Chapter 711: First-Year Talent Agent (3)

"Catch your breath and tell me everything slowly."

Jung Sang-Bong took a deep breath and spoke.

-I'm in the H2 Hotel lobby, and TK Entertainment's Managing Director Kang Hyee-Dong and Director Cheon Yi-Sang just showed up. The two of them are talking about some sort of lobbying involving PD Choi Seok-Hwan and PD Ahn Chae-Hyung, the ones you mentioned earlier.

Jung Sang-Bong said he had come to the hotel's gift corner to buy the exclusive Sunrise Doll as a gift for Miso. But that's when TK Entertainment's Cheon Yi-Sang and Kang Hyee-Dong showed up in the lobby.

Kang Hyee-Dong had replaced Ma Dong-Pal after he was sued, and Cheon Yi-Sang was from TK Entertainment, with whom I had a bad history. And now, those two were talking about Choi Seok-Hwan and Ahn Chae-Hyung, mentioning some kind of lobbying.

I had told Jung Sang-Bong to call me right away if he learned anything about the two PDs, and that was the reason he called.

I had sent Team Lead Park Bok-Han back to Seoul, but now his spot was being filled by Cheon Yi-Sang and Kang Hyee-Dong. As expected, changing fate was no easy task.

"Then did you happen to see Miss Oh Sung-Yeon or Mr. Choi Dae-Gi nearby?"

-No. I only overheard Director Cheon Yi-Sang and Managing Director Kang Hyee-Dong talking in the lobby. They didn't see me.

"You did good. What about Deok-Bae? What's he doing?"

-Right before I came down, I saw him in the room on the phone with Han-Ul.

It was no wonder why I couldn't get through to him.

"Got it. I'm heading over now, so make sure Deok-Bae doesn't run into those guys."

-Understood.

I hung up and looked over at Yoo-Jin beside me.

However, before I could say anything, Yoo-Jin spoke first. "I can tell something urgent happened just from your face now. I'll hear the details later, so just go. Go on~ go~"

Yoo-Jin pushed me forward with both hands.

Even though she must have been curious about what was going on, she always patiently let it go. That was something I was always grateful for.

"There won't be anything to worry about."

"

Pfft

. How can I not worry? I know what kind of trouble you've gotten into so far."

"I'm sorry."

"Just don't get hurt, please."

"I won't. I'll be back as soon as I'm done."

Yoo-Jin gave me a bright, eye-smiling grin. "You got this!"

"Yeah. Thanks, Yoo-Jin!"

Fueled by Yoo-Jin's encouragement, I headed to the parking lot. I got in the car, started the engine, and checked Everyday. However, the schedule entry was still unchanged.

The current time was 10 p.m. There was only one hour left before the article hits Entertainment All Times.

***

Vroooom.

I couldn't understand why the five-minute drive to H2 Hotel felt so long. Now there were about three minutes left by car. I called Choi Dae-Gi again. And finally, the call started to go through.

-Hello?

I blurted out urgently. "Mr. Choi, are you at H2 Hotel by any chance?"

-Ah, yes. Mr. Cheon just arrived, so I dropped by to see him for a moment. But why? What's going on?

I immediately gave him a warning. "Those PDs who were at the scene earlier are probably waiting at the hotel."

-W-what do you mean? Mr. Park definitely said the PDs were heading toward our guesthouse...

"It looks like Mr. Cheon might have called the PDs over to H2 Hotel. More importantly, listen carefully from now on. The two PDs might make some demands under the pretense of offering a spot on a program. So if you want to protect Miss Sung-Yeon, never leave her alone with them. They've got some really bad rumors surrounding them."

Even though Choi Dae-Gi was only in his first year as a talent agent, there was no way he didn't understand what I meant.

-A-are you serious?

"I was going to tell you earlier, but I couldn't because of Mr. Park. If it were me, I wouldn't have taken Miss Sung-Yeon to the hotel."

-

Ah

...

