"Hey everyone! How's it going? I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support and love. I truly appreciate it! Now, here's the latest chapter for you to enjoy. Take care and much love! xoxo ❤️"

---

 

Yoona found herself caught between the two girls, unsure of how to handle the situation. Just then, her phone began to ring, providing her with a convenient escape.

 

"Thank goodness you called," Yoona exclaimed in relief.

 

She briskly walked past the members of Blackpink, offering them a small smile before making her way out. Jennie, however, paused in her spot, watching Yoona's retreating figure. She contemplated whether she should follow her, but before she could decide, she was interrupted by Jisoo.

 

"Give her some space for now, Jennie," Jisoo advised, gesturing for her to enter their room.

 

Jennie flopped onto a mini couch inside the room, her frustration evident. She recounted the incident to her fellow Blackpink members, explaining what had transpired earlier. Rose took on a maternal role, placing her hands on her hips while scolding Jennie. Jisoo, on the other hand, sat in front of Jennie, calmly eating her chicken. Lisa leaned against the door, arms folded, and observed the conversation.

 

"What's your plan, then? Are you going to confront a senior without considering the consequences? Because that would be incredibly embarrassing, Jennie Unnie," Rose chided, even though Jennie was part of the maknae line.

 

Jisoo nodded in agreement between bites of her food. "Yeah, Chaeng's got a point. Listen to her advice."

 

"Doesn't she feel embarrassed about what she did earlier?" Jennie continued her rant about the senior's actions. "Let me tell you something, she knew I was watching. She absolutely knew and still had the audacity to tease me like that! And in the hallway, no less! She predicted I would call my 'Deer,' so she called her too. Impressive move on her part, I must say," Jennie added with heavy sarcasm in her voice.

 

"Wait... what?"

 

"Huh?"

 

"What did you just call her?"

 

"Uh... My Deer?"

 

"Isn't that what you have in your Instagram caption?"

 

Jennie rolled her eyes, thinking this might be a crucial matter, only to find out it wasn't. "Yes, because you read my caption."

 

"Don't you have time to read the comments there?"

 

"I haven't, why?"

 

"You should, girl. If CEO Yang finds out, he'll go hysterical."

 

Jennie finally gave in, taking out her phone and opening Instagram.

 

There were countless comments on her latest post.

 

1 million comments

@IloveJennyRubyJaneKim - OMG! WHO IS 'NINI'? TELL US WHO THE 'DEER' IS!!! 🦌

@JenlisaparinmgaULOL - Is it Lili? She does have doe-like eyes though 👀

@lalisa_manoban123 - Guys, calm down. The truth is, it's really just me and Jennie, you should understand.

@JenlisaFTW - That's just for Lisa, everyone! 

 

She couldn't fully grasp the meaning of all the comments, but she chuckled when she read the word "gay." That's right, I'm gay for the Detective.

 

@donttouchme_imfragile - Is this about Dispatch? Could it be Kai from EXO again? What if it's about gender identity 🤔, but that could be a big deal given South Korea's stance on LGBT. OMG! Is Jennie going to come out? With whom? Could it be her fellow member Lisa? I'm so proud of her!

 

Everyone assumed it was Lisa because they had been extra sweet lately, showering fans with affection. But that was just it. You could label it as fanservice if you wished (a/n: my heart truly believes that JENLISA IS REAL, not just fan service, fight me!), but her heart truly belonged to the Detective.

 

"I never expected these comments... so many of them."

 

"Yeah, right? That's what you get when you share something personal. People won't stop until they uncover the truth."

 

"You can either delete it, but people have already taken screenshots, or you could discuss it with CEO Yang to address the issue," Jisoo chimed in after finishing her meal.

 

"You know he won't be pleased if he finds out," Rośe unexpectedly added.

 

Jennie sat up abruptly, looking back at Rośe. "What are you talking about? He knew about this from the start, which is why he released news about me and Jongin breaking up."

