341: Chapter 320: I spoil my fans even more than Karina~

The rest area was set in a semi-open pavilion behind the main venue, where several white folding chairs surrounded a small round table. The table was laid out with bottled mineral water and a few plates of snacks. This place was originally intended for the staff and guests who occasionally needed a short break, but at this moment, it had become Karina's "execution ground."

She sat on a chair, holding that cup of "Everything In It" milk tea in her hands.

It was an extra-large cup with all the toppings—pearls, coconut jelly, grass jelly, red beans, pudding... they were packed tightly against the transparent walls of the cup, making the color of the milk tea look a bit dim by comparison. When the straw was inserted, one could even hear the "squish" of the toppings being squeezed.

This was the "source of sin" she usually dreamed of drinking.

But now, Karina held it as if she were holding a cup of poison.

Who was she?

She was Karina, the leader of aespa, one of the most high-profile leaders of the new generation girl groups under SM Entertainment. Since her trainee days, she had been known for being steady, reliable, and possessing strong leadership. After her debut, she had earned a reputation as a "dependable leader" through one perfect stage performance after another and her proper words and deeds.

Fans praised her, saying "Ji-min Unnie is so steady" and "Ji-min Unnie is aespa's stabilizing force."

Company seniors said of her, "This child will achieve great things in the future."

Her teammates depended on her, trusted her, and treated her as the backbone they could rely on.

And now, this "steady and reliable" Karina, this "stabilizing force of aespa," was planning a—

Pig head theft.

Location: The set of the opening ceremony for the movie "the crab."

Target: One braised pig head used for the sacrificial ritual.

Tools of the crime: None at the moment.

Retreat route: Absolutely no planning.

Consequences of failure: Social death, being fired by SM, being mocked by the entire internet, being nailed to the pillar of shame in the Korean entertainment industry, and having a reputation that stinks for eternity.

She looked down at the milk tea, her gaze as complex as if she were facing her last dinner before heading to the execution ground.

Drink up, Ji-min.

This might be the last cup of milk tea in your life.

You're going to steal a pig head in a little while.

If you get caught, your idol career ends here.

From now on, you will no longer be aespa's leader Karina, but "that woman who stole a pig head."

Karina took a deep breath and a large gulp of milk tea.

As she chewed the pearls, the sweet taste spread across her tongue, but she couldn't taste a thing.

Her gaze shifted past the milk tea cup, over the eaves of the pavilion, and landed on the large table covered in red velvet in the distance.

That pig head.

That braised pig head, oily and shiny, lying peacefully in the center of the tray.

It was still there.

Its two ears drooped, its nose slightly upturned, and its mouth seemed to carry a faint, ambiguous smile. In the sunlight, it glowed with an enticing soy-sauce luster, as if silently calling out:

Come on~ Come and take me away~

Karina abruptly looked away, her heart pounding.

Calm down! Calm down, Karina!

You are the leader of aespa! The face of SM's top girl group! The perfect idol in the hearts of countless fans!

What storms haven't you seen? Debut stage, Concerts for tens of thousands, variety show live broadcasts, being mobbed by reporters... You've survived it all!

What does this little setback matter?

It's just...

It's just...

Aish, shibal!!!

Karina roared frantically in her mind:

Damn you, Jiang Zhiyu!!!

Damn you, pig head!!!

Making me steal a pig head bigger than my own face in broad daylight???

This is a hundred times harder than a debut stage!!! A thousand times!!! Ten thousand times!!!

She bit the straw hard, crushing several pearls.

She whipped her head around, looking at Jiang Zhiyu, who was talking to the staff nearby, with a murderous gaze.

As if sensing her gaze, he tilted his head slightly, gave her a warm smile, and even gave her a thumbs-up "Fighting" gesture.

Karina: "..."

Fighting, my foot!

During the debut stage, at least she knew what she had to do—dance, sing, and keep smiling. There were fans cheering below, members by her side, and everything was under control.

But now?

What she was about to do was something that broke the law and discipline!

Theft! Larceny! And in front of hundreds of people! Reporters, fans, staff, artists, security... everyone was in their place, and everyone could look in any direction at any time.

