355: Chapter 331: The only way to go abroad is to resign! QAQ!

After Kim Taeyeon sat back down, the atmosphere in the private room, which had become subtle due to that song "I Will Show You" and Lee Tima's prank, seemed to gradually settle as the music volume was turned down.

But she herself had fallen into an even stranger state.

She sat in her seat, her hands neatly placed on her knees, her eyes staring straight at the plate in front of her — the plate contained half a piece of cold grilled meat and a few slices of kimchi.

Her gaze was empty yet focused, as if the truth of the universe were hidden in that plate of leftovers.

It was also as if she were looking at nothing, just spacing out, or perhaps... thinking about something important.

Around her, the older sisters were already animatedly discussing the "next round."

"Let's go for a second round! It's not easy for us to get together like this!" Hyoyeon said enthusiastically.

"I have a schedule tomorrow..." Seohyun hesitated, but her eyes glanced toward Jiang Zhiyu, and she seemed a bit swayed.

"Oh, just drink a little less!" Yuri said, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. "How about we go to karaoke? It's been a long time since I've heard Taeyeon sing!"

Sooyoung and Tiffany had already started discussing which place would be more suitable.

Sunny's eyes darted around; while chiming in, she observed the movements of Kim Taeyeon and Jiang Zhiyu — although her "Lemm Drunken Signing Plan" had basically been declared a failure, the fun of watching the show had just begun.

Im Yoona sat at the head of the table, sipping hangover tea, but her gaze drifted toward Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Taeyeon from time to time, uncontrollably.

Since that brief "intimate shielding" and the subsequent "Queen's entrance," the two hadn't exchanged a word.

Jiang Zhiyu had returned to his seat and was whispering something to Lee Tima (probably scolding her for playing music randomly), while Kim Taeyeon... was just sitting there spacing out.

Im Yoona felt an indescribable stuffiness in her heart, which she attributed to drinking too much alcohol.

And the focus of everyone's subtle attention — Jiang Zhiyu — was not currently focused on the sisters discussing the "next round."

He sat diagonally across from Kim Taeyeon, with Seohyun, who was looking down at her phone replying to messages, in between them.

He handled the occasional questions thrown his way while observing the woman who had been unusually quiet since returning, using his peripheral vision.

Her wet hair was already half-dry, and a few stray strands clung to her fair cheeks.

The lines of her profile were soft and blurred under the lights, making it impossible to tell her expression.

But what caught Jiang Zhiyu's attention was that ever since he sat back in this seat, he could faintly smell a fragrance that was mixed into his own scent yet existed independently — it was the unique scent on Kim Taeyeon, a mix of body wash and her own natural aura.

When he held her just now, that scent had been pressed tightly against his chest, and at this moment, it seemed to still linger on his clothes, and even... in deeper places.

He subconsciously took a deep breath.

Then, he noticed something even stranger.

The scent on Kim Taeyeon, originally a mix of light alcohol and perfume, seemed to be having some sort of strange reaction with the scent on his own body.

He had already drunk quite a bit of alcohol today, his body temperature was slightly higher than usual, his metabolism had accelerated, and the unique body scent on him was richer and more aggressive than usual.

The scent, which many had originally described as a "full, fruity sweetness," seemed to have undergone a slow qualitative change tonight, catalyzed by alcohol and elevated body temperature.

The sweet, cloying surface layer gradually evaporated, revealing a clearer, deeper layer underneath — like crushed cedar branches and leaves, mixed with the sap of grass after the rain, carrying a faint, elusive herbal bitterness, yet it was damnably alluring.

Jiang Zhiyu felt this change vaguely, but he didn't care.

But at this moment, the alcohol made Kim Taeyeon's brain reaction sluggish while infinitely magnifying her senses.

She stared at the plate, her gaze unfocused.

But the fragrance lingering at the tip of her nose, becoming clearer and clearer, was like invisible threads, strand by strand, hooking her soul and capturing her spirit.

That scent... had changed.

It was different from the "fruity sweetness" of that morning in her memory, and different from the "warm blend" outside the restroom just now.

What was drifting over now was a scent that was clearer, deeper, and also more... dangerous.

It was like a herb in the deep mountains that no one had picked, carrying primitive wildness and bitterness; or like the first wisp of cold yet clean air that hits your face when you open the window on a winter morning.

But damn it, why did it smell so good?

Kim Taeyeon's throat bobbed uncontrollably.

Her gaze, which had been blankly staring at the plate, began to slowly, uncontrollably, move toward the direction from which the scent was drifting.

A blurry silhouette appeared in her field of vision, then gradually became clear.

Jiang Zhiyu was slightly turned, seemingly listening to what Seohyun next to him was saying.

The lines of his profile were smooth, and his brows and eyes were incredibly soft under the lights.

