Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 710: First-Year Talent Agent (2)

"Mr. Park, don't you see the camera over there?" I pointed toward the Hwaranjeon set nearby.

There were cameras positioned around the site for the making-of film, and one of them was aimed in this direction.

In that instant, Park Bok-Han stopped his outburst. "Damn it..."

"You do know that hitting Mr. Choi Dae-Gi just now is something we could report to the police, right?"

Park Bok-Han ground his teeth as his eyes darted around. He looked like he was trying to figure out if he could get to the footage before I did. But once he remembered that I was close with PD Oh Bok-Hee of Hwaranjeon, he changed course and started yelling at Choi Dae-Gi instead.

"Hey, rookie. You gonna report me? Huh? Your sunbae?"

"No, Mr. Park."

I had laid the groundwork, but Choi Dae-Gi couldn't bring himself to follow through.

'Well, that's normal for a first-year.'

Since my first move to help Choi Dae-Gi had failed, I immediately made my second. I stepped in closer to Park Bok-Han and spoke just loud enough for only him to hear.

-I know you took money from Choi In-Soo at Ace Entertainment and introduced him to Gu Min-Ji from Pink Diamond one month ago.

Choi In-Soo, the leader of the boy group Endless, had been one of Park Bok-Han's celebrities during his Ace Entertainment days. Then one month ago after transferring to TK Entertainment, Park Bok-Han took quite a bit of money from Choi In-Soo to arrange a meeting with Gu Min-Ji.

If the higher-ups at TK found out about that, they would blow a fuse. After all, a talent agent getting paid to introduce the company's idol to a man was absolutely absurd.

Sure enough, Park Bok-Han's face went completely pale.

-Y-you bastard. How do you know that?

-That's not the point. What matters is, if you do exactly as I say, I'll keep it quiet.

-What the hell kind of game is this?

-Are you doing it or not?

Grinding his teeth, Park Bok-Han asked.

-What do I have to do for you to keep quiet?

-Go back to Seoul. Now.

Telling him to head back as soon as he arrived in Jeju made Park Bok-Han's face stiff. But no matter how he looked at it, there was no way out. Eventually, he trembled and finally nodded.

-Then... I'll just leave the two PDs with Choi Dae-Gi and go.

'What a joke. I'm trying to erase the Everyday schedule entry. Why would I allow that?'

-Don't give me that crap. Just go back immediately. Let the PDs go fishing or whatever.

I knew full well the PDs came for bribes, but I played dumb.

Park Bok-Han's face flushed red, then went pale again.

-Fine...

-Oh, and when you arrive at Jeju Airport, take a photo with your watch and send it via Kk Talk. Do the same once you land at Gimpo.

-Damn it. Fine.

Swearing, Park Bok-Han turned his back. Then after saying something quietly to Choi Seok-Hwan and Ahn Chae-Hyung, the two PDs grimaced. Yet I just smiled innocently, pretending not to know a thing.

After finishing with the PDs, Park Bok-Han turned and snapped at Choi Dae-Gi.

"Hey, rookie. I'm heading back, so make sure you handle the site properly, alright?"

"Ah... Y-yes, sir..."

"And don't expect help from other companies, got it? Handle everything yourself!"

"Yes, sir!"

"What are you standing there for? Get back to Sung-Yeon! Move!"

"I-I'm going!"

Choi Dae-Gi had fallen when he had been kicked in the shin earlier, so he limped away in pain.

'I'll make it up to you, Dae-Gi. Just hang in there a little longer.'

Meanwhile, Park Bok-Han turned to speak to the two PDs. "Since it's busy on set, let's clear out of here. I'll show you a nearby fishing spot. Your hotel's close by anyway, right?"

Choi Seok-Hwan and Ahn Chae-Hyung nodded slightly, their faces showing a hint of annoyance.

"Fine. Let's do that."

But then, Choi Seok-Hwan frowned and looked at me. "Chief Jung. I'll see you later, yeah?"

He paused between his words, letting the hostility show.

