sbdcsierra Chapter 1297 Call
Chapter 1297 Call
Chapter 1297 Phew~
After having dinner with several GUCCI executives last time, Chou Tzu-yu jokingly told Ji Kyung-won that they might meet again in a few days.
As predicted, two days later, backstage at a promotional event involving GUCCI, Chou Tzu-yu encountered the visual merchandising manager from GUCCI Peninsula, a woman named Kim So-jung, who was one of the people in charge of the event.
"...Just now I felt that some customers around me were looking at me strangely."
The promotional activities had ended, and Twice were busy backstage greeting some staff members. After walking around, they returned to their own places to rest and pack their things. After drinking some water, Lim Nayeon whispered to Yoo Jeongyeon next to her.
"Maybe it's because this style of clothing doesn't suit you?... Annyeonghaseyo~"
After exchanging a few words, a stylishly dressed staff member walked over, and the two people who were sitting immediately stood up to greet her... Although she is a popular idol, to be honest, her status in this kind of brand event is not very high. Any staff member or designer needs to take the initiative to greet her.
After the staff member nodded in response and left, the two sat down again and leaned closer to continue whispering: "I'm suddenly a little hungry... By the way, what's your birthday celebration this year? Does the company have any events planned?"
“My agent told me yesterday that there will be a birthday live stream on the evening of the 22nd, but it will be just me.”
Hearing this, Lim Nayeon pouted and said, "I was planning to go out and have fun, but I'm still so busy these past two days. I don't know if I'll have any free time then."
"You've made plans with someone?"
"I didn't mention it because I wasn't sure if I'd have time around my birthday, but I'm planning to go out with Jisoo tomorrow." Nayeon shook her head slightly and whispered, "Oh, and Jennie too. I heard they've been really free lately."
"Pfft~~"
For some reason, Yoo Jeongyeon felt a little like laughing when she heard Jennie Kim's name.
Although so much time has passed and they have met several times, and can be considered acquainted, her deepest impression of Jennie is still the first time she met her, when she witnessed Jennie trying to win over Ji Kyung-won only to be outmaneuvered.
"Jennie Kim? Is she still pursuing Kyung-won oppa?"
Thinking of her, Yu Dingyan immediately asked out of curiosity, her gossipy nature stirring within her.
"That's all. Jisoo said it seems she was rejected very thoroughly, and..."
As she spoke, Lim Nayeon's expression became somewhat strange: "And according to her, it seems that Jennie was provoked by him or something, and now she really hates him, often cursing him and saying bad things about him behind his back..."
"Isn't that the same as you?" Yu Dingyan bluntly pointed out the essence of the matter.
"What? That's all in the past. I don't have that now."
Nayeon blushed slightly and corrected her, pouting her lower lip and arguing with an air of 'I'm different from her': 'Besides, I didn't curse. Jisoo said Jennie's curses were really nasty. When have I ever cursed like that? I just... point out the wrong things about the light.'
“No, no, no, you didn’t curse…you didn’t curse Kyungwon oppa.”
Yu Dingyan nodded repeatedly, doting on her, but at the beginning he almost got led astray by her and couldn't help but roll his eyes slightly.
“…Annyeonghaseyo~”
Two more satffs came over, and Lim Nayeon and the other two stood up and bowed again. At this time, the other members also returned and bowed together.
"Eh……"
After sitting down again, Lim Nayeon gently nudged Yoo Jeongyeon with her elbow and asked in a muffled voice, "Did you know he flew to America today? I just saw the news that XO was seen at Incheon Airport."
"Didn't you see... Are you leaving today?"
Yoo Jeongyeon was taken aback for a moment, then nodded in realization: "Kyungwon oppa said he was leaving in the next few days, it's today."
"..."
Yoo Jeongyeon's reaction displeased Lim Nayeon. This girl hadn't grasped the point at all. She frowned, nudged him with her elbow, and hesitantly revealed her true intention: "He's already gone. You think... he wouldn't have forgotten about that gift?"
"Uh~"
Yoo Jeongyeon immediately understood what her older sister meant. After blinking, she felt a little unsure, but her years of ingrained trust and positive feelings towards Ji Kyung-won prevailed. She immediately smiled happily and patted Lim Nayeon's shoulder forcefully: "Don't worry, it'll definitely be fine."
"..."
Lim Nayeon pursed her lips... The more Yoo Jeongyeon acted like this, the more worried she became.
But it's not something to say too much about. Lim Nayeon glanced to the side and noticed a somewhat familiar woman walking over. She immediately stood up and gently nudged Yoo Jeongyeon and the other members.
