218: Chapter 205 felt poorly written, but it was even more exciting!

Stepping out of the house, the cool night breeze blew in, slightly diluting that alluring fragrance. But Jiang Zhiyu and Lee Tima were like two walking sachets; wherever they walked, the scent drifted with them.

Kim Taeyeon walked beside Jiang Zhiyu, the scent seeping into her nostrils, making it impossible for her to concentrate.

She secretly observed Jiang Zhiyu out of the corner of her eye. Under the dim light of the streetlamps, his skin indeed looked more delicate, and his features more defined. The change was subtle, but it definitely existed.

It was as if... a layer of invisible dust had been washed away, revealing his original brilliance.

"Noona?" Jiang Zhiyu's voice suddenly rang in her ear.

Kim Taeyeon was startled, only then realizing she had been staring at him, and almost walked into a utility pole on the side of the road.

"Ah... what is it?" she asked flusteredly.

Jiang Zhiyu pointed ahead: "Tima is running too fast, we'll get separated if we're not careful."

Sure enough, Lee Tima had already dragged Xia Yan more than ten meters ahead, the two young girls skipping along, not waiting for the people behind at all.

Kim Jiyong shouted from behind: "Slow down! Watch where you're going!"

But Lee Tima just turned back to make a face, then continued running forward.

Jiang Zhiyu shook his head helplessly and quickened his pace to follow. Kim Taeyeon also hurried to catch up.

The streets of Jeonju at night were very quiet, with only the occasional passing vehicle and faint music from afar. The streetlights were already on, and the early summer night temperature was pleasant, with a gentle breeze blowing. The air was filled with the faint scent of night-blooming jasmine, which mixed with the natural fragrance on Jiang Zhiyu and Lee Tima, creating a unique and refreshing scent.

The fragrance from Jiang Zhiyu and Lee Tima wafted in the night breeze, mixing with the fresh scent of roadside flowers and plants, forming a unique scent that belonged to this night.

Kim Taeyeon walked beside Jiang Zhiyu, deliberately keeping a little distance. But she could still clearly smell that sweet fruit aroma—wafting over with the night breeze, entering her nostrils, and stimulating her taste buds and... some more primitive urge.

She stole a glance at Jiang Zhiyu.

He was chatting with Kim Jiyong, his profile clearly defined under the illumination of the streetlights. His damp hair was already half-dry, resting softly on his forehead. His smile was gentle, and his eyes were clear.

But as Kim Taeyeon watched, that absurd thought popped into her mind again—she wanted to take a bite.

She quickly shook her head, trying to shake off that thought. She was crazy, she must be crazy.

"Taeyeon Unnie, what's wrong?" Lee Tima leaned over and asked curiously, "Your face is so red."

"N-nothing," Kim Taeyeon touched her cheek to cover up, "Maybe... it's a bit hot."

"Hot?" Lee Tima tilted her head, "I think it's quite cool."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhiyu turned his head to look at Kim Taeyeon. His gaze was clear and filled with concern: "Noona, are you not feeling well?"

"No!" Kim Taeyeon denied it immediately, her voice a little too loud, "I'm fine!"

Jiang Zhiyu blinked, seeming surprised by her reaction, but quickly revealed a gentle smile: "That's good."

He turned back and continued chatting with Kim Jiyong. But Kim Taeyeon could feel that he still seemed to be paying attention to her out of the corner of his eye. This realization made her heart beat even faster.

Lights turned on one after another in the shops along the street, and the lively atmosphere of the night market grew stronger. From a distance came the shouts of vendors, the laughter of diners, and the aroma of various foods being cooked. Nambu Market had arrived. And this night, it seemed, had only just begun.

The nights at Nambu Market were brightly lit, even livelier than during the day. Both sides of the narrow streets were lined with various stalls; the spicy aroma of tteokbokki, the greasy scent of grilled meat, and the sweet fragrance of hotteok mixed together, forming an incredibly tempting market atmosphere.

But tonight, this originally rich market aroma was "diluted" by another, even more special fragrance.

The moment Jiang Zhiyu and Lee Tima walked into the market, the originally noisy street fell into a brief silence. It wasn't completely quiet, but rather a subtle stagnation, as if time had slowed down by a beat.

The stall owners stopped shouting, the diners stopped chewing, and even customers who were bargaining forgot to speak. All gazes were involuntarily cast toward the two people who had just walked into the market. No, to be precise, they were cast toward those two strange fragrances and the two overly outstanding faces that were the source of the scents.

Lee Tima was fine; after all, she was young, and although she was as cute as a little elf and her winter plum fragrance was elegant and unique, it wasn't enough to cause too much of a stir.

But Jiang Zhiyu was completely different. Jiang Zhiyu's already outstanding appearance seemed to have leveled up after his bath. His skin glowed with a healthy sheen under the market lights, his eyes were clear enough to reflect the lights, and his facial features were well-defined yet soft. He was wearing a simple white T-shirt and grey sweatpants, but that aura made him exceptionally conspicuous in the crowd.

And the most fatal part was the fragrance on him—that fruit scent, ripe to the extreme and sweet enough to make one's mouth water, strangely stood out in the market filled with food smells, like a clear stream, directly piercing into everyone's nostrils.

"Oh my... what is that smell..." "So fragrant... like the most expensive imported peaches from a fruit shop..." "That person... is he a celebrity? He's too good-looking..." "Is he glowing? Is it my imagination?"

Whispers rose one after another. Some people took out their phones to secretly take pictures, some deliberately walked past them wanting to smell more clearly, and a few young girls even followed directly behind them, staring straight at Jiang Zhiyu.

Kim Taeyeon walked beside Jiang Zhiyu and could clearly feel those gazes. It wasn't just curiosity and appreciation, but also a more direct, almost unconcealed amazement and... desire.

A strong sense of discomfort welled up in her heart. It was as if a treasure she had kept hidden was suddenly exposed to the public eye, with everyone eyeing it covetously. This thought startled even her—a hidden treasure? When did Jiang Zhiyu become her treasure?

But the urge to hide him away was so strong, so strong that she could barely control it.

Lee Tima seemed completely unaware of the strangeness around her; she had already rushed to a tteokbokki stall, pointing at the bright red rice cakes in the pot: "Auntie! I want one serving! Add double fish cakes and eggs!"

The auntie stall owner only then came to her senses, and while scooping the rice cakes, she couldn't help but sneak a peek at Jiang Zhiyu: "Aigoo... this child is so handsome... and he smells so good..."

Kim Jiyong and Xia Yan also noticed something was wrong. They walked to Kim Taeyeon's side and whispered: "Taeyeon-ah, is Zhiyu... is he too conspicuous?"

Conspicuous? He was practically a walking spotlight.

Kim Taeyeon took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She took two masks out of her bag—items she always carried when going out—and handed one to Jiang Zhiyu. "Put this on," she said, "It'll be troublesome if you get recognized."

She was talking about herself, but in her heart, she was thinking of something else—using the mask to cover that overly good-looking face, blocking those gazes that made her uncomfortable.

Lee Tima put hers on obediently. Jiang Zhiyu also took the mask and thanked her politely: "Thank you, Noona."

He obediently put on the mask; the black mask covered most of his face, revealing only his eyes and forehead. But... it had absolutely no effect. No, to be precise, the effect was counterproductive.