74: Chapter 74 Guan Yu? Second Brother Scratching His Head?

The filming of the destined kim hyo-soon special episode was progressing steadily in an atmosphere that appeared harmonious and joyful, but was actually filled with undercurrents.

The interactions between the "Confused Angel" Lim Ying-er, played by Im Yoona, and the "Human Sobriety" Kim Hyo-soon, played by Lee Tima, were full of comedic chemistry. Cameo roles like Red Velvet's Kang Seulgi and Wendy as the bakery sisters, and ITZY's Hwang Yeji and Shin Ryujin as the cool-girl neighbors, were also successfully filmed, adding a lot of color to the series.

Jang Wonyoung's scenes as the "Young Angel" were also proceeding according to plan. She showed good comprehension and professionalism, portraying the young Lim Ying-er's tsundere nature, clumsiness, and kindness remarkably well. Everyone on the set, including Im Yoona, had a good opinion of this young idol making her acting debut.

Everything seemed to be moving smoothly toward the "safe, fun, and high-quality" comedy direction promised by Jiang Zhiyu.

Until—the filming day for that "special segment," which was both highly watched and shrouded in secrecy, finally arrived.

The filming location was not in the main studio but in an independent, enclosed "special set" specifically built for it. Security was tight; except for the core production team and necessary personnel, even Jang Wonyoung's Manager was politely asked to wait outside, with the reason being that it "involved special props and filming techniques, requiring absolute quiet and focus."

Wearing her custom-made, miniature version of the gorgeous angel gown (though it would look messy due to the "accident") and topped with a mini halo, Jang Wonyoung received the final adjustments from the stylist. Her small face carried a hint of nervousness, but more so the seriousness of completing a task. She knew that today’s shoot was for the key plot point where the "Young Angel encounters an accident due to a severe magic mistake," which was also the part her Manager Oppa had repeatedly told her to "be mindful of the boundaries." But thinking of Jiang Zhiyu's previous assurances and the crew's consistent professionalism, she still tried her best to calm herself down.

Jiang Zhiyu personally oversaw the scene. His expression was serious, and his gaze was focused as he constantly communicated with the director, cinematographer, and VFX supervisor to confirm every detail. The atmosphere was more solemn than any other scene.

"Wonyoung, relax." Before filming started, Jiang Zhiyu walked over to Jang Wonyoung's side, his tone gentle but firm. "Remember, this is just acting. There are protective measures for all movements, and all 'undignified' shots will be handled through editing and special effects. You only need to act out the 'panic when the accident happens' and the 'struggle to maintain angelic dignity,' just like when we rehearsed."

"Yes, Producer Jiang, I understand."

"Action!"

The clapboard snapped shut.

According to the script (the version provided to Starship for review after modifications), while the young angel Lim Ying-er was trying to cast "Spatial Teleportation" magic to help Kim Hyo-soon, the spell went horribly wrong, causing lights to flash all around her. Then, with a comical "plop" sound effect and smoke from dry ice, she disappeared from the shot.

Next, according to Jiang Zhiyu's explanation to all parties, including Jang Wonyoung herself, editing and VFX compositing would be used here: they would film a clean plate, and then in post-production, they would composite Jang Wonyoung's "falling" and "struggling to crawl out" performance footage into it, creating the comedic effect of "falling into an awkward place," but without any specific unsanitary associations or the actress actually touching sensitive props.

This was also the plan that Starship and CJ finally reluctantly agreed to—using camera angles, special effects, and editing; as long as it wasn't filmed for real, it was acceptable.

However...

When Jang Wonyoung finished her "falling and struggling" performance in front of the green screen as instructed, thinking the scene was finally over—

"Cut! Great! Wonyoung, take a break and touch up your makeup," Jiang Zhiyu shouted.

Jang Wonyoung breathed a sigh of relief and went to the side to rest, accompanied by her assistant. She felt like she had used up all her strength in the performance; although there were pads underneath for the falling and struggling, it still left her feeling a bit lightheaded.

About half an hour later, the Assistant Director came to call her. "Wonyoung-xi, we still need to pick up a few close-up shots, very close, for facial expressions and hand movements."

"Yes."

This time, the scene had changed. It was no longer a green screen but a... somewhat strange set. It was a slightly ostentatious, glittering golden... toilet? But its shape was designed to look more like some kind of medieval palace throne, inlaid with fake plastic gems, radiating a tacky yet dazzling golden luster.

