124: Chapter 124 No matter what others say, I support you.

After the reporters left, the hospital room became quiet again.

The members of Girls Generation chatted for a while, but everyone could see that Jessica was not in good spirits and needed to rest.

Kim Taeyeon checked the time and clapped her hands: "Alright, let's let Jessica rest. Those who have schedules this afternoon should go prepare, and those who don't can take turns staying here. Yoona, don't you have a pictorial shoot this afternoon?"

Im Yoona nodded, walked to the bedside, and bent over to hug Jessica: "Unnie, I'll come see you again tonight. Send me a text if you want to eat anything, and I'll bring it for you."

"I have to go back too," Choi Sooyoung said, "I have a radio show tonight. Jessica, rest well and don't think too much."

The members said their goodbyes and left one by one, leaving only Tiffany, Kim Taeyeon, and Krystal, who refused to leave.

Song Tianhao also planned to leave; he had a press conference to host at 10:00 AM.

The next afternoon, the sound of footsteps came from outside the hospital room.

The people who arrived this time made everyone in the room pause in surprise.

Jessica's father and Mrs. Zheng appeared at the door together.

Jessica's father was wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit, his hair combed meticulously, and he was carrying a briefcase.

He was around fifty years old, kept in good shape, and had no expression on his face, but there was a weariness from a long-haul flight between his brows, as well as the unique, intimidating aura of someone who has long held a position of power.

Mrs. Zheng was dressed in a beige suit, holding a large bouquet of white roses.

Her makeup was exquisite, but her eyes were red and swollen; she had clearly been crying.

Seeing her daughter on the hospital bed, her eyes immediately turned red, and she walked over quickly: "Jessica…"

"Mom." Jessica called out softly, wanting to sit up, but the pain in her waist caused her to freeze.

"Don't move, don't move." Mrs. Zheng hurriedly held her down, placed the flowers on the nightstand, and carefully examined her face. Tears fell again: "Does it hurt? What did the doctor say? Will there be any long-term effects? You child, you never let Mom worry less…"

Mrs. Zheng asked a series of questions, nagging on and on.

Jessica's father stood at the door and did not enter immediately.

His gaze lingered on his daughter for a few seconds, then swept over the others in the room—Tiffany, Kim Taeyeon, Krystal—and finally landed on Song Tianhao.

Song Tianhao nodded at him, his tone polite: "Uncle, Aunt."

Jessica's father also nodded slightly, walked into the room, and placed his briefcase on a chair.

He first said to Kim Taeyeon and Tiffany: "Taeyeon-xi, Tiffany-xi, thank you for taking care of Jessica."

He used honorifics, which was very formal, but it also carried a clear sense of distance.

Kim Taeyeon hurriedly bowed in return: "You're too kind, this is what we should do."

Tiffany also bowed, not speaking.

Jessica's father looked at Krystal again, and his brows furrowed imperceptibly: "Why is Krystal here too? No schedule?"

Krystal shrank her neck and whispered: "Today's schedule is finished… I was worried about Unnie…"

"Even if you're worried, you must prioritize work." Jessica's father's tone was flat, but the meaning in his words was very clear.

Krystal lowered her head and stopped making a sound.

Mrs. Zheng was still by the bed, holding Jessica's hand, tears falling drop by drop: "You child, you've been strong-willed since you were little. You never complained when you fell while practicing dance, but this time… what if this leaves a permanent injury…"

"Mom, I'm fine." Jessica comforted her softly, but her face was actually very pale.

Jessica's father walked to the bedside and looked down at his daughter.

He didn't show his emotions openly like Mrs. Zheng, but if you looked closely, you could see that his jawline was very tense.

"What did the doctor say?" he asked, his voice steady.

Before Jessica could answer, Tiffany rushed to say: "The doctor said there's a slight fracture in the lumbar spine and a fracture in the left tibia. It needs to be immobilized and rested for at least three months, and subsequent rehabilitation depends on the situation. But President Song has already contacted the best rehabilitation center in Switzerland. Once she's stable, she can go there. She will definitely recover!"

