147: Chapter 147 This time, the facade has been completely torn off.

The scent of tea quietly permeated the VIP room.

A thin wisp of white mist rose from the spout of the celadon teapot, tracing a slowly spiraling path in the afternoon light filtering through the window.

Song Tianhao sat opposite Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, his spine straight, his gaze calm as he looked at the cup of tea that had been pushed in front of him.

The tea was clear, and the buds slowly unfurled in the cup; it was truly top-quality West Lake Longjing.

"President Song, at the press conference just now, the people arranged by Director Jeong were ignorant and caused you trouble."

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun picked up the teacup in front of him, blew on it gently, took a small sip, and then looked up at Song Tianhao.

He wore a perfectly measured smile—that kind of gentle, distant warmth characteristic of those who have long held high positions.

"On his behalf, I apologize to President Song."

His tone was very calm, as if he were saying "The weather is nice today."

There was no sincerity to be heard, nor was there any anger.

It was as if that sharp question from earlier, which had almost destroyed a female actress's future, was just an insignificant misunderstanding, or an unseemly joke.

The corners of Song Tianhao's mouth also curved upward, equally devoid of warmth: "You're too kind. It was just a small ripple; it actually helped generate buzz for the movie and saved us some promotional costs."

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun set down his teacup.

The porcelain cup clicked against the rosewood tea tray with a crisp "ding."

He smiled, and this time the smile was deeper, with the lines at the corners of his eyes bunching up like some kind of measuring stick for scrutiny.

"It seems President Song is confident, which is a good thing."

He leaned forward slightly, hands clasped on the table—a posture that appeared casual but was actually filled with pressure.

"However, President Song, in the film industry, having topics and heat alone is not enough."

"For a movie to be successful, to make money, and to win awards, it needs many things."

"Screening rates, connections during the awards season, the skewing of theater chain resources, and even... the guidance of public opinion."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Song Tianhao's face for a moment as if evaluating something, before continuing in a tone of persuasion, like an elder giving pointers to a younger generation:

"Sky Entertainment is new here. Although the momentum is good, in this circle, having too many enemies makes the road difficult."

"Especially when you make things unpleasant with us at CJ Group over a... well, somewhat controversial actress. In the eyes of many, that is very unwise."

Song Tianhao didn't speak, just watched him quietly, waiting for the rest.

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun was very satisfied with this feeling of controlling the rhythm of the conversation.

He leaned back in his chair, his tone becoming more relaxed, even carrying a hint of condescension: "Why don't we cooperate? It's good for young people to have drive, but one must also know how to leverage power."

"The movie 'dark light,' I have read the script outline; with Director Lee Chang-dong directing and Son Ye-jin starring, it certainly has potential."

"CJ Group's theater chains can provide the highest level of screening support."

"For the Blue Dragon Awards and Grand Bell Awards at the end of the year, I can also exert some effort to maneuver a few significant nominations, or even... awards."

He picked up his teacup and took another sip.

When he set the cup down, the bottom tapped lightly against the table; the sound was not loud, but it was like a gavel before a verdict.

"As for the conditions," Chairman Lee Jae-hyun looked at Song Tianhao, his smile still there, but his eyes had turned cold, "they are very simple."

"First, regardless of the final box office, CJ Group wants thirty percent of the profits from the movie 'dark light.'"

"Second, Han Hyo-joo's actor contract must be transferred back to CJ Group."

"Of course, President Song can rest assured that we will definitely 'take good care' of her. After all, she has topics and heat right now; this is when she is most valuable."

He deliberately emphasized the words "take good care."

The implication was self-evident; at CJ Entertainment, there are countless ways to make an disobedient actress "take good care" of herself—or to make her disappear completely.

Naked coercion, wrapped in the guise of seemingly tempting benefits.

Using screenings and awards as bait, he wanted to take the biggest slice of the cake while also snatching away the pearl that Song Tianhao had just pulled from the mud, polished, and prepared to place on a high pedestal.

After hearing this, the smile on Song Tianhao's face deepened.

He leaned back slightly, his gaze landing on the face opposite him—well-maintained, yet unable to hide the marks of age and power.

He spoke slowly, his voice calm, even carrying a hint of a smile: "Chairman Lee, you certainly know how to calculate."

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

"However," Song Tianhao restrained his smile, his eyes devoid of any warmth, like the frozen surface of the Han River in winter, "I have a bad habit."

"First, I don't like to eat peaches that others have touched and that are still covered in dirt."

"Second, I dislike even more to be forced into a negotiation with a gun pointed at my head."

The smile on Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's face vanished at a visible speed.

His fingers, resting on the table, tapped once, emitting a dull "thud."

The room was so quiet that one could hear the faint sound of the tea boiling in the pot.

