400: Chapter 456 Phantom Thief Zhimin (22)

The bakery door pushed open, and warm yellow light poured out along with the aroma of baking. Jiang Zhiyu walked toward the bread shelves with ease, picking up a tray and tongs, and began placing items on the tray almost without hesitation. A bag of plain bagels, a box of chocolate muffins, and two cream cheese Danish pastries.

Karina stood beside him, watching his fluid movements, and felt a slight pang of sourness somewhere in her heart.

“Oppa, you remember Minjeong's tastes so clearly.” She intentionally prolonged her voice, her tone carrying a hint of jealousy she hadn't even noticed herself.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't even look back, saying as if it were a matter of course, “Because I’ve been out with Minjeong so many times, she chooses these every time. Bagels have to be plain, muffins have to be chocolate, and Danish pastries must have cream cheese.” He paused, glanced at her sideways with a smile, “If I still couldn't remember, wouldn't Minjeong cry her eyes out?”

Karina pursed her lips, the sourness in her heart growing stronger. Watching his back as he continued to put things on the tray, she suddenly spoke up: “Then does Oppa know what I like to eat?”

Jiang Zhiyu turned around, looked her up and down, a playful glint in his eyes. “Don't you eat everything?”

Karina's face instantly flushed red. She thought of the nickname he gave her, 'Pig 51,' remembered him teaching her that line outside the set, 'Phantom Thief Zhimin steals the pig's head, acting calm in the livestream,' and recalled the meaningful look he gave her every time he watched her eat—Shibal! This bastard is doing it on purpose!

“Ya! Jiang Zhiyu!!” she cried out in exasperation, her voice particularly loud in the quiet bakery. A clerk nearby organizing shelves was startled, nearly dropping the bread in their hands.

Jiang Zhiyu blinked innocently: “What? Did I say something wrong? At the last dinner, you even ate a few bites of that Sea-Nutty-Bar from the (G)I-DLE variety show I brought over.”

Karina's face turned even redder. That Sea-Nutty-Bar—matcha pudding with octopus tentacles, eyeball candy, and radish skull—was visually comparable to a biochemical weapon. Although the taste wasn't necessarily inedible, any normal person would hesitate for three seconds upon seeing its appearance.

At the time, she had been training alone in the practice room all day and was so hungry her stomach was touching her back. Seeing food, she just dug in, completely ignoring the appearance. And while that Sea-Nutty-Bar looked bizarre, it actually tasted okay. She opened her mouth to explain, but seeing his 'you see, I told you so' expression, the words at the tip of her tongue turned into: “I was just hungry!”

She snatched the tongs from his hand, “I'll do it myself!”

Jiang Zhiyu wasn't annoyed either; he stepped back, hands in his pockets, watching her pick and choose in front of the shelves.

Karina held the tongs, walking from one end of the shelf to the other, then back again. Chocolate flavor? Or matcha? This strawberry Danish looks good, but that croissant also seems delicious. She picked up a box of macarons, checked the price, and put it back. She picked up a caramel pudding, thought about it, and put it back too.

Her brow furrowed in indecision, her mouth muttering something softly. Jiang Zhiyu leaned against a nearby pillar, watching her like this, the smile on his face deepening. This girl is more serious about choosing bread than choosing a script.

Karina kept her head down, the tongs in her hand stopping for a long time in front of a box of strawberry cake. She didn't look back, her voice light as if talking to herself: “Oppa, do you really not know what I like to eat?”

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her lowered profile, her slightly pursed lips, and the tongs she was gripping tightly. He went silent for a second. Then he laughed softly—unlike the playful laugh from before, this one was a bit more tender.

“Strawberries,” he said.

Karina froze, the tongs hanging in mid-air.

“You like strawberries.” Jiang Zhiyu's voice was very light, as if telling a secret only he knew. “And matcha, but it has to be the kind imported from Japan; you find the Korean kind too bitter. For cream, you like animal cream; you won't touch vegetable cream. For cake bases, you like the soft ones; if it's too dense, you'll secretly leave half behind.”

Karina's mouth slowly formed an 'O' shape. She wanted to say something, but Jiang Zhiyu wasn't finished.

