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

Chapter 90: Karma Entertainment's Valuation Exceeds One Trillion

The weekend after the premiere of "Goblin," the entire South Korean internet was abuzz with discussion about the show.

Of the top ten trending topics, six were related to "Goblin." Yoon Shi-yoon's "Goblin" topic remained on the trending list for two whole days, Chae Soo-bin's "Goblin's Bride" garnered over 20 million views, Kim Go-eun's "ghost acting" became a hot topic, and even Yoo In-na's fried chicken shop was repeatedly mentioned on social media.

When Kim Dong-wook compiled the data into a report and sent it to Su Yu's email, he added a sentence: "We may have underestimated the power of this drama."

Su Yu reviewed the report at the company. The first episode's viewership rating was 12.3%, rising to 13.8% for the second. The show had sold out, but three more sponsors had joined. The online streaming platform had surpassed ten million views in two days, and the comment section had over a hundred pages of messages. He put down the report, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes for a moment. Kim Dong-wook knocked and entered, placing a cup of coffee on the table.

"Guess what?" Kim Dong-wook's voice couldn't contain his excitement. "An investment company called and asked if we would accept external financing."

"I don't accept it."

"You didn't even ask about the conditions?"

"I won't accept it." Su Yu opened her eyes. "I have enough money."

Kim Dong-wook glanced at him but said nothing more. He knew Su Yu's rule—the money from Yinguo Entertainment didn't go into outsiders' pockets.

In the afternoon, Kim Eun-sook came in with the financial statements. Her expression was more serious than usual, but there was a glimmer in her eyes.

"Representative Su, based on the broadcast results of 'Goblin' and the company's current asset situation, I have commissioned a third party to conduct a valuation."

"How many?"

Kim Eun-sook placed the report on the table and turned to the last page.

"Twelve trillion won."

Su Yu stared at the number without speaking. Twelve trillion Korean won, which, at the exchange rate at the time, was approximately 1.1 billion US dollars. For an entertainment company established less than two years prior to achieving a market capitalization exceeding one billion US dollars, this speed was unprecedented in the Korean entertainment industry. Kim Eun-sook's voice was flat when she announced the number, but her hands were trembling slightly.

"What do you think?" Su Yu asked.

"It's overvalued," Kim Eun-sook said. "But the market is willing to pay this price. If we go public now, our market value can rise even further."

"No."

Kim Eun-sook nodded. "I know. So this is just an estimate."

Su Yu stood up, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette. The Han River shimmered in the sunlight outside, the Namsan Tower was clearly visible in the distance, and the buildings of Gangnam District stretched out densely. He thought of himself a year ago, living in a semi-basement, woken every night by the footsteps of the people upstairs.

Back then, his entire fortune consisted of just over a million US dollars that had leaked out through that crack. Now, his company is worth 1.2 trillion, and his shares are worth nearly a trillion. The numbers are so vast that he doesn't even feel them anymore.

Su Yu's phone vibrated. It was a message from Cai Xiubin: "What do you want to eat tonight?" Su Yu typed: "Ginseng chicken soup." Cai Xiubin replied: "Ginseng chicken soup again? I had it three times last week." Su Yu replied: "Then what do you want to eat?" Cai Xiubin replied: "Hot pot. That electric hot pot from last time hasn't been used in ages." Su Yu looked at that message, her lips twitched, and she typed three words: "Go buy some meat."

In the evening, Su Yu went to the supermarket to buy beef. Kim Dong-wook called to say that SBS wanted to add two more episodes, extending "Goblin" from sixteen to eighteen.

"No way." Su Yu stopped in front of the freezer, took a box of Korean beef, looked at the price, and put it in her shopping cart.

"Why? They're willing to pay more, an extra 200 million per episode."

"The script is set for a sixteen-episode run; if it drags on to eighteen, it'll fall apart." Su Yu pushed the shopping cart forward. "Money can be earned again, but reputation can't be ruined."

Kim Dong-wook was silent for two seconds. "You're right. I'll go and refuse them."