 

Her response left the other members wide-eyed. "You never told us about that."

 

"Really? I thought I did."

 

"What did he say?"

 

"I was surprised he was okay with it. I think I understand why he agreed so easily now." The three of them nodded slowly, starting to comprehend Jennie's point. "He loves the idea of involving Detective Lim in my career. He knows everyone adores the Detective, even me. A scandal with Detective Lim would be advantageous for him financially. While I don't mind being in a scandal with her, it seems like I would be stepping out of my shell, you know? I'm quite certain it will happen... I just need to be patient with her."

 

The three of them stared at Jennie for a moment. It was evident that Jennie was deeply in love with the Detective, to the extent of considering such thoughts without weighing the pros and cons.

---

 

"If I hadn't called you today, I knew it would never cross your mind to call me."

 

"It's not like that. I've just been quite busy lately. That's all."

 

"Yoong, I know you. If you want to, you'll find a way. It doesn't seem like you've even considered it. Just investing a single minute to pick up your phone and send me a message. It wouldn't hurt you. I waited, Yoong. I waited."

 

Yoona rolled her eyes at her mom's current behavior. "Mom, please stop acting like this. It's making me cringe."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"It feels like we're a couple fighting over trivial matters, and you're scolding me for not giving you enough attention."

 

"Excuse me, young lady? These aren't trivial matters. These are BIG THINGS, alright? I'm upset with you for making me wait for nothing."

 

"Mom, please stop. It really makes me uncomfortable."

 

"Just kidding. I'll let it go for today, but no more later, okay? You have to win me over! I called to tell you that I'm planning to visit you."

 

"WHAT?! WHY?!"

 

"I just want to spend time with you. I want to hang out with you, have some mother-daughter bonding."

 

"Mom, I have work."

 

"So what? I just want to fulfill my responsibility as your mom. And I bet you're missing my home-cooked meals there. I know you can't resist that."

 

"Yeah... right. But mom, is that the only reason you want to come here?"

 

"Do I need any other reason?"

 

"N-nothing. As if I could stop you. I know you always get what you want, so why bother trying to stop you? It would be a waste of energy."

 

"It's good that you still understand. I'll let you know when, okay? I just need to finish up some paperwork here. I can't wait to finally spend time with you!"

 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've got to go. Are we good now?"

 

"Yup. I love you, sweetheart!"

 

"I'll hang up now."

 

"Not until you say those three words!"

 

"No."

 

"Yoong!"

 

"I said no, Mom."

 

"One."

 

"No."

 

"Two. Don't make me fly all the way there right now."

 

Yoona sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. I love you too! Are you happy now?"

 

"Very happy," she could hear her mom giggling through the line.

 

"Bye!" Before her mom could say anything else, she hung up.

 

Returning to the waiting room, Yoona was surprised by the occupants she found inside.

 

"Unnie, we just introduced Ms. Jung to Blackpink," Seulgi informed her.

 

Yoona glanced at Jennie, who had her arms folded, wearing her signature displeased expression, and then at Jessica, who seemed to be mirroring Jennie's attitude. Yoona mentally facepalmed at the sight. She yearned for a moment of peace without the tension between them.

 

"Okay! So, Ms. Jung, are we ready to go now?" Yoona decided to intervene, sensing that the tension could escalate further.

 

"Actually, Yoong, I've decided to join them for dinner at the restaurant they were discussing," Jessica replied, shifting her attention from Jennie to Yoona and offering her a smile.

 

Jennie rolled her eyes at Jessica's abrupt change in demeanor. "YOONG?!" Both Jennie and Yoona exclaimed in unison.

 

"Seul, if the restaurant you picked is the one owned by Sunmi, I swear I'm going to do something you won't like," Irene voiced her concerns, recalling her past experiences at the restaurant that Sunmi always seemed to draw Seulgi to.

 

"What? No! I promise, this place is much better than that," Seulgi assured Irene, dismissing her suspicions with a wave of her hand.

