How can you become a star without money?

Chapter 223 "Playthings"

"Stay away from Lee Byung-hun, or you'll be led astray." Lee Boo-jung led Wang Yao through the venue to the back box.

The presence of various security personnel along the way demonstrates just how secretive the destination is.

"Representative Li is quite good," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"You think Han Chae-young is pretty good, right? I've heard the rumors about you in China. You seem particularly interested in married women in the entertainment industry who are already taken." Lee Boo-jung glanced at him.

"That's pure slander. Where did you see that? I'll report it later. If that's the case, then Sister Fu Zhen is already taken," Wang Yao said, frowning.

"Are you looking for death? Talking nonsense! Ouch! That hurts!" Li Fuzhen, embarrassed and angry, elbowed Wang Yao, but the impact made a crisp sound.

Wang Yao reached out, grasped her elbow, rubbed it, and smiled, "Safety first when you're out and about."

"Are you crazy?! This is Korea, why are you wearing a bulletproof vest?!" Lee Boo-jeong was in so much pain that tears were about to fall.

“I’ve always been insecure since I was a child.” Wang Yao smiled and coaxed and teased his way to a lavishly decorated private room.

Upon entering, I found Deng Wendi and Lu Shuying there, along with another middle-aged woman.

"Ah Yao, this is Jung Young-hee, the chairperson of SK Entertainment," Deng Wendi said, standing up as Wang Yao entered.

"Hello Mr. Wang, thank you for your guidance. Otherwise, my foolish younger brother would have almost dragged SK Entertainment into the abyss," Zheng Yingji said with a smile as she stood up.

SK Entertainment was originally founded by director Kang Je-gyu, known as the "Little Cannon of Korea," and Jung Hoon, and was later acquired by the SK Group.

The founder, Jung Hoon, is also a former manager who launched the nationally popular group g.o.d. His sister, Jung Young-hee, is in charge of company management. If Jung Hoon, the mastermind behind the wiretapping scandal, were to be exposed, it could be a major blow to the entire company.

Originally relegated to the second line, Jung Young-hee was also pushed forward by Noh Suk-young to replace Jung Hoon in taking over SK Entertainment. However, Jung Young-hee still loved her brother dearly. Last night, Jun Ji-hyun begged her to drop the lawsuit, but on the condition that SK Entertainment continue to support her career development, and said that she would obediently comply.

Lu Shuying came from a special family and believed in the idea that if someone is unfaithful once, they should never be used again.

However, if Jung Hoon were to be imprisoned by Jun Ji-hyun, it would have a significant negative impact on the entire SK Entertainment. Unable to think of a good solution, she decided to use the pretext of having Jun Ji-hyun apologize to Wang Yao to see if he had any good ideas.

After hearing the whole story, Wang Yao hadn't even had time to consider the pros and cons when Jun Ji-hyun, dressed in traditional Korean hanbok but looking haggard, walked in. She looked down timidly at the four women sitting on the sofa before finally fixing her gaze on Wang Yao.

She pursed her lips, knelt down, and performed a standard Korean salute, prostrating herself on the ground with such smooth and fluid movements that it startled Wang Yao.

So suddenly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wang. I apologize for my remarks the night before last. Please forgive my ignorance and stupidity." Jun Ji-hyun's voice was muffled and choked with emotion.

"This...why did it have to come to this?" Wang Yao blinked and looked at Deng Wendi and the others.

"It was Ms. Quan's own idea, so we couldn't refuse," Deng Wendi chuckled.

“She doesn’t know she’s wrong, she knows she’s finished if she doesn’t admit it,” Li Fuzhen said calmly. “Actually, this apology isn’t sincere enough. According to tradition, you should be shirtless and carry a thorny branch on your back.”

Wang Yao's lips twitched slightly upon hearing this.

How come carrying thorns to apologize has become your tradition?

Jun Ji-hyun, who was lying prostrate on the ground, trembled slightly, feeling extremely frightened. Could they really be going to pull this stunt?

“In ancient times, a subordinate's act of disobeying a superior would have been punishable by death,” Lu Shuying, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

"That's an exaggeration," Deng Wendi said with a laugh.

Wang Yao rubbed his chin, surprised that he would actually encounter this kind of standard villain plot from a Korean film, but he didn't say anything.

