Here's another chapter, hope everyone enjoys it! Read and Review : )

Chapter 10

That Evening, Same day.

Geum Jan di was heading towards the porridge shop on her bicycle for her shift after an eventful day at school. Although the atmosphere around her was generally pleasant, with chirping birds and soft breeze, she was lost in her own worries. Ga eul's shift was earlier than hers on this day. Jan di had noticed Ga eul was strangely withdrawn over the past couple of days, although she didn't press the issue, thinking Ga eul would let them know in her own time if something was bothering her.

When she had returned from the F4 lounge, it was already the lunch hour. Ga eul and Navya were already in the lunch hall but Jae kyung was strangely missing. She told them about the kidnapping incident, and both Ga eul and Navya wanted to storm inside the F4 lounge to give Gu Jun pyo a piece of their mind, but Jae kyung hadn't turned up and everyone had been more worried for her. When they searched for her, she was found slumped in a dark dance hall, her gaze unfocused and a blank expression on her face. They rushed towards her, hoping she was alright. Their arrival had effectively broken her out of her trance, but their worry lingered when she remained all too quiet. Jae kyung was bubbly and cheerful by nature, and it had been long since they had seen her so quiet. It frightened Jan di, because the memories of the last time when Jae kyung had been so quiet, weren't pleasant for anyone. They decided to leave for home early, skipping out on the rest of the school day. When they were back in their cars, Jan di driving Jae kyung's car as she clearly was not in state to do so, with Ga eul riding along. Jae kyung was in Navya's car, sitting silently in the passenger's seat. They had hoped Navya would be able to get something out of her and fortunately they were right, surprisingly Jae kyung breaking the silence herself.

Although all she said was, "I hate your cousin." It was more than enough for them to guess what might have happened.

Jan di was engrossed in all her thoughts as she walked, that she barely noticed a member of F4, Yoon Ji hoo, on the road, parking his bike aside and removing his helmet. Hoping he won't bother her, she decided to move away from his line of sight. But to her great surprise, he headed straight towards an old woman who was trying to cross the road. Apparently she had been trying to do this for a while, but was too afraid to do so with passing vehicles. Unfortunately for the old woman, the street she was crossing didn't have signals, as the street wasn't one which experienced heavy traffic.

To her great surprise, Yoon Ji hoo smiled warmly at the old woman, and helped her cross the street, while chatting with her amicably. "She must be someone important, or he must have known her beforehand," Jan di thought, but the clothes she was wearing suggested modest living, and the probability of him knowing someone beneath his circle was quite low.

She tried her best, but couldn't tamp down her curiosity. Finally, she approached him when he came back near his bike. He didn't really notice her, until she was standing close to his bike. And when he did, he just blinked, surprised by her presence there.

"Um, Hey-" she said, when he just stared at her instead of saying anything.

"Hello," he finally replied with a small smile.

"Have you known that old woman for long?" She asked, not being able to think anything better to ask what was on her mind, and not willing to spend more than absolutely necessary amount of time with an associate of a bully, having noticed before that he never took part in bullying directly.

He looked confused for a moment, before recognition flickered in his eyes. "Oh, the one I helped cross the street just now?" He asked for confirmation, and said after she nodded, he replied, "I've met her once or twice before," with a mysterious smile.

She looked astonished, although she knew the probability of him knowing that woman well was quite low."Why did you help her?" She blurted out.

He looked surprised for a moment, before saying with a smile, "Why? What makes you think I am incapable of helping someone?" He asked, surprised by her question, before covering it up with, "Besides, I had something important to discuss with her."

"Not incapable… it's just, you don't seem the type who helps someone out of basic human decency." She replied before realising how rude that must have sounded and apologized quickly, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that! It's just.. With you being part of F4 and all…" she trailed off.

His expression became blank again, "You didn't seem judgemental either."

She narrowed her eyes, "I'm not. But F4 are majorly responsible for bullying in Shinhwa, and that's a known fact." She sighed, the kidnapping incident heavily on her mind and continued, "I haven't seen you or others besides Gu Jun Pyo of course, involved in bullying but watching someone get bullied from sidelines, especially when you have power to stop them, is just as bad!"

He stared at her, with a blank expression on his face. Finally he said with a sigh, "There are many things that you don't know and don't understand, Geum Jan di," before putting his helmet on and speeding off, leaving her confused.

Could a chaebol really be a kind person from inside? she thought to herself.

Later that day.

