Chapter 357: Ju Yung-In (3)

President Zhou Xiaoyan of Shanghai New Media Inc. apologized on behalf of Vice President Deng Chao for the commotion and increased Ju Yung-In's appearance fee by over 30%.

Ju Yung-In's initial fee for

Wolf of the Battlefield

was 5 billion won, but it was raised to 7 billion won in one go.

"Our Vice President Deng Chao made a mistake. Please forgive him, Team Lead Jung."

Thanks to Deng Chao's confrontation, Ju Yung-In's fee increased and Hoop Entertainment's standing became more solid.

On top of that, my position grew even stronger than before. "Understood. Then let's consider this matter settled."

"Thank you."

After finalizing the contract, we took a commemorative photo.

Deng Chao reluctantly posed for the photo before slipping away. Meanwhile, Jang Tae-Yoon stayed behind as he was eager to collaborate with Ju Yung-In and displayed a completely changed attitude.

Now, no one at Shanghai New Media Inc. would dare interfere with us.

***

Wang Long booked me a suite in Shanghai Peninsula Hotel on the same floor as Ju Yung-In. Before he left, he told me to rest well and that we'd see each other in the morning.

Seo Yeon-Woo fell asleep as soon as he took a shower as he hadn't slept a wink the night before due to the excitement of his first overseas trip.

After showering, I lay on the sofa in the spacious living room of the 100-pyeong luxury suite.

It was 11:40 p.m. and the prediction about tomorrow morning's scandal involving Ju Yung-In remained unchanged.

[Everyday V11]

[Date: October 18, 2020]

-09:00 a.m. [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Schedule canceled due to health reasons. (Video conference content: Rumors of a dating scandal between Ju Yung-In and Team Lead Jung Yoon-Ho, handling follow-up responses.)

"Who could be writing this article?" I muttered.

I hadn't been close enough to Ju Yung-In to be captured in a single photo from the moment we finalized the contract until I arrived at the hotel.

"Are they really fabricating something or what?"

At that moment, the hotel doorbell rang suddenly.

"What's this? I didn't order any room service..."

I rubbed my damp hair and walked toward the door. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Yung-In."

A chill ran down my spine for a moment. If a photo were taken now, it would confirm the dating rumor.

I responded without opening the door. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"I need to talk to you."

"It's late. A reporter might see you, so please go back for now."

"I've already checked and no reporters are around. And... if you don't open the door, I'll just stay here."

One thing that hadn't changed about Ju Yung-In from my past life was her persistence.

"Please take a step back from the door for a moment," I replied.

I looked through the peephole to check outside. Only after seeing that no reporters were around did I open the door slightly.

Ju Yung-In stood there in a simple white t-shirt and jeans.

"What brings you here at this hour?" I asked.

Ju Yung-In's eyes widened in surprise like a startled rabbit and her ears turned bright red. "

Uh

,

um

... well..."

Ju Yung-In couldn't continue and lowered her head deeply. It seemed she had misunderstood since I had come out in a bathrobe.

I quickly clarified the situation. "I'm wearing clothes under the robe, so don't get the wrong idea."

Ju Yung-In looked up and retorted with a flustered expression. "W-what do you mean by the wrong idea! I-I never thought that!"

"Let's just say you didn't. Anyway, why are you here? Is there something you need?"

Ju Yung-In glanced around the surroundings nervously. "Could we talk inside? People might see us out here..."

Ju Yung-In had a point. If we were seen talking like this, it could easily lead to rumors. It would definitely look suspicious with me leaning against the door in a bathrobe and her pleading to be let inside. "Fine, come in for now."

"Thank you."

A deep rose fragrance surrounded Ju Yung-In as she walked past me, reminding me of the scent I was familiar with in my past life.

After letting her in, I closed the door and checked through the peephole again. Fortunately, there were no reporters. However, the future event remained in the planner.

'

Is it not because she came here?'

I wondered.

Feeling somewhat reassured, I walked away from the door and headed to the living room.

There, Ju Yung-In had taken a seat across from the spot where I had been sitting earlier on the sofa. She looked at the tablet on the table and the Chinese TV that was playing, and then clicked her tongue. "Have you been working until now?"

"It's just for local research."

"All you do is work, work, work~ You know, if I think about it, you're kind of a workaholic. You know that, right?"

"More importantly, why did you come here alone?"

Ju Yung-In pouted slightly. "Mrs. Lee had a stomach ache and she's resting for a while. I couldn't bring her with me when she's unwell, could I?"

After answering, she glanced around the suite. "By the way, it feels like your room is bigger than mine. I knew it—Director Wang Long is probably lying when he says he's my fan. He's actually your fan, isn't he?"

"Let's not change the subject. What do you want to talk about?"

Ju Yung-In nodded in agreement. "I just came to thank you for today."

"There's no need to thank me. It's my job as an agent to secure a good deal. I just did what I promised."

