112: Chapter 111 12315

During a brief afternoon break, Kim Taeyeon avoided the cameras and hid alone in a quiet washitsu temporarily borrowed by the production crew. She needed a breather, and more importantly, she needed to deal with Lee Tima, who existed in her program like a "randomly timed joy (horror) bomb."

From the morning's "Genius Composition Scare" to the "Big Eater Challenge Proposal" at lunch, Tima's various "unconventional" performances had already left Kim Taeyeon—a top solo singer accustomed to grand stages—feeling somewhat mentally and physically exhausted. She could certainly see Tima's purity and talent, but the child's excessive energy, erratic thinking, and that seemingly innate (or perhaps nurtured by Jiang Zhiyu) instinct for "troublemaking" were truly hard to handle for a "musical traveler" like her, who sought depth and a peaceful atmosphere for the show.

It couldn't go on like this! She had to find a way to "manage" her!

Kim Taeyeon took a deep breath, pulled out her phone, found the contact labeled "TG Jiang Zhiyu," hesitated for a moment, and then dialed.

The phone rang a few times before being picked up, and Jiang Zhiyu's voice, which always seemed to carry a hint of a relaxed smile, came through: "Yo! Taeyeon Noona! How is it? Is the air in Jeonju particularly fresh? Tima hasn't caused you too much trouble, has she?" His tone sounded quite concerned.

Kim Taeyeon pinched the bridge of her nose and decided to get straight to the point: "Producer Jiang, I need your advice right now. Tima... she's very talented and has many ideas, but..." She chose her words carefully, "Her 'activity level' and 'creativity'... sometimes exceed the program's expectations. I want to know, how do you usually... 'manage' her? Is there any way to make her... a bit quieter, or to use her energy in more appropriate places?"

On the other end of the line, Jiang Zhiyu seemed to pause for a moment, then burst into a fit of unabashed laughter: "Hahaha! Noona! Were you scared by Tima's 'variety show proposals' or 'impromptu compositions'? Or did she say something shocking again?"

Kim Taeyeon felt a bit embarrassed but didn't deny it: "In short... I need some effective 'management strategies'."

Jiang Zhiyu's laughter subsided a bit, but his tone still carried that cynical vibe: "Strategies? It's very simple, Noona!"

He paused, then in a matter-of-fact tone, as if imparting a parenting manual, he said clearly:

"Spank her!"

Kim Taeyeon: "...???"

She thought she had misheard.

Jiang Zhiyu continued, speaking rapidly as if reciting some "Lee Family Rules":

"Spank her if she doesn't listen! Spank her even if she does! Spank her even more if she has nothing to do!

Spankings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Spankings for dessert! Spankings for a late-night snack! I guarantee she'll be perfectly obedient!"

Kim Taeyeon: "Hey! Are you crazy?!" She finally couldn't help but growl into the phone. Hit a child? And an eight-year-old girl at that? What kind of barbaric "management strategy" was this! Besides, was a child like Lee Tima... someone you could just hit? Recalling her quirky manner and potential hidden "combat power" (after all, she claimed to be Jiang Zhiyu's top culinary disciple, so she might have learned other things too), Kim Taeyeon felt this idea was not only immoral but also potentially dangerous.

Hearing Kim Taeyeon's rebuke, Jiang Zhiyu seemed to laugh even more happily on the other end. He added leisurely:

"Um... Noona, don't get excited, I'm just joking. Although I think this method is theoretically very efficient..."

He changed his tone, becoming slightly more serious:

"But thinking about it carefully, it seems Noona wouldn't be able to beat that brat anyway. Following me, she hasn't mastered much else, but her skills at escaping and finding a backer are top-notch, and she's quite strong (from carrying ingredients). If it really came to a fight, Noona might be the one to suffer."

Kim Taeyeon: "..." What kind of consolation was that?!

"But," Jiang Zhiyu's voice became confident, "it's still very simple to handle her."

"How do I handle her?" Kim Taeyeon asked quickly.

"That child has two major characteristics," Jiang Zhiyu analyzed. "First, she has an extremely strong desire to perform and a 'need to be needed,' especially by people and things she recognizes. Second, she has an extraordinary seriousness and persistence regarding 'professionalism' and 'creation.' Once you give her a clear task that she's interested in, she'll put in two hundred percent of her energy to strive for the best, even... becoming a bit obsessive."