And she, a female idol wearing a white floral dress and flats, without the strength to truss a chicken (?), had to pull off a perfect "pig head theft" right under their noses?

If she got caught, what would tomorrow's headlines say?

"Shocking! aespa Leader Karina Caught Stealing at Movie Opening Ceremony!"

"Exclusive Exposure: What Karina Stole Was Actually a Sacrificial Pig Head!"

"Expert Analysis: Idol Under Excessive Pressure Leads to Abnormal Behavior; Karina Suspected of Kleptomania"

Then SM would hold an emergency press conference, expressing "deep regret" on behalf of the company and announcing her "temporary hiatus due to personal reasons." Fans would weep, anti-fans would celebrate wildly, and her idol career would come to an end.

And her future life would be forever tied to the label "that woman who stole a pig head."

Looking for a job? Who would want someone who stole a pig head?

Getting married? Who would marry a woman who stole a pig head?

When she's old, sitting in a rocking chair at a nursing home, the old lady next to her would point at her and say to others, "See that person? She stole a pig head when she was young."

Ah—!!!!

Karina let out a silent scream in her heart.

She sucked on the milk tea frantically, as if trying to swallow all her anxiety and fear along with it.

Just then, a hand reached out in front of her.

Red.

Big.

A plastic bag.

The kind most commonly seen in wet markets—thick, huge, capable of holding a watermelon, or... a pig head.

Karina froze.

She slowly raised her head and met Jiang Zhiyu's eyes, which were filled with amusement and an affirming look that said "I believe in you," "You can do it," and "Fighting."

He just stood there in front of her, holding up that plastic bag as if he weren't handing over a container for a pig head, but a sacred mission.

"Ji-min," he said softly, his voice full of trust and encouragement, "I believe in you."

Karina: "..."

At that moment, her expression underwent an extremely complex transformation—

First shock, then anger, then despair, and finally settling on a bizarre smile that looked worse than crying, mixed with every emotion.

She took the plastic bag, her fingers trembling.

Jiang Zhiyu nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave.

Leaving Karina alone, clutching that plastic bag like she was holding her own death warrant.

She opened her mouth; there was so much she wanted to say that she couldn't utter a single word.

Finally, all the words turned into frantic curses in every language she knew in her heart:

Fuck! (English)

Shibal! (Korean)

Bastard! (Chinese)

Bakayaro! (Japanese)

I'll kill you! Jiang Zhiyu!

I will definitely kill you!!!

Karina looked down at the plastic bag in her hand; it was bright red, exceptionally piercing in the sunlight.

I, Karina, leader of aespa and the face of SM's top girl group, am really going to steal a pig head today.

She took a deep breath, and then another.

Then, she cheered herself up:

Calm down, Karina.

You can do this.

You are a genius.

You are the leader of aespa, the ace of SM, the perfect idol in the hearts of fans—

What does this matter?

It's just stealing a pig head!

Phantom Thief Zhimin, move out!

Just then, a staff member's voice came from nearby:

"Ji-min-xi, could you please come on stage for a group photo?"

The staff member's voice interrupted her mental preparation.

Karina looked up and found a staff member standing in front of her, politely inviting her on stage—the final part of the opening ceremony was for all the important guests to take a group photo together.

She quickly stood up and quietly stuffed the plastic bag into her handbag—luckily, the bag she brought today was big enough; while it couldn't fit a pig head, it was more than enough for a plastic bag.

"Okay, coming right now."

She walked toward the main venue, her steps still elegant, her posture still upright, and the perfect smile still on her face.

But only she knew how fast her heart was beating, how much sweat was on her palms, and how chaotic her mind was.

Standing on stage again, facing the cameras of reporters and fans, Karina found she couldn't be as composed as before.

Her gaze kept drifting uncontrollably toward that pig head.

It was placed about three meters diagonally in front of her, lying quietly on the tray, glowing enticingly in the sunlight.

And in her bag, that bright red plastic bag was hidden.

Calm down.

Calm down, Karina.

She forced herself to look at the camera and put on a standard professional smile.

"Ji-min-xi, look over here!"

"Ji-min-xi, can you take a photo with Yoona-sunbaenim?"

