Chapter 118: Concept Core
Chairman Jiang looked at Choi Ji-soo with a chuckle.
"Choi Ji-soo xi perfectly aligns with our new girl group's planned concept. This is her inherent strength, and all we're doing is helping her bring that strength to fruition, nothing more."
When it's time to boast, don't be stingy; it makes others acknowledge your efforts.
However, when facing intelligent people, appropriately highlighting their value is also a form of cooperation.
Mr. Choi gave his wife a look, and Choi Ji-soo's mother understood, smiling as she stood up and took a card from her bag, handing it to Chairman Jiang with both hands.
Chairman Jiang initially thought it was a bank card, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was a black membership card.
He took it, puzzled. The card felt substantial in his hand, bearing a logo. It was a well-known luxury store in Seoul, offering a wide range of new and pre-owned luxury items from various brands, with high recognition.
"This is a small shop our family operates, selling some bags and luggage. Chairman Jiang, if you're interested, you can take a look. The card isn't worth much; please accept it, Chairman Jiang," Mr. Choi said with a smile.
They weren't sure if Chairman Jiang would accept money directly, so they opted to give him their store's membership card instead.
Chairman Jiang looked at the back of the black gold membership card and smiled when he saw the words indicating that one item could be chosen for free each month.
This was not something worthless.
However...
"Then I'll accept Mr. Choi's kind gesture," Chairman Jiang said, holding up the card in his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Choi."
"You're too kind." Seeing Chairman Jiang accept the black gold card, Mr. and Mrs. Choi also relaxed.
They were afraid Chairman Jiang would be unyielding and accept nothing, which would leave them feeling anxious.
As long as he was willing to accept something, it was fine.
Chairman Jiang raised his left hand and checked his wristwatch in front of them.
Mr. Choi immediately spoke up, "It's getting late, so we won't disturb Chairman Jiang's work any further."
With that, Mr. Choi stood up, and Choi Ji-soo and her mother followed suit.
"Alright." Chairman Jiang nodded with a smile. Talking to smart people was so easy.
After Choi Ji-soo's family left, Chairman Jiang picked up the black gold card again and searched for it on his phone.
Choi Ji-soo's family's luxury store was quite large.
He smiled, took a photo of the black gold card, and sent it to Liu Zhimin.
Xiao Liu: ?
Chairman Jiang was slightly surprised. She was awake at just past nine?
Shu: You woke up so early today?
Xiao Liu: Yuan Ying bumped into a chair while doing Pilates and scared me awake.
Chairman Jiang was amused. She could play like that?
Shu: I'll give you this card tonight. If there's a bag you want, go get it.
Xiao Liu: Where did you get this card?
Clearly, she also recognized the store.
Shu: Choi Ji-soo's family owns it.
Xiao Liu: Who is Choi Ji-soo?
Shu: A debut member of the company's new girl group, Shin Ryujin's teammate.
Xiao Liu: Oh, Youzhen's teammate.
Xiao Liu: Then should I go to the company to get it later?
Shu: No need, I'll leave it at home. You can come get it whenever you have time.
Xiao Liu: Okay.
Liu Zhimin knew Chairman Jiang's home password, but he didn't know the IVE dorm password. After all, it was a girls' dormitory, and even as the chairman, he had to respect their privacy.
Besides, knowing IVE's dorm password was useless to him. What would he do with it?
He put down his phone and placed the black gold card in the inner pocket of his suit jacket. As November approached, the weather was gradually turning cooler, and wearing a suit no longer felt too hot.
He stood up from the sofa and went to the conference room to prepare for the meeting.
...
9:50 AM, Fifth Floor Conference Room.
Chairman Jiang sat at the head of the table, fiddling with his phone. Many people were already seated on both sides. The five members of the ITZY debut group and the debut planning team were mostly there; only a few directors were missing.
Jeon Soyeon sat at the first seat to Chairman Jiang's right, barely touching the chair with her bottom, so nervous that she didn't know where to put her hands. While everyone else was chatting in low voices in twos and threes or playing on their phones, only Jeon Soyeon sat there nervously.
"Chairman," Li Duohui's voice sounded, and everyone in the room stood up the moment they saw Li Duohui.
Chairman Jiang put down his phone at the sound, looked at Li Duohui, and tapped the table in front of the first seat on the left.
"Please take your seats quickly; you few are the only ones left."
Li Xianzhu, following behind Li Duohui, smiled and bowed slightly to Chairman Jiang, then sat down next to Kim Young-joo.
Li Duohui looked at the girl opposite her.
The Chairman's student, huh?
"Is everyone here?" Chairman Jiang rested his left hand on the conference table and asked, scanning the room.
"Everyone is here," Choi Ji-yeon, standing behind Chairman Jiang, said softly.
"Alright, since everyone's here, let's start the meeting." Chairman Jiang nodded. "Jeon Soyeon."
The conference room was silent. Everyone looked at each other, wondering who Jeon Soyeon was calling.
"Jeon Soyeon." Chairman Jiang changed his address, then casually called out "Juan Zong."
"Yes!" Tian Xiaojuan shot up the moment she heard her name.
"ITZY Debut Planning Vice Producer." Chairman Jiang formally introduced Tian Xiaojuan to everyone.
More than a dozen different gazes fell upon Tian Xiaojuan, making her already nervous state even more overwhelming.
Chairman Jiang glanced at Tian Xiaojuan, who was almost like an ostrich, but said nothing. This nervousness was normal; she would have to experience it sooner or later. It would get better with time.
"Sit down."
"Yes." Tian Xiaojuan felt greatly relieved and quickly sat down.
"The debut members of ITZY."
Shin Ryujin and the other four immediately stood up.
"You should all be familiar with them, but let's go through the introductions anyway. From left to right: Shin Ryujin, Shin Yuna, Hwang Yeji, Choi Ji-soo, and Lee Chaeryeong."
With each name, a member would bow in Chairman Jiang's direction.
"Regarding member positions: Choi Ji-soo as main vocalist, Hwang Yeji as main dancer, Shin Yuna as visual, Lee Chaeryeong as lead dancer, and Shin Ryujin as concept core and rap."
"Chairman, does 'concept core' mean that ITZY will also adopt IVE's operational model?" Li Xianzhu asked.
Hearing this, the other four ITZY members' hearts tightened.
IVE was indeed immensely successful, with its twin stars leading the way. Everyone wanted to be the next twin stars, but no one wanted to be one of the four "hangers-on."
"No, it's different." Chairman Jiang waved his hand. "Youzhen being the concept core means that all future company plans for ITZY will be centered around her, with the other four members providing concept support. It's merely to highlight Youzhen's center position, not to imitate IVE's model."
Hearing this, Li Xianzhu nodded, and the other four ITZY members also breathed a sigh of relief.
Assisting the center was fine, as long as they weren't mere accessories.
With IVE's four "hangers-on" as a precedent, they now actually found this concept of assisting the center... quite good?
Thanks to reader Yunhai for the 10,000 Qidian coin reward!