Chapter 150: True Ability

nd the others and divide it up.""This is authentically spicy Sichuan hot pot. You can't find this in Seoul at all. If it weren't for my kindness, you guys would be miserable and never get to taste thi...Are there any results

Hearing this, Ke Jingyuan, who had been feeling discouraged because it was getting late, perked up and looked over to ask a question.

This is still a favor that Bae Suzy asked him for last time. The day after, he had Park Jae-hyun go and ask about it. Everything that followed was handled by this guy. He just reports the situation to him every few days.

"Well, Suzy has been confirmed as the female lead for this drama."

Park Jae-hyun, who was driving, nodded at the road ahead and briefly summarized the situation: “After I took over, I learned that because several dramas had exploded in popularity in China's Xia domestic market over the past two years, expanding the market while generating huge profits, this year they began to popularize a production model where the first part is filmed in advance and then simultaneously broadcast in Korea and China. This drama, "Any Inclination," is the second one to do so.”

"Well, I know that. The first one was "Descendants of the Sun," right"

Ji Jingyuan's gaze shifted to the window, and suddenly a thought struck him. He smiled and replied with a chuckle.

At that time, Kim Eun-sook told him that the problem arose from this drama.

“Yes... And because the cast and investment are both good, 'Love According to You' is a very sought-after drama in recent preparations. Several leading roles have many competitors, and the companies behind them are also working hard behind the scenes. Suzy's JYP is considered one of the more mediocre ones and hasn't helped much; it's mostly Suzy herself putting in the effort.”

"But actually, it wasn't too much effort because her image already fits the role perfectly, and she has natural popularity. Plus, one of the main production companies, Saanetworks, had worked with her on 'The Tale of Nine Houses' before, so Soo-ji was one of the candidates the production team focused on from the beginning. I heard the author, Lee Keon Hee, also admires her. There were just a few very strong competitors, and because of company reasons, she didn't have a clear advantage during the competition..."

At a red light, Park Hyun said while pulling the car over, “I made contact with KBS and SaaNetworks through my connections. After some maneuvering, it's basically decided. We’ll make a formal announcement in a few days after the contract is signed.”

"Well, just having it is fine."

He nodded and casually asked, "Should Soo-ji have received the message by now"

Although Ji Chang Wook agreed when Bae Suzy asked him, this kind of thing isn't something that can be guaranteed to succeed 100%. The entertainment industry isn't his family's to run, so he could only say that he would use some connections and personal networks to work on it privately.

But since they're involved now, the success rate will be very high.

"That's about it for the next two days."

Park In-hwan was talking when, as if remembering something, he turned to look at him. "However, Jingyuan, aren't you interested in this drama Are you just helping Soo-ji operate out of pure altruism I've read the script and seen the production team, and I think 'Any Kind of Love' is quite good. It has the potential to be a hit, and it's being simulcast in both Korea and China. I heard that even before the cast is assembled, negotiations for domestic copyright are already underway. If it becomes popular in mainland China, it should be helpful to you..."

"If you had worked together back then, the possibility of you and Suzy taking on the roles of the male and female leads would have been quite high."

"Not really interested..."

Sensing Park Bo-gum's confusion, Ji Chang-wook retracted his gaze from outside and looked over. He couldn't help but let out a sigh: "I haven't read the script, but I heard Soo-ji give me a general idea. It's another classic Peninsula style, a pretty clichéd love story, car accidents, cancer, amnesia... that kind of thing. It sounds really boring and uninteresting. Frankly, I'm not very optimistic about this drama's performance either."

Besides hearing a simple synopsis from Bae Suzy, Ji Kyeong-won had some judgments and references of his own. Summing it all up, he felt that this drama didn't seem particularly special, and the probability of it becoming a hit was low.

What's more, it's a drama that ** and Yoona senior have both favored and wanted to compete for. Although I haven't seen how the quality of "The God of War Zhao Zilong" which seniors just finished filming compares, and whether it can break the curse, considering seniors' television drama performance in previous years, his guess should not deviate too much from reality at that time.

