399: Chapter 455 Phantom Thief Zhimin (21)

Jiang Zhiyu stood in front of the monitor, watching the final take of the playback. On the screen, Karina, wearing that purple trench coat and a half-face mask, leaped down from a height, her form as light as a swallow. Im Yoona stood in the shadows, her gaze following the retreating figure, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. As the image froze, Jiang Zhiyu nodded with satisfaction.

He straightened up and turned to the two people who were talking to the stylist.

"Thank you, Noona, and Ji-min." Jiang Zhiyu walked over, his tone carrying a rare note of gentleness. "Today's work has concluded successfully. For the upcoming promotions, I'll have to trouble you, Noona."

Im Yoona nodded, her face wearing that standard "work completed" expression.

Karina stood beside her. Hearing the word "finished," she visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Her shoulders, which had been tense for two days, finally relaxed, and her whole body slumped slightly, as if some support had been pulled out from under her.

The three of them bowed together to thank the staff. The guys from the lighting crew waved with smiles, saying, "You've worked hard." The makeup artist made a heart shape at Karina, while the uncle from the props department shouted, "Ji-min, we'll take good care of that pig's head!" which drew a round of good-natured laughter. Karina's face flushed slightly, but she still responded with a smile.

The door to the set was pushed open, and the evening breeze poured in with a hint of coolness.

Im Yoona and Karina walked side by side in front, discussing their feelings about the acting. Karina's voice held a trace of excitement mixed with exhaustion: "Unnie, was my turn in that first scene too stiff? I feel like it looked really strange on camera." Im Yoona shook her head, her tone as gentle as if she were coaxing a child: "Not at all. To be able to do that on your first time is already very good. When I first acted years ago, I couldn't even find where the camera was, and I got scolded by the director several times." Karina blinked: "Really?" Im Yoona smiled: "Really. So you've already done a great job."

Jiang Zhiyu walked behind them, watching their backs. The afterglow of the sunset spilled in from the corridor windows, gilding their silhouettes with a golden rim. He didn't interrupt, just listened quietly.

When they reached the parking lot, just as Karina was about to say goodbye to Im Yoona, Jiang Zhiyu suddenly spoke up.

"I'm going to SM."

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze landed on her, his tone as natural as if he were saying, "The weather is nice today." "Are you coming along, Ji-min?"

Karina was slightly taken aback and turned to look at him. Jiang Zhiyu continued, his tone as casual as if they were chatting about what to have for dinner: "Minjeong said she wanted some bread, and I also want to eat some cake. Why don't you help me pick some out?"

When he said this, his tone was flat, as if he were talking about the most ordinary thing. But Karina knew that he was deliberately taking a detour to drop her off, and incidentally—letting her have something delicious to eat too.

A hint of sweetness welled up in her heart, but she just nodded: "Okay."

Jiang Zhiyu turned to Im Yoona: "What would you like to eat, Noona? Should I have Ji-min bring you some?"

Im Yoona stopped walking. She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, at his face that appeared exceptionally soft under the set lights. His eyes were very sincere, the kind of sincerity that was truly asking, "What would you like to eat?" But she shook her head, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly; the smile was faint, so faint it was almost imperceptible. "No thanks, I'm going back to rest."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded, not insisting. "Then, Noona, could you find some time to come to TG next week? Or I can come to you." His tone returned to the professional seriousness he used at work. "There are some film promotion tasks that I need to discuss with you."

Im Yoona nodded, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, which counted as a smile.

"Alright. Let's stay in touch."

She turned and walked toward her car.

Her high heels made crisp sounds on the concrete, one, two, three steps.

She didn't look back.

But inside her, a voice was whispering: Work meetings. It's always work.

She opened the car door, got in, and started the engine. The Porsche's engine emitted a low rumble as it drove out of the parking lot and merged into the evening traffic.

In the rearview mirror, the figures of Jiang Zhiyu and Karina grew smaller and smaller, finally disappearing around the corner.

Im Yoona retracted her gaze and looked at the road ahead.

She suddenly remembered a long time ago, when she first met Jiang Zhiyu. Back then, he was still a producer at SM, spending all day in the recording studio, discussing music, discussing stages, and discussing details she couldn't quite remember now with them. Back then, the way he looked at her was different from now. Back then, he called her "Yoona Noona," his voice carrying a hint of cautious respect. Now he still called her "Noona," but in that "Noona," there was no longer any respect, only a sort of distant politeness.

She didn't know when it started to change. Perhaps after leaving SM, perhaps after founding TG, or perhaps—she had never seriously thought about this question.

Because if she thought about it, she would care. If she cared, she would feel sad. If she felt sad, what could she do?

The Porsche drove into the Hannam-dong neighborhood and parked under her apartment building. She turned off the engine and sat in the driver's seat without getting out.

The bitter taste of that iced Americano still lingered in the car. She thought of that cup of coffee in the morning, remembered the way he took it from her and said thank you. Karina knew he didn't drink iced Americanos, knew his tastes, knew what he liked. And her? She didn't know anything.

