Chapter 78 The phone vibrated; it was Ren Xi…
My phone vibrated; it was a call from Ren Xiyao.
Kwon Ji-yong took a deep breath before answering: "Hello?"
It was noisy on the other end of the phone; cheers in Chinese could be faintly heard. Ren Xiyao's voice was nasal: "You saw it?"
"Hmm." He flicked his cigarette ash. "You look quite beautiful when you cry."
She chuckled softly: "Get lost."
"Ren Xiyao".
"Um?"
"I……"
Suddenly, a staff member called out to him from the end of the corridor: "GDxi! Wait five minutes!"
Ren Xiyao heard this and said, "Go."
Kwon Ji-yong stubbed out his cigarette: "I'll go. I'll come to the capital to find you tomorrow."
"Um."
Before hanging up, he heard her whisper, "I'll wait for you."
Kwon Ji-yong turned and strode towards the stage entrance. While waiting backstage, the makeup artist finished the final touches on his makeup. His back was straight, and his steps were firm, a stark contrast to his usual somewhat lazy and casual demeanor.
In the waiting area, the drums of the music had already begun, the powerful rhythm pounding against our eardrums. The lights dimmed, and the outline of the stage appeared and disappeared in the darkness.
Kwon Ji-yong put on his in-ear monitor and took a deep breath.
The music started, and the lights suddenly came on! He rushed onto the stage!
In that instant, his demeanor was clearly different. It was no longer the tired and mechanical professional performance of his previous high-intensity tours, but rather a performance brimming with indescribable explosive power and infectious energy. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, swept across the dark mass of people below the stage, every movement brimming with strength and passion.
The sun's voice rang in my earpiece, tinged with obvious mockery: "Oh, you're alive now? Weren't you just looking a bit out of it?"
Kwon Ji-yong ignored him. He was completely immersed in the music and the atmosphere of the stage, but unlike before, this immersion was accompanied by a strong desire to express and release. He wanted to convey the pride, joy, and excitement in his heart through music and performance, even if they were separated by a great distance, he believed she could feel it.
As he reached the very edge of the extended stage, he suddenly stopped. Amidst the intense music and screams from the audience, he abruptly ripped off his carefully chosen performance jacket, turned without hesitation, and threw it forcefully! The movement was fluid and dynamic, brimming with sexual tension. It was a completely different approach from his previous performances.
"Aaaaaaah!"
An even more frenzied scream erupted from the audience, and the fans in the front row surged forward excitedly, almost breaking through the barriers. This action was completely unplanned, and even the backup dancers and backstage staff were momentarily stunned.
He merely curled the corners of his mouth into a slightly defiant smile, then turned and continued his performance. Sweat streamed down his chin, soaking his black T-shirt, but he didn't seem to care.
Everyone expected "Crooked" to be the same as usual. However, during the chorus, he surprisingly deviated from the fixed choreography and suddenly added an impromptu dance full of power and freedom! His movements were expansive and unrestrained, with an almost cathartic wildness. Every pause and every spin was precisely on the beat of the drum, yet it was full of unpredictable surprises.
Backstage, Da T, watching everything through the monitor, was dumbfounded. He couldn't help but nudge his manager next to him: "Brother... did Ji-yong hyung take the wrong medicine? When was this scene added?"
The agent was also completely confused and shook his head.
Only Taiyang, watching Kwon Ji-yong on stage, who seemed to be on steroids and radiating brilliance, had a knowing glint in his eyes behind his glasses. He spoke softly into his earpiece, his voice not loud, but just loud enough for a few core members backstage to hear: "Some people, on the surface, are holding a 10th anniversary concert here, but in reality, their souls have probably already flown back to Ms. Ren's side."
Kwon Ji-yong, who had just stepped off the stage, heard Taeyang's teasing, but he didn't refute it. Instead, the corners of his mouth turned up in an even brighter smile.
Back at the hotel that evening, Ren Xiyao lay on the bed, her body overwhelmed by exhaustion, yet her mind remained unusually clear. The excitement hadn't completely subsided; her mind was still replaying the competition and the chaotic, thrilling moments after her victory.
"The feeling of winning a gold medal is addictive," she said. This was the feeling she had when she won her first World Championship gold medal, at which time she hoped she could keep winning World Championship gold medals. Now, she holds the All-Around Champion medal. She hopes to always stand on the highest podium.
The phone screen was lit up, showing clips from Kwon Ji-yong's concert that a fan had just uploaded.
The video was a bit shaky and the audio was somewhat noisy, but G-Dragon on stage was still clearly visible. He was covered in sweat, his black T-shirt clinging tightly to his body, outlining his lean physique. He sang "Crooked," his eyes wild, his movements flamboyant, especially that impromptu dance, which was full of power and an indescribable...joy?
Yes, happiness. Even through the screen, she could feel his heartfelt joy and excitement. She knew where this sudden burst of energy came from.
She opened the chat window and sent a picture of the gold medal: "It's yours."
The message was read almost immediately after it was sent. Kwon Ji-yong replied quickly: "I'll come and get it myself."
Ren Xiyao buried her face in the pillow, a faint smile playing on her lips. She drifted off to sleep, filled with anticipation for tomorrow.
In the middle of the night, Kwon Ji-yong was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door. When he opened it, he saw his manager standing outside with a rather unpleasant expression. Before he could even react, he was stunned by the next sentence: "The CEO is here. We need to have a meeting."
