The number one playboy on the Peninsula!

Chapter 297 Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick: Blind Light (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
"Shall we meet after get off work?"

The afternoon sun shone through the window, casting light on the wooden table in the coffee shop. Bae Joo-hyun gazed brightly at Gong Cheng sitting opposite her, the air filled with the subtle aroma of latte. "It's settled?"

"I probably can't go... I have to record a song tonight." Gong Cheng scratched his slightly itchy cheek, glanced at the Daegu woman opposite him. The sleeves of her light gray knitted cardigan were casually rolled up to her forearms, and the white T-shirt underneath had a simple round neck design, which made her neck look even longer, and her full breasts looked quite well-endowed.

He verified it himself; it can't be faked!
The lower body is a pair of high-waisted light khaki straight-leg pants, with the hem slightly covering the ankle, paired with a pair of white canvas shoes. The overall outfit exudes effortless comfort and freshness, like a cup of warm water at just the right temperature on an autumn day.

"But why bring Kim Jisoo along?"

“It’s like…” Gong Cheng said, glancing at Kang Seulgi next to the Daegu woman. He didn’t say anything hurtful. “It’s like why do we have to bring Seulgi along on our date to be your wingman?”
Is it Jiang Sneek?
sizzle...

"Like what?"

Kang Seulgi suddenly became clever, and her expression turned somewhat displeased.

You heartless bastard! I used to do your eyeliner in the group, and now look at how things are going between you and your unnie. What's wrong with me getting a free coffee?
"Oh, I mean, I don't get along very well with Kim Jisoo."

“It would be better to bring Seulgi along…” Gong Cheng took a sip of lemonade, which tasted a bit sour, and made up an excuse, “But I’ve really been quite busy lately.”

The difference between Kim Jisoo and Kang Seulgi for him is that Seulgi was at least one of his own, and she was trying to match him up with the women from Daegu from the beginning. As for Kim Jisoo...

Forget about matchmaking, I'd be grateful if she didn't humiliate me!

Perhaps Bae Joo-hyun was keeping the affair from Kim Ji-soo, but damn it, Kim Ji-soo knew perfectly well about her relationship with Cho Mi-yeon. If she stirred things up a little or revealed it, wouldn't she be doomed?
"Don't you and Jisoo get along quite well?"

Bae Joo-hyun sat by the window, her eyes wide with surprise. The afternoon sun occasionally cast diamond-shaped dappled light on Gong Cheng's handsome face. She wasn't exactly a sucker for good looks, but this guy was just too good-looking; she couldn't help but be drawn to his handsome face, and she would often find herself lost in thought while picking her toes.

Both he and I are known for our "divine beauty," so are we considered kindred spirits? It turns out, fate and destiny were intertwined from the very beginning…

In short, holding onto these stocks is a sure way to make money!
"no!"

Gong Cheng vehemently denied it, but his lowered eyelids lifted slightly, "It's awkward between her and me..."

"If you can't come, that's fine. Seulgi has plans tonight, and Jisoo and I haven't seen each other in a while, so we made plans to have dinner together tonight. But don't worry, I didn't tell her you were coming. You were supposed to be a surprise guest. It's a pity the surprise guest plan fell through..."

Bae Joo-hyun picked up her coffee and took a sip, a faint smile playing on her lips, her dimples appearing and disappearing on her cheeks. When she spoke, her voice trailed off with a soft, almost imperceptible tone.

Actually, she felt that Ji-soo understood this male relative who was in a "probationary period" quite well. At least she often sought advice from Zhuge Ji-soo, and her friend's suggestions were very useful. However, she was still asking for advice under the guise of being his sister.

"...I used to bully her all the time."

"She holds grudges, and the relationship is a bit awkward, as you all know. Jisoo is a very good friend of my ex-girlfriend..."

Gong Cheng hesitated before speaking, his expression awkward and complicated, but his heart was calm. Everyone knew about his relationship with Zhao Meiyan, and the close friendship between Kim Jisoo and Zhao Meiyan was also known to people in the industry and many fans.

After all, it's been three months since Zhao Meiyan debuted, and she has met with BLACKPINK at some events. The smiles they exchange when greeting each other have long been interpreted in all sorts of ways by fans.

There are even people who claim that Kim Jisoo and Cho Miyeon were lesbians before their debut and that they dated, but that they, as the "villain," interfered and stole each other's love!

Gan!
So you're pretty awesome, aren't you?

"So what?"

"You dated Zhao Meiyan, not Kim Jisoo, so what's there to be embarrassed about..."

"My unnie doesn't care..." Seulgi, who was drinking an iced Americano, looked up with a disdainful expression. She raised her chin at Gong Cheng and said, "Hey, why think so much? You're dating my unnie, not Kim Jisoo."

"..."

Hearing Kang Seulgi's words, Gong Cheng's expression stiffened slightly.

