276: Chapter 256 The Captain's Alibi and a "Scheduled" Meeting

[Every time I look at the comments on the Writer's Assistant, I'm always afraid someone will scold me. I'm someone who doesn't accept criticism, only praise! Hing~]

—

Nights at the Red Velvet dorm usually flowed with a relaxed bustle. Yeri was rolling around on the sofa scrolling through her phone, Joy was humming a song while wearing a facial mask, and Seulgi and Wendy were sharing a bag of potato chips while discussing a new dance challenge they'd seen.

Until a message from their Manager broke the routine.

“Tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM, all members are to go to TG Entertainment for the first official planning meeting for the variety show 'Red Velvet: the collapsed daily life' with President Jiang Zhiyu.”

The message was sent to the group chat like a small pebble thrown into a calm pool of water.

“Yay!” Yeri was the first to spring up, her eyes sparkling. “Let's take this chance to get President Jiang to prepare a 'Red Velvet Special Edition Slime' for us too! It has to be red! With gold trim!”

Seulgi had already begun to fantasize. “If it could be like aespa's Lami... would it automatically hand us water when we're tired from dance practice?”

Wendy laughed and joined in. “It could even help remember the formations and remind us of our positions. Oh my god, just thinking about it... will we turn into a 'useless group' that's completely dependent on Slimes in the future?”

The two Unnies looked at each other and simultaneously revealed smiles that were half-longing and half-guilty—longing for the convenient technology, and guilt over the "downfall of idols."

Joy let out a muffled but sharp voice from beneath her mask. “Unnies, aren't you thinking too beautifully? Shouldn't we first consider whether that President Jiang will arrange some 'shameful things' for us in the variety show?”

The air went quiet for a moment.

Seulgi blinked, her tone a bit uncertain. “But... last time at the barbecue restaurant, didn't President Jiang say that this project is to show our true, cute side, and there wouldn't be those kinds of deliberately awkward setups?”

Wendy put down the chips, her expression turning serious. “Seulgi-ah, a man's words—especially a producer's words—sometimes can't be fully trusted. Especially that Jiang Zhiyu... he's the one who could come up with 'dancing with water bottles on your head' and 'blue General Kitty Cat.'”

These words reminded everyone of IZ*ONE's famous viral moments.

Yeri shrunk her neck. “That... seems to make sense?”

Just then, Bae Joo-hyun's door opened.

She seemed to have just finished a phone call, her face still carrying a hint of exhaustion, but her hair and makeup were still meticulously perfect—she was always like this, even in the dorm, maintaining a certain perfect framework belonging to "Irene."

“What's wrong?” she asked softly, her gaze sweeping over the members in the living room who had various expressions.

Wendy showed her the Manager's message.

Bae Joo-hyun took the phone, her eyes falling on the words "tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM" and "all members." Her brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.

This subtle change in expression did not escape the eyes of the members who had spent so much time with her.

“Unnie, what is it?” Seulgi asked carefully.

Bae Joo-hyun was silent for a few seconds as if confirming something, and then she spoke, her voice calm and without a ripple. “Tomorrow afternoon, I have an individual schedule; I'm going to Busan.”

As the words fell, a strange silence descended upon the living room.

Individual schedule?

Tomorrow afternoon at three?

Red Velvet's first official planning meeting for their group variety show?

The leader won't be there?

The chemical reaction produced by combining these pieces of information left everyone stunned.

Yeri was the first to react. “Eh?! Then Unnie, doesn't that mean you can't go?”

Wendy frowned. “Didn't the Manager know beforehand? Why set the meeting for a time when you're not here?”

Joy peeled off her mask, revealing a pensive face. “And... this is the first full meeting, right? If the leader isn't there, how can it be 'all members'?”

Questions were thrown out one by one, but the answers all seemed to point in the same direction.

Bae Joo-hyun stood in place, still holding Wendy's phone. The light from the screen reflected on her face, making her expression look somewhat hazy.

