Peninsula: Aiming for a Grand Slam

Chapter 63 ASA's Sincerity

Sato remained silent for a while.

He spoke very cautiously.

His speaking speed has slowed down considerably compared to before.

Before uttering a single word, I mentally had a battle with the legal department.

"Mr. Chen, what I understand to mean is that the personal image of our partners needs to conform to the mainstream aesthetics of the East Asian market."

"His personal aesthetic appeal and market appeal need to be widely recognized by the core audience in East Asia."

Great translation!

Therefore, Chinese-to-Chinese and English-to-English translation are the most difficult translation tasks in the world.

Chen Jixian leaned closer again, lowered his voice, and spoke even more hushedly than Kenji Sato:

"Could you include 'China, Japan, and South Korea' in the list?"

Kenji Sato firmly refused:

"No, that's national discrimination."

"But it can be written as: the partner should have a high level of public recognition in the East Asian market and a positive public image."

"Furthermore, the cultural background of your partners has a natural cultural affinity with your core audience in the Asian market."

Kenji Sato rubbed his temples for the third time.

He actually wanted to translate the outrageous demand "I don't like XXX" into a legal clause.

This is truly the first time I've ever had abortion.

"One last thing."

Chen Jixian did not look at the contract or point to any of the clauses.

He simply leaned back in his chair, speaking as if he were talking about the weather.

"Since you're going to engage in 'strategic cross-industry business cooperation,' I recommend someone."

Kenji Sato, who was checking the memo, looked up at Xiao Chen.

Chen Jixian began by saying:

Bae Joo-hyun, Irene of Red Velvet.

Chen Jixian spoke the name slowly.

It's a bit like reading a pre-written script.

"She and I have a foundation for public interaction, so there's no need to build momentum from scratch, and her commercial value is also higher than mine."

"It conforms to mainstream East Asian aesthetics and has a stable fan base in China, South Korea, and Japan."

Chen Jixian finished stating these reasons one by one, knowing in his heart that this was a presentation he was destined to lose.

But he doesn't intend to lose in silence.

Sato's expression remained unchanged: "You are not worthy of such a top-tier artist as you are now."

Xiao Chen guessed it.

ASA is not a charity organization, nor is it a matchmaker to help him meet his idol. They must have discussed it many times internally and exchanged opinions with investors before it became such a contract.

but,

Even if I were to agree, it couldn't be today.

Just kidding, who would sign something immediately just because someone sets the terms?

Find a problem, delay it, and then demand higher compensation—that's the basic operation.

Moreover,

He wasn't simply using Irene.

He'd rather work with Bae Joo-hyun than with "other women"...maybe that's a bit presumptuous of him.

Sato remained silent for a long time.

He then spoke again:

"Mr. Chen, let's be direct. ASA can offer you more than just revenue sharing."

His finger tapped on the document cover, making no other movement.

First, wildcards.

"Hope Tour, Challenger Series, ATP Tour, Masters Series—we'll arrange those. As for the Grand Slams, we'll put all our effort into them."

"There's only one prerequisite: your ranking must meet the application threshold, so don't make things difficult for the event organizers."

He paused for a moment.

"In 2021, the Hope Tournament and Challenge Tournament in East Asia were canceled on a large scale, the Xiajiang Masters Tournament was suspended, and most professional tournaments in China were suspended."

"But we can give you the opportunity to compete, so that you can continue to play, earn points, and move forward during the pandemic."

Chen Jixian did not speak.

But his jawline tightened slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed gently.

Only he knew that Sato's words had hit him right where it hurt.

His ATP score,

zero.

Whenever someone asks him, "What competition are you going to play in next?", he has to pretend that he is waiting for the right opportunity.

It's not about waiting for the right opportunity.

They don't even have the right to wait.

Following the pandemic, the number of games is expected to be significantly reduced.

In the past, many competitions that were meant to give newcomers practice were either cut or merged.

Those who were lucky enough to escape elimination will be ranked accordingly.

Those with points will be given priority, those without points will be given priority.

"Go back and wait for further notice."

It's highly likely that we'll never get a replacement.

Sato didn't just say "I'll arrange the match for you".

He was saying that we can make a non-existent person exist.

Chen Jixian remained silent for a few seconds.

"continue."

His tone was indifferent.

But the sitting posture has changed.

