"If you make Jung Yoon-Ho a man of Daechon, I'll hand Daechon Department Store to you," said Honorary Chairman Kim Bu-Ho.

President Lee Ha-Yoon's eyes widened.

'Daechon Department Store...?'

If she gained control of the place known as the root and core of Daechon Inc., it would be no different from holding the entire conglomerate in her hands. In effect, it meant naming her as the next-in-line successor.

But as they said, the devil was in the details. Simply giving her the title of representative would make her nothing more than a figurehead. To truly possess it, she would need the shares as well.

Lee Ha-Yoon gulped and asked, "W-What do you mean by hand it to me? Do you mean just appointing me as the president? Or..."

"Just like your mother, you're thorough. Good. That's how you should be. Very well, I'll say it again. Of the 20 percent stake I hold in Daechon Department Store, I'll give you half—10 percent. The remaining shares must go to the next chairman. However, the transfer will take place after my death."

Thump. Thump.

Lee Ha-Yoon's heart began pounding wildly. Her aunt, Kim Ae-Ja, currently in prison, held 10 percent of Daechon Department Store. Her mother, Kim Ae-Ryeon, held 15 percent. And Kim Bu-Ho held 20 percent.

If he gave her half of his stake, she could very well become the next-in-line chairman when she later inherited her mother's shares. All she had to do was make Jung Yoon-Ho her man.

'Still...'

"Then what about Joon-Sang oppa?" asked Lee Ha-Yoon.

Kim Ae-Ja had a son and a daughter—Sung Joon-Sang and Sung Hee-Jin. The eldest, Sung Joon-Sang, was studying in the United States, a top student in his final year at Harvard Business School. He was also the grandchild Kim Bu-Ho cherished most.

Lee Ha-Yoon had to be certain.

However, Kim Bu-Ho answered with a meaningful smile, dropping yet another shock.

"Joon-Sang is still only a student and he hasn't proven anything yet. Chief Jung is different. That boy has already proven he's worthy of standing before me with nothing but his bare hands. If you can bring him over, you'll be holding a card stronger than Joon-Sang."

It didn't mean he was abandoning Sung Joon-Sang entirely, but it would place Lee Ha-Yoon decisively ahead among the third generation.

Gulp.

Lee Ha-Yoon swallowed and her eyes flashed. "All right."

Kim Bu-Ho smiled broadly. "But do you even have a plan to seduce him? As you saw earlier, aside from Jung Yoo-Jin and Jin Ah-Ram, there are quite a few third-generation heirs eyeing him as well."

"Other than Jung Yoo-Jin and Ah-Ram unnie, none of them are my competition. I'll succeed somehow!"

For the first time, Lee Ha-Yoon's resolve was completely genuine. Until now, she had simply liked him because he was handsome and capable. Now, he was the key to holding Daechon in her grasp.

Kim Bu-Ho laughed heartily and nodded. "Good. And remember this—there are trees that won't fall after ten strikes, but there are none that won't fall after a hundred."

"I'll remember!"

And so, in a place where Jung Yoon-Ho was absent, the moves to claim him were steadily gaining momentum.

***

'Is someone talking about me?'

While riding in the back seat of the Merciless Springer van provided by Acting President Jin Ah-Ram, my ear itched and I scratched it.

Just then, I heard a faint sound of someone struggling. It was coming from beside me.

"What are you doing, Yoo-Jin?" I asked.

Yoo-Jin, dressed in a tight gown, reached behind her back and struggled. "O-Oppa. Please unzip my dress. I-I can't breathe."

"Hey, I told you to eat in moderation."

"I-I didn't eat that much."

"You didn't? I clearly saw you eat one slice of every kind of cake."

Even if she only had one slice each, added together it was basically a whole cake.

Yoo-Jin's face flushed red as she insisted. "I-It must have been an optical illusion or something?"

"That's not how you use that phrase. Stop talking nonsense, you mukbang fairy."

After teasing her, I lowered the tight zipper as far as I could reach.

Zip.

Once Yoo-Jin's hand touched the zipper, she turned her body and pulled it down herself.

Ziiip.

