Chapter 386: Busan World Pop Festival (1)

Last night, Cherry Blossom finally left the hospital room around 1 a.m. as they needed to rest for a scheduled event in Busan tomorrow.

However, Kang Ha-Na, Yoo-Jin, and Miso didn't leave the room. The three decided to sleep in the adjoining room and travel back to Seoul with me.

When I woke up early and tried to sit up, I felt a heavy weight pressing down on me.

"

Ugh

... What's going on?" I muttered.

I turned to find two people seated on a chair on each side of the bed, asleep with their heads on the blanket. They hugged the blanket tightly from both sides, making it taut and pressing down on me.

'

No wonder I felt constricted.

'

To anyone else, it might have looked like they were caring for a seriously ill patient. But I had simply had a long night after climbing Jiri Mountain at dawn, managing media responses, and handling the kids.

'

But how long will I be stuck like this?

'

The blanket felt as restrictive as a straitjacket, so I started shifting to free my upper body.

At that moment, Yoo-Jinsensed my movement and woke up. "Oh, oppa. You're awake?"

Yoo-Jin's voice was still thick with sleep.

"Yes, just now."

Kang Ha-Na also woke up. "Oppa, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for taking care of me, Ha-Na."

Kang Ha-Na turned her face away to rub her eyes, likely worried about having any sleep residue. "N-no problem."

Meanwhile, Yoo-Jin began scrutinizing me. "

Phew,

that's a relief."

Yoo-Jin sat up after checking that I was fine. Only then did the blanket loosen and I could finally sit up as well.

I raised my body and smiled at Yoo-Jin. I'm sorry for making you worry."

"It's okay. I heard you were helping out Tae-Poong oppa and Jae-Soo oppa."

Yoo-Jin complained, saying I attracted trouble and jokingly suggested it was time for an exorcism.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

"Yoo-Jin, give me a moment.."

I paused the conversation to check my phone by the head of the bed.

[Notification: October 26, 2020, New schedule for 'Kim Sae-Ri.']

October 26 was today. I quickly checked the details and saw an unexpected change.

[Everyday V11]

[Date: October 26, 2020]

-08:00 p.m. [NEW. Kim Sae-Ri] Performance order change at Busan World Pop Festival.

'

Huh? What's going on?

' I wondered.

The Busan World Pop Festival which Cherry Blossom was scheduled to participate in was a K-POP concert hosted by Busan City that spanned two days with concerts and fan meetings.

Cherry Blossom was set to perform as the headlining act of the festival's opening ceremony which would attract over twenty thousand people.

With the previous song 'Hurry Up!' holding the number one spot for nine weeks consecutively and their comeback song 'My First Love Story' immediately topping the charts, Cherry Blossom was currently the hottest idol group in Korea.

As singers usually received encore requests at the final performance, we had planned for about three songs. This was to help the girls gain experience performing in front of tens of thousands since we were planning a year-end joint concert.

However, it seemed like the schedule had been changed.

'

Why all of a sudden?

'

I considered a few possibilities, but I couldn't tell what was going on.

Just then, the door slid open.

"Mr. Jung!"

Do Ran-Hee, who was supposed to leave soon for Cherry Blossom's event in Busan, ran into the hospital room.

She continued, "I got a call from the event operations manager! Girlfriends7 will be doing the final performance for the Busan World Pop Festival! We've been bumped to the slot before them!"

Do Ran-Hee explained the situation to me, saying that our initial two songs had been reduced to one.

Instead, Girlfriends7, who were ranked third on music shows and second on streaming charts, would get to perform two songs.

"They didn't say why?" I asked,

Do Ran-Hee shook her head. "No. I think you'll have to speak directly with the head of the World Pop Festival operations team."

"Got it."

I sat up in bed and spoke to Yoo-Jin. "Yoo-Jin, take Miso with you and head back to Seoul with Ha-Na."

"What about you, oppa?"

"I think I'll need to go to Busan."

There was something off about this situation with Cherry Blossom. For a major event of this scale to have the performance order of a popular girl group changed suggested that someone influential was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Yoo-Jin hesitated briefly but then nodded. "Alright. But at least say goodbye to Miso before you go. She was really worried."

"I will."

I told Do Ran-Hee to wait and headed to the adjoining guardian room. Miso was sprawled out on the bed having kicked off the blanket. Her small lips were moving as if she was eating something in her dream.

"Miso."

When I called her name gently, Miso stirred. "

Mmm... Hmm...

"

"Uncle Yoon-Ho has to go to work. I'm sorry, but you'll have to go to Seoul with Mom."

