33: I was screwed

“Is it that exaggerated?”

Kim Jennie didn't believe she'd be eaten; it was mainly that she herself wasn't willing, right!

“Yes, and it’s a big deal. Anyway, my Unnie wouldn’t harm me. Everything she says is for my own good, so why wouldn’t I listen?”

“Can’t you be a little rebellious?”

“Child, when you reach my age—oh, no, you’re a year older than me. Anyway, it’s like this: if you don’t listen to the elders, you’ll suffer. They have so much life experience, and we have so little. It’s always right to listen.”

“You sound like an old man when you say that. Can you stop pretending? Hmph!”

“Dumpling Ni, it’s only because I’m in a good mood today, otherwise your cheek meat would be in trouble.”

After hearing that, Kim Jennie immediately hid behind Kim Ji-soo. She was too mean! She always liked to pinch her cheeks, making them round and flat, and then asking her if she was wrong.

“Why are you hiding? Can I eat you? I’m in a good mood today, so I’m treating you all to a big meal, and also celebrating my debut.”

“Wait, how did you debut?” Park Chaeyoung and Lisa were a hundred percent confused.

Kim Jennie and Kim Ji-soo looked at their actions with blank expressions. She passed her performance, so isn't it normal for an actress to debut?

Given that Xu Zhiyou only took acting classes after she arrived, Kim Ji-soo and Kim Jennie firmly believed she would definitely debut as an actress.

“I’m out of money. If I don’t debut, will I starve to death?”

She had no choice. If she didn't debut soon, she would really be eating the northwest wind. All her money went to medical expenses and greasing palms.

She didn't have much to begin with, and after half a year of fights and compensation payments, it was all gone.

“What kind of drama are you filming? When did you get the offer?” Kim Ji-soo was genuinely envious. She originally came here to debut as an actress, but was made into an idol instead.

“Don’t talk to me about filming. I hate it right now!”

“Uh! Aren’t you debuting? If you haven’t landed a role, how are you debuting?”

“Who told you I’m debuting as an actress? I’m debuting as a singer, alright?”

Park Chaeyoung and Lisa covered their faces. They were now experiencing what Xu Zhiyou felt when she looked at them; they truly felt like clowns.

“If you don’t believe me, then don’t. Just wait and see.” Xu Zhiyou didn’t even bother to explain. She had already written her debut song, and it was absolutely solid.

“Didn’t the company want you to debut in a group with us?”

“Chaeyoung, what gave you that impression?”

“You just happened to be assigned to our dorm, and you get along well with us. A few months ago, they even said they wanted you to be the girl group leader. Isn’t that debuting with us?”

“Don’t be silly. If I were the leader, half the group would be ruined before we even started. I don’t have that ability.”

Could she say that if she didn't debut solo, she would take up their spots?

Even now, Yang Hyun-suk hadn't contacted her. It was still the same thing: she couldn't take their spots, and it wasn't about being a saint or not.

If she did that, her thoughts wouldn't be clear, and it would affect her daily life.

“Hold on, Chaeyoung, what are you talking about? She hasn’t even practiced singing, how can she be in a group?”

“Jisoo, she…”

Park Chaeyoung was about to reveal all of Xu Zhiyou’s circumstances when she was forcibly interrupted by a staff member who walked in.

“President Nim wants you all to go to his office.”

“Yes!”

After the staff member left, all five of them were curious why President Nim called them, and all five at once. They had all been very well-behaved recently!

Xu Zhiyou guessed it might be about her plan to go solo. Otherwise, he wouldn’t call her now, not earlier or later, but only after she proposed soloing.

But no matter what he said, she wouldn't try to snatch Kim Ji-soo or Park Chaeyoung's spots. Those didn't belong to her, and she didn't care for them.

“Jisoo, why did President Nim call us?”

“Jennie! Do you think I would know? We’ll find out when we go!”

“You’re right!”

Upon arriving at President Nim’s office, Xu Zhiyou was still quite well-behaved when others were present, standing when she should stand.

He was a leader, after all, so she had to give him the respect he deserved. One shouldn't be too arrogant.

“Have a seat first. You all can look at the documents on the table.”

Xu Zhiyou quickly flipped through it. It was still the four-member group debut plan. She pretended to look at it for a couple of minutes, then started pondering how to make her MV look cool.

After more than ten minutes, she came up with several plans. She would film all of them and use whichever one was the coolest.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t hear Yang Hyun-suk call her, only snapping back to reality when Kim Ji-soo poked her.

“President Nim, I was just thinking about filming the MV and didn’t notice. Hehe!”

Yang Hyun-suk truly had a headache. He couldn't let her debut solo; that would be such a waste. How could such an excellent producer debut solo?

“Zoe, stop thinking about the MV. Your solo debut request is rejected. You are the pre-determined leader of the next girl group. I told you this a long time ago.”

“But, I…”

“You listen to me first.”

“Alright!”

Listening first was fine. If it really didn’t work out, she would go to her elder sister’s friend’s company. As for replacing Kim Ji-soo or Park Chaeyoung, don’t even think about it.

Kim Ji-soo and Kim Jennie, meanwhile, had bewildered expressions. What was all this? Then they looked at Park Chaeyoung and Lisa's calm reactions.

No, there must be something they didn't know. Damn it, could everything she said be true? That would be too magical.

Yang Hyun-suk, being who he was, also knew a few things about them. Seeing the confused Kim Jennie and Kim Ji-soo, he spoke.

“The company didn’t arrange classes for her because it wasn’t necessary. She graduated from a world-class music academy. You can look it up yourselves privately, so I won’t elaborate.”

Seeing Kim Ji-soo and Kim Jennie’s eyes almost fall out, she raised an eyebrow at them. “You little brats, still daring to look down on your granny, huh? Didn’t that shock you to death?”

She, Xu, loved to see that look in their eyes. That was worthy of her swagger. Unlike before, when they would casually say, “You? Don’t be silly,” it was truly disheartening.

After their shock, the two glared fiercely at Park Chaeyoung and Lisa. Judging by their reactions, they must have confirmed it long ago but didn't tell them. If they didn't kill these two rascals later, they'd take their names.

“The original plan was for Zoe to be the leader, with Jennie and Lisa as members, and one more to be decided by the leader between Jisoo and Rose, forming a four-member group.”

Park Chaeyoung and Kim Ji-soo felt a chill in their hearts upon hearing this. After so many years, it still came down to one of them leaving.

Kim Ji-soo knew that her singing wasn't as good as Park Chaeyoung's, so the one leaving would most likely be her. Rather than making Xu Zhiyou difficult, it was better for her to leave gracefully.

Just as she was about to stand up, she was interrupted by Xu Zhiyou's words: “President Nim, I told you I wouldn’t choose. How good would it be for them four to form a group? If you force me to choose, then I’ll leave the company.”

This was so long ago, and she had clearly stated that she wouldn't choose. To bring it up again now, he was either sick or had ill intentions.

“With your tendency to run away at the drop of a hat, do you think the company would trust you to debut solo?”

“Uh!!!”

She was careless. Her big mouth really needed to be controlled, otherwise she’d easily fall into traps. But, damn it, she couldn’t control it!

“Right! Without members to keep you in check, who knows where you’d drift off to.”

“But!”

“Don’t ‘but’ me yet. If we add one more member, can you lead the group well?”

The four of them stared at her, indicating, “Hurry up and nod! What are you hesitating for?”

These four fools probably didn’t realize that she wasn’t suited for a girl group concept. In her previous life, ten years were dedicated to dance.