Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 816: Yeon Bo-Ra (3)

[@ENT_jjirasi ]

[Posts: 2,128 | Followers: 775,000 | Following: 0]

-Blooming fan club website repost

-The photo is Yeon Bo-Ra, a third-year student at Jinyoung High School. (School uniform photo attached)

(Likes: 113,293)

(Comments)

-She's our school's top student. And she's genuinely kind. Both classmates and teachers love her.

-Top in character, top in fangirling, top in looks. She's got everything but money.

-Does she have an Instargem or MeTube?

-She doesn't do social media. Says she's focused on studying.

-These days, unless you're going to med school, isn't becoming a celeb the best path? Just posting daily pics or videos would rack up views.

-With this much buzz, even just uploading study videos would get her 100K subscribers.

-Actually, she is aiming for med school.

-Well, if it's between med school and showbiz, that's a real dilemma. But if it were me, I'd choose celebrity over doctor.

-So what's Hoop Entertainment doing not scouting her?

-They've probably already reached out. She's a Blooming member, after all.

-Even her name's pretty—Bo-Ra.

-A nobody who has everything but money.

-With that face, the money will follow one way or another.

-She's already blowing up on major forums. (Link: YapYap Best Post)

-Oh, she's the one? The girl who fangirls with her mom?

...

I showed Yoo Jung-Hee the account @Ent_jjirasi, a rumor-spreading profile that covered major entertainment news, to convince her. At this point, Yeon Bo-Ra wasn't just some nobody.

"This account has 775,000 followers. It's currently the number one source for Korean entertainment news. And if this post has over 110,000 likes, that means at least 300,000 people have seen it. In other words, right now, Bo-Ra is more popular than any celebrity in Korea. And look at this, too."

I clicked the community link included in the comments.

[Yap Yap Community]

[(Repost) Moving with My Mom~]

(Repost) From Cherry Blossom fan club Blooming.

(Views: 102,382, Likes: 14,383)

(Comments)

-Wow, such a good daughter.

-I really hope things go well for her.

-Is there any update on this?

-She said she was going house hunting with her mom, but it's been quiet. I hope nothing happened.

-Stocks don't sell on the same day. I hope she knew that going in. It'll be a letdown if it fell through.

-A photo's up on @Ent_jjirasi. (Photo attached)

-This is her? She's stunning.

-She looks ready to debut right now.

-So it was true her dad looks like Lee Tae-Poong? I thought it was just someone bragging. I owe a big apology.

...

Most of the top posts across various communities were written by Yeon Bo-Ra.

Yoo Jung-Hee wavered slightly, but her stance remained firm. "But doesn't this kind of popularity fade fast? You know the term 'flash-in-the-pan star,' right? This buzz will die down in a week, maybe even by tomorrow. I can't recommend something as unstable as an entertainment career to my Bo-Ra just because of this. Honestly, girls as pretty as her aren't that rare in showbiz. And more than anything, I know it takes real talent to make it in that industry."

She wasn't wrong. A brief moment of fame didn't make someone a star. However, that only applied when the wrong talent agents failed to seize an opportunity. If I stepped in, I could show her a completely different future.

"As you said, ma'am, the entertainment industry is overflowing with handsome and beautiful people. But today gave Bo-Ra something of her own. Her character and her story have been deeply imprinted in the public's mind. Now that she has that distinction, Bo-Ra can succeed. If you entrust Bo-Ra to me, I will make her a star without fail."

Just as I, Jung Yoon-Ho, known as the man with the Midas touch, had turned other talents into stars, I said with absolute confidence that I would do the same for Yeon Bo-Ra.

At that moment, tears like chicken droppings began to fall from Yoo Jung-Hee's eyes as she stared at me in silence. "I'm sorry... I really am... but I can't let my daughter become a celebrity."

It was only natural for a parent to worry about their child's future. Still, I hadn't expected her to cry just because I made what I thought was a better offer.

I hurriedly held out a handkerchief. "Ma'am. I'm sorry if I put too much pressure on you. Please use this."

Yoo Jung-Hee accepted the handkerchief, apologizing again. "Thank you. And I'm sorry. I'm not crying because of you, Mr. Jung."

'It's not because of me?'

At that moment, Yeon Bo-Ra asked her mother, almost accusingly, whether she really wanted her to become a celebrity.

