Chapter 340: Only You Know Your Own Troubles
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
"President, Won-young xi is here," Choi Ji-yeon said, bowing to Jiang Shu as she pushed the door open.
"Xiao Yuan?" Jiang Shu looked up, a little surprised. "What is she here for?"
"I'm not sure, but it might be related to IZONE's recent issues," Choi Ji-yeon speculated.
Jiang Shu thought for a moment.
"Let her in."
"Yes."
Soon after, a somewhat fatigued Zhang Yuanying appeared before Jiang Shu.
Unlike the energetic Xiao Yuan of the past, Zhang Yuanying's face was etched with an indescribable sorrow, and her entire being exuded an aura of "nervousness."
It was unfamiliar.
This was Jiang Shu's first impression upon seeing Zhang Yuanying.
"What's wrong, Xiao Yuan?" Jiang Shu put down his pen and asked Zhang Yuanying.
"President Ouba... I..." Zhang Yuanying pursed her lips, her hesitation to speak clearly visible to Jiang Shu.
"Say whatever you want to say. You wouldn't have hesitated like this before," Jiang Shu said with a chuckle, teasing her.
Zhang Yuanying took a deep breath upon hearing that.
"Are we going to disband again?"
At her words, the smile on Jiang Shu's face froze.
But Zhang Yuanying, having already committed, no longer hesitated. She looked at Jiang Shu with earnest eyes, awaiting his answer.
"Why do you feel that way?"
"Because IVE disbanded like that back then," Zhang Yuanying said, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of a sob.
Jiang Shu fell silent.
It seemed... it really was like that?
Although the experiences were different, if one looked past them and focused on the process, both groups were slandered after reaching the top, and then the company disbanded them.
"This time, the situation is even bigger than when IVE disbanded. Everyone is very nervous, worried that it will be like IVE..." Zhang Yuanying left the rest unsaid, but as someone who had experienced both groups, her feelings were actually the deepest.
"IZONE's situation became irreversible after the slave room incident was exposed." Jiang Shu hesitated for a moment but still chose to tell Zhang Yuanying the truth.
Although she had vaguely guessed it, when she actually heard the news from Jiang Shu, Zhang Yuanying still felt a little dazed.
Are they going to disband again?
"I..." Memories of her time with the members flashed through Zhang Yuanying's mind.
Unlike IVE, where there was more competition, IZONE's experiences made her and the other members feel more like sisters.
But was such a wonderful time going to end after less than three years?
"Originally, things were still within controllable limits, but the slave room incident had too severe an impact. The higher-ups won't allow IZONE to continue activities." Jiang Shu shifted the blame for the disbandment to the higher-ups, knowing they had no way to verify it.
"I can forcibly keep IZONE, but you won't be able to promote, so keeping you together forcibly has no meaning. It's better to preserve the name IZONE, and the members, like IVE, can each shine independently. When the time is right in the future, you can even reunite for a comeback." Jiang Shu offered a solution.
If IZONE didn't disband, LESSERAFIM and IVE wouldn't be able to debut, which didn't align with Jiang Shu's plans. Moreover, the negative effects of twelve stars. fantasy fairy tale wouldn't allow IZONE to survive for three years. Rather than waiting for a situation beyond his control to destroy IZONE, it was better to leave a good reputation and then capitalize on a limited-time reunion in the future.
Zhang Yuanying's face paled. She didn't think Jiang Shu was lying to her, so she truly believed this was the higher-ups' decision.
Having experienced IVE's disbandment, she never expected to go through IZONE's disbandment again...
"But don't worry, I've already arranged the members' future paths. Even without IZONE, the company won't abandon you."
Zhang Yuanying believed this. Even a member like Xu Suizhen, who was like an accessory in IVE, was able to debut again through (G)IDLE and stand on stage once more. Zhang Yuanying certainly didn't think she couldn't do the same.
But no matter what, this was still changing groups.
Zhang Yuanying found it difficult to accept this in a short time, but her acceptance or rejection wouldn't change anything.
Jiang Shu simply watched Zhang Yuanying, who stood with her head bowed, his thoughts gradually drifting away.
He had thought about the emotional issues of the IZONE members long before the plan was executed, but no matter how much he thought, he couldn't find a good way to alleviate them, after all, it wasn't his group that was being dismantled.
It's difficult for people to truly empathize with each other. Rather than telling them in advance and causing them unnecessary distress, it was better to push them forward forcefully with an authoritative stance.
He could be called unreasonable, but for Jiang Shu's plan, being reasonable or not wasn't important.
His requirement was to achieve the goal of the plan. If he could comfort the girls' emotions during the process, that would naturally be best. If not, it didn't matter.
"Are we just waiting for the group to disband now?" Zhang Yuanying looked up, her eyes red, and asked Jiang Shu.
"No." Jiang Shu, however, gave a surprisingly unexpected answer to Zhang Yuanying. "Next, the company will arrange for your final comeback before disbandment. In addition to the comeback, you will also have one more concert."
"A final farewell to the fans?" Zhang Yuanying murmured.
"You can reunite after disbandment, so you don't need to be so pessimistic. Even if you disband, you are still artists of the company; you just won't be promoting under the name IZONE anymore," Jiang Shu said, waving his hand.
Zhang Yuanying didn't say anything. Although it was said like that, when it really came to this point, it was still very difficult.
Jiang Shu also said no more.
Ring, ring, ring.
At this moment, the landline on the desk rang.
"Hello."
"President, Liu Zhimin is here."
Listening to Choi Ji-yeon's voice, Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but look at Zhang Yuanying opposite him.
"Let her in."
"Yes."
As soon as Jiang Shu put down the phone, the door was pushed open forcefully by Liu Zhimin.
"President!" Liu Zhimin hadn't even entered yet, but her voice had already carried through.
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhang Yuanying couldn't help but turn around and look.
Liu Zhimin was also startled when she saw Zhang Yuanying, but then she quickly walked to the desk, propped her hands on the surface, and leaned down to look at Jiang Shu.
"Is IZONE going to be disbanded again this time?"
Jiang Shu glanced at Liu Zhimin's collar and leaned back in his chair.
"Yes."
"You can't do that," Liu Zhimin said, frowning. "IVE has already disbanded. If IZONE disbands now, our company's popular groups will all be in fear for themselves!"
At her words, both Jiang Shu and Zhang Yuanying looked at her with surprise.
This really angered Liu Zhimin.
"What kind of look is that?!"
"And you! I'm helping you!" Liu Zhimin said, looking at Zhang Yuanying with dissatisfaction.
Zhang Yuanying: "..."
"I just thought you wouldn't have thought of this," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
Liu Zhimin pouted upon hearing that.
"Irene Ouni told me."
No wonder.
Jiang Shu and Zhang Yuanying thought simultaneously.