404: Chapter 459 Phantom Thief Zhimin (25)

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Karina's dancing is just so-so. Every time I watch her fancams, I feel like she's slacking off. Her arms swing around like poorly attached prosthetics. Did SM save all the trainee money just to pay for her plastic surgery? Her face is decent, but her dancing is truly bad. #Pig 51 Confirmed#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] LMAO, you say our Ji-min is slacking? How many of her fancams have you actually watched? She dances from start to finish in every single one, with so much power her clothes almost fly off. Your bias dances like she's doing Tai Chi, while our Ji-min dances like her life depends on it. You call that slacking? Are your eyes in the back of your head? #Karina is the ACE#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Life depends on it? She certainly works hard—hard at getting work done on her face. How many versions of that face have there been since debut? Fans still brag about her 'natural beauty'; do you think everyone is blind? She looks different every comeback, and you still call that natural? #Plastic Surgery Face Confirmed#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] You say plastic surgery just like that? Do you have proof? There are tons of pre-debut photos; which one doesn't look like this? On the other hand, your bias changes her face every comeback, and fans brag about 'growing beauty.' Can growing up make someone look like that? Our Ji-min at least hasn't touched her face. Your bias's face... even a doctor would call her a 'regular customer.' #Karina is All Natural#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] All-natural? You call that all-natural? Her chin is sharp enough to be a bottle opener, and her nose is straight enough to be a slide. If that's all-natural, then plastic surgery clinics can just close down. Fan filters are way too thick. Your Ji-min's face is only slightly above average in the entertainment industry. Isn't it embarrassing to hype her up as a goddess? #Visuals Overrated#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Slightly above average? Your ability to lie through your teeth is unmatched. Every single one of Ji-min's features is exquisite on its own, and together they're a perfect match. Your bias's face is okay if you look at the features separately, but together it's just 'okay.' Plus, how many times has Ji-min gone live without makeup? Her skin is literally glowing. Does your bias dare to do that? #Karina Goddess Visuals Certified#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Glowing? That's just good lighting. Why don't you have her stand under the sun and see? Besides, what's the use of fair skin if the features aren't good? Her eyes are as small as mung beans, her nose is as flat as a plain, and her mouth—forget it, I won't even say it. It's too tragic. #Ordinary Visuals#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Small eyes? Are you sure you're looking at Ji-min? Those eyes are big and bright, as if they can speak. Every ending fairy moment on stage, that gaze can steal your soul. What's the difference between your bias's gaze and a dead fish? It's as dull as if someone hit her pressure points. #Karina's Killing Gaze#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Can speak? They certainly can—saying 'Help, I'm drowning in fan filters.' Your Ji-min's facial expressions are always the same few: smiling, pouting, staring. A three-piece set on loop. You call that acting? She couldn't even play a phantom thief right. #Zero Acting Skills#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] What's wrong with playing a phantom thief? That was a comedy short; it's supposed to be an exaggerated style. Even a professional actor would play it like that. Besides, Ji-min is an idol, not an actress. Are you attacking her acting because you have nothing else to hate on? Ji-min can sing and dance, she's got it all. What about your bias? Can't sing, can't dance, all she has left is a plastic surgery face. #Karina All-Rounder#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Singing? Are you sure she can sing? She can't hit the high notes or the low notes, and she relies on backing tracks for every live performance. Fans still brag about her being 'Main Vocal level.' This is Main Vocal level? You could pull anyone out of aespa and they'd sing better than her. #Vocal Skills Flopped#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] You say she flopped just because you say so? You haven't heard Ji-min's MR removed videos, have you? Every performance is her real voice, and her breath control is incredibly stable. Your bias's live... nine and a half out of ten notes are backing tracks, and the remaining half is out of tune. You dare to brag with that level? #Karina Main Vocal Level#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Main Vocal level? Then what is aespa's WINTER? A Super Main Vocal? Can you Ji-min fans use your brains before you brag? She isn't even number one in her own group, and you have the nerve to call her 'Main Vocal level'? #Third in Group#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Third in the group? You've ranked all the aespa members, haven't you? Main vocal WINTER is first, main vocal Ningning is second, and then comes our Ji-min. What's the problem? Being third in this group is still top-tier level anywhere else. What about your bias? What rank is she in her group? Oh right, she's the only one in her group, no wonder she can brag about being first. #Only One in