Chapter 73: Elysian Sanctuary

ked.The two stopped at the railing, looking at the river surface and the night view on the other side. Bae Joo-hyun tidied up her hair blown by the wind and asked curiously: "How did Jingyuan xi know...Where is your dormitory located

This sudden pop-up message made Chi Jingyuan, who was contemplating what to order for takeout, momentarily stunned.

Especially the displayed sender's name being Zhou Tzuyu, it made him even more surprised.

Before Ji Jingyuan could reply, another message came through. This time it was a photo taken from below looking up. The buildings and garden scenery in the photo were something Ji Jingyuan saw every day - they were inside their EXO dormitory complex.

Is Zhou Tzuyu here at their apartment building

Chi Jingyuan looked at the photo and reacted, only feeling speechless for a moment.

He wasn't really curious how Zhou Tzuyu knew where their EXO dorm was. This kind of information wasn't a secret within EXO's fan base at all. Just joining a fan group chat or asking around would reveal it.

XO's dorm is located on the outskirts of the area just past the bridge. It's quite close to ** Company in Gangnam, Apgujeong, and not too far from where JYP lives either.

Chi Jingyuan looked at the photo on his phone, smacked his lips, and thought for a moment before sending a "..." emoji. He didn't know what to say.

He really didn't know what to say. To scold her wouldn't be appropriate.

Be surprised, there's no joy at this moment, but plenty of astonishment.

Downstairs in the neighborhood, Zhou Tzuyu stood rather dazed beside a small flower bed, her lips pursed as she held her phone tightly and stared intently at the screen, waiting for a reply. Her heart was filled with anxiety at that moment.

Fearful of being caught off guard, Chi Jingyuan got angry and didn't reply, or simply said something like "I'm not in the dorm, go back first"

I was going to give her a surprise, but if she reacts and replies like this, she'd just become a laughingstock.

This kind of feeling, just thinking about it, you know it's heartbreaking.

Even though it was a short period of time, it felt rather long. Just when Zhou Tzuyu's heart was filled with anxiety, a message suddenly popped up on the screen.

"…"

Let me know if you'd like to translate more text!

Seeing this ellipsis, even without any words she seemed to sense Chi Jingyuan's agitation. He was clearly annoyed by her sudden arrival but had managed to hold it in. For some reason, she couldn't help but smile back, a hint of mischief twinkling in her eyes.

After waiting for a few seconds, Chi Jingyuan sent her another text message, which finally made her breathe a sigh of relief:

Building 9, floor 5.

After the specific address was sent, another one followed immediately:

"West, 503."

Seeing the last one, Zhou Tzuyu opened her mouth a bit and looked confused, quickly tapping the screen: "Which way is west"

" ... is just to the left of the elevator."

"Oh."

Chi Jingyuan wasn't in the mood to read or order takeout. He just sat on the sofa in the living room, idly browsing his phone for a while. He hadn't waited long when he heard a soft knock at the door. The sound was like someone knocking timidly, afraid of disturbing anyone inside. If Chi Jingyuan hadn't been in the living room closest to the door, he might not have heard it at all.

As he walked over and opened the door, Zhou Tzuyu standing outside immediately caught his eye.

A typical middle school uniform of a white short sleeve and a grey pleated skirt. Besides her healthy complexion, she exudes youthful energy. With a backpack on her back, she probably just ran over straight from school. Her right hand holds a large bag filled with quite a few things, looking rather heavy.

Seeing her silly look, Chi Jingyuan was too lazy to say anything to her. He glared at her, rolled his eyes, and moved aside.

"Come in."

However, through

This time, Ji Jingyuan actually learned quite a bit about Zhou Tzuyu. In front of him, she seemed meek and obedient on the surface, but privately, she had her own ideas.

"Heh heh."

She flashed a bright smile, revealing her white teeth, towards Chi Jingyuan. She walked in carrying a large bag and stood at the door, looking at the floor covered with shoes and over ten pairs of slippers. For a moment, she seemed a little confused.