You with thick eyebrows and big eyes, do you know something?
"What are you talking about? We've never been in a relationship."

Bae Joo-hyun blushed slightly, giving her friend a reproachful look, before turning to Gong Cheng and saying, "I know, Ji-soo and your ex-girlfriend are very close friends, but it's okay, I'm close to her too, don't worry..."

"We're all friends, so it's normal to have disagreements and arguments."

As she spoke, her eyes shone brightly like shattered sunlight, and she blinked her long, thick, and dark eyelashes, her face beaming with a smile.

Bae Joo-hyun had always felt that Gong Cheng and Kim Ji-soo's interactions were quite awkward. She guessed that perhaps it was because of this awkward relationship? Therefore, she hadn't told Ji-soo that she had actually used the secret plan you taught her to woo your friend's ex-boyfriend...

That's not appropriate. What if Jisoo feels guilty towards her other friend, Jo Miyeon?

In short, relationships between girls are very complicated. If not handled properly, best friends can easily become enemies. Bae Joo-hyun was well aware of this, so she planned to slowly tell Ji-soo the news, at least giving her some buffer space.

It can't get too bad...

"Let's get together next time, when we have some free time."

Gong Cheng took a sip of lemon juice and decisively suggested next time, "But I still want some time alone with just the two of us~"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Bae Joohyun curled her lips, glancing somewhat shyly at Kang Seulgi, who was beaming with a doting smile. She gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear with a hint of reproach. "We're not even dating yet..."

"But since you're so busy, let's skip tonight. Besides, I didn't tell Jisoo you were coming..."

She didn't plan to tell Jisoo about it too soon. She had originally planned to get together tonight, so she would meet Jisoo first and give her friend a heads-up...

"Um, I'm sorry..."

Gong Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, but also sighed inwardly. Why did the plot feel so familiar?
It's like going back to the classic trio from three years ago?! He and Kim Jisoo made it to the finals?! Cho Mi-yeon is out, Bae Joo-hyun is filling in?!
Kim Jisoo! Why do you always have to be best friends with the girls I like? Are you targeting me? Are you doing this on purpose? First it was Cho Mi-yeon, then the big star, and now Bae Joo-hyun…

Gong Cheng is speechless.

"Kenchana~"

Bae Joo-hyun looked at him with a smile, "Then Seulgi and I will head back to the company first..."

"Okay, let's do it together."

Gong Cheng got up and left with Kang Seulgi and Bae Joohyun. He glanced at Kang Seulgi, who was all smiles. "We're dating, why are you smiling so happily?"
"what?"

"Together? Are you going to the company?"

Kang Seulgi reacted a beat slower, exclaiming in surprise and looking up.

"Yes, I came to SM today mainly to see Joohyun noona," Gong Cheng said, but before he could finish, Bae Joohyun blushed. Kang Seulgi interrupted her teasingly, "Aigoo, this is the first time I've seen you call your unnie so sweetly?"

"Is this the kind of advances that come from younger men?" She glanced at Gong Cheng with her big, bright eyes, then turned to stare at Pei Zhuxuan, her smile a mix of gossip and mischievousness.

"You're just as rude as Sehun, Seulgi. You're always interrupting others." Gong Cheng shrugged and joked. People like that who love gossip need to be punished severely! "Secondly, I need to discuss some collaborations with your company..."

As he spoke, he stared at Kang Seulgi with an expression that suggested he was an idiot, then winked at the smirking Daegu woman.

"We're good friends, aren't we?"

Hearing this, Kang Seulgi pouted uncomfortably, feeling hurt and betrayed! "When I was keeping an eye on your unnie's every move, you weren't like this at all! Now that I'm almost winning her over, you're turning your back on me?!"
"Oh, I wasn't really angry, just kidding~"

Gong Cheng made a funny face with a big smile; Seulgi found it quite amusing to tease him.

Kang Seulgi rolled her eyes, raised her fist, and punched him. To avoid being seen as taking revenge, she righteously took Bae Joohyun's arm and said, "Let me tell you, Gong Cheng, you'd better treat my unnie well from now on!"

"Otherwise, I'll teach you a lesson! Even Sehun can't stop me!"

"Then he's completely useless..." Gong Cheng shook his head helplessly, his tone venomous...

Kang Seulgi clicked her tongue and looked at Gong Cheng seriously, "You guys really are a bunch of fair-weather friends..."

"By the way, I heard from Sehun that you've been quite busy lately. He and Chanyeol invited you to go drinking and go to Jeju Island, but you turned them all down?" She thought of another equally unreliable friend, who had complained about this guy's popularity just a couple of days ago.

Wu Shixun's pitiful expression at the time, almost on the verge of tears, made her feel a little nauseous. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Gong Cheng had abandoned her after pulling up his pants...

"Yes, I've been too busy..." Gong Cheng replied matter-of-factly.

