436: Chapter 489 I never want to write a title

(Added setting: The pandemic never happened.)

——

October quietly slipped away amidst the autumn colors of Seoul, as ginkgo leaves turned from green to yellow, fluttering down to blanket the streets.

For TG Entertainment, this October felt like the fast-forward button had been pressed. New collaborations were finalized every day, new creative ideas were born every hour, and every minute, one could feel the company like an ignited rocket, piercing through the atmosphere at an astonishing speed.

Documents were piled high like small mountains on Jiang Zhiyu's desk. But the most conspicuous one was always the one right in the center—Park Jin-young's Christmas solo Comeback project.

After countless refinements and overhauls, the style was finally set.

It wasn't simple retro or mere futurism, but a collision that tore through time and space—the rock soul of the 1980s wrapped in a cyberpunk sci-fi shell. Electric guitars under neon lights, synthesizer waves in holographic projections, the roars of the old era and the coldness of the new era reflecting each other.

When Park Jin-young first heard the demo, he was silent for a long time. Then he took off his headphones, looked at Jiang Zhiyu, and said two words: "Insane."

Jiang Zhiyu thought he was going to refuse.

Instead, Park Jin-young slammed the table and stood up. "This is it! I'm going to turn this concept into something the Korean music industry has never seen before!"

The song title directly used the name of a classic movie—"Back to the Future."

TG Entertainment's cutting-edge AI virtual scene technology was fully deployed. Jiang Zhiyu mobilized the company's best visual team to start building a stage that spanned time and space—not just a stage, but a world. A world with old factories, neon lights, flying cars, and holographic behemoths.

Every time Park Jin-young came to check the progress, he would stand in front of the green screen and daze for a long time. Then he'd turn to ask Jiang Zhiyu, "Will I look like a madman standing here?"

Jiang Zhiyu replied, "There's a fine line between a madman and a genius."

Park Jin-young laughed and patted his shoulder hard.

Because of this project, Jiang Zhiyu visited JYP more and more frequently. Sometimes he’d make two trips a day, discussing stage concepts in the morning and arrangement details in the afternoon. The auntie at the JYP cafeteria already recognized him, giving him an extra rib every time she saw him.

Speaking of which, Jiang Zhiyu's relationship with TWICE had always been good. Especially with Im Nayeon; the two of them could be called "mutual praise soulmates"—every time they met, they'd feel uncomfortable if they didn't flatter each other.

"Zhiyu, you've gotten even more handsome today!"

"You too, Noona, you're looking younger and younger. Just how do you maintain your looks?"

"Oh, it's just natural~"

"I'm natural too."

This was their routine whenever they met, and the surrounding members had long since grown accustomed to it.

But there was one person Jiang Zhiyu would subconsciously feel guilty seeing every time.

Yoo Jeongyeon.

It wasn't because they lacked history; on the contrary, it was because they had history.

It all started with that damn "guardian of princess wonyoung" account. Over at SM, everyone already knew the account belonged to Jiang Zhiyu, so he couldn't use it to bash Karina anymore—after all, they saw each other often, and although that little girl Karina acted angry on the surface, she had actually snatched the account to play with it herself long ago.

But the "guardian of princess wonyoung" persona couldn't crumble. A mad-dog anti-fan who was unrivaled in bashing the world—if this persona collapsed, all the heat accumulated before would go down the drain.

So, Jiang Zhiyu changed his strategy. He no longer took the field himself, but found someone to bash others for him.

Kim Minjeong.

That Kim Minjeong, who looked pure and harmless, smiling like a little puppy.

Who would have thought that when this little girl started bashing people, she didn't even blink. When Jiang Zhiyu first sent her the list, he even thought about teaching her a few "techniques." As it turned out, Minjeong took one look, replied "Don't worry, Oppa," and the next day, the comment section of "guardian of princess wonyoung" exploded.

Not because the bashing was too harsh, but because it was so artistic.

"XX's dancing is like a praying mantis with a fracture doing rehabilitation"—this comment surpassed a hundred thousand likes.

When Jiang Zhiyu saw it, a chill ran down his spine. He silently sent a message to Minjeong: "Minjeong, did you secretly practice this before?" Minjeong replied with an innocent emoji: "What are you talking about, Oppa? I'm just telling the truth."

From then on, Jiang Zhiyu was responsible for providing the list, and Minjeong was responsible for the output. The two worked together seamlessly. While completing her bashing tasks, Minjeong would also selfishly add some personal bias—using the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account to praise herself.

