Chapter 384: A Devil's Bargain
Yang Hyun-suk's originally calm heart rippled once more.
He had a mole in his house, and he was already in prison, yet he still didn't know?
Bro, just how many people have you planted?
S.M. Entertainment is half yours, the Cube director is also yours, and now you're telling me that we have your people in YG too?
Damn it!
How can we play when everyone's a mole?
"Who is it?" Yang Hyun-suk was silent for a long time this time, thinking for a while but still couldn't figure out who it was, so he couldn't help but ask.
Jiang Shu chuckled and spoke a name.
Yang Hyun-suk's pupils contracted, but then he quickly understood, looking at Jiang Shu with a complicated expression.
"I should have thought of it sooner... Park Hongjun was an unstable factor to begin with. I pushed him into the position of label head, and it was bound to backfire sooner or later. I just didn't expect him to... so soon."
"A good bird chooses a tree to nest in. What you can't give him, I can," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
"You should be able to tell that he's not someone who's content to be beneath others. Aren't you afraid he'll betray you, just like he betrayed me, by helping him rise to power like this?" Yang Hyun-suk couldn't help but ask.
"Betrayal is either zero times or countless times; I'm naturally aware of that," Jiang Shu said with a chuckle, "But compared to future betrayals, I'm more interested in the current resources of YG's actor division."
Yang Hyun-suk was speechless.
Indeed.
Park Hongjun might betray Jiang Shu in the future, but at least now he can bring Jiang Shu enough substantial benefits. How could Jiang Shu let go due to concerns about betrayal?
Thoughts flickered in Yang Hyun-suk's mind.
If he agreed to Jiang Shu's deal, then with Jiang Shu's capabilities, and the double external factors of DM Entertainment and S.M. Entertainment supporting him, YG wouldn't fall into chaos and would definitely last until his release next year.
His sentence wouldn't be less than three years, but he had 'meritorious service,' so he could get out as early as next year.
But if he agreed to Jiang Shu, then the traitor Park Hongjun would take the CEO position. Even if he returned then, he might not be able to contend with Park Hongjun.
This was not a result Yang Hyun-suk could accept.
But if he didn't agree to Jiang Shu, first, it's uncertain whether he would blow up YG and then take over the actor division's resources.
Just whether YG's fragile balance could last until his release was questionable.
Don't forget, his sentence wouldn't be less than three years, and the prosecuting attorney, Dr. Choi Min-soo, was Jiang Shu's man. If he refused Jiang Shu's deal, an implied factor was that he wouldn't get a reduced sentence.
Yang Hyun-suk was now in a dilemma.
If he agreed, Park Hongjun would be hard to control after he got out.
If he didn't agree, YG would face dissolution, and he himself would get out later.
Compared to that, the former still had a chance, but his chance of regaining power was really low.
Yang Hyun-suk's peripheral vision caught Jiang Shu's confident expression, and he suddenly thought of a solution.
Since Jiang Shu could make a deal with him, why couldn't he make a deal with Jiang Shu?
Yang Hyun-suk's eyes immediately lit up.
He who tied the bell must untie it.
Since Jiang Shu was the one who pushed Park Hongjun up, then with Jiang Shu's cunning habits, he already had leverage to pull Park Hongjun down.
So!
"Chairman Jiang, let's make another deal."
Jiang Shu was taken aback.
"After I'm released, you help me bring Park Hongjun down, help me stabilize YG's situation, and regain control of YG."
"And I, in turn, will hand over YG's entertainment resources to DM Entertainment for free."
Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
He did indeed have leverage over Teddy. He didn't have a habit of casually aiding enemies. Park Hongjun was an unstable factor, so Jiang Shu naturally had to keep a trump card.
Helping Yang Hyun-suk was also fine. YG no longer posed a threat to him, and his revenge on Yang Hyun-suk was sufficient. It's better to reconcile with enemies than to deepen animosity, so restoring relations was not a problem.
It's just...
"Not enough."
Jiang Shu's deal required sharing resources. The resources DM Entertainment was interested in had to be bought, not simply taken.
But the condition Yang Hyun-suk offered was not only sharing but also taking them for free.
However, in Jiang Shu's opinion, this was not enough.
Yang Hyun-suk's request had changed from stabilizing YG to controlling YG, and the scope of this difference could not be compensated by just this much.
"I know you have shares in our YG. I will find a way to make your shares reach fourth place. Besides that, you can have priority in acquiring the entertainment resources you're interested in," Yang Hyun-suk pondered for a moment, then spoke again, offering more chips.
"Deal." Jiang Shu smiled slightly and extended his right hand towards Yang Hyun-suk, "Pleasure working with you."
Yang Hyun-suk gave a wry smile and reached out to grasp Jiang Shu's extended right hand.
"Every time I make a deal with you, even though the goal is achieved, I can't feel happy at all."
"I'm quite happy," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
Yang Hyun-suk was helpless. If he could, he wouldn't want to make a deal with Jiang Shu.
This guy was simply a devil. Every deal with him was a devil's bargain.
But what choice did he have?
He had no choice.
"My goal has been achieved, so I won't stay long." Jiang Shu stood up. Once his objective was met, he wouldn't linger there.
"Take care, I won't see you out." Yang Hyun-suk sat on the sofa, showing no intention of getting up.
Jiang Shu didn't mind and left with a smile.
Yang Hyun-suk looked at the closed door again and let out a heavy sigh.
...
After leaving Yang Hyun-suk, Jiang Shu didn't rush to leave. He greeted the detention center director before returning to his car.
Since he was already here, he still had to meet the host.
He made a call to Li Duohui, told her about the details of his deal with Yang Hyun-suk, and asked her to prepare to receive the film and television resources from YG's actor division.
If it weren't for Jiang Huiyuan, Cao Rouli, and a few others transitioning into actors, Jiang Shu wouldn't have gotten involved in YG's internal affairs, which held little value.
Compared to a YG that benefited from his involvement, a defunct YG actually aligned more with Jiang Shu's standards.
However, YG could die, but it didn't have to.
Since there were Jiang Huiyuan, Cao Rouli, and several other artists pursuing acting careers, such a resource exchange was quite profitable.
After ending the call with Li Duohui, Jiang Shu then dialed another person's number.
Teddy, Park Hongjun.
"Chairman Jiang!" As soon as the call connected, Park Hongjun's respectful voice came through.
"I met Yang Hyun-suk, and the conversation went very smoothly. He didn't suspect you at all and has already agreed. Now we just need to proceed according to our plan, and your position as CEO is within reach."
"That's great!" Park Hongjun's excited voice came through. "Chairman Jiang, please rest assured, I will definitely deliver the actor division's resources into your hands!"
"Then, congratulations in advance, President Park," Jiang Shu said with a smile.
"Hahaha! This is all thanks to you, Chairman Jiang!"