352: Chapter 330 보여줄게완전히달라진나!

Just as Taeyeon's mind went blank, feeling that she was about to complete a "spit-take tragedy" in front of Jiang Zhiyu and in full view of everyone that would cause her social death and perhaps even end her career—Jiang Zhiyu moved.

He was incredibly fast. Almost the exact moment Taeyeon let out a stifled groan and her body instinctively lurched forward from choking and nausea, he sprang from his seat.

He didn't hesitate, didn't show disgust, and didn't even bother looking for a tissue or container first.

He stepped forward, his body moving with a natural, irresistible force as he gently pulled the swaying Taeyeon into his embrace. At the same time, he executed a fluid turn, using his back to completely block any potential gaze from those behind them.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water, as if practiced countless times, carrying the instinct to protect something important in a moment of crisis.

The entire process was as fast as lightning, so much so that the Girls Generation members behind them only saw Taeyeon walk over to offer a toast, then Jiang Zhiyu suddenly stand up. Their figures blurred for a moment before being completely obscured by Jiang Zhiyu's broad back, followed immediately by the sound of Taeyeon's stifled choking and Jiang Zhiyu's low, rapid voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Is Taeyeon okay?"

The sisters' concerned voices rang out, but their line of sight was blocked, and they could only see Jiang Zhiyu's back.

In the narrow, private space created by his back, Jiang Zhiyu had already freed one hand and extremely quickly pulled a neatly folded dark gray handkerchief from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. The handkerchief was soft, carrying his body heat and a faint scent.

Without hesitation, he unfolded the handkerchief and gently pressed it to Taeyeon's mouth. The pressure was just right—enough to catch any potential spray of liquid, but not enough to make her feel uncomfortable.

His face was very close, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes focused and calm. His lowered voice carried an unquestionable tone of command, clearly reaching Taeyeon's buzzing ears:

"Spit it out."

Three words, concise and direct.

Taeyeon was even more confused by this sudden proximity, the feeling of being enveloped, the touch of the soft fabric on her lips, and his commanding tone. Her mouth and nasal cavity were filled with the spicy, irritating mixture of alcohol and the sensation of nausea; it was extremely uncomfortable. Her reason told her she should obey, that spitting it out would feel much better.

But—

In Taeyeon's chaotic and stubborn state of mind at that moment:

Spitting it out = staining Jiang Zhiyu's handkerchief = looking even more pathetic and embarrassed in front of him = confirming she was a clumsy senior who couldn't even drink properly and needed him to "save" her.

Swallowing it = uncomfortable, but at least keeping the last shred of dignity and image = not completely falling apart in front of him.

This simple binary choice, in Taeyeon's brain which had been turned into mush by alcohol, shock, and complex emotions, led to a crystal clear (and extremely absurd) conclusion.

How could I possibly do that!

She screamed in her heart, simultaneously mobilizing all her remaining strength and willpower, suddenly stiffening her neck, and her throat gave a violent gulp—

"Gulp!"

That terrible liquid, a mixture of the "century-level fusion," saliva, and stomach acid, was forced down, arduously and forcibly!

Throughout the process, her eyes were slightly red from physiological irritation and exertion, brimming with moisture, staring fixedly at the Jiang Zhiyu who was inches away, as if accusing him of why he would give her such a "humiliating" choice.

Jiang Zhiyu clearly felt the bob of her throat under his palm and saw the light in her eyes that was a mix of pain, stubbornness, and "refusal to yield."

His gaze sank instantly.

It wasn't anger, but a deep, complex emotion mixed with understanding and a hint of helplessness. His eyes seemed to say: "At a time like this, you still care about face? You stubborn mule."

The two maintained this slightly intimate posture—Jiang Zhiyu with one hand loosely holding her shoulder and back for support and concealment, the other hand covering her mouth with the handkerchief (even though she had already swallowed), his body leaning slightly forward, shielding her in the narrow space between him and the wall.

Time seemed to stand still for a few seconds.

This brief pause, on one hand, allowed Taeyeon to catch her breath from the harrowing choking and forced swallowing, calming her rapid heartbeat and breathing; on the other hand, Jiang Zhiyu was using his body to block, ensuring that no one behind them would see the potentially overly disheveled expression on Taeyeon's face.

