373: Chapter 437 Phantom Thief Zhimin (2)

Karina stood in place with her back to everyone, clutching the towel so tightly that her fingertips turned white.

Silence spread through the practice room like a silent tide, flooding every corner.

Kim Minjeong held her breath, her eyes wide as her gaze shifted back and forth between Karina and Jiang Zhiyu. NingNing lowered her head and stared at the tips of her toes as if there were something incredibly fascinating to study there. Eri leaned against the wall, having completely put down her phone; her gaze fell on that slender silhouette, and the curve of her lips tightened slightly.

They were all waiting.

Waiting for Karina's reaction.

Waiting to see how the person most ruthlessly "set up" by Jiang Zhiyu would respond to that "I'm sorry."

Jiang Zhiyu also stood there, waiting.

His gaze fell on Karina's back, and many thoughts flashed through his mind—

Would she cry? Would she make a scene? Would she demand to know why he did it? Would she vent all the grievances she had suffered during this time?

If she did, he could understand.

Anyone would feel terrible after being set up like that, turned into a meme by the entire internet, and called the "pig head thief" for months. Moreover, he had known her for four years, ever since their trainee days. This relationship made the nature of the matter even more complicated—it wasn't just being "set up," it was being "set up by someone she trusted."

So, no matter how she chose to vent, he would accept it.

However, the seconds ticked by.

Karina never turned around.

She just stood there, the lines of her shoulders tense as if she were trying hard to control something.

In her mind, two voices were clashing fiercely.

One voice said: You are the leader of aespa. You are a masterpiece polished by SM Entertainment for four years. You are the envy of countless trainees and the idol fans look up to. In such a setting, in such a situation, what kind of posture should you show? Should you cry and complain, laying bare all your vulnerability and embarrassment for others to see? Or should you vent with gritted teeth, using anger to mask your inner turmoil?

The other voice said: But you are also yourself. You are that girl who used to secretly watch him in the practice room when you were seventeen. You are the trainee who was guided by him until late at night but never felt tired. You are the dummy whose heart would race every time you saw him, yet only dared to call him "Oppa." Those grievances are real, and those expectations are real. Are you just going to forgive him like this? Are you just going to let everything be water under the bridge?

A few months ago, on the day of the Opening Ceremony.

He walked up to her, looked at her with those clear eyes, and said, "Ji-min, do me a favor."

She agreed.

Because it was him.

Because it was Zhiyu Oppa.

And then—

And then everything changed.

"pig head thief."

"Phantom Thief Zhimin."

"aespa's Leader Reduced to a Gag Girl."

She remembered every single one of those trending headlines clearly. She had read every comment. She had saved every photo of herself that had been turned into a meme on her phone—not to reminisce, but to remind herself never to be this stupid again.

But during those late nights when she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, was she really resentful of the "pig head thief" label?

No.

What she resented was—

Why didn't he say anything afterward?

Why did he just disappear like that?

Why didn't he send a single message?

Even if it was just a simple "I'm sorry, I didn't think it through," she would have felt a bit better.

Even if it was just a simple "Is Ji-min okay?", she would have felt that he cared about her.

But there was nothing.

For several months, he vanished from her world as if he had evaporated into thin air.

All that remained were those trending topics, those comments, and those memes, reminding her over and over again—she had been "sold out" by him.

And now, he was standing right behind her, saying "I'm sorry."

Just two words.

Karina's hand clutching the towel tightened again.

She wanted to turn around and interrogate him.

She wanted to cry and tell him how wronged, how miserable, and how much she had hated him during this time.

She wanted to vent all those emotions that had built up for months and let him know how much pain his actions had caused her.

But she didn't.

Because she was Karina.

She was the leader of aespa.

She was the one who had been trained by SM for so many years and had stood out from countless trainees.

In those years, she had learned too many things. Vocals, dance, facial expression management, camera awareness, interview techniques, crisis management. But there was one thing that was the core of all training—

Under any circumstances, remain calm.

