263: Chapter 243 Haidilao Private Room: The "Baby Face" Surprise Attack and the Double Cuteness Hell

The atmosphere of the dinner, amidst the steaming hotpot and the aroma of food, seemed to be drifting toward the direction of "everyone keep to themselves and focus on eating."

However, in any occasion where Jiang Zhiyu and Im Nayeon were present, peace was always temporary.

Jiang Zhiyu's "evil plan"—or rather, his creative desire (or mischief) to always "break the mold" and "unearth contrasts" in beauties with specific temperaments (like Bae Joo-hyun's coldness or Im Yoona's liveliness)—seemed to have found a new target amidst the rising steam of the hotpot.

He chatted with Choi Yena as if nothing were the matter, but the corner of his eye never left Mina, who sat there as quiet as a delicate ink wash painting.

The unique temperament she possessed, a mixture of aloofness and fragile beauty, bore a subtle resemblance to certain cold fairies or noble young ladies of the Tianxuan Continent from his memories, yet it was distinctly different.

This "similarity yet difference" was exactly what scratched at his heart the most and triggered those "unreliable" inspirations of his.

A vague but gradually clarifying thought took shape in his mind—if he could make such a cold, elegant, and seemingly otherworldly "young lady" image reveal a completely different, perhaps even unaware of its own existence, extremely cute, and slightly "embarrassing" side, how interesting would that contrast be?

What kind of brand-new charm would that unearth?

Of course, he would never admit that behind this might be a tiny bit of a desire for control and a mischievous urge to "exert (benign) influence" on "beautiful things."

The opportunity came faster than he imagined.

Somehow, the topic shifted from filming anecdotes to popular online videos and challenges.

He still wore a gentle and harmless smile on his face, and his conversation with Choi Yena had not ceased, yet his fingers were quietly operating his phone under the table.

Soon, as if he had suddenly remembered something interesting, he raised his head and said to everyone at the table with a slightly excited tone:

"Ah, speaking of this, I suddenly remembered seeing a very interesting video clip on a Chinese short video platform called 'Douyin' recently, and it's related to TWICE. Does everyone want to see it?"

"Douyin?" Momo looked up curiously, still chewing on beef.

"Related to us?" Sana also became interested.

Im Nayeon was even more direct: "We want to see, we want to see! President, share it quickly!"

Jiang Zhiyu smiled and connected his phone screen to the spare flat-screen TV in the private room via wireless mirroring (a feature of high-end rooms).

The screen lit up; the title was in Chinese, but the content was self-explanatory.

It was a personal fancam of Mina at a TWICE concert.

In the video, Mina was wearing her stage outfit, her expression the professional and slightly cold one from the stage, as she danced the most iconic—and also the "cutest"—part of TWICE's classic song "TT."

Her hands were making the crying "TT" gesture by her cheeks, her body swaying gently with the rhythm, her eyes carrying a hint of grievance, making her explosively cute.

However, the background music was not the original "TT" track, but a Chinese song with a light melody, sweet lyrics, and full of youthful, romantic sentiment.

The lyrics were clear: "Recently it's the south wind season, humid love~," "Exaggerate a bit, in front of you~," "That year's baby face, what you gave me remains unchanged~," "Everything that remains unchanged and beautiful~."

The rhythm of the song miraculously synced with the rhythm of that dance segment from "TT"!

Every precise "TT" gesture, every aggrieved little expression, and the perfectly timed wave in the video landed exactly on the beats of this sweet song titled "Baby Face"!

It created a strange chemical reaction—the originally slightly sad "crying dance," paired with this cloyingly sweet "Baby Face," had become incredibly naive, sweet, and even a little silly and cute!

"Wow! This edit!" Chaeyoung was the first to laugh out loud, "So interesting! The music matches perfectly!"

"Mina Unnie! So cute!" Kim Da-hyun also pointed at the screen, amused.

"A Chinese song? What is this song called? What do the lyrics mean?" Park Jihyo asked curiously.

Just then, Tzuyu, who had been quietly eating, had her eyes light up.

She recognized the familiar melody and language, and said softly in surprise: "Ah! It's 'Baby Face'! A song by Hou Xian! I listened to it when I was young!"

