Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Nalsae shuddered audibly and quickly continued.

-Ugh, seriously. It gives me chills every time this happens. That fortuneteller guy, he's really the real deal, huh? Like, actually connected to spirits or something?"

"Why? What is it?"

-I haven't found Choi Sung-Ae directly... but I've found traces of her.

"Traces? What do you mean?"

-I'm in LA's Koreatown right now, and I heard she created a fake identity about three months ago.

I stepped in. "Hey, this is Jung Yoon-Ho. How soon can you track her down?"

-What? You're there with him?"

"Yeah."

-Do you also know when I'll die?

"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?"

-I don't know, you're so sharp I thought maybe you'd know that too.

"Enough with the pointless chatter. Just tell me. When can you find her?"

-Geez. Take a breath, will you? This isn't Korea. One wrong move here and you can get shot!

Nalsae then launched into a tirade about how LA gangs had already aimed guns at his head twice.

"Relax. You have enough luck that you won't die so easily. Now, tell me how far you've gotten."

Still grumbling, Nalsae replied.

-Fine, fine, I'm making progress. I'm working on getting close to the guy who forged her identity. Once I've got something concrete, I'll call. And don't rush me. I'm working my ass off here. This is my chance to get proper payback on Kim Dong-Soo, Ju Ho-Sung, and Choi Man-Sik!

It was clear that Nalsae was holding onto his grudges, swearing he would make all his hardship in the U.S. pay off tenfold.

"Alright. Keep it up."

-Keep it up? No, no. I need more money if you want me to work faster!

Before I could respond, Lee Soo-Chan chimed in cheerfully. "Fine. I'll double it."

-Now that's what I like to hear. Talk to you later!

After the call ended, Lee Soo-Chan turned to me. "Hyung-nim, is it true that Nalsae won't die?"

Because of the rumors surrounding "Star Jung the Fortuneteller," everyone seemed to treat me like some kind of prophet.

"How should I know?"

"What? Then why did you say that?"

"To give him peace of mind. And besides, Nalsae's the type who knows how to steer clear of danger. That's why his odds of survival are higher. Oh, and while you're at it, get him a bulletproof vest with the money."

"So you want him to rely on science instead of faith?"

"Exactly. It's the 21st century. Why depend on superstition?"

At that moment, my phone buzzed.

[Caller ID: Kim Dong-Soo]

"This guy... Why is he calling me?"

Kim Dong-Soo was calling me after his officetel got ransacked.

***

When Kim Dong-Soo asked to meet at a street food tent located near Apgujeong Station, I had no intention of agreeing. Nonetheless, rejecting him might arouse his suspicion, so I casually said I would be there.

I walked for about ten minutes from Lee Soo-Chan's building to a street food tent nestled between apartment complexes. Lifting the red vinyl flap at the entrance, I stepped inside.

The place was empty except for Kim Dong-Soo who was miserably knocking back shots of soju.

Kim Dong-Soo had despised the crushing poverty he endured as a child and vowed never to drink in shabby places like this when he grew up. Yet here he was, alone in a run-down street food tent.

He repeatedly poured himself shots of soju and downed them between bites of fish cake stew.

His hair was a mess, his clothes were torn, and his disheveled state was so pitiful even the lady running the tent kept sneaking glances at him.

'Losing those files must have been a massive shock,' I thought.

I walked over casually and pretended not to notice his sorry state as I sat across from him. Kim Dong-Soo slowly raised his head. His bloodshot eyes were filled with seething hatred.

Kim Dong-Soo growled, "Jung Yoon-Ho!"

I asked calmly. "What do you want?"

"It was you, wasn't it? You little…!"

I feigned ignorance and replied, "What are you talking about, calling me out of nowhere?"

I picked up a fish cake skewer[1], dipped it in soy sauce, and took a bite. The fish cake was swollen and overcooked. Somehow, it tasted better than usual.

Breathing heavily, Kim Dong-Soo slurred, "No matter how I think about it... it was you! Who else could've raided my place?"

Kim Dong-Soo pointed at me with a skewer and trembled with rage. I calmly tapped his skewer aside with my empty one, sending it clattering to the floor.

