Chapter 12: Not a Loser, Just Growing Up
During the Spring Festival, the official announcement of the second spokesperson for luxury goods made many other fans envious.
In the competition among the 90s flowers in the domestic entertainment industry, Song Yu's fashion resources have always been unrivaled, even though she is often criticized by black fans on forums, who accuse her of cheating to gain her fame.
The so-called "cheating fame" refers to people who have transformed and returned to the domestic entertainment industry, but even do not let go of the Korean entertainment track.
Her haters threatened that she should stop using the name Yuna and stop using Chinese names to get access to foreign fashion brand resources like other young actresses.
When Song Yu's fans fight with fans of other groups, they don't like to mention her sister's experience in South Korea. In addition, after the ban on South Korea, the public's reputation towards Korean entertainment artists has plummeted.
In recent years, the outrageous actions of new Korean entertainment groups, whether secretly or blatantly stealing Chinese culture, can easily detonate explosive public opinion.
Fans don't want Song Yu to be involved in this and want to treat her as a serious artist who debuted in the domestic entertainment industry. Except when it comes to promoting her international fame, they don't want Song Yu to have anything to do with it at all.
Similar sour words and comments have already caused a stir on a certain software forum after the rumor of signing another contract was revealed. The team monitors online public opinion at all times and does not intervene in behaviors that are within the controllable range. The parties involved are enjoying a wonderful vacation.
After finally hanging up the phone that night, Song Yu did not quit IG. Instead, he updated his status late at night, contrary to his usual practice, and personally posted the new endorsement materials that were officially announced a few days ago.
Looking at her usual postings, she lives like an advertising blogger, with most of her posts promoting endorsements. When she opened the comment section, there were messages in Chinese asking her, "Have you forgotten the password here?", while international fans were all asking questions like, "When will Yuna return?"
The number of fans is increasing at a snail's pace, but the trend is still to increase the number of fans. They are a group of genuine and active fans who have not bought a single bit of the water army's water.
They cannot compare with the members of the popular Korean girl groups today, but idol singers and other artists who developed in the same era belong to the upper-middle level, not to mention the artists who developed in a purely domestic entertainment environment.
At this moment, a sense of guilt came over Song Yu, and a trace of remorse flashed through her heart. As for the fans who were waiting for her, whether old or new, she really didn't have a strong sense of social media management.
She doesn't have any hidden hatred towards South Korea as the marketing accounts say! Song's mother is Korean, and her sister-in-law is also Korean. What hatred could she have towards South Korea?
It's just that I don't have a strong sense of self-identity. I grew up in China and deep down I believe that I am a child of a flower-growing family.
Even after becoming an adult, when developing an artist career in Korea and working hard in the Korean entertainment industry, he brought his green card identity with him.
If Song Yu's fans dig into her previous Korean variety shows, they will find that in the CP hodgepodge of the function members, the "Big Song, Little Song" and "Song Song Line" always have the most materials, the relationship is the stickiest, and they can compete for favor with the two youngest members of the function group.
He deserves to be called the sixth member who has integrated perfectly.
The reason why we have less contact is just...
Things and people have changed.
Some things leave an indelible mark on the hearts of those who return.
Even after so many years, I don’t want to look back or even mention it.
They are also human beings, with human emotions and human pain. They are not like a certain big devil who still acts like a "saint" after returning.
Maybe it’s because they don’t rely on that circle to make a living!
I felt like I was connected to my old circle again. My phone showed that it was already 12:30 Beijing time, but I had no desire to sleep. I took out the red wine that I hadn't finished last time and had a refill, thinking of it as a beauty wine before bed. I took a picture of the liquid in the red wine glass and uploaded it to IG.
Yuna1212: See you the day after tomorrow~ (with a smiling emoticon)
This post was written in both Chinese and Korean.
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On February 1, Song Yu's public schedule showed that she would fly from Beijing to South Korea for a brand event.
Early in the morning, fans who learned about the itinerary were waiting at the airport.
"What? After the event, we come back first?"
Executive agent Sister Lin has been following Song Yu for 5 years. After the hit drama in 2019, her team was replaced by a wave of new blood. Among the team members who just came back to develop with her, there are several colleagues brought from South Korea.
They were partners when they were in SM company, but after Song Yu's work focus shifted completely to domestic entertainment, these people also started working abroad like she did in the past.
