Financial freedom starts from graduation

Chapter 643 "What a coincidence"

"Jisoo is here, please have a seat."

Upon seeing Kim Ji-soo enter, President Kim, who had been chatting with Vice President Lee, paused, then immediately stood up warmly and waved to his secretary standing at the door to quickly make tea.

President Kim's overly attentive attitude left not only his assistant, Kim Ji-soo, who had arrived early to help print the contracts and thus vaguely aware of the situation, but also Vice President Lee, who had only been sitting down for a short while, somewhat bewildered.

It's important to know that Kim Ji-jae, as the president of one of the three major entertainment companies in South Korea, may appear very humble and subservient in front of Zhou Wang, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's a very easy-going person.

President Kim is tactful and diplomatic when dealing with his peers and senior executives on the board.

However, in the eyes of most of the company's stars and trainees, Kim Ji-jae is known for his strict and unapproachable manner. While this may be partly due to the strong support he received from the previous chairman, it also reveals Kim Ji-jae's true character.

...YG Entertainment's performance declined year after year under his leadership, and the pressure he was under was unimaginable. Under such circumstances, how could one expect him to have a good temper?

Even with top artists like BlackPink and BigBang, Kim Ji-jeong would at most be a little more polite, but he wouldn't really have any major concerns.

As the de facto manager of YG Entertainment, he has the confidence to do so.

But the Kim Ji-jeong who appeared before them at this moment no longer had the authority of a president facing his employees; instead, he seemed to be trying to curry favor.

Yes, Vice President Li believed he hadn't misjudged; that was indeed ingratiating. He had the same expression when he called Chairman Zhou in front of him.

same.

Vice President Lee entered five minutes before Kim Ji-soo arrived. When he came in, President Kim was on the phone with Chairman Joo-wang. Before he could say a few words to him after hanging up, Kim Ji-soo followed him in.

So Vice President Lee still doesn't understand why President Kim summoned him.

However, those who can sit in this position are naturally all shrewd and calculating. Vice President Lee didn't even need to look at the contents of the contract on the table. Just by glancing at President Kim's attitude towards Kim Ji-soo and the phone call he had just made, he had already guessed some of the truth of the matter.

His smile immediately warmed up, and when President Kim was being very attentive to Ji-soo, he even pulled out a chair for her, making Ji-soo feel a little awkward.

After all, these two people, without the board of directors' involvement, already have the power to control the life and death of all the company's artists.

Although Kim Jisoo is a top star under YG Entertainment and cannot be compared with ordinary artists, it doesn't mean that these two are completely helpless against her... at least they don't need to be so polite.

"President Kim, why did you call me here?"

Having already guessed what was going on, Kim Jisoo calmed her racing heart and tentatively asked.

"Jisoo, these are the supplementary contracts the company plans to sign with you. Take a look at the contents first, and if there are no problems, just sign them at the end."

President Kim said with a smile.

really……

Kim Jisoo took a deep breath, carefully picked up the contracts, and began to look through them one by one.

The first contract is a supplementary revenue-sharing agreement. The other terms are not much different from the previous one, but the revenue-sharing ratio has been increased by 2%.

2%...

Even with all her mental preparation, a hint of disbelief still flashed across Kim Jisoo's eyes.

The South Korean entertainment industry is notoriously exploitative of its artists, and Kim Jisoo can only say that the various rumors circulating online are all false... because the reality is far more exaggerated than the rumors suggest.

Most newly debuted artists typically receive a revenue share of 9:1 or 8:2, and this situation usually lasts for at least three to five years. This includes many A-list stars who have already reached the pinnacle of their fame. The most famous example is TVXQ, who were incredibly popular across Asia and were already "kings" of idols, yet they still received the minimum 10% share...

A more recent example is Jeon Somi, who is already a popular solo singer, but most of the money she has earned so far is still going towards paying off her company's "cost recovery".

The reason why she was so eager for a contract upgrade, even accepting the extremely humiliating "window swing," lies here.

The so-called "S-level contract" she received, which is the highest-level artist contract under YG Entertainment, only has a 7:3 profit-sharing ratio.

After deducting operating costs, the artist's share is 7, and the company's share is 3.

