Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 712: First-Year Talent Agent (4)

The hallway of VIP rooms on B2 of the H2 Hotel's CLUB T-REX stretched before me.

After brushing off Kang Hyee-Dong's hand, I immediately checked on Deok-Bae. "Huff, huff. Deok-Bae, are you okay?"

Thankfully, he wasn't hurt anywhere from head to toe.

Then Deok-Bae looked at me with wide eyes and asked, "Hyung, how did you get here...?"

"We'll talk about that later. And what were you thinking, stepping into something like this without a second thought? What if a story breaks out?"

Clutching the Sunrise Doll tightly in his left hand, Deok-Bae looked remorseful. "I came down here to buy the doll for Han-Ul... but then I saw Managing Director Kang dragging Sung-Yeon noona away..."

Just like Everyday had said, Deok-Bae had come down here to rescue Oh Sung-Yeon.

"Alright. I get it. But from here on, leave it to me. Stay back."

"Okay, hyung."

As soon as Deok-Bae stepped behind me, I turned to Choi Dae-Gi and Oh Sung-Yeon, who were collapsed on the floor.

"And you too, Mr. Choi. Step back. I'll handle this. Just take Sung-Yeon and—"

At that moment, apparently insulted that someone half his size had pushed him away, Kang Hyee-Dong lunged at me in a fury. "Jung Yoon-Ho! You're fucking dead!"

Knowing I had a boxing background, Kang Hyee-Dong charged in with his swollen fists guarding his face. When I had knocked his hand aside earlier, I could tell that he had a wrestler's grip. If I let him get close enough to grab my belt, things could turn dangerous. So I aimed my fists straight at his chest and abdomen.

Pow-pow-pow.

"Urgh."

I jabbed at Kang Hyee-Dong lightly like I was pounding a sandbag. Kang Hyee-Dong collapsed where he stood, unable to come any closer. His hands which had been guarding his face dropped helplessly, and his puffed-up fists started clutching the spots I had hit.

As he groaned in pain, I warned, "I went easy on you because I thought we might talk. But if you come at me again, you'd better be ready for what's next."

Kang Hyee-Dong gritted his teeth but didn't move again.

That's when Jung Sang-Bong came down the stairs, having wrapped up a scuffle with the guys blocking the entrance.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Mr. Jung."

"Hey, Sang-Bong. Watch our people in the back."

"Yes, sir."

With Taekwondo gold medalist Jung Sang-Bong behind my back, I had nothing to worry about.

But then men in suits appeared on both sides of the VIP hallway.

Thud, thud, thud.

'Oh, come on.'

Five stood before me, and about six more approached Jung Sang-Bong.

One of them said, "I'm Choi Song-Woon, head of casino security at H2 Hotel. Mr. Jung, we'll need you to come with us."

'Casino security, my ass.'

The H2 Hotel had a foreigner-only casino, and these so-called security guys were basically gangsters. They were clearly sent by Assistant Manager Lee Sang-Moo. He must have changed his mind the moment I headed downstairs. Knowing I held something over him, he had called these thugs to try and scare me off.

I immediately turned to Jung Sang-Bong. "Sang-Bong, I'll leave the guys in the back to you."

"Can I fight them?"

"We've gotta protect our own, don't we?"

Jung Sang-Bong grinned and took his stance. "Understood."

People often said taekwondo wasn't suited for real fights, but that was only true at the amateur level. Jung Sang-Bong was the top-ranked athlete in the world.

The men on the other side clearly recognized the gold medalist's face, their tension showing. They were only trying to move in because they had numbers, the space was tight, and someone upstairs had ordered them. After all, it was always the subordinates who got dragged into this kind of mess.

I focused back on Choi Dae-Gi. "Mr. Choi, just take care of Sung-Yeon."

"Yes, sir."

Choi Dae-Gi pressed up against the wall, shielding Oh Sung-Yeon with his body.

"And Deok-Bae, don't even think about jumping in. You're a celebrity now."

"Ah, got it."

With that, I was ready for the fight. Just then, the door to VIP Room 3 burst open.

"Why aren't you guys coming in?"

Cheon Yi-Sang stepped out, looked around, and shut the door behind him. Taking in the scene, he sighed when he saw me.

"Jung Yoon-Ho. It's you again?"

'Yeah, it's me again.'

With a face full of irritation and frustration, Cheon Yi-Sang turned to the suited men. "Hey, muscleheads. Back off. I've got something to discuss with Chief Jung."

Cheon Yi-Sang tried to keep it civil, but the man in his thirties at the front wouldn't listen. "Mr. Cheon, we're just following orders. We can't do that."

Cheon Yi-Sang's temper snapped. "You brain-dead jackasses. Leave while you still can! Haven't you heard of Chief Jung? He's known nationwide! And his junior, that's the taekwondo medalist Jung Sang-Bong! You all want a group ER trip tonight? When I say leave, you leave!"

Still, the suited men stood their ground, pride clearly getting in the way.

"Bunch of meatheads," Cheon Yi-Sang muttered, pulling out his phone.

