Chapter 973: Jealousy (3)
[Recording End]
After pressing the stop button on the phone's recorder at my request, Sae-Ri looked at me with surprise and handed the phone back.
"Yoon-Ho oppa. When did you put this on here?"
"From the start."
At first, I thought about having Woo Yeon-Hee carry the bag with the phone. But if I did that, people might accuse me of setting everything up if something happened, so I deliberately had Sae-Ri carry it instead. I figured it would work since Sae-Ri stuck to Woo Yeon-Hee like glue anyway.
Yet when Lee Jung-Nam saw the phone in my hand, he didn't panic. Instead, he glared and threatened me.
"Hey. If you play that recording, I'm not letting this go! I'll sue you, and there won't be any settlement!"
Lee Jung-Nam had already entered 112[1] and was holding his finger over the call icon on the screen, but he wasn't calling yet. His expression looked as though he were about to press a bomb detonator. However, I didn't miss the fact that his finger was shaking.
I shrugged and said, "Do whatever you want. I'm playing this file."
There was no way Seo Yeon-Woo would do something like this without a reason. Even if Seo Yeon-Woo had assaulted Lee Jung-Nam for absolutely no reason, a talent agent's job was to believe in his artist. So despite the threat of him calling the police, I didn't even blink as I played the recording from the phone Sae-Ri had handed me.
Click.
Lee Jung-Nam clenched his teeth and tried to press the button. However, in the end, he couldn't do it.
Meanwhile, the voices of Seo Yeon-Woo and Lee Jung-Nam began flowing from the phone's speaker.
[Recording Playback]
...
-Thanks for the gift, kid. By the way, Yeon-Woo. How's your grandmother doing?
-My grandmother?
-Yeah. I read an interview saying you live with your grandmother who has dementia.
-Yes...
-Man, you've got it rough. I've got a relative with dementia too, so I know all about it. That's no way for a person to live. Not even recognizing their own children, cursing at them, hitting people...
-Ah, my grandmother isn't that bad, thanks to the doctors Yoon-Ho hyung introduced us to.
-Really? Well... I guess not yet. Anyway, you'd better prepare yourself. Dementia isn't something that easy to deal with.
-Sir, I'm sorry, but let's stop talking about that.
-Why? I'm telling you because I've heard things from my relatives. You should listen to your elders and prepare yourself mentally.
-My family matters... I'll take care of them myself.
-Hah, would you look at this kid? When an elder gives you advice with good intentions, you're supposed to say, 'Thank you.' Since when did you start talking back like some disrespectful brat? That's what dementia does—it hits you before you know it!
-...My grandmother is still healthy. She remembers my name perfectly, and she works harder than anyone to take care of herself. She doesn't want to become a burden to me. So please stop talking about her.
-Oh? Look at this little punk. I was giving you good advice, and now you're glaring at me?
-Whatever your intentions were, please stop...
-Hey, Seo Yeon-Woo. Has getting popular made you think you're untouchable? Huh? I was saying all this because I was worried about you, and now you're looking at a sunbae like that? Then again, entertainers in this industry are always different on the inside from how they look on the outside. That's probably why your parents abandoned you and ran away, leaving your grandmother to deteriorate until she can't even take care of herself anymore. Then again, with a personality like yours, you'll probably dump your grandmother in a nursing home and forget all about her someday, just like your parents did. Isn't that right?
-Stop it!!
-Aaargh!
A loud crash followed, along with the screams of the Cherry Blossom members.
Beep.
The moment the recording finished playing, something surged violently inside my chest.
Today was Parents' Day. It was already unforgivable that Lee Jung-Nam said such things to Seo Yeon-Woo, who had spent his whole life treating his grandmother as his parent. Bringing up the parents who had abandoned him crossed a line that couldn't be forgiven.
I wanted to smash Lee Jung-Nam's face in right then and there. Yet, before that, there was something I needed to do first.
I looked at Seo Yeon-Woo, who was crying uncontrollably, and spoke. "Yeon-Woo, don't worry. Your grandmother will be fine. She'll never forget you. She'll stay by your side and watch over you for the rest of her life. And we already agreed your parents don't exist, remember? Don't let this shake you. Don't waste a second listening to garbage like him. Just think about giving your grandmother a great performance today. Didn't you say she's waiting at home to watch the live broadcast?"
The tears Seo Yeon-Woo had been holding back finally spilled over. "Hyung... I'm... sorry... sob..."
He felt guilty for causing trouble after not listening to me. He blamed himself for shoving a much older sunbae artist. He was terrified that his grandmother might one day truly forget him. And he still carried resentment toward the parents who had abandoned him. With all those emotions crashing together, Seo Yeon-Woo completely lost control and broke down in tears.
"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong. It's okay. Don't worry." I kept repeating those words to him.
