382: March 22, 2026, Liu Zhimin Bubble

IVE's stage is all legs. If my profession didn't forbid it, I'd be licking the screen on a livestream.

Jang Wonyoung's photo with a hat is drop-dead gorgeous; she's certified as the number one girl in the universe.

Since I have to work the night shift again, I posted the previous text without editing. Jang Wonyoung's plot will continue later, so I'll write a bit first.

The plot for the [guardian of princess wonyoung] account has been trimmed. It doesn't really matter to the main story; it's mainly to show that it's an anti-fan account—a character that attacks male and female idols indiscriminately and causes public outrage.

I haven't moved a single word of Kim Taeyeon's plot since yesterday, but I have some new insights.

[So-called closure is actually compromise—a compromise made many years later. Because so much time has passed, even remembering it feels meaningless to pursue, so one gives up. To make it sound better, the word 'closure' is used.]

Based on this insight, I projected myself into the character of Kim Taeyeon. After making her realize this, Lee Tima inspires a brave, all-or-nothing emotion in her.

Great, it's revitalized. But it's still not quite there because next is the Twice arc, and I haven't thought of the name for Kim Taeyeon's new song yet. I'm so done.

G.E.M.'s 'Long Distance' feels like it could be source material; it's currently on loop~

—

[March 22, 2026, 09:00 - First Selfie]

The warm sunlight was already streaming in through the window, casting soft shadows on the floor through the white curtains. Karina rolled over, groggily reached for her phone, and took a photo of the window. In the picture, the sunlight was faint, and a corner of the curtain was fluttering in the breeze.

*Click.*

She rubbed her eyes, her lips curling into an unconscious smile as she slowly typed the message:

“March 22, 2026, 9:00 AM. Sunday. Woke up naturally, opened the curtains, and found the sun already shining in. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to lie lazily in bed until nine. I feel so happy. Are you still sleeping? Or are you already up? Either way, I hope you have a relaxing day today.”

Send.

[09:08 - First Video Reply]

Karina was still snuggled under the covers, her hair spread softly across the pillow. The blanket was pulled up to her chin, revealing only her clean, bare face. She squinted and smiled at the camera, her voice soft and carrying the lingering lethargy of someone who had just woken up.

“I slept so soundly last night. I slept right through until dawn without even dreaming. Maybe it's because I walked too much yesterday and my body was a bit tired, but I'm in a great mood. The first thing I did when I woke up was check my phone to see if you'd sent any messages. Even though I knew you might still be sleeping, I couldn't help but want to check.”

She tugged the blanket up a bit more and curled into a ball like a lazy little cat.

“I don't have to get up early today, it's so blissful. Usually, training means leaving the house before dawn. Lying in bed like this occasionally feels like such a luxury. You must work very hard too, right? Make sure to rest well this weekend and don't think about work. Today, I just want to take things slow, no rush for anything. You take your time too; I'll wait for you.”

Video ends.

Send.

[09:35 - Second Selfie]

Karina got out of bed, wearing her cream-white long-sleeved nightgown, and walked to the window to pull the curtains wide open. Sunlight flooded in instantly. She squinted and took a photo of the view outside. The sky was a pale blue with a few thin clouds drifting by, and the silhouette of Namsan Tower could be seen in the distance.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

“I've pulled the curtains all the way back. The weather is so nice today; the sky is blue, the clouds are thin, and there isn't much wind. Spring is really here; the air has a particularly fresh scent. Is the weather nice where you are? Regardless of whether it is or not, remember to stay in a good mood.”

Send.

[09:50 - Second Video Reply]

Karina stood by the window, the sunlight hitting her from the side and casting gentle shadows on her face. She held up her phone, slowly panning the camera across the sky outside.

“Look, the sky is so blue today. Do you see that cloud? Doesn't it look like a little bunny? With long ears, just lying there. When I was little, I loved watching the clouds—lying on the grass and watching them slowly change shape. Sometimes they were bunnies, sometimes puppies, sometimes hearts. Now that I'm grown up, I rarely do that. I'm so busy every day, busy to the point where I don't have time to look up at the sky.”

She turned the camera back to herself and smiled.

“I want to watch for a bit longer today. Watch the clouds, the sky, the sunlight. And then tell you everything I see. That way, it's like you've seen it too, right?”

Video ends.

Send.

[10:15 - Third Selfie]

Karina finished changing and took a photo in front of the full-length bedroom mirror. Today she was wearing a light apricot knit cardigan over a white camisole, paired with dark blue wide-leg trousers. Her hair hung loosely, making her look gentle and comfortable.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

“I'm dressed. I wanted to wear something comfortable today—apricot and white are such gentle colors. I bought some flowers yesterday, and I want to go to the market to buy a few more stems today to make the house look nicer. Do you like flowers? Is there a kind you particularly like?”