"Does Mr. Wang have any requests?" Zheng Yingji asked with a knowing smile.

"No, Miss Quan shouldn't apologize to me for her remarks, and I have no right to respond," Wang Yao shook his head.

Zheng Yingji's expression froze.

"Does President Wang want her to apologize publicly?" Lu Shuying asked.

“Chairman, if I publicly apologize, I will have no place in Korea, and it will not benefit SK or Jung Hoon either,” Jun Ji-hyun said in a deep voice, looking up.

She can apologize or drop the lawsuit against Jung Hoon, but only if she can continue to survive in the entertainment industry. If she really apologizes on a public platform because of the 'Baekdu Mountain' incident, then she will have no one to support her in Korea anymore.

"I hope Your Majesty will understand," Zheng Yingji said with an awkward smile.

“It seems you guys haven’t quite figured things out yet. Regardless of whether Miss Quan apologizes or not, she doesn’t have much of a foothold in the entire East Asian market. However, if she apologizes, she might at least have some opportunities in overseas markets,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Wang Yao with strange expressions.

"The ownership of Changbai Mountain is an objective fact, beyond doubt. Ms. Quan's remarks were based on ignorance, but an apology is an admission of wrongdoing and a willingness to correct it. For Korea, the wiretapping scandal and the cheating scandal have already blocked her path, and the Chinese market will certainly not accept a public figure with such inappropriate remarks."

On the contrary, the Japanese and overseas markets, if properly promoted and guided, might be willing to support a Korean artist who "admits his mistakes and corrects them," provided that he has a representative work to his name. Wang Yao curled the corners of his mouth, his smile warm.

Deng Wendi was familiar with Wang Yao's smile and could roughly guess what was going on.

Wang Yao wanted to position Jun Ji-hyun as a 'Korean clown' to make Japan and the West feel disgusted by Korea.

From a survival perspective, this is the only opportunity Jun Ji-hyun can choose, because the ban from Korea and China is unlikely to change, but Japan and the West are always eager to see a good show and have always enjoyed taking pleasure in belittling Koreans.

If Jun Ji-hyun gains influence in Japan and the West in the future, she will become a great vortex of public opinion. Koreans will keep slandering her, but onlookers will support her.

This positioning, in a sense, is a natural topic and a traffic-generating gimmick for overseas markets.

Jun Ji-hyun's existence will serve as a trendsetter for those who routinely insult others.

Everyone was surprised after hearing Wang Yao's line of thought.

"What do you mean by 'a group that routinely insults high-ranking officials'?" Zheng Yingji's lips trembled slightly.

Is the film made using the gimmick of defaming Goryeo?
"Where there is yin, there is yang; everything is in opposition. This is an objective phenomenon that cannot be denied. In fact, this path still has great potential. For example, in our recently prepared film 'Plaything,' we haven't been able to finalize the female lead. If Ms. Quan were willing to take the role..."

"The kind of subject matter that exposes the dark side of Goryeo has always been popular in the Western market. We also have similar directors and actors in China. If Miss Quan can take this route and win the Palme d'Or for Best Actress, she can instantly go from being a disgrace to a glory of Goryeo," Wang Yao chuckled.

Upon hearing Wang Yao's line of thought, all the Koreans present fell silent.

"Is Mr. Wang referring to works like 'Ju Dou,' 'Xiao Wu,' and 'Platform'?" Lu Shuying asked. After all, she was an artist and had some knowledge of the various popular art genres in East Asia.

If it really is this type, then there is no such thing as 'insulting superiors', after all, these dark sides do exist.

As for whether it was made to pander to white people, that's a matter of opinion.

"I don't think it's a big deal. If you really win an award, Miss Quan might be completely cleared of any doubts. At least your participation in 'Plaything' will generate a lot of buzz, and the global box office will definitely be high." Lee Boo-jung's tone was somewhat amused, but it sent chills down one's spine.

Because everyone knows that "Plaything" is adapted from the Zhang Ziyan incident, and the content is extremely explicit, not the typical 1V1 scene of an art film, but possibly even 1VN scenes.

Given Jun Ji-hyun's current situation, if she really wants to break through and rebuild her career to win an award, she may not even be able to use a body double.

Lee Boo-jung thought that this box office would be absolutely phenomenal.

When the profit is right, capitalists will sell even the rope that hangs them, let alone an actor.

