Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 28: Promotion

Sung Min-Suk of the publicity division continued to report on Yoo-Jin’s advertisement proposal while holding his tablet.

“They offered 30 million won for a one-year contract?”

“Yes. It’s quite a good deal for a rookie like Miss Yoo-Jin.”

Not only Kang Gam-Chan but also Kang Ji-Yung and Gu Seong-Cheol looked pleased. Typically, the amount for a rookie actor ranged between 10 million to 20 million won for a one-year contract.

Furthermore, the opportunity to raise Yoo-Jin’s profile through a commercial was a positive thing for Yoo-Jin’s career.

‘30 million won isn’t a small amount, but...’

Still, the me in my past life would have never accepted such terms. If I leveraged the fact that Yoo-Jin had received an offer from Lee Ji-Yeon, I could raise the amount to at least 50 million. However, everyone except me in the meeting room seemed content and inclined to accept Burger Queen’s proposal.

‘What should I do? Should I just let it go this time?’

In contrast to my discomfort, everyone was busy smiling at the good news.

“By the way, they said they are in a hurry and want a decision by tomorrow.”

Upon hearing Sung Min-Suk’s additional comment about Burger Queen’s urgency, Kang Gam-Chan suddenly turned his gaze toward me.

“Let’s see. Yoon-Ho, what’s your take on this?” Kang Gam-Chan asked with a sly expression.

“Um...may I speak my mind?”

“Of course. Feel free to say whatever you want.”

With Kang Gam-Chan’s permission, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“I think we should delay that contract.”

At that moment, Gu Seong-Cheol exclaimed in surprise with a perplexed expression.

“Yoon-Ho, didn’t you hear they are in a hurry?”

Kang Ji-Yung tilted her head in confusion and Sung Min-Suk wore an expression which suggested that he thought of me as being audacious.

However, Kang Gam-Chan seemed amused and asked.

“So, how long do you think we should delay the contract?”

‘Did he notice my intentions?’

“How about till next week? I think it would be best to observe the situation for just one week.”

“What? But why would we...”

Kang Gam-Chan pacified Gu Seong-Cheol who looked bewildered.

“Chief Gu, calm down and assess the situation. How many years have you been in this industry?”

“It’s been a full fifteen years for me, sir.”

Kang Gam-Chan playfully replied to Gu Seong-Cheol’s answer.

“Fifteen years, huh? You’re still a rookie. Ha ha ha.”

“If we play hard to get and Burger Queen decides to go with another model, won’t we be at a loss?” Gu Seong-Cheol asked as he scratched his head.

While Gu Seong-Cheol still seemed uncertain, Kang Ji-Yung had a different take on this matter.

“No, Mr. Gu. It seems there’s something up considering how much they’re rushing. We shouldn’t appear too eager. Waiting a bit more seems to be a good idea.”

‘Yes. Now we are talking.’

Hearing Kang Ji-Yung’s judgment, Kang Gam-Chan gave a slightly satisfied look. Then he called out to Sung Min-Suk standing beside him.

“Team Lead Sung. Could you check the current live search rankings?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, sir. It’s...un...”

The flustered Sung Min-Suk quickly regained his composure and tapped away on his tablet.

“First place is Petite More. Fourth is Burger Queen’s Burger Maiden Jung Yoo-Jin, and fifth place is Cherry Blossom...”

Everyone in the meeting room was stunned.

“How could you guys claim to work at an entertainment company when you are so slow? Are you all dimwits? How can you guys be even worse than Yoon-Ho!”

“Oh...”

“We apologize, Mr. Kang.”

Only now did everyone grasp the situation and understand my intention.

“Yoon-Ho. No, Star Jung.”

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“Yes, Mr. Kang.”

“You’ve got sharp eyes. You might as well be promoted to assistant manager.”

I felt as if my heart had dropped.

‘Being promoted to assistant manager in my third year was fast, but becoming an assistant manager in just my first year!?’

Gu Seong-Cheol and Kang Ji-Yung beside me looked shocked as well.

“Why are you all so surprised? Don’t you know our company operates on a performance-based system?”

Indeed, Kim Dong-Soo had quickly risen through the ranks thanks to the very same performance system.

“But still. This is too fast, Mr. Kang. There’s still much for Yoon-Ho to learn...” Gu Seong-Cheol said with a worried expression.

However, Kang Gam-Chan was adamant.

“It’s not without precedent, so why are you all so worried? Didn’t we promote Kim Dong-Soo to assistant manager in his second year?”

Then Kang Ji-Yung retorted.

“Chief Kim Dong-Soo was almost into his second year when he got promoted. But promoting Yoon-Ho who hasn't even completed one year is...”

Kang Gam-Chan raised his hand and cut Kang Ji-Yung off.

“That’s enough. Are we so timid that we can’t try new things? You guys handle any minor disturbances and promote Yoon-Ho to assistant manager once Jung Yoo-Jin’s next drama is decided!”

