The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 285 Allocation of Endorsement Resources (Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month)
#Breaking News! "Tarot" Makes a Strong Debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Joining "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"#
"..."

In the realm of popular culture, crossover collaborations between the music and film industries always create a sensation. Now, another bombshell has dropped – Tarot, currently a superstar in the music scene and revered as the "Emperor of Pop," is about to cross over into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one of the world's biggest IPs, and will play a significant role in the popular animated film series *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*…

Looking forward to the unique chemistry between "Tarot" and "Spider-Man"!

#Tarot to create theme music for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse#
"..."

On July 4th, the news released by Sony and Marvel instantly ignited the entire film and music industry worldwide... The news spread among fans and entertainment media, sparking heated discussions and endless speculation...

"This collaboration is so sudden! Are they really going to make a Tarot Hero?"

"Although I'm also a fan of Oppa, it feels inappropriate to force a superhero character into the story... It's bad for the whole storyline..."

"Just support them!"

"Daebak Oppa~!"

"..."

"How have you been lately, Noona?"

On July 4th, in Park Jin-young's office, Gong Cheng stood upright in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and dialed Lim Yoon-a's number.

"Thanks to you, it's not bad~"

Yoona was in a good mood, and spoke in a soft tone with a smile.

"Do you have any plans today? I'd like to ask you to take some promotional posters... The pre-release promotion and marketing for the new album in the second half of the year will start in the next couple of days..."

Gong Cheng stated his purpose directly. At present, Sony and Marvel are using their gimmicks to promote the release of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" in the second half of the year. Although he can also gain huge exposure and expand his audience from it.

However, this wasn't enough to maximize profits. After discussing it with Park Jin-young, he decided to leverage the global influence of the Marvel IP to promote his new album, creating a win-win situation.

The previous invitation to Yoona to star in a music video was also a gimmick, but it was limited to the Asian region, since she is not doing very well in Europe and America and has little influence.

He sought out Yoona simply because she's really beautiful, and he needed a pretty face.

"Nothing much going on today, are you in a rush?"

Im Yoona asked...

"Actually, it's not in a rush. The main thing is that the album's teaser video needs some footage of you, as well as a few promotional photos. I have to go to Paris and Milan in a couple of days, so I don't have much time..."

Gong Cheng sighed helplessly, explaining that with his busy schedule, the hype and promotion surrounding "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" wouldn't stop Sony and Marvel from rehashing old material for at least ten days to two weeks, so there wasn't much of a rush...

But his schedule was very tight.

"Okay, I'll pack up and come find you at JYP, shall I?"

Yoona readily agreed, but Gong Cheng stopped her, saying, "Let's go to Yeongdeungpo. I'll send you the address later. The filming location is there, we'll meet there."

"..."

After hanging up the phone, Gong Cheng walked back to the sofa and sat down. Looking at Park Jin-young's ambiguous smile, he asked in an annoyed tone, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was just thinking about some rumors..." Park Jin-young waved his hand with a smile, then got back to business, "Have the spots for LV been confirmed?"

"Yes, two spots for LV and two spots for Burberry."

Gong Cheng picked up the orange juice, took a sip, and said casually, "For LV, I recommend Sana-chan and Mina-chan."

"Burberry, Nayeon, Tzuyu..."

He also recommended Son Chae-young, but to be honest, the three high-end blue-blooded and red-blooded brands he was wearing didn't quite match the brand image of the little tiger, and Chae-young's personal style didn't quite align with the style of these high-end brands either...

On the contrary, the unique personality of the local YT Jewelry brand suited her well, and the ambassadorial title she secured was a significant advantage, given the limited number of such positions available in the Asian region.

As for Armani, it doesn't match the style of TWICE members at all. Gong Cheng is thinking that if he takes on a jewelry endorsement in the future, he can help the little tigers again~ his girlfriend~!

"The ambassador?"

Park Jin-young asked excitedly, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes. He had thought it would be the title of brand ambassador. Local celebrities would fight tooth and nail for these brands.

“No, they’re just brand ambassadors for a side line, all on one-year contracts. They need to see a return on investment.” Gong Cheng knows those vampires very well. TWICE is currently the national girl group of the Korean Peninsula.

Although they have a significant influence across Asia, they have more options compared to the entire Asian region. Most brands are eyeing the Chinese market, but what Gong Cheng can do is narrow their focus to TWICE, squeezing out a few spots. Each brand only allocates a limited number of spots in the peninsula region, which is why it's so competitive. As a result, a large number of idols and actors are helping with promotion for free as if it's free...

As for the rest, it depends on the support of Sana Minatozaki, Mina Mina, and Nayeon Lim's die-hard fans. With a short-term contract of one year, the return on investment is increasing, and it is normal for the contract to be renewed or even for the title to be promoted. But everything still depends on the return on investment they can bring.

