94: Chapter 93 Hurry, as the law commands!

The entrance to the "AE Resonance Lab" was a massive circular door with a cold metallic luster, lacking any handles or keypads. The door was covered in intricate patterns resembling circuit boards, with a groove in the center shaped like aespa's team emblem.

"This stage tests your 'AE Resonance'—that is, your chemistry, understanding, and co-creation ability as the collective entity of aespa." Lee Tima's voice came over the broadcast, carrying a rare hint of seriousness (perhaps because Kim Soo-yeon was watching nearby). "The door cannot be opened by conventional means. You need to search for scattered 'clues' within this lab. These clues will lead you to a 'fragmented score.' Only when the four of you can correctly and flawlessly perform the melody on the score with perfect harmony, injecting 'resonance energy' into the emblem's groove, will the door open."

The rules were clear, and the goal was definite. The four exchanged looks, and Karina quickly assigned tasks: "Winter, NingNing, you two are a team; search the left area. Giselle, you're with me; we'll handle the right. Watch for anything that could be a clue—symbols, numbers, sounds, changes in light and shadow—don't miss any abnormality. Keep communicating."

"Understood!" The three responded and immediately went into action.

The interior of the lab was like a high-tech maze, filled with various flickering instrument screens, impressive-looking projection devices, and strange equipment emitting low hums. Abstract geometric patterns or flowing data streams would occasionally surface on the walls.

Winter and NingNing quickly made a discovery. NingNing noticed a waveform on a screen that seemed to match a melodic fragment from one of their practice songs. Meanwhile, Winter found a pillar of light that constantly changed colors; the rhythm of the color changes corresponded to a simple Morse code rhythm.

"Unnie! Over here!" NingNing shouted, calling Karina and Giselle over.

The four gathered together, quickly exchanging information. Karina took out the tablet provided by the production team (an in-game item) and began trying to integrate the clues. The waveform corresponded to pitch, and the color rhythm likely corresponded to beats or rests...

"There's a section missing here." Karina pointed to a blank space on the tablet. "The rhythm of the light pillar breaks here, and the waveform doesn't show anything either. Giselle, did you find any devices or patterns that looked like pauses in that corner just now?"

Giselle thought back and pointed to an inconspicuous, slowly rotating light-and-shadow symbol projected on the floor. "That symbol... every time it rotates to a specific angle, the small light next to it dims. The cycle is about... five seconds?"

"A five-second rest?" Karina immediately recorded it. "Let's try it."

Based on the existing clues, they pieced together a short melody of about eight bars, but it was clearly incomplete and lacked harmony instructions.

Just as they were feeling a bit stuck, the lab's speakers suddenly began playing an ethereal, sacred, and polyphonically layered wordless vocal chorus—the kind of "heavenly" Messiah-style chant similar to a church choir.

The music was melodious and piercing, echoing through the high-tech lab and creating a strange contrast.

"Is this... a hint?" NingNing guessed.

"Harmony!" Karina reacted instantly. "The score needs harmony! This chant is demonstrating the possibilities of harmony! We need to arrange suitable harmony parts ourselves based on the melody!"

This was an even greater challenge. It required not only pitch and rhythm but also basic knowledge of harmony theory and excellent collaborative skills.

"I'll sing the main melody first. Winter, see if you can follow with a third-interval harmony. Ningning, listen to Winter and find a fifth or an octave. Giselle..." Karina looked at Giselle, pondering slightly. Giselle's vocal foundation was relatively weaker; giving her a complex harmony task directly might be too much pressure. "Giselle, you try singing along with the main melody first to get a feel for it, or use a simple root note accompaniment, okay?"

Giselle nodded, her gaze focused.

They began to try. The first time, everyone sang their own part, and the sounds were jumbled, completely out of tune. The second time, Winter's harmony went off track. The third time, NingNing missed the beat.