“You don't like nuts, especially walnuts; you think they have a weird smell. But if it's almond flakes sprinkled on top, you'll reluctantly accept it. You only eat fresh fruit; you won't touch canned fruit. The chocolate concentration can't exceed sixty-five percent; you can't stand it if it's too bitter. For ice cream, you only like the dense texture; you won't eat a single bite if there are ice crystals. You find macarons too sweet, but if a friend gives them to you, you'll eat them with a smile and then secretly drink water.”

Karina's eyes grew wider and wider.

How did he know everything?

“When you eat bread, you like to scoop out the center first and eat the crust last. When eating pizza, you eat the toppings first and the crust last. When eating fried chicken, you like the wings best—not because they have more meat, but because they're easy to gnaw on. When eating hot pot, you must have wide glass noodles; if not, you'll feel like something is missing all night. When eating barbecue, you like the meat grilled a bit charred, thinking it's more fragrant. When eating bibimbap, you mix all the ingredients very evenly, saying every bite has to have all the flavors.”

Karina was completely speechless. She stood there, tongs held in mid-air, her mind a total blank.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her shocked expression, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes. “I know the tastes of all four of you. I've known since the first time I ate with you.”

Karina's lips moved. The first time... how long ago was that? When she was still a trainee, he took the four of them out to eat. Back then, they still called him 'Sunbaenim' and didn't dare speak loudly in front of him. He had already started remembering their tastes back then?

She lowered her head, suddenly feeling her eyes sting slightly, and something began to ferment in her heart. Warm and swelling, like someone had planted a seed in her heart that was now sprouting.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't notice her emotions and continued to ask, “By the way, is there anything else you don't like to eat?”

Karina was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality.

“Cilantro,” she blurted out.

Jiang Zhiyu nodded: “I know that. During a previous dinner, you specifically picked out all the cilantro from the Vietnamese pho.”

Karina pouted: “Then why did you ask?”

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her huffy expression and smiled: “I wanted to see if your tastes had changed.”

Karina's heart skipped a beat. He... was paying attention to whether her tastes had changed? She lowered her head, not daring to let him see her reddening cheeks, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. After a few seconds of silence, she whispered: “Lately I don't like strawberry jam; it feels too sweet.”

Jiang Zhiyu took his phone out of his pocket and started typing. “What else?”

Karina lifted her head and looked at his serious profile. He was recording it. He was really recording it. The sourness in her heart had long since vanished. She leaned in close to him and began to chatter away, her voice carrying a hint of excitement she hadn't even noticed.

“Lately I've fallen in love with a dessert called 'Pavlova.' It's the kind made of meringue, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and it has to have lots and lots of fruit on top. I've been wanting to eat it lately, but I haven't found a good shop.”

“Mhm.” Jiang Zhiyu noted it down.

“Also, durian which I didn't eat before, I seem to be able to accept it lately. But it has to be frozen, the kind that eats like ice cream. I bought one at the supermarket last time, but Minjeong hated it, saying I made the whole fridge stink.”

Jiang Zhiyu suppressed a laugh and continued recording.

“And that Double-skin milk I had in China last time was so delicious. But I haven't been able to find an authentic one in Seoul. That milk skin is thick and smooth, melting in your mouth—completely different from Korean desserts. I've been thinking about it for a long time since I got back.” As Karina spoke, her tone became a bit aggrieved.

“Also, a new Omakase opened in Myeong-dong recently. I saw it on Ins, and it looks delicious. But I don't want to be photographed, and I don't want to be seen by the chef.” She paused, “Does Oppa know about the 'solo dining' kind? The kind with individual booths separated by partitions, where the food is served by opening a wooden panel in front of you, so you never encounter anyone. You can enjoy the food quietly and leave when you're done, without anyone knowing who you are. I've always wanted to try it, but going alone feels a bit strange.”

“I know,” Jiang Zhiyu nodded. “That's called 'Ichiran-style' or 'private room' dining. Many high-end Japanese restaurants have similar setups. If you want to go, I can help you book a spot and guarantee you won't be photographed.”

Karina's eyes lit up: “Really?”

“Mhm.”

“And one more thing, I want to eat Flower Cakes.” Karina's voice became increasingly excited. “I saw them on TikTok; they're from China, cakes made with fresh flowers. They say it's a specialty of Yunnan, filled with roses, tasting sweet with a floral fragrance. They look so delicious, but you can't buy them in Korea.”

She spoke for a while before finally stopping and thinking, “That's all for now.”

