star of the peninsula

"Not going out to play today?"

Shirley came back from lunch break and continued working, and was surprised to find Chen Chen sitting in the office.

"What are we going out to do?" Chen Chen couldn't help but sigh, "Six Australian dragons in half a day, what kind of family can support me to spend so much money?!"

"But yesterday I gained a lot. At least I know how brands view you now." Shirley started laughing as she spoke. "At first I thought you were playing dumb, but I didn't expect you really don't know how to deal with brands!"

In the morning, Chen Chen told Shirley what happened yesterday. She wanted to laugh at that time but held it back for the sake of her boss's face. Now that Chen Chen mentioned it again, she naturally laughed unrestrainedly.

"Because I only established contact with brands after I became a boss, I really don't know what the artists think or how people in general view brand signings."

Chen Chen did not quibble, but simply stated the problem fairly and objectively.

"So do you want to brush up on the relevant knowledge?" Shirley looked at Chen Chen with a smile, "I have asked Zhiyan to sort out the information. You can just look at the information today, so you don't have to go out and spend money."

"That's fine." Chen Chen had no objection, "Then I'll stay in the company today to read the information."

Although staying in the company to read materials is not a good choice, going out to play is too expensive.

"By the way, you should also look at the data of Integrate. It's been two or three days since the regression, and you, as an oppa, didn't even ask a single question. It's a pity that the girls called you oppa oppa." Shirley handed over another copy of the information. "I don't know why you have to wait until a week to look at it. Others only look at it once a day."

"I think fans who are willing to spend money in a week have already spent all their money, and this is when we can see the real data from core fans." Chen Chen explained: "After a week to a month, that's when less core fans spend money, and the data after a month is the data from new fans."

“Do you have any scientific basis for what you said?”

Shirley was somewhat convinced and asked.

Chen Chen shook his head.

"No, I guessed it myself."

"..."

Shirley was speechless for a moment, and buried her head in her work without saying anything else.

Chen Chen felt bored as no one was talking, so he concentrated on reading the information.

"Dingling bell~"

The phone suddenly rang, and the beautiful assistant had new news to convey.

"President Li of SMART Inc. wants to meet you. He is available from this afternoon to this evening."

OK, now there is something to do.

Although he didn't know why Lee Soo Man was looking for him, Chen Chen felt that it would definitely be more interesting than reading the information himself.

Sulli was busy dealing with a series of tasks brought about by Integrate's comeback, Lee Ji-eun was filming a movie, and Bae Joo-hyun was either on stage or on the way to run her schedule. There was no one around Chen Chen to play with, otherwise he wouldn't have thought of grabbing Australian Dragon to chat yesterday.

Let me explain, after yesterday, Lin Yuna changed her name to Aolong in Chen Chen’s mind.

"Afternoon." Chen Chen replied to the phone: "Please arrange a time when older guys tend to fall asleep."

"Teacher Lee Soo Man is looking for you?"

When Shirley heard this, she almost guessed who was on the other side.

There are not many people in the entire Korean entertainment industry who can make Chen Chen be on high alert with such a sinister move.

"Yeah, he said he wanted to talk to me." Chen Chen replied.

"What are you talking about?" Shirley was very curious. "Is there anything interesting to talk about between C Headquarters and SMART?"

"That's what I wanted to ask as well." Chen Chen frowned. "The last time C headquarters and SM were involved was about a variety show. They can't be planning to film a third season, right?"

"Definitely not." Shirley ruled out this possibility. "Except for us, only wealthy TV stations can afford to shoot large-scale variety shows at this time. S.H.I.P. has been spending a lot of money lately, so I'm afraid it won't be able to shoot."

"Then let him be. We'll know everything after a few words." Chen Chen didn't really care. "Your teacher Lee Soo Man is not a threat to me now. We are both people who only want to get rich."

"Do you think it's possible that our teacher Lee Soo Man is asking you to show some mercy?"

Shirley suddenly had an idea.

"Please show some mercy, what can I do to show mercy? Oh, maybe it's true." After being prompted, Chen Chen also successfully thought of it, "The new girl group of S.A.I. will start to prepare for publicity, and he wants to confirm my attitude."

"So what's your attitude?"

Shirley asked curiously, the question was too hard to hold back.

