Chapter Fourteen: Even an Uncle Has Someone to Fear.

Minjung Kim felt as if she were dreaming. She had only been in Seoul a few days, had just visited S.M., and now she was heading to JYP. Along with YG, where Jisoo Kim belonged, she had effectively toured the three major entertainment companies in the K-pop world.

It was truly exhilarating.

Places so sacred and usually off-limits to ordinary people were now open for her to casually stroll through.

In her hand, Minjung still held a Twice album, which Myungyun had taken her to buy earlier; it would be easier to get autographs once they met.

Myungyun had been running around with his niece over the past couple of days, mainly to establish a good image as an elder.

After all, it was his first time being an uncle.

This wasn’t Myungyun’s first time at JYP. Back when Nayoung Lim was still a trainee, he often came with Jisoo Kim to deliver “takeout” for his good friends. They even figured out where the surveillance cameras were near the front and back entrances.

“Uncle, are we… legally inside?” Minjung followed Myungyun a few steps behind, growing increasingly uneasy.

The sneaky route and the way Myungyun opened what looked like a closed back door at JYP made her want to call someone—if only he weren’t her actual uncle.

“Hello? Is this Hat Uncle?”

“Don’t worry, we have Nayoung’s invitation,” Myungyun replied without turning his head.

“Then why don’t we enter through the front door?”

“The security guard on duty today doesn’t like me much.”

“Huh?”

Minjung doubted her hearing. Her uncle apparently had quite the colorful past.

“I’ll tell you more later. Both Jisoo and I are on the blacklist,” Myungyun tugged at Minjung’s sleeve to keep her close. “Keep your voice down.”

“It’s not me, it’s the sound of the coffee bags.”

The girl still held two cups of coffee, while Myungyun carried most of the rest.

There were nine members in Twice.

The two of them, both sneaky yet unabashed, arrived outside Twice’s waiting room. Myungyun gestured for Minjung to knock. When you’re out and about, you have to help the kids build some social skills.

Minjung exchanged a few glances with her mischievous uncle but, feeling shy, moved forward to tap on the door.

The atmosphere at JYP was quite different from that of S.M.

***

“You must be Minjung. I knew it the moment you arrived.” The practice room door opened, revealing a sweet face as cute as a rabbit’s, especially with two prominent front teeth almost touching her nose.

Minjung blushed slightly and greeted, “Nayoung unnie~”

She wasn’t quite used to this sister’s warmth; Nayoung Lim’s enthusiasm was a different kind from Jisoo Kim’s.

Her uncle’s two good friends had two very different styles. Luckily, they weren’t her aunt, or things might have been even more complicated.

“You know me?” Nayoung asked curiously.

“My uncle showed me your photos.”

“Was it just me in the photos?”

“There was also Jisoo unnie.”

Minjung answered honestly.

Before coming, she had pestered her uncle to tell her stories about Jisoo and Nayoung so she wouldn’t be rude not knowing who she was meeting.

Nayoung raised an eyebrow and opened the door wider. “I thought you came alone.”

“No way. Minjung doesn’t know her way around, and most people can’t just come in here.” Myungyun shook the coffee in his hand and smiled at Nayoung.

Minjung silently complained about her uncle; she was already fifteen, not a child.

If she had come alone, maybe she could have entered through the front door.

Oh well, she’d just consider this early training for her trainee life. She’d heard that even ordering takeout would be this complicated then.

Since exchanging contacts with Jisoo Kim that day, she had been chatting with that sister quite a bit. She wondered why Twice was still so busy a year after debut, while Blackpink had some free time.

“Is that Minjung?”

While the three were chatting at the door, another voice came from inside the practice room.

Myungyun stiffened upon hearing it. “Nayoung, did you tell Jeongyeon I was coming today?”

“I’ve been busy with schedules or holed up in the practice room lately, always with Jeongyeon. She wanted to meet Minjung too,” Nayoung said with a sly smile. She loved seeing Myungyun’s reaction.

“Ahem, Minjung, Jeongyeon is one of Twice’s strongest performers. You must learn well from her.”

Myungyun cleared his throat theatrically and gave Minjung a reminder.

“Oppa, it’s rare to hear you say something nice about me,” said the girl with striking short blonde hair and a tall, statuesque figure that added to her charisma.

Minjung seldom saw someone who combined handsomeness and beauty so seamlessly; at this moment, it was all before her eyes.

***

Myungyun waved his hands repeatedly. “Jeongyeon, I’ve always thought highly of you.”

“Hehe, so this is Minjung, huh? So cute.” Yoo Jeongyeon bent down to take the coffee from Minjung’s hand and smiled warmly at the little girl.

Minjung truly admired her uncle now. How did he manage such unique relationships with all these distinctive sisters?

It was so extraordinary.

“Jeongyeon unnie,” Minjung addressed her, sensing from their tone that these were all familiar faces of her uncle’s. Calling them “unnie” was definitely appropriate.

“Come on in,” Yoo Jeongyeon pulled Minjung inside the practice room.

Myungyun trailed behind, whispering to Nayoung, “You said you explained everything for me last time, right?”

“I did,” Nayoung replied without moving her lips and without showing her two front teeth. “Who told you to pat Jeongyeon’s butt? I’ve barely patted her a few times.”

“I thought it was you.”

“I wouldn’t do that. What am I to you?”

“Hey, Nayoung, digging up old stories? Back in elementary school…”

Myungyun wasn’t afraid of old stories. Having known Jisoo and Nayoung for over ten years, their relationships were tangled beyond repair, and he held plenty of embarrassing secrets about them.

But now all three were public figures, so those dark histories were even more damaging.

“Alright, alright. For the sake of your left leg, I’ll handle this,” Nayoung said impatiently.

“Why bring up the left leg? Jeongyeon wouldn’t really be mad at me, would she?”

Myungyun and Nayoung were close, so naturally, he knew her friends. Yoo Jeongyeon and Nayoung had been friends since high school, though he was a bit intimidated by the striking girl.

Sigh, it was all bittersweet.

They entered the practice room together, where Minjung was soon surrounded by a group of sisters. The adorable young girl was just the right touch to brighten their otherwise monotonous practice routines.

Yoo Jeongyeon handed out coffee.

Minjung looked helplessly at Myungyun with pleading eyes.

“Uncle, come save me.”