NOW SCREENING! have you heard of a media mogul and princely star paired together? immerse yourself in a tale in this frisky cause célèbre that'll surely get you hot under the collar! starring yan jia, kim mingyu, and the other dozen.
Amidst the hurly-burly of Seoul, Carat Corp. wonders if two stars are becoming a constellation.
SET in a timeline spanning from twenty-fourteen until twenty-twenty six, As Seen On Screen is a chick-flick-adjacent romantic comedy drama film. The film stars Yan Jia (Zhiyu) and Kim Mingyu (Mingyu), and is a direct meditation to their reported dalliance that first burgeoned in 2022, then rekindled in 2024.
The much-obsessed-over pair was first brought up when a not-so coincidental occasion piqued public interest. The sighting dates back to when the group made a dazzling comeback with the release of 'SECTOR 17' in 2022, where the pair was spotted leaving separately from an undisclosed building. A few fans perceived their potentially coordinated outfits and marked the rumor's first baby steps as "explosive". The sighting was looked upon favorably.
Subsequently, press media syndicates girded up and began the investigation with prying eyes, because if they are indeed in a budding relationship, then the headlines would grant them piles of big bucks. However, the trail ran cold after the 3-month-long investigation, alongside an added discussion that eventually upstaged the rumor.
In June 2024, the reported dalliance seemingly surfaced back again after SEVENTEEN took up the stage for Glastonbury. During the group's performance, fans kept an eye on Zhiyu and Mingyu, whom of which wore (potentially) matching silver rings on their left index finger, respectively. This indicates a key detail suggesting that this might relate to some sort of courtship, as noted from a fan tweet a few days after the performance.
Another discussion joined the gossip mill subsequently, concerning Zhiyu's supposed participation in writing SEVENTEEN's twinkling track 'Candy'. Given the track's sweetly romantic connotation, this welds almost perfectly to the ongoing allegation. "Relationship so impactful you had to write a song about it," in reference to Glastonbury's and SECTOR 17's fruitful events. "The lyric 'is it childish if I want to want your whole heart' fucking nails the whole shit down. Zhiyu's previous romance (from what I've heard) wasn't as consistent." in reference to the star's erstwhile relationship.
The overarching era that confirmed the gyrating theories began after SEVENTEEN's fourth sub-unit, CxM (S.Coups X Mingyu) concluded their promotion activities for "Hype Vibes", wherein Mingyu has continued to peel his onion by accompanying Zhiyu after her shoot with The Devil Wears Prada 2 in Milan.
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🤔 Tough crowd? Let's see what people think!
A buzzing rendition of a a not-so trouble-free, star-studded romance between two pining worldstars who navigates through the upwardly ostentatious orbit of artistry and public scrutiny.
Seventeen's Mingyu and Zhiyu rekindles the lost art of courtship, and rings.
Like it or loathe it, this apparent romance is many-splendored and has been a prevailing theory for over five years.
The first few seconds of the broadcast began with several bungling attempts to adjust the camera view before Zhiyu eventually acquiesces to the fact that her phone does not have four limbs to sustain itself unless she holds it.
It took her another five to primp and preen before her lips curl into a gentle smile. She lifts her hand to wave before she inches closer to the camera.
"Hi, hi," she chirps. "Woah, most of you are here already?"
In response to her amusement, several viewers began expressing their disbelief given the rarity of the moment.
Zhiyu averts her gaze to comb through the barrage of comments, her grin noticeably widening.
"Wow, it's been a while since I went live, hasn't it?" she presses her lips together. "I should do more lives like these, then."
She offers a precursory glance at the camera, scrunching her nose once before muttering something about a stubborn strand of hair.
Beside her, someone lets out a breathy whistle.
Zhiyu snorts, eyeing on the wide-eyed, transfixed man beside her before she turns the camera towards his direction. The man, seemingly unruffled at the evident explosion in the terrain of comments, stares spellbound into her eyes.
Zhiyu grimaces, swatting at his face. "What are you looking at?"
Mingyu leaps at the chance to pivot his head and kiss the palm of her hand, to which she quickly retaliates by scoffing at the camera. "Are you guys seeing this?"
"Hello, Carats," Mingyu chimed in with a click of his tongue. "I'm finally in the same car as the love of my life after a while, congratulate me."
OH MY GOD PINCH ME RIGHT NOW
MAMA Y PAPA😭😭😭😭
ZHIYU MINGYU in one live… is this a dream… wake me up right now
Mingyu how does it feel to live my dream
"'Mingyu, how does it feel to live my dream?'" he mutters, moving closer to the screen. "it feels like heaven, I don't want to wake up."
The man spoke so piously about the bewildered girl beside him he bursts in laughter before pinching her cheek in adoration. He then redirects his gaze back to the broadcast.
"Can you guys see us well?" he asks as his eyes narrow. "It's a little dark here, don't you think?"
Zhiyu gnaws her lip in a train of thought. It takes approximately two seconds until she snaps her fingers and beckons Mingyu to hand his phone. He absentmindedly obliges.
"Let's try using the flashlight," she grumbles. "I knew I should've brought the portable light for this."
The live is blanketed in several seconds bereft of noise as the two propositions the camera and angles the light downward. After a promising set-up, Mingyu props his arm against the cushioned armrest, humming a mindless tune reminiscent to the chorus of 'Candy'.
