Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 746: First Broadcast of Project I.O.A (2)

Everyday sent notifications when I met someone involved in an incident or heard news or information about it. However, the notification had popped up the moment I saw Woo Yeon-Hee meeting with Team 5's Song Mi-Hee on the second floor via the screen. That meant Song Mi-Hee was the most likely person to have leaked the information.

Yet I just couldn't wrap my head around it. She was considered the most prepared contestant. There was no reason for someone like her to risk everything by leaking something so dangerous.

Still confused, I checked Everyday again.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 15, 2021]

-00:30 a.m.: [NEW. Woo Yeon-Hee]

'Star Exclusive' Interview. "The Project I.O.A production team bowed in apology regarding the premature leak of team assignments. Cherry Blossom's leader, Woo Yeon-Hee—serving as a judge—also promised to prevent any recurrence, speaking as a representative idol."

(Others: Director Ahn Ye-Eum, Chief Lee Dong-Min, and Chief Jung Yoon-Ho also issued formal apologies. Investigate further regarding the 9 p.m. leak of team assignments.)

No matter how many times I read it, the schedule entry alone didn't reveal how the information was leaked. On top of that, there was something else that didn't make sense either.

'There wasn't any time to use a phone secretly.'

If Song Mi-Hee leaked the info, she would have had to contact someone by phone. However, the phones of all Project I.O.A contestants were shut off the moment they entered the station. After team assignments were announced in the main hall, they went straight to the stage. There was no time to leak anything.

Even during the van ride over, there were cameramen on board filming the entire time, making phone use impossible. And when they entered the dorm, the phones were collected.

Desperate to find some clue, I pulled up the data file Jung Sang-Bong had sent me.

[Korean Preliminary Contestant Number 57: Song Mi-Hee]

-Age: 21

-Height: 163cm

-Vocals: Advanced (Due to years of trainee experience, she has a stable singing voice. However, having worked with many vocal trainers, her tone lacks uniqueness.)

-Dance: Top-tier (Likely due to years spent in agencies, her technique is exceptional. Weak in freestyle. A highly polished style built through repetition—ideal for idol group performance.)

-Camera Work: Top-tier. No camera anxiety, ready to perform live on stage.

-Foreign Languages: Advanced Japanese, Intermediate Chinese.

-Other Notes: Trainee since age 11. Has trained at major companies including Ace Entertainment, TK Entertainment, SJ Entertainment, Hoop Entertainment, and finally TNT Entertainment.

Currently lives with her mother.

[Personal comment from Jung Sang-Bong]

-Technically flawless and polished, likely due to extensive trainee background. Her professional attitude is impressive. She has the looks and skills to debut immediately.

Even after reviewing Song Mi-Hee's profile, I couldn't find anything unusual aside from her exceptional skill level and difficult family background.

It was now 8:35 p.m.. There was only 25 minutes left until the article about the team assignments would go live. In the end, I decided to ask PD Ji Yung-Sik for help.

"Mr. Ji. Would it be possible to check the footage of Song Mi-Hee from today?" I asked.

On Screen 3, Song Mi-Hee was still speaking in hushed tones with Woo Yeon-Hee. They looked serious as if discussing something important.

Ji Yung-Sik chuckled. "You're interested in Mi-Hee, huh? Well, she's definitely the most idol-like among the contestants. Personally, I think she's a strong pick for I.O.A. Hahaha."

Pleased that I seemed to share his interest in the same contestant, Ji Yung-Sik quickly gave instructions to Jang Dae-Joon, the engineer.

"Dae-Joon. Pull up the camera footage following Song Mi-Hee on Screen 5."

Jang Dae-Joon asked, "From where, sir?"

When Ji Yung-Sik looked at me, I answered, "From the SBC team formation, please."

"Got it. I'll speed it up and run it through."

Jang Dae-Joon clicked a few times and played the footage on the 32-inch Screen 5. As he turned the jog shuttle, the footage began rolling at 4x speed. However, there was no scene where Song Mi-Hee used a phone.

'Then is it possible Song Mi-Hee isn't the one leaking the info?'

Even the smallest leak could seriously damage Project I.O.A. If leaks continued, the show could be labeled as rigged and suspicions would grow.

Noticing my expression, Ji Yung-Sik asked, "Is something bothering you?"

Yet I couldn't reveal my suspicions without any proof. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

I shook my head and said, "No, I just thought Mi-Hee looked like she was worrying about something while talking to Yeon-Hee."

