307: Chapter 287 got stuck on a variety show; I could definitely have written it before.

LOEN Entertainment building, exclusive lounge on the top floor.

The night was deep, and the lights of the Han River outside the window looked like a flowing galaxy. Yet, IU (Lee Ji-eun) had no desire to sleep; she was even a bit restless.

She was wearing comfortable loungewear, curled up in a large, soft sofa. She held a pillow printed with a cartoon rabbit in her arms, her fingers unconsciously tugging at the rabbit's long ears, while her gaze, unfocused, stared at the giant poster of one of her concerts hanging on the wall in front of her.

The her on the poster was radiant, her smile sweet yet carrying a hint of distant etherealness—she was the "Nation's Little Sister" in the hearts of countless people, and the "Queen of Music Charts" in the music industry.

But at this moment, the Queen's mood was a mess, like a ball of yarn tangled by a cat's claws. The source of all this pointed to the little one who had been constantly murmuring "Taeyeon Unnie" and "Yoona Unnie" in her ears lately, while mentioning "Jieun Unnie" less and less—Lee Tima.

"Shit!"

In the quiet lounge, a low, clearly displeased Korean profanity suddenly rang out. IU herself was stunned for a moment; it had been a long time since she had expressed her emotions so openly with profanity.

But there was no help for it; that inexplicable, increasingly intense possessiveness and sense of loss twined around her heart like vines, making her restless.

"Lee Tima is my sister!"

This thought swirled in her mind, carrying an unquestionable sense of declaration. Although there was no blood relationship, or even official legal documentation confirming it (after all, at the time, Lee Tima was still a child of unknown origin who claimed to have time-traveled), she was the "sworn sister" she had brought back to her hometown of Suwon, personally certified by her Appa, Omma, and Grandma!

IU's thoughts drifted back to 2018, that summer. Lee Tima was like a little tail, or like sticky toffee that couldn't be shaken off, shamelessly insisting on following her back to her hometown in Suwon to "take a look."

And what was the result? Relying on that innocent (but actually mischievous) little face, and that cooking skill and sweet talk—learned from who knows where—that made the elders beam with joy, she successfully "conquered" IU's family.

Grandma held Lee Tima's hand, calling her "the little sister our Jieun brought back" with every breath, and her Appa and Omma also tacitly accepted this suddenly appeared, overly lively "little daughter."

Isn't this a set-in-stone sister relationship?!

And another thing! The more IU thought about it, the angrier she got. Her real name is even "Lee Ji-eun," just like mine! Isn't this fate ordained by heaven? It means the two of us are meant to be family!

But what about now? This little heartless thing!

"Taeyeon Unnie taught me a new chord today!" "Yoona Unnie is working so hard for her role; I have to go help!" "The care package sent by Zhiyu Oppa, Taeyeon Unnie, Yoona Unnie, let's eat together!" ...

Lee Tima's recent catchphrases never strayed far from Kim Taeyeon and Im Yoona. That little one who used to hang around her recording studio, sponging off her for food and drink, causing trouble while acting cute, seemed to be getting "snatched away" by two other people.

"Yah! Who took you to eat all the delicious food in Seoul? Who let you run wild in the recording studio and still feel happy? Do those times not compare to dealing with that damn fish with Kim Taeyeon and Im Yoona?!"

IU thought indignantly, feeling like a parent "neglected" by their child, her heart sour.

What frustrated her even more was that as her sister (self-proclaimed and family-certified), Lee Tima clearly had so many opportunities to interact with Jiang Zhiyu—that young President who was currently making waves in the industry and was so talented that even she secretly admired him (and even had other thoughts).

"Can't you talk about me more in front of Jiang Zhiyu?!"

IU's thoughts began to wander uncontrollably, with a bit of unreasonable but bold wilfulness: Talk about my beauty? (Hmm, that should be objective.) Talk about my talent? (Queen of Music Charts, well-deserved.) Talk about my personality? (...I'm a bit of a homebody and a bit 4D in private, but I'm also very cute!) Talk about my figure? (Uh... this... doesn't seem to be my most prominent advantage? But maybe... he likes my type!)

As this thought popped up, IU blushed slightly, but it was quickly replaced by a subtle mentality of "I'm so good, why wouldn't he like me?" After all, the way Jiang Zhiyu looked at her, although always carrying the calmness and consideration of business games, occasionally flashed a hint of pure appreciation, she could feel it.