"Winter is way too pretty today! That profile, that jawline, she's a fairy descended to earth!"

When such posts were made, the comment section was always filled with curses: "Aren't you an anti-fan? Why are you praising Winter?" "Traitor!" "Guardian of Wonyoung, were you bought off by Winter?" Minjeong didn't care at all and continued posting, as if saying: See, even anti-fans like Winter.

As for the "Zhimins Little Strawberry" account, it took a completely different path.

Since Karina took over, this account became recognized in the fan circle as the "Number One Female Idol Flatterer." Karina specifically bought a new phone just to operate this account. Every day, the content was all praise—praising herself, praising aespa, and occasionally praising other female idols. But as soon as she praised someone else, the comment section would explode.

[Strawberry Unnie, you've defected! Why are you praising someone else?]

[Isn't Strawberry Unnie supposed to only praise Ji-min?]

[Strawberry Unnie is acting weird today!]

Karina looked at those comments and thought: If I only praise myself, will it be too obvious? But she couldn't give up the joy of having others praise her, so she began a delicate balance—nine posts a day praising herself, and one praising someone else, with the tone for others being clearly perfunctory.

The fans keenly noticed: [Strawberry Unnie's praise for others is so perfunctory, hahaha.] [Strawberry Unnie, if you don't want to praise them, you don't have to. Don't force yourself.] [Strawberry Unnie's sincerity is only for Ji-min!]

Karina looked at those comments and silently gave the fans a thumbs-up in her heart.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhiyu had already grown numb to this "persona splitting." His daily routine was: communicating with Minjeong via the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account in the morning about who to bash, confirming the praise content with Karina via "Zhimins Little Strawberry" at noon, going to JYP in the afternoon to discuss Park Jin-young's project, and returning to TG at night to continue working late.

Sometimes, in the late-night office, he would stare at the ceiling alone in a daze. He thought of Yoo Jeongyeon's face and the way she smiled while calling him "Zhiyu," and his heart would tighten.

It couldn't go on like this. He needed to find a solution before things got worse.

But he hadn't figured out how to bring it up yet.

In the JYP cafeteria at noon, the clamor rose and fell.

Jiang Zhiyu had been "popping pills" lately—not that kind of drug, of course. Ever since TG established a partnership with China, some necessary Chinese herbal medicines were supplied smoothly. Jiang Zhiyu spent several days rolling hundreds of pills himself, the kind for nourishing the kidneys, replenishing Qi, and conditioning the muscles and bones. Now he’d pop a couple whenever he felt like it, much like eating snacks. The taste wasn't great, but he didn't find it bitter once he got used to it.

"Zhiyu, I see you eating those pills again."

A passing staff member greeted him.

Jiang Zhiyu swallowed one and smiled. "They're for health. Want one?"

"No, no, I'm afraid of being poisoned."

"You don't know what's good." Jiang Zhiyu shook his head and popped another one into his mouth.

The JYP cafeteria wasn't actually as delicious as they said on variety shows.

Park Jin-young's theory of "managing artists' physiques" directly influenced the cafeteria menu. Deep-fried food was unhealthy, carbs had to be controlled, and sugar limited. Although it was a buffet, at a glance, most of it was light, healthy, low-calorie food.

The taste... was just okay.

But Jiang Zhiyu wasn't picky. His current physical fitness far exceeded that of an ordinary person, and he didn't really need to rely on diet to maintain it; he could eat anything. He was just filling his stomach while digesting the project proposals constantly popping up in his head.

The JYP cafeteria was bustling with various artists moving about. Jiang Zhiyu carried his tray and found a corner to sit down. As he was seriously eating, two trays suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked up, and two familiar faces came into view—Hwang Yeji's standard kitten-like smile, complete with eyes curved into crescents, and Shin Ryujin standing beside her, head slightly tilted with a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Oppa, annyeong~" Hwang Yeji's voice was soft, carrying her characteristic sweetness.

"Zhiyu Oppa." Shin Ryujin's greeting was shorter, but her tone held a sense of familiarity.

Looking at the two in front of him, Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but recall that the ones he had been furiously bashing with the "guardian of princess wonyoung" account the night before were these two. His mouth couldn't help but twitch.

"Hello." He said dryly, then subconsciously asked, "Have you eaten?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it.

Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin blinked simultaneously, then looked down at the trays in their hands that they had just filled and hadn't touched yet. Their looks clearly said: Oppa, we're about to eat, are you blind? Yet the expressions on their faces remained smiling, as they nodded politely and elegantly.

"We're eating now," Hwang Yeji said.

Jiang Zhiyu cleared his throat, wishing he could bite off his own tongue. "Eat more, eat more..." He picked up his chopsticks, pretending to take a deep interest in the food on his plate.

Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin sat down opposite him. Neither touched their chopsticks; instead, they watched him. That gaze made Jiang Zhiyu feel like a fish being stared at by two cats.

"Oppa."

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhiyu looked up.

Hwang Yeji looked at him seriously and said, "After our President's solo ends, can we invite you to design ITZY's Comeback project?" Shin Ryujin added from the side, "We want Plan A. Preferably with fewer choreography moves; Lia was exhausted after the last concert."

Jiang Zhiyu was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but complain, "I saw on stage that the four of you didn't care about Jisu's life at all; you were dancing so intensely."

Hwang Yeji didn't feel guilty at all; instead, she said righteously, "Aigoo, that's exactly why we need to reduce the dance moves. After all, overexerting the body isn't good for health." After speaking, she blinked her cat-like eyes, giving a "you know what I mean" look.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at her and was silent for a second. Then the two made eye contact and laughed at the same time. These girls clearly just wanted to slack off, yet they made it sound so high-sounding.

"Sometimes," Jiang Zhiyu began slowly, "one's own strength can also become a reason for failure." Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin both looked at him. He poked the rice on his plate and continued, "As a performance-focused group, such a label isn't actually very good for the team's development. Every idol group's characteristics must be diversified and multi-layered."

He put down his chopsticks and looked at them seriously. "I think you can use being a performance group as the foundation of your development plan, and then gradually reduce this fixed label in the future, moving towards multiple styles. For example, athletic-pure, part-time job masters, variety show comedy, and so on."

After hearing this, Hwang Yeji tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Variety sense is something quite hard to come by." Shin Ryujin also frowned and added, "True, most variety shows nowadays are the interview type. For sports, programs like Running Man or Go Fighting! have already set the bar very high, not to mention their online reputation is declining."

Jiang Zhiyu didn't answer immediately. He was silent for a few seconds, his gaze falling on the sky outside the window. Running Man, a national variety show, had been filming for over a decade and was once a source of joy for countless people. But no matter the variety show, it would gradually transform from "giving people joy" to a "promotional window"—and once it became a promotional window, it would naturally become much more boring. This wasn't the fault of the production team or the MCs, but the fate that all long-running variety shows couldn't escape.

He withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "Variety shows are a necessary path for promotion, but they include more than just promotion." He paused. "ITZY's Comeback will refer to JYP's basic positioning for you. As for the variety show arrangements..."

Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin's eyes lit up simultaneously.

Jiang Zhiyu couldn't help but laugh at their expectant looks. "I'll start preparing after I return from China. Of course, the TG Variety Department is currently managed by Tima; you can also contact her. I think she's much more familiar with you than I am, and she'd be very happy." He paused and looked at Hwang Yeji. "After all, Tima likes you very much, Yeji-xi."

Hwang Yeji was stunned for a moment, and then a reserved but very proud smile appeared on her face. That expression was like a kitten that had been praised, trying to stay humble but unable to help being happy.

Shin Ryujin looked at her like that and couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Unnie, your smile is so fake."

"No, it's not!" Hwang Yeji immediately straightened her face, but the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her.

Jiang Zhiyu felt it was a bit funny and a bit warm watching them bicker. He wanted to say something, but before he could, his phone vibrated. He looked down and saw a message from Kim Minjeong.

[Kim Minjeong]: Oppa! I used that account to bash someone again! Guess who?

Jiang Zhiyu's eyelid twitched. He replied: [Who?]

[Kim Minjeong]: That senior who said aespa "still needs to work hard" on a variety show last time! I bashed him until he deleted his account!

Jiang Zhiyu took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. This girl... He placed his phone face down on the table and stopped looking.

Hwang Yeji asked curiously, "Oppa, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Jiang Zhiyu tried to make his expression look normal. "Just a little girl causing trouble."

Hwang Yeji blinked and didn't ask further.

The cafeteria gradually became more crowded. People passing their table would stop to say hello. Jiang Zhiyu responded to each one with a polite smile on his face. But in his mind, he was already thinking about something else—how the TG Variety Department should exert its influence after he returned from China, how to handle ITZY's Comeback project, and whether to completely delete that "guardian of princess wonyoung" account that was giving him a headache.

