Chapter 122 Chapter 122
When Lee Soo Hyuk arrived at Cheongdam-dong, Kwon Ji Yong was shoving something into his bag with his head down. "On the sofa—" Hearing someone enter, he casually pointed in a direction without even looking up.
Lee Soo Hyuk, the biggest beneficiary of the World Tour, put down his luggage and walked towards the sofa with his long legs - wherever Kwon Ji-yong went on tour, he would buy it. GD brand doll purchasing agent. He picked up the coat on top.
He gestured at his body and said, "How is it?" Kwon Ji-yong looked up and said uninterested, "Not bad." "Haven't you reconciled yet?" Lee Soo-hyuk frowned and reached out to pick up the next item.
The success of a person's relationship is significantly inversely proportional to the frequency of late-night phone calls he receives. He knew this anger wouldn't go away easily after hearing three calls in one night complaining about his girlfriend ignoring him while buried in her paper.
"We didn't argue." Quan Zhilong pursed his lips. Indeed, they didn't argue. He was just being upset. Li Zhuhe was speechless: "Arranging so many people to Jeju Island, isn't it just a pique?" "Am I that kind of person?" "Yes."
"......" The zipper was zipped up with a "whoosh". Quan Zhilong said coldly: "I'm not that naive." Although he felt a little uncomfortable, Lia was busy with his thesis and he knew what was important.
"Oh?" Lee Soo Hyuk said doubtfully. That wasn't what he'd said on the midnight call. "Put your clothes down first." Kwon Ji Yong glanced at him. "You're a mature man," Lee Soo Hyuk said immediately.
"..." "Oh right," Lee Soo Hyuk suddenly remembered, "When I came up here, I saw some stalkers squatting downstairs." Kwon Ji Yong's hand suddenly paused, his brow furrowed, and he muttered a low, muffled response. He knew.
He'd always seen sasaengs, but lately, for some reason, he'd been feeling a nagging sense of unease. He'd also suddenly changed his mind about taking a close staff member on vacation to Jeju Island.
Firstly, it was a reward for the team's hard work this year, and secondly, it gave him peace of mind. A change of heart sometimes only takes a moment. In the past, he'd been eager to tell the world, but now... he didn't want anyone to catch him.
—A near-instinct defense. An inexplicable anxiety welled up. "Is Do-hoon going too?" he asked casually, not thinking about it anymore. Lee Soo-hyuk's manager was close to him, and usually got brought along on occasions like this.
"Yes, he's waiting in the car." "Let's go," Kwon Ji-yong picked up his luggage. ... Shortly after the car drove out of Cheongdam-dong, Lee Soo-hyuk glanced through the rearview mirror: "That car behind us has been following us since we left the community."
Quan Zhilong followed his gaze, his brow furrowing even deeper. The black van hung in the distance, neither fast nor slow. When they sped up, it sped up; when they slowed down, it slowed down too. Occasionally, it disappeared at an intersection, only to reappear a moment later like a ghost.
"If it's those guys from before, they're probably still students." Lee Soo Hyuk sneered, his tone tinged with disdain. They looked no more than a teenager, unable to tell right from wrong.
The driver also noticed the movement of the car behind him and carefully increased the speed, turning around from the side road, hoping to get rid of them. But within a few minutes, the car quickly caught up again. Quan Zhilong leaned back in his chair, twirling the ring in his hand absentmindedly.
Lee Soo Hyuk glanced at him, sensing something wasn't right with him today. It was no stranger to seeing stalkers, but right now, he seemed particularly impatient. "Are you okay?" "Nothing," Kwon Ji Yong said expressionlessly.
The car swerved once more, and the distant headlights followed. The ring rested on his finger. "It's almost too late. Ignore them and go straight to the airport," he whispered. What good would it do to follow them? What good would it do to go to Jeju Island?
Boredom washed over him like a tide. Under the spotlight, he was glamorous and dazzling; in reality, he was always accompanied by these ugly shadows. A morbid desire to watch ran through his entire life.
Not just him, but also family, friends...even Lia. How could that be love? * The sky on Jeju Island in winter was clear, and the air was filled with a cool, damp feeling.
The sea breeze swept across the cliffs, bringing with it the cries of large seagulls and the swaying of low citrus trees. The dark stone walls on the hillside stood out against the gray sky, creating a rough and quiet beauty.
