Chapter 1: Yuan Xi (Part 1)

  Thanks for the rewards from Xiang Tianxiang, Ling Hongyan Weilao Junxianshi and Royyi!

  Alas, I've written too much sentimental stuff. Originally wanted to create something fresh and clean, but it doesn't seem to be working out...

  ============

  "The girl sitting next to me is really annoying, she knows I'm bad at math but still intentionally asks me to explain how to solve problems... What's wrong with being a math idiot? I've even heard that some people can't recite the multiplication table. She must be targeting me because she knows I'm an intern at the company. Someone told me her name is Cassiopeia, humph, these people are so arrogant..."

  Facing the mirror wall of the practice room, Yoon-ah was casually pressing her legs while pouting and muttering to Ahn Jun-young about the shortcomings of their classmates. Next to her, Taeyeon, whose dance skills were still at a beginner level, was sweating profusely as she tried to move her hips, but it seemed like the girl still had a long way to go with her weight loss.

  Listening to Yuner's complaints, she asked breathlessly: "Cassiopeia? What is it?"

  "The fan group of TVXQ's brothers is really scary..."

  Yoon-ah's words were cut off by Ahn Jun-hee, who had been smiling and watching the two of them, as he came over to help her press down on her leg: "Don't say these things in the company, and don't say them outside either."

  "Oh..." The girl nodded as if she understood, then smiled slyly: "Then, Junhe brother, have your fans teach them a lesson for me in the future!"

  "Hehe, silly girl, do you think this is a fight?" An Junhe indulgently rubbed her sweaty hair, and in the face of the girl's unwilling expression, he could only coax: "Work hard at practicing, when you debut and become a big star, then let your own fans teach them a lesson."

  "But... there are still many years to go..." Yuner furrowed her brow, anxiously counting on her fingers, calculating how much longer she would have to wait before making a debut, and how much longer it would take to reach the level of Dongfang Shenqi. This was naturally impossible to calculate, and she felt a bit disheartened.

  However, she has always had a talent for simplifying complex things, but soon forgets this point of distress.

  "Great, when I become a big star!" Clenching her small fist, Yun'er loudly cheered herself on: "Later, when I become an emperor and have tens of millions of fans, they'll be drowned by them!"

  "It's Tian Hou." An Junhe corrected with a smile.

  "It doesn't matter!" The girl waved her hand, "Anyway, the most powerful one will do! In the music industry, in the entertainment industry, they are all the most powerful, winning awards until their hands are soft, selling out albums, countless fans, and when the time comes, just one person's saliva can drown them, haha!" She imitated Xiu Ying's mannerisms, pinching her waist and laughing like a queen.

  That ridiculous appearance made Taeyeon, who was trying to do a split, burst out laughing and then fell over, holding her stomach...

  It was a few days after Ahn Jun-hee returned from Japan, and outside, the snowflakes were fluttering down, which was about to be the last silver dress sent to the earth before winter's footsteps retreated. The goose-down-like snowflakes floated in the overcast sky for two days without any sign of stopping. It is said that many houses in Gangwon-do were crushed by the heavy snow, and many singers in the music industry were organizing charity events to visit the disaster-stricken people and soldiers who were clearing the snow. However, for girls living far away from there in Seoul, who only had a slight connection with the entertainment circle, both the snowstorm and the charity performances seemed too distant. So they continued to live happily, occasionally going to the park covered with deep snow to play in the snow, but more often staying by Ahn Jun-hee's side.

  After returning from a trip to Japan, Yun-ah and Tae-yeon, who usually liked to play with Ahn Jun-hee, were the first to notice that he seemed to have changed in some way. However, they couldn't quite put their finger on what it was. He also seemed to treat them as usual, but occasionally would stare at their lively figures in front of him and become slightly distracted. The emotions hidden in his distant gaze were incomprehensible to them, and all they could sense was the downturn in his mood, so they tried their best to comfort him.