Working around artists, the hours are irregular. Artists in their rising stages are very busy and it is impossible to take a vacation. During the time I stay in China, I probably only have time to go back once a year.
Plus...the anti-sentiment among Song Yu's fans is on the rise.
During that time, she had seen the suggestions from fans in the comments, saying that those people who returned with them from Korea could not keep up with the development of the domestic entertainment environment, and that some Korean makeup and the unchanging death bangs were simply not suitable for their aesthetics.
"If it doesn't work, get someone else. Don't just sit there and do nothing."
"Can you please be cruel for once? Now that you've decided to return to China for development, don't let yourself be held back any longer."
"These guys are SM's undercover agents who are stationed next to my sister!"
Things like this have been going on for three years, and fans are tired of it. The fan withdrawal incidents have happened several times.
Song Yu's acting career was neither good nor bad, there were irreconcilable conflicts between the team and fans, and his popularity was eroded year by year. It can be said that in the first few years after his return, Song Yu's development path was not smooth.
But she just couldn't bear to do it!
These sisters were the ones who accompanied her through the most difficult period in Korea. Driven by her fledgling complex, when she came back to face the big stage of domestic entertainment, she was not as brave as she had imagined, and she even felt fear.
She has always fought alone, and although she is not accompanied by any members in public, these staff members are her comrades-in-arms in private.
Now, when asked to take the initiative to say something like "fire", she admitted that it was what her fans called a Hail Mary.
The turning point of everything was at the end of 2019, when she had been idle for half a year.
After the makeup artist sister returned to China, several people followed her back one after another when Song Yu had no activities. By the time the new drama, which had been filmed for a full year and a half and was suddenly announced to be broadcast, some positions around Song Yu were vacant.
The current executive agent, Sister Lin, was a publicity employee of the film and television company she was affiliated with at the time, and was transferred to her. As for the other staff, makeup artists and stylists were all temporary staff. The result of the new drama was beyond everyone's expectations and was called the last blockbuster drama of 2019.
Song Yu's popularity has exploded back to the time when he just returned to China, and is even not inferior to that time.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, she took control of the team in one fell swoop, and quickly formed a new team, completely breaking away from SM's control. When the Korean staff returned, there were already other people replacing her.
By the time the last Korean employee left, Song Yu's team was made up entirely of her own people. It had only been a little over three years since she returned to China and started her formal development.
In 2021, the 12-year contract with SM finally expired.
Sister Lin was promoted to her executive agent and remains in that position until now.
..........
"Well, I'm in Korea taking care of some personal matters."
Song Yu was wearing sunglasses, but he took them off in the car because he would be greeted by fans when he got out of the Korean airport.
The phenomenon of Korean media squatting at the airport to film is very common in the Korean entertainment circle. It is not limited to local artists, but also includes international artists who come to Korea to participate in activities. The rare activities of artists like Song Yu who "return home in glory" are bound to attract attention, and there are many brands that help promote them.
Usually when entering and leaving the airport, Song Yujie wears small sunglasses, insisting that no one can see her and looks cool. Apart from putting on lipstick, she is very willful. Today, she had to put on a delicate and elegant foundation.
The outfit from head to toe is full of simplicity and fashion. The shoes underneath are the designated style of the brand, which is definitely an endorsement for the sponsor.
The other clothes she wears, the ornaments on her wrists and ears are all her endorsement products.
Executive agent Sister Lin mistakenly thought that the private matters Song Yu mentioned were about her sister-in-law and did not ask any more questions.
After the group was seen off by fans in China and entered the waiting room, Song Yu quickly boarded a plane to South Korea.
The plane slowly took off, and the noise in the cabin gradually subsided, replaced by a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. On flights between China and South Korea, the probability of encountering artists is very high.
Passengers and staff who frequently take this route are used to the big fuss caused by some star-chasers. As long as they don't cause trouble and don't affect normal operations, it's fine.
For an artist like Song Yu, who is at a development level, the term "illegitimate life" is something she hasn't heard for a long time. Instead, it has been replaced by several paparazzi in the domestic entertainment industry who often post hints and previews on social media.
Inside the cabin, the lights were soft, illuminating the passengers who were resting with their eyes closed or whispering to each other. Everything seemed so orderly and peaceful. Song Yu stared at the WeChat page on his phone screen, a newly added number.
