pertwk Chapter 380: Gift
Chapter 380: Gift
Chapter 380: Gift
I wondered if Choi Ji-Yung's dating life was something worth getting upset about, but Yoo-Jin's expression was too serious to interrupt.
When Yoo-Jin remarked what was wrong with a talent agent dating a celebrity, Choi Ji-Yung agreed enthusiastically. "Right? Exactly! With my age, why should I worry about such things? Really!"
"Why should age matter, anyway? If we went outside together right now, everyone would still see you as the younger sister."
Choi Ji-Yung's face lit up. "Pfft. Just hearing that makes me feel good. But the problem is, he still hasn't confessed. It's baffling how he's stuck in such outdated thinking in this day and age."
"Seriously, Mr. Park is being way too stubborn."
Then Choi Ji-Yung and Yoo-Jin suddenly turned their gazes toward me.
"Mr. Jung, what do you think? You're also a talent agent, so what are your thoughts on Woo-Min oppa?"
"Yeah, tell us. Do you think it's a problem for a talent agent to date a celebrity?"
I didn't know why the conversation had turned to me, but guilt washed over me for some reason. After all, I was the one who brought up the topic.
"Maybe Mr. Park is just being cautious. After all...if a celebrity's dating life is revealed, it could impact their popularity."
Choi Ji-Yung pouted and gave me a sideways glance. "Who doesn't know that? But if we keep worrying, when are we supposed to date? I might end up spending the rest of my life alone at this rate."
I found myself at a loss for words. "Well, that's..."
"So why don't you lend me a hand, Mr. Jung? Give Woo-Min oppa a little nudge," Choi Ji-Yung suggested.
I was put on the spot once again. Just as I struggled to respond, Lee Ji-Yeon chimed in.
"Come on, you two. Why be so old-fashioned? Ji-Yung, why don't you just make a move yourself?"
Choi Ji-Yung tilted her head. "You have a point."
Lee Ji-Yeon continued, "Then go ahead and confess today! Otherwise, you'll be left alone forever. Or just threaten to not show up for your schedule if all else fails."
Lee Ji-Yeon knew exactly what talent agents feared most.
A grin spread across Choi Ji-Yung's face, showing she fully intended to take that advice to heart.
Yoo-Jin also joined in the laughter for some reason, though I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling about it.
At that moment, Choi Ji-Yung exclaimed with a refreshed look as if finally resolved. "First, I'm gonna eat some crabs and gather some strength!"
Lee Ji-Yeon laughed and encouraged Choi Ji-Yung.
Just then, the king crab I had ordered finally arrived.
"Oh! It's here!"
Choi Ji-Yung hummed a little tune and went to the door to receive the food. "Thank you. Oh, and here's a tip for you."
Clearly in high spirits, she handed the delivery driver a generous tip of 20 thousand won.
Meanwhile, I carried the box over to the table. Opening the Styrofoam box, I found a perfectly steamed, four-kilogram king crab arranged neatly inside.
Salty steam rising from the bright red crab tempted me to snap off a thick leg right then and there.
Soon, Choi Ji-Yung returned and took her seat. "Thank you for the meal, Mr. Jung!"
"I look forward to your continued support."
When I offered Choi Ji-Yung a claw, she winked at me and cracked open the massive claw with gusto.
Crunch!
Everyone quickly grabbed a leg and prepared to dig in.
As everyone was about to take a bite of the tender white crab meat, Choi Ji-Yung shouted with a claw in her hand, "Today, I'm going to confess for sure!"
I thought perhaps I should message Park Woo-Min and warn him that he might end up pricked by a crab claw if he turns down her confession today.
"Alright. Let's eat first then talk!"
At Lee Ji-Yeon's cue, we all started devouring the sweet and salty king crab with gusto.
Slurp.
Chomp.
Crack.
Snap.
With everyone focused on eating, only the sound of us tearing into the crab filled the living room.
***
Inside Room 201 of Window Villa located near Samseong Station, Colonel Baek sat at the dining table and organized incriminating information on celebrities on his laptop.
His client, Kim Dong-Soo, wanted dirt that would keep stars under his control. The ten billion won advance payment from Jiang Wei was supposed to yield two S-class celebrities' secrets for Kim Dong-Soo's X-FILE.
Because the price tag was 5 billion won per person, the work required significant time to prepare.
"Sigh."
Colonel Baek leaned back and stretched his arms. On the screen was a list of the S-class celebrities he had managed to uncover so far.
"Ace Entertainment's Ahn Sang-Min, TK Entertainment's Park Eun-Bin, TNT Entertainment's So Yi-Yung, Bless Entertainment's Choi Dae-Yeon... all of them reek of scandal," he muttered.
He had managed to pull together a list of about five S-class stars so far. Once his men gathered more intel, he planned to select two to hand over.
Just then, he heard knocking.
Knock-knock, knock-knock-knock, knock-knock.
