25: What exactly happened inside Chapter 25?

Life in the Villa, after the initial chaos and emotional fluctuations, gradually settled into a slow, steady track that was vastly different from the S.M. Entertainment era.

The mandatory yet scientific nutritional meals, sufficient sleep, a safe living environment, an "information quarantine" away from the turmoil of the internet, and Song Tianhao's regulations—seemingly overbearing yet imbued with a strange gentleness—acted like a restorative cocoon, wrapping the nine scarred girls within and giving them time to breathe and recover.

The first step of "breaking the cocoon" arrived on the third day after they moved into the new Villa.

At nine in the morning, all the members were summoned outside a temporarily set-up room on the first floor: a "psychological counseling room" with excellent soundproofing.

There were no signs on the door, but the atmosphere was clearly different from the other relaxed areas of the Villa, exuding a solemnity that forbade disturbance.

The girls, dressed in comfortable loungewear, stood in twos and threes in the hallway outside.

Their expressions varied—there was curiosity, unease, resistance, and even a faint sense of anticipation.

They all knew that today was the weekly psychological counseling session mandated by the President.

They just hadn't expected it to come so soon, and furthermore, the counselor seemed to be... the President himself?

"The President... actually knows how to do this?" Sunny whispered to Tiffany Hwang beside her, her face filled with skepticism.

"I don't know... but it seems like the President knows a little bit of everything?" Tiffany Hwang wasn't entirely sure either.

Jessica Jung stood leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, her expression cool, yet there was a hint of complexity deep in her eyes.

The conversation in the study that night, the photocopy of the f(x) proposal, and the draft sent by the lawyer shortly after regarding the right of first refusal for Krystal's contract, had given her a brand new and undefinable perception of this new President.

He was not just a "boss."

As the leader, Kim Taeyeon stood with her back straight, but her slightly pursed lips and occasional unconscious rubbing of her fingers betrayed her inner tension.

Carrying the entire team on her shoulders, she faced the most pressure and was in the greatest need of counseling, yet she was also the most afraid of revealing her vulnerability.

The door opened.

Song Tianhao stood at the entrance.

He was wearing a light gray casual suit today without a tie, making him look less sharp than usual, replaced by a sense of composure and... an indescribable quality that made people instinctively want to trust him.

His gaze swept calmly over the nine girls.

"Come in one by one, in order. About thirty minutes each. The others wait in the lounge area outside and keep quiet."

His voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Once you go in, you can talk, or you can choose not to. You can sit, or you can lie down. There is water and tissues in the room.

There are no cameras or recordings here; the conversation is strictly between you and me. Unless it involves serious self-harm or intent to harm others, it will remain absolutely confidential. This is the rule, and it is my promise."

His words were clear and professional, dispelling some of the members' concerns about "privacy" and "leaks."

But the question, "Is the President a psychologist?" still hovered in the minds of most of them.

The first to go in was Im Yoona.

Her steps were hesitant as she entered, and the faint dark circles under her eyes suggested she might not have slept very well last night.

The door closed behind her.

The hallway was silent.

The remaining eight people sat or stood; no one spoke, and the atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.

Faint, muffled sounds of talking could be heard from inside the room, but the content was indistinguishable.

About twenty minutes later, suppressed sobbing seemed to come from inside, lasting for a few minutes before gradually subsiding.

At exactly thirty minutes, the door opened.

Im Yoona walked out.

Her eyes were visibly red and swollen, and there were still undried tear tracks on her face, but strangely, her expression was not sad.

On the contrary, there was a sense of relief, and her eyes even looked clearer than before she went in.

She didn't look at anyone, just nodded slightly to Kim Taeyeon, who was guarding the door, then walked quickly to the lounge area, picked up a bottle of water, took small sips, and stared blankly out the window.

Then came Sunny, Tiffany Hwang, Kim Hyoyeon, Kwon Yuri, Choi Sooyoung, Seohyun... one after another, entering and exiting in order of age.

Each person spent about thirty minutes inside.

Everyone who came out had red eyes and tear-stained faces.

