Chapter 433: I, Hu Hansan, Am Back Again!
After eating and drinking outside, I returned to my rented room.
Sitting at the computer desk, I looked at the group names I had written down with a pen last night.
IVE, LE SSERAFIM, Red Velvet, (G)I-DLE, NMIXX, ITZY.
After some thought, I picked up the pen and crossed out IVE and (G)I-DLE.
Others crossed out included aespa, NewJeans, and more.
To get in touch with these groups, he naturally had to do so as a producer.
He was no longer the rich second-generation heir from the Bond World who could take 50 million and run off to South Korea to open an entertainment company.
If you tore him apart and sold his components, you might not even get two million.
So the only path Jiang Shu could take was that of a producer.
And even as a producer, bringing works from Jeon Soyeon and other DM Entertainment producers, he wouldn’t be able to get in touch with popular groups.
A newcomer with no past achievements would find it very difficult to participate in the comeback production teams of ace groups in South Korea, where seniority matters.
Not every boss is willing to use newcomers; compared to newcomers, they often trust experienced veterans more.
So even if Jiang Shu's producer audition passed, the groups he might be given to test the waters would only meet these criteria:
One, a small fan base.
Two, a group that has been around for a long time.
Three, low popularity.
Based on these three criteria, Jiang Shu listed the above groups.
Now, only LE SSERAFIM, NMIXX, Red Velvet, and ITZY remained.
Strictly speaking, LE SSERAFIM doesn't meet these three criteria, but this group has significant vocal issues. They are going to Coachella next month, which is a fully live vocal stage. It can produce legendary performances, but also disastrous ones.
Jiang Shu was not optimistic about LE SSERAFIM's Coachella trip, and there might be an opportunity then.
However, the problem with LE SSERAFIM was that Jiang Shu felt the songs produced for them by DM Entertainment's producers were lacking, and if he actually gave them to Hybe, they might not be adopted.
As for Red Velvet, Jiang Shu felt this group had long been in name only. The members were now pursuing their own careers, and it would be difficult for them to progress further.
The new S.M. representative was not an easy person to deal with, and he might not even let Jiang Shu be a producer for Red Velvet.
The remaining two groups from JYP, NMIXX and ITZY, seemed the most likely to Jiang Shu.
Firstly, JYP, this company, has a lot to say for itself.
This extremely stingy company welcomes new producers like Jiang Shu who come knocking, as newcomers equal cheap labor, saving on the costs of experienced staff.
Secondly, both NMIXX and ITZY are junior groups to TWICE. With TWICE being the major consumer of resources, these two groups receive less attention, and fewer resources are invested in their songs and promotions. This means that even if a comeback fails, it would still be within the company's acceptable range.
This way, the possibility of a newcomer like Jiang Shu participating in a comeback production would skyrocket.
Jiang Shu personally leaned towards ITZY.
It wasn't a matter of sentiment.
While he personally nurtured ITZY in the Bond World, he also personally gave them up.
Wu Haiyuan of NMIXX had a very good relationship with him; if it were purely about feelings, it would be NMIXX.
The reason for choosing ITZY was simply that ITZY had already hit rock bottom.
Their casual audience's desire to spend was low, but their fan loyalty was high, and they were in a state of semi-abandonment by the company.
In this situation, if Jiang Shu proposed to take over ITZY's comeback production, it would most likely not be rejected.
And most importantly, ITZY's bond effect was much stronger than NMIXX's.
In the Bond World, ITZY gradually faded after reaching their peak. What about an ITZY that has already fallen to the bottom and rises to the top again?
Just thinking about it filled him with motivation.
As for NMIXX, being JYP's maknae group, the company might not necessarily entrust the group to him.
"Let me check."
The nearest flight from Shanghai to Seoul.
Tomorrow, 11:10 AM. He clicked on business class, about to book, when Jiang Shu's movements suddenly paused.
He quickly exited the software and opened his bank card.
Looking at the balance, which barely broke six figures, his mouth twitched.
Having been a big boss for too long, he no longer saw money as money; he almost forgot that he was now just a miserable worker trading youth for savings.
"Hmm, economy class, 1,400. You're the one."
Seeing the ticket successfully issued, Jiang Shu then got up to pack his things.
He would send what he didn't need back home and take what he did. He didn't know when he would be back from South Korea this time.
He wouldn't tell his parents, to avoid them asking too many questions. Anyway, for his family, there wasn't much difference between him being in Shanghai and South Korea; he was still away from home.
It was just that Seoul was a tiny bit further than Shanghai.
He would tell his parents about it after he achieved some success in South Korea; by then, speaking with achievements would make them accept it more quickly.
He rummaged around and found his passport. Looking at the brand new date on it, he was glad his passport had always been renewed; otherwise, he would have had to wait for it to come down, which would have delayed things further.
Should he exchange some korean won?
Never mind, he'd exchange it at Incheon Airport after landing.
The biggest problems when going abroad are the language barrier and being unfamiliar with the place.
But Jiang Shu was different; he was very familiar with Seoul. Going to Seoul was like going home.
By the time he finished packing, it was evening again.
Lying on the bed, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling, Jiang Shu suddenly felt a bit confused.
He had already returned to the real world, so why was he still busy with all this?
Wouldn't it be better to just live his own life?
But soon, Jiang Shu convinced himself with a very realistic reason.
In this day and age, to make big money, he really could only go to South Korea.
All his skills were K-pop related. What could he do in China? The domestic entertainment industry and the South Korean entertainment industry were two different things, incomparable.
If he wanted to make money, Jiang Shu really could only go to South Korea.
It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
If Jiang Shu had no skills, that would be one thing, but the key was that he did. So, if you asked him to continue living a simple life, he naturally wouldn't be happy.
Besides this realistic reason...
Jiang Shu's mind stirred, and the Dream Bond reappeared before his eyes.
Dream...
He only spoke of others' dreams; what was his own dream?
My dream...
Jiang Shu lay on the bed, thinking for a long time but still couldn't recall what his dream was.
Jiang Shu couldn't remember, but since he didn't understand these things, then he would move forward. Now, he wanted to see those girls on stage continue to shine brightly; they shouldn't be like this.
Just as Old Man Qiao once said, "I have no dream, but I am willing to protect the dreams of others."
Since he couldn't remember his own dream, he would move forward, walk ahead, and slowly ponder his dream on the path of progress.
At this thought, Jiang Shu's gaze gradually became firm.
Tomorrow, off to South Korea!
First stop, JYP!
