Chapter 32: Reason for the Visit
"Are you saying you won't sign any bread-related advertisement contracts at all?"
"Yes. I do still have a conscience."
Ahn Ji-Yoon glared at me for a moment and opened her mouth.
"Fine! It’s a deal! Let’s sign the contract! But let me make just one call to the president of Burger Queen first! Okay?"
‘Great. That settles it.’
Ahn Ji-Yoon’s hand was trembling as she grabbed her phone.
"Hello, sir. This is Ahn Ji-Yoon speaking..."
While Ahn Ji-Yoon was updating the president on the current situation, I secretly made a victory sign with my fingers under the table.
Today was indeed a merry Christmas.
***
Complaints constantly poured out from Ahn Ji-Yoon’s mouth as she drafted the contract. However, they were merely the grumbles of the defeated, of course.
"I wonder if I've been bewitched by a fox."
"Trust me, Ms. Ahn. You won't regret this."
"You are so annoying."
The negotiation over the advertising contract terms with Burger Queen and Yoo-Jin ended with my complete victory. This was all thanks to the revelation that Yoo-Jin was scheduled to appear in a drama written by either Lee Ji-Yeon or one of her protégés.
Ahn Ji-Yoon, who had been glaring at me, soon let out a sigh and stood up from her seat.
"Anyway, moving forward, Miss Lee Yung-Sook over here will be the one communicating with Mr. Jung. Please take good care of her."
Lee Yung-Sook bowed politely to me.
"Hi. I will contact you as soon as the advertising storyboard is ready!"
At that moment, I glanced at them and muttered to myself.
"I’ve heard that Marin Planning and JUN Planning make really good advertisements."
But Ahn Ji-Yoon scoffed.
"Mr. Jung, you do know that one is the top advertisement company and the other is the most prominent rising company among the newcomers, right?"
Of course, I knew—they were the most famous advertising companies in my previous life too.
"Oh, is that so? I just heard they are quite famous these days."
"They are not just quite famous. They are the most expensive too!"
As I made a puzzled and clueless expression, Ahn Ji-Yoon looked annoyed with me once again.
After seeing Ahn Ji-Yoon and Lee Yung-Sook off at the elevator, Gu Seong-Cheol clicked his tongue at me.
"You're ruthless!"
"Me?"
"You're so good at this that it’s scary!"
Gu Seong-Cheol clicked his tongue again.
"Now that the negotiation is done, you should keep your promise and treat me to steak, Mr. Gu. Oh, by the way, I prefer Two-Horn Matured Hanwoo KING near the company."
Gu Seong-Cheol quickly turned his head to avoid my gaze.
"It's up to me what kind of steak I'll buy you."
I felt like I had been backstabbed by someone I trusted.
"Wow! I suppose the saying about how people change before and after going to the restroom[1] is true after all. "
"What? Weren’t you the one who wanted a double-double burger earlier? Oh, it has a steak patty too, right?"
Suddenly, tears obscured my vision.
‘This is why one shouldn't trust in empty promises.’
"Keuk. The truth is, our division has been running low on funds recently...” Gu Seong-Cheol said as he struggled to squeeze out non-existent tears.
"Ah, I get it. You can stop now. Cancel the steak. Let’s just indulge in some pork ribs."
But Gu Seong-Cheol grinned and opened his mouth.
"No, not the pork ribs. Let's just go to Chunja Grandma's Place and have a bowl of soup. They say their beef soup is out of this world."
"Ah, seriously! ...Wait, can we go now?”
I started to get angry but immediately changed my mind because Chunja Grandma's Place indeed has the best beef soup.
"Yes. I’m quite thirsty as well, so let's also have a shot of soju there."
I nodded at Gu Seong-Cheol's suggestion.
"That sounds like a plan, Mr. Gu."
But then Gu Seong-Cheol looked at me with a warm gaze and spoke.
"By the way, Yoon-Ho."
"Yes, sir?"
"You really did a great job today."
He praised me for my hard work in saving Jang Jun-Hyuk and also for the successful negotiation.
"Thank... you."
In my past life, I had never heard the words “good job” from anyone no matter how hard I tried. But lately, I had been hearing them quite often. It was a simple phrase, but my heart inexplicably swelled with emotions every time I heard it.
***
"Slurp, burp! Now, don't just eat, have a shot of soju too."
Drip drip drip.
Gu Seong-Cheol poured a generous amount of clear soju in my shot glass until it overflowed.
Gulp!
"Ahh! The hot soup paired with soju warms my cold body. Here, let me pour you a shot, Mr. Gu."
"Alright."
After receiving his shot glass, Gu Seong-Cheol looked content and scooped some of his meat into my bowl.
