332: Chapter 312 Soo-yeon: My dear Yoon~

"We're here."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Im Yoona snapped back to her senses and realized they had already reached his car. The dark gray Mercedes-Benz coupe gave off a low-key and elegant luster under the dim lights of the parking lot.

Jiang Zhiyu pulled open the passenger door and made a "please" gesture to her.

Looking at the open car door and the leather seats gleaming softly under the lights, Im Yoona's heart began to race uncontrollably again.

She took a deep breath, leaned down, and sat inside.

The car door closed behind her.

It isolated the damp air and the monotonous lights of the parking lot.

The interior of the car was very quiet, the space small and private. She could smell a faint scent of leather, and... that unique, ripe fruit-like sweet fragrance coming from Jiang Zhiyu.

So close.

Too close.

Im Yoona's fingers quietly tightened over her knees.

Jiang Zhiyu sat in the driver's seat, buckled his seatbelt, and then turned his head to look at her. "Where do you live, Noona?"

His voice sounded exceptionally clear and remarkably... gentle in the enclosed car.

Im Yoona gave an address, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

"Okay." Jiang Zhiyu nodded and started the car.

The low hum of the engine sounded, and the car slowly drove out of the parking lot, merging into the nighttime traffic of Seoul.

Outside the window, the city lights were like a flowing river of stars, winding and flickering in the night.

Inside the car, neither of them spoke.

There was only the light music playing on the radio and the faint bustle of the city coming from outside.

Im Yoona leaned back against the seat, watching the street scenery recede rapidly outside the window. The fire in her heart was still burning slowly and steadily.

As for Jiang Zhiyu, he focused on the road ahead, his knuckles turning slightly white as he gripped the steering wheel.

His heart was actually beating very fast as well.

But he hid it very well.

So well that even Im Yoona, sitting right next to him, couldn't detect it at all.

This silence wasn't awkward, yet it inexplicably made one's heart race.

Im Yoona watched the neon signs flashing past the window, but her mind uncontrollably replayed scenes from tonight's dinner.

IU's small pink dress, Kim Soo-yeon's sharp suit and skirt, Park Hae-soo's hearty laughter, Kim Seo-woo's gentle words...

And Jiang Zhiyu.

The piece of ribeye he had placed in her bowl, him calling her "Noona," his warm yet powerful voice when he stepped in for her...

And that natural yet subtly intimate tone when he called her "Noona."

A red light.

The car slowly came to a stop.

Jiang Zhiyu turned his head and looked at her.

"Noona, you don't seem to be in a good mood tonight?"

His voice echoed in the quiet car, calm and gentle, yet it was like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples in Im Yoona's heart.

"Are you too tired?"

Im Yoona's fingers tightened slightly.

What should she say?

Should she say she was indeed very tired, that seven days of training had pushed her body almost to its limit? Should she mention the inexplicable irritation she felt when she saw IU? Or the hint of bitterness that welled up in her heart when she saw the tacit interaction between Kim Soo-yeon and Jiang Zhiyu?

Or should she say... that she actually had no idea why she was in a bad mood.

"A little, I guess," she finally spoke softly, her voice a bit low. "The training intensity is indeed very high."

"We'll adjust it slightly starting tomorrow." Jiang Zhiyu looked ahead again as the light turned green and the car continued forward. "Senior Park and Senior Kim will also be coming tomorrow. Although the leads have been decided, they said they wanted to continue training. They wouldn't want to pass up a free opportunity to exercise."

He paused, a very faint hint of a smile in his voice. "Of course, they might also want to get closer to me."

He spoke directly, but it wasn't off-putting.

Im Yoona couldn't help but smile as well. "The seniors are very smart."

"No one who can reach this position in the entertainment industry is unintelligent." Jiang Zhiyu's tone was calm. "So you don't need to feel too much pressure, Noona. They chose to continue training because they are optimistic about TG Entertainment's future development on one hand, and they truly want to learn something on the other. This mindset is actually very good; everyone gets what they need, and no one owes anyone anything."