"Ji-min-xi, smile~"

Karina mechanically turned her body, mechanically posed, and mechanically maintained her smile.

But out of the corner of her eye, she kept staring at Jiang Zhiyu, who was standing at the edge of the crowd with his arms crossed, watching her with an amused expression.

He saw it.

She saw it in his eyes—he saw the stiffness and tension in her smile, and the breakdown hidden beneath her perfect exterior.

This bastard.

This culprit.

This... son of a bitch who was still there enjoying the show!

Karina's smile stiffened even more.

And Jiang Zhiyu actually nodded slightly at her, his gaze as if to say:

Go for it, Ji-min. I believe in you.

Believe in me, my foot!!!

Karina roared in her heart, but she still had to keep smiling.

The schedule for the opening ceremony finally drew to a close.

The final group photo was over, the final blessing speeches were finished, and the final firecrackers had been set off.

But there were still many people at the scene.

A great many.

Staff were packing up equipment, reporters were organizing materials, guests were exchanging pleasantries and goodbyes, and fans were still gathered outside the cordon, refusing to leave.

The noise was deafening, and people were coming and going.

And that pig head still lay quietly on the large table next to the rostrum.

Now, there weren't many people around it—most were gathered in front of the rostrum, where the final wrap-up work was being done. Only a few staff members occasionally passed by the table, but no one paid any special attention to the offering.

The opportunity had come.

Karina stood at the edge of the crowd, her heart beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of her chest.

Her hand tightly gripped her handbag—the one with the red plastic bag hidden inside.

Calm down.

Calm down.

You can do this, Karina.

You are the leader of aespa, someone who has experienced countless big scenes.

It's just stealing a pig head; it's no big deal.

It's no big deal...

Like hell it's no big deal, ahhhh!!!

She took a deep breath and began to review the "Phantom Thief Zhimin Action Plan" in her mind.

Step one: Approach the target.

Her current position was at the edge of the rest area, about twenty meters from the rostrum. She needed to pass several staff members who were packing up, bypass two reporters who were still chatting, and then approach the altar from the side-rear.

Feasible.

Step two: Acquire the target.

After approaching the altar, she needed to quickly put the pig head into the plastic bag, and then... hide it?

Her small bag couldn't fit a pig head.

So the only way was—to leave while carrying the plastic bag.

In other words, after bagging the pig head, she had to carry a clearly bulging, bright red plastic bag containing a pig head and leave the scene in front of everyone.

The corner of Karina's mouth twitched.

Step three: Evacuation.

After leaving the scene, she needed to find a safe place to temporarily hide the pig head, then return to the crowd as if nothing had happened and wait for Jiang Zhiyu to arrange a car to take her away.

Theoretically feasible.

But in reality—

Shibal!

Karina grit her teeth.

She couldn't care about that much anymore!

Phantom Thief Zhimin, move out!

Karina took a deep breath and began her move.

She first walked toward the rostrum as if nothing were wrong, pretending to greet a staff member. Halfway there, she "remembered" she had left something in the rest area and turned back.

This was the first step—creating a trajectory to obscure her purpose.

Then, she "happened" to pass by the table where the pig's head was placed.

She didn't stop, or even glance at the pig's head, simply walking past naturally.

But in the moment she passed, her peripheral vision had already completed the reconnaissance—

No one within three meters of the table.

The nearest staff member had their back to her, busy organizing the sound equipment.

Perfect timing.

Karina continued forward, reached the other side of the table, and then "suddenly" crouched down, pretending to tie her shoelaces.

The flats she was wearing today didn't even have laces.

But who would care about that?

The moment she crouched, her hand reached into her bag and pulled out that red plastic bag.

The offering table was a bit higher than she had imagined. She had to stand slightly on her tiptoes to reach the pig's head.

The touch of the pig's head—

Greasy!

Extremely greasy!

Karina almost cried out. The layer of braised pig skin was slippery and oily; her slender fingers could barely get a grip.

She gritted her teeth and switched to both hands, one supporting the bottom and the other pressing down on the top, and then—

Lift!

The pig's head was picked up.

It was heavier than she had imagined.