 

"You'd better be right."

 

"Yoong? Why did you call her Yoong? Is that even her nickname?" The question hung in the air, accompanied by a palpable tension. It was as if the girl who asked the question could breathe fire with her intense gaze.

 

"My mom always calls me that."

 

"No. I made it up. Is that a problem?" Jessica challenged, raising an eyebrow at the girl who had spoken.

 

The response came with a fake smile, "Not at all."

 

An awkward silence enveloped the room. "Alright, let's get going!" Yoona interjected, quickly exiting the room and leaving the tense atmosphere behind.

---

 

Outside of the restaurant~

 

"Why did you make decisions without consulting me first?" Yoona's frustration was palpable in her tone.

 

They were standing in the parking lot, allowing the Red Velvet members and Jessica to get ahead while they discussed their situation.

 

"I didn't make any decisions on my own, okay? Joohyun and her group, including Ms. Jung, decided to eat out, and I merely suggested a good place," Seulgi explained.

 

"Then why is Jennie—"

 

"Joohyun wanted Jennie and her members to join us. They're close friends, after all."

 

"This is a complete mess," Yoona groaned, running her hand through her hair. "And how did you even find out about this place?"

 

Seulgi nonchalantly whistled as she put her hands in her pockets. "I did some research."

 

"Look, even though I don't approve of this situation, I have no control over it. But I really don't want any complications. Joohyun might become suspicious, and I doubt she'll appreciate the awkwardness. And the only person who can resolve this is… well, you."

 

"Me… what?"

 

"Manage the two girls. We both know that their behavior is because of you."

 

Yoona rolled her eyes. "Yeah, thanks for the reminder."

 

Seulgi's expression shifted to guilt. "Okay. Do you want to bail out? I can cover for you. I just don't want you to explode."

 

Yoona smiled at Seulgi's concern. "I've got this. Don't worry." They exchanged a fist bump. "Ready to go?"

 

"Ready."

 

"By the way, do the other members know about your relationship with Joohyun?"

 

Seulgi shook her head. "Not yet. I think Joohyun will tell them when the time is right."

 

"Got it."

 

"Ready for the commotion?" Yoona quipped, a smirk playing on her lips.

 

Seulgi responded with a smile and a wink. "Born ready, baby."

 

They shared a laugh and made their way inside the restaurant.

 

"Come sit with me, Yoong!" Jessica beckoned, tapping the seat next to her.

 

Yoona hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gave in. She just wanted to eat without any extra drama.

 

The large table could seat more than a dozen people, organized into groups of six. There were a total of eleven people present, leaving one seat unoccupied. Irene and Seulgi sat beside each other on one side, closer to Jessica. The next chair beside Yoona was vacant.

 

While they waited for their food to arrive, they engaged in conversation. Leaning closer to Jessica, Yoona decided to ask a question that had been on her mind. "Can I ask you something?"

 

Jessica glanced at her nervously, their close proximity making her uneasy. "Sure, what is it?"

 

"Where did 'Yoong' come from?"

 

"I honestly don't know," Jessica replied.

 

"What do you mean you don't know? You were the one who called me that earlier."

 

"I did. It just slipped out. I can't explain why, but it just felt right. Wait... do you not like it?"

 

"Yes, Ms. Jung. I do not like it."

 

"Why? Is it because you're worried about that little cat getting jealous?"

 

Yoona's confusion was evident as she looked at Jessica. "She's a person, not an animal. Even though she might resemble a cute kitten." Yoona shrugged, "Only my mom is allowed to call me that. Just so you know."

 

"Okay, fair enough."

 

As they continued chatting, the rest of Blackpink arrived, except for Jennie. They asked about her absence, with all eyes turning to Yoona. Lisa and Jessica exchanged knowing glances, raising their eyebrows playfully at her. 

 

Confused, Yoona responded, "What?"

 

"Nothing," they replied in unison.

