Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 725: Tie (2)

Jang So-Yeon was twenty-two this year.

In my previous life, she had come to Top Entertainment much later at the age of twenty-seven. Even then, she suddenly showed up at the company just like now and said she wanted to become a celebrity. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

With her tall frame—174 centimeters—and alluring fox-like features, Jang So-Yeon had an undeniable magnetism that drew people in at a glance. Back then, I had immediately considered recruiting her the moment I saw her.

However, she had been meticulous about hiding every detail about herself apart from her name and age. That raised red flags, so I had no choice but to back off. When celebrities hid their pasts, it usually meant there was a problem waiting to explode before debut.

Still, when Kim Dong-Soo heard that a stunning beauty had walked into the company, he brushed off her past and scouted her on the spot. Afterward, Jang So-Yeon gained recognition as a fashion model thanks to her height, then quickly rose to fame with a breakout role in Lee Ji-Yeon's Sky Rain.

But once she became a star, the quiet demeanor she had shown at first disappeared. Unlike Min Gyu-Ri or So Yi-Yung, who were infamous for scandals involving men or sponsors, Jang So-Yeon's issues were more severe from a professional standpoint.

Jang So-Yeon had symptoms of alcohol dependency. Even when she first arrived, I had noticed she drank soju often. After her rise to success, she swapped soju for wine and began downing a bottle a night before bed.

That's when she started missing shoots. She would show up to filming sets drunk and get into fights with staff more than once or twice. Still, no one at Top Entertainment or in broadcasting or film ever considered dropping her. Jang So-Yeon's looks and acting were just that extraordinary.

Especially when performing emotional scenes, Jang So-Yeon's raw intensity captivated entire sets as if she had lived through every hardship despite her young age. Her acting was nearly on par with Yoo-Jin's. That was the reason she never ran out of offers despite all the issues.

But in the process, her talent agents had to take the heat as all the blame for missed shoots fell on them. And now, that past-life entanglement was standing right in front of me in Hoop Entertainment's lobby.

A security guard leaned over and asked, "She says she knows you, Mr. Jung. Is that true, sir?"

Only then did I really look at Jang So-Yeon, who was shaking violently.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Rainwater streamed down from Jang So-Yeon's hair and clothes. She looked like she had run away from somewhere. She was disheveled and soaked to the bone, which I couldn't help but be bothered by. It was more so because she hadn't caused any trouble yet.

I figured I could put the past aside for now. After all, Fortune of the Day had said fate could be changed.

I answered, "I'll take care of her. You can relax."

"Yes, sir."

Only then did the guard let out a sigh and returned to the information desk. I called Do Ran-Hee and told her to come down. First things first, we needed to get Jang So-Yeon cleaned up and properly dressed.

***

Jang So-Yeon reappeared in the fourth-floor meeting room after showering, wearing a tracksuit Do Ran-Hee had brought her.

Her tall frame, sharp jawline, defined features, and large eyes stood out even more now. She wasn't wearing makeup, yet her beauty was striking. However, she kept her head low as if she had no confidence in her own looks, hiding her face.

"Have a seat."

Jang So-Yeon nodded and sat down across from me.

Then Do Ran-Hee spoke. "Mr. Jung, I'll leave you two alone."

"Alright."

Once the meeting room door closed, I was finally able to face Jang So-Yeon directly. "You said you know me?"

Jang So-Yeon gave a small nod. "Yes..."

"I don't know you."

She lifted her head. "You really don't remember me?"

Jang So-Yeon's long hair parted to both sides, revealing her full face. It was the kind of look someone familiar might give, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't place her.

'Could she be talking about before the regression?'

Now that I thought about it, she had acted the same way the first time we met in my previous life and asked if I remembered her. And my answer back then was simple.

'No.'

I had absolutely no memory of her. And now, my answer was the same. There was no one named Jang So-Yeon in my memories, and I couldn't recall a woman with such a striking aura either.

That's when a wild thought crossed my mind.

'What if she had regressed too?'

Before I could dwell on it, Jang So-Yeon spoke in a tiny voice. "I knew you wouldn't remember."

Jang So-Yeon let out a deep sigh as she finished her sentence.

'Right. She said the exact same thing and reacted the exact same way in my previous life.'

I hadn't given it much thought back then, but with this level of repetition, I had to ask.

"Have we met before?"

"Yes."

"Where? You'll need to be specific, or I might misunderstand."

Jang So-Yeon glanced at me nervously, then spoke. "I'm... Jin-Sook. Choi Jin-Sook."

At that moment, the name hit me like a bolt of lightning.

'Choi Jin-Sook?'

