397: Chapter 454 Phantom Thief Zhimin (20)

The set's parking lot, the sunlight was just right.

A van slowly drove in and parked steadily in the designated spot.

The door opened, and Im Yoona stepped out of the car.

She was wearing a light-colored knit cardigan today over a simple white top, paired with straight-leg jeans, making her look fresh and casual.

Her long hair hung over her shoulders, gently lifted by the early autumn breeze, shimmering with a soft luster in the sunlight.

She held two Iced Americanos in her hand—one for herself, one for Jiang Zhiyu.

This was a habit she'd had for years; whenever she went to the set, she would always bring an extra one.

Although she couldn't quite say when this habit had started, she had just kept doing it.

Closing the car door, she was just about to walk toward the set entrance when she suddenly heard a sound.

It came from the open space on the side of the set.

Sounds of chasing, laughter, and... a familiar voice.

Im Yoona's footsteps faltered for a moment.

She tilted her head to listen.

The sounds grew closer—it was Jiang Zhiyu's voice, and... Karina's voice.

"Stop! Jiang Zhiyu, you stop right there!" Karina's voice was urgent and loud, carrying obvious annoyance, but if one listened closely, a hint of amusement was hidden beneath that annoyance.

"I won't! Only a fool would stop!" Jiang Zhiyu's voice drifted from ahead, carrying a provoking playfulness.

"You jerk!"

"Thanks for the compliment!"

Im Yoona stood where she was, listening to the sounds drawing nearer, her grip tightening on the Iced Americanos.

Condensation on the cups formed a fine mist, dampening her fingertips, and the chill spread along her skin, but she was completely unaware of it.

The voice from last night rang in her ears again.

"Sunny Noona, I like Karina."

That sentence was a joke. She knew that.

It was later proven to be just a ploy by Jiang Zhiyu to mess with Sunny, part of those "black material note" games, a smoke bomb that was a feint.

But who knew? Who knew how much of that sentence was a joke, and how much was...

She didn't continue thinking. Because she saw two people running out from around the corner.

Jiang Zhiyu ran in front, and even though he could have run faster, he deliberately slowed down so that Karina could catch up to him.

His pace was light and brisk, like he was teasing a kitten chasing its own tail; every time she was about to catch up, he would speed up for two steps, widening the gap, then slow down again, waiting for her to catch up.

Karina followed behind, her cheeks flushed with a healthy glow from running, her bangs messed up by the wind, but she didn't care at all, focusing solely on chasing the person in front.

Finally, she accelerated and reached out to grab his sleeve.

"Caught you!"

She panted, announcing triumphantly. Then she raised her fist and started pounding on his shoulder.

"That'll teach you to run!"

"Aish, you hit pretty hard."

"It's supposed to hurt!"

The fists landed with force, but judging by Jiang Zhiyu's expression, it didn't hurt at all.

He just stood there, letting her hit him, a smile on his lips, occasionally dodging or blocking with his arm, like he was teasing a ruffled kitten.

The two of them came to a stop in front of Im Yoona, still bickering and playing.

When they noticed her, their movements stopped almost simultaneously.

Karina's fist was still raised in mid-air, the smile on her face not yet faded.

Jiang Zhiyu stood beside her, one hand in his pocket, the other having just been blocking her fist.

"Noona." Jiang Zhiyu spoke first, his tone natural, as if nothing had happened just moments ago.

Karina also put away her fierce, clawing demeanor, stood up straight, and bowed slightly.

"Yoona Unnie."

Her voice was a bit breathless, her face still flushed from running, but her expression had returned to the politeness and respect of a junior meeting a senior.

Im Yoona looked at them, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"You're here." She said, handing over the Iced Americano she had for Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu took it, glanced down at the label on the cup, then looked up.

"Thank you, Noona."

Im Yoona nodded, her gaze sweeping over their faces, then said, "I'm going in first."

"Yes." Both of them answered at the same time.

Im Yoona turned and walked toward the set entrance.

Her pace was neither hurried nor slow, her back straight, looking no different than usual.

But only she knew that her steps were slower than usual.

Slow enough that she could clearly hear every sound coming from behind her.

The set entrance was behind a corner. She walked past the corner, but her steps didn't continue forward.

Her body leaned against the wall, the cool tiles pressing against her back, the chill seeping through her thin clothing.

She didn't know why she had stopped, nor why she was eavesdropping.

Perhaps she wanted to hear what they would say.

Perhaps she wanted to confirm something.

Perhaps—she just wanted to do it, so she did.

