328: Please read Chapter 308 carefully~ My Transformation~

In the top-tier styling room of LOEN Entertainment, IU stood before a full-length mirror, turning slightly to examine herself.

The woman in the mirror wore a meticulously designed black dress—not the common floor-length gown, but a sharp yet sexy short cut. The tailoring was perfectly fitted, tracing a slender yet powerful waist and the curve of her hips. The shoulders featured translucent mesh panels, faintly revealing her delicate collarbones and shoulder lines, while the hemline stopped abruptly three inches above her knees, exposing her long, straight calves. Her accessories were carefully selected diamond studs and an extremely fine platinum collarbone chain, glinting coldly under the lights.

Her makeup was also more deliberate than usual—the eyeliner was elongated and upturned, the eyeshadow was a deep brown with fine shimmer, and her lip color was an ambiguous shade between true red and berry. Her hair was styled in loose, voluminous waves, draped lazily over her shoulders.

The entire look retained the pure foundation of the 'Nations Little Sister' while adding the sexiness and aggression of a mature woman.

"This one won't do... too conservative. What about this? Too forced."

The walk-in closet door was wide open, filled with various haute couture gowns, designer ready-to-wear pieces, and uniquely styled private clothes. IU stood before the giant floor-to-ceiling mirror, wearing a pale pink silk slip dress with a thin silver chain around her waist, making her already fair skin look almost luminous.

But she was still dissatisfied.

"Unnie..."

Lee Tima sat on the sofa in the lounge, holding a chocolate cone and taking small licks. Watching IU change back and forth in front of the mirror, she couldn't help but speak up: "It's just a dinner, is there a need to be this beautiful?"

IU was picking up a short skirt with black lace panels to hold against herself. Hearing Lee Tima's words, she turned around and gave her a cold smile.

"Tima-ya."

Her voice was as sweet as honey, carrying a nearly arrogant elegance, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

"Unnie is already good-looking, but one must be the most beautiful in front of others! Otherwise, how will people remember me, IU?"

Lee Tima curled her lips secretly, complaining in her heart: You, IU, still need people to remember you? Who in all of South Korea doesn't know you?

But on the surface, she immediately switched to a flattering smile, put down her cone, and clasped her hands over her heart:

"I understand! Unnie intends to adorn her peerless beauty so that every day and every scene becomes a piece of scenery!"

IU nodded as if it were a matter of course, her smile becoming a bit more genuine:

"Oh, our Tima is so smart. As expected of my Lee Ji-eun's sister, your IQ must have been inherited from me."

Lee Tima: "..."

She bit the edge of the cone, her inner thoughts ranting wildly: Who praises themselves like that? And what 'inherited'? We aren't even biological sisters! Your level of narcissism has truly broken through the sky!

But when the words reached her lips, they turned into well-behaved flattery:

"It's all because I've been influenced by Unnie. It must be because I've spent so much time with you."

These words were clever, and IU indeed enjoyed them. She walked over and pinched Lee Tima's soft, squishy cheek, her fingertips carrying the faint floral scent of Chanel hand cream.

"Our Tima really knows how to talk," she smiled deeper, "much better than that Zhiyu Oppa of yours."

At the mention of Jiang Zhiyu, a hint of coldness seeped into IU's smile.

Just thinking about that man's hot-and-cold attitude made her flare up with irritation.

That man...

During those seven days on the training ground, she had deliberately approached him, deliberately tested him, and even deliberately initiated physical contact. Every time she got close, she could smell that unique, ripe-fruit-like scent on him and feel his heart drumming beneath his chest—she had captured those moments of panic and stiffness.

But that was it.

When IU thought Jiang Zhiyu finally had a reaction to her, thinking that his push-and-pull was just a tactic to play hard to get, she found she was wrong.

Jiang Zhiyu's heart would indeed race when she approached, and his ears would indeed turn red when she pressed close—but that wasn't attraction; it was more like... an instinctive physical reaction?

Like an animal becoming alert and tense when faced with a sudden approach.