"What a traitorous little brat who elbows outward!" IU squeezed the rabbit pillow hard, as if it were Lee Tima's face. "Yah! Jiang Zhiyu is your Oppa, I am your Unnie, if the two of us could... could be together, would there be any loss for you? By then, you'd have an extra brother-in-law and an extra sister-in-law (even though it's still the same person), wouldn't we be an even closer family? You can't even figure out such a win-win situation, yet you have the nerve to call yourself a 'genius' all day!"

She was completely immersed in her own logic, selectively ignoring the key questions of "whether Jiang Zhiyu has the same thoughts about her" and "whether Lee Tima has any obligation to be a matchmaker." At this moment, IU, having shed her perfect stage halo, was more like a little girl throwing a tantrum because her favorite toy (her sister's attention and a potential brother-in-law?) might be snatched away.

Frustrated, she scratched her hair. IU's gaze fell on an entertainment brief on the coffee table, the headline vaguely mentioning "TG's New Film Project." This reminded her of the reason Lee Tima was "borrowed" by Kim Taeyeon to be a little fish-killing teacher—it was for Im Yoona to star in Jiang Zhiyu's new movie, "the crab."

"the crab"... IU chewed on the name. When Lee Tima was pressed (mainly by being tempted with snacks), she had revealed a little bit of information: former mercenary, crime, suspense, lots of action scenes, the character was very subversive, and the requirements for the actor were extremely high.

When IU heard it at the time, her heart skipped a beat. This kind of hardcore, complex character was a breakthrough opportunity many actors dreamed of. Im Yoona had even learned to kill fish for it, which showed her great determination and also showed how much importance and ambition Jiang Zhiyu had for this project.

"What if... I were to play that former mercenary?"

This thought flashed through IU's mind like lightning. She sat up abruptly, not even caring that the pillow in her arms fell to the floor.

She imagined herself putting on a combat uniform, holding a firearm (prop), her gaze sharp, displaying a completely different image amidst a hail of bullets or in close-quarters combat. No longer the sweet IU singing love songs, but the agile, complex-minded female warrior Withe...

"Ah, shit... that's simply cool as hell!!" Above her head, it was as if a materialized thought bubble had appeared, inside of which she was slaying in all kinds of cool action scenes, accompanied by passionate background music.

This imagination made her heart race, and her blood felt a little hot. She had always been clear that her music career had reached a height difficult for ordinary people to attain, but as an artist, there was always a desire to seek breakthroughs and challenge new fields. She had tried acting, and the results were good, but mostly in romance dramas or artsy roles. A hardcore action movie like "the crab" was a field she had never touched but vaguely yearned for.

"And... if it were collaborating with Jiang Zhiyu..."

IU's eyes gradually became dark and unclear, flickering with ambition, unwillingness, curiosity, and a subtle competitive spirit of wanting to "score a comeback" after being "neglected." Why Im Yoona? Of course, Yoona was excellent and worked very hard. But couldn't she do it? In terms of public recognition, influence, and plasticity... in what way was she, Lee Ji-eun, inferior?

Did Jiang Zhiyu choose Im Yoona because he thought she was more suitable, or because... they had been getting too close lately?

This thought made IU feel even worse. She gritted her teeth and cursed in a low voice again: "Heartless Lee Tima!" If it weren't for this little one "defecting" recently and always running over to Kim Taeyeon and Im Yoona, maybe she could have known about "the crab" earlier, or even... had a chance to fight for it?

She couldn't keep waiting passively like this.

IU took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind. She reached out and took the phone placed to the side; the screen lit up, reflecting her pretty face, which carried a hint of stubbornness.

She opened the messaging app and found the chat window labeled "TG President Jiang." The interface was very clean; the latest chat record was still from a month ago, a short, business-like exchange regarding a music copyright collaboration, polite and distant.

Looking at this cold interface, IU felt frustrated again. That little brat Lee Tima must be acting all lively in front of Jiang Zhiyu; why was it that when it came to her own turn, she had no private interactions with Jiang Zhiyu?

Her slender fingers hovered over the screen for a few seconds, seemingly deliberating the wording. After typing and deleting several times, she finally pursed her lips and started typing away.

The message sent out did not bluntly say "I want to act in your movie" or question "Why choose Im Yoona and not me." That would be too degrading, and too un-"IU."