You cannot cry, you cannot lose control, and you cannot let emotions dominate you.

Because you are the leader.

Because you are an idol.

Because you are the person countless people are watching.

She took a deep breath.

The practice room was so quiet she could hear her own heartbeat.

Kim Minjeong held her breath, NingNing lowered her head, and Eri leaned against the wall, her gaze on her with a hint of hidden worry.

And Jiang Zhiyu stood just a few steps behind her, waiting for her response.

Waiting for an answer—no matter what it was.

Then, she slowly loosened her grip on the towel.

The towel slipped from her fingertips and landed softly on the floor.

She turned around.

The light in the practice room shone from the side, outlining her silhouette. There was no expression on her face—not anger, not grievance, not sadness, just calmness. That calmness was like a frozen lake in winter, smooth and flat, hiding whatever lay beneath.

But her eyes.

The expression in her eyes was completely different from her face.

There was too much in them—complex and deep, as if hiding a thousand words. But they were suppressed by some force, locked deep within her gaze, hidden from everyone.

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu and spoke.

Her voice was steady, every word as clear as if she had practiced it a thousand times in advance:

“As the leader of aespa, Karina, I am very grateful to President Jiang.”

She paused.

“But—”

When those two words came out, there was a tiny, minute tremor in her voice. It was very slight, almost imperceptible. But Jiang Zhiyu caught it.

“—As myself, I cannot accept Zhiyu Oppa's apology for the time being.”

As her voice fell, the practice room lapsed into a second of silence.

And then—

Kim Minjeong's mouth formed an 'O' shape.

That expression was like a fan seeing their idol get a perfect score on an exam, or a bystander witnessing a historic moment; it was filled with shock and pride, and within that pride was the smugness of 'I knew my Unnie was the best.'

NingNing also opened her mouth wide, her eyes bulging, as her expression quickly switched from shock to "Holy crap" mode. She subconsciously glanced at Kim Minjeong then back at Karina, her face clearly saying: Unnie, what kind of legendary speech is this?!

Eri leaned against the wall, not as exaggerated as the others. She just quietly looked at Karina, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly into a faint curve. Her eyes sparkled with a light that said, "That's my girl."

Karina's peripheral vision caught them, and a layer of pink quietly crept onto her cheeks.

But she didn't back down.

She just looked at Jiang Zhiyu, waiting for his reaction.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her.

In those clear eyes, emotions were changing rapidly—first a slight surprise, then seriousness, and then something even deeper.

He let out a soft breath.

That action was like finally letting go of a breath that had been hanging in his heart.

Then, he smiled.

It wasn't his usual effortless, business-like smile, but a more real, more honest one. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, the curve of his eyes softened, and he suddenly transformed from "President Jiang of TG" back into the "Zhiyu Oppa" she knew.

In that smile, there was admiration, relief, and a hint of—tenderness that even he hadn't noticed.

“Okay.”

He spoke, his voice a bit softer than before.

SM's leader was indeed one in a million.

A heart full of thunder but a face like a calm lake—this was a realm many idols could never reach in their entire lives.

She was clearly feeling incredibly wronged just now, her eyes were clearly red, and her fingertips clutching the towel had clearly turned white. But the moment she turned around, she forced all those emotions down and used the most calm and professional attitude to say—

“As myself, I cannot accept it for the time being.”

This wasn't just polite talk.

This was a true, heartfelt expression.

She didn't compromise just because he was the president.

She didn't pretend nothing happened just because she needed TG's resources.

She didn't choose to forgive just because of those four years of history.

She stood her ground and spoke her mind.

But at the same time, she didn't lose her composure, she didn't lose control, and she didn't let her emotions drown out her reason.

She used the most appropriate way to express her truest feelings.