Then, in the next second, he would regain his composure. He would push her away and continue in that professional, polite, and distant tone: "IU-xi, please practice according to the correct method."

At first, she thought Jiang Zhiyu was a high-level player using hard-to-get tactics to bait her. After all, who was she, Lee Ji-eun? The Nations Little Sister, the Digital Queen, the dream girl of countless men. Which man wasn't attentive and didn't try every means to please her?

But Jiang Zhiyu was different.

He was polite but distant. Professional but never crossing the line. On the training ground, he treated everyone equally—except for Im Yoona.

Yes, Im Yoona.

A shadow of gloom flashed in IU's eyes.

That idol-actress from SM, the woman called the 'Face of Girls Generation,' the candidate who clearly had the slowest progress in the training camp yet received the most attention and patience from Jiang Zhiyu.

Why?

Just because she looks pure? Because she's Im Yoona?

IU recalled the scene on the training ground where Jiang Zhiyu corrected Im Yoona's movements hand-in-hand. His fingers lightly supported her wrist, his voice kept low, patient to the point of being gentle.

And for her?

Only a polite 'IU-xi, please pay attention to the key points of this movement,' only demonstrations while maintaining distance, only that business-like attitude.

I, Lee Ji-eun, the Nations Little Sister, the Digital Queen, a shareholder of LOEN, your biggest investor—why can't I get a single shred of real emotion from you?

Why can Im Yoona—that idol-actress with mediocre acting who only knows how to do romance dramas—make you look at her so intently?

The viper of jealousy bit wildly at her heart.

Damn it.

Truly damn it!

The 'blackened' IU's smile grew even deeper, to the point of being eerie. In the mirror, that sweet face was still flawless, but the emotions swirling in her eyes were like a sea with turbulent undercurrents.

Lee Tima felt a sudden wave of fear for no reason. She shrunk her neck, licked the remaining ice cream from the corner of her mouth, and asked softly: "Unnie... your smile is so scary..."

"Scary?" IU turned her head, her smile still sweet. "How could it be? Unnie is just thinking about some happy things."

Happy things?

Like how to completely control Jiang Zhiyu in her hands.

Like how to make that eyesore Im Yoona disappear from the candidate list.

Like how to incorporate TG Entertainment—that rising star—into her own territory.

Lee Tima is my sister, Jiang Zhiyu is Tima's brother, we two are a match made in heaven. Who else is more suitable for him besides me? No one!

IU roared wildly in her mind.

Jiang Zhiyu, Lee Tima, these two unique geniuses, and that genius girl chairman Kim Soo-yeon, the infinite potential of TG Entertainment... when the time comes, they will all belong to me, IU, Lee Ji-eun!

Hahahahaha~

Her thoughts drifted toward the deep white clouds, where there was a castle built of fantasy.

She saw herself standing at the highest point of the castle, looking down at everything below. LOEN Entertainment and TG Entertainment had merged, and she had become the actual queen of this entertainment empire. On the top floor of the group headquarters, in front of the giant floor-to-ceiling windows of the chairman's office, IU—no, she should be called Chairman Lee Ji-eun now—was elegantly holding a glass of red wine, overlooking the bustling street view of Seoul.

Beside her stood Jiang Zhiyu.

No, not standing.

Leaning against her.

Jiang Zhiyu wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, his hair combed meticulously, with a gentle smile on his handsome face. One hand lightly encircled Lee Ji-eun's waist, while the other held a glass of the same red wine. He looked at her intently, his eyes full of love.

"Ji-eun, are you tired? Do you want to rest for a bit?"

His voice was deep and doting, a completely different person from the current calm and distant Jiang Zhiyu.

Lee Ji-eun tilted her head slightly, leaning on his shoulder with her eyes curved in a smile: "Not tired. With you by my side, how could I be tired?"

At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Lee Tima poked her small head in, a sweet smile on her face: "Unnie, Oppa, I've come to deliver the documents!"

Lee Ji-eun waved to her: "Tima-ya, come here."

