Chapter 175: Jinro
Regardless of whether Soo-jin agreed or not, Jiang Shu wouldn't let her show her face. If she agreed, that was best for everyone. If she didn't, she'd still have to hold it in.
"Is there anything else?" Jiang Shu asked, looking at the two of them.
"No," Bae Joo-hyun shook her head and said.
"Alright then," Jiang Shu nodded, "Soo-jin, you go out first. I need to discuss some Red Velvet matters with Bae Joo-hyun."
Soo-jin didn't hesitate. She bowed to Jiang Shu and then exited.
They were discussing Red Velvet matters, which was not something she should be privy to.
Only after Soo-jin had left did Jiang Shu speak.
"Come to a dinner party with me tonight."
Bae Joo-hyun was startled but quickly gave her reply.
"Yes."
"Aren't you going to ask what kind of dinner party it is?" Jiang Shu said with a chuckle, looking at Bae Joo-hyun.
"Chairman, you wouldn't harm me," Bae Joo-hyun said calmly, her head lowered.
"It's no fun being so sure, Bae Joo-hyun," Jiang Shu said helplessly. He had wanted to tease Bae Joo-hyun a bit more.
Where Jiang Shu couldn't see, Bae Joo-hyun's lips curved into a smile. It seemed she had thought of something, and she was very happy.
"I've been talking with Jinro's publicity department for a while, and they've finally decided to meet you before making a decision."
Bae Joo-hyun looked up in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at Jiang Shu.
She hadn't misheard, had she? Jinro?
"Which Jinro?" Bae Joo-hyun asked, losing her voice.
"There's only one Jinro, isn't there?" Jiang Shu said with a laugh.
Jinro's status in Korea is probably equivalent to the combined might of Tsingtao and Snow Beer, right?
It certainly can't be compared to Maotai; after all, that's a luxury item, while Jinro is a popular drink. The two are in different leagues.
"But... me?" Bae Joo-hyun pointed to herself, her eyes full of disbelief.
Jinro's spokespersons had always been Lee Sun-mi and Kim Hyun-a, taking turns. It was like a rotation; this year it was her, next year it would be the other.
How could Bae Joo-hyun possibly get an endorsement?
"It's not certain yet. Perform well at tonight's dinner party," Jiang Shu cautioned. At the end, he seemed to realize his words might be suggestive, so he added, "By 'perform well,' I mean a normal performance, not some unsavory methods. Of course, if an artist is willing, I won't stop them."
Bae Joo-hyun smiled. Jiang Shu's words were quite direct, but one could also hear his care for his artists.
He could have chosen not to explain, but he still did, just to let Bae Joo-hyun make her own choice.
In the entertainment industry, such unsavory deals are quite common. Everyone is well aware of them, but the difference lies in some companies forcing artists to do it, some encouraging it, while DM Entertainment lets you choose for yourself.
They neither oppose nor endorse it.
If an artist is willing, go ahead; the company will profit from the resources gained. If you don't want to, that's fine too; you won't be forced.
As for companies that oppose such practices...
Anyway, in the few months since Bae Joo-hyun debuted, she hadn't heard of any. In fact, most companies either force or semi-force artists to exchange resources, and only mid-to-large-sized companies are a bit better.
It's understandable, really. The smaller the company, the harder it is to survive. Artists themselves are a company's resource, so management certainly won't hesitate to use artists to exchange for resources.
In mid-to-large-sized companies, artists aren't exactly normal people, but at least they have some say. Forcing them into these resource exchanges requires considering the artist's value and the resource's value. Only when the resource's value far exceeds the artist's current value will the company consider doing so.
Endorsements, however, clearly don't fall into that category.
At least, not in Jiang Shu's eyes.
It's just an endorsement, icing on the cake, giving fans something to brag about. You can't really say that the endorsement fee from Jinro is exceptionally high; it's not necessarily so.
"Yes, I understand what Chairman means," Bae Joo-hyun said, bowing to Jiang Shu.
"Mm," Jiang Shu nodded. "The dinner party is at eight. Gather at the company at seven-thirty tonight, and I'll take you."
"Oh, and you can drive, right?"
"Yes, I can," Bae Joo-hyun nodded. Could Chairman be asking her to drive? But Chairman's car...
Bae Joo-hyun's mind conjured up the Porsche she had ridden in before.
She hadn't driven that car.
"Good, then. Go get busy. Come back at seven-thirty."
"Yes."
Bae Joo-hyun heard the dismissal and took her leave.
...
Around eight o'clock in the evening, in a private room at a high-end restaurant.
Jiang Shu was chuckling and clinking glasses with a middle-aged man in a suit and tie, whose appearance was not outstanding but whose attire was very proper.
Bae Joo-hyun sat beside Jiang Shu, a glass of juice in front of her, occasionally smiling as she listened to their conversation.
"Irene is even more beautiful in person than on TV. It's just a pity she's not drinking; she's missing that touch of being mellowed by alcohol," the middle-aged man said, holding a bottle of soju, looking at Bae Joo-hyun with a hint of regret.
Bae Joo-hyun was about to speak, her hand already halfway up in the air.
"She's my driver. If she drinks, we won't be able to go back tonight," Jiang Shu said, not even looking at Bae Joo-hyun. He chuckled, pressed Bae Joo-hyun's wrist down, and then looked at the middle-aged man.
"If you can't go back, then don't. Does Chairman Jiang have a curfew?" the middle-aged man quipped with a smile.
"No curfew, but our Bae Joo-hyun has a schedule early tomorrow morning, so it would cause some delay. We still need to go back," Jiang Shu replied.
"No problem, I'll send someone to drive Irene," the middle-aged man glanced at Jiang Shu, then narrowed his eyes as he looked at Bae Joo-hyun.
"That won't be necessary," Jiang Shu reached out and put his arm around Bae Joo-hyun's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace.
Bae Joo-hyun, suddenly embraced, stiffened, but a beautiful smile remained on her face.
The middle-aged man, seeing this, raised an eyebrow, then laughed.
"It seems I was being ignorant, hahaha."
"Minister Kim, what are you saying? I'll toast you!" Jiang Shu released Bae Joo-hyun, picked up his glass, and stood up.
"Hahaha, come!" Minister Kim also stood up. Seeing this, Bae Joo-hyun followed suit.
After several rounds of drinks and an unknown number of soju bottles, the dinner party finally ended in a drunken haze.
"Minister Kim, please take care on your way out," Bae Joo-hyun said to the middle-aged man, supporting Jiang Shu, who was already "disoriented" and leaning vaguely against her.
"Hahaha, when your Chairman wakes up, tell him he needs to practice his drinking!" Minister Kim said happily.
"Yes," Bae Joo-hyun nodded with a smile.
"Alright, tomorrow you and your company's people can come to our company to sign the endorsement contract."
"Okay, thank you, Minister Kim!" Bae Joo-hyun said, surprised.
Minister Kim smiled and waved his hand, then got into his car with the help of his secretary.
Bae Joo-hyun stood still, watching Minister Kim's car drive away. Just as she was about to help Jiang Shu into the car, a faint voice reached her ear.
"Are they gone?"