Chapter 19 – I'll take it that you're all blind
Jisoo was in charge of driving. A Lisa, wrapped up like a rice dumpling, snuck into the car.
Jisoo was still worried. "There's so much paparazzi following you recently, how about you not go? I'll be fine."
"Don't talk so much, hurry up and drive," Lisa urged as she played with her phone. "Hurry up and deal with it so we can go home and sleep."
When they reached the bar, after getting off the car Lisa tsked. "Your little boyfriend is really quite rich."
Lisa hadn't been to this place before, but she had heard of it. It was rumored that one had to book at least two weeks in advance, and meet the minimum billing amount. Nevermind Jin with his minimal police wages, even Jisoo would feel bad if she were to visit once.
Jisoo said nothing. The two entered the bar together.
11PM was when the bar was at its rowdiest. Dim and obscure lights cast colourful shadows on the visages, lending the air a rather misty and decadent feel.
The clamorous songs the DJ was playing, had a jarring effect on Lisa, giving her a headache.
Jisoo made a few calls, her expression grim. "He's not picking up."
"You look there." Lisa randomly split the place. "I'll look here."
"No," Jisoo said. "There's so many people, it's better if we go together."
Lisa wrested her hand out of Jisoo's grasp. "I'm old enough, it's not as if I'd get lost."
The first place Lisa went to was the toilet.
There were one too many instances of drunk people fainting in the toilet. Lisa walked fast, but before she reached the toilet she bumped into someone.
It was a girl, with a petite figure. When she got hit, she fell over and landed on her bottom.
Lisa reached out to help her up. "Are you okay? I'm sorry, I was in a rush."
"... it's okay, you can go." The girl's cheeks were red, she pushed away Lisa's hand, getting up herself. "Be careful next time... why are you so tall?"
Lisa did not want to waste any time, so after she was done apologizing she prepared to leave.
But she was caught by the person behind her. "Wait a moment, you're leaving already?"
Lisa stopped, a little confused. "Weren't you the one who said I could go?"
"Can you tell me how you grew so tall?"
The whole bar reeked of alcohol. She could not tell if the waft was from the seat beside her, or from the girl before her.
She frowned, and left.
She had taken only a few steps when turning around she saw a few guys surrounding that girl with smiles and bringing her into the toilet.
The men's toilet!
The girl looked rather irate. As she pushed them away, she slapped the guy who's right at the front.
At first he was caught off guard, but when he came back to his senses, he tugged on her harder.
What sort of crap bar is this? It's so expensive, but the security is so bad!
Lisa took off her sling bag, held it in her hands, and walked up.
"What are you doing?"
When the guys heard her, they turned around as one.
One of them asked, "We're playing with our friend, you have anything to say about that, auntie?"
Auntie???
Lisa looked at her own outfit in disbelief.
When she came out she was in a hurry. Wary of being recognized, in the middle of summer, she wore a long-sleeved black shirt and jeans, keeping herself completely covered up.
OK, let's just say you're all blind!
"I'm her sister." Lisa sounded very natural as she walked up, ready to catch the girl. "Why has she never mentioned having you as her friends?"
The few of them looked at each other, not picking up the bait. They'd asked earlier, she'd come alone, looking to get drunk after having fallen out of love.
"Auntie, get out of the way, don't block us." The guy waved a hand at her.
The girl must have been touched somewhere for she kept kicking. But she was drunk, and it was all rather weak. "Where are you touching?! Screw off!!!"
This time, Lisa did not say anything as she brought her bag up, and then straight down on one of the guys.
The guy paused. "Fuck! Something wrong with your brain!"
They were about to hit back when they were hit in the back of their head by some people.
Lisa looked behind them. It was Jisoo, who had just arrived; standing behind her was a rather dazed looking Jin.
She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a familiar figure entered her field of vision.
One point nine metres in height stands out anywhere.
The guy cut through the crowd. The light on his face accentuated his already sharp features, such that he appeared extremely handsome.
Taut faced, the moment he reached, he snagged the collar of the guy right at the front, and gave him a blow –
Lisa just stared. This time she really believed those speeches along the lines of "If I hit you, you might die", because that guy fell over and could not get up anymore. He lost a tooth too, one that stood out starkly against the black floor.
She hurriedly rushed up as the guy prepared to hit a second time.
"Don't!" She snagged his arm, saying, "Don't hit again!"
Jungkook's frown was extremely deep, but those hands catching him were small and cold, cooling his fiery temple a little.
He walked up to that girl, face severe and stern, his voice low.
"Stand up."
Whether the girl kneeling on the floor was scared, or just jolted from hitting the floor, she looked at least mostly aware. Having woken from the drunken stupor, she just started bawling.
The people behind Jungkook came forward, making short work of those few boys. The way they did it, as if they were some mafia bosses, instantly scaring the boys into quiet submission.
"What are you crying for?" Jungkook said, "Get up."
The girl's legs were weak, she stood up with the aid of his pants legs. She whimpered, "Brother..."
...
At the entrance of the bar.
Jungkook's expression was still tight. Those boys had already been sent to the police station. There were drugs in their pockets, so there was no need for Somi to go and give a witness statement for them to be thrown behind bars.
