427: Chapter 480 Traveling alone can be quite boring.

(Zhoushan is fun, but I'm alone, so it's not fun.)

(The previous chapters are undergoing normal revisions~ Most of the awkward plots have been modified, character bonds have been increased, and foreshadowing for future plots is being laid.)

——

Mid-October, the autumn chill in Seoul had deepened.

Inside the TG Entertainment studio, the floor-to-ceiling windows looked out onto a grayish-blue sky. A few withered leaves were swept up by the wind, only to fall back down powerlessly. The indoor heating was set just right, keeping the chill at bay behind the glass.

Kim Soo-yeon had changed into a white hoodie today, which draped loosely over her, making her appear a bit softer. Round glasses sat on the bridge of her nose, and behind the lenses, her eyes held less of their usual indifference and calm, replaced by a hint of a young girl's quirkiness. Her long hair was casually tied up in a bun, with a few stray strands hanging by her face, swaying gently as she lowered her head.

She was looking at the person across from her.

Jiang Zhiyu sat behind the wide workbench, a pen in his hand. The documents were spread out before him, but his gaze was not on them at all. He was leaning back in his chair, his head slightly tilted up, his eyes unfocused, his lips pursed slightly, and his fingers unconsciously rubbing his lips—touching once, letting go, and then touching again after a while.

That expression, to put it nicely, was one of reminiscing; to put it bluntly, it was one of infatuation.

Kim Soo-yeon stared at him for a full thirty seconds.

His fingers lifted again.

He touched them again.

He let go again.

He lifted them again.

Kim Soo-yeon's brow twitched.

Regarding this man's "feat" at the Red Velvet dinner that night, she had already seen it through Lee Tima. High-definition, uncensored, full version—even Jiang Zhiyu's staggering steps as he rushed out the door were accurately captured by Lee Tima's lens.

To be honest, Kim Soo-yeon had some guesses about this.

Jiang Zhiyu was well known for having dated the fourth-generation visual goddess Baek Ji-xin for three years.

Three years.

Kim Soo-yeon used to think that in a three-year relationship, everything that should happen would have happened. After all, Jiang Zhiyu had once told her about that legendary Chinese medicine master hidden in Medicine King Valley—the old man had given him several options: acupuncture, herbal formulas, massage, bone-setting, everything. After hearing them, Jiang Zhiyu had chosen andrology without hesitation, specifically the section on nourishing the kidneys and replenishing Qi.

At the time, Kim Soo-yeon had just rolled her eyes.

Didn't this guy learn that just for his own dirty thoughts?

But Lee Tima told her—that night was Jiang Zhiyu's first kiss.

When Kim Soo-yeon heard this, she was drinking water.

She froze for three seconds, and then spat the water out.

"Oh my god! Holy crap! Impressive!"

Those were her exact words at the time.

A man who had dated a fourth-generation visual goddess for three years and specifically studied andrology in Chinese medicine had actually never even kissed someone.

Kim Soo-yeon thought at the time that if this person didn't have some hidden illness, then there was something wrong with his brain.

But later, she thought about it carefully and didn't find it that surprising.

In his work, Jiang Zhiyu was as shrewd as a fox, with scheme after scheme for calculating against people. But in certain aspects, he was as simple as a child who hadn't seen the world. His attitude toward relationships wasn't so much conservative as it was—

Cautious.

As if afraid he might break something.

Kim Soo-yeon pulled back her thoughts and looked at the man opposite her who was still touching his lips, her frown deepening.

"Stop touching them."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet studio.

Jiang Zhiyu's hand stopped in mid-air, as if a pause button had been pressed.

He glanced at Kim Soo-yeon, then quickly lowered his hand, grabbed the documents in front of him, and pretended to be busy flipping through them.

The action was as fake as it could be.

Kim Soo-yeon looked at him, endured it for three seconds, and then couldn't help herself.

"Shibal! It was just two pairs of lips touching, you didn't even use your tongue, what the hell are you reminiscing about!"

Jiang Zhiyu's face turned beet red instantly.

He snapped his head up, glaring at her, his voice frantic and loud:

"What... what are you doing?! So loud!"

Kim Soo-yeon rolled her eyes.

