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Chapter 53: Approaching Danger

"Phew. This was my first script reading...but it was just as tough as acting. It doesn\'t feel much different."

"It\'s because Ju Yung-In made the atmosphere so tense. Script readings are typically for actors to align and get familiarized with their characters and get to know each other."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, but let me ask you one thing. Did you really memorize the entire script?"

Yoo-Jin pondered for a moment before answering. "I memorized most of it, but not perfectly. I actually made a few mistakes. Did you notice?"

‘Mistakes? Where? Even the actors in the room didn\'t notice any.’

I was speechless at Yoo-jin’s ingenuity—it was no wonder Ju Yung-In was outmatched by her.

Yoo-Jin checked my expression and continued to sigh heavily. Upon listening to her reproach herself, saying she still has a lot to learn, I hid my astonishment and nodded.

‘Excellent. That\'s the right attitude.’

I never expected her to make such huge progress after receiving the script.

"You must have been busy taking care of Miso. Where did you find the time to analyze the script so quickly?"

"Miso doesn\'t bother me while I\'m practicing acting. She just quietly draws or studies."

"That\'s good of her."

However, Yoo-Jin sighed regretfully when Miso was mentioned, feeling sorry for not spending enough time playing with her.

"It’s okay, don’t be too hard on yourself. Let\'s play with Miso a lot at the sled park later."

"Oh, right. About that sled park—I\'ll talk to the company. I’ll tell them I insisted on going so you had no choice but to let me."

"Hey. Already using your actor\'s privilege to make requests? No, thank you."

"Ah, is it too much? Hehe."

As her talent agent, it was my job to follow her wherever she wanted to go. Yoo-Jin was suggesting a leisure trip disguised as work.

"By the way, I did draw the line firmly with the male actors as you advised. Was that okay?"

"Are you talking about Ju Seong-Jin and Choi Jong-Hyuk?"

"Yes. They are my sunbae colleagues in the same drama, so I felt like I was being a bit too rude. I feel bad..."

"No, no. You did well. Don\'t even make eye contact with them."

Then, it hit me. The \'unease\' I felt when Choi Jong-Hyuk approached Yoo-Jin was probably not unfounded. After all, there had to be a reason for such unusual behavior.

In my mind, one face flickered.

\'Ma Dong-Pal

.\'

There was a high chance he might have instructed his agency\'s actor Choi Jong-Hyuk to seduce Yoo-Jin. In fact, it would be weird if he hadn\'t given such instructions. Given that Yoo-Jin took over Park Eun-Bin’s role and ad, I couldn\'t help but think Ma Dong-Pal must be up to something.

Although this was just speculation, Choi Jong-Hyuk could have possibly been bribed with this role by Ma Dong-Pal.

\'The pieces fit together too well.\'

There was nothing entertainers feared more than dating rumors. Such scandals had the potential to cause entertainers, especially female rookies, to lose their fanbase. A single scandal could easily end their career in just one day. Just lining up the actresses who fell from grace due to such scandals could fill a stadium.

To illustrate these risks and caution Yoo-Jin, I started revealing the various incidents involving Ju Seong-Jin and Choi Jong-Hyuk—the untold stories that never reached the media and the scandals quashed by the company before they erupted. For instance, the time Ju Seong-Jin got involved with a married woman which led to her husband creating havoc at the company. Another incident involved him dating multiple women simultaneously and getting caught on set.

As I narrated these sensational stories, Yoo-Jin\'s eyes widened in shock. Her eyes sparkled as if she was watching a melodramatic drama.

"Wow! That\'s crazy! They did that outdoors? Oh my, why would they?"

Yoo-Jin\'s reactions were spot on. Indeed, the stories from the entertainment industry were quite fascinating. Yet, the thought of Yoo-Jin potentially becoming part of such a scandal made me shudder.

"Anyway, come to me immediately if you feel something\'s not right."

"Got it."

After I finished speaking, Yoo-Jin leaned back in her chair. "Oppa, I\'m going to sleep a bit. I’m suddenly feeling a bit sleepy."

"Sure, rest up."

Today\'s script reading must have been mentally taxing for her. After all, she was taking on a major role for this entire drama, unlike her first drama The Morning Takes Off.

I watched Yoo-Jin as she fell asleep and made a silent vow.

