122: Chapter 122 I trust you the most to handle this task.

In the afternoon, Jessica Jung slept very deeply. Perhaps it was because she was exhausted from crying, or perhaps due to the pain pump, she had fallen asleep shortly after Song Tianhao left the hospital room. Her breathing was even, her brows were relaxed, and her right hand was still clutching a corner of the blanket, like an insecure child.

Tiffany Hwang sat on the chair by the hospital bed, watched her for a while, then stood up gently, tucked the corner of the blanket for her, and turned to walk out of the room.

Time passed quickly; the sun set, and night fell.

The corridor was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of footsteps and whispers coming from the nurses' station in the distance. The lighting was a soft, warm yellow, shining on the polished floor tiles and reflecting blurry images.

Tiffany Hwang walked to the lounge area, where there were a few sofas by the window. Song Tianhao was sitting on one of them, his back to her, looking at the night scene outside the window. Outside was the hospital's small garden, where tree shadows swayed in the night, and the occasional chirping of insects could be heard.

She stood behind him for a long time, her hands clenching and unclenching by her sides. She pressed her lips together repeatedly, as if she had something to say, yet didn't know how to say it.

Finally, she took a deep breath, walked over, and sat down on the sofa opposite Song Tianhao.

Song Tianhao turned his head to look at her.

His face was somewhat blurry in the dim light, but his eyes were very clear, very calm, like the sea in the dead of night.

"President," Tiffany Hwang began, her voice very soft and slightly hoarse.

"Hmm." Song Tianhao acknowledged, waiting for her to continue.

Tiffany Hwang lowered her head, looking at her fingers. Her fingers were slender, her nails neatly trimmed and painted with light pink polish, though some parts had already chipped off.

"There is something…" she began, her voice even lower, "I haven't told anyone."

Song Tianhao didn't speak, just looked at her, waiting for her to go on.

"Jessica Jung's mother…" Tiffany Hwang paused, as if gathering great courage before continuing, "approached me half a year ago."

Song Tianhao's gaze shifted slightly.

"At that time, Jessica Jung had just finished filming that cosmetics commercial and received a very high endorsement fee."

Tiffany Hwang's voice was soft but clear, every word seemingly spoken with all her strength. "Her mother found me and said that CJ Entertainment wanted to sign Jessica Jung. They offered great conditions—they would pay the penalty for breach of contract, and they could give Jessica Jung her own brand and let her debut as a soloist. She said that Sky Entertainment was a new company with insufficient resources, and since Girls Generation was a group, Jessica Jung's potential within the group was limited. She claimed that going to CJ Entertainment would be more promising."

She looked up at Song Tianhao, her eyes red, but her expression very earnest.

"She asked me to persuade Jessica Jung, to convince her to switch agencies. She said that once it was done, CJ Entertainment would give me a referral fee, and the amount… was not small."

Song Tianhao watched her quietly, his expression unchanged, but his eyes were deep, so deep that his emotions were unreadable.

"But I refused," Tiffany Hwang said, her voice trembling with a lingering fear. "I refused right then and there. I said, Jessica Jung wouldn't leave; Girls Generation is nine people, and not one can be missing. I said, Sky Entertainment treats Jessica Jung very well, and the President treats us very well; we would not betray the company."

She paused, took a deep breath, and continued: "But I didn't dare tell Jessica Jung. I know her relationship with her mother has always been bad, but that is her mother, her family. I was afraid that if she knew about this, she would be sad and break down. She looks strong on the outside, but in reality… in reality, she is most afraid of being alone, most afraid of being abandoned. When we were trainees, every time she got hurt, she would hide away to cry by herself, and after crying, she would pretend nothing happened and continue practicing. I didn't want her to be sad again."

Her voice choked up, her eyes became redder, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip, forcing herself not to let the tears fall.

"So I kept it from her, didn't tell anyone. I thought, as long as I didn't say anything, her mother probably wouldn't bring it up again, and this would all blow over. But I didn't expect… didn't expect her mother would go this far, would find people to harm her…"

She finally couldn't continue; tears fell, landing on the back of her hand, leaving a warm patch.

Song Tianhao looked at her for a long time, then took a pack of tissues from his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to her.

Tiffany Hwang took the tissue and wiped her face, but the tears kept flowing. She cried very quietly, without making a sound, only her shoulders trembling slightly as tears fell one by one.

