Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 842: How to Handle Assault (4)

After giving Jeon Tae-Mi a few instructions, I sat down at the hospital room table, opened my laptop, and started editing the recorded footage. It was to cover up Zhou Shishi's appearance in the video where Baek Hong-Gyun was swinging a golf club.

First, I blacked out Zhou Shishi's figure in the footage to keep her out of sight. Then I erased parts of Jeon Tae-Mi's voice in the video to remove traces that could suggest she was habitually assaulted.

I had told Jeon Tae-Mi not to worry because I knew how to use this editing program myself. If needed, I had even considered filming additional scenes with Jeon Tae-Mi and compositing them, but once I finished the edit, I realized it wasn't necessary.

[Video Editing Program <CrC+CrV> Version 1.0]

[Edit Complete]

[Save As: Baek Hong-Gyun_PieceOfShit.avi]

Once the file was ready, I immediately called Director Cheon Yi-Sang at TK Entertainment. Maybe it was because of today's events, but Cheon Yi-Sang picked up right away.

-What is it now? I already wired the money!

Cheon Yi-Sang's voice was sharp and on edge, but I responded calmly.

"Yes, I confirmed the deposit. But do you know that Baek Hong-Gyun pulled another stunt?"

Cheon Yi-Sang gasped and asked urgently.

-Another stunt? What now?

"I'll send over a video file. Take a look."

I sent him the file [Baek Hong-Gyun_PieceOfShit.avi]. A moment later, Cheon Yi-Sang spoke again, voice trembling.

-C-Chief Jung... this... this can't be released. If this blows up, it won't just ruin TK Entertainment. It'll drag down every celebrity and entertainment company. That would hurt your own company's stock too, wouldn't it? So please... let's handle this quietly, okay?

Baek Hong-Gyun's scandals had already turned TK Entertainment into a political target. Because of that, TK's stock—the top company in the industry—had dropped 3% just today. Now he was begging me, saying that if this video went public, it would ripple out and damage the entire entertainment scene.

'What a drama queen.'

Still, I played along just enough because I had something else in mind.

"I don't necessarily agree with that, but... if you just do exactly as I say, I'll bury the video."

Cheon Yi-Sang's voice perked up.

-Okay! Whatever you want, I'll do it. Let's just end this here!

"All right. Then here are my terms. First, stop publishing rebuttal articles about Baek Hong-Gyun. And run the materials I send you as your official story."

-What? We already paid the victims to shut up, and now you want us to stop the rebuttals too?

"You're still not getting it? Are you really going to sink your entire company just to save scum like Baek Hong-Gyun?"

After a brief silence, Cheon Yi-Sang sighed in resignation.

-Fine, just send the article drafts already.

And just like that, TK Entertainment's real power, Cheon Yi-Sang, fully surrendered.

"Then first, send someone to the incident scene. With your skills, I'm sure silencing a witness won't be a problem."

-I'll take care of it myself.

With Baek Hong-Gyun's cleanup promised, I ended the call.

Click.

Staring at the laptop keyboard, I cracked my knuckles.

"All right. Time to show what I can really do."

Then, my fingers flew across the keys at insane speed, typing out TK Entertainment's official press release in their stead.

Tap tap tap.

At 700 keystrokes per minute, I began crafting the documents to drag Baek Hong-Gyun to rock bottom and cut Jeon Tae-Mi free from him.

The articles detailing how TK Entertainment would improve the working conditions of their talent agents quickly filled the blank pages of the document editor.

***

Less than thirty minutes after I sent the files to TK Entertainment, the materials I had prepared began appearing as published news.

[TK Entertainment swiftly acknowledges facts about Baek Hong-Gyun.]

[TK Entertainment declares zero-tolerance policy for celebrities assaulting their talent agents, promising full compensation.]

[Director Cheon Yi-Sang of TK Entertainment vows compensation for former talent agents of Baek Hong-Gyun after conducting interviews, and pledges to prevent recurrence.]

[TK Entertainment and Baek Hong-Gyun—parting ways?]

[Baek Hong-Gyun's wife Jeon Tae-Mi: "My husband must take full responsibility for his wrongdoing."]

[Jeon Tae-Mi, Baek Hong-Gyun's wife, declares she can no longer live with a violent husband. Files for divorce.]

The press release I provided filled the entertainment news section from top to bottom. Just as I had written, TK Entertainment even went so far as to promise improvements in their treatment of talent agents.

