406: Chapter 461 Phantom Thief Zhimin (27)

The office of SM's Online Public Opinion Department felt as if the pause button had been pressed at this moment.

Department Head Park Jeong-hoon sat in front of his computer, holding a cup of cold coffee. He stared at the data on his screen, his expression shifting from confusion to bewilderment, from bewilderment to shock, and from shock to—questioning his life choices.

"Can someone tell me," his voice rang out in the quiet office, "what is going on here?"

No one answered.

Everyone stared at their own screens, their faces etched with the same confusion.

On the screen, the data curve for the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account was like a kite with a broken string, plummeting in a straight line. The posting frequency had dropped from a peak of forty-seven posts a day to single digits. Likes, comments, and shares were all down across the board. Those "hate posts" that once made the entire Korean entertainment industry tremble in fear were nowhere to be seen today.

In its place was the sudden rise of the "Liu Zhimins Little Strawberry" account.

That account, which had originally been just a "true fan" level account, saw its activity skyrocket by eight hundred percent today. Its posting frequency hit a new high, with every post meticulously edited, accompanied by beautiful pictures and moving captions. From Karina's stage presence to her variety show sense, her private fashion choices, and her sincerity toward fans—it was an all-out, no-blind-spot, carpet-bombing style of praise.

"Team Leader, look at this data—"

A young employee pointed at the screen in front of him, his voice filled with incomprehension.

Department Head Park Jeong-hoon pushed up his glasses and leaned in to look.

The data curves of the two accounts were displayed side by side on the screen.

"guardian of princess wonyoung": The number of posts over the past week had fallen off a cliff, plummeting from an average of 47 posts per day to just 3 today. Likes, comments, and shares were all halved. The comment section of the latest post was filled with nothing but—

[Didn't you eat today?]

[Your combat power is failing; are you afraid of being reported?]

[guardian of princess wonyoung, go ahead and curse them; we're all waiting to see it!]

"Liu Zhimins Little Strawberry": The number of posts over the past week had surged from an average of 2 per day to 31 today. Every single one was praising Ji-min, using flowery language, citing references, and filled with sincere emotion.

The latest post had even garnered a hundred thousand likes—

[Did you see Unnie Ji-min's behind-the-scenes footage today? That backward glance, that smile, that aura! People who are naturally gifted by the heavens are just different! Say no more, I'm going to put it on loop.]

The style of the comments below was also completely different—

[Did Strawberry Unnie get a shot of adrenaline today?!]

[This praise is too professional; is this a new PR hire from SM?]

[Whatever, follow Strawberry Unnie! Ji-min is the best!]

[Strike while the iron is hot! The head of the anti-fans is out of commission; let's go, MYs!!]

[Strawberry Unnie is practically like Joan of Arc! Protect Ji-min! Protect aespa!]

Park Jeong-hoon stared at the data curves of the two accounts, falling into deep thought.

"This 'guardian of princess wonyoung'..." he muttered to himself, "why did it suddenly flame out?"

Then someone whispered, "Department Head, should we intervene?"

Park Jeong-hoon was silent for a few seconds.

Then he waved his hand. "Let's see how things develop first. This trend... might not necessarily be a bad thing."

He glanced again at the top-voted comment on the screen—

"Ji-min's beauty is a gift from the heavens, but her hard work and sincerity are things she earned herself. An idol like her deserves to be seen by the whole world."

This comment, from "Liu Zhimins Little Strawberry," had already surpassed a hundred thousand likes.

Park Jeong-hoon picked up his cold coffee and took a sip.

It was incredibly bitter.

But he smiled.

"This girl," he whispered, "when did she get such a talented writer for a fan?"

In the aespa practice room, the truth behind this "cyber war" was playing out in a completely different way.

"I want to play too!"

Kim Minjeong's voice exploded in the practice room as she bounced up from the floor, her eyes shining like two stars.

She rushed up to Jiang Zhiyu and looked up with an expectant face.

"I want to play with the account that praises Unnie Ji-min too!"

Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but smile at her eager expression.

He reached out and ruffled her hair.

"You have to win to play."

Kim Minjeong nodded vigorously, then turned to face Karina, striking a battle pose.

"Unnie, rock-paper-scissors!"

Karina was still reeling from the shadow of being labeled "fattest" by Kim Minjeong and NingNing earlier. Seeing her so eager made her feel a bit uneasy.

"What are you doing now?"

"I'm going to beat you!" Kim Minjeong said righteously. "If I win, I get to use your account!"