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs, her tone full of the certainty of someone who had seen through him:

"You dated Ji-xin Unnie for three years and never even kissed. Now you've touched Bae Joo-hyun once, and you're reminiscing like this—"

She paused, her lips curling into a wicked smile.

"When the time comes for you two to sleep in the same bed, you won't die of a sudden heart attack from overexcitement, will you?"

Jiang Zhiyu's face turned from red to purple.

But that purple wasn't from embarrassment; it was from anger.

He sat up straight abruptly, his voice rising by an octave:

"What kind of nonsense are you talking! My physique has been nourished by various medicinal herbs, and I haven't missed a single day of practicing my techniques—"

He took a deep breath and said word for word:

"I am the standard of vigor and vitality!"

Kim Soo-yeon looked at him, her expression unchanged.

"And yet you're reminiscing about your first kiss."

Jiang Zhiyu was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, almost springing out of his chair:

"Who's reminiscing!"

Kim Soo-yeon continued to twist the knife:

"Running away right after kissing her, how shameless."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice grew even louder:

"That wasn't running! It was a strategic relocation!"

Kim Soo-yeon looked at him and remained silent for two seconds.

Then she picked up her teacup, took a slow sip, and couldn't be bothered to waste more words on him.

"Let's just talk about business."

She put down her teacup, pulled a folder from the document rack nearby, and opened it.

"The short drama 'the pig head struggle between withe and phantom thief zhimin' has finished editing. It's about fifteen minutes and forty seconds in total, divided into ten episodes, each over a minute long."

Jiang Zhiyu tried hard to pull himself back into work mode. He took a deep breath, rubbed his face, and leaned over to look at the document.

Kim Soo-yeon continued her report:

"I designed the theme song, insert songs, and the ending theme. So each episode totals about two and a half minutes. It will officially go online next Wednesday at 8 PM—simultaneously broadcast on TG's official YouTube, the SM channel, and various online video platforms. Additionally, there's a cooperative placement with TikTok, promoting it under the short drama category."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded, flipping through the data tables in the document.

"How's the hype for the trailer?"

Kim Soo-yeon picked up her phone, tapped it a few times, and turned the screen toward him.

"The trailer's views have already surpassed fifty million. The response in the comments section is very enthusiastic; most people are looking forward to 'Phantom Thief Zhimin's' look, as well as your scenes with Yoona."

Jiang Zhiyu looked at the data and nodded slightly.

"Very good."

Kim Soo-yeon took back her phone and flipped another page in the folder.

"By the way, those two accounts of yours—"

Jiang Zhiyu's movements stiffened for a moment.

Kim Soo-yeon looked up at him, the corners of her mouth carrying a hint of a half-smile.

"'Zhimins Little Strawberry' and 'guardian of princess wonyoung' are still fighting online."

Jiang Zhiyu said nothing.

Kim Soo-yeon continued:

"The direction of the comments is quite interesting. Some are saying that 'guardian of princess wonyoung's' combat power has dropped and they hope you—"

She paused and read the exact words of that comment:

"'Hurry up and eat your fill from the toilet in the sink, then come back online to spew filth again'."

The corner of Jiang Zhiyu's mouth twitched.

Kim Soo-yeon flipped to the next page:

"As for the 'Zhimins Little Strawberry' account, its offensive power is very strong, and it's incredibly supportive of Karina. Fans all think there's definitely a wealthy and idle die-hard fan behind this account. Some marketing accounts have even started digging into 'Little Strawberry's' real identity."

Jiang Zhiyu thought to himself:

Go ahead and dig, you won't find it out in a lifetime.

Because the 'Little Strawberry' account was now being operated by Karina herself.

Ever since that day, Karina had completely fallen in love with this feeling of "self-praise." She had practically become a narcissist, posting several threads praising herself whenever she was free, and then giggling at the fans' adoration.

Sometimes during her daily schedule, she would suddenly look at her phone and then let out a "hehehe" laugh. That laughter was filmed by fans and posted online, even sparking anti-fan rumors that "Karina isn't hiding her relationship."

Dating?

Jiang Zhiyu sneered in his heart.

What dating?

Who would dare date her?

Let them try stepping forward.

He definitely wouldn't stuff that person into an iron barrel and sink them into the Han River.

Definitely not.

He pulled back his thoughts and continued listening to Kim Soo-yeon's report.

