Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 531: Back Side (1)

[Would you like to download the backup file (03:03 a.m., January 1, 2021)?]

A message popped up that reminded me of the one I saw when I first returned. At that moment, I urgently pressed "YES" without thinking.

"Yes!"

[Everyday V12.1]

[Restoring backup file...]

[It will be automatically saved to the second planner folder.]

...

[Save complete.]

A message appeared saying the backup data had been saved.

"Did it work?"

That's when the notification messages started popping up one after another.

[Notice: Everyday V12.1 only operates on one phone.]

[Notice: To use Everyday V12.1, please insert a SIM card to activate the network.]

"It worked!"

I now had Everyday version 12.1. In other words, it meant that my exclusive Everyday app was running on the Galactica Note 20. With trembling hands, I removed the SIM card from the Galactica Note 10 and inserted it into the Galactica Note 20.

In that instant, another series of messages appeared.

[Notice: User recognized as 'Jung Yoon-Ho' for Everyday V12.1.]

[Notice: Everyday V12.1 is now available.]

Messages continued to scroll up, confirming that Everyday was now fully operational. At this very moment, I realized that the Everyday app was now bound not to my phone but to me. That meant I no longer had to worry about the battery life of my phone.

Thanks to that, I clenched my fist and quietly shouted with joy inside, as I had to be mindful of making too much noise.

'Alright!'

***

From the first day of the new year, I was so busy managing celebrities appearing on special holiday broadcasts that I couldn't even go to the company.

Then, January 2 arrived. When I got to the company, I noticed a personnel announcement on the LCD screen next to the elevator.

[Personnel Announcement]

-Kang Ji-Yung, Director (former Managing Director)

-Baek Sae-Gi, Chief of Actor Division 3 (former Team Lead of Actor Division 3)

-Jung Yoon-Ho, Chief of Actor Division 4 (former Team Lead of Actor Division 2)

-Eun Ji-Yoo, Team Lead (former Assistant Manager of Singer Division 2)

-Yang Tae-Min, Team Lead (former Assistant Manager of Actor Division 3)

...

I was officially appointed chief of Actor Division 4. Kang Ji-Yung's position also changed to director, and Eun Ji-Yoo became a team lead. At the same time, Yang Tae-Min, who was the first talent agent to manage Yoo-Jin, was also promoted to team lead.

But there was another name on the announcement that caught my eye.

'Baek Sae-Gi...'

He had transferred after being recruited by Ace Entertainment's Im Sung-Hak, and now, backed by Choi Man-Sik, he had become a chief. Choi Man-Sik's unusual promotion of Baek Sae-Gi made it clear that he still hadn't given up on Hoop Entertainment.

However, no matter what Kim Dong-Soo, Choi Man-Sik, or anyone else might scheme, I had no intention of giving up Hoop Entertainment.

I read the personnel announcement once more and then headed toward the meeting room where the team leads' meeting was being held.

***

When I entered the meeting room on the sixth floor, about half of the team leads were already gathered. With many of them newly promoted, everyone looked excited.

Gu Seong-Cheol pointed to the seat next to him. "Chief Jung, over here."

I walked over to Gu Seong-Cheol and bowed.

"Congratulations on your promotion," he said.

"Thank you, Mr. Gu."

After exchanging brief greetings, Kang Gam-Chan entered the meeting room. "Alright, everyone must be busy with the year-end and new year, so let's keep this short. First, I want to congratulate everyone who got promoted. I look forward to working with you all this year."

Everyone responded energetically, "Yes, sir!"

The promotions were nice, but what really boosted morale was that Choi Man-Sik had added a 20% bonus to the year-end incentives, enabling us to buy shares in the company. Thanks to that, I also received an enormous final bonus of 1.283 billion won. I would probably get about half after taxes, but I couldn't help but smile at the thought.

"And when the people from Gwanwoo Entertainment come next week, let's make sure to welcome them warmly."

"Yes, Mr. Kang."

"Alright. Chief Jung, let's start with your briefing. How are the Cherry Blossom girls doing today?"

Today, the biggest topic was Cherry Blossom as they were aiming for their first-ever streak of eleven consecutive weeks at number one on a music show.

I answered, "Thanks to the concert boost from last week, both the digital charts and streaming numbers have surged this week. Plus, they've been on broadcasts all week, so their broadcast points are high as well. At this rate, eleven consecutive wins on the music show looks very likely."

