LPL didn't want me? I joined SKT instead!

Kim Sun-joong's execution ability is terrifying.

Once the crazy idea of ​​"creating a cross-border super reality show with Xiao Yan as the core" took shape in his mind, he spent only one night drafting a top-secret business plan that was fifty pages long.

The next morning, the proposal was placed on the meeting table of SK Telecom's top board of directors.

In South Korea, SK Group is one of the most powerful conglomerates, possessing unimaginable media resources and capital strength.

When the board's senior executives saw the reality show project titled "Absolute Core: Canyon of Stars," and learned in detail about Xiao Yan's young potential and his incredible influence among young people throughout Asia and even the world, the entire project received the green light and was quickly approved at an unprecedented speed in the history of Korean television.

Kim Sun-joong utilized all of SK Group's entertainment, media, and public relations resources.

Within just one week, the program's promotion swept across the streets and alleys of South Korea.

The subway stations in Seoul, the LED screens of skyscrapers in Gangnam District, and even the opening screens of major social media platforms were all filled with huge posters of Xiao Yan wearing a bespoke suit with a cold and confident look in his eyes.

The poster's slogan is highly provocative: "Who can become the support for the king?"

This news sent shockwaves through the entire South Korean entertainment industry, causing an unprecedented upheaval.

Executives from top entertainment agencies and television stations practically fought tooth and nail for the show's invitation list after receiving it.

They know all too well the value of this show.

This is not just a variety show; it's an unprecedented "traffic extravaganza."

Xiao Yan is now a walking trending topic generator. In South Korea, where e-sports is considered a national sport, being able to appear in the same frame as this FMVP who just won the championship at the Bird's Nest and broke the historical record gives him an exposure that far exceeds that of the female lead in a big-budget movie.

Moreover, SKT explicitly stated in its plan that this reality show will not only invite top celebrities, but also elites from all walks of life in South Korea—including tech tycoons, second-generation chaebols, and top investors—to participate as "observation groups" or "special guests."

This is more than just an ordinary reality show.

It is also a top-tier social platform!

The show was filmed at an extremely luxurious private estate on the outskirts of Seoul.

When the first episode was officially filmed, the manor was filled with all kinds of top-of-the-line vans and limited-edition supercars.

The red carpet stretched from the entrance of the manor all the way to the main hall of the main building.

Xiao Yan did not linger or pose for photos on the red carpet like those celebrities.

He wore a dark blue suit hand-stitched by top Italian artisans, with a white shirt underneath without a tie, the collar slightly open, exuding a nonchalant laziness and the composure of a superior.

The moment he stepped onto the red carpet, the flashes from hundreds of media outlets created a blindingly bright light.

During the next two weeks of filming, this reality show completely demonstrated to the world what "dimensional reduction attack" truly means.

The program arranged various segments, ostensibly to allow popular girl group center positions and national actresses to compete to become Xiao Yan's "exclusive support" in the final performance match through various intellectual games, tests of teamwork, and even simple League of Legends fan matches.

But in reality, every shot and every script amplifies Xiao Yan's personal charm.

In this process, those top female stars who originally intended to "ride the wave" or "create a romantic pairing" found that their charm, which they were so proud of, was completely ineffective in front of this eighteen-year-old boy after they actually met Xiao Yan.

Faced with the ambiguity and coquettishness deliberately created by the girl group members, Xiao Yan always manages to defuse the situation with the most appropriate, gentlemanly, and flawless humor, keeping the distance at a perfect "safe line".

He gave the other party face, ensuring the show's entertainment value, while leaving no room for paparazzi to maliciously interpret his words.

His ease and skill did not frustrate these actresses; instead, it aroused their stronger desire to conquer and their affection for him.

Having grown accustomed to sycophancy and greasy men in the entertainment industry, their encounter with a young man who reigns supreme in his field yet maintains absolute clarity and restraint in the face of beauty is like discovering a priceless treasure.

What truly benefited Xiao Yan the most from this program was not the adulation of the beautiful women, but the "elite social circle" that Kim Sun-joong specially arranged for him.

During a private cocktail party where no cameras were filming, Xiao Yan, holding a wine glass, mingled among the South Korean high society members—people who would never normally have the opportunity to interact with him.

He met a second-generation chaebol who owned shares in South Korea's largest live streaming platform.

When the other party asked Xiao Yan for his opinion on the future of the live streaming industry in a condescending manner, Xiao Yan did not feel uneasy like an ordinary internet addict.

On the contrary, Xiao Yan, with the prophetic perspective of a time traveler, calmly and profoundly analyzed the reshuffling trend of the live streaming industry in the next few years, the outbreak point of the copyright war, and the monetization model of e-sports players' personal IP in the era of pan-entertainment.

He even accurately predicted the impact of the rise of short video platforms on traditional long video and live streaming platforms.

Those words made the second-generation tycoon, who had only intended to have a casual chat, immediately put away his disdainful look, stand up, and solemnly hand Xiao Yan his black and gold business card with only his private number printed on it, expressing his hope to cooperate deeply with Xiao Yan in the development of the e-sports industrial park in the future.

He also met a venture capitalist who was highly regarded in the South Korean investment community.

Xiao Yan discussed with him the inevitable trend of esports club leagues and franchise systems on a global scale, as well as how to transform the club's fan economy into real economic benefits.

In this two-week reality show, Xiao Yan is like a sponge that absorbs water like crazy, and at the same time, he is also a highly skilled chess player.

He used the vast platform built by SKT and Kim Sun-joong to quickly and ruthlessly establish his own network of connections.

Those elites from all walks of life who initially regarded him merely as a "genius who is very good at playing games" were all impressed by his strategic vision and mature mind, which far exceeded his age, after in-depth conversations with him.

When the reality show "Absolute Core" was broadcast simultaneously on television and online, its viewership ratings broke all the records for variety shows in South Korea over the past five years.

Xiao Yan's name has completely "broken out of its niche".

He is no longer just the FMVP of the e-sports circle. He has become a cover figure sought after by major fashion magazines in South Korea, the perfect male god in the hearts of countless girls, and a "future partner" with great investment value in the eyes of business tycoons.

Kim Sun-joong couldn't stop smiling every day in his office as he looked at the exponentially increasing commercial sponsorships and club valuations on the financial statements.

He knew he had made the right bet.

Xiao Yan has brought SKT far more than just a championship; he is propelling the SKT brand to unprecedented heights.

However, just as the outside world was going crazy for Xiao Yan, major talent agencies were waving their checkbooks to sign him as their commercial agent, and countless socialites and heiresses were trying to create chance encounters with him at various high-end banquets—

Xiao Yan disappeared from this noisy arena of fame and fortune.