Upon hearing my words, Miso sat up abruptly and grabbed my arm as if to say 'Don't go' with her eyes still half-closed.

It seemed my injury had really scared her.

"I'm sorry for worrying you, Miso. But something's come up with Sae-Ri, so I need to go check on her. I'll come back soon after it's done."

Rubbing her eyes, Miso replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Okay..."

I pulled the disappointed Miso into a tight hug and patted her back.

At that moment, Miso wrapped her little arms around me tightly. "No more getting hurt, okay? Promise."

Feeling a lump in my throat, I smiled and answered, "I promise."

After hugging Miso tightly, I finally left the hospital room.

I entrusted the three of them to Jung Sang-Bong waiting outside, then quickly started the discharge process.

After picking up my medication and heading out into the hospital lobby, I turned to Do Ran-Hee. "How many reporters were there when you came in?"

"Reporters? There were about five. Why do you ask?"

"We need to address the Jiri Mountain incident first before handling Cherry Blossom's issue."

It was now 8 a.m. and reporters who left Seoul would just be arriving.

"Prepare yourself, Ran-Hee."

"Didn't we finish with the reporters after yesterday's interview?" she asked.

I shook my head with a smile. "This is just the beginning."

Since the car was parked in the first-floor garage, we had no choice but to go through the lobby.

Just as expected, crowds of reporters were gathered outside the glass doors leading to the parking lot and were attempting to enter the hospital.

"Just a moment! We only want to see him for a second!"

"No, only patients' guardians are allowed inside."

Having switched the automatic doors to manual mode to hold back the reporters, the hospital security guards were sweating as they struggled to manage the crowd.

I reassured the startled Do Ran-Hee to stay calm. "When a big story breaks outside of Seoul, remember that the day after is even more crucial. It takes time for reporters to arrive from Seoul."

Do Ran-Hee looked at me with admiration. "Mr. Jung, you rarely attend local events but how do you know this so well?"

I feigned indifference and replied, "I figured all that out in my first year as a road talent agent."

"When I was a road talent agent, I was always so busy I couldn't even notice anything else..." Do Ran-Hee uttered with admiration as she gazed up at me with sparkling eyes.

'

I'm sorry, Ran-Hee. The truth is, I only learned this after going through years of experience in my past life,

' I remarked inwardly.

At that moment, one of the reporters spotted me through the glass doors. "There! It's Team Lead Jung!"

Not wanting security to get hurt, I grabbed Do Ran-Hee and stepped outside.

The reporters swarmed around us immediately. Since I recognized most of them, they started firing questions.

"How are Mr. Lee Tae-Poong and Mr. Go Jae-Soo? Are they okay? I heard they're hospitalized."

"Team Lead Jung, really? Aren't you being a little unfair? Couldn't you have at least called me beforehand about this?"

"I heard you saw the killer with your own eyes?"

Facing the reporters, eager as wolves ready to devour their prey, I began reenacting last night's scene from the lodge and repeated what I had told the local reporters in Busan.

Naturally, Do Ran-Hee took on the role of the killer.

Do Ran-Hee raised her hand with a frown. "Mr. Jung, like this?"

"Okay. Now twist your waist a bit. Bend a little more. Scowl a bit more. Perfect."

With Do Ran-Hee standing there, I channeled Go Jae-Soo to reenact the scene in front of the reporters.

"The killer was right in front of Mr. Go Jae-Soo, but the killer was so intimidated by Mr. Jae-Soo's aura that he trembled..."

I answered the reporters' questions, making sure Go Jae-Soo was the main focus. I even managed to promote

Jiri Mountain

in between.

However, Do Ran-Hee had to suffer during the reenactment.

"Ran-Hee, no! Collapse right there!" I instructed her.

Do Ran-Hee let out a strange groan and collapsed. "

Graaah!

"

Lying sprawled on the ground in the parking lot, her gaze of admiration was fading fast. I had a feeling I would have to buy her some Hanwoo tonight.

At least now we practically had our headline: Go Jae-Soo's intimidating aura made the killer freeze.

***

After the interview, we got into the car in the hospital parking lot and caught our breath.

I handed the wheel over to Do Ran-Hee since my right hand was still bandaged.

"Good job back there, Ran-Hee."

Do Ran-Hee shot me a glare, seemingly resenting me for making her play the role of the killer.

Before she could complain, I tried to appease her. "I'll buy you a premium Hanwoo!"