But Kang Seulgi glanced at Bae Joohyun beside her, thought for a moment, and still said irritably, "But I heard that after you turned down his invitation to go to Jeju Island, you went sea fishing there the next day or the third day, and you even visited TWICE on set..."

"I just happened to be filming in Jeju Island, so it was just bad luck~" Gong Cheng replied casually. The news of his visit to TWICE's set had already been reported by the media. With so many fans there, anyone who follows the names "Tarot" and "TWICE" would know, so there was no need to hide it.

"Didn't this guy tell you that the first thing I did when I arrived in Jeju Island was to have him pick me up at the port? Unfortunately, their flight back to Seoul was that morning..."

It was only a short walk from the coffee shop to the SM building. The three of them chatted as they walked, without trying to hide anything, especially since Kang Seulgi was there as their wingman.

The glass curtain wall of the SM building gleamed coldly in the afternoon sun. In the empty parking area downstairs, the wheels of staff or vans would occasionally roll over the concrete floor, and a few artists would jump out of the cars and hurry into the building amidst the cameras and screams of tourists and fans who came to take photos nearby.

Meanwhile, a group of idle fans, or even big-name fans, would gather near the building, forming small groups, waiting for their idols to arrive for work or leave work. In Gong Cheng's eyes, this phenomenon was very common…

Downstairs at almost every entertainment agency on the peninsula, you'll find groups of fans or tourists taking photos—it's all about idol worship! For some K-pop fans, Seoul is like Paris…

He saw this on the internet, which is enough to show the fanaticism of idol worshippers.

Walking briskly into the lobby of SM Entertainment, the receptionist and many staff members around him stared in surprise at the tall figure standing between Kang Seulgi and Bae Joo-hyun. Gong Cheng deftly removed his baseball cap, smoothed the stray hairs from his forehead, and narrowed his eyes, just in time to spot the woman who had just gotten out of the van and was now standing in front of the elevator waiting for it.

Bae Joo-hyun and Kang Seul-gi quickly greeted her, "Krystal sunbaenim..."

"...Krystal sunbaenim," Gong Cheng thought for a moment, then greeted the woman in front of him whose long, smooth hair cascaded down her neck. Krystal, Jung Soo-jung, wore a simple black suit jacket draped over her shoulders, a pencil skirt over her smooth legs, and a white shirt underneath.

With her cool and aloof features and a stubborn indifference at the corners of her mouth, she looked up at Gong Cheng, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She clearly hadn't expected to run into him at the company.

After giving a perfunctory greeting to Kang Seulgi and Bae Joohyun, Jung Soo-jung raised her eyebrows, smiled, revealing two small dimples, instantly softening the aloofness, and said, "Long time no see, Tarot..."

"Well, the last time we met was last year, wasn't it?"

Gong Cheng pondered for a moment, smiled, and stepped into the elevator. Jung Soo-jung, Bae Joo-hyun, and Kang Seul-gi followed him in. After they pressed the floor buttons one by one, he pressed the button for Lee Soo-man's office.

"Pretty much, how about we have dinner together another day? We can get to know each other better?" Krystal asked with a smile. This was all about connections! Afraid Gong Cheng would refuse, she recalled the scene last year when she and Yoona met Gong Cheng in Paris, and couldn't help but come up with an excuse, "Should we invite Yoona too?"

"Either is fine..." Gong Cheng smiled indifferently. He was joking, after all, the women of Daegu were still watching.

Moreover, he really wasn't interested in Krystal Jung. According to the rumors about their relationship, he was practically her brother-in-law? A kept brother-in-law?

"..."

The elevator doors opened, and Jung Soo-jung hesitated for a moment before calling out to Gong Cheng, who was about to stride away, "Tarot, how about we exchange contact information?"

"it is good……"

Gong Cheng turned around and stopped, took out his phone from his pocket and slightly raised his eyelids. It was only a one-time meeting, and he and Zheng Xiujing were not very familiar with each other.

On the contrary, Krystal Jung looked at this junior she hadn't seen in a long time. Aigoo, he was even more popular than when she met him last year. In addition, there were rumors about him and her unnie this year, which made her unnie sometimes wonder if she really got drunk at a bar a few years ago and had something happen with such a handsome younger man.
However, thanks to "Daily Gossip", the unnie gained a lot of traffic and has always wanted to get to know Tarot, but has never had the opportunity. On the contrary, this junior has a pretty good relationship with the other unnies of Girls' Generation, which is known in the industry.

"..."

After Gong Cheng and Jung Soo-jung left the elevator on different floors, Kang Seul-gi pulled Bae Joo-hyun out of the elevator, covering her mouth and saying incredulously, "After so many years in the industry, this is the first time I've seen an artist with a stronger aura than Krystal..."

