454: Chapter 507 will be revised.

Karina's captain-mode, big-picture thinking instantly came online. She had just been thinking about those "ifs" and "maybes," but now her body was faster than her heart; she straightened up from the sofa and reached for the insulated box on the coffee table. "Come on, everyone, have a taste." Her fingers paused on the lid of the box, then opened it—it was a box of seafood sashimi; salmon, tuna, and sweet shrimp were arranged in the shape of a flower. "Is this from The Shilla Hotel? I've seen it on Instagram, heard it's really hard to book." Her tone carried a hint of "Oppa, you're really capable."

Ningning reached out to grab a piece of salmon. Uchinaga Eri picked up her coffee cup, then put it back down; she thought about it and decided that eating sashimi with coffee didn't quite feel right. Kim Minjeong looked down at the piece of meat in her bowl, picked it up with her chopsticks, and took a small bite. The meat was tender, the fat melting on the tip of her tongue, and the salty-sweet sauce seeped into the texture of the meat; it was so delicious that she squinted her eyes. However, she didn't dare look in Kim Soo-yeon's direction at all; her peripheral vision was locked on the curve at the corner of Kim Soo-yeon's mouth—that curve was still there, and she didn't dare look.

Jiang Zhiyu glared at Kim Soo-yeon. That look carried an accusation of "look at the good work you've done." If there hadn't been others present, he probably would have said something much nastier. Kim Soo-yeon, however, raised an eyebrow at him. The eyebrow-raising motion was very slow, carrying a provocation of "what can you do to me?" She took her phone out of her pocket and tapped on the screen a few times. Jiang Zhiyu's phone vibrated; he took it out to check, and his face instantly turned green.

"Raising Minjeong is actually quite interesting. Push Minjeong's friend to me."

Jiang Zhiyu looked up and glared at Kim Soo-yeon. That look was much fiercer than the one he had just given her; if looks could kill, Kim Soo-yeon would already be lying on the floor. His fingers typed rapidly on the screen. "What do you want to do?" Send.

Kim Soo-yeon looked down at her phone, the curve at the corner of her mouth shifting from "provocative" to "evil smile." Her fingers tapped slowly on the screen. "I think Minjeong wouldn't refuse a pretty Unnie who is willing to raise her." Send.

Jiang Zhiyu's mouth opened and closed, closed and opened. His fingers poked at the screen rapidly, the speed so fast it was like he was venting something. "You don't want to raise her? You want to eat her!" Send.

Kim Soo-yeon looked at that line of text, and the curve at the corner of her mouth grew a little larger. She raised an eyebrow, the motion even slower than before. "Push Karina's friend over too."

Jiang Zhiyu's pupils dilated slightly. His fingers poked the screen again and again, with such force that the phone screen was slightly vibrating. "Kim Soo-yeon!" Those three words were followed by three exclamation marks. Kim Soo-yeon looked at the three exclamation marks and didn't reply. She flipped the phone over and placed it face down on the sofa armrest, then looked up at Kim Minjeong.

Uchinaga Eri sat on the other end of the sofa, still holding that cup of cold Americano. Her gaze moved back and forth between Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon, watching Jiang Zhiyu's face change from "calm" to "green," watching the corner of Kim Soo-yeon's mouth change from a "smile" to an "evil smile." Her eyes brightened, as if someone had pressed a switch in her pupils. That kind of inspiration—the kind that had just been surging, uncontrollable, about to overflow from her brain—was now pouring out like a breached flood.

Images began to emerge in her mind. Not reality, but fanfiction. Kim Soo-yeon was wearing a black suit, sitting on a wide leather sofa, legs crossed, holding a glass of red wine in her hand. She was the big boss, controlling a vast business empire, cold, rational, and unfeeling. Jiang Zhiyu stood behind her, wearing a black suit, white shirt, dark gray tie, his expression stern. He was the guardian knight, the person the big boss trusted most, and also her sharpest blade. Kim Minjeong sat at the big boss's feet, holding a purple Lemm in her arms, holding a strawberry tart in her hands; the strawberry tart had three layers, each layer piled high with bright red strawberries. She didn't know what the big boss was saying, nor did she know what the guardian knight was thinking; she only knew that the strawberries were delicious. She was a cute little puppy, being kept by the big boss, protected by the guardian knight, unaware of the kind of world she was in.

The scene extended further in her mind. Karina stood across from the big boss, wearing a white dress, hair loose, her eyes firm. She was a warrior who had challenged the big boss alone to protect Kim Minjeong; she knew she couldn't win, but she had come anyway. The big boss looked at her, the curve at the corner of her mouth exactly the same as when she had looked at Kim Minjeong just now. She said, "Are you sure you want to do this?" Karina didn't answer, just stood there looking into the big boss's eyes. The big boss stood up and walked over to her, reached out, and tapped her chin with her fingertip, lifting it slightly. Karina didn't dodge. The big boss leaned to her ear and whispered something. Karina's body stiffened, the light in her eyes changing from firm to confused, from confused to dark. She was infected, darkened.