Kim Taeyeon recalled Tima's focus when writing "windmill" and her planner-like excitement when proposing the "Big Eater Challenge," and she seemed to understand a little.

"So, Noona," Jiang Zhiyu gave his core advice, "instead of thinking about how to 'control' her, try to 'utilize' her. Give her a clear goal, a task that allows her to use her 'specialties' and 'passion'."

"Can you be more specific?" Kim Taeyeon pressed.

"For example..." Jiang Zhiyu seemed to have a plan ready, "you could give her a temporary title like 'Director' or 'Visual Director'."

"Just tell her: 'Tima, Unnie thinks your creative vision is very unique. For the rest of the trip, could you help Unnie out? From your perspective, capture some special footage for Unnie's 'music steps' journey, or come up with some creative ideas for MV segments?'"

Jiang Zhiyu imitated a tone used to coax a child, then returned to being serious:

"She'll be very serious and professional~ She'll really think about composition, lighting, and emotional expression, and might even take out her little notebook to draw storyboards. You can give her a portable camera or even just a phone with a high-quality camera and let her 'create.' This way, her energy will have a high-end outlet, and she won't spend all day dreaming up weird 'variety games.' Plus, she might actually capture some surprising material."

As Kim Taeyeon listened, her eyes gradually lit up. This idea... sounded feasible! It both affirmed Tima's abilities and gave her a clear "job" related to music and imagery, while also conveniently collecting unique program material.

"But," Kim Taeyeon was still a bit worried, "will she come up with something too... avant-garde?" Like filming the MV as a "medicinal diet commercial" or a "big eater documentary"?

Jiang Zhiyu laughed: "Noona, you have to believe in her 'professionalism.' In the 'creative fields' she recognizes, her aesthetic is on point, even high-level. You just need to give her a general direction, like 'warmth,' 'memories,' or 'the feeling of the wind,' and she'll find images that fit the mood herself. Of course, the process might still be a bit... unexpected, but I guarantee the result won't disappoint you. It's better than her proposing 'five ice creams for one mouthful of buckwheat noodles,' right?"

Thinking of that terrifying proposal, Kim Taeyeon immediately made up her mind. Fine! She would use this method!

"I understand, Producer Jiang. Thank you for your advice." Kim Taeyeon breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're welcome, Noona. Enjoy collaborating with 'Director Lee'! Remember, praise her more and affirm her; she falls for that." Jiang Zhiyu gave one last instruction before hanging up.

Kim Taeyeon put down her phone and walked to the window. Watching Lee Tima chasing a butterfly around the courtyard, a smile that was a mix of helplessness, anticipation, and a hint of challenge appeared on her face.

She adjusted her expression, walked out of the washitsu, and called out to the energetic little figure:

"Tima, come here for a moment. Unnie has something very important to ask of you."

Lee Tima stopped chasing the butterfly, turned around, her large eyes full of curiosity: "Yes? Taeyeon Unnie, what is it?"

Kim Taeyeon walked over, knelt down to be at eye level with Tima, and said in a very solemn and sincere tone:

"Tima, Unnie saw the 'windmill' you wrote today and heard your unique ideas. I think your artistic sense is truly special and full of inspiration."

Tima's eyes lit up instantly, and her little chest puffed out unconsciously.

"So, Unnie wants to formally invite you to serve as the... Special Guest Visual Creative Assistant for this 'music steps' journey." Kim Taeyeon gave her a title that sounded very impressive. "For the rest of the trip, can you help Unnie capture some images and moments that you think represent this journey and can be put into future music videos, using your eyes and ideas? Unnie will give you a dedicated camera; you can film freely or draw them down, and we'll create together. How about it?"

Tima was stunned. She looked at Kim Taeyeon's sincere and expectant eyes and heard those enticing terms like "Special Guest Visual Creative Assistant," "represent the journey," "MV footage," and "create together"...

An unprecedented sense of being valued and entrusted with a heavy responsibility instantly overwhelmed her!

