433: Chapter 486 - I forgot to update yesterday, oops!

The car drove smoothly through the Seoul night scenery, streetlights passing one by one, casting flickering light and shadows in the cabin.

Lee Tima lay flat on the back seat, sleeping like a child, her breathing steady and long. She had no idea she'd been labeled the "culprit behind Unicorn Im Yoona"—that small bump on Im Yoona's forehead was now permanently credited to her account.

The car drove smoothly through the Seoul night scenery, streetlights passing one by one, casting flickering light and shadows on Kim Taeyeon's face. She leaned her head to the side, looking out the window, her gaze unfocused.

Everything that happened tonight replayed in her mind like a movie.

The members' laughter rose and fell in the private room of the barbecue restaurant. Sunny slumped in her chair looking hopeless, Yuri and Sooyoung bickering, Hyoyeon's sharp tongue, Seohyun sitting quietly in the corner listening to her unnies' antics, and Yoona—

Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth curl up slightly.

Yoona. The Yoona who turned into the "Fruit Corn Queen" when drunk. The Yoona who shouted into the phone, "I want to be the President of TG." The Yoona who was carried through the door by Jiang Zhiyu and didn't even wake up when her head hit the door frame.

And that phone call.

Kim Soo-yeon's voice came through the receiver, cold and rational, yet with an indescribable allure. "I'm very strong; I don't care if it collapses." Kim Taeyeon had been standing nearby at the time and heard it clearly, feeling completely flustered. That child usually looked so cold and detached, so how could she say such things without even blinking?

Then there was Jiang Zhiyu's arrival.

He walked into the restaurant entrance with a sleepy Lee Tima, his hair casually tousled, carrying a lazy handsomeness. He called her "Noona," just those two words, and her heart skipped a beat.

Then in the car.

Yoona sat in the back seat, talking incessantly about her "Fruit Corn Smuggling Plan," from land to sea, from Hanwoo to sinking iron barrels in the Han River. And Jiang Zhiyu actually discussed the route issues with her quite seriously.

"I want to become South Korea's underground Fruit Corn Queen!"

"Is Noona planning to go by land or by sea?"

"Stupid! You'll get caught by customs at sea! We're going by land!"

Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but smile.

These two, one so drunk she didn't know which way was up, the other cooperating seamlessly, as if they were holding some secret meeting. At the time, she just wanted to find a hole to crawl into, but looking back now, it felt inexplicably funny.

And in the elevator.

Kim Taeyeon's face flushed slightly.

At that time, she looked up at herself in the elevator wall, only to accidentally meet his eyes. In her embarrassment and anger, she shouted, "What are you laughing at?" and then couldn't help but laugh herself.

The two of them just laughed at each other like that, laughing for no reason, unable to stop.

Kim Taeyeon touched her cheek; it was a bit hot. She pulled back her thoughts and looked out the window. The streetlights pulled streaks of light across the glass, and the city's night view slowly receded before her eyes. Her heart rate hadn't completely settled yet.

"Noona."

Jiang Zhiyu's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence in the car.

Kim Taeyeon snapped out of it and turned to look at him.

"Yes?"

Jiang Zhiyu looked at the road ahead, his tone as calm as if he were talking about the weather: "Noona, have you ever been to a forest?"

Kim Taeyeon was stunned for a moment. A forest? She had been to the Great Plains and the seaside, but a forest... if it was the kind of man-made woods in a city park, she had been there, but did that count as a forest?

She thought about it, and just as she was about to speak, Jiang Zhiyu continued.

"I don't mean that kind of man-made forest." His voice was very light, yet it carried an indescribable sense of distance. "A real wild forest. Century-old, thousand-year-old trees that blot out the sun. You walk in and can't see the sky when you look up."

Kim Taeyeon quieted down, looking at his profile.

The light and shadows of the streetlamps flashed across his face alternately. His expression was very calm, as if he were talking about a very ordinary matter.

"It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person," Jiang Zhiyu said slowly. "A tree, from seed to sapling, then to a tree, and finally a grand tree, needs irrigation from rain and nourishment from the soil. It needs to survive pests, droughts, and floods. If luck is bad, it will be struck by lightning. But more often, it's cut down by humans."

