Chapter 609: VVIP Fashion Show (5)

After the VVIP fashion show ended, Kim Bu-Ho told me he had a favor to ask.

Since he had helped me, it was only natural for me to return the favor. Besides, I would need Kim Bu-Ho's power to deal with Noh Hyun-Hee targeting me.

"What is it you need, Mr. Chairman?"

"It's not something to discuss here. Let's talk in the office."

Kim Bu-Ho told Lee Ha-Yoon to come along as well. Wang Long and Lily said they had to talk with Lee Yung-Ah about dress purchases, so I left them in the showroom and followed Kim Bu-Ho along with Kim Ae-Ryeon.

We entered through a side door of the space used as the waiting room and found the office used by the department store's president. After opening the door and going in, we sat on the sofas.

Kim Bu-Ho looked at me with a satisfied expression when news came in that the total sales of dresses, bags, and accessories today had reached 10.8 billion won.

"We sold far more than I had expected."

Even though the dresses were extremely high-priced, ranging from 50 to 100 million won each, most VVIPs purchased more than one.

Thanks to Yoo-Jin wearing them, the dresses' splendor doubled. Of course, it also helped that Noh Hyun-Hee dropped over 3 billion won, turning them into luxury items certified by HK Inc.'s lady.

I said, "Congratulations."

"You should be congratulated too. If you're receiving 5% of the sales, that's over 500 million won, isn't it?"

A smile naturally formed, but I was more curious about the favor Kim Bu-Ho was about to ask.

I asked, "So, what exactly is the favor you wanted to ask?"

Kim Bu-Ho straightened up and spoke. "It's about Daechon Entertainment."

Last time we met, he had offered me capital of 100 billion won to become the president of Daechon Entertainment. But I had refused, saying I couldn't leave Hoop Entertainment.

"I remember telling you I couldn't do that."

"I don't like clinging to someone who's already said no either. I'm not asking you to be the president again."

"Then why bring it up?"

Kim Bu-Ho turned his head. His gaze pointed toward Lee Ha-Yoon sitting on the sofa.

"I'm thinking of putting her in charge of Daechon Entertainment. I want you to help her."

"You mean Ms. Ha-Yoon?"

"Yes."

I couldn't understand. Before the regression, Lee Ha-Yoon majored in fashion and visual arts. She was supposed to leave for the U.S. this year, then she would attend graduate school overseas and stay abroad for quite some time. So suddenly talking about establishing Daechon Entertainment made no sense.

"But isn't Ms. Ha-Yoon's major unrelated to the entertainment industry?"

Lee Ha-Yoon smiled brightly and answered. "No, actually, it's not entirely different. In my field, we study how to cast the right actor or singer for the right outfit or content. And if I establish a company, I'll get help from others too."

From what he was saying, they planned to buy an entertainment company, rename it Daechon Entertainment, and parachute her in as the head. If someone else runs the company and she gets advice, it wouldn't be a big problem.

"Understood. I can offer advice from time to time. But please understand I can't help officially."

At Hoop Entertainment, there were plenty of people dying to get rid of me. If it were discovered that I was advising Lee Ha-Yoon, former talent agents from Gwanwoo Entertainment might use that as an excuse to oust me.

Kim Bu-Ho grinned. "I figured you'd say that. That's why I already came up with a way for you to help her officially."

"Officially help?"

"Didn't Hoop Entertainment recently expand and start hiring? So take this girl in as your subordinate and give her some proper training."

It was an incredibly unexpected request. Kim Bu-Ho was a self-made entrepreneur who had climbed to this position by himself. So it seemed he wanted to give his descendants a harsh lesson in business.

"Mr. Chairman, being a talent agent is rougher than people think. How could a third-generation chaebol from the Daechon Inc. do such a job?"

"That's exactly why I want you to take her under your wing for just one year and show her what hardship really means. If you do that, I'll pay you fairly. What do you think?"

A third-generation chaebol becoming a talent agent sounded more like the title of a fantasy novel that wouldn't even sell.

Even with regular employment, more than half of new recruits ran away right after joining. Sleep was scarce, and during work, the amount of verbal abuse from TV producers and content directors was endless. As a result, most of the remaining people also quit before the year is up.

There was no chance that Lee Ha-Yoon, who had never even worked a part-time job, could endure that kind of treatment.

If I declined half-heartedly, I knew he wouldn't accept it. So I responded a bit more firmly, "I don't think that's a good idea, no matter how I look at it."

"Didn't you say you'd return the favor?"

"If you'd asked me to help with setting up a company, that'd be a different story. But I can't take her in under me."

Then Lee Ha-Yoon raised her slender arm and said, "Mr. Jung. I may look like this, but I'm actually really strong."

"Ms. Ha-Yoon. There will be nights you can't sleep for half the week. You will have to drive 10,000 kilometers a month and sometimes have to wait in the car for twelve hours. Physical strength is just the baseline. You need grit, determination, and strong professionalism to survive."

