104: Chapter 104 Meeting

On the afternoon of the appointment, the sky over Seoul was overcast, looking as if it were about to rain but never quite starting.

Chairman Wang Shunyi's car parked on the second basement level of the JYP Entertainment building. Kim Young-jun pulled open the car door and said, "The Chairman has arrived."

He got out of the car and straightened his suit cuffs. Today, he was still wearing that custom-made deep blue suit; the tie was a gift from Park Min-ji last month, a dark-patterned navy blue, and he tied it more carefully than usual.

The elevator went from B2 to the ninth floor. When the doors opened, a faint scent of cosmetics wafted through the hallway—not the cheap synthetic kind, but that complex, indefinable scent formed by dozens of products mixed together in a dressing room, not exactly pleasant but not unpleasant either.

Park Min-ji stood before the floor-to-ceiling window at the end of the corridor, looking down at her phone. Today, she wore a light gray thin wool coat over a black turtleneck sweater. Her hair was down, the ends slightly curled, and she held a black clutch in her hand.

It wasn't her usual work attire; it was more formal and more refined. She looked up and saw him coming from the elevator, tucking her phone into her bag.

“You're here?”

“Yeah.”

The two of them walked side-by-side toward the practice room door, with Kim Young-jun following behind, tablet in hand.

Park Jin-young was already waiting in the practice room, standing next to TWICE's manager—a woman in her forties with short hair, dressed in a black business suit with a serious expression.

When she saw Chairman Wang Shunyi and Park Min-ji enter, she bowed slightly and said,

“Chairman Wang, Director Park, welcome.”

Chairman Wang Shunyi nodded, his gaze sweeping across the practice room. Mirrors lined all four walls, professional dance flooring covered the ground, speakers were embedded in the corners, and the air smelled of sweat and the sickly sweet fragrance of setting spray.

Five girls stood in a row, wearing various casual clothes—some in hoodies, some in sweaters, and one draped in a thin practice jacket.

With his first glance, he recognized Im Na-yeon: standing in the very center, with rabbit teeth and eyes that curved when she smiled. She was highly popular in both Korea and China, and according to the data Kim Young-jun provided, her commercial value was at the top of the group.

Beside her was Yoo Jeong-yeon, with short hair and a more heroic aura; she had followed a tomboyish route in the early days of their debut.

Momo stood next to Yoo Jeong-yeon; she was said to have a very strong stage presence.

Minatozaki Sana was the sweetest, with a very infectious smile.

Park Jihyo was on the edge, with a round face and large eyes; she was the leader of TWICE.

Park Jin-young began the introductions, but Chairman Wang Shunyi didn't listen to a single word. His gaze slowly swept across those five faces, from left to right and then right to left. Im Nayeon's face was very small, her eyes bright, and her skin so white it was almost transparent, but her posture was somewhat casual, with her weight shifted to one foot—not the attitude one should have when meeting an investor in a formal setting.

Hirai Momo kept her head slightly lowered, her long hair covering half her face, making it impossible to see her expression.

Minatozaki Sana was smiling, but it was a professional smile, the curve of her lips just right, no more and no less. Park Jihyo stood the straightest, her gaze the steadiest; she had something similar to the leader Choi Min-ju he had seen in the SM practice room—not flashy, but reassuring.

The voices of the five girls greeting him together were very synchronized, clearly rehearsed repeatedly by the manager backstage. Park Min-ji stood beside Chairman Wang Shunyi; his hand hung by his thigh, and he didn't take her hand.

His gaze lingered on Im Nayeon's face for two seconds before moving to Park Jihyo.

“Everyone, please sit.”

Im Nayeon was the first to sit; her posture was somewhat upright, but she crossed her legs. Yoo Jeong-yeon sat properly beside her, both hands placed on her knees.

After Hirai Momo sat down, she tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing a small ear and a silver earring. When Minatozaki Sana sat down, her skirt wasn't arranged properly, revealing a portion of her thigh; she looked down and quickly tugged at the hem to cover it.

Park Jihyo sat last, on the very edge.

Chairman Wang Shunyi spoke; his voice wasn't loud, but the practice room was so quiet that every word was clearly audible.

“Have you tried Shunyi Foods' products?”

Im Nayeon rushed to answer, saying, “I have. I often eat them during practice. The Mala fire chicken noodles are especially delicious; the spice is very satisfying.”

Yoo Jeong-yeon nodded in agreement beside her.

Momo said, “Her Japanese friends like them too and ask her to help buy them.”

Chairman Wang Shunyi's gaze moved from Im Nayeon's face to Hirai Momo's, pausing for a moment. Hirai Momo felt his gaze and lowered her head slightly, then raised it again, forcing a smile. That smile lasted less than two seconds before it vanished.

“The endorsement format will primarily involve filming TV and online commercials. Print ads will also be shot. Additionally, we will release co-branded products—a TWICE limited edition fire chicken noodles. Your photos, all nine of you, will be printed on the packaging. Not all nine may appear in the commercials, but all nine will be on the limited edition packaging.”