But no one complained or got discouraged. Karina patiently led them through it again and again, adjusting everyone's pitch and rhythm, and explaining simple harmony principles: "Winter, a bit lower here, yes, like that... NingNing, your voice can be a bit brighter, yes, very good... Giselle, no need to rush, follow my rhythm, yes..."

Her voice was steady and guiding, like a tuning fork, gradually gathering and calibrating the other three slightly straying voices.

In the monitoring room, Kim Soo-yeon watched the screen quietly. In the frame, the four girls were huddled together, focused on trying the harmony against the sheet music on the tablet. Karina stood in the center, sometimes demonstrating, sometimes listening, and sometimes speaking up to adjust, organizing the entire team's learning and blending process meticulously. Although the process was still raw and full of mistakes, the centripetal force of working together toward a single goal was already clearly visible.

Kim Soo-yeon's lips moved almost imperceptibly as she murmured in a volume only she could hear:

"A leader... is the backbone of the team, the largest weight-bearing pillar."

Her gaze fell on Karina with a hint of subtle approval. This girl was growing rapidly under the burden of pressure and responsibility. Her leadership was no longer just about giving orders; it had become a comprehensive ability blending technical guidance, emotional support, and process control. She was learning how to transform individual excellence into a force that propelled the team forward.

Jiang Zhiyu also noticed this astonishing blending speed. The four members of aespa, especially Karina, were adapting to this game (or rather, training) mode that required high collaboration and improvisation at a faster rate than expected. Kim Soo-yeon's previous "wake-up call" and these stages designed by Lee Tima requiring close cooperation were rapidly catalyzing their team's chemical reaction.

"Here, let's try extending Giselle's root note, and have Winter and Ningning's harmonies interweave here. It might have more layers, like the feeling in that chant just now," Karina proposed a new idea.

The other three nodded and tried again.

This time, when the four voices finally intertwined accurately, forming a simple yet harmonious and pleasant four-part harmony that vaguely carried the ethereal feel of the "chant," the team emblem groove in the center of the lab suddenly lit up with a soft blue light!

"We did it!" NingNing jumped excitedly.

Karina also showed a smile of relief but quickly restrained it, pointing to the door: "Quick, face the groove and sing the harmony we just did one more time. Stay steady!"

The four stood before the door, took a deep breath, and at a subtle nod from Karina, began to sing simultaneously.

The harmonious voices flowed like a trickling stream into the groove. The blue light grew brighter and brighter until finally, the heavy metal door made a soft click and slowly slid open to both sides, revealing the passage to the next area.

"Congratulations to aespa! Successfully unlocked 'AE Resonance'! Team chemistry level increased!" Lee Tima's voice rang out with a smile.

The four smiled at each other, tired but full of a sense of achievement. Karina clapped her hands: "Great job, kids! Keep this state up and let's keep going!"

She took the lead into the passage with steady steps. Winter and NingNing followed closely behind, and Giselle also quickened her pace to keep up, her gaze unconsciously following Karina's back.

In the monitoring room, Jiang Zhiyu watched Karina's increasingly steady and confident leader's posture, then glanced at Giselle's instinctively following gaze, and thought back to that harmonious four-part harmony just now...

He silently added another note to the little notebook in his mind:

'Team cohesion significantly improved. Leader core established. A relationship pattern of "dependence and guidance" between certain specific members has preliminarily formed. Music (harmony) is highly effective as a team bond.'

'Also... that "Messiah Choir" BGM and the harmony they whipped up themselves—why does it feel like... a cult (crossed out) a group soul with a full sense of mission is emerging? Is the direction of this project a bit skewed...?'

However, seeing the backs of the four aespa members walking toward the next stage with full motivation, the corners of Jiang Zhiyu's mouth still couldn't help but turn up.

If it's skewed, then let it be. As long as the effect is good, it can become popular, and it helps them grow quickly, being a "cult leader" (crossed out) a forger of the team's soul once in a while isn't out of the question.

