Chapter Forty: The Exclusive Interview

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Entertainment Around Us (No Pop-Ups)
Story Timeline: March 2005
Recommended Song: Xin Xin — “Set Your Mind at Ease a Hundred and Twenty Times”
Disclaimer: This work is pure fiction. Any resemblance to real persons or events is entirely coincidental!

“Although what you said wasn’t entirely accurate, it’s undeniable that you’ve grasped the core of our company, so…” Lee Soo-man fell silent for quite a while, making Li Ran and Li Tong feel extremely tense, though they didn’t show it on their faces. “So, we can continue to negotiate the terms.”

With these words, Lee Soo-man made it clear that the efforts of Li Tong and Li Ran had finally borne fruit—the contract for TVXQ could be sold, but the terms were yet to be finalized.

What followed was a long and arduous ordeal. Both sides were seasoned business veterans, meticulously haggling over every detail. After nearly a month of intense negotiations, Li Tong finally acquired TVXQ’s contract: five years, 3.2 billion, with all associated patents bought out. This included image rights, albums, song copyrights, and everything else—TVXQ now had no further ties to the MS Company. TVXQ officially became part of ABC Company, joining Jiang Yihan as their senior label mates.

Though the deal was extremely advantageous, and Li Tong trusted both Jiang Yihan’s and Li Ran’s judgment—and most of all, his own—paying 3.2 billion in one lump sum still put ABC Company in a tight spot. Thankfully, the two advertisements Jiang Yihan had previously signed, with Samsung and Ziyi, both paid out promptly, and Jiang Yihan didn’t hesitate to “lend” his share to the company, allowing them to fully pay MS Company.

However, the process dragged on for nearly a month. Kim Jaejoong and the others remained unaware of the good news, as MS Company was squeezing every last bit of value from them, scheduling constant appearances during the negotiation period. Meanwhile, Jiang Yihan had much to deal with himself.

The first matter was bidding farewell to PD Han. Having worked together for over six months so closely, a deep bond had formed, but no matter how reluctant, there always comes a time to part. PD Han said goodbye with a smile, and the Jiang Yihan episode of “MPick” brought ratings high enough to make the TV station beam with delight.

Next came Jiang Yihan’s first exclusive interview, which went very smoothly.

The first interview was with Zhang Nian from “Begin.” From the start, Zhang Nian had believed in Jiang Yihan, giving “Begin” magazine a moment of pride, and making Zhang Nian the most valued Korean correspondent for ABC Company. Naturally, the first exclusive fell to him.

For Zhang Nian, this wasn’t the first time he’d seen Jiang Yihan. He’d covered many music shows, and attended most of Jiang Yihan’s appearances, producing article after article. He was already, in a sense, Jiang Yihan’s unofficial biographer, though, like all other reporters, he’d never had the chance for a direct interview—until now, his biggest opportunity yet.

Seeing Jiang Yihan up close for the first time, Zhang Nian found himself unsettled by the unfathomable charm in Jiang Yihan’s eyes, even as a fellow man. In his later report, Zhang Nian wrote:

“We were less than half a meter apart. I could see Jiang Yihan’s long, thick eyelashes, and at once fell into the depths of his gaze. For a moment, I forgot I was a man, forgot I was a reporter meant to stay objective, completely immersed in his allure. While I stood dazed, awkwardness lingered in the air, but Jiang Yihan simply chuckled, snapping me awake. His gentle, spring-like smile made me blush a little. In that first meeting, I was no longer a man, just an outsider drawn to beauty; no longer a reporter, but a spectator, moved by this boy’s humility and warmth. I rejoiced at having always been a supporter from the beginning.”

Some found such words exaggerated and unbelievable, as if lifted from a manga rather than a reporter’s objective account; others were curious, wondering if this young man’s charm truly bewitched both men and women; some were delighted to be steadfast supporters; some looked forward to one day meeting him up close; and, inevitably, some felt such writing was inappropriate for a male idol—thus, the antis appeared (note: "anti" refers to detractors, a phenomenon quite particular to the Korean entertainment industry, where groups form to oppose certain artists).

