Chapter 814: Yeon Bo-Ra (1)

"Her name is... Yeon Bo-Ra."

The moment I heard that name, my heart jolted.

The first time I met Yeon Bo-Ra was one summer day in 2025, four years later. Out of nowhere, Kim Dong-Soo showed up with Yeon Bo-Ra at Top Entertainment.

Yeon Bo-Ra was a fragile-looking beauty with delicate features that naturally stirred protective instincts, and her eyes were always filled with a quiet sadness. The moment I saw her, I knew she had the potential to become a star. And sure enough, Yeon Bo-Ra immediately began drawing attention from viewers after appearing as a supporting actress in the morning drama

Sound of Waves.

However, the moment public interest started to gather around her, Kim Dong-Soo shut down the flood of role offers coming her way as if this much was enough.

So I requested a private meeting with Kim Dong-Soo, because I wanted to push Yeon Bo-Ra further as an actress. Nevertheless, Kim Dong-Soo rejected my suggestion outright. He told me he had other plans and that I shouldn't concern myself with her anymore.

Something felt off, so I immediately started digging into the background. That was when I realized the truth. From the beginning, Yeon Bo-Ra had been brought into Top Entertainment as a hospitality celebrity.

A hospitality celebrity was someone entertainment companies introduced when powerful figures or chaebol families needed a lover or sponsor. The company used them to curry favor with people in power. By borrowing powerful figures' influence, they planted other celebrities as leads in big-budget projects.

In other words, instead of nurturing Yeon Bo-Ra as an actress, Kim Dong-Soo had blocked her growing opportunities because he intended to use her to further expand the rapidly growing Top Entertainment at the time.

However, Yeon Bo-Ra was different from the typical hospitality celebrities who willingly stepped forward for money. The sorrow that always lingered in her eyes was there because she hated what she was being forced to do. Once I understood that, I couldn't pretend I didn't know.

So on the day she was supposed to meet a sponsor, I volunteered to drive her myself. On the way to the hotel, I deliberately caused a minor collision with a wall and took her to the hospital. I immediately admitted her into a room and told her plainly that if she didn't want to do it, she should say she doesn't want to.

But back then, Yeon Bo-Ra didn't even look at me when she rejected my offer to help.

-I have nothing left. My mom is gone, and no matter how I live from now on, nothing will change. So you don't have to worry about me.

Her words were soaked in unbearable emptiness. She was like someone with no hope for life and just existing because they couldn't die. Still, I told her not to give up and that everyone gets a chance.

Only then did Yeon Bo-Ra finally look me in the eyes and speak. Her face held a lonely, fragile smile.

-If you had been my first talent agent, Mr. Jung... my mom wouldn't have died... and my life wouldn't have turned out like this...

Caught off guard, I asked Yeon Bo-Ra what she meant. She brushed it off at first, but after my persistent questions, she finally told me everything.

Years ago, on the day her family fell victim to a lease fraud, her mother collapsed from the shock. And when they were eventually kicked out of their home, Yeon Bo-Ra received an offer to become a celebrity. Thinking it was a chance to make big money quickly, Yeon Bo-Ra stepped into the industry.

However, her first talent agent turned her into a hospitality celebrity. She hated it so much she felt like dying, but she couldn't quit because of her mother's hospital bills.

When I asked her about it, it had been exactly one month since Yeon Bo-Ra's mother passed away.

-So it's already too late, Mr. Jung. My life ends here. Still... I'll never forget that you cared about me, even just like this.

Back then, when Yeon Bo-Ra said her life was over, I thought she only meant she couldn't climb any higher. However, she meant the real end.

One week later, Yeon Bo-Ra followed her mother and ended her own life at the age of her youth in full bloom.

That was how Yeon Bo-Ra left a massive scar on my heart. So the moment I heard her name, I immediately checked the Everyday's schedule entry.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: November 7, 2025]

-03:00 p.m.: Visit to Seoul Memorial Park Crematorium. (Cremation of actress Yeon Bo-Ra.)

The schedule entry remained unchanged. The fact that this schedule entry was still there meant Yeon Bo-Ra's life was about to start going off the rails. And if my memory was correct, she had said that her family fell victim to a lease scam the very first time they escaped the semi-basement. As a result, her mother collapsed from the shock.

This meant the first thing I had to do was stop that housing contract.

I pretended not to know anything about Yeon Bo-Ra and asked Sung Ji-Yeon casually, "Ji-Yeon. So you're saying you want to rent a place for this Yeon Bo-Ra girl?"