At that moment, I took off my suit jacket and draped it over her. Only then did Yoo-Jin let out a relieved sigh.

"Sigh. I thought I was going to die."

"That's why you should've worn something comfortable instead of something skin-tight."

Yoo-Jin stuck her tongue out playfully. "I wanted to look pretty. I can't let myself feel intimidated in front of chaebol families."

"Intimidated? You? As if."

Now that she had become a top star, Yoo-Jin was confident enough to casually tell third-generation heirs to hand their business cards to me instead.

Just then, Yoo-Jin narrowed her eyes and looked at me. "By the way, oppa. You were popular tonight. All those chaebol daughters came up to give you their cards. What did they say?"

"What else? They invited me to their parties next time."

"So? Are you going?"

"No. I only attended President Lee Ha-Yoon's party because I owed her. Why would I go to those kinds of events?"

Yoo-Jin smiled as if I had given the correct answer. But then, as if something occurred to her, she asked again. "Oh, and oppa. Wasn't President Lee Ha-Yoon really pretty today?"

She was setting another trap. However, a good talent agent always kept their actress in a good mood.

I shrugged and answered, "Really? I thought you were the main character of the party tonight."

At that, the corners of Yoo-Jin's mouth shot up to the sky. "Wow~"

'Trap avoided.'

"Anyway, enough questions. Get some rest on the way back. You have to go down to the set again tomorrow."

However, Yoo-Jin shook her head. "No. There's something more serious."

"What's that?"

Yoo-Jin pointed two fingers at her eyes, then at me. "I saw it. Not just President Lee Ha-Yoon earlier, but Chairman Kim Bu-Ho was definitely eyeing you too. Don't even try to deny it. I saw it with my own two eyes!"

'As if she uncovered some great secret.'

I chuckled. "Mr. Kim Bu-Ho offered me shares worth hundreds of billions earlier, and I said I wasn't interested. So relax."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Yoo-Jin's face filled with confusion, worry, and shock. "W-Why would you refuse? I-It's h-hundreds of billions?"

To reassure her, I decided to share one of my secrets. After all, Yoo-Jin would never betray anything that could become my weakness.

"You know Vice President Kim Ae-Ja, right?" I whispered quietly.

She nodded, whispering back, "Yes. The one who went to prison."

"Right. I'm the one who set things up and put her there."

Yoo-Jin quickly turned her head toward the driver's seat. Although the Merciless Springer had a partition separating us from the driver, she still scanned the area with hawk-like eyes, just in case.

Then she leaned close to my ear and whispered again, "Really?"

"Yeah. If Chairman Kim Bu-Ho, who dotes on his daughter, finds out about this, there's no telling how he'll react in his fury. Do you think I'd accept his money knowing that? So don't worry."

"O-Oppa. Then what do we do? If Chairman Kim Bu-Ho ever finds out..."

"Don't worry. I have countermeasures."

When former Vice President Kim Ae-Ja was arrested, the one who joined hands with me was Vice President Kim Ae-Ryeon. So even if the truth came out, it wouldn't be easy for them to touch me. But aside from that, I had other plans as well.

Just then, Yoo-Jin slowly spoke with resolve. "I'll protect you, oppa."

"Huh?"

"So don't worry." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

I appreciated it, but I had no idea how exactly she was going to protect me. "You will... how?"

Yoo-Jin met my eyes and answered with absolute confidence. "I haven't thought that far yet!"

Her shameless honesty made me burst out laughing.

"Pfft."

"Why are you laughing?"

"Haha. Nothing. Still, thank you for the thought."

"Huh? It's not just the thought! I mean it! I just haven't figured out how yet!"

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, thanks."

"Tch. I'm serious!"

Yoo-Jin grumbled for a moment, then suddenly her eyes lit up.

"Hmm. In that case... since we only had greasy cake today, let's grab some spicy gamjatang for a late-night snack. A new place opened near our house. They get their chili peppers and perilla seeds from my grandma's farm, and it's amazing. They even make their own kimchi."

'Yoo-Jin. You're filming tomorrow. What do you mean a late-night snack?'

