Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

"Remember you said you'd pay more if there were additional shoots for Miso?" I remarked.

I had added an extra clause when signing Miso's contract. If there were any script revisions requiring additional shoots, an extra 100 thousand won had to be paid.

At that time, Yoo Hyun-Ji signed without much thought as if such a thing would never happen.

"No way…did you anticipate this and include that clause?" Yoo Hyun-Ji replied in shock.

I nodded and answered. "Yes. For some reason, directors always request additional shoots whenever Miso films."

Yoo Hyun-Ji looked at me with a spiteful expression. "Team Lead Jung, let's never meet again after this."

"Are you saying you won't use the actors under my management?" I asked with a sly smile.

Yoo Hyun-Ji glared at me. "No, I'm surely going to use your actors but I'm not going to see you, Team Lead Jung."

I grinned and replied, "I'm sorry, but that might be impossible."

But even that would be impossible because all contracts were handled by me.

"Looks like we'll be seeing each other often, Ms. Yoo," I replied with a smile.

"Fine, fine. Then let's proceed with the additional shoot, shall we?"

I nodded at Yoo Hyun-Ji's grumbling. "Of course. And such offers are always welcome."

No talent agent would reject such a generous offer. We were getting paid extra on top of additional scenes, after all.

***

A moment later, the continuous filming of scenes 31 and 32 where Haru cooked alone began.

While filming Haru kneading batter and making Korean pancakes, Jo Yeon-Soo finished revising the script.

"Huff, huff. Ms. Yoo, it's done," Jo Yeon-Soo said as she hurried over with the revised script.

"You're done already?" Yoo Hyun-Ji replied with a pleasantly surprised expression.

"Yes. I got ideas quickly thanks to Miso's earlier performance."

"Is that so? Let me see."

Yoo Hyun-Ji gave the okay after checking the revised script and Jo Yeon-Soo handed me the script as well. "Team Lead Jung, take a look."

I nodded after reading the revised script. "Hmm... it looks good. I'll prepare right away then."

"Alright. Let me know when you're ready."

"Okay."

After receiving the script from Yoo Hyun-Ji, I called Miso over and showed her the revised script. "Miso, the script changed suddenly. Do you think you can do it?"

Miso put her finger to her lips and tilted her head, but soon smiled brightly and said, "Yes, I can do it!"

My worries disappeared upon seeing her confident expression. Miso memorized the script in no time and headed back to the set.

'Wow. She really is born for this,' I remarked inwardly.

Yoo Hyun-Ji approached me with a surprised expression and asked, "Did she memorize the script already?"

"She did. Miso has good memorization skills."

After a moment of surprise, Yoo Hyun-Ji hurriedly ran to Miso. Confirming that Miso had mastered the script, Yoo Hyun-Ji clicked her tongue in amazement.

"The actors are all ready. We'll start filming right away, so get ready!" Yoo Hyun-Ji shouted to the staff.

"Yes, Ms. Yoo!"

The staff hurriedly finished the preparations.

At that moment, Miso grabbed a spoon and chopsticks with an excited expression.

"Ready~ Action!"

When Yoo Hyun-Ji called the shot, Miso tore the Korean pancake with the chopsticks and placed it on the spoon. After blowing on it to cool it down, Miso put the spoonful into her mouth.

At that moment, Miso suddenly started flapping her hands and tapping her mouth.

『It's hot~ Too hot~』

The startled Haru rushed to the fridge and Lee Tae-Poong extended his hand in front of Miso's mouth.

『Yoo-Jin, spit it out if it's too hot! Spit it out!』

Miso shook her head.

『No~ I can't spit out food carelessly~.』

Miso held the mug Haru handed her with both hands and started sipping cold water. Then she soon smiled brightly and sighed.

『Phew~.』

『Are you okay?』

『Um... Yes! I'm fine.』

Seeing Haru's worried face, Miso stuck her tongue out slightly and explained she had slightly burned her tongue from the hot Korean pancake.

『Hehe. I burned my tongue~.』

When Miso laughed, Haru and Lee Tae-Poong sighed in relief, repeatedly telling her to be careful.

"Cut!" Yoo Hyun-Ji stopped the shoot before shouting angrily, "Which idiot made the Korean pancake so hot for the kid to eat? Huh?"

AD Choi Yeon-Hee reflexively ran to the set and checked the Korean pancake at Yoo Hyun-Ji's yelling. Tilting her head in confusion, Choi Yeon-Hee even took a bite of the Korean pancake herself in disbelief.

"Um, Ms. Yoo. The Korean pancake is cold... though."

