Reboot the heyday

To not return home in wealth and honor is like wearing embroidered robes at night.

Now that you've secured the contract with f(x), why not make a trip to SM Entertainment yourself?
As the familiar building came into view, Wang Taika felt a rare sense of lightness and cheerfulness. The function's contract file had completed its final stages, and he was here today to officially take it over.

It's a strange feeling, like a belated, twisted sense of fulfillment in a dream. The VJ who could only capture their images from behind the camera back then is now the helmsman of their careers.

Although Wang Taika already had a completely different identity before this, actually securing the contract felt like a completely different experience. In short, the thrill was different.

Nothing could be more absurd than this.

He was originally a shareholder of SM Entertainment, but Wang Taika came today in a different capacity, so it felt different.

Stepping into the SM building, the air still seemed to carry that anxious, dream-filled atmosphere. Occasionally, someone would rush past in the corridor, casting curious glances at him, this unfamiliar yet powerful stranger, before quickly looking away.

Of course, Wang Taika didn't come alone; he brought a group of legal professionals from XB Entertainment.

The procedures went surprisingly smoothly. SM Entertainment didn't really take this very seriously, so the process was very simple.

The reason for not taking it seriously is because it's a bit embarrassing. After all, they're a group that started with SM Entertainment, and now they've been taken away by someone else; they're definitely not happy about it.

The staff responsible for the handover didn't look too happy, but they were very polite. Functions had become a burden for them, as they didn't have many resources left to allocate. Perhaps handing them over to Wang Taika, this notoriously eccentric man, was a relief.

Wang Taika was only visiting the site, as XB Entertainment was not nominally under his control, so the signature was obtained from an executive of XB Entertainment.

Just looking at it is already very satisfying.

After receiving the final stamped document bag, Wang Taika did not leave with the XB Entertainment staff, but instead wandered around by himself.

Although he didn't really want to admit it, Wang Taika still had feelings for SM Entertainment. Now, as he dismantled the company step by step and watched the original veterans leave one by one, he felt a sense of loss after the initial satisfaction.

This sense of desolation has nothing to do with the actual company itself. It's simply because this company truly carries many dreams.

And now, this company is indeed becoming more and more like a real company.

It's ridiculous to look for a sense of belonging in a workplace. But this place does represent the youth of many people. Wang Taika also worked here for a long time.

Even if he were to be reborn and go back to the past, Wang Taika himself is not sure if he could survive it.

This feeling is like returning to my alma mater after starting work—a mix of emotions.

Wang Taika leaned against the window at the end of the corridor. Logically, he should have lit a cigarette to create a melancholy atmosphere, but he didn't smoke.

So he just stared blankly into space, sunlight streaming through the glass and casting a small patch of light at his feet.

The function had finally arrived in its entirety on his territory. The next step—a European tour, a family concert—grand plans slowly unfolded in his mind.

"Boss? Oh no, Oppa."

A clear, slightly uncertain voice rang out behind him. Wang Taika turned around and saw a girl in loose sportswear with her hair in a ponytail standing a few steps away, looking at him with surprise and a hint of shyness on her face.

"Miss Liu, it's been a long time," Wang Taika greeted her with a smile.

The encounter wasn't a coincidence; the floor Wang Taika was on was where the company's practice room was located. However, this place held too many memories of other people—Noona, Choong-ah, Baek-chae, and others. Many memories revolved around this place.

It had indeed been a while since we last saw Lady Liu. She seemed to have grown up a bit, shedding some of her previous tension and immaturity, and her brows and eyes showed more composure. But her eyes were still bright and spirited, revealing a spirit that refused to admit defeat.

Although it was very impolite, Wang Taika couldn't help but ask, "Did you have plastic surgery?"

"Boss, that's a bit rude of you. But you've always been like this." Ms. Liu smiled weakly. "But I did get whitening injections, and I've lost a bit of weight recently. Don't I look better?"

“Yes, it looks even better.” Wang Taika looked him up and down. “Your hairstyle is also good. You look great with bangs. I really like bangs.”

"Your personal preferences are too obvious, boss," Ms. Liu said, both amused and exasperated. Although she had known Wang Taika for so long and knew that he was more than just a restaurant owner, she couldn't bring herself to change how she addressed him.

Besides, Wang Taika only called her Lady Liu, not Liu Zhimin. And he didn't seem to have any intention of changing it, so why should she?
Regarding this title, Lady Liu actually asked Ningning what "lady" meant. Ningning explained with great effort that it meant a woman who was heroic, independent, and had a sense of justice and strength.

Upon hearing the name, Lady Liu instantly fell in love with it. South Korean history also had figures like chivalrous heroes, so she understood it perfectly. And it was precisely because she understood it that she liked it even more.

Although he later learned by chance that the female knight-errant was not the only one, and thus felt some resentment, the female knight-errant was ultimately a sincere person, and eventually accepted it with equanimity.

Moreover, in Ms. Liu's eyes, Wang Taika has always been a good person and has been very kind to her. Perhaps it's because of Ningning that she's extending her affection to him, but Ms. Liu cherishes this relationship.

However, ever since Wang Taika's true identity was gradually revealed to her, the two of them had fewer and fewer opportunities to meet.

This feeling is what Liu Nvxia hates most. Their appearances and departures leave one with a strange sense of powerlessness.

When they met again, Wang Taika was still spouting nonsense as usual. This left Ms. Liu, who had initially thought the atmosphere would ease, feeling like she'd punched a pillow.

Wang Taika raised an eyebrow. He already knew that Miss Liu was quite pretty, but lately she'd become even more beautiful. Whether it was simply a case of a girl blossoming into womanhood or she'd had surgery, he couldn't tell at first glance. But it didn't matter; as long as she was pretty, that was enough.

"Looks like you're really going to debut," Wang Taika remarked.

Lady Liu asked curiously, "Why do you say that?"

"It would be an injustice if this face didn't debut," Wang Taika remarked, then asked, "Why are you the only one?"

"You want to ask about Ningning? I just finished an internal assessment and came out for some fresh air, and I was waiting for Ningning." Ms. Liu pointed behind her: "Ningning is still inside; she was kept behind by the teacher. What's the boss doing here?"

Wang Taika gave him a speechless look: "I already have an office at SM Entertainment, so of course I'm here to work!"

Lady Liu returned an even more speechless look: "You actually know you need to go to work? Do you even pass your attendance check?" (End of Chapter)