Chapter 79

Watching Li Zhiyan dance, a mix of cuteness and sensuality, Jin Zhangzhu felt it was quite good, at least good enough to enter the trainee ranks. After finishing the dance, Li Zhiyan took a brief rest and then sang a segment of "If." Although her voice wasn't as good as Kim Tae-yeon's, it was still quite decent and basically met Jin Zhangzhu's selection criteria. Moreover, there was still Li Zhong.

Jin Zhangzhu had been puzzled all day about why Li Zhong had called him. He had learned a lot about Li Zhong from Lee Hyori, after all, they would be working together. Besides, Li Zhong's ability to shoot films was unquestionable, and he now had the strength to be taken seriously.

However, when he saw the girl Li Zhiyan, Jin Zhangzhu seemed to understand why Li Zhong had called. Was it to win the girl's favor? Or was she already Li Zhong's girlfriend and wanted to enter the entertainment industry? Jin Zhangzhu's thoughts grew more and more twisted, but he never imagined that Li Zhong had simply acted on a whim.

Jin Zhangzhu glanced at the vocal and dance teachers sitting on the sofa. They were considerate, one saying her dance foundation was good and she had potential, the other saying her voice was nice and had its own characteristics, with room for improvement. Jin Zhangzhu nodded in satisfaction and then turned to Li Zhong, "Li Zhong, I'll take Li Zhiyan. Let her start as a trainee. If it's okay, we can sign the contract now."

Jin Zhangzhu thought it was just a favor, so he decided to get it done now, making Li Zhong owe him a favor, which would make future requests easier.

Li Zhiyan couldn't believe her ears. She had just danced and sung a bit and was already accepted by CCM Entertainment? By the company where Lee Hyori was? Even though it was as a trainee, it wasn't easy to get in.

Li Zhong, seeing Li Zhiyan in a daze, nudged her, "Zhiyan, can you sign the contract today?"

"Ah, yes, yes, I can. But, but..." Li Zhiyan looked at Li Zhong, hesitating to say something.

Li Zhong knew what she was thinking just by looking at her. He was a bit frustrated, "Mr. Jin, Zhiyan is already 23 this year. Is it okay for her to be a trainee?" Li Zhong asked.

"No problem, no problem. We currently have a 23-year-old trainee in the company, and she's also from Myungji University's Theater Department," Jin Zhangzhu said, looking at Li Zhiyan. He hadn't realized the girl was already 23, thinking she was just starting university.

"Ah, and my classmate?" Li Zhiyan was also surprised.

Then they prepared the contract. Trainee contracts were standard, and Li Zhong couldn't interfere, but out of respect for him, Li Zhiyan's monthly allowance was 200,000 KRW, double what others received.

This small benefit made Li Zhiyan feel incredibly happy. She had never thought she would become a trainee so quickly, and according to Li Zhong, if she worked hard, she might debut next year. This year, CCM Entertainment was focusing all its resources on Lee Hyori, so it would have to be next year.

"President, the trainee contract is ready," a secretary placed the contract on Jin Zhangzhu's desk.

"Li Zhiyan, this is a trainee contract. The initial term is 2 years. Since you are a bit older, if you don't pass our company's test and can't debut within 2 years, we won't renew the contract," Jin Zhangzhu explained.

In fact, entertainment companies have the right to terminate contracts with trainees at any time, but since Li Zhiyan was introduced by Li Zhong, she received some special treatment.

Li Zhiyan signed the contract without hesitation. Why wouldn't she sign such a favorable trainee contract?

Seeing Li Zhiyan sign the contract, Jin Zhangzhu nodded. He had found another one. Now it was almost enough. They would practice for a while, and if everything went well, they would form the girl group by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.

"Alright, let Secretary Ma take you to the practice room to get acquainted. You'll start practicing tomorrow," Jin Zhangzhu said to Li Zhiyan.

Li Zhiyan bowed to Jin Zhangzhu and followed Secretary Ma out the door, glancing back at Li Zhong before leaving.

Li Zhong also stood up, "I'll take a look too, and visit Park Ji-yeon." Li Zhong planned to leave, as this was beyond his scope.

