93: Chapter 92 Urgent!

The game progress of "Fight, ae!" was advancing faster than expected, and... it was more chaotic.

The levels designed by Lee Tima were getting more tricky and eccentric one by one, perfectly combining her precise grasp of the aespa members' weaknesses (thanks to previous observations and Kim Soo-yeon's "diagnosis") and her unrestrained soul as a "Variety Demon King."

The second level was the "Melody Puzzle Room." The four were locked in a secret room filled with various strange instruments and sound devices. They needed to cooperate to play a designated melody fragment to unlock the door to the next area. The problem was, the instruments included but were not limited to: an ocarina that required blowing (NingNing was responsible and almost blew until she was hypoxic), a timpani tube that required striking (Kim Minjeong was responsible and her rhythm was always half a beat slow), a musical saw that required pulling (Giselle was responsible and it made a sound like ghosts wailing), and a pedal organ that required stepping (Karina was responsible and also had to conduct). The process was unbearable to watch, with demonic sounds piercing the ears. The four were in a frantic rush, creating countless laughs. They barely managed to stutter through the melody before the countdown ended, obtaining the item—"Pitch Correction Sticker" (Effect: Temporarily improves pitch stability for the next singing challenge; the sticker must be placed on the tip of the nose, creating a ridiculous look).

The third level was the "Mirror Dance Battle Arena." The four had to face a giant smart mirror that synchronized their movements in real-time, but the "image" in the mirror would randomly have incorrect movements or delays added. They had to find the errors in the "image" and correct them immediately while dancing, all while maintaining their overall formation and singing. This level completely exposed the team's lack of division of labor and adaptability under high pressure. Kim Minjeong was too focused on finding her own mirror's errors and forgot her positioning, bumping into NingNing; NingNing was made dizzy by the mirror's delay and got out of breath while singing; Giselle tried to correct an error but broke the formation; Karina had to dance her part while observing the overall situation to conduct, losing track of one thing while attending to another, her forehead dripping with sweat from anxiety. They barely passed in the end, obtaining the item "Chaos Dispersion Spray" (Effect: Increases resistance to interference for a short time; the spray had a strange smell that made them cough).

The physical exhaustion and mental strain brought by consecutive levels, along with Lee Tima's occasional "taunts" or "misleading tips" through hidden speakers, pushed the four members of aespa to their mental and physical limits. More importantly, while dealing with these unconventional, high-intensity, and uncertain challenges, the "team consciousness" and "leader's authority" that had been repeatedly emphasized began to show cracks in the chaos.

Everyone was desperately thinking about how to complete the task in front of them, how not to make mistakes, and how to get the items, subconsciously starting to "fight their own battles." Communication became brief and irritable, and mutual reminders sometimes turned into small sparks of mutual blame.

As the leader, Karina felt the most pressure. She tried to take control of the overall situation and issue commands, but in the chaotic and rapidly changing situation, her commands sometimes weren't conveyed in time before being interrupted, or she couldn't continuously monitor each teammate's status because she was also dealing with challenges herself. She could feel the team's cohesion dissipating, yet she felt somewhat powerless.

Finally, in the fourth level, "Emotion Transmission Relay," a small conflict erupted. This level required the four to stand in a line and silently pass a specific emotion (such as "Ecstasy," "Sadness," "Anger," or "Fear") from the front of the line to the back through facial expressions, eye contact, and simple body movements. Then, the person at the end had to accurately express it with an improvised line of singing. Any error in transmission or unclear expression by anyone in the middle would lead to a chain failure.

The first two rounds went fairly smoothly. The third round was the emotion "Fear." Starting from Karina, she tried hard to make a terrified expression and a trembling posture. But when it reached Kim Minjeong, she was in a bit of a daze because she was too tired from the previous levels. She misunderstood and passed an expression more like "Confusion" to NingNing. NingNing received the wrong information and was also confused; after barely processing it and passing it to Giselle, it was already unrecognizable. Giselle looked at NingNing's distorted expression and couldn't understand it at all. In the end, she braced herself and sang a line that completely failed to match the emotion of "Fear."

"Beep—! Challenge failed!" A piercing prompt sounded.

"Ah... sorry..." Kim Minjeong immediately realized it was her fault and apologized in a small voice, her expression frustrated.

"Minjeong-ah, Karina Unnie's expression was very obvious just now..." NingNing was also a bit anxious and said subconsciously.

