430: Chapter 483 What If

The arrival of Im Yoona and Kim Taeyeon instantly brought the atmosphere in the private room to a climax.

Sunny was the first to jump up, spreading her arms to pounce on them: "Aigoo! Our President Lim is here! And our Taeyeon!" Kim Taeyeon was caught in a full embrace, smiling as she patted her back: "Alright, alright, it's only been a few days since we last met." Sunny let go of her and turned to Im Yoona, sizing her up from top to bottom, clicking her tongue in wonder: "As expected of a female CEO, your aura is different!" Im Yoona felt a bit embarrassed by her gaze, but the proud smile at the corner of her mouth couldn't be hidden.

Yuri also leaned in, grabbing Im Yoona's arm: "Yoona, I saw your movie's costume photos, so handsome! I'm totally charmed by you!" Sooyoung added gloomily from the side: "It's not surprising no matter who you're charmed by." Yuri glared at her: "Yah! Are you picking a fight with me today?" Sooyoung shrugged with an innocent face. Hyoyeon had already picked up the tongs to put meat on the grill: "Stop messing around, the meat is burning!"

The group laughed and sat back in their respective seats. Im Yoona sat down next to Kim Taeyeon, naturally picking up a water glass for a sip. Her gaze swept over everyone present—Sunny slumped in her chair, Yuri and Sooyoung still bickering, Hyoyeon focused on the BBQ, and Seohyun sitting quietly with a faint smile. A wave of warmth rose in her heart. These people were her sisters of over ten years. No matter how the outside world changed, when they sat together, things were still the same.

The conversation naturally shifted from the popularity of movies and short dramas to their Bubble live personas. Sunny was the first to start complaining: "Do you guys know? With my 'lying flat' persona, every single post I make gets comments from fans saying 'Unnie is being lazy again,' 'Unnie, move a bit,' 'Unnie, you'll get fat like this!' I was lying down perfectly fine, but now I can't even lie down in peace!" Yuri laughed so hard she slapped the table: "You're a person who lies flat to begin with, why do you even need a persona?" Sunny glared at her: "That's different! Before, lying flat was my own business; now, lying flat is being watched by the whole world!"

Sooyoung smiled and said: "Then just get up and move around a bit." Sunny rolled her eyes: "If I could move, would it still be called a 'lying flat' persona?" Hyoyeon said while flipping the meat: "Personas have to fit the person. Look at Yoona, that female CEO persona suits her so well." Everyone's gaze instantly turned to Im Yoona.

Im Yoona put down her water glass, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. She had long anticipated the topic would turn to this. In front of outsiders, she might be humble, but in front of these sisters, there was no need. "Actually, it's nothing much," she said in a light tone, though carrying a hint of irrepressible pride, "it's just posting a few photos and adding some text." Yuri leaned in: "Quick, tell us, what was your thought process? That 'Finished reviewing the documents, missing you'—it was amazing!"

Im Yoona thought for a moment and said seriously: "Actually, it's about capturing that feeling. Cold to the outside, gentle to the inside. A decisive CEO in public, but showing a soft side in front of you." She paused and added: "And, I also added a slight sense of possessiveness."

Sooyoung raised an eyebrow: "Possessiveness? What kind?" Im Yoona explained: "Not the blatant kind, not 'You are mine' or 'Don't look at others.' It's occasionally mixing a tiny bit into many sentences." She gave an example: "Like posting a work photo with the caption 'Very busy today, but I smiled when I saw your message.' This sentence itself doesn't have possessiveness, but if you've read the posts from the previous few days, you'll realize I only reply to 'your' messages every day." Everyone froze for a second, then simultaneously exclaimed. "Wow—this design is so detailed!" "That's why the fans are so crazy!" "It's this 'vague' feeling that makes people unable to stop!"

Sunny clicked her tongue in wonder: "I didn't expect our well-behaved Yoona to have a side like this." Im Yoona raised her chin, her tone carrying a hint of showing off: "This is my true nature! It's just been amplified using the Bubble persona." Everyone held back their laughter and nodded simultaneously: "Right, right." But their expressions clearly said: As long as you're happy.

