351: Chapter 329: If I vomit on the face of someone important, my life is over.

Seohyun's toast, which appeared polite but was actually filled with hidden barbs, was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, shattering the atmosphere of celebration and playfulness and sending out ripples of different intentions.

Everyone present was sharp (Sunny perhaps belonged in the "drama queen" category), and they immediately understood the signal behind the actions of this "pragmatic maknae"—opportunity.

While the earlier teasing, banter, and drinking games had some of Sunny's personal calculations, they were mostly harmless fun between sisters. But now, the topic and focus of attention began to shift subtly from "celebrating Im Yoona" and "teasing Jiang Zhiyu" to a more practical level—establishing a deeper, potentially mutually beneficial relationship with TG Entertainment and Jiang Zhiyu himself.

Yuri began to ask more seriously about TG's unique philosophy and future plans for variety show production, Hyoyeon showed keen interest in the fusion of technology and entertainment that TG was involved in (such as virtual concerts), and Sooyoung and Tiffany also asked, half-jokingly and half-seriously, if TG had any small investment opportunities or collaborative projects that suited their personal styles or interests.

The atmosphere gradually became a bit... utilitarian, but also more real. After all, in the world of fame and fortune, opportunities are fleeting.

Im Yoona, having had her thunder "stolen," felt no disappointment; instead, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As the nominal guest of honor tonight, being constantly surrounded by her unnies, fussed over, and teased with drinks had actually left her feeling quite exhausted and pressured. Seeing the focus shift, she was happy to be at leisure, finally able to eat some food properly, sipping her hangover tea while observing the undercurrents at the table.

Her gaze fell involuntarily upon Jiang Zhiyu. Watching him being "besieged" by the unnies under various pretexts, yet still maintaining his composure and handling the sincere or probing questions with ease, always wearing a gentle and professional smile on his face.

"He will definitely handle it well."

Im Yoona thought with certainty. This certainty stemmed from the trust built up over time on set—no matter how complex the action scenes or how difficult the emotions were to capture, Jiang Zhiyu could always find a way to control the overall situation.

But alongside that certainty, a trace of subtle jealousy—one she hadn't even fully examined herself—quietly emerged.

Watching those unnies who usually cared for her so much now casting more eager gazes toward Jiang Zhiyu, listening to them talk to him using vocabulary she wasn't very familiar with—about investments, projects, and business partnerships... she suddenly felt a bit of distance from that "Director Jiang" who would patiently guide her on set, occasionally tease her, and whom she would secretly complain about but also couldn't help relying on.

He wasn't just a director; he was also the President of TG, a potential stock holding resources and favored by all sides. This realization made her feel a little stifled.

Subconsciously, she cast her gaze toward another person present who might have similar feelings—Kim Taeyeon.

However, Kim Taeyeon's reaction surprised her a bit. Taeyeon Unnie didn't seem displeased or nervous as she had imagined because everyone's attention had turned to Jiang Zhiyu. On the contrary, she seemed... to be spacing out?

Kim Taeyeon kept her head down, poking at the kimchi on her plate with her chopsticks, her eyes unfocused, as if her soul had detached from this conversation that was becoming increasingly realistic and slightly noisy. The flush on her cheeks hadn't faded, though it was unclear if it was because she had choked earlier or for some other reason.

Seeing Kim Taeyeon's distracted appearance, the little bit of jealousy in Im Yoona's heart suddenly dissipated, replaced by a sense of realization and... a trace of relief she hadn't even noticed herself.

"Jiang Zhiyu and Taeyeon Unnie... how could that be?"

Im Yoona shook her head lightly in her heart, laughing to herself.

Taeyeon Unnie was the leader, a senior, a... presence that needed to be looked up to. And Jiang Zhiyu, while talented, was after all a junior, and their personalities, circles... didn't seem to fit at all. She must have been spending too much time on set lately, letting her imagination run wild.

She pushed this fleeting thought to the back of her mind and refocused her attention on the food and observing.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhiyu, at the center of the "siege," was as clear-headed as a mirror.

