Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 786: Film Production Begins (1)

The morning after episode 21 of Hwaranjeon aired, I checked Everyday's schedule entry as soon as I woke up at 7:30 a.m. just like always.

After confirming there wasn't anything unusual scheduled, I opened the entertainment news section on the portal.

[Hwaranjeon Episode 21 hits 35.0% peak minute viewership ratings! Lead actress Jung Yoo-Jin already being named a top contender for this year's acting awards.]

[Jung Yoo-Jin's big screen debut She Was Beautiful, drawing major attention.]

...

The feed was full of articles about yesterday's episode of Hwaranjeon and Yoo-Jin's next project. I figured LT's President Shin Jong-Ki, who I was meeting soon, would be pleased. That reminded me I had a 9 a.m. meeting at LT Entertainment.

I quickly washed up and headed downstairs.

Click.

I opened the door to the second floor. In the living room, Miso dressed in Powertuff Girls pajamas was cuddling Baekseolgi and Injeolmi, who had grown quite a bit now, showering them with morning kisses.

"Seolgi gets a kiss~ Jeolmi gets a kiss~"

"Meow~"

"Woof!"

Smiling at the scene, I greeted her. "Miso, did you sleep well?"

Miso beamed at me. "Yeah! I slept like a rock. What about you, Uncle Yoon-Ho?"

"I slept well too. Where's your mom?"

Miso let out a tiny yawn. "Mom's still snoring~ She's asleep and even singing in her sleep! She came in late and gave me a kiss on the cheek. That's why I woke up a little early today."

"If you're tired, want to sleep a bit more? Just thirty minutes?"

Miso shook her head. "Nope, I'm good. I'm wide awake now!"

"Hmm... Then how about I make breakfast for you? French toast. Sounds good?"

Miso hesitated, glancing at me.

I quickly caught on and smiled. "Ah, you don't want that. Then what do you want?"

Twiddling her fingers, Miso replied softly. "Bubbling doenjang stew with fluffy steamed egg... please."

"That's easy. I'll make you beef brisket doenjang-jjigae[1] and steamed egg[2]. Go wash up."

"Yay! Then I'll help Uncle Yoon-Ho with the apron."

"Uh, sure, yeah—great~"

Miso grabbed my hand and led me to the kitchen. She took down the pink Powertuff Girls apron hanging in the kitchen and slipped it over me.

Then, clapping her hands, Miso giggled. "Woooow~ so pretty~"

'Thanks for calling me pretty, Miso.'

It made the embarrassment a little easier to bear.

"Alright. Then Miso, you should go wash up now, yeah?"

"Okay~"

Raising both arms, Miso dashed into the bathroom and started washing her face. "Splish splash!"

While she was at it, I opened the fridge and took out a home meal kit with Haru's face on it. It was a popular product lately labelled Haru's Kitchen—Beef Brisket Doenjang-jjigae.

I unsealed the package, poured the stew into a stone pot, and got started on the steamed egg. I grabbed some eggs from the fridge, removed the chalaza, cracked them into a small pot, and began cooking.

Once breakfast prep was done, I mixed up some honey water and headed to the master bedroom where Yoo-Jin was still asleep.

Knock knock.

"Yoo-Jin. Are you awake~~?"

"Yes... yeah..."

I turned the knob and opened the door. Yoo-Jin was slumped over on the bed with her hair hanging forward like a scene from a horror movie.

"O-Oppa... water, please..."

"Here."

I handed Yoo-Jin a cup of warm honey water. She lifted her head and took it, then downed the whole thing in one gulp.

"Ahhh~ that hits the spot~"

Only then did Yoo-Jin's eyes finally start to regain focus.

"I'll feed Miso first. You take your time washing up. We need to get ready for the LT Entertainment meeting."

At that moment, Yoo-Jin suddenly grabbed my arm. "I want... breakfast too..."

"You stuffed yourself with pork belly and soju last night, and you still have an appetite in the morning?"

Yoo-Jin nodded. "Fooood~"

"Fine, alright. Come on out, then."

Yoo-Jin sprang up and followed me out.

"Whoa, Mom! You're awake?"

"Good morning, Miso. Did you sleep well?"

"Yup!"

