172: Chapter 170

The note's header read: "Shopping Rhapsody for Gemini and Scorpio (Demo Version)"

Below it was a piece of numbered musical notation (it was indeed very simple, just a few repeating melodic bars), along with the corresponding lyrics. The lyrics were written in Korean, but the content...

Kim Chaewon and Jo Yuri only read a few lines before the expressions on their faces changed from anticipation to blankness, and then from blankness to a horrified "what the hell is this?"

The general meaning of the lyrics was as follows (excerpt):

(Melody Section A, light and bouncy)

"Yo~ The Gemini stars are shining~ The Scorpio gaze is searching~ (Corresponding to the constellations)

What kind of things can make~ Our mood become super great~?

It's it! It's it! It's just it! Brand XX Mixed Fruit Juice~!

Full of Vitamin C~ Energy exploding~ The sweet and sour taste conquers your mouth~! (Insert juice brand name and slogan)"

(Melody Section B, slightly more soothing)

"What to do when tired from shopping~ What to do when skin is dry~?

Don't worry~ Don't fret~ Brand YY Soap is checking in~! (Switch to another brand, soap)

Fine bubbles~ Charming scent~ Washing away fatigue and leaving freshness~!

Gemini loves its ever-changing scent~ Scorpio falls for its sense of depth~! (Forced constellation connection)"

(Melody Section C, faster tempo, similar to Rap)

"And more, and more~ Don't forget~ Brand ZZ Stress Relief Toy Cube~! (Third brand)

Squeeze it~ Press it~ Troubles and pressure all go away~!

Gemini plays with it and the mind gets sharper~ Scorpio squeezes it and insight grows stronger~! (Forced constellation connection again)

Oh yeah~! The shopping list is all set~ Charm display cannot be missed~!

Gemini and Scorpio join forces~ Recommending good things and never missing~!"

"Quickly bring these three items home~ A happy life, ha ha ha~! (Ending with forced elevation)"

The entire "song" had a melody so simple it was almost childish, and the lyrics were so blunt and blatant that there was no artistry to speak of; it was completely a forced rhyming collage of three sets of advertising copy, crudely dragging in the "characteristics" of Gemini and Scorpio. The shame level might have been slightly less than the "Rice Cake Ball Instant Kill Array" or "Righteous Mermaid," but that unmasked, in-your-face commercial atmosphere and sense of perfunctoriness made one's toes curl even more.

"This... this is what PD Jiang... wrote in five minutes?" Kim Chaewon's voice was trembling; she was a main vocal who had sung many high-quality songs! To have her on the streets of Myeong-dong, in front of so many spectators, singing this kind of... "cringe song"?

Jo Yuri also had a look of despair: "And 'tailor-made'... what do these lyrics have to do with us! 'Gemini loves ever-changing scent'? 'Scorpio falls for a sense of depth'? What on earth is all this!"

However, the staff member was already urging from the side: "You two, time is short. The melody is very simple. Listen to the accompaniment twice and get ready to go on stage. The props (juice, soap, stress relief toy) are already prepared."

There was no way out.

The two could only bite the bullet and, listening to the equally crude electronic accompaniment (which was just a loop of those few simple bars) played by the staff on a phone, quickly familiarize themselves with that brainwashing and shameful melody. The lyrics were easy to remember, though, because there was really no depth to them.

Below the stage, the audience had already begun to wonder what the fourth group would bring. Im Yoona also temporarily pulled herself away from her own chaotic thoughts and the "bombardment" of the group chat, turning her gaze toward the stage. She saw Kim Chaewon and Jo Yuri's expressions of being ready to die for a cause, as well as the juice, soap, and toy they held in their hands, and she had a general guess in her heart.

Sure enough, Jiang Zhiyu's voice rang out: "Thank you for waiting! Next, please welcome the fourth Charm Display Team—'Scorpio & Gemini', Kim Chaewon! Jo Yuri!"

The two walked onto the stage, holding the juice and soap respectively, while that stress relief toy cube was placed on a small stool in the center of the stage.

The music started—it was exactly that electronic melody that was simple to the point of being a bit silly.

Kim Chaewon and Jo Yuri glanced at each other, both seeing the resolve of "if I die, I die" in the other's eyes. Then, they took a deep breath and tried to mobilize their professional quality as singers, attempting to use the most invested and "sincere" performance to save this song that was cringey beyond belief.

"Yo~ The Gemini stars are shining~ The Scorpio gaze is searching~..."

As soon as the voices came out, the audience below was first taken aback.

This melody... so familiar? Like they had heard similar children's songs or advertising jingles somewhere before?

These lyrics... are they doing an advertisement? So directly?

But soon, the audience was led astray by the "enthusiasm" the two worked hard to display and the magical, simple rhythm of the song itself. Especially when singing "It's it! It's it! It's just it! Brand XX Mixed Fruit Juice~!", Kim Chaewon cooperatively held up the juice bottle in her hand with a "brilliant" smile; when Jo Yuri sang the soap part, she also held the soap and made a "sniffing" motion with an "intoxicated" expression.

"Hahahaha! Is this singing or a TV shopping live stream?!"

"The lyrics are way too blunt! 'The sweet and sour taste conquers your mouth'?"