‘Don’t worry, Yoo-Jin. I won’t let anyone lay a finger on you.’

I drove more carefully than ever, cautious not to wake Yoo-Jin up.

***

"Fuck!"

Coming down to the underground parking lot, Choi Jong-Hyuk cursed aloud.

His manager, Yoo Han-Seok, was startled by Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s sudden outburst. "What\'s wrong, Jong-Hyuk?"

"That asshole Ju Seong-Jin is eyeing Jung Yoo-Jin!"

"Ju Seong-Jin? Why would he?"

"I don\'t know. He said he\'s got his eyes on Yoo-Jin first."

"T-then what do we do now? With the proposal from Mr. Ma..."

"Ugh, just stop talking. Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood? Let me think!"

Yoo Han-Seok frowned. Despite being six years older than Choi Jong-Hyuk, he never got the respect he deserved from the latter. It was only natural for him to feel unpleasant.

\'He is always so rude.\'

Buzz.

At that moment, Yoo Han-Seok’s phone rang.

"Jong-Hyuk, it\'s a call from Mr. Ma."

"Mr. Ma?"

"Yeah."

"Give me the phone."

Choi Jong-Hyuk took a deep breath and answered the call.

"Yes, yes. I did as I was told. But all I could do was greet her. Yes. Then, what should I do now? Yoo-Jin\'s talent agent is guarding her closely."

Choi Jong-Hyuk scowled at the voice berating him from the other end.

"I\'ll do whatever it takes, so just keep your promise to cast me as the lead in Director Kim Jong-Sam\'s next work and make sure Park Eun-Ah stars alongside me. Yes, I know, okay?"

After hanging up, Choi Jong-Hyuk muttered to himself. "Phew. A young rookie like Jung Yoo-Jin is not my type anyway..."

Click.

At that moment, a car door next to him opened and revealed a slim silhouette of a woman.

"Sorry to interrupt. But it seems like I accidentally overheard your conversation, oppa."

Stepping out of the car, Ju Yung-In smiled slyly.

***

While her talent agent, Kang Myung-Gil, was delayed in discussions with the production team about her schedule, Ju Yung-In had gone down to the parking lot first and ended up overhearing Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s phone conversation.

At that moment, Ju Yung-In\'s mind began to race with possibilities. If a scandal broke out between Jung Yoo-Jin and Choi Jong-Hyuk, she wouldn’t have to see that detested face of Jung Yoo-Jin anymore.

"Ju Yung-In? Why...what are you doing here?"

Caught in their scheming, Choi Jong-Hyuk and Yoo Han-Seok began to sweat. After all, Ju Yung-In was from the same company as Jung Yoo-Jin.

"You should\'ve been more careful before making such calls. As an actor, shouldn’t you have checked your surroundings?"

Choi Jong-Hyuk tried to make excuses, looking at Ju Yung-In. "I-it\'s not what you think. It seems like there’s a misunderstanding here..."

"What misunderstanding? I heard you\'re trying to bring down Jung Yoo-Jin in exchange for a lead role in a drama."

Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s face twisted with annoyance. Ju Yung-In had indeed heard everything.

"Fuck it. Go ahead, blabber all you want! I\'ll just deny it."

"Don\'t get angry with me, oppa. I don\'t intend to make things difficult for you."

"What are you talking about? Stop pissing me off and get straight to the point."

"Well, I’m telling you to just go ahead with your plan. I\'ll stay silent. I\'ll even help if you need."

Choi Jong-Hyuk sensed something off in Ju Yung-In\'s attitude.

\'Is there a rift between her and Jung Yoo-Jin?\'

Relieved by the thought, Choi Jong-Hyuk let out a sigh of relief.

"By the way, you got trampled by your hoobae today, didn\'t you?"

Ju Yung-In frowned and retorted sharply. "I wouldn’t make comments that would upset me if I were you. Just focus on your plan. Anyway, you saw her talent agent, right? He\'s no ordinary guy. Any slip-up and you\'ll be humiliated."

Choi Jong-Hyuk chuckled. "Hey. How can a mere talent agent stop me? He’s not even an actor. There\'ll be plenty of chances to be alone with Jung Yoo-Jin during the shoot. You know what happens in the drama between me and Yoo-Jin’s role. We end up becoming a couple."