Group#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] What's wrong with being the only one? Being the only one means being first! No matter how great your Ji-min is, she's destined to be a supporting character for others. She's been debuted for so long, what individual resources does she have? What endorsements? What viral works? Other than that 'stealing a pig head' meme, what else does she have to show? #Resource Peasant#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Resource peasant? You're calling her a resource peasant? Ji-min had luxury endorsements right at debut. How many magazine covers has she been on? Her variety show invites are booked until next year. What about your bias? Other than the resources forced on her by the company, what else is there? Fans still brag about her being a 'Resource Queen.' Can resources fed by the company even be called resources? #Karina's Constant Resources#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Luxury endorsements? You mean that South Korea region ambassador? LMAO, those ambassadors are a dime a dozen. That's not a real luxury endorsement. Can your Ji-min reach a real global luxury endorsement? She can't even get close. #Inflated Endorsements#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Can't get close? You must be blind. Have you seen Ji-min's Instagram stats? Every post gets over a million likes. Brands are fighting to work with her. What about your bias? Her selfies don't even get a fraction of Ji-min's likes. What's that called? It's called commercial value. #Karina's High Commercial Value#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Commercial value? Based on what? That plastic surgery face? Or that 'stealing a pig head' meme? Your Ji-min's biggest viral work is stealing a pig head, right? After all this time since debut, what else is there besides that? #Masterpiece is a Pig Head#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] What's wrong with her masterpiece being a pig head? That's variety sense! That's buzz! That's going viral! Your bias doesn't even have the chance to go viral. Besides, our Ji-min is about to have a new work. Do you know about the movie 'the crab'? What about your bias? Oh right, she's at home doing nothing. #Karina Constantly Working#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] 'the crab'? You mean that little cameo short? You have the nerve to brag about a few minutes of screen time? Your Ji-min's acting is only suitable for these kinds of comedy shorts that don't require acting. Who would dare cast her in a serious drama? #Acting Drives People Away#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Who said that? There are already several scripts being discussed; they just haven't been officially announced yet. Besides, Ji-min is an idol; acting is just a side job. Her true stage is concerts, music programs, and year-end awards. What about your bias? Too scared to go on stage, too scared to take variety shows, just sitting at home waiting for a call. #Karina Stage Queen#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Stage Queen? You call that a Stage Queen? Every stage is the same expression, the same movements, like it's copy-pasted. Fans still brag about her 'expressiveness.' Expressing what? How stone-faced she is? #Stone-faced on Stage#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Stone-faced? Have you seen Ji-min's 'Next Level' fancam? Her facial expressions are incredible; every gaze is just right. Cold when she needs to be cold, sweet when she needs to be sweet. You call that stone-faced? Your bias is the one who's stone-faced, with just one expression from start to finish—'Who am I, where am I, what am I doing?' #Karina's Facial Expressions are Incredible#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Incredible facial expressions? Are you sure it's not over-expression? She's always making faces on stage; it's exhausting just watching her. Can't she be more natural? She has to try so hard. What's that called? Trying too hard. #Over-expression#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Trying too hard? That's called being invested! That's called being professional! That's called respect for the stage! Your bias's half-hearted performances are what's disrespectful to the audience. Our Ji-min gives her all in every performance; what else do you have to hate on? #Karina is Professional#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Giving her all? She certainly tries hard—hard at plastic surgery, hard at stealing the spotlight, hard at sucking up to fans. Too bad, no matter how hard she tries, she can't change the fact that she's a Pig 51. #Goodbye Pig 51#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] What's wrong with Pig 51? Pig 51 is still one of the top five girls! Your bias doesn't even have a title; how can you mock us? At least our Ji-min has a presence. What about your bias? She's as invisible as a ghost. #Karina top five girls#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] top five girls? You gave yourselves that title, didn't you? Who actually recognizes you as the top five? The trending topics are bought, the data is faked, and the fans are purchased. What does your Ji-min have besides a good company? #Top Five Not Recognized#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Not recognized? You don't get to decide that. The data is there, the popularity is there, the endorsements are there. What does your bias have? Besides the company pushing her, what else? Our Ji-min got to where she is today on her own, taking every step steadily. #Karina Deserves the Name#