"Assistant Manager, are you nuts? Call them off right now! What? No? Are you out of your damn mind? Fine! Do whatever you want!"

Click.

Cheon Yi-Sang hung up and turned to me.

"Hey, Chief Jung. What did you say to the assistant manager to get him this worked up? Sorry, but it looks like you're on your own now."

'Sorry, my ass.'

That smirk and twinkle in his eyes made it clear that he was enjoying this, hoping I would get roughed up.

Then he looked over at Kang Hyee-Dong. "Managing Director Kang, don't butt in. From the looks of it, you've already taken your beating."

Kang Hyee-Dong's hands were swollen and he was hunched slightly from the blows to his chest and gut.

Reluctantly, Kang Hyee-Dong stepped aside. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

That's when the man in front of me pulled on leather gloves and shouted, "Get him!"

At that moment, all five men rushed at me.

Thud, thud, thud.

They were clueless about the future waiting for them just seconds ahead.

***

"Ugh..."

"Aaagh..."

Before they could even catch their breath, all five were face-down on the floor. I let out a short breath and turned around.

Jung Sang-Bong still had a relaxed look on his face. "I'm done here, too."

Six men lay stacked unconscious at his feet. Even with the added pressure of protecting Deok-Bae and the others, it hadn't been a challenge for Jung Sang-Bong in the slightest.

"No one's hurt?"

"No. Deok-Bae, Sung-Yeon, Mr. Choi, and even Sunny are all safe."

"The what now?"

"The Sunrise Doll Deok-Bae's been holding."

"Oh...um, okay. That's good."

'Yeah. Whatever the case, as long as everyone's safe, that's what matters.'

Once again, I felt lucky to have Jung Sang-Bong as my hoobae.

'Sang-Bong, let's stick together for the long haul.'

Only then did I let out a sigh of relief and glance over at Cheon Yi-Sang. He looked at us with an expression that screamed disbelief.

"We can take Sung-Yeon with us, right?" I asked.

Cheon Yi-Sang finally snapped back to his senses and responded. "Sigh... That's not the same thing, man. Just because you've got a strong punch, you think you can walk off with a company actress like she's yours?"

"I'm not taking someone else's actress. I'm taking someone I know personally."

As soon as I said I was taking Oh Sung-Yeon as a friend, Cheon Yi-Sang clicked his tongue in exasperation. "Damn, you talk just as tough as you hit. But look, tonight's not the night. The PDs in there... even you can't handle them. Just go. I'll take full responsibility. She'll just pour some drinks and I'll make sure she gets out safely."

Given the two PDs inside were major network heavyweights, Cheon Yi-Sang was clearly trying to deescalate things.

'But how can I possibly take your word for it?'

I shook my head and said firmly, "I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Are you really gonna do this? Do you even know who's in there?"

Of course I did.

"I know it's PD Choi Seok-Hwan and PD Ahn Chae-Hyung from MBS ."

"Sigh... And you still wanna go through with this?"

"Yes."

Cheon Yi-Sang hesitated for a moment, then sighed like he had given up. "Then go inside and explain it yourself. If you do, I'll let Sung-Yeon go. If not, I'm calling in three times as many guys as the ones lying on the floor. You might be able to handle it, but Deok-Bae's definitely getting caught in an assault case. It's your call."

"Alright. Let's do that."

Cheon Yi-Sang waved at Oh Sung-Yeon. "You, go ahead."

Oh Sung-Yeon gave a half-hearted nod and quietly came to stand behind me. However, Choi Dae-Gi didn't move.

"Mr. Choi, you should go up with Sung-Yeon."

"No. I'll go in with you."

It was the kind of thing I couldn't have imagined doing when I was in my first year. Yet Choi Dae-Gi clearly had no intention of shirking his responsibility.

"Alright. Let's go with that." I turned to Deok-Bae next. "Deok-Bae, you go upstairs and get some rest."

"But hyung..."

"It's alright. Don't worry. We can't let anything happen to Sunny, the doll you got for Han-Ul. Right?"

Still clutching the doll, Deok-Bae gave a firm nod. "Okay. But come back soon."

"I will."

Deok-Bae left with Oh Sung-Yeon, guided by Jung Sang-Bong toward the elevator.

Ding.

After watching them ascend, I checked Everyday.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 5, 2021]

-11:00 p.m. <Schedule Entry Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule Entry: [NEW Choi Deok-Bae]

(Entertainment All Times) Rookie actor Mr. C assaulted broadcast PDs C and A on a drama set.

MBS' The Omniscient Viewpoint announced a break this week.

(Other: Choi Deok-Bae claimed he did it to protect Oh Sung-Yeon. Currently detained at Jeju Police Station. Will assess the situation quickly and meet the assigned detective.))

The schedule entry had finally been cleared. I slipped the phone into my pocket, brushed off my wrinkled clothes, and headed toward VIP Room 3.

It was time to show those star PDs what a regressed talent agent was truly capable of.

***

The table inside VIP Room 3 was covered in premium liquor and fancy appetizers.