She quickly stuffed it into the plastic bag and tightened the opening.

The bright red plastic bag bulged instantly, vaguely revealing a spherical object inside with two ear-like protrusions. Karina stood up, and the pig's head, wrapped in the plastic bag, was already stuffed into her handbag.

The bag bulged out significantly, taking on an eerie shape, but she couldn't worry about that now.

She continued walking forward with a steady pace and a calm expression, as if nothing had happened.

Genius!

I'm simply a genius!

Karina praised herself frantically in her heart.

This movement, this timing, this improvisation—

I should probably become a hitman!

Like the ones in Assassin's Creed!

Weaving through the crowd, completing the mission unnoticed, and then leaving coolly!

She walked faster and faster, her confidence growing.

The parking area was just ahead, where her van was parked.

As long as she got in the car, she'd be safe.

As long as she got in the car, this damn pig's head would be hers!

Thirty meters.

Twenty meters.

Ten meters—

"Ji-min Unnie?"

A voice rang out from behind her.

Soft and sweet, tinged with curiosity and innocence.

Karina's footsteps froze instantly.

She slowly turned her head and met Lee Tima's clear, innocent eyes.

Lee Tima stood three meters behind her, holding an ice cream and looking at her with a tilted head. Her gaze moved slowly from Karina's face down to the bulging, eerily shaped handbag where the red plastic bag was partially visible.

Then, it moved toward the large, now empty table not far away.

The table where the pig's head had originally been placed.

Now, only a patch of empty red velvet remained on the table.

Lee Tima.

TG Entertainment's "troublemaker" and Jiang Zhiyu's "sister" was currently staring straight at her with those large, round eyes.

Staring at the bulging, bright red plastic bag in her arms that vaguely showed the outline of a pig's head.

Karina's mind went blank.

It's over.

I've been caught.

Phantom Thief Zhimin, failing before the mission is even complete.

Tomorrow's headlines—

[Shocking! aespa Leader Karina Steals Sacrificial Pig's Head at Movie Opening Ceremony!]

[Exclusive: Pure Idol Transforms into Phantom Thief, the Truth Behind It is Heartbreaking]

[SM Entertainment Emergency Statement: Will Seriously Handle Artist's Improper Behavior...]

Karina felt her idol career flashing before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

Lee Tima's eyes slowly widened.

Karina's smile was as stiff as plaster.

"Ti... Tima..." her voice was trembling, "What a coincidence... You're here too..."

Lee Tima didn't answer.

She just looked at Karina, at the bulging bag in her hands, and at her face, which was slightly distorted from tension.

But just then, Lee Tima's expression changed.

At first, it was ignorance, simple confusion. Her round eyes blinked, as if asking, "Ji-min Unnie, what are you doing?"

Then, those eyes gradually became clear.

Then, clarity turned into cunning.

And then, cunning turned into—

Evil.

The corners of Lee Tima's mouth slowly curled into an arc.

That arc was all too familiar to Karina. It was Jiang Zhiyu's standard expression when pranking someone, the signature smile of that TG Entertainment crowd when they got together to cause trouble.

Now, it appeared on Lee Tima's face.

Karina froze in place, holding the pig's head, not knowing what to say.

Lee Tima didn't walk over, nor did she call anyone.

She just slowly raised her hand and held up five fingers.

Then, she slowly pressed down the first one—her thumb.

Karina: "...?"

Lee Tima's smile deepened.

Karina: "...???"

She stared wide-eyed at the pressed thumb, her mind blank.

What does it mean?

What does this mean???

Lee Tima didn't explain, just continued by pressing the second one—her index finger.

Karina's eyes began to bulge, and her heart suddenly constricted.

She looked at the pressed index finger, at the increasingly evil smile on Lee Tima's face, and suddenly—

Sh*t!!!

It's a countdown!!!

She's counting down!!!

Karina's pupils dilated instantly.

She Suddenly turned around， Run away。

Behind her, Lee Tima's voice came unhurriedly, filled with amusement:

"Three~"

Karina ran frantically, her flats tapping out an urgent rhythm on the ground.

"Two~"

She saw the van door right ahead, with the driver already on standby in the driver's seat.

