Canto 2: [M] Reunion

"A few months back, we discussed this, girls," Kwon Kyung Sik , CEO of Dream Star Entertainment began, his gaze sweeping across the seven Aria members. "The plan is to split you into two sub-units, with Prisms debuting here in Korea first."

A tense silence followed. He watched them, noting the worry etched on their faces. Since the controversy, they'd grown thinner, the relentless scrutiny of the media taking its toll. Yet, he couldn't help but admire their resilience, their refusal to be broken by the negativity.

It reaffirmed his belief in their potential. Their unwavering determination was a rare quality, a cornerstone for any artist's success.

"Your recent successful promotion in Japan has established the fact that the sub-unit which will debut in Japan will probably meet with success. However, the one promoting in Korea will have a much harder time. Are the four of you mentally prepared?"

Gazing solemnly at Hanako, Chen Yuqin, Kang Jinho and Delilah, he reminded them again of the hardship they would face in Korea, where the hate was the strongest. The public opinion towards Aria had not turn for the better despite them avoiding having activities in Korea in the hope that the controversy would die down with time. This will be an extremely rocky path for the four girls who are tasked with the monumental responsibility of turning the tide.

If this was war, they would be the first wave, the vanguards who will absorb most of the damage, smoothing the pave for a future Aria comeback.

"We understand the difficulties," Hanako declared, her gaze resolute.

A flicker of defiance sparked in Kang Jinho's eyes as she echoed, "We have to face this, unnie."

Melody's voice softened with concern, "But Hanako-chan, shouldn't we, the older ones, be the shield? You girls shouldn't bear this burden."

"No, unnie," Kang Jinho countered, her voice firm. "My tweet started this fire. Let me help extinguish it."

Hanako placed a hand on Melody's shoulder, her expression unwavering. "We're in this together."

Song Yi's worry etched deeper lines on her face. "What about Lia and Qin'er? They had nothing to do with—"

"My Korean is a mess, jiejie," Chen Yuqin interrupted, a wry smile gracing her lips.

"Japan would be a disaster for me right now." Delilah chimed in, her voice laced with determination, "Besides, we're a team, remember? We face this together, as Aria."

The KKS' voice boomed, "Enough!" silencing the room. "I understand your protectiveness," he said, "But arguing won't change the plan. Let's stick to it, shall we?"

Melody started to protest, but Kwon Kyung Sik cut her off. "No more on this for now. Understood?" His authoritative tone brooked no argument.

He shifted gears, outlining the next steps. "There are songs being considered for both sub-units. Listen to them all, and we'll pick them in a few days. Recording starts next week, followed by dance practice and music video filming."

As the girls nodded in agreement, he rose to dismiss them. "That's all for today, girls. Get some rest. You've earned it."

"A compliment from KKS?" Hyun-woo asked incredulously as the CEO's door shut softly. "He actually acknowledged your hard work?"

"Hyun-woo oppa! You're being too dramatic!"

Chen Yuqin protested along with her other members as she prodded her long time head of security that had an exaggerated expression of incredulity on his face. While he groaned good-naturedly at their whacking, he merely grinned in response to hers, before leaving them in their practice room where they had intended to spend the rest of their day in.

Sometimes Chen Yuqin wondered if she was being overly sensitive at times as she felt that Hyun-woo was more withdrawn towards her than the other members. He had joined their company around two years ago, and since then, she could feel his reticence towards her.

Chen Yuqin had attributed that to the fact that she looked colder and more unfriendly on first sight, assuming that he would warm up to her after some time. However, even after two years, she could still feel the barrier between them. She had brought this up to the other members, but none of them found any problem with the way he interacted with her, leaving her wondering if she was truly being overly sensitive, especially during moments like this.

Melody's surprised shriek tore Chen Yuqin from her thoughts. In the practice room sat a man who should've been at the military camp.

"Yesung oppa?" Her voice cracked with confusion.

He rose with a polite bow to the girls, his smile softening as his gaze landed on Chen Yuqin.

"Hi there," he murmured, his voice a deep rumble. Arms outstretched, he awaited her embrace.

Flustered, Chen Yuqin squeezed past her bandmates, her eyes darting between Yesung and their smirking faces. With a forced smile, she stepped into his hug, willing herself to appear unaffected. Public displays of affection weren't her style, but for Yesung's happiness...

Later, a whisper escaped her lips as they held each other close. "Jongwoon, shouldn't you be in basic training?"

"It's Saturday, baby," he chuckled against her hair. "I finished my basic military training yesterday. From tomorrow on wards, I'm a public service worker. Did you forget?"