"I... I was a bit distracted just now..." Kim Minjeong buried her head even lower.

Karina took a deep breath, wanting to say something to lighten the mood, but exhaustion and frustration left her momentarily speechless.

Just then, a cool and calm voice, like ice water being poured over their heads, came through the venue's speakers:

"Pause."

It was Kim Soo-yeon.

She and Jiang Zhiyu had been standing by the main control console, observing the entire process through multiple monitors. Jiang Zhiyu had a thoughtful expression on his face, while Kim Soo-yeon's brow had long been furrowed.

Lee Tima also stopped her operations and looked at the instructor curiously.

Kim Soo-yeon walked out from behind the console with unhurried steps, coming before the four aespa members who were slumped on the ground in a low mood. Her gaze was like something physical, slowly sweeping over everyone's tired, dejected, or self-reproaching faces.

She didn't criticize the technical error just now, nor did she pursue who was responsible. Instead, she asked a seemingly unrelated question:

"When you were going through the levels just now, did anyone, even once, proactively look into Karina's eyes, or try to understand her gestures and intentions?"

The four were stunned.

"Aside from when she issued clear commands, did any of you make 'what the leader is doing' or 'what the leader needs me to cooperate with' a part of your own thinking and actions?" Kim Soo-yeon's tone was still flat, yet every word struck their hearts. "Or was your head full of 'I can't get this move wrong,' 'I need to sing this note right,' and 'I need to get that item quickly'?"

The four aespa members were speechless. Thinking back carefully on the chaotic process just now, it seemed... it was exactly as Instructor Kim said. Faced with immense pressure and endless surprises, they instinctively prioritized themselves, ignoring the team's axis.

Kim Soo-yeon's gaze finally landed on Karina: "Karina, what about you? While trying to command and look after the overall situation, did you clearly convey your 'combat intentions' to them? Or were you just passively reacting to problems and issuing scattered commands?"

Karina opened her mouth but ultimately lowered her head. She realized that most of the time she was indeed "fighting fires" rather than "commanding."

"In a team, especially in high-pressure and chaotic environments, the leader's role isn't to be a superhero or a nanny, but a 'lighthouse' and a 'hub.'" Kim Soo-yeon's voice echoed in the empty venue. "She needs to provide a clear direction, integrate information, and assign tasks. The other members must develop the habit of constantly paying attention to the leader, understanding the leader's intentions, and proactively filling in for the leader."

She looked at the other three, her tone sharpening: "Don't you look at Ji-min? Isn't she the leader?!"

These words were like a heavy hammer, waking up Kim Minjeong, NingNing, and Giselle, who were immersed in their own little worlds. That's right, Ji-min (Unnie) is the leader! In the chaos, they should have instinctively looked for her, relied on her, and cooperated with her, rather than struggling individually.

"This game isn't just to test your skills; it's to test your survival and combat capabilities as a 'team'," Kim Soo-yeon concluded. "Items, points, and clearing speed are all secondary. Most importantly, can you build true, unbreakable team tacit understanding and trust through repeated chaos and failure? From now on, in every challenge, you must place the 'leader' at the center of your vision and thinking. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" the four replied in unison. This time, there was something different in their voices.

Lee Tima watched from the side, quietly sticking her tongue out at Jiang Zhiyu and whispering, "Soo-yeon Unnie is so serious... but she spoke so well."

Jiang Zhiyu smiled and said softly, "Variety effects are necessary, but the fundamental things cannot be lost. You've designed this game well; it forced out all their problems."

The game was paused, giving aespa a brief time to rest and reflect. When they stood on the "battlefield" again, their eyes were different. Karina straightened her back, trying to make her commands clearer and more forward-looking. Meanwhile, Kim Minjeong, NingNing, and Giselle began to consciously use their peripheral vision to monitor Karina's status and gestures, communicating proactively and trying to cooperate.

Although they still made mistakes and were still in a rush, the sense of chaos from fighting individual battles clearly began to decrease. A deeper prototype of teamwork based on a "leader-centric" model was painfully but truly sprouting in this seemingly nonsensical "real-life RPG."

Lee Tima's path as a "Variety Demon King" was beginning to take shape. Not only did she create laughs and highlights, but she also unintentionally (or rather, under the guidance of Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon) became another whetstone for sharpening the blade of the aespa team. And the real challenge—that mysterious "Final BOSS Battle"—was still waiting ahead for this team growing through painful integration.

