Peninsula: The sharp-tongued producer is forced to work.

Chapter 15 When will these ancestors ever stop?!

The atmosphere today is even more lively than a vegetable market.

The production team responsible for filming behind-the-scenes footage of IZ*ONE had already set up three cameras in a corner, with red recording lights flashing silently.

However, filming is currently at a standstill, and the scene has descended into uncontrollable chaos, even exuding a sense of absurdity reminiscent of a sitcom.

The root of all the blame lies with the black mask on Liu Yu's face.

Today, his image as an elite producer, capable of making fans scream, was completely ruined by a tightly fitted black mask.

"Uncle! We're filming behind-the-scenes footage! With you wearing a mask, the audience might think our company hired a dentist to record our audio!"

Ahn Yu-jin always seemed to have an abundance of energy, her hands resting on the edge of the control panel, with most of her body leaning over it.

"Ahn Yu-jin, if your eyesight hasn't deteriorated to the point where you need a guide dog, you should be able to see that the machine is filming you, not me."

Liu Yu sat firmly in his swivel chair, not even glancing at her. "Also, dentists earn much more per hour than I do. Please don't insult the sacred profession of dentistry."

"I don't believe it!" Ahn Yu-jin's eyes darted around, and suddenly she stumbled, pretending to fall flat on her face. Her hands accurately reached for Liu Yu's mask. "Oops, I fell!"

With a blank expression, Liu Yu stomped his foot hard, and the extremely smooth wheels at the bottom of the swivel chair made a screeching sound. He and the chair slid backward half a meter in an instant.

With a muffled thud, Ahn Yoo-jin missed her target and slammed her hands directly onto the cold control panel, wincing in pain.

"Is this guy really not a retired athlete?!" Ahn Yoo-jin rubbed her wrist and glared at him resentfully.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, Professor Liu Yu!" Quan Enbi rushed forward and grabbed Ahn Yoo-jin's head, the two bowing deeply at a ninety-degree angle. "This child didn't take her medicine this morning, I'm so sorry for the trouble!"

"Captain Quan, if you keep bending over like that, I suggest you make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor in advance," Liu Yu said coldly as he slid back to the front of the stage.

With Ahn Yoo-jin defeated, Choi Ye-na immediately took over. She hopped over to Yoo Yu and magically pulled a strawberry-flavored lollipop from her pocket, waving it in front of Yoo Yu's eyes.

"Liu Yu-xi~ How about we make a bet?" Choi Ye-na smiled brightly. "If I can hit that high note on the first try today, you can take off your mask and cooperate with us for three minutes of behind-the-scenes footage. If I can't, this lollipop is yours! It's a sure-fire deal!"

Liu Yu finally raised his eyelids and looked at her for two seconds with the kind of look one would give someone who is mentally challenged.

"Choi Ye-na-ssi".

"Inside!"

"Do you think my dignity as a producer is only worth a 500 won lollipop on sale at a convenience store?" Liu Yu pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone icy. "It should at least be an imported product worth 1,000 won."

Choi Ye-na's smile froze; she had racked her brains to the extreme but hadn't expected him to point out this.

"I'm so sorry, Professor Liu Yu! I'm so sorry!" Quan Enbi appeared out of nowhere again, pulling Cui Yena behind her and giving a practiced 90-degree bow. "This child's excessive sugar intake has caused brain hypoxia. We can get back to work right away!"

After getting up, Kwon Eunbi secretly rubbed her lower back.

It's really about to break down. When will these ancestors ever stop?

The mischievous trio's offensive wasn't over. Kim Chae-won elegantly tidied her hair and walked lightly to Liu Yu's side.

"Teacher Liu Yu, are you wearing a mask today to hide the fact that you didn't have time to brush your teeth this morning? If so, it's really a burden for us." Kim Chae-won used the most standard and polite language to utter the most sarcastic sentence.

The air in the recording studio fell silent for a second.

Liu Yu was not angry at all; instead, he gave her an admiring look through his glasses.