Lee Tima had already excitedly begun preparing the next, even more "exciting" stage. This "ae training camp" was polishing the uncut gem that was aespa in a dazzling and effective way, quickly bringing out their own unique brilliance.

—

The recording of "code: ae training camp" proceeded in full swing amidst tension, laughter, sweat, and deepening team bonds. The growth of the four aespa members was visible to the naked eye, and the program material accumulated was rich enough. Lee Tima's reputation as a "Variety Devil" spread within SM and TVN, while Kim Soo-yeon's professional image as an "Iron-Blooded Instructor" increasingly took root in people's hearts.

Taking advantage of the recording breaks and the gaps during individual special training for aespa members, Kim Soo-yeon did not limit herself to the role of "instructor" or "performer." Her brain worked like high-speed precision machinery, analyzing not only the technical details and team dynamics of each aespa member but also overlooking the current status and future of the entire company as the President of TG Entertainment.

Late at night, in the President's office of TG Entertainment, which was not yet fully renovated but already had a basic scale, the lights remained on. Before Kim Soo-yeon lay a thick stack of documents—TG Entertainment's financial statements (mainly income from the "destined kim hyo-soon" series and "eclipse: prologue"), existing project plans ("ae training camp" and its potential derivative value), personnel structure, market analysis reports, and some materials Jiang Zhiyu had previously compiled regarding the Korean and global entertainment industries and technology trends.

Her slender fingers slid quickly across the tablet, browsing data, her brow sometimes furrowing and sometimes smoothing out. When Jiang Zhiyu pushed open the door and entered, he saw her deep in thought before a newly hung whiteboard on the wall, which already had a preliminary, clear-veined tree diagram drawn with a marker.

"Not resting yet?" Jiang Zhiyu placed a cup of hot milk by her hand.

"I have some ideas that need to be sorted out." Kim Soo-yeon took the milk, said thanks, and didn't take her eyes off the whiteboard. "Oppa, look."

She pointed to the root system at the bottom of the whiteboard, where several keywords were written: "Content Production (Drama/Variety)," "Music Distribution," "Artist Management (Incubation)."

"This is the current foundation of TG Entertainment and the areas that must be solidified and expanded in the short term." Kim Soo-yeon's voice was calm and clear. "'destined kim hyo-soon' proved our explosive power in drama and variety content production, but deep cooperation with giants like TVN and SM cannot rely on just one or two hits. We need to establish a more stable and forward-looking content development system and production team."

"In terms of music, 'eclipse: prologue' was a successful surprise attack, but competition in the digital music market is continuous. Besides my personal works, TG needs to discover and cultivate its own producers and songwriters, and even establish characteristic music labels. We can't always rely on you alone, Oppa, or outsourcing." She looked at Jiang Zhiyu. "We need to systematize and make your 'Midas touch' in music replicable."

"Artist management is a vital source of cash flow and influence. Lee Tima is our first success case, but it's not enough. We need a more scientific trainee selection and training system; we can't always rely on 'picking them up' (she glanced at Jiang Zhiyu meaningfully). The cooperation with SM on 'ae training camp' is a start; we can use this to learn their system while looking for opportunities for differentiated competition."

Jiang Zhiyu listened, nodding continuously. Kim Soo-yeon's analysis hit the nail on the head, completely grasping the current core tasks and bottlenecks of TG Entertainment.

Kim Soo-yeon's finger pointed to the trunk section, where several thicker branches extended: "Mid-term goal—establish stable cash flow and an industry influence network."

"Continue to profit through high-quality content (drama, variety, music) and accumulate capital. At the same time, using projects and talent as bonds, develop multi-layered, mutually beneficial collaborative relationships with major entertainment companies like SM, JYP, and Starship, as well as platforms like TVN and Netflix. Not confrontation, but integration and occupying key nodes in the ecosystem. For example, we can become a 'creative supplier' or a 'special talent training base' for top-tier content." She thought of her status as a "specially appointed instructor" at SM, which was itself a good entry point.