Sooyoung smiled and said: "But Yoona really does seem to have a little bit of that." Im Yoona's eyes widened: "What do you mean 'a little bit', Unnie!" Hyoyeon said while chewing on BBQ: "Even though Yoona eats a lot and is called 'Cute Yoona' or Lim Da-jun, well... she really does have some possessiveness in her." Yuri tilted her head: "Her? Possessiveness? Possessing what?"

Sunny immediately chimed in, speaking rapidly: "Possessing Hanwoo! Possessing our Girls Generation's love!" Everyone burst into laughter. Im Yoona was both embarrassed and annoyed, but she couldn't help laughing herself.

Seohyun had been listening quietly and finally spoke: "Yoona Unnie's design is really impressive." Her tone was sincere and her eyes were serious. Im Yoona looked at her, a wave of emotion rising in her heart. This maknae was always so sincere.

She gave an embarrassed chuckle and then raised her head proudly. That's right, she was just that confident!

Im Yoona suddenly stood up, hands on her hips, her voice loud and crisp: "I, Im Yoona, am exactly such a female CEO!" Everyone froze for a second, then erupted into enthusiastic cheers and applause. "Oh—!!!" "President Lim is mighty!" "Girls Generation's female CEO!"

Kim Taeyeon smiled with her eyes curving into crescents, waving her over: "Then President Lim, hurry up and sit down to eat! Tonight, we don't go home until we're drunk!" Everyone echoed in unison: "Oh—!!!"

Im Yoona sat down with a smile, picked up her chopsticks, and put a piece of grilled Hanwoo into her mouth. Mmm, delicious. Kim Taeyeon, beside her, also started eating.

Meanwhile, Sunny quietly leaned toward Kim Taeyeon's ear.

Her voice was kept very low, low enough that only the two of them could hear: "Don't go home until we're drunk? The people here won't send you back—could it be you have someone who will pick you up?" Kim Taeyeon's chopsticks paused for a moment.

Sunny continued, the corner of her mouth curling into a meaningful smile: "For example—Kang..."

Before she could finish, Kim Taeyeon's cheeks turned bright red at a visible speed. From her ears to her neck, a flush of crimson was exceptionally noticeable under the warm yellow lights. She suddenly reached out and pressed her hand directly over Sunny's mouth: "Yah! What nonsense are you talking!!" That voice was urgent and loud, but being blocked by Sunny's mouth, it turned into an indistinct muffle.

Sunny was covered so hard she rolled her eyes, but the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden. The others nearby were focused on the BBQ and bickering, not noticing the commotion here. But two people's gazes unconsciously drifted over.

Im Yoona saw Kim Taeyeon's flushed cheeks, and her smile stiffened for a moment. Just for a moment. The next second, she returned to normal, continuing to eat her BBQ as if nothing had happened.

But in her heart, something was churning. Kang? Jiang? Was Sunny talking about Jiang Zhiyu? Taeyeon Unnie's reaction... why was it so big? Her fingers tightened slightly, and her chopsticks made a light clink against the edge of the bowl. No one noticed.

Seohyun saw it too. Her first reaction was—Sunny Unnie is talking about 19+ topics again. After all, Sunny was that kind of person. Seohyun's mouth twitched slightly. Sunny Unnie, don't blame me; blame yourself for giving off that kind of vibe...

She withdrew her gaze and continued eating quietly.

Kim Taeyeon finally let go of her hand. Sunny gasped for air, laughing while panting: "You, you're trying to murder your own sister!" Kim Taeyeon glared at her, her face so red it looked like it could bleed: "If you talk nonsense again, next time it won't just be covering your mouth!" Sunny raised her hands in surrender: "Alright, alright, I won't say it, I won't say it."

But her eyes clearly said: I didn't say anything, you're just feeling guilty yourself.