But in her heart, it was as if a bolt of lightning had cleared the mist, and everything suddenly became clear.

This was no coincidence.

The Manager wouldn't make such a low-level mistake. The company knew her schedule like the back of their hand.

So, there was only one possibility—the time for this meeting was specifically chosen by someone.

Chosen for a time when she wouldn't be in Seoul.

Chosen for a time when the leader of Red Velvet would inevitably be absent.

And there was only one person who could decide the meeting time at TG Entertainment.

—Jiang Zhiyu.

Bae Joo-hyun felt a surge of anger slowly rising from the bottom of her heart. It wasn't a violent rage, but a cold, mocking fire.

She remembered his losing composure and his panicked eyes in the corridor of the barbecue restaurant.

She remembered him forcefully snatching her card when paying the bill, only to show an almost pained expression at the end.

She remembered his back as he practically fled the scene.

So, is this your choice, President Jiang?

Since meeting would be awkward and make you lose control, then simply don't meet?

Using work arrangements to cleverly exclude me?

Bae Joo-hyun was almost angry enough to laugh.

What does he really take me for? That "pabo leader" who just debuted and would be scared by a senior's glance or led around by a few words from a producer?

Her fingertips tightened slightly around the phone.

The voice inside her was like icy beads, crashing down one by one:

What is this? Running away is shameful but useful?

Damned cowardly man. Self-righteous fellow.

Just because I look like your ex-girlfriend, just because your eyes lose control when you look at me, you have to bypass me even for work?

This is simply... too unprofessional. And too disrespectful.

What made her even more furious was—

By what right?

By what right do you get to make decisions for me? Do we have any kind of relationship? Does my work schedule, Bae Joo-hyun's, need you, Jiang Zhiyu, to "considerately" avoid it?

You think this is taking care of my feelings? No, you're just taking care of your own pathetic guilt and embarrassment!

Anger churned in her chest, but on the surface, her expression grew calmer and calmer, even revealing a faint, cold smile.

The members looked at her, suddenly all a bit afraid to speak.

They were all too familiar with this expression—when Irene Unnie was truly angry but didn't want to show it, she would put on this smile that seemed gentle but was actually distant to the extreme.

“Unnie...” Yeri called out softly.

Bae Joo-hyun raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping across the worried and confused faces of her four younger sisters.

She handed the phone back to Wendy and then, in a steady tone that betrayed no emotion, said clearly:

“Tomorrow, I will attend the meeting depending on the situation.”

She paused and added:

“I might arrive a bit late.”

These words were spoken very lightly, but they were like a stone crashing heavily onto everyone's hearts.

Depending on the situation?

A bit late?

This wasn't Bae Joo-hyun's style at all. She had always been a paragon of punctuality, the anchor of the team's schedule. She wouldn't say "depending on the situation," she would only say "I'll be there."

And now, she said "depending on the situation."

Everyone understood the subtext behind this—

I am not the person to be arranged by you.

My schedule is decided by me.

If I want to go, I'll go; if I don't want to, I won't. Even if I go, it won't be according to the time you set.

Jiang Zhiyu, you want to use work to avoid me?

I insist on appearing.

And it will be when you least expect it.

After saying that, Bae Joo-hyun turned and walked back to her room.

The sound of the door closing was light, but it made the four people in the living room flinch simultaneously.

“Unnie...” Seulgi swallowed. “Is she angry?”

“It's not 'is she,'” Joy said, applying a new facial mask, her voice muffled. “She is 'very' angry.”

Wendy sighed. “And it seems to be directed at President Jiang...”

Yeri blinked her eyes and suddenly became excited. “Then our meeting tomorrow... will it be very exciting?”

The three of them looked at her at the same time.

Yeri shrunk her neck. “I... I just feel like... President Jiang is about to be in trouble.”

No one refuted her.

Because everyone felt it—from Bae Joo-hyun's terrifyingly calm words just now, and from the straightness of her back as she turned away.