[guardian of princess wonyoung] Deserves the name? You crack me up. Ji-min fans' ability to comfort themselves is truly something else. Forget it, talking to you is a complete waste of time. Anyway, Pig 51 is Pig 51; no matter how you try to wash it, you can't make it clean. #Pig 51 Forever#

[Zhimins Little Strawberry] Running away because you've lost the argument? Typical, that's all your bias is capable of too. Our Ji-min will only get better and better, while your bias can continue doing nothing at home. When our Ji-min wins a Daesang, you'll still be busy counting fans. #Karina's Future is Bright#

—

In the practice room, Kim Minjeong and NingNing huddled together, their heads almost touching the phone screen.

Kim Minjeong's fingers tapped rapidly on the keyboard, letting out a "hehehe" laugh as she typed. That laugh was exactly like the one Jiang Zhiyu made whenever he was about to cause trouble—sly, smug, and carrying a hint of "I know I'm doing something bad but I just can't help it."

NingNing watched from the side, occasionally adding, "Add another emoji here to maximize the sarcasm."

"Right! Add another pig head!" Kim Minjeong's eyes lit up as she quickly added a pig head emoji.

The two of them looked at each other and simultaneously broke into a "we're just too clever" smile.

Ji-min stood opposite them, arms crossed, looking at these two little traitors. Her expression had shifted from anger to helplessness.

"Sent successfully!"

The moment Kim Minjeong pressed the send button, she jumped up from the floor in excitement, raising both hands above her head as if celebrating a great victory. Her face was full of pride, her eyes curved into crescents, and her smile almost reached her ears.

NingNing leaned over to look at the screen. With just one glance, she covered her mouth and let out a "pfft," her shoulders shaking with laughter until she was almost in tears.

Uchinaga Eri couldn't resist leaning in for a look either. Her expression twitched subtly before she turned to look at Kim Minjeong, her eyes filled with shock as if saying, 'I can't believe you're like this, Minjeong.'

Karina leaned over, and with just one look, her face turned green.

On the screen, it read—

[guardian of princess wonyoung: Karina's figure is just average, all dry and skinny like a bamboo pole. Fans keep bragging about her 'proportions,' but what's the use of proportions? She's missing everything she should have. Being that thin, a gust of wind would blow her over, right? Eat more and stop thinking about dieting all day; if you lose any more, you'll disappear. #BodyManagementFailure#]

"Ya!!!" Karina's voice almost blew the roof off the practice room.

Kim Minjeong had already laughingly hidden behind Jiang Zhiyu, showing only half her head as she looked at Karina triumphantly. Her expression clearly said, 'Come and hit me then.'

"Kim Minjeong!" Karina stamped her foot in anger. "What did you write!"

Kim Minjeong poked her head out from behind Jiang Zhiyu and said righteously, "Those are the rules of the game! If you lose, you have to talk trash! Oppa said so!" As she spoke, she pointed at Jiang Zhiyu, shifting the blame completely.

Karina turned to glare at Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu raised his hands with an innocent look. "I only set the rules; she wrote the content herself."

Kim Minjeong nodded vigorously behind him. "Exactly, exactly! I wrote it myself!"

Karina took a deep breath, then another. Looking at Kim Minjeong's smug little face and then at Jiang Zhiyu's "nothing to do with me" expression, she felt like she might actually be driven to madness today.

But she quickly calmed down, a dangerous smile curling at the corners of her mouth. "Fine. You just wait."

Kim Minjeong shrank her neck back, but the smile on her face didn't fade at all.

Watching this scene, Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but laugh. He looked around at the four girls. "I couldn't tell, but Minjeong is quite the little schemer."

Kim Minjeong stuck out her tongue, not at all embarrassed about being exposed.

NingNing added fuel to the fire from the side: "Master, you don't know, Minjeong Unnie usually looks well-behaved, but she's actually quite mischievous. Last time we were recording a variety show, she secretly lowered Ji-min Unnie's chair, making Ji-min Unnie almost fall when she sat down."

"Ya! NingNing!" Kim Minjeong's face instantly turned red. "Didn't you promise not to tell!"