As he spoke, he glanced at her sideways. "What about you, Noona? Besides being tired, is there anything else?"

The question was asked too suddenly.

Im Yoona's heart skipped a beat.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's profile—in the flowing light and shadows outside the car window, that young face appeared exceptionally clear. His eyelashes were long, his nose bridge was straight, and the lines of his lips were clean and sharp.

He was so good-looking.

He was... right within reach.

Yet he felt so far away.

Im Yoona opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she didn't know what to say.

Was she in a bad mood?

Yes, she was in a bad mood.

But it wasn't because of exhaustion.

It was because of... too many inexplicable emotions, too many tangled and messy thoughts, and too many feelings she didn't dare to admit or face.

It was because of him.

Because of Jiang Zhiyu.

Because of his kindness toward her, his patience, and that subtle, lingering ambiguity.

Because of his chemistry with Kim Soo-yeon, his distance from IU, and his... special treatment of her.

Because of that dangerous fire burning brighter and brighter in her own heart.

Im Yoona lowered her eyes, looking at her fingers twisted together.

Her nails were neatly trimmed and coated with clear polish. On her wrist was a thin silver chain, a gift from a fan many years ago.

Looking at that chain, she suddenly remembered many years ago when she had first debuted.

She was only seventeen then, the same age as Kim Soo-yeon is now. Green, simple, and full of hope for the future.

And now, she was already thirty-one.

She had experienced peaks and valleys. She had gained a lot and lost a lot.

Time had left its mark on her—not in the form of wrinkles or fatigue, but in a settled, complex quality.

Like a glass of red wine that had been left to sit; it tasted gentle at first, but left a bitter aftertaste.

And what about Jiang Zhiyu?

He was like a glass of freshly brewed new wine—clear, passionate, and full of infinite possibilities.

What lay between them wasn't just an eleven-year age gap.

It was also experience, state of mind, and... so many other things.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's hand on the steering wheel.

It was slender with distinct knuckles, and on his wrist was a simple watch with a black strap. While driving, his fingers would unconsciously tap the steering wheel lightly in a steady rhythm, as if he were thinking about something.

These hands had held a tablet computer this afternoon, recording their training data. These hands, when correcting her movements on the training ground, would gently support her wrist to adjust her angle. These hands had served her food during dinner, the movement so natural it was as if he had done it a thousand times.

These hands...

She suddenly felt a sting in her nose.

Im Yoona abruptly looked away, staring out the window.

"It's nothing," she heard her own voice, which sounded deliberately calm. "I'm just a bit tired from training. I'll be fine after some rest."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't press further.

He just nodded. "That's good. Get some good rest when you get back, Noona. See you at training tomorrow."

The car continued through the night.

Im Yoona leaned back and closed her eyes.

But Jiang Zhiyu's face, his gentle voice, and the way he looked at her uncontrollably surfaced in her mind...

And the words he had said to her in the parking lot tonight.

"Noona, you don't seem to be in a good mood tonight?"

"Are you too tired?"

Such a gentle tone, such a concerned gaze.

As if he truly cared for her.

As if he truly... cared about her.

But...

Im Yoona opened her eyes, looking at the city receding rapidly outside the car window.

Jiang Zhiyu, what on earth are you thinking?

All that kindness, that gentleness, that subtle ambiguity you show me...

Is it real?

Or...

Is it just a habit?

Is it just your standard procedure for dealing with a partner?

The car stopped at a red light.

Jiang Zhiyu turned his head and looked at her.

"Noona."

"Hmm?"

"If you're tired, don't think too much." His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself. "Focus on what's in front of you, do what needs to be done, and for the rest... just let nature take its course."

Im Yoona was stunned.

She turned her head to look at Jiang Zhiyu.

He was looking ahead, his profile appearing exceptionally clear under the red light.