Lisa pulled her mask tighter, carefully studying the girl in front of her. She had not expected this to be Jungkook's little sister.
Jungkook's expression was cold, almost frigid. This was the first time Lisa had seen him angry, his whole body was enveloped in a fierce aura, making him scarier than usual.
He said, in a low voice, "Think about how you intend to explain this to mum and dad."
Somi panicked. "Brother, can you help me keep this a secret?"
Jungkook sneered. "So you know they would be worried?"
Somi wilted, and got into the car still crying.
It was only after the car drove away that Jungkook turned around.
Even before Jungkook opened his mouth, Lisa blurted. "Little Jisoo's boyfriend got drunk. I was worried about her coming alone, so I tagged along."
Jisoo nodded, holding Jin up with difficulty as she said, "It's not good, he gained weight recently, I can't support his weight anymore. Little Lisa, drive home yourself, I'll call a cab to send him home first."
Lisa said, "It's fine, you can drive him home, I'll call a cab."
At the end of the day, Lisa got onto Jungkook's car, just like she had wanted to.
Sitting on the seat, she thought, what sort of lucky streak she must be on recently to see this man two days in a row!
As she zoned out, the person beside her opened his mouth.
"Does your hand hurt?"
Lisa paused. "What?"
Jungkook said, "When hitting someone, does your hand hurt."
"..." So he saw that too!
It was so dark! He could still see?!
She coughed lightly. "It doesn't hurt, all I did was swing my bag around gently a few times, I didn't hit anyone." She made sure to emphasise the last bit.
Jungkook felt that Lisa must have some ability. No matter how bad a mood he was in, after chatting with her, he would calm down.
When he reached the condominium, he sent her home just as he did yesterday.
Lisa waved him goodbye rather unwillingly.
But the guy did not seem intent on leaving. As he stuck his hand in his pocket, he asked, "Are you free on Wednesday?"
Lisa blinked at him.
Jungkook continued, "Let's eat together?"
Lisa's excitement lasted barely a moment. "... on Wednesday, the filming for 'Undercurrent' starts."
She made sure to display all of her disappointment on her face, afraid that the guy would not understand.
Jungkook hummed in response, then urged her, "Go in."
...
The first time Jungkook had asked her out! It failed! Just like that!!
Even after arriving at Shanghai, Lisa was still submerged in heavy sadness.
It would take almost three months for the filming to complete. She would not be able to see Jungkook for three months.
Rosé who was with her asked, "Lisa, are you okay? You don't look very fresh."
Lisa stood up, shaking her head. "It's nothing."
Jisoo said, "Let's go, our car must have arrived."
In the car, as Lisa prepared to take a nap, she heard the person beside her sigh gently.
She opened her eyes and looked over. "What is up with you? Since that night you've been acting strange."
She had asked Jisoo about Jin after that night, but she always received some perfunctory answers.
Jisoo stared out of the window. "It's nothing."
"Is the wedding date fixed? We might have to stay here for a few months, it would not affect your good day, would it?" she asked with a smile.
Jisoo said, "No, take your nap, we still have to join the rest of the crew for dinner tonight."
The hotel they're staying at was a four-star, right next to the studio. It was a rather comfortable place.
Once Lisa reached the hotel, she sunk into a deep sleep. When she woke up, she dazedly picked up her phone to take a look.
The first was a Weibo notification.
[Jungkook: Forward @ Lisa everyday street candids: This time it's bunny-girl, hahahahahahaha!!!]
Her eyelashes fluttered.
...
?
!!!?
Her head cleared immediately!
Then she snatched her phone, unlocked the screen, opened Weibo and searched @, all in a go.
The original blog post contained two photographs. In the photo, Lisa had on bunny ears and her big face mask while Jungkook held a huge shopping bag and something not quite visible.
But she knew that in there was a bear-ear headband. That headband was in her luggage right now.
Jungkook's Weibo had accumulated two thousand comments.
"That height and those legs, if it's not Lisa I'll eat shit."
"... Why do I find it so sweet???"
"Damn, so is this cheating on Mingyu, or on this Director Jeon?"
Whenever she saw Mingyu's name now, Lisa felt physiologically sick.
Ever since she'd chased Mingyu away from her door that day, he had made a show of unfollowing Lisa's blog and directed his own hot topic news. Lisa felt that this guy was wasted as a pretty face bigshot, he deserved a trophy for being the cinematic emperor.
Before she could think of what to reply to this Weibo, the doorbell started ringing incessantly.
"You have confirmed your relationship with Jungkook?" Jisoo asked, the moment she entered.
Lisa said, "No..."
"Then what is he doing on Weibo?" Jisoo finished speaking and tossed aside her blankets. "Still sleeping! It's almost dinnertime."
Lisa decided to think carefully about how to reply on her way to the dinner. After picking a random outfit from her luggage, she followed Jisoo out of the door.
While waiting for the elevator.
"Lisa, what a coincidence, you're going to the restaurant too?"
An overly delicate voice sounded beside her.
She turned around.
It really was that very coquettishly dressed Tzuyu with her agent, Lin-jie.