Chapter 41

There were rumors before that Guatuan would be on the cover of V magazine, but no one believed it. He was even mocked for being shameless, saying that being on the inside pages would be enough, and how dare he dream of being on the cover.

Even the fans themselves do not believe this information, but Su Ning did have access to cover resources, but he has been hiding it and has not yet said it. Keeping unconfirmed resources confidential to prevent changes is a basic quality of a mature agency team.

In fact, in addition to the V magazine cover, he also had access to many subsequent resources from the team. However, serious business contacts take time, and the news must be kept confidential first, so people took advantage of the opportunity to say that Su Ning was not serious.

The dehydration data of the fourth picture is very good. Just looking at the internal fights among fans that can make it to the top of the trending searches, you can tell that they are really popular.

It is not uncommon for a successful team to get access to extraordinary resources, but when they really got them, Su Ning knew in his heart that it was not easy and that Mr. Shen had made a lot of efforts.

It was only when he got home tonight that he found out that Shen Mingzheng had finalized the resource, just like Ji Shiyu, so he immediately sent out the itinerary.

As soon as the news was released, the fans who left the three members could not wait to speak out.

"What's the point of talking about personal information? Let's go back and shoot the cover of V magazine first."

"I just watched the live broadcast, and Su Ning seemed easy to talk to. There's no need to be so awkward with him."

"That's right, we can't lose the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds."

Some even expressed doubts directly: "Our fan circle was established not long ago, and we don't have many big fans. Many of our fans are minors. You asked them to prepare money so directly. I think you really collected a lot of money."

The online war of words about Su Ning that lasted the whole day had some turns, with more and more people standing on Su Ning's side. However, Shen Mingzheng, who was keeping a close eye on her all the time, still couldn't get completely relaxed.

He just felt that it was more irritating than the person who was scolded on the Internet. But at the same time, he knew that Su Ning had his own arrangements and plans for this matter. Su Ning said it didn't matter, it was common for fans to quarrel, but he still secretly found some online media to say good things about Su Ning and praise him.

And those are not exaggerations at all, they are just the truth.

Shen Mingzheng was very confident about this.

When Su Ning returned home and opened the door, he saw him still sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone. He was a little surprised. He looked at the time and saw that it was almost one in the morning. He asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Waiting for you," Shen Mingzheng came over, took his coat, handed him a glass of warm water, and said only one sentence, "It's done."

These few words made Su Ning feel at ease immediately. He knew that it would be right to leave this matter to Shen Mingzheng.

Shen Mingzheng was reluctant to mention those messy things on the Internet in front of Su Ning, so he decided to say something happy. So he briefly talked to him about the details of the magazine shoot tomorrow, and couldn't help but add, "How about I accompany you there tomorrow?"

He also had to contact the people from the magazine. He always felt that those people would make things difficult for Su Ning. He hadn't thought about what happened to Allen today, otherwise he would have brought people and Su Ning with him.

Su Ning knew that he was worried, so he patted his shoulder with a smile and said, "What's that? Believe me. You have done more than enough."

Shen Mingzheng was a little unwilling to be rejected, so he got up from the sofa and followed him like a clingy big dog. But after Su Ning took off his coat, he seemed to remember something and took something out of his coat pocket.

"I bought this for you."

Shen Mingzheng looked down and saw a small jar of mints.

"Today when I went to Xiangshan Villa, I saw this brand and thought of you, so I bought you this candy," Su Ning said, "I saw you always keep it in your car. The clerk said it's a new flavor that just came out today. Want to try it?"

He was kind of trying to change the subject, meaning to tell him not to worry.

Shen Mingzheng does have a habit of refreshing himself with mint candies. He cannot smoke or drink because they damage his throat. This habit was formed in his previous life and he cannot change it now. Among so many brands, he has always been accustomed to the homemade xylitol mint candies from a store in Haicheng. They are cool enough, not sweet, and even have the natural bitter taste of mint. Not many people like them.

That store does have a small branch near Xiangshan Garden, but it’s not available online and is only sold in the store.

This is a small habit, and Chen Tao knows it.

He was a qualified special assistant, so it was not difficult for him to order a mint candy on time. He knew Shen Mingzheng's preferences, so he always had the classic original flavor in the car.

Su Ning often rode in his car and then remembered it.

Knowing that he had no shortage of the classic original flavor, which was always placed in his car, Su Ning bought him a small can of the new flavor, which was lime. When he held it in his mouth, it still had that bitter but cool taste, but was a little sweeter than the original.

Shen Mingzheng: ...

He opened his mouth to say thank you, but no words came out.

The incident at Xiangshan Villa tonight was trending on the Internet, and Shen Mingzheng also watched it. He saw a lot of comments praising him, and he knew that Su Ning had always been considerate, but what surprised him now was that this consideration was also placed on him.

He couldn't help but think more.

Su Ning came back quite late. Considering the driving time, the store should have been closed. He must have seen it and bought it on the way there. When Su Ning was leading the group of little idols around, the small bottle of candy was always in his coat pocket, and then he brought it back for himself.