Jiang Zhiyu put away his phone and nodded: “Just those?”

Karina thought seriously: “Just those for now.”

Jiang Zhiyu put his phone in his pocket, his tone returning to that reassuring certainty: “If you want to eat Double-skin milk, I can teach you how to make it. It's not hard as long as you have milk, egg whites, and sugar; the key is the heat. As for the Flower Cakes, I can have someone in China send some over, and also see if there are any freeze-dried ingredients so we can make them anytime you want. As for that Omakase—”

He paused: “Find some time next week, and I'll go with you. Booking the whole place is too conspicuous, but the solo dining booths are perfect.”

Karina listened as he arranged everything point by point, and that warm feeling in her heart grew stronger. He was just that kind of person—he remembers everything you say, finds a way to get what you want, and does what you can't do yourself.

Jiang Zhiyu continued: “By the way, your Bubble can also post pictures or videos, right? Why not try livestreaming in a special way?”

Karina blinked, not quite following.

“For example, you can take photos of the Double-skin milk or Flower Cakes you've made and add text—something like 'Ji-min's Chinese Food Challenge.' This way, you can have Korean, and also include Chinese and English. Double-skin milk is a Chinese food, so this could also promote the 'Karina learns Chinese cuisine personally' tag, which would be very effective for your development in China.”

Karina's eyes slowly lit up.

“Moreover,” Jiang Zhiyu continued, “frequently livestreaming or posting photos like this is also great value for the fans who buy your Bubble. When they pay to subscribe to your Bubble, they'll see more than just selfies and schedule reports; they'll see you making desserts and sharing your life. Fans will really love this sense of authenticity and participation.”

Karina was already tempted, but still had a concern: “What about SM...”

Jiang Zhiyu waved it off with a casual 'what's there to worry about' tone: “As for SM, anyone who doesn't take a chance to make money is a fool. They won't oppose a project that can make money, enhance an artist's image, and expand overseas markets. Besides, you're posting on Bubble, not a public SNS, so it's more controllable.”

Karina nodded, thinking what he said made sense.

He looked at her and added: “The most important point is that taking photos won't lead to dating rumors. As long as I leave the kitchen or wherever whenever you take a photo. If you appear in the frame alone, fans will only think you're learning to cook by yourself and won't associate it with anyone else.”

Karina listened to his words, her heart filled with an indescribable feeling. He was helping her plan her future, considering her development, and helping her avoid risks. He even thought of details like 'how not to be photographed.'

“The premise is,” Jiang Zhiyu's tone suddenly became serious, “you can't be like Minjeong and suddenly come up with some 'clever' idea.”

Speaking of Kim Minjeong, both of them shook their heads helplessly.

That was a few months ago. The aespa girls were having a dinner party at their dorm, and Kim Minjeong happily posted photos on Bubble to share their joy with fans. The photos were taken casually—the girls sitting around the dining table with takeout and snacks, looking warm and everyday.

But fans have sharp eyes. Someone zoomed in on the photo and found a man's figure in the corner of the frame—wearing a dark jacket with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, holding a water cup. That photo was instantly circulated like crazy, and keywords like 'man in aespa dorm' and 'Kim Minjeong's relationship exposed' began to appear on major forums.

Kim Minjeong panicked. She just wanted to share her daily life and hadn't noticed the figure in the corner at all. That was Jiang Zhiyu—he happened to be at SM that day to discuss business and brought food for the girls on his way back, staying to eat with them. He sat at the very edge of the table, furthest from the camera, but was still caught.

SM's PR team reacted quickly, but fans were already tired of those official clarification statements. Phrases like 'just a friend' or 'just a staff member' would only draw more suspicion every time.

In the end, it was NingNing who discovered the issue. She looked closely at the photo and said: “This reflection...”

In the photo, on the glass surface of the dining table, there was a blurry reflection. Zooming in, and then zooming in further, one could vaguely see Jiang Zhiyu's profile.

NingNing posted this screenshot on her Bubble with the caption: “Look clearly, everyone, this is Zhiyu Oppa. We eat together often; it's not anyone else.”

Jiang Zhiyu also quickly posted a photo on his own social media account—a group photo from that dinner, with the four aespa girls surrounding him, smiling brightly. His caption was simple: “I heard someone was looking for me? [Photo]”

Public opinion reversed instantly. Comments like 'Oh, it's President Jiang,' 'Scared me to death, I thought it was someone else,' and 'President Jiang and aespa have always had a good relationship' flooded in. A relationship scandal that almost destroyed Kim Minjeong was resolved just like that.