After experiencing Kim Soo-yeon's deafening lecture on the team core, the subsequent levels of "Fight, ae!" took on a fundamentally different meaning for the four members of aespa. Every challenge was no longer just a game to complete tasks and obtain items, but became a practical exercise for Karina to practice decisive decision-making and for the other members to practice trust and following.

The process was still bumpy, and mistakes and the growing pains of the integration period were inevitable, but the sense of chaos from fighting individual battles had clearly decreased. Karina began to work hard to overcome hesitation, making judgments faster under time pressure and issuing clear commands; Kim Minjeong (Winter) and NingNing began to consciously remind themselves to execute first and think later; even the most silent Giselle would use brief language to confirm commands or provide key reminders at critical points.

The prototype of teamwork was being arduously established in one "battle" after another. Although there was still a long way to go before reaching true tacit harmony, at least the direction was clear, and that faint yet resilient aura belonging to "aespa" as a whole began to vaguely emerge.

Lee Tima's "evil" designs continued to emerge one after another, with a variety of levels and full variety effects, but now aespa faced these challenges with an added sense of calm and a determination to face them together. This made Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon in the monitoring room slightly more satisfied.

Just as the recording of "Fight, ae!" entered its second half and needed some external stimulation and fresh elements to maintain popularity and interest, Lee Tima once again utilized her "black hole-level" connections and whimsical thinking.

"The choice for the BOSS battle is still being argued over with SM. How about... we find a 'Mid-BOSS' or a 'Special Guest' to warm up the place first?" Lee Tima's eyes darted around as she suggested excitedly. "Preferably someone with a contrast to aespa's style, who can also bring buzz and fun!"

Jiang Zhiyu thought for a moment, and a lively, quirky figure with excellent public appeal and close ties to SM flashed through his mind.

“How about Red Velvet's Yeri (Kim Yerim)?” Jiang Zhiyu suggested. “She has a great sense of variety, a lively personality, and is a senior at SM, but she's very kind to juniors. She won't put too much pressure on aespa, and she'll bring a great interactive effect.”

“Yeri Unnie!” Lee Tima's eyes lit up. “Yes, yes! She'll definitely be able to have fun! I'll contact her right away!”

Relying on the partnership between TG Entertainment and SM on the 'Training Camp' project, as well as Lee Tima's familiar and hard-to-refuse 'black hole charm,' the proposal to invite Kim Yerim as a 'special stage' guest was quickly approved by SM (mainly the program coordination department) and the Red Velvet Manager (after confirming it wouldn't interfere with her main schedule).

Thus, after the four members of aespa passed another 'Memory Melody Relay' stage that required precise team coordination, the venue lights suddenly changed. Music filled with childhood wonder and joy played, and a petite, lively figure wearing a bright yellow hoodie and denim shorts, with a brilliant smile, came skipping out from behind a suddenly opened 'Surprise Door.'

“Surprise! aespa dongsaengs! Hello! I'm Red Velvet's Yeri Unnie!”

Kim Yerim waved energetically. Her sweet smile and kind attitude instantly refreshed the somewhat exhausted aespa members, who hurriedly bowed in greeting: “Hello, Yeri Sunbaenim (Unnie)!”

The atmosphere immediately became light and cheerful. Kim Yerim lived up to her reputation as a variety show veteran, quickly bonding with the somewhat reserved but curious aespa members, even imitating their clumsy movements from the previous stage, making everyone burst into laughter.

Just then, Jiang Zhiyu walked out of the monitoring room with his signature gentle smile and joined the interaction.

“Yeri-ah, welcome, welcome!” Jiang Zhiyu greeted her naturally, as if they were quite familiar.

“President Jiang-nim, hello!” Yeri also bowed with a smile, curiosity in her eyes. “Manager Oppa suddenly told me to come over, saying TG had a show that needed help... Is it related to the aespa girls?” As she spoke, she waved friendly at the nervous yet excited aespa members.

“Yes, it's about a training segment for them.” Jiang Zhiyu nodded, his tone relaxed. “But before that...”

He paused, a half-joking, half-serious expression suddenly appearing on his face. He looked Yeri up and down, then out of the blue, in a 'I suddenly have a great idea' tone, he said:

“Yeri-ah, how about doing a split first?”