Those eyes were calm and deep, as if they held the entire night sky.

"Let nature take its course..." she murmured, repeating his words.

"Yes." Jiang Zhiyu nodded slightly. "Thinking too much about many things will only make you lose your way. It's better to do what you can first and leave the rest to time."

The light turned green.

The car started moving again.

Im Yoona leaned back, looking at Jiang Zhiyu's profile. The mess in her heart seemed to have been gently smoothed out by those simple words.

That's right.

Thinking too much would only make her lose her way.

What she should do now is train hard, win the role, and play the part of 'Withe' well.

As for the rest...

She would let nature take its course.

As for Jiang Zhiyu...

Im Yoona closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling into a very faint, almost invisible smile.

Time would provide the answer.

—

The car drove smoothly through the streets of Seoul at night, the neon lights outside trailing flowing bands of light across the windows. Inside the car, there was only the soft jazz from the radio and the low hum of the air conditioner.

Jiang Zhiyu held the steering wheel and looked straight ahead. But from the corner of his eye, he could see Im Yoona's slightly lowered profile, her fingers unconsciously twisting together, and the complex emotions hidden in her eyes as she occasionally glanced out the window.

"Noona."

His voice sounded warm and clear in the quiet car.

Im Yoona turned to look at him. "Hmm?"

"Regarding the upcoming training and filming..." Jiang Zhiyu paused and glanced at her. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Im Yoona was slightly taken aback.

"I know what you're worried about." Jiang Zhiyu looked back at the road, his tone calm. "It's your first time challenging a role like this, it's an action movie, and it's my first film... the pressure must be immense."

He gently turned the steering wheel, and the car turned into a relatively quiet street.

"But I hope you'll see this filming as an opportunity to try and break through your limits, Noona." His voice carried a rare hint of softness. "Your life so far, Noona, has actually been very smooth. You debuted as an idol, your popularity soared, and you've had good results in acting... Even if this fails, what does it matter?"

Im Yoona opened her mouth to say something, but Jiang Zhiyu continued.

"Accepting failure gracefully is also a form of courage." He glanced at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Besides, TG—or rather, I personally—have always believed in Noona's potential."

His tone was firm, as if he were stating an indisputable fact.

"Because Noona has always been a very hardworking and intelligent person."

Im Yoona's heart skipped a violent beat because of those words.

She lowered her head, her fingers curling against her knees.

As for adjusting her mindset, she had actually started doing that the moment she decided to take on this role. Her Manager had advised her, her members had worried, and even she had asked herself countless times: Can I really do this?

But she took it anyway.

Because she didn't want to stay in her comfort zone anymore.

Because she wanted to try and make a breakthrough.

Because... she wanted him to see a different side of her.

But now, what troubled her wasn't the role itself.

It was the man in front of her.

This man who was more than ten years younger than her, an almost excessively young man.

Her thoughts were like a runaway horse, drifting uncontrollably toward everything related to him—

IU's gaze that didn't hide its possessiveness at all.

Lee Tima's sibling-like bond, where she was both dependent on him and constantly bickering with him.

Kim Taeyeon... that breakfast in the early morning, the lingering scent, and the exceptionally soft tone he used when he called her "Noona."

Bae Joo-hyun—the woman he had briefly projected his emotions onto because her aura closely resembled his ex-girlfriend's.

Those kids from aespa—especially Kim Minjeong; there was always a faint, barely perceptible trace of doting in the way he looked at her.

And... Kim Soo-yeon.

That seventeen-year-old genius girl Chairman.

Im Yoona's gaze fell on the streetlights flashing past outside the window, but her eyes gradually lost focus.

That seventeen-year-old genius girl Chairman, and the natural chemistry she shared when standing side-by-side with Jiang Zhiyu.

They were actually a good match, weren't they?

Similar in age—no, Kim Soo-yeon was even two years younger than him. While she, Im Yoona, was already thirty-one.