Then I smirked before asking, "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb! I'm talking about my hideout! You're the one who broke into it, aren't you? You bastard!"

'Oh, he's sharper than I thought.'

However, Kim Dong-Soo didn't seem entirely sure. He was grasping at straws, trying to intimidate me into confessing.

I decided to mess with his head a little more and replied, "What are you going on about? What hideout?"

"Y-you don't know? The officetel in Apgujeong!"

"You bought an officetel?"

"..."

"Wow, Mr. Kim. Even while suspended, you've got money to burn. Buying an officetel and all?"

Confusion flickered across Kim Dong-Soo's face.

I casually ate another fish cake and continued, "Before accusing me, shouldn't you consider the people around you? You know, like someone who knew the location."

At that moment, Kim Dong-Soo slammed the table with his fist. "T-then... Yang Tae-Min. That bastard... could he have betrayed me...?"

This was the problem with people who lived by harming others. They ended up with so many enemies that they couldn't even trust their own allies. The worst part was that their suspicions only created new foes.

Kim Dong-Soo began muttering angrily to himself and listed off names: Lee Gi-Cheol and Kang Myung-Gil in prison, Choi Man-Sik, and even Kang Ji-Yung and Kang Gam-Chan.

Meanwhile, I waved to the lady and ordered another round of fresh fish cake. She quickly brought out a steaming pot of fish cake stew. Since I hadn't eaten since dinner, I filled up on the savory broth and skewers.

Just then, Kim Dong-Soo grabbed one of the new fish cakes and pointed it at me. "Hey! Jung Yoon-Ho!"

"What now?"

"You... what makes you so damn great, huh?"

"I'm not great at all."

"Don't give me that crap. You hate everything I do, don't you? Admit it."

'At least he knows that much,' I remarked inwardly.

When I didn't bother responding, Kim Dong-Soo bit into the fish cake angrily only to spit it out and yelp, "Ah, hot! Damn it!"

Kim Dong-Soo dropped the fish cake onto the floor.

"Fuck… Why is everything going wrong today?"

It truly was Kim Dong-Soo's worst day. In contrast, it was one of my best. Kim Dong-Soo grumbled before he downed another glass of soju.

Sensing he had nothing more to say, I stood up. "Finish your drink and go home. Don't call me out like this again because I won't come next time."

As I turned to leave, Kim Dong-Soo suddenly grabbed my arm. "You... it really was you, wasn't it? If you return the files, I'll forgive everything. I'll pay you 10 million... no, 20 million won. Come on. You're not the type to use those files anyway, right? You're a good guy, aren't you?"

'Ah, so this is why he called me here.'

The sheer absurdity of it all made me laugh out loud.

I locked eyes with Kim Dong-Soo for a moment before brushing his hand off my arm with a sharp motion. "Whatever those files are, they must be about celebrities' weaknesses. Let me give you a piece of advice—stop this nonsense. Treat your celebrities sincerely and compete with good projects. What is this, the 1980s? Why are you trying to blackmail people like it's some cheap soap opera?"

Kim Dong-Soo screamed in frustration, "Hey! Jung Yoon-Ho! You think being all righteous and noble will keep you successful forever? You bastard... you don't know what the higher world is like. Once you see it, you'll become just like me!"

I stared at him and answered silently in my mind. 'I've been to that hellish world already.'

For a fleeting moment, I saw my past self in Kim Dong-Soo's frenzied outburst. It was the version of me that once justified my actions after achieving success. Back then, I believed that since everyone else used any means necessary to succeed, I had to do the same.

However, after living that life and then being granted this second chance, I knew the truth. Life might sometimes show you shortcuts, but those paths always lead to a cliff.

A hasty climb built on manipulation and schemes would eventually boomerang back to ruin you. I had learned that lesson the hard way, going from the vice president of Korea's top entertainment company to dying alone as a forgotten hospital patient.

The fastest route to true success wasn't a shortcut. It was the slow and steady path of doing things the right way, enduring hardships, and waiting for your moment to shine.

Having already walked this road once, I retorted confidently, "I have no interest in your twisted logic. Don't try to force or convince me. The path you've chosen isn't a road to success but a highway to hell."