Forget it. I won't think about it. He picked up his bowl and continued eating.

Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin exchanged looks and picked up their chopsticks. The three of them ate quietly, occasionally chatting about JYP gossip or complaining about the cafeteria food. Outside the window, the October autumn sun was just right. Many things would happen this October, but for now, in this noisy corner of the cafeteria, everything was peaceful.

The noise of the cafeteria gradually faded into the background; the clatter of cutlery and the low hum of conversation blended together like melody-less white noise. Jiang Zhiyu chatted about Park Jin-young's Comeback choreography while scarfing down his food. Shin Ryujin listened intently, her chopsticks holding a piece of radish mid-air for a long time without putting it in her mouth, while Hwang Yeji rested her chin on her hands, her cat-like eyes reflecting Jiang Zhiyu's hand gestures as he demonstrated the moves.

"The choreography this time is quite high-pressure," Jiang Zhiyu put down his chopsticks and gestured with his hands. "Although there are fewer large-scale movements, each one is complex and requires high muscle control. Moreover, there are many small-scale movements—have you ever seen the inside of a mechanical watch? Hundreds of gears each performing their duty; every rotation is tiny, but together they form a precise operation. This dance follows roughly the same logic."

Shin Ryujin nodded thoughtfully, while Hwang Yeji followed up, "What about the chorus? President Park said the chorus needs a signature move, something that spreads across the world like 'Nobody'."

Jiang Zhiyu laughed and shook his head. "There will definitely be a signature move, but it won't be as simple as 'Nobody' anymore. Today's audience, especially the short-video generation, has a very high aesthetic threshold. They find moves that are too simple to be tacky, yet they can't remember moves that are too complex. So, it's an art of balance."

He pulled out his phone and tapped it a few times. "Actually, Tima and I recorded a dance performance video a couple of days ago, choreographed to Jin-young Hyung's song 'Back to the Future.' Take a look and get a feel for it."

Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin immediately leaned in, four eyes staring at the small screen.

The video began to play. On the screen was a minimalist Practice Room with grey walls and dark floors, with only a single ceiling light casting long shadows of the two people. Jiang Zhiyu was wearing a black hoodie with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows—he remembered it being quite hot that day. Lee Tima was in a dark grey tracksuit, her hair tied in a neat ponytail, looking full of energy.

The music started; it was the demo version of 'Back to the Future.' A low electronic synth provided the base, and heavy drum beats hit the eardrums like a heartbeat. Then, the two of them moved simultaneously.

Shin Ryujin's eyes widened.

On the screen, Jiang Zhiyu's steps were steady and precise. Every small movement was clean and sharp—the subtle shrug of the shoulders, the light flick of the wrists, the precise syncopation of the footsteps. There was no unnecessary flair, no deliberate showing off; there was only a precise interpretation of the musical rhythm. His body was like a precision instrument, with every joint making the most appropriate move at the most appropriate time. It didn't feel like he was 'dancing' so much as he had deconstructed the dance into countless tiny moments and achieved perfection in every single one.

And Lee Tima next to him—as Shin Ryujin watched, the corner of her mouth began to twitch.

Lee Tima was also dancing. She was dancing very seriously, so seriously that the expression on her face was almost fierce. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pressed tight, and her eyes were filled with the stubbornness of 'I am cool.' Her movements lacked the effortless ease of Jiang Zhiyu, but they had a unique impact—like a little tiger cub learning to hunt; even though the movements weren't fluid enough, that unyielding spirit came rushing through the screen.

"Is this... Tima?" Hwang Yeji asked softly, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

Jiang Zhiyu nodded. "Yeah, she's been learning to dance lately and pestered me to teach her."

Hwang Yeji pursed her lips, trying to keep her expression normal. "She dances... quite uniquely."

Shin Ryujin didn't speak. She just stared at the screen, watching the two figures dance to the music. One was purely cool, the other was fiercely cute. The contrast was so strong it felt a bit absurd. She looked up at Jiang Zhiyu, who was seriously eating across from her—he picked up a piece of fried tofu, put it in his mouth, and chewed with a 'crunch,' looking as satisfied as if he were enjoying some heavenly delicacy.

Then she looked back down at the screen at the Jiang Zhiyu who was dancing so coolly it was breathtaking.

These two, are they the same person?