She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. That sentence echoed repeatedly in her mind: "Are you coming along, Ji-min?" His tone had been so natural, so matter-of-fact, as if Karina walking with him was the most normal thing in the world. Yes, of course it was normal. They had known each other for so many years, ever since Karina was a trainee. He watched her debut, watched her grow, watched her transform from a naive little girl into the radiant idol she was today. She was a child he had raised himself; of course they were close, of course it was natural, of course—

She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and pushed open the car door.

Forget it. What's the use of thinking about this?

——

In the set's parking lot, Jiang Zhiyu watched Im Yoona's car disappear around the street corner and retracted his gaze. Karina watched that retreating figure, and a strange, indescribable feeling suddenly welled up in her heart, but before she could think about it in detail, Jiang Zhiyu's voice came from the side: "Let's go, if we don't go now, the bakery will be closed."

The two of them walked toward the parking lot. Karina followed beside him, walked a few steps, then suddenly remembered something and tugged at his sleeve. "Oppa, I want to eat cake too!" Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of teasing: "Will your Manager let you eat cake?"

Karina blinked, the corners of her mouth curling into a meaningful smile.

"Who is 'guardian of princess wonyoung min'?"

Her voice was very light, very soft, yet it made Jiang Zhiyu's back run cold.

"guardian of princess wonyoung min—"

She recited it again, enunciating every word clearly.

"And that 'five girls with Wonyoung' thing later..."

Her smile deepened.

Jiang Zhiyu widened his eyes, wearing an expression that said, "You actually dare to threaten me."

Karina stood there, hands behind her back, tilting her head to look at him. There was a smile on her face, but in that smile, it clearly read, "I know your secret, oh."

Their gazes clashed in the air.

Three seconds later.

Jiang Zhiyu surrendered.

"I know, I know!" he said helplessly, his tone full of the compromise of "I give in."

Karina smiled with satisfaction, her steps as light as if she were walking on clouds.

Jiang Zhiyu watched her back, feeling both annoyed and amused.

This girl is getting better and better at manipulating him.

Shaking his head, he followed after her.

——

The two of them walked out of the set side by side and got into the car.

Jiang Zhiyu started the engine, and the car slowly drove out of the parking lot, merging into the evening traffic. The sky outside the car window was darkening bit by bit, and streetlights were lighting up one after another, painting the entire city in a warm orange-red.

Karina leaned back against the passenger seat, looking at the scenery outside the window, silent for a long time.

The streetscape flew past the car window, pedestrians' faces blurring into shadows, and the glow of neon lights flowed across the car window glass. Her gaze followed those points of light, not knowing what she was thinking about.

Jiang Zhiyu drove with focus, not speaking.

The car was quiet, save for the low rumble of the engine and the faint sound of warm air blowing from the heater.

After a while, Karina suddenly spoke up.

"Oppa."

"Hmm?"

She didn't turn her head, keeping her gaze fixed outside the window. Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.

"You actually like Yoona Unnie a lot, don't you?"

Jiang Zhiyu didn't speak.

He simply tightened his grip on the steering wheel a little.

His knuckles turned slightly white from the exertion.

The atmosphere inside the car changed instantly.

From the relaxed and comfortable mood it had been just a moment ago, it shifted into a silence that was hard to define.

It wasn't awkwardness.

It was that kind of silence where something had been touched upon, yet he didn't know how to respond.

Karina didn't look at him, still watching out the window.

She didn't want to force him to say anything.

She just... wanted to know.

Jiang Zhiyu remained silent for a long time.

So long that Karina thought he wouldn't answer.

Then, he suddenly chuckled softly.

The laugh was light and faint, carrying a hint of an indescribable emotion.

"I like everyone."

His tone was as light as if he were joking.

"Irene, Noona, Yoona Noona, Minjeong, Ningning—"

He paused.

"And you, Ji-min."

Karina turned her head to look at him.

He was looking at the road ahead, his profile bathed in the soft light of the setting sun from outside the window. There was a smile on his lips, but within that smile, there was something she couldn't decipher.

She watched him for a few seconds, then withdrew her gaze and looked back out the window.

Like everyone.

Which means liking no one.

Or perhaps...

She silently added in her heart:

But since Oppa said he likes me—

Then I'll just take it seriously.

The scenery outside the car window continued to recede, and the sky grew darker.

What Karina didn't know was that the moment she turned her head back, the smile on Jiang Zhiyu's face slowly faded.

His gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, but his mind was filled with that sentence from earlier.

"Oppa, you actually like Yoona Unnie a lot, don't you?"

Like Yoona Unnie a lot, huh.

Like a lot.

He gripped the steering wheel, his fingertips tightening slightly.

His answer had been "I like everyone."

What a bastard's answer.

He thought self-deprecatingly.

Like everyone.

Which means liking no one.

But—

His gaze darkened slightly. The answer he truly liked was "I like them all," what a bastard's answer. He pursed his lips slightly, a flash of ruthlessness that he himself didn't even notice crossing his eyes.

