Please! My relationship with the girl group leader is purely platonic.

Chapter 76 Pani: Thank you both so much!

SM Entertainment's trainee selection process is quite large-scale; you can see many aspiring young women heading to the company from afar.

Jiang Youzhen drove to the back gate of the company. His phone kept ringing in his pocket, so he had to quickly find a place to park before he could answer the call.

"No way... Tony, I hope you're only telling me good news."

Tony's laughter came from the other end of the phone. Hearing Jiang Youzhen's seemingly dejected voice, he chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Anders, I'm just here to let you know that the preview screening went well. Quite a few reporters want to interview you. I've picked two, and I've sent their information to your email. If there are no problems, online interviews are also possible."

"I'm fine with it. I'll be in the country for at least the next two weeks, so you can contact me anytime." It was just an interview, so Jiang Youzhen didn't think much of it and agreed.

The phone call lasted for nearly ten minutes. Tony was very confident in "REC". They didn't care much about the box office results, only about word-of-mouth and audience comments.

A good reputation is more valuable than a hundred million in box office revenue.

Halfway through the phone call, Jiang Youzhen asked Tony to select some novels similar to those about viral infections and zombies to collect first. At the same time, he told him that just yesterday, Jiang Jingshu, in the name of FFF Company, purchased the adaptation rights to an unreleased animated film.

He had read the materials and introductions and thought it would be great to adapt it into a movie.

"You said you were going back on vacation? I think you've given yourself a lot of work to do. The unreleased animated film... well, you'll have to wait for that."

"Never mind, it's nothing. Lionsgate seems interested in this movie. They've contacted us to see if we can buy the rights to the sequel."

Tony made a couple of complaints, but emphasized that work was more important.

"I'm sorry, but I have a three-film contract with Columbia Pictures, and it's impossible for me to breach it. Let's see if there's a chance to work together again in the future."

It was another major film company. Jiang Youzhen felt that after making an excuse to decline this time, his name would probably be ranked far down in the list of names at this film company.

He was helpless, but there was nothing he could do.

No wonder James Wan plans to start his own production company instead of always collaborating with external companies. Kang Woo-jin had his own ulterior motives in registering a small film company based on Kang Jung-seo's advice.

At the latest, in two to three years, he will have to become active on his own and break out of the shadow of these giant film companies.

'Bang...bang...'

As he drifted off into thought, someone knocked on the car window. Kang Woo-jin snapped back to reality, turned around, and saw Kim Tae-yeon and Tiffany. He breathed a sigh of relief.

I almost thought I was going to be kicked out by the security guard at the gate. I thought to myself, I've already run to the back door, it's really impressive that he can still see me.

Jiang Youzhen quickly removed the car keys and got out of the car. "Sorry, I was on the phone and got lost in thought."

"Hmm~ I can see that, but you're missing something." Kim Tae-yeon noticed Kang Woo-jin talking to someone on the phone as she walked out the door, but after he hung up, he was in a daze and didn't notice the two of them approaching.

It was only when Tiffany saw that it was almost time that Kim Tae-yeon stepped forward and knocked on the car window.

Looking at the beautiful young woman in front of him, Jiang Youzhen felt a flutter in his heart. He also appreciated beauty, especially after seeing the bright smile on the girl's face as soon as he got off the car.

Like the first rays of dawn, warm and clean.

He couldn't help but smile, only to see a hand snap its fingers in front of him.

"Um, you two... is this some kind of romantic drama scene where you two reunite after a long separation? Would you like to consider that I'm still here?"

Tiffany looked at the two people speechlessly. Couldn't they be a little more considerate? And weren't their smiles a bit too obvious?

The two people who were mentioned fell silent at the same time, probably because neither of them knew how to defend themselves against Tiffany's words.

"Alright, Tiffany, we need to go in."

Kim Tae-yeon looked around and, noticing no one was looking in their direction, took off her bucket hat and handed it to Kang Woo-jin, saying, "Celebrities' faces are too obvious, wear my hat."

Jiang Youzhen did not refuse, put on the hat and followed them into the building.

Despite being a well-known entertainment company in the country, SM Entertainment's internal environment is rather ordinary. Due to the recent trainee selection competition, the environment on the first floor is quite noisy.

This wasn't Jiang Youzhen's first time here, so he only glanced at her for a couple of seconds before looking away. He adjusted the position of his fisherman's hat, focusing most of his attention on the petite figure in front of him.

In late autumn, girls their age usually wear fitted T-shirts for the convenience of dance practice. Kim Tae-yeon likes to wear sweatshirts, which makes her look even younger than the little radishes outside.

Jiang Youzhen glanced at her legs a few more times; they seemed... a little long?

Or was it just his imagination?

It had been a while since they last met, which is why he thought Kim Tae-yeon had grown a little taller.

As he walked over to the practice room, he glanced back and saw several unfamiliar boys and girls looking at him. Judging from their sportswear, they were probably trainees from this company.

Kim Tae-yeon and Tiffany took turns introducing the company's practice rooms and layout to Kang Woo-jin. Of course, they only dared to introduce what outsiders could know; they couldn't go any further.

"So, when you first came to SM, you were still practicing in the underground practice room?"

"Of course, the competition among trainees is no less than that among outside artists. If you want to get on stage, you have to work hard to seize the opportunity." Kim Tae-yeon nodded matter-of-factly. She rarely said such things, but what she said was true.

It's hard to explain in just a few words how hard trainees work, but their goal is to debut, so they have no choice but to work hard.

"You guys have worked even harder than I expected. It's a real pity that we can't collaborate on this film again."

"Please, I felt really awkward watching that movie in the theater before."

Kim Tae-yeon turned around and slowly walked back, a hint of resentment in her eyes. Because of this incident, her practice room friends and her family in Jeonju often teased her.

Using the light shining from the practice room, Kim Tae-yeon noticed that Kang Woo-jin's complexion was a little unnatural, and his eyes were bloodshot. She was very familiar with this state.

He definitely didn't sleep last night.

Guessing this, she asked with concern, "Anders, didn't you sleep last night?"

"Yes, I'm looking at some materials and novels."

Jiang Youzhen shrugged, then noticed several teenagers running down the corridor. He quickly reached out and pulled the girl who was walking backward toward him.

Seeing that Tiffany hadn't reacted yet, he had no choice but to reach out and block her as well.

But... he misjudged Tiffany's height. He intended to use his arm to block her shoulder, but instead, it ended up across Tiffany's neck.

And that's how the awkward thing happened—who knew Tiffany was short too?

Tiffany clutched her neck; she had almost been strangled to death by Kang Woo-jin at the company with one hand.

After catching her breath, she found her best friend being held firmly in his arms with one hand, and she gritted her teeth.

Fine, she let it go!

She can really endure it all for her best friend's happiness!