Chapter 57: He Left

smile was radiant.She's wearing combat boots that are fifteen centimeters high again today. Unsurprisingly, she's doing this to match Chi Jingyuan when they stand together. She'll probably wear this a...The other members also had their own plans and were doing their own things, not paying attention to the two of them. Ji Jingyuan was carrying a shoulder bag, and both of them wore masks and hats as they walked out of the hotel together.

"Where shall we eat, brother"

Once I stepped outside, a cool breeze hit my face. It was completely different from the feeling of air conditioning inside. Although it wasn't as icy cold as before, it brought a unique sense of reality to my heart.

After taking a few steps, Chi Jingyuan glanced at a taxi slowly passing by. He followed the light and looked into the distance for a few seconds before speaking.

Because he was with Han, he habitually started speaking Chinese.

"After that road curves ahead, if you walk a little further there’s a night market street. There are some large stalls selling barbecue inside, the taste is really good, I've tried it twice before."

Han pointed ahead, and said familiarly, "It's not far, we'll get there in about ten minutes."

"Are you familiar with this place I remember your brother wasn't from Beijing, was he"

"I was also brought by someone else. The movie I acted in, at the last time the crew had a dinner, someone introduced it to me there, and after tasting it, it's actually pretty good."

The two of them weren't in a hurry. They chatted and walked slowly, making several turns before finally reaching the night market street Han had described. Following his lead, they found a restaurant with just the right amount of people. Under the guidance of the shopkeeper, they set up a table in a slightly secluded spot by the entrance and sat down facing each other.

The furniture was clearly cheap plastic. The edge of the table seemed to have a greasy stain that hadn't been wiped off. Overall, it had the look and feel of a typical street stall.

"Would you like to have a drink" The waiter came over with two menus, and Han looked at them while asking.

"Beer is okay."

"Of course it's beer, let's order four bottles first, and then... What do you want to eat, Jingyuan" After greeting the waiter beside him, he looked at the menu and asked while looking.

Chi Jingyuan was also looking at the menu in front of him, just about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. He came out to see who was calling.

"Hey bro, you're a regular here, why don't you have something I'll be back in a jiffy after taking this call."

He smiled and said something, then watching Han give him an 'OK' hand gesture, Ji Jingyuan took his phone and walked a few steps to the side, under a tree for shade, before answering the call.

"It's so late calling, is everything alright"

Pei Joo Hyuk came over, and Ji Kyeong Yuan asked curiously.

At this time, if they weren't working overtime, they should be almost finished with practice and heading back to the dormitory.

"It's not a rush anyway…" Bae Joo-hyun said cheerfully, her voice light before trailing off. Even without speaking, Ji Seong-won seemed to sense the pleasant mood from her silence.

Chi Jingyuan smiled without speaking, nor did he urge. He listened quietly.

A few seconds later, a faint nasal sound came out. Bae Joo-hyun's breathing was slightly rapid as she spoke, "Just now, the room manager informed us that the original debut date around November has been moved up…"

"When do we leave"

"Just next month, the head of the room said the earliest would be early August."

Her voice held an unsuppressable joy, and even across the expanse of the pond, it was clear to feel.

It was obvious that after many years, her long-held wish was about to come true. Pei Zhuxuan's whole being was enveloped by the excitement of her imminent debut. After receiving the news, she immediately called him to share her excitement and happiness.

Only Chi Jingyuan didn't feel as optimistic after hearing it. As an outsider, he found it rather strange. Wasn't this debut a bit too early They were predicting August debut in November, that's quite a big time difference.

Ji Jingyuan estimated that the company must have a special reason for advancing their debut date by so much.

Even if they started practicing last month, there's a lot to prepare in such a short time for a debut album: learning the songs, recording, choreographing, filming music videos, taking makeup and pictorial photoshoots, etc. EXO practiced their choreography for so long when preparing their album; every day was incredibly tiring and demanding.

Unless the girl group, consisting of Bae Ju-hyeon and others, debuts without releasing an album, simply putting out a random digital single as their debut song, then there would be plenty of time.

