239: Chapter 225 IZ*ONE Dormitory Trial: The Deceived Duck and the Negligent "Foodie"

Late at night, in the living room of the IZ*ONE dormitory, the atmosphere was solemn and... absurd.

Twelve girls sat in a semi-circle around a low table. The table was covered with a dark blue cloth—rumored to have been temporarily stripped from Kim Minju's bedsheets.

Most eye-catching was the 'judge's gavel' placed in the center of the table.

It wasn't an ordinary wooden mallet.

It was a... cucumber.

A thick, emerald green cucumber, still glistening with water droplets.

Kim Minju stood behind the table in her pajamas, her hair a bit messy, but her expression was as serious as a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Only when she looked at that cucumber did the corner of her mouth twitch uncontrollably.

“Why...” her voice trembled, “is the judge's gavel a cucumber?!!!”

She looked at An Yujin and Jang Wonyoung, who were in charge of the 'props,' in total collapse.

An Yujin said matter-of-factly, “Because this was the only thing in the kitchen with the right shape! Besides, cucumbers are great; we can eat it after the trial is over, no waste!”

Jang Wonyoung nodded in agreement: “And cucumbers represent 'justice'! Because they are straight!”

That explanation... made no sense at all!

But at this moment, no one cared about that.

Because the trial had already begun.

Kim Minju took a deep breath, trying to force herself to accept reality. She picked up the cucumber (it felt cold and strange) and struck the table hard—

“Slap.”

The sound was soft, and a bit of juice splashed out.

“Silence!” Kim Minju tried to make her voice sound majestic. “Court is now in session! The theme of this trial is: The failure and accountability of 'Operation Protect the Duck'!”

As she spoke, she struck the table again with the cucumber.

This time she used too much force, and the tip of the cucumber split a little.

Kim Minju: “...”

Everyone: “...”

“Bring up Choi Yena and Kang Hye-won!!” Kim Minju gave up on trying to fix the mood and went straight to the point.

Choi Yena was 'escorted' by Kwon Eunbi and Jang Wonyoung to the pile of cushions in the center, looking completely dazed.

Kang Hye-won was dragged out of her room by Miyawaki Sakura and Lee Chaeyeon—she had been preparing to shower after returning and had completely forgotten about tonight's 'trial.'

“Why am I here too?” Kang Hye-won asked blankly, blinking her large, innocent eyes.

This question made everyone get excited.

“Why are you here?!” Kwon Eunbi was the first to stand up, her expression one of extreme grief and indignation. “We told you to go undercover, but what were you doing?! You were eating the whole time! Eating! Eating!”

“You were eating the Cheese Waterfall Set!” Jang Wonyoung added.

“You were eating grilled sausages!” An Yujin followed up.

“You were eating Chocolate Lava Cake!” Honda Hitomi's tone was filled with heartbreak. “And... you actually didn't bring any food back?!!!!”

The last sentence was almost roared out.

This spoke for everyone's inner feelings.

They were waiting nervously at the dorm for news, while Kang Hye-won was feasting at the restaurant and didn't even get takeout!!

What kind of 'betrayal' was this!!

Kang Hye-won blinked, a look of sudden realization dawning on her: “Ah... so I could have gotten takeout...”

Everyone: “...”

Was that the point?!

Kang Hye-won pouted and defended herself in a small voice: “I... I thought about getting takeout after I finished eating... but I was so full that I forgot...”

“Bring them forward!” Kim Minju struck the table with the cucumber again.

Kim Minju tapped the table with the cucumber (which was already getting a bit soft): “Quiet! Trial Choi Yena first!”

Everyone's gaze focused on Choi Yena.

“Yena,” Kwon Eunbi spoke as the 'prosecutor,' “please state truthfully the entire process of your meeting with PD Jiang tonight, and... and... why did you blush?”

She specifically emphasized the last sentence.

Everyone's eyes focused on Choi Yena's face.

Choi Yena's face turned red again—this time for real.

“I... I didn't blush...” she tried to argue.

“The photo is proof!” Jang Wonyoung held up her phone, the screen showing the photo Jo Yuri had secretly taken of Choi Yena with a slightly red face, looking down while eating.

The evidence was as solid as a mountain.

