Chapter 88

Actually, a single photo doesn't prove much. Even Cui Yizhen herself only heard about it through gossip, with no solid evidence. Netizens, though often idle, are also very discerning. It would be too hasty to "convict" Li Jingming based on a photo taken in 2004. However, it is certain that Li Jingming has a significant connection to the LK chain of coffee shops, and that his family is very wealthy. While South Koreans may resent the rich, they resent those who are rich but unkind. This sentiment is almost universal. Otherwise, well-known figures like Yoon Ji-sung, Choi Si-won, and Bae Doona, who come from wealthy families, would not be so popular and would have many detractors.

If one were to insist that a flashy background, once exposed, would make no one like him and everyone would start boycotting him, that would show a complete misunderstanding of the Korean people. Koreans love the story of a prince and a Cinderella. Shows like "The First Love of the Prince," "Love in the Time of Choco," and "Boys Over Flowers" are just a few examples. In Korean modern dramas, almost half of the male protagonists are second-generation tycoons or children of high officials, and the other half are prosecutors or doctors. Even if the story starts with a commoner's struggle, they will eventually become prominent figures. Dramas need to tell stories about characters that people don't usually encounter to attract viewers. If they only portrayed the daily lives of ordinary people, it wouldn't be a drama, but a sitcom (though it's still a drama).

In any case, Li Jingming's popularity has not only remained intact but has continued to grow. Especially after the news of his trip to Disneyland in Los Angeles with Kim Tae-hee, the rumor that "Li Jingming likes to play with older women" spread, and now he has more and more "sister fans." Li Suk-jin and Park Min-ji, after seeing Li Jingming's MV, immediately registered as members of his fan club, becoming part of the vast group of Lighters. They even organized an event on their first day of membership, planning to surprise Li Jingming that afternoon.

"Mom, why don't you just be my manager?" Li Jingming, wrapped in a blanket, rolled to the side of the bed farthest from the door. Kim Yun-shu had just been tickling him. "You're too dedicated, coming to torture me before eight."

"What, do you think I won't really be your manager?" Kim Yun-shu's eyes defined the word "danger."

Li Jingming, fearing the consequences of speaking too late, immediately jumped up. "Mom, you've worked so hard, how can you still help me with all these things? Sit down and rest for a bit."

"Hearing you say that, I think being a manager sounds pretty good. I can see you more often," Kim Yun-shu seemed genuinely interested.

"Don't say that. How could you have such an idea? You must have been carsick on the way. I'll get you a glass of iced water to calm down." Li Jingming scrambled out of the bedroom, thinking that if his mother really became his manager, the tone of this novel would be set, and it would definitely be a tragedy, a tragedy!

"Isn't there a music show today? Go brush your teeth and wash your face, and get a hairstyle." Kim Yun-shu called out to Li Jingming, who was crouching by the fridge. She had been looking forward to this day for a long time, as her son was finally going to appear on TV.

Friday is the day for "Music Bank." Live broadcasts require thorough preparation, and artists usually arrive early for rehearsals. Since it's a major music show, the TV station doesn't want any accidents, and the artists don't want to embarrass themselves in front of the nation. Everyone strives to do their best, so they arrive early to practice. Li Jingming, however, didn't wake up early due to a mix of confidence and laziness. He thought it was just about singing a song, and he had already practiced in LAD Entertainment's studio the day before.

On stage, visual effects are crucial, which is why the role of a stage art director, or "stage designer," is so important. LAD Entertainment has a dedicated stage designer to help Li Jingming present himself on stage. Kim Won-soo, a young master's graduate from Hongik University, felt no pressure among his colleagues from prestigious universities. He is a professional, and he is involved in all visual application issues at LAD Entertainment, making him a very important member of the company.

It's not clear if Kim Yun-shu used any influence, but Li Jingming saw Park Da-na in the limousine and learned that she was now LAD Entertainment's chief makeup artist, bringing two assistants to do his makeup. Li Jingming was puzzled; his face wasn't that big, so how could three people fit to do his makeup? Since the car wasn't stable, the detailed makeup would be done in the KBS dressing room. On the way, they just applied a base and some BB cream, and lightly outlined his eyeliner. Li Jingming didn't need concealer, as his face had no blemishes.

On weekends, a large crowd of mostly young girls gathers outside the three major TV stations. During the 2007-2008 season, and even before the era of large girl groups, the music industry was dominated by boy groups, so the fans at the music show were mostly women. Although Li Jingming's limousine was the first time at the TV station, he had used it at the signing event, and fans had even chased the car. So as soon as it appeared, a wave of screams erupted. To give fans a chance to interact with their idols, all artists on the day of the music show park in front of the TV station and get out there, which has become a customary rule.