Kim Taeyeon looked away and picked up her water glass for a big gulp. The water was a bit cold, but it couldn't extinguish the heat on her face. She peeked at the people beside her—Im Yoona was focused on eating BBQ, Seohyun was quietly drinking soup, and the others were still making a fuss. No one noticed her. She breathed a sigh of relief. But that heart of hers was still pounding wildly.

Jiang Zhiyu. This name flashed through her mind. She remembered that night at the entrance of the Izakaya, him standing under the streetlamp with shining eyes, saying "Noona, I missed you." She remembered that morning in the apartment, the paper bag he held, the breakfast he made himself, and that phrase "A gift exclusive to Kim Taeyeon." She remembered that day in the car, him leaning close to her ear, saying "I like you, it's true."

She shook her head, tossing these thoughts aside. Can't think about it. Can't think about it.

Sunny watched her profile from the side, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening. She said nothing, just picked up her wine glass and took a slow sip. This wine really tastes good.

The atmosphere in the private room remained lively. Yuri and Sooyoung were still bickering, Hyoyeon was focused on grilling the last tray of meat, Sunny was leisurely drinking, Seohyun was eating quietly, and Im Yoona and Kim Taeyeon sat side by side, each lost in their own thoughts.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper.

—

That night in the BBQ restaurant's private room, the atmosphere was as lively as boiling soup.

After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food, the topic unconsciously circled back to that name no one wanted to mention. It wasn't that the sisters intentionally wanted to talk about it, but rather that name was ubiquitous, like a ghost, in every industry they could touch.

Yuri put down her wine glass and counted on her fingers: "The movie 'the crab' was invested in by TG, right? On the drama side, it's said Jiang Zhiyu has several scripts in his hands, and anyone would fight to the death for any one of them. Not to mention variety shows, 'Twelve Star Messengers,' 'the collapsed daily life,' 'naughty kids operation'—which one isn't TG's?"

Sooyoung took over the conversation: "Catering chains, do you know that super popular hand-shaken milk tea recently? It's run by a TG subsidiary. And that high-end salad chain, that's theirs too."

“What about mid-to-low-end luxury clothing?” Hyoyeon asked.

Sunny rolled her eyes: "That 'TG Collection,' the trench coat hanging in your closet is from there. And you're asking me."

Hyoyeon looked down at the trench coat she was wearing and fell silent.

Seohyun added in a small voice: "I also heard recently that TG is planning to enter the high-end jewelry industry..."

The group sighed simultaneously.

This Jiang Zhiyu, why does he have to have a hand in everything?

The topic then shifted to real estate investment. Everyone present was a veteran of the entertainment industry, and most of the money they saved was invested in real estate—this was the most stable source of income, more reliable than stocks and more solid than funds.

But recent fluctuations in the real estate market were giving them some headaches.

"The property I was eyeing last month, the price went up by fifteen percent." Yuri propped her chin on her hand, looking depressed.

Sooyoung nodded: "Tell me about it. The house prices in Gangnam have risen so much I feel like selling myself."

Sunny leaned lazily against the back of her chair: "You guys should be satisfied. At least you can still buy. My agent told me that now, for houses in good locations, it's not a matter of money anymore; you have to fight for them."

Hyoyeon asked curiously: "Doesn't TG also invest in real estate? Their rate of return is said to be ridiculously high."

Sunny glanced at her and said gloomily: "Are you trying to upset me?"

Hyoyeon tactfully shut her mouth.

Just as this topic was being discussed heatedly, Im Yoona suddenly stood up.

Her movement was quite large, pushing her chair back and making a sharp scraping sound on the floor. Her body swayed slightly, the flush on her cheeks exceptionally obvious under the warm yellow light, and her eyes were as blurry as if through a layer of mist—she was clearly drunk.

The private room instantly fell silent.

Everyone looked at her, their expressions changing from tipsy to tense.

Yuri's eyes widened, her body unconsciously leaning back: "Oh my god, this kid isn't going to throw up, is she?"

Sooyoung had already subconsciously moved half a seat away: "Yoona, the restroom is on the left, go that way..."