"Eat a lot. After all, beef is the best when you’re injured."
"Thank you, Mr. Gu."
When I finished a bowl brimming with special beef soup, sweat poured down my forehead like rain. The beef chunks were so substantial that it felt like I had eaten more meat than at a barbecue restaurant.
Thanks to that, the stiffness in my neck from the car accident seemed to have completely disappeared. Indeed, beef seemed to be the cure-all.
"Ahh, that was a good meal. Well, I should be heading back in," Gu Seong-Cheol said as he stretched his arms.
"Aren't you going home, Mr. Gu? Your wife must be waiting."
"I need to pass the documents you signed to the legal team and do some final adjustments as well."
Recalling that the entertainment industry didn’t have nights, holidays, or weekends off, I nodded.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Suddenly, I felt as if the food I had eaten was sitting like a rock in my stomach.
"No, sir. I won't work as much as you do unless I earn a salary like yours."
"You cheeky kid. Anyway, I'll put it down as sick leave, so take tomorrow off. Your body must be still in shock, so go see a doctor."
"Yes, sir."
At that moment, my phone began to ring. It was a number I didn't recognize.
"Huh? Who’s calling you on Christmas? Is it your girlfriend?"
"You know I don't have a girlfriend, so why do you ask?"
"Answer it."
"Okay."
When I answered the phone, I heard a feeble male voice.
-This is Jang Jun-Hyuk. Can we meet today?
***
Kim Dong-Soo's right-hand man, Team Lead Kang Myung-Gil, went to the Asan Medical Center in Seoul where the top star Jang Jun-Hyuk was admitted.
As the news spread that Jung Yoon-Ho from Division 2 had saved Jang Jun-Hyuk, an urgent order from Kim Dong-Soo came down. After all, there was no bigger star without agency representation than Jang Jun-Hyuk.
-Go to the hospital right now and secure a contract first! Give him whatever terms he asks for!
Kang Myung-Gil glanced around and noticed a crowd of journalists that had gathered.
"Ah. Just let me get a shot of your face, please?"
"Hey, don't push! Ugh, I'm going to file a report!"
"Call the police! Ouch! The hospital security is hitting people!"
Kang Myung-Gil stuck close behind a visitor who seemed to be the family of another patient to avoid the journalists who were fighting with the hospital staff.
However, he was soon stopped at the entrance to the VIP ward.
"You cannot enter past this point."
Stopped by a bodyguard in a black suit, Kang Myung-Gil spoke with an awkward expression, worrying that the premium fruit basket he had gotten to wish Jang Jun-Hyuk a speedy recovery might get damaged as he turned his body.
"Please tell them that I am from Hoop Entertainment."
The bodyguards in charge of VIP protection hesitated for a moment before getting confirmation over the radio that Hoop Entertainment's talent agent was the one who had saved Jang Jun-Hyuk.
"Yes. Yes, sir. Do you want me to let him in? Okay, I understand."
When the bodyguards received instructions through their radios, they quickly cleared the way.
Kang Myung-Gil bowed slightly and headed for the hospital room where Jang Jun-Hyuk was staying.
When the door slid open, Jang Jun-Hyuk's manager, Lee Seung-Hoon, appeared.
"Oh? You're not Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho..."
Lee Seung-Hoon looked for Jung Yoon-Ho as soon as Kang Myung-Gil walked in. However, Kang Myung-Gil made a broad smile and opened his mouth.
"Ah, Yoon-Ho is a bit tied up, so I came first."
"Oh, is that so?"
Not knowing when Jung Yoon-Ho would arrive, Kang Myung-Gil continued to lie. Then while exchanging words, Kang Myung-Gil glanced inside the room and spoke.
"Could I possibly have a word with Mr. Jang Jun-Hyuk?"
"That might be difficult. He needs to be resting fully."
"Ah, I see. Sorry about that. Please accept this for now."
As Kang Myung-Gil handed over the fruit basket containing well wishes for a speedy recovery, Lee Seung-Hoon bowed his head in gratitude.
After taking a moment to catch his breath, Kang Myung-Gil continued.
"Um... It might be a bit difficult to discuss this now, but there's something I would like to seek your advice on, Mr. Lee."
"What is it?"
"I heard a rumor that Mr. Jang is looking for a new agency. Is that... true?"
According to the information Kim Dong-Soo had gathered, Jang Jun-Hyuk was in the midst of looking for a new agency after hastily going independent and struggling to manage things properly on his own.
After all, the biggest reason he had an accident today was because he was finishing a schedule on his own.
"Yes, it's true. Jun-Hyuk hyung's schedule was too overwhelming."
