Chapter 203: Was That What I Meant?
At a high-end buffet.
In China, high-end buffets are characterized by the freshness of their seafood, quality of service, and branded alcoholic beverages. However, in Korea, there's only one factor that determines if a buffet is high-end: the abundance of fruit.
As an island nation, Korea relies heavily on imports for most of its vegetables and fruits, which, as is well-known, are notoriously expensive.
Therefore, in Korea, any buffet that offers a vast variety of fruits with unlimited servings is considered a high-end buffet!
The buffet Bae Joo-hyun and Jiang Shu visited was ranked number one in Seoul. It cost 388,888 korean won per person, which is roughly 2,000 Chinese yuan. The price was indeed not cheap, yet there were many customers, and Jiang Shu and Bae Joo-hyun even had to wait in line when they arrived.
This buffet was famous for its all-you-can-eat fresh fruit. In Seoul, where a single watermelon costs 100 yuan, a buffet with a wide variety of fresh, all-you-can-eat fruit was naturally the top choice for gluttonous foodies.
DM Entertainment doesn't have extremely strict body shape requirements, but that's not an excuse to gorge on meat every day. Fruit, however, is different; unless you eat until you burst, it's quite difficult to get fat from eating fruit.
The cameraman didn't come in, not because Jiang Shu was stingy, but mainly because it's awkward to have a camera filming you while you're eating.
So, the production team gave them a camera lens and let them film themselves.
Bae Joo-hyun was familiar with this, so she took the camera and went to get various dishes.
When they had both finished getting what they wanted, Bae Joo-hyun's plate was full of fruit, while Jiang Shu's was piled high with seafood and various meats.
"Chairman, aren't you going to have some fruit?" Bae Joo-hyun asked, pointing to the fruit plate in front of her.
"Later, let's eat some meat first," Jiang Shu said, picking up a typhoon shelter-style Boston lobster. His favorite garlic-flavored Boston lobster wasn't available at this buffet, so he had to settle for whatever flavors they had.
Bae Joo-hyun watched Jiang Shu eat without any regard for his image, and silently moved the camera, which was pointed at both of them, closer to him.
Jiang Shu noticed this but paid no mind, continuing to feast.
He hadn't eaten breakfast and was starving.
"It's a pity, in our family of four, three have to manage their figures, and only I can eat whatever I want," Jiang Shu mumbled, eating a piece of shrimp.
Hearing the colloquial term "our family," Bae Joo-hyun paused her slow chewing, and the corners of her eyes curved into a crescent moon.
"Don't you usually exercise?" Bae Joo-hyun asked. Her refined eating posture contrasted sharply with Jiang Shu's hearty feasting across from her.
"Occasionally, when I'm in the mood, I'll go for a workout, but not every day," Jiang Shu replied casually. "But every time I go to the gym, I see quite a few staff members."
Both Korean men and women are enthusiastic about fitness and body sculpting. DM Entertainment has a gym, making it convenient for company employees to work out during their leisure time.
"Leisure time at work" sounds like a niche concept, but for a company like DM Entertainment, which prioritizes efficiency over mindless work, it's not unusual.
Once your work is done, as long as you don't leave the company during working hours, you can do whatever you want.
DM Entertainment isn't like those financial firms on Wall Street; there's a set amount of work, and once you're done, there's nothing else to do.
In entertainment companies like this, the busiest people are usually the artists and their team members. Office staff are generally only busiest during an artist's comeback period.
"Chairman, you might not be aware, but our company's work atmosphere is very good, everyone is very relaxed," Bae Joo-hyun said with a smile.
"Work and a good mood are not in conflict. It's great to allow employees to work happily," Jiang Shu also chuckled. Others might not know, but he was happy to see his company's employees working cheerfully.
"The way you look at problems is really unique," Bae Joo-hyun said, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Jiang Shu, her tone carrying an inexplicable emotion.
"Is that so?" Jiang Shu chuckled softly. "Perhaps it's just that I'm willing to spend money?"
They exchanged glances and both laughed.
"Oh, by the way, has S.M. settled their payments?" Jiang Shu suddenly asked, as if remembering something.
Bae Joo-hyun paused, instinctively looking at the camera.
Jiang Shu waved his hand.
"It's fine, just don't mention the amount."
Since Jiang Shu said so, Bae Joo-hyun had no more worries.
"It's already been paid."
"It is S.M. after all; they settle payments monthly. How about we learn from them?" Jiang Shu suggested after some thought.
"I think our company's quarterly settlements are more reasonable than monthly settlements," Bae Joo-hyun said.
"Why?" Jiang Shu looked at her curiously.
"Many artists are young and don't have a concept of financial management or saving money. With monthly settlements, they basically can't save any money. Quarterly settlements, however, semi-actively cultivate their financial management skills for life. At least, after each settlement, they need to consider how much money they need to set aside for living expenses until the next settlement."
Bae Joo-hyun rattled off a whole lot, leaving Jiang Shu stunned.
Was that what he meant when he arranged for the company's artists to be paid quarterly?
The next second, Jiang Shu's eyes became resolute.
That's right, that's exactly what he meant!
"I didn't expect Bae Joo-hyun to discover the company's painstaking efforts," Jiang Shu said, nodding and praising Bae Joo-hyun with an expression that suggested she was a teachable student.
Bae Joo-hyun smiled slightly.
"It's all thanks to the Chairman."
"Come, eat!" Jiang Shu said grandly, waving his hand.
"Yes," Bae Joo-hyun said with a smile, picking up a watermelon from the table and raising it towards Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu, in turn, picked up a crab leg and clinked it against Bae Joo-hyun's watermelon as if toasting.
Let's feast!
A few minutes later.
"I'm full," Bae Joo-hyun said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"Then you can watch me eat, I'm still not full," Jiang Shu said, finishing the last crab leg, then stood up to get the next batch of seafood.
Bae Joo-hyun watched Jiang Shu leave, then looked at the diners holding their phones and filming her, giving them a slight smile and waving.
This action again drew gasps of surprise from them.
Bae Joo-hyun withdrew her gaze, looking at Jiang Shu's empty seat across from her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Here I come."
Soon after, Jiang Shu came back with a plate of small lobsters.
"Just one more plate and I'll be about done," Jiang Shu said, sitting down.
"Do you have anything planned for this afternoon?" Bae Joo-hyun asked.
"No, why?"
"Nothing, I was just asking," Bae Joo-hyun smiled.
"I see," Jiang Shu nodded, then pointed at Bae Joo-hyun, then at himself. "You don't have to use honorifics. We're husband and wife now."
"Is that okay?" Bae Joo-hyun asked uncertainly.
"Of course, it's okay."
"Okay~"