Her message was more like a tentative, lazy, and casual sharing, yet it hid a sharp edge:

[President Jiang, good evening. I've been writing new songs lately and have been wanting to step out of my comfort zone to try something with more... a sense of power. I suddenly remembered hearing Tima mention something by chance before, that your new film project seems very interesting—is it that kind of... very "hardcore" story? I'm a bit curious. (Smile)]

Send.

IU watched the notification that the message had been sent successfully, and the corners of her mouth slowly curled into an arc. It was a smile belonging to IU, carrying a bit of laziness, a bit of mystery, and full of confidence. She didn't lie back down but maintained a slightly forward-leaning sitting posture, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of the phone, her eyes bright and deep, as if she had already seen through the screen the reaction the other party might have, and... some new possibility for the future.

She was no longer just the sister who needed Lee Tima to "act as a go-between," nor was she an outsider who could only hear about "Jiang Zhiyu's projects" from others. She had actively sent out a signal, with an elegant posture, yet a clear goal.

"Jiang Zhiyu, did you see it?"

"I, Lee Ji-eun, am also very interested in your 'the crab.'"

As for that "heartless" little sister Lee Tima... IU glanced at the chat window with Lee Tima on her phone (which was filled with Lee Tima's various funny stickers and "reports" about Kim Taeyeon and Im Yoona) and let out a soft snort.

"Once I get 'Brother-in-law' sorted out, let's see if you still dare to run out all day. By then, I'll make you call him 'Brother-in-law Oppa' and call me 'Jieun Unnie' every day, annoying you to death, you little traitor."

The lounge quieted down, with only the faint sounds of the city at night drifting in from outside the window. IU's mood seemed to calm down a bit, but the flame ignited in her eyes, a mix of ambition, curiosity, and a hint of unwillingness to lose, burned even more fiercely.

The wind of the entertainment industry seemed to be blowing up new waves again because of this "Nation's Little Sister's" quiet turn. And the center of these waves, perhaps, was none other than the TG President who was currently worrying about funds and projects, Jiang Zhiyu.

——

JYP Entertainment Headquarters, executive meeting room.

The long conference table was filled with core leaders from various departments of the company: the Planning Department Minister, the Publicity Department Minister, the Artist Management Department Minister, the Marketing Department Director... The atmosphere was serious but carried a hint of imperceptible excitement. On the projection screen, recent network hot data charts were being rotated, and two keywords firmly occupied the top spots like giant peaks, and the correlation was staggering:

# IZ*ONE twelve star envoys #

# Red Velvet the collapsed daily life #

And behind these two hit variety shows, the same production company's logo was clearly printed—TG Entertainment.

"Everyone has seen the data," President Park Jin-young, who was sitting in the main seat, said today wearing a rather stylish printed shirt, his hair meticulously groomed, fingers tapping on the table, his voice loud and clear, "TG Entertainment, this new company that hasn't been established for long, has already gone beyond just 'emerging' thanks to these two projects; it has ignited phenomenal discussions. President Jiang Zhiyu, Chairwoman Kim Soo-yeon, the ability and vision of these two young people are unquestionable."

His gaze swept over everyone present: "In the industry, many companies are already re-evaluating TG's positioning. From initially being a 'content producer with potential,' it is now regarded as an important partner that is highly likely to have deep cooperation in the next few years, or even change part of the ecological landscape."

The Planning Department Minister pushed up his glasses and added: "Especially their model of 'deeply binding collaborating artists, digging out subversive images, and creating high-virality topics,' although controversial, the effects and commercial returns are obvious to all. The internet-wide meme-making and brand attention triggered by this Red Velvet test shoot are difficult to achieve with traditional promotional methods in a short period."

The Publicity Department Minister nodded and added: "And TG's operations are very flexible. From planning and production to post-promotion and business linkage, the integration is high, and the execution is strong. Chairwoman Kim Soo-yeon's operations at the capital and strategic levels are also very seasoned. SM's cooperation this time seems to have been 'leached' for heat, but in reality, the attention and potential commercial value gained far exceed expectations."

Everyone nodded one after another. The speed of TG Entertainment's rise and its methods indeed made traditional large companies feel new shocks and opportunities.

Park Jin-young leaned forward slightly, hands clasped on the table, his tone becoming more solemn: "And we at JYP have an innate advantage in cooperation with TG Entertainment, or rather, with President Jiang Zhiyu and Lee Tima."