I studied her expression and continued.

"And it doesn't end there. You have to cater to the whims of producers, content directors, and the stars you're managing. It's not something someone like you, who's used to being taken care of, can handle."

Lee Ha-Yoon looked startled. "I never thought it would be easy..."

"No, you clearly did it. To be honest, you wouldn't last a week. And when you eventually give up, the mess left behind would fall on everyone else. I can't take that risk."

Of course, I knew that she inherited her mother's ruthless tenacity and fighting spirit despite her delicate appearance. But that only applied when she had staff supporting her. There was no way I could let her take on a talent agent's responsibilities, where she would have to handle everything herself.

Lee Ha-Yoon looked disappointed, but there was no helping it. For some people, this industry might be a sandbox to gain experience. But for me, it was a brutal battleground where I fought for my celebrities' careers.

Leaving the flustered Lee Ha-Yoon behind, I spoke to Kim Bu-Ho. "I appreciate your support, but this is one request I can't grant."

After I stated that firmly, Kim Bu-Ho looked at me for a while before turning to Lee Ha-Yoon and asked, "Chief Jung said no... so what will you do?"

Knowing her pride, I expected her to give up. But I was wrong.

Lee Ha-Yoon took a deep breath and bowed her head. "First, I apologize for asking through my grandfather. But I truly didn't mean to take this lightly."

Such a sincere apology didn't seem like Lee Ha-Yoon at all. I couldn't believe it.

"Instead, would you be able to help me if I set up a private company without using Daechon's name?"

The request had changed. At this level, I could accept.

"If that's the case, it's possible. But since public involvement could cause problems, I'll help through Reverse Entertainment. It's run by my younger siblings."

"I know about that. That's the company your orphanage siblings run, right?"

So she had done her research on me. A big company like Daechon probably always gathered information, so it wasn't surprising.

I nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Lee Ha-Yoon turned to Kim Bu-Ho with a bright expression. "Grandfather, I'll establish an entertainment company and get help from Mr. Jung."

Kim Bu-Ho said, "Got it. Then let's proceed with establishing Daechon Entertainment—"

At that moment, Lee Ha-Yoon stopped Kim Bu-Ho. "No. I want to start without using the Daechon name."

Kim Bu-Ho asked again with a serious expression. "Ha-Yoon, do you understand what it means to not use Daechon's name?"

"I know it means I won't be getting any work from Daechon. I'll be starting from the bottom."

"Are you serious?"

"When have you ever seen me lie?"

At Lee Ha-Yoon's firm answer, Kim Bu-Ho's face began to soften. "Alright. Then about the initial funding..."

Lee Ha-Yoon shook her head. "I told you I'll be starting from the bottom. I'm going to take care of it myself."

Kim Bu-Ho looked at his granddaughter with a proud expression. "Ha-Yoon, you've grown up."

"I've still got a long way to go."

Lee Ha-Yoon turned her head toward me.

"Mr. Jung, I look forward to working with you."

Since my regression, there were a few actors and entertainers I hadn't been able to recruit. Some of them only chose to work with small companies, insisting on doing only what they wanted to avoid the obligations that came with big agencies. Even among fairly well-known celebrities, there were a few like that.

Working with them when starting small could create a positive synergy. Besides that, there were also actors who would need her help.

I smiled. "Alright. Let's start by picking the stars we'll work with."

Only then did Lee Ha-Yoon beam and become the Smile Princess, just as her nickname suggested.

After accepting Kim Bu-Ho's request, I left the president's office, leaving the three of them behind.

***

Once Jung Yoon-Ho left and only the family remained in the office, Kim Bu-Ho had a satisfied expression on his face.

"It seems you're interested in that young man. Even in all that pressure, you never backed down."

Kim Bu-Ho had tried to place Lee Ha-Yoon under Jung Yoon-Ho so that they would grow closer. That was why, even though she had never worked a part-time job, she had been tasked with guiding Jung Yoon-Ho today.

Kim Ae-Ryeon also chimed in with a smile. She was pleased that her daughter, who initially objected, seemed interested in Jung Yoon-Ho.

"Dad, if Ha-Yoon hadn't changed her mind quickly, she wouldn't have been able to get any help at all."

At their teasing, Lee Ha-Yoon's cheeks turned slightly pink. "That guy... maybe it's because he's so proud of his work, but at one point, he looked at me like I was pathetic. So I had no choice but to quickly change my approach."

"That was a good call. Good job, Ha-Yoon."

At 23 years old, Lee Ha-Yoon had been very upset at first when her mother and grandfather pushed her to meet someone they chose. She almost ran away when she was told to guide him like an assistant. And when she had found out that he wasn't even another chaebol heir but just a talent agent, she started questioning whether she had done something terribly wrong.

But upon meeting him, she realized Jung Yoon-Ho was far from an ordinary talent agent. At today's fashion show, it wasn't just Kim Bu-Ho who stopped Noh Hyun-Hee. It was also Jung Yoon-Ho and his bold decision to raise the product prices was absolutely genius.

