37: Chapter 37 I Don't Like Trading

Song Tianhao's face was expressionless. Unhurriedly, he first reached out and pressed the recording button on the side of his phone.

Both young women noticed this subtle action of his.

Then, just before the phone was about to hang up automatically, Song Tianhao pressed the answer button and immediately put it on speakerphone.

"Director Li." Song Tianhao's voice was calm and without waves.

From the other end of the line came the slightly deep voice of a middle-aged man, carrying obvious restraint and an effort to soften his tone: "President Song, hello, sorry for the intrusion. This is Director Li Zaiming."

"You're too kind, Director Li. Is there something you need?" Song Tianhao's tone revealed neither joy nor anger.

"Sigh, President Song, it really is… a misfortune in the family. I've caused you and your company's artists such great trouble. On behalf of my wife, I offer a sincere apology to you and all the members of Girls Generation!"

Director Li Zaiming's apology sounded sincere enough, but upon closer listening, one could detect a hint of formality. "I have already severely reprimanded her. She knows she did wrong and is very regretful. Look, regarding this matter… could I ask you to show some leniency?

We can resolve this privately. There's no need to make a scene and let outsiders laugh at us. It might also affect the image of your company's artists, don't you think?"

He paused, seemingly observing Song Tianhao's reaction, and then added in an even more "sincere" tone:

"To show our apologies, and to make up for the shock and inconvenience caused to the members of Girls Generation…

For the upcoming promotional period, including 'Music Bank', as long as it is a promotional program or music-related variety show under KBS, we can prioritize Girls Generation for better performance slots, longer camera time, and… some extra promotional resources.

We can even help coordinate the best broadcast times for the title track of your next comeback. How about it, does this solution work for you?"

The other party's apology was a facade; proposing a "trade" was the real intention. He wanted to use the television station's resource allocation to exchange for Song Tianhao not releasing the video and not pursuing the matter.

This was a typical way of handling "accidents" within the industry—using benefit exchanges to calm the situation.

Director Li's posture was humble, but the conditions he proposed carried a subtle arrogance, a sense of "I still hold the power of resource allocation."

The atmosphere, which had gone from tense when answering the phone to slightly relaxed during the apology, became tense and delicate again with this blatant "trade" proposal.

Park So-yeon's expression turned ugly, and anger flickered in her eyes. What kind of apology was this? This was using resources to shut them up!

Ham Eunjung frowned slightly, clearly having also caught the implication.

Song Tianhao listened quietly, his face expressionless. He even picked up a pen and a sticky note someone had left nearby, and while listening, casually wrote down a few words: Bracelet, Director, Trade.

After Director Li finished speaking, Song Tianhao spoke slowly, his voice remaining steady: "I have received Director Li's 'sincerity.' However, my artist's hand was scalded, her phone was broken, and she was mentally shocked and insulted. These things cannot be easily smoothed over by a little 'resource allocation.'"

He paused. Director Li Zaiming on the other end seemed to want to say something, but Song Tianhao didn't give him the chance and continued:

"How about this, Director Li. I will consider your 'private resolution' proposal. However, I need some time to discuss it with my artists. After all, they are the ones who were hurt."

"Additionally," Song Tianhao's tone suddenly turned cold, and although his voice wasn't loud, it carried an invisible pressure, "Before we reach a conclusion, I hope that unpleasant incidents like today's will not happen again.

I do not want to hear any rumors about 'blacklisting' or 'making things difficult' for my artists, even if it's just a joke. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee whether the things in my possession will spread in ways I wouldn't want to see. Do you understand what I mean?"

These words were both a warning and a pressure tactic. It clearly told the other party: I have leverage over you; until we reach a final agreement, stay in line.

Director Li Zaiming on the other end was silent for two seconds, clearly digesting the weight of Song Tianhao's words, before responding with a dry laugh: "Of course, of course, President Song, please rest assured, there will absolutely not be a next time! Then… I will wait for your news?"

"Hmm." Song Tianhao responded noncommittally and hung up the phone.

The call ended, and the waiting room returned to silence. Only the faint crackle of electricity after disconnecting the speakerphone seemed to linger in the air.

Park So-yeon couldn't help it. She looked at Song Tianhao, her tone filled with unwillingness and urgency: "President! Are you really going to consider his 'trade'? Using resources to exchange for silence? Then what about the grievances Im Yoona and Taeyeon suffered…"

Ham Eunjung also looked at Song Tianhao, her eyes filled with contemplation. She didn't object as urgently as Park So-yeon, but she was clearly waiting for the President's decision.

Song Tianhao didn't answer immediately. He picked up the sticky note with "Bracelet, Director, Trade" written on it, took a look, and then, under the confused gazes of Park So-yeon and Ham Eunjung, slowly tore the paper in half, then tore it again, until it became a pile of tiny fragments.

He stood up, walked to the trash can in the corner, and threw the fragments in.

Then, he turned around and looked at the two girls, a smile suddenly appearing on his face that left both Park So-yeon and Ham Eunjung somewhat confused.

"Trade?" He repeated the word, shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of disdain, yet seemingly holding a deeper meaning.

"I don't like trading."

He walked back to the sofa but didn't sit down, just stood there, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls, looking into the distance.

"However," he paused, his voice not loud, but every word was clear, striking the quiet space,

"I like… equivalent exchange."

After saying this meaningful sentence, he offered no further explanation.

Just at that moment, the phone in Park So-yeon's pocket vibrated. She took it out and glanced at it; it was a message from her cousin, with several pictures attached.

She opened it. It was the internal surveillance screenshots from the jewelry store robbery. Although the suspect's face was blurred, the style of the diamond bracelet on her wrist and several unique details were clearly identifiable in the enlarged images! They matched the one Kim Hye-rim wore today with extremely high accuracy!