Then, Sae-Ri suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around Seo Yeon-Woo's back and burst into tears even harder than he was.
"Waaaah! Yeon-Woo oppa! It's okay! It's okay! Your grandmother... waaah... she'll... get better..."
Yang Eun-Bi, Yoo Eun-Ah, and Woo Yeon-Hee all came over one after another, hugging and comforting Seo Yeon-Woo.
As everyone gathered around to console him, Lee Jung-Nam sensed the situation turning against him and shouted, "Whatever happened, that bastard hit me! That's a fact! I'm filing a lawsuit right now, so remember that!"
At that moment, President Yoon Jung-Hyun quickly reached out and snatched Lee Jung-Nam's phone away.
Whoosh!
"Hyung! Enough already! You should be apologizing, not calling the police because someone shoved you! Hyung, what's gotten into you? Have you lost your mind?"
Lee Jung-Nam glared at Yoon Jung-Hyun. "You little punk. Hey! Whose side are you on?"
"Yours, obviously! That's why I'm trying to stop you! After saying things like that, I would've told Yeon-Woo to hold back even if he'd punched you! What do you think happens to your future if that recording gets released?"
Even the usually well-liked and easygoing Yoon Jung-Hyun was openly furious as he pressured Lee Jung-Nam.
Lee Jung-Nam ground his teeth. "I'm the one who got hit, and all of you are making me out to be the villain. Damn it. Do you think you're the only one with a phone?"
He turned toward the stylist standing nearby. "Hey, Hye-Sook. Bring me your phone!"
The stylist hesitantly handed it over.
At that moment, Seo Yeon-Woo spoke. "Hyung. I'll accept whatever punishment I deserve."
I scoffed. "What punishment? Just stay put."
I handed Seo Yeon-Woo over to Team Lead Eun Ji-Yoo. "Ms. Eun. Please stay with Yeon-Woo."
"Ah, yes."
Eun Ji-Yoo led Seo Yeon-Woo and the Cherry Blossom members, who were still clinging to him, toward one side of the waiting room.
While that was happening, I stopped Lee Jung-Nam before he could reach the stylist. "Mr. Lee Jung-Nam."
Lee Jung-Nam whipped his head around. "Mr. Lee Jung-Nam? Hey. Have you lost your damn—"
"I'm already holding back from swearing at you and saying much worse. Be satisfied with that."
"What?"
"And the moment you report this to the police, this recording will spread across the entire country. For your information, there are about 880,000 dementia patients in Korea alone. Are you confident you can handle the backlash from all of their families?"
There were roughly 880,000 dementia patients nationwide. Add in their children and grandchildren, and there were easily over three million family members connected to them.
Once I laid out the numbers so plainly, Lee Jung-Nam's expression finally changed. "You... are you threatening me right now?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
If this recording hadn't existed, the situation surrounding Seo Yeon-Woo could have become serious. After all, a rookie singer had shoved a veteran with thirty-five years in the industry. However, now the public might end up sympathizing with him instead. That was why I no longer showed any fear as I asked about the person behind it all.
"By the way, judging by how suddenly you started provoking Yeon-Woo, I don't think this was your own idea... Who put you up to it?"
I suspected Min Jung-Hyuk, but I wanted him to admit it himself. Yet even as Lee Jung-Nam trembled, he couldn't bring himself to answer. The fact that he kept his mouth shut to the very end suggested he had been promised something substantial. That would explain why the schedule entry in Everyday still hadn't disappeared.
[Everyday V13]
[Date: May 8, 2021]
-06:30 p.m.: [NEW. Seo Yeon-Woo]
Booked on assault charges. All activities suspended indefinitely. (Additional note: Woo Yeon-Hee was present at the scene and was questioned as a witness.)
In that case, I had no choice but to play the next card I had prepared. I immediately picked up my phone and made a call.
"Yes, it's me. Could you tell me where you are right now? Ah, okay. Then please come to Waiting Room No. 5 immediately."
Yoon Jung-Hyun, who had been pressuring Lee Jung-Nam in my place, looked surprised and spoke up. "Chief Jung. We need to handle this situation first. Why are you calling a PD? Huh? Talk to me before you—"
I hung up and replied, "Don't worry. It's not a staff member."
"Huh? Then who did you call?"
"You'll see."
While waiting for the person I had summoned to arrive, I began calming down Seo Yeon-Woo and the Cherry Blossom members.
***
Bang!
"Yoon-Ho! What's going on?"
The door swung open, and President Kang Gam-Chan and Director Kang Ji-Yung walked in. Another card I had prepared to prevent today's disaster had arrived.
Only then did Lee Jung-Nam begin to panic for real. Kang Gam-Chan was sixty-two years old this year and one of the few figures in the entertainment industry whom neither talent agents nor singers could treat casually.
"Sir... why are you...?"