Karina was stunned for a moment. "What account?"

"'Liu Zhimins Little Strawberry'! I'm going to use that account to praise you!"

Karina's expression became subtle.

She looked at Kim Minjeong's face, which was written all over with "I must win," and suddenly felt a bit touched.

This kid actually wanted to use her fan account to praise her?

"Alright." She nodded. "Come on."

"Rock, paper, scissors—"

Minjeong threw paper.

Karina threw scissors.

"Yay!!!" Minjeong cheered, snatching the phone from Karina's hand. "I won!"

Karina looked at her own hand showing scissors, her face full of shock.

Her scissors clearly beat paper, right?

Wait—

She won?

Then she should be the one still holding the phone?

"Kim Minjeong!!!" she shouted. "I was the one who won!"

Minjeong had already run off with the phone, saying without looking back, "Doesn't matter! The phone is in my hands anyway!"

Karina: "..."

What was this?

A robbery?

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, expecting him to uphold justice.

Jiang Zhiyu threw up his hands with an "I can't do anything about it" expression.

Karina took a deep breath.

Whatever.

She was going to be praised anyway.

Minjeong was already squatting in the corner, holding the phone and starting to seriously brainstorm.

"Hmm... what should I praise Unnie Ji-min for..."

She tilted her head, her fingers tapping around on the screen.

Karina leaned in, peering over her shoulder from behind.

Minjeong began to type:

"Unnie Ji-min's stage presence is truly incredible. Every fancam reveals new details, and every expression is just right—not too much, not too little..."

Karina watched from the side, nodding frantically.

"That's right, that's right."

Minjeong continued typing:

"And Unnie Ji-min is super sincere toward her fans. She makes an effort to remember fans' names at every fansign, answers every question seriously during livestreams, and treasures the gifts fans give her..."

Karina continued nodding. "Yes, yes, yes, that's also true."

Minjeong typed another paragraph:

"Unnie Ji-min is also aespa's best leader. Taking care of the members, arranging practices, handling affairs—she does everything in an orderly fashion. Having a leader like her is aespa's blessing..."

Karina nodded even harder. "Exactly, exactly, I really am that amazing!"

"Unnie Ji-min's body proportions are truly insane. That waist, those legs—she's a literal painting just standing there!"

"Unnie Ji-min's stage presence brings new surprises every time you watch. This is the strength of a top-tier idol!"

"Unnie Ji-min's sincerity toward fans can't be faked. Every fansign is a genuine interaction with the fans!"

One after another, the posts popped out like rapid fire.

And every single one was accompanied by pictures—stage photos, airport photos, lifestyle shots, fansign photos, and even a candid shot of Karina exhausted on the practice room floor, hair messy but still smiling.

For that candid shot, Minjeong added a caption: "This is the most authentic Unnie Ji-min—hardworking, resilient, and never giving up. Someone like her deserves all the love."

Karina stood by, watching the comments, her head swaying along with the rhythm of Minjeong's typing.

"That's right," she murmured, "this angle is indeed good-looking."

"Mhm, this is also correct. I really am very sincere with the fans."

"This—this is also correct. My waist is indeed quite thin."

Every time Minjeong posted, she would nod. Post, nod. She was like a kitten being stroked, eyes squinting and corners of her mouth turning up, completely immersed in the satisfaction of being praised.

After finishing the last paragraph, Minjeong looked at it with satisfaction and then clicked send.

"Done!"

Karina leaned in even closer, looking at the newly posted thread with a goofy grin she didn't even realize she had.

"Hehehe... it's written so well..."

Minjeong looked up and, seeing her narcissistic expression, couldn't help but laugh.

"Unnie, you look just like a—"

She pointed at Karina.

"A what?"

"Narcissist."

Karina was stunned for a moment, then reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Who are you calling a narcissist!"

Minjeong nimbly dodged, laughing uproariously.

"Unnie, look at your own expression! When you were reading those praises just now, you were smiling like you'd just eaten honey!"

Karina touched her own face.

Was it really that obvious?

She stole a glance at her reflection in the phone screen—

It seemed... it really was quite obvious.

But she quickly pulled back her smile and put on a serious face.

"That's because what you wrote are facts! Facts are naturally worth being happy about!"

Minjeong blinked. "So Unnie admits she's amazing?"

Karina tilted her chin up. "I've always been amazing."

Minjeong blinked again. "So Unnie admits she's beautiful?"

