345: Chapter 324 The First Emperor Huaizhen of Zhenjiang Reports, I Am Truly Number One! (Marked)

At Ulsan Port, the filming of "the crab" proceeded in an orderly fashion amidst the humid sea breeze and the smell of engine oil.

Im Yoona had completely shed the refined look of an idol. Her skin had been tanned to a healthy wheat color by the sea breeze and sunlight. For ease of movement, her hair was always tied in a tight ponytail, and her face was often covered in sweat and grime. The action scenes were exceptionally grueling; a roll, a collision, or even a shot of her running with a gun might be repeated dozens of times.

Jiang Zhiyu had two modes on set.

Most of the time, he was a calm, precise, and demanding director. He scrutinized every detail through the monitor, pointing out issues in concise and clear language. Even if it was just a slight deviation in a gaze or an incorrect breathing rhythm, he would demand a retake.

But occasionally, when he needed to demonstrate extremely subtle, ineffable emotions or movements, he would step onto the set himself.

“Withe isn't angry at this moment,” he would walk up to Im Yoona and have her look into his eyes. “She’s exhausted, she’s annoyed with a sense of ‘here we go again,’ but beneath that annoyance is a very faint... murderous intent that even she hasn't realized yet.”

As he spoke, his eyes would undergo an extremely subtle change in an instant—the contraction of the pupils, the twitch of the muscles at the corners of his eyes, and an almost invisible downturn of the lips. It wasn't a grand expression, yet it precisely conveyed complex layers.

Im Yoona would observe with bated breath and then try to imitate him. Jiang Zhiyu would stand beside her, guiding her in a low voice: “Relax your shoulders a bit more... right, not sagging, but that kind of habitual relaxation formed after long-term tension... don't focus your gaze, let it go blank, but use your peripheral vision to ‘scan’ the environment...”

At times like this, Lee Tima would also pull up a small stool to sit nearby, notebook in hand and eyes wide, striving to absorb this “magic” between the director and the actor. Jiang Zhiyu would occasionally let her try operating the camera for some simple shots or involve her in discussions about a shot's composition. Though the set was hard work, it was filled with creative passion and a learning atmosphere.

During filming breaks, Jiang Zhiyu also had to handle other matters that came flooding in like the tide. Negotiations with Cube Entertainment regarding a variety show collaboration for (G)I-DLE had entered the detailed proposal discussion stage. The other party requested that the President of TG meet the members in person to communicate his philosophy and build trust.

Thus, on an evening when the filming schedule was slightly lighter, Jiang Zhiyu rushed back to Seoul from Ulsan, travel-worn, and headed straight to a well-reputed hotpot restaurant they had agreed upon.

Going to a hotpot restaurant was his idea. He felt that when young people gathered, they always went to places where they had to grill the meat themselves. Being busy while trying to talk business was too inefficient. Having waiters do it for them felt too distant. Hotpot was great; everyone cooked their own food at their own pace, it was relaxed, and the private rooms were secluded enough.

In preparation for this meeting, he had spent his time away from filming frantically catching up on almost all of (G)I-DLE's group variety shows, stage performances, radio programs, and... the members' individual live stream clips.

Now, his mind felt like a chaotic music party:

Minnie’s ethereal “La la la~” and her Thai mutterings;

Song Yuqi’s energetic, loud voice and her infectious laughter;

Ye Shuhua’s abstract words and actions that left people bewildered, and her sudden “mushroom theory”;

Cho Mi Yeon’s occasional outbursts of “uncle gags” and her reversal charm;

Of course, there was also Jeon Soyeon’s piercing rap and her commanding speeches;

And... Xu Suizhen’s dance footage, which combined softness with power, and her relatively quiet speeches before the controversy.

Aside from the leader Jeon Soyeon, who seemed the most normal (relatively speaking), and Xu Suizhen, who was at the center of public opinion with an unknown current status... the other four felt like a bunch of... “crazy girls” full of bizarre ideas.

Jiang Zhiyu rubbed his throbbing temples, feeling like the BGM in his head was about to drive him insane.

Pushing open the door to the hotpot private room, he was met with a wave of heat and aroma.

Five members of (G)I-DLE (Xu Suizhen was absent) were already there, along with their Manager, sitting at two separate tables—one for the Manager and assistants, and one for the members.

Seeing Jiang Zhiyu enter, all five stood up and greeted him politely. As the leader, Jeon Soyeon’s attitude was steady and appropriate; Minnie had a gentle smile; Song Yuqi’s eyes were bright and full of curiosity; Cho Mi Yeon’s smile was sweet; while Ye Shuhua stood somewhat cautiously in the back, blinking as she sized him up.

