni says, she knew you didn’t have bad intentions.

“just don’t tell anyone, okay?” hanni warns.

“i won’t don’t worry, my friends are gone already anyways.” you say.

“then why are you still here?”

“i had a feeling.”

“what?”

“i had a feeling you would want to leave early.” you mumble.

“how did you have a feeling—“ hanni starts, getting cut off by you.

“okay maybe, i didn’t have a feeling.. i just knew, you don’t seem like the type to party.” you say, shaking your head.

you see hanni fight back her smile, making you laugh a bit.

“but anyways, here’s my car." you say, opening the passengers door for her.

"i have to sit next to you..?" she asks.

"okay." you sigh, you had done this to yourself obviously but it still hurt.

"get in the back then." you say closing the door, making your way over to the drivers.

“are you not gonna open it for me?”

“hanni.”

“okay sorry i’m getting in.”

the ride to hanni’s apartment building was silent, hanni on her phone the entire time ensuring haerin she found a ride home.

soon they reached hanni’s building and she got out.

“thank you.” hanni says, making you smile.

“anything for you.” you say quietly.

hanni walked off after, yn waiting to make sure she got inside safely before driving off. she knew hanni hated her bad, so the least she could do was keep her safe.

yn finally understood her feelings, she was in love with hanni pham.

TAGS 🏷️ (CLOSED): @jayjj7 @haerinsloverr @aribunnu @masuowo @multiliker @winieter @sewiouslyz @edenzeepy @popasi @home2venus @ghstvr @technicallyimportantsweets @he------len @yukianism @yeetaberry127 @haechansbbg @linnnsworld @sixflame438 @emotionallyrin @gtfoiydlyj @inosfavgf @rvoulte @hotluvlet

[thebetawolfgirl]

Back To You

Pairing: Timmy x Reader

Warnings: Mentions of drug use and smut.

A/N: Grab a snack and a hot beverage and cozy up with this one.

Back To You

She had seen the photos when she landed back in LA, of Timmy in the pool with Eliza. He looked high as anything and absolutely awful. Eliza clearly had him smoking the strong stuff, and she had been trying to contact his agent Mark for two days straight with no success.

She was in her kitchen just wiping down her units when she got an urgent knock on her door. She opened it and gasped as she saw Mark standing there with a terrible looking Timmy before he fell against her wrapping his arms around her tightly and burying his face in her neck.

‘Y/n. I’m sorry.’ He mumbled tearfully.

She held him against her tightly and set her glare on a sheepish looking Mark.

‘I want him to stay with you for a while, maybe take him somewhere-‘

‘Oh trust me I will be taking him away from here and I won’t be telling anyone ESPECIALLY YOU and those parasites you call his PR team!’ She growled at him laying Timmy on her couch and returning her glare on Mark.

He looked down shamefully ‘I didn’t think she would get him so high. He smokes weed with Scott sometimes-‘

‘NOT THIS MUCH!’

After she kicked Mark out of her house she called her older brother to come for them and take them to the lake house she inherited from her grandfather. She packed a suitcase for both of them and woke Timmy up just as Josh drove into her driveway, Timmy was still kind of out of it so she and her brother had to walk him to his pickup and put him in the back seat.

She and her brother drove to the pier silently, although Josh knew his sister was fuming. She had been trying to get in contact with Timothée’s agent for two days to demand he get him away from Eliza. She was a beautiful woman to be sure, but she was also well known to be antisemitic and very anti-Jewish. Or so y/n had heard from many people.

They arrived at the pier and thankfully it was quiet so they got everything onto the boat and then helped Timmy on and under the well furnished deck, y/n closed the door from the outside and sighed.

‘You need to do something about this y/n.’ Josh whispered so as not to be overheard. ‘They can’t keep dumping him onto every greedy celebrity who wants a piece of him. He’s still figuring this world out, this industry. He needs to stand up to them and just tell them no more.’

‘I know Josh!’ Y/n sighed again leaning against the door closing her eyes. ‘I know I need to tell him to set boundaries with his management. But like you said he’s new to this industry. He grew up in New York and around the theatre. And he’s worked his ass off to get where he is now, and he’s always afraid he doesn’t deserve it. He’s so self conscious about his talent. He overthinks every little detail.’

‘And that’s what drew him to you, he’s not like all the other assholes you’ve met in Hollywood. He’s real. And he’s down to earth.’

Josh looks at his sister as she smiles and nods.

‘Maybe this break will give you both the courage you need to finally get together and make it official. Put us all out of our misery.’

She scoffs and shoves him.

‘Get off my boat, I need to get going before it gets dark.’

‘Take care of each other.’

He jumps off as she begins to move out of the dock and sail off towards the mountains that held the large family lake house.

The house was surrounded by a large lake and hidden within even bigger mountains. On the outside it just looked like a family of huge mountains so it was the perfect place to hide a beautiful lake house in the middle of a small island.

Y/n tied the boat to the dock and took the cases into the house first then came out to get Timmy. He was a bit more awake when she went downstairs and she smiled at him as he looked around him.

‘Hey sleepy head, ready to go inside?’

‘Where are we? Last thing I remember was falling into your arms then passing out.’

‘Well after a… talk with Mark we decided it would be better if you and I went on a little break, just until you get back on your feet.’

He nodded and got up slowly and followed her outside, it was getting dark out so there wasn’t much to see but the lights from the house, so they went in and she instantly got him something light to eat then he just wanted to go straight to bed.

The next morning just as the sun was beginning to rise Timmy woke up feeling a lot better after some much needed rest and got up looking for y/n. He found her outside on the front porch and finally saw his surroundings and was in complete shock at the beauty around him. Y/n had never taken anyone here before, this was her sacred place, a sanctuary for her to escape the madness of Hollywood. The fact that she chose to bring him here to recover was everything to him. He walked over and sat down beside her before crawling onto the bench and lay his head on her lap sighing when she began to play with his hair.

‘Did you sleep well?’ He nodded closing his eyes contently.

‘Thank you for bringing me here. It’s beautiful.’

She smiled brushing his curls from his eyes. ‘I thought it was time to share my sanctuary with you. And there’s no better place to heal than this place. No phones, no crowds of people. Just the water and the fresh air.’

‘It’s perfect, thank you. The fact that you trusted me with this means everything to me!’

She smiles and leans forward kissing his temple as they watched the sun rising together.

After they went inside she cooked him breakfast, all of his favourites. Homemade bagels, ham and onion omelette and a bowl of oatmeal. They ate together in peaceful silence then they watched movies. Timmy turned the tv off then and they talked about where they were.

‘I don’t want to do the PR thing anymore, I’m too tired now. I’m so tired y/n. I just want to come home to you at the end of every night and wake up with you every morning. I just want it to be you and me.’

She pulled him against her running her fingers through his hair holding him tightly as he buried his face against her neck.

‘We will talk to Mark when we get home, we will end this once and for all then it can just be us. I promise.’

He nodded against her shoulder breathing her in.

He pushed her back landing on top of her resting his hips between her thighs and nuzzled her neck, shivering as she ran her fingers down his back from his shoulders to his lower back, he arched against her body as her fingers dipped into the curves of his spine and bit down on her shoulder before moving his head slightly to capture her mouth in his and sighed contentedly into the kiss as he began undressing them both. He tore the t-shirt over his head and tossed it aside as she removed her hoodie, and deepened the kiss opening her mouth more for him.

They removed and tossed their bottoms to the floor and he slowly slid into her groaning against her mouth, she gripped a fistful of his long hair as he began moving his hips against hers slowly to start but picked up his pace until he was rutting into her as she kissed and nipped his lips.

He gripped his fingers into the headboard behind her head and began ramming into her harder and faster letting his head falling against her shoulder breaking their heated and sloppy kiss as she clung to him pulling him closer against her panting heavily, he let go of the headboard and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her against him hearing their skin of their hips meeting in loud slaps, he whimpered and moaned into her neck as she grabbed his shoulders and dragged her fingers down his back again reaching the dip in his lower spine that made him completely lose it and caused his body to convulse on top of her before melting against her. It made him twitch and pant, once he actually ripped the bedsheets apart. Her fingers running down his spine her nails scratching him slightly did otherworldly things to him he couldn’t explain. It made him choke out a gasp and made the air leave his lungs.

He gave one last deep thrust before they both came and he was able to breathe again, he trailed his lips down her neck to her shoulder blade while gently biting her skin as they came down from their high covered in a thin layer of sweat.

He rested his head against her collarbone as she ran one hand through his damp hair and the other down his arm their lower bodies tangled together in the sheets, she moved her hand up his shoulder and stroked his face lightly with her fingers, before he took her hand and pressed them to his lips and parted them as he nibbled the skin on her fingertips.

She smiled and giggled feeling his teeth graze her skin.

‘Stop it. If you’re hungry go downstairs and check the fridge.’ She mumbled in to his hair kissing the top of his head.

He grunted and continued his trail down to her wrist and sucked the pulse point there making her gasp and grip his hair tugging gently just enough to pull him back.

He was obsessed with her skin. Even when they started out as friends. He could live on her body alone. She smelled like heaven and tasted even better. When he needed to be calm she would try giving him a bottle of the perfume she wore, but that didn’t work. It was HER. Her own smell. It was like a drug to him. That’s why even though in those pool pics in the papers with him and Eliza they looked cozy when actually every time Eliza came near Timmy and he was holding like that he was ill. It took everything in him not to kiss the woman’s neck and not throw up.

But now he was back with y/n his beloved y/n. He begged Mark to take him to her, begged on his knees and Mark thought he was high as Hell, but he just needed this here right now.

He kissed a trail between her breasts tasting the dried sweat there and wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer and buried his face against her neck sucking on the skin lightly before laying down with her and falling asleep again.

@gatoenlaciudad

@kteezy997

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@tchalamess

@tchalamss

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@ducktapebar

@pmak2002

[ov105]

Short: Hush

After refusing to upload this for a day, Tumblr finally budged! This took a lot longer than I wished to write. Well, who can blame a lazy student right? I can only keep the industrious facade for so long. Some irl experience *wink wink* helped crank this one. (This is not a retelling.)

This is the prequel to Noise.

3,360 words of Park Sieun

Enjoy!

University. The four years of your life where you can make or break the rest of it. At least, that's how I saw it. The high pressure, an unfortunate side effect of such a perfectionistic pursuit, required sacrificing many things that I saw as necessary at one point. I was enrolled in a program that took all the time. Studying most nights, usually holed up beside my bed or in the library, tonight felt just like any other. It was a routine I'd gotten used to, but sleep's siren song called with so few people at this hour. The custodian wasn't even around, just a single librarian at the first-floor desk. It was a weekday, the last where we needed to be on campus, and there was a holiday tomorrow and the weekend after that. I didn't feel like going to my dorm, but I didn't want to be lazy.

I study alone. Group study never appealed to me, though a friend here or there would come. People I know knew my routine well.

A message lit up my phone screen. It was Sieun.

[Hey, you're in the library?]

[Yeah] I replied.

[What floor?]

[5th]

Sieun didn't respond after that. There was no elevator, so I only assumed she was on her way up the stairs. Seeing the door open and her come through, laptop and textbook in hand as she waved at me. She asked me the cliched question as she laid down her stuff.

"You read that other chapter yet?"

"Nope, barely halfway with this-," pointing to my screen, the pdf opened.

"-Aish, quit studying; you have the whole weekend anyways!" Sieun jokingly exclaimed.

I wasn't. I was just reading other things.

"Oh well, you're right, bye-bye!" I replied, pretending to close my laptop.

"Yah! Don't leave me here," she replied, shutting me down, "I don't want to go home yet, so do whatever you want."

I knew Sieun had a lot of friends, I didn't have much, but they were just as introverted as me. I was probably overthinking it to have a girl from class join me; she was a coffee shop kind of girl. Even more confusing, she was known to be nice to everyone, everybody's friend, but she was smart about it, not becoming a stereotypical caricature of the more socially well-endowed. Typical of an overthinker like myself, I didn't question her company if it didn't make me uncomfortable.

"Oh, you too, huh," I said as I opened my phone.

"What?" Sieun asked, confused.

"When you don't feel like going home, you just hang around somewhere."

"Oh," she seemed to relax, "Yeah, when I don't feel like greeting too many people."

“Besides, I’m an introvert anyway, just happens that I’m just an attention-seeker as well.”

“I can tell,” I replied.

She grabbed her headphones from her bag, holding it in my direction, "Wanna watch?"

"What you watching?" I asked, hoping to myself it wasn't some blood-boiling thriller drama.

It was a rom-com—nothing I find stressful. I agreed, then Sieun told me to scoot over beside her.

I didn't know how long or what time it was, but we were still waiting for someone to come up to tell us to go home. It wasn't that late. Before I knew it, we were six and a half episodes in. We sat comfortably and moved now and then, not to lock our muscles up. I had my right leg up, with my left hand dangling in the space between the chairs. Keeping my focus on her laptop, I didn't mind, nor did I want to overthink her gesture; it was a cold hall.

That was until I felt her right hand slowly gliding over my thighs, barely feeling her fingers over my pant leg. But she wasn't doing well if she attempted to be discreet. Sure, I knew what to do, but I was just too unsure, so I whispered.

"Sieun."

"What?"

I simply pointed down where her hand was. A smirk appeared on her face.

"Oh," she whispered, a blush joining her smirk as she looked up at me. At least, she tried to.

"I've heard some things about you lately."

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath. I knew what Sieun meant. I always let my lips loose whenever I was inebriated, though I knew secrets were always off-limits. Unfortunately, that meant my arrogance stuck out, perhaps a little too much to disregard myself. She let out a chuckle.

"Don't regret it now," Sieun said, looking at the door before matching my gaze, having a different look in her eyes, mere inches away, even in the dark. She wanted something from me.

"Don't worry, I'm the right person to hear about it," she slowly said, noticing her left hand already tugging at my arm, pulling me in.

Sieun's eyes then darted for a split second to my lips. She then shut her eyes—a soft smooch—and the next thing I knew, I was opening mine. We were much closer now. I was probably red because she was too. I was, however, sober; her words echoed; why would she be the right person? It was impossible to think straight; I just swallowed my pride.

"Just give me a chance," she said, almost in a whisper, taunting, "I know you'd want me too."

Wait. Did Sieun just ask me if she could do me? Was I being gaslit? Didn't this scenario only exist in movies? I swore I panicked for a second.

I just smirked, then gave a peck on the lip as an answer. Almost throwing herself on me, returning more than just a peck, it had collapsed into a full-on make-out before I could even count to ten. My hands were on Sieun's thighs and neck, with hers on mine—a handsy affair. It was a side of her I hadn't seen before or one I only expected to happen in printed fiction. I knew everyone had their own pervert, and mine was a tomcat on the prowl. Though now, even the wildest I've heard of seemed tame. All because this was reality.

"I never thought you were naughty," I quipped.

"So did I."

Wanting to see how true that was, we kept pushing and pulling with our lips, not noticing how handsy we were becoming. Sieun was softly groping the bulge between my legs and, with my right hand, moved down from her neck, mirroring hers, three fingers pressing where it was the warmest.

"Wait, wait, wait," she pulled away as I tried to move up her sweater.

Standing up, Sieun closed her laptop, the drama having run away from us becoming steamy, straddling me into an embrace, pressing herself right up to my face before using her fingers to point me upward and back to her lips. It felt electrifying, the room becoming colder and warmer as our lips approached each other. She was going somewhat slower now, and noticing my hands were idly gripped to her thighs, she grabbed my wrist and put it on her waist. I wasn't planning just staying there, going down and slipping upwards under her sweater; the problem was that it was in the way.

Giving me one loud, suckling kiss, she moved back, almost forcing herself to. She hurriedly pulled her sweater off herself and dumped it where she sat. Grabbing my left wrist again, but now putting on her right tit, squeezing the moment my palm landed on it.

It was small, little by anybody's standards. After all, Sieun was petite. To make myself clear, I laid my lips where I felt it, even with the shirt on. Being so exposed where we sat, anything beyond the sweater was off-limits, but she already had untucked her shirt when she took it off.

Though as we continued to make out, I slid my hand into it, and firmly grabbed her tit, feeling the soft mound held in place by her bra, cursing that fact in my head, only to be distracted by Sieun suddenly darting her tongue out when I did. If that was so, then so should I, softly squeezing with my left hand, my right moving back to her ass and copying it. A slight jolt came from her as she grabbed my wrist from under her and pulled away.

"Let's not do this here," Sieun said.

"Couldn't you have said that earlier?" I replied, annoyed.

"I just got carried away," she sounded sad.

She was thinking of something.

"Alright, let's go to my place after this," Sieun said. I just agreed with her.

Giving me one more kiss, she got off of me. Looking at where she was gazing, it was on the large old shelves of the archives room. Filled to the brim with cardboard boxes, some empty, others half-full, and more empty, yellowed-out periodicals, and some published medical and law reports. But as an imaginative kid with too much access to the internet, I always thought it was the ideal place for a quickie.

Looking back, she knew I had checked out the same place.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" she asked as she tied her hair.

I just nodded. I had no idea.

Before I knew it, she flashed me a smile and darted off. I stood up and followed her into the room as she turned into a shelf with a higher shadow, having long forgotten, hard-bound folders stacked above it, creating a shade. I stopped. For a second, the old legends my grandmother told me flashed back, one of the pretty fairies that lured young men into the hills, just for them never to come back down.

But now isn't the time for tall tales, even if it felt like one.

