158: Chapter 157 Wang Daxian

Jiang Zhiyu seemed completely oblivious to the murderous intent in her words. Instead, his eyes lit up, assuming she was genuinely marveling at the "upgrade" of the design. He leaned in enthusiastically, pointing at the miniature water bottle model and speaking in a tone that said 'you really know your stuff':

"Right, right? Wonyoung, you think this design is great too, don't you? It's way more advanced than just balancing a simple water bottle on your head! The stylist and I stayed up all night coming up with this! It perfectly fits your role as the 'Star Spring Guide' and flawlessly showcases our sponsor's product!"

He paused, lowering his voice and wearing a mysterious expression as if to say, 'I'll let you in on a secret':

"And Wonyoung, don't look down on this crown and this little bottle. This mineral water from the investors is incredibly expensive!"

Jang Wonyoung let out a cold snort, thinking to herself, how expensive could a bottle of water be? At most, it would be a few tens of thousands of Won, right? Was there any need for such exaggeration?

Seeing that she didn't believe him, Jiang Zhiyu immediately pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping rapidly before handing it to Jang Wonyoung. "Look! The official shopping platform! This exact one! 'Ice Source Crystal · Ultimate Luxury Edition'! One bottle, 500ml, price—"

His finger pointed at the price column.

Jang Wonyoung instinctively glanced over.

Then, her beautiful large eyes instantly widened into perfect circles, and her mouth hung slightly open unconsciously.

On the screen, beneath the image of the exquisitely packaged mineral water, a string of numbers was clearly marked:

₩ 400,000

Four... four hundred thousand???

Won???

For one bottle of water???

Jang Wonyoung thought she was seeing things, or that Jiang Zhiyu was playing a prank with a photoshopped image. She snatched the phone, leaning in to look closely, even exiting and re-entering the app to confirm the product page and the price.

It was correct. It was indeed four hundred thousand Won. Not forty thousand, but four hundred thousand!

"This... this..." Jang Wonyoung's voice went out of tune. She looked up at Jiang Zhiyu, then at the phone, then at the miniature model on her crown, her face filled with the shock of someone thinking 'the world has gone mad.'

Her exclamation drew the attention of the other members who were changing or researching their own bizarre props. Everyone gathered around curiously.

"What's wrong, Wonyoung?"

"What costs four hundred thousand?"

"PD Jiang, what did you show Wonyoung?"

Jiang Zhiyu took back his phone and naturally turned the screen toward the crowd, announcing in a calm (and even matter-of-fact) tone: "It's just the mineral water Wonyoung is primarily showcasing today, 'Ice Source Crystal · Ultimate Luxury Edition'. It's four hundred thousand Won a bottle."

"Mworagu?!"

"A bottle of water? For four hundred thousand???"

"For real?! Is the bottle made of gold?!"

"Does drinking it extend your life or grant immortality?!"

The preparation area instantly erupted into chaos. An Yujin, Choi Yena, Kang Hye-won, and the others crowded around to see the phone screen. After confirming the ridiculous price, the entire group fell into the same state of bewilderment. Even the usually calm (on the surface) Sakura and Kwon Eunbi showed expressions of disbelief.

Four hundred thousand Won wasn't exactly an astronomical figure for these popular idols, but it certainly wasn't small change either. It was enough for several lavish meals or a fair amount of clothes and cosmetics. And now, someone was telling them that this was the price for a single 500ml bottle of mineral water?

Jang Wonyoung recovered slightly from her initial shock, a sense of absurdity mixed with speechlessness toward the "sucker sponsor" welling up in her heart. She looked at the tiny bottle model on her crown and couldn't help but blurt out, her tone full of the urge to complain:

"What happens if you drink this? Do you turn into Superman? Or can you instantly replenish your Chakra? This is a total sca—"

"Mmph!!!"

Before she could finish the word "scam," her mouth was suddenly covered tightly by a warm palm!

Jang Wonyoung was startled, her almond eyes wide as she looked at the owner of the hand—it was Jiang Zhiyu, who had rushed over in a single stride, his face having changed color instantly!

Jiang Zhiyu covered Jang Wonyoung's mouth with one hand while holding his index finger to his lips with the other, making a "shh" motion. His eyes were even wider than Wonyoung's, filled with the panic and urgency of someone thinking, 'Little ancestor, don't you dare talk nonsense!' He lowered his voice, speaking almost directly into Jang Wonyoung's ear in a fast, serious whisper:

"Wonyoung! Watch your words! Watch your words!!"