He certainly understood the reason for the seniors' sudden change in attitude. Investment, cooperation, and exchange of interests were the norm in the business world, and there was nothing wrong with that. If he happened to have a suitable project on hand that needed an injection of capital or resources, he wouldn't mind establishing a deeper cooperative relationship with the members of Girls Generation. This would not only broaden TG's financing channels and resource network but also allow him to trade favors, perhaps making things run more smoothly within the SM system in the future.

He even thought, with a bit of mischief, that if he could really reach a good cooperation project with one of them (like Yuri or Hyoyeon), could he then intentionally or unintentionally "show off" in front of Kim Taeyeon?

"Noona, look, I'm collaborating on a very interesting variety show/investment with Yuri Sunbaenim."

Or, "Hyoyeon Sunbaenim is very interested in TG's tech projects, and we are currently discussing them."

Imagine the expression Kim Taeyeon might show—would it be surprise? Admiration? Or... something else? This seemed like a good way to build presence and show off his "capability" in front of her.

However, the ideal was full, but the reality was a bit thin.

"It's a pity..." Jiang Zhiyu sighed softly in his heart.

He had too many things on his plate right now. The filming of "the crab" was the top priority; he had to devote himself entirely to ensuring its quality. (G)I-DLE's "Bear Kid Battle" was in intense preparation, and that project required a lot of creativity and energy. The collaboration with SM on the new aespa group variety show was also moving forward. TG's own daily operations and development strategy could not be neglected either.

Although he did have some scattered sparks of inspiration in his mind that were suitable for different members—for example, thinking that Hyoyeon's dance energy might combine with some kind of immersive dance game, or that Yuri's athletic sense and variety skills would be perfect for an outdoor challenge show—these were just prototypes, far from the stage where they could be brought out for cooperation talks.

More importantly, Jiang Zhiyu had the pride and caution of a creator and controller in his bones.

It was best to make decisions about his own things himself.

He didn't like being disturbed by too many external opinions (especially those with strong investment motives) during the initial stages of creativity and projects. He preferred to have the ideas polished within TG by himself, Kim Soo-yeon, Lee Tima, and the core team until they were mature and formed complete project proposals with TG's unique stamp, before considering introducing external partners.

Exposing immature ideas too early, or compromising the creative direction to cater to investment, were not things he wanted.

Therefore, faced with the unnies' overt or covert probing and expectations, Jiang Zhiyu's responses always remained at a level that was friendly and open, yet without making any concrete commitments.

"I am very grateful for the seniors' interest and support; TG is indeed exploring multiple directions at the moment."

"If there are suitable, mature project opportunities, I will definitely prioritize communicating with the seniors."

"We can talk about the specific cooperation model in detail when there is a suitable opportunity."

"For now, it's most important to film 'the crab' well and take good care of Yoona Noona." — He didn't forget to pull the topic back to Im Yoona to alleviate her feeling of being sidelined.

He maneuvered with ease, neither letting the atmosphere go cold nor digging a hole for himself. That composure and sense of proportion beyond his age made the unnies present feel a bit unsatisfied, yet they couldn't find any faults, and instead felt even more that this young man was not simple.

The dinner continued in this state of superficial enthusiasm, with everyone having their own inner thoughts and undercurrents flowing.

Kim Taeyeon was still somewhat lost in thought, Im Yoona was content to be an observer, Seohyun was looking for the next opportunity to cut into the conversation, and Sunny was racking her brain thinking about how to restart her "Lemm plan"...

And Jiang Zhiyu, in the gaps of dealing with the "concern" from all sides, occasionally glanced at the spacing-out leader, while in a corner of his heart, he was quietly calculating his own "next step."

After several rounds of sincere or probing exchanges, although the Girls Generation unnies were even more interested in Jiang Zhiyu himself and TG Entertainment, they had to admit that the young man in front of them was far deeper and more meticulous than his appearance suggested.

He was like a slippery fish in a mud pond. Whenever they felt they had grabbed the tail of a topic and tried to explore the possibility of cooperation, or probe for his unannounced projects, Jiang Zhiyu could always skillfully and unobtrusively divert the topic, or brush them off with some hopeful but unsubstantial pleasantries. His attitude was always polite and kind, his smile impeccable, but the core information was watertight.