It was a silent declaration of war.

A declaration of war against the man who took it upon himself to "avoid her."

In her room, Bae Joo-hyun stood by the window, looking at the night view of Seoul.

Her phone screen was lit up, showing the chat box with her Manager. She typed:

[I will finish tomorrow's individual schedule as quickly as possible and rush back to Seoul. I will attend the TG meeting, but I might be a bit late. Please inform the other party in advance.]

Click send.

She put away her phone and crossed her arms.

Jiang Zhiyu, you want to avoid me?

I insist on coming.

I want to see if you can still maintain that composed "professional president" persona in front of everyone.

I want to let you know that the leader of Red Velvet is not someone you can arrange or avoid at will.

Work is work.

If you can't even handle this much...

The corners of her mouth curled into a faint, cold arc.

Then you're not worthy of collaborating with us.

Outside the window, the city lights were reflected in her clear pupils, flickering unsteadily.

Tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM, TG Entertainment.

An unexpected "appearance" might completely change the direction of this collaboration negotiation.

—

At 2:50 PM, four members of Red Velvet—Kang Seulgi, Son Seung-wan, Park Sooyoung, and Kim Yerim—appeared on time under a quite grand glass-walled office building in Gangnam District.

Looking up at the building, Yeri couldn't help but exclaim, “Wow... this is TG Entertainment? Weren't they in a basement just two years ago?”

Wendy nodded, her tone carrying the sentiment of a fellow professional. “I heard they moved in after 'Twelve Star Messengers' became a huge hit. This development speed...”

Seulgi's gaze was drawn to a black marble wall with a strong sense of design at the building's entrance. The "TG Entertainment" logo was inlaid on the wall with silver metal, its lines sharp and modern. Judging by the facade alone, it didn't look like a new company founded in 2019 at all, but rather like an established powerhouse that had been in the industry for many years.

“Truly... a complete transformation,” Joy summarized softly, a hint of complexity flashing in her eyes—envy, wariness, and also curiosity about this "genius producer" Jiang Zhiyu.

As the four of them were talking in low voices, a young man wearing a well-fitting suit and a decent smile quickly walked out of the lobby.

“Hello, seniors. I am President Jiang's assistant, surnamed Zheng.” He bowed slightly, his attitude respectful but not subservient. “President Jiang is already waiting in the meeting room. Please follow me.”

“Okay~ sorry for the trouble, Assistant Zheng.” As the oldest sister present (excluding the yet-to-arrive Bae Joo-hyun), Wendy naturally took over the conversation.

Walking into the lobby, the interior decoration once again surprised the four of them. There were no idol posters, stage costume display cases, or brightly colored graffiti walls commonly seen in entertainment companies. TG Entertainment's first-floor lobby was dominated by dark gray, raw wood, and white tones, with simple lines and soft lighting, even appearing a bit... overly solemn.

Yeri looked around and couldn't help but whisper, “This place... why does it feel a bit like a government department?”

No one refuted her because everyone felt the same way.

The elevator went up, and Assistant Xiao Zheng pressed the button for the sixth floor. The elevator's interior walls were also made of matte metal, reflecting the four curious faces.

“Assistant Zheng,” Yeri was the most lively after all and couldn't hide her thoughts. She blinked and began to "scout" for information. “Um... we saw aespa seniors' Lami on SNS before; it's really amazing! I heard President Jiang made it too?”

Assistant Xiao Zheng's smile remained unchanged, but his answer was watertight. “Yes, it was personally made by President Jiang. It's mainly for variety show effects and some auxiliary functions.”

“Then... will that technology be used for merchandise or products in the future?” Yeri continued to press, her eyes practically screaming "I want one too."

Xiao Zheng smiled apologetically. “There are no plans for that at the moment. Slimes use some rather special materials and programs. When President Jiang made them, it was more out of interest and specific needs; there was no intention for mass production.” He paused and added, “And the production process... to be honest, we don't understand it either; only the President himself knows.”

