Chapter 388: Busan World Pop Festival (3)

At the Busan World Pop Festival's final stage, Cherry Blossom performed confidently and showed off their skills before an audience of 20 thousand without a hint of intimidation.

Although it was their first time on such a big stage, they radiated energy and won over the crowd.

Amid the audience's enthusiastic response, they wrapped up their new song, 'My First Love Story', and took a moment to catch their breath to prepare for their massive hit, 'Hurry Up!'

Covered in sweat, the four members encouraged each other as the cheers grew louder. With the rising intensity, the event organizers lowered their postures and requested an encore.

However, I wasn't willing to comply without compensation considering the disruption from the earlier performance order change.

'

They better give us an appearance fee for the encore song as well,

' I thought.

I replied hesitantly, "I don't know. I'm afraid it might be difficult due to scheduling conflicts and our singers' health..."

Oh Jong-Mi began to apologize profusely. "Believe me, what happened earlier was beyond my control. I'm really sorry about that."

Oh Jong-Mi explained that she was just following the instructions of Vice Chair Yoo Hye-Joo.

"So who is requesting the encore?" I asked.

"It's the chairman."

The chairman of the Busan World Pop Festival was Deputy Mayor Yang Sang-Choon of Busan City.

There was nothing good about having a conflict with politicians.

Given his political standing, I wanted to avoid clashing with him—especially since the schedule changes originated from Yoo Hye-Joo, not him.

Knowing time was on my side, I decided to let the situation linger.

"I'm sorry. But with the performance order chaos from earlier, Cherry Blossom members are not at their best."

Oh Jong-Mi sighed as she sensed my intent. "Please just tell me your conditions and I'll do my best to make it work."

As a veteran with 15 years of experience in such events, Oh Jong-Mi understood my intentions.

After pretending to think, I responded reluctantly, "If you pay the same rate for each encore as the previous performance, I'll persuade the singers and company."

Oh Jong-Mi's face turned pale. "You're asking for an additional 20 million won for two songs?"

Encores were typically unpaid, but I had grounds to ask since they were the ones who first caused the disruption.

Just then, the excited MC on stage took the microphone. "Alright, folks! Next up, it's 'Hurry Up!'—the song that held the number one spot for nine straight weeks! Let's all get up and sing along!"

The roar of 20 thousand people rising was thunderous and echoed like a detonation. Surprised by the sound they had generated, the crowd began to cheer.

Thrilled by the heated atmosphere, Cherry Blossom members jumped and shook their microphones energetically.

Oh Jong-Mi's face turned even more pale as she watched the crowd, clearly aware that an encore request was inevitable.

Seeing this as my moment, I turned to Do Ran-Hee. "Ran-Hee, get ready to take the girls to the hospital right after the performance."

Do Ran-Hee gave a wicked grin. "

Hehehe

... Perfect timing, I was going to give them a vitamin boost anyway."

At that moment, Oh Jong-Mi cut in urgently, "Wait, wait! Please stay! I'll be back in a moment after checking, so please don't leave! Okay?"

Oh Jong-Mi rushed off to speak with the other staff.

As Do Ran-Hee paused before heading toward the car, she asked, "

Hehehe

. Mr. Jung, do you think they'll meet our terms?"

I gestured to the 20 thousand fans dancing to 'Hurry Up!'

"What do you think will happen if we leave without an encore right now?" I asked with a smile.

Do Ran-Hee smirked. "Riots? Rebellion? Uprising?"

"Bingo."

In a situation like this, there was no way they could refuse my proposal.

Just then, Cherry Blossom's 'Hurry Up!' began to play.

『Hands up high~』

-Hurry Up!

The audience sang along to the chorus and bounced in place in unison. The booming vibrations echoed through the concert hall like an earthquake.

Caught up in the excitement, the audience got even rowdier and the 'Cherry Blossom Family' members in attendance belted out the lyrics with all their might.

Do Ran-Hee gulped at the breathtaking scene and replied. "Wow~ If the girls leave the stage without an encore, things are really going to get wild."

I nodded. "Exactly. So all we have to do is wait patiently."

The chairman was a politician, and politicians always made a move in situations like this to avoid public criticism.

***

With only one minute left till the end of the song, Oh Jong-Mi came rushing over out of breath. "

Huff, huff, huff

... Are three... three encore songs possible?"

Oh Jong-Mi was panting as she asked for three songs.

"Not two songs, but three?"

"I'll add another 40 million won!"

I pretended to consider it for a moment, then nodded. "All right, let's do that. And the contract?"

"Forget the contract: I'll wire the money right now!"

Oh Jong-Mi said she had the authority to process the payment and would transfer it immediately.