Something was racing in Shin Ryujin's mind. She thought for a long time, running through various analyses, explanations, and possible theories over and over. Finally, she came to a desperate conclusion—maybe it was a matter of the face. Although this conclusion wasn't very dignified, and as a professional, she shouldn't reduce the issue to such a shallow level, she really couldn't find any other explanation.

If Tima's expression were on Jiang Zhiyu's face, it would probably be 'cool and handsome.' But on her youthful little face, no matter how you looked at it, she seemed like a little kitten throwing a tantrum—fierce but adorable, making one want to reach out and rub her head.

Shin Ryujin took a deep breath and put down her chopsticks. She felt her worldview had been slightly shaken.

Just then, there was a commotion at the cafeteria entrance. Footsteps, laughter, and that familiar voice with a hint of arrogance that everyone knew—

"Aigoo! President Jiang!"

Jiang Zhiyu looked up. Im Nayeon was swaggering in, followed by the other members of TWICE. She was in private clothes—a loose white sweater, dark blue jeans, and her hair down casually. But her posture, the way she walked, and that slightly raised chin made it look like she was walking a red carpet. A natural aura of "I'm here, everyone else move aside" radiated from her.

Jiang Zhiyu arched an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling into a slight smile.

Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin immediately stood up, their movements as synchronized as if they had rehearsed it. "Nayeon Sunbaenim!" Their tone was respectful and their posture dignified—it was the instinct of a junior, engraved into their bones.

Im Nayeon waved her hand. "Sit, sit. Why be so polite outside?" As she spoke, she unceremoniously sat down next to Jiang Zhiyu, looking at him sideways with a hint of mischief in her smiling eyes.

"Our JYP's secret weapon, a nuclear-level top idol," Jiang Zhiyu began, his voice carrying a hint of exaggerated wonder, "actually has time to grace the cafeteria today? I feel like the food here just became much more fragrant!"

Im Nayeon shot back quickly, "Our President Jiang is the one—our most powerful partner! Handsome, great creative ability, next year will definitely be the Year of Jiang Zhiyu!" She paused. "No, every year is the Year of Jiang Zhiyu!"

The two looked at each other and laughed simultaneously. Their laughter was as synchronized as if it had been rehearsed countless times. In fact, similar dialogues had repeated between them for countless rounds, yet they could always pull it off seamlessly every time. The people around them had long since gotten used to it; those who should eat ate, those who should drink soup drank soup, and no one felt anything was amiss. Hwang Yeji silently picked up a piece of kimchi, and Shin Ryujin lowered her head to take a sip of soybean paste soup.

Jiang Zhiyu laughed a few times, his gaze suddenly falling nearby—at the corner by the cafeteria entrance, several girls were peeking over. Oh Haewon stood at the front, holding a tray; her gaze met Jiang Zhiyu's, and she flinched as if burned. The other girls had similar expressions, a mix of curiosity and nervousness, with a hint of anticipation.

NMIXX. The new JYP girl group about to debut.

Jiang Zhiyu slightly tilted his chin toward them and said to Im Nayeon, "Oh Haewon and the others are about to debut. I should probably keep a low profile. After all, having your thunder stolen at debut is a lifelong matter."

Im Nayeon followed his gaze and laughed. "You actually have quite the senior's poise now."

"I've always had it," Jiang Zhiyu said matter-of-factly. Then he nodded in that direction—not a large movement, but enough for them to see.

The girls acted as if a button had been pressed, standing up in unison and performing a standard ninety-degree bow, as organized as military training. They almost dropped their trays.

Jiang Zhiyu looked back and continued the previous topic. "The schedule for TWICE in the first half of next year has been arranged." His tone switched to work mode, transforming from 'flattering soulmate' to President of TG. Im Nayeon stopped joking, and Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin also pricked up their ears.

"From February, we'll have style discussions for the new song; in March, we'll finalize the style; and in April, I'll set aside a few days to arrange for everyone to go to China to film a group variety show."

"China?" Im Nayeon, Hwang Yeji, and Shin Ryujin all widened their eyes and spoke in unison.

Jiang Zhiyu nodded, his expression as calm as if he were saying "the weather is nice today."

Im Nayeon frowned. "Isn't it said that the Chinese market is hard to enter? That... Korean Ban." Her voice dropped low, as if she were talking about some illicit secret. The Korean Ban, a sensitive topic in China-Korea relations, was a kind of unspoken consensus in the industry.

Jiang Zhiyu rubbed his nose. He had developed this habit; whenever he was about to say something that "skirted the rules," he would subconsciously rub it.