At the arrival of the reinforcements I had been counting on, I immediately played the recording and spoke. "Mr. Kang. Please listen to this first."
"All right."
Kang Gam-Chan listened to the recording with a stern expression. Kang Ji-Yung, meanwhile, looked ready to rip Lee Jung-Nam's throat out on the spot.
After listening to the entire recording, Kang Gam-Chan turned toward Seo Yeon-Woo and boomed. "Yeon-Woo! You did well!"
Seo Yeon-Woo blinked blankly. "Pardon?"
"If someone insults your parents and humiliates your grandmother, and you just sit there and endure it, then you're no man at all. You did exactly what you should've done! And trust our company's legal team. We'll make sure nobody can point a finger at you!"
"Sir..."
"So forget all about it and focus on taking first place today. Got it? Hahaha! And of course, our Cherry Blossom is taking first place too!"
As Kang Gam-Chan burst into hearty laughter, the anxiety that had filled the waiting room seemed to vanish completely. Calling him really had been the right decision.
"Now then, Yeon-Woo and Cherry Blossom, wipe away those tears and finish making your rounds to the other waiting rooms. I'll take care of things here."
After wiping his eyes, Seo Yeon-Woo started toward the door. However, the schedule entry in Everyday still hadn't disappeared, so I quickly spoke to Kang Gam-Chan.
"Mr. Kang. I don't think Mr. Lee Jung-Nam acted alone."
Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "I know. Still, let's send the kids out first."
It seemed he already had something in mind, so I signaled to Eun Ji-Yoo. As expected, she immediately picked up on it.
"Then we'll head back to our waiting room, calm down a little, and finish the greetings we couldn't complete earlier!"
"Good."
Only then did Eun Ji-Yoo lead Seo Yeon-Woo and the Cherry Blossom members out of the room.
Click.
The waiting room door closed. At that moment, I finally understood why Kang Gam-Chan had sent Seo Yeon-Woo out.
Grab!
The same Kang Gam-Chan who had been laughing moments ago suddenly seized Lee Jung-Nam by the collar.
"Ghk... M-Mr. Kang."
"At your age, you should be looking after your hoobaes instead of bullying them. What? A lawsuit? Fine. Go ahead and sue me too, Lee Jung-Nam!"
Lee Jung-Nam flailed helplessly. "S-Sir... cough... please let go first..."
"A coward like you couldn't have come up with a scheme like this on your own. Why did you go this far just to provoke Yeon-Woo?"
"Th-that's..."
"Lee Jung-Nam. Don't tell me you're planning to go all the way against me."
"..."
"Fine. I'll upload this recording to the internet right now and contact the senior figures in the music industry. If I do that, you won't even be able to perform on nightclub stages anymore. No, you'll be lucky if you don't get beaten half to death."
Most ordinary people didn't know this, but entertainers still had ways to make money even after being socially disgraced. As long as they had once been famous, they could still earn a living performing at nightclub venues. Yet, someone like Kang Gam-Chan, with decades of experience and connections throughout the industry, could erase even those opportunities.
Only then did Lee Jung-Nam cautiously open his mouth. "I'm sorry. The truth is... I got into debt after starting a business. They told me that if I did what they asked, they'd extend the loan on the building I'd mortgaged and even approve additional loans..."
"Who?"
"The people at Buguk Bank."
The order had come from Buguk Bank, where Min Jung-Hyuk's father served as president. At that moment, the schedule entry in Everyday disappeared.
[Everyday V13]
[Date: May 8, 2021]
-06:30 p.m.:
(Deleted Schedule Entry: [NEW. Seo Yeon-Woo]
Booked on assault charges. All activities suspended indefinitely. (Additional note: Woo Yeon-Hee was present at the scene and was questioned as a witness.))
'Finally.'
The moment I let out a sigh of relief, Kang Gam-Chan started shouting at Lee Jung-Nam even louder.
"That's why I told you never to get involved in business ventures! How many times is this now? I told you to stick to making a living through singing, but you went and caused trouble again! And now you're trying to destroy the future of a kid who's only just starting to bloom? You damned fool!"
Kang Gam-Chan roared and threw Lee Jung-Nam to the floor.
Thud.
Having spent his entire life in the entertainment industry, Kang Gam-Chan had known Lee Jung-Nam for years.
Perhaps because of that, Lee Jung-Nam dropped to his knees and began begging desperately. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kang. I let greed blind me..."
"Enough. Can you testify to what you just told us in court?"
Lee Jung-Nam shook his head. "No. I can't. I don't have any evidence."
"You can at least give an interview, can't you?"
"That's... I'm sorry."
"Fine. Then you're dead today. You tried to destroy one of my own. Did you really think I'd let you walk away?"