Li Jingming's rise to fame was short, but his fan base was excellent, consisting of older women who had more time and money than teenage girls. If high school students weren't in class, Li Jingming's fan base would definitely be smaller than those of the boy group idols, but since high school students were still in class, his fan base was the most powerful. At the front of the crowd were Li Suk-jin and Park Min-ji, who were now deputy leaders of the "Li Jingming Sister Fan Club." With their wealth, they bought a lot of fan items to distribute to the members, so they naturally became deputy leaders, and everyone was waiting for them to pay for other things.

"Li Jingming, hello!"

"Jingming, Jingming, you're the best!"

The fans' cheers were organized and disciplined, with pre-determined slogans to boost morale and overwhelm other artists' fans. The conflicts between artists often extend to their fans, and the conflicts between fans also affect the artists. The artists and fans are interdependent, and the commotion from Li Jingming's fan club quickly sparked a competitive spirit among other fan clubs, making the area in front of KBS noisy.

Hearing his name being cheered, Li Jingming got out of the car. The feeling at that moment was indescribable, and he could only express it with a song: "This is the feel, so refreshing!"

Then Li Jingming made an experienced mistake. Based on his past experience as a cultural official, he knew he should wave, so he did. But as soon as he waved, the crowd became agitated, almost ready to storm the national TV station (KBS). Li Jingming, realizing the situation was wrong, thought the fans were dissatisfied with just a wave. So he bowed to the crowd holding his fan banner, and this time, the security couldn't hold back the crowd, which surged toward him like a tidal wave.

"Really?" Li Jingming was stunned. He suddenly felt like he was in a scene from a zombie movie, about to be overwhelmed by a sea of zombies. He took a deep breath, knowing he had to stay calm and not panic. He almost used the Wudang martial arts technique "Ascending Heaven Ladder" to escape into the KBS building. Looking out the window, he saw that his car had almost been lifted by the fans...

Even with the Wudang martial arts, Li Jingming couldn't calm down. He immediately opened a bottle of iced mineral water and drank it.

Choosing "Music Bank" for his first music show was a deliberate decision. One important reason was that it aired on Friday. "Popular Song" and "Music Core" air on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. It wouldn't be appropriate for Li Jingming to skip Friday and go directly to those shows, as it would be embarrassing for KBS. So, KBS, by scheduling the show on Friday, had a significant advantage, as many artists choose this stage for their debut.

Li Jingming, or the Li family, had good connections at KBS. Many distant relatives and former students worked there, and they were not insignificant figures. They would certainly give Li Jingming preferential treatment, and not just a little, but a lot. So Li Jingming had some confidence in winning a position. As soon as he arrived backstage, the news spread, and the other artists noticed that Li Jingming was different.

Performance is just one aspect. In the entertainment industry, performance is temporary, but background is what truly matters. Li Jingming, as a newcomer, not only excelled in performance but also showed a depth of background in the details. He arrived very late, and while some big names might come in the afternoon, for a newcomer like Li Jingming to arrive almost at eleven for what was essentially his debut stage was unusual. Li Jingming couldn't be ignorant; his good performance was a result of his confidence. Moreover, he had a separate waiting room on his first visit to KBS, even though it was a small room in the corner. No one would believe that he could have such a room without connections at KBS. The KBS executives never even considered sharing a waiting room with others; they were more concerned that the room might be too small for him. If not for the fear of negative public opinion, they would have given him the largest waiting room. Today, the KBS "Music Bank" PD, Yoon Gun-je, was the most conflicted. He received a call early in the morning, instructing him to meet all of Li Jingming's requests. KBS is not a hotel, so what does it mean to meet all of someone's requests? But this unusual treatment made him realize that this newcomer must have an incredibly powerful background. KBS, as a major national TV station, had never been so "humble" before. Could this guy be the president's illegitimate son? That wouldn't be necessary, right?

Li Jingming really treated KBS like a restaurant. He had lunch and freshened up in the waiting room before coming out. According to tradition, he was supposed to give albums to his seniors, a custom in the music industry that Li Jingming didn't want to break. He started imagining scenes from the novels he read in China: a senior would make things difficult for him, sneer, say something mean, and throw the album in the trash. Then he would shout, "I am the grandson of Emperor Gaozong and the great-great-grandson of Prince Eui. How dare you insult me?" He would then call his loyal guards to break the person's limbs, ruin their reputation, and finally throw them out to be executed in Dongdaemun.

Is that necessary? Li Jingming thought, pulling at the corners of his mouth. These people really have wild imaginations. What deep grudges do they have to make things so disharmonious? As he walked down the corridor, a man with a lecherous appearance and a lecherous smile approached. Li Jingming, seeing the man's eyes light up, immediately bowed. "Hello, Ji-dong hyung."

This hyung had helped him a lot recently.