Chapter 179: Standing on His Own Two Feet
Min Xizhen's office.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Coke."
Min Xizhen, who was about to get tea leaves or coffee beans, paused at his words and looked at Jiang Shu, somewhat speechless.
"Chairman Jiang's taste is still so youthful."
"I'm only twenty-five, Director Min," Jiang Shu said, looking 'innocently' at Min Xizhen.
Min Xizhen's mouth twitched. She shouldn't have asked that question.
"I don't have Coke here, only coffee and tea."
"Then plain water is fine," Jiang Shu said, leaning back on the sofa.
Min Xizhen placed an unopened bottle of mineral water in front of him.
"What do you need me for?" Jiang Shu wasn't polite; he twisted open the cap, asked his question, and then gulped down the water.
"You know Fang Shihe, right?"
Hearing that name, Jiang Shu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, looking at Min Xizhen in surprise.
"Of course, a core member of JYP."
"He recently had a disagreement with JYP regarding the concept of group production and might leave JYP," Min Xizhen revealed a bombshell.
Unlike in the real world where Fang Shihe was merely a producer for JYP and his departure wouldn't be a big deal, the current Fang Shihe is the third-in-command at JYP, the Art Director who holds the most sway after Park Jin-young and the CEO.
If he were to leave JYP, wouldn't he take a string of executives with him?
"If it's just a disagreement, it shouldn't lead to him leaving, right?"
"The point of disagreement is about JYP's future development. I'm not clear on the specific details, but this matter should be accurate."
"Where did you get this information?" Jiang Shu asked in surprise.
"Fang Shihe told me."
Jiang Shu: "?"
His gaze towards Min Xizhen immediately became strange.
Are these two involved again?
"Are you leaving too?"
"I'm doing well at S.M., why would I leave?" Min Xizhen said with a frown.
"I thought you two were going together," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
"He did have that idea, but I refused," Min Xizhen said. "I'm doing well at S.M., who would go to his new company?"
Min Xizhen's words were full of disdain.
It made sense. Back then, Min Xizhen left Hybe partly because Li Xiuman had gone berserk, not content with just sending Kim Young-min to Japan, he started targeting Min Xizhen.
With Min Xizhen's internal strife methods, she would crumble at a touch.
On the other hand, Hybe had the cash cow BTS, and at the time, they had already begun acquiring various well-known companies, showing their ambition for territorial expansion. Plus, Fang Shihe offered her extremely high authority as an enticement.
It was a combination of these factors that led her to choose Hybe.
But now?
BTS is probably still chilling somewhere, let alone Hybe, Big Hit is still just an idea. Even if Fang Shihe could bring half of JYP's people to his new company, it would be difficult to impress Min Xizhen.
After all, even JYP is not as good as S.M. at this stage.
"Then how about joining our company?" Jiang Shu said with a chuckle. "Our company is still missing an Art Director."
"Isn't Kim Hye-soo there?" Min Xizhen asked in surprise.
"She's the vice."
Kim Hye-soo, like Li Duohui, holds a vice position, but since there's no principal, it's no different from being the top person.
"Thank you for your kindness, but I think S.M. is quite good." Min Xizhen rejected Jiang Shu again.
DM Entertainment certainly has the potential to become one of the Three Greats, but there's still a gap compared to S.M. She currently has no intention of changing jobs.
"What a pity," Jiang Shu said with a chuckle, but he had already mentally written off Min Xizhen.
Three strikes and you're out. Min Xizhen had refused too many times, and Jiang Shu had also figured out her thoughts.
She doesn't want to offer help in times of need, only to add to what's already good. Since that's the case, it proves they are not destined.
"Why are you telling me this?" Jiang Shu came back to his senses and asked Min Xizhen.
Hearing this, Min Xizhen's expression became strange.
"Because when Fang Shihe invited me, he said that he had already reached a collaboration with you to jointly launch a girl group. If I went, I would be in charge of the girl group."
A question mark appeared on Jiang Shu's forehead.
"Interesting." Jiang Shu chuckled. Even though Jiang Shu didn't say anything, Min Xizhen could tell something was off from his expression.
"It seems you two didn't reach a collaboration," Min Xizhen said with a smile.
"No, we didn't even talk. If you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have known about this."
"Actually, at the time, I was tempted. An entire group operated by me, and launched by your DM Entertainment—that temptation was truly significant."
"But—"
"Because in ~ a thousand years later ~ ~"
Mid-sentence, Jiang Shu's phone rang. He subconsciously looked at Min Xizhen, who also looked at Jiang Shu.
It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?
He took out his phone. Caller: Fang Shihe (JYP).
Jiang Shu: "..."
Min Xizhen: "..."
"Answer it, let me listen." An interested expression appeared on Min Xizhen's face.
Jiang Shu didn't refuse. After answering the call, he put it on speakerphone.
"Hahaha, Chairman Jiang, long time no see." Fang Shihe's voice came through the receiver.
"Director Fang, long time no see. Is there something you need?"
"It's like this, Chairman Jiang and Director Min are old friends. I thought since I've already partnered with Director Min, there's no need to hide it from Chairman Jiang anymore."
Jiang Shu and Min Xizhen exchanged glances.
"I plan to stand on my own two feet, leave JYP, and start an entertainment company. With me will be my old subordinates from JYP. I invited Director Min to be our company's Art Director, and Director Min agreed, but she wants you, Chairman Jiang, to partner with our soon-to-be-established company to launch a girl group."
"But don't worry, we only want ten percent of the new girl group's profits, but the operation rights need to be handled by Director Min. What do you think, Chairman Jiang?"
Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow. If Min Xizhen weren't right in front of him, he would have been truly tempted by Fang Shihe's offer.
"I'm very interested in the collaboration you mentioned, but I need to confirm it with Director Min," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
"No need to trouble Chairman Jiang, I'm on my way to S.M. I'll discuss this with Director Min face-to-face and then give you a response, Chairman Jiang, how about that?" Fang Shihe quickly said.
"No need, I'm at S.M. right now. I'll go ask Director Min."
"Uh... you're at S.M." Fang Shihe's voice suddenly sounded off.
"Yes, why?" Jiang Shu said, feigning ignorance.
"Nothing, then you go ahead, I have something else to do, I'll hang up first." With that, Fang Shihe hung up the phone directly.
Jiang Shu couldn't help but be stunned, he hung up so quickly...
"He's afraid that if we talk, his lie of deceiving both sides will be exposed. He might be preparing to leave JYP now," Min Xizhen speculated.
"Possibly." Jiang Shu nodded.
"Should we tell JYP?" Min Xizhen asked.
"Tell him what?" Jiang Shu laughed. "We'll sit back and watch them fight, and wait for the final outcome. If Fang Shihe can truly secure his position, then we'll ask him for compensation for deceiving both sides."
Min Xizhen raised an eyebrow, then smiled.
"No problem."