Hyoyeon's mind was already racing, and then she blurted out: "Will tomorrow's headline be—'Im Yoona performed the Singapore Merlion during a Girls Generation dinner, though what she spat out wasn't water but vomit'!"

Sunny glared at her: "Shut up!"

Seohyun had already stood up, preparing to go over and support her.

But Im Yoona didn't throw up. She stood there, swayed for a moment, and steadied herself. Then she said loudly: "I know!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

That voice was sudden and loud, making everyone jump.

"What do you know?" Yuri asked tentatively.

Im Yoona raised her hand and pointed at the ceiling; her eyes were hazy with intoxication, yet she wore an expression that said, "I have uncovered a shocking secret." "I know about the investment projects of TG Entertainment!"

A few of them exchanged glances, all seeing the same thought in each other's eyes: "She's definitely drunk."

Sunny said softly, "Yoona, you've had too much to drink. Sit down and have some water..."

"They invested in a farm in China!" Im Yoona ignored her completely. "Smuggling agricultural products! A single piece of fruit corn costs six thousand won! I'm going to report them to the Ministry of Agriculture!"

The private room went quiet for a second.

Sunny looked at Yuri and pointed at her own temple. "She is definitely drunk, right?"

Yuri nodded seriously.

She looked at Im Yoona with that tolerant expression of "I am listening seriously to a drunk person," but the next second, she suddenly blurted out, "But isn't smuggling handled by the Customs Service?"

Sunny rolled her eyes.

She reached out and smacked Yuri on the head. "Yah! You're even drunker."

Yuri covered her head, looking aggrieved. "I'm not drunk!"

Sunny looked at her, her eyes filled with the helplessness of "Who do you think you're kidding?" "You were already drunk the moment you said that."

Yuri opened her mouth to retort, but realized she was indeed a bit tipsy, so she shut her mouth.

Im Yoona paid absolutely no attention to this interlude.

She stood there, her expression shifting from "I'm going to report them" to "I'm going to save them."

The transition was so fast that it was as if a thousand little dramas were playing in her head simultaneously.

She said seriously, "I have to tell Jiang Zhiyu! We can't let him be thrown into prison! I must make him... turn over a new leaf!"

When she said the words "turn over a new leaf," she even clenched her fists and held them against her chest, wearing an expression of steely determination, as if she were "saving a misguided youth."

She looked as if she had moved herself.

Sunny watched her, her mouth twitching. "What is she acting out?"

Sooyoung said softly, "Probably... 'Saving the Misguided President'?"

Hyoyeon nodded. "She's already written the script."

Seohyun panicked and stood up to grab the phone. "Unnie, put the phone down..."

But Im Yoona had already pulled out her phone.

She lowered her head, swiped on the screen a few times, then lifted the phone to her ear.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet private room.

"Wait, who is she calling?" Sooyoung suddenly became alert.

Hyoyeon thought for a moment. "Jiang Zhiyu?"

But a few seconds later, a voice came from the other end of the line.

It wasn't Jiang Zhiyu, but a cold, slightly puzzled female voice. "Yoona Unnie?"

Everyone in the private room froze.

Yuri's mouth formed an O shape.

Sooyoung's eyes widened, and the chopsticks in her hand dropped.

Hyoyeon was stunned, looking as if she had been struck by lightning.

Seohyun covered her mouth.

Sunny was the first to react, and she stood up abruptly. "It's Kim Soo-yeon! She called Kim Soo-yeon!"

It wasn't a wrong number, it was definitely a wrong number—wait, Kim Soo-yeon???

A few of them exchanged glances, all seeing the same expression in each other's eyes: Im Yoona, you have a lot of nerve!

Im Yoona was completely unaware of the severity of the situation.

She held the phone up, her expression shifting from "Saving a misguided youth" to "Messenger of Justice."

She took a deep breath, then shouted into the phone, "Yah-shiba, Jiang Zhiyu! I'm going to report you to the Ministry of Agriculture for smuggling fruit corn! Arasso?"