Karina recalled Kim Minjeong's expression that day—first, her face went pale with fright, but then after seeing the photo Jiang Zhiyu sent, she hugged her phone and spun in circles in the dorm, shouting "Oppa is the best." At the time, she had even teased Minjeong for acting like a child who hadn't grown up.

But now, she seemed to understand that feeling a little bit.

"Minjeong really was scary that time." Jiang Zhiyu shook his head. "That girl didn't even check before sending the photo. I was sitting perfectly fine in that corner, yet I still got caught in her shot."

"I won't do that," Karina said seriously, though her expression looked for all the world like she was stifling a laugh.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, feeling a bit uneasy. He knew these girls all too well—Kim Minjeong was the "do it as soon as she thinks of it" type, NingNing was the "do it first, talk later" type, and Karina was the type who "looks the most well-behaved but occasionally causes the biggest commotion."

"Really?" he pressed.

"Really," Karina raised her right hand in a swearing gesture. "I promise."

Jiang Zhiyu stared at her for a few seconds before finally sighing. Fine, he'd trust her this once.

"Oppa," she lowered her head, her voice soft. "The things you mentioned... the Double-skin milk, Flower Cakes, and that Omakase..." She paused. "Will you really accompany me?"

Jiang Zhiyu looked at the top of her lowered head and her slightly reddened ear tips, falling silent for a second. Then he smiled and reached out to gently ruffle her hair.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

Karina looked up, meeting his eyes. Those eyes were as clear as ever, reflecting the lights, the bread, and her.

"Then it's a deal." He held out his hand.

Karina looked at his hand, then reached out and gave him a high-five.

"It's a deal!"

The warmth from his palm transferred through her skin. She looked down, pretending to look at the bread nearby, but the smile on her lips simply couldn't be suppressed.

Jiang Zhiyu withdrew his hand and picked up the tongs. "Alright, now choose what you like. Pavlova? Or Matcha Mousse? Or—"

He walked over to the row of Fruit Tarts, picked up a Strawberry Tart, and placed it on the tray.

"Start with this one?"

Karina looked at the Strawberry Tart, then at him, and nodded vigorously.

Outside the window, the afternoon sun was just right. Inside the bakery, the two stood side-by-side in front of the shelves—one choosing, one watching, occasionally sharing a few words or a smile.

Standing beside him, Karina watched his profile as he seriously picked out cakes, and a sudden wave of warmth welled up in her heart.

He knew what she liked to eat.

He knew what she didn't like to eat.

He knew her tastes had changed recently.

He knew what she wanted.

He knew everything.

Then—

Did he know that she liked him?

She didn't say it out loud. She just stood by his side, watching him put the Strawberry Tart onto the tray, then pick up a Pavlova, and then a Matcha Mousse.

"That's enough, that's enough, I can't eat that much!"

"If you can't finish it, take it back for Minjeong and the others."

"Then Minjeong will be jealous. You bought her a bagel, but you're buying me cakes—"

"She won't. She'll just end up eating your portion too."

Karina imagined the scene of Minjeong stealing her cake and couldn't help but laugh.

Karina crouched down in front of the counter, looking at the exquisite desserts through the glass. Her finger traced circles on the glass. "Oppa, which one do you think I should photograph? Strawberry cake is too common, Matcha Rolls don't look good in photos... this Fruit Tart... the colors are so rich, it should look great, right?"

Jiang Zhiyu walked over and stood beside her, looking down at the desserts. "The Fruit Tart is good," he said. "The colors are vibrant, so the visual effect in a photo will be excellent. Plus, it has many layers; you can take a few shots from different angles and make a collage."

Karina nodded and asked, "Then what should I write for the caption?"

Jiang Zhiyu thought for a moment. "'Finished filming the short drama today and came to buy bread with Oppa. Oppa said this Fruit Tart looks beautiful and told me to show it to you guys.'—then add a tag like 'Fruit Tart as a reward for doing well today.'"

Karina took out her phone and snapped a few photos of the Fruit Tart. After checking them, she shook her head. "The lighting isn't great, the glass is reflecting."

"Then buy it and take the photo at home," Jiang Zhiyu said. "I'll teach you how to plate it."

