Did Liu Xin’an actually have any specific method in mind? That’s hard to answer.
After all, he really had no personal connections in the entertainment industry.
If you had to say he had anyone, it would be his uncle JYP, but JYP wouldn’t intervene with Bae Juhyun. He also didn’t want to cause his uncle any trouble.
The matter of public disclosure was temporarily set aside by Liu Xin’an and Bae Juhyun. As always, no matter what, it had to be revealed during the hiatus after the comeback was over.
And there was still about a week left until the end of their comeback.
As for how to continue preparing during this week...
Early the next morning, Bae Juhyun arrived at the company and had just walked into the practice room when she was called out by Seong Taekyon.
Having not seen each other for a night, Seong Taekyon looked a bit haggard. Bae Juhyun looked at him in confusion and asked with concern, "Taekyon oppa, are you feeling unwell?"
Being worried about, Seong Taekyon shook his head with a forced smile, staring thoughtfully at Bae Juhyun.
"Wasn’t it your uncle Xin’an who said yesterday that he was going to prepare something for you?"
"Yes, that’s right, but I said I couldn’t make the decision, it was up to the company..."
Bae Juhyun recalled the details of the banquet yesterday and answered softly. Then, as if she realized something, her red lips slightly parted.
"Did that uncle contact the company?"
"Yes... the company received a call early this morning. The Mayor of Daegu Kwon and the Mayor of Busan Park also called... as well as some large companies..."
"Uh..." Bae Juhyun felt her limbs go numb, unsure how to respond, just pursing her lips and looking stunned.
She had only learned what Daegu Koryo meant yesterday, but what Seong Taekyon had just mentioned, she had heard about since childhood.
So even with a night’s buffer, she was still inevitably very shocked.
"Come with me, the higher-ups want to talk to you."
Judging from Seong Taekyon’s change in attitude, it wasn’t difficult to see that Bae Juhyun’s status at S-M had shifted from being a pawn the company manipulated to someone with significant say.
Thanks to the events of the previous night, Bae Juhyun had suddenly become a highly influential figure within the company.
Of course, for Bae Juhyun herself, everything still felt quite confusing.
So when she heard that the higher-ups wanted to talk to her, she urgently nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let’s go now."
After motioning for Kang Seulgi and the others to wait in the practice room, Seong Taekyon led Bae Juhyun to the elevator.
Soon, Bae Juhyun took the elevator to the floor where the top executives were.
She rarely came up here. Well... actually, she had been here once last year, when she was brought up by Director Kim to be scolded following a public controversy.
Now, this was her second time.
The feeling this time was completely different from the last. Last time, Bae Juhyun had been trembling with fear.
As for this time... she was still nervous, but no longer had the same sense of panic.
"Are we meeting the Director?"
On the way to the Director’s office, Bae Juhyun couldn’t resist secretly asking Seong Taekyon.
Seong Taekyon paused, looked back at Bae Juhyun, and grinned, "I don’t know either, but I guess so."
If it was Lee Seongju, that wouldn’t be too bad. This Director was not as fierce as the previous Directors. Last time, when she was brought in to be scolded, Lee Seongju had simply given her a light reprimand and then comforted her, telling her not to take it to heart.
If it had been Kim Yeongmin or even Lee Sooman, who used to run the company, she might have been reduced to tears on the spot.
Soon, Seong Taekyon led Bae Juhyun to the Director’s office door, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
Then, a slightly aged man’s voice came through.
The voice stunned both Seong Taekyon and Bae Juhyun.
Including her time as a trainee before debut, Bae Juhyun had been in this company for over ten years.
Ten years had seen her encounter many high-ranking executives, and the owner of this voice was someone she had once been particularly afraid of, Lee Sooman.
The very same Lee Sooman despised by Liu Xin’an, Park Jinyoung, and even Park Jinsuk... the founder of S-M.
The sound of Lee Sooman’s voice made Seong Taekyon and Bae Juhyun exchange a glance. In the end, Seong Taekyon helplessly spread his hands, met with a pitiful expression from Bae Juhyun.
"They definitely aren’t angry with you, don’t worry." Seong Taekyon reassured her, then stood aside, smirking.
After all, he didn’t have to go in with her.
Bae Juhyun understood this, but facing Lee Sooman alone wouldn’t be easy for any S-M artist.
Well... except for Sunny from Girls’ Generation, who was Lee Sooman’s niece... by blood.
She took a deep breath, summoned her courage, and carefully pushed open the Director’s office door, stepping in with bated breath.
"Hello, Teacher Lee Sooman, and hello, Director."
Inside the office, besides Lee Sooman, Director Lee Seongju was also present.
"So, how was yesterday’s banquet?"
Lee Sooman didn’t speak; it was Lee Seongju who inquired with a smile about the specifics.
"It was interesting and went smoothly. The consulate staff took good care of us."
"That’s good. The reason we called you here is that the company received several calls today about offers for you to endorse products or serve as a regional ambassador. What are your thoughts on this?"