Karina raised her chin even higher. "I've always been beautiful."

Minjeong blinked once more. "So Unnie admits she—"

"Enough, enough," Karina interrupted her. "Are you ever going to stop?"

Minjeong laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Unnie, do you know? When you said 'I've always been amazing' just now, your expression was especially cute."

Karina's face flushed slightly, but she couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.

NingNing and Uchinaga Eri watched from the side, unable to stop themselves from laughing out loud.

"Unnie," NingNing poked her shoulder, "what are you doing?"

Karina said righteously, "I'm supervising! What if Minjeong writes something wrong?"

"Writes what wrong?"

"Writes—writes my strengths wrong!"

NingNing: "..."

Uchinaga Eri silently gave a thumbs up. "That reason is invincible."

Karina huffed and continued to peer at Minjeong's phone screen.

Minjeong posted another one: "Unnie Ji-min's skin is truly great, the kind that glows even without makeup. Naturally beautiful and hard to hide!"

Karina nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, yes, that's spot on!"

Minjeong looked up and laughed at her smug expression.

"Unnie, is this really okay?"

"What?" Karina blinked. "You're stating facts. What's wrong with me acknowledging facts?"

Minjeong opened her mouth but was left speechless.

She turned to Jiang Zhiyu, her eyes filled with a distress signal that said, "Do something about her."

Jiang Zhiyu leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and shook his head with a smile.

"Don't look at me, I can't control her either."

Karina raised her chin triumphantly.

In the next few rounds, the situation took a dramatic turn.

In the second round, Karina took the initiative to challenge, vowing to take back her account. As it turned out, when they threw their signs, she threw paper while Minjeong threw scissors.

She lost again.

Minjeong continued posting with the phone, and Karina continued nodding beside her.

In the third round, Karina took three deep breaths, focused her mind, and threw her punch—rock. Minjeong—paper.

She lost again.

Karina's face turned green.

"Are you cheating?!" She pointed at Minjeong, her voice trembling.

Minjeong blinked innocently. "Unnie, how do you cheat at rock-paper-scissors?"

Karina opened her mouth but couldn't find any words.

Minjeong continued posting, and Karina continued nodding beside her.

But judging from her expression, it was no longer "supervising"—it was pure enjoyment.

"Exactly, I really am that amazing!"

She murmured to herself, the curve of her lips growing wider.

"Exactly, I really am that beautiful!"

She nodded, her eyes narrowing into crescents.

"Exactly, everything they say is true!"

NingNing and Uchinaga Eri watched this scene, laughing so hard they couldn't stand straight.

"Unnie, let me play too?" NingNing held out her hands, looking expectant.

Karina looked at her warily. "You want to play too?"

"Yeah! I want to praise Unnie too!"

Karina hesitated for a moment.

Earlier, Minjeong had used her account to post, and the praises were all facts, so there was no problem.

NingNing probably wouldn't write anything too outrageous either...

"Alright." She handed over the phone. "Don't write anything too exaggerated."

NingNing took the phone and began to seriously brainstorm.

Uchinaga Eri also leaned in. "I want to see too."

The two of them squatted in the corner, heads together, and began to discuss.

"What should we write?"

"Write about Unnie's vocals! Her high notes are really stable!"

"Right, right, and her dancing! Unnie's attention to detail in her dancing is exceptional!"

The two of them went back and forth, their fingers flying across the screen.

Karina stood behind them, peering over to watch.

"Unnie Ji-min's vocal ability has always been underrated. Her range is wide, her high notes are stable, her low notes are rich, and her emotional expression is incredibly nuanced..."

Karina nodded beside them. "Mhm, mhm, mhm."

"Unnie Ji-min's dancing is also top-tier. Every movement is clean and sharp, the timing is precise, and her attention to detail is textbook-level..."

Karina continued nodding. "Yes, yes, yes."

"Unnie Ji-min's personal charm is even more invincible. She's sincere with fans, caring toward juniors, and polite to staff—she's a true idol role model..."

Karina's head nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. "Exactly, exactly, that's exactly how I am!"

After NingNing finished the last paragraph, she looked up and laughed at her narcissistic expression.

"Unnie, you really look like—"

"Don't you dare say narcissist!" Karina interrupted her in advance.

NingNing swallowed the words she was about to say and swapped them for a different term: "Then—Confidence Queen?"

Karina was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"That's good. I like that."

Beside them, Minjeong curled her lip. "Clearly a narcissist."

