Chapter 153: If You Commit A Sin, You Should Be Punished (3)

According to Lee Eun-Hyang, Jang Eun-Yung called her last night to the dormitory and instructed her to tamper with Woo Yeon-Hee's sponsored shoes.

Jang Eun-Yung promised that if things went smoothly, she would hire Lee Eun-Hyang as a full-time stylist for Golden Road within a month.

Lee Eun-Hyang showed me her call log with Jang Eun-Yung to prove she wasn't lying and ended up confessing more than what was asked.

After recording Lee Eun-Hyang's confession, I pondered for a moment. Turning Lee Eun-Hyang over to the police would be the easy part. But I thought it would be better to use this as a trump card to bring down Jang Eun-Yung.

"Miss Lee. Will you do as I say?" I asked.

"Yes! I'll do anything! Please don't report me to the police."

"Alright then. Just wait a moment."

I immediately called Lee Dong-Min.

Hearing about the situation, Lee Dong-Min was furious.

-What? Eun-Yung dared to mess with our kids? Report her to the police right now and...

"Mr. Lee, please calm down. Miss Lee Eun-Hyang said she'll do everything as instructed."

After a moment of silence, a sigh of relief came through the phone.

-What should we do? Do you have a plan in mind?

Instead of answering right away, I spoke to Park Yi-Yoon. "Sunbae, could you please leave us alone for a moment? I need to talk to Miss Lee Eun-Hyang."

"I'm sorry for raising my voice earlier. I should have managed things better..." Park Yi-Yoon apologized.

"It's okay. Don't worry about it. I trust you, Park sunbae."

"Thank you. You know I was in charge of Golden Road until recently. When this issue came up, I was afraid I'd be the first one blamed and panicked."

"I'm sorry for putting you on the spot. I felt it was the only way to uncover the truth..."

"It's okay. I understand the situation. Let's grab a drink sometime."

"Sure, Park sunbae."

Park Yi-Yoon gave Lee Eun-Hyang a stern look before leaving the waiting room.

Thud.

Now, only Lee Eun-Hyang and I were left in the room. I began discussing the next steps with Lee Dong-Min over the phone.

-That sounds good. Send Eun-Hyang to me right away. I'll take care of the aftermath.

"Yes, sir. Please make sure this stays between us."

-Don't worry about it.

I turned to Lee Eun-Hyang after hanging up the call.

"Miss Eun-Hyang, you better think carefully from now on. I'm going straight to the police if what we just discussed gets out."

Looking somewhat dazed, Lee Eun-Hyang kept nodding.

"Okay, I understand."

"Consider yourself lucky that I'm not handing you over to the police. Got it?"

"Yes, sir. I won't make such a mistake again in the future."

"Good."

Although I was reluctant, I had to at least pretend to trust her for now. After all, what I wanted was for her to expose Jang Eun-Yung's orders to the media.

"Discuss the details with Mr. Lee and get through the interview. We'll say the source was one of the broadcasting staff, so make sure your story aligns."

"Thank you so much! Thank you!"

Lee Eun-Hyang bowed repeatedly with a relieved expression. She knew that the story she was about to leak could sever Golden Road's lifeline. But it was only natural that everyone prioritized their own safety.

With Lee Dong-Min preparing a position at another company for her as part of the interview deal, this was her only way out.

"Now, please leave."

Lee Eun-Hyang kept bowing her head as she exited the waiting room.

***

"They won first place again?"

"Wow, they're really holding on tight."

"Are they going for a nine-week streak at this rate?"

Voices of idols and talent agents buzzing outside the waiting room reached my ears. They were sounds of admiration, envy, and jealousy that highlighted the current status of Cherry Blossom.

'

Just keep up the good work, girls. I'll take care of all the dirty and tough work for you.

'

I could do anything for Cherry Blossom. After all, I was their talent agent.

Shortly after, the waiting room door opened with a commotion. Lee Ju-Yung carried Woo Yeon-Hee into the room. Woo Yeon-Hee wore a bright smile and held a trophy in her hand.

"Yoon-Ho oppa! We won first place again today~!" Woo Yeon-Hee exclaimed.

"Congratulations. More than that, how's your ankle?" I asked.

"Oh, that. Thanks to the taping you did, it doesn't hurt at all."

She was clearly in pain as she was sweating, but she was trying her best to act like she was okay.

"Let's head to the hospital first. I know a good place."

Woo Yeon-Hee sat down on a chair after getting off Lee Ju-Yung's back and hesitated as she glanced at me.

"I really don't like hospitals..."

Looking at Woo Yeon-Hee, Sae-Ri immediately tattled on her. "Yoon-Ho oppa, Yeon-Hee unnie really hates going to hospitals. She's not even a baby but she's seriously scared, you know?"

"I am not!"

'

A baby teasing another baby, I see

,' I remarked inwardly.

