Chapter Seventy Scandals Abound

ight-colored clothing and white flat shoes instead of high heels. Her overall appearance was very elegant, showing both youthfulness and vivacity. Her clothes were all branded goods, not cheap, indica..."I don't know, it probably isn't true. I heard that Jin Hyun-jung is a pretty nice person in private."

Bian Bianxian smacked his lips and continued, his expression clearly unconvinced. He looked at Kim Jun-m yen beside him and asked, "Jun-myeon hyung isn't acquainted with Kim Hyun-joong and even had a meal with him before What do you think of him"

They were discussing the hottest topic in the peninsula entertainment circle these days, that once-popular male star Kim Hyun Joong was exposed by his girlfriend a few days ago for domestic violence scandal.

On August 22, Choi, claiming to be Kim Hyun-joong's ex-girlfriend, posted online allegations that Kim Hyun-joong had subjected her to repeated acts of violence from May to mid-July this year, resulting in multiple injuries and severe fractures for the woman.

To make her accusations more convincing, the woman also released photos of her injuries after being beaten, as well as medical reports from the hospital.

This message immediately drew widespread public attention and heated discussions on the peninsula upon release.

One is because celebrity domestic violence scandals are the kind of gossip that the most ordinary people like. The other reason is that Kim Hyun Joong is not just some unknown third-rate star. Although he hasn't been as popular in the last two years as before, around 2010, he was one of the hottest male idols.

He debuted in 2005 as the leader of the second-generation boy group SS501. The group was quite successful, and Kim Hyun Joong's popularity within the group was unmatched. He held over half of the group's total popularity, similar to how IU's Suzy carries most of the group's popularity today.

He transformed into an actor in 2009, and his first television drama "Boys Over Flowers" became an instant hit across Asia. His popularity soared, earning him the Baeksang Arts Award for Popularity that year. He received numerous advertising offers and was a hot topic at the time.

The same year, ss501 held an Asian tour, with excellent audience turnout and public response.

Later, due to the imbalance of popularity, many problems arose. Kim Hyun-joong went solo and transformed into an actor. In 2010, he starred in "Playful Kiss," which unexpectedly became a hit again, triggering another wave of enthusiasm across Asia. He completely expanded his fame and influence.

Looking at their resumes, it feels like Kim Hyun Joong is the embodiment of Ji Chang Wook right now. Both share similar career backgrounds and experiences. Their transformations into actors have also been remarkably successful. However, EXO's popularity can't be compared to SS501's. Ji Chang Wook also possesses a much greater musical talent than Kim Hyun Joong.

Over the past two years, Kim Hyun Joong has been a bit less active, but his popularity is still undeniable. As soon as this scandal broke, it immediately captured the attention of the entire nation, and fans in several other Asian countries are also paying close attention.

“I’ve had dinner with some friends and Kim Hyun Joong a couple of times before. He seems like a nice guy.”

Kim Jun-myeon recalled the scene and described it, but shook his head afterward: "But this kind of feeling at a drinking table isn't really helpful. Even if someone has a bad personality, they wouldn't show it in this situation, let alone something as private as domestic violence."

"Domestic violence..."

Ji Jingyuan looked at the pictures of injuries posted by the woman surnamed Cui on her phone, frowning and feeling a bit shocked. If the pictures were real, then the deep bruises wouldn't have been caused by a small amount of force.

After looking at some online reviews, he shrugged and said: "Whether it's true or not, the fact that it was exposed has already affected him."

"That's true, so these kinds of private matters need to be handled well. Once they are exposed, regardless of right or wrong, as an artist you've already lost."

Kim Jun-myeon nodded, sighing with a hint of emotion.

A few people continued to chat about this topic for a while, as if they had suddenly thought of something. Kim Jun-myeon looked at Park Chan-yeol and earnestly warned him, “Chan-yeol, you shouldn't cause this kind of news in the future, you have to handle your private affairs well.”

Park Chan-wook, as if insulted, immediately retorted with a frantic expression. His wide eyes looked at the other members innocently, "What are you guys talking about How could I possibly do something like that Do I look like a man who likes to abuse his family"

"It's not just domestic violence..." Kim Jun-myeon wanted to explain but gave up halfway through.

