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

In this dark underground space, where only the indicator lights of precision instruments flash, time seems to have lost its original measure.

During those five days, Zhang Yuanying felt like a patient hunter, slowly tightening the noose around her prey's neck.

In her mind, everything she did—locking Wei Wu in this recording studio with a contract with a penalty of 500 million yuan for breach of contract—was not for any kind of bullshit music.

She simply needed a legitimate reason, one that would leave no room for doubt, to lock Wei Wu up completely.

As for that so-called "IZ*ONE comeback song"?

That's the biggest joke of the century.

IZ*ONE's music production and distribution rights, as well as all core projects, are firmly controlled by the capital giant CJ ENM behind them. As Jang Won-young's agency, Starship Entertainment can at most gain some say in revenue sharing and schedules, but has no way to interfere with the production of IZ*ONE's comeback album's title track.

That 20 million won outsourcing contract was a "ghost project" that Jang Won-young forced Starship Entertainment executives to fabricate by using her contract renewal issues.

She didn't care what songs Wei Wu could write. Even if Wei Wu typed out a dog barking in the recording studio, she would still transfer the 20 million to his account without batting an eye.

What she wanted was Wei Wu himself.

She wanted to make this man completely succumb to her sweet advances, making him kneel before her high heels wagging his tail like a dog in heat.

Then, she would lead the dog to her sister Zhang Zhenying, and with a smile tell her, "Look, the man you cherish so much, he's completely devoted to me with just a flick of my finger."

What a wonderful scene that would be! Just thinking about the look of collapse, despair, and unbearable pain that her sister might show made Zhang Yuanying tremble with excitement, and she even bit her lip until it bled in the middle of the night.

To achieve this goal, Zhang Yuanying had absolute confidence in her charm.

She is universally recognized as a "born idol" in South Korea, a perfect goddess whom countless men dare not even dream of profaning. If she were willing to lower herself and show just a little bit of feminine gentleness and care, how could this poor international student who has always lived at the bottom of society possibly resist?

So, for the past four days, Zhang Yuanying has been showing up at the recording studio on time every day.

On the first day, she wore a pure white dress, carrying a takeout box of Seoul's top-notch Japanese cuisine, and said to Wei Wu in a sweet voice that could melt anyone's bones, "Teacher Wei, you must be tired on your first day of work. I specially brought you a bento box. Please eat more!"

The next day, she changed into a vibrant tracksuit, took two cups of hand-ground Geisha coffee, sat on the sofa next to Wei Wu, rested her chin on her hands, and looked at him with eyes full of admiration and curiosity: "Teacher Wei, you look so cool operating these instruments. I really look forward to seeing what kind of divine song you can write."

On the third day, she even deliberately showed a hint of fatigue and vulnerability in front of Wei Wu, rubbing her shoulders and complaining about the hardships of the journey, trying to arouse Wei Wu's protective instincts.

Day ...

She used almost every "harmless and charming" sales tactic a perfect idol could employ. With an air of superiority, like an angel descending to bestow grace, she attempted to completely shatter Wei Wu's psychological defenses.

Zhang Yuanying miscalculated.

She was completely wrong.

She was completely unaware that she was not dealing with a normal man who would be sexually aroused by his good looks.

She was facing a hard-working man who was extremely averse to trouble, extremely pragmatic, and whose mind was only focused on "getting paid to do things".

For four consecutive days, Wei Wu's reaction to her carefully designed "sweet offensive" was like throwing a stone into a cesspool—not only did it not create any beautiful ripples, but it also splashed her with stinking mud.

"Teacher Wei, is the bento box delicious?"

"Hmm, it's alright. By the way, Zhang Yuanying, what's the BPM for this song? Is it more of a fast-paced dance track or a slow, lyrical one?"

"Teacher Wei, I queued for half an hour to buy this coffee."

"Thank you. But more than coffee, I need your company's project proposal. Is this song an ensemble piece or does it have a lead vocalist core? Do you have vocal range data for each person on your team? Without data, how can I set the tone?"

"Teacher Wei, my legs are so sore from dancing today..."

"Oh, then you should get some rest. By the way, what's the theme of the lyrics? Is it a Girl Crush style, or a traditional innocent and energetic one? You didn't give me anything, so I can't even choose a bass drum tone."

Every day when Wei Wu saw her, all he wanted was to ask for something.

His dead fish eyes held no surprise, no flattery, not even a trace of a man's desire for a woman. Only utter speechlessness and anxiety, the kind one feels when seeing a "stupid client."

Wei Wu was truly speechless.

He's a perfectionist who has to get things done once he gets paid. The 20 million won is already in his pocket (although it hasn't arrived in his account yet, it's already his in his mind), and he sits in front of the million-dollar mixing console every day, his fingers itching to start composing music immediately.

But there is no demand!

No project proposal! No style definition! No vocal range data for the members! Absolutely nothing!

This young girl named Zhang Yuanying would dress up in her finest clothes and run into the recording studio every day. She wouldn't talk about work or make any demands; she would just sit there and ask him, "Have you eaten?", "Did you sleep well?", and "Are you tired?"