“Hello everyone, I am Jiang Zhiyu from TG Entertainment,” Jiang Zhiyu replied with a smile. “I’m sorry, I just came from the set, so I’ve kept you all waiting.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You’ve worked hard, President Jiang,” Jeon Soyeon spoke on their behalf.

Everyone took their seats. The split-pot broth with bubbling red oil was already boiling, and various plates of fresh sliced meat, vegetables, and meatballs covered the table, their aroma enticing.

“I didn’t know what everyone liked to eat, so I chose hotpot. I hope it’s to your taste,” Jiang Zhiyu said politely.

“It is! It’s perfect!” Song Yuqi immediately chimed in, her eyes nearly glued to the plate of premium fatty beef. “As long as there’s meat to eat!”

Though the others didn't speak, their eyes revealed the same longing. After a day of busy schedules, facing this table of delicacies, they were almost ready to turn into gluttons.

Jiang Zhiyu took in everyone’s reactions, a nearly imperceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then cleared his throat, putting on an extremely serious expression as if he were about to begin an annual work report.

“First of all, I would like to thank Cube Entertainment and all of you for being willing to take the time out of your busy schedules to explore the possibilities of our future collaboration.” His voice was steady and his pace was moderate, filled with the formality of a business meeting.

Song Yuqi, who was just about to reach out with her chopsticks for some meat, paused.

Jeon Soyeon also put down her teacup and sat up straighter.

“Although TG Entertainment hasn't been established for long, our core philosophy is to dedicate ourselves to discovering and presenting the most unique, authentic, and market-potential side of an artist.” Jiang Zhiyu began his ten-minute-long speech of “official jargon.”

He spoke from TG’s development history to the values of content production, then to his observations on the current state of the idol industry, and finally to his outlook on future trends...

His wording was rigorous and his logic was clear, but the content... was extremely hollow and devoid of substance, as if it were chapters ripped directly from some business management book, or some new type of “business hypnosis.”

At first, the members still tried to maintain a listening posture, nodding and smiling.

But a few minutes later, Minnie’s eyes began to glaze over as she stared at the meatball rolling in the pot, as if she were contemplating the meaning of life.

Cho Mi Yeon’s smile became a bit stiff, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the teacup.

Ye Shuhua was even more bewildered, her small face written with the confusion of “What is he saying? How should I react?”

Inside, Song Yuqi was already wailing: Shibal! This guy is pretty handsome, but how can the words coming out of his mouth be even more boring than our Cube financial report meetings?? Meat! My meat! It’s going to be overcooked!

She stole a glance at the Manager’s table next to them.

She saw the Manager with his back to their table, facing a full table of food (clearly arranged by Jiang Zhiyu in advance), eating with such gusto! Swishing meat, scooping vegetables, dipping in sauce... his movements were fluid, his expression satisfied, and he even leisurely took a sip of beer.

That’s right! His back was to President Jiang! He couldn't hear these hypnotic incantations!

Song Yuqi’s eyes turned red with envy.

As the leader, Jeon Soyeon had the strongest sense of responsibility and tried hard to extract key information from Jiang Zhiyu’s long and empty words, but she soon gave up as well. This was simply... repetitive talk with zero information!

Jiang Zhiyu seemed completely unaware of the members’ gradually fading mental states and continued to speak eloquently:

“...Therefore, we believe that the collaboration between TG and Cube must be built on the foundation of both parties’ deep identification with idol values, jointly exploring a path for content empowerment that is differentiated, high-quality, and sustainable...”

Help—me—!!!

Except for Jeon Soyeon, who was still trying to maintain surface composure, the other four let out a desperate cry in unison in their hearts.

The aroma of the hotpot grew stronger in the room; the bubbling sound of the red oil and the satisfied chewing sounds of the Manager at the next table formed a tragic contrast with Jiang Zhiyu’s steady and monotonous “business chanting.”

This hotpot feast, titled “Collaboration Negotiation,” proceeded with difficulty through Jiang Zhiyu’s unilateral “verbal torture.” And the real test, or rather... Jiang Zhiyu’s true purpose, seemed far from being revealed.

—

Jiang Zhiyu’s speech about “team power” and “external reputation” was like a precisely dropped depth charge, instantly causing the hearts of the (G)I-DLE members—who had just ignited the hope of “finally being able to eat”—to sink again.

