94: Chapter 94 You... Just focus on being a model

The silence on the balcony lasted for about three minutes.

Son Ye-jin did not speak, and neither did Song Tianhao. The two stood side by side, watching the lights of Seoul in the distance, like two silent statues.

The night breeze blew past, carrying the chill of early autumn, fluttering the hem of Son Ye-jin's nightgown and the cuffs of Song Tianhao's shirt.

In the end, it was Son Ye-jin who moved first.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on the hand Song Tianhao used to hold his wine glass. His hands were slender and well-defined, with a faint scar on the web between his thumb and index finger.

Son Ye-jin remembered that this was left behind when Song Tianhao was filming an action movie last year. At the time, news reports even mentioned that Song Tianhao insisted on not using a stunt double, which resulted in him falling from a two-meter-high platform and having his hand cut by a prop.

"Does it still hurt?" she asked suddenly.

Song Tianhao was stunned for a moment, followed her gaze to look at his own hand, and then shook his head: "It healed a long time ago."

Son Ye-jin was silent for a few seconds, then laughed softly.

The laughter was very light, carrying an indescribable nuance.

"Are you always this straightforward?" she asked.

Song Tianhao turned to look at her.

Under the moonlight, the lines of her profile were very soft, and her eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyelids. Her nightgown was pale blue silk, fluttering slightly in the night breeze, revealing her slender collarbones and a small patch of fair skin.

"What does Senior think?" he asked back.

Son Ye-jin did not answer, just looked back at the lights in the distance.

After a while, she spoke, her voice carrying a trace of rare exhaustion: "Having been in the entertainment industry for so long, one habitually judges whether everyone's actions are sincere or just a performance. Sincerity is very precious, so... I don't dare to believe easily."

Song Tianhao did not speak, waiting for her to continue.

Son Ye-jin's lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just took a light breath and turned her head back.

"President Song," she addressed him, her voice returning to its usual gentleness, but with something more added, "You are... more perceptive than I imagined."

"Thank you for the compliment."

"It is not a compliment," Son Ye-jin said, "it is a warning. People who are too perceptive are easily hurt."

Song Tianhao laughed: "Is Senior concerned about me?"

Son Ye-jin neither denied nor admitted it, just raised her glass and clinked it gently against his.

The glass collided, emitting a crisp sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"This week is still long," she said, her tone exactly the same as what Kim Tae-hee had said earlier, but the meaning was completely different, "Don't make things too difficult for me and Kim Tae-hee."

After saying this, she tilted her head back and finished the remaining wine in her glass, then turned and left the balcony.

Song Tianhao stood in place, watching her back disappear behind the door, stood for a while longer, and then finished the wine in his glass.

The wine had become somewhat warm, but it was still spicy as it went down his throat.

He put down the wine glass, took one last look at the night scene, and also turned back to his room.

The next morning at seven o'clock, the fixed cameras in the Villa lit up red on time.

Park Hyomin and Kim Taeyeon were the first to get up.

The two finished washing up on tiptoes, changed into sportswear, and prepared to make breakfast; this was the assistant's job.

But just as they walked into the kitchen, they were stunned.

Kim Tae-hee was already inside. She was wearing a light gray tracksuit, her hair tied in a high ponytail, and was frying eggs in front of the counter.

In the frying pan, three sunny-side-up eggs sizzled, their edges golden and crispy, the yolks round and plump. Beside it, the toaster "dinged," the toast popped out, and the aroma filled the air.

"Good morning, Senior..." Park Hyomin whispered a greeting.

"Morning." Kim Tae-hee did not even turn her head, skillfully transferring the fried eggs onto a plate, "The coffee is over there, pour it yourselves. The toast will be ready in two minutes, and the bacon will be done soon."

Park Hyomin and Kim Taeyeon exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

This was Kim Tae-hee, a top actress in South Korea and a chaebol heiress; to think she got up this early to make breakfast for everyone?

"Don't just stand there," Kim Tae-hee finally turned around, glanced at them, and smiled, "Go wake up President Song and Son Ye-jin; we will eat in twenty minutes."

"Yes!" The two quickly replied and turned to run upstairs.

Kim Taeyeon ran a few steps, then turned back and asked in a low voice: "Senior, do you need help?"

"No need," Kim Tae-hee waved her hand, "It will be ready soon. You go wake the others."