"Carats, we just got back after a shoot and wanted to drop by a restaurant," Zhiyu titters. "but with the renovation in the offing there, what I wanted wasn't available, so we'll just go back."
"It's already late either way, but it's still a shame," she adds. "I've been meaning to eat there for a while."
"But," Mingyu quips, "in lieu of that, we'll order takeout."
Zhiyu's lower lip juts out as she scans another wave of comments. In the brevity of the moment, the red light washes over the screen as the car stops at the traffic light.
"Oh? We actually look pretty good in red lighting" she chuckles.
"You look beautiful in any lighting, though." Mingyu interjects.
Zhiyu busies herself by raking her fingers through the tresses of her raven black hair, though her straightened shoulders were no less noticeable. Amusing, at one point.
"Anyway," she gravels out. "in light of counting the days until you… and the others go to complete their military service…"
Zhiyu purses her lips."They're asking how you've been spending your time."
"Well…" Mingyu begins with a meek smile. "It's the usual; busier schedules, but at the same time I want to devote my leisure hours with myself and my loved ones. I can't go abroad much, as much as I want to. But it's been especially fulfilling to be able to spend more time with my people, especially her, at the very least."
"He's been tagging along often when he gets to," Zhiyu nods. "He's there in the recording studio, then we'll go somewhere, and he's been hanging around in my dorm it's kind of annoying."
"Annoying, you say?" he gers a sour look. "You'll be abroad for a while, don't blame me if you miss me too much."
"I know, silly," she giggles heartily, placing her hand beneath his jaw. "but we'll call, I'll text, and we'll be back before we know it."
With a mushy grin she knows far too well, Mingyu mouths a silent 'I love you' before he looks back at the screen.
SILENCE EVERYONE MY SHOW IS ON
alcohol is good but have you ever heard of having a healthy relationship like these two? me neither, pass thebottle😂😂😂
of course this happens when the love of my life is ghosting me
my steak too juicy my lobster too buttery
oh girl we been knew
REF DO SOMETHING???????????????
"Oh wait!" Zhiyu chips in, patting Mingyu's thigh excitedly. "Have you heard of the photocard fiasco thingamajig?"
Mingyu's brows lift in intrigue.
"There's a photocard fiasco?"
"…Well, not entirely. But it's like, some sort of wild discovery."
With his usual keen, rapt gaze warm in his eyes, he traces tiny little circles on the lines of her palm splayed across his thigh.
"Go on."
With an incredulous shake of her head, she attempts to stifle a laugh, already rattled to even begin her story properly.
"Okay, okay, so this was a few days ago. I've never actually tried to figure out how Carats make money off our merch, like, through reselling."
The live feed descends into a frenzy of reactions.
"I was in Yoo Byung-Jae's podcast segment where I listened to stories and confessions from people and empathize."
Zhiyu heaves a sigh, chewing on her lip in thought.
"There was this person, I think she went by the alias SoongSoong? She told the broadcast something about how a lucky draw photocard helped her with her rent."
"Naturally, I asked her how much it'd be sold for in the market," she winces. "and she said she sold it for six hundred dollars, which is roughly eight-hundred thousand won."
Beside her, Mingyu nods far too casually.
"Aren't you shocked?" Zhiyu gasps.
"…That's actually lower than I thought."
Her head snaps so fast she'd get whiplash. "Lower? Carats, how much do resellers charge you when they sell photocards?"
I got Mingyu's Spill The Feels Weverse Lucky Draw photocard for $72
holographic photocards can get you two albums here
my jeonghan pc cost me $200 😭
With every comment cascading down, the concern plastered all over Zhiyu's face becomes much more evident. "You're lying."
She reaches over for her other phone to browse through websites, her jaw ajar.
"You guys might actually be crazy for selling printed paper for fifty dollars."
Mingyu leans over, his hand travelling farther until the pad of his thumb lands on her hip.
"Wow, I have that one of yours in my wallet and it's ninety dollars."
"And it's not even something that should be sold for ninety!" she laughs. "it's a selfie. And I give enough selfies, don't I?"
"I don't know," Mingyu shrugs. "I'd want to sell it at that price if I had to let that one go."
Zhiyu looks back down to the blue screen glowering beneath her, scowling faintly at yet another exclusive sold at an absurd price, muttering under her breath asking how limited these photocards are to be sold at such price.
"But thankfully, I won't need to let go of photocards and sell them for another"
"Pfft, you just want free Zhiyu photocards" she flouts at his statement.
"No," Mingyu simpers before leaning in. "I have the real thing right beside me."
"The rarest kind."
He intertwines their fingers together.
"The original, in fact."
"Carats, don't look" Zhiyu contended, using her vacant hand to cover the lens before the man attempts any further mischief.
kim mingyu we are NOT doing this today
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
GODDAMN THAT WAS SMOOTH
WAIT NO DON'T COVER THE LENS
After a brief exchange of undisclosed actions, she lifts her hand away from the lens before clearing her throat, shoulders pulled taut.
"That was cheesy."
With Mingyu's head nestled on the crook of her neck, Zhiyu leans forward to pore over the comments absentmindedly, humming every so often whenever she catches something interesting.
