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Chapter 118: Winter After Spring? (7)

"Just a moment."

Choi Ji-Yung set down her coffee which she had been enjoying and started staring intently at me. The previously gentle atmosphere had vanished and been replaced by a tight tension as if walking on thin ice.

Choi Ji-Yung made a dumbfounded expression, raised her hand to point toward the door, and said, "I wouldn\'t have opened the door if I knew this was your intention. Please leave now. Thank you for the coffee and half-dried persimmons you brought as a gift."

Choi Ji-Yung exuded the aura of her prime but I didn\'t back down and continued to meet her gaze and asked, "Ms. Choi, do you intend to just take this lying down?"

Choi Ji-Yung snorted in disbelief. "Even if I do reveal the truth as you say, people will see me as a woman fooled by a 25-year-old. I\'d rather bite my tongue!"

A self-deprecating tone laced Choi Ji-Yung\'s words. I recalled that in my past life, these same worries also prevented her from coming forward with her feelings and the truth sooner. However, the future unfolded differently from her expectations—there were more viewers who cared about Choi Ji-Yung than she had thought.

\'I guess I have no choice.\'

I had to reveal the story Choi Ji-Yung wanted to keep hidden.

"But you didn\'t mention that your ex-husband was the one who instigated Choi Jong-Hyuk, did you? I believe you have evidence but chose to keep it hidden."

Choi Ji-Yung\'s face fell and she began to stutter. "H-how do you even know that...?"

\'How do I know? Because I heard the story you would share on a morning show two years later.\'

Choi Ji-Yung\'s shoulders slumped. Seeing her like that didn\'t make me feel any better, but I couldn\'t back down.

I had to save Yoo-Jin who was earnestly growing as an actress. Besides, this was the only way to help Choi Ji-Yung make a comeback.

"Ms. Choi Ji-Yung, you haven\'t been in touch with your ex-husband since that day, have you? You should reserve your feelings for someone worthy of them. Jang Ji-Cheol already has someone else he is dating..."

"I know that..."

"Then please trust me. If you follow my plan, we can definitely sway public opinion."

It was going to be tough, but I spoke with confidence since I had witnessed everything that would happen in my past life.

"I\'m not just asking for your help. In return, I\'ll provide you with an opportunity to make a comeback as an actress."

"A comeback?"

A glimmer of hope flashed in Choi Ji-Yung\'s eyes and her lost gaze found a target. In a slow and trembling voice, she asked, "Could it be... Hoop Entertainment is willing to take me in?"

I shook my head but quickly clarified to avoid any misunderstanding. "Do you remember your previous talent agent, Park Woo-Min?"

"Yes..."

"He\'s currently a director at Altoran. He\'s eagerly waiting for your return, Ms. Choi."

Park Woo-Min was the talent agent who looked after Choi Ji-Yung during her divorce from Jang Ji-Cheol. They were as close as siblings and he was instrumental in her rise to stardom.

Choi Ji-Yung frowned in disbelief. "But that\'s impossible. Woo-Min oppa and I had a huge fight and parted ways on a bad note when I was getting divorced."

She waved her hands and dismissed the possibility. But the truth was Park Woo-Min genuinely cared for Choi Ji-Yung. In my past life, he had helped her make a comeback and even became her new partner.

Choi Ji-Yung, who was skeptical at first, asked with a hint of hope after my continued persuasion, "Do you think Woo-Min oppa will really take me back?"

"He will."

"How can you be so sure? You have no idea how much I hurt him."

In response to Choi Ji-Yung\'s concerns, I showed her a KkTalk message I had received just before coming here. I had asked Kang Ji-Yung for a favor which she had successfully fulfilled.

[Managing Director Kang Ji-Yung: I met with Director Park Woo-Min. He said he\'s ready to help if Ms. Choi Ji-Yung is willing to make a comeback.]

Choi Ji-Yung\'s hand trembled as she read the KkTalk message.

"I-is this message... real?"

"Why would I lie? Would you like to call him yourself?"

"Y-yes..."

I handed her the phone number of Park Woo-Min, the director at Altoran Planning.

"I\'ll step out for a moment. Take your time to talk to him and please let me know your decision."

Choi Ji-Yung nodded silently.

After closing the door behind me, I stepped outside the villa to take a deep breath. The cold air pierced my chest sharply.

The sky was filled with countless twinkling stars. In the night sky, darkness dominated a vast expanse, overshadowing the stars reminiscent of the entertainment industry. I pondered whether my destiny was to guide those wayward stars back to their rightful place.

