329: Chapter 309 A Beautiful Time

That barbecue restaurant was hidden deep in a quiet alley in Gangnam District. Its storefront was low-key, with the wooden sign simply carved with the characters "Songmu." Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the warm yellow light and the aroma of roasted meat rushed toward him.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't arrive early. When he walked into the reserved private room, several people were already sitting inside.

Park Hae-soo, wearing a dark blue sports jacket, was talking in low tones with Kim Seo-woo. Kim Seo-woo was dressed in a simple beige knit sweater paired with black trousers, her long hair loosely tied back, looking both gentle and capable. Seeing Jiang Zhiyu, both stood up and bowed slightly: "President Jiang."

"No need to be so formal, please sit." Jiang Zhiyu waved his hand and sat down casually at the table. His outfit today was indeed very casual—a light gray hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans, white sneakers, and his hair wasn't really styled, with a few stray strands naturally falling over his forehead.

He looked exactly like a warm-hearted campus heartthrob who had just graduated from university—refreshing, clean, and full of youthful energy.

Park Hae-soo sized up Jiang Zhiyu and nodded inwardly. Although this young president controlled the massive TG Entertainment, he didn't put on any airs in private, making him very comfortable to be around.

"Has Yoona not arrived yet?" Kim Seo-woo checked the time.

Just as she finished speaking, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Im Yoona walked in.

Today, she wore a wine-red hooded sweatshirt, black skinny jeans, and a pair of white sneakers. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, she wore light makeup, and her lips were coated with a rose-colored lipstick similar to the color of her sweatshirt.

She looked both casual and eye-catching, especially that wine-red sweatshirt, which made her skin look even fairer.

But when her gaze met Jiang Zhiyu's, the atmosphere in the room instantly became subtle.

Park Hae-soo's gaze moved back and forth between the two.

A light gray sweatshirt, a wine-red sweatshirt.

The same hooded style, the same casual vibe.

Even their shoes were the same color—white sneakers.

This... no matter how you looked at it, it looked like a couple's outfit, right?

Kim Seo-woo was also stunned for a moment, then covered her mouth with a light chuckle: "Yoona-xi, your outfit today looks very nice."

Im Yoona was clearly aware of this as well. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes flickered, but she forced herself to remain calm as she walked to the table and sat opposite Jiang Zhiyu: "Hello, seniors. President Jiang."

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her with a calm gaze, only nodding slightly: "Sit."

But his gaze lingered on that wine-red sweatshirt for a second.

What a coincidence.

But... it looks quite good.

Im Yoona nodded, took off her jacket to hang it on the wall rack, and then sat on the cushion opposite Jiang Zhiyu. With the grill between them, the distance was neither too close nor too far, exactly the right amount of professional boundary for a colleague dinner.

However, that subtle atmosphere did not dissipate.

Im Yoona picked up her teacup and took a sip, her peripheral vision glancing toward Jiang Zhiyu.

He looks... completely different today from how he is on the training ground.

The Jiang Zhiyu during training was a strict coach with sharp eyes, efficient movements, and concise, direct speech. But right now, he was leaning relaxedly against the wall, one hand casually resting on his knee while the other scrolled through his phone screen. The warm yellow light spilled over him, casting a soft glow on his handsome face.

Like a warm-hearted campus heartthrob who just graduated from college.

That clean, refreshing, and slightly scholarly youthful vibe formed a sharp contrast with his usual image as a president who controlled the entire situation.

Im Yoona suddenly remembered the teasing from the older members in the Girls Generation group chat—

"With a face like President Jiang Zhiyu's, it's really a waste not to act in campus dramas."

Looking at him now... indeed.

"What are you looking at?"

Jiang Zhiyu's voice suddenly rang out.

Im Yoona snapped back to her senses, only then realizing she had actually been staring at him for several seconds. Her face heated up, and she quickly looked away: "No... nothing."

