Chapter 89

Jin Jidong is one of the three major mountains in the Korean entertainment industry, the man closest to the title of "National MC." Although he has suffered much due to various reasons and ultimately failed to achieve the highest honor in the entertainment industry, his status in the industry has never been much weaker than the other two. His network is said to be the strongest in the country.

Although he looks like a thug rabbit, Jin Jidong is actually a very cultured and refined host. Grassroots and approachability are his most distinctive labels. His witty and profound speech in daily life makes him the most popular host at various award ceremonies and private events. Jin Jidong often appears as a host in both formal and informal settings, such as premieres, celebrity weddings, signing events, and even private gatherings.

"Brother Jidong, you didn't come here just to see me, did you?" Li Jingming, seeing Jin Jidong's appearance, felt a bit moved.

Jin Jidong has been hosting "Star Golden Bell" on KBS for three years and has some other small programs. With his strong network, he can speak with some authority at KBS. Out of respect for his friends, and because he likes Li Jingming, he came to show his support, so that people would know Li Jingming is "not fighting alone." However, when Jin Jidong arrived, he found Li Jingming in a separate waiting room, realizing he had overwrought himself. The words Jin C said about Li Jingming having a deep background seemed to be well-founded.

Jin Jidong and Yoon Dohyun are very close, and so is his relationship with Jin C. Before going to the United States, Jin C specifically called Jin Jidong to ask him to help Li Jingming, so he has been paying attention to Li Jingming's situation. Although they can sing a few lines of popular idol songs, they don't genuinely like them; it's just part of their professional skills. After all, there's a gap of over ten or even twenty years. If you count every three years as a generation gap, it's more than a few bars. Li Jingming's "Confession" is different. As a "man with a story," Jin Jidong really felt silent after one listen and tears after two. Therefore, he has a special fondness for Li Jingming.

Jin Jidong is very loyal to his friends, the type who would stab a beauty for them. He has put a lot of effort into promoting Li Jingming's new song. "There are still five hundred words left unsaid" is a slight variation of a line from "Confession," which he directly turned into a popular phrase. He also used it to tease Liu Jaesuk's verbosity on the show. In Korea, anything related to Liu Jaesuk can't help but become popular, so Li Jingming's "Confession" indirectly received a lot of promotion. Liu Jaesuk, of course, doesn't mind being "used," and he also wants to help promote Li Jingming, even planning to bring him onto his show.

The first-week album sales for Li Jingming have been released, a total of 84,000 copies, which immediately put Li Jingming at the top of the solo sales chart and the first place for debut CD albums. No new artist in Korea has been so crazy since the cassette era, and Jin Jidong and others' occasional mentions played a significant role.

"Just passing by, purely passing by." Jin Jidong said this but stopped to pat Li Jingming's shoulder, "You're even more handsome in person, it's really unfair."

Jin Jidong once said, "I hate two things the most: my face and mice." He never shies away from others talking about his appearance. Good entertainment hosts are like this; Liu Jaesuk and Kang Hodong are the same. Self-deprecating humor to entertain the audience is their job.

"You can't blame me for this, blame my mother," Li Jingming said with a serious face, "I've always blamed her, I couldn't make friends because of the face she gave me."

"Ha, you're just being cheeky?" Jin Jidong laughed, liking children who are willing to talk.

Li Jingming waved his hand, "Just being cheeky, what can I get from you? Even Kang Hodong, who is so tall, can fall, and even the strongest man in the world can't get an advantage over you, how could I have such ability?"

Li Jingming was referring to the time during "X-Man" when Jin Jidong led the Jin team against Kang Hodong's team. Jin Jidong, hearing Li Jingming's words, felt a sense of nostalgia. Although he is still a top MC, he has felt pressure from above due to his clear stance, and his career has inevitably been affected. Back then, he stood with Liu Jaesuk and Kang Hodong, known as the three great generals. Jin Jidong's goodwill towards Li Jingming increased by five points, this kid knows how to behave!