“That only means that Gong Cheng and Krystal are really not familiar with each other…” Bae Joo-hyun knows Gong Cheng quite well. This aloofness is very uncomfortable, especially when he is with strangers he doesn’t know well. This is also why many celebrities have wanted to get to know Tarot but dared not in the past two years.

"Tsk tsk, Krystal-senpai seems quite distant, but goodness, Gong Cheng is even more distant than her, so cold and aloof... I was momentarily confused, wondering if the Gong Cheng we were chatting with downstairs was the same person as just now?"

Kang Seulgi spoke while sighing with emotion...

……

An hour later, Gong Cheng and Lee Soo-man arrived at the trainee department together.

"We're looking for actors for our company's music video among our trainees. Do you have any suitable candidates, Xiaocheng?" Lee Soo-man patted Gong Cheng's shoulder affectionately, somewhat puzzled as to why this incredible opportunity had fallen into his lap.

Gong Cheng yawned and looked around at the SM trainee department. "Not yet. Let's see. If I find a suitable candidate, I'll use him. If not, I'll go check out YG..."

He casually made up a story, saying, "Isn't this all for the sake of Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong? But I still have to put on a show to avoid rumors spreading and making me look like Park Chanyeol, being misunderstood as having feelings for the trainees..."

It was just a matter of giving some help to two little fans.

"YG?"

"What good trainees does YG have?" Lee Soo-man pushed up his glasses, a smile on his face. "It's not that I'm arrogant, but if your requirements for the MV contestants are pretty and handsome, then in the entire peninsula, only SM Entertainment can meet those criteria..."

"Is there anyone more handsome than me?" Gong Cheng asked curiously.

"..."

Lee Soo-man led the way in silence.

The thing he regrets most in his life is that he didn't let Park Jin-young join SM decades ago. Because if Park Jin-young had joined SM, there would have been no JYP anymore, and the boy next to him would definitely have been a child of SM!

Park Jin-young! How could you be so ugly?
"..."

SM's efficiency is quite reliable. In less than ten minutes, all the female trainees had gathered in the largest practice room of the trainee department.

Under the supervision of two trainee mentors, dozens of trainees, regardless of their monthly evaluation scores, crowded into the practice room, making the originally spacious room feel somewhat cramped.

The chattering and discussion rose and fell.

Is there a plan for a new girl group to debut?

"I do not know!"

"I just asked the teacher, but I didn't get any useful information..."

"Could it be some kind of assessment again? It's not time for the monthly review yet."

"..."

When the word "Tarot" wasn't mentioned, Kim Minjung and Yoo Jimin were quite united, knowing the importance of sticking together for warmth. The two huddled on the floor in a corner, hugging their knees, and curiously discussed, "What's going on?"

"Could it really be that they're choosing someone to debut in a new girl group, unnie..." Little Washboard sniffed and asked.

Liu Zhimin, wearing a white T-shirt, her heavy breasts pressed against her knees, shook her head, "I don't know, let's wait and see. With all this fuss, it can't be that some important person is coming, right?"

"Even if it's a selection process for a new girl group, it's fine. Our performance in the two months of evaluations has been consistently good. Most importantly, I have a great figure and I'm pretty, so there's no reason not to let me debut..."

Yoo Jimin covered her mouth and whispered smugly, which made Kim Minjung's fair face purse slightly, but she was helpless. Then, she heard her unnie's words and involuntarily clenched her fist, "Minjung, although your figure isn't great, you're still very pretty..."

"Unnie~!!" Kim Minjung frowned, and when he saw Yoo Jimin's teasingly raised eyebrows, he knew that she was playing a trick on him again.

Not far from the two, another girl with dark eyes sat alone. She happened to have overheard their conversation, then smiled to herself. Liu Zhimin and Jin Minzheng were quite famous in the trainee department...

Although she is not familiar with the area and is a foreigner, she has been a trainee at SM since 15 and her Korean is quite good.

"..."

Lee Soo-man strode into the trainees' room, adjusted his glasses, and looked at the dozens of trainees in front of him. Instantly, the trainees who were standing straightened up, and those who were sitting quickly stood up and bowed in unison, "Teacher Lee Soo-man..."

The trainee teacher standing nearby quickly spoke up, "President..."

Gong Cheng strolled lazily behind, stepping into the practice room, just as he was met by pairs of eyes that had just bowed and lifted...

Someone exclaimed "Ah!" first, and suddenly the crowd seemed to be drawn by a magnet, all staring at Gong Cheng in astonishment...

Instantly, the trainees covered their mouths and screamed, "Oh my god!"

"Tarot!?"

"..." The hushed whispers rustled like leaves in the wind in the practice room.

Hesitant voices rose one after another. Many of the trainees standing in the back row were a bit shorter and tried to tiptoe over the heads of the people in front of them. But the boy who slowly walked to Lee Soo-man's side was tall and outstanding. Even though he was at the end of the line, his smiling face could still be seen.