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at her and didn't press further, simply pushing the menu in front of her: "Take a look at what you want to eat first."

"O-okay."

Im Yoona took the menu and pretended to look at it intently, but her heart was beating like a drum.

Damn it, how did I get so dazed just now?

Just then, the door to the room was pushed open again.

"Sorry, I'm late~"

IU's voice arrived first—crisp, sweet, and carrying a perfectly measured note of apology.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the door.

Then she walked in.

In an instant, the air in the room seemed to freeze.

IU stood at the door.

She was wearing a light pink casual-style dress—it was called "casual," but it was full of design. It was sleeveless with exquisite lace patchwork at the neckline, and the hem reached just above her knees, revealing her slender, straight calves. On her feet were silver stiletto sandals, and she held a small pearl clutch in her hand.

Her hair had been permed into soft waves, draped loosely over her shoulders. Her makeup was exquisite, with light rose-gold eyeshadow and moist peach-colored lipstick; she looked fresh and sweet, like an elf stepped out of a pictorial.

She looked fresh, elegant, and carried a bit of unintentional laziness.

It was that high-end feeling of "I just threw this on and still look this beautiful."

She had clearly dressed up meticulously; every detail was impeccable.

But when her gaze fell upon the two people in the room—

Jiang Zhiyu's light gray sweatshirt.

Im Yoona's wine-red sweatshirt.

The same style, the same vibe, and even their seating positions were so symmetrical.

It was like... like they had planned it.

The smile on IU's face instantly froze.

In that moment, the temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees.

Park Hae-soo and Kim Seo-woo both subconsciously held their breath.

Im Yoona lowered her eyes and took a sip of tea to hide her slightly accelerating heartbeat.

Only Jiang Zhiyu remained composed. He looked at IU and spoke in a calm tone:

"IU-xi is here. You're dressed very beautifully."

This sentence was like a switch.

The stiffness on IU's face instantly melted away, replaced by a large, incredibly brilliant smile. She stepped into the room with light footsteps, her voice as sweet as honey:

"President Jiang is too kind~ Good evening, everyone!"

That smile was flawless, her eyes curving into crescents; anyone who saw her would think she was the kind and lovely Nation's Little Sister.

But only she knew—

Blackened IU's inner thoughts:

Damn it!!

Im Yoona! Im Yoona! Im Yoona!

You did this on purpose, didn't you?!

Why wear a wine-red sweatshirt? Jiang Zhiyu wears gray so you wear red? Do you think you're shooting a campus couple pictorial?!

And Jiang Zhiyu—you're complimenting me on being beautiful? Are you blind? Didn't you see that Im Yoona is dressed like a pair with you?!

Then when you were looking at Im Yoona's sweatshirt, what were you thinking?!

Were you thinking she looks especially good in red? Were you thinking the two of you look especially well-matched standing together?!

Ah—!!

IU's nails dug deep into the flesh of her palms, yet the smile on her face became even sweeter.

Sitting on the other side, Kim Seo-woo was the first to react, immediately smiling as she spoke: "Yes, IU-xi is truly too beautiful today. This dress suits you so well!"

Park Hae-soo followed with a nod: "As expected of the Nation's Little Sister, even casual wear looks like a pictorial."

The actor playing Jung Jae-yoon—a young male actor—also quickly chimed in: "It's simply the descent of a goddess."

A series of compliments were thrown her way as if they cost nothing.

After all, this was the biggest investor for the movie, the 'Sugar Mommy.' Complimenting her cost nothing and could build goodwill, so why not?

The stiffness on IU's face lasted for less than two seconds.

She took a deep breath and then flashed a smile even more brilliant and sweet than before.

"Thank you, everyone~" She bowed slightly, her voice crisp and pleasant. "I just threw something on today; I didn't expect everyone to be so supportive."

Her smile was impeccable and her gaze clear; one couldn't see a trace of her momentary loss of composure from just now.

But her steps led her straight to the seat next to Jiang Zhiyu.