Choi Jin-Sook was a child who had been placed temporarily in Angel Orphanage for a month fifteen years ago. Back then, I was thirteen and she was seven. She was the daughter of a woman who had divorced her first husband and abandoned her after remarrying. But a month later, the mother returned to take her back.

She had big eyes and a sharp nose even then, but she hadn't looked anything like this, which was why I hadn't recognized her.

"You're... Jin-Sook?"

"Yes. My mom remarried three more times. The surname changed the first time, and then she said my name brought her bad luck, so she made me change two years ago."

Choi Jin-Sook really wasn't lying about knowing me. What puzzled me was why she hadn't said any of this in my previous life. Still, that wasn't the priority right now. I had to figure out why she had come here in such a miserable state.

"What happened to you? Why do you look like this?"

Then, Jang So-Yeon suddenly put her hands together and begged. "Oppa, I'll explain everything later, but please... Can you help me become an actress? Or even a talent agent, anything. I'll do whatever you tell me. Just please, let me work here. Please?"

I knew better than anyone how talented she was as an actress. And with her looks, it was a given. Of course I could take her on, but before that, I needed to understand what had brought her here like this. After all, anyone could see she wasn't in a normal state.

At that moment, the meeting room door burst open and Ju Yung-In stormed in with fire in her eyes.

Bang.

"You think you can just throw yourself at oppa like that? Hey, I heard you on the phone outside the building earlier."

'Huh? What phone?'

Ju Yung-In marched up and dropped into the seat beside me.

Confused, I asked, "Yung-In, what are you talking about?"

Ju Yung-In crossed her arms and legs, raising her voice. "Oppa, don't trust her. I overheard her talking to someone on the phone outside. She mentioned your name, a trap, the police—stuff like that. And more than anything, she brought up TNT Entertainment too. She's not here with pure intentions. There's no way!"

TNT Entertainment was the company that Jinseong Inc. had acquired 40% of just today.

'But now she'd shown up after a phone call where that company was mentioned? Don't tell me... did TNT send her here?'

Back in the day, Baek Sae-Gi from Ace Entertainment had joined Hoop and caused a mess. What Ju Yung-In was saying now might be a similar situation.

Just then, Jang So-Yeon waved her hands frantically. "N-no! That's not why I came to see you, oppa! I-I can explain everything. I really can!"

"You are such a piece of work. I know girls like you. Playing dumb once you're caught—who do you think you're fooling?" Like a cat cornering a mouse, Ju Yung-In snapped at her and turned to me. "Oppa. I know her type. Just from the way she moves her eyes and how fast she thinks, I can tell she's just like I used to be. You get what I'm saying, right?"

I couldn't tell if she was praising herself or insulting herself. Still, I calmed her down first.

"Just take it easy. Also, why are you even here?"

"I saw the news this morning. It said Jinseong invested in TNT, so I came to talk to you."

"What about Mrs. Ahn?"

"President Ahn is outside. But oppa, you don't need to hear this girl's sob story. Just kick her out now!"

If it was before the regression and without Everyday's fortune, I probably would have done just that. But now, I wanted to at least hear her out. I wasn't that same thoughtless and indifferent Jung Yoon-Ho anymore.

"Yung-In, let's hear her out first before we decide."

Ju Yung-In muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed, but eventually kept quiet. "Tch. Fine."

After taking a short breath, I looked at Jang So-Yeon. "Jin-Sook. I mean, So-Yeon."

"Yes, oppa."

"Whatever we were as kids, now it's time to be honest. That's the only way I can help you."

Jang So-Yeon looked like she might cry, then gave a small nod. "Yes. I'll tell you everything."

"Alright. Start from the top and leave nothing out."

"First of all... it's true that I was sent by TNT Entertainment."

At Jang So-Yeon's confession, Ju Yung-In stiffened. "See? I told you she was trash."

When I shot her a quick glare, she puffed out her cheeks in mock apology.

"Sorry~"

'Yeah, sure.'

I turned back to Jang So-Yeon, who swallowed hard and finally began to speak.

***

Jang So-Yeon's stepfather, Jang Bok-Gil, was a detective chief at Gangnam Police Station. Yet he was corrupt, always taking bribes from different businesses. He was also close friends with Yoo Kang-Seok, the president of TNT Entertainment.

Apparently, Yoo Kang-Seok had put him up to this. He wanted to send Jang So-Yeon to me and set up a sting. The phone call Ju Yung-In overheard was Jang Bok-Gil making Jang So-Yeon repeat the plan back to him. As for her miserable appearance, that was also staged. Jang Bok-Gil had stripped off her coat and shoes before sending her to the company, so that she would draw my sympathy.

"That bastard Jang Bok-Gil... told me to get close to you, oppa. He said I should offer to have a drink with you. Then he'd show up and arrest you himself."

I was left speechless.

