Chapter 61: Artful Consolation

  "Hello everyone, I am Kim Tae-yeon." Kim Tae-yeon bowed to all the people in the scene again.

  Everyone has arrived, Chu Jing said to director Lee Jung-sub: "Let's start."

  Li Zhengxue nodded.

  There are too many unfortunate people in this world, but Chu Jingyan has never felt that she is one of them.

  If he could feel the hardship, Chu Jingyan would be very happy, because hardship proves that he is paying out, and in many cases, his payback often has a lot of returns.

  If you can feel happy, then it will be really happy.

  Sometimes the goal of struggle can really determine what a person exists for. In a small village far from Shangri-La, a little girl who carries her whole family on her shoulders works hard for her young brother and elderly grandparents. Her goal is very pure and clean.

  Chu Jingyu never dared to mention his own dreams and that little girl's dreams in the same breath, even though their dreams were so similar.

  The little girl told Chu Jingyan that she wanted a better life.

  Chu Jingyan also said so.

  But how dare he tarnish a transparent and pure spirit's dream?

  She wants to live well and truly live a good life.

  What Chu Jingyan meant by living a better life often adds more troubles.

  To be extremely blunt, Chu Jingyan looked down on those who were muddled yet still impoverished. In Los Angeles, there were only vagrants and drunkards; in Seoul, there were only cunning Koreans and blindly self-aggrandizing fools. So, Chu Jingyan always felt that this world was filthier than a cesspit.

  But after all, it's clean.

  Even if bright pearls are scattered on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, it's still like this. So, Chu Jingyan suddenly felt that life wasn't a complete mess after all.

  Then she bumped into Xiaofei, who laughed brightly, the snow on the northern ice mountain could be melted by the sun, and Chu Jingyan's slightly cold heart could also be melted.

  That slightly green and exceptionally bright smile always makes Chu Jingyan think of that little girl.

  Kim Tae-yeon is also like that.

  The feeling towards Kim Tae-yeon is actually a bit blind and unreasonable, but Chuying Yan likes this feeling, not looking forward or backward, not thinking about anything else.

  But just like now, Kim Tae-yeon stood in front of him, Chu Jingyan still remained expressionless.

  It's the same with this, actually many times when standing in front of some people, Chu Jingyan would inexplicably feel a sense of self-abasement from the bottom of his heart. People who are too clean really do emit something that makes Chu Jingyan very uncomfortable, yet he enjoys it exceptionally.

  Chu Jingyan always thought Seoul was very small, so small that even the OST of the TV series he was in charge of could meet Kim Tae-yeon to sing. In a small room with many people, Kim Tae-yeon sat on the outermost side, or perhaps it was intentional. Chu Jingyan, who should have been sitting in the middle, gave his seat to the director.

  It was actually the first time she had been so close to Kim Tae-yeon, but Kim Tae-yeon didn't feel uncomfortable at all, instead she glanced at Chu Jingyan.

  "What a coincidence." Chu Jingyan said with a smile.

  Kim Tae-yeon scratched her head and said, "Yeah, I didn't think of that either."

  Kim Tae-yeon didn't ask Chu Jingyan why he was here, and the two of them obviously knew they didn't have any spare time to catch up, so they also stopped talking.

  When S and M first applied for this OST, Chu Jingyan didn't know about it. The demo recording was also rejected by the director and writer at that time, so now, Chu Jingyan is considered to be hearing Kim Tae-yeon's OST for the first time.

  "We can start now." Chu Jingyan gestured to the staff sitting at the audio console.

  The pleasant piano accompaniment started, followed by Kim Tae-yeon's singing.

  If I get close, closer to you, what would you think? Always can't muster up the courage, if you leave me far away.

  Kim Tae-yeon's expression became visibly tense, her fists clenched as she watched the changing expressions of everyone present.

  Having lived in Seoul for nearly six years, Chu Jingyan was confident that apart from dialects, she should be able to understand any conversation, let alone song lyrics.

  Chu Jing said that before, he didn't have the habit of listening to songs. That song "Youraisemeup" which is easy to sing along to, should also be considered as just having listened to it. Sitting down quietly and listening like this, is the first time in his memory.

  Korean is not Chu Jingyan's mother tongue, and before the age of 17, Chu Jingyan did not speak this language at all.

  Of course, it's natural that there isn't much understanding.

  The song sounds good, and so are the lyrics.

  The time of a song passes quickly, the director sitting in the middle clapped his hands and smiled: "Very good, very good, famous doors are famous doors. I and the author's opinions are fully adopted and digested very well. I am very satisfied with this song."

  After a pause, the director continued: "Also, Taeyeon's singing is quite good too. As a newcomer, it's hard to come by."

  The writer on the side also nodded in agreement, saying: "It's indeed a great song, Taeyeon performed it perfectly, I have nothing to add."

  Then everyone's gaze turned to Chu Jingyan.

  In the end, it's still up to Chu Jingyan to decide whether or not. Director Li Zhengxun looked at Chu Jingyan and asked: "What do you think, General Manager Chu?"

  "What does the director and the two Miss Hung think?" Chu Jingyan asked back.

  Lee Jung-seop and Hong sisters looked at each other and said: "We all think it's great."

  Chu Jingyan smiled and said, "Then this song is settled."

  Kim Tae-yeon's first single "If" became the OST of the TV drama "Hong Gil-dong".

  Chu Jingyan stood up and said: "If everyone doesn't have any other plans next, let's have a casual meal together."

