Chapter 141: BOSS in the Making
S.M. Entertainment, conference room.
Kim Tae-yeon sat on the sofa in the conference room, holding a notebook filled with densely packed notes, while the Red Velvet members were in front of her, conversing with the group variety show production team.
Ever since Jiang Shu’s transfer order assigned her as Sun Shengwan’s assistant, Kim Tae-yeon began her trainee life, following Red Velvet around to various schedules.
A less responsible artist would have been too lazy to bother with Kim Tae-yeon after a tiring schedule, but Sun Shengwan was different. After the schedule was done, she would pull Kim Tae-yeon aside to teach her vocal music and regularly take her to the recording studio for practical training, fully fulfilling her duties as a teacher.
Although Sun Shengwan was five years younger than her, Kim Tae-yeon could still feel the other party’s unreserved sincerity and complete imparting of knowledge during their interactions.
Sometimes, Sun Shengwan was already very tired from her schedule, but she still pushed through her fatigue to give her lessons.
Kim Tae-yeon saw it and felt very pained, praying that the teacher Jiang Shu found for her would arrive sooner, and at the same time, she diligently practiced her vocals in private as much as possible. The faster she improved, the less pressure Sun Shengwan would have.
Now, 2018 had passed, and 2019 had arrived as scheduled. Her teacher should be arriving soon, right?
Soon, the discussion about Red Velvet's group variety show ended.
“Taeyeon, let’s go.” Sun Shengwan called out to Kim Tae-yeon to leave.
“Yes!” Kim Tae-yeon heard Sun Shengwan’s voice, put away her notes, and trotted to catch up with Sun Shengwan.
“The Chairman found Jung Seung-won Senior as your teacher. He can come to the company to teach you tomorrow. Today is the last day of our teacher-student relationship, let’s go eat together.” Sun Shengwan said with a smile.
Although she had taken this job seriously, it was indeed a bit tiring for her, but as they approached their separation, looking at Kim Tae-yeon beside her, she truly felt a little reluctant.
“I should be treating Teacher Sun!” Kim Tae-yeon quickly said.
“It’s okay, just treat me back after you debut.” Sun Shengwan smilingly declined.
“Then… alright.” Kim Tae-yeon didn’t insist. Seoul’s cost of living was quite high. It was fine if she just stayed at the company, but she always needed to buy some cosmetics, daily necessities, and snacks. The company’s trainee allowance was barely enough for her expenses, and treating someone to a meal would require dipping into her savings.
She would treat Teacher Sun to a meal after she debuted next year!
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
Jung Seung-won Senior, whom Sun Shengwan and Kim Tae-yeon were talking about, was currently meeting Jiang Shu in the DM Entertainment Chairman’s office.
“Can Jung Seung-won accept this treatment?” Jiang Shu looked at Jung Seung-won and said.
Jung Seung-won didn't expect that the Chairman of DM Entertainment would personally meet him just to teach a trainee. This was giving him a lot of face.
“Chairman Jiang is too kind. No one in the industry can find fault with this treatment. I am very satisfied.”
Jiang Shu nodded.
“That’s good. Although Taeyeon is a bit older, her talent in vocal music is beyond doubt. She is a live performer, so Jung Seung-won can teach her with that in mind.”
“Understood.” Jung Seung-won nodded, his expression somewhat hesitant as he looked at Jiang Shu.
“Is there anything?”
Jung Seung-won smiled awkwardly.
“I’ve long heard of Chairman Jiang’s songwriting abilities. I wonder if I could invite Chairman Jiang to participate in the production of my new album?”
Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
“Sorry, I’m better at girl group songs.” Jiang Shu refused.
Are you kidding? As a plagiarist, he knew nothing about songwriting.
But Jung Seung-won obviously took Jiang Shu’s words as a polite refusal and could only regretfully agree.
Jung Seung-won stood up to take his leave, while Jiang Shu called in Kim Hye-soo, the newly appointed Vice President of Arts.
Like Li Duohui, although she was a vice, since there was no official full-time position above her, there was no difference between her and a full-time executive.
“Chairman, you called for me.” Kim Hye-soo bowed respectfully and greeted him.
She had been at DM Entertainment for half a month now, and a deeper understanding revealed the superiority of the company’s system, with unbelievably high efficiency.
And most importantly, the boss truly delegated power. He gave all the necessary authority, focusing on having professionals handle professional matters.
Oh right, the cafeteria was also great.
It tasted much better than JYP’s organic cafeteria!
“Have you read the girl group plan I sent you?”
“I finished reading it last night. I’m currently writing my post-reading impressions.” Kim Hye-soo quickly said.
“Why write that stuff?” Jiang Shu frowned, “I sent it to you so you could provide suggestions for revisions based on your experience, not to write useless things like that. Our company doesn’t believe in formalism.”
Kim Hye-soo let out an “Ah.”
“Yes, I understand, Chairman!”
“Tell me what new ideas you have.”
Although the heterodox version of IVE was still active, Jiang Shu estimated that those companies were already preparing to make their move, so he also needed to prepare in advance.
As soon as IVE disbanded, the IZONE and aespa projects would be launched.
However, launching two new groups simultaneously would still be a bit challenging for DM Entertainment, so some groundwork was needed.
For example, audition variety shows.
The Produce series hadn’t been born as scheduled, but if there was no Produce series, he could create one.
Moreover, Produce was not his plan; JYP’s “Sixteen” was the best way for IZONE to debut.
As for aespa…
They definitely couldn’t beat IZONE head-on, but he needed someone to go head-to-head with Zhang Yuanying, and Liu Zhimin was the most suitable.
It would be difficult for the rising stars within IZONE to contend with Zhang Yuanying, who already had the backing of IVE. Only magic could defeat magic!
Kim Hye-soo didn’t know Jiang Shu’s plans. After Jiang Shu finished speaking, she began to express her views.
The two exchanged ideas and refined the girl group plan.
“Chairman, ITZY is debuting next month. Isn’t it too early for us to create this girl group plan now?” Kim Hye-soo asked, puzzled.
“Not early.” Jiang Shu smiled slightly, not answering.
Seeing this, Kim Hye-soo didn’t press further. After bowing to Jiang Shu, she exited the office.
Jiang Shu looked at the girl group plan on the computer, his gaze fixed on the name IZONE.
He reached up and stroked his chin.
“Hurry up and make your move, I can’t wait.”
As soon as the time was right, the two top-tier groups, trapped within IVE, would be born.
YG and other entertainment companies would never have guessed that the company that most wanted IVE to disband would actually be DM Entertainment.
“Because in~~”
Jiang Shu’s thoughts were interrupted. He turned to look at his phone screen.
Caller: Tian Xiaojuan.
Jiang Shu’s eyes narrowed.
Juan Zong rarely contacted him proactively, and the occasional time she did was via social media, not a phone call.
He picked up the phone and answered.
“Hello, Jeon Soyeon.”
“Teacher, something happened…”