"Kim Minjeong!!!"

The three of them began to mess around together.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Uchinaga Eri stood to the side, watching them mess around, a faint smile on her lips.

Then she quietly picked up her phone, opened the "Liu Zhimins Little Strawberry" account, and started typing.

"Ji-min Unnie is the most authentic idol I have ever met. She doesn't pretend to be perfect in front of the camera; she gets tired, she laughs, she gets angry, she gets sad. But she always shows her best side to her fans. A Ji-min like this is the Ji-min that people love the most."

After she finished typing, she clicked send.

Karina was messing around with Kim Minjeong when her phone vibrated.

She picked it up and saw that the "Little Strawberry" account had posted a new update.

She read the message and fell silent for a moment.

Then she looked up at Uchinaga Eri.

Uchinaga Eri was standing in the corner with a faint smile on her lips. When their eyes met, she nodded gently.

Karina felt a sting in her nose and almost couldn't hold back her tears.

"You guys..." She opened her mouth, her voice a little hoarse, "What is going on with you today? Everyone, are you all trying to make me cry?"

Kim Minjeong immediately raised her hand: "I didn't! I was genuinely complimenting you!"

NingNing also raised her hand: "Me too!"

Uchinaga Eri silently raised her hand without saying anything, but her eyes were filled with sincerity.

Karina looked at the three of them, took a deep breath, and then took another.

Then she smiled.

That smile, under the lights of the practice room, was as radiant as a spring flower.

"Alright, alright," she waved her hand, "I know how you feel."

She paused, then lifted her chin and said in that "I am the queen" tone: "But you're not wrong. I really am that amazing, that pretty, and that talented!"

The three of them laughed at the same time.

"Unnie, you're really narcissistic like this!"

"I'm stating facts!"

"You can't just say facts so confidently!"

"Why not? Facts are facts!"

The four of them laughed into a huddle.

Beside them, Jiang Zhiyu leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching the scene.

There was a smile on his lips, but his brow was slightly furrowed.

Because on his phone screen, the homepage of the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account was displayed.

In the comment section, netizens were still frantically mocking him.

[Did you not eat today? Why has your combat power dropped so much?]

[Has the head anti-fan been reported and banned? Did someone else take over this account?]

[Is that it? Is that it? Where's the momentum from before?]

[Brothers, guardian of princess wonyoung is weak today, let's charge!]

He twitched the corner of his mouth, looking at those comments, then looked at the girls laughing together nearby.

These little fools.

Turning his anti-fan persona into this.

A compliment account with almost zero combat power—where is the fearsome reputation of "guardian of princess wonyoung" now?

No way.

He shook his head inwardly.

Maintaining the persona is very important.

This account is still useful.

He straightened his body and walked toward them.

Karina was still fighting with Kim Minjeong for the phone, while NingNing and Uchinaga Eri watched the show from the side, their laughter echoing in the practice room.

Jiang Zhiyu cleared his throat.

"Um—"

No one paid attention to him.

"I said—"

Still no one paid attention to him.

He took a deep breath and raised his voice: "Give me the phone."

The practice room went quiet for a second.

The four of them turned their heads at the same time and looked at him.

Karina was the first to react, asking vigilantly: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Zhiyu walked over and took the phone from Kim Minjeong's hand, his movements as natural as if he were taking his own belongings.

Kim Minjeong was stunned for a moment and didn't dare to resist.

Jiang Zhiyu opened the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account and lowered his head to type.

A few seconds later, he turned the phone screen toward them.

There was only one sentence on it, accompanied by a latest pictorial of Jang Wonyoung.

"I'm back."

Karina's face turned green instantly.

"Oppa! What are you doing!"

Jiang Zhiyu looked up at her and said matter-of-factly: "Being an anti-fan."

His tone was as flat as if he were saying "The weather is nice today."

"You guys, your combat power is like little chicks; I can't even bear to look."

Karina's face turned green instantly.

"That's not right!" She said anxiously, "Oppa, are you returning to being an anti-fan?"

Jiang Zhiyu gave her a strange look.

That look seemed to say, "What silly things are you saying?"

"I've always been one."

He said matter-of-factly.

The practice room went quiet.

Dead silence.

Because—this was the truth.

He was "guardian of princess wonyoung."

He had always been "guardian of princess wonyoung."

He had always been scolding people online, scolding the entire Korean entertainment industry, scolding her, scolding Jang Wonyoung, scolding countless people.

He had never stopped.