"You don't have a good opinion of it" Park Jae-hyun still heard this for the first time, he looked back at him in surprise, and then the light turned green ahead. He quickly turned back and started the car: "Then you are still helping Soo-ji xi work on this thing..."

“She asked for it herself...and I told her so.”

Chi Jingyuan shrugged: "But she thinks this drama is pretty good, and it aligns with her image."

He did mention it that day, but Bae Suzy has her own agency team and they have their own standards for choosing roles. After analysis, they thought this one was a good fit for her, and such decisions wouldn't be changed because of Park Kyung-won's casual joke.

And what he said may not be right, because Ji Jingyuan hasn't even read the script. He's just guessing based on his experience and references, and he himself isn't sure.

He's right, he's not optimistic about this kind of love story.

">”

Park Ja-hyun nodded after hearing this, and didn't say anything more.

Although he thinks that Ji Jingyuan's choice of scripts is really good, with almost no missteps from his debut to now, what he said is also true.

Since things are already done, that's OK.

The car sped along the deserted road, heading towards the EXO dormitory which was not far away.

……

"I've already been notified by the production team, my role is confirmed, and they said I can go sign the contract tomorrow...Well, how should I thank you"

The next day, during the 70th anniversary national chorus rehearsal at the World Cup Stadium, while Ji-yeong was waiting for his turn in the large dressing room, he received a thank you text message from Suzy Bae.

Besides the text clearly showing her good mood through her tone, there was a photo attached to it.

In the photo, she seems to be just waking up in her apartment bed. Her lips are slightly parted and her eyes are watery as she gazes at the camera. She's wearing a large white shirt with several buttons undone, revealing her fair skin underneath. The hem of the shirt covers her thighs, and below that, there are only two pairs of legs stacked on top of each other.

Although her expressions and clothing seemed to portray a lazy demeanor just out of bed, the sunlight streaming through the curtains onto her face gave her skin a dazzling glow while simultaneously making her appear radiant and bright. There was a sense of tranquil serenity about her.

But upon closer inspection, she still had makeup on her face. Her lips were notably painted with a pale orange lipstick. As for the specific shade, Chi Jingyuan couldn't tell.

That's really crafty.

After glancing at her, Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but purse his lips. He leaned back on the sofa, tilted his head, and replied lazily, "It's up to you. I'm flying to Hong Kong tomorrow, let's talk about it when I get back."

Although seeing Bae Suzy so happy now, Ji Kyeongwon couldn't help but feel a little disdain in his heart when he remembered his opinions and judgments about this drama.

Aren't you a little too happy now… Wait until this drama airs, and then don't regret it later. You'll see.

"XO is not back in the return period, you must be pretty free these days"

"It's okay, I have a little more time than before... By the way, when does this show start filming"

"He said it's starting filming at the end of November and shooting everything in one go, with the contract saying it's expected to wrap up by April next year."

"It wasn't that long ago...We rehearsed, I won't go into details."

The staff just came over to notify him, and Ji Jingyuan quickly replied before putting his phone down. He stood up, stretched, and walked out with the other members.

And around the same time, IU, who shared a resting room with EXO, also received a call from her own personal manager.

She greeted the members who were chatting beside her, waved her legs while holding her phone and walked out of the lounge. She found an empty spot and answered the call.

"Oppa, is that side confirmed"

She knew the agent's call was about that. These days, she had been preparing for Girls' Generation's comeback, but her solo economic manager and company were busy with drama roles.

"Well, the production company and crew of "Any Love" have already made their decision."

The agent's voice sounded a little low: "In the end, the female lead chose Suzy... After signing the contract, it is estimated that it will be made public in a few days."

">”

After hearing this answer, Lim Yoon-ah was silent for a second, but she quickly adjusted her mindset. Her tone didn't seem to change much, still with a slight flirtatious smile: "Okay, I know. It's fine, oppa."

Auditions and competition roles failing, that was too common for her. From auditioning for commercials before her debut to the recent years of vying for television drama roles, she didn't know how many times she had failed. She had long since trained herself up to it.

