Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 800: School Bully Rumor (4)

With Park Ji-Hye's help, we managed to uncover Lucifer's backup email address through the ANTI Na-Ra fan club website.

I immediately sent the email to Lee Doo-Oh, and he used it to discover the shocking truth that Lucifer was none other than Jung Jin-Ah, Sung Na-Ra's best friend.

"You're not Lucifer, Ji-Hye."

When I handed her phone back, Park Ji-Hye let out a sigh of relief. "I told you I wasn't."

At that moment, the confused Vice Principal Bang Seo-Hee tilted her head. "Then who is it if not Ji-Hye?"

I said, "I'll explain, but let's let Ji-Hye go first."

Bang Seo-Hee nodded, then turned to Park Ji-Hye sharply. "Phew... Ji-Hye, you did post hate comments. Don't go running your mouth about today and end up getting sued, understood?"

"Ms. Bang. I'm not stupid, okay?"

Park Ji-Hye stood up with a sheepish nod, then turned to Sung Na-Ra again to apologize. "Na-Ra, I'm really sorry. I misunderstood you because I only listened to Jin-Sil. And... thank you for forgiving me."

Sung Na-Ra stared at Park Ji-Hye for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Okay. You should go."

Embarrassed, Park Ji-Hye turned and quickly ran out.

Click.

The office door shut, and all eyes turned to me.

"So who is it, then? Is it really one of our students?"

Bang Seo-Hee asked, but I didn't answer right away. I looked at Sung Na-Ra instead. I was worried about how she would react once she learned Jung Jin-Ah was the culprit.

At that moment, Sung Na-Ra stared at me intently and asked, "Mr. Jung... is it someone I know?"

Years of walking on eggshells during her time in FIVE Angels had made her incredibly perceptive.

"Uh, well..."

"Who is it?"

I hesitated, then finally answered, "It's Jung Jin-Ah. She's Lucifer."

Sung Na-Ra froze upon hearing my answer. The girl she had been close with since middle school, who had just stood up to the bullies for her, was the person running the ANTI Na-Ra fan club website and the one spreading the school violence rumor.

"For real...?"

"Yeah. Lucifer's backup email is [email protected], and we confirmed that Jung Jin-Ah used the same email on other platforms."

"jjaangel_04... that's right. Jin-Ah used to use that email before."

Sung Na-Ra confirmed it herself that Lucifer was indeed Jung Jin-Ah. Then, after taking a deep breath, Sung Na-Ra made a request.

"Mr. Jung... could you take care of this without turning Jin-Ah in to the police?"

The rumors Jung Jin-Ah had spread were already gaining traction online. And Everyday's schedule entry hadn't changed, which meant the timeline was still intact.

At first, I thought maybe she wanted to forgive Jung Jin-Ah out of kindness like she always did.

I asked quickly, "You're not saying to let it go...are you?"

"No. Like Eun-Seo said, I'm the face of Project I.O.A. I can't just ignore this."

"Then what are you asking for?"

"Punish her. But... don't let Jin-Ah's name get out online. If the public finds out through the police that my best friend was the one spreading hate, what would they think of me?"

Sung Na-Ra wasn't being indecisive. She was restraining herself for the sake of her career in the entertainment world.

'Thinking about her image as a celebrity already? Not bad.'

I was about to tell her she could still protect her image even if we went through with a police report. Just then, I remembered what President Kang Gam-Chan always said.

-A talent agent's first duty is to prioritize the celebrity's wishes above all else.

Kang Gam-Chan always said that unless an entertainer was headed down the wrong path, a talent agent should do everything possible to honor their wishes. I didn't know exactly why, but something told me now was the time to follow that teaching. Still, before making a final decision, I needed to be sure.

"Is that really all?" I asked.

Sung Na-Ra looked at me, then let out a soft sigh. "No. There's also a personal reason. When my parents passed away in a car accident... Jin-Ah and her mom helped our family out a lot. So maybe... part of me just wants to repay that." She glanced at me quietly before continuing. "But if you think it's a bad idea, I'll follow your lead, Mr. Jung."

