420: Chapter 473 The Old Woman (7)

(Author's note: I'm deepening the emotional connection from previous chapters. Re-reading it myself, the relationship felt too superficial—I wrote them as being very close without any buildup. Why are they close? It wasn't written, and it felt disconnected.)

—

The door to the private room was pushed open.

Jiang Zhiyu stood at the door, his expression having returned to calm. That face was still handsome, and there was even a faint trace of apology between his brows, but the gloom that had surged in the car and the hallway had been suppressed. He took a deep breath, preparing to step inside—

Then he froze.

Because five faces were all smiling at him in unison.

It wasn't a polite, formal smile. It wasn't the casual "Oh, you're back" greeting. It was a kind of smile he couldn't describe—one that made a chill run down his spine.

Yeri's eyes curved into crescents as the corners of her mouth curled high, her expression saying "We caught you." Joy's smile was meaningful, the curve of her lips just right, but her eyes hid a cunning "I know everything." Wendy's smile was gentle, but beneath that gentleness, there was clearly a hint of scrutiny. Kang Seulgi's smile was a bit guilty, like a child afraid of being caught after doing something bad.

And Bae Joo-hyun—

Zhiyu's gaze instinctively fell upon her.

She sat by the window, still holding that cup of tea, her expression indifferent and devoid of emotion. No smile, no frown, no curiosity, no worry. She just looked at him calmly, as if looking at a stranger, or as if looking at nothing at all.

A complex surge of emotion suddenly rose in Zhiyu's heart.

He had left the table so out of control just now, with such a terrible expression and a blunt tone—did she really not care at all? Was she not concerned about what happened to him? Not curious why he acted that way? Even if it was just a frown, even if it was just asking "Are you okay," even if it was just—

He withdrew his gaze and sighed in his heart.

Forget it. That's just the kind of person she is. She's always like this toward him.

He stepped into the room and sat back in his seat, trying to make his voice sound normal: "Sorry to keep you all waiting. Where were we?"

No one answered.

Because those four faces were still smiling.

Yeri's smile deepened, Joy's smile became more meaningful, Wendy's smile was gentler but more uncomfortable, and Kang Seulgi's smile became guiltier. Four people, eight eyes, staring at him in unison like they were looking at an interesting experimental subject.

Zhiyu's brow furrowed slightly.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

Yeri was the first to shake her head, the curve of her lips not diminishing in the slightest: "No, no, President Jiang's face is clean and very handsome."

Joy followed with a nod: "Right, right, very handsome."

Wendy said with a smile: "We just think President Jiang looks especially handsome today."

Kang Seulgi nodded vigorously: "Mhm, mhm, especially handsome."

Zhiyu looked at them, the unease in his heart growing heavier.

There was definitely something wrong with this group.

He subconsciously glanced at Bae Joo-hyun again. She was still sitting by the window; the tea in her hand had gone completely cold, but she hadn't replaced it. Her expression was still indifferent, showing no emotion, but her gaze—it seemed to fall on him too.

Zhiyu's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly looked away, picked up the water glass in front of him, and took a sip.

The water was cold, but he needed that chill to calm himself down.

What he didn't know was that the moment he took a sip, the group chat of the four opposite him had already exploded.

Yeri: [I saw it! He looked at Joohyun Unnie again!]

Joy: [The first thing he did when he walked in was look at Joohyun Unnie! I counted! First glance!]

Wendy: [That expression after looking—was it a sigh of relief? Because Joohyun Unnie's expression was normal?]

Seulgi: [Then he frowned again! Why the frown? Because Joohyun Unnie had no expression?]

Yeri: [Absolutely! He's sulking because Joohyun Unnie didn't react!]

Joy: [Hahahahaha, I'm dying, why is this man so awkward?]

Wendy: [He asked where we were, but he doesn't actually care what we're talking about; he just wants to see Joohyun Unnie's reaction.]

Seulgi: [Should we tell him?]

Yeri: [Tell him what? Tell him 'Joohyun Unnie was staring at the door just now, waiting for you to come back'?]