Her little face turned red with excitement, her eyes shone brilliantly, and she suddenly stood up straight like a little soldier, answering loudly with all her might:

"Yes!!!! Taeyeon Unnie! Leave it to me!"

"I, Lee Tima, will definitely film the best, most atmospheric MV material that can be sold for a high copyright price!!!"

Kim Taeyeon: "..." (The last sentence doesn't need to be added...)

Regardless, the new "management strategy" seemed to be working. Looking at Tima's focused profile as she immediately ran to pester the camera crew for equipment and began checking the light and angles with dead seriousness, Kim Taeyeon finally felt that her music steps might be able to continue moving forward steadily (?) under a new, surprise-filled (hopefully not shock-filled) cooperation model.

Meanwhile, far away in Seoul, Jiang Zhiyu put down the phone, a smile that hid his contribution and fame curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Noona, enjoy it. 'Director Lee's' set is quite spectacular."

Although the crazy proposal of the "One-bite Buckwheat Noodle Big Eater Challenge" plus the "Five Ice Cream Hell Reward" was "gently discouraged" (actually sternly rejected) by the director and Kim Taeyeon, Tima was not discouraged. Instead, she quickly stepped into the new role Kim Taeyeon had given her—Special Guest Visual Creative Assistant—and immediately poured in 120% enthusiasm.

At this moment, she held a nearly finished chocolate cone in her left hand, her little tongue nimbly licking the melting edges, while her right hand steadily (for her age) held a small handheld camera provided by the crew, which was relatively easy to operate but had good image quality. Her eyes were focused on "scanning" a row of lush ginkgo trees by the roadside through the viewfinder.

Not far away, Kim Taeyeon was delivering an emotional monologue about "Autumn Memories" in coordination with the main camera. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Tima, like a little sloth, holding the camera motionless against a tree with the cone still in her mouth. That "serious at work" yet slightly comical look made her breathe a sigh of relief.

'Fortunately... I gave her the camera. Although it looks a bit strange, at least... she's settled down.' Kim Taeyeon thought, 'She's filming trees, so there shouldn't be any more trouble, right?'

However, Kim Taeyeon clearly underestimated "Director Lee's" artistic pursuits and "unique" perspective.

Tima's lens was not simply aimed at the whole tree or some beautiful branches and leaves. Her viewfinder moved slowly between the rough texture of the bark, the tiny holes eaten by insects on the leaves, the spots of light cast on the ground by the sun through the gaps, and even an inconspicuous patch of moss at the roots.

As she filmed, she muttered in a voice only she could hear, as if giving an artistic exposition:

"Cracks in the bark... like the wrinkles of time... shoot against the light to highlight the sense of vicissitudes..."

"Wormholes... traces of life, also the beauty of imperfection... macro, focus here..."

"Light spots... jumping, restless... follow the movement, simulate the wind's perspective..."

"Moss... the quietest vitality... low angle, looking up, small but resilient..."

She even tried some unconventional camera movements: suddenly placing the camera close to the ground, letting the perspective of mud and fallen leaves occupy most of the frame, leaving only a sliver of sky; or holding the camera high above her head, filming the canopy at an angle to create a sense of dizziness and instability.

After licking the last bite of the cone, Tima threw the wooden stick accurately into a trash can a few meters away ("Can't leave any continuity errors!" she thought seriously), then freed her left hand and pulled out from her small backpack—which was like Doraemon's pocket—a... portable folding reflector (mini version)! No one knew when she had stuffed it in.

She struggled to open the reflector, adjusted the angle, reflected a faint ray of sunlight into a shadow on the tree trunk, and then nodded with satisfaction: "Hmm, fill light, richer details."

A Lighting Technician passing by saw this scene and stumbled, almost dropping his equipment. This kid... her gear is quite complete? And this operation... is a bit professional?

Tima was completely immersed in her "cinematic art." For her, this was not just completing the task assigned by Taeyeon Unnie, but a creative rehearsal for a great personal work! In her mind, she had already thought of a title and display method for this "Jeonju · Autumn Trees" series: "The Texture and Breath of Time"—an immersive multi-screen video installation art. She had even conceived how to play tree images from different perspectives and rhythms on multiple screens simultaneously at the exhibition site, accompanied by her improvised ambient music that fused natural sampling and electronic sound effects...

