"A 10,000-word self-criticism?" one member couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.
This punishment seems particularly "retro" and humiliating in the idol industry.
Ou Yangguang sat there with his back straight, his hands clenched into fists under the table, his nails digging deep into his palms.
He didn't look at Lee Jin-wook, or anyone else; he just stared at the table, his lips pressed into a pale line.
He knew there would be punishment, but he didn't expect it to be done in such a public way, and that it would also implicate Cheng Huan.
Guilt and anger intertwined and burned within him.
Ignoring the commotion below, Lee Jin-wook continued sternly, "This incident serves as a wake-up call for everyone! EXO is a whole; any individual's willful actions will disrupt the team's stability and harm everyone's interests!"
His gaze swept over every member and staff member present. "I hope everyone will take this as a warning, strictly abide by the company's rules and regulations, and obey management! If a similar incident occurs again, those responsible will be severely punished!"
The meeting ended in an extremely oppressive and tense atmosphere.
The members looked at each other, exchanging complex and unspoken glances. No one spoke; they silently got up and left.
Back in the dormitory, the undercurrents that had been suppressed in the meeting room finally erupted.
At first, there was only silence and a tense atmosphere. Then, someone spoke first, their tone cold:
"Are you satisfied now? The whole team got scolded because of one person getting into a magazine."
"Yeah, Chenghuan has basically worked for nothing this month. He still has a loan to pay off."
"A 10,000-word self-criticism, wow, that's quite a show of it."
"Xiao Guang, you really acted too impulsively this time!"
"Sigh, let's not talk about it anymore. I believe Xiaoguang didn't do it on purpose."
"Ha, as expected of a young master, he can't stand the slightest grievance!"
These words were like cold needles, piercing Ou Yangguang's eyes.
Ouyang tried to explain: "The opportunity with VOGUE is very important to me, I just want to fight for it..."
"Important to you? What about the team? What about us?" someone interrupted him, their tone full of sarcasm. "Do you think that just because you made a movie, you're different from us? That you can get special treatment?"
"After filming TV dramas for so long, do you really think you're a chaebol heir? That you can do whatever you want?"
The sarcastic and cynical voices are becoming more and more numerous and sharp.
The subtle emotions that had been building up for a long time due to the gap in resource allocation and personal development, as well as the grievances and dissatisfaction of being collectively warned, found an outlet at this moment.
Ou Yangguang's patience reached its limit. He suddenly stood up, his voice rising with agitation: "I'm asking for special treatment? Is it wrong for me to fight for personal opportunities? Must we all be exactly the same, without any of our own thoughts and development? Who among you dares to say they've never had a personal schedule? Why can't I have one?!"
"That's because we know our limits! We won't act recklessly like you!" Do Kyungsoo's voice rang out coldly. He was usually a man of few words, but now it carried a condescending accusation. "Do you know what the company will think of our team because of what you've done? How difficult will it be for the other members to do their jobs in the future?"
"Measure? What is measure? Is watching my opportunity slip away the right way?" Ou Yangguang laughed angrily.
"Is being forced to accept unreasonable arrangements from the company the measure you're going to demand from me?"
"I advise you not to really treat me like one of those Korean maknaes who can be manipulated at will. Do you really think I'm some kind of easy-going, spineless coward?"
"Or are you all hoping the company will allocate the resources that belong to me to you?"
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