He could feel the body in his arms gradually relax from its initial stiffness and slight trembling. Although her breathing was still a bit rapid, it had steadied significantly.

After a while, Taeyeon seemed to finally regain control of her body and a shred of reason. She raised her hand and pushed away Jiang Zhiyu's hand that was pressed against her mouth somewhat roughly, and also pushed away the arm he had loosely wrapped around her.

She took a small step back, widening the distance that had been too close.

Then, she looked up and glared fiercely at Jiang Zhiyu.

Those doe eyes, still shimmering with physiological redness and moisture, were now full of embarrassment, anger, grievance, and a kind of bluffing that said, "I'm already like this, what else do you want?" That look was impossible to misinterpret:

Who are you calling a stubborn mule?! You're the stubborn mule! Your whole family are stubborn mules!!

Jiang Zhiyu was amused by her glare, but looking at her face which still bore traces of pain and her slightly red-rimmed eyes, that amusement turned into deeper helplessness. He took back the handkerchief, didn't show any disgust, folded it directly, and put it back in his pocket (an action that made Taeyeon's face flush even more), then looked at her calmly.

Taeyeon took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound normal, though it still carried a trace of imperceptible trembling and hoarseness:

"I... am going to the restroom."

After saying this, she turned and wanted to leave, her footsteps still a bit unsteady.

Jiang Zhiyu said almost subconsciously, blurting out:

"Do you want me to accompany you?"

His tone was purely out of concern, worried that she had choked badly just now and had forcibly swallowed such irritating stuff, and that she might feel unwell on the way to or inside the restroom.

However, this sentence, heard by Taeyeon's highly sensitive, ashamed, angry, and alcohol-influenced ears at that moment, was simply like...

Adding fuel to the fire! No, it was throwing a bomb into a deep fryer!

Accompany me to the restroom?! The women's restroom?! You, a grown man?!

Taeyeon stopped abruptly, turned around, her entire face already red enough to drip blood, even her neck stained with a layer of pink. She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's face, which was full of innocent concern, and was both angry and anxious, blurting out indiscriminately, almost shouting (although the volume was suppressed, the tone was extremely intense):

"If you want to go to the women's restroom, you can come too!!!"

After shouting, she froze herself, seemingly shocked by her own absurd invitation. Immediately, a greater sense of shame overwhelmed her. She couldn't stay any longer and, like a startled (and angry) rabbit, rushed out of the private room without looking back, her steps slightly stumbling, sprinting in the direction of the restroom.

Leaving Jiang Zhiyu standing in place, the touch of the handkerchief and her faint scent still lingering on his hands, her earth-shattering "invitation" echoing in his ears. For the first time tonight, a truly "astonished" and "dumbfounded" expression appeared on his face.

And behind him, the sisters, who had been blocked by Jiang Zhiyu's back for a long time and had only heard sporadic parts of the conversation and that final shout of "women's restroom," were now craning their necks, their faces full of "What happened?", "What's wrong?", "Why did Taeyeon run away?", and...

The burning fire of gossip.

—

With her flushed cheeks pressed against the cold tile wall of the restroom, Taeyeon leaned against the sink, vomiting uncontrollably into the toilet.

That "century-level fusion" of mixed alcohol she had forcibly swallowed, along with the little food in her stomach, were all instinctively expelled by her body. The spicy, bitter, and sour smell filled her mouth and nasal cavity, and physiological tears flowed uncontrollably, mixed with the cold sweat seeping from her temples.

After vomiting, the empty, burning sensation in her stomach eased a little, but the dizzy feeling became even more pronounced. She struggled to stand up, moved unsteadily to the sink, turned on the faucet, and splashed the ice-cold water onto her face over and over again, trying to extinguish the heat and chaos burning from her stomach all the way to the top of her head.

However, the cold water did not bring the expected clarity.

Alcohol seemed to have merged more thoroughly into her blood after her forced suppression and violent vomiting, and it began to exert its true power. The lightheaded feeling grew stronger, the scene in front of her seemed to be separated by a layer of shaking frosted glass, and her ears were buzzing. The cold touch was only a stimulation on the surface of her skin, completely unable to calm the churning emotions deep in her brain and her increasingly uncontrollable thoughts.