Yeri: “...???”

The smile on her face froze instantly, and even her cute bun seemed to stiffen. She blinked her big eyes, doubting she had heard correctly. She looked at Jiang Zhiyu, then at Lee Tima, who was stifling a laugh, and then at the four aespa members, who looked completely lost and shocked.

“Jiang... President Jiang-nim?” Yeri's voice was filled with deep confusion and a sense of absurdity. “Did you just say... a split?” She pointed at her legs, then at the polished floor, her expression as if saying: Are you okay?

Jiang Zhiyu immediately waved his hand, his smile becoming even more 'kind': “Ah, I'm just joking! Haha, look how scared you are!” He laughed without any sincerity, as if that abrupt request really was just a nonsensical joke.

Only then did Yeri breathe a sigh of relief. She patted her chest and gave Jiang Zhiyu a reproachful glare (with a junior's politeness, of course): “You scared me! President-nim, really...” She thought the matter was over and prepared to ask about the real business.

However, Jiang Zhiyu didn't seem to intend to let her off. He stroked his chin, his gaze still lingering on Yeri. In a voice that sounded like he was talking to himself but was just loud enough for everyone around to hear, he muttered softly:

“But... are you really not going to do a split? I heard Red Velvet's flexibility is quite good. Showing it off on the spot would be so cool, and it would set an example for the juniors...”

Kim Yerim: “!!!”

This time she was truly stunned. Her beautiful face was written with the absurdity and embarrassment of 'President-nim, what on earth do you want?'. She subconsciously pressed her legs together, not knowing where to put her hands. She could only force an extremely polite but incredibly awkward smile, her voice rising an octave in a protest of disbelief:

“Pre—si—dent—nim—? fall?!”

“Hahahahaha!” Lee Tima was already doubled over in the monitoring room, pounding the table frantically. “Jiang Oppa is so mean! Yeri Unnie's expression is priceless!”

The four members of aespa watched this great senior, who was usually so lively, cute, and composed on TV, being rendered helpless and nearly losing her facial control by Jiang Zhiyu's two mentions of a 'split.' They wanted to laugh but didn't dare, struggling hard to hold it in. However, in their hearts, they gained a new understanding of President Jiang's 'wicked sense of humor' and inscrutable nature.

That tone was thirty percent shock, thirty percent absurdity, and forty percent of a silent scream: 'If you keep this up, I'm calling Manager Oppa!'

Beside them, Lee Tima was barely holding back her laughter, her shoulders shaking. The four aespa members were even more dumbfounded, looking at the 'innocent' President Jiang and then at the nearly 'teased' to the point of exploding Yeri Sunbaenim, completely unable to understand what kind of development this was. Kim Soo-yeon stood a bit further away with her arms crossed, her face expressionless, but a faint trace of helplessness seemed to flicker in her eyes—at Jiang Zhiyu's wicked sense of humor.

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Jiang Zhiyu finally returned to a serious (?) expression and laughed: “Alright, alright, I'm done teasing you. Yeri-ah, actually, it's like this...”

Only then did he begin to explain the real purpose. It turned out the next segment was 'Senior Experience Transfer and Pressure Testing.' It required an experienced senior idol with public appeal who could adjust the atmosphere to give the four aespa members a simulated 'variety sense' and 'situational response' special training, while setting up some small 'senior obstacles.' Yeri's variety sense and friendliness made her the perfect candidate.

After hearing this, Yeri finally understood. She patted her chest, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: “So that's it! President-nim, you should have said so earlier! A split... really...” She gave Jiang Zhiyu another annoyed glare, but the atmosphere had completely relaxed.

He had successfully used two mentions of a 'split' to instantly break the sense of distance Yeri might have brought as a senior and aespa's nervousness, creating unexpected laughter and highlights, and naturally advancing the program to the next segment.

Kim Yerim finally recovered from the 'split shock.' Looking at Jiang Zhiyu's 'I didn't do anything' smiling face, she was both annoyed and amused. She could only resign herself to entering the 'Special Coach' role, though in her heart, she had already marked this TG President as a 'wicked and dangerous person to be highly wary of.'

The recording of 'Fight on, ae!' entered a track full of variables and fun once again due to the unexpected appearance of the 'mid-boss' Kim Yerim (and Jiang Zhiyu's 'god-tier assist'). And aespa, who carried high expectations, would face new challenges under the 'leadership' of this lively senior.

