Chapter 687: Chapter 95: A Grand Gesture
The party was boring, parties like this were commonplace in Los Angeles, Adrian received invites almost daily, and even the tastiest food could beco tireso after too much, let alone a mishmash of everything. Despite these guests from South Korea being either rich or noble, impeccably dressed, despite Lee Kun-hee, Chung Mong-kyu, and Gu Bonmoo having studied in the United States, and despite South Korea’s aggressive Westernization, an awkward feeling persisted.
To say it was a prejudice from a previous life would be overstating it, but Japanese guests rarely gave Adrian this feeling. Perhaps, this was related to the arrogance that ca with the sudden wealth of Koreans. After all, Japan could at least be considered a second-rate power in the first half of the 20th century, and it left an indelible yet despicable mark through World War II. What did South Korea have?
Let’s not ntion being a vassal state for a thousand years, as being a vassal of China was undoubtedly most comfortable, using Japan’s power to escape China’s influence, only to be swiftly occupied and annexed by Japan. After World War II, they finally gained independence, only to have the Aricans arrive, followed by a major war on the peninsula, resulting in division into two countries. It could be said that before the Korean War, the nation and its people on this peninsula were virtually nonexistent.
Therefore, after decades spent developing their economy, it’s natural to want to show off to the world, which explains all the absurdities like trademark squatting. Unfortunately, whether Westernized or traditional, they were not as adept as the Japanese. Take, for example, Seoul, this so-called international tropolis: without the Han River dividing the wealthy Gangnam District and the slums of Gangbuk District, it wouldn’t be much better than Brasilia, let alone Tokyo. No wonder Adrian felt uncomfortable.
But he was, after all, a guest, and he was keen to observe the leaders of these three major conglorates, so he stayed despite the discomfort.
Anyone who could beco the head of a major conglorate was no pushover. The party began with Gu Bonmoo, as the host, speaking a few words, then inviting Lee Kun-hee to speak. After Lee Kun-hee finished, he surprisingly introduced Adrian and invited him to the stage. Faced with a round of applause, Adrian certainly couldn’t refuse, so with a smile, he stepped in front of the crowd.
The two old foxes pulled this stunt with two schemings in mind: only the rich and politicians of South Korea could attend a party hosted by LG, so they used this opportunity to hint that Samsung and LG had begun collaborating with Arican AC dia, thereby expanding their influence. They also took this chance to gauge Adrian’s reaction, knowing he was the chairman of AC dia’s board, from across the Pacific and having never interacted before. Getting to know his personality traits would certainly be beneficial for upcoming negotiations.
Given that, Adrian wouldn’t disappoint them; although he spoke at length, he said nothing substantial. Talking nonsense is a necessary skill for anyone wanting to succeed in their career, as saying the wrong thing, making a promise that shouldn’t be made, or conveying wrong information in such a setting could be fatal, with Arican elections as the most typical example.
Interestingly, although Lee Kun-hee, Gu Bonmoo, and Chung Mong-kyu ca together to et him, after the forr two spoke at the party, they took Adrian aside, ignoring Chung Mong-kyu. Clearly, there was tension among them. Both Samsung and LG operate in electronics, and although competitors, they tend to unite against external challenges. But Chung Mong-kyu, who had only recently separated from Hyundai Group, had Hyundai Motor as South Korea’s only internationally known car brand after Daewoo’s bankruptcy. Still, it was too soon for him to be on equal footing with the other two veterans.
That’s also why Chung Mong-kyu was eager to enter the North Arican market. If he could make a breakthrough, it would undoubtedly be a strong boost to him and the newly independent Hyundai Motor Group. Many people present would likely ridicule him; Hyundai Group was doing so well, yet he impatiently sought independence, weakening the family business and diminishing his own status.
But to Adrian, this was a smart move. The Chung family was simply mimicking the strategies of the Zhuge family from the Three Kingdoms. If his mory served correctly, within a year or so, Chung Mong-kyu’s brother, Chung Mong-hun, would jump from a building, and Hyundai Group would tumble and be acquired. Adrian had gathered relevant intelligence before coming to South Korea and verified it against his mory. He once considered exploiting this to his advantage but ultimately decided against it, as it was a deep and murky water.
Simply put, after Kim Dae-Jung beca president, he started to relentlessly attack the chaebols and promote reconciliation with North Korea, thus offending many. The chaebols also did not wish for true unification, as dividing would an supporting tens of millions more people and thinner profits, plus it was unclear who would hold political power—a situation that had occurred countless tis in history.
Hence, after Kim Dae-Jung left office, it was only natural for the businesses close to him to be held accountable, such as Hyundai Group, which developed Mount Kumgang. With the passing of the founder Chung Ju-yung in early 2001 and no strong leader left, misfortune was expected. However, Chung Ju-yung was smart enough to foresee sothing around the year 2000, allowing his sons to separate the businesses, preserving the Chung family should the eldest son have an accident.