Karina's face went from green to red, from red to purple.

Karina felt her blood pressure soaring.

She took a deep breath and swung her fist at him.

"Jiang Zhiyu!!!"

Jiang Zhiyu agilely dodged to the side, Karina's fist grazing his clothes and missing.

She steadied herself and was about to continue the chase when Jiang Zhiyu suddenly leaned in close to her.

Very close.

Close enough that she could smell that crisp herbal scent on him.

"Ji-min."

His voice was kept very low, low enough that only she could hear.

Karina's fist, held in mid-air, froze.

Jiang Zhiyu leaned into her ear, his voice even lighter, as light as a feather brushing against her earlobe.

"I wouldn't lie to Ji-min."

Karina's breath hitched slightly.

"What I'm going to write next—"

He paused, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Karina clenched her fist, glaring at him with murderous intent.

Jiang Zhiyu leaned even closer, his lips almost brushing her earlobe.

His voice was so soft that the three people nearby, who were pricking up their ears to eavesdrop, couldn't hear a single word.

"I'm actually a fan of Ji-min."

Karina was stunned.

"Because I loved you too deeply, I ended up hating you."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice was soft, carrying a hint of indescribable tenderness.

"Because I like Karina super much."

Karina's brain completely crashed at this moment.

"Saranghaeyo, Ji-min."

The Korean "I love you," spoken from his mouth, was as light as a sigh but as heavy as a promise.

The practice room went quiet.

Quiet enough to hear the humming of the air conditioner, the wind outside the window, and each other's heartbeats.

Karina stood there, fist raised, as if she had been hit by a freezing spell.

Her face went from white to red, from red to purple, from purple to—an indescribable color.

Her mouth opened, closed, opened again, and closed again.

After a dozen seconds, she stammered out a sentence: "You... you're lying..."

Her voice was as small as a mosquito's buzzing.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her and smiled.

That smile was different from the playful one just now.

It was a bit more gentle.

And a bit more annoying.

He winked at her, then spoke, his voice deliberately soft and sweet, like he was coaxing a child: "Ji-min Noona~"

Karina got goosebumps all over her body.

"I told you I wouldn't lie to you."

Karina's brain completely short-circuited.

She stood there, motionless, the expression on her face going from shock to confusion, from confusion to bewilderment, from bewilderment to—a complete blank.

Nearby, the three spectators had already gathered together, heads leaning against each other, whispering frantically in low voices.

Kim Minjeong lowered her voice: "What did Oppa say? Why did Ji-min Unnie turn to stone?"

NingNing also lowered her voice: "I can't hear! It's too quiet!"

Uchinaga Eri shook her head: "I only heard the last sentence, 'Saranghaeyo'—"

The three of them gasped in unison, then turned their heads simultaneously to look at the two of them.

Jiang Zhiyu had already stepped back and picked up the phone again.

Karina was still standing in place, like a statue.

Jiang Zhiyu lowered his head to type, his fingers dancing rapidly on the screen.

A few seconds later, he stopped.

"Done."

He turned the phone screen toward everyone.

It was a new post.

The picture attached was a photo of Karina—not a polished pictorial, but a candid shot in the practice room. She was wearing a loose T-shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail, a smile on her face, her eyes curved into crescents, holding a bottle of water. She looked clean, fresh, and full of energy.

The caption had only one sentence: "Actually... there is one point where Karina is still better than Wonyoung."

Kim Minjeong leaned close to the screen, read the sentence, and then froze.

NingNing and Uchinaga Eri also leaned in, and the three of them looked at each other.

Karina finally snapped out of her petrified state and leaned over to take a look.

Then she froze too.

The comment section below had already exploded.

[Shocking! Has guardian of princess wonyoung flipped sides?!]

[You were stunned by our Ji-min's beauty, right!]

[Hahahaha, the head anti-fan has been flipped!]

[Hurry up and say what it is! In what way is she better than Wonyoung!]

[guardian of princess wonyoung, you've finally opened your eyes to the world! Karina's beauty is an objective fact!]

Kim Minjeong looked at those comments, then at Jiang Zhiyu, and asked in a low voice: "Oppa, what is it? Which point?"

Jiang Zhiyu didn't answer. He lowered his head to type, a meaningful smile on his lips.

A few seconds later, the new post was sent.

There was only one line of text, and the picture was still the same photo of Karina from before.

"It's age."

The practice room went quiet for a second.

Then— "Pfft hahahaha—!"