"'What were you shooting today?' Ha! you almost got me there," she huffs. "it's something, that's that."
"'I miss Douzi'" she reads aloud. "I met her yesterday with my brother on call, you'll see her eventually."
"'What's outside the window?' traffic? moving on."
"Can you recommend me a place to go out with my partner?" she reads aloud, glancing sideways to her boyfriend.
"Everland, that's where we last had our date" Mingyu responds.
The comments continue pouring in.
"'What should I have for dinner?' pizza! I'm also getting that for dinner when we get home."
Zhiyu puckers her lips as a brief moment of silence engulfs the car.
"'You got teal nails' yes, aren't they cute?" she lets out a soft laugh.
Her head lifts momentarily at a faint voice from the rearview mirror, then returns to the camera.
"'Mingyu, say something in Chinese,'" Mingyu pipes in, steepling his hands. "wait, I know this."
"tiánxīn" he breathes.
"So suddenly?" she giggles in the same language.
"That's what you call me" Mingyu promptly switches back to Korean. "tiánxīn, look at this, tiánxīn, come home, tiánxīn, let's go there."
we're still here btw
AW WHAT
The endearment term nearly falls off too easily, too sweetly from his tongue, she thinks. It's heavily accented, though the hazard of the phrase, in spite of its rough edges, remains as dangerous.
"Whatever…" Zhiyu's cheeks pale into a shade of pink.
"Carats, this one's going to be between us, 'kay?" this time, Zhiyu opts for Vietnamese. A language Mingyu won't get to understand in a short notice.
"He thinks he's very good at guessing." she chuckles.
"But he won't get it anyway, because I'm speaking in a language only some of you can understand" she continues.
"So I'll say this anyway and leave it to you guys," she scoots closer to the camera. "I have a surprise for him at home."
Mingyu's ears are practically fuming with an itching curiosity.
"Yah, what are you planning?" he looks at her with a conspiratorial smirk, glancing at the flutter of comments almost conspicuously signalling an impending peril.
"Oh, it's none of your concern" Zhiyu switches back to Korean almost immediately.
"Don't tease me, the comments are spoiling it."
"You trust them more than me?"
Mingyu's brows lift in a silent taunt.
"We are not redirecting the conversation"
Zhiyu smiles, a poorly made attempt.
"Zhiyu."
"What?"
"Sweetheart, don't do this to me."
"Hey, that's no—"
"Tiánxīn."
That, was way too abrupt.
"Hey, red card. Weaponizing nicknames is extremely prohibited." she extends an arm, holding an imaginary warning card.
"Keeping secrets from each other is also extremely prohibited" he retorts.
Zhiyu gasps in disbelief. "Oh, we're doing this?"
The two breaks into a fit of laughter, shifting their attention back to thousands of visibly jittery viewers watching. The comments fly by too quickly for them to comprehend. The car momentarily stops at another red light, bathing the cabin in a wash of soft crimson.
"Anyway," Mingyu glances outside. "I think we're almost home."
Beside him, Zhiyu hums with a warm smile.
"We'll end it here, Carats."
"Our food's waiting for us, and we'll see you guys soon" he sing-songs.
"Sleep well, everyone"
In the last few seconds, Zhiyu visibly flounders trying to search for the correct button, with Mingyu beside her attempting to mess the process up.
what happened to the Weverse live post? I was gonna read it again 🥺 also, do you change your theme everyday? is that your thing? if so, that’s cool.
hello, anon! the weverse live post was set for private view for a while given some technical issues on my end :') terribly sorry for the inconvenience, it should be back on by now!!
regarding the theme change, i do switch it a lot of times whenever i feel like the blog needs a refresh. plus, i get super indecisive if u cant tell lol
The first few seconds of the broadcast began with several bungling attempts to adjust the camera view before Zhiyu eventually acquiesces to the fact that her phone does not have four limbs to sustain itself unless she holds it.
It took her another five to primp and preen before her lips curl into a gentle smile. She lifts her hand to wave before she inches closer to the camera.
"Hi, hi," she chirps. "Woah, most of you are here already?"
In response to her amusement, several viewers began expressing their disbelief given the rarity of the moment.
Zhiyu averts her gaze to comb through the barrage of comments, her grin noticeably widening.
"Wow, it's been a while since I went live, hasn't it?" she presses her lips together. "I should do more lives like these, then."
She offers a precursory glance at the camera, scrunching her nose once before muttering something about a stubborn strand of hair.
Beside her, someone lets out a breathy whistle.
Zhiyu snorts, eyeing on the wide-eyed, transfixed man beside her before she turns the camera towards his direction. The man, seemingly unruffled at the evident explosion in the terrain of comments, stares spellbound into her eyes.
Zhiyu grimaces, swatting at his face. "What are you looking at?"
Mingyu leaps at the chance to pivot his head and kiss the palm of her hand, to which she quickly retaliates by scoffing at the camera. "Are you guys seeing this?"
"Hello, Carats," Mingyu chimed in with a click of his tongue. "I'm finally in the same car as the love of my life after a while, congratulate me."
