423: Chapter 476 The Old Woman (10)

The game was at a stalemate. Joy and Wendy were like two roosters, sitting face-to-face, their eyes filled with the stubbornness of "would it kill you to take a step back?" Neither was willing to bow their head first, and neither was willing to give an inch.

Yeri watched from the side with great interest, almost wishing she had a handful of melon seeds to snack on. Her gaze swept back and forth between the two, a "this drama is so juicy" smile playing on her lips. Joy spoke first. She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, chin tilted slightly up, as her eyes scanned Wendy critically. Her gaze went from top to bottom, then bottom to top, before finally withdrawing with a heavy sigh. That sigh was so heavy it felt like she was bestowing something precious.

"Even though you—" She paused, as if organizing her thoughts or perhaps building up her emotions, "—go to bed without brushing your teeth, sleep without washing your feet, never fold your blankets, let your laundry pile up into a mountain before washing it, smack your lips while eating, drag your feet when you walk, talk so loud it sounds like you're arguing, and have a laugh that could shatter glass—"

Wendy's lip twitched.

Joy continued, getting more worked up as she went: "Your makeup makes you look like Ru Hua, you look like a ghost without it, you never comb your hair when going out, never change your shoes when coming home, eat expired food from the fridge, and wait three days to throw out takeout boxes—"

Yeri's mouth dropped open.

"—But," Joy took a deep breath, like she was making her final closing argument, "I'll still give you a chance. Confess to me."

The private room went silent. Wendy looked at Joy, and Joy looked at Wendy. The two locked eyes, neither looking away.

Then Wendy smiled. It wasn't a smile of anger or helplessness, but one of composure, as if saying, "You're finally done; now it's my turn." She sat up straight, hands folded neatly on her lap, her posture as dignified as if she were attending an important ceremony. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly with an elegant air of "thanks for the charity, but now it's my turn."

"Then thank you very much." Her voice was calm, as if she were saying "the weather is nice today." "After all, only someone like me—"

She paused, her gaze lingering on Joy's face for a second, and the curve of her lips deepened.

"—who goes to bed without brushing their teeth, sleeps without washing their feet, never folds their blankets, lets laundry pile up into a mountain, smacks their lips while eating, drags their feet while walking, talks so loud it sounds like arguing, has a laugh that shatters glass, wears makeup like Ru Hua, looks like a ghost without it, never combs their hair when going out, never changes their shoes when coming home, eats expired food, and waits three days to throw out takeout boxes—" She repeated every single word Joy had just said without missing a beat, then took a deep breath, "—would ever confess to you."

Joy's face flushed instantly. "Mworagu?!"

The voice was sharp and loud as she sprang from her seat like a cat that had its tail stepped on. She glared at Wendy, the fire in her eyes nearly spitting out. Wendy, not to be outdone, looked up at her with an innocent expression that said, "Was I wrong?"

Watching this, Yeri couldn't help but laugh. "They're totally about to start fighting!"

Just as she finished speaking, another voice rang out. It was crisp, carrying a hint of excitement, expectation, and a chilling eagerness that suggested "I love seeing this kind of scene the most."

"I love watching women fight the most!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Lee Tima. She sat in her chair, hands balled into fists, her eyes shining like the brightest stars in the night sky. Her whole being radiated an aura of "hurry up, I want to watch." Her expression was much like a noble watching gladiators battle in the Colosseum.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out and lightly tapped her on the head. "Aish, you don't learn the good things, you always pick up this kind of stuff!"

Lee Tima rubbed the spot where she'd been tapped and pouted, looking as aggrieved as a puppy scolded by its owner. But that grievance lasted only a second, as her attention was pulled back to Joy and Wendy.

The two were still in a standoff. Joy was standing, Wendy was sitting. One looking down, one looking up. Sparks flew where their gazes met.

Bae Joo-hyun finally spoke. Her voice was calm, as if she were issuing an order. Her tone carried a hint of "enough" authority, a touch of "stop messing around" helplessness, and the composure of "I'll decide this."

"Hurry up. Wendy, confess to Joy."

Wendy blinked, then nodded. She stood up and smoothed her clothes. The movement was slow, as if she were preparing for a major ritual. She flattened the hem of her shirt, tugged at her sleeves, cleared her throat, and then looked up at Joy. Her expression was serious, as if to say, "I'm being for real."

