Chapter 344: Wrapping Up
“Although IZONE has disbanded, the members’ journey will not end here…”
No one paid attention to Jiang Shu’s subsequent words. Both the reporters on site and the audience in the live stream were completely consumed by the news of “IZONE’s disbandment.”
Compared to the audience who were slow to recover in front of their screens, the reporters on site quickly reacted after a brief moment of shock.
In an instant, the flashlights in front of Jiang Shu suddenly lit up, as if he were in a world of light. White flashes continuously flickered, and the clicking sound of cameras reverberated throughout the entire press conference.
【???????】
【???】
【?????】
【Shibal!!!】
【HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Team-breaking demon Zhang Yuanying!】
【HAHAHAHAHA IZONE good riddance!】
【Why? Why disband IZONE?】
【Shibal DM! Shibal shibal shibal!】
【From today, I’m stanning DM. They only disband their own top-tier groups.】
【No, why does every team Zhang Yuanying is in disband?】
【It’s well-known that Zhang Yuanying only joins top-tier groups, but it’s also well-known that Zhang Yuanying is a fierce team-breaker.】
【Is this the second team-breaking demon? It’s really quite amusing.】
【Chairman Jiang said it was an irresistible force. DM Entertainment and IZONE are clearly the victims, yet IZONE has to disband. Is it because of the slave room incident?】
【Who cares?】
【Karina’s fans, don’t get too smug. Even without IZONE, you still can’t reach the top!】
【HAHAHAHAHA But our group hasn’t disbanded?】
【Lol~ aespa always wants to kill all their teammates, but now they’re all group fans?】
【You mind your business, anyway, our aespa hasn’t disbanded.】
Fans didn’t pay much attention to Jiang Shu’s wording, but passersby did.
Jiang Shu said “irresistible force,” which meant IZONE’s disbandment had external factors. DM Entertainment is a leading company in K-pop, so who could pressure them?
The answer was obvious.
After the announcement, the press conference moved into the Q&A session.
Jiang Shu looked half-dead, so the task of selecting reporters was handed over to Choi Ji-yeon.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang. I am… My question is, IZONE will disband after one more comeback, so does that mean IZONE will officially disband this year?”
Jiang Shu glanced at the reporter. He wasn't one of their own, but the question was very much like one of their own.
He picked up the microphone.
“IZONE will have its last comeback in May, and a farewell concert will be held at the end of May to say goodbye to the fans.”
“Okay, thank you, Chairman Jiang.”
Then the second reporter was selected.
“Chairman Jiang, I am… Will IZONE’s disbandment be like IVE’s, where members remain with DM Entertainment to await a second debut, or will their individual contracts also be terminated, releasing them into the market?”
“According to our negotiations with the members, most members are currently willing to stay with the company, and we are still working on the remaining hesitant members. Regarding the future development of the members who stay with the company, please rest assured that the company will not abandon any artist.”
…
“First IVE, and now IZONE. DM Entertainment’s flagship girl groups are successively disbanding. Is there some inside information behind this?”
Jiang Shu’s spirits lifted. The main point had arrived.
“Regarding this matter.” Jiang Shu fell silent. A full half-minute of silence made even the most obtuse person realize that there was a deep secret behind this.
Jiang Shu raised his head, looked at the camera, his expression solemn.
“I hereby guarantee to the company’s artists and fans that the incidents with IVE and IZONE are the last of their kind. Our company’s artists will not experience similar situations in the future.”
“If similar incidents occur again, I will leave K-pop, leave this industry.”
Then a smile appeared on Jiang Shu’s face.
“Of course, when I leave, I will reveal everything I know. Everyone…”
“We’ll go down together.”
【Explosion!】
【We’ll go down together, I’m leaving tonight!】
【No… I’m a DM family fan, but I want DM Entertainment to go bankrupt quickly. I want to see the drama.】
【Aish, I’m also a fan, but I also want to know what Chairman Jiang is going to expose.】
【No, shouldn’t the main point be whether there’s really inside information about the disbandment of IVE and IZONE?】
【The inside story is that Zhang Yuanying bullied her teammates and broke up two groups in a row!】
【Shibal! Face-changing monster’s dog-spawn!!!】
【If I were Chairman Jiang, I’d really flip the table. It’s already two top-tier groups.】
【You say it lightly. Flipping the table might feel good, but what about the other groups? Will they starve?】
【Other companies would be happy to take over, right?】
【No way! Our ITZY is very happy at DM Entertainment and doesn’t want to go to other companies.】
【Plus one, our (G)I-DLE won’t go either.】
【IU silently liked it.】
【Taeyeon said she’s not going anywhere.】
“Is the inside story of IZONE’s disbandment related to the industry monopoly mentioned by a reporter at the last campus recruitment fair?”
Another reporter stood up and asked a question that surprised Jiang Shu a bit.
That question at the campus recruitment fair was specifically arranged by him to advance his plan; he had almost forgotten about it.
He forced himself to concentrate, thought for a moment, and then gave his answer.
“After review by the Anti-Monopoly Bureau, our DM Entertainment has no monopolistic behavior and is not directly related to monopoly.”
So there was an indirect connection.
The reporters nodded and then sat down.
“Next, the reporter from Dispatch.”
Jin Zhongting stood up, holding the microphone handed to him by a staff member.
“Hello, Chairman Jiang. I am Jin Zhongting, a reporter from Dispatch. What is your opinion on the recent online rumors that YG Entertainment is behind the slave room incident?”
Jiang Shu looked at Jin Zhongting, his dizzy mind briefly clearing at this moment.
Jin Zhongting was one of the reporters arranged by Choi Ji-yeon, and even Jin Zhongting’s senior colleagues were unaware of this.
A look of surprise appeared on Jiang Shu’s face as he looked at Jin Zhongting in astonishment, as if wondering why Jin Zhongting would ask such a question.
“YG Entertainment… We have some collaborations with YG. I don’t know much about the slave room case. It’s just that Chief Prosecutor Choi Minxiu previously interviewed our DM executives, and then there was no further news.”
At this point, Jiang Shu paused, then seemed to mention casually,
“Are YG’s executives still under investigation?”
“Yes.” Jin Zhongting smiled and nodded, “Thank you, Chairman Jiang, for your answer.”
Then Jin Zhongting sat down, but the forums had already exploded.
【Lol, all four major companies were interviewed, but only YG is still under investigation. Think about it, really think about it!】
【Who exactly is it? So hard to guess.】
【YG is going to fall this time, it’s just unclear if the mastermind will be the entire company or just some executives.】
【I only care when we’ll see the final investigation results.】
【Just wait slowly.】
