92: Chapter 91 Let's see my younger brother

As "code: ae training camp" proceeded in full swing, with the four members of aespa "growing through pain" under Kim Soo-yeon's "technical crushing" and Lee Tima's "variety show poison hand," an unexpected invitation was delivered to President Jiang Zhiyu's desk at TG Entertainment.

The invitation came from Starship Entertainment (with the shadow of CJ ENM faintly visible behind it), formally and politely inviting President Jiang Zhiyu of TG Entertainment for an "informal, exploratory business exchange" regarding their artist, IZ*ONE member Jang Wonyoung, for the upcoming music show promotion period and subsequent personal development planning.

The invitation specifically mentioned that Jang Wonyoung herself vividly remembered their collaboration (and... certain impressive "twists") during the filming of the "destined kim hyo-soon" special episode, and expressed appreciation for President Jiang Zhiyu's professional vision and "unique" planning abilities, hoping for an opportunity to seek further advice.

The meaning of this invitation was self-evident. On one hand, as a phenomenal survival show group, IZ*ONE was facing disbandment as their contracts neared expiration, but the future prospects of its members, especially core popular members like Jang Wonyoung, were highly anticipated; Starship/CJ naturally wanted to pave the way for her. On the other hand, Jiang Zhiyu and TG Entertainment had proven their "Midas touch" in content production and artist branding (as well as... their "notoriety" for taking unconventional paths) through the "destined kim hyo-soon" series and the recent meteoric rise of Kim Soo-yeon. Starship/CJ clearly wanted to see if they could unearth some different possibilities for Jang Wonyoung from TG, or at least establish a beneficial connection.

Wonyoung's own expressions of being "vividly remembered" and "hoping to seek advice" added a subtle and complex personal touch to the invitation.

Looking at the invitation, Jiang Zhiyu's mind immediately flashed back to the beautiful young girl in the SM conference room who had turned red with shame and indignation over the "Golden Toilet" script, and later stubbornly completed the "Angel Eating Giant Pie" shoot. He couldn't help but chuckle. The kid had grown up and started planning for her own future, and... she was quite well-spoken too.

He agreed to the meeting with almost no hesitation. Professionally, building a good relationship with giants like Starship/CJ and top rookies like Jang Wonyoung was beneficial for TG. Personally... he was indeed quite impressed by that smart, beautiful, and slightly stubborn girl, and wanted to see how she had grown.

The meeting was set in a private room of a high-end cafe with excellent privacy. When Jiang Zhiyu walked in, guided by a waiter, Jang Wonyoung was already sitting there poised.

Not having seen her for a few months, the girl seemed to have matured further, shedding some of her childishness and gaining the composure and star quality of an IZ*ONE Center. She wore a simple yet high-quality beige dress, her long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders, her makeup exquisite, and her posture elegant. Hearing the door open, she immediately looked up, her face instantly switching to a flawless, sweet, and polite idol-style smile as she stood up and bowed slightly.

“Hello, President Jiang. It's a pleasure to see you again.”

Her voice was clear and melodious, her posture perfect.

However, at the moment her eyes met Jiang Zhiyu's, he keenly captured an extremely complex emotion flashing deep in her gaze—there was politeness, inquiry, and the social awareness of a professional artist, but deeper still, there seemed to be an almost imperceptible trace of... lingering fear? And a stubbornness trying to hide it, wanting to appear mature and calm?

Jiang Zhiyu could almost hear her silent internal scream:

‘You Perverted Prank King! Making me eat that Three-meter Giant Pie back then! And that Golden Toilet thing! Now you're smiling so respectably!’

Of course, on the surface, Jang Wonyoung remained that flawless, top-tier idol with a boundless future.

The smile on Jiang Zhiyu's face deepened as he returned the gesture with equal politeness: “Wonyoung-xi, long time no see. You've become even more beautiful and have more of a star aura. Please, have a seat.”

The two sat down, and after some brief small talk, the conversation quickly turned to the main topic.

