221: Chapter 208: New variety show 'Aiyo! IU!' is in production!

Jiang Zhiyu smiled but did not start immediately.

He looked up at the sky—the moon tonight was round and bright, like a silver plate hung against dark blue velvet.

Moonlight spilled over him, casting fine shadows on his eyelashes.

He lowered his head slightly, his expression focused as he fully entered a state of creation.

Kim Taeyeon stood to the side, watching him quietly.

At this moment, Jiang Zhiyu had changed again.

He was not the gentle and jade-like guest, not the professional and rigorous CEO, not the childish older brother, but a pure creator, immersed in his own world.

His profile was sharply defined under the moonlight, his brows slightly furrowed, and his lips gently pursed, as if he were capturing the musical notes drifting through the air.

Kim Taeyeon's heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably again.

But she did not look away. She allowed herself to look at him properly and earnestly in this moment.

Because tomorrow, he would be leaving.

This realization caused an inexplicable sourness to well up in her heart.

He closed his eyes, seemingly feeling something.

Time ticked by. The alley was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of distant dogs barking and the rustling of wind through the leaves.

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and began to hum.

Unlike Lee Tima's gentle sadness, Jiang Zhiyu's melody was more... ethereal.

The prelude consisted of a few simple piano notes, like moonlight dancing on the keys. Then his voice entered, very soft, almost like a whisper:

"The moonlight is beautiful, tonight. This path I walk with you, is engraved in my heart. The stars are twinkling, the wind is whispering. This moment, forever, I want to remember. Your smile, your gaze, everything about you, under this moonlight, is shining."

His voice was even gentler, even more... affectionate than when he usually sang. Although the lyrics used the pronoun "너" (you) without referring to anyone specific, everyone present couldn't help but feel that he was singing about this very moment, this very scene.

The melody was more complex than Lee Tima's, the key changes more ingenious, and the emotional layers richer. From the stunning first impression to the warmth of being together, and then the longing to remember this moment forever...

Every line of lyrics, every single note, perfectly captured the atmosphere of the moonlit summer night.

When he finished the last line and his voice gradually faded into the air, the scene fell into a brief silence.

There was only the sound of the wind and the rustling of the leaves.

Then— "Wow..."

Xia Yan was the first to exclaim, but her voice was very soft, as if she were afraid of breaking this beautiful atmosphere.

Kim Jiyong also took a deep breath: "Zhiyu... this is no longer just the level of improvisation, right?"

This was absolutely a complete song that could be officially recorded and released!

Kim Taeyeon did not speak.

She just looked at Jiang Zhiyu quietly, watching his figure shrouded in moonlight, watching those eyes of his that were exceptionally bright in the night.

Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.

That song just now... those lyrics...

"Your smile, your gaze, everything about you, is shining under this moonlight."

She couldn't help but feel that he was singing about her.

Although her reason told her this was impossible. This was just improvisation; he was merely borrowing the scene and the people before him.

But emotionally, she couldn't control herself from thinking so.

The moonlight is beautiful. Tonight. This path I walk with you. Engraved in my heart.

These sentences, every single word, seemed to be expressing her feelings.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at everyone's shocked expressions and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "How was it? Was it okay?"

"More than okay!" Lee Tima jumped up, "Oppa, you're cheating! You clearly wrote this song a long time ago!"

"It really was improvisation," Jiang Zhiyu said seriously, "I swear."

His eyes were clear; he didn't look like he was lying.

Kim Taeyeon finally spoke, her voice somewhat hoarse: "What... what is the name of this song?"

Jiang Zhiyu thought for a moment: "Let's call it 'The Moonlight Is Beautiful'."

The moonlight is beautiful. Four simple words, yet they contained a thousand unspoken thoughts.

Kim Taeyeon looked up at the sky. The moon was indeed beautiful, its silvery radiance spilling over the earth, and also spilling onto her heart.

She suddenly remembered a saying—it is said that in Japanese culture, "The moonlight is beautiful" is a veiled confession.

She didn't know if Jiang Zhiyu knew about this allusion. But she hoped he didn't.

Because she didn't know how she would face it if he did know.

The path under the moonlight continued to stretch out; there was still some distance to go before they reached home.

But Kim Taeyeon felt that her heart had already been lost in this moonlight. Lost in tonight, lost on this path, lost in... the person beside her.

And Jiang Zhiyu seemed completely unaware of this.

He was still discussing the arrangement possibilities of the two songs with Lee Tima, his tone professional and serious.

Kim Taeyeon watched him, a complex surge of emotions welling up in her heart. Sweetness, bitterness, anticipation, fear...

Everything was intertwined, like an airtight net, trapping her firmly.

She knew that some things, once started, could never be stopped. Just like the moonlight on this summer night; once it shone into her heart, it could never be driven away.

The road home continued. And her heart had already embarked on a completely different, unknown journey.

At 5:30 in the morning, the lights in the Kim household's kitchen were already glowing warmly.

Jiang Zhiyu stood before the stove wearing an apron, the bacon in the frying pan making an enticing "sizzling" sound. The rice cooker beside him was steaming, and the air was filled with the fragrance of rice and the oily aroma of fried eggs.

On the counter, several side dishes were already laid out, bright in color and exquisitely plated. Pumpkin porridge was simmering over low heat in the pot, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.

When Mother Kim walked into the kitchen, this was the scene she saw.

"Oh my, our Zhiyu," she said, feeling both moved and embarrassed, "I'm so sorry, you're here as a guest and yet you get up early every day to make breakfast..."

Jiang Zhiyu turned back and smiled, his hands not stopping: "It's fine, Auntie, I'm used to it. I usually get up at this time to prepare breakfast at the company too; once I'm used to it, I can't change it."

He said it lightly and naturally, as if this were just a trivial matter.

But Mother Kim knew clearly in her heart that at this age, who doesn't sleep until the sun is high? Those who can be this self-disciplined are very rare.

"Is that girl Lee Tima still sleeping?" Mother Kim looked upstairs.

"Yeah," Jiang Zhiyu plated the fried bacon, "Let her sleep a bit longer; she was quite tired from playing yesterday."

Just as he was speaking, a rustling sound came from the staircase.