Miso was telling a white lie for her mom's sake. She had woken up when her mom came in late at night and kissed her on the cheek, but she pretended she hadn't noticed. Thanks to that tiny fib, we were able to enjoy a warm, happy breakfast together. It was just like that morning in my tiny studio apartment after I saved Miso.

That same quiet happiness sank deep into my chest.

***

On the way to LT Entertainment, I dropped Miso off at school.

As the car stopped in front of the main gate, Miso opened the rear door and hopped out. "I'll see you later!"

Miso bowed 90 degrees toward me in the driver's seat and Yoo-Jin in the passenger seat.

Then Yoo-Jin rolled down the window and blew Miso a double-handed finger hearts. "Mwah! Miso, have a great day at school!"

"Okay, Mom! See you later at the script reading!"

Clutching her backpack strap, Miso trotted off toward the school gate. Just then, a crowd of kids swarmed around her.

"Miso~ have a great day!"

"Miso, did you sleep well?"

"Miso! What'd you do yesterday?"

Miso smiled broadly. "Yesterday? I had acting lessons."

"Whoa! That's so cool."

"Miso, can I get your autograph again? My grandma's a fan!"

"Sure. I'll sign it for her," Miso nodded.

Miso had become the idol of the playground before anyone noticed, giggling as she headed in with her friends. Yoo-Jin watched Miso with her friends, overcome with emotion. She was even more emotional than when Hwaranjeon hit 35% viewership ratings last night.

"Our little Miso. When did she grow up so much?"

When I first saved Miso, she was just a six-year-old making Christmas trees. Now, she was already eight. In those two years, Miso had become one of Korea's top child actors.

However, Miso wasn't the only one who changed. Yoo-Jin had changed just as much.

"Our Yoo-Jin. When did you grow up so much?" I said it proudly, glancing at her in the passenger seat.

Yoo-Jin shrugged. "I just kept following whatever you told me to do. And somehow, I ended up like this. Not bad, right?"

Even a simple line like that, Yoo-Jin made it sound sweet.

"Thanks for growing up so well."

Thanks to Yoo-Jin, Hoop Entertainment and I were able to grow this far. Her success earned me the company's trust and helped drive its success.

"Aww. I should be the one thanking you, oppa."

Then Yoo-Jin's smile faded. She looked at me, hesitating before asking, "But oppa, why do you dislike Min Gyu-Ri that much...?"

She said she held back last night because my expression was too serious, but she had been curious.

I put my hand on the steering wheel and replied. "I can't change her, no matter what I do."

"Whhaaat~? There's actually someone you can't change?"

"Yeah."

"How do you know that?"

"I can tell just by looking."

Truth was, I knew from experience. Min Gyu-Ri could lie endlessly without a hint of guilt. No matter what I tried, I could never change her.

"Then what are you gonna do? If the managing director already offered to scout her, you can't just flat-out oppose it, right?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"Well, the final stamp hasn't been made, so it's not set in stone... Still, it's tricky. If I just kick her out, it'll blow up into bad press, especially with our company about to go public."

That was why last night, I had someone from The Best Detective Agency tail Min Gyu-Ri. Unlike before the regression, Min Gyu-Ri had debuted as a celebrity much earlier this time. So far, no scandal data existed.

Then Yoo-Jin spoke, her expression firm with resolve. "If it really comes down to it, let me handle it."

"And what are you planning to do?"

Yoo-Jin crossed her arms and raised her chin. "If it's for you, I'll throw my weight around for once. If she joins, I'll throw a fit and say I'm quitting Hoop Entertainment. Think they'll still go through with scouting her?"

"You're gonna throw a diva tantrum?"

"Well, I could if I had to."

Yoo-Jin glared at me with fiery eyes. That fierce look Min Gyu-Ri had shown yesterday was now reflected on Yoo-Jin's face.

I waved it off immediately. "Forget it. Even if Min Gyu-Ri ends up at Hoop, I'll never let you do something like that."

As long as I was her talent agent, I would never let Yoo-Jin get labeled as a power-tripping actress. Besides, I had already set the investigation in motion. News was bound to come in soon. And when it did, I would use it to oppose Min Gyu-Ri's recruitment.

"Alright, alright. Enough talent-wasting, Miss Actress. Relax that face. We've got Mr. Shin and Mr. Yeo to meet."

Yoo-Jin instantly dropped the scowl and flashed a bright smile. "Well then... Just remember that I'll always be on your side!"