Kang Gam-Chan was beginning to lose control, so I hurriedly stepped in. The schedule entry had already disappeared, and there was no way evidence would exist. Besides, Seo Yeon-Woo really had committed assault. It was better to stop here. After all, the real culprit was someone else.
"Mr. Kang. It sounds like they've got leverage on him. I don't think pushing harder will accomplish anything."
Kang Gam-Chan gritted his teeth before turning toward Yoon Jung-Hyun. "President Yoon. What are you going to do?"
Yoon Jung-Hyun answered, "...We'll suspend activities for this promotion cycle."
"Not just this cycle. Suspend them for a year. Otherwise, I won't sit quietly."
Then, at that very moment, Yoon Jung-Hyun said something unexpected. "Yes, sir. And I... I'll shut down my business as well."
"What? Don't tell me you were involved in this too, President Yoon?"
"Not at all. But it's shameful that I didn't know."
At that moment, Lee Jung-Nam grabbed onto Yoon Jung-Hyun's pant leg in alarm. "Jung-Hyun. How am I supposed to handle this if you turn on me too? I can explain everything..."
Yoon Jung-Hyun slapped Lee Jung-Nam's hand away. "Don't touch me. And don't act like we're close. The fact that I spent my life helping someone like you is the greatest shame of my life."
"Jung-Hyun..."
At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan spoke to Yoon Jung-Hyun. "President Yoon, come work for our company. We've been growing so quickly that we need experienced people like you."
"What right do I have to change jobs?"
"You didn't commit the crime, so what's the problem? Or are you planning to make that stylist over there lose her job overnight too?"
Yoon Jung-Hyun looked toward the stylist trembling in the corner. Then he finally let out a sigh.
"Understood."
"Good decision."
Yoon Jung-Hyun turned to Stylist Oh Hye-Sook. "Hye-Sook. You're coming too, right?"
Oh Hye-Sook hurriedly gathered up armfuls of clothes before rushing over. "Of course I am!"
Kang Gam-Chan turned around. "Then let's go. Leave that idiot where he is."
With Kang Gam-Chan leading the way, our entire group left the waiting room. Left sitting on the cold floor, Lee Jung-Nam could only move his lips soundlessly.
Having lost the talent agent who had stayed by his side his entire life, he looked like a child who had suddenly forgotten how to speak, trapped in complete panic.
***
-Jung-Hyuuuun!
Leaving behind the desperate cry that echoed from the waiting room, we stepped outside.
In the hallway outside the waiting rooms, Yoon Jung-Hyun suddenly stopped walking. "I should inform the PD that we won't be appearing on today's music show and apologize first."
Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "Call me when you're done. Then let's have a drink together tonight."
"Yes. I think I need that. I'll drink until I can forget what needs forgetting."
After saying his goodbyes, Yoon Jung-Hyun disappeared down one end of the hallway with the stylist.
Then Kang Gam-Chan looked at me with a serious expression. "What are you going to do now? Buguk Bank... that's part of the established financial system. Even Mr. Chairman couldn't touch them carelessly."
Chairman Choi Eun-Tae was the wealthiest cash holder in Korea and the most influential figure in the underground financial world, with enormous influence over savings banks and the private lending market. Yet even someone as powerful and wealthy as Choi Eun-Tae avoided interfering with first-tier banks like Buguk Bank. It was because shaking a major commercial bank could cause enormous damage to ordinary citizens.
However, I had no intention of worrying about those consequences. My target wasn't Buguk Bank. It was Min Jung-Hyuk, the true architect behind all of this.
"I'll go meet Min Jung-Hyuk."
"Huh? Not President Oh Tae-Gu, but Min Jung-Hyuk? That kid's still living under his father's wing. He probably has nothing to do with this."
Kang Gam-Chan, too, mistakenly believed that Oh Tae-Gu of Taegu Planning was the one pulling the strings. That made it even more important for me to handle this alone.
I shook my head ansd said, "A tiger's cub doesn't turn into a housecat, does it? Anyway, I'll meet him myself. Since you're already here, please look after Yeon-Woo and Cherry Blossom today."
After thinking for a moment, Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "All right. I'll stay by Yeon-Woo's side today. If anything happens, call me immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Kang Gam-Chan headed toward the waiting room. Kang Ji-Yung also left, saying she would try to fill the vacant performance slot with one of our company's singers, and headed toward the production control room to meet with the PDs.
At that moment, I turned and began walking toward Janus's waiting room with a cold expression.
Step. Step.
Janus was often called the man with two faces. And the name Janus suited Min Jung-Hyuk perfectly. However, he wasn't the only one with two faces. There was another Jung Yoon-Ho living inside me as well.
'Just wait, Min Jung-Hyuk. You made one of my people cry. I'll make you weep tears of blood.'
To deal with Min Jung-Hyuk, I intended to summon the Jung Yoon-Ho from before the regression—if only for a little while.
1. Korea's emergency number just for the police ☜