Shibal! You’re doing this on purpose, aren't you!

Song Yuqi roared internally. The chopsticks she had just picked up were like a deflated balloon as she sullenly put them back on the table. The anticipation on Cho Mi Yeon’s face instantly collapsed, and Minnie’s sweet smile became a bit forced. Even Jeon Soyeon, who looked the calmest, had a corner of her mouth twitch imperceptibly. Xu Suizhen silently withdrew her hand that was reaching for the vegetable plate. Ye Shuhua... she seemed to be made even more confused by this cycle of “hope-disappointment,” her eyes darting back and forth between Jiang Zhiyu and the hotpot.

The private room fell once again into a weird, low-pressure atmosphere filled with hungry resentment.

However, at this moment when everyone was despondent and all chopsticks had been dropped—

Jiang Zhiyu moved.

He calmly picked up his own chopsticks. With a clear target and fluid movements, he precisely reached for that plate of top-grade fatty beef that had long been marked as “contested territory” in everyone’s hearts.

That was no ordinary fatty beef roll.

It was the “Center” of the plate, a piece of meat with clear marble-like patterns, a perfect fat-to-lean ratio, moderate thickness, and an enticing pink glow under the lights—a “treasure among meats.” From the moment this plate was brought to the table, the gazes of Cho Mi Yeon, Minnie, and Song Yuqi had converged, collided, and competed on it countless times, each mentally rehearsing at least three ways to snatch it away in the fastest, most covert, and most justifiable manner.

And now, this “Beef KING,” which carried the dreams and appetites of at least three people, was easily picked up by Jiang Zhiyu’s long and handsome hands—which seemed incredibly hateful at this moment—right before their very eyes.

He elegantly placed that piece of meat into the bubbling red oil pot, counted a few seconds in his head (clearly having a precise grasp of the cooking time), and then steadily fished it out.

The cooked meat slice curled slightly, its edges having just the right amount of golden brown; the fat part became transparent while the lean part showed a well-done tender pink, with the juices seemingly locked inside, trembling slightly.

Jiang Zhiyu placed it into the dipping bowl in front of him, dipped it in his specially mixed sauce, and then—sent it into his mouth.

He chewed slowly, an extremely enjoyable, almost intoxicated expression appearing on his face, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction. He even let out a faint sigh of admiration that was clearly audible in the now silent room: “Mmm~”

All (G)I-DLE members: “...”

Collective bewilderment.

What’s the situation?

The TG President, who was just talking seriously and incessantly about company strategy, the team’s future, and industry reputation... turned around and snatched away the “King of Meats” they had been eyeing for so long, and even ate it so... so punchably?!

Jiang Zhiyu swallowed the meat, picked up a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth, and then looked up at the six girls across from him whose expressions were blank, their gazes gradually shifting from confusion to disbelief, and then to anger.

The serious expression of an elite president on his face had long since vanished, replaced by a mixture of the cunning of a successful prank, the mischievousness of a youth, and a defiant grin that said, “I ate it, what are you going to do about it?”

“Sorry,” he spoke, his voice carrying a clear hint of amusement, “speaking of which, I really am about the same age as you guys.”

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over their faces, as if he could see through their rumbling stomachs and forced composure.

“What you’re thinking and what you’re planning in your heads, I can basically... guess it all.”

His gaze fell back to the empty plate (where that piece of meat had been), his tone carrying a sense of reminiscence and showing off:

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

"I set my sights on this piece of meat the moment I walked in and ordered. Look at the marbling, firm and even; the ratio of fat to lean, any more and it would be greasy, any less and it would be dry; and the thickness, once blanched, it will be absolutely tender and smooth, especially the edge of the fat, which will have a slight crunch..."

He described it in such excruciating detail, as if he were appraising a work of art, making the girls even hungrier and angrier.

"The absolute pinnacle of meat," he concluded, then changed his tone, his smile becoming increasingly wicked, "The one and only piece of beef on the cow that concentrates all its essence."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and said clearly, word by word: "And it can only belong to me."

"Facts prove…" he licked his lips, as if still savoring the taste, "It was exactly as I expected: juicy and with an exquisite texture."

Finally, he delivered the killing blow, summarizing with that infuriatingly satisfied tone: "It's no exaggeration to call it the 'Beef KING'."

After speaking, he nodded as if still relishing the experience, seemingly giving a thumbs up to his own precise taste and decisive action.

Silence. A deathly silence. Only the hot pot continued to bubble away obliviously.

