425: Chapter 478 The Old Woman (12)

(Going to Dongji Island today; it should be fine even if it's raining. I'll check the ferry first anyway. I really want to visit Ningbo.)

(I picked the wrong time; it rains every day in Zhoushan, and by the time it clears up, I'll already be gone~ Crying!)

(The portions here are huge, much more than in Jiangsu. I'm wasting food like crazy. I feel like if you're looking for a girlfriend, you should find someone who can eat. The hotel microwave is broken too, so what should I do with the leftovers?)

—

In the hallway outside the door, five people were huddled together in various poses, but with a single goal.

Joy squatted at the bottom, hands on her knees, eyes glued to the crack of the door, looking like a cheetah stalking in the grass. Yeri lay on her back, chin resting on Joy's shoulder, her gaze fixed on that narrow gap. Wendy stood at the top, on tiptoe, her neck stretched long like a giraffe being lifted. Kang Seulgi was squeezed in the middle, head tilted, ear pressed against the door, looking as serious as if she were listening to some vital secret.

And Lee Tima—Lee Tima squatted to the side, holding her phone with a smug "I've been ready for a long time" look on her face.

Yeri turned her head and saw the phone in Lee Tima's hand, her eyes instantly widening.

"Aish! Lee Tima! You actually have a live broadcast?!"

Tima blinked and turned the phone for them to see. On the screen was a real-time feed from the private room. The angle was perfect, showing the profiles of both Jiang Zhiyu and Bae Joo-hyun. The picture was clear, the sound was crisp, and even Jiang Zhiyu's face, as red as a tomato, could be seen vividly.

Yeri snatched the phone, her voice full of "Why didn't you say so earlier" complaints: "You didn't know how to share something this good?!"

Lee Tima blinked innocently: "You guys didn't ask."

Joy glared at her, but her gaze was already drawn to the phone screen. The five of them crowded together, staring at the small screen, their eyes shining like stars in the night sky. In the screen, Jiang Zhiyu and Bae Joo-hyun were still sitting there, one sitting upright and the other silently drinking water. Neither spoke, and neither looked at the other.

Yeri stomped her feet in frustration: "Say something! Why aren't you saying anything!"

Joy shook her head: "Don't be shy! Say something!"

Wendy sighed: "These two are really driving me crazy."

Kang Seulgi nodded: "Exactly, we've been waiting out here for ages."

Lee Tima didn't speak. Her gaze fell on the screen, a "I knew this would happen" smile on her lips.

Then, a voice came from the phone.

"So it's just the two of us left."

Bae Joo-hyun's voice.

Very soft, very calm, as calm as saying "the weather is nice today." But beneath that calmness, something was hidden that no one could quite pin down.

The five people outside the door widened their eyes simultaneously.

Yeri's mouth formed an 'O' shape, and she froze there as if struck by lightning. Joy's eyes went wide and round, her mouth slightly open, wanting to say something but unable to. Wendy covered her mouth, unable to hide the shock in her eyes. Kang Seulgi's expression went out of control again, her whole body seemingly frozen in place.

Damn!

What does this mean?!

What does that sentence mean?!

Is it a hint? An invitation? Or just a statement of fact?

The five of them looked at each other, their eye contact more intense than any words.

Yeri's eyes said: She said it! She said it!

Joy's eyes said: I heard it! I heard it!

Wendy's eyes said: What does this mean?

Kang Seulgi's eyes said: I don't know, but it's so exciting.

Lee Tima's eyes said: Keep watching, don't talk.

Then, another voice came from the phone.

"So... do you want to make eye contact?"

Bae Joo-hyun's voice. Still just as soft and calm, but beneath that calmness, there was a hint of—anticipation?

The five people outside covered their mouths at the same time.

A silent scream.

Yeri's inner voice roared: Oh my god! Unnie! Is she being this bold?!

Joy's inner voice roared: So proactive! Is this our leader who's usually so indifferent to everyone?!