The fishing act was long gone. Now in neatly changed outfits, Drama PD Choi Seok-Hwan and Variety PD Ahn Chae-Hyung had clearly had a few drinks. Their faces were flushed.

But when only Cheon Yi-Sang, myself, Kang Hyee-Dong, and Choi Dae-Gi entered the room without Oh Sung-Yeon, the PDs' faces twisted.

"What the hell? Where's Sung-Yeon?"

I bowed my head politely with a calm expression. "Why don't you share a drink with me tonight, sirs?"

Choi Seok-Hwan, who was known for his temper, raised his voice. "Ah, for fuck's sake. Way to ruin the mood. What the hell is this?"

Smiling, I took the seat across from him. "Sung-Yeon's not feeling well. I hope you'll understand. Let me pour tonight's drinks instead."

Since Cheon Yi-Sang had told me to handle it myself, I planned to do just that—my way.

Click.

I opened a new bottle of whiskey and held it with both hands. "Please accept a drink from me."

That was when Ahn Chae-Hyung, the one leading this whole farce, gave me a cold glare. The smile he had worn outside had clearly been a façade. His voice now was sharp and icy.

"Chief Jung, it seems like you misunderstood me just because I was being polite earlier. Haven't you heard what kind of person I am?"

Because the room was soundproof, the two PDs had no idea what had happened outside. That was why they were staring me down so fearlessly. Of course, they also assumed they could talk down to a mere talent agent like me just because they worked at a network.

I smiled. "How could I not know? You're one of the most famous PDs in the business, Mr. Ahn."

"The hell's with that look? You think you can stare me down now? Drop your eyes!"

Suddenly, Ahn Chae-Hyung grabbed a beer bottle next to the whiskey. Now that there was no one watching, his violent instincts flared up even stronger than Choi Seok-Hwan's.

However, he didn't get to swing it because I grabbed his wrist first.

"Let go, you bastard! Let go!"

I tightened my grip and gave him a smile. "What'll you do if I report today's incident to the press, huh?"

Ahn Chae-Hyung's face turned red with the strain. "You son of a bitch. A fucking talent agent threatening a broadcast PD?"

"Threatening? Not at all. I'm just offering a bit of advice."

Before the regression, I bowed endlessly to these two. I humbled myself, thinking they would give me a break if I grovelled enough. But that had been a delusion. They were lowlifes who became even more vicious toward anyone they deemed weak.

So in this life, I had no intention of repeating that mistake.

"Fuck!"

In the end, Ahn Chae-Hyung dropped the bottle. Fuming, he spat out his next words.

"You little shit. You don't want to show up on The Omniscient Viewpoint this week, do you?"

"Oh, I do. Very much."

"Well, it sure doesn't seem that way, asshole."

With that, Ahn Chae-Hyung picked up his phone and made a call. Judging by his smug expression, he was clearly contacting someone higher up at the network.

When the line connected, Ahn Chae-Hyung raised his voice.

"Sir, it's PD Ahn Chae-Hyung. I have something I need to discuss. I'm putting you on speaker."

At the same time, Ahn Chae-Hyung placed the phone on the table.

Beep.

-Hey! What now?

The voice on the other end belonged to Han Seok-Yung, head of the MBS variety department.

"I'm stepping down from Talk Show! Entertainment World next week. Hand the show over to Assistant Director Jung Min-Joo."

Ahn Chae-Hyung, the star PD himself, was claiming he would hand off the hit show he directed. However, there was no way he actually would. It was his flagship program, pulling in 15% viewership ratings on Wednesday nights.

As expected, Han Seok-Yung started panicking.

-Uh, what? What's wrong this time? Are you getting poached by TVM again? Huh?

"No, it's not that."

-Then what is it? Come on, if you want me to help, you gotta tell me. Who's gotten under our top PD's skin this time?"

Then, Ahn Chae-Hyung turned to me with a wide grin.

"Jung Yoon-Ho."

-What?

"Hoop's Chief Jung. You know, the hotshot lately."

-Um, okay. What about Chief Jung?

"That little bastard looked me dead in the eye and talked back like a punk. I don't want that guy or that Deok-Bae kid of his anywhere near our shows."

Clearly caught off guard by the names, Han Seok-Yung's tone became desperate.

-Come on, PD Ahn. Let's not go after Chief Jung, yeah? I'll make it up to you some other way, but not them.

Ahn Chae-Hyung snorted.

"No, forget it. Tell PD Park to cut that guy and the Deok-Bae whatever from The Omniscient Viewpoint this week. Tell him it came from me.

-What the hell, man?! You can't just do that out of nowhere!

"Then watch me leave. TVM's made me a solid offer. It might be a good time to move anyway."

-Are you serious right now?!

As the star PD kept escalating, even Han Seok-Yung's voice started to sharpen. It looked like it was time to give Han Seok-Yung a hand. After all, I hadn't walked into this room without a plan. I was determined to corner Ahn Chae-Hyung.

'This tantrum ends here, PD Ahn.'