166: Chapter 165 Let's come to Suzhou again. Hehe.

On the streets of Myeong-dong, the excitement around the "Astral Colosseum" stage reached a new peak after Sakura and Nako's absurd yet explosive performance. The audience's laughter, cheers, and the strange hum of people singing along to the "Blue Spirit Monkey" melody almost tore down the temporary fences. By the end of the second set, the numbers on the popularity decibel meter had already surpassed the peak set by the first group, and they remained high due to the ongoing discussions and lingering impressions.

Standing behind the monitors, Jiang Zhiyu looked at the screen frozen on Sakura's shameful pose while Nako stood beside a tablet displaying the word "Defeat." He glanced at the boiling crowd below and the piercing numbers on the decibel meter, nodding in satisfaction. The habitual, slightly cynical, and mischievous smile on his face deepened. It was the pure joy of a creator seeing their "work"—no matter how ridiculous—trigger a powerful reaction.

This was exactly the effect he wanted. Chaos, shame, and nonsense, but absolutely memorable and unforgettable. In an era of fleeting attention, buzz, discussion, and even "dark history" memory points were the chips used to ensure these girls were remembered by more people.

Not far from Jiang Zhiyu, Im Yoona sat on a folding chair brought by the staff, still holding that unopened bottle of "Iceberg Source Crystal: Ultimate Luxury Edition" mineral water. She had also watched both performances in their entirety, from the hip-hop duel of Kwon Eunbi and An Yujin, filled with power and cleverness, to Sakura and Nako's "Japanese Fantasy Farce" where logic went to die but the comedic effect was startling.

She had to admit, it was very funny. Especially the second set; even with her extensive variety show experience, that kind of performance—completely abandoning one's idol image and committing to the absurd—was incredibly impactful and entertaining. The reaction of the crowd was the best proof.

However, seeing Jiang Zhiyu's undisguised look of triumph, a certain inexplicable feeling—perhaps a senior's scrutiny, or something else—quietly surfaced in Im Yoona's heart. She elegantly crossed her legs and adjusted her posture, her face still wearing that impeccable, gentle smile of "Actress Im Yoona" that was almost standard to the point of being rigid. Her voice wasn't loud, but it reached Jiang Zhiyu's ears clearly:

"Jiang PD's ideas... really are unexpected every time."

Her tone betrayed no praise or criticism; she was simply stating a fact.

Hearing this, Jiang Zhiyu looked away from the monitor and turned toward her. Sunlight hit her from the side, plating her exquisite profile with a soft golden edge. That smile was as perfect as a mask.

Im Yoona paused, her gaze still on Sakura and Nako, who were being helped off the stage by staff with dazed expressions. She continued in that steady tone: "The live effect is indeed very enthusiastic, and the audience is buying it. However..."

She tilted her head slightly to look at Jiang Zhiyu, a hint of well-measured inquiry and senior-like "concern" in her clear eyes.

"Isn't it a bit... too superficial?"

"Superficial?" Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow and repeated the word. The smile on his face faded slightly, but he wasn't displeased; rather, he looked as if he had heard an interesting question. He hadn't originally intended to explain much—his philosophy and methods for making shows never required much explanation to others, especially seniors who might hold traditional variety show concepts. But looking into Im Yoona's eyes, which seemed to reflect the human heart yet were veiled by a layer of mist, he suddenly felt he could say a few words.

He turned around to face Im Yoona directly, hands in his cargo pants pockets. His body relaxed slightly, but his gaze became a bit more serious. He weighed his words and asked in return:

"What does Noona think the core... or rather, the most important goal of a variety show like this should be, especially for an idol group like IZ*ONE?"

Im Yoona seemingly hadn't expected him to ask back, but she quickly gave her answer. It was clearly well-thought-out, aligning with her long-standing perception and the mainstream industry view: "Humor is the foundation, of course, but it needs its own characteristics and depth. More importantly, it should showcase a different side of the members than what they show on stage—that authentic, contrasting charm. Let the audience see their cuteness, hard work, or clumsiness as ordinary girls beneath the halo. It builds a more multi-dimensional and relatable image." She paused, then added, "Of course, commercial cooperation is a necessary part, but it's best if it can be integrated naturally."

