star of the peninsula

Chapter 1162 Happy but Sad

After A Pink's team left, Jung Eun-ji quietly turned back.

"What's wrong, Eun-ji, is there something you need from me?"

Chen Chen was not surprised and a smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you PD Chen for giving me the opportunity to star in "Women in the Alcoholic City."

Jung Eun-ji came to express her gratitude.

"No need to thank me, you passed the audition and got the role based on your own ability." Chen Chen waved his hand, "I didn't do anything."

"But." Jung Eun-ji was a little confused, "The production team clearly stated that they received your order."

"That's a bad order for you, not a good order for you."

Chen Chen was both amused and confused for a moment. He didn't expect such a misunderstanding to occur.

"Let me tell you the truth." Chen Chen said with a smile, "You have always been in the state of passing the female lead audition for "Women in Drunk City". The order I issued is to temporarily suspend you and not disclose your passing status to the public."

"Because if you were approved at that time, the actress who signed with us would be Play M's Jung Eun-ji, and if you are approved now, it will be Jung Eun-ji of Cube Entertainment."

"The role in our C main TV series should of course be given to Cube Entertainment's Zheng Endi." Chen Chen winked at her, "Isn't that right?"

“Oh, so that’s how it is!” Jung Eun-ji blushed, “It’s all Bomi-unnie’s fault!”

"Oh?" This time it was Chen Chen's turn to be curious, "What did Pu Mei say?"

"Pomi-unnie said that PD Chen is a very good person. The production team, which had not given any news, suddenly gave a response at this time. It must be PD Chen's work!" Jung Eun-ji scratched her face embarrassedly. "From my point of view, it is 100% true. I just didn't expect the truth to be..."

"Alright, just laugh it off. Don't spread rumors when you go back." Chen Chen waved his hand. "It will affect my image as a wise and powerful person."

"Don't worry, PD Chen." Jung Eun-ji puffed out her chest proudly, "Although my mouth is a little big, it's actually very tight!"

……

On the last day of April, ITZY returned.

It is very low-key, and basically only makes waves among its own fan base, because the outside world's attention is all on Integrate and C headquarters.

Integrate's successive acquisition of two food endorsements caused quite a stir in the circle. If South Koreans still don't know the importance of Snow King after being educated, one Qiaocun Fried Chicken is enough for them to understand what level of artist Integrate is now.

Fried chicken is a very popular food in South Korea, so an artist who can endorse fried chicken must also have a very high status.

Girls' Generation, Super Junior, IU, Yoo Jae Suk, and Jun Ji Hyun are all very influential figures and were previously spokespeople for fried chicken brands.

However, the shock of the official announcement of the fried chicken endorsement was far less than the shock that Integrate started to accept the endorsement brought to the fan circle. Almost everyone in the fan circle was shocked.

Putting aside emotions like shock or curiosity, the most common feeling among fans of other idol groups in the fan circle is nervousness.

"Integrate is open for commercial endorsements. Will my idol's advertising be snatched away?"

This is a real threat, so every fan has reason to be nervous.

As soon as these fans got nervous, the discussion about Integrate immediately skyrocketed. For a while, it seemed that the entire circle could no longer see any other artist groups worth discussing except Integrate.

Of course, fans of unpopular idol groups don’t have to worry about this. No matter how hard Integrate tries to snatch endorsements, they won’t be able to grab them from their artists.

However, unpopular idol groups do not have many fans, and their calmness is not enough to affect what everyone is discussing at the moment.

But it is not a good thing for the girls that all the attention is focused on Integrate. Verbal attacks, rumors and slander will immediately follow, because this is the fan circle.

Fortunately, the official announcement from C headquarters helped to attract a large part of the fans' attention.

Bubble is a software that is relevant to almost every star-chasing user. Even if people do not plan to become paying users, they will register one to try to see if they can win free coupons given out by C headquarters in occasional activities. Therefore, it is hard for Bubble's replacement of technical support this time not to attract attention.

As for Cube Entertainment signing A Pink, this has become the least concerned thing in the fan circle nowadays.

This is normal. Considering the extent to which South Korean fans get bored with the old and love the new, it is unbelievable that a ten-year-old group like this can have such a huge impact.

“How are ITZY’s stats?”

Chen Chen had a rare free day on his last day, so he cared about other people's affairs.