'A setup by a Korean cop? What is this, the Philippines?'

In the Philippines, there were set up crimes where police and criminals worked together to detain someone and extort money. That was why, whenever I took celebrities on overseas trips, I always warned them to be careful, especially about local women. I had told them never to sit at the same table, no matter how friendly they seemed.

And now someone was trying to pull the same stunt right here in Korea. If I got arrested in a scandal, it would be a direct hit to Hoop Entertainment.

Jang So-Yeon trembled as she continued. "But I couldn't bring myself to do it to you, oppa. That's why... before Yung-In unnie could say anything, I wanted to come clean first. I've never done anything like this before. I don't want to. That's why I begged you to help me. I just want to get away from that bastard, Jang Bok-Gil."

Ju Yung-In's eyes blazed. "This is unbelievable. You came here to set up Yoon-Ho oppa, and now we're supposed to trust you?"

"You probably don't believe me, but Jang Bok-Gil watches me constantly. There was no way I could escape on my own. That's why I used this chance to come here and talk to you."

Jang So-Yeon looked desperate, but Ju Yung-In, ever suspicious, wasn't buying a word of it.

Now I understood why Jang So-Yeon had never mentioned her family in my previous life. Her stepfather was abusive and exploitative, forcing her into unthinkable things, while her mother was completely indifferent. It would have been too painful to talk about. And I hadn't recognized her or shown a shred of care, so of course she never opened up.

Now that I knew her situation, I had to calm Ju Yung-In first. "Yung-In. That's enough."

Ju Yung-In shook her head. "Oppa, your problem is that you're too soft. People like her don't deserve trust. You have to cut them off clean."

However, I couldn't agree with Ju Yung-In. If all I cared about was gain and if I only lived for myself, there was no point in this second life I was given. I had already lived that kind of life before.

Even if I couldn't fully trust Jang So-Yeon yet, I wanted to believe her just once, like Everyday had told me to. Besides, everything she had said could be confirmed through Lee Soo-Chan and the intel team.

"Yung-In. That kind of life's boring."

"Boring? What do you mean?"

"If you cut people off without even checking, you'll end up alone. No one will stick around."

Ju Yung-In tilted her head, clearly not understanding. But I knew that feeling well. In my past life, I had kept everyone at a distance. And in the end, no one was there for me when I died, except for the members of Devoted[1].

So now it was time to decide whether I would change Jang So-Yeon's fate or not, just like Everyday had said.

But really, the answer was already clear. This wasn't just anything—it was someone's life. And if changing someone's life meant I had to struggle, then it was worth every bit of it. It even felt like that was the reason Everyday had sent me that fortune today.

When Choi Jin-Sook came to the orphanage crying in fear thirteen years ago, the only thing I could do was bring her a tray of food. Now, I had more than enough power to change someone's entire future.

"I'll help you, So-Yeon."

"Really?"

"Yes. But that doesn't mean I trust everything you said."

"I wouldn't either if I were you."

"I'm going to check every detail. So if there's anything you didn't mention, tell me now."

"Okay."

"But if you lied about anything, I won't let it slide."

Jang So-Yeon nodded over and over again. "I understand."

"Anyway, you're too old to be an idol, but I think you could make it as an actress. Let's start with acting lessons. We'll register you as a trainee for now. I'll keep an eye on you. Of course, we'll cover food and housing. And I'll give you a little allowance too."

"Actually?"

"Yeah. But there's one condition."

"What is it?"

"No alcohol. Ever."

Jang So-Yeon glanced up nervously. "How did you know I drink?"

"I can tell just by looking. You drank to forget, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but... not even just one drink?"

"No. If I hear you've been drinking, it's over. Got it?"

Jang So-Yeon fiddled with her fingers, then said, "Okay. I won't drink. So... Am I part of Hoop Entertainment now?"

"Yes. We'll sign the contract later."

That's when Ju Yung-In cut in. "Oppa. I really don't like this decision."

And yet this wasn't even her company.

I asked, "What now?"

"Let's say she's telling the truth. But what are you going to do about her dad?"

'Right. That's the real problem.'

"Well..."

Just then, the meeting room door burst open.

Bang.

Lee Yung-Jin ran in shouting, "Mr. Jung! Some thug-looking guy is here saying he's a cop. He's asking for Ms. Jang So-Yeon!"

Jang So-Yeon's stepfather, Jang Bok-Gil, had shown up after she failed to contact him. The moment Jang So-Yeon heard it, she started trembling all over. That alone told me she hadn't lied.

"Yung-In. You asked what I'd do about her dad, right?"

"Yeah."

I gave a calm smile and answered, "Watch and see."

Because today, I planned to drag Jang Bok-Gil all the way down to hell.

1. The author is switching between Faithful and Devoted now ☜