"Also, Minjeong and the others are using the 'guardian of princess wonyoung' account. But their insulting offensive power..." Kim Soo-yeon rolled her eyes, "is practically zero."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded silently.

Indeed.

NingNing's insults were like acting spoiled, Eri's insults were like trying to reason with someone, and while Yeri knew how to insult, the things she wrote were less like anti-fan comments and more like funny skits.

"However," Kim Soo-yeon flipped to the next page, "Kim Minjeong is an exception."

Jiang Zhiyu's eyebrows shot up.

Kim Soo-yeon looked at the records in the file, her tone carrying a hint of admiration:

"Her insulting skills have even surpassed the master."

Jiang Zhiyu was silent for a second.

Kim Minjeong, the child he had watched grow up, the girl who would pounce on him like a puppy every time she saw him—surpassing the master at insulting?

He remembered the last time he had Kim Minjeong post something, she wrote this sentence:

"[A certain girl group member, that main vocal of yours, her high notes all depend on tuning, and her live performances all depend on backtrack, yet fans still praise her as a 'vocal gangster'? She is quite a gangster, practically an audio rapist.]"

After Jiang Zhiyu finished reading it at the time, he was silent for a long time.

This child truly lived up to being called "Sister Ingenuity" by the anti-fans.

Her tongue was truly poisonous.

And she also sneakily praised herself.

Last time, she used the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account to post:

"[Jang Wonyoung and Karina are both quite pretty, but personally, I think Winter is the true visual of aespa. That fair and tender feeling is something others just can't imitate.]"

When Jiang Zhiyu saw this, he was both annoyed and amused.

This child didn't forget to raise her own status while insulting others.

Truly...

Worth being raised by him.

Kim Soo-yeon finished flipping through the materials, closed the folder, and looked at Jiang Zhiyu.

"There are a few more things."

Jiang Zhiyu said seriously, "Go ahead."

"First, the in-depth cooperation project with SM is scheduled for contract signing on November 5th. From now on, you can start contacting Kim Taeyeon."

Jiang Zhiyu's fingers moved slightly.

Kim Taeyeon.

He remembered that night outside the izakaya, she was standing under the streetlamp with her head down and shoulders hunched, like an abandoned kitten.

He remembered her awkwardness when sending messages, her hesitation in typing a line and then deleting it, and the insincerity behind her "I don't need it."

He nodded.

"Okay."

Kim Soo-yeon continued:

"Second, Park Jin-young's solo song and aespa's autumn digital single might clash in terms of timing."

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, her eyes carrying a hint of testing.

"You're under a lot of pressure."

Jiang Zhiyu looked up and met her gaze.

Then he smiled.

That smile was confident and composed, carrying a hint of arrogance that said, "You underestimate me."

"I'd be afraid?"

Kim Soo-yeon looked at him and remained silent for two seconds.

Then she nodded.

"Work is very simple for you."

Before Jiang Zhiyu could even feel proud, Kim Soo-yeon added another sentence:

"But—"

She paused, her lips curling into a meaningful smile.

"Kissing is different."

Jiang Zhiyu's smile froze on his face.

Kim Soo-yeon continued, her tone full of teasing:

"That posture of yours when you ran away—"

She stood up and did an imitation.

The movement was very exaggerated and hilarious, looking exactly like a chicken thief—hunched back, neck pulled in, on tiptoes, running out as fast as possible.

Jiang Zhiyu's face instantly flushed red.

"I didn't look like that!"

Kim Soo-yeon stopped and looked at him:

"Do you want me to bring out the video for you to see?"

Jiang Zhiyu opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

Because the video really did exist.

That brat Lee Tima had recorded everything.

High-definition, uncensored, full version.

Jiang Zhiyu scratched his head irritably, his hair becoming a mess.

"Aaaah—!"

He let out a painful groan.

"Tima! Where is Lee Tima?!"

He glared at Kim Soo-yeon, his voice full of resentment:

"That brat, she's the one who caused all this!"

Kim Soo-yeon couldn't help but laugh seeing him like this.

She picked up her teacup, took another sip, and said slowly:

"Then I'll be going now."

She stood up, straightened the hem of her hoodie, walked to the door, and then turned back to say one more thing:

"By the way, Jang Wonyoung's debut date has been set. December 1st."