"Young man, having backbone is a good thing."

"But backbone cannot be eaten as a meal, nor can it serve as screening time."

"Without the support of CJ Group's theater chains, no matter how good your 'dark light' is, it will only be shown in small halls for film critics to watch."

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's voice deepened, shedding its previous mask of gentleness, leaving only the coldness and arrogance belonging to a chaebol chairman.

"Without our connections, you wouldn't even know which way the door to the Blue Dragon Awards opens."

"As for Han Hyo-joo..."

He scoffed, his tone filled with undisguised contempt: "A minor actress abandoned by her original agency, who almost couldn't survive in the circle—do you really think she can turn her life around with just one movie?"

"Once she leaves CJ Group, what kind of decent resources can she get?"

"President Song, I admire your courage, but in this circle, having only courage will lead to a very painful fall."

Song Tianhao looked at him and suddenly felt a bit bored.

These high-and-mighty threats, this arrogance of thinking one controls everything—they were no different from what he had seen in his past life in the business world and those vanity fairs.

He slowly stood up, looking down at Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, who remained seated.

This action made Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's eyelid twitch; he did not like being looked down upon.

"As for the screening issue, Sky Entertainment will solve it ourselves."

Song Tianhao's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, like ice picks hitting the ground.

"Awards are decided by the quality of the film itself, not by any one person."

"As for connections..."

He leaned forward slightly, hands braced on the edge of the table, closing the distance between him and Chairman Lee Jae-hyun.

He lowered his voice, speaking slowly at a volume only the two of them could hear: "Instead of having time to negotiate with me here, Chairman Lee, you might want to go back and check what the surname of that special consultant at S Group's newly established entertainment division is."

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's pupils contracted violently when he heard the words "S Group."

The muscles on his face stiffened for a moment; although he quickly recovered, that fleeting look of shock and wariness did not escape Song Tianhao's eyes.

S Group, one of the truly top-tier chaebols in South Korea, had tentacles spreading throughout electronics, finance, heavy industry, and chemicals.

In recent years, it had begun to aggressively enter the cultural industry, making it a behemoth that even CJ Group had to avoid crossing.

The entertainment division was the latest strategic department established by S Group; it was rumored that its special consultant had a mysterious identity and immense power.

Song Tianhao straightened up and adjusted the slightly wrinkled cuffs of his suit, his movements unhurried.

He looked at Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, his gaze calm and waveless, as if stating the simplest of facts: "As for Han Hyo-joo, she is currently a Sky Entertainment actor."

"In the future, she will only ever be a Sky Entertainment actor."

"Whoever wants to touch her again is touching me, Song Tianhao, and touching Sky Entertainment."

He paused, his gaze landing on Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's face, his tone plain but carrying a force of absolute certainty: "Please, Chairman Lee, make sure to remember this sentence clearly."

After speaking, he gave a slight nod to Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, whose face had turned completely gloomy.

The gesture was courteous but distant and cold: "Chairman Lee's tea smells good."

"However, I have a sensitive stomach; drinking someone else's tea makes it hard for me to sleep. Farewell."

He turned and walked steadily toward the door.

With his hand on the doorknob, he paused slightly, without looking back, and opened the door.

Outside the door, Chairman Lee Jae-hyun's secretary was standing with his hands at his sides.

Seeing Song Tianhao come out, he bowed subconsciously.

Song Tianhao even nodded at him before walking away, his figure quickly disappearing around the corner of the corridor.

The secretary straightened up, somewhat puzzled, and subconsciously glanced into the slightly ajar door.

The next second, he heard the harsh sound of porcelain being violently swept onto the floor, followed by a low roar that was suppressed but still clearly filled with violent rage.

The secretary's face turned pale; he immediately closed the door gently, took two steps back, and kept his eyes down, as if he had heard nothing.

Only a fine layer of cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

Inside the VIP room, the place was in ruins.

The top-quality celadon teapot and teacups were smashed across the floor, and the warm tea soup seeped into the light-colored carpet, leaving dark stains.

Chairman Lee Jae-hyun stood there, his chest heaving slightly.

The mask of the calm and composed elder from earlier was completely shattered, leaving only the hideous anger of having been offended and defied.

He stared fixedly at the direction of the door, his eyes so sinister they could drip water.

"S Group... Song Tianhao..."

He gritted his teeth, squeezing these words out from between them, and then slammed his fist onto the rosewood coffee table beside him, producing a dull thud.

The black sedan drove steadily along the road leading toward the Han River.

Song Tianhao leaned back in the rear seat, eyes closed, his fingers tapping unconsciously on his knees.

The confrontational aura from the tea room had faded.

At this moment, there was a trace of fatigue on his face, but it was overshadowed by a cold clarity.