That extremely shameful scene in the private room just now played back in her mind like a high-definition slow-motion video—

Herself acting like a fool, walking over with that damn cup of mixed alcohol, calling him "President Jiang" in such a stiff tone, and then almost spitting it out in front of him... being suddenly hugged by him, being covered by him with a handkerchief, hearing him command "spit it out," while she, like a stubborn mule, had forcibly swallowed it... and finally shouting that absurd "women's restroom" invitation at him...

Too embarrassing! It was simply a stain on her life!

This intense sense of shame felt like countless fine needles pricking her heart.

And the source of this shame, the culprit (in her logic at the moment)—Jiang Zhiyu, his performance in the private room tonight, also emerged uncontrollably like another set of sharply contrasting images:

The way he handled the sisters' various probings and toasts with such ease and composure.

The scene where he was surrounded, praised, and vied for collaboration by everyone because of the development potential of TG Entertainment and the projects in his hands. The sisters who usually cared for her so much looked at him with eyes full of admiration, eagerness, and perhaps... maybe something else.

Especially the maknae Seohyun.

Taeyeon's thinking was completely dominated by alcohol and emotions at this moment, magnifying all details and distorting normal judgment.

The way Seohyun took the initiative to toast, her focused eyes when she talked to Jiang Zhiyu (even if it was just a normal conversation), her meticulous and serious posture when clinking glasses... to the current Taeyeon, all of it was full of "ulterior motives" and "deliberate approaches."

Were they talking about something I don't know about? Does Seohyun also want to get something from him? A script? Investment? Or...

Immediately after, earlier scenes that she had been brooding over also jumped out—

That quiet night, when she stared at her phone, watching the "other party is typing..." suddenly appear on the chat interface, waiting with a wildly beating heart, only to end up with nothing—the disappointment and confusion.

And in her memory, the "Noona" that Jiang Zhiyu called out in various tones—sometimes the tenderness when delivering breakfast in the early morning, sometimes the seriousness when discussing music, sometimes the closeness with a hint of teasing... and the "Lemm" he had mentioned, that special gift he had promised to give her, and that phrase "in a while."

These interactions, which might have originally been just normal exchanges or unfulfilled promises, all turned into sour fuses under the fermentation of alcohol.

Then, there was the "spit it out" he said to her in that stern, calm, and unquestionable tone during the crisis.

These three words formed a glaring contrast with those gentle "Noona"s in her memory.

Finally, Im Yoona's face intruded as well.

That maknae she watched grow up was now the female lead of Jiang Zhiyu's movie. Jiang Zhiyu had written the script for "the crab" specifically for her, patiently guided her on set, and had even offered to block drinks for her just now...

Taeyeon recalled some things Jiang Zhiyu had said. Although they might have been just casual remarks or professional discussions at the time, they were now being taken out of context and distorted by her:

"If I could be closer to Yoona Noona..." (Perhaps he was talking about character understanding?)

"Water..." (Maybe he was using it as a metaphor for acting state?)

But these fragments, in her chaotic mind at this moment, automatically pieced themselves together into evidence of some kind of "special attention" and "intimate interaction."

All the images, sounds, and emotions, like an out-of-control blizzard, were spinning, colliding, and merging crazily in Taeyeon's mind.

The cold tap water slid down her wet hair and cheeks, dripping onto the edge of the sink, making a monotonous "drip" sound.

She looked up at the woman in the mirror—pale (due to vomiting), eyes red and swollen (due to crying and alcohol), hair messy, and expression lost and full of pain.

An unprecedented, sharp, and almost chest-tearing ache and grievance surged into her heart like a volcanic eruption!

She slammed her fist (though without much strength) onto the cold sink countertop, making a dull thud.

"Why..."

She screamed silently in her heart, her lips trembling slightly.

"It was clearly... me who has known him the longest! Since he was at SM!"

"It was clearly... me who has worked with him the most! 'prince ruperts drop', 'Residual Flowers', 'Taeyeon's Search'... so many songs, so many memories!"

"It was clearly... I who was the one..." (She didn't dare to continue the thought.)

"How dare he!"

The woman in the mirror's eyes became stubborn and chaotic.

"How is it that he's so at ease and good to others! So caring towards Im Yoona! So patient with Seohyun (in her opinion)! And so calm when surrounded by Sunny and the others!"

"How is it... he's so distant with me! He hasn't contacted me in so long!!"

This last thought was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing fiercely into the place she cared about most.