She never expected that in 2023, she would be able to add Quan Zhilong as a WeChat friend.
Logically, they should use Kakao Talk to communicate, but Song Yu's number has been unused for a long time. Her Korean number was cancelled 800 years ago. Family members contacted, even her sister-in-law in Korea, using WeChat. Her former Korean friends could chat on Instagram...
Comparing the two, it is indeed more convenient for Quan Zhilong to register a WeChat account than for her, as it does not require a Chinese number.
The number was added last night. I don’t know how he got it right, but the avatar is a girl’s. Song Yu clicked on it and saw it countless times. The three-year-old girl on the phone must be her!
The degree of shock was comparable to the moment when the auspicious cloud jade pendant appeared on Quan Zhilong's IG homepage.
In fact, when I first saw this child, my focus was not on how similar his facial features were to hers, because before she noticed it, she was led away by another feeling.
The most shocking thing is the feeling at first sight, "These eyes are so..." similar to Kwon Ji-yong's, right?
Especially the light brown eyes, which are more obvious than Quan Zhilong himself.
It's exactly the same, even the smile is the same.
This man gave birth to a child and told her that she was also the child's mother. Could he have said this to his ex-girlfriends?
If Song Yu hadn't heard the child over there calling her "Mommy" all the time, he would have sincerely doubted this possibility.
There was also the conversation where he excitedly sent her a voice message last night. As for the video call...it might be because it was Kwon Ji-yong's first time using it and he was not familiar with the function. By accident, their first meeting after eight years turned into an offline "meet-up" after tonight's event.
Of course, this is a story for later.
From that night on, she sighed more frequently. She turned off her phone screen, full of worries, and stared at the clouds outside the window in a daze.
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The direct flight from Beijing to South Korea only takes two hours, and the landing time is almost noon there.
Incheon Airport is still the same. The memories of the old days when we were surrounded and blocked as soon as we got off the plane come back to me every time I come back.
She was too busy last year and couldn't go with her parents when they went back to Korea.
“There are still so many people!”
A light sigh escaped her lips from the little face under the sunglasses. She had an event tonight and was destined to face the blinding flash lights of the Korean media, so she had better protect her eyes in advance.
So, in the next few minutes before leaving the airport, she did not take off her sunglasses. Assistant Huahua and several others pushed the team's suitcases, and Sister Lin walked in front of her to lead the way. But it was obvious that Sister Lin, a woman, could not do the work of bodyguards.
From the moment Song Yu walked out of the exit door of the arrival hall, she didn't know where so many people came from, but they were able to discover her so quickly. They swarmed over her like worker bees seeing honey.
They had only walked a dozen steps when they were stuck in traffic and had to stop and go. There was a mobile phone camera next to her that was almost touching her face. When Sister Lin was about to be unable to hold it back, the airport staff hired by the brand intervened in time.
Four men in black suits came in one after another. Two of them protected Song Yu on the left and right. She finally breathed a sigh of relief, even though there were still so many people surrounding her.
The formation can continue to move forward.
Song Yu, who was being photographed by fans on their mobile phones, was wearing a black suit. Except for a white beret with the English letters "Yuna" on her head, her whole body was in black and white. Her eyes were covered by sunglasses, so her emotions could not be seen clearly. However, she waved to the fans who were shouting her name Yuna.
She recognized a Korean fan who had pursued her in Korea, paused for a few seconds, turned around and greeted her.
"Long time no see."
"Nei, unnie~ Long time no see!", I gave her the flowers prepared for her and watched her get on the black business car sent by the brand to pick her up.
Just before closing the car door, Song Yu heard a voice in Korean shouting, "Yuna unni, see you at the event tonight~".
It turns out that those people who liked her back then have always been there.
Not losing fans, just growing up.
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"Years later, we've all grown up from young girls, changing social identities one after another, but I'll never forget the joy I felt when I liked you. My first fandom came from you. I may have liked many new people along the way, but as long as you come back, we'll rush to see you. Welcome back to Korea, and I wish you a smooth event tonight!"
The entire paragraph is in Korean, accompanied by a picture of a bouquet of flowers.
This is a social media update from Song Yu, an old Han fan. The last update was in 2021.
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