This time, the gloves were completely off.

[part:gemini-3.5-flash]

From the moment he signed Han Hyo-joo, he knew that clashing with CJ was only a matter of time. He just hadn't expected Chairman Lee Jae-hyun to personally step into the arena in such a direct and greedy manner. A thirty percent share of the profits, plus Han Hyo-joo's contract... his appetite was indeed massive.

He didn't care about that thirty percent share. What he cared about was the attitude. If he took a step back today, CJ would take a mile tomorrow, and the day after that, even more "Chairman Lee Jae-hyuns" would pounce, eager to tear a piece of flesh from him. This industry had always bullied the weak and feared the strong; it was survival of the fittest.

Therefore, he could not take a single step back.

The cell phone in his pocket began to vibrate. He opened his eyes, pulled out the phone, and saw the name "Son Ye-jin" flashing on the screen.

He pressed the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

"President." Son Ye-jin's voice came through the receiver, slightly faster than usual and carrying obvious worry. "Are you... okay? Chairman Lee Jae-hyun... didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

Her voice was very soft, and the background was quiet. She was likely in her van or had already returned to her residence.

"I'm fine." Song Tianhao's voice softened. "I had a chat with him, but we just couldn't reach an agreement."

Silence fell over the other end of the line for a few seconds. Son Ye-jin was not an innocent young girl; having been in this industry for so many years, she knew all too well what lay behind the words "couldn't reach an agreement," especially when it was with CJ's Chairman Lee Jae-hyun.

"Do you need me to... do anything?" she asked. Aside from worry, there was an eagerness to share his burden in her voice. She knew her capabilities were limited, but even if it was just quietly listening to him speak when he needed it, or preparing a simple late-night snack for him, she wanted to help.

The corners of Song Tianhao's mouth curled up unconsciously, diluting some of his cold sharpness. "Focus on preparing for the role of Yoon Soo-ah. Doing a good job of Acting out 'Light' is the greatest help you can give me." He paused, then added, "Don't overthink things. I'm here."

The simple phrase "I'm here" caused Son Ye-jin's heart to tremble slightly on the other end of the line. That feeling of being protected and supported was far too precious in this industry full of uncertainty and pressure.

Her fingers tightened around the phone, and her voice softened. "Mhm. I understand. You... must be careful too. CJ won't just let this go."

"I know," Song Tianhao said. "You too, take care of yourself. You'll be joining the cast in a couple of days, so keep yourself in top condition."

"Alright. Goodnight, President."

"Goodnight."

After hanging up on Son Ye-jin, Song Tianhao looked out the car window at the night view of the Han River rushing past. The river water was deep and dark, reflecting the brilliant lights on both banks. Underneath the prosperity lay bottomless undercurrents.

The phone rang again, and this time it was Han Hyo-joo.

Song Tianhao looked at the name flashing on the screen, waited a few seconds, and then answered.

"President..." Han Hyo-joo's voice came through, slightly hoarse as if she had been crying, but carrying more of a trembling determination, like someone who had burned her bridges. "I heard about what happened after the press conference. I'm sorry, President. It's me again... I've caused trouble for you again..."

Her voice was filled with self-blame and lingering fear. She knew better than anyone how malicious the reporter's question had been today, and how much pressure Song Tianhao had to bear to protect her by directly confronting CJ. All of this was because of her.

"It's not your trouble," Song Tianhao interrupted her, his tone flat but carrying an unquestionable power. "This is between me and CJ. It has been from the very beginning. And you..."

He paused, his gaze landing on the flowing river outside the window, his voice calm and clear. "Han Hyo-joo, remember this. You are a trophy I snatched from CJ's hands, one of my most important trophies in this war. So, don't say you're sorry, and don't feel like you've caused trouble."

He slowed his pace, every word striking Han Hyo-joo's heart. "You only need to do one thing: act well. Bring 'Shadow' to life, act so well that everyone remembers you, make Director Lee Chang-dong feel that choosing you was the right decision, and make the people who were waiting below the stage today to mock you unable to laugh ever again.

Don't let me lose, and don't let yourself lose. Do you understand?"

From the other end of the line came a faint sob, which was quickly forced down. Then came the sound of Han Hyo-joo taking a deep breath, followed by an exceptionally firm reply, heavily nasal but resolute:

"Mhm! President, I understand! I will... I will definitely act well! I absolutely won't let you lose!"

In her voice, there was the hoarseness after crying, the excitement of being trusted, and even more, a determination to risk everything in a last-stand battle.

"Good." Song Tianhao spoke only a single word before hanging up.

He did not need to hear any more assurances. Actions spoke louder than words.