Kang Gam-Chan stood his ground, refusing to entertain any further disagreements. No one dared to counter his assertive statement.

“And Chief Gu.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Leave the Burger Queen advertisement negotiations to Yoon-Ho.”

“I’m sorry? To Yoon-Ho?”

“Yes. It seems Yoon-Ho knows how to play hard to get. Make sure you assist him but let Yoon-Ho handle most of the negotiations. I want to see what he’s made of.”

Hearing Kang Gam-Chan’s bold statement, my heart began to race wildly.

‘He is really entrusting advertisement negotiations to a first-year employee?’

Even if I had caught Kang Gam-Chan’s eye, this felt too fast even for me.

“Um, Mr. Kang...”

But Kang Gam-Chan immediately cut me off.

“End of discussion. You’ll learn by doing, so I’ll leave it to you. No one in this room knows Yoo-Jin’s worth better than you.”

Everyone looked astonished, but Kang Gam-Chan exuded unwavering confidence. It seemed my earlier comments had left a deep impression on him.

‘Well, refusing further wouldn’t be so polite of me.’

I stood up and bowed to Kang Gam-Chan, grateful for the opportunity he’d given me.

“I’ll do my best, sir.”

“Good.”

Right now, my career was growing at a rate many times faster than in my past life.

‘Thank you, Mr. Kang.’

***

Sitting in the backseat of a Rose-Rise, Lee Ji-Yeon spoke to Kim Soll-Ip.

“Soll-Ip~.”

“Yes, Ms. Lee?”

“You saw Yoon-Ho’s expression earlier, right?”

“I did.”

“A guy with that kind of look in their eyes doesn’t change their mind easily. He didn’t even flinch when I pressured him.”

“What do you mean...?”

“I mean even though he said that he will ask Yoo-Jin about it, it seemed like he had already made up his mind. You know it too, don’t you? Nothing can escape my eyes.”

“...”

Kim Soll-Ip found herself at a loss for words.

“Writers should have pride, but there aren’t many talent agents who have that level of confidence in their actors. It’s not just about the actor but also about the talent agents who manage them. So make sure you learn from him. It will help you choose good actors in the future.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Lee Ji-Yeon spoke with a trace of regret in her voice.

“Soll-Ip. This is the last piece of advice I can give you. You’re on your own from now on. You understand?”

Looking at Lee Ji-Yeon gazing at her with affectionate eyes, Kim Soll-Ip felt a surge of emotions within her. Lee Ji-Yeon wasn’t easy to assist due to her unique personality. But over time, Kim Soll-Ip had been moved by the care and attention Lee Ji-Yeon had shown her.

Even now, Lee Ji-Yeon was going to great lengths to support Kim Soll-Ip by securing a production company and scheduling slots for her. Moreover, she had even complimented Kim Soll-Ip by proclaiming her as a competitor in the presence of Hoop Entertainment.

Trying to hide her tears, Kim Soll-Ip changed the topic.

“Ms. Lee. You haven’t been diagnosed with any illness or given a limited time to live, have you?”

Lee Ji-Yeon laughed and replied.

“Of course not. It’s just that my pride is hurt after being turned down. Oh, thinking about it, he rejected me without even reading my script, right?”

Lee Ji-Yeon’s grumbling lasted longer than expected.

“No. On second thought, it’s a waste to give Yoo-Jin to you, Soll-Ip. I’ll take her with me. Is that okay?”

“Ha ha, no way. You said earlier that he’s already made his choice.”

Hearing that, Lee Ji-Yeon began to complain as usual and Kim Soll-Ip had to endure Lee Ji-Yeon’s complaints all the way till the next morning.

-How dare he reject me without even looking at the script! I’ll make sure he never does that again!

-I’ll make sure to write an outstanding script so that he’ll come begging to work on my next drama!

-Give me Yoon-Ho’s number! Call him and let me speak to Yoo-Jin!

-Huh? He’s sleeping? How can he be sleeping when I’m still awake!?

-No. Why should the great Lee Ji-Yeon wait for the next drama to work with them?

-Soll-Ip. Call him and tell him that if he doesn’t work with me on this drama, I won’t ever see him again!

As she edited the manuscript, the crazy rants of Lee Ji-Yeon, fueled by caffeine, continued until seven in the morning.

Even though Kim Soll-Ip paid no heed to Lee Ji-Yeon’s complaints, she felt as if her ears were bleeding from the incessant complaints.

Nonetheless, thanks to the high-end sushi that Lee Ji-Yeon treated her to the previous day, she had the strength to endure it all.

***

It was December 25th, 2019.

I was currently visiting Yoo-Jin’s house to celebrate Christmas.

“Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas!”

Yoo-Jin and Miso smiled brightly and approached me with a cake they had baked together. It was a crooked cake with whipped cream spread on top, decorated with Powertuff Girls-shaped chocolates.

