star of the peninsula

After "As It Was" was reassigned to LIGHTSUM, it became urgent to find another work for Integrate.

After all, we have to design the stage according to the style of the song, so there are a lot of things to do.

"Can you finish the new work within a week?" Shirley didn't worry at all, just teased, "PD Tang Chen shouldn't be stumped by such a small matter, right?"

"The hard part is never writing songs, but finding the style I want." Chen Chen's confidence is real, but his depression is also real, "Besides, I was quite busy this week, with a lot of things to do, which didn't give me time to think seriously."

"Can't we hand over Kim Tae-ho's matter to Director Kang of the Variety Department?" Shirley asked puzzledly, "It's just a simple signing of two contracts."

"Because I want to sign three contracts with Kim Tae-ho." Chen Chen explained, "Kim Tae-ho will completely leave MBC TV at the end of this year. If our C headquarters can get him, the variety show style of the entire company will become richer."

The current variety show section of C is mainly composed of YouTube variety shows and dating variety shows. The style is not single, and it can even be said that it has perfectly kept up with the current trend of variety shows. In recent years, various dating variety shows and YouTube programs have been popular.

But the C headquarters lacks people to do serious variety shows, so it lacks a grand scene.

Zheng Zhongyuan does have the ability to produce big-budget and big-scale productions, but his output has always been a problem.

From "Rules of the Game" to "The Great Escape", Zheng Zhongyuan has always been the type of person who takes his time and does a good job. He does each one very well but he does it very slowly.

Luo Yingxi has never had any affinity with big scenes, and his shows are closer to the image of "people".

Kim Tae-ho is different from them. Coming from "Infinite Challenge", he has experienced many big scenes and is good at creating them. At least if you give him money, he will really make it gorgeous for you.

This ability is exactly what the variety show section of C headquarters needs now, so Jin Tae-ho is quite important to Chen Chen.

"Oh, if the target is Kim Tae-ho himself, it would be better if you personally entertain him." Shirley nodded, "Then there is Lee Jung-jae's visit, which you must personally receive. It will be in a few days."

"Hey, what do you think he's here for?" Shirley asked curiously, "You've never met him, and we don't have any friendship. What does he intend to do with you by submitting such a formal request for a meeting?"

"You're asking me for help, what else could you be planning?" Chen Chen pouted, "You can't be planning to quit your current company and join Headquarter C because I'm handsome, right?"

"Don't joke!" Shirley glared at him and warned him, "An artist of this level must be asking for something big if he talks to you in person. You have to take it seriously!"

"I know what's going on." Chen Chen looked at her playfully, "Representative Cui, from your perspective, what do you think he wants to talk to me about?"

"Money, or the two people behind C headquarters." Shirley held up two fingers. "An artist of his level would either come out in person to attract investment or to find a way to advance himself. There would be no other options."

"It's easy to understand why people try to attract investment. Actors who have been actors for a long time always want to be directors, and Lee Jung-jae is no exception."

"He wanted to do his own work but couldn't do it on his own, so he had to go out and sell his reputation and solicit investment. This is not uncommon everywhere."

"Our C headquarters has always been generous in investing in film and television dramas, so it's reasonable for him to come to us." Shirley first expressed the first opinion, "This is the most likely one."

Chen Chen nodded in agreement, because this was the simplest normal human thinking.

Filming is extremely expensive, especially if you have your own ambitions. Think about the popular Stephen Chow in China. In order to make a movie, he has to get investment everywhere. The same is true for Lee Jung-jae in South Korea.

The company behind Lee Jung-jae himself has certain strength, but having strength as an actor and being able to make movies are two different things.

To take a step back, even if the company could grit their teeth and raise the funds for Lee Jung-jae to make a movie, they would not do it.

If they spend all the money on you, the other artists in the company will have no chance of survival, right? The most important thing is, what if you fail in your attempt? The company will be ruined for several years to come. The risk is too great!
Lee Jung-jae's company will only contribute a small part of the funds, and the rest will be taken care of by Lee Jung-jae just by using his connections.

Getting many people to invest in the same project is a common form of risk sharing, and there is no reason for the company to prevent it.