She spoke quickly and anxiously, as if trying to convince someone.

Jessica's father glanced at Tiffany, didn't respond, and turned his gaze back to Jessica's face: "What are your own thoughts?"

Jessica pursed her lips: "I will rehabilitate well and return to the stage as soon as possible."

"The stage…" Jessica's father repeated these two words, his tone devoid of emotion.

He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing his words, and then slowly began: "Jessica, you are twenty-one years old this year."

Jessica's fingers unconsciously clutched the sheet.

"The profession of an idol is one that relies on youth." Jessica's father's tone was very calm, even gentle, but every word was like a small hammer, striking the hearts of everyone present: "Your injury now is an accident, but it also gives you an opportunity—an opportunity to stop and think carefully about your future."

The air in the hospital room seemed to stagnate.

Tiffany's eyes widened, and she wanted to say something, but Kim Taeyeon gently pulled her.

Kim Taeyeon shook her head at her, signaling her to look at Song Tianhao.

Song Tianhao stood by the window, not speaking, just watching quietly.

Jessica's father continued: "Your mother and I have discussed it. If you feel tired, or… want a change of environment, you can return to the United States. Dad can help you contact universities there. Or, if you want to transition into acting, that's also possible, but you must start from the basics. You are still young and have many choices; you don't necessarily have to…"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.

Jessica bit her lip, not saying a word, but the force with which her fingers clutched the sheet increased, and her knuckles trembled.

Jessica looked up at her parents, her eyes a little red, but she didn't cry.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just repeated in a low voice: "I will rehabilitate well."

These words avoided her father's question and her mother's comparison, feeling more like a stubborn persistence.

Jessica's father looked at her, his eyes complex.

He sighed, raised his hand to check his watch—this movement was very subtle, but Song Tianhao noticed it.

Jessica's father was in a rush, or rather, his mind wasn't entirely here.

"Dad has another meeting tomorrow," Jessica's father said, his tone softening slightly: "You rest and recover first; we can talk about other things when you're better."

He paused and added: "Don't worry about money; Dad will handle it. I will find the best doctors and the best rehabilitation for you."

These words were caring, but listening to them, one always felt something was not quite right.

Jessica didn't speak, just nodded.

Mrs. Zheng gave a few more instructions, telling Jessica to rest well, and then followed Jessica's father out.

When they reached the door, Jessica's father stopped and turned to look at Song Tianhao.

"President Song, thank you for taking care of Jessica," he said, his tone polite but carrying a sense of scrutiny: "Regarding Jessica's contract and subsequent arrangements, once Jessica's condition is stable, I would like to speak with you alone."

Song Tianhao met his gaze and nodded: "I am at your disposal, Uncle."

Jessica's father looked at him deeply, said nothing more, and left the room with Mrs. Zheng.

The door closed, and the sound of footsteps faded away.

The hospital room was dead silent.

Tiffany was the first one who couldn't hold back, lowering her voice with anger: "What is that! What does Uncle mean by that? Making Jessica retire? Return to the United States? Does he know how much Jessica has sacrificed for the stage? Why!"

Kim Taeyeon pulled her, signaling her to be quiet, and then looked at Jessica, her eyes full of worry.

Jessica leaned against the headboard, her eyes looking at the ceiling, her expression very calm, but it was too calm, which made people worry instead.

She was silent for a long time, so long that just as Tiffany was about to burst and speak again, she said very, very softly:

"My dad has always felt that being an idol is not a long-term plan; it's relying on youth."

Her voice had no fluctuation, like she was stating an objective fact.

"He has said before that he hoped I would study hard, study business or law, and help him manage the family business in the future. My becoming a trainee and debuting… he actually… has never really approved of it."

Jessica twitched the corner of her mouth, wanting to smile, but couldn't: "It's just that my grades were good before, and I could balance practicing, so he couldn't find a reason to object. This injury… he probably thinks he's found a reason now."

"But that still doesn't mean…" Tiffany was anxious.

"Tiffany." Song Tianhao suddenly spoke.

Tiffany turned to look at him.