"Annyeonghaseyo~ I am Tarot."

Her soft, warm voice was like a refreshing breeze on a hot summer day.
Is it really Tarot?

"..."

Hesitant voices rose up. Most people had never seen Tarot in person, so they were somewhat surprised and uncertain. Many trainees quickly turned around and looked at the huge poster on the wall...

In the poster, Gong Cheng's figure fills the entire frame, bathed in spotlight, his handsome face with a gentle smile. The high-definition lens even captures the shadows on his eyelashes clearly, and behind him, thousands of support light boards form a sea of ​​stars in the darkness...

The silvery-white support color resembled a flowing galaxy, almost overflowing the edge of the stage, creating a truly stunning effect...

"It really is Tarot!"

"Oppa!"

"..."

Amidst the gasps of the other trainees…

"Oh my! What brings Oppa to our company?"

Kim Minjung didn't have time to care. Yoo Jimin had previously made snide remarks about her small breasts, so she tugged at her unnie's arm, tilted her head back, and tried to stand on tiptoe, hoping that her oppa could see her.

"...How would I know?"

Liu Zhimin couldn't be bothered with her. If I had known beforehand, would I have been interested in insulting her? Seriously… She really wanted to wave and greet her oppa, but she didn't dare; she was being extra cautious right now…

"Teacher Lee Soo-man...why is there a poster of me in your company's practice room?" Gong Cheng followed the trainees' gazes and immediately saw the huge poster on the wall. Good heavens, instead of the blue sky and white clouds in the new building, they hung up my poster?

Lee Soo-man smiled sincerely, "Because the trainees who come here all yearn to stand on the stage, under the spotlight. You are their role model, and it's not just your posters. In other practice rooms, there are posters of Bombardment Meteor, Girls' Generation, EXO, f(x), Ryder Baby, BoA... and many more..."

How does it feel to be a role model?

He joked.

"Hehehe..." Gong Cheng chuckled twice without saying much. People who didn't know better would think I was an artist from your SM Entertainment.

Lee Soo-man cleared his throat and then told the group of trainees in front of him, "Tarot is here at our company to audition for a music video..."

The words came down.

The trainees' expressions became increasingly interesting, and they even started warming up on the spot, wanting to showcase some of their skills in preparation for the selection process to begin.

Gong Cheng stood to the side, took off his baseball cap, and immediately spotted the two anxious "Sleeping Dragon and Phoenix Chicks" at the back of the line. They seemed afraid he wouldn't notice them. He didn't bother to greet them or tell them directly, "Sleeping Dragon and Phoenix Chicks, come with me..."

Instead, he sat smiling with Lee Soo-man on the sofa against the wall, watching the trainees preparing for their performance.

If suitable candidates are found, then adding one or two more spots besides Zhuge Liang and Feng Chu wouldn't be out of the question. After all, having Liu Zhimin and Xiao Xiban in the music video would just mean they'd be backup dancers and get some screen time...

Since they are backup dancers, it wouldn't be a problem to call in other trainees who are more outstanding as well.

"..."

Twenty minutes later, the trainees performed one after another.

There were rappers, singers, dancers, and even actors showcasing their skills; Lee Soo-man calmly observed the trainees' performances…

Gong Cheng watched the trainees with little interest; their skills varied greatly.

"My name is Liu Zhimin, and I am..."

Liu Zhimin wore her hair in a bun, a white tight-fitting T-shirt, and black straight-leg pants. She had a slender figure, but her bust size was shockingly large.

She nervously introduced herself, after all, Lee Soo-man was still proctoring not far away. After seeing Oppa wink at her from the sofa, she immediately relaxed a lot, took a deep breath, and prepared to perform a dance.

Gong Cheng glanced at Kim Min-jung, who was standing by the window waiting to go on stage. Next up was Little Washboard. He thought for a moment and said directly, "You two can come together..."

The main problem is that doing them one by one is too time-consuming.

"Inside……"

Kim Min-jung took small, quick steps and walked over to Yoo Jimin to introduce herself, "My name is Kim Min-jung, and I'm..."

"..."

The music is ringing.

Yoo Jimin and Kim Minjung stood about a meter apart and started dancing to the beat.

Lee Soo-man nodded in approval, quite satisfied with the performance of the two trainees.

Gong Cheng observed Kim Min-jung's dance, surprised that she was actually quite good at the "washboard dance." She had rolled up her black short-sleeved shirt before going on stage, revealing her toned abs, and her white straight-leg pants swayed lightly with her leg movements…

On its own, the dance was quite impactful. Her face, with its controlled expressions, smiled warmly at Gong Cheng, though her sparse eyebrows made her look somewhat comical. With a squatting motion, she stood up, leaned back, and then lifted her leg, looking incredibly dashing.