"Mom. Is it because you want me to go to med school? You said it wouldn't matter even if I didn't. Have you been lying to me all this time?"

After wiping her tears, Yoo Jung-Hee shook her head. "No, my love. Why would you think that? Whether you go to pre-med, Korean literature, or history, I truly don't care. But... being a celebrity is the one thing I can't allow..."

Still unable to understand, Yeon Bo-Ra was about to ask again.

Just then, Yoo Jung-Hee let out a deep sigh and began to confess the past. "Bo-Ra. The truth is, your father, who passed away, was also a celebrity. He was an unknown actor with no real talent. That's why I know how hard that life is. And even if Mr. Jung helps you, nothing in this world is ever 100%. What if my daughter doesn't go to college and also fails to become a celebrity? Do you know what happens to failed celebrities? A truly horrifying future waits for them. Your father went through that too."

Eighteen years ago, an actor named Yeon Sang-Jin, discovered by Space Planning, had briefly gained popularity thanks to his sculpted looks. However, that was the end of it.

Every project Space Planning recommended failed, and Yeon Sang-Jin wasted five years of his life. Because of that, he was always strapped for cash. And even if he appeared on a broadcast one day to earn money, the next day he had to work at a construction site. Yoo Jung-Hee said that to support such a husband, she had to carry Yeon Bo-Ra on her back and work at construction site cafeterias and soup shops just to make a living.

Then one day while returning from a shoot in the countryside, Yeon Sang-Jin's car skidded on a rainy road, and he never made it back.

Yoo Jung-Hee clung to her husband's body and screamed as she cried. She thought if only he hadn't become a celebrity, he wouldn't have died like this. As she placed her husband's remains in the columbarium, she swore she would never let her daughter become a celebrity. She vowed to raise her daughter so she could have a respectable, stable job.

Only now was Yoo Jung-Hee finally telling her daughter that heartbreaking story.

"That's why... I don't want you to become a celebrity, Bo-Ra..."

It was no wonder nothing I said had gotten through to her. It was because of that past that Yoo Jung-Hee had hated the idea of her daughter becoming a celebrity so fiercely.

Yeon Bo-Ra, her eyes filling with tears as well, wrapped her arms around her mother. "Mom. Then why didn't you ever tell me any of this? You said Dad was just a day laborer!"

"I called him an actor, but in reality, he really was a day laborer. Whenever he had time, he went to construction sites to work and take care of you and me. When your dad was alive, he suffered so much."

I wanted to push the contract through somehow, but with reasons like that, I couldn't force the issue on Yoo Jung-Hee. Especially since Yeon Bo-Ra's grades were good enough for medical school.

For a moment, I wondered if it might be better to just help her from afar and let her live a good life as she was. After all, I had already saved her from a rental scam. Maybe it would be enough to make sure she could live in the DH villa and then let go of the lingering regret in my chest.

Still, there was one thing I absolutely had to confirm. I checked Everyday to check the schedule entry showing the death of actress Yeon Bo-Ra.

However, the schedule entry remained the same.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: November 7, 2025]

-03:00 p.m.: Visit to Seoul Memorial Park Crematorium. (Cremation of actress Yeon Bo-Ra.)

'Huh? Why hasn't this disappeared?'

After joining Top Entertainment, Yeon Bo-Ra had ended her life in less than six months. But since I had prevented the rental scam and stopped Yeon Bo-Ra's mother from collapsing, I naturally thought this schedule entry would disappear as well. In the first place, the reason Yeon Bo-Ra became a celebrity was because after her mother collapsed, she needed money and entered this industry.

Yet even after what I've done, the death schedule entry remained unchanged. This meant only one thing— Yeon Bo-Ra's fate of becoming a celebrity was still intact.

Unable to understand it, I checked the only other remaining schedule entry related to Yeon Bo-Ra. It was the record from when she was first scouted into the industry.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: June 7, 2025]

-01:00 p.m.: Recruitment of actress Yeon Bo-Ra. (Transferred from Taeseong Entertainment.)

Taeseong Entertainment was the company that first scouted Yeon Bo-Ra as a celebrity. And the person who had scouted her there was probably Chief Park Sang-Han. Yet even that schedule entry was still there. This meant Yeon Bo-Ra's fate would somehow entangle her with that filthy bastard and lead her into the entertainment world. Fate was truly hard to change.