With that, I pulled two 50 thousand won bills from my pocket and placed them on the table. "Ma'am, I'll cover this man's drinks. Keep the rest as a tip."

The lady's previously somber face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you so much!"

I glanced down at Kim Dong-Soo for a moment before turning to leave.

Thud!

When I turned back, Kim Dong-Soo was sprawled on the floor having tripped over his own legs while trying to stand. His shirt was stained with fish cake broth.

His words barely made it out of his mouth. "You... you'll... someday come crawling back to me, begging for help... you'll see..."

I looked at him calmly and replied, "That will never happen. Not even if I have to die again."

It might've been possible in my past life, but not this time.

I left the drunken Kim Dong-Soo behind and stepped out of the tent. The chilly early-morning breeze brushed against my face.

As the cold wind sobered my thoughts, I made a renewed vow: after taking down the Suhyaejong line, I'll make sure Hoop Entertainment has no place for filth like Kim Dong-Soo.

***

The night after meeting Kim Dong-Soo, I went straight to the Central Prosecutor's Office to see Seo Jae-Ill.

Seo Jae-Ill apologized, saying it would be difficult to indict Kim Dong-Soo due to insufficient evidence. Apparently, Kwak Hyun-Sung from Taesung Law Firm had pulled strings with both prosecutors and judges to effectively block our case.

Feeling guilty, Seo Jae-Ill kept apologizing and lamenting that he had done more harm than good. I ended up drinking with him to console him and didn't return home until after 5 a.m.

When I opened my eyes, it was already 9 a.m. The warm sunlight streaming through the window greeted me as I stretched and got out of bed.

I picked up the file I had taken from Kim Dong-Soo's safe and muttered, "Finally, it's in my hands."

I had been searching for this X-FILE ever since I traveled back in time. Although it was only part of the complete document, it was enough to hold Kim Dong-Soo on a leash. The thought put me in a good mood.

After taking the morning off and sleeping deeply for the first time in a while, I felt completely refreshed. As I got up from my bed, I checked the day's entertainment news.

[KBC Historical Drama Queen Jeong-Hee Casts So Yi-Yung in Lead Role!]

[So Yi-Yung Challenges Herself to Reinterpret a Role from Whirlwind Two Years Ago. Same Role in Different Projects.]

"So Yi-Yung is playing Queen Jeong-Hee…?"

In my past life, this role had gone to the actress Ahn So-Jung. The thought of a prestigious part going to So Yi-Yung made me uneasy.

"Well, I suppose there wasn't much choice given the scheduling issues."

Two years ago, So Yi-Yung had played Queen Jeong-Hee, the wife of King Sejo, in the historical film Whirlwind. Despite being a rookie, her deeply nuanced performance earned her critical acclaim even in a supporting role.

It seemed KBC had initially offered the lead role to Ju Yung-In. However, after Ju Yung-In rejected the role, they rushed to cast So Yi-Yung who not only had experience in historical dramas but had already portrayed the same character once before.

Despite So Yi-Yung's previous drama Festival of Money ending with dismal single-digit viewership ratings, the fault lay with the script by Hong Jang-Mi whose constant missteps derailed the show.

Nonetheless, So Yi-Yung's acting had received considerable praise.

'Still, why do I keep crossing paths with these people? Such rotten luck…' I wondered.

So Yi-Yung and Min Gyu-Ri were two of the actresses I once called the "Three Queens of Trouble" during my time at Top Entertainment in my past life. Naturally, the third member of that infamous trio, Jang So-Yeon, came to mind.

At twenty-one years old, Jang So-Yeon was the youngest compared to the twenty-eight-year-old So Yi-Yung and twenty-four-year-old Min Gyu-Ri. Yet, her fiery personality made her no less of a handful. Jang So-Yeon hadn't debuted in the entertainment industry yet.

The three of them had somehow been inseparable. Despite their difficult temperaments, they managed to get along and often caused trouble together. Recalling those days still made my blood boil to the point of waking up in the middle of the night in frustration.

Regardless, So Yi-Yung now had a golden opportunity to rebuild her career after the Festival of Money debacle.

