Peninsula: The sharp-tongued producer is forced to work.

Although the atmosphere in the recording studio was still tense, it felt more like a large-scale stand-up comedy show than yesterday's "morgue" atmosphere.

Sitting at the control panel, Liu Yu swallowed back the "vocal cord donation plan" he had prepared under Tian Xiaojuan's murderous gaze, turning it into a series of muffled coughs.

"Teacher Liu Yu, if that last take wasn't good enough, please feel free to tell me, and I will definitely try my best to improve." Jin Caiyuan walked out of the recording studio with a professional smile that was so perfect it was impossible to find fault, but his eyes were flashing with a blatant provocation.

Liu Yu rubbed his temples and stared at the audio track on the screen, saying stiffly, "Kim Chae-won, if you could sing that line of lyrics with a bit more humanity, instead of sounding like an old lady grabbing discounted eggs in a supermarket, I think I would be happier."

"Yes, thank you very much for your careful guidance, teacher. However, since you think I sing like an old woman, it must be because you have a very deep and unique aesthetic preference for the voice of an old woman. You truly deserve to be the ace recording engineer of KZ Studio." Kim Chae-won bowed slightly, using polite language with perfect precision, but every word was like a honey-coated poison needle precisely piercing Liu Yu's blood pressure point.

"You son of a bitch"

"Pfft..." Ahn Yu-jin, who was sitting on the sofa, burst out laughing. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but her shoulders were still shaking violently.

Liu Yu turned his head and gave Ahn Yoo-jin a cold look: "Ahn Yoo-jin, if you find it interesting, I don't mind if you record the next segment. I remember your breathing sounded like a leaky bellows yesterday."

If it were yesterday, Ahn Yoo-jin would probably have already stood at attention and apologized, but today she keenly perceived Liu Yu's "weakness".

She sidled up to her with a grin, showing no sign of being intimidated. Instead, she pointed at Tian Xiaojuan sitting in the back row and said, "Uncle, are you being so fierce because Senior Xiaojuan is here, and you're trying to show off your authority? Actually, you don't need to. We all know you're actually quite afraid of her."

"Who said I'm afraid of her?" Liu Yu's voice instantly rose eight octaves. "I was just respecting the elderly and caring for the young; it's basic social etiquette! Tian Xiaojuan, you better control your younger generation! They're daring to shit on my head now!"

Tian Xiaojuan, leisurely sipping her iced Americano, rolled her eyes upon hearing this, her tone languid: "I think Youzhen is quite right. Liu Yu, you really should reflect on your teaching attitude. Also, who's the 'old' and who's the 'young'? Say it again!"

Liu Yu turned his head away, looking utterly defeated, muttering a string of Chinese curses that no one could understand.

He discovered that the recording studio was completely out of control, and his original "tyrant" persona collapsed without a trace the moment Jeon So-yeon appeared. The girls of IZ*ONE, especially Choi Ye-na and Ahn Yu-jin, were like hunting dogs with a keen sense of smell, instantly discovering his outwardly strong but inwardly weak nature.

"Teacher, teacher, don't be angry." Cui Ruina hopped over to Liu Yu like a happy duck, holding a bag of jelly that she had somehow found. "Have some jelly to cool down. Caiyuan actually sang that part quite well just now. Look, even Senior Xiaojuan nodded in approval."

"She nodded because she didn't sleep well last night and was dozing off!" Liu Yu shoved away the jelly Cui Ruina offered him. "And who gave you permission to eat snacks in the control room? What if you fall into the pusher?"

"Oh dear, Uncle, you really are just like my grandma, always nagging." Choi Ye-na completely ignored his cold face and even boldly patted Yoo Yu on the shoulder. "Relax, we're IZ*ONE, a miracle group. We'll definitely be able to record something that will satisfy you."

Liu Yu was stunned by the camera, but looking at Cui Ruina's innocent and carefree face, he couldn't find an outlet for his sharp tongue.

The girls seemed to have really stopped being afraid of him, and even started to treat him as some kind of "high-difficulty NPC" that they could tease at will.

"Children, children! Please restrain yourselves a little!"

Kwon Eun-bi finally stepped forward. If she didn't act as the "firefighter," Yoo Yu might really be driven to his death by his unruly sisters. She quickly walked over, first bowing apologetically to Jeon So-yeon, then pulling Choi Ye-na away. "Ye-na, don't disturb the teacher's work. Yoo-jin, go back to your seat!"

