KFPCA 04

Chapter 04

[“Maybe Oppa has been too pitiful lately, so she’s being extra careful with him!”] [“She answered so quickly, it’s like she didn’t want GD to worry; she practically answered the moment she heard it.”] [“Na, she answered the phone first before telling the people next to her that she had to take a call.”] [“Oppa is completely used to it too; the tone he used when saying he introduced Jin Shining properly was totally like he was acting spoiled.”] [“Kiyo~ (Cute)”] [“I felt like Oppa was a bit hesitant when he said they were doing a live call, like he was really worried Jin Shining wouldn’t like it.”] [“But Jin Shining is worthy of being a ‘perfect score’ friend; she didn’t give GD any room to overthink it, her reaction was super cute!”] [“Hahahaha, ‘Na, Jin Shining-xi, you’re on TV’.”] [“Aigoo, this is the first time tonight I’ve seen Oppa smile so happily.”] [“She completely understands him, she guessed how GD would introduce her.”]

“Jin Shining-xi, annyeonghaseyo. I’m Healing Camp host Kim Je-dong. I’m very sorry to bother you.”

“Annyeonghaseyo, Kim Je-dong-xi. You’re not bothering me at all, I’m just taking a break!”

“Jin Shining-xi, GD-xi just said that this is a nickname he gave you. Have you given him any nickname?”

“Of course I have! But can I say it?” Jin Shengxi hesitated. “It won’t affect Jiyong’s image, will it?”

“Gwaenchanha (It’s okay), you can say it,” Kwon Jiyong replied with a laugh.

“Kwon Nunu (Sticky Rice), like ‘Nunu’ from glutinous rice.”

“Kwon Nunu? Kiyo (Cute)!” The host pressed, “How did you come up with such a nickname?”

“Because it suits him super well, in every way,” Jin Shengxi explained. “First of all, he looks just like one—white and round, super cute. And mainly, his personality is very similar. Our Jiyong is like a little glutinous rice ball; he’s a super kind, soft-hearted person.”

While listening to Jin Shengxi’s answer, the host watched Kwon Jiyong’s reaction. Seeing him laugh until his eyes crinkled, the host couldn’t help but tease, “It seems GD-xi is very satisfied with this nickname too!”

“He doesn’t have a choice, it’s already been this many years,” Jin Shengxi’s tone was that of a longtime friend who didn’t care about a friend’s reputation.

“So, is that why Jin Shining-xi has always taken such care of GD-xi?”

“Jiyong said that? He really is a completely kind-hearted kid~”

Listening to Jin Shengxi’s adult-like sigh, Kwon Jiyong couldn’t help but interject to remind her, “Shining-ah, I’m an Oppa! Oppa!”

[Jin Shining~ Kwon Nunu~] [Aigoo, neomu kiyo~] [These two are completely like babies; the nicknames they gave each other are super cute.] [Exactly, exactly. Although our GD-xi is super cool and swag on stage, he was really super cute when he was little, and his face was round and chubby too.] [And his personality is truly like that, super cute, soft, and he loves to act spoiled.] [‘He doesn’t have a choice?’ Hahahaha, that’s exactly what a true friend would say.] [Hahahaha, Oppa is trying to defend his dignity as an Oppa, hhhhh.] [GD: Oppa, I’m an Oppa!] [Jin Shining: Arasso (I know), you’re an Oppa, baby Jiyong!] [Such a cute interaction!]

“Na, Oppa!” After responding, Jin Shengxi continued, “Jiyong is just like that—he always keeps other people’s kindness firmly in his heart, but he always ignores his own efforts. The reason I treat him well is definitely because he deserves it.”

“At thirteen or fourteen, when other kids only knew how to play, Jiyong was already working hard for his dreams. I’m very proud to have a desk-mate like that. In return, it’s only right that I help him a little.”

“The way I take care of him seems to be only in regards to studying, but Jiyong’s care for me is in every aspect! We used to have music exams every semester, and I was a complete musical idiot. Every time, it was all thanks to Jiyong; he would always tutor me a month in advance, patiently helping me correct things bit by bit. He’s also helped me a lot in life; he’s a completely meticulous person!”

“But there’s no need to talk about this between friends; helping each other is only right.”

[Jin Shining is giving GD complete affirmation!] [Jin Shining: My friend, fully affirmed!] [But it really is amazing to have a very clear dream when you’re so young and keep working hard for it.] [A ‘musical idiot’?] [Aigoo, so even a top student has a weak point!] [GD Oppa remembers Shining’s kindness to him, and Shining also keeps GD Oppa’s kindness to her in her heart.] [They are both good kids who know how to be grateful~] [It’s precisely because of this that they can remain friends forever!] [They are really two very, very good people!]