That blank chat interface, the vanished "other party is typing", his lively conversation with others tonight, and the scant interaction with her alone... all these details were magnified infinitely, eventually converging into a conclusion that pained her heart:

"He doesn't care about me."

"Or, he doesn't care about me as much as I thought."

The pain brought by this realization was a hundred, a thousand times more intense than the physiological discomfort of vomiting or the shame of making a scene in public earlier.

Alcohol blurred the boundaries of reason but clearly magnified the wounds of emotion.

Kim Taeyeon leaned against the cold sink, her shoulders trembling slightly, not knowing if it was because of the cold or some deeper, indescribable sadness.

Outside the restroom, the faint sounds of laughter and noise from the private room could still be heard.

And within, separated by only one door, there was only the "drip-drip" sound of a faucet not turned off tight, and a woman completely defeated by alcohol and complex emotions, licking her wounds alone.

—

When the restroom door was pushed open, the noise in the private room went eerily quiet for a moment.

Kim Taeyeon stood at the doorway.

Her footsteps were still a bit messy, making faint, unstable sounds on the wooden floor, but her posture had a strange—aura of a king returning.

Damp strands of hair clung to both sides of her cheeks, and a few loose hairs on her forehead were still dripping water, which slid down her jawline and soaked the collar of her white knit sweater.

Her face still bore the pallor of evaporating water vapor, but those eyes—

Those doe eyes, still hazy with drunkenness and moisture, were now slightly narrowed, her chin lifted slightly, carrying a kind of near-stubborn, "I've given up, so I'll go all out"... aura.

Despite her staggering steps and somewhat disheveled appearance, the way she walked toward the private room step by step inexplicably had a tough "I'm back, deal with it" vibe, which she managed to walk with the illusion of a "triumphant return."

Just at this dramatic moment—

"보여줄게 완전히 달라진 나——!!!"

(I'll show you a completely different me—!!!)

A high-pitched, powerful female voice with the aura of a revenge queen exploded in the private room without warning!

Everyone turned their heads in unison, their gazes locking onto the source of the sound like searchlights.

Lee Tima.

This little devil had already taken out her phone, holding it up in front of her with the screen facing up, aimed directly at Kim Taeyeon at the door.

She had perfectly skipped the intro of Ailee's classic revenge anthem "I Will Show You" and played straight to the most passionate, declarative climax!

And her "I don't mind making a scene" expression might as well have had "I did it on purpose, come hit me if you can" written directly on her face.

"Pfft—!!" Sunny was the first one who couldn't hold it in; she almost spat out the water she had just taken into her mouth and hurriedly covered her mouth, but her shoulders were shaking frantically.

Yuri and Hyoyeon were stunned for a moment, then also collapsed into laughter, desperately covering their mouths to keep from laughing out loud, but muffled snickers erupted one after another.

Sooyoung gave a thumbs up directly: "Tima! Well done! This BGM selection is so fitting!"

Tiffany laughed until tears came out, muttering in English: "Oh my god, this is perfect..."

Even the usually steady Seohyun couldn't help but curl her lips, her eyes full of amusement.

So fitting! Except for Kim Taeyeon herself, all the Girls Generation members were mentally giving it a massive thumbs up.

Although this scene was completely different from the song's original intent, combined with Kim Taeyeon's "disheveled yet domineering" entrance, the insertion of this song was a stroke of genius—though funny and nonsensical, the comedic effect was maxed out!

And Lee Tima, the "director," was holding her phone triumphantly, ensuring Kim Taeyeon could hear every high note.

Jiang Zhiyu glared fiercely at Lee Tima, his eyes full of the warning, "Turn that music off, you brat!"

Lee Tima received his gaze and blinked innocently, but her hand holding the phone didn't move an inch; she even turned the volume up a bit.

"보여줄게 훨씬 더 예뻐진 나——!!!"

(I'll show you a more beautiful me—!!!)

The lyrics continued, and the high notes kept soaring.

Jiang Zhiyu closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his heart already roaring: Dammit! Can this damn BGM stop already!

But now wasn't the time to deal with this little devil. He stood up abruptly and walked quickly toward Kim Taeyeon at the door; the undisguised worry on his face and his furrowed brows betrayed his true emotions at that moment.

"Noona, are you okay?" His voice was deeper than usual, carrying clear concern.