OH MY GOD PINCH ME RIGHT NOW
MAMA Y PAPA😭😭😭😭
ZHIYU MINGYU in one live… is this a dream… wake me up right now
Mingyu how does it feel to live my dream
"'Mingyu, how does it feel to live my dream?'" he mutters, moving closer to the screen. "it feels like heaven, I don't want to wake up."
The man spoke so piously about the bewildered girl beside him he bursts in laughter before pinching her cheek in adoration. He then redirects his gaze back to the broadcast.
"Can you guys see us well?" he asks as his eyes narrow. "It's a little dark here, don't you think?"
Zhiyu gnaws her lip in a train of thought. It takes approximately two seconds until she snaps her fingers and beckons Mingyu to hand his phone. He absentmindedly obliges.
"Let's try using the flashlight," she grumbles. "I knew I should've brought the portable light for this."
The live is blanketed in several seconds bereft of noise as the two propositions the camera and angles the light downward. After a promising set-up, Mingyu props his arm against the cushioned armrest, humming a mindless tune reminiscent to the chorus of 'Candy'.
"Carats, we just got back after a shoot and wanted to drop by a restaurant," Zhiyu titters. "but with the renovation in the offing there, what I wanted wasn't available, so we'll just go back."
"It's already late either way, but it's still a shame," she adds. "I've been meaning to eat there for a while."
"But," Mingyu quips, "in lieu of that, we'll order takeout."
Zhiyu's lower lip juts out as she scans another wave of comments. In the brevity of the moment, the red light washes over the screen as the car stops at the traffic light.
"Oh? We actually look pretty good in red lighting" she chuckles.
"You look beautiful in any lighting, though." Mingyu interjects.
Zhiyu busies herself by raking her fingers through the tresses of her raven black hair, though her straightened shoulders were no less noticeable. Amusing, at one point.
"Anyway," she gravels out. "in light of counting the days until you… and the others go to complete their military service…"
Zhiyu purses her lips."They're asking how you've been spending your time."
"Well…" Mingyu begins with a meek smile. "It's the usual; busier schedules, but at the same time I want to devote my leisure hours with myself and my loved ones. I can't go abroad much, as much as I want to. But it's been especially fulfilling to be able to spend more time with my people, especially her, at the very least."
"He's been tagging along often when he gets to," Zhiyu nods. "He's there in the recording studio, then we'll go somewhere, and he's been hanging around in my dorm it's kind of annoying."
"Annoying, you say?" he gers a sour look. "You'll be abroad for a while, don't blame me if you miss me too much."
"I know, silly," she giggles heartily, placing her hand beneath his jaw. "but we'll call, I'll text, and we'll be back before we know it."
With a mushy grin she knows far too well, Mingyu mouths a silent 'I love you' before he looks back at the screen.
SILENCE EVERYONE MY SHOW IS ON
alcohol is good but have you ever heard of having a healthy relationship like these two? me neither, pass thebottle😂😂😂
of course this happens when the love of my life is ghosting me
my steak too juicy my lobster too buttery
oh girl we been knew
REF DO SOMETHING???????????????
"Oh wait!" Zhiyu chips in, patting Mingyu's thigh excitedly. "Have you heard of the photocard fiasco thingamajig?"
Mingyu's brows lift in intrigue.
"There's a photocard fiasco?"
"…Well, not entirely. But it's like, some sort of wild discovery."
With his usual keen, rapt gaze warm in his eyes, he traces tiny little circles on the lines of her palm splayed across his thigh.
"Go on."
With an incredulous shake of her head, she attempts to stifle a laugh, already rattled to even begin her story properly.
"Okay, okay, so this was a few days ago. I've never actually tried to figure out how Carats make money off our merch, like, through reselling."
The live feed descends into a frenzy of reactions.
"I was in Yoo Byung-Jae's podcast segment where I listened to stories and confessions from people and empathize."
Zhiyu heaves a sigh, chewing on her lip in thought.
"There was this person, I think she went by the alias SoongSoong? She told the broadcast something about how a lucky draw photocard helped her with her rent."
"Naturally, I asked her how much it'd be sold for in the market," she winces. "and she said she sold it for six hundred dollars, which is roughly eight-hundred thousand won."
Beside her, Mingyu nods far too casually.
"Aren't you shocked?" Zhiyu gasps.
"…That's actually lower than I thought."
Her head snaps so fast she'd get whiplash. "Lower? Carats, how much do resellers charge you when they sell photocards?"
I got Mingyu's Spill The Feels Weverse Lucky Draw photocard for $72
holographic photocards can get you two albums here
my jeonghan pc cost me $200 😭
With every comment cascading down, the concern plastered all over Zhiyu's face becomes much more evident. "You're lying."
She reaches over for her other phone to browse through websites, her jaw ajar.
"You guys might actually be crazy for selling printed paper for fifty dollars."
Mingyu leans over, his hand travelling farther until the pad of his thumb lands on her hip.
"Wow, I have that one of yours in my wallet and it's ninety dollars."
"And it's not even something that should be sold for ninety!" she laughs. "it's a selfie. And I give enough selfies, don't I?"
"I don't know," Mingyu shrugs. "I'd want to sell it at that price if I had to let that one go."
Zhiyu looks back down to the blue screen glowering beneath her, scowling faintly at yet another exclusive sold at an absurd price, muttering under her breath asking how limited these photocards are to be sold at such price.