"One~"

Karina used all her strength to lung toward the car door, pulled it open, and scrambled inside.

"Drive!!!" she screamed, "Drive, fast!!!"

The driver flinched in fright and reflexively stepped on the gas.

The car surged out of the parking area, tires making a piercing screech against the ground.

And then—

Karina heard Lee Tima's voice from behind, crisp and loud, filled with the triumph of a successful prank:

"Someone stole the pig's head!!!"

The voice pierced through the summer air, clearly reaching Karina's ears.

She whipped her head around and saw Lee Tima through the car window, standing there and waving at her, her smile as bright as the summer sun.

Meanwhile, the surrounding crowd had already begun to stir.

"What? The pig's head was stolen?"

"Which pig's head?"

"The one on the altar! The big one!"

"Who stole it???"

Karina's heart was practically jumping out of her chest.

She stared fixedly at the rearview mirror, watching the growing commotion, Lee Tima's beaming face, and her own receding "crime scene"—

Only one thought remained in her mind:

Jiang Zhiyu—!!!

I'm definitely going to kill you—!!!

Definitely!!!

The van sped through the streets of Seoul.

Karina slumped in the back seat, gasping for breath. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, dampening the stray hairs at her temples. Her hands were still tightly clutching the handbag, her knuckles white from the exertion.

Inside the bag, the pig's head lay quietly.

As if mocking her.

"Ha..." Karina let out a bitter laugh, feeling as though all her strength had been drained, leaning limply against the backrest.

I succeeded.

I really stole the pig's head.

But I was also seen.

Seen by Lee Tima.

That little demon! That smiling tiger! That...

Karina closed her eyes, and the image of Lee Tima holding up five fingers and pressing them down one by one surfaced in her mind.

That composure, that certainty, that sense of control as if she had known all along that Karina would run...

She definitely did it on purpose!

She deliberately gave me time to escape!

Just so she could shout that at the end!

Karina snapped her eyes open, her gaze full of murderous intent.

Lee Tima—!!!

You're an accomplice too!!!

You're just like Jiang Zhiyu!!! You both deserve to die!!!

She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Then, she looked down at the bulging bag in her arms.

Inside the bag, the pig's head lay quietly.

She had stolen it.

At the risk of her reputation.

Sacrificing her dignity as the leader of aespa.

Using every bit of her lifelong acting skills and courage.

If she took it back and no one ate it...

Karina's gaze became incredibly dark.

Jiang Zhiyu, you're dead meat.

One hundred percent.

No, one thousand, ten thousand, a hundred million percent!!!

She clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking.

The sun outside was still bright, and the streets of Seoul were as busy as ever.

And in this speeding van, aespa's leader Karina sat clutching a stolen pig's head, plotting a perfect murder in her heart.

Meanwhile, at the Opening Ceremony site.

Lee Tima stood in place, watching the receding van, the smile on her lips deepening.

"Interesting~" she said softly, then turned and skipped toward the rest area.

Not far away, Jiang Zhiyu was standing there with a cup of coffee in hand, watching it all with a calm expression.

Lee Tima walked up to him, looked up, her eyes crinkling into crescents:

"Oppa, guess what I just saw?"

Jiang Zhiyu looked down at her, his lips also curling into a meaningful arc.

"What?"

"Someone~" Lee Tima drawled, her eyes sparkling, "stole that pig's head~"

Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Who was so bold?"

Lee Tima tilted her head, looking innocent: "I don't know~ They ran too fast, I didn't see clearly~"

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her "I know everything but I'm not telling" face and couldn't help but laugh.

He reached out and ruffled her hair: "Good job."

Lee Tima squinted her eyes like a kitten being comfortably stroked.

"Of course~"

Under the sun, the "siblings" smiled at each other.

And Karina, who had been "teamed up against" by them, was currently sneezing frantically in the van.

"Achoo! Achoo!"

She rubbed her nose, her gaze turning even darker.

Someone is talking about me.

It's definitely Jiang Zhiyu.

It's definitely Lee Tima.

These siblings—!!!

They both deserve to die!!!

She gripped the bag in her hands, gritting her teeth.