These words were spoken tactfully, but the meaning was clear: Don't ask, it's a custom exclusive, not for sale, and very precious.

The four Red Velvet members exchanged glances, information passing silently through the air:

Kang Seulgi: (Seems like it's really precious...)

Son Seung-wan: (He's really devoted to aespa.)

Park Sooyoung: (Tsk, a man's thoughts.)

Kim Yerim: (Wuu... I want one so bad!)

The elevator reached the sixth floor with a "ding."

When the doors opened, the sight before them left the four of them stunned once more.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

The sixth-floor corridor continued the simple, modern style, but on one white wall hung a piece of calligraphy framed with exquisite care.

The characters were Chinese, which they couldn't read, but the imposing aura of the sweeping, powerful brushstrokes hit them instantly.

Most conspicuously, some of the strokes were actually gilded, shimmering with a low-key yet luxurious glow under the lights.

"This is..." Seulgi couldn't help but stop.

Assistant Xiao Zheng followed their gaze and explained with a smile: "This is a poem by a great modern Chinese figure that President Jiang likes very much. He specifically commissioned a calligrapher to write it and hang it here. President Jiang says that to create entertainment content, one needs the spirit of 'daring to make the sun and moon shine anew'."

The four Korean girls nodded, half-understanding.

It was fine if they couldn't read it; the aura was enough.

This calligraphy truly injected a peculiar atmosphere—a mix of cultural depth and ambition—into the somewhat cold space of this tech company.

Finally, the group arrived at the meeting room door.

Assistant Xiao Zheng knocked gently and then pushed it open: "President, the Red Velvet seniors have arrived."

Inside the meeting room, Jiang Zhiyu was already sitting at one end of the long table.

He was wearing a light gray shirt today, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing clean-lined wrists.

Several documents were spread out on the table in front of him, and a laptop screen was lit up, making it look like he had been prepared for a long time.

The moment the door opened, he looked up almost immediately.

His gaze swept over the four people walking in—Seulgi, Wendy, Joy, and Yeri.

In that instant, his eyes underwent an extremely rapid and hard-to-conceal complex change:

First was anticipation—the brightness in that moment when the door opened, as if waiting for someone important to appear.

Then was disappointment—when his gaze confirmed there were only four people, and the figure he was most familiar with (and who flustered him the most) was absent, that light quickly dimmed, even flashing with a hint of imperceptible... relief?

Finally was relief—but immediately after, that relaxation turned into a kind of gladness, a subtle slackening like someone having narrowly escaped a disaster.

All of this happened in less than two seconds.

Then, Jiang Zhiyu quickly adjusted his expression, stood up, and wore the gentle, polite smile of a junior that the Red Velvet members were familiar with:

"Hello, Red Velvet seniors. Welcome to TG Entertainment."

His voice was clear, his demeanor composed. He walked to the long table to pull out chairs for them and signaled the assistant to pour water. His series of movements were smooth and natural, every bit the professional, thoughtful, and impeccable production company president.

However.

For the four Red Velvet members—who had already sensed "something was up" due to Bae Joo-hyun's reaction and absence before coming, and who arrived with a gossip-seeking attitude intending to observe closely—this was completely a case of trying to cover something up and only making it more obvious.

Seulgi and Wendy exchanged a glance, seeing the same judgment in each other's eyes.

Joy raised an eyebrow slightly, a playful curve tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Yeri, meanwhile, tried hard to hold back her laughter, her eyes sparkling as she scanned Jiang Zhiyu's face, as if enjoying a wonderful improvised performance.

The four exchanged glances quickly, and the air filled with an unspoken atmosphere, tinged with the excitement of onlookers ready for some gossip.

"Nae~ President Jiang, sorry for the intrusion." Wendy, as the representative, responded politely and then led the younger members to take their seats in turn.

Their posture as they sat seemed relaxed, but in reality, everyone's attention was highly focused. Like the sharpest observers, they were ready to capture any slight "abnormality" that might appear next.