Jiang Zhiyu stood on the side watching all of this. He wanted to stop it, but he couldn't move. His feet felt like they were nailed to the floor, his throat felt like it was being choked by something, and he couldn't make a sound. He could only watch Kim Soo-yeon embrace them, one, two, three—Kim Minjeong eating the strawberry tart at her feet, Karina held in her arms. A scene suddenly popped into his mind, not one from his own mind, but one Eri had arranged for him—he knelt on the ground, hands supporting him on the floor, forehead against the ground, his voice squeezed out from the depths of his throat. "Gomenne—yappari, yappari, nani mo mamorenakute..." Sorry, as expected, as expected, I still couldn't protect anything.

Uchinaga Eri's expression changed from "calm" to "serious," from "serious" to "focused," from "focused" to "evil." The corner of her mouth slowly curved into an arc, that curve changing from a smile to a smirk, from a smirk to that kind of "I know what you're thinking but I won't tell you" smile. Her eyes were shining, and that light wasn't from a reflection of the lights, but a light through from the depths of her pupils, carrying a hint of madness.

NingNing sat next to Uchinaga Eri. She was eating salmon, her chopsticks holding a thick slice of salmon dipped in soy sauce and wasabi, just about to put it into her mouth. Her peripheral vision caught Uchinaga Eri's expression—that expression she had seen before—when they watched a certain Japanese drama together, when they discussed the plot together, when they guessed what would happen in the next episode together. That was the expression Eri Unnie had when she was conceiving fanfiction. She was sucked into that gaze.

The scene unfolded in her mind. She saw Kim Soo-yeon sitting on the wide leather sofa, wearing a black suit. She saw Kim Minjeong sitting at Kim Soo-yeon's feet, holding Lami in her arms, holding a strawberry tart in her hands. She saw Karina held in Kim Soo-yeon's arms, her eyes hollow. She saw Jiang Zhiyu kneeling on the ground, forehead against the floor, his shoulders trembling slightly. Her expression changed from "amused" to "pitiful," from "pitiful" to "an NTR perverted evil smile." Her mouth split open, teeth showing, eyes narrowed into slits. "Hehehehe—" That laughter was squeezed from the depths of her throat, low, evil, making one's back go cold.

The air in the living room solidified at that moment. Kim Minjeong raised her head from the bowl, still chewing that piece of Hanwoo. She looked at Ningning's face, which was distorted by "creative inspiration," that laughter like a saw in the quiet living room. "Ningning, what are you laughing at?" Her voice was muffled.

Ningning hurriedly waved her hands. The waving motion was as fast as a fan; one hand wasn't enough, so she waved both. "Nothing, nothing—" The speaking speed was urgent and fast, her voice still trembling. The evil smile on the corner of her mouth hadn't had time to recede; that expression was frozen between "I'm done for" and "I'm not done for yet."

Kim Minjeong looked at her "protesting too much" appearance and tilted her head. "Oh." She lowered her head and continued to eat meat.

Ningning breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the cola to take a big gulp. She looked at Uchinaga Eri, and Uchinaga Eri looked at her. The two exchanged a look. That look said "You know," and also said "We both know." They lowered their heads, Ningning continued to eat salmon, and Uchinaga Eri continued to drink her Americano. The atmosphere in the living room changed from "silence" to "eerie silence." Still, no one spoke, but that silence was different from before. The previous silence was the awkwardness of "not knowing what to say," while this silence was the tacit understanding of "wanting to say but not being able to."

Kim Minjeong didn't know what they were laughing at, and she didn't want to know. She only knew the meat in the bowl was delicious, the salmon on the plate was fresh, and the cake looked sweet too. She picked up the second piece of Hanwoo, dipped it in sauce, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed.

Jiang Zhiyu looked at Kim Minjeong's "I only care about meat" appearance and took a deep breath. He glared at Kim Soo-yeon, then at Ningning, then at Uchinaga Eri. He swept his gaze across everyone's face, and after confirming no one was making trouble, he picked up his chopsticks. "Eat, it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Karina nodded and picked up a piece of salmon. Ningning picked up another slice, and Uchinaga Eri took another sip of her Americano. Kim Minjeong picked up the third piece of Hanwoo. Kim Soo-yeon didn't move her chopsticks, just leaned back on the sofa and watched them. The curve at the corner of her mouth was still there, but she didn't say anything else. The atmosphere in the living room slowly eased in the aroma of the food, like a crumpled piece of paper being slowly smoothed out. The variety show on the TV was still playing, the audience's laughter coming through the speakers like some distant background music that didn't belong to this space-time. The Han River outside the window flowed in the night.

Kim Minjeong's words gradually increased. Her voice wasn't loud, as if she were afraid of disturbing something, or as if she were deliberately not letting Kim Soo-yeon, who was sitting opposite, hear clearly. When she spoke, her body was slightly turned toward Jiang Zhiyu, her chin facing him, her shoulders facing him, even the direction of her breathing was toward him. The evil, charming curve at the corner of Kim Soo-yeon's mouth appeared again; every time Kim Minjeong said a word, that curve grew a little larger, as if watching a kitten pretending to be fierce.