Lee Tima skipped in, placed the documents on the desk, and then naturally hugged Lee Ji-eun's arm, acting cute: "Unnie is so beautiful today too~"

"Our Tima is the best at talking." Lee Ji-eun pinched her face, her eyes full of affection.

And Jiang Zhiyu stood aside, watching the intimate scene of the 'sisters,' his gaze so gentle it seemed it could turn into water.

Just then, the office door was pushed open again.

Kim Soo-yeon walked in.

She was dressed in a capable black suit skirt, her long hair tied in a sharp low ponytail. There was no expression on her seventeen-year-old face, but her eyes held absolute respect for Lee Ji-eun.

She walked up to Lee Ji-eun and bowed slightly:

"Sister-in-law, this is the strategic planning for the next quarter. Please have a look."

Sister-in-law.

This form of address made the smile on the corners of Lee Ji-eun's mouth deepen.

"Thank you for your hard work, Soo-yeon." She took the document, her tone gentle yet carrying an unquestionable authority. "You did very well."

Kim Soo-yeon straightened up and respectfully retreated to the side.

Lee Ji-eun looked around this office which symbolized the peak of power, looking at Jiang Zhiyu who was madly in love with her and completely obedient, looking at the cute and clingy Lee Tima, looking at Kim Soo-yeon who bowed respectfully and called her sister-in-law...

A sense of near-exploding satisfaction surged in her heart.

Career—she was the chairman of Starship Media, controlling half of the South Korean entertainment industry.

Appearance—she was the National Goddess, the white moonlight in countless people's hearts.

Marriage—she had married Jiang Zhiyu, this talented, handsome, and gentle man who spoiled her to the heavens.

Wealth—she possessed riches she could never finish spending in this lifetime.

Even health—Jiang Zhiyu was very skilled in traditional Chinese medicine and often conditioned her body, keeping her in peak condition forever.

She would become the happiest and most envied woman in modern society!

So envied that people would faint!

"Unnie..." Lee Tima's cautious voice pulled her back from her fantasy to reality. "You're drooling..."

IU froze and instinctively touched the corner of her mouth.

Dry.

She glared at Lee Tima: "Little liar."

She blinked and found herself still standing in front of the closet mirror. Her reflection had a strange smile on its face, and its eyes were terrifyingly fanatical.

IU took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

Fantasy was ultimately just fantasy.

The reality was that Jiang Zhiyu hadn't fallen in love with her yet, TG Entertainment didn't belong to her yet, and it was even more impossible for Kim Soo-yeon to call her sister-in-law.

But...

It didn't matter.

She had plenty of time and plenty of means.

Tonight's dinner gathering was a beginning.

IU let go of the dress and turned toward the deepest part of the walk-in closet. Hanging there was a 'battle robe' she had specially prepared for tonight—a wine-red velvet gown with an off-the-shoulder design, a cinched waist, and a slit up to the thigh. it was both noble and sexy, yet grand.

She changed into the dress and did a turn in front of the mirror.

The wine-red color made her skin look as white as snow. Her exposed shoulders and collarbone lines were elegant, her waist was so slender it could be held in one hand, and her long legs were faintly visible under the slit hemline.

Perfect.

IU smiled with satisfaction.

She walked to the dressing table and began her makeup. She chose a deep rose-gold eyeshadow, her eyeliner was slightly upturned, and her lipstick was a true red, making her entire aura burst forth.

Finally, she sprayed a bit of perfume—not a cloying floral scent, but a cool woody tone with a hint of detachment.

"Unnie..."

Lee Tima stood at the closet door, staring at her blankly.

"What's wrong?" IU turned her head and gave her a radiant smile.

"You..." Lee Tima swallowed. "Are you... going to war tonight?"

This outfit, this aura—it was as if she were going to conquer the world.

IU walked up to her and bent down to pinch her face:

"Tima-ya, Unnie is just doing what needs to be done."

She straightened up, her eyes looking at the darkening sky outside the window, her voice as light as a murmur:

"Some things, if you don't fight for them, you'll never get them."

