Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 542: Advertisement Cancellation Issue (1)

"14.7%? Did we really win? Yes!"

While the second preview for Queen Jeong-Hee pulled in 14.5%, Hwaranjeon achieved a higher 14.7%, beating it by 0.2%.

At that moment, the staff who had been holding their breath burst into cheers.

"Seriously, Mrs. Oh! Your expression was so grim that you scared us for no reason!"

"Right? I thought we lost too."

"Sigh~ Next time, tell us our viewership ratings first. My heart nearly dropped."

Oh Bok-Hee relaxed her expression and looked around as she replied. "Sorry~ I just couldn't believe it. Anyway, great job, everyone! You worked so hard the last two days. Should we grab a drink tonight to celebrate? Hm?"

The staff shook their heads. They had barely slept, working on the preview under intense pressure for the past two days. Also, it was already past 11:10 p.m.

"Forget the drinks. Let's just sleep. I've been up all night since yesterday and I'm so dizzy I can't take it."

"Same here. I feel like I might end up in the hospital."

"Mrs. Oh, your dark circles are no joke right now. Don't try to be a hero. Just go get some sleep, okay?"

Oh Bok-Hee forced her drowsy eyes open and responded. "Okay, okay. Let's rest for now. Tomorrow evening, I'll talk to the CP and treat everyone properly. Alright, then everyone take the morning off and I'll see you in the afternoon! Dismissed!"

As soon as Oh Bok-Hee gave the dismissal, the staff let out more cheers and quickly began packing up. The actors and talent agents at the scene joined the cheers and started calling entertainment reporters to share the day's events.

At that moment, Oh Bok-Hee gestured for me to come over. As I approached her, she couldn't hide her excitement. "Mr. Jung, I really owe you these past two days. You were a huge help."

She also knew that the viewership ratings turnaround was thanks to Division Jung's actors and singers who had just appeared on Kang Ha-Na's MeTube channel to actively promote the show.

I answered, "Not at all. This was a great promotional opportunity for us too."

With Hwaranjeon already creating buzz from the preview, Seo Yeon-Woo's newly released song 'Hwayeonga' had climbed to number two on the charts, and Sae-Ri's 'Firefly Bridge' was sitting at number three.

"Come on~ Things wouldn't have gone this well if you hadn't coordinated everything, Mr. Jung. Anyway, thank you for this. If you ever need a role filled, just let me know. I'll get you in right away."

It was a pretty generous reward for winning a two-day viewership ratings war. With a fluttering heart, I bowed deeply. "Thank you."

"There's no need to thank me. Oh, right. You're heading back to Seoul now, right?"

"Yes. I think I'll be able to return to the set by tomorrow evening."

I needed to head to Seoul with Yoo-Jin to finalize the tentative ad contract with Galactica.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Yes, Mrs. Oh."

After saying goodbye to Oh Bok-Hee, whose dark circles now reached her chin, I walked toward the waiting tent with Yoo-Jin.

Yoo-Jin seemed giddy from the ratings win, skipping on tiptoe and humming. "Heehee~ Oppa, doesn't this drama feel like a lucky one for us?"

"Are you really that happy?"

"Of course I am~."

Seeing Yoo-Jin's smiling eyes, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

At that moment, my phone vibrated.

Buzz.

Thinking it might be a reporter, I checked the screen. However, an unexpected name popped up on the display.

[Caller ID: Executive Director Kim Cheon-Seok, Seven Star Electronics]

It was the advertiser I had a meeting scheduled with tomorrow.

"Yoo-Jin. Give me one sec, it's Mr. Kim."

"Oh, okay. Then I'll get Miso ready in the meantime." frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"Okay."

Yoo-Jin trotted toward the tent, and I took the opportunity to answer Kim Cheon-Seok's call.

"Yes, sir."

-I saw the preview today. It was really well made.

Kim Cheon-Seok praised both previews from yesterday and today, saying he was looking forward to the premiere next week.

"Thank you."

-No, I should be the one thanking you. Even though it's just a preview, you still beat KBC in viewership ratings.

As expected of an advertiser, he was most concerned about how it fared against competing broadcasts.

Just as I was about to say that winning was a given, I heard a soft Korean ballad playing in the background. Listening closely, I realized it was Seo Yeon-Woo's 'Hwayeonga,' which had just climbed the charts.

"Are you in Korea right now?"

-Yes. My business trip ended a bit early, so I came back this morning. I stopped by the Daegu branch and now I'm having a drink with Vice President Gu Jin-Oh. Oh right, since the shoot's in Gyeongju, could we see Miss Yoo-Jin for a moment? Mr. Gu was hoping to, if possible.