Song Tianhao walked to the bedside. He didn't look at Jessica Jung, but instead reached out and naturally adjusted the pillow that had slipped behind her, making her lean more comfortably. Only then did he raise his eyes, look at Jessica Jung, and ask in a calm tone, "What are your thoughts?"

Jessica Jung looked at him, her lips moved, but she didn't speak.

"Just now, with your father present, there were some things I couldn't say," Song Tianhao continued, his voice not loud but very steady. "Now, there is no one else here. I ask you, Jessica Jung, do you yourself want to continue standing on the stage?"

Jessica Jung's eyelashes trembled.

"I..." she began, her voice a bit hoarse. "I love the stage. I love singing, I love dancing, and I love looking at the fans while on stage. I don't want to... just give up like this."

She spoke very slowly, but every word was clear.

"That is enough," Song Tianhao said.

He turned around and picked up the cup of tea that Jessica Jung's father hadn't touched. The tea had already gone cold, so he walked to the water dispenser, poured it out, filled it with hot water again, and handed it to Jessica Jung.

"I can understand your father's concerns. Parents always hope for their children to take a safer path," Song Tianhao said, his tone peaceful but carrying an unquestionable strength. "But the path is yours, and your life is yours. What you need to do is see clearly what you really want, and then take responsibility for it."

He paused and looked into Jessica Jung's eyes.

"As for the rest, including your parents' lack of understanding, these are all difficulties that need to be overcome, not reasons to give up."

Jessica Jung held the cup of hot tea, the warm sensation spreading from her palms all the way to her heart. She looked at Song Tianhao, her eyes turning red bit by bit, but this time, no tears fell.

"President Song..." she said in a low voice, her tone slightly nasal.

Song Tianhao smiled at her. The smile was faint, but it had a reassuring power.

"Rest well and heal. As for other matters, I am here," he said, then turned to look at Kim Taeyeon and Tiffany Hwang. "You two stay here and keep her company. The lawyers will come this afternoon to handle the matter of that temporary worker and the leak. Also, contact Zurich; I want the most detailed rehabilitation plan and schedule."

"Yes, President Song," Kim Taeyeon replied.

Tiffany Hwang nodded vigorously as well.

Song Tianhao glanced at Jessica Jung one more time, said nothing more, turned, and left the hospital room.

The door closed, and the room became quiet again.

Jessica Jung held the cup of tea, sipping it in small mouthfuls. The steam rose, blurring her features. She kept her head down and didn't speak for a long time.

Tiffany Hwang and Kim Taeyeon exchanged a look, neither daring to disturb her.

After a long while, Jessica Jung spoke softly, her voice very light, as if talking to herself:

"Did you hear what President Song said just now... when he handed my dad the tea?"

Tiffany Hwang nodded: "We heard it. President Song said he respects your wishes, to focus on recovery first, and discuss other things slowly."

"And the sentence after that," Jessica Jung raised her head, her eyes a bit complex. "He said the rehabilitation center he contacted is in California, and the attending physician there is a visiting professor at the medical school."

Kim Taeyeon was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized: "President Song was... reminding your aunt and uncle about his connections and resources?"

"Not just that," Jessica Jung shook her head, a faint, slightly bitter curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. "He was telling my dad that I have the best backing and the capital to make choices. My dad is a businessman; he values this. President Song used the most polite way to tell him that my affairs do not require his worry, and... it is not his place to make decisions."

Tiffany Hwang blinked, half-understanding.

Kim Taeyeon understood, however. She looked at Jessica Jung and asked softly: "Jessica, are you... very sad?"

Jessica Jung was silent for a long time, then slowly shook her head.

"Not entirely sad." She looked out the window. The sunlight was lovely, streaming through the glass and casting bright spots on the floor. "It's just that I feel... a bit tired. I thought they would say 'It's okay, Mom and Dad support you,' but what they said was 'Come back, stop doing it.'"

She paused, her voice becoming even lower.

"President Song asked me if I wanted to continue standing on the stage. I do, I want to very much. But..." She didn't finish, but everyone understood what she meant.