"In this process, continuously absorb and cultivate top-tier creative, management, and technical talent." Kim Soo-yeon's gaze became sharp. "Competition in the entertainment industry is ultimately a competition for talent."

Finally, her finger moved to the very top of the tree diagram, the canopy pointing toward the future, where a word was written in bold: "Tech Integration," with "Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR)" noted beside it.

"A long-term strategy, and also TG Entertainment's true moat and future." Kim Soo-yeon's voice lowered slightly, carrying a sense of certainty. "Oppa, you mentioned that in the Tianxuan Continent, virtual reality and immersive entertainment technology have already developed to a quite mature stage; it's just that the application scenarios and business models are different from here."

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes lit up. "Exactly. If technologies from over there, like the 'All-Senses Immersive Theater', 'Virtual Idol Coexistence System', and 'Personalized Emotional Regulation Pods', could be combined with Earth's hardware and internet ecosystem..."

"It would be a dimensional strike," Kim Soo-yeon interjected, her tone calm yet full of power. "But bringing out advanced technology directly is unrealistic; it would attract unnecessary attention and trouble. We need a gradual process."

She pointed to a branch extending below 'Tech Integration':

"Step one: Concept introduction and market education. Utilizing our existing content production capabilities, we'll subtly integrate VR/AR elements or related concepts into future films, dramas, variety shows, and even music videos to cultivate audience awareness and expectations. For example, producing supporting AR interactive content for aespa's 'AE' concept, or developing a fan-oriented game with a light VR experience similar to 'Fight, ae!'."

"Step two: Technology localization and collaborative R&D." Kim Soo-yeon's finger tapped the words 'China's Front-end Tech Industry'. "Oppa, your proposal to collaborate with cutting-edge tech companies in China is correct. They have the most complete hardware supply chain, a massive user market, and a relatively flexible—for us—cooperation environment. We can intervene as 'content creators' or 'special technical consultants', combining some of Tianxuan Continent's 'translated' and 'downgraded' technical concepts with Chinese engineering teams to develop entry-level VR/AR entertainment products suitable for the Earth market. TG can hold core creative patents and a portion of the technical dividends."

"Step three: Establish a TG Tech sub-brand and ecosystem." Kim Soo-yeon's plan was clear and bold. "When the technology and market are ready, TG Entertainment will hatch or invest in the establishment of an independent tech subsidiary focused on the R&D and application of immersive entertainment technology. From VR concerts, virtual idol live streams, and immersive theater to more cutting-edge brain-computer interface entertainment experiences... we will gradually build a TG Tech-entertainment ecosystem centered around 'ultimate experiences' and 'emotional connections'."

She put down the marker and turned to look at Jiang Zhiyu, her eyes flashing with the wisdom and ambition of a decision-maker, vastly different from her persona on stage.

"We'll use five years. The first two years will be spent solidifying our entertainment content base and accumulating capital and industry resources. In the third year, we'll launch the introduction of technological concepts and pilot collaborations in China. In the fourth to fifth years, we'll release our first signature VR/AR entertainment product, establish the tech sub-brand, and complete TG Entertainment's preliminary transformation from a 'content production company' to a 'tech-entertainment group'."

"By then, we'll not only have top-tier artists and content, but we'll also hold the key technologies that define the future form of entertainment. While SM and JYP are still fighting over traditional stages and traffic, TG will have already opened the door to the next era."

Silence filled the office, save for the faint sounds of the city night coming from outside the window. Jiang Zhiyu looked at the young girl before him—dressed in simple training clothes yet planning the future of an entertainment empire—and felt not just surprise, but deep admiration and excitement.

This was the true Kim Soo-yeon. Not just a gifted 'Diva of the Generation', not just a strict and professional 'Iron-Blooded Instructor', but a young entrepreneur with forward-thinking vision and meticulous logic.

Her plan was not only ambitious but also strategic, making full use of TG's current advantages (creativity, Kim Soo-yeon's personal cross-era knowledge), accessible resources (Jiang Zhiyu's knowledge, potential collaborations with Chinese and Korean enterprises), and the biggest future trend (the deep integration of technology and entertainment).

