Chapter 241: Promise

I stopped by Kim Soo-Myung Clinic and got a medical certificate before returning to the company.

I went straight up to the director's office and reported today's events to Kang Ji-Yung.

"That scumbag Na Woon-Seok dared to mess with us, huh?" Kang Ji-Yung said in an agitated tone.

I stopped Kang Ji-Yung who seemed ready to meet Na Woon-Seok herself immediately.

"Ms. Kang, rushing to meet him won't solve anything. How about we approach this indirectly?"

"Do you have a plan?"

"Can you arrange a meeting with the president of KNET?"

Kang Ji-Yung tilted her head.

"You mean Mr. Son? I can arrange a meeting, but why? Do you have any information?"

"Yes, I have information that Na Woon-Seok of Eyestone Entertainment embezzled funds."

Kang Ji-Yung's eyes widened at my mention of embezzlement, because Eyestone Entertainment was a subsidiary run with KNET's funds.

"Are you sure about this information?"

"I heard it from a reliable source. Besides, embezzlement can be easily found through an internal audit, right?"

When I said I could bet my neck on it, Kang Ji-Yung asked sternly, "Are you planning to take this opportunity to just get rid of Na Woon-Seok altogether?"

"Yes, that's what I intend to do."

There was no compromise since they messed with my celebrity. After all, I had already shown enough mercy when I brought Kang Ha-Na from them last time.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After a brief moment of contemplation, Kang Ji-Yung finally made a decision. "I'll set up the meeting right away."

At the same time, Kang Ji-Yung began making a phone call somewhere.

***

The entertainment section of the portal began to be filled with articles about Kim Do-Jin.

[Shelter Nine's Kim Do-Jin. 'Does Kim Do-Jin Have a Hidden Child?']

[Kim Do-Jin of Eyestone Entertainment. Assaults a Child Only Ten Months Old!]

Kim Do-Jin claimed to be unfairly treated when he was urgently arrested, but no one showed him any sympathy when photos of him assaulting Yu-Mi surfaced.

Fortunately, articles clarifying the misunderstanding about Kang Ha-Na also started appearing.

[BJ Do-Jin. False Accusations Against Kang Ha-Na! Merely a Jealous Act!]

[Miss C. "All rumors about Ha-Na unnie are false. I'm willing to have a three-way confrontation."]

[Kang Ha-Na. "I don't resent the subscribers who left malicious comments. I'm just grateful the misunderstanding is cleared."]

[Singer-songwriter Kang Ha-Na. When is her Music Show Debut?]

[Kang Ha-Na Reaches 100,000 Subscribers in the Shortest Time!]

Kang Ha-Na's MeTube channel was unintentionally boosted by noise marketing and reached 100,000 subscribers while the music video views exceeded 500,000. Simultaneously, the flood of malicious comments vanished too.

Everything was unfolding smoothly, but I had no intention of letting Eyestone Entertainment's Na Woon-Seok and Yang Eun-Cheol off the hook.

As we parked at the KNET headquarters building, Kang Ji-Yung began giving me information on President Son Yang-Seop.

"Be careful today. President Son Yang-Seop is the type of person who doesn't like to admit his mistakes."

"Yes, I understand."

"Oh, and I'll bring up the embezzlement issue first, so you join in when you see the right moment."

Son Yang-Seop was a self-made man who became the president of the music-specialized broadcaster KNET after having experienced all sorts of ups and downs in the entertainment industry as a previous music entertainer.

For this reason, there was a chance he might act like the embezzlement issue was no big deal.

But I had a weapon to deal with Son Yang-Seop besides the embezzlement case committed by Na Woon-Seok.

It was the information that Son Yang-Seop's reappointment as president would fail.

[Everyday V10.1]

[Date: October 10, 2020]

-09:00 p.m. KNET's new president Lee Sung-Joon. Congratulations wreath reserved and sent.

In my past life, Son Yang-Seop was highly strung as he was aiming for reappointment as KNET's president.

His competitors for the position were: Executive Director Choi Tae-Joon of KNET, Executive Director Park Hyung-Min, and Director Lee Sung-Joon.

Son Yang-Seop had been keeping the most threatening Choi Tae-Joon in check. However, he would lose the position to Lee Sung-Joon.

Because I knew the lobbying process by which Lee Sung-Joon had become president, I planned to use this information to make a deal with Son Yang-Seop.

"Then shall we go in?"