The expressions of the six members of (G)I-DLE were incredibly colorful at this moment.

Jeon Soyeon: Furrowed brows, sharp eyes, seemingly trying to analyze the commercial intent behind Jiang Zhiyu's sudden "personality switch" and childish behavior (analysis failed).

Minnie: Sweet smile completely gone, replaced by a dazed "Am I dreaming?" and a speechless "Is this guy crazy?"

Xu Suizhen: Still quiet, but her eyes revealed a confusion of "I don't get it, but I'm deeply shocked."

Cho Mi Yeon: Her beautiful face was full of shock and accusation: "My meat! My KING! You actually...!!"

Ye Shuhua: Seemed to finally be pulled back to reality from a daze, looking at Jiang Zhiyu, then at the empty plate, her eyes filled with philosophical contemplation: "What just happened? Where did the meat go?"

And Song Yuqi… Song Yuqi felt like she was about to explode!

She glared fiercely at that handsome face of Jiang Zhiyu's, which looked incredibly punchable right now, her chest heaving violently. You bastard!!!

Eating it is one thing! But you dare to describe the experience?! And 'Beef KING'?! KING my foot!!!

That jerk (forgive me for saying so)! She was mentally ranting furiously.

All that nonsense he spouted earlier, which was completely devoid of substance and had top-tier hypnotic effects, was actually to numb their senses and lower their guard!

The ultimate goal… was actually just to snatch this piece of meat?!

You're a President, right?! The President of TG Entertainment! Young, promising, an industry rising star, a genius producer favored by countless people!

You went through all this trouble, played all these mind games, just for a piece of meat?!

Do you know what you're doing?! Do you know how childish, shameless, and outrageous your behavior is?!

Song Yuqi nearly snapped her chopsticks in half. She was not only hungry now but also angry, angry enough to lose her sanity, just wanting to dump this pot of boiling red oil… onto the face of that smug jerk opposite her!

Jiang Zhiyu admired the six faces opposite him, each with different expressions but all uniformly radiating an aura of "wanting to eat someone." He picked up the serving chopsticks with a pleasant mood and pointed into the pot: "Alright, no more jokes. There's still plenty of meat, everyone…"

He didn't finish his sentence. Because six pairs of eyes, like hungry wolves, were already staring fixedly at the remaining meat in the pot, as well as all the food on the table.

A silent but murderous "food war," ignited by Jiang Zhiyu, officially broke out in this hot pot private room.

And the instigator, Jiang Zhiyu, leaned back in his chair leisurely, a smile playing on his lips, like an arsonist admiring the fireworks he had ignited himself.

Business negotiations? Of course, that needed to happen. But before that… let's fill our stomachs first, or maybe, let's have a fight first.

The atmosphere in the private room had been turned upside down. The stiffness of the business discussion and the deathly silence brought by Jiang Zhiyu's "conceptual hypnosis" were now completely dispelled by the steam of the hot pot and the noise of the food scramble.

The "Beef KING" incident instigated by Jiang Zhiyu was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, the ripples quickly evolving into waves. Hunger and the subtle reluctance of being "played" made the (G)I-DLE members temporarily cast aside their reserve and the constraints of their leader.

Song Yuqi took the lead, her chopsticks swinging with gusto, focusing on the meat slices and meatballs, not forgetting to pick up a piece for Ye Shuhua next to her (although Ye Shuhua still looked dazed, her movements to accept the food were not ambiguous at all).

Cho Mi Yeon and Minnie also dropped their "elegant" baggage and joined the food-grabbing army, the two even engaging in a "friendly" exchange of glares and chopstick maneuvering over a shrimp paste ball.

Even Xu Suizhen, who had always seemed preoccupied and low-spirited, seemed to be infected by this lively and somewhat childish atmosphere of struggle, a faint smile finally appearing on her lips as she carefully avoided the "battle zone" to pick up the vegetables and tofu she liked.

As the leader, Jeon Soyeon initially tried to maintain order, but seeing this group of teammates who had instantly "revealed their true colors" and were "fighting" over a bite to eat, she shook her head helplessly, gave up on preaching, and joined the fray—after all, if she didn't act now, the meat would really be gone.

Jiang Zhiyu leaned against the back of his chair, holding a glass of iced plum juice, watching this bustling scene before him leisurely.

His gaze lingered specifically on Ye Shuhua and Xu Suizhen for a moment.