"President," she said, choking back sobs, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept it a secret. If I had told you earlier, if I had let you know sooner, perhaps… perhaps today's incident wouldn't have happened. Jessica Jung wouldn't have been hurt, wouldn't be lying in the hospital…"

"It's not your fault," Song Tianhao said, his voice very calm—so calm that it stunned Tiffany Hwang.

She looked up at him, her vision blurred with tears.

"You did the right thing," Song Tianhao said, looking at her with an earnest gaze. "Not telling Jessica Jung was the right choice. Knowing about that kind of thing would only make her sadder. As for her mother…"

He paused, his voice turning a few degrees colder. "That was her own choice. It has nothing to do with you."

Tiffany Hwang looked at him for a long time, then asked cautiously, "Do you… not suspect me? Do you not suspect that I and her mother…"

"I do not," Song Tianhao interrupted, his voice firm. "I never doubt my own people. Unless you have evidence to prove that you are not trustworthy."

Tiffany Hwang was stunned.

Then, tears welled up again, but this time not because of sadness, but because of… an indescribable emotion. It was like relief, like being moved, like the warmth of being trusted, all mixed together, making her unable to control herself.

She wiped her tears vigorously, took a deep breath, and tried to make her voice sound calmer. "President, please, you must protect her well. Jessica Jung… she really hasn't had it easy. She looks strong, carrying everything on her own, but in reality, she is more sensitive than anyone, more afraid of being alone than anyone. She needs someone to believe in her, support her, and tell her that she is right, that she is worthy of being loved."

She looked at Song Tianhao, her eyes red, but her gaze was bright, bright as if filled with stars.

"So, please, you must… you must protect her."

Song Tianhao looked at her for a long time, then nodded gently.

"I will."

His voice was not loud, but it was clear and firm, like a promise that hit the ground with a resounding echo.

Tiffany Hwang smiled, a faint but genuine smile. She wiped away her tears, stood up, walked to the nearby vending machine, inserted coins, and bought two hot drinks.

A cup of coffee and a cup of hot chocolate.

She handed the hot chocolate to Song Tianhao. "President, have something hot. You've been tired all day too."

Song Tianhao took the paper cup. The cup was warm, and printed on it were the words "Sweet Dream" in cursive. He glanced at it, then looked at Tiffany Hwang.

Tiffany Hwang sat down opposite him, holding the coffee, sipping it in small mouthfuls. Her face was slightly blurry behind the steam, but her eyes were very soft and calm.

"President," she spoke again, her voice very soft.

"Hmm?"

"Is… what you said earlier true?" she asked, looking at him very earnestly. "I mean… that sentence, 'From today on, you are only my artist; you don't have to be anyone's daughter.'"

Song Tianhao looked at her without speaking.

"That sentence might be more important to Jessica Jung than any other promise," Tiffany Hwang said, her voice soft but every word spoken clearly. "She has always lacked love and a sense of security. She works hard, she goes all out, she wants to do everything perfectly, but in truth, she just wants to be recognized and loved. But her mother couldn't give it to her, and her father couldn't either. That's why she values the stage, the fans, and us members so much. Because only there can she feel that she is needed and loved."

She paused and continued, "So, your words might mean… a new beginning for her. A beginning where she can just be Jessica Jung, without having to be anyone's daughter, without having to meet anyone's expectations, just needing to be herself."

Song Tianhao was silent for a moment, then asked, "Why do you understand her so well?"

Tiffany Hwang smiled, a faint, somewhat bitter smile. "Because… I am a lot like her. I also grew up abroad, with my parents not by my side; I lived alone and fended for myself. I know that feeling—the feeling of desperately wanting to prove yourself, yet being afraid of being abandoned. So, I understand her."

She looked at Song Tianhao, her eyes bright. "President, so please, you must keep your word. Don't let her down."

Song Tianhao looked at her for a long time, then nodded gently.

"I will."

Again, those three words—simple, yet heavy.

Tiffany Hwang smiled; this time, it was a warm and relieved smile. She lowered her head to take a sip of coffee, then, as if remembering something, took her phone out of her pocket, unlocked it, glanced at the screen, locked it again, and put it back in her pocket.

Song Tianhao caught a glimpse of her phone's screensaver.

It was the latest group photo of the nine members of Girls Generation, taken backstage at an awards ceremony. Everyone was wearing their stage outfits, smiling brightly. Jessica Jung stood in the middle, making the classic "V" sign, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

Below the photo was a small line of text: Forever 9.

Song Tianhao withdrew his gaze and looked out the window. The night was deep, and the city lights in the distance were dotted like scattered diamonds.

"Tiffany," he began.