But Kim Taeyeon's gaze slid downward uncontrollably — to his neck.

Because he had been drinking, and because of the earlier commotion, Jiang Zhiyu's body temperature was slightly higher than normal, and a very thin, almost invisible layer of fine sweat had seeped out on his neck.

Under the warm yellow light of the private room, that patch of skin exposed above his shirt collar appeared exceptionally fair and warm, even glowing with a faint luster, like high-quality mutton-fat jade that had been carefully polished and then soaked in warm oil.

And the source of that alluring scent, which haunted her dreams and had now completely transformed into a clear herbal fragrance, seemed to be exactly there.

Kim Taeyeon's brain completely crashed.

Reason, image, the occasion, the "the other party is typing," the grievances and unwillingness... all were shattered by that fragrance and that neck, leaving only the most primitive, most instinctive impulse.

She wanted to get closer.

She wanted to smell it more clearly.

She wanted to... taste it.

Once this thought appeared, it was like a wildfire, impossible to suppress any longer.

Just as everyone was discussing the "next round" heatedly, and Yuri had even started using her phone to search for nearby karaoke bars —

Kim Taeyeon stood up abruptly.

Her movements were a bit strange, carrying the abruptness and stiffness peculiar to a drunk person, yet revealing an unquestionable, almost paranoid determination.

"Taeyeon? What's wrong?" Tiffany next to her was startled and subconsciously reached out to steady her.

But Kim Taeyeon ignored her; her eyes stared straight in one direction, her steps were a bit unsteady, but she walked toward Jiang Zhiyu with a clear goal.

Everyone stopped discussing, their gazes following her in unison.

Jiang Zhiyu also noticed the movement; he turned his head and saw Kim Taeyeon walking straight toward him in a strange posture.

Her face was slightly flushed, her eyes dazed yet surprisingly focused, her gaze seemingly glued to a certain spot on him.

"Noona?" Jiang Zhiyu stood up, reaching out with concern to steady her. "Are you okay..."

Before he could finish, Kim Taeyeon had already reached him.

She didn't stop like before, nor did she look at his outstretched hand.

She continued to lean in.

Her head went lower and lower, closer and closer.

Jiang Zhiyu's pupils dilated slightly; he subconsciously wanted to step back, but the chair was behind him, and there was nowhere to retreat.

Kim Taeyeon's face got closer and closer to his neck.

He could see her trembling eyelashes, see her lips slightly parted from breathing, and see the strange expression on her face — a battle between heaven and man, yet a desperate gamble — her lips pressed tightly, brows slightly furrowed, her eyes carrying a "screw it, I'm going for it" sense of determination.

Her head was almost pressed against his neck and collarbone!

Her warm, alcohol-scented breath could already be clearly felt on the skin of his neck, inciting a layer of tiny shivers.

Jiang Zhiyu's breathing also became disordered.

He stood stiffly, his brain racing, trying to understand the scene before him, but the alcohol and this sudden intimate distance made his reaction slower than usual by half a beat.

He could only barely manage to speak, his voice carrying a hoarseness and uncertainty that even he hadn't noticed:

"Noona...???"

The voice contained a hint of inquiry, a hint of confusion, and a hint of... a dangerous premonition.

Kim Taeyeon heard his voice.

The voice was very close, so close it felt like it was ringing right in her ear.

This voice, combined with the images surging in her mind, the fragrance lingering at the tip of her nose, and the fair, alluring neck in her eyes, completely merged into one.

It was the person she wanted.

It was the scent she wanted.

It was the thing she... had wanted to do for a long time.

Alcohol gave her the courage to have that last sliver of hesitation completely crushed.

She no longer looked at his face, her gaze locked firmly on that fair, warm neck that haunted her dreams and exuded an intensely alluring fragrance.

The thin sweat from his elevated body temperature made that patch of skin appear more moist under the lights, and more... delicious.

Like a top-tier dessert, freshly baked and drizzled with honey.

She felt an urgent desire to take a bite.

She wanted to know if it was really... that juicy.

An incredibly crazy thought exploded in her mind:

"I've wanted to do this for a long time!!!"

Then —

She lunged forward, and her lips pressed directly onto it!

It wasn't a light touch.

It was with a certain force, a release after being suppressed for so long, almost like a catharsis.

Her lips first pressed against that warm skin, feeling the clear fragrance that drove her crazy surge into her nasal cavity even more intensely, feeling the slight pulsation of blood flowing beneath the skin, and feeling the muscle tension from his nervousness.

Following that, a more instinctive impulse, which even she hadn't realized, took control of her.

Her lips parted slightly, not for a kiss, but with a force akin to sucking, she latched onto that patch of skin.

