Chapter 1285: Visiting SM Entertainment

The morning sunlight spilled down sparsely, warm and lazy, like a sheep basking in the sun. A gentle breeze blew through the curtains onto people's faces, making them want to lift their heads, bathe in the warmth, and lie idly on a bench, enjoying the leisure and comfort of a cup of coffee, letting time slip through their fingers like grains of sand.

But for the staff of Future Group, this was an unrealistic dream.

Because their boss, Zhao Fusheng, was going to visit SM Entertainment today.

“Aren’t you being too hasty?” Dong Chenxi looked at Zhao Fusheng, somewhat puzzled.

Although Zhao Fusheng was her boss, as a friend, she felt it necessary to advise him not to rush.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head and said, “Do you think we brought over twenty people here just to sunbathe in the apartment?”

Dong Chenxi was taken aback, then smiled wryly. “I know what you mean, but shouldn’t we do some research first? Are we just going to meet Mr. Lee Soo-man directly?”

“Not Lee Soo-man, but Kim Young-min.” Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Dong Chenxi, “Sometimes timing is a tricky thing.”

Dong Chenxi frowned, completely confused.

Zhao Fusheng explained, “Lee Soo-man was sentenced last year for embezzlement, so the position of SM’s CEO is now held by Kim Young-min, the former head of overseas planning. Lee Soo-man, as the major shareholder, has become the company’s artistic director.”

Dong Chenxi was startled; she hadn’t expected Zhao Fusheng to be more informed than she was.

Zhao Fusheng continued, “So we need to contact both of them before deciding whether to cooperate with SM.”

“In that case, have you thought about the consequences if we actually collaborate with them?” Dong Chenxi frowned and asked Zhao Fusheng.

In her view, the company was investing heavily—buying office buildings and apartments—which was quite alarming.

Zhao Fusheng said, “Actually, it’s nothing. It’s about making money together; I believe they won’t refuse.”

“Not afraid?”

Zhao Fusheng countered, “Why should I be afraid?”

Facing Dong Chenxi, Zhao Fusheng smiled meaningfully as he walked. “I have a friend who once told me: ‘Don’t live too tired, because being too tired brings pain and anxiety; be content and happy.’”

Dong Chenxi blinked, clearly not understanding Zhao Fusheng’s words, so she simply kept quiet.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. “He meant for me not to be so aggressive, to be calm. But do you know what happened to him in the end?”

Dong Chenxi’s gaze sharpened as she looked at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged. “He went bankrupt and jumped to his death.”

Dong Chenxi was stunned. Her mind raced, trying to recall if anyone among the people Zhao Fusheng had met in recent years had died by jumping.

But no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t come up with such a person.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and continued, “If a lion has grown old, foolish, and irritable, it can no longer protect the pride. If it refuses to step aside, a young lion must challenge it, kill it, and then continue to protect the pride. That’s the situation at SM right now.”

“What does that have to do with us?” Dong Chenxi asked, puzzled.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled. “We’re the wolves lurking nearby. Since two lions are fighting over territory, if we don’t take this chance to tear off a piece of meat, are we waiting for the lions to finish fighting, lick their wounds, and then come after us?”

Dong Chenxi was even more confused; she clearly had no idea what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Zhao Fusheng said nothing more, silently got into the car rented by Liang Jingyu, and the group headed toward SM Entertainment.

“Huh, I didn’t expect you to be so interested in that company,” Dong Chenxi said to Zhao Fusheng while sitting in the car.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and shook his head. “Actually, I don’t like SM Entertainment; I even dislike it. But that doesn’t stop me from using it to make money.”

This was his true feeling. Whether from his memories of his past life or the materials he had read in this life, Zhao Fusheng had to admit that any company that made a name for itself and gained recognition in an industry had a certain legendary quality. Though not truly legendary, it still had its merits.

Of course, it also had its detestable aspects.

“True, but I’m surprised you know so much about the situation in Korea,” Dong Chenxi remarked casually.

She was genuinely surprised. From Zhao Fusheng’s words, she could clearly sense that besides the materials from Future Group’s strategic planning department, he must have other sources of information; otherwise, he couldn’t be so knowledgeable about the Korean entertainment industry.

Zhao Fusheng smiled noncommittally but said nothing.

At that moment, Liang Jingyu, sitting in the front passenger seat, spoke up: “The chairman is right. After I arrived, I asked around, and SM’s reputation really isn’t that good.”

“Oh?” Dong Chenxi was surprised and looked at Liang Jingyu. “What’s the matter?”

Liang Jingyu replied, “That company is too harsh and somewhat extreme. To put it bluntly, the current atmosphere in the Korean music industry was all started by them.”

“Oh?” Dong Chenxi was very surprised; she hadn’t expected Liang Jingyu to have such an opinion.

Zhao Fusheng nodded and said calmly, “For an industry to grow and strengthen, the most important thing is innovation. But the biggest problem in the Korean music industry now is that idols are basically all the same, like products off an assembly line—cheap and lacking individuality. That’s why idols are looked down upon. Remember, uniqueness is what attracts people the most.”

Dong Chenxi frowned. “But their market share is very high, and their performance is the best among these companies.”

“Yes, so I think the chairman’s choice of SM as a partner is actually the most correct decision.” Liang Jingyu smiled and said.

Whether it was sincere or flattery didn’t really matter.

…

…

The convoy stopped at the entrance of SM Entertainment.

When getting out of the car, Dong Chenxi was startled. “Is this the right place?”

What met her eyes was a three-story building, an old, dilapidated structure that stood out among the many new buildings around it.

“Yes, this should be it,” Zhao Fusheng said with a smile.

In his past life, he had occasionally heard people say that what SM was most criticized for was its outdated office building, which didn’t match the reputation of Korea’s top entertainment agency.

Now it seemed that was indeed the case.

“Let’s go.”

With a command, Zhao Fusheng led his large team into this entertainment company famous throughout Korea. The receptionist stood up and asked Zhao Fusheng, “Sir, how can I help you?”

Zhao Fusheng smiled but said nothing.

“Hello, we are Future Group from China. This is our chairman, Mr. Zhao Fusheng.” Liang Jingyu, who had studied Korean in college, stepped forward and said politely to the receptionist, “We would like to meet with Representative Kim Young-min of your company.”

The receptionist was startled. Such a large team, with several obvious bodyguards, and from China—who were these people, coming straight in to see Kim Young-min, who had just become the company’s representative director?

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“Then let me make a call.”

“Thank you.”

After the brief exchange, Liang Jingyu stepped back to Zhao Fusheng’s side while the receptionist made the call.

“Why are we meeting Kim Young-min first?” Dong Chenxi whispered to Zhao Fusheng.

She didn’t quite understand. Although Lee Soo-man had been sentenced, he was still SM’s major shareholder. Shouldn’t contacting Lee Soo-man first be the right choice?

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly. “Kim Young-min officially became the representative director this month—what we would call the general manager.”

Hearing this, Dong Chenxi’s eyes lit up. She finally understood Zhao Fusheng’s intention.