Chapter 220. An Unexpected Attack (2)

***

President Choo ManJi was resolved when he said those words, but KangYoon couldn’t accept his proposal easily.

“…That’s not something I can decide easily.”

KangYoon sighed as he spoke.

“This means that we would be joining the fight between Yoonseul and Yerang, in China no less. We’d naturally become enemies with Yerang.”
“As far as I am aware, World and Yerang don’t have a good relationship either.”

President Choo ManJi ended up uttering what he was thinking in a hurry.
He was well aware of what President Kang ShiMyoung thought about World Entertainment.
However, despite the slightly offensive words, KangYoon spoke calmly.

“We never directly went against them. Fuu, I’ll be honest here. For us to do this, we’d be carrying some risk as well.”

Is there something that World had to gain from interfering?
Tell me what you can offer me.
That was what KangYoon was saying.
President Choo ManJi noticed what KangYoon intended to say and replied.

“I heard that you visited China recently.”
“Yes, I visited because of JinSeo’s matters.”
“You had another objective, did you not?”
“Another objective?”
“Eddios. They need to go to China as well, don’t they?”

KangYoon’s eyes widened.

“Yes. I’ve met a few people related to the Chinese media… but the results weren’t that good. I heard that connections were a must in order to work in China, but… it wasn’t easy to find one.”
“That connection.”

President Choo ManJi’s eyes gleamed.

“I’ll find one for you. No, I can be one.”
“President.”
“Actually, if it’s you, president Lee, I think you’ll do fine in China even without any foundations. It’s just that you’ll need time. I’ll shorten that time for you.”

KangYoon looked towards Lee HyunJi.
Lee HyunJi wrote something on her phone and showed it to him.

– That’s not enough.

KangYoon nodded and continued to speak.

“…This is about us making enemies with Yerang. I heard that Yerang was on close terms with MG recently, so it might mean even bigger trouble for us. I’m sorry, but it’s hard for me to decide.”
“…..”

President Choo ManJi also knew what KangYoon and Lee HyunJi’s intentions were
Give me more.
After thinking about it, President Choo Manji sighed and spoke again.

“I heard that Jennie was leaving Modern Farmer.

Lee HyunJi replied to that.

“Yes. She consumed much of her image, so it’s about time she stopped going there. Why are you talking about that?”
“I’m not sure, but do you know Producer Yeo HanGi.”

His words were rather sudden, but Lee HyunJi nodded.

“I do. He’s the producer that received a colossal sum of money to go to a private TV station from a public TV station.
“I will make it so that someone you want from your own company to feature in a show handled by him.”

Lee HyunJi was at a loss for words, and President Choo ManJi continued to speak.

“World’s stars don’t appear in reality shows that often. There’s the reason that music alone is sufficient of a promotion, but… the power of TV shows in Korea is great. Moreover, there would be an even bigger impact if someone who rarely shows up on TV showed up on a reality show. Moreover, this is about Producer Yeo HanGi, so viewership is guaranteed. That’s the extent I can guarantee you.”

President Choo ManJi closed his eyes.
He offered his conditions, so it was up to KangYoon to decide now.
Lee HyunJi wrote some words on her phone again and showed it to him.

– I’ll follow your decisions, president

She meant that the offer outweighed the risks of going against Yerang.
Seeing Lee HyunJi’s message, KangYoon turned around to President Choo ManJi again.

“Can I ask you one thing?”
“What is it?”
“What I’m going to do is planning. Well, I’ll be doing some on-site work as well.”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”

KangYoon’s eyes gleamed.

“Then, let me participate in this project not as the CEO of World Entertainment, but as an individual producer.”

Although he sounded like he was just playing with words, this was important.
He was going to collaborate with Yoonseul as an individual producer, and thus his actions did not represent the actions of World Entertainment.
Although it might not make much of a difference, it was a good enough of a safety precaution.

“Okay. Please take care of us in the future then.”

Noticing KangYoon’s intentions, President Choo ManJi smiled as he shook hands with him.

***

Two days later.
Leaving the office to Lee HyunJi, KangYoon flew over to China.
As Yoonseul Entertainment hadn’t set up their own office, their work was done in an office room allocated to them by ETM Entertainment.
Although he was still feeling the jet lag, KangYoon started working immediately.

“The models used by Hayas Department Store include famous actresses… and there are even novelists. Most of these are famous people. They focused on popularity rather than looks.”

Moreover, most of these models were over 30 years old.
Just why did they decide to go with DiaTeen this time?

‘President Choo ManJi said that the Hayas Department Store was looking for a big leap. He aimed precisely for that.’

DiaTeen fits the criteria in that sense.
Not only was the group hugely popular in Korea, but they were also young as well. They didn’t lack anything.

‘The photoshoot was suddenly delayed. It was by the Department Store themselves no less. This means that something’s changed internally.’

KangYoon thought about many situations, such as a simple change of mind from the one in charge of this project to the lack of funds.

‘It’ll be foolish to keep looking at them. What’s important is that DiaTeen makes an appearance in China. It’s pointless to be hung up on this. I think I should consider the worst case scenario and start from scratch. Let’s make a plan first.’

When he summarized the situation, he saw a way out.
KangYoon brought together the team members and held a meeting.
The team leader’s awkward Chinese pronunciation made the employees of ETM Entertainment a little agonized at first. Still, it took less than 10 minutes for those people to be absorbed by KangYoon’s actions.
After the meeting, KangYoon called President Choo ManJi.

– …I’m sorry. It’s not easy to meet the director that was in charge of this.

He heard President Choo ManJi’s dejected voice, but he encouraged him.

