pertwk Chapter 432: Interview (2)
Chapter 432: Interview (2)
Chapter 432: Interview (2)
As soon as I entered the meeting room, I stopped the interview. "Yoo-Jin, you don't need to do this kind of trashy interview. Get up. We're leaving."
At that moment, the look of elation on Yoo Chae-Min's face instantly twisted.
"What... what did you just say? Trashy?"
Yoo Chae-Min glared at me, but I ignored her and turned to Yoo-Jin. "Get up."
Yoo-Jin nodded and stood, prompting Yoo Chae-Min to shout, "If you leave like this, it won't end well for you!"
'How ridiculous. If I were the type to give up to such feeble threats, I wouldn't have stopped this interview in the first place.'
"Ms. Yoo. How did you end up becoming a tabloid trashporter? Huh?" I questioned.
Taken aback, Yoo Chae-Min responded, "W-what did you just call me? A tabloid trashporter?"
I had just thrown together two of the most incendiary words in the reporter world which hit her hard.
Yoo Chae-Min's face turned bright red in anger. "Take that back, right now!"
"Then tell me. What else am I supposed to call this absurd situation? Huh?" I retorted.
At that moment, Editor-in-Chief Choi Min-Jun panted heavily as he burst into the room. "Wait a second! Team Lead Jung, what are you doing? You can't just stop an interview like this!"
'So now he's feigning outrage after planning to sell out with this article. How pathetic,' I remarked inwardly.
I clenched my teeth and glared at Choi Min-Jun. "Mr. Choi, I've worked with Weekly Star in good faith until now, but I'm seriously disappointed. Even if I overlook the fact that it's not an exclusive interview, you think you can screw us over with garbage like this? What is this, a smear campaign against Yoo-Jin?"
Choi Min-Jun's voice trembled as he stammered, "W-what are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb. You're the one who assigned this interview to Team Lead Yoo, weren't you?"
It was an indisputable fact that Choi Min-Jun held the sole authority to approve final articles. He had also made the decision to replace Jang Moon-Ki with Yoo Chae-Min as the interviewer.
I continued, "This incident was clearly initiated by Weekly Star. From now on, I'm boycotting all interviews with your magazine. And that's not just for Yoo-Jin but for every actor and singer under Team Jung."
"B-boycott?"
Choi Min-Jun must have thought he could get away with publishing a hit piece and then smoothing things over later, but he thought wrong.
"That's right. So feel free to copy and paste our news from other outlets from now on!"
"A-are you serious?"
"Have I ever joked about something like this? Oh, and it's unfortunate for you. With all the events we have lined up at year's end, Weekly Star won't be getting any coverage."
Choi Min-Jun's face flushed crimson then pale as my words sank in.
That's when Yoo Chae-Min interjected, "Mr. Choi! What are you so scared of? Just let them go and publish the interview. What's the big deal?"
Choi Min-Jun hesitated, but I shut down his internal debate before it could go any further. "One more thing, if you publish anything from Team Lead Yoo Chae-Min's notes, we'll file a lawsuit immediately. Don't even think about negotiating a settlement."
Yoo Chae-Min scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Lawsuit? Over what? What did I even write that's worth suing over?"
I strode over to her and snatched the notebook right out of her hands.
Yoo Chae-Min shrieked, "What are you doing? Give it back! Right now!"
I ignored her protests and opened it in full view of everyone. Then I began reading the headlines she had prepared in a loud and clear voice for the entire room.
"Jung Yoo-Jin mocks So Yi-Yung's single-digit viewership ratings. Jung Yoo-Jin says only Ju Yung-In is a worthy rival. Jung Yoo-Jin is an arrogant actress who declares herself unmatched!"@@@@
With each headline, the faces of Jang Moon-Ki and Choi Min-Jun grew redder. They had probably run worse tabloid stories before, but hearing their cheap tactics exposed in front of their targets was a different matter entirely.
Yoo Chae-Min ground her teeth audibly, but I stared her down without flinching. "When exactly did Yoo-Jin say any of this nonsense? Huh?"
"W-well, the thing is..."
I didn't wait for her answer and immediately turned to Choi Min-Jun. "And as soon as this article is published, the fact that you met Director Lee Gi-Cheol will also be reported to the police..."
That was when Choi Min-Jun rushed over and covered my mouth. "N-now, Team Lead Jung. Why are you doing this? Huh?"
What I was about to bring up was the bribery involving Lee Gi-Cheol. I knew that every year-end, Lee Gi-Cheol discreetly slipped cash to the editors of entertainment newspapers.
I said, "Let... go of me..."