"Ah, in that case, why don't you talk to her yourself?"

Hoop Entertainment talent agents were allowed to counsel the contestants at any time. Contestants could also request consultations via memo. For these reasons, meeting privately wasn't an issue. However, the cameras installed everywhere were.

"Understood. But could I speak to her without the cameras?" I asked.

Ji Yung-Sik contemplated for a moment but soon nodded. "Hm... Sure, go ahead. It'd be hard to have a proper talk with cameras rolling."

"Thank you."

I gave a small bow and immediately sent a message through the [PROJECT : I.O.A] app on the tablet to Woo Yeon-Hee.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: Yeon-Hee. Bring Mi-Hee to Practice Room 2 on the first floor.]

Ding.

On Screen 3, Woo Yeon-Hee checked the message and gave a nod. After saying something to Song Mi-Hee, she headed toward the elevator. I also left the monitoring room and made my way to Practice Room 2.

The current time was 8:40 p.m., meaning there was only 20 minutes left. Within that time, I had to find out whether Song Mi-Hee was really the leaker and prevent the leak from happening.

***

On the first floor, there were separate rooms for dance practice and recording vocals. Woo Yeon-Hee and Song Mi-Hee were seated at a table between the two rooms.

"Hello, Mr. Jung!"

Song Mi-Hee stood and gave a bright idol-style greeting. At 163 centimeters tall, her charming eye smile and one-sided dimple stood out. Her light brown hair suited her cute and gentle features. Thanks to her ten years as a trainee, she had the most idol-like demeanor among the contestants.

But at the same time, she was the top suspect in today's leak incident.

It was now 8:42 p.m. There were 18 minutes remaining before the article dropped. My plan was to keep Song Mi-Hee here talking until 9 p.m. and observe how the leak happened. If the leak hadn't occurred yet, staying with her until 9 would reveal everything. If the notification disappeared while I was with her, it meant Song Mi-Hee was the one leaking. If not, then someone else was the culprit.

As I settled on that plan, I returned Song Mi-Hee's cheerful greeting. "Hello. Here, have a seat. So how's the dorm? Do you like it?"

Song Mi-Hee answered excitedly, "I love it! I've never seen such a nice dorm before. And this is the first time I've seen a place with both a recording studio and dance room together."

"We invested a lot because we're expecting great things from you guys."

"I'll give it my all! But may I ask why you wanted to see me?" Song Mi-Hee looked at me with sparkling eyes.

"Well, I saw in your profile that you've been a trainee for ten years. I just wondered what happened. Was there a reason you never debuted?"

I expected something like bad luck or maybe her debut group fell apart before launch. After all, even Han So-Won hadn't been able to debut in the past because of Go Eun-Seo. However, Song Mi-Hee just gave a strained smile and fell silent.

'Does she have circumstances she can't talk about?'

That's when Woo Yeon-Hee, sitting beside Song Mi-Hee, clenched her fist and spoke with determined resolve. "Mr. Jung. You know Mi-Hee was one of the trainees at Hoop Entertainment, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I heard she was there before I joined."

"Mi-Hee was originally part of the debut lineup. She was even one of the final candidates for Cherry Blossom."

"Really?"

"Yes. But Mi-Hee's dad..."

At that moment, Song Mi-Hee grabbed Woo Yeon-Hee's hand. Fear was written all over her face and her eyes trembled. "Yeon-Hee unnie, please don't say it."

"No. You can't keep hiding it forever. And even if you can't trust anyone else, you can trust Mr. Jung. You can trust Yoon-Ho oppa." Woo Yeon-Hee pulled her hand away and revealed Song Mi-Hee's story. "The truth is, Mi-Hee couldn't debut because of her dad."

"Because of her dad? What do you mean"

"Whenever he drank, he'd get violent. Mi-Hee's mom eventually ran away with Mi-Hee, but somehow, he always found them. One time, when Mi-Hee tried to protect her mom, he beat her so badly she was hospitalized."

Song Mi-Hee's father had assaulted her mother while drunk, and Song Mi-Hee ended up hospitalized for two weeks trying to stop him. Unfortunately, that timing overlapped with the selection for Cherry Blossom's debut lineup. While Song Mi-Hee was in the hospital, the company sent a message telling her not to come back.

I frowned and asked, "You didn't explain the situation to the company? If Mr. Kang had known, he wouldn't have stood for it."

