Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Yoo-Jin approached us with deliberate footsteps.

Click clack.

The sound of her high heels clicking against the ground grew louder and were ringing in my ears. After confirming no staff were around, Yoo-Jin began speaking informally to Ju Yung-In. "I said, what are you doing here?"

Ju Yung-In shrugged. "Can't you see? I'm consulting him right now."

"Consulting? With a different company's talent agent? Isn't that a talent agent from Ace Entertainment's job?" Yoo-Jin questioned Ju Yung-In bluntly.

Ju Yung-In retorted, "Hey, don’t be so defensive. I was just talking to him about So Yi-Yung being cast as the lead in the competing drama."

"Regardless of the reason, why are you talking to Yoon-Ho oppa instead of your own talent agent from your company?" Yoo-Jin continued probing.

Ju Yung-In started raising her voice slightly. "You're being ridiculous. Am I not allowed to talk to your talent agent?"

Yoo-Jin smiled even brighter and answered, "No, you're not. Especially when you're alone!"

Simultaneously, Ju Yung-In's gaze locked onto Yoo-Jin's eyes but Yoo-Jin didn’t avoid her gaze and stared back directly.

The two's sharp stares clashed in the air.

But if this continued, my plan to keep a proper distance from Ju Yung-In could fail.

"Yoo-Jin," I said.

Yoo-Jin didn’t break her gaze and neither did Ju Yung-In as if retreating first meant losing.

"I was giving her advice for your sake, so I hope there's no misunderstanding here," I explained.

Yoo-Jin turned her head toward me. "For my sake?"

Though she won the staring contest, Ju Yung-In's face contorted this time.

'Yikes. It's one problem after another,' I thought.

But soon, I found a solution that could satisfy both of them.

I said, "Now is the time for the two of you to unite. That's why I was giving some advice."

At that moment, their expressions softened and turned curious.

"What do you mean by that…?" Yoo-Jin asked.

"You need to team up with Yung-In to win against So Yi-Yung’s popularity and acting skills along with Han Se-Hwa's promoting abilities," I told her.

Ju Yung-In smirked and spoke. "See? That’s why I was consulting with Yoon-Ho oppa."

The relieved Yoo-Jin smiled. "Are you sure there's no ulterior motive?"

"Don't you trust your talent agent?" Ju Yung-In asked in response.

"Who said I don't trust Yoon-Ho oppa? It’s you I don't trust," Yoo-Jin said bluntly.

Just as things seemed calm, they began to bicker again. As I was about to tell them to stop, a production staff member approached Ju Yung-In.

"Ah, here you are. Miss Yung-In, we’re about to start the shoot."

Ju Yung-In nodded. "Oh, alright."

After the staff left, Ju Yung-In looked at me. "I’ll do as you said, oppa. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

Despite my usual stiff tone, Ju Yung-In winked and disappeared as if for Yoo-Jin to see.

Yoo-Jin let out a deep sigh upon watching Ju Yung-In leave. "She gets worse every day, doesn’t she?"

I asked the grumbling Yoo-Jin, "Yoo-Jin, why are you on edge today?"

"I have to be or she’ll keep coming to you. Lately, she’s been looking for you whenever she can. I have to be snarky or she won’t be scared off," Yoo-Jin complained.

"I'm pretty snarky too when you're not looking, you know," I said with a smirk.

Yoo-Jin snorted as if that wasn't enough.

"Alright, alright. Let's stop talking about this. You need to get ready for the next scene," I reminded Yoo-Jin.

"Okay."

At that moment, I saw Yoo-Jin slightly clenching her fist. When I asked what she was doing, she just smiled and didn't answer.

"You're not planning to hit someone, are you?" I asked with a slightly worried look.

"Oh, come on. There's no way," Yoo-Jin denied.

But my suspicion was confirmed in the upcoming Scene 49.

Scene 49 was where Bang Shin-Ae mistook Cheongmyung to be a criminal, locked her up behind bars, and then begged for forgiveness.

When filming started, Yoo-Jin who played the role of Cheongmyung unexpectedly improvised to punch Bang Shin-Ae in the chest while cursing profusely.

Yoo-Jin's sudden cursing even shocked the audio director and Ju Yung-In started to tremble all over.

Just as an NG was about to be called, Kim Sung-Woon didn't yell cut and allowed Yoo-Jin's ad-lib to continue because her acting was perfect for the situation.

Thanks to that, Yoo-Jin was able to keep pushing Ju Yung-In around in front of everyone.

Unaware of the situation, the staff cheered for Yoo-Jin's passionate performance while Ju Yung-In bit her lip and forced an awkward smile.

***

At Han Se-Hwa Productions, So Yi-Yung placed a pink Hermos Garden Party bag on the sofa and caressed it.

The texture of the soft leather at her fingertips made her smile without realizing it.

"Ms. Han, how much is this sofa?" So Yi-Yung asked.

"Are you curious?" Han Se-Hwa replied.

"I sure am. I'm putting up a building and I want to get a sofa like this. I like the design," So Yi-Yung said while admiring the sofa.