"That's done."

Next, I checked Jeon Tae-Mi's Instargem account.

[@TAEMI]

(Jeon Tae-Mi, in hospital gown, kneeling on a bed, hands clasped, apologizing.jpeg)

-I too was deeply shocked by my husband's duplicitous behavior. The shock caused me to faint, and I was taken to the hospital with the help of my talent agent.

To the fans who were hurt, I offer my sincere apologies.

To the talent agents who suffered direct harm, I will visit and personally apologize after I am discharged.

Although I did not commit the acts myself, as someone who was once his wife, I cannot even raise my head in shame for not knowing what he had done. I will do everything I can to help those affected heal.

And for now, I will halt all activities as a sign of reflection.

Lastly, I have filed for divorce from Mr. Baek Hong-Gyun, who has no regard for people.

I sincerely wish a full recovery to everyone hurt by this and apologize once again.

(Comments}

-whyUsagwa: Tae-Mi unnie, why are you the one apologizing?

-noihae: This is insane. Someone else committed the violence, so why is Jeon Tae-Mi apologizing?

-dolawa: If she's divorcing him, aren't they strangers now anyway?

-minpye100: How many people have to suffer because of one guy like Baek Hong-Gyun?

-powerUp: But seriously, Tae-Mi noona, that was a sharp move. Filing for divorce was the right call. If you'd stayed with someone like that, he would've hit you someday too.

-nenenuna: Swinging fists is a habit.

...

The comments under Jeon Tae-Mi's post were just as I had anticipated.

I turned to Jeon Tae-Mi, sitting beside me in a hospital gown, and said, "Looks like the response is about where we wanted it."

"It's all thanks to you. Really, thank you."

Just earlier, Jeon Tae-Mi had packed the necessary clothes as I instructed and came to Seven Star Hospital with Zhou Shishi. After getting admitted to the room, she took the photo and uploaded the apology and divorce announcement to Instargem.

That move not only prevented the public's anger at Baek Hong-Gyun from spilling over onto Jeon Tae-Mi, but also stopped any news of habitual abuse from being published. Later, Jeon Tae-Mi went down to the room where Choi Pil-Seop and Yang Dong-Jin were staying and was now sitting beside me, trying to calm herself.

I smiled. "I only kept a promise. That's all."

"That's not something just anyone can do. And to get it done in a single day..."

I gently held her hand, still trembling from the shock she couldn't fully suppress. "Everything's fine now. Just tell Chief Yoon Dong-Gu you don't know anything if he reaches out."

Until I quietly took care of the secrets involving Bok Seon-Ill, Oh Ji-Seon, and Sung Hee-Yeon, the best thing Jeon Tae-Mi could do was rest.

"Okay. I'll do that."

"Oh, but I will let Mr. Kang Gam-Chan and Ms. Kang Ji-Yung know about this. If those two step in, the cleanup will go smoothly."

"Okay."

Once I had reassured Jeon Tae-Mi, I turned to thank Zhou Shishi, who had come with her. "Shishi, good job. I couldn't have pulled this off so cleanly without you." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Zhou Shishi shook her head. "Oh, it was nothing. Korea's so safe I haven't had much to do lately. It felt good to stretch a bit."

"That's good to hear."

"But shouldn't you head over to the audition site? Didn't you say Deok-Bae's audition was today?"

The time was now 5 p.m. In thirty minutes, Deok-Bae's audition for the role of Baek Ill-Seung would begin. It would take just ten minutes to get from here to LT Entertainment near Samseong Station. If we left now, we would make it in time.

"Yeah, it's time to go." I turned to Deok-Bae, who was sitting in a corner of the hospital room reading his script. "Let's head out for your audition, Deok-Bae."

Deok-Bae lifted his head from the script. "Yes, hyung."

Just then, Yang Dong-Jin, who had been lying on the bed, suddenly sat up. "Mr. Jung, I'll go with you too."

"Take it easy. You just got 'financial treatment.' There's no way you're coming along."

He wasn't seriously injured, but since he had already taken money from Baek Hong-Gyun, he shouldn't be seen out and about today.

"I just feel bad resting on my first day at work..." Yang Dong-Jin muttered.

"There's no need to feel bad. Zhou Shishi has to go back to guarding Ling Ling anyway, so stay here and look after singer Mrs. Jeon Tae-Mi. And check in on Pil-Seop too."