After confirming the still-unchanged information once more, I followed Kang Ji-Yung.

***

In the KNET President's office, Son Yang-Seop leaned on the sofa and frowned.

"That's a sensitive topic you're talking about. Na Woon-Seok embezzling funds...?"

Kang Ji-Yung began to talk about Hoop Entertainment's countermeasures with a stern expression.

"We can't just stay still now that President Na messed with Ha-Na. We plan to sue for defamation and KNET will likely be mentioned as the parent company. So we came to inform you in advance."

Son Yang-Seop's face twisted. "So this is a kind of declaration of war."

"You could see it that way. But we came to inform you out of goodwill. We don't want to make an enemy of you, Mr. Son."

"In other words, you want me to handle it on my own?"

When Kang Ji-Yung nodded, a smile appeared on Son Yang-Seop's face.

"They say President Kang Gam-Chan's daughter is capable and I see they're not wrong. You're quite impressive."

"This is just the beginning. So what do you say? What are you going to do now?"

Son Yang-Seop crossed his arms. "Well, you say it's goodwill, but it doesn't feel that way from the receiving end. Besides, I have my pride..."

After a brief pause, Son Yang-Seop smiled slightly.

"Celebrities from Hoop Entertainment don't seem to want to appear on KNET anymore, huh?"

It was a warning that Hoop Entertainment's celebrities shouldn't think of appearing on KNET if they were mentioned in the media.

Kang Ji-Yung bit her lip before speaking, "I warned you out of goodwill, but is this how you're going to respond?"

"Give me a few days. I'll look into it slowly and then we can talk again. How does that sound?"

For Son Yang-Seop who was facing reappointment, it would be best to cover up this matter quietly.

Kang Ji-Yung sighed as if she had expected this. Then she looked at me and gave me a sign to handle the rest.

"Mr. Son."

Son Yang-Seop tilted his head when I spoke. "Who are you again?"

Although I had given my business card upon meeting him, he pretended not to know me on purpose.

At that moment, Kang Ji-Yung introduced me on my behalf. "This is our company's ace, Team Lead Jung Yoon-Ho."

"Hoop Entertainment's ace? Wasn't your ace Chief Kim?"

"Our ace has long been Team Lead Jung here. Anyway, listen to what Team Lead Jung has to say, Mr. Son."

Son Yang-Seop looked at me with an interested expression.

"An ace who replaced the great Kim Dong-Soo... Alright. What card do you have?"

Unlike his attitude toward Kang Ji-Yung, Son Yang-Seop looked at me much more comfortably. But I soon twisted that face in an instant.

"I have information about your reappointment, sir."

"That's not a topic a young man should bring up. Do you think you can handle the aftermath?"

Son Yang-Seop uncrossed his arms and leaned forward. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not. It was a silent pressure that he wouldn't let it slide if I talked nonsense.

"I'm aware of the weight of my words."

"Is that so? Then let's hear it."

"Before that... If I provide you with good information about your reappointment, can you immediately deal with the issue related to Mr. Na Woon-Seok?"

Son Yang-Seop's eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

As I calmly met his gaze, he showed that he was interested in what I had to say."You’re an interesting fellow. I'll have a listen first and I'll deal with it immediately if it’s helpful.."

It was a bit petty of him to make me speak first, but there was no other choice. We were in a desperate position, so it was only natural for us to reveal our cards first.

"I trust you'll keep your word, so I'll tell you."

Son Yang-Seop nodded.

"You're currently competing with Executive Director Choi Tae-Joon for the next president position, right?"

A look of disappointment appeared on Son Yang-Seop's face.

"Come on, that's something even our company's new employees know. Of course I'm keeping an eye on Director Choi Tae-Joon. He's next in power to me."

"You're mistaken, sir. The most likely candidate at the shareholders' meeting next month is Mr. Lee Sung-Joon."

Son Yang-Seop looked incredulous and said, "Someone like Lee Sung-Joon as the next president? That’s ridiculous!"

I looked directly into Son Yang-Seop's eyes and shared the information I knew.

"President Park Yung-Hwan of the Broadcasting Commission and Vice President Son Ji-Myung of CK Inc. invited Director Lee Sung-Joon to Lee Garden."

A moment of silence followed, and Son Yang-Seop's previously relaxed expression began to disappear.

"Lee Garden, huh... So you've definitely heard something."

Around this time in my past life, Lee Sung-Joon had withdrawn from the front line and claimed he wasn't aiming for the president position.