“It should be them that are in a difficult position, but it seems like they aren’t. I think they have a plan to replace ours.”
– Wait, to replace us? You mean…

Yerang?
President Choo ManJi wished KangYoon to not say those words, but his wish didn’t come true.

“…I’m not sure, but bad premonitions are right most of the time.”
-… That makes me feel powerless. I wish that it wasn’t true, but since it’s you saying it, I think you are right.

President Choo ManJi sounded powerless as he said that, but KangYoon spoke rationally.

“I believe that they’re weighing their options. Otherwise, there’s no way they rejected meeting you. I don’t think it’ll be easy to meet them no matter what we do for a while.”
-… That’s painful. I’m sorry. I might have dragged you into a mess.

KangYoon encouraged President Choo ManJi.
President Choo ManJi bitterly told him that he’d be back soon.
An hour later, President Choo ManJi returned with a bitter expression.

“President Lee. I thought about it as I came here, but I believe that Hayas talked extensively with yerang. I didn’t know they’d move so fast…”

President Choo ManJi was restless and couldn’t even sit down, but KangYoon was calm.

“I think that it’s better if we don’t go to Hayas Department Store starting tomorrow.”
“…Hm.”

President Choo ManJi spoke with a deep voice.

“Shouldn’t we try at least?”

Hearing that, KangYoon shook his head.

“Originally, yes. But looking at things now…”
“President.”

President Choo ManJi emphasized his words.

“I think our opinions differ on this part. I will choose to meet them somehow and get this cleared.”
“…..”

KangYoon no longer tried to persuade him otherwise.
However, some things did tug on his mind.

‘I think Yerang is several steps ahead. If the situation keeps dragging on like this, we won’t be able to do anything. We need to change the situation.

KangYoon turned his eyes to his project proposal that he wrote.

***

[President Kang. Wow, I’m really liking you more and more! Kyahahahah!]

The chubby man wearing a suit laughed while receiving a pour of wine from a lady next to him.
President Kang ShiMyoung, who had a lady of his own next to him, drank the wine with a leisurely expression.

[I’m thankful that you said that.]
[Fufufu. I won’t forget this grace. A man who can appreciate the arts…. hahaha!]

On the suited man’s wrist was a gold watch that he had never worn before.
Unlike President Choo ManJi, who dueled solely with his planning skills, President Kang ShiMyoung used various other methods to get what he wanted.

[What grace? I just got you that because you didn’t seem to have one that fits your status, Director Liu Yang.]
[Hahaha. You’re good with your words too. Well, this is why the girls of Wincle are so good, I guess. Because they’re under the care of someone like you.]
[They’re lacking, but I’m glad that you think of them that way.]

The man’s words continued.

[Actually, the other directors don’t know their stuff. I decide everything. You saw last time, didn’t you? That Dia-whatever team is left in the dust with a single word from me. Trust me, and trust me only. Trust me, and you’ll get everything you want. Everything! Hahahaha!]
[This humble Kang ShiMyoung is really at ease to meet a man like you, director. Here, have another glass.]
[Thank you.]

The two drank throughout the night.

***

President Choo ManJi visited the Hayas Department Store every day, but he wasn’t able to meet the director that was in charge of the project.
In fact, on the fourth day, he wasn’t even able to meet the secretary before he was chased out, so his self-confidence fell rock bottom.

“…Is the contract just for show?”

President Choo ManJi left the department store, feeling flabbergasted.
He wanted to complain to the man in charge, but he never got to meet him.
There was no way he had any influence in this country.

“Dammit…”

In front of the department store, President Choo ManJi spat on the floor in front of a lot of people.

“They’re scheming to break the contract. Haha… does everyone here work like this?”

This was the first time he was treated like this after the contract was signed.
Just what kind of work ethics did this Hayas Department Store have?
At this rate, even ETM Entertainment might turn their back on him.
However, complaining outside their door did nothing in his favor.
In the end, he returned to ETM Entertainment.
He powerlessly walked towards the office, where KangYoon worked for the past 4 days without rest.
When he went there, he saw KangYoon greeting him with a grown beard.

“Did something happen?”

President Choo ManJi looked down, saying that the contract looked like it was out of reach as well as the story of being rejected at the door.
Hearing that, KangYoon felt extremely bitter.

“…So it comes down to that after all.”
“You knew this would happen?”
“I predicted as such. Yerang is quiet, but you’re in a rush. This means that Yerang has an ace up their sleeves. Hayas’s management is avoiding meeting with you so… their management was likely bought out by Yerang.”

President Choo ManJi thought so as well, but he didn’t want to believe that it was true.
He was that desperate this time.
Seeing President Choo ManJi make a sad expression, KangYoon handed him an envelope.

“What’s this…?”
“The results of four days of work on my part.”
“…It might be useless now.”

Working with KangYoon didn’t change anything.
He took out the contents with a powerless expression.
Reading the crucial keywords with what little Chinese knowledge he had, he widened his eyes.

[Siyan Department Store? Wait, isn’t this place…?]

Having come across the critical part, President Choo ManJi asked with surprise, and KangYoon replied with a smile.

“Hayas Department Store isn’t the only Department Store out there. Siyan Department Store. This place looked like they were investing in marketing as well. Thanks to the authority you assigned to me, I was able to create an interesting result in collaboration with ETM Entertainment.”
“An interesting result?”
“Siyan Department was ranked 7th in the industry. They’re investing heavily in marketing to leap into the top 5. I created my proposal based on that, and I received positive feedback today. I didn’t think that they’d reply immediately. I thought I’d have to wait longer.”

KangYoon’s smirk looked like an angelic smile in President Choo ManJi’s eyes.