"I will definitely consider it if there is a suitable opportunity..."

"The senior's suggestion is very inspiring; we will discuss it internally..."

"The current focus is still on ensuring the quality of existing projects..."

Things like this, which made it impossible to find fault, but also impossible to get any solid info.

However, the unnies were not without gains. At the very least, the goal of making friends and establishing preliminary contact was achieved. Jiang Zhiyu did not show any alienation or impatience; on the contrary, he listened carefully, responded at the right time, and left a good impression on everyone. This paved the way for further contact in the future.

Moreover... several of the quick-witted unnies cast their gazes, whether overtly or covertly, toward Kim Taeyeon, who had been sitting on the side and appearing absent-minded and lost in thought since just now.

This leader's state tonight was obviously not right. First, she blocked drinks for Jiang Zhiyu (although it was to stop the drinking), then she choked and lost her composure over Sunny's "Century Great Fusion," and now she looked like her soul had left her body, showing no interest in the heated "investment negotiations" around her.

And look at Jiang Zhiyu... although he was busy dealing with the "concern" from all sides, the glances he occasionally threw toward Kim Taeyeon seemed to carry a trace of imperceptible... attention?

With Kim Taeyeon there, was there any fear of not being able to relate to Jiang Zhiyu in the future?

This tacit understanding emerged in the minds of Yuri, Hyoyeon, and Sooyoung. They had all more or less sensed the subtle, indescribable atmosphere between Taeyeon and Jiang Zhiyu. If there was really some special connection between these two (regardless of the nature), then approaching Jiang Zhiyu and TG through Taeyeon was undoubtedly a more natural and effective path.

Therefore, their "siege" of Jiang Zhiyu stopped at the right point; they no longer insisted on getting any promises immediately, the atmosphere became relaxed and casual again, and it was more about chatting and enjoying the food.

Jiang Zhiyu had indeed drunk quite a lot tonight. From the initial "penalty drinks" to the various toasts that followed, the drink in his glass had almost never stopped. However, what made everyone secretly marvel again was that he still showed no signs of being drunk.

His complexion remained fair and clean, his eyes clear and sharp, his sitting posture upright, his logic clear when speaking, and even his movements of pouring wine and picking up food were precise and stable. If it weren't for the smell of alcohol permeating the air and the several empty glasses in front of him, one would almost suspect he was drinking water.

But alcohol didn't seem to have no effect on him.

As the alcohol he consumed evaporated in his body, the unique scent on his body seemed to become more obvious than before. It was no longer a pure fruity scent or a crisp herbal scent, but rather, after mixing with his body temperature and a little bit of alcohol, it fermented into a warmer, mellower, and even a slightly lazy, seductive aroma. That scent drifted in the air in wisps; it wasn't strong, but it had a strong presence, silently invading people's senses.

Kim Taeyeon, sitting diagonally opposite him, was captured by this scent once again.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

She had been spacing out, her thoughts drifting who knows where, but the sudden scent—familiar yet somehow changed—lingering at the tip of her nose snapped her back to reality. Subconsciously, she looked toward the source of the fragrance: Jiang Zhiyu was tilting his head slightly, talking to Hyoyeon. Under the lights, his profile was sharp and well-defined, his Adam's apple sliding gently as he spoke.

That scent, a mixture of body heat, a hint of alcohol, and his own unique essence, seemed to take on shape and temperature as it softly enveloped her. Kim Taeyeon's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably, and her throat felt strangely dry. She swallowed quietly and extremely quickly, then swiftly looked away, pretending to look down and drink water, though her earlobes uncontrollably flushed red again.

On the other side of the table, Lee Tima had completely entered a state of 'none of my business, happy eating.'

Ever since the unnies' attention shifted from barbecue and playing around to 'getting to know President Jiang,' she had keenly sensed that her roles as 'human shield' and 'atmosphere buffer' were temporarily deactivated, and Oppa could clearly handle it himself. Thus, she immediately seized the opportunity, freed her hands (and mouth), and began to tackle the delicacies before her with all her heart.

Barbecue? Grab it! Rice cakes? Grab them! Kimchi? Get some! Juice? Refill!