Choi Dae-Gi's voice was full of deep regret. He had just realized he was pushing his actress straight into the tiger's mouth.

However, I couldn't blame him. This was normal for a first-year. Managing a schedule for the first time while handling an actor was already overwhelming. Recognizing what kind of people PDs were and refusing their sponsor was nearly impossible. And when the sunbaes deliberately set up such meetings, it was even harder to stop.

"This isn't your fault, Mr. Dae-Gi. Stop blaming yourself and focus only on protecting Miss Sung-Yeon."

-Understood. Then I'll take Sung-Yeon in my car right now...

At that moment, I heard someone else's voice over the line.

-Hey! Rookie. Get off the phone and get over here, now!

Kang Hyee-Dong's voice came through clearly, meaning Choi Dae-Gi had already gotten out of the car.

At that moment, Choi Dae-Gi spoke again in a low voice.

-Mr. Jung! Please help Sung-Yeon! I don't care what happens to me...

Choi Dae-Gi was so desperate that he was now asking me, a talent agent from another company, for help.

"Got it. I'm coming now, so stall for as long as you can."

-Okay. Please hurry...

The call cut off right after. That was when the twenty-story H2 Hotel sign appeared up ahead. I thought I had finally arrived, but then I saw around twenty cars lined up at the hotel entrance. Everyone was handing over their cars to the valet, so the line was barely moving. I thought about getting out and running, but that would block the cars behind me, so I couldn't.

Anyway, I used the moment to call Jung Sang-Bong since Choi Dae-Gi was stalling for time. Jung Sang-Bong picked up right after the first ring.

-Yes, Mr. Jung.

"Hey. What about Deok-Bae?"

Jung Sang-Bong's voice trembled.

-

Uh

... I don't see him.

"What? You said he was on the phone in the room, didn't you?"

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

-He was definitely talking with Han-Ul when I came down, but he was gone when I went back up.

"Did you try calling him?"

-I did... but he left his phone on the charger and went out.

Apparently, Deok-Bae's battery must have died while talking with Han-Ul, so he left his phone behind.

My planner still had the entry where Deok-Bae hits the PDs. And now, Oh Sung-Yeon and Choi Dae-Gi had arrived at the H2 Hotel lobby, with Cheon Yi-Sang and Kang Hyee-Dong already there. It was the perfect setup for things to explode exactly as scheduled on Everyday. To make things worse, the hotel lobby was already a risky place as it was filled with tourists.

I immediately shouted.

"Go back down to the lobby right now and find Deok-Bae. You must've missed him on the way up. Also, the MBS PD might be about to ask Oh Sung-Yeon for a favor, and knowing Deok-Bae's personality, there's no way he'd just let that slide."

-O-okay. I'll head down and look for him right away.

Jung Sang-Bong quickly hung up.

Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I muttered anxiously, "Hurry, damn it..."

Thankfully, as if someone sensed my urgency, the valet line started to move more quickly.

***

After parking at the hotel lobby, I handed the valet staff the tip and keys I had prepared. "Mr. Dong-Hoon, I'm counting on you!"

"

Ah

, yes, Mr. Jung."

He was a valet I had already gotten acquainted with, so I didn't even need to explain I was Yoo-Jin's talent agent.

As soon as I ran into the lobby, I saw Jung Sang-Bong half-leaning on the front desk, arguing.

"If you're in the lobby, then you must've seen everyone who came through! How can you not tell me where Deok-Bae went? Huh? People saw him coming from the gift shop to the lobby, and you're saying you didn't?" Jung Sang-Bong shouted.

At that moment, Assistant Manager Lee Sang-Moo at the desk answered with a troubled look. "I'm sorry, but even if you're a talent agent, I can't disclose the whereabouts of a guest."

However, something felt off. An assistant manager at that level usually wouldn't be working the front desk.

Then I remembered—before the regression, Lee Sang-Moo was someone who took bribes from celebrities, politicians, and chaebol heirs, helping them come and go without leaving a trace. If he was standing at the front desk now, he was probably paid off by Cheon Yi-Sang to quietly take care of what was about to happen tonight.

