Why would Peninsula want to date a lazy dog ​​like me?

7:55 PM.

Wei Wu, wearing a slightly faded black shirt and carrying a canvas bag, stood in front of the ornate iron gate and took a deep breath of the slightly hot early summer air.

"Damn, what kind of mess is this?"

He cursed inwardly.

Just the day before, he had pointed his finger at Jang Won-young, who was worshipped as a goddess by countless men in South Korea, in the underground recording studio of Starship Entertainment, and cursed her with the most vicious language, before flipping the table and leaving with great style.

As a result, when the cold wind blew, the pressure of rent felt like a mountain pressing down on us.

To earn the hundreds of thousands of won monthly rent for a cheap apartment, and to avoid ending up homeless on the streets of Seoul, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and call Jang Jin-young, who was also a bit neurotic but extremely generous with money, to apply for a job.

"drop--"

The iron gate slowly opened. The security personnel had clearly been notified; they glanced at Wei Wu with a slightly surprised look but did not stop him.

Wei Wu walked straight across the neatly trimmed lawn and into the brightly lit villa without glancing to the side.

Second floor, study.

When Wei Wu pushed open the heavy oak door, Zhang Zhenying was sitting upright behind the large desk.

His entire demeanor was cold and aloof, like an unscalable iceberg.

"You're thirty seconds late, Teacher Wei."

Zhang Zhenying didn't look up; her voice was as cold as if it had been soaked in ice water.

"The security guard at the gate took a little longer to check my identity." Wei Wu pulled out a chair opposite the desk without any ceremony and sat down, casually tossing his canvas bag on the ground. "Zhang Zhenying-xi, let's get straight to the point. Today we'll talk about the advanced usage of 'de, di, de.' You got these three words completely wrong on the last test."

Zhang Zhenying's fingers, which were holding the pen, paused slightly.

She slowly raised her head and looked at the man in front of her through her glasses.

His face looked tired, and his eyes were bloodshot from anger and running around, but his dead fish eyes still shone with a light that showed no interest in anything but money.

He is back.

He really came back.

Deep within Zhang Zhenying's heart, encased in a thick layer of ice, a wild beast of ecstasy roared and tore at its cage. She had to use almost all her strength to restrain herself from lunging at the man and pinning him firmly to the chair.

"Let's begin."

Zhang Zhenying's voice didn't tremble at all as she coldly pushed the thick Chinese grammar book in front of Wei Wu.

For the next hour, the only sounds in the study were Wei Wu's slightly hoarse voice as he lectured and Zhang Zhenying's rustling of pen notes on paper.

Wei Wu spoke very seriously. He believed that if he took the money, he would definitely do a good job; this was his fundamental survival logic.

"In the phrase 'quickly escape,' the verb '地' is used, modifying the '地'. You wrote it as '的' instead, which in Chinese makes it sound like your writing skills are at an elementary school level." Wei Wu drew a big X on Zhang Zhenying's workbook with a red pen.

"I understand." Zhang Zhenying nodded obediently.

In this eerie yet peaceful atmosphere, a loud bang suddenly came from the study door.

"Bang!"

There was no knocking, no announcement.

The heavy oak door was pushed open from the outside with extreme force, slamming against the wall with a deafening thud.

Wei Wu and Zhang Zhenying both frowned and turned to look at the doorway.

Zhang Yuanying stood there.

She wasn't wearing makeup and was wearing a large black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled down low.

Her chest was heaving violently, clearly indicating that she had run up there.

When she saw Wei Wu sitting at his desk, correcting her sister's homework with a red pen, a chilling, savage glint flashed in her eyes, hidden in the shadows, like a venomous snake locking onto its prey.

"You actually blocked me?"

Zhang Yuanying strode into the study, her high heels clicking rapidly and angrily on the floor.

She completely ignored Zhang Zhenying sitting opposite her, walked straight to Wei Wu's side, slammed her hands on the desk with a "thud," and stared intently at Wei Wu from above.

