248: Chapter 231 Why did IZ*ONE disband?

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The laughter and chatter inside the private room continued. The heat from the BBQ and the warm lighting cast a soft glow over the relaxed faces of the members. Feeling the timing was right, Jiang Zhiyu made an excuse to go to the restroom, picked up his coat, and quietly stood up.

"Excuse me for a moment," he said with a smile, nodding to everyone before pushing open the heavy wooden door of the private room.

The hallway was much quieter, and the air was slightly cool. He walked toward the cashier with steady steps, calculating the bill in his mind. Regardless of the circumstances, he felt he should be the one to pay for today's meal—as the host, the junior, and a potential project partner. This wasn't just etiquette; it was also a way for him to redefine his relationship with Red Velvet, especially with that person—as pure, professional business partners with an appropriate distance.

He had only walked a few steps when another door opened behind him, followed by light but clear footsteps. Jiang Zhiyu instinctively turned around.

It was Bae Joo-hyun.

She had also come out, closing the door behind her and cutting off the noise from the room. The soft overhead light in the hallway spilled over her. Her beige knit sweater made her look exceptionally gentle, her long black hair was draped over her shoulders, and her face remained clear and beautiful. However, at this moment, those eyes that always held a hint of aloofness were quietly looking at him.

"President Jiang," she called out to him. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet hallway.

Jiang Zhiyu stopped and turned around, his face quickly donning his usual polite yet slightly distant, questioning smile: "Senior Irene, is something the matter?"

Bae Joo-hyun walked up to him. They maintained a social distance of about a meter, but this was the first time since they met today that they were alone together without the other members present, and at such a close distance. It was close enough for Jiang Zhiyu to clearly see the faint shadows cast by her long eyelashes, the nearly invisible fine fuzz on her fair skin, and to smell the unique scent coming from her—a mix of light perfume and the smoky aroma of the BBQ.

It was different from the perfume Baek Ji-xin usually wore, but it caused his heart to tremble just the same.

Bae Joo-hyun looked up at him. Her beautiful eyes reflected the hallway light as well as his silhouette. Her expression was softer than it had been in the private room, as if she had shed a bit of her "leader" burden, and there was a faint but genuine curve at the corners of her lips.

"Thank you for today," she spoke, her voice lighter and more sincere than usual. "Both for the BBQ and for... those words." She was referring to his suggestions about their collaboration and future development possibilities.

Her gratitude was very sincere. Jiang Zhiyu could feel that this wasn't just politeness; it was from the heart. Perhaps she also felt a certain possibility, a glimmer of hope to break the deadlock and gain new support. And at times like this, she would always...

Always would?

Jiang Zhiyu's heart suddenly constricted.

The scene before him seemed to instantly overlap with a fragment from the depths of his memory. Baek Ji-xin was just like this. Every time he solved a thorny problem for her or gave her crucial guidance and support when she felt lost, she would always look at him with eyes full of gratitude, dependence, and a bit of relief, and then say "thank you" earnestly.

That expression, that posture, that mixture of strength and softness... they were too similar.

Almost like a reflex, before his reason could react, a sentence spoken with a helpless, doting, and natural tone slipped from Jiang Zhiyu's lips. His tone was as familiar as if he were speaking to someone he had been close to for years:

"Don't keep saying thank you. Is there a need for 'thank you' between us?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the air seemed to freeze.

Jiang Zhiyu himself was stunned. He saw the turbulent waves that instantly rose in Bae Joo-hyun's eyes.

Those beautiful eyes widened in an instant, filled with unbelievable shock, followed quickly by a flash of offended annoyance. Then, an instinctive, ice-like defensiveness and cold aloofness solidified and spread in the depths of her eyes at a visible speed, refreezing her face which had just been slightly soft.

She took half a step back, her body lines becoming stiff. The look in her eyes as she watched him was full of scrutiny and wariness, as if she were truly seeing him for the first time, yet also as if she were looking at an extremely rude stranger who had crossed an insurmountable line.

Jiang Zhiyu's heart felt as if it had been gripped hard by a cold hand and then sank to the bottom.

Baek Ji-xin...

A massive, sharp pain instantly swept through him. It wasn't the embarrassment or awkwardness of facing Bae Joo-hyun's reaction at this moment, but a deeper, eternal sense of loss and despair regarding "never seeing that person again." This pain was so real and intense that it almost made his breath hitch.

Immediately after, a stronger realization slammed into him: the person in front of him was Bae Joo-hyun, Irene, the leader of Red Velvet, an SM artist, a senior with whom he only had a professional intersection and wasn't even well-acquainted. She wasn't Baek Ji-xin! She could never be!