"Tzuyu knows it?" Jeongyeon looked at her.

"Yes, it's a very sweet and light old song, it's about... that slightly shy yet sweet feeling in love."

Tzuyu explained simply in Korean, with a smile on her face.

And the protagonist of the video—Mina herself, watching the image of herself "forced" to dance to such sweet music on the screen, was stunned for a moment, and then the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up into a very faint, yet much more genuine arc, and she commented softly: "Hmm... indeed, it's very interesting."

She also seemed to find this mashup unexpectedly harmonious and interesting, and did not feel offended; instead, she felt a sense of novelty.

This was it!

Jiang Zhiyu captured that fleeting faint smile from Mina and the subtle ripple stirred in the depths of her eyes.

The small "evil" flame in his heart flared up even higher.

Step one of the plan: Attract the target's attention and make her feel "interested" rather than "offended."

But this was far from enough.

What he wanted was not the "interest" of a bystander, but the (benign) "breakdown" and "release" of a participant.

Just as the video finished playing and everyone was still immersed in the discussion, the usual gentle smile on Jiang Zhiyu's lips suddenly became tinged with a clearly visible, childlike cunning and eager-to-try "evil smile."

Then, before anyone—including Lia, who was immersed in researching "fruit salad," and Momo, who was busy grabbing meat—could react, he stood up abruptly from his seat!

"Since everyone thinks it's interesting..." Jiang Zhiyu's voice carried an unusual excitement and infectiousness; he even kicked his chair back slightly to clear some space, "Then why don't... I perform the essence of this 'Mina-xi Fancam Version of Baby Face' live?"

The next second—

He started dancing to the rhythm of the "Baby Face" soundtrack from Mina's fancam that was still playing on the tablet!

And what he was dancing was exactly the most classic "crying dance" segment from "TT" that Mina had just performed in the video!

Even more amazingly, as he danced, he started to sing! He was singing that Chinese song "Baby Face"!

"Recently it's the south wind season, humid love~" — He made the standard "TT" crying gesture with both hands by his cheeks, his body swaying lightly to the rhythm, his face wearing an exaggerated expression between "grievance" and "sweet showing off," while his eyes looked brightly in Mina's direction.

"Exaggerate a bit, in front of you~" — His footsteps moved lightly, a simple wave, and his movements were surprisingly standard and rhythmic!

It didn't look like a spur-of-the-moment decision at all, but as if he had practiced it!

"That year's baby face, what you gave me remains unchanged~" — The singing voice rang out, clear and full of youthful spirit, with excellent pitch, perfectly interpreting the sweetness, innocence, and beauty of love in the song, even adding a few more points of sunshine and vitality than the original singer!

Every turn, every breath was handled just right, making people's ears itch and their hearts feel sweet.

"Everything that remains unchanged and beautiful~" — With the last line, he abruptly finished his pose, made a heart shape with his hands (?), and at the same time, gave a super cute, exaggerated pout and wink at the stunned crowd, especially at Mina, whose face had turned bright red in a "whoosh."

His movements were extremely standard and full of rhythm, completely capturing the essence of the "TT" dance—light, playful, and slightly aggrieved!

What was even more astonishing was his singing—although it was just a snippet of an a cappella, his pitch was excellent, his voice was clear and full of youthful spirit, interpreting the sweetness, innocence, and beauty of love in the song, even adding a sense of vivid vitality compared to the original video's soundtrack!

To match the cute atmosphere of the lyrics and dance, he even self-taught (or perhaps had premeditated) by adding super cute pouting, winking, and aggrieved little facial expressions!

His movements were fluid and natural, his expressions were on point and not artificial, and it was... completely without any sense of awkwardness!

Even because of his looks and that invested "youthful spirit," he appeared exceptionally refreshing and cute, possessing a unique charm!

The private room fell silent instantly.

Only the bubbling sound of the hotpot, Jiang Zhiyu's clear and pleasant singing, and the slight wind caused by his body movements remained.

Everyone—TWICE, ITZY, Choi Yena, Lee Chaeyeon... all stared in stunned silence at President Jiang in the center, who had suddenly "had a breakdown," yet was unexpectedly dancing incredibly well, singing super sweetly, and making super cute expressions.