"And that’s why I’m telling you to do your best."

Satisfied with Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s confidence, Ju Yung-In nodded.

Seong Clear, a role taken by Choi Jong-Hyuk, and Kim Twilight\'s characters in the drama, would always fight but inevitably fall in love in the drama, just like how Ju Yung-In and Ju Seong-Jin’s characters would fall in love.

It was natural for men and women who worked closely together to be attracted to each other. Therefore, Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s attempts were very likely to succeed. However, it didn’t matter to Ju Yung-In whether the plan would eventually succeed or not, as all she wanted was for Jung Yoo-Jin to be embroiled in a scandal.

"Anyway, I\'ll give you a gift if you succeed, oppa."

Choi Jong-Hyuk snorted. "Forget it. What could I possibly want from you?"

Choi Jong-Hyuk had agreed to play only a supporting role this time because the script and character were excellent. Choi Jong-Hyuk had been a bit subdued recently, but he was still a famous leading actor.

"You\'re mistaken once again, oppa. My gift isn\'t what you think."

"Then what is it...?"

"Oppa. You like Park Eun-Ah sunbae, right? I\'m quite close to her. Maybe I can set something up between you two. How about that?"

Choi Jong-Hyuk\'s demeanor softened at Ju Yung-In’s unexpected offer.

For someone with a preference for older and glamorous women, being introduced to the 33-year-old attractive Park Eun-Ah was an irresistible offer.

"R-really? I\'m in. You better keep your promise."

"Of course. You know I always keep my promises."

The two exchanged cunning smiles, each harboring their own motives.

***

After ending the call with Choi Jong-Hyuk, Ma Dong-Pal ground his teeth in anger. "Fuck. That damn fool..."

Just then, a man walked into the lounge.

Dressed in an Ormani suit and gold-rimmed glasses, the cheerful figure was none other than Executive Director Cheon Lee-Sang—the second-in-command of TK Entertainment.

"Hey~ What\'s with the long face? Did some hooligan stir up trouble again?"

Cheon Lee-Sang, a former lawyer who led the legal team at one of Korea\'s largest conglomerates, had managed accounts and operations, cleaned up shady businesses, and created the TK Entertainment it was today. He has been close friends with Kim Tae-Kwon, the company\'s CEO, ever since high school.

Ma Dong-Pal quickly bowed. "What brings you to the lounge, Mr. Cheon?"

Cheon Lee-Sang grabbed two canned coffees from the vending machine. "Here, drink up. These cheap coffees are the best sometimes. The sugar gets the brain going."

"Ah, yes. Thank you, sir."

After gulping down the cans in an instant, the two sat down on the flamboyantly gaudy plastic chairs in the lounge.

"So, tell me. What\'s going on?"

"Ah, it\'s about Choi Jong-Hyuk."

"Choi Jong-Hyuk? What did he do this time? Should I speak with him?"

Cheon Lee-Sang wasn\'t the fist-fighting type because he didn\'t need to use his fists to destroy someone. His ability to ruin lives without resorting to physical force made him, in some ways, more frightening than a gangster.

Ma Dong-Pal scratched his head. "Actually, I assigned Choi Jong-Hyuk a task. But I\'m not sure if he can pull it off. He started off sounding so unsure and it annoyed me."

"A task?"

Upon hearing the details from Ma Dong-Pal, Cheon Lee-Sang’s expression turned serious.

"Dong-Pal, what do you gain by crushing Jung Yoo-Jin? The risks are too high and the head of the drama department will hate it. Furthermore, Writer Lee Ji-Yeon is backing Kim Soll-Ip as well."

Even Ma Dong-Pal grimaced at the mention of Lee Ji-Yeon. "Eun-Bin set that as a condition for renewing her contract with the company."

Just that one sentence was enough for Cheon Lee-Sang to understand the situation. Park Eun-Bin’s capriciousness was notorious within the company but they couldn’t afford to lose her, considering the tens of billions she brought in annually.

"That bitch, Park Eun-Bin. If only she\'d fix that awful attitude of hers..."

Neither Ma Dong-Pal nor Cheon Lee-Sang felt any moral qualms about ruining another actor in a scandal. They were simply weighing the potential benefits and losses this situation might bring to them.