Their expressions were either exhausted, relieved, or dazed, but without exception, that invisible, taut tension on them seemed to have loosened somewhat.

When Kwon Yuri came out, she even offered a tearful smile to the worried older members.

This caused the doubts in the hearts of Kim Taeyeon and the other members waiting outside to be gradually replaced by a complex curiosity and... a faint sense of anticipation.

What exactly did the President do inside? What did he say?

Why had everyone cried upon coming out, yet their states seemed to have improved?

Finally, it was time for the maknae Seohyun to go in.

She was the last of the younger ones.

After she came out, her eyes were also red, but her face was even more serious than when she went in.

She bowed deeply to Kim Taeyeon and whispered, "Unnie, it's your turn." Then she walked away silently.

Now, only Kim Taeyeon was left outside the door.

She took a deep breath, smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on her clothes, raised her hand, and knocked gently on the door.

"Come in." Song Tianhao's steady voice came from inside.

Kim Taeyeon pushed the door open and stepped inside, gently closing it behind her.

The room was simpler and more comfortable than she had imagined.

There were no cold medical beds, only two single sofas placed opposite each other that looked very soft.

Between them was a low, round coffee table with a kettle, cups, and a tissue box on it.

The curtains were dark and drawn tightly, with only a floor lamp with soft light turned on, creating a safe, private, and relaxing atmosphere.

The air was filled with a very faint, comforting woody scent, mixed with a trace of... herbal medicine?

Song Tianhao was sitting on the inner sofa, his posture relaxed, holding an open notebook and a pen, though he wasn't writing anything.

Seeing her enter, he pointed to the opposite sofa: "Sit. Help yourself to water."

Kim Taeyeon sat down on the opposite sofa, her back habitually straight, hands on her knees—a standard, impeccable idol posture.

She was a bit reserved, her gaze quickly sweeping across the room before landing on Song Tianhao's face, waiting for his "opening remarks" or "questions."

However, Song Tianhao did not speak immediately.

He just sat there quietly, looking at her with a calm gaze, without any sense of scrutiny or urging, as if giving her time to adapt to the environment, or waiting for her to speak first.

This silence was not awkward; on the contrary, it had a strange sense of tolerance.

But Kim Taeyeon was not used to it.

She was accustomed to being questioned, being arranged, and being required to "state your problem."

The prolonged silence made her feel somewhat at a loss, and her fingers unconsciously twisted together.

Just as she couldn't help but want to say something to break the silence, Song Tianhao suddenly spoke, asking a question she completely didn't expect:

"Did you like the pumpkin porridge for breakfast today?"

Kim Taeyeon was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously replied: "...Um, yes, I liked it. It was very warm."

"The chef said you don't like sugar, so she didn't add any. If you find it bland, you can ask her to prepare some honey for you tomorrow." Song Tianhao's tone was like casual small talk.

"No, no need, it's good as it is. Thank you, President." Kim Taeyeon said quickly, feeling even more confused.

Psychological counseling... does it start with talking about breakfast?

"Did you sleep well last night? As for Yoona, did she have any nightmares later on?" Song Tianhao asked again, his gaze falling on the similarly visible dark circles under her eyes.

"Yoona slept very well, the aromatherapy diffuser is very useful. I... I am also okay." Kim Taeyeon lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, her fingers curling unconsciously.

"Hmm." Song Tianhao acknowledged, not pressing further.

The room went quiet again.

This silence lasted even longer.

Kim Taeyeon could hear her own slightly rapid heartbeat and the extremely faint hum of the air conditioner.

She could feel Song Tianhao's gaze still resting peacefully on her, without pressure, yet leaving her nowhere to hide.

The exhaustion, anxiety, dull stomach pain, confusion about the future, responsibility for the members, and the heavy burden of the title "leader" that she had forcibly suppressed... like a dormant volcano, began to surge uneasily in this quiet and safe space.

She suddenly realized that the "professional Q&A" or "psychological assessment" she had anticipated didn't happen.

The President didn't ask her "How did you feel during the Black Ocean," "What is your biggest pressure right now," "How is your relationship with the members"...