The car stopped near a viewing platform by the Han River. Song Tianhao had the driver wait while he got out and walked to the guardrail by the river. The late evening breeze of early autumn blew in, carrying the distinct, slightly fishy scent of the river water, cooling down his mind, which had grown somewhat heated from the confrontation earlier.

He needed to think calmly about his next step.

Thoroughly infuriating Chairman Lee Jae-hyun meant that CJ's retaliation would arrive very soon, and it would be even more ferocious and unscrupulous. Restricting screen time in theaters was just the most basic tactic; public opinion smearing, poaching talent, and even sabotage during film shooting and post-production were all highly possible.

Borrowing the prestige of S Group could only work for a short while, but he couldn't rely on it entirely. He had to quickly strengthen his own power, expand his network, find allies, and at the same time, prepare weapons for a counterattack.

He pulled out his phone, scrolled to the name "Park So-yeon" in his contacts, and dialed.

The call was quickly connected, and Park So-yeon's soft, slightly languid voice came through. "Oppa? Is the press conference over? I saw it on the news, Hyo-joo looked so cool today! Are you okay? That old fox Chairman Lee Jae-hyun..."

"I'm fine," Song Tianhao cut straight to the chase. "Soyeon, there are a few things I need you to handle immediately."

Hearing his serious tone, Park So-yeon immediately cast aside her languor on the other end, her voice turning earnest and efficient. "Tell me, Oppa."

"First, 'accidentally' leak our strategic cooperative memorandum of understanding with S Group's entertainment division to a few media outlets we have good relations with, like the Dong-A Economy and Daily Financial.

Note, only leak the non-core, framework portion, and make them feel like they've scooped an exclusive, rather than us proactively giving it to them."

Park So-yeon was silent for a second on the other end before understanding dawned on her. "Understood. Use S Group's name to deter others who want to take advantage of the crisis, and also apply pressure on CJ. I'll get right on it. The news will be in the papers by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"Mhm," Song Tianhao continued. "Second, initiate a comprehensive background investigation into CJ Group's film production and distribution-related businesses. Especially the films they have invested in and shot over the past three years—look into tax matters, production cost compliance, and... certain 'conventions' in casting.

I want to know every possible dirt we can get on them, the more detailed, the better. Money is not an issue; hire the best private investigation teams. It must be fast and covert."

"This will take time, and we also need to be very careful. CJ has a strong sense of counter-reconnaissance," Park So-yeon reminded him.

"I know. That's why we need to find the best, and hire them separately. Don't use our company's name; operate through overseas offshore companies. The money will come from my personal account."

Song Tianhao's tone was decisive. "In addition, have the company's legal team prepare, especially the lawyers specializing in entertainment law and anti-unfair competition law. We might be very busy next."

"Alright, I've noted it down." Excitement seeped through Park So-yeon's voice. She loved this feeling of dancing on the edge of a knife and playing chess with a powerful opponent, especially when fighting side by side with Song Tianhao.

"Third," Song Tianhao looked at the scattered lights across the river, his eyes deep. "Raise the security level for T-ara's and Girls Generation's upcoming comebacks and schedules to the highest. Especially for public schedules, we must ensure everything is absolutely foolproof. I'm worried CJ might play dirty."

"I'll arrange it, don't worry, Oppa." Park So-yeon's voice softened, carrying concern. "Don't... push yourself too hard. Do you need me to come over and keep you company? Or should I ask Taeyeon to go? She was still talking about you today, saying she hadn't seen you for several days."

At the mention of Kim Taeyeon, Song Tianhao's cold and hard expression softened for a brief moment. "No need, I'll head back in a bit. You girls should also rest early. There will be a lot of things to handle in the company next, so you must also pay attention to your own safety."

"I know, Oppa. You too, go back early. Don't stand in the wind by the river, be careful not to catch a cold," Park So-yeon urged like a caring wife, and only then did she hang up the phone.

Putting away his phone, the river breeze seemed to have grown a bit cooler. Song Tianhao took one last look at the deep, dark river water, then turned and walked back to the car.

"President, are we heading back to the company or the apartment?" the driver, Jang Se-hoon, inquired through the rearview mirror. As Song Tianhao's most trusted manager and bodyguard, he had probably guessed what had happened in the hotel earlier, and his expression was even more serious than usual.

Song Tianhao leaned back against the seat, closed his eyes, and massaged his temples. "Let's go to the apartment."

He needed to get a good night's sleep.

The car slowly started, leaving the riverside and merging into Seoul's endless flow of night traffic. With his eyes closed, Song Tianhao's mind was exceptionally clear as he mapped out each subsequent move.

Meanwhile, in his luxury apartment in Cheongdam-dong, the light in a certain room was still on. Someone was using her own way to preserve a sense of peace for Song Tianhao.