"I—" Her voice was soft, like she was sharing a secret, "—like you."

Joy looked at her and nodded. "Ne."

Silence. Wendy stood there, not saying a word. Joy looked at her, waiting for her to continue. One second, two seconds, three seconds. Joy's brow slowly furrowed.

"That's it?" Her voice carried a hint of disbelief.

Wendy nodded, her expression as upright as a student answering a teacher's question. "That's it."

Joy laughed out of frustration. In that laugh was helplessness, amusement, and a touch of "are you kidding me?" incredulity. "Ya! Who confesses like that?"

Wendy tilted her head, her expression as puzzled as if she were solving a math problem. "What's wrong? I said 'I like you'."

Joy took one deep breath, then another. Her tone carried a hint of irritation, helplessness, and the patience of "I'm teaching you how to do things."

"Ah, seriously—you have to give a reason when you confess! You motae solo!"

The words "motae solo" were like a knife, accurately stabbing Wendy in the heart. Her face flushed instantly. But she didn't back down. She looked at Joy, opening her mouth to say something, but found she couldn't say a word.

Then—a sentence popped out of her mouth. Without thinking, without any embellishment, it came out directly, nakedly, shooting out like a bullet.

"Aish, do I need a reason to love you?"

The room went silent. A deathly silence. Then—

"Oooooh~~~"

Yeri was the first to start hooting, drawing out the sound, her face full of the satisfaction of "this drama is so sweet." Joy joined in, clutching her heart with an exaggerated expression like she was in a play. Kang Seulgi also started "ooh-ing"; her voice wasn't loud, but the smile on her lips couldn't be hidden. Bae Joo-hyun didn't speak, but the corners of her mouth curled up, her smile holding a hint of "finally" relief.

Wendy's face was as red as a cooked shrimp. She opened her mouth to explain, to argue, to say "I didn't mean it that way," but she couldn't say anything. Because she had indeed said those words, and indeed without thinking. That "do I need a reason to love you" had come out so naturally, so uncontrollably, like an instinct.

She lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone. But her ears were so red they looked like they might bleed.

Lee Tima stood up again. She stood on her chair, hands raised above her head, and started swaying. The movement was still very much like "elderly disco," completely off-beat, but she was doing it with full commitment, seriousness, and enjoyment. She sang as she swayed, her crisp voice echoing in the room.

"Sarang-kkot~ Sarang-kkot~ Our sarang-kkot~"

"Love flower~ Love flower~ Our love flower~"

Looking at Lee Tima like that, Joy couldn't help but laugh. She was laughing, yet she had to pretend to be angry, her expression cutely distorted.

"Ya! Lee Tima! You're still singing!"

Lee Tima wasn't fazed at all. She swayed even more energetically, her voice getting louder.

"Sarang-kkoti pieonne~"

"The love flower has bloomed~"

Yeri laughed so hard she slapped the table, Kang Seulgi laughed until she slid off her chair, Wendy covered her face and didn't dare look up, Bae Joo-hyun's eyes curved into crescents from laughing, and Jiang Zhiyu shook his head with a smile, reaching out to lift Lee Tima down from the chair.

Once her feet touched the ground, Lee Tima looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Oppa, did I sing well?"

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

Lee Tima nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Joy, her expression as serious as if she were confirming something. "Joy Unnie, will you be with Wendy Unnie?"

Joy's smile froze on her face.

Wendy's face turned red again.

The laughter in the room grew even louder.

—

The confession task was finally over.

Wendy sat back in her seat, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. The movement was slow, as if she were using the rim of the cup to hide something. A faint pink still lingered on her cheeks, spreading from her cheekbones to the base of her ears, refusing to fade. She didn't dare look at anyone, her gaze fixed on the tea as if it held a secret only she could see.

Joy also sat back. Her face was even redder than Wendy's, like a ripe tomato, like it might drip blood. She held her glass, taking sip after sip, trying to use the alcohol to mask her embarrassment. But her slightly trembling fingers gave her away.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Yeri looked at the two of them, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. She lay on the table, her chin resting on the back of her hand, her gaze darting back and forth between the two of them, her lips curled in a satisfied smirk that seemed to say, "This is some juicy drama."