"This is..." Jang Wonyoung was stunned for a moment.

"Oh, this is a special prop 'interface' prepared for VFX compositing." Jiang Zhiyu walked over at some point, his tone as natural as if he were introducing a common piece of furniture. "In post-production, we'll composite your close-up expressions onto a background that... well, fits the 'magic mistake' fantasy vibe better, like a fountain? Or a pile of gems? This gold is just to make the chroma keying easier. Come on, Wonyoung, get close to here. We're filming your surprise and dazed expression when you first pop your head out from inside."

His explanation sounded reasonable, and the busy staff on set were all attending to their duties; nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Jang Wonyoung looked at that glittering "prop." Although she thought the shape was a bit odd, thinking it was for special effects, she followed his words and walked over. Under the staff's guidance, she needed to lean her upper body into the opening of that "Golden Throne" and then make the movements and expressions of trying to crawl out.

"Okay, Wonyoung, imagine you've just escaped from an unexpected place, a bit disheveled, but the first thing you see is... well, a field of gold? So your expression should be a bit dazed, then slowly turn into the confusion of 'Where am I?'" Jiang Zhiyu coached from the side.

Jang Wonyoung nodded, adjusted her breathing, and got into character. She leaned her body down, her hands propped on the edge of the "throne," and then slowly raised her head, making the pre-planned expression on her face...

"Cut! Perfect!" Jiang Zhiyu shouted. "Keep that pose! Let's get another one from a different angle!"

One take, then another.

Jang Wonyoung repeatedly performed the "popping out," "struggling," and "looking around." The interior of that golden prop seemed to be designed quite deep for the camera angles, so she had to work hard to make the "crawling out" movements. Her skirt and mini wing props got a bit messy in the narrow space.

She started to feel something was wrong. Didn't they say they'd only use green screens and post-production? Why did she need to actually perform "crawling out" against a specific prop? And this prop... the more she looked at it, the more she felt...

Just then, a staff member responsible for filming behind-the-scenes footage, perhaps to capture a "behind-the-scenes fun fact," whispered jokingly to the person next to them:

"Wow, an angel crawling out of a 'Golden Toilet,' this concept is insane..."

The voice wasn't loud, but in the moment Jang Wonyoung raised her head again from that golden opening to catch her breath, it clearly entered her ears.

Gol... Golden... Toilet?

Jang Wonyoung's body froze instantly.

Maintaining her posture with half her body out of the "throne" and her hands propped on the edge, she slowly, extremely slowly, lowered her head and looked at the glittering, ostentatious "throne" beneath her.

The shape of the commode...

The golden paint...

"Toilet"...

Those words were like a thunderclap, exploding in her mind!

All of Jiang Zhiyu's previous assurances, explanations, and words about "VFX compositing," "safe and fun," and "never touching" instantly turned into fragments!

He lied to her!

He lied to the company!

He actually... really let her perform "crawling out" of a prop shaped like a toilet!

Even though this prop was golden and looked clean or even comical, it was still a toilet! It was the "root of all evil" that was rumored, in the script drafts, that had made Yoona Sunbaenim furious and the company wary!

Plop.

Due to shock and sudden shame, Jang Wonyoung's hands gave way, and she slid back into that golden "throne," splashing non-existent water against the pads below. Her mini angel halo tilted to one side.

The scene went quiet for a moment.

All the staff stopped what they were doing and looked at her.

Jiang Zhiyu walked over quickly, his face full of concern. "Wonyoung? What's wrong? Are you okay? Are you tired?"

Sitting inside that Golden Toilet prop, Jang Wonyoung raised her head, her small face turning red and white in turns. Those large eyes that were always sparkling were now filled with unbelievable shock, the grievance of being deceived, and a strong sense of shame. She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, her lips trembling slightly; she wanted to question him, to get angry, but her good upbringing and long-term idol training left her momentarily speechless.

Jiang Zhiyu acted as if he didn't see the accusation in her eyes. Instead, he crouched down and said in a light, almost joking tone that only the two of them could hear:

"Wonyoung, don't make that face. Look, this isn't an ordinary fixture. It's golden! A 'Golden Throne' custom-made for you! How noble, how special! Coming out of this isn't embarrassing at all; instead, it has a kind of dramatic beauty of a princess in distress, right?"