Sung Ji-Yeon nodded. "Yes. Bo-Ra's a really dedicated member of our fan club, and if she lives nearby, she'll be a huge help. We have plenty of empty units in our DH Villa, so couldn't you help us out, Mr. Jung?"

The DH Villa near the company was a luxury villa Sung Ji-Yeon's grandfather, the chairman of Donghae Fisheries, had built specifically for his granddaughter. It wasn't built to generate rental income, so many people were already using it—Sung Ji-Yeon, the Hoengseong Girls High School's girls, Cha Eun-Sol, and several celebrities I had brought in. Of course, Hoop Entertainment paid proper compensation for their use.

Yet even if the price was lowered, it was still a high-end villa, far beyond what Yeon Bo-Ra and her mother could afford.

"Ji-Yeon, those units are huge. Even a two-room place there would be at least 500 million won for a lease. They made 130 million from the stock hitting the ceiling, but what are they supposed to do about the remaining 370 million?"

Sung Ji-Yeon glanced at me and answered carefully. "I'll talk to my grandpa and ask him to take only half. Couldn't you... maybe help with the rest, Mr. Jung?"

Not just Sung Ji-Yeon, but Han Kkot-Nim, Park Han-Byul, Yang Ji-Woo, and even Cha Eun-Sol were all looking up at me with those pleading, Puss-in-Boots eyes.

Honestly, offering a lease discount in exchange for fan club activities was already an excessive favor. And even then, it would still be 250 million won. Even if they combined the mother and daughter's deposit with the 130 million from selling the stock, it still wouldn't be enough.

However, if I could sign Yeon Bo-Ra, the company could provide housing. The problem was that either Yeon Bo-Ra or her mother might oppose her becoming a celebrity. So first, I had to make sure Yeon Bo-Ra's mother delayed selling the stock as long as possible.

I nodded. "Alright. Let's meet them first and talk."

Sung Ji-Yeon asked cautiously, "Should I call her?"

"No. I'll do it."

Using the number Sung Ji-Yeon gave me, I immediately made the call to Yeon Bo-Ra with my hand trembling.

[The customer you are trying to reach is unavailable...]

However, there was no answer no matter how many times I called.

"She's not picking up. Maybe it's because it's an unknown number?"

Sung Ji-Yeon tried calling too, but it was the same.

"She's not answering me either."

At that moment, I asked for the number of Yeon Bo-Ra's mother, which they had collected during fan club registration.

"Give me Bo-Ra's mom's number. She's a Blooming member too, right?"

"

Oh

, right! One second!"

After checking the member info, Sung Ji-Yeon read out the number of Yeon Bo-Ra's mother, Yoo Jung-Hee. When I called, a woman in her late thirties answered.

-Hello?

"Hello, this is Chief Jung Yoon-Ho from Hoop Entertainment."

-What? Mr. Jung?

"Yes. Your daughter's post on the fan club website has been getting a lot of attention, and I wanted to speak with her. But I couldn't reach her."

-

Ah,

her phone broke. That's probably why she couldn't answer.

And just then, a loud murmur echoed through the line.

-Give me Hoop Entertainment stock!!

-How many times do I have to tell you? Trading is suspended today because it hit the upper limit!

-Then at least put in a reservation at 95,000, no, 96,000 won.

-All right, just don't raise your voice!

The noise of the brokerage floor carried through the phone line. Just like Yeon Bo-Ra had written, it seemed they had gone to the brokerage office.

"Are you at Daebak Securities by any chance?"

-

Oh

, yes...

That was when a man who sounded to be in his fifties spoke up.

-Mrs. Yoo, what are you doing? We need to withdraw the money and sign the contract already. If you keep dragging this out, I'm leaving. I'm a busy man, you know. Why are you holding me up like this?

-

Ah

, just a moment, Mr. Lee. I'll withdraw the money and give it to you right away.

'

Withdraw the money

?'

I figured they must have gone to the brokerage together with the real estate agent because they were in a hurry to secure a place. And judging by the situation, there was a very high chance this real estate agent was the lease scammer.

Then Yeon Bo-Ra's mother spoke again.

-Mr. Jung. Thank you for calling, but I'm at the brokerage right now. I need to withdraw the money and sign the housing contract.

As she was about to hang up, I hurriedly asked for the real estate agent's name.

"Ma'am. What's that agent's name?"