Matching statuses—one was the President of TG Entertainment, the other was the Chairman of TG Entertainment, together in control of this rising star of the entertainment industry. While she was just an idol under SM, a "worker."

Their chemistry was startling—just like during dinner tonight, the two didn't even need words; a single look was enough to hand over the lead in the conversation. That seamless coordination felt as if they had fought side-by-side for countless days and nights.

And what about me?

Im Yoona lowered her head, looking at her clasped hands.

What exactly am I to him?

A senior who needs a helping hand? An actress who needs to be looked after? Or... something else?

Those subtle hints of ambiguity, that perfectly timed concern, those moments that made her heart race...

Jiang Zhiyu, to you, I am exactly—

"Soo-yeon is my sister, and also my disciple."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice suddenly rang out in the quiet car.

Calm and clear, like a stone dropped into a lake.

Im Yoona snapped her head around, eyes wide with a shocked expression that said, "Damn, can this guy read minds?"

Jiang Zhiyu turned his head to glance at her, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Because Soo-yeon and I have such good chemistry, all of you—including Noona—think we have some kind of special relationship, don't you?"

Im Yoona: "..."

She opened her mouth to deny it, but the words died in her throat.

Fine, she did a little.

Who would believe that a seventeen-year-old genius girl Chairman and a twenty-year-old young President were just in a simple superior-subordinate relationship?

That kind of chemistry, that coordination where a single look could convey everything, that trust that seemed almost symbiotic...

How could they just be "colleagues"?

Jiang Zhiyu turned his gaze back to the road ahead, his tone suddenly becoming a bit... subtle.

"Actually," Jiang Zhiyu suddenly chuckled, a sound carrying a bit of self-deprecation and a touch of mischief, "Soo-yeon's sexual orientation... isn't quite the same as normal people's."

Im Yoona blinked, not quite understanding. "...Huh?"

"She likes the same sex," Jiang Zhiyu said quite frankly, as if discussing tomorrow's weather. "Beautiful women with good figures."

Time seemed to stand still for a second.

And then—

"Hah???"

Im Yoona couldn't help but let out a sharp intake of breath, full of questioning and shock.

Im Yoona gasped sharply, nearly jumping out of her seat. She stared intently at Jiang Zhiyu’s profile, her eyes filled with shock that screamed, "Are you freaking kidding me?" "That’s impossible," and "Is there something wrong with my ears?"

That seventeen-year-old Han River genius girl?

The youngest company Chairman in history?

The Kim Soo-yeon who dominated the charts as soon as she debuted and was hailed by the media as a "once-in-a-century miracle"?

Is a lesbian??!

Countless images flashed through her mind instantly—

Kim Soo-yeon's cold and exquisite face.

That abstinent and sharp aura she had when wearing a suit.

The presence she had when calmly controlling the room in the boardroom.

The polite but distant attitude she maintained toward everyone—including IU.

Gay?

Kim Soo-yeon???

"To be precise, she's bisexual, but she prefers women," Jiang Zhiyu corrected, his tone carrying a... strange sense of regret?

He sighed softly, his eyes drifting toward the distance as if lost in some memory.

Jiang Zhiyu's internal monologue:

[Flashback—Tianxuan Continent, TG Entertainment headquarters.

Back then, Kim Soo-yeon, who was still an aristocratic high school student council president, was already the dream girl of countless boys and girls. Standing on the podium in a well-tailored school uniform suit, her expression was cold and her voice calm, yet she could make the entire auditorium fall into a pin-drop silence.

Jiang Zhiyu remembered there were rumors back then that Kim Soo-yeon always politely rejected the boys who confessed to her, but her attitude toward several beautiful upperclassmen and underclassmen in the school was much warmer.

Later, Kim Soo-yeon became an idol, becoming an instant hit upon debut and sweeping through the idol world.

And later... it wasn't just the idol world she was sweeping through.