"It depends on the sincerity of your teacher Lee Soo Man." Chen Chen crossed his arms happily, "My attitude can change at any time."

The momentum of Integrate's comeback this time is extremely exaggerated, as if they really found this kind of market response by entering the fantasy of the title song "Fantasy Fairy Tale".

To put it simply, Integrate has become the favorite daughter of South Koreans in terms of girl groups, and the love they have received from the South Korean public is even more exaggerated than that of IU in another field.

Not to mention overseas, Integrate has always been the eldest princess of C headquarters and has inherited the authority passed down by Chen Chen very well.

With such a rival around, SM Entertainment has to test the attitude of C headquarters before publicly announcing the new group.

Fortunately, the relationship between the two families has always been good, so there is always something to talk about.

……

"Good afternoon~"

"I really don't plan to poach the remaining members of your Girls' Generation. You don't have to come to me specifically to confirm it."

Chen Chen joked all the way to sit down opposite Lee Soo Man. He felt as comfortable going to his office as going home.

"I believe in our artists. If they promise to renew their contracts with the company, they will definitely renew their contracts."

Lee Soo Man slowly served Chen Chen hot tea. Even during the hottest time of summer, the hot tea could not be stopped, as if this was how hospitality should be.

"So you specially asked me to come here?"

Chen Chen deliberately pretended to be confused, with doubts almost popping out of his eyes.

"I'm here to learn from you. I want to ask how we can make our new girl group as outstanding as Integrate." Lee Soo Man took out the information with a gentle smile, "Without adding any extra money, they sold 400,000 albums on the first day. This is a result that a first-tier girl group can only achieve after two comebacks."

"The growth rate of the MV's playback volume is even more exaggerated. The record for the fastest playback volume of 100 million must be yours." "The data of the stage direct-shot is also perfect. The direct-shot that came out on the 16th had over a million views the next day. This is really a favorite of you."

"Of course, it's a bit hard on SM Entertainment. One of the straight-shooters with good data was Kim Min-woon's, and we missed her."

"..."

Lee Soo Man read the data almost slowly, forcing Chen Chen, who originally had no intention of looking at the Integrate regression data right now, to know everything.

"Go on." Chen Chen picked his ears, "Aren't you going to mention the sound source results?"

"The music sources of girl groups from SM Entertainment have always been good, so I won't talk about them." Lee Soo Man seemed to be asking for advice, and said sincerely, "This is not an area we need advice on."

"I understand." Chen Chen put on airs, "So what do you want to ask me about? If I have any experience to share, I will definitely not keep anything to myself."

"Promotion and marketing issues." Lee Soo Man's hint was obvious, "and how to avoid strong direct competitors."

"Are you kidding me?" Chen Chen narrowed his eyes. "Entertainment companies in the industry have always been sharing information with each other. Avoiding competitors can be done by simply collecting some information."

"As for promotion, Sha Mao has been in the idol circle for so many years, and his promotion is unrivaled in the circle. How could he fall to the point of asking me for advice?"

"I believe you must have heard the minority opinions out there."

"If Integrate was a group from SM Entertainment, they would definitely be the best of the new generation. Now, we have to wait and see."

"Excuse me." Chen Chen smacked his lips, "Where did this statement come from?"

There are always traces of online speech, and by following the traces, a skilled tracking hunter is able to trace them back to the source.

S.H.I.E. started promoting the new girl group a long time ago, and it is obvious that this statement was spread by S.H.I.E. itself, with the purpose of consuming the company's image to pave the way for the new girl group.

It is the consistent strong image of idol groups launched by S.H.I.E. that gives this statement a foothold. “That’s right, that’s a girl group from S.H.I.E., their upper limit is very exaggerated, maybe they can beat Integrate.”

This kind of statement will naturally accumulate a certain number of fans for the new girl group S.H.I.E., and for such remarks to be taken for granted by everyone requires the company to operate its own brand for many years, and S.H.I.E. has always done a good job.

"The opinions on the Internet have always been free and unfettered. No one knows where the source is. Maybe everyone has high expectations for SMART," Lee Soo Man said with a gentle look. "But SMART knows that the company is one step behind C headquarters in embracing the trend of the new era, so it is working hard to study today."

"..."

Chen Chen suddenly felt a great sense of powerlessness in his heart. How could a person be so smooth? I have already given you no face, twice, how can you continue to be so humble? !
But from Lee Soo-man's perspective, his humble attitude is necessary.