Jiang Zhiyu looked into her eyes; the sentiment in them wasn't exactly the same as her expression—there was stubbornness, grievance, annoyance, and something deeper that he didn't quite understand.

But it was precisely this inconsistency that made him feel—

Perfect.

Too perfect.

This was the Karina he knew.

The child who had been incredibly stubborn since her trainee days.

The girl who, even when exhausted to death, would insist on practicing until the very last moment.

The one who would message him late at night saying "Oppa, I'm scared," but would return to being that impeccable trainee the next day in the practice room—Karina.

He suddenly remembered a long time ago, when he once asked her: "Ji-min, what do you think is most important for an idol?"

She thought for a long time and then said: "To be remembered."

He asked: "How do you get remembered?"

She said: "You have to have your own style."

She was still a trainee then, and when she said those words, her eyes sparkled as if they held the stars.

And now, she had proven those words in her own way.

Even after being turned into a meme by the whole internet, even with the "pig head thief" label, and even when facing the person who set her up—she was still herself.

Jiang Zhiyu let out a breath.

In that breath, there was relief, gratification, and something else he hadn't noticed himself—

Admiration.

That admiration appeared in his eyes without disguise, shining so brightly it almost overflowed.

Karina looked at him and suddenly felt her face grow hot.

It wasn't because of his gaze—though that gaze did make her heart race a little—but because she suddenly realized that what she had just said seemed...

Seemed a bit too blunt?

Saying "As myself, I cannot accept it"...

Wasn't saying that equivalent to telling him, "I'm angry with you, and I don't plan on forgiving you easily"?

She was the leader of aespa! Could she just say things like that?!

What if he got angry? What if he thought she was ungrateful? What if it affected future collaborations?

The little person in her heart was already drumming frantically, but on the surface, she still maintained that calm expression.

Only that thin layer of pink on her cheeks betrayed her.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her trying so hard to stay calm while unable to hide her blushing cheeks, and he suddenly felt like laughing.

Not a mocking laugh, but the kind of—

"That's great" kind of laugh.

“Since you don't plan on forgiving Oppa, Ji-min—”

He paused and suddenly added in a low voice, so quiet it was like he was talking to himself, but in the quiet practice room, everyone heard it clearly:

“Actually, I didn't think you would forgive me anyway~”

That tone carried a bit of self-deprecation, a bit of helplessness, and a hint of—doting that only those familiar with him could detect.

What the heck! Was he roasting himself?!

Kim Minjeong burst out laughing and quickly covered her mouth.

NingNing's shoulders shook as she tried hard to stifle a laugh.

The curve of Eri's lips deepened.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Karina froze for a moment, the pink on her face deepening, but she tried hard to maintain a facade of calm, only slightly pursing her lips.

Jiang Zhiyu continued speaking, his voice returning to a normal volume, his tone filled with clear sincerity: "Then Oppa must show you the sincerity of my apology!"

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the four girls: "Everyone, go change your clothes! It's my treat tonight!"

"Yeah—!!!" Minjeong was the first to cheer, grabbing NingNing beside her in a hug.

NingNing also laughed, her eyes curving into crescents: "If Master is treating, then we definitely have to eat something big!"

Eri walked over from the wall, her tone flat, but her eyes and brows revealed her delight: "Since President Jiang is treating, then we won't stand on ceremony."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded with a smile: "Meet at the parking lot later. I'll go bring the car around first."

He took one last look at Karina, his gaze carrying a certain emotion she couldn't decipher, then turned and walked out of the practice room. The door closed behind him.

— The practice room was quiet for a second. Then— "Ahhhhhh—!!!"

Minjeong was the first to rush over, grabbing Karina in a hug, her eyes shining as if they had spotlights installed: "Unnie, you were so cool just now!!!"

Karina was a bit dazed from being hugged: "...What?"