Kim Taeyeon looked at his face full of worry, at the brows furrowed because of her, at the anxiety and care in his eyes...

A strange, paranoid thought, catalyzed by drunkenness and chaotic emotions, like a vine breaking through the soil, spread and grew crazily in the bottom of her heart, instantly occupying all her thoughts:

"This person... I want him."

"Not as a junior, not as a collaborator, not as a 'special existence' that occasionally makes her heart race."

"I want him."

"I want him to look at me like this, I want him to worry about me, I want him to have only me in his eyes."

"I want... to possess him."

This thought came so suddenly, so strongly, so unreasonably, yet it allowed Kim Taeyeon's brain, which had been chaotic from drunkenness, to strangely find a clear, exciting goal.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, and a smile slowly appeared on her pale face.

That smile carried a bit of mystery, a bit of certainty, and a hint of secret determination that only she understood. It was as if the woman who had been so disheveled and distraught in the restroom just now had truly completed some kind of transformation.

"I'm fine," she said softly, her voice still a bit hoarse, yet carrying a strange sense of reassurance.

Jiang Zhiyu frowned and was just about to open his mouth to say something—

"너에게 보여줄래——!!!"

(I want to show you—!!!)

The climax came again! And it was on loop! Ailee's high notes collided back and forth in the small private room, making people's eardrums buzz.

Lee Tima's smile was as bright as a flower, and the music player interface on her phone screen showed the "Single Loop" icon.

Jiang Zhiyu only felt his temples throbbing, and a rush of blood pressure shot straight to his head. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes abruptly, and let out the most desperate, teeth-gritting scream of the night in his heart:

"Dammit!!!!"

"This BGM! Can it! Stop playing!!!"

"This is killing me!!!"

Behind him, the laughter of the Girls Generation sisters could no longer be suppressed, mixing with the high-pitched singing of "I Will Show You," forming an epic, chaotic, and hilarious absurd scene of "Kim Taeyeon returns drunk, BGM provides crazy assist."

Only Kim Taeyeon, looking at Jiang Zhiyu's face—distorted by the BGM (worry + anger + helplessness) yet still handsome enough to make her heart race—felt the "I want him" thought in her heart, as if empowered by the song, become even more determined and crazy.

—

(Confess to Karina once a day! You are the most amazing, most beautiful, most adorable baby!)

[March 9, 2026 08:30 - First Selfie]

Clouds outside the window. Karina sat by the plane window and took a photo of the sea of clouds outside. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, a vast whiteness, blinding yet gentle.

Click.

She edited the photo and added a speech bubble:

"March 9, 2026, 8:30 AM. On the plane. Returning to Seoul. I slept too soundly last night and didn't have time to dream. It's not because you weren't there that I didn't dream; I was just too tired. Don't overthink it."

Send.

[08:45 - First Reply Video]

Karina leaned back in the airplane seat, wearing a mask, revealing only her eyes. Her eyes were a bit swollen; it was from being tired last night.

"On the plane. Returning to Seoul. The concert last night was too tiring; I slept until now. Did you sleep well last night? Never mind, you don't have to tell me. I was just asking casually. Really, just casually."

She yawned and quickly covered her mouth.

"Macau is pretty good. But Seoul is still better. Because you are in Seoul. No, I mean, because Seoul is my home. Don't get ahead of yourself. Although you are also in Seoul, that's not the main reason. It's a secondary reason. The most secondary kind."

Video ends.

Send.

[10:15 - Second Selfie]

The plane landed. Karina walked out of the airport, raised her phone, and took a photo of the sky. The sky in Seoul was gray and cloudy, completely different from the sunny weather in Macau.

Click.

Bubble text:

"Arrived in Seoul. It's overcast. It's not overcast because of you; it was already like this. Did you come? If not, forget it. If you did... forget it too. Anyway, I can go home by myself."

Send.

[10:40 - Second Reply Video]

Karina sat in the van, the streetscape of Seoul slowly receding outside the window. She took off her mask; she was bare-faced, but her skin was still very good.

"On the way home. Tired. But it's okay. You said you'd come pick me up last night? I didn't see you. You liar. Forget it if you're a liar. Anyway, I wasn't really waiting for you. Really not."

She paused, her voice getting a little quieter.