"A sub-brand ambassador, tsk tsk." Park Jin-young showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever, instead laughing heartily with obvious satisfaction. However, he quickly regained his composure, "Why Nayeon? The four of them?"

"You recommended it?"

For a moment, Park Jin-young looked at Gong Cheng with a strange and suspicious gaze. Could it be that...?

Is this guy closest to these four members of TWICE?
Or is he dating one of them?

"Yes, of the nine people I recommended, Nayeon, Tzuyu, and the other three are all in the top tier of popularity. Endorsements like these are all about the amount of money and numbers of fans spending..." Gong Cheng said calmly, then smiled.

"Four is just the beginning. TWICE's individual resources have only been open for six months, and they haven't had any decent resources in the past six months. Not to mention a year from now, in just six months, as long as the quarterly return on the products they endorse goes up, those brands that are watching will start to contact the remaining members..."

"Just like brands evaluate artists over a three-to-five-year period, promoting these four members of TWICE is the most likely way to quickly generate a return on investment in the short term."

As the saying goes, someone always has to set an example. Popularity is one thing, but brands prioritize profitability, and Gong Cheng is the best example. Initially, he was too much of a spokesperson for Armani, and when the quarterly return on investment came out, other high-end luxury brands immediately became uneasy...

Because the benefits are obvious, provided that the big star and the Shiba Inu girl can really generate the benefits of the endorsed product after the endorsement.

Of these four people, two are female relatives, one is a close female friend, and one is a potential backup option... Overall, when he recommended them to LV and Burberry, he didn't encounter much resistance or opposition, given their demeanor and past performance in business activities...

This already illustrates some points; compared to other members, their individual styles are quite distinctive in the fashion field.

Park Jin-young sat on the sofa, legs crossed, and nodded. "Nayeon and the others really need to thank you..."

"You've been such a big help..."

"You really should thank me." Gong Cheng smiled broadly, laughing without any modesty. He figured he should keep the good stuff in the family. Then, Park Jin-young asked, "So, you agreed to sign with Dior?"

"Well, they gave me the spot so readily, what am I supposed to do if I don't sign?" Gong Cheng stood up and stretched, saying softly.

The matter of signing with Dior had been discussed with him by Bernard Arnault back in the spring. Dior, LV, Tiffany, and Givenchy are all brands under the LVMH luxury goods group, so the competition in the market is inevitable...

However, both brands belong to LVMH, and Bernard Arnault doesn't care about the rules of his competitors; he only wants profits. The brand returns that Gong Cheng has brought since signing with LV have made them eager for him to further boost Dior's sales in Asia...

After all, since last year, Gong Cheng has been wearing Armani, Burberry, and LV, three high-end luxury brands that are essentially competitors, yet their financial statements all showed a straight upward trend over the past year...

This speaks volumes.

In addition, just as the first half of this year ended, a renowned New York fashion weekly recently released another shocking statistic: since "Tarot" topped the global brand return on investment ranking last year...

In the first half of this year, "Tarot" continued to lead the way in endorsements from sports stars, entertainment stars, and other major industries, including Aston Martin, LV, Armani, and Burberry.

Just like Aston Martin, they never imagined that their cars would sell so well.
"You're really acting innocent after getting such a good deal. Don't even mention the domestic market; all over the world, how many people want to sign with Dior and become their spokesperson..."

"Moreover, she's a one-of-a-kind global brand ambassador?"

Park Jin-young chuckled and cursed a couple of times, speechless. In addition to global brand ambassadors, high-end luxury brands also have regional brand ambassadors, brand friends, brand experience officers, brand promoters, and many other titles. But without a doubt, global brand ambassador is the most prestigious title.

To date, among all the brands, from the very beginning of their history, no spokesperson has ever won the title of global spokesperson.

Before Gong Cheng became a spokesperson, he wore Armani, LV, and Burberry.

The endorsement titles that Lim Na-yeon and the others are about to acquire are not particularly prestigious, but they are still something that many artists on the Korean Peninsula can only dream of...

"Oh, I'm actually quite happy..."

Gong Cheng put on the baseball cap, a smile spreading across his face beneath the brim. How could he not be happy about making money?
"I'm off...to film the teaser for the new album. Hyung, remember to book plane tickets for Nayeon and the other three. They're coming to Paris with me in a couple of days..."

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything." Park Jin-young waved his hand, picked up his coffee with a relaxed expression, and took a sip.

He only came to his senses after Gong Cheng left the office!

No, he also wanted to ask about the ATM's planning!