"And I, Lee Ji-eun..."

She paused, the corners of her mouth curling into a determined arc.

"Never liked things I couldn't get."

—

TG Entertainment President's Office.

Outside the window, Seoul was slowly sinking into the evening twilight. The sky transitioned from orange-red to deep purple, and the distant neon lights began to light up one by one.

Jiang Zhiyu stood in the private lounge attached to the office, changing clothes in front of a full-length mirror.

"CEO, regarding (G)I-DLE from Cube Entertainment, the Variety Department's proposal has been finalized."

Xiao Zheng, the assistant, stood outside the lounge. His voice came through clearly through the ajar door.

Jiang Zhiyu took a dark gray hoodie from the rack and pulled it over his white T-shirt. The hoodie was an oversized fit made of soft fabric, with two thin drawstrings hanging from the hood. He casually tousled his hair, making his originally neat hairstyle look a bit messy and relaxed.

"Speak," he responded briefly.

Xiao Zheng cleared his throat and began his report:

"(G)I-DLE, a girl group under Cube Entertainment, debuted in 2018. Currently, there are six members—Jeon Soyeon, Minnie, Xu Suizhen, Song Yuqi, Cho Mi Yeon, and Ye Shuhua."

"The characteristic of this group is the high level of creative involvement from the members, especially the leader Jeon Soyeon, who handles the lyrics and composition for almost most of the group's title tracks. They have a unique style and clear concepts. Their debut song 'LATATA' was an instant hit, and subsequent tracks like 'HANN', 'Senorita', and 'Oh my god' have all achieved good results."

Jiang Zhiyu put on a pair of black sweatpants, tied the waistband, and adjusted the hoodie's collar in front of the mirror.

The youth in the mirror—yes, even though he already effectively controlled a rising entertainment company and had planned several hit variety shows and projects, Jiang Zhiyu still looked like a college student who had just turned twenty. The dark gray hoodie made his skin look even fairer, and his slightly long bangs half-covered his forehead, while the lines between his brow bones were smooth and heroic.

But those eyes...

Xiao Zheng caught a glimpse through the crack in the door, meeting Jiang Zhiyu's gaze in the mirror.

Calm, deep, and carrying a steadiness that surpassed his age.

"Continue," Jiang Zhiyu said. His voice wasn't loud, but it had an unquestionable penetration.

Xiao Zheng quickly withdrew his gaze and continued:

"Currently, (G)I-DLE has high online discussion heat, mainly divided into two aspects. On one hand, there's the music and stage performances—the title track of their recent comeback, 'HWAA', has very impressive results. It debuted at number one on digital charts, the MV views broke records, and several stage fancams have reached millions of views."

"On the other hand..." Xiao Zheng paused, "it's about member Xu Suizhen."

Jiang Zhiyu picked up a black baseball cap from the table and put it on, pulling the brim down slightly.

"The school bullying controversy?"

"Yes," Xiao Zheng nodded. "Starting in February this year, someone posted online claiming that Xu Suizhen participated in school bullying during her student days, including extorting money and isolating classmates. Although Cube Entertainment issued a statement of denial and Xu Suizhen herself wrote a long post to clarify, public opinion hasn't completely settled."

"The current situation is that some fans firmly support Xu Suizhen, believing she's being maliciously slandered; another group of netizens remains skeptical; and many others are in a wait-and-see state."

Jiang Zhiyu walked to his desk and checked the time on his phone—there was still an hour before the dinner gathering.

He leaned against the desk and looked at Xiao Zheng: "What is the Variety Department's opinion?"

Xiao Zheng opened the tablet in his hand and pulled up the prepared report:

"The Variety Department's suggestion is—we can reach out."

"There are three reasons. First, idol fans have extremely high stickiness, especially for a group like (G)I-DLE with a distinct musical style and strong internal creative power; they have many die-hard fans. Even if a member is embroiled in controversy, as long as the group itself is still active, a core group of fans will continue to support them."