Listening, Kim Taeyeon's heart stirred slightly. She didn't know why he was saying these things, but she didn't interrupt him. She just listened quietly, like listening to a song without a melody.

He continued: "I'm not telling Noona this because I want to brag about anything. I'm thinking about Noona's life—or rather, our lives. It's just like trees, absorbing nutrients and striving to grow. Some grow fast, some grow slow, but as long as they're still growing, it's okay."

The car stopped at a red light.

Jiang Zhiyu turned his head and glanced at her. That glance was very quick, so quick that before Kim Taeyeon could react, he had already looked back at the road ahead.

"What I'm thinking about is the new song, or the direction of future development." His voice was soft, as if talking to himself. "It's like a new bud growing from a branch in spring, the first flower that blooms with the nourishment of rain and the nurturing of the soil."

Kim Taeyeon bit her lower lip.

She understood.

Not completely, but she got the general idea.

He was talking about a radical breakthrough. Not the familiar, steady conservatism she was used to.

He was saying she could try not to always choose the "stable" option.

Not to force herself into another form, but to follow her own rhythm, growing naturally and breaking through naturally. Just like a tree growing new buds in spring—it wasn't intentional, but a response to the season.

And to achieve a natural breakthrough, what was needed wasn't just determination, but also the soil to carry the direction and the right amount of rain.

He said "rain," he said "soil"—Kim Taeyeon knew what he was saying.

He wasn't saying "you should be like this."

He was saying—"this is what I can provide for you."

Soil. Rain. A harbor from the wind.

As soon as this thought popped up, an indescribable emotion surged in Kim Taeyeon's heart.

It wasn't being moved.

It wasn't her heart fluttering.

It was a kind of—aching pain.

That ache surged from the deepest part of her heart, like something slowly taking root and sprouting.

Being firmly chosen, no matter the outcome, he would support her unconditionally—

Not a dictator saying "you must do what I want you to do," but a companion saying "the choice is yours, I only provide the necessary help and have considered all options for you to choose from."

This feeling of being supported made her nose feel a bit prickly.

She glanced at Jiang Zhiyu.

He was still driving, his gaze focused on the road ahead, his expression calm and natural, as if what he had just said was just some insignificant small talk.

But those words were clearly spoken by him.

Those words about trees, about growth, about the first flower of spring.

Kim Taeyeon looked away and continued staring out the window.

Streetlights passed one by one, pulling streaks of light on the glass.

The night view outside was a blur.

But her heart was even blurrier than the view outside.

There was a long silence.

"You—"

She spoke, her voice a bit raspy.

"Have you always been like this?"

Jiang Zhiyu tilted his head: "Hmm?"

Kim Taeyeon bit her lip: "Saying things like that... have you always been like this? Do you say that to others too?"

Jiang Zhiyu was silent for a second.

Then he laughed.

This time the laughter was very clear.

It wasn't that ambiguous "hehe" from before, but a real, heartfelt laugh.

"Because in my heart, Noona is someone worth doing this for."

Kim Taeyeon's breath hitched for a moment.

She looked out the window, not daring to turn around. She was afraid that if she did, she would meet his eyes. Afraid that if she met his eyes, she wouldn't be able to control her expression.

His profile was reflected in the car window, blurry yet impossible to look away from.

Kim Taeyeon bit her lower lip.

Worth it or not, how did he know?

The car cabin fell silent.

Only the low hum of the engine and Lee Tima's steady breathing from the back seat remained.

Streetlights passed one by one outside.

Kim Taeyeon's hands rested on her knees, her fingers curling slightly.

She didn't know what she was thinking.

She just felt—

A bit warm.

From her heart, it slowly spread to her whole body.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't speak again, just drove quietly.

There was a faint smile at the corners of his mouth.

The car crossed the Han River Bridge.

The lights from both banks were reflected on the river's surface, shimmering.

Kim Taeyeon looked at the river view and suddenly remembered a long time ago when she stood on this bridge alone watching the night view. At that time, she thought it would be nice if someone could accompany her.