"Ran-Hee, go quickly and tell Assistant Manager Lee Mi-Ri and Assistant Manager Yang So-Ri to prepare the costume change. Inform Mr. Han Myung-Ho as well."

"Yes, Mr. Jung!"

After Do Ran-Hee ran off to the waiting room, Oh Jong-Mi held up her phone to show me the screen. "Please check."

The 40 million won transfer to the company account was confirmed.

I replied with a bright capitalist smile, "I look forward to our continued partnership in the future, Ms. Oh."

Now that we had the deposit, there was no need to push any further.

Oh Jong-Mi sighed and instructed the MC through the intercom. "Cherry Blossom will perform three encore songs. Prepare to elicit the most dramatic response possible!"

Just like that, the encore stage for the opening ceremony of the Busan World Pop Festival was underway.

***

[Cherry Blossom ignites the stage at the Busan World Pop Festival's opening ceremony!]

[A sea of 20,000 fans gathered at Haeundae!]

[Cherry Blossom performs three encores!]

[Busan World Pop Festival's opening ceremony was a massive success, thanks to Cherry Blossom!]

The opening ceremony stage of the Busan World Pop Festival ended triumphantly thanks to Cherry Blossom.

With the encore performances, we even managed to double our event fees.

The next morning, I took the Cherry Blossom members back to Seoul after finishing the Busan fan meeting.

After sending Cherry Blossom to their dorm, I returned to the office and headed straight to Kang Gam-Chan's office. Having reported about JH Media the night before, I was here for a strategy meeting.

Kang Gam-Chan gestured to the sofa as if he had been waiting for me.

Once I took my seat, Kang Gam-Chan asked, "So JH Media made an offer, huh?"

"Yes. They made an offer not only to Cherry Blossom but to all of Team Jung."

"Some things just never change."

Kang Gam-Chan was said to have a bitter history with Yoo Hyun-Pil, the president of JH Media.

Back in Kang Gam-Chan's active days in the industry, JH Media held even greater influence than it did now. JH Media's secret parties ran constantly as many celebrities were looking for sponsors,

Even Kang Gam-Chan had unintentionally found himself involved in one of those events at one point.

"Those guys don't easily give up on their targets. So, what's your plan now?" Kang Gam-Chan asked.

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"I'm planning to take down JH Media with this opportunity."

I explained that tomorrow night, KQ1 Group's second son, Kang Hyuk-Jun, would be holding a secret party in Cheongdam-dong.

After some thought, Kang Gam-Chan asked, "That sounds good, but the problem is JH Media can stop the story from getting published. If an article's going to be released, it'll have to be written by someone willing to risk their job. Do you know anyone like that?"

JH Media had the power to control stories in the press, making them vanish if necessary.

To prevent this, I had already arranged a plan over the phone with Choi So-Hye.

"At Central Daily Newspaper, each team lead approves online articles overnight after the editor-in-chief leaves work. Reporter Choi So-Hye said she would take responsibility and make sure the article gets published as the team lead of the culture section."

Kang Gam-Chan nodded slowly. "

Hmm.

If you're that well-prepared... I'll help too. Let's finally expose JH Media's true nature to the public."

JH Media had always avoided letting the public know what they really did because no VIP would trust them again if their real activities were revealed.

Kang Gam-Chan held quite a grudge against JH Media and promised me he would give his full support.

***

Cha Do-Hee of Girlfriends 7 returned home to her luxury villa in Hannam-dong in Seoul two days after the Busan World Pop Festival event.

"Mom, I'm home!"

Yoo Hye-Joo welcomed her daughter in an evening dress. "Welcome, my lovely daughter."

Pouting, Cha Do-Hee replied, "But Mom, what happened the day before yesterday? Weren't we supposed to get the closing stage performance?"

"I'm sorry. It didn't work out because of Team Lead Jung."

Yoo Hye-Joo sat her daughter on the sofa and stroked her hair.

Cha Do-Hee frowned. "What? Was Yoon-Ho oppa being difficult again?"

"Look at you, already calling him oppa!"

"Well, I should get used to it since he'll be mine soon."

Yoo Hye-Joo grinned at her daughter's smile. "Don't worry, dear. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he ends up with you. That's why I'm starting by shaking up the people around him."

"Won't he end up hating you for that?"

"So what if he does? Besides, I can tell he's not someone who would be swayed by money after meeting him in person. Men like him need to be pressured with weakness."

"Well, you're good at that kind of thing. Do whatever you need to, Mom."

Yoo Hye-Joo found Jung Yoon-Ho's behavior infuriating. But since he was the man her daughter wanted and was undoubtedly talented as a talent agent, she held back and focused on her plans.

