Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 691: Show Appearance (1)

MBS' The Omniscient Viewpoint's PD Park Eun-Chan replied in a lively voice.

-If you would just appear on our show, I'll make sure the writers can coordinate with you about the script in advance.

Starting next week, Deok-Bae was scheduled to appear on The Omniscient Viewpoint, the show where celebrities appear with their talent agent, with Jung Sang-Bong.

Today, we were supposed to film that trailer. But now, they were asking me to appear instead of Jung Sang-Bong starting today.

"Wait, Mr. Park, are you saying my appearance is the condition?"

-That's right. This week, when we were interviewing Deok-Bae, your face kept showing up on camera. Because of that, the demand for you in the industry is pretty high right now. You didn't know that?

It seemed interest spiked after people learned that I, the talent agent for Jung Yoo-Jin and Lee Tae-Poong, was currently managing Deok-Bae.

-So if you just appear, I'll give Ms. Chae Mi-Hyun whatever she wants. And during editing, I'll reflect as much of your opinion as possible. Oh, and I'll make sure Deok-Bae gets a big boost too.

PDs were notoriously sensitive about editing rights, so this was quite the offer. I thought about it, but this was a question with only one answer. For the sake of image-making for Chae Mi-Hyun and Kang Eun-Gi, the PD's cooperation was essential.

"Alright. I'll do it."

-Okay~!

"But in exchange, you have to accept whoever is going to be appearing as Ms. Chae Mi-Hyun's talent agent, alright?"

-Haha. Sure, that's no problem. But you'll have to tell me who it is.

"It's Kang Eun-Gi from Reverse Entertainment."

There was a brief pause on the other end.

-And... who's that?

Reverse Entertainment had suddenly grown after acquiring half of Ace Entertainment, so while people knew the company, many didn't know Kang Eun-Gi himself.

"He's the president of Reverse Entertainment."

-President of Reverse Entertainment? That mysterious businessman?

"Huh? Mysterious businessman?"

-Yeah. He's been famous in the industry lately. Out of nowhere, this unheard-of company appeared and swallowed up half of Ace Entertainment. There are all kinds of rumors about who the president is and why he's so aggressive in business. Some say he's a second-generation chaebol... Anyway, you're saying that guy is coming on the show?

Because I had been cutting off information, strange rumors had spread. Still, it seemed to make Park Eun-Chan more interested in my proposal.

"Yes!"

-Wow~ This is going to be something. Chae Mi-Hyun and Kang Eun-Gi together? I can feel the viewership ratings jackpot.

It looked like the PD's instincts from the days when The Omniscient Viewpoint hit 10% viewership ratings were coming back.

-Then since we're filming the trailer right now, come over immediately. We'll talk more when you get here.

"Got it."

-Good. See you soon~

Click.

Seemingly pressed for time, Park Eun-Chan quickly hung up.

Then, Lee Soo-Chan, who was next to me, asked, "But hyung-nim. Is it really okay not to explain more about Eun-Gi hyung-nim?"

"It's fine. I know PD Park Eun-Chan well, so I can persuade him once we're there."

Right now, Park Eun-Chan was more desperate for buzzworthy content than ever. So Kang Eun-Gi wasn't a problem. What was harder to negotiate had been the editing rights. Now that that was settled, the rest was nothing.

"Alright~ Then let's make both Deok-Bae and Eun-Gi into stars."

I had unexpectedly ended up appearing on the show, but now that I was going, I intended to give it my best.

***

The Omniscient Viewpoint was a late-night program that aired at 11 p.m. on Saturdays, showing the daily lives of celebrities and their talent agents. Now in its fourth year, it was once a popular variety program with peak viewership ratings of 12%. Yet recently, repeated miscasting controversies had dropped its viewership ratings to 4%.

At least for the past two weeks, thanks to Ace Entertainment's Yoon Joo-Yeon, who is appearing in Hwaranjeon, viewership ratings had climbed back to 5%. Now with Deok-Bae, who is at the center of attention this week, set to appear, MBS' variety department was full of expectations that the program could return to its glory days.

Perhaps because of that, when I arrived at The Omniscient Viewpoint studio, the excited staff were running around busily, shouting here and there.

"Starting now, we'll record next week's emergency trailer. Set up only what's visible and start right away. There's no time."

"What are you doing!? Shooting starts in twenty minutes, so hurry up and finish getting ready!"

"Bring in more people from the variety department. The actors and talent agents were suddenly called in, so they might be annoyed. Make sure to keep them happy!"

"Camera 3 director! We're changing the blocking, so come here."

"Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon's trailer also needs more footage, so hurry!"

In the middle of the set was a round table and a monitor, and the staff were rushing about setting things up.

Tonight's main broadcast had finished recording yesterday. But since Deok-Bae had suddenly been confirmed to appear starting next week, they had to urgently record an additional teaser.

At that moment, Park Eun-Chan came running toward me, holding cue cards in one hand. "Welcome, Chief Jung."

"Hi, Mr. Park. How are you?"

"Hello, sir!"