She ate with rapt concentration, her small mouth stuffed full and her eyes squinting happily, completely immersed in the world of food. She was deaf to the 'undercurrents' and 'business maneuvering' around her. After all, in the grand scheme of things, eating was the most important! Especially on an occasion like this where she didn't have to grill the meat herself and it tasted so good!

As for Seohyun, she was one of the few people at the table, besides Lee Tima, whose mind wasn't entirely on 'networking' or 'watching the drama.' Her goal had always been clear—a transition opportunity. Specifically, the opportunity that might come from the historical political drama script Lee Tima had mentioned.

However, in her actual interactions with Jiang Zhiyu, she encountered setbacks.

She found that her proud image and conversational style as the 'upright and serious maknae of Girls Generation' seemed to lose its usual effectiveness in front of Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu's attitude toward her was polite and thorough, but that politeness carried a sense of equal scrutiny and a faint detachment. It was as if, in his eyes, she wasn't a 'maknae senior' who needed special care, but just an ordinary artist with potential interest in collaboration. Jiang Zhiyu would give polite responses and appropriate affirmations to the topics she tried to present—showing her professionalism, seriousness, and ideas—but that was it. He showed no further interest or desire for in-depth discussion.

What made Seohyun feel even more powerless was the realization that her meager and overly obvious conversational skills were practically transparent to a conversationalist of Jiang Zhiyu's caliber. Her intention to steer the conversation toward 'creation,' 'scripts,' and 'historical themes' could be seen through almost at a glance.

But Seohyun was not one to give up easily. Especially when she had set her sights on a goal, and that goal was related to an important transition in her career.

She was unwilling to let the opportunity slip away just like that.

Even if the method was clumsy, even if her intentions were seen through, she had to try. She began to more actively search for conversational entry points, even if it was just simply asking about TG's views on the TV drama market or praising the clever conception of the script for 'the crab,' trying to catch even a trace of information about that political drama script.

Her persistence was so obvious that even Sooyoung, sitting next to her, couldn't help but gently nudge her leg under the table, signaling her not to be too impatient.

Seohyun received her unnie's reminder, but she only pursed her lips, her gaze remaining firm. She knew this might seem insufficiently mature and steady, but compared to missing a chance to change her acting path, what did a moment of 'impatience' matter?

The dinner continued in such a peculiar scene: Jiang Zhiyu handled the remaining probes with ease; Kim Taeyeon was absent-minded yet sensory-alert; Lee Tima was buried in her food; Seohyun was persistently looking for a breakthrough; and the other unnies chatted as they ate, their gazes occasionally wandering between Kim Taeyeon and Jiang Zhiyu, secretly planning for long-term 'relationship management.'

The night deepened and the plates emptied. The gathering, titled a 'celebration' but actually surging with undercurrents, seemed not far from breaking up. But the stories brewing in everyone's hearts had perhaps only just begun.

—

As the entire evening's gathering neared its end, the atmosphere shifted from lively to a kind of post-tipsy laziness and the lingering resonance of individual calculations.

Kim Taeyeon had hardly participated in the later topics, just sitting there quietly, taking small sips of the warm water (this time for real) that she had re-confirmed after Sunny 'swapped' it. Her gaze would occasionally and uncontrollably drift toward the man who, despite having drunk so much, remained composed and even emanated an even more alluring aura.

Her mind was a mess. The alcohol (though she hadn't drunk much), the discomfort from choking earlier, the lingering scent on Jiang Zhiyu, and the sight of him being surrounded by everyone all night, chatting and laughing while having very little interaction with her... all these factors mixed together like an invisible hand, desperately stirring the already unsettled waters of her heart.

Those thoughts she had tried hard to suppress—Why hasn't he contacted me? What was that 'the other party is typing' about? He hasn't even taken the initiative to say much to me tonight... Could all that care, those breakfasts, and that subtle tenderness just be politeness toward a 'senior'? Or... is he like this with everyone? —They were like sludge at the bottom of a lake, being thoroughly churned up, mixed with a dark possessiveness and grievance that she didn't even want to examine deeply.

