280: Chapter 260 "Clearing the Situation" and "Adding Fuel to the Fire": A Chaotic Battlefield Escalating

Jiang Zhiyu's official statement about the deep cooperation between TG and SM and the immense value of Red Velvet, although successfully pulling the atmosphere from ambiguous jokes back to a business track, didn't fool anyone present except for Kang Seulgi, who was focused on the food. The more solemnly he tried to clear the air and elevate the team's value, the more the subtle sense of urgency to draw a line became a case of "the more one tries to hide, the more one is exposed."

In Lee Tima's quirky eyes, a crafty light grew brighter and brighter.

If there's no relationship, is there a need to clear the air so urgently? So eager to prove he's "keeping business and personal matters separate"?

The little devil in her heart was already doubled over with laughter. Perfect. The "cross-cupped wine" plan just now was ruined by Oppa's business rhetoric, so... let's change direction and add more fuel!

Just as Jiang Zhiyu finished speaking, during the gap while everyone raised their glasses, Lee Tima suddenly cleared her throat. A mysterious "I have a scoop" expression appeared on her face, and her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for everyone to hear clearly:

"By the way, Unnies, do you know what I've been busy with lately?"

Wendy put down her wine glass and helpfully followed up: "Aren't you filming Taeyeon Unnie's variety show, 'music steps', with her? The Jeonju part."

"Bingo! Correct!" Lee Tima snapped her fingers, her eyes curving into crescents. "Jeonju was so much fun! Ah, speaking of that..."

She deliberately dragged out her tone, her gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping across Jiang Zhiyu's instantly tensed profile.

"When we were filming in Jeonju before, Zhiyu Oppa came too! He even stayed at Taeyeon Unnie's house for a few days!" Her speech was light and brisk, as if sharing a common anecdote. "Wow, you have no idea, the food at Taeyeon Unnie's house is delicious, and Mother Kim is super—nice!"

"Stayed... stayed for a few days?!" Yeri was the first who couldn't help it, gasping as her eyes widened like copper bells.

Joy also raised her eyebrows and gave a meaningful "Oh—".

Wendy and Seulgi both showed surprised expressions, and even Bae Joo-hyun's fingers holding the water glass tightened imperceptibly, her cool gaze flickering slightly.

Jiang Zhiyu felt his scalp tingle, and blood seemed to rush to his head instantly. He snapped his gaze toward Lee Tima, his eyes a mix of shock, warning, and a "Are you crazy?" interrogation.

But Lee Tima acted as if she didn't see it. She continued in that innocent yet slightly regretful tone: "At the time, I thought since Oppa was staying at Taeyeon Unnie's house and they were so close, he should at least give a 'Lemm' as a gift, right? But he actually didn't! Later..." She lowered her voice as if sharing a little secret, "Taeyeon Unnie even secretly told me that she actually really wanted a Lemm~"

Boom—!!!

The power of these words was more than ten times greater than the previous suggestion of cross-cupped wine!

An explosion of information!

First, Jiang Zhiyu actually went to Jeonju and stayed at Kim Taeyeon's house! What level of private relationship is this? Would a normal senior-junior/producer collaboration involve staying at the other's parents' house?

Second, Kim Taeyeon "secretly" expressed that she wanted a Lemm? With Kim Taeyeon's personality and status, would she "secretly" say such a thing to Lee Tima? This sounded more like... a hint carrying intimacy and a bit of expectation?

These two pieces of information stacked together were enough to set off a stormy wave in the hearts of the Red Velvet members. Their gazes toward Jiang Zhiyu were instantly filled with infinite inquiry and gossip.

Jiang Zhiyu's face was almost as black as the bottom of a pot. He felt the mask of composure he had managed to maintain cracking inch by inch.

"Lee Tima!" His voice wasn't loud but carried obvious anger and urgency. "It was clearly because you said you missed me that I went to Jeonju!" He had to clarify the motive first; he absolutely couldn't let people misunderstand that he went there on his own initiative. "And when did Noona ever say such a thing? It was clearly you who wanted one yourself, right?!"

In his haste, he habitually reverted to the way he addressed Kim Taeyeon—"Noona".

As soon as those two words came out, Lee Tima's eyes instantly lit up terrifyingly, like a hunter finally waiting for the prey to step into the trap!