Ningning shrugged. "It slipped out."

Kim Minjeong stamped her feet in frustration, while Karina looked at her with an 'I knew it was you' gaze.

Jiang Zhiyu shook his head with a smile and clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention back.

"Alright, alright, the first round is over. Ji-min, fire back, and then we'll start Rock-Paper-Scissors."

Karina took the "Zhimins Little Strawberry" phone and took a deep breath. She glanced at Kim Minjeong, who immediately shrank back but still had a smile in her eyes. Karina gritted her teeth and started typing.

A few minutes later, she handed the phone to Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu took it and read it aloud:

[Zhimins Little Strawberry: What's wrong with our Ji-min's figure? She has curves where she should and is slim where she should be—that's called the Golden Ratio! Your master's figure is as bloated as a steamed bun; how can you even talk about others? At least Ji-min has self-discipline and knows how to manage her body. Some people are probably afraid to even step on a scale. #Ji-minBodyManagementFullMarks#]

After hearing this, the smile on Kim Minjeong's face finally faded a bit. She looked down at herself, then at Karina, and muttered, "I'm not like a steamed bun..."

Karina raised her chin triumphantly. "Those are the game rules. If you lose, you get scolded. You said it yourself."

Kim Minjeong opened her mouth but found herself speechless.

Jiang Zhiyu suppressed a laugh and announced, "First round, Ji-min wins. Ji-min doesn't have to eat the bread; Minjeong, tear off a piece."

Kim Minjeong aggrievedly tore another small piece from her Danish pastry and put it in her mouth, chewing with gritted teeth as if she weren't chewing bread, but Karina instead.

Karina, meanwhile, triumphantly took a bite of her strawberry Danish, intentionally chewing with loud crunches, acting very arrogant.

"Second round!" Jiang Zhiyu announced. "Ji-min versus NingNing. Rock-Paper-Scissors!"

Karina and NingNing reached out at the same time.

"Rock—Paper—Scissors!"

Karina threw rock.

NingNing threw scissors.

"Yay!" Karina cheered, raising her hands with triumph written all over her face.

But strangely—

Ningning, who had lost, wasn't frustrated at all; instead, she smiled.

She smiled very happily.

Even more happily than Karina, who had won.

Looking at her smile, Karina felt a wave of foreboding in her heart.

"NingNing, what are you laughing at?"

NingNing waved her hand, but the smile at the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed.

"Nothing, nothing."

Karina looked at her suspiciously, then at Kim Minjeong nearby.

Kim Minjeong was also smiling.

The two of them exchanged a glance, and that 'we have a secret' look made a chill run down Karina's spine.

NingNing smilingly took the "guardian of princess wonyoung" phone. Her expression looked less like she had lost a game and more like she had won the jackpot.

Kim Minjeong leaned toward her and whispered, "NingNing, what are you planning to write?"

NingNing didn't answer but just lowered her head and started typing. Her fingers danced across the screen as the smile on her face deepened.

Kim Minjeong curiously leaned over to look, and her eyes lit up. She leaned into Ningning's ear and whispered something.

After hearing it, Ningning's eyes brightened even more. She nodded repeatedly, suppressing her laughter while typing, her shoulders shaking.

Watching the two of them whispering, Karina's sense of foreboding grew stronger and stronger.

"What are you two saying?" she couldn't help asking.

Kim Minjeong and NingNing looked up at the same time, giving her identical, meaningful smiles.

That smile was exactly like the one Jiang Zhiyu wore when he was planning something bad.

A chill ran down Karina's spine.

"Ya! What on earth are you going to write!"

Kim Minjeong leaned into NingNing's ear and added, "NingNing, write 'Korea's least thin person.'"

NingNing understood instantly. She suppressed her laughter while typing, her voice changing pitch: "Isn't that just the fattest?! Hahaha!"

"Ya!!!"

Karina finally realized, letting out a loud cry filled with anger and shame.

She finally understood why the person who lost was so happy—because the loser could rightfully scold her!

While the winner could only fire back and couldn't initiate the attack!

What kind of bullshit rule was this!

She turned her head and glared angrily at Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu was chatting with Uchinaga Eri, completely oblivious to the commotion here. His expression was calm, even a bit leisurely, as if the battle here had nothing to do with him.

