Last night, the biggest topic of discussion on Once Again, Idol! was, without a doubt, Yoo Se-Na. So I planned to persuade her to receive proper hospital treatment, since she was suffering from Ménière's disease.

If Yoo Se-Na were to drop out of Once Again, Idol! for treatment, the show's viewership ratings would inevitably plummet. In other words, it would deal a serious blow to Director Hong Ah-Yoon, who had invested tens of billions of won into that program.

However, there was one major obstacle in persuading Yoo Se-Na—her parents. They were known for their extreme distrust of doctors and their obsessive attachment to their daughter, relying only on symptomatic treatments.

Back when she was at Ace Entertainment before the regression, Yoo Se-Na once collapsed from overwork after finishing a state, and her road talent agent rushed her to the hospital to get an IV.

When her mother heard the news, she stormed into the hospital and caused a scene in the emergency room, even trying to forcibly pull out the IV line. In the end, the doctor removed it, but the talent agent responsible was fired.

So from the beginning, I planned to bypass her parents entirely and meet Yoo Se-Na directly. I would tell her that she was suffering from Ménière's disease and needed to stop appearing on the program immediately to receive treatment.

However, for that plan to work, I needed someone who could separate her from her parents, even if only briefly.

The person I had in mind was President Ahn Yung-Hee, the head of Ju Yung-In's one-person agency, JU Entertainment. Back when she was with Ace Entertainment, she had been close with both Yoo Se-Na and her parents.

It was currently 7:30 in the morning, so I figured she should already be at the office.

"I should call President Ahn first."

The moment I said that, my phone rang.

Buzz.

[Caller ID: President Ahn Yung-Hee of JU Entertainment]

'Man, talk about good timing.'

It was Ahn Yung-Hee calling.

"Hello, Ms. Ahn."

I answered in a cheerful tone, and she immediately burst into laughter.

-Hahaha. Chief Jung, I heard you really pulled off something big yesterday. Who would've guessed Mi-Hee would crush Se-Na like that? And I hear you were the one who set it all up?

"It's nothing. Mi-Hee was the one who did well."

-Oh please, the whole staff is talking about it. They say you were carrying her around and even called in a doctor just to get her on stage. Honestly, you won't find another talent agent in the entire industry who goes that far.

Judging by how bright her voice was this early in the morning, she clearly wanted something.

"The way you're praising me like this, it sounds like you have a favor to ask."

-As expected, you're quick to catch on.

"Actually, that works out well. I have something I'd like to ask you too. It's about Yoo Se-Na."

-Oh, perfect. Then should we meet and talk? It's a bit much to discuss over the phone.

I felt the same way.

"All right."

-Can you meet now? Are you at the office?

"No, I'm at home, but I'll head out right away."

-I'll be waiting.

After hanging up, I got out of bed and was about to head to the shower. Then, my phone rang again. When I checked, it was a flood of messages from advertisers and reporters.

[Choi Yoon-Sung, PR Chief at Yuseong Trading: Chief Jung, you said Song Mi-Hee isn't taking solo ads, right? Then how about a group ad with the I.O.A members? Maybe include Ling Ling and Hee-Joo too. Our president absolutely wants Mi-Hee. Please, I'm begging you. Save me here!]

[Lee Ji-Sung, reporter at Entertainment All Star: Chief Jung, if you can arrange a solo interview with Song Mi-Hee, I'll write an amazing feature on Project I.O.A. Deal?]

Thanks to Song Mi-Hee enduring the pain and delivering an incredible performance yesterday, offers for advertisements and interviews were pouring in even while the audition was still ongoing.

Nevertheless, during the audition, I couldn't arrange separate ads or interviews for her. If a specific contestant were to start doing ads or interviews, it could send the wrong signal to viewers.

Still, I decided to leave a thin opening. Once Project I.O.A ended, they would become valuable clients of mine anyway.

[Chief Jung Yoon-Ho: I'm sorry. SBC won't allow it. What power do I have? I'll be sure to contact you first as soon as the audition ends!]

By invoking SBC's name, I made sure the interest in Song Mi-Hee wouldn't die down.