……

An hour later, Gong Cheng and Lim Yoon-a met at the filming location in Yeongdeungpo.

The tall and slender Lim Yoona wore black high heels, white silk straight-leg pants, and a bright white tank top. Her long blonde hair was framed by sunglasses, and a large silver earring was hidden among the ends of her blonde hair. It was difficult to notice the single earring hanging on her right earlobe without careful observation.

Her frizzy blonde hair made Gong Cheng want to reach out and stroke it, to smooth it out for her. "Have you been in a good mood lately?"

He joked, watching this woman, whose lips never stopped curling up from the moment she entered the set.

"Yeah~"

Lim Yoona took off her sunglasses and replied, "The script for 'Extreme Escape' has been delivered to me, and the contract has been signed. I've been reading the script and studying the character recently."

She smiled gently as she chatted about her recent work. All she could say was that the younger man in front of her was incredibly efficient. After the bar owner promised to ask her about it that night, the script was delivered to the company by director Li Shanggen the very next afternoon.

Two days ago, she officially signed a contract with the production team and was cast as the female lead.

"Analyzing the character?"

Gong Cheng raised an eyebrow in surprise, momentarily losing control of his expression. His handsome face flashed a questioning smile, tinged with disdain, which Lin Yoona noticed. She stepped forward and gave the younger man a shove, clearly annoyed.
"What's that look in your eyes?"

Does that mean I have no acting skills?

Gong Cheng's lips twitched. *When did you become an actor?* But he couldn't be too blunt. "Ani, I just think Nona is very hardworking, nothing more... Nona, don't be so sensitive..."

As he spoke, he looked around the film set that was being built. The trailer was being filmed near the Gocheok Sky Tower in Yeongdeungpo-gu, in a requisitioned warehouse. Not far away, staff were setting up green screens at the camera positions, while in an empty room to the side, the scenes needed for the trailer were being prepared...

"By the way, will my hair color be okay?"

Im Yoona suddenly remembered this, reached out and touched her slightly frizzy blonde hair, and asked.

"It's not a big problem. Just change your clothes and do some simple makeup."

Gong Cheng sized the woman up and down; her high heels made her look like a mature, sophisticated woman, really...

Seeing that the crew on set was still busy, Lim Yoona sat down on the sofa next to Gong Cheng, blinked, glanced at him, and suddenly asked, "The girl you were talking to at the bar earlier, is that Irene?"

As she spoke, a hint of nervousness flashed in her doe-like eyes...

"Why do you ask that?" Gong Cheng picked up his cold drink and took a sip. He was still holding the small fan that his sister had given him, blowing a cool breeze. When he saw Lin Yun'er leaning close to his ear, he moved the fan closer to her as well. Was he trying to get some fan for her?

"You're quite thoughtful..." Lim Yoona smoothed the sweat-dampened strands of hair from her forehead. It had been so hot in Seoul these past few days that her vest felt almost soaked through. "Did you meet with Irene at the coffee shop behind our company a couple of days ago?"

"Yes, we chatted for a while." Gong Cheng nodded seriously. His meeting with Bae Joo-hyun that day wasn't exactly high-profile, but he guessed they had been recognized. He wasn't too concerned about it. "Did Irene tell you?"

"Ani, we're not that close, are we?" Yoona rolled her eyes and parted her pink lips. "That day, some trainees were having coffee there, and they took pictures of you meeting and posted them in the trainees' group chat..."

"Now, there are a lot of rumors about you and Irene in the company."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Gong Cheng, seemingly wanting an answer: during their supposed contact, after not seeing each other for a few days, did they already get together?
"What rumors?"

"What rumors could there be? It's just stuff like you two are dating or something." Lim Yoona pouted, couldn't help but glare at Gong Cheng, and pressed, "So, is the girl you're seeing Irene?"

I guess so.

Gong Cheng nodded calmly, glancing at the woman's somewhat stiff expression out of the corner of his eye, but said nothing more.

He's very popular, especially among older women.
"Are you...together?"

Lim Yoona pursed her lips, suddenly feeling that her recent good mood had vanished without a trace. She hesitated and asked, "Why are the juniors so quick to act?"

She'd barely stepped onto Chungmuro ​​Road, was she about to be robbed of her place?

"No, we're still getting to know each other...we're still getting to know each other."

Gong Cheng answered truthfully. He was telling the truth; his relationship with Bae Joo-hyun was progressing smoothly. Although they hadn't officially defined their relationship, it felt like it was progressing very quickly. In the end, he was just too busy...

Thinking about this, he felt somewhat guilty towards his female relatives, realizing he hadn't given them enough companionship and care.
"Oh, all right……"

"What's so good about it?" Gong Cheng raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Does Nuna really not want me to date a woman?"