Minjeong let go of her, clutching her heart with both hands, her expression as exaggerated as if she were performing in a musical: "Just that moment!" Minjeong imitated her tone, slightly lifting her chin, making a cold and aloof expression, " 'As the aespa leader Karina, I am very grateful to President Jiang, but as myself, I cannot accept Zhiyu Oppa's apology for the time being' — Wow!!!" She released Karina's arm, clutched her heart, and took an exaggerated step back, "What kind of god-tier statement is that! It was super cool, okay!"

Karina's face turned red in an instant.

NingNing also leaned in, cleared her throat, and imitating Minjeong, put her hands behind her back, lifted her chin slightly, and put on a serious expression: "As the aespa leader Karina, I am very grateful to President Jiang—" She paused, imitating Karina's earlier manner, slightly pursing her lips, her voice suddenly lowering, carrying a subtle tremor: "But—as myself, I cannot accept Zhiyu Oppa's apology for the time being." After finishing, she looked at Minjeong, and the two met eyes and laughed out loud simultaneously.

Eri leaned against the wall, watching these two clowns goof around, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting. She suddenly raised both hands, making a big X in front of her chest, and said in that serious tone common in Japanese anime: "Daga kotowaru!" (I refuse!)

Karina couldn't hold it together anymore. She covered her face, the tips of her ears turning red, her voice muffled as it came out from between her fingers: "It's not as exaggerated as you guys make it sound..."

"How is it exaggerated!" Minjeong protested, "That aura just now, that tone, that gaze—wow, I almost wanted to kneel down to you, Unnie!"

NingNing nodded like a bobblehead: "Really, really! Unnie, you were just like—" She thought for a moment, finding a suitable description: "—the embodiment of a strong female lead!"

Eri added silently from the side: "And the kind of strong female lead who doesn't rely on men and builds her own career."

Karina: "..." She lowered her hands, looking at these three teammates laughing until they were shaking, suddenly feeling a bit helpless, yet moved. They were teasing her. But the light in their eyes was pride. Pride for her.

Minjeong leaned in, gently hugging her arm, and whispered: "Unnie, I really thought you were amazing just now." In that voice, the teasing was gone, replaced only by sincerity.

NingNing also nodded: "To be able to say those things in that situation—not everyone could do that."

Eri walked over, reached out, and patted Karina on the shoulder gently. She didn't say anything. But that action already explained everything.

Karina looked at them, her eyes suddenly feeling hot again. But this time, it wasn't grievance. It was another kind of emotion. She took a deep breath, patted her face, and tried hard to return her expression to normal: "Alright, alright, let's go change clothes quickly! Didn't we say we were going to eat?"

Minjeong was the first to respond: "Yes, yes, yes! I'm going to change into my prettiest dress!" NingNing: "I'm going to put on some makeup!" Eri: "...I'm going to go claim the spot closest to the air conditioner first."

The four of them walked towards the changing room, laughing and joking. Before the door closed, Karina looked back out the window. The sunlight was still beautiful, and the early autumn sky was transparently blue. She suddenly felt that the place in her heart that had been blocked for months seemed to have loosened just a little bit. It wasn't forgiveness. It was—being seen. Her grievance, her stubbornness, her persistence—they had all been seen by him.

And, he seemed... to actually admire it? She recalled that last look he gave her, and that whispered remark, "Actually, I didn't think you would forgive me." In that tone, there was helplessness, self-deprecation, and also—fondness?

She shook her head, shaking that thought away. Don't overthink it. Go change clothes quickly. Eating is important. But when she walked into the changing room, the corners of her mouth still couldn't help but lift slightly, secretly.

— Parking lot. The evening sun had already reined in its sharpness, shining obliquely onto the concrete ground, casting long shadows. Jiang Zhiyu leaned against the car door, hands in his pockets, gazing at the distant sky. In his mind, he was still replaying the scene from just now.

Karina stood there, the sunlight shining from behind her, gilding her with a halo. Her expression was so faint, so faint that no emotion could be seen, but those eyes—in those eyes, thousands of words were hidden.