Joy: [Wait, wait, Joohyun Unnie was looking at the door?!]

Yeri: [You guys didn't notice? After he left, Joohyun Unnie kept looking at the door. Even though her expression didn't change, she kept looking!]

Wendy: [Really? I didn't notice...]

Seulgi: [I didn't notice either... I was looking at my phone...]

Yeri: [I noticed! She looked several times! And when he came back, she was the first one to look at the door!]

Joy: [Wow...]

Wendy: [Wow...]

Seulgi: [Wow...]

Yeri: [So it's not just Jiang Zhiyu's unrequited love! Joohyun Unnie has a reaction too!]

Joy: [Most people wouldn't notice her reaction. If I hadn't been observing the whole time, I wouldn't have noticed either.]

Wendy: [So what do we do now? Keep watching the show?]

Yeri: [Of course we keep watching! It's rare to see President Jiang with this expression. It'd be a waste not to watch!]

Seulgi: [He said 'sorry' just now, his tone was so distant...]

Joy: [He's only like that when facing Joohyun Unnie. He's normal with us, but with Joohyun Unnie, it's 'Irene-ssi'.]

Yeri: [Here he goes again! Look at him! He's looking at Joohyun Unnie again!]

Yeri shot a quick glance at Zhiyu. He was holding his water glass, his gaze falling on Bae Joo-hyun over the rim. It was a very subtle angle; if one weren't deliberately observing, it wouldn't be noticed at all. But they were—every single second was a deliberate observation.

Joy: [How long did he look this time? Let me count... three, four, five seconds!]

Wendy: [That look in his eyes is really not right. Look closely at his eyes; there's a light in them.]

Seulgi: [What light?]

Yeri: [The light of liking someone, of course! Seulgi Unnie, what's wrong with you? You can't even see that!]

Seulgi: [I... I'm not good at this...]

Joy: [It's okay, you just need to know that Jiang Zhiyu likes Joohyun Unnie, and he likes her painfully. That's enough.]

Wendy: [Liking her painfully... that's a very accurate description. Look at his expression when he walked in just now; he was clearly relieved, then immediately frowned. That grievance of 'why doesn't she care about me' is so obvious.]

Yeri: [A genius president not even twenty-five years old, standing there sulking because the woman he likes didn't frown—who would believe it if told?]

Joy: [That's why I say we've hit the jackpot! This kind of scene is something many people would kill to see!]

Seulgi: [Should we help him?]

Yeri: [Help? How? Go tell Joohyun Unnie 'Jiang Zhiyu likes you'? she'd kill us all.]

Wendy: [True... with Joohyun Unnie's personality, the more you push, the more she hides.]

Joy: [So we just watch?]

Yeri: [Just watch! Watching is so interesting!]

Seulgi: [But he looks so pitiful...]

Yeri: [Pitiful my foot! He brought it on himself! Who told him not to take the initiative!]

Joy: [Yeri is right. In matters of the heart, outsiders can't help. Unless they figure it out themselves, nothing we say will matter.]

Wendy: [Then... let's keep watching.]

Seulgi: [Okay...]

Yeri: [Look at him, he's frowning again. What's it for this time? Because Joohyun Unnie is drinking tea and not looking at him? Or because she still hasn't asked 'Are you okay'?]

Joy: [Could be both. Anyway, he's the 'I need you to care but I won't tell you' type.]

Wendy: [Mensa.]

Seulgi: [What does Mensa mean?]

Yeri: [It means... appearing calm on the surface while having a lot of internal drama.]

Seulgi: [Oh... then President Jiang is indeed very Mensa.]

Yeri: [He's more than just Mensa; he's the pinnacle of the Mensa world!]

Zhiyu had no idea that hundreds of messages had already been exchanged in the group chat of the four people opposite him. He just felt that the atmosphere today was a bit strange.

Yeri kept smiling, making him feel uneasy. Joy looked at him like he was some rare animal. Wendy's smile was gentler than usual, but so gentle it made him feel guilty. Kang Seulgi would steal glances at him from time to time, quickly lowering her head when caught.

