Chapter Seventy-Four: Meeting Jung Soo-jung Again

Inside the president’s office at LOEN, three days had passed since the last visit, and once again, Chen Zhe found himself seated across from Kim Jung-min, sipping tea. The news that he had been chosen as the male lead had only just reached him, and he was still reeling from the impact of such an announcement. Though he sat quietly on the sofa, his mind wandered far from the room, lost in the shock of it all.

“Ah Zhe, I trust Soo-ho has already informed you that you’ve been selected as the male lead for ‘Reply 1997’?” Kim Jung-min regarded Chen Zhe’s dazed expression with a helpless shake of his head, sighing inwardly with the thought—he’s still just a kid—before speaking, hoping to draw him back to reality.

“Yes, President. Soo-ho called me this morning,” Chen Zhe replied, finally pulled from his reverie by Kim Jung-min’s voice. He frowned slightly, unable to guess why he had been summoned so abruptly after lunch, before he’d even had time for a walk.

“For the time being, you’ll need to work hard. We’ve finalized our collaboration with SM Entertainment. Krystal’s schedule has been rearranged and she’ll be here to start recording tomorrow. You’ll have to balance both acting and song recording, and the company will update your itinerary accordingly,” Kim Jung-min explained. Though he hadn’t spent much time with Chen Zhe, he had come to understand his temperament and quirks.

“Tiring? That’s nothing—I mean, these are all good things, after all. President, you don’t look especially happy, though.” At the mention of this good news, Chen Zhe’s frown vanished and a faint smile tugged at his lips. But when he noticed Kim Jung-min’s lack of enthusiasm, his smile faded, replaced by curiosity.

“In addition to the duet version, we also invited Krystal to star as the female lead in the music video and help with promotion. However, to secure this, we had to agree to several conditions from SM Entertainment.” Kim Jung-min shook his head again, a trace of exasperation in his voice. Negotiating a mutually agreeable arrangement with SM had cost him a considerable amount of effort—and, he felt, quite a few hairs.

“So what terms did SM Entertainment set?” Chen Zhe asked, his interest piqued. He had been too busy recently to stay in touch with Choi Soo-young, and now, as an artist under LOEN, it wasn’t his place to inquire about SM’s internal matters. He only knew the two companies were deep in talks, but not the specific demands.

“The condition is that for the promotions of ‘Melody,’ you and Krystal must perform the duet version together on stage. You’re required to appear once on each of the three major TV music shows. In return, SM will also assist in promoting the song.” As Kim Jung-min rubbed his temples, the fatigue in his expression was evident. Although SM’s help with publicity was some compensation, convincing the company’s board had been an exhausting task; thankfully, he had succeeded in the end.

The collaborative stage with Krystal was slotted as the fourth and final round of ‘Melody’ promotions, after Chen Zhe completed three rounds on each of the three major TV shows. SM had agreed to this arrangement, finally allowing Kim Jung-min to breathe a sigh of relief.

“You’ve worked hard, President.” Hearing the details and understanding the effort required to reach a compromise, Chen Zhe quickly poured a fresh cup of tea for Kim Jung-min and handed it to him.

“Once you report to the drama crew in three days, we’ll know the official filming schedule. Then the company can plan your MV shoot and hopefully finish it before you join the set.” Accepting the tea, Kim Jung-min’s tone softened, clearly pleased with Chen Zhe’s thoughtful gesture.

“Understood, President. I’ll give it my all.” Chen Zhe thumped his chest in earnest promise, understanding the underlying message in Kim Jung-min’s instructions.

——— Time skips forward ———

“Hey brat, I heard from Soo-young that Krystal will be coming to your company tomorrow, and she’s your duet partner for ‘Melody’!” That evening, upon returning to his apartment, Chen Zhe was surprised to find his usually unreliable sister waiting for him. No sooner had he sunk onto the couch than Chen Yuqi’s teasing voice sounded from behind him.

“That’s not all—Krystal is also the female lead in the ‘Melody’ MV!” Chen Zhe replied lazily, sprawling comfortably across the sofa, his tone tinged with indolence.

“Oh? So, have you figured out how you’ll face Krystal?” Chen Yuqi’s lips curled into a sly grin as she prodded at a bit of black history Chen Zhe had conveniently forgotten amidst his recent busyness.

“Ah!” At her words, memories came flooding back. Chen Zhe jolted upright, clutching his head in distress. He hadn’t yet come up with a way to face Jung Soo-jung. He had been putting it off, hoping the issue would resolve itself, but had simply forgotten about it due to his busy schedule.

“Judging from your reaction, I guess you’re completely unprepared. Don’t worry, as your dearest sister, I’ve already devised a plan for you.” Chen Yuqi rolled her eyes, disappointed that her brother hadn’t changed at all. Fortunately, she and Choi Soo-young had been anything but idle these past few days and already had a solution ready.

She beckoned him over. Though past experience made Chen Zhe a little wary, curiosity got the better of him. He hesitated, then leaned in to listen to his sister’s whispered advice.

As he listened, Chen Zhe’s eyes grew visibly brighter; her plan seemed plausible. After hearing her out carefully, he decided to follow her suggestion.

——— The Next Morning, Recording Studio ———

Chen Zhe, his heart pounding with anxiety, gently pushed open the recording studio door after receiving permission from Bae Soo-yong. Upon arriving at LOEN earlier, the front desk receptionist had already informed him that Jung Soo-jung had arrived and was currently being escorted by the company president himself to the recording studio.

As the door swung open, Chen Zhe immediately spotted Jung Soo-jung standing beside Bae Soo-yong.