What on earth was he doing?!

Confused thoughts and churning emotions crashed violently in his mind, causing him to lose his ability to manage his expressions for a moment. He could only instinctively frown, a clear flash of pain and confusion crossing his face. Explain? How could he explain? By saying he saw his ex-girlfriend's shadow in her? That he had a moment of blurred consciousness? That would be even worse than the out-of-line remark just now, even ruder, and would push her further away while putting himself in a ridiculous and pathetic position.

No, he couldn't explain. He couldn't even if he wanted to.

In a flash, Jiang Zhiyu made a decision. He forcibly suppressed all the surging emotions. The confusion and pain in his eyes receded like a tide, replaced by an almost deliberate, icy aloofness—even more indifferent than how he usually faced outsiders. He not only retracted the familiarity that had uncontrollably leaked out a moment ago but also took two steps back on his own initiative, widening the distance between them and returning to an absolutely safe, "normal" business distance.

His voice returned to calm, even becoming a few shades deeper than usual, carrying a business-like coldness:

"You're being too polite, Senior. It's what I should do." He nodded slightly, avoiding her scrutinizing gaze. "As for the bill, I'll handle it. Please go back to the room, Senior; don't keep everyone waiting."

He tried to use stiff politeness and a clear sense of distance to cover up his lapse just now and pull the two of them back onto the track of "President and former idol artist."

Bae Joo-hyun's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. The emotional ice wall she had built over the years had an extremely keen and rapid defensive reaction to any words or actions that might cross the line. Jiang Zhiyu's sentence and expression just now had undoubtedly triggered the highest level of alarm. Annoyance, defensiveness, and aloofness—these emotions were real and swift.

But...

At the very moment Jiang Zhiyu's eyes changed, before that layer of icy aloofness covered them, she seemed to have caught a glimpse of something else. It wasn't calculation, it wasn't flippancy, and it wasn't even entirely embarrassment.

It was a kind of... deep disappointment? Pain?

What was he disappointed about? And what was he in pain for?

This discovery caused a tiny crack to appear in Bae Joo-hyun's frozen-like wariness. She couldn't see through this man. His performance today had been professional, appropriate, and even commendable, and the ability and vision he displayed were impressive. Yet that moment of lapse just now and the subsequent massive contrast held an indescribable eeriness and... heaviness.

At this moment, Jiang Zhiyu's mind was frantically retracing. He had to immediately, right now, confirm where his feelings belonged! The one he loved was Baek Ji-xin, the lover who came from the same world as him, who had fought alongside him, and who had shared all his joys and sorrows. Bae Joo-hyun just happened to have a similar appearance and temperament; she was just a pathetic target for his emotional projection caused by his deep longing! It had to be that!

However, when he desperately searched his memory for sweet evidence of his love with Baek Ji-xin, what surged into his heart were always those irreconcilable conflicts, the fierce arguments caused by their respective career pursuits and responsibilities, and the heart-wrenching yet helpless pain when they finally had to let go. The warm fragments became blurred, while the pain of separation remained as clear as yesterday.

Heartbeats don't lie. The uncontrollable throb he felt when facing Bae Joo-hyun and the familiarity that slipped out in a similar situation were all screaming another possibility. But Jiang Zhiyu's reason and his bone-deep loyalty and remorse toward Baek Ji-xin made him deathly suppress this "wrong" heart-throb.

No, not her. It can't be her. He repeatedly warned himself in his heart, his gaze becoming increasingly cold and determined.

A brief and subtle stalemate fell between the two. Bae Joo-hyun didn't leave immediately, and Jiang Zhiyu didn't move again.

After a moment, Bae Joo-hyun seemed to take a light breath. The icy defensiveness on her face softened slightly, but the sense of aloofness remained distinct. She shook her head, her tone calm but beyond doubt: "I was the one who invited everyone for a meal today, so I should be the one to pay. I appreciate your sentiment, President Jiang, but the bill must be paid by me."

She walked past Jiang Zhiyu and headed straight for the cashier.

Jiang Zhiyu immediately followed, quickening his pace to be almost side-by-side with her, but maintaining that "safe" distance. "Senior, what we discussed today was a potential future collaboration. By any logic, I should be the one. Besides, as a junior and the inviting party, there's no reason for me to let you spend your money." His tone had returned to steady, but it carried a non-negotiable persistence.

The two reached the cashier almost at the same time.