Her soft tongue swept over it unconsciously, tasting a faint, strange flavor that was mixed with sweat, alcohol, and that unique body scent — slightly salty yet with a lingering sweetness.

Sweet.

Why was it so sweet?

This thought flashed through her chaotic mind, and then it was drowned out by even stronger sensory stimulation.

And Jiang Zhiyu —

His body, at the moment of contact, was like being struck by lightning; he went completely rigid!

A warm, soft sensation pressed against his neck, followed by an even stronger, sucking sensation, and that strange shiver from the moist, soft tongue sweeping across...

His pupils dilated instantly, his brain going blank.

In the private room, at this second, it fell into a strange, absolute silence.

Then —

"Ah——!!!"

Sunny's first scream pierced the silence.

Following that were gasps and exclamations of varying volumes, all filled with shock:

"Ahhhhh!!!"

"Kim Taeyeon, what are you doing!!!"

"Mwoya!!!"

"Are you crazy!!!"

"Oh my god!!!"

Lee Tima's phone fell to the floor with a "clatter," but she didn't care about picking it up at all; her small mouth was open in an 'O' shape, her eyes wide, and her face was filled with the shock and ecstasy of "what earth-shattering gossip have I just witnessed."

Amidst the chaotic exclamations, someone (it sounded like Yuri?) blurted out a sentence, which, although inappropriate, accurately expressed everyone's absurd and chaotic mood at that moment:

"What is this! Is it Vampire Taeyeon?!"

Once these words were out, some couldn't help but want to laugh, but in this atmosphere of extreme shock, that laughter got stuck in their throats and turned into a strange whimper.

"Why are you thinking about that now! Is that the point?!" someone else (Hyoyeon?) shouted in a breakdown.

In the chaos, no one noticed Im Yoona's reaction.

She was sitting not far away, witnessing the whole process.

From Kim Taeyeon standing up, to her walking toward Jiang Zhiyu, to her leaning in, to her lips pressing onto that neck...

Every detail was clearly reflected in her eyes.

Her hands had unknowingly clenched into fists.

Her nails dug hard into her palms, sending a sharp, stinging pain.

That pain was clear, but compared to the suffocating feeling in her chest, which had suddenly tightened as if someone had grabbed it hard, this stinging pain was almost negligible.

She watched Jiang Zhiyu's stiff figure, watched Kim Taeyeon's head pressed against his neck, watched the shocked and chaotic reactions of the sisters around her...

She said nothing, even maintaining a dazed expression on her face.

But deep in her eyes, something was rapidly cooling and settling, turning into a dark color that she herself hadn't fully understood yet.

And that stinging pain persisted.

In the center of the chaos, Jiang Zhiyu finally regained a sliver of control over his body from his rigidity.

He could clearly feel that strange sensation on his neck — first the soft, warm pressure, then the more intense sucking, like being licked and firmly latched onto by a stubborn kitten, bringing a strange feeling of intertwined stinging and numbness.

He didn't know how to react.

Push her away?

She was drunk.

Let her be?

This...

Just as his brain was chaotic and his body rigid, everyone finally reacted from their initial shock and rushed over, screaming — to be precise, Sunny and Yuri took the lead, grabbing Kim Taeyeon's shoulders and arms, trying to "peel" her off Jiang Zhiyu.

"Taeyeon! Taeyeon, wake up!"

"Yah! What are you doing!"

"Let go! No, pull away!"

The two combined their strength and finally pulled Kim Taeyeon, who was still immersed in "tasting," away from Jiang Zhiyu.

Kim Taeyeon was pulled away, her body staggering, but her eyes remained dazed, carrying the confusion and puzzlement peculiar to being drunk.

She looked at the group of sisters in front of her with their varied expressions (shock, excitement, amusement, worry), and then at Jiang Zhiyu, who was clutching his neck after being "attacked" by her, his expression too complex to describe...

Then, she blinked, and with a tone that was naturally yet eerily innocently confused, she said something that shocked everyone present once again:

"Why... is it so sweet?"

"Sweet? What do you mean? Jiang Zhiyu?"

This question popped into everyone's mind almost simultaneously.

Everyone's gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, shifted in unison from Kim Taeyeon's face to Jiang Zhiyu—

To be precise, to the spot on his neck that had just been "ravaged" by Kim Taeyeon.

Jiang Zhiyu still had his hand covering it, but between his fingers, a distinct red mark was already faintly visible.

On that fair neck, the red mark appeared exceptionally striking, exceptionally... ambiguous.

The shape, the color, the faint traces slightly seeping under the skin...

"Wow..." Hyoyeon gasped, her expression vivid, "Kim Taeyeon, you... how much force did you use to suck it like that!"

As soon as these words came out, several people's faces turned red in a flash.

Sucked like that? This phrase, when combined, instantly exploded with countless inappropriate images in everyone's mind.

