282: Chapter 262 "Buddhist Protection" and the "Empty Nest Captain"

Just as Kim Taeyeon was agonizing over whether to ask Jiang Zhiyu for help, Im Yoona was slumped on the sofa having a soul-searching conversation with the ceiling, and that survivor of a sea bass in the kitchen sink was still gasping for its last breath—

"Ding-dong~ Ding-dong ding-dong~"

The urgent ringing of the doorbell broke the decadent and subtle atmosphere in the apartment.

Kim Taeyeon and Im Yoona were both taken aback at the same time and exchanged a glance. Who could it be at this time?

Kim Taeyeon stood up and walked to the door. Looking through the peephole, she was instantly speechless.

Outside the door was Sunny, grinning so wide her eyes were barely visible, and surprisingly carrying two large bags of things!

One bag was clearly a plastic bag from a convenience store, stuffed with various snacks to go with drinks: shredded squid, peanuts, potato chips, and even a few packs of vacuum-sealed spicy chicken feet. The other bag... Kim Taeyeon squinted and saw the XX convenience store logo on the bag, along with several familiar green bottles inside—Soju!

"Ya! Lee Soon-kyu! What are you..." Kim Taeyeon pulled the door open, but she hadn't even finished her sentence.

Sunny had already squeezed in like a loach, shouting happily, "Surprise! Your dear teammate, reliable friend, and genius supporter Sunny is online! Ta-da-da-da~"

As she spoke, she kicked off her shoes with practiced ease and dashed into the living room barefoot, her gaze quickly locking onto the dazed Im Yoona on the sofa, who still looked exhausted from her attempt at killing the fish.

"Aigoo! Our Yoona!" Sunny placed the two bags of "supplies" on the coffee table, hands on her hips, putting on an expression of deep sorrow and "maternal love." "I heard you're undergoing some arduous 'character experience training'? Sacrificing so much for art? This Unnie's heart is breaking! So, I immediately brought some condolences and... cough, technical guidance!"

Im Yoona looked at the soju and snacks on the coffee table, then at Sunny's exaggerated "I'm here to save you" look, and her temple throbbed slightly.

Shibal... who exactly spread the word?! she roared internally. It hasn't been that long since she failed; how does even Sunny Unnie, who's far away in another dorm (or some unknown hideout), already know?! Is Girls Generation's internal intelligence network equipped with radar?!

And... snacks and soju? Is she here for "technical guidance" on killing fish, or is she here to throw a party?!

Kim Taeyeon closed the door, crossed her arms, and narrowed her eyes, observing Sunny like a wary cat. Knowing this teammate of hers, there was no way this girl would lug snacks and alcohol over late at night just because she "cared about the maknae." Her motives weren't pure; there was definitely something fishy going on.

"Sunny-ah," Kim Taeyeon spoke up, her tone probing, "How did you know Yoona was here? And how did you know she was... 'training'?"

Sunny didn't bat an eye as she plopped down on the arm of the sofa next to Im Yoona, casually grabbing a bag of chips and tearing it open. "Girls Generation telepathy, haven't you heard? The moment I sensed our maknae was in trouble, I teleported right over!" She took a bite of a chip, making a loud crunching sound. "Besides, there's strength in numbers! Killing a fish is a technical job; the more brains, the better! And we're Girls Generation! Is there anything one Girls Generation can't solve? Then bring in two... oh, now there's three!"

Im Yoona's mouth twitched as she listened, and she couldn't help but complain, "Unnie, you said you're here for technical guidance... so please, where's the guidance? Are you going to get the fish drunk on soju so it commits hara-kiri on its own?"

"Oh, Yoona, you just don't understand!" Sunny waved her hand with a "you're still too young" expression. "Killing a fish is all about momentum, method, and... theory! While I might be... slightly rusty in practice, I'm rich in theory! I can provide strategic command, spiritual encouragement, and... well, logistical support from the sidelines!" She pointed at the soju and snacks.

Kim Taeyeon facepalmed, feeling a headache coming on.

Im Yoona was momentarily speechless from Sunny's "righteous" nonsense, but then a streak of stubbornness surged up. She sat up straight and pointed toward the kitchen: "Since Unnie claims to be a 'teacher,' then just talking won't do. Since you're the teacher, why don't you do it once for me to see!!"

This checkmate move went straight for the jugular.

The fish in the kitchen and the mess were the perfect test.