Kim Yerim (Yeri) was indeed a variety show genius from SM and a hidden game maniac. After being briefly stunned by Jiang Zhiyu's double 'split' attack, she quickly switched states and perfectly integrated into the bizarre game world of 'Fight on, ae!', even... getting a bit too into it.

When Lee Tima announced that the next stage was the 'Random Dance Challenge'—where the big screen would randomly play snippets of dozens of popular K-POP songs, and contestants had to immediately perform the corresponding signature dance moves, with mistakes or slow reactions resulting in elimination—Kim Yerim's eyes lit up, as if she had found her home ground.

“I'm good at this!” She rubbed her hands together, eager to try, completely forgetting her senior's reserve. “Dongsaengs, follow Unnie and charge!”

The game began. The music switched as fast as lightning, from TWICE's 'TT' to BLACKPINK's 'DDU-DU DDU-DU', from EXO's 'Growl' to Red Velvet's own 'Psycho'... Kim Yerim was like she had turned on a dance radar, accurately performing the corresponding moves almost the instant the music started. Her physical reactions were incredibly fast, her movements were standard yet carried her unique playfulness, and she could even hum along, dancing with excitement.

“Wow! Yeri Unnie is so amazing!” NingNing couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Meanwhile, the four members of aespa were struggling. They had learned many senior dances during their trainee days, but their proficiency and reaction speed were far from matching Kim Yerim, who had been immersed in the idol world for years. Karina and Winter could barely keep up with some well-known snippets, NingNing was a bit flustered, and Giselle, whose dance foundation was relatively the weakest and who wasn't as familiar with the Korean pop library as the local members... completely broke down.

The music changed to a male group dance with an extremely fast tempo and complex movements. Giselle's mind went blank, her hands and feet completely refusing to follow orders. She could only stand frozen on the spot, watching the dance steps flashing rapidly on the screen and Kim Yerim's smooth performance beside her, her face written with confusion, frustration, and accumulating panic.

“Airi! Over here!” Karina noticed her predicament. In the gaps between her own movements, she quickly called out to her, trying to guide her with her eyes and brief prompts.

But Giselle had clearly lost her nerve. Her eyes were unfocused, and she couldn't receive the signals at all.

Another track played, a relatively simple and cute girl group dance. Karina decisively gave up on a perfect performance and quickly moved to Giselle's side. She almost forcefully grabbed her wrist, leading her through the basic movements while lowering her voice, speaking in a steady tone that carried an undeniable sense of power:

“It's okay, Airi. Breathe, relax.”

“Follow me.”

She looked directly into Giselle's panicked eyes, trying to pass on her own composure.

“Or... only look at me now.”

These words were in English, clear, brief, and carrying a strange, reassuring sense of command. It was as if she were saying: forget everything around you, forget the complex dance steps, just look at me and follow my rhythm.

Giselle's chaotic gaze finally focused on Karina's face, seeing the calmness and encouragement in her eyes. She subconsciously grabbed onto this 'lifeline,' trying hard to ignore the noisy music and others' movements. She concentrated her attention entirely on Karina, imitating her simplified movements. Although she was still clumsy, at least she was moving and no longer a stiff statue.

In the rapidly switching music and dance steps, the two formed a small but tight bond. Karina was like a stabilizing force, providing direction and shelter for her lost teammate, while Giselle trusted this guidance completely, following closely behind.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

This brief and tacit moment was faithfully captured by the camera.

In the monitoring room, Jiang Zhiyu, who was watching Kim Yeri dominate and Lee Tima excitedly recording with great interest, felt the smile on his face pause almost imperceptibly as his gaze swept over the split-screen footage of Karina and Giselle interacting.

In his mind, without any warning and extremely out of place, the chorus of an old-fashioned Chinese drama theme song with a melodious and affectionate (perhaps even a bit cheesy) tune began to play:

"Ah~ Romance in the Rain~ The world is only in your eyes~"

Jiang Zhiyu: "..."

He shook his head violently, trying to drive this bizarre BGM out of his brain.

No!!! This feeling is very wrong!!!

Karina's composed guiding posture, Giselle's gaze of total reliance, the close connection they had briefly established amidst the chaos, transcending that of ordinary teammates... This atmosphere, this moment of lingering eye contact (?)...

