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

The last note of "Violeta" had just fallen from the huge floorstanding speaker, its lingering resonance still reverberating slightly in the air.

Seated around the conference table were the head of CJ ENM's music division, several senior producers, and Kim Sung-soo, the manager of IZ*ONE's management office.

No one speaks.

"This... was really made yesterday in an underground recording studio over three nights?" Park Dong-hoon, the head of the music division, broke the silence, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"Absolutely true." Kim Sung-soo swallowed hard. "Won-young brought it back herself. Apparently, it was a product outsourced by a starship."

"Genius...no, this is a monster!"

A veteran producer slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and exclaimed with fervor, "Every nuance of the timbre has been polished to perfection! This is absolutely not something that can be produced by a typical K-pop assembly line. This song has soul!"

Park Dong-hoon's eyes suddenly lit up with an eerie light.

As a strategist, he knew all too well the terrifying commercial value a phenomenal song could bring.

"Chief Kim." Park Dong-hoon turned around, staring intently at Kim Sung-soo. "What's this producer's name? Where is he now?"

"This..." Cold sweat beaded on Kim Sung-soo's forehead. "Won-young said he handed over the master tape and left. I don't know any specific information about him yet."

"Useless!" Park Dong-hoon slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Such an important talent, and you actually let him go?! Investigate immediately! Use all your connections to investigate! If Starship doesn't provide the information, put pressure on them! No matter how much money or what conditions they offer, you must sign this person! He's from CJ, he has to be from CJ!"

"Yes! I'll contact Zhang Yuanying immediately!"

······

Zhang Zhenying sat at her desk in the study, holding a cup of black tea that had gone cold.

Her gaze fell on a document on the table. It was a copy of the lease agreement for a luxury apartment in the Seocho district, which Wei Wu had just signed yesterday.

"...I don't meet with strangers..."

Zhang Zhenying gently stroked Wei Wu's signature on the paper with her slender fingers, a dark and deep sneer curling at the corner of her lips.

"Do you think you can hide in a metal shell and safely get through these nine months, then just pack up and go back home?"

"Too naive."

She knew Wei Wu's character. He was extremely pragmatic, extremely averse to trouble, and had a desire for money, yet maintained a clear-headed restraint.

If she uses force, Wei Wu will definitely fight back to the death, and may even flee back to China at all costs.

She can't be the bad guy.

She had to get Wei Wu to stay "willingly".

In this world, what can most easily make people willingly put on shackles is capital and profit.

"Knock knock knock".

There was a gentle knock on the study door.

"Come in." Zhang Zhenying instantly suppressed all her sickly demeanor and reverted to her aloof and noble young lady appearance.

The butler pushed open the door and entered, bowing respectfully: "Young Miss, the Second Miss has returned. She seems to be in a very bad mood and has locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone."

"Really?" Zhang Zhenying raised an eyebrow slightly.

Of course she knew why Zhang Yuanying was in a bad mood. Her long-awaited prey had escaped, and CJ had even taken the hit song; anyone would go crazy in her shoes.

"Uncle Li." Zhang Zhenying stood up and handed the housekeeper a copy of Wei Wu's rental agreement. "Carelessly leave this document in the hallway outside Yuan Ying's room. Remember to act naturally."

Although the butler had some doubts, as the Zhang family's most loyal servant, he would never ask a single question.

"I see."

After the housekeeper left, Zhang Zhenying sat back down in her chair, picked up the cup of cold tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

The cold tea flowed down her throat, but it couldn't extinguish the wildly burning desire in her heart.

"Yuanying, my dear sister."

"Since you want him so badly, I'll help you out."

Zhang Zhenying's eyes gleamed with a chilling light under the dim table lamp.

"Once CJ sets its sights on Wei Wu's talent, it will never give up. They will use exorbitant breach of contract fees, complicated legal clauses, and benefits that Wei Wu cannot refuse to bind him firmly to South Korea."

"By then, Wei Wu, you will never be able to go back."

"You can only stay here, stay in my sight, stay in my... palm."

A few minutes later.

Second floor corridor.

Zhang Yuanying paced restlessly around the room. Jin Chengzhu had already called her more than a dozen times, pressing her for the whereabouts of the outsourced producer.

How could she possibly hand over Wei Wu?!

However, if she doesn't tell, CJ will definitely investigate Starship, and Wei Wu's identity will be exposed anyway.

Just as she was getting anxious and about to smash something, a white corner of paper suddenly peeked out from under the door.

Zhang Yuanying was stunned for a moment, then rushed over and flung open the door.

The corridor was empty except for a document lying quietly on the carpet.

She picked up the document with suspicion, opened it, and her pupils instantly contracted!

"Wei Wu...Seocho-gu...New apartment address?!"

Zhang Yuanying's heart pounded. Who put this here? Her sister? How could she possibly come to help her?

But there's no time to worry about that now!

Zhang Yuanying gripped the contract tightly, countless thoughts flashing through her mind.

Wei Wu ran away; he wanted to hide.

If I give this address to Kim Sung-soo... CJ will definitely do everything in their power to sign him.

Once he signs with CJ, he becomes IZ*ONE's exclusive producer, and he has to keep writing songs for me. He will never be able to leave my world!

Moreover, with CJ, this behemoth, blocking the way, Wei Wu has no way to escape even if he wants to!

"Wei Wu, you forced me to do this."

A sickly and twisted smile appeared on Zhang Yuanying's lips.

Without hesitation, she picked up her phone and dialed Kim Sung-soo's number.

"Chief Kim, I've found his address."

······

Wei Wu, wearing only a pair of shorts, lay on the sofa, holding a can of ice-cold cola, watching a variety show on TV and laughing like an idiot.

"Awesome! This is the life a human being should live!"