"Oh—?" She dragged out the sound, a smirk that was a mix of innocence and "gotcha" appearing on her face. "Noona?"

She deliberately repeated it with absolute clarity, ensuring everyone heard it.

"So Oppa doesn't even need to call Taeyeon Unnie by her name anymore and can just call her 'Noona' directly?" Her tone was full of exaggerated "surprise" and "realization".

Then, she immediately switched her expression, clutching her heart with both hands, making a face as if she were about to cry and was deeply hurt. Her voice also became piteous:

"Ah... how is that possible? Oppa, is that really how you think of me? I'm so heartbroken~ I was clearly just relaying Taeyeon Unnie's words... Sob, Oppa not only won't admit it, but he's also framing me..."

While fake-crying, she peeked through her fingers at Jiang Zhiyu's face, which was turning green with rage, and the colorful expressions of the Red Velvet members.

The private room fell into a dead silence once again.

But this time, the silence was filled with gossip currents and an awkward storm that were almost tangible.

Jiang Zhiyu stood at the center of the storm, his chest heaving violently. He glared at Lee Tima, wanting nothing more than to immediately throw this girl, who feared nothing more than the world not being in chaos, out.

Meanwhile, the five members of Red Velvet had entered a state of total information overload.

Staying at her house... calling her Noona... wanting a Lemm...

What exactly was the relationship between Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Taeyeon?!

Then what about Joohyun Unnie (Irene Unnie) here...?

Countless question marks flew through their minds.

Bae Joo-hyun still sat there quietly, her face devoid of expression, as she slowly put down the water glass in her hand. She lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes concealing all the emotions in her eyes, but the atmospheric pressure around her seemed to have grown even colder.

Jiang Zhiyu took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't let Lee Tima continue her nonsense. He had to terminate this topic immediately, right now!

However, just as he was preparing to forcibly interrupt this farce with his authority as President—

Lee Tima, wiping away non-existent tears, suddenly had another "bright idea." She looked up, using those teary (fake) big eyes to look at Bae Joo-hyun, who had been unusually silent since a moment ago, and asked in an innocent yet cruel tone:

"Joohyun Unnie, do you think... Taeyeon Unnie would be happy if she received a Lemm? After all, Oppa even stayed at her house, so their relationship definitely isn't ordinary. It's only right to give a gift, isn't it?"

A fatal blow!

She threw the question directly to the other most awkward person present!

Everyone's gaze "swish"ed and focused on Bae Joo-hyun.

—

The air in the private room seemed to completely freeze after Lee Tima's question, "Joohyun Unnie, do you think...".

Jiang Zhiyu felt the string in his brain named "reason" snap with a "pop." He gave up struggling and leaned back against the chair with a vacant look in his eyes, as if he had already seen the tragic future of his social death, leaving only the part where he waited to die. Forget it, let it be destroyed, hurry up.

All eyes, carrying tension, curiosity, sympathy (for Jiang Zhiyu), and a burning soul for "eating melon", focused squarely on Bae Joo-hyun.

Pressure, like a physical mountain range, pressed down on that figure who always sat elegantly.

However, Bae Joo-hyun's reaction was beyond everyone's expectations.

She didn't panic, wasn't awkward, and didn't even have obvious emotional fluctuations. After a brief silence, she slowly raised her eyelids, her gaze calmly meeting Lee Tima's eyes that were filled with "troublemaking."

Then, she gently, one could even say tenderly, smiled at Lee Tima.

That smile was different from her coldness in the conference room and different from the softness she occasionally showed in private; it was a type of extremely calm, reassuring smile that carried the tolerance of an elder and seemed to see through everything.

"Tima-yah," her voice was also very soft, like she was coaxing a sulky child, "giving a gift doesn't necessarily mean it has to be a special relationship."

She paused, continuing to explain in that clear, steady, and logically tight tone:

"You can give a gift to express gratitude, to celebrate a cooperation, or even just because you think the other person will like it and simply want to make them happy." Her gaze swept over the vacant-eyed Jiang Zhiyu across the table as if it were nothing, and then she quickly withdrew it. "A Lemm... although it's very special, in essence, it's just a relatively thoughtful gift. Forcing it to be bound with a 'special relationship' would instead fail the giver's intention and the value of the gift, wouldn't it?"

These words were calm, rational, and flawless.