She had met this woman before; her name was Jin Sujing. She was a senior executive at Peninsula GUCCI, responsible for many events and promotions. Her agent had told her that she had a lot of influence in the Peninsula fashion industry.
However, I don't know if it's because she has a rather aloof personality or because she doesn't think much of Twice. The two times I met her at events, although they were very enthusiastic and polite and even took the initiative to chat, Kim So-jung didn't give her a very good look and didn't say more than a few words.
However, neither JYP nor Twice have much influence in the fashion industry, so apart from a few members with different ideas, the others were definitely not comfortable, but they didn't care too much.
Several people stood up, looking in that direction as they prepared to greet her. They noticed that Kim So-jung hadn't come alone; Minatozaki Sana was beside her, as if they had just bumped into each other as they walked over.
Their teammates were smiling and seemed to be initiating conversation; they were already very close, and the girls could hear their voices.
"...Gold represents nim~"
"I remember last time..."
The Twice members could all tell that Sana Minatozaki was quite enthusiastic, but they weren't surprised; it's normal for someone as career-driven as Sana to act this way.
However, it was clear that Kim So-jung didn't respond much, and was even a bit indifferent. When Minatozaki Sana took the initiative to talk to her, she just nodded casually, moved her mouth a couple of times, but it was impossible to hear what she said.
"Annyeonghaseyo~"
The two soon approached, and the members of Twice bowed together. Kim So-jung glanced at them, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, and then continued walking forward.
Sana Minatosaki didn't follow any further. She stood next to the other members and watched Kim So-jung leave. She pursed her lips slightly, but then, as if encouraging herself, she took a deep breath and immediately smiled again. She hugged Tzuyu's arm and prepared to say something.
"Hey, another failure..."
But before she could say two words, Jin Sujing suddenly stopped again.
She had already walked more than a meter away, but then seemed to suddenly remember something. She stopped, turned her head, and quickly glanced around the Twice crowd. Her gaze quickly locked onto one person in the crowd, and her eyes lit up.
Then she turned around and came back.
“Tzuyu xi?”
Amidst the somewhat astonished gazes of the others, Kim So-jung walked up to Chou Tzu-yu, who had remained silent until now. Her tone was questioning yet her voice was firm, her eyes showed surprise, and her face wore a gentle smile, like the summer sun.
"Gold represents nim~"
Chou Tzu-yu immediately stood up and bowed to her.
"Oh, I didn't notice you just now~"
Kim So-jung patted Chou Tzu-yu on the shoulder with a smile, then deliberately pretended to be a little dissatisfied: "Still calling me CEO Kim... just call me unnie."
Meanwhile, Sana Minato watched as Kim So-jung, who had been aloof no matter how enthusiastically she spoke to her, now looked at the group's maknae, Tzuyu, with a beaming smile.
She also watched as Chou Tzu-yu gently pulled her arm away from Kim So-jung's half-embracing gesture as she was about to bow, and then smiled and chatted naturally with Kim So-jung.
Her expression became uncontrollably blank and somewhat bewildered.
"You Twice guys are here today too? I didn't even notice."
"Tzuyu saw me just now but didn't say hello."
"Tsk, this outfit today really suits GUCCI..."
Kim So-jung chatted with Tzuyu in a friendly manner and in a very casual tone, which made the other Twice members around them a little surprised. It was as if the arrogant GUCCI executive who used to be indifferent and unresponsive had been replaced by a different person.
"I'll be going now. If you need anything for this kind of event next time, just let me know." Kim So-jung was very tactful. After chatting with Tzuyu for a few minutes, she smiled and waved goodbye to her, and also smiled and nodded to the other Twice members next to her.
A different person from before.
"..."
After Kim So-jung left, the Twice members around her fell into an eerie silence, all looking at Tzuyu with surprise in their eyes and a strange undertone.
Chou Tzu-yu also felt the gaze, and opened her mouth as if to explain something. At this moment, her manager, Kim Sang-min, walked over from the side and hurriedly called out, "Hurry up and get ready, we're going to the TV station soon... What's wrong?"
He seemed to sense that the atmosphere was a bit strange and asked a question in confusion.
"nothing."
The members gave a casual reply and then scattered to pack their things.
However, if the curiosity in one's heart is not satisfied, it becomes even more irritating.
Sure enough, after packing up and leaving the venue, on the way to the parking lot, Yoo Jeongyeon approached Chou Tzu-yu and asked her curiously about Kim So-jung.
Meanwhile, Lim Nayeon and the others nearby immediately perked up their ears and listened quietly.