"As the aespa leader Karina, I am very grateful to President Jiang." "But as myself, I cannot accept Zhiyu Oppa's apology for the time being." He savored these two sentences repeatedly. Each one was like a pebble thrown into the calm lake of his heart, stirring up ripple after ripple.

Good. He exclaimed internally once more. It was really great. It wasn't good because she gave him a way out. It wasn't good because she didn't embarrass him. It was good because she—maintained her true self.

She could have used this opportunity to vent all her grievances. Whether by crying, making a scene, questioning him about why he disappeared, why he schemed against her, why he made her bear those things alone. That would have been normal. That would have been human nature. But she didn't.

She used the most restrained way to express her most authentic thoughts. "As a leader, I thank you." This was responsibility, accountability, and the maturity to consider problems from the team's perspective. "As myself, I cannot accept." This was persistence, pride, and the authenticity of not wanting to compromise herself. Putting these two together allowed Jiang Zhiyu to see a—complete Karina.

Not the Karina defined by labels, not the idol packaged by the company, not the perfect image imagined by fans—but herself. The girl who gets aggrieved, gets angry, says "I cannot forgive you," yet still stands here and talks to him. This kind of Karina is the best Karina.

Jiang Zhiyu exhaled softly, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth. The leaders of SM Entertainment are indeed all monsters. Kim Taeyeon is like this, Bae Joo-hyun is like this, and now this child is like this too. Having thunder in one's heart while one's face is like a calm lake. This kind of general-like demeanor is not something everyone can possess.

But what he liked was not just the "calm lake" part. It was what was hidden in that sentence—"as myself." She didn't choose to compromise just because he was the President. She didn't pretend everything was fine just because she needed TG's resources. She didn't force forgiveness just because of those four years of history. She maintained her stance and spoke her mind. But at the same time, she didn't lose her composure, didn't lose control, and didn't let emotions drown out reason. She expressed her most authentic feelings in the most appropriate way. This trait is too rare. Especially for an idol.

This industry is best at polishing vibrant individuals into standard commodities. You must smile, be beautiful, be gentle, be perfect, and meet everyone's expectations of you. You cannot have a temper, cannot have emotions, cannot have a "self." But Karina is different. There is something about her that Jiang Zhiyu finds very precious—even when others demand she maintain the persona of the aespa leader, even when others forcefully order her to do things she doesn't like, she still insists on expressing her own thoughts. Not in a confrontational way. Not in a rebellious way. But in a more mature, more decent, and more irrefutable way. Just like just now.

— In the changing room, the four girls were changing clothes. Minjeong put on a pink hoodie, tidying her hair in front of the mirror, muttering to herself: "Unnie, what do you think President Jiang is treating us to eat today? BBQ? Or seafood? Or—"

"Can you be quiet for a moment?" NingNing looked at her helplessly, "Your mouth hasn't stopped since just now."

"I'm excited!" Minjeong turned around, her eyes sparkling, "It's been a long time since I've seen Oppa! And he's treating! And Karina Unnie's statement just now was so cool! I'm still excited now!" She suddenly leaned into Karina's face, blinking her eyes as she asked: "Unnie, tell me the truth, that bit just now, did you rehearse it in your heart for a long time?"

Karina's hand, which was tying her shoelace, paused. Rehearsed for a long time? No. She had just... thought about it countless times in her heart. Since that Opening Ceremony, during the months he disappeared, she would lie on her bed alone, staring at the ceiling, imagining countless times what she would say when she saw him again. Should she question him? Should she cry and complain? Should she throw a tantrum? She had thought of many possibilities. But in the end, when she truly faced him, not a single word of those rehearsed lines was used. She just... spoke her heart.

"No rehearsal." She lowered her head, her voice very soft, "I just suddenly wanted to say those things."

