Chapter 772: The Press Conference (1)

"Mom! Mom! Let's go in and eat!" Miso, holding the tray with the Peking duck, urged everyone inside with excitement.

"Okay, okay~" Yoo-Jin nodded, then glanced at the plastic bag in my right hand. "But oppa, what about the pork bone stew?"

"What do you mean? We eat both, of course."

"No way! Seriously?"

"I said we would, didn't I?"

Just then, Yoo-Jin flinched slightly and narrowed her eyes. "Wait a minute. Why are you being so generous today?"

'

Because I want you to be happy

.'

She could burn off any weight gain from this late-night feast tomorrow morning with a brutal training session. Ice packs, squats, and an hour on the treadmill should be good enough to shed those gains.

Yoo-Jin suddenly shivered like she got a chill. "Something's up. You only smile like that when you're plotting something."

'

Sharp as ever, Jung Yoo-Jin

.'

I shrugged and said, "What could be up? Come on, let's eat before it gets cold."

Yoo-Jin gave me a sideways glance, then gave up and said, "

Ugh

, fine. They say even a ghost who dies after eating well looks good. I'll deal with the consequences tomorrow~"

With that, she helped Miso carry the tray into the living room. A little while later, everyone was gathered around in the living room. Jung In-Ji began slicing the duck's glossy brown skin into thin, delicate strips. The crispy crackle echoed how perfectly it had been roasted.

That's when Yoo-Jin spoke up. "I'll make wraps for everyone today~"

Yoo-Jin laid out a thin pancake, added the crispy skin, topped it with julienned cucumber and greens, then smeared on a thick, dark hoisin sauce before wrapping it all up.

The first wrap went to Jung In-Ji.

"First, to Mrs. Jung who always works so hard for us. Open wide~"

Jung In-Ji's face lit up with joy. "

Mmm

... Thank you, Yoo-Jin."

"I'm always grateful to you~"

Next were Han Yoo-Sik and his wife, then me, Kang Eun-Gi, Lee Soo-Chan, and finally Miso—each getting a wrap delivered to their mouths by Yoo-Jin.

Just as she was about to make one for herself, Miso smiled broadly. "Mom!

Chomp chomp

. Mommy... I made one... for you!"

Miso had prepared a wrap too, cheeks puffed out, with love packed into every fold. There was so much meat and cucumber it spilled over the pancake in every direction.

Yet Yoo-Jin looked at the messy wrap like it was the most delicious thing in the world. "Wow~ That looks amazing! Let's see then~"

Yoo-Jin opened her mouth wide, and Miso popped the wrap right in.

Chomp.

"Mom, is it good?"

Yoo-Jin smiled like she had just tasted the best thing on earth. "

Mmm

~ it's soooo~ good!"

Miso beamed and swallowed her own wrap with glee. "Me too! Me too! It tasted better because you made it, Mom!"

At that moment, Yoo-Jin and Miso hugged each other, rubbing cheeks with faces that looked like they had everything in the world.

Then, Miso rolled another wrap and handed it to me. "Uncle Yoon-Ho~ thank you for making Mom the lead in a movie! Here, eat this!"

It was twice the size of the one she gave Yoo-Jin.

"Thanks, Miso~"

Chomp.

I stuffed the wrap Miso handed me into my mouth in one bite. The soft pancake hit first, then the Peking duck skin crackled like a chip. The crispy exterior, tender duck, fresh cucumber and green onions, and the sweet, nutty, salty hoisin sauce all blended together in a burst of flavor.

For a moment, I gave Miso a thumbs-up with the same look as if I had everything in the world. After all, it was a taste of happiness I had never known before the regression.

***

While finishing the duck, I chatted with Han Yoo-Sik about adapting

She Was Beautiful

into a drama.

"Hmm... if PD Kim Sung-Woon's in charge, then there's no need to worry. But are you sure about letting Writer Wang Mi-In handle casting?"

"Mr. Kim has a good eye for people, and I'll be involved too."

I believed in Wang Mi-In's potential, but she didn't yet believe in herself. That's exactly when someone needed to support her.

"

Hmm

~ Then what do you say we schedule the drama two months after the movie premieres?"

"Yes, that works."

"And how far along is the movie production?"

"The script, lead, and distributor are confirmed. Only the director hasn't been decided yet."

"Okay. Let me know once the schedule's set. And by the way, I'm counting on you for this one too."

"Yes, sir."

After wrapping up the drama timeline, I asked Han Yoo-Sik to attend the press briefing tomorrow.

