The possibility can't be ruled out.

"It's really okay, actually if you're there, I wouldn't want them to come."

"Eh?"

"I've mentioned it before, they're not close friends, more like work connections. I don't want them to piggyback on your fame, it's enough if they do it to me."

Bae Juhyun on the other end of the phone laughed out loud, unsure whether it was the content of Liu Xin'an's words or his playful tone that amused her.

"I'll record a video, and if you want to gift an album or something, there are some in my room's storeroom. You know where they're kept, just take a few."

"Yep, hurry up and get up."

"Why, do you want to hang up?"

Bae Juhyun picked up on the eagerness in Liu Xin'an's voice. She frowned, thinking she could linger in bed a bit longer, and Liu Xin'an likely didn't need to rush to pick up people, right?

"I'm planning to buy lunch."

"Aren't we filming a program together? Not having lunch together?"

"Well, I plan to make a low-fat meal for them, but for myself... I'm going to eat something else."

"Hahaha, what's this, are you prank everyone?"

"You can think of it that way."

"Alright, then I'll linger in bed a bit more before getting up to work, you work hard too~ Mwah~"

"Mwah~"

The conversation, filled with flirtatious energy, finally ended. Liu Xin'an looked at the screen displaying that smiling woman, and couldn't stop his lips from curling upward.

This person always makes his heart soar, just like now.

———

"Sneaking away to see me without telling Irene, if she finds out... neither of us will have a good end."

The woman in front crossed her arms, nonchalantly saying words that made Liu Xin'an break into a cold sweat.

He stood up, nervously waving his hand in front of the woman, then called out her name.

"Jinhee, did you take the wrong medicine?"

"Tch, you're totally uncooperative, boring."

Well... if we round it up, Bae Jinhee's words aren't wrong.

If Bae Juhyun knew that she and Liu Xin'an were secretly plotting against her, her sister definitely wouldn't let her off easily.

"Hey, hey, hey, if someone overhears this, or if it's recorded, both I and your sister would be in hot water."

"But we're in a private room now."

"What if there are cameras or listening devices?"

Bae Jinhee shot Liu Xin'an a look that asked if he was crazy, making his thick skin feel a bit embarrassed.

Luckily, at this moment, the server delivery fried chicken came in.

The young girl first quietly called Jinhee "sister" and then stared at Liu Xin'an with big eyes.

"A student working at the store?"

Perceiving her nervousness and shyness, Liu Xin'an used his trademark charm to ask with a smile.

She nodded, then smiled sweetly, "Hello, my name is Lee Seong-mi, I've just started working here."

"A part-time student with excellent grades, very cute person too."

"Jinhee~"

The introduction already made Lee Seong-mi shy, and the last mention of "cute person" made her face fully blush.

But working as a server at the store means not many can afford to be socially anxious.

Despite the shyness, the girl proactively asked, "Can you sign for me?"

"Me?"

"Yes!"

Such a small request, especially since she works at his future mother-in-law's store, how could he not oblige?

After swiftly signing his name, the satisfied server left.

The private room was once again left with only Liu Xin'an and Bae Jinhee. Today, Bae's mother didn't come to the store, mainly because Liu Xin'an said he'd visit, so Bae's mother naturally prepared some delicious food to entertain him.

After all, it's Liu Xin'an's first solo visit to the house, very important!

"So, when are you planning to go to the UK?"

This time Bae Juhyun and her group's last stop in Europe is London, UK, and Liu Xin'an plans to give Bae Juhyun a big surprise on the last day there.

But to hide his flight for those dozen hours from Bae Juhyun, he'd need Bae Jinhee's help.

"The end of the month."

"Timing it just right? Rare chance to visit Europe, won't you travel around?"

"Are you crazy? Just hiding the flight requires your help; if it's for two or three days... it'd surely be exposed."

Bae Jinhee showed a disappointed expression. If she weren't tied up with work, she'd want to tag along with Bae Juhyun to Europe.

"How was your stay in China? I asked her, but she wouldn't tell me! So stingy!"

"Uh... this is sudden?"

The abrupt topic shift almost caught Liu Xin'an off guard, as he munched on fried chicken and sipped cola, bewilderedly asking back.

"Yeah, I'm just curious."

"Your sister doesn't tell you mainly to let you watch the program yourself later, right?"

Though Bae Juhyun wasn't by his side at the moment, Liu Xin'an naturally stood by his girlfriend's side.

His counter-question let Bae Jinhee understand that getting any intel from Liu Xin'an would be unrealistic.

So she rolled her eyes, grabbed a piece of fried chicken, and harshly bit into it.

"She's not here, but you're still afraid of her?"

"It's not fear, I surely stand by her."

"Such love~"

...

Bae Jinhee squeezed her lunch into the midday slot, so after eating, she returned to work at her office, while Liu Xin'an drove to Bae Juhyun's home.