Who is this!
Yoona giggled, leaned back on the sofa, crossed her legs, picked up her phone and swiped the screen while jokingly saying, "Irene isn't right for you."

"How to say?"

Gong Cheng blinked, looking at her smiling eyebrows under her blonde hair. Sometimes he really wanted to know what others thought of his girlfriend.

“She’s short, just like Irene, you two don’t match…” Yoona squinted, smiling broadly… These were her honest thoughts; she wasn’t intentionally trying to disparage Irene or her own unnie, but simply because their heights didn’t seem to complement each other at all…

Irene and Kim Tae-yeon standing next to this younger man look like little figurines. Otherwise, among all his pairings, he wouldn't have chosen himself and that junior from TWICE, Chou Tzu-yu, who stands out from the crowd. Besides looks, the visual impact of height is also very important.

Irene and Taeyeon are probably not even 1.6 meters tall, right?

And look at this younger man, he's almost 1.9 meters tall...

"Heh..." Hearing such a hasty answer, Gong Cheng chuckled dismissively and retorted, "Then do you match with Nuna?"

"You can give it a try!"

Yoona held up her phone with a bright and cheerful expression and took a selfie. Gong Cheng's face happened to appear halfway in the picture. She was thinking of posting it on social media later to give the fans of "High-Speed ​​Gong Cheng and Deer" some sweet moments.

"Hehe, let's have a friendly match sometime."

Gong Cheng realized that Yoon-ah beside him was determined to eat him, to eat this little cabbage...

That woman is wicked!
So, I stood up, stretched, and walked towards the dressing room not far away. The set was almost set up, and the next step was to shoot the costume photos and some behind-the-scenes videos for the trailer.

"...What kind of sparring?"

Lim Yoona was leaning back on the sofa, busy editing photos she had just taken on her phone. When she came to her senses, she noticed Gong Cheng walking away and called out, "Don't go..."

Is this a push-pull with oneself?
……

The following day, Gong Cheng went to Seongbuk-dong in Seoul, where the film crew of "Parasite" was shooting. This place is also known as the "Beverly Hills of the Peninsula." The streets are clean and the environment is quiet. Some of the real-life scenes around the Park family's house in the script were taken here.

"..."

Meanwhile, inside JYP's new building.

"Nayeon, Sana, Mina, Tzuyu..."

"The four of you go to the president's office. He has something important to discuss with you."

TWICE's manager pushed open the door to the practice room, interrupting their practice, gave a brief announcement, urged them twice more, and then strode away.

The members exchanged glances, and Jeongyeon asked her friend with concern, "Nayeon, you guys haven't gotten into any trouble, have you?"

"No, I'm very honest..."

Nayeon was timid to begin with, and seeing her manager's serious expression made her a little nervous. But glancing at the other three people who had been called out, she felt more confident. Even if she had made a mistake, she wouldn't be the only one punished...

"Let's go to PDnim's office."

She mustered her courage, her legs feeling weak. Every time she went to PDnim's office in the past, she'd get a severe scolding and berated. The most recent time, and the last time...

Jihyo and Kang Daniel were caught dating by paparazzi, and Jeongyeon was caught driving herself, making her an accomplice and drawing severe criticism.

Sana Minatozaki blinked and scratched her head. "Okay."

Tzuyu and Mina quickly followed, somewhat confused, wondering what PDnim wanted to see them about. Normally, the two weren't particularly noticeable in PDnim's eyes, practically invisible figures on the fringes…

She was nowhere near as eye-catching as Yoo Jeong-yeon and Lim Na-yeon.

"..."

Ten minutes later, the group took the elevator to Park Jin-young's office. "PDnim..."

The four greeted each other. Park Jin-young sat smiling in his executive chair, watching the four children standing in front of his desk. Tzuyu was still a little reserved, with her hands behind her back, while Lim Na-yeon grinned with her rabbit teeth, giving a wry smile...

She suspected that her company had found out about her affair with her boyfriend.
Is this the time to question oneself?

But why call for Sana and Mina, and why do Tzuyu and the others? They're not like me and Jeongyeon, who were accomplices in Jihyo's incident...

Could it be that they're secretly dating too?

Thinking of this, even though she had been snuggling in her boyfriend's arms on the bed earlier and had spoken to Gong Cheng with great bravado, "I'm going to go public with you, I'm not afraid of PDnim and the company...", Lim Nayeon's legs still felt a little weak. Just like her boyfriend said, she was very timid and afraid of being scolded by others.

Male parents can be fierce, but others can't...

"Do you know why I called you here?" Park Jin-young asked, rubbing his chin.

Sana Minatozaki glanced at Park Jin-young with her bright eyes and shook her head.