Jang Wonyoung's Manager (who was also present) first congratulated TG Entertainment on their recent achievements, then tactfully brought up some of Starship's concepts and dilemmas regarding Wonyoung's future solo or sub-unit activities, hoping to hear the opinions of this “creative genius,” Jiang Zhiyu.

Wonyoung herself listened quietly, occasionally nodding slightly or adding a few thoughts of her own when the Manager mentioned specific directions, her tone humble and serious. But her beautiful large eyes were constantly observing Jiang Zhiyu's expressions and reactions, whether intentionally or not.

Jiang Zhiyu didn't provide a specific plan immediately but instead asked Wonyoung a few questions: What was her vision for her future style? What did she believe was her core charm? What did she want to challenge most? How did she view the label “IZ*ONE Jang Wonyoung” versus the future “Jang Wonyoung”?

These questions made Wonyoung fall into brief thought. She answered cautiously and sincerely, expressing both her cherishing of the group's honor and her desire to break through and show a richer version of herself.

Listening to her answers and watching her strive to show maturity and thought beyond her years, the image of the prank involving the “Golden Toilet” and the “Jumbo orion pie” gradually faded in Jiang Zhiyu's mind, replaced by the image of a young artist who was truly ambitious, had ideas, and was seriously planning her future.

“Wonyoung-xi,” Jiang Zhiyu leaned forward slightly after listening, his tone becoming more serious, “Your conditions are excellent; your public recognition and awareness are a starting point many artists dream of. But because the starting point is high, the next step is actually harder to take. Whether to safely continue the sweet girl style, boldly transform to seek a breakthrough, or find a new path somewhere in between requires very precise calculation and... a bit of an adventurous spirit.”

He paused, looking at Wonyoung's eyes which had suddenly lit up, and continued: “You should have seen some of TG Entertainment's style, Wonyoung-xi. We excel at unearthing traits in artists that might be overlooked and amplifying them in... well, ‘special’ ways. It might not suit everyone, but perhaps it can give you some different inspiration.”

He didn't mention specific cooperation, only throwing out the possibility of “inspiration.”

Wonyoung's heart began to throb. She certainly knew how “impressive” TG's “special” methods could be, but it was undeniable that Jiang Zhiyu, and the TG behind him (along with that terrifying yet powerful President Kim Soo-yeon), did possess the ability to break conventions and create buzz and miracles. This was exactly what she (and her company) were currently seeking.

“Thank you very much for your guidance, President Jiang.” Wonyoung bowed slightly again, her attitude even more earnest. “The ‘adventurous spirit’ and ‘special ways’ you mentioned are exactly what I need to think about seriously now. If... if there's an opportunity to receive more in-depth guidance from TG Entertainment and you, President Jiang, it would be my honor.”

Her words maintained a proper distance, but the expectation in her eyes and a faint sense of “going for it” did not escape Jiang Zhiyu's notice.

It seemed that although the kid had labeled him a “Perverted Prank King” in her heart, she still had quite a bit of interest and courage regarding the possibility of “pranking” her way into a new world.

Jiang Zhiyu smiled, not making a promise, but simply said: “Let's stay in touch. If there are suitable opportunities and ideas in the future, we can discuss them in more detail. I also wish Wonyoung-xi all the best for your upcoming activities.”

The meeting ended in a friendly atmosphere full of potential. As she left the cafe, Wonyoung watched Jiang Zhiyu's back as he got into his car, let out a soft sigh of relief, and rubbed her cheeks which were a bit stiff from maintaining a perfect smile.

‘Perverted as he is... he really does seem a bit amazing.’ She muttered to herself, and even felt a faint, eager sense of anticipation for the future's uncertainties.

Meanwhile, in the car, Jiang Zhiyu had already begun to think about what kind of project—one that was both “special” and could truly highlight her unique charm—he should use to “entertain” this beautiful young girl with “max-level internal roasting skills” if they were to collaborate in the future.