Jiang Zhiyu seemed completely unaware. He returned to his seat at the head of the table, opened the proposal in front of him, and prepared to start the meeting.

His expression was calm, his fingers turning the pages steadily.

However, the unconscious, quick glance he cast toward the meeting room door, and the cup of water in front of him that remained untouched and no longer steaming, betrayed the restless waiting in his heart.

The meeting was about to begin.

But everyone knew that one of the true "protagonists" of this meeting might still be wavering between coming and not coming.

And this discussion surrounding "the collapsed daily life" had already staged a subtle prelude called "absence and waiting" before it even started.

The atmosphere in the meeting room became somewhat subtle after Jiang Zhiyu threw out the preliminary concept for "the collapsed daily life".

"Unlike past 'daily life' variety shows," Jiang Zhiyu's fingers slid across his tablet, pulling up a few concept images, "according to my personal thoughts, and the requests I sensed during our previous exchanges, I suggest—using Red Velvet's dormitory as the main filming location."

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over the four of them: "In the environment they are most familiar with and relaxed in, people tend to show their most real, and even most 'casual' side. This is the 'collapsed' state we want—not in a derogatory sense, but the natural state after shedding idol baggage."

He paused and added: "Of course, if you feel it's inconvenient to film in the actual dormitory, or if you're worried about privacy, we can also rent a similar apartment. The filming period isn't long anyway; as long as it's not the top-tier areas of Gangnam District in Seoul, you can find a decent place for two or three million won a month."

This proposal made the four Red Velvet members fall into thought.

Filming in the actual dormitory was very tempting—after all, it was the place where they were most relaxed. But the risks were also obvious: their private space would be completely exposed under the lens...

"Then... what is the specific variety show content?" Seulgi asked the key question, "It won't just be filming us 24 hours a day, right?"

Jiang Zhiyu smiled, a hint of the familiar craftiness belonging to a "genius PD" in that smile.

"That's the interesting part." He leaned forward slightly, "The specific variety show content needs to be—discovered by the Red Velvet members themselves."

"Discovered by ourselves?" Yeri tilted her head, looking confused, "What do you mean? Is there no script?"

"No script in the traditional sense." Jiang Zhiyu shook his head, "Only some 'trigger points' and 'possibilities'. And as the PD, I will use observation and guidance to help you turn these possibilities into interesting program content."

He looked at Kang Seulgi and suddenly said: "Seulgi xi, please stand up and spin around."

"Eh?" Kang Seulgi was stunned for a moment, but her body reacted faster than her brain—almost the instant she heard the instruction, she stood up reflexively with a "whoosh" and spun around in a daze.

"Ding-dong~" Jiang Zhiyu mimicked a game prompt sound, tapping his finger lightly on the table.

"Congratulations to Kang Seulgi, you have earned +1 'Collapsed Point'."

The meeting room was quiet for two seconds.

Then— "Huh???" the four said in unison.

Joy widened her eyes: "So... does that mean you randomly ask us to do something, and if we happen to 'complete the task', we can earn points?"

"You can understand it that way." Jiang Zhiyu nodded, "But it's more than that. A 'task' could be a specific sentence, a specific action, an accidental situation, or even... a moment belonging to 'the collapsed daily life' that you didn't even realize yourself."

Wendy pushed up her glasses, capturing a more practical question: "Um... what can the points be exchanged for?"

This question hit home for everyone. Yeri's eyes lit up immediately, Seulgi also showed a curious expression, and even Joy stopped fixing her hair.

Jiang Zhiyu's smile deepened; he knew the fish had taken the bait.

"As for what points can be exchanged for..." He deliberately drew out his voice, watching the four's expressions change from curiosity to anticipation, "It could be—priority recording rights, choreography suggestion rights, or even MV concept participation rights for the new Red Velvet single, tentatively titled 'The Best Today, The Best Tomorrow'."

Wendy's breathing was visibly rapid for a moment—a new song! For a main vocalist, this temptation was too great.

