Bae Joo-hyun arrived, and soon fried chicken, sauces, and side dishes were served.
At Jiang Shu's invitation, the three began their dinner.
Jiang Shu sucked the sauce from his fingers and leaned back in his chair, relaxed.
"This fried chicken place has really good skin, President nim. Don't you think our company cafeteria should introduce fried chicken of a similar standard?"
Li Duohui was wiping her hands with a wet tissue, the food in front of her neatly arranged, which was an outward expression of her more disciplined way of doing things.
Hearing Jiang Shu's words, Li Duohui looked at him helplessly.
"President nim?"
Her own President nim's occasional mischievousness really did pop out whenever it pleased him.
"The company cafeteria has to consider cost, efficiency, and employee health. This kind of occasional indulgence is fine, but eating fried food every day can't be a work meal."
Saying that, Li Duohui took a sip of iced beer.
"Besides, there's already a fried chicken counter in the cafeteria, and the taste is approved by the staff. It wouldn't be appropriate for the leadership to actively introduce a similar counter."
Indeed, it would give the impression that the leadership was unhappy with the existing fried chicken counter and brought in a new one to compete with them.
Bae Joo-hyun, listening to their conversation, skillfully dismembered a chicken wing with disposable gloves.
During their conversation, she interjected, "I agree with President nim's point. This fried chicken is indeed delicious, but..."
Bae Joo-hyun took a bite of fried chicken, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
"But President nim, if the cafeteria introduced this, the attitude would ultimately not be good."
Jiang Shu smiled and raised his beer glass.
"Two votes against. The public representative and President Li both disagree, so let's forget it." Saying that, Jiang Shu deliberately sighed, then took a sip of beer.
Li Duohui glanced at Jiang Shu helplessly.
"President nim, are you testing my management abilities? Instead of discussing a second fried chicken counter that's impossible to implement, why not think about songs for Red Velvet's new album? You haven't written songs for Red Velvet in a while."
Hearing this, Bae Joo-hyun's action of eating fried chicken also slowed down, and her longing eyes fell on Jiang Shu.
"Forget it." Jiang Shu waved his hand, "I'm busy writing songs for two new groups and aespa right now. Red Velvet is up to you all. I think the songs produced by the producers from both companies are quite good."
"What about promotions? You haven't asked about them in a long time either."
"Just now, looking at her technique for disassembling the chicken wing, we'll edit the vlog later and call it 'Irene's Fried Chicken Art Disassembly Class'. The click-through rate will definitely be good." Jiang Shu pointed at the camera and said.
Bae Joo-hyun, who was gnawing on a chicken wing, widened her eyes at this, almost choking on her own saliva.
"Cough... President nim! Your idea is too bizarre, isn't it? What's so good about filming disassembling a chicken wing? Fans will think I've been starving for days." After saying that, Bae Joo-hyun couldn't help but laugh herself.
"But..." Bae Joo-hyun pondered for a moment, "What if the vlog ends with me eating all the chicken on this plate? Will everyone be even more surprised?"
Jiang Shu immediately laughed and clapped his hands upon hearing this.
"Good idea! Duohui, did you hear that? I think this plan works! Irene's mukbang fried chicken, I've even thought of the title—'Revealing the 'True' Appetite of a Top Artist!' The contrast will definitely trend!"
Li Duohui's mouth twitched, but her eyes held a thoughtful glint.
"True... This angle indeed has a topic. We can consider making it a behind-the-scenes type, more natural. However, Irene, your manager will probably flip out, right?" Li Duohui teased.
Bae Joo-hyun shrugged.
"Ouni will only ask me how long I need to exercise after eating. And I have a good appetite, I'm not afraid of getting fat."
Saying that, Bae Joo-hyun picked up another piece of original fried chicken and dipped it in white radish kimchi juice.
"President nim, President Li, the key is for the content to be fun. A serious plan is not as good as the 'real person' feel that fans want to see."
Jiang Shu pointed at Bae Joo-hyun and spoke.
"Duohui, listen to this, our artist already has the qualities of a management-level person. I'm very pleased."
Li Duohui looked at Jiang Shu speechlessly.
Did he really think she didn't know he had made some decisions with Bae Joo-hyun?
But she didn't refute him verbally; instead, she nodded affirmatively.
"Cultivating artists' management awareness is also a good approach. Perhaps we can cultivate our own management personnel reserves among artists."
Then, Li Duohui looked at Jiang Shu.
"But President nim, artists with such insight as Irene are rare."
Bae Joo-hyun had enough social experience, plus Jiang Shu, who was in a high enough position, personally guided her, which was why she could meet such requirements.
Other artists...
Not many even graduated high school. Their way of dealing with people was taught by the company. This kind of management talent is difficult to cultivate.
"It's fine, let's just go with the flow." Jiang Shu waved his hand and said.
This kind of thing couldn't be forced. Having one Bae Joo-hyun was already enough.
Although DM Entertainment wasn't so great as to solve the problem of idols' career changes after their idol careers ended, if they could help out casually, it wasn't impossible to lend a hand.
"Eat less. It's fine to trick others by saying you have a good appetite, but don't trick yourself." Jiang Shu said immediately when he saw Bae Joo-hyun pick up another piece of chicken.
Bae Joo-hyun's movements paused, she let out an awkward laugh, and put down the chicken leg in her hand.
"Was Irene joking just now?" Li Duohui asked in surprise.
"How many artists don't have stomach problems? The last time my stomach hurt, she gave me stomach medicine." Jiang Shu glanced at Li Duohui and said with a smile.
As Jiang Shu said this, Bae Joo-hyun thought of the scene that night again, and the smile on her face subconsciously receded a little.
"You're right." Li Duohui didn't notice Bae Joo-hyun's abnormality, "Then I'll leave the rest to you, President nim."
"How can I finish it?" Jiang Shu waved his hands repeatedly, "Take it back to your boyfriend."
"He's not worthy of eating Ouli President nim's leftovers." Li Duohui said with a smile.
"Does President Li have a boyfriend?" Bae Joo-hyun asked in surprise, looking at Li Duohui.
"I'm six years older than you, it's normal to have a boyfriend, right?" Li Duohui said with a chuckle.
"No, it's not that." Bae Joo-hyun shook her head, "I thought you were already married."
"Not yet." Li Duohui waved her hand, "I just met him recently. I'll try dating for a while and then see if we should get married."
"That's good, it's better than marrying blindly." Jiang Shu raised his beer glass, "Come, let's wish that we can all find the person we love in the future."
"Cheers!" Li Duohui also picked up her beer glass.
Bae Joo-hyun didn't drink alcohol, so she picked up a glass of juice.
Clink!
A crisp clinking of glasses sounded. As the three drank their alcohol/juice, Bae Joo-hyun's eyes were fixed on Jiang Shu.