"Unnies, your faces are so red~" she drawled, her voice laced with teasing.

Wendy didn't speak, merely raising her teacup higher.

Joy glared at Yeri, but the look had absolutely no bite, because her face was too flushed—flushed as if she were shy. And in fact, she really was shy.

She silently cursed herself a hundred times over in her heart.

She had shot herself in the foot.

She had originally intended to watch Jiang Zhiyu and Bae Joo-hyun confess to each other. She had specifically designed the "Confession in the Rain" mission just to see what it would look like when these two said "I like you" to each other's faces. What would Jiang Zhiyu, a man who usually handled everyone with ease, look like when he was nervous facing Bae Joo-hyun? Would Bae Joo-hyun, the captain who was usually indifferent to everyone, show a different expression when facing Jiang Zhiyu?

She had imagined that scene many times. Every time, it made her rub her hands in excitement.

But reality?

She became the one being confessed to.

Wendy became the one doing the confessing.

And when Wendy said, "Do you really need a reason to love you?", her heart had actually skipped a beat.

Joy took a deep breath, pushing those chaotic thoughts down. She raised her head, her gaze sweeping around the private room before finally landing on Bae Joo-hyun and Jiang Zhiyu.

Bae Joo-hyun was holding her teacup, sipping it slowly. Her expression was very calm, so calm it was as if nothing had happened. But the slightly upturned corners of her mouth betrayed her—she was smiling. She was watching the show. She was enjoying all of this.

Jiang Zhiyu sat there, holding a water glass in his hand, his gaze fixed on the tabletop. His expression was also calm, but Joy noticed that his earlobes still retained a hint of red. That was left over from when Bae Joo-hyun had glanced at him earlier.

Joy sighed in her heart.

These two, clearly caring about each other, yet neither was willing to take the first step. One used indifference to disguise herself, the other used politeness to mask himself. Really—

She shook her head, withdrew her gaze, and looked at Kang Seulgi.

Kang Seulgi was sitting there, holding the slips of paper, her expression as serious as if she were presiding over an important ceremony. She was the conductor, the only person who knew the content of all the slips, the person controlling the rhythm of the game. Every decision she made would affect the subsequent direction.

"Seulgi Unnie," Joy spoke up, her voice tinged with a hint of reluctance, "The second mission."

Kang Seulgi looked up at her.

Joy didn't speak, merely using her eyes to express her meaning: Hurry up. My mission is already over. Now it's someone else's turn.

Kang Seulgi nodded and reached out to pick up the chopsticks on the table. She glanced at everyone, took a deep breath, and then gave them a forceful spin.

The chopsticks spun on the table, emitting a faint "humming" sound.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on those chopsticks.

Yeri's anticipation, Joy's scrutiny, Wendy's calm, Kang Seulgi's nervousness, Lee Tima's curiosity, Bae Joo-hyun's indifference, and Jiang Zhiyu's—

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze landed on the chopsticks. But his peripheral vision kept drifting toward that spot by the window. Bae Joo-hyun was watching the chopsticks, her expression indifferent, revealing no emotion.

The chopsticks spun slower and slower, slower and slower, until finally—they stopped shakily, the tip pointing at Yeri.

The private room went quiet for a second.

Then—

"Yay!!!"

Yeri raised both hands, springing up from her seat, as excited as if she had won the lottery. Her face was full of the triumph of "It's finally my turn," her eyes shining like the brightest stars in the night sky.

Then she slowly lowered her hands, crossed her arms, and swept her gaze across everyone's faces. That gaze carried a hint of scrutiny, a hint of slyness, and a hint of the danger that "I'm about to start making trouble." Her mouth slowly curled up, revealing a malicious smile.

Joy looked at that smile, her heart skipping a beat.

Then she smiled.

As expected.

Everyone really is a troublemaker group.

Yeri, this little lunatic, the mission she wrote—

Joy picked up her wine glass, took a sip, and silently said in her heart: There's a good show to watch.

Kang Seulgi looked at Yeri's smile, the corners of her mouth also lifting slightly. She remembered the note she had seen earlier, remembered the line of text written on it, remembered her own out-of-control expression at the time—

She silently said in her heart: There's a good show to watch.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at Yeri's smile, his heart sinking.