Navya was speeding off towards the location the GPS in her car was showing. Soon, she reached in front of a crowded club. Entering inside, she saw dozens of rich people all around, dancing, drinking and having fun.

The manager of the club came towards her as soon as she entered the club, greeting her with, "Good evening ma'am! We are pleased to welcome you here!" With eagerness clear in his voice. "This is a really lucky day for us, both Prince Song and Princess Song are here!" he rambled on. Raising a hand to stop his rambling, she asked, "Could you please point me in direction towards my cousin?" with a blank face.

With a "Yes, of course ma'am," the manager showed her to the private parlour reserved for Song Woo bin.

She had already called the club manager after tracking Woo bin's location. Making sure Jae kyung was alright, she decided it was time to have a long due chat with her cousin.

When she entered the private parlour, she found Woo bin surrounded by many women, quite a few of them all over him. Noticing his absent state of mind, she cleared her throat to make him aware of her presence. Looking up from the drink in his hands, he dismissed all women with a wave of his hand. All of them scrambled around for a moment, before getting out swiftly, familiar with his foul temper if pushed.

The private parlor was pleasantly lit with blue LED lights, and surrounded by white curtains. But the atmosphere inside was anything but pleasant. The dark smell of alcohol and smoke was lingering in the air causing her wrinkle her nose in distaste. Navya was leaning on the wall as she watched the blank expressions on her cousin's face, only occasionally throwing varied contemptuous glances towards her as the women all around him rushed out. Soon, no one besides the two of them were in the parlor. She pushed away from the wall she was leaning on and went to sit on his opposite side. The expression on her face, carefully blank.

"Song Woo Bin," she called out neutrally. Shocked to see him in such a state. Last Time they had any contact, before her arrival in Korea a few days ago, had been when her father was alive, back when everything was well. Woo bin had gone to the states, to spend the holidays with his uncle, aunt and cousin, before their high school years began. Now in their final year of high school, he was a completely different person, she thought. Although she had heard about his Playboy ways, she didn't think she'd see him in such a state.

He looked up, his face devoid of any emotion. "What is she doing here?" he asked in a cold voice, before she could continue.

"She came here with me," she said but he interrupted her loudly, before she could continue.

"Why?" Getting up with a bit of difficulty, stumbling around, it was clear he was already drunk. He continued before she could say anything, "Why are you still friends with her? How come she doesn't have any problem being friends with you! She made it pretty clear-" he trailed off, expression on his face becoming more distraught, coming to stand in front of her, he grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little. "She's deceiving you Navya! Don't trust her! She-"

Becoming alarmed due to his behaviour, she grabbed both his hands, which were still on her shoulders, "Woo bin! Woo bin calm down!" she said, trying to make him sit down, hoping he would calm down enough to explain what was wrong.

Finally he did sit down on the couch. Giving him a glass of water, she told him to drink up. He took the glass in his hand, and leaned back after taking a sip, mentally exhausted. Looking at him like this, it was a strange shock for her. Till now, she had thought he was the one responsible for the issues between Ha Jae kyung and himself. But clearly he was just as bothered by seeing her as Jae kyung was. Although she herself didn't know much about what was wrong, it was clear the issue between both of them had deep roots.

Glancing towards him, she saw him leaning back, his eyes closed and somewhat relaxed after letting bottled up emotions out. She called out, "Woo bin?" But receiving no response, she concluded he had fallen asleep on the couch. Letting out a sigh, she called a few of her people, to get him inside her car. Getting on the driver seat, she headed back towards Song mansion, with few other cars of her people tailing her.

As she was driving towards Song mansion, she thought back about what she knew regarding what happened between Jae kyung and Woo bin. All she knew was, Jae kyung and Woo bin got together when he visited them in the States. After being together in a long distance relationship for almost a year, all of a sudden both of them were no longer together. Jae kyung had refused to speak about it and contacting Woo bin had been out of question, as they weren't close enough to ask each other about break ups. She had promised her mother she wouldn't interfere, who firmly believed that if Jae kyung and Woo bin were meant to be, they would resolve their differences on their own. But seeing their miserable conditions, not interfering was no longer possible. She decided to help both of them anyhow she could, because Jae kyung was one of her best friends, and Woo bin was family, and seeing either of them miserable hurt her more than she could express in words. As for not interfering in their relationship, she told herself that she would just help with finding out what the issue was and resolve it, so they would be able to at least sit in the same room without killing each other.