"But thankfully, I won't need to let go of photocards and sell them for another"
"Pfft, you just want free Zhiyu photocards" she flouts at his statement.
"No," Mingyu simpers before leaning in. "I have the real thing right beside me."
"The rarest kind."
He intertwines their fingers together.
"The original, in fact."
"Carats, don't look" Zhiyu contended, using her vacant hand to cover the lens before the man attempts any further mischief.
kim mingyu we are NOT doing this today
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
GODDAMN THAT WAS SMOOTH
WAIT NO DON'T COVER THE LENS
After a brief exchange of undisclosed actions, she lifts her hand away from the lens before clearing her throat, shoulders pulled taut.
"That was cheesy."
With Mingyu's head nestled on the crook of her neck, Zhiyu leans forward to pore over the comments absentmindedly, humming every so often whenever she catches something interesting.
"'What were you shooting today?' Ha! you almost got me there," she huffs. "it's something, that's that."
"'I miss Douzi'" she reads aloud. "I met her yesterday with my brother on call, you'll see her eventually."
"'What's outside the window?' traffic? moving on."
"Can you recommend me a place to go out with my partner?" she reads aloud, glancing sideways to her boyfriend.
"Everland, that's where we last had our date" Mingyu responds.
The comments continue pouring in.
"'What should I have for dinner?' pizza! I'm also getting that for dinner when we get home."
Zhiyu puckers her lips as a brief moment of silence engulfs the car.
"'You got teal nails' yes, aren't they cute?" she lets out a soft laugh.
Her head lifts momentarily at a faint voice from the rearview mirror, then returns to the camera.
"'Mingyu, say something in Chinese,'" Mingyu pipes in, steepling his hands. "wait, I know this."
"tiánxīn" he breathes.
"So suddenly?" she giggles in the same language.
"That's what you call me" Mingyu promptly switches back to Korean. "tiánxīn, look at this, tiánxīn, come home, tiánxīn, let's go there."
we're still here btw
AW WHAT
The endearment term nearly falls off too easily, too sweetly from his tongue, she thinks. It's heavily accented, though the hazard of the phrase, in spite of its rough edges, remains as dangerous.
"Whatever…" Zhiyu's cheeks pale into a shade of pink.
"Carats, this one's going to be between us, 'kay?" this time, Zhiyu opts for Vietnamese. A language Mingyu won't get to understand in a short notice.
"He thinks he's very good at guessing." she chuckles.
"But he won't get it anyway, because I'm speaking in a language only some of you can understand" she continues.
"So I'll say this anyway and leave it to you guys," she scoots closer to the camera. "I have a surprise for him at home."
Mingyu's ears are practically fuming with an itching curiosity.
"Yah, what are you planning?" he looks at her with a conspiratorial smirk, glancing at the flutter of comments almost conspicuously signalling an impending peril.
"Oh, it's none of your concern" Zhiyu switches back to Korean almost immediately.
"Don't tease me, the comments are spoiling it."
"You trust them more than me?"
Mingyu's brows lift in a silent taunt.
"We are not redirecting the conversation"
Zhiyu smiles, a poorly made attempt.
"Zhiyu."
"What?"
"Sweetheart, don't do this to me."
"Hey, that's no—"
"Tiánxīn."
That, was way too abrupt.
"Hey, red card. Weaponizing nicknames is extremely prohibited." she extends an arm, holding an imaginary warning card.
"Keeping secrets from each other is also extremely prohibited" he retorts.
Zhiyu gasps in disbelief. "Oh, we're doing this?"
The two breaks into a fit of laughter, shifting their attention back to thousands of visibly jittery viewers watching. The comments fly by too quickly for them to comprehend. The car momentarily stops at another red light, bathing the cabin in a wash of soft crimson.
"Anyway," Mingyu glances outside. "I think we're almost home."
Beside him, Zhiyu hums with a warm smile.
"We'll end it here, Carats."
"Our food's waiting for us, and we'll see you guys soon" he sing-songs.
"Sleep well, everyone"
In the last few seconds, Zhiyu visibly flounders trying to search for the correct button, with Mingyu beside her attempting to mess the process up.
are mingyu & zhiyu still a thing? GOOD NEWS! they actually covered this nonsensical assumption hemselves. basically, (1) they're still together, and (2) they're still in love with [one] another.
... Whether it was due to a plaintiff, media mismanagement, or simply an alien marketing tactic, the 2023 track has found itself rejuvenated and looked upon favorably by melomaniacs and devotees on account of the duo's startling sideswipe performance in the encore for SEVENTEEN's famed 'NEW_' world tour.
DINO and ZHIYU performing 'Up N Down'
Up N Down was initially released without any prior announcement from the label before the release of Seventeenth Heaven. In total, there were 3 (three) pieces of media published relative to the track: (1) an unlisted Dino's Danceology video, (2) an archived, discontinued website, and (3) the track itself. All pieces have been restricted from public viewing across all music platforms.
Posterior to the ludicrous removal of the song, several theories substantiated with ambiguous testimonies emerged.
Up N Down was to be performed in music shows for its promotion.
The song was deleted due to conflicting promoting schedules - hence, postponed.
The release of the track was questioned by [the] audit, therefore removed.
