Chapter 525: Advertisement Offer

Ju Yung-In said, "Chief Kim Dong-Soo is reportedly meeting with actors and talent agents from Ace Entertainment."

Kim Dong-Soo was preparing to return to Hoop Entertainment once his suspension ended at the end of the month, and this was information from Jung Soo-Hyuk's intelligence team that had been tracking Kim Dong-Soo's movements. Until three days ago, there were no significant developments.

I asked, "When did he meet them?"

"Yesterday. He mostly met with actors and talent agents who are likely to leave the company."

Ace Entertainment was currently under investigation by the Southern District Prosecutors' Office and the National Tax Service. With Seo Jae-Ill from the Central District Prosecutors' Office launching a forced investigation, the company's atmosphere was chaotic. Aside from Im Sung-Hak, the other three major shareholders were considering splitting the company.

For Kim Dong-Soo to meet with actors and talent agents at such a time was highly significant.

'

If he returns to Hoop Entertainment, is he planning to recruit actors from the divided Ace Entertainment?

'

Since I wasn't certain, I asked Ju Yung-In again, "Is there any more detailed information?"

"Other than that... just that Kim Dong-Soo looked into me?"

Unfortunately, that was all the information we had for now. It seemed like I would need to ask Jung Soo-Hyuk to check again.

"Thanks. I'll look into it. Oh, and keep your distance from Kim Dong-Soo. You're starting your own agency anyway."

Considering how obsessed Kim Dong-Soo had been with Ju Yung-In before my regression, it was obvious he would approach her again. If she got involved with Kim Dong-Soo, I had a feeling I would get dragged into it as well.

Ju Yung-In smiled. "Come on, I know that much. You have no idea how clingy that guy is. Besides, I have you now, so I don't need him anymore."

"You mean for project selections, right?"

She tilted her head playfully with a teasing smile. "Who knows~?"

I scoffed in disbelief and turned my head toward Yoo-Jin. Right now, the reporters were bombarding her with questions, even more so than Ju Yung-In.

"Miss Yoo-Jin, you set an unprecedented record today by winning three awards, including Best New Actress and Best Actress. How do you feel?"

"Miss Jung Yoo-Jin, how does it feel to win two Best Actress awards?"

"Miss Yoo-Jin, do you think

Hwaranjeon

on MBS can surpass the ratings of

In the Name of God

?"

Watching Yoo-Jin receive an overwhelming amount of attention, Ju Yung-In quietly muttered to herself. "Next year, I'll definitely beat you, Jung Yoo-Jin."

Ju Yung-In was determined to surpass Yoo-Jin in

Hwaranjeon

. Yet as I looked at her, I thought to myself that the Grand Prize would surely belong to Yoo-Jin next year.

Just then, Yoo-Jin finished her interview and approached me. She beamed as she walked over with a bouquet in her hand.

I clapped my hands again to welcome her. "Congratulations, Yoo-Jin."

"Thank you, oppa. It's all thanks to you~"

"Uncle Yoon-Ho! I won an award!"

Seeing them both so happy, it felt like I had everything in the world.

***

As soon as I woke up the morning after the MBS Acting Awards, I checked the news.

While Ju Yung-In had received significant coverage, half of the entertainment section was dominated by Yoo-Jin.

[MBS Acting Awards Triple Crown Winner, Jung Yoo-Jin!]

[MBS Drama Awards:

In the Name of God

Takes Center Stage.]

[The Presence of a Luxury Supporting Actress. Jung Yoo-Jin, the Actress Leading the Next Generation.]

[The Difference Between Lead and Supporting Roles? Do Supporting Actors Not Qualify for the Grand Prize? MBS Drama Department Avoids Answering.]

[Jung Yoo-Jin's MBS Acting Awards Dress Becomes a Hot Topic!]

[LM Clothing Exposes HK Apparel and HK Inc's Unfair Practices.]

[TNT Entertainment's Park Yeon-Soo: "I Had No Idea."]

As expected, there was an uproar over Yoo-Jin not receiving the Grand Prize simply because she was a supporting actress. Some were even calling for the abolition of Acting Awards altogether as people couldn't accept that Yoo-Jin hadn't won the Grand Prize.

"They should've just nominated her from the start."

She may not have won the Grand Prize, but knowing the public recognized her talent was satisfying enough. Next, I checked the "Best or Worst" section of

Entertainment All Times.