"Chaewon and Yuri's expressions! So hardworking! So funny!"

"This melody... why is it a bit addictive?"

A burst of laughter erupted below, but unlike the explosive laughter for the second group, this time the laughter carried more surprise of "this works too?" and sympathy of "they're really trying hard." The popularity decibel level stabilized at a good level; although it might not be as explosive as the first two groups, the discussion level would certainly not be low.

Choi Yena's commentary was also full of confusion: "Ah... Chaewon Unnie and Yuri Unnie are singing... the lyrics seem to be introducing products? Juice, soap, and that little toy? Was this song... written by PD Jiang? The melody seems... pretty simple?" She tried hard to find something to praise, but was truly at a loss for words.

Im Yoona watched from below, and hearing those blunt lyrics and simple melody, she couldn't help but raise her hand to her forehead. She whispered a complaint to Jiang Zhiyu, who had already finished his grilled sausage and was standing beside her with arms crossed, admiring the effect of his "work":

"PD Jiang... you've written so many good songs like 'prince ruperts drop' and 'Fragments,' how... how could you still write something like..." she weighed her words, trying to be as tactful as possible, "...something with such a unique style?"

She really couldn't bring herself to say the words "bad song," after all, Jiang Zhiyu's musical talent was obvious to everyone. But this "Shopping Rhapsody," compared to his representative works, the gap was too big! It was simply heaven and earth!

Hearing this, Jiang Zhiyu turned his head. There wasn't the slightest embarrassment of being questioned on his face; instead, he showed a quite righteous, even slightly smug smile. He blinked and retorted:

"Noona, you can't say it like that. Creation has to adapt to different needs. Look, even Teacher Vincent Fang wrote the lyrics for the Chinese version of 'Boy In Luv' for BTS, right?"

Im Yoona: "..."

She of course knew the Chinese version of 'Boy In Luv.' When she was learning Chinese, out of interest and professional necessity, she had also paid attention to some Chinese lyrics for K-Pop songs. The Chinese lyrics for that song... she had heard a bit about the evaluation on the Chinese internet. How to put it, the evaluation... was indeed not very good. It was mainly criticized for being perfunctory in translation, failing to convey the meaning, and some sentences were even felt to be a bit "insulting to Korea" (of course that was an extreme view) or overly blunt and awkward. However, as a Korean artist and a senior, she would absolutely never say such things out loud, only keeping them as internal complaints.

Jiang Zhiyu suddenly bringing up this example left her speechless for a moment, not knowing how to refute it. It seemed... to make some sense? No matter how great a lyricist is, they might still produce unsatisfactory works due to various reasons (time, communication, client requirements, etc.)?

But Jiang Zhiyu didn't seem to need her answer. He continued, his tone carrying a sense of seeking credit as if saying "hurry up and praise me," his expression innocent and serious:

"And Noona, don't worry about whether these lyrics are well-written or if the melody is high-class for now—"

He paused and looked at Im Yoona, his eyes sparkling:

"Just tell me, did I write it fast or not!"

Im Yoona: "..."

She was stunned, taking two seconds to understand the meaning behind his words.

Not evaluating the quality, but emphasizing the speed? So his point was... that in just a few short minutes, he had "created" a complete (albeit very cringey) advertising song that included three brand placements and forced constellation connections?

This... what kind of point is that to be proud of!

Im Yoona almost choked on her own saliva. Looking at Jiang Zhiyu's serious and smug little face that practically screamed "My efficiency is super high, hurry up and praise me," for a moment she didn't know whether to be angry or laugh.

This person... how exactly is his brain wired?

But strangely, looking at his righteous way of seeking praise (even if the direction was very odd), the slight blockage in Im Yoona's heart caused by the cringey song and her previous subtle mood suddenly dissipated.

She couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. It wasn't a standard smile, but one filled with a bit of helplessness, a bit of amusement, and a trace of indulgence that even she hadn't noticed.

She shook her head, looking at Kim Chaewon and Jo Yuri on stage who were still working hard to sing "Full of Vitamin C, energy exploding," and then looked at Jiang Zhiyu beside her who had a face of "Aren't I great?", and finally, with a voice full of laughter, she answered him honestly:

"Mm..."

"It was indeed very fast."

Having received "affirmation," the smile on Jiang Zhiyu's face became even more brilliant, as if he had completed a remarkable masterpiece. And as Im Yoona looked at him, that vague flutter in her heart seemed to quietly rise again, but this time, it was mixed with more of the "This person is really..." kind of feeling between laughter and tears, as well as a trace of... indescribable attraction.

He always managed, in the most unexpected way, to break all her expectations and defenses.

The fourth group's performance was thus completed with difficulty and "effort" amidst this "fast" but "cringey" "Shopping Rhapsody." When Kim Chaewon and Jo Yuri finished the last line "A happy life, ha ha ha~", they felt like they had used up a lifetime of singing techniques to hide their embarrassment. When they bowed and left the stage, their steps were a bit unsteady.

But in any case, the task was completed. Another group of "Star Saints," under PD Jiang's "eccentric genius" planning, had contributed their own "unforgettable" Myeong-dong memory point.

Only the last group remained. Lee Chaeyeon and Honda Hitomi, this main dancer line—what kind of "creative" test would they face?