Everyone looked at that bright red mark, which could almost be called a "medal," then at Kim Taeyeon, who looked clueless as if she had no idea what had happened, and then at Jiang Zhiyu, who was covering his neck, his ears bright red, and his expression completely shattered...

A complex emotion mixed with shock, absurdity, and (absolutely unadmitted) excitement and schadenfreude surged wildly in everyone's heart.

Sunny was the first to react. She grabbed Kim Taeyeon, who was still being supported by Yuri, and with a "sincere" expression of apology that held no hint of repentance, she said to the sisters who were casting accusatory (?) looks:

"Oh my! It's my fault, it's my fault! Taeyeon is drunk! Why did I let her drink that 'Century Fusion'? She's usually fine with just soju! It's all my fault! It's all my fault!"

She was apologizing, but her eyes, curved into crescents, clearly sparkled with the wild joy of "Well done!" and "This show tonight was worth it!"

And the targets of her "apology"—Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Tiffany, and even Seohyun, who was standing a little further away—received a signal that was crystal clear:

That look, translated, meant:

"Sisters! Is this gossip big? Is it sweet? Is it worth me taking the blame!"

So, they all chimed in:

"Exactly, exactly! Sunny, you went too far! How could you let Taeyeon drink that mixed alcohol!"

"Taeyeon's tolerance isn't good to begin with, aren't you just setting her up!"

"Quick, help Taeyeon go rest!"

But the looks they gave Sunny, and the glances they occasionally threw at the red mark on Jiang Zhiyu's neck, were clearly the same as Sunny's—

Sparkling with eerie excitement, a tacit "I get it," and a hint of gratitude for "thanking heaven for letting me come tonight."

In the entire private room, except for Jiang Zhiyu, whose brain was still in reboot mode after being "attacked," and Kim Taeyeon, who was being supported by Lee Tima with eyes still hazy but seemingly holding a bit of bewilderment and aftertaste, everyone's inner monologue was complex enough to film an eighty-episode drama.

And Im Yoona remained in her seat, not participating in the chaotic scene of "denouncing Sunny."

Her fist was still tightly clenched.

The stinging pain in her palm was still clear.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, surrounded by everyone and seemingly not yet fully recovered, looked at that glaring red mark on his neck, and looked at Kim Taeyeon, who was half-held by Sunny with a clueless expression...

The mass of cold, settled dark matter in her heart seemed to have become heavier.

This chaotic and out-of-control night was destined to leave an indelible mark in everyone's memory.

And that strawberry-like red mark seemed to be silently proclaiming something—

Something that had been lurking beneath the surface had finally broken through.

(I was supposed to apply for a passport, but now it's fine, the boss said they're collecting entry-exit documents, so no need to apply, hahaha! Looking like I'm smiling, but actually, I've already gone crazy. Then what was all that hard work I did day and night on the credit score tasks for???)

[March 10, 2026 06:35 - First Selfie]

The sky outside was just beginning to brighten; in the gray-blue morning light, the sound of birds chirping in the distance could be heard. Karina stretched her hand out from under the quilt and took a picture of the window. There was a bit of last night's mist on the glass, blurring the world outside.

Click.

She squinted to edit, adding a speech bubble to the photo:

"March 10, 2026, 6:35 AM. Tuesday. Woke up. The first thought was you. I didn't mean to think of you, it just popped up on its own. Don't get cocky."

Sent.

[06:42 - First Reply Video]

Karina was still lying in bed, her hair messy on the pillow, her voice raspy and filled with the laziness of just waking up.

"I dreamed of you last night. I dreamed you came to my house to make me breakfast. Fried eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee. You were wearing my pink apron, it was hilarious. I wanted to take a picture, but my phone died, and then I woke up. It's all your fault for making me wake up halfway through the dream. You have to take responsibility. How? Appear at my door right now, immediately, and make me real breakfast. Can't come? Then make me breakfast through the screen. Hurry up, I'm waiting."

She yawned, pulled the quilt up, revealing only half her face.

"I'll get up in five minutes. You lie with me. Call me when five minutes are up. If you don't call... I'll lie for another five minutes. Anyway, it's Tuesday, you have work too, let's laze in bed together. Although we're not together, lying in bed at the same time counts as being together. Right?"

Video ended.

Sent.

[06:55 - Second Selfie]

Karina finally climbed out of bed and walked to the window to open the curtains. The sky had brightened; it was cloudy today, and sunlight occasionally leaked through the gaps in the clouds, casting moving spots of light on the floor.

Click.

Caption:

"Woke up. It's cloudy today, 6 to 12 degrees. The sun comes out occasionally. Doesn't it look like you? Appearing occasionally, then disappearing. When you appear, I'm happy; when you disappear, I wait. Waiting and waiting. Waiting for you to appear next time. Waiting for you to appear constantly. Waiting for you to appear forever. Waiting for you to be by my side forever."