Karina looked up at him. "You know how to plate food?"

Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, his expression as if to say 'you're underestimating me.' "I often plate food and take photos for Tima at TG. Half of the food photos on her Instagram were taken by me."

Karina blinked, and an image of Jiang Zhiyu crouching by a dining table, holding a phone and snapping away at food, appeared in her mind. The mental image was so funny she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Jiang Zhiyu glared at her. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." Karina quickly covered her mouth, but her amusement couldn't be hidden.

Jiang Zhiyu carried the tray to the checkout, and Karina followed. She watched his back, noting his silhouette which looked exceptionally soft under the lights—

Oppa.

Next time, let me buy for you instead.

I'll buy the 100% sweetness milk tea you like.

I'll buy what you like...

She realized she didn't know what he liked to eat.

She suddenly discovered that she seemed to know nothing at all.

She quickened her pace to catch up.

"Oppa."

"Hmm?"

"What do you like to eat?"

Jiang Zhiyu turned back to look at her.

Karina stood before him, looking up with sparkling eyes.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, silent for a second, and then smiled.

"Guess."

Karina froze for a moment, then glared at him huffily.

"Jiang Zhiyu!!!"

The shop assistant had already packed the breads Jiang Zhiyu selected and was waiting for them to pay. Karina picked out a few more—a Fruit Tart, a Matcha Roll, a strawberry cake, and a delicious-looking Canelé. Seeing her add items to the tray, Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but say, "Buying so much, won't your Manager say something?"

Karina replied righteously, "President Jiang is treating me; can I really refuse?"

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her "I'm sticking to you" expression, feeling both annoyed and amused. He took out his credit card and handed it to the clerk, grumbling, "You said the same thing at the last dinner, and then Sunny Noona asked me, 'Are you spoiling Ji-min too much?'"

Karina took the shopping bag from the clerk, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. "That's because Oppa really does spoil me."

Jiang Zhiyu was stunned for a moment.

Karina was already heading out with the bag, turning back at the door to urge him: "Oppa, hurry up! Minjeong is still waiting for her bagel!"

Jiang Zhiyu watched her standing at the door, the afternoon sun shining through the glass and casting a golden edge on her hair. She was smiling happily, her eyes bright, looking soft and sweet like the strawberry cake she just bought.

He walked over and pushed open the door. The wind chimes tinkled.

Karina walked beside him and suddenly asked, "Oppa, which filter do you think I should use? The Japanese-style filter on Instagram feels too pale, but using one that's too strong looks fake."

Jiang Zhiyu thought about it. "Try that 'Warm' filter. The warmer tones should match the colors of the Fruit Tart better."

"Okay." Karina lowered her head and started adjusting the filters.

The two walked side-by-side in the sunset, their shadows stretching very long. Once she finished adjusting the filter, she took a few more shots and held up her phone for him to see. "How's this one?"

Jiang Zhiyu leaned in to take a look. "The composition could go a bit more to the left, putting the dessert at the one-third mark of the frame. Leave some white space on the right for text."

"Like this?" Karina adjusted it.

"Right. For the text..." He thought for a moment. "One line each in English, Korean, and Chinese. In English, write 'Sweet reward for a hard day’s work', in Korean '오늘도 수고한 나에게', and in Chinese ' You've worked hard today too!'."

Karina's fingers typed rapidly on the screen. "Oppa, you're so good at this."

"It's a basic skill for a planner." Jiang Zhiyu paused, then added, "Besides, that girl Tima makes me come up with captions every time she posts on Instagram. Her fans think she writes them herself, but I'm actually the one staying up late to think of them."

Karina couldn't help but laugh again. "Oppa, you really are—too good to Tima."

Jiang Zhiyu shrugged. "She's my younger sister. If I'm not good to her, who should I be good to?"

Karina's footsteps faltered for a moment. Sister. He was good to Kim Minjeong because he watched her grow up; he was good to Lee Tima because she was his sister; he was good to NingNing because she was his apprentice; then why was he good to her? What was the reason?

Jiang Zhiyu walked a few steps before realizing she hadn't followed, and he turned back to look at her. "What's wrong?"

Karina shook her head and quickly caught up. "Nothing, just thinking about which emoji to use for the caption."

She lowered her head, pretending to look at her phone, swallowing the question that had almost escaped her lips.