Has her affair with her boyfriend been exposed?
She was suspicious. This shouldn't be... their relationship was a secret known only to heaven, earth, her boyfriend, herself, and Mina. Thinking this, she immediately turned to her friend Mina beside her. Had she been betrayed?
Mina was somewhat speechless at her friend's inexplicable look...

"You don't know about the LV and Burberry deal?"

Park Jin-young frowned and looked at the bewildered group. This shouldn't be happening.
Could it be that Gong Cheng hasn't told them yet...?

Lim Nayeon shook her head in confusion and asked, "What is it, PD-nim?"

Seeing the curious expressions on the faces of Sana Minatozaki and the others, Park Jin-young smiled, inwardly admiring his junior's composure: "The four of you, in a few days, go to Paris and London with Tarot..."

"On one hand, I'm going to Fashion Week with Tarot, and on the other hand, I'm going to sign a contract..."

Park Jin-young spoke slowly and methodically, briefly outlining how the individuals had each secured ambassadorships with LV and Burberry. The expressions on the children's faces gradually shifted from confusion to shock and delight...

"But...PDnim, we have a comeback in the middle of this month." Lim Nayeon asked weakly, pursing her bunny teeth. Their summer special album "Summer Nights" will be released in the middle of this month.

Park Jin-young waved his hand, "There's enough time, it's just that you guys will have to work hard."

“PDnim, may I ask, how come there was no news about something this big, and it suddenly happened to us? The brand’s people haven’t contacted us either…” As she spoke, Mina raised her eyelids, looked at Park Jin-young, and asked the question that had been bothering her.

She strongly suspected that Makoto was behind all of this, but why didn't he tell her beforehand? Besides, no one else or the company had the ability to get LV and Burberry to each offer two spots at once.

She had a general understanding of the quotas for those high-end luxury brands in the Asian region. For example, the quota for Peninsula was definitely not many, which is why they were particularly picky in their selection of spokespersons. If the Asian market was compared to the NBA, then Peninsula was just a small market, so the number of quotas was even less likely.

The title Pdnim just mentioned is ambassador...

Park Jin-young smiled and stood up, pacing around the office: "Because this matter was never controlled by the company from the beginning. The endorsement title was negotiated by Tarot personally with the two brands for the past few months, and the result was only recently reached."

"The company doesn't know the progress of the negotiations, only the outcome." He sighed helplessly. The scripts the company is currently offering and the high-end offers from Europe and America are all aimed at Gong Cheng alone. He didn't want to admit it, but the truth is, the power of negotiation is in the hands of Tarot and those brands.

"I thought this kid had told you guys in advance, but I didn't expect you guys only found out now."

Park Jin-young picked up the coffee cup on the table, took a sip, and said, “This is a rare opportunity. You should seize it. After the contract is signed, remember to thank that kid. He put in a lot of effort. Some resource exchanges are inevitable, but he didn’t say the specifics. Or maybe the brand wants to tie the contract to him.”

"After all, his current commercial value is a gold mine."

Brother~
My dear boyfriend~
Bok choy!
Cheng-chan~
Four different thoughts were surging at this moment. Lim Nayeon, with red eyes and pursed lips, couldn't quite feel happy. Although she had secured a high-end endorsement that others envied, she quickly grasped the meaning of the exchange of benefits that PDnim mentioned.

It must have come at a great cost, right?
"Okay, PDnim." Sana Minatozaki wished she could run away right now, hug her little cabbage, and give him a big kiss to thank him for everything he had done for her.

Mina glanced at him with a complicated look in her eyes. Sana Minato and Nayeon Lim beside her were, respectively, his Shiba Inu girlfriend and his big star. What was she to him?

Makoto, are you sure you can have me figured out?

Wait a minute! Why is Tzuyu here too?

Chou Tzu-yu grinned, smiling happily. Her tall stature made her stand out among the four. She glanced at Minatozaki Sana, who looked deeply moved, and tilted her head, feeling a surge of pride. It seemed she was just as important to her brother as his mother.
"Okay, that's all. Remember to pack your bags; we're going to Paris on the 8th."

Park Jin-young waved his hand, as if to see the guest out, but then he quickly called out to Lim Na-yeon, reminding her, "By the way, Na-yeon, you're the unnie of TWICE, remember to take care of the other members' feelings, understand?"

He said meaningfully, "A group has nine members, and the distribution of individual resources is bound to make the other members feel uncomfortable." Park Jin-young sighed, "But that's unavoidable. From a profit perspective, each member can create different value..."

From an emotional perspective, however, he had no control over the allocation of resources this time. Everything was handled by Gong Cheng, and the company's proposed plan was not applicable.