Although he was doubtful in his heart, of course Chi Jingyuan wouldn't pour cold water on someone when they were happy. Instead, he replied in a lighthearted tone: "Congratulations then! In that case, irenexi, will we have the opportunity to share the stage next month"

"kkkkk Hahaha..." Pei Zhuxuan first spoke in a low voice, holding back several times, then couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her laughter was somewhat unrestrained, not very pleasant to hear, but it was very contagious.

After a while, the laughter stopped. Both of them remained silent for a moment. Chi Jingyuan glanced at his watch and took the initiative to speak: "I still have something to attend to here. Let's talk about the rest later."

"Okay," said Bae Joo-hyun crisply. Then she added, "Oh, and just so you know, Se-qi and the others might also message you. If you have something important to do, remember to turn your phone volume off."

"Got it."

Hanging up the phone, Ji Jingyuan stood still for a short moment, thinking about Pei Joo-hyeon and the others' early debut. After a minute or two, he returned to the dinner table and sat down.

A plate of grilled food had already arrived, sizzling with cumin and chili flakes. It looked so appetizing that even Chi Jingyuan, who wasn't very hungry at first, was tempted by its aroma.

"Calling you this late, girlfriend" Han picked up the already opened beer and poured himself a glass, asking with a smile.

"Thanks... No, it's more like a really good friend. I'm not seeing anyone right now." Ji Jingyuan took the cup and said thanks before shaking his head to deny it.

"Jingyuan, you said you aren't dating anyone, how can I be so suspicious Are you hiding something from me... You're so popular in the industry, who would believe you don't have a girlfriend..."

He gave him a glance, his face unconvinced: "Half the members already have girlfriends. When are you going to date if not now"

Chi Jingyuan blinked and pondered for two seconds before tentatively saying, "Maybe... after I'm 35"

"Pff... hahahaha..." Han couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, his hand shaking so much that he spilled some of the wine he was holding.

Chi Jingyuan also laughed, picked up his glass and clinked it with the other person's before drinking half a cup.

After the laughter gradually died down, both of them fell silent. The skewers on the table continued to emit a tempting aroma, but neither of them showed any intention of taking a bite.

For a moment, there was sudden silence. All that could be heard was the clinking of glasses from the table next to us.

On one side is silence, on the other is uproar.

"Is my brother leaving"

Qi Jingyuan broke the awkward silence first, picking up a skewer and taking a bite. He chewed and then asked.

Although it is a question, there is no intention to ask in the tone.

"..." Han was stunned by Chi Jingyuan's question, seeming a little surprised that the other party had seen through his thoughts, and even asked so bluntly.

After a few seconds, he looked at Ji Jingyuan: "How did you know"

"That's what you see."

Chi Jingyuan placed the finished iron wire down, met Han's questioning gaze, and smiled, shrugging.

But inwardly, I sighed.

He received so many headhunting offers from companies, with each offer being better than the last. Whether or not they were genuine, even if only half could be realized, it would definitely be more than he earned at s.

If Chi Jingyuan hadn't seen the world and wasn't an idol primarily for money, plus he had a complete royal treatment, I guess he would also have the urge to jump ship.

Ji Jingyuan is very popular, and although his teammates are not as outstanding, they are definitely not unpopular, especially the three members from Xia Guo's le group. They have local household registrations as well as the huge popularity and traffic of EXO. As long as they return solo, they would be a cash cow in the eyes of all economic companies.

Especially Wu Sicke got off to a good start, even though BTS is obviously much worse than EXO, they are so popular in China. He came back and became a traffic star, directly joining the filming crew for a drama.

He's so popular, wouldn't EXO members be even more amazing

It's a very simple principle.

After Wu's incident, Chi Jingyuan had a premonition, but nothing happened.

When Han suddenly asked him out for dinner tonight, he had actually expected it. He was just a little puzzled as to why he needed to be called out specifically.

Now Han's expression and reaction have validated Chi Jingyuan's guess. He exchanged a glance with Chi Jingyuan, then looked at the table in front of him. After taking a sip, he picked up his cup and drank the beer inside. He refilled it without speaking.