Now, that person was right beside her.

—

The car stopped smoothly downstairs at the apartment building.

The light from the streetlamps filtered through the windshield, dyeing the cabin a dim yellow. Lee Tima turned over in the back seat, mumbled something, and fell back into a deep sleep.

Kim Taeyeon unfastened her seatbelt, her fingers pausing slightly. She couldn't describe the feeling—as if something was reminding her not to leave in a hurry.

She pushed open the car door, and the cool night breeze rushed in, dispersing the warmth inside. She took a deep breath, stepped out with her right foot, then her left, and closed the door. Her movements were very slow.

Much slower than usual.

Her high heels clicked on the ground, making a crisp sound. One, two, three... she deliberately slowed her pace, almost counting her steps. A voice in her heart said: Will he call out to me?

On the third step, that voice rang out.

"Noona."

As expected.

Kim Taeyeon's heart skipped a beat. She turned around, her hair fluttering lightly in the night breeze. She tilted her head, trying her best to put on a natural expression, but the light in her eyes couldn't be hidden.

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Zhiyu stood by the car, one hand in his pocket, and the other—he raised it to touch his nose. Kim Taeyeon had seen that little habit many times; whenever he was a bit nervous or embarrassed, he would do that.

"A package should arrive at your place around noon tomorrow." He paused, seemingly weighing his words. "Remember... to sign for it."

Kim Taeyeon looked at him and blinked.

She felt like laughing because when he said this, his gaze was wandering and his ears were slightly red. He didn't look at all like the President of TG who strategized and kept everything organized; instead, he looked like—she thought about it—like a green young man giving someone a gift for the first time.

"Okay, I got it." She nodded, a trace of a smile hidden in her voice. "Drive safely."

Jiang Zhiyu hummed in response but stood in place without moving.

Kim Taeyeon didn't leave either.

The two of them just stood there with a few steps between them. The night breeze blew gently between them, carrying the autumn chill and the moisture from the distant Han River.

Kim Taeyeon wanted to say something, but after thinking about it, she didn't know what to say. She just looked at him, looking at his face flickering in the streetlight, his slightly red ear tips, and his eyes that didn't know where to look.

In her heart, something was quietly melting.

"That package..." Jiang Zhiyu spoke again.

Kim Taeyeon tilted her head, waiting for him to continue.

Jiang Zhiyu was silent for a second, then said: "It's nothing expensive, just—some small things. I thought Noona might like them."

Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but chuckle softly. This time she really laughed, not a polite or disguised laugh, but one that surged from her heart with a hint of sweetness.

"Okay, I'll sign for it properly."

She deliberately emphasized the word "properly."

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her smile and was stunned for a moment. Then he also smiled, a smile that was incredibly gentle.

"Then... I'm going." Kim Taeyeon pointed to the apartment door.

"Yeah." Jiang Zhiyu nodded. "Goodnight, Noona."

"Goodnight."

Kim Taeyeon turned around and walked toward the apartment entrance. This time she didn't walk slowly, but every step was steady. She could feel that gaze behind her, falling on her back, warm like autumn sunlight.

She reached the door, took out her keys, and opened it. Before stepping inside, she couldn't help but look back.

Jiang Zhiyu was still standing there by the car, looking at her. The streetlight cast a halo behind him, outlining his silhouette exceptionally softly.

Kim Taeyeon waved at him, then pushed the door open and went inside.

The door closed behind her, cutting off the night breeze outside. She leaned against the door, listening to her own heartbeat.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

It was incredibly fast.

She looked down at the keys in her hand. Then she looked up again, through the glass window on the door, looking outside.

Jiang Zhiyu had already gotten into the car, the headlights turned on, and it slowly drove away.

Kim Taeyeon watched the car disappear into the night, the smile on her face impossible to hide.

A package arriving at this time—

What kind of package? Why tomorrow at noon? Why couldn't he just tell her what it was? Why did his expression look nothing like someone sending an ordinary package?

Besides, his tone when saying "remember to sign for it" sounded like he was emphasizing something very important.