Especially Sana Minatozaki, her condition has been off since just now. She was originally full of energy, but now she has been somewhat silent.
"Because I know Representative Kim...he introduced me to him before."
Although Kim So-jung had just enthusiastically asked her to call her "unnie," Chou Tzu-yu felt a little uncomfortable and wouldn't call her that when she sensed an awkward atmosphere.
Chou Tzu-yu didn't hide anything and quietly explained that Chi Kyung-won had introduced her to the senior executives at GUCCI, but she didn't mention that it was so that she could carry the bag in public; she just said that it happened to be a coincidence.
Upon hearing her say that, Lim Nayeon and Yoo Jeongyeon immediately showed expressions of 'I knew it'.
They were quite surprised to see Kim So-jung's expression change from arrogance to obsequiousness, wondering why she had suddenly become so obsequious. But then they realized that GUCCI's high-end hospitality must be related to GUCCI's global ambassador, Ji Kyung-won.
Hearing the answer now was not unexpected, but seeing Chou Tzu-yu's nonchalant expression, the group couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
While they had so many smiling faces and connections that even actively reaching out to them wouldn't be enough, Chou Tzu-yu obtained them effortlessly and easily.
The group of people exchanged glances, their expressions varying.
That's practically cheating!
However, Jeongyeon and the others didn't pay much attention and immediately started asking Tzuyu about the GUCCI executives, such as who had what kind of personality they were, and whether who was a lesbian. All sorts of gossip immediately lightened the atmosphere.
Although Chou Tzu-yu was chatting with the members, her smile was somewhat faint, and she looked a little listless.
As she stepped out the door, she reflexively looked up at the sky, as if searching for something.
The sky was cloudless and boundless, with only the blinding sun hanging above.
She lowered her head and breathed a sigh of relief.
She knew that Ji Kyung-won and EXO had already left the peninsula by plane today, and they should have just taken off not long ago.
Although they each have their own jobs and can keep in touch by phone, being so far apart always makes her feel like something is missing.
I just can't seem to muster any energy.
Meanwhile, Sana Minatozaki, who had been following closely behind, unknowingly fell to the very back of the group.
She stepped outside, where the bright sunlight streamed in. She squinted and looked up for a second, then quickly looked down again.
She gently pursed her lips and silently exhaled.
However, that vibrant smile from before was no longer there.
…………
Meanwhile, after a twelve-hour flight, EXO finally landed at Los Angeles International Airport.
September in Los Angeles was a dazzling, almost arrogant light, the air thick with heat and a sense of freedom. As Chi Jingyuan stepped off the plane, his nose tingled slightly; the cabin's cool air hadn't yet dissipated before the blast of hot air shattered it.
LA's airport lacks the sophistication of Seoul's; instead, it feels like a relaxed, open space bathed in sunlight, with a casual yet free-flowing crowd. In the distance, a few backpackers sit on their suitcases, laughing heartily, while staff members in floral shirts lazily push luggage carts.
"It doesn't feel as hot as Seoul."
Stepping onto the airport floor, the group gathered together and walked out. Several members looked at the sun in the sky and felt that it was much gentler than the sunlight in Seoul.
"Has the company arranged for someone to pick us up at the airport?" Chi Jingyuan asked the company's team leader and a director.
“We’ve already communicated with them. Interscope Records will send someone to pick us up at the airport, and our company will accompany them,” Director Choi replied.
Although SM has a US branch and frequently collaborates with and commissions songs from American producers, it lacks experience and a solid foundation in artist management and promotion planning. For EXO to operate and release albums in the US, it is natural to need a local partner company.
SM originally planned to collaborate with some large music companies, such as Warner, Sony, and Universal Music, which Girls' Generation collaborated with when they first entered the US music scene.
EXO's "Boy With Luv" previously charted on Billboard and won an award on Billboard this year, so they're not exactly unknown there; in fact, they've established a foothold. Therefore, although K-pop is still a niche genre, there are quite a few companies willing to collaborate with them and interested in them.
After some discussion, the company decided to avoid large music companies and instead try to collaborate with their labels or small and medium-sized companies.
The reason is simple: large companies don't care much about K-pop, and even if they do collaborate, they won't be too enthusiastic, while small and medium-sized companies are more willing to invest resources in K-pop and EXO.
After a series of complex negotiations, Interscope Records, a label under Universal Music, was finally selected as EXO's American partner, primarily responsible for album distribution, radio promotion, and tour planning.
"coming."
The American storyline won't be covered in detail; it will be explained briefly and then skipped over, with the focus remaining on the Korean Peninsula.