Even though Zhou Shishi was technically registered as a talent agent with Hoop Entertainment, that was just on paper. Her real duty was to protect Ling Ling. Right now, Do Ran-Hee was on her way to the hospital with Ling Ling for a visit. Once they arrived, Zhou Shishi would need to return to the company immediately with her.

That meant there would be a temporary gap in coverage for Jeon Tae-Mi, and I needed Yang Dong-Jin to fill that role.

Yang Dong-Jin nodded. "Understood, Mr. Jung."

"Then I'll be off."

I grabbed my laptop and was about to leave the room.

Just then, Jeon Tae-Mi's phone started buzzing.

Buzz~

Jeon Tae-Mi looked at me with wide eyes. "It's Chief Yoon. What should I say? How do I explain that it wasn't the talent agent from Singer Division 4 but Zhou Shishi who brought me to the hospital?"

TK Entertainment had agreed to keep quiet about today's events, and Cheon Yi-Sang would handle shutting Baek Hong-Gyun's mouth. That meant only a handful of people even knew I was involved today.

The problem was, there was no way to explain why Zhou Shishi, who worked under me, had taken Jeon Tae-Mi to the hospital.

However, I had prepared for this too.

"Don't worry. Just answer exactly the way I tell you to."

Smiling, I began walking her through what to say.

***

Yoon Dong-Gu had only just caught wind of the articles and was now calling Jeon Tae-Mi in the chief's office of Singer Division 4 of Hoop Entertainment.

However, when he asked who had taken her to the hospital, the name that came out was completely unexpected.

-Shishi found me and brought me to the hospital.

"Zhou Shishi? The Chinese female talent agent from Chief Jung's division? Wait... don't tell me... did you contact Chief Jung?"

That's when she responded immediately.

-No, nothing like that. I've been helping Ling Ling with her vocal training for a while now. So I got to know Zhou Shishi through her. Zhou Shishi had come to deliver some Shine Muscats from Ling Ling, and that's when she found me and brought me here.

"Ling Ling...?"

-Yes. She's actually on her way now to visit me.

Ling Ling was a chinese idol who had already been selected as part of I.O.A. Still, since there had been no known connection between them, Yoon Dong-Gu didn't let his suspicion go just yet.

"When did you two meet?"

-About two weeks ago? I went down to the studio and saw her practicing really hard. She was so polite. We got to know each other then, and I've been giving her vocal tips now and then.

"I see... Still, you could've told me. I would've helped you."

-I was just out of it. I've only just started thinking straight. Anyway, I'd like to rest now.

"Ah, okay. Then I'll send Soo-Yeon to check on you later.

-No, that's okay. I don't want to see anyone right now. I'll call if I need anything. I'm really tired, so I'm hanging up.

Click.

The call abruptly ended.

Yoon Dong-Gu stared at his phone and was about to redial, but Bok Seon-Ill, who was in the office with him, stopped him.

"Chief Yoon. Tae-Mi must be in shock too. Just let her be for now."

Yoon Dong-Gu frowned and looked at Bok Seon-Ill. "Seon-Il hyung... I've got a bad feeling. What if this whole thing was set up by Chief Jung?"

Bok Seon-Ill shot him a look of disbelief. "Hey, didn't you hear what Tae-Mi said? She was giving Ling Ling vocal lessons."

"Well, I never saw it happen."

"You've been busy managing Berry Six, so you've been out of the loop. And why would Chief Jung help Tae-Mi anyway? We completely humiliated him this morning."

Yoon Dong-Gu thought about it for a second. It did seem plausible.

"Yeah, maybe I was just being paranoid. Sorry."

"Don't be. Not between us."

Just then, Yoon Dong-Gu noticed the looks on Oh Ji-Seon and Sung Hee-Yeon's faces.

"Huh? What's with those expressions? Your sunbae just went through hell."

Oh Ji-Seon quickly masked her reaction. "I was just startled to hear she got hurt."

Sung Hee-Yeon also smoothed over her expression fast. "Yeah. She went home after lunch, all smiles from that king crab... what a twist. I would've thrown up from the stress."

Yoon Dong-Gu nodded. "You never know what life throws at you. That's why talent agents need to be on their game."

The artists from Singer Division 4 had pressured the company to lighten the disciplinary action, but the final decision would be made at next week's disciplinary committee meeting. So for now, Yoon Dong-Gu still had a sharp edge to his tone.