On the other hand, Ahn Chae-Hyung spoke with a wide smile. "Chief Jung. Great work. Keep it up!"

His tone was friendly, but the message was clear—a warning that he wouldn't forget what happened today.

I deliberately acted like I didn't catch on and bowed my head. If I got defensive, I would just be giving them an excuse. "Take care on your way~"

I gave a bold ninety-degree bow as I said it loudly. The two of them, clearly displeased, didn't respond and just turned away.

Thud, thud.

I raised my head as I listened to the three of them walking away.

"Scumbags. You really want to do that to a twenty-two-year-old girl?"

Clicking my tongue, I checked Everyday. However, the schedule entry remained.

'Why isn't it disappearing?'

The current time was 8:30 p.m., and the article was supposed to go up at 11.

'Maybe it's because Park Bok-Han hasn't actually left Jeju yet.'

They said the PDs were staying nearby, so for now, I needed to get Deok-Bae away from the set and into the hotel.

I was convinced the schedule entry might disappear if we could just keep some distance between them.

***

It was now 9:30 p.m.

I had sent Deok-Bae, along with Jung Sang-Bong, to the luxury H2 Hotel about five minutes away. Ten minutes ago, they had contacted me to say they had arrived. Yet still, the schedule entry remained unchanged.

'What the hell? What's going on?'

As I struggled to make sense of it, a Kk Talk message came in.

[Team Lead Park Bok-Han: Damn it. Happy now? (Jeju to Gimpo flight ticket.jpeg) (Photo under the gate clock.jpeg)]

In the message, Park Bok-Han had sent a selfie with a twisted expression, taken under the airport's clock.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: Send another Kk Talk message once you land in Gimpo.]

Some more notifications popped up after that, but I didn't bother checking. They were probably just curse words anyway.

Still, one thing didn't make sense. Deok-Bae had already arrived at the H2 Hotel. So it didn't make sense how he could possibly attack the PDs at a location right next to the set. Just in case, I called Jung Sang-Bong and told him to make sure Deok-Bae stayed put. Then I turned my attention to the scene in front of me.

We were currently on a boat. Right in front of me, Oh Sung-Yeon and Yoo-Jin were filming together. If the schedule entry still didn't disappear, I was prepared to follow Oh Sung-Yeon. After all, the PDs would show up wherever she was according to Everyday.

At that moment, Oh Bok-Hee picked up a megaphone. "If you're ready, let's roll. As soon as the scene starts, Princess Do-Hwa needs to go full force. Got it?"

"Yes, Mrs. Oh!"

The next scene was where Princess Do-Hwa orders her attendants to throw Princess Yu-Hwa off the boat. To prepare for that, Yoo-Jin and Oh Sung-Yeon took position at the portside railing and began talking in character.

Oh Sung-Yeon was playing the role of Aso, a key attendant to Princess Yu-Hwa. In the drama, Aso was a bright and slightly ditzy character with fierce loyalty—the right hand of Princess Yu-Hwa.

"Alright, here we go. Ready~ action!"

At that moment, Min Gyu-Ri and the actors playing the attendants stepped out of the cabin.

Creeeak.

『Yu-Hwa unnie. Don't blame me. It's because you stood in my way. This is all... all your fault.』

Now playing Princess Do-Hwa, Min Gyu-Ri stared at Yoo-Jin with fierce and venomous eyes.

Unlike her past self before the regression—talented but complacent—this version of Min Gyu-Ri had become frighteningly skilled. It was because she had finally started to put in effort, all to surpass Yoo-Jin. Min Gyu-Ri's expression was so intense that the hostility stung like static against the skin.

However, she had picked the wrong opponent. Yoo-Jin, the acting prodigy, was someone Min Gyu-Ri couldn't easily catch up to. Yoo-Jin brushed aside Min Gyu-Ri's hostility and smoothly delivered her next line.

『How foolish of you, dear Do-Hwa. If I die on this ship, who do you think would be the prime suspect?』

Yoo-Jin looked at Min Gyu-Ri with a face that pitied her for losing all sense over a man.