Sent.

[07:10 - Second Reply Video]

Karina finished washing her face and recorded a video in front of the mirror. Her face still had water droplets, her bare face glowing; today she was wearing that milky white hoodie, looking soft.

"Today is Tuesday. The second day of the week. Five days until the next concert. Five days pass quickly. Blink and it's over. But think of me when you blink too. Because I think of you even in the time it takes to blink. I think of you every second. Every minute. Every hour. Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year. I think of you forever. I think of you infinitely."

She applied skincare products and patted her face.

"Alright, getting ready to go out. Today's training content: morning dance practice, afternoon vocal practice, evening stage blocking. A full day. But no matter how full, I will find time to think of you. I'll squeeze it out every minute and every second. Even if I can't squeeze it out, I have to. You wait to receive my messages. I'll send a lot today. So many you won't be able to read them all. Even if you can't read them all, you have to. Because you are my person. My person has to read my messages. No rebuttals accepted."

Video ended.

Sent.

[07:35 - Third Selfie]

Karina changed her clothes and stood at the entryway, ready to go out. Today she was wearing a milky white hoodie with dark blue jeans, a khaki trench coat over it, her hair tied in a high ponytail, wearing a white mask.

Click.

Caption:

"Heading out. Dressed like this today. Milky white hoodie, dark blue jeans, khaki trench coat. Guess why I'm wearing milky white? Because it's cloudy today, and I want to wear the same color as the clouds. That way, when you see the clouds outside, it's like seeing me. Seeing me makes you think of me. Thinking of me makes you happy. Happiness means having a good mood all day. Perfect."

Sent.

[07:50 - Third Reply Video]

Karina was walking on the road, camera pointed at the ground. There was sunlight today, but not much, flickering, her shadow appearing and disappearing.

"Walking on the road. The sunlight today is on and off. Doesn't it look like you replying to messages? Replying for a while, then not replying. When you don't reply, I wait. When I wait, I think of you. When I think of you, I look at my phone. When I look at my phone, I see you replied. Seeing you reply makes me happy. Being happy makes me keep walking. Keeping on walking means I can get to the practice room. Getting to the practice room means I can train. Training means I can dance better. Dancing better means you can see a more amazing me. So you have to keep replying to messages. Although I'll think of you even if you don't reply, I think of you more when you do. Thinking more makes me like you more. Liking you more makes me love you more. Loving you more makes it more forever."

She played by stepping on her own shadow.

"Look, I stepped on my own shadow. But it's okay, because I'm moving forward. Moving forward means I can get closer to you. Five more days and we can meet. Five days pass quickly. Blink and it's over. Then we can meet. When we meet, I want to be the first to see you. Seeing you, I'll run over. Running over, I'll hug you. Once I hug you, I won't let go. Until the concert starts. Are you ready? Even if you're not ready, you have to be. Because I'm already ready. Ready to see you. Ready to hug you. Ready to like you. Liking you always. Liking you forever. Liking you infinitely."

Video ended.

Sent.

[08:20 - Fourth Selfie]

Karina arrived at the practice room and held up her phone to take a picture in the mirror. She was taking off her trench coat, revealing the milky white hoodie underneath, her hair a bit messy from walking, her face flushed, sunlight shining in from the window, casting a halo of light on her.

Click.

Caption:

"Arrived at the practice room. Sunlight is shining in from the window. Look, I'm in the light. That way it's easier for you to see me. Did you see me? If you did, nod. If you didn't, look carefully. I'm in the light, in the phone, in your heart. I'm everywhere. You can't hide."

Sent.

[09:00 - Fourth Reply Video]

Karina started warming up, recording a video while stretching. She propped her phone up in front of the mirror, sunlight hitting her just right, making her look bright.

"Warm-up starts. The sunlight is so good today, I have even more strength to warm up. You know, sunlight has Vitamin D, it's good for the body. Do I have a Vitamin D effect on you too? Good for the mood? If so, then good. Then I'll give you a dose of Vitamin Ji-min every day. Dosage: Infinite. Usage: Think of me every day. Side effect: Liking me more and more. No problem, right? If no problem, continue. If there's a problem, continue anyway. Anyway, I don't care."

She did a split, sunlight hitting her face, she squinted and smiled.

"Look, the sunlight is kissing me. Doesn't it look like you're kissing me? If it looks like it, then it's right. I'll just pretend you're kissing me now. Kissing me through the sunlight. Warm, soft, sweet. I like it. You kiss me more in the future. Kiss with sunlight, kiss with moonlight, kiss with the wind, kiss with the rain. Kiss with whatever, it's all fine. As long as it's you kissing me, I like it."

