327: Chapter 307 Between You and Her

The training entered its seventh day.

At six in the morning, the mountain mist had not yet dissipated, but the sandy field of the Training Base was already occupied by five figures.

Jiang Zhiyu stood on the sidelines, holding a tablet that recorded everyone's training data. He was still wearing the same dark gray training uniform today, with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the clear lines of his forearms. The morning sun filtered through the gaps in the pine forest, casting a soft golden glow on his young face.

But his eyes held no softness whatsoever.

They were sharp and focused, dissecting everyone's movements on the field like a scalpel.

Park Hae-soo was practicing the close-quarters grappling and escape techniques Jiang Zhiyu had taught yesterday. The forty-three-year-old action actor had fully entered the zone—no, it was less like 'practicing' and more like a fish in water.

He already had years of experience in action movies; his muscle memory and coordination far exceeded that of ordinary people. More importantly, his mindset had undergone a fundamental shift.

Initially, he had come here with the goal of becoming the male lead of "the crab." But after these few days of training and witnessing the near-realistic demonstration between Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon, his goal had quietly changed.

Fighting for a role?

Park Hae-soo knew very well now—judging by Jiang Zhiyu's special attention toward Im Yoona (though Jiang Zhiyu acted professionally, as a fellow man, Park Hae-soo could feel the subtle difference), the probability of him getting the lead role wasn't high.

But that wasn't important.

What mattered was that the things he was learning now—the mercenary mindset, practical close-quarters combat skills, basic firearm operation, and even introductory urban parkour—were all precious assets.

These things would become his unique specialties in his future acting career.

So his training state had shifted from 'learning for a role' to 'learning for himself.'

Once his mindset changed, his progress advanced by leaps and bounds.

At this moment, he was repeatedly practicing a joint-lock escape move—how to quickly break free and counterattack when an opponent has you in a chokehold from behind.

His movements were clean and decisive, his force precise, and even Jiang Zhiyu nodded slightly.

"Good." Jiang Zhiyu walked over to him and adjusted the angle of his elbow with his hand. "But in actual combat, your opponent won't give you such a standard chokehold posture. Try this—"

He signaled Park Hae-soo to lock him.

Park Hae-soo hesitated for a moment—even though he knew it was training, Jiang Zhiyu was the president after all, and the actual controller of TG.

"It's fine, come," Jiang Zhiyu's tone was calm.

Park Hae-soo no longer hesitated and wrapped his arm around Jiang Zhiyu's neck from behind.

But the moment he applied force, Jiang Zhiyu's body suddenly slipped away like a loach—he didn't resist head-on but followed the force to turn, duck, and simultaneously strike his ribs with an elbow.

The move was so fast that Park Hae-soo didn't even have time to react.

"See?" Jiang Zhiyu released him and explained, "Don't think about 'escaping,' think about 'utilizing.' Use the opponent's force, use your body's rotation, and use the smallest displacement to create the maximum space for a counterattack."

Park Hae-soo nodded thoughtfully.

This was true combat technique. It was completely different from the choreographed routines he had learned in movies before.

Kim Seo-woo was practicing basic combat footwork on the other side.

This thirty-four-year-old character actress was the most hardworking one in the training camp.

She knew she wasn't an action actress by trade, and her physical fitness and coordination weren't as good as Park Hae-soo's or Im Yoona's (Im Yoona was an idol, after all; having danced for years, her body was very flexible). So she could only use the most basic method—repeated practice until it became muscle memory.

Right now, she was moving back and forth on the sand according to the "Triangle Movement Method" Jiang Zhiyu had taught. Her steps had to be steady, her center of gravity low, and her gaze always locked on the imaginary enemy.

Her movements were very standard—every angle, every turn, and every pause strictly followed Jiang Zhiyu's requirements.

But that was exactly the problem.

It was too standard.

So standard it felt like completing a set of prescribed movements rather than engaging in a 'fight.'

Jiang Zhiyu walked to her side, watched for a few seconds, and suddenly said, "Stop."

Kim Seo-woo stopped her movements, panting slightly, and looked at him.