Just then, a 'sinister' elbow quietly nudged her.

It was Sunny. Wearing that fake smile of 'I'm kindly reminding you,' she leaned close to Kim Taeyeon's ear and spoke in a volume only the two of them could hear, her voice filled with egging on and a subtle provocation:

"Taeyeon-ah, you're the leader of our Girls Generation." Sunny blinked. "You've hardly spoken all night, and you haven't even gone to talk with President Jiang. People who don't know better might think... you have a bad relationship."

She paused intentionally, observing Kim Taeyeon's instantly tightened lips and slightly stiff expression, before slowly adding:

"Go have a drink with him. Just think of it as... thanking him on behalf of Girls Generation for taking care of Yoona? Hmm?"

Although Sunny's plan to 'get Jiang Zhiyu drunk and seize Lemm' had basically been declared a failure due to his massive capacity and Kim Taeyeon's interference, Ms. Lee Soon-kyu was clearly not one to give up easily. The chance for a final strike was perhaps right before her—if she could egg Kim Taeyeon into a toast, for whatever reason, as long as Jiang Zhiyu drank, she would have an excuse to 'add more,' or at least create a bit of chaos to see if she could find an opening.

Kim Taeyeon turned her head and glanced at Sunny. Her gaze was complex, filled with annoyance, helplessness, and perhaps a trace of being flustered from having her thoughts hit on the mark. She knew Sunny was up to no good, but those words were like a key, precisely unlocking the door in her heart labeled 'reserve' and 'awkwardness.'

That's right, I'm the leader.

It really is strange not to speak all night.

And... why should I sit here being upset? Why does he get to be so composed?

The alcohol (even in small amounts) amplified her emotions and weakened her reason. That suppressed grievance, jealousy, resentment, and a certain dark impulse that had been held back all night finally found a seemingly reasonable outlet.

She didn't say anything more, but silently, with a tragic sort of determination, she picked up the glass of... what she thought was warm water in front of her.

She didn't even look down to confirm—because she remembered she had already checked it earlier, and it was warm water. Moreover, her head was now full of messy thoughts and the nervousness of about to 'face' Jiang Zhiyu, leaving her no time for anything else.

She stood up, her steps a bit unsteady due to her restless mind, but she tried to remain steady as she walked over to Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu was speaking in a low voice to Lee Tima, seemingly giving instructions for tomorrow. Sensing someone approaching, he looked up and saw it was Kim Taeyeon. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly turned into a gentle smile.

Kim Taeyeon looked at his face so close by, looked at his clear eyes (why are they still so clear after drinking so much?!), and smelled that increasingly rich fragrance that made her heart race. The grievance in her heart and that inexplicable anger flared up even more.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm, even adding a touch of sulky detachment and stiffness that she herself didn't notice:

"President Jiang."

As soon as this address came out, Jiang Zhiyu's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. It wasn't 'Zhiyu,' nor even his full name, but the formal and distant 'President Jiang.'

Kim Taeyeon didn't notice his subtle reaction, or rather, she did, and it only made her angrier. She continued in that stiff tone:

"I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Having said that, she didn't even wait for Jiang Zhiyu to raise his glass in response, nor did she look to see if he was holding tea or alcohol. As if completing a task, with a desperate sort of finality, she slammed the 'liquid' in her hand to her lips and tilted her head back—

*Gulp!*

Spicy! Pungent! A mixture of the heat of soju, the bitterness of beer, the strange cloying sweetness of unknown foreign spirits, and the violent punch of high-proof alcohol!

This wasn't warm water!! It was that damn 'Great Fusion of the Century' again!!!

Kim Taeyeon's eyes instantly widened, her pupils shrinking! Her throat and esophagus felt like they had been set on fire! The mixed liquor crashed against her senses with ferocious speed; she didn't even have time to swallow or process it!

"Mmph—!!!"

An irrepressible muffled groan, carrying pain and extreme panic, squeezed out of her throat.

She had drunk too quickly and forcefully; the liquor couldn't be swallowed in time. A large mouthful choked her at the back of her throat, mixing with saliva and a strong gag reflex, rushing toward her mouth and nasal cavity!