After I took a few deep breaths and lowered my head, I saw Jung Sang-Bong looking at me with a peculiar gaze.

\'Why is he looking at me like that?\'

Jung Sang-Bong met my gaze and said, "I feel incredibly lucky to be assigned under you, Mr. Jung!"

The look in Jung Sang-Bong\'s eyes was akin to the admiration I had for a revered sunbae when I first joined the company.

I remember thinking when I would reach his level and wondering if he ever took a break to take care of himself. I had always admired him for managing things in a way I was not yet capable of.

I cleared my throat and casually continued the conversation with Jung Sang-Bong. "Why do you say that?”

"To be honest, I thought you were going to meet Ms. Choi Ji-Yung to extract some useful information out of her and resort to blackmail. But you opened a path for her instead."

"Hey, do I look like a gangster to you? Why would I blackmail an actress who\'s already hit rock bottom? Ever heard of mutual benefit?"

"It\'s easy to say that, but how many people do you think would actually do that? Everyone\'s too busy looking out for themselves these days..."

"I\'m not too different from them either. But still, I should at least try to find a way that\'s beneficial for both parties as long as I\'m able to. Don\'t you agree?"

Jung Sang-Bong scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.

When about 20 minutes had passed, an unknown number called me.

Click.

I could hear Choi Ji-Yung\'s voice over the line.

-You can come back in now.

I checked my planner after hanging up the call.

[Everyday V10]

[Date: March 15th, 2022]

-10:00 AM <Deleted Schedule>

(Deleted Schedule: MBS Morning Today Choi Ji-Yung\'s episode. Viewership rating 18.5%. Monitoring.)

Seeing the entry gone, it seemed that Choi Ji-Yung had decided to follow along with my plan.

\'Good choice. Let\'s get you back to the entertainment industry, Ms. Ji-Yung.\'

A star that was once dimming and barely clinging to life was starting to brighten anew.

"It seems their conversation has ended. Let\'s go inside," I said to Jung Sang-Bong.

When we returned to Choi Ji-Yung\'s place, I could see she had changed into comfortable tracksuits.

"Ms. Choi? Why the change of clothes?"

"It\'s embarrassing to keep up appearances to save face when you\'ve come here knowing I\'ve hit rock bottom. More than that, what should I do now?"

"Could you first pass me the KkTalk messages you have, including the ones with your ex-husband?"

"Are you going to leak them to the press?"

"Yes. But you\'ll need to announce them yourself."

Choi Ji-Yung hesitated before asking, "You mean you want me to hold a press conference myself?"

"It would be more beneficial for your comeback if you take the spotlight and release the news yourself."

After a moment of contemplation, Choi Ji-Yung nodded. "Then will you be able to arrange makeup and outfits for me?"

I nodded to Choi Ji-Yung\'s embarrassed confession of having no money to dress up. "I\'ll make sure you\'re in the spotlight, just like the day you won an award for The Sound of the Wind."

Only then did Choi Ji-Yung show a relieved expression.

"Okay. Then please take good care of me until I move to Altoran, Mr. Jung."

Choi Ji-Yung extended her hand with an awkward smile. I felt a slight tremor in the hand I shook. Although she had agreed to my plan, the thought of revealing the events of that day was evidently frightening to her.

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Everything will be alright. I\'ll come to pick you up the day after tomorrow morning. Take a good rest until then."

Choi Ji-Yung nodded.

Back in the car, I sent a KkTalk message to Choi Ji-Yung just in case.

[Talent Agent Jung Yoon-Ho: I put another gift inside the half-dried persimmon bag for you, Ms. Choi.]

Choi Ji-Yung\'s reply came back in less than ten seconds.

[Choi Ji-Yung: Mr. Yoon-Ho, I won\'t forget this kindness and help you\'ve given me. I\'ll make a comeback and repay you many times over.]

I had placed 2 million won in the half-dried persimmon bag for her. After all, cash was more welcoming than any other gift during tough times.

This was my way of repaying her for the times her dramas had made me laugh and cry in my past life.

I sent an encouraging emoji to her via KkTalk and moved on to the next task.

***

Two days had passed since the dating rumor between Choi Jong-Hyuk and Jung Yoo-Jin broke out.

In the meantime, Cheon Yi-Sang who had spread the rumor was deeply troubled.

The deadline he had given was approaching, but there had been no contact from Jung Yoon-Ho who had announced his surrender.

"Could Jung Yoon-Ho be plotting something else behind my back?"

Cheon Yi-Sang fiddled with his phone before setting it down as he recalled Jung Yoon-Ho\'s request to give him time to think.