"Hmm?" Tiffany Hwang looked up at him.

"Starting tomorrow, you will be responsible for Jessica Jung's rehabilitation schedule," Song Tianhao said, his voice calm. "All of her rehabilitation training, recovery arrangements, and daily needs will be under your charge. I will give you a special assistant allowance, calculated at the company director level."

Tiffany Hwang was stunned.

"President, I…"

"You have done very well," Song Tianhao interrupted, looking at her with an earnest gaze. "You care for Jessica Jung, look after her, and protect her—that is more important than anything else. Therefore, I trust you most with this task."

Tiffany Hwang looked at him, her eyes reddening again.

But this time she didn't cry; she just nodded vigorously, a heavy, determined nod.

"Thank you, President. I will definitely do a good job."

Song Tianhao nodded, said nothing more, and continued looking out the window.

Tiffany Hwang also quieted down, holding her coffee and sipping it in small mouthfuls. The lounge area was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of footsteps from afar and the chirping of insects outside the window.

After a long while, Tiffany Hwang finished the last sip of coffee, threw the paper cup into the trash can, and stood up.

"President, I'm going back to the room. You should rest early too."

Song Tianhao nodded. "Go ahead."

Tiffany Hwang turned around, walked a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Song Tianhao.

"President."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you," she said, her voice soft but very sincere. "Thank you for trusting me, thank you for being good to Jessica Jung, thank you for… being so good to all of us."

Song Tianhao looked at her without speaking, just waved his hand gently.

Tiffany Hwang smiled, then turned and walked quickly back to the hospital room.

The corridor returned to silence.

Song Tianhao sat on the sofa, looking out the window for a long time, then took out his phone and dialed a number.

The call was connected quickly.

"Lawyer," he began, his voice very calm, but beneath the calm lay a cold, icy chill. "Prepare a legal document prohibiting Ms. Jessica Jung's mother from accessing any of Jessica Jung's work and financial affairs without the consent of the company and Jessica Jung herself. This includes, but is not limited to, endorsements, contracts, income, investments, and all other related matters."

A steady male voice came from the other end of the line: "Understood. Do you need to apply for a temporary injunction?"

"Apply for it," Song Tianhao said. "At the same time, sue Mrs. Zheng and CJ Entertainment for commercial espionage and attempted intentional injury. I will have Sehun send you the evidence, including bank statements, call records, witness testimonies, and the investigation report on the stage accident."

"Intentional injury?" The lawyer's voice paused slightly. "This charge requires clear intent to harm and a chain of evidence…"

[part:gemini-3.5-flash]

"I have evidence," Song Tianhao interrupted him, his voice very cold. "The staff member who turned up the dry ice nozzle received a remittance from a CJ-affiliated company in their account. And there are signs of tampering on the securing bolts of the stage floor."

"Mrs. Zheng started contacting Jessica's teammates six months ago, trying to get her to jump ship. Is this chain of evidence enough when put together?"

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds before they said, "It's enough. I will prepare the indictment materials as soon as possible."

"Good," Song Tianhao said. "Also, contact the media. I want to hold a press conference tomorrow morning at ten o'clock to explain the situation to the public regarding Girls Generation member Jessica Jung's stage injury."

"Focus on two main points: first, the accident was man-made, and Sky Entertainment already has conclusive evidence; second, the company will fully support Jessica's recovery and hold those responsible legally accountable."

"Understood," the lawyer said. "Is there anything else we need to prepare?"

Song Tianhao thought for a moment and said, "Establish a recovery fund in Jessica's name, specifically to help artists injured in stage accidents. The initial capital injection will be five billion Korean won, and the funds will come from my personal account."

"Five billion won?" There was a hint of surprise in the lawyer's voice, but he quickly regained his composure. "Alright, I'll get right on it."

"Mhm," Song Tianhao said before hanging up the phone.

He put down his phone and continued to look out the window.

The night was deep and quiet.

But his gaze was cold and sharp, like an unsheathed blade.

After a long time, he stood up, walked to the door of the hospital room, and gently pushed it open.

In the room, Jessica Jung was still asleep. Tiffany Hwang sat on the chair by the bed, leaning over it, also fast asleep. Both of their breathing was steady and soft, intertwining in the quiet room like a gentle song.

Song Tianhao stood at the door, watched them for a moment, then gently closed the door and walked back to the lounge area.

He sat down on the sofa, closed his eyes, and massaged his temples.

Song Tianhao was very tired now.

But in his heart, a very clear and distinct emotion was surging. It was a mixture of anger, protectiveness, and determination, burning in his chest like a fire.