Just you wait.

Wait until I get back.

None of you are getting away from this pig's head.

—

(I spoil my fans even more than Karina does~)

[13:15 - Seventh Selfie]

After eating, Karina stood by the window to digest. The sun grew warmer, and she rolled up her sleeves to let her arms soak it in.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

"Sunbathing. Supplementing calcium. You should sunbathe too. Let's sunbathe together. Even though we're not together, sunbathing at the same time counts as being together. Right? If yes, nod. If no, also nod. If I say it's right, it's right. You have to listen to me. Because I'm your sun. You're my moon. The sun shining on the moon? That doesn't seem right. Then you're the sun, and I'm the moon. The moon reflects the sun's light. I reflect your love. If you love me, I'll glow. So love me a little more. I'll be even brighter."

Sent.

[14:00 - Seventh Reply Video]

Before the afternoon training began, Karina stretched in front of the camera. She rested her leg on the barre, leaning forward until her face was almost touching her knee.

"It's afternoon. Continuing to practice. The weather is so nice today, I don't want to stay indoors. I want to go out. I want to go for a walk with you. To the Han River, to the park, to Namsan. Anywhere is fine. As long as I'm with you. When will you take me? In 19 days? After the Concert in 19 days, you'll accompany me. We'll go for a walk by the Han River. Watch the sunset, the night view, the stars. You hold my hand. I hold your hand. We'll keep walking and walking. Until we can't walk anymore. When you can't walk, you'll carry me. If you can't carry me, we'll sit down and rest. Once we've rested, we'll keep walking. Walking until forever."

She switched legs and continued stretching.

"Isn't it romantic? It's right to be romantic. I'm a romantic person. Specifically romantic for you. No one else has this. Only you. You're the only one. The most only one. The super only one. The universe's only one."

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Video ended.

Sending.

[15:30 - The 8th Selfie]

Training ended, Karina was drenched in sweat, taking a selfie in the mirror. Her hair was soaked and stuck to her face, her cheeks were flushed, but she was smiling very happily.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Finished training. Exhausted. But happy. Because I didn't fall while spinning today. Because the sun was great today. Because I missed you today. How many times have I missed you? Haven't finished counting yet. I'll tell you tonight. Definitely over 426 times. I have confidence in myself. Even more confidence in you. Because you're worth thinking about 500 times, 600 times, 1000 times, infinite times a day."

Sending.

[16:15 - The 8th Reply Video]

Karina was sitting in the car on the way home, talking to the camera. The sunlight from outside the car window shone in at an angle, dancing on her face.

"On the way home. Training went very smoothly today. The teacher praised my big improvement. I said it's because someone is waiting for me. Someone is cheering me on. Someone is missing me. That's why I have motivation. That's why I can dance better. The teacher asked who it was. I said it's a secret. I won't tell you. I'll only tell you. You are my secret. My favorite secret. My most precious secret. The secret I least want to share."

She reached her hand out toward the sunlight, letting the light leak through her fingers.

"Look, the light. Doesn't it look like you? Warm, bright, always by my side. Even though I can't touch it, I can feel it. Feel that you are here. Feel that you like me. Feel that you are missing me. I'm missing you too. Always missing you. Missing you every minute, every second. Forever missing you. Infinitely missing you."

Video ended.

Sending.

[17:00 - The 9th Selfie]

Once home, Karina's first task was to rush to the window and take a picture of the sky outside. The afternoon sunlight had turned golden, shining on the building opposite, with the glass reflecting the light.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Home now. The afternoon sunlight has turned golden. Pretty, right? Is it this color where you are too? Or is it different? Regardless of whether it's the same or not, it's the same sun. The same sun shining on you and me. So we are together. Under the same sun. In the same world. At the same time. Thinking about the same person. You're thinking of me, I'm thinking of you. Perfect."

Sending.

[17:45 - The 9th Reply Video]

Karina finished her shower, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were a milky-white cotton set, soft and fluffy, making her look even more huggable.

