Managing the Korean entertainment industry: I have superpowers, but I won't say.

Chapter 117 Shirley Gets Slandered

Sulli's "That Person" topped the charts for two consecutive weeks, and then the scandals started.

First, an anonymous post claimed that her song plagiarized an obscure English song. The post included an audio comparison; the two songs did indeed have a similar melody, but anyone familiar with music could tell it was a common chord progression. Netizens ignored this, and "Sulli plagiarism" became a trending topic.

The next day, someone else revealed that Sulli hadn't used her own voice in the recording studio and had hired a ghostwriter. The person who made the accusation claimed to be a "recording engineer" and posted several blurry photos of the recording studio, in which there was a figure from behind, but the face was not clearly visible.

Kim Dong-wook saw the trending topic in the morning and rushed into Su Yu's office. "Did you see about Sulli's situation?"

Su Yu was looking at the documents and didn't even look up. "I saw it."

"What should we do?"

"First, find the source. Who posted the message? Who took the photos?"

Kim Dong-wook nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute. Where's Sherry?"

"She's in her dorm. Choi Min-soo went to see her; she wasn't feeling well."

Su Yu picked up his phone and called Shirley. It rang three times before she answered. Shirley's voice was very soft, as if she hadn't woken up yet.

"Are you alright?" Su Yu asked.

"good."

"Have you seen the news?"

"I've seen it."

"Stop looking. Leave it to me."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. "Su Yu, I didn't plagiarize, and I didn't use a ghostwriter. Do you believe me?"

"letter."

Shirley's voice trembled slightly. "Okay."

Su Yu hung up the phone and began making arrangements.

Kim Dong-wook spent the whole morning investigating and finally located the poster's IP address. Tracing it further, he discovered it was a former SM Entertainment employee surnamed Lee, who had previously worked as an assistant in the recording studio. He had photos of Sulli recording, but those photos actually proved that Sulli was recording herself. The audio comparison part was fabricated by someone he had hired.

After listening to Jin Dongxu's report, Su Yu said, "The evidence is ready. We'll hold a press conference this afternoon."

"You're opening it yourself?"

"I will do it myself."

At 3 PM, the press conference for Yinguo Entertainment was held in the company's lobby on the first floor. More than twenty reporters were there, their cameras and microphones pointed at the podium. Su Yu, dressed in a black suit, stood on the stage with a microphone in front of him.

Regarding the rumors of Sulli's plagiarism and ghostwriting, Yinuo Entertainment issues the following statement.

He glanced at the manuscript, then put it down and spoke directly.

"First, Sulli did not plagiarize. The so-called similar melodies are common chord progressions that have appeared in countless songs. I have already consulted a professional music copyright lawyer for an assessment, which will be released later."

"Secondly, Sulli did not use a substitute singer. The figure in the studio photo is her from behind. We recorded the entire process, from when she entered the studio until the last song was recorded, every minute was recorded."

"Third, we have identified the person spreading the rumors as a former employee of SM Entertainment. He will face legal consequences."

A reporter raised their hand to ask a question. "Representative Su, will you sue those who spread rumors?"

"meeting."

"How is Shirley doing now?"

Su Yu looked at the camera. "She's fine. She's preparing for her next song."

The press conference ended in less than ten minutes. Su Yu stepped off the stage, with Kim Dong-wook following behind. "That short?"

"That's enough. If you say too much, they'll just write nonsense."

Kim Dong-wook didn't ask any more questions.

That evening, Yin Guo Entertainment's official website released the music copyright assessment report and a full video of Sulli's recording. In the video, Sulli stood in front of the microphone, singing "That Person." When she reached the chorus, her voice was a little hoarse, and the producer said, "Take a break," to which she replied, "No need, let's do it again."

The comments section below the video exploded. "Hate-mongers, apologize!" "Sulli is so pitiful!" "The person who spread the rumors should go to jail!" The trending topic changed from "Sulli plagiarism" to "Sulli, fighting!" Park Jiyeon reposted the video with a fist emoji. Kim Go-eun also reposted it with a heart emoji. Chae Soo-bin didn't repost; she sent Sulli a private message.

"Unnie, you sang very well."

After a long pause, Shirley replied with a single word: "Mm."

That evening, Su Yu received a message from Shirley. It contained only one sentence: "Thank you."

Su Yu replied, "No need to thank me. You're from the company."

Shirley didn't send any more messages. Su Yu put down his phone and leaned back in his chair. Cai Xiubin came out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of cut fruit, and placed it in front of him.

"Resolved?"

"Um."

"How is Shirley?"

"It should be alright."

Cai Xiubin sat down next to him, forked a piece of apple, and held it to his lips. Su Yu ate it, chewing it twice.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"You said at the press conference that 'she's fine,' is that true?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "She'll be alright."

Cai Xiubin looked at him and didn't ask any more questions.

The next day, Li, who had spread the rumors, was summoned by the police. Lawyers from Yinguo Entertainment followed the entire process, filing charges including defamation and copyright infringement. Li was surrounded by reporters outside the police station; he covered his face with his bag and didn't say a word. Kim Dong-wook took a photo and posted it to the company group chat. "That's a wrap," Choi Min-soo replied with a thumbs-up, and Kim Eun-sook returned a like. Sulli didn't speak, but she sent a message to Su Yu.

"Su Yu, I want to go back to the company to record."

"When?"

"tomorrow."

"it is good."

The next afternoon, Sulli appeared at the company. She was wearing a black hoodie, had no makeup on, and her hair was tied up. Kim Dong-wook saw her in the hallway and said, "You've lost weight." Sulli smiled. "No, I haven't lost weight. It's just that I'm tanned." She pushed open the door to Su Yu's office; Su Yu was looking at documents.

"You're here?"

"Um."

"The recording studio is ready. You can go in anytime."

Shirley stood at the door, not coming in. "Su Yu."

"Um."

"Why didn't you tell me about your press conference that day?"

Su Yu put down the documents. "I'm telling you, you'll be nervous."

Shirley stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled. "You seem to know me quite well." She turned and walked away. Her footsteps were soft in the corridor, fading into the distance.

That evening, Su Yu returned home. Cai Xiubin was on the sofa reading a script—the English script for the co-production A24—which she was still practicing. Seeing Su Yu come in, she put the script down.

"Shirley's at the company?"

"Um."

"How is she?"

"It looks alright."

Cai Xiubin nodded. "That's good."

Su Yu changed his shoes and sat down next to her. Cai Xiubin leaned closer and handed him the script. "Can you listen to this part for me?" Su Yu took it and read it aloud. Cai Xiubin followed along, his pronunciation much more accurate than before.

"You've made progress," Su Yu said.

Cai Xiubin smiled. "It's rare for you to praise me."

Su Yu didn't reply. Cai Xiubin leaned on his shoulder and closed her eyes. A few ice cubes fell from the ice maker in the kitchen refrigerator with a soft clatter. She heard the sound and her lips curved into a smile.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Would you help me like this next time someone badmouths me?"

"Won't."

Cai Xiubin opened her eyes. "Why?"

"Because no one will criticize you."

Cai Xiubin paused for a moment, then smiled. "You seem to have a lot of faith in me."

Su Yu looked down at her. "It's not that I have confidence in you. It's that I have confidence in myself. I won't let that kind of thing happen."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds, then buried her face in his chest. The night view of the Han River outside the window was quietly lit. Su Yu ignored all that, focusing only on the person in his arms.