Since everyone has been together for so long, they all know each other well. Among all the members, Park Chan-wook is probably the one who plays the most in romantic relationships, and everyone just understands that about him.

But he, along with Ji-yeong, and Se Hun, because of this topic suddenly became interested and all looked at Park Chan-wook. Their eyes were like searchlights, staring at his face. When they made Park Chan-wook feel awkward and about to get flustered, the few people exchanged glances and lightly nodded their heads.

"Whether to say it or not, it really does look alike."

Indeed, the more I look, the more it resembles...

"Ach..."

…………

EXO's eleven members also flew to Xia Guo in the evening, and the concert the next day was also successfully held.

Besides two performances in Hong Kong that encountered some unforeseen circumstances, EXO's world tour has been going quite smoothly so far.

However, this time at the team reunion, Ji Jingyuan felt that the atmosphere within EXO was a bit different. The K-team side was fine, but the members on that side seemed a little awkward when interacting with each other, especially the two Chinese members.

Although the two of them weren't as withdrawn and silent as they were in the beginning, when Hna first left, they were able to participate in other people's conversations and even joke and banter with each other recently. However, Ji Jingyuan felt that things were different from before.

Whether it's the attitude of two people towards other members or the attitude of others towards the two of them, it's all the same.

But there's nothing we can do about it, just go with the flow.

Chi Jingyuan had been busy filming in Jordan recently, so he didn't have much energy to pay attention to the news and developments in the music scene on the Peninsula. After returning, he learned from the members' conversations that there were quite a few news stories these past few days.

Of course, Kim Hyun Joong's scandal was the most explosive, but there are also a few other eye-catching news stories.

Like the YG new boy group n.ne, who debuted on August 17th, only took four days after their debut, on the 21st of 《！》, they won the group's first place with their title song "Emptiness". This incredible short time shocked countless people in the music industry, and was directly dubbed "monster rookie" by many media outlets and fans. Their momentum after their debut is very strong.

When Pool Jingyuan saw this message, he was also taken aback. He recalled the scene when EXO won their first music show win, still remembering how the members were crying so hard backstage that they couldn't catch their breath. That scene was still fresh in his memory to this day, and there was even a certified photo from that day on his phone.

It's just that EXO took a year and two months to get their first music show win after debuting, compared to N.E.R.D.'s lightning-fast success, it's practically garbage.

It's truly a case of the younger generation pushing aside the older. Comparing them, Chi Jingyuan felt a strange sense of wonder in his heart.

Another recent hot news is that Lee Hyeri of Girls' Day suddenly became popular.

Girls' Day, who were on the verge of disbanding before their hit song "Something" earlier this year brought them back to prominence as one of the top girl groups. However, Lee Hyeri, a member of the group, hasn't particularly stood out.

But she recently rose to fame thanks to a clip from her recent appearance on "Real Men - Female Soldier Special" where she was seen acting cute and endearing towards her superiors. Her genuine and unpretentious performance on the show has also won over many viewers.

Her acting of being cute has been repeatedly watched online, and netizens call her "Textbook-level Cuteness". Lee Hyeri also received a new title "National Cutie Girl", these days, she has been topping the trending searches and hasn't come down. She is the hottest celebrity recently, and it is said that many advertising invitations have already been sent to their company, looking like a rising advertising queen.

Seeing the way this "National Darling" became popular, the speed at which it happened, and the incredible heat she generated, even Ji Kyeong-won was speechless.

The reality show "Real Men" actually has average ratings and doesn't usually generate much discussion. Who would have thought that an idol who wasn't particularly popular suddenly became a sensation after appearing on this program

You can only say that fortune-telling is really unpredictable. Some people are really born with a fiery destiny.

For example, just like Chi Jingyuan himself.

"Oppa, look at me, Oppa!"

"Yuan, could you please sign for me I've been here for days, and I really like you so much..."

"Yuan ah, salang hey you!"

I had just gotten to the front of COEX Mall when I was spotted by the fans who were already stationed here. It was early in the morning, before the shops even opened, and it was already bustling with activity.

After finishing the concert and returning from Xia Country, Ji Jingyuan immediately joined the set and started filming for "The Untamed." It's been almost a week now.