"Good evening. Are you tired today? I'm quite tired. But happy. Because I made progress in training. Because the weather is nice. Because I can talk to you soon. Talking makes me not tired. Talking makes me happy. Happy means I have energy. Energy means I can continue training. Continuing training means I can dance better. Dancing better means you can see a better version of me. A virtuous cycle."

She hugged a pillow, burying half of her face into it.

"Do you know, when I was training today, I was listening to songs the whole time. Our songs. Those songs you wrote for me. Listening to them made me miss you. Thinking about you gave me energy. Energy meant I could dance better. So you helped me train too. You are my teacher too. The teacher who taught me to dance. Even though you didn't teach, your existence is the best lesson. Because you are the motivation for my dancing. Motivation, get it? It means without you, I can't do it. With you, I can do anything."

Video ended.

Sending.

[18:30 - The 10th Selfie]

Karina started preparing dinner. She opened the fridge and took a picture of the ingredients inside—eggs, green onions, kimchi, tofu, pork belly, zucchini, bean sprouts, rice cakes. Today she was making kimchi pork belly fried rice.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Dinner is kimchi pork belly fried rice. Do you love fried rice? Even if you don't, you have to. Because I made it. I'll make it super delicious and make you fall in love with it. After you fall in love with it, you'll love me even more. Because I made it. The logic is perfect. Right? If it's right, nod. If it's not right, nod anyway. If I say it's right, it's right. You must listen to me. Because I am your chef. The chef who cooks especially for you. Even though you can't eat it now, you will be able to in the future. I'll cook for you every day in the future. Until you get sick of it. Even if you get sick of it, I'll keep cooking. Until you can't live without my cooking. Not being able to live without me is just right. I'm the one who makes you unable to live without me."

Sending.

[19:15 - The 10th Reply Video]

Karina recorded a video while frying the rice. The rice in the pan sizzled, and the aroma of the kimchi seemed to travel through the screen.

"Stir-frying rice. So fragrant. Can you smell it? If you can't, forget it. When you come, I'll stir-fry for you every day. Kimchi fried rice, tuna fried rice, shrimp fried rice, ham fried rice. I know quite a few, right? Actually, I only know these few. But I can learn. I'm willing to learn anything for you. If I can't learn it, I'll keep learning. Until I know how. Until I can make delicious food for you. Because I like you. Because I like you, I want to make delicious food for you. Seeing the happy look on your face when you eat the food I made. That's my happiest moment."

She tasted a spoonful of rice and nodded with satisfaction.

"Mmm, delicious. You'll definitely like it. You'll know once you come and taste it. Even if you don't like it, you have to. Because I made it. Everything I make is good. I am good too. So you have to like me too. Always like me. Forever like me. Not allowed to change. If you change, I'll cry. If I cry, you have to comfort me. Comforting me takes time. Spending time means you'll like me even more. So, going around in a circle, you still like me. So just like me directly. Saves trouble."

Video ended.

Sending.

[20:00 - The 11th Selfie]

After dinner was ready, Karina set out the fried rice, kimchi, and water, and took a photo. The fried rice was golden yellow, the kimchi was bright red, and it looked very appetizing.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Dinner is ready. Showing you before I start eating. Seeing it is as good as eating it. So you're full now too. You're welcome. Next time, just treat me to the real thing. When? 19 days later. After the Concert. We'll go eat together. What do you want to eat? I'll treat. You pay. Fair, right? Not fair? Then let's make it fairer: You treat, you pay. I'm responsible for eating. Perfect."

Sending.

[20:45 - The 11th Reply Video]

Karina finished dinner and lay on the sofa to digest. The sky outside was already dark, and she could hear the sound of cars from afar.

"Finished eating. So full. I don't want to do anything right now, just want to lie down. Just want to talk to you. Not talking is fine too, just staying like this. As long as you're here. When you're here, I feel at ease. At ease means I feel comfortable. Comfortable means I want to sleep. But I can't sleep yet, I still have to talk to you. Talking is more important than sleeping. You are more important than sleeping. You are the most important. Most important, most important. More important than anything."

She turned over, lying on her stomach on the sofa, legs kicked up and swinging.