"You want me to come too?" Han Yoo-Sik asked.

Tomorrow, Hoop Entertainment will be holding a full press conference and inviting every reporter. We would be answering questions about the company's performance and future plans. It was crucial to promote all the recent good news ahead of next week's stock market debut.

"Mr. Shin Jong-Ki from LT Entertainment will be speaking for the film side. I thought it'd give us more weight if someone like you, a former KBC executive, is there for the drama announcement."

"

Hahaha.

Sure, I'll show up. If all I have to do is sit there, that's easy enough."

"Thank you."

With Han Yoo-Sik confirmed, I turned to Kang Eun-Gi. His right hand was still bandaged, so Lee Soo-Chan was making wraps for him.

Lee Soo-Chan handed him the wrap. "Here, hyung-nim. Eat up."

Embarrassed, Kang Eun-Gi waved him off. "Hey, I can eat by myself."

"Yes~ I know. But still, open wide~"

Watching Kang Eun-Gi protesting and Lee Soo-Chan ignoring it was oddly heartwarming.

I smiled and said, "Thanks for picking up the Peking duck today, Eun-Gi."

Kang Eun-Gi swallowed his wrap before replying. "It was nothing. I had something to talk to you about anyway."

"What is it?"

"Mr. Choi Yung-Ho is coming tomorrow."

"That's good news."

"Yeah. But you know it's not over yet, right?"

I nodded silently. While Choi Man-Sik had been neutralized in Japan, one piece was still unresolved—Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon. And news about him was airing on the living room TV.

-This April, voters in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Gwangju, along with three districts in Seoul, two in Gyeonggi, and one each in Daegu and Gwangju, will head to the polls for special elections. Until last week, the ruling party led by Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon was expected to win in a landslide. But now, the gap between them and the opposition is narrowing. Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon, who had been confident in a clean victory, is reportedly growing uneasy. Let's take a closer look at the reasons...

With several major city mayors embroiled in corruption and resigning or getting arrested, the upcoming elections had become a national sensation. Park Sang-Gon had been leading the race, but that lead was starting to crumble.

"Is that Mr. Chairman's doing?" I asked.

"Yeah. He's been stepping out of the hospital more lately even in a wheelchair."

Choi Eun-Tae had begun leaving the hospital the moment he started recovering.

I nodded. "Well, they did try to take both you and your father down. No wonder he's furious."

With the obstacle of Choi Man-Sik gone, Choi Eun-Tae was now on the move without restraint.

Seeing the political news, a wave of concern began to creep in. Election season always meant politicians looking to exploit celebrities in every imaginable way. It was time to give Kang Eun-Gi a heads-up.

"Eun-Gi, you need to be careful how we carry ourselves from now on."

"Careful? Why us?"

"Politicians are going to reach out and try to pull celebrities into their campaigns."

Every election season, politicians would send aides to beg—practically threaten—famous celebrities for support speeches. Knowing this, some seasoned celebrities would book overseas shoots and just vanish across the border.

"Isn't it illegal to use celebrities in elections?" Kang Eun-Gi asked.

"Surprisingly, it's not. But there's an even bigger problem."

"What problem?"

"When scandals hit, they sacrifice the celebrities."

Whenever a political scandal broke, news would suddenly be flooded with stories about celebrity divorces, drugs, or assaults. Reporters working hand-in-hand with politicians made sure of it, and every time it happened, the entertainment industry got wrecked.

"So we need to watch out for idols and top stars?"

"Exactly. No one's going to care about unpopular celebrities' scandals. It won't cover their mess."

"Then in our agency, Ms. Chae Mi-Hyun is the biggest target."

The queen of rom-coms, Chae Mi-Hyun had been in the spotlight ever since helping her brother Chae Seok-Hyun gain fame.

"Right. And don't attend any drinks or dinners with producers or film directors for now."

"Got it." Then Kang Eun-Gi asked, "That's fine for me, but what about you? Isn't Hoop Entertainment in way more danger than we are? You've got way more top-tier stars than we do."

"Don't worry. Our kids are clean."

Because Hoop Entertainment's celebrities had good character, there was no risk of them getting involved with alcohol or drugs. And more importantly, I was protecting them.

"Yeah, I figured. Anyway, good luck with the press conference tomorrow."

"Thanks."

After overcoming countless obstacles, Hoop Entertainment's IPO was now just around the corner.

A life spent building the best company and protecting the best talent—that life was slowly becoming my reality.