Send.

[10:30 - Third Video Reply]

Karina sat at the dining table with a simple breakfast in front of her—a bowl of oatmeal, sliced fruit, and a glass of warm water. She slowly stirred the oatmeal, her movements light and deliberate.

“Today's breakfast is very simple: oatmeal and fruit. I don't want anything too complicated on the weekend; simple is good. I added honey to the oatmeal, so it's sweet and warms my stomach. Have you had breakfast? Don't sleep in too late on the weekend and forget to eat. People with weak stomachs must eat on time, okay?”

She scooped up a spoonful of oatmeal, blew on it gently, and put it in her mouth.

“Mmm, it's delicious. How about I make it for you next time? Waking up in the morning to hot oatmeal and some fruit, sitting by the window and eating slowly. A morning like that would surely be wonderful.”

Video ends.

Send.

[10:55 - Fourth Selfie]

Karina stood in the entryway, ready to head out. She took a full-body photo in the mirror—apricot cardigan, white camisole, dark blue wide-leg trousers, white canvas shoes, hair down, with a canvas bag over her shoulder. Sunlight streamed in from the doorway, casting a patch of light at her feet.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

“Getting ready to head out. I want to wander around the market today, buy some groceries and flowers. Just walking slowly and looking around by myself. If you have time, you should go for a walk too. The spring sun is very gentle; it's not too harsh, just right.”

Send.

[11:20 - Fourth Video Reply]

Karina was walking through the neighborhood, the camera pointed at the cherry blossom trees lining the road. The blossoms were mostly in bloom, a soft pink. Every time the wind blew, petals would flutter down onto the grass, the ground, and her shoulders.

“Look, the cherry blossoms from yesterday are blooming even better today. The ground is covered in petals; they feel soft when you step on them. One just happened to land on my shoulder, so I gently picked it up and put it in my palm. The petals are so light and thin, like paper. Spring is so wonderful; all the flowers are working hard to bloom, as if telling the world, 'I am here.' I am too—I am here, and I am thinking of you. You know that, right?”

She showed the petal to the camera and then gently placed it by the roadside, letting it return to the flowerbeds.

Video ends.

Send.

[11:45 - Fifth Selfie]

Karina arrived at the market and took a photo of a flower stall. The stall was filled with all kinds of flowers—white daisies, pink roses, purple baby's breath, yellow sunflowers, and some little wildflowers she couldn't name, all crowded together vibrantly.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

“I've arrived at the market. There are so many flowers at the stall, I can't even look at them all. Every kind is so beautiful, I don't know which to choose. Why don't you help me pick? Which kind do you like? I'll buy them and put them in a vase, and seeing them every day will make me think of you.”

Send.

[12:10 - Fifth Video Reply]

Karina stood in front of the flower stall and picked for a while, finally choosing a bunch of small white daisies and a few stems of pale pink lisianthus. She held the flowers up to the camera, her eyes crinkling into crescents as she smiled.

“I chose small white daisies and pale pink lisianthus. The daisies are like you—clean and quiet. The lisianthus is like me—a pale pink, not flashy but very gentle. Putting them together is just like us being together. Don't they match well?”

She carefully placed the flowers into her canvas bag and nodded at the camera.

“Alright, the flowers are bought. Now I'll go buy some groceries; I want to make something delicious for lunch. What are you having for lunch? If you don't know, think about what I'd want to eat and then go eat that. Whatever I eat, you eat, so it's like we're eating together.”

Video ends.

Send.

[12:40 - Sixth Selfie]

Karina stood at a vegetable stall and took a photo of the fresh produce—tender green spinach, bright red tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and round potatoes, all arranged neatly.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

“The vegetables at the stall are so fresh. The spinach is so green, and the tomatoes are so red; they really work up an appetite. I want to buy some to make bibimbap. Do you like bibimbap? Mixing all kinds of vegetables with chili paste is so fragrant. I'll make it for you next time.”

Send.

[13:15 - Sixth Video Reply]

Karina sat in a small park next to the market, having bought a box of tteokbokki for lunch. She sat on a bench, the box of rice cakes on her lap, eating slowly.

“Lunch: tteokbokki. This shop next to the market is especially good; the rice cakes are very chewy, and the sauce is sweet and spicy. Every time I come to the market, I buy a box and sit on this bench to eat. Look, there are trees, flowers, and little birds nearby. Eating here is especially pleasant.”

She picked up a piece of rice cake, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.

“Mmm, delicious. Have you eaten? You must eat well. Even if you're alone, don't just settle for anything. Take good care of yourself as if I were by your side. Because you don't just belong to yourself; you belong to me too. You have to take good care of my things, okay?”