It both responded to Lee Tima's provocation and cleverly diluted the special meaning of "Kim Taeyeon" and "Lemm" in this context, while also elevating the meaning of the gift to a more universal level—intention and value, rather than proof of a relationship.

Brilliant, truly brilliant.

Even Jiang Zhiyu, who was in a "waiting for death" state, couldn't help but slightly raise an eyelid to glance at Bae Joo-hyun with his vacant eyes. A very complex emotion flickered in his heart—there was relief, surprise, and even more of an indescribable... bitterness? Because she was too calm, so calm that it was as if she were discussing something completely unrelated to herself.

Wendy and the others also nodded inwardly, feeling that Irene Unnie's response was simply perfect, losing no grace while resolving the awkwardness.

As Lee Tima listened, she also tucked away her troublemaking expression, blinked seriously, and then nodded vigorously as if she were truly convinced: "Yes! Unnie is right! I understood it wrong!"

The atmosphere in the private room seemed to ease slightly because of Bae Joo-hyun's appropriate explanation. Everyone quietly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this stormy wave set off by Lee Tima was finally going to subside here, and everyone could finally continue (pretending) to finish the meal normally.

However—

Just before that breath was completely released.

The "innocent realization" expression on Lee Tima's face disappeared instantly like a magic trick. It was replaced by a more obvious, more wicked smirk, as if everything was within her grasp.

She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hands, and used those big eyes that seemed innocent but were actually flashing with mischievous light to stare straight at Bae Joo-hyun. In a tone that mixed curiosity, innocence, and deliberate mischief, she clearly and slowly threw out the next question:

"Then... Joohyun Unnie~"

She deliberately dragged out the ending, ensuring everyone perked up their ears.

"According to Unnie's explanation, giving a Lemm doesn't necessarily require a special relationship..."

She paused, like a cat playing with a mouse, admiring everyone's nerves tightening once again.

"Then let me ask the reverse—" Her smile widened, revealing her small white teeth.

"Exactly... what kind of 'special relationship' would 'be worthy of' or 'deserve' receiving a 'special gift' like a Lemm—one that is unique, handmade, requires so much effort, and simply cannot be bought?"

"Or rather—" This time, her gaze shifted directly and unblinkingly back and forth between Jiang Zhiyu and Bae Joo-hyun.

"What kind of 'relationship' does Unnie think exists between yourself and President Jiang now, that made him willing to... 'thoughtfully' discuss work with you before, and even... 'consider' your schedule when arranging the meeting time?"

Boom—!!!

If the previous question was just throwing a bomb, then this question was directly stuffing the bomb's detonator into Bae Joo-hyun's hand and then asking her with a smile: "Look, if you press this button, will it blow Jiang Zhiyu to pieces, or just knock you unconscious?"

The question was too sharp, too tricky, and too heart-piercing.

It completely bypassed the surface of "gift-giving" and pointed directly at the essence of the relationship and the motivation for the behavior.

Not only did it once again roast Jiang Zhiyu over the fire (By what right are you "thoughtful"? By what right do you "consider"?), but it also pushed Bae Joo-hyun into a corner where she had to face and define the relationship between the two!

In the private room, even the sound of breathing had almost disappeared.

Kang Seulgi forgot to eat her ice cream.

Wendy and Joy were completely stunned.

Yeri covered her mouth, her eyes widened to their limit.

Jiang Zhiyu's vacant eyes suddenly focused, staring deathly at Lee Tima. That gaze almost spat fire; if looks could kill, Lee Tima would have been reduced to ashes by now.

And Bae Joo-hyun—

That gentle, tolerant smile on her face disappeared as quickly as a receding tide the moment Lee Tima's last word fell. It was replaced by an extreme calm, a calm that bordered on being ice-cold.

Her hand resting on her lap had its fingertips curl slightly.

She slowly raised her eyes, and this time, she didn't avoid it but looked straight at Lee Tima. In those cool eyes, there were no ripples, yet they seemed to contain a chill that could freeze a person solid.

She didn't answer immediately.

Silence spread, each second feeling as long as a century.

Lee Tima, however, still rested her chin on her hands, blinking her big eyes with a pure and innocent look of "I'm so curious, Unnie, tell me quickly," as if she were completely unaware of what kind of nuclear bomb she had just dropped.