"How could I say no when my celebrity is asking for it? But let's be clear. If Jin-Ah doesn't apologize, I won't stand by. What she did hurt our project and caused damage to the station and investors."

"Understood. If she turns down the chance, I won't insist either."

"Alright." After agreeing, I turned to Bang Seo-Hee. "Ms. Bang. Could you call Jung Jin-Ah in?"

"Of course."

Bang Seo-Hee picked up her phone and dialed.

"Jin-Ah? If you're done with lunch, can you come to the office? We need to talk."

From the nervous voice on the other end, Jung Jin-Ah answered to be right over.

As the call ended, I opened the recording app on my phone. Just in case she confessed, I would need it on record.

***

Click.

Jung Jin-Ah walked in with an innocent look, but paused when she saw us. "Ms. Bang, you called—huh? You're all still here?"

Bang Seo-Hee tried to contain her frustration, then gestured to the sofa beside her. "Jung Jin-Ah. Sit down."

"Uh... why?"

"I said, sit."

Seeing the sharp expression on Bang Seo-Hee's face, Jung Jin-Ah hesitated and sat down.

"Na-Ra, what are you still doing here instead of heading to Ilsan?" Jung Jin-Ah asked.

Before Sung Na-Ra could answer, I stepped in. "Jung Jin-Ah. You're Lucifer, the one running the ANTI Na-Ra fan club website. Aren't you?"

Jung Jin-Ah flinched, shoulders tightening, but then looked at me with feigned innocence.

"Anti-fan club? Lucifer? What are you even talking about?"

"Drop the act. We've already tracked your backup email and found your posts on other communities."

Jung Jin-Ah's eyes flicked around nervously, looking for an escape route. However, I didn't give her the chance.

"Everything's been captured—screenshots, logs, all of it. Deleting won't save you, so don't even think about it. And we brought you here not to accuse you, but to give you a chance. So think carefully."

I ordered her to cancel the planned attack for tonight and to shut down all activity on the site. As admin, she had the power to dismantle the whole fan club website. I also told her to publicly post the truth using the name Lucifer across every platform she had used.

"This is your chance to end it quietly, and that's all thanks to Na-Ra not wanting this to explode. So what's it gonna be? Do as you're told, or let this go all the way?"

At that moment, Jung Jin-Ah turned to Sung Na-Ra desperately. "Na-Ra! T-this isn't true! You're not seriously trusting your talent agent over your friend, are you?"

But before she could say more, Sung Na-Ra held up her phone. On the screen was an old post from a fan club website for idol trainees the two of them used to visit.

"Jin-Ah...Do you remember this post?"

[(Brag) Everyone, I just passed my audition for Ace Entertainment! I might even make the debut team. >.< (Posted by: S-NARA)]

It was a post from four years ago. At the time, Sung Na-Ra had just passed her audition and posted it in their trainee group. And right beneath it was a comment from Jung Jin-Ah.

(Comment)

-(Jina) You go, Na-Ra! Congrats, Na-Ra. I knew you'd make it. I didn't pass this time, but I'll get in next month and we'll train together, okay?

(Posted by: Jina <jjanagel_04>)

...

Sung Na-Ra looked at Jung Jin-Ah with a pained expression. "The backup account Lucifer used is the same as your email. So stop denying it."

Even with her face tight with panic, Jung Jin-Ah kept insisting. "N-no! I don't know why Lucifer used that account, but it wasn't me. I-I must've been hacked! Na-Ra, it really wasn't me!"

At that, Sung Na-Ra clenched her jaw and looked at me.

I nodded, then faced Jung Jin-Ah. "Na-Ra gave you a chance to confess, and you still won't. Then let me tell you exactly what's about to happen." I continued in a mono tone. "First, I'll report you to the police as a hate-comment perpetrator. I'll submit proof identifying you as the administrator of ANTI Na-Ra. The police will likely arrest you immediately. Which means you won't be going home tonight."