Li Zhong followed Li Zhiyan, and Secretary Ma led them to a large practice room on the 5th floor. Although CCM Entertainment had many artists, the entire building belonged to the company, so there were many practice rooms. Trainees like Park Ji-yeon shared one, but since Jin Zhangzhu wanted to form a girl group, he gave these outstanding girls a large practice room.

"Knock, knock, knock!" The secretary knocked three times and then pushed the door open. The four girls in the practice room were practicing dance to music, with a teacher watching and occasionally correcting them.

At that moment, everyone heard the knock and saw Secretary Ma leading a man and a girl in. "Teacher Yoon, this is Li Zhiyan, a new trainee signed by President Jin. I'm bringing her to you now."

"Okay, I'll take her to get her things later," Teacher Yoon nodded and then carefully examined Li Zhiyan.

Park Ji-yeon, standing at the back, initially thought another competitor was coming when she saw a beautiful girl enter. But then she saw Li Zhong behind the beauty. "Hey, Uncle Li Zhong!" Park Ji-yeon called excitedly.

This shout was a bit loud, and the music had just paused, so everyone's attention turned to Li Zhong. Li Zhong had planned to just visit Park Ji-yeon and leave, as they had a good chat the night before, but he was caught by Park Ji-yeon's loud voice.

"Hi everyone, I'm Li Zhong," Li Zhong had no choice but to greet everyone. Secretary Ma then called Teacher Yoon away, leaving Li Zhong and the five girls in the practice room.

"Ah, Zhiyan, is it really you?" a short girl exclaimed in surprise.

"Baolan, what are you doing here?" Li Zhiyan was surprised to see the short girl.

It turned out that Li Zhiyan and Jeon Bo-ah were both students in the Theater Department at Myungji University and were in the same class. Li Zhiyan had started working outside after her second year and rarely went to school, only attending mandatory classes and leaving immediately after. She rarely kept in touch with her classmates, and Jeon Bo-ah was one of the few she still contacted. She didn't expect Jin Zhangzhu's classmate to be her.

"Hehe, I've been a trainee here all along," Jeon Bo-ah was happy to see her classmate become a trainee.

"Uncle Li Zhong, why are you here? Did you bring any food? I'm starving..." Park Ji-yeon ran over to Li Zhong, searching for any food he might have brought.

Li Zhong found this girl to be quite two-dimensional, "I didn't bring any food, but I brought a new person." He pointed to Li Zhiyan, who was talking to Jeon Bo-ah.

"Ah, that beautiful lady? She's so pretty. What's your relationship? Are you lovers?" Park Ji-yeon's curiosity was instantly sparked.

"Ouch!" Park Ji-yeon clutched her head as Li Zhong couldn't resist tapping her, "What lovers? Just a friend. I saw that she sings and dances well, so I introduced her to President Jin. She passed his test and is now one of you. You can get to know each other."

"Are you Li Zhong? Director Li Zhong?" a short, stylish girl asked uncertainly.

"Um, yes, I am. Do you know me?" Li Zhong was puzzled. Apart from appearing at press conferences, he had almost no public exposure. How could someone notice him?

"Ah, it really is you. I'm Han Eun-jung. I really like the movie 'The Chaser.' Kim Yun-seok and Ha Jung-woo were amazing," the short girl was excited.

Li Zhong was helpless. What did the actors' performances have to do with him? Why was she so excited?

Another girl looked at Li Zhong with a strange expression, "Um, Uncle, have we met before?"

A vein throbbed on Li Zhong's forehead. He had accepted being called "Uncle" by Park Ji-yeon, who was still in middle school, but this girl, with her curvy figure, calling him "Uncle"?

"What's your name?" Li Zhong asked, suppressing his frustration.

"I'm Park Hyo-min. You can call me Hyo-min. Have we really never met?"

"Hyo-min?" Li Zhong remembered the incident at the CCM Entertainment entrance where he was knocked down by two girls, one of whom was Park Ji-yeon, and the other was this Park Hyo-min.

"I think I saw you at the entrance of your company. You and Ji-yeon knocked me down twice," Li Zhong said.

Park Hyo-min tilted her head and looked at Li Zhong, then suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! I remember. We were late that day, so we bumped into someone when we entered. I even looked back, and it was you, Uncle."

Li Zhong was frustrated to find another two-dimensional girl in the room. Was there anyone normal in here?