Her short hair swayed and floated in mid-air with the force of her dance.

When Liu Zhimin saw that her oppa's eyes were fixed on Kim Minjung, she felt a sudden anxiety! Her previously restrained dance moves suddenly became more unrestrained. She walked forward with a model's gait, her index finger to her lips, and was only a meter away from Gong Cheng sitting on the sofa...

Immediately afterwards, following the rhythm of the music, I suddenly raised my hands and placed them behind my neck, starting to do vocal expansion exercises.
The trembling dragon swayed precariously in mid-air, making Gong Cheng's eyelids twitch...

With a slight bite to her lips, Liu Zhimin's eyes held a captivating allure. She then shook her dragon-like body twice, tossed her beautiful black hair behind her neck, turned around, and retreated with cat-like steps. However, when she looked at her friend, she couldn't help but curl her lips into a mocking smile...

Kim Minjung was in a great hurry!
I was furious! This is blatant seduction, isn't it?

Not to be outdone, the two of them straightened their backs and began the dance they used to practice the most in the practice room, the choreography of "Blood Sweat and Tears". The atmosphere became tense, as if they wanted to dance each other to death!
"...cough cough..."

"That's it..."

Smelling the thick smell of gunpowder, Gong Cheng had truly witnessed what "fake besties" meant. He immediately interrupted their performance; he figured if he didn't stop them, they could battle until the end of the world...

"Thank you, Tarot oppa."

Liu Zhimin breathed a sigh of relief, then bowed deeply, her forehead covered in sweat, appearing very polite.

Kim Minjung was a beat slow, but she still tidied her messy hair and bowed deeply in a loud voice, "Thank you, Lee Soo-man teacher, thank you, Tarot oppa..."

"..." Liu Zhimin immediately came to her senses and quickly bowed in Lee Soo-man's direction, "Thank you..."

Gong Cheng smiled wryly. Aren't you two best friends?
Why go to such extremes?
If it were just a small washboard, thanking someone like "Tarot Oppa" wouldn't be a big deal. But having to mention Lee Soo-man is like treating the Dragon of the Execution Department like a puppet.
"Minjung, keep practicing, you've improved a lot..." Lee Soo-man pushed up his glasses and offered a word of encouragement. As for Yoo Jimin, he simply nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Next!"

"Teacher Lee Soo-man, senior Tarot, my name is Ning Yizhuo, I am Chinese, and I am..."

The trainee named Ning Yizhuo looked nervously at the two "big shots" on the sofa with her dark eyes. One was the president of her company, whom she had rarely seen even in her third year of training at SM. The other was a young boy, needless to say...

Although they were both Chinese, his immense aura and the invisible yet palpable sense of distance and alienation were somewhat suffocating; he was simply too powerful…

Can I sing Chinese songs?

Ning Yizhu asked cautiously, her fair skin and innocent face conveying a sense of shyness and introversion.

Lee Soo-man remained silent, instead turning to look at Tarot. Gong Cheng nodded and smiled, "Whatever..."

"The song I'm going to perform is 'It Will Definitely'..."

Ning Yizhuo took a deep breath and began to sing. The song was to be performed a cappella, without any accompaniment, so that her singing skills could be better showcased. She was quite eager to participate in the music video of this senior artist in front of her. After all, since last year, her practice room had been almost entirely covered with posters of Tarot...

It wasn't posted by her, but by the company, to motivate all the trainees.

Gong Cheng raised an eyebrow in surprise. "It will definitely be" was his own song.

"Aigoo, is this some kind of emotional appeal? Same nationality, and singing Oppa's songs..."

Liu Zhimin returned to the corner of the practice room, crossed her arms, and muttered to herself, "I want to participate in Oppa's MV too!"

How did someone even more cunning suddenly appear out of nowhere? She knew Ning Yizhuo, but they hadn't interacted much. She knew Ning Yizhuo sang very well, but that was all she knew about this trainee…

"Hmph..." Kim Minjung sneered. Unnie, you can't control your mouth and start talking nonsense again?
However, she also felt that Ning Yizhuo was too cunning. She started by playing the emotional card, mentioning nationality and singing Oppa's songs. She and Unnie, who have close relationships with Oppa, didn't use any back channels!

Why are you? !

"What do you think, Minjung?" Yoo Jimin asked again when Kim Minjung didn't respond, hoping to find someone who shared her hatred of the enemy.

Let's put aside our internal conflicts for now and see what this guy who's trying to play the emotional card is up to!
Kim Minjung didn't want to pay any attention to this unnie. They had agreed on fair competition before going on stage! But why did you run up to Oppa and wave your dragon head around? You think you're the only one with that?! That's so vulgar, despicable, and shameless!