He pointed at the dazzling gold. "Think about it, when the audience sees the young angel crawling clumsily out of a glittering 'throne,' they'll only find it funny, cute, and full of gap moe. Who would think of anything bad? This is high-level comedy after artistic processing!"

Jang Wonyoung looked at him, her mind in a mess. Golden... Throne... Artistic processing... High-level comedy...

The immense shame and the sense of absurdity from being completely duped intertwined, making it impossible for her to think for a moment.

Jiang Zhiyu struck while the iron was hot, patting her on the shoulder through her clothes. "Alright, Wonyoung, you're a professional actress. For the sake of the character and the comedic effect, what does this little 'artistic sacrifice' matter? Look, didn't you complete it very well? Your expressions and movements were all spot on! Believe me, once the final cut is out with VFX and editing, the effect will be absolutely stunning. Everyone will only praise you for acting well and being a good sport!"

He stood up and waved to the surrounding staff. "Alright, alright, Wonyoung might be a bit tired. This take was perfect, that's enough! Wrap it up! Good work, everyone!"

Although the staff felt the atmosphere was a bit strange, the director had spoken, so they immediately began to pack up.

Jang Wonyoung was helped up by her assistant, who helped her tidy her messy skirt and wings. She was still in a daze, like a fawn caught in headlights, not knowing what to do.

Jiang Zhiyu walked over and handed her a bottle of water, his face returning to the gentle and reliable senior smile he usually wore. "Good work today, Wonyoung. Your performance was outstanding. Go back and get some good rest. Don't forget, you're the angel who successfully 'nirvana-ed' from the 'Golden Throne'!"

Jang Wonyoung mechanically took the water, looking at Jiang Zhiyu's flawless smiling face, then at the still-glittering Golden Toilet prop being moved away by the staff.

The chaotic emotions gradually settled, turning into an extremely complex, indescribable feeling.

Angry? Of course, the anger of being deceived.

Ashamed? That too, after all, the shape of that thing...

But... it seemed... not as... unacceptable as imagined?

Just as Jiang Zhiyu said, it was golden... it even looked a bit grand and comical... it wasn't actually something dirty or filthy. And there were indeed protective measures throughout the process; she didn't actually touch anything.

A strange, self-consoling thought popped up uncontrollably:

"Ah... actually..."

She whispered, almost unconsciously murmuring to herself, as if trying to convince herself:

"...Coming out of a Golden Toilet... is somewhat acceptable..."

"...After all... it's gold."

After saying it, she herself was stunned. What kind of reason was that?!

Jiang Zhiyu's ears were sharp, and he overheard her whisper. A hint of a successful, fox-like smile flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it, simply nodding in approval: "Exactly! Wonyoung, it's good that you think that way! This is the consciousness of an artist! For the sake of the work, any material or form can be sublimated!"

Jang Wonyoung: "..."

She suddenly felt as if she had fallen into a "pit" even deeper and harder to escape from than this Golden Toilet.

And the person who dug the pit was standing right in front of her, smiling like a spring breeze.

After filming ended, on the way back to the dorm in the car, Jang Wonyoung was still in a daze.

She took out her phone, hesitated for a long time, and opened the IZ*ONE group chat.

Looking at the concerned greetings from the Unnies, she typed and deleted, then deleted and typed again.

Finally, she sent a message:

[Unnies... today's filming is over. It was a bit... special.]

[I feel like... I crawled out... of a... golden... thing.]

[But... it was made of gold... so... um... it seems... okay?]

The group was silent for a few seconds.

Then, the messages exploded:

[????????????]

[A golden thing? What thing? Wonyoung, be clear!]

[Gold?? A toilet??? Did Jiang Zhiyu really do it???]

[Wonyoung-ah!! Are you okay?!!]

[So you ended up filming that after all???]

[What the hell is a Golden Toilet Hahahaha (Sorry but I can't help it)!!]

Jang Wonyoung looked at the messages flooding the screen—filled with shock, concern, and laughter (?)—and buried her face in her palms.

She felt like... she had really filmed something incredible.

And, it seemed... she had been "persuaded" by Jiang Zhiyu in a strange way?

This world was indeed much more complicated than the stage.

And one of the most "core" secrets of the "destined kim hyo-soon" special was officially sealed in film (or digital storage) the moment Jang Wonyoung crawled out of the "Golden Throne," waiting for a certain moment in the future to shock (or appall) all viewers in some "reasonable" way.