'Sorry about this, Mr. Ji Yung-Sik.'

***

I arrived at the president's office in JU Entertainment. After hearing my request, Ahn Yung-Hee looked taken aback.

"What you're asking me to do is... lure Yoo Se-Na's mother away for a bit?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Ahn Yung-Hee swallowed dryly. "You might not know since you've only been in the industry for three years, but... both of Yoo Se-Na's parents are not normal people. Even people in broadcasting all know about them. To put it simply, they're crazy."

"I know."

"No, it's not something you can brush off like that. Especially her mother—the one you want me to pull away—she's infamous for sticking to her 24/7, watching and controlling her. That's why Yoo Se-Na's nickname is Rapunzel!"

I knew that all too well. I knew what kind of person her mother, Lee So-Min, was. And I also knew what kind of person her father, Yoo Jung-Sik, was.

I said, "Don't worry. I've already heard from talent agents who used to work at Ace Entertainment. Including what happened when she caused a scene trying to pull out the IV in the ER."

"Ah, right. Half of Ace Entertainment moved over to Rebirth, didn't they? My bad. If you already know, then I guess there's nothing more to say. But why do you want me to lure her mother away in the first place?"

I couldn't exactly say that I knew about Yoo Se-Na's illness, so I kept it vague. "I want to help Yoo Se-Na become independent from her parents."

Ahn Yung-Hee's eyes widened even more than before. "What? You think that's even possible? You're talking about separating her from those leeches who are draining their own daughter's life?"

"Yes. Completely possible."

Even before my regression, once Yoo Se-Na had undergone a proper medical examination, helping her break free from her parents hadn't been that difficult. That was because Yoo Se-Na herself had wanted to escape and become independent. More than anything, the suffering of not even knowing what illness she had been dealing with had worn her down.

"Sigh... I knew it wouldn't be simple the moment you said you had a favor to ask."

"You'll help me, right?"

Ahn Yung-Hee looked at me with concern. "I saw that yesterday's broadcast with Yoo Se-Na was pre-recorded. Her condition clearly isn't normal yet. And considering her age, idol life is going to be tough for her anyway... and you still want to pull her out?"

"That's exactly why I want to. It's hard to watch. And if not as an idol, we can raise her as an actress instead."

"Honestly... you really do have a soft heart."

"You don't think I'm just being nosy?"

"A little?" Ahn Yung-Hee let out a small laugh before asking, "Fine, I'll help. But I can't think of any way to separate her from her mother."

"You just need to make one phone call."

"One call?"

"Yes. There's an article targeting Yoo Se-Na that's currently at the top of the portal's entertainment section, right? Tell her you'll get it taken down and ask her to meet you in a hotel lobby. I bet she'll come out right away. She's staying at the LT Hotel in Samseong-dong."

The exposé article posted by Reporter Jang Moon-Ki the night before was still holding its place in the top three of the entertainment section.

[(Exclusive) Yoo Se-Na's Once Again, Idol! performance—was it pre-recorded rather than live? (Reporter Jang Moon-Ki)]

Ahn Yung-Hee nodded. "That might work. If you say you'll take the article down, you could get her to step away for a bit. But what about Se-Na's father?"

"I'll handle her father. Just take care of her mother."

"Okay. Then I'll meet her and tell her I'll get the article taken down. But is the reporter really going to take it down, or am I supposed to lie?"

"Once the two of you meet, I'll have the article taken down within ten minutes."

Jang Moon-Ki had already enjoyed a surge in views from yesterday's article. That meant if I offered him a new exclusive, negotiating with him would be easy enough.

"All right. Then you're heading out right now, right?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Ahn Yung-Hee shook her head. "There's no need to thank me. Instead, I have a favor to ask too."

"What is it?"

She was about to bring up what she had hinted at earlier on the phone, but her expression looked unusually serious.

"It's about Yung-In."

"Yung-In? What kind of problem—"

Right then, I heard a knock on the door.

Knock, knock.

"Ms. Ahn! I'm coming in!"

Ju Yung-In's voice came through along with a knock on the office door.

Ahn Yung-Hee gestured that we would talk later and waved her hand. "Come in."