Karina gritted her teeth.

This bastard.

Kim Minjeong and NingNing were already a laughing mess. Kim Minjeong held her stomach, unable to stand straight from laughing; NingNing continued typing while laughing, her fingers trembling.

"Finished writing!" NingNing finally stopped and handed the phone to Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu took it, cleared his throat, and read it aloud:

[guardian of princess wonyoung: Karina's figure, Korea's least thin? Fans still brag about 'proportions,' but what's the use? She's missing everything she should have. Being that thin, a gust of wind would blow her over, right? Eat more and stop thinking about dieting all day; if you lose any more, you'll disappear. Oh right, Korea's least thin—isn't that just the fattest? Hahahaha! #BodyManagementFailure#]

The practice room went silent for a second.

Then—

Kim Minjeong was the first to burst out laughing, rolling on the floor.

NingNing couldn't help it either, clutching her stomach and doubling over with laughter until tears came out.

Although Uchinaga Eri didn't participate, the corners of her mouth were twitching slightly.

Karina stood there, her face turning red and white in turns. Her mouth opened and closed, closed and opened, but she couldn't say a single word.

She took a deep breath, then another, and then another.

Then she took the "Zhimins Little Strawberry" phone and started typing. This time, her fingers were practically dancing on the screen, every character carrying a murderous intent.

A few minutes later, she handed the phone to Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu took it and read it aloud:

[Zhimins Little Strawberry: Your master's figure is good? Good where? Bloated like a steamed bun, yet you have the nerve to talk about others? Our Ji-min at least knows how to manage her body, eating what she should and training when she should, never overindulging. Some people are probably afraid to even step on a scale. Diet? What diet? No amount of dieting will change the essence of that steamed bun. #Ji-minBodyManagementFullMarks#]

The smile froze on Kim Minjeong's face.

She looked down at herself, then at NingNing, and muttered, "I'm not like a steamed bun..."

NingNing patted her shoulder. "Unnie, it's just a game."

Kim Minjeong gritted her teeth, tore another small piece from her Danish pastry, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed noisily.

At this moment, the practice room had been divided into two completely different worlds.

One was the war-torn "Trash Talk Zone," where Karina, Kim Minjeong, and NingNing sat in a circle, the phone passing between them amidst a cacophony of screams, laughter, and threats.

"Ya! Kim Minjeong, what did you write!"

"Unnie, you were the one who said you wanted to win!"

"When did I say I wanted to win!"

"You were clearly trying very hard during Rock-Paper-Scissors just now!"

Karina was speechless and could only lower her head to continue typing.

The other was the peaceful and serene "Teaching Zone." Jiang Zhiyu and Uchinaga Eri sat by the window, sunlight streaming in and casting a warm golden glow over them.

Uchinaga Eri looked at the three people making a mess nearby and frowned slightly. She pulled her gaze back to Jiang Zhiyu and spoke in a very low voice.

"Oppa, is it really appropriate to do this?"

Jiang Zhiyu was holding a cup of water. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and turned to look at her.

"What do you mean, Eri?"

Uchinaga Eri weighed her words and said softly, "It's just... making us scold each other... won't it really create a rift between us?"

Her voice was very light, carrying a hint of worry. Her gaze drifted back there—Kim Minjeong was holding a phone and reading something loudly, Karina was lunging to grab it, and Ningning was laughing and slapping the floor beside them.

The three of them were a mess, but they looked very happy.

But Uchinaga Eri knew that some hurts cannot be erased just by looking happy.

Jiang Zhiyu put down his water cup and looked at her.

His expression became a bit more serious, but a faint smile still lingered at the corners of his mouth.

"Eri, let me ask you a question."

Eri nodded.

Jiang Zhiyu said, "How long have you lived with Ji-min, Minjeong, and Ningning?"

Eri thought for a moment, "More than two years."

"Have you ever argued during these two years?"

Eri paused, then nodded honestly, "Yes."

"And after the argument?"

"We're fine after a few days."

Jiang Zhiyu smiled, "Why are you fine after a few days? Is it because the conflict between you is gone? Or because you chose forgiveness and tolerance?"

Eri opened her mouth but didn't answer.

"Friction is inevitable when people get along."