"Kim Seo-woo-xi," Jiang Zhiyu's tone was gentle, but his eyes were serious, "you're 'acting' too much."

Kim Seo-woo was stunned.

"Every one of your movements is standard, which is good," Jiang Zhiyu continued. "But fighting isn't dancing; there are no 'standard answers.' Your opponent won't attack according to your expectations, the environment won't always be flat, and your physical state won't always be perfect."

He pointed to her footwork. "Moving like this is fine on flat ground. But what if there are pebbles? What if there are obstacles nearby? What if the opponent suddenly lunges from the side?"

Kim Seo-woo fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I understand."

"Try to forget the 'standard,'" Jiang Zhiyu said. "Try to imagine—you're really running for your life, someone really wants to kill you. In that moment, you won't think about whether your footwork is right; you'll only think about how to survive."

These words left Kim Seo-woo deep in thought.

And on the other side of the training ground—

Im Yoona was practicing the most basic straight punch and block combinations.

Her progress was the slowest among the three.

It wasn't for lack of effort. On the contrary, she was the most hardworking one in the training camp—arriving at the training ground earliest every day, leaving latest, and even correcting her movements in the mirror during her lunch break.

But the problem was that her thinking was still stuck in 'idol drama performance mode.'

When punching, she would subconsciously pay attention to the angle—it had to look good, it had to be photogenic.

When blocking, she would instinctively hold back her strength—afraid of hurting the other person, afraid the movement would be too crude.

Even her facial expression management was interfering—when Jiang Zhiyu pointed out an error, she would subconsciously show that 'embarrassed' sweet smile instead of the focus of 'I've noted it, I'll fix it next time.'

Jiang Zhiyu was clearly very interested in her.

Or rather, he was enjoying the process of training her.

Im Yoona could feel it—Jiang Zhiyu's explanations to her were always more detailed and patient than for the others. For a simple straight punch, he would break it down into five steps, demonstrating each one himself, and then stand by her side, correcting her posture bit by bit.

"Keep your wrist straight, don't bend it inward."

"The power starts from the soles of your feet, transfers to your waist, then to your shoulders, and finally to your fist."

"When punching, keep your eyes on the target, don't look at my hand."

His voice was right by her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe.

Im Yoona's heart would speed up uncontrollably.

But she forced herself to focus.

This is training, this is work, this is an opportunity to fight for a role.

She told herself repeatedly.

But some habits couldn't be changed overnight.

Right now, she was practicing a combination move—a straight punch attack, followed immediately by a low sweep kick after being blocked.

Her straight punch was fine, but during the sweep kick...

"Stop."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice rang out.

Im Yoona stopped her movements and looked at him.

Jiang Zhiyu walked up to her, crouched down, and tapped her calf with his finger. "Your power point is wrong. A sweep kick isn't about 'touching' the opponent with your calf; it's about 'hacking' with your shin."

He stood up and gestured for her to watch his demonstration.

A clean, sharp low sweep; the air made a loud "whoosh" sound.

"See?" Jiang Zhiyu said. "The power needs to penetrate through; it should be like a blade."

Im Yoona nodded and tried again.

This time she used more force, but the movement was still a bit... stiff.

Jiang Zhiyu watched for a few seconds and suddenly said, "What are you thinking about?"

Im Yoona was taken aback. "Huh?"

"You're thinking 'this move needs to be standard' and 'this move needs to look good,' right?" Jiang Zhiyu hit the nail on the head.

Im Yoona blushed and didn't speak.

"Forget all that." Jiang Zhiyu walked up to her, standing very close. "Now, treat me as your enemy."

His gaze suddenly changed.

He was no longer the gentle coach, but had a cold, murderous scrutiny.

Im Yoona's heart skipped a beat.

"I'll count to three," Jiang Zhiyu's voice was very low. "After three, I will attack you. You can counterattack in any way—fists, feet, elbows, knees, you can even bite me."

"One."

Im Yoona held her breath.

"Two."

Her body tensed up.

"Three!"