 

In the midst of this, Jennie entered the restaurant and spotted Yoona. Her gaze narrowed when she noticed who was seated beside Yoona—Sunbaenim and Chaeng. What in the world?

 

Striding toward them, Rośe was the first to see Jennie. She waved her hand at her. Jennie communicated her "that's my seat, move" message through gestures. Rośe gulped and nodded hesitantly, then quickly got up from her seat to sit next to Jisoo.

 

Satisfied with Rośe's compliance, Jennie reached her seat and settled beside Yoona. She leaned in, whispering softly, "Hi."

 

Yoona turned her head to face Jennie, giving her a wink. "Hello, hot stuff." Jennie's face flushed, and she quickly faced forward, flustered by Yoona's playful comment. Ugh, why does she still have this effect on me?

 

They continued chatting and conversing, enjoying each other's company while waiting for their food to arrive. The air was filled with laughter and camaraderie as they discussed various topics.

 

Irene happily shared different side dishes with Seulgi, and Seulgi graciously thanked her. "Here, try this. It's really delicious," Irene offered, and Seulgi gladly tasted the dish. She smiled at Irene, using her real name, which never failed to make Irene blush. She cherished every moment when Seulgi addressed her that way.

 

The members of Blackpink couldn't help but notice the sweet interactions between Seulrene. There seemed to be something special about the way they were acting around each other—something that raised suspicions.

 

While the others pondered their interactions, the focus shifted to the food in front of them. "Here, try this," both Jennie and Jessica simultaneously urged Yoona, presenting her with various side dishes. The synchronized action raised eyebrows as the two girls exchanged glances.

 

Jessica filled Yoona's plate with different side dishes, while Jennie took it upon herself to feed her. The other members at the table watched with amusement as Jennie playfully fed Yoona, and Jessica filled her plate.

 

Struggling to keep up with the influx of food, Yoona put on a fake smile to avoid upsetting Jennie and Jessica. Internally, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by their eagerness to please her.

 

Seulgi contemplated intervening to help Yoona, but Irene discouraged her. "Let them be. If you step in, you might set off their tempers, and it won't end well," Irene advised. Although Seulgi initially hesitated, she respected Irene's judgment and decided to hold back.

 

As they continued, Yoona suddenly choked on a piece of food. The room fell into a tense silence as Jessica and Jennie quickly offered her water. However, Seulgi was quicker in her response, patting Yoona's back and helping her regain her composure. Yoona took a sip of water to soothe and gratefully smiled at Seulgi. "Thanks, Seul. You saved me."

 

Jennie and Jessica looked guilty as they apologized to Yoona for their unintentional mishap. Yoona dismissed their apologies with a wave of her hand, indicating that it wasn't a big deal, though it was evident that their actions had caused the incident.

 

"No worries," Seulgi reassured, returning to her seat and giving a knowing look to Irene, who was slightly embarrassed by the situation. "I told you," Seulgi teased.

 

"Shut up," Irene playfully retorted, her cheeks tinged with a blush.

 

As they enjoyed their meal, the conversation revolved around their recent award win and their gratitude toward their fans. They expressed their happiness and acknowledged that their fans were the reason for their success. It was a time of celebration and appreciation for their achievements.

 

"Oh, look, it's Exo!" Yeri exclaimed as she spotted the members of Exo entering the restaurant.

 

Seulgi and Yoona exchanged a knowing glance, aware of the potential tension that could arise. Seulgi could sense Yoona's unease and was relieved when Yoona winked at her, signaling that she was okay. Seulgi gave her a reassuring look in return, hoping to avoid any conflicts.

 

Exo noticed them and approached their table with enthusiasm. "Hi, Irene! Hi, girls," they greeted, exuding energy.

 

Seulgi sensed her discomfort growing, but Irene held her hand under the table, offering silent comfort that helped ease her nerves.

 

"Hello!" The rest of the girls responded in unison, masking any underlying unease.

 

Irene didn't want Seulg