She turned into that corner, leaned against the wall, and pressed the Iced Americano in her hand against her cheek.

The cold sensation made her heartbeat calm down a little.

But she didn't leave.

From the other side of the corner, the voices came through clearly.

Karina's voice sounded first: "Oppa, you never drink Iced Americano, right?"

Im Yoona's fingers tightened slightly.

She heard Jiang Zhiyu chuckle, then say, "Yeah, you drink this one. I've already ordered something else."

Im Yoona lowered her eyes, looking at the Iced Americano in her hand that was originally meant for Jiang Zhiyu.

The water droplets on the cup slid down her fingertips, dripping onto the ground, creating a small, dark spot.

She didn't know Jiang Zhiyu didn't drink Iced Americano.

The moment this thought popped up, she herself was stunned.

Then memories rushed up like a tide, taking her back to that summer.

The summer of 2021. Myeong-dong.

Back then, IZ*ONE hadn't disbanded yet, and the filming of "twelve star messengers: records of survival in the mortal realm" was in full swing.

She happened to have no schedule that day, and having nothing to do, she ran to Myeong-dong to watch the filming.

In name, it was "visiting the juniors," but in reality—she didn't even remember why she went at the time.

The sun was fierce that day, the asphalt road softened by the heat, and the air was filled with a restless warmth.

She stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching those kids running around in front of the camera, doing all sorts of embarrassing tasks.

Jang Wonyoung had that 400,000 won water bottle on her head, her expression management as perfect as a painting; Choi Yena was interacting with Lemm in the candy castle, her eyes smiling into crescents.

And Jiang Zhiyu, sitting behind the monitor, watching the screen with focused attention, occasionally picking up the walkie-talkie to say a few words, occasionally standing up to walk into the middle of the set to explain the scene to the actors.

She walked over, like before, and started teasing him.

"Yo, PD Jiang, what kind of embarrassing project is it today?" She stood behind him, arms crossed, her tone full of teasing.

Jiang Zhiyu turned his head, looked at her, and then laughed too. "Isn't Noona here to watch the fun? What, do you want to go up and try too?"

"No way." She immediately refused, "I'm not a member of IZ*ONE. You should save those middle-schooler tasks for yourself."

The two of them started bickering back and forth like that.

Just like when they were at SM, just like the times they spent chasing each other in the recording studio.

There was no malice in those words, only an indescribable familiarity and closeness.

Later, during a break in filming, she went to buy coffee.

She didn't even ask and just bought two Iced Americanos.

On the way back, she handed one of them to him.

Jiang Zhiyu took it, glanced at it, and then said, "Noona, I don't drink Iced Americano."

She was stunned. "Huh?"

"It's too bitter." He said, his tone very flat, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact.

How did she react back then? It seemed she just said "Oh," then took that Iced Americano back and drank both of them herself.

And as for his cup, later... did he throw it away, or give it to someone else? She couldn't remember clearly.

She only remembered that after that day, she continued to buy Iced Americano.

Every time she went to the set, every time they met, every time she thought of bringing him one—she always bought Iced Americano.

It had never changed.

And she had never taken the fact that "he doesn't drink Iced Americano" to heart.

Not even once.

Im Yoona leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

The cool wall pressed against her back, yet she felt a heat rising from the bottom of her heart.

That heat wasn't anger, nor was it grievance, but a deeper, indescribable emotion.

Was it annoyance? Self-deprecation? Or...

She took a deep breath and continued to listen.

On the other side of the corner, Karina took that Iced Americano.

"Thank you, Oppa." Her voice carried a hint of excitement, followed by the soft sound of a straw being inserted into the cup.

After a brief silence, Karina's voice sounded again, trembling from the bitterness, with a childish hint of disdain: "It really is Iced Americano... so bitter."

Jiang Zhiyu laughed: "Of course it's bitter, otherwise why would it be called Iced Americano."

"I thought I'd get to drink something sweet."

"Dream on."

Karina took another sip, seemingly trying to adapt to the bitterness, and then she asked: "Oppa, when yours comes later, let me have a taste too."

"Why should I?" Jiang Zhiyu's voice carried a hint of deliberate teasing.

Karina didn't answer immediately. After a short silence, her voice sounded again, with a straightforward, cunning tone: "Isn't Oppa's milk tea super sweet?"

Im Yoona's eyelashes trembled.

Milk tea. Super sweet.

She didn't know.

She didn't know anything.