"No need to change shoes, just go in. I'll clean up the hygiene later." Closing the door, Chi Jingyuan glanced at her and casually said something, kicking aside the shoes blocking the way—he didn't know whose they were—clearing a path and walking in first.

They, EXO, have a dorm with ten people in it. Unless everyone is extremely tidy and clean by nature, it's unlikely that such a big dorm would be kept so spotless and organized.

It's a pity that this is impossible. Many times, after practicing late into the night and being exhausted, no one really has the mood to clean up. It's the same in normal times, even though we have discussed several times in private meetings about trying to keep things tidy, but it doesn't take long for everything to go back to the way it was.

So if they weren't filming tasks in the dorm, Chi Jingyuan and his roommates' dorm was still quite messy, especially the area by the door where they put their shoes.

Zhou Tzuyu followed Pool Jingyuan into the room, her eyes curiously glancing at the facilities and structure inside, constantly comparing it to the JYP trainee dormitory she lived in. She seemed very interested in where EXO lived.

"You just ran over here directly What if there were other people in our dorm"

Chi Jingyuan didn't ask her why she came over. It must have been that she was angry and rebellious after being rejected twice by him the past two days. At the same time, it was also possible that she was genuinely concerned about his injury and wanted to send something to express her concern.

There's no need to ask about this unspoken understanding.

As he spoke, he proactively took the large bag from Zhou Tzuyu's hand, who was struggling to carry it.

"I saw on **'s announcement that you guys had a concert in Jakarta today, and the other members have already flown to Indonesia, so there must only be you left in the dorm."

Just now, Tzuyu Zhou, who was obviously a little awkward standing in an unfamiliar environment, smiled when she heard the words and started showing off her wit. At the same time, she handed the bag to Ji-yeong Park who reached out, pointing to the inside with some solemnity and introducing: "These are all brought by my mother when she came to see me some time ago. There are some specialties from our place, and some tonics. They are very good for your health, look at this…"

She started introducing them excitedly, even bending over and taking out several unopened packs from the large bag in Chi Jingyuan's hand to show him. She introduced each one in detail, explaining what effect it had, which one was for this and that one was for that. Then she personally testified that after eating it, she felt her body was much more energetic than before.

Just like how she had previously come forward to personally attest that the whitening effect of the face mask bought by her mother for her was excellent.

Looking at her expectant and treasure-like eyes and smile, Ji Jingyuan blinked and looked at her seriously for two seconds before gently nodding his head: "Thank you."

He listened intently to Zhou Tzuyu's explanation, then carefully put the things away on the coffee table. He then pointed at the sofa, gesturing for her to sit down casually: "But do you think your mom would be angry if she knew you were just giving away the things she bought for you"

"Of course not, my mom even told me to give some extra to others and get along well with my friends. She's afraid someone might bully me." Zhou Tzuyu's previous nervousness had faded quite a bit. She naturally settled on the sofa, about a meter away from Chi Jingyuan, then took her backpack off her shoulders and placed it beside her.

Her gaze immediately shifted to the wound on Chi Jingyuan's forehead, landing on the bloody bruise. Her expression instantly darkened with concern: "Uh~ That actually looks pretty scary. Wasn't it supposed to be a minor injury"

"This is already light, it's quite lucky that nothing major happened in an accident like this."

Chí Jǐngyuán gently brushed the hair from his forehead to the side, saying naturally.

"You look so sad, are you in pain" Tzuyu scrunched up her face.

Rubbish, it hurts like hell. Want to go and try bumping into it

"Huh" He glared at her with displeasure. Seeing her lower her head and chuckle, Ji Jingyuan got up and went to the refrigerator beside him, taking out two orange juices. After handing her one, he asked, "Did you come straight after school Have you eaten"

"Well...not yet."

"You don't expect me to cook for you, do you" Kihyun stared directly into Tzuyu's eyes, his voice laced with a questioning tone.