The smile on Sunny's face froze for half a second.

But who was Lee Soon-kyu? She was one of the representative figures in Girls Generation whose thickness of skin was directly proportional to her level of wit!

She quickly wiped the expression from her face and replaced it with an incredibly solemn, even somewhat sacred look. She slowly raised a hand and pressed it gently to her chest, her eyes becoming... compassionate?

"Yoona-ah," she said in a sorrowful tone, "there's something you don't know. Lately, this Unnie has been... devotedly practicing Buddhism and has gained many insights. The Buddha says all living beings are equal and that we should have a compassionate heart. This act of killing..." She shook her head as if resisting a great temptation, "is truly... beyond my heart's strength. Amitabha."

After saying that, she actually made a very "professional" sign of the cross over her chest.

Kim Taeyeon: "..."

Im Yoona: "..."

The two of them simultaneously fell into a long, eerie silence.

There were too many things to roast! So many that they didn't know where to start!

Believing in Buddhism? You, Lee Soon-kyu? The Lee Soon-kyu who can't live without meat, who treats life like a game, and who just walked in with spicy chicken feet and soju?!

A compassionate heart? Then why are you here to watch a fish be killed? And with snacks to go with drinks?!

Amitabha... and then making the sign of the cross?! Isn't your faith a bit too inclusive and free-spirited?!

Countless retorts rolled, collided, and got stuck in their throats, and in the end, not a single one could be successfully launched. Only the bulging veins on their temples and their twitching mouths proved the mythic-level shock their hearts had received.

In the end, it was Kim Taeyeon who, relying on her composure as a leader (and her anger), was the first to regain her ability to speak. She took a deep breath, walked up to Sunny, and looked down at her (though she didn't really have a height advantage), asking one word at a time:

"Lee. Soon. Kyu. What. Exactly. Do. You. Want?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with a pressure that said, "If you don't tell the truth, don't even think about leaving here alive today."

Sunny shrank her neck back, intimidated by the aura, but she quickly straightened her back again. Her face changed into an unprecedentedly "serious and earnest" expression, as if she were about to announce something concerning world peace.

She cleared her throat, looked at Kim Taeyeon with bright eyes, then at Im Yoona, and said in a solemn tone like a news anchor:

"I have two noble and sacred purposes for this trip."

"First," she pointed at Im Yoona, "to care about our maknae Yoona's future acting career development, ensuring that when she challenges an important role, she receives the warmest and most professional (theoretical) support from the team!"

"Second," she pointed at Kim Taeyeon, her eyes incredibly "sincere," "to care for the physical and mental health of our empty-nest leader Kim Taeyeon! To prevent her from developing negative emotions like loneliness and anxiety because she's overly worried about the maknae or just staying at home alone! See, I even prepared the drinks and snacks just to chat with you, relieve your boredom, and solve your problems!"

Her voice trailed off.

A dead silence filled the living room.

Only the sea bass in the kitchen sink, as if sensing something, flopped once more with a soft "splash."

Im Yoona's mouth was twitching so much it was almost cramping: Caring about her development? Caring by bringing soju and snacks? Isn't your way of caring a bit too "relaxed"?!

Kim Taeyeon felt the veins on her forehead throbbing violently, and her temples were pulsing. She stared at Sunny, squeezing those three words out from between her teeth:

"Empty... Nest... Leader...???"

What kind of nonsense is that?!!!

She, Kim Taeyeon, the leader of Girls Generation, the solo queen, successful in her career(?), and an independent woman of the new era—how did she become an "empty-nest leader"?! Lee Soon-kyu, are you here specifically to piss me off today?!

Sunny acted as if she hadn't seen their expressions on the verge of exploding at all. She maintained her image of "sacrificing too much for the team" and even casually picked up a soju bottle, holding it up to the light. "Hey, this brand is pretty good. It'll taste even better if it's chilled... Taeyeon-ah, you still have room in your fridge, right?"

Kim Taeyeon & Im Yoona: "..."

At this moment, they were absolutely certain that Sunny's visit today was definitely, surely, one hundred percent suspicious! And very much so!

It's just that what this "ghost" was up to would probably have to wait for this "Buddhist-protected" conductor to slowly show her hand. And that poor sea bass would seemingly have to endure the torment of fate (and being watched) in the kitchen sink for a while longer.

