Chapter 336: Making Dumplings for the Vinegar Dish
As reporters took their seats and photographers positioned themselves on both sides, adjusting their camera angles, Choi Ji-yeon picked up the microphone again.
“Alright, the DM Entertainment Campus Recruitment Press Conference Q&A session officially begins.” With that, Choi Ji-yeon placed the microphone next to Jiang Shu’s hand and then retreated behind him.
“Welcome, all reporter friends, to DM Entertainment’s recruitment fair. You all know my style, so I won’t waste any more words. Let’s get straight to the point.”
“It would be great if all the people we interviewed were as decisive as Chairman Jiang,” the senior reporter couldn’t help but murmur with emotion.
“Yes, I really hope Chairman Jiang’s good habit spreads,” Jin Zhongting echoed.
“Today, we have plenty of time. Please ask your questions in order. Each news agency only gets one question.” Jiang Shu scanned the number of reporters present, about thirty, and most were in pairs, meaning about ten questions. It was a bit much, but he really had nothing else to do today, so he let them ask freely.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang.” The first reporter stood up, bowed to Jiang Shu, and then spoke.
“I am a reporter from the JoongAng Ilbo. Regarding this campus recruitment fair, I would like to ask…”
The reporter asked, and Jiang Shu answered.
The first two rows were occupied by official reporters, and their questions were all hot topics related to the campus recruitment fair. There were no particularly sharp questions; they were all very conventional, until…
“Next reporter friend.”
“Hello, Chairman Jiang, I am…” As soon as this female reporter spoke, many people turned their gaze to her. From her tone, it seemed like something was coming?
“I would like to ask Chairman Jiang, I noticed that Mr. Kang Wentai, who caused a great deal of controversy last year, has not resigned. Regarding the news about the former administrative director of DM Entertainment, what is your next step?”
“This is former director Kang Wentai’s private matter, and the company does not interfere with its employees’ personal affairs,” Jiang Shu replied with a smile. “Alright, next.”
“But…”
The female reporter still wanted to say something, but Jiang Shu looked up at her, his gaze cold, forcing the unreasonable words she wanted to utter back down her throat.
Pulled by her companion, the female reporter finally came to her senses and sat back down, somewhat unwillingly.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang, I am a reporter from the Korea Sports Newspaper.” As soon as the next reporter stood up, many people turned their heads, and even Jiang Shu looked at him with some surprise.
The sports newspaper, while not completely indifferent to news outside the sports circle, only pays attention to major events.
DM Entertainment’s campus recruitment fair clearly did not qualify as a major event.
However, the next second, Jiang Shu understood his intention.
“On the twelfth of this month, the opening match of the 2022 LCK Spring Split kicked off. In this opening match, the veteran powerhouse T1 debuted a new player, Zeus. In this best-of-three opening match, player Zeus performed brilliantly and earned the Player of the Match title for this best-of-three. In the post-match interview, player Zeus said he was very grateful for Chairman Jiang’s recognition and would strive to become the person Chairman Jiang described.”
“After our inquiry, we found that player Zeus was a player you recommended to the T1 club two years ago. As player Zeus’s recommender, how far do you think player Zeus can go in the future?”
After listening to the reporter’s words, Jiang Shu belatedly realized that the young man he had recommended to T1 back then was now a starting top laner for the main team.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, a smile appeared on Jiang Shu’s face.
“Youqi is a very talented player, and I told everyone my evaluation of him two years ago.”
“He will surpass all previous top laners and become the world’s number one top laner.”
“Alright, thank you very much, Chairman Jiang!” The reporter smiled and bowed, his trip not in vain.
Jiang Shu’s evaluation of Choi Woo-je back then was known to many in the industry, and many people had expectations for this new player.
LPL had player TheShy, and LCK had player Nuguri, but now, with Nuguri’s retirement, LCK had lost its own super top laner.
Although Jiang Shu’s evaluation of Zeus was quite exaggerated, it still made many people have some expectations for him.
Perhaps this new player would be the next super top laner?
The Q&A session continued, with some questions being very sharp, some very conventional, and some very unexpected.
One question per person, and soon it reached the last row.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang, I am Jin Zhongting, a reporter from Dispatch.” Jin Zhongting stood up with a cheerful smile.
Upon seeing Jin Zhongting, Jiang Shu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, clearly recognizing the young man.
“My question is, last year, DM Entertainment’s groups achieved great success on their tours. So, will there be any tour arrangements this year?”
Jiang Shu thought for a moment and decided to reveal some news at this time.
“Yes, and similar to this year, we will try our best to have all our groups and artists embark on their second tours.”
“Then we fans will look forward to it,” Jin Zhongting said with a cheerful smile, then sat down.
Jiang Shu smiled and nodded, his gaze falling on the reporter next to Jin Zhongting, his eyes flashing.
It’s coming.
Li Duohui didn’t actually need to come to a campus recruitment event like this; Kim Young-joo (the Human Resources Director) could have handled it.
But Jiang Shu still came in person, and after arriving, he even held such a press conference. This was clearly unusual, and those with keen minds would speculate whether Jiang Shu had another purpose.
Yes, he did have a purpose.
This press conference was the “dumpling” he specifically made for the upcoming “vinegar dish.”
And this “vinegar dish” was about to be served by the next reporter.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang, I am…” The beautiful female reporter stood up, bowed to Jiang Shu, pushed up her glasses, and began to speak.
“IZONE has been at the top for over a year now, and its market share has reached an astonishing 27.9%. With one group having nearly thirty percent market share, plus other groups under its umbrella, DM Entertainment’s market share has reached 87.7%.”
“My question is, has DM Entertainment already formed a monopoly over K-pop, and has it violated our country’s anti-monopoly law?”
As soon as this question was asked, the entire hall fell silent.
The students and reporters watching the show were stunned.
They had seen many sharp questions, but never one this sharp.
Jiang Shu’s eyes narrowed upon hearing this, but he was smiling inwardly.
It’s here!
Jiang Shu frowned and glanced at the reporter. Anyone could see that Jiang Shu’s mood had instantly soured.
Then, Jiang Shu picked up the microphone, staring coldly at the female reporter, and spoke.
“Regarding whether it’s a monopoly or not, the National Anti-Monopoly Bureau has its own standards for judgment. I cannot answer that question.”
“Alright, the press conference Q&A session is over.”
After saying this, Jiang Shu stood up and quickly left.