"There\'s nothing I can do if he doesn\'t keep his promise."

He was unfazed as he had prepared follow-up moves for any alternative scenarios.

At that moment, the phone started ringing.

Buzz.

"Just as I thought. No one has ever escaped my grasp."

However, the caller wasn\'t Jung Yoon-Ho but President Kim Tae-Kwon.

-Come up to my office.

"Yes, sir."

Responding to Kim Tae-Kwon\'s summon, Cheon Yi-Sang headed to the president\'s office.

"So? Is everything going well?"

"Yes. No matter how much Hoop Entertainment claims the file has been manipulated, no one seems to believe it."

"Of course. Who would believe that? I wouldn\'t believe it myself. Haha."

Leaning back on the sofa, Kim Tae-Kwon asked again, "What about Jung Yoon-Ho? Do you think he\'ll comply once we have him at our company?"

Cheon Yi-Sang smirked slyly. "He\'s just a salaryman. Once we have him, I\'ll find a way to appease him whether it\'s with women or money."

"Right. Let\'s get him first then we\'ll figure it out later."

Just then, the president\'s office intercom began to ring.

Ding-dong.

Kim Tae-Kwon picked up the intercom. "Yes. Team lead of the publicity team? What is it"

-We got a big problem, sir!

Kim Tae-Kwon frowned at the urgent voice of the publicity team leader.

"What\'s the big deal?"

-Choi Ji-Yung is gathering reporters to reveal her story about her divorce!

"What? Choi Ji-Yung? Why would she do that all of a sudden?"

-I\'m not sure. But she mentioned Choi Jong-Hyuk was involved in her divorce!

Choi Ji-Yung\'s ex-husband, Jang Ji-Cheol, was a top star at TK Entertainment.

The alarmed Kim Tae-Kwon shouted with haste, "Stop her no matter what! At all costs!"

The sudden crisis twisted Kim Tae-Kwon\'s face into a grimace. After hanging up, Kim Tae-Kwon quickly summoned Choi Jong-Hyuk.

Confused by the sudden call to the president\'s office, Choi Jong-Hyuk tilted his head in curiosity and asked, "Mr. Kim, why did you call me?"

"You, you bastard. What have you done to Choi Ji-Yung!? Are you involved in Ji-Cheol\'s divorce?"

The startled Choi Jong-Hyuk hesitated before answering. After all, only Jang Ji-Cheol, Choi Jong-Hyuk, and Choi Ji-Yung knew the hidden story behind her divorce.

Seated across, Cheon Yi-Sang also contorted his face in anger as he confronted Choi Jong-Hyuk, "Jong-Hyuk, you said those women you mentioned last time were all that you were involved with! What is this nonsense now, huh?"

Intimidated by Cheon Yi-Sang, Choi Jong-Hyuk glanced around nervously but soon spilled the beans about the secret known only to him, Jang Ji-Cheol, and Choi Ji-Yung.

"W-well, actually, Ji-Cheol hyung was..."

Kim Tae-Kwon took off his watch upon hearing the whole story.

Click.

The moment the thick Rulelex watch hit the table, Kim Tae-Kwon threw a punch with all his might.

Smack!

"Aaagh!"

"You fucking bastards! Are you trying to ruin the company or what!? You used drugs too?"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Kim Tae-Kwon\'s fists didn\'t spare Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s face or stomach. Though Kim Tae-Kwon usually avoided hitting actors\' faces, he was now furiously beating Choi Jong-Hyuk under rough breath.

"Aaaagh! M-Mr. Kim, it\'s not like that...ugh! N-not there!"

"Hey! I told you that you should report to the company whatever you do! That\'s the only way we can cover for you!"

Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s screams echoed in the president\'s office as he curled up in defense.

Meanwhile, Cheon Yi-Sang quietly stood up and left the office. His plan to bring down Jung Yoon-Ho was about to crumble. Recent troubles had been mounting after Petite More, and now, Jang Ji-Cheol and Choi Jong-Hyuk were added to the list of issues.

Fearing TK Entertainment might be perceived as a den of criminals, Cheon Yi-Sang swallowed hard. At this point, the scandal involving Jung Yoo-Jin was the least of their problems. The company needed to prove its non-involvement to survive.

"Jung Yoon-Ho. This damn bastard...how dare he outsmart me?"

As Cheon Yi-Sang rushed to manage the fallout, he kept repeating Jung Yoon-Ho\'s name, foreseeing it would be a major obstacle for TK Entertainment.