The filming of the weekend special was halfway through, and most of the "safe and harmless" warm and humorous scenes had been successfully completed. Im Yoona had also gradually grown accustomed to the role of the "Dazed Angel Lim Ying-er," becoming increasingly adept at the cycle of "elegant entrance → accidental mess-up → feigning composure → messing up again." She even developed many improvised micro-expressions and movements, much to the surprise of both the director and Producer Jiang.

However, Jiang Zhiyu's "evil" imagination was clearly not satisfied with just testing the waters on Jang Wonyoung's "young angel." For Im Yoona, the lead actress and "object of special focus," he had prepared even more "impactful" ideas.

Today, they were filming a scene where Lim Ying-er and Kim Hyo-soon have a minor conflict due to a misunderstanding (Lim Ying-er kindly used magic to help Kim Hyo-soon "tidy up" her room, but turned it into a tropical rainforest). According to the original script, this was supposed to be a childish argument between the two (Angel vs. Poor Girl), ending with Lim Ying-er failing her magic again and a pile of bananas falling on her head—a cartoonish slapstick moment.

But before filming started, Jiang Zhiyu approached Im Yoona with a freshly drafted filming plan labeled "Detail Optimization."

"Yoona Sunbae, regarding this conflict scene, I think we can slightly strengthen the visual tension and... well, the manifestation of the character's personality." Jiang Zhiyu said with a pleasant smile, holding a storyboard sketch.

Im Yoona immediately became alert; whenever Jiang Zhiyu smiled so "kindly" and brought out a new "plan," it boded no good. She took the sketch, and with just one look, her beautiful smile froze on her face.

In the sketch, the scene that was originally supposed to be Lim Ying-er stomping her feet in anger or using magic to summon harmless small animals (like a water-spouting fish) was replaced with—

Lim Ying-er snatching the shining angel halo (prop) from her own head and throwing it like a frisbee, hard, at Kim Hyo-soon (Lee Tima)!

The halo spun through the air with special effect light, accurately (as per the script) hitting Kim Hyo-soon's forehead with a dull "thud" (sound effect) before bouncing off. Kim Hyo-soon was hit so hard she saw stars and staggered back.

Im Yoona: "...???"

She looked up at Jiang Zhiyu, her eyes screaming, "What madness are you up to now?"

"Jiang Zhiyu-xi," Im Yoona's voice remained soft, but every word felt wrapped in ice shards, "Hitting someone... with an angel halo? What does this mean? Is an angel's weapon a halo? Or do you think my character is so angry she needs to resort to physical attacks?"

This was worlds apart from the "dazed but kind" angel image she understood! Moreover, throwing a hard prop (even if made of special lightweight material) at Lee Tima? What about safety?!

Jiang Zhiyu was well-prepared, his expression incredibly serious as if he were explaining some profound artistic concept:

"Yoona Sunbae, that's where you're mistaken. This precisely reflects Lim Ying-er's complex state of mind: 'innocent and childish,' 'ignorant of the world,' and 'infuriated after magic fails'!"

He pointed to the sketch and explained:

"Think about it, she's an angel. Although dazed, her subconscious still carries the 'arrogance' and 'simplicity' of the heavens. She believes the best thing she has is her 'sacred symbol'—the halo. When she's so angry at this 'tiny human' Kim Hyo-soon that she loses her reason (though it's just a child-level argument), her first reaction isn't to use complex attack magic—that requires incantations she might misread—but to instinctively use her most precious and 'powerful' item to 'teach them a lesson'! It's an extreme form of 'arrogant childishness' and 'clumsy venting'!"

He grew more excited as he spoke:

"Moreover, hitting someone with a halo has such symbolic meaning and comedic contrast! A sacred object used for a brawl! The visual impact is immense! The audience will definitely find it memorable! It also reflects the process of the angel gradually becoming 'humanized' (or rather, infantilized) in the human world!"

Im Yoona's eyelid twitched. Sophistry! All sophistry! But somehow he made it sound like it almost made sense (not)!

"What about safety?" Im Yoona caught the key point. "Tima is still a child (in appearance). Hitting her with a hard object, what if..."