She only knew Iced Americano, only knew that it was the drink she was used to buying, only knew that she bought two cups every time, one for herself, one for that person who didn't drink Iced Americano.

She didn't even know he liked drinking milk tea. Didn't know he liked drinking super sweet milk tea.

She didn't know anything.

Jiang Zhiyu's voice drifted from around the corner, carrying a hint of helpless amusement: "Can your Manager really let you drink something this sweet?"

Karina's answer came quickly, so fast it was as if she had already thought it through: "President Jiang is treating me, how could I refuse?"

She paused, her tone taking on a "you know what I mean" vibe, and added, "Besides, if I don't drink it and throw it away? What if someone finds out?"

When she said this, her tone was full of natural, playful cunning.

It was the kind of tone one only uses in front of someone close—knowing the other person wouldn't truly refuse, knowing she could be wilful, knowing that no matter what she said, the other person would smile and agree.

Im Yoona listened to that tone, and a wave of complex emotions suddenly surged in her heart.

Was it envy? Or... something else?

She recalled how Karina had just been chasing and teasing Jiang Zhiyu, remembered her unbridled way of raising her fist to thump his shoulder, and recalled the righteous confidence in her voice when she said, "President Jiang is treating me, how could I refuse?"

Those expressions, those tones, those little gestures—that was the kind of confidence that only comes from being doted on.

And what about her?

She had known him for so many years, from the SM era to now, from the relationship of producer and idol to the present—had she ever had that kind of confidence?

She had bought Jiang Zhiyu iced Americanos for two years without ever asking if he liked them.

She had bickered with him countless times without ever wondering if he minded.

She had been alone in a car with him, locked the doors, her heart racing, yet could only come up with a clumsy excuse like "the car door lock is broken."

What confidence did she have?

She didn't have any.

Around the corner, Jiang Zhiyu laughed.

The laughter was soft, carrying a "what am I going to do with you" kind of indulgence.

"Fine," he said, "I'll share half with you later."

"Yay!" Karina cheered, her voice crisp and bright, like a wind chime stirred by the breeze.

Jiang Zhiyu chuckled as he teased: "Hey, you're the Noona who's a year older than me, yet you're grabbing food from your younger brother and not even embarrassed."

"And what about you, Oppa," Karina immediately countered, "You're younger than me, yet you lecture me all day like a big brother."

"I do that for your own good."

"If it's for my own good, then give me more milk tea!"

The two continued their conversation, their laughter and bickering intertwined, gently drifting in the afternoon air.

Those sounds felt so natural, so familiar, like a daily routine that had been repeated countless times.

Im Yoona leaned against the wall, listening to those sounds, when she suddenly remembered something.

Last night, at the entrance of the izakaya, Jiang Zhiyu had said: "Noona, for the upcoming movie promotions and the short drama shoot with Ji-min tomorrow, I hope you can build some CP chemistry with Ji-min—you know, the kind between a capable bodyguard and an elegant Phantom Thief."

She had nodded at the time and agreed.

She thought it was just work.

But at this moment, listening to the laughter of the two people around the corner, she suddenly realized—that feeling of "mutual appreciation, mutual pursuit, and a sort of ambiguous chemistry that's hard to define," perhaps didn't need her to act it out at all.

Because between Jiang Zhiyu and Karina, that kind of thing already existed.

She didn't know what it was.

Was it a sibling bond? Friendship? A senior taking care of a junior? Or... something else?

She didn't know.

She only knew that when those two stood together, there was something special in the air.

That something made her feel like an outsider.

A year older.

Karina was a year older than Jiang Zhiyu.

She was older than Jiang Zhiyu—a lot older.

Her gaze fell to the floor, watching the spots of light cast onto the tiles by the sunlight leaking through the window crack.

He called Karina "Noona."

He called her "Noona" too.

The same title.

But the tone was different.

To Karina, it was an indulgent, helpless, smiling "Noona."

To her—it was a polite, distant, detached "Noona."

She recalled his expression when he took the iced Americano earlier.

No frown, no displeasure, just calmly taking it and saying, "Thank you, Noona."

Then, turning his head to say to Karina, "You can have this."

He hadn't intended to drink that iced Americano at all.

He didn't even hesitate.

It was as if—he was already used to it.

Used to taking things from her that he didn't care for, and then dealing with them quietly.

And she, had never even asked once, "What do you like to drink?"

The corridor fell silent for a moment.

Im Yoona peeked out from around the corner and took a look.

Jiang Zhiyu was looking down at his phone, likely checking the delivery location.

Karina stood beside him, holding the iced Americano with both hands, taking small sips.