Fortunately, she managed to salvage the situation in the final segment. Although she didn't manage to attract Lee Soo-man's attention during the dance segment, she still managed to leave a deeper impression on him. Normally, greetings and thanking someone are just ordinary things, but with that unlucky unnie next to her, her impression on Lee Soo-man was bound to rise significantly in comparison!

After reviewing the situation and seeing that she hadn't lost out, Kim Minjung leaned closer and muttered softly, "Yeah, unnie, I also think that's really mean. How could you play the emotional card? Isn't that just morally blackmailing oppa?"

"Rain~ and the wind blew the umbrella away~"

"It will completely surround you, erode your hair and back~" Ning Yizhuo's ears were very sharp. She overheard the whispers among the trainees behind her, but she still performed the song with a smile on her face. For some reason, she felt that the lyrics were very similar to her current situation...

"A stubborn mouth must never droop down."

"Just cover your ears to guard against a sudden clap of thunder~"

A clear and bright voice and singing...

Gong Cheng asked Lee Soo-man softly, "Lead vocalist?"

She sang quite well; the emotional delivery and vocal transitions were very engaging, but there was still room for improvement. However, among the trainees, she was considered outstanding.

Lee Soo-man shook his head. The company had no plans for a new girl group yet. While the trainee's singing skills were among the best of her batch, they weren't anything special compared to established artists. "However, she was indeed discovered by SM Entertainment because of her singing..."

Gong Cheng nodded and said nothing more.

Soon the song ended, Ning Yizhuo left the stage, and another trainee came up to perform.

"..."

……

The selection process ended an hour later.

Gong Cheng sat in Lee Soo-man's office, flipping through the trainees' files. He tossed photocopies of the "Hidden Dragon and Phoenix Chick" executive director's dragon and washboard Kim Min-jung's files onto the coffee table. "These two will do..."

"Only two?" Lee Soo-man asked, wanting to secure two more spots.

He didn't care who Gong Cheng chose. Given his popularity and fame, it didn't matter who he chose. Besides, the two names on the list, Liu Zhimin and Jin Minzheng, were trainees that the company was focusing on developing.

His monthly performance evaluations since last year have consistently ranked among the top of the trainees...

"Um……"

Gong Cheng glanced at him speechlessly, then flipped through the files again and took out the information of that fellow villager. "This one is fine too. His singing is good, but how is his dancing?"

"If possible, please add this as well..."

"The rest are just average, nothing special."

"Their dancing is alright, they won't hold us back. SM trains singers and dancers..." Lee Soo-man finished organizing the three trainees' information with satisfaction, and then said, "In that case, I'll have someone send the collaboration offer to JYP later..."

Before she could finish speaking, "ring ring..."

Gong Cheng's phone rang. He glanced at the number and the contact name, "Second Artillery," smiled apologetically, and went to the floor-to-ceiling window to answer the call. Before he could speak, he heard Park Chanyeol's teasing laughter.
"I heard you came to our company to select concubines?"

"..." Gong Cheng's lips trembled slightly. He turned around and went to Lee Soo-man's side, leaning back on the sofa and deliberately pressing the speakerphone button. "What did you say, Chanyeol hyung? I didn't hear you clearly..."

"I heard you came to our company to pick out concubines! Hahaha!" Park Chanyeol laughed loudly, his tone full of teasing.

Gong Cheng gave an awkward yet polite smile, glancing at Lee Soo-man sitting on the sofa. A cold glint flashed in his eyes behind his glasses, and he straightened his wrinkled face, his voice low and deep, "Tell him to come to my office..."

"Aigoo, maknae! I'm not trying to be mean, but you've come to SM, so why didn't you come to the practice room to see me and Sehun? Suho and the others were just saying they haven't seen you in ages, and you didn't even come to say hello?"

On the other end of the phone, Park Chanyeol kept yelling, interspersed with Oh Sehun's voice, "Maknae, I've booked a private room in Gangnam tonight..."

Gong Cheng suppressed a laugh as he looked at Lee Soo-man's ashen face, shrugged, and then chuckled as he spoke into the phone, "Tell Suho and the others that I just finished up and was about to head over to your practice room for a bit. But Chanyeol, it seems we won't have a chance to meet up..."

"Professor Lee Soo-man is next to me. He wants you to come to his office to report for duty..."

"..." There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

But this time, Lee Soo-man's voice was clearly transmitted, "Oh Se-hun, come over too..."

……

At 5 PM, Gong Cheng wandered around EXO's practice room for a while, and then went to Girls' Generation and Ryder Baby's practice room for a stroll.

Meanwhile...

Yoo Jimin, Kim Minjung, and Ning Yizhuo were called into the office by the teacher in charge of the trainee department. "The three of you have been selected as performers in Tarot's new song MV, but it's unclear whether you'll be the female lead or something. I guess you'll be a backup dancer, according to the president..."

"In short, for the music video shoot in a few days, you must obey orders, don't cause trouble for the company, and perform well in front of Tarot! Do you hear me!"