He must remember me in his heart.

Shen Mingzheng thought.

Seeing him standing there in a daze, Su Ning lowered his head, opened another one, put it in his mouth, and smiled: "I should give it to you tomorrow. How can you sleep after eating it so late at night? It's so cold."

As he said this, he was unbuttoning his shirt and preparing to go into the guest room to take a shower. When he unbuttoned the third button, the door was half-closed.

Shen Mingzheng: "...I want to try it."

Try something he has never tried before and see what it tastes like.

He leaned against the wall and looked at the door. Su Ning had not closed it tightly, leaving a gap. He felt that the mint candy was not so cold anymore. Instead, he felt a little warm in his heart.

Halfway through the candy, Shen Mingzheng suddenly answered a phone call. He frowned, then walked forward and knocked on the bathroom door.

He remembered the time when Su Ning took a bath, and knew that he would be almost done by then. Sure enough, after knocking on the door, Su Ning came out in a bathrobe and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I just received a call from someone at Orange Video. It was Zhou Heng, whose phone was confiscated, who borrowed the phone number of a junior assistant in their company and called them. He didn't know our contact information, so he could only find the program team based on his memory. Then the people from Otu found me," Shen Mingzheng said. "He said he hoped you could pick them up. They didn't know their company would be like this, and now they just want to get back to the team as soon as possible."

The people at Orange Video said that the voices sounded quite scary. After all, they were all very young. They didn’t know that after becoming famous, they would no longer have control over many things.

While talking about work, Shen Mingzheng's eyes were always on him, never moving away.

Su Ning listened silently and replied: "Very soon."

He was fully responsible for these matters, and Shen Mingzheng had no intention of interfering, so he nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

It was just that the sugar smell was at its strongest right now, and he discovered that the night before him had the same smell, the same mint-lime scent of shower gel that he had smelled last time.

Shen Mingzheng looked at Su Ning, then slowly broke the last layer of sugar shell with his teeth.

That night, the two of them naturally slept in separate rooms, but Shen Mingzheng kept his eyes open and did not fall asleep until very late.

The next morning, Shen Mingzheng listened to Su Ning very much and did not accompany him the whole time, but he still sent him off and directly sent him to the villa in Xiangshan Villa.

This place is already equivalent to a recording site.

When Su Ning got off the car, the four little idols had already woken up. The director team had already set up the camera and were filming the first scene of the first episode of the group variety show.

Yesterday’s live broadcast could only be considered a warm-up. Today is the official start of filming, so it is no longer a live broadcast, but just a recording.

It was still early and the four people were not fully asleep yet. They were woken up early in the morning. Li Chu was in the front, leading the four people to run around the villa, as if they were special forces doing morning training. According to the director, this was necessary physical training for today's group photo shoot.

Although he didn't quite understand, he still obeyed. Li Chu ran several laps and still felt a little sleepy. He heard Ruisong complaining breathlessly behind him: "Living in such a big place doesn't seem to be that fun anymore."

Li Chu wanted to laugh, but was too sleepy to do so.

Then he saw Su Ning getting out of Shen Mingzheng's car, but Mr. Shen didn't leave yet, standing there talking to him, the two of them were quite close to each other. He was no longer sleepy, and couldn't laugh anymore, and he suddenly accelerated.

The person behind:? Why is this person acting like a cannonball?

By the time Li Chu approached the gate, Su Ning had already come in, and their morning exercise was almost finished.

"Just right, I brought breakfast for everyone," Su Ning said, "Xiao Chu, come and help get it."

Li Chu obeyed and took it, panting. Everyone's breakfast was different. Su Ning naturally prepared what he liked. He felt a little happier knowing that the other party would remember it at any time, and Shen Mingzheng's car and people had left.

Shen Mingzheng is just a driver, nothing special.

He comforted himself.

It’s agreed, a business marriage, a business marriage.

But some people don't seem to think so.

As the nanny car drove away, assistant Chen Tao, who was in charge of driving, felt something was wrong. He keenly noticed some changes in the car, for example, the small jar containing mints had been replaced.

That was Shen Mingzheng's habit. He had originally placed it randomly, but now the small jar was placed very solemnly and steadily on the small shelf next to the seat. The nanny car had a large space, so it could be placed steadily.

The packaging of that small candy store was in a minimalist style, with simple and clean transparent jars, which were not very common. But perhaps because they were selling new products this time, they added a light pink silk bow as decoration. He didn't remember having this kind of jar in stock.

Chen Tao looked at it twice more, but before he could ask, Shen Mingzheng seemed to have caught his movements immediately, and then he coughed lightly and said, "It was sent by Su Ning."

Assistant Chen:? I didn’t ask.

But as an excellent special assistant, he couldn't let his boss' words fall on deaf ears, so he said, "Boss Su, that's very thoughtful. Most people usually give you cigarettes, alcohol, and tea as gifts, but you don't like them, so they're useless. Few people know that you have this habit."

Shen Mingzheng nodded and said, "Of course he is different from ordinary people."