This is the best revenue sharing ratio that BlackPink could enjoy last year. As for the even more outrageous 8:2, even BlackPink can't get it... After all, they have all terminated their individual contracts, and YG Entertainment is unlikely to make any further concessions in this regard.

Now, the supplementary contract presented to Kim Ji-soo increases her personal profit sharing ratio from the original 7:3 to 9:1.

This is no longer a contract that only top stars can get. Even at the peak of Bigbang, only G-Dragon, the soul of the group, could get this kind of treatment.

Even if Kim Jisoo is very confident, she knows that she is still at least two levels below G-Dragon.

But now, she has received this top-tier revenue-sharing treatment that is unique in the industry.

This revenue-sharing agreement was just the beginning. Next, Kim Ji-soo saw a "supplementary endorsement contract," a "supplementary film and television contract," and a contract that essentially granted her the "right to terminate the contract at will."

At first, she was able to barely control her emotions, but later her hands began to tremble involuntarily.

This is hardly the treatment of an artist; even a "queen" wouldn't be treated like this...

Only then did Kim Ji-soo realize where Zhou Wang's true "pity" for her lay after a night of rough treatment.

The resentment that had been building up all morning had vanished, and Kim Ji-soo felt a strange little bit of guilt instead. After all, when Zhou Wang was going to check her dance skills again that morning, she had not only pinched Zhou Wang's waist and back hard to protest, but also squeezed him tightly...

If it weren't for this, Kim Jisoo probably wouldn't have had her legs still weak even after arriving at the company.

However, based on Kim Ji-soo's limited experience, the latter action might not necessarily cause Zhou Wang pain; on the contrary, Zhou Wang might already be experiencing ecstasy.

Although Zhou Wang's expression at the time was one of snarling and grinning...

But then Kim Ji-soo couldn't help but pout. Zhou Wang had clearly prepared a surprise for her, but he just wouldn't tell her. This man was too mean.

Kim Ji-soo, who was unconsciously lost in thought, had no recollection of how she left President Kim's office. By the time she came to her senses, she was already standing outside the elevator.

"Jisoo unnie, why are you in such a hurry? Didn't President Kim say that all your appearances today were canceled? ...And those contracts, aren't you going to give them to me to keep for you?"

Behind her, Kim Jisoo's assistant hurriedly caught up, panting as she asked.

Kim Jisoo glanced down at the contracts she was clutching tightly, and a slight smile played on her lips. "No need, I'll keep them myself."

"Alright then, but Jisoo unnie, where are you going now, if you're not in a hurry..."

"No, I'm in a hurry."

Kim Jisoo had never felt so urgent. Ignoring what her assistant was about to say, she firmly shook her head and said, "I want to go home now."

Ding Dong!

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Kim Jisoo, who was about to step in, paused in surprise. Inside the elevator, Lisa, who was about to walk out, also paused in surprise.

Lisa took off her sunglasses in surprise. "Jisoo, what are you doing here? I remember you were supposed to be shooting Dior's new product launch today..."

"The company asked me to come back and sign a few more contracts. What about you? I remember you also had an outdoor event today, right?"

Kim Jisoo also said, puzzled.

"What a coincidence?" Facing her best friend in the group, Lisa didn't hide anything. She smiled brightly and said, "I'm here to sign a contract too. President Kim called me personally..."

Halfway through her speech, Lisa noticed the contracts that Kim Jisoo was holding, and her voice gradually softened.

Kim Jisoo's eyes widened as well.

The two looked at each other.

"Is it... because of him?"

"President Zhou?"

The two spoke at the same time, and although they used different question formats, they clearly expressed the same meaning.

Then the two fell silent again.

Lisa was indeed a little confused.

That night in the presidential suite, after she expressed her submission to Zhou Wang in a unique way, she and Zhou Wang's lawyer signed a personal contract in the opposite room that was essentially a "contract of servitude".

The terms of the contract were simple, but enough to make Lisa pay an unimaginable price for betraying Zhou Wang.

After she signed the contract, her mother was sent back to Thailand the next day, and all debts were wiped clean.

Lisa had already prepared herself to be Zhou Wang's slave for a long time, but this morning, Zhou Wang's assistant, Sura, contacted her again, asking her to wait for President Jin's notification to come to the company to sign a supplementary contract.