He just sat there, quietly, using his gaze to tell her: It is safe here, you can talk, or you can choose not to. You can say whatever you want.

This feeling of "being permitted" was more impactful than any professional guidance.

For a long time, as the leader, she had to be strong, stable, and be the pillar for everyone.

At S.M. Entertainment, no one asked if she was tired or needed to rest; they only cared about stage effects, ratings, and fan reactions.

Even she herself had become accustomed to ignoring physical discomfort and inner cries, forcibly holding on with responsibility and medication.

Tears, without warning, instantly welled up in her eyes.

She bowed her head sharply, biting her lip tightly to keep from losing her composure.

She couldn't cry; she was the leader, she couldn't... in front of the President.

"There is no leader here, Kim Taeyeon." Song Tianhao's voice sounded at the right moment, calm, yet like a key, gently unlocking a certain lock.

"Only someone who needs to rest and talk. People outside cannot hear or see. You can be anyone, or you can be no one. Just you."

This sentence became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Kim Taeyeon's tears fell in large drops onto the back of her hands resting on her knees, scorching hot.

She finally gave up resistance; her shoulders slumped, her back was no longer straight, and she curled into the soft sofa, finally letting down all her defenses, exhausted to the extreme.

She covered her face with her hands, and suppressed sobs leaked out from between her fingers.

"I, I'm sorry... President... I..." She was incoherent, not knowing what else to say besides apologizing.

"No need to say sorry." Song Tianhao's voice remained steady. He didn't even hand her a tissue, just pushed the tissue box toward her.

"Cry if you want to; the time here is yours."

Kim Taeyeon cried for a long time.

It was as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances, fears, pressures, dissatisfaction with herself, and helplessness about the future that had accumulated since the Black Ocean.

Her crying went from suppressed at the beginning to cathartic, and finally into weak sobs.

During this process, Song Tianhao remained sitting quietly, not interrupting, not comforting, just acting as a silent, tolerant witness.

Occasionally, when her crying subsided slightly and she gasped sharply, he would timely hand her a tissue.

I don't know how much time passed, but Taeyeon's sobbing gradually quieted down, leaving only the occasional hiccup.

She took the tissue—she had lost track of how many Song Tianhao had handed her—and wiped the tear tracks from her face haphazardly. Her eyes were swollen like peaches, and her voice was terribly hoarse:

"President, I... I have to take sleeping pills every day just to fall asleep. Sometimes even that doesn't work, and I just lie there with my eyes open until dawn. My stomach, my stomach always hurts too. It's a little better when I take medicine, but it hurts again when I don't..."

She spoke intermittently, as if she were confessing, or perhaps as if she had finally found an outlet to pour her heart out. "I didn't dare tell the members. I was afraid they would worry, afraid they would think I'm a useless leader. During the Black Ocean, I watched them crying on stage and trembling off stage, and I couldn't do anything..."

"I could only tell them 'It's okay, it will get better,' but even I didn't believe it myself. Since moving here, you've been so good to us, and that actually made me more afraid. Afraid that we don't deserve it, afraid of letting you down, afraid of next year... next year at Jamsil..."

By the end, her voice was getting lower and lower, almost inaudible. She just kept her head down, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Just then, because she was so emotional, her movements were a bit too large, and a small pill bottle that had been in her pajama pocket was knocked out. With a "clatter," it fell onto the soft carpet and rolled to Song Tianhao's feet.

It was a small, white plastic pill bottle without any labels.

Taeyeon's face turned deathly pale in an instant. She wanted to reach out to pick it up, but Song Tianhao was faster. He bent over, picked up the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and poured a few white pills into his palm. He brought them close to smell them, then carefully examined the shape and markings on the pills.

His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his eyes turned sharp in an instant.

"Did the S.M. Entertainment infirmary prescribe this?" he asked, his voice turning cold.

Taeyeon shuddered and nodded, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "Mm... they said it helps with sleep and... relieving anxiety..."