And Bae Joo-hyun—still the same, not looking at him, not asking him anything, not caring about him.

He took a deep breath, suppressing that pent-up frustration.

"So," he began, trying to make his voice sound normal, "where were we?"

Yeri blinked: "We were talking about—President Jiang, you were out for quite a long time."

Zhiyu said: "I felt a bit unwell."

Yeri nodded, her expression very sincere: "Do you feel better now?"

Zhiyu said: "Much better."

Yeri smiled: "That's good, that's good."

Joy added from the side: "President Jiang should take care of his health."

Wendy also said: "Yes, no matter how busy work is, you must pay attention to rest."

Kang Seulgi nodded vigorously: "Mhm, mhm!"

Zhiyu looked at them, suddenly feeling—why were these four so concerned about him today?

It wasn't usually like this.

Yeri would usually just snark at him, Joy would usually just tease him, Wendy was usually gentle but not this deliberate, and Kang Seulgi wouldn't say such things at all.

He frowned.

"You guys..."

"Hmm?" the four said in unison.

Zhiyu looked at them and was silent for a few seconds.

"...Nothing."

He picked up the water glass and took another sip.

The water was freezing cold, but he needed that chill.

And the moment he lowered his head to drink, the group chat of those four updated again.

Yeri: [Almost blew our cover!]

Joy: [Did he suspect something just now? The way he looked at us was so sharp!]

Wendy: [Probably not... we acted very normally.]

Seulgi: [Normally? I don't think we're being normal at all...]

Yeri: [Whatever, as long as he didn't find out.]

Joy: [By the way, he's peeking at Joohyun Unnie again.]

Yeri: [I see it, I see it! What number is this? Seventh? Eighth?]

Wendy: [Eighth. Since he walked in, he's looked eight times.]

Seulgi: [How are you guys even counting?!]

Yeri: [Counting with my heart!]

Joy: [That look in his eyes is really pitiful. He wants to get close but doesn't dare; he wants to look but doesn't dare to look openly.]

Wendy: [I wanted to say this just now—the way he looks at Joohyun Unnie is completely different from how he looks at us.]

Yeri: [Of course it's different! Looking at us is just normal looking; looking at Joohyun Unnie—it's like looking at something precious, yet being afraid of being discovered.]

Seulgi: [Wow... now that you mention it, it really seems that way.]

Joy: [That's why I say his unrequited love has turned into a madness.]

Yeri: [And have you noticed his form of address for Joohyun Unnie—'Irene-ssi'. For us, it's 'Wendy Sunbae', 'Joy Sunbae', 'Seulgi Sunbae', and for me, it's 'Yeri', but for Joohyun Unnie, it's 'Irene-ssi'.]

Wendy: [Deliberate distancing.]

Joy: [The more he tries to hide it, the more obvious it becomes.]

Seulgi: [What does that mean?]

Yeri: [It means the harder you try to cover something up, the more it shows.]

Seulgi: [Oh... then President Jiang is indeed very obvious.]

Joy: [When he said 'Irene-ssi' just now, his speaking speed was clearly faster, did you notice?]

Yeri: [I noticed! Twice as fast as when he addresses us!]

Wendy: [Because he's nervous.]

Seulgi: [But he's known Joohyun Unnie for so long, and he's still nervous?]

Yeri: [It's because he's known her for so long that he's nervous! He wouldn't be like this with a stranger.]

Joy: [Makes sense. Facing strangers, he's 'President Jiang'; facing the one he likes, he's 'Jiang Zhiyu'.]

Wendy: [That sentence is very philosophical.]

Yeri: [Joy Unnie, why are you so eloquent today?]

Joy: [Because as a bystander, things are clear.]

Zhiyu sat there, completely unaware that his every look, every frown, and every tiny change in expression was being accurately captured, recorded, analyzed, and shared by the four people opposite him. He was just thinking—

Why hasn't she looked at me yet?

Why hasn't she asked me what's wrong?

Why doesn't she care about me at all?

He picked up the water glass and took another sip.

The cold water went down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the smoldering fire in his heart.