Unlike other dramas, uses on-location filming. All the settings of the oional company where the main characters work, including the office, meeting rooms, and even the cafeteria, were shot at Seoul Plaza. In particular, the 15th floor has become their most important shooting location.

This news can't be kept secret at all. As soon as word got out that Chi Jingyuan just joined the filming crew, fans of EXO and Yuan flocked to the set.

Seoul Square is a public place, although some filming locations like the 15th floor and rooftop have strict security to maintain order for fans. Fans can't enter these areas. However, levels B1 to 2 are shopping malls that are open for free viewing. Fans who want to meet Ji-won just need to find the right time and they'll have a good chance.

If I keep waiting here, I'm sure I'll have a chance to see him eventually.

Every day, whether it’s in the morning when he goes to work or in the evening when he gets off work, there are always many fans waiting at the door. When they see Chi Jingyuan, they are as excited as winning the lottery. Touched by the fans' enthusiasm, Chi Jingyuan sometimes signs autographs for a few people.

There are also some fans who may not have jobs or something like that. Chi Jingyuan felt that he had seen a lot of familiar faces over the past few days, and some fans just squat here waiting for him every day without doing anything else.

Now, the situation of fans gathering and squatting outside the Seoul Plaza to await their idol has been reported online by some media outlets, attracting considerable attention. Seeing this, people can't help but marvel at Park Seo-joon's natural popularity and high level of attention. At the same time, they are also developing an interest in "The Undying," which hasn't officially started promoting yet. As the male lead, the direct effect he is having is gradually becoming apparent.

"Jingyuan, why are you here so early today"

After expressing his gratitude and signing a few autographs, Chi Jingyuan walked into the shopping mall and took the elevator to the 15th floor. It had been transformed into a very professional office space, with documents piled on every desk. If someone didn't know any better, they would think it was the office of some company.

As soon as Chi Jingyuan entered, he greeted a few staff members. Li Xingmin, not far away, waved at him, signaling him to come over.

After the official start of filming, the several main actors who already had a good relationship got even closer. As a senior actor with extensive experience, Lee Sung-min was naturally the most respected one. He seemed to admire and have high hopes for Park Ji-won, and he was truly dedicated and meticulous about acting. Since Park Ji-won and he had many scenes together, whenever he had free time, Lee Sung-min would take him aside to rehearse their scenes in advance.

"I woke up a bit earlier today specifically hoping to be the first one here, but it seems my seniors are even more diligent. I'm truly ashamed." Ji Jingyuan smiled brightly at Li Xingmin and the several staff members beside him, smacking his lips and putting on an act of disappointment that he hadn't arrived first.

He spoke, shaking his head lightly and flicking his fringe to the side.

Because he had to shoot scenes early on, his hair was styled with textured side-swept bangs and a slightly bulky top. The relatively thick bangs hung over his eyebrows, making Chi Jingyuan, who hadn't had such long bangs for quite some time, feel a little uncomfortable. He kept shaking his head from side to side occasionally.

"Haha, you guys live further away, I live right here so of course I came earlier."

Li Xingmin laughed loudly, patted his shoulder, then took out today's shooting plan and script, and started directly: "Come on, it's early, let's go over the scenes we're filming today."

"Okay, I'll be right there." Ji Jingyuan smiled and nodded, walked to the side to put down his bag and prepared for a moment before walking over with the script and starting to rehearse with Li Xingmin.

Actually, Chi Jingyuan is quite happy about the senior actors often asking him to act opposite them. On one hand, it shows that his acting skills and attitude have been recognized by them. On the other hand, he can also gain a lot of help and inspiration in acting from them, at least making the daily shooting process much smoother.

The first few episodes of "Unborn" tell the story of Zhang Ke, who relied on his connections to enter an international trading company. Due to his high school education and lack of work experience, he stood out among his peers. Not only did he feel guilty and sad because he felt useless at work, but he was also ostracized by interns who disliked him. He was filled with frustration, like a tragicomedy.

But although he was frustrated, he still had his own persistence in his heart. The most important thing in these few episodes is that not only does 池景源 need to perform the helpless and ostracized state of the male protagonist's misery, but he also needs to show the subtle feeling of Zhang Ke who remains firm and hardworking despite encountering difficulties.

