Chapter 45

After taking the envelope containing the secret from Jin Gideok, Li Chong was momentarily at a loss as to what to do. The movie was now finished, and in about a week, Showbox would start promoting it. At that time, Li Chong would only need to attend the premiere, as no one would release an R-rated film during the Spring Festival. The main actors would just participate in a few TV show recordings, and Shoebox would organize a few preview screenings for some mainstream media to promote it. There would be nothing for Li Chong, the completely new director, to do.

As a result, Li Chong spent a miserable and aimless weekend, doing nothing but watching movies online and listening to music. In truth, Li Chong was really broke. After spending 300 million won on promotion, he had less than 1 million won left. This was very unfamiliar to Li Chong, who was used to spending freely. Driving, smoking, eating, and even watching movies online all cost money.

Li Chong finished reading the novel that Jung In-moon had given him, listened to Girls' Generation's first album, Lee Hyori's album, and Kim Jong-kook's album several times, to the point where he was sick of them, but he was still bored...

"Ah, I'm going to go crazy!!!!!!" Li Chong shouted in the living room.

"Ring... ring... ring..." Li Chong received a call.

Li Chong looked at the caller, wondering who would still remember him, this idle person. He really felt like kissing this person.

"Hey, Yooli, what's up?" It was a call from Girls' Generation's Kwon Yooli.

"Uncle Li, our single MV will be released tomorrow. Do you have time to celebrate with us tonight?" Kwon Yooli asked carefully, while the other members of Girls' Generation held their breath beside her.

"Hmm..." Li Chong thought for a moment, realizing he didn't have much money. Would he have to use his credit card to get by?

"Uncle, we're not going out to celebrate. We're going to our dorm. We've bought some things, and the boys from TVXQ and Super Junior are coming too. We just want to have a good time together," the voice on the other end laughed.

Li Chong thought, as long as he didn't have to pay, anything was fine. "OK, I got it. What time? Where?" Li Chong pretended not to know where Girls' Generation lived, even though it was just a wall away.

"Cheongdam-dong X neighborhood, X building, 9th floor, A unit, 7 PM." Kwon Yooli hung up after confirming that Li Chong had remembered.

"Did Uncle Li say he would come?" Yoon Ah asked eagerly.

"Yes, he said he would come on time." Kwon Yooli found it a bit funny that they were asking where he lived, when he was right next door...

"Oh yeah, this is great. We have to find a way to get him to direct our next album's MV. He's really that good," Seo Young exclaimed excitedly.

It turned out that while they were shooting their new single's MV, they had talked to the director, who was a veteran in the industry and highly praised Li Chong. He said Li Chong was a rare genius in the directorial world and had a particular obsession with visuals, making his MVs highly cinematic.

S&M Entertainment used well-known directors in the industry, and for them to be so impressed by Li Chong, the members of Girls' Generation couldn't sit still. They looked up Li Chong's previous works online and were amazed to find that they were all familiar and award-winning. They even found clips of commercials he had directed.

This opened the eyes of Girls' Generation, and they felt that if they didn't seize this opportunity, it would be a waste of their nine beautiful members. So, before the single's MV was released, they invited Li Chong.

At this time, Li Chong was also worried. It was his first time going to someone's house, and he needed to bring a gift. But Li Chong was so poor that he didn't dare to leave the house. What could he bring...?

Toilet paper? The pack was already opened; cigarettes? He had sold two packs, but they didn't smoke; red wine? Yes, red wine seemed like a good idea. Li Chong rummaged through a corner of the living room and found two bottles of red wine that Lee Hyori had brought over to please him, but he had sent her away, leaving the wine behind.

"Hmm, Domaine Leroy from Burgundy, good wine. If I had known I had two bottles of good wine at home, I would have sold them. It's a shame to give them to these little girls," Li Chong said regretfully as he looked at the two bottles of red wine.

Burgundy and Bordeaux are two of France's most famous wine regions. However, due to the increasing number of fake Bordeaux wines in recent years, Burgundy has gained prominence. In the eyes of experts, Burgundy's fine wines have already surpassed Bordeaux.

"Alright, I have a gift. Now I need to find some clothes. Hmm, a sweater and a trench coat. I'll have to go out for a bit to make sure my clothes don't feel warm, or it will be easy to be noticed," Li Chong thought he could be a spy.

At 6:30 PM, Li Chong quietly opened the door a crack, looked at the opposite door, which was closed, and quickly grabbed the two bottles of red wine, slipping into the elevator. "Why do I feel like a thief?" Li Chong thought he was just making things difficult for himself.

Downstairs, Li Chong wandered in the neighborhood garden. The winter wind was like a knife, and Li Chong waited until 6:50 PM, unable to bear it any longer. "Going a bit early should be fine."

Li Chong ran into the elevator and pressed the 9th floor. He thought about what to say as the elevator opened on the 9th floor, and he saw Kwon Yooli at the door, looking at her apartment door.

Kwon Yooli heard the elevator and turned to see Li Chong.

"Uncle, why did you come out of the elevator? I was afraid you would be seen if you came out of your house, so I came to meet you," Kwon Yooli said.

"Hmm... I went downstairs earlier. Even if you were here to meet me, my clothes would still be warm, and there would be no cold air from outside. So I walked around downstairs for a bit, but it was really cold..." Li Chong explained.

Kwon Yooli knocked on the door, and Yoon Ah opened it. "Is Uncle Li here?" Yoon Ah asked.

"Of course, Yoon Ah, here, this is a gift for you." Li Chong entered the room and handed the red wine to Yoon Ah.

"Welcome, Uncle Li!" The remaining members of Girls' Generation greeted Li Chong as he entered, and after a series of "Uncle," it was Chae Yeon who said "Oppa," which made Li Chong feel relieved.

"Everyone is here. Congratulations. Although some of you might not be old enough to drink, a little shouldn't be a problem, right?" Li Chong took off his coat and pointed to the two bottles of red wine in Yoon Ah's hand.

"Hmm..." The members of Girls' Generation looked at each other. Although they had drunk before, it was their first time in front of others.

"Ah, Burgundy!" Seo Young exclaimed in surprise.

"It really is Burgundy. Let's all have some today," Sunny also saw the label on the wine box.

"Burgundy? What is it?" Pann was still a bit confused.

"Good stuff, we're in for a treat today!" Hyo Yeon's eyes started to sparkle.

"Hehe, this is something a friend brought over before. I never had the time or company to drink it. Now I have someone to share it with," Li Chong inwardly bowed to Lee Hyori.

"Uncle is really too kind." As the leader, Kim Tae Yeon led Li Chong to the table. Li Chong looked at the food on the table and was a bit stunned.

"Hmm... Can we eat this?"