Kim Minjeong was the first to laugh out loud, laughing so hard she slapped the floor.

NingNing laughed while clutching her stomach, bending over like a shrimp.

Uchinaga Eri laughed until she hit the wall, her shoulders shaking, tears coming out.

Karina's smile froze on her face.

Age.

She was older than Jang Wonyoung.

Jang Wonyoung was born in 2004, and she was born in 2000.

Indeed, in terms of age, she was more "amazing."

Four years older, that is indeed quite amazing.

But is this something to be proud of?!

"Does being old count as amazing?!"

Karina's voice exploded in the practice room, a mix of anger, anxiety, and amusement.

The comment section of the two posts just sent by the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account had already exploded into chaos.

[Hahahaha hahahaha!!!]

[Age! It really is age! This can't be refuted!]

[Karina is four years older than Jang Wonyoung, that's indeed amazing!]

[guardian of princess wonyoung, are you a devil!!]

[I just wanted to say you were stunned by Ji-min's beauty, but you came up with this!!]

[Karina's fans are going to be furious, hahahaha!]

Karina looked at those comments, shaking with anger.

She took a deep breath, and then another.

Then she stood up abruptly and lunged at Jiang Zhiyu.

"Jiang Zhiyu!!!"

Her voice rang throughout the entire practice room.

"I'll kill you!!!"

Jiang Zhiyu had long anticipated this, turning and running immediately.

"What? Did I say something wrong? Isn't she older than Wonyoung?"

"You're still saying it!!!"

Karina chased him around the practice room, her fists waving in the air.

Kim Minjeong, NingNing, and Uchinaga Eri stood to the side, laughing until they couldn't straighten their backs.

"Unnie, fighting!!!"

"You caught up, you caught up!"

"Oh no, he ran away again!"

Jiang Zhiyu moved agilely through the practice room, laughing as he ran.

"Ji-min, calm down! Calm down!"

"Calm down, what calm down! You must give me an explanation today!"

Karina chased him for a few laps and finally grabbed Jiang Zhiyu's clothes.

"Run! Run again!"

Jiang Zhiyu turned around and raised his hands in surrender.

"I won't run, I won't run."

Karina panted, glaring at him.

"What did you say just now? Say it again?"

Jiang Zhiyu blinked, looking innocent.

"I said you are better than Wonyoung."

"In what way?!"

"Age."

"Jiang Zhiyu!!!"

Karina raised her fist again.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't dodge this time.

He reached out and gently held her fist.

Karina was stunned.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, a smile on his lips.

"Ji-min."

His voice was very soft.

"What's wrong with being older?"

Karina glared at him.

Jiang Zhiyu continued: "Being older means having more experiences, more growth, and more maturity."

He paused, his eyes becoming serious.

"You are four years older than Wonyoung, but in these four years, you have experienced the process from trainee to debut, from rookie to senior, from being questioned to being recognized. These experiences are what Wonyoung doesn't have."

Karina's eyelashes trembled.

"So I said you are better than her—it's not mocking, it's a fact."

Jiang Zhiyu let go of her fist, stepped back, and revealed that annoying smile again.

"Of course, the anti-fan account posting this is meant to have a mocking effect. So—"

He blinked.

"Just pretend I'm hating on you."

Karina looked at him, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

This person, always like this.

Teasing her in the most annoying way, while comforting her in the most gentle way.

Making her angry and touched, wanting to hit him but not being able to bring herself to do it.

She took a deep breath, and then—

Raised her fist and gently hit his shoulder.

"Next time, don't make jokes about age."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded: "Okay."

"And don't make jokes about Wonyoung either."

"Okay."

"And even more so, don't use the anti-fan account to scold me."

"That I can't do."

Karina glared at him.

Jiang Zhiyu blinked innocently: "I am an anti-fan, this is my job."

Karina took a deep breath.

Forget it.

Anyway, there's no way to deal with him.

She turned around, walked back to the center of the practice room, and sat down on the floor.

"Hungry."

Kim Minjeong immediately handed her a piece of bread.

"Unnie, eat."

Karina took it and took a big bite.

As she chewed, she suddenly laughed.

"What's wrong with being older? Even if I'm older, I'm still the top girl."

Kim Minjeong was stunned for a moment, then nodded frantically.

"Yes, yes, yes! Unnie is the best!"

NingNing and Uchinaga Eri also chimed in.

Jiang Zhiyu leaned against the wall, watching them, a smile on his lips.