diymy Chapter 74 Where Did You and Our Team Leader Go?
Chapter 74 Where Did You and Our Team Leader Go?
Han Xijun said with obvious disdain, "Watch less TV dramas."
Zhao Minyu continued staring at Han Xijun, and after a moment of silence, asked, "Are you really Han Xijun?"
Han Xijun muttered, "I shouldn't have asked you."
Zhao Minyu leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "Our country's idols have become an industry. The Blue House, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and major entertainment agencies are all working together on this industrial chain to create a diplomatic calling card for our country."
"From the moment Jang Won-young appeared on the talent show and formed the group IZ*ONE, this industrial chain has been working to create Jang Won-young, polishing her into a flawless product."
Han Xijun crossed his arms and leaned closer to where Zhao Minyu was sitting.
The waiter brought over the Korean beef and side dishes.
Zhao Minyu looked at the waiter and said, "Put the food down first. We'll call you over to help with the grilling when we need to eat. Thank you."
The waiter placed the Korean beef, side dishes, and soju on the tray, then nodded and said, "Okay, please call us anytime if you need anything."
After the waiter left, Zhao Minyu continued, "This flawless product is not allowed to have any of its own labels; this is an inviolable rule of the market."
"So many people who initially liked Jang Wonyoung from IZ*ONE gradually stopped paying attention to her."
"Zhang Yuanying, who has been honed through the industrial chain, has become increasingly popular and has gained more and more fans in recent years. However, I think there aren't many people who truly like her."
"To put it bluntly, Jang Won-young can't go back to being the same Jang Won-young. She can't win this battle for authorship within the assembly line, even though she's still the dazzling Jang Won-young in the IVE."
"It's a pity that she entered this industrial assembly line with no turning back at the age of 14. Ironically, she was the best raw material in the eyes of all the capital, and the timing of her entry was also the most ignorant time."
"She passed all the quality checks. Her height, leg length, facial features, expression, eyes, and angles were all calculated precisely. Her diet was estimated by weight, and even her rest time was cut into countless pieces. Her weight was calculated to the decimal point."
"Believe it or not, the curve of her lips when she smiles is what idols call facial expression management; they have to train their muscles to the point of muscle memory."
"The core logic here is actually de-personalization. First, turn Zhang Yuanying into a blank sheet of paper, and then paint her with the colors that the market needs."
In communication studies, this is called "hyperrealism," a simulation that is even more perfect than a real person.
"We won't see her without makeup and looking disheveled, we won't see her moments of emotional breakdown..."
Han Xijun frowned.
Just over ten minutes ago, he had witnessed Zhang Yuanying losing control of her emotions.
Without interrupting Zhao Minyu, Han Xijun remained quiet and continued to listen.
Zhao Minyu opened the soju bottle and poured a glass for Han Xijun.
Han Xijun took the wine bottle and poured a glass for Zhao Minyu as well.
Raising his glass, Zhao Minyu smiled and said, "I wanted to talk to you about changing jobs, but how did we end up talking about Zhang Yuanying?"
Han Xijun clinked glasses with his, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
Zhao Minyu was testing Han Xijun.
This guy didn't take the bait.
He deliberately talked about Jang Won-young, and he went into great detail, completely analyzing the idol market, with the aim of making Han Hee-joon understand the market and Jang Won-young.
There must be a reason why Han Xijun brought up Zhang Yuanying.
Being the first KAIST classmate to be treated to a meal by Han Xijun, I felt confident enough to brag to my classmates after lunch today.
It's like repaying a small kindness with a great one.
Zhao Minyu poured Han Xijun another glass, and Han Xijun poured himself a glass in return.
Without a consecutive toast, Zhao Minyu toyed with his soju glass and said, "Let me put it this way: Zhang Yuanying right now is like a carefully calibrated display model incorporating artificial intelligence. Do you understand?"
It was another test.
Han Xijun nodded this time.
Zhao Minyu regretted that there was no third person present. It was a pity he hadn't prepared in advance. If he could have captured Han Xijun's current appearance, it would have been even more convincing.
Cough
Clearing his throat, Zhao Minyu said, "So, what people who like Zhang Yuanying now only like is that carefully designed face, that expression, that look, and that figure."
"It's too difficult for her to get out of this industrial chain. She went from being a character assigned to her in the script to becoming the scriptwriter. Haha, Han Xijun, you should know what I mean."
Han Xijun nodded again.
He understands.
Aren't he and Zhao Minyu just characters in the script of the AI field?
To become a screenwriter, both he and Zhao Mingyu must first reach a position where they can actually write screenplays.
Zhang Yuanying was no different.
My previous impression of Zhang Yuanying completely changed at this moment.
Extending his hand holding the wine glass, Zhao Minyu said, "No, you don't understand."
After clinking glasses, Han Xijun asked, "I don't understand?"
Zhao Minyu smiled and said, "Well, you don't understand. She can never do it on her own. Or rather, if she doesn't perform as designed, she will be abandoned immediately."
Han Hee-joon asked, "Isn't she the most popular idol?"
Zhao Minyu said, "You're a highly sought-after KAIST genius in the industry. If one day you were to start your own business and create a product that everyone in the industry envies, what do you think you would do?"
Before Han Xijun could answer, Zhao Minyu added, "Don't even think about getting rich or becoming a leader in the field of AI. Let me tell you the result: here, you will be ruthlessly suppressed until you disappear. So, come with me to the United States. That's where you should be able to use your talents."
"You will be the next Musk, the next..."
Han Xijun raised his hand, looked into the distance, and called out, "Hello, we need some barbecue over here."
Putting his hand down, Han Xijun said to Zhao Minyu, "From childhood to adulthood, the food I dislike the most is Western food."
Zhao Minyu helplessly shrugged and spread his hands.
Han Hee-joon also shifted the topic from Jang Won-young to ChatGPT.
the other side.
A coffee shop near the KAKAO Group headquarters building.
Zhang Yuanying handed the bag to Baek Eun-hee, saying, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, unnie."
Baek Eun-hee took the bag and asked curiously, "Won-young, did you and our team leader know each other before?"
Zhang Yuanying hesitated for a moment before saying, "I met you once by chance, Unnie, please don't tell anyone else."
Bai Enxi asked suspiciously, "What coincidence? As far as I know, the team leader is almost always at the company, and you're so busy, how did you see him?"
Jang Won-young changed the subject, saying, "Unnie, are you very tired lately? Your skin looks..."
When it comes to skin, Baek Eun-hee immediately becomes very talkative.
Zhang Yuanying secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She checked the time; she still needed to get back to the company.
The awkward thing was that he couldn't just leave like that. He stomped his feet lightly under the table, looking for an opportunity to "escape".
While talking about skin, Baek Eun-hee suddenly changed the subject, looking at Jang Won-young and saying, "But where did you and our team leader go just now? You two disappeared together."