Her parents' opposition, her family's lack of understanding, and their subtle negation were a heavier burden than any external pressure.

"Then you show them!" Tiffany Hwang suddenly said, her tone excited. "Jessica, show them! You can do it, you can stand back up there, and you can be even better than before! When that happens, your aunt and uncle will naturally understand!"

Jessica Jung looked at her, at this teammate who was always laughing mindlessly but whose eyes were startlingly bright at this moment, and a corner of her heart slowly warmed up.

"Yeah," she nodded, gripping the cup in her hand tightly.

Kim Taeyeon also smiled and patted Jessica Jung's hand: "Don't think about it anymore, just focus on healing first. As for the rest, there is President Song, and there is us. Girls Generation cannot be missing even one person; that's what you said yourself."

Jessica Jung smiled too. This time, the smile was a bit more genuine.

"However," Kim Taeyeon suddenly remembered something and looked at Tiffany Hwang. "Tiffany, did you secretly send a message to Krystal just now?"

Tiffany Hwang stuck out her tongue: "I told her to come back quickly. Didn't she go to meet the director? I was afraid she would run into your aunt and uncle and get scolded again."

Jessica Jung shook her head helplessly: "Oh, you..."

As they were talking, the hospital room door was gently knocked on.

The knocking was very rhythmic, two light knocks followed by one heavy one.

Tiffany Hwang's eyes lit up: "She's here!"

She ran over to open the door.

Outside the door, Krystal Jung poked half her head in, looked left and right, and upon confirming her parents weren't there, let out a sigh of relief and slipped inside. She was still holding her phone, the screen displaying an unsent text message interface.

"Unnie, did Mom and Dad leave?" she asked in a whisper.

"They just left," Jessica Jung looked at her. "Did you skip the meet-and-greet again?"

"No, no, I finished meeting him. The director is quite nice. When he heard you were injured, he even asked me to send his regards." Krystal Jung waved her hand, walked to the bedside, and lowered her voice mysteriously. "However, when I was coming over, I saw Mom and Dad downstairs. They seemed to be arguing... no, it was a debate."

Jessica Jung was stunned: "Debating what?"

"I couldn't hear clearly, just a few sentences." Krystal Jung recalled, "Later, Dad received a call, seemed to be about company business, and then they got in the car and left."

Jessica Jung fell silent, her fingers unconsciously stroking the side of the cup.

"Unnie," Krystal Jung looked at her and asked cautiously, "Is Dad... wanting you to stop being an idol?"

Jessica Jung didn't answer, just looked out the window.

After a long while, she sighed very lightly, a very soft sigh, as if exhaling all the congestion in her chest.

"President Song said," she turned her head, looking at her sister and also at the teammates beside her, her voice not loud but very clear. "Being willful is a child's right. I am an adult now; what an adult needs to do is see clearly what they really want, and then take responsibility for it."

She paused, her eyes becoming firm bit by bit.

"I want the stage. So, I will take responsibility."

Tiffany Hwang nodded vigorously, Kim Taeyeon also smiled, and Krystal Jung looked at her sister, her eyes sparkling, and suddenly reached out to hug her, very carefully avoiding her injured area.

"Unnie, I support you," the young girl said in her ear. "No matter what anyone else says, I support you."

Jessica Jung patted her sister's back, didn't speak, but her eyes felt a bit hot.

The sunlight outside the window was just right, streaming through the glass, shining warmly on the hospital bed, and on the figures of the girls embracing.

The hospital room door closed gently behind them, shutting out the corridor lights and the faint noise.

Song Tianhao and Tiffany Hwang stood in the corridor outside the hospital room, neither speaking for a moment. The corridor was very quiet, with only the occasional whispers from the distant nurse station and the rhythmic ticking of equipment. The sky outside had already darkened, and the lights of Seoul were lighting up one by one, like a galaxy scattered on the ground.

Tiffany Hwang leaned against the wall, sighed softly, her voice very low: "Krystal, that child, has been like this since she was little."

Song Tianhao turned his head to look at her.