The voice was fast and loud, echoing in the private room.

Everyone was bewildered—she was calling for Jiang Zhiyu, but it was Kim Soo-yeon on the other end! Was this kid so drunk she couldn't even tell people apart?

There was silence on the other end of the line for a second.

Then, Kim Soo-yeon's voice rang out, carrying a hint of a chuckle. "Yoona Unnie, this is Kim Soo-yeon. Jiang Oppa is not here."

Im Yoona paused.

She blinked, appearing to struggle to process this information.

A few seconds later, she nodded, as if confirming something, and then continued, "I know! You are Jiang Zhiyu's accomplice! I'm going to report you too!"

Sunny covered her face.

Yuri had already started laughing.

Sooyoung and Hyoyeon exchanged glances, both calculating how to snatch the phone away.

Seohyun stamped her feet in anxiety. "Unnie, give me the phone..."

But Im Yoona ignored them completely.

She stood there, her expression shifting from "Messenger of Justice" to "Gangster Negotiator."

She narrowed her eyes, hooked the corners of her mouth into what she thought was an evil smile, and lowered her voice. "Hey, you wouldn't want to go to prison either, right?"

The tone, the expression—she was the spitting image of a thug trying to extort someone.

The private room went quiet for a second.

Then—everyone was bewildered.

What kind of plot is this? Im Yoona, you are not acting right...

Im Yoona continued, her tone holding a bit of sleaze and a bit of greed. "Then give me the position of President of TG! You go scrub the toilets!"

The voice was both arrogant and punchable.

Sunny finally couldn't take it anymore; she stood up and rushed over to grab the phone.

Yuri held her back. "Wait, wait, wait! Listen to what they are saying on the other side."

On the other end, there was silence for a few seconds.

Then, Kim Soo-yeon chuckled softly.

The laugh was light, yet it sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Sunny's movements froze.

Yuri's hand stopped in mid-air.

Sooyoung and Hyoyeon exchanged glances, both seeing the implication of "this woman is not to be trifled with" in each other's eyes.

Seohyun didn't even dare to move; she stood there like a rabbit being watched by a snake.

Kim Soo-yeon cleared her throat and spoke in a rational yet extremely alluring tone.

"Yoona Unnie."

Her voice was unhurried, as if chatting about the weather. "Please do not say such things casually. TG Entertainment is a cross-industry company, and every investment we make has complete legal documentation."

"Regarding the 'smuggled corn' you mentioned, we have all the import licenses, quarantine certificates, and customs declarations. The situation you described is absolutely impossible."

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of an elusive smile. "Of course, the ownership of the position of President of TG, and having Oppa go scrub the toilets—these are matters that need to be discussed in a meeting."

Everyone's mouth twitched simultaneously—this can be discussed too?!

Kim Soo-yeon continued, "If Yoona Unnie is interested in joining TG, I will have my assistant message you about your free time. Or—"

Her voice suddenly dropped a few degrees, carrying a laziness that made one's ears itch.

"Should I come find you later to understand the specific situation?"

The tone was like an invitation, yet also like a probe.

Im Yoona listened and nodded in satisfaction.

She didn't catch any of the other implications in that tone; she just felt that she had half-succeeded.

She lifted her chin and said in the tone of "I am already the president," "TG will become the strongest entertainment company in the world under my hands. I, Im Yoona, am the most beautiful and capable female president, envied and adored by everyone."

After she finished, she nodded again, fully approving of her own statement.

On the other end of the line, Kim Soo-yeon was silent for a second.

She was now completely certain that this Unnie was drunk.

The rational, composed tone she had maintained relaxed, replaced by an inscrutable laziness.

She leaned back in her chair, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, and said in that alluring tone known as the "female player" style, "Since Unnie wants to become the President of TG, then we are now in a cooperative relationship."

She paused.

"Shouldn't Unnie show some sincerity?"

The voice was like cotton candy melting on the tongue, sickly sweet, yet it sent a chill down one's spine.