Daegu was just over an hour from Gyeongju. Since we would have to pass through Daegu anyway to head to Seoul, it wasn't out of the way. Nevertheless, I couldn't take Yoo-Jin to a drinking spot right before the premiere as a single photo could spark rumors.

"I'm sorry, sir. Yoo-Jin is with Miso right now, so it wouldn't be appropriate for her to go to a bar. If it's alright, could I come alone instead?"

Kim Cheon-Seok quickly apologized.

-Oh, she's with Miso. I didn't realize. My apologies. Then yes, let's meet.

"Could you send me the address then? I'll head over now."

-It's SOUL bar on the 3rd floor of the K Hotel in Daegu. It's not shady, so there's no need to worry.

Kim Cheon-Seok reassured me it wasn't some kind of lounge. That probably explained why he thought of inviting Yoo-Jin.

"Got it. I'll see you soon."

Right as I ended the call, my phone buzzed again. Thinking Kim Cheon-Seok might have forgotten something, I checked the screen.

But the vibration wasn't from another call—it was a new schedule entry notification.

[Notification: January 8, 202. New schedule entry for Jung Yoo-Jin has been registered.]

January 8 was tomorrow. When I quickly checked the schedule entry, I was left dumbfounded.

[Everyday V12.1]

[Date: January 8, 2021]

-1:00 p.m. [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Galactica ad main contract canceled.

'Canceled?'

We currently had a tentative agreement with Galactica, and the official contract was supposed to be signed tomorrow. However, Everyday was saying the final deal would fall through. It was just like before the regression.

'What the hell is going on?'

Before the regression, Kim Cheon-Seok had been forced to resign because of Director Yang Gyu-Dong's scheme. Back then, Yang Gyu-Dong and Oh Joo-Hyun colluded to release photos that made it look like Kim Cheon-Seok was having an affair. That was why I had discreetly warned Kim Cheon-Seok when he first visited Hoop Entertainment.

Thanks to that, the schedule entry predicting his dismissal had disappeared. But if this ad contract wasn't going through like before, it meant something serious was happening again. Maybe Kim Cheon-Seok was going to be ousted this time too.

'Whatever it is, I have to stop it.'

Feeling the urgency, I grabbed my phone and headed back to the waiting tent. When I opened the tent flap, Yoo-Jin was gently brushing Miso's hair, cradling her like a baby koala fast asleep.

Yeon So-Hee was packing up Yoo-Jin's things inside.

"Ms. Yeon, could you take Yoo-Jin and Miso to Seoul?" I asked.

Yeon So-Hee nodded. "Oh, yes. Of course. Where are you heading?"

"Daegu."

Yoo-Jin tilted her head. "Oppa, you're not coming with us?"

"No. Mr. Kim is in Daegu and wants to meet. I'll stop by for a quick meeting, then head to Seoul."

We had sometimes moved separately for work before. However, Yoo-Jin narrowed her eyes as if she sensed something. "You're not doing anything dangerous, right?"

Since I didn't know exactly what might happen from here on, I kept my tone light. "No way. It's not underground or anything. it's just a hotel bar above ground. What could possibly happen there?"

Yoo-Jin's narrowed eyes returned to their usual shape. "Still, you never know. Anyway, if you drink, make sure you call a chauffeur service. And here, it's cold. You should wear this."

She took off the scarf wrapped around her neck and handed it to me.

I wrapped the wool scarf tightly and stepped out of the tent. "I'll see you soon~"

Yoo-Jin waved goodbye. "Okay. See you in Seoul."

At that moment, Miso opened one eye and turned her head. Clinging tightly to her mom with her right hand, Miso raised her left hand and waved. "See you later, Uncle Yoon-Ho~."

"Yeah. See you, Miso~."

With Miso's sleepy but sweet send-off, I headed toward the parking lot, determined to resolve this no matter what.

***

I arrived at Hotel K, a luxury hotel located in Suseong-gu, Daegu.

After handing over my car for valet at the first-floor entrance, I took the elevator up to the third floor to reach SOUL. It was an elevator reserved for the bar and restaurant.

While ascending, I tried to sort out my thoughts again, but too many possibilities kept flooding in at once.

'I'll just have to face it head-on!'

With that mindset, the elevator arrived on the third floor. I stepped out with my guard fully up. Turning right down the hallway, I saw several men in black suits blocking the entrance to SOUL.

They asked, "Are you alone, sir?"

"Yes. I'm here to see Mr. Kim Cheon-Seok. He mentioned he would let you know."

"Are you Chief Jung Yoon-Ho from Hoop Entertainment?"

"Yes, I am."

"He's waiting for you at the innermost table, number 12."

"Thank you."

