“Last year, Jeon Do-yeon won Best Actress at Cannes, and it was like an earthquake hit Korea—even the president was alarmed. And you, at the same time, won world-class awards in several fields…” Sophie Carter pursed her lips and smiled, “And you’re a Harvard PhD! Do you know what a PhD means in the hearts of Koreans? My popularity in Korea is high, and my Seoul National University degree adds at least half the points, but your Harvard PhD…”

“Ah, come on! My PhD isn’t worth that much, okay?” Brian Bennett said, clutching his head in anguish. “Do you really think American professors are invincible? Throw ten million dollars at them and the PhD just falls into your lap—the thesis was written by my advisor!”

“Pfft… serves you right!” Sophie Carter burst out laughing. “Even so, do you realize what kind of effect your interview statements had? Giving up opportunities in America and resolutely returning to support your motherland—just that alone would make you famous even if you looked like a pig, let alone being this handsome…”

Brian Bennett patted his forehead. “This is trouble. Lee Myung-bak will definitely use this as a chance to show off. I’ll have a lot of explaining to do when I get home… How was I supposed to know Koreans are so thin-skinned? If this were in China, you’d be embarrassed to go out if you didn’t say something patriotic a hundred times a day…”

Sophie Carter blinked in confusion. “What does ‘棒子’ mean?”

“Oh, it’s that thing you enjoyed so much last night.”

“Pervert!”

“So… are you hungry now? I’ll make you some noodles…”

“……” Sophie Carter grabbed a throw pillow and tossed it at him.

The two of them horsed around for a while. Sophie Carter was starving, but in the end, she didn’t get to eat the noodles. She struggled to get up. After an hour of makeup, the two of them dressed up like secret agents and went out to eat.

Brian Bennett had never imagined there would come a day when he’d need to cover his face just to go outside, but reason told him that the number of paying fans had already soared to 150,000, which was no joke. There were at least 500,000 casual fans who weren’t willing to pay, and that number seemed to have left most celebrities in the dust in just a single day. Plus, with the national goddess Ms. Carter on his arm, if they didn’t cover their faces, they’d never make it to the restaurant.

They ordered a few Chinese dishes at random, but even after the food arrived, Brian Bennett still looked upset. Seeing his gloomy expression, Sophie Carter stuck out her tongue. Actually, there were some behind-the-scenes stories to this whole hot topic, and she had played a part in it, but now was clearly not the time to mention it.

After a few bites, Brian Bennett calmed down a bit and finally remembered the main thing: “You shouldn’t start your own agency. I bought LOEN, so come join me.”

“Oh.” Sophie Carter didn’t ask why he bought a distribution company; she instinctively felt it was part of the An family’s plan. Even if it had nothing to do with the An family, if Brian Bennett’s company wanted her to join, what was there to consider?

Brian Bennett thought for a moment. “That Emily Parker… if she’s willing, have her come too. No one would dare touch her under my protection.”

Sophie Carter nodded. It looked like Brian Bennett was serious about developing LOEN. Otherwise, something he couldn’t be bothered with last night, he suddenly took on today—obviously to get Emily Parker as a marquee name.

With her, Sophie Carter, and then Emily Parker, and with the president being the currently red-hot Brian Bennett, even if LOEN started as a blank slate, it could instantly become a masterpiece. Not to mention the An family’s terrifying resource network—if it got going… Sophie Carter could already foresee an earthquake coming to the Korean entertainment industry.

Brian Bennett didn’t hide anything and briefly told her about the brothers’ plans for developing in the entertainment industry. He never doubted Sophie Carter’s intelligence and ability; in these matters, Sophie Carter could often offer very useful insights. But before they could discuss much, Brian Bennett’s phone suddenly rang.

Seeing an unfamiliar number on the screen, Brian Bennett was a bit surprised. His phone was no ordinary mass-market model, and the number was specially encrypted—you couldn’t find it even if you searched the Korean Telecom database. The only way someone could call was if they got the number directly from the An family.

He answered. The caller clearly knew this was a bit presumptuous, so he introduced himself at lightning speed: “Hello, Young Master An, this is Lauren Carter from SM.”

Chapter 5: The Girl in the Black Sea

Lauren Carter… Brian Bennett sat up straight. If LOEN wanted to break into the music industry, SM was a mountain that couldn’t be avoided, and this Lauren Carter was the current president of SM. Although people always thought Lee Soo-man was far more influential at SM than Lauren Carter, from a political perspective, as the link between SM and Kim Dae-jung, Lauren Carter was someone the An family had to pay attention to—even though Kim Dae-jung had long since stepped down and would be gone by next year, the party’s mark still remained.

In fact, no matter which party came to power, they had to get on good terms with the An family first. To put it bluntly, Lauren Carter was an even smaller player than an ant, but from the An family’s perspective, people with political connections were always valued more than pure businessmen. That’s why Lauren Carter was able to get Brian Bennett’s number, though who knows what price he paid.