The cocktail party was very boring. This kind of cocktail party was very common in Los Angeles. Adriaan received invitations almost every day. No matter how delicious the food was, he would feel bored after eating too much, not to mention that this was a hodgepodge of food. Even though these guests were all well-dressed, even though Lee Kun-hee, Jung Mong-jiu, and Koo Bon-moo had all studied in the United States, and even though Korea was very westernized, there was still a sense of awkwardness that lingered.
This was a prejudice brought about by his previous life, but Adriaan rarely felt this way about the Japanese. Perhaps it had something to do with South Korea's arrogance. In any case, Japan was considered a second-rate power in the first half of the 20th century, and it left an extremely bad but not negligible mark in World War II. What did South Korea have?
Being a vassal state for thousands of years was undoubtedly the most comfortable thing to do. It borrowed the power of Japan to get rid of China's influence, and in the blink of an eye, it was occupied and annexed by Japan. After World War II, South Korea finally became independent. Immediately after that, the Americans came, and a war on the peninsula was finally divided into two countries. It could be said that before the Korean War, the countries and people on this peninsula had no sense of existence at all.
Therefore, after spending a few decades to develop their economy, they naturally wanted to show off to the world. It was no wonder that there were all kinds of crazy things like rushing to register and so on. Unfortunately, whether it was westernization or preservation of tradition, they were not as good as the Japanese. For example, Seoul, the so-called international metropolis, would not be any better than Brasilia, let alone Tokyo, if not for the Han River that ran through it, separating the rich Gangnam District from the poor Gangbei District. It was normal for Adrian to feel uncomfortable.
However, after all, he was here as a guest, and he also wanted to observe the leaders of the three major groups. No matter how uncomfortable it was, he had to stay.
People who could become the leaders of big groups were not easy to deal with. At the beginning of the cocktail party, Koo Benmoo, as the host, said a few words, then invited Lee Jianxi to come to the front. After Lee Jianxi finished speaking, he suddenly pushed out Adriaan and publicly invited him to come to the stage to say a few words. In the face of countless applause, Adriaan definitely could not refuse, so he could only smile and walk in front of everyone.
These two sly old foxes had two reasons for doing this. Those who were able to attend LG's reception were all in Korea. They were either tycoons or politicians, and they could use this opportunity to hint to them that Samsung and LG had already started working with AC Media in the US to expand their influence. At the same time, they could also see Adriaan's reaction. Although they knew that he was the chairman of the board of directors of AC Media, they were separated by the Pacific Ocean after all, and they had never had contact with him. They could take this opportunity to understand his character characteristics, which would definitely be beneficial for the next negotiations.
Since that was the case, how could Adriaan disappoint them? Although he spoke eloquently, there was no substantive content at all. Talking nonsense was a necessary skill for everyone who wanted to achieve their career. In this kind of situation, if one said something wrong, promised something that should not be promised, or conveyed the wrong information, it could sometimes be very fatal. The US election was the most typical example.
Interestingly, although Lee Jianxi, Koo Benmoo, and Jung Mengjiu came to meet him together, at this moment, after the first two spoke at the cocktail party, they dragged Adriaan out, but they did not pay attention to Jung Mengjiu. Obviously, there was also a conflict between them. Samsung and LG were both in the electronics industry. Although they were enemies in the same industry, it was easier for them to work together. Jung Mengjiu had just separated from Hyundai Group this year. Although Hyundai Motors became the only car brand in Korea with some international fame after the bankruptcy of Daeyu, after all, it had not been around for long, and it was still not on the same level as the two old guys.
Because of this, Jung Mengjiu was eager to enter the North American market. If he could open up the market, it would undoubtedly be a shot in the arm for him and Hyundai Motors, who had just separated from the company. He believed that many of the people present were laughing at him in their hearts. Hyundai Group was doing so well, but he jumped out and wanted to separate from the company. As a result, not only did he weaken the family business, but he also lost a lot of status.
But in the eyes of Adriaan, this was a good move. The Zheng family was just imitating the old wisdom of the Zhuge family in the Three Kingdoms. If memory served him correctly, in another year and a half, Jung Mengjiu's brother, Jung Mengxian, would jump off a building, and Hyundai Group would also plummet and be acquired. Before he came to Korea, he had collected relevant information, and after confirming it with his memory, he had thought of using this opportunity to trick Hyundai. But after careful consideration, he gave up the idea. This was a deep pool of water.
To put it simply, after Kim Dae-jung became the president, he started to fight against the chaebols and pushed for reconciliation with North Korea. As a result, he had offended many people. Moreover, the chaebols did not really want to unify with North Korea. If they split up, not only would they have to feed tens of millions of people, but they would also have to divide their profits. Also, it was hard to say who would be the leader of the government. There were countless such examples in history.
Therefore, after Kim Dae-jung stepped down, those companies that were close to him were liquidated, such as the Hyundai Group that developed Mount Kumgang. Moreover, the founder, Jung Zhouyong, had died at the beginning of 2001. Without a strong leader, it was expected that Kim Dae-jung would fall. However, Jung Zhouyong was a smart man. In 2001, he had probably seen through something, so he acquiesced to his sons' decision to split up the family. Even if something happened to his eldest son, the Zheng family could still survive.