"Do you know how many times I missed you today? I counted. Up to now, 487 times. It's already exceeded 426 times. And there's still the evening, I can miss you even more. Today's goal is 500 times. Do you think I can do it? If yes, nod. If no, nod anyway. Anyway, I can. I have confidence in myself. Even more confidence in you. Because you're worth thinking about 500 times, 600 times, 1000 times, infinite times a day. Infinite, infinite, infinite."

Video ended.

Sending.

[21:30 - The 12th Selfie]

Karina stood up and walked to the window, taking pictures of the night view outside. There were more stars tonight than yesterday, and Namsan Tower was still lit up, like a giant star.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Tonight's stars. So many. One, two, three, four, five... can't count them. Do they look like the number of times I miss you? Can't count them. Too many. Since there are too many, I won't count. Anyway, it's a lot, a lot, a lot. So many I can't count. So many I can't hold. So many they overflow. I'll give the overflowing part to you. Did you receive it? If you did, reply to me. If you didn't, receive it carefully. Receive my heart, receive my affection, receive my longing. All of it is yours."

Sending.

[22:00 - The 12th Reply Video]

Karina finished her shower, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were a pink plush style, making her look like a little bunny.

"Today, March 2nd, has ended. Time passes so fast. How many times did I miss you today? I counted. 521 times. 21 times more than the 500-time goal. Impressive, right? If it's impressive, praise me. If you praise me, I'll try harder. Trying harder means I can miss you more. More means infinite. Infinite means forever. Forever means always, always, always. Always, always, always means forever, forever, forever. Forever, forever, forever means I love you, I love you, I love you."

She yawned, her eyes a bit unable to stay open.

"No, I'm a bit sleepy. But I still have to say goodnight to you. I can only sleep after saying it. If I don't say it, I won't sleep peacefully. Once I say it, I can sleep well. Once I sleep well, I can continue missing you tomorrow. So, saying goodnight now. Goodnight, my scooper. Goodnight, my sun. Goodnight, my favorite person. Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight."

Video ended.

Sending.

[22:30 - The 13th Selfie]

Karina lay in bed, with only her face exposed. She held up her phone and took a picture of herself buried in the quilt with only her eyes showing.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"In bed. Getting ready to sleep. Today's weather: Sunny turning cloudy, 6 to 13 degrees. Tomorrow's weather: Cloudy, 7 to 14 degrees. Remember to dress appropriately. I checked the weather forecast specifically to tell you. Because I'm worried you'll wear the wrong clothes. Worried you'll catch a cold. Worried you'll feel uncomfortable. So you have to listen. Wear the right clothes. Eat well. Sleep well. Because you are mine. I have to take good care of what's mine. If you can't take care of yourself, leave it to me. I'll take care of you. Take care of you for a lifetime. Take care of you forever. Take care of you infinitely."

Sending.

[22:45 - The 13th Reply Video]

Karina was almost asleep, her voice groggy, her eyes unable to open.

"Tomorrow... Tuesday... You have to work... I have to train... We'll both work hard... But our hearts are together... Hearts together means we are together... Distance is not a problem... Weather is not a problem... Nothing is a problem... Because I miss you... You miss me... That's enough..."

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

"Goodnight... Goodbye, March 2nd... Hello, March 3rd... I'll miss you even more on March 3rd... Miss you more every day... Miss you more forever... Infinite loop... Infinite affection... Infinite, infinite, infinite... By the way... Tomorrow's weather... Cloudy... 7 to 14 degrees... Remember to dress appropriately... I'll check... If you don't dress appropriately, I'll be angry... If I'm angry, I'll make you comfort me... Comforting me means you have to miss me more... Missing me more means you'll like me more... So, going around in a circle, I still like you... So just like me directly... Saves trouble..."

Her voice became quieter and quieter, until only the sound of her breathing remained.

Video ended.

Sending.

[23:00 - The Last Text Reply]

Before turning off the lights, Karina used her last bit of energy to send a message:

"March 2, 2026, the 521st time I miss you. I love you. Goodnight. Tomorrow's weather is cloudy, 7 to 14 degrees. Remember to dress appropriately. I will miss you. Always miss you. Forever miss you. Infinitely miss you. Infinite, infinite, infinite. Goodnight."

Sending.