"Did you really not come? Or did you come and I didn't see you? If you came, tell me now. If you didn't... tell me if you didn't too. I want to write it down. I'll settle the score later."

Video ends.

Send.

[11:30 - Third Selfie]

Karina arrived home; the first thing she did was pounce onto the bed. She raised her phone and took a photo of herself lying on the bed—sprawled out like a starfish, her face buried in the pillow.

Click.

Bubble text:

"Home. The first thing I did was pounce on the bed. The second thing is thinking of you. No, that's wrong, the first thing is thinking of you, the second thing is pouncing on the bed. Also wrong, it's thinking while pouncing. Anyway, I thought of you. Did you think of me? If you did, reply to me. If you didn't, think of me now. Immediately. Right now."

Send.

[12:00 - Third Reply Video]

Karina lay on the bed, her hair messy, her face pressed against the pillow, speaking a bit vaguely.

"So tired. But happy. Because the concert was a success. Because you are there. Because I can talk to you now. Have you eaten? What did you eat? Show me a photo. If you don't show me... I'll imagine you're eating too. We'll eat together; even though we aren't together, eating at the same time counts as being together. Right?"

She turned over and lay there holding her phone.

"What am I eating today? Haven't decided yet. What's in the fridge? Don't know. I'll check later. You help me decide. It's okay if you choose wrong, I'll blame you anyway. If you choose right... I'll reward you by letting you treat me to a meal next time. How about that? Isn't that fair?"

Video ends.

Send.

[12:45 - Fourth Selfie]

Karina walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and took a photo of the ingredients inside—eggs, green onions, kimchi, tofu, pork belly, zucchini, bean sprouts, rice cakes, and a little leftover fried rice from yesterday.

Click.

Bubble text:

"Fridge. Look, there's kimchi, tofu, pork belly, rice cakes. What should I make? You choose. If you choose, I'll make it. When it's done, I'll show you. Seeing it counts as eating it. So you're full too. You're welcome."

Send.

[13:15 - Fourth Reply Video]

Karina recorded a video while chopping vegetables. She was wearing loungewear today, a light gray cotton set, her hair tied up in a messy bun.

"Making kimchi tofu soup. You chose it. It wasn't my choice, it was yours. You have to take responsibility. Responsible for finishing it. Even though you can't eat it, you have to imagine you did. The more realistic you imagine it, the better. Imagine I'm feeding you. Open up—ah—there, you ate it. Is it good? If it's good, that's right. Even if it's not good, you have to say it is. Because I made it."

She sliced the tofu and put it into the pot.

"Just got back from Macau today, so tired. But I still have to cook. Because I'm hungry. Are you hungry too? If you're hungry, go eat. You aren't allowed to go hungry. If you're hungry, my heart aches. When my heart aches, I feel miserable. When I feel miserable, I look for you. When I look for you, you have to coax me. So, to keep me from looking for you, you have to eat well. This is an order. Not a request. It's an order. You must obey."

Video ended.

Sent.

[14:00 - Fifth Selfie]

The soup was ready. Karina set out the soup, rice, and kimchi, and took a photo. The soup was red, steaming, and looked very appetizing.

Click.

Bubble caption: "Lunch is ready. Kimchi tofu soup. Looks alright, right? It's not for you to see, just a record. You just look at it. Don't say anything."

Sent.

[14:30 - Fifth Reply Video]

Karina recorded a video while eating. She scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and drank it slowly.

"Delicious. Guess what? The first meal back from Macau, I made it myself. Impressive, right? If it's impressive, praise me. If you praise me, I'll have more energy. With more energy, I can make more delicious food. Making more delicious food means I can show you more. Showing you more means you'll miss me more. Missing me more means you'll like me more. A virtuous cycle."

She picked up a piece of tofu.

"Tofu. Soft and tender. Doesn't it look like me? If you think so, you're right. When you eat tofu, you'll think of me. Thinking of me makes you happy. Happiness means eating more. Eating more means getting chubby. Getting chubby means being cuter. Being cuter means being liked more. Liking means missing more. Missing means loving more. Loving means forever. Forever, forever, forever."

Video ended.

Sent.

[15:15 - Sixth Selfie]

After eating, Karina lay on the sofa to digest. She raised her phone and took a picture of herself curled up on the sofa—the whole person huddled in a ball, hugging a pillow.

Click.