"The second possibility is also very simple." Sulli continued: "C headquarters has a lot of face in Tik Tok, and Tik Tok has a lot of face internationally. Lee Jung-jae wants to use his face in exchange for some degree of help from Tik Tok."

"It's just that." Sulli stroked the hair beside her ear, "Artists like him shouldn't be popular on Tik Tok, which is so young. Even if he were to find Tik Tok, the effect would be quite limited."

"What other people think is their own business. I only know my own thoughts." Chen Chen sighed and slumped down in his seat. "Personally, I hope he is here to solicit investment."

"Because if I contact Tik Tok through you, I will have to use up your favors, right?" Sulli complained, "You are generous in everything, but you are so stingy when it comes to favors with Tik Tok!"

"I shouldn't be stingy, right?" Chen Chen rolled his eyes. "If we hadn't seized the opportunity early enough, C headquarters wouldn't have been able to get in touch with a giant of this level for decades, not to mention that there would be any favors left!"

"That's true." Shirley smiled. "The benefit your favor brings to C headquarters is greater than the sky. You should cherish it."

"Let's not talk about this. Has the S branch done what it should do? Shine Grocery Store is a project of the S branch." Chen Chen changed the subject.

"We have already communicated with Soy Sauce Bottle. We are just waiting for the program to set the exact time." Shirley joked, "I think Starship doesn't need to communicate with S Branch anymore. President Kim has been jumping up and down anxiously."

"Hahaha, okay, it's a rare moment to see President Jin showing such emotion. It's not easy." Chen Chen wanted to sigh, but the internal phone on the table happened to ring.

"Well, tell him to come over now." Chen Chen responded, and after hanging up the phone, he looked at Shirley in confusion, "Zheng Zhongyuan wants to see me, oh no, he wants to see both of us."

……

"This is the variety show script I prepared. Please take a look at it."

Zheng Zhongyuan took out the information and put it on the table.

"Take a look." Shirley pushed the information to Chen Chen. "I don't understand it as well as you do. Just tell me after you finish reading it."

"to make."

Chen Chen didn't bother to be polite with her. He picked up the information and started reading it by himself.

"No problem, it's a good show." Chen Chen handed the information to Shirley and said with a smile: "The reason why you are involved is because PD Zheng wants to use Jaejae, one of the pillars of S Branch."

"It's that simple?"

After hearing what Chen Chen said, Shirley simply closed the document and stopped reading.

"Yes, it's that simple." Chen Chen explained in more detail, "PD Zheng wants Jaejae to be the main caller for his new program, but Jaejae is very important to the S Division, and many YouTube programs need her to look after them, so before calling Jaejae, you, the head of the S Division, must give your approval."

"Then I'll go back and ask Jaejae what he thinks." Sulli walked around Chen Chen and looked at Zheng Zhongyuan. "If Jaejae thinks he doesn't have that much energy to participate in this show, I won't be responsible for persuading him."

"This is not something that can be forced. A forced melon is not sweet." Zheng Zhongyuan nodded and said, "I am already very satisfied that the program has been recognized by the president and supported by CEO Cui."

"That's it for today." Chen Chen left the information and looked at Shirley, "Can you give PD Zheng a reply tomorrow?"

"No problem." Shirley nodded seriously.

"..."

After Zheng Zhongyuan left, Shirley began to read the variety show script with great interest.

"'Girls' High School Mystery Class', this is a female detective!"

"The story is completely written, and it's very exciting. I'm getting excited just by reading it here, let alone acting it out on screen with real people."

"It's just that we have to work a little harder. The workload of setting up the scenes according to the story is not small." Shirley patted her head cutely, "But don't worry, we have already completed "The Great Escape". The demand for "Girls' High School Mystery Class" is not as great as that."

"Hey, wait, did you decide it's a good show just by taking a look at the script?" Shirley teased Chen Chen who was lost in thought.

"Otherwise, the smell of a good notebook is easy to identify." Chen Chen replied: "And this is the notebook that PD Zheng Zhongyuan brought over, so just trust him without thinking."

"That's amazing." Shirley smacked her lips, "I'm not as decisive as you."

It has nothing to do with decisiveness. When Chen Chen saw the name of "Girls' High School Reasoning Class", he knew what to do.