But—could he really just watch them fall in love with others, or even get married?

Bae Joo-hyun's face suddenly appeared in his mind. That cool, aloof face that looked so much like Baek Ji-xin. The woman who had looked at him with such distance in the conference room, the woman who made his heart race and his teeth grind. She had to be his. Whether it was because she looked like Baek Ji-xin—his ex-girlfriend who had lost the spark of their relationship due to the busyness of brand work, eventually leading to a peaceful breakup—or for some other reason. This was a paranoid and absolute conviction. He never denied it.

Minjeong's face popped up too. That fair, tender child who smiled like a little puppy, the child he had watched grow up, the child who would pounce on him every time she saw him. If she dared to date someone else, he would break that person's legs. He swore to himself silently.

Noona. Yoona. And Ji-min. Every one of their faces appeared in his mind in turn; each one made his heart soften, each one made him itch, each one made him want to claim them as his own. Give them to someone else besides him? The corners of his mouth curled into a cold sneer, and a dangerous light flashed in his eyes.

What a pity.

His gaze became even colder. His fingers on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

The original plan to acquire SM in eight years had to be moved up. The timeline had to be shortened. 2026, or even sooner. To complete the progress, there was only one way—American citizenship. Although he had transmigrated with his physical body, everything had been arranged properly. Under Kim Soo-yeon's investigation, his identity in this world was that of an heir to an ancient family whose history spanned an unknown amount of time. And the test to gain the family's support was simple—accomplish something that would make any country nod in satisfaction.

In fact, he was already laying the groundwork. The AI intelligent virtual engine was the pledge of allegiance to China. That was the kind of person he was—he could certainly choose a small country to operate in, but China was clearly the best and only choice.

Perhaps using China for background support just to acquire SM and dominate the Korean entertainment industry was a bit of an overkill. But Jiang Zhiyu had long known himself. He only cared about the people he cared about. Within his capabilities, letting the people around him gain more happiness and realize their life's meaning—that was enough.

His expression slowly softened during his contemplation. Karina's voice suddenly came from beside him. "Oppa, you're smiling so happily! Did you think of something interesting?"

Jiang Zhiyu was stunned. Smile? Did he smile? He subconsciously raised his hand to touch his face, and his lips were indeed curling upward. He hadn't even noticed it himself. He withdrew his hand and smiled faintly, the smile looking exceptionally gentle in the afterglow of the setting sun. "Nothing, just thinking..." He paused, his gaze looking into the distance, as if looking at something very far away, "This 'Zhiyu' of mine is truly a good name."

Karina tilted her head, half-understanding. "Why?"

Jiang Zhiyu didn't answer immediately. The car turned into a quiet street, and he slowed down, finding an empty spot on the side of the road and parking steadily. He pulled the handbrake and turned off the engine, the car instantly falling silent. He turned his head to look at Karina.

The sunset shone in through the car window, coating her face in a warm light. Her eyes were bright, filled with curiosity. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair. The movement was light and tender, like stroking a well-behaved kitten.

"The meaning of the name is—" his voice was very soft, so soft it was like telling a secret, "Meeting you, I knew I would be happy."

Karina froze. She looked at his eyes, which seemed exceptionally clear in the sunset, looked at his face filled with tenderness, and looked at that shallow, yet heart-racing smile. Her mind went blank, with only that sentence echoing frantically.

Meeting you, I knew I would be happy. Meeting you... happy...

Her face started turning red from the roots of her ears, bit by bit. From pink to bright red, from bright red to scalding hot, she felt as if she were being roasted on a fire. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she couldn't say a single word.

Jiang Zhiyu watched her appearance and couldn't help but laugh. He withdrew his hand and pushed open the car door, his movements as natural as if nothing had happened. "Let's go, let's go buy bread."

Karina sat in the passenger seat, motionless. Her heart was beating so fast it felt like it was going to pop out of her chest, her mind still looping that sentence. Meeting you, I knew I would be happy.

She pushed open the car door, jumped out of the car, and chased after him.

"Oppa! Wait for me!"

Jiang Zhiyu slowed his pace, waiting for her to catch up.

The two walked side by side toward the bakery.

The sunlight spilled over them, casting two long shadows on the ground.

Karina walked beside Jiang Zhiyu, her heart still thumping.

She snuck a glance at him.

He was looking at the road ahead, a faint smile on his lips.

That smile was even gentler than before.

Karina withdrew her gaze and pursed her lips.

"Oppa! What did you mean by that just now!"

"Exactly what I said."

"Then explain it clearly!"

"I already explained it clearly."

"No, you didn't!"

The two walked one after another toward the bakery.

"Oppa, I want that strawberry cake!"

"Got it."

"And the chocolate one too!"

"Got it."

"And—"

"Karina, are you a pig?"

"Yah!!!"

The sunlight spilled over them, casting two long shadows on the ground.

Karina chased after him, her mouth not stopping with the questions.

But the smile on her face, which she couldn't suppress no matter how hard she tried, had already betrayed her.

No matter what that sentence meant—

She was taking it seriously.