Han Se-Hwa shrugged. "It's not that much."

So Yi-Yung asked with a smile. "So how much is it?"

"It's 50 million won."

So Yi-Yung gave an awkward smile. "50 million won?"

Han Se-Hwa nodded. "Yes. It's handmade by an Italian artisan using Hermos leather and each stitch is hand-done."

"Hermos? No wonder the texture felt extraordinary."

"Are you interested, Miss Yi-Yung? If you are, I can introduce you to a buyer who can give you a 30% discount."

So Yi-Yung nodded. "That price seems reasonable. Can I get it in pink though?"

"Pink? Custom orders take longer and cost more, but yes, it is possible. Should I arrange it?" Han Se-Hwa asked with a smile.

So Yi-Yung smiled and nodded. "Please do."

Han Se-Hwa looked into So Yi-Yung's sparkling eyes and spoke. "Then Miss Yi-Yung, how about we schedule a few interviews in return?"

So Yi-Yung folded her arms and took a step back.

"Interviews? Hmm, I don't know. I'll need to discuss that with my talent agent..."

Jang Sam-Duk, So Yi-Yung's talent agent from TNT Entertainment, intervened with a troubled expression. "Ms. Han, you know we charge separately for each interview..."

At that moment, writer Hong Jang-Mi sitting on the opposite side of the sofa frowned and said, "Hey, So Yi-Yung. Don't be so greedy. You already get a huge fee and now you want extra for interviews? Too much greed will backfire, you know."

Jang Sam-Duk stepped in. "Ms. Hong, please discuss this matter with me and we can..."

Hong Jang-Mi scoffed. "Chief Jang, have you lost your mind? Are you challenging me right now? Shall I mess up your actress' character in the drama now that she's already signed the contract? I can make her roll around in poop if I want, you know that."

Hong Jang-Mi was infamous for dealing harshly with actors who didn't comply with her. In the past, she had turned popular actress Choi Yung-Ji into a scandalous character in the drama, resulting in her CF deals and future roles being canceled for a whole year as revenge for her talking back.

So Yi-Yung quickly calmed her talent agent. "Mr. Jang, please be quiet. Can't you read the room?"

Jang Sam-Duk made an awkward smile and retreated.

Movies were the director's domain and dramas belonged to the writer. Knowing this very well, So Yi-Yung had no choice but to hold back her complaints against Hong Jang-Mi's nagging.

At that moment, Han Se-Hwa smiled slightly as she thought bringing Hong Jang-Mi along was a brilliant idea.

As So Yi-Yung's confidence waned, Hong Jang-Mi abruptly said, "By the way, your opponent is Ju Yung-In. You better be prepared, Yi-Yung. I know you're a pretty good actress but I've heard Ju Yung-In has been exceptional on set lately."

So Yi-Yung's eyes flashed. "Ms. Hong, why are you hurting my pride like this? Comparing me to Ju Yung-In is awfully offensive."

"I'm telling you not to get complacent. It's really humiliating when the lead in my work is outshined by another actor," Hong Jang-Mi remarked.

"I feel the same," So Yi-Yung replied.

At that moment, So Yi-Yung tilted her head and asked, "But what about Jung Yoo-Jin?"

"Why do you ask? Does she bother you?"

So Yi-Yung nodded. "Yes. To be honest, she only had supporting roles from The Morning Takes Off to Blue Sky, but her presence was stronger than most leads. She has a rough edge but her eyes are alive."

Hong Jang-Mi looked at Han Se-Hwa. "Did you hear that, President Han?"

Han Se-Hwa smiled. "Got it. I'll keep an eye on her. But more than that, why did you come here today, Miss Yi-Yung?"

So Yi-Yung tucked her hair behind her ear. "I heard Mr. Jiang Wei from Hwayeon Media Inc. is an investor in the drama. Is that true?"

"It is."

"Is it possible that I can meet him?" So Yi-Yung asked.

Han Se-Hwa replied, "You want to meet Mr. Jiang?"

So Yi-Yung nodded. "Yes. It seems proper to greet him in advance since he's the main investor in our drama..."

Han Se-Hwa's smile began to deepen. Knowing that So Yi-Yung values money over anything, Han Se-Hwa was confident she could please Jiang Wei.

In doing so, she could secure more investment. The company would get money, Jiang Wei would get a beauty, and So Yi-Yung would get a sponsor.

Han Se-Hwa grinned widely. "I suppose I can try arranging a meeting if that's what you want, Miss Yi-Yung."

"Meeting him in China is fine too if meeting in Korea is difficult."

"Okay~ I'll schedule it right away then," said Han Se-Hwa with a smile.

As Han Se-Hwa smiled, So Yi-Yung’s face also bloomed with joy.

***

I returned to the company as soon as I took Yoo-Jin home, and then I went to the underground recording studio to prepare for Kang Ha-Na's first MeTube broadcast.

Studio 4 located on the basement floor was filled with equipment reminiscent of a visual radio setup. Inside the booth were high-end cameras and microphones, a table, chairs, and a stand for guitars.