Park Jin-young understands his junior's personality well. He doesn't care who the company promotes, but rather who to put in which position to maximize the effect. This time, the allocation of fashion resources was the same. Four people in the top popularity tier got the resources.

"Now that we know PDnim, we won't get cocky..."

Lin Nalian's eyes were moist, and she was so moved that she almost shed pearls. She sniffed, still not recovered from her joy. Why didn't her boyfriend tell her beforehand?

She's always secretly doing this and that for herself, it's so annoying!
"..."

Ten minutes later, Nayeon, Sana, and the others stood hesitantly at the corner of the stairwell, glancing occasionally at the practice room not far away, unsure how to tell the remaining members that they had landed a high-end luxury endorsement.

"...Aren't we going in yet?"

Sana Minatosaki felt that just standing there thinking wasn't a good idea, so she glanced at her friend Mina and suddenly realized that things were getting a little tricky.

The boyfriend must have been giving her resources because they were dating. As for Tzuyu, they've always had a good relationship. As for Nayeon, her relationship with her boyfriend has improved a lot since last year and is quite good now.

However, she believes that since Nayeon is the concept center of TWICE, she will also have a spot. As for her friend Mina, the two of them had an ambiguous relationship before, and she had caught them doing it several times, but now this whole thing has gotten out of hand...

Xiao Baicai just secured some fashion resources for herself, so she can't even vent her anger.
It felt like I'd been given the cold shoulder... so annoying!
How should I bring it up with the members?

Lim Na-yeon squatted on the stairs, resting her cheek on her hand, looking very worried.

This isn't about showing off! Anyone, no matter how good the relationship, would feel a little unbalanced. She was even afraid that the members would find out that the male lead was in charge of distributing the resources and would resent him...

After all, the male lead and the members have a very good relationship.

She didn't want the members to dislike or blame her boyfriend, because resources were limited, and even if her boyfriend was very capable, he couldn't be perfect.

"The other members won't blame their brother, will they...?"

Chou Tzu-yu muttered something under her breath, suddenly realizing that if this matter wasn't handled properly, it could create distance between the members. With the release of personal information, everyone wanted a good career, and she was no exception...

"Probably not, we're not that petty."

Mina waved her little hand, silently chanting in her heart, "Makoto-chan, Makoto-chan, if anyone dares to complain about you, I'll turn on them!" Perhaps because she was shouting so intensely in her inner universe, a strong aura burst forth from her entire body.

Lim Nayeon glanced at her in surprise, as if a small flame of adrenaline had ignited within Mina-chan.
"..."

After dawdling for a few more minutes, the four of them reluctantly walked into the practice room.

As the eldest sister, Lim Nayeon, with her hair tied in a low ponytail, looked at the members who had gathered around her and asked them all at once what had happened.
"Have you gotten into trouble again?" Yu Dingyan asked with concern.

Do I look like someone who's likely to cause trouble?

Nayeon, unconvinced, raised her cheek and retorted to her friend. Then, glancing at Sana, Mina, and Tzuyu—the three of them—who remained silent and disloyal, she could only manage a somewhat forced smile before speaking, "It's like this... we've signed..."

She swallowed hard as she sat on the sofa, nervously and awkwardly recounting the events.

"Really?" Yoo Jeongyeon raised an eyebrow, looking very happy for the member who got the endorsement.

Park Jihyo, who was chatting happily with Kang Daniel, wanted to congratulate him after hearing the bad news, but she could only open her mouth and couldn't say anything. She smiled with a very ugly expression.

After hearing this, Hirai Momo's eyes dimmed, she offered a couple of somewhat dejected congratulatory remarks, and then lowered her head.

Kim Da-hyun, on the other hand, nonchalantly held May and tidied up the puppy's clothes. She was going to be the Blue Dragon Film Award winner, you know!

Son Chaeyoung gave Mina a meaningful look, then said in a sweet, childlike voice, "Congratulations, unnies~ and Tzuyu too~"

She felt a little uncomfortable if her boyfriend hadn't sent her that message, but Little Tiger knew that the girls in front of her had probably only just found out about the endorsement deal, and her boyfriend had told her about it a week ago.

And patiently asked her to wait a little longer...

Therefore, she had nothing to be jealous of. Son Chaeyoung admired her boyfriend for his ability to navigate effortlessly between various girls and unnies. His reckless behavior was no less than dancing on the edge of a knife. However, sometimes her boyfriend was too clever and thought of everything too thoroughly.

So much so that people overlooked why the four in front of them were chosen to secure the endorsement deal instead of other unnies or members.

Tzuyu is easy to understand, and Mina unnie is also understandable, since her boyfriend, who isn't honest, has always had an ambiguous relationship with this unnie. But why are Sana unnie and Nayeon unnie doing this...?