After hearing the series of knocks which served as a secret code, Colonel Baek opened the door with ease.
Click.
"Come on in."
"Is that so?"
Kim Chul-Soo, head of Suwon Hyo Nursing Hospital, was very fond of Natalia.
"Haru, what do you think about that?" I asked.
Haru hesitated and remained silent.
I probed further. "What is it? Are you worried about your dad?"
"No. Mom and Dad are getting divorced, so I'm not really concerned about that."
Haru showed no lingering attachment to his father, aware that holding onto it only hurt his mother.
"Then what's on your mind?"
"I'm just worried about Mom."
Haru felt that his mother was deliberately distancing herself from Kim Chul-Soo because she felt guilty about neglecting Haru for so long. Yet Haru genuinely wanted his mom and Kim Chul-Soo to find happiness together.
"Look at you, all grown up," I remarked with a smile.
'Kids grow up so quickly. It's amazing how fast they mature,' I thought.
I assured him, "I'll make time to talk with Mr. Kim and your mom. That will be after the divorce is finalized, of course."
Only then did Haru's face break into a wide smile. "Thank you! I'm so glad I talked to you about this, hyung."
I pat Haru on the shoulder. "Alright, then go get some rest. You must be tired."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
Haru looked relieved and went into his room.
"Today really is full of good news," I muttered.
I smiled as I finally turned my attention to the box in the living room. There was a sticker on it labeled "JOY," which was Ju Yung-In's English name. She must have used it to avoid catching Yoo-Jin's attention.
When I cut through the tape, I found the box filled with premium black cases from high-end brands. Inside were an Ormani cashmere coat, two winter suits, a pair of shoes, and even a Hermos briefcase—an entire luxury set.
The suits fit perfectly as if tailored to my measurements, and even the shoes were exactly my size. I was momentarily stunned at how well Ju Yung-In knew my favorite brands, colors, and sizes.
'How could she possibly know all this?' I wondered.
The combined cost of these gifts easily surpassed that of a new car. Although it was already 10:30 p.m., I couldn't help but call her.
-Did you see my gift, oppa?
Ju Yung-In asked excitedly, but I composed myself and answered calmly.
"Yes, I saw it."
-Hehe, you're finally speaking casually. I like it. Keep it up.
"But this gift is a bit much. I'd say you spent around 30 million won?
-Wow~ You're good! How do you know luxury prices so well? Do you shop for your actors or something?
'No. It's actually because you gave me the same types of gifts in my past life. That's why I'm familiar with them,' I answered in my heart.
Back then, Ju Yung-In had insisted I needed to wear luxury brands to match her, just as she was doing now.
Shaking off the memories, I replied to Ju Yung-In.
"Still, it's too expensive. I feel uneasy accepting it."
-Oh, it's a custom order from Italy so I can't return it anyway.
Custom orders for luxury items took at least a month to complete, which meant she had placed this order even before the China incident.
"Custom order? When did you place it?"
-When you got me cast in Wolf of the Battlefield. But I got the bag here. Anyway, this is nothing compared to what you've given me, so wear it or don't—it's up to you. But I don't do returns!
Click.
With that, Ju Yung-In abruptly ended the call.
"Ju Yung-In, you really..."
I was at a loss for what to do with these gifts. After a long moment of hesitation, I closed the cases and carefully stored the box in the storage room. I decided I would only open it again after I had come to terms with my past memories of her.
***
The day after recruiting Go Jae-Soo, I was called to a meeting with Kang Gam-Chan as soon as I arrived at the company without time for our usual team briefing.
When I entered the president's office, Kang Gam-Chan was waiting with Kang Ji-Yung and Jung Soo-Hyuk and they were all wearing serious expressions.
I asked, "What's going on so early?"
"That bastard Choi Man-Sik proposed that we distribute 30% of the shares owned by shareholders to employees as stock options and company stock."
I frowned. "Pardon? He wants to release 30% of the shares?"
Our employee stock ownership program would allow employees to buy company shares at a discount. At that moment, I suddenly realized Choi Man-Sik's intent.
"He's planning to distribute shares to employees who'll follow his lead and then reclaim them later."
It was a tactic to weaken the shareholders' influence and win over the staff, ultimately paving the way for him to take over Hoop Entertainment.
Kang Gam-Chan nodded. "Exactly. I think he plans to give shares to the talent agents who are considering leaving their division for you and use this to keep them in line. In the end, he's aiming to devour Hoop Entertainment entirely."
"He's pretty crafty," I remarked.
"That's why I wanted to discuss it. We need to devise a countermeasure for this," Kang Gam-Chan said in a serious tone.
Choi Man-Sik's latest move was indeed bold. At that moment, an idea struck me like lightning.
Kang Gam-Chan noticed my expression and asked, "Do you have an idea?"
I grinned and nodded. "Yes. In fact, I think this might turn out to be Choi Man-Sik's biggest mistake."