——

In the kitchen, Im Yoona, who had just rallied her spirits, gripped the kitchen knife, and regained a sharp (and slightly tragic) look in her eyes, was facing the sea bass in the sink. The fish also seemed to sense that the atmosphere wasn't right and was flopping particularly vigorously as she prepared to launch her second "general offensive."

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

She recalled the key points from the video tutorial she had just searched for, took a deep breath, and with her left hand (wearing a disposable glove, having learned her lesson this time) trembling as she pressed it against the fish's body, she raised the kitchen knife in her right hand high—

"Ya!! Im Yoona!! Wait!!!"

A scream comparable to an air-raid siren suddenly exploded at the kitchen entrance.

Im Yoona's hand shook, the tip of the knife nearly slicing her finger, and her heart skipped a beat in fright. She turned her head in annoyance.

She saw Sunny clinging to the kitchen doorframe, only half her head visible, her eyes wide round, her face written with "horror" and "inability to bear watching," as if Im Yoona wasn't about to kill a fish, but to perform some bloody sacrificial ritual.

"The knife! The angle of the knife is wrong! The video said to insert the knife diagonally behind the gills! If you go straight down like that, you'll hit the bone! And blood will splatter everywhere! Ahhh, think about your miumiu apron!" Sunny spoke rapidly, gesturing wildly, looking every bit the "remote theory master."

Im Yoona was annoyed and distracted by her screaming and series of "instructions," and the little bit of courage and focus she had painstakingly gathered dissipated instantly. She retorted irritably: "Unnie! If you're so good, you do it! All talk and no action!"

"I'm just providing you with essential theoretical correction and moral support!" Sunny said righteously. "Killing a fish is thirty percent technique and seventy percent mindset! Your mindset is a bit impatient right now, that won't do, it's easy to make mistakes! Come on, take a deep breath, and repeat after me: Fishy, fishy, be good, it won't hurt for long~"

Im Yoona: "...???"

Watching Sunny's feigned benevolent expression as she chanted, she felt a burst of anger rush straight to her head, her vision even darkening slightly. This Unnie was definitely here to cause trouble! Definitely!

Just as Im Yoona's chest heaved with anger, ready to disregard everything and give the fish a quick end (or perhaps give the noisy Unnie a quick hit) —

"Alright, Im Yoona."

Kim Taeyeon's calm voice cut in. She had arrived at the kitchen entrance at some point, her brows slightly furrowed, glancing at the near-breakdown maknae, and then at Sunny who was still there shaking her head and "chanting".

"Take a break first." Kim Taeyeon's tone carried an unquestionable, gentle command, "Wash your hands and go to the living room to calm down. The fish... let it live for another five minutes."

Im Yoona bit her lower lip, looked at the cold knife in her hand, then at the fish in the sink that had temporarily escaped disaster, and then at Sunny, who had a look of "I'm doing this for your own good," and Taeyeon Unnie, who was signaling her to calm down...

In the end, an immense sense of defeat and exhaustion overwhelmed everything else. She slumped, put down the knife, took off the gloves covered in fish scales and water stains, and walked past the two older sisters without a word, heading straight toward the bathroom, her back radiating "life is meaningless".

Listening to the rushing water from the bathroom, Kim Taeyeon withdrew her gaze, then—grabbed the arm of Sunny, who was still peeking into the kitchen.

"You, come with me."

Her voice was not loud, but it carried the unique, irresistible authority of a leader.

Sunny let out two "eh ehs" but was dragged away from the kitchen entrance by Kim Taeyeon without room for argument, and was hauled all the way into the master bedroom.

"Bang."

Kim Taeyeon shut the door behind her, completely cutting off any sounds that might come from the living room or kitchen.

Only the two of them were left in the bedroom. Under the warm-toned lighting, the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.

Kim Taeyeon turned around, crossed her arms, leaned against the door panel, raised her eyes, and stared sharply at Sunny, who was standing in the center of the room and seemed oblivious to the situation.

"Lee Soon-kyu," she called her full name, her tone unprecedentedly serious, "Now, there are only the two of us here. Answer me honestly—"

She paused, and asked clearly, word by word:

"What, on, earth, are, you, here, for, today?"

No more beating around the bush, no more tolerating antics. She wanted a real answer.

Sunny was taken aback by this sudden formal interrogation, and the playful smile on her face slowly faded. She blinked, looking into Kim Taeyeon's all-knowing eyes, knowing she couldn't bluff her way out of this.