Basically, as long as it was a beautiful female idol with a good figure, they had all been "teased" by Kim Soo-yeon.

Some had even had deep interactions.

The one Jiang Zhiyu remembered most clearly was Kim Soo-yeon and Bae Pin-min.

Bae Pin-min—famous in the Tianxuan Continent for her legs, hailed as the "once-in-three-millennia leg goddess." Her aura was pure yet carried a hint of charm, making her the dream girl of countless men.

When Jiang Zhiyu learned that Kim Soo-yeon and Bae Pin-min were dating, and had even progressed to the point of "being alone in a room together," he couldn't help but sigh with envious regret.

That was Bae Pin-min!

The goddess of so many people!

It was a Sunday afternoon when Jiang Zhiyu went to Kim Soo-yeon's luxury apartment to deliver an urgent document. He knocked for nearly ten minutes before someone came to open it.

The moment the door opened, Jiang Zhiyu was stunned.

Standing inside the door was Bae Pin-min, her hair still damp. She was loosely wearing only a white shirt—obviously Kim Soo-yeon's, as it was a bit large for her. The collar was open, revealing delicate collarbones and a patch of fair skin. The hem of the shirt just barely covered the middle of her thighs, leaving those long legs, hailed as "works of art," defenselessly exposed to the air.

Bae Pin-min's looks were the type that combined purity with charm. Having just showered, her cheeks were tinged with a faint pink, and her eyes were still a bit misty. Her entire being radiated a fatal attraction somewhere between a girl and a woman.

She was clearly stunned for a moment when she saw Jiang Zhiyu, then she reacted and somewhat sheepishly pulled the shirt collar together.

Then, Kim Soo-yeon walked out from inside.

She had also just showered, her hair dripping with water. She was casually wrapped in a bathrobe, the belt tied loosely, revealing a section of her slender neck and clear collarbones.

She walked to Bae Pin-min's side, naturally reached out to wrap an arm around her waist, then turned her head and gave Bae Pin-min a light kiss on the cheek.

"Don't catch a cold." Her voice was very soft, carrying a rare tenderness.

After saying that, she reached out to take the document from the dumbstruck Jiang Zhiyu, and then—used her foot to pull the door shut.

Thud.

The door closed in Jiang Zhiyu's face.

He stood at the door, still stuck in the shock of "Kim Soo-yeon kissed Bae Pin-min," unable to recover for a long time.

Later, whenever he thought back to that scene, he couldn't help but roar in his heart:

Kim Soo-yeon, you beast!

That was Bae Pin-min! The dream girl of so many people!

But on second thought, the girl was his sister after all...

Jiang Zhiyu could only sigh with envy and jealousy.

Someone else's cabbage was rooted by his own pig.

No.

It should be said that his own cabbage rooted someone else's cabbage.

Two cabbages...

Two top-tier cabbages rooting each other?

That image... seemed even more enviable.]

"Tsk... Sigh~~"

Jiang Zhiyu let out a regretful sigh, interrupting his memories.

He shook his head, his tone full of regret. "Someone else's cabbage was rooted by my pig... no, I mean, my cabbage rooted someone else's cabbage. Two cabbages... uh..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Im Yoona was still in the information shock of "Kim Soo-yeon is gay," her brain completely unable to digest this fact.

She stared wide-eyed at Jiang Zhiyu, her lips moving, but she couldn't make a sound.

An eerie silence fell over the car.

Only the jazz music on the radio was still flowing gently.

After a long while, Im Yoona finally spoke with difficulty, her voice a bit airy. "S-so... you and Chairwoman Kim..."

"Are just siblings and business partners," Jiang Zhiyu said firmly. "Besides, Soo-yeon has absolutely no interest in men of my type."

As he spoke, he turned his head to glance at Im Yoona, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.

"The type she likes is someone like Noona."

Im Yoona: "...???"

Her worldview had completely collapsed tonight.