“Although that’s how it is, GD-xi also mentioned just now that he was really grateful for that phone call last year.”

“I am also honored to have been able to help at such a time.” Speaking of last year, Jin Shengxi’s voice deepened for only a second before returning to her sunny tone, full of praise for Kwon Jiyong. “Actually, I think Jiyong should thank himself more.”

Before Kwon Jiyong could speak, the host asked, “Thank himself? Why?”

“It was his own kindness that helped him! Because Jiyong is a very kind person, he left his own after-party to come and rescue me—a stranger in a foreign land—in an instant. It was his kindness that helped him!”

Jin Shengxi had told Kwon Jiyong these words many times since the incident, but hearing her say it again, Kwon Jiyong couldn’t help but be moved.

[I’m about to cry from what Shining said. She actually said it was Oppa’s kindness that saved him…] [She didn’t take any credit for herself at all, but instead affirmed GD’s kindness.] [In a situation where he was being mocked and insulted by the entire internet and even the whole country, Shining’s total affirmation is really supporting GD!] [GD is also completely moved; it feels like he’s about to cry.] [I’m about to cry too!]

“Yes, that’s a very novel perspective.” The host continued, “Then, Jin Shining-xi, do you have anything you want to say to GD-xi?”

“Can I only talk to Jiyong?”

“Anything is fine, you can say whatever you want.”

Jin Shengxi confirmed again, “Anything? Won’t you edit it out?”

“I won’t,” the host promised repeatedly. “It will be kept word for word. After the show airs, Jin Shining-xi can come back and check.”

“Na, Kamsahamnida!” Jin Shengxi paused for a moment before speaking. “Although I’m in the U.S., from the moment the incident happened, I’ve been following the situation online.”

“Jiyong-ah~” Jin Shengxi whispered Kwon Jiyong’s name softly.

“Na~” Kwon Jiyong sat up straight, obediently listening to Jin Shengxi.

“People only want to fish for evidence within their own cognitive biases; the truth has instead become an eyesore. They never wanted an answer; they just wanted a target for their prejudices. Their ears were already filtered for what they wanted to hear, and their eyes could only see what they had already preconceived. Explanations are merely redundant echoes. Once the walls of prejudice are built, the truth becomes the light that cannot get in.”

“Kwon Jiyong-xi, please continue to stride forward with your dreams. Jin Shining will cheer for you forever!”

Listening to Jin Shengxi’s words, Kwon Jiyong again couldn’t control his throat tightening. He struggled to suppress the tears about to fall, his voice hoarse, “Na~”

[I’m really about to cry, Jin Shining! You are really so good at speaking.] [True, sometimes people really don’t need an answer; they just want to find a vent for their emotions.] [Exactly, even now, when the authorities have already cleared his name, there are still people saying that YG bought them off.] [They really don’t care about the truth; they just want to find a target to vent their dissatisfaction with their own lives.] [But why does our GD have to go through all this? Woo woo woo…] [It’s a good thing GD has Jin Shining.] [I will also cheer for you forever.] [Kwon Jiyong-xi, please continue to stride forward with your dreams. VIPs will cheer for you forever!] [Feels like GD is about to cry.] [His nose is already red.] [I don’t know how many times I’ve cried already.] [I don’t know what to say anymore, I just want to thank Jin Shining-xi.] [True, she really spoke a lot for GD, spoke about a lot of things we didn’t know, and also said a lot of things GD couldn’t say himself.]

After a few breaths, Jin Shengxi’s voice sounded again: “In addition, I would like to say a few words to everyone who will see this episode in the future.”

“Our Jiyong is able to stand on stage so coolly now because he silently suffered a lot of hardship and put in so much effort in places everyone couldn’t see before he walked into your view. He loves music, and he cherishes his current career very much. Anything—anything that would affect him standing on stage—he would never do. Please give our kind Kwon Nunu a little more love and trust. Please!”

[Our GD-xi really didn’t have an easy time getting to where he is today. From 8 to 19, 11 years of trainee life, in the days when he didn’t know if he would ever debut, he gritted his teeth and persisted to have today. No one cherishes the stage more than he does.] [True, he loves music and loves the stage. He would never do anything that would affect his ability to stand on stage.] [Jebal (Please), everyone, really give our Kwon Nunu a little more love and trust!] [Woo woo woo… Jin Shining is begging everyone!] [It’s completely from the perspective of family.] [After the whole episode, besides feeling heartbroken for GD, I just want to thank Jin Shining.] [I’m really becoming a fan of Jin Shining; she’s really so good!] [Although it’s miserable to encounter such a thing, GD must be very happy to have such a friend.] [This is really the only thing worth being happy about.]