Chapter 1029: Pulling Strings (2)

On Miso's phone screen was the script for Episode 17 of The Land of Happiness they had just performed, covered from top to bottom with detailed notes she had written. She had already sent it to Jin Gong-Ju through Kk Talk so she could study it in advance.

[Episode 17, Scene 5. Yoon Kkot-Nim saying goodbye to Lee Sol-Ji.]

(Lee Sol-Ji) Lying in bed, Lee Sol-Ji struggles to breathe as she endures the pain.

-(Miso ❤ Notes) Keep your eyes closed here. Don't open them. Hold your breath for a second before you start gasping. Also, since your clothes make it hard to see your chest moving, you have to breathe in and out much more deeply than you think. (Important!)

...

(Lee Sol-Ji) Raises two fingers in a V-sign.

-(Miso ❤ Notes) Sol-Ji doesn't have much strength, so don't lift your hand all at once. Raise it slowly, let it droop once, then lift it again. It'll look much better.

-Oh, right. I included a video of me acting this part. Just watch it and copy it.

...

(Attachment: Sol-Ji Acting Video)

On top of the script annotations, Miso had even attached videos she had recorded overnight of herself performing Lee Sol-Ji's scenes. That was the secret behind how she had managed to improve Jin Gong-Ju's acting so dramatically in such a short time.

"I sent her everything she needed last night. Earlier, all I did was encourage her," said Miso.

No actor, director, or writer would ever provide this level of detailed coaching. Yet Miso had poured that much effort into helping Jin Gong-Ju simply because she wanted to help her friend. And when they stepped aside earlier, she had only reminded Jin Gong-Ju of the key points and helped refresh her memory.

At this point, calling her "Miso, the nation's top acting coach," wouldn't have been an exaggeration.

Now that she understood what had happened, Writer Lee Ji-Yeon looked at Miso with astonishment. "My scripts are dialogue-heavy. If you went through Episodes 15 to 17 adding comments like this and even recorded demonstration videos... just how much time did you spend on this, Miso?"

"I spent all night writing the notes, recording the videos, and sending everything to Gong-Ju."

"...Don't tell me you didn't sleep at all."

Only then did Miso start rubbing her tired eyes. "I didn't. I was so sleepy at school today I thought I was going to die."

Lee Ji-Yeon slowly nodded, finally understanding Jin Gong-Ju's performance. "No wonder. I kept seeing traces of your acting in Gong-Ju's performance. Now it all makes sense. But, Miso."

"Yes?"

"Why did you work so hard for this? Today's audition wasn't yours. It was Gong-Ju's."

Miso answered without a moment's hesitation, "Because Gong-Ju's my friend!"

At that moment, none of us could say a word. It was such a short, simple answer. Yet there couldn't have been a better reason.

***

Lee Ji-Yeon looked at Jin Gong-Ju and spoke calmly. "You had Miso's help this time. But from now on, you'll have to do it on your own. Can you?"

Lee Ji-Yeon firmly believed that once someone became a professional actor, even a child actor had to be able to build their own performance. And there was only one thing her words could mean—Jin Gong-Ju had passed.

Realizing it too, Jin Gong-Ju answered excitedly, "Yes! I'll really work hard!"

"Good. Next time, I want to see your interpretation of the role. Practice based on what you worked on with Miso, but make it your own. Understand?"

"Yes! But... does that mean... I'm Sol-Ji now?"

Only then did Lee Ji-Yeon smile warmly. "That's right, Gong-Ju. You're Lee Sol-Ji now."

Lee Ji-Yeon deliberately called Jin Gong-Ju by name as she confirmed it once more.

Overjoyed, Jin Gong-Ju grabbed Miso's hand tightly and cried out, "I passed! Miso! Thank you!"

Jin Gong-Ju jumped up and down, excitedly shaking Miso's hands.

Grinning from ear to ear, Miso happily shook Jin Gong-Ju's hands back and forth. "Congratulations, Gong-Ju! Hehe... I'm so glad."

Then, Miso's body suddenly went limp like a balloon with all the air let out.

An eight-year-old child had stayed up the entire night without sleeping, pouring everything she had into writing detailed script notes. As if that weren't enough, she had also given everything she had to record acting demonstrations. After that, she had gone to school and then performed in front of all of us without showing the slightest sign of exhaustion. Her strength had finally run out.

I hurried over and caught Miso before she collapsed. "Miso. Are you okay?"

Miso smiled brightly. "Uncle Yoon-Ho... I kept my promise... I helped Gong-Ju pass."

My chest tightened.

"You did. Miso, you did an amazing job. You were incredible."