He responded slowly with the same respectful tone, "Kim Chae-won-ssi, your observation skills are truly admirable. However, there is another important reason why I wear a mask: this high-quality non-woven fabric can filter out the puppy-like panting sounds some people make when they breathe. This plays a very important role in protecting my hearing."

Kim Chae-won's fake smile instantly cracked, his back teeth grinding together, and he was about to blurt out a curse.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" Kwon Eunbi bowed for the third time, this time her voice trembling with despair. "Chae-won... she was just a little gossipy, please forgive her!"

Zhang Yuanying sat quietly on a high stool in the corner, watching this scene unfold.

What a noisy bunch of stupid women.

But the way the uncle was desperately protecting his mask was actually kind of cute.

Just as Consort Quan was bowing frantically and Liu Yu was debating with the scholars, the behind-the-scenes director couldn't resist any longer and cautiously stepped forward.

"Um... Liu Yuxi, actually, your look today is perfect. For the sake of our behind-the-scenes footage's ratings and buzz, why don't you reluctantly take off your mask for just a moment?"

Liu Yu turned his head, his cold gaze sweeping over the director. "Director, Article 32 of my employment contract with Representative Cui clearly stipulates that I am only responsible for providing technical services such as sound editing and recording, and does not include selling my body."

He pointed to the mask on his face with his finger: "This is my true form. If I take it off, my mixing skills will drop by 80%. If you're willing to bear the losses caused by the delay, I can eat it right now."

The director was speechless after being confronted and silently retreated behind the camera.

Kwon Eun-bi finally couldn't bear it any longer. She suddenly straightened up, turned around, and a terrifying murderous aura burst from her eyes.

"Ahn Yu-jin! Choi Ye-na! Kim Chae-won!" She lowered her voice, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth, "Now, immediately, get into the recording studio and stand still! If you dare utter another word, your midnight snacks are canceled, and everyone will have to do an extra hour of physical training!"

The mischievous trio instantly cowered and scurried away like three quails behind the soundproof glass of the recording studio.

Liu Yu pressed the call button with satisfaction and adjusted the microphone: "Wouldn't it have been better if we had done it this way earlier? First group, get ready."

……

The atmosphere in (G) I-DLE's waiting room was the complete opposite of the cheerful atmosphere in the recording studio. Tian Xiaojuan sat in front of the dressing table, clutching her phone, the screen of which she had turned on and off countless times.

Her legs were trembling restlessly, and her eyes were filled with anxiety, like those of a little fox about to bite.

"Big Tree Sister, you can keep looking at your phone screen and it won't make any leaves grow." Song Yuqi leaned back on the sofa, peeling an orange in her hand, and casually complained, "Our trip still has a full three hours to go. Even if you were so anxious that you grew wings and flew over, those little devils would have already seen everything they wanted to see."

"What do you know!" Tian Xiaojuan turned her head sharply, gritting her teeth as she said, "That idiot Liu Yu has no idea how attractive his outfit is! Those kids from IZ*ONE are all like wolves. What if they take advantage of him under the guise of filming behind-the-scenes footage?"

"Xiao Juan, do you have some misunderstanding about him?" Zhao Meiyan, who was touching up her makeup, couldn't help but interject. "With his iron will, do you expect him to let someone take advantage of him? I think he'd be lucky if he didn't make some girl cry."

"That was before!" Tian Xiaojuan rubbed her hair in frustration. "It's different now! He's not wearing those awful black-rimmed glasses today! He's showing his forehead! Didn't you know!"

Song Yuqi popped a segment of orange into her mouth and rolled her eyes: "I know, I know, your precious tree is showing its forehead. So what? Are you planning to be this distracted during the recording later? Be careful you don't get scolded by your manager after you go offstage."

Tian Xiaojuan took a deep breath to forcefully suppress the anxiety in her heart, but the murderous intent in her eyes could not be hidden.

She stared at herself in the mirror and made a silent vow in her heart.

As soon as my trip is over, I'll head over there! If anyone dares to touch my trees, I'll uproot their entire forest!

Liu Yu, you just wait!