He took out his phone and dialed another number.

This time, the phone rang for a long time before it was picked up.

"President?" It was Jang Se-hoon's voice, carrying a trace of fatigue, yet very alert.

"Did you catch them?" Song Tianhao asked.

"We got them," Jang Se-hoon said. "Both of them. One was in Incheon preparing to smuggle himself out, and the other was hiding at his relative's place in Busan. Both have been subdued and are being brought back."

"What did you get out of them?"

"They were tight-lipped at first and wouldn't say anything. Later..." Jang Se-hoon paused, his voice turning a bit colder. "After we used some methods, they spilled everything. Someone from CJ contacted them, giving them ten million won each upfront, with another ten million to be paid after the job was done."

"The one who turned up the dry ice did it on a whim. When he saw Jessica standing in that position, he secretly turned up the nozzle. The one who loosened the bolts had planned it in advance. After the rehearsal ended, while no one was paying attention, he used professional tools to loosen four bolts."

Song Tianhao was silent for a moment before asking, "Is it related to Mrs. Zheng?"

"Yes," Jang Se-hoon said. "Mrs. Zheng met with someone from CJ to discuss Jessica's contract. The two lackeys don't know the exact details, but they heard the CJ person mention on the phone, 'We've already settled things with Ms. Zheng. As long as this succeeds, she'll come over.'"

Song Tianhao's gaze turned completely cold.

"Is all the evidence secured?"

"Secured. Recordings, written statements, and bank statements—we have everything."

"Good," Song Tianhao said. "Keep a close eye on them. Hand them over to the police after the press conference tomorrow."

"Understood," Jang Se-hoon said, then paused before asking, "President, what about Mrs. Zheng..."

"I've already had the lawyer handle it," Song Tianhao said. "We will sue her for commercial espionage and attempted intentional injury. In addition, we will apply for an injunction to bar her from having any further contact with Jessica's work and finances."

Jang Se-hoon was silent for a few seconds, then said, "President, won't that be a bit too... After all, she is Jessica's mother."

"Mother?" Song Tianhao sneered. "A person who would push her own daughter into a fiery pit for money—does she even deserve to be called a mother?"

Jang Se-hoon fell silent.

"Sehun," Song Tianhao said, his voice calm, but beneath that calmness lay an unquestionable strength. "In this industry, being soft-hearted is being cruel to yourself. Being soft-hearted to your enemies is being cruel to your own people."

"Jessica is my artist, the person I want to protect. Whoever touches her is my enemy. And enemies must be treated as enemies."

Jang Se-hoon was silent for a moment before saying, "I understand, President."

"Mhm," Song Tianhao said. "Go get some rest. There's a tough battle ahead tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

Hanging up the phone, Song Tianhao leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes.

He was exhausted, but he couldn't sleep.

Many images flashed through his mind: Jessica Jung lying on the stage with a face full of pain, Mrs. Zheng throwing the contract onto the nightstand, Tiffany Hwang saying with red eyes, "She's most afraid of being lonely," and Jang Se-hoon's words, "We've already settled things with Ms. Zheng."

Every image was like a needle pricking his heart.

It hurt.

But he knew he couldn't stop.

The person he wanted to protect was still lying in the hospital room. The people he had to deal with were still watching greedily from the shadows. The road he had to walk was still very long.

So, he couldn't stop.

Before he knew it, the sky began to turn white.

Song Tianhao opened his eyes and looked out the window. The first light of dawn was breaking, and the sky was a pale blue, like a piece of washed silk.

He stood up, stretched his stiff shoulders, then walked to the door of the hospital room and gently pushed it open.

In the room, Jessica Jung was already awake.

She leaned against the headboard, looking out the window, her profile looking very quiet and soft in the morning light. Tiffany Hwang was still asleep, leaning over the bedside, sleeping very deeply.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Jessica Jung turned her head to look at him.

Her eyes were very red and swollen, but her gaze was clear and calm.

"President," she spoke, her voice still a little hoarse.

"Mhm," Song Tianhao walked over and sat down on the chair by the bed. "You're awake? How do you feel?"

"I'm alright," Jessica Jung said, then paused before asking, "Did you... stay up all night?"

"I slept for a bit," Song Tianhao said, not telling the truth.

Jessica Jung looked at him for a long time, then softly said, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," Song Tianhao said. "It's what I should do."

Jessica Jung fell silent, turning her head to continue looking out the window. The morning light spilled in bit by bit, falling on her face and casting a faint golden glow over her pale cheeks.

