Chapter 134: In Love?
Jiang Shu’s home, bedroom.
After an exhilarating battle, Jiang Shu leaned against the bedside table, bare-chested, browsing the news.
The weather in late November was already very cold, but the entire house was equipped with heating, so the indoor temperature could be kept constant, and it wasn’t too cold after exercising.
“Truly a genius,” Jiang Shu murmured, looking at ITZY’s debut song that Jeon Soyeon had sent him.
He had only roughly described the situation of ITZY’s debut song, and yet Jeon Soyeon had managed to replicate a 70-80% accurate “DALLA DALLA” for him. Was this what a true genius was?
Jiang Shu had played with the ITZY card set many times, and his extensive experience told him that ITZY’s trajectory before Mafia was fine. Jeon Soyeon’s role was to make ITZY’s transition smoother, and he had no intention of changing the title tracks of the first four albums.
However, he was only familiar with a few of ITZY’s songs, and some he wasn’t very familiar with. He could only describe them to Jeon Soyeon and other producers and then have them replicate them.
Facts proved that this path was feasible. The debut album was already completed. Unlike IVE and Red Velvet’s debut singles, ITZY was debuting with an album this time, including two B-side tracks, making a total of three songs with the title track “DALLA DALLA.”
However, Jiang Shu’s focus was only on the title track “DALLA DALLA”; the other two B-side tracks were not important.
He sent Jeon Soyeon the parts that needed modification, trying to make the song as close to its original form as possible.
Liu Zhimin, who was lying on the bed watching videos, finished her video and looked up at Jiang Shu.
“Oppa, aren’t you cold?”
“Not cold.”
Liu Zhimin pouted. Jiang Shu in sage mode was completely different from how he was just now. He really became indifferent after getting what he wanted.
She turned over and sat up, leaning her head closer.
“What are you looking at?”
“Modifying ITZY’s debut song.” Jiang Shu didn’t hide anything, using an electronic pen to modify the score while allowing Xiao Liu to see the entire score.
Liu Zhimin looked at this section of the score and lyrics and hummed along for a bit.
“I feel like the song is just average.” Liu Zhimin always said what she thought, and this time was no exception.
“ITZY is a dance group, a combination of song and dance. The impact of just listening to the song alone is indeed not as strong as your songs and Red Velvet’s songs,” Jiang Shu said without looking up.
“When is our next comeback? Can you let me see the song in advance?” Liu Zhimin asked.
“It’s not ready yet. The company’s current focus is to first complete ITZY’s debut album. As for the comeback… we’ll see.”
It’s hard to say how long your group will even last.
“Oh.” Liu Zhimin responded disappointedly.
“Are the members all doing well recently?” Jiang Shu asked casually.
“Yuan Ying is still the same, always cheerful. Recently, she’s been close with a few trainees and goes out to play with them whenever she has free time.”
“And then?”
“And then there’s Lily. She’s also the same, running to the vocal teacher to study whenever she has free time.”
“That’s good. You all should learn more from Lily.”
“Oh.” Liu Zhimin responded perfunctorily, “Then there’s Susu Oni. Susu Oni always seems to have something on her mind, but when I ask her, she says it’s nothing. I’m too lazy to ask anymore. She spends her free time in the dance studio, learning dances from the choreographers.”
“Those two are quite diligent,” Jiang Shu said with a smile.
“Yes, they are both quite diligent, but I also go to the practice room to practice whenever I have free time!”
“Yuan Ying too.”
Liu Zhimin didn’t forget to speak well of Zhang Yuanying, though her words were somewhat contradictory to what she had said earlier.
“There are two more.”
“Uh…” Liu Zhimin hesitated slightly.
Jiang Shu stopped his movements and looked up at Liu Zhimin.
“What’s wrong with Choi Yunjin and Kim Garam?”
“They… seem to be in love.”
Jiang Shu: “?”
“In love? No way?”
“I’m just guessing.” Liu Zhimin wasn’t sure. “When they don’t have schedules, they disappear, and they often play on their phones with their heads down, sometimes even smiling at their phones.”
“Especially Yunzhen. Yunzhen used to be at odds with Yuan Ying, but due to Yuan Ying’s popularity, Yunzhen would always avoid her whenever she saw her. But now, she faces Yuan Ying calmly and even actively greets her, as if she’s let go of a burden.”
“So I suspect they’re in love. With a boyfriend as a source of support, they are no longer fixated on their positions.”
But why does it sound more like they have some unknown confidence?
Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow.
In love?
He didn’t think it would be love.
Choi Yunjin is fourteen and Kim Garam is thirteen. These two little kids could only date classmates. They couldn’t possibly be into child grooming like Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Sae-ron, could they?
There are many perverted male artists in the industry, but there aren’t that many perverts who also groom children.
There are quite a few powerful figures who groom children, but if these people were interested in these two sisters, they would go through the company, having DM Entertainment send them over. There would be no direct contact with the individuals.
And during this period when IVE is being over-hyped, they’re in love?
There’s no such coincidence.
Jiang Shu was more inclined to believe that these two were hiding something from Liu Zhimin.
“I understand.” Jiang Shu nodded without changing his expression, switching the current sheet music page, opening a social app, and sending a message to Director Qin.
“Is it necessary to alert Director Qin just for suspected romance?” Liu Zhimin watched all of this, asking curiously.
“You’ve already alerted the biggest boss!” Jiang Shu said with a smile.
Liu Zhimin blinked.
“Oh, right, I forgot.” Liu Zhimin smiled awkwardly.
“Alright, let’s drop this matter.” Jiang Shu glanced at Director Qin’s reply confirming receipt and said to Liu Zhimin.
“Oh.”
Liu Zhimin looked at the sheet music that had been switched back, felt it wasn’t interesting, and burrowed back into the covers, continuing to watch videos.
Although it was already evening, Director Qin’s efficiency was not slow. After Jiang Shu sent him the message, Director Qin took action and gave Jiang Shu a reply in about an hour.
Director Qin: A YG staff member within the company contacted Choi Yunjin and Kim Garam a week ago.
“Xiao Liu.”
“Hmm?” Liu Zhimin’s lazy voice came through.
“When did you notice they might be in love?”
“Last week, I think? I forgot.” Liu Zhimin said casually.
“Okay.”
Shu: Don’t alarm them. Find out the content of their conversation.
Director Qin: Yes.
Jiang Shu had been wondering how these companies would target IVE, and now he had a clue.
Disintegrate from within?
That’s a good method.
No matter how powerful a team is, if there are internal problems, it’s not worth mentioning.
IVE may be invincible, but if there are internal problems, it will collapse without a fight.
“That’s a good tactic.”
If it’s truly as he thought, then there are indeed talented people within these companies. It’s just a pity that they wouldn’t expect something as unreasonable as ‘bonds’ to exist in this world.