Ye Shuhua was still her usual slow-paced, somewhat detached self, but at this moment, her eyes reflected the food bubbling in the pot and the figures of her teammates scrambling, seeming to have a bit more of a real, vibrant brilliance belonging to her age, no longer just that hollow daze.

And Xu Suizhen… although her smile was faint, almost fleeting, at least her tense shoulders had relaxed, and the lingering gloom between her brows seemed to have been diluted a little by the heat of the hot pot.

That's right. Jiang Zhiyu nodded with satisfaction in his heart.

They are all young people in their twenties; they should have some vitality and "imperfection." Keeping a straight face, being preoccupied, and being crushed by the outside world's gaze—what kind of (G)I-DLE is that?

However, his thoughts did not remain entirely on the noise before him. He had keenly captured the faint, almost imperceptible desire to withdraw from Xu Suizhen. Although she hid it well, this kind of wavering within a team often cannot escape the eyes of those who are paying attention. Especially under the pressure of public opinion, once such a thought is born, it is difficult to completely eradicate.

What about the others? Jiang Zhiyu's gaze swept over the others. Minnie and Cho Mi Yeon, strong artistic sense, with innocence and a certain degree of "dummy" attribute in their personalities (not derogatory), not top-tier in social sophistication, but they win in being real. Song Yuqi, undoubtedly the group's atmosphere maker and emotional intelligence representative, active, knows how to read the room, and is extremely adaptable. Ye Shuhua, emotional intelligence is at the average line, but her "abstract" and "four-dimensional" nature is, in a sense, a protective color and unique charm. As for Jeon Soyeon…

Jiang Zhiyu looked at the petite leader, who, while scrambling for food, was also subconsciously observing her teammates' states, occasionally calling out "Careful, it's hot," while not eating any less herself. The one with the most pressure is probably her.

A leader, especially the leader of a team like (G)I-DLE, which is labeled as "self-sufficient" and "creative core," bears responsibilities and pressure far exceeding others under the halo. Member status, team reputation, music quality, future development… everything is pressing on her shoulders. Now that the team is facing a public opinion crisis and one of the core members is considering withdrawing, this is undoubtedly the greatest test of the leader's ability and team cohesion.

Jiang Zhiyu had encountered many girl group leaders. Kim Taeyeon, the leader of Girls Generation, who had experienced peaks and storms, and whose settled resilience and occasionally revealed vulnerability left a deep impression on him. Bae Joo-hyun, the leader of Red Velvet, beneath whose cold exterior lay a heavy sense of responsibility and a trace of imperceptible fatigue. Im Nayeon, the symbol of vitality for TWICE, but who also needed to lead the team to cope with transformation and external evaluation. Karina and Hwang Yeji, the young leaders of aespa and ITZY, were both growing rapidly in their own ways, striving to hold up the sky for their teams.

When someone in the team has thoughts of withdrawing due to a public opinion crisis, it is absolutely the time that best reflects a leader's ability. This thought made him involuntarily think of another name. Jung Sooyeon. Former member of Girls Generation, Jessica.

That "withdrawal incident" that shocked the entire K-pop circle remains a mystery and a regret in many people's hearts. As a bystander (though a latecomer), Jiang Zhiyu had no way of knowing exactly what happened back then, but he could imagine the stormy seas and tearing pain that Kim Taeyeon, as the leader at the time, must have endured in those days.

What did Noona think deep down back then? Once this thought arose, Kim Taeyeon's face uncontrollably surfaced in his mind.

Not the radiant Taeyeon on stage, nor the occasionally quirky leader in variety shows. But that morning, when he paid a sudden visit, she opened the door in a panic, without any makeup, her hair messy, with faint dark circles under her eyes from insomnia, looking haggard and bewildered.

And… when he handed over the breakfast and aromatherapy, and said those caring words, the unmaskable blush that instantly bloomed on her face, and the panic and shyness that flashed through those doe eyes.

Noona is so cute~

Jiang Zhiyu's mouth corners uncontrollably curled upwards, and he didn't even realize how soft this smile was.

Almost subconsciously, he reached out and picked up the phone that was face down on the table, unlocked it, his fingertips sliding skillfully, and opened the chat interface with Kim Taeyeon.

The chat history on the screen was sparse, and most of it remained on short, work-related communications. The latest one was from over a month ago, that morning he went to deliver breakfast.

[Jiang Zhiyu]: Noona, open the door. [Jiang Zhiyu]: Noona? Two messages, hanging there alone. Below, there was no reply.