I smiled gently. "I know. Now, shall we go see Mr. Shin?"

"Yup~"

We headed straight for the president's office at LT Entertainment to talk about the She Was Beautiful film project.

***

The members of Faithful, formed by Park Sang-Ah, had gathered at Haru—a Japanese restaurant in Yeouido. Its name meant spring in Japanese, and its VIP room was filled with a spring-like interior. However, the air inside the room was cold, more like winter.

Bang Sang-Yung, the frontman they sent to trap Jung Yoon-Ho, had been arrested. On top of that, TNT Entertainment was now facing a massive lawsuit worth hundreds of billions.

"Damn it. It's all over!!"

The one who shattered the icy silence was Jin Myung-Gyu, former vice chairman of Jinseong Inc. and owner of TNT Entertainment. With lawsuits from Hoop Entertainment and Best Securities amounting to hundreds of billions, Jin Myung-Gyu was preparing to shut down TNT altogether. It was a move to minimize the fallout that would come back on him.

Just then, Park Sang-Ah sighed and spoke. "Fine. Then let's forget about Jung Yoon-Ho for now and just focus on keeping ourselves clean."

Choi Man-Sik had gone radio silent in Japan, and their attempt to target Chairman Choi Eun-Tae had ended in failure. Now even Park Sang-Ah had more pressing matters than Jung Yoon-Ho. She was managing funds from Chairman Hong Moon-Gyu of HK Inc., who was backing her father's by-election campaign, and things were chaotic.

Even Hong Moon-Gyu, the chairman himself, sighed with a reluctant expression. "I'd love nothing more than to crush that bastard Chief Jung, but... now isn't the time. I'll focus on helping Ms. Park Sang-Ah here and Assemblyman Park's election. We'll regroup later."

At that moment, Sung Hak-Soo, the former chairman of Daechon Inc., set down his sake glass and looked around the room.

Clack.

"We must not stop targeting Chief Jung."

Park Sang-Ah snapped back. "And what do you suggest? TNT's gone. What's left to use?"

"Ms. Sang-Ah, think carefully. If we don't act, that man will rise even faster beyond our reach."

Hong Moon-Gyu looked visibly annoyed. "Ahem... Aren't you giving Chief Jung a bit too much credit?"

Sung Hak-Soo countered calmly. "With all due respect, sir, this is the same Chief Jung who took down both your third and fourth child. Are you really still underestimating him?"

That set Hong Moon-Gyu off. "Hey! Do you hear yourself right now?"

Unfazed, Sung Hak-Soo turned his gaze to Jin Myung-Gyu and Jin Myung-Hee of TNT Entertainment. "Jung Yoon-Ho is the one who wrecked both of your lives too. And now TNT, the company you invested so heavily in, is about to go under. The prosecutors will come knocking next."

Jin Myung-Gyu and Jin Myung-Hee visibly flinched, their faces tight with rage toward Jung Yoon-Ho.

"Mr. Sung... one more word, and I won't hold back."

Sung Hak-Soo looked at them with disdain and raised his voice slightly, pointing out who they should really be angry at. "From nothing more than a team lead and chief position, he got my wife jailed and dragged me down from my chairmanship! He dealt each one of you a fatal blow in your own way. And now that man's about to sprout wings as a major shareholder of a public company. Tell me—do any of you truly believe you can stop him then? Hmm?"

Sung Hak-Soo, usually the quietest in the room, had never spoken this loudly before. The moment he did, the entire room of Faithful fell silent.

Sung Hak-Soo stared each of them down, then exhaled and calmed his tone. "My apologies for getting worked up. Sigh~ But if we don't strike now, there won't be another chance. Once he grows stronger, revenge may be completely out of reach."

In response, even the hesitant Hong Moon-Gyu began to nod along. He hadn't forgotten that Jung Yoon-Ho was the reason two of his sons went to prison. Still, he had concerns.

"All well and good, but what's the plan now? Your card, Bang Sang-Yung, was taken out just like that," said Hong Moon-Gyu.

Sung Hak-Soo's eyes glinted. "Don't worry. Bang Sang-Yung was a discardable piece from the start."

"A discard? Then what's the next plan?"

Sung Hak-Soo didn't answer right away. He just looked at Jin Myung-Gyu and Jin Myung-Hee. "You two—you're done with TNT, right? You'll walk away no matter what happens?"