He didn't need to elaborate; everyone understood. Lee Tima had once "briefly stayed" at JYP and left a legend, collaborating with President Park Jin-young himself on songs like "Constrict," establishing a wonderful relationship of being both teacher and friend. Although Jiang Zhiyu came from SM, he had no old grievances with JYP; on the contrary, through the bond of Lee Tima, and the subsequent cameo collaboration in "destined kim hyo-soon," a good foundation for interaction had been established.

More importantly, the relationship between the artists under the agency is harmonious.

ITZY had just made a cameo in "Captives of the Demon King's Castle," experiencing a "shameful" shoot, but they also intuitively felt the "effect" of the TG Entertainment production model and the "care" from Jiang Zhiyu.

TWICE interacted with Jiang Zhiyu even more frequently; the "shameless mutual flattery" between Im Nayeon and Jiang Zhiyu at Haidilao and their addictive "TT" × "Baby Face" collaboration video are still circulating online to this day. The members were deeply impressed by Jiang Zhiyu's style, which combined "creativity" with "torture," but their overall assessment leaned towards the positive.

Especially Im Nayeon, who mentioned multiple times in interviews and livestreams that Jiang Zhiyu was a "very interesting, thoughtful, and inspiring friend." Their "pure soulmate" relationship, described as "meeting like old friends at first sight," had been "verified" by the teasing of the members and indirectly confirmed by the helpless Manager, becoming almost a semi-public "legend" within JYP Entertainment.

"With this relationship in place," the Director of the Marketing Department spoke up, "the resistance to promoting deeper cooperation with TG Entertainment will be much smaller, and the foundation of trust will be firmer."

Park Jin-young nodded heavily: "That's right! So, my idea is that we must take the initiative to seize this opportunity! We cannot wait until other companies, such as Starship or CJ ENM, have bound themselves more deeply with TG Entertainment before we act."

He held up a finger: "The direction of cooperation is very clear—to tailor an exclusive variety show for TWICE or ITZY. By drawing on the successful elements of "the collapsed daily life" or "twelve star messengers: records of survival in the mortal realm," and combining them with the characteristics of our JYP Entertainment artists, we can create the next big hit!"

This proposal was immediately accepted by the majority. TWICE was in a period of transition and consolidation, needing to maintain high exposure and freshness; ITZY had strong upward momentum and needed more distinctive content to deepen the public's impression. TG Entertainment's variety show model provided exactly the kind of platform to "break conventions and showcase multifaceted personalities."

"However," Park Jin-young changed the subject, his expression becoming serious, "the cooperation model needs to be carefully considered. We want a deep-level binding, but we cannot rely on it excessively."

The Head of the Planning Department nodded understandingly: "President's meaning is that we must fully participate in the planning to ensure the core of the program aligns with the overall planning of JYP Entertainment and the artists. We cannot be completely led by the "eccentric genius" ideas of TG Entertainment, avoiding excessive "collapsed" or "shameful" settings that might damage the artists' long-term image. At the same time, we must strive for favorable conditions regarding business revenue sharing, copyright ownership, and follow-up development."

"Yes!" Park Jin-young affirmed, "TG Entertainment is an excellent partner, but not the only one. Through this cooperation, we must learn from their strengths and strengthen our own content production and planning capabilities. The ultimate goal is to maximize the value of our JYP Entertainment artists and make the company more competitive. Cooperation is about mutual achievement, not one-sided blood transfusion."

Everyone expressed their agreement and began to discuss the specific forms of cooperation, budget, schedule, and who would be the most suitable person to send for initial contact with TG Entertainment.

The meeting proceeded in a pragmatic and expectant atmosphere. However, in the intervals of the heated discussion, Park Jin-young, sitting at the head of the table, had his thoughts drift away for a moment.

On his face, which always carried exaggerated expressions and abundant vitality, flashed a trace of imperceptible, authentic longing belonging to a musician and... cunning?

Jiang Zhiyu, ah, Lee Tima, ah... he muttered in his heart, they are both rare treasures! Talented, full of ideas, and crucially, they get along with him (one can write "Milk Song," and the other dares to submit "Poem of Growing Against the Light" to provoke him). If he handles the relationship with these two little guys well, then the future...