His voice was calm, as if speaking of something perfectly ordinary.

"Whether boys or girls, living in the same space, there will definitely be dissatisfaction over small things. Today someone used too much of someone else's makeup, tomorrow someone accidentally broke someone's things, the day after someone said something careless that someone else took to heart..."

He paused.

"If this dissatisfaction is kept bottled up, it will explode one day."

Eri listened intently and nodded.

"But you are different," Jiang Zhiyu continued. "Your personalities are all similar—you forget things after seeing or saying them. You have a fight today, and tomorrow you're eating together again as if nothing happened."

Eri thought about it; it seemed that was indeed the case.

"But if—" Jiang Zhiyu's tone became serious, "if this dissatisfaction isn't something that can be resolved by a face-to-face argument—but exists in online dirt and rumors?"

Eri was stunned.

Jiang Zhiyu's voice lowered a bit: "Environment affects human thinking. Every day you open your phone and see malicious comments about yourself—'plastic surgery,' 'slacking,' 'no talent,' 'nobody'—after seeing these things too much, what will a person become? How do you vent those things?"

Eri's fingers tightened slightly.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her with a seriousness she rarely saw.

"You need an outlet to vent these emotions." Jiang Zhiyu gestured toward the three girls over there. "And what I'm providing for them is exactly what they're doing now."

Eri followed his gaze.

Kim Minjeong was holding her phone, loudly reading a post she just wrote: "Karina's body management—ranked last in Korea! Hahahaha!"

Karina snatched the phone and started typing a retort.

The three of them were in a mess, laughter and shouting mixed together.

Looking at this scene, Eri suddenly understood something.

Then she looked up at Jiang Zhiyu, a knowing brightness in her eyes.

"So Oppa is using his own way to desensitize us to anti-fans' comments, right?"

Jiang Zhiyu turned to look at her.

In his eyes, there was approval, relief, and a hint of 'you really are smart' satisfaction.

"Exactly."

He nodded.

"No matter what job you do, it brings a certain amount of frustration. A doctor's frustration comes from the life and death of patients, a teacher's from students' grades, a programmer's from endless bugs..."

"Some of these controversies are caused by one's own misconduct—that's deserved, nothing to say about it. But most—" Jiang Zhiyu's tone became solemn, "are deliberately created by the company to stir up hype."

Eri's eyelashes fluttered.

"Since your debut, how many 'controversies' has aespa gone through?" Jiang Zhiyu asked.

Eri thought for a moment and didn't speak.

Because there were too many.

Too many to count.

"How do you vent those controversies?" Jiang Zhiyu asked again.

Eri lowered her head.

Vent?

There was no venting.

They could only endure.

Only smile in front of the camera, and then digest those emotions alone where no one could see.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her expression and softened his voice.

"Actually, the idol industry is, to some extent, better than many others. At least your efforts usually see a return. But the problem is—"

He paused, his gaze becoming distant.

"The development of this society is too fast. So fast it's suffocating."

His voice became faraway, as if describing something he had observed for a long time.

"Faced with such people, or rather, people being pushed forward in today's fast-paced modern society—what do they need?"

He looked at her and said word by word:

"They need viral hooks."

Eri's eyes widened slightly.

"For example, the 'pig head thief' persona I designed for Ji-min. The viral heat and the meme-making crowd are all vehicles for venting emotions. People need an outlet to release the emotions that are suffocating them in life. And Ji-min became that outlet."

Eri nodded thoughtfully.

Jiang Zhiyu continued: "Ji-min is being discussed hotly online, so her mood definitely won't be great. And as her members, I think you would also feel for her—"

He paused, seemingly weighing his words.

"I don't mean that I played with everyone's feelings and then wanted everyone to willingly participate in this special 'exchange'."

He looked at the three girls still messing around, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

"What I mean is, I can let you vent the dissatisfaction from your work."

His voice became a bit gentler.

"At least... you won't be like some seniors in the entertainment industry, taking illicit substances, going to certain places to seek excitement, or even having certain—"

He paused, his voice even softer.

"Thoughts of ending it all."

The practice room fell silent for a moment.

The laughter and noise over there seemed to quiet down a bit.

Eri's expression became solemn.