Following where I last saw Sieun, she dragged me to the window sill. Gently pushing me against the wall as she planted her lips on me again, much more tender this time, with her hands on my chest. I was running on instinct, driven by the perpetual motion of her lips. All sorts of images popped up in my head, the least of which involved carrying her and fucking her raw then and there.

A storyboard straight out of a manhwa—that was stretching it—but I was already in her pages anyway.

After making out for a bit, and now with me up against the shelf, Sieun looked around before dropping down to my crotch. Her squat turned into kneeling as she grabbed and undid my belt, putting her left hand under my crotch and massaging my balls through my boxers. The feeling of butterflies in my gut quickly left as blood pooled on my cock, sparing her at least a quarter of the work as she pulled my boxers down and took it in her hand.

Sieun was not shy. Looking up at me as she opened her mouth and pointed her dick at it. Her tongue made a swift flick on the tip before wrapping her lips around it, tugging at it as she went to work. It was a quickie, after all, and there'd be no excuses if somebody came past and caught us. Thankfully for her, the past few minutes gave me plenty of images to be erect quicker, the best of which was the feeling of her mouth doing me.  

I felt my breath begin to shorten, maybe even shake, as my tip got harder and, thus, more sensitive. Taking a hand off and hearing a slight gulp as my cock enlarged in Sieun's mouth, a slowly rising pace to come along with it, maybe even a hushed moan as the world seemed quiet at that minute. Looking down to see my cock firmly wrapped in her lips as her tongue glided up and down slowly, needily, and readily. The tip brushed against the top of her mouth as every vein on my shaft was pressed by her tongue. She gave herself a few dips as she tried to settle in a pace; the last of them went too far as her lips hit my crotch. Gagging, her face turned sour as she pulled away, suddenly catching her throat.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," Sieun said as she swallowed, reassuringly saying, "I-I'm fine, it’s just been a while."

Regaining her composure, she puckered, then wrapped her lips around the tip, starting slowly at half length before going all the way in. This time being more careful not to make herself gag again. So she went, continuing where she had tripped earlier, the whole hiccup not even being counted to ten. Setting a speed that left me holding on to the shelf as she closed her eyes and reveled in her work. Seeing her head twist slightly to the left as she wasn't using her hand, I could hear a low humming as she sucked on my shaft. Almost going down the same way and hitting the back of her mouth, though this time she wasn't going that far and enjoying herself.

Thinking that was the end of me, she reluctantly pulled her lips away and licked my cock upward.

"I'm not going to say this any other way," she followed, "You got a good one too."

An ego boost. I would even think it was an unnecessary one.

"You're not lying, aren't you?"

"Hmm?" Sieun said with half my shaft in her mouth, giving it a few tugs with her lips and only stopping when she felt the slightest twitch of my cock on her tongue, asking back as she kissed it.

"Am I lying now?"

I didn't answer. It was enough an answer either way. Sieun eased her head back down on it as she continued. Thinking I was to be carried away easily, she suddenly sped up, even catching me off guard as I felt myself shudder when my tip hit the back of her mouth. What made her stop wasn't a gag this time, but rather the loud suckling that her lips made, once, twice, three. She stopped, then suddenly looked up and saw the surprise in both our eyes.

Realizing her error, she had no way to go but slow, which meant teasing me much more. I just hoped she was the type to swallow.

Closing her eyes, Sieun then formed a ring with her index finger and thumb; she kept her lips tightly sealed while her tongue circled my tip. Catching me off guard when she slipped it over her tongue and dove down, feeling the tightness of her lips and the pressure of her tongue as she slowly got deeper close to where her fingers were at. She just had to top it off, looking up at me—as if waiting for a compliment—while she passed every vein and let the pressure slowly build up.

Keeping at that for a good minute, she ensured I lost track of time. By that point, she knew that she was just dragging me along by that point any faster, and I'd explode down her throat. I became more sensitive as she tasted the precum, seeing her eyes react as the secretion came onto her tongue. So, she enjoyed herself, tilting her head and probably moaning quietly. On my end, my breath was already shaking, and I was biting my lip.

I was always shy with dirty talk. Though if there was anything like a "romantic blowjob," this was it.

I've yet to hear of one-night stands that get too attached. But Sieun was in the same class; this would either end awkwardly or something was up. Then I remembered what she said earlier, but before my brain could fly away, thinking itself to death. I was brought back down with one swift swipe of her lip.

Looking down to see Sieun picking up the pace as my knees began to buckle under the sensual barrage from her front; she was anticipating me to break any moment now. I just knew that it was a thin line for her to cross, but whatever confidence she had now, she was not misplaced. Going deep and only deep, save for a few tugs at the tip, as keeping my mouth shut became much more challenging.

Pulling away with a loud pop, she kept it going with a handjob.

"You like it?" she asked.

This was the worst time to ask. It's like Sieun paused the porno.

I just nodded like an addled boy. She licked her lips and smiled.

I took a big gulp as her lips engulfed my shaft again, knowing I was at my last straw. Just one tight slurp after the other, and I was just about done for.

A thunderbolt. A single swipe of Sieun's tongue sent me shaking, curling, drowning. Her lips barely held the saliva in a while, and my twitching became quicker, using everything she could to try and make me cum. Just barely crossing the threshold, though this time, it was her making the noise. Leaving any sense of awareness as she moaned and hummed to herself as she tried to rein my shaft in her mouth. Feeling her mouth tightening, it was the death knell of me, whether it was me imagining it or it was her intent, but I just knew this was it.

When I went quiet, I knew my end was up. My jaw dropped in silence as my knuckles began to turn white, holding onto the shelf. Sieun's eyes, the only way I could tell anything from her, shot up in surprise as my cock, her lips midway, hardened and began bursting in her mouth. Perhaps, a little too early, the second spurt, a warm, gooey one that made even me jump, as it hit the back of her mouth. Feeling an instinctive gulp and watching her react as the rest followed. Slowly moving while her eyebrows furrowed, probably surprised by the sheer volume or taste, trying to keep it in her mouth, fighting the urge to swallow, while her tongue stayed where it was. As my orgasm died down, and having done her bidding, she slowly eased back.

It was perhaps an unintended consequence on her end that I'd let out that much cum. I just hoped she wouldn't be too mad. Slowly taking her lips off, my cock was covered in drool but looked clean, except for the tip, which had expended itself.  

Sieun put her hand under her face, probably to spit it out. Looking up at me before she drew her hand away and swallowed it all, but not without some discomfort in her expression, then licked her lips before stating the obvious.

"That's a lot," she said as she stood up, "and hotter than I thought."

"What?" I asked, a little confused, while I pulled my boxers up.

"Everything, the blowjob, where we are, um," Sieun stopped.

"What is it?" I asked again.

"No," she hesitated, "I'll just tell you on the way down."

Not wanting to ruin the mood by prying, I just scoffed, letting her go. We then left the shelves like nothing had happened. It might have been witness to other couples doing more daring things than a tame, silent blowjob. Sheepishly walked back to our table, and while thankfully nobody came, it seemed like a ghost town with how late it was. Just two bags and personal belongings strewn on the table, forgotten by their owners. I had lost track of time from when she kissed me, but I knew that was a lifetime ago.

There was a sense of silent urgency among us as we packed, flashing a shy smile or two as we knew we'd be doing a lot more once we got to her place. Leaving the room, what she did next surprised me and made me feel warmer than whatever we just did. She put her arm around my elbow. As we made our way to the staircase, we decided to go the route that prevented us from seeing the librarian's desk. Sieun then put herself beside my ear and spoke up almost in a whisper.

I turned red, shy even, but with a tug, there seemed no need to run.

[outsidereveries]

very old asks from curiouscat (13th august 2023—16th august 2023)

still 13th august 2023

what outsiders think of ive's busy schedule (tour + october comeback)? (orig. worded differently)

the hermit, 4 of wands, 3 of cups rx • the magician

roughly the thoughts are neutral, however i see some of their fans disconnection with the group in some form as they seem to overthink starship’s desicions. although local dives will be happy such as korean and japanese ones (possibly chinese ones too considering wonyoung’s questionable part-taiwanese ethnicity), the disharmony cannot be ignored. the lack of harmony might be issue between the members of the group and it could be just seen too obviously? i doubt the disharmony thing is with the c-bars here tbh

wonyoung, future solo gigs

she might:

- be in commercials (cf’s)

- appear in radio show/s or anything, related to the radio

- be on magazines such as her being in the cover issue of one, or interview in there

(interviews seem to appear lowkey strong)

- do outside-related activities

- do more activities in south korea (taiwan possibly too if she’s actually part-taiwanese)

- try to compose songs

- be accused of racism in any form

- be accused of having plastic surgery (i am sure she has rhinoplasty and lip fillers, probably pernament ones, but it can be about anything else)

- break a law (for example, improper crossing)

+ be more active on youtube, bubble and instagram

is the current government of italy.. fascists?

6 of pentacles, the sun, 6 of wands, 2 of swords rx, 10 of pentacles • 4 of swords

I am sorry but how the fuck their current government is fascist? The country’s current coalition want to give the Italians the best they can do. It looks like the Italians striked gold with them. However I see some delays as there are other unions and people, and so on to please (ahem, NATO/EU). It looks like the Italians’ current government is the best they can have for now. This isn’t fascist at all.

Overall I see the Italians’ current government genuine. NATO and EU want to fuck them up so and that’s the main issue. Why this does feel so similar? Oh, wait.

joe biden's ideology (for his presidency; orig. different wordplay)

10 of cups, 5 of swords, 2 of pentacles, 6 of wands, 10 of pentacles • 4 of swords

- to betray USA’s citizens

- to make their citizens feel anger, resentment even: i sense war, fire

- to raise the amount of protests for injustice and therefore, to make themselves “superheroes” when they’re the responsible ones for this

jiwoong, solo gigs

he might:

- be more active on social medias such as twitter if zb1 have freedom there, bubble?? and instagram

- appear on fashion related events (i don’t see him as brand ambassador for now..)

- have individual fan-meetings in some form?

- try voice acting if he hasn’t already

- appear on variety shows

- do cover songs or self-made ones, he wants to try compose songs

- have more activities in buildings

- be more active in south korea

- try songwriting

- be called out for anything related to racism

- call out something or someone for anything inappropriate

- called out for doing something wrong

14th august 2023

zayn, career reading (until 2024)

the star, the tower, 3 of wands, page of wands • the hanged man

it can go quite well! i can see him going to travel to somewhere, so it can be usa tour or even world one, but we have to be patient about it.

why most girl groups don’t last long like boy groups in the kpop industry?

king of pentacles, 6 of wands rx, ace of cups • the emperor

The reasons are simply for their own relevance as it looks like most of the boy groups won’t do well individually. The girl groups, no matter formerly or not can do better individually rather than in their own groups (overall). That’s why the groups that are disbanding are mainly girl ones. Because of their own individual relevance, they cannot afford risking it.

will skz become the top group under jype?

the hermit, page of swords, the fool • 4 of pentacles rx

In its maximum they’ll tie them, but passing them.. I doubt it.

woozi, career reading + general reading

Career: 8 of wands, 9 of pentacles, knight of cups, 5 of cups rx, 7 of pentacles • 4 of cups rx

General: queen of cups, 3 of pentacles, 9 of pentacles, 8 of wands • 4 of cups rx

Quite great in both aspects, however his personal life is tightly connected with his personal one. I see he will be busy with doing offers that are beneficial for him to do them so. His life is connected with his group so apart from him being with them and his solo gigs, nothing else.

ariana grande's motto of this year

7 of swords • the lovers

It’s your own choice how you are in your personal life.

how wonyoung views yujin (ive)'s it girl porential?

the fool • 4 of pentacles rx

A breath of fresh air, she sees her potential going stronger with the time but with risks, Wonyoung sees Yujin as egoistical workaholic and she thinks that Yujin has to manage her work with her personal life in a way she doesn’t exhaust herself.

will ryujin have solo gigs this year?

ace of pentacles rx, the hierophant, 7 of cups • king of cups

Um, I personally doubt it. She seems to be under the rug despite of the offers. JYPE made them on hold or declined them. The chance is tiny to me.

wonyoung's thoughts about jeon somi's career

the hermit rx • page of pentacles

Isolated as fuck, TBL isn’t the right for Somi herself, she should’ve signed somewhere else. Wonyoung’s aware of her actual potential especially when both of them were first in the produce series.

somi and wonyoung's thoughts on their personalities

Wonyoung towards Somi: 9 of wands, knight of wands • 2 of swords rx

Very smart, patient, persistent, with many ambitions for herself. However she sees all of this under the rug and it’s not seen by everyone else except only a few, including Wonyoung herself.

Somi towards Wonyoung: page of swords • 8 of wands

Shining star, very communicative too. When she wants to do something, she’s going for it. Wonyoung can be her role mode for that, ngl

somi and kang daniel's thoughts on each other's career paths

Somi towards Daniel: 2 of cups, the empress • 3 of swords rx

Very harmonious with Daniel himself, also independent in some way (obviously bc Konnect is his label). Somi’s proud of the way Daniel is today.

Daniel towards Somi: 10 of wands • the magician

The thought itself is very neutral. He basically is thinking that whatever she does is her own responsibility for its results.

kang daniel's thoughts about somi's popularity

10 of cups rx • page of pentacles

Personally he’s sad that her career is like that because her potential can do so much more..

was lariste ruined because of marwa loud?

8 of cups, king of swords, judgement, 10 of cups, queen of swords rx • 7 of pentacles

The truth of the whole situation is that it is either simply for clout and everything was planned beforehand or I’m not allowed to see what’s the truth. The cards are very different from the whole situation that’s seen in the news blogs and even that youtuber who did 7 fucking parts about it🤷🏻‍♀️

twice's thoughts about jype's management

(s = swords, p = pentacles, c = cups, w = wands, a = ace), from nayeon to tzuyu

8srx/hermit; 5crx/ac; 10srx/devilrx; kingp,6s/6c; queenc/9p; 5srx/fool, ap+5w/lovers; 10c/judgement; kingp/6s

Nayeon would prefer to leave her company, she seems to not care about them at all.

Jeongyeon is saying “whatever” for the costs of OT9 TWICE. Neutral, I guess.

Momo is aware how they work. Nothing else for her.

Sana’s view is the same as Tzuyu with the addition that she’s disappointed but not suprised.

Jihyo is quite optimistic, probably because they focus on her individual career now bc she’s debuting soon.

Mina is indifferent about it.

Dahyun also seems indifferent but she’s the most pissed out of all of the girls. She sees this with its pros and cons but she cannot help but to be kind of mad.

Chaeyoung is feeling optimistic about them but doesn’t believe then fully.

Tzuyu would prefer to change the whole management tbh as they all think with their buttholes rather than their minds. They all think about money and while it can be food think, it doesn’t benefit her at all.

jype's plan for skz' solo paths: from bang chan to i.n.

10 of pentacles, judgement • queen of swords

JYPE’s intentions for Chan and Changmin’s solo careers are identical (quite great intentions in fact) with the difference that Changmin seems to be unaware of this. Like he’s their secret weapon?

the sun • 4 of wands

For Lee Know they’re very happy to do whatever he wants to. I see collaborations?

judgement, 10 of pentacles • queen of swords

(almost identical to chan)

7 of pentacles rx • the world

For Hyunjin however are very impatient, they want everything to happen very fast, they seem to be obsessed and they appearantly want him to be that idol who will sell out everything very fast.. They might want him to debut solo first, similar to Nayeon? Not sure.

the hermit rx • queen of wands

Han and Felix are basically trapped, JYPE’s intentions are to not focus on them individually at all.

knight of swords rx • 2 of wands

(similar to Han)

page of pentacles • 6 of wands

Their intentions towards Seungmin’s solo activities are good but they’re yet to be revealed to me, this seems very fresh.

strength • 3 of cups

It’s similar with I.N. (as Seungmin). I see however with the maknae something related to collaborations too.

(both in ive) wonyoung and yujin's thoughts on each other?

Wonyoung towards Yujin: 2 of pentacles • 2 of swords rx

Wonyoung’s cautious about Yujin, her thoughts are neutral but with warning from her side.

Viceversa: page of pentacles • 6 of wands

On the other side, Yujin sees Wonyoung as someone who’s by her side and makes her happy.

hailey bieber's thoughts on selena gomez

page of pentacles • 6 of wands

To Hailey Selena is dedicated person and that makes her happy. She’s not envious at all!

le sserafim's thoughts on yujin (ive) (asked for chaewon and sakura)

king of wands rx • 6 of cups

Their personalities are clashing so Chaewon might not match with Yujin at all. Despite that, she acknowledges her and what they’ve been through both. Nothing else.

strength, 8 of swords rx • temperance

Very balanced and courageous person who can do anything she wants to. I don’t see anything else.

le sserafim's thoughts on wonyoung

Starting from Sakura, then Chaewon and everyone else

5 of wands rx • queen of pentacles

Sakura’s thoughts are neutral to me.

10 of wands rx, 4 of swords rx • page of swords

Chaewon however is the most pessimistic of all - overwhelming, exhausting person.

the chariot rx • 6 of swords

Yunjin would prefer to move on from this topic as she thinks Wonyoung is too confusing.