Park Jihyo leaned forward slightly. “Chairman Wang, will we have the opportunity to participate in the design of the co-branded products?”

“Yes. Your opinions will be considered. The specific design plans will be handled between the companies.”

Park Jin-young added a few words from the side, saying a dedicated team would be arranged to follow up and ensure the artists' image was consistent with the brand's tone. Chairman Wang Shunyi didn't look at him, his gaze still fixed on Park Jihyo.

“Do you have anything you want to ask?”

The practice room was quiet for two seconds. Im Nayeon raised her hand and asked, “When will the commercials be filmed?”

“At the end of this year or early next year; the specific time will be notified by the company.”

Hirai Momo didn't raise her hand but said directly, “I want to interact more with fans. I hope the brand can coordinate with their schedule.”

Chairman Wang Shunyi glanced at her.

“The filming schedule for the commercials will be coordinated with JYP in advance; it won't delay your comebacks or tours,” he said, then added, “In the future, such questions can just be relayed through your manager.”

Hirai Momo was stunned for a moment and lowered her head without responding. The corner of Im Nayeon's mouth twitched as if she wanted to speak up, but she held back.

Park Min-ji hadn't spoken the entire time. She stood half a step behind and to the right of Chairman Wang Shunyi, a bit further from him than usual at the company.

She had adjusted this distance herself; she didn't explain, and he didn't ask. She knew she shouldn't be standing there at this moment, but when Park Jin-young gestured for her to sit, she hesitated for a moment and sat down anyway. She sat in a spot separated from Chairman Wang Shunyi by an empty seat. Park Jin-young looked at that empty seat but said nothing.

The meeting lasted less than thirty minutes. When Chairman Wang Shunyi stood up, the five girls also stood up and said in unison,

“Thank you for your hard work, Chairman Wang.”

He nodded and turned to leave. Park Min-ji followed behind him, with Kim Young-jun carrying the tablet at the very back. The manager offered to see them out, but Chairman Wang Shunyi said it wasn't necessary, his pace never slowing.

Only the three of them were in the elevator. Kim Young-jun pressed the button for the first floor; when they arrived and the doors opened, he held the door and looked at Chairman Wang Shunyi, waiting for instructions.

Chairman Wang Shunyi waved his hand for him to go first, and Kim Young-jun released the button and stepped out.

Chairman Wang Shunyi and Park Min-ji were alone in the elevator.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“Im Na-yeon has the highest commercial value, but she talks too much. Hirai Momo has strong stage presence but isn't good at handling these situations. Park Jihyo is the steadiest; a leader is a leader. For the packaging design of the co-branded products, have Soo-jin coordinate with JYP. All nine members must be on it, not one missing.”

“She seems a bit unhappy,” Park Min-ji said.

“Who?”

“Hirai Momo. Your last sentence was a bit harsh.”

Chairman Wang Shunyi didn't respond, looking at the reflection on the elevator doors. His expression didn't change. "Shibal, I'm an entrepreneur, not a damn psychiatrist. I can tolerate their rudeness for the sake of profit, but they had better meet my expectations." After Chairman Wang Shunyi finished, a trace of a smile appeared on his face, but in Park Min-ji's eyes, something felt slightly off.

“Furthermore, this is a business setting. Not a fan meeting,” Chairman Wang Shunyi added.

She didn't say anything more. The two of them stood in the elevator with the distance of a fist between them. The elevator reached the first floor, the doors opened, and Kim Young-jun was waiting outside.

They walked out of the elevator; he walked in front, and she followed behind. The car was already parked at the entrance. Kim Young-jun pulled open the rear door, Chairman Wang Shunyi got in first, and Park Min-ji went around to the other side to sit inside.

There was an empty seat between them. Kim Young-jun sat in the passenger seat and glanced at the back seat through the rearview mirror, said nothing, and started the car.

The car drove out of the JYP building; outside the window, Seoul was gray. Park Min-ji looked out the window, and he didn't speak either. After a while, she reached out across the middle seat and placed her hand on the back of his.

He didn't pull away. He turned his palm over and grasped her hand; his palm was dry, and the temperature was just right. The driver and Kim Young-jun both pretended not to see.

“The group films the commercial next Wednesday. Are you going to watch?” he asked.

“Yes. Kim Soo-jin can't handle it all by herself.”

“Okay.”

The car stopped first at her apartment building. She let go of his hand, opened the door, and got out. After walking a few steps, she turned back and looked at him through the car window but didn't wave.

He honked the horn once, and she turned into the hallway, the hallway lights flickering on. He said to Kim Young-jun, "Sit for a moment."

After a while, Chairman Wang Shunyi said, “Let's go.”

The car merged back into the traffic. Kim Young-jun glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

“Is the Chairman going straight back to the company?”

“Yes.”

Namsan Tower in the distance was faintly visible through the fog. The car stopped at a red light; the wipers weren't on, and a few drops of rain fell on the windshield.

He didn't wipe them away, watching those few drops slowly slide down the glass, like someone outside was crying, crying very slowly. The light turned green, and the car continued forward.