A muffled apology escaped Jiyeon's lips as she hid her face in Yesung's shoulder. She vaguely recalled him mentioning this before his four-week stint in basic training. Time had blurred with their hectic Japan promotions.

Jongwoon, or Yesung to his fans, leaned back, his fingers cupping her chin to lift her gaze. His eyes held a playful glint. "Did you miss me at all?"

"Of course!" she blurted, guilt twisting in her stomach. "Busy schedules… Japan…" Her voice trailed off, replaced by a wave of aegyo as she saw the hurt fade from his eyes. Relief flooded her as his smile returned, lighting up his handsome face.

He leaned closer, their foreheads touching. A flicker of panic shot through Chen Yuqin.

‘Don't tell me, he wants to do it here?’

Suddenly Han Linyin's voice, laced with a sudden edge, sliced through the air. "Don't mind us. Do whatever you want." Her glare sent a jolt through Yesung, who straightened up immediately.

As the leader of Aria, Han Linyin or Lin Lin known to the public, was a figure of quiet composure, bordering on chilly detachment. However, her inner circle knew a different warmth.

Hanako, the first to recover, forced a laugh. "Look what you've done," she teased Chen Yuqin. "Lin Lin unnie is embarrassed!"

Catching on, Melody chimed in, whacking Jiyeon on the back playfully. "Chen Yuqin! You've made Lin Lin unnie jealous! Don't you care about your single unnies?"

Song Yi, understanding the act, deflected the attention. "Sso! Don't forget you're taken too!"

Despite the charade, Chen Yuqin knew better. Lin Lin's behavior wasn't jealousy. And it wasn't the first time.

Every time Yesung was around, Lin Lin's usually calm demeanor vanished, replaced by thinly veiled barbs. Chen Yuqin hated confrontation, especially with Lin Lin who loathed it even more. But this was getting out of hand. Yesung deserved better than to be Lin Lin's constant target.

Chen Yuqin sighed inwardly. The cowardly silence had gone on long enough. Yesung was suffering because of it. She braced herself for a conversation with Lin Lin– it wouldn't be easy, but it was necessary.

A sudden warmth enveloped her as a pair of arms snaked around her waist. Startled, she whipped her head around, only to meet Yesung's loving gaze.

Her fingers hesitantly reached for his muscled arms, a silent plea for him to let go. The other members were still present, and the memory of Lin Lin's barely contained fury at their earlier display of affection was fresh. A repeat wouldn't be pleasant.

"It's been so long, baby. I need you..." His voice trailed off, husky and pleading.

He continued, his hands slipping unobtrusively under her shirt, rubbing circles around her flat stomach, his caress making her breathing quicken.

Uncaring of the members who were still bickering good-naturedly around them, he pressed an open mouth kiss upon the side of her nape, grinning knowingly as she unconsciously tightened her grip on his arms.

He continued his seduction as his palms slowly inched upwards, cupping her firm breasts even as he closed his eyes in ecstasy.

He had missed this delectable body of his girlfriend during his four weeks of confinement in the military.

Only memories of their nights together had kept him going, and it was no wonder that he turned up at Chen Yuqin's company the moment he was officially finished with his training.

Judging from the quickened breathing of his girlfriend, along with the half suppressed moan she had made when he rolled her nipples teasingly, Yesung knew that she was more than ready for him, just like how ready he was for her.

He grounded his hips against the softness of her buttocks, showing her exactly just how much he had missed her. The feel of his erection only served to excite her more as he anticipated, tightening the nipples that his fingers were playing with into small hard nubs.

"God, you feel so good."

He groaned softly as he filled his hands with her breasts, his hips thrusting periodically against her ass as he unconsciously tried to assuage all his pent up frustration for the past month. Already forgetting that there was a small audience merely a few feet away from them, the couple was lost in their world of lust, their breaths heavy as they grind their hips against one another.

Fortunately for them, Melody was the first to realise that the couple was making out, and having experienced the torture of having to go without her own boyfriend's company during his stint in the military, she understood the need for their privacy, and just how over-consuming their passion could be.

She covertly moved to cover their heated embrace, her face turning red as she spied Yesung's roving hands within the shirt of Chen Yuqin.

"Come on girls, let's go have our lunch before choosing the songs."

"Lunch? Lunch?! Did I hear that right, Sso?" Song Yi slammed her notebook shut, her eyes widening at Melody's sudden suggestion.

"Huh? Isn't it a little early, unnie?" Hanako chimed in, ever the voice of reason.