Why does this damn thing reek of a bizarre... "Domineering leader fighting side-by-side with her fragile, parachute-dropped little wife (? )" vibe?!!

Especially Karina's low, protective, and controlling "only look at me now"... paired with the way Giselle's eyes instantly settled...

Jiang Zhiyu felt his professional instincts and his straight-man radar emitting sharp, piercing alarms!

This isn't simple teamwork! This is damn well the budding of a ship! And it's the kind of high-tension "redemption and reliance" type!!!

He subconsciously looked at Kim Soo-yeon beside him. Kim Soo-yeon had obviously noticed that scene too; her eyes flickered, but her expression remained unchanged. She just calmly commented: "Karina's on-the-spot leadership ability has improved. She knows how to intervene most effectively when a teammate is breaking down."

She was analyzing it from a purely leadership perspective.

But Jiang Zhiyu knew that the audience and fans, especially those "microscope girls," would definitely not just look at leadership!

They would imagine a hundred-thousand-word novel! They would make GIFs! They would make videos! They would ship them to death!!!

For the soon-to-debut aespa, is this a blessing or a curse?

On one hand, this naturally revealed, story-filled interaction is very easy to attract fans and can quickly establish the members' individual charm and the recognition of team bonds. But on the other hand, binding them as a ship too early or too excessively could also limit the members' individual development, spark wars between solo fans, and even affect the team's overall image.

Jiang Zhiyu's brain was spinning rapidly. Should he let nature take its course and let this chemistry become one of aespa's unique charms? Or should he intervene slightly to avoid it being pigeonholed too early?

He looked at the arena; the game was still ongoing. Kim Yeri had won the "Random Dance Challenge" without any suspense, obtaining a powerful item. And the brief, subtle interaction between Karina and Giselle seemed to have been covered up by the subsequent game progress.

But Jiang Zhiyu knew that the seed had already been planted by the camera.

He rubbed his temples and thought to himself: 'aespa, oh aespa, you haven't even debuted yet, and the problems you're posing for the producer are getting trickier one after another...'

It seems that besides worrying about their skills, teamwork, and variety show sense, he now has to pay extra attention to that uncontrollable, potentially explosive... wonderful chemistry between the members.

This road to idol cultivation is indeed full of "surprises."

The whirlwind of the "Random Dance Challenge" finally passed. As the last note fell, Kim Yeri won with an overwhelming advantage. She raised her hands high in excitement, her face full of the pure joy of victory in the game. Although the four members of aespa were "brutally crushed," they felt less frustrated because of Kim Yeri's energy and interesting interactions; they felt more admiration for the senior's strength and found the game fun.

The sound indicating the successful completion of the level rang out, and this stage finally came to a difficult end. The virtual points were credited, and a special team buff item "Senior's Blessing" (Effect: slightly increased tacit understanding for the next team collaboration task) was added to aespa's game interface.

Karina released her gaze that had been subconsciously focused on Giselle and let out a soft sigh of relief. She turned to Giselle beside her and saw that although the other girl was still a bit out of breath, her eyes had returned to calm, and there was even a glimmer of relief because she had finally kept up with the rhythm (even if it was a simplified version).

Their eyes met. No words were spoken. Karina just nodded slightly at her, the corners of her lips curling into a very faint, encouraging smile. That smile contained the recognition of "you worked hard," the praise of "well done," and more than anything, a sense of tacit understanding and relaxation after fighting side-by-side.

Giselle was stunned for a moment, and then she returned a very light but much more genuine smile. That smile was no longer the habitual calm or polite curve she usually wore, but carried a hint of gratitude and warmth after being understood and helped. This was the first time since she joined SM and the aespa training group that she had shown a smile so close to her true emotions in front of the camera and under a high-pressure environment.

In the monitoring room, Jiang Zhiyu watched this scene. The untimely "Romance in the Rain" BGM in his head automatically switched to soothing instrumental music symbolizing "deepening bonds," while he vigilantly rubbed his chin and added a note to his "little notebook" in his heart.

'A smile at each other, atmosphere points +1, ship potential confirmed.'

But Karina's role transition as a leader was extremely fast and natural. After that brief eye contact and smile, she immediately turned her attention to the other two members. She walked a few steps to the side of Minjeong and NingNing, who were huddled together whispering about which song was the hardest to dance to just now, her tone returning to her usual gentle and caring manner, with a bit of sisterly intimacy: "Kids, are you all okay?" She carefully looked at their faces, confirming that they were just a bit tired from playing and hadn't developed too many negative emotions from not being able to keep up with the rhythm.