At that moment, Min Gyu-Ri shouted furiously.

『That look again! I told you before! Don't you dare look at me like that!』

Eyes wild and frothing at the mouth, Min Gyu-Ri barked an order.

『What are you all standing around for?! Toss Yu-Hwa into the sea! Now!』

At Min Gyu-Ri's command, four female attendants behind her rushed forward. Immediately, Oh Sung-Yeon stepped in front of Yoo-Jin and spread her arms wide.

『Princess Yu-Hwa! Quickly! Run! I won't let them through, no matter what~~! Ahhh!』

Buttons popped off Oh Sung-Yeon's coat, and her hair flew wild in the wind. Then, as one of the attendants tried to get past her, she grabbed the arm and bit down hard with a scream. Like a rabid beast, Oh Sung-Yeon went into full rampage mode.

Just then, one of the attendants shouted.

『Screw it! Toss this one overboard first!』

The four attendants joined forces and hoisted Oh Sung-Yeon into the air. Suspended in the air, Oh Sung-Yeon flailed her legs desperately.

『Ahhhh! Even if I die, I won't let you lay a finger on my royal highness!!!』

Oh Sung-Yeon's clear, high-pitched voice soared past five octaves. With her eyes squeezed shut as if ready for death, she cried out.

『Oh no! I'm going to die~~! I die here, but may the princess at least be happy~~!』

At that moment, Yoo-Jin pulled a dagger from inside her robes. Gleaming in the moonlight, it was a dagger that Kim Beom-Min had gifted to Princess Yu-Hwa from the Tang Dynasty. The moment Yoo-Jin gripped it, her eyes changed. Just like in her cross-dressing days, Yoo-Jin swiftly slashed toward the attendants.

Swish, swish, swish.

Each time the blade caught the moonlight, the attendants screamed and collapsed. As Yoo-Jin's dagger danced, the attendants dropped Oh Sung-Yeon to the floor.

Thud.

Landing hard, Oh Sung-Yeon lay motionless as if unconscious. Though the portside railing was three meters high, she pretended to have blacked out, thinking she had actually fallen into the sea.

Meanwhile, Yoo-Jin stepped over the fallen attendants and approached Min Gyu-Ri, pressing the blade to her neck.

『Do-Hwa! You really want to die, don't you?』

Then, Min Gyu-Ri began to giggle.

『Hehehe. They say goblins can't stand the stench of blood. And you think you can kill me? Stop with the tough act!』

Yoo-Jin's eyes flared wide as she ground her teeth. Min Gyu-Ri taunted Yoo-Jin, deliberately provoking her.

『Come on, do it! Go ahead, try it!』

Right then, Yoo-Jin gritted her teeth and spoke.

『You're right. Someone soaked in blood can't be near a goblin. But tell me something... why would someone so clever as you not know this?』

『Not know what?』

『That there are plenty of ways to cause pain without spilling blood!』

The moment she finished speaking, Yoo-Jin's face turned icy. She grabbed Min Gyu-Ri's right wrist and slammed it against the ship's railing. Then, she raised the handle of the dagger and brought it down hard.

Thud!

Yoo-Jin hadn't struck Min Gyu-Ri's hand, but she hit the railing. However, her expression as she drove the handle down was so intense that it looked like she was about to shatter bone.

At that perfect moment, Min Gyu-Ri let out a scream.

『Aaaagh! My hand... my hand... how...how dare you!!』

Yoo-Jin spoke in a cold voice.

『If you try something like this again, the person I send will take your wrist. Don't forget the lesson etched into your right hand. Understood?』

Yoo-Jin fully conveyed Princess Yu-Hwa's righteous fury and royal authority.

Min Gyu-Ri's deranged expression, Yoo-Jin's precision, and Oh Sung-Yeon's wild yet comical performance blended together to create a powerful scene.

"Okay~~ cut!! Great job, everyone!"