That was the head seat of the table—the very center, the most spacious, with the best view.

Seeing her walk over, Jiang Zhiyu naturally shifted slightly to make room for her: "IU-xi, please sit."

This was the seat he had intentionally left for her.

Respect for the financier and face for the investor—this was the most basic social etiquette.

IU sat down beside him with a smile, placing her clutch gently on the table: "Thank you, President Jiang~"

The distance was very close.

Close enough that she could smell the faint, refreshing scent on Jiang Zhiyu, like a mix of laundry detergent and sunlight.

No perfume, no cologne, just a very clean, natural aura.

Just like that light gray sweatshirt—simple, clean, yet damnably attractive.

"It's only right." Jiang Zhiyu nodded, his tone polite yet distant. "IU-xi is the investor, so of course you should sit in the head seat."

He said it as if it were a matter of course, as if this were just an ordinary business dinner and IU was simply a partner who needed to be treated with courtesy.

There was no personal emotion involved.

IU's smile deepened, but the warmth in her eyes cooled bit by bit.

She turned her head to look at Im Yoona opposite her.

Im Yoona was looking down at the menu, her long eyelashes casting shallow shadows on her eyelids. The wine-red sweatshirt made her skin look white and translucent, her ponytail was loosely tied, and a few stray strands fell by her cheeks, giving her a sense of casual beauty.

IU's fingers quietly tightened under the table.

"Yoona-xi is dressed very casually today." She spoke, her voice sweet. "Your style is very similar to President Jiang's; you look very well-matched~"

This was said very lightly, as if she were joking.

But the atmosphere in the room instantly became subtle again.

Everyone heard the subtext in those words—

You two are dressed like a couple.

Im Yoona looked up at IU, her gaze calm: "Training just ended, so I wanted to wear something comfortable. Isn't Senior IU also dressed very beautifully? The dress looks great."

She countered flawlessly, explaining her reason while complimenting IU in passing.

But she simply didn't acknowledge the "look very well-matched" part.

Jiang Zhiyu acted as if he hadn't heard the conversation and raised his hand to call the waiter: "Everyone is here, we can order now."

He handed the menu to IU: "IU-xi, you order first."

Very naturally, he moved the topic along.

IU took the menu, the smile on her face unchanged, but her nails almost dug into the hard shell cover of the menu.

Very well.

Jiang Zhiyu, you're protecting her, aren't you?

Im Yoona, you're playing innocent, aren't you?

We'll see.

IU gave Jiang Zhiyu a radiant smile: "The President is very handsome today too. This sweatshirt suits you well; it makes you look several years younger~"

Jiang Zhiyu gave a faint smile: "Is that so? I just threw it on."

"To look this good even when just throwing something on, you really are a natural clothes hanger." IU's praise came easily, her tone as natural as if she were saying the weather was nice today.

But her peripheral vision unobtrusively swept over Im Yoona opposite her.

Im Yoona was looking down at the menu, seemingly uninterested in the conversation here. But her fingers were unconsciously stroking the edge of the menu.

IU sneered in her heart.

Keep pretending.

Just keep on pretending.

She withdrew her gaze and turned to the others at the table, taking the initiative to start a topic: "By the way, Sung-cheol-xi, I heard you're preparing for a new play recently? What's the subject matter?"

The topic was skillfully shifted.

The waiters began serving the food, the charcoal was lit, and slices of meat were laid on the grill, making a sizzling sound. The room was soon filled with the enticing aroma of roasted meat.

Everyone started drinking and chatting, and the atmosphere gradually became lively.

Jiang Zhiyu quietly grilled the meat, occasionally distributing some to those around him. He didn't speak much, but every time he did, he could perfectly pick up the thread of the conversation or ask a question that deepened the discussion.

IU sat beside him, her face like a blooming flower, able to chat with everyone; she was clearly the center of this gathering.

But half of her attention was always on Jiang Zhiyu.