9 of cups • 2 of pentacles

Kazuha is the most positive of all, she likes very much Wonyoung and loves how she balances her personal life with her job.

the chariot • 6 of swords

Eunchae likes Wonyoung’s willpower and ambitions to do anything. Simple as that.

americans' thoughts on trump's presidency

5 of wands rx • queen of pentacles

they would prefer to move on, they appreciate what trump has done in these 4 years but up to that. the opinions can be mixed or are neutral. nothing in between.

skz' hyunjin's thoughts on wonyoung

ace of pentacles rx • 9 of pentacles

very independent person who looks over how much she earns too much. he might be aware of her salary or sth like that.

gaeun's feelings of reuniting in a way with sakura, chaewon and yunjin

3 of cups, the chariot • 6 of swords

she was very happy to reunite with them in some way! only positive thoughts. well, there’s nothing much apart from that.

brief career look for jinwoo (winner, 2024)

8 of wands rx, 8 of swords rx, 5 of swords • death

he’s on survival mode. since he was in the military, he might want to work but cannot do it as properly as he wants to. there’s serious issues with yge for his solo career overall..

lee know, sullyoon, dynamics reading

the star rx, 10 of pentacles, the chariot rx • 7 of wands

they’re trying to be strictly colleguaes but their personalities are clashing too much. therefore, they might not work together even when they have to because of these conflicts they have.

15th august 2023

mingyu, solo gigs

he might be:

- brand ambassador (individually)

- act in any form

- have more photoshoots than usual

- be active on weverse, tiktok and instagram

- jiggling many activities in once

- traveling more regarding his solo activities

- self-compose songs

- doing unordinary, one of a kind content

- accused of racism

- involved in scandal/s and rumors

- calling out something or someone

matthew, solo gigs

he might do:

- OSTs

- collaborations in any form

- something that he owns, something he has done (basically anything, this is about solo activities!!)

- more posts on x, bubble and youtube

- many activities in once

- more activities both in south korea/canada and outside of these countries, he’ll manage them just fine

he also might:

- break a law

- be recognised from people in any way

- do any philanthropy actions

what kind of brand momo will be brand ambassador?

Type: queen of cups, judgement rx, knight of cups • 3 of swords rx

behind the scenes they’re too critical, perhaps they might be perfectionists. they seem to be balanced, so it can be big brand.

when: 4 hearts, 2 hearts, 4 diamonds, 8 clubs, 6 diamonds

Between a few days and 4 months if there’s offer for her that’s already accepted.

16th august 2023

korean government's thoughts on minors debuting in the k-pop industry?

ace of swords, 5 of pentacles rx • the lovers

They’re actually neutral to me as they see that this is the dreams of the children (to be idols). They accept that it’s their own choice so they’re not forcing them to have stronger opinions about this. They aren’t mad or have intentions to make them moneymakers or something like that so yeah, quite neutral opinion. They seem to support their dreams.

[battle-of-alberta]

Alberta is often called the Texas of Canada. But have you instead thought of it as Texas being the Alberta of America?

I've been letting this sit in the ask box for well over a year for which I apologize, so I guess I put a little more effort into fleshing it out to make up for the wait. I started really overthinking it and I wanted to do a lot more reading than I was ultimately able to and decided, screw it, I'll just take a little chunk of the question.

Texas (Stella) belongs to my dear Texan friend @thisnameisquitequeer who has been a sympathetic ear over the years to my ranting and raving and who has been a part of numerous conversations about the frustrations of being in the state/province constantly being painted in a stereotypical loud/dumb/redneck fashion.

Initially I wanted to talk more about that (including my frustrations with people here appropriating symbols like the Confederate flag for dumb reasons) in this ask but I decided to just narrow the scope to say that Texan culture and reputation, obviously, precedes whatever passes for those things here by quite a lot. I have done a little reading on ranching history in Alberta, but I need to read more about the relationship via the growth of the oil industry to say more about that.

Some more explanations and notes below.

tldr but I don't think anyone thinks of Texas as anything but Texas

"not so much for pretty" is a quote from Charlie Russel, famous cowboy painter that Calvin is high key obsessed with, describing the difference between the two types of cowboys on either side of the Rockies.

fun fact: the cattle that eventually became Texas longhorns were dropped off in the areas by the Spanish in the 1500s- by the mid 1800s, these free ranging cattle were rounded up and driven northwards (with some obvious interruption during the American Civil War). Usually, they would be sent upriver to Missouri and reach Fort Benton, Montana before they were sold to Alberta ranchers.

Alberta ranch land was relatively "untouched" compared to the devastation in Montana and Utah, so a few ranchers including McIntyre mentioned above took the risk to drive their cattle across the border.

(by untouched y'know i mean having the people and the bison forced off it, but here we are.)

I got to visit John Ware's cabin this past June, which was a treat! The park obviously is not the cabin's original location, but you can still get some idea of what it might have been like back then.

"American cowboys, coming to work on Alberta ranches, shed their six-shooters at the border like leaves in the fall" is a quote from Pincher Creek area rancher F.W. Godsal

Some other famous Texans in Alberta included John Lamar, who was a legendary gunman and cowboy and got in a famous gunfight with John McKay in the streets of Lethbridge. Lamar shot McKay twice before McKay had a chance to aim, and then turned himself into the authorities (who ultimately decided he was in the right and let him go). There was also Johnny Franklin who was considered "the greatest bronc rider in the province", and Lige Abel, a black cowboy and famously strong, winning a bet that he couldn't walk a mile with an iron rail on his shoulder.

Anyway, to settle the question, ask random people where they think the biggest rodeo in the world probably is and see how many of them say Texas even though the answer is Alberta :) our reputation is still in its infancy, I guess.

[mxtantrights]

the Dent Cut

this is a snippet from the famous dc!au that started with The Greatest Hits [read here]  you don’t have to read it but a lot of things would make sense if you do. 

It started on twitter like all things seem to do these days. There had been a petition going around ever since the movie hit theaters to see the hinted Dent Cut. 

Dent was known to give his fans and viewers a glimpse into the directing process. Certain scenes that were cut, lines that were changed, set and location ideas. These we

This time around you know what the Dent cut is. It’s the movie within the movie he directed. Which is weird to say but you were there so you know exactly what it is.

Whenever you were on set there would be another camera going. Lines being changed right there in front of the cast and crew, sets being rearranged. There was actually a whole other plot line created that Dent scrapped due to time. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t feed into it sometimes with the extra footage he had.

Love in Pieces (The Dent Cut) features some moments between you and Jason that weren't exactly in character. Nothing too bad really. Just you and him bickering over whatever was happening that day, staring at each other from across set, etc.

But you knew that with the video swirling around it would only fuel the rumors about the two of you. You had your own opinions on the whole supposed relationship between you and Jason but you didn’t get the chance to speak to him about it yet one one one. 

You were both busy people now. He’s got projects, you’ve got projects. And you’re downright nervous to bring it up to him. You don’t want it the change whatever it is you’ve got going. He’s the first friend you made in the industry and you don't wanna lose that.

But not talking about it when there is oil possibly going to be poured on the fire would be worse. 

So you pick up your phone and pull up your thread conversation.

you: hey if you're not busy we need to talk 

What you don't expect is an instant response. 

Jason: I can talk now. call?

You negate answering with another text. Instead you hit his contact and then the call button. It rings for three seconds and then he answers. You can hear a bit of shuffling in the background.

“Hey what’s up?” he asks.

You blow air out of your mouth, “Uh, nothing much just wanted to talk to you. just us.” 

“Did that impromptu zoom meeting scare you that bad?” he asks lightly, with a bit of a laugh at the end.

“I mean not really but I was just- we didn’t get to talk about all of it just us.” you answer. 

“I promise you the heat from the video will die down.” he says.

“Even with Dent possibly releasing his collage of stuff online?” you ask back.

“What? What are you talking about?” he’s quick.

“There’s a petition going around asking him to release the other footage he has. Footage of us, Jason.” you explain.

There's more movement in the background of the call. You try to make out where he is exactly but you can’t. You have a feeling he was busy and lied in order to take your call. 

“But we were just on set. Two actors on set. How could that make the video worse?” he asks.

“Because there’ll be a YouTube montage as soon as it hits. And the tabloids will run it into the ground.” you speak slowly. 

You're nervous. You’re overthinking. In your head a million things are happening at once. You career is tanked. You’ll lose your current projects. You’ll only be seen as the actor that feel in love with their co-star. You’ll be out of a job.

“Hey listen to me, listen to my voice.” 

“Holy shit. Did I say that out loud?” you ask.

“Yes you did, it’s okay. It’s gonna be fine.” he tries soothing you.

You shake your head and shut your eyes. Phone still pressed to you ear. 

“Jason what if this is ten times worse than the video? What if I tank your career?” you ask.

“If the video and Dent’s extra footage tank my career then it was never worth it, but I would be glad I got to do it with you.” he answers honestly.

And it breaks your heart. To hear him say such kind words to you. A tiny part of you was expecting him to be a little bit upset about this. Ot at least as nervous as you are right now.

“How are you so calm about this? How are you not freaking out?” you ask.

“I just texted my brother.” he says.

“What- good for you... I guess?” you waver.

“Not like that hun, he’s good with online stuff. Said he could minimize the impact of the video leak if it starts trending.” he explains.

You let out a breath. It feels good. He has someone to take care of this. That’s why he’s so calm. You take another breath.

“And I can speak to Dent if you want.” Jason offers.

“No! I don’t want come off as rude.” you answer quickly, shouting a bit.

“It’s not rude. Plus he’s a family friend. He and my dad go way back.” he adds on.

“You would do that for me?” you ask.

On the other end you hear a short chuckle, “Yeah. Of course.” 

You’re not sure of what to say. He’s being so nice to you. Of course you’re about to star in the highly anticipated sequel opposite of him, so he kind of had to be. But this feels different. This feels real.

“It would mean a lot actually, Jason.” you admit.

“Okay then consider it done then.” he speaks.

“And I know that you were probably busy and still picked up my call anyways. Thank you.” you smile a bit to yourself.

“You’re hard to ignore. And trust me I’ve tried.” he jokes.

And you laugh at that. “Okay I’ll let you go. Bye Jason.” 

“I’ll call you when it’s done.” he departs.

You put your phone down and take a deep breath in and out. Some semblance of normal was returning. You know the rumors won’t really stop. If not with Jason then with someone else. But you’re glad that you have him by your side to go through this. And that it doesn’t seem to change your relationship with him.

“LOVE IN PIECES” EXTRA FOOTAGE? DENT CUT PETITION BELOW!

DENT DENIES EXTRA FOOTAGE CLAIMS, APPEASES FANS WITH SEQUEL TALK AND RARE WAYNE/DENT PHOTO FROM EARLY 90S! 

BUZZ ABOUT LEAKED VIDEO OF “LOVE IN PIECES” CO-STARS!

JASON TODD POSTS BEHIND THE SCENES PICS OF “LOVE IN PIECES” ON INSTA!

[palettepainter]

Can we get some more funky facts about Lazer? I just think he's so adorable and cool!!!

(Give him a sec he's buffering-)

-It's easy to get him flustered if you know the right things to say. His fans often compliment him so he's fairly good at keeping his cool when he's on the clock, but he finds terms/petnames like cute/cutie/adorable/beautiful/handsome very intimate so he's more likely to stammer a little if you call him that (this is especially so if it's coming from someone he likes or looks up too)

-He and his sister Penny are the most aware of their problems. Lazer's faults are that he can be blinded by impulsiveness sometimes thanks to his ADHD, which can lead to him saying/doing stuff without properly thinking them through before hand. He also has a habit of running on energy drinks and highly caffeinated foods and drinks which then leads him to crash so many hours later. Lazer tries to combat this by switching his coffee/energy drinks out for tea to help relieve stress and anxiety and taking power naps when he can

-Him and Penny both have awful sleep schedules that they're trying to fix. Lazer plays more at DJ gigs late in the evening that can sometimes last until the early hours of the morning, and Penny often pulls all nighters thanks to her completion attitude with work. They're what you could call the night owls of the family

-Lazer's had his heart broken a lot thanks to past relationships. When his career was first taking off a lot of people got with him just for his reputation and money, most of her partners assumed he was dumb as he was still new in the big world that makes up the music industry. In general Lazer is also very trusting and easy going, so tended to overlook things that concerned him back in the day because he thought he was overthinking. Penny has had to deal with the teary aftermath of his breakups, which often means escorting a drunk Lazer away from a confused bartender and letting him sleep on her sofa for the night

-Him and Penny are actually super close despite them often having those typical sibling disputes

-Drinks his I Respect All Genders juice religiously

-Has some WILD drunk stories (Lazer: So I'm sitting there, barbaque sauce on my titties-

Rand: What the actual fuck-)

-While he stims through tapping his fingers, humming and rocking back and fourth (in general when he's sitting still he'll be moving in some way: like tapping his fingers, bouncing his leg or rocking) he has a habit to chew his fingers when he's especially upset or nervous. It was the worst when he hit puberty, Penny brought plasters for his fingers

-Cockatoo's are his favourite animal

-Him and Penny love Mama Mia they binge it together when they're both feeling burnt out and unmotivated

-He's sort of protective of all of his other girl cousins, it's a older cousin/big bro sort of protectiveness which sparked even since Penny asked to be referred to by female pronouns. Penny experienced some hate through her transitioning and that sparked Lazer's protectiveness over the other girls in his family

-Speaking of which he probably cried more than Penny did when she officially transitioned. He's such a worry wort and Penny had to remind him a lot that she was perfectly fine (and that maybe he should go take a shower he was starting to smell-)

-Penny is also very protective of her brother and is not shy of showing it. Penny knows Gavin is a sweetheart at best and a bit oblivious at worst, so if Gavin ever introduces her to his new boyfriend or girlfriend she is instantly suspicious - she's seen Lazer's heart be broken too many times and she swears she won't let it happen again

-He carries Zoot under his arm like a sack of potatoes

-He can work well in very noisy environments. Since he plays at gigs, which are always loud, he can witstand being in loud and crowded environments for a long time. He knows his limits though and will take a break when it gets too much for him

-Sometimes he ends up yelling without meaning too, again thanks to his job. Since gigs are always loud he often has to raise his voice in order for any of his team to hear him, and the habit carriers over to when he isn't working. He gets a bit embarrassed when this happens since he knows it can be annoying to other people, so just kindly ask him if he can lower his voice and he will

-He ugly cries when he's upset. He feels emotions hard so when he gets upset he really gets upset

[meimi-haneoka]

CLAMP just had a Space after long time this morning, and they mentioned the Clear Card finale too!! I will write a report later as usual but I loved their comments about Akiho and Kaito 🥹😆

They described Kaito as an "overthinker" and Akiho as the one with guts and nerves of steel 🥹🙏 my god yes, spell it out!! Write it on the walls!! 👏👏👏👏👏 Of course she gotta have "nerves of steel", to be able to put up WITH THAT for the rest of her life! 🤣 Yay, more material for my headcanons!!

I'm pretty sure they were referencing the scene when Kaito refuses to come out of the fake Moon, and Akiho was about to step into it without a second thought....

They also mentioned the troubles they encountered when they had to postpone the ending twice (and swore it wasn't a marketing strategy more commonly called 終わる終わる詐欺 in the industry, lit. The "It's ending it's ending!" scam).

On top of that, they also had to work on the Gift picture book which was another massive job they took, so two big things overlapped right at the end of the year.

Well I always knew that, we have no idea what's going on behind the curtains and they did mention "lots of stuff that it would be complicated to explain in detail", usually a code for "we can't talk about it" because of other parties involved 🙄 people just need to chill out that's all.

Hope to be able to catch every little nuance, they talk always so quickly and on top of each other 😅

[brw]

First answer that comes to your head - what is Wonder Man's phone ringtone? (Assuming we still live in that period where people set songs or funny things as their ringtones and Simon just doesn't use one of the defaults.)

I honestly think Simon would have specific ringtones for specific people, so he knows how important the call is or if he can safely ignore it. Like his agent probably has, I dunno, Industry Baby or something, while Vision has like a Daft Punk song or fucking Robot Man by Connie Francis, Hank either has something by the Beach Boys or Drive My Car by the Beatles, Janet gets Say So by Doja Cat, etc. Wanda has the generic ringtone because he started overthinking what to give her and went into a spiral over it but she barely uses a phone anyway so it doesn't really matter. Carol is Blue Suede Shoes.

[chim-chim1310]

Okay so I've noticed something.

Listen, I love jungkook. I really do but. There's this thing that I'm confused about.

Like we all can see that the company is going all out for his solo. Like you can clearly see the difference between the way like crazy was treated by the company and the way jungkook's single is being treated and will be treated along with his album.

Let's not deny the fact that jungkook is the company's fav since they think that he's their breakout star.

So we have jk being the company's fav or the fact that the company is treating jk well. Right?

But from what I've noticed since the solo era that jk is always trying to somehow rebel against the company.

Like we have his lives when he's not allowed to go live from home or something but he still does it. The company must have warned him about not sleeping on live but he still did. Even explicitly saying that he knows that the company don't allow these things but what are they gonna do? Fire me? He said something like this. Also deleting his insta when he knows that it will effect the company. That was a big move.

So we have established that the company is treating jk well but jk is rebelling against the company in the ways which are not too much but not too little either.

So I'm confused as to why he's doing this?

Is this arrogance because he knows that no matter what he does company can't do anything to him because he's apparently their 'Breakout star' or whatever. But looking at jk through the years I don't think he's arrogant? He seems sweet and kind.

So then why so rebellious when apparently everything the company is doing is in the favour of his career.

Or maybe there could be some other reason for this rebellious nature but i can't find any. Then again we don't know about what's going on behind the scenes.

Also it could be just me overthinking and that these little moves of jk are not even that rebellious.