[MBS Acting Awards "Best or Worst." Best Dresser – Jung Yoo-Jin & Jung Miso.]

In the end, Yoo-Jin and Miso's dresses were jointly selected as the best. Pride swelled within me for all the effort we put in to protect those dresses. But then, I saw the number of missed calls and unread messages on my phone.

A chill ran down my spine.

"

Sigh

... They've been calling all night, haven't they?"

[Missed Calls: 613]

[Unread Messages: 692]

Thanks to Yoo-Jin winning Best Actress and being named Best Dresser, it seemed every reporter and advertiser in Korea had reached out. Even if I spent an entire day handling this, it wouldn't be enough.

"I should head to the office first."

My body was heavy with exhaustion, but my mood was soaring.

***

Clap, clap, clap.

"Team Lead Jung! Congratulations!"

"Miss Yoo-Jin winning three awards is just incredible!"

As soon as I stepped into Actor Division 2, all the talent agents stood up and gave a standing ovation.

"If it weren't for those damn broadcasting execs, Yoo-Jin would've won the Grand Prize. Such a shame!"

"Still, she did great. Two Best Actress awards are nothing to scoff at!"

"Don't worry, Team Lead Jung. The netizens are out for blood. To them, Yoo-Jin is the real winner."

"Yeah, Yoo-Jin was the best last night."

"Honestly, playing both Manshin Wol-Ah and Cheongmyung so flawlessly, and she still didn't get the Grand Prize? That's ridiculous."

Everyone cheered for me and celebrated yesterday's results while still expressing their frustration.

I answered, "It's fine. Yoo-Jin is still young, so we'll aim for next year. Also, I'll be busy with her schedule for the next couple of days. But in three days, I'll treat everyone to a big dinner!"

"For real?"

The room erupted in cheers as they all knew I'd be getting a hefty bonus this year. At the same time, there was a hint of regret on their faces. After today, my team would officially become an independent division.

At that moment, Gu Seong-Cheol clapped his hands to shift the atmosphere. "Alright, everyone, back to work! Let's sort out the flood of advertisements coming in for Yoo-Jin and Miso. Today, both teams from Actor Division 2 will work together to handle everything!"

With the sheer volume of ad deals and schedule requests pouring in, Gu Seong-Cheol had decided to assign all of Actor Division 2 to assist with the workload.

I instantly understood what Gu Seong-Cheol was doing. This was his way of giving me as much support as possible before I officially branched out on my own.

"Thank you... Mr. Gu."

"What are you thanking me for? Until you become a chief yourself, you're still one of my kids!"

Gu Seong-Cheol patted my shoulder with his thick hands. I could tell he was feeling just as bittersweet about my departure.

Since my regression, I have been surrounded by warm and supportive people. And that, more than anything, was a blessing.

Once again, I felt certain that choosing to stay with Hoop Entertainment had been the right decision.

***

With the entire Division 2 team working together, sorting through the advertisements was nearly finished in under two hours.

At that moment, Sung Min-Suk came running and panting. "Team Lead Jung, why haven't you been answering your phone?"

I held up my phone, which was still ringing nonstop. "There were too many calls. I couldn't keep up."

"Oh... I see. Well, you need to get to Ms. Kang's office right now. Someone from Seven Star Electronics' mobile division is here."

In simple terms, Seven Star Electronics' mobile division meant their smartphone department.

"Don't tell me... Did we get an offer for the Galactica ad?"

"Yes! They couldn't reach you, so they came in person. Hurry up!"

As I got up, I asked, "Who from the promotion team came to see us?"

"Executive Director Kim Cheon-Seok. He's the youngest executive director at Seven Star Electronics!"

'

What?

'

The most promising rising star at Seven Star Electronics had come in person. However, there was one problem. Five days from now, he would be fired from the company.

'Of all people, it had to be Kim Cheon-Seok...

'

When a memory resurfaced, I quickly checked my planner.

[Everyday V12.1]

[Date: January 5, 2021]

-10:00 p.m: Entertainment Insider: Seven Star Electronics' Executive Director Kim involved in an alleged affair with Actress A?

'It's still there.

'

At forty-one-years-old, Kim Cheon-Seok was the youngest executive director and a top contender for the next president.

