Chapter 34: Call Me Jimin-ie

"I feel like having ramen."

Wondering if Lin Shouxia had woken up yet and what he might be doing at this very moment, Liu Zhimin sat on a bench in the convenience store and sent a message to that annoying man. She had declined her best friend's invitation for a grand meal, choosing instead to sit alone in the convenience store, waiting in anticipation for a reply from that person.

She had feelings for him.
And so... she looked forward to seeing him.
She also looked forward to seeing a change in his attitude toward her.

"Want some ramen?"

Before long, Lin Shouxia noticed the message from the girl. He was currently staring blankly at the pot of boiling noodles. He had originally thought about being lazy and staying home alone, never expecting that they would share such a telepathic connection—Liu Zhimin had the exact same idea.

[I'm cooking ramen right now.]

Along with this text came a photo of the ramen broth boiling, its vibrant colors and steaming heat instantly giving the hungry girl a taste of what it was like to "quench one's thirst by looking at plums."

[Lin Shouxia, Lin Shouxia, Lin Shouxia!]

[What's wrong?]

He was fine just a moment ago; why did he suddenly start acting so erratic? Was the weather too cold? Or was the pressure of work getting to him?

[I want to eat instant noodles. You're cooking instant noodles. Shouldn't you say something to me at a time like this?]

[Have you eaten yet?]

[No. And then?]

[Do you want to come over? I'll set an extra pair of chopsticks for you.]

[Okay, okay!]

[...]

[I'm on my way.]

[...]

Wait, hold on. He had just been joking along with Liu Zhimin's train of thought; he had absolutely no intention of actually inviting the girl over for a meal. Are you kidding me? Inviting someone over for a meal and serving them ramen, especially when that someone is the girl he likes? Was he out of his mind, or was he planning to starve for the next few days? No matter how poor he was, he hadn't sunk so low as to serve a girl ramen as a treat.

He turned off the stove, hesitated for a moment, then set the cooked ramen aside. After carefully searching his refrigerator, he sighed and changed into clothes suitable for going out. Of course, he didn't forget to apply a light layer of makeup. Only after making himself look clean and presentable did he pick up his car keys from the entrance.

With his daily high-intensity work schedule, there wasn't much left in his pantry. Since he didn't want to serve the girl he liked mere ramen, he had no choice but to find a way to prepare a more sumptuous meal.

[What would you like to eat, Nuna?]

[Ramen!]
[Also, don't call me Nuna.]

[Why?]

[Because... you were the one who said you didn't want to call me sister anymore.]

Huh? When did I ever say I didn't want to call you sister? The man sat in his car, pulling at his hair in frustration, his eyes filled with confusion. I really shouldn't drink... the man lamented once again. After drinking, he truly couldn't remember a thing. But, was Liu Zhimin by his side yesterday too? So... that gentle voice last night wasn't a dream? But then... what about Shin Yuna?

[Then what should I call you?]
[Senior?]

[You should call me Zhimin.]
[Or you can call me Yuzi.]

[If not ramen, what do you want to eat?] Never mind, titles weren't that important; he even had fans who called him "baby." The pressing issue now was the meal he had to prepare for the girl he liked.

[I don't want to tell you.]

Perhaps it was the man's imagination, but Liu Zhimin seemed particularly energetic today, like a lazy little kitten scratching at his palm, one stroke after another. Even though it made him feel itchy and tempted to let go, he... he couldn't bear to release her. He wanted to be teased by this little kitten for the rest of his life.

[Come pick me up.]

[Where are you?]

[At the convenience store where we had ramen last time.]

The girl lifted her eyes, reached out to wipe the condensation off the window, and gazed into the distance, remembering the way his mouth had twitched at the time. You who are cute, you who are annoying. Lin Shouxia, what kind of person are you?

When the girl looked back, a man in a long coat appeared outside the window. He leaned down slightly, meeting the girl's eyes through the glass. Then... the girl smiled. She happily bought a box of ice cream from the store, walked out, and stood beside the man.

"Shouxia-xi, is the ramen at home already cooked?"

"Yes."

"Then shall we go back?"

"What do you want to eat?" The man peeled the ice cream packaging, scooped out a small spoonful, and placed the box into the girl's hands.

"Want to know?" Liu Zhimin took a small taste from the spoon; the rich, milky flavor was sweet, much like her current mood—unexpectedly pleasant.

"I want to know." Lin Shouxia took off his gloves and put them on those small, bamboo-shoot-like hands, then carefully tugged at the girl's sleeve, leading her into the warmth of the car.

"Then what should you call me?"

"Aren't you Nuna?"

"I don't want to hear you call me Nuna anymore."

"Zhimin-ni?"

"I want to eat braised pork, I want to eat Hanwoo beef, and I want to eat fried chicken!"

"..."

Um... could he take back his invitation now and go home to eat his ramen in silence? Even if it was cold, it wouldn't matter. So, this girl just came over to eat a meal, right? She really didn't have any other intentions toward him?

People can smile even when they are speechless. The man laughed as he bought proper ingredients at the supermarket, and laughed as he served the results of his hard work onto the dining table.

"Your cooking is so good; if you weren't a singer, you could actually be a chef, right?"

Watching the man quietly bring a bowl of instant noodles from the kitchen to sit beside her, Liu Zhimin’s lips twitched, unable to hold back a smile.

"Actually, Shouxia is a very silly kid." Her mind drifted to what Lin Yinglu had just said. "But he has a good heart and knows how to take care of people. If he bullies you..."

Automatically omitting the less important parts, Liu Zhimin's memory returned to that snowy night strolling through Seoul Forest.

—Nuna, you should really smile more; you look good when you smile.
—Compared to Nuna, I seem to be a man who is more resistant to the cold, right?
—Nuna, I'd like to take you out for a meal.

He was, in fact, a kid who knew how to take care of others. A sensitive boy who could read her heart.

"You're just eating this?" Liu Zhimin bit her lip, gripped the man's wrist with her right hand, gave it a gentle squeeze, and took the chopsticks from him.

"The ramen is already cooked; it shouldn't go to waste."

Lin Shouxia froze, then looked at that clean, pretty face with a puzzled expression. Her hands were just like her face—small and round, like little bamboo shoots; they didn't really have much of a threatening presence. It was just like how she presented herself to the outside world.

The tough, strong leader of aespa also had her own vulnerabilities; she was, after all, just a girl in her early twenties. Backstage at the Gayo Daejeon, he had noticed that silhouette looking lost due to the sparse cheers from the fans. Lin Shouxia had wanted to go over and hug her, but... he had been discouraged by a remark he’d overheard by chance.

What he could be certain of now was that he had feelings for Liu Zhimin—very strong feelings. Not the kind a younger brother has for a sister, nor the kind a singer has for a listener. He liked this woman—the kind of liking that exists between a man and a woman.