232: Chapter 219 The Infiltration of the Barbecue Restaurant: The Adorable Duckling and Its "Traitorous" Teammates

The elevator reached the first floor.

The doors opened, and Jiang Zhiyu stepped out of the building and into the waiting car.

"President, are we heading to the restaurant?" the driver asked.

"Yes," Jiang Zhiyu nodded, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes.

In his mind, thoughts of work, live streams, variety shows, music... all intertwined.

But ultimately, they settled on a single image—

Kim Minjeong's silly yet earnest smile.

And those words she had said:

"I will keep running forward."

A gentle curve tugged at the corners of Jiang Zhiyu's mouth once again.

Well then, let's run forward together.

In this industry full of infinite possibilities, in this city of starlight.

Outside the car window, the night in Seoul was just beginning.

And the story of TG Entertainment continued.

—

Inside a recently viral American-style BBQ joint in Seoul's Gangnam District, the atmosphere was subtle and intriguing.

The restaurant's decor was typical American industrial style, with exposed brick walls, metal pipes, and warm yellow pendant lights; the air was thick with the rich aroma of grilled meat and smoke. It was the peak dinner hour, and the place was nearly full, with the sounds of chatter, clinking cutlery, and the sizzle of roasting meat all blending together.

And in a four-seater by the window sat tonight's protagonist—Choi Yena.

She wore the white knit cardigan and pale pink dress she had carefully chosen that afternoon, her curly hair cascading naturally over her shoulders with a bow clip pinned to one side. Her makeup was exquisite—innocent eye makeup, rosy cheeks, and moist lips—giving her the look of someone anyone would want to dote on.

But her current expression didn't quite match her adorable outfit.

Nervousness.

Obvious nervousness.

Her fingers unconsciously toyed with the hem of her skirt, her eyes glancing toward the restaurant entrance every now and then before quickly darting away. Every time a new guest walked in, her body would tense up slightly, only for her to let out a quiet sigh of relief when she saw it wasn't Jiang Zhiyu.

And there was another reason for her nervousness.

Diagonally behind her, two tables away, sat three "undercover agents."

Jo Yuri and Kim Minju, following the plan for "Operation Protect the Duck," were responsible for close-range reconnaissance. Both were simply disguised—hats, masks, and glasses—trying their best not to draw attention.

They were using eye contact and hand gestures to carry out "encrypted communication" with Choi Yena.

Jo Yuri raised her hand, giving a "fighting" gesture, her eyes full of encouragement.

Kim Minju mouthed silently, "Yena Unnie, Fighting!"

Looking at them, Choi Yena felt both touched and helpless.

Touched by her sisters' concern.

Helpless because... why on earth did Kang Hye-won come along?!

Moreover, she had absolutely no sense of being "undercover"!

Right now, Kang Hye-won was sitting next to Jo Yuri and Kim Minju, but her attention wasn't on Choi Yena at all.

In front of her sat the restaurant's signature dish—Smoked Beef Short Ribs.

The thick ribs were grilled to a perfect char on the outside while remaining tender inside, brushed with a secret sauce that glistened temptingly under the lights. They were served with roasted vegetables and potato wedges.

And Kang Hye-won was focused entirely on... gnawing on those ribs.

That's right, gnawing.

Completely disregarding her image, she held the bone with both hands, tore off a piece of meat with her mouth, and chewed with bulging cheeks, her eyes squinting happily into slits.

She looked as if she hadn't eaten in three days.

Choi Yena's eye twitched at the sight.

By the third time Choi Yena looked over at them, she couldn't take it anymore.

She quietly took out her phone and sent a message to the "Operation Protect the Duck" group: [Why is Hye-won Unnie eating meat?!]

Almost immediately, Jo Yuri replied: [She said she was hungry...]

Kim Minju: [And she said... coming to a BBQ joint and not eating meat is disrespectful to the owner...]

Choi Yena: [...But she didn't need to order such a huge portion!]

After sending the message, she stole another glance.

Kang Hye-won had already finished half of the beef ribs. She was chewing contentedly with her cheeks puffed out like a hamster.

As if sensing Yena's gaze, Kang Hye-won looked up, gave her a bright smile, and even flashed a thumbs-up.

The meaning was clear: Go Yena! I support you!

Choi Yena: "..."

She facepalmed.

Was this the "protection operation" her sisters had so meticulously planned?

One was suffocating from nerves, while the other had already started feasting?

And while Jo Yuri and Kim Minju were somewhat professional, the worried glances they exchanged and the way Jo Yuri was nearly crushing the menu with her fingers betrayed their inner tension.

Choi Yena let out a sigh.

She withdrew her gaze and looked out the window.

The night in Seoul was brightly lit, with heavy traffic on the streets. The restaurant's glass window reflected her image—the meticulously dressed, overly adorable version of herself.

She suddenly felt a bit lost.

Was this really necessary?

Was PD Jiang... really that scary?

In her impression, although Jiang Zhiyu loved to play pranks, he was actually a pretty good person. He would prepare delicious food for them and listen seriously to their opinions. Although those "creative ideas" were sometimes so embarrassing they made her want to crawl into a hole, he had never truly hurt them.

Moreover, this time was to discuss individual work arrangements.

It should... be a good thing, right?

As she was thinking, her phone vibrated again.

It was a message from Kwon Eunbi: [Yena, how's the situation? Has PD Jiang arrived?]

Choi Yena replied: [Not yet.]

Kwon Eunbi: [Don't be nervous, remember what we taught you! If PD Jiang makes unreasonable demands, find an excuse to leave! We'll support you anytime!]

Looking at this message, Choi Yena felt a warmth in her heart.

Even though her sisters' behavior was a bit exaggerated, their concern was genuine.

She replied: [Yes, I know.]

Putting down her phone, she checked the time again—6:50 PM.

Ten minutes left.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

But her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Kang Hye-won again.

Then she saw a scene that nearly made her break down—

Kang Hye-won tore off another large piece of meat, let out a satisfied sigh, and then...

Raised her hand and called the waiter.

"Auntie," Kang Hye-won's voice wasn't loud, but in the relatively quiet restaurant, Choi Yena could hear her clearly. "Um... do you have the Cheese Waterfall Set?"

The waiter was stunned for a moment. "Cheese Waterfall?"