What was even more terrifying—

She was currently standing face-to-face with Jiang Zhiyu, less than half a meter away! She could even see the flash of bewilderment and the rapidly surging concern in his eyes.

If she couldn't control it and sprayed out this mouthful of liquid mixed with alcohol, saliva, and stomach contents...

The direction of the spray was right at Jiang Zhiyu's face!

This realization struck Kim Taeyeon's chaotic brain like a bolt of lightning.

Time seemed to stretch infinitely and freeze at this moment.

She felt that terrible liquid already surging to the tip of her tongue, felt the stinging in her nose and the burning pain in her throat, felt a violent spasm in her stomach...

And Jiang Zhiyu's handsome face, currently full of surprise and perhaps a second away from turning into horror or disgust, loomed large before her eyes.

It's over.

Kim Taeyeon's mind went blank, leaving only this one cold, clear, and emotionless thought, stamped down like a final judgment:

My life is about to end.

(Declarative sentence.)

—

(If Bubble were like this, I don't know how much more I would love her~)

(Lately, I've been brainwashed by 'Us' while scrolling through Douyin. Aren't the lyrics just about me and Ji-min? It was destiny that let me meet you~ Ji-min-ah! I will always support you! Fighting!!)

[March 8, 2026, 07:30 - First Selfie]

Outside the window was a Macau morning, sunlight streaming in through the gaps in the hotel curtains. Karina sat before the vanity mirror, her hair messy and her face bare, but her eyes were bright. She raised her phone and took a photo of the mirror.

*Click.*

She edited the photo, adding a speech Bubble:

"March 8, 2026, 7:30 AM. Macau. Awake. Concert today. It's not nervousness, it's... anyway, it's not nervousness. Don't ask."

Send.

[07:45 - First Reply Video]

Karina was still in her pajamas, sitting by the hotel bed. The Macau Tower could be seen through the window in the background.

"I slept okay last night. It's not because of you that I slept well; it's because the hotel bed is comfortable. Don't get any ideas. Today is the concert, so I'll be busy all day. Rehearsal, makeup, rehearsal, makeup, more rehearsal, more makeup. So I might not have time to message you today. Actually, not might—definitely. I can't send messages during the performance. Just wait. Wait for me to finish."

She paused, her voice softening a bit.

"13 days have become 0 days. We can meet today. Even though you'll be in the audience, it still counts as meeting. Have you arrived? If you have, find a good spot. Front row, dead center. I had someone save it for you. It wasn't specifically for you; it just happened to be the one left over. You're lucky."

Video ends.

Sent.

[08:30 - Second selfie]

After finishing breakfast, Karina stood by the hotel window and took a photo of the view. The Macau Tower was sparkling in the sunlight, and the sky was very blue.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Macau. The weather is nice. It's not because of you that the weather is nice; it was already like this. Have you arrived? If you have, stay put. If not, hurry up. The concert won't wait for anyone. I won't wait for you either. Just kidding. I'll wait. But don't be late."

Sent.

[09:15 - Second reply video]

Karina was sitting in the car on the way to the venue, talking to the camera. The street scenes of Macau flashed by outside the window.

"On the way to the venue. What am I wearing today? A black short skirt and a black crop top. I only chose them because you said black looks good last time. It wasn't specifically for you, it's... it's just that black happens to be slimming. Don't get ahead of yourself."

She looked down at her outfit.

"The crop top shows my belly. Don't look when the time comes. And even if you do, you're not allowed to say anything. If you do, I'll get angry. If I'm angry, I won't look at you. If I don't look at you, your trip was for nothing. So you'd better keep your mouth shut. Just watch, don't talk. Got it?"

Video ends.

Sent.

[10:00 - Third selfie]

Karina arrived at the Macau venue and took a photo standing by the stage. The venue was huge, the lights weren't fully on yet, and the staff were busy working.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Arrived at the venue. The stage. Do you see it? There will be a lot of people here tonight. You'll be among them. Even though it's far, I'll be able to find you. If I can't find you, I'll look slowly. Once I find you, I'll keep looking at you. Don't hide. Even if you hide, I'll still find you."

Sent.