"That's why I was thinking... What do you think about signing a contract with Hoop Entertainment? We will make the best offer in the industry.”
Lee Seung-Hoon appeared contemplative upon hearing Kang Myung-Gil’s words.
"It's a decision for Jun-Hyuk hyung to make but I don't think he would be opposed to the idea. He was briefly awake just now and we did have such a discussion."
"Ah, is that so? That's great news."
Wearing a happy expression, Kang Myung-Gil wiped the cold sweat from his palms onto his pants and held out a document.
"Then, I would like him to review this when he wakes up. I will make sure the conditions are the best."
Lee Seung-Hoon seemed slightly annoyed by Kang Myung-Gil’s suggestion to immediately sign a contract. However, it was true that Jang Jun-Hyuk needed a contract as soon as possible. He needed a company to handle the broadcast cancellations that would arise during his hospital stay.
"I understand. Please leave this here and I will pass it to him."
"Oh, would you do that? Please also feel free to contact me at the number on my business card."
As Kang Myung-Gil smiled happily, Lee Seung-Hoon muttered to himself while looking at the business card he had just received.
"Division 3? Does that mean Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho is also from Actor Division 3?"
Kang Myung-Gil was about to answer with an awkward expression.
But at that moment, a young man's voice was heard from behind.
"No, I’m from Division 2."
Feeling a shiver down his spine, Kang Myung-Gil turned to see Jung Yoon-Ho holding a cup of orange juice as a recovery gift.
***
'This is just unbelievable.'
Seeing the business card and contract in Kang Myung-Gil's hand, I immediately understood the situation.
‘Was he trying to make Jang Jun-Hyuk sign a contract using my name?’
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
"I am in Actor Division 2, Mr. Lee."
As I made my affiliation clear once again, both Kang Myung-Gil and Lee Seung-Hoon's expressions twisted simultaneously.
"Hm. Is that so?"
When Kang Myung-Gil heard Lee Seung-Hoon’s cold voice, he hurriedly gestured with his hands, suggesting that everything was a misunderstanding.
"Well, I’m from Actor Division 3 and Jung Yoon-Ho is from Actor Division 2. But since we're from the same company..."
But Lee Seung-Hoon cut off Kang Myung-Gil's ridiculous excuse and put down the documents and the business card he was holding.
"I will consider this not received."
"N-no, I mean..." Kang Myung-Gil stammered.
"You can either see yourself out or I can call the security."
Kang Myung-Gil quietly stood up from his seat upon hearing Lee Seung-Hoon's firm tone.
"I apologize for the inconvenience."
When Kang Myung-Gil bowed, Lee Seung-Hoon spoke again.
"Oh, and you should take back the fruit basket you brought."
"No, please keep it. I genuinely brought it out of concern for Mr. Jang Jun-Hyuk."
"Hm. Alright. Since there are many patients in the hospital, we'll donate the fruits to them."
Finding himself at a loss for words, Kang Myung-Gil turned around. Then, he headed to the elevator after glaring at me for a moment.
It was ridiculous to see him upset when he was the one trying to pull off a sneaky move using my name.
After Kang Myung-Gil disappeared, Lee Seung-Hoon left the fruit basket in the corridor and opened his mouth.
"We almost ended up signing a contract with someone other than you, Mr. Jung."
Lee Seung-Hoon tried to lighten the mood with a strained smile.
He explained that he thought Kang Myung-Gil had visited them on my behalf because I was too busy.
"Ah, my car is a huge mess right now. That's why I was late—I had to take the bus."
"Oh, that. We'll make sure to handle the insurance properly."
Lee Seung-Hoon, looking somewhat flustered, took my hand and bowed his head.
"Anyway, I can finally greet you properly. You saved Jun-Hyuk hyung’s life. Thank you so much."
"It's nothing. Anyone would have done the same."
"Well, I don’t know about that. Now, please come on in. Jun-Hyuk hyung is waiting inside."
Lee Seung-Hoon headed towards the hospital room and began to explain in detail what had just happened before I arrived.
'Kim Dong-Soo. He really is something.'
I started to realize just how dangerous the situation with Kang Myung-Gil earlier could have been.
'If I had arrived even a little later, Kim Dong-Soo might have secured a contract with Jang Jun-Hyuk.'
Come to think of it, Kim Dong-Soo had an amazing talent for digging up information even in my past life.
‘I didn't know it would be to this extent, though.’
Having heard the whole story, I was determined to pay Kim Dong-Soo back in kind.
After all, there was an actor that Kim Dong-Soo was trying to recruit that I needed to bring over to my side.
'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'
1. Korean idiom to describe how people change their minds before and after they achieve their goal ?
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