Song Tianhao looked at the pills in his palm. His tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable coldness: "This medication contains certain ingredients. The short-term sedative effect is acceptable, but long-term use damages the liver, and it has addictive properties and withdrawal symptoms. S.M. Entertainment's doctor just prescribed you this?"

Taeyeon suddenly lifted her head, all color drained from her face.

Damages the liver? Addictive? She had absolutely no idea! The S.M. Entertainment doctor only said, "You're under a lot of pressure and not sleeping well, take this," without even telling her the specific name of the medication or its side effects!

Song Tianhao didn't say anything more. He threw the small pill bottle, along with the pills in his palm, directly into the trash can nearby.

Then, under Taeyeon's astonished gaze, he took a small dark brown glass bottle from his inner suit pocket. A handwritten label was stuck to the bottle. The handwriting was a bit messy, but legible: [Three times a day; double the dose when you want to cry].

He unscrewed the jar, poured out a few dark brown, sugar-coated pills that emitted a faint herbal fragrance, and handed them to Taeyeon.

"Take these. It's a formula to calm the mind and aid sleep. I... had someone bring the herbs over from China and prepared it myself."

As he spoke, his tone was an unquestionable command: "The ingredients are clean, mainly Ziziphus jujuba seed, Poria, and lily bulb. It calms the mind without harming the body. Whenever you can't sleep or feel upset, just take two of these. They're sugar-coated, so they won't be bitter."

Taeyeon stared blankly at the few small, unimposing sugar-coated pills in her palm, then looked at the white pill bottle tossed into the trash, and finally looked up at Song Tianhao's calm, expressionless face.

A surge of immense lingering fear intertwined with an indescribable warmth, making her tears, which had just stopped, threaten to overflow again. President... he even prepared this? And mixed the medicine himself?

"Throw that bottle away, and don't ever touch it again."

Song Tianhao withdrew his hand and looked at her. His tone softened slightly, but remained serious: "Your body doesn't just belong to you; it belongs to the leader of Girls Generation, to your nine sisters, and also... it is an asset I spent 50 billion to purchase. I must ensure it maintains its value; I cannot let it depreciate. Do you understand?"

These words were blunt, perhaps even cold, but Taeyeon understood the deeper meaning. He was using his own way to emphasize the importance of health and to "draw a line" regarding her unauthorized use of harmful medication.

She nodded vigorously and carefully placed the sugar-coated pills into her pajama pocket, as if she were safeguarding some precious treasure.

Song Tianhao watched her careful movements and was silent for a few seconds. Then, he did something that shocked Taeyeon even more.

He took out his phone, unlocked it, opened the recording function, and placed the phone on the coffee table between them. The red recording indicator light turned on.

Then, he sat up straight, looked at Taeyeon, and in a clear, steady, and serious tone usually reserved for formal occasions, he said word for word:

"Now, I, Song Tianhao, in my capacity as the Representative Director of Sky Entertainment and President of Girls Generation's agency, formally announce!"

He paused, ensuring every word was clearly recorded.

"Girls Generation leader, member Taeyeon, due to extreme physical and mental exhaustion, requires concentrated rest. I hereby formally approve a three-day leave. During this leave, the position of Girls Generation leader will be temporarily held by me, Song Tianhao."

"The above decision takes effect immediately. During the leave, member Taeyeon must completely disconnect from work-related communications and focus on recuperation. No one may disturb her with any work-related matters. This recording serves as proof."

After finishing, he pressed the stop recording button.

Taeyeon was completely stunned, her mind a blank slate. Leave? The President acting as leader? And... this recording as proof?

Song Tianhao operated his phone and sent the audio file he had just recorded to Taeyeon via a messaging app.

"I've sent you the file. Save it." He looked into Taeyeon's dazed eyes, his tone returning to its usual flatness, but the words he spoke carried a strange, reassuring power: "This is your 'imperial sword.'

From now on, at Sky Entertainment, no matter who it is, including myself, if you are clearly in need of rest and someone tries to pressure you with words like work, responsibility, or leadership, telling you to 'hold on,' just play this recording for them. Tell them, 'The President ordered me to rest, he is the leader now, talk to him if you have any issues, don't bother me.'"

