Chapter 53

So-called "shallow acquaintance, deep conversation" means that even though you're not very familiar with someone, you can still discuss rather private topics. However, this doesn't apply to Wen Zhengyu. Whether from indirect observations or the explicit and implicit statements of Lee Soo-young, Wen Zhengyu has strangely discovered that the relationship between SW and S.M. doesn't seem to be that simple or harmonious.

Lee Soo-young and Lee Soo-man, the founder and current chairman of S.M., are brothers, which is beyond doubt. However, Lee Soo-young always explains their differences from various angles, emphasizing that they just have different philosophies. Wen Zhengyu can sense that this is a kind of psychological resistance due to the imbalance of their positions.

This is especially true in South Korea. Even between Lee Soo-young and Lee Soo-man, this imbalance is magnified. It's important to understand that in South Korea, there is a strong emphasis on etiquette and age. The hierarchy between seniors and juniors, older and younger people, is very clear. However, there is a contradiction that cannot be reversed, which is ability.

This is true in any environment around the world. It's not that the older you are, the more capable you are. It's also not that the older you are, the more skilled you are. There's a funny story, though I don't know if it's true, that in football, even on the same team, seniors would take the shots, and juniors could only pass and assist. Even in defense, juniors would have to take the lead, and if they acted on their own, they would be scolded after the game.

Isn't that ridiculous? In high-intensity competitive matches, opportunities are fleeting. If you wait for seniors to command and then consider who should pass and who should shoot based on seniority, do you think the opponents are children who will follow you? However, there's no smoke without fire. Wen Zhengyu has heard of this, though he can't confirm its truth, but he knows that this situation no longer exists.

This is also true for many variety shows that are now understood and frequently watched. On camera, seniors and juniors can mess around as much as they want, but off camera, they must adhere to their roles and not overstep. Unless they are familiar with each other and allowed, they will interact more casually. This has become a popular social phrase: "Let's be more casual."

As the older brother and a senior in the music industry who debuted earlier than Lee Soo-man, Lee Soo-young is even recognized as more talented. However, times have changed. Now, Lee Soo-man is the major shareholder, founder, and chairman of S.M., while Lee Soo-young is the president of SW, a subsidiary of S.M. Isn't this a reversal of their positions?

Lee Soo-man might still be very respectful to Lee Soo-young in private, but the fact is that Lee Soo-man has been more successful in entrepreneurship, and much more so. The key point is that even if S.M. is a hundred times more successful than SW, if there were no connection between them, Lee Soo-young wouldn't say anything. The crucial issue is that SW is a subsidiary of S.M.

Smiling at Lee Soo-young, Wen Zhengyu was not afraid of his stern face. Or rather, there was nothing Wen Zhengyu was afraid of. He asked himself, if he had done nothing to harm anyone, why should he be afraid? Especially since there were only two people here.

"Teacher, I think I understand the significance of you taking me in. Is there some other purpose in your cultivation of me?" Wen Zhengyu asked with a smile.

Lee Soo-young laughed and shook his head, his eyes cold: "Kid, is this how you treat your teacher? Always remember, you came to me, not the other way around."

Wen Zhengyu was at a loss: "Who said that? You're so much older than me, yet you're acting like a child?"

Lee Soo-young's face was cold: "Wen Zhengyu, do you want me to teach you a lesson?"

Wen Zhengyu paused, put on a serious face, and looked at Lee Soo-young: "Teacher, I just want to tell you that there's no need to hide this from me. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have broken free from my family's control and worked hard for what I want. Compared to that, the fact that Lee Soo-man is your younger brother and a major shareholder of S.M. is just a minor issue. I remember you said you wanted to send me there, but that kind of test is unnecessary. What I want to do more is to support your philosophy and prove that you are better than him. Although, in fact, your issues... have nothing to do with me."

Wen Zhengyu maintained eye contact with Lee Soo-young, and after a while, Lee Soo-young fell silent. Six months is not a long time, but it's not short either. They haven't been together every day, but it's been close. Lee Soo-young hasn't hidden much, and Wen Zhengyu is not an ordinary child, so it's normal that he understands. What he said was true; this was Lee Soo-young's real thoughts.