***

When the scene ended, Yoo-Jin offered a hand to Oh Sung-Yeon, who was lying on the floor.

Oh Sung-Yeon took her hand and stood up. "Thank you, unnie."

"No problem. But seriously, Sung-Yeon... your acting's really good."

"That wasn't acting. I've got a fear of heights! I thought I was actually going over that railing.I screamed for real!" Oh Sung-Yeon glanced down again at the area below the ship's railing and made a terrified face. "Ugh, It's so high."

When Oh Sung-Yeon gave a shiver, Yoo-Jin chuckled.

The character of Aso was bright, a little silly, but fiercely loyal. Handmaid to the princess, Aso was a fairly major role. And for a rookie, Oh Sung-Yeon had pulled it off brilliantly, prompting a proud smile from Yoo-Jin.

"Alright then. See you later, Sung-Yeon."

"Okay~ Thank you, sunbae-nim!"

Cheered up by Yoo-Jin's encouragement, Oh Sung-Yeon left with her talent agent, Choi Dae-Gi.

Having finished her scene, Yoo-Jin came over to me.

But then Min Gyu-Ri followed behind and glared at Yoo-Jin. "Yoo-Jin sunbae. Could you not go so hard with the acting? My right hand's still tingling."

She whined like she was injured, making sure the staff could hear. However, if Yoo-Jin were the type to fall for that kind of trick, she wouldn't be Yoo-Jin.

"Someone might actually think I hit you. Should we go ask our PD to roll back the footage?"

When Yoo-Jin responded without so much as blinking, Min Gyu-Ri clenched her jaw and glared. Then she turned sharply and walked off to her own talent agent. Watching her go, Yoo-Jin clicked her tongue and came over to me.

I asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. But why does Min Gyu-Ri get so eager to pick a fight every time she sees me?"

I handed Yoo-Jin a drink to calm her down. "She's always going to be like that. She can't stand anyone who's better than her."

"Ooh~ So what you're saying is, she's never going to beat me?"

"Of course not. She doesn't even come close."

Yoo-Jin gave a wide, satisfied grin.

Just then, Oh Bok-Hee called out to me. "Mr. Jung. Can I talk to you for a second?"

Oh Sung-Yeon and Choi Dae-Gi were currently chatting with AD Geum Eun-Dong. Since Oh Sung-Yeon still had scenes left, I approached Oh Bok-Hee without concern. She suggested we shoot Yoo-Jin's scenes through the early morning, given how good her condition was.

"It'll be tough, but we should get through as much as we can while we can."

"Understood, Mrs. Oh."

"Okay~ Let's take ten and get right into it."

"Yes, ma'am."

After coordinating with Oh Bok-Hee and returning, I noticed that Oh Sung-Yeon and Choi Dae-Gi, who had been behind the deck just moments ago, were gone.

I asked Yoo-Jin if she had seen them. "Yoo-Jin, have you seen Miss Sung-Yeon?"

"They pushed her shoot to early tomorrow morning, so she said she's heading back to the lodging to rest."

Something about this felt off. I had a gut feeling that something was shifting, so I immediately called Choi Dae-Gi. However, he was on the phone with someone and I couldn't get through.

-The person you're trying to reach is currently on another call. Please try again later.

It was now 9:55 p.m. Deok-Bae was at the H2 Hotel, while Oh Sung-Yeon was heading to a guesthouse near Yuljeong-ri. And the PDs were supposedly fishing nearby.

'So how could Deok-Bae end up fighting PDs to save Oh Sung-Yeon?'

That part still didn't make sense. Just then, a call came in from Jung Sang-Bong.

[Caller ID: Jung Sang-Bong]

'Huh? Why is Sang-Bong calling me?'

As I picked up with a puzzled expression, Jung Sang-Bong's urgent voice rang out.

-Mr. Jung! We've got a serious problem!!

I had intentionally sent Deok-Bae away from the scene.

But unbelievably, Everyday's warning that Deok-Bae would throw a punch was on the verge of coming true.