Chapter 271: Xiao Liu: Time to Grow a Brain
Jiang Shu kept a close eye on Kim Minjeong’s movements. The company hadn’t given her a script, leaving her free to improvise, which made Jiang Shu very curious how Kim Minjeong would “bully” Ning Yizhuo.
Then, he saw Kim Minjeong’s smooth eye-roll.
Seeing this, Jiang Shu couldn't help but type a ‘6’ with one hand.
So smooth, is this Xiao Dongxi’s skill?
Cool!
aespa’s performance quickly ended. The next group to perform was one of today’s two main acts, ITZY!
Hwang Yeji, who was beside him, stood up, greeted Liu Zhimin, who had just returned, and then went onto the stage.
“Phew!” As soon as Liu Zhimin sat down, she leaned back in her chair, panting, to rest.
“You’re already tired after just a few songs?” Jiang Shu said with a smile.
“Even one song is tiring,” Liu Zhimin said, slumping in her chair with her neck against the backrest.
“How will you hold concerts with this kind of stamina?”
“We’ll worry about future things later,” Liu Zhimin said, her pretty face flushed and looking very alluring.
Jiang Shu forced himself to look away, watching ITZY, who were already in position on the stage, and spoke again.
“After this ends, I’m going to do a live broadcast for the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, and also respond to ITZY and IZONE’s comebacks next month. I need a guest. Do you want to come?”
“No,” Liu Zhimin refused bluntly. “I’ve made plans with friends; we’re going to a house party after this.”
“Are there any boys?” Jiang Shu asked casually.
“Yes, there are,” Liu Zhimin said, sitting up with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t go if there weren’t any boys.”
“You’re not allowed to go,” Jiang Shu said, turning to look at Liu Zhimin.
“Why? Even the Chairman can’t restrict my personal freedom, can he?” Liu Zhimin raised an eyebrow.
“Not as Chairman,” Jiang Shu said, looking at Liu Zhimin seriously.
Looking at Jiang Shu’s serious gaze, Liu Zhimin couldn’t help but blink.
“But I still want to go.”
“Alright,” Jiang Shu nodded and looked away.
“However… there won’t be any boys,” Liu Zhimin changed the subject. Seeing no reaction from Jiang Shu, she continued, “I’m an idol; I understand the basic need to avoid suspicion.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shu turned his head back to Liu Zhimin.
“Good.”
A smile appeared on Liu Zhimin’s face. This guy… he does care, after all.
“Recommend a candidate for tonight’s guest,” Jiang Shu said casually, retracting his gaze and watching the performance on stage.
“I suggest, hmm, don’t choose any members from IZONE or ITZY,” Liu Zhimin said after some thought.
“Reason?”
“At this time, having members from those two groups as guests would be taking sides, wouldn’t it? Oh, wait! You’re IZONE’s producer, so you’ve already taken a side.” Liu Zhimin scratched her head, midway through her sentence.
Jiang Shu smiled at her words.
Liu Zhimin finally had a brain, but not much of one.
“Tonight, I’m doing the live broadcast as the company Chairman to promote this comeback, not as IZONE’s producer. Therefore, I don’t have a stance. So, the first half of what you said is very correct: members from both IZONE and ITZY are not suitable as guests tonight.”
“So, it’s a choice from the other groups then?” Liu Zhimin tilted her head, thinking. “You’re a master of impartiality, so you definitely won’t choose IU or Taeyeon. They’re also a kind of balance.”
“Our group just had the Winter bullying Ningning incident, so we’re not suitable as guests either. That only leaves NMIXX and Red Velvet…”
Jiang Shu listened to Liu Zhimin’s analysis with interest.
No one stays foolish forever.
Kim Ye-rim, who used to speak without thinking, had reined in her words significantly after several rounds of online criticism. Although she was still very direct even after reining it in, it was much better than at first.
Liu Zhimin was also a bit thoughtless, but after several years since her debut, she had broadened her horizons by following Jiang Shu, and looking at problems from Jiang Shu’s perspective had broadened her thinking considerably. She had also learned to analyze when facing problems.
“You’ll probably choose Irene Ouni, right?” Liu Zhimin said, looking at Bae Joo-hyun, who was watching the performance with her parents not far away.
“I’m more inclined to choose someone from NMIXX,” Jiang Shu said with a smile.
“Why?” Liu Zhimin was startled. For something like this, you’d surely choose someone you have a good relationship with.
Among the remaining Red Velvet members and Xiao Yao Yao, Bae Joo-hyun was the closest to Jiang Shu.
Why wouldn’t he choose her?
“Actually, many people still don’t realize that NMIXX is a group we co-created with JYP. Many people think NMIXX is a JYP group, so I need to use the live broadcast to reinforce the idea that NMIXX is co-managed by us. I don’t want our efforts to benefit JYP,” Jiang Shu explained.
“I see.” Liu Zhimin nodded in understanding. “Then who’s there to choose from NMIXX? It must be Hae Won-xi.”
“No, let Xue Yun come.”
“Why?” Liu Zhimin was stunned, asking again in confusion.
“Because she’s pretty,” Jiang Shu said with a slight smile.
Liu Zhimin’s face was filled with black lines. What kind of reason was that?
“What does her looks have to do with your live broadcast?”
“Xue Yun and Shin Yuna are both candidates for the second generation’s divine beauty. If ITZY isn’t chosen, then only Xue Yun is left.”
The four second-generation divine beauties had been established early on. Furthermore, DM Entertainment and JYP hadn't heavily marketed Shin Yuna and Xue Yun’s visuals, so relying solely on fan support could only elevate them to candidate status for divine beauty, unable to shake the position of the four divine beauties.
Bae Joo-hyun, Liu Zhimin, Zhang Yuanying, and Kim Minju all possessed visuals, marketing, and popularity. Lacking any one of these would not suffice.
“You want to boost Xue Yun’s status?”
“No, just to make the live broadcast have a better viewing effect.” Jiang Shu didn’t have the time to market NMIXX and ITZY’s divine beauty; there was no need.
Four divine beauties were enough.
Jiang Shu didn’t know NMIXX’s upper limit, nor did he care to manage it. ITZY was destined to decline, so there was even less need to invest too many resources.
He might as well strengthen the ‘Double I’ battle with this time.
“Don’t your hair fall out from thinking about such complicated things every day?” Liu Zhimin asked, frowning at Jiang Shu’s hair.
Just listening to him talk about these things was already a headache.
“It’s not complicated. You’re just unaccustomed to it at first, so it feels complicated. Once you’re exposed to it more, you’ll get used to it,” Jiang Shu said with a chuckle.
“I won’t have the chance to be exposed to it,” Liu Zhimin pouted. With her personality, it would really be difficult for her to become a company director.
Jiang Shu smiled at her words and didn’t dwell on the topic anymore.
Some people are simply not cut out for or willing to do leadership work, so why force it?
The gala continued. Since it was a family gala, the “gunpowder” segment between ITZY and IZONE was not set up. The fans of both sides were already almost tearing each other apart, so there was no need to add fuel to the fire.