Hearing my praise, Miso smiled while fighting to keep her eyes open. "Hehe. Thank you... for believing in me... even though I kept insisting, Uncle Yoon-Ho."

"Of course, Miso."

Miso flashed a broad smile before politely bowing her head toward Lee Ji-Yeon. "Mrs. Lee... thank you... for letting Gong-Ju pass."

Even in that state, Miso still remembered to thank Lee Ji-Yeon.

Lee Ji-Yeon smiled warmly. "No, I'm the one who should be thanking you. Thanks to all your hard work, I found the perfect person to play my Sol-Ji."

However, Miso didn't respond. Wondering why, I glanced down at her. Only then did I realize that while leaning against me and bowing, she had quietly fallen into a deep sleep.

Hearing Miso's soft, steady breathing, Lee Ji-Yeon looked completely dumbfounded. "...Did Miso just fall asleep?"

I nodded. "Yes. She's asleep."

Lee Ji-Yeon let out a quiet laugh. "Yoon-Ho. Take her to her room and let her rest."

"Yes, Mrs. Lee."

I carefully scooped Miso into my arms and carried her toward her bedroom.

Jin Gong-Ju hurried after us, thanking Miso over and over again. "Miso. Thank you so much. I'll work really, really hard."

A faint smile still lingered on Miso's sleeping face in my arms.

***

After laying Miso down in her room, I came back out, and Lee Ji-Yeon spoke. "Yoon-Ho. Gong-Ju gets the role of Sol-Ji. Let the agencies representing the other child actors who auditioned know."

"Understood."

"But are you sure this is okay? Gong-Ju's acting was definitely better than the others', but she's still with Hoop Entertainment. I feel like people are going to complain."

The Land of Happiness had been a breakout hit, pulling in over 20% viewership ratings from its very first episode. Even if Jin Gong-Ju was the better actress, the agencies that had submitted candidates for Lee Sol-Ji would inevitably be unhappy.

Fortunately, there was a solution.

"There are about twenty applicants at the moment, so we can cast those child actors in other roles instead."

Since Yoon Kkot-Nim was the child protagonist of The Land of Happiness, the drama needed quite a few child actors to fill out the cast around her.

"You're right. That'll work. Okay, then. I'll watch the rest of the kids' performances, assign them roles, and let you know."

"Yes, ma'am. Oh, and you don't need to worry too much. Gong-Ju won't be staying with Hoop Entertainment."

"Hm? What did you say?"

As long as Jin Gong-Ju remained at Hoop Entertainment, Kim Ae-Ja—and eventually Kim Dong-Soo as well—would inevitably begin suspecting Jin So-Mi. It had been a mistake born from Jin So-Mi's desperation.

However, I intended to fix that mistake by moving Jin Gong-Ju to another agency.

***

Today was June 4th. A few days after joining forces with Jin So-Mi, I arrived at the company on Friday morning in a great mood.

"Good morning."

I had just greeted everyone after reaching the fourth floor when angry voices erupted from the meeting room.

-Team Lead Han! This isn't right!

-Seriously! You just transferred to Actor Division 4, and now you're quitting to start your own business? How does that make any sense?

Startled by the commotion, I hurried toward the meeting room.

Bang!

The moment I opened the door, Team Lead Park In-Ki was confronting Team Lead Han Gwang-Hyun on behalf of everyone else.

Han Gwang-Hyun had originally belonged to Actor Division 3. Before my regression, he had been known as a sales genius and had served as my right-hand man. Now, however, after nearly losing his son because he buried himself in sales work, he has transferred to Division 4, where I was.

Following my instructions, he had been focusing less on sales and more on developing an eye for good projects. Yet despite being one of the most dedicated people on the team, he was suddenly talking about resigning.

"I'm truly sorry."

Just as Park In-Ki was about to lose his temper again, he noticed me. "Mr. Jung! Did you hear? This guy, Team Lead Han, says he's quitting the company to go independent!"

'So that's what this was about.'

With a bitter smile, I nodded. "Well, if someone's decided to leave, we have to let them go."

"What? Let him go? Are you really just going to stand there and watch? You saved his son's life!"

He was referring to the time I had saved Han Tae-Joon from a severe asthma attack.

"What else can I do? He says he's received an excellent investment offer. I can't exactly stop him."

Park In-Ki fumed with anger. "Even so, a person ought to have some decency! This is unbelievable! There's a limit to how ungrateful someone can be!"

There had once been a time when he had joined forces with Ju Ho-Sung to attack me, but now he supported me more than anyone. Which was why he glared at Han Gwang-Hyun as though he were his sworn enemy for abandoning me.