"The bill for Room B07," the two said in unison to the somewhat stunned staff member. Then, they each quickly pulled out their wallets, took out their bank cards, and handed them over almost simultaneously.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Two bank cards hovered before the staff member; one from the top girl group leader with a cold expression but determined eyes, the other from the young, handsome, yet imposing and complex-eyed entertainment company president. The air was filled with a silent, polite confrontation.

The staff member was a young girl. She looked at Bae Joo-hyun, then at Jiang Zhiyu, clearly recognizing them both, her expression shifting from surprise to bewilderment. Subconsciously, she looked at Bae Joo-hyun first—this goddess with extreme national popularity, though calm in expression, had an underlying aura that could not be refused. However, when her gaze touched upon Jiang Zhiyu, although the corners of his mouth seemed to still hold a faint, polite smile, the determination—and even a hint of imperceptible pressure—emanating from his deep eyes made her heart skip a beat.

This President Jiang... seemed even harder to "defy"?

In a flash, following some intuition (or perhaps a subconscious submission to a stronger aura), the staff member reached out, her movements slightly hesitant but ultimately decisive, and took the bank card from Jiang Zhiyu's hand.

"Alright, please wait a moment." She lowered her head to begin the transaction, avoiding Bae Joo-hyun's gaze.

Bae Joo-hyun's fingers tightened slightly around her bank card, and she pressed her lips together, but ultimately said nothing. She stood there quietly, her side profile beautifully sculpted yet appearing somewhat tense.

Jiang Zhiyu breathed a sigh of relief, but felt no sense of ease inside. He paid the bill, took the receipt and the card, turned, and bowed slightly to Bae Joo-hyun: "Senior, let's go back."

Bae Joo-hyun glanced at him, her expression complex and difficult to decipher—lingering aloofness, slight displeasure at being "beaten to the payment," and perhaps a hint of deeper curiosity and inquiry. But in the end, she merely nodded, turned, and walked toward the private room first.

Jiang Zhiyu followed half a step behind her, his gaze resting on her straight back, his heart still harboring irregular aftershocks. The corridor light stretched their shadows; though they were close, it felt as if they were separated by an invisible wall built of past events, misjudgments, and deliberately maintained icy politeness.

Beneath the surface of this meal where host and guest were both happy, something had quietly changed, or rather, something that had always been hidden had been accidentally unveiled. And the future, because of this unexpected interlude and the waves rising in their respective hearts, seemed to have become even more unpredictable.

The door to the private room opened again, and the warm clamor spilled out, instantly swallowing the subtle, icy air lingering in the corridor.

The heavy wooden door closed behind them, and the warm, noisy atmosphere of the room instantly enveloped them. The members of Red Velvet were chatting enthusiastically, and seeing them return, their gazes naturally turned toward them.

"Oh? Joohyun Unnie and President Jiang came back together?" Yeri's eyes were sparkling, and she looked back and forth between the two with a teasing smile.

Bae Joo-hyun's expression had returned to normal, as if the brief, tension-filled scene in the corridor had never happened. She walked back to her seat and replied indifferently: "Yes, we just happened to run into each other at the door." Her tone was calm and waveless, revealing no emotion.

Jiang Zhiyu also forced himself to pull off a proper smile, nodded to everyone, and sat back in his seat. He even took the initiative to join the conversation, adding a few technical ideas regarding the variety show direction they had just been discussing. His tone was steady, his logic clear, as if the person who had been out of sorts, flustered, and inwardly tempestuous just moments ago was not him at all.

However, only he knew that beneath the calm facade, a disaster was intensifying.

His heart. That disobedient organ was now throbbing in an exceptionally clear and intensifying manner. It wasn't a sharp stabbing pain, nor a dull ache, but a dense, prickling soreness, like being repeatedly pricked by countless cold silver needles, spreading from his chest to his limbs, even making his fingertips feel slightly numb.

This was definitely not any physiological illness. Jiang Zhiyu knew this clearly. The source of this pain was emotion—it was a battlefield where reason and instinct, the past and the present, were fighting furiously within his chest. Every throb was like a reminder: You have lost control. You are confused. You are wavering.

Where on earth is the fast-acting heart pill he needs?!

He screamed silently in his heart, while on the surface, he still had to maintain the posture of listening and occasionally nodding. Jiang Zhiyu's heart pill is not Bae Joo-hyun! Don't look at Bae Joo-hyun again!

He ordered himself, locking his gaze firmly onto the rim of the teacup in front of him, or resting it on the faces of Wendy or Joy as they spoke. Yet, the corner of his eye, or perhaps some more powerful gravitational force, always uncontrollably slid toward that direction again and again.