Because the production is an ensemble drama with many other actors who are also實力派 performers, portraying the male lead well requires not being overshadowed by them while simultaneously showcasing his own charm and highlights. It's quite a pressure to make the audience fall in love with this character.

Judging from the past few days, Ji Jingyuan has been doing well. Director Kim Yu-seok is very satisfied with his performance and has praised him in person more than once.

However, for Chi Jingyuan, it wasn't quite enough. To truly shine in this workplace drama, especially without being overshadowed by Li Xingmin, and even surpassing him to showcase Zhang Ke's unique charm, he felt he needed to do better.

Guess I just have to keep trying.

…………

Because of the weather, the nanny car was driving slowly on the road. The rain outside was heavier than before. Even with the headlights on for safety, they seemed a little inadequate in the darkness.

Today is September 3rd. Ji Jingyuan just finished a brand promotion event in Incheon and had a late-night snack. It's already past midnight, though it's late and raining all day. However, he still has to rush back to Seoul tonight for the morning TV drama shoot tomorrow.

However, it's okay because the two places are very close. It takes less than an hour to drive there, and even if you drive slower in the rain, it won't be too late.

Assistant Choi Ji-chang was driving, Park Bo-gum was in the passenger seat, and Lee Jae-won was sitting in the back of the nanny car, watching the rain hitting the rear window like arrows while discussing the latest shocking scandal with the two people in front.

"I never expected this, you know Song Hye Kyo used to be my goddess. "Blue Life and Death," "All In," "Full House"—I was totally obsessed with her back then. I never thought she'd end up in trouble like this."

Assistant Cui Zhichang sounded a bit wistful, it seemed he had been feeling melancholic for quite some time over his former goddess.

"No, this is from what TV drama Early 20th century" Ji Jingyuan chuckled, glancing at the driver helplessly.

South Korean actress Song Hye-kyo, a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, has recently been embroiled in a tax evasion scandal. According to a report by tv Chosun, a comprehensive cable channel, Song Hye-kyo allegedly evaded over 2 billion won in taxes between 2009 and 2011 by employing various methods to falsely declare her income. The report further alleges that the Gangnam Tax Office and her agency were involved in a conspiracy of concealment and mutual benefit, downplaying the severity of the situation.

For a time, the entire peninsula was plunged into shock and uproar.

This is Song Hye Kyo, the goddess of Korean Wave that many people have in their minds. She has a very high influence throughout Asia and is one of the most well-known actresses on the peninsula.

After the scandal broke, Song Hye-kyo and her agency also responded quickly, stating that this was already two years old news. Song Hye-kyo's tax filing has always been handled by a third-party tax agency, and she was unaware of the problems and loopholes that arose. At the same time, she has already paid an additional 3.8 billion won in taxes after the incident occurred.

However, this official response of shifting blame did not have any effect. After it was confirmed to be true, Song Hye-kyo faced a massive backlash. Online, she was scolded relentlessly, just like Red Velvet. The former advertising queen has recently been dropped by numerous brands. It's unknown how much she has to pay in breach of contract fees alone, and she is completely stressed out.

Hearing Ji-Won's words, Choi Ji-Chang said with a hint of reminiscence: "Ji-Won, you were probably too young at the time to have experienced it, but the dramas that Song Hye Kyo starred in had a profound impact on people our age. But back then..."

He rambled on for a while about his past feelings for Song Hye Kyo. Although he spoke incoherently, it was clear that he had truly loved her.

"Oh, I felt sorry for him even though he knew he was in the wrong when I saw his apology at the movie premiere the other day."

This period of time Song Hye Kyo is filming the movie "My Unsettled Life", just two days ago also held a film press conference, but this press conference unexpectedly turned into Song Hye Kyo's apology conference. At the press conference, she wore a black dress and sincerely bowed, repeatedly apologizing to the public.

But a few apologies weren't enough to gain the public's forgiveness. After it ended, some people even launched a petition demanding that all of Song Hye Kyo's advertisements be removed and that no one wanted to see her anymore.

Hearing this, Chi Jingyuan nodded in understanding: "Brother, I believe you were once her fan."