"It's absolutely safe!" Jiang Zhiyu immediately guaranteed. "The halo is made of a special ultra-light foam material, painted with fluorescent paint on the outside. It looks shiny, but it's actually softer than a pillow! It doesn't hurt at all when it hits someone; the sound effect is added in post-production! We've tested it many times! Plus, during filming, we'll use camera angles and positioning to ensure everything is foolproof!"

Seeing Im Yoona still looking skeptical and even somewhat angry, Jiang Zhiyu pulled out his final "trump card," his tone becoming persuasive:

"Yoona Sunbae, don't you think such a setting is much more interesting than a simple argument? It shows an unusual, cute side of the character. Just imagine: an angel, huffing with anger, taking off her halo to hit someone, and then maybe running to pick it up and secretly wipe it clean afterward because she's worried about it... The audience will love this kind of gap moe! This is also a multi-layered test of your acting skills!"

Im Yoona fell silent. She had to admit that while absurd, this image... did indeed have a weirdly memorable quality. And if the prop was safe and the effect interesting as Jiang Zhiyu said...

Under the bombardment of Jiang Zhiyu's "artistic concepts" and "safety guarantees," Im Yoona finally... half-reluctantly agreed. She warned Jiang Zhiyu that if Lee Tima felt any discomfort or if the effect wasn't good, she would stop performing immediately.

During filming, it was exactly as Jiang Zhiyu had said. The special foam halo was light as a feather. Hitting Lee Tima's forehead (actually a camera trick where the halo flew over her head and the impact was composited later) felt like nothing. Lee Tima even thought it was fun, and after being "hit," she even improvised by rolling her eyes and sticking out her tongue, causing several NGs from laughter.

Once the scene was finished, the effect was unexpectedly good, and the staff on set couldn't help but chuckle.

Im Yoona watched the playback, and the slight awkwardness in her heart dissipated a bit. Although she still thought Jiang Zhiyu had a bizarre way of thinking, at least this time he hadn't crossed the line... right?

However, she had clearly underestimated Jiang Zhiyu's reservoir of "creativity."

A few days later, another scene. Lim Ying-er was feeling low because of consecutive magic failures and was reflecting alone under the moonlight (actually in front of a blue screen). According to the script, she was supposed to look at her slightly dimmed halo, weep silently, and then the halo would slowly regain its light, symbolizing her regained confidence.

Before filming, Jiang Zhiyu appeared again with a new "optimization plan."

"Yoona Sunbae, I think the emotional sublimation here can be more... impactful." Jiang Zhiyu's eyes flickered.

Alarm bells rang in Im Yoona's heart: "...What do you want to do now?"

Jiang Zhiyu spread out a new storyboard: "Look, when Lim Ying-er falls into deep self-reproach and frustration, the angel halo in her hand will gradually turn black along with her emotions! From a holy gold/white, it will slowly be stained with a murky black, eventually becoming a 'dark halo' emitting an ominous aura!"

Im Yoona: "..."

She looked at the halo on the drawing that went from shining to pitch black and felt her blood pressure soaring along with it.

"Turn... black?" Im Yoona's voice was a bit airy. "Jiang Zhiyu-xi, my halo turning black... what does that mean?" She had an extremely bad premonition.

Jiang Zhiyu had an excited "you don't understand this" expression and began to talk incessantly:

"This represents the struggle between 'light' and 'darkness' within the character's heart! It's an extreme dramatic symbol!"

He gestured wildly:

"Although Lim Ying-er is dazed, she is inherently kind and longs to help others. Consecutive failures make her start to doubt herself—doubting if she's worthy of being an 'angel,' doubting if her magic only brings disaster. These negative emotions, without her even realizing it, pollute her most primal sacred symbol—the halo!"

"Black represents guilt, confusion, and a heart temporarily shrouded in shadow!" Jiang Zhiyu's tone was impassioned. "And when she finally realizes at a certain moment (like from a casual remark by Kim Hyo-soon) and pulls herself together, the halo will instantly burst, dispelling the darkness and restoring its light, even brighter than before! This symbolizes that she has undergone a baptism of the heart and achieved true growth!"

He looked at Im Yoona, his eyes full of expectation:

"Yoona Sunbae, don't you think this is much more profound and visually shocking than simply having the 'halo dim and then light up'? From a holy angel to the brink of 'falling,' and then a rebirth like a phoenix! This acting range, these emotional layers! This will definitely be another highlight of your acting career!"