But what makes me kinda bitter is that jimin is the fucking sweetest person ever. He seems to respect the company, then also f*cking b*tch hybe treated face like shit when we all knew how much potential like crazy had. F*ck hybe seriously.

I'm not calling jk out or anything. I love him. He's my bias wrecker. But it's just something that i noticed about his behaviour lately and was curious about it. Also I want to add the fact that the company treating like crazy like shit was not jk's fault. It was not jk's fault that the company is pushing him. He's just doing his job like everyone in the industry.

But still I can't help but feel sad about jimin's mistreatment by the company when he worked so hard. All his achievements were downplayed. They didn't even acknowledged his historic achievement.

F*ck hybe seriously! They can rot in hell!

[cuiizhu]

Helios Rising Heroes - Rise on GoldenXXsection

Chapter 5: 

Gast: “GoldenXXsection’s first tour has been announced! Fans rejoice as they perform new songs!” 

Gast: It’s become a hot topic, hasn’t it? I’m glad. Homecoming also seems to be well-received. 

Asch: Amongst the fans, right? 

Asch: LILIAN took all the rest of the public’s attention. 

Gast: …………

Asch: Take a look. A whole fucking day after the festival, and they’re still topping the trending charts. 

Asch: Even those who went just to mock them and call it a bad move all said they were “good-looking”.

Asch: ……If you were so confident in your appearances, why didn’t you just show your faces in the first place? 

Gast: Wasn’t that part of the plan?

Asch: Aah? 

Gast: They chose this method because they were confident, not just in their singing, but their visuals……

Gast: In fact, people in the industry are praising it for deepening its worldview and direction, so the effects have only been positive so far. 

Asch: Tsk…. They really do have some kind of skilled producer over there huh? 

Gast: …..I wonder……

Gast: Anyways…. Akira? 

Gast: Huh, where’d that guy go? He should’ve come here, but……

Asch: He’s over there. 

Gast: Eh!? 

Akira: …………🧍

Gast: Oi, Akira, what are you doing in that corner!? That atmosphere like you’re growing mushrooms is so unlike you? 

Akira: …..Leave me alone. 

Asch: Hmph, this is why you’re just a kid…..

Asch: I told you that rehearsals are part of your job. Pull yourself together. 

Gast: I guess what happened yesterday must have come as a big shock….. Well, only fans came to listen to us, after all. 

Gast: I thought it was admirable you were still able to give your all under those circumstances. You did a great job—

Asch: The fuck are you saying? Are you implying yesterday was just some kinda bad luck? 

Gast: Eh…no, that’s not what I…..? 

Asch: Haah, you’re no different to that guy, both still brats. 

Asch: No matter how you look at it, that was an act of sabotage. Pulling that kind of stunt specifically on a stage where others would be performing. 

Gast: Sabotage……

Asch: The more I think about it, the more it feels like LILIAN’s got a bone to pick with us. There have been many offers aside from the commercial they’ve stolen from right under our nose. 

Asch: It’s annoying……. If you’re gonna start a rivalry, at least compete with us on technical skill—by song and performance. 

Gast: That’s some overthinking alright…… 

Asch: That’s just how this industry is. 

Gast: ………….

Gast: Huh, by the way, what happened to Dino? It’s about time for rehearsals……

Asch: He arrived earlier and had some pizza, but left when the producer called him. 

Gast: Eh….did something happen again?

Asch: Beats me. Well, besides LILIAN, there’s a ton of things it could be. 

Gast: ……….

Asch: We can rehearse even without Dino. Let’s warm up on our own. 

Gast: Y-yeah…..

Gast: S’pose you’re right. I don’t have as many rehearsal opportunities as everyone else…. I realized that yesterday. 

Gast: Recently the number of people going “Gast’s just here for his face” have increased, so I have to prove them wrong. 

Asch: …..On social media?

Gast: Mainly, yeah. Though it’s the kinda comment that can sprout up anywhere, right? 

Gast: Truthfully, I’m pretty average in terms of singing and dancing, so I don’t take it to heart when they say that. 

[door opens and shuts]

Asch: ……You—

[Dino walks over]

Gast: Oh, Dino! You’re finally here….eh

Dino: …………

Gast: D-did something happen? 

Asch: From looks alone it looks like something frustrating again, too. 

Gast: You were called by the producer, right? …..Did he say anything? 

Dino: …………

Gast: Dino?

Dino: Actually…about that……

Dino: Next week’s weekly magazine is going to feature an article on a scandal about you, Gast-kun……..

Prev || Masterlist || Next

[heymeowmao]

2023.01.23 - https://weibo.com/l/wblive/p/show/1022:2321324861142718873967

Xiao Ning is here to wish you a Happy New Year!!

LYN: Hallo everybody, good evening. Xiao Ning is here to wish you a Happy New Year! LYN: Happy New Year, Happy New Year.

C: How come you’re only here now? All the food’s gone cold. LYN: You can eat first, don’t wait for me. Just eat a nice meal with your family.

LYN: It’s been 26 days since I last streamed? That’s terrible- 26 days?? I haven’t been attending to my proper duties (不务正业). In that case, it really HAS been a long time since we last met (by stream).

C: My mom and dad are waiting for you so we can eat together. LYN: You’re overthinking it. Friends, it’s the new year, please have mercy on me. Let’s not make trouble for each other during the holidays. Let’s all be happy. Just spend your new year happily with your family. Have “A Good Year”.

C: Ning-ge, I’ve gone crazy thinking of you. LYN: OMG. Don’t. You’ve thought of me so much that you... gave yourself a mental illness? It’s not worth it- and I’ve been making appearances, haven’t I? I was at Jiangsu’s Spring Night last night, even.

C: You’re wearing so little, aren’t you cold? LYN: You mean the short sleeves? There’s something in this world that’s called an “air conditioner”- if you don’t know it, you can look it up. A heater. Do you.. not know that such a thing exists? Also, Ning-ge is young and hardy- I can stand the cold.

C: Why does it seem like your voice is a little hoarse? LYN: Uh... I don’t know either. Maybe it’s because I just woke up. Well, I didn’t JUST wake up- I woke up in the afternoon. I’ve just been sleeping in lately. Earlier I was filming so much there was no TIME to have a good night’s sleep; It made me so sleepy. But these past couple of days it’s the New Year Holiday and I have a few days of rest, so I’m getting my sleep in. So these dark circles get smaller. I’ve been sleeping in. Someone earlier said my voice was hoarse- why? Is it thrilling?

LYN: Many of you are asking if my foot’s alright? Honestly, I don’t even know. It’s still attached? I’m not sure what the situation is, because they didn’t give an x-ray. When they open up again, I’ll get it checked out. For now, it’s the same- the bone’s broken so I should take care of it, what else can I do? The doctors told me- you know what’s strange? Each doctor tells you something different. The first one I went to told me that I could start trying to walk on it after three months. I could use a crutch and slowly start to recover my ability to walk. The next doctor I met told me that it would take at least 6 months. “You can’t mess around with this. You should only try walking after 6 months, otherwise it will leave you with aftereffects, if it heals incorrectly.” That scared me! If I were out of commission for 6 months then that would mean all my future projects will fall through. I met yet another doctor, and they told me I needed pins. I asked them what would happen, and they said after the pins I would need three months to recover before I could walk normally. At that time I had already been resting it for half a month, and this would require me to restart at three and that’s... much. So I gave that up. After that I met ANOTHER doctor, who told me I should continue the conservative treatment and just keep it in the cast and it should be no problem. It’s all about the same- about 100 days/3 months of recovery. Because it’s true that the bone’s broken, and it’s not just a simple matter of having twisted my ankle. I broke one of the bones into three pieces. How scary. C: Does it still hurt? LYN: It doesn’t hurt anymore. I don’t really feel anything. But now my right leg is losing its ability to functionally walk. The only thing I had going for me in this industry was that I had long legs. My face, singing, and acting is all not outstanding. I only had my legs as an advantage, and now I’m currently disabled.  C: It sounds like it hurts. My heart hurts for giegie~ LYN: That’s enough of that. Don’t say useless things. What the heck is “my heart hurts for giegie~”.

C: Are you drinking milk or coconut milk? LYN: Coconut milk. I don’t much like (cow’s) milk. Usually I’ll drink yogurt.

C: Ning-ge, when you attended the Weibo Music Awards and saw the kazoo, how did you feel? [t/n: there was a short kazoo/kazoobie segment, and INTO1 were learning how to play it] LYN: I didn’t feel much of anything. They just brought out a bunch of kazoobie/kazoo on the stage. /playing with them/ I didn’t feel anything. It was... nice to see. C: Ning-ge, blow both at once. LYN: My mouth isn’t that big. There’s a distance between the two mouth holes. Sorry, my mouth isn’t big enough. LYN: That doesn’t mean I can’t try, though.

LYN: Forget it. C: Ning-ge, use a nostril to blow one. LYN: Do I have to try so hard for a stream, now? I have to start doing tricks? You want me to use my nostril to blow a kazoo. Well, how about I attach a tube to it and blow it from a distance? Have you seen those videos? They attach a tube to the suona and blow- such a long distance!- through that? Why don’t I try that, instead? Alright? I’ve got to pull out some tricks otherwise I can’t make you stay and subscribe to my weibo??

C: When will the new drama be announced? LYN: The topic changes so quickly?! You were just asking me to show you some tricks, and now you’re asking about the new drama? The new drama will be announced really soon. Of course I’ll go (be in the crew). Even if my leg is broken, I have to go. At first, like any normal person, I thought of taking some time to for my foot to heal. I didn’t NEED to pack my schedule so tightly and suffer any side effects from not resting it. But after being cursed at online for so long now, I HAVE to take whatever work comes my way, broken foot or no. If I don’t do the work, then that means I’ve been yelled at for nothing. I’d be losing out. I have to accept the work, and I have to do it well.

C: Ning-ge, what’s this bg music? LYN: Don’t butter me up. This is clearly one of my fans trying to pander to me, by asking me what this background music is. Isn’t there a rolling caption up there that keeps reminding you what the song is? This request comes across as a little fake. Next time try to make it more realistic. XD It’s auto-scrolling up there, “Modern Brothers Liu Yuning - A Good Year is currently playing.”

LYN: ! The Carnation Music Festival... I know I said I would hold another one, but you know there was a pandemic situation in Hengdian, and then I had to go to Macau. I was leaving, so I didn’t ask them (bandmates) to come over. Also, Ah-Zhuo had COVID, at the time. I didn’t want him to come over and give it to me, and then I wouldn’t have been able to go to Macau. After that I came back, before the new year and had some filming and events to do... and now it’s the new year. The day before the new year, I even recorded an OST. But this (new) drama should be ok. I won’t be as busy as I was when filming YNGS. I had too many scenes in that, I almost died. This one should be about half the amount of scenes than I had for YNGS. I’ll have time to stream and make some songs, maybe do a variety show. It’s possible, but I can’t say for sure. C: How come your voice changed? (it got gentler) LYN: Is it because we haven’t met in too long? You’ve started missing me, so you feel like I’ve changed. Maybe it’s because I haven’t spoken in too long, so you think my voice has changed? But also my voice is just a little hoarse. Just a little.

- /commenting that the special b-day drone performance they made for him was very nice/ LYN: Anyone who was in Hengdian all sent me messages about it. It gave me a lot of face. Thank you, everyone. The directors, actors, anyone who was in Hengdian at the time all sent me messages about it- “Liu Yuning, look what your fans did for you.” It was cool. You made me look good.

C: How many dishes do you eat for new year’s? LYN: /sigh/ The new year.... I ate bullfrogs (??). I bought a pot of bullfrogs to eat. I hope everything that happens in the year to come will come “gwa gwa” (smoothly).

C: Ning-ge, do you have any skin brightening tips? LYN: Am I a makeup streamer?? Why are you asking me how to get lighter skin on at this time, during the holidays? If I had a method, do you still think I would be so dark?? For lighter skin, just remember to supplement with Vitamin C and try not to go out. Close the curtains so that you’re not getting hit by the sun. If you go out make sure to wear enough clothing to cover up. The more you wear, the whiter you’ll be. Another method is to... rely on the beauty filters. The fastest way to be paler is to turn on a beauty filter. You’ll be a celebrity in an instant. Don’t think about those beauty products- this way you’ll see results much faster!

C: Ning-ge, I’m a student-fan and I want to cross the oceans to see you. LYN: Since you’re a student, you should just focus on your studies. My last batch of student-fans all graduated already. They all already graduated, so I guess you must be part of a new group of fans. Study hard and then get a good job. After you find a job and are making a decent amount of money to support yourself, then you can come and see one of my concerts. You’re in school now, so why do you want to see me? Am I a monkey? Don’t come. You can watch my dramas and variety shows when they air, and listen to my songs when I release them- that’s enough. You can come to see me when I’m holding a concert.

C: Will you have a concert this year? LYN: I really want to, I do, but with this type of thing it’s really too hard to say. If I can’t hold one this year then next year... I’ll hold one? Let me tell you why. For the current drama, I’ll probably be filming until June and by then half a year’s gone by already. If I don’t accept another drama offer for the second half of the year... then that means I’ll have to have been working on releasing my album while I film the current drama, since I can’t hold a concert without having done that first. Then there are the rehearsals and the logistics of it all, which would take until October to finish, and I can only hold a concert then. Just... we’ll see. We’ll see, okay? LYN: I was originally planning on holding my concert this year, because right now- to say it plainly- I have five dramas waiting to be aired. I was thinking I could take a year to rest, and shoot one drama this year and leave the rest of my time to my concert. But then I heard news that all five of my pending dramas will air in 2023. The YNGS producer jiejie told me she thinks YNGS will air this year. What?! ALL FIVE of my dramas will air THIS YEAR?? If that’s the case then I don’t have any backup stock. I would only have the one I am currently going to shoot, and then nothing else. Isn’t that- that would ruin me. It took me two years to shoot five dramas, and they’re all going to air in the same year. So then I was thinking I should probably accept another drama for the later half of the year, and then at least I would have two dramas as backup. That seems a little more rational, to me. LYN: In this industry if you don’t show up in front of people, you’re likely to be forgotten. So you have to think your plans through.

C: Ning-ge, you were sitting next to rappers at the Weibo Music Awards. Did you make friends with any of them? LYN: I didn’t really speak with them all that much. I only spoke to GAI, who was sitting next to me, briefly. I didn’t really get to converse with any others. Other people are up on stage performing, and you want me to sit in the audience making friends? That’s no good. LYN: When I went initially I didn’t feel much, but later I started to feel like a monkey. I don’t really like people to see me when I am vulnerable- it’s not because I want to save face or because of my idol burden- I don’t have such a burden. I just don’t like people to see me in such a poor state. Everyone else there is wearing nice suits and pretty gowns and I’m over there in a wheelchair. I’m just cruising around in my electric wheelchair, and every artist who sees me stops me to ask what’s wrong. I say, “It’s nothing. I just broke my foot while filming. It’ll be fine in a couple months.” And when I turn around it’s someone else asking me what’s wrong. It was a weird situation, because we’re all here at a MUSIC awards ceremony. I go, and I’m telling them I got hurt while ACTING. LYN: What am I (singer or actor)?? If I said I got hurt while holding a concert, it wouldn’t be as strange. But here I am at a music awards ceremony, surrounded by singers, telling them I hurt myself while acting. That’s strange. The second thing is- everyone is looking at me, and they see me and they’re very polite- wishing I recover soon. The third thing is my own projection- how must they see me? “How much did this kid want to attend this awards ceremony, that he comes even with a broken foot?? You’re already in this state. You should be home resting, what are you doing here??? How narcissistic are you, that you have to come here and bask in the honor of receiving your award?” That was just too awkward/embarrassing.

- /Daimi is barking/ LYN: ... What do you want?! LYN: She’s outside. I’ll let her in later.

C: Ning-ge, you make the boot look so fashionable. LYN: What are you talking about? But also- my old fans all know- no matter what I do/buy it has to be the best. I’ve always thought that I even if I am not that skilled, I should have the best equipment to make up for what I lack. For example, when I was learning how to play the guitar, I bought an expensive one... even though I can’t play it. Even if I broke a bone, I bought so much equipment for it. My friend sent me a chair you can sit in, in the bath. I also have these.. crutches... that you can set your elbows on, like a walker/frame- my friend sent me this, too. I have crutches (under the armpit)- two sets. The first set was a little short, it came from the hospital and did not match with my physique. At the longest extension it only reached my waist. So I went online and bought another pair- it can extend all the way to 2m, so it’s enough for me. I also have a wheelchair, two actually. When I first broke the bone I had bought a wheelchair, but after using it for a bit I didn’t like how it felt. When I was on set and my bros were pushing me around it felt like a struggle. So I went online and bought another one- an expensive one, for 3,000+ RMB. The frame was lighter and the wheels better, so it felt more convenient for me to get around set with. And then, I have to go out, right? I didn’t want someone to have to push me because I’d look really miserable, so I got an electric wheelchair. LYN: Then, I have this on my foot. When I was at the hospital, the doctor gave me this boot and I spent 600RB on it. After it was on... I thought it was cool. XD I was wondering if there was any talented individual online who had this boot, but made it look like Iron Man’s boot or something? So I went online to search if there was anyone with this creativity and sense of fashion. It’d be cool and it would protect my foot/leg- I wouldn’t need to feel embarrassed for the Spring Night Galas. I was searching and then discovered a problem. This boot that I have on, the hospital sold to me for 600RMB. Online, it’s 149RMB. I had a mental break. Suddenly I felt as if this thing wasn’t as reliable as I first thought it was. If it was 600RMB and could guarantee the safety of my leg I wouldn’t complain, but it’s so cheap I could just go online and find a better one! But there wasn’t any Iron Man boot. So I was searching and found something online for 500+RMB... if that’s the case I’m sure the hospital would have sold it to me for 1000+RMB, right? Anyway, I bought it... but it wasn’t comfortable. It’s sitting over there, like new. So what could I do... I went back to the original one I got from the hospital. But this thing, wearing it every day, it gets dirty. Also, you know, your foot’s bundled up in it, so... (it smells). There’s no way to wash it, because if I do I wouldn’t be able to use it the next day, and I need it to get to work. I can’t wash this one, so I thought of getting a replacement so I could use them interchangeably. I looked online... and that’s how I have the one I’m wearing now. This is the brand that all the big athletes use when they get injured. The imported brands, you know? So I thought it would suffice and I bought it. I’m full-up on equipment. I even bought a single forearm crutch, the kind that old folks use. And then... I bought the wrong thing. Everyone, crutches are categorized into left-handed and right-handed support. I don’t know if you buy crutches, but they’re separated by left or right. So, my right foot is hurt and I bought the right-handed crutch, to make my hand work in place of my foot. But when I got back it was then that I realized that if it’s my right leg that’s hurt I should have gotten the crutch for the left hand. I bought the wrong one, and I haven’t returned it. It’s just taking up space in my house, now. Later when I’m fully healed I’ll take all this equipment and raffle it off to you. Friends, when that time arrives, you have to come and participate.