The scenes in my head kept flashing back, and the positive reviews about this show appeared before my eyes one after another. It would be irresponsible to miss it as a viewer!
It's just that the time issue makes Chen Chen a little depressed. If the time suggested by the images in his head is correct, "Girls' High School Reasoning Class" should be relaxing in the first season at this time instead of just getting the approval for production.

Whatever, Chen Chen doesn’t dwell on this. He has changed so many things, and a variety show means nothing.

……

"Pleasant to work with."

Jin Taihao signed the contract and tightly held the hand that Chen Chen extended to him.

“It will always be a pleasure to cooperate.”

Chen Chen said something meaningful.

Kim Tae-ho noticed something and raised his eyebrows, but in the end he simply nodded without any additional response.

After returning to the office, Chen Chen sat down and drank a sip of water first. He had just communicated a lot on the details.

"Do you think I should put on some makeup?" Chen Chen suddenly had another idea. "I haven't had a one-on-one chat with an actor of this level. Should I do it in a more formal way?"

"They are here to ask you for something. If you make it too grand, it will only increase their psychological pressure." Shirley just thought it was funny. "If you really want to dress up, I can just give you a simple foundation. Anyway, I have nothing to do, and I am very interested in doing something on your face."

"Then forget it." Chen Chen exhaled, laid down on the chair and closed his eyes, "Regain your energy. I want to see what Lee Jung Jae wants to talk to me about!"

……

"I hope that C headquarters can invest in the movie that I write, act in, and direct."

After a round of greetings, Chen Chen was not disappointed with the topic that Lee Jung-jae brought up.

"Why do you want C headquarters to invest?"

Chen Chen asked lightly.

"Because we had a great time working together on Squid Game." Lee Jung-jae said with a guilty conscience, "With this experience as a foundation, I believe that if I can work with C headquarters again in the future, it will be equally smooth."

"C Headquarters did nothing in Squid Game. It just provided sufficient financial support, venue support, and epidemic prevention measures support." Chen Chen joked: "Is this considered a pleasant cooperation?"

"An investor who only supports silently and never interferes with the production is the financial sponsor that everyone in the industry dreams of." Lee Jung-jae said seriously: "If this is not considered a happy cooperation, I don't know what is considered a happy cooperation."

"Haha, that makes sense." Chen Chen smiled and stretched out his hand. "Let me see the script. Also, I hope to get some of your thoughts while I'm reading the script, such as what plans you have made for the production lineup, what ideas you have for filming, and so on."

"Ok."

Li Zhengzai took out the script from his bag, held it flat with both hands, and handed it to Chen Chen respectfully.

"This movie is about"

Chen Chen didn't listen to a word Lee Jung-jae said. After seeing the name on the script he sent over, Chen Chen just pretended to flip through it without reading a single word in it.

Chen Chen was trying hard to recall all the information about "The Hunt". He hoped that this movie would be nominated at the Baeksang Arts Awards.

"..."

Not to mention, this movie actually made it to the Baeksang Awards, so Chen Chen kind of wants to thank Suzy.

"Jung Woo-sung." Chen Chen suddenly spat out a name, "At least there has to be Jung Woo-sung!"

"Oh, there will be!" Lee Jung-jae was interrupted, but he remained calm afterwards. "I have a good relationship with Woo-sung, and he has said he is willing to help."

"You didn't disappoint me. You are indeed good friends nicknamed 'the Cheongdam-dong couple'." Chen Chen responded with a smile.

"Besides Jung Woo-sung, there is also..." Lee Jung-jae saw Chen Chen waving his hand and stopped in confusion, "What do you want to say?"

"I said I'll invest in your movie." Chen Chen said.

"Thank you! Thank you for investing in my debut film!" Lee Jung-jae seemed to burst out with a breath that he had been holding back. "With the investment from C headquarters, this film will definitely have good results! After all, you are the boss Chen who never fails!"

"But I have a request."

Chen Chen's words completely froze the smile on Li Zhengzai's face.

"Please tell me."

Lee Jung-jae took a deep breath and his eyes widened involuntarily, as if he had made some kind of mental preparation.

"C Headquarters wants to completely take over your "Hunting"." Chen Chen held up a finger, "I want all the name columns except the one for the publisher to be filled in with the name selected by C Headquarters."

...(End of chapter)