Minjeong froze for a moment, then smiled. That smile wasn't the usual carefree brightness, but a gentler, more understanding smile. "Unnie," she said softly, "do you know, you were really, really cool just now."

Karina looked up at her. Minjeong continued: "It wasn't the 'I'm the leader, I'm amazing' kind of cool, but that—'I am who I am, I have my principles' kind of cool. That look President Jiang had, did you see it?"

Karina blinked. She had seen it. That look, how could she not have seen it? In that look, there was surprise, appreciation, relief, and a trace of—something she dared not think about too deeply.

"When he looked at you," Minjeong tilted her head, as if trying hard to organize her words, "it wasn't the look of someone looking at 'aespa leader,' it was the look of someone looking at 'Karina.'"

Karina's heart skipped a beat. NingNing chimed in from the side: "Yes, yes, yes! That look of my Master, I'm too familiar with it! He usually looks at people with that 'I'm evaluating you' look, but when he looked at Karina Unnie just now, it was completely different!"

Eri leaned against the wardrobe, rarely speaking a long sentence: "He is getting to know you all over again."

Karina was stunned. Getting to know her again? They had known each other for four years, did they need to get to know each other again? But then she thought—perhaps, they really did. For these four years, in front of them, she had always been "aespa leader-in-waiting," "aespa leader Karina," "aespa leader Karina." She tried hard to appear mature, to appear steady, to appear like a qualified leader. She rarely showed "Karina" herself in front of him.

And just now, for the first time, she had placed that version of herself before him.

"As myself, I cannot accept your apology for the time being."

That sentence was not spoken by "Karina."

It was spoken by "Karina."

And he, it seemed... understood.

Karina lowered her head, tied her shoelaces, and stood up.

The reflection in the mirror still had a faint pink tint on her cheeks, but her eyes were very bright.

"Alright," she said, trying her best to make her voice sound normal, "let's not keep people waiting too long. Let's go."

The four girls walked out of the changing room, went through the hallway, and arrived at the parking lot.

The sunset had already sunk below the horizon, with only a touch of dark red remaining in the sky. The parking lot lights turned on, casting patches of dim yellow light onto the ground.

Jiang Zhiyu was leaning against the car door, and upon hearing footsteps, he lifted his head.

His gaze landed accurately on Karina.

That gaze was different from before.

It was not the scrutiny of a teacher looking at a student, not the politeness of a President Jiang looking at a business partner, nor the doting of an older brother looking at a younger sister.

It was a kind of more equal, more respectful—appreciation.

Karina met that gaze, and her heart skipped a beat again.

But she did not look away.

She just looked at him like that, walking closer step by step.

"Are you changed?" Jiang Zhiyu asked with a smile, his tone as relaxed as if nothing had happened.

"Hmm." Karina nodded.

"You're here?"

Karina gave a soft "hmm" and looked away.

"Get in the car," Jiang Zhiyu turned to open the car door, "what do you want to eat?"

"Hanwoo!" Kim Minjeong was the first to raise her hand.

"Alright."

"I also want to eat BBQ!"

"Alright."

"I want to eat ice cream!"

"...Alright, you can eat it after we finish the BBQ."

NingNing and Uchinaga Eri were also chattering away, listing the dishes they wanted to eat, and Jiang Zhiyu agreed to each one, like a parent indulging their children.

Karina stood by the car, watching him surrounded by the three of them, and the curve of her lips grew a little bit more.

He suddenly turned his head, and their eyes met just right.

Their eyes met.

He smiled and lifted his chin toward her: "Get in the car, why are you still standing there?"

Karina was stunned for a moment, then silently climbed into the car.

The car door closed, the engine started, and it drove out of the parking lot.

Outside the car window, the last trace of sunset finally sank below the horizon, and night quietly descended.

Karina sat in the back seat, looking at the night view outside the window, the image of that eye contact still in her mind.

There was a smile in his eyes.

There was appreciation.