Wendy's inner voice roared: Bae Joo-hyun! When did you become so smooth?!

Kang Seulgi's inner voice roared: Is this still the Irene Unnie I know?!

Lee Tima's inner voice roared: Oppa, don't wimp out.

Jiang Zhiyu's voice came from the phone. It was very soft, carrying a hint of panic, nervousness, and the helplessness of "I don't know what to do."

"It's... it's not appropriate, is it?"

The five people outside rolled their eyes simultaneously.

Yeri gritted her teeth: "Ugh, what a coward!"

Joy shook her head: "Jiang Zhiyu! Aren't you usually quite capable?!"

Wendy sighed: "Making the girl take the lead, you're being far too oblivious!"

Kang Seulgi nodded: "Exactly! Hurry up and take the initiative!"

Lee Tima didn't speak. She just stared at the screen, looking at Jiang Zhiyu's tomato-red face, and thought silently: Oppa, don't let me down.

Jiang Zhiyu's voice came through again. This time it was even softer, like he was talking to himself.

"Maybe when they come back, we'll just say... we've already finished the mission..."

The five people outside let out a collective sigh.

Yeri said in frustration: "Seriously, damn it! What a blockhead!"

Joy shook her head: "President of TG? This is it?"

Wendy sighed: "Our Joohyun Unnie is being so proactive, and he still says something like that!"

Kang Seulgi shook her head, making "tsk tsk tsk" sounds.

Yeri suddenly turned her head to look at Lee Tima, her eyes full of questioning: "Hey! Lee Tima! What's with your brother? Isn't he a genius? The Midas touch? Doesn't he have the whole Korean entertainment industry in the palm of his hand? Why does he turn into a blockhead at a time like this?!"

Lee Tima blinked innocently: "I don't know either. Oppa isn't usually like this."

Joy sneered: "Usually? Usually, he's at ease with everyone, except for Joohyun Unnie—look at him, his face is redder than a tomato, he can't even speak properly, it's like he's been paralyzed."

Wendy nodded: "Exactly. He usually calls her 'Irene-ssi' so formally, and now he doesn't even dare to look her in the eye."

Kang Seulgi said softly: "So the formal title is because of nervousness, not distance."

The four of them nodded simultaneously.

Yeri looked back at the phone screen. Jiang Zhiyu was still the same, head down, staring at his water glass, not daring to look at Bae Joo-hyun. Bae Joo-hyun sat there, holding her teacup, her gaze fixed on Jiang Zhiyu. That gaze was very calm, like a pool of still water. But beneath that calm surface, something was hidden that no one could see clearly.

Yeri murmured to herself: "Joohyun Unnie is waiting for him."

Joy also looked at the screen: "She's waiting for him to say 'okay'."

Wendy sighed: "But he doesn't dare."

Kang Seulgi shook her head: "Tsk tsk tsk."

Lee Tima didn't speak. She just stared at the screen, watching Bae Joo-hyun's expression, the corners of her mouth slowly curling up.

She was waiting. But she wouldn't wait for long. Because Bae Joo-hyun wasn't the type of person who would wait forever.

Inside the private room, Bae Joo-hyun sat by the window, holding the cup of tea that had already gone cold. Her gaze fell on Jiang Zhiyu. He was avoiding her. He didn't dare to look at her. His gaze remained fixed on the water glass in front of him, as if some great secret were hidden within it.

Bae Joo-hyun's brow furrowed slightly.

This person...

Is actually quite interesting.

She had seen many men. Some confessed directly, some were indirect, some sent flowers, some sent gifts, some wrote love letters, and some found all sorts of excuses to get close. But someone like Jiang Zhiyu—clearly liking her but not daring to approach; clearly caring but pretending to be distant; clearly with a racing heart but still maintaining that "I'm just being polite" mask—she hadn't seen before.

Bae Joo-hyun's gaze changed.

It wasn't that faint, calm, emotionless gaze anymore. It was a playful, scrutinizing look, with a hint of "I'll see how long you can hold out." Like a cat playing with a mouse. Not in a hurry to catch it, not in a hurry to eat it, just watching it struggle, run, and then realize there was nowhere to hide.