C: Ning-ge, talk about the purple thermals. LYN: What’s there to talk about? They’re just purple. That’s normal. In Dongbei we have all sorts of colors. Usually when I’m shooting a drama, I’ll be wearing the character’s wardrobe. But for some time prior to that I kept recording douyin videos- I mean videos to upload to weibo, right? The drama’s pr department asked me if I could stop wearing the drama wardrobe, because I had been essentially leaking the look. Paparazzi are one thing, since it’s taken without our permission, but we can’t actively reveal the details ourselves. I thought that logic was sound, so I respected their request. So when I recorded that video I had taken off the robes and was wearing the purple thermals underneath.  C: Did you get them from HZT? LYN: Yeah. // No, really though. That was just a coincidence. I didn’t even learn about it until after I had uploaded the video.

LYN: Wait for me a sec, I want to change my cup. Or, let me go wash this one. Hold on. I’ll play you a video. Let me go wash my cup. It feels like it’s sticking in my throat. So there it is- I’ve found the reason why m voice sounds different! It’s because this thing (coconut milk) is sticking in my throat. Wait for me; I’ll wash my cup. LYN: I’m back! C: Drink less soft drinks. LYN: This is sugar free.

C: Ning-shushu (uncle), I start school on the 30th. LYN: Who are you calling “uncle”?? Even if you call me that, I’m still not giving you any money. School starts on the 30th? Then, study well. That way when you leave the house you’ll have learned how to interact with people and the ways of the world. School may not be able to teach you these things but your Uncle Ning can- worldly wisdom. When you see someone who obviously looks much older than you, first call them “ge” or “jie”. When they start to seem annoyed, then you can change to calling them something else. Whenever I see a woman who is older than me- I don’t care by how much- I always call them “jie”. If they are slightly older, I will call her “da jie”; if they are just normally older than me, I just call her “jie”. LYN: They’re all “jie” to me, because I used to be in the customer service industry. I was a waiter at a restaurant, and then later a clerk in a clothing store. You can think about it- if you have a group of older customers walk into your shop, are you going to say, “Hey, Uncle. What will you be having today?” If it’s a woman- “Auntie, what will you have today?” You’re going to make them lose their appetite! Do you get it? They’re going to lose their appetite, turn and find a different establishment. When I was working in the clothing shop and a woman comes in, do you think I would say, “Hello, Auntie. What type of clothing were you looking to buy today?” Do you think she would buy anything from me? I must be crazy. You’re in school now, so I completely understand why you don’t have this etiquette, but you must understand how the world works. If a woman walks in, no matter how old she looks, you say, “Jie, what type of clothing are you looking for today? Jie, you look to be in good spirits! Jie, try this one- I guarantee it will make you look slim. With an aura like yours, only you could pull off this color. Really, jie. It’ll look so good on you. It’s really nice. Why don’t you buy it?” See- this is worldly wisdom. C: What if they’re younger than you? LYN: Then I don’t call them by any title. Do you think, if someone younger than me walked in, I would say, “Meimei, what are you looking at today~?” No way. Also, I don’t like to call anyone “美女 (mei nu)” (beauty/pretty lady). People who are trying to sell you clothes will often call you “pretty lady”- I have never called anyone that. It’s too difficult for me. I don’t call them any title, but use “您 (nin)” (polite form of “you”). We’re on equal footing- I don’t need to make myself any lower than them. -- C: Meimei is watching you today. LYN: Go on, then. -- C: Call them “Miss/Lady (小姐)”. LYN: I don’t like that either. Other people can use that term as they like, but for me it seems improper. If I were younger I could call someone “Young Lady”, but I’m so old and for me to call a young girl “young lady”?? What do I want?? C: Call her “Old Miss (老妹)”. LYN: I don’t think anyone would use that, right? It’s like this- “老妹” is used as a more casual term, but as someone who has to represent the shop, we have to- to some extent- raise the profile of the shop. If you call someone “老妹”, it’ll be like they came into our shop to buy a cotton-padded jacket. It feels like, “Hey, sis. Come into my shop- take a look at the cotton-padded jackets and thermals.” So if you are a salesperson, you have represent your brand and give it a higher profile- even if not by much. You just can’t let the profile fall (lower than that of the customer’s). So then in this case we would use the term “女士 (Madam/Ms.)”. You can take her to look at some furs. XD C: Then just call her “woman” (女人) LYN: LOL. Women can call each other that among themselves, but me- as a male- calling a female that... is extremely off-putting. I don’t think “woman” should come out of a man’s mouth. It feels like, “Woman. This is a notice, not up for discussion. Give me all of your information in three minutes.” “Woman, you’re playing with fire.” /laughs/ “Alright- you’ve got my attention.” // “Woman, you’re playing with fire, but you’ve successfully gained my attention. Have dinner with me tonight. This is a command, not a request.”

- /BGM: Mosaic Band’s 霓虹甜心 (Darling)/

LYN: I’m drinking a soft drink, not wine! Who would be crazy enough to drink wine on a live-stream? I’d be insane. My alcohol tolerance is already bad enough as is, I don’t want to drink and say the wrong thing. I already have to watch what I say. I’m having a soft drink; it’s sugar-free. 

C: Ning-ge, did you go to Li Gengxin’s salon for a haircut? LYN: I really did. I told you before, right? That I had gone to a place in Changsha for a haircut and it happened to be one of his shops? When he found out that I went, he sent me a (membership) card. I hadn’t finished using up the funds on it, so I went to exhaust them a little. I can’t waste his good intentions. C: How much money do you have left on it? LYN: Why, are you going to use it?? You want me to tell you the number and you’ll go get your hair washed? You’ll get a perm, using my card?? As if! “Woman, you’re dreaming. I suggest you end this line of thought early.” LYN: How would I know how much money is left on the card- where would I even look that up? Look- this is another part of worldly wisdom (人情世故) that you don’t understand. You really need someone like me in your life (to teach you these things). Someone gave you a (gift) card, and you turn around and look up how much money is on it?? Do you know how to conduct yourself?? No one does that. When you enter society and your coworker gives you a gift, PLEASE do not look up how much that gift cost them. Don’t do that, there’s really no need. It doesn’t have anything to do with how much the item costs. Someone gave that to you with their good intentions. Someone gives you a card, and you’re going to look up whether they gave you 1000RMB or 2000RMB? That’s very strange. Don’t look it up. Later on when I want to get a haircut and they tell me that there are no more funds left, all I’ll have to do it add more funds to it. End of story. C: I have to give them something back. // I’ll look it up secretly. LYN: A return gift? That’s okay, then. If you’re going to give something back, then you DO understand the concept of worldly wisdom. If you’re not going to give anything in return then don’t bother looking up the cost. If someone gives me a card, what am I going to do? The most is send them a box of strawberries. If your friend gives you something and you look up the price of it in order to give them back something of equal value, then that’s okay. If it’s a birthday present though, there’s no need.

C: Ning-ge, if you see my comment, make a “V”! LYN: Do our interactions have to be so strong, now? The participation is so intense?!

C: Ning-ge, I want to ask- is the boot that’s supporting your foot breezy? LYN: It’s fine. The air doesn’t really get through to it. Because it has to wrap around entirely- I don’t know if you’ve seen racing seats? If it wraps around the driver it’s safer. Or.. you know when you go snowboarding, you have snow boots- it’s like that. It has the same function, in that it does not allow your ankle to bend. It limits your movement up and down, left and right. You’ll know what this feels like if you’ve ever gone snowboarding before.

C: Ning-ge, have you seen my house’s remote control? LYN: /looks around/ I haven’t. For my part, I suggest your call the police. Make sure they catch who stole it.

C: Ning-ge, did you buy your “young king young boss” (YKYB) cap on your own? LYN: This brand is HZT’s, and someone is asking me if I took the initiative to buy it on my own? Do you think our relationship as friends is so terrible, that I need to go out and make this purchase? Of course it is great to go out and support his brand, but we’re pretty good in that when he has new products he will remember to send me something- like a cap or jacket.

--

C: Man, will you sing? LYN: Woman, what song would you like to hear. Tell me within three minutes.

C: Ning-ge, respect winter. LYN: I’m at home! I have an air conditioner, so I’m not really cold. If I were cold I would put something on. I’m alright. I’m not cold.

LYN: I discovered recently that my Ten album is up on QQ Music. That was my first album. Friends, if you have time you can go on QQ and listen to it. It’s a very nice album. Let me look it up. I’ll see if there’s any song I can sing. 

LYN: I’ll sing one of my own songs. It’s called “A Ray of Light in the Darkness”. I hope that this year everyone can meet their “light”. Be your own light. - 黑夜的一束光 (A Ray of Light in the Darkness/Praying) LYN: Another! What should I sing? These are all songs on my first album... // I’ll sing this for you. This song is called “Contrary” (lit. = “Obviously”). - 明明 (Obviously/Contrary)

C: Man, you’re playing with fire. LYN: /chuckles/ Alright, then. You sure do learn things from my stream, don’t you? Even though this thing is not useful at all, but you sure can follow along.

LYN: Did I not sing some of the lyrics properly? Then that just proves that I’m really singing. Sometimes when you see my performances and I make a mistake in the lyrics, I do it to prove that I’m actually singing live. Even though I sing just averagely without proving myself, I still need to prove it.

C: Will there be a Carnation Music Festival this year? LYN: Yes. I had big plans for this. I wanted to make a home-style music festival. It would be at my house and I would call a bunch of instrumentalists over. I would hold a little concert in my house and stream it to weibo. It’s just that the problem was that there were too many things going on before the new year. I was thinking of doing it on January 8th, for my birthday. But then... then I had too many scenes to shoot for YNGS. I thought I had better focus on my acting. If I can, I still want to make it happen this year. When my foot’s better too, I need to take you to Shanghai Disney for a stream. I’ll give back everything I owe you. C: Look at this pie! LYN: I see a lot of you are commenting that I’m drawing another pie, that you have too many of my pies in your fridge already and that they’re starting not to fit. XD BUT! If I give you enough pies, then at least SOME of them have to come true, right? We can make it happen. LYN: “Man, you’re making empty promises again.”

C: Ning-ge, can I bring my baby? LYN: ?! Wh- which part are you referring to? I was talking about two things earlier: one was the concert in my house- you don’t need to bring your baby for that. You can watch that from the comfort of your own home, just watch my stream from your phone. The second thing was the Disney stream, and by that I didn’t mean that I was going to (physically) bring fans to the park to play. I meant I was going to stream myself- which you can watch from your phone. You can watch it with your baby, though. My stream does not contain any adult/illegal content. People 18 years and under can still watch my stream. You can watch it with your baby, that’s okay.

--

C: Have you heard any news about ALZ? LYN: I’ve really got to hand it to you. Of course, I know you all ask because you’re interested in me, and at the very least you know that I am a part of the drama. But, I still have to say: I don’t know if you’re my fan or not- but as an actor, I really don’t know much more than you do. That is- I don’t know. I don’t know when it will air. I can tell you that I’ve already finished recording the OST and I’ve finished my voice-acting for it; I’ve even gone in for some post-editing OS. My part is done. As an actor, I’ve finished my job. But on this same note, taking all this into consideration, my guess is that it should be airing soon. I can’t say for sure though because again, my part is done. From my past experience, after the OST and voice-acting are finished, the air date is not long after. C: Ning-ge, what’s the difference between OS and OST? LYN: They’re two different things. OS (voice-over/narration) is- for example if you’re watching a drama and in this scene a lone person is sitting with a letter in front of them. They pick up the letter and at this moment, there’s a voice: “Hello, Liu Yuning. By the time you see this letter, I will have already left.” This sound is called the OS- the sound you hear in the background.

--

C: Ning-ge, it’s Hei Ye’s birthday. LYN: It’s Hei Yanjing’s birthday today? I can’t represent this role- and people online have been saying this too. I’ve only had the honor of being a part of this role, to bring him to life a little, but I can’t say that I /AM/ him. I’m not worthy. LYN: I said I wasn’t worthy and some people are saying, “You’re right.” /laughs the pain away/ ARE YOU REALLY MY FANS?? You can choose not to say anything at all, just don’t reply. I said I was honored to be a part of this character but I wasn’t worthy of representing the role and people agreed with me. Just don’t say anything at all. LYN: You all are brutally honest, aren’t you.

C: Ning-ge, sing 冥冥有声 (Ming Ming You Sheng). This is an order. LYN: You mean it’s Hei Ye’s birthday today, so you want me to sing a song, is that it? If it’s my birthday, shouldn’t someone else be singing for ME? Or is it because I said I wasn’t worthy? Didn’t I already sing it earlier-  你是黑夜的一束光 (you are a ray of light in the night) --> 你是黑爷的一束光 (you are Hei Ye’s ray of light).

LYN: Let me see if there’s the accompaniment for it. - /searching for the track but finds that QQ doesn’t have it and the other site does not have copyright/ LYN: Where’s the copyright for it?? This is strange, what’s happening. They won’t let me listen to the song. Sorry, friends. I was going to sing it for you but it’s just not in the stars. They won’t let it play. Really. How terrible. I don’t know how this happened. I guess something happened with the copyright- it’s not important. I can play the MV... C: It’s because you’re not a member. LYN: 去你的! Friends, you don’t know but my Kugou Music account will be open until I’m 90. If I can’t live until then, it will be passed down. My old friends all know that I’ll have it until I’m 90- that’s how much I love music. But there’s nothing I can do for this situation. I really did want to sing it for you.

C: Sing it without accompaniment. LYN: /laughs/ You’re like my second aunt. C: Ning-ge, you’re a singer aren’t you? Sing it without accompaniment. LYN: Let me see if I have it on my computer. But I’ve changed it recently- this one is not the same one as before- so I don’t know if I do, but I used to. // I don’t have it. I really wanted to sing this for you, but I can’t. I know I have the track on a USB; I’ll have one of my staff bring it to me. Let me ask.  LYN: Alright, then I won’t sing it. Maybe next time.

LYN: Let me use the restroom and I’ll come back and continue chatting with you. Wait for me, three minutes.

--- break #1

C: Ning-ge, you’re so funny when speaking the Northeastern Dialect. LYN: Actually, I can speak Standard Mandarin- I speak it when I’m filming don’t I?

- /flaps his hand to prove he’s washed them/ C: Man- have you washed your hands. LYN: Woman, you’re playing with fire. What business is it of yours if I’ve washed my hands or not? LYN: Are we role-playing a dominating CEO now? You’ll find that all dominating CEOs have to have a rising tone. /showing the difference between normal speaking tone and lowered tone/ Once you raise the intonation you’ll feel like it’s dominating. You can’t only think of the lines (but also the execution). /demonstrates again/ Do you know why this is? It’s because it comes across as a sort of command. It feels like the everyone in the world owes you something. -/playing around with it more/

C: Ning-ge, did you sing the OST for Chong Zhi? LYN: Of course. Chaoyue gave me the opportunity, didn’t she? Then as a return gift, I sent her a box of strawberries. In order to show my gratitude. LYN: The song is really nice, though. I heard the demo and thought it was really good. You can look forward to it. // I’ve sung quite a few OSTs lately- all of the dramas are quite good as well. LYN: If I had a small wish for this year it’s that one of my drama OSTs can make it big this year, too. I’ve found out that my own songs aren’t really popular, but my OSTs don’t do too bad. I have a few popular ones- Rang Jiu, I don’t even need to mention. Of course I know that the song is popular, not me. I’m only the singer- the song was good to begin with. There’s Rang Jiu, and then the year before last was Tian Wen. Last year was Searching for You. My OSTs tend to be more popular. For OSTs, as long as the drama does well, the soundtrack won’t rate too badly. - /also mentions Fireworks and Stars, Colored Glass, A Dream of Splendor/ LYN: For this year I’ve sung for Chong Zhi and ALZ... I’ve sung for mostly good dramas, up until now. Let’s all look forward to when those air. C: What about Zi Chuan? LYN: I sang for ZC, of course. Anything I’ve been in, I’ve pretty much all sung for.

C: Ning-ge, I haven’t finished my homework yet and school is about to start. LYN: Get working, then. But isn’t it early for school? Doesn’t it start in March? Do your homework.