Jiang Zhiyu reached out, his palm landing on top of Kim Minjeong's head, gently rubbing it. The movement was gentle and natural, as if he had done it countless times. "Minjeong, well done." His voice wasn't loud, his tone carrying a certainty of "I've got your back."

Kim Minjeong squinted her eyes from the rubbing, and then her expression suddenly switched from "obedient" to "complaining." She pouted, her brows furrowed slightly. "Oppa, it's all your fault!" The voice was coquettish and pouting.

Jiang Zhiyu's hand paused, and he looked down at her. "?" His eyebrows raised.

"Bringing so much delicious food, I'm going to get fat again tomorrow." Kim Minjeong's tone became increasingly righteous. "Karina Unnie, Eri Unnie, and Ningning—we've all been told by fans that we're fat." Her finger pointed in a circle in the air, including the three people who were eating.

Karina's hand stopped in mid-air, her chopsticks still holding a piece of salmon. Her eyebrows twisted, and the look she gave Kim Minjeong contained a hint of "what are you talking about" questioning. Ningning forgot to chew the strawberry in her mouth, her cheeks bulging, her eyes wide, and that round face was filled with the words "I'm fat?" Uchinaga Eri's expression remained calm, but her eyelids twitched, and her fingers tightened slightly on the coffee cup.

What did that mean? Did it mean we four are the fattest, just you? The three people's gazes shot at Kim Minjeong at the same time. Kim Minjeong felt those three gazes and shrank behind Jiang Zhiyu's shoulder.

Jiang Zhiyu cleared his throat. "Idols need to be thinner in front of the camera to look pretty; that's the industry rule, there's no way around it." His voice was calm, his speaking speed neither fast nor slow, every word sounding as if it had been weighed before being released. "But as a healthy person, you still need to eat more." He paused, his gaze moving from Kim Minjeong to Karina's face, stopped for a moment, then withdrew. "Karina eats a lot too, but her nutrition is balanced, and I really like that about her."

Karina was drinking the water Ningning had handed her. The water had just been taken out of the refrigerator and was very cold. She took a sip, wanting to use that cold water to suppress the burning sensation in her throat from choking on the food. Jiang Zhiyu's voice drifted in from her left ear. Like her—he said he liked her. Her heart skipped a beat, then another. She didn't swallow the second sip of water, holding it in her mouth, cheeks bulging, forgetting to swallow.

Jiang Zhiyu's gaze was still on Kim Minjeong, not looking at her. But when he said "I really like that about her," his voice did indeed soften a little.

"Ningning and Eri—" His gaze shifted to the other two. "Actually, it's because everyone's constitution is different. But you're all very pretty and very healthy. Whether it's at the concert or in online clips, you're all very pretty." He withdrew his gaze and looked at Kim Minjeong. "So, Minjeong, don't limit yourself because of weight. As long as you have self-discipline, you can eat whatever you want."

Karina swallowed the water. The water slid down her throat, cold, suppressing that burning sensation, but it couldn't suppress the other kind of heat. Ningning and Uchinaga Eri looked at each other and nodded. That's right, Oppa is indeed a genius at being a CEO. When he praises people, he can mention everyone's characteristics without making people feel repulsed.

Kim Minjeong nodded. Her expression shifted from "complaining" to "serious."

"So, Oppa likes Ji-min Unnie's body type—" Her tone was as calm as if she were saying, "The weather is nice today."

Karina's pretty face flushed red.

The redness came quickly, spreading from the base of her neck, passing her chin, across her cheeks, and reaching her earlobes.

The water she hadn't yet managed to swallow choked her, and she started coughing violently.

"Cough, cough—cough, cough—" She covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

Uchinaga Eri picked up a glass of water from the coffee table and handed it to her.

She took it and drank a sip, but the choking fit hadn't passed yet.

Ningning patted her back, one tap after another, at a steady, unhurried rhythm.

Kim Minjeong looked at Karina's thoroughly flushed face, tilted her head, her expression one of innocence, as if asking, "Did I say something wrong?"

Jiang Zhiyu's face also quietly flushed a little.

The redness wasn't deep, spreading from his earlobes, over his auricles, and reaching behind his ears.

He picked up the glass on the coffee table and took a sip, using the action of drinking to detach himself from a certain emotion.

His gaze unconsciously turned toward Karina—she was wiping the tears coughed out from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.

The two locked eyes for a moment; that glance was very short, so short it felt like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, and then they simultaneously shifted their gazes, as quickly as if they had been burned by something.

Jiang Zhiyu put down the glass, his fingers unconsciously stroking the wall of the cup.

Karina lowered her head, her fingers gently gripping her knees.

Kim Soo-yeon sat on the single sofa opposite, legs crossed, toes gently swaying.

