Chapter 117 Loyalty!
“What?!”
A gasp came from the adjacent trainee dorm. Ahn Yujin, who was just thinking about how to get closer to the three Chinese trainees, heard the commotion and poked her head out curiously.
“Ahn Yujin, go see what’s happening,” Kim Autumn said, patting Ahn Yujin.
“Alright!” Ahn Yujin took a step, and her entire body shifted directly into the next dorm.
Standing at the doorway, she looked at the girls gathered inside the dorm and asked curiously,
“What happened?”
Hearing Ahn Yujin’s voice, the girls gathered together all looked up at Ahn Yujin.
“Youzhen Ni! I’m debuting!” Shin Yuna excitedly came over with her phone, holding it out to Ahn Yujin.
“Debuting?” Ahn Yujin’s mind went blank. Wait, wasn’t Red Velvet debuting next month? Why was someone else debuting?
She looked closer.
【ITZY Project Officially Launched.】
【Chairman Jiang Appointed as Chief Producer for Debut Project.】
【Jeon Soyeon, Contracted Producer from Production Department, Appointed as Vice Chief Producer for ITZY Debut Project.】
【All Producers from Production Department to Participate in Debut Project Production.】
【ITZY Debut Group Members: Shin Ryujin, Choi Ji-soo, Hwang Yeji, Lee Chaeryeong, Shin Yuna.】
Looking at the debut group list for the girl group named ITZY, Ahn Yujin’s eyes widened instantly.
Except for Choi Ji-soo, whom she wasn't very familiar with, the other four were all close friends. How did they suddenly debut?
“What’s going on? What’s going on?” Kim Minju and Kim Autumn came over, and Kim Minjeong also climbed out of bed, coming over in her pajamas.
“Yuna is debuting! Ouni!” Ahn Yujin said blankly to Kim Autumn, “The company has arranged for a new girl group to debut. Besides Yuna, there’s also Ryujin Ouni, Ji-soo Ouni, Yeji Ouni, and Chaeryeong Ouni!”
“What?!” Kim Autumn and Kim Minju also widened their eyes.
Wait, how long had they been here to debut so quickly?
What did that make them, the other trainees?
Although they were very good friends, a hint of sourness inevitably arose in their hearts.
“Red Velvet is about to debut, and now they’re arranging for a new group to debut?”
Their company really didn't play by the rules.
Meanwhile, the three Chinese trainees, who didn't understand Korean, stared at each other, standing at the dorm entrance. All they saw was a group of girls making a fuss, but they couldn't understand a single word.
Fortunately, Kim Minju noticed them and walked over to explain using a translation app.
Debut?
The trio exchanged glances.
They encountered such an exciting event on their very first day?
A new girl group was already preparing to debut?
Similar news was received by all relevant personnel. As the Vice Chief Producer, Tian Xiaojuan not only received the news, but a staff member from the HR department also brought her a new ID card—ITZY Vice Chief Producer.
Compared to the debut trainee list, the appointment of the Vice Chief Producer was what truly shook the company.
It didn't matter who the debut trainees were, but it was incredibly absurd for the Vice Chief Producer to be a name no one had ever heard of.
They initially thought Jiang Shu had poached an experienced producer, just like Li Duohui, Yin Huilin, and Li Xianzhu. But upon asking, they discovered it was a new producer who had been employed for less than a month, without even a single representative work.
Isn't this just messing around?
Oh, it was appointed by the Chairman himself. Then it's fine.
For Jiang Shu, DM Entertainment was like a custom server; he could do whatever he wanted.
Li Duohui, an executive from a company that had already gone bankrupt, came to DM Entertainment and immediately became the nominal Vice President, and the de facto President.
Did the subordinates have complaints?
Of course, they did.
But did anyone react?
No.
Don't ask, just say
Loyalty!
Regarding Tian Xiaojuan’s qualifications, Jiang Shu’s answer was simple: he posted a group photo on his Instagram.
In the photo, Jiang Shu sat on a single sofa in his office, looking at the camera. Tian Xiaojuan stood to Jiang Shu’s right, hands clasped somewhat awkwardly, timidly looking towards the camera.
Caption: My student, Jeon Soyeon, a very talented producer.
Okay, misunderstanding resolved.
So it's the young master (not really), huh? Approved! Strongly approved!
The news that DM Entertainment was going to produce a new girl group spread. When the industry learned that DM Entertainment was going to create another new girl group, everyone was confused.
IVE was in its rising period, IU was a solo artist so that was understandable, and Red Velvet, a collaboration with S.M., was about to debut. Under such circumstances, why were they arranging for a new girl group to debut again?
What was DM Entertainment thinking? Were they really just “fighting to sustain themselves,” completely disregarding the concept of 'settling down' and just pushing for debuts?
DM Entertainment truly was a brilliant anomaly in the industry, doing everything in a remarkably unique way.
Major entertainment companies, regardless of size, still followed basic operational logic, but DM Entertainment was different; it simply didn't play by the rules, which made DM Entertainment feel out of place with the entire industry.
However, in terms of girl groups, this new force of a company was now the trump card. Currently, IVE didn't even have a girl group that could be considered a competitor; the entire market had only IVE doing as it pleased.
Major entertainment companies didn't understand DM Entertainment's approach, but in reality, they were secretly studying DM Entertainment's production experience in the girl group sector.
After internally announcing the start of the ITZY debut project's production, they weren't in a hurry to make it public. There was no rush for now; they would arrange everything properly first.
…
October 17th, 9:23 AM.
DM Entertainment Chairman's Office.
At 10 o'clock was the first meeting of the ITZY debut group. During the meeting, Jiang Shu wanted to deeply bind Jeon Soyeon with ITZY to activate the first effect of the girl group producer.
This was the first appearance of his genius student, Tian Xiaojuan. Jiang Shu built the stage for Tian Xiaojuan, and in the future, with every praise of Tian Xiaojuan's talent, his own contributions would also increase.
Perfect!
Knock, knock, knock.
Jiang Shu, who was writing meeting notes, heard the knock and called out without raising his head,
“Come in.”
Then the office door was pushed open, and Choi Ji-yeon walked in first.
“Chairman, Choi Ji-soo and her parents have arrived.”
Hmm?
Kim Jixiu was probably playing cards somewhere; the only Choi Ji-soo in the company was clearly the true young lady, Choi Ji-soo.
Jiang Shu looked up at Choi Ji-soo.
“Please invite them in.”
Soon after, Choi Ji-soo and two well-dressed middle-aged couples entered the office.
After brief introductions, Jiang Shu invited the three to sit down.
“Seeing is believing, Chairman Jiang, you are truly young, handsome, and extraordinarily charismatic,” Mr. Choi said to Jiang Shu with a chuckle.
“Mr. Choi, you flatter me,” Jiang Shu smiled and nodded, “May I ask why you two are here?”
“Our Ji-soo has only been with your company for less than half a month and is already able to debut. We are especially grateful for Chairman Jiang’s recognition. We came specifically to express our gratitude to Chairman Jiang,” Choi Ji-soo’s mother said with a smile, explaining their purpose.
“Ms. Kang, you’re too kind.”