"Yah! It's never too early for lunch! Let's go!" Melody, her eyes sparkling with mischief, cut Hanako off before she could finish.

Song Yi a mischievous glint mirroring Melody's, stared playfully menacing at the bewildered Hanako. Afraid Soyeon might regret the suggestion, Song Yi hurriedly gathered the amused members, determined not to waste this opportunity.

Following at a leisurely pace, Melody shook her head with a smile at Song Yi's unyielding enthusiasm for food. There was no quicker way to get her unnie moving than the promise of a good meal.

"Qin'er, we'll meet you in the practice room on the second level after we're done, okay?" Melody called out, a hint of worry flickering in her eyes as she watched the oblivious couple disappear down the hall. Closing the door with a sigh, she hoped she was doing the right thing by giving them space.

‘Qin'er, I hope you know what you're doing. You're no longer a kid anymore, and I have to trust in your judgement.’

"Oppa-"

Chen Yuqin moaned as she was caught up in the tornado of heat and lust that Yesung had stirred up in her. The moment the door clicked shut, Yesung lost all sense of decorum. Not pausing in his caresses, he walked his girlfriend over to the couch by his back, toppling them down onto it.

"I got you!"

He murmured wolfishly in her ear when Chen Yuqin yelped out in surprise as she went falling down. Reversing their positions immediately, he leaned his lower body on her so that she would feel the bulk of his member.

"Baby, you're so hot you're setting me on fire."

Trembling with lust, he fumbled with her short pants, pulling them down, heaving in her ears while she moaned for him to hurry. He found her undergarment and jerked it down, impatient.

"I miss you so much,"

He growled as he palmed her buttocks. She sucked in a breath of relief as he finally stopped his teasing, his fingers surrounding her thighs and creeping in between her legs. His body pressed down on her harder even as his fingers dived into her dripping wetness.

"Oh god!"

Blind with lust, his mouth came down to meet hers, tongue delving in without any preamble, sucking, licking and biting in their passion. Her head fell back and she moaned. The combination of the open mouthed kiss together with his wicked fingers was setting her aflame.

He left her dripping moisture to unbuckle his belt, snapping open his fly with a jerk. He held her tighter as he positioned himself in her entrance.

"Wait, wait! Oppa, pro-protection!"

Even while overwhelmed with passion, Chen Yuqin still possessed a hint of rationality. Biting off a protest at her insistence, he grumbled as he pulled out a small pack from the back pocket of his jeans, ripping it apart savagely and slipping the condom on.

The moment he was fully protected, he returned to his initial position, guiding himself into her wet passage. Eyes hazed with desire, she arched her back to allow him easier access, and he slid in deeply with a heartfelt groan.

"God, I love you so much, babe!"

His fingers got back to her womanhood, rubbing her clit as how she loved it, driving Chen Yuqin closer to madness.

Her arms went up, tightening around his neck as he penetrated her deeper and deeper, massaging her button in a maddening rhythm.

She arched more, urging him to go faster with her plaintive cries. Obligingly, he pushed and pushed repeatedly, his finger still tantalising her clit, his mouth moving to suck her neck savagely.

She felt the prickle surge in her very core and orgasm came in an avalanche that left nothing in its wake, exploding ardently as she cried out loudly in the empty room.

Her cries and contractions undid him completely. Now, he grunted as he came closer to his edge. He thrust deeply once more and stopped, finally bursting like a volcano as flow after flow shook out of him and filled the condom. His head fell and he touched his forehead to her shoulder. Both panted heavily as they tried to catch their breaths, one glued to the other where they stayed for long minutes.

Chen Yuqin was the first to stir, pushing weakly at the man who had all but collapsed upon her upon his climax.

"Oppa, you're crushing me."

"Sorry baby,"

With a tired murmur, Yesung shifted, and Chen Yuqin made use to this opportunity to slip out under him, deftly avoiding his arms which was stretched out towards her.

"Oppa, I have to go clean up. The unnies might be back any minute."

She protested with a half laugh when she saw the disgruntled look upon his face at her escape.

"Alright, but will I see you tonight?"

He murmured as he drew the used condom off his now pallid member, tossing it negligently into the waste bin beside the couch. Despite their activity earlier, she turned her back to him as she rearranged her clothing, pulling up her shorts and pulling down her shirt before turning around again.

"It might be a bit difficult as we will be choosing the songs for our comeback."

Disappointment was clear in his eyes at her words, but he mustered a half-hearted smile for her sake.

"Well, I guessed it can't be helped then. Go do your thing. Baby, I love you."