Chi Jingyuan remained silent for a moment. He turned his head to glance at the table nearby where diners were boisterously eating, drinking, and toasting. He didn't know what to say.

A few seconds later, his gaze returned to the table. After a moment of thought, he chuckled and said, "If we were using phrases popular in Xia country, should I smile and say to my brother, 'Each life has its own dreams, and everyone shines in their own way,' or angrily say, 'Let's sever ties and never speak again'"

The natural tone broke the somewhat stiff atmosphere. Han glanced at him and smiled, shaking his head: "Although I've said it several times already, Jingyuan, your Chinese is really great, even better than mine."

"I admit the first part, but I exaggerated the latter."

Chi Jingyuan squinted his eyes and humbly said a sentence with a smile.

The atmosphere inexplicably improved a lot, and the two people no longer held their stiff postures from before. They each picked up a skewer of grilled meat and started eating.

After eating a few skewers, Chi Jingyuan licked the oil off his lips and casually asked, "Are you all ready"

"Well, I'll stay here and eat for a bit before leaving. I already had someone take everything else I needed. There are just some clothes left at the hotel and dorm... The lawyer on the peninsula has also prepared the materials, and I'll file the lawsuit tomorrow morning after I leave."

Han nodded, not hiding anything and directly said it out loud.

"How come this process feels so familiar to me..." Chi Jingyuan smacked his lips, took a swig of beer, and then asked, "Did the other members know Tao and them."

"I've told the two people from Xia Guo before, and I've only told the rest of the members to you."

What are you saying specifically to me

"Because Jingyuan, you were a very important reason why I decided to leave EXO..." Han's expression was rather solemn.

"No way, bro, it has a lot to do with me Isn't it because of Wu Seke"

Qi Jingyuan's mouth widened in surprise, and he looked at the other person with an innocent expression.

"It's true, he did give me some inspiration for this...but don't compare me to him, okay" Han didn't deny it, but quickly straightened his face and said, "I'm not really close with Wu."

"Yeah, you chose to leave right after our concert. There's more than a week until the next performance, so we have plenty of time to rework the choreography and positions. Unlike him, who disappeared the day before the BTS fan meeting, leaving no time for rehearsals. In the end, they had to find a last-minute backup dancer to go on stage with a mask." Ji Kyeong nodded in grudging agreement.

“Besides, I won’t make up as many unfounded excuses as he does, about bullying and things like that… We can all see what those so-called photos are really about. Only his fans would believe him.”

Pursing his lips, Han seemed to dislike Wu Saike quite a bit, appearing rather disapproving of his actions.

Then he let out a soft sigh, drained his beer in one gulp, and after a moment of reminiscing, looked at Chi Jingyuan with a serious expression: "Actually, I've always been rather envious of you, Jingyuan. Not jealous, but envious."

“I also want the company to consider my thoughts for everything. I want those directors and such to smile and greet me when they see me; I also want to have many privileges... whether or not I use them; I also want to never have to say anything if I get sick, and the company will proactively take leave for me, afraid that I might be overtired and bad for my health; I also want to be the most important and dazzling person…”

"It's not jealousy, it's envy."

Perhaps it was the alcohol talking, or maybe he just knew this might be his last chance to speak up. Han, facing Chi Jingyuan, poured out all the unspoken thoughts he'd been holding onto for so long. His voice was a little agitated, clearly revealing that these ideas had been brewing in him for quite some time.

After talking for a while, he seemed to feel more relaxed. He poured himself a drink and held the blanket in his hand, but didn't take a sip: "These are things that I couldn't possibly get, no matter how hard I try, even within exo. But this isn't because of you, Jingyuan... With your background and position in the company, you've already done a good job socially, Jingyuan. And at work, you never take shortcuts or slack off because of your background. In fact, sometimes you work harder than all of us."

"I don't dislike you at all, on the contrary, I think it's really lucky and happy to be teammates with you."

Speaking of this, Han raised his glass: “To you, really. If it weren’t for you, there wouldn't be the song '咆孝', and EXO wouldn't have reached this level of popularity today. Even if I came back, my treatment definitely wouldn't be as good as it is now.”