Bubble caption: "Finished eating. Lying down. What are you doing this afternoon? I don't know. What are you doing? Tell me. I want to know. I want to know everything about you. What you ate, what you drank, who you met, whether you're happy or not, whether you're tired. Tell me everything. No leaving anything out. If you leave something out, I'll ask. I'll ask until you tell me everything."

Sent.

[15:45 - Sixth Reply Video]

Karina lay on the sofa, holding her phone up, in a slightly strange position.

"Nothing to do this afternoon. Resting. Training starts again tomorrow. There are still many concert dates left. Will you come? If you come, tell me. If you don't come, tell me too. If you don't come, I'll... I'll be angry. If I'm angry, I'll make you coax me. Coaxing me means you have to think about me more. Thinking about me more means I'll like you even more. So you'd better come. It saves trouble."

She turned over.

"How many times have I thought of you today? So far, five times. Once on the plane this morning, once when I got home, once while cooking, once while eating, and once just now. There's still the whole afternoon, so I can think about you more. Today's goal is fifteen times. Do you think I can do it? If you think so, nod. If not, nod anyway. Either way, I can. I have confidence in myself. I have even more confidence in you. Because you're worth thinking about fifteen times a day. Twenty times. One hundred times. Infinite times."

Video ended.

Sent.

[16:30 - Seventh Selfie]

Karina stood up and walked to the window, taking a photo of the view outside. It was an afternoon in Seoul, the sky was still gray, and you could see the mountains in the distance.

Click.

Bubble caption: "Outside the window. Afternoon in Seoul. Gray and gloomy. No sun like in Macau. But that's okay, I have you. As long as you're here, it's fine. Wherever you are, it's a sunny day. Even when you're not here, it's still a sunny day. Because I miss you. When I miss you, it's sunny in my heart."

Sent.

[17:15 - Seventh Reply Video]

Karina sat by the window, hugging her knees, looking outside.

"You know, coming back from Macau, things feel different. Because you were there. Even though you've been in Seoul the whole time, I could still see you in Macau. I could see you on stage. I could see you in the audience. I could see you in my dreams. You're everywhere. Are you omnipresent? If you are, that's right. You are my air. I can't live without you. So you have to be here always. Forever. Infinitely."

She turned her head to the camera.

"Am I being a bit cheesy today? If it's cheesy, that's right. I'm going for a cheesy route today. You aren't allowed to run away. If you run, I'll chase. If I can't catch you, I'll keep chasing. I'll chase until I catch you. Anyway, I have plenty of time. A lifetime. If a lifetime isn't enough, then the next life. If the next life isn't enough, then forever. Forever, forever, forever."

Video ended.

Sent.

[18:00 - Eighth Selfie]

Karina started preparing dinner. She opened the fridge and took a photo of the ingredients inside—eggs, green onions, kimchi, pork belly, zucchini, bean sprouts, rice cakes. There was a little bit of kimchi soup left from lunch, so she could cook ramen tonight.

Click.

Bubble caption: "Dinner: Leftover soup with ramen. Simple. But delicious. What are you having for dinner? Take a photo and show me. If you don't... I'll imagine you're eating ramen too. We'll eat together; even though we aren't together, if we eat ramen at the same time, it counts as being together. Right?"

Sent.

[18:45 - Eighth Reply Video]

Karina recorded a video while cooking ramen. The water in the pot was bubbling away.

"Cooking ramen. It smells so good. Can you smell it? If not, never mind. When you come, I'll cook ramen for you every day. Shin Ramen, jajangmyeon, seafood noodles, udon. I can make them all. Although I only know a few, I can learn. For you, I'm willing to learn anything. If I can't learn it, I'll keep learning. I'll learn until I can. I'll learn 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 you look happy eating the food I made... that's when I'm happiest."

She cracked an egg into it.

"Adding an egg. More nutritious. You have to add an egg too. If you don't... I'll add one for you. Add two. I'll feed you until you're chubby. Chubby is cuter. Cuter means liked more. Liking means missing more. Missing means loving more. Loving means forever. Forever, forever, forever."

Video ended.

Sent.

[19:30 - Ninth Selfie]

Dinner was ready. Karina set out the ramen, leftover soup, and kimchi, and took a photo. The ramen was steaming, the soup was red, and it looked very appetizing.

Click.