“It is indeed a win-win solution. I wonder if Miss Quan is willing to dedicate herself to art and truth?” Deng Wendi also narrowed her eyes.

If Jun Ji-hyun were to star in it, it would be a sure win. Jun Ji-hyun's body trembled uncontrollably. The expressions of Deng Wendi and Lee Boo-jung disgusted her, but Wang Yao, who had proposed this idea, terrified her even more.

She only has two choices.

First, she could retire from the entertainment industry and disappear from public view, becoming an ordinary person, but she might be burdened with huge debts because of the unfulfilled endorsement contracts she has made over the years. Even if she gave up all the money she had earned, she still wouldn't be able to pay them all off.

Having grown accustomed to being the center of attention and living a life of extravagance, can she really go back to being penniless? Besides, she's currently burdened with debt, and she might not even be able to find a marriage partner.

Second: Dedicate yourself to art, take a gamble without breaking down the old to build the new, and see if there is any chance to turn the tide.

Does she really have a choice?

"Then do we still need to issue a public apology?" Zheng Yingji also came to her senses and looked at Wang Yao.

Clearly, she has accepted the suggestion to cast Jun Ji-hyun in "Plaything," because it's a good thing no matter what.

She could issue a public apology, but she wasn't sure if it would bring her any benefit.

“If Ms. Quan stars in ‘Plaything,’ then even losing the Korean market won’t have a significant impact. But if she publicly apologizes, then ‘Plaything’ will have a reason to be released in China. After all, it is a great virtue to admit one’s mistakes and correct them,” Wang Yao said with a soft smile.

As Jun Ji-hyun looked at Wang Yao's smile, her teeth began to chatter involuntarily.

He's trying to get everyone to agree with his suggestion!

Even she couldn't help but feel a little tempted when she heard that she could win awards and enter overseas markets, let alone these ruthless capitalists!

"How much is Miss Quan's penalty for breach of contract?" Lu Shuying suddenly asked.

"Adding it all up, it's probably close to twenty million US dollars," Zheng Yingji said calmly.

Jun Ji-hyun, as a top female artist, actually doesn't earn a very high income. Last year, she earned less than two million US dollars, but more than 60% of that came from endorsements, and these endorsements are basically signed for 3 to 5 years at a time.

Now, because of her scandal, she will have to bear the losses of the endorsement company for the next few years, which is the sum of all her income in the last 3 years, plus 2 to 3 times that amount, which is the final breach of contract amount.

This was undoubtedly the last straw that broke the camel's back.

"It's not much. If Sister Fuzhen and Sister Shuying step in to help ease the situation and buy Miss Quan some time, after 'Plaything' is released, she might not only avoid demanding compensation but also get more endorsements," Wang Yao suddenly commented casually.

This became the final blow that shattered Jun Ji-hyun's rationality.

But he really didn't do it on purpose, because Li Bingbing, who acted with Jun Ji-hyun, earned nearly $800 million last year, and Fan Bingbing earned nearly $1300 million. In comparison, Korea is really a tiny place.

Actors, especially Korean actors, undergo a 'dedication education' upon entering the industry. All famous actors have dedicated themselves to art. Jun Ji-hyun was just lucky; she was tied to Jung Hoon from the start.

But she never expected that art would become her last fig leaf.

"If you guys are willing to give me a chance to turn over a new leaf, I'm willing to act in it." Jun Ji-hyun pressed her forehead against the carpet, tears of humiliation or relief silently seeping into her eyes.

"Keep going, I look forward to the day you rise from the ashes." Wang Yao walked up to her, slowly squatted down, reached out and gently lifted her chin to wipe away her tears, smiling tenderly.
"People always have to be responsible for their actions, especially public figures. I hope Ms. Quan will learn from this experience. But you've got what you wanted. You're free now and will be an independent artist."

Jun Ji-hyun forced a desolate smile.

Since she has chosen this path, SK will certainly not continue to take her in.

But even though she seems to have terminated her contract and gone independent, apart from the few people present, who in the entire Asian entertainment industry would really give her resources?
The difference between banning and prohibiting is merely a matter of name.

"Thank you all for giving me this opportunity. I will do my best to make up for my mistakes," Jun Ji-hyun reiterated to Jung Young-hee and the others.

After accepting my fate, it felt as if my soul had been ripped away, but I felt much lighter.

