Chapter 284: We Did It!
After Jiang Shu's explanation, everyone present gained a clearer understanding of the white paper's inclusion of top-tier groups and the division of girl group generations.
Groups like ITZY and aespa, who proclaimed themselves as divine sources, have now entered a new era, vying for the path to becoming empresses against new groups.
However, to reach the top, a group needs to surpass the achievements of IZONE, the second-generation empress, and from this perspective...
It's incredibly difficult.
MC's phrase, 'the highest mountain, the longest river,' wasn't said without reason.
IZONE's music streaming performance and popularity were far superior to other groups; even the Wangdao Passion-driven ITZY, who reached the super-first tier, could only come close to IZONE.
To surpass them...
Just thinking about it brings despair.
But ITZY should not feel much pressure; after all, their loss to IZONE today was merely a tactical misstep.
However, Jiang Shu knew that ITZY was likely to go downhill from now on.
Alas... what a pity.
Jiang Shu shook his head slightly, his gaze suddenly falling upon Liu Zhimin beside him.
Seeing her excited expression, Jiang Shu couldn't help but be surprised.
What's wrong, sis? Why are you so excited?
Wait.
Xiao Dongxi's incident with Ning Yizhuo significantly boosted aespa's fanbase; although they were anti-fans, anti-fans are still fans, and a comeback would be enough to convert them into loyal supporters.
Liu Zhimin herself wasn't intimidated by Zhang Yuanying, and a considerable portion of IZONE's popularity was concentrated on Zhang Yuanying.
Roughly speaking, Liu Zhimin and aespa indeed had no reverence for IZONE. Now that they knew from him that the restrictions on top-tier groups weren't so many, their motivation instantly surged.
Oh, really?
Realizing this, Jiang Shu's gaze towards Liu Zhimin also changed.
IZONE is destined to disband, ITZY will eventually decline, Red Velvet is not up to the task, NMIXX's future is uncertain. Looking at it this way, aespa will have to carry the banner of second-generation groups in the future.
It can only be aespa. Without her, how would the old guard of second-generation groups, having lost IZONE and peak ITZY, compete against Le Sserafim and IVE, who will inherit IZONE's legacy?
Tsk, thinking about it, aespa's future is bright.
It's just a pity for ITZY; they lost to IZONE in the second generation, and it will be difficult for them to compete against these monsters in the third generation.
ITZY didn't know what Jiang Shu was thinking, but his words had indeed invigorated them, serving as a form of indirect comfort?
As the dinner party here began, IZONE's celebration banquet was also taking place simultaneously.
Having already received the news that Jiang Shu wouldn't be coming, the celebration banquet didn't wait for him but began immediately after all IZONE members had arrived.
Compared to the rather quiet atmosphere at ITZY's event, at IZONE's top-tier celebration banquet held at the Shilla Hotel, all DM Entertainment executives, except for Jiang Shu, were present, and even Secretary Choi Ji-yeon attended on behalf of Jiang Shu.
In addition, high-ranking officials from companies such as S.M. and JYP also attended the celebration banquet. The scale of the event and the number of attendees truly made it a grand feast.
The celebration banquet started at six and ended around eight o'clock.
The girls, who had just received the honor of reaching the top, also enjoyed a rare moment of leisure and returned to their dorms by car.
Amidst the noisy chatter, Sakura used her key to open the dorm door.
"Huh? The door wasn't locked!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes wide.
But the boisterous crowd didn't hear what she said. Seeing the door open, they swarmed inside.
"Oh my!" Kim Chae-won, the first to enter the dorm, gasped in surprise.
Sakura curiously followed her in and then saw... Jiang Shu sitting on the sofa?
Two minutes later.
Jiang Shu looked at the living room of IZONE's Dorm 1, filled with people, and smelled various perfumes, couldn't help but click his tongue.
There are... really a lot of people.
"Congratulations, you've won the final victory and become the first top-tier group in K-pop history," Jiang Shu said with a smile, tapping on a wooden box on the coffee table.
"This is a gift for you. Go and see."
The girls looked at each other, and Zhang Yuanying was the first to reach out, squatting down to open the wooden box, revealing... cards inside?
"What is this?" Zhang Yuanying curiously took out the stack of cards, pulling one out and looking at the classic monogram pattern on it.
"LV shopping card?" Zhang Yuanying read the words and looked at Jiang Shu in confusion.
"These are shopping cards I bought from LV. One for each of you. You can choose any item at the LV Flagship Store in Cheongdam-dong. Don't worry about the price; you can choose anything," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
If it were a boy group, it would be a car for each person. For a girl group, there's no more suitable gift than a handbag.
Hearing Jiang Shu's words, the girls' eyes lit up.
If it were during holidays or birthdays, and Jiang Shu gave each of them a bag, the girls might hesitate whether to accept such a valuable gift.
But now, this was their moment of glory, a prize given to them after achieving their goal!
So what was there to say about it being valuable or not?
"Thank you, President nim!!!" The girls excitedly distributed their cards.
"You deserve it," Jiang Shu said, his smile widening as he saw how much the girls liked the prize. "This prize is from me personally. The company's reward is much simpler: a bonus of 100 million korean won per person, as previously agreed, to be included in the fourth-quarter settlement this year."
"Long live President nim!"
"President nim is the best!!!"
"Wow! President nim, saranghae!!"
Hearing about the 100 million korean won bonus, the tangible cash bonus brought more emotional value than saying "well done" a thousand times.
Zhang Yuanying took advantage of everyone's cheers and approached Jiang Shu, smiling at him.
"President nim Oppa, was I cool on stage today?" Saying that, Zhang Yuanying made the "1" and "2" hand gestures again.
"Cool!" Jiang Shu nodded seriously. "The coolness of a chosen one!"
Receiving Jiang Shu's high praise, Zhang Yuanying became even happier.
She was already very happy to receive such generous rewards, and Jiang Shu's praise afterward elevated that happiness to another level.
Comfortable~~~
"President nim," Sakura also came over at this moment, looking up at Jiang Shu, her large, sparkling eyes filled with gratitude.
"We did it!"
"Mhm," Jiang Shu nodded with emotion.
Unconsciously, it had been three years since he came to this world.
In these three years, he had experienced many, many things, transforming from a rookie entrepreneur into a leader in the industry.
Along the way, he also met many girls with dreams, watching them run on the path to chasing their dreams. As the force behind them, when the girls achieved success, Jiang Shu's heart was filled with a deep sense of pride.
Is this group amazing?
I made them!
The feeling of nurturing is maximized.