Peninsula Platinum Era

Chapter 23 A Gift from Fate
"Hello Director Chen, I am Kim Min-ji, a trainee at Source Music."

Chen Shijun knew she was a trainee, but he wondered why she was leaving so late. It was already very late, and trainees wouldn't be working overtime to earn extra pay.

There were quite a few things to coordinate at this meeting. Min Hee-jin indicated that some more authority needed to be granted to ensure the rational use of resources, and So Sung-jin argued and negotiated with her for a long time about this.

I looked up and it was already past ten o'clock. And today is the weekend. To practice to this extent can only be described as extremely hard work, and it is also a great drain on physical strength.

"Of course I know you're a trainee at Source Music. It's already past 10 o'clock. Do you train until this late on weekends?"

This little girl seems a bit dull, and her personality is different from Xiaoyuan's; she seems more composed.

But perhaps it was just because he was afraid of himself; maybe he was a lively person in private. Only then did Chen Shijun seriously examine the appearance of this ace trainee.

Like Ahn Yu-jin I saw last time, she possesses a contradictory beauty that blends innocence and heroism, yet it feels completely different. Her bone structure and contours have a delicate yet powerful balance.

However, they all share the same result: a highly three-dimensional nose with a prominent bridge, forming a rare and perfect S-shaped curve.

A natural wheat-colored complexion differs from the mainstream pale skin aesthetic; it exudes a healthy yet wild charm, and a bare face after training looks incredibly vibrant.

"Today...today I'll be a little late. I was injured last time and things were delayed."

Indeed, she seemed a bit intimidating. Chen Shijun had almost finished his cigarette and, looking at the somewhat chilly female trainee, casually asked for directions to the dormitory.

"It's on my way, take my car, it's too late."

It's not that I'm lying, it really is on the way. Otherwise, it's unlikely that Director Chen would take a detour for a trainee, although seeing her always reminds me of that younger sister who also works hard for her idol career.

Walking takes too much time, and riding a bicycle in the snow is too dangerous.

"No...I..."

She hesitated, wanting to wave her hand in refusal, but seeing the man's somewhat forced smile, she ultimately didn't dare to say the words of refusal.

“I have a younger sister, about your age, but she’s not as sensible as you.”

Of course, the air conditioning was turned on when the car was warming up, and the warmth made Minchi feel much more comfortable. As she reached for her seatbelt, she heard Director Chen praising her.

"Does Director Chen have such a young sister? I'm only..."

Miss Minchi felt that she didn't know what was wrong with her. Why did she become so tongue-tied today? Director Chen didn't look that old. What was wrong with the two elders having such an interest?

"Hehe, do you have class tomorrow? If you're going back, get some rest early."

Chen Shijun did not answer the question. It was perfectly normal for the little girl to be distracted by one thing, but what he said was the truth.

Xiaoyuan only stayed in school because she forced herself to, while the other person wanted to go to school on their own initiative. These are completely different concepts.

"Yes, I have to go to school tomorrow, and I've also booked a training session for art high school entrance exams."

Girls of this age are very sensitive, and the combined pressure of years of studies and career have made her quite strong.

Having left his parents at the age of thirteen to live alone in Seoul, enduring a terrible environment infested with cockroaches, he wasn't as dull as Chen Shijun appeared. His inner forbearance and resilience were remarkably well-honed. But sometimes, the grievances he endured were not easy to resolve. Sometimes, he would toss and turn, sitting at the school gate at six in the morning waiting for it to open, as if only that time alone truly belonged to him.

While looking out the window at the snow scene under the dim streetlights, she answered Chen Shijun's intermittent questions. She covered her mouth nervously when the man brought up the topic of Ms. Min.

The journey wasn't very long. Chen Shijun parked his car in this area, where the old buildings contrasted with the tall buildings not far away.

The girl jumped out of the passenger seat, turned around, held the door open, bowed to Chen Shijun, and expressed her gratitude to him at length.

"Director Chen is such a good person. I will always remember his kindness."

The girl shrugged her right shoulder slightly and tilted her neck back as if raising it slightly. This girl actually imitated Ms. Min's habitual movements, which made Chen Shijun laugh.

As the girl skipped away, Chen Shijun's smile faded. Although the girl dared not say anything, there were some sensitive questions she couldn't remain silent about.

That was enough to learn some information, and Chen Shijun also had his own reasons for showing goodwill to the girl, of course, he didn't have any feelings for her.

This "N group" will be Big Hit's biggest project besides BTS for a long time, and this little girl is currently the most stable prospective member for this project.

Ms. Min may seem calculating and power-hungry, but Chen Shijun believes that this is not her true intention. She may soon have a showdown with Fatty Fang and seek the opportunity to complete the project independently.

That will trigger another round of competition for resources, and it wouldn't be bad to have a foothold in this project.

All you need to do is show some kindness and care by saying, "Seeing you reminds me of my sister." This won't cost much, and it shouldn't be a problem to win over a young girl.

It wasn't like he was taking advantage of the little girl or anything. Chen Shijun felt he had no malicious intent. Perhaps this nail would never be used, so he simply considered it as making a good connection.

At this moment, the girl was unaware that Chen Shijun's gaze had already fallen upon her. Whether this attention was a blessing or a curse, it would greatly change her life.

Today, the girl didn't call her family because of her fear of leaving get off work alone. Her uncertainty about the future seemed to have lessened considerably. She was really too brave just now.

I actually had a brain fart and imitated Min Hee-jin's actions. If Ms. Min found out, she would definitely scold me to death. But Ms. Min seems to be quite nice. She even told me today that she would fight for my studies with the company.

"Mom, I'm fine, don't worry about me..."

While washing her face, she tied her long hair into a ponytail and tossed it behind her head, all the while talking on her phone with her mother. The mother, worried about her daughter walking alone at night after get off work, felt very sorry for her.

It has to be said that she is a very worry-free daughter, but this worry-free quality is sometimes achieved through a lot of hardship.

"Our company has now been officially acquired, and we'll be part of a larger company from now on. We should be able to move into the new dormitories soon."

So far, the company has not allowed parents to visit their dormitories. Besides cockroaches, the most unbearable thing about Minchi is the mold that grows everywhere in the summer due to the dampness.

Although her mother's nagging made her feel warm, it was already late, so she quickly told her mother to rest early. Looking at her slightly tired face in the mirror, the girl forced a smile.

Born into a relatively well-off family, Wen Chi was already content with her parents' support for her career, but little did she know that some kindness seemed to be coming her way soon.

But the upcoming gift must have come with a price tag. Can a little girl really repay such a ulterior motive? The chess pieces in the game are still delighted by some small adventures.

(End of this chapter)