Her gaze moved back and forth between Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Minjeong, then shifted from Kim Minjeong to Karina, and from Karina to Jiang Zhiyu.

Those amber eyes held an indescribable light, not curiosity, but scrutiny.

"Do you mind if I have some too?" Her voice wasn't loud, her tone calm, as if she were saying, "The weather is nice today."

Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Minjeong's bodies stiffened simultaneously.

Jiang Zhiyu's fingers paused on the cup wall, and Kim Minjeong's fingers paused on Lami's back.

The two were like dolls with the pause button pressed, frozen in that pose.

Jiang Zhiyu was roaring internally. What is this female player Kim Soo-yeon trying to do now!

His fingers moved away from the cup wall, landed on his knees, gripped, then released.

He picked up the glass and took another sip; the water was cold, but his face was burning.

Kim Minjeong's reaction was faster.

She let out a yawn, a yawn so big and long, mouth wide open, eyes squinting, even tears came out.

Her body collapsed softly to the side, falling precisely into Karina's arms.

Closing her eyes, her eyelashes still fluttering gently, her breathing was as even as if she were truly asleep.

Karina looked down at the fluffy head in her arms, her hand frozen in mid-air, unsure whether to place it down or not.

She hesitated for a moment, then gently rested her hand on Kim Minjeong's shoulder, like soothing a frightened little animal.

A strong force came from her shoulder.

Kim Minjeong's body was turned straight; the force wasn't heavy, but very firm, as if saying, "You cannot stay here."

Her head moved away from Karina's arms, her body moved away from Karina's side, and her whole person was like a piece of iron attracted by a magnet, drawn in another direction.

Her back leaned against a soft body, her shoulders were encircled by a pair of arms, and her nostrils were filled not with the clear, medicinal scent on Jiang Zhiyu, but with that faint floral fragrance she had smelled at the door earlier.

Kim Minjeong's puppy eyes opened a tiny slit.

Well, she was back in Kim Soo-yeon's arms again.

Kim Minjeong's body stiffened; her face rested against Kim Soo-yeon's chest, the sensation clearer than it had been at the door.

Her ear pressed against it, and she could hear the heartbeat—a steady, unhurried heartbeat.

She dared not move, dared not open her eyes, and even dared not breathe, like a frog stared at by a snake, knowing the danger, yet unable to move its legs.

Jiang Zhiyu watched the scene of Kim Minjeong being held by Kim Soo-yeon, his hands clenching into fists on his knees.

He was roaring internally—Kim Soo-yeon, let go of my puppy!

His mouth opened and closed, closed and opened, but that "let her go" never came out, because he couldn't say it; that was Kim Soo-yeon, not someone else.

Karina watched all this, picked up her glass, and took another sip.

She decided she'd better eat first, picked up her chopsticks from the coffee table, and picked up a piece of salmon to put in her mouth.

The salmon was fresh, the soy sauce very salty, the wasabi very spicy.

She chewed, swallowed, and picked up another piece.

Ningning and Uchinaga Eri exchanged a glance.

That glance was short; they read the same emotion from each other's eyes—exciting, so exciting.

Caught in the act, NTR, so exciting—Ningning's eyes were saying.

Shibal—Uchinaga Eri's eyes were saying.

Ningning picked up her cola and took a big gulp; the cola's bubbles burst on the tip of her tongue, the sweetness and the fizzy sensation mixing together.

She put down the glass, picked up her chopsticks, and grabbed another piece of salmon, chewing, the curve of her mouth impossible to suppress.

Uchinaga Eri picked up her Americano and took a sip, the bitterness of the coffee melting on the tip of her tongue; her expression remained that "I'm watching a show" calm, but her eyes were smiling.

Kim Minjeong was still leaning in Kim Soo-yeon's arms, not daring to move.

Kim Soo-yeon's arms loosely encircled her, her fingers gently tapping on her arm, the rhythm unhurried.

The atmosphere in the living room changed from "eerie silence" to "eerie bustle," the aroma of food still lingering.

The variety show on TV was still playing, the audience's laughter coming through the speakers.

Outside the window, the Han River flowed in the night.

Kim Minjeong was still pretending to sleep.

Her eyes were tightly shut, but her eyelashes were unconsciously trembling gently, like butterfly wings flapping.

She deliberately made her breathing very slow and even, but the rhythm of her chest rising and falling was faster than when she usually slept.

She dared not move because she felt Kim Soo-yeon's fingers gently stroking her arm—the pads of her fingers starting from her shoulder, slowly sliding down the outside of her arm, passing the elbow, passing the forearm, reaching the wrist, and then returning the same way.

The force was neither light nor heavy, like a feather brushing over her skin.

It was itchy, tingly, and numb; she wanted to dodge, but couldn't, she was pretending to sleep.

She used her left foot to gently nudge Jiang Zhiyu's thigh.

The force wasn't great, but the frequency was very urgent, one tap after another, as if sending some kind of Morse code.