Although both she and the company are quite optimistic about this Sino-Korean simulcast TV drama, and she herself is also looking forward to it, but since she didn't get the role, there's nothing to be done. It's really impossible to force things.

And with the resources that she has, IU wouldn't be lacking roles to play.

“It’s a pity, really. I read the script, and you actually fit the image of the female lead very well. Before filming even started, the rights were almost all settled with buyers. Once it aired, it would definitely help boost your popularity in Xia Guo. Ah…”

The agent felt even more sorry for Lin Yun-er than she was herself, muttering in lament twice.

Whether it's the company's positioning or Lin Yuner herself, they both hope she can develop in Xia Guo in the future. This includes learning Chinese and the filming of "Martial God Zhao Zilong" in the first half of the year, which demonstrates this ambition. Currently, there are only two dramas that have synchronized broadcasts in China and Korea, "Descendants of the Sun" was missed out on, and this one didn't make it either.

IU herself also felt quite regretful, but she didn't show it to her manager. She even laughed twice and made a joke to ease the other person's mood. After saying a few more words, just as she was about to hang up the phone, she suddenly heard her manager say again: "By the way, IU, I heard that the competition for the female lead in this TV drama is not so easy."

"Oh"

IU swallowed the words she had just about to say, her eyes widening with curiosity.

“I have a senior from the same school who is a representative of SaaNetworks, one of the production companies involved in this project, and also participated in the crew work for “Any Attachment”. When I was networking and gathering information before, he briefly mentioned it to me…”

The agent's voice suddenly dropped, as if saying something confidential: "He said the actress' choice hadn't been finalized yet. Several candidates, including you, actually had supporters. The production team and company haven't reached a consensus either. While Suzy Bae was one of the candidates, she wasn't actually favored. You know the situation with JYP, it's worse than ours..."

"Hmm."

With an unassuming nod, Lim Yoon-a seemed to agree with her manager's words. Although ** Entertainment didn't have many good resources in the film and television industry, it did have some connections and background. Besides, they often risked everything every one or two years to produce their own dramas. The idols under their agency weren't short of acting opportunities either. Occasionally, there were projects with promising casts and productions as well.

JYP pales in comparison.

But it is said that a powerful person intervened, smoothing over the relationship between KBS and SaaNetworks. In addition, some of the production staff, including the writer, were already fond of Bae Suzy, and they quickly reached a consensus and decided to have her star in the end.

"That's how it is."

For this, Lim Yoona didn't think there was anything strange. The entertainment industry is like this, the majority of roles are not really won through acting skills, but rather through connections, relationships, resource exchange, and the operations behind companies.

It felt perfectly normal to me, but soon after, Lin Yun-er's attention was drawn by the latter part of her manager's sentence:

"JYP doesn't have those resources, who do you think helped Bae Suzy communicate"

"Hmm Do I know you"

IU sensed her manager's meaning.

"That's what that senior told me in secret."

The agent paused, his tone becoming somewhat strange: “I heard that the main participant in the event is Park Bo Gum.”

"Who" Lim Yoona felt that the name was familiar, but she couldn't react immediately.

It’s the one who is EXO Park Chanyeol's personal manager. He has a special position in the company, and he used to follow him everywhere. The one we’ve met before…

"...."

After hanging up the phone, Lim Yoona lightly furrowed her brows, falling into a brief moment of contemplation. There was a hint of suspicion in her eyes, as if she had figured something out, but at the same time, a strange feeling arose within her.

"Haha, come on, don't be coy anymore…"

Laughter and scolding came from behind her. She glanced back, her eyes narrowed, immediately focusing on Ji Jingyuan who was walking at the end of the line, laughing with the members while heading towards the stage.

It's quite a coincidence.

But you're really something else!

A little bit stuck in the writing.

Tomorrow is the dreaded 520, I estimate that I will have to go out and don't know if it will be late updates, let's see how much I code later.

(End of Chapter) and screamed tirelessly. Both the stage and artist seating design, as well as the overall atmosphere in the venue, are more polished than a few days ago at the Golden Disc Awards, making this award c...