Video ends.

Send.

[14:00 - Seventh Selfie]

Karina returned home, put the flowers in a vase, and placed them on the windowsill. She took a photo of the vase. The sunlight hit the petals, making the white daisies and pink lisianthus look exceptionally gentle in the light. Beside them was the bouquet of pink daisies she had bought yesterday, the two arrangements nestled together.

*Click.*

Bubble caption:

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

"I'm home, and the flowers are arranged. The white and pink ones look so good together. The windowsill suddenly feels like spring. Every time I pass by the window and see them, I feel so good. Thank you for helping me pick them. This bouquet is special because we chose it together." Sent.

[14:30 - Seventh Reply Video] Karina changed into lounge wear and curled up on the sofa. Sunlight streamed in through the white sheer curtains, bathing the entire living room in a soft glow. She hugged a throw pillow and spoke slowly to the camera, her voice gentle, as if sharing a secret.

"Do you know, when I went to the market today, I saw an old grandpa holding an old grandma's hand, walking slowly in front of a flower stall. The grandpa picked out a red rose and handed it to the grandma, and she smiled—it was such a beautiful smile. When I saw that, my heart felt warm, and my eyes got a bit misty." She paused, hugging the pillow a little tighter.

"I was thinking, when we get old, we should be like that too. You holding my hand, us going to the market to buy groceries and flowers. You pick the flowers you like for me, and I pick the ones I like for you. Then we walk home slowly together. Just thinking about days like that makes me feel happy. What do you think?" Video ended. Sent.

[15:30 - Eighth Selfie] Karina was in the kitchen preparing ingredients for dinner. She laid out the groceries she bought on the counter and took a photo—spinach, bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms, eggs, and a small box of beef. Click.

Bubble caption: "Preparing dinner ingredients. I want to make bibimbap today. Get all the vegetables ready, stir-fry them, put them on rice, add a fried egg, and some chili paste. It's balanced and looks pretty too. Do you like bibimbap? If not, what do you like to eat? Tell me, and I'll make what you like next time." Sent.

[16:15 - Eighth Reply Video] Karina sat on the sofa with a cup of citron tea on the coffee table. She held the cup, took a slow sip, and then smiled at the camera.

"I made a cup of citron tea this afternoon; it's warm and sweet. Why don't you have something hot too? It's easiest to get sleepy around three or four in the afternoon, so drinking something hot warms you up and wakes you up. Citron tea is good for the throat too; I drink it when I'm tired from training. You need to take good care of yourself and don't get sick. If you get sick, my heart will ache." She held the cup up to the camera and gave it a little shake.

"I'll share half of this cup with you. Even though you can't drink it, the thought is there. Can you feel it?" Video ended. Sent.

[17:00 - Ninth Selfie] Karina stood by the window and took a photo of the sky outside. The afternoon sunlight had turned a pale gold, shining on the buildings opposite, and the clouds were tinged with a warm hue. Click.

Bubble caption: "The afternoon sunlight has turned golden. The flowers on the windowsill look even better in this light. Is it this time where you are too? The sun is about to set, and the day is almost over again. Time passes so quickly, but today was very fulfilling. Because you are with me." Sent.

[17:45 - Ninth Reply Video] Karina tied on her apron and stood in the kitchen preparing to make dinner. She smiled at the camera; the apron was light blue with a little kitten printed on it.

"Preparing to make dinner. Apron on, time to start cooking. Do you want to learn how to cook? I can teach you. Although I'm not particularly amazing at it, I can do the basics. How about we cook together in the future? You chop the vegetables, I'll stir-fry, we'll do the dishes and clean up together. With two people in the kitchen, it won't feel tiring." She opened the fridge and took out the ingredients one by one.

"Alright, I'm starting. Are you hungry? Just wait a little longer, it'll be ready soon. I'll show you when it's done." Video ended. Sent.

[18:30 - Tenth Selfie] Dinner is ready. Karina served the bibimbap in a large white bowl, with various vegetables neatly arranged on top of the rice, a beautiful fried egg in the center, and a small side dish of kimchi and a bowl of seaweed soup on the side. She took a photo, making sure to include the flowers on the windowsill. Click.

Bubble caption: "Dinner is ready. Bibimbap, kimchi, seaweed soup. Look, the colors are so pretty. The green of the spinach, the orange of the carrots, the white of the bean sprouts, the brown of the mushrooms, plus the golden fried egg—it's like a painting. I'm showing you before I start eating; seeing it is the same as eating it. So you're full now too. You're welcome." Sent.

[19:15 - Tenth Reply Video] Karina finished eating and sat on the sofa. The sky outside had already darkened, so she turned on a small desk lamp, casting a warm yellow light on her face.