Three minutes after leaving the Starship Building, Wei Wu blacklisted Zhang Yuanying's Kakao account and phone number. His usual approach to clients who only act out and don't provide necessary information was physical isolation.

"Zhang Yuanying, this is my work time." Wei Wu didn't even lift his eyelids, continuing to look at the exercise book in his hand. "If you're here to see your sister, please wait until I finish class. If you're here to see me, I'm sorry, we no longer have a contractual relationship."

"Who said there isn't?!"

Zhang Yuanying's voice was so shrill it almost pierced Wei Wu's eardrums.

She suddenly reached out and grabbed the workbook that Wei Wu was grading.

"A penalty of 500 million? You think you can get away with that?" Zhang Yuanying sneered, her once sweet face now contorted with extreme possessiveness. "Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, get back to the Starship recording studio!"

"You want requirements? You want a plan? I'll give you that! I'll give you anything!"

Zhang Yuanying's eyes flashed with an almost insane stubbornness.

"As long as you show up on time tomorrow, I'll pretend yesterday never happened. You didn't breach the contract, and the 20 million is still yours."

Wei Wu finally raised his head.

He looked at Zhang Yuanying's face, so close to his own, and saw the undisguised aggression and domineering nature in her eyes. His brows furrowed deeply.

Does this woman have masochistic tendencies? He insulted her so badly, and instead of flying into a rage and suing him, she came to his house to satisfy his needs?

Just as Wei Wu was about to speak, an extremely cold voice rang out in the study.

"Get out."

Zhang Zhenying slowly stood up.

She didn't look at Zhang Yuanying, but slowly took off her gold-rimmed glasses and gently placed them on the table.

"Zhang Yuanying, who gave you permission to enter my study without knocking?"

Zhang Zhenying's voice wasn't loud, but the absolute pressure from someone who had long been in a superior position and was the older sister instantly lowered the temperature in the study to freezing point.

Zhang Yuanying turned her head to look at her older sister.

The two sisters' eyes collided violently in the air.

Zhang Zhenying's eyes were deep and cold, carrying an inviolable sense of territoriality. Zhang Yuanying's eyes, on the other hand, were full of provocation, resentment, and a frantic possessiveness.

"Unnie," Zhang Yuanying sneered, "I'm just here to talk to my producer about some work. You're not going to meddle in this, are you?"

"Producer?" Zhang Zhenying's lips curled into a mocking smile. "All I see is a madwoman barging into someone else's private space like a shrew. Wei Wu is now my Chinese teacher, and I've bought out his time."

"Now, get out of my study right now." Zhang Zhenying pointed her finger at the door. "Don't make me throw you out myself. That would make you look bad as the 'Nation's Center.'"

Zhang Yuanying gritted her teeth, her cheek muscles bulging slightly.

She knew that if things really escalated, she would be the one who suffered in the end.

But she absolutely could not bow down to her sister here! She absolutely could not hand over Wei Wu to him!

Zhang Yuanying suddenly turned her head and looked at Wei Wu again.

"Wei Wu, remember what I said." Her voice was deep and commanding, brooking no argument. "Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, Starship Recording Studio. If you dare not come..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but instead gave Wei Wu a vicious and aggressive look before turning around abruptly and striding out of the study.

"Bang!"

The oak door was slammed shut again.

The study fell silent once more.

Wei Wu rubbed his temples, somewhat speechless.

"Do you rich girls always have to expend so much energy to communicate?" Wei Wu picked up a red pen and continued marking crosses on the workbook. "Zhang Zhenying, let's continue. Your usage of the word 'de'..."

Zhang Zhenying looked at Wei Wu, who seemed as if nothing had happened, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

There was ecstasy, there was jealousy, and there was also a deep sense of powerlessness.

This man was like a stone that could never be warmed. Neither his sister's madness nor his own forbearance seemed to leave any mark on his heart.

"Teacher Wei," Zhang Zhenying suddenly interrupted him, "Are you going to Starship tomorrow?"