"What? Really?" The confused Yoo Hyun-Ji replied.

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" Yoo Hyun-Ji asked again.

Choi Yeon-Hee nodded. "Yes, I just ate it."

Seeing the bewildered staff, Miso smiled and answered, "It wasn't hot at all!"

Suddenly, the set was filled with the staff's praise.

"So that was all just acting?"

"Like mother, like daughter, huh?"

"Well, it did have time to cool since it's been a while since we made it, but... wow, I was completely fooled."

The set was filled with admiration thanks to Miso's outstanding performance that fooled everyone.

Yoo Hyun-Ji awkwardly cleared her throat and apologized. "I'm sorry, props team. It's my bad."

"If you're sorry, how about treating us to a meal today?"

"You know we're broke, right?" Yoo Hyun-Ji replied.

"Then at least treat us to unlimited ribs. How about it?"

Yoo Hyun-Ji reluctantly nodded. "Deal!"

Next to Miso, Lee Tae-Poong and Haru's performances stood out in the following scene 34.

Miso opened her mouth like a baby bird and accepted the Korean pancake fed by Lee Tae-Poong, who looked at her warmly. Lee Tae-Poong's expression was so tender that all the staff fell for him.

Moreover, Haru's acting was also noteworthy.

『Is it that delicious?』

『Yes, oppa!』

『Eat some more. I'll make more if you need.』

Haru, like a caring older brother, kept wiping crumbs of Korean pancake off Miso's mouth while smiling with his eyes.

When Haru, who was nicknamed Mysterious Charm in my past life, started to smile everyone couldn't take their eyes off his face.

"Cut! Okay~! Wow. Today's footage looks great!" Yoo Hyun-Ji called out.

The staff cheered enthusiastically at Yoo Hyun-Ji's cut.

"Ms. Yoo! Maybe we should add another episode with Miso at this rate!"

"Yeah, Ms. Yoo! One episode doesn't seem enough!"

Yoo Hyun-Ji shouted heartily, "One episode isn't enough, indeed! We need at least two!"

Thanks to this, Miso's appearance in Master of Mukbang increased to a total of four episodes. And of course, her appearance fee also increased.

Just like that, the filming of episode 3 of Master of Mukbang concluded successfully.

***

As soon as the meeting ended where Lee Gi-Cheol bowed his head in apology to the youngest team lead in front of several team leads and talent agents, he called Cha Sang-Jin of Singer Division 1 to Hoop Entertainment's Operations Director's office and scolded him severely.

After all, even Lee Mal-Soon was taken by Singer Division 2 after the scandal involving Golden Road.

Lee Gi-Cheol sent Cha Sang-Jin away to Japan, telling him to focus on Golden Road for the time being.

The fuming Lee Gi-Cheol left the office and headed to a nearby golf practice range. Only after spending three hours of nonstop swinging could he finally calm down.

Sweaty and tired, Lee Gi-Cheol returned to the office past lunchtime and immediately called Kim Dong-Soo to discuss the next plan.

"We can't go on like this. We need to at least bring back Chief Park before President Kang returns," Lee Gi-Cheol said.

Kim Dong-Soo also had been thinking about bringing back Chief Park Han-Cheol, who originally used to manage Division 1.

But now, his thoughts had changed.

'What a fool,' Kim Dong-Soo thought to himself.

Lee Gi-Cheol was the leader of the Suhyaejong line, but he had publicly apologized to Jung Yoon-Ho today which caused the talent agents who were on the Suhyaejong line to waver.

Lee Gi-Cheol was the one with the most authority without Kang Gam-Chan, but that very man had bowed to the youngest team lead in the company.

Kim Dong-Soo continued to ponder, 'It seems like it's time to part ways with Director Lee Gi-Cheol.'

Kim Dong-Soo had yet to tell Lee Gi-Cheol that he had joined hands with Choi Man-Sik. And after seeing how today's matters were handled, he reaffirmed that his decision was correct.

He decided to abandon his plan to use Lee Gi-Cheol as a shield until he could become independent after concluding that going on like this could lead to the collapse of the entire Suhyaejong line.

Then, Kim Dong-Soo finally spoke. "Mr. Lee."

"What is it?"

"I think it would be best to abandon the idea of bringing back Chief Park Han-Cheol," Kim Dong-Soo continued.

Lee Gi-Cheol frowned and questioned, "But why? You were the one who suggested bringing back Chief Park Han-Cheol."

"He's already done for. We should try someone else instead," Kim Dong-Soo explained.