Miso gathered the candles and lit them at once.

“Uncle Yoon-Ho! Blow out the candles! Hurry!”

Whoosh!

When I effortlessly blew out the candles with one breath, Miso sighed in relief.

“Miso, we don’t want to start a fire here.”

“It’s okay! I have a secret weapon now!”

Miso ran to the kitchen and came back holding a small fire extinguisher. She had gotten it after attending a training session at the local fire station with the landlord, but she was disappointed that she hadn’t had a chance to use it yet.

I was momentarily taken aback, but I refrained from scolding her after seeing her cute expression.

“Oppa, here you go.”

Yoo-Jin handed me a plastic cake cutter.

“Why are you giving this to me? You should be the one cutting it.”

“Well...it’s all thanks to you that we are celebrating Christmas right now.”

I couldn’t help but scratch my head at Yoo-Jin’s words. I felt a tingling sensation in my chest.

“Alright. Should I cut it then?”

“Yes!”

As I cut the cake, Miso wore a bright smile and clapped her hands. Then Yoo-Jin served me a piece of cake on a plate.

‘Wow, it’s sweet.’

The cake had buttercream, onion rings, chocolates, and even strawberry jam.

“Um, why are there onion rings here?”

“Because it’s Miso’s favorite snack.”

“Yes! I love onion rings the most. It’s my favorite~!”

Miso held the onion rings in her hand and placed them against her cheeks. Although it was an odd combination, the cake had a taste of happiness.

While eating the cake, Yoo-Jin asked.

“Is it not tasty? Miso worked hard on it...should I remove the onion rings for you?”

I was caught trying to secretly pick out the onion rings. Fearing Miso would spot me, I quickly put an onion ring in my mouth and spoke.

“N-no. It’s delicious. Ke hem. I was just thinking about your next drama. Which writer do you prefer? Ms. Lee or Ms. Kim?”

Yoo-Jin had already read both scripts because I immediately sent her the script for In the Name of God that I received last night from Lee Ji-Yeon.

I hadn’t told her which role I would recommend because I wanted to hear Yoo-Jin’s personal opinion.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Yoo-Jin shared her thoughts.

“Hmm. I prefer Ms. Kim because I like the character Twilight from Blue Sky.”

“Twilight?”

Blue Sky was a family romantic comedy set twenty years ago, depicting the daily lives of the Sung Blue’s family that ran a seafood restaurant and the Kim Sky’s family that ran a BBQ restaurant.

Kim Twilight was a cheerful girl who took over the household chores from her eldest sister who couldn’t eat meat despite running a BBQ restaurant.

Twilight was a character that would become as popular as the female lead and receive immense love from the audience. In my past life, the role was played by an actress named Park Jin-Hee.

Thanks to playing the role of Kim Twilight, Park Jin-Hee had earned several million won just from advertisements that year.

Feeling proud that Yoo-Jin also chose the role of Twilight, I couldn’t help but break into a fatherly smile.

Seeing my smile, Yoo-Jin looked confused.

“Oppa. Did I make a wrong choice?”

“No, the role I wanted to recommend was also Twilight.”

For a moment, Yoo-Jin’s face brightened and she suddenly exclaimed while holding out her right hand.

“Jji-jji-pong![1]”

“Ouch! What was that for?”

Yoo-Jin pinched my arm as she laughed, saying we had the same thought.

‘What the heck is this? What even is jji-jji-pong?’’

“Ooh, me too! Jji-jji-pong!”

‘Why are you pinching me as well, Miso?’

Enduring the pain, I asked Yoo-Jin.

“Ouch...how long are you going to keep doing this?”

“Until it’s resolved!”

With her innocent face, Miso said I had to shout something to resolve it. But I had no idea what was going on.

“How do I resolve it?”

Miso sneaked a glance and whispered in my ear.

“Say pong-jji-jji!”

‘What? What on earth is that?’

It felt odd, yet I had no choice but to shout it out.

“Pong-jji-jji!”

With that, Yoo-Jin and Miso stopped pinching me and burst into laughter.

‘So, it’s something people do when they say the same thing or have the same thought?’

When I acted as if the pinch hurt, Miso blew on the spot she pinched to soothe it. I couldn’t help but laugh at Miso’s contradictory actions.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Yoon-Ho~.”

‘Wait. It makes sense why Yoo-Jin pinched me, but why did Miso pinch me too?’

I was tempted to question Miso about it, but seeing her brightly laughing face, I couldn’t help but break into laughter too.

‘She’s too cute to be held accountable.’

“But Yoo-Jin, why do you prefer Ms. Kim’s drama over Ms. Lee’s drama?”

“Oh, that?”

As Yoo-Jin began to explain, I inadvertently laughed out loud.

1. Jinx in korean. You pinch someone while saying this, and let go of them only when they say pong-jji-jji ?