"A five-year plan..." Jiang Zhiyu repeated, a bright smile appearing on his face. "Excellent, Chairman-nim. This blueprint is even more brilliant and feasible than I imagined."

He walked to the whiteboard, picked up another pen, and added a few small words next to 'Tech Integration': 'Deeply bind with aespa's "AE" concept as the first flagship application scenario for technology implementation.'

"If we're going to play, let's play big," Jiang Zhiyu laughed. "Let aespa be more than just a girl group; let them become the first 'Digital Native Idol' prototype for the TG Tech-entertainment era. Their 'AE' world will be the best stage to showcase our virtual reality technology."

Kim Soo-yeon nodded, her gaze once again fixed on the clear five-year plan on the whiteboard.

From a lost girl on the Han River Bridge to a Chairman steering the future course of an entertainment company, it had only taken her a short time. But her goal was never limited to becoming an excellent artist or Manager.

What she wanted was to create an era.

And TG Entertainment was the handiest tool and the solid starting point in her hands. Outside the window, the stars in the Seoul night sky were hidden, but the sea of stars belonging to Kim Soo-yeon and TG Entertainment seemed to have just had its first brilliant course outlined on the planning map.

——

Time flew by amidst sweat, laughter, challenges, and bonding. The recording of 'code: ae training camp' was nearing its end, and the transformation of the aespa quartet could be described as a complete rebirth.

The core team issue, which had been initially highlighted by Kim Soo-yeon's question, "Aren't you looking at Ji-min?", had been repeatedly tempered and rapidly solidified through a series of subsequent high-intensity levels that required precise collaboration.

Karina's role as leader became increasingly distinct and deeply rooted in everyone's hearts. She was no longer just the ACE with the most comprehensive skills, but had become the hub for team decisions, an anchor for emotional stability, and the source of cohesion. In the various tricky games and sudden situations designed by Lee Tima, she learned to quickly judge the situation, decisively assign tasks, and give her teammates the support they needed most—whether it was technical guidance (for Giselle), emotional reassurance (for a stressed Minjeong), or creative inspiration (for the active-minded NingNing). Her leadership style gradually evolved from the initial "trying to carry everything" to a more mature and flexible "inspiring everyone to unite as a whole."

With Karina's encouragement and the team's inclusiveness, Minjeong slowly opened her heart. She began to take more initiative in expressing her thoughts (even if it sometimes seemed reckless) and no longer just nodded in agreement during team discussions. Her dancing skills improved significantly under pressure, and she even contributed several stunning highlights during a level that required improvised choreography. Her lively "twin-like" interactions with NingNing also brought many lighthearted moments to the team.

NingNing, as Kim Soo-yeon had expected, was working hard to "open up" herself. Not only was she trying a more uninhibited and explosive way of singing, but she was also more proactive and extroverted in team interactions. She became the team's "mood maker" and "foreign language representative" (when communicating with the production crew or virtual characters in English), and her interactions with senior Kim Yeri further showcased her excellent variety show potential. Her presence made aespa's team colors brighter and more diverse.

Giselle's integration trajectory was inseparable from Karina's guidance. Under Karina's conscious attention and "tailor-made" help (such as assigning vocal parts and dance tasks suitable for her current stage, and specifically asking for her opinion during team discussions), she gradually found her rhythm and position within the team. Although she remained the quietest one, her gaze no longer wandered; she was more focused and dedicated during practice, showing surprising reliability and stability in segments requiring precise team coordination (like harmonies and positioning). The silent understanding and trust between her and Karina became a very special and solid link in the team's bond.

The relationship between the four girls became closer and more harmonious than ever through the process of "fighting" together, overcoming difficulties, and sharing laughter and tears. During breaks, they would huddle together to watch replays, teasing each other about embarrassing moments while also seriously discussing how to improve. During meals, they would naturally share food and chat about fun things outside of training; even in the dorms, there were many more secrets and playful antics typical of young girls.

