Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 561: Preliminary Call (2)

In front of Cheonho Best Elementary School, the moment I saw the newly updated schedule entry, I opened the driver's door and got out of the car.

Without hesitation, I rushed straight toward Yoo-Jin, who was in the middle of an interview.

[Everyday V12.2]

[Date: January 13, 2021]

-10:00 p.m. [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Entertainment Everywhere: "Lead actress J from a fusion historical drama assaults a KBC reporter during school coverage!" (Meeting agenda: File a protest with KBC. Respond aggressively to false reports about Jung Yoo-Jin.)

So the one with bad intentions mentioned in Fortune of the Day was the KBC reporter.

Yoo-Jin would never strike someone without a reason, but even so, it was best to avoid any confrontation. After all, even a minor incident could affect the viewership ratings of Hwaranjeon, which was premiering today.

At that exact moment, KBC's reporter Choi Sang-Yeon had his microphone thrust toward Yoo-Jin. I picked up my pace and just barely managed to slide between Yoo-Jin and Choi Sang-Yeon.

I quickly pulled Yoo-Jin behind me. Then, I addressed Choi Sang-Yeon, who still had the mic in hand. "Mr. Choi, let's end the interview here. We're a bit pressed for time."

Choi Sang-Yeon frowned. "Oh, come on~ but you've got to give me a quick one. I've been here waiting for over two hours."

I hesitated briefly, but refusing outright might just give him an excuse to twist the story. In the end, I agreed to a short interview, but only with distance between us.

"You have just one minute, okay?"

Choi Sang-Yeon nodded and extended the mic to begin the interview. "Miss Yoo-Jin, today your daughter Miso is attending her elementary school orientation. How do you feel as a parent?"

He stuck strictly to questions about Miso.

A moment later, he withdrew the mic after a few standard questions.

"...Yes, thank you. And best of luck with Hwaranjeon tonight."

Contrary to my expectations, Choi Sang-Yeon wrapped up the interview without incident and turned away.

Still, I didn't let my guard down and ushered Yoo-Jin back into the van. "Yoo-Jin, let's go. We're going to be late."

"Okay."

Yoo-Jin waved goodbye to the reporters and climbed into the car. I returned to the driver's seat and checked the planner again. Yet, the schedule entry still hadn't disappeared.

'Why isn't it gone?'

There hadn't even been any physical contact between Yoo-Jin and Choi Sang-Yeon. From what I remembered, he wasn't the type to fabricate stories out of thin air.

Then, two possible scenarios crossed my mind. First, even if Choi Sang-Yeon's report is fine, the newsroom might rewrite it with a misleading narrative. Second, the incident might involve a different KBC reporter entirely.

I looked around, but saw no other KBC reporters. That meant the incident might happen later, perhaps after orientation ended.

I quickly called Choi Yang-Han and asked him to stay until the orientation was over.

-Understood. In the meantime, please head inside the school. We'll clear a path for you now. Proceed slowly.

"Got it."

TOP Security agents began pushing reporters aside to open a path to the gate. I put my phone away and slowly drove through the entrance. After parking in the school lot, I checked the planner again. Still, the schedule entry hadn't been cleared.

In the end, I contacted our company's promotion division and asked them to investigate the movements of KBC reporters as well.

Then, after once again committing Everyday's warning to memory, I headed toward Classroom 1 with the rest of our group.

Despite the nagging feeling from Everyday's schedule entry, I couldn't ask Yoo-Jin to just go home. After all, Miso's school orientation was the most important moment in Yoo-Jin's life.

What I had to do today was protect both Actress Jung Yoo-Jin and Mother Jung Yoo-Jin.

***

We entered Class 1 at Cheonho Best Elementary School.

There were twenty seats arranged for the students. Since Miso was on the smaller side, she was seated right at the front with Han-Ul on one side and Eun-Byul on the other.

The other kids, having only seen Miso on TV, found it fascinating that she was in their class. They eagerly tried to talk to her.

At the back of the classroom, parents began awkwardly introducing themselves to one another. And Yoo-Jin was no exception.

"Hello! I'm Miso's mom~"

"Haha. We know you, Miss Yoo-Jin. But wow, your skin looks amazing."

"Oh not at all~ ma'am, yours looks even better than mine."

"Pfft. That's so not true."

"No, I really mean it. What kind of skincare do you use?"

Yoo-Jin skillfully mingled with the parents, showing off her old pro-level service charm from her part-time days.

Just then, the classroom door slid open.

Click.

A young woman with a neat bob haircut and a beige two-piece suit walked in. She looked to be in her late twenties and was clearly nervous but excited.

As the homeroom teacher stepped in, the children quickly returned to their seats.

"Hello, Class 1! My name is Geum Na-Yeon. Nice to meet you!"

Geum Na-Yeon began with a quick lesson on how to greet properly. The teacher bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle, and the still seated students bowed their heads politely.

"Now, this is how we greet each other. And don't forget to greet me every morning, alright?"