Bubble caption: "Dinner is ready. Ramen. Seeing it is the same as eating it. So you're full now too. You're welcome. Next time, just treat me to a real meal. When? You say. I'm always free. Free every day. As long as it's you, I'm always free."

Sent.

[20:15 - Ninth Reply Video]

Karina finished eating and lay on the sofa. The sky outside was completely dark, and you could hear the sound of cars in the distance.

"Finished eating. So full. I don't want to do anything now, just want to lie here. Just want to talk to you. If we don't talk, that's fine too, just staying like this. As long as you're here, it's fine. When you're here, I feel at ease. At ease means 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. The most important, the most important. More important than anything. More important than ramen. More important than kimchi. More important than Macau. More important than the concert. More important than anything. You are the most important. The most, most important. The most important in the universe."

She turned over.

"You know, how many times have I thought of you today? I counted. So far, fourteen times. There's still the night, I can think of you more. I'll definitely hit today's goal of fifteen times. Maybe even exceed it. If I exceed it, is there a reward? If there isn't, that's okay too. Anyway, I think of you voluntarily. I don't need a reward. But if you have a reward, I'll take it. I'll take any reward. Once I take it, you're mine. You already are. So a reward or not, it's all fine."

Video ended.

Sent.

[21:00 - Tenth Selfie]

Karina stood up and walked to the window, taking a photo of the night view outside. You couldn't see any stars in the Seoul night sky tonight, but the buildings in the distance had their lights on, and Namsan Tower was lit up too.

Click.

Bubble caption: "Seoul tonight. No stars. But there are lights. Lights are also stars. Stars on the ground. You are also a star on the ground. The brightest one. As soon as I look up, I can see it. When I see it, I think of you. When I think of you, I'm happy. When I'm happy, I have a good mood for the whole day. Perfect."

Sent.

[21:45 - Tenth Reply Video]

Karina finished showering, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were that light purple cotton set, so soft.

"Today, March 9th, is almost over. Time flies so fast. How many times have I thought of you today? I counted. Eighteen times. Three more than the goal of fifteen. Impressive, right? If it's impressive, praise me. If you praise me, I'll work harder. Working harder means I can think 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.

"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 well. If I say it, I can sleep well. If I sleep well, I can keep thinking of you tomorrow. So, goodnight. Goodnight, my poop-scooper. Goodnight, my sun. Goodnight, my favorite person. Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight."

Video ended.

Sent.

[22:15 - Eleventh Selfie]

Karina lay in bed, with only her face showing. She raised her phone and took a photo of herself buried under the covers with only her eyes visible.

Click.

Bubble caption: "In bed. Getting ready to sleep. Today's weather: overcast, 5 to 11 degrees. Tomorrow's weather: cloudy, 6 to 12 degrees. A little warmer. But you still need to dress warmly. 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 be uncomfortable. So you have to be obedient. Dress warmly. Eat well. Sleep well. Because you are mine. I have to take good care of my things. If you can't take care of yourself, leave it to me to take care of you. I'll take care of you. Take care of you for a lifetime. Take care of you forever. Take care of you infinitely."

Sent.

[22:30 - Eleventh Reply Video]

Karina was almost asleep, her voice groggy, and she couldn't even open her eyes.

"Tomorrow... Tuesday... you have work... I have training... we'll both work hard... but our hearts are together... hearts together means we're 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 turned over.

"Goodnight... goodbye March 9th... hello March 10th... on March 10th I'll miss you even more... miss you more every day... miss you more forever... infinite cycle... infinite liking... infinite, infinite, infinite... oh right... tomorrow's weather... cloudy... 6 to 12 degrees... a little warmer... but still have to dress warmly... I'll check... if you don't dress warmly I'll be angry... if I'm angry I'll make you coax me... coaxing me means you have to think of me more... thinking of me more means I like you more... so it goes in a circle and I still like you... so just liking you directly is fine... saves trouble..."

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

Video ended.

Sent.

[22:45 - Final Text Reply]

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

"March 9, 2026, the eighteenth time I've thought of you today. Back from Macau, but my heart is still in Macau. Because you were there. No, you're in Seoul. Macau is a memory, Seoul is the present. You in the present, I miss you. Always missing you. Forever missing you. Infinitely missing you. Infinite, infinite, infinite. I love you. Goodnight."

Sent.