On the map of the entertainment industry, new connections were being quietly drawn.

——

After receiving formal permission from Jiang Zhiyu, Lee Tima's “variety soul” began to gallop wildly like an unbridled horse (or rather, a “black hole” with its seal removed). She locked herself in TG Entertainment's small office (which doubled as a prop storage room and snack warehouse) for two whole days, during which eerie laughter and clattering sounds constantly echoed out.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

On the third day, after the four members of aespa finished Kim Soo-yeon's grueling intensive vocal training in the morning, thinking they would have to face Lee Tima's hair-raising "improvised reactions" or "cringe-inducing situational comedy challenges" in the afternoon, they were instead taken to a larger studio at tvN that had been set up like a futuristic sci-fi battlefield.

The studio was dimly lit, filled with intricate neon tubes and projection screens. The floor was outlined with fluorescent paint to create complex paths and zones, and the air was filled with a faint dry ice mist. The background music was a high-tempo, video game-style BGM.

The four members of aespa stood at the entrance of the venue, looking lost, wearing matching custom sportswear with the aespa logo and futuristic lines.

Lee Tima appeared. Today, she wasn't wearing her rabbit mask. Instead, she was dressed in a "commander" vest that looked like it had come straight out of a sci-fi movie, complete with flashing little lights and mysterious, impressive-looking decorations. She held a tablet in her hand, and her face was filled with irrepressible excitement and... "malice."

"Warriors of aespa! Welcome to the recording site of the advance version of — 'Battle, ae!'" Lee Tima announced in an exaggerated tone, like a game narrator.

"'Battle, ae!'?" Karina repeated, looking confused.

"That's right!" Lee Tima's eyes lit up as she began to explain with animated gestures, "This is a large-scale, immersive, real-life RPG (Role-Playing Game) variety show that I've tailor-made for you! Look over there—"

She pointed to a huge screen in the center of the venue, which displayed a UI similar to a game interface: the avatars of the four aespa members, with health bars, energy gauges, skill slots, and a long, segmented level map below.

"In this game, you are the players, the aespa warriors! Your means of attack are—music! Dance! And teamwork!" Lee Tima said quickly, "The entire venue is divided into multiple levels, each with different challenge tasks. It could be learning and perfectly executing a difficult choreography within a time limit (dance attack), improvising and singing based on random melodies and lyrics (sonic attack), or a puzzle or physical challenge that requires the four of you to cooperate using specific 'items' (combo skills)!"

"Complete the tasks, defeat the level 'Guardians' (they could be virtual projected monsters, or they could be... hehe), and you can earn points and special in-game 'items'! These items might play a key role in subsequent levels! For example, a 'Time Freeze Card' (increases challenge time), a 'Hint Card' (obtains key information), a 'Revival Coin' (one chance to retry), and even... a 'Summoning Card'!" When Lee Tima mentioned the "Summoning Card," her tone became particularly mysterious and excited.

The four members of aespa were stunned. This sounded... a lot more fun than just practicing? But something felt wrong, especially Lee Tima's "hehe" and the "Summoning Card"; it always made people feel like there was a trap.

"The final goal is to clear all levels, reach the end, and challenge the final BOSS!" Lee Tima waved her hand, and a huge, shadow-covered silhouette of a BOSS appeared on the screen, with three question marks next to it.

"Who is the BOSS?" Kim Minjeong asked, unable to suppress her curiosity.

Lee Tima smiled mysteriously: "Secret for now! But what I can reveal is that the final BOSS battle will be a real 'stage showdown'! You will need to challenge an 'idol senior' with extremely powerful strength in the form of a full stage performance! There will be an audience jury on site, and your performance will be judged directly!"

Challenge an idol senior?! A live showdown?!

The four members of aespa felt the pressure mount instantly, but at the same time, a strong desire to challenge themselves and excitement were ignited. This was no longer training behind closed doors, but a simulation of real competition and stage pressure!

"Then, the first level, 'Rhythm Maze,' prepare to begin!" Lee Tima didn't wait for them to digest the information and announced the start of the game directly.

