Chapter 184: Fried Chicken, Beer, and Her
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
"Ah! So refreshing!"
After downing a glass of ice-cold beer, Jiang Shu put the glass on the table and couldn't help but exclaim.
Across from him, Liu Zhimin was eating fries, her mouth watering at the fried chicken on the plate in front of her, but she held back. If she ate it, she would break her diet.
Jiang Shu didn't care about her. After a glass of beer to whet his appetite, he picked up a piece of fried chicken and started devouring it.
Most Korean food doesn't quite qualify as gourmet, but it's not entirely without delicious dishes. Fried chicken is one of the few good things to eat in Korea.
The fried chicken culture ensures that anyone in Korea can find fried chicken that suits their taste.
As for Korean fried chicken, Jiang Shu would call it better than KFC's fried chicken!
When he was in China, Jiang Shu always thought KFC's spicy chicken wings were the best fried chicken in the world, until he transmigrated to this world and had a meal of fried chicken in Seoul.
It was incredibly delicious.
"You didn't just ask me to chat so I could watch you eat a late-night snack, did you?" Liu Zhimin said, holding a fry and looking at Jiang Shu across from her.
"I was hungry, wasn't I?" Jiang Shu said, gnawing on a piece of fried chicken.
"You don't usually work overtime. Why are you still at the company so late today?" Liu Zhimin asked.
"Several groups are making comebacks, so I'm resolving some recent issues," Jiang Shu briefly explained.
"We're debuting soon too," Liu Zhimin said, resting her chin on her hand. "Yuan Ying's group is really popular."
What took IVE eight months, IZONE achieved in just a few days. The only difference between them now was awards.
This terrifying popularity put immense pressure on Liu Zhimin, who was about to debut. As fellow twin stars from the former IVE, Zhang Yuanying had already proven her and her new group's strength, and the pressure on her and aespa, who were constantly compared to them, was immense.
Even if Liu Zhimin didn't particularly like competing for first or second with Zhang Yuanying, she also didn't want to be easily crushed by her former teammate.
"Of course! I meticulously selected this super-large girl group; no other group can compare," Jiang Shu said confidently.
Liu Zhimin didn't refute him; she had no angle to refute.
IZONE, for now, aside from some issues with their strength, was excelling in all other aspects, especially their buzz and popularity, which were incredibly high.
"What about our group?" Liu Zhimin asked.
"You guys? IZONE isn't your competitor."
IZONE can only exist for three years. During these three years, aespa shouldn't even dream of competing with IZONE; it would be hard to even touch them.
Only after IZONE disbands and falls apart will it be aespa's time to dominate the girl group scene.
However, what Jiang Shu said sounded like this to Liu Zhimin's ears:
"You guys can't beat IZONE; you're not on the same level."
Liu Zhimin's face darkened. Lies don't hurt, but the truth is a sharp knife.
"Hmph!" But this didn't stop Liu Zhimin from venting her dissatisfaction.
Jiang Shu looked at the suddenly angry Liu Zhimin, a bit confused as to why she was upset.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Eat your fried chicken," Liu Zhimin said grumpily.
Jiang Shu blinked, unable to understand why Liu Zhimin suddenly got angry.
If he couldn't understand, then he'd just eat.
Thinking this, Jiang Shu continued to bury his head in his food.
Seeing Jiang Shu bury his head in his food again, Liu Zhimin became even angrier.
This guy really is something!
Sometimes, Liu Zhimin wished Jiang Shu wasn't so honest. Sometimes, if he just told a lie, she could go along with it, but he just wouldn't lie.
Amidst her anger, she also found it a little funny.
She had already broken up with him, and yet she still got angry because of him. She was truly beyond saving.
When could she separate her career and feelings completely, like Yuan Ying?
As Liu Zhimin thought this, her thoughts gradually drifted away.
Soon, Jiang Shu was full. He leaned back in his chair, let out a satisfied burp, and picked up the ice-cold beer to refill his glass.
"Alright, let's talk," Jiang Shu said with a smile to Liu Zhimin.
And what responded to him was Liu Zhimin's eye roll.
"I've been waiting for you to talk for an hour already."
"Has it been that long?" Jiang Shu chuckled indifferently, then looked at Liu Zhimin, "Will we get back together?"
"I don't rule out the possibility, but not now," Liu Zhimin said, becoming serious now that Jiang Shu was finally talking about something important.
Jiang Shu nodded at her words.
"Then I understand." He picked up the beer on the table. "What happened before was my fault. I'll drink this as punishment."
Liu Zhimin's eyes flickered, but she didn't speak.
Only after Jiang Shu finished the glass of beer did Liu Zhimin speak.
"What's going on between you and IU?
"Just having some fun," Jiang Shu said, picking up the bottle to pour himself another glass, without raising his head.
"I thought you were going to get a new girlfriend at the time," Liu Zhimin said, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at Jiang Shu.
"If I were going to get a new girlfriend, I'd tell you," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
Liu Zhimin nodded in agreement to this answer, which sounded no different from nonsense.
"You really are like that."
Although Jiang Shu was somewhat inhuman in matters of the heart, he had a virtue that many scumbags lacked.
Honesty.
If something happened, he really would say it.
"Why did you suddenly break up with me? You shouldn't have had that idea when you left before, right?" Jiang Shu asked, voicing his confusion.
At that time, Liu Zhimin turned and left, but she didn't propose breaking up. Either she would say it to his face or not at all, but Liu Zhimin later brought it up, which puzzled Jiang Shu.
"I talked with Yuan Ying, and then I decided to break up with you," Liu Zhimin said, not mentioning that Zhang Yuanying had feelings for him. Mainly, Zhang Yuanying was only fifteen, and saying something like that would be too absurd.
"I see," Jiang Shu nodded. "That does fit Xiao Yuan's personality."
Now it was Liu Zhimin's turn to be surprised.
"You're not surprised? She was only fifteen at the time."
"A fifteen-year-old girl is certainly surprising, but she's Zhang Yuanying, so it all makes sense," Jiang Shu said with a chuckle.
Liu Zhimin was utterly confused.
"You seem to know Yuan Ying very well? But you haven't had much private contact with her, have you?" Liu Zhimin questioned.
"Guess?" Jiang Shu smiled mysteriously.
"I won't guess," Liu Zhimin sneered. "Is there anything else to talk about? If not, send me back to the dorm!"
"Have your ex-boyfriend send you back to the dorm? I thought you'd say you'd walk yourself," Jiang Shu said in surprise.
"Why not use a free driver? You're just my ex-boyfriend, not some regrettable past."
Jiang Shu was stunned.
Liu Zhimin felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Are you coming or not?"
Jiang Shu started to laugh.
So, even after what he did, it wasn't considered a regrettable past in Liu Zhimin's eyes?
Compared to her, he really wasn't acting like a human.
"Yes, I'm coming! It's my honor to drive for our big star, Karina! But I've been drinking, so you'll have to drive."
Liu Zhimin rolled her eyes at him. After all that talk, he still couldn't be her driver?
Jiang Shu happily followed after her.