Kim Taeyeon shook her head, tossing those messy thoughts aside. She straightened up and walked toward the elevator.

But halfway there, she suddenly stopped and looked down at her hands.

She remembered the sound of Jiang Zhiyu's voice just now when he said, "Goodnight, Noona." It was soft and gentle, as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

The elevator arrived, and the doors opened. Kim Taeyeon stepped inside and pressed the button for her floor.

The elevator doors slowly closed.

She looked at herself in the mirror—her face was flushed, her eyes were bright, and there was a smile on her lips. She reached out and touched her cheek; it felt a bit hot.

"Kim Taeyeon," she whispered to her reflection, "you're done for."

The elevator ascended.

She leaned against the wall, cupping her burning face with both hands, and closed her eyes.

Her mind was filled with the image of that man standing under the streetlight, looking at her and saying, "Goodnight, Noona." The night scenery outside flashed past the gaps in the elevator doors, and the city lights gradually blurred into a hazy glow.

Tomorrow noon.

What exactly could it be?

She didn't know. But she knew that tonight, she would likely suffer from insomnia again—no, not "likely," but "definitely." Because every time she thought of him, she would toss and turn, staring at the ceiling, and then show up in front of her Manager the next day with dark circles under her eyes. When asked, "Didn't sleep well last night?" she could only give a vague excuse.

With a "ding," the elevator arrived. The doors opened, and she walked out, taking out her keys to open her front door.

The light in the entryway was still on, something she had intentionally left before going out. She changed her shoes, walked into the living room, and threw herself onto the sofa.

The lights weren't on, only the moonlight filtering in through the window, spreading a layer of silvery-white light across the floor.

Kim Taeyeon lay on the sofa, holding her hand up before her eyes.

Her fingers were slender, and her nails were neatly trimmed. She remembered how, in the car earlier, she had been so nervous that she didn't know where to put her hands. In the end, she could only rest them on her knees, her fingers curled up like a child who didn't know what to do.

"Beep—beep—beep—" Her phone suddenly rang twice; it was the notification sound for a Kakao message.

Kim Taeyeon pulled her phone from her pocket. The bright screen was a bit piercing in the dim living room. She squinted as she unlocked it and clicked on the message.

It was Jiang Zhiyu's avatar, with a red number "1" next to it.

She took a deep breath and clicked on it.

[Jiang Zhiyu: I'm home. Noona, get some rest early. Goodnight.]

Just a few short words.

Kim Taeyeon stared at that line of text for a long time, the curve of her lips slowly widening until she couldn't suppress it even if she wanted to.

She held the phone to her mouth and pressed the voice message button. Her lips moved, but she realized she didn't know what to say.

She wanted to say "You too," but felt it was too perfunctory.

She wanted to say "Thank you for today," but felt it was too formal.

She wanted to say "What is that package?" but felt it was too impatient.

Finally, she released the voice message button and typed a few words.

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: Mmhmm, goodnight.]

Sent.

Then, clutching her phone, she rolled over on the sofa. The soft cushions enveloped her like an embrace, and the night breeze slipped through the gap in the window, blowing a corner of the curtain.

Outside the window, the moonlight was just right.

She looked at the ceiling, and that image surfaced in her mind again—him standing under the streetlight, looking at her, and saying, "Goodnight, Noona."

Kim Taeyeon covered her face.

Done for.

Completely done for.

She flipped over and buried her face in the sofa cushion, letting out a muffled sound that was somewhere between a sigh and a giggle.

The phone vibrated again.

She jerked her head up and grabbed the phone.

[Jiang Zhiyu: Noona, remember to close the window. The temperature has dropped outside.]

Kim Taeyeon froze for a moment, turned her head, and looked toward the window.

The window was indeed open—she had left it that way before going out for ventilation. The night breeze snuck in through the gap, making the curtains sway gently. Earlier, she had been so focused on messaging that she hadn't felt the chill at all, but now that he had reminded her, she realized it really was a bit cold.