Regardless of the varied responses, Zhang Nian performed his duties as a professional. The interview proceeded smoothly, mainly discussing the making of Jiang Yihan’s album and his future plans. After more than an hour in a pleasant atmosphere, Zhang Nian left satisfied with his recorder and notebook. In closing, he wrote:

“Though he debuted only half a year ago, Jiang Yihan has already achieved remarkable popularity. Yet he remains calm, telling me, ‘Neither you nor I understand the rules of showbiz; no one knows when I might fall from the clouds to the valleys below. So, while I’m still in the public eye, I want to do things that make me, my fans, and the audience happy—that’s enough.’ No lofty ambitions, no grand declarations—Jiang Yihan carries a certain serenity about his career.

While many predict a bright future for Jiang Yihan, seeing superstar potential in him, he observes his own path with the objectivity of a bystander. He says everything—from signing to producing the album, debuting, and gaining popularity—has come too smoothly, so he stays cautious, never letting success go to his head. As for the future, he believes in taking one step at a time, unconcerned with success or failure, for neither is truly in his hands, nor does he care much for it.

Just when I thought I understood Jiang Yihan, he showed me there is always more to discover. Like a lengthy novel, he draws me in, eager for the next chapter.”

The ending confused some, just as the article’s title did: “A Boy Like Poetry.” Poetry is beautiful, yet often too profound to grasp—perhaps Jiang Yihan is a poem, a book.

Though Zhang Nian’s prose was lavish, Jiang Yihan himself felt nothing of the sort, believing he had simply spoken his mind. Popularity comes and goes quickly; rather than obsess over it, why not do what you love while you have the chance? Besides, Jiang Yihan knew all too well that the higher your popularity in Korea, the more antis you attract—and he knew his antis were bound to appear.

The second exclusive made many Korean media outlets indignant—why weren’t they chosen? Why did ABC Company choose this magazine? But they had to concede: the magazine was from China, and Jiang Yihan was, after all, a Chinese national, through and through.

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The second interview was with China’s “Coo1 Light Music Magazine.” Sitting across from Jiang Yihan was a petite young woman, about 160 cm tall, with an adorably cheerful smile.

“Hello, I’m Jiang Yihan,” he greeted her in Korean, smiling. “Should we do this in Korean, or in our own language?”

“Ah, I’m Li Xin. Let’s conduct the interview in Chinese,” the reporter quickly introduced herself as well. “I’m also completely Chinese, here as a student. Journalism is just a side job.”

“Wow, it’s been so long since I spoke my hometown language. It feels so familiar! Haha.” Jiang Yihan looked genuinely happy.

Like Zhang Nian, Li Xin was a little distracted by this close encounter, but she quickly regained her composure and plunged into the main topic—the interview.

“How did you get into the entertainment industry?” she asked.

With a relaxed grin, Jiang Yihan replied, “Just a matter of chance, really. I was working odd jobs when I got scouted to shoot an ad, and then a company approached me to sign a contract.”

“As an international student breaking into Korea’s entertainment scene, what did your family think?” Li Xin posed a question many artists face: whether their families support them.

“To be honest, it was all a coincidence. I never expected to debut in Korea, or even to become an artist at all,” Jiang Yihan answered earnestly. “At first, I didn’t want to sign. It was my family’s encouragement and support that led me to this path. Without them, I wouldn’t be here in front of you today.”

Li Xin saw a flash of determination and happiness on his face. For an artist, the greatest support comes from fans and family—their recognition is motivation to keep going. “Did anything interesting happen while making your album?”

“Of course!” Jiang Yihan chuckled, recalling his recording process. “Everything about my album was amazing. It took less than a month to make, Hyori joined me for the music video, and there was one song I recorded hundreds of times—my teacher nearly lost their mind before it was done! So when I finally saw my album released, it felt like a miracle.”

“And are you happy with this miracle?”

“For my first album, yes. It’s a great start, and the results are enough to satisfy me, aren’t they?”

“Though you just debuted, have you thought about trying acting?” Li Xin naturally brought up the subject.

“Ah, here’s a secret for you,” Jiang Yihan grinned proudly. “I’m already preparing for auditions. Just not sure whether the directors will want me!”