Wei Wu even began to suspect that Starship Entertainment was just a makeshift operation. How could they not even understand the most basic music production process?

The fifth day has arrived.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The recording studio door was pushed open again.

Today, Zhang Yuanying wore an exquisite French-style floral top paired with high-waisted jeans, showcasing her ridiculously proportioned figure to the fullest. She wore a meticulously applied, "no-makeup" makeup look and carried a thermos in her hand.

"Teacher Wei~"

Zhang Yuanying's voice was so sweet it seemed to drip with honey. She walked to the mixing console and gently placed the thermos down.

"This is ginseng chicken soup that I made myself. I noticed you've been staying up late these past few days, and you've got dark circles under your eyes, so I specially made it to nourish your body."

She smiled as she looked at Wei Wu, her eyes carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible scrutiny.

She refused to believe it. Five days of sweet talk should have melted even the hardest heart, right? Why could this man still ignore her? She had already lowered herself so much and taken such initiative, why shouldn't this scum of the lower class be grateful to her?!

Wei Wu sat in the ergonomic chair, took his hands off the keyboard, and slowly turned around.

His hair was somewhat disheveled from not having been styled for several days, and there were indeed faint dark circles under his eyes. But the look in his eyes as he gazed at Zhang Yuanying showed no emotion whatsoever.

All that remained was a chilling coldness and an unbearable sense of disgust.

"Zhang Yuanying xi".

Wei Wu's voice was calm, but that calmness was like the sea before a storm, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"This is the fifth day already."

He held up five fingers and waved them in front of Zhang Yuanying.

"The contract stipulates that the deadline for submitting the manuscript is fifteen days. Now a third of the time has passed. And I don't even know what the song is called, what style it is, or how many people are singing it."

Wei Wu stood up, looking down at Zhang Yuanying, his tone gradually becoming more forceful.

"I sit here every day staring blankly at these devices. And you, as the client's contact person, do nothing but bring me food and water and spout meaningless nonsense, without providing any valuable work information."

"So, I'm asking you one last time."

Wei Wu's eyes were sharp as knives. "What exactly do you want?"

Zhang Yuanying's sweet smile froze slightly.

Looking at Wei Wu's cold, hard face, her anger began to surge uncontrollably.

I've already gone to such lengths, and you're still talking to me about work?! Is your brain filled with shit?! Can't you see I'm trying to be nice to you?! You ungrateful bastard!

However, Zhang Yuanying's exceptional ability to manage her expressions allowed her to suppress her anger. She decided to try one last time, using a slightly aggrieved and coquettish tone to pressure Wei Wu.

"Teacher Wei, why are you so fierce..."

Zhang Yuanying lowered her head slightly, gently biting her lower lip, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears, making her look pitiful.

"I'm just concerned about your health. As for the song requirements... you're a genius! The company gives you complete freedom because they believe in your talent. Write whatever you want; we'll love anything you write..."

As she spoke, she reached out her fair fingers, trying to gently tug at Wei Wu's sleeve.

"Smack."

A crisp sound echoed through the recording studio.

Wei Wu slapped Zhang Yuanying's hand away without any mercy.

Zhang Yuanying's hand instantly turned red. She suddenly raised her head and looked at Wei Wu in disbelief.

Looking at her feigned pitiful appearance, Wei Wu felt a violent churning in his stomach.

The girl who posted his video on the campus network and destroyed all his passion for music also had this same innocent, pitiful, disgusting look in front of the counselor, as if the whole world had bullied her!

That's enough.

Wei Wu's voice was as cold as ice shards.

"Hmm, you're better off like this." Wei Wu looked at Zhang Yuanying's frozen expression, a hint of undisguised mockery and disgust curling at the corner of his mouth. "Your pretentious cuteness is making me feel sick."

The air froze completely in that instant.

The recording studio was deathly silent, with only the faint hum of the exhaust fan breaking the silence.

Zhang Yuanying's pupils suddenly contracted.

"...What did you say?"

Her voice was no longer sweet or soft; instead, it became deep and hoarse, as if it were a demon crawling out of the depths of hell.

"I said, stop fucking acting in front of me!"

Wei Wu finally snapped. His suppressed anxiety of the past five days, his speechlessness at the client, and his disgust for this hypocritical facade erupted like a volcano at this moment.

He grabbed the blue outsourcing contract from the table and slammed it onto the mixing console.

"You think I can't tell? You're not here to make music at all! You come here every day, all alluring and pretending to be so approachable—what are you after? Do you like me because I'm handsome, or because I don't shower?"

Wei Wu pointed at Zhang Yuanying's nose, his spittle almost hitting her face.

"I don't care what tricks you and your crazy sister are playing, and I don't care if you rich people have any special fetishes! I'm here to work and make money, not to play house with you!"

Zhang Yuanying stared intently at Wei Wu.

With each angry curse from Wei Wu, the delicate outer layer of her face cracked and splintered.

One piece, two pieces, countless pieces peeled off her face.

The disguise was completely torn off.