Reaching Song mansion, she asked her people to move Woo bin in his room, before going to freshen up herself.

The next morning, instead of guards ready to fight him, which was becoming another routine, he was woken up by heavenly smelling pancakes and coffee brought in by the maids. As he woke up, he saw his cousin leaning on the door frame of his room, with a small smile on her face, which was strange for him.

Naturally, he asked, "What are you doing here?" in a gorgy voice, clearly suffering from a hangover from last night.

"Get up cousin, or we'll be late for school," she replied with a smile before turning and going away to get ready for school.

Remembering his behavior from last night, he fell back on his bed with a groan, sarcastically thinking, 'Great! Just what I needed in my life. Do you think you can humiliate yourself any further Song Woo Bin? That too in front of your cousin, who has also been your biggest competitor your whole life? Just Great!' before eventually getting up, eating breakfast and getting ready for school. The question 'Why was she being so kind today?' Crossed his mind, but he managed to push it away for contemplation later.

To his shock, Navya was waiting for him outside the gate, while sitting in the driver's seat of his car. He was about to ask what exactly she was doing, when she said, "Are you coming or should I head off alone?" While starting the engine. Seeing the only one option for him was to get inside the car, if he wanted his car in one piece, he got in and sat in the passenger seat of his car. "Would you mind explaining what exactly you are doing Navya?" He asked with gritted teeth.

"I'm driving," she replied with a Innocent look.

"I can see that. But why are you driving my car? While I'm sitting in the passenger seat?" He asked, thin on patience, and irritated because of a headache he still had.

"Because I wanted to drive your car," she replied with a bright smile, knowing that if she said anything about how dangerous she thought giving a car in his hands could be, he would blow up.

Not believing a word she said, yet not having any other idea about what her reason behind the sudden change in her could be, he scoffed. "And what about your commoner friends? Won't they need you to give them lift to school?" He asked after thinking for a bit.

She rolled her eyes. "They don't need me, I like going to school with them," she replied with a fond smile.

Taking a chance, he asked a question that had been on everyone's mind, "By the way, how do you know them exactly?" He threw a wary glance towards her, keenly observing her expression.

She sighed, "We've known each other since kindergarten." He scoffed at this, "you were in Shinhwa kindergarten Navya. There's no way either of them attended Shinhwa."

She glanced in his direction, "If you remember, I was in Shinhwa kindergarten, then you must also remember how much I hated it there Woo bin."

He looked away, a guilty expression crossing his face. Noticing this, she smiled, "Relax, all of us were kids back then. And we are almost grown ups now. I've been over it for ages."

He nodded. "Still Navya, you are my cousin, the way we treated you back then in kindergarten was wrong. Again I apologise for that." Referring to their behaviour she suffered from him and other guys back when they were children, because she was a girl, she looked different from other girls and she had kept following them around.

A genuine smile appeared on her face at his words, with warmth in her eyes and voice, she replied, "You've already apologized for all that before, besides, as I've said, all of us have grown up now. And that's besides the point, as I was saying, I hated it in Shinhwa, so mom and dad took me to the playground away from the mansion. There, I met Ga eul and Jan di. Both of them are the first friends I've ever had. I've kept contact with them over the years I was away."

"So it's because of them you are here back in Shinhwa. No wonder you've extended family protection over them," he sighed, his tone softer than before. He was curious about Ha Jae kyung knowing Geum Jan di and Chu Ga eul as well, but it didn't seem like Navya was going to explain anything about her, and there was no way he would ever ask anything regarding her. They reached Shinhwa campus. Onlookers were surprised, and as usual started whispering.

As they were heading towards lockers, she asked him in an annoyed voice, her brows furrowed together and her nose crinkled a bit, "Does the Shinhwa population have a whispering epidemic or something?"

He found her expression amusing, and letting out a chuckle, replied, "You get used to it after a while." For the first time in his life, he was experiencing something similar to a bond siblings share. Sure he had his F4 friends, but Navya and him were related by blood, it felt different somehow. Before, it was family loyalty for him and nothing more, now her being like a sister to him didn't feel strange as it did before, he could feel a growing bond they could potentially share.

They were near the lockers, when they heard a shriek coming from the direction they were heading towards. Looking at each other, they ran towards it to see Jan di covered with a pile of shredded paper coming from her locker!

"I take my words back. Not all of us have grown up for sure, Gu Jun pyo still needs to grow up a lot," Navya told him with an annoyed sigh, before rushing to help Jan di.