But soon, he would be embroiled in a scandal. He had been drinking at a bar with acquaintances when photos of him and Oh Joo-Hyun, an actress from Ace Entertainment, were taken in a way that suggested an affair.

Even though others were present, the photos were cropped and edited to make it seem like a private rendezvous, leading to a media frenzy. Kim Cheon-Seok would be fired for damaging the company's reputation.

Much later, I learned the full story. The promotion director, Yang Gyu-Dong, who was twelve years older, had orchestrated the scandal to eliminate Kim Cheon-Seok as a competitor. After Kim Cheon-Seok was fired and Yang Gyu-Dong was promoted, Oh Joo-Hyun became the model for Seven Star Electronics' Galactica campaign.

Normally, I wouldn't have been involved with either of them. However, since Yoo-Jin was about to become the new face of Galactica, conflict was inevitable. In that case, siding with Kim Cheon-Seok over the power-hungry Yang Gyu-Dong was the smarter move.

'

Once the contract is signed, I'm going to need to warn him.

'

"Where is Mr. Kim now?"

"In Ms. Kang's office."

"Let's go."

I followed Sung Min-Suk toward Kang Ji-Yung's office.

***

With Kang Gam-Chan and Jung Soo-Hyuk yet to arrive, Kang Ji-Yung was meeting with Kim Cheon-Seok and his secretary, Lee Tae-Han.

As I entered, Kim Cheon-Seok stood up and extended his hand first. "Mr. Jung, why was it so hard to reach you?

Haha

."

Given his rank at Seven Star Electronics, Kim Cheon-Seok could have easily acted high and mighty as an advertiser. But instead, he greeted me warmly despite this being our first meeting.

"I apologize. I've been getting hundreds of calls since last night and couldn't keep up."

"Well, I can't blame you. I imagine every promotion team in the country is after Miss Yoo-Jin. She was absolutely radiant last night."

Yoo-Jin, wearing an LML dress, had been the talk of every media outlet.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"There's no need to thank me. Now, shall we sit and talk?"

"Of course."

Once we were seated, Kang Ji-Yung explained the offer she had received. "Mr. Jung, the base contract is one billion won per year with an additional three hundred million won for each extra advertisement. What do you think?"

It was an incredible offer, but one thing didn't make sense. The promotion department of Seven Star Electronics' mobile division had always used only the top advertising models. That was precisely why Yoo-Jin was chosen over Ju Yung-In, who had won the Grand Prize.

"I like the offer, but... why Yoo-Jin?"

Kim Cheon-Seok tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"From what I know, Seven Star Electronics' mobile division only uses the industry's number-one as its advertising model. So why Yoo-Jin instead of Yung-In?"

Kim Cheon-Seok suddenly smiled. "Director Jin was right about you."

"Director Jin... Are you talking about Mr. Jin Sung-Joon?"

"Yes. Actually, I'm a sunbae from his school so we're personally close."

"Oh, I see."

"Sung-Joon told me that if I met you, you'd be quite meticulous.

Haha

. And he was right."

"My apologies..."

"There is no need. In business, that's how it should be. As for the reason... If Miss Yoo-Jin had been nominated for the Grand Prize, I believe she would have won it. The depth of her acting in Manshin Wol-Ah and the versatility she displayed in Cheongmyung... there wasn't a single weak point in her performance. To put it simply, I think she's currently the best actress. That's why I'm offering her this ad campaign."

Kim Cheon-Seok's eyes were filled with confidence. Hearing a top industry advertiser recognize Yoo-Jin's talent made my heart race.

"Understood. Then please let me confirm with Yoo-Jin first before proceeding with the contract."

"Of course."

When I called Yoo-Jin, she was half-asleep and answered groggily.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

-Hi, oppa...

"Did you just wake up?"

-Yeah...

Ugh

, I feel like dying.

"Sorry to disturb you, but Seven Star Electronics just made an ad offer. They are offering one billion won per year."

-Wow~ Really? Is it Galactica?

Yoo-Jin suddenly sounded wide awake.

"Yeah. Can I go ahead with it?"

-Awesome! I need to brag to Miso. I'm in! You handle the rest, oppa~ Bye!

She hung up, off to tell Miso about the deal.

I chuckled awkwardly and looked at Kim Cheon-Seok. "Uh, Yoo-Jin said she's in."

Smiling, Kim Cheon-Seok handed over the pre-prepared contract. "The actress trusts her talent agent a lot. I like that. Let's proceed."

