Chapter 444: Hwangryong Film Association Preparation (3)

In the fitting room of JJ Studio location on the fifth floor, Lee Tae-Poong, the lead actor of

Beyond the Boundary

, and Oh Ji-Seok, the lead actor of

Mist Horde

, were grabbing each other by the collar.

Meanwhile, a man in a white suit was on the floor sobbing. This man was none other than Jason Cho, the president of JJ Studio.

Next to him were his secretary and chief, Lee Chae-Hoon and Chae Sang-Woo, who were consoling him.

Lee Dae-Ho and Lee Chan-Dong were trying to break up the fight, but Lee Tae-Poong and Oh Ji-Seok refused to let go of each other's collars.

I shouted, "What do you think you're doing right now?"

At that moment, Lee Tae-Poong released his grip on Oh Ji-Seok's collar and turned to look at me. "Hyung, you see, this is...well..."

However, Oh Ji-Seok kept his grip on Lee Tae-Poong's collar and yelled, "This punk doesn't even know how to respect his sunbaes! You're dead today, you little brat!"

I was sure Lee Tae-Poong hadn't done anything wrong. Nonetheless, even if he were the one who caused the trouble, I had to take his side as his talent agent.

Seeing that Lee Tae-Poong was choking from Oh Ji-Seok's tight grip, I quickly grabbed Oh Ji-Seok's wrist. "Why don't we start by letting go, Mr. Ji-Seok?"

When I applied force to my hand, Oh Ji-Seok's face turned red. "

Ugh

! I-it hurts..."

I warned him, "If you don't let go, you'll regret it. Please release him immediately."

Oh Ji-Seok was confident in his physical abilities due to his love for fitness and innate stamina. However, he was struggling against my grip. After all, he was just an amateur compared to me. With my grip strength comparable to that of a national boxer, Oh Ji-Seok, whose muscles were only for television, was no match.

"

Aaargh!

"

Eventually, Oh Ji-Seok screamed and let go of Lee Tae-Poong's collar. He then held his right wrist tightly while hurling curses. "Fuck. You asshole..."

"See, none of this would've happened if you had just let go and talked," I muttered.

At that moment, Lee Chan-Dong complained from a distance. "Hey, Team Lead Jung! How dare you put your hands on our actor?"

"Huh? Look who's talking."

Knowing about my boxing background, Lee Chan-Dong could only complain with words.

I ignored Lee Chan-Dong and turned to Chae Sang-Woo. "What happened?"

"Chief Lee Chae-Hoon handed over the wrong outfit for the fitting. Mr. Jason realized this later and explained the situation to try to get the outfit back, but Oh Ji-Seok said he liked it and refused to give it up. That's how it escalated..."

I roughly understood the situation.

"So he threw a tantrum over something that wasn't even his? He resorted to violence when Mr. Jason tried to intervene, and Tae-Poong stepped in to stop it. Is that right?"

"Y-yes."

'

That's what I thought. Lee Tae-Poong would never grab a sunbae's collar without a reason,

' I remarked inwardly.

Having grasped the situation, I gently addressed Jason Cho, still dazed and sitting on the floor. "Mr. Jason, are you all right?"

"Y-yes, thanks to Mr. Tae-Poong..."

Jason Cho nodded as I extended my hand. When he took my hand, I helped him up effortlessly. He was so light because of his slim build that it felt like I was lifting an idol.

That's when Jason Cho urgently yelled out, "Watch out!"

The moment I saw Jason Cho's face turn pale, I quickly turned my head.

Whoosh~

Furious at being ignored, Oh Ji-Seok swung his fist at me. I could have easily dodged it if it were just me. However, if I moved, Jason would be hurt. I swiftly turned to shield Jason.

Thud.

Oh Ji-Seok's fist struck my shoulder and stopped. I immediately adjusted my stance and grabbed Oh Ji-Seok's wrist.

When he saw my composed expression, Oh Ji-Seok was startled. "What... what the hell? How can you get hit by my punch and be fine?"

I grinned and responded. "Starting from now, this is self-defense. Got it?"

It had been one-sided when I grabbed his wrist a moment ago, which bothered me slightly. However, with his punch, I could fight back now without hesitating.

Wham!

A clean body hook slammed into Oh Ji-Seok's abdomen.

Oh Ji-Seok clutched his stomach and doubled over with a short groan. "

Urgh.

"

As a top star, he probably had no memory of being hit like this, which was most likely why he had developed such a nasty habit of throwing punches so recklessly.

"Do you think being a celebrity gives you a free pass? Why do you keep resorting to violence?" I shouted, my voice reverberating through the room.

Oh Ji-Seok stumbled back in shock.

At that moment, Lee Chan-Dong hurriedly stepped in front of me. "Team Lead Jung, stop it!"

"Move. I'll just land one or two more punches and be done. Maybe three if necessary."

"N-no, absolutely not!"

Lee Chan-Dong pretended to block me but didn't dare to try too hard. He knew he would get hurt if I really swung my fist.