The woman in her thirties gave earnest instructions, then looked at the three trainees who were laughing hysterically in front of them, and couldn't help but wave her hand in front of their eyes, "Say something!"

Yoo Jimin and Kim Minjun exchanged a glance. "Oh my unnie!"

"We've really become [T-Girls]! We're going to collaborate with Oppa!!!"

Kim Minjung couldn't care less about anything else at that moment. He excitedly hugged Yoo Jimin and shouted out loud. The executive department's dragon also had an exaggerated expression.

But after a brief moment of joy, the two immediately distanced themselves again.

Liu Zhimin glanced at her friend with a complicated look in her eyes. Wouldn't it be great if she only chose me?
"..." Kim Minjung listened to his teacher's instructions with his head down. If they were shooting a music video, they would have to fight for screen time and billing order. He couldn't let his unnie get away with it again.

Ning Yizhuo, standing alone to the side, also had a happy expression on her youthful face, but since she wasn't familiar with the two people beside her, she listened quietly to the teacher's reminders...

In short, becoming a [T-girl] is the dream of almost every trainee and female artist!

The term "T-girl" refers to female celebrities or trainees who participated in the "Tarot" music video. The first generation of T-girls was Hwang Yeji, followed by senior artists like Taeyeon and Yoona...

In short, almost every artist who appeared in the "Tarot" music video became an instant hit!

……

On August 8th, Gong Cheng rushed back to Seoul from the set of "Parasite"...

Sitting in front of the equipment in the composition room, the impactful electronic sound effects in the headphones instantly shattered the silence. The signature synthesizer melody, with its rich 80s retro feel, was like a winding ribbon of light, and the leaping drumbeats were filled with a dreamlike, decadent atmosphere...

Gong Cheng compared the lyrics he had written with the song title, making revisions and modifications, and finally typed out the song title "Blinding Lights".

I then dialed the number of the person in charge of the relevant MV promotion project at Mercedes.

If all goes well, the audio recording for "Blinding Lights" will be completed in the next two days, and then we can start filming the music video. However, we'll need Mercedes to take care of the location and the costs for the music video.

"New York……"

"And the Empire State Building!"

Gong Cheng told the person in charge on the other end of the phone his thoughts, and added with a light laugh, "Also, your sports cars should be a bit more eye-catching."

After hanging up the phone, he stared at the audio track traces in his notebook.

"Blinding Lights", "STAY", "Seorita", "Soft Lips", "Only", "In My Blood", "Exile", "OFF My Face", "Go Crazy", "Trip"...

Of the 10 audio tracks, most have already been recorded, with only a few remaining.

Gong Cheng rubbed his temples, got up and went to the recording studio, where the recording ended.

Whether it's the music video with Mina, the music videos with the "Sleeping Dragon and Phoenix Chicks" cast, or the Mercedes promotional music video, it all has to start...

Then came the album release and the world tour...

……

"But I think that I'm done trippin'~"

"I'm trip trippin~"

"I've been drowning my sorrows in alcohol; that's my way of controlling myself."

In the recording studio, Gong Cheng was recording the audio for "Trip," the R&B melody was catchy and upbeat...

"..."

"..." The recording of "Trip" went smoothly. Gong Cheng walked out of the recording studio that night, and the recording lasted for thirty minutes.

……

9 PM, Gangnam District.

At the entrance of CUBE Entertainment, a van was parked in front of the gate. Zhao Meiyan, Song Yuqi, and a few others yawned and jumped out of the van, waving to the fans not far away.

"Mi Yeon! Go and bring Tarot back!"

In the crowd of fans, a die-hard fan held up a support sign and shouted! She's a shipper, a total shipper!
Zhao Meiyan pursed her lips, gave an awkward yet polite smile, then quickly walked into the company with the members' managers.

"Unnie, what important matter could have made the president call us back?"

Song Yuqi muttered something and nudged Zhao Meiyan next to her, her face full of fatigue but still brimming with energy.

"I do not know either……"

Having just finished a long day, Zhao Meiyan couldn't wait to go back to her dorm and sleep. Of course, she wanted to video chat with her boyfriend, that big bad guy, before going to sleep, to have some sweet moments. But as soon as the trip ended, the company told her to go back immediately, saying there was something very important.

As for what it was, she didn't know either.

Is they planning a comeback? Since their debut, (G)I-DLE's career hasn't been a massive hit, but it's been quite stable. It feels like if they can maintain this momentum, they'll be able to secure a place among the top girl groups with their next comeback...

The group entered the president's office in an orderly fashion. President Hong sat in his executive chair, a smile playing on his lips. But when he saw (G)I-DLE enter, he first gave a complicated look to Zhao Meiyan, who was wearing a bewildered smile, then picked up the documents on the table and slowly began to speak:
"..."

(End of this chapter)