Of course, he knew Kim Taeyeon saw it and opened the door immediately. But this state of "read but not replied," or rather, not needing text responses after meeting in reality, made Jiang Zhiyu feel a strange… emptiness at this moment.

His fingertips hovered above the screen, he subconsciously wanted to type something. [Noona, what are you doing?] Too abrupt. ["the crab" started filming today.] Like reporting for work. [Have you been sleeping well lately? Did you use the aromatherapy?] Too concerned, it seemed deliberate. Typed and deleted, deleted and typed. In the end, he didn't send a single word.

His fingers hovered for a long time, and finally, he silently turned off the phone screen again and gently placed it back on the table.

In the private room, the girls' laughter, the clinking of bowls and chopsticks, and the bubbling sound of the hot pot were intertwined, making it very lively. But Jiang Zhiyu felt that his surroundings suddenly became quiet for a moment.

An indescribable, subtle melancholy, like the night air quietly permeating outside the window, wrapped around him silently.

He looked at the phone face down on the table, the screen pitch black, reflecting the warm yellow light from the ceiling and his own somewhat blurred silhouette. In his heart, a thought, almost like a sigh, uncontrollably and clearly emerged: Noona… when will you… contact me~

[13:30 - The 7th Selfie] After eating, the rain seemed to have eased a bit. Karina walked to the window and took a picture of the outside—the rain had become thinner, and she could vaguely see the outline of the building opposite. Click.

Bubble caption: "The rain has eased. How about your side? Has it eased too? Or is it heavier? Regardless of the size, remember to bring an umbrella. If you didn't bring one… I'll come to deliver it. But I don't know where you are. So you'd better bring it yourself. Next time I go to find you, you bring an umbrella to pick me up. It's settled. Settled, settled, settled." Send.

[14:00 - The 7th Reply Video] Before the afternoon training started, Karina did stretches in front of the camera. She put her leg on the ballet barre, leaned forward, her face almost touching her knee.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

"It's afternoon. Continuing practice. It's raining today, but I am not. I'm in a very good mood. Because you are here. Because you miss me. Because I like you. Liking you makes me happy. Being happy gives me strength. Having strength lets me practice better. Practicing better lets you see a better me. So you have to stay. Keep thinking of me. Keep liking me. Always, always, always. Forever, forever, forever. Infinite, infinite, infinite."

She switched legs and continued stretching.

"Do you know how many times I've thought of you today? I haven't finished counting yet. I'll tell you tonight. It's definitely more than yesterday. Yesterday was 632 times. Today's goal is 700. Do you think I can do it? If yes, nod. If no, nod anyway. I can do it regardless. I have confidence in myself. I have even more confidence in you. Because you're worth thinking about 700 times a day. 800 times. 1000 times. Infinite times. Infinite, infinite, infinite."

Video ends.

Sent.

[15:45 - Eighth Selfie]

Training finished, Karina took a selfie in front of the mirror, drenched in sweat. Her wet hair clung to her face—a mix of sweat and the rain she'd just been caught in. Her face was flushed, but her eyes were bright, and she was smiling happily.

Click.

Bubble Caption:

"Finished practicing. I'm exhausted. But happy. Because I remembered all the dances I reviewed. Because I had delicious Samgyetang today. Because the rain has let up. Because I thought of you today. How many times? I haven't finished counting yet. I'll tell you tonight. It'll definitely be over 700 times. I have confidence in myself. I have even more confidence in you. Because you're worth thinking about 800 times a day. 900 times. 1000 times. Infinite times."

Sent.

[16:30 - Eighth Reply Video]

Karina sat in the car on the way home, talking to the camera. The rain outside the window had turned into a drizzle, fine and drifting like mist.

"On the way home. The rain has slowed down. It's turned into a drizzle. Do you know? Drizzle is the most romantic. You don't need an umbrella, just walk in the rain like this, with fine water droplets all over your hair. Doesn't it look like when I miss you? Fine, dense, everywhere. Although you can't see it, you can feel it. Feel that I'm thinking of you. Always thinking of you. Every minute, every second. Thinking of you forever. Thinking of you infinitely."

She breathed onto the car window, creating a layer of mist on the glass. She drew a smiley face in the fog.

"Look, a smiley face. It's for you. I hope you're happy today. I hope you're happy even if it's raining. I hope you're happy when you think of me. I hope you're happy knowing that I'm thinking of you. I hope you're always happy. Forever and ever happy. Happy, happy, happy."

Video ends.

Sent.