After listening, Im Yoona didn't know what expression to face Jiang Zhiyu with anymore. She rubbed her throbbing temples, trying to understand this crazy logic:

"So... according to you, my halo turning black... means I... become the fallen angel Lucifer???" She said this guess almost through gritted teeth.

"Bingo!" Jiang Zhiyu snapped his fingers, his eyes lighting up. "As expected of Yoona Sunbae! You understood so quickly! Of course, not actually becoming Lucifer, but symbolically and temporarily 'touching' that 'dark side' generated by self-doubt. This is a very high-level technique for externalizing a character's inner self!"

Im Yoona: "..."

She looked at Jiang Zhiyu's face, which screamed "I'm such a genius" and "praise me quickly," then at the pitch-black halo on the drawing, and then thought about how she might have to act while wearing such a thing...

She suddenly felt that the previous proposal of "hitting someone with a halo" was as normal as a kindergarten game.

"Jiang, Zhi, Yu, xi." Im Yoona took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "I think it's necessary for us to rediscuss whether the 'growth arc' and 'symbolic techniques' for this character are a bit... too 'rich'?"

She paused and added word by word:

"And whether my salary should also be re-evaluated based on these 'rich inner scenes' and 'ever-changing props'?"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Jiang Zhiyu's excitement froze for a second, then immediately returned to a professional smile: "Er... well, Senior Im Yoona, art is priceless, but we absolutely recognize your value... Regarding the details of the appearance fee, we can discuss that later... The priority is to film this wonderful scene first, don't you think?"

Im Yoona crossed her arms and looked at him expressionlessly.

In the end, with Jiang Zhiyu's repeated assurances that "the black is just a special effects coating, it will be changed back as soon as we finish filming," "it definitely has a profound meaning and isn't just messing around," "the final result will be absolutely stunning," and... his vague hint that "the subsequent profit-sharing can be negotiated further"—

Im Yoona once again... compromised.

She felt that she wasn't playing an angel, but rather challenging the limits of schizophrenia.

On the day of filming, looking at the special halo handed over by the props team—one half painted with gold fluorescent paint, and the other half with matte black paint (which could be switched depending on the shooting angle)—Im Yoona's mood was incredibly complex.

She faced the camera, trying her best to portray frustration and self-doubt, watching the halo in her hands slowly rotate at the director's signal, aiming the black side toward the main camera...

At that moment, she felt as if she truly experienced a kind of absurd sense of "falling."

And the culprit, Jiang Zhiyu, was hiding behind the monitor, rubbing his chin, his eyes flashing with the light of a plan coming together, muttering to himself:

"Hmm... Black fallen angel Im Yoona... this gag might be useful later..."

"For example, in season two of 'SM weekend special,' maybe set up a 'Light vs. Dark Im Yoona' showdown?"

"Or, as a visual inspiration for some future dark-themed music project at TG Entertainment?"

Im Yoona seemed to sense something, abruptly turning her head, precisely catching Jiang Zhiyu's calculating gaze before he could fully conceal it.

Their eyes met.

Jiang Zhiyu immediately flashed an incredibly "innocent" encouraging smile and gave a thumbs up.

Im Yoona silently turned her head back, took a deep breath, and stared at the pitch-black halo in her hands.

She had decided.

After this drama finished filming, and she received the final payment and the (possibly renegotiated) profit share—

She would definitely take this blackened angel halo and smash it hard onto Jiang Zhiyu's face, which was always wearing that hateful smile!

And she would smash it ten times!

The set of the "destined kim hyo-soon" special episode was unusually bustling with activity unrelated to the tense filming.

The members of Girls Generation—Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Seohyun (except for those with schedules)—arrived in a grand group to visit the set as if they had planned it, ostensibly to "cheer Im Yoona on," but everyone had an undisguised, excited smile on their faces, clearly there to enjoy the spectacle.

They brought mountains of coffee, drinks, and high-calorie snacks (clearly knowing about Im Yoona's "hardships" on set), instantly winning over the hearts of all the staff. The atmosphere on set immediately lightened up significantly.

Im Yoona had just finished a scene involving "riding a bike in the rain and going crazy" (you'll find out what that's about later), her hair was still soaking wet, her costume was stained with water, and she was wrapped in a thick blanket, sipping hot ginger tea with visible exhaustion and... a stomach full of grievances waiting to be vented.

Seeing her Unnies arrive, her eyes lit up, then her mouth pouted, as if she had finally found her people, and she immediately began a vivid, tear-filled "complaint session."