Her toes curled and uncurled, curled again, and the SOS signal was transmitted through that small area of contact to Jiang Zhiyu's nerve endings.

Jiang Zhiyu felt the message; his fingers gripped his knees, then released.

His mouth opened and closed, closed and opened, he looked at Kim Soo-yeon's amber eyes, looked at that woman with a wicked smile on her lips, who was teasing his puppy with her fingertips.

He couldn't say anything, and didn't dare to act.

Kim Soo-yeon spoke while eating a snack.

Her voice was neither high nor low, her tone like she was evaluating the heat of a dish.

"aespa's stage performance is quite good."

She put down the snack in her hand and wiped her fingers on a napkin.

"Whether it's singing, dancing, or the interaction with fans, it can be considered top-tier second-rate, pseudo-first-rate."

The air in the living room solidified at that moment.

Karina's fingers stopped on her knees, her chopsticks still holding that unfinished piece of salmon.

Her gaze fell on Kim Soo-yeon's face, her expression switching from "relaxed" to "serious."

Ningning stopped chewing, the strawberry still in her mouth, cheeks bulging, eyes wide round.

Uchinaga Eri's coffee cup stopped at her lips, forgetting to drink.

Kim Minjeong was still leaning in Kim Soo-yeon's arms, eyes closed, but her ears perked up.

Hearing those words "top-tier second-rate" and "pseudo-first-rate," her brows moved slightly, a very small movement, but it was still captured by Kim Soo-yeon.

Kim Soo-yeon smiled.

"But why isn't it first-rate?"

She paused.

"Actually, I think—it's because of SM's training."

Karina put down her chopsticks, placed her hands on her knees, and straightened her back even more than before.

Ningning swallowed the strawberry in her mouth, picked up a napkin to wipe the corners of her mouth, folded it neatly, and placed it on the coffee table.

Uchinaga Eri placed her coffee cup on the saucer, the bottom of the cup making a soft "clack" against the saucer as it touched, and adjusted her sitting posture.

Kim Minjeong stopped moving, even her breathing lightened, her ears directed toward Kim Soo-yeon.

Kim Soo-yeon looked at them in this state and smiled with satisfaction.

That smile was different from the wicked charm just now; it was the kind of smile a teacher only reveals when seeing students listening attentively in class, carrying a hint of gratification and a hint of smugness.

Her gaze swept from Karina to Ningning, from Ningning to Uchinaga Eri, and finally fell on the fluffy head in her arms.

"k-entertainment companies use SM as the foundation to develop the idol industry; as for the process of launching idols, every company is about the same. It's nothing more than the size of resources and a bit of luck."

She slowed her speaking speed.

"And the current k-entertainment, actually because of the Hallyu ban, is even more like 'gold on the outside, rotten on the inside.'"

She used a fork to cut a small piece of cake and put it in her mouth.

"Don't look at how high aespa's discussion level is right now, but what can truly be converted into funds is really nothing more than concerts and fansigns. The commission for endorsements is very high, and there's not much left for you. Daily schedules, variety shows, radio—what value can they reflect? It's just to maintain exposure."

She put down the fork.

"Dancing is not my strong suit, so I won't evaluate it rashly."

She paused.

"But in terms of singing, I do have strong opinions about you."

Karina's fingers tightened slightly on her knees, Ningning's eyelids twitched, and Uchinaga Eri's fingers holding the coffee cup stopped for a moment.

Kim Minjeong's breathing rhythm changed again, faster than before.

Kim Soo-yeon lowered her head, looking at the head in her arms still "pretending to sleep."

She extended her right hand, her thumb and index finger pinching Kim Minjeong's nose.

The action was very light, like pinching the stem of a flower.

Kim Minjeong's breathing was blocked at that moment.

Air couldn't get in or out.

Her mouth was still pursed, not opening.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her mouth finally opened—"Whoo—" breathing in large gulps, like a fish thrown onto the shore.

Kim Soo-yeon didn't release her fingers, just slightly relaxed the force, allowing air to slowly enter and exit.

Her thumb gently brushed against Kim Minjeong's nose bridge, as if soothing a bullied little animal.

"Minjeong-ah~ wake up."

Her voice was very light, carrying a hint of hoarseness, a hint of laziness.

"Otherwise I'll just kiss—wake you up?"

She said the word "clear" very lightly and quickly; that syllable streaked through the air, falling into everyone present's ears, and turned into another word— "kiss."

Kim Minjeong's eyes opened suddenly, like two marbles being flicked open.

She sprang up from Kim Soo-yeon's arms, with the speed of lightning, her whole body catapulted off the sofa and threw herself into Karina's arms.

Her hands wrapped around Karina's waist, her face buried in Karina's shoulder.

Her body was trembling slightly, her cheeks burning like a fever, her ears red as if they were going to drip blood.

Karina looked down at the still-trembling head in her arms, her hands not knowing where to put.

She hesitated for a moment, then still gently rested them on Kim Minjeong's back.