Jiang Zhiyu moved—not with a slow teaching motion, but with a real, fast straight punch aimed directly at her face.

Im Yoona's mind went blank.

But her body's instinctive reaction was faster than her thoughts—she almost subconsciously tilted her head to dodge, while her right hand balled into a fist and swung toward Jiang Zhiyu's ribs.

The movement wasn't standard, the power wasn't full, and even her posture was awkward.

But it was fast.

And it was fierce.

Jiang Zhiyu blocked easily, but a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes.

"See?" He stepped back, regaining his calm. "That punch just now was more useful than all the 'standard moves' you practiced before."

Im Yoona panted, looking at her fist.

In that moment, she hadn't thought of anything.

She just instinctively wanted to hit him.

"Remember this feeling," Jiang Zhiyu said. "Fighting isn't a performance; it's survival."

Im Yoona nodded vigorously.

And in the corner of the training ground—

IU was sitting on a folding chair, holding a bottle of water, her gaze always glued to Jiang Zhiyu.

She had indeed been 'learning' these past few days, but rather than learning combat, she was learning how to get close to Jiang Zhiyu.

She would intentionally perform moves incorrectly to have Jiang Zhiyu correct her.

During sparring practice, she would 'accidentally' fall and wait for Jiang Zhiyu to help her up.

When Jiang Zhiyu was explaining, she would lean in very close, close enough to smell the even richer fruity scent on him from the intense exercise.

Right now, watching Jiang Zhiyu guide Im Yoona, seeing his gentle and patient coach persona, a playful curve formed at the corner of her mouth.

Quite the act.

She sneered in her heart.

A few minutes later, Jiang Zhiyu announced a break.

IU immediately stood up and walked to his side.

"President Jiang," her voice was as sweet as honey, "I still don't quite understand that escape move I was practicing just now. Can you teach me again?"

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at her and nodded. "Okay."

The two walked to the center of the sand.

IU turned around, her back to Jiang Zhiyu. "Is it like this?"

Jiang Zhiyu approached from behind, his hands gripping her wrists—a standard teaching posture.

But IU didn't break free according to the tutorial.

Instead, she leaned her body back, leaning entirely into Jiang Zhiyu's embrace.

Her back was against his chest; she could clearly feel his rapid heartbeat from the exercise and the scorching body temperature transmitting through the training uniform.

At the tip of her nose was that sweet scent of ripe fruit that fascinated her.

It was so rich it made her mouth water.

Her gaze fell on Jiang Zhiyu's neck—slightly sweaty from the recent instruction, his skin looked as warm and smooth as fine jade in the morning light.

Her teeth were itching.

She wanted to bite him.

She wanted to leave a mark.

She wanted to make him lose control too.

And the moment she leaned into his embrace—

She heard it.

Jiang Zhiyu's heartbeat.

It wasn't steady; it wasn't calm.

It was a surging, rapid heartbeat, like a pounding drum.

Transmitted through his chest to her back, and then to her ears.

Thump, thump, thump—

Every beat was so powerful, so clear.

The corners of IU's mouth curled up uncontrollably.

A victorious, smug smile filled with intense possessiveness appeared on her face.

So that's how it is.

She laughed wickedly in her heart.

So you're not as calm as you seem on the surface.

In the end, you're just a twenty-year-old boy.

You get nervous, your heart races, you... have a reaction.

She pressed her body even closer, feeling his body instantly stiffen and his breathing suddenly quicken.

Jiang Zhiyu...

I've found your weakness.

And Jiang Zhiyu, after the initial stiffness, quickly regained his composure.

He released his hands, took a step back, and his tone remained professional:

"IU-xi, please practice according to the correct method."

Having said that, he turned and walked to the sidelines, picked up the tablet, and began recording data.

As if that moment of intimate contact just now was nothing more than a normal teaching error.

But IU looked at his back, seeing his slightly reddened ears, and her smile deepened.

Keep pretending.

Just keep on pretending.

But I already know—

You're not completely indifferent to me.

On the other side of the training ground, Im Yoona was drinking water.

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the spot where Jiang Zhiyu and IU had just been standing.