I looked at Yoo-Jin's scheming expression and said, "I'll buy it for you when you come up with a plan to help me."

Yoo-Jin flinched. "I-I mean, that idea could pop up any minute now. Maybe soon? So could you advance the late-night snack as a prepayment?"

I crossed my arms, slowly closed my eyes, and replied, "No credit. Wake me when you think of a plan, Miss Jung Yoo-Jin. I'll buy it then."

"O-Oppa? W-Wait. You can't just sleep like this! Oppa!"

Yoo-Jin called out desperately, but all the way home I heard nothing but her groans of frustration as she failed to come up with any brilliant strategy.

'Thank you, Jung Yoo-Jin.'

***

The next morning, after handling some light office work, I planned to pick up Haru, who was in Suwon for the weekend, and then visit writer Jung Na-Mi, who would be writing and directing the film Happy & Happy.

Until last month, Jung Na-Mi had been a broadcast writer, but she had recently moved to a small production company called Fireworks. I had just confirmed that the first draft of her film script had arrived in our company's script room. So I quickly arranged a meeting before any competitors could snatch her up.

When I stepped out of the elevator and entered the office, I saw that, unlike usual, the staff who had remained behind were frantically answering calls. Lee Yung-Jin, Do Ran-Hee, and even the team leads of Singer Division 4 all looked flustered.

"Ah, you're calling from Jinwoo Trading? You want to cast Mr. Lee Tae-Poong? But as far as I know, your current model is Park Chae-Min. What? That doesn't matter?"

"I'm sorry. Miss Jung Yoo-Jin has never modeled for a humidifier before, and there are restrictions when it comes to electronics. What? 1 billion won per year?"

"You want any actress managed by Chief Jung for a bath product commercial? No, what are you even—?"

"Chief Jung as a model? That commercial before was unavoidable. He's too busy now."

This kind of flood of advertisement offers usually only happened when a film or drama had exploded into a major hit the night before. Not understanding what was going on, I immediately gestured to Do Ran-Hee. She hung up the phone and rushed over, her hair disheveled.

"Mr. Jung!"

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I don't know. Since this morning, PR departments from companies ranked within the top 100 in the business world have been throwing CF offers at us like they're placing product orders."

It was because the third-generation heirs from yesterday's party had seen my rapport with Kim Bu-Ho and were trying to cozy up to me. Their intentions were obvious, but I decided to accept it. At times like this, I could raise my celebrities' value.

"What about the rates?"

"They're about 20 percent higher than what we usually get."

"Is that so? Good. Then tell them we're considering all of them positively and print out the full list."

"Huh? All of them?"

"Yeah."

At that, Do Ran-Hee lit up. "Then does that mean Hanwoo company dinner tonight?"

"It's Sunday. And everyone else is out on assignments."

Do Ran-Hee stepped closer and whispered quietly. "Then could you at least treat Yung-Jin oppa and me? We haven't even gone home since Friday. Please?"

'So that's why the perfume was so strong.'

Then Do Ran-Hee even winked and continued. "And I'm in a condition where I don't mind my clothes smelling like meat right now."

'You might not mind. But I mind. And the meat at the restaurant would mind too.'

"Do Ran-Hee. Go home right now, take a shower, and get some rest! We'll do the dinner another time."

"Aww, but Mr. Jung~"

Do Ran-Hee looked at me pleadingly, but I immediately turned and ran toward the elevator.

I needed to inform President Kang Gam-Chan about today's situation.

***

I stood in front of the president's office, straightened my clothes, and knocked.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

When I entered, Kang Gam-Chan and Director Kang Ji-Yung were staring at a tablet with serious expressions.

"Mr. Kang, there's no need to worry about the sudden surge in advertisements. The third-generation heirs must have mistaken my relationship with Honorary Chairman Kim Bu-Ho as close and are making offers to get closer to me."

Kang Gam-Chan shook his head. "That's not a concern. That's good news. We're worried about something else."

At that moment, Kang Ji-Yung handed me the tablet. "It's because of an article that just broke."

I sat down and checked the screen. It was about HK Entertainment.