Lisa didn't know the specifics, but Sura's brief revelation of some details was enough to make Lisa ecstatic.

The revenue sharing ratio will increase by 1%, and the termination period will be shortened...

If the contract is real, although Zhou Wang has actually controlled her private freedom, her income will increase significantly on the surface, and she will have more say when dealing with the company.

Sura also hinted that as long as she could continue to please the boss (chairman), these were just appetizers... Zhou Wang was never a stingy man.

So, after receiving a call from President Kim, Lisa rushed to the company with a sense of relief and joy, only to unexpectedly run into Kim Jisoo, who was also there to sign a supplementary contract.

Could it be that she also...

Both girls had a strange thought at the same time, but they were both somewhat incredulous.

After all, in their eyes, neither Jisoo nor Lisa are girls who would easily accept unspoken rules.

Just as the two were staring at each other, the elevator doors opened with a "ding," and Jeon Somi, with her silver hair and model-like figure, walked out humming an unknown tune.

Jeon Somi usually dresses boldly on stage, but is more restrained at the company. However, she seems to have gone against this style today, wearing a silver halter top with a large exposed back and a black leather mini skirt, showing off her snow-white waist and long, silver legs.

Jisoo and Lisa were both dumbfounded.

Although the company has air conditioning, it's winter now...

Why is Jeon Somi dressed like this?
At that moment, Jeon Somi also noticed the two people stuck at the elevator entrance. After a moment of surprise, she quickly greeted them and then noticed the contract that Jisoo was holding.

"Oh, Jisoo unnie, are you here to change your contract too?"

Jeon Somi exclaimed in surprise.

"..."

Suddenly, Jisoo didn't want to see that man as much anymore.

……

Boom!

There was a rapid knocking on the door.

"I have everything I need... Stop knocking!"

bang bang bang...

The knocking didn't stop; instead, it became even more urgent.

"Hey, you better not be a salesman, or I'll break your legs!"

In the alleyway filled with bungalows, accompanied by the sound of footsteps approaching from afar, a slightly damaged roller shutter door was pulled up, revealing a middle-aged man in a vest with an unkempt appearance.

Outside the roller shutter stood a tall, beautiful girl whose gorgeous dress seemed out of place in the dilapidated alley.

However, at this moment, the girl's bright face was filled with anxiety.

"You are... Min'er?"

The middle-aged man was also taken aback for a moment, but after looking closely, he exclaimed with delight, "Oh my, Min'er, when did you get back? Come in and sit down, your sister Enhui will be so happy to see you..."

"No, Uncle Sang-hyeok, I'm here to see my father. Is he here?"

Choi Min-ah interrupted the middle-aged man, glancing behind him while asking urgently.

"A talented person?"

The middle-aged man was taken aback. "I haven't seen him for a long time since he came to me to borrow money a while ago. Didn't he lose his job and have been doing business with your mother?"

Borrow money...

Choi Min-ah pursed her lips, her sense of despair growing stronger.

Seeing that the house behind her was quiet, she knew that the middle-aged man had not lied to her. Without saying a word, she turned around and left, heading towards the next familiar house in the shantytown, following the direction she remembered.

"Min'er, Min'er? What happened...?"

Amidst the middle-aged man's puzzled mutterings, Cui Min'er walked further and further away.

As she knocked on door after door of her neighbors, but still couldn't find her father, Cui Min'er's face grew increasingly anxious.

A biting wind swept through the streets, but Choi Min-ah, dressed only in a thin long dress, was oblivious. She kept searching, not knowing how long she had been searching, when she was about to despair completely, she saw her younger brother, Choi Seung-hwan.

"Cheng Huan?"

The boy lingered at the entrance of an alley. When he saw Cui Min'er appear, he turned around and ran away. Cui Min'er took a few steps forward but couldn't catch up. She could only stop panting.

Just then, standing at the entrance of the alley, she heard a commotion coming from the depths of the alley, and it seemed that someone was shouting excitedly... It was the voice of her father, Cui Juncai.

Cui Min'er slowly turned her head, and after realizing where she was, the last glimmer of hope in her heart was extinguished, and her face gradually turned pale.

(End of this chapter)