Adriaan had gained a lot of benefits from his foresight. That was why he personally came to Korea to inspect and plan a lot of things even though Samsung, LG, and Hyundai didn't have much confidence in themselves. But it was better to forget about this kind of thing. Korea was a small place with strong ethnic sentiments. The relationship between the major companies was complicated, and he was the host. If he interfered, he might fail miserably.
Speaking of which, he had to thank Jung Mengjiu. If it wasn't for that rumor, Adriaan might not have any relevant information about Hyundai in his memory.
Alright, let's return to the topic of the banquet. Adriaan was chatting with a few young men that were introduced to him. As for the content, it was all men's favorite —
"Simply put, Western women have a three-dimensional beauty. When we look at them, that kind of geometric beauty is very attractive. But the flaw is that their lines are a little stiff and lack softness. Eastern women are the opposite. They lack a three-dimensional feeling, but they give off a gentle and obedient feeling. This is also very attractive. If Western women are like a ball of fire, passionate enough to melt men, then Eastern women are like a puddle of clear water, so soft that people can immerse themselves in it and be unable to extricate themselves. "Adriaan spoke frankly with assurance.
He didn't want to talk about the purpose of coming to Korea, but he also didn't want to be pestered by those women. So, he could only chat with a group of young men about the same age. From the beginning, many women came over to strike up a conversation. Unfortunately, Adriaan didn't have much of an appetite. He even regretted leaving Ivanka in the hotel. Otherwise, it would have saved him a lot of trouble.
"You're really right, Mr. Kewell. Our Korean women are indeed gentle like water." A young man praised. But this kind of flattery was too straightforward. Moreover, his English wasn't very good, and it carried a sense of self-praise. This made Adriaan shake his head in his heart.
"As expected of a romantic person." A voice sounded. "I agree with your comments on Eastern and Western women."
Turning around, Zheng Mengjiu walked over with a smile. The young men around Adriaan bowed respectfully to show their respect.
"Of course, this isn't absolute. There are passionate women in the East, and there are gentle and lovely women in the West. It depends on the individual's aesthetic standards." Adriaan said calmly.
"Indeed, in the end, it depends on your own interests." Zheng Mengjiu maintained his smile. He didn't say a word about Hyundai Motors seeking cooperation with an American media group. After a few words, he changed the topic to movies and television.
"By the way, Mr. Kewell, in the past two years, our Korean entertainment industry has developed significantly. As the most famous director and producer in Hollywood, perhaps you can provide some useful advice." He said.
"Well … to be honest, Mr. Zheng, I'm afraid I can't help much. As for the Asian entertainment industry, I only have a deep understanding of Japan and Taiwan. I only know about the other places." Adriaan declined.
"Not at all?" Zheng Mengjiu immediately looked disappointed. With him taking the lead, the young men around him were more or less uneasy.
What was this old man trying to do? Adriaan was a little puzzled. After thinking carefully, he found an example. "Well, I really don't know much about your entertainment industry, so I can only talk on a general level. Before coming here, I also collected information on various aspects of Korea. I remember there was a very popular TV series called Autumn in My Heart last year, right?"
"Yes," a young man replied. Zheng Mengjiu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Adriaan didn't notice it. He continued, "When I arrived in Seoul, there was a TV station rebroadcasting it, so I took the time to watch a few episodes. Most of the plot was based on the introduction. Frankly speaking, Westerners wouldn't like it. Just the long and tedious plot alone would make people reject it, not to mention the completely different viewpoints. However, to the Asian audience, this was indeed a very good television series. It had a handsome male lead and a beautiful female lead. Moreover, the plot was not intense, but it was continuous. It was also very sad and could easily attract people — — especially those housewives — — to continue watching it. In addition, the image of the female lead is very good, and the actors are also very good. When women watch it, it is easy to put themselves in the shoes of the female lead, which guarantees another layer of ratings. "
Having said that in one breath, he paused for a moment before continuing, "So, I personally think that if this kind of plot can be made into a model and given different packaging, at least in the next three to four years, it will be widely popular in Asia. If the promotion is appropriate, it can also snatch part of the market from Japanese TV series and even surpass them. Of course, how to make this model more viable will depend on the producer."
In any case, this was the consistent pattern of Korean TV series in the future. It didn't matter if he said it now. Moreover, he could drag the Japanese out to compare it. They should like it very much.
"As expected of the miracle director. With just a few words, he pointed out the pros and cons." Zheng Mengjiu smiled and clapped gently. "As expected of a well-known romantic figure. Even a TV series can be analyzed from the perspective of a woman."
This old guy … Wait! Adriaan frowned slightly. There seemed to be something wrong.
"What about the movie?" Zheng Mengjiu continued with a calm expression, as if there was nothing wrong. "At the beginning of this month, we just released a movie called 'My Sassy Girlfriend'. It was very popular and even broke the box office record for a local comedy movie. I wonder if Mr. Kewell is concerned about it."