-Mr. Lee Tae-Gu.

Ah

, I'm sorry. I'll call you later.

Click.

The call ended.

"Hello?"

I tried calling back immediately, but there was no answer. Still, at least I had learned the real estate agent's name.

Beside me, Sung Ji-Yeon, who had overheard everything, spoke in alarm. "Mr. Jung... did she already sell the stock?"

Han Kkot-Nim let out a long sigh. "We should've just called her right away."

Yang Ji-Woo couldn't hide her frustration either. "If she sells today, she's guaranteed to lose money..."

Park Han-Byul looked like she was on the verge of tears. "It'd be so nice if she could live in the villa with us..."

I didn't know how all of them could be this kind-hearted. Maybe it was because they grew up breathing the clean air of Hoengseong in Gangwon Province.

Just then, Cha Eun-Sol stepped forward. "Guys! Mr. Jung will handle everything. Why are you acting like it's already over?"

At Cha Eun-Sol's words, the Hoengseong Girls High School's girls's eyes lit up.

"R-right. We've got our Mr. Jung."

"Mr. Jung! What do we do now?"

I had no idea where this baseless trust came from. Yet strangely enough, it didn't feel bad.

"Don't worry. There's a way to stop all of this."

Just as Yeon Bo-Ra had written, Yoo Jung-Hee was trying to turn the risen stock into cash to pay the housing deposit. However, stocks couldn't be converted into cash on the same day. Since it was her first time dealing with stocks, Yoo Jung-Hee probably didn't know that and went to the brokerage with Lee Tae-Gu. Thanks to that, not only could we block the contract but we could also catch the lease scammer.

I immediately started making calls everywhere to save Yoo Jung-Hee and Yeon Bo-Ra.

***

After turning off her phone near the front of the long line at the Daebak Securities counter, Yoo Jung-Hee was hurriedly asked by her daughter, Yeon Bo-Ra.

"Mom. Why did Mr. Jung call you?"

"He said he read the post you uploaded on the fan club website."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"So? What did he say?"

"Well... honestly, I was so flustered I didn't even ask. I hung up without finding out."

At that moment, the 51-year-old real estate agent Lee Tae-Gu snapped irritably. "Mrs. Yoo! It's your turn now. Hurry up and withdraw the money so we can sign the contract. There are five other people waiting for that place, and I talked the owner into giving you a discount because I know you. If you keep stalling like this, what do you expect me to do? Should I just leave?"

When Lee Tae-Gu glanced at his watch and started to turn away, Yoo Jung-Hee grabbed him in a panic. "

A-ah

, all right, sir. Just a moment, please."

The lease apartment they had seen earlier had completely captured Yoo Jung-Hee's heart. It was a spacious two-room villa with a lease price of 200 million won. Even with Hoop Entertainment stock hitting the ceiling, it was a place she never would have dared to dream of.

However, the real estate agent said he had persuaded the owner to lower it to 180 million won. After subtracting the 50 million won deposit from their current place and adding the money from selling the Hoop Entertainment stock that had hit the ceiling, they would be able to live in a leased place without paying monthly rent.

Yoo Jung-Hee asked Lee Tae-Gu to wait, then sat down in front of the counter.

The teller spoke in a gentle voice, "Hello. How can I help you today?"

"I'd like to sell my stock and cash it out. I can withdraw it today, right?"

The teller shook her head. "No. You'll be able to withdraw it two business days after today. That would be Monday, April 5th."

Yoo Jung-Hee asked in a panic. "Why? It's my money."

"There's a settlement process. It normally takes two days after selling."

It was Yoo Jung-Hee's first time investing, so she had no idea about this. Her daughter Yeon Bo-Ra had only studied stocks through online searches this time, so this was also the first time she'd heard that withdrawing money took two days.

At that moment, Lee Tae-Gu, who was standing beside them, snapped irritably. "What? They said no?"

Yoo Jung-Hee spoke urgently. "Mr. Lee. They say it takes two days for the money to settle. What do we do?"

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

Lee Tae-Gu also hadn't known that stock settlement took two days, so he immediately raised his voice.

That's when complaints burst out from the people waiting in line. "Hey now. That's just how the law works. Don't take it out on someone who has nothing to do with it."

When everyone around them reacted as if two days was completely normal, Lee Tae-Gu realized it was true and quietly backed down.

