Jung Yoon Ho”
My name is engraved in silver on the plaques that fill one side of my study.
[For contributions to the development of Korean cinema…]
[For contributions to the overseas expansion of Korean idols…]
[As an ambassador for K-POP…]
[Youngest promoter of culture…]
I read the words on the plaques and muttered to myself.
“I really made it. Jung Yoon Ho.”
This year marks my 10th year in the entertainment industry since I started at the age of 26.
During this time, I’ve climbed to the position of vice president at Top Entertainment, the number one company in the industry, and married a top-tier actress, Joo Young In.
I even live in a 100-pyeong apartment in Jamsil LT Tower, overlooking the Han River.
Anyone would think this is a successful life.
However, despite this external success, there was always a void in my heart.
Because of a wrong choice in a moment 10 years ago, I lost precious people.
And the painful memories of that day still bind me.
“Sigh~.”
I sighed and shifted my gaze to a photo placed on one side of the study.
[7th Unity Competition of Ironclad Entertainment]
In the photo framed in red oak, employees and actors are gathered around Representative Kang Gam Chan, laughing.
“Those were the good times…”
Ironclad Entertainment was my first job, where the character of the actor was valued and managers and actors lived like a family.
But three years after this photo was taken.
My first job, Ironclad Entertainment, was on the path to decline.
After Representative Kang Gam Chan collapsed from a stroke, Kim Dong Soo, the current president of Top Entertainment, split the company, taking 80% of the employees and entertainers.
And at that time, I also followed Kim Dong Soo.
That’s how Top Entertainment was created.
However, Top Entertainment was the exact opposite of Ironclad Entertainment, which emphasized being a human before being a star.
It was famous for not caring about any scandal as long as the celebrity brought in money.
Because of this, I also had to raise celebrities based on money, not considering their character, until I became vice president.
While feeling sick inside.
Hot.
As I recalled the old memories, the upper part of my solar plexus hurt as if it had been cut with a knife.
Lately, whenever I get a little stressed, this pain comes.
I’ve been putting off getting a check-up because I’ve been busy, but I think I need to go to the hospital tomorrow.
That’s when it happened.
Ziing.
‘Everyday’, a schedule management app I’ve been using for 10 years, notified me of today’s schedule.
[Everyday V10]
[Date: November 12, 2029]
[Current time AM 04:30, LT Tower (home)]
-(Reservation schedule D-30): Bundang Memorial Park, Smile.
-AM 05:00 Top Entertainment large conference room (7F), Hwangryong Film Festival day meeting.
-PM 09:10 Broadcast of ‘Top Star by My Hand’ episode 11, featuring Min Kyu Ri.
……
“Has it already been this long?”
Current time 4:30 in the morning.
Today is the day of the Hwangryong Film Festival, so I have a lot to prepare from early morning.
At 11 o’clock last night, I received a secret call from one of the Hwangryong Film Festival executive committee members I had prepared in advance.
-Vice President Jung. I think a red dress would be good for Kyu Ri’s outfit tomorrow.
Min Kyu Ri is the lead actress of the movie ‘The Best Bride’, which attracted 8.33 million viewers this year.
If she is confirmed to win the Best Actress award, he had asked me to tell a story that included the color red.
Now that I’ve received the signal, it’s my turn.
I had to set Min Kyu Ri up to be worthy of the Best Actress award, from makeup to dress to accessories, all top-notch.
I had to grease the palms of the reporters, and by lunchtime, I had to float articles like [Min Kyu Ri, likely to win the Hwangryong Film Festival award].
Since I had moved up the start time for all employees to prepare for the awards ceremony, I also had to hurry to work.
Ziik.
As I headed to the dressing room, the sound of my slippers dragging echoed in the living room.
I would have been careful not to wake her up if my wife had been in the bedroom, but she hasn’t come home yet.
“Tsk. Who is she meeting that she’s out of the house until this time…”
Just as I was about to call my wife, someone else called first.
[Caller: President Kim Dong Soo]
“What does Dong Soo hyung want at this time?”
As soon as I answered the call, I heard the urgent voice of Dong Soo hyung, the president of the company.
-Yoon Ho ya. It’s a big deal. Ugh~.
He seemed to have been drinking with investors, his tongue was slurred.
“Anyway, it’s always a big deal. Why? What happened?”
-The reporters asked about Kyu Ri’s sponsor. They plan to blow it up tomorrow morning!
“What?”
The person who is going to receive the Best Actress award at the Hwangryong Film Festival tonight has caused a scandal.
Heat surged to the tips of my hair in an instant.
“Are you kidding me right now? You said Kyu Ri doesn’t have a sponsor! What’s this all about all of a sudden!”
-Ah, that’s how it happened. So block it. The other party is a big shot. If it blows up, we’re all dead.
“No, who the hell is that big shot? I need to know who the other party is!”
-Hey. Do I have to explain every little thing to you? Just do it when I tell you to! Ugh.
The result of recklessly recruiting stars without considering their character or dignity is showing.
Whether it’s because of stress or not, bile keeps rising in my stomach.
I grabbed my stinging solar plexus and caught my breath.
“Hoo. Hoo. Okay. How many places did you ask?”
-Just block three places. Where are they…
I calmed down Dong Soo hyung, who was babbling drunk, and checked the list of newspapers several times.
“Okay. I’ll negotiate, so let’s talk again later.”
-You know the amount?
“I know. Hang up!”
After hanging up with Dong Soo hyung.
I called Gu Ji Seok, my right-hand man and head of the department.
-Yes. Vice President.
“I’m sorry, but I think I’m going to be late for the meeting today. For now, Head Gu, please prepare everything from Kyu Ri’s makeup to dress and accessories in S-class. It looks like we’re going to win a big award today.”
-Understood. Vice President. Then what about the press?
Gulp.
I swallowed my dry saliva.
If I can’t block Min Kyu Ri’s sponsor story anyway, there’s no point in greasing the press.
Besides, if I can’t block even one place, all the entertainment reporters will duplicate the same article within an hour.
“Wait until I call. I have something to deal with first.”
Click!
After hanging up, I dialed the desk of the entertainment newspaper that Dong Soo hyung had told me about.
The negotiation begins.
“Ah, yes. I’m receiving. Top Entertainment Jung Yoon Ho. Yes. I’m talking about the reporter Jung Sang In. Hey~. You’re coming out grumpy from the start. Don’t do that and let’s go with one and a half as usual?”
One and a half means giving 150 million won.
However, the other party responded with a cunning voice.
-Vice President Jung. I can’t do that. This time, I need at least two?
Today too, the variety of the entertainment world was unfolding from the crack of dawn.
* * *
I managed to block two of the three newspapers that were fishing for Min Kyu Ri’s sponsor story.
2 billion to Entertainment Today, 2.5 billion to Bling Bling Entertainment News.
Now, the sponsor articles that these two companies were going to blow up tonight will be changed to ‘Min Kyu Ri’s Happy Day’ and ‘Min Kyu Ri Wins Best Actress at Hwangryong Film Festival’.
“Jung Yoon Ho. You’ve really fallen…”
I used to hate this kind of deal.
But if the deal fails, the actor I’ve worked hard to raise will be ruined, so what can I do?
Anyway, there’s only one left.
Weekly Star.
I finished talking with the editor, but the reporter Gu Min Ji, who actually has the photos, is not agreeing to the deal.
Because of that, I had to go to her house myself.
Kiiik.
I parked my car in front of the garage of a rather expensive-looking two-story house in Cheongdam-dong.
“Whew! Nice house.”
Gu Min Ji, who was the leader of the girl group Pink Diamond until a few years ago.