Bae Joo-hyun sat quietly, occasionally taking a sip of tea or softly responding to her younger sisters. Her side profile was still perfect under the lights, but the faint sense of aloofness surrounding her was magnified infinitely in Jiang Zhiyu's perception. It was no longer the unapproachability that came with her "goddess visuals" on stage, but a clear, icy barrier that isolated him.

In his mind, two pairs of eyes began to flash, alternate, and finally, eerily overlap.

One pair was from deep in his memory: the red, tear-filled eyes of Baek Ji-xin when she looked at him for the last time, full of disappointment, pain, confusion, and despair. Those eyes had once been filled with love and trust for him, but had shattered under the crushing pressure of reality, leaving behind only the regret and heartbreak that kept him awake at night.

The other pair was from just moments ago in the corridor, when Bae Joo-hyun looked at him, her eyes instantly occupied by shock, annoyance, defensiveness, and cold aloofness. Although the emotions were different, the "sense of distance" emanating from them, the determination to push him away, overlapped with a certain quality in Baek Ji-xin's final gaze.

What is this? An indescribable wave of anger and grievance rushed into Jiang Zhiyu's heart, almost suffocating him.

Must you look at me with such disappointment? Whether in the past, or now? Whether it's her, or... you?

A violent throb struck again, fiercer than any before. Jiang Zhiyu felt his breath hitch for a moment, his knuckles turning white from the force of gripping the teacup. He had to leave here immediately. If he stayed any longer, he didn't know what he would do or say.

All his emotions—the longing and remorse for Baek Ji-xin, the uncontrollable heartbeat for Bae Joo-hyun and the subsequent self-loathing, the embarrassment of being misunderstood (perhaps not even a misunderstanding), and this maddening heartache—were suppressed with all his might, shoved into the deepest, most airtight, dark corner of his heart. It was as if he had forcefully shut the heavy gate of a boiling furnace.

In that very instant, he suddenly scoffed. The sound was very soft, carrying a heavy dose of self-mockery and a hint of indescribable exhaustion and desolation. It wasn't very noticeable in the slightly noisy private room, but it was enough to make the few people sitting near him—including Bae Joo-hyun, who was just raising her teacup—pause slightly and look at him with curiosity.

Jiang Zhiyu looked up, his smile somewhat strange. It was no longer the vibrant expression he had when being polite or discussing professional matters, but rather an indifferent aloofness, as if he had seen through some absurd truth.

The members of Red Velvet all had looks of confusion in their eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu, however, did not explain. He stood up decisively, his movements even carrying a sense of finality. He bowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and finally, when it passed over Bae Joo-hyun, it did not linger at all. His tone was calm to the point of indifference: "Sorry, Seniors. I just remembered an urgent matter that needs to be handled immediately, so I will take my leave for tonight."

Without waiting for anyone to react, he continued, his speaking pace steady and his logic clear, pulling everything back to a purely professional scope: "Regarding the variety show collaboration project we discussed earlier, I will compile it into a formal proposal and submit it to the relevant department at SM Entertainment before the end of this month. For specific details, please have the Seniors and your company evaluate them at that time."

He nodded again: "It was a very pleasant evening, thank you for your hospitality, Seniors. Goodbye."

Having said this, he didn't even look at the expressions on anyone's faces—especially any look Bae Joo-hyun might have shown again—but turned directly, picked up the coat draped over the back of his chair, and walked toward the door of the private room with a steady but unusually rapid pace.

"President Jiang?" Wendy called out subconsciously.

"Eh? So sudden?" Yeri was also stunned.

Jiang Zhiyu just waved his hand with his back to them, without looking back. He pulled open the heavy wooden door, and the light and cool air from the corridor outside flooded in; then, the door closed gently behind him, completely cutting off everything inside the private room.

Leaving behind a room that had suddenly cooled into silence, and five Red Velvet members who were looking at each other in confusion.

Bae Joo-hyun's fingers tightened slightly around her teacup. She looked at the door that had already closed, and deep within her cold, clear eyes, that trace of complex inquiry ultimately could not be resolved, and sank down.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhiyu, who had fled the barbecue restaurant as if escaping, walked quickly into the cool air of the Seoul night. The needle-like throbbing in his heart had not eased; instead, due to the forced suppression and his escape, it had become even heavier and clearer. He knew that after tonight, some things could never return to that "pure" strangeness or simple appreciation of the past. The door had closed on more than just a dinner.