That feeling was very subtle.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Bae Joo-hyun's lips curled up slightly. She set down her teacup, her movements slow, so slow it was as if she were deliberately trying to create a sound. The teacup made contact with the tabletop, emitting a faint "da" sound.

Jiang Zhiyu's body trembled slightly.

He heard it. But he did not look up.

Bae Joo-hyun watched him in that state, the playfulness in her eyes deepening. She wondered, how long could this person hold out? Would he continue to evade? Or would he summon the courage? Would he wait for her to take the initiative? Or would he take that step himself?

She was waiting. She was very patient. Because she was Bae Joo-hyun.

— —

The air in the private room seemed to have frozen. Jiang Zhiyu kept his head lowered, staring at the water glass in front of him, his gaze fixed as if nailed in place. His face was still red, as red as a ripe tomato, red enough to bleed. His heartbeat was as fast as a drum, and his mind was a chaotic mess. He was thinking about what her previous sentence meant, wondering why she still wouldn't give up, and wondering if she was waiting for him. He dared not think of the other possibility.

Bae Joo-hyun looked at him, her gaze indifferent. In that indifferent gaze, there was no urging, no expectation, no anxiety of "why aren't you speaking yet." There was only a calm, composed certainty, as if everything were under control. But in that indifferent gaze, Jiang Zhiyu saw something else.

Mockery.

It wasn't the biting, malicious kind of mockery, but a teasing of "is this all the backbone you have," a disappointment of "I thought you were so impressive," and a disdain of "so you're nothing special after all." The mockery was like a needle, gently pricking Jiang Zhiyu's heart. It didn't hurt, but it was very itchy. He wanted to retort, wanted to prove that he wasn't that kind of person. But he couldn't open his mouth, because his heart was beating too fast, so fast that he was afraid that opening his mouth would reveal his nervousness.

He remained silent.

Bae Joo-hyun watched him, the mockery in her eyes deepening. She picked up her teacup and took a sip. The tea had already gone cold, cold to the point of bitterness, but she didn't care. She set down the teacup, her movements very light, so light it was as if she were talking to herself.

"How about we treat it as a secret?"

The voice was very soft, soft as if she were telling a secret. But what was hidden in that calm tone, no one could say.

The five people outside the door simultaneously widened their eyes.

Yeri's mouth opened into an 'O' shape, and she froze there, as if struck by lightning. Joy's eyes widened, and her phone almost slipped from her hand. Wendy covered her mouth, the shock in her eyes impossible to hide. Kang Seulgi's expression lost control once again. Lee Tima's lips slowly curled up, revealing an "I knew it" smile.

Yeri's voice was pressed extremely low, low enough that only those beside her could hear: "This is truly crazy!!!"

Joy nodded, her voice also trembling: "What does this mean? What does 'treat it as a secret' mean?"

Wendy shook her head: "I don't know, but it's so thrilling."

Kang Seulgi muttered to herself: "Joohyun Unnie... since when did she become so good at this?"

Lee Tima did not speak. She just stared at the screen, watching Jiang Zhiyu's expression, and silently said in her heart: Oppa, don't you dare be a coward.

In the private room, Jiang Zhiyu heard that sentence. His brain felt as if it had been struck by something, turning completely blank. He lifted his head to look at Bae Joo-hyun. His face was red enough to explode. From his earlobes to his cheeks, from his cheeks to his neck, he looked like a boiled shrimp. His mouth opened, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. His throat felt blocked by something, his voice stuck in his throat, unable to come out no matter what.

Bae Joo-hyun looked at him and raised an eyebrow. The movement was very light, so light it was almost imperceptible. But that slightly raised eyebrow, those slightly narrowed eyes—everyone saw it.

"Do you hate me?"