Wei Wu put down his pen, looked up and glanced at Zhang Zhenying.

"Go ahead, why not?" Wei Wu's tone was so matter-of-fact that it made you want to punch him. "Since she's willing to provide the requirements, then we can do the job. It's 20 million won, not 2,000 yuan. I'm not so rich that I'm willing to give away money."

Zhang Zhenying's fingers tightened suddenly under the table, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

"Aren't you afraid she'll play you again?"

"Let her do whatever she wants." Wei Wu shrugged. "As long as she doesn't let me go on stage or show my face, she can do whatever she wants. I'm there to make money, not to date her. If things get really bad, I'll just flip the table again."

After Wei Wu finished speaking, he lowered his head and continued looking at the workbook.

Zhang Zhenying looked at the top of his head, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the urge to lock Wei Wu up immediately.

"Okay." Zhang Zhenying's voice returned to its icy tone. "Continue the lesson."

……

The next day, at 8:50 a.m.

Starship Entertainment, recording studio on the basement floor.

Wei Wu remained in his unchanging attire: a black baseball cap pulled low, a black medical mask covering most of his face, revealing only a pair of lifeless, expressionless eyes.

He pushed open the soundproof door and walked into the control room.

Then, he froze.

The usually empty recording studio was packed with people today.

To be precise, it was crowded with a group of young girls dressed in all sorts of casual clothes, their faces showing obvious fatigue and confusion.

IZ*ONE.

All twelve girls are here, not one missing.

Ahn Yu-jin leaned back on the sofa, yawning. Choi Ye-na was staring blankly at a bottle of mineral water, while Kwon Eun-bi, as the leader, was talking quietly with several members with a serious expression.

The moment Wei Wu pushed open the door and walked in, all eyes were on him.

"Annyeonghaseyo..."

Several of the more outgoing members instinctively stood up, bowed, and greeted him. Although they didn't know who this masked, heavily disguised man was, his presence in Starship's top-tier recording studio meant he was likely a big-name producer.

Wei Wu ignored their greetings.

His gaze swept across the crowd and landed on Zhang Yuanying, who was sitting in front of the mixing console.

Zhang Yuanying was wearing a fitted black T-shirt and a dark red skirt. She crossed her legs, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and looked at Wei Wu with an extremely arrogant and provocative gaze.

Wei Wu originally thought that Zhang Yuanying had just made up a lie last night to keep him calm.

God knows what methods this crazy woman used to somehow tear a hole in IZ*ONE's airtight schedule and drag all eleven people here!

"I, Zhang Yuanying, have never failed to do what I've said."

Zhang Yuanying stood up and walked to Wei Wu. She was already quite tall for a woman, and wearing high heels, she could almost look Wei Wu in the eye.

She turned to look at her bewildered teammates, her voice instantly switching to that sweet, sensible maknae (youngest member) tone.

"Unnies, thank you for your hard work. This is a secret project the company is preparing for our next comeback. This is a top producer specially hired by the company. Today we need to collect your vocal data here to help the producer with the subsequent arrangement work."

Although the members had doubts (such as why CJ's project would be carried out in Starship's recording studio), they all nodded in agreement out of obedience to the company and trust in Jang Won-young.

Only Quan Enfei frowned and tilted her head, looking at Zhang Yuanying and Wei Wu with a puzzled expression, but she still didn't say anything.

"Alright, unnies, go to the recording studio inside and get ready to warm up your voices." Zhang Yuanying waved her hand.

After all the members entered the recording studio behind the soundproof glass and closed the door.

Only Wei Wu and Zhang Yuanying remained in the control room.

Zhang Yuanying's sweet smile vanished instantly.

She turned her head and stared intently at Wei Wu, her eyes flashing with a twisted pleasure and malice.

"Wei Wu, didn't you want requirements? Didn't you want sound data?"

Zhang Yuanying pointed to the girls behind the soundproof glass who were playfully fighting and preparing to sing.

"I've brought you people. Twelve different timbres, you can choose whichever you like."