What she said made sense; it was almost a textbook answer for variety show planning. Show contrast, build a multi-dimensional persona, and bridge the distance with the audience.

However, Jiang Zhiyu slowly shook his head. His gaze moved past Im Yoona to the group of IZ*ONE members in the waiting area, some nervous, some pensive, and some still blushing from the previous performance. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"Noona is right, but it's not enough."

"For IZ*ONE, for any idol, and especially for a limited group, the core essence of a variety show isn't to build a perfect, multi-dimensional 'persona'."

He turned his gaze back to Im Yoona, his eyes as sharp as a knife, as if trying to peel away that layer of gentle, perfect appearance to point directly at a cruel and realistic truth.

"It's to make the audience remember them."

"After their limited activity period ends, after the spotlight fades, when fans might move on, and in the flood of new groups constantly emerging—"

"When many years later, someone happens to mention the name 'IZ*ONE,' or sees a member promoting individually, there will be a portion of people—perhaps not core fans, just former casual viewers—who will suddenly remember and say with a start—"

Jiang Zhiyu imitated that tone of realization, word by word, clear and powerful:

"'Ah! Is that the girl who danced with a water bottle crown on her head in that variety show?'

'Is that the Japanese girl who shouted Rice Cake Ball Instant Kill Array on the streets of Myeong-dong?'

'Is that the Marshmallow Swordsman with her mouth stuffed with apple candy?'

'Is that the Lion King who sent candy flying with a toy hammer?'..."

He listed the "famous scenes" from today and before, each sounding absurd and ridiculous, devoid of any "depth."

"These images, these moments, might have zero 'substance,' might be utterly shameful, and might be worlds apart from their goddess-like image on stage. But—"

Jiang Zhiyu emphasized his tone:

"They are unique enough, vivid enough, and impactful enough. They are like nails that can be driven firmly into the audience's memory, even if it's just as a label for being funny, ridiculous, or even 'dark history'."

"In this era of information explosion and fast-food idols, perfect stages happen every day, stories of hard work are told by everyone, and cute looks are not scarce. But a 'bizarre' moment that makes someone chuckle and leaves a deep impression even years later is a rare find."

"What I want to do is create such 'moments' for them. I want to give them 'memory points' that might stay with them for a long time but can absolutely never be ignored. Even if that point is 'funny,' 'shameful,' or 'absurd'."

"Because for a limited group, especially one with many members where individual traits need to be extremely magnified to be remembered in the short term—being remembered, even in a not-so-'perfect' way, is ten thousand times better than being quickly forgotten."

After Jiang Zhiyu finished speaking, the scene seemed to fall silent for a moment. There was only the faint bustle of the distant street and the sound of staff moving props on stage. His words stripped away the usual variety show veneers of "warmth," "growth," and "gap moe," bluntly and even coldly pointing out a certain survival logic of the idol industry, especially within the ecosystem of limited groups—memory is life, buzz is blood, even if that buzz is tinged with mockery.

Im Yoona listened quietly, her standard smile having faded slightly at some point. She didn't immediately argue, nor did she express agreement. Jiang Zhiyu's words were like a stone thrown into her calm heart; it didn't just create ripples, but a deeper wave that even she might not be able to fully untangle. She thought of her own group, Girls Generation. Along the way, they certainly had countless classic stages and works, but weren't those "famous scenes," "variety gags," and even "dark history" moments that fans loved to talk about also essential parts of their unique charm, fan loyalty, and public memory?

It was just that... Jiang Zhiyu's method was more extreme, more deliberate, and more... willing to pay any price (the price of the idol image) to manufacture these "memory points."

She remained silent, her gaze slightly out of focus, seemingly lost in her own thoughts.

Looking at her pensive profile, Jiang Zhiyu suddenly felt that the quiet Im Yoona in this moment was much more vivid and interesting than the one who maintained a standard smile at all times. A playful, slightly mischievous thought popped into his head, thinning the serious atmosphere of the conversation.

"Noona, look," he suddenly spoke, his voice light.