Integrate's comeback took only three days from promotion to the stage performance. Regardless of whether Chen Chen intended to be intimidating, he had to consider whether his new girl group could be treated like this.

Just as you announced your comeback, Integrate came at you like a rocket at full speed and gave you a three-day promotion before your comeback. Who can stand that?

We have to be even more careful about publicity.

Although on the surface the relationship between C headquarters and Tik Tok is not that close, everyone present here knows the inside story. Everyone knows how important Chen Chen's face is. If he really wants to target you, even a god would find it difficult to save you.

It’s not that Lee Soo Man is willing to be controlled by Chen Chen, the main reason is that today’s idols really can’t do without Tik Tok.

“C Headquarters will compile an internal document on Integrate’s recent planned operations and hand it over to SMART, which will include specific data on Tik Tok and YouTube operations.”

"There's more I can't help with."

Chen Chen thought about it for a long time and decided to give Lee Soo Man a favor and give him something useful but not so useful.

Knowing that the new girl group of Idiots will be one of Integrate's strongest opponents in the near future, if he still softens his heart and lets them go, he would be no different from aiding the enemy. Chen Chen would not do such a stupid thing.

If you say you want to snipe at Sha Mao's new girl group together with Jiangyouping, then you must snipe and keep your word.

"Thank you very much."

Lee Soo Man nodded and said nothing more, as if he had already made a plan for this situation.

"Boss Chen, have you been paying attention to Big Hit's recent developments?" Lee Soo Man talked about another topic, "They are the only ones who can compete with C Headquarters in terms of popularity recently."

"There is some attention, but not much." Chen Chen changed his attitude, "Do you have anything you want to point out?"

Chairman Li's performance under disadvantageous circumstances won Chen Chen's respect, and he might even give some advice when talking about this topic. Naturally, Chen had to put himself in a position below others.

"They acquired P-Entertainment, cooperated with CJ on a boy band talent show, and are now preparing to go public." Lee Soo Man said with a smile: "These are all big things in the industry. You must have heard about them."

"Yes, I heard it." Chen Chen put away his cynical attitude and said seriously: "I thought C headquarters was developing fast enough, but I didn't expect it to lag behind Big Hit. This made me sleep poorly for two days."

"No, you are ahead now." Lee Soo Man shook his head. "Big Hit got Paradox, and you got Cube Entertainment. In terms of value, you are the winner."

Complete victory? Chen Chen was a little hesitant to say such words.

Chen Chen may not care about other things about Paradox, but he absolutely cannot ignore SEVENTEEN.

Only slightly behind BTS, this evaluation alone is enough to show the value of SEVENTEEN.

"What do you want to say?" Chen Chen's face turned serious. "I'm suddenly a little tired of talking about Big Hit. Let's skip the detours and get straight to the point!"

"I want to ask for your opinion." Lee Soo Man told him truthfully, "Big Hit will have an IPO when it goes public. How much benefit can we get if we buy their stocks?"

"I don't know, but it's a lot." Chen Chen did not hide it. "If C headquarters has the opportunity to purchase Big Hit shares, I will buy as much as I can."

"I see." Lee Soo Man's eyes flickered. "Then may I ask, why is President Chen so optimistic about Big Hit?"

"First, BTS's value has not yet been fully demonstrated." Chen Chen held up three fingers, "Second, Bang Si Hyuk is still one of the best entertainment company operators in South Korea."

"The third and most important point." Chen Chen took a breath and said, "Big Hit has close ties with the top chaebols."

"Where did you get the information?" Lee Soo Man pushed his glasses and asked.

Chen Chen really wanted to say "future", but unfortunately he couldn't.

But it doesn’t matter, Chen Chen has a more convincing answer.

"Feeling, intuition, and personal experience. Only by experiencing it personally can you understand the trajectory of Big Hit's recent actions." Chen Chen pointed at himself, "Because I also have a top chaebol behind me. Although it is not a South Korean company, it shouldn't be unfair to call those two of me top chaebols, right?"

"It's not unfair, it's definitely not unfair." Li Xiuman already believed it 80%, then he approached Chen Chen and lowered his voice and said, "Are you just going to watch it grow?"

...(End of chapter)