There are no incessant calls in the early hours of the morning, no crazy idols, and no sickly young ladies who might go insane at any moment.

All I need is sunshine, air conditioning, cola, and absolute security.

"Ding-dong—Ding-dong—"

Doorbell rang.

Wei Wu was taken aback.

"Who is it? I didn't order takeout."

He cautiously walked to the entrance and glanced at the screen of the video doorbell.

On the screen stood three men in suits. The one in the lead was a middle-aged man with slightly receding hairline and wearing black-rimmed glasses, carrying a briefcase. Behind him were two burly bodyguards wearing sunglasses.

Wei Wu's brows furrowed instantly.

This is definitely not an insurance sales pitch.

"Who are you looking for?" Wei Wu pressed the intercom button, his tone unfriendly.

"Are you Mr. Wei Wu?" Kim Sung-soo gave the camera an extremely professional, even somewhat obsequious, smile. "I am Kim Sung-soo, the head of management at CJ ENM's music division, specifically for IZ*ONE."

"CJ ENM?"

Wei Wu's heart skipped a beat.

Holy crap! How did these guys find their way here?!

His first thought was that Zhang Yuanying, that little madwoman, had betrayed him.

"I don't know any CJ, you've got the wrong person!" Wei Wu prepared to hang up the intercom without hesitation.

What a joke! Getting involved with South Korean conglomerates is never a good thing. Right now, he just wants to survive until the exchange period ends and then return home safely.

"Mr. Wei! Please wait a moment!" Kim Sung-soo clearly anticipated Wei Wu's reaction, and he called out urgently, "We mean no harm! We've come to you with the utmost sincerity! Regarding the song 'Violeta,' CJ ENM would like to discuss a very, very lucrative collaboration with you!"

"No way! I'm not interested! I'm just a ghostwriter, and the copyright has already been sold to Starship. Go find Starship!" Wei Wu refused without any mercy.

"Five hundred million won!"

Kim Sung-soo suddenly shouted a number into the camera.

Wei Wu's finger, which was about to press the hang-up button, froze in mid-air.

"Mr. Wei, 500 million won! This is just the signing fee!" Kim Sung-soo keenly noticed Wei Wu's pause and immediately pressed his advantage. "Just open the door, and we'll sit down and talk for ten minutes. Just ten minutes, and this 500 million won is yours!"

Wei Wu stood at the entrance, his expression showing an intense struggle.

500 million Korean won.

That's equivalent to nearly three million RMB.

Three million! And that's just the signing fee!

Wei Wu swallowed hard. Although he had a survival philosophy of "seeking advantage and avoiding harm," he was, in the end, a working-class man who had struggled at the bottom of society and was terrified of poverty.

He can refuse trouble, but he can't refuse... so much money.

"Damn it, it's stupid not to make money. At worst, I'll just listen to their nonsense, and if it really doesn't work, I'll refuse."

Wei Wu gritted his teeth and pressed the open button.

"Click".

The heavy security door was opened.

Kim Sung-soo, accompanied by his legal counsel, entered the spacious and bright apartment.

Ten minutes later.

"Mr. Wei, this is the 'Chief Independent Producer' contract that we at CJ ENM have tailored just for you."

Kim Sung-soo pushed up his glasses, his tone full of seduction.

"In addition to the signing fee of 500 million won, CJ will also provide you with the highest-level publicity resources."

"Most importantly..." Kim Sung-soo stared intently into Wei Wu's eyes, throwing out his most lethal trump card, "We know you prefer quiet and don't like being disturbed. Therefore, this contract grants you absolute freedom."

"You do not need to come to the company to clock in."

"You just need to stay at home, or anywhere you like, and send us the finished piece of music. I will personally handle all the coordination, and absolutely no one will bother you."

"Money, fame, and absolute freedom. Mr. Wei, what do you think?"

Wei Wu remained silent.

He stared intently at the check.

These conditions are fucking tempting.

Why did he want to run away before? Because Jang Won-young was mentally ill, and he was afraid of getting involved in the dirty and disgusting unspoken rules of the Korean entertainment industry.

But now, CJ ENM has directly thrown money in his face and promised to shield him from all trouble.

No need to go to the office? Purely cloud-based work, earn money while lying down?

This is simply the ultimate work model he's always dreamed of!

"I only need to submit the song, and I don't need to worry about anything else?" Wei Wu raised his head and stared at Kim Sung-soo with his dead fish eyes to confirm.

"Absolutely not! You are our God!" Kim Sung-soo patted his chest and assured them.

Wei Wu's original firm idea of ​​"returning to the country in six months" was instantly thrown to the winds by the promise of 500 million Korean won and absolute freedom.

"Why go back to China? Can you find a job here that pays well, is easy, and is close to home... no, a job where you don't even have to leave home?"

Wei Wu frantically tried to convince himself.

"As long as I don't see that crazy woman, I might as well make this money!"

Thinking of this, Wei Wu took a deep breath, picked up the pen on the coffee table, and signed his name on the last page of the contract without hesitation.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Chief Kim." Wei Wu pushed the contract back and stuffed the 500 million won check into his pocket.

"It's a pleasure working with you, Producer Wei!" Kim Sung-soo was trembling with excitement. He knew that he had signed a monster who could change the landscape of the Korean music scene.

After Kim Sung-soo and his men left.

Wei Wu lay on his back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, and let out a wild, unrestrained laugh.

"Hahaha! I'm rich! I've won so much!"

He thought he had traded his talent for the greatest benefit and absolute freedom.

······

Zhang Yuanying lay on the bed, burying her face deep in the pillow, emitting a chilling, morbid laugh.

"Cao Cao of Wei..."

"You can't escape now."

The noose of capital was already around his neck, and he willingly tied it himself.