"A-arrest?"

"Yes. And the companies investing in Project I.O.A will send top-tier lawyers. That's nothing for them. And that's not all. Your parents will face a civil lawsuit for roughly five billion won. So not only will your life end but your parents' lives will as well."

Only then did Jung Jin-Ah's face become pale.

"Wait. Hold on, please—"

"Why should I? Na-Ra offered you a chance to confess, and you lied. So now the legal system will handle it. You'd better prepare yourself."

"If... if I admit it, will you not call the police?"

"It's too late."

I ignored her plea and raised my phone to make the call. The recording app was still running.

That's when Jung Jin-Ah suddenly dropped to her knees on the cold office floor.

Thud.

She bowed her head, hands rubbing together desperately. "I did it. Please don't call. It's true. I'm the ANTI Na-Ra admin, Lucifer. I'll do everything you say, and I'll give you info on the other admins too. Just please don't call the police. Please."

Jung Jin-Ah finally confessed everything.

At that moment, the schedule entry was finally disappearing.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: March 29, 2021]

-01:00 a.m.: <Schedule Entry Deleted>

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

[Entertainment All Star] Cherry Blossom's leader Woo Yeon-Hee speaks out on Sung Na-Ra, who was eliminated this week over a school bullying scandal.

[Baro Star] Woo Yeon-Hee's bold statement: "Even if everyone turns on Na-Ra, I still believe in her!")

That meant the rumor wouldn't spread any further. However, that didn't mean Jung Jin-Ah could walk away unpunished. I stopped the recording to finalize the confession. Then I pressed the call button.

Ring Ring~

Hearing the tone, Jung Jin-Ah went pale and began begging frantically. "Mr. Jung, please. Please just this once. Not the police. Please. I'm really sorry. Please give me one chance. Please—"

However, the number I dialed wasn't the police.

Click.

-Hello, Universe Cheapest Mart, we deliver starting from thirty thousand won. What would you like to order?

"Hello, ma'am. Are you Jin-Ah's mother?"

-Yes, this is her mother. Who's calling?

"We need you to come to the school immediately."

I explained everything Jung Jin-Ah had done exactly as it happened, not to the police but to her mother.

Jung Jin-Ah's face visibly drained. After all, Sung Na-Ra had told me earlier that the only thing Jung Jin-Ah truly feared in the world was her parents.

***

Smack! Smack!

The sound of Jung Jin-Ah's mother slapping her daughter on the back echoed sharply through the office.

"You shameless brat! You've got nothing better to do than ruin your friend's life?"

"Mom, hic...Sob, I'm sorry..."

"You awful child. Terrible child. Do you even understand what you've done? Knowing Na-Ra's situation, how could you? Are you even human? You're no daughter of mine! You crazy girl!"

Jung Jin-Ah's mother burst into tears as she hit her, while her father bowed repeatedly to Sung Na-Ra.

"Na-Ra... I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. Jin-Ah... she wanted to be an idol too, but she kept failing, and I guess she lost her mind. Please, just this once—please forgive her. We'll transfer her to another school and make sure she gives up on the entertainment world and never shows up in front of you again."

After hearing her out, it turned out Jung Jin-Ah had genuinely supported Sung Na-Ra at first. She even joined her fan club website and defended Sung Na-Ra against hate comments.

But as Sung Na-Ra rose to success and Jung Jin-Ah kept failing every audition, she began sinking into depression. And when she was eliminated from the Project I.O.A preliminaries, she snapped and fell completely into darkness.

Yet all Sung Na-Ra could do was let a few tears slip down. She didn't say a word. After all, Jung Jin-Ah had already thrown away her chance to be forgiven.

With Sung Na-Ra staying silent, Jung Jin-Ah's father looked at me in panic. "You're the talent agent, right? I've seen you on TV. Please, just this once—give Jin-Ah a chance. We'll do whatever you say."

