Chapter 283: The Beginning of the Third Generation
#IZONE Tops the Charts#
#Girl Group: The Highest Mountain, The Longest River#
#The Battle of the Twin 'I's Concludes, ITZY Narrowly Loses to IZONE#
#The Demon King Guards Her Throne#
#Zhang Yuanying’s Hand Gesture#
#Sakura Lifts the Trophy#
#The Era of Second-Generation Girl Groups Ends, IZONE Reigns Supreme#
#Third-Generation Girl Groups Are About to Debut#
As soon as Inkigayo ended, the hot searches on major forums were dominated by IZONE-related terms.
This was a true ascent to the top, surpassing all rivals and reaching the summit.
The White Paper writing team immediately began working overtime to draft the new issue of the White Paper as soon as this century-defining battle concluded.
Whenever a major event occurred, this K-pop White Paper had to record it, and in the current girl group scene, was there anything more important than the birth of the first group to reach the top?
The answer was no.
Tonight belonged to IZONE.
As for the losers…
Inside the van, the members of ITZY fell into silence. Although they had anticipated failure, when it actually happened, the regret and disappointment still filled the hearts of every member.
Even Choi Ji-soo, who had the highest tolerance for trial and error and viewed her idol career with the most detachment, had a look of dejection on her face.
The highest glory for a girl group was just one step away from them, but it was precisely this step, with the insurmountable IZONE acting as a chasm, that blocked them from the summit.
Just one step away…
The manager in the passenger seat opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.
He wasn't in a good mood either; being the manager of a top-tier group was different from being the manager of a super-tier group, and the treatment was also different.
He couldn't be happy.
Buzz.
At this moment, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
The manager immediately snapped back to reality and pulled out his phone.
Looking at the content on his phone, the manager was momentarily stunned, then said to the driver, “Don’t go back to the company, go to the Four Seasons Hotel.”
“Alright,” the driver responded, turning left from the original straight road.
The members in the back also heard the manager's words. The Seoul Four Seasons Hotel was a high-end hotel, and they didn't know why they were going there. With their spirits low, none of the members spoke.
More than ten minutes later, the vehicle arrived at the hotel.
“Girls, we’re here,” the manager got out of the car, opened the door, and said to the members inside.
Youzhen was the first to get out, and she was momentarily surprised to see the Four Seasons Hotel sign.
“Oppa, why are we here?”
Behind her, the other four members of ITZY also got out of the car and looked at the manager with confusion after seeing the Four Seasons Hotel.
“For a dinner gathering,” the manager said with a smile.
“But we didn’t win,” Shin Yuna said, puzzled. “Is it to celebrate IZONE?”
“Of course not, it’s for you,” the manager shook his head with a smile. “Hurry up, the Chairman is waiting for you.”
“Chairman?!” All five instantly widened their eyes.
Shouldn't the Chairman be at IZONE's celebration now?
With a sense of bewilderment, the group followed the manager to the restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they found Jiang Shu, Jeon Soyeon, and a large number of DM Entertainment artists who supported ITZY in a private room.
After the ITZY members entered, Jiang Shu, who was in the main seat, stood up and led the applause.
With Jiang Shu leading, everyone else also stood up and applauded.
This scene made the ITZY members feel somewhat disoriented, as if they were the ones who had reached the top today.
“Chairman, what is this…?” Youzhen asked Jiang Shu, puzzled.
Jiang Shu smiled slightly.
“There are no losers today; both you and IZONE are the pride of DM.”
Such words could be considered polite, but when Jiang Shu personally appeared here, these polite words became heartfelt.
“IZONE needs you more; we’re fine,” Youzhen said with a bitter smile.
“Their celebration is too crowded; I’ll go after it ends,” Jiang Shu waved his hand and said, “Please sit.”
“Yes.” x5.
As the ITZY members took their seats, Jiang Shu sat down and glanced at the few of them, finally resting his gaze on Jeon Soyeon.
“Jeon Soyeon, don’t you have something to say to them?”
Jeon Soyeon was suddenly called by name, first startled, then looked at ITZY.
She was no longer the timid girl she once was; now, the future girl group leader and a well-known producer in the industry, capable of standing on her own, was here!
“You’ve already done your best, and I will always cherish our collaboration,” Jeon Soyeon said, standing up and looking directly at ITZY.
“When you went all out to face IZONE, you had already won.”
With that, Jeon Soyeon raised the drink in her hand.
The five members of ITZY also quickly stood up, and the manager beside them swiftly took out drinks and poured a glass for each of the five.
Jiang Shu watched this scene with a smile; the bond between Jeon Soyeon and ITZY was truly moving.
“Speaking of which, when Producer Jeon Soyeon debuts, she should be considered a third-generation girl group, right?” After they clinked glasses and sat down, Liu Zhimin beside them asked curiously.
“This…” Jeon Soyeon looked up at Jiang Shu; she wasn’t sure either.
“Yes,” Jiang Shu took a sip of his drink. “All girl groups debuting after today will be considered third-generation girl groups.”
“Then we’ve become great seniors too,” Shin Yuna, having regained some energy, interjected.
“Then won’t we be unable to compete for the top group anymore?” Liu Zhimin’s eyes widened as she said.
The ITZY members, who had just recovered, looked disheartened, and the corners of everyone else’s mouths twitched.
This person really lacked tact; wasn't saying something like that now just provoking ITZY?
“Who said that?” Jiang Shu looked at Liu Zhimin, puzzled.
“Huh?” This time, Liu Zhimin and everyone else present were stunned.
“Who stipulated that the top group can only be a contemporary group? Did I say that? Or did the White Paper stipulate it?”
When Jiang Shu said that, everyone else thought back carefully…
Oh my, it seems there really wasn’t anything like that?!
“The essence of a top group is an acknowledgment of a girl group that has reached the peak. Any group that breaks through the existing ceiling for girl groups in terms of music sources or popularity can be considered a top group. There are no restrictions on the debut time of a girl group; as long as you can still dance and sing, even if you are seventy years old, you can participate in the competition for the top group.”
The ITZY members, who had been somewhat dejected, immediately became excited upon hearing Jiang Shu’s words.
So it wasn’t a one-time opportunity?
If they couldn't beat IZONE as a second-generation group, then they would compete again as a third-generation group!
“Then how are girl groups divided into second, third, and fourth generations?” Liu Zhimin asked again.
“Whenever a contemporary girl group reaches the top, that’s when the next generation begins. For example, for the third-generation girl groups starting tomorrow, if ITZY reaches the top within this period, they will still be considered third-generation. But if a girl group that debuted during the third-generation period, like (G)I-DLE, reaches the top, the next day will enter the fourth generation.”
These were the rules refined after discussions between DM Entertainment, other entertainment companies, and the White Paper writing team.