After Lee Soo-Chan and I greeted him, Park Eun-Chan said, "Ms. Chae Mi-Hyun and Kang Eun-Gi aren't urgent, so we'll talk about them after today's shoot... First, Chief Jung, let's get you into makeup. When Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon arrives, we have to start filming right away."

Apparently, Yoon Joo-Yeon, another guest for next week, was on her way. Since she has a rather prickly personality, Park Eun-Chan suggested I hurry so as to avoid any unnecessary clashes.

"Understood."

"Do you want me to assign you a stylist?"

"No. Since Deok-Bae's already here, I'll get makeup done with him."

"That's great. We're short on staff anyway. Hoop Entertainment's people are in Waiting Room 3, so you can do it there. And wait a second..."

Park Eun-Chan glanced to the side, and Lee Jung-Sae, the assistant director, handed me a black T-shirt. "Take this with you."

It was a shirt worn by talent agents during filming, with "Choi Deok-Bae's Talent Agent" written in white letters. Since the prepared shirt had been given to Jung Sang-Bong, they had hastily taped over it and written my name on top.

"Yes. Thank you."

I took the black T-shirt and ran to the waiting room.

***

Click.

When I opened the waiting room door and went inside, Deok-Bae was sitting quietly, getting makeup done by Yang So-Ri. Behind him, Chae Sang-Woo was holding clothes against Deok-Bae's body, thinking about what to put on him.

Meanwhile, the MBS Documentary 7 Days team was filming them. The MBS Documentary 7 Days team, made up of PD Lee Sun-Ae, Director Choi Ill-Joo, and Writer Park Seok-Hee, had been following Deok-Bae for a week to record his every move.

Meanwhile, Jung Sang-Bong was sitting comfortably in a corner of the sofa, leisurely eating a lunchbox alone. When I wondered why he looked so relaxed, Jung Sang-Bong noticed me and put down his chopsticks before bowing.

"You're here, Mr. Jung."

"Yes. Sang-Bong, I'm sorry that you couldn't appear on the program today because of me."

Jung Sang-Bong grinned. "No, it's fine. I was so burdened that I couldn't sleep at night and yesterday I couldn't eat anything. So thanks to you, I'm saved. This is my first meal today."

An Olympic gold medalist, Jung Sang-Bong was fairly skilled at interviews. But he said he was worried about how he would handle being interviewed on TV.

I smiled. "That's a relief then. Go ahead and eat."

"Yes, sir!"

After greeting the MBS Documentary 7 Days team, I went next to Deok-Bae, who was getting his makeup done. He had grown his hair into a short bob for the historical drama.

"Hyung, you're here," he greeted, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm good."

Having lived in a shantytown in the past, Deok-Bae wasn't much affected by any environment. He thought, 'Whatever it is, it's better than back then.'

At that moment, PD Lee Sun-Ae of MBS Documentary 7 Days quietly came closer to me. "Chief Jung, let's do an interview, okay?"

At thirty-six years old, she was a PD known even in the documentary world for pulling good viewership ratings.

"Me?" I asked.

"Yes. There's a lot I want to ask about episodes from the shoot this week."

"Sorry... but I don't have the time."

"What do you mean you don't? We can do a quick interview while you're getting your makeup done."

Being a quick-witted PD, it looked like there was no escaping her.

Deok-Bae finished his makeup and stood up from his seat. "Hyung, I'm done. Sit here."

Yang So-Ri smiled and tapped the chair. "Mr. Jung~ come on over."

I switched places with Deok-Bae and leaned back in the chair.

"I'll make you look your absolute best today."

Yang So-Ri's eyes were sparkling to a burdensome degree.

"Just make sure I don't stand out too much."

In the mirror, Yang So-Ri wiggled her finger at me. "Nope! I'll make it so people say 'like actor, like talent agent'—both of you will look your absolute best. Just trust me."

Her eyes sparkled so brightly that I just let her handle my face. "As you... wish..."

Humming a tune, Yang So-Ri began applying makeup. "Okay~"

At the same time, Chae Sang-Woo, who was in charge of styling, started picking out pants and shoes for me.

Meanwhile, Deok-Bae stood up from the sofa. "Hyung, I'm going to the bathroom."

"Alright~"

The moment he left, Jung Sang-Bong, who had just finished eating, quickly set down his chopsticks and followed. "Let's go together."

As soon as Deok-Bae and Jung Sang-Bong left the waiting room, the MBS Documentary 7 Days team immediately pointed their cameras at me and began the interview.

"Chief Jung, tell us about when you first met Deok-Bae. I heard you were the one who scouted him?"

I began recounting the story of our first meeting. From that moment on, I chose only the good stories I knew about Deok-Bae, drawing on my countless pre-regression interview experiences.

***

While makeup thick enough for a celebrity was being applied, Lee Sun-Ae bombarded me with questions. She even threw in some risky ones about Deok-Bae's dating life.

However, I handled them calmly. "Deok-Bae is currently focused on raising Han-Ul and has no time for dating."

When I avoided her various trap questions, Lee Sun-Ae suddenly let out a