Adriaan raised his eyebrows imperceptibly. He finally realized what was wrong. Zheng Mengjiu was the head of Hyundai Automobile, not the producer of a movie or TV series. Why would he be interested in discussing this with him? Could it be …
"Yes, I've understood it." He maintained his smile. "Although I haven't watched it, I know a little bit based on the content summary and the original online version. I think there's a reason why this movie is so popular. If possible, I hope Mr. Zheng can introduce the producer to my film company. Maybe we can produce an American version. "
As soon as he said that, except for a few young men who were a little confused, everyone who knew about Hollywood showed a look of surprise. Zheng Mengjiu was no exception. They all knew the name of Director Miracle and his vision in movies. To be praised by him like that …
"Don't worry, I'm not sure if it's equally popular in the United States." Adriaan smiled slyly. "The key is that the Asian tradition of strong men and weak women has always been deeply rooted. So when such a character reversal movie comes out, it will attract a lot of attention. In addition, this is not a simple story of a weak man and his sassy girlfriend. When the male lead pulls the female lead's new boyfriend and tells him the things to take note of, the whole plot suddenly sublimates. Everything that the male lead did before, from his seemingly infuriating behavior to not even retaliating when he was bullied, was all for the female lead. The man's tolerance was immediately displayed, and countless viewers were moved."
The young men around applauded the analysis again — regardless of whether they cared or not — but Zheng Mengjiu seemed a little distracted. Seeing this, Adriaan suddenly chuckled in his heart.
"Of course …" He raised his voice slightly, looking at the old man. "The key is the actress who plays the female lead. It's easy to play the male lead, but to play the female lead well, she needs a very beautiful girl with great courage and character. Although I've only seen the poster, the trailer, and some of the clips on the Internet, I know she'll do an excellent job. "
Zheng Mengjiu blinked, then smiled, as if he understood something.
It seemed that they had done a good job in gathering information about him. If that's the case … Adriaan chuckled, then remembered the rumor about Zheng Mengjiu from his previous life.
"Since we're talking about movies, let's talk about music." He immediately continued, "I don't know much about Korean pop music either. I only know a few groups, so let's talk about that. In my opinion, the future is the era of individuality. Although groups are popular now, and everyone can represent something, thus attracting all kinds of people, it's inevitable that they will decline. However, the greatest characteristic of the Koreans is their unity. Therefore, the male groups still have about five to six years to develop, while the female groups have more prospects flying solo. However, if they operate properly and are good at summarizing, there might be a new popular group after a few years. "
After another pause, Adriaan looked at Zheng Mengjiu again. "Among the female groups, female singers with strong personality and good at dancing will attract more attention. For example … let me think, it's called FIN K. L. The leader of their group is very good."
"To get such a comment from you, she must be very good." Zheng Mengjiu still looked calm, which slightly disappointed Adriaan, who originally wanted to find out something.
"Don't rush into North America. This is my suggestion for K-pop. First take back the Asian market bit by bit from Japan, and after laying your foundation, think about the world," he finally said, and then ended the conversation about the entertainment industry.
So, which one will you choose?
After the reception, it was almost eleven o 'clock when they arrived at the hotel suite. Ivanka hadn't slept yet and was still busy with her laptop.
"I'm so happy to see you, Yini. I'm exhausted." Adriaan took off his coat, opened his collar with a smile, and walked over to kiss her.
With a snap, a book fell in front of him, and his lips kissed the book.
"Attending the reception already tired you. What about me, who has been collecting and comparing data?" Ivanka snorted without looking up, and then pulled back the book.
"You know, the reception has always been boring." Adriaan touched his mouth. "I miss you so much, miss you …"
With that, he smiled cheekily and hugged her, and his hands went straight to Ivanka's plump breasts. Unexpectedly, the little secretary immediately got up, and he missed.
"Don't forget!" Ivanka turned the laptop in front of him with a hint of pride.
"Oh, damn it." Adriaan sighed, looked at her unwillingly, and then stood up. "So, what's the conclusion?"
The little secretary, who was a little excited, immediately put away her smile, and then turned the laptop in front of her again. "According to the information collected during this time, and the comparative analysis of professionals, Samsung's electronic components are indeed top-notch in the industry. There are only a few companies that can compete with them. However, their problem is not small. They have too many industries, and if they can't focus their resources on the electronics industry, it will be easy for them to catch up. "
"Soon, they will adjust." Adriaan also became serious. He pondered for a moment and looked at the time. "Well, Claude should get up."
He then picked up the phone, walked to the door, and made a call. His purpose was also very simple: Standard!
At this moment, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Adriaan was a little surprised. He looked at Ivanka, and then walked to the door. "Who is it?"
"Um … We … are looking for Mr. Adrian Kewell." The voice was a little awkward, and it seemed that the English was not very good, and it was a woman's voice.
He frowned, looked outside through the peephole, and then was a little surprised. After hesitating for a few seconds, he opened the door. Standing outside were three young and somewhat timid and uneasy girls.
It was really … a big deal.
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