"Thank you, this is a great reward and proof of my own cultivation and creative talent."

After clinking glasses, Chi Jingyuan drank it all in one gulp and smiled as he said thanks.

Then he looked at the few new dishes on the table and let out a soft sigh: "But, brother, if you leave, the impact on us will be really big, much bigger than Biru's love affair."

Member departures are a big deal for any group, and this year's examples with KARA and BTS serve as cautionary tales.

Not to mention, she's a popular member like Han.

"Of course, I'm Han! The captain and ace of the team. Even in terms of popularity within the group, I rank second, only after Jingyuan."

Mentioning this, Han nodded naturally, a hint of pride on his face. As a member from Xia Guo in this peninsula group EXO, he managed to reach near-top popularity, which was the best proof of his talent, skill, and personal effort.

If his departure has no impact on the team, then he has no face to speak of it.

"It's said to be second only to... but the difference between second and first is actually quite large..."

Ji Jingyuan looked at him mercilessly, curled his lips and said frankly: "Brother, my popularity in the group is abysmal, it's a huge gap."

"Haha, why do you have to specifically point that out Even as I leave, you still want to hit me down."

Han laughed twice, shook his head and looked at Chi Jingyuan with a helpless expression.

After the laughter subsided, an uneasy silence fell once more.

Everything that needed to be said has been said. Han clearly already had everything planned out and prepared for this. Decisions about one's life path aren't something you can change with just a few words.

And Chi Jingyuan himself had no intention of dissuading him.

After a while, he pondered for a moment, looked at the seemingly long-silent button, and seriously said: "After thinking about it, I think the first sentence is more appropriate."

Han nodded slowly, pursed her lips without speaking.

"Then, I'll head back first. If I go back too late, I might get in trouble with Cheng Huan… Even though I have privileges, that doesn't mean I have to use them all the time, right"

Chi Jingyuan took out a tissue and wiped his mouth, smiled, stood up to say goodbye, and prepared to leave.

"Jingyuan..." Han suddenly called out to Chi Jingyuan, who was already turning around to leave. After hesitating for two seconds, she unconsciously switched to Korean: "Fight!"

Chi Jingyuan turned to look at him, squinting his eyes with a sunny smile, and still spoke in Chinese:

"Thanks, I can do that."

After nodding, Chi Jingyuan didn't hesitate and quickly left the restaurant. He walked farther and farther away until he turned from this night market street onto the avenue. The noise from behind seemed to be cut off as if by a barrier and suddenly became faint and barely audible.

The previous clamor was replaced by the roar of car engines and honking horns on the road, making it feel like we were in two different worlds.

After walking for about ten minutes, he returned to the hotel and opened the door with his card. He saw Wu Se-hoon lying on the bed playing on his phone. After glancing at Ji Jingyuan, Wu Se-hoon continued to stare at the screen, saying, “Why are you back so early Did you eat that quickly I thought you'd be back later… Has Han Ge also returned”

Chi Jingyuan went to the restroom and washed his face, rubbing it vigorously. He let out a long sigh, then wiped it dry and half-lay on his bed, staring at the light on the ceiling. He said quietly, "He's gone."

"Gone"

Upon hearing this, Wu Shih-hsuan couldn't help but put down the phone in his hand and turn to look over.

"Wu Saik." Chi Jingyuan didn't explain, he just said a name.

Wu Shixun was stunned for a moment and then instantly understood. He sat up abruptly, the laziness from before vanishing completely: "Jia"

"..." Chi Jingyuan nodded, but didn't speak.

"Then don't you hurry and tell Brother Cheng Huan and the others"

"What's the point The other party was already prepared beforehand, and now they've disappeared without a trace." Ji Jingyuan took out his phone to check the time, then tossed it aside onto the pillow: "Cheng Huan should figure it out soon."

Having heard this, Wu Shixun, who was originally somewhat anxious, furrowed his brows and paused for a moment, as if sorting through the chaotic thoughts in his mind. After two minutes of silence, he looked over with some confusion: "He...what does he mean by inviting you to dinner when he's about to leave"

"I don't know..."