"Second, the direction of public opinion in the entertainment industry changes very quickly. Even if some artists suffer damage to their reputation for a while, they might become popular again years later because of a work, an event, or even a sincere apology. TG is only producing variety shows and isn't involved in the management or image-building of the artists themselves, so the risk is relatively controllable."

Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow slightly: "The third point?"

Xiao Zheng swiped the tablet screen:

"Third, and most crucially—assuming the worst-case scenario happens and Xu Suizhen really leaves the group due to public pressure, then our upcoming variety project will become (G)I-DLE's 'last variety show as a six-member lineup'."

He looked up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:

"From a commercial perspective, this has extremely high commemorative significance and topical value. Fans will frantically support it for the 'final reunion', and passersby might follow out of curiosity. Moreover, the copyright of the variety show is entirely in TG's hands. Whether (G)I-DLE remains six members or five, or even if they disband, we are guaranteed to profit."

The office fell into a brief silence.

Outside the window, the sky had darkened a bit more, and the city lights grew more brilliant.

Jiang Zhiyu stood there with his hands in his hoodie pockets. The shadow under the brim of his hat obscured the upper half of his face, revealing only his sharply defined jawline and slightly pursed thin lips.

He looked just like an ordinary college student preparing to go out for a meal with friends.

But Xiao Zheng knew that behind this seemingly casual posture was a brain working at high speed—weighing pros and cons, calculating risks, and evaluating value.

"Try to reach out first."

After a long while, Jiang Zhiyu spoke, his voice calm and without ripples.

"Don't give any promises; just get a preliminary understanding of their intentions and the possibility of cooperation."

He walked to the mirror to check his attire one last time.

Dark gray hoodie, black sweatpants, white sneakers, black baseball cap.

Simple, comfortable, completely in line with what he had said tonight: 'Just wear something casual.'

But the youth in the mirror possessed a contradictory charm—full of innocent boyishness, as if he were a senior who had just walked off a campus basketball court; yet his brow bones revealed a maturity beyond his years, along with a unique lazy composure that came from holding great power.

This sense of contradiction was exactly what was most attractive about Jiang Zhiyu.

"After filming for 'the crab' begins," Jiang Zhiyu turned around and picked up his car keys from the table, "I'll find time to meet with the members of (G)I-DLE and chat personally."

He needed to observe for himself.

Observe the atmosphere of the group, the chemistry between members, the leader's leadership, and... what kind of person Xu Suizhen, who was at the center of the storm, really was.

Variety shows can create topics, but they cannot rely purely on controversy. The quality of the content itself and the genuine charm of the members are the keys to whether a show can keep viewers for a long time.

"Understood," Xiao Zheng nodded, noting it down on his tablet.

Jiang Zhiyu walked toward the office door, then suddenly remembered something and stopped:

"By the way, the dinner location is confirmed, right?"

"It's confirmed, CEO. It's a relatively secluded barbecue restaurant with very good privacy. The owner is an acquaintance, so no one will disturb you."

"Very good."

Jiang Zhiyu pushed open the door and walked out of the office.

The corridor lights spilled over him, and the dark gray hoodie took on a soft luster under the light.

Underground parking lot.

The elevator went all the way down to the underground parking lot. The lights were cool white, shining on rows of luxury cars. His car was parked in a dedicated spot—a black Mercedes-Benz coupe, with smooth and elegant lines, showing a low-key matte texture under the lights.

Xiao Zheng pulled the car door open for him, and Jiang Zhiyu sat in the driver's seat.

The interior was very clean, with a faint scent of cedar-like cleaner. He started the engine, and a low roar echoed in the garage.

This car was the same model as Kim Taeyeon's.

When he was choosing a car, he didn't actually hesitate much. He had sat in Kim Taeyeon's car a few times, and the comfort, handling, and noise insulation were all very good. He trusted that 'Noona's' taste—or rather, he trusted her persistence in 'making herself comfortable'.

Since she chose this one, it meant the car was indeed suitable for long drives, suitable for an artist who needed to move privately, and also suitable for... him, who wanted to act low-key.