"It's okay, it's okay." Her voice was very light.

Kim Soo-yeon watched Kim Minjeong's panicked escape, the wicked curve of her mouth growing a bit more.

She picked up the fork, cut another small piece of cake, put it in her mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

"Does everyone want to know?"

Her voice returned to a normal volume.

"Then listen carefully."

The living room went quiet, everyone waiting for her to speak.

The variety show on TV was still playing, the volume turned to the minimum.

Outside the window, the Han River flowed in the night.

Kim Soo-yeon's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a nail precisely hammered into everyone present's ears.

Her sitting posture hadn't changed, legs crossed, toes gently swaying, fingers unconsciously tapping on the sofa armrest.

The rhythm was unhurried, perfectly synchronized with her speaking speed.

"After you debuted, there's a reason why you were criticized for your singing skills."

Her gaze started from Karina, sweeping over one by one.

"Kim Minjeong—it's not the first or second time you've tripped over your words during stage performances."

Kim Minjeong's body stiffened slightly, her fingers holding Karina's waist tightening a little.

"The high notes you hit aren't very stable either; fans might say you're nervous, but professionals listen for breath support and resonance. Your high notes reach that pitch, yes, but you can't sustain them, the ending notes are weak, and sometimes they go off-key. This isn't a problem of talent, it's a problem of training method. The vocal training SM gives you is according to idol standards, not singer standards."

Kim Minjeong bit her lower lip, not speaking.

"Ningning."

Kim Soo-yeon's gaze shifted to her.

"Your high notes are very stable, more stable than the others. But—they could be better. Your voice has thickness, has penetrating power, but the songs SM gives you have never let you truly utilize that thickness. They need you to sing high notes, the kind of high notes that go 'pop' and make fans scream. As for whether that high note sounds good or has texture, it's not important. As long as it's high, it's fine."

Ningning's fingers gripped slightly on her knees.

"Uchinaga Eri."

Kim Soo-yeon's tone didn't change.

"Usually a background character. How to develop die-hard fans is a big problem. Your singing is the same—completely featureless, almost ignorable."

Uchinaga Eri's expression didn't change, her coffee cup still in her hand, her fingertips slightly whitening.

"It's not that you don't have ability, it's that SM doesn't know how to use you. Your vocal tone in the group is neither prominent nor eye-catching, but they haven't thought that not being prominent or eye-catching can also become your feature. A stable, reliable, reassuring presence. The question is—do you yourself know where your value lies?"

Kim Soo-yeon withdrew her gaze and picked up the water glass on the coffee table, taking a sip. "Karina." She set the glass down. "Your pitch is slightly low, and your timbre is on the thicker side, which isn't the mainstream type in girl groups. It's obvious that SM doesn't intend to develop your path as a singer, so they don't place importance on your singing. Your vocal skills haven't been seriously polished because you don't need to rely on singing to make a living. Your face, your figure, and your temperament are the resources SM values most." Karina's fingers twitched slightly on her knees. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

Kim Soo-yeon's gaze paused on Karina's face. "Your future shouldn't be the singer route; it should be the high-end endorsement and actor route." Karina's eyelashes fluttered. "Your timbre is recognizable and has texture; if you were to sing OSTs, it would be more suitable than singing aespa's songs. But OSTs aren't an idol's track; they are the track for singers and actors. Therefore, you need to change your path."

Jiang Zhiyu leaned back against the sofa, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees. He didn't interject, his expression calm. However, when he heard "high-end endorsement and actor route," he nodded. It wasn't the kind of nod that meant "I agree," but the kind that meant "you've finally brought it up." He had been preparing for Karina's future layout for a long time—not some low-end joke like "Pig Head Phantom Thief," but a truly top-tier, high-end route. Several top luxury brands in Europe had been contacting TG, wanting to use TG's channels in Asia to open up the market. He hadn't agreed yet because he was waiting for the right moment: waiting for Karina's value to rise further, for aespa's position to stabilize more, and for the power structure of SM to shift again. His gaze fell unconsciously on Kim Minjeong's neck—that "Koh-i-Noor Heart" was sparkling with faint light beneath her collarbone, the blue gem shimmering with a deep-sea luster under the lights. Kim Soo-yeon's gaze also landed on the same gem. They paused for two seconds, then looked away simultaneously.

Kim Minjeong didn't notice those two gazes. She was thinking about what Kim Soo-yeon had just said about her "slurring" and "unstable high notes," silently acknowledging it in her heart. Ningning was also thinking about her own high notes, thinking about the words "it could be better," and as she thought about it, she suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. Uchinaga Eri kept her head down, looking at the Americano in her hand; the coffee had gone completely cold, and her reflection was blurry on the black liquid. Kim Soo-yeon had called her "completely unremarkable," and she didn't refute it because it was the truth. Karina wasn't listening to herself. She was listening to the way Kim Soo-yeon was speaking—it wasn't the tone of a business partner, but the tone of a direct management agency. It was like when an SM director held meetings with them, telling them what they weren't doing well, what needed improvement, and how they should move forward in the future.