LYN: Am I trending? “Woman- am I trending?” “Really?” “Oh, my goodness. How unbelievable.” “I never thought a day like this would come for me, LYN.” LYN: Someone had asked me before, if I had an English name. I didn’t, really. My English name is “LYN”- shorthand for “Liu Yu Ning”. Then... I’ll be “LYN” (pronounced: li-en). LYN: In the Entertainment tab? /this is not a .jpg/ What’s wrong with that?? // That’s okay, too. It’s alright, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy to be trending at all, given it’s the new year.

C: Ning-ge, have you fallen into a role? LYN: No, sometimes I just like to imitate other’s voice acting productions. Just playing around with it. A long time ago- do you remember, I went on a variety show called My Brilliant Masters? We went around to a lot of amazing seniors. At the time I had only just started acting- I was shooting my second drama- I think it was around the time I was filming for Ultimate Note. I forget. We went around to a lot of different laoshi, and one of them was Wang Gang. He’s an amazing actor, you know? So I asked him, what did I need to do if I wanted to be a good actor? They’re seniors in the industry, so I asked for advice. We talked for a long time and he told me a lot. But there’s one thing that I remember the clearest. He told me, “As an actor, the script is the most important. As long as your lines are good, your acting will not be bad.” That’s what he told me, and since then I’ve spent a little more effort on my lines. I came to enjoy it. He told me he was working at a broadcasting station, and every night he would tell a story- that’s how he practiced reciting his lines. That’s why when you watch him, his lines sound so great. It came from those years of experience for him. That’s why I came to like voice-acting. LYN: I’m still not good enough yet. I still have to practice. Standard Mandarin is the first hurdle. My Standard is not that great yet. After that it’s even more complicated things. The only thing I can do for now is to voice-act for myself, and take it slow. His is one of my more favorite stories.

C: Ning-ge, you’re making an EP with five friends? LYN: You all saw that interview, huh? I really am planning on making one with five friends. But I’ve only thought of four so far. I want to make an EP with five friends... but I think this project will be long in the making. I haven’t even found enough songs for my own album, let alone finding songs I can sing with others. I’ve already discussed it though, and reached out to five friends. You know I only have so many. I’ll collab with them and make five songs. I think we can do it. C: Which five friends? LYN: I only have so many, you can ponder on this yourselves. I only have so many. LYN: Right now, releasing a song means having to pay money (not make money). So I just want to make something for fun. It’s not for the money. I just want to do something fun with my friends and leave something behind that you all can listen to. It’s not to make any money, this is a losing venture. This is the reason why singers don’t release albums- it costs too much money. Singers used to make money by... forget it, I won’t tell you.

C: Ning-ge, I’m also your friend. LYN: Right. I always say that my fans are my friends. So by this you mean that you want to make a song with me? It’s not impossible. We can do it. How about this. You don’t have to sing, I’ll just add your name to the credits. You can pretend that your voice is in there, but you don’t have to sing. I’ll add in your name. C: We’re your friends from all over the world. ( 五湖四海 = five river and four seas) LYN: That’s right. In my next song I’ll have it down as “Singers: Liu Yuning & LYN’s Fans from All Over the World”. I’ll put your name down, and you can brag to your family about it. “Look mom, I collaborated with LYN on a song!” And when she asks you which word you sang, you can tell her it’s not important. “I’m the sound of the guitar.” XD

C: Ning-ge, what should I do if I don’t want to get out of bed? LYN: You must be sick! You’re going to come ask me about any mundane thing now?? I can’t cure you. What should you do if you can’t get out of bed? Go to sleep earlier. If you go to sleep earlier, you would be able to get out of bed easier. If you’re sleeping 12 hours a day I don’t believe you would still be able to stay in it. Go to bed earlier- if you don’t have enough sleep you won’t even be able to lie down, then you’ll just get up again. Don’t stay up at night.

C: Is TXJ going to air soon? LYN: That will be slower to air. It’s still early for that one, because I haven’t finished my voice acting for it yet. I owe them so much work... The other time I went I only did five episodes, because I just so happened to be there for work on ALZ. After I finished up with ALZ I still had some time so I asked if I could work on TXJ a little. I finished five episodes. There are... still a lot to go. Let’s not rush.

C: Is your foot alright now? LYN: It’s not healed yet, not that quickly. It’ll take at least another month and a half. In another month and a half I’ll try walking on it normally. I’ve also discussed with the drama director, if we could arrange all of the fight scenes for later so we can shoot those when my foot is better. I was given the ‘OK’ for that, so we’ll just shoot the lighter scenes to begin with. Guzhuang dramas can’t really do without any fight scenes, though. They always fight. It could be a lot of fighting or a little, but they always fight. My best role was Luo Mingxi’s (ALZ)- he was a scholar, and couldn’t do martial arts. The whole drama he didn’t have a single fight scene. I was so happy, to be in a guzhuang where I didn’t have to fight. 

--

LYN: I’ve been shooting dramas for a few years now and as time goes by I’ve realized that I really didn’t respect my own appearance before. Before, and even when I was doing the voice acting for ALZ, I was thinking, why was I so... how should I say this... so lax with myself. Even with Heroes- you’ll find that in some scenes I look pretty handsome, I actually look pretty decent. But then in other scenes I look truly ugly. When I was watching ALZ (while voice acting for his scenes) I even had that impression of myself. I look good in one scene, but ugly in another. So then I was wondering how this happened- why does it happen and when? It really has to do with your own condition that day. For example if you wake up in the morning after having stayed up all night you’ll have dark circles and be puffy from fluid retention. Your jawline won’t be as prominent. Through the camera this all looks even worse- it emphasizes your flaws. I keep saying I was swollen, but the truth of it is I had eaten too much (read: he was fat). LYN: As an actor, you can’t really show yourself in a healthy state. That’s my own personal opinion. If you want to be on camera and look pretty and refined, you really have to show yourself in an unhealthy state. It makes you seem like you have a thin face and thin body, like you’re lacking in water. If you’re on the camera glowing and healthy, then you tend to look a little plump through the lens. It’s terrible.

LYN: At the time I was “swollen” every day. I forget who told me- a way to remedy this was to tie my ears with a rubber band. That if I held my ears it would lessen the water retention. Have you heard of such a method? There are all sorts of artists’ rumored beauty tips. So I tied my ears, every day, so much so that I thought that my ears would fall off! But did it work? It actually did. Let me tell you why- I’ve thought about the reasoning behind it. LYN: It’s because when there’s a band on your ears it has the effect of making your face look slimmer. Watch. /demonstrates/ It makes your face look slimmer because it’s lifting your skin a little. Since you’re tying it fairly tight it lifts the skin, and then you think it’s working because your face looks thinner. But this is extremely temporary. After some extent it won’t work anymore. You’ll be fat either way. LYN: That’s why for Ning Yuanzhou I really have to thank all the people who complained that I was ugly in the early days of filming. I thank them, truly. From the first day of filming there were people complaining that I was ugly. They cursed at me daily, as if I had never appeared in this capacity as an actor, or on a variety show, or had ever attended a gala, or had EVER shown my face outside of this one acting appearance before. It’s as if they had never met me. Like, “Wow, it turns out that LYN was THIS ugly??” So I thank these small friends for cursing at me, because their constant cursing made me hyper-vigilant. When I got to the makeup room in the morning, I would first put on a hydrating face mask and then follow-up by massaging (with a roller) my face. First make it big. Then, follow that up with a scraper, and watch the water retention slip away. After that, a cooling eye mask- to reduce the swelling of my eyes. After all this, twenty minutes have passed and the wig application is pretty much finished, so they can then start applying the makeup. For the first twenty minutes of every day, I went through this routine: massage for 10, scrape for 5, and cool for 5. C: Did it work? LYN: I don’t dare to say that it did. You can watch the video later on and let me know. Of course, there were some times that I was lazy. When YNGS airs, if you think Ning-ge looks handsome for this episode, and this scene, then you can be sure that I scraped my face in the morning. If in some other scene his face is lacking, then he was lazy that day. You can use this method to tell the difference.

--

LYN: I really want to thank those who cursed at me, from the bottom of my heart. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have felt so wary. I would have continued thinking, “An actor is an actor- the performance is what matters.” But the appearance... if I am comparing with others then there is always going to be someone out there better looking. Also, there are so many good looking people online and people say even THEY’RE ugly. So I thank these people for making me focus on my own appearance- not only in the drama. If I hadn’t experienced this for myself, I would not have had this growth, and would have continued on in my lackadaisical ways. C: Will you get angry if I curse at you now? LYN: What’s there to be angry about. People have already cursed me out, you came too late.

LYN: Also, do you know why I’ve debuted for almost four years and in those years have not really had a break? I’ve never said I wanted a break or that I would take two months off to rest. I have never said I wanted that. Even when the pandemic first started, I just entered into a drama crew. That was when I was shooting for The Long Ballad. Why (have I never taken a break)? It’s to thank those people who cursed at me. (t/n: Out of spite, you mean? XD) From the very first day, when I said I was a singer and they didn’t think I was worthy, until the day I started acting and they said I wasn’t worthy. It’s because they cursed at me and looked down on me, that I have the determination to keep moving forwards and upwards. These four years.. have gone by awfully quick.  LYN: If it were just my fans buttering me up every day- telling me I that I’m the best and the most handsome, that my acting is superb and my singing is great- if it were just my fans complimenting me all the time, I’m sure I would have drifted. I would be out there playing around instead. Why would I still be filming, when my foot is broken? Right? So I thank the haters. If they hadn’t told me I wasn’t worthy, I wouldn’t have had the strength to keep fighting without a rest. I haven’t taken a rest- you all know this.

C: Then, should we (fans) leave? The fans’ compliments aren’t important? LYN: That’s not what I meant. I’m sure if I ONLY had antis cursing at me I would have lost my mind by now. This is just like life- you can’t have shitty days ALL THE TIME, right? Let’s say you like to eat sweets. But if you add in something bitter every once in a while, you will appreciate the sweetness all the more. Right? You can’t only eat bitter things all the time! You would have thrown up, in that case. It’s like this. I really do want to thank my fans. If it weren’t for your encouragement and support, I would have had a breakdown in the face of all this hate. I’d have depression. It’s possible.  But it’s thanks to your encouragement, in hand with all the hate- that allows me to keep moving forward. LYN: I was thinking about this a couple days ago. I’m really thankful for all my fans, and I’m not just saying this. The great thing about you all is that you actually listen to what I say to you. When I tell you not to do this or that, you really do listen to me. You respect me. But because I’ve met fans that don’t listen, that makes me like you all the more. I’m grateful that I have you fas my fans. When I tell you something, you’re really willing to listen to me. Some fans don’t. They seriously, don’t. But you all respect me, and I appreciate it. Even my staff members, they think you’re all great. It’s because we have something to compare you with. LYN: Including when I’m at the airport, and I’ve told you to be conscious of being in a public space and not to come greet me, you listened. Or when I’m online and I’m trying to have a heart-to-heart and discuss something with you, you all know that I’m being serious. You all respect me. I think this is great. Because I respect all of you. If I have any news, I always tell you in the group chat. I hope that I can be transparent with you. If there’s something going on I want to be able to tell it to you straight; all you have to do is trust me. So, I’m really grateful for you.

LYN: In this industry, I don’t really have a competitor- because I’m not worthy of having one. I was chatting with a jiejie the other day, and she was wondering if there was anyone in this industry that overlapped with me. Someone that could be seen as my competitor. She didn’t think there was one. Because I’m not even in the same race track as everyone else. I stream, I sing, I act- there’s pretty much no one else out there doing all three. I don’t really have any competition, so I am a bit of a unique existence. But I don’t want to be like everyone else. I don’t want to interact with you all or work in this industry the same way as everyone else does. That’s why I wish for my fans to be different from everyone else’s as well. Let’s not carry any ill-intent. If there’s something that makes others happy, we can learn from it. But please, let us not become malicious. I don’t want us to become like them. If that happens, what will make us different? LYN: Also, I’ve been a cook!

- /sneezing/ LYN: Who’s talking smack about me? When I was little I heard the grown-ups say that if you sneeze twice in a row then that means someone is cursing you. I was being so honest with you, and you have the gall to curse at me?! What the heck... C: It means someone is thinking of you. LYN: THREE sneezes means someone is thinking of you. I remember hearing the elders said: 1 sneeze means someone mentioned you, 2 sneezes means someone is cursing you, 3 sneezes means someone is thinking of you. I think that’s how it went. C: Then, sneeze again. LYN: No~ LYN: “Woman, you’re playing with fire. I suggest you restrain yourself.”

C: Those are some feudal superstitions (foolish behavior, not backed by science; baidu) LYN: What are you- you’re trying to ruin me, is that it? Are you even my fan? This line of thinking makes you absolutely qualified to be an anti-fan; this ability of yours to take my words and twist them to a higher level of intellect in order to discredit me. I said that if you sneezed once then someone mentioned you, if you sneezed twice then someone is cursing you, and if you sneezed three times then someone is thinking of you. And then someone comes out and says, “Liu Yuning is spreading feudal superstitions during his livestream!” I think this burden might ruin me- what are you doing?? Stop trying me. LYN: I’m sure everyone is living under a lot of pressure nowadays. Be a little more tolerant. Don’t waste your energy. We can all live nicely. Work well. Study well. Live well. Treat people with kindness, because kindness begets kindness. Evil begets evil. Ill-intentions are always met with retribution. Is that also a feudal superstition? Kindness begets kindness and evil begets evil?

--

C: Ning-ge, is the beauty filter on? LYN: Of course it is. I’ll tell you honestly. It’s on. ... But not high. Normally when I stream I’ll turn on the options for blur and brightness. I don’t really turn on the other ones. Look at my eyes- they’re so small. They look especially small today because I don’t have any eye makeup. today I woke up and washed my face, and then came to stream. Okay, I didn’t wash my face- I put on some BB cream, and THEN came to stream.  C: It’s polite to turn on the beauty filter. LYN: Right! It’s the New Year and everyone is coming in to see me stream, so what point is there in showing a very haggard appearance? Freshening up is out of respect to my viewers. If someone on the street walked up to you and it was clear they didn’t shower in days... wouldn’t you feel disrespected? C: Givenchy’s foundation? LYN: Oh, my mistake. I put on some foundation earlier.

C: Ning-ge, you’re trending at #22. LYN: I don’t believe you. ~I don’t believe what you’re saying is real. Woman- don’t trick me. Well, since I’m already trending, then I’ll sing a song and see if I can climb up in the ranks at all. Let’s see if I can use music to make people stay. I’ll sing a song.~ C: Man- this is real. LYN: ~Oh~ Is it truly real? I don’t believe it.~ C: This man’s voice sounds like Siri. LYN: /Siri voice/ I’m here.

LYN: Hey Siri. Siri: Hm? LYN: Oh, I actually activated it. Hey, Siri. Siri: Hm? LYN: Happy New Year. Siri: Happy New Year. I hope in this new year you as as bright and alert as a rabbit. LYN: Thank you. // I just exchanged New Year’s greetings with Siri. LOL.

C: My mom is asking when you’re going to come over and spend the New Year. LYN: Have you tricked your mother and told her that I’m your boyfriend? Is that how it is? Let me tell you, try not to use this lie. Because, once Auntie sees a young kid like me, her expectations will be raised. Then later when you want to bring a REAL boyfriend home, she won’t like them. This lie is likely to influence your future marriage prospects, understand? Don’t do this. Don’t lie to your mother. Your mother will say, “This one isn’t as good as Xiao Ning was.” That’s no good, right? This influences your future. Don’t do this. Be honest. Just tell her I’m your idol. “A super idol’s smile is not as sweet as yours.” Just tell her straight that I’m your idol. C: Ning-ge, on this you’re so manly. So confident. LYN: That’s right, I am the legendary “Pu-Xin Nan”- the “most trustworthy man in all the world.” (普天之下最适合信任的男人) LYN: I am also the legendary “Ma-Bao Nan” (sounds like: Momma’s Boy, 妈宝男) = “Oh my goodness, a treasure boy!” (哎哟妈呀! 宝藏男孩.)

LYN: What song should I sing? I should sing something... // Let me sing this. This is a theme song made for the Palace Museum, sung by Modern Brothers’ Liu Yuning. It’s called “Heritage.” I gift this song to each and every friend who is with me right now. - 传承 (Heritage)

LYN: I was trying to make a joke earlier, and some of you have taken it seriously and are calling me a “momma’s boy”. I said “Ma-Bao Nan” and by that I meant “Oh my goodness, a treasure boy!” But you totally missed the point. Friends, I’m currently trending right now. A lot of people are seeing that I am trending and may just so happen to click into the stream. But if you keep spamming “momma’s boy” in the comments, they’re going to think there’s some sort of story here. You’re going to make me infamous. They’re going to think there’s a story here and they’re going to start digging. What happens if they start liking me? :) Whose fault is that? Initially they liked a different artist, but because they wanted to get to know me in order to dig up some dirt they started liking me instead. How am I supposed to explain this to my friends in this industry? So that’s why we shouldn’t take jokes too far, alright??  C: Whose fault? Liu Yuning’s. LYN: XD C: What is a “pu-xin nan”? LYN: “The most trustworthy man in all the world.” 

