Chapter 35

Jin Young-min looked at Li Zhong with some surprise. If Li Zhong's film was really rated for viewers 18 and over, it would basically have no box office potential. As a newcomer director, and with the main cast not being top-tier stars, if the rating was further restricted, it was likely that very few people would go to see it.

"Really?" Jin Young-min looked at Li Zhong, somewhat disbelieving.

"Yes, it's true. Although I don't believe this news either, it's not baseless. The film I shot does have some restricted scenes, but it shouldn't be rated for viewers 18 and over. However, if I get the news that it is rated 18+ in three days, then that's really the only way it can be." Li Zhong was also somewhat helpless. Although he didn't believe that Liu Xiu had the ability to do this, what if he did? If it really was rated 18+, how much box office revenue would be lost, and whether or not the costs could be recouped would be uncertain.

Jin Young-min hesitated. He had thought this was an opportunity to enter the film industry. Supporting a former MV genius PD, as long as the film could break even, S&M wouldn't lose out. It would be both a gain in reputation and profit. But according to Li Zhong, this was a big pitfall. If Li Zhong had readily agreed to his demands just now, S&M would have really fallen into the trap. How much box office revenue could a restricted film generate, and was it worth mobilizing so many resources?

Jin Young-min carefully considered it and finally decided not to take the risk. "Well... then let's forget about the second thing. We can talk about the first thing when you have time, after all, it's not urgent."

Li Zhong knew from Jin Young-min's words that both matters were off the table. "No problem, there will be other opportunities to collaborate. I won't disturb you anymore, I'll be going now." Li Zhong felt there was no need to stay, so he got up, said goodbye to Jin Young-min, and left the lounge.

Jin Young-min looked at Li Zhong, feeling somewhat moved. What a bold young man, still so composed even in this situation.

What Jin Young-min didn't know was that it wasn't that Li Zhong was composed, but that he knew he could only tough it out. Although he was confident in his film, even if it was rated 18+, he believed he could break even. However, some things weren't just about what he said. Li Zhong was testing Jin Young-min to see if he had the courage. Many companies wanted to enter this industry, and if Jin Young-min wanted to use Li Zhong as a stepping stone, he needed the courage. Without it, he would just be a small fish swallowed by the big ones.

After leaving the lounge, Li Zhong thought about whether he should go see Girls' Generation. Thinking about how they were dancing in such cold weather in short skirts, he felt a bit heartbroken. After all, they were still young, even though some of them were already quite successful.

He decided to go see them. Li Zhong turned around and bought 20 cups of hot coffee from Starbucks on the first floor of Lotte, carrying two large bags to the front lounge.

While Li Zhong was talking to Jin Young-min, Girls' Generation had finished their performance, and TVXQ was on stage, with the audience cheering loudly. The members of Girls' Generation, wrapped in down jackets, stood at the backstage door, silently watching the enthusiastic audience. Their eyes were filled with envy. When would they have such popularity and so many fans...

Li Zhong walked into the front lounge, and since he had been taken to the backstage lounge earlier, the staff assumed he was from S&M and didn't stop him.

Seeing the members of Girls' Generation enviously watching TVXQ, Li Zhong didn't know how to greet them. Was he a fan? A neighbor? A friend? Or something else?

The youngest member, Seohyun, was a bit better than the others, possibly because she was younger. Her attention wasn't entirely on the stage, and she happened to see Li Zhong carrying something in.

"Hello, may I ask who you're looking for?" Seohyun bowed slightly to Li Zhong.

"Ah, I..." Li Zhong didn't know what to say.

At this moment, the others heard Seohyun speaking and turned to see who it was.

"Ah, Uncle Li Zhong," "Ah, Oppa Li Zhong," four of the eight people called out at the same time.

Jung Soo-yeon, Kwon Yu-ri, Hwang Mi-young, and Chae Soo-young looked at each other in surprise, and Li Zhong was even more embarrassed.

"Um, I was eating over there and saw you performing at Lotte through the window. It's so cold, and you were dancing in short skirts, so I bought some hot coffee." Li Zhong had to speak despite his embarrassment. "Yu-ri, Soo-young, can you distribute the coffee to everyone?"

The remaining members, led by Kim Tae-yeon, thanked Li Zhong. Kim Tae-yeon knew who Li Zhong was from the moment Hwang Mi-young called him "Uncle," but she didn't expect so many people to know him. It wasn't easy for someone with Jung Soo-yeon's icy personality to call him "Oppa."

By this time, everyone had a cup of coffee. Holding a warm cup of coffee and taking a sip in the cold winter was a very comforting thing. So the remaining members who didn't know Li Zhong also felt good about him.

Among them, the ones closest to Li Zhong were probably Kwon Yu-ri and Jung Soo-yeon. Kwon Yu-ri often brought him yam juice, while Jung Soo-yeon often chatted with him. When introducing the other members, Li Zhong noticed an interesting phenomenon. Kim Tae-yeon, as the leader, didn't have much authority, unlike in other girl groups where the leader's authority was the greatest. Instead, Jung Soo-yeon had a lot of authority, and everyone generally listened to her.

Moreover, it seemed the younger the member, the more mature they were. You could see this in the youngest member, Seohyun, who was quietly drinking her coffee. The eighth member, Lim Yoona, known as the face of Girls' Generation, was also sitting quietly, not speaking but looking at Li Zhong with a curious gaze.

From previous conversations with Kwon Yu-ri and others, Li Zhong had a general idea of the personalities of the members of Girls' Generation, though he hadn't had direct contact with them. Today, he met the others he didn't know. The straightforward Hyoyeon, the wealthy Sunny, the eternally young Tae-yeon, the mature and serious Seohyun, and the reportedly perfect beauty, Yoona.

Li Zhong's appearance was still quite good. Though not a particularly handsome pretty boy, his height and build made him look especially heroic and had a certain charm.

Surrounded by Girls' Generation, Li Zhong became the focus of everyone's attention. They bombarded him with questions, and Li Zhong wondered if he had made a mistake by coming.

"Oppa Li Zhong, what are you doing now? Didn't you say you were an MV director?" Suddenly, Jung Soo-yeon's question drew everyone's attention.

This question caused a stir, and everyone asked, "Uncle, Oppa, what are you doing now? Are you shooting any MVs?"

"Ah..." Li Zhong, who had been dealing with the barrage of questions from others and was already exhausted, suddenly found it quiet, and then it erupted again...

"Um... stop!!! I said, don't all talk at once. Really, with so many people, I'm getting tired just listening. I haven't shot any MVs since I retired. I'm a film director now," Li Zhong said.