Of course, it's not too complicated, just to break away from S.M. The requirements are not high, and it won't hurt feelings. Whether you are big or small is none of my business; I will focus on my own career. Why did SW become a subsidiary of S.M. in the first place? It was because of Lee Soo-man's personal help, combined with Lee Soo-young's savings, that StarWorld, or SW for short, was established.

Initially, Lee Soo-man, as a younger brother, provided funding without expecting repayment, and Lee Soo-young didn't mind considering it as personal shares. However, later, a legal loophole turned it into S.M. shares. When Lee Soo-man became the major shareholder of SW, S.M. became the major shareholder of SW. This was unacceptable to Lee Soo-young. Both are entertainment companies; who wants to be a subsidiary of another? You are my younger brother, so being the major shareholder of my company is fine.

But now, having your entertainment company control mine, although it hasn't controlled much over the years, still feels uncomfortable. Lee Soo-young is a more talented lead singer. High personal achievements inevitably give him an artistic temperament and a proud heart. Starting a company, he wanted to surpass you, but just as he started, he was put under a tight constraint.

Due to various reasons, this tight constraint has never been removed. Not only has SW not achieved the ambitious goals it once had, but over the years, it has only launched one idol group, and it's a girl group that has never been highly regarded. At best, it's considered decent, but far from glorious. Gradually, this unresolved issue has become a thorn in Lee Soo-young's side.

Now, this is related to Wen Zhengyu. Looking at the young man in front of him, Lee Soo-young smiled: "It has nothing to do with you, just focus on your own affairs."

Wen Zhengyu paused, shrugged, and smiled: "Of course, I will focus on my own affairs. I just want to repay the kindness you've shown me, so your affairs are my affairs, and I will stand by you without hesitation."

Lee Soo-young was at a loss: "Hey, are you a gangster? Saying 'your affairs are my affairs,' what are you going to do? Fight with me?"

Wen Zhengyu smiled brightly, but Lee Soo-young, like his daughter, had already seen through his essence. He is just outwardly sunny and gentle, especially with his smiling eyes, which are very endearing and make people feel close. But deep down, he still retains the mechanical and cold nature he brought from his family. Sometimes, to achieve his goals, he ignores many things he deems unnecessary.

After a moment's thought, Lee Soo-young waved his hand: "Actually, it's not as serious as you think. I do want to break away from S.M., but there's no real conflict. The target is S.M., not my brother personally. Over the years, if it weren't for him, SW wouldn't have been so independent, rarely questioned about administrative matters. But in the end, S.M. is no longer the one-man show it once was. There are many shareholders involved, which is a norm and a correct direction for the company. So, there's no issue of resistance or oppression as you imagine."

Pausing for a moment, Lee Soo-young suddenly frowned: "You, when I was enthusiastically planning your future, you found me nagging. But when it comes to this, you seem more stubborn than me."

Frustrated, he waved his hand: "Talk about creation, talk about creation, I warn you, Wen Zhengyu, stay out of this, don't talk about it, and don't listen to it. It has nothing to do with you. If you dare to talk about it again, I will really teach you a lesson. Don't think I'm joking."

Wen Zhengyu shrugged helplessly: "Understood, Teacher, I will keep it in mind and won't talk about it anymore... even with Soon-gyu."

Lee Soo-young looked at Wen Zhengyu with a strange expression and frowned after a while: "How about... I really send you to S.M.? Through six months of observation, I can see your potential. Apart from the skills you demonstrated at our first meeting, such as taekwondo, fluency in Chinese and English, and piano, in just six months, you have mastered the essential skills of an idol very well. You even have your own understanding rather than just imitating. These achievements don't even include your appearance."

Wen Zhengyu touched his nose and looked at Lee Soo-young: "I've heard that S.M. values appearance, and it's an important criterion for selecting trainees."

Lee Soo-young nodded: "With your conditions, you will definitely succeed if you go there..."

"No, Teacher." Wen Zhengyu firmly rejected Lee Soo-young, smiling: "For no reason, I... refuse."