Chapter 350: Scum or Not
"Don't make such exclamations. You're only twenty-eight. Why are you acting like someone from my dad's generation?" Zhang Yuanying couldn't help but retort.
"Well, I'm still ten years older than you," Jiang Shu said, shaking his head.
"What's wrong with ten years? The average age difference between husbands and wives in Korea is eight to nine years," Zhang Yuanying said, then immediately regretted it.
What did that example even mean?
Jiang Shu looked at Zhang Yuanying, whose small face was visibly turning red, with a strange expression.
"You don't like me, do you?"
"How could that be?!" Zhang Yuanying's eyes widened instantly, and she instinctively retorted.
"That's good," Jiang Shu said, feigning a sigh of relief.
"Mwo? Is Chairman Oppa really hoping I don't like him?" Zhang Yuanying frowned and asked when she saw Jiang Shu's expression.
"No, it's not that. Of course, as a man, I'd be very happy if a divine beauty artist liked me. But I watched you grow up. If you liked me, it would feel too familiar, like it'd be hard to make a move," Jiang Shu said with a chuckle.
He believed Zhang Yuanying would understand his hint.
It turned out Jiang Shu did understand Zhang Yuanying well enough; she really did get it.
And precisely because she understood, the smile on her face stiffened slightly.
"I wouldn't like you anyway," Zhang Yuanying muttered, as if in a huff, and averted her gaze from the screen she had been staring at.
Her unwillingness to even pretend made Jiang Shu feel a little helpless.
How could he not have thoughts about a girl as beautiful as Zhang Yuanying? But after what happened with Liu Zhimin, he realized his own situation.
He couldn't sacrifice this relationship to satisfy a momentary desire. It was better to wait until both parties calmed down and made a decision after careful consideration.
It was the same with Bae Joo-hyun back then. However, compared to Zhang Yuanying, who was not yet fully an adult and lacked experience, Jiang Shu's refusal of Bae Joo-hyun was more out of consideration for Liu Zhimin.
Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying are young, so even if they were to date, they wouldn't rush into marriage. But Bae Joo-hyun is different; she is already thirty-one. If he were to date her, marriage would be inevitable.
And if he kept dragging it on, that would be irresponsible towards Bae Joo-hyun. But Jiang Shu didn't want to get married right now, or rather, he hadn't yet made up his mind to start his own family in this world. This was the fundamental reason he refused Bae Joo-hyun.
For 'transactional' relationships like those with Lee Ji-eun and Sakura, who have needs and don't care about status, Jiang Shu welcomes them. But if it involves feelings... that's another matter entirely.
"Alright, it's getting late. You should get some rest," Jiang Shu said to Zhang Yuanying, glancing at the time.
"A young person's nightlife is just beginning. You're only in your twenties, yet you're acting like an ajusshi," Zhang Yuanying complained, "I'm hanging up. Goodbye!"
With that, she directly hung up the video call. It was clear from her demeanor that she was indeed not in a good mood.
Looking at the black screen, Jiang Shu helplessly turned off his tablet.
He still couldn't be completely Slag .
The most difficult thing for him is this: if you say he's a scumbag, he's cheated, changed women, and engaged in ambiguous , but he can't be completely scummy.
If you say he's not a scumbag, he can maintain the bottom line of not deceiving feelings, and he's not entirely a 'sea king' (player).
People, you either become the ultimate 'sea king' who only uses his body and not his heart, or you become a true pure love warrior, with one person for one lifetime.
Jiang Shu couldn't do either, so he was tormented by emotions.
He reached out and rubbed his temples, then leaned back on the sofa, staring blankly.
...
"Red rain pours, stirring up memories, how they sink~~~"
Jiang Shu, who was sound asleep, was suddenly awakened by his phone's ringtone. He sat up from the sofa. After lying on the sofa all night, his whole body felt like it was falling apart.
Enduring the discomfort, he picked up his phone.
Caller: Li Duohui.
"Hello, President Li."
"Chairman, haven't you rested well yet?" Li Duohui asked, surprised to hear Jiang Shu's voice, which clearly indicated he had just woken up.
"Not yet. What's up?" Jiang Shu brought the phone to his face. It was already past nine o'clock. No wonder Li Duohui was so surprised; usually by this time, Jiang Shu would have finished eating in the company cafeteria and already be in his office.
"Team 1 has completed the content for IZONE's first full album. I've reviewed it, and it still needs your signature to approve the project," Li Duohui said.
DM Entertainment's organizational hierarchy isn't complicated. All told, there are only seven levels, from the most junior employee to Jiang Shu, the Chairman, with only five layers in between.
And large project approvals only require three levels: the department head in charge + the director in charge + the president/chairman.
IZONE's final comeback was special, so after Li Duohui's approval, she still wanted Jiang Shu to take a look.
"Have Director Choi sign it," Jiang Shu said, raising a hand to rub his temples. "I already saw it when it was in the planning department."
"Okay," Li Duohui responded from her end, showing no reaction to Jiang Shu's arrangement.
This wasn't the first time. Director Choi, the Chairman's secretary, often signed documents on behalf of Jiang Shu when he wasn't present.
Of course, before she signed, the relevant personnel would contact Jiang Shu through various means and only let Director Choi sign after getting his approval.
"Anything else?"
"Are you coming to the company this morning?"
"Not necessarily. Is there something?"
"The news of IZONE's disbandment has spread. Many of their endorsers have come to inquire about future arrangements. Do we need to discuss a solution internally?"
"No need. Arrange it according to the situation with IVE back then. If they're unwilling, let them choose between taking the penalty fee or switching to another artist under the company," Jiang Shu said, picking up the cup on the table and taking a sip of water.
"Okay."
With the IVE situation as a precedent, Li Duohui also had some experience in handling such matters. And she estimated that not many endorsers would choose to take the penalty fee.
For the same reason, those who took the penalty fee for IVE back then, although they made a profit, lost out immensely as IZONE exploded in popularity.
Until now, DM Entertainment doesn't want those endorsements, and they haven't benefited at all from IZONE's popularity.
Meanwhile, the endorsers who didn't terminate their contracts all made a killing.
Although IVE is popular, there's still a gap compared to IZONE. Getting IZONE's endorsements without spending a penny—isn't that pure profit?
With such a precedent, Li Duohui estimated that few endorsers would choose to take the penalty fee.
The matter was still relatively easy to handle.
"That's all. I'm hanging up."
"Yes."
With a beep, the call ended. He tossed his phone aside, rubbed his face vigorously with both hands, and forced himself to wake up.