Chapter 259 Lingering Thoughts
“NewJeans?”
In the Art Director’s office on the fifth floor of DM Entertainment building, Kim Hye-soo rose from her seat after hearing Choi Ji-yeon’s words and searched a bookshelf behind her desk, then pulled out a proposal.
“Is this it?”
Choi Ji-yeon reached out and took the proposal, quickly flipping through it.
“It should be this one. The Chairman asked me to get the NewJeans proposal from Director Kim Hye-soo,” Choi Ji-yeon explained.
“There’s only this one NewJeans,” Kim Hye-soo said, pointing at the proposal in Choi Ji-yeon’s hand. “However, (G)I-DLE is about to debut, and there are also plans for IZONE and ITZY to execute. We don’t have the time or energy to produce NewJeans right now, do we?”
“It’s a collaboration with another company,” Choi Ji-yeon explained.
“Which company?” Kim Hye-soo asked curiously.
“The Chairman did not disclose it,” Choi Ji-yeon said, shaking her head.
This was a lie.
Jiang Shu had told Choi Ji-yeon about Min Xizhen and also informed her that the company was collaborating with Big Hit to debut a girl group.
However, nothing was set in stone yet, and Min Xizhen was still seen by outsiders as S.M’s Visual Art Director. It was better to keep this news under wraps for now.
“I see.” Kim Hye-soo nodded. “The only companies qualified for a collaboration are S.M and JYP. It should be one of them.”
YG was impossible. Although there were no grudges between companies, only interests, their Chairman had always been clear about grievances. YG had led the charge to disband IVE, and given their Chairman’s temperament, a collaboration with YG was out of the question.
“Have the trainees been selected?” Kim Hye-soo asked again.
“The Chairman’s intention is not to use our exclusive trainees.”
Kim Hye-soo nodded.
“I’ll head over now.” Choi Ji-yeon waved the proposal in her hand and said to Kim Hye-soo.
“Mm, you go ahead.” Kim Hye-soo smiled and nodded.
After leaving the Art Director’s office, Choi Ji-yeon looked down at the proposal in her hand. That last sentence was true.
The exclusive trainees were indeed not on the NewJeans candidate list, but... why would the Chairman continue to collaborate with other companies on a girl group?
Choi Ji-yeon couldn’t quite figure it out.
aespa and NMIXX were both special products born in special times. The former was said to be a collaboration between two companies, but in reality, it was all under Jiang Shu’s control, as Jiang Shu was also a director at S.M.
As for the latter, it was a compromise made when JYP paid a hefty sum and DM Entertainment faced monopoly issues; they had no choice but to do so.
But now...
Why this NewJeans?
Choi Ji-yeon couldn’t understand. As she looked up to return to her workstation, a familiar figure appeared in her line of sight.
“Karina?” Choi Ji-yeon called out in confusion, looking at the figure lingering outside the Chairman’s office.
Liu Zhimin heard Choi Ji-yeon’s voice and turned to look.
“Secretary Choi.” Liu Zhimin turned around and bowed to Choi Ji-yeon in greeting.
“Do you need something from the Chairman?”
“Yes.” Liu Zhimin hesitated and nodded.
As Jiang Shu’s secretary, Choi Ji-yeon was well aware of the relationship between this girl and her Chairman, so she couldn’t treat her as casually as other artists.
“The Chairman is out on business. If it’s urgent, I can help you contact him.” Choi Ji-yeon didn’t mention that her Chairman was talking business with Min Xizhen.
Talking business was fine, but the person was female, so it was better not to mention it and simply generalize.
“No need.” Liu Zhimin shook her head. “I just heard some things and wanted to consult the Chairman.”
“Hmm… if it’s convenient, perhaps I can help you answer?” Choi Ji-yeon said with a smile. As long as it wasn’t particularly confidential or private, Choi Ji-yeon knew what Jiang Shu knew.
“I heard the company seems to intend for IZONE and ITZY to compete on the same stage?” Liu Zhimin asked.
“That’s right.” Choi Ji-yeon nodded. “You’ve seen the public opinion online. The company plans to go along with this opinion to ride the wave.”
There was no need to tell Liu Zhimin that the public opinion was orchestrated by the company.
“But… will ITZY be a match for IZONE? Will they be abandoned if they lose?” Liu Zhimin asked.
Choi Ji-yeon was stunned by her words.
“Why would you think that?”
She hadn’t heard that the loser would be abandoned.
“A gut feeling.” Liu Zhimin’s answer left Choi Ji-yeon silent.
A gut feeling, was it?
How was she supposed to respond to that?
“You’re probably overthinking it. Our company hasn’t had any cases of artists being shelved so far,” Choi Ji-yeon said with a smile.
“Alright.” Liu Zhimin nodded. Choi Ji-yeon looked at her expression, guessing that she was deeply convinced by her gut feeling.
“Is there anything else?” Choi Ji-yeon asked again, regardless of whether she believed it or not.
“Is the Chairman… still alone recently?” Liu Zhimin pursed her lips and asked softly.
Choi Ji-yeon raised an eyebrow at her words.
“Since you and the Chairman parted ways, the only females around him have been company staff,” Choi Ji-yeon said with a smile.
Based on what she knew, she was speaking the absolute truth.
“Hmph.” Liu Zhimin pouted. Although she didn’t say anything, Liu Zhimin clearly didn’t believe it.
Choi Ji-yeon couldn’t interfere with their relationship. If Liu Zhimin didn’t believe it, there was nothing she could do.
“Thank you, Secretary Choi.” Liu Zhimin bowed to Choi Ji-yeon. “Then I’ll be going?”
“Go ahead.” Choi Ji-yeon nodded.
Liu Zhimin turned and walked away. Choi Ji-yeon looked at her retreating back and shook her head helplessly.
...
Samsung Golf Course, restaurant.
Jiang Shu sat alone at a dining table, holding his phone to his left ear while drinking a light blue beverage with his right hand.
“It’s good that you didn’t tell Director Kim Hye-soo about Min Xizhen. We shouldn’t reveal this until Min Xizhen makes her own official announcement,” Jiang Shu said.
“Yes.” Choi Ji-yeon’s voice came from the other end.
“Also, Karina came looking for you, Chairman,” Choi Ji-yeon continued.
“Xiao Liu?” Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow, unconsciously setting down the cup in his hand. “What did she want?”
Choi Ji-yeon recounted Liu Zhimin’s visit to him.
When he heard Liu Zhimin say that her gut feeling told her ITZY would be abandoned if they lost, his expression shifted.
Although Jiang Shu subjectively didn’t want to abandon any group, the bond effect meant that objectively, ITZY had to be abandoned.
This also meant...
Liu Zhimin’s feeling was correct.
“Then, Karina asked if you, Chairman, were still alone recently. I said yes, that besides company staff, you haven’t interacted with any other females. But Karina didn’t quite believe it.”
Jiang Shu: “…”
Never mind her, I don’t even believe that myself.
However...
Xiao Liu suddenly caring if there were other girls around him.
Jiang Shu’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
“I understand.” Jiang Shu put down his phone. Thinking of Choi Ji-yeon’s description just now, the smile on his face was uncontrollable.
Xiao Liu, ah…
Tsk.