"If you need anything, just call me. I'm upstairs, I called you last time, you saved the number, right?" Jin Jidong was about to leave, seeing that Li Jingming had no other issues.

"Brother Jidong, why would I save a man's number for no reason, I forgot it," Li Jingming said, almost making Jin Jidong trip at the stairs.

It was just a small joke. After sending Jin Jidong off, Li Jingming felt warm inside. Indeed, it's good to have people who care. These people aren't involved for any benefit, purely out of seniority's care for juniors. As long as you look good, they will help you, and with Li Jingming's cooperative nature, it's a win-win for everyone.

Jin Jidong and Li Jingming were talking in the hallway, and it was a busy Friday with many programs. Many people saw the two of them talking closely, and names like Liu Jaesuk, Jin C, and Kang Hodong were mentioned, leading to much speculation. The news spread faster than Li Jingming could walk. Many people already knew that Jin Jidong had come to see Li Jingming, and it seemed that Li Jingming had a special relationship with Liu Jaesuk and Kang Hodong. Jin Jidong's care for Li Jingming was evident, and the popular phrase he recently promoted was from "Confession." Liu Jaesuk also mentioned Li Jingming on his show, but what did Kang Hodong have to do with it? Others didn't know.

Li Jingming was disappointed today. He encountered only kind and friendly seniors, who chatted and encouraged him. Some female seniors even talked to him for a long time. Where were the cold jibes and the album being thrown in the trash?

With everyone being so friendly, Li Jingming couldn't just flip out for no reason, "My four bodyguards' fists are thirsty," that's not a good reason. Disappointed, Li Jingming went directly on stage for his rehearsal, which was already his turn.

Li Jingming's rehearsal was very late, which also showed his importance. In music shows, the later the rehearsal, the more prestigious the artist. This way, they can stay on stage longer and save time waiting for rehearsals. Many singers spend their Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays waiting for their rehearsal turns. They don't dare to do anything else, fearing they might be called for an early rehearsal. After the rehearsal, they can't leave either, as the senior artists will start arriving, and it would be bad if the juniors weren't there.

Li Jingming's rehearsal started at 3:50 PM, with only a few people left. The Lighters (fans) sitting below thought something had happened to Li Jingming, as he was just a new artist and should have been one of the first to rehearse. In Korea, seniority and achievements don't matter much. The fan seats for each show are limited; otherwise, it would be a free-for-all. Disputes over fan support often lead to physical conflicts, which are not uncommon in Korea.

As soon as Li Jingming stepped on stage, the brightness in the studio increased. His fan color is bright gold, and the golden lights were blinding. Li Jingming enjoyed this feeling, always having a "rebellious" thought in his heart. His ancestors were too rustic, the royal style of the Joseon Dynasty, the royal clothing style, were like those of a wealthy farmer, colorful and lacking in elegance. "The whole city is covered in golden armor" is what he truly loved.

Li Jingming first bowed to thank his fans, causing another round of cheers. No fans rushed forward; this was a studio, and irrational actions would result in being removed. After greeting the fans, Li Jingming greeted the staff one by one, and a small bottle of cold cola greatly improved their perception of him. The rehearsal was very formal, and it had to be perfect, which is why it took so long. A perfect version had to be recorded first to prevent any accidents, and in case of emergencies, the pre-recorded content would be used.

Li Jingming has a lot of experience on stage, but it was mostly from speaking at cultural events. Singing on stage was rare, only at the Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year's Eve. Facing a different audience, Li Jingming felt a strange sense of enjoyment and acceptance of applause.

Sitting on a high stool with a guitar, Li Jingming's stage was simple but not barren. This was the result of Jin Yuanshu's careful design, with the stool's position, sitting posture, and lighting all carefully considered. Li Jingming, wearing the same white shirt and black pants as in the popular photo from yesterday, sat there, and the empty stage seemed to have only him, only his monologue.

Li Jingming's "Confession" is accompanied only by a guitar, and he sings and plays it himself, which is very challenging. Many people might think, "So many people can do that, even high school students can write