There was no point talking to someone like that, so I quickly moved to stand beside Jung Sang-Bong. "Sang-Bong, people are watching. Calm down."

After taking a short deep breath, Jung Sang-Bong reported what had just happened. "Mr. Jung, someone at the gift shop saw Deok-Bae heading into the lobby. But this guy won't say where Deok-Bae went after that."

Then the most likely place was the club in the hotel's basement. On the second basement level, there was CLUB T-REX, popular with people in their twenties and thirties. On the third basement level, there was CLUB ROSE, mostly visited by people in their forties and up.

Yet we could waste horse searching if we didn't know exactly which one he went into.

"Got it. Just a second."

I glared at Lee Sang-Moo and issued a warning, not a request.

"If you don't tell me where Deok-Bae is right now, things won't be fun for you."

At my low and quick warning, Lee Sang-Moo gave a dismissive snort. "You think you're the first to make threats like that? I understand how you feel, Mr. Jung. But when it comes to guest privacy, I'm not at liberty to say anything..."

'

I knew it. In that case, let's see how thick your face really is

.'

"How much did Director Cheon Yi-Sang pay you?" I said it loud enough for the staff at the next desk to hear.

Finally, a look of panic crossed Lee Sang-Moo's face. "W-who said anything about getting paid? Don't make baseless accusations."

"If you don't speak up now, you'll be explaining yourself to the prosecutors. I'll tell them you took bribes every time VIPs checked in, came out to the front desk to collect, and helped erase any traces like a janitor."

When the desk staff nearby started whispering, Lee Sang-Moo barked at them. "Shut your mouths! I've never done anything like that!" After scaring the staff, he turned to me and began fuming. "Mr. Jung, if you slander me without evidence, I won't let it slide either."

"Perfect. Then call your general manager right now. I'll show the evidence then."

I didn't have any evidence at the moment, but I acted like I was holding it in my hands.

Then I threw in one more threat. "And if you don't tell me where Deok-Bae is right now, Tae-Poong will post on Instargem about VIPs doing shady things in this hotel. I hear the hotel president's wife is a fan of his, so that should be interesting. I'll call her too."

Sweat started pouring from Lee Sang-Moo's face. He had realized this could be the moment his whole career in hospitality came crashing down. In the end, he lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jung. P-please, just let this go once."

"Apologize later. Just tell me where Deok-Bae is. Right now."

Lee Sang-Moo pointed toward the elevator. "He followed TK Entertainment's Mr. Cheon Yi-Sang and Mr. Kang Hyee-Dong when they dragged Oh Sung-Yeon and Choi Dae-Gi away. He got into the next elevator after them."

"What floor did they go to?"

"Probably the third basement level. That's where the older guests usually go."

"Check both floors."

Reluctantly, Lee Sang-Moo used the intercom to confirm. But it turned out they hadn't gone to B3, the floor for people in their forties, but to B2.

"Right. Thanks... I guess." After saying that, Lee Sang-Moo looked at me nervously. "They were escorted to VIP Room 3 on the second basement level. Deok-Bae also just passed through."

At least he hadn't left the hotel.

"Got it."

I immediately took Jung Sang-Bong toward the elevator. At the same time, I launched the recording app on my smartwatch.

***

Cheon Yi-Sang was already inside the VIP Room 3 of CLUB T-REX located at the Basement Level 2 of H2 Hotel. He was chatting with Choi Seok-Hwan and Ahn Chae-Hyung. However, Choi Dae-Gi stood firm in front of the door, shielding Oh Sung-Yeon behind him and refusing to go in.

Kang Hyee-Dong scowled and began trying to persuade him. "You little shit. Hey! Choi Dae-Gi, are you out of your mind? The PD in there, Mr. Choi Seok-Hwan, is the one producing

The Infinite Job Hunt Era

—the show Sung-Yeon is on, you idiot! He just wants to have a quick drink while discussing her screen time, so what's the problem? And PD Ahn Chae-Hyung said he'd give Sung-Yeon a semi-regular spot!"