  It's very convenient to talk at the dinner table, and for Kim Tae-yeon, who is in a new stage and urgently needs to get to know more seniors, being able to have dinner with the famous Hong sisters and getting to know Chu Jingyan, who represents a production company, is also a gain.

  "Miss Taeyeon?" Chu Jingyan looked at Kim Taeyeon's agent.

  The broker stood up and smiled: "Of course."

  On the wine table is wine, in front of Kim Tae-yeon is a cup of fruit juice. It's clear that among the people at the table, Choo Kyung-yeon can only be older than Kim Tae-yeon, but the fitting suit and demeanor really conceal, or fundamentally do not exist, that hint of youthfulness.

  Choo Kyung spoke with a smile, holding up his wine glass towards director Lee Jung-sub and the Hong sisters: "I entrust everything to you three, I'm endlessly grateful."

  "Director Chu's words are heavy." The four people clinked their wine cups together, and then Chu Jingyan drained his cup in one gulp.

  Having a taste that shouldn't belong to one's age actually requires giving up many things.

  Kim Tae-hyun carefully picked up the juice and took a sip, when a bright glass suddenly appeared in front of him. The transparent liquid inside was still swaying back and forth, and after lightly touching Kim Tae-hyun's juice, Chu Jingyan savored a mouthful of clear liquor.

  "Not used to it?" Chu Jingyan asked.

  Kim Tae-yeon let out a small sigh of relief and looked at Chu Jingyan who suddenly blinked: "It's okay."

  "Just like old friends getting together, Chu Jing asked: "How's Tiffany doing?""

  Kim Tae-yeon nodded: "It's okay, I guess. When we first debuted, aside from some stage performances and commercials, we didn't really have much to do."

  "My mood is pretty good." Chu Jingyan poured himself a mouthful of wine.

  Kim Tae-yeon looked at Chu Jingyan and asked curiously: "You've had a drink now, how are you going to drive later? Are you calling a designated driver?"

  Is this considered concern? Chu Jingyan wasn't quite sure, but similar concerns had been expressed by Gao Yaluo before, and now hearing them from Kim Taeyeon's mouth seemed to evoke a lot of different feelings.

  "Someone will come to pick me up." Chu Jingyan said.

  Choo Jin-woo put down his glass and said to Kim Tae-yeon, "I attended your first stage, the song was great, the members all looked good, I thought you guys would be very successful."

  "Thanks for the kind words." Taeyeon stuck out her tongue.

  "You look tense." Chu Jingyan poured wine into the cup and said to Kim Taeyeon, "It's not because of the people at the dinner table, but the whole person's state is very poor. If the pressure is too great, it's best to vent it out."

  Kim Tae-yeon curiously asked: "How to vent?"

  "Be good to yourself." Chu Jingyan took a sip of wine and said, "No matter what you do, shopping or running or singing, try to get rid of that annoying and tearful breath in your chest. It's like feces, holding it in for too long is bad for the body."

  Kim Tae-yeon coughed and dryly said, "This metaphor is quite apt."

  The atmosphere at the wine table was still lively, and a person who loved to drink and make trouble put Jin Taiyan and Chu Jingyan aside. Jin Taiyan looked at Chu Jingyan and said: "Actually, I've always thought you're great, but secretly telling you, just when we came, our agent brother specially reminded me to be polite to you, and never make you unhappy."

  "Why?" Chu Jing Yan was very curious.

  Kim Tae-yeon whispered, "Because brother said you have a weird temper and are very strict with people."

  "Is this how outsiders evaluate me?" Chu Jingyan was speechless and lost his smile.

  Kim Tae-yeon said, as if reporting a fact: "There are people like that, who are always cold and unfeeling, whether it's towards outsiders or insiders. But you're not like that. You're the type of person who will drive everyone to death, never yielding even when you're in the right, with a poisonous tongue, and rumors about you are all pretty much like that."

  Chu Jingyan's mouth twitched: "Is this what my reputation is like? I'm going to sue them for slander."

  "It seems like that," said Kim Tae-yeon. "So I've always been puzzled as to why you don't let others see your good side."

  "Do you think I'm good?"

  "Isn't it?"

  Chu Jing suddenly felt very happy.

  "Because if they see it, they'll expect me to be good all the time." Chu Jingyan looked at Kim Taeyeon and said, "This is not what I want to see."

  Jin Taiyan didn't know what the past of the man in front of her was like, but no matter how you calculated it, Chu Jingyan was only four years older than Jin Taiyan. Four years wasn't a particularly large gap, and even if they weren't of the same age, Jin Taiyan felt that compared to other people in their twenties, Chu Jingyan was really too mature.

  That kind of maturity that can't be pretended.

  So Chu Jingyan's words were very willing to listen to Kim Tae-yeon, because they really made sense.

  "Why?" asked Kim Tae-yeon.

  Chu Jing smiled and said, "The premise of being good to others is that the person deserves our kindness. For you, it's only natural to be kind to your fans and to everyone else, because that's what your profession requires."

  "But for me, if I'm too good to others, they'll get arrogant and then climb over my head."

  "It's easy to mess up my hairstyle when you climb on my head, so I really dislike it."

  Kim Tae-yeon burst out laughing.

  Chu Jing spoke with a bitter expression and shook his head saying: "I'm not very good at comforting people."

  "I think it's great." Kim Tae-yeon stopped laughing.

  "Thank you."

  "You're welcome."

  PS: Seeking recommendations, seeking collections.