"Unnie, Uncle isn't actually that fierce." Ahn Yu-jin stuck out her tongue, but still obediently sat back down.

Quan Enfei turned to look at Liu Yu, her eyes filled with sympathy and helplessness: "Teacher Liu Yu, I'm so sorry. They're used to making a ruckus in the dormitory; it wasn't meant to disrespect you."

"I think they want to shorten my life by ten years." Liu Yu snorted coldly, put his headphones back on, and said, "Jin Caiyuan, get back to the recording studio. If you still can't sing well, I'll send the video of you rolling your eyes during the recording to your manager."

"Yes, teacher. If you think that kind of video could give you a raise, please be sure to send it. I'd also like to know if I still look as charming as you do in your photos." Kim Chae-won turned around gracefully and walked back to the recording studio, her movements resembling those of a proud peacock.

Recording continues.

With Jeon So-yeon present, Liu Yu, though still nitpicking, did soften his tone considerably, at least no longer using those vicious metaphors that could make anyone question their existence. And after realizing that Liu Yu "wouldn't actually bite," the members of IZ*ONE became increasingly relaxed, even starting to discuss arrangement details with him during breaks.

Ahn Yu-jin and Choi Ye-na were practically like two flies buzzing around Liu Yu, constantly asking why the melody was handled that way and what brand the plugin was.

Although Liu Yu looked disgusted, his instinct as a sound engineer compelled him to explain a few things when faced with a professional question. Surprisingly, their relationship quickly improved through a series of playful banter.

"Actually, the older man is quite handsome when he talks about professional knowledge," Ahn Yu-jin whispered in Choi Ye-na's ear.

"Right? I think he looks a lot like the male lead in a high-IQ crime movie when he wears glasses." Choi Ye-na nodded in agreement.

Tian Xiaojuan sat in the back row watching Liu Yu surrounded by a group of girls. Although he still had a stern face, the youthful energy that had not been seen for many years seemed to be gradually reviving in him.

She felt a mixture of relief and a strange bittersweetness. She knew very well how Liu Yu had endured all these years; he had locked himself in the dark recording studio, rejecting sunlight, people, and any social interaction that might awaken painful memories. And now, these noisy girls were forcibly tearing away the thick callus he had built around his heart in the most ruthless way.

Of course, not everyone is enjoying this joyful atmosphere.

Zhang Yuanying sat in the shadows at the far corner of the control room, holding her phone. The screen was black, but she stared blankly at the reflection on it.

She watched Choi Ye-na laugh and pat Yoo Yu's arm, watched Ahn Yoo-jin follow Yoo Yu around like a shadow, and watched Yoo Yu, who, although he was cursing "get lost," didn't actually show any disgust in his eyes.

The sweet, flawless smile still lingered on her lips, but her beautiful eyes held a cold, lifeless stillness.

The feeling was as if a group of reckless intruders had suddenly invaded her carefully marked hunting ground, which belonged only to her, and were wantonly trampling on her territory.

"It's so lively..." Zhang Yuanying murmured softly, her voice so low that only she could hear it.

She lifted her eyelids, her gaze passing over the laughing crowd to land on Liu Yu's slightly tired profile. She didn't care that Liu Yu mingled with them, because she knew how fragile such relationships based on "goodwill" and "closeness" were. Only pain, fear, and absolute possession were eternal.

"Unnies, you're so naive."

Zhang Yuanying put away her phone, stood up, and transformed back into the well-behaved and adorable maknae. She walked over to Kim Minju, affectionately put her arm around his shoulder, and asked innocently, "Unnie, don't you think Teacher Liu Yu is getting gentler and gentler? It feels so good, right?"

Kim Minju, who was practicing her vocalizations, paused for a moment, then smiled innocently: "Yes, I feel that Teacher Liu is actually a very nice person."

"Yes, I think so too." Zhang Yuanying tilted her head, smiling brightly, but a sticky, gleaming light flashed in her eyes.

Liu Yu, sitting at the control panel, suddenly felt a chill run down the back of his neck. He instinctively shrank back and turned to Tian Xiaojuan: "Tian Xiaojuan, did you turn the air conditioning too low?"

"If you're sick, go get treatment. Don't blame the air conditioner," Tian Xiaojuan retorted without looking up.