The expression on her face was still bitter, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.

Sunlight spilled in from the window at the end of the corridor, falling onto the two of them.

Jiang Zhiyu looked up and glanced at Karina.

"Stop drinking that, wait until mine arrives."

"But this is an iced Americano, it's a waste not to drink it."

"You can save it and mix it with milk tea later."

"You can do that?"

"Iced Americano plus milk tea is coffee milk tea. Haven't you had it?"

"No..."

"I'll let you try some later."

The two continued chatting, their tone so natural it was as if they had known each other for a very, very long time.

In fact, they had known each other for a long time.

Since Karina was still a trainee, Jiang Zhiyu had already been at SM.

Back then, she called him "Senior," and he called her "Ji-min."

Later, he left SM and founded TG, but their relationship didn't drift apart; instead, it grew closer.

Close enough to joke around freely, to tease each other, to share a cup of milk tea.

And what about her?

She had also met Jiang Zhiyu during that time.

But their relationship seemed to have stopped forever at the level of "work partners."

Recording songs together, eating together, attending events together.

But those private, relaxed moments that didn't require any pretense—

She had never been a part of them.

Im Yoona withdrew her gaze and looked down at the iced Americano in her hand.

The water droplets on the cup wall had condensed into a large patch, streaming down the cup and pooling into a thin trickle between her fingers.

She suddenly felt this iced Americano was very heavy, so heavy she could barely hold it.

She took a deep breath and turned to walk toward the set.

After a few steps, she stopped and looked back.

Around the corner, the sunlight was perfect, and the two were standing together, talking about something unknown; Karina was looking up, Jiang Zhiyu was looking down, and the sunlight shone from the side, gilding them with a golden edge.

Im Yoona watched the scene, her lips curving slightly.

The smile was very faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible.

Then she turned around and continued walking toward the set.

On the set, the staff were busy.

Lights, cameras, props—everything was being prepared in an orderly fashion.

Someone saw her and greeted her: "Senior Yoona, you're here!"

She nodded with a smile, placed the iced Americano on the table, and walked over to her seat.

She looked at herself in the mirror—makeup exquisite, expression calm—looking no different than usual.

But only she knew that something inside her was quietly changing.

What was it? She couldn't say.

Perhaps it was a kind of clarity, a realization, a sense of relief from finally seeing something clearly.

Or perhaps, it was just an indescribable, lingering bitterness.

Outside the door, footsteps grew closer.

It was Jiang Zhiyu and Karina returning.

Their laughter drifted in from the doorway, as warm as the afternoon sun.

Im Yoona looked up toward the door.

Sunlight flooded in from outside, and the two walked in side by side, both gilded with a layer of golden light.

Jiang Zhiyu was holding a cup of milk tea with the straw already inserted.

Karina walked beside him, her eyes darting toward the milk tea from time to time.

Jiang Zhiyu noticed her gaze and smiled, handing the milk tea over: "We agreed, you can only have half."

Karina took the milk tea and took a sip, her eyes instantly lighting up: "So sweet! Oppa, if you drink something this sweet, won't you gain weight?"

"I have a good metabolism."

"Tch, showing off."

As they spoke, they reached the center of the set.

Karina saw Im Yoona and immediately handed the milk tea back to Jiang Zhiyu, greeting her obediently: "Yoona Unnie."

Im Yoona nodded with a smile: "Are you ready?"

Karina nodded: "Mm!"

Jiang Zhiyu stood by, took a sip of the milk tea, and said: "There isn't much to shoot today, so everyone relax, just treat it like playing."

The staff echoed him with smiles.

The atmosphere on set was relaxed and pleasant, with everyone preparing for the upcoming shoot.

Im Yoona stood up and walked to her position.

She glanced at Jiang Zhiyu; he was talking to the photographer, and he had already drunk more than half of the milk tea.

Karina stood beside him, listening obediently, nodding occasionally.

Im Yoona withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, and then put on a professional smile.

"Director," she called out, "we can start."

Jiang Zhiyu turned his head, looked at her, and then nodded: "Alright, everyone take your positions—"

The set lights brightened, and the cameras began to roll.

Im Yoona stood in front of the lens, her expression cold and focused.

She acted well; every look, every movement was just right.

But only she knew that beneath those perfect performances, a voice was softly echoing.

That voice was asking: Do you understand him? Do you know what he likes? Do you remember every word he has ever said?

She didn't know.

She didn't know anything.

But perhaps, starting today, she could try to know.