Previously, I was leaning back in my chair; now, I'm leaning slightly forward.

Sato noticed this change.

He didn't say it out loud.

"Second, accommodation and training guarantees during the quarantine period."

"We can arrange hotels or private villas with tennis courts, along with strength and conditioning coaches and rehabilitation therapists, to ensure you can maintain your normal training during quarantine."

"This kind of resource cannot be obtained simply by having money."

Chen Jixian was a little confused:

"Wait a moment.

"Doesn't the ATP have those closed-door tournaments? You go directly to the hotel, then to the match, and the tournament organizers arrange the training facilities."

Sato's finger stopped in mid-air.

He did not immediately refute.

Sato merely tilted his head slightly, as if to confirm: Are you really a newbie?

Ok,

I'm a complete newbie.

Sato put down his pen:

"Mr. Chen,"

The "safety bubble" you mentioned does exist.

"They started using this method at the 2020 US Open. Players are taken directly to their hotels after arriving, and then it's a simple two-point line between the hotel and the stadium... It sounds reasonable."

He paused for a moment.

"But have you considered how you're going to allocate resources among fifty players and three training fields in the hotel?"

Xiao Chen didn't say anything.

Sato continued:

"By ranking."

"Prioritize those in the world's top ten, then the top fifty, and those outside the top one hundred will be notified later."

"Your training time might be 6 a.m. or 10 p.m.

"You can't choose or change the venue. The venue and rules are set by the organizer."

Sato's tone remained calm throughout.

"And then, those training grounds aren't closed off. Whatever you're practicing, your opponent can see it all from next door."

"Your serve, the slight adjustment to your forehand contact point... all of this was under your opponent's nose."

"Do you think professional players would watch it? Would they take notes? Would they go back and discuss it with their coach?"

Chen Jixian's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Sato raised his last finger:

Finally, if someone on your flight tests positive...

"You can't go anywhere, you can't even leave your room, your physical trainer can't enter your room, let alone the training ground."

"Dozens of players practiced in front of mattresses for 14 days straight. This is not a joke; it actually happened this year."

He put his hand down and picked up the pen again.

"And the private space I was referring to..."

He turned to the third page of the contract and tapped it with his fingertip.

"Not on the event organizer's allocation list."

"Come whenever you want, you'll be alone, and your opponent won't know what you're practicing."

He turned the contract over to face Xiao Chen.

"It's not about whether the food is good or bad, it's about ensuring that every day is not wasted."

Chen Jixian cleared his throat.

My throat is still a bit dry.

"continue."

Sato began by saying:

"Third, FILA is a strategic partner of ASA."

"Once you win your first Hope Series title, the collaboration will be released immediately. Once the product is on the market, the promotion will follow."

Turn the page.

Fourth, event cancellation insurance.

"If the event is cancelled due to force majeure, the insurance company will reimburse you for the travel and accommodation expenses you have already incurred, plus a fixed compensation payment."

"This insurance product is obtained through ASA's partnership channels; you can't buy it yourself."

Turn the page.

Fifth, advance payment of travel expenses.

"For a newcomer without an ATP ranking, traveling around the world for tournaments in their first year is very expensive."

"ASA provides you with a season travel advance credit, covering essential expenses for participating in the competition, such as airfare, hotel, and visa fees. These expenses will be deducted first after the prize money is credited to your account."

Sato closed the file.

"The above five points are what we can promise right now."

Chen Jixian remained silent.

His gaze was still on the table, but his focus had wandered.

Xiao Chen once thought that as long as he had the system, there would be no obstacle that could stop him, and he could work alone.

He subconsciously ignored every question mark he encountered.

right now,

Sato picked out these questions one by one and laid them out on the table.

Not a threat.

It's not a temptation.

It's just a statement.

His throat was a little dry.

Chen Jixian wanted to drink water, but did not reach for the kettle.

Because once he makes a move, Sato will know that he is wavering.

Xiao Chen remained silent for a long time.

Sato didn't say anything more.

He is waiting.

The only sound in the room was the low hum of the air conditioner.

"There's one more thing," Xiao Chen said.

His voice was a little dry.

This sentence seems to have been stuck for a long time, with all its sharp edges smoothed out before it was finally released.

"The one I mentioned to you before... Bae Joo-hyun."

He made a great effort to make his tone sound very businesslike.