Song Mi-Hee hesitated before answering, "At the time, he was really busy. And... I was scared. So I told the chief of Singer Division 1, but he just told me not to come back. Said I was too much trouble."

As a trainee, especially before debut, any family issues could make a company back away. If a girl group member stirred up public controversy after a costly debut, the financial losses would be huge.

But this hadn't only happened at Hoop Entertainment. At every agency, it was the same. Song Mi-Hee's father's violence would get exposed, and her debut chances would disappear each time.

"Then that man... I mean, Mi-Hee's dad—does he still behave that way?"

"No. Mi-Hee's mom pressed charges. He's in prison now. But... they never divorced, so he might get out soon."

Song Mi-Hee and her mom had been moving around Seoul to avoid him.

Still not understanding, I looked straight at Song Mi-Hee and asked, "Mi-Hee. Why didn't your mom just divorce him? That way, he could be punished more severely."

Song Mi-Hee replied in a trembling voice, "When Mom mentioned divorce... he poured gasoline all over the house and said we should all die together..."

Her voice cracked and tears began to fall.

'That son of a bitch!'

Only now did I understand why Woo Yeon-Hee had taken it upon herself to speak out. I clenched my teeth and handed Song Mi-Hee a handkerchief.

Song Mi-Hee wiped her tears and took a breath. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jung."

"If something like that happened, you should've told me sooner. Talent agents can't help if we don't know."

Woo Yeon-Hee spoke up for Song Mi-Hee. "Oppa, please understand. Old talent agents used to tell her to talk to them, but the moment she opened up, they'd label her as a problem and cut her. That's why I kept telling her you're different."

Now I understood why Woo Yeon-Hee had gone to find Song Mi-Hee in Team 5. She wanted to check on Song Mi-Hee's condition and come to tell me.

While we were talking, the clock in the practice room showed 8:55 p.m. There were five minutes left before the leak. As heartbreaking as her story was, I still had to figure out if she had leaked the info.

Just then, Song Mi-Hee wiped her tears and spoke cautiously. "Mr. Jung... may I go to the restroom?"

There were only five minutes left until 9. I couldn't let her go.

So I quickly asked another question. "How's your mom doing these days?"

Song Mi-Hee hesitated before answering. "She's working in Guro, hiding from my dad."

"And your dad's still in prison?"

Suddenly, Song Mi-Hee started trembling like she had been shocked.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"H-he's getting released... early tomorrow morning."

"What?"

Of all times, her father had to be released now.

'What a cruel twist of fate.'

As we talked, 9:00 p.m. finally arrived. I paused the conversation and discreetly checked my phone under the table.

[09:00 p.m.]

The clock on my phone struck nine. At that moment, the schedule entry vanished.

'Damn it...'

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 15, 2021]

-00:30 a.m.: <Schedule Entry Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule Entry: [NEW. Woo Yeon-Hee]

'Star Exclusive' Interview. "The Project I.O.A production team bowed in apology regarding the premature leak of team assignments. Cherry Blossom's leader, Woo Yeon-Hee—serving as a judge—also promised to prevent any recurrence, speaking as a representative idol."

(Others: Director Ahn Ye-Eum, Chief Lee Dong-Min, and Chief Jung Yoon-Ho also issued formal apologies. Investigate further regarding the 9 p.m. leak of team assignments.))

I had hoped it wasn't true. I really hoped it wasn't her. However, the schedule entry disappearing proved that Song Mi-Hee was indeed the leaker. She had trained ten years to become an idol and had a high chance of making it into I.O.A. And now, she was throwing it all away. If she got caught, her dream would be gone forever.

Worse still, I still didn't know how she was leaking the information. The disappearing notification meant the leak was happening from inside. So unless I figured out the method of leak, this could happen again at any time.

'What do I do?'

Just then, Song Mi-Hee asked again, "Mr. Jung... may I go to the restroom now?"

I was about to tell Woo Yeon-Hee to accompany her to keep watch when I noticed something—Song Mi-Hee's right pocket bulged noticeably.

'No way...'

I stared straight at Song Mi-Hee and called her name. "Mi-Hee."

"Yes, Mr. Jung?"

"What's that?"

"What do you mean?"

I pointed directly at Song Mi-Hee's pocket. "In your pocket."

Song Mi-Hee slowly pulled out a round case. "It's for touching up my makeup. It's a foundation case."

'Of course. So that was it, huh?'

Right then, I realized how Song Mi-Hee was planning to leak information.

"Let me see that foundation case for a second, will you?"