A wonderful vision seemed to appear before his eyes: Jiang Zhiyu tailor-making a solo song for him that fused the trendiest electronic sound effects with profound life philosophy, with lyrics that were sharp and touching; Lee Tima would be responsible for the arrangement, adding those quirky yet catchy melody hooks; once released, the song would parachute to number one on all music charts, dominating the charts for months; then, he, Park Jin-young, the founder of JYP Entertainment, the legendary producer, would stand on the center stage again as a singer, not as the President, but as a pure performer.

The stage lights were magnificent, and the music was deafening. And behind him, JYP Entertainment's most elite, youngest dance team—perhaps ITZY, or perhaps the company's best backup dance troupe—would dance with all their might for him, uniform and explosive with power. He would sweat (non-existent) sweat and pour out (forever young) youth on the stage, accepting the cheers of the masses...

Oops! Park Jin-young hurriedly pulled back the corners of his mouth that were about to drift away, coughed lightly, and refocused on the meeting agenda before him. But the little excitement in his heart was like a lake surface into which a stone had been thrown, with ripples lingering for a long time.

Thinking about it makes me a little excited~ he secretly rejoiced.

It seems that the next step of cooperation with TG Entertainment is not only about company strategy, but also about the musical dream of whether he, Park, can "bloom for a second spring" on stage again in the future!

This deal, no matter how you look at it, is worth it!

"Alright," Park Jin-young made the final decision, regaining the decisiveness of the President, "The Planning Department and the Publicity Department should jointly come up with a detailed draft of the cooperation intention as soon as possible, highlighting our sincerity and win-win approach. I will handle the contact with TG Entertainment personally. After all..." he smiled, with a bit of self-satisfaction, "President Jiang and Lee Tima and I have a bit of a "friendship.""

The meeting ended, and this massive entertainment machine of JYP Entertainment began to run at high speed for the "deep marriage" with TG Entertainment. And far away in the TG Entertainment office, Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon might soon welcome an official visit from an enthusiastic "old friend" who was harboring "selfish motives." The vertical and horizontal alliances of the entertainment industry were about to add a new and interesting chapter.

——

TG Entertainment President's Office.

The Seoul skyline outside the window was clearly outlined in the afternoon sun, the glass curtain wall isolating the noise, leaving only the low hum of the central air conditioning and the subtle sound of paper turning in the room. Spread out in front of Jiang Zhiyu was the detailed budget table for "the crab" project, and the dense numbers on it were like a group of small monsters with bared fangs and brandished claws, devouring TG Entertainment's not-so-abundant liquidity pool.

He pinched the center of his eyebrows, his fingers unconsciously sliding over the red, bolded items such as "special effects production," "overseas filming," "action team," and "post-production sound effects." Each one was a significant expense, especially for a hardcore action film aiming to present a movie-level texture; saving money often meant sacrificing quality, which was something Jiang Zhiyu and Kim Soo-yeon could not accept.

"Where... exactly should I fleece the sheep from?" he muttered to himself, his mind quickly flashing through the several investment institutions and interested brands he had recently contacted, and even considering whether he could use the cash flow brought by "twelve star messengers: records of survival in the mortal realm" and "Red Velvet the collapsed daily life" for short-term borrowing, but the risk was not small.

Just as he was immersed in the quagmire of business calculations, the screen of the private mobile phone placed on the desk lit up and emitted a slight vibration.

Jiang Zhiyu glanced at it; it was a message from IU.

He picked up the phone, unlocked it, and his eyes swept over the line of text that seemed casual and lazy, but was actually carefully worded. Almost the moment he finished reading, an inaudible, knowing, and slightly playful chuckle escaped from his lips.

"Want to jump out of the comfort zone... try a style with a sense of power..." Jiang Zhiyu repeated the keywords in a low voice, his fingertips tapping lightly on the edge of the phone. "'Hardcore' story? Curious?"

He was too familiar with this kind of tentative expression from top entertainment artists. IU was not the type of person to directly ask for a role; her pride and intelligence did not allow her to do so. But this message was tantamount to a well-crafted, elegantly posed "admission ticket," subtly yet clearly conveying a signal: I have noticed your project, and, I am interested.

Jiang Zhiyu leaned back in his chair, his eyes becoming deep. His relationship with IU, to be honest, could not be called particularly close. The initial intersection stemmed from the wonderful bond of Lee Tima, and the subsequent ones were based on mutual appreciation and cautious cooperation at the music and business levels. With the multiple halos of "solo queen," "music source powerhouse," and "recognized acting skills," IU held a pivotal position in the Korean entertainment industry. For TG Entertainment, which was rapidly expanding and needed more heavyweight allies and diversified cooperation, IU was undoubtedly a highly valuable potential partner.

