Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 763: Younger Siblings (2)

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 18, 2021]

-10:00 p.m.: [NEW. Jang So-Yeon]

<Entertainment Everywhere> "Rising model Ms. J's messy school days exposed—shocking testimony from acquaintances."

<Entertainment All Times> International luxury brand model Ms. J. "In high school, she seduced the convenience store owner where she worked part-time, breaking up his family."

<Baro Star> "Model Ms. J, now in the spotlight, declares retirement from the entertainment industry."

(Emergency Meeting: Jang So-Yeon goes missing after admitting to baseless rumors in an interview. Prepare countermeasures for potential damage to company image and IPO valuation.)

Just as Jang Jun-Hyun and Jang Yeon-Joo were heading home eating rice cake skewers, their video call with Jang So-Yeon had abruptly ended. Yet instead of a kidnapping alert about her siblings, the Everyday notification popped up with headlines claiming that Jang So-Yeon had admitted to a sordid past.

However, I knew better than anyone that Jang So-Yeon's past was nothing like that. In my previous life before the regression, Jang So-Yeon was exhausting to deal with because of her alcoholism, but she had never once troubled me with sponsorship scandals or shady relationships. And since bringing her into my care in this life, I had made sure again that none of those issues existed.

So if Jang So-Yeon had supposedly admitted to something she never did, there was only one conclusion—The people who abducted her siblings were forcing her to falsely confess in order to make her quit the industry.

There were several suspicious people, but I didn't have enough to name anyone yet.

Just then, Jang So-Yeon looked at me, trembling. "O-Oppa. They're still not picking up. What do we do about Jun-Hyun and Yeon-Joo? Should we call the police...? No, we can't. We can't trust them..."

With today's fashion show a success, every move Jang So-Yeon made would now be watched by the media. If it got out that her siblings were kidnapped, there would be a media frenzy. And if that happened, we couldn't predict what the kidnappers might do to the kids. So first, I needed to calm Jang So-Yeon down.

I looked her straight in the eyes, unshaken. "So-Yeon, don't worry. No matter what it takes, I'll get your siblings back."

Seeing my steady gaze, Jang So-Yeon began to calm down little by little. "Okay..." Jang So-Yeon clenched her jaw and took a deep breath. "Huff, huff."

As Jang So-Yeon tried to compose herself, I thought through our next move. Calling the police was not an option. If I dialed 112, the Gangnam precinct, where Jang So-Yeon's stepfather used to work, would take the case.

He might be completely cut off from the outside world now, but based on his past actions, he was my top suspect. I couldn't afford that risk. If anything went wrong, not only her mother but Jang So-Yeon herself could lose custody of the children.

So I decided to handle this personally. With Everyday, I had access to faster intel than anyone else. That meant it was time to call in help from The Best Detective Agency.

The Best Detective Agency didn't just gather intel, but they also handled security. And with Director Choi Go-Yoon being a former cop, he would know how to handle this sort of thing. Plus, we had already hired them to monitor Jang So-Yeon's mother to gather evidence of child neglect. This meant they might have witnessed the kidnapping firsthand.

Just as I reached for my phone to call them, the agency beat me to it.

[Caller ID: Director Choi Go-Yoon of The Best Detective Agency]

When I answered, Choi Go-Yoon spoke in a low voice.

-Mr. Jung... I'm afraid I have some troubling news.

"Is this about Ms. Jang So-Yeon's siblings by any chance?"

-H-How did you know?

"While she was on a video call with her youngest sibling a moment ago, I heard a man's voice before the call cut off."

-Actually, our staff was monitoring the house nearby when a car pulled up. A group of men got out and took them. We're currently pursuing them.

It was a small relief, at least.

"Were you able to get the license plate number?"

-Yes. But we weren't sure if we should call the police, so we contacted you. Considering that Ms. Jang So-Yeon's stepfather is with the Gangnam police, we were worried the kidnappers might hurt the kids...

"Understood. Don't contact the police. Just keep tracking the car for now."

-Understood.

After hanging up, I reassured Jang So-Yeon that her siblings were being followed, hoping to ease her panic. Then I helped her toward the underground parking lot.

***

In the underground parkade of Jinseong Hotel & Resort, I settled into the driver's seat after helping Jang So-Yeon into the passenger side.

Just then, her phone buzzed.

[Caller ID: Jun-Hyun♡]

It was her kidnapped brother, Jang Jun-Hyun.

"Oppa! It's Jun-Hyun!"

As Jang So-Yeon moved to answer, I stopped her. "Wait."

"W-Why?"

"Stay calm. We need to understand what's going on. Put it on speaker and pretend you're alone. Just say yes to everything."

Jang So-Yeon nodded. "Okay."

While Jang So-Yeon got ready to answer, I opened the Notes app on my phone to communicate silently during the call.

At that moment, Jansg So-Yeon picked up quickly.

"Jun-Hyun? Yeon-Joo?"