***

Park Sang-Gon waited for someone at a high-end Korean restaurant in Jongno, answering a call as he sat alone. The moment he heard the voice, rage surged to the top of his head.

"What do you mean we're short on campaign funds? Shake down the kids harder and go hit up some regional companies! If the gap closes by 4% in just one week, we're going to lose this thing! I don't care if you borrow money or sell land! Get it done!!"

Slamming the call to an end, Park Sang-Gon gritted his teeth.

"Choi Eun-Tae... that old bastard lost his mind. How much is he throwing around?"

Everyone knew elections cost far more under the table than over it. And word was, Choi Eun-Tae was pumping so much money into the opposition that their campaign vehicles were outnumbering the ruling party's across the country.

Which meant Park Sang-Gon had only one option left: power of authority.

That was the reason he was here tonight at this high-end restaurant, waiting to meet someone he had been trying to reach for days but who hadn't responded. It was none other than the man who lived beneath the blue tiles of the Blue House.

Just then, the door opened.

Rattle.

"Mr. President—huh? Wait, why are you here alone?"

Park Sang-Gon expected help from the president since he was from a fellow party member. However, the one who entered wasn't the president.

It was Kang Sung-Gi, the Chief Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs.

"Secretary Kang! I asked to see the VIP, not you."

Kang Sung-Gi's face was stony as he spoke. "I'm here to deliver the VIP's message. He says: 'Those who try to use power for personal gain must bear the consequences themselves.'"

Park Sang-Gon started to shake with fury. "After everything I've done to help, this is how he repays me?"

"I'm just the messenger."

"Shut up!"

Park Sang-Gon grabbed the teacup in front of him and hurled it.

Crash.

The porcelain teacup shattered into pieces.

"I'm not going down like this! I, Park Sang-Gon, will never fall this easily!"

Fuming, Park Sang-Gon stormed out of the room.

Bang.

The door slammed shut. Once the echo died, Kang Sung-Gi let out a heavy sigh and stepped outside. He then opened the door to the next room.

Inside was Choi Eun-Tae in a wheelchair, along with his attorney.

"Mr. Chairman, did you hear everything?"

"I did. Tell him I'm grateful."

"Then shall we go together now? The VIP has asked for you personally."

Choi Eun-Tae shook his head beneath his mask. "No. What he's done for me is enough. And let him know that the only reason I asked for such a favor was because Assemblyman Park is a politician who needs to disappear for the good of the country, not out of personal grievance."

"The VIP understands. That's why he agreed to let Assemblyman Park go. But he truly wishes to see you."

Choi Eun-Tae smiled faintly. "Meeting someone like me, who deals in the shadows, would only become a liability for him. There's no need to dig up our connection from twenty years ago. Just tell him I wish him a safe and scandal-free remainder of his term."

The current president had made a name for himself with four consecutive independent wins in Jongno, later joining the ruling party and winning the presidency. His neutral image had only been possible thanks to Choi Eun-Tae's quiet political support behind the scenes.

"

Oh

, and... tell him I'm thankful. Thankful for treating someone like me, just a moneylender, as a human being. I'll send a contribution soon. I hope it can be used to help the powerless and those in need."

"Mr. Chairman... in that case, even more reason to meet him in person—"

Choi Eun-Tae just smiled again and looked at his lawyer. "Let's go, Attorney Kim."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman."

With Attorney Kim Tae-Hoon pushing the wheelchair, Choi Eun-Tae exited the room. Kang Sung-Gi stood silently, watching the white-haired man roll away, then bowed deeply toward his back. To the world, he may have been just a loan shark. But to those who knew him, Choi Eun-Tae was someone who never hesitated to give money where it was truly needed.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman!"

Kang Sung-Gi's voice rang out loud enough for Choi Eun-Tae to hear.

***

Early Saturday morning, I arrived at the company for a strategy meeting with President Kang Gam-Chan and Director Kang Ji-Yung. We had to ensure today's press conference went flawlessly. Only then could we achieve our target IPO share price of twenty thousand won.

After hours of discussion, I returned to the fourth floor. Once all the staff of Division Jung were gathered, Promotion Manager Kim Mi-Hye showed us the latest trending articles.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

[

Jiri Mountain

hits 10 million viewers!]

[Lee Tae-Poong scores back-to-back 10 million hits! Hwangryong Film Association buzz rising!]

[Go Jae-Soo poised to win Best New Actor before even debuting in Hollywood!]

[Kang Ha-Na surpasses 2 million MeTube subscribers!]