At that moment, Han Gwang-Hyun bowed to me at a perfect ninety degrees. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jung. I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. The terms were simply too good."

I let out a quiet sigh and nodded. "I understand. Before you go, how about we grab a cup of coffee together?"

"I'll... buy."

"All right." I turned to calm the employees who were glaring at Han Gwang-Hyun with obvious resentment. "Okay, everyone. Settle down and get back to work."

Including Park In-Ki, the team leads of the newly integrated Division 4 returned to their desks, opening their laptops with obvious irritation. Leaving behind the employees who wouldn't even look at him, I walked out of the meeting room with Han Gwang-Hyun.

As we headed down the hallway toward the elevators, employees from Actor Division 2 and Actor Division 4 clicked their tongues as they watched him pass.

"Team Lead Han, don't come crying when you regret this."

"Hey, do you think running your own business is easy? The world's a hell of a lot harsher outside the company."

"Those investors? Ninety-nine out of a hundred are con artists. Watch your back."

"I heard we're getting company stock as an incentive soon. You're seriously walking away from that? You've got guts."

The sarcastic remarks came one after another. Han Gwang-Hyun simply kept his head lowered like a guilty man and silently followed behind me.

Ding.

The elevator arrived, and the doors slid open.

Standing in front of it, Han Gwang-Hyun bowed deeply to everyone. "Thank you for everything! I'll come back and see you all again someday!"

Even after his farewell, no one answered. With a bitter expression, Han Gwang-Hyun stepped into the elevator behind me.

Ding.

As the doors closed and the elevator descended toward the basement, neither of us said a word. When we reached Basement Level 1, Han Gwang-Hyun followed me and climbed into the passenger seat of my Ventley.

Thunk.

As soon as the door closed, everything became quiet.

Letting out a long sigh, I apologized. "I'm sorry, Mr. Han. Because of me, you ended up having to endure insults you never should have."

Han Gwang-Hyun smiled warmly. "Not at all. Compared to everything you've done for me, this is nothing. Please don't worry about it."

Han Gwang-Hyun's resignation and plan to start his own company were part of a secret project he was carrying out under my instructions. We needed a company that could manage Jin Gong-Ju without arousing the suspicions of Kim Ae-Ja or Kim Dong-Soo.

"As soon as everything's finished, I'll make sure you can come back to the company. Just hang in there for a year."

"Whatever you think is best. HAN Entertainment is basically your personal company anyway, isn't it? It doesn't matter where I am, as long as I can help you."

HAN Entertainment would be funded under Mirinae's name with Sister Michaela holding a 50% stake, so my name wouldn't appear anywhere on the list of shareholders. In reality, though, it was as good as my company. After all, both Sister Michaela and Mirinae's President Han Yoo-Sik always placed the greatest importance on my opinions.

"Then at least tell your wife the truth beforehand. She might get worried."

Han Gwang-Hyun shook his head. "No. I'm not even going to tell her. The fewer people who know about this, the better."

I had already given Han Gwang-Hyun a brief explanation of the situation surrounding Jin Gong-Ju. Perhaps because he felt responsible for protecting an eight-year-old girl, he decided not to tell even his own family.

"Thank you."

Just then, Han Gwang-Hyun spoke again. "Oh, there's one more way we could make this even more convincing... Would you like to hear it?"

"Go ahead."

"If HAN Entertainment poaches a famous actor from Hoop Entertainment, the people targeting Gong-Ju will think the two of us have completely fallen out."

It was just as expected from the man who had once been my right-hand man before the regression. He had come up with an excellent move.

"As a matter of fact, I've already discussed that with Mr. Kang. We'll put it into motion when the time is right."

"I should've known you'd already prepared for it. I got ahead of myself. Sorry."

"Not at all. Thank you for thinking that far ahead. Oh, and your annual salary will be one hundred million won, and your additional incentives will be better than what you'd have received by staying at Hoop Entertainment."

"Hahaha. At this rate, I'm going to end up rich."

"You deserve at least that much."

For someone like Han Gwang-Hyun who was willing to sacrifice so much for my sake, that was the least I could do.

"All right, let's go. After this, I have to head over to Daechon Inc."

"So you're already preparing for tomorrow."

"Yes. But I've still got time for a cup of coffee."

"Then let's go. Coffee's on me—and I'm buying the most expensive one."

"Sounds good."

I started the engine and drove toward a nearby café.

Just like that, I transferred Jin Gong-Ju to the newly established HAN Entertainment without anyone suspecting a thing. It would look as though Hoop Entertainment had cast her aside after suspecting Jin So-Mi.