"Unnies! You're finally here!" Im Yoona pulled her sisters into a temporary resting corner, lowered her voice (but ensured the staff with ears pricked up nearby could hear), and began to vent, "Do you know what that madman Jiang Zhiyu made me act out recently?!"

Sunny immediately handed her a piece of cake, her eyes shining: "Tell us, tell us! Is it related to a toilet again?" (Clearly, she hadn't forgotten the old news.)

"It's even more ridiculous than that!" Im Yoona took a bite of the cake and said indignantly, "He actually! Made me! Stand in the hallway as punishment by the teacher for not doing my homework!!!"

"Huh?" Tiffany blinked her smiling eyes, "Not doing homework? Standing in the hallway? Im Yoona, you're an angel! Angels have to do homework too?"

"Exactly!" Im Yoona gestured excitedly, "The setting is the angel's 'arrogance' toward mortal school education, thinking 'Heavenly knowledge is supreme, mortal homework is childish and ridiculous,' so she refuses to do it! As a result, the mortal homeroom teacher (a very serious actor) drags her to the classroom door to stand in the hallway! And I have to hold a sign that says 'I didn't do my homework, I was wrong'!!!"

She imitated the expression required by the script, "pretending to be disdainful but actually so embarrassed that her toes were curling in her shoes": "I have to stand there, wearing a school uniform (angel disguise), wearing a halo (invisible state, but the audience knows), receiving the gaze of the whole class (including the cameo juniors from ITZY and Red Velvet!)! And I have to stubbornly say 'Hmph, mortal punishment is ineffective against me' from time to time... Heaven knows how much I wanted to use magic to turn that sign into a flower!"

Taeyeon held back her laughter and patted her back: "This... this actually has a comedic effect. Contrast moe?"

"Taeyeon Unnie!" Im Yoona looked at her plaintively, "That's not even all! The most ridiculous part is yet to come!"

She took a deep breath, as if recalling a nightmare: "There's another scene! A rainy day! The script says 'The angel feels the vitality contained in the rainwater, refuses to hold an umbrella, and says she wants to feel the breath of Heaven'—I can barely understand this, it's artistic, right!"

Her tone shifted, and her voice rose: "But! Jiang Zhiyu insisted on adding a scene! He made me, in the rain, suddenly jump onto a dilapidated bicycle that I don't know which junkyard he scavenged it from—a bike where everything rattles except the bell! And then!!!"

Im Yoona stood up, imitating the actions in the script, waving her arms with a tragic (and funny) expression: "He made me raise the umbrella (as a weapon?), while frantically pedaling that broken bike as it wobbled forward in the rain, all while shouting at the sky—"

She cleared her throat and used all her strength to imitate that chuunibyou yet passionate (and embarrassing) tone: "'windmill of life! I will fight you for three hundred rounds!!!'"

"..." All members of Girls Generation: "..."

The shoulders of several staff members nearby began to shake violently.

"Pfft—hahahahaha!!!!" Sunny was the first one who couldn't hold it in, slapping her thigh and laughing wildly, "windmill of life?! Fight three hundred rounds?! Im Yoona! Have you turned from an angel into Don Quixote?!"

Tiffany had already collapsed laughing onto Hyoyeon: "OMG! What is Jiang Zhiyu's brain made of?! How did he come up with lines like this?!"

Taeyeon also covered her mouth, laughing so hard she couldn't straighten up. Seohyun had an academic look of confusion, as if asking, "Does this really fit the character's logic?" Yuri and Sooyoung were laughing so hard they were hugging each other.

Im Yoona looked at her Unnies, who were swaying with laughter, and felt even more aggrieved: "You're still laughing! Do you know how broken that bicycle is?! The chain is rusty, the seat is collapsed, and the brakes are basically broken! I was riding in the rain in terror, and I had to shout such shameful lines! The entire staff was holding back laughter! I feel like my acting career is going to end on that broken bicycle!"

She pointed to the other side of the set: "Look! That's it! The 'Luxury Charger'! That's the name Jiang Zhiyu gave it!"

Everyone looked in the direction she was pointing, and saw a crew member pushing an old-fashioned bicycle that looked truly weathered, with a mottled paint job, passing slowly in front of them.