This feeling wasn't right. Kim Soo-yeon was the president of TG, a business partner, not their boss. She had no right to speak to them in that tone. But she spoke so naturally, so matter-of-factly, as if she were supposed to be sitting there, telling them what to do in that tone. Karina remembered the flash of coldness in Jiang Zhiyu's eyes when he mentioned Lee Soo-man during a dinner gathering. At the time, she thought it was just some dissatisfaction with a senior, or a disagreement with certain policies at SM. But now, she placed that coldness together with Kim Soo-yeon's current tone, like two puzzle pieces, and found they fit perfectly. She recalled the plans Kim Soo-yeon had just mentioned regarding aespa's future development, which were completely different from the path SM had laid out for them. Denying the "Kwangya" concept, denying the "AI concept," denying everything SM had planned for them. Those weren't the words of a partner; they were the words of an acquirer telling the employees of the acquired company— "From now on, you follow me."

A thought that felt like a fantasy popped into her mind. She pursed her lips, unable to help herself, and stole a glance at Jiang Zhiyu. He was leaning back against the sofa, his expression calm, his fingers tapping lightly on his knees. She saw the arc of his lips—not a smile, but a composure that said "everything is under control." She looked at Kim Soo-yeon again; she was eating cake, cutting off a small piece with her fork and putting it into her mouth, chewing, as if she hadn't said anything just now.

They were acquiring—Karina forced herself not to think about those words. This was SM, one of the biggest entertainment companies in South Korea, the SM that produced HOT, Shinhwa, TVXQ, Girls Generation, Super Junior, SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT, and aespa. It wasn't a roadside workshop, nor an enterprise that just any capital could swallow. But—it was Jiang Zhiyu. This man had entered SM as a producer in 2017, and in a few years, he had gone from an unknown newcomer to a recognized genius in the industry. He left SM to found TG, and in a few years, he had built TG into a comprehensive enterprise spanning multiple industries. His relationship with SM had always been good, so good that everyone thought he was SM's closest partner. But what if, from the very beginning, his approach to SM wasn't for partnership? What if his goal from the start was acquisition? Karina's fingers turned slightly cold.

She reached out and held Kim Minjeong's small hand. Kim Minjeong's hand was warm, her fingers slender and soft, with a few small dimples on the back of her hand. Kim Minjeong lowered her head to look at her hand being held, then looked up at Karina.

"Unnie, your hands are so sweaty." Her voice was very quiet, quiet enough that only Karina could hear.

Karina smiled. "Probably because it's hot." Her voice was very soft.

Kim Minjeong nodded and leaned against her to continue listening attentively. Her fuzzy head rubbed against Karina's chin, and there was the scent of shampoo in her hair. Karina looked at that fuzzy head, at her brows slightly furrowed in concentration, at her lips slightly pouted from hearing something. She thought, no matter what the future holds, at the very least, they would always be together. Regardless of whose company SM becomes, regardless of whose group aespa becomes, the four of them would be together. Kim Minjeong, Ningning, Uchinaga Eri, and herself.

She raised her head and looked at Jiang Zhiyu. He was looking down at his phone, his profile looking exceptionally soft under the glow of the lights, his eyelashes slightly lowered. The arc of his lips was still there—not a smile, but that composure of "everything is under control." She thought, he would probably protect Minjeong, Ningning, Eri, and her too, right? She turned this thought over in her mind, then gently set it aside.

Kim Soo-yeon was still talking. From singing skills to development, from development to planning. Her voice was neither high nor low, like a calm, unhurried river. Karina wasn't listening anymore; she didn't need to. Because no matter what Kim Soo-yeon said, she would do it. It wasn't because Kim Soo-yeon was the president of TG, but because Jiang Zhiyu trusted her.

The conversation came to an end. Kim Soo-yeon's voice switched from "professional" back to "casual," and she leaned back against the sofa to take a sip of water. Kim Minjeong shifted her position quietly, moving away from Karina's shoulder and sitting up straight. She glanced at the time on her phone; it was past midnight, the night was already deep, and the Han River outside the window was just a blurry black outline in the night.

Jiang Zhiyu stood up from the sofa and straightened his collar. "We should be going too." Kim Soo-yeon also stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt.

Kim Minjeong sprang up from the sofa, her eyes bright. The change in brightness was so fast, it was like someone had pressed a switch in her pupils. The corners of her mouth curved, changing from the "restrained" look of just a moment ago to "happy." She nodded, her movements quick, like a puppy wagging its tail.

Kim Soo-yeon raised an eyebrow, the action slow. "Minjeong-xi, are you that happy that I'm leaving?" Her voice was neither high nor low, her tone carrying a hint of "I know exactly what you're thinking."