***

It was June 5th, 6:00 a.m.

In front of Cheongju Women's Prison, Jin So-Mi stood beside Attorney Lee Seol-Hee. Behind them, executives from Sung Hak-Soo's faction had lined up their cars and were waiting outside.

"The moment the Mrs. Vice Chairman gets out, she's definitely going to tear Jung Yoon-Ho apart, right?"

"Of course. Because of that bastard, our former chairman and the young master ended up behind bars. I'm furious myself, so just imagine how Mrs. Vice Chairman must feel."

The executives who had ruined themselves by backing Kim Ae-Ja ground their teeth every time Jung Yoon-Ho's name came up. The same was true of the executives who had once followed Sung Hak-Soo. Only Jin So-Mi stood there expressionlessly.

Finding that odd, Lee Seol-Hee tilted her head. "Hey. I heard you've got a grudge against Chief Jung too. So why do you look so calm?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Jin So-Mi inwardly flinched. Remembering Jung Yoon-Ho's warning, she immediately steeled herself.

"At a time like this, who has room to worry about something that insignificant? Even giving everything I have to serve the vice chairman wouldn't be enough."

"Wow. She's not even here yet, and you're already sucking up to her? That's impressive."

"Think whatever you want."

Despite Lee Seol-Hee's openly contemptuous attitude, Jin So-Mi didn't even blink. The night before, she had received confirmation that Jin Gong-Ju—the person more precious to her than her own life—had safely transferred to HAN Entertainment and that all traces had been erased.

Just then, thegates of Cheongju Women's Prison swung open.

Creak.

As the old hinges groaned, Kim Ae-Ja slowly walked out, dressed in an expensive designer suit.

The moment she appeared, Jin So-Mi was the first to bow at a perfect ninety degrees. "Welcome back, Mrs. Chairman."

Realizing they had been beaten to it, Lee Seol-Hee and the other executives hurriedly followed suit, bowing just as deeply.

"Welcome back!"

As roughly thirty executives bowed in unison, Kim Ae-Ja smiled with satisfaction. "Quite a crowd. Looks like Secretary Jin pulled some strings."

Jin So-Mi raised her head with a polite smile. She had been the one who contacted and gathered the scattered executives.

"I thought the chairman at headquarters should see just how many people are still loyal to you."

Kim Ae-Ja looked pleased. "You're quick to read the situation. Not bad."

Jin So-Mi gestured toward the waiting car. "Shall we? We've prepared tofu and drinks inside."

"I don't need any of that... I'm going straight to see my father."

"Then let's go. At this hour, he should be at the Seongbuk-dong residence."

"Good."

Jin So-Mi hurried over and handed Kim Ae-Ja her handbag. Taking it, Kim Ae-Ja pulled out her phone.

"I should call Dad first."

Just then, three black Merciless Binz sedans and four vans drove up to the entrance of Cheongju Women's Prison.

Vroooom.

The van doors opened first, and security personnel in black suits poured out.

Click.

Jin So-Mi and the executives immediately tensed and closed ranks around Kim Ae-Ja.

"What the hell?"

"Who are these people?"

Then one of the bodyguards opened the rear door of the second sedan.

Thunk.

Daechon Inc.'s Chairman Kim Ae-Ryeon stepped out carrying a black plastic bag. Behind her, Chief Jung Yoon-Ho climbed out of the car as well.

The moment Kim Ae-Ja saw them, she ground her teeth. "What the hell? Why are you two here?"

Kim Ae-Ryeon casually swung the black bag in her hand. "Why else? Your one and only sister came to bring you some tofu."

"You stole my place, and now you're calling yourself my sister? Kim Ae-Ryeon, you're not my sister anymore. You'd better prepare yourself."

"So prison's only made your mouth nastier. Well, I would've liked you to accept my tofu graciously, but it can't be helped." Smiling meaningfully, Kim Ae-Ryeon pointed toward Jung Yoon-Ho. "Then why don't you take a look at Chief Jung's present instead? You'll enjoy it, unnie... no, Mrs. Kim Ae-Ja."

At that moment, Jung Yoon-Ho took out his phone and held it up toward Kim Ae-Ja. "Instead of tofu to celebrate your release, I prepared something a little more memorable. Please watch this."

Jung Yoon-Ho tapped the screen. The instant the video began to play, the faces of Kim Ae-Ja and the former Daechon Inc. executives turned deathly pale.

Because the footage on that phone contained enough evidence to send Kim Ae-Ja—who had only just been released from prison—right back behind bars.