Meanwhile, the four people opposite him were communicating with their eyes—

Yeri: He's frowning again!

Joy: I see it, I see it!

Wendy: What is it for this time?

Seulgi: Because Joohyun Unnie isn't looking at him?

Yeri: It's definitely because of that!

Joy: He's really so awkward...

Wendy: Awkward in a cute way.

Seulgi: Don't you guys think he's quite pitiful?

Yeri: Pitiful? What's so pitiful! Joohyun Unnie is more pitiful than him! Being liked by a closet pervert without even knowing it!

Joy: Yeri, you're right. Joohyun Unnie is indeed more pitiful.

Wendy: So are we really just going to watch and do nothing?

Yeri: Do something? How? Go tell Joohyun Unnie 'Zhiyu likes you'? She'd kill us.

Joy: True... With Joohyun Unnie's personality, the more you push, the more she hides.

Seulgi: But President Jiang looks like he's really suffering...

Yeri: Let him suffer then! Who told him not to take the initiative!

Joy: Yeri's right. In matters of the heart, outsiders can't help. Unless they figure it out themselves, no matter how much we say, it's useless.

Wendy: Then... let's just keep watching.

Seulgi: Alright...

Yeri: Look at him, he looked again! That's the ninth time!

Joy: I counted, he looked for four seconds this time!

Wendy: One second less than last time.

Seulgi: Why one second less?

Yeri: Maybe because Joohyun Unnie has been drinking tea and didn't give him a reaction?

Joy: Or maybe because he felt he'd looked too many times, so he restrained himself a bit.

Wendy: But even if he restrains himself, he still looks.

Seulgi: That's what you call 'unable to help oneself'.

Yeri: Seulgi Unnie, you said that well!

Seulgi: I... what did I say?

Yeri: You said 'unable to help oneself'! That's exactly Zhiyu right now! He can't help wanting to look at Joohyun Unnie, can't help wanting to care for her, can't help wanting her to care about him—but he won't say anything, won't do anything, just stays there brooding by himself.

Joy: Yeri, how do you know him so well?

Yeri: Because as an onlooker, I see things clearly!

Wendy: Look at Joohyun Unnie.

The four of them looked at Bae Joo-hyun simultaneously.

She was still sitting by the window, the cup of tea in her hand having been put down and picked up countless times. Her expression remained indifferent, but looking closely—her gaze also seemed to be drifting in that direction.

Yeri: [Joohyun Unnie is looking at him too!]

Joy: [For real? How come I didn't see it?]

Yeri: [It's not a direct look, it's—peripheral vision! Her peripheral vision keeps sweeping toward Zhiyu!]

Wendy: [I think I saw it too... did she just glance at him?]

Seulgi: [I saw it too! Just one glance! Very quick!]

Joy: [So it's not just Zhiyu's unrequited love! Joohyun Unnie is reacting too!]

Yeri: [That reaction of hers, most people wouldn't notice. If I hadn't been observing the whole time, I wouldn't have noticed either.]

Wendy: [So what do we do now? Keep watching the show?]

Yeri: [Keep watching, of course! It's rare to see two closet perverts in the same frame; it'd be a waste not to watch!]

Joy: [Yeri's right, they're both closet perverts.]

Wendy: [One closet pervert, one cold and aloof, a perfect match.]

Seulgi: [Then should we do something?]

Yeri: [Do what?]

Seulgi: [Like... create an opportunity?]

Yeri: [What kind of opportunity?]

Seulgi: [Make them be alone together? Or make it so they have to talk?]

Yeri thought for a moment: [That... we could try.]

Joy: [How?]

Yeri: [Haven't thought of it yet.]

Wendy: [Then think about it first, and let us know when you have something.]

Yeri: [Fine.]

The four of them withdrew their gazes simultaneously, picked up their respective water glasses, and took a sip.

Zhiyu sat opposite them, completely unaware that a 'scheme' was brewing. He just felt that the air in the private room today was a bit stuffy.

He glanced out the window.

The night was already deep.