"…" Zhou Tzuyu gave a shy smile, looking a little embarrassed.

Unable to help himself, Ji Jingyuan picked up his phone and continued his work from before. "Let's order some takeout and eat together. After we finish, you should head back early... What do you want to eat Pizza Stir-fry Hamburgers Anything in particular"

It's fine to be the same as you.

Then let's get pizza. This place makes pretty good pizza, we order from here often when we're hungry at night.

Chi Jingyuan nodded and ordered two pizzas directly. This shop is nearby, and the delivery speed is still quite fast.

Zhou Tzuyu's main purpose had already been achieved. Seeing that Park Ji-eon wasn't angry, she felt much more relaxed at this moment. She first swayed her body back and forth on the sofa, feeling the quality of the sofa. Then, her eyes curiously looked around this place, which was a holy land in the minds of countless fans of EXO in the network: the EXO dormitory.

Since EXO became famous, fans would often camp out at their apartment building's entrance. However, besides those crazy sasaeng fans, very few people actually get to enter the dorm.

After looking around, Tzuyu found that the XO dorm looked quite ordinary. The two large living rooms were connected together. Her own living room had a sofa, TV, air conditioning and other appliances. The three doors next to it led to three bedrooms. The other living room had a dining table and a large refrigerator, connecting to the kitchen and bathroom.

Although the various household appliances were very complete, the trainees' dormitory was far less than what Tzuyu imagined. According to her, she thought that EXO, such a popular group, should have a luxurious dormitory.

“Is this EXO’s dorm” Zhou Tzuyu turned her head and asked Park Gyeong-won after looking around seriously for a long time.

"No." Ji Jingyuan couldn't help but snort with laughter, looking at the other person with a strange and inexplicable look like he was looking at some kind of creature: "You came to the wrong place. This is the dormitory for JYP's trainees."

"Feeling that she had asked a stupid question, Tzuyu was scolded and didn't dare to retort. She secretly glanced at Jingyuan, tilting her head slightly and pursed her lips."

She turned back and looked at the dormitory room behind her, then pointed to it and asked, "Is that your room"

"How do you know" Chi Jingyuan glanced that way.

"Because that's the only room with the door open." Zhou Tzuyu smiled, a hint of pride in her voice, and inquired curiously, "Can I go take a look"

"As you wish." Qi Jingyuan raised his chin in acknowledgement, but added, "Just take a look at the living room and our room. The other two bedrooms with closed doors belong to other members, so it's not very convenient."

"Okay!" After receiving a confirmation, Zhou Tzuyu immediately nodded happily, stood up, and walked towards that direction.

She's not interested in other people's rooms anyway.

"Our dormitory was rented when we first debuted. The overall area is quite small, with three people living in one room. Last year in the second half, the company said they wanted to change dormitories, but there's been no news until now."

Ji Jingyuan also stood up and followed her, watching Zhou Tzuyu walk in and look around with interest. He leaned against the door frame at the doorway, casually introducing: "But I heard from the manager that it's really going to change dorms at the end of the year or early next year. The company made so much money relying on XO this time, this time should be for real."

Their dorm room was surprisingly tidy. Clothes and belongings were neatly organized in the nearby cabinets. 池景源, 都暻秀, and 吳世勳 were all pretty particular about keeping things clean and organized. The whole place looked bright and airy, despite not being very spacious. It felt very comfortable to be there.

After Zhou Tzuyu walked in, she immediately found the bed where Ji Jingyuan lived because there were several Pokémon figurines displayed on the bedside table, which were really eye-catching.

A large, wing-spread white dragon figurine was prominently displayed in the center of the nightstand. Smaller Pokémon figurines surrounded it, each one lifelike and detailed.

It's just that the overall style of the painting and this room are slightly out of sync.

Zhou Tzuyu walked to Chi Jingyuan's bed, turned her head and glanced at him. Seeing Chi Jingyuan nod in agreement, she gently sat down. She moved her body around a few times, feeling like she was playing on a rocking chair, a hint of excitement in her eyes.