"Hehehe..." Thinking of her future "artistic achievements," she couldn't help but let out a smug low laugh.

Without affecting the normal filming of the main program, Tima, like a silent yet highly present ghost cat, used her own cinematic language to record this journey in parallel. She filmed Kim Taeyeon's back, but the focus might fall on the contrast between her fluttering hair and the blurred eaves of a Hanok in the distance; she filmed Kim Taeyeon's hand stroking an old locust tree, but the camera would slowly move down to freeze on a beetle crawling slowly where the roots met the earth; she even secretly filmed the director's profile as he frowned and thought while staring at the monitor, as well as the Manager secretly rubbing his waist when everyone wasn't looking...

These images, different from the storytelling and emotional depth pursued by the main program, were full of a sense of the moment, a sense of detail, and even a certain detached observer's perspective, forming a wonderful complement and contrast.

Occasionally, when the program crew's camera operator passed by her carrying heavy equipment, or when the director's attention was completely focused on Kim Taeyeon's main narrative, Tima would raise her little face and give the busy adults a standard smile—70% innocent and 30% indescribably "evil."

That smile seemed to say:

'Look, you are filming "stories".'

'And I am capturing "breath" and "dust".'

'Wait until my footage is edited... hmph hmph.'

Once, a young Sound Recordist saw her filming enthusiastically with her small camera and said half-jokingly, "Tima-xi is filming so seriously, but our post-production editing might not use so much footage; we'll mainly use the main camera's."

Hearing this, the smile on Tima's face instantly vanished, and her big eyes narrowed dangerously. She put down the camera, slowly walked up to the Sound Recordist (the height difference required her to look up), and then, with a finger stained with a bit of chocolate, pointed to her smooth forehead (though there was nothing there) and said in a tone that was almost a declaration of war—childish yet full of momentum:

"You're looking down on me, aren't you?!!"

"The titles above my head, besides 'Little Medicinal Cuisine Chef' and 'Special Guest Visual Creative Assistant'..."

She paused, and then clearly enunciated word by word:

"There's also—'Editing Master'!"

"Hmph hmph~ When I get back, I'll edit a 'Lee Tima Director's Cut' for you all to see! I guarantee it'll have more artistic value than your 'official version', and be... more valuable!"

After saying that, she gave a proud "Hmph," turned around, picked up her camera, and continued to look for her "artistic dust," leaving the Sound Recordist standing there dumbfounded, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

'Editing Master? Editing a director's cut herself? And more valuable?' The Sound Recordist felt this kid must have watched too many cartoons.

But what he didn't know was that Tima was serious. In the hidden compartment of her small backpack, besides the reflector, there was actually an old tablet with simple editing software that Jiang Zhiyu had given her to play with. Jiang Zhiyu had indeed taught her some basic editing logic and rhythm control, calling it "cultivating multimedia literacy." And Tima, with her natural sensitivity to rhythm and images as a "Generational Diva of Tianxuan Continent," had long since secretly edited several "abstract short films" she had filmed for fun on that tablet, although the content was nothing more than stray cats fighting downstairs at TG Entertainment or time-lapse photography of Jiang Zhiyu's hair getting messier as he stayed up late writing proposals...

But this time, with "official authorization" to film "high-quality footage" in her hands, her ambition was no longer what it used to be.

Kim Taeyeon thought that by giving Tima a camera, she could keep her quietly within the framework of "creation."

The crew thought it was just an expediency to coax a child, and that the footage would at most be used as behind-the-scenes material.

Only Tima herself knew that she was quietly accumulating ammunition, preparing to amaze (or shock) everyone as an "Editing Master" during the post-production stage.

In the Jeonju episode of music steps, beneath Kim Taeyeon's emotional narrative main line, a cinematic sub-line led by Tima, full of personal style and "artistic ambition," was quietly being woven. And the final presentation of this sub-line might far exceed everyone's expectations.

Tima licked the remaining chocolate from the corner of her mouth, aimed the lens at a ginkgo leaf on the ground being blown by the wind and swirling, her eyes focused and burning.

'A great work... is on the way. Jie-jie-jie...'