And the person sitting by the window never once looked at him.

—

The trouble-making quintet exchanged a look, and then Yeri cleared her throat, speaking in an 'I'm just mentioning this casually' tone:

"Oh my, just eating is so boring~ How about we play a game?"

Joy immediately followed up: "Sure, sure! What should we play?"

Wendy nodded with a smile: "I also think we could play something."

Kang Seulgi blinked: "Play a game? Sounds good!"

Lee Tima raised her hand: "Me, me, me! I'm in!"

The five of them coordinated seamlessly, as if they had rehearsed it countless times.

Zhiyu looked at them, his mouth twitching.

These people were planning something just now, and now they want to play a game?

There's definitely a problem.

But before he could speak, Yeri already said the keyword:

"How about Truth or Dare?"

Zhiyu's expression instantly froze.

Truth or Dare.

Truth or Dare again.

He remembered the last time Girls Generation had a dinner party, the questions Sunny's 'unlucky hand' spun out—"Do you have someone you like?" "Who do you like most?"—every single one made his scalp tingle.

That time he had used the 'five women, one man' situation with Karina and Jang Wonyoung to brush it off, but this time—

He subconsciously glanced at Bae Joo-hyun.

She was sitting by the window, holding her cup of tea, her expression indifferent.

If they played Truth or Dare again this time—

If it turned to her—

If some question that shouldn't be asked was asked—

Countless terrifying images instantly flashed through Zhiyu's mind.

He spoke almost instinctively:

"Truth or Dare again?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it.

Because all five of them looked at him simultaneously.

Their eyes were startlingly bright.

Yeri's eyes narrowed: "'Again'?"

Joy raised an eyebrow: "President Jiang, you seem very sensitive to this game?"

Wendy smiled: "Did something interesting happen last time you played?"

Kang Seulgi looked innocent: "What, what? I want to hear too!"

Lee Tima had the most wicked smile: "Oppa, tell us~"

The corner of Zhiyu's mouth twitched.

He was about to find an excuse to brush it off when he suddenly felt a gaze.

He turned his head.

Bae Joo-hyun was looking at him.

Those eyes carried a hint of curiosity, a hint of inquiry, and a hint of—

He couldn't say what it was.

But that one glance made his heart skip a beat.

Then, his brain began to whirl at high speed.

Variety show PD.

He was a variety show PD.

He had planned Twelve Star Messengers: Records of Survival in the Mortal Realm, planned the collapsed daily life, and planned countless variety show segments that idols both loved and hated.

Could a simple game of Truth or Dare stump him?

He took a deep breath, and a smile slowly formed on his lips.

That smile made the trouble-making quintet feel a chill down their spines at the same time.

"Truth or Dare?" Zhiyu spoke unhurriedly, "That's too cliché."

He stood up, took out his phone, and opened the notes app.

"It's so boring always playing this kind of game at dinner parties."

His fingers tapped rapidly on the screen.

"Tima and I are both variety show PDs—at a time like this, of course we have to bring out something professional."

The private room fell silent.

The eyes of all five people fell on him.

No, it was six people.

Bae Joo-hyun was also looking at him.

In those eyes, the element of curiosity had increased.

Zhiyu felt that gaze, and his fingers tapped even faster.

To be honest, although Red Velvet had known him for a long time, this was the first time they were seeing him create something on the spot in front of them.

They were truly curious.

This man known as the 'Midas Touch,' this man who had planned countless hit variety shows, this man who had made all of the Korean entertainment companies frantically copy 'Bubble'—

What kind of game would he design?

A few seconds later, Zhiyu stopped his fingers and looked up.

"Done."

He turned the phone screen toward them.

On it was a block of text:

[Game Rules]

Everyone writes a simple task on a slip of paper (it can be anything, like 'meow like a cat,' 'make a funny face,' 'say a cheesy pickup line,' etc.).

The group designates a Director for this round. The Director has the right to see the contents of everyone's paper slips.

After seeing the slips, the Director determines which person's slip will be the 'Target' for this round by spinning a chopstick.