Adrian had capitalized on his foresight to carve out a lot, so he personally ca to South Korea to inspect and plan many things despite the lack of confidence from Samsung, LG, and Hyundai themselves. But he decided to steer clear of these matters. It was a small place with strong national sentint, complex relationships among major enterprises, and he was on their turf; rashly intervening could an capsizing in a drainage ditch.
Speaking of which, he had to thank Chung Mong-kyu. If not for a certain rumor, Adrian might not have recalled so relevant information about Hyundai.
Alright, let’s get back to the party. Adrian was chatting with a few young n introduced to him, and the topic was—as it often is among n—
“Simply put, Western won have a three-dinsional aesthetic. When we see them, that sense of geotric beauty is very appealing. However, the downside is that their lines are sowhat hard, lacking in softness. Eastern won are just the opposite, lacking the feel of dinsionality, but presenting a sense of cleverness and gentle charm, which is equally attractive. If Western won are like a fierce fire that can lt a man with their passion, then Eastern won are like a pool of clear water, so soft that one can beco imrsed and unable to extricate oneself,” Adrian spoke with great ease.
Unwilling to discuss his reasons for coming to South Korea or to be entangled by the chattering won, he had no choice but to talk about won with a group of young n about his age. From the beginning, plenty of won ca over to chat, but unfortunately, Adrian had no appetite for it. He even regretted leaving Ivanka at the hotel; that would have definitely spared him a lot of trouble.
“What you said is really wonderful, Mr. Cowell. The fine won of our South Korea are indeed those mild and gentle types,” a young man praised at that mont. However, his way of brown-nosing was too direct, and his English wasn’t very good, carrying a self-promoting air that made Adrian shake his head internally.
“Truly a man of style,” another voice rang out. “I very much agree with your comnts on Eastern and Western won.”
Turning around, Chung Mong-kyu approached with a smile, and the young n surrounding Adrian all bowed respectfully to him.
“Of course, this isn’t absolute, either. There are passionate girls among Eastern won, and Western won can also be gentle and pleasing. It really cos down to personal taste,” Adrian said smoothly.
“Indeed, in the end, it depends on personal interest,” Chung Mong-kyu maintained his smile without ntioning a word about Hyundai car’s efforts to collaborate with Arican dia conglorates. It was after a few exchanges that he moved the conversation to film and television.
“By the way, Mr. Cowell, the entertainnt industry in our South Korea has also made significant progress in the past two years. As one of Hollywood’s most renowned directors and producers, you might have so useful advice to offer,” he said.
“Well… To be frank, Mr. Chung, I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. Regarding the Asian entertainnt industry, I only have an in-depth understanding of Japan and Taiwan. I only know of other places,” Adrian demurred.
“Not at all?” Chung Mong-joon imdiately showed a disappointed expression, and the young people around him were more or less taken aback.
What is this old man trying to do? Adrian wondered. After thinking carefully, he still found an example: “Okay, I’ll talk on a broader level since my understanding of your entertainnt industry is indeed limited… Before coming here, I did collect various information about South Korea. I rember there was a popular TV drama last year called ‘Autumn in My Heart,’ correct?”
“Yes,” replied a young man imdiately, while Chung Mong-joon narrowed his eyes slightly.
Adrian didn’t notice and continued: “When I arrived in Seoul, there was a TV station rebroadcasting it, so I took the ti to watch a few episodes. Most of the plot was understood from the synopses. Frankly, Westerners wouldn’t like it, and the lengthy plot would turn people away, not to ntion the completely different concepts. However, for Asian audiences, it’s a very good TV series with a handso male protagonist, a beautiful female protagonist, and the plot, though not intensely conflicting, is continuous and yet poignantly attractive, easily drawing in viewers—especially housewives—to continue watching. Plus, with the image of the female lead being so good and well-portrayed by the actress, won watching can easily imrse themselves in the role, which again guarantees the ratings.”
Having said this in one breath, he paused for a mont before adding: “So, personally, I think if this type of storyline could be created into a pattern and given different packaging, it will be widely popular in Asia for at least the next three or four years. With the right promotion, it might take so market share from Japanese dramas or even surpass them. Of course, how to make this pattern more viable will be up to the producers.”
Anyway, this was the consistent formula for future South Korean dramas; saying it now didn’t matter. Moreover, pitting them against the Japanese, they’d likely love to hear it.
“He truly lives up to the title of Miracle Director, just a few sentences have pointed out the pros and cons,” Chung Mong-joon smiled and lightly clapped his hands, “And worthy of the reputation of a ladies’ man, even when discussing a TV show, he can analyze it from a woman’s perspective.”
That old guy… Wait! Adrian slightly furrowed his brows, as if sothing wasn’t right.
“So, what about movies?” Chung Mong-joon then asked, composed as if nothing were amiss, “At the beginning of this month, we just released a movie called ‘My Sassy Girl,’ very popular, and it broke the box office record for cody films dostically. I wonder if Mr. Cowell has taken any interest in it.”