Video ended.

Sent.

[10:15 - Fifth Selfie]

During a practice break, Karina sat on the floor drinking water. She held up her phone and took a picture of the sky outside—the clouds were thinner, the sunlight brighter, casting bright spots of light on the floor.

Click.

Caption:

"Clouds are thinner. Sunlight is brighter. Did you see it? If you did, take a picture and show me. If you didn't, never mind. I'll look for you. If I look, it means you looked too. I'll share half the sunlight I see with you. I'll share half the warmth I feel with you. I'll share half of my today with you. I'll share half of everything I have with you."

Sent.

[10:45 - Fifth Reply Video]

Karina faced the camera and started sharing training details.

"Let me tell you, today we practiced the sixth section of the new dance. There's a part where I have to jump up, turn, and land. I tried it yesterday and fell once. But I won't fall today. Because you are watching. If you are watching, I can't fall. If I fall, you'll feel heartache. Heartache makes you feel bad. Feeling bad makes you look for me. If you look for me, I'll feel even worse. So to keep you from feeling bad, I can't fall. I have to dance the best. Let you see how amazing your girlfriend is."

She stood up and mimicked the jumping motion.

"Just like this, jump—turn—land. Is it cool? If it's cool, then it's right. You can see the full version at the concert. Scream for me then. Scream the loudest. Let everyone look at you. Look at you screaming for me. Then they'll know I'm your person. You are my person. Perfect."

Video ended.

Sent.

[11:30 - Sixth Selfie]

Lunchtime, the Manager brought lunch boxes. Today it was Korean black bean noodles, black sauce coating the noodles, with yellow pickled radish and a fried egg on the side. Karina opened the lid and took a photo.

Click.

Caption:

"Lunch is here. Black bean noodles. Do you like black bean noodles? If you like them, then it's right. If you don't like them, you have to. Because I'm eating them. What I eat is good. If it's good, you have to like it. If you like me, you have to like what I eat. So you like black bean noodles too. Right?"

Sent.

[12:00 - Sixth Reply Video]

Karina recorded a video while eating noodles. She picked up a chopstick full of noodles, the sauce thick, the noodles chewy, slurping them up.

"Delicious. Black bean noodles are really delicious. What are you having for lunch over there? Take a picture and show me. If you don't... I'll just imagine you're eating black bean noodles too. We're eating together, although we're not together, eating black bean noodles at the same time counts as being together. Right?"

She chewed the noodles, her cheeks bulging.

"Hmm, right, what time do I have to train until tonight? Probably around eight-thirty. Then I'll go home, shower, and talk to you. The part of the day I look forward to most is talking to you at night. Even though we can talk during the day, night is different. It's quiet at night, the lights are dim, it feels closer. It's like you're really by my side. When you're by my side, what will I do? I'll lean on you, I'll hug you, I'll tell you about what happened today. Just like this. Only, right now, I can't lean on you or hug you. We'll make up for it when we meet. With interest. How should we calculate the interest? Add one second per day. After five days, that's five seconds. A five-second hug. Is that enough? If not, I'll add more. I'm very generous." Video ends. Send. [ 13:15 - 7th Selfie ]

After eating, Karina stood by the window to digest. The clouds were thinner, the sun fully emerged, shining brightly. Click. Bubble caption: "The sun is out. It's fully out. Did you see it? If you did, nod. If you didn't, nod anyway. Because I've already seen it. Since I've seen it, that means you have too. I'll share half of the sun I see with you. I'll share half of the warmth I feel with you. I'll share half of everything I have with you." Send.

[ 14:00 - 7th Video Reply ] Before afternoon training began, Karina stretched in front of the camera. She placed her leg on the barre, leaned forward, her face nearly touching her knee. "It's afternoon. Keep training. The sun is so nice today, I don't want to stay indoors. I want to go out. I want to go for a walk with you. Go to the Han River, go to the park, go to Namsan Tower. Anywhere is fine. As long as I'm with you. When will you take me? In five days? After the concert in five days, you'll accompany me. We'll go for a walk by the Han River. Watch the sunset, watch the night view, watch the stars. You hold my hand. I hold your hand. Keep walking, keep walking. Walk until we can't walk anymore. If we can't walk, you carry me on your back. If you can't carry me, we'll sit down and rest. Once we've rested, we'll keep walking. Walk until forever."

She switched legs and continued stretching. "Isn't it romantic? It's supposed to be romantic. I'm a romantic person. I'm romantic specifically for you. Nobody else has this. Only you do. You are the one and only. The most one and only. Super one and only. The only one in the universe." Video ends. Send.