Ju Yung-In shook her head. "But I know you don't like me, oppa. To be honest, I didn't think you'd go this far when I came to China. I was actually moved by what you did earlier."

Memories of my past with Ju Yung-In were long buried. After all, she and I were different people now no matter what happened back then.

I had initially kept my distance because she had bullied Yoo-Jin. However, since Yoo-Jin had forgiven her, I had no lingering animosity toward her.

"You already apologized to Yoo-Jin and made peace with her, didn't you? Now that you're no longer bothering her or me, there's no reason for me to dislike you."

A slight smile appeared on Ju Yung-In's face. "So you don't dislike me anymore?"

"That's right."

At that moment, Ju Yung-In leaned closer toward me with a smile. The rose scent grew stronger, almost dizzyingly intense.

Just as I was about to lean back in fear that she might do something unexpected, she stopped at a distance of about 30 centimeters and spoke. "If you don't dislike me, then can I ask you one thing?"

I had no idea what Ju Yung-In intended to ask, but I noticed a slight tremble in her voice.

"What is it?" I asked.

Ju Yung-In looked directly into my eyes and asked, "Are you... currently dating Yoo-Jin?"

"W-what did you just say?" I stuttered while taken aback.

"You heard me. Are you dating Yoo-Jin?"

"Um... that's a bit uncomfortable to talk about."

"Please, just answer."

Ju Yung-In's persistence made me slowly shake my head. "No, I'm not."

"Then... do you have any intention to?"

The moment a talent agent dated a celebrity under their care, it was as good as losing their credibility as a talent agent. They would be labeled as someone who seduced their own celebrity and they would become a pariah within the company, finding it difficult to be hired elsewhere.

'

Not to mention the gossip and rumors that would spread through the broadcasting industry,

' I thought.

Scandals involving presidents of entertainment companies and celebrities did surface sometimes, but they vehemently denied them for good reason.

No matter how much I cared for Yoo-Jin, there could be no romantic involvement while I continued as her talent agent.

Ju Yung-In's face scrunched slightly, perhaps because I hesitated to respond. "You won't... answer?"

"I'm speechless because the question is so absurd!" I refuted her statement.

"Is that so?"

Ju Yung-In's expression brightened once again instantly. Her constantly shifting expressions made it seem like she was performing a mask-changing act.

"Alright then. If you don't dislike me and you're not romantically involved with Yoo-Jin, let's try dating for just one month. I'm discreet. There wouldn't be any issues with dating another company's talent agent, right?"

For a moment, I felt like I couldn't breathe. '

Did I hear that right? She suddenly wants to date? And just for a month?

'

The absurdity of it all made my response equally absurd. "Have you been drinking?"

Ju Yung-In blew a soft breath my way. There was no scent of alcohol but only the fresh minty smell mixed with the faint scent of peach lipstick.

"I haven't had a single drop and my mind is crystal clear. It's a month until

Wolf of the Battlefield

starts filming! Just spend that time with me. If I can't win you over by then, I'll give up. What do you think?"

Ju Yung-In's deep brown eyes locked onto mine with an unwavering gaze.

For a moment, it felt like an electric current ran through me. Her first date proposal in my past life had been just like this.

'

It's exactly the same..

.' I thought.

Ju Yung-In had also asked to date for just a month in my past life. The setting was different, but her rose fragrance vividly brought back memories. At the same time, a sense of unease crept over me.

'

Fate and destiny,

' I thought.

I had made many changes through hard work since my regression, yet certain events stubbornly remained unchanged. Despite all the efforts to alter the future, only about 30% of the events on Everyday V11 had shifted.

That meant that 70% of the events had stayed the same.

'

Is this what fate is?

' I wondered.

Even after getting Kim Dong-Soo suspended, Colonel Baek reemerged and Kim Dong-Soo started meeting with Jiang Wei.

I realized that stopping the disbandment of Hoop Entertainment and preventing the establishment of Top Entertainment was far more complex than I had initially thought.

-Fate doesn't change easily.

It was a lesson I had learned on the first day I saved Miso. And thanks to Ju Yung-In, it surfaced in my mind again.

I quickly regained my composure. '

Get it together, Jung Yoon-Ho.'

I counted to ten in my head, then spoke cautiously to Ju Yung-In who was still staring at me intently. I let a hint of gratitude slip through as she had helped remind me of what I had forgotten.

"I'm not as cool as you, Miss Yung-In. I can't just casually date for a month and then move on. I'm sorry."

As if expecting my refusal, Ju Yung-In gave a counter-proposal. "If you don't want a month...then what about forever? How about that?"

Of course. This, too, was the same as what had happened in my past life.

When Ju Yung-In showed interest in me in my past life, I was flattered that a top star wanted me and accepted her proposal.

