Chapter 841: How to Handle Assault (3)

Baek Hong-Gyun received only basic treatment at the company before heading down to the underground parking lot. Even on the way down in the elevator, his cheekbone, where President Kim Tae-Kwon had struck, still throbbed.

"

Ugh

, damn it. That brute. How can he hit an actor in the face?

Argh

!"

He felt humiliated and wronged. But with Kim Tae-Kwon being a former gangster still closely tied to organized crime, there was no way he could even think about suing him. If he went so far as to hire a lawyer and press charges, he wouldn't be worrying about his career in entertainment, but he would be fearing for his life.

"Shit! It hurts like hell! What if it leaves a scar?"

He wanted to go to a hospital right away, but the media was already all over him for assaulting his talent agent, and he couldn't risk being seen. In the end, the only place left for Baek Hong-Gyun to go was home.

Beep.

He opened the door to his Binz and got into the driver's seat. That's when Kim Tae-Kwon's words from earlier flashed back.

-Stay home for the time being. Lay low. Politicians are using your name to stir the press, so don't even think about pushing back. It's going to take a long time to bury this, and of course, the cost of that will be deducted from your settlement. Just so you know!

Out of the twelve companies Baek Hong-Gyun had been signed on to do commercials for, six had already inquired about canceling. And the rest could pull out any minute.

"Canceling over a little scuffle with a talent agent? What the hell is wrong with this world?"

Grumbling to himself, Baek Hong-Gyun remembered what he had heard about politicians dragging his name through the mud and couldn't help but search his name on the phone.

However, it turned out the situation was far worse than he had expected.

[Seoul mayoral candidate Chae Chi-Dong proposes 'Baek Hong-Gyun Prevention Act' to be included in city ordinance.]

[Opposition candidate Park Deok-Ryul vows zero tolerance for violence: Promises harsh punishment for power-abusing employers like Baek Hong-Gyun to create a fair Seoul.]

(Comments)

-Baek Hong-Gyun seemed so classy, but I guess he's actually a total scumbag.

-This is why you can't trust celebrities just by their looks.

-Apparently he was always polite to staff but treated his talent agent like garbage, which is why this never came out until now.

-What a calculated bastard.

-I feel so bad for the talent agent who had to work under him. Probably got beat every day while everyone else thought Baek Hong-Gyun was some sweetheart.

-Let's never see Baek Hong-Gyun on TV again!

...

There hadn't even been a trial or any video released. And yet, the public had already branded Baek Hong-Gyun the poster boy for workplace abuse. It was all because politicians were using his name to score political points.

"Fucking politicians. They do this every damn election season. Shit! Celebrities are always the easy target, huh?"

Baek Hong-Gyun was so furious that he slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

Thud.

Honk~

The horn echoed through the parking lot.

He yelled for a while, seething, but it didn't make him feel any better. On top of that, the potential damages from ad cancellations could amount to tens of billions of won, which terrified him. And his agency wasn't even doing anything and still hadn't taken the articles down.

"Damn it. President Kim just smacked me in the face without even hesitating, but he's taking forever to pull the articles!"

Baek Hong-Gyun lashed out, but no one was listening and nothing changed.

Then suddenly, a notification popped up on his phone from Instargem.

Ding.

[TAEMI has posted a new photo.]

It said his wife, Jeon Tae-Mi, had uploaded something on Instargem. For a moment, he wondered if maybe she was taking his side. He clicked the alert, clinging to that hope.

"Come on. At least you do something for me."

Yet while his insides were burning, the post on Instargem showed a bright smiling face holding a king crab.

[@TAEMI]

-King crab mukbang. >,< So delicious.

April king crab is blue king crab!

From February to September, go with blue!

Red king crab is from September to February!

(^ᅲ^)

"That crazy bitch... her husband is getting beaten to hell and she's out there grinning and fooling around?"

Baek Hong-Gyun was livid to the core and immediately called his wife.

-Hello?

"Hey! Jeon Tae-Mi! Where are you right now?"

-Why are you yelling again?

"Just tell me where you are!"

-I'm home.

"

Oh

, really? Your husband's life is falling apart right now, and you think it's funny? You were laughing it up all over Instargem!"

-Who says I'm laughing? That Instargem post was uploaded by the company. It wasn't enough for you to hit me at home, and now you're beating people outside too?

"Are you out of your mind and asking to get hit? Who do you think you are, lecturing me? You've gone crazy since you haven't been hit enough lately!"

-Please stop it. How long do you think I'm going to put up with this? And did I hit anyone? You're the one who caused all this by beating someone, so why are you blaming me? Go apologize to that talent agent first.

"

Oh,

wow, look at you getting bold. Didn't I tell you not to talk back? And shit, if you'd treated me right, do you think I'd be going around beating people? All this anger is built up inside me because of you!"

-So now that's my fault too?

"Talking back again? Shit, that's it. I guess I'll have to train you until you learn to behave. You stay right there at home."

-Y-you're coming right now?

"Yeah. You stay put. If you try to run, you're dead."

Click.