"Actually, tax evasion, or let's say tax avoidance, is quite common in the industry, especially in the film and television sector. There are some agencies that specialize in this, and basically both actors and management companies are aware of it. Especially among those top-tier middle-aged actors, many engage in such practices."

At this time, Park Jae-hyun spoke up, sharing his insights. Having entered the industry as an agent, he had thrived and gained a deep understanding of it. He had also heard some insider information from others: "I feel like someone is deliberately targeting her. After all, it happened two years ago, and she paid her taxes back then. Now that it's suddenly being brought up again, someone must have planned this specifically. I guess she either offended someone or got in the way of someone's path."

After analyzing everything, he smirked and added: "But it's mostly her own problem, after all, she did break the law."

Ji Jingyuan also nodded in agreement, then suddenly remembered something. He raised his head and looked at the rearview mirror: "By the way, Xian Ge, I seem to have heard that Song Hye Kyo's reputation isn't very good in the industry"

"It's just so-so, I guess. The most reliable information I have is that she has a very colorful dating history. Apparently, she gets involved with the male lead every time she films a movie, and they break up shortly after filming ends."

Puk Jae-hyun nodded, then understood. Through the rearview mirror, he smiled at Ji Kyung-won: "Ji Kyung-won, did you hear some gossip"

Looking in the rearview mirror, Ji Chang Wook nodded at the point. He shook his head and smiled exaggeratedly: “Song Hye Kyo does have quite a few rumors that aren't very good, but they are all unfounded things, and no one knows if they are true or false. This kind of rumor basically every artist has, just like you weren't also online rumored to say that you deliberately used means to forcibly squeeze out Lee Min Ho and even publicly mocked him in this ridiculous rumors”

"But... is this a rumor It sounds right though." Ji Jingyuan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and said, "The front part is true, but the back part is made up. But overall, it's not really a rumor, it should be considered... artistic processing, perhaps"

"In that case, then Song Hye Kyo xi is also..." Ji-won made a comparison to himself and winked at Park Jae-hyun.

“I don't know if it's true or not, but if you're so interested in her, I could ask someone to get her number for you. With your skills, you'll surely be able to see the real Song Hye-kyo.” Park Jae-hyun glared at him impatiently.

"Ani, it's alright." Chi Jingyuan waved his hands repeatedly and leaned back in his chair, showing that he had no interest.

He doesn't seem to feel much for all the pretty female idols around him, so how could he be interested in Song Hye Kyo who is over a decade older than him.

And to be honest, I don't really get what the other person's looks and figure are about.

The recent scandals have given them plenty to talk about. After chatting merrily for a while, the car drove off the highway.

"The rain was coming down pretty hard. Park Jae-hyeon looked out the window, then turned to Choi Ji-chang and said, "Drive a little slower, don't rush."

"Alright, I understand, brother," Cui Zhichang nodded. By this point, they were already going at a pretty slow pace; anyway, they were almost at their destination and didn't need to rush. Safety always came first.

Chi Jingyuan sat in the back row playing with his phone and browsing through netizens' comments.

Someone posted a thread specifically to attack Song Hye Kyo.

Clicking on it reveals photos of Song Hye Kyo and some male actors who have worked with her or been rumored to be dating her.

The title is 'Common Ground', and there are also some photos of these male actors looking surprised, they seem to be very surprised too.

Looking at the pool scenery, Ji Jingyuan laughed non-stop and started making up insults about black people. These people are truly a talented bunch one by one.

Seeing this, Chi Jingyuan raised his head and was about to ask another question:

"That's right, brother…"

Just as the words left his mouth, a deafening roar erupted from behind. The entire nanny van was hit by a powerful force, and Ji Jingyuan felt his body lurch violently forward. He instinctively used his hand to block, slowing down the impact, but his head still slammed against the backrest in front of him. Suddenly, he felt lightheaded.

Immediately following was the screech of brakes and the angry shouts of Choi Ji-chang and Park In-hyeon from the front, echoing in his ears. He could only barely make out their voices because his mind was a bit muddled.

First published on the Chinese novel websiteIU, there are quite a few other people who have already received and replied to the greetings for the day. As this moment, he is actually chatting with someone else...After sending a few emojis, Ji Ji...