[Jung Yoo-Jin's Instargem followers top 900K!]

[Choi Deok-Bae and Choi Han-Ul crowned 'Sold-Out Bros'—new LM hoodies sell out!]

[Park Sang-Gyu starts filming

Doppelgänger

!]

[Cherry Blossom hints at comeback preparations?]

Once again, half the entertainment headlines were about Hoop Entertainment. Most of our stars had become household names. Even Deok-Bae was quickly establishing himself. Park Sang-Gyu had landed a lead role in

Doppelgänger

and was steadily gaining recognition through a supporting role in

Haze

.

"Mr. Jung. With this much buzz, doesn't it feel like the press conference is already won?"

I shook my head. "No. We can't afford to be careless."

"Huh? Why not?"

Kim Mi-Hye and the team all tilted their heads, confused.

"Because we don't give reporters under-the-table money."

In this industry, it was practically tradition to offer reporters 'envelopes.' However, Hoop Entertainment didn't operate like that and never crossed that line. For that reason, many reporters weren't exactly fond of us. Maybe that was why Everyday gave this fortune today

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 20, 2021]

[Fortune of the Day: Forewarned is forearmed]

Forewarned is forearmed meant that if you were prepared in advance, you had nothing to worry about. That was why I had been up since dawn, making sure everything was ready.

Yet Do Ran-Hee, who didn't know the full situation, tilted her head. "Mr. Jung! Then should we play along and hype the room up a bit at the press conference today?"

"There's no need for that. I've already got everything prepared."

I made eye contact with each one of them, reassuring them silently and telling them to trust me.

Just then, my eternal comrade Lee Yung-Jin clenched her fist and spoke. "Well, Mr. Jung's never let us down, right?

Eh~

I'm not even gonna worry. I'm just gonna focus on my part today."

Do Ran-Hee chimed in. "Yeah, seriously. Who could ever beat Mr. Jung? Mr. Jung! You got this!"

All the talent agents of Division Jung shouted "you got this!" together, and I headed confidently to the small hall with their cheers behind me.

***

After the meeting with Division Jung, I headed to the president's office. I sat down with Kang Gam-Chan and Kang Ji-Yung to go over a few final details about the press conference. Then, we all headed down to the small basement hall together. It was packed with over 150 reporters. That was 50 more than had RSVP'd.

Since Kang Ji-Yung was in charge of the presentation, she escorted Kang Gam-Chan to the stage where Vice President Kim Gwan-Woo and Director Jung Soo-Hyuk were already waiting.

"We'll head up first," Kang Ji-Yung said.

I nodded. "Yes, I'll be waiting right up front."

I took my seat in the front row of the audience, ready to jump in if needed. Seated right next to me was Choi Yung-Ho, president of Daeheung Savings Bank, who had just been released from custody today.

"You've been through a lot, Mr. Choi."

"Come on, you're the one who's had it rough, Chief Jung. I'm sorry I dumped everything on you that night."

"Not at all."

After exchanging those brief words, the doors closed.

Then the host, Executive Director Kim Jang-Bi, stepped up to the mic and began the proceedings. "Mic check, mic check. Let us now begin the press conference for Hoop Entertainment. First, we'll hear from our president, Mr. Kang Gam-Chan."

Kang Gam-Chan began explaining the current status of Hoop Entertainment's business since my regression—How the company had grown several times over, and how we planned to expand globally going forward. Once his confident presentation ended, the Q&A session began.

"We'll now take questions from the floor."

Shff. Shff. Shff.

Reporters all shot their hands up at once.

Kim Jang-Bi scanned the crowd, then pointed toward someone in the middle of the second row. "Yes, Mr. Park?"

"Yes, I'm Reporter Park Hyung-Sik from Spotlight Daily Newspaper."

Park Hyung-Sik, the viper. He was the head of the culture desk at Korea's biggest daily, Spotlight Daily Newspaper. He was infamous for picking out the worst possible angles on the entertainment industry, making him public enemy number one among talent agencies. And right on cue, he opened with a loaded question.

"I hope you won't take offense, but is it true that Jung Yoo-Jin lives in the same house as her talent agent?"

The room stirred as all eyes turned to me in the front row. He was clearly implying something about my relationship with Yoo-Jin. With a smirk tugging at his lips, Park Hyung-Sik waited for my response.

But just then, Kang Gam-Chan pointed toward me as planned. "I think our Chief Jung should answer that one directly."

I took the mic with a calm smile and stood up. After all, I had been fully prepared for something like this.