Baek Hong-Gyun clenched his fist after hanging up. Honestly, it could have been anyone. He just needed someone to take his rage out on, and her talking back was nothing more than an excuse.

Baek Hong-Gyun started the engine at once and headed for his home in Yongsan.

Vroooom!

Along with the roar of the engine, Baek Hong-Gyun's ragged breathing grew heavier and heavier.

***

While I was preparing things related to Baek Hong-Gyun at Gangnam Seven Star Hospital, I got a call from the singer Jeon Tae-Mi.

-Chief Jung. Th-this is bad. I think my husband is going to kill me! What should I do?

It was something I had expected, and there was no real problem. I had already prepared for this the moment I decided to bring Baek Hong-Gyun down that morning.

"Calm down, Mrs. Jeon."

-How am I supposed to calm down? My husband sounded different today.

Ah,

what do I do? What do I do! Should I just run away?

"No. Then we won't be able to resolve this today. I already sent someone earlier to protect you, so you can relax."

When I heard earlier that Jeon Tae-Mi was going home, I had sent someone over to help her.

-One person? Not even you, Chief Jung? How am I supposed to feel safe with just one person? Chief Jung, can't you just come yourself?

Jeon Tae-Mi asked because she knew I could fight. However, I only had one body, and there was nothing I could do.

As much as I understood her fear, this wasn't something that could be solved by me beating up Baek Hong-Gyun. The moment I laid a hand on him, Chief Yoon Dong-Gu and people from Gwanwoo Entertainment who were waiting for me to slip up would pounce on it.

"I'm at Gangnam Seven Star Hospital right now, so I'd be too late anyway. And the person I sent is just as reliable as I am, so don't worry."

At that moment, a call came in on Deok-Bae's phone.

Buzz~

To keep the line with Jeon Tae-Mi clear, I had given Deok-Bae's number to the person assigned to protect her. Now that person was calling.

"Mrs. Jeon, just a moment, please."

-No, Chief Jung! In a situation like this, how can you say just a moment—

I left Jeon Tae-Mi's frantic voice behind and answered the call on Deok-Bae's phone.

-I'm here. I'm in front of the HMH villa, but Mrs. Jeon Tae-Mi has to confirm before I can go in.

"Got it. Hold on."

I switched back to my call with Jeon Tae-Mi.

"Mrs. Jeon. The person I sent has arrived. They're waiting in a car in front of the parking lot, so please arrange for her to come in. It's a black Binz, plate number 55O 88XX."

-Who is it, anyway? I'm home alone right now. You're telling me to let some man in?

"Don't worry. It's not a man. It's a woman."

-A woman is supposed to protect me? How is that even possible?

"You know Zhou Shishi, right? Division Jung's talent agent? The one who came with Ling Ling."

-Yeah, I know her. But how is that skinny girl supposed to protect me?

"Yes, her. She used to serve in a Chinese special forces unit. For the record, even I wouldn't want to face her."

-Really?

"Yes. So Baek Hong-Gyun wouldn't stand a chance against Shishi."

With Zhou Shishi, a one‑woman army from Chinese special forces, Baek Hong-Gyun couldn't win no matter what he tried—unless he showed up with an assault rifle, anyway.

"And if things feel off, you can leave the villa with her. But if we want to wrap this up properly, it's better for you to stay."

-O-okay.

I then spoke back into Deok-Bae's phone.

"Shishi. When you meet Mrs. Jeon, show her what you can do. She's really scared, so even if it annoys you, just bear with it."

-No problem. When we guard VIPs, we often show our skills in advance. I'll do that.

"And you brought the gear, right? Baek Hong-Gyun should arrive in about ten minutes."

-It only takes a minute to set up.

"Then I'm counting on you."

Zhou Shishi gave a light laugh.

-I won't kill him.

This basically meant she would only beat him half to death.

Buzz.

-The door just opened. I'm going in.

"Okay."

After hanging up, it felt like I was using a butcher's knife to catch a chicken. Nevertheless, if it meant keeping Jeon Tae-Mi completely safe, this was the best option.

After that, I just waited and took slow deep breaths for the next call.

***

Baek Hong-Gyun's sedan pulled into the underground parking lot of the luxury HMH villa overlooking the Han River.

Screech.

He slammed on the brakes and immediately started swearing.

"Shit!"

Traffic had been bad today, which only made his temper worse.

The HMH villa had a private elevator system that went straight from the parking garage to each unit, so he could go home without running into anyone.

Beep.

As the digital door lock unlocked, Baek Hong-Gyun rushed inside, ready to swing his fists the moment he saw his wife.

"Hey! Jeon Tae-Mi! Where are you?"

That was when the bedroom door cracked open, and Jeon Tae-Mi stepped out. For some reason, her face looked strangely bright today.

"Your husband is crashing into hell, and you're smiling? You think that's funny?"

When Baek Hong-Gyun's eyes flashed, Jeon Tae-Mi answered in a trembling voice. "I-I didn't smile. D-don't accuse me of things I didn't do."

That was when Baek Hong-Gyun, looking murderous, grabbed not his fist but a golf club. "You really take your husband for a piece of shit! I've been holding back until now, but I'm done today. I'm going to beat you half to death!"