"I need to stay as far away from her as possible."

I shut off my phone and headed for a shower. When I came downstairs, a faint smell of formula milk tickled my nose.

Yoo-Jin had woken early and was tending to Lucky and Mimi, the two pets she had adopted from Amsa-dong's animal clinic along with their litters of two pups each.

Miso had named the puppies Baekseolgi and Injeolmi, while Han-Ul had named their litters Happy and Love.

Yoo-Jin spotted me and shook the formula milk container. "Good morning, oppa. Did you sleep well?"

"I did, but my body feels sore all over. Oh, did you see the news? So Yi-Yung got the lead role as Queen Jeong-Hee."

"Yeah, I saw it earlier this morning."

"Don't let it stress you out. People say she's good, but you've got the edge. You'll beat her for sure as long as you don't get intimidated. Got it?"

Yoo-Jin smiled brightly. "I'm just going to focus on my own role."

"That's the right attitude. By the way, are you ready for tomorrow's college entrance exam event?"

It was November 25, the day before the national college entrance exam. The actors under Hoop Entertainment were preparing for special events to support exam-takers.

Yoo-Jin nodded. "Yes. I even finished wrapping the gift for Eun-Sol."

Yoo-Jin planned to head to Cheongju tomorrow at dawn to cheer on Cha Eun-Sol who would be taking her exam there.

Cha Eun-Sol, who had been a top homema and a member of the U & Me fan club in my past life, had already secured early admission to a university. For her, the exam was more about meeting the minimum academic requirements.

Meanwhile, the Cherry Blossom fan club's leader group—four high school girls from Hoengseong Girls' High School—were also taking the exam tomorrow. As such, Cherry Blossom would be heading there to cheer them on as well.

"Oh, and I won't be going to Cheongju tomorrow. Sang-Bong will drive you there."

Yoo-Jin narrowed her eyes and playfully glared at me. "Huh? But Miso is coming along as well… Where are you going?"

I smiled and replied, "Do you remember Lee Si-Yoon?"

"Oh, yeah. The kid who almost got killed by Woo Sung-Chan, right? The smart one?"

"Exactly. His parents are working tomorrow, so he's heading to the exam site alone. I figured I'd give him a ride and cheer him on."

Lee Si-Yoon was someone I had met while exposing Woo Sung-Chan, the main lead of Master of Mukbang, as a school violence perpetrator. Lee Si-Yoon had been one of his victims.

At the time, Lee Si-Yoon had filed charges against Woo Sung-Chan which led to him attempting to stab him. Fortunately, I had intervened and Woo Sung-Chan from Actor Division 3 was now serving time in prison.

Yoo-Jin nodded. "Alright, I suppose I'll have to give up then."

"My gratitude knows no bounds, my queen~"

At that moment, Yoo-Jin struck a graceful pose and mimicked Princess Yu-Hwa from Hwaranjeon. "Very well. Out of my boundless compassion, I grant thee freedom for a day."

We both burst into laughter before I replied, "Don't worry, I took a day off for tomorrow."

"I know~"

I tilted my head. "Huh? How?"

Yoo-Jin looked away and avoided my gaze. Someone from the office must have told her, but she wasn't about to reveal their identity.

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Ugh. Everyone's such a blabbermouth."

Then I smiled and changed the subject. "You remember you've got the Weekly Star interview this afternoon, right? The list of pre-interview questions is on the tablet's home screen. Make sure to review it."

"Got it!"

Today's interview was titled "Spotlight: Jung Yoo-Jin." It was focused on her role as the lead actress in Hwaranjeon, and it had been arranged at the earnest request of Reporter Jang Moon-Ki.

Just then, my phone notification chimed.

[Notification: November 25, 2020. A new scheduled event has been added for 'Jung Yoo-Jin.']

I opened the planner to check the sudden addition. However, the moment I read the entry, confusion clouded my thoughts.

'Why would Jang Moon-Ki do something like this…?'

1. Fish cake skewer in food tent ☜

Ristretto's Thoughts

Yojj: I don't think having a celebrity at school right before exams would be helpful…