  Two little girls, what other ways can comfort him? It's just that they would run to his workshop more often, and when he was free, they would also coax him to the practice room downstairs and have him accompany them in their practice.

  However, when he was around, the two of them were usually not very serious. Either Yoon-ah would chatter on about something that happened at school or during practice, or Tae-yeon would do the same, and it would all be trivial matters. If they coincidentally had time, Soo-young and Yu-ri, Soo-young would also come over, a group of girls making a ruckus, just like birds chirping on branches in spring, chattering away noisily, while Ahn Jun-hee would sit to the side with a gloomy expression, holding little Hyun.

  Fourteen years have passed, but Xiao Xian still looks like a 13-year-old. She hasn't grown much, still has long hair and wears her school uniform neatly, with a neat bag or backpack slung over her shoulder. When talking to people, she also politely looks them in the eye. The only time she breaks out of this mold is when she occasionally chats with An Junhe via text message, wearing pretty clothes at home or in the park, taking pretty photos and asking if he thinks she's grown up a bit, or if her sisters are good-looking.

  At that moment, I will clearly feel that this child has indeed begun to grow up and gradually understand the need to show off his own beauty. Although it is still immature, the blooming of this flower bud seems to be just around the corner.

  At this time, Tae-yeon collapsed to the ground, clutching her stomach in pain. Ahn Jun-hee's phone suddenly beeped with an incoming message. He smiled and helped Tae-yeon up while opening the message. It was a selfie of Soo-young wearing a bright hanbok, smiling shyly at the mirror. The caption read: "Mom just made this for me, do you think it's pretty, brother?"

  An Junhe responded with a drooling expression picture.

  When Xiaoxian replied the next time, it was already early in the morning of the second day. It was still a photo, and the girl in the photo was wearing the same Korean dress as yesterday. The background was a section of corridor railing, with a line of words asking him playfully: Brother, guess where I am?

  An Junhe, who had just woken up and was still a bit dazed, couldn't guess what it was, but the answer soon appeared. The doorbell rang, and when he opened the door rubbing his eyes, Xiao Xian was standing outside with her hands elegantly placed on her waist. As soon as she saw him, she gave a big bow: "Brother, Happy Yuanxiao Festival!"

  "Huh...?" An Junhe rubbed his messy hair, "Yuexi Festival?"

  "Really!" The girl blinked her big eyes and asked innocently with a hint of loss: "Brother forgot again?"

  It's clear that he remembered the New Year's visit about half a month ago, An Junhe didn't attach much importance to Spring Festival. He and his sister just had a casual dinner on New Year's Eve, and of course, they didn't pay attention to visiting relatives the next day, after all, there were no close relatives here. However, unexpectedly, on the first day of the new year, he was woken up by the doorbell early in the morning, and as soon as he opened the door, Xiao Xian appeared outside, making a grand bow.

  That in itself is nothing, the key is that he forgot to prepare red envelopes at the time... It can be imagined that Xiaoxian, who has always followed the rules to the point of being rigid, followed the rules and paid his respects for the new year, but didn't receive any red envelopes. How bitter and hurtful it must have been for him.

  For several days, the girl had been suspecting that An Junhe didn't like her anymore, and she even secretly cried about it.

  Of course, Soo-hyun is used to it now, so after a brief loss, he smiled and said: "I knew brother would forget, I told mom about the New Year's visit last time, today mom prepared a lot of glutinous rice balls, let me call brother and Ji-soo sister to my house for the Lantern Festival."

  An Junhe looked her up and down, taking in her bright Korean dress, which still had some snowflakes on it that hadn't been brushed off, and the hem of her skirt was stained with water from the snow. He couldn't help but laugh: "You... came like this? A phone call would have been enough, you... sigh!"

  "This is a rule! Please celebrate the holiday with your brother, how can you just make a casual phone call?" The girl widened her clear eyes, looking very puzzled.

  "Hmm..."