Yuan's bed in the dorm, if the trainees around her who liked Park Ji-won knew about it, they would probably be so envious. As for the crazy Aelis, needless to say, if it got out, she'd probably be torn apart.

Chou Tzu-yu felt a little pleased with herself.

At this moment, besides the fragrance of laundry detergent, there were many scents that belonged to men. Sitting on Chi Jingyuan's bed, staring at a very cute fat penguin figurine on his bedside table, Zhou Tzuyu suddenly felt her cheeks flush slightly in this somewhat special environment, and she felt a little hot.

After taking a few last glances, she quickly got up and returned to the living room with light steps. Suddenly, she noticed several piles of books on the coffee table in front of the sofa, as well as an open textbook with notes still sitting in the middle. She blinked and asked, "Were you just studying"

"Yeah, the final exams are coming up again soon. If I don't brush up on my studies, I'll probably fail just like last year... But even if I do cram, I doubt it will be enough. My behavior grade is too low."

Chi Jingyuan nodded slightly, sitting there somewhat helplessly leaning back in his chair, staring at the large stack of textbooks in front of him. Even though he considered himself a genius, he also had many things he was truly not good at.

Sighing, Chi Jingyuan turned his head to look at Zhou Tzuyu: "What about you, Tzuyu-xi How are your grades usually"

"Me..." This question was posed to Zhou Tzuyu, she wanted to say something but opened and closed her mouth several times. In the end, she just giggled towards him twice without speaking.

However, the meaning is already very clear.

Chi Jingyuan nodded in understanding. It's true that there aren't many trainees who excel academically while also juggling school. It's not just a matter of disinterest; lack of energy and time are also major factors.

Moreover, someone like Zhou Tzuyu who is a foreigner.

Pool Jingyuan's grades are also average, and it's not very suitable to criticize Zhou Tzuyu in this regard. However, even if his grades are mediocre, he is still a student at Yonsei University. Compared to the other party, there is still a noticeable sense of superiority.

There is also a gap between students.

The two of them chatted casually in the living room, mostly about everyday things. Most of it was Tzuyu talking about her recent experiences at school and practice; she had relaxed a lot and seemed much more natural.

In the middle, she also specifically mentioned that she was very popular with boys both in school and at her company. Although her tone overall seemed somewhat bored, there was a subtle hint of pride in her words.

Pool Jingyuan glanced at Zhou Tzuyu's face. Although she was a little black, her features were indeed quite good. This kind of appearance should be considered quite outstanding among people of the same age, so it's normal to be welcomed and pursued.

As someone who experienced it firsthand, he knew better than anyone. Back when he was in school, Chi Jingyuan was incredibly popular. Girls would frequently express their interest in him and ask him out, from senior students to juniors. There were also those who pretended to want to be friends, but secretly still had eyes for his looks.

Qian Jingyuan watched as Zhou Tzuyu spoke about these things, casually stroking his hair. His face was expressionless, with an air of boredom and annoyance, but inwardly, he was clearly a little proud, almost unable to contain a smile.

He's still such a little kid.

They chatted for a while and then takeout arrived. The two of them ate together in the living room.

A bite of a Mexican-flavored one, a tropical fruit, and no one had theirs separately. Instead, they just mixed them together and ate them, chatting as they went.

Perhaps she was hungry, or maybe eating in the XO dormitory made her appetite better, Zhou Tzuyu seemed to have a good appetite and ate quite a bit of pizza. In the end, she took a sip of orange juice, patted her little belly contentedly, covered her mouth and let out a burp. She just faced Ji Kyungwon hearing the sound

The eyes that had been looking at him seemed a little embarrassed, and he avoided eye contact, looking instead at the television which wasn't even turned on. He pretended to stare at the reflection inside for a while.

After dinner, she should head back. This time's objective was already achieved and she had a practice session at the company this afternoon, so she couldn't stay too long.