Blowing him a kiss, she slipped out of the room, knowing that he will be asleep before the minute was up, judging from the drowsy way he was slurring his words. She winced a little as she walked as Yesung had not been too gentle with her in his haste. The moment the door closed behind her, the smile slipped from Chen Yuqin's face.

A knot of unease tightened in Chen Yuqin's stomach as Yesung's desires played on repeat in her mind.

Sure, a part of her had enjoyed his touch, the intimacy they shared. But another, deeper voice whispered doubts. Was she truly ready for this level of closeness? At her age, shouldn't there be more exploration, more innocent affection before this?

Fear, cold and sharp, pricked at her. What if giving in was a mistake? What if Yesung saw her as just a way to fulfill his needs? The thought sent a tremor through her. She loved him, deeply, but the weight of his expectations felt suffocating.

Taking a shaky breath, Chen Yuqin attempted to silence the doubts. "Chen Yuqin," she muttered to herself, "You're being ridiculous. He's your boyfriend, the man you love. Isn't this what couples do?"

Yet, the unease persisted. Images of Yesung's demanding gaze flashed in her mind, fueling her anxiety.

Pushing past the discomfort, Chen Yuqin forced a smile and started rehearsing the mental pep talk she'd crafted on the walk. "He loves you, Chen Yuqin. He wouldn't ask for this if he didn't. Besides, you enjoyed it, didn't you?" But the words rang hollow, failing to quell the disquiet in her heart.

Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the figures standing by the side. She almost walked past them before her CEO's familiar voice halted her in its tracks.

"Yah, Chen Yuqin! Are you going to ignore me?" boomed KKS.

"Sa-sajang-nim! I'm sorry, I didn't see you!"

Startled out of her reverie by KKS' indignant holler, she swivelled abruptly and would have lost her balance if not for the quick reaction of the other man standing silently by her CEO's side.

"Be careful," a familiar voice murmured by her ear as a strong hand steadied her. Chen Yuqin froze, her heart hammering against her ribs. This touch, this voice, it couldn't be...

He had left, promising never to return. Remember his letter?

But denial crumbled under the weight of undeniable evidence. Slowly, as if afraid of what she might see, Chen Yuqin turned her head. Her breath hitched in her throat, eyes widening as they met the familiar dark orbs staring back at her.

This sense of stability, reliance, a warmth that only he could evoke there was no mistaking it.

"Wei gege?" Her voice trembled, a whisper escaping her lips.

The man before her was a mirror reflecting a fractured image. Li Wei's familiar features held a distance she couldn't bridge. His usual goofy grin was MIA, replaced by a stoic mask that sent shivers down her spine. Where were the eyes that always sparkled with secrets and mischief?

A flicker of his old smile, that infuriatingly endearing quirk of his lips, threatened to pull her back in. Just as quickly, the warmth vanished, leaving behind a hollowness that echoed the emptiness in her chest.

Almost.

Fury, a white-hot ember that had simmered for so long, erupted. "Bastard!" she snarled, her hand connecting with his cheek with a satisfying smack.

Silence descended, thick and heavy. Li Wei slowly turned his head, a playful glint dancing in his eyes despite the reddening mark on his face.

"Well, I'm glad we got that out of the way," he muttered, reaching up to rub his cheek with a sheepish grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Before KKS could launch into a lecture, Li Wei held up a hand, his gaze meeting Chen Yuqin's. "I knew that was coming," he said with a nonchalant shrug.

Chen Yuqin's breath hitched. The infuriating confidence, the unwavering surety in his voice it was all so infuriatingly Li Wei. With a frustrated huff, she pushed past him, a tangled mess of emotions churning in her gut.

She stormed into the practice room, slamming the door shut behind her. Tears pricked at her eyes, blurring her vision.

Li Wei. The man who had been her brother, confidante, and best friend. The one person she'd shared everything with, the one who knew her better than anyone. His abrupt departure had left a gaping hole in her life, a wound that had barely begun to scar over.

She had poured her heart out in countless calls, emails, and unanswered letters desperate pleas that were met with a deafening silence. His coldness had extinguished any lingering affection, forcing her to build a life without him.

It hadn't been easy. Everywhere she looked, memories of him lay in wait. But she had persevered, brick by brick, rebuilding her world. And just when she'd finally acclimated to his absence, he waltzes back in.

Who did he think he was? Some cosmic plaything, free to enter and leave her life on a whim?

Glaring at the door, she grabbed a stray cushion and hurled it with a cry of frustration.

"I won't let you in again!" she screamed, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I hate you, Li Wei."

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