"President," she suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.

"Hmm?"

"My dad... sent me a text message this morning," she said, her voice calm, but beneath the calmness was a slight tremor. "He told me not to argue with my mom. He said my mom also wants the best for me, her way of doing it is just wrong. He said CJ's terms are indeed very good, and I should consider it."

She paused, then turned her head to look at Song Tianhao, her eyes very red but her gaze extremely earnest.

"President, am I... being very willful? Obviously, what my dad said makes sense. CJ is a big company with lots of resources and opportunities. If I go there, maybe I really can develop better. My leg is injured, and I don't know if it can be cured, or if I'll ever be able to dance again."

"If I stay in Sky, stay in Girls Generation, I might drag everyone down, might become a burden. If I..."

"Tiffany Hwang," Song Tianhao suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but very clear.

"Tiffany Hwang, who was sleeping by the bedside, suddenly woke up with a start. She lifted her head and looked at him in a daze. "President?"

"You tell her," Song Tianhao looked at her, his gaze very calm. "Is Jessica being willful?"

Tiffany Hwang froze for a moment, then immediately shook her head very vigorously. "Not willful! Not willful at all!"

She turned her head to look at Jessica Jung, her eyes wide. "Jessica, what are you talking about? What do you mean by dragging us down? What do you mean by burden? You are Girls Generation's Jessica, our main vocal, our visual, and our pride!"

"You are injured, we will wait for you to recover. If you can't dance for now, we will practice with you. You will always be a member of ours, always!"

Her voice was urgent and earnest, every word sounding as if it were shouted from the bottom of her heart.

Jessica Jung looked at her, her eyes turning red again.

"But..."

"There are no buts! Jessica, listen to me, I love the stage, I love singing, and I love dancing."

Tiffany Hwang interrupted her, grabbing her hand and holding it tightly. "But what I love most is the feeling of standing on stage with the eight of you. It's a nine-member Girls Generation, not eight, not seven, but nine! Not a single one can be missing!"

"So, you can't leave, you can't go to CJ, you can't leave us! We have to go all the way to the end together, win the Daesang, hold a world tour, and become legends! This is our dream, have you forgotten?"

Jessica Jung looked at her, at her red eyes, at her earnest expression, and her tears finally fell.

But she smiled, a faint but genuine smile.

"I haven't forgotten," she said, her voice trembling but very clear. "I haven't forgotten."

Tiffany Hwang smiled too, wiping away her tears as she turned to look at Song Tianhao, her eyes bright. "President, you tell her, is Jessica being willful?"

Song Tianhao looked at them for a long time, then gently shook his head.

"Not willful," he said, his voice calm, but every word felt as if it landed deep in the heart. "Being willful is a child's right. You are an adult now, Jessica Jung. What an adult needs to do is see clearly what they truly want, and then take responsibility for it."

He paused, looked into her eyes, and said word by word, "Everything else, including your parents' lack of understanding, are just difficulties that need to be overcome, not reasons for you to give up."

Then, she nodded vigorously, nodding very firmly.

"I understand, President," she said, her voice soft but extremely firm. "I won't leave. I will stay, heal my leg, stand on the stage again, and go all the way to the end with my sisters."

Song Tianhao looked at her, at her red and swollen but firm eyes, at her pale but stubborn face, and then gently nodded.

"Good."

Just then, there was a sudden knock on the hospital room door. It was urgent and heavy.

Then, the door was suddenly flung open.

Krystal Jung appeared at the doorway, panting, dragging a suitcase in her hand. Her hair was a bit messy, her face was covered in sweat, and her eyes were very red and anxious.

"Unnie!"

She cried out, her voice trembling.

Then, she dropped her suitcase, rushed into the room, lunged to the bedside, and threw her arms around Jessica Jung.

"Unnie! Are you okay? Is your injury serious? Does it hurt? I came straight here as soon as I got off the plane, you scared me to death..."

She babbled incoherently, her tears falling onto Jessica Jung's shoulder.

Jessica Jung was stunned for a moment, then slowly reached out to hug her younger sister, gently patting her back.

"It's okay, Krystal, I'm fine," she said softly, her voice very gentle. "Don't cry, I'm fine."

Krystal Jung held her very tightly, crying loudly like a child.

Tiffany Hwang stood nearby, watching them, her eyes also turning red.

Song Tianhao stood up, watching the two hugging sisters for a long time, then turned and walked out of the room.

At the doorway, he stopped and cast a backward glance.