Thanks to him, today became the most profitable day in Daechon Department Store's VVIP event history.

Lee Ha-Yoon had never seen any talent agent make such bold and correct judgments. Rather, he reminded her of her grandfather, commanding people as a leader in front of massive crowds when she was little.

"Now I understand why Grandpa and Mom praised him so much."

Kim Bu-Ho nodded. "That's right. Did you think I would introduce my precious granddaughter to just anyone?"

"

Hmph

. You never know."

"

Hahaha

. So you do like him, huh?"

Lee Ha-Yoon dodged the question. "He's not bad."

Kim Ae-Ryeon looked at her daughter and chuckled. "

Pfft.

Why not just admit it? He's your type, looks-wise too~"

At that moment, Lee Ha-Yoon shouted. "Mom!!"

Lee Ha-Yoon might be called the Smile Princess outside, but at home, her nickname was Hedgehog as she would raise her voice and prick others with her words if she got upset.

"Ouch~ My eardrums are ringing."

Kim Ae-Ryeon playfully rubbed her ears.

As Lee Ha-Yoon pouted, Kim Ae-Ryeon added with a sly smile, "You better stay sharp. Jinseong Inc.'s Jin Ah-Ram is also aiming for that man."

Lee Ha-Yoon's eyes widened. "Even that proud Ah-Ram unnie?"

"That's not all. The two seem to be spending quite a bit of time together lately. There's even a rumor that Jung Yoon-Ho got her the Jinseong Hotel & Resort promotion spot."

"Even so... how can a talent agent pull that off?"

"Your grandfather wanted you to meet him

because

he can pull off things like that. Didn't you just see that yourself?"

Lee Ha-Yoon realized she had made a mistake. She had already seen what Jung Yoon-Ho was capable of earlier, but her prejudice about his being a talent agent clouded her view.

"No... maybe he really could do it..."

Kim Bu-Ho nodded. "That's right, Ha-Yoon. If you can win that man over, I'll give you anything you want. That's my promise."

Kim Bu-Ho, known for his sharp judgment of people, had just thrown fuel on Lee Ha-Yoon's fire. And the competitive spark stirred further by Jin Ah-Ram, one of the two women called the top beauties in business circles.

"Alright..."

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Just then, Lee Ha-Yoon asked cautiously.

"Mom, what about Jung Yoo-Jin?"

"

Hm

?"

"She lives in the same house as him, right?"

Kim Ae-Ryeon tried to dodge the question. "They're not dating yet. That's for sure!"

"

Tsk.

Why are there so many women clinging to him?"

"Well, isn't it always harder to win over someone exceptional?"

Lee Ha-Yoon grumbled about the women around him. But at the same time, her desire only grew stronger.

***

After the L.M.L Black Label fashion show ended, I said goodbye to Lee Yung-Ah.

Thanks to the massive sales, Lee Yung-Ah was so overjoyed it was as if she could fly. She even offered to treat us to Hanwoo for a celebration dinner. But since I had left Ling Ling at home, I declined and headed back.

On the way home, Yoo-Jin was chatting with Lily in the backseat when she suddenly asked, "By the way, oppa. Didn't Ms. Ha-Yoon look pretty earlier?"

It was a casual question, but it sent a chill down my spine.

At that moment, Wang Long sitting next to me shook his head rapidly as if saying 'Don't answer!'

'

Right. This is a trap card.

'

It seemed harmless, but one misstep and it would become a hassle.

I gripped the steering wheel and calmly replied, "I'm not sure. I was too busy dealing with Noh Hyun-Hee to notice anything."

"Come on. She was right there. There's no way you didn't notice."

Even Lily nodded. Instead of her usual English, she agreed in awkward Korean. "Yes. I saw it too. She was stunning."

'

Trap card, part two.

'

The more they continued, the more careful I needed to be.

"Really? I didn't notice. If we're talking about beauty, there's no comparison to you, Yoo-Jin. Ms. Ha-Yoon is just an ordinary person at best. There's a reason why you're a celebrity."

Yoo-Jin grumbled. "

Tch.

So you admit she's pretty?"

But in the rearview mirror, I could see a smile blooming on her face. From the corner of my eye, I saw Wang Long behind me giving a thumbs-up where Yoo-Jin couldn't see.

'

Nice one, Jung Yoon-Ho.

'

'

Yeah, I know. That was smooth.

'

Just then, my phone rang.

Buzz.

[Caller ID: Sung Gyu-Hwan]

It was Sung Gyu-Hwan from TNT Entertainment. He was set to play the male lead in

Haze

, but hadn't yet confirmed his role.

Thinking he might be calling to accept, I answered the phone. But to my surprise, Sung Gyu-Hwan spoke in a panicked voice.

-Mr. Jung, something's wrong!

'

Now what could this be about?

'