[17:15 - Ninth Selfie]

Upon returning home, the first thing Karina did was rush to the window to take a photo of the sky. The rain had almost stopped, and a crack in the clouds revealed a sliver of grayish-blue sky.

Click.

Bubble Caption:

"I'm home. The rain is almost stopping. The clouds have parted, and I can see a bit of the sky. Doesn't it look like you? Although we're separated by a screen, I can see a little bit of you. Seeing your messages, seeing your replies, seeing you miss me. I miss you too. Always thinking of you. Every minute, every second. Forever. Infinitely."

Sent.

[18:00 - Ninth Reply Video]

After showering, Karina changed into her pajamas and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were a creamy white cotton set, soft and fluffy; she looked like a little cloud.

"Good evening. Are you tired today? I'm pretty tired. But happy. Because training went smoothly. Because the rain slowed down. Because I'll be able to talk to you soon. Talking makes me not tired. Talking makes me happy. Being happy gives me strength. Having strength lets me continue training. Continuing training lets me dance better. Dancing better lets you see a more impressive me. A positive cycle. Cycle, cycle, cycle."

She hugged a throw pillow, burying half her face in it.

"Do you know? While I was training today, I was listening to the sound of the rain the whole time. Listening to it made me think of you. Thinking of you gave me strength. Having strength let me dance better. So the rain helped me train too. The rain is also my teacher. The teacher who taught me to dance. Although the rain didn't actually teach me, the sound of the rain is like your voice. Gentle, soft, always in my ear. In my ear, in my ear, in my ear."

Video ends.

Sent.

[18:45 - Tenth Selfie]

Karina began preparing dinner. She opened the refrigerator and took a photo of the ingredients inside—eggs, green onions, kimchi, tofu, pork belly, zucchini, bean sprouts, rice cakes, and leftover kimchi soup from yesterday. She'd keep it simple today: reheating the leftover soup and cooking ramen.

Click.

Bubble Caption:

"Dinner: Reheating yesterday's kimchi soup and cooking ramen. Simple but delicious. Rainy days are perfect for ramen. Hot, spicy, and warming. What are you having for dinner? Take a picture and show me. If you don't... I'll just imagine you're eating ramen too. We'll eat together; even though we aren't physically together, eating ramen at the same time counts as being together. Right? If yes, nod. If no, nod anyway. If I say it's right, it's right."

Sent.

[19:30 - Tenth Reply Video]

Karina recorded a video while cooking the ramen. The water in the pot was bubbling; she put the ramen in and used chopsticks to separate the noodles.

"Cooking ramen. It smells so good. Can you smell it? Never mind if you can't. When you come, I'll cook ramen for you every day. Shin Ramyun, Jajangmyeon, Seafood Noodles, Udon. I know how to make quite a few, right? Actually, just a few types. But I can learn. For you, I'm willing to learn anything. If I can't learn it, I'll just keep trying. Until I can do it. Until I can make delicious food for you. Because I like you. Liking you makes me want to cook for you. To see your happy face when you eat my food. That's when I'm happiest. Happiest, happiest, happiest."

She cracked an egg into it and stirred it with her chopsticks.

"Adding an egg. More nutritious. You should add an egg too. If you don't... I'll add it for you. Two eggs. I'll feed you until you're chubby. Chubby is cuter. Cuter means I'll like you even more. Liking you more means thinking of you more. Thinking leads to more love. Love leads to more forever. Forever, forever, forever."

Video ends.

Sent.

[20:15 - Eleventh Selfie]

Once dinner was ready, Karina arranged the ramen, leftover soup, and kimchi, taking a photo. The ramen was steaming, and the soup was a vibrant red, looking very appetizing.

Click.

Bubble Caption:

"Dinner is ready. Showing you before I start. Seeing it is the same as eating it. So you're full now too. You're welcome. Just treat me to a real meal next time. When? In 18 days? No, 17 days. Yesterday was 18, today is 17. We can meet in 17 days. 17 days go by fast. It'll pass in the blink of an eye. But you have to think of me even when you blink. Because I think of you in the time it takes to blink. Thinking of you every second. Every minute. Every hour. Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year. Thinking of you forever. Thinking of you infinitely."

Sent.

[21:00 - Eleventh Reply Video]

After finishing her meal, Karina lay on the sofa to digest. The rain outside had completely stopped, and the sound of water dripping from the eaves could be heard—drip, drop.