Adrian’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, as he finally realized what was wrong. Chung Mong-kyu, the leader of the modern automobile industry, not a movie or television producer, why was he interested in discussing these things with him? Could it be…
“Yes, I’ve looked into it,” he maintained his smile, “Although I haven’t seen it, I’ve fully understood so of it based on the synopsis and the original web novel. I believe the movie’s popularity is inevitable. If possible, I hope Mr. Chung could introduce to the production side – my film company might try making an Arican version.”
At these words, aside from the two or three young people who seed sowhat perplexed, everyone familiar with Hollywood showed a surprised expression, Chung Mong-kyu included. They all knew the great na of the Miracle Director and his keen eye for movies – to be praised by him like that…
“Don’t rush, I can’t be certain it will be just as popular in the United States,” Adrian said with a sly smile, “The key is, the strong man and weak woman tradition in Asia has very deep roots, so when a movie that reverses the roles cos along, it catches a lot of attention. Plus, it’s not just a simple story of a weak man and his sassy girlfriend. When the male protagonist grabs the new boyfriend of the female lead and repeatedly tells him what to beware of, the whole plot suddenly elevates. Everything that the male protagonist has done up until that point, seemingly bullied without fighting back – all for the female lead. The man’s tolerance suddenly cos to light and touches countless viewers.”
The young people around clapped lightly again at this analysis – whether they were paying attention or not – but Chung Mong-kyu seed sowhat distracted, which brought a quiet laugh to Adrian’s mind.
“Of course,” he raised his voice slightly, looking at the old man, “The actress playing the female lead is key. It is simple to play the male lead, but the female lead requires soone with real strength of character, as well as beauty. Although I have only seen the posters, trailers, and so clips online, I know she perford excellently.”
Chung Mong-kyu blinked and then showed a smile, as if he understood sothing.
It seed their work in collecting information on him was very thorough. If that was the case… Adrian chuckled softly to himself and then rembered a rumor about Chung Mong-kyu from his past life.
“Since we ntioned movies, let’s talk about music as well,” he continued on, “I’m not very familiar with South Korean pop music, and I only know a few groups, so I’ll just talk about that. In my opinion, the future is about pursuing uniqueness. Although groups are very hot right now and each mber can represent sothing different to attract all kinds of fans, their decline is inevitable. But the great thing about Koreans is their unity. Therefore, male groups might still have about five or six years to grow, while for female groups going solo seems more promising. However, if they are managed well and learn from experience, after those few years there might erge new groups that will beco popular.”
After another brief pause, Adrian looked at Chung Mong-kyu again: “Among these female groups, a singer with a unique personality who’s good at dancing and goes solo would attract more attention. Like… let think, fin.k.l, the leader from that group is quite good.”
“To receive such a complint from you, they must be truly exceptional,” Chung Mong-kyu remained unruffled as he spoke, which made Adrian a bit disappointed since he had hoped to discover sothing.
“Don’t be in a rush to break into North Arica, this is my advice regarding South Korean pop music. First, take back the Asian market from Japan’s hands bit by bit, establish a strong base, and then think about the whole world.” He finished by ending the conversation about the entertainnt industry.
So, which one would you choose?
The reception ended, and by the ti he arrived at his hotel suite, it was almost eleven o’clock. Ivanka hadn’t gone to sleep yet and was still busy with her laptop.
“So glad to see you, Innie, I’m exhausted,” Adrian took off his coat and, with a playful smile, pulled open his collar and stepped forward to kiss her.
With a slap, a book was thrust in front of him, and he kissed the book instead.
“If attending a reception wears you out, what about , always collecting and comparing data?” Ivanka humd softly without lifting her head, and then she withdrew the book.
“You know receptions are always boring,” Adrian touched his lips, “How much I’ve missed you, longing for your…”
He said as he playfully reached to embrace her, his hands heading for Ivanka’s curves. But the secretary got up with a dodge, leaving him to embrace the air.
“Don’t forget!” Ivanka turned her laptop towards him, with a slight air of triumph.
“Oh, hell,” Adrian sighed, looking at her reluctantly and then got up, “Well, what conclusions have we reached?”
The once triumphant secretary imdiately sobered up and turned the laptop back to face herself: “Based on the information collected and expert analysis over this period, Samsung’s electronic components are indeed top-notch in the industry, with only a handful being comparable. However, they have their problems as well, too diversified. If they can’t focus their resources on the electronics industry, it’s easy to be caught up.”
“They’ll adjust soon,” Adrian beca serious, pondered for a mont, and looked at the ti, “Alright, Claude should be waking up too.”
He picked up the phone and walked to the side of the door to place a call, his intention and ssage very straightforward: standards!
Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Adrian was surprised, exchanged a glance with Ivanka, and walked to the door: “Who is it?”
“Um… we… are looking for Mr. Adrian Cowell,” said a slightly awkward voice, as if not very proficient in English, and it sounded female.
Frowning, he peered through the peephole, then looked astonished. After a few seconds of hesitation, he opened the door, and standing outside were three young won looking sowhat timid and uneasy.
What a big move… (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to vote for recomndation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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