"Ah, yes, of course. Let's talk in my office, okay?"
Choi Min-Jun glanced around nervously before removing his hand from my mouth.
"Team Lead Yoo here seems a bit overzealous since her transfer to the team. I apologize on her behalf."
Yoo Chae-Min looked incredulous. "Mr. Choi!"
Choi Min-Jun yelled sharply. "Shut up! Who told you to slander Miss Jung Yoo-Jin like this? Team Lead Yoo, it looks like you've sold your soul for clicks!"
It was a typical scapegoating tactic, but I feigned ignorance. I had to reduce the number of enemies to better confront the true mastermind behind this, Yoo Kang-Seok.
I revealed the name of the person slated for promotion in a year. "Han Dong-Jin, the head of the entertainment department."
"What? Dong-Jin? That idiot is on the president's radar?"
"If you don't believe me, check for yourself. They've probably been hiking together for the past year."
Being five years younger than Choi Min-Jun, Han Dong-Jin always carried a carefree smile. However, this wasn't due to incompetence. Contrary to that, he was cunning like a raccoon hiding its true intentions.
Despite his aversion to exercise, he went hiking every week with the president who was a hiking enthusiast. For a year, they had built a close relationship including their families.
Choi Min-Jun cursed, "Damn it. That guy..."
"Right? So why didn't you join them for hikes and build rapport yourself?"
"I'd have done it already if it were that easy! The president's a complete outdoorsman and hikes across the entire country!"
"Well...if you're not up for it, maybe consider an early retirement."
"W-who said I want to retire?!"
I observed Choi Min-Jun carefully and shared a bit more information. "Oh, and get some Andong soju and bamboo sap wine as gifts."
"The president's wife drinks? I've never heard of that."
"She's a big fan of traditional liquor. She loves it."
Choi Min-Jun looked incredulous. "She always said she doesn't drink during company dinners. What do you mean, drinks?"
"She probably out-drinks the president. From what I know, she's the only person who can keep up with him. That's why he's so whipped."
Though known as a devoted husband, the president of Weekly Star was subdued after losing a drinking competition to his wife.
Choi Min-Jun muttered, "To outdrink that heavy drinker...That's unbelievable."
"Exactly. It's insane."
Choi Min-Jun stared at me in disbelief. "But how do you know so much about the president's household? Huh?"
"It's a trade secret."
Realizing how much I knew about internal affairs, Choi Min-Jun's attitude quickly shifted. "Ah... I really messed up this time. Fine. I'll ensure articles from your side get published properly from now on. Let's call it even for today, especially with the Director Lee Gi-Cheol matter."
"Understood. But from now on, we'll work together mutually. Right?"
"Yes. And...I'm sorry for today."
I had successfully kept the editor-in-chief of the top entertainment newspaper on leash.
I nodded. "Understood. I'll accept your apology. But when is Reporter Jang going to get promoted to team lead? Honestly, our actors have their prestige and they can't keep doing interviews with just a staff reporter forever..."
Choi Min-Jun glared directly at me. "Did Reporter Jang bribe you or something?"
I scoffed. "Pfft. You're joking, right?"
"Well, that stingy guy would take money before giving it. Okay, fine. He was already on the verge of a promotion anyway. I'll make sure it happens soon," Choi Min-Jun muttered as he stood up from his seat, clearly pained by the idea of giving back the bribe money to Yoo Kang-Seok.
Taking advantage of the moment, I checked my planner.
[Everyday V12]
[Date: November 25, 2020]
-10:00 p.m.:
(Deleted Scheduled Event: [New. Jung Yoo-Jin] Weekly Star Article Countermeasure Meeting. (Meeting Agenda: Refusal to request changes to malicious article titles. Discussion on whether to proceed with legal action.))
I got Choi Min-Jun on my side. Now, it was time to deal with Yoo Kang-Seok.
'President Yoo, do you think you're the only one who can lobby?'
Lobbying wasn't just about money. I dialed a number, ready to leverage my network.
Choi Min-Jun tilted his head in confusion. "What are you trying to do?"
I answered nonchalantly, "Lobby."
The call connected after a brief moment and the person on the other end picked up.
"Ah, he answered." I said with a smile.
Then, I spoke into the phone. "Yes, Mr. Choi. It's Team Lead Jung."
My first target was MBS' President Choi Sang-Byung.
'President Yoo Kang-Seok, let's see if you can stop me now.'
It was finally time to savor the bite I had saved for last.
Having subdued both Yoo Chae-Min and Choi Min-Jun, I recounted every detail of Yoo Kang-Seok's actions to Choi Sang-Byung.