Jiang Zhiyu was stunned for a moment.

Kim Soo-yeon continued:

"Speaking of which, Park Jin-young's new song and the release news for 'the crab' are both being promoted that day. Debut is a big deal for her, and we still have a promotional partnership with Starship, don't forget."

Jiang Zhiyu was silent for a few seconds.

Jang Wonyoung.

The girl who hated him to the bone and would have a PTSD flare-up at the mere mention of variety shows.

The girl who said one thing but meant another, who was clearly very cute but insisted on acting cold.

The girl who, when he gave her Lemm, said "who wants your stuff" but held it tighter than anyone else.

The corner of his mouth involuntarily curled into a gentle arc.

"Don't worry."

He said, his voice carrying a hint of indulgence that even he hadn't noticed.

"I'll handle it."

Kim Soo-yeon looked at his expression and curled her lip.

"I hope so."

She pulled open the door, preparing to walk out.

And then—

"Wait a minute."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice came from behind her.

Kim Soo-yeon turned back.

Jiang Zhiyu looked into her eyes, his expression terrifyingly serious.

"Where is that bastard kid Lee Tima?"

Kim Soo-yeon was stunned for a moment.

Then she laughed.

The laughter was full of the schadenfreude of "you're finally going to settle the score."

"Who knows."

She shrugged.

"Maybe in the variety department, maybe in the cafeteria, maybe lying in her own little nest—"

She paused and added:

"Or maybe in Bae Joo-hyun's arms."

Jiang Zhiyu's expression changed instantly.

Kim Soo-yeon looked at him like that, laughed, waved her hand, and pushed the door open to leave.

The sound of the door closing echoed in the hallway.

Inside the studio, only Jiang Zhiyu was left.

He sat there, looking at the documents spread out before him, but his mind was filled with Kim Soo-yeon's last sentence.

"Maybe in Bae Joo-hyun's arms."

In Bae Joo-hyun's arms.

In Bae Joo-hyun's...

Arms.

He shook his head vigorously, shaking that image out of his mind.

Then he took a deep breath, picked up his phone, and dialed Lee Tima's number.

Ring—ring—ring—

No one picked up.

He dialed again.

Ring—ring—ring—

Still no one picked up.

He gritted his teeth and sent a message:

[Lee Tima, where are you?]

Three seconds later, a reply came.

[Lee Tima: Helping Wendy Unnie pick out clothes~ Joohyun Unnie is here too~ want a video?]

Jiang Zhiyu stared at that message, his hand trembling.

Trembling with anger.

Or trembling with excitement?

He couldn't tell.

He just gritted his teeth and typed three words:

[Jiang Zhiyu: No need.]

Then he put down his phone, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the ceiling.

The sky outside the window was grayish-blue.

A withered leaf was swept up by the wind and stuck to the glass, stayed for a while, and then was blown away.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at that leaf and felt like he was just like it.

Blown here and there by the wind.

Not knowing where he would land.

But his lips still curled up involuntarily.

Bae Joo-hyun.

He silently repeated that name in his heart.

Bae Joo-hyun.

The wind outside the window was still blowing.

And the person who made his heart race was currently somewhere with that brat.

Probably still smiling.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

She might be looking in a certain direction with that teasing gaze again.

Maybe—forget it.

I don't want to think about it.

Jiang Zhiyu took a deep breath, straightened his back, and picked up his pen.

Work.

Work could keep him from thinking about those messy things.

— —

Recently, a new "archaeology" craze has become popular on the internet.

To be precise, it's an "archaeology" of Karina.

All kinds of behind-the-scenes photos, fan-taken photos, airport photos, and work-commute photos—in the pictures, Karina is either looking down at her phone or, in the moments between looking down at her phone, wearing an extremely strange smile on her lips.

It's not a polite smile, nor is it a fake professional smile, but that kind of smile—where the corners of the mouth curl up wildly, the eyes squint into crescent moons, and her whole person radiates a "hehehe" vibe.

When the first photo appeared, fans were still saying: "What is Karina looking at? She's smiling so cutely!"

When the second and third ones appeared, fans began to wonder: "Why is she looking at her phone every day?"

By the time the dozen or so photos spread across the internet, the comment section had completely exploded.

[Is Karina dating?!]