He silently cursed in his heart.

This lunatic.

What on earth is she going to do?

In his mind, countless possibilities flashed—singing? Dancing? Impersonation? Or something even more outrageous?

His gaze involuntarily turned toward Bae Joo-hyun. Bae Joo-hyun was still in her indifferent manner, holding her teacup, sipping slowly. But her gaze was also fixed on Yeri.

Jiang Zhiyu withdrew his gaze, his heart beating a half-beat faster.

Aish.

He was actually a little expectant.

Kang Seulgi cleared her throat and spoke.

"Moon."

The private room went quiet.

The corners of Yeri's mouth hooked into a wicked smile.

The others' expressions shifted from anticipation to contemplation.

The mission Yeri wrote was "Moon." But everyone knew that Yeri, this character, wouldn't write something as simple as "moon gazing" or "reciting poetry." The "Moon" she wrote definitely had something hidden behind it.

Joy was the first to speak, her tone tinged with uncertainty: "Moon... A night embrace?"

Wendy tilted her head and thought: "Moon... Ice cream?"

The private room went quiet for a second.

Everyone's gaze landed on Wendy.

Joy widened her eyes: "How can the moon be connected to ice cream?"

Wendy smiled sheepishly, that smile containing a hint of guilt, a hint of embarrassment, and a hint of the honesty of "I know I'm weird, but this is my real thought."

"Because moonlight is a bit white..." she gestured, "It's a lot like vanilla ice cream."

The private room went quiet again.

Then—Bae Joo-hyun spoke. Her voice was very calm, so calm it was as if she were saying "The weather is nice today," but beneath that calm, there was a hint of the triumph of "I finally caught you."

"That expired ice cream in the fridge during the last live stream, it really was yours!"

Wendy's smile froze on her face. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't say anything. That guilty expression had already answered everyone's questions.

"How is that possible?!" Her voice was urgent and loud, startling even herself, "I'm a victim too!"

Bae Joo-hyun looked at her, saying nothing, but her eyes clearly said: Keep making it up.

Wendy felt uncomfortable under her gaze and quickly changed the subject.

"Um... let's continue guessing the mission..."

Lee Tima raised her hand. Her eyes were bright, her expression as serious as if she were answering a teacher's question.

"I guess it's osmanthus cake!"

Everyone was stunned again.

Lee Tima continued, getting more excited as she spoke: "When you think of the moon, it's the Mid-Autumn Festival! Mid-Autumn Festival means osmanthus blossoms! Osmanthus cake! Otherwise, it's mooncakes! Yeri Unnie wants another serving of osmanthus cake!"

Jiang Zhiyu reached out and gently patted her head.

"Little glutton, why do you only think about eating?!"

Lee Tima rubbed the spot where she was patted, pouting, her expression as aggrieved as a puppy scolded by its owner.

"But... the moon really looks like osmanthus cake..."

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, both angry and amused.

He withdrew his gaze and began to think seriously.

"Moon..." He pondered for a few seconds, "Is it to have someone sing a song about the moon? Or is it related to feelings?"

He paused, as if recalling something.

"Speaking of which, in Japanese, 'moon' also represents a subtle 'I like you'..."

The private room went quiet again.

Bae Joo-hyun spoke, her tone indifferent, as if stating a fact: "Is it a scene under the moon?"

Yeri shook her head, the smile on her lips deepening.

"Neither."

Joy pressed: "Then what is it? Give us a hint."

Yeri tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then said one word.

"Eye contact."

The private room went quiet.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, lost in thought.

"Is it to perform eye contact under the moon?"

Bae Joo-hyun nodded: "So it really is a confession."

Yeri shook her head, the smile on her lips unable to be hidden.

"Not a confession."

She paused.

"But eye contact, that's correct."

In the private room, it was so quiet one could hear the wind outside the window.

Everyone's gaze landed on Jiang Zhiyu and Bae Joo-hyun.

Joy silently said in her heart: It's here.

Wendy silently said in her heart: Finally.

Kang Seulgi silently said in her heart: There's a good show to watch.

Lee Tima silently said in her heart: Oppa, fighting.

Yeri looked at the two of them, the smile on her lips deepening.

She silently said in her heart: I've been waiting a long time for this scene.