Then, she saw that smug and dangerous smile on IU's face.

She also saw Jiang Zhiyu's slightly reddened ears.

Her fingers tightened around the bottle unconsciously.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

The plastic water bottle made a faint "crackle" sound.

IU...

She silently repeated the name in her heart.

Her gaze turned cold.

— —

On the afternoon of the seventh day of training, President Jiang Zhiyu finally announced that training would end half a day early, allowing everyone to rest and adjust.

"Continue tomorrow morning at eight," he stood in the center of the training ground, his face wearing a rare trace of gentleness, "Everyone has worked hard this week. Especially Yoona Noona, she has made great progress."

Im Yoona wiped the sweat from her forehead and bowed slightly: "Thank you, President Jiang."

Her voice was a bit deeper than a week ago, and her tone carried a kind of restrained calmness. Seven consecutive days of extreme training had caused subtle changes in her body—her muscle definition was clearer, her posture was more upright, and even her gaze had shed its usual gentleness, gaining a bit of sharpness.

"Yoona xi really has potential." Park Hae-soo, standing to the side, praised her sincerely, "At first, I was worried you wouldn't be able to hold on, but looking at it now, I underestimated you."

Kim Seo-woo also nodded, smiling wearily but sincerely: "Yoona works very hard; I'm ashamed to say I can't compare."

Im Yoona just gave a shallow smile and didn't speak.

She had already become accustomed to this state—speak less, observe more, and save her strength for training. This was what Jiang Zhiyu had taught her: "On the battlefield, every bit of unnecessary effort could cost you your life."

Although they were not on a real battlefield, she had already taken these words to heart.

"Alright, everyone, dismissed." Jiang Zhiyu clapped his hands, "Right, IU xi said she wants to treat everyone to a meal tonight, as a reward. I'll send the location to the group chat later."

Hearing IU's name, Im Yoona's eyelashes trembled slightly.

This week, IU had come to "observe" the training almost every day. She never participated in the high-intensity sessions, always watching quietly from the sidelines, holding water or a towel. But Im Yoona could feel it—her gaze was always glued to Jiang Zhiyu.

That kind of focus, that subtle, almost imperceptible intimacy, made Im Yoona feel like there was a thorn stuck in her heart.

"I will be there on time." She said calmly, then turned and walked toward the locker room.

It was already four in the afternoon when she returned to the apartment.

Im Yoona threw her sports bag in the entryway, dragged her exhausted body to the living room, and collapsed onto the sofa. Sunlight slanted in from the floor-to-ceiling window, spreading a patch of warm light across the floor.

She closed her eyes, feeling the soreness in her muscles and the exhaustion deep in her bones.

This week, she had pushed herself to the limit. Waking up at five every morning, appearing at the training ground promptly at six, and not getting home until nine at night. The training content ranged from basic physical fitness to combat techniques, and even the disassembly and assembly of firearms (models, of course), with every item requiring precision, speed, and power.

There were several times when she was thrown to the ground by Jiang Zhiyu while practicing close-quarters combat; the moment her back hit the ground, she almost thought she was going to fall apart.

But she never called for a stop.

Because she knew this was her only chance—to prove herself in front of Jiang Zhiyu, to hold her ground in front of IU, and to tear open a path in front of everyone who doubted her ability.

Her phone vibrated.

Im Yoona opened her eyes and picked up her phone. On the screen was a notification for the Girls Generation group chat.

[Yuri: Yoona-ah! I heard you guys are resting today? Daebak! You've worked hard training!]

[Hyoyeon: Yoona, send a selfie of how you look now! It must be super cool!]

[Sunny: +1 to the above. Our Yoona is now an action actor in training; her aura must have changed completely!]

[Sooyoung: I bet a meal of Hanwoo that Yoona is definitely rocking that cold city girl style now~]

Im Yoona watched the messages jumping on the screen, the corners of her mouth curling up unconsciously. She flipped through her album and chose a photo taken after training yesterday. In the photo, she was leaning against the wall wearing a black training outfit, her ponytail loose, a few strands of wet hair stuck to her skin, her face expressionless, her eyes weary but carrying a certain sharpness. It was indeed just as they said—her gentle aura had been ground down by the training to be colder, but those doe eyes neutralized that intensity, creating a contradictory "cold-cute" vibe.