Choi Yena had no choice but to honestly confess everything.

She started from Jiang Zhiyu's arrival, talking about that strange fragrance and his stunning looks, the project 'Prisoner of the Demon King's Castle ~ The Food-Stealing Pisces Saintess,' Jiang Zhiyu's concern for his juniors (though the method was a bit special), and the interesting things that happened at the dinner table...

She spoke in great detail, even a bit... enthusiastically?

When she talked about Jiang Zhiyu telling her interesting filming stories, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up.

When she mentioned Jiang Zhiyu saying 'relaxing a bit will actually have unexpected effects,' her eyes grew soft.

Everyone could hear it—Choi Yena really seemed to... not hate Jiang Zhiyu?

Maybe even... appreciate him a little?

“Wait!” An Yujin interrupted her. “Yena-ya, don't you find the settings of 'Dried Fish Darts' and 'Sausage Missiles' shameful?”

Choi Yena thought for a moment and said seriously: “At first it was a bit... but PD Jiang said those settings were just to increase the fun and memorability. And if you think about it carefully, it's actually quite creative...”

“Creative?!” Miyawaki Sakura's eyes widened. “That's clearly a prank!”

“But,” Choi Yena countered, “isn't variety supposed to make the audience feel it's interesting? If the audience is happy watching it, then the setting is successful.”

When she said this, her eyes were firm, not at all like the usually carefree Choi Yena.

Everyone looked at each other.

It's over.

Yena has really been 'brainwashed.'

Kwon Eunbi was heartbroken, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her: “Yena-ya! You've been deceived by PD Jiang's sweet talk!! He's using commercial value to confuse you! What Candy Castle! What dried fish! These are all traps!! Shame traps!!”

“But,” Choi Yena said in a small voice, “commercial value is indeed very important... and PD Jiang also said he would guarantee the filming quality and wouldn't actually make me look bad...”

“A man's words are as deceptive as a ghost!” Jang Wonyoung said indignantly. “Wasn't Wonyoung's lesson enough?!”

Jang Wonyoung thought of her 'Golden Toilet' and 'Three-Meter Giant Pie,' and still felt a lingering fear.

“But...” Choi Yena tried to explain, “PD Jiang said it's a big investment with over a dozen brand collaborations, which is very good for my future development...”

“It's a sugar-coated shell!” Kim Chaewon hit the nail on the head. “First he uses resources to tempt you, then he makes you film that shameful content!”

“But...” Choi Yena's voice got smaller, “I think... if I film it with a relaxed mindset, it's actually quite interesting...”

As she spoke, her eyes wandered and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

This detail was captured by the sharp Jo Yuri.

“Question!” Jo Yuri raised her hand. “Choi Yena, what do you think of PD Jiang?”

The question made the living room go silent instantly.

Everyone's ears perked up.

Choi Yena was stunned: “What do you mean 'what'?”

“Appearance, of course~ vibe~ and things like that!” Kim Minju pointed at her with the cucumber. “Speak! Three seconds! Three!”

“Wait! That's too fast!” Choi Yena protested.

“Two!”

“I...”

“One!”

“He... he's quite good-looking!” Choi Yena blurted out.

The living room went silent for a moment.

Then—

“Oh~~~~”

Eleven voices simultaneously let out a meaningful exclamation.

Choi Yena's face was as red as a tomato: “No! I didn't mean it like that! I meant... as a PD, his professional ability is very strong, and... and...”

“And he's good-looking.” An Yujin helped her finish.

“His vibe is also good.” Yabuki Nako nodded.

“He smells very nice too.” Jo Yuri whispered.

Choi Yena covered her face, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

It's over.

Everyone understood.

Choi Yena, the silliest, most straightforward, and least-capable-of-hiding-it 'Duck' in IZ*ONE, had already been conquered by Jiang Zhiyu's looks and fragrance.

“Yena-ya...” Miyawaki Sakura sighed, “You've... fallen for him.”

“I have not!” Choi Yena immediately retorted, but her voice was so weak even she didn't believe it.

“Silence!” Kim Minju tapped the table with the now-limp cucumber (to little effect). “Choi Yena's interrogation is temporarily concluded! Now, trial Kang Hye-won!”

Kang Hye-won was still out of the loop: “What did I do?”