Taeyeon looked down at the audio file she had just received on her phone screen. The filename was "President's Order - Taeyeon Three-Day Leave - Acting Leader." Her fingers trembled as she tapped play, and Song Tianhao's clear, serious voice echoed in the quiet room once more...

As she listened, she suddenly laughed. At first, it was just the corners of her mouth turning up, then the arc grew larger, and finally, she actually laughed out loud. But as she laughed, her tears gushed out again without warning.

It was an emotional release mixed with relief and a heavy sense of security.

So, it really was okay to "not be able to hold on."

So, when you can't hold on, there really is someone who will use such an almost "overbearing" and "childish" way to order you to rest, telling you, "If the sky falls, there is someone taller to hold it up now."

She cried uncontrollably, yet couldn't stop laughing, like a madwoman.

Song Tianhao did not disturb her. He simply waited quietly for this emotional storm to pass, handing her new tissues at the right moment.

After a long while, Taeyeon finally calmed down slowly. She used a tissue to carefully wipe away the tears and... traces of her smile. Although her eyes were still red and swollen, the heavy exhaustion and tension in her gaze seemed to have dissipated quite a bit, replaced by a clearer, brighter glimmer.

She stood up, bowed deeply to Song Tianhao, and said in a hoarse voice: "Thank you, President. Truly... thank you very much."

Song Tianhao also stood up and nodded: "You're welcome. Now, for your first 'Acting Leader's order,' tell me, where do you want to go these three days? What do you want to do? As long as it isn't illegal or dangerous, the company will cover it."

Taeyeon was stunned for a moment; she hadn't thought about this question yet. The reality of having a leave finally dawned on her at this moment. Where to go? What to do? It seemed... she hadn't had any time for herself, time to completely zone out, in a very long time.

She hesitated for a moment and said softly: "I... I don't know. Maybe... just sleep in my room?"

"Approved," Song Tianhao nodded, "but only for one day. The remaining two days, you must go out. See the sun, feel the breeze, eat something good, watch a movie, or... go home?"

He noticed that Taeyeon's body stiffened almost imperceptibly when she heard "go home." Taeyeon's phone screen lit up, showing dozens of missed calls, all from the same contact: "Father."

Taeyeon fell silent.

Song Tianhao did not press her, simply saying: "It's up to you. Once you've decided, tell Manager Sehun, and he will make the arrangements. Now, go out. Your members must be worried sick waiting for you."

Taeyeon took a deep breath, bowed again, then turned and walked to the door, her hand gripping the doorknob. She paused for a moment, as if gathering courage, then turned it and pulled the door open.

The scene outside the door left her stunned in place for an instant.

The hallway was not empty. The other eight members were all there, every single one of them, standing neatly in a line.

They had clearly been waiting for a long time. Everyone's eyes were red, and there were dried tear tracks on their faces. But at this moment, they were all looking at Taeyeon, their eyes filled with worry, concern, heartache, and a certain determination.

Choi Sooyoung was the first to speak, her voice still carrying a nasally tone from crying, as she said very softly: "Unnie... we... we eavesdropped."

Kwon Yuri stepped forward, reached out, and gently hugged the still-dazed Taeyeon, resting her head on Taeyeon's shoulder. Her voice was muffled, but it reached Taeyeon's ears clearly:

"Unnie, you've worked hard."

"Now..."

She lifted her head, looked into Taeyeon's red eyes, and revealed a smile that was tearful yet incredibly warm.

"It's our turn to be your leader."

"For these three days, you don't have to think about anything, you don't have to worry about anything. Just get some good rest."

"Girls Generation still has us."

Taeyeon looked blankly at the sisters gathering around her, at the sincere emotions in their red eyes and the courage they had to share her burden, then turned back to look at Song Tianhao, who was standing quietly at the doorway of the counseling room with a calm gaze.

Her tears gushed out again without warning. But this time, they were warm, scalding, and full of strength.

Taeyeon turned back and hugged Kwon Yuri tightly, burying her face in her younger sisters' shoulders, and nodded heavily.