She clicked send.

A few seconds later, the group chat exploded.

[Hyoyeon: Aaaaaah, what kind of peerless cool girl is this!]

[Yuri: My god, Yoona's gaze is amazing! Totally a movie face!]

[Sunny: Is this really our soft and cute Yoona? This aura, I love it, I love it!]

[Sooyoung: Yoona-ah, can we Unnies line up for autographs? Once you get famous, you won't recognize us anymore TT]

[Tiffany: Yoona fighting! Unnie is proud of you!]

Messages popped up one after another, all full of praise and encouragement for her. Im Yoona looked at the screen, a surge of warmth rising in her heart. No matter how tiring the training was, no matter how fierce the competition, this group of Unnies would always be her strongest support.

She typed a reply: [Thank you Unnies... It's not as exaggerated as you guys are saying.]

Just after sending it, she was collectively besieged by the Unnies.

[Sunny: Ya! Im Yoona, you're shy, aren't you?]

[Yuri: Definitely! Our Yoona can't handle being complimented at all~]

[Hyoyeon: Shy Yoona is the cutest!]

[Sooyoung: Come, come, Unnies, let's keep praising, until Yoona sends an ellipsis~]

Sure enough, Im Yoona looked at the screen full of teasing and could only helplessly send an ellipsis: [...]

Then came even more intense teasing.

[Sunny: See, see! I told you she was shy!]

[Yuri: Hahahaha, Yoona's ellipsis is so cute!]

Im Yoona shook her head with a smile, just about to type something, when a private message popped up.

It was Seohyun.

[Seohyun: Unnie, training must be hard. I saw the photo, it's really great.]

Im Yoona exited the group chat and clicked on the dialog box with Seohyun: [Thank you Seohyun~ How have you been lately?]

[Seohyun: Hmm, I'm preparing for a new play. Unnie, there's something I want to tell you.]

Seohyun's tone was somewhat formal, and Im Yoona couldn't help but sit up straighter.

[Seohyun: I heard from a friend in the industry that IU sunbaenim has received a TV drama script, which is said to be written by Lee Tima xi.]

Lee Tima? That little genius from TG Entertainment, Jiang Zhiyu's "sister"?

Im Yoona frowned and continued reading.

[Seohyun: It is said that IU sunbaenim told the production team privately that this script was tailored for her. My friend says the script quality is very high, the kind of material that can win awards.]

Seohyun's message paused for a moment, then continued to pop up.

[Seohyun: You know, Unnie, I am also trying to transform my career, wanting to play more challenging roles. This drama... I think it's an opportunity.]

[Seohyun: I was thinking, since the script is written by Lee Tima, it must have something to do with President Jiang Zhiyu, right? Could you... please ask for me? If TG has casting rights...]

Im Yoona looked at the screen, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, not knowing how to reply for a moment.

She certainly knew Seohyun's situation. Among the Girls Generation members, Seohyun was the most active in transforming her career; from musicals to plays, and then to TV dramas, she had been working hard to broaden her acting path. As the maknae, she possessed maturity and planning beyond her age.

Help ask Jiang Zhiyu?

Im Yoona bit her lower lip. During these seven days, her contact with Jiang Zhiyu had been almost entirely on the training ground. He was a strict coach, and she was a hardworking student. Other than that, there was almost no private conversation. Occasionally during breaks, he would simply ask about her physical condition, reminding her to be careful of old injuries, but that was all.

Furthermore, IU was now in the training camp.

That investor, that "sugar mama," the woman who hid an undisguised possessiveness in her eyes when looking at Jiang Zhiyu.

Tonight's dinner was proposed by IU. As the largest investor, she invited all the candidates and staff in the name of "rewarding the hard work of training." Jiang Zhiyu had no reason to refuse.