"That's good. And how's their condition? Last time with 'Hurry Up,' they were already worn out by the tenth week."

"Choreographer Park Seon-Nyeo has been managing their stamina well, so they're holding up for now."

"Is that so? Think they can make it to week twelve as well?"

"We'll know better after the weekend."

"Alright. Still, push them as much as you can. By the way, what about Sae-Ri's solo debut? Will that overlap with Cherry Blossom's activities?"

"No, I'm thinking of delaying Sae-Ri's solo debut a bit. She needs at least two weeks off."

"Good thinking. Results are important, but we have to look at the long term. Everyone, remember this: the health of our celebrities comes first."

Kang Gam-Chan guided the conversation with me while also subtly teaching the newly promoted team leads.

"Okay, enough about Cherry Blossom. Now give me an update on the Hwaranjeon production press conference."

The production press conference for Hwaranjeon was scheduled for January 4, two days from now.

"In two days, at 2 p.m, we'll hold the press conference at the banquet hall of the H Hotel in Samseong-dong. We expect up to two hundred reporters to attend."

"Two hundred, huh... bigger than I thought."

Usually, production press conferences didn't attract more than a hundred reporters. However, since not only Yoo-Jin but also several S-class actresses were starring in this drama, almost all reporters had confirmed their attendance.

That's when Baek Sae-Gi joined the conversation. "But I heard that at the same time, KBC will be holding a press conference for 'Queen Jeong-Hee' across the street at the I Hotel in Samseong-dong. Are you aware of that?"

President Park Chan-Sik of KBC had deliberately scheduled the Hwaranjeon VS Queen Jeong-Hee press conference at the same time and right across the street to create a rivalry. They clearly wanted to generate buzz by going head-to-head with Hwaranjeon.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm aware. The Hwaranjeon production team has made preparations to counter that."

Baek Sae-Gi tilted his head. "And what might that be?"

"Sorry, but they've kept it secret even from me, citing security."

In truth, aside from the on-site production press conference, we also planned to live-stream it on MeTube simultaneously. There was even going to be a short performance at the venue, but I had no intention of sharing that information with Baek Sae-Gi. If I told him, there was a risk that the details of the event could leak externally.

Baek Sae-Gi asked, "What do you mean by security?"

"They said they're handling it internally, so I didn't press for details."

"What do you mean? Chief Jung, aren't you quite close with PD Oh Bok-Hee? And she didn't even tell you?"

"Even if we're close, the production press conference for an in-house drama is a broadcasting station's event. We're just attendees."

"Still, we should at least know what's going on so we can prepare too..."

At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan intervened. "Chief Baek, this is something Chief Jung can handle on his own. It's not for you to interfere."

"But Mr. Kang, still..."

"That's enough! Haven't you heard? Here at Hoop Entertainment, chiefs operate independently but are fully responsible for their outcomes. I'm sure there was a separate notice sent to all chiefs."

Baek Sae-Gi quickly lowered his head upon realizing his mistake. "I... I'm sorry."

"Don't just say it. Show it through your actions. Actions!"

Baek Sae-Gi grimaced and lowered his head. He tried to interfere with me but ended up retreating without even saving face.

'I knew he was bound to get scolded the moment he started meddling.'

I was about to continue with a briefing on Lee Tae-Poong's Jiri Mountain. But then, my phone vibrated.

[Notice: A new schedule entry has been registered for Jung Yoo-Jin on January 4, 2021.]

'January 4?'

That's the day of the Hwaranjeon production press conference. Taking advantage of the slightly chaotic mood, I quickly checked the schedule entry for January 4.

But what was written in the planner was absurd.

[Everyday V12.1]

[Date: January 4, 2021]

-12:00 p.m [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Hwaranjeon production press conference delayed at H Hotel. Emergency fire inspection. (Emergency meeting: MBS Headquarters at 5 p.m. Possible intentional delay by the hotel.)

'The production press conference will be delayed due to an emergency fire inspection?'

I couldn't understand why a hotel, a business that took money to host events, would deliberately sabotage a press conference with a sudden fire inspection.

If this came to light, it wouldn't just lead to lawsuits—no production company or broadcaster would ever return to a hotel that pulled something like this. The hoteliers themselves should be well aware of the risks.

If a schedule entry like this appeared, there could only be one reason. It meant that someone or an organization with great power or wealth was influencing the hotel; they had likely made the hotel an offer that could not be refused.