Woo Yeon-Hee glared at Sae-Ri while Yang Eun-Bi, who stood nearby, smiled.

"Our perfect leader's only weakness, right? Hating hospitals?"

'

Does she maybe have some trauma related to medical treatments?

'

But if we didn't go now, I couldn't guarantee she'd be fit for next week's performance. That meant saying goodbye to a nine-week streak at number one.

Ignoring Woo Yeon-Hee's insistence that she was fine, I shared my thoughts with Han Myung-Ho.

"There's a place called the Life Extension Clinic that's really good at treating sprains."

Han Myung-Ho replied, "Sounds more like an acupuncture clinic or traditional medicine center from the name, doesn't it?"

"It's actually a specialized clinic run by a family medical specialist."

Cost constraints had prevented us from considering such options until recently, but things were different now. It was only natural for a girl group that had been number one for eight weeks straight to afford expensive medical treatment.

Cherry Blossom had indeed come a long way.

***

The Life Extension Clinic

was established by Kim Soo-Myung, a family medical specialist who named his clinic after himself [1]. It would become one of Korea's top private clinics, but that wouldn't happen until about five years later.

Currently, the clinic had just opened and was eagerly looking to attract patients.

"

Ouch, ouch, ouch!

"

"We haven't even started yet. You're being quite dramatic, miss."

Kim Soo-Myung was examining Woo Yeon-Hee's ankle with a stern expression while alternating between manual therapy, heat therapy, and acupuncture.

Being a family medicine specialist with skills in manual therapy, bone setting, and even a license in traditional medicine, Kim Soo-Myung could offer a wide range of treatments.

Woo Yeon-Hee cried out with a pained face, "Doctor! It really hurts!"

"No, you're alright. You are fine, miss."

"

Ahhh!

It hurts!"

"You're not in pain."

"I am! It really hurts! I mean it!

Aaah!

"

Woo Yeon-Hee kept screaming on the treatment table, but the unfazed Kim Soo-Myung continued to claim that the treatment wasn't painful.

"Needles! Please keep the needles away!"

"These aren't just needles; they're acupuncture needles."

The Cherry Blossom members burst into laughter watching Woo Yeon-Hee being treated.

"Yeon-Hee unnie, you're really overreacting."

"She's always been like that."

"Yeah, that's true."

Woo Yeon-Hee screamed back at her fellow members, "It really hurts! This uncle doctor is lying...

Eeek!"

"I'm not an 'uncle.' I'm still single," Kim Soo-Myung retorted.

Kim Soo-Myung, at thirty-eight years old this year, found himself at an age where he disliked being referred to as 'uncle,' especially considering he wasn't even married.

"Okay, I get it! Just please be gentle!"

"Understood."

After some commotion, Kim Soo-Myung finally applied a brace to Woo Yeon-Hee's right ankle.

"Don't move your ankle anymore today and come back tomorrow."

"I have to come here tomorrow too?" Woo Yeon-Hee asked in disbelief.

"Yes. If you get treated like this daily, you should be able to perform by next weekend."

Kim Soo-Myung's recovery date estimation was 99% accurate. I didn't believe it in my past life and suffered a great loss because of it.

Unaware of this fact, Woo Yeon-Hee wiggled her ankle and looked puzzled.

"It feels much better though... Can't I keep my schedule tomorrow?" she asked.

'

Would any man not be swayed by the earnest request of a top-ranking idol?

' I wondered.

Well, there was one—Kim Soo-Myung, who was standing right in front of us.

He looked at Woo Yeon-Hee sternly. "If you use your ankle during treatment, it's highly likely to worsen. Go ahead with tomorrow's schedule if you don't mind missing next week's performance."

Han Myung-Ho asked Kim Soo-Myung if there was any way around it. It was clear he would say no, so I stepped in with a suggestion.

"Can we just do the main recording without the rehearsal, doctor?"

Kim Soo-Myung stared at me intently. "And you still want her to perform next week?"

"Yes."

As Kim Soo-Myung pondered, I made an offer.

"If you can make that happen, I'll sign up for a membership and only visit this clinic."

"A membership?"

In my past life, the famous Life Extension Clinic

required a membership for access to treatment. It seemed they didn't have such a system in place yet.

"

Ah

, I meant that we will be paying a monthly fee for regular care."

After thinking for a moment, Kim Soo-Myung shook his head. "Just come in for regular check-ups and treatments. That will suffice."

"Understood."

"But you must cancel all schedules until next week's music show after tomorrow's performance."

Though reluctant, Han Myung-Ho nodded in agreement. Right now, aiming for a nine-week streak was more important than a single broadcast appearance.

And just like that, Woo Yeon-Hee's treatment was completed. But since we were at the clinic anyway, I thought we might as well contribute to Kim Soo-Myung's revenue. After all, we could afford it after eight consecutive weeks of placing number one.

"Mr. Han, why don't the other three also get some manual therapy while we're here?" I suggested.