[HK Entertainment to become a wholly owned subsidiary with 200 billion won in capital. Massive investment from the start.]

[HK Inc. to mark a major milestone in the entertainment industry.]

[First recruitment list of HK Entertainment revealed. Industry upheaval expected.]

I said, "With 200 billion won in capital, that's enough to establish an entire broadcasting station."

Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "Exactly. They're trying to bypass regulations that way."

To avoid criticism and regulatory backlash for a conglomerate entering what had largely been a small-to-mid-sized industry, they had poured in enormous capital from the start and positioned it as a large-scale enterprise.

However, that wasn't the real reason the two of them looked worried.

"Look at the article below that."

I scrolled down the tablet screen and saw the real reason for their grave expressions.

[HK Entertainment appoints President Pi Sang-Deuk.]

[HK Entertainment appoints Vice President Ha Ill-Kwon.]

[HK Inc. Director Hong Ah-Yoon completes professional management system.]

"These people are..."

At sixty-five this year, President Pi Sang-Deuk was the former head of First Planning, the very First Entertainment where Kang Gam-Chan had worked before founding Hoop.

Ten years ago, First Entertainment had been considered the undisputed top company in the industry, before collapsing under reckless expansion.

Still, Pi Sang-Deuk's ability was undeniable. With forty years in the entertainment industry, his network alone was unmatched. And beneath him, forty-year-old Vice President Ha Ill-Kwon was no lightweight either.

"This is the worst possible lineup."

"Which means their competence is certain."

Just as I had Kim Dong-Soo as my adversary, Pi Sang-Deuk was that kind of existence for Kang Gam-Chan. Perhaps Kang Gam-Chan had endured even worse than I had. After all, Kang Gam-Chan had been used by that man until he finally broke away.

Kang Gam-Chan explained, "Now that President Pi Sang-Deuk is holding the wheel at HK Entertainment, it's obvious they'll begin poaching in earnest. Which means we need to rush Haru's contract renewal. He's our most vulnerable."

Haru's current contract was five years with a signing bonus of 30 million won and a penalty clause five times that amount. But to Pi Sang-Deuk and Ha Ill-Kwon, such figures were meaningless. They were not the type to shy away from financial or legal conflicts.

"I was planning to bring him up from Suwon, stop by the production company, and sign the renewal today," I said.

"Good. Offer 1 billion won as the new signing bonus. Adjust the profit split to seventy-thirty in his favor. Be as generous as possible. He's doing well these days."

Haru was thriving on TVM's The Foodie Nomads and selling food through CF collaborations with CK Foods. For this reason, Kang Gam-Chan suggested he deserved far better terms.

Just then, Haru's call came in.

Buzz~

[Caller ID: Haru]

I excused myself briefly and answered. "Hey, Haru. I'll head to Suwon in about thirty minutes."

At that moment, Haru's voice came urgently.

-Hyung. HK Entertainment came and asked me to terminate my contract with Hoop and sign with them.

It was just as expected.

Kang Gam-Chan spoke immediately. "Haru. It's me. How much did they offer? We'll match it as much as we can."

-I just need Yoon-Ho hyung. I'm staying with Hoop.

Haru's loyalty warmed me, but contracts couldn't be handled that way.

"Haru. I appreciate that, but when it comes to money, you need to be clear. How much did HK offer? We need to reflect it in your renewal."

-They said... 5 billion won.

"What?"

That was five times what we had planned to offer. Even if we stretched to 1.5 billion, 5 billion was impossible.

-Mom said that kind of money feels burdensome, so we're not taking it. I called in case you'd misunderstand later. Don't worry. I'm not leaving!

Thankfully, Haru and his mother, Natalia, were standing by us.

Kang Gam-Chan hesitated, then raised two fingers. He meant we should go up to 2 billion.

That's when my phone buzzed once again.

Buzz~

[Notification: April 21, 2021 – A new schedule entry for Haru has been registered.]

However, the timing bothered me.

"Haru. Hold the phone for a second."

–Okay, hyung.

I immediately checked Everyday. And what I saw there made my blood run cold.

'Haru... is signing with HK Entertainment?'