[That smile is definitely the smile of a woman in love!]

[Who is it? Who stole our Karina's heart?!]

[SM, come out and say something!]

On the forums, all sorts of "dating proof" posts were emerging one after another.

Someone analyzed the time, location, and frequency of Karina looking at her phone and concluded: "She is definitely chatting with someone!"

Someone took screenshots of the changes in Karina's smile and used AI to analyze her facial micro-expressions, concluding: "The sweetness index of this smile is as high as 97%; it's impossible for it not to be love."

Others even started "doxxing" the so-called "dating partner"—from male celebrities in the industry to ordinary people outside it, from directors she had worked with to passersby she happened to be in the same frame with, not a single one was spared.

Karina's Manager was running around in a panic, calling his colleagues in the SM PR department a dozen times a day: "What should we do? Should we issue a statement? Should we clarify?"

The people in the PR department were also having a headache: "Clarify what? Say she isn't dating? Then what exactly is she looking at?"

The Manager said: "I don't know either!"

The PR department: "If even you don't know, how are we supposed to clarify?"

The Manager was speechless.

In the end, Karina had to come out and "clarify" it herself.

She sent a message on Bubble, her tone full of helplessness:

[Karina]: Oh? Who? Me? Dating? [Confused.jpg]

It was accompanied by a selfie where she tilted her head with a blank look, as if she really didn't understand what everyone was talking about.

Then she sent another one:

[Karina]: You should care more about the upcoming single instead! [Heart] [Heart] [Heart]

The comment section was instantly flooded with a large number of fans.

[Hahaha, this "Oh? Who? Me?" is too real!]

[So what exactly is she looking at?]

[No matter what she's looking at, it's definitely not dating! If Karina says so, then it is!]

[Looking forward to the single! Looking forward to the single!]

[Karina, ignore those rumors, we believe in you!]

Looking at those comments, Karina breathed a sigh of relief.

But of course, she wouldn't tell the fans that what she was looking at every day was actually her own "Zhimins Little Strawberry" account, and she was using her identity as a big fan to lead the fans in praising herself.

That smile wasn't some "sweet smile of someone in love"—it was the smugness she couldn't help feeling when she saw fans praising her as a "god-tier visual," having an "ant waist," or being a "human AI."

Dating?

Where would she find the time.

Besides—

Karina remembered that night, the sentence Jiang Zhiyu said in the bakery: "Meeting you, I knew I would be happy."

Her face flushed slightly.

Then she shook her head, shaking that thought away.

Work, work, work.

Single, single, single.

October 20, 2021.

aespa's autumn limited digital single "Coffee" was officially released.

It was released simultaneously on major music platforms.

The MV was also unveiled.

But this time, SM and TG Entertainment played a new trick—the MV video was designed as a dating game version.

The screen started with a mobile phone interface.

A "New Message" pop-up appeared:

[Unknown Contact]: Today... shall we meet?

Viewers could click on the screen to choose different reply options.

Choosing "Okay" would continue the MV.

Choosing "I'm a bit busy today" would lead the MV into a different plot line.

This interactive design immediately drove fans crazy.

"I chose 'Okay'! Then the scene changed to a coffee shop!"

"I chose 'I'm a bit busy today,' and Karina sent a wronged expression, she's so cute!"

"Who thought of this design? I want to give them a raise!"

"It must be Jiang Zhiyu! Only he could come up with such an idea!"

And the music itself was even more of a pleasant surprise.

Unlike the intense, futuristic electronic style of aespa's previous work, "Coffee" is a warm, calm song filled with autumn vibes.

The piano sound fell gently like autumn rain, and the guitar strings were as warm as afternoon sunshine.

Kim Minjeong's voice carried a hint of laziness and sweetness, like a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows.

NingNing's tone was clear and bright, like the first ray of sunshine on an autumn morning.

Uchinaga Eri's mid-to-low range was steady and gentle, like a warm stove on a late autumn evening.

Karina's voice was the soul of the whole song—that unique texture between a girl and a woman, carrying a hint of elusive detachment, yet suddenly drawing close in certain moments, making one's heart race.

The lyrics were about a secret crush in the autumn.

"The cup of coffee you handed me is still warm even now."

"Just like the look in your eyes when you looked at me, it still makes my heart flutter even now."