This "fire-stoking drama" led by her was finally pushed to its ultimate climax, and also to the edge of the most dangerous cliff.

—

Just as Lee Tima's heart-piercing question, enough to blow up the entire room (especially Jiang Zhiyu and Bae Joo-hyun), fell and the air stagnated to the breaking point—

"Lee Tima!"

Jiang Zhiyu could no longer endure it. He suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a piercing sound. His face was slightly flushed with anger and extreme embarrassment, and his gaze was as sharp as a knife, stabbing straight at the culprit who was still feigning innocence.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

That loose-lipped woman! She was practically turning this already bizarre and nerve-wracking dinner party into her own personal prank show! Not only was she roasting him and Bae Joo-hyun over an open fire, but just as the coals were about to die down, she mercilessly poured an entire tank of gasoline on them!

He had to stop her! Right now! Immediately! Before she spat out anything more outrageous that would cause him to suffer social death on the spot!

However, just as he opened his mouth to scold her, another voice rang out.

The voice was cold, calm, and devoid of any panic or anger, as if she hadn't been pushed to the edge of a cliff.

"It should be..."

Bae Joo-hyun spoke up.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like a block of ice dropped into a boiling vat of oil, instantly lodging the scolding Jiang Zhiyu was about to unleash in his throat and drawing all the tense nerves in the private room to her lips.

The onlookers—Yeri, Joy, Wendy, and even Seulgi, who had momentarily pulled herself away from the food—were all thinking the exact same thing: It was worth coming! This drama was hundreds of times more exciting than any movie! It was worth the price of admission (even though they didn't pay)!

Everyone's gaze was locked firmly on Bae Joo-hyun's face, waiting to see how she would dismantle this seemingly unsolvable death trap set by Lee Tima.

Bae Joo-hyun didn't seem to be in any rush to formulate her words. She moved her gaze away from Lee Tima's cunning face, as if looking for a suitable place to land. Her eyes slowly swept over the exquisite tableware on the table, grazed the abstract decorative painting on the wall, and finally, inadvertently, landed on the smooth metal decorative panel on the opposite wall—or more accurately, on the slightly distorted reflection cast upon it.

In the reflection was the blurry figure of Jiang Zhiyu. Because he had suddenly stood up, his posture appeared somewhat tense and unstable. His side profile looked abstract in the metal reflection, making his expression unclear, but one could sense a strong, anxious, and almost wretched presence.

Bae Joo-hyun's gaze lingered on that reflection for about two seconds.

Two very brief seconds.

But in those two seconds, a flash of something extremely complex and hard to decipher seemed to cross her eyes—it looked like scrutiny, like weighing options, or perhaps like seeing something deeper and more unspeakable through this distorted image.

Then, she withdrew her gaze and looked back at Lee Tima, as if looking at everyone present.

She paused for a moment.

That brief silence made the air tense up once again.

Then, in a tone that remained calm and waveless but seemed to carry a hint of subtle detachment, she spoke clearly:

"In my opinion, it should be..."

She paused, as if confirming her phrasing,

"Give it to whoever you want to give it to."

Give it to whoever you want. This answer sounded like it skirted the core of the issue, throwing the decision-making power entirely back to the giver, filled with personal subjective free will.

However, she wasn't finished.

Before anyone had time to digest the first sentence, she lowered her eyes slightly and added the second half in a softer, yet still clear volume:

"But in the hearts of some people..."

Her gaze seemed to sweep over that reflection on the metal panel again, extremely quickly, before she promptly reined in all emotion,

"I wouldn't know."

But in the hearts of some people, I wouldn't know. This sentence was the real key.

She had completely detached herself from the dilemma of "defining the relationship," placing herself in the position of an observer and someone who was uncertain.

She acknowledged that there might be some special criteria or emotional motivation in the heart of "some people" (implying Jiang Zhiyu), but at the same time, she clearly stated—she didn't know, she wouldn't speculate recklessly, and she certainly wouldn't take responsibility for it.

This answer was a classic example of using a gentle force to deflect a thousand pounds.

She neither denied the potential "special" intentions of Jiang Zhiyu (making both the onlookers and Jiang Zhiyu himself tense up), nor did she admit to having any connection to this "special" intent (keeping herself completely clean), and she threw the final power of interpretation and the awkwardness, intact and even doubled, right back at Jiang Zhiyu.