Everyone in the meeting room was still dazed, having been woken up overnight. They tried their best to stay alert. The CEO almost never showed up during tours. This time, he probably wasn't here to offer his support. Kwon Ji-yong was still a little distracted, calculating his flight time.
"Zhilong."
"Are you listening?" President Yang tapped the table, his tone neither too loud nor too soft.
Kwon Ji-yong sat up straight instinctively: "Mm."
"The partner changed the terms at the last minute, so you have to go to a dinner party tomorrow."
Kwon Ji-yong frowned: "Isn't tomorrow a rest day?"
"That was true originally," President Yang smiled. "But business is more important, isn't it?"
A moment of silence fell over the meeting room. Kwon Ji-yong didn't reply, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee under the table. He had already had his manager book a flight to Beijing last night, and was just waiting to go directly to the airport.
President Yang stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly asked, "Have you been working too hard lately?"
"fine."
"You don't seem to be in a good mood." President Yang opened the folder and said casually, "The fans really liked your impromptu performance during the encore last night, but the choreographer said you didn't follow the script."
Kwon Ji-yong twitched the corner of his mouth: "I came up with it on the spur of the moment."
"Temporary?" President Yang chuckled. "Because you watched the short track speed skating competition?"
The air in the conference room froze instantly.
Kwon Ji-yong looked up and saw President Yang leisurely sipping his coffee, with that familiar, ambiguous smile on his face.
"President-ssi, what do you mean?" Kwon Ji-yong asked.
"What do you mean? Have I been too lenient with you?" President Yang's voice suddenly softened, but it was even more chilling: "Without YG, are you still you? Hmm? GDxi?"
He deliberately used honorifics, which were full of sarcasm.
"Who was it that turned you from a trainee in a basement into a star back then? Now you think you're all grown up?" President Yang sneered.
Kwon Ji-yong's jawline was taut, but he didn't say anything.
"A Chinese athlete," Yang Hyun-suk scoffed, "and a short track athlete at that? An all-around champion, dominating the South Korean team on home soil. Do you know how much the South Korean ice skating association hates her? The women's team head coach almost resigned because of losing gold on home soil. And what's on your mind, G-Dragon, during your tour?"
Kwon Ji-yong's jaw tightened, but he didn't refute.
"How many outrageous things have you done in the past two years?" Yang Xianshuo sneered. "I might pretend not to know once or twice, but you don't really think the company is blind, do you?"
Taeyang couldn't help but interject, "President-ssi, about Jiyong's private life..."
"I'm talking to the leader!" Yang Hyun-suk suddenly raised his voice: "He's the leader! He's the face of BigBang! His private life is the company's property."
Kwon Ji-yong didn't speak, but his knuckles had already turned white.
President Yang's voice was cold and intimidating: "The resources and trust the company has given you over the years are not meant for you to be distracted by a competition that has nothing to do with you."
The meeting room fell completely silent.
Kwon Ji-yong finally realized that Yang Hyun-seok had come here today because the business deal had fallen through.
“Jiyong.” Yang Hyun-suk’s tone suddenly softened, like an elder advising a naive child: “Do you still remember how you debuted?”
Kwon Ji-yong remained silent.
“The company has nurtured you for so many years, not so you could act recklessly.” Yang Hyun-suk sighed. “What time is it now? It’s a sensitive time. We have the 10th anniversary tour, new album preparation, and overseas market expansion. You are the team leader, so you have to take responsibility.”
responsibility.
This word is like a dull knife, scraping against Quan Zhilong's nerves again and again.
Of course he remembered how he debuted: six years as a trainee, countless auditions, and the near-dismissal crisis. He also remembered how the company had exploited them over the years. Kwon Ji-yong recalled last year's non-stop tour that took him to four continents, and how he had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius after the last show and went straight to the hospital. Yang Hyun-suk only sent one text message: "Take good rest, there's an advertisement shoot next month."
His sense of responsibility, gratitude, and concession became the sharpest knife and the strongest rope in the president's hand, from which he could not break free. Just like now, Yang Hyun-suk sat opposite him, looking at him with that disappointed and helpless gaze, as if he were still that child who needed to be disciplined.
"President," Kwon Ji-yong finally spoke, his voice eerily calm, "I'm almost thirty years old."
Yang Hyun-suk was stunned for a moment.
“I know what responsibility is. I will do my best to complete the concert, and I will attend the dinners.” He paused, then added, “But I will manage my own personal time.”
Yang Xianshuo's face darkened: "Are you trying to negotiate with me?"
"This isn't about negotiating terms." Kwon Ji-yong looked directly at him. "This is a notification."
The meeting room was completely silent.
Yang Xianshuo stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled: "Okay, very good." He closed the folder: "Then I'll let you know too, you don't need to go to Beijing. I'm flying to Tokyo tomorrow, there's an advertisement that needs reshooting."
Kwon Ji-yong clenched his fist.
"And another thing," Yang Hyun-suk stood up and patted him on the shoulder before leaving, "Ji-yong, you're a smart man. You know how the company has treated you all these years. Don't ruin your career for a relationship. Once this relationship is exposed, there's no company to back you up, plus some appropriate public opinion manipulation. Think about it yourself."
After saying that, he left with his assistant, leaving everyone in the room silent.
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