"Finished eating, I'm so full. Today's bibimbap was a success; the vegetables were stir-fried just right, and the chili paste was just the right amount. If only you were here, we could eat together, I could hear you say 'delicious,' and I could watch you eat the food I made. That would definitely be my happiest moment." She sighed softly, but still had a smile on her face.

"But it's okay, someday it will happen. When that day comes, I'm going to make a table full of dishes and feed you until you're full. What do you like to eat? Tell me now, okay? I'm going to start practicing, so when you come, I can make the most delicious food for you." Video ended. Sent.

[20:00 - Eleventh Selfie] Karina finished washing the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. She took a photo of the clean counter; the surface was wiped shiny, and the seasoning bottles were arranged neatly. Click.

Bubble caption: "Dishes done, kitchen cleaned up. Cleaning the kitchen after cooking makes for a great mood when you wake up the next morning to a clean kitchen. Are you like that too? Or do you prefer to rest for a while after eating before cleaning up? Either way, as long as you're comfortable, that's what matters." Sent.

[20:45 - Eleventh Reply Video] Karina finished showering, changed into pajamas, and curled up on the sofa. Today's pajamas were that light purple cotton set, her hair was blow-dried and draped softly. She hugged a throw pillow, looking soft and warm all over.

"March 22nd is almost over. Time passes so fast, but today was very fulfilling. Went to the market to buy flowers and groceries, made delicious bibimbap, soaked up the sun, and watched the clouds. Most importantly, I talked to you a lot. Every time I talk to you, I feel especially at peace, especially warm. Do you know, your existence itself is a comfort. You don't need to do anything special; as long as you are there, I feel very happy." She paused and rested her face gently on the pillow.

"Do you think I'm being cheesy saying these things? If you do... well, I can't help it. Because these are all heartfelt words. Liking you, I don't want to hide it. I want you to know, I want to tell you, I want you to feel it. Can you feel it?" Video ended. Sent.

[21:30 - Twelfth Selfie] Karina walked to the window and took a photo of the night view outside. There are more stars tonight than yesterday, Namsan Tower is lit with warm lights, and the buildings in the distance are also twinkling with light. Click.

Bubble caption: "So many stars tonight. Namsan Tower is lit up too. Every time I see Namsan Tower, I think of Seoul, think of home, think of you. Which star are you under? No matter where you are, we are looking at the same sky. When I think like this, the distance doesn't seem so far." Sent.

[22:00 - Twelfth Reply Video] Karina lay down in bed, covered warmly by the blanket, with only her gentle face exposed. The bedside lamp was on, casting a warm yellow light on her face, making her look soft and quiet.

"I'm in bed, ready to sleep. I walked a lot today, did a lot of things, I'm a little tired, but my heart is full. Today was a very happy day. Because the sun was nice, because the flowers were beautiful, because the bibimbap was delicious, because you were there the whole time. Thank you for spending this weekend with me. With you by my side, every day is good." She yawned softly, her eyes slowly closing and then slowly opening again.

"Tomorrow is Monday, time to start the new week of training. You have to work too, right? Let's both do our best. In the new week, eat well, rest well, and don't get too tired. I'll miss you, always, every day." Video ended. Sent.

[22:25 - Thirteenth Selfie] Karina pulled the blanket up, revealing only her eyes. She held up her phone and took a photo of herself curled up in the blanket, her eyelashes casting faint shadows in the light. Click.

Bubble caption: "Ready to turn off the lights. The weather today was sunny turning to cloudy, 8 to 15 degrees. Tomorrow's weather is cloudy turning to overcast, 7 to 14 degrees, possibly light rain. Remember to bring an umbrella when you go out. Good night, my love. Have a good dream, and I hope I'm in it. I'll be waiting for you in your dreams." Sent.

[22:35 - Last Reply Video] Karina was almost asleep, her voice soft and gentle, like humming a tender song. "Tomorrow... new week... gotta do your best... you have to do your best too... don't get too tired... if you're tired, just rest for a bit... think of me... I'll give you strength... you know?..." She opened her eyes slightly and smiled at the camera, a smile so light and gentle, like the moonlight outside the window.

"Good night... thank you... for letting me like you... for letting me be liked by you... this is the happiest thing for me... forever and ever... always..." Her voice grew softer and softer, and finally, only the sound of even breathing remained. The phone was still held in her hand, the screen showing her peaceful sleeping face, with a faint smile still on her lips. Video ended. Sent.

[22:40 - Last Text Reply] Before turning off the lights, Karina used her last bit of strength to send a message: "March 22, 2026. I liked you very much today too. Tomorrow's weather is cloudy turning to overcast, 7 to 14 degrees, possibly light rain. Remember to bring an umbrella. Good night, my love. See you in my dreams." Sent.