Jung Young-hee offered a few words of symbolic comfort and watched her being led away by her secretary. There were still matters to be discussed, including signing a letter of understanding, terminating the contract, and acquiring control of a new company.

"You're really got the makings of a villain, aren't you? That scene where you comforted Jun Ji-hyun at the end, I was so angry I wanted to punch you." Lee Boo-jung's eyes flashed with a strange light as she stared at Wang Yao.

Seeing Wang Yao's seemingly comforting yet actually mentally oppressive demeanor from her perspective just now was incredibly captivating, and she felt a surge of excitement.

"You just want to slap me, don't you?" Wang Yao chuckled, his smile still bright and sunny.

"Mr. Wang is indeed extraordinary. He can find a way to solve such a thorny problem that satisfies both sides. It is truly admirable." Zheng Yingji said with envy in her eyes.

If my younger brother had this kind of brain, I could save myself so much trouble.

She felt happy just thinking about the indirect benefits and losses that "Plaything" brought to SK Entertainment after its release.

"It's mainly because several people were willing to cooperate," Wang Yao said with a smile.

If these individuals don't share a common interest in this matter, it will likely end with Jun Ji-hyun disappearing.

Wang Yao was simply giving them an opportunity to turn waste into treasure and squeeze every last drop of blood out of them.

After all, it's highly unlikely that Jun Ji-hyun would be able to repay such a large debt after retiring from the entertainment industry, and those endorsements basically involve conflicts of interest with the people present.

By leveraging the controversy surrounding Jun Ji-hyun and the box office success of "Plaything," Wang Yao's actions at least ensured that everyone could receive some compensation.

This is the characteristic of small groups: deeply entrenched, where everyone prospers or suffers together.

Jun Ji-hyun, on the other hand, received a valuable 'opportunity'.

"Tell me about the East Asian Cultural and Creative Alliance you mentioned last time. I even signed a pledge to them to help Korean culture go global," Lu Shuying said.

To facilitate the collaboration between SK and CJ, she mobilized her family's resources and Wang Yao provided a blueprint.

The East Asia Cultural and Creative Alliance is a pie in the sky created by Wang Yao, who is derived from CJK. Following the model of "one breath transforms into three clears", the strategy is to integrate the resources of the three parties and first launch a low-dimensional attack on the entire Southeast Asian market.

For example, in the music industry, a three-way idol team was formed based on pop culture. The team consists of three sub-units that accumulate popularity in their home countries through film and television and variety shows, and then they combine to focus on Southeast Asia to create cultural export influence.

This model is the route that SM is already preparing, namely EXO, except that the market focus is on overseas rather than domestic, and the album styles are divided into sub-unit and group styles.

The team's style is based on local characteristics: Korean K-pop, Japanese J-pop, and Chinese C-pop, each with its own local flavor, and they also release multilingual versions.

The team's style is 3:3:3, with each of the three parties showcasing their unique strengths in the overseas market across nine songs on one album.

In the film and television industry, a model of "one book, three versions" is used. The same subject and background are used, but the three parties shoot different versions. The main focus is on workplace dramas. Wang Yao used the idea of ​​his previous medical drama "Doctor-X" as an example. The three parties first shoot their own versions, and then use the influence of each other to shoot a theatrical version movie to reap the market.

The advantage lies in using the 'international' gimmick of shifting from export to domestic sales and then from domestic sales to export to lead Asian cultural trends, and then using internet channels to expand and penetrate Western markets.

Targeting the Western market directly from the outset would inevitably lead to difficulties adapting. Wang Yao's strategy was to first establish influence within the Confucian cultural sphere, and then gradually erode and create soft resistance to Western culture.

This strategy was highly approved by the Korean side, since Wang Yao had entrusted them with the most advantageous area of ​​POP (popular art) and they felt that they could gain a favorable advantage in this area.

Wang Yao named it the "Three Pure Ones" Alliance.

Finally, the first batch of members of the "Three Pure Ones" alliance consisted of three companies from Korea: SK, CJ, and KT, as well as Japanese companies AKS and J-Comi, and Huaxia Tianhuo Entertainment.

Furthermore, the Three Kingdoms co-creation talent show event, 【Genesis 101】, will be launched.

As soon as the news was released, Skyfire Entertainment's stock price rose again.

(End of this chapter)