The challenge for the first level was: the four of them needed to step out the correct dance sequence on a "maze" covered with pressure-sensitive floor tiles, according to the randomly played music beat, while also completing the singing of a designated harmony segment. If they missed a step or sang the wrong note, the maze walls (actually laser fences) would issue a warning; if they made more than three mistakes, the task would fail.

This tested not only dance rhythm and body coordination but also vocal stability and teamwork. The four members of aespa were a bit flustered at first, but under Karina's direction and mutual reminders, they gradually found the rhythm and stumbled through the first level, obtaining the first item—"Rhythm Stabilizer" (Effect: slightly improves fault tolerance for the next rhythm challenge).

The game process was rendered tense and exciting by carefully designed mechanisms, sound effects, and lighting. Even Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon, who were observing from the side, watched with great interest. Kim Soo-yeon even occasionally pointed at the real-time data on the screen and whispered to Jiang Zhiyu that a certain member's movement or breath control problems were more obvious under the pressure of the game.

However, when Lee Tima excitedly synchronized the show's creative concept and the resources that needed to be coordinated (mainly regarding the candidates for the final BOSS battle) with SM, she encountered significant resistance.

On the other end of the phone, SM Executive Director Kim Young-min's voice was full of disbelief and faint anger:

"What?! Lee Tima-xi, did I hear you correctly? You want our active, high-profile idol seniors from SM to be the 'final BOSS' for this... this game variety show that's like playing house? And you want a live stage showdown?!"

Kim Young-min was almost laughing out of anger: "Do you know how much the appearance fees of our top SM artists are? Do you know how hard it is to coordinate their schedules? Let them come to play 'games' with a few trainees who haven't even debuted yet? And be 'challenged'? Is this reasonable?!"

Lee Tima was prepared and said calmly: "Director Kim Young-min, this isn't playing house. This is a high-spec pre-debut pressure test and real-combat rehearsal tailor-made for aespa. The final BOSS battle is the best stage to test the results of their months of training. And for the SM seniors, this is not just 'playing along,' but an excellent opportunity to show their guidance of juniors and demonstrate their top-tier stage control, and it can also win the seniors themselves and SM a reputation for being 'professional,' 'generous,' and 'carrying on the tradition.' The buzz after the show airs will be a win-win for both the seniors and aespa."

She paused and threw out her trump card: "Besides, President Jiang and Chairwoman Kim Soo-yeon both think this project is very helpful for aespa's growth. tvN is also very optimistic about this 'real-life idol RPG' concept and has invested in the best technical team. If SM refuses because of 'fees' and 'face' issues... that would be a real pity. Perhaps we could consider contacting top seniors from other companies? I believe the seniors from JYP or YG would be interested in such an interesting project..."

"..." There was silence on the other end of the line. Kim Young-min was choked up. Lee Tima's words were soft but firm, raising the significance of the project while implying a threat (finding seniors from other companies), and bringing up Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon (these two people carry significant weight in the eyes of SM's senior management now).

More importantly, Kim Young-min actually knew in his heart that if this project was really done well, the topic value and the tempering effect on aespa could be truly amazing. Letting their own top seniors be the "BOSS," although it sounded a bit demeaning, if handled properly, it could be a classic story and a great marketing opportunity.

"...I need to discuss this with Lee Soo-man." Kim Young-min didn't refuse immediately, and his tone softened, "Send over a more detailed proposal, especially the process and guarantee plan for the final BOSS battle."

"Okay! Sending it to you right away!" Lee Tima responded cheerfully, hung up the phone, and made a victory gesture to the air.

She knew that this was seven or eight tenths done. The rest was how to persuade (or "lure") that selected "lucky" senior to participate in this BOSS battle that was destined to be "exciting."

And aespa's "battle" had just begun its first level. Waiting for them were more strange challenges, and that yet-to-be-revealed, awe-inspiring and highly anticipated—final BOSS.