Right up front, Miso shot her hand into the air. "Yes, Ms. Geum!"

The other kids followed her lead. "Yes, Ms. Geum!"

Watching this, a smile formed on Yoo-Jin's face.

"Oppa... don't you think Miso's going to end up class president at this rate? I heard it's a lot of work for the class president's parents. What do we do?"

Yoo-Jin was already jumping to conclusions, flustered and panicking a little. Whenever she looked at Miso, it was like she forgot she was one of Korea's top actresses.

"I'll take care of everything, so you just focus on acting, Actress Jung."

Only then did Yoo-Jin remember her other identity and give a sheepish smile. "Oh right. Oops."

Then Geum Na-Yeon said, "Now, we'll begin one-on-one consultations. While I meet with each of you individually, please review the booklet we handed out with your children."

The teacher distributed the booklets to the students and their parents. Yoo-Jin, Deok-Bae, and Chae Sang-Woo with his wife Lee Mi-Ri began skimming through theirs.

Then Chae Sang-Woo spoke up, looking serious. "It looks like there's homework before the entrance ceremony."

"Homework?"

"Yes. They're expected to learn the first verse of the school song by early March."

It was more of a reminder than formal homework. Still, the task of teaching the school song already had Chae Sang-Woo and Lee Mi-Ri worried.

Chae Sang-Woo looked at his wife hopefully. "Honey, I'm tone-deaf, but you're a good singer. Can you teach it to Eun-Byul?"

Lee Mi-Ri blushed. "You're probably the only one who thinks I sing well."

The tone-deaf couple looked around in mild panic, clearly seeking help.

Then Deok-Bae confidently chimed in. "I've never actually sung before."

Though his voice and vocal projection were excellent, Deok-Bae firmly drew the line at singing.

In the end, all three of them turned their hopeful gazes toward Yoo-Jin. After all, she had sung the original soundtrack for Hwaranjeon and even performed on stage with Miso.

Yoo-Jin, while good at both singing and dancing, suggested another approach for Miso's homework. "How about we ask Sae-Ri instead? If we're going to do it, wouldn't it be better for the kids to learn from a proper teacher?"

I spaced out for a moment. The idea of asking Sae-Ri for a guide to the first verse of an elementary school anthem was surreal. Since we were all used to serious work, we were now treating learning one verse of a school song as if we were preparing kids for a national audition show.

But looking around, I realized we weren't the only ones. Other parents were just as stressed, memorizing the anthem like soldiers before battle or quietly humming the melody.

『Let's grow broad minds and right thoughts... Ah~ Ah! Cheonho Best~ Elementary School』

Seeing these serious adults singing an elementary school anthem, I felt, if only briefly, what it meant to be a parent.

I said, "Alright, you four stay here. I'm going to visit the principal for a moment."

Given what had happened that morning and for Miso's future school life, I needed to speak with the principal.

Leaving the four of them too focused on memorizing the anthem to even reply, I headed to the principal's office.

***

I arrived at the principal's office at Cheonho Best Elementary School.

Principal Cheon Hae-Joo, now in her 30th year of teaching, was a kind and warm person. Since I was here to ask for understanding regarding Miso's career in entertainment, I was cautious in my approach.

"I'd like to ask for your support going forward."

"Please don't worry. I'll do my best to ensure Miso enjoys school and stays healthy."

Most children in showbiz didn't get to have a normal school life. However, I had every intention of helping my celebrity enjoy her youth until adulthood as much as possible. After all, it was one of the few times in life she could interact freely with her peers without ulterior motives.

I expressed my thanks, then apologized for what had happened that morning. "And I'm sorry about the reporters earlier today. I'll make sure to speak with the press to avoid causing any more trouble for the school."

Cheon Hae-Joo smiled. "I expected some of it, but I didn't think so many would come."

"Neither did I. Oh, and I'd also like to discuss supporting the school's operations."

No matter how careful Miso and the agency were, incidents like today could still affect the school. So Yoo-Jin and I had already decided to support the school and its students however we could.

Cheon Hae-Joo shook her head. "That's alright. Reverse Entertainment already offered to donate classroom funds and make annual contributions."

"Soo-Chan did?"

"Yes. Mr. Lee Soo-Chan said his nieces would be attending and asked me to pay special attention to them."

"That guy... without even telling me..."

Back when we were kids, both Soo-Chan and I had always been overly conscious at school. With the limited support from Angel Orphanage, we often couldn't afford even basic school supplies. Thanks to Soo-Chan, that wouldn't happen again.

Still, I couldn't leave everything to him.

"Then Yoo-Jin and I will support dinner costs and vacation meals, along with care services for students from single-parent, grandparent-led, or orphanage backgrounds. If there are any students you think could use the help, please include them too."

Cheon Hae-Joo's face lit up with joy. "Oh my goodness... really?"

"Yes. And to benefit all students, we'll also cover an upgrade to the school's security system. I noticed the current setup seemed lacking."