-This is Jang So-Yeon, right?

A man's voice sounded like he was in his thirties.

"Wh-Who are you?"

-The one with your siblings. Oh, and don't even think about going to the cops. You won't be seeing their faces again if you do.

"What do you want? If it's money, I can give you everything I have..."

-Nah, I don't need money. Just do as you're told and the kids go free. Is anyone there with you?

"N-No, I'm alone."

-That was fast. You sure you're not with that talent agent who's always by your side?

I quickly typed into the Notes app: [Women's restroom]

"A talent agent can't come into a women's restroom. I told you, I'm alone..."

-Yeah? Then do exactly what I say from now on. The kids'll stay safe. And—

It was exactly like the cliché line from every kidnapping movie. I was certain he was about to threaten her not to call the police.

-If you go to the cops, you'll never see your siblings again. You understand that, right?

Grinding her teeth, Jang So-Yeon answered. "Y-Yes, I understand."

-You're not as dumb as you look. Then here's your first mission. Go to locker number 7 at the underground lockers near Exit 1 of Gangnam Station. Password's 1123. Inside, you'll find instructions.

Click.

The call ended.

"H-Hello?"

Jang So-Yeon tried calling again, but the call didn't go through. Still, that call gave us two crucial pieces of information.

First, the culprit was an amateur. They didn't use a burner phone or block the caller ID. Instead, they had called from Jang Jun-Hyun's phone. Second, they weren't after money. Which meant, just like the Everyday alert said, they likely intended to force her to retire from the entertainment industry.

"Oppa... what do we do?"

"The detective agency is tracking them, so try not to worry too much. Since they didn't ask for money, I don't think the kids are in immediate danger."

If the situation were truly life-threatening, the Everyday schedule entry would have shown something far worse than retirement. For this reason, I felt fairly confident.

"Okay."

I started the car and immediately called Choi Go-Yoon.

"Mr. Choi, how's the tracking going?"

-I'm sorry. We lost their vehicle behind Exit 1 at Gangnam Station.

I clenched my jaw. "Is there any way to pick it up again?"

-Since we have the license plate, we'll find it soon. I'm already heading to Gangnam myself.

While trying to figure out what to do next, countless scenes from films and dramas flashed through my mind.

"Movies may seem unrealistic," Star Director Choi Sung-Moon of Beyond the Boundary had once said, "but they're based on real events and crafted through imagination."

True to that, memories of kidnapping plots came flooding back. In most stories, someone was always watching while the locker was opened. And once Jang So-Yeon reads the instructions inside, she would be made to rush off somewhere.

This meant we needed two things: Someone to watch for anyone monitoring the locker, and someone close enough to Jang So-Yeon to read the instructions and report them back immediately.

I filled Choi Go-Yoon in and asked for backup.

"Mr. Choi, we just got a call from the kidnappers using So-Yeon's brother's phone. They told her to open locker number 7 at the underground lockers near Exit 1 of Gangnam Station. Password is 1123."

-Not a burner phone, but the brother's? Then they're not professionals!

"Exactly. They're likely nearby and watching. Please send agents to monitor the locker area."

-Got it. I'll redirect all agents except those searching for the car to Exit 1's locker section. Two minutes.

"Also... Mr. Choi, during your time on the force, did you handle any kidnapping cases?"

When I asked just in case, Choi Go-Yoon answered firmly.

-I never lost a single life in any of the kidnappings I worked. You have nothing to worry about.

His words were more reassuring than ever.

"Understood. See you at Gangnam Station."

After hanging up, I relayed Choi Go-Yoon's message to Jang So-Yeon. The tension on Jang So-Yeon's face eased slightly, but it wasn't over and we weren't even close. In fact, now came the most critical part.

"So-Yeon. From now on, you need to follow my instructions exactly."

"I will. Anything."

"You'll have to go to the locker alone."

"Okay."

"But inside the locker, there might be another set of instructions, or they might call again. Whatever's in that note, I need you to tell me. I need to move in sync with you."

"How?"

"I'll have someone stay right by your side."

"You're not coming?"

"If I show up, they'll notice immediately. It has to be someone else."

"Who?"

There was one person perfect for this—someone who knew the area around Gangnam Station's Exit 1 and wouldn't draw attention. That was Go An-Na, my friend and someone who also knew Jang So-Yeon from the orphanage days.

"If it's An-Na unnie, that's fine."

"Yeah."

With Jang So-Yeon's approval, I immediately called Go An-Na.

-Ooooh~ Yoon-Ho, what's the occasion at this hour? Finally paying me back for that ramen debt?

"An-Na, we've got no time for jokes. Listen closely. So-Yeon's siblings were kidnapped. It's Gangnam area. I need your help. Right now."

The playfulness vanished instantly, and Go An-Na's voice turned sharp with rage.

-What? Those bastards! Who the hell kidnaps So-Yeon's siblings?