This authentic and positive team atmosphere radiating from the inside out, along with each individual's clearly visible growth trajectory, was faithfully recorded by the production crew's cameras.

Within SM Entertainment, everyone from the producers and Managers in charge of the aespa project to the executives who periodically watched the footage, and even Lee Soo-man himself during the final review, felt a sense of immense surprise and satisfaction.

Originally, their greatest expectation for this training camp variety show—led by TG Entertainment and filled with "Jiang-style mischievous humor" and "Lee-style black hole imagination"—was merely to increase aespa's exposure and subject them to some stress tests within a controllable range. They had even prepared to handle potential "chaos," "mistakes," or even "negative topics" in the show.

But the results far exceeded expectations.

aespa not only withstood the high-pressure tests but also demonstrated incredible growth and team cohesion in the process. The problems they exposed (communication, decision-making, individual weaknesses) were presented in a highly dramatic and educational way and were significantly improved in subsequent challenges. The potential, personal charm, and natural chemistry shown between members (whether it was the "salvational dependence" between Karina and Giselle, the "lively twins" of Minjeong and NingNing, or the harmonious interaction of the four as a whole) inspired SM's production and planning teams, revealing more possibilities for aespa beyond the stage in variety shows, endorsements, and even conceptual narratives.

During an internal SM executive project review meeting, the director in charge of aespa remarked emotionally, "The results of this collaboration with TG are better than our most optimistic estimates. President Jiang Zhiyu... truly deserves his industry reputation as the 'Midas Touch'. He not only provided top-tier program creativity and production quality but, more importantly, he and his team (Kim Soo-yeon, Lee Tima) used their unique methods to precisely hit the most critical pain points in aespa's growth and effectively facilitated their transformation. This 'collaboration fee' was worth every penny."

Another executive nodded in agreement. "Especially that Chairman Kim Soo-yeon. Her professional eye and training methods are practically tailor-made for polishing top-tier artists. Her analysis of each aespa member and her insights into team building have benefited even our own training team. It's a pity, though..."

He shook his head, his tone filled with undisguised regret and... a thick sense of jealousy.

"How did such a good prospect, such a formidable person, end up in the hands of TG Entertainment? If it had been us at SM who found Kim Soo-yeon on the Han River Bridge back then... Sigh, I'm jealous, jealous, just so jealous!!"

These words resonated with many present. Kim Soo-yeon's existence was like a mirror, reflecting the blind spots SM might have in discovering and nurturing 'non-traditional geniuses', and showing them the infinite possibilities brought by a 'composite treasure' with top-tier strength, an outstanding mind, and leadership qualities. And that possibility now belonged to their competitor (or rather, partner and potential competitor), TG Entertainment.

Lee Soo-man sat in the head seat, listening to his subordinates' discussion, his face unreadable, only his fingers lightly tapping on the table. How could he not have the same feelings? Kim Soo-yeon's value far exceeded that of a top solo singer or actress. Her fusion of artistic talent, management thinking, and forward-looking vision was a 'strategic asset' that any entertainment company aspiring to lead the industry would dream of.

"We must continue to deepen our cooperation with TG Entertainment," Lee Soo-man finally spoke, his voice steady. "The aespa project has proven their value. Not just this variety show, but in future music production, concept development, and even artist training exchanges, we can explore more cooperation models. As for Chairman Kim Soo-yeon herself..."

He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Maintain friendliness, stay observant, and keep collaborating. She is TG's trump card, but that doesn't mean she can't become a shared resource for us. In this world, there are no permanent enemies, only eternal interests and... the possibility of mutual achievement."

SM was highly optimistic about aespa's development prospects, and their evaluation of TG Entertainment (especially Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon) reached a new height. Wariness and admiration coexisted, while competition and cooperation intertwined.

And this was exactly the situation Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon had hoped to see.