'The equipment is top-notch,' I observed silently.

In my past life, Kang Ha-Na had started her MeTube channel alone without the company’s help. She set up a webcam in her dorm on her own, using only a microphone she bought herself and her old acoustic guitar.

Her broadcasts which ran from 11:30 PM for 30 minutes started with three subscribers and didn’t exceed twenty for a week. But with six years of trainee perseverance, she streamed live every day. She sang old Korean hits, foreign pop songs, and her own compositions.

Then one day, J-Music, a MeTuber with 1.03 million subscribers, mentioned Kang Ha-Na's channel which caused a surge in views. But what sustained Kang Ha-Na's popularity was her daily live broadcasts and her dedication to interacting with fans.

Thanks to this, she kept the sudden interest and reached 100,000 subscribers in three months to earn the Silver Button.

But this time, I planned to achieve that subscriber count within a month without J-Music's help.

"Mr. Lee, are we ready?" I asked.

Lee Seok-Hyung fiddled with the new computer beside the control panel for a moment and turned his head. "Yes, we finished the rehearsal earlier. And call me Assistant Manager Lee instead of Mr. Lee."

"I can’t do that. You'll be filming music videos again," I replied.

Lee Seok-Hyung was the director who filmed Kang Ha-Na’s music videos, and I hired him as an editor and MeTube broadcast director.

We also agreed on a separate incentive for filming music videos, because Lee Seok-Hyung had made a name for himself in music videos in my past life.

At that moment, the door opened and Kang Ha-Na entered with Do Ran-Hee.

"Oh, you're here, oppa," Kang Ha-Na greeted me.

"Hey. Why do you look so stiff?" I asked her.

Kang Ha-Na moved her right arm and right leg together like a robot. "Ha ha. Do, do I?"

"Don't worry, everything will go well," I assured her.

Kang Ha-Na smiled slightly. "I really hope so."

At that moment, Kang Ha-Na hesitated as if she had something to say.

"Ha-Na, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Oppa, can I pray for a moment?" Kang Ha-Na replied.

I raised my eyebrows. "Pray? Sure, we still have about 20 minutes left. I can step aside if you want."

Kang Ha-Na shook her head. "No, not that."

I scratched my head with a confused look. "Then?"

Kang Ha-Na glanced around and stretched out her right hand. But her hand landed on my right shoulder.

"Huh? What are you doing?" I asked, surprised by her actions.

"Sae-Ri said that good luck will come if I hold onto you..." Kang Ha-Na said in a low voice.

Kang Ha-Na's face turned red as if she found her own words ridiculous.

'Of all people, she had to ask Sae-Ri about this?' I thought.

But at least Kang Ha-Na wasn't climbing on my back like Sae-Ri did.

"Do you think I'm some kind of good luck charm? You really believe that luck will come if you hold onto me and pray?" I asked her.

"Well, that's..." Kang Ha-Na stammered.

I felt like a dol hareubang statue[1]

But Kang Ha-Na didn't let go of my shoulder despite my dumbfounded expression.

The current time was 10:50 p.m. In ten minutes, the music video would be uploaded.

Unlike my past life, I planned to start live streaming at 11:11 PM because it was an easy time for viewers to remember.

"Alright. You can pray on my shoulder as long as you need," I said with a smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Jung," said Kang Ha-Na as she sighed and prayed while holding onto my shoulder.

Now, there was only one minute left before Kang Ha-Na's music video would be uploaded.

Do Ran-Hee, who was also holding my shoulder and praying along with Kang Ha-Na, asked with a worried look in her eye, "Mr. Jung, what if no one joins because you didn't publicize this with the press?"

"Who said I didn't?" I retorted.

"Huh? Did you promote it somewhere without my knowledge when I'm the person in charge of Ha-Na's debut?" Do Ran-Hee questioned.

I simply replied, "You'll see soon. Just wait."

Eun Ji-Yoo, who arrived late, also held my shoulder following Do Ran-Hee. Apparently, she felt she had to join in.

Finally, it was time to upload the music video.

"Mr. Jung, it's time to upload the music video."

"Alright. Go ahead."

Lee Seok-Hyung shouted while looking at the monitor screen. "Uploading the music video. Five, four... one! It's up."

The official music video for 'New Beginning' was updated on Kang Ha-Na's MeTube channel, Hana Tube.

From that moment, Lee Seok-Hyung began refreshing the screen.

At that moment, Kang Ha-Na's grip on my shoulder tightened.

But strangely enough, the music video's views started climbing rapidly simultaneously.

"Fifty! One hundred twenty! Two hundred! Three hundred! Four hundred fifty...!"

1. a type of large rock statue found on Jeju Island off the southern tip of South Korea. The legend says that your wishes will come true if you rub the rock statue and pray. ☜

Ristretto's Thoughts

Ristretto: Whatttt? But how did people even find out about this channel

Maggy: Ah. I wanna touch Yoon-Ho's shoulder and pray for some money too

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