Then Bok Seon-Ill shifted the focus. "Look, Chief Jung and President Kang Gam-Chan already had to bow their heads to us. Just relax now. Didn't you say the new track is ready? Let's hear it."

"Ugh, fine. Let's go down to the studio."

Yoon Dong-Gu stood and opened the office door.

Bok Seon-Ill followed, giving a subtle signal to Oh Ji-Seon and Sung Hee-Yeon.

'Watch your faces.'

'Got it.'

'Sorry.'

The three of them adjusted their expressions as they followed behind Yoon Dong-Gu. However, they couldn't quite stop the slight upward curl of their lips. After all, Jung Yoon-Ho had resolved the entire Jeon Tae-Mi situation in just one day.

'Everyone's always praising Chief Jung... but wow, they weren't kidding.'

'Seriously, he's incredible.'

Oh Ji-Seon and Sung Hee-Yeon exchanged glances and nodded, eyes full of admiration.

***

To tie up all the loose ends neatly, I had asked Ling Ling to stop by for a quick hospital visit. Thankfully, before I left the room, Ling Ling arrived with Seo Hee-Joo and Do Ran-Hee. Ling Ling and Seo Hee-Joo both took out their phones and snapped photos as proof of the visit.

With that final safeguard in place to fool Yoon Dong-Gu, I left the hospital with Deok-Bae and headed for LT Entertainment headquarters..

Just as we parked and approached the elevators, a Kk Talk message came in from Managing Director Lee Eun-Joo.

Buzz~

[Managing Director Lee Eun-Joo: The audition for the role of Talent Agent Sung Chan-Sung just ended. In ten minutes, we'll begin the audition for actors applying for the role of Talent Agent Baek Ill-Seung. Have you arrived yet?]

As I waited for the elevator, I called Lee Eun-Joo.

"Ms. Lee, we just got to the underground parking lot."

-Phew, thank goodness. Oh, and Deok-Bae is number 31 since he was added to the list this morning.

Ding.

The elevator arrived.

"The elevator's here. We'll head up now."

-Okay, see you soon.

After hanging up, I stepped into the elevator with Deok-Bae, who had his head buried in the script, trying to memorize every last word before the audition.

I pressed the button for the second floor, and then [Close]. But just as the doors were about to shut, the elevator doors slid back open.

Thunk.

Buzz~

Between the opening doors, a familiar face appeared.

"Hold on... huh? Chief Jung?"

It was Chief Yang Sung-Taek from Ace Entertainment. Yang Sung-Taek had once teamed up with Deok-Bae's former classmate Han Sun-Myung to fabricate a false school bullying scandal and ruin Deok-Bae's life.

I had managed to expose the fabricated evidence and turn the tables, but unlike Han Sun-Myung, Yang Sung-Taek had slipped away without facing consequences. He was someone I had been meaning to deal with eventually.

At that moment, Yang Sung-Taek smiled with an irritatingly smug face and said, "Deok-Bae, you're doing well these days, huh? Here for an audition?"

Deok-Bae, recognizing Yang Sung-Taek, gave a silent nod.

"Still holding a grudge, huh? Come on, let the past go."

'Telling the victim to forget it? The nerve.'

I glared at Yang Sung-Taek and said in a low, cold voice, "Don't talk to Deok-Bae. Every time I think about what you did, I feel like throwing you to the floor."

Yang Sung-Taek flinched. "Whoa, whoa. Chill. I get it, okay? But like I said, I didn't know anything about that." Then, still acting like nothing happened, he shouted into the hallway. "Tae-Sik! Hurry up!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming. What's the rush?"

Walking into the elevator with a laid-back stride came another familiar face.

"Huh? Isn't that Yoon-Ho?"

It was Bong Tae-Sik—twenty-eight, same age as me, and now a popular actor. He had once worked with me as a talent agent at Hoop Entertainment before being scouted by Ace Entertainment and switching careers. Just last week, he had wrapped up a hit drama, The Infinite Job Hunt Era, on MBS with a 25% viewership ratings.

He was riding a wave of popularity and was also one of Deok-Bae's biggest rivals for today's audition.

"Wow, great to see you again, buddy!" Grinning with delight, Bong Tae-Sik reached out to pat my shoulder.

Grab.

But before his hand could land, I caught his wrist and said with a frigid tone, "Bong Tae-Sik. Since when were we 'buddies'?"