Just like Jung Yoon-Ho said, they were using the role as bait to get her to drink.

Choi Dae-Gi clenched his jaw and spoke. "If this was what the meeting was, I wouldn't have brought Sung-Yeon. And if she has to drink to get a role, then it's better not to take it at all!"

"

Sigh

... You dense little shit! If you keep this up, Sung-Yeon's going to get cut. She'll be off the show this week. Do you even know how much power those two PDs hold in the drama and variety departments?"

Choi Dae-Gi clamped his mouth shut.

That's when Oh Sung-Yeon, standing behind Dae-Gi, rubbed her right wrist where a red mark showed and spoke. "Mr. Kang, I'm not going in, just like Dae-Gi oppa said. I can't drink and I'm too shy to be good at impressing adults."

Immediately, Kang Hyee-Dong scowled. "You punks think you can play around just because I'm being nice? Hey! You think this is a playground? Do you know how much money our company spent just to make you a star?"

Oh Sung-Yeon flinched and pulled in her neck. No matter how confident she was, she was still only a twenty-two-year-old girl. Without realizing it, she reached out and tightly grabbed the back of Choi Dae-Gi's shirt.

Then, Choi Dae-Gi broadened his small shoulders and stepped in front of Oh Sung-Yeon. He squared off against Kang Hyee-Dong, who was built like a wrestler.

"Mr. Kang. The company only invested to make money, right? And Sung-Yeon's been doing well. I thought we already made back everything that was spent..."

"You little shit, how dare you talk back to me like that?" With that, Kang Hyee-Dong grabbed Choi Dae-Gi by the hair.

Choi Dae-Gi groaned in pain. "

Urgh

..."

"God damn little brat. That's it. You need a beating."

At that moment, a low voice came from behind. "What do you think you're doing right now?"

When Kang Hyee-Dong turned around, he saw rookie actor Choi Deok-Bae, currently a rising star.

"This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it."

"I just saw you dragging a female actress against her will in the lobby. How can I stay out of it?" As he finished speaking, Choi Deok-Bae looked at Oh Sung-Yeon and shouted. "Sung-Yeon noona, come over here."

At that, Kang Hyee-Dong shouted. "Everyone working under that bastard Chief Jung is out of their damn minds.

Ugh

, that's it. Forget celebrity or not—tonight I'm going to fix your damn attitude."

Kang Hyee-Dong let go of Choi Dae-Gi's hair and started walking toward Choi Deok-Bae. At that moment, Choi Dae-Gi stretched his arms and grabbed Kang Hyee-Dong's waist.

"Let go of me!" Kang Hyee-Dong shoved Choi Dae-Gi aside and kept walking forward.

Oh Sung-Yeon reached out to stop him, but there was no way she could stop a 100-kilogram man.

"Get out of the way!"

"

Ahh!

" Oh Sung-Yeon screamed.

Choi Deok-Bae clenched his jaw as Kang Hyee-Dong closed in. After all, Kang Hyee-Dong had the build of a wrestler with massive hands.

'

If he grabs me, I'm going to get hurt. I have to fight while keeping my distance.

'

Deok-Bae took a stance, preparing to fight with space.

Kang Hyee-Dong sneered and reached out with both hands to grab Choi Deok-Bae by the collar. "Come here, you fucking bastard..."

Just then, a rush of air swept past Choi Deok-Bae's ear followed by the sound of impact.

Whoosh.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.

"

Argh!

"

Kang Hyee-Dong grimaced and withdrew his outstretched hands.

Then a familiar voice rang in Choi Deok-Bae's ear. "

Huff, huff.

Deok-Bae... are you okay?"

Choi Deok-Bae turned his head in shock. There stood Jung Yoon-Ho, having struck Kang Hyee-Dong's hand with his fist, looking at him with worried eyes.

And somehow, Jung Yoon-Ho looked especially cool today.