She straightened her back (though she didn't have much of a height advantage), put on a serious expression, looked back at Kim Taeyeon with "sincere" eyes, and replied in an equally clear tone:

"I am truly here to bring Im Yoona support as an Unnie, and... to awaken the long-lost power of our Girls Generation group spirit!"

She spoke with such resonance, as if she were reciting some team manifesto.

Kim Taeyeon narrowed her eyes, the look clearly saying: Do you think I'll believe that?

"I'm telling you..." Kim Taeyeon took a step forward, closing the distance, trying to discern more clues from Sunny's eyes, which always hid a hint of cunning.

"Aigoo, Taeyeon-ah~" Sunny suddenly laughed again, that serious vibe instantly dissipating. She took the initiative, reached out to pat Kim Taeyeon's shoulder, her tone becoming light, "Things should be done one by one, issues should be discussed one by one! Look, it's late at night, our maknae is 'fighting a bloody battle' in the kitchen for the sake of art, and we two Unnies are standing here having a serious talk, how inappropriate!"

As she spoke, she naturally took Kim Taeyeon's hand and walked out of the bedroom: "Let's go, let's go, to the living room! I brought such good soju and snacks, aren't they for times like this, to promote sisterly communication and enhance team bonding? Let's have a drink first, chat slowly, and by the way... wait for Im Yoona to get her mood together and come out."

Kim Taeyeon was caught off guard by this sudden turn of events and was half-pushed, half-led back to the living room.

Watching Sunny expertly go to the kitchen (passing by, she even made an "Amitabha" gesture to the fish in the sink), take out glasses and ice cubes, then return to the coffee table, nimbly pour two glasses of soju, push one in front of her, and take a delightful sip herself, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Kim Taeyeon looked at the clear liquid in front of her, then at Sunny's cozy "drinks are ready, story begins" appearance, and finally couldn't help but lift her hand to her forehead, letting out a long, helpless sigh.

"Lee Soon-kyu..." Her voice was filled with a sense of powerlessness, "You were actually just... planning to come here to eat, right?"

Whatever group spirit, whatever supporting Im Yoona, it was all an excuse! This girl was simply craving food, bored, and having heard from somewhere that Im Yoona was "making trouble" here, she immediately brought food and drinks over, ostensibly to support, but actually to freeload and watch the show!

Upon hearing this, Sunny put down her glass and looked at Kim Taeyeon. The playful look on her face faded slightly, replaced by something more direct, and more real... honesty?

She shook her head, picked up a piece of shredded squid, put it in her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then said slowly:

"Not entirely."

She swirled her glass, the ice cubes clinking.

"Mostly..."

She looked up at Kim Taeyeon, her eyes lacking some of their usual cunning, and having a bit more of a righteous "blankness":

"I was just hungry."

"And eating alone is so boring. Thinking that Im Yoona might also be hungry and fighting with a fish, and you probably hadn't eaten either, I just... dropped by to have a late-night snack together and chat."

She said it so naturally, so... unpretentiously.

As if those previous acts of "Buddhist protection," "theoretical guidance," and "awakening group spirit" were all just BGM and cutscenes that came with her Lee Soon-kyu-style entrance.

The real purpose was simple and crude: I was hungry, looking for someone to eat with.

Kim Taeyeon was completely speechless.

She watched Sunny pour herself another glass of soju, already starting to enjoy it with spicy chicken feet, looking like someone who believed "since I'm here, I'll settle in; nothing is more important than eating."

So, after going such a long way around, making such a scene, with screaming, chanting, and serious declarations...

In the end, it was just because this teammate was hungry at night and didn't want to eat alone?

Kim Taeyeon suddenly felt that being serious with Lee Soon-kyu might have been a mistake from the very beginning.

She picked up the glass of soju in front of her and took a big gulp. The cold liquid slid down her throat, carrying a burning sensation, but it also made her chaotic thoughts a bit clearer.

Forget it.

What else could she nitpick with this person?

At least the soju was real, and the chicken feet were real too.

As for Im Yoona's fish... and Sunny's "little schemes" that hadn't been fully exposed yet...

Just wait until they were full, then "interrogate" slowly.

In the bathroom, the sound of water stopped.

In the living room, the scent of soju began to permeate.

In the kitchen sink, the sea bass was still blowing Bubbles, oblivious.

This night seemed destined to continue in various kinds of wonderful chaos and speechlessness.