216: I was so charmed by how cute I made Wenzheng last night when I was writing Chapter 203. I guess I really need to cut it up.

She paused, her eyes darting around: "Then let's just say IU is my daughter!"

"Yah!!!" Manager nearly jumped up again.

This time, even Jiang Zhiyu rubbed his forehead.

But Lee Tima didn't care at all. She pulled out her phone, unlocked it skillfully, and opened the chat interface with IU—it was indeed IU's Kakao Talk account, and the contact name was "Jieun Unnie".

Their chat history was densely packed, and the latest message was sent by IU yesterday: [When exactly are you coming back to Seoul?]

Then, under everyone's shocked gaze, she pressed the video call button.

"Beep... beep..." The ringtone sounded for a few seconds before it connected.

IU's face appeared on the screen; the background looked like a studio. She seemed to be working, with her hair tied up casually and wearing glasses.

"Yah! Lee Tima!" IU's voice came through the speaker, carrying an affectionate complaint, "I thought you'd been kidnapped by someone, ignoring me for so long?"

Lee Tima spoke into the phone in a sickeningly sweet voice: "Hehe, our Jieun, is Omma's good daughter missing Omma this much? Wait until Omma comes back and gives you the Suwon fried chicken you love the most~"

On the other end of the line, IU was clearly stunned.

There was silence on the other end for a full three seconds.

Then—

"Yah????"

IU's voice suddenly rose, that "Yah" bursting from her throat, carrying clear shock and the question, "What on earth are you blathering about?"

But Lee Tima didn't give her a chance to continue; she swiftly pressed the hang-up button.

Beep— The call ended.

The fried chicken shop fell into a deathly silence.

Jiang Zhiyu, Kim Taeyeon, and Manager were staring at her like she was some creature from another world—incredulous, unable to comprehend, yet inexplicably... impressed?

She actually dared to talk to IU like that? And hung up on IU?

As for Lee Tima, she tossed her phone onto the table, picked up the freshly served fried chicken leg, and took a big bite. With her cheeks puffed out, she mumbled unclearly: "Mmm! Delicious!"

She had no realization of the earth-shattering thing she had just done. Or rather, she realized it, but didn't care at all.

Jiang Zhiyu rubbed his temples, feeling for the first time that bringing Lee Tima to Jeonju might have been a mistake. No, not might. It was absolute.

Kim Taeyeon looked at Lee Tima's carefree appearance as she ate the fried chicken, then looked at Jiang Zhiyu's "my head hurts" expression; the irritation in her heart was gradually replaced by a sense of absurdity.

She suddenly felt that being with these two people, life would never be boring. But it would also never be peaceful.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's profile as he focused on adjusting the camera, then looked at Lee Tima who was excitedly ordering, and that complex emotion welled up in her heart once again.

Zhiyu, Jieun. This name was like a tiny thorn, pricking into her heart. It didn't hurt, but its presence was extremely strong.

She picked up her water glass and took a sip. The icy water slid down her throat, but it couldn't extinguish the inexplicable flame in her heart.

Outside the window, the night in Jeonju slowly descended, and streetlights lit up one by one. And the story in the fried chicken shop had only just begun.

The night deepened, and the four of them returned to the Kim house from the fried chicken shop. The nights in Jeonju were much quieter than in Seoul; there were few pedestrians on the streets, with only the streetlights casting dim, yellow halos.

The car stopped at the entrance of the Kim house, and Manager got out first to open the door for Kim Taeyeon.

"Taeyeon, President, see you tomorrow." Manager said politely, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Taeyeon without a trace, before bowing deeply, "You worked hard today, get some good rest."

That look of his... it was meaningful.

Kim Taeyeon was freaking out internally: Manager Oppa, what does that look mean??? We are just a working relationship! A working relationship!!

But Manager had clearly already imagined a whole TV drama in his head; he nodded at Jiang Zhiyu again, turned to get into his own car, and drove away quickly.

Leaving Kim Taeyeon, Jiang Zhiyu, and Lee Tima standing at the entrance of the Kim house.

The night breeze blew by, bringing the coolness characteristic of an early summer night. The pine trees in the courtyard rustled, and the wind chimes under the eaves made a faint tinkling sound.

"We're home!!!" Lee Tima didn't care about the subtle atmosphere; she pushed open the gate and rushed into the courtyard like a bird returning to its nest, her voice loud enough for the whole street to hear.

Father Kim and Mother Kim walked out from the inner room, and seeing the three of them, smiles appeared on their faces: "You're back? Did the filming go smoothly?"

"Very smoothly!" Lee Tima skipped over, "Grandpa, Grandma, we shot lots of beautiful scenes today!"

Kim Taeyeon walked into the courtyard, and while changing her shoes, her gaze involuntarily glanced toward Jiang Zhiyu. He was politely greeting her parents, his demeanor proper, completely unable to see the "educator" persona from a moment ago in the fried chicken shop.

Kim Taeyeon smiled helplessly and went to wash her hands to prepare for dinner.

Jiang Zhiyu followed to wash his hands, and by the sink, Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Did Manager Oppa... misunderstand something just now?"

Jiang Zhiyu was scrubbing his hands with soap; hearing this, he looked up, somewhat bewildered: "Misunderstand what?"

His expression was too natural; he didn't look like he was pretending to be dumb at all.

Kim Taeyeon looked into his clear eyes and suddenly felt that she was overthinking it. "It's nothing." She averted her gaze and lowered her head to wash her hands.