Baek Hong-Gyun pulled a seven iron out of the golf bag beside the sofa. With the club in hand, he strode straight toward Jeon Tae-Mi.

Terrified, Jeon Tae-Mi staggered backward. "H-honey. I'm sorry, okay? Please calm down. Please."

"Shut up! You keep disrespecting me in my own home, and that's why I go around throwing punches outside! All this fucking rage built up inside me, that's what did this!"

It was complete nonsense. However, Baek Hong-Gyun's mind was already beyond rational thought.

"This is all because of you, you know that?"

Baek Hong-Gyun gave in to his fury and swung the golf club at his wife.

Whoosh!

"Aaaah!"

Jeon Tae-Mi's scream echoed through the living room. However, the club never reached her and stopped in midair.

Clack.

"W-what the hell?"

He turned his head, thinking the club had hit something. That was when the world suddenly flipped upside down.

Whirl!

And then, a dull impact slammed into his back, and his vision went dark.

Thud!

As Baek Hong-Gyun lost consciousness, the last thing he heard was a sharp curse in Korean.

"Son of a bitch..."

***

Watching everything unfold through the security camera Zhou Shishi had installed in Jeon Tae-Mi's living room, I pressed the stop recording button the moment it was over.

[Home security camera ver. 2.0]

[Recording stopped: Shishi.avi]

A message popped up saying the file had been saved.

"It's done."

Just moments earlier, as soon as Zhou Shishi arrived at Jeon Tae-Mi's place, she had set up the security camera. Then she hid behind the living room curtains and waited for Baek Hong-Gyun. When he came in and tried to strike Jeon Tae-Mi with the golf club, Zhou Shishi burst out from behind the curtains, wrapped the swinging club with a towel, and stopped it in midair.

After that, Zhou Shishi flipped Baek Hong-Gyun over and knocked him out in a single blow. Looking down at his sprawled body, she finished the job I had asked by even spitting out a juicy curse.

"Shishi's gotten really good at Korean swearing."

Since coming to Korea, Zhou Shishi’s pronunciation had improved by leaps and bounds.

Just then, my phone rang.

Buzz~

[Incoming video call from Zhou Shishi]

I answered immediately. On the screen was Zhou Shishi's calm face, not a drop of sweat on her.

"Nice work. So how is Baek Hong-Gyun looking?"

-He's sleeping.

Zhou Shishi tilted the phone downward. Baek Hong-Gyun lay sprawled on the floor, blindfolded and gagged. His arms and legs were pulled back and bound with cable ties. Since Zhou Shishi was from a Chinese special forces unit, she had him tied up nice and tight.

Still, it didn't really look like he was just sleeping.

"He's... breathing, right? He is, right? Tell me he is."

-Of course.

'

Thank god

.'

"Nice work."

-No problem. So what do we do now?

"Hold on. Can you put Mrs. Jeon on?"

Zhou Shishi shrugged and handed Jeon Tae-Mi the phone. Soon, Jeon Tae-Mi's worried face filled the screen.

-Chief Jung. What do I do now? I couldn't do what you told me. You said to stay calm, but I panicked and couldn't follow your instructions.

Jeon Tae-Mi didn't want any articles coming out saying she had been abused repeatedly. That was why I had asked her for one thing when we filmed this. She could act startled, but she had to stay composed. When Baek Hong-Gyun came in, Jeon Tae-Mi couldn't look pathetic like someone who was used to being beaten.

However, the moment Baek Hong-Gyun showed up with that golf club, Jeon Tae-Mi had instinctively shown the same terror she always did after being abused for so long. So if this footage ever leaked, people would immediately realize she had been a victim of habitual abuse.

Still, I had another way to deal with this situation.

"You didn't do anything wrong, so don't blame yourself. I'll handle it, so don't worry. But first I need to check something. Are you going to stay married to Baek Hong-Gyun?"

Before the regression, Jeon Tae-Mi couldn't take the abuse anymore, held a sudden press conference, and announced her divorce. She said she would divorce him again this time too, but I still asked just in case.

It turned out my worry was unnecessary.

-Are you crazy? I can't spend even one more second with a piece of trash like him. You saw how I almost died just now.

That was a relief.

"Understood. Then from now on, just do exactly what I tell you."

-Wait.

"Yes?"

-

Sigh.

You know, Chief Jung. I'll never forget what you've done for me today. Not as long as I live.

I smiled gently and replied.

"Once this is over, you'll finally have days where you can smile. So until the problems with the other people in Singer Division 4 are completely resolved, please keep your mouth shut."

-Okay.

Besides Jeon Tae-Mi, I still had to deal with the issues of Oh Ji-Seon, Sung Hee-Yeon, and Bok Seon-lIl in Singer Division 4. So until then, Yoon Dong-Gu couldn't know that I was helping Jeon Tae-Mi.

-So what do I do now?

That was when I started giving her a few instructions. I loosened my fingers and placed my hands over the laptop keyboard. I was determined to hide the fact that she had been repeatedly abused and instead push Baek Hong-Gyun into a pit he would never crawl out of.

'

Shall we start wrapping this up

?'