However this time, I made a different choice. I had already lived a chaotic life ruled by emotions once. This time, I wanted to change my destiny and that of Hoop Entertainment.

As my thoughts cleared, the pressure I felt also disappeared.

I let out a long sigh and looked directly into Ju Yung-In's eyes before calmly saying, "

Sigh.

I'm sorry. But as long as I'm working as a talent agent, I have no intention of dating."

Ju Yung-In's expression turned sharp. "So does that mean you really won't date or get married?"

"This kind of conversation is making me feel uncomfortable. Let's drop the personal questions, okay?"

"Please, just answer me!"

Ju Yung-In's persistence made it clear that she wouldn't back down without an answer.

"I'm sorry, but I have to keep my head down. You know how I've been at odds with the Suhyaejong line. I don't have the time or energy to be distracted by romance right now."

After realizing how difficult it would be to stop the formation of Top Entertainment, I couldn't afford to be swept away by emotions.

Ju Yung-In bit her lip slightly and pressed on, "Is there really no chance you'll change your mind...?"

"There isn't."

Ju Yung-In finally pulled away from me and let out a sigh. "Oppa. You're... so difficult."

She shook her head as if she couldn't believe what kind of person I was.

I stayed silent and waited for her to gather her emotions.

After a few deep sighs, Ju Yung-In managed to brush off her disappointment. "Let's just pretend I never made that suggestion today.

Ugh~

this is so embarrassing."

"I've already forgotten it."

Ju Yung-In's earlobes turned red, likely from the sting of being rejected. "Then since I got rejected, can we at least talk more comfortably from now on? It's so stiff when you keep your distance and I don't like it!"

"Let's take it slowly. Step by step..."

"Fine. But promise you'll loosen up before the end of the year!"

Ju Yung-In got up and fanned her face with her hand. "

Tsk.

How many times do I have to get turned down by one guy?"

She muttered to herself, then spoke with renewed determination. "Anyway, I'm going to give this project my absolute best. I'll prove that I'm a level above Jung Yoo-Jin, so you'd better be ready."

She returned to her usual confident demeanor as if she hadn't just been feeling down.

'

Yes. That's the Ju Yung-In I know

,' I remarked inwardly.

I nodded. "Understood. From tomorrow, talent agents from Ace Entertainment will be handling your schedule. But if anything comes up, call me right away."

"Of course. You're still my agent while I'm in China, oppa."

Ju Yung-In gave me a smile that was a bit too bright before heading toward the door. Her steps were unsteady, but I didn't say anything or offer any support. I knew that whatever words I could offer or any help I could give wouldn't bring her any comfort right now.

Just then, I stopped Ju Yung-In as she was about to leave.

"Wait a moment."

The time was 11:55 p.m., and the schedule in my planner still hadn't disappeared yet.

"Check if anyone's outside before you go."

I looked through the peephole on the hotel door and spotted a man in a hoodie and a cap standing in the hallway. He was wearing a mask, making it impossible to identify him.

'

Is that a reporter?

' I wondered.

I stepped back from the peephole and spoke. "Someone's outside, so wait a bit before leaving."

"Alright."

Ju Yung-In and I stood close, almost sharing the rose-scented air between us as we silently waited for the man outside to leave.

My heart began to beat a bit faster, but I chalked it up to nerves and ignored it.

After a moment, I checked through the peephole again. '

He's gone.

'

Then, I glanced at my planner for confirmation.

[Everyday V11]

[Date: October 18, 2020]

-09:00 a.m.

([NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Schedule canceled due to health reasons. (Video conference content: Rumors of a dating scandal between Ju Yung-In and Team Lead Jung Yoon-Ho, handling follow-up responses.))

'

So it really was a reporter,

' I thought.

With the deletion of the scheduled event, I let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.

"

Phew~

"

"Is he gone?"

"Yes, he's gone. You can leave now."

"Okay..."

Ju Yung-In answered weakly and hurried out with her head down as soon as I opened the door.

Click.

As I closed the door, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me.

Just then, a new notification popped up.

[Notification: A new schedule for 'Jung Yoo-Jin' has been added on October 18, 2020.]

"What is it now?"

The moment I hurriedly checked the new schedule, a dumbfounded laugh escaped me.

[Everyday V11]

[Date: October 18, 2020]

-10:00 a.m. [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Schedule canceled due to health reasons. (Video conference content: Entertainment All Times Reporter Gu Ji-Am. Rumors of a dating scandal between Ju Yung-In and Team Lead Jung Yoon-Ho with a photo! Handling follow-up meeting)

Reporter Gu Ji-Am from Entertainment All Times who had been on the same flight as us turned out to be the one planning to break the dating scandal between Ju Yung-In and me.

'

So it was you, Reporter Gu?

' I scoffed.

Gu Ji-Am had a history of questionable activities. Since we were in China, where such matters could be dealt with more directly, there was a way to handle him cleanly.