Jiang Zhiyu's heartbeat skipped a beat. He looked up at Bae Joo-hyun. In his gaze, there was a trace of panic, a trace of nervousness, and a trace of eagerness, like "how could you think that." He spoke, his voice very hurried, so hurried it was almost a shout.

"No! I—"

He stopped. Because he saw Bae Joo-hyun's expression. In that expression, there was teasing, triumph, and a trace of "just as I thought" realization.

Bae Joo-hyun smiled. The smile was very faint, faint enough to be almost imperceptible. But those slightly upturned lips, those slightly curved eyes—everyone saw it.

"Are you shy?"

That tone was as nonchalant as saying "the weather is nice today." But the teasing in that tone, the triumph in that tone, the "I knew it" sense of inevitability in that tone—everyone heard it.

Jiang Zhiyu's face turned even redder. He opened his mouth, wanting to retort, wanting to explain, wanting to say he wasn't shy, just nervous, just unaccustomed, just—he couldn't say it. Because she was right.

He was indeed shy.

Bae Joo-hyun looked at him, the smile on her lips deepening. She stood up, her movements very slow, so slow it was as if she were deliberately dragging out the time. She walked around the table, went to Lee Tima's seat, and sat down beside Jiang Zhiyu.

The distance closed. Close enough to smell the scent of medicinal herbs on him. Crisp, clear, like the air in the mountains in the early morning, like the mist in the forest after the rain. She had smelled many perfumes, expensive and cheap, strong and light, but none were like his scent. That scent was not perfume; it was his own scent.

Bae Joo-hyun's gaze changed.

It was not that kind of indifferent, calm gaze that revealed no emotion. It was a scrutinizing, appreciative one, carrying a trace of "so that's how it is" realization. She looked at him, looking at his face as red as a tomato, looking at his eyes that were slightly flickering due to nervousness, looking at his lips that were slightly pursed due to shyness.

She had to admit—he was indeed more pleasing to the eye and more handsome than the male idols she knew, more than the handsome men in this world who were chased by countless people. It wasn't the kind of handsome that was refined to perfection, as if painted, but a real, vivid, youthful kind of handsome. His brows and eyes, his nose bridge, his lips, his contours—every part was just right, not overly flamboyant, nor overly restrained. Just like the scent on him, crisp and clear, making people want to get closer.

Such a person would actually silly smile because of one of her glances. Would actually blush because of one of her teases. Would actually be so nervous because of one of her actions that he couldn't speak.

Bae Joo-hyun's lips slowly curled up. That smile was playful, scrutinizing, carrying a trace of expectation of "I'm watching to see how long you can hold on."

She spoke softly, her voice very light, light as if she were telling a secret. "Didn't you say that I look very much like your ex-girlfriend?"

Jiang Zhiyu's heartbeat skipped a beat.

"Treat me as her, how about that?"

Jiang Zhiyu's brain instantly cleared. Not the kind of clarity from waking up from a dream, but the clarity of having cold water poured over his head. He looked up at Bae Joo-hyun. His gaze fell directly into her eyes. Those eyes were as deep as a pool of water. In that pool of water, there was his reflection.

The five people outside the door simultaneously covered their mouths.

Yeri's inner voice screamed: Aish! They made eye contact! They made eye contact!!

Joy's inner voice screamed: Finally! They finally made eye contact!!

Wendy's inner voice screamed: Oh my god! Oh my god!!

Kang Seulgi's inner voice screamed: What kind of idol drama scene is this?!

Lee Tima's inner voice screamed: Oppa, don't you dare let me down.

In the private room, the two of them were making eye contact.

In Jiang Zhiyu's eyes, there were too many things. There was panic, nervousness, a trace of shock of "how do you know," a trace of confusion of "what are you saying," and a trace of helplessness of "what should I do."

In Bae Joo-hyun's eyes, there was only one thing. Playfulness. She was watching him. Waiting for him. Thinking about how he would answer.

The moonlight outside the window quietly spilled in. It fell on the two of them, plating them in a faint halo. At this moment, it seemed as if the whole world had gone quiet.