Chapter 213: New Year’s Red Envelope
DM Entertainment.
On the first day of 2020, when fans and reporters arrived at the entrance of DM Entertainment, ready to continue staking out artists as usual, they found a large crowd of employees with work IDs streaming out of the main entrance of DM Entertainment.
These were all DM Entertainment employees, wave after wave, leaving the fans and reporters stunned.
The number kept increasing, as if everyone in the entire building had come out.
A dense throng of people, with security personnel accompanying two middle-aged men in suits without work IDs, arranging the employees into lines.
“What are they doing?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why are they so happy?”
“Oh my! I saw Kim Autumn!”
“Where, where?!”
“Over there!”
“I saw her, I saw her! And Song Yuqi, Minnie, and the others!”
“The trainees are here too, what are they doing?”
“Who cares, let’s take pictures first!”
The fans and curious reporters were in an uproar, and all the DM Entertainment employees were also noisy; although they were orderly lined up in groups, with hundreds of people talking at once, it sounded like a bustling market.
Soon, everyone saw Jiang Shu walk out with Li Duohui, Kim Hye-soo, and a group of other DM Entertainment executives.
Thunderous applause suddenly erupted, leaving the fans and reporters bewildered.
But very quickly, sharp-eyed fans noticed the stacks of… red envelopes?! in the hands of the staff following Jiang Shu and the other DM Entertainment executives.
“Red envelopes! New Year’s red envelopes?!”
“Wow! Are they giving out New Year’s red envelopes?!”
“Boo hoo hoo, I’m so envious!”
“Dude, don’t big companies give out red envelopes on the first day of the New Year?”
“Uh… do they?”
“Don’t… don’t they?”
“Get a better job, brother.”
The fans’ commotion did not affect the employees’ mood.
They had received a message from the administrative department last night that everyone was to report at 9 AM today to collect red envelopes at the company entrance before entering.
This news had the employees thrilled.
They could get red envelopes!
Even the trainees received red envelopes.
Jiang Shu and Li Duohui, along with other executives, lined up in a row, with pre-arranged queues in front of each of them.
An administrative staff member walked over, holding a box filled with red envelopes; the red envelope covers featured the large DM Entertainment logo, and the festive red color was distinctly Chinese.
Since Jiang Shu is Chinese, DM Entertainment already had Chinese elements everywhere, so the red envelopes were something the employees were accustomed to.
“Come, let’s begin,” Jiang Shu said with a smile, waving to the employee in front of him.
As soon as Jiang Shu spoke, the eager employees immediately stepped forward.
“Here, Happy New Year,” Jiang Shu said with a smile, handing a red envelope to the young man in front of him who looked like he had just graduated from college not long ago.
“Thank you, President nim!” The young man happily took the red envelope and walked to the back of the line to avoid blocking the path.
The number of employees at DM Entertainment is not considered large in the industry; employees are those for whom the company pays the four major mandatory insurances.
Korea does not have the concept of five insurances and one housing fund, but it does have four major mandatory insurances with similar coverage and some benefits; if one had to say, DM Entertainment has five insurances, but no housing fund, as Korea does not have such a concept.
Currently, the company with the most employees in the industry is S.M., with over four hundred people, while the smallest, JYP, has fewer than one hundred people, which is pitifully few.
DM Entertainment is not the largest, but also not the smallest, with just over two hundred employees, which is entirely sufficient.
Trainees are not considered employees because they only receive training subsidies and company-provided benefits like afternoon tea and gym access; the four major mandatory insurances are not paid for trainees.
Soon, Jiang Shu saw a “familiar face.”
“Cheng Xiao, you’ve become even more beautiful,” Jiang Shu said with a smile, switching to Chinese.
Cheng Xiao was surprised to hear this, seemingly not expecting the President nim to remember her name.
“President nim is also getting more handsome,” Cheng Xiao said with a smile.
Jiang Shu looked at Cheng Xiao’s state, which did not seem particularly anxious; it was good that her emotions were not affected.
“Here, Happy New Year.”
“Thank you, President nim!” Cheng Xiao bowed in thanks, receiving the red envelope with both hands.
“It’s my turn, it’s my turn!” Song Yuqi excitedly rushed up to Jiang Shu, “Happy New Year, President nim!”
“You’re the most proactive,” Jiang Shu said with a chuckle, handing the red envelope to Song Yuqi, “Happy New Year, little Yuqi.”
“Hehe, thank you, President nim!” Song Yuqi happily took the red envelope and turned to walk away.
“President nim.”
Jiang Shu looked at the chubby girl in front of him, his eyes flashing.
“You look a bit unfamiliar; when did you join the company?” Jiang Shu asked with a smile.
“Hello, President nim, my name is Kim Jiwon, and I joined the company this… uh, last September through the audition competition,” the girl said nervously.
Kim Jiwon (B/A)
Bonds: Illustration (6), Pseudo-Main Vocalist (1), Succubus (1).
Succubus: Kim Jiwon’s exclusive bond.
Effect 1: Before activation, automatically locks onto the tag that best matches the current image for popularity attraction; the attraction power depends on the original owner’s popularity but is limited by the tag, reducing fan-attracting ability. (This effect is removed after the bond is activated.)
Effect 2: After activation, breaks free from tag restrictions and becomes immune to the negative effects of the six illustrations.
Effect 3: After one year of immunity to the negative effects of the six illustrations, a judgment is made; if popularity does not reach the top three of the six illustrations, this bond is permanently erased. If popularity reaches the top three of the six illustrations, this bond is permanently retained, and Effect 3 is removed.
Effect 4: Appropriate makeup and styling combined with excellent body management can activate this bond.
Jiang Shu’s lips curved upwards; Succubus Chestnut is here, and she looks very unconfident right now.
Even without activating the Succubus bond, the effect is good, but the effect after the bond is activated is undoubtedly very strong, so in that case…
“You’re quite pretty, but your body management is a bit lacking,” Jiang Shu said with a chuckle.
“I’m sorry, President nim!” Kim Jiwon was startled, thinking he was scolding her, and quickly bowed in apology.
“Don’t be nervous,” Jiang Shu said with a chuckle, waving his hand, “I have a small task for you; first, take your red envelope.”
Jiang Shu handed the New Year’s red envelope to Kim Jiwon, who took it somewhat nervously.
“If your body meets my requirements, I’ll list you as an exclusive trainee, how about it?” Jiang Shu said with a chuckle.
Kim Jiwon’s eyes widened instantly.
DM Entertainment’s exclusive trainees are also known as debut pre-debuts, and they are the most well-deserved pre-debuts in the entire industry.
Because all of DM Entertainment’s first batch of exclusive trainees have already debuted!
This is also why Cheng Xiao, despite her age, is not particularly anxious.
Jiang Shu’s words were tantamount to telling Kim Jiwon, if your body management meets my requirements, I will arrange for your debut!