Click.

The door opened, and Ju Yung-In walked in with a bright expression. "Yoon-Ho oppa, what brings you here so early? Wait, are you trying to tag along to my shoot today?"

Today, Ju Yung-In was scheduled to film Missing – The Lost Ones, directed by Director Ahn Jung-Hae. Although she was the lead and had taken the role with a smile, the production had been going through major changes after the original investor and distributor, CK Entertainment, pulled out and was replaced by LT Entertainment.

I shook my head. "No, not that. I came to ask Ms. Ahn for a favor regarding Yoo Se-Na."

At that moment, Ju Yung-In said something unexpected. "Huh? Then why didn't you ask me? I'm close with Se-Na unnie."

"You are?"

"Oh, you didn't know? Se-Na unnie and I are really close. We've even been texting up until recently. We can't meet in person because her mom doesn't like me, though."

Before my regression, the two of them had been close back when they were at Top Entertainment. However, that wasn't supposed to happen until two years later. Yet now, they were already quite close.

Curious, I asked her, "Five years ago, you had just debuted, right? So how did you end up getting close with someone like Yoo Se-Na, who was a superstar back then? You don't even have friends."

Ju Yung-In narrowed her eyes and glared at me. "Wow. Just because I said I don't have friends, you really think I have none?"

'Well... You don't. I saw it myself before the regression...'

Still, now wasn't the time to push that.

"Sorry. My mistake. Of course you have friends. Anyway, how did that happen?"

Ju Yung-In clicked her tongue as if she couldn't help it. "I had my own secret. The trick to a rookie getting close to a top star!"

"Think you could share that secret?"

I figured if I combined that with what I already knew, it might make persuading Yoo Se-Na easier. However, Ju Yung-In just grinned.

"Why don't I just come with you? If I'm there to help, with Se-Na unnie's personality, she'll probably go along with most things."

Ju Yung-In's tone was full of confidence, and I found myself considering it. In the end, I decided to take her along. If I was going to persuade Yoo Se-Na in the short window while Ahn Yung-Hee kept her mother occupied, having someone she knew there would definitely help.

"Are you free today? We're heading out to meet her right now."

"Totally. I only have one film shoot this afternoon."

"All right. Then if Ms. Ahn agrees, you can come with us."

Ju Yung-In turned to Ahn Yung-Hee, silently pressuring her. Ahn Yung-Hee raised both hands in surrender.

"You're the boss of the company, so do whatever you want. What power do I have? Go ahead. Just make sure to pull your cap down low and cover your face. Got it?"

"Okay!"

While Ju Yung-In happily celebrated getting permission, Ahn Yung-Hee shot me a look.

'Let's talk about Yung-In's issue separately after this is done.'

'Understood.'

Just then, Ju Yung-In caught on and asked Ahn Yung-Hee, "What? Ms. Ahn, what are you plotting behind my back now?"

Ahn Yung-Hee answered casually, "Plotting? It's just boring business talk."

"If it's something like that, then I'll pass. You handle it, Ms. Ahn."

"All right." Ahn Yung-Hee nodded and stood up. "Shall we head out right away?"

"Yes, let's go."

I was curious about what favor she had regarding Ju Yung-In. But for now, dealing with Yoo Se-Na came first.

We immediately headed to the LT Hotel in Samseong, where Yoo Se-Na and her mother were staying.

***

We arrived at the underground parking lot of LT Hotel Samseong. Instead of using valet parking, I drove down myself.

After parking on basement level two, Ahn Yung-Hee, sitting in the passenger seat, tilted her head. "So what's the plan now?"

"You received the Kk Talk message from Reporter Jang, right?"

"Yeah. He promised to take the article down within ten minutes if I contact him. But why are more articles suddenly coming out? Did you actually negotiate properly?"

On the way here, I had already finished negotiating with Jang Moon-Ki. In exchange for taking the article down, I promised him an exclusive. And now, as a preliminary step to shake Yoo Se-Na's mother, he had started increasing the number of articles threefold.

[Yoo Se-Na. Another pre-recorded broadcast next week?]