Im Yoona was pulled back from her thoughts, raising her beautiful eyes to look at him in confusion.

She saw the corner of Jiang Zhiyu's mouth curl into his usual cynical yet seemingly sincere smile. He first showed Im Yoona his empty hands—palms open, fingers long and clean, with only a few thin calluses on the knuckles from years of writing or operating equipment.

Im Yoona didn't understand and tilted her head slightly.

In the next second, Jiang Zhiyu's right hand swept to his right extremely fast, almost leaving an afterimage! The movement wasn't large, but it was incredibly quick and fluid, as if he were casually brushing away a speck of dust in the air.

However, when his right hand returned to Im Yoona's sight, he was elegantly holding a budding, pale pink rose between his index and middle fingers!

The petals were delicate and the color soft. Under the somewhat messy afternoon light of Myeong-dong, it looked exceptionally fresh and refined, completely out of place in the noisy variety show scene, yet it had miraculously appeared at Jiang Zhiyu's fingertips.

Im Yoona's eyes widened instantly. Those eyes, always filled with gentle smiles, were now brimming with genuine shock and disbelief. She even subconsciously leaned forward slightly, her gaze locked onto the rose that seemed to have appeared out of thin air.

Close-up magic? When? How did he do it? His hands were clearly empty!

Seeing Im Yoona's rare look of surprise, stripped of all her professional expressions, Jiang Zhiyu's smile deepened, and a light of mischievous triumph flashed in his eyes. He turned his wrist slightly and handed the pink rose to Im Yoona with a natural and gentlemanly gesture.

Then, he gave her a subtle yet clear wink with his right eye—a standard wink with a hint of playfulness and reassurance.

"Noona's smile is very beautiful," he said, his voice lower than before, carrying a unique clarity that seemed to pierce through the noisy background. "It feels very 'Im Yoona'."

Having said that, without waiting for Im Yoona to react, he naturally placed the pink rose on her joined knees, next to that expensive bottle of mineral water.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he quickly turned back, refocusing his attention on the monitor and the upcoming direction. He picked up his walkie-talkie and began to speak, as if the person who had just conjured a rose and winked wasn't him.

"Props team, check the backdrop for the third set! Lighting, watch the reflection on Jang Wonyoung's head, don't overexpose! Sound control, turn up the gain on the audience reaction mics! Head judge Kim Minju-xi, get ready to record the score for the next set!"

He had turned back into that focused, efficient variety show PD who occasionally came up with wild ideas.

Only Im Yoona was left sitting there dazed, with that sudden pink rose resting on her knees.

The elegant floral scent, mixed with the peculiar, fresh scent of ripe fruit from Jiang Zhiyu (which had been particularly noticeable when he leaned in to hand her the flower), drifted into her nose.

She looked down at the delicate flower on her knees, her fingertips subconsciously touching the soft petals. It was a real rose, not plastic or paper.

What did he mean by... 'feels very Im Yoona'?

This sentence suddenly popped into her head, bringing a hint of inexplicable annoyance and even more confusion.

I am Im Yoona, aren't I?

Isn't my smile just me? Why did it have to 'feel very...'? Was this guy... teasing her that her usual smile was too standard and formulaic?

Or... was there another meaning?

Im Yoona felt her thoughts were a bit of a mess. Jiang Zhiyu was as elusive as the magic trick he had just performed. One moment he was seriously, even coldly, analyzing the survival rules of the idol industry, and the next he could casually conjure a rose and stir someone's heart with an ambiguous phrase and a wink.

She picked up the rose and brought it to her nose, smelling the sweet fragrance more clearly. The scent of the flower was pure and pleasant, but it seemed... it couldn't compare to that strange fragrance on him when he approached just now, which had made her even more restless.

She looked up at Jiang Zhiyu's busy back. He was leaning over slightly, pointing at the monitor and saying something to an assistant, his profile sharp and his expression focused.

The sunlight fell on him, outlining his tall frame.

Im Yoona's fingers tightened slightly around the rose.

In a corner of her heart, a string seemed to have been gently plucked by that sudden wave, that flower, and that look.

It let out a faint yet clear vibration.