[ 15:30 - 8th Selfie ] Training finished, Karina took a selfie in front of the mirror, drenched in sweat. Her hair was soaked and stuck to her face, her face was flushed, but her eyes were bright, and she was smiling happily. Click. Bubble caption: "Finished training. Exhausted. But happy. Because I learned the sixth section of the new dance today. Because I didn't fall once when I jumped and turned today. Because the sun was great today. Because I missed you today. How many times? I haven't finished counting yet. I'll tell you tonight. Definitely more than yesterday. Yesterday was eighteen times, today the goal is twenty. Do you think I can do it? If you think so, nod. Even if you don't, 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 twenty times a day. Thirty times. One hundred times. Infinite times." Send.

[ 16:15 - 8th Video Reply ] Karina sat in the car on her way home, talking to the camera. The sunlight from outside the car window shone in at an angle, dancing on her face. "On the way home. Training went very smoothly today. Learned the new dance. The teacher praised me for my fast progress. I said it's because someone is waiting for me. Someone is cheering me on. Someone is thinking of me. So I have motivation. So I can dance better. The teacher asked who it was. I said it's a secret. I won't tell you. I'll only tell you. You are my secret. My favorite secret. My most precious secret. The secret I least want to share."

She reached out toward the sunlight, letting the light leak through her fingers. "Look, light. Doesn't it look like you? Warm, bright, always by my side. Although I can't touch it, I can feel it. Feel that you are here. Feel that you like me. Feel that you are thinking of me. I am thinking of you too. Thinking of you always. Thinking of you every minute and every second. Thinking of you forever. Thinking of you infinitely." Video ends. Send.

[ 17:00 - 9th Selfie ] Karina arrived home, the first thing she did was rush to the window and take a picture of the sky outside. The afternoon sunlight had turned golden, shining on the building opposite, the glass reflecting the light. Click. Bubble caption: "Home. The afternoon sunlight has turned golden. Pretty, right? Is it the same color on your side? Regardless of whether it's the same or not, it's the same sun. The same sun shining on you and me. So we are together. Under the same sun. In the same world. At the same time. Thinking of the same person. You're thinking of me, I'm thinking of you. Perfect." Send.

[ 17:45 - 9th Video Reply ] Karina finished showering, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas are that pink fluffy style, she looks like a little rabbit. "Good evening. Are you tired today? I'm quite tired. But happy. Because I've made progress in training. Because I learned the new dance. Because I can talk to you soon. Once I talk, I won't be tired. Once I talk, I'll be happy. Once I'm happy, I'll have energy. With energy, I can continue training. Continuing training means I can dance better. Dancing better means you can see an even more impressive me. A virtuous cycle."

She hugged a throw pillow, burying half her face into it. "You know, while I was training today, I was thinking about you the whole time. Thinking about what you're doing. Thinking about whether you've eaten well. Thinking about whether you've missed me. Thinking about whether you've seen my messages. Thinking about whether you've replied to me. Thinking about whether you've been thinking of me like this too. Thinking and thinking gave me energy. With energy, I can dance better. So you've helped me train too. You are my teacher too. The teacher who teaches me to dance. Although you didn't teach me, your existence is the best lesson. Because you are my motivation for dancing. Do you understand motivation? It means without you, it won't work. With you, everything works." Video ends. Send.

[ 18:30 - 10th Selfie ] Karina started preparing dinner. She opened the fridge and took a picture of the ingredients inside—eggs, green onions, kimchi, tofu, pork belly, zucchini, bean sprouts, rice cakes, and a bit of ramen left over from yesterday. Today she's making kimchi pork belly fried rice. Click. Bubble caption: "Making kimchi pork belly fried rice for dinner. Do you like fried rice? Even if you don't, you have to. Because I made it. I'll make it especially delicious, so you fall in love with it. Once you fall in love with it, you'll love me even more. Because I made it. Logic is perfect. Right?" Send.

[ 19:15 - 10th Video Reply ] Karina recorded a video while making fried rice. The rice in the pan sizzled, and the aroma of the kimchi seemed to travel through the screen. "Stir-frying now. Smells so good. Can you smell it? If not, never mind. When you come, I'll stir-fry for you every day. Kimchi fried rice, tuna fried rice, shrimp fried rice, ham fried rice. I know quite a lot, right? Actually, I only know these few. But I can learn. For you, I'm willing to learn anything. If I can't learn it, I'll keep learning. Until I know how. Until I can make delicious food for you. Because I like you. Because I like you, I want to make delicious food for you. Watching you look happy eating the food I made. That's my happiest moment."

She tasted a spoonful of rice and nodded with satisfaction. "Mmm, delicious. You will definitely like it. You'll know once you come and taste it. Even if you don't like it, you have to. Because I made it. Everything I make is good. I am a good person too. So you have to like me too. Always like me. Forever like me. Not allowed to change. If you change, I'll cry. If I cry, you have to coax me. Coaxing me takes time. Spending time makes you like me more. So in the end, you still like me. So just like me directly. Saves trouble." Video ends. Send.