"It's a bit like making a fortune in silence." Sulli sent the data to Chen Chen, "There is a certain gap compared to my previous experience, but considering that what ITZY has been quietly doing is transformation, this result is actually a bit too good."

"Is it possible?" Chen Chen asked, "This result could have been even better, but the popularity of our Integrate suppressed some of the data?"

"There is no such possibility!" Sulli said firmly: "ITZY is not just any cat or dog. Even if they are suppressed by Integrate, they are still a very powerful idol group. Their influence can never be completely eliminated."

"If we look at the data composition, the current data is obviously composed of two parts: a part of the fans that we have previously attracted are not buying in, and the new fans that have been attracted are also buying in. Although the overall number has decreased slightly, it is actually very healthy."

"Only when old members leave and new members stay can it be considered an idol group, and transformation will naturally lead to the loss of many original fans." Sulli made the final comment, "ITZY's transformation was definitely successful this time as the data did not decline too much!"

"Should I send a message to congratulate Jinyoung?" Chen Chen joked, "If nothing else, at least remind him that we contributed to ITZY's transformation."

"Don't bother to bother with that. His transformation hasn't been successful yet." Shirley glanced at him. "If he can make some progress next time without our influence, then he'll be halfway to success."

"I know." Chen Chen nodded and said, "I was just joking."

The collapse of a group caused by an idol's transformation is often a problem that first arises among fans.

Some of the old fans couldn't accept it and chose to leave, some couldn't accept it but still chose to stay, and some could completely accept the current style. The original fan group was suddenly divided into three fragile groups.

Then came the fans who were attracted by the new style, and the biggest disaster - the fun-loving people.

New fans will come into conflict with those old fans who cannot accept it but choose to stay. The new fans will expand the conflict and make the whole circle a carnival. Both new and old fans who are at the center of the vortex will be greatly affected, and most of those who are not firm enough will choose to leave.

It’s the end of the world when things have developed to this point. Old fans have dispersed and left, new fans are driven away by the rhythm, and the idol group that was probably healthy originally has become dying overnight.

This is why it is extremely difficult for idols to transform, and why companies are absolutely unwilling to allow their idol groups to transform unless they have no choice, the risk is too high.

This time, ITZY has a small number of new fans, and old fans are more likely to accept them, so there are not many conflicts among them. The outside fans are attracted by Integrate and C headquarters, so they can't cause trouble for the time being.

This is good, but it will be different next time. New fans may enter in large numbers, and people who just want to have fun will also smell the rhythm and come over to disrupt it. The pressure ITZY faces will be much greater than it is now. It can even be said that the next comeback will be the real test.

However, facing this challenge, Jiangyouping came up with his own response measures, and he did a good job. This time, he chose to let ITZY hide behind Integrate in order to buy time for the next comeback.

The power of a fight during the return period is much greater than the power of gradual infiltration later. We must choose to let the "transformation" slowly penetrate into the fan group, rather than directly blowing up the hometown during the return period. After the bombing, I "transform" and sit in the ruins to become the main theme of this group at the moment.

The next return will be three months later? Or five months later? Anyway, there will be enough time for infiltration. This is what Soy Sauce Bottle is thinking.

"Is the filming of 'Women in the Alcoholic City' going to start in May?"

Shirley asked about something else.

"Yeah." Chen Chen nodded and said, "Do what you have to do while the epidemic is still relatively stable. Otherwise, you won't be able to handle it if the epidemic becomes a big problem."

"Is it also Kim Hyang-gi's 'That Summer, Our Summer' and Suzy's 'My Name'?" Sulli asked.

"Those two are not. The project with Netflix doesn't matter. Netflix is ​​the sucker who pays for it. If it is delayed due to the epidemic, the cost will be less. C headquarters can afford it." Chen Chen answered casually, "Besides, I can't make the final decision there alone. Netflix's opinion is also very important."

"I see." Shirley exhaled and asked about the last script, "When will the filming of 'Twenty-Five, Twenty-One' start?"

"I'm not sure." Chen Chen frowned. "Writer Quan Duen's speed in revising the script is a little slower than I thought. Logically, we should have received the script a long time ago."

"But why are you asking this?" Chen Chen asked doubtfully, "Isn't this your business?"

"The Baeksang Arts Awards ceremony will be held in two weeks. I just want to know what you have prepared for next year's Baeksang Arts Awards and whether it is sufficient." Shirley bared her white teeth. "It seems that you have prepared very well. The miracle of C headquarters can continue."