Su Yu hung up the phone, then grabbed two boxes of snowflake pork tenderloin and a box of pork belly, putting them in his shopping cart. He went to the vegetable section and bought enoki mushrooms, mushrooms, cabbage, tofu, and a bunch of chrysanthemum greens. After queuing for ten minutes to pay, the cashier glanced at his name but didn't recognize it when he swiped his card.

When Su Yu arrived home, Cai Xiubin had already prepared the pot. The electric hot pot was placed in the middle of the dining table, the broth bubbling and the aroma filling the entire living room. She was wearing that gray sweatshirt, her hair was casually tied back with a hair tie, and her face had a faint sheen of oil, but Su Yu thought she looked better than in any retouched photo.

"You bought so much?" Cai Xiubin took the shopping bag, saw the Korean beef inside, and asked, "How much is this box?"

"I didn't see it."

"You definitely saw it. You just won't tell me."

Su Yu didn't reply. Cai Xiubin placed the meat on the table, and Su Yu washed the vegetables. The two sat down. The soup in the pot boiled, and Cai Xiubin first cooked a slice of beef and put it in Su Yu's bowl.

"Here's the first one. You've worked hard."

Su Yu looked at her. "You've had a hard time."

Cai Xiubin laughed. "What's so hard about me? I'm the one filming, you're the one handling the company's affairs."

"Filming must be hard work for you."

Cai Xiubin paused for a moment, then lowered her head to pick up some food. "You're saying things like that again."

After the two ate for a while, Cai Xiubin put down his chopsticks and looked at Su Yu.

"Su Yu, I received a script today. It's for a movie, for the female lead."

Who posted this?

"An independent film director. He said he saw 'Goblin' and thought I was suitable." Chae Soo-bin picked up her phone and scrolled through it. "I read the script, it's very good. But I don't know whether to take the role."

Why?

"Because of you. I have to go to another city to film after accepting the job, and I won't see you for several months."

Su Yu put down her chopsticks. "Go ahead. A few months will pass quickly."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a few seconds. "Are you willing to do that?"

"I can't bear to part with it."

Cai Xiubin's eyes reddened slightly. "Then you'll let me go?"

"Because it's a good script. You'll regret missing it."

Cai Xiubin lowered her head and stirred the contents of her bowl with her chopsticks. After a few seconds, she looked up and smiled. "Then I'll take it. But you have to come visit the set."

"it is good."

"At least once a month."

"it is good."

Cai Xiubin held out her hand. "Pinky promise."

Su Yu looked at the little finger that Cai Xiubin extended, then reached out and tugged at it. Cai Xiubin's fingers were cool, but her grip was tight.

After finishing their hotpot, Su Yu washed the dishes, while Cai Xiubin sat on the sofa looking at her phone. She came across a news article and read it aloud: "'Yinguo Entertainment's valuation surpasses one trillion, a legendary journey for young representatives.' You're in the news, Su Yu."

Su Yu didn't speak.

"They portrayed you as incredibly successful. 'Twenty-three years old, a Chinese student, went from a semi-basement apartment to a billionaire.'" Cai Xiubin read a few sentences, paused, and continued, "They don't know how you did it."

Su Yu turned off the tap, dried her hands, and walked into the living room. "They don't need to know."

Cai Xiubin put down her phone and looked at him. "So how did you do that?"

Su Yu was silent for a few seconds. "Luck."

Cai Xiubin stared at him for a long time, then smiled. "Okay, luck. Anyway, I don't know anything about it." She patted the seat next to her, "Come sit down."

Su Yu sat down next to him, nestled into his arms, and closed her eyes.

"Su Yu".

"Um."

"Are you happy that the company is worth so much money?"

Su Yu thought for a moment. "It's alright."

"What does 'thankfully' mean?"

"It means there's enough money, but the work isn't finished."

Cai Xiubin opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "What else do you want to do?"

Su Yu gazed at the night view of the Han River outside the window. "Let Influence Entertainment become the largest entertainment company in South Korea."

Cai Xiubin paused for a moment, then laughed. "You're quite ambitious."

"It's not ambition," Su Yu said. "It's responsibility."

Cai Xiubin didn't understand, but she didn't ask again. She buried her face in his chest, listening to his heartbeat.