"I want to tell you, but I can't say it."

"So I can only watch you like this."

Coupled with the interactive game setting in the MV, fans felt as if they were truly dating a girl named "aespa."

Some chose Kim Minjeong's route and were struck by her sweetness: "I want to date Winter! No one stop me!"

Some chose NingNing's route and were moved by her clarity: "NingNing's voice is like a spring; listening to it makes my heart feel so quiet."

Some chose Uchinaga Eri's route and were healed by her gentleness: "Eri Unnie's voice is so perfect for this atmosphere, I want to drink coffee with her."

But the most heated discussion was undoubtedly about Karina.

Because her route was just too "Karina."

In the MV, the character she played was a girl who liked to sneak glances at you but didn't dare to confess.

She would pretend to sit next to you unintentionally, would deliberately fix her hair in front of you, and would quickly look away when you looked at her.

That feeling of wanting to speak but holding back, being cautious, was portrayed by her to the fullest.

The comment section was full of screams:

[This expression of wanting to speak but holding back! My heart!]

[She looked at me! She looked at me! Even though she looked away immediately!]

[What's with this grade-schooler-like heart-fluttering feeling!]

[Karina, you acted so well! Do you also have someone you like?!]

And as the song's popularity climbed, another topic began to ferment.

For some time now, there have been too many labels on Karina.

"pig head thief"—from that pig-head-stealing incident at the Opening Ceremony that became a meme across the internet.

"Phantom Thief Zhimin"—from the short film "the pig head struggle between withe and phantom thief zhimin."

"Tsundere Bubble girlfriend"—from that Bubble livestream that made the entire Korean entertainment industry copy it.

Every single label had nothing to do with her main job—singer.

Fans even started a discussion on the forums:

[Is Karina a singer, an actor, or a variety show personality now?]

[She seems to do everything, and everything she does becomes popular, except for singing and dancing.]

[Didn't she sing "Coffee"? It's really good!]

[But what everyone discusses the most is still those "memes" of hers, not her songs.]

Just as this discussion was intensifying—

"the pig head struggle between withe and phantom thief zhimin" was officially released.

It was broadcast simultaneously on the official TG YouTube, SM channel, and major video platforms.

Each episode was about two and a half minutes long, for a total of ten episodes.

From "Phantom Thief Zhimin sets her sights on the pig head" to "Withe takes on the protection mission," from "the rose in the warning letter" to "cat and dog war," from "starry sky lava chocolate" to "Haidilao dinner"—

every episode was packed with laughter, nonsensical to the extreme.

And Karina's performance was even more shocking to everyone.

That aespa leader who was full of charisma on stage, that "girlfriend" who was tsundere and flirtatious on Bubble, in the short drama—

became a "phantom thief" who stole pig heads and was righteous about it.

Her facial expressions were completely unleashed in this short drama.

She widened her eyes when surprised, raised her chin when smug, fled in panic when chased, and had a face of "I don't accept this" when caught.

Especially in the third episode, the scene where she ran wildly holding the pig head—hair blown into a mess by the wind, expression twisted, and corners of her mouth stained with marinade—

fans took screenshots directly and turned them into hundreds of memes.

[This expression really cracked me up, hahahaha!]

[Karina, are you serious? Where is your idol baggage?]

[From today on, in my heart, Karina is no longer a "god-tier visual," she is a "god-tier facial expression master"!]

[Is she possessed by the god of variety shows? Why is she so funny!]

And Im Yoona's performance made everyone's eyes light up.

She changed her usual sweet and cute image and played a cold-faced, reticent bodyguard, "Withe."

She basically had no expression throughout, but that cold gaze, sharp movements, and the occasional hint of gentleness—it was absolutely a textbook example of "cold-faced cuteness."

[Yoona is so cool!]

[What happened to Dajun? Cute wifey turned into a cool, handsome hubby!]

[That glance back! That look! My legs went weak!]

[Totally cold-faced cuteness! Want to watch a movie!]

This comment received over a hundred thousand likes.

The replies below were all the same:

[Want to watch a movie + 1]

[Want to watch a movie + 2]

[Want to watch a movie + 10086]

[Want to watch a movie + ID number]

Jiang Zhiyu sat in his office, looking at the comments on the internet, and nodded with satisfaction.