Who you want to give it to is your business.

What you think, I don't know, and I don't want to know.

Don't come asking me; if you ask me, that's my answer.

The private room fell into silence again.

But this silence was different from the previous stagnation; it was filled with various complex aftertastes.

The mischievous smirk on Lee Tima's face stiffened for a moment, then melted away, replaced by a kind of excitement and admiration of having "met a worthy opponent"—as expected of you, Joohyun Unnie! That answer was brilliant!

Yeri and Joy exchanged frantic glances, communicating silently with their mouths: Unnie is so cool!

Wendy nodded secretly; while relieved, she also felt that this answer was truly... meaningful.

Seulgi didn't quite understand, but it felt like it was very impressive.

And Jiang Zhiyu—he stood there, neither standing nor sitting was comfortable.

Bae Joo-hyun's answer was like a delicate ice pick, precisely piercing through all his attempts to cover up and change the subject, exposing the tangled mess inside him that he himself couldn't sort out to the eyes of everyone (including himself).

"In the hearts of some people..."

"I wouldn't know."

These two sentences echoed repeatedly in his mind.

She didn't know?

Did she really not know?

Or... was she just not wanting to know, unwilling to know, or, using this "not knowing" to express her ultimate detachment and rejection?

A huge sense of powerlessness and an even deeper sense of wretchedness seized him. He felt like a clumsy clown, with all his thoughts seen through, yet still politely and coldly shut out by the other party.

He opened his mouth, but found he couldn't say anything.

Explain? Explain to whom? Explain what?

Deny? Deny the chaos in his heart? Wouldn't that be like saying "there is no silver buried here"?

Admit it? Admit that he really... had impure motives? That would be digging his own grave.

In the end, he just slumped back into his chair, slowly and dispiritedly. His eyes were even more unfocused than before, with a hint of frustration and self-mockery.

Watching Jiang Zhiyu like this, Lee Tima finally clapped her hands in satisfaction, breaking the silence: "Wow! Joohyun Unnie said it so well! Giving gifts is all about the thought, why overthink it! Right, Oppa?"

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu with a grin, as if she hadn't been the one who just pushed someone into a corner with her question.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't even have the energy to glare at her anymore.

This "relationship definition battle," led by Lee Tima, perfectly countered by Bae Joo-hyun, and ending in a crushing defeat for Jiang Zhiyu, had temporarily come to an end.

But everyone knew that some things had been brought to the table, some boundaries had been vaguely tested, and some undercurrents would likely never be completely calmed again.

And this dinner, after experiencing such a climactic "gossip feast," felt particularly long and intriguing with every passing minute.

The rest of the meal was, for Jiang Zhiyu, as tasteless as chewing wax. The honey cheese grilled ribs in front of him had lost all their aroma, the molten lava cake was cloyingly sweet, and even the soda tasted bitter. His taste buds and brain seemed to still be lingering in the aftershocks of the thrilling "relationship interrogation," and he had absolutely no interest in the food in front of him.

He only moved his knife and fork mechanically, while in his ears was the sound of Lee Tima, who had become active again, laughing and making noise without restraint.

This little devil had quickly hit it off with Red Velvet, as if she hadn't been the one who threw out that fatal question just moments ago. She was excitedly fighting with Yeri and Joy for the last piece of charred pork belly, discussing which dipping sauce was the best with Seulgi, managing to chat about music with Wendy on the side, and even occasionally "obediently" handing a tissue to Bae Joo-hyun.

Since her comment about "giving it to whoever you want," Bae Joo-hyun had returned to her usual quiet self. She didn't eat much, her movements were elegant, she occasionally responded to the members' words, and she wore a faint, proper smile. The invisible Mariana Trench between her and Jiang Zhiyu seemed to have deepened; there wasn't even the occasional unavoidable eye contact, truly achieving the ultimate detachment of "not talking while eating."

The other four members of Red Velvet were immersed in the complex emotions of food and "survival" (as well as the satisfaction of the gossip), temporarily shifting their attention to the dining table. The private room finally heard the relatively normal sounds of clinking glasses and whispers that belonged to a dinner party, but in the air, there still floated a trace of something subtle that couldn't be shaken off.

Finally, this long and agonizing dinner neared its end.

The waiter respectfully presented the bill.