Chi Jingyuan looked at the blazing white ceiling light and smiled: "Maybe he thinks I'm handsome"

Although he said so, deep down he also understood some of the other party's intentions.

It seems that Han still has deep feelings for EXO. After all, he has worked hard for them for so many years. The countless drops of sweat shed in the practice room over the years haven't evaporated or disappeared, but have gradually melted into his heart.

Although he had made up his mind to leave, he didn't seem to want to depart like Wu Saike, as a completely despicable and abhorrent traitor. He still hoped to leave a decent, not too bad, final impression in the eyes of the other members he had spent so long with.

Or perhaps in Chi Jingyuan's eyes, Han was one of the most respected members of the team. Even when leaving, he wanted to get some understanding from him.

Perhaps this would bring him some comfort.

The room fell silent, and the two seemed to be deep in thought.

After a while, the company people finally realized Han was gone. Lee Seung-hwan looked through several rooms before coming to where Ji-yeong and his friends were. He knocked on the door, and after hearing it, Wu Seohun went to open it, letting him in.

"Jingyuan, where did Han go after you had dinner with him I can't get in touch with him by message or phone..." As soon as Li Chenghuan walked in, he asked anxiously.

He left.

"Leaving already" Lee Seonghwan also seemed startled, his expression changing as if he had thought of something unpleasant: "What do you mean"

"That's exactly what you thought, didn't it" Chi Jingyuan looked at him and twitched his lips, then calmly and simply recounted what had just happened. He didn't mention the specific content of their conversation.

"This…" The manager didn't know what to say. However, he estimated that Lee Seung-hwan had probably done some pre-arrangements beforehand. After a brief hesitation, Lee Seung-hwan directly walked out of the room, simultaneously taking out his phone to contact the company.

The other members who were staying in different rooms also noticed something was wrong and came out one after another. After bumping into each other in the hallway and exchanging a few words, they all gathered around Chi Jingyuan and his group.

"What's going on Han suddenly can't be reached, I called him but no one answered."

"Gone Why"

"Tao, you know You and Han get along so well..."

"How come so suddenly, I didn't feel anything before."

A group of people gathered in the room, discussing heatedly, the atmosphere suddenly becoming a bit tense. Wu Saixi's recent dazzling performance had set a high bar, making it difficult for them not to make malicious associations.

Facing the members' inquiries, Xia Guo, who had known in advance about this situation, along with the other person, didn't know how to speak. He leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the floor.

Chi Jingyuan sat on the bed, leaning against the pillow at the headboard. He didn't speak. Although he had a slight premonition before, when the actual incident of the member running away happened, he still felt a bit sudden. Afterwards, there was an uncontrollable irritability and many complex emotions.

He actually understood the other person's feelings, but understanding doesn't change the fact that they breached their contract and left. It also doesn't diminish the huge negative impact his departure will have on EXO.

He was absentmindedly fiddling with his phone, swiping it back and forth without really paying attention to what was displayed on the screen. He hadn't responded to the message Jiang Shubi and Sun Shengwan had just sent Chi Jingyuan, telling them they would be debuting early.

Chi Jingyuan also noticed that Tao and Y remained almost silent throughout the whole time. At a glance, he could tell they seemed to be troubled by something on their minds.

Everyone has already left, and the company has also been trying to contact him in an attempt to dissuade and salvage the situation. After the other members gathered together and fretted over it for a while, they each went back to their rooms with their own thoughts. It's estimated that few people will be able to sleep well tonight.

The next morning, just as the 11 members of EXO were about to board a plane back to the peninsula with their team at the airport, the latest news breaking from Peninsula media immediately ignited public opinion:

On the morning of July 20th, EXO's popular member Han filed a lawsuit with the Seoul District Court through his agent lawyer, requesting the invalidation of his contract with ** Entertainment. The reasons cited include "** Entertainment's inability to provide suitable future development plans and physical ailments arising from the heavy workload."

This novel is first published on繁體小說網if remembering something suddenly, Pei Zhuxuan opened her mouth and hesitated for a moment before moving back to her original position. She took out her phone, tapped it a few times, then glanced side...