The two then quickly went upstairs.

Song Tianhao's room was at the end of the second-floor hallway. Park Hyomin knocked on the door, and a voice came from inside: "Come in."

She pushed the door open; Song Tianhao was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed looking at his phone. He was wearing a white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, his hair a bit messy, but his eyes were clear; he had obviously been awake for a while.

"Oppa, breakfast is almost ready." Park Hyomin said, her eyes could not help but glance into the room. It was very tidy; the quilt was folded, the curtains were half-drawn, and the morning light shone in, casting square patches of light on the floor.

"Got it." Song Tianhao put away his phone and stood up, "Where is Senior Son?"

"Haven't gone to call her yet..." Before Park Hyomin finished speaking, she heard the sound of a door opening next door, followed by Kim Taeyeon's voice: "Senior Son Ye-jin, breakfast is ready."

Then came Son Ye-jin's gentle response: "Thank you, I will be right there."

Song Tianhao walked out of the room, just in time to see Son Ye-jin coming out from next door.

She was wearing an off-white knitted sweater and light brown trousers today, her hair loosely tied behind her head, and her face still had the moisture from washing up, making her look much softer than last night.

"Morning." Song Tianhao greeted her.

"Morning." Son Ye-jin smiled, her gaze lingering on his face for a second before moving away.

After the simple greeting, the two went downstairs one after the other. Park Hyomin and Kim Taeyeon followed behind, exchanging a glance.

Breakfast was very sumptuous.

Fried eggs, bacon, toast, salad, and coffee brewed by Kim Tae-hee herself.

The five sat around the dining table, the morning light shining in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, coating the food in a layer of gold.

"Senior Kim Tae-hee is amazing," Park Hyomin took a bite of the fried egg, her eyes brightening, "It is even better than what they make in our company cafeteria!"

Kim Tae-hee laughed: "Eat more if you like it. You idols have to maintain your figures and usually eat little, but there is no need to be so restrained here."

Son Ye-jin also nodded, sipping her coffee: "Tae-hee's cooking has always been good, just not often displayed."

"Is that so?" Song Tianhao looked at Kim Tae-hee.

Kim Tae-hee shrugged: "My family was strict when I was young, and there were many things to learn. Cooking was one of them, but after entering this industry, there was not much opportunity to do it."

"Then we are in for a treat today." Song Tianhao said.

Kim Tae-hee looked at him and smiled: "That is not necessarily true. The production team has arrangements for lunch and dinner today, so it might not be my turn to cook."

Just as she finished speaking, PD Lee's voice came over the intercom: "Teachers, rest for half an hour after breakfast. At nine o'clock, we will start today's first task: outdoor sketching."

"The location is the small park behind the Villa, a ten-minute drive away. Please change into clothes suitable for outdoor activities; we will depart on time at nine o'clock."

"Sketching?" Park Hyomin blinked, "Are we going to draw?"

"Yes," PD Lee's voice carried a smile, "The production team has prepared art supplies, and you can freely express yourselves. This is also to record what you look like in a relaxed state; it is very natural."

Kim Tae-hee and Son Ye-jin exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in the other's eyes.

Obviously, the production team intended to film some "artistic atmosphere" footage for promotional use.

But since they were here, they had to cooperate.

At nine o'clock sharp, the five boarded the production team's car and headed to the small park.

The park was not big, but the environment was nice. There was a lake, a forest, a small bridge with running water, and an open lawn.

The production team had already set up easels, drawing boards, and paints on the lawn, and thoughtfully prepared sun umbrellas and folding chairs.

"Teachers can freely choose the scenery they want to draw," PD Lee introduced the rules, "The time is two hours. After drawing, we will have a small exhibition and critique session. But do not worry, it is not a competition, just mutual appreciation."

Kim Tae-hee chose a willow tree by the lake, Son Ye-jin chose the stone bridge in the distance, and Song Tianhao chose a cluster of wildflowers in the center of the lawn.

Park Hyomin and Kim Taeyeon, as assistants, were originally just onlookers, but PD Lee gave them drawing boards: "You two should try it too, just for fun."

So, the two of them also joined in.

The morning sun was nice, not harsh, shining warmly on them. The lawn was quiet, with only the rustling sound of paintbrushes moving across paper, and occasionally the sound of birds chirping.