"I don't know yet. We lost their car near Gangnam Station. But the kidnappers told So-Yeon to check a locker by Exit 1 for her next instructions."

-Exit 1 at Gangnam? I know that place inside out. Give me the license plate too. Worst case, I'll ask all the waiters around that area. Don't worry, we'll find them.

"Let's save that as a last resort, just in case word leaks."

-Okay. What do you need me to do now?

"Just stick with So-Yeon. Read whatever note she gets and tell me what it says."

-Got it. I just finished work in Samseong-dong. I'll grab a taxi and head straight there.

Go An-Na was currently working as a stylist at Reverse Entertainment. But since the actress's on-site styling had her near Samseong Station, she was at the Samseong Station now for a client shoot.

"That's fine. I'm at the Jinseong Hotel Samseong branch, so I'll come pick you up. Where exactly are you?"

-Me? Right in front of the Daechon Hotel Samseong branch.

"Got it. I'm on my way."

I immediately drove to the Daechon Hotel Samseong branch nearby.

***

After picking up Go An-Na, we arrived at Gangnam Station. Jang So-Yeon and Go An-Na both pulled their hats low and headed down separately toward Exit 1 of the underground station.

Go An-Na quietly opened locker number 8 beside Jang So-Yeon's and whispered.

-So-Yeon's opening locker number 7. I'm just pretending to put something in mine.

"Okay."

-She's opening the note now. Hold on, I'll read it for you.

Go An-Na became my eyes, describing everything in detail.

-Exit Gangnam Station through Exit 1 and reach Club Rose within ten minutes. Go to the basement and find Madam Hong Yeon-Doo. You'll receive your next instructions from her. If you're late, your siblings' safety cannot be guaranteed.

At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed over the line.

-Tap, tap, tap.

Go An-Na whispered in a quiet voice.

-So-Yeon just started running toward the exit. What do I do? Should I follow?

"Wait. Do you know Club Rose?"

-Of course. Everyone in the Gangnam nightlife circle knows that place. And I know Yeon-Doo unnie as well.

"Then don't follow. Someone else will trail her. Head back to my car, slowly."

-Got it.

Just then, a notification flashed on my phone. Choi Go-Yoon was calling. I hung up with Go An-Na and took his call.

"Yes, Mr. Choi."

-Mr. Jung, you were right. I see someone chasing after Jang So-Yeon.

"Did you get a clear look at the face?"

-Of course.

"So-Yeon's heading for Club Rose. Have your people waiting nearby, especially those still searching for the kidnappers' car."

-Understood.

Now that we knew their destination, the kidnappers were trapped rats.

***

I arrived at the narrow street leading to Club Rose's main entrance with Go An-Na before Jang So-Yeon did. The detectives from The Best Detective Agency were already stationed at the club's back entrance.

Waiting in the car, I turned to Go An-Na. "An-Na, are there any other emergency exits here?"

"No. Just the front and back doors."

So there was nowhere for them to run. Then, through the windshield, I saw Jang So-Yeon sprinting toward Club Rose's front entrance. Go An-Na and I immediately ducked down. Moments later, a man wearing sunglasses followed her inside.

That's when Go An-Na froze and muttered, shocked. "Huh? Wait a second...What the hell?!"

"What? You know him?"

"Yeah. He used to work under Jang Bok-Gil, So-Yeon's stepdad. He quit the police after he got a taste of money and joined a gang as their collector. What was his name again? Oh, right. Jo Won-Joo! If he's here, doesn't that mean Jang Bok-Gil told him to kidnap his own stepkids?"

That couldn't be. Since being arrested, Jang Bok-Gil had been badly beaten by the gangsters he once extorted, placed under medical supervision, and banned from all outside contact.

I shook my head. "No. Jang Bok-Gil's half-comatose from the beating. There's no way he's awake yet."

"Then who could it be?"

Click.

I opened the car door and said quietly, my voice cold. "Whoever it is... we'll find out soon enough."

Whoever dared kidnap my actress and her siblings, I had no intention of letting them go unpunished. I would get the truth out of them one way or another.

Go An-Na opened the passenger door and stepped out beside me. "Yoon-Ho, I'm coming with you. I know the guy at the entrance, so we can get inside quietly without any trouble."

I hesitated briefly, but the answer was obvious. "Okay. But if things look bad, you run. Got it?"

"Got it."

Then I called Choi Go-Yoon again.

"Mr. Choi, where are you?"

-Mr. Jung, I'm right where you can see me. Ahead to your right, in the white van with tinted windows.

I spotted the vehicle parked naturally among the others.

"I see you. Mr. Choi, I'm going in first. If anyone tries to escape, take care of them outside."

-Understood. And keep your phone on. If anything feels off, we'll move in immediately.

As I stepped onto the first stair leading down to Club Rose's basement, I spoke evenly. "That won't be necessary."

My hand clenched into a tight fist, the bones cracking audibly.