The track's ownership/production was transferred to another artist.
Up N Down is just a demo accidentally published.
Dino and Zhiyu were supposed to become a unit, but something came up.
The Dino-Zhiyu unit theory has been yearned for ever since, awaiting for the fateful day of press confirmation.
Up N Down is described as an eccentric, upbeat song that touches on the cadenced arsenal the duo later classified as 'their rendition/experimentation on rap and new jack swing'. Despite being revered as stage savants for their omnipotent dancing, Up N Down conveys another facet of what lies beyond their performance; vocal flow. Supplemented by near-perfect vocal sustenance, the song flourishes with lyrics sung between singing and rapping.
❝ It wasn't until [after] the decision to have S.Coups and Mingyu perform 'Pretty Woman' that the stage director offered us a vacant slot to perform this nearly-forgotten song in the concert. We were both skeptical, of course! [laugh] I mean, it sprung out so suddenly? But we wouldn't want to reject an offer like this. DN
❝ The director gave us less than a week to hand out the choreography demo of the song; obviously we were like, "What the hell?" - it was hectic. But we know our song, so it wasn't that daunting. Besides, I'm pretty sure you've seen the Danceology video of this song? There's already a flow there. ZY
As of May 2026, Up N Down has not been officially published, though you can find several fans who have scavenged and posted the stage performance across platforms. View them while you can!
ℒㅤ. . .ㅤget your shit-idiot brain fungus exterminated at THE BRAIN LAUNDRY * !ㅤㅤㅤ* not applicable to whose who are :ㅤㅤㅤ(1) sloppily dressedㅤ(2) no-brainers; dude, look at the damn title! think.ㅤ(3) zombies.
ʼ26ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤGlimpse into the rather inconsequential showbiz life of front-burner celebrities during their visit to the newfound rogue-and-vogue laundromat, hosted by the equally rogue and vogue ZHiYU. comb through weedlings of daily dilemmas, become the ultimate outfit connoisseur by assessing their soapy clothes! did you know ████ has a pet fish? we didn't either!
THIS TELEVISION SHOW IS . . .ㅤCOMING SOON!
ㅤThis Brain-washing Laundromat Must be Avoided At All Costs!ㅤwithㅤ???
ㅤForeigners Thinks Long Stockings And Bow Ties Are Fashion Staplesㅤwithㅤ???
ㅤA Seasoned Guide To a Brain-wrecking Lovers' Quarrelㅤwithㅤ???
ㅤThe Gathering of Women Who Tragically Succumbed To Their Natural Hair Colorㅤwithㅤ???
Oh sad seokmin didn't win her over 💔 WOULD THEY HAVE A CLOSURE KNOWING DK (those long ass messages) lol
IN ANOTHER LIFE :((( he would've won her over :((( on what you asked, they did have a closure after mingyu's confession :) although it's not explicitly written, i promise you that seokmin and zhiyu remain close friends.
kim mingyu has been wearing his heart on his sleeve for the past few years, but everyone fears that zhiyu might miss the message.
inspired by this post on pinterest.
mingyu has always been excellent at finding impromptu excuses to whisk her away.
mingyu has always been one of the only person privy to her innermost thoughts. the girl is adamant to admit that she goes through multiple spirals concerning enough to count, but he's already on his feet to offer a shoulder. have you eaten? is something bothering you? what's in that pretty head of yours? get some rest, you look tired. these questions sparks company-wide interest towards the budding but one-sided romance.
mingyu manages to survive the precarious approach of toeing at the line between what they both label as casual and what they perceive as too much.
mingyu who's potent with his verbal deflection when inquired if he'd like his love to be reciprocated, but does not convey the twinge in his heart at the thought of her heart fluttering for someone else.
mingyu, who brings her flowers every chance he gets. he's paying a visit to her dorm? he has a bouquet of the freshest blossoms in his hand. he notices that the latest flowers he gave are beginning to wilt? expect him to return with a handful of more flowers. when there's no occasion whatsoever? he tries to profess his love through flowers.
zhiyu who struggles to stomach intimacy in the light of recent censure preventing her to embrace her personal bubble.
zhiyu who is still fresh out of the newly-born adult platter and still totters at the thought of handling something way beyond her usual idol-artist orbit.
zhiyu who has noticed the gallantry mingyu has exhibited but refuses to acknowledge the gnawing thought the maybe, just maybe, it's something beyond camaraderie.
zhiyu, when asked about her preemptive response to mingyu's blatant infatuation, answers with uncertainty. does she reciprocate his feelings? will it harm him in a way? she doesn't want to know yet.
💡 You recovered a Heap of Evidence!
Technical Precaution: certain statements made by the artists may be redacted owing to the need for secrecy and artist protection guidelines. Though, some CARATs can be privy enough to piece almost the entire puzzle together. The list is organized in no particular order.
LOG 01 — KMG & LSM c. 2021
KMG: ██████████████
LSM: I think I'm in love with Zhiyu.
[PROLONGED SILENCE]
KMG: ...What?
LSM: Hell, I think I've been in love with her for a while now.
KMG: Are you drinking? What the hell are you █████ about?
LSM: For ████ sake, can you just hear me out?
LSM: I'm sorry.