Kang Ji-Yung and I signed it, finalizing the provisional agreement. Then I checked my planner to see any changes.

[Everyday V12.1]

[Date: January 5, 2021]

-10:00 p.m:

(Deleted Schedule Entry: Entertainment Insider: Seven Star Electronics' Executive Director Kim involved in an alleged affair with Actress A?)

Thanks to Yoo-Jin becoming the ad model, the scandal had disappeared from my planner.

However, I couldn't relax just yet. Kim Cheon-Seok had avoided the crisis this time, but Yang Gyu-Dong would still be after him.

***

After wrapping up the deal, Kim Cheon-Seok extended his hand with a smile in front of the elevator.

"Then I'll see you soon at the official contract signing."

His secretary, Lee Tae-Han, held the elevator doors open and stepped in first. Just as Kim Cheon-Seok was about to follow, I quickly grabbed his arm. "Mr. Kim, may I have a quick private word?"

Lee Tae-Han hesitated as he was clearly unwilling, but Kim Cheon-Seok nodded. "It's fine, Secretary Lee. Go ahead and wait downstairs."

"But sir..."

"It won't take long. Just warm up the car while you wait."

With a bow, Lee Tae-Han entered the elevator and descended.

Kim Cheon-Seok turned back to face me, his expression serious. "Director Jin told me that whenever Team Lead Jung has something to say, I should listen carefully. Is this one of those times?"

"Yes. I'm not sure if I should say this, but... there is someone in the company targeting you. Especially in the next few days, you need to be extremely careful."

Kim Cheon-Seok smirked. "I'm the youngest executive director. In other words, I have an entire truckload of people trying to take me down. Especially the senior executives, they'd love nothing more than to see me gone."

Since there was no point in being vague, I got straight to the point. "Mr. Yang Gyu-Dong is targeting you."

Kim Cheon-Seok's expression hardened instantly as he clearly hadn't expected me to name Yang Gyu-Dong. "Director Jin told me to listen to you carefully, but... You'll need to give me proof. Mr. Yang is practically my only ally in the company."

Office politics were terrifying. After all, the people who smiled at you could be the same ones waiting to stab you in the back.

"I've heard that Director Yang Gyu-Dong instructed Miss Oh Joo-Hyun, an actress from Ace Entertainment, to set up a drinking session with you."

"Is that... true?"

"Yes. I only recently caught wind of this, but I thought it wouldn't hurt for you to be cautious. And since you're close to Mr. Jin, I figured it wasn't something I could just ignore."

Kim Cheon-Seok's eyes wavered in uncertainty.

I continued, "I don't expect you to believe everything I say. But at the very least, you should look into it."

Just then, the elevator returned. Lee Tae-Han must have deliberately pressed the button before stepping out.

Ding.

As the doors opened, Kim Cheon-Seok let out a deep sigh. "...Alright. I'll check into it."

"Understood. Take care."

He gave me a firm nod before stepping into the elevator. "If your information is correct, I'll be sure to repay you properly."

Before I could even say it wasn't necessary, the doors shut. I felt relieved that he hadn't dismissed my warning. And at the same time, the reality of Yoo-Jin becoming the face of Seven Star Electronics' Galactica campaign finally hit me.

I clenched my fist, ready to celebrate. But before I could, my phone vibrated.

[Caller ID: Kang Gam-Chan]

I quickly calmed myself and answered.

"Yes, Mr. Kang."

-Yoon-Ho, come to the president's office right now.

His voice was urgent.

***

When I arrived at the president's office. Jung Soo-Hyuk and Kwak Moo-Hyuk were already seated.

However, Kang Gam-Chan's expression was unsettling. Even after securing the Seven Star Electronics advertisement, he didn't look pleased.

I took a seat and asked, "Mr. Kang, is something wrong?"

Without a word, Kang Gam-Chan pulled a sheet of paper from his jacket.

[Resignation Letter]

"A resignation letter? Who's quitting?"

"Kim Dong-Soo."

While I had been speaking with Kim Cheon-Seok, Kim Dong-Soo had come in and submitted his resignation. This was the same Kim Dong-Soo who had stubbornly clung to Hoop Entertainment despite all efforts to push him out.

For him to leave voluntarily was unbelievable.

'

Kim Dong-Soo, what the hell are you planning?

'