At the mention of the 55-thousand-won-per-serving Hanwoo restaurant near the office, Do Ran-Hee flinched. Nonetheless, she didn't give in right away, perhaps because rolling around on the ground was too embarrassing and exhausting for her.

"D-do you really think I'll forgive you with just some Hanwoo? I'm not that easy, you know!" Do Ran-Hee retorted.

"But how about Baekje Galbi's marbled Hanwoo?"

The moment I mentioned the ultra premium 80-thousand-won-per-serving beef restaurant, Do Ran-Hee's lips curved into a smile. "Deal!"

Do Ran-Hee was indeed helpless when it came to Hanwoo.

"Anyway, pass me the contact info for the Pop Festival operations team manager."

Wiping the corner of her mouth, Do Ran-Hee handed me the number for the Busan World Pop Festival operations team manager.

"Team Lead Oh Jong-Mi, huh?"

"Do you know her? I heard she's super strict."

"Of course I know her."

Oh Jong-Mi, was the team lead of operations. With 15 years of experience at the Busan Tourism Corporation, she practically controlled most events in Busan.

In other words, crossing her meant we might not get invited to future events in Busan. Despite that, I had no intention of accepting the lineup change as it was.

When I called, Oh Jong-Mi answered immediately. After I explained the situation, she kept repeating the same response.

-It was a decision made by the operations committee, so we would appreciate your cooperation.

"Is this even fair? Shouldn't you explain the reason at the very least?"

Oh Jong-Mi kept dodging the question.

Celebrities usually did not have any leverage in massive events like these, but there was still one last card to play—one that only popularity could pull off.

"In that case, let's just call off today's performance," I remarked coldly.

At that, Oh Jong-Mi's voice shot up.

-Are you threatening me right now?

They had already promoted Cherry Blossom's appearance extensively to draw in the fans. If Cherry Blossom didn't perform, there would definitely be a backlash.

Still unwilling to back down, Oh Jong-Mi responded with another threat.

-You do realize that not only next year's event but all other Busan City-sponsored events might be off the table for you if you go through with this, right?

Busan alone hosted dozens of events every year and most of them were overseen by people from this operations committee, rotating from one to another.

However, I had no intention of bowing to her threats.

"Yes, I understand. Then I'll post on social media right away to let fans know that Cherry Blossom won't be able to attend. You can let the higher-ups know that's how it'll be."

While my main goal was to set things right, I had prepared myself for the worst possible outcome.

At that moment, Oh Jong-Mi responded in an alarmed voice.

-Wait a minute!

"No. There's nothing more to say or hear."

-I just need to report this to my superiors! I'll get back to you within five minutes, so please wait. Please!

Click.

She probably hadn't expected that I was willing to walk away.

When I ended the call, Do Ran-Hee asked, "Mr. Jung, who do you think pressured her?"

"For a change like this... it would have to be someone at least at the deputy mayor level or higher."

Currently, Busan's mayor was Gu Yang-Ho from the opposition party, and this year's Busan World Pop Festival chairman was Deputy Mayor Yang Sang-Choon.

However, cultural events like this were just ways to build their resumes to people at the level of mayor or deputy mayor. They wouldn't care about the performance order of idols. To politicians, celebrities were nothing more or less than just entertainers.

For this reason, I was certain this was the work of someone who knows the industry well. It was also possible that Oh Jong-Mi herself stirred things up for a little fun.

However, the prime suspect was someone else: Cha Do-Hee's mother, Yoo Hye-Joo. She was the wife of Assemblyman Cha Sang-Tae and the only daughter of Yoo Hyun-Pil, president of JH Media.

JH Media based in Busan operated as an advertising agency on the surface, receiving and distributing ads to media outlets.

Nonetheless, I knew what the company truly was. Behind the scenes, it took orders from major corporations to get rid of damaging articles. Bribery scandals, corporate corruption, and the misdeeds of third-generation chaebols all disappeared quietly, thanks to them.

They achieved this by recruiting retired broadcast and media personnel at high salaries, much like how big law firms hired former high-ranking judges and prosecutors.

In my past life, people like Kim Dong-Soo used to handle dealings with them alone. However, I was at least aware of what they were up to.

Just then, my phone rang.

[Caller ID: Unknown]

Normally, I wouldn't answer calls from unknown numbers as talent agents got all kinds of offers.

This time, I couldn't ignore it. This was probably the person behind Cherry Blossom's schedule change.

"Hello?"

-Mr. Jung?

"Who is this?"

-This is Do-Hee's mother.

I was right. Yoo Hye-Joo, Cha Do-Hee's mother, was the one who changed the Busan World Pop Festival performance order.