Chapter 23: Absolute Core
The boy sat in the driver's seat, carefully touching the steering wheel as if stroking a young girl's delicate skin, meticulously observing the interior.
Jiang Shu’s car featured a classic black exterior with a red interior, obsidian black metallic paint, Bordeaux red and black two-tone leather upholstery, and essential options like the SC package and Bose sound system.
Essentially, all the configurations a boy would like were chosen for this car.
After about a few minutes, the boy reluctantly got out of the car.
“Thank you, big brother, for giving me this opportunity.” The boy stood beside the car, bowing to Jiang Shu in gratitude.
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Shu waved his hand, “You’ll be able to buy your own car someday.”
The boy nodded upon hearing this.
“I will work hard!”
“Just in time, this is my first time at Seoul Arts High School, would you mind showing me around your school?” Jiang Shu stated his purpose.
Of course, he wasn’t there to show off his car; he was merely using the opportunity to get a free guide, which would make it easier for him to “scout for talent” later.
The boy was startled, then quickly nodded.
“Okay, big brother.”
Jiang Shu locked the car doors and walked into the Seoul Arts High School campus with the boy.
The boy’s name was Jin Zhongting, a third-year student in Vocal Music Class B at Seoul Arts High School.
“I plan to apply to Yonsei University’s composition department,” Jin Zhongting told Jiang Shu, “The Three Greats now require interns for producers to be from well-known domestic universities with professional backgrounds. Entering the Three Greats is my dream.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Shu smiled. “Which one do you want to go to?”
“S.M!” Jin Zhongting said decisively, “S.M is the most powerful of the Three Greats; I want to go to S.M!”
“But among the Three Greats, the most suitable for producers is YG Entertainment,” Jiang Shu shook his head and said.
Among the Three Greats entertainment companies, only YG Entertainment truly has its own standardized music production system. For producers, YG Entertainment is far better than the other two.
“Is that so?” Jin Zhongting seemed to understand but not quite. “Are you an insider, big brother?”
“I am the Chairman of DM Entertainment,” Jiang Shu did not hide it and stated directly.
“So amazing!” Jin Zhongting’s eyes widened. “Big brother, you’re actually the Chairman of an entertainment company?”
Okay, he didn’t mention IVE, which means he probably hadn’t even heard of DM Entertainment.
But it didn't matter; this would be a name that would eventually surpass the Three Greats.
“Then, Chairman Jiang, why are you here this time?” Jin Zhongting asked curiously, looking at Jiang Shu.
Jiang Shu smiled slightly.
“Procuring goods.”
Jin Zhongting: “?”
…
“Young maiden, do you wish to shine brightly on stage?”
“Who are you, big brother?”
At the entrance of the campus supermarket, Shin Ryujin (currently 17 years old), wearing a Seoul Arts High School uniform and with long black hair, looked bewilderedly at the handsome man in front of her.
Is this person crazy?
He suddenly stopped her and said such a thing.
“Hello, I am the Chairman of DM Entertainment, that is, the DM Entertainment of IVE.” Jiang Shu took out his business card and handed it to Shin Ryujin, while also leveraging the fame of his own little Fufu (IVE).
Shin Ryujin had no reaction to the first half of the sentence, but only after hearing “IVE” did she remember which DM Entertainment he was referring to.
Although IVE was a super rookie group that debuted just the day before yesterday, this new group was set to make waves.
Even though they had only debuted for two days, anyone following K-pop knew that an extremely fierce new group had emerged, achieving the historic feat of ranking first immediately upon debut, and also securing daily chart-toppers on various music platforms on May 29th and 30th. With this level of popularity, Shin Ryujin, as a seasoned K-pop viewer, naturally wouldn't miss such a girl group.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang!” Shin Ryujin looked at the business card and bowed to Jiang Shu in greeting.
Jiang Shu looked at Shin Ryujin in front of him, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Coming here to “pioneer” was definitely the right move.
Shin Ryujin (A)
Bonds: Special Forces (1), Wangdao Passion (5), Exclusive Center (1)
Special Forces:
Effect: Upon activation, physical stamina rapidly increases, rising to the pinnacle of girl groups, but it will reduce the stamina limit of other members in the team.
Five Wangdao Passion: ITZY exclusive bond.
Effect One: Upon activation, the more difficult the dance, the more it can stimulate team potential, but it will increase physical burden.
Effect Two: Upon activation, songs suitable for the team will continuously stack, and each comeback will have greater popularity than the last, but if even one song is not suitable, this effect is permanently lost, and the group's popularity will continuously decline.
Exclusive Center:
Effect: A lower-tier bond of “Center,” it signifies the absolute center of a specific group; the group cannot debut without this member.
The Special Forces bond is not exclusive to Shin Ryujin, but rather a bond that all five members of ITZY, except Choi Ji-soo (Lia), possess. Therefore, all the side effects of this bond are borne by Choi Ji-soo alone.
Poor Lia baby.
And the Wangdao Passion bond is quite outrageous.
This is one of the very few bonds that can stack infinitely, with an extremely high theoretical limit. Jiang Shu had run five dungeons, and the last two times he pushed this bond to a very high position. He has rich experience in how to match songs for ITZY.
Passionate Girls ITZY, this is one of the very few operational card sets that, if managed properly, can rival top groups.
And Shin Ryujin is the absolute core of this card set!
Strictly speaking, the Exclusive Center bond should be similar to negative bonds like “Crazy Horse Empress” and the “Garden Party” after activating negative effects.
This bond limits the structure of the girl group.
Just like Shin Ryujin, who possesses this bond, she can only go to ITZY, and she can only be ITZY.
The other four members of ITZY can go to other groups, freely distributed to form various groups, but Shin Ryujin cannot move; she can only form the original ITZY with those four people.
Admittedly, in terms of individual value, Shin Ryujin is far inferior to the two S-cards, Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying, but she is the core center of ITZY, both in reality and in the game.
Although the exclusive center limits Shin Ryujin, the Wangdao Passion bond also cannot do without her; without her as the core center, this bond cannot be formed.
It can be said to be a complementary relationship.
“How about it? Shin… uh, student, would you like to come to our DM Entertainment?” Jiang Shu invited.
Shin Ryujin looked down at the business card in her hand.
“May I consider it?”
“Of course.” Jiang Shu smiled and nodded. “Then, may I know your name?”
“Shin Ryujin, a second-year student in Dance Class A at Seoul Arts High School,” Shin Ryujin said.
Jiang Shu made an OK gesture.
“If you are willing to join our company, please call the number on the business card to contact me.”
“Yes.” Shin Ryujin bowed to Jiang Shu and responded.
Jiang Shu waved his hand dashingly and turned to walk away.
With so many students at Seoul Arts High School, he didn't believe Shin Ryujin was the only good prospect.
He wanted to cast a wide net!
Shin Ryujin watched Jiang Shu’s retreating back and carefully put away the business card in her hand.
Thanks to Blue Armor Knight for the 1500 Qidian coins reward!