"Finished eating. So full. I don't want to do anything right now, just want to lie here. Just want to talk to you. Even if we don't talk, just staying like this is fine. As long as you're here. Having you here makes me feel at ease. Feeling at ease makes me comfortable. Being comfortable makes me 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. More important than ramen. More important than kimchi. More important than Samgyetang. More important than anything. You are the most important. The very, very, very most important. The most important in the universe."

She rolled over, lying on her stomach on the sofa, kicking her legs back and forth.

"Do you know how many times I've thought of you today? I counted. Up until now, 679 times. There's still the night; I can think of you even more. Today's goal is 700. Do you think I can do it? If yes, nod. If no, nod anyway. I can do it regardless. I have confidence in myself. I have even more confidence in you. Because you're worth thinking about 700 times a day. 800 times. 1000 times. Infinite times. Infinite, infinite, infinite."

Video ends.

Sent.

[21:45 - Twelfth Selfie]

Karina stood up and walked to the window, taking a photo of the night view outside. The rain had stopped, the air had become fresh, and the lights of Namsan Tower could be seen in the distance, much clearer than last night.

Click.

Bubble Caption:

"The rain has stopped. The air is so fresh. Namsan Tower is clear again. Can you see it? If you can, take a picture and show me. If not, never mind. I'll look for you. Me seeing it is the same as you seeing it. I'll share half of the night view with you. I'll share half of the air I breathe with you. I'll share half of everything I have with you. You're welcome. It's only right. It's only right, only right."

Sent.

[22:15 - Twelfth Reply Video]

After showering, Karina changed into her pajamas and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were the light purple set; she looked like a little grape.

"March 4th is ending. Time goes by so fast. How many times did I think of you today? I counted. 748 times. That's 48 more than the goal of 700. Impressive, right? If it's impressive, praise me. If you praise me, I'll work even harder. Working harder means I can think of you even more. Even more is infinite. Infinite is forever. Forever is always, always, always. Always, always, always is forever, forever, forever. Forever, forever, forever is I love you, I love you, I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. Important things should be said three times. Three times isn't enough. I'll say it countless times. Countless, countless, countless."

She let out a yawn, her eyes struggling 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. I can't sleep peacefully without saying it. Saying it lets me sleep well. Sleeping well lets me continue thinking of you tomorrow. So, goodnight for now. Goodnight, my Pooper Scooper. Goodnight, my sun. Goodnight, my favorite person. Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight."

Video ends.

Sent.

[22:45 - Thirteenth Selfie]

Karina lay in bed, with only her face showing. She held up her phone and took a photo of herself buried in the covers with only her eyes peeking out.

Click.

Bubble Caption:

"In bed. Getting ready to sleep. Today's weather: Raining, 8 to 13 degrees. Tomorrow's weather: Overcast turning to cloudy, 6 to 12 degrees. The rain has stopped, but it's getting colder. Remember to dress a bit thicker. I checked the weather forecast specifically to tell you. Because I'm worried you'll be cold. Worried you'll catch a cold. Worried you'll feel unwell. So you have to be good. Dress thick and warm. Eat well. Sleep well. Because you are mine. My things must be well taken care of. 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. Take care, take care, take care."

Sent.

[23:00 - Thirteenth Reply Video]

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

"Tomorrow... Thursday... the week is almost over... you have to work... I have to train... we'll each work hard... but our hearts are together... hearts being together means being together... distance isn't a problem... weather isn't a problem... nothing is a problem... because I miss you... you miss me... that's enough..."

She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow.

"Goodnight... goodbye March 4th... hello March 5th... I'll miss you even more on March 5th... miss you more every day... miss you more forever... infinite cycle... infinite liking... infinite, infinite, infinite... oh right... tomorrow's weather... overcast turning to cloudy... 6 to 12 degrees... colder than today... remember to dress thicker... I'll be checking... if you don't dress thick, I'll be angry... if I'm angry, you'll have to coax me... coaxing me means you have to think of me more... thinking of me more makes me like you even more... so it all comes back to liking you... so just liking you directly is fine... it saves trouble... saves trouble, saves trouble, saves trouble..."

Her voice grew smaller and smaller, until only the sound of her breathing remained.

Video ends.

Sent.

[23:15 - Final Text Reply]

Before turning off the light, Karina used the last of her strength to send a message:

"March 4th, 2026, the 748th time thinking of you. I love you. Goodnight. Tomorrow's weather is overcast turning to cloudy, 6 to 12 degrees, colder than today. Remember to dress thicker. I'll be thinking of you. Always. Forever. Infinitely. Infinite, infinite, infinite. Goodnight."

Sent.