"Shall I have someone send you off" As they were about to leave the door, Chi Jingyuan thought for a moment and took out his phone, preparing to ask his assistant or Park In-hyun to drive her.

"No need." Zhou Tzuyu seemed to be in a very good mood now. She stood at the door, smiling brightly at Ji Jingyuan and waving happily. After saying "Bye bye," she dashed away quickly with quick steps.

After watching Zhou Tzuyu leave, Ji Jingyuan chuckled softly, shook his head and closed the door. He walked in and tidied up the leftovers on the tea table.

This little girl is really quite interesting.

Seeing the big bag of presents Tzuyu had brought over on the tea table, Ji Jingyuan walked over and flipped through it. It was similar to what she had introduced before, with many supplements, and many specialties from Wanyuan's side. For example, he saw a few pineapple cakes packaged very beautifully.

This snack seems to be a famous local dish there. I've heard Chi Jingyuan eat it several times during previous activities there, and it tastes pretty good—sour and sweet.

He took one out, opened the package, and sat on the sofa munching on it while crossing his legs and casually browsing his phone.

Zhou Tzuyu's mother is really fond of her. This pineapple cake tastes really good, it should be a higher-end one, and I estimate the price isn't very cheap.

She probably didn't expect that her daughter would be heartbroken, left alone with all the good things she had bought, only to end up eaten by Ji Jingyuan.

...I wonder what Mama Zhou must be thinking...

These past two days, Elly has been relentlessly attacked online. A barrage of insults and personal attacks have turned this promising girl group from earlier this year into something akin to Red Velvet.

Even worse.

Moreover, because this time it truly caused physical harm to Ji Jingyuan, even if it wasn't serious, it still triggered the infinite anger of many fans. Some extreme fans have gone beyond verbal attacks, including protesting at the Diesde economic company's door, mailing blades and dead rats—some very excessive real-life actions have appeared. This has left some members of the girl group feeling fearful and apprehensive. The situation over the past two days has been quite bad.

This girl group's fans are just constantly repeating this incident. The main culprit is the manager who was driving under the influence and speeding, he has already been arrested by the police and will be prosecuted and receive the punishment he deserves. These girls are just victims caught in the crossfire, some of them were even seriously injured. Please tell me, who is the real bad guy here Don't attack them anymore.

The effect wasn't very good though, the number of rational fans never made up a majority.

Seeing these pool views, Yuan also didn't know what to say.

One could only say that his meals were too pampering. When they heard about his injury, the Alices were angrier than Ji Jingyuan himself. They felt more indignant than if they had been in an accident themselves.

However, based on experience, this situation is quite serious right now. It should gradually subside once Chi Jingyuan recovers from his injury and resumes activities.

From the facts, it's clear that the victims were indeed the ones who were hurt. This time they only suffered minor injuries because of luck, but even if nothing serious happened this time, the manager driving under the influence at 130 kilometers per hour in heavy rain would sooner or later have problems. This time they had good luck, but next time it might not be so easy.

This time, not only did we get rid of the ticking time bomb of an agent, but it's also a warning that will be etched in our hearts on other fronts.

For the next few days, Ji-sung just rested in their dormitory. The other EXO members returned to the peninsula on the 7th as well. After those two empty days, the cozy dorm was bustling with people again.

The dizziness caused by the concussion actually disappeared completely within two days. However, it took eight full days of rest for the blood clot on Chi Jingyuan's forehead to finally vanish. After going back to the hospital for a re-check and being told everything was okay

, ** also timely announced to the outside world that EXO member Yuan has recovered from his injury and resumed his activities.

Under the cheers and encouragement of fans, Ji Jingyuan flew to Bangkok, Thailand with the members on the 12th for a two-day concert activity.

First release on the Traditional Chinese Novel Networkng like EXO doesn't have the upper hand. However, the situation isn't as dire as it appears because Bigbang's music sources are really bad. ""’s listen count is terrifying, it practically monopolizes...