Except for the Director, the remaining people draw slips themselves, shuffle the order, and none of them can see the contents of the slip in their hands. Ensure that no one knows what their own slip will make them do.

Gameplay Phase:

The Director can reveal information related to the 'Target' slip they designated for this round (e.g., 'this task is related to animals,' 'this task requires using hands,' etc.).

Other members guess what is written on the slip and who currently holds it.

Guessing method: Verbal traps or acting it out.

Those who guess correctly get 1 point; the loser performs the task on the slip.

Those who guess wrong or don't participate lose 1 point and must perform the task on their respective slips.

If no one guesses correctly, the person holding the 'Target' slip wins and gets 2 points; everyone else performs the tasks on their slips.

After the game ends, the person with the lowest score—receives the Ultimate Punishment.

The six of them finished reading the rules and were silent for a few seconds.

Then Yeri was the first to cry out:

"Wow! So complex!"

Joy nodded: "But it sounds like so much fun!"

Wendy carefully studied the rules: "The Director setting is very interesting..."

Kang Seulgi looked blank: "I don't think I quite get it..."

Lee Tima raised her hand: "I get it, I get it! Let me explain!"

She babbled for a bit, and Kang Seulgi looked even more confused.

Bae Joo-hyun looked at the text, the corner of her mouth moving slightly.

It was a very subtle change, so subtle it was almost unnoticeable.

But Zhiyu saw it.

His heart stirred slightly.

"How is it?" he asked, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "Playing or not?"

Yeri was the first to raise her hand: "Playing!"

Joy nodded: "Playing!"

Wendy smiled: "I want to try too."

Although Kang Seulgi didn't fully understand yet, seeing that everyone agreed, she also nodded vigorously: "Playing!"

Lee Tima, of course, agreed with both hands and feet.

Then, everyone's eyes fell on the last person.

Bae Joo-hyun.

She was silent for a second.

Then she put down her teacup and said indifferently:

"Whatever."

Yeri immediately jumped up: "That's a yes! Quick, quick, quick, prepare the paper slips!"

Joy rummaged a notebook out of her bag, tore off a few pages, and divided them into small pieces.

Wendy found several pens and distributed them to everyone.

Kang Seulgi rubbed her hands excitedly.

Lee Tima had already begun brainstorming what wicked task she was going to write on her slip.

Zhiyu watched this scene, feeling slightly relieved in his heart.

Fortunately, he had successfully diverted their attention.

But just as he thought that, he felt several gazes fall on him.

He looked up.

Yeri, Joy, Wendy, Kang Seulgi, Lee Tima—the five of them were looking at him, their eyes carrying the same meaning.

He was very familiar with that meaning.

It was the meaning of 'we won't let you off the hook.'

The corner of Zhiyu's mouth twitched.

He suddenly somewhat regretted proposing this game.

But it was too late.

Yeri had already shoved a piece of paper and a pen into his hand.

"Come on, write a task! No peeking allowed!"

Zhiyu looked down at the blank piece of paper and was silent for a second.

Then he began to write.

After finishing, he folded the paper and threw it into the empty bowl on the table.

The others also wrote their tasks one after another and threw them in.

Yeri counted: "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven—seven people, seven slips!"

She rubbed her hands excitedly:

"Alright! For the first round, who will be the Director?"

Everyone's eyes fell on Zhiyu once again.

Zhiyu was stunned for a moment: "Me?"

Yeri nodded: "Of course it's you! You designed the game, so of course you're the Director for the first round!"

Joy chimed in: "Right, right, right, you demonstrate how to play first."

Wendy smiled: "We'll watch and learn."

Kang Seulgi nodded vigorously.

Lee Tima smiled most brightly: "Oppa, good luck~"

Zhiyu took a deep breath.

He looked at Bae Joo-hyun.

She was leaning by the window, holding the paper slip she had just written, slowly folding it, and throwing it into the bowl.

Her movements were calm, her expression indifferent.

As if this game had nothing to do with her.

Zhiyu withdrew his gaze.

"Fine."

He reached out and picked up the bowl.

The first round officially began.