It's like adding a clause that has already been discussed but was forgotten to be written into the memo.

"Her commercial value, cross-industry influence, and recognition in the target market... you know these data better than I do." He finished speaking and then looked at Sato.

Sato did not laugh.

He seemed a little surprised that such generous terms still couldn't make Xiao Chen give in.

Then, Kenji Sato felt a little relieved.

If you don't even have this much self-control, how can you become the world's most influential tennis star?

"Mr. Chen, ASA is a legitimate talent agency, not a tool for you to chase after celebrities, much less a matchmaking agency."

"Mr. Sato, you can think of it as... me confirming my own scarcity."

Xiao Chen didn't know how he managed to endure it.

Perhaps it's because of Bae Joo-hyun.

Perhaps it's because of reason.

Anyway, we held on.

Kenji Sato remained silent for a moment before saying, "We will seriously consider your recommendation."

Chen Jixian did not look at Sato.

He stared at the system panel.

The psychological circle of middle-aged Japanese people suddenly shone with golden light!

Then, within a second, it returned to normal brightness.

The ring rapidly shrank to the size of an egg, its golden edges contracting and expanding unpredictably.

Simultaneously,

A layer of silvery mist rose around the outer edge of the ring.

Chen Jixian silently memorized it in his mind:

"He's still just giving me the runaround."

The outer edge of the ring is shrouded in silver mist—this is what a lie looks like.

"A highly vigilant defensive posture."

The ring shrinks.

The frequency of expansion and contraction increases.

"My emotions fluctuated wildly, but I regained my composure in an instant."

The brightness of the ring increased dramatically.

It returned to normal in another second.

Sato,

Or the person behind him.

It's impossible to agree to Xiao Chen's request.

The other party did not say,

But that's what the psychological circle "says".

……

Chen Jixian pushed open the car door and stepped onto the cement ground at the entrance of the residential area.

He turned around:

"Mr. Sato, you've had a long day."

Kenji Sato nodded slightly:

"I will organize the contract terms and send them to you as soon as possible. And good luck with your exams too."

"Seoul can greatly enhance your business value, which is also beneficial to ASA."

Chen Jixian stood at the entrance of the residential area, watching the taillights of the black Mercedes disappear around the street corner.

The evening breeze blew into his collar, he yawned, and then went home.

When taking a shower, turn the water on full blast and stand under the showerhead, lost in thought.

The images of the circle, the silver mist, the golden light, and Sato's five... are still swirling in my mind.

But he was too tired, too tired to analyze anymore.

Username: Chen Jixian

Age: 17

【Height: 184】

Training package slots: 0/1

[Lifestyle Package Slots: 0/1]

He finally had time to hang up a study bag.

Why did he bind himself to the system in the first place? Wasn't it to improve his grades?

result,

A month has passed,

The grades actually dropped a little.

This is outrageous!

Chen Jixian opened his inventory; the TOPIK Level 6 study pack was already prepared.

April 11th, TOPIK exam.

Hanging your bag now is the perfect time.

By the way, the Korean history study kit was already set up and I got it done in just two days.

He died during the competition.

[Should I install the TOPIK Level 6 learning package?]

"hang."

[TOPIK Level 6 Study Package: 239 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds remaining.]

So cool.

When we first started the backhand training package, it was truly a process of honing our skills day by day, stroke by stroke.

What about the learning package?

Automatic AFK farming!

No effort required... except for RMB.

Turn on your phone.

There were still no replies in Liu Zhimin's chat box; she was probably having a hard time right now.

Xiao Chen then opened Bae Joo-hyun's Kakaotalk.

I typed a few words and then deleted them.

Chen Jixian asked himself:

"Should we continue?"

"She only sees you as a younger brother. She's a top female celebrity, would she even be interested in you? Even if Bae Joo-hyun were interested, would SM Entertainment agree to it?"

I don't want to think about this.

Even if we're going to sign a contract, it can't be in the next couple of days. Everyone has to wait and see if we can still get gold coins.

He carefully considered how to phrase it:

"Sis, are you free tomorrow? I'd like to treat you to barbecue."

Read.

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"No need, save your champion's bonus."

Chen Jixian squatted on the sofa:

"You used to bring me rice balls on your way here, so this time I'd like to treat you to barbecue."

The other side fell silent again.

This time it took longer than before.

About two minutes later, two words popped up.