The sunlight fell perfectly on the steps of the entrance.

Karina carried her bag of desserts, her mood so good she wanted to hum a song.

Jiang Zhiyu walked beside her, his phone screen lit up as he typed something into his notes.

Karina stole a glance—it was a list of all the things she had just mentioned.

Strawberries. Matcha. Animal cream. Pavlova. Frozen durian. Double-skin milk. Solo Omakase. Rose flower cakes.

Each item was marked with a date.

The latest entry was "Omakase reservation next week."

Her heart suddenly turned into a complete mush.

"Oppa," she called him softly.

Jiang Zhiyu looked up. "Hmm?"

Karina looked into his clear eyes and pursed her lips.

"Thank you."

Jiang Zhiyu was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

That smile, in the afternoon sun, was as gentle as the fine layer of powdered sugar on the Pavlova in her hand.

"Let's go," he said. "Time to deliver the bread to Minjeong. Any later and she'll start calling to nag."

Karina nodded and followed his lead.

The two walked side-by-side in the sunlight, their shadows overlapping on the ground.

Karina suddenly spoke up: "Oppa, next time when you teach me how to make Double-skin milk, can I film a video?"

"Sure."

"But you can't be in the shot."

"I know."

"Then you speak Chinese, and I'll follow along to learn."

"Okay."

"Then teach me a sentence now."

Jiang Zhiyu thought for a moment and said in Chinese: "Double-skin milk is delicious."

Karina followed along seriously: "Shuang—pi—nai—hao—hao—chi—"

Jiang Zhiyu laughed. "Your pronunciation is pretty good."

Karina lifted her chin proudly. "Of course it is."

They reached the car, and Jiang Zhiyu opened the trunk to put the bread inside. Karina stood by, watching his busy back, and suddenly said, "Oppa, do you know?"

"Hmm?"

"I really like the name you gave me."

Jiang Zhiyu paused and turned around. "What name?"

Karina didn't answer; she just smiled, pulled open the car door, and sat inside.

Jiang Zhiyu stood there, thinking for a long time before it clicked—

She was talking about 'Ji-min'.

She liked it when he called her 'Ji-min'.

Not Karina, not Liu Ji-min-xi, but 'Ji-min'.

He smiled, closed the trunk, went around to the driver's seat, and got in.

As he started the engine, he glanced at her sideways.

Karina was looking out the window, a smile on her lips and her cheeks slightly flushed.

He didn't say anything, simply stepping on the gas.

The car merged into the afternoon traffic, heading toward SM.

The sunlight from outside spilled in, illuminating both of them.

Soothing music played in the car. Karina leaned back against the seat, eyes closed, still wearing that smile.

Jiang Zhiyu drove, occasionally glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

He remembered many things.

He remembered the first time he met her, when she was still a timid little trainee standing in the corner of the practice room, not daring to speak to anyone. He remembered the first time she called him "Oppa," her voice as quiet as a mosquito, her face turning red as soon as she said it. He remembered her debut day, how she shone on stage while fans held up "Karina" support signs and shouted her name.

He remembered her by the Han River, saying "I don't want to hear news about you from others anymore," with her eyes slightly trembling.

He remembered her outside the film set today, hanging onto him and hitting him with her little fists.

He remembered her expression just now in the bakery, head lowered, asking softly, "Do you really not know what I like to eat?"

He chuckled softly.

Ji-min.

Of course I know what you like to eat.

I know many things about you.

Far more than you think.

The car stopped at a red light.

Karina opened her eyes and looked at him. "Oppa, what are you laughing at?"

Jiang Zhiyu shook his head. "Nothing."

Karina looked at him suspiciously but didn't press further.

She looked back out the window, and after a while, she suddenly said, "Oppa, I'm very happy today."

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at her.

Karina didn't look back, just watched the passing streetscape, her voice soft.

"Today was really, very happy."

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, silent for a second, and then smiled.

"Me too."

The light turned green, and the car continued forward.

Karina lowered her head and opened her phone. She scrolled through the photos she just took and selected the best one—a close-up cross-section of the Fruit Tart, with layers of strawberries, kiwi, and orange slices looking exceptionally tempting under the filter. Following Jiang Zhiyu's suggestion, she added three lines of text.

[Sweet reward for a hard day’s work]

[오늘도 수고한 나에게]

[ You've worked hard today too!]