At that moment, Jason Cho urgently called out in a high-pitched voice to stop me. "Mr. Jung! That's enough. Stop it, please!"

I couldn't ignore the president of JJ Studio trying to stop me.

"...Understood," I muttered.

Then, I lowered my fist at Jason Cho's request and turned to Lee Chan-Dong. "Stop coveting what isn't yours. Take your stuff and leave. If you have any complaints, let's go ahead and pick up where we left off."

Lee Chan-Dong quickly shook his head. "We have no complaints."

Oh Ji-Seok glared at me while clutching his stomach with his face twisted in pain.

Then, Jason Cho shouted again. "There's security cameras here, so let's end this. Mr. Ji-Seok, please leave. I don't even need the costume fee anymore. Just don't come back."

Oh Ji-Seok glared at Jason Cho but couldn't argue after hearing about the security cameras.

Lee Chan-Dong supported Oh Ji-Seok and headed for the elevator. "Let's go, Ji-Seok."

As the elevator doors opened and the two stepped in, I called out to them just before the doors closed. "Watch your mouths. Otherwise, I'll release the security camera footage for everyone to see."

Oh Ji-Seok and Lee Chan-Dong trembled visibly. "Jung Yoon-Ho, you... you'll regret this..."

I smirked as I watched the elevator doors close. "That's my line."

I immediately called Han Yeon-Hong, who was still waiting outside. "Ms. Han, Oh Ji-Seok is coming down. His face is a sight to see. Make sure you get good shots."

-Oh my! What happened?

"Why do reporters always want things handed to them? I'm busy, so I'll hang up."

-Mr. Jung! Mr. Jung!

With Oh Ji-Seok heading down clutching his stomach in pain, there was no doubt a humiliating photo or two would come out of this.

***

While Jason Cho calmed down, I contacted Kang Gam-Chan to report the situation. "Mr. Kang. Director Bang got the paparazzi to tail Tae-Poong."

-Really? Who?

"It's Reporter Han Yeon-Hong from

Star Patch

. But don't worry, I've got her on a leash for now."

-That's a relief. So, do you think you can get testimony that Director Bang ordered it?

"It's possible... but do you think the shareholders would believe the paparazzi?"

-It's better than nothing. Let's give it a shot.

"Understood. I'll bring her in if needed. By the way, what's the situation with Director Bang right now?"

-Director Jung Soo-Hyuk is chasing leads with his team. I'll update you as soon as we find something.

"Got it. I'll gather more evidence to ensure we can take him down this time."

-Good. Let's do that.

Bang Sang-Yung was already like a runaway train. He was bound to make mistakes, and those mistakes will give me the evidence I need to bring him down.

-Anyway, take care of yourself.

"Yes, sir."

After ending the call, I noticed that Jason Cho had fully regained his composure.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

Jason Cho responded in his usual high-pitched voice. "Thanks to you..."

"I apologize for the commotion."

"Not at all. If it weren't for you, it could've been much worse. Thank you, truly."

Then, Jason Cho stood up and turned to Lee Chae-Hoon. "Chae-Hoon, we need to prepare for the fitting. What are you doing~?"

The tall and skinny Lee Chae-Hoon stammered with his face still pale, "I-I'm sorry, Mr. Jason. This was all because of my mistake..."

"Mistakes happen. You apologized and explained, didn't you? But if someone still causes trouble after that, that's their character flaw. Just do better next time, okay? Don't beat yourself up over it."

Jason Cho, who himself had endured bullying and mistreatment in the past, was now comforting Lee Chae-Hoon, who stood a full 20 centimeters taller than him. Jason Cho's generous spirit hadn't changed since the last time I saw him in my past life.

In the fashion industry, many designers were known for their difficult personalities. However, Jason Cho was one of the few who truly stood out for his character.

Once Lee Chae-Hoon calmed down, he retrieved a tuxedo that had been set aside earlier.

Jason Cho held it up and turned to Lee Tae-Poong. "Mr. Tae-Poong, would you mind changing into this in the fitting room?"

Lee Tae-Poong nodded and took the tuxedo before heading into the fitting room.

A short while later, Lee Tae-Poong emerged wearing the tuxedo. The black tuxedo outlined the contours of his body perfectly. It was evident at a glance that the suit was tailored specifically for him.

Lee Tae-Poong spread his arms with a satisfied smile. "Hyung, how do I look?"

The suit was stunning, further accentuated by Lee Tae-Poong's sun-kissed, slightly tanned skin from filming on Jiri Mountain, and his wavy hair.

"You look perfect," I said and gave him a thumbs-up.

Lee Tae-Poong grinned broadly while Chae Sang-Woo standing nearby let out a small exclamation of admiration. "As expected of JJ Studio, the outfit is incredible. But it's true what they say: the face completes the fashion."

Jason Cho nodded in agreement. "Thanks to you introducing Mr. Tae-Poong, we've created a masterpiece. Thank you, Mr. Chae."