"Yes."

"Then transfer all your TNT shares to me."

"And what are you going to do with them?"

"I've got a perfect way to bring Jung Yoon-Ho down."

Everyone leaned in, curious. However, Sung Hak-Soo refused to share. "I'll handle everything myself!"

Sung Hak-Soo was a self-made titan who had climbed his way up from salaryman to chairman. Though some dismissed him as a puppet who rose only through marriage, Sung Hak-Soo had crawled when told, humbled himself for his wife, swallowed his pride. He endured humiliation to reach the top.

However, Jung Yoon-Ho had torn all of that down along with everything Sung Hak-Soo had built over his lifetime.

Then came the message from his wife in prison.

-Crush Jung Yoon-Ho. Do that, and once I'm back, I'll make you chairman again. Otherwise, it's divorce.

To reclaim Daechon Inc.'s throne and to remain Kim Ae-Ja's husband, Sung Hak-Soo renewed his resolve. This time, he would go all in.

After all, the Jung Yoon-Ho of today was no longer an opponent he could beat with just 100% effort.

***

We arrived at the president's office at LT Entertainment.

When we did, Writer Wang Mi-In, Director Yeo Ik-Hwan, President Shin Jong-Ki, and Managing Director Lee Eun-Joo were already deep in discussion.

Shin Jong-Ki greeted us with a cheerful wave. "Well, well. Korea's top actress and top talent agent have arrived! Come in, come in~"

He was in a good mood, thanks to Hwaranjeon hitting 35% viewership ratings and Hoop Entertainment's stock price breaking the ceiling. Yoo-Jin and I smiled sheepishly and returned the greetings. We also exchanged pleasantries with Yeo Ik-Hwan and Wang Mi-In.

Thankfully, both of them looked far more relaxed than they had in the past.

Yeo Ik-Hwan had received two luxury apartments from LT and gifted one to his in-laws, finally separating his family from theirs. Wang Mi-In, now signed with Hoop Entertainment, had moved out of a semi-basement unit into a high-end DH Villa.

"All thanks to you, Mr. Jung, my in-laws finally have their own place now."

"Thanks to you, I finally escaped that semi-basement. I forgot what it was like to live in a house with actual sunlight. These days, I finally feel like I'm living again."

After the greetings, Lee Eun-Joo pointed to the script. On the tablets in front of everyone was the revised script of She Was Beautiful, updated by Wang Mi-In.

Wang Mi-In began explaining the changes. "I strengthened the female lead's backstory and really leaned into the conflict dynamics between the characters. Most of all, I focused the arc around the success story of our heroine, Han Bit-Na. Please take a look."

The film She Was Beautiful opens with the five-member girl group Angel Wings reaching massive success with their debut single 'Pit-a-Pat.' From there, the story follows the group's leader, Han Bit-Na, who sets off alone by car to prepare for a solo stage—only to get into a devastating car accident. The crash leaves severe injuries to half her face. Doctors say she'll likely never perform again. Shortly after, her agency, Dream Planning, cuts her loose.

What follows is a long period of obscurity, hiding away and uploading songs anonymously on MeTube—until the former talent agent who first discovered her appears and helps her stage a comeback as a solo artist.

Thanks to the original writer's revisions, the plot's cause-and-effect logic and emotional depth were far richer than what I remembered from before the regression. The revised script delivered more drama and more heart.

I slowly set the tablet down, satisfied.

Clack.

However, something was off. Everything around me had gone silent. I looked up wondering why, and realized everyone was staring not at the tablets, but straight at me.

"...Why are you all looking at me like that?" I asked.

"We were curious what you thought of it, Mr. Jung."

'Seriously? Shouldn't they judge it with their own eyes? I'm not some kind of hit-guarantee vending machine. Relying on my reaction to predict success is too risky!'

Still, I spoke with full confidence, combining all my memories and experience from before the regression. "It's going to be a huge hit."

At that moment, smiles bloomed across everyone's faces.

"I knew it!"

They all exhaled in relief, nodding in agreement.

Just then, Shin Jong-Ki spoke with a note of concern. "There's still one problem, though."

We had a solid director, a great writer, a lead actress everyone trusted, and even distribution and production lined up.

'So what could possibly be the issue?'

1. Doenjang-jjigae ☜

2. Steamed egg ☜