ust then, Geun Suk’s phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and his eyes lit up. ‘Eo? This is interesting,’ he said to Shin Hye before picking up. ‘Yobuseyo?’
Shin Hye’s brows creased at Geun Suk’s mischievous expression.
‘Yeah, she just arrived,’ he said to whoever was on the other end, giving her a sideway glance. ‘Joon hyung is mad at her though. Did you have anything to do with that?’
Shin Hye’s eyes widened at the realization of who it was. She panicked for some reason, and instantly tried to grab Geun Suk’s phone away. He dodged her swooping hand and leaned back. Shin Hye helplessly watched his smile get wider and wider. Is he telling him I slept over? I’m going to kill him. She couldn’t quite make out what they were talking about since Geun Suk hasn’t really said much. She assumed Min Ho was the one chatting away. Out of the blue, Geun Suk’s raucuous laughter filled the room. Shin Hye jumped at the sound, while everybody turned to him. But this time, he excused himself and headed out the door, phone still on his ear.
‘Ya oppa!’ She called out, but he didn’t even look back before he stepped outside. ‘Ah chincha,’ she muttered. Lee Min Ho and Jang Geun Suk. What a deadly combination.
When Geun Suk came back, he locked eyes with Shin Hye and broke into a naughty smile. He sat down and put his hands on the table before turning to Shin Hye. After giving her a once over, he winked. ‘I didn’t know you had that side to you.’
‘MEO?’ Shin Hye was wide-eyed. She moved her chair closer to his and lowered her voice. ‘What exactly did that namja tell you, eo? We’ve known each other longer so you have to be on my side oppa.’
‘Shiro. Lee Min Ho is my new best friend,’ he playfully teased. ‘We could be the younger version of Lee Jung Jae and Jung Woo Sung. A-list best friends.’
‘Aish,’ she scowled. ‘If you don’t tell me now I’m going to call him and say that you’re flirting with me. You used to be on top of his blacklist. That will put an end to your friendship.’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘Nothing and no one can drive a wedge between us. We share a deep connection you will never understand.’
Shin Hye hit Geun Suk’s arm, and he squealed slightly. The staff were starting to look at them funny.
Geun Suk grinned as he rubbed the area Shin Hye smacked. He raised his eyebrows. ‘Why are you so curious? Did you do something weird you don’t want me to know about?’
‘Of course not!’ She snapped back, loud enough for everyone to hear.
‘YA! Can you two settle down? You’re acting like kids,’ Shin Hye’s manager told them sternly. Shin Hye could only look down in embarrassment, while Geun Suk continued to giggle.
At that moment, the reps of the Chinese company walked through the door. Shin Hye and Geun Suk stood up to greet them.
‘This isn’t over,’ she whispered to Geun Suk through gritted teeth.
They sat down and started discussing the details of the contract and the CF. Shin Hye listened carefully, but she was still thinking about what Min Ho could have told Geun Suk. From the corner of her eye, she saw Geun Suk’s lips point to her phone. She creased her brows but she picked it up and checked it under the table.
Geun Suk: Don’t be paranoid. He told me to take care of you during the CF shoot. And he said to protect you from other guys trying to win you over.
Shin Hye: Chincha? Then why were you laughing?
Geun Suk: He was gloating about having more Weibo followers than me. Not everything is about you, Park Shin Hye. As I’ve said, our friendship is deeper than you can imagine. If I ask him to choose between the two of us, don’t be too confident he’ll pick you.
Shin Hye kicked his leg under the table and she almost laughed out loud when he made a face that startled the Chinese businessmen sitting across him.
‘Dui bu qi,’ he apologized to them then proceeded to glare at Shin Hye.
Shin Hye looked down to hide her grin. Her heart fluttered at the idea of Min Ho entrusting her to Geun Suk. These were rare moments when it felt like they were actually a normal couple, with normal friends. Her phone vibrated. New Message.
Min Ho: I miss you already.
(1-24-2014)
While the rest of his staff were finishing lunch, Min Ho was alone a couple of booths away, laughing as he talked on the phone. He had finished a CF shoot that morning, and they had gone back to the hotel for some rest before his next schedule late in the afternoon.
‘You should see what he’s wearing oppa. It’s so bright and fluffy, he looks like a tropical fruit’ Shin Hye chuckled. Min Ho could he