"The other members too?"

"Yes. Do you remember how intense the last eight weeks have been? They must all be in bad shape."

"Hmm. That makes sense."

When I suggested manual therapy to correct their postures, the Cherry Blossom members eagerly climbed onto the treatment beds.

Sae-Ri was the first to lie down on the bed and raise her hand.

"I want to go first!" she declared.

"Okay, we'll start with patient Miss Kim Sae-Ri," Kim Soo-Myung replied.

"Huh? I'm not a patient though."

"You might as well be."

With his stern expression, Kim Soo-Myung grabbed Sae-Ri's shoulder and said, "Relax... Here we go."

Crack!

"

Eeeek!

"

Sae-Ri started screaming.

"It's not painful, Miss."

"It hurts! Doctor!"

Crunch!

"

Aaaah!

It hurts... it hurts!"

Sae-Ri squirmed and yelped in pain for a good ten minutes as her joints and muscles were put back in place.

After Sae-Ri, Eun-Ah and Yang Eun-Bi also received their manual therapy in turn.

"

Ahhh!

It hurts, doctor!"

"Mom! Help me! Doctor, I'm going to die! Stop! Please!

Ahhh!

"

The cries of Cherry Blossom members filled the Life Extension Clinic with their dramatic pleas for help.

Having finished her treatment, Woo Yeon-Hee laughed with her arms crossed as she watched the scene unfold.

"See? What did I tell you? I said it hurts, didn't I?"

Despite her fears of coming to the clinic, Woo Yeon-Hee was actually the least dramatic of them all.

***

After completing all the treatments for Cherry Blossom, we arrived back at the company by 10 p.m.

As instructed before leaving the clinic, I headed straight to the small conference room on the fifth floor. The room was already filled with executives including Lee Gi-Cheol and other senior talent agents.

"Here you are," Lee Dong-Min said to me, gesturing to a seat next to him.

As soon as I sat down, what seemed to be a meeting turned into a disciplinary committee centered around Jang Eun-Yung's secret Instargem account.

Lee Gi-Cheol glared at me. "Assistant Manager Jung Yoon-Ho, do you know why you've been called here today?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then this will be easier to discuss."

Lee Gi-Cheol cleared his throat and reprimanded me.

"Assistant Manager Jung. Such matters should be reported to the higher-ups before taking any action! What would you have done if rumors started to spread?"

What he didn't know was that I was hoping for the rumors to spread. Had I spoken up earlier, the issue would have likely been swept under the rug.

Then, Lee Gi-Cheol turned to Lee Dong-Min. "And you, Chief Lee Dong-Min! You should have intervened when Assistant Manager Jung was acting out!"

Kang Ji-Yung also expressed her dissatisfaction. "If you had found out that Eun-Yung was hiding a secret account, you should have informed me first. And Ace Entertainment is lodging a complaint now saying that Assistant Manager Jung has been violent toward a member of ZIZAK."

As the executives cornered me, Cha Sang-Jin from Singer Division 1 seized the moment to taunt me annoyingly. "Ace Entertainment is saying they'll make sure you're behind bars. What are you going to do now?"

I responded with a smirk, "They're all talk and won't actually be able to file a lawsuit."

Lee Gi-Cheol looked puzzled and tilted his head. "And why are you so confident about that?"

I pulled out a copy of a note from ZIZAK's Park Hyun-Woo.

"A handwriting analysis will confirm that this note is from Park Hyun-Woo. Oh, and here's a recording as well."

I played the recording of my conversation with Park Hyun-Woo at Club BLUE.

Park Hyun-Woo's voice filled the room, revealing his intentions under Jang Eun-Yung's orders to harass Cherry Blossom members. The mood in the room changed dramatically.

"

Ahem!

"

"Is Park Hyun-Woo completely out of his mind?"

Yet, no one dared to mention Jang Eun-Yung's guilt, preferring to blame the weapon rather than the hand that wielded it.

'

I knew this would happen.

'

The room's focus shifted to how to reprimand Jang Eun-Yung without disrupting Golden Road's activities.

Cha Sang-Jin and Lee Gi-Cheol even made absurd statements.

"As you know, Mr. Lee. Power struggles among girl groups are commonplace, aren't they?"

"Right. Anyway, he didn't actually harass them, did he? He was probably just trying to scare them. These kids have some sense, after all."

Though some staff from the Suhyaejong line echoed these sentiments, I remained silent.

It was now 10:59 p.m., and the scandal was about to break out.

Moments later, the clock struck 11:00 p.m.

The conference room door burst open and Sung Min-Suk from the Publicity Division exclaimed.

"M-Mr. Lee! We have a huge problem!"

Just like the entry in my planner, the meeting's focus shifted from my disciplinary session to focus on the strategies for the Golden Road scandal in an instant.

'

This is just the beginning, Jang Eun-Yung.

'

1. Soomyung means life in Korean ☜