[11:30 - Third reply video]

Karina was getting her makeup done backstage. Her hair was being held by the stylist, so she had to stay still. She glanced at the camera with her eyes.

"Getting my makeup done. Black short skirt, black crop top, black eyeshadow, black... anyway, everything is black. The black you like. It's not that I like it for you, it's just that today's look happens to be black. Don't overthink it."

She blinked.

"The eyeshadow is the glittery kind; it'll sparkle when the lights hit it. You'll be able to see my eyes shining then. Like stars. Just keep your eyes on me. Don't look at anyone else. Only look at me. Remember?"

Video ends.

Sent.

[13:00 - Fourth selfie]

With her makeup complete, Karina took a selfie in the mirror. Her black eyeshadow was sparkling, the black crop top revealed her slender waist, and the black short skirt barely covered her hips. Her hair was down with a slight curl. She turned slightly to the side, making her waistline even more prominent.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Makeup is done. Black. Crop top. Short skirt. It's not for you to see, it's for everyone to see. But you... you can take a couple extra looks. Just two looks. Any more and I'll have to charge you."

Sent.

[14:30 - Fourth reply video]

Karina, dressed in her black stage outfit, stood in the center of the stage for rehearsal. The lights hit her, and the black sequins sparkled.

"Rehearsing. Sound, lights, positioning, dancing. Over and over and over again. Are you in the audience? Not right now? As long as you're here tonight. If you're here tonight, I'll dance for you. I'll dance my best. Let you see how amazing your girlfriend is."

She suddenly realized what she had said, and her face flushed slightly.

"Girl... friend? No, I mean... forget it, I won't explain. You get it. If you don't, whatever. Anyway, that's what I meant."

Video ends.

Sent.

[16:00 - Fifth selfie]

During a break in rehearsal, Karina sat on the edge of the stage with her legs dangling. She raised her phone and took a photo of herself sitting on the stage in her black stage outfit—the black short skirt had ridden up a bit because she was sitting, revealing a portion of her thigh, and the black crop top left her waistline completely exposed.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Rehearsal is exhausting. Taking a break. The stage is a bit high. Have you ever sat on a stage? Probably not. I'm sitting on it for you. You just sit in the audience. Watch me. You're only allowed to watch me."

Sent.

[17:30 - Fifth reply video]

Karina was in the backstage dressing room, eating a simple dinner of salad and chicken breast. She looked at the camera with a slightly aggrieved expression.

"Dinner. Salad. Chicken breast. Can't eat too much before a concert, or my belly will bloat. If you see my belly bloating later, just pretend you didn't see it. You're not allowed to mention it. If you do, I'll cry. If I cry, you'll have to comfort me. If you're comforting me, you won't have time to watch the concert. So it's best not to say anything."

She poked a piece of chicken breast with her fork and took a bite.

"It doesn't taste good. But I have to eat. To have the energy to dance. To dance for you. You have to clap for me later. Shout the loudest. Make everyone else look at you. Look at you clapping for me. Then they'll know I'm yours. And you're mine. Perfect."

Video ends.

Sent.

[18:30 - Final pre-show message]

Karina stood backstage, about to go on. She raised her phone and took a final photo of herself—black short skirt, black crop top, sparkling black eyeshadow, and hair flowing down like a spirit of the night.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Going on stage now. Can't send messages during the performance. Wait for me. Wait to see me. Wait to scream for me. Wait for me to finish. I'll find you when it's over. You're in the audience, I'm on stage. But our hearts are together. When hearts are together, we are together. Wait for me."

Sent.

[19:00 - Concert begins]

Karina stepped onto the stage, the lights shining on her. Her black short skirt shimmered under the spotlights, and her black crop top revealed her slender waist with every turn. She danced, sang, and waved to the crowd below.

She was looking for that person.

Front row, dead center.

He had come.

She saw him.

She smiled briefly, then quickly turned her face away.

She couldn't let him realize she was looking at him.

But then, he noticed again.

It didn't matter.

There was still the time of an entire concert left.