Their brains collectively crashed for three seconds.

Shin Ryujin (ITZY): [ ... Wow. ] (Purely shocked by the technique)

Hwang Yeji (ITZY): [ ... This singing and dancing ability... No wonder he can write those songs. ] (Professional assessment)

Lee Chaeryeong & Shin Yuna (ITZY): [ ... Again?! This time it's the cute concept?! ] (Slight PTSD attack)

Choi Yena (IZ*ONE): [ ... President Jiang... truly, there is nothing he dares not do. ] (Numbness mixed with admiration)

Yoo Jeongyeon (TWICE): [ ... Crazy, completely crazy. ] (Holding her forehead)

Park Jihyo (TWICE): [ ... Actually... he dances quite well, and sings well too. ] (Objective evaluation)

Sana (TWICE): [ Ka... Kawaii...? ] (Unsure)

Momo (TWICE): [ (Pauses chewing) ... Eh? ] (Food appeal temporarily decreased)

Chaeyoung & Kim Da-hyun (TWICE): [ (Look at each other) ... Should we join in? ] (Artistic soul slightly ignited)

Tzuyu (TWICE): [ (Mouth slightly agape) ... He sings really well. ] (Odd focus)

Meanwhile, the other central figure of the incident—Mina—felt her cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg!

(Mina's inner world is in turmoil)

[ What does this mean?! Dancing to my solo fancam in front of me?! Although this dance is TWICE's, but... why play my solo fancam first and then dance?! And set it to that kind of song! And sing it so well! And wink and pout at me!! ]

She felt her cold, aloof persona and expression management emitting an overwhelmed "creaking" sound. The sense of shame from being "teased" in public (even if the other party was likely just playing around), mixed with her surprise at his astonishing singing ability and dance imitation skills, as well as the inexplicably funny feeling brought by the mashup of that song and dance, caused her brain to nearly crash. She could only subconsciously lower her head, trying to use her long hair to cover her flushed cheeks and ears.

However, someone felt this wasn't lively enough.

"Wow! President! Dancing well! Singing great! I'm joining in!" Nayeon's "itch to perform" and "desire to show off" were completely ignited! Living up to her name as TWICE's energizer, she immediately slapped the table and stood up, completely ignoring the half-slice of beef still hanging from her mouth, and rushed to Jiang Zhiyu's side.

"Come, come! Let's do it together! Let's dance that 'TT' part!" Nayeon suggested excitedly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Jiang Zhiyu was just worrying his solo act wasn't intense enough; seeing this, he immediately agreed happily: "Alright! Nayeon Sunbaenim! Please take care of me!"

Thus, under the even more numb gaze of the others, Jiang Zhiyu and Nayeon, these two guys who were just "shamelessly complimenting each other," were now standing shoulder to shoulder, as if they had rehearsed countless times, and as the music of "Baby Face" played again, they neatly performed the crying dance segment of "TT"!

Jiang Zhiyu was in charge of singing (his voice remained clear and moving, full of youthful vibes), while Nayeon was in charge of dancing (her expression management immediately came online, her pouting, aggrieved expression was textbook level, with cuteness off the charts). The two of them were surprisingly synchronized, full of rhythm, and had great chemistry!

[ Recent days are rainy, damp love~ ] — Jiang Zhiyu sang, both did the "TT" gesture, aggrieved faces.

[ Exaggerating a bit, right before you~ ] — Jiang Zhiyu sang, both did a wave, Jiang Zhiyu took the opportunity to wink at Nayeon, Nayeon returned an even more aggrieved pout.

[ That year's baby face, remains unchanged for me~ ] — Chorus? No, Jiang Zhiyu lead vocals, Nayeon backing vocals (humming randomly), both did the ending pose.

The harmony of the scene (?), the explosive effect (?), left everyone present speechless.

