Chapter 50: Small Goal to Gain Weight
Twenty-second floor of a certain residential complex.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened, and Jiang Shu glanced at the shoe cabinet outside IVE’s dorm room on the other side.
Without an access card, one couldn't reach the corresponding floor, so items that weren't particularly valuable, like shoe cabinets, were usually safe left outside the door.
When members of IVE were out, the shoe cabinet by their dorm door was neatly arranged. However, when they returned home from work or if someone was inside, shoes would be scattered around the cabinet, just like now.
Jiang Shu didn't rush over. He first went back to his own apartment and turned on the air conditioning. The weather in Seoul in late June, nearing July, was quite warm without it.
He placed the drinks he was carrying on the counter of the open-plan kitchen.
The original owner didn't cook, so the kitchen in the apartment was designed like those in TV dramas—looks good but isn't practical.
If one cooked frequently in such a kitchen, grease and grime would get everywhere. Unless a cleaner was hired daily, it would become very troublesome to deal with over time.
But if you don't cook at home, then this type of kitchen significantly enhances the aesthetic appeal.
It's commonly known as 'looks good but isn't practical'.
The original owner didn't cook, but Jiang Shu did. However, besides those who genuinely enjoy cooking, would anyone really be willing to refresh themselves in the kitchen every mealtime just to cook for themselves?
Once or twice might be fine, but doing it every day would truly become monotonous.
In any case, Jiang Shu currently had no desire to touch the stove. He just wanted to wait to eat, then clap his hands and leave after finishing.
He took out his phone, found Liu Zhimin’s number, and dialed it.
After a few seconds of ringing, the call connected.
“President nim!” A respectful voice came through the receiver.
Just by the tone, he knew it wasn't Liu Zhimin.
“Where’s Xiao Liu?”
“Karina is filming. I’m Karina’s personal schedule manager.”
“Hmm, when does her schedule end?”
“It just started, probably not until eight or nine o’clock,” the manager said, sounding unsure.
“Alright then, I understand.”
Eight or nine o'clock would be time for a late-night snack, so it seemed Liu Zhimin wouldn't be joining them for dinner.
Hanging up the phone, Jiang Shu took out his phone and left.
He walked directly to the IVE dorm door opposite his and pressed the doorbell.
After ringing for a short while, the door opened.
Seeing that it was Lily who opened the door again, Jiang Shu frowned.
Lily was startled when she saw Jiang Shu, but upon noticing his frown, she quickly regained her composure.
“President, please don’t misunderstand, no one asked me to open the door, it’s just that I was close by.”
Jiang Shu heard her, looked at her in surprise, but still nodded, stepped aside, and walked in.
Lily didn't know if Jiang Shu had heard her words, so she could only close the door and follow Jiang Shu inside.
“Ouni, you’re so bad at this! Hahaha!”
As soon as he reached the living room, he heard Zhang Yuanying’s mocking laughter.
“Getting old,” Xu Suizhen’s helpless voice came.
“If you’re getting old, then am I supposed to be in the grave already?” Jiang Shu’s playful voice rang out.
The few people sitting on the sofa instantly stood up.
“President nim!”
Jiang Shu waved his hand.
“Relax, this isn’t the company.”
“Yes!”
That’s what he said, but of course, they wouldn't really believe it, except for…
“President oppa, what are you planning to treat us to tonight?” Zhang Yuanying asked, holding her phone horizontally with one hand, her large eyes looking at Jiang Shu curiously.
“What kind of strange address is that?” Jiang Shu looked at her in surprise. President is President, but President oppa?
“Well, it’s not like I can call you Ahjussi, right?” Zhang Yuanying said with a chuckle.
“Then Oppa is fine.”
People always compromise; compared to a term like Ahjussi, Oppa is better.
“Hehe.” Zhang Yuanying chuckled triumphantly, seeing that Jiang Shu approved of this address.
“Where’s Garam?” Jiang Shu glanced around; counting Lily behind him, there were only four people. Liu Zhimin wasn't there, and Kim Garam was nowhere to be found.
“President nim, I’m here!” The voice came from behind Jiang Shu. He turned around and saw Kim Garam, who had changed into a white puff-sleeved short dress.
Although she was a Dark King, Kim Garam’s visuals were quite good. If Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying weren’t around, she might have been able to compete for IVE’s visual position, but unfortunately, there was no ‘if’.
After Kim Garam left, LESSERAFIM’s visual position remained vacant. Sakura could have taken it without much issue, but the problem was that when Sakura debuted after signing with Source Music Entertainment, her nose hadn't changed much, but it became increasingly unnatural later on.
Should this really be considered a work-related injury?
A Sakura with an unchanged nose could have easily taken on the visual role.
With Kim Garam gone, LESSERAFIM no longer had a proper visual. If Kim Minju had been there, there wouldn't have been this concern, but unfortunately, she didn't come.
Kim Garam and Choi Yunjin both had the talent and good looks, but their replaceability was too strong. Jiang Shu would only have more cards in his hand in the future, making it very difficult for them to stand out.
However, they were still objectively one of the helpers who saved DM Entertainment in its time of crisis, so he would find them good places to go in the future.
Anyway, with the added fame from IVE, it would be easy for them to find new agencies.
“Very pretty.” Jiang Shu came back to his senses, praised her with a smile, and then withdrew his gaze.
But just a simple compliment made Kim Garam incredibly happy.
The same words, spoken by people of different statuses, have entirely different effects.
Jiang Shu looked at Zhang Yuanying’s slender arm and suddenly thought of something.
“Are you done playing the game?”
“It’s not important.” Zhang Yuanying directly exited the game, then looked at Jiang Shu, “What’s up?”
“Come over here.” Jiang Shu beckoned to her.
Zhang Yuanying obediently walked over.
“How come I feel like you’ve grown taller again?” Jiang Shu said in surprise, looking at Zhang Yuanying, who was almost up to his nose.
“I eat a lot!” Zhang Yuanying said with a chuckle.
“You eat a lot, but you haven’t gained any weight.” He reached out and easily grasped Zhang Yuanying’s wrist with one hand, even having about one and a half fingers left over.
“Eat more, being so thin doesn’t look good.”
“But wouldn’t being too fat look bad on camera?” Zhang Yuanying asked, puzzled.
“No, moderate weight gain can increase attractiveness. It’s not just about being fair, young, and thin that constitutes beauty.”
Zhang Yuanying wasn't as thin as IVE was in its mid-career, but she wasn't fat either; she still looked somewhat bony.
“Then I can really eat?” Zhang Yuanying’s eyes lit up, seeing that Jiang Shu didn't seem to be joking.
Being able to eat without worry is arguably the greatest blessing for an idol!
“Eat, about…,” Jiang Shu looked back at the few people watching the scene, then reached out and pulled Xu Suizhen, who was behind him.
“Just about the same as her.”
Xu Suizhen looked at Jiang Shu blankly, while Zhang Yuanying looked at Xu Suizhen’s round face in confusion.
Slap!
“Ow!”
Zhang Yuanying wailed, covering her head.
“I told you to look at Soo-jin’s figure.”