He glanced around to ensure no one from the sponsor's side was present (or at least no one he could see) before continuing in an extremely low, rapid-fire voice:

"This is one of our biggest sponsors for this show! The parent company of 'Ice Source Crystal' is incredibly powerful and takes this brand placement very seriously! And—"

He paused, looking into Jang Wonyoung's somewhat dazed eyes since her mouth was covered, his tone becoming more emphasized with clear warning and enticement:

"The brand representative is quite fond of you! They feel your image, your temperament, and especially that... well... the way you work hard to remain elegant and professional even in 'special situations' (Wonyoung: ???), perfectly fits the 'low-key luxury,' 'natural purity,' and 'uniqueness' their brand wants to convey!"

"If the response is good after this episode airs and your performance in this segment is bright enough... they intend to list you as a candidate for the brand ambassador of this 'Ultimate Luxury Edition' mineral water for the young consumer demographic! That's not just a simple show sponsorship, Wonyoung, it's a solo endorsement! A solo! Endorsement!!"

Jiang Zhiyu finished in one breath before slightly relaxing his hand over Jang Wonyoung's mouth, though his gaze remained nervously fixed on her, fearing she might blurt out something else "rebellious."

Jang Wonyoung was a bit dizzy from the sudden impact of all this information. The sponsor liked her? Because of her performance under the "Golden Toilet" and the "three-meter giant pie"?? Low-key luxury? Natural purity? What on earth was all that!

But the words "solo endorsement" were undoubtedly a heavy bait for an idol, especially one in a temporary group like IZ*ONE where individual career breakthroughs were desperately needed. Even if the opportunity seemed a bit... er, peculiar.

For a moment, she forgot to continue her complaints, and she even forgot that Jiang Zhiyu's hand was still half-covering her mouth.

With her mouth covered, Jang Wonyoung could only make muffled "wuwu" sounds, her beautiful eyes wide as she stared at Jiang Zhiyu's face from a very close distance. Because of his sudden proximity and nervous whispering, a strange fragrance—clearer than ever before, like ripe peaches mixed with crisp citrus and the scent of sun-dried grass—suddenly invaded her nostrils.

This scent... was too close. And it... smelled too good.

Unlike the deliberate nature of any perfume, this was an extremely clean yet naturally sweet body scent, both contradictory and alluring. Under the touch of Jiang Zhiyu's nervous expression and warm palm, this fragrance seemed to carry a certain magic, causing Jang Wonyoung's rapid, angry breathing to hitch slightly.

As if possessed—perhaps to break free, or perhaps dazed by the scent—she instinctively stuck out her small tongue and lightly licked... the palm of Jiang Zhiyu's hand that was covering her lips.

A moist, soft sensation, gone in an instant.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Jiang Zhiyu's body suddenly stiffened. The hand covering her mouth pulled back abruptly as if it had been burned. He stared with wide, shocked eyes, looking at his instantly moistened palm, then looked up sharply at Jang Wonyoung, his face filled with horror and disbelief, as if to say, "What did you just do?!"

Jiang Zhiyu's body suddenly stiffened. The hand covering her mouth pulled back abruptly as if it had been burned. He stared with wide, shocked eyes, looking at his instantly moistened palm, then looked up sharply at Jang Wonyoung, his face filled with horror and disbelief, as if to say, "What did you just do?!"

Jang Wonyoung was also stunned. The warm restraint on her lips vanished and fresh air rushed in, but her mind was a complete blank. That momentary sensation just now, and the extremely subtle... sweetness from the tip of her tongue?

Why... was it sweet?

This thought exploded in her mind like a thunderclap. It wasn't the taste of hand soap or lotion; it was a very, very faint hint of sweetness that seemed to seep out from his skin.

Oh my god!!! What was she doing?! She actually licked PD Jiang's hand?!

Why... why was it sweet?! No! That wasn't the point! The point was! She! Licked! A man's! Hand?! And it was the hand of that devil PD, Jiang Zhiyu?!

A massive wave of shame and panic instantly overwhelmed her, washing away even her complaints about the four-hundred-thousand-won water and her conflict over the "solo endorsement." She instinctively used the back of her hand to vigorously wipe her lips, not daring to even look at Jiang Zhiyu, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

Jiang Zhiyu also quickly withdrew his hand, the slight moisture on his palm feeling as if it carried a scorching temperature. The usual effortless ease and mischievous smile on his face had vanished, replaced by a rare expression mixed with shock, embarrassment, and an indefinable subtlety. He opened his mouth to say something but found his throat a bit dry, eventually just clearing his throat unnaturally and looking away.

The other members nearby only saw Jiang Zhiyu suddenly cover Jang Wonyoung's mouth and whisper something quickly (which they couldn't hear), then the two of them froze as if someone had hit the pause button. Then Jiang Zhiyu suddenly yanked his hand back, they stared at each other, and Jang Wonyoung's face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato.

The atmosphere became incredibly eerie for a moment.