And a trace of something she couldn't read.

She didn't know what it was.

But she knew that her heartbeat had started to become disobedient again.

"Unnie," Kim Minjeong suddenly leaned over from the side, lowering her voice, "what are you smiling about?"

Karina was stunned, touching her own face.

She really was smiling.

She quickly straightened her face and whispered: "It's nothing."

Kim Minjeong gave a meaningful "Oh—" and exchanged a look with NingNing in the front row.

Karina pretended not to see it and continued to look out the window.

The car window reflected the corners of her mouth slightly turned up.

And those eyes hiding secrets.

The car drove into the night of Seoul.

The laughter in the car covered up those unspoken heartbeats.

And the man leaning in the driver's seat glanced at the girl in the back seat looking out the window through the rearview mirror.

Then he smiled softly.

Karina, you really are even better than I imagined.

(Writing is so bad, I'll fix it when I'm slacking off at work tomorrow. Already fixed, wait for me to update after work, I got up at 6 o'clock today. Still too cold in the morning.)

(Confessing to myself today, keeping up a cheerful attitude under the dual pressure of family and work ~ I am the best!)

[March 16, 2026 06:45 - First Selfie]

The sky outside is just brightening, the morning light leaks through the gap in the curtains, drawing a thin line of light on the floor. Karina reached out a hand from under the quilt and took a picture of that line of light. The photo is a bit blurry, her hand was still shaking.

Click.

She squinted as she edited, adding a speech bubble to the photo: "6:45. Monday. Woke up. Not naturally, woke up angry from a dream. Dreamt you stole my fried chicken."

Send.

[06:50 - First Reply Video]

Karina was still lying in bed, wrapped tightly in the quilt, with only half her face and messy hair visible. Her eyes weren't fully open yet, and her voice was soft and sweet, with the hoarseness of just waking up.

"In the dream you stole my last piece of fried chicken... original flavor... the piece I like best... I chased you... ran for a long time... couldn't catch up... woke up angry..."

She pouted aggrievedly and shrank back into the quilt.

"You owe me... ten dollars... no... twenty dollars... forget it... too lazy to argue with you... lying down for another five minutes..."

Video ends. Send.

[07:10 - Second Selfie]

Karina finally crawled out of bed, her hair frizzy like a little lion, one strap of her nightgown slipped down. She stood by the window, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she took a picture of the view outside. It's cloudy today, the light is soft.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Up. Cloudy today. 8 to 16 degrees. Telling you because... no reason. Just telling you. Remember it or don't."

Send.

[07:20 - Second Reply Video]

Karina finished washing her face and recorded a video in front of the mirror. Water droplets still hung on her face, her eyelashes were wet, and her skin was glowing white. She looked at the camera once, then looked away, slowly wiping her face with a towel. Five seconds total, didn't say a word.

Video ends. Send.

[07:40 - Third Selfie]

Karina stood in the entryway, having changed her shoes, ready to go out. She took a full-body mirror selfie—black hoodie, dark blue jeans, white canvas shoes, hair tied in a low ponytail, wearing a black mask.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Going out. Training. You do your thing. No need to reply."

Send.

[08:15 - Fourth Selfie]

Karina arrived at the practice room and sat on the floor to change into her dance shoes. She held up her phone and took a mirror selfie. Bending over, showing a bit of her nape, a few strands of hair falling down.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Arrived. Practicing dance. Practicing a new dance today. Don't bother me. Won't work if you do."

Send.

[10:30 - Fifth Selfie]

During a break in practice, Karina sat on the floor drinking water. She held up her phone and took a photo of the sky outside the window. The clouds were thick, grayish-white, and the sun couldn't be seen.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Cloudy. No sun. Nothing to do with you. The weather is just like this."

Send.