[ 20:00 - 11th Selfie ] Dinner was ready, Karina arranged the fried rice, kimchi, and water, and took a picture. The fried rice was golden, the kimchi was red, it looked 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. Next time, just treat me to the real thing. When? In five days. After the concert. We'll go eat together. What do you want to eat? I'll treat. You pay. Fair, right?" Send.

[ 20:45 - 11th Video Reply ] Karina finished her meal and lay on the sofa to digest. The sky outside was completely dark, and she could hear the sound of cars from afar. "Finished eating. So full. Now I don't want to do anything, just want to lie down. Just want to talk to you. If we don't talk, that's fine too, just staying like this. It's enough that you're here. 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. Most important, most important. More important than anything."

She rolled over, lying on her stomach on the sofa, her legs kicking up and swaying. "You know, how many times did I think of you today? I counted. Up until now, nineteen times. And tonight, I can think of you even more. I'll definitely reach today's goal of twenty times. Maybe even exceed it. Is there a reward for exceeding it? It doesn't matter if there isn't. Anyway, I think of you voluntarily. I don't need a reward." Video ends. Send.

[ 21:30 - 12th Selfie ] Karina stood up and walked to the window, taking pictures of the night view outside. There weren't many stars tonight, but Namsan Tower was lit up, like a star. Click. Bubble caption: "Tonight's stars. Not many. But Namsan Tower is there. Doesn't it look like you? Even if I can't see you, I know you're there. Always there. Forever there. Infinitely there. I'm there too. Always there. Forever there. Infinitely there. Waiting for you. Thinking of you. Liking you." Send.

[ 22:00 - 12th Video Reply ] Karina finished showering, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas are that dark blue cotton set, looking quiet and gentle. "Today, March 10th, is almost over. Time flies so fast. How many times did I think of you today? I counted. Twenty-four times. Four times more than the goal of twenty. Impressive, right? If it's impressive, praise me. If you praise me, I'll work harder. Working harder means I can think of you more. More means infinite. Infinite means forever. Forever means always, always, always. Always, always, always means forever, forever, forever. Forever, forever, forever means I love you, I love you, I love you."

She yawned, her eyes unable to stay open. "No, I'm a bit sleepy. But I still have to say goodnight to you. I can only sleep after saying it. If I don't say it, I won't sleep peacefully. Once I say it, I can sleep well. Once I sleep well, I can continue thinking of you tomorrow. So saying goodnight now. Goodnight, my pooper scooper. Goodnight, my sun. Goodnight, my favorite person. Goodnight, goodnight, goodnight." Video ends. Send.

[ 22:30 - 13th Selfie ] Karina lay in bed, only her face showing. She raised her phone and took a picture of herself buried in the quilt, with only her eyes showing. Click. Bubble caption: "In bed. Ready to sleep. Today's weather: Cloudy to sunny, 6 to 12 degrees. Tomorrow's weather: Sunny, 5 to 13 degrees. A bit warmer. Remember to dress appropriately. 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 won't feel well. So you have to listen to me. Dress appropriately. Eat well. Sleep well. Because you are mine. I have to take good care of my things. If you can't take good 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." Send.

[ 22:45 - 13th Video Reply ] Karina was almost asleep, her voice groggy, her eyes unable to open. "Tomorrow... Wednesday... middle of the week... you have to go to work... I have to train... we both work hard... but our hearts are together... hearts together means we are together... distance isn't a problem... weather isn't a problem... no problem is a problem... because I miss you... you miss me... that's enough..."

She rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. "Goodnight... goodbye March 10th... hello March 11th... I'll miss you even more on March 11th... miss you more every day... miss you more forever... infinite loop... infinite liking... infinite, infinite, infinite... right... tomorrow's weather... sunny... 5 to 13 degrees... a bit warmer... but still need to dress appropriately... I'll check... if you don't dress appropriately, I'll be angry... if I'm angry, you have to coax me... coaxing me means you have to think of me... thinking of me more means you like me more... so in the end, I still like you... so just like me directly... saves trouble..." The voice grew quieter and quieter, until finally only the sound of breathing remained. Video ends. Send.

[ 23:00 - Last Text Reply ] Before turning off the lights, Karina used her last bit of energy to send a message: "March 10, 2026, the twenty-fourth time thinking of you. I love you. Goodnight. Tomorrow's weather is sunny, 5 to 13 degrees, a bit warmer. Remember to dress appropriately. I will miss you. Always miss you. Forever miss you. Infinitely miss you. Infinite, infinite, infinite. Goodnight." Send.