159: Chapter 158 Great Wudang

“Jiang PD... Wonyoung, she...” Kwon Eunbi spoke tentatively, breaking the eerie silence. She was worried if Jang Wonyoung had said something she shouldn't have and provoked Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu quickly snapped back to his senses, blinking hard to cast aside that momentary lapse and the strange sensation lingering on his palm. He gave a light cough, his face once again wearing that impeccable PD-style smile, as if nothing had happened:

“Ah, it's nothing, nothing! I was just reminding Wonyoung to cherish the sponsor's heart!” He patted Jang Wonyoung on the shoulder (her body gave an almost imperceptible shudder). “Wonyoung-ah, perform well! This ‘Crown Aquarius’ is now your ‘Sacred Artifact’! You must cherish it as much as... as much as your own face! Understand?”

Jang Wonyoung kept her head down, not daring to look at Jiang Zhiyu or the other members. She stared fixedly at the hot potato in her hand—the 400,000 won water bottle (or rather, the ‘culprit’ that had just indirectly caused her to ‘lick’ the PD's palm)—and let out a barely audible “Mm.”

Her heart beat like a drum.

The heat on her face wouldn't recede.

The tip of her tongue seemed to still hold a trace of that faint, sweet taste belonging to Jiang Zhiyu.

This damn variety show! This damn PD! This damn... 400,000 won water bottle!

She felt like she was truly going crazy.

A sharp and dynamic electronic intro began, instantly drowning out the comical sound effects of the doll fight from the ‘Astral Colosseum’ and the noisy street sounds. Above the temporary stage—actually just a raised platform covered in starry-patterned floor mats and surrounded by professional sound and lighting equipment—beams of light began to crisscross, focusing on the entrance.

The already dense crowd on the streets of Myeong-dong was drawn in by the sudden professional-grade stage lighting and sound. Combined with the name ‘IZ*ONE’ and the absurd gimmicks from the earlier hype, the crowd surged toward the stage area like a tide. The space outside the barricades was soon packed tight; fans' screams, the curious gazes of passersby, and the flashes of phone cameras intertwined into a boiling wave of sound.

“IZ*ONE! IZ*ONE!”

“Is it really them?! Are they actually in Myeong-dong?!”

“Wow! That LED sign... Colosseum? What’s going on?”

“Look! They’re coming out!”

Amidst the deafening cheers and anticipation, the curtain at the entrance was pulled back.

Twelve girls dressed in ‘mix-and-match battle gear’ appeared in a neat and powerful formation. Despite the slightly strange zodiac decorations and props on their outfits, their professional skill and stage presence exploded instantly. When the first line of the song rang out and the first dance move was executed in perfect unison, all stray thoughts of ‘shameful props’ or ‘absurd scripts’ seemed to be temporarily cast aside.

This was their familiar territory, the stage where they lived and shone.

The music was a remix of one of IZ*ONE’s famous songs with a bright tempo and catchy melody, infused with more impactful electronic elements to suit the street performance atmosphere. The choreography had also been rearranged; while keeping the classic moves of the original version, it added more audience-facing, interactive designs and some clever movements incorporating ‘zodiac’ elements—for instance, Kwon Eunbi (leo) would make a tiny ‘lion roar’ mouth shape and small claw gesture at a certain point to match the lyrics; Choi Yena (pisces) had a ‘lifebuoy’ bracelet on her wrist that would sway gently as she moved; and Jang Wonyoung (aquarius), during her center part, would lightly touch the ‘Crown Aquarius’ decoration on her head and point into the distance, her eyes clear and determined.

Despite wearing exaggerated hair accessories and bizarre props, their facial expressions, dance power, vocal stability, and charisma were not compromised by the chaotic environment or their inner turmoil. On the contrary, perhaps because they were holding in a desire to ‘prove themselves,’ or perhaps because of the novelty of the street stage and the excitement of being close to fans, their performance was even more dedicated and vital than some of their music show stages.

Every movement was precise and sharp, every harmony was pleasing to the ear, and every look and smile worked to convey passion. The waves of cheers from the audience grew higher and higher, the fan chants were perfectly synchronized, and lightsticks merged into a colorful ocean.

An Yujin’s (capricorn) high notes were as steady as a rock, the small flags on her back trembling slightly with her movements; Yabuki Nako’s (taurus) bull-horn headband didn't seem so out of place given her cute smile; the foam cherry blossoms on Miyawaki Sakura’s (Saintess of Sakura) shoulders seemed to come alive as she danced; and Kim Minju (libra), even while wearing exaggerated earrings representing ‘justice’ (a mini scale on one side and a small gavel on the other), still danced elegantly...

Even Jang Wonyoung, who was wearing the ‘400,000 won Crown Aquarius’ and had the most complicated feelings, instantly switched into a radiant top-tier idol once she entered performance mode. She completed every move with precision, her sweet smile and clear gaze firmly capturing the camera and the audience’s eyes, as if the shameful billboard on her head was actually a crown of stars.

This was IZ*ONE.

No matter how absurd the situation, once the music started and the lights hit, they were the undisputed queens of the stage.

The few minutes of performance quickly reached their end. As the last note fell, the twelve girls froze in a cool and gorgeous Ending Pose, breathing slightly hard, but their faces were filled with the satisfaction of a brilliant performance and the radiant glow of idols.

“Aaaaaah!!!”

“That was amazing!!”

“IZ*ONE! IZ*ONE!”

“Encore! Encore!”

The cheers from below almost blew the roof off the Myeong-dong sky. Many pedestrians who were just passing by couldn't help but stop and applaud, shocked by this sudden, high-quality street performance.

In the monitoring area at the side of the stage, Jiang Zhiyu stood with his arms crossed, watching the frozen frame on the screen and the boiling reaction of the crowd with a satisfied smile. He spoke into the microphone:

“CUT! The stage part was perfect! Wrap it up!”

The stage lights dimmed slightly. The members held their ending poses for a moment before slowly relaxing, bowing to the audience in thanks, their faces still flushed with the post-performance glow and excitement.

Jiang Zhiyu straightened his collar, took a handheld microphone, and personally walked onto the stage. His appearance triggered another burst of screams from the fans (intermingled with complex emotions toward the ‘Devil PD’).

“Citizens of Myeong-dong, tourists from afar, and dear IZ*ONE fans, good afternoon!” Jiang Zhiyu's voice carried through the high-quality speakers throughout the area, clear and infectious, devoid of his private laziness or mischievousness, and full of a professional PD's control.

“Was IZ*ONE's wonderful performance just now enough for you?!”

“YES!!!” The response from the crowd was like a mountain call or a sea roar.

“Thank you! Thank you, everyone!” Jiang Zhiyu smiled brightly, then shifted his tone to something more mysterious and theatrical. “However, I believe many friends who just arrived might be curious. Why is IZ*ONE here? Why is there an ‘Astral Colosseum’? And what do these... special decorations they are wearing represent?”

He successfully piqued everyone's curiosity, even making many passersby who were just watching the commotion prick up their ears.

“Now, I, the chief planner and PD of this special documentary program—‘twelve star envoys: Mortal Survival Records’—Jiang Zhiyu, will explain the backstory of this recording for everyone!”