Zheng Laicai's winery sits on a hillside. The building is a minimalist cuboid, a juxtaposition of concrete and glass, seemingly designed to contrast with the surrounding nature. From outside, one can gaze out at the distant sea, while inside, the warmth and tranquility of the wine cellar's wooden barrels emanate a rich aroma, shielded from the cold wind outside.
She'd made a killing this year: the TV series she'd invested in were hits one after another, and she'd even begun expanding into the film industry. Information was always flowing in the capital market, and with her achievements under her belt, others were eager to get a piece of the action.
So she simply brought them to the Jeju Island winery—partly as a social gathering under the guise of leisure, and partly to connect resources. Inviting Lia was also out of a certain investment mentality.
Music is not the main field of these investors, but in Zheng Laicai's view, the value of Lia is far more than just "writing songs".
Such introductions may not lead to immediate cooperation, but true cooperation always grows from such repeated contacts. In the casual conversations, Lia gradually grasped an unfamiliar perspective: these people's interest in her far exceeded her imagination.
In their eyes, she is more than just a producer under YG. What matters to them is her ability to independently produce albums at such a young age, her potential connections with overseas platforms, and the attention her name alone can bring.
This is different from Yang Xianshi's perspective.
At YG, she was always put into the framework of "producer". Yang Hyun-seok valued her output and her assistance to the artists. Even she herself thought so - whether it was the channel or the plan to contact Sony
Publishing is simply an attempt to magnify this advantage. That's the logic of "job value": she is part of a system, and her value depends on how much the system needs her.
But in the eyes of capital, the criterion is far more complex than she imagined. Educational background, channel, labels in public opinion, and even her age can all be manipulated and magnified.
This made her aware of a subtle risk: if she viewed herself solely as a resource, she would be destined to be distributed. Her inertia had led her to place herself within the system. But was that truly the only way out? Zheng Laicai naturally saw things more clearly.
She wanted to get into this field. K-pop was going global. But inviting Lia wasn't entirely based on practical considerations. She liked Lia, or more accurately, she admired smart people.
This girl's edge isn't outwardly visible, yet she constantly absorbs every nurturing force. Beneath the still waters, a dark current surges. That undeniable power draws in those who are drawn to her, and the desire to place a bet.
Zheng Laicai found Lia, who was secretly avoiding everyone and enjoying the breeze outside the door. "How do you feel?" She blinked, raised the red wine in her hand, and gently touched Lia's glass. "It feels amazing." "Amazing?"
"...Hmm. It's not a difficult question, but it's always hard to think outside the box." Lia didn't say what the question was, and Zheng Laicai didn't ask. She leaned against the railing, looking past Lia out to the sea.
The winter sea surface resembled a vast expanse of metal, shimmering with tiny shimmers as the wind blew past. "This is the joy of capitalism," she said lazily. "Look at it from another perspective. People never have just one value."
Lia lowered her eyes, her fingertips gently rubbing the sides of the cup. She understood Zheng Laichai's intentions, and knew she was making a point. But deep down, a slight discomfort still lingered. "You don't like this feeling?" Zheng Laichai suddenly asked.
Lia was startled, and when she looked up, she met her half-smile. Zheng Laicai smiled faintly, "There's really nothing romantic about this. Ultimately, it's just a game, and everyone has to accept the rules. It's just a difference in position."
The wind blew through the porch, bringing a hint of chill. Lia paused, silent for a moment before saying, "I understand. At least I want to choose where I stand."
Zheng Lai Cai nodded, with the corners of her lips slightly raised: "Well, that's enough. Many people can't even see this." Lia looked up at her and said calmly: "Ouni, do you like this game?" Zheng Lai Cai laughed and her eyes fell back on the shaking red wine in the glass.
"Like?" she asked softly, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, "That depends on what you take 'like' to mean." She raised her hand and gently shook the glass, and the wine created a circle of dark ripples under the light.
"For me, as long as I can win, nothing else matters." She paused and turned to look at Lia: "But what about you? The answer you want may not be the same as mine." Lia looked at her quietly for a moment, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
She didn't answer, but just gently touched Zheng Laichai's wine glass.
----------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