As the crew member pushed it, he complained to another staff member holding a toolbox: "Hey, the chain on this 'Charger' is stuck again, it needs some oil. Also, the front tire seems to be low on air, let's hope it doesn't burst during the chase scene."

"..."

The members of Girls Generation looked at that "ride," affectionately called the "Charger" but in reality ready to fall apart at any moment, and then thought back to the scene Im Yoona just described—running wild in the rain, roaring at the sky...

"Pfft hahahaha—!!!" A new, more intense round of laughter swept through the resting area.

Even Im Yoona, who always pays attention to her image, couldn't help but break her composure when recalling the scene and seeing the state of the broken bike, joining in the laughter, though her smile was filled with helplessness and heartache.

"So Im Yoona," Taeyeon asked, wiping away tears from laughing, "How did Jiang Zhiyu-xi explain all this? It couldn't be just for the sake of being funny, right?" Although it was indeed very funny.

Im Yoona rolled her eyes: "What serious explanation could he have? It's nothing more than 'embodying the collision between the angel and mundane life,' 'using absurd behavior to show the character's inner passion and resistance,' 'highly symbolic and romantic'... blah blah, a bunch of words I don't understand but feel like he's just trying to fool me with!"

She imitated Jiang Zhiyu's tone, vividly: "'Im Yoona Sunbaenim, this is a form of ultimate innocence! It is the cry of a soul unbound by worldly rules! It is the angel challenging mundane life in the most rustic way! If acted well, it will definitely become a classic scene!'"

"Hahaha!" Sunny clapped, "Don't say that, but after he fools you like that, it actually feels like it makes some sense?"

"Unnie! Whose side are you on!" Im Yoona chided.

"Of course on our Im Yoona's side!" Tiffany immediately declared, but her smile remained bright, "But Im Yoona, hearing you say that... I suddenly kind of want to see the finished product, what should I do? It feels like it will be super interesting!"

Other members also expressed, "Although it's ridiculous, I want to see it," "Im Yoona's dark history (crossed out) classic scene +1," "Jiang Zhiyu is crazy, but he really has something."

Speak of the devil.

Jiang Zhiyu probably heard the commotion over here, and walked over with a cup of coffee and a beaming smile.

"Seniors are visiting the set? This really makes the studio shine!" He greeted them enthusiastically, his gaze sweeping over the group laughing together, and finally landing on Im Yoona, who was still "pouting," "Is Im Yoona Sunbaenim sharing filming insights with the Unnies?"

Im Yoona snorted and turned her face away.

Sunny spoke up with a grin: "Producer Jiang, we just heard from Im Yoona about the 'standing in the hallway' and 'fighting the windmill' scenes, it's really... full of creativity!"

Jiang Zhiyu immediately wore an expression of "it's hard to find a kindred spirit": "It's great that you Seniors can understand! These are all to deeply explore the multi-faceted collision of 'divinity and humanity,' 'arrogance and clumsiness,' and 'innocence and passion' in the character of Lim Ying-er! Im Yoona Sunbaenim's performance is simply masterful, especially the scene riding the bike in the rain, that desperate, fiery gaze and explosive power—it was amazing!"

He began to expound on his "artistic philosophy" again.

The members of Girls Generation held back their laughter and nodded along, but their eyes drifted from time to time to the poor "Luxury Charger" that was being dragged away for repairs by the crew.

Im Yoona listened to Jiang Zhiyu's unblinking praise (fooling), then looked at that broken bike, and suddenly felt very tired.

She began to seriously consider whether, after this drama finished airing, she would join the ranks of comedy superstars thanks to these "classic scenes," or if she would suffer social death and need to go live in seclusion in the mountains for a while.

And Jiang Zhiyu, amidst the "harmonious" laughter, looked at Im Yoona's "life-is-meaningless-but-I-have-to-cooperate" expression, and the keen interest in the eyes of the Girls Generation Seniors, who were clearly thinking, "We're definitely watching this show," and nodded inwardly.

This was the effect he wanted.

Controversy? Not afraid.

Ridiculous? It doesn't matter.

As long as it's talked about enough, memorable enough, and... interesting enough.

The "destined kim hyo-soon" special episode was meant to break the mold, using the most unexpected ways to make the angel "fall" into the mortal world, causing the biggest jokes, and leaving the most special mark.

He believed that when the final cut came out, everyone (including Im Yoona Sunbaenim, who was complaining now) would "love it in the end."

Hmm, probably.