This is something worth investigating further.

Sana Minatozaki, Nayan Lin, and the other two sat on the sofa, their bodies pressed together somewhat nervously, observing the expressions of the remaining members.

Mina glanced at it briefly, then looked at Nayeon unnie and Sana-chan to the side. Unconsciously, the four of them seemed to have formed a small circle similar to a "royal line" because of the "fashion resources" issue. They inevitably shared a common hatred and their relationship had become quite close.

She couldn't help but wonder if Makoto had done it on purpose?

……

That evening, while Gong Cheng was still filming on the set of "Parasite," he received a video call from his Shiba Inu girlfriend.

And a series of news involving big stars, Chou Tzu-yu, and Mina.

When asked about the cost, Gong Cheng thought for a moment and replied, "Oh, no cost. It's just that I signed a new brand, Dior, ahead of time."

"If you like bags, I'll pick out a few for you when I go to Paris in a few days."

Ultimately, he didn't pay any price for the replacement of the spot; it was just that during the wrangling negotiations with Dior, the original two-year contract was changed to three years...

The endorsement fee is $2500 million per year, and $7500 million over three years.

Compared to the two-year contract signed with LV, which Gong Cheng endorses, the fee is slightly lower. Different brands have different fees for their spokespeople. Although LV, Dior, Armani, and Burberry are all considered top luxury brands.

The annual endorsement fee for international superstars is usually between 500 million and 2000 million US dollars, while 2500 million US dollars per year is the highest level of sincerity that Dior can currently offer. In his two-year contract with LV, his annual endorsement fee is as high as 3000 million US dollars.

As for Burberry, it's $2000 million per year, and Armani is $2300 million. But compared to LV, they are naturally not as wealthy as LV. However, in the history of Armani and Burberry, the range of endorsement fees for their spokespeople has always been fixed between $500 million and $1500 million.

The emergence of “Tarot” allowed them to break boundaries and rules.

Ultimately, endorsement fees are often linked to sales performance. Gong Cheng consistently delivers top marks, both quarterly and annually. Furthermore, the core factors influencing endorsement fees are related to the specific markets each company aims to capture, namely brand strategy and the value of the individual's personal brand.

The public image of the spokesperson and the brand's tone are directly related to the fee. The value of the IP, for example, is that after signing with Armani last year, Gong Cheng's first solo album became a number one hit. The factor of "breaking out of the circle", coupled with his achievements in music, and events such as the "Grammy effect" and "Tarot effect" that have triggered global craze, will stimulate the brand's sales to a certain extent, which directly leads to the "premium" of the endorsement fee.

The simplest example is that Gong Cheng has consistently topped the list of the world's most handsome faces since his debut. Previously dubious lists gained credibility and fairness in the public eye the moment he entered the rankings. Meanwhile, LV's usual marketing gimmick is...

"We signed the world's most handsome face as our brand ambassador..."

Image is also an extremely important point, so that customers can have a more profound and unique impression of the brand.

In recent years, brands like LV have tended to sign "cross-border" spokespeople, such as athletes with both athletic achievements and fashion sense, or artists with both popularity and cultural influence. The endorsement fees for these collaborations often include a "premium," aiming to attract Generation Z consumers through their youthful image.

Gong Cheng's fans are among the most popular globally right now. The quarterly sales figures of Aston Martin, a notoriously difficult-to-sell supercar, have been boosted by his personal influence, making them the envy of many.

"Ani, it's really nothing serious, don't worry, okay, Mom?"

Gong Cheng stood on the empty street outside the film crew, still on the phone. He looked up at the starlight and moon in the dark night, and chuckled as he comforted the big star on the other end. He sounded almost moved to tears.

“I’m afraid the members will have a problem with you and say bad things about you…” Lim Nayeon’s voice was trembling with tears, sounding both happy and dissatisfied on his behalf. “I noticed that Jihyo and the others’ expressions changed this afternoon…”

"Sure, I'll tell you. Of course I'll share good news with my girlfriend, right?" Gong Cheng smiled, narrowing his eyes. "Alright, don't worry about me. Get some rest, big star. I have to continue filming. I'll be off work very late tonight."

"Okay, then take care and get some rest..." Lin Nayeon said, sobbing. Just as Gong Cheng was about to hang up, she suddenly called out, "I miss you, dear." Then, she abruptly hung up the phone.

Gong Cheng was left squatting on the curb with a smile on his face, staring at the phone that had just been hung up. But soon, he dialed Minatozaki Sana's video call, eager to video chat with his Shiba Inu girlfriend again. "Sana-chan, do you miss me?"

His voice, tinged with laughter, floated lightly in the summer night breeze.