At that moment, the memory of the day Yeon Bo-Ra wore a bitter expression in her hospital room resurfaced.

-If you had been my first talent agent... my mom wouldn't have died... and my life wouldn't have turned out like this...

'Yeah. This time, I will protect you, Bo-Ra.'

I felt sorry for Yeon Bo-Ra's mother, but to protect her daughter, I had to break the vow she had made in front of her husband's grave. The best way to prevent all of this was to cast Yeon Bo-Ra into our company.

I immediately began searching for a way to persuade Yoo Jung-Hee in order to protect Yeon Bo-Ra. That was when a thought finally occurred to me.

'Wait. Space Planning—that's where Mr. Kang Gam-Chan used to work.'

Eighteen years ago lined up with the period when President Kang Gam-Chan had been a Chief at Space Planning. And a talent agent who valued people as much as Kang Gam-Chan would likely know about an actor named Yeon Sang-Jin as well.

So first, I needed to ask about anything that might help. To persuade Yoo Jung-Hee, I had to untangle the resentment lodged deep in her heart.

'I should call Mr. Kang Gam-Chan first.'

***

"Okay, Mom. I won't chase empty dreams. I'll just focus on studying. Yeah. So please don't cry."

Yeon Bo-Ra followed her mother's words and gave up on becoming a celebrity.

Only then did Yoo Jung-Hee's tears stop. "Thank you, Bo-Ra. And I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Mom. But... don't you have any old photos of Dad, or anything he appeared in? I want to see them..."

"I'm sorry. I burned all of your dad's photos. I was scared that when you grew up, you'd say you wanted to be an actor like him."

"Come on... why would you burn them? If you'd just told me the truth, I would've listened to you anyway."

After finishing their gentle conversation, Yeon Bo-Ra and Yoo Jung-Hee glanced my way. They probably felt it was shameless to refuse my suggestion of becoming a celebrity and still say they would live in the DH villa.

Sure enough, Yoo Jung-Hee spoke carefully. "Um, Mr. Jung... we just said Bo-Ra wouldn't become a celebrity and it doesn't feel right to keep accepting help like this... so we were thinking of looking somewhere else..."

That was when Sung Ji-Yeon stepped in firmly. "What does becoming a celebrity have to do with buying the DH villa? In the first place, I'm giving you that house at half price because of the post Bo-Ra wrote. As the fan club president, I'm just helping two longtime dedicated members. Just keep supporting Blooming enthusiastically from now on."

I smiled gently and nodded as well. For now, keeping the two of them within my sight was the priority no matter what.

"Exactly. Please don't feel burdened. That was the condition from the start. I only suggested entertainment because I thought it was a better option. And our legal team lead will help you with the preliminary real estate contract for the DH villa," I said.

Only then did Yoo Jung-Hee relax and bow her head. "I don't deserve this, but thank you."

"Of course."

After thanking Cha Dae-Hyun, the president of Daebak Securities who had helped with today's matter, I stood up from my seat.

Then I spoke to Sung Ji-Yeon, the Hoengseong Girls High School's girls, and Cha Eun-Sol. "I'll head down to the car first and start the engine. Ji-Yeon, bring Bo-Ra and her mother down to the underground parking lot."

"Okay, Mr. Jung."

Stepping ahead of the others, I ran toward the van parked in the underground garage and called Kang Gam-Chan.

"Mr. Kang, may I ask where you are right now?"

-Me? I just saw Mr. Chairman for a bit and I'm on my way back to the company. What is it?

'Perfect. If he's at the company, we can see him in person.'

Without wasting a second, I asked about Yeon Sang-Jin.

"Mr. Kang, back when you were at Space Planning, do you remember an actor named Yeon Sang-Jin? A handsome man who died in a car accident..."

That was when Kang Gam-Chan's voice began to shake.

-Sang-Jin...? How do you know him?

'Sang-Jin? They must've been closer than I thought.'

"Well, actually..."

I explained how I had tried and failed to scout Yeon Bo-Ra today—that her mother had opposed it because Yeon Sang-Jin had been a failed, short-lived actor.

Upon hearing that, Kang Gam-Chan raised his voice.

-You must not know what really happened to Sang-Jin. He's not someone who should be dismissed like that!