Park So-yeon's cousin also mentioned in the message that she had already found the contact information for the police officer in charge of the case at the time, and if needed, they could try to make contact.

Park So-yeon handed her phone to Song Tianhao to look at. Song Tianhao scanned it, nodded, didn't say much, just said: "Keep the evidence safe. Send me the contact information and the specific details later."

At this moment, a somewhat hurried sound of footsteps and girls whispering came from outside the door. It was Girls Generation returning from their rehearsal.

The door was pushed open. Led by Kim Taeyeon, the nine girls had a flush from exercise and a hint of fatigue on their faces, but their eyes were much more determined than before they went to rehearsal. They immediately saw the President, Park So-yeon, and Ham Eunjung, whose atmosphere in the waiting room seemed somewhat heavy.

Im Yoona was carefully protected in the middle by Sunny and Kwon Yuri, her bandaged right hand properly placed in front of her.

Kim Taeyeon's gaze swept across the faces of Song Tianhao, Park So-yeon, and Ham Eunjung, keenly sensing something.

She gently broke free from Tiffany Hwang's supporting hand, walked to Song Tianhao, lifted her face, her clear eyes filled with worry and a hint of imperceptible reliance, and asked in a very soft but clear voice:

"President, has the matter… been resolved?"

The other members also stopped their movements and looked over. The six members of T-ara had finished their rehearsal a bit earlier and were also waiting here, watching with concern.

Song Tianhao's gaze swept over Kim Taeyeon, then looked at the young faces behind her, filled with anticipation yet hidden unease. His gaze finally landed on Im Yoona, who was surrounded in the middle with her hand bandaged.

He didn't answer Kim Taeyeon's question immediately, but turned around, walked to the medical kit nearby, and took out a new roll of clean gauze and scissors. Then, he walked to Im Yoona.

"Extend your hand," he said, his tone flat.

Im Yoona was stunned for a moment, then obediently extended her injured right hand in front of him.

Song Tianhao squatted down, skillfully and gently untied the gauze knot that the medical team had just wrapped, and checked the condition of the wound. The blister hadn't ruptured, and the redness and swelling seemed to have subsided a little.

Then he picked up the new gauze and began to re-bandage Im Yoona's hand.

Song Tianhao's fingers were slender and steady, and the pressure of wrapping the gauze was even and appropriate, securing the dressing without being too tight. His lowered brows and eyes looked exceptionally focused under the light.

Everyone watched this scene quietly. The President personally changing the dressing and bandaging an injured artist—this image itself conveyed a silent, powerful sense of protection.

Im Yoona looked at Song Tianhao's focused profile so close to her, feeling the warm touch of his fingertips occasionally brushing against her skin. All the previous fear, grievances, and pain seemed to be strangely smoothed over at this moment, and a warm current and sense of peace surged in her heart.

Her gaze towards Song Tianhao unconsciously carried deep reliance, gratitude, and a complex sentiment of worship and admiration that even she herself hadn't fully understood.

Just as Song Tianhao had wrapped the gauze halfway and tied a temporary knot to secure it, he stopped his movements.

He didn't look up, maintaining his half-squatting position, his gaze resting on the back of Im Yoona's hand covered by the gauze, as if he were talking to that hand, or as if he were saying to everyone present:

"Halfway resolved."

Only then did he look up, his gaze slowly sweeping over the fifteen girls gathered around—the nine members of Girls Generation and the six members of T-ara. His eyes were calm, yet carried a power that could penetrate people's hearts.

"The video is in our hands. The other party offered a 'trade' proposal."

He was concise and didn't hide anything.

"But I didn't agree."

He paused, slowly stood up, his gaze becoming sharp and filled with pressure.

"Because I don't like being shut up by people using 'resources,' and I don't like my artists being threatened with their 'future' to swallow grievances they shouldn't have to."

His voice raised a little, echoing in the quiet waiting room.

"So, the other half needs to be solved by you yourselves."

"Use the stage, use your strength, use an indisputable performance."

He looked at the nine members of Girls Generation, especially Im Yoona with her hand bandaged and Kim Taeyeon whose eyes were still slightly red.

"For today's 'Music Bank,' no matter who is sitting in the audience, what they are thinking, or what they are holding in their hands."

"I want you to take that breath you were holding backstage just now, the grievances you suffered, and all the unwillingness and anger in your hearts…"

He raised his hand, pointing outside the waiting room, toward the direction of the stage.

"Turn it all into the strength to stand on that stage! Turn it into song! Turn it into dance! Turn it into smiles!"

His gaze swept over everyone, every word firm and decisive:

"Let everyone see how someone who was splashed with coffee, threatened, intimidated, and harmed can uprightly take tonight's first place!"

"I want everyone to remember that Sky Entertainment's artists, when bullied, will not cry and hide, nor will they beg for reconciliation in a lowly manner."

"We will stand in the highest place, using the brightest light to make those dirty things hiding in the shadows have nowhere to hide!"

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!" The fifteen girls said in unison. Their voices weren't loud, but they were exceptionally firm and powerful. Their eyes still held traces of tears, but more than that, there was a flame that had been ignited, a kind of determination to burn the bridges behind them and fight for their pride!

Im Yoona clenched her uninjured left hand, and her right hand under the gauze seemed to surge with strength as well. She looked at Song Tianhao, looking at his face that was both gently bandaging her and filled with unquestionable dominance, and the warm current and heartbeat in her heart turned into incomparably clear worship and admiration.

She knew that no matter what the result was tonight, the man in front of her would be their firmest reliance and brightest guide.

Song Tianhao looked at the fighting spirit rekindled in their eyes and nodded slightly.

"Go prepare. The television broadcast is about to start."