"Who?" Lee Gi-Cheol asked.

Kim Dong-Soo replied, "I'm thinking of bringing Chief Han So-Yoo from ANK Music along with the girl group she's training."

The moment Kim Dong-Soo mentioned the prospective chief for Singer Division 1, Lee Gi-Cheol clapped his hands in approval with delight.

Then, Lee Gi-Cheok asked, "But do you think ANK Music let her go? Chief Han is a key figure there."

"ANK Music is on the verge of bankruptcy, so money will do the trick," said Kim Dong-Soo.

The 34-year-old Han So-Yoo was one of the few female producers in the industry with proven skills. Moreover, she had been training a girl group called Treviang for three years and preparing them for their debut.

However, due to ANK Music's financial crisis, she readily accepted Kim Dong-Soo's offer. Even Treviang gladly agreed to Kim Dong-Soo's proposal when they were unable to debut due to the crisis.

All this was possible thanks to financial support from Choi Man-Sik.

Lee Gi-Cheol approved Kim Dong-Soo's suggestion. "Okay. By the way, how's Sung Ho-Jun's recruitment going?"

"Do you know about Director Lee Han-Soo's next project?" Kim Dong-Soo asked.

"Divine Punishment?"

"Yes. I plan to cast him as the lead. I’ve already discussed it with the production manager and decided we'll invest 500 million won for publicity efforts."

Lee Gi-Cheol nodded. "Great. Spend as much as needed."

Lee Gi-Cheol was still mistakenly thinking that Kim Dong-Soo's funds were coming from the money embezzled for independence. But the truth was that it was Choi Man-Sik who was providing the funds.

"How about Choi Seong-Lak and Park Hee-Tae?" Lee Gi-Cheol continued asking.

"I think we can bring them in soon as well," Kim Dong-Soo said confidently.

"As expected of you, Chief Kim. What would I do without you? Ha ha ha," chuckled Lee Gi-Cheol.

Lee Gi-Cheol burst into laughter, unaware of Kim Dong-Soo's true intentions.

At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.

"Who is it?"

A subdued voice answered Lee Gi-Cheol. "Mr. Lee. It's me, Ho-Sung."

"Come on in."

Ju Ho-Sung entered the room with a troubled expression.

Kim Dong-Soo looked puzzled. "What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to meet Sung Ho-Jun this afternoon?"

"Well... Sung Ho-Jun suddenly canceled the meeting saying something came up," answered Ju Ho-Sung hesitantly.

"What? We had a three-way meeting scheduled with Director Lee Han-Soo though. What happened all of a sudden?" Kim Dong-Soo asked with a puzzled expression.

"He said he didn't have time. But I have a bad feeling. It seems like he's avoiding us on purpose," replied Ju Ho-Sung.

Kim Dong-Soo shook his head. "That can't be. Sung Ho-Jun is a huge fan of Director Lee Han-Soo, isn't he?"

Kim Dong-Soo called Sung Ho-Jun with a puzzled expression, but he didn't answer.

But he didn't answer.

He then tried calling Sung Ho-Jun's talent agent, Sung Yung-Jun, but the line was busy as well.

Kim Dong-Soo's face began to contort. "Uh, what? What's going on?"

They had made nearly 30 attempts including Ju Ho-Sung's earlier calls, but none of them were being answered.

Only then did Kim Dong-Soo shout in frustration, "Team Lead Ju! Go meet Sung Ho-Jun in person and talk to him! Do whatever it takes and give him whatever he wants!"

"Yes, sir!" Ju Ho-Sung responded with haste.

Kim Dong-Soo started to sense that something was going wrong.

***

I returned to the company after dropping Miso off at home after her shoot.

At that moment, Sung Ho-Jun called me on Sung Yung-Jun's phone.

-Mr. Jung, you were right. I had no idea that Mr. Lee Han-Soo's staff was a complete mess.

Although Sung Ho-Jun had a cautious personality, he handled this situation with lightning speed.

"So, what do you plan to do now?" I asked.

Sung Ho-Jun let out a deep sigh and said he would go off the grid for a while.

-I could meet up with Chief Kim and confront him directly... but I think avoiding him for now will make it easier to switch to your team later.

"Understood. Let's do that."

-Then I'll see you at the company soon.

Sung Ho-Jun promised to switch to my team as soon as he joined Hoop Entertainment. Thanks to this, Kim Dong-Soo's plan to grow Actor Division 3 was derailed from the start.

Then I began to outline my next plan in my mind—a plan to inflict maximum damage on Actor Division 3.

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