The popularity of the short drama was even better than he had expected.

Karina's "Phantom Thief" persona was firmly established, Im Yoona's "Withe" image successfully broke out of the niche, and netizens' expectations for "the crab" had gone up another level.

Perfect.

He took a sip of tea and then opened the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account.

He started making today's "blockbuster."

AI-generated images.

This was a new skill he had recently become addicted to.

Enter keywords, adjust parameters, wait a few seconds—an image completely generated by AI appeared.

He had been conceiving this picture for a long time today.

In the picture, Jang Wonyoung stood above the clouds with that iconic "400,000 won mineral water bottle" on her head.

On her face was a compassionate, tolerant, and benevolent smile, as if she were looking down at all living beings.

She slowly reached out and took the water bottle off her head.

The bottle mouth faced downwards, aimed at the ground.

On the ground, a pig-headed monster was arrogantly clamoring.

The pig-headed monster was wearing a phantom thief costume, a mask on its face, and was holding a braised pig head in its hands.

A beam of light emitted from the bottle mouth, sucking the pig-headed monster into the bottle.

A line of text appeared on the surface of the water bottle:

[Pig 51 Asylum]

Dynamic image.

The moment the pig-headed monster was sucked into the water bottle, it struggled for a bit, but was ultimately taken into the bottle.

Jang Wonyoung put the water bottle back on her head, and the smile on her lips became even more benevolent.

That feeling of "all the world's creatures are under my control" was portrayed by the AI to the fullest.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at this picture and nodded with satisfaction.

Then he added the caption:

[guardian of princess wonyoung]: Princess Wonyoung is invincible! Please look forward to December 1st, Princess Wonyoung debuting again as IVE! [Heart] [Heart] [Heart]

Image: That AI-generated dynamic image.

Send.

A few seconds later, the comment section exploded.

[Hahahahaha!]

[This picture is too hilarious!]

[What the heck is Pig 51 Asylum, hahahaha!]

[Jang Wonyoung subdues a pig demon with a water bottle on her head, what kind of xianxia plot is this!]

[guardian of princess wonyoung, your combat power is off the charts today!]

[Please tell me how this picture was made! It's so funny!]

[December 1st! IVE debut! Princess Wonyoung returns!]

[Looking forward to it! Looking forward to Princess Wonyoung subduing more pig demons!]

The comment section was full of joy, and the number of retweets exceeded one hundred thousand in just a few minutes.

Someone posted this picture to Karina's fan forum with the caption:

[Sisters, it's war.]

Karina's fans saw this picture, were angry at first, and then—they laughed too.

[Although we were roasted, this picture is really funny...]

[What is "Pig 51 Asylum" hahahaha!]

[I give full marks to guardian of princess wonyoung's creativity today!]

[Karina's pig-headed monster image is so vivid, did she provide the material herself?]

Karina herself saw it too.

She was curled up on the sofa in the dormitory, scrolling through comments with her Zhimins Little Strawberry account.

Seeing this picture, the corners of her mouth twitched.

"Jiang—Zhi—yu—!"

She jumped up from the sofa, stomping her feet in anger.

Kim Minjeong leaned over, saw the picture, and laughed until she couldn't straighten her back.

"Unnie! Pig 51 Asylum! Hahahaha! You've been taken inside!"

NingNing also leaned over, laughing until tears came out:

"Unnie, are you comfortable staying in the water bottle?"

Uchinaga Eri said slowly: "Karina, when did you become a pig-headed monster? You're even wearing a phantom thief costume, and it's actually quite cool."

Karina glared at the three of them, too angry to speak.

But looking at the picture, looking at herself being taken into the water bottle—

she couldn't help but laugh too.

"This lunatic..."

she muttered softly, but the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed no matter what.

Kim Minjeong looked at her expression and gave a meaningful "Oh."

"Unnie, you smiled."

Karina immediately straightened her face.

"No, I didn't."

"You clearly did!"

"No!"

The two started bickering again.

NingNing and Uchinaga Eri watched the show from the side, laughing until they couldn't straighten their backs.

Outside the window, the autumn sunshine was just right.

On the internet, the pig-headed monster was still struggling in the water bottle.

And Karina was still being chased and scolded by her "anti-fan leader."

But for some reason—

she actually felt that this was pretty good too.