“Really? You’re already auditioning?” Li Xin was surprised—after just a few months since debut, and with album promotions in full swing, it was unexpected. “Is it for a drama or a movie?”

“Both. I’m going to audition for both, but I don’t know which one will work out in the end.” The scripts Li Ran helped secure included both TV and film roles; the auditions would be held in a few days, and a decision would soon follow.

“How did you feel on your debut stage? Were there any parts you weren’t satisfied with?”

“‘Magical’ is the only word that fits,” Jiang Yihan’s mind drifted back to that wondrous night. “In just over a month, I went from an audience member to someone shining on stage. It all felt so magical. Of course there were mistakes—I remember being too nervous to look at the audience at all! I just immersed myself in my own world; only that way did the nerves fade a bit. I hope I can leave an even stronger impression with my future performances.”

“Don’t be nervous—believe in yourself! You left a deep impression on the audience,” Li Xin encouraged him before moving on. “Tell us about your strengths and weaknesses.”

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“My strengths and weaknesses…” Jiang Yihan propped his chin, thinking. “I guess my strength is that I’m willing to learn. When faced with something unknown, I tackle it with a learning attitude. As for my weakness—haha, I’m a bit embarrassed to say—I’m lazy!”

“Is that why your fans call you ‘Young Master’?” Li Xin laughed at his candor. “Do you have any close friends in the industry?”

“Friends in the industry? Sure, I do,” Jiang Yihan considered. “But if I say who, people might think I’m making it up, haha. Honestly, people like Jang Dong-gun, Hyori, Kang Ho-dong, Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myung-soo, and others have all looked out for me.”

“Wow, all top-tier stars! You must be quite personable,” Li Xin, clearly prepared, followed with another question. “Speaking of Jang Dong-gun, how did you two meet? There was once a front-page photo of you together.”

“Huh? When was that?” Jiang Yihan thought for a moment, then recalled it must have been that one time in January—they only met up that once before Jang Dong-gun got busy filming. “Oh, that time! It was just by chance; after dinner, there were too many reporters outside. It was my first time in such a situation, and I got dizzy—Jang Dong-gun helped me out. He’s really down-to-earth. We still text each other now and then.”

“I see. What about Lee Hyori? Many reporters are curious about your relationship.”

“Hyori? She’s just like a big sister to me—don’t overthink it.” Having not been in the industry long, Jiang Yihan already knew how to handle such questions and didn’t answer carelessly.

“Then tell us about Kim Jaejoong from TVXQ.” Seeing she’d gotten nowhere, Li Xin switched topics.

“Jaejoong? We met by coincidence, and now we live in the same dorm building, so we’re quite close friends,” Jiang Yihan answered honestly.

“To finish, talk a little about our homeland, China,” Li Xin said, preparing to wrap up. “There are many of your fans—your ‘Castles’—in China too. Say a few words to them.”

“Really? I have ‘Castles’ in China too?” Jiang Yihan looked surprised. “I never imagined that. Thank you so much for supporting me! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely come home, so please keep supporting me when I do.”

“Well, that concludes our interview. One last thing.” Li Xin pulled out a notebook. “Could you sign this for our magazine, and then take a few photos?”

“OK.” Jiang Yihan readily signed his name in the notebook and prepared to pose for photos.

Because the interview was held in a café, it was easy to find good angles. They took a few shots of Jiang Yihan drinking coffee and flipping through magazines, then some more of him sitting by the café’s large floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight streaming in, a potted plant beside him. The results were unexpectedly excellent, and the photo session ended quickly.

Just as Jiang Yihan was about to say goodbye, Li Xin took out another notebook. “Jiang Yihan, I’m a ‘Castle’ myself—could you sign this for me too?”

At that moment, Li Xin was no longer a reporter, just a fan, a Castle, her cheeks tinged with pink. Jiang Yihan smiled brightly, took the notebook, and wrote: “Thank you for supporting me, Castle Li Xin—may you always be happy. Jiang Yihan.” After signing, he shook hands with her and left with a smile.

Thus ended the exclusive interview.

Closing words from Po Mao: As always, I’m writing according to my outline, and everything is going smoothly.

Starting tomorrow, updates will return to two chapters per day. I’ll do my best to keep that up. Fighting!