(Collective inner monologue spamming)

ITZY: [ Although... it is quite interesting, both of them have great visuals and strength, the dance rhythm and synchronization (?) are unexpectedly good, and President Jiang's singing is surprisingly good... but... we still have to say... ]

Most TWICE members (except Nayeon): [ ... ] (Eyes gradually losing their highlight, expression management on the verge of collapse)

Yoo Jeongyeon (TWICE): [ (Deep breath) How about... you two go open a private room to dance? What on earth is this?! ] (Inner screaming)

Park Jihyo (TWICE): [ Nayeon Unnie... forget it, I'm used to it. President Jiang... also, forget it. ] (Gives up thinking)

Sana (TWICE): [ (Struggling to hold back laughter) Seems... kind of fun? ]

Momo (TWICE): [ (Finally swallows the food in her mouth) ... Are they not hungry? ] (Focus returned)

Chaeyoung & Kim Da-hyun (TWICE): [ (Look at each other again) Should we... really not join in? ] (Eager to try but hindered by image)

Tzuyu (TWICE): [ (Still bewildered) ... ]

Choi Yena & Lee Chaeyeon: [ (Silently lower their heads to eat) Can't see me, can't see me... ]

As for Mina, watching this absurd spectacle before her eyes—triggered by her own fancam, performed by her own eldest sister and that "Devil PD"—the blush on her face didn't fade; instead, due to the extreme absurdity and a subtle sense of shame from being "dragged into it yet unable to escape," it became even hotter.

She finally couldn't bear it anymore, lowered her head, used her long hair to block her burning cheeks and ears, and unconsciously poked at the long-cooled bamboo fungus in her bowl.

[ Crazy... everyone is crazy... this dinner... I shouldn't have come... ]

Finally, everyone's inner voice converged into a silent scream: [ — — Why don't you two just go open a private room and dance! What is this, ahhh?! A Haidilao talent show?! And why is it "Baby Face" paired with the "TT" dance?! President Jiang, how obsessed are you with breaking the composure of a cold beauty (and dragging the energizer along to go crazy with you)?! ]

However, the "acting cute duo" in the center were completely immersed in their own world. When the song ended, Jiang Zhiyu and Nayeon even very formally held hands (?) and bowed to everyone to wrap up, both wearing bright smiles that said "we had a lot of fun."

Applause (sparse, mainly from Momo, Sana, and others who love drama, as well as some waiters holding back laughter) and bursts of laughter (uncontrollable) erupted in the private room.

Mina's face was still red, but watching this extremely absurd scene, watching her eldest sister Nayeon looking like she was "accompanying a gentleman to his death" (but actually just having a blast), and then looking at Jiang Zhiyu's appearance—completely free of idol baggage, singing and dancing well, and enjoying it... she suddenly felt, maybe it wasn't that shameful? Instead, it was kind of... funny?

She let out a soft breath, picked up her water glass and took a sip; the cold liquid slightly eased the heat on her face. Looking back at the two "clowns" in the center, there was a bit more helplessness in her eyes, and a trace of a very faint smile that even she hadn't noticed.

Jiang Zhiyu caught the change in her eyes and felt a secret thrill: [ Plan successful! Although the process went a bit off-track (by pulling Nayeon into it), at least... step one of breaking her composure, achieved! The cold beauty smiled (even if it was a helpless smile)! ]

After dancing the "Baby Face" song with the "TT" choreography, Jiang Zhiyu and Nayeon high-fived, still wanting more, and laughed at each other, as if they had completed a great artistic collaboration.

"President! You are truly so talented!" Nayeon laughed, rocking back and forth.

"Not at all, it was Nayeon Sunbaenim who cooperated well!" Jiang Zhiyu also laughed heartily, a thin layer of sweat even appearing on his forehead.

In the private room, apart from their laughter and the sound of the hot pot boiling, there was an eerie silence.

Until Jiang Zhiyu wiped his sweat and sat back in his seat, as if the person who had just been singing, dancing, and acting cute wasn't him, and naturally picked up a slice of beef, smiling at everyone: "What's wrong? Why are you all looking at us? Eat up, the meat is going to get tough."

Everyone: "..."

Looking at his handsome face, which had returned to being gentle and innocent, and then looking at Nayeon next to him who was still excited with flushed cheeks, everyone had only one thought in their hearts: This meal... when on earth will it return to the track of a normal human dinner?!