"Of course," Jiang Zhiyu shifted his tone, "if you all work hard to earn points and accumulate the maximum amount..."

He paused deliberately, watching four pairs of eyes stare intently at him.

"...you can exchange them for a Red Velvet special edition Lemm crafted by my own hands."

"Wow—!!!" Yeri was the first to shout, almost jumping out of her chair.

Seulgi also covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling.

Although Joy maintained her composure on the surface, her slightly leaning forward body betrayed her interest.

Wendy, meanwhile, was caught in a happy dilemma between the new song and the Lemm.

"President Jiang!" Yeri immediately switched to aegyo mode, her voice so sweet it could drip honey, "If you're going to give it, just give it to us directly~ We're so cute~"

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her with a gentle smile, but his tone carried an uncompromising insistence:

"Prizes earned through sweat have a special meaning, Yeri."

This was said very lightly, but it made the four people present pause.

They heard the deeper meaning in his words—this wasn't charity, nor was it a simple gift exchange. This was a game that required their investment, participation, and even "effort". And the final prize would become different because of this investment.

Wendy calmed down slightly from the temptation of the new song, raised her hand, and asked another key question:

"President Jiang, is that new song you mentioned... 'The Best Today, The Best Tomorrow', already written?"

This question was very practical. If the song wasn't written yet, or if the quality wasn't good, then the so-called "exchange" would just be an empty check.

Jiang Zhiyu nodded, pulled out a few copies of music score manuscripts from his folder, and pushed them to the center of the table.

"There's a demo; the framework for the lyrics and composition is basically finished." He said it very plainly, "Mid-to-high level, I guess, not bad."

"Mid-to-high level? Not bad?" Wendy couldn't help but repeat, her tone filled with disbelief.

She was someone who had heard Jiang Zhiyu's works. A work of the caliber of "prince ruperts drop" was just "not bad" in his mouth. So, what did "mid-to-high level" in his mouth...

Wendy took the score copies, and Seulgi and Joy also leaned in.

Just by looking at the main melody line and a few lyrics, Wendy's eyes widened slightly.

Seulgi hummed a couple of lines softly, her expression becoming focused.

Although Joy didn't major in vocals, she could also see that the song's structure and chord progression were very clever.

"This..." Wendy looked up at Jiang Zhiyu, her tone complex, "President Jiang, is your definition of 'mid-to-high level' a bit too humble?"

Jiang Zhiyu just smiled and didn't answer.

He pulled the topic back to the variety show itself: "So, the core of this project is—in your familiar daily environment, earn points by completing various 'collapsed tasks', and finally exchange them for tangible rewards."

"Filming won't be 24 hours non-stop; there will be concentrated 'task periods' and free 'daily life periods'. The cameras will be as concealed as possible to reduce the sense of intrusion. And my team will observe from the control room and give 'task prompts' at appropriate times."

He looked at the four: "How about it? Interested in playing this game?"

The four exchanged glances.

The temptation of a new song.

The appeal of the Red Velvet Lemm.

And the curiosity and challenge brought by this brand-new variety show model.

Finally, Wendy, as the representative, nodded:

"It sounds... very interesting. We need to discuss it with the company and Irene Unnie."

Mentioning Bae Joo-hyun, Jiang Zhiyu's expression froze for an imperceptible moment, but he quickly returned to normal:

"Of course. This is a group project and requires the consensus of all members."

He checked the time; the meeting had been going on for an hour.

"Let's stop here for today. Assistant Zheng will send the detailed terms of the proposal to your company. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us."

He stood up, preparing to end the meeting.

But just at this moment, the meeting room door was knocked.

"Knock, knock."

The sound was neither light nor heavy, but it caused Jiang Zhiyu's action of preparing to close his laptop to freeze in mid-air.

Assistant Xiao Zheng's voice came from outside the door, carrying a trace of imperceptible tension:

"President, Irene Senior has arrived."