[22:30 - Concert ends · First selfie]

Backstage, Karina was drenched in sweat. Her makeup was a bit smudged, and her black eyeshadow had run slightly, but her eyes were incredibly bright. She raised her phone and took a photo in the mirror.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"It's over. I'm exhausted. But I'm happy. Did you see? If you did, reply to me. If you didn't... there's no way you didn't, you were in the first row. I saw you. Don't you dare try to deny it."

Sent.

[22:45 - First reply video]

Karina sat backstage, drinking water and panting heavily. She hadn't changed out of her black stage outfit yet, and her hair was soaked, clinging to her face.

"So tired, so tired, so tired. But I'm happy. Super happy. Because you were there. Because you were in the audience. Because you were watching me. Because you screamed for me. I heard it. The one who screamed the loudest was you. No one was louder than you. You won."

She wiped away some sweat.

"Did I dance well? If I did, praise me. If I didn't, praise me anyway. I don't care, I only want to hear good things. If you don't say good things, I'll keep asking. I'll ask until you praise me. Praise me now."

Video ends.

Sent.

[23:00 - Second selfie]

Karina finally changed into casual clothes—a white T-shirt and jeans. Her hair was still damp, and though she was bare-faced, her skin was glowing. She raised her phone and took a photo in the mirror.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Changed my clothes. Took off the stage outfit. It's not for you to see, it's for comfort. But if you want to see it... I'll wear it for you next time. Specifically for you. Only for you to see. I won't let anyone else see it. Are you happy now? If you are, reply to me. Even if you aren't, reply anyway. I want you to reply no matter what."

Sent.

[23:15 - Second reply video]

Karina was sitting in the car back to the hotel, the Macau night scenery brilliant outside the window. She leaned against the seat, exhausted, but she was still smiling.

"On the way back to the hotel. So tired. But happy. How many times did I think of you today? I don't know. I didn't count. Because I was on stage the whole time, I couldn't count. But definitely many, many, many times. Because you were in the audience, I was thinking every second: Is he watching me? Does he like it? Is he screaming? Is he thinking of me?"

She yawned.

"Let me count now: from the moment I went on stage until now, I've thought of you... countless times. Uncountable. So the number of times I thought of you today is infinite. Are you satisfied? If you are, reply to me. If not, reply anyway. I want you to reply regardless."

Video ends.

Sent.

[23:45 - Third selfie]

Karina arrived at the hotel, showered, changed into her pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were the pink plush ones, a sharp contrast to the black outfit from the stage earlier.

Click.

Bubble caption:

"Back at the hotel. Finished my shower. Today's Macau concert is over. March 8th is over. Thought of you an infinite number of times today. Record complete. Are you still there? If you are, reply to me. If not... reply tomorrow. But when you reply tomorrow, you have to say sorry. Say you fell asleep today. If you don't say it, I'll be angry. If I'm angry, you'll have to comfort me. To comfort me, you'll have to think of me more. Thinking of me more makes you like me even more. So after going in a circle, it's still about liking you. So just like me directly. It's easier."

Sent.

[00:15 - Third reply video]

Karina was already incredibly sleepy, her eyes barely able to stay open, but she forced herself to record a video.

"Today... Macau... concert... success... you were there... I'm happy... super happy... universe-level happy... so happy I could fly... just like flying on stage... did you see? When I was flying... I was looking at you... only looking at you..."

She rubbed her eyes.

"No... so sleepy... but I still have to say goodnight... have to say it before I can sleep... goodnight... my Shovel Official... goodnight... my favorite person... goodnight, goodnight, goodnight... oh right... back to Seoul tomorrow... I'll think of you on the plane too... always thinking... forever thinking... infinitely thinking... infinite, infinite, infinite..."

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

Video ends.

Sent.

[00:30 - Final text reply]

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

"March 8, 2026, Macau concert. Success. You were there. I'm happy. Thought of you an infinite number of times. I love you. Goodnight. Returning to Seoul tomorrow. Remember to come pick me up. You don't have to come, but I'll be happier if you do. It's okay if you don't, but it's better if you do. You choose. But once you choose, you have to take responsibility. Taking responsibility means taking responsibility forever. Taking responsibility forever means being together forever. So just come. I'll wait for you. Goodnight."

Sent.