Jiang Zhiyu was silent for a few seconds, then spoke:

"Senior Sulli from f(x)—"

He paused, considering how to put it.

"I think I don't need to say more. She has been living in Iceland since leaving the group and only returns occasionally."

His voice was calm, but Eri heard the weight beneath it.

"I'm not very close to her. But I know more or less what happened to her."

He turned to look at Eri.

"So I hope these things won't happen again to you."

Eri looked at him, her eyes turning slightly red.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found she couldn't say anything.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her like that and smiled.

The smile was light and gentle.

"Eri," he said, "do you know why I'm telling you this?"

Eri shook her head.

Jiang Zhiyu said: "Because you always think more than others. Minjeong is the type who says whatever she thinks, Ningning is the type who shows whatever emotion she has, and Ji-min is the type who hides her emotions in her heart but can't keep them hidden."

He looked at Eri, his eyes clear as if seeing through everything.

"And you are the type—who hides everything in your heart and then digests it yourself."

Eri's fingers tightened slightly.

Jiang Zhiyu's voice grew even softer: "That's not good. What you can't digest will become a burden. Too many burdens will crush a person."

Eri lowered her head and was silent for a long time.

Then she looked up at Jiang Zhiyu and smiled.

The smile was faint but carried a sense of relief.

"Thank you, Oppa."

Her voice was soft, but as clear as if carved into the air.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her and nodded.

"If you have anything to say in the future, you can tell me directly. No need to hide it in your heart."

Eri nodded.

Suddenly, Kim Minjeong's voice rang out.

"Oppa! Come look! NingNing posted another one!"

Jiang Zhiyu turned to look over there.

The three were gathered around, staring at a phone screen with various expressions.

Karina's face was flushing and turning pale by turns, Kim Minjeong was laughing so hard she was slapping the floor, and NingNing had a smug look.

Jiang Zhiyu stood up and walked over.

"What did she write?"

Kim Minjeong held the phone up to him.

On the screen was a new post just made by "guardian of princess wonyoung":

"[guardian of princess wonyoung: Karina's legs are too thin, like chopsticks. I suggest eating more, at least to a normal person's level. Fans even brag about 'manhwa legs,' where in a manhwa are legs this thin? These are clearly 'malnutrition legs.' #EatMoreZhuWuYi#]"

Jiang Zhiyu finished reading and couldn't help but laugh.

He looked at NingNing: "NingNing, did you write this?"

NingNing nodded proudly: "I wrote it! How is it?"

Jiang Zhiyu gave a thumbs up: "Impressive."

Karina stomped her foot in frustration: "Oppa! How can you praise her!"

Jiang Zhiyu shrugged: "It really is well-written."

Karina gritted her teeth, snatched the "Zhimins Little Strawberry" phone, and started typing.

Her fingers moved rapidly across the screen as she muttered:

"I'll show you what real skill looks like."

A few minutes later, she handed the phone to Jiang Zhiyu.

Jiang Zhiyu took it and read aloud:

"'Ji-min's legs are naturally beautiful; they stay thin no matter what she eats. Unlike some people whose legs are as thick as an elephant's, which is why they have to nag about others being thin every day. Ji-min's figure is a gift from God; does your master have that kind of luck? #JiMinNaturallyBeautiful#'"

Kim Minjeong's smile froze after hearing it.

"Unnie! How can you say my legs are thick!"

Karina shrugged: "You're the one who called me chopsticks first."

"That's different!"

"How is it different?"

The two started bickering again.

NingNing laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight, and Eri couldn't help but laugh too.

Jiang Zhiyu watched this scene, the smile on his face deepening.

He took a step back, leaning against the wall, watching the four girls mess around.

Sunlight spilled in through the window, dancing on them.

Laughter echoed in the practice room.

He remembered many things.

Remembering the first day he transmigrated, the days in the Tianxuan Continent, the times he could never go back to.

Remembering why he came here, and what he wanted to protect.

He watched Karina being chased and hit by Kim Minjeong, NingNing fanning the flames from the side, and Eri laughing while trying to break them up.

The smile on his face grew deeper and deeper.

In the practice room, the sunlight was just right.

The laughter of the four girls floated in the air.

And the malice that once caused them sleepless nights seemed not so scary at this moment.