"I miss you, can you come and keep me company, my boyfriend~" Sana Minatozaki's sweet and innocent face appeared in the video. She blinked her bright eyes, her black nightgown revealing her fair shoulders. She looked like she was snuggled in bed. She tilted her head and chuckled softly, "Thank you, my boyfriend..."

"Tch~ You're going to thank me with your mouth?"

"So what do you want?" Sana Minato seductively moved the camera down, revealing a large expanse of her snow-white collarbone.

Gong Cheng stopped joking, his warm smile shining through the screen in the moonlight: "I don't want anything, we're dating, Sana-chan, why are you saying thank you?"

"You're always saying nice things. You didn't answer the phone just now, were you contacting Mina-chan?" Sana Minato rolled her eyes at him, somewhat at a loss with him.

"Oh, I was just chatting with Zhenying-ge." Gong Cheng made up a story on the spot. After flirting with the Shiba Inu girl for a while, he hung up the phone. Looking at the chat box, he saw messages from his good sister and Mina, all of which were words of thanks.

He didn't really want to look, so he got up, took a few steps under the streetlight, sat down on a bench, crossed his legs, and gazed at the night sky with a melancholy and quiet expression.

The frustrating part is that Gong Cheng realized he seemed to have overlooked something. Bringing a good younger sister, two official female relatives, and a substitute to Paris and London, wasn't that a bit suicidal?
"Hmm~ Perhaps it's Tarot?"

Just as Gong Cheng was feeling melancholy, a clear female voice interrupted his thoughts. A passerby walked by on the roadside. In the night, she looked quite pretty, wearing a white-collar uniform, and walking hurriedly, her high heels making a "clack-clack" sound as she walked.

"Nye, aninhaseyo~"

Gong Cheng straightened up, stood up quickly, and greeted the passersby in front of him with a smile.

"Can we take a picture together? I really like you and have always supported you..."

The woman, who looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, exclaimed excitedly, then quickly asked, "Won't this bother you?"

“Kenchana, let’s take a picture together…” Gong Cheng smiled warmly, stood in the woman’s lens, and took a picture with her. Then he said goodbye, “I have to go now. I have to go to work. Be careful walking alone at night.”

As he spoke, he turned and walked toward the film crew not far away.

"Inside~"

"I'll always support you, Tarot, stay strong!"

"..."

……

July 7th...

Gong Cheng went to the gym near the dormitory to work out, accompanied by his gym partner and beloved student, Hirai Momo.

However, today, his beloved disciple looked at him with a strange, resentful gaze.

The pair of mentor and student, who usually love doing the double hip thrust exercise, didn't train today.

Hirai Momo picked up the blue towel hanging around her neck, wiped her cheeks and the beads of sweat rolling down her chest, then went straight to the vending machine next to her, took a bottle of electrolyte water, thought for a moment, took another bottle, went to the rebellious teacher's side, pursed her lips and handed it to him.

His bad mood was practically written all over his face. "Here you go..."

"Thank you~"

Gong Cheng put down the back training equipment, took a deep breath, his unkempt hair falling across his face, sweat trickling down his hair and high nose. He unscrewed the bottle cap, took a sip of water, and asked, "What's wrong, Momo-chan? Are you in a bad mood?"

He said helplessly, guessing in his heart that it might be because of the fashion resources of the big star Shiba Inu girl and her friends.

The news that the four members have been appointed as ambassadors for LV and Burberry sub-brands was communicated to the group yesterday. Once the signings are finalized after their trip to Paris and London tomorrow, JYP and the two brands will announce the news to the public.

However, the brand probably won't invest too many resources in on-the-ground promotion and publicity, since it's just an ambassador title and the promotion will only be carried out in Japan and Japan. The rest of the publicity will have to be done by JYP itself.

When the members first learned of this news, it was inevitable that some of them would feel resentful. No matter how good their relationship was in the past, when it came to their respective career development, once the data on the top and bottom of popularity was laid bare in front of everyone...

I doubt anyone would feel good about it...

"I feel a bit lost..."

After finishing her workout, Hirai Momo, who usually pays great attention to post-workout stretching, sat down next to Miyako, looking rather sullen. Her eyes and brows, framed by her short hair and bangs, seemed a little aggrieved and unhappy.

Before the rebellious teacher could speak, she murmured softly:

“Not only the members, everyone in the company knows that this fashion resource was entirely secured by Oppa.” As she spoke, she looked up… her dark eyes fixed on him, unblinking. “Oppa, it’s not that I’m dissatisfied with the allocation of resources…”

"Although it seems like we didn't get any resources, we're a little disappointed."

"But what upsets me is that people who are close to Oppa have all received resources, which is why I feel so lost..."

(End of this chapter)