Part of me still wanted to hand her over to the police, but I couldn't. A talent agent's job was to know their celebrity's heart. And sometimes, when they couldn't say the words out loud, talent agents had to read their faces and give them what they needed.

Right now, Sung Na-Ra was asking me, without speaking, to end it here.

'Alright. If that's what my celebrity wants, then that's what I'll do.'

I turned to Jung Jin-Ah's father and spoke calmly. "Na-Ra told me that when her parents died in a car accident, your family—especially Jin-Ah and your wife—helped her through it. That's why she wants to forgive Jin-Ah this one time."

"I-Is that really true?"

"Yes. But Jin-Ah can't keep going to the same school as Na-Ra. To be honest, I still haven't fully forgiven her myself."

"O-of course. We'll transfer her right away and make sure she never shows her face again."

"Good. Then have Jin-Ah shut down the fan club website and delete all the hate posts. And she needs to post a public apology under the name Lucifer on every platform. If she does that, we'll end it here."

"U-understood!"

Just then, Sung Na-Ra turned to me with tears in her eyes and a soft smile. "Thank you, Mr. Jung."

A single thank you from my celebrity was worth more than scolding Jung Jin-Ah a hundred times.

I guess being a talent agent really did suit me.

***

Once everything was settled at school, we arrived at the Project I.O.A set in Ilsan.

Then, Jung Jin-Ah made a post on the website under her admin name Lucifer.

[Apology from the ANTI Na-Ra Admin]

-I'm sorry.

I am Lucifer, the former administrator of the ANTI Na-Ra fan club website.

I'm taking this opportunity to tell the truth.

The rumors about Sung Na-Ra being a school violence perpetrator were completely false.

Sung Na-Ra has never, not even once, used violence or harsh language against her classmates.

In fact, she's been the victim more than once.

And during her time in FIVE Angels, it's now confirmed that she was the one being ostracized.

All the hate posts I made were born out of jealousy and misunderstanding.

I'm truly sorry.

As a sign of remorse, I will close the site and cease all online activity.

I sincerely thank Sung Na-Ra for forgiving me with such a generous heart.

P.S.) I know I don't deserve to say this, but I truly hope Sung Na-Ra becomes a member of I.O.A.

And the comments started rolling in.

(Comments)

-So all the people who were raging about Sung Na-Ra earlier just dipped, huh?

-Lol. Hoop Entertainment really did a number on that psycho admin.

-Sung Na-Ra WIN! ANTI Na-Ra LOSE!

-Guess she didn't want to end up in jail.

-Let that be a lesson to the rest of the haters: mess with Hoop and you're toast.

...

Sung Na-Ra's fans were celebrating the fall of the haters. And from the passenger seat and back row, Woo Yeon-Hee and Sung Na-Ra both seemed relieved.

However, one person wasn't smiling. Go Eun-Seo, arms crossed, was pouting.

I turned off the engine and asked Go Eun-Seo, "Eun-Seo, what's with the face?"

Go Eun-Seo shot back in her usual snappy tone. "Mr. Jung! I just think Na-Ra unnie went too easy on her."

"Too easy?"

"Yeah! If it were me, I would've gone straight to the police, gotten a lawyer, sued her—everything. How can you forgive someone who tried to ruin your career? It just seems... dumb. I mean, isn't this a loss?"

Before the regression, Go Eun-Seo didn't care about anything outside of her own business. But now, here she was, furious like Sung Na-Ra's pain was her own. It was nice to see her growing and starting to care about others. I couldn't help but smile.

"Why are you smiling, Mr. Jung?"

"Eun-Seo, do you really think Na-Ra forgiving Jung Jin-Ah was stupid?"

"...It wasn't?"

Go Eun-Seo tilted her head, wide-eyed, clearly confused. So I began explaining, calmly and carefully.

Because for someone like Go Eun-Seo, who grew up with power in her corner, this was a lesson she needed to hear.