[A HEAVED SIGH FROM KMG'S END]
KMG: Why? Why are you sorry?
LSM: I mean, we're in love with the same girl. And I've basically devoted my life to help you hit it off with her.
[BRIEF SILENCE ON BOTH ENDS]
LSM: But whenever I see her, whenever I see you two together [...] I can't help but think: would I have a chance? Would I have the chance to make her laugh? To make her smile? To have her leaning on my shoulder while she tells me her stories? I've dreamt about the what-ifs and what-nots [...] what if I made the first move? What if I said I love you first?
LSM: I'm a selfish man at times, Mingyu. Selfish at anything but love. But this budding infatuation? I don't know what the hell I should do with this goddamned feeling. I love her. I love her to the point she has me at my wit's end.
LSM: I'm sorry.
[PROLONGED SILENCE]
KMG: Yeah, okay.
[FAINT RUSTLING ON KMG'S END]
KMG: Thanks for telling me, really.
LSM: Right, that's about it from me for now.
LSM: Good night?
KMG: Yeah, have a good night.
[CALL ENDS.]
seokmin developed a terrible crush on zhiyu early into 2014, inadvertently. back then, he knew his sole intent to approach her was to help pave a way for his best friend to hit it off with her and eventually, confess his undying love.
seokmin doesn't have a goddamn clue what led him to decide that he was unfortunately equally in love with her. a shell-shocked admission to his then juvenile mind.
seokmin can only gaze and gaze - he can only endlessly gaze. he's kept zhiyu at an arm's length to offer enough room for mingyu to sweep her off her feet. he can only hope that she feels the rabid thrum of his heart whenever they're next to each other.
was this a crazy reach? seokmin mulls over the thought of telling mingyu that he can't let him win. he wants his best friend to know that this is the truth - his god-honest truth - that he is still in love with the same girl. he can't keep smiling through his teeth with the unbearable ache rattling on the tip of his tongue.
seokmin eventually accepts that zhiyu's definition of 'i love you' does not reciprocate his own. he knows she's in love with someone else, in spite of her reluctant deflection. seokmin knew from the way she looked at him, how she seems to always drift to him. the him he wishes he could be.
LOG 02 — LJH iPHONE NOTE c. 2016 - 2017
███████, 2016 at ███ PM
Track something for album something
premise: this was mingyu's suggestion and i don't know what kind of crap he's going through in that goddamned mind of his to blatantly say that he wants me to make this track for zhiyu
i know damn well, kim mingyu
whatever the hell's going through his mind, this might be a great idea ?
i wanted to have a slightly upbeat but bitter track if that makes any sense
holy shit
this might just work
███████, 2017 at ███ AM
Here's what i Got, Basically
a summary
theme centers around lost love and missed opportunities
"the state of being consumed by memories of one's partner; the what-ifs"
that deep-rooted regret you bear to an extent that you struggle to grasp reality
lots of ifs when vernon, coups, and mingyu described it. might be a good option for the track title
███████, 2017 at ███ AM
Were mingyu and zhiyu a thing? The song is well off as a breakup-reminiscent track
Update: A quarter of the members had to look me in eye and asked if i was blind. I swear I'm not.
LOG 03 — DISPATCHED: BOO SEUNGKWAN IS A DICKHEAD AND SHOULD GET A FUCKING LIFE c. 2021
Confessing your love amidst someone's widened-rift phase of a relationship is, undeniably, past the definition of putting a dangerously bold front. This, however, excites Seungkwan. In Mingyu's case, he wants to make his confession perfect. Flowers, an hour's worth of just Zhiyu and him. This should be executed by means of ensuring that his feelings reaches hers. His current stagnating friendship with her after a dispute with Dokyeom Seokmin would chance further damage shouldn't he wait for the perfect time.
It is important to note that for a man who held great confidence, Mingyu was laughably easy to tear apart; and despite being a figure that held his utmost trust, Seungkwan is exceedingly obnoxious.
And Jeon Wonwoo, is the threshold of all impediments.
This was partially because he is among the closest with the men.
Yoon Jeonghan was subsequently dragged into the situation due to his self-proclaimed 'Mediator' role.
Why was Yoon Jeonghan's presence necessary? To prevent the enabling of psychological warfare by means of physical altercations.
The perfect confession involved flowers, and an hour's worth of romance. With an emphasis on the past tense. This hazard is no short of thrilling.
Mingyu thought his younger-yet-wiser friend would be the least of his worries when it comes to letting the cat out of the bag - he wouldn't. Boo Seungkwan would never prematurely reveal a secret without his prior knowledge. Consequently, the trust Mingyu bore within him shattered to pieces when the latter man practically sung the secret to Zhiyu.
❝ God, you might actually be the most oblivious, gullible, naive, and dense person I've ever known. That man is in love with you, you hear me? He's been pining for seven excruciating years, and it took the rest of us just two seconds to figure it out. And you? Is your head in the clouds or something? You figured out Seokmin for less.
... The end?
LOG 04 — PUBLIC RECEPTION c. 2020 - 21
What could this possible entail...
The tarot reader was onto something
People are so quick to jump into conclusions these days..
Kim Mingyu definitely schooled in Yearning [LOL]
The day Zhiyu opens her eyes and finally sees that someone has been looking like a kicked puppy is the day I rest in peace.