[12:15 - Sixth Selfie]

Lunchtime. The Manager delivered a boxed meal, today it's a grilled beef set. Karina opened the lid and took a photo. The beef was seared to a crisp, and the rice was sprinkled with sesame seeds.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Lunch. Beef. Ate it. Did you eat? Just asking. No need to answer."

Send.

[15:30 - Seventh Selfie]

Afternoon training ended, and Karina was sitting on the floor covered in sweat. She held up her phone and took a mirror selfie. Her hair was soaked and stuck to her face, her cheeks were red, but her eyes were still calm.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Finished training. Tired. Going home. Thought of you today... twice. Thought of it during training. Don't get cocky."

Send.

[16:45 - Eighth Selfie]

Karina arrived home, and the first thing she did was flop onto the bed. She lay on her stomach, face buried in the pillow, and held up her phone to take a photo of her back as she lay there. Her hair was spread out, and she looked soft all over.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Home. Lying down for a bit. Don't mind me. Won't work if you do."

Send.

[17:30 - Ninth Selfie]

Karina finished showering, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were the milky white cotton set, and she shrank into a small ball, hugging a pillow, with only half her face showing.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Finished showering. Lying down. Thought of you today... three times. Thought of you once more on the way home this afternoon. Three times in total. Record complete."

Send.

[18:15 - Tenth Selfie]

Karina started preparing dinner. She opened the fridge and took a photo of the ingredients inside—eggs, green onions, kimchi, tofu, pork belly, rice cakes.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Dinner. Making it myself. Not making it for you. Don't overthink it."

Send.

[19:00 - Eleventh Selfie]

Dinner was ready, kimchi fried rice. Karina scooped the fried rice into a bowl and took a photo. The fried rice was golden yellow, the kimchi was red, and it was steaming hot.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Done. Kimchi fried rice. Looks okay, right? You can't eat it. Don't think about it."

Send.

[19:45 - Twelfth Selfie]

Karina finished eating and lay on the sofa, spacing out. She held up her phone and took a photo of the ceiling. White ceiling, nothing there.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Finished eating. Spacing out. Thought of you for a second while I was at it. Just for a second. Don't overthink it."

Send.

[20:30 - Thirteenth Selfie]

Karina stood by the window and took a photo of the night view outside. There were many clouds tonight, couldn't see the stars, but the lights of Namsan Tower were shining in the distance.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "Night view. Namsan Tower. Lots of clouds, no stars. Can you see the stars where you are? If not, forget it. I'll look for you."

Send.

[21:15 - Third Reply Video]

Karina was curled up on the sofa, hugging a pillow, shrinking into a small ball. She looked at the camera, didn't speak, just looked at it quietly. After a few seconds, she sighed softly.

"When I was training today... jumped a new move... kept not getting it right... annoying... wondered if you were nearby... would you laugh at me... you definitely would... so it's better if you're not there..."

She buried her face into the pillow.

"What did you... do today? You don't have to tell me... I'm just asking... really just asking..."

Video ends. Send.

[21:45 - Fourteenth Selfie]

Karina lay in bed, wrapped tightly in the quilt, with only her eyes visible. The bedside lamp was on, casting a warm yellow light on her face, casting faint shadows under her eyelashes.

Click.

Speech bubble caption: "In bed. Today is March 16th. Thought of you three times. Maybe less tomorrow. Depends on how you perform. Goodnight."

Send.

[22:00 - Last Reply Video]

Karina was almost asleep, her eyes half-open and half-closed, her eyelashes trembling gently. She held the phone in her hand, the screen wobbling, and only her blurry profile could be seen.

"Tomorrow... Tuesday... continue training... you have to go to work too, right... let's both do our best... don't have to think of me... but it's fine if you do... up to you..."

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

"Goodnight... not saying it specially... just sleepy..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, until finally only the sound of steady breathing remained.

Video ends. Send.

[22:05 - Last Text Reply]

Before turning off the lights, Karina sent a message:

"March 16, 2026. Thought of you three times. Goodnight."

Send.