Jason Cho affectionately referred to Chae Sang-Woo as they knew each other from New York.

Chae Sang-Woo quickly shook his head. "It wasn't me who insisted on going to JJ Studio. From that point, Jason Cho focused on detailed fitting adjustments. His sharp eye refined lengths and fits down to the millimetre, which was truly impressive. Mr. Jung."

"

Ah

, is that so?" Jason Cho remarked. He grabbed my hand enthusiastically and added, "Thank you for bringing such a great model, Mr. Jung."

"Don't mention it."

I couldn't help but feel that this tuxedo would put Lee Tae-Poong in the spotlight this year.

From that point, Jason Cho delved into detailed fitting adjustments. His talent for refining lengths and fits down to the millimeter was truly impressive.

Jason Cho said, "The fit is slightly loose since you've lost a bit of weight since the last fitting. What will your weight be in two days? I'll adjust accordingly."

Lee Tae-Poong hesitated momentarily, then looked at me for guidance. "Hyung, what should I do?"

Having never experienced such precise fitting adjustments, Lee Tae-Poong was unsure.

I suggested, "If you plan to maintain your current weight, finalize it as is. But since there's no filming for the next two days, you might gain about 500 grams. Let's adjust for that."

I was specific with my reply since celebrities managed their weight down to the gram.

Jason Cho smiled warmly and replied, "Got it. I'll adjust the fit considering a 500g increase. After dinner, please send me Mr. Tae-Poong's weight through my phone. I'll account for the extra 500g then."

I nodded. "Understood."

To ensure the best fit for the awards ceremony, Jason Cho made remarkably detailed requests. I had always been impressed by his meticulous nature, even in my past life.

Satisfied with the tuxedo, Lee Tae-Poong wanted to select three additional suits.

Time flew by while choosing the other suits and it was soon 6 p.m. We ordered simple boxed meals with bossam[1] and ate before weighing Tae-Poong again.

Jason Cho used the updated weight to adjust the fitting one last time. By the time we completed the final fitting for the tuxedo and selected the suits, it was already 8 p.m.

Just as we were preparing to leave, Jung Soo-Hyuk called.

"Yes, Mr. Jung?"

-I'm outside Club Lucy in Gangnam. Director Bang just went in with Director Lee Dong-Gu. We're waiting outside. What should we do?

I pondered over his words. '

Club Lucy near Gangnam Station? If he's in there, Director Bang Sang-Yung is a rat trapped in a cage.

'

Then, I replied. "I'll come in person."

I entrusted Lee Tae-Poong to Chae Sang-Woo and Lee Dae-Ho's care before leaving JJ Studio for the high-end Club Lucy in Gangnam.

***

When I arrived at Club Lucy, Jung Soo-Hyuk was waiting in his car.

"I considered going in, but they said it's fully booked tonight," he said.

"That's fine. I have a way."

"What's your plan?"

"I know someone."

"Someone?"

"Yes."

I had a friend named Go An-Na who was a staff member at Club Lucy.

Go An-Na and her younger sister, Go Yoo-Na, were brought to Angel Orphanage in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, when she was just twelve years old.

Go An-Na was one of my few friends, but I lost touch with her when I left the orphanage early to escape Kang Eun-Gi.

In my past life, Assistant Manager Yang Tae-Min brought me to Club Lucy after I became a talent agent, claiming I needed to familiarize myself with such places for client entertainment.

That's when I reunited with An-Na who was working at the club to support her sister. We were thrilled to meet again and An-Na and I stayed in touch after that.

She prided herself on never taking part in after-parties and promised to quit the industry after three more years. Nonetheless, despite her resolve, she never managed to leave.

Go An-Na's beauty attracted persistent harassment wherever she worked after leaving Club Lucy. Eventually, she returned and became the queen of the nightlife scene. Even as I rose to the position of Vice President at Top Entertainment, we remained in touch and helped each other.

However, I had forgotten to reconnect with Go An-Na after traveling back in time.

Jung Soo-Hyuk asked, "Is she a close friend?"

"Yes. We grew up in the same orphanage. I'm also close to her sister."

Jung Soo-Hyuk nodded and handed me a card. "Alright, Take this. It's from funds that won't appear in accounting records."

"Thank you."

At that moment, Jung Soo-Hyuk offered some advice. "In that place, money is god. Don't hesitate to spend up to 20 million won. It'll ensure the safety of both you and your friend."

I agreed as I knew what I was about to do involved digging up information on other patrons, which was a risky task. Although Go An-Na would share information willingly with me on account of our friendship, it was better to be cautious and ensure her safety.

After all, I was entering a world where everything had a price.

Jung Soo-Hyuk asked, "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

I grinned and replied, "Just tell Mr. Kang to prepare for Director Bang's head to roll."

"Will do."

After bidding farewell to Jung Soo-Hyuk, I headed toward the entrance of VIP Club Lucy.

1.

Bossam

☜