Chapter 77: Pure Girl
For Jiang Shu, his sole purpose in attending the audition was to strike gold.
First step: check names.
Koreans have a high rate of identical names because they are all composed of phonetics, so there are many names that sound the same, but not too many people with the exact same first and last names come to participate in the audition.
Then, the second step: check the material.
After checking the material, he could roughly filter out these
gold
with identical names.
If necessary, then came the third step: look at the person.
Other entertainment companies might evaluate people based on their live performance, but he only needed two or three steps to pick out the trainees he wanted.
Jiang Shu was quite looking forward to the upcoming audition, wondering how many familiar faces he would encounter.
It would be best if he could meet Jeon Soyeon~~
No, Jeon Soyeon might not pass the preliminary audition.
Jiang Shu scratched his head, feeling a bit troubled at this thought.
The trainee he wanted most at this stage was Jeon Soyeon; he would even be willing to trade an S card for her.
But the problem was there was no such opportunity.
Jeon Soyeon, Juan Zong... where could she be?
Jiang Shu pondered, resting his chin on his hand.
He only had one (G)I-DLE card so far: Soo-jin.
Although Soo-jin had left the group, she was still considered part of the (G)I-DLE card pool in terms of bonds. So with her, according to the Idol Aggregation Law, the other members of (G)I-DLE would eventually come.
Anyone would do, just one, please! Ideally, Juan Zong. Worst case... there's no worst case, just come!
Even if it's the Free Wind, that's fine. Keep her as a magnet to attract and gather other members.
It's no wonder he couldn't stop thinking about Jeon Soyeon; Juan Zong was simply too valuable.
Even without mentioning her bond that perfectly matched ITZY, her talent as a producer alone was worth Jiang Shu's efforts.
He was, after all, an impostor; his songs would eventually run out. But Jeon Soyeon was different; she was a true talent!
If he brought Jeon Soyeon under his wing, when someone requested a song, he could have Jeon Soyeon write it, and he would just take credit, calling it
letting you gain experience
.
Perfect!
Because in~ a thousand years later~
The sudden phone ring interrupted Jiang Shu's thoughts. He picked up the phone from the table.
It was Choi Ji-yeon calling.
He answered.
Hello.
Chairman, IVE's latest endorsement has been sent to your email. Also, a snack company will be coming to the company today to discuss an endorsement deal. President Li has already gone to receive them.
Choi Ji-yeon said.
Snack company?
Jiang Shu became interested.
What brand?
It's a snack brand that focuses on affordability. Its scale isn't large, but their products are available in convenience stores and supermarkets, so they have a certain level of recognition. The seaweed you often eat is from their company.
Oh, I remember.
With Choi Ji-yeon's description, Jiang Shu recalled which brand it was.
Are they already at our company?
Yes.
Alright, I'll head back now. I can also see how their endorsement talks are going.
Understood.
Hanging up the phone, Jiang Shu glanced at the audition materials he hadn't finished reviewing. He wasn't in a hurry to look at them; there was no rush for just one day.
...
At DM Entertainment, President's Office.
Li Duohui also met the marketing director from the snack company and his two assistants.
Hello, President Li.
Hello, Director Jiang.
Li Duohui and the marketing director greeted each other.
These two are intern staff from our marketing department. I brought them to gain some experience, so please don't mind, President Li.
Director Jiang casually introduced the two girls behind him. Li Duohui glanced at them. The one on the left was nothing special, but the girl on the right... she looked like she had just graduated from high school, didn't she?
However, in Seoul, this was not an issue; many people started working right after high school. What truly caught Li Duohui's attention was this girl... so beautiful!
She wasn't a stunning beauty like Bae Joo-hyun who would amaze you at first sight, but this girl, standing in front of you, would make your mind unconsciously feel a sense of purity.
If you didn't know what purity felt like, then looking at this girl, you would understand.
It would be a pity for such a beautiful and graceful girl not to debut.
Li Duohui muttered to herself, but she only glanced before looking away.
She wasn't like her chairman, running all over Seoul to find trainees. Li Duohui even once suspected that her chairman was a scout in his previous life and hadn't forgotten his memories.
A boss so enthusiastic about finding new trainees, even personally attending auditions... it was simply outrageous.
Of course not.
Her scattered thoughts vanished in a flash, and Li Duohui said with a smile.
Director Jiang, please have a seat.
The purpose has been made very clear over the phone. We want to invite your company's IVE to be our brand ambassador this time. Can the terms not be further negotiated?
Director Jiang sat down and went straight to the point.
Director Jiang, you must be joking. If you only wanted some members of IVE, we certainly wouldn't offer such a high price, but you want the entire IVE, so I apologize.
Li Duohui shook her head and said.
What if we only want Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying?
It's the same; their price is identical to that of the entire IVE.
Are you kidding?
Without them, would IVE's popularity even be one percent?
The combined popularity of the other four sisters isn't even one-tenth of either of those two.
Too expensive.
Director Jiang frowned and said.
First-tier groups in the market are all at this price.
Li Duohui said with a smile.
IVE was certainly not a first-tier group, but their real-time popularity was even higher than first-tier groups; they were genuine top-tier idols.
Any brand endorsed by Liu Zhimin and Zhang Yuanying, or by IVE with them, would see a significant increase in sales. This was a major advantage of the idol economy, especially evident in the Seoul market.
Director Jiang also understood this, otherwise, he wouldn't have come here.
IVE was indeed the girl group with the strongest purchasing power in the market.
How about this, let's both compromise. Our offered price remains unchanged, but we will provide your company with a year's worth of pantry food and beverages. How does that sound?
Is Director Jiang joking?
Li Duohui looked at the other party as if he were an idiot. How much did pantry expenses cost?
This is the highest budget we can offer.
Director Jiang said helplessly. Although their company had some reputation, in terms of liquid capital, how could a physical economy compare to those in the cultural industry?
Li Duohui pondered.
Director Jiang looked nervously at the silent Li Duohui. After a moment,
Does your company know anyone who handles company cafeterias?
Li Duohui inquired.
She thought of the soon-to-be-activated DM Entertainment building; the cafeteria aspect had not yet had a suitable option. It just so happened to see if Director Jiang and his team could resolve it.
Thanks to the book friend Remnant Wind zb for the Liu Zhimin character reward of 233 starting points!