So he bought the same model.

There was no special reason; he just felt that 'trusting Noona's choice isn't a bad thing'.

"If Noona thinks it's good, it shouldn't be bad."

That's what he thought.

And... he actually liked it quite a bit.

Jiang Zhiyu turned the key, and the engine let out a low and steady roar. The dashboard lit up, and blue light reflected on his face.

He remembered that morning at Kim Taeyeon's apartment door, when she hurriedly opened the door with messy hair, wearing old loungewear, and with faint dark circles under her eyes.

"Didn't Noona sleep well last night?"

He had asked her then.

Kim Taeyeon had invited him in while pretending to be calm, but he had seen the panic in her eyes and her slightly reddened cheeks.

And when she took the aroma bottle he handed over, her fingertips had inadvertently touched his skin.

It was warm, with a tiny bit of trembling.

He stepped on the gas, and the car smoothly slid out of the parking space, heading toward the exit. The city lights outside the window receded rapidly, and the neon shadows flickered on Jiang Zhiyu's young face.

Seoul in the evening was already starting to have traffic jams. The red brake lights connected into a single stretch, like a slowly flowing river of light.

He turned on the car audio and randomly selected a radio station. It was a pop music program, and the host was introducing new songs.

"...The next song to be played is the digital single 'Celebrity' just released by IU. This song debuted at number one on various digital charts as soon as it was released, showing the unchanging strength of the Digital Queen..."

Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow but didn't change the station.

A soft intro flowed out, followed by IU's clear and recognizable voice.

He listened quietly, his fingers lightly tapping the beat on the steering wheel.

But in his mind, the image of IU deliberately leaning into his arms at the training ground involuntarily surfaced.

And that strong, cloyingly sweet perfume scent on her.

As well as... the undisguised possessiveness in her eyes when she looked at him.

Jiang Zhiyu frowned slightly.

Of course, he knew what IU was thinking. That kind of fiery, almost obsessive gaze was not something he was seeing for the first time.

But he wasn't interested.

At least for now, he wasn't interested.

His attention should be placed on more important things—the preparation for 'the crab', (G)I-DLE's variety show invitation, TG Entertainment's next strategic layout...

And Im Yoona.

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze darkened.

That woman who was desperately gritting her teeth and persevering on the training ground; even though her physical strength had reached its limit, she still refused to call for a stop. There was a stubborn light in her eyes, like a small beast that refused to lose.

And her posture when punching, her gaze when blocking, and even that frustrated yet stubborn expression when he pointed out her mistakes...

They were all very interesting.

Much more interesting than IU's deliberate seduction.

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other casually resting on the edge of the car window, his fingers lightly tapped the rhythm along with the music flowing in the car.

He looked just like any twenty-year-old young man driving to a dinner gathering with friends on a weekend night.

But only he himself knew—

Tonight's dinner was not just a meal.

It was a stage carefully arranged by IU, a test Im Yoona had to face, an opportunity for Kim Seo-woo and Park Hae-soo to observe him, and an occasion for him to further consolidate his relationship with investors while observing the 'true state' of all candidates.

And the (G)I-DLE they just talked about...

The corners of Jiang Zhiyu's mouth curled up slightly.

That group was indeed very interesting.

Especially the leader Jeon Soyeon—a girl who handled almost all the creation, a creator who still insisted on self-expression within the idol industrial system.

They might get along well.

The song on the radio finished, and the host began introducing the next one.

Jiang Zhiyu turned off the audio.

The car fell into silence, with only the low roar of the engine and the hustle and bustle of the city outside.

He checked the navigation—it was a twenty-minute drive to the barbecue restaurant.

Jiang Zhiyu relaxed his body and leaned back against the seat.

The evening sky had completely darkened, and streetlights lit up one by one, illuminating the streets like daylight.

Seoul's night had only just begun.

And tonight's dinner...

A very faint, almost invisible curve hooked at the corner of his mouth.

It should be very interesting.