Jiang Zhiyu took it, and when his eyes swept over the total amount at the bottom, his eyelids twitched violently.

2,600,000 ₩ (Korean Won)

Although logically he knew that for a restaurant at the level of "Cloud Realm," with so many people (seven people) ordering so many signature dishes and drinks (although most were fruit juices), this price wasn't outrageous—converting it to RMB, it was only over thirteen thousand, which was a drop in the bucket for his current net worth.

But! However! At this very moment, after experiencing repeated mental bombardments and the repeated trampling of his self-esteem, seeing this number, Jiang Zhiyu only felt an unnameable fire mixed with a sense of stifling frustration rushing straight to his head!

This meal... not only had his spirit suffered a devastating attack! Was his wallet also going to be dealt a heavy elbow blow?! He felt his heart bleeding—not because of the money, but because of how stifling and devoid of any good experience this money was spent!

He was practically gritting his back teeth, and he handed the black card to the waiter with somewhat rough movements.

After settling the bill, the members of Red Velvet politely stood up to thank him and say goodbye.

"Thank you for the hospitality, President Jiang. Today's discussion was very productive." Wendy, as the representative, said properly.

"The food was delicious, thank you President Jiang~" Yeri added with a smile, with the lingering aftertaste of the gossip still in her eyes.

Joy and Seulgi also nodded in thanks.

Bae Joo-hyun stood up last, nodded slightly to Jiang Zhiyu, maintaining that impeccable yet detached posture: "President Jiang, you've spent too much. Our company will be in touch regarding follow-up work matters."

Jiang Zhiyu managed to squeeze out a smile and saw them to the restaurant entrance.

Watching the five members of Red Velvet get into that familiar van, the windows rolling up, and the car slowly driving into the colorful night of Seoul, finally disappearing around the corner of the street, Jiang Zhiyu let out a long breath of stale air, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden. Finally... it was over.

However, before he could fully release that breath, his gaze turned coldly to his side—

The "greatest contributor" of the day, Lee Tima, who had single-handedly directed all the dramatic scenes of the night, was leaning against the stone pillar at the restaurant entrance, rubbing her slightly rounded little belly with satisfaction, a look of satiated happiness on her face, and even let out a small, comfortable burp.

This appearance of having absolutely no guilt, and even enjoying herself, instantly ignited the anger Jiang Zhiyu had suppressed all night. He was just about to open his mouth to properly settle the score with this lawless little brat—

"Ah! Right!" Lee Tima suddenly seemed to remember something urgent, slapped her head, and the satisfied smile on her face instantly switched to an "oh my, I'm so busy" expression.

She jumped down the steps, leaned in front of Jiang Zhiyu, and looked at him with those big, still-sparkling eyes that were written full of "I'm about to slip away," speaking at high speed:

"Oppa! Almost forgot! IU Unnie just sent a message saying she has something to find me for, it's quite urgent! I have to go there right away!"

As she spoke, she had already turned around, striking a pose ready to run.

"Thanks for the luxury meal today, Oppa! So full! Next time there's another 'fun' dinner like this, remember to call me! Bye~!"

She deliberately emphasized the word "fun," showing a bright smile mixed with cunning, triumph, and "I'm going to piss you off," and even added a waving gesture she thought was very cute "(≧ｗ≦)".

After finishing, without waiting for any reaction from Jiang Zhiyu, she turned and ran like a frightened rabbit (or rather, a fox rushing to flee after doing something bad), her high heels tapping out a series of urgent and cheerful "click-clack" sounds on the quiet street, quickly slipping away in the opposite direction of the Red Velvet van.

"Lee—Ti—ma—!!!" The roar Jiang Zhiyu had suppressed all night finally broke through his throat, exploding at the empty restaurant entrance, filled with monstrous anger and gnashing hatred.

"You're dead—!!!!!!"

However, the only response he got was the faint, crisp, and annoying triumphant laughter of Lee Tima as she disappeared around the distant street corner, and the cool breeze of the Seoul night.

Jiang Zhiyu stood in place, his chest heaving violently, feeling his temples throbbing.

The night was gentle, and the lights were brilliant.

But he only felt that Seoul tonight was particularly irritating.

And his Mercedes-Benz coupe was parked alone on the side of the road, as if silently recounting the desolation after its owner suffered a double blow to his "spirit and wallet" tonight.