She got up from the sofa, walked over, and closed the window. Her face was reflected in the glass—flushed, eyes bright, and with a smile she hadn't had time to pull back yet.

Looking at herself in the glass, Kim Taeyeon couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

Then she picked up her phone, took a photo of the closed window, and sent it to Jiang Zhiyu.

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: Closed it.]

Not long after sending it, the other side showed "Read."

Then the "Typing..." status appeared, disappeared, appeared again, and disappeared once more.

Kim Taeyeon stared at that "Typing..." status, her heart rate quickening a few more beats. What was he hesitating about? Was he trying to say something but then holding it back? Or was he typing and deleting, deleting and typing again?

It took nearly a full minute before the message was sent.

[Jiang Zhiyu: Noona, see you tomorrow.]

Kim Taeyeon stared at that line of text, stunned. See you tomorrow? Wasn't it about a package? Didn't he say "remember to sign for it"? How did it become "see you tomorrow"?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, pausing for over ten seconds.

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: See you tomorrow.]

Sent.

She waited for a moment, but there was no further reply. Kim Taeyeon placed her phone on the coffee table, lay back on the sofa, and closed her eyes.

In her mind, that "see you tomorrow" kept echoing. It wasn't "the package arrives tomorrow"—it was "see you tomorrow." He was going to deliver the package, and then they would be able to meet.

"Kim Taeyeon, are you overthinking things?"

She muttered softly, rolled over, and wrapped herself in a blanket.

Outside, the moon hung in the night sky, round and bright.

Looking at that bright moon, a thought suddenly popped into her head—he said the package would arrive tomorrow at noon.

A package.

It wouldn't be Lemm, would it? She had just asked him about Lemm a few days ago, and he said it wasn't finished yet. Although she clearly saw that Kim Minjeong and Choi Yena had already received their custom versions—

Forget it, whatever he says goes.

Kim Taeyeon yawned and pulled the blanket up, covering half her face. The night wind was blocked outside by the window, and the room gradually warmed up. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

In her daze, she had a dream.

In the dream, she was standing in a vast forest, surrounded by towering trees that blocked out the sun. Sunlight leaked through the gaps in the leaves, scattering patches of light on the ground. She walked through those patches of light, not knowing where she was going, just walking.

Then, she heard someone calling her.

"Noona."

She turned her head.

In the distance, a person stood under a large tree, reaching out a hand toward her. Sunlight fell on his profile, outlining a familiar silhouette. She couldn't see his expression clearly, but she knew he was smiling.

She walked toward him.

Her pace grew faster and faster.

And then—

The phone alarm went off.

Kim Taeyeon snapped her eyes open and stared at the ceiling.

The early morning light filtered through the gap in the curtains, a thin line falling on the floor next to the sofa. The living room was still dim, but the outlines of the furniture were already visible. From outside came the distant sound of cars and the occasional chirp of birds—that unique quiet yet lively atmosphere of early morning.

She picked up her phone and checked the time.

9:00 AM.

Three hours until "tomorrow noon."

Kim Taeyeon sat up and rubbed her eyes. That image from the dream still lingered in her mind—the person under the tree, the outstretched hand, the smile on his lips. She shook her head to clear those blurry images, sat in a daze for a while clutching the blanket, and then sluggishly walked into the bathroom.

She looked at herself in the mirror.

Her hair was a mess, her eyes were a bit puffy, and there were still traces of last night's lipstick on the corners of her mouth. She froze—had she actually fallen asleep last night without removing her makeup? Kim Taeyeon let out a low wail, quickly turned on the faucet, and meticulously washed her face twice with cleanser before putting on a face mask.

She came out of the bathroom, opened her wardrobe, and stared blankly at the neatly hung clothes inside. What should she wear? It was just signing for a package; wearing something casual should be fine, right? But she stood there thinking for nearly ten minutes before finally pulling out a light gray knit cardigan and a white long skirt.

After changing, she sat down at the vanity and began applying makeup in the mirror.

It wasn't heavy makeup, just a light, thin layer of foundation and a subtle lipstick to make her look more refreshed.

