Chapter 19

Time is like an old-fashioned steam train, chugging along steadily.

The movie "The Chaser" has been shooting for over a month, but due to Li Chong's perfectionism, they have only completed less than 20%. Li Chong decided to take a day off. One reason was that after more than a month of non-stop work, many people were struggling, especially with difficult shots that required 10 or 20 takes. The second reason was that Lee Hyori had recently changed agencies, signing a three-year, 2.2 billion won contract with CJ Mnet Media in South Korea.

This made Li Chong very upset. "Sister, I'm already at odds with CJ Entertainment, and you still sign with CJ Mnet Media. Even if they have money to burn, you shouldn't do this. You're treating me like a fool... And you even sent me an invitation. I'm trying to avoid them now..."

Holding the invitation to CJ Mnet Media's welcome party for Lee Hyori, Li Chong could still hear the older sister's roar in his ears: "If you dare not come, you'll have to pay me back... I heard you're playing the artist now, and you haven't shot much in a month..."

Sighing, Li Chong asked Zhang Xun, "Brother Zhang, how about it, interested in going to see some beauties tonight?"

Zhang Xun shook his head, "I don't deserve such a treat. Teacher Kim Ki-duk has some matters to discuss with me."

Li Chong then looked at Kim Yun-seok and Ha Jung-woo, "How about you guys come with me?"

These two had been tortured by Li Chong for a month, so they shook their heads vigorously.

Only Kim Hyun-chang enthusiastically recommended himself. Li Chong gave him a withering look, "Taking you would be worse than suffering myself. I can't afford to lose face..."

Kim Hyun-chang could only go to a corner and draw circles...

CJ Mnet Media, also known as CJ Mnet Media Company, is part of the CJ Group. It is one of the two major media companies under CJ. The other is CJ Entertainment.

CJ Media Company handles TV channels and programs, music providers, and award ceremonies. It has two major talent agencies and has launched many famous artists and actors, such as Cho Seung-moo, Yoo Ju-hyun, Song Seung-heon, Lee Jung, and Hwang Jung-eum.

CJ Entertainment, on the other hand, is mainly responsible for producing and distributing films. CJ's cinemas are also under CJ Entertainment.

The status of CJ Group in the entertainment industry is fully reflected by these two companies.

In the evening, as the city lights came on, the Shilla Hotel in Seoul was already laid out with a red carpet, awaiting the arrival of guests.

Today, CJ Mnet Media was hosting a welcome party for Lee Hyori. It was also an opportunity for CJ Mnet Media to showcase its strength, showing everyone that they were willing to pay 2.2 billion won to recognize Lee Hyori's value. It was also a chance for their artists to network in the industry.

Li Chong was dressed in a dark blue suit with a peach-colored tie—yes, a peach-colored tie. He kept trying to pull it off but didn't dare to, knowing that if someone didn't see him wearing a tie, he wouldn't be able to leave the Shilla Hotel tonight.

It turned out that someone had sent Li Chong a set of clothes just before the evening. Looking at the dark blue and peach combination, Li Chong felt a bit green. He would never have worn it, but then he received a text message: "All of fin.k.l will be there today. If you don't wear it, you might as well jump off the Han River Bridge—Lee Hyori."

Only then did Li Chong realize something was wrong. He found out that Yoo Ju-hyun and Lee Jin had stayed with CJ Mnet Media after fin.k.l disbanded. Lee Hyori's move was partly due to CJ's strength and partly because of her two sisters there.

Feeling miserable, Li Chong took a taxi to the Shilla Hotel. "These people, if they want me to come, they should at least send a car. I look so flashy, and I still have to take a taxi. I'll be laughed at when I get there..." Li Chong thought to himself.

He got out of the taxi 500 meters from the Shilla Hotel; he couldn't afford to lose face...

As he approached the Shilla Hotel, reporters and fans were already waiting at the entrance. One by one, handsome men and beautiful women stepped out of luxury cars. Some were from the film and television industry, others from the music industry. Since Li Chong walked over, no reporters noticed him.

Li Chong entered through a side door. Before going in, he looked back and saw the handsome Won Bin and the beautiful Jeon Ji-hyun walking on the red carpet. Fans were screaming, and reporters were snapping photos. "None of these are for me..." Li Chong thought, "One day, I'll make you chase after me..."

Li Chong went upstairs. Although some people noticed his mismatched tie, no one pointed or commented. After all, he was just a former genius PD and now a new director.

Li Chong smiled bitterly. It seemed he had been forgotten by the Korean entertainment industry. The genius who was once recognized everywhere was now just a man with a small beard and a strange peach-colored tie.

"Sir, please show your invitation," someone stopped Li Chong as he was about to enter the banquet hall.

"Sure," Li Chong handed over the invitation.

"Oppa Li Chong, is it really you?" a girl said in surprise.

Li Chong suddenly felt a sense of dread. Turning around, he saw a tall, slender woman with long hair and a delicate face walking towards him, casually draping her arm over his.

"Oppa Li Jin, you're my sister, don't do this, okay..." Li Chong felt his arm sinking into a sea of warmth.

"What, Xiao Gua can call you oppa, but I can't? Xiao Gua is pretty, but I'm not? You're so biased," Li Jin said, her eyes welling up, her lips pouting, looking very wronged.

"Oppa, don't play with me. We haven't seen each other in so long, don't start by putting me on the spot. I'm already in a tough spot tonight," Li Chong felt that coming here was a mistake.

Suddenly, Li Chong saw something and tried to turn away.

"Oppa Hyori, Oppa Ju-hyun, here, here..." Li Jin called out.

Li Chong had no choice but to put on a smile, "Oppa Hyori, congratulations! You found a great agency." Then he turned to Yoo Ju-hyun, who was walking with Lee Hyori, "Oppa Ju-hyun, you're still so beautiful, I wonder how many men you'll charm..."

"Oppa Li Chong, you're still so sweet..." Yoo Ju-hyun said, looking at the peach-colored tie and smiling.

"Wow, not bad, look at this peach-colored tie, it's so lively," Lee Hyori looked at Li Chong, who was actually quite handsome, but the peach-colored tie made him look out of place, and she wanted to laugh.

"Oppa, my dear oppa, you made me come, and you made me wear this thing, and now you're making fun of me. How am I supposed to live, how am I supposed to find a wife?" Li Chong felt very wronged. First Li Jin, then Yoo Ju-hyun, and now Lee Hyori. If Seo Yeon-ri came, would he even be able to leave alive?

Before Li Chong could recover, a woman who was bound to be the center of attention walked over, "Oppa Li Chong, how could you take my money and not think of me?" A soft, sweet voice sounded in Li Chong's ear.

The moment Li Chong heard the voice, his head spun. The last of the four demons, Seo Yeon-ri, had arrived...