Kim Minjeong's smile froze on her face. Starting from the corners of her mouth, it was like someone had pressed a pause button. Her mouth opened and closed, closed and opened, and her body sprang up from the sofa, bending into a ninety-degree angle, her forehead almost touching her knees. "No, no, no—" Her voice was muffled, squeezed out from her bowed posture. Kim Soo-yeon smiled, a smile different from the seriousness she had when critiquing their singing, carrying a hint of "just teasing you" playfulness. She didn't say anything more and turned to walk toward the door. Her high heels clicked crisply on the floor, the sound moving from near to far, disappearing in the direction of the entrance.

Jiang Zhiyu stood in the center of the living room, not immediately following her. His gaze swept over the faces of the four girls, paused on Kim Minjeong's face, which was still holding an "I was wrong" expression, then paused on Karina's slightly flushed face, before withdrawing. "In April, I'm going to China with TWICE to film a small variety show; I'm just letting you know." His voice was neither high nor low. "If you want anything, tally it up and send it to the group chat."

The expressions of the four people changed simultaneously. Kim Minjeong's mouth changed from the pursed "I was wrong" look to an open "really?" look. Ningning's eyes changed from "sleepy" to "curious," Karina's eyebrows moved slightly, and Uchinaga Eri's fingers paused on her coffee cup.

"China?" Ningning's voice rose a little. "But isn't there a ban on Korean entertainment?" Her brows were furrowed; she was Chinese and knew all too well the impact of the ban. Those Korean artists who wanted to develop in China, those Korean groups who wanted to hold concerts in China, those Korean idols who wanted to appear on Chinese variety shows—they were all blocked outside the door. Jiang Zhiyu said he was taking TWICE to China to film a variety show, not a small-scale Chinese fan meeting, but a variety show. "You will go to China in the future too, it's just that there are some restrictive red lines that cannot be crossed." His tone was calm, as if he were stating something already determined.

Karina's fingers tightened slightly on her knees. She also wanted to go to China, wanted to see the place where Ningning grew up, wanted to eat the hot pot, skewers, and crayfish that Ningning had talked about countless times, and wanted to say "thank you" to the fans in Chinese on stage. She pushed these thoughts down; it wasn't time yet. He said "the future," so there must be a future.

Jiang Zhiyu stood there. Many things suddenly floated through his mind—the world-class fake jewelry project, the planned strategy for Karina's high-end endorsement route, the test version of the AI-generated photos of Karina wearing the jewelry. Those images flashed through his mind frame by frame like a movie. Karina wearing a custom gown from a top luxury brand, standing under the spotlight, wearing that priceless necklace around her neck, her expression cold and glamorous, her eyes aloof. That necklace wasn't the "Koh-i-Noor Star," but another one, designed specifically for her, designed specifically for the "high-end route." That plan was already underway; the proposal was written, the designers were contacted, and even several versions of the AI photos were done. He had looked at every version, and every version made him feel—she was born for this path.

He looked at Karina. His gaze stopped on her face, starting from her eyes, following the bridge of her nose down, passing the tip of her nose, and reaching her lips. The corners of his mouth curved into an arc, carrying a bit of mystery, a bit of urgency, and a bit of something Karina couldn't read.

"Ji-min, I'm looking forward to..." He didn't finish. Looking forward to what? Looking forward to her taking the high-end route? Looking forward to her wearing that necklace? Looking forward to her becoming that chess piece in his plan? Karina's heartbeat skipped a beat. His expression didn't look like he was saying "I'm looking forward to your future performance," but rather like he was saying "I've already seen your future." That certainty made her feel at ease, yet also uneasy. She couldn't describe what that feeling was, but her cheeks answered for her first—the red color spread from the base of her neck upwards, her mouth opened and closed, closed and opened; she didn't know how to respond, nor did she know what to respond.

Jiang Zhiyu smiled. The smile looked exceptionally gentle under the warm yellow lights of the living room. "Rest early, children." He turned and walked toward the door.

Kim Minjeong's voice drifted from behind. "Oppa, goodnight~" Jiang Zhiyu didn't turn back, just raised his hand and waved.

The door closed. The living room quieted down. The aroma of food still lingered, and the meal boxes on the coffee table were more than half empty. The TV was still on; the variety show had already finished airing, and it was playing late-night shopping commercials. Kim Minjeong sat back on the sofa and picked up Lami. "Oppa just said he's going to China in April to film a variety show." There was a hint of "I'm so envious" in her voice. Ningning said, "I want to go too." Kim Minjeong said, "You're Chinese, do you still need to go?" Ningning said, "I want to go back and eat hot pot." Kim Minjeong said, "Didn't you eat it when you went back last time?" Ningning said, "Last time was last time, this time is this time." Kim Minjeong pursed her lips and didn't respond.

Uchinaga Eri picked up the Americano that had gone completely cold and took a sip. Karina's gaze landed on the night scene outside the window, and the unfinished sentence from Jiang Zhiyu was still echoing in her mind— "Ji-min, I'm looking forward to..." She didn't know what he was looking forward to. But she knew that she was looking forward to the day he was looking forward to. The Han River outside the window flowed in the night.