Kim Taeyeon looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly felt a bit ridiculous. Was all this really necessary just to sign for a package?

But she still looked in the mirror and carefully drew her eyebrows.

The phone chimed.

She picked it up and saw a message from Jiang Zhiyu.

[Jiang Zhiyu: Noona, the package should arrive around twelve-thirty. Please sign for it.]

Twelve-thirty. Kim Taeyeon checked the time—it was eleven o'clock now. An hour and a half left. She silently calculated the time in her head: from her home to the delivery area? No, it wasn't like he was the one delivering it, so how would he know the exact time? Unless—

She shook her head, tossing that thought aside.

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: Okay, I got it.]

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: Are you the one delivering it?]

As soon as she sent it, she regretted it. What kind of question was that? How could he possibly be delivering it himself? He's the President of TG; does he also work part-time as a courier?

But the other side had already read it.

Typing...

Kim Taeyeon stared at those three words, her heart starting to race again.

[Jiang Zhiyu: No. A courier will deliver it.]

Kim Taeyeon looked at that line of text and felt a bit stunned. For some reason, her heart suddenly felt a little empty. She bit her lip, typed two words, deleted them, typed again, and deleted them again.

Finally, she only replied with one word.

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: Oh.]

As soon as she typed that "Oh," she regretted it. Replying to him with "Oh" sounded too cold—as if she were expressing "never mind" or something else. But before she could type "I meant I got it," the other side had already read it.

Typing...

Kim Taeyeon stared at the screen, her heart beating like a drum.

After about ten seconds, Jiang Zhiyu sent another message.

[Jiang Zhiyu: Noona, the courier is from our TG Logistics Department. They're wearing a gray uniform. Don't mistake them.]

Kim Taeyeon suddenly couldn't help but laugh—wearing a gray uniform. Don't mistake them. Was he afraid she would even mistake the courier? Or was he afraid—she thought for a moment—was he afraid she was expecting someone else to deliver it, so he was giving her a heads-up?

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: Got it. Gray uniform.]

[Little Softie Kim · The Noona You Absolutely Can't Mess With: I won't mistake them.]

After sending it, Kim Taeyeon placed the phone on the table and cupped her burning face with both hands, looking at herself in the mirror. The person in the mirror had a flushed face and bright eyes, looking nothing like someone in their thirties.

She took a deep breath, suppressed those messy thoughts, and then stood up and walked to the window.

Outside, the sunlight was just right. The autumn sky was high and blue, with a few white clouds drifting lazily. The ginkgo leaves had already turned yellow, sparkling in the sun like a tree hung with crushed gold. When the wind blew, a few leaves spiraled down.

She pushed open the window, letting the autumn breeze blow in, and took a deep breath. The air held the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus—a few Osmanthus trees were planted below the apartment building, and they were in full bloom this season. The rich scent drifted throughout the entire street, making people unconsciously slow their pace as they passed by.

Three hours left.

To be more accurate, an hour and a half.

Kim Taeyeon leaned on the windowsill, watching the pedestrians coming and going below. Her heart felt empty, yet full. It was as if something were slowly filling it up, starting from the deepest part and spreading upward bit by bit. The wind blew her hair, and she raised a hand to tuck it behind her ear.

Suddenly, she thought of an unimportant question—what exactly did "the bed collapsed" mean?

She stared at the traffic on the distant street, blinked, and then suddenly bounced up from the windowsill, her entire face turning as red as a cooked shrimp.

Kim Taeyeon covered her face and paced around the window twice, letting out a string of incoherent mumbles. Those syllables scattered into the autumn breeze, even more blurred than the Osmanthus fragrance that had just drifted away.

Forget it, don't think about it—don't think about it! She slapped her cheeks twice with force, turned back into the room, took a bottle of water from the fridge, and unscrewed the cap to take a sip. The cold liquid slid down her throat, taking away a bit of the heat from her cheeks.

She checked her phone again.

Eleven-fifteen.

One hour and fifteen minutes left.

Kim Taeyeon sat on the sofa, watching the second hand of the clock on the wall tick away, and couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

She had never looked forward to a package this much before.