ZHIYU WAKE UP #zhiyuwakeup WE ARE NOT DOING THIS AGAIN.
MINGYU FIGHT BACK? You gotta do something for this girl to realize at least a sliver of how she actually feels
mingyu knew the situation was irreparable the second seungkwan reasoned with zhiyu that mingyu was, indeed, smitten for her - in a drunken state.
zhiyu, whose reaction is no short of dumbstruck. the cogs within her brain are whirring, turning faster and faster by the second as her cheeks run hot. the preening the others pestered about, the constant questions he threw like rapid fire, the flowers. those were indicators, all this time.
How long do you think Zhiyu took until she realized she shared the same feeling? 🤔
𖨆𖨆ㅤWHO's this Chinese, opulent diva here? She seems to go by the name ... ZHIYU ? but her real name is YAN JIA ! that doesn't make sense ?!
nicknamed the ...
chameleon on handlebars
suzhou's juliet
mainland pearl
thousand-masked idol
china's first love
media mogul
and SO MUCH MORE!
... a Chinese singer, songwriter, composer and dancer. She is the lead dancer and sub vocalist of SEVENTEEN, a music group formed by South Korean-based entertainment company Pledis Entertainment in May 26, 2015. She is also a member of the group's Performance Team. She made her official solo debut with XTRAFAUNA on May 1, 2026. Born 颜佳 on March 21, 1999, in Singapore, Zhiyu is the youngest of three to a Chinese translator-interpreter mother, a Vietnamese-born Chinese diplomat father. Raised in a continuously shifting household, her formative years were marked by frequent international travel and the requirement to adapt to contradictory lifestyles and languages. Her mother's profession as a highly sought-after translator and interpreter enables her to comprehend—and eventually convey—a variety of languages and dialects. Unlike her parents' government-related pursuits, she bore interest in performing arts. At the ripe age of 4, she started attending classical Chinese dance classes in her hometown, Suzhou. Her family opted to relocate to Wan Chai, Hong Kong due to her father's diplomatic imperative. There, she took up an offer and signed herself up to practice seriously in aerial silk. She underwent coaching for approximately three to four years before leaving for Japan, where she attended a private international school. Whilst maintaining her venerated academic profile, she joined a hip-hop club owned by her grandfather in Tokyo. She stayed for another four years and moved to New York for another four. She was relocated to live with her paternal aunt and uncle in Singapore, as it has been harder for her parents to devote time to take care of her and her siblings. Along the course of sixth grade, she discovered that her true avidity lies in the branch of dance. After graduating elementary school, she was to enroll in a conservatory when a Pledis Entertainment staff member approached her after her subsequent win in a dance competition in Beijing. She was successfully street-casted. She was qualified to become a trainee and spent four years training before debuting.
learn more about her ... because people can't get enough
among the languages she's learnt throughout her life, she is most comfortable speaking in english over mandarin, yet more comfortable speaking in mandarin over vietnamese.
despite her lean frame, she seems to showcase exceptional upper-body strength, enduring a significant amount of push-ups and pull-ups easily.
she lives in her own dorm.
her charming points are her big eyes and straight shoulders.
she is notorious for her fluid movements, excellent hip & chest isolations, and terrifyingly impressive facial expressions.
she has a maltese named douzi.
she has contributed to a significant portion of seventeen's choreography, admitting that her first independently choreographed song that made [it] to the final cut was fallin' flower.
ever since her early debut days, she had begun composing songs for the group and future solo releases. most of them, though, were archived and/or rejected by the company - though not cast aside. most of her productions were shared to other companies under her consent; prominent examples include ateez's work, nct jnjm's both sides, and mamamoo's dingga.
according to members, she is the hardest person to wake up.
her favorite makeup product is eyeshadow.
her favorite movies are oldboy, the matrix, and akira.
she has two older brothers born in 1994 and 1997.
she loves to sew and dance.
in late 2025, pledis entertainment confirmed that she is in a relationship with fellow member mingyu since the winter of 2021.
... The South Korean entertainment industry is shaken by an ongoing reproach against Chinese rookie idol Yan Jia (16), professionally known as Zhiyu, who had just debuted as the sole female member of fresh-faced group SEVENTEEN. The young idol is notorious for her apparent status as the relative of a figure of influential status, receiving several reprimands from the internet for preferential treatment, often referring to her as "SEVENTEEN's Nepo baby".
Along the course of late 2015, just four months after the group's debut, smear campaigns were released in efforts to tear down Zhiyu's title as a member. The internet went as far as flooding negative comments in the group's social media platforms en masse. The agency subsequently restricted users from commenting under certain posts. Additionally, sources report that a considerably amount of fan mails feature tirades pressuring her to leave the group.
Upon monitoring the current optics and the young artist's well-being, PLEDIS Entertainment issued a statement announcing the temporary leave for her to "recuperate and reflect on the situation." Additionally, another statement was issued to warn the public of the legal proceedings and subsequent consequences against artist defamation and the violation of artist rights.
Thus, the idol will be absent for 'Love & Letter' promotions until further notice. "SEVENTEEN will continue to promote as a thirteen member group," as quoted from the official notice.
Excerpt from an online article issued in February 20, 2016
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