I didn't know what it was, but there was a trace of bitterness in Kang Gam-Chan's voice.

"I'm on my way to the company now to finalize the DH Villa contract. Would you be willing to meet there?"

-I'll head there first and wait.

I didn't yet know what had happened to Yeon Sang-Jin, but in Kang Gam-Chan's words, I sensed a lead to resolve this.

If Yeon Sang-Jin hadn't been just an ordinary actor, then maybe there was still a path forward.

***

In the back street behind the building where Hoop Entertainment was located, I parked the car in front of the DH Villa not far from the company.

Except for the villa owner Sung Ji-Yeon, the rest of the Hoengseong Girls High School's girls and Cha Eun-Sol got out first to inspect the house where Yeon Bo-Ra and her mother would be living.

That left me, Yeon Bo-Ra and her mother, and Sung Ji-Yeon heading up together to the president's office at Hoop Entertainment.

When we opened the door to the president's office, Kang Gam-Chan, Director Kang Ji-Yung, and Legal Team Lead Kwak Moo-Hyuk were already waiting.

As soon as he saw us, Kang Gam-Chan greeted us warmly. "Welcome. So you're Bo-Ra's mother. Just like Sang-Jin said, you're a real beauty."

Yoo Jung-Hee paused mid-bow. "Sang-Jin...? You mean...you knew my husband?"

Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "He was someone I cared for. And I'm sorry I couldn't attend his funeral. I was overseas for a long time back then and only found out later."

Unlike his usual reserved manner, Kang Gam-Chan spoke directly.

As Yoo Jung-Hee's eyes began to tremble, Kang Ji-Yung stepped in. "Mr. Kang, let's have our guests sit first."

"Oh, right. I rushed ahead because I was happy to meet someone from the past." Kang Gam-Chan gestured toward the seats. "Please, have a seat."

Yoo Jung-Hee sat on the sofa as if in a trance, then turned to Kang Gam-Chan. "Do you really know my husband, Mr. Kang?"

"At the time, I was Chief of Division 3 at Space Planning. Sang-Jin was in Division 1. I didn't manage him directly, but we got along well. I was just a mediocre talent agent he liked to have a drink with now and then."

Yoo Jung-Hee's face lit up. "Then... you must be the Chief Kang he mentioned—the one who always treated him to drinks?"

Apparently, Yeon Sang-Jin used to come home talking about how he had a drink with Chief Kang.

"Yes, that's me. Sometimes I'd send beef and seaweed soup with Sang-Jin. Do you remember? Sang-Jin told me his wife loved seaweed soup..."

Tears welled up in Yoo Jung-Hee's eyes. "Y-Yes. We really enjoyed what you sent. Thank you, even if it's late."

Yoo Jung-Hee bowed her head in gratitude. But soon after, she clenched her teeth and spoke firmly.

"Mr. Kang... it's touching to hear about him, but if you're only bringing this up to persuade me to let Bo-Ra become a celebrity... I'm sorry. I already said no."

Yeon Bo-Ra nodded as well. "Yes, sir. I'm not going into entertainment. I'm going to be a doctor."

Kang Gam-Chan said nothing to either of them. Instead, he smiled gently and looked at Yeon Bo-Ra. "Sang-Jin bragged about his daughter so much I had to tell him to stop... but now I see why. You turned out beautifully."

"M-My dad... bragged about me?"

"Yes. He was the best actor at Space Planning, and he always said his daughter would grow up to be an even better one. He said even when you were little, your face already shone."

'Yeon Sang-Jin was Space Planning's best actor?'

Even I was shocked, and so were Yeon Bo-Ra and Yoo Jung-Hee. After all, Yoo Jung-Hee had always said her husband was a talentless, failed actor.

Sure enough, Yoo Jung-Hee raised her voice in disbelief. "How could you say he was the best actor? After that brief popularity, he struggled so much! He always said he was living in obscurity because he lacked talent and blamed himself constantly! You were in the same company, weren't you? You must've known that better than anyone!"

At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan shook his head. "I knew Sang-Jin better than anyone. That's why I can tell you this. The truth is, Sang-Jin..."

With a sorrowful expression, Kang Gam-Chan began revealing the hidden past—how Space Planning's most talented actor ended up forgotten and died in obscurity.