The other half was on Im Yoona across from her.

And Im Yoona...

She would occasionally look up, chime in with a few words, smile, and then go back to eating.

She looked quiet and well-behaved.

But her peripheral vision would also occasionally sweep toward Jiang Zhiyu and IU.

Watching IU smilingly serve food to Jiang Zhiyu, watching Jiang Zhiyu politely thank her, watching that... eye-piercing harmony when they sat together.

Im Yoona lowered her eyes and poked at the kimchi in her bowl with her chopsticks.

A wine-red sweatshirt.

A light gray sweatshirt.

She didn't know why she had chosen this piece of clothing today either.

She had just stood in front of her closet for a long time before leaving, and in the end, she had picked this one as if possessed.

Thinking about it now...

It was truly a miscalculation.

She sighed softly, picked up her glass, and took a large gulp.

The ice-cold beer slid down her throat, taking away some of her irritability.

Meanwhile, IU, sitting in the head seat, was discussing stage acting techniques with Kim Sung-cheol with a sweet smile while her mind was in a state of frantic output:

Blackened IU's inner thoughts:

Damn it.

Truly damn it all!

Wine-red sweatshirt? Light gray sweatshirt?

Are you doing it on purpose? Did you plan this together?

Im Yoona... you woman, you pretend to be so simple on the surface, but behind the scenes, you use these kinds of little tricks?

And Jiang Zhiyu...

I left the head seat for you, and you certainly sat in it with a clear conscience. But when I appeared after dressing up meticulously, you only took one look, said "very beautiful," and then that was it?

And what about Im Yoona?

From the moment she walked in, how many times did you look at her? Don't think I didn't notice!

That wine-red sweatshirt... such a glaring color, are you afraid others won't see her?

Ha.

Truly hilarious.

I, Lee Ji-eun, dressed so beautifully and walked in like a princess, only to see the two of you wearing clothes that look like a couple's outfit, sitting there...

Like a pair.

Like a pair of lovers who take it for granted that I'm here to pay the bill.

On what grounds?

Thought Clouds:

(Imagined scene: Jiang Zhiyu gently serves meat to Im Yoona, Im Yoona smiles shyly, the two of them wearing those damn "couple's clothes" under the warm yellow light like a sweet painting. While she, IU, sits in the head seat wearing a magnificent dress, yet looking like an outsider, like... a sucker who's paying for everything.)

(The scene shifts: Jiang Zhiyu is wearing the light gray sweatshirt and Im Yoona is wearing the wine-red sweatshirt; the two of them walk hand-in-hand on campus while surrounding students cast envious glances and whisper: "Wow, are they the campus heartthrob and the campus belle?" "They're such a good match!")

(The scene shifts again: She, IU, is wearing that pink dress, standing alone on a magnificent stage with a dense crowd of spectators below and thunderous applause, but outside the spotlight, Jiang Zhiyu and Im Yoona walk away side-by-side, their figures receding into the distance...)

Blackened IU's inner thoughts: Just you wait, Im Yoona. Wait until "the crab" starts filming, wait until my cooperation with Jiang Zhiyu goes deeper, wait until I bring TG Entertainment under my wing... When that time comes, you'll only be able to watch as I stand together with him, watch as he smiles at me, watch as his eyes hold only me!

And that ridiculous sweatshirt you're wearing now...

Is nothing more than a trivial interlude on my road to victory.

As she thought, the smile on IU's face became increasingly brilliant.

She turned her head and raised her glass to Jiang Zhiyu: "President, let me toast you~ Thank you for your guidance during this time; I've learned a lot of things."

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at her and also raised his glass.

With a "clink."

The glass cups collided, making a crisp sound.

Amidst the crackling of the charcoal, the sizzling of the roasted meat, and the laughter and conversation of the crowd, it was almost inaudible.

But in that instant, several people in the room fell silent for a second in unison.

It was as if something invisible had been officially ignited at the moment of this toast.