Zhang Yuanying no longer tried to hide it. She straightened her back, raised her chin slightly, and her once clear eyes now surged with a chilling malice, arrogance, and a morbid desire for control.

She looked at Wei Wu as if he were a lowly stray dog ​​that not only refused to eat the bait but also dared to bite its master.

"Cao Cao of Wei".

Zhang Yuanying stopped calling him "teacher" and addressed him by his first name. A cold and cruel smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Do you know who you're talking to? Who do you think you are? A good-for-nothing who makes a living selling instant noodles at a convenience store, you dare to yell at me?"

Zhang Yuanying took a step forward, instantly releasing a powerful sense of oppression.

"You think I really care about the lousy songs you wrote? You think Starship really needs one more outsourced worker like you? Let me tell you, that contract was something I gave you out of charity! I pulled you out of that stinking quagmire!"

"I'm giving you face, so you have to accept it obediently. I tell you to write something, so you write it. I tell you to look at me every day, so you have to look at me with gratitude!"

Zhang Yuanying's finger jabbed fiercely into Wei Wu's chest, her voice shrill and frantic:

"Once you sign, you're mine! The 500 million in breach of contract fees—you'll never be able to pay it back in this life, the next, and the life after that! You have no choice but to grovel here like a dog and obey my orders!"

Faced with Zhang Yuanying's barrage of humiliation and threats, Wei Wu's reaction took her by surprise.

Wei Wu showed no fear, no trembling, and did not even take a single step back.

He just looked at Zhang Yuanying with the eyes of someone looking at a lunatic, and then gave a disdainful sneer.

"Crazy woman..."

Wei Wu slapped Zhang Yuanying's hand away, turned around and walked to the sofa, picked up his faded canvas bag, and haphazardly stuffed the earphones and charging cable from the table into it.

"What...what are you doing?!" Zhang Yuanying shouted angrily as she watched his actions.

"What are you doing? Can't you tell? I'm quitting!"

Wei Wu zipped up the bag, slung it over his shoulder, turned around, and looked at Zhang Yuanying with an extremely roguish and rude gaze.

"If I can't do it, I'm out! No requirements documentation, no planning, and I have to deal with your sarcastic, grumpy face every day—I'm not making those twenty million!"

"You dare?!" Zhang Yuanying laughed angrily, pointing to the contract on the table, "Did you forget about the penalty for breach of contract...?"

"Go ahead and tell them if you want!"

Wei Wu interrupted her mercilessly, letting out a deafening roar.

"I'm just a worthless piece of trash! You want five hundred million? Fine! Kill me and sell my organs! Let's see how much money we can scrape together!"

"You arrogant brat, do you really think you can control other people's lives just because you have a few stinking bucks? I'd rather jump off this building than stay in this shack for another second!"

After saying that, Wei Wu didn't even glance at Zhang Yuanying again, and strode to the soundproof door.

"Bang!"

He kicked open the heavy soundproof door and walked out without looking back.

The heavy footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor until they disappeared completely.

The recording studio fell into a deathly silence once again.

Only the indicator lights on the mixing console were still diligently flashing.

Zhang Yuanying stood there blankly.

Her hand was still pointing at Wei Wu, and she was completely still, as if she had been frozen in place.

She was scolded.

He was pointed at by a poor boy from the bottom of society and verbally abused mercilessly with the most vulgar and offensive language.

Her beauty, which she was so proud of, and the 500 million yuan penalty trap she had meticulously set up... were all instantly shattered by that man's scoundrel logic of "I'm just a worthless old man."

The prey broke free of its collar and ran away.

Zhang Yuanying slowly lowered her hand.

Her shoulders began to tremble slightly.

At first, it was just very minor twitching.

Then, the trembling became more and more intense, and she had to reach out and cover her face.

"Ha ha……"

A very faint laugh, as if squeezed from the depths of a throat, broke the deathly silence of the recording studio.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

The laughter grew louder and more uncontrollable.

Zhang Yuanying suddenly lowered her hands and tilted her head back.

On that exquisitely beautiful face, there was no anger, no frustration, and no tears of humiliation.

Yes, it was a distorted, morbid ecstasy...

"Haha ...

Hysterical laughter echoed wildly in the closed recording studio, as if trying to tear the solid soundproof walls apart completely.

Zhang Yuanying's eyes were bloodshot with excitement, and her body trembled with extreme pleasure.

So much fun!

This is so much fun!

She originally thought it was just a mutt that would wag its tail and beg for 20 million, and that she would get tired of it after a few days.

But she didn't expect that this was not a dog, but a wild wolf with fangs, that did not play by the rules, and even dared to rub her face on the ground!

A 500 million yuan penalty for breach of contract couldn't scare him? Couldn't his beauty tempt him?

"Cao Cao... Cao Cao..."

Zhang Yuanying laughed wildly while muttering the name. She stuck out her tongue and gently licked the back of her hand, which had been bruised by Wei Wu, her eyes gleaming with a chilling light.

"You think you can get away?"

"The more you struggle, the more you resist, the more I want to tear you apart inch by inch, and then swallow your bones whole!"

"The game is only just beginning."