238: Chapter 224 I don't understand, winter has really become a weather forecast, it's even snowing....

[Winter: Oppa... I want to eat too ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა]

Attached was a cute emoticon of a puppy looking longingly at food.

As soon as this message was sent, the group chat immediately exploded.

NingNing: [Ya! Kim Minjeong! You traitor!]

Giselle: [Didn't we agree to lose weight together?!]

Karina: [Minjeong-ah, where is your willpower?]

But Kim Minjeong didn't care anymore.

Clutching her phone, she stared at the photo of the BBQ sent by Jiang Zhiyu, and her stomach let out an unfilial growl.

I really want to eat it...

Especially the cheese powder fried chicken... and the BBQ... and...

She shook her head, trying to drive those images out of her mind.

But the more she tried to forget, the clearer they became.

In the group, Jiang Zhiyu sent another message:

[Little Jiang is also spicier than old ones: After your next comeback is over, Oppa will treat you to a big meal. You can eat whatever you want. For now, endure it for the stage and for the fans.]

This message was both a temptation and an encouragement.

Watching it, Kim Minjeong felt a warmth in her heart.

She replied: [Ne! Oppa, you have to keep your word!]

NingNing: [Master, I've noted it! When the time comes, I want hot pot! Spicy hot pot!]

Giselle: [I want Japanese food... sushi... sashimi...]

Karina: [Then I want Hanwoo, the most expensive kind!]

Looking at the lively replies in the group, the smile on Jiang Zhiyu's face deepened.

He replied: [Okay, I've noted it all. Good luck with the comeback.]

After sending this, he put away his phone and looked up to find Choi Yena staring at him curiously.

“Is PD-nim chatting with someone? You're smiling so happily,” Choi Yena couldn't help but ask.

Jiang Zhiyu paused, then revealed a mysterious smile: “I'm ‘offering condolences’ to some juniors who are working hard.”

He spoke vaguely, but Choi Yena could more or less guess.

They must be SM artists, right? After all, PD Jiang used to work at SM.

She didn't pry further and instead picked up her chopsticks: “Then... shall we start eating?”

“Let's eat.” Jiang Zhiyu nodded and also picked up his chopsticks.

However, the assistant Xiao Zheng hesitated for a moment: “President, should we wait a bit? Let the phone ‘eat’ first?”

He was joking, but Jiang Zhiyu nodded seriously: “That makes sense.”

Then, he took out his phone again and snapped several photos of the BBQ from different angles.

Watching this scene, Choi Yena couldn't help but laugh.

This PD Jiang was really interesting sometimes.

When serious, he was like a business elite; when working, he was like a creative maniac; but in private... he would actually do such childish things like ‘releasing food toxins late at night’?

Moreover, he seemed to really care about his juniors.

Even if his way of caring was a bit... special?

Meanwhile, in the aespa group chat, because of Jiang Zhiyu's promise to “treat them to a big meal after the comeback,” a new round of discussion was unfolding—about what to eat after the comeback.

Kim Minjeong seriously compiled a list, from fried chicken to BBQ to hot pot, writing down over a dozen items.

NingNing complained: “Can you even finish all that?”

Kim Minjeong replied righteously: “I can split it over several days!”

Karina reminded them: “Don't forget we still have the next comeback after that...”

But at this moment, no one wanted to think that far ahead.

They only wanted to enjoy this night, enjoy the ‘pain’ and anticipation brought by the food photos, and enjoy the promise from that Oppa who, although loved playing pranks, truly cared for them.

The three of them finally began to eat.

The BBQ was indeed delicious; the meat was tender and juicy, the sauce was perfectly sweet and salty, and paired with side dishes and rice, it really worked up an appetite.

Choi Yena ate happily, temporarily forgetting those embarrassing settings about ‘dried small fish darts’ and ‘grilled sausage missiles.’

And diagonally behind them, Jo Yuri and Kim Minju were also secretly taking photos.

However, they weren't photographing the food, but the scene of Jiang Zhiyu and Choi Yena eating.

Jo Yuri: [photo.jpg] (Jiang Zhiyu putting food in Choi Yena's bowl)

Kim Minju: [photo.jpg] (Choi Yena smiling very happily)

As soon as these two photos were sent to the IZ*ONE group chat, they immediately triggered a new discussion.

Jang Wonyoung: [Wait! This atmosphere... isn't it a bit too harmonious?!]

An Yujin: [PD Jiang is even giving Yena food?! What kind of development is this?!]

Kwon Eunbi: [Calm down! It might just be politeness!]

Miyawaki Sakura: [But Yena is smiling so happily...]

Lee Chaeyeon: [Could it be... Yena has been ‘turned’?]

This speculation made everyone nervous.

Meanwhile, in the restaurant, Choi Yena was indeed smiling very happily.

Because Jiang Zhiyu was telling her an interesting story about filming—how a certain artist was so nervous they forgot all their lines in front of the camera, but ended up improvising and creating a classic scene instead.

“So,” Jiang Zhiyu concluded, “sometimes don't be too nervous. If you relax a bit, it might actually have unexpected effects.”

When he said this, his gaze was gentle, as if comforting her not to feel pressured.

Choi Yena nodded, and the tension in her heart indeed dissipated quite a bit.

This PD Jiang really didn't seem as ‘scary’ as her sisters had said.

At least, the person sitting in front of her now was gentle, interesting, professional, and... really good-looking.

Her gaze unconsciously fell on Jiang Zhiyu's face.

Under the lights, his profile was well-defined, his eyelashes were long, and the way he ate was elegant and proper.

And then there was that scent...

The sweet fragrance of ripe fruit mixed with the aroma of BBQ, forming a unique scent that made one's heart race.

Choi Yena's face turned slightly red.

She quickly lowered her head, pretending to focus on eating.

But her heartbeat sped up uncontrollably.

This night seemed to be heading in a direction she hadn't anticipated at all.

And diagonally behind them, Kang Hye-won finally finished her chocolate lava cake.

She let out a satisfied sigh, wiped her mouth, and then...

Finally remembered her mission.

She looked up toward Choi Yena's table.

Seeing Choi Yena's slightly red face and Jiang Zhiyu's gentle smile, she blinked, then took out her phone and sent a message to the group:

[Hyewon: Report, Yena's face is red.]

This message caused the already chaotic IZ*ONE group chat to completely explode.