"

Sigh

... there are a lot of people scheduled to see the place... what am I supposed to do..." Then Lee Tae-Gu let out a deep sigh and said, "Fine. It's not like I don't know your situation, Mrs. Yoo. I'll do you a favor. Go ahead and apply for the settlement at the counter and put down a provisional deposit. As much as you can."

"As much as I can? How much would that be?"

"How much cash do you have?"

"There's only about two million won left in my account."

"Give me that for now. Pay the balance on Monday. You know I'm doing you a favor."

"Really? You'll really do that for me?"

"I said I would, didn't I? Before I change my mind, hurry up and sell the stock. We still need to do the provisional contract afterward."

Yoo Jung-Hee bowed repeatedly. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

After finishing her thanks, Yoo Jung-Hee spoke to the teller again. "Please sell all of my stock."

"All right."

The female teller asked for her ID to proceed with the sale, and Yoo Jung-Hee handed it over.

At that moment, the teller's expression faltered. "

Um

, just a moment..."

"What is it? Is there another problem?"

Without answering, the teller turned her head. "Mr. Choi!"

A man in a navy suit walked over. "What is it?"

"She's here."

"

Oh

, she's here? Got it. I'll take care of it. Hand me the ID."

"Here you go."

Team Lead Choi Ill-Jong took the ID and smiled warmly. "Ma'am."

Yoo Jung-Hee asked in a confused tone, "Yes? Why are you calling me that?"

"We'll process your transaction in our VIP room. Could you please come this way?"

"Pardon? Me? VIP?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You've been selected as a special preferred client at our brokerage. You're eligible to trade in the VIP room."

"I'm a preferred client?"

"Yes, ma'am. Our brokerage selects socially vulnerable clients for special benefits each quarter, and you qualify. If you trade in the VIP room, there are no fees. So please come this way."

From Yoo Jung-Hee's perspective, she needed to save even a single won, so her ears naturally perked up at the mention of no fees.

"Then where should I go?"

"

Hahaha

. Just follow me this way."

Choi Ill-Jong gestured toward the VIP lounge at one side of the trading floor and led the way. Yoo Jung-Hee stood up, taking Yeon Bo-Ra with her. Lee Tae-Gu followed the mother and daughter.

But the moment Yoo Jung-Hee and Yeon Bo-Ra passed through the entrance, two security guards stopped Lee Tae-Gu.

"Wha- what is this?" Lee Tae-Gu stammered.

"Please wait here. This area is restricted to VIP guests only."

"Hey! I'm with them!"

"Only immediate family members are allowed."

Lee Tae-Gu stopped short and shouted. "Mrs. Yoo! If this is how it's going to be, I'm leaving. Is that fine with you?"

As Yoo Jung-Hee hesitated, Choi Ill-Jong smiled and spoke in her place. "It will only take ten minutes. Please wait just a moment."

"Fine. If they don't come out in ten minutes, I'm leaving. Keep that in mind."

Apologizing to Lee Tae-Gu, Yoo Jung-Hee followed Choi Ill-Jong inside. They entered the VIP lounge, turned right, and headed into a private VIP room.

***

Inside the VIP room, a man dressed in an expensive suit amid the luxurious furnishings was already waiting.

"You're Bo-Ra's mother, correct?"

"

Ah

, yes. And you are..."

The man introduced himself.

"I'm Cha Dae-Hyun, the president of Daebak Securities."

"T-the president?"

"Yes, ma'am. Please, have a seat."

Smiling, Cha Dae-Hyun gestured toward the sofa. Blinking in surprise, Yoo Jung-Hee sat down with her daughter.

Then Cha Dae-Hyun held out his phone. "Please take this call. It's from Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho of Hoop Entertainment."

Startled, Yoo Jung-Hee accepted the phone call. "H-hello?"

-Ma'am. I couldn't reach you, so I contacted you this way.

"Huh? Why? What is this about?"

-Actually... Someone I know, a benefactor, saw the situation your daughter wrote about and offered to rent out a good place at half price. That's why I called earlier.

Yoo Jung-Hee had started fangirling just to pass the time. In truth, she just wanted something she could share with her daughter. But before she realized it, she had fallen in completely. It gave her strength in her exhausting daily life and brought back memories of her late husband.

And now, in this very moment, that fangirling was about to change not just her hobbies but her and her daughter's real lives.

Faced with a situation that felt too much like a dream, Yoo Jung-Hee blurted out without thinking. "How much is it?"

At that moment, Jung Yoon-Ho's warm and pleasant laughter began to spill through the other end of the line.