If she could get such a capable man on her daughter's side, he would be an incredible asset. On top of that, she planned to involve the actors and singers he managed in her secret parties as well.

"Why don't you freshen up and rest? I have to step out for a bit for work."

"What? I just got back and you're leaving?"

"It won't take long. Let's go shopping together when I get back."

Nodding, Cha Do-Hee headed upstairs to her room.

Only then did Yoo Hye-Joo check on the preparations for the secret party in Cheongdam-dong. Although she had a staff member dedicated to handling secret parties, she still needed to make an appearance for KQ1 Group's second son.

However, as soon as she made the call, she heard a troubling response.

-Mrs. Yoo! Reporters are camped outside the building!

"What? How did they find out the club's location?"

The previously hidden location of the secret club had somehow been leaked.

-I... I don't know either.

A cold sweat broke out on Yoo Hye-Joo's back.

She had to find a way to stop them. KQ1's president, Kang Seok-Jin, was also the head of her husband's political campaign committee. If his son's scandal became public, it could affect campaign funds.

Furthermore, those attending the secret party were sons and daughters of high-profile business and political figures. If news got out, the fallout would be catastrophic.

Yoo Hye-Joo called Yoo Hyun-Pil as she hurried to the parking garage. "Dad, we have a crisis! Reporters have caught onto the Cheongdam-dong secret party!"

-I understand. I'll do what I can to hold them off. But contact your husband and get him involved right away. A politician stepping in will be the fastest way to put a lid on this."

"Yes, right!"

Yoo Hye-Joo quickly called her husband. "Honey, the reporters caught onto the party in Cheongdam-dong. Since it's being hosted by President Kang's second son, please use your influence to stop it! Yes. Quickly!"

The moment her husband, Cha Sang-Tae, agreed to take action, Yoo Hye-Joo arrived at the parking garage.

Yoo Hye-Joo sat in the back of her Merciless Bends and instructed her driver. "Mr. Choi! Get to Cheongdam-dong, now! Ignore all signals if you have to!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

The Bends sped out of the garage toward Cheongdam-dong.

In the back seat, Yoo Hye-Joo made another call to order that all guests evacuate immediately through the emergency exit.

After hanging up, Yoo Hye-Joo ground her teeth. "Whoever's behind this, I won't let them get away with it!"

Yoo Hye-Joo vowed to find and deal with the person who had revealed Third's location.

***

Third, the secret club in Cheongdam-dong, looked like an ordinary large house on the surface. However, its basement housed a fully soundproofed club.

With no signage and access by invitation only, very few knew its exact location.

Nonetheless, I had been here several times with Kim Dong-Soo after becoming a director at Top Entertainment in my past life.

Thanks to that, I was able to give Choi So-Hye So-Hye the club's location.

Right now, Choi So-Hye was standing at the club's front entrance and trying to gain entry with a few friendly reporters. She even was broadcasting the whole scene live on MeTube.

[Exclusive coverage by Central Daily Newspaper's Culture Section]

-Shocking live broadcast! The hidden world of the top 0.01%, where chaebol children indulge in secret revelry.

(Current viewers: 5,123)

-This is the site of the secret party where KQ1 Group's second son, Kang Hyuk-Jun, is partying with celebrities...

-Hey! Don't touch me! What's that? Privacy violation? Trespassing? Then call the police! Go on, call them!

-What are you doing? Get rid of those damn reporters now!

Despite the late hour of 11 p.m., viewership was rising quickly with the stream's link being shared on major online communities.

A shouting match erupted between the reporters and the private security who didn't shy away from physical confrontations.

Meanwhile, I had parked opposite a two-story house two blocks away from Third. The unassuming brick house in front of me was connected to Club Third's underground emergency exit.

While Choi So-Hye was covering the front entrance, I waited here to record footage of Kang Hyuk-Jun and the celebrities as they exited through the emergency route.

At that moment, the lights switched on inside the house.

'

They're coming out much sooner than I had expected.'

I quickly reclined my seat to take the video I planned to pass to Choi So-Hye.

My car's windows were tinted, making it hard to look in from the outside. Regardless, I figured it would never hurt to be cautious. I subtly raised my phone and began recording the people coming out through the emergency exit.

The party attendees wearing sunglasses and masks started to emerge with complaints.

"What the fuck. Who the hell snitched?"

"Third got busted? This kind of thing actually happens?"

"Damn, I was ready to party tonight..."

Fortunately, Kang Hyuk-Jun who came out with a woman clinging to him hadn't bothered to cover his face, allowing me to capture it clearly.

At that moment, the woman in Kang Hyuk-Jun's arms bumped into another guest which caused her mask to slip off.

It was someone I knew.

'

You... What are you doing here?

'