C: What about “xia-tou nan”? LYN: “xia-tou nan?” (下头男) [t/n: opposite of addicting “上头”; so... “off-putting”?] That is.. “one of the many other no.1 men in the world.” C: “Xia-Tou-Nan” is the “man who cuts his hair downstairs”. LYN: Do you own a hair salon??? This friend must own a salon- they live on the second floor and the shop is on the first floor downstairs. I’m guessing this fan is a girl, and her husband is a hair dresser who cuts customers’ hair downstairs. She calls her husband a “xia-tou-nan”- the man who cuts hair downstairs. XD C: Cutting your hair in the first month of the year? LYN: What’s wrong with that? Are you not allowed to? You really want to spread feudal superstitions here in LYN’s livestream?!? I’ll leave you with this burden instead. What’s wrong with cutting your hair in the first month? Are you trying to spread superstitions? Please leave. XD

- [t/n: this type of word pun goes on for a couple more examples, but I don’t want to translate bc I don’t understand them and my brain hurts, lol. But basically they are trying to make him give ah... alternate meanings to some common (non-pg) expressions. Chinese semantics.]

C: Ning-ge, how did you know I lived in a villa. - [t/n: got to this topic tangentially from one of the previous examples of word play//explanation.] LYN: Are you trying to show off your wealth? I’ve met two types of people who do this. The first kind are doing it purely as a bluff. The second are the kind of people who may really have a villa at home, but are the type of person who are the target of multiple types of scammers. If you have a villa, I want you to be wary, because I’m sure that there is someone on weibo sending you a private message to click into some link as a ploy to steal your savings. Because they see you have power. Or, it could be someone who changes their name to “Liu Yuning” and will pretend to have a conversation with you under the guise that I am on a secondary account. Because, since you have a villa, it means that your family must have quite a bit of financial prowess. If someone called “Liu Yuning” adds you, and you ask them “Are you Liu Yuning?” and they say, “Yes. This is Ning-ge’s secondary account.” and they start having a conversation with you, don’t rush it. Three months later they’re going to start asking to borrow 200RMB from you. They’ll say, “Ning-ge is having some trouble, can you wire me 200?” At that time just take a moment to think. It doesn’t matter if this Ning-ge is real or fake, they still chatted with you for three months. If you were paying them a salary, I’m sure you would still give the 200RMB. So, just be careful not to get scammed.

--

C: Ning-ge, I’ve run out of guazi. LYN: You’ve watched my streams so much that you ran out of guazi? What, should I go out and but 2kg and send it to your house? I should go out and find guazi for you? Should I add in some peanuts, too?? LYN: You event ell me when you’ve run out of guazi... you’re really... Really treating me like your waiter.

C: Ning-ge, I feel like your neck is a little short. LYN: I’m a cook. Friends, you should know that my neck is short because I’m a mess cook. Big face and thick neck, makes me a cook. It matches up. [t/n: this is some other word play]

LYN: ! ... :O ... >.> ... <.< ... Friends, my neighbors are fighting. It’s the new year, it’s not worth it. Do you hear it? C: I hear it. LYN: I don’t even hear anything. You must be having auditory hallucinations. Get that checked out. But anyway, they’re really fighting. Let me go take a look. Maybe I can get them to stop fighting. This is no good. I’m going to go take a look.Wait for me a sec, don’t go anywhere. If you still haven’t subscribed to my weibo, please subscribe. I’ll play you a video. Wait for me. -- break #2 LYN: Wait for me a little bit longer, I forgot to grab a bottle of water. LYN: !! My computer froze. No way. LYN: Let me grab some water. -- break #2.5

LYN: Alright friends, cheers. Wait, no. This music isn’t right, I need something more elegant. We can cheers. Friends, get some water.  - /plays 祝酒歌 (Toast Song)/ C: Is this elegant? LYN: No. But I’ve had such a big glass of orange juice, can you all have mercy on me? Thanks. C: My dad said this song is from his generation. LYN: What are you saying, bro? We’re of all of the same generation. Next, I’ll sing you something from our generation. Uh... what songs are there from our generation. Um... let me think. C: Searching for You. LYN: A song from our generation is “Searching for You”?? No, it’s not. Er... let me think... This is from our generation. - 上海灘 (Shanghai Bund) LYN: That’s from our generation, right? Hehe. C: Your Cantonese is so good. LYN: Well if you’re going to say that, then I’ll sing another. - 千千阙歌 (Thousands of Songs) LYN: Oh, it’s so high. Let me lower the key an octave and see if I can pull it off. LYN: Now I sound like an old man singing. I can’t do it. - 倩女幽魂  (A Chinese Ghost Story) - /sings the first verse/ LYN: That’s enough. - /lip syncs badly to his own song instead/

C: My Cantonese is as good as yours. LYN: Well, I am from Dongbei... it’s still a bit of a distance to Guangdong.

--

C: Fake singing. Get out! LYN: Didn’t think there would be a day you would catch me lip syncing. Was it really so fake? Because the mic wasn’t even near my mouth? - /sings for real/ LYN: /sigh/ Lip syncing. Actually some people can make it look really real. Usually there are a few different kinds of lip syncing. The first is that you’re just moving your mouth. /demonstrates/ It looks fake, right? It’s actually not like this. There are other ways, one of which is: play the music, mute the mic, and sing for real. I’m still singing my part, but the mic isn’t picking up any audio. That’s one way to make it seem more real. /demonstrates/ C: You can still tell. LYN: Oh no. I can’t trick you anymore, in the future. C: I knew it was fake. LYN: Because you KNEW it was fake. C: Ning-ge, you didn’t mess up the lyrics. You must be lip syncing. LYN: If I didn’t sing it wrong then I must be faking. That’s true. There’s nothing wrong with that logic. LYN: No- it’s because the audio and video don’t quite match up, right now. Watch me speaking. It doesn’t quite match up with my lip movement because there’s a bit of a delay in the stream. All online streams have a bit of delay. It’s because mine is too HQ. My stream setting is high, so it takes bit longer to transmit. This is normal. 

--

LYN: Alright, I’m here to chat and sing a little. What time did I come today? Let me see how long I’ve been streaming for. 2 hours and 55 minutes. LYN: I saw they released statistics of my streaming for last year. I found out that ever since I started in the YNGS crew, there’s a big gap. My streaming time got short. I wasn’t quite awake enough. But it’s okay. It’s still early. It’s 9:44p. Be honest, guys, are you sleepy? If you’re sleepy then I’ll leave. Are you sleepy? It’s the second day of the new year! I want to wish you a happy new year. I hope you are all healthy and everything goes as you wish. It’s rare that you are able to take this time and spend it with your family. I’m going to enjoy this period of time as well, and then it’s back to the grind. C: What are you saying? I’m not sleepy. / High school late classes haven’t even let out yet. LYN: ?_? Are you serious. School is that hardcore now? You’re at school on the second day of the new year and late classes aren’t even over yet? Are you for real? Or are you talking on a normal day. You can’t mean right now, right?? LYN: Why don’t I believe you? I mean- it’s not that I don’t believe you, but... Oh! I see high school USUALLY lets out at 10p, but not today- the second day of the new year-, right? Normally- okay, I can understand. I was thinking you were going to be at school this late even today- that’s TOO miserable. It’s good that’s not the case. C: School starts on the 6th day of the new year. LYN: Students are under a lot of pressure, too. It’s like you’re going to work already. You are all the future of society. And, I always say this, because I didn’t go to college and I’m not that educated- but when you really enter into society and start working then you’re really going to cherish the time you spent in school. You’re going to cherish that forever. You may be thinking that it’s difficult to keep going, but once you get over it and you really start working then you’re going to miss the days you were in school. Cherish the time you have now, friends.

C: Ning-ge, you’re 30+ and haven’t had a break, no one is working as hard as you. LYN: I still take a break. But I’m working today. Originally, the crew had planned to start filming on the third day of the new year. But a few days before the new year they told us that we would start at the end of the month instead. In that case I have a few days to rest. It’s the 23rd today, so I still have two days.

C: I just noticed you’re wearing short sleeves. LYN: I have an air conditioner. I’m not cold. You don’t have to worry about me.

LYN: Some of you want to see my foot. My foot’s alright. It will still take a month and a half to heal. Thanks for worrying about me. I’m okay. And anyway, men fight, right? (爷们要战斗) I can do it. It’s just another month or so.

--

- /grabs Daimi/ LYN: A lot of you want to see Daimi. She hasn’t had a bath in a few days, so she looks a little messy. I didn’t want to let her on camera because she looks a little worse for wear. I wanted to preserve her artists image. Well, anyway. LYN: /to Daimi/ Greet everyone for the New Year.  - /delivering Daimi’s greetings/

LYN: Here, why don’t you sing? /tries some “ventriloquism”/ You sing so well! /continues/

C: Daimi only has eyes for you. LYN: Not so. You all just like to make everything sound so wonderful. Today, I’m going to have to burst that bubble. You like to make a lot of things so nice, but really my dog looks down on me. Of course I have a lot of people in my group and among them she is the closest to me- to her, I’m a one of a kind existence. But I used to have a rule. I used to have a dog, before- Youmi. This is Daimi. I wouldn’t let my dogs sleep on the bed. They can be in the house, but not on the bed. I used to think that a grown man petting a cat and hugging his dog wasn’t... I don’t know- wasn’t doing anything proper? Since I grew up with my grandparents- it’s an old way of thinking that I grew up with. So I didn’t hold or let my dogs sleep on the bed.. but not this one. I must be under her spell.  LYN: She’s pretty foolish; her IQ’s a little low but her EQ is high. Sometimes I grab her onto the bed, and then sleep with her. But not in the blankets- I’m in the blankets and I put her on top and pet her as I go to sleep. She has something against me. The longest shell stay is an hour, before she leaves. It used to be that I didn’t let my dogs on the bed. Now I have a dog that doesn’t WANT to be on the bed. She goes to her room; it must be more comfortable for her there than on my bed.

LYN: You can tell with one look into her eyes that she doesn’t have a high IQ. I’m not trying to diss her or make fun of her or anything. She’s just really cute. She doesn’t have those bad habits- like other dogs will chew on your shoes or rip things apart and break things- she doesn’t. If you GIVE her a shoe to chew on she doesn’t like it. She won’t chew on electrical wires, either. She’s just a really foolish puppy and doesn’t have any bad habits. LYN: But she does have one lately- and it’s that she likes to bark. She’s a little older than two now, and for the first year and a half I thought she was mute. She had never barked before. At most she would growl, but not bark. But in the recent year and a half she must have drifted. After she realized she was an artist she got spoiled. She barks every day. She barks at whoever’s at the door. Sometimes when I’m on set the director or other actors will come to see me- she barks at them. She used to be good, which is why I said her EQ is high. When I am filming sometimes a drama, company, or platform director will stop by and monitor. They’ll stop by and have a rest in my RV. She used to know her manners. If four people got on the car, she would greet whoever was the leader. For example, if four people got on the car and one of them was a woman from the company’s platform, very amazing... She’ll climb right into her lap! She’ll hug her leg and pretend to be cute. Normally they all like dogs so they indulge her. She’s such a good puppy. She’s helping me make connections! I’m guessing some of the jobs I even got were BECAUSE they liked her. She’ll greet all four but in the end she will go found the leader. C: She in estrus? LYN: But my dog is female, what would she be going around hugging people’s legs for?? LYN: Anyway, she’s not the same now. She barks at whoever comes. She doesn’t care about the platform or producers anymore. It’s gone to her head. XD Artists, man. I see in the past year and a half she’s becoming famous in her own right. She even has her own SuperTopic. So her attitude is changing. But the good thing is that she only barks and never tries to bite anyone. Sometimes she goes wild with barking and I think, “It’d be nice if you actually bit...”. Sometimes the person who comes will know her already, so they pick her up while she’s barking... and she continues to bark in their arms. Who is she barking at?? Maybe she’s barking at the outside? - /Daimi barks/ C: She heard you talking smack about her. LYN: I’ve ruined her reputation. Her market value is dropping. - /looks at Daimi on the floor... points at her./ LYN: What are you looking at??

LYN: She doesn’t even care when I call her name. So I call her something different. My dog has two names now. The first is “Daimi”. The second is “Want a sausage?” If I look at her and say “Want a sausage?” she’s so happy she doesn’t know what to do with herself.

--

C: Are you still going to stream next month? LYN: You’re already onto next month? I was planning to stream again this month.. You already want plans for next month??  LYN: If I’m not that busy with filming for this drama, I’ll go back to streaming how I did before. I used to so at least two-three streams a month, at the least. If I’m not too busy... but I will be busy at the start! Because I’m just entering the crew and need to get used to the character and read the script and things like that. I should be less busy later, though, When I’ve acclimated. It should be no problem.

C: Wasn’t filming going to start at the end of the month? LYN: Yeah, but I’ve got to make preparations before that. We have to do a script reading, set costuming and hair and makeup. There are lots of things to do. Just hair/makeup- I think last time for YNGS it took two days. I was trying on clothes for three. But I think that the look for YNGS- in my personal opinion- is the coolest I’ve looked of the drama’s I’ve shot in the past couple years. I think I look a bit more handsome in this than the others, because I’ve already told the producers to add some beauty filters for me. “I’m begging you. I’ll do really good in for my voice-acting, so please add in some post-editing for me.” C: Ning-ge, that’s not professional. LYN: No, you don’t get it. It’s because every drama edits in post-production anyway. If you think about my past dramas you’ll find that in any scene I am in the same frame as an actress I have a beauty filter. But when I’m in the same frame as an actor then it’s lacking. You can ponder on the reasoning for that yourselves. Isn’t it? Whenever I was in the same frame as an actor there was pretty much no filter, so I looked so terrible that it was hard to keep watching. But when I’m in the same frame as an actress there’s a filter. This time around I asked the production jiejie if she could add the filter whether I’m with a man or a woman. It doesn’t matter if I’m with an old guy or a great auntie, please add the filter for us all.  C: It looks more textured/realistic without it. LYN: You’re not wrong. ...But you must be an outsider. Where do you think “texture” comes from? Do you think it comes from not adding a beauty filter? As long as there’s no filter, there’s texture? Then, if I record something with my phone does it have texture or not? Having a filter and having texture have nothing to do with each other. Where does texture come from? One of you said it right. It comes from the Thermage. If your face looks good then anything looks textured. 

LYN: I didn’t know this before, but I recently realized that whether you look good or not is very important, for an actor. It’s not extremely important, but for a young actor I think it tends to be more important than most. I say this because... sometimes a person won’t need to do anything and they’re successful, because their face already captured my attention. That’s why I feel like it’s important to have good looks.  C: You’re good looking, too! LYN: I’m just average. In terms of appearance I’m really just average.

C: I went out to play for a bit and came back, but you’re still streaming. LYN: See? This is what it’s like to like LYN. It doesn’t matter if you go out and play, when you turn back I will be here waiting. Even if you go and move on to liking someone else- you can go out and play around- when you come back, I’ll still be here. How romantic is that?

C: Have you determined any variety shows for this year yet? LYN: No, I haven’t made a decision on any of them. Do you think this industry OWES me??? You think I have resources backing me?? Who do you think is pulling the strings in order to get me drama roles AND variety show appearances? Honestly, there are a lot of companies who want to make variety shows, but whether those shows can become come to fruition depends on whether or not they can find sponsors. If they can’t find sponsors, then they can’t make the show. If we had someone just throwing money at shows, we could definitely make them happen, but... now we’re just waiting for those money throwing bosses to show up in the first place.

C: Are you still streaming this month? LYN: Didn’t I just- I don’t know whether I’ll stream again this month or not. We’ll see. I’ll start to be busy again in a couple days. If I’m not too tired I’ll come to stream. It’s not like my stream is some big event that I have to prepare for. I just have to grab my computer and start a stream. At the most it will only cause me to waste a little foundation. XD It’s just that simple. It’s not as if I have any staff support- I don’t. There’s no one else here with me. My staff work well with me- when I’m streaming they’re either outside or not here at all. If there’s someone in the house with me, I can’t stream. I’ll be thinking of too many things. Streaming is easy for me. If I feel like it, I just get on my computer and start. It’ll only cost me in electricity. All it needs is one person and one dog, and we’re ready to go. C: Are you shy? LYN: It’s not that I’m shy, I just want a space where I am alone to stream. I’m just more relaxed that way.

C: Has Modern Brothers Liu Yuning Studio had a change in personnel lately? LYN: I’ve seen that too. They say I’ve changed staff, so they think I’m doing well for myself. Another thing they say is that the boss (himself) must have given year-end bonuses. Because I’ve done some photo shoots. It’s not that. I didn’t used to post any photos like this because I just don’t like taking them. I really don’t. They always tell me, “Boss, let’s take some photos” and I always tell them no. I find it bothersome. LYN: The new year, for example- I went to Jiangsu and sang three songs. 魔法药水 (You are my Magic), 笑红尘 (Laughing at the Mundane World), and 寻一个你 (Searching for You). I sang them all live. I know I’m a singer but singing three songs live had me panicking too! If I sang one wrong lyrics it would be live broadcast for everyone to see. Singing live is fine, but singing for a live broadcast makes me nervous too. If I sang badly just once it would just be out there, with no way to stop it. So all through that night I was really nervous. I was already nervous in the dressing room- my hands were ice cold and I was shaking. It’s not as serious as it sounds, but in any case I was a mess. This event only happen once a year, I didn’t want to embarrass myself on New Year’s, of all days. If I embarrass myself on the New Year it’s like embarrassing myself for two year’s worth of time. (the year going and the year coming). LYN: So I was nervous, and my staff were asking if they could shoot some photos. Previously, I would have said, “Let’s not take any photos. You’re making me more nervous than I need to be. I’m already THIS close to wetting myself, and you want to take photos?? Don’t bother me!” This includes other events, too- artists always take pre-carpet photos, right? I didn’t use to like those. First of all, it costs money and secondly, in order to take those photos I would need to get up an hour and half earlier than I would need to. Why would I take photos when I could use that time to lie down for a while- take a nap or watch a movie? For should I wake early to get into hair and makeup, and then to take pictures?? Taking photos is the thing I dislike the most. Why do you think my studio doesn’t have photos? It’s because I don’t want to take any. Some of you fans actually curse at my studio because of that. My staff are wronged for no reason. I’ve said this before as well- it’s just that /I/ don’t like taking the pictures. LYN: But this year I’ve had a bit of an epiphany. It’s just because I don’t have much to do this year. Rather, I haven’t shown my face outside ever since I entered into the YNGS crew. A lot of galas and events invited me, but I didn’t go. The truth is I’m afraid that my fans have seen too little of me. That’s why for these end of the year events I’ve tried to take pictures while I could. I’m thinking one year (since the last photo shoot) has been long enough. LYN: You may get the feeling that my studio has changed staff because it’s been too long since we posted photos. This time we went a little hard with it. It’s like starving you for half a month. I guarantee you’ll be happy with whatever I put in front of you. You’ll be full and satisfied.