"We'll skirt the edges," he whispered in a volume only those at the table could hear. "China may have a Korean Ban, but they can't stop people from traveling, right?" Im Nayeon blinked. Jiang Zhiyu continued, "It wouldn't make sense to travel without filming a vlog. It's just that we'll have more people and play some small games... a company team-building trip!" He slapped the table. "Exactly, a full company travel team-building, a one-week trip."

Im Nayeon's mouth slowly drifted open. She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's serious face and felt the world was too surreal. Team building? Taking TWICE to China for team building? This reason sounded so—shameless? But also, somehow, airtight.

Shin Ryujin wasn't as easily fooled as Im Nayeon. She stared at Jiang Zhiyu, her eyes like X-rays trying to see through his surface. "Oppa, why do I feel like TWICE is just a convenience? What's your real motive?"

Jiang Zhiyu's heart skipped a beat. This girl's intuition was too sharp. His motive—of course he had one. He was going to the mountains of Yunnan to dig for medicinal herbs. Those rare Chinese herbs that only grow at specific altitudes and climates couldn't be found in Korea at all. He needed them for alchemy—literal alchemy. Ever since establishing a partnership with China, the supply of herbs had been an issue. Those flown in were either not fresh enough or didn't meet quality standards. Instead of waiting for others to deliver, he might as well go himself.

Moreover, the air in Korea wasn't good; the urban noise and pollution had significantly slowed his cultivation progress over the last few years. He needed a real deep forest with clean air, clear streams, and those precious herbs growing on cliffs. Taking TWICE along to film a variety show, helping them build a presence in China—well, there were many "convenient" side benefits, but he was very clear on his priorities.

Jiang Zhiyu's face remained unmoved, looking as righteous as if he were on the national news. He straightened his back, his gaze sincere and his tone as firm as an oath—"What motive could I have? I only have respect and love for TWICE, and a serious attitude toward work!"

Three pairs of eyes stared at him. No one spoke. That silence was more powerful than any interrogation.

Who would believe that? Hwang Yeji rolled her eyes internally. Shin Ryujin sighed in her heart. Im Nayeon just laughed outright. But she didn't expose him—it wouldn't be fun to expose him at a time like this.

Just then, Jiang Zhiyu's peripheral vision caught a figure. From the other side of the cafeteria, someone was walking this way. He would never mistake that figure in his life—Yoo Jeongyeon. She was wearing loose clothes and walking a bit slowly, but her expression was natural. Cold sweat instantly broke out on Jiang Zhiyu's back. He remembered those comments—the malicious ones posted by the 'guardian of princess wonyoung' account targeting Yoo Jeongyeon. Those vicious words about "failing at weight management" and "how can you still be an idol when you've gotten this fat"—every single word was an instruction he had given to Kim Minjeong. Although he hadn't typed the words himself, he was the one who had issued the orders.

If Yoo Jeongyeon knew—if she knew he was the owner of the anti-fan account that insulted her the most—he didn't dare think about it. He really didn't. Given Yoo Jeongyeon's personality, she probably wouldn't cry or make a scene; she would just look at him with eyes full of utter disappointment and then calmly say, "President Jiang, let's not meet again." Just thinking about that scene made Jiang Zhiyu feel as if his heart were being squeezed. So, before she got close, before she could speak, while there was still time—

" Okay, okay，Nayeon Noona, you and the other Noonas chat for a bit. I'm heading to the Practice Room."

He practically sprang up, grabbed his phone, and took his unfinished tray, vanishing from his seat at top speed. It wasn't walking; it was escaping.

By the time Yoo Jeongyeon reached the table, Jiang Zhiyu's back had already disappeared at the cafeteria entrance. She looked at his fleeing figure and asked curiously, "What's wrong with Zhiyu? It's like someone's chasing him."

The others looked at each other and then shook their heads simultaneously.

"No idea," Im Nayeon said.

"He was fine just now," Hwang Yeji said.

"He just suddenly ran off," Shin Ryujin said.

Yoo Jeongyeon shrugged and didn't ask further. She sat in the seat Jiang Zhiyu had just occupied, picked up the soup he hadn't finished, and took a sip. Hmm, it was cold. But she didn't mind. She just glanced at the door, wondering why that man was so strange today, then looked back and started eating.

In the cafeteria, everything was as usual. The clatter of cutlery and the low hum of conversation blended together like melody-less white noise. And this October continued.