128: Chapter 128 The Crushing of the Conference Room

Although it was May, the air in the top-floor meeting room of SM Entertainment was like frozen ice, piercingly cold.

Lee Soo-man wore a well-pressed black suit, his hands clenched into fists resting on the table, his expression gloomy.

His eyes were fixed firmly on Jiang Hongshao, who had just pushed the door open and entered.

The executives on both sides of the meeting room were as silent as cicadas in winter; some looked down, rubbing the edges of their documents, while others stole glances toward the door, keeping even their breathing extremely light.

After JS Investment injected capital and became the second-largest shareholder, Jiang Hongshao's influence in the company was no longer what it used to be, but no one expected her to dare act this way.

They had just received word that she had actually allowed Im Yoona to go find Lee Seung-gi; it was practically dancing on a knife's edge.

Im Yoona was also playing with fire regarding her own future.

Jiang Hongshao walked in on stilettos, her burgundy curly hair swaying gently with her steps. Her skin was as white as snow; she was clearly a mixed-race girl even more beautiful than an idol.

At this moment, however, there wasn't a hint of gentleness about her.

She walked straight to the head seat opposite Lee Soo-man and sat down, casually tossing her leather handbag onto the table. It made a soft "thud," breaking the dead silence of the meeting room.

Lee Soo-man's voice carried a suppressed rage.

“President Jiang! Was it you who let Im Yoona go find Lee Seung-gi?”

He slammed his hand on the table.

“Since you have evidence proving Lee Seung-gi orchestrated the attack at SM Entertainment, why didn't you hand it directly to the police? Why did you let Im Yoona go out there?”

Lee Soo-man's anger burned hotter and hotter, and his speaking speed increased.

“Choi Sulli's behavior at the company entrance today was already out of line enough! She just became an adult and is already so intimate with Liu Zijun, hugging him and crying in full view of everyone.

Do you have any idea? Those photos and videos are already spreading all over the internet!”

“Now the whole internet is speculating whether she's in a relationship, questioning our company's management of our artists!”

He took a breath, his eyes full of anxiety, not giving Jiang Hongshao a single chance to speak.

“What level of group is Girls Generation? They are the face of our SM Entertainment!”

“Im Yoona is the visual of the group, the most popular member.

If anything happens to her, even if it's just a verbal argument with Lee Seung-gi being filmed, it will be magnified infinitely!”

“When that happens, this public opinion will drown us.”

“Girls Generation will be finished, and SM Entertainment will be dragged down with them, completely ruined!”

Sitting beside Lee Soo-man, Vice President Kim Young-min (yes, he was back, as he was still one of the major shareholders) also hurriedly chimed in.

“That's right! President Jiang, President Lee is correct. As an entertainment company, the most taboo thing is for an artist to get involved in this kind of trouble.”

“Lee Seung-gi is a well-known artist after all; a true falling out won't benefit either side. It's better to leave it to the legal department and the police to handle through official channels.”

“That way, Lee Seung-gi will get what's coming to him.”

Several other veteran executives and directors nodded in succession.

Listening to the collective condemnation, Jiang Hongshao's face remained calm. Instead, she slowly picked up a fountain pen from the table and toyed with it, making it spin a sharp circle around her fingertips.

Waiting until the murmurs in the meeting room gradually died down, she finally looked up at Lee Soo-man, her lips curling into a very faint, mocking smile.

Her voice was cold, yet carried an unquestionable confidence.

“What could possibly happen to Im Yoona?”

“Are the company's security personnel just for show? I've already had Kim Ji-hee lead the company security team to follow her. Even if Lee Seung-gi had the guts of a giant, he wouldn't dare touch a single hair on her head.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the executives present. The sharpness in her eyes made several veterans instinctively look away.

“Furthermore, I've arranged more than just that.”

“The evidence of Lee Seung-gi hiring the Four-Harmony Gang has already been synchronized with several of the most authoritative media outlets.”

“When the time comes, with both witnesses and physical evidence present, public opinion will be completely on our side. Who would still dare to criticize?”

Jiang Hongshao suddenly thought of something and said with a light chuckle, “As for Choi Sulli... that girl can't wait to be exposed.”

She leaned forward slightly, crossing her hands on the table, her aura fully unleashed.

“Besides, isn't guiding public opinion what you all are best at? Company security personnel getting injured to protect an artist, and the artist caring for a close staff member—what a positive story that is.”

“Everyone already knows Choi Sulli has a close bodyguard; isn't this just icing on the cake?”

“Ha! There are even CP fans of them online right now; they're probably thrilled to death!”

“When the time comes, even if BOSS and Choi Sulli's relationship is made public, there won't be much opposition!”

“If you're really afraid of the exposure, with a little maneuvering, you can frame Choi Sulli as a loyal and lovable artist.”

“It will both consolidate Choi Sulli's persona and promote the company's efforts to protect its artists. It's two birds with one stone.”

Jiang Hongshao raised an eyebrow and asked Lee Soo-man in return, “Do I still need to teach you how to do these things?”

Lee Soo-man was left speechless by her retort, his face turning various shades of blue and white.

He had to admit that Jiang Hongshao's handling of Choi Sulli's situation made a lot of sense.

However, the importance of Im Yoona and Girls Generation was different.

Lee Soo-man gritted his teeth and said, “But the situation with Im Yoona is still too risky! President Jiang, we are running a company for long-term development, we aren't gamblers!”

“If something really happens to Im Yoona, what are we supposed to do?”

Jiang Hongshao sneered, took a USB drive out of her handbag, and tossed it onto the table.

The USB drive slid halfway across the smooth surface, stopping in the center of the conference table.

“In here are recordings of phone calls between Lee Seung-gi and Kim Dong-ho. This evidence is enough to make him lose his reputation forever.”

She stood up, looking down at everyone present. With a flick of her burgundy curls, she drew a sharp arc behind her.

“President Lee, and all the shareholders, have you forgotten? Our SM Entertainment isn't made of clay!”

She said firmly, word by word, “A mere artist like Lee Seung-gi actually dares to touch our people, and right at the company gates—I will make him pay the price!”

“This time, I'm going to make all those with ulterior motives in The Peninsula shut their mouths completely.”

“If anyone dares to use such underhanded tactics to cause trouble again, I, Jiang Hongshao, will be the first to show them no mercy!”

The meeting room was pin-drop silent; no one dared to argue further.

Jiang Hongshao's assertiveness and thorough preparation had completely intimidated everyone.

Looking at this young but strong-handed woman, they suddenly realized that the landscape of SM Entertainment had long since changed.

Lee Soo-man looked at the USB drive on the table, then at Jiang Hongshao's resolute gaze. The anger in his heart gradually subsided, replaced by a complex set of emotions.

Jiang Hongshao wasn't wrong; SM Entertainment indeed needed a forceful counterattack to deter those rivals who were waiting for their chance.

Otherwise, who knew what else might happen at the gates of SM Entertainment.