LYN: Also, at Jiangsu I sang You are My Magic, right? Did you hear what other song we put in there? I sang a bit of 帶我去找夜生活 (Night Life. Take us to the Light). Did you watch it? I was watching the playback, and there was a comment saying, “Jiangsu is too unprofessional. This song is clearly You Are My Magic AND Night Life, but they only wrote the title of one. How unprofessional.” I was thinking, “Friend, you’re too naive.” If I had tacked the second song title on there, the performance might not have been able to air. You want Jiangsu Satellite TV to tell you that they are broadcasting a song called “Take me to find the Night Life”?? You have to take that into consideration, child. There are problems with that. LYN: Also, originally I was only planning on singing Magic, but after I heard it, I felt like it would fall a little flat because the second half of the song pretty much repeats the same verse. I asked them if we could add a song into the middle. They asked me which song, so I suggested another one of the band’s songs. Just stick it in there and be done with it. Jiangsu didn’t blink and eye, and spent a lot of money to buy the copyrights to just four lines of the additional song. And you still think they’re unprofessional?? Jiangsu is so good to me, really. They have never held back when it came to musical performances. C: Which four lines? - /doesn’t fall for the bait/

C: What about the camera shots? LYN: Now we’re on a different topic- I really don’t want to talk about this one. Let’s not. - [t/n: Fans of Liu Yuning and Zhang Yifan were fighting because LYN was singing Searching for You, his song, but the camera mostly focused on ZYF, who was featured as a dancer. LYN had to make a statement telling fans to delete their malicious comments about ZYF, and ZYF also stepped up to tell her fans not to fight with LYN’s.]

C: Which four lines? LYN: Just those four, you know. How does it go? - /plays the lines: If you have not yet slept; If I have not stopped chasing. If being sober is a crime, then I’ll take my oath and exchange it for a promise not to return./ - /prepares to sing it, suddenly stops/ LYN: Feels like I’m missing something if I don’t have my guitar. Let me get it. Everybody get hyped! -- 帶我去找夜生活 (Night Life. Take us to the Light)

C: Ning-ge, can you sing one of Wang Sulong’s songs? LYN: WSL’s copyrights are too intense. You can’t find accompaniments for his tracks anywhere online. I really would like to sing one, but there are no accompaniments so I can’t really sing them. There’s nothing I can do.

C: Any fun stories from the New Year’s galas? LYN: No? It was normal. Other than the fact that I was pretty nervous. The other thing I was nervous about was if I attended the event and then later got sick. Everything else was pretty normal.

C: Were you happy to sit next to Mao Buyi? LYN: Are you MBY’s fan?? You must be. That is- how happy would two friends be to sit together? That’s how happy we were. I’d just like to ask, how happy did you expect me to be? That’s normal too. Did I have to be happier because I’d seen a celebrity? LYN: It was pretty mystical too, though. He just happened to be wearing a long white coat. It was a windbreaker, but it just so happened to be white. From the back he really did look a lot like a doctor or nurse. He used to be a nurse, I think. Then my leg happens to be crippled. We went up on stage together- he with his white coat and me with my broken foot- and it looked like a doctor helping his patient. That was so strange, and purely coincidence. We didn’t discuss our outfits beforehand at all. Also, I didn’t know that we would be getting our awards together.

C: The sound is too loud. LYN: Which sound? Do you mean the music? Are you using headphones or are you just playing from your phone speakers? If you’re using speakers you might think it’s a little loud because of the noise. Wearing headphones is better. Here in my stream- look at those flashing lights back there. If I just had these in my house normally, would you think I were insane? I installed these lights to bring up the mood of my stream. The music and lights is to create the sense of atmosphere. The sound of the music is to give you the feeling like you are at a bar. Not only does it close the distance between us, it also serves to surround you with the mood. C: Ning-ge is this your study (book room)? LYN: I don’t read books. There is no “study” to speak of. This is a computer room. As a “pu-xin-nan” our houses don’t have book rooms. There are only computer rooms. 

C: Can minors watch Ning-ge’s stream? LYN: Yeah, just turn on your child-monitoring. You should be asking this question to your parents. I advise, if you are a minor, that you should have parental supervision while watching. Still, have a guardian watch you while you are watching my stream. First of all, though, I have my gifting options closed so you don’t have to worry about your child accidentally spending money here. Secondly, I don’t sell anything, so there are no ways that I can take advantage of you. My stream is here purely as a material benefit to you all. So when you turn on child-monitoring, if I happen to say something that happens to be sensitive, it will automatically censor me. For example, earlier I said that I sang a song called “Night Life. Take us to the Light” at Jiangsu TV- with the monitoring, minors can’t hear those words at all. Just turn the function on and you’ll be fine.

C: My mom doesn’t let me chase stars, so she doesn’t want me to watch at all. LYN: Then, then what can you do? If your mom doesn’t want you to chase stars, then don’t. Have you ever heard the song, “Listen to your mother. Don’t let her get hurt.”? ( 聽媽媽的話 | Listen to Mother’s Words) “I want to grow up quickly, so I can protect her.” If your mom doesn’t want you to chase stars then don’t, I guess. Don’t make it seem like we’re meeting up secretly behind her back. She doesn’t want you to chase stars, and yet here you are. That makes it seem like our relationship between idol and fan can’t be seen by the public.

C: My mom said you’re noisy. LYN: /sigh/ Yeah? What did you want me to turn on my stream and we would pray together (in silence)? Do you want to have a staring contest? Here, let me play some soothing music for you. LYN: ~Alright. Follow me as we breathe in deeply. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Until the end.~ LYN: You’d be sleepy in no time!

LYN: Oh, I almost forgot. Are you watching Choice Husband (择君记 | Ze Jun Ji) at all, friends? There’s a song in there... that I sang. I heard that this drama is pretty good, and it’s one of my good friend- Zhang Xueying- ‘s works. The first drama I shot, Hot Blooded Youth, I worked with her. I was just a little idiot at the time. She had already debuted and become a prominent actress way before that. She was a child actress. She was the first female actress I worked with and working with her was great. She took good care of me, being a rookie actor as I was. Even though I was old in age. But in front of her I was just a rookie actor, so she looked out for me. Anyway, this is her drama called Choice Husband and I have a song in it called 愿重逢 (Wish to Reunite). You can go listen- I mean, go watch it. -  愿重逢 (Wish to Reunite), Choice Husband OST C: You sang so well I feel emotional. LYN: Aiyo, that’s unlikely.

C: Heroes, Choice Husband, A New Life Begins, and A Dream of Splendor. LYN: I sang for them all, right? Thanks. You must not be my fan. LYN: /mocking himself/ “LYN, just stick to singing. Stop acting.” LYN: I should still act. I still have to act... C: Your acting-fans don’t accept (that you stop acting). LYN: I’ll act. I still have to. I’ve got some OSTs down for the next year, and if I have time I’ll still accept more drama roles. C: Singers should stick to singing. Stop acting. LYN: A lot of actors are starting to sing now too, though. Right? Be more tolerant. It’s the same. Whether you’re an actor or a singer, I think ability is a large part of it. Only when you have the ability to do something, should you do it. Not just tacking on useless titles.

C: It’s been so long since I watched one of your streams. LYN: Because I haven’t streamed in a long time. But it’s the new year now and I have some time to come stream. Mostly because I’m afraid you would miss me too much.

C: Ning-ge, you’re trending at #2. LYN: Stop saying nonsense. There’s no way I could be at #2. You must be subscribed to me, so you accidentally clicked on “my topics” and not “recommended”. I’ll believe you if you said I’m second among those you have subscribed to. Don’t mess around. You can’t even work weibo? LYN: I was trending earlier, but not now. There are so many people in the world, there’s no way I could be up there for so long. LYN (anti): LYN, I’m telling you, you should be happy that you are even qualified to be trending in the first place. Don’t be picky. It’s good enough that you were up there. Don’t get full of yourself. LYN: Thank you to everyone watching. You gave me a trending topic today. So if you haven’t subscribed to my weibo yet, please do so.

C: My mom wants me to go to bed at 11p. LYN: Why do you keep telling me what your mom wants? Do you think I can save you?? Earlier someone told me that their mother didn’t want them to chase stars. What could I say?? I told her not to chase stars. Now you’re telling me your mom wants you to sleep at 11p- do you think I can tell you NOT to go to sleep? If she wants you to sleep at 11p, then go sleep. If you’re sleepy, go to sleep. There’s still the playback. Just watch this tomorrow. There’s that song, right? Listen to Mother’s Words, don’t let her get hurt. You want to quickly grow up so that you can protect her. /continues reciting the lyrics/

C: My mom told me not to play with the opposite gender. LYN: Well, by that logic- I’m not playing with you. Who’s playing with you? Secondly, she probably means in real life? But it depends on what you’re playing. Normally, if you’re playing a game in school it should be fine. You mom probably just doesn’t want anyone bullying you. This is not an all-encompassing statement, though. You’ve got to find a husband eventually, right? She’s going to make you not like boys...

C: Is Chong Zhi going to air soon? LYN: Don’t ask me when a drama will be airing. I really don’t know. Honestly, I can ASK but there’s no real NEED to. Are you’re making me out to be a gossip blog and I should tell you whenever a drama is about to air? I remember I saw one that said ALZ would air in October of last year. Because the interest in ALZ is pretty high, right? So last year I saw a blog saying that they predict ALZ would air in October. I saw that and I wanted to punch them in the mouth. I wanted to say, “I haven’t even done my voice acting yet. X’D You say it’s going to air in October, you must be crazy!” They had just sent me the OST, and you’re telling me it’ll air in October?? LYN: It’s true that I recorded the OST fairly early. But I hadn’t done any of my voice acting yet. The gossip blogs aren’t accurate. For a lot of dramas whether it will air or not... /doesn’t continue/ C: When’s ALZ airing? LYN: I don’t know. It should be soon. 

LYN: The other day I was having dinner with my next director and they said to me, “Yesterday I saw some gossip online that said you have a drama with Jing Tian? It’s said to start in March? I took one look at our contract and said, “That’s fake news.”” Because in March I’ll be with HIS drama crew. LYN: I think of it like this- the fact that gossip blogs even deign to mention me means that they look highly upon me. Right? Let’s look at this from an objective standpoint. I’m not thinking of myself as an artist who’s all that- honestly speaking, I’m doing well for myself. The fact that gossip blogs are willing to mention my name mean that they look well upon me. By this, I mean in two aspects: 1) they think I’m good enough to participate in such an amazing project, or 2) they’re just mentioning me so that people can come curse at me, and that way their account will see traffic. That’s a second kind of recognition, but it’s recognition all the same.  LYN: That’s why I’m a “pu-xin-nan”- “the man most easily trusting of other people in all the world” (普天之下最容易相信别人的男人) C: They’re trying to ride off your tears. LYN: If think you were trying to type “fame” (liulang) but typed “tears” (liulei) instead. Also, I don’t have any fame

C: What’s your next drama? LYN: Don’t rush. You’ll know in the next couple of days. Then when the time comes, all you have to do is watch. C: Is it modern or historical? LYN: Guzhuang. C: The script is in for a big change. LYN: Why does the script have to change? Because my foot’s broken? No- it’s long been settled. They’re not going to change the script just for me. I’m not worthy of doing so. I can still shoot everything. I was still shooting for YNGS, even! For more than a month. It’s all the same. Even if you’re disabled you can still shoot dramas, still do fight scenes, still ride horses. It’s just that the horse can’t be running. For YNGS I had a few later shots that had to be done with the horse. I can get up onto it but since my foot has this on it- /shows his foot in its boot again/- this boot- we covered it a little with the clothes- but the problem is that I can’t put this foot into the stirrup. My left foot can go into it, but my right foot is just hanging. I can still ride slowly, but not gallop because for that you need both legs giving strength so you can control the horse. But anyway, I can still film all the same. I can still do the fight scenes, still do the wire-work. It’s not problem. I can still shoot the drama.

//

C: Does Daimi get any red envelopes? LYN: Daimi? No. But I gave her a lot of tasty things to eat. Yesterday I had dumplings and gave her two. It counts as having celebrated the new year. We had dumplings on the new year, too. Last night I felt a little hungry so I cooked more dumplings, and gave some to her. She doesn’t get red envelopes. She won’t know how to spend the money anyway. Little kids don’t know how to spend money. C: Can dogs EAT dumplings? LYN: In moderation. You just can’t feed it to them all the time. C: She’s not a “little kid” she’s a “little dog”.  LYN: Same difference. She’s still small. It’s just an expression, oh my goodness...

C: Are you male lead or second lead? LYN: Technically speaking I’m third male lead. I’m playing the male lead’s brother. I come out on screen... and then I immediately die in battle. That’s my situation... and then I can wrap up! But, this scene is so complex that I need four months to prepare for it. I have to work out how this character should die: every breath, every drop of blood, and how I should die. What words should I say before my death? All of those require months of preparation. C: He’s not taken away by aliens? LYN: Here’s the thing- I play the male lead’s brother and die on the battlefield in the first episode. After I die, I come back in the last episode on a UFO. Actually I’m not dead, I was just taken by aliens. I participated in an intergalactic war and after two battles I was brought back. I return in glory. C: What’s the book called? LYN: The book is called... “Fun Tales of an Alien and I”. Does this book have fans? LYN: “The Days I was Abducted by Aliens” is also a good name. This book has two names. It’s a good book. Look it up immediately, it’s the drama I’ll be shooting next.

C: Ning-ge, is that a Hogwarts pin? LYN: No, it’s Donald Duck. It says, “Get rich” *(发财). LYN: I hope that this year the group of friends watching my stream right now can all “get rich”.

LYN: I’ve been thinking of watching a movie lately. A lot of my friends said they went to watch a movie during the new year. I kind of want to watch The Wandering Earth II. Maybe when I have some time in the next couple days.

LYN: It’s about time, friends. Someone earlier said their mom wanted them to sleep at 11p. I guess they already went to sleep, then. It’s about time for me, too. I have’t eaten yet and so I need to make something to eat later.

C: Eating late night snacks isn’t healthy. LYN: Let’s discuss this topic of “late eating”. This friend says that eating late at night isn’t healthy, but there’s also a saying that goes “A man is not rich without external wealth, and a horse is not fat without night grass. (人无外财不富，马无夜草不肥) So from a certain aspect man and a horse are the same. Why are some people prone to being fat? Because they eat late night snacks. But if you say it’s not good (healthy)... I don’t agree. It depends on circumstance. For example, if you’re going to get abducted by aliens for it, that’s bad. But to me, as someone who lives on the Earth, who just woke up this afternoon, a “late night snack” is actually my “breakfast”. It’s my first meal, so it’s “breakfast”. Are you going to tell me that breakfast is bad for you?? This is reasonable, right? So we can’t say that late night snacks in and of themselves are bad, rather the TIME that you eat them determines whether they are good or bad. If I woke up this afternoon and still haven’t eaten, but you tell me that late night snacks are bad so I skip the meal and go straight back to sleep... I’d have gone a whole day without eating. Tell me, is not eating all day good for you or is eating late snacks good for you? LYN: If it were any other topic I wouldn’t chat with you about it. But since you brought up the topic of food I HAVE to chat about it, as a cook myself. I have officially learned for two years and worked for two years as a cook. So once you start talking food with me, I get excited because it has to do with my profession. If you were to try to talk to me about aliens I won’t try to carry the conversation. But as soon as you talk about eating and food I have to put a word in, because it’s my job. Also, us cooks have a course on Nutrition and Wellness. We have a book- though I didn’t read it- but I have it. But maybe because I have this book, I would know more about this topic than most. So I want to talk to you about it. I won’t argue about any other topic.

LYN: I’m thankful for everyone who is still here and who have watched my stream. If you still haven’t subscribed to my weibo please do so. You can come watch me the next time I stream. If you have time, of course. If you’ve got something going on, continue with your business. You can still subscribe, though. It’s not shameful. It’s not shameful to subscribe to Modern Brothers Liu Yuning’s weibo.  LYN: Thank you to everyone who kept me company tonight, even if you came and spent only a little bit of time. I’m grateful for your company. Let’s meet the next time there’s an opportunity, alright? I wish everyone a happy, relaxing, and wonderful night. It was great to have you and I’m happy you came. Let’s meet the next time. Good night, everyone~