Regardless, if this problem wasn't resolved, the Hwaranjeon press conference would be ruined and that would only benefit KBC's Queen Jeong-Hee side.

They say the culprit is the one who gains the most, but there wasn't enough evidence to conclude that KBC was behind it. After all, broadcasts wouldn't have the leverage to pressure a hotel like this.

Kang Gam-Chan noticed my serious expression and asked, "Chief Jung, is something wrong?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. Mrs. Oh just messaged me about the production press conference. She wants to have a quick word."

"If the PD calls, you'd better go. I've heard enough, so go take care of it."

"Yes, sir."

I bowed to everyone and quickly left the meeting room.

***

After parking in the Basement Level 4 of Samseong-dong H Hotel, I headed to the office where Manager Kim Taek-Gyun, the person in charge of the event, was waiting.

Kim Taek-Gyun was a hotelier I had often met even before my regression. The Kim Taek-Gyun I knew might have accepted bribes, but he was at least a professional who knew where to draw the line. However, given that the schedule entry mentioned the hotel's deliberate interference, I had no choice but to consider him a suspect.

When I arrived at the office, I was guided to Kim Taek-Gyun's desk.

"Hello, I'm Jung Yoon-Ho from Hoop Entertainment."

Kim Taek-Gyun gestured toward a table in one corner of the office. "Ah~ Mr. Jung, please have a seat over here."

Since this was our first meeting after my regression, we exchanged business cards as I took a seat. Afterward, we discussed details about the Hwaranjeon production press conference and I casually brought up the fire inspection.

"By the way... would it be possible to meet with your fire safety officer?"

"What would you need to meet the fire safety officer for?"

"It's company policy. As part of the inspection process, I need to meet with the fire safety manager to ensure everything is properly checked on-site."

Kim Taek-Gyun nodded and then pointed to himself. "Our assigned staff member is on leave until the 4th, so I'm handling fire safety duties as well. If you need any paperwork signed, just bring it to me."

"Wait a moment. Are you saying that during our production press conference, you'll be the acting fire safety officer?"

"Yes, is there a problem with that?"

At that moment, he became the prime suspect—the person most likely to cancel the press conference.

"No, no. In that case, could I at least check the latest fire inspection report? I just need to take a photo."

All facilities kept records of when their fire inspections were conducted, and it was perfectly reasonable for an event organizer to review such documents ahead of a press conference.

However, Kim Taek-Gyun's expression darkened as he frowned. "Why are you bothering me with this now?"

His overreaction to a simple request made it clear that Kim Taek-Gyun was the one sabotaging the press conference.

Now, I had no choice but to bring up his weakness and make him confess. "Mr. Kim."

"I said enough. I can't show you internal documents like inspection records, no matter what."

"No, that's not it. I just want to mention something."

"What is it?"

After checking that there was some distance from the other employees behind the partition, I quietly whispered, "You accepted kickbacks from the year-end event organizer and the food supplier at the end of last December, didn't you?"

H Hotel held a large-scale event in its grand banquet hall on both December 31 and January 1. Since it was a major New Year's event, Kim Taek-Gyun, who was in charge of the venue rental and event management, pocketed bribes every year. Given that it was a recurring event, there was no doubt he took kickbacks last year as well.

Kim Taek-Gyun's face instantly turned red. "W-Who are you?"

'Just as I thought.'

I gestured toward the nearby employees and placed a finger to my lips. "Just tell me one thing and I'll let that matter slide."

Kim Taek-Gyun nervously glanced at the employees and then ushered me out. "F-Follow me."

Once in the hallway, he whispered in a trembling voice. He was so flustered that he even switched to polite speech.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

After confirming no one was around to eavesdrop, I asked directly, "I'm here today because I've learned the hotel plans to sabotage the Hwaranjeon production press conference. Were you told to postpone it with some last-minute emergency fire inspection or something like that?"

As soon as I hit the mark, Kim Taek-Gyun's face twisted. "H-How... how did you know?"

"I already know everything, so just relax. Or shall I call the police?"

With a shaking voice, he asked, "Will you really keep quiet about what I did...?"

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

Looking resigned, Kim Taek-Gyun confessed, "My company gave the order... but there's someone else who pressured us."

"Who was it?"

Kim Taek-Gyun sighed deeply and finally began to reveal the real mastermind behind it all.