The suited security guards opened the club doors. Inside, the dimly lit space was bathed in soft blue lighting with a long cocktail bar and about twenty tables. Seven or so people were seated at the bar, sipping drinks and chatting, and most of the tables were full.

Then I saw it. At table 12, all the way in the back—about 20 meters away—sat not just Gu Jin-Oh and Kim Cheon-Seok, but also Yang Gyu-Dong, Oh Joo-Hyun, and Lee Sun-Yung, all at the same table.

'What the hell? What's going on here?'

Yang Gyu-Dong was the main culprit who had driven out Kim Cheon-Seok before the regression.

Oh Joo-Hyun had conspired with Yang Gyu-Dong to fake an affair and take incriminating photos. She was also listed in the X-FILE I had taken from Kim Dong-Soo's secret vault.

Lastly, supporting actress Lee Sun-Yung was a tenacious woman who would do anything to succeed.

Seeing them all gathered together, I instantly stopped in my tracks and pulled the scarf up to cover my face. Jumping into a battlefield unprepared wouldn't help, and I had to understand the situation first.

Keeping my head down, I walked over to the cocktail bar like a lone customer. I sat at a spot close to table 12 and spoke to the bartender. "One Black Russian, please."

"Right away."

As soon as I finished ordering, I heard Kim Cheon-Seok's sharp voice behind me.

"Mr. Gu, what is this? You know the history between me and Mr. Yang. And you brought Miss Oh Joo-Hyun too?"

I knew that Kim Cheon-Seok had already investigated Yang Gyu-Dong and Oh Joo-Hyun based on the intel I gave him, and handed it over to the audit team. Now that Yang Gyu-Dong had shown up here, Kim Cheon-Seok's discomfort was written all over his face.

But Gu Jin-Oh tried to calm him down. "Director Kim, come on, just hear us out. You've got the wrong idea."

"Wrong idea? I already confirmed that Mr. Yang is planning to stab me in the back!"

"Then show me what you've confirmed. Give me something so I can believe you."

"You'll hear about it from the audit team later."

From how the conversation was going, I could finally understand why that notification popped up in the planner.

'So Gu Jin-Oh and Yang Gyu-Dong are working together.'

Unless Gu Jin-Oh was conspiring with Yang Gyu-Dong, there was no other explanation for why he had brought in someone currently under audit. In that case, things were looking bad for Kim Cheon-Seok.

I considered stepping in immediately but decided it was better to gather more information first. I set my phone to silent mode so even if someone from table 12 tried to call me, my location wouldn't be given away.

[Silent Mode Activated]

Just in case, I began recording table 12 with my phone camera, holding it under my arm. That allowed me to get a clearer view of what was happening behind me.

Then, Yang Gyu-Dong, looking indignant, thumped his chest and began his defense. "Director Kim. I don't know what you've heard or seen, but it's all a misunderstanding. Why would I try to block your way? Sure, you're younger than me, but I've never doubted your abilities!"

Oh Joo-Hyun added in a sorrowful tone, "I think Mr. Jung must have told you some strange rumor about me. But I swear, I've done nothing wrong."

Despite her beautiful appearance, Oh Joo-Hyun normally swore like a sailor and acted however she pleased. Her pitiful voice now was almost laughably fake.

'Wow, look at her act.'

Yet, Kim Cheon-Seok answered firmly. "I don't intend to speak with any of you. Either you leave, or I will."

Finally, Gu Jin-Oh raised his voice. "Come on, Director Kim. Don't be like this. Do me this favor, at least for my sake. Didn't you say Chief Jung is on his way here too? Let's talk it out with him present."

Kim Cheon-Seok snapped. "Mr. Gu, this isn't right. How could you stab me in the back like this? What do you think Chief Jung will believe when he sees this?"

"Oh, come on. Don't say 'stab in the back' like that! Okay, let's go talk privately in the restroom. Come with me!"

As Gu Jin-Oh stood up, Kim Cheon-Seok reluctantly followed. The two of them headed to the restroom together.

Just then, the bartender slid a rocks glass filled with a Black Russian in front of me. "Here's your Black Russian..."

He had noticed I was filming behind me with my phone. Bartenders were usually known for pretending not to see or hear anything, but that didn't mean I could trust him. Without hesitation, I covered my mouth with a finger and held out a fifty thousand won bill. It was a silent bribe to keep quiet.

He hesitated briefly, then smoothly took the bill. With a grin, he placed a bowl of nacho chips in front of me. "Would you like some snacks too?"

'A guy who gets it.'

In the blink of an eye, the bartender took the money and returned to his station.

I lowered my head again and checked the screen, still recording table 12 behind me.

At that moment, Yang Gyu-Dong, Oh Joo-Hyun, and Lee Sun-Yung leaned in together and started doing something outrageous.

'...You've got to be kidding me.'