"C headquarters miracle refers to the huge gains in Baeksang Arts Awards?" Chen Chen guessed it roughly.

"Yes." Shirley nodded. "Our reputation for TV dramas is basically all built up by Baeksang Arts. Now it is the rising period of C Headquarters. It is very important to maintain this."

"Then just be confident and act boldly!" Chen Chen gave her a confident look, "Next year's Baeksang Arts Festival and the year after next's Baeksang Arts Festival will both be ours!"

“What about this year’s?” Shirley complained, “Why not this year’s? The Penthouse is so outstanding!”

"The Penthouse only has a big production and high ratings, but lacks substance. It's the kind of thing that will be forgotten after the excitement, so it doesn't have an advantage in the awards." Chen Chen sighed heavily when he said this, "Alas! In fact, I've been deceiving myself a bit. Since when did the Baeksang Arts Awards need substance? It's just that it wasn't popular enough to make the judges of the Baeksang Arts Awards give in!"

"That makes sense." Shirley made a sudden turn, "So the third season has already started filming?"

“Yes, The Penthouse 3 has already started filming.” Chen Chen wanted to laugh when he mentioned it, “SBS TV station booked the schedule for The Penthouse 2 before The Penthouse 3 was finished. They are the most anxious one.”

"Maybe he's annoyed by being called the weakest of the three major wireless TV stations, so he's clinging to every opportunity to vent his anger." Shirley nodded pretentiously, "It's understandable. I would be the same if I were you."

"What can you understand?" Chen Chen glanced at her, "When have you ever been the last one in the group?"

Shirley didn't answer, but just snorted arrogantly.

"Then don't worry about it, I can understand it anyway!"

……

On May 1st, Hybe made a big news.

"Ah! Quick, quick, a member of Hybe's new girl group has revealed her identity, give me your comments!"

Shirley was so anxious that she almost stuffed the information into Chen Chen's face.

"Was it released by Hybe himself or was it leaked?" Chen Chen took it casually and asked before reading it.

"It was leaked, Hybe is very angry." Sulli replied with a smile: "But judging from its angry expression, this is definitely true. This girl is a member of the future Hybe new girl group!"

"..."

Chen Chen did not respond. After reading the information, he was deeply shocked.

"Hey, speak up, why aren't you talking?!"

Shirley could wait at first, but when she saw that Chen Chen had no response, she could not wait any longer and reached out and pinched Chen Chen's nose.

"Nothing to comment on, it's just as expected." Chen Chen pointed at the girl in the profile, "I know this girl. I heard someone mention her when chatting with people from Source Music before."

"What's the origin?"

Shirley asked impatiently.

"A trainee discovered by Source Music's president, Su Chengzhen." Chen Chen couldn't say much, "She's very pretty."

The person listed in the information was Kim Min-chi, which made Chen Chen feel a little dizzy, so he didn't say anything.

This is a member of NewJeans. He was discovered by Su Chengzhen and became a trainee at Source Music. Later, when Ador was established, he was transferred to Ms. Min.

It's hard not to be shocked. Ador hasn't even been established yet, but Kim Min-chi has already come out.

More importantly, Kim Min-ji became a member of Hybe's new girl group as a Source Music trainee, which means NewJeans may be doomed, or at worst it will not be the "complete version".

"You seem happy but also regretful. Does it make you feel so complicated that this girl becomes a member of Hybe's new girl group?" Shirley keenly observed Chen Chen's expression and asked.

"Don't talk about Hybe's girl group. It's impossible for Hybe to have its own girl group! That's Source Music's girl group!"

Chen Chen tried to get away with it by making jokes.

"Okay, it's a girl group from Source Music." Shirley's eyes became sharper. "So what are you happy about? And what are you regretting?"

"I'm happy because this is a member I already have intelligence about. The information I got is more detailed than what was exposed. It's a pity that she was exposed so early." Chen Chen pointed at the photo in the information and said, "Look at her face. If she hides it behind, doesn't it feel like a secret weapon?"

This reason really convinced Shirley that the annoying guy was no longer annoying.

In fact, the reason why Chen Chen made that expression was very simple. He was happy that New Jeans was gone, but he also felt sorry that New Jeans was gone, that was all.

……

(End of this chapter)