Im Yoona tilted her head and repeated innocently, "Sincerity?"

Kim Soo-yeon laughed.

The laugh was light, like a feather brushing against the earlobe.

Then, she said calmly, "By the way, Yoona Unnie—how is the quality of the bed at your place?"

Im Yoona's mouth was faster than her brain. "Very good!"

Once the words were out, she had no idea what they meant.

On the other end, Kim Soo-yeon, with an inexplicable smile, said in a tone that made Im Yoona's ears tingle, "Is that so? I have a lot of strength. If I break it, I won't take responsibility."

In the private room, it went quiet instantly.

A strange silence.

A deathly silence.

Everyone—Yuri, Sooyoung, Hyoyeon, Seohyun, Sunny—froze.

Their brains crashed simultaneously, then rebooted simultaneously, and then realized simultaneously—what did they just hear?

What the hell kind of adult topic is this???

Sunny was the first to react.

She lunged forward, snatched the phone from Im Yoona's hand, her movements as fast as someone salvaging evidence at a crime scene.

She took a deep breath, trying hard to make her voice sound normal. "Chairwoman Kim! Yoona is drunk! Please, you must not take her drunken words to heart!"

On the other end, Kim Soo-yeon chuckled softly.

There was no mockery or anger in that laugh, only an inscrutable pleasure.

"I know." Her voice was lazy and relaxed. "So—do you need me to come over to pick up Yoona Unnie?"

Sunny quickly said, "No, no need!"

"I can pick you up too." Kim Soo-yeon's tone became even more casual, as if inviting an old friend over for tea. "Everyone can come stay at my place. My room is quite large. The comfort of the bed is hard to explain over the phone—why don't you come experience it yourself?"

The hand Sunny used to hold the phone trembled slightly.

That voice, tingling and numb, was like holding one's own ear and whispering against the temple.

Sunny's face turned red instantly.

She opened her mouth to say something—but the "beep—beep—beep—" of the busy signal had already come from the other end of the line.

Kim Soo-yeon hung up, leaving only that phrase, "come experience it yourself," echoing in the air.

Sunny held the phone, completely petrified.

The private room was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, everyone came back to their senses.

Yuri's face was as red as a cooked shrimp.

Sooyoung covered her face, but the eyes peeking through her fingers were burning with the fire of gossip.

Hyoyeon's mouth formed an O shape, and she looked like she had been acupunctured into stillness.

Seohyun's face was as red as a tomato; she was the youngest here, still just a child!

Shit, I feel like I heard something incredible.

Everyone's gaze turned to Sunny simultaneously.

Sunny stood there, still holding the phone, her expression shifting from shock to complexity, from complexity to a daze.

As the acknowledged "dirtiest" woman in Girls Generation, her expression at this moment was that of an innocent child—confused, bewildered, and at a loss.

Sunny's inner thoughts were scrolling frantically.

What did she just say? Come to my house? The comfort of the bed? Come experience it yourself?

Was I being teased?

It was definitely being teased!

She is clearly a woman, and I am a woman too, so why do I feel my face is so hot?

And... and that tone...

In Sunny's mind, Kim Soo-yeon's cold face appeared involuntarily.

Tall figure, exquisite features, that "stay away" aura—and that voice from the phone just now.

Tingling and numb.

Like holding one's own ear and whispering against the temple.

Sunny shivered.

Then a thought popped into her head: But... President...

Lying flat...

Aish-shiba, why am I feeling a bit of a heartbeat???

Beside her, Seohyun's face couldn't have been any redder.

She lowered her head, staring at her knees, not daring to look anyone in the eye.

She was just a child, why did she have to hear this kind of thing?

Im Yoona blinked, asking innocently, "What does 'the bed collapsed' mean?"

The tone was as pure as a blank sheet of paper.

The private room went quiet for a second.

Then Yuri laughed out loud first, followed by Sooyoung, then Hyoyeon.

Sunny stood there, holding the phone, her face flushed, not knowing what she was thinking.

Seohyun buried her head even lower.