More importantly, she was one of the few "family members" that Lee Tima had recognized in this world. Just for this point, Jiang Zhiyu naturally had an extra bit of attention and... perhaps patience out of "love me, love my dog"?

He pondered slightly, and his fingers began to tap on the screen. The reply message was polite and comprehensive in tone, both catching the "curiosity" topic thrown out by IU and cleverly controlling the topic to a broader, safer "future development" level for the time being:

[IU xi, good evening. Thank you for your interest in the new project. That child Tima, thank you for taking care of her usually. She has a jumpy personality and must have caused you a lot of trouble, right? Please bear with her.]

First, play the emotional card, use Lee Tima to close the distance, express gratitude, and keep the posture gentle.

[Regarding the 'hardcore story' and style breakthrough you mentioned, it is indeed a direction we are exploring. Film production is a complex system engineering project, and casting is the top priority, requiring comprehensive consideration of many factors.]

Neither denying the existence and "hardcore" attribute of the project, nor downplaying the casting issue, implying that this is not a topic that can be easily discussed, maintaining mystery and initiative.

[However, for the future development of TG Entertainment, we do hope to have more in-depth exchanges and cooperation possibilities with excellent artists who possess multifaceted talents and influence like IU xi. I wonder if IU xi's schedule is convenient next week? If possible, I hope you can reserve about an hour of time without affecting your normal work. We can meet and talk in detail, chat about music, film and television, or... other development directions that we are both interested in.]

This is the core. Throwing out an invitation, expanding the specific and sensitive topic of "movie role" into a more flexible "future development cooperation" discussion. It gave IU a formal opportunity to meet, and also reserved sufficient room for maneuver for himself—what to talk about when meeting, how to talk, the guidance power was in his hands. At the same time, the expression of "not affecting normal work" not only reflected thoughtfulness, but also implied that this was not an urgent or must-be-decided-immediately matter.

The message was sent successfully.

Jiang Zhiyu put the phone back on the desk and did not immediately continue to process the budget table. He turned to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, resting his side face with one hand, his eyes cast towards the distant buildings, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

As for the film's casting, he had made up his mind not to interfere too much. Kim Soo-yeon, as the President, would lead the establishment of a professional casting team, comprehensively considering acting skills, image, market appeal, schedule, and even the opinions of investors. He believed in Kim Soo-yeon's professionalism and vision.

Im Yoona... he saw her efforts clearly through Lee Tima's "live broadcast." That kind of ruthless drive, casting aside all halos, almost clumsy but incomparably persistent, really touched him. What he provided to her was the highly challenging script outline of "the crab" and the complex character soul of "Withe," which was already the greatest degree of "cheating" and trust that a screenwriter and project initiator could give.

He believed 100% that Im Yoona had the ability to understand, approach, and even conquer this role.

However, believing is one thing, and the final result is another. The casting interview is a competition of comprehensive strength, with too many uncertain factors. Is Im Yoona's determination really as indestructible as she showed? Can she withstand the almost harsh scrutiny of professional judges and the pressure of other strong competitors that may exist? More importantly, is her determination, like his, not just for a role, but for jointly completing a work that can leave a mark on the era?

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes were calm and sharp, like a chess player examining the chessboard in the dark night. He gave the powerful piece on the board (Im Yoona) an excellent position and possibility, and also sent a subtle invitation to another heavyweight player outside the board (IU). But how this game of chess named "the crab" ends, besides his layout, also depends on the will and fortune of the pieces themselves.

The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, plating the office with a layer of warm gold. Jiang Zhiyu withdrew his gaze and pulled his attention back to the headache-inducing budget table.

The wool must be fleeced, the chess game must be played, and the partners must be met. The journey of TG Entertainment has never been a flat and broad road. But it is precisely this kind of road full of challenges and unknowns that makes "transmigrators" like him and Kim Soo-yeon feel unprecedented excitement and reality.

He picked up the pen and wrote down several new names and institutions in the blank space of the budget table, which were the targets that needed to be conquered next. At the same time, he marked the possible meeting time with IU next week on the schedule.

Everything was progressing in an orderly manner. The center of a storm is often the calmest. And he, Jiang Zhiyu, was standing in the center of this gradually forming eye of the storm, calmly planning where the next wind would start and where it would blow.