As if he thought that this was enough for him to say to others, Shen Mingzheng did not continue. Chen Tao looked at him through the mirror and saw that he had a faint smile on his face all the way.

Is this the legendary business marriage?

I don’t quite understand.

After Shen Mingzheng left, everyone had breakfast in the garden at the group photo shoot.

It was a nice experience early in the morning with the soft breeze and warm sunshine. When they were halfway through their meal, the group's director team officially began to announce the theme of this episode.

"I believe everyone should have received today's itinerary."

"In the afternoon, we are going to shoot for V magazine. The theme of the first issue is closely related to this shoot."

When they said this, the four people in front of the camera felt a little overwhelmed.

They knew about the photo shoot, and being on the cover of V magazine was of course a great thing, but at the same time they were also worried - they could have gotten by with the lack of people for yesterday's interview, but now there were three people missing from the photo shoot, and they didn't know what to do.

If the team does not have the right resources, there will be problems.

But the director's words continue.

"Do you know what the theme of today's V Miscellaneous Photoshoot is?"

The four of them shook their heads honestly.

The director replied: "Hidden City."

"Coincidentally, this is also the theme of our group show this time."

"Everyone should have noticed that our team is missing three members since yesterday. You should be wondering where the members who should have returned to the team a long time ago have gone."

"This is exactly the game arrangement for our group round this time."

"Now, please four members take the mission now, complete the game to get clues and help, then go to the designated location, find and successfully take your teammates away, gather seven people into a group, arrive at the shooting location on time, and complete this shoot."

"The game officially begins!"

The four of them were stunned for a moment. Li Chu was the first to react and immediately took the game drawings from the director.

"Well," he said, "see!"

Others also responded and gathered around him one after another to look at the drawing handed over by the director's team.

This seems to be a common way of finding people in outdoor variety shows.

Although this is what they said, everyone present knew that the three members who left were clearly deceived and taken away by their company and restricted, so they could not come back.

This is a breach of contract, but the person is in the other party's hands. Calling the police and claiming illegal detention is not a good sign for a newly debuted idol, as it will have a huge impact on their image.

When encountering such a situation, the only option is often negotiation. However, it is unknown how much time and effort will be spent on negotiation and whether you can get the person back. This is what often happens in the business world - wrangling.

But Su Ning didn't have time to argue with them right now.

An idol group with incomplete members would be a joke if it was run. He had already given that side face. As he said, if they didn't come back on time, Su Ning would go pick them up himself.

If the other party is shameless, don't blame him for being ruthless.

He knew very well where these three people were this morning. According to some fans, they were shooting a commercial in Haicheng, and Jianfeng had secured a short-term promotional resource for them.

This resource seemed good, as it was a well-known fast-moving consumer product from a big brand, with more money than short-term promotion. However, it not only clashed with V Magazine's cover photo shoot, but also came into conflict with another brand that Su Ning was seriously negotiating for a long-term endorsement.

In fact, Jianfeng has no experience in operating idols. They habitually only look at short-term benefits and never consider the long-term income of the team. The reason behind paying a lot of money for short-term promotions like this is to quickly get the money back from fans. This kind of behavior of cutting leeks is very depleting of popularity.

Su Ning couldn't just let them take over the resource by violating the contract line, because Flyhead's greed ruined the group's future, so he had to go and get the person back today.

Picking someone up may not be the right approach, robbing someone is more appropriate.

However, if you really do this kind of work seriously, it is easy to get into unnecessary trouble.

If you use written communication, the other party will think you are a pushover. If you use force, now is a society ruled by law. You cannot rely solely on brute force, so you have to change your approach.

It would be better to package this matter, put it on the table, and film it seriously.

Under the watchful eyes of the public, filmed by cameras, accompanied by serious teammates, planned by a serious agency team, how can this variety show be considered stealing the show?

Many variety shows also film desert island survival and zombie crises, but that is just due to the plot requirements of the variety shows.

Su Ning was thinking that the group needed to do something interesting and not just follow the routine. They also had to keep the popularity of the idol group high at all times, especially as the first episode. Today's slightly stimulating theme met his requirements.

This is truly a rare plan sent from heaven.

Perhaps, fans and even the general public know what he is actually doing, but it is clearly written in the signed contract that Su Ning will not harm them during his operating period.

As I said earlier, this is a "stealth game."

He said this is a variety show, and this is a serious variety show.

So this morning, Zhou Heng, who was a little anxious after his phone was taken away and he was sent to the shooting location by Jian Feng, suddenly felt someone bump into him when he was in the dressing room.

As soon as he turned around, someone stuffed a note into his hand.

The person who bumped into him was dressed in disguise and his figure didn't look familiar, but he looked like an agent, wearing a mask and sunglasses.

Zhou Heng:?

Wait, this is some weird movie plot.

He carefully avoided people and secretly opened the note. It said: "10 am, bathroom at the end of the second floor. We are here to rescue you!"

Signed: Strange Thief.

Zhou Heng: ...

He could see that the strange thief was named Li Chu.