But this was all a deceptive tactic.

Lee Sung-Joon had been strengthening his connections by meeting the president of the Broadcasting Commission while shaking up the vice president who held the authority to elect the next president.

After this method was revealed, he gained a reputation as a skilled politician in the business world.

However, Lee Sung-Joon was extremely harsh on his subordinates, unlike his polite demeanor toward his superiors.

Because all entertainment agencies were subordinate to him, they had to endure all kinds of exploitation after Lee Sung-Joon became the president.

For this reason, I supported Son Yang-Seop’s continued reappointment.

Son Yang-Seop asked with a more serious tone, "Where did you get this information from?"

"The content is important, not the source. Given what I’ve told you, you can verify the rest with your own resources."

Son Yang-Seop finally made up his mind.

"Alright. I'll look into it myself. And I'll keep my promise if your information is correct."

"Thank you."

Kang Ji-Yung smiled after listening to our conversation.

"So? What do you think of Team Lead Jung?"

Son Yang-Seop nodded. "To know high-level information about our company that even I didn't know... Where did you find such a guy?"

"I told you he's our ace~."

"Anyway, I'll contact you within two days. Don't touch Na Woon-Seok until then. You can manage that, right?"

"Okay, Mr. Son. We'll wait for your call."

With that, we concluded the meeting with Son Yang-Seop and left the office.

***

Although he said two days, the schedule in my planner disappeared before a day had passed.

[Everyday V10.1]

[Date: October 10, 2020]

-09:00 p.m.

(Deleted Schedule: KNET's new president Lee Sung-Joon. Congratulations wreath reserved and sent.)

Shortly after, I received a call from Son Yang-Seop.

-It's me, Son Yang-Seop.

"Hi, Mr. Son."

Son Yang-Seop began speaking in a slightly excited voice.

-I owe you a big debt.

Since he sounded pleased, I responded more comfortably as well.

"Debts are meant to improve relationships when repaid properly, aren't they?"

-

Ha ha

, you’re right. President Na and Chief Yang will be dealt with by tomorrow, so just wait for it.

"I understand, Mr. Son."

-And since I owe you a big time, I should repay it separately...

After a brief pause, Son Yang-Seop continued speaking.

-Actions speak more than words. I can give you up to two programs under my authority.

KNET was a music-specialized broadcasting company that also produced dramas and variety shows. He was offering to cast the celebrities I wanted as leads in two of those programs whoever it was.

My voice trembled slightly without realizing it at the incredible opportunity I never imagined. "Th-thank you so much. sir."

-No, I should be the one thanking you for saving me from losing my job. I’d like to do more for you, but I have to consider the employees' opinions as well. Anyway, let’s have a meal soon with the programming department staff. Is that okay with you?

"Of course, Mr. Son!"

-Good. Then I'll hang up now.

Click.

I clenched my fist tightly the moment the call ended.

Not only did I manage to get rid of Na Woon-Seok and Yang Eun-Cheol, I also received an unexpected big gift. If I were to utilize this gift well, it could be a secret weapon that would take my celebrities to the top of the industry.

I began to rack my brain to find the best way to utilize the opportunity Son Yang-Seop gave me.

And it didn’t take long for me to find the answer.

***

At the meeting of Hoop Entertainment team leads and above, Lee Gi-Cheol asked me again with a surprised expression, "You got two programs? Wh-what are the conditions?"

"There are no conditions," I replied.

At that moment, the meeting room buzzed and the team leads even asked if they had heard me correctly.

In reality, it was nearly impossible for a team lead-level talent agent to secure even one program from a broadcaster unless they lavishly spent cash on production support.

That's when Kang Myung-Gil of Actor Division 3 asked with an awkward smile, "You're not planning to use both programs yourself, are you, Team Lead Jung?"

He used to be eager to bring me down in the past but pretended to be friendly with me recently ever since I started securing roles for his celebrities.

"I plan to give one program to Miss Kang Ha-Na. And..."

I paused for a moment and looked at the team leads.

I could see greed in every team lead and chief's eyes as each division had more than one celebrity they needed to promote.

I met eyes with them and expressed my intention to share the opportunity with them.

"I will give up the other program for other sunbae-nims. Please decide who you want to promote and I will personally deliver the proposal to Mr. Son."

At that moment, everyone started to talk to me to get on my good side, even Bang Sang-Yung from Actor Division 1.