[Yoo Se-Na wins battle through pre-recorded broadcast on Once Again, Idol!]

[What is Yoo Se-Na's health condition?]

I glanced at the articles on my phone and smiled. "This way, her mother will get more anxious and come down faster to get the articles removed."

"Wow, Chief Jung. Not bad."

"You're too kind."

"So when the articles come down, all of these will go too, right?"

"Yes. Mr. Jang may lean toward sensationalism at times, but once he makes a promise, he keeps it."

"All right. Then should I make the call now?"

"Just a moment. There's one more person we're waiting for."

Right then, the elevator doors on basement level two opened, and a man in a suit stepped out.

It was Chief Choi Go-Yoon from the private investigation agency I had assigned to keep an eye on Yoo Se-Na since last night. After scanning his surroundings, he slipped a hotel key card through the gap of my driver's side window.

"Yoo Se-Na's family is in room 1010. This card is for room 1011, right next door. Two of our staff are stationed there. They're tight-lipped guys, so you can trust them."

"Thank you. Are things the same with Yoo Se-Na's family?"

"Yes. We've been monitoring since last night, but they haven't separated at all since entering the hotel. They're ordering room service for meals."

"Thank you. And I appreciate you coming personally every time."

"Well, you always take care of us."

"That's because you do such excellent work. Please standby for now."

Choi Go-Yoon had other tasks to handle, so he nodded and disappeared into one corner of the parking garage.

After that, I turned to Ahn Yung-Hee in the passenger seat and said, "Let's get started."

"All right."

"And once you're done meeting Se-Na's mother, just send me a Kk Talk message."

"Okay." Ahn Yung-Hee took a brief breath and made the call. "Unnie, it's me, Yung-Hee."

At that moment, Yoo Se-Na's mother replied in a sharp voice.

-I'm a bit busy right now. Can I call you back later?

As if she had been waiting for that, Ahn Yung-Hee responded, "I thought you might be having trouble because of Reporter Jang Moon-Ki. I think I can help, unnie."

Instantly, Yoo Se-Na's mother, Lee So-Min, spoke with excitement in her voice.

-Where are you right now? Look, I'm at the LT Hotel Samseong. Can you come up to the second floor?

"Oh really? I'm actually at the LT Hotel Samseong too because of Yung-In's schedule. I'll come right away."

-Okay. I'll head down first.

"Okay."

Ahn Yung-Hee got out of the car first and quickly headed toward the elevator.

Then I turned to Ju Yung-In. "Yung-In, should we head up too?"

"Yes!"

Ju Yung-In put on her sunglasses and pulled her cap down low before getting out of the car. But from that moment on, she started glancing around and sticking herself to the walls. She had clearly watched too many movies. And all of them B-grade.

'You're making it way too obvious!'

***

When we arrived at Suite Room 1011 in LT Hotel Samseong, a male and a female staff member from Choi Go-Yoon's agency were waiting for us.

After greeting them and sitting on the sofa, Ju Yung-In immediately started messaging Yoo Se-Na.

[Ju Yung-In: Se-Na unnie, Ms. Ahn said you're at LT Hotel Samseong? I'm here too for a schedule. Can we meet right now?]

[Yoo Se-Na: Sorry. My dad's next to me... I don't think I can.]

[Ju Yung-In: Still the same, huh.]

[Yoo Se-Na: Yeah...]

Yoo Se-Na's mother had gone down to the second-floor café, but her father was still in the room.

Ju Yung-In looked at me with concern. "Oppa, what do we do now? Do we break the door open? Or maybe the rooms are connected. Should we just kidnap her?"

She looked oddly excited, like the protagonist of some noir spy film.

"Break what?" I asked.

"Why not? That's what they always do in spy movies. I'm a huge fan of that stuff. I know everything."

Only now, after my regression, was I realizing her taste. It felt strangely surreal.

'This isn't the time for that.'

I shook my head and picked up my phone. "No. We'll just make her dad walk out of the room on his own."

"How?"

"If he's a man of that age, there's a guaranteed way to get him out in ten seconds."

With a slight grin, I called Choi Go-Yoon.

"Let's begin."