Minjeong looked up, shook her little head, her face still carrying a slight flush from the game: "It's fine, Unnie. It's just that Yeri sunbaenim is too amazing, we couldn't keep up at all!" Her tone was more of admiration than frustration.

NingNing's eyes were shining, and she excitedly chimed in: "That was so interesting! Although we were brutally crushed, it was really fun! And Yeri sunbaenim is super—amazing!" She gestured with her hands, imitating the quick and smooth wave action Kim Yeri had just done, "That reaction speed, that muscle memory, it's completely certified by the dance god!"

Being praised so straightforwardly and sincerely by her juniors, Kim Yeri, who was smugly adjusting her hoodie, felt her ear tips turn red, but the proud little expression on her face couldn't be hidden at all. She waved her hands in feigned humility, but the happiness in her tone was about to overflow: "Aigoo~ I'm not that amazing! I just watch and dance a lot! After you debut, practice more, and you'll definitely be better than me!"

"Yeri Unnie is the most amazing!" NingNing transformed into a little fangirl, sparing no praise.

Minjeong also nodded vigorously: "Sunbaenim is really like a dancing AI!"

Karina looked at the two maknaes (although NingNing is a foreigner, she acts like a maknae in terms of age and liveliness) who were instantly captivated by Kim Yeri's charm and started chattering about the senior's performance, a relieved smile appearing on her face. Very good, the team atmosphere didn't drop because of a "crushing defeat," but was instead driven by the senior's energy and the fun of the game itself.

She glanced at Giselle again without leaving a trace, finding that although the other girl was still quiet, she was watching Minjeong and NingNing's interaction with a faint smile at the corner of her lips, seemingly having integrated into this relaxed atmosphere. The breakdown and tension from just now had been digested well.

Lee Tima's voice rang out through the broadcast at the right time: "Congratulations to the aespa warriors for successfully passing the 'Random Dance Challenge'! Although the process was a bit 'brutal,' the team spirit is commendable! Special thanks to our super amazing special guest Yeri sunbaenim for bringing such a wonderful demonstration and joyful energy! Please let Yeri sunbaenim go to the rest area to rest for a while, and aespa, get ready to enter the next level—the 'AE Resonance Laboratory'!"

Amidst the reluctant gazes (mainly from NingNing and Minjeong) and words of thanks from the four members of aespa, Kim Yeri waved her hands and skipped away from the main arena to the special guest lounge next door. Before leaving, she winked at Karina and mouthed, "Leader, fighting!"

The arena focused back on the four members of aespa. After the interactive game with Kim Yeri and Karina's timely emotional guidance and team cohesion, the four members' states were significantly more relaxed, and the eye contact between them was much more natural.

Karina took a deep breath, tidied up her bangs soaked with sweat, and her gaze became firm again: "Alright, kids, we've rested enough. For the next level, we are going to challenge something that belongs to our aespa. Are you ready?"

"Nae!" This time, the three girls' response was neater and more powerful than ever before.

In the monitoring room, Jiang Zhiyu kept all the details he had just captured in his heart—Karina's special attention to Giselle and the subtle interaction between them, her care for the other two members, and her leadership in quickly reorganizing the team's morale.

'Karina's leadership potential and role as a team glue are being stimulated by the high-pressure environment.'

'Winter and NingNing's variety show adaptability and energy are advantages.'

'Giselle's integration needs specific opportunities and guidance, and Karina seems to be a key point.'

'And... that "chemical reaction" that needs close observation...'

He glanced at Kim Soo-yeon beside him, who still had no expression but had focused eyes, knowing that she must have seen the same things.

aespa's "battle" was still ongoing, but they were transforming at a speed visible to the naked eye, from four independent individuals into a true "team." And this process itself, as well as all the sparks, friction, mutual support, and subtle feelings generated within it, would all be the most precious assets and... the most talked-about highlights of this Training Camp, and even their future idol careers.

Lee Tima was already rubbing her hands, ready to arrange new "surprises" for them in the "AE Resonance Laboratory." This variety show adventure, which combined "forging" and "excavation," was becoming more and more interesting, and also more and more... unfathomable.