Under such circumstances, in what capacity should she ask Jiang Zhiyu about "the casting situation for the script your sister wrote"?

It was too awkward.

And too overstepping.

Im Yoona thought for a long time, finally typing: [Seohyun-ah, this... I might not find it easy to bring up. My relationship with President Jiang Zhiyu is actually just that of a director and an actor candidate; there isn't much private interaction.]

She paused, then added another sentence: [Perhaps... you could go ask Taeyeon Unnie? Her relationship with TG seems to be pretty good.]

The moment she pressed the send key, a surge of inexplicable annoyance suddenly welled up in Im Yoona's heart.

Why did she have to bring up Kim Taeyeon?

Why did she subconsciously feel that there was some special connection between Kim Taeyeon and Jiang Zhiyu, enough for her to go and inquire about such sensitive news?

That morning breakfast, the lingering scent of fruit, Sunny's teasing in the group chat, Kim Taeyeon's flustered and guilty expression...

And the subtle, almost imperceptible gentleness when Jiang Zhiyu looked at Kim Taeyeon.

He was so strict during training, his gaze so cold, yet Im Yoona had seen how he spoke with others—the focus when discussing action design with Park Hae-soo, the patience when explaining character psychology with Kim Seo-woo, and even the effortless politeness when dealing with IU.

But only when Kim Taeyeon was mentioned would his tone soften unconsciously.

"Noona..."

That morning, when he called out this term to his phone, his voice carried a temperature that was almost soft, something Im Yoona had never heard before.

Im Yoona opened her eyes abruptly, her breathing quickening slightly.

She stared at the ceiling, her gaze hollow.

Why care about these things?

Why put her mind on these meaningless speculations?

The most important thing for her now was to pass the training and secure the role. Everything else was unimportant.

What kind of relationship Kim Taeyeon and Jiang Zhiyu had, what did that have to do with her?

What intentions IU had toward Jiang Zhiyu, what did that have to do with her?

She was just an actor, an actor who wanted to challenge herself. Nothing more.

Im Yoona took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

But the sense of annoyance in her heart was like vines, winding around and refusing to let go.

She remembered how IU had deliberately leaned into Jiang Zhiyu's arms on the training ground.

She remembered Jiang Zhiyu's stiffened body in that moment, and his reddened ears.

She remembered the winner's, smug smile on IU's face.

And herself, standing not far away, her fingers tightening unconsciously, the plastic water bottle making a faint "crackle" sound.

What was her mood at that moment?

Was it vigilance? Was it disgust? Or...

Im Yoona didn't dare to think any further.

She sat up, picked up her phone, and the screen was still on the chat interface with Seohyun.

That message had already been sent: [Perhaps... you could go ask Taeyeon Unnie? Her relationship with TG seems to be pretty good.]

Below, Seohyun hadn't replied yet.

Im Yoona stared at that sentence for a long time.

Then, she threw the phone aside, collapsed back into the sofa, and closed her eyes.

"Taeyeon Unnie..."

She murmured this name, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

Why did she have to bring her up?

Could it be that in her own heart, she had also defaulted to the idea that there was some special connection between Kim Taeyeon and Jiang Zhiyu?

Defaulted to the idea that Kim Taeyeon occupied a special place in Jiang Zhiyu's heart?

That was why she thought of her first when Seohyun asked for help?

Im Yoona opened her eyes abruptly, her breathing quickening again.

She stared into the void, her gaze confused and struggling.

No, that wasn't it.

She just... just felt that Kim Taeyeon had collaborated with TG and was more familiar with Jiang Zhiyu, so it would be easier to bring it up, that's all.

Just like that.

Just...

"Heh."

Im Yoona suddenly let out a light laugh, carrying self-mockery.

She turned over and buried her face in the sofa cushion.

Who are you fooling?

You can't even fool yourself.

Outside the window, the sun was gradually slanting westward, and the golden afterglow spilled in through the glass, casting long light and shadows on the floor.

There were still three hours until the dinner party in the evening.

Im Yoona lay on the sofa, motionless.

But in her heart, it was like a silent storm was slowly brewing.