Every parent wanted their child to be safe. So I promised to provide support so that all students could enjoy that peace of mind.

Cheon Hae-Joo nodded. "You're right. This building's quite old, and one school security officer isn't enough. With your help, I'm sure even the other parents will be more understanding about minor inconveniences. Thanks to you, the whole student body will be safer. Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you for your understanding."

I gave a polite bow and left the principal's office.

***

Click.

As I closed the door behind me, I checked the time. It was 3:30 p.m. Now all that was left was Yoo-Jin's one-on-one meeting with Miso's teacher and a quick tour of the school before heading home.

Meanwhile, I began thinking through the possible situations mentioned in Everyday.

"A KBC reporter, huh..."

That's when I heard children screaming from not far away.

-Ahh!

-Mister! Don't do that!

Eun-Byul's shriek rang out, immediately followed by Miso's angry voice. Then came a man's voice, mid-thirties.

-Miso, I'm a reporter. There's no need to be scared, okay? I just need a few photos. Come on, strike a pose.

Right after that, I heard Yeon So-Hee and Yoo-Jin yelling.

-Hey! Who are you?!

-Mr. Hyun! What do you think you're doing to the kids?!

At that moment, I knew this was what Everyday had warned me about.

'This lunatic... He actually climbed the wall?!'

TOP Security agents had been posted at both the front and back gates. And yet, this so-called reporter had broken the law and trespassed directly onto school grounds without fear.

I bolted toward the commotion without a second thought.

***

After turning the corner from the principal's office, I saw Yoo-Jin yelling at KBC's Reporter Hyun Sang-Beom, who had a camera in hand, near the faculty restroom. Not far off, Yeon So-Hee was comforting Miso and Eun-Byul.

Eun-Byul had pulled her hat down over her nose, clutching it tightly with both hands, and Miso had her arms wrapped tightly around her, gently patting her back.

"It's okay, it's okay," Yeon So-Hee whispered.

They had likely been headed to the restroom when they ran into the KBC's reporter as they were unfamiliar with the school layout. Thankfully, the classroom was far enough away that no other students or parents had seen what happened.

Then I heard Yoo-Jin shout at Hyun Sang-Beom. "Mr. Hyun! Erase the footage on that camera right now!"

The reporter scowled and pointed at his camera. "Whether I delete it or not is up to me. Who are you to tell me what to do?"

Yoo-Jin snapped back. "You caught a picture of Eun-Byul with her hat off! It's one thing if it's me or Miso, but Eun-Byul is just a regular child! Erase it now!"

Completely unlike her usual self, Yoo-Jin raised her voice, face red with fury. Because of Everyday's warning, I held off acting and first approached Yeon So-Hee to get the full story.

"What happened here?" I asked.

Yeon So-Hee explained, "Oh, Mr. Jung! Miso and Eun-Byul ran into Reporter Hyun on their way out of the restroom. He tried to grab Miso but ended up snatching Eun-Byul's hat. He didn't even give it back and just kept taking pictures. I got the hat back, but we couldn't get him to delete the photos."

'Eun-Byul's hat...?'

Right now, Eun-Byul was still recovering from pediatric leukemia and had not regrown her hair. She didn't even want her parents to see her without it, let alone a complete stranger.

Eun-Byul had burst into tears and Miso had furiously tried to shield her, but Hyun Sang-Beom kept snapping photos. By the time Yoo-Jin and Yeon So-Hee came out of the restroom, they had lost it.

Then Miso, still clutching the crying Eun-Byul tightly, looked up at me, her face red with anger. "Uncle Yoon-Ho! That man is mean! He could've just taken pictures of me, but he took one of Eun-Byul without her hat too. He's really bad!"

Miso, who rarely got angry, was stomping her feet and holding back tears.

My rage boiled up, but I forced it down with everything I had. "Miso, I'll take care of it. Don't get upset. You trust me, right?"

When I forced a smile for her sake and asked gently, Miso nodded firmly. "Yes!"

Then Miso turned to Eun-Byul. "Eun-Byul! It's okay now! Uncle Yoon-Ho is going to scold that bad man!"

Eun-Byul hesitantly raised her hat just a little. Her big eyes welled with tears. "Really?"

"Yup! Uncle Yoon-Ho will fix everything."

Gripping her hat with trembling hands, Eun-Byul looked up at me with pleading eyes. "Uncle Yoon-Ho..."

"It's alright, Eun-Byul. Just trust me, okay? I'll make sure that man who hurt your feelings regrets it."

"Okay, Uncle Yoon-Ho."

With a promise made to Miso and Eun-Byul, I turned and walked slowly toward the reporter confronting Yoo-Jin.

Seeing the cold expression on my face, Hyun Sang-Beom began to backpedal. "W-What? Are you really thinking about hitting a reporter? Huh?"

'A reporter? No. Scum like you aren't reporters—you're parasites. Hyun Sang-Beom... your career as a reporter ends today.'

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