Song Tianhao was indeed average at drawing.

He was an extra in his previous life and an actor in this life; he had never seriously learned to draw. Holding the paintbrush, he looked at that cluster of wildflowers for a long time, and finally decided to make a simple sketch.

So, on his drawing board, a cluster of crooked wildflowers soon appeared, with an even more crooked butterfly next to it.

Park Hyomin secretly leaned over to look, then let out a "pfft" of laughter.

"President, this painting of yours..." she tried hard to hold back her laughter, "is very childlike."

Song Tianhao looked at her: "How is your drawing?"

Park Hyomin immediately turned her drawing board over; she had drawn the lake in the distance. Although the brushwork was immature, at least one could tell it was a lake, and the ripples and reflections on the water were drawn.

"Not bad." Song Tianhao raised an eyebrow.

Park Hyomin proudly lifted her chin: "I learned a little when I was a child."

On the other side, on Kim Taeyeon's drawing board was the back of Son Ye-jin.

Son Ye-jin was sitting in front of the easel, slightly turning her head to look at the stone bridge in the distance, the sunlight plating a golden edge on her, the picture very quiet and soft.

Song Tianhao walked over to look; Kim Taeyeon was a bit embarrassed and wanted to cover the drawing board, but he held it down.

"It is drawn very well," Song Tianhao said, his tone serious, "You captured the essence."

Kim Taeyeon's ears turned red, and she whispered: "Thank you, Oppa."

Song Tianhao walked over to Kim Tae-hee's side again.

On Kim Tae-hee's drawing board, the willow tree had begun to take shape. Her brushwork was very professional, the lines smooth, and the light and shadow handling appropriate; it was clear at a glance that she had studied art.

"Did Senior study painting?" Song Tianhao asked.

"Yes, one of the required courses when I was young." Kim Tae-hee did not even turn her head, continuing to draw, "I learned a bit of sketching, watercolor, and oil painting. But I have not drawn for a long time, so I am rusty."

"It is already very good."

"Is that so?" Kim Tae-hee finally turned her head, glanced at him, then her gaze fell on the drawing board in his hand, and she laughed, "What did President Song draw? Abstract style?"

Song Tianhao calmly handed the drawing board over: "Realism; that cluster of flowers looks just like that."

Kim Tae-hee looked at the cluster of crooked wildflowers, then looked at Song Tianhao's serious expression, and finally could not help but laugh out loud.

Her laughter was beautiful, clear, and carried a bit of unrestrained flavor, rippling across the quiet lawn.

Son Ye-jin also turned her head, saw Song Tianhao's painting, and also curved her eyebrows and eyes.

"President Song," she said, her tone carrying a smile, "Next time, just let Hyomin and Taeyeon draw you; you... you should just focus on being a model."

Song Tianhao also laughed: "That makes sense."

Two hours passed quickly.

During the exhibition session, everyone's paintings were placed on easels. The willow tree Kim Tae-hee drew was professional, the stone bridge Son Ye-jin drew had artistic conception, the lake Park Hyomin drew had spirit, and the back of Son Ye-jin that Kim Taeyeon drew had essence.

When it came to Song Tianhao's painting, PD Lee stared at that cluster of abstract wildflowers for a long time, and with difficulty commented: "President Song's painting... has a very personal style."

Everyone laughed.

But after laughing, Kim Tae-hee and Son Ye-jin exchanged a glance, and then tacitly each took another sheet of paper down from their easels.

That was another painting they had drawn just now.

"Actually, I also drew this," Kim Tae-hee said, turning the drawing paper over; on it was Song Tianhao's profile.

He was standing in front of the easel, slightly frowning as he looked at the cluster of wildflowers, his expression somewhat troubled, yet somewhat serious. The sunlight shone from his side, casting beautiful light and shadows on his face.

"I also drew one." Son Ye-jin also flipped over her drawing paper; on it was Song Tianhao's back.

He was standing on the lawn, hands in his pockets, slightly tilting his head to look at the sky, his back upright, but the lines of his shoulders were very relaxed. There was wind in the picture, blowing his hair and the corners of his clothes.

Two paintings, two perspectives, but they both painted the same person.

The scene was quiet for a moment.

Park Hyomin and Kim Taeyeon's eyes widened, looking at Kim Tae-hee, then at Son Ye-jin, and finally at Song Tianhao.