She took a step forward, almost touching Wei Wu.

"but."

Zhang Yuanying's voice was very low, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

"I have something to tell you."

"No matter how many all-nighters you spend in this shabby shed, no matter how amazing your divine songs are, no matter how perfectly you blend their timbres."

A cruel smile curled at the corners of Zhang Yuanying's lips.

"This song will not be released."

"I'll throw the master tape you painstakingly wrote into the trash can right in front of you! I'll crush it to pieces!"

Zhang Yuanying stared intently into Wei Wu's eyes, trying to see anger, humiliation, or the pain of having his hard work trampled upon.

This was the revenge plan she came up with while tossing and turning in bed last night.

Aren't you arrogant? Don't you only care about your job? Didn't you say I don't understand music?

Fine, I'll give you the best resources, let you pour all your heart and soul into it, and then, when you're at your most triumphant, I'll destroy your work like garbage!

I want you to know that in this world, only I can determine your worth!

Zhang Yuanying was disappointed again.

After hearing her vicious declaration, Wei Wu didn't even raise an eyebrow.

He calmly put down his canvas bag, pulled out a chair and sat down, then skillfully turned on the power switch of the mixing console.

"Do as you please."

While adjusting the clippers, Wei Wu spoke in a nonchalant and carefree tone.

"Anyway, once I finish writing and submit the manuscript, I'll take the 19 million and run away. The ownership of the master tape belongs to the client. Whether you want to throw it in the trash or use it to score an R-rated movie is entirely up to you."

Wei Wu turned his head and looked at Zhang Yuanying's face, which was slightly stiff with shock.

"I'm only responsible for producing the goods, not for their after-sales service. Even if you burn them for firewood, as long as the money is in my account, I won't utter a sound."

"you……"

Zhang Yuanying's breath hitched.

She felt as if she had gathered all her strength and punched a disgusting lump of mud. The feeling of powerlessness and frustration was driving her crazy.

What exactly is this man's anatomy?!

Doesn't he have even the slightest feeling for his work?! Is he really just a walking corpse who would abandon dignity and effort for money?!

"Alright, enough with the nonsense."

Wei Wu put on the monitoring headphones worth tens of thousands of yuan, blocking out the outside world.

"We only have today," Zhang Yuanying said through gritted teeth, her voice fierce. "They're flying to Japan tomorrow. You only have today to hear their voices!"

"One day is enough to listen to the characteristics of the tone." Wei Wu's voice revealed an absolute professional confidence.

"How long do you expect to deliver the manuscript?" Zhang Yuanying braced her hands on the mixing console, staring intently at Wei Wu. "The contract stipulates fifteen days, and six days have already passed. If you dare to be even one day late, I swear, I will use that 500 million yuan penalty to sue you until you're bankrupt! I will make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison!"

"Don't worry, I know the time."

Without turning his head, Wei Wu typed away on the keyboard, starting to create the project file.

"……good."

Zhang Yuanying took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her inner rage, and turned around to prepare to go to the recording studio to arrange for the members to start the audition.

Just as her hand was about to grasp the doorknob.

Wei Wu's voice suddenly came from behind.

"Zhang Yuanying xi".

Zhang Yuanying paused in her movements.

She turned her head, her eyes icy: "What? Are you going to back out again?"

Wei Wu removed half of his earphone, turned around, and calmly gazed at Zhang Yuanying with his eyes hidden in the shadow of his baseball cap.

I'm serious.

Wei Wu's tone no longer carried the anger and sarcasm of before, but instead carried an objective assessment.

"You'd be better off being more authentic."

"You're a born madman who'll stop at nothing to achieve your goals, why bother pretending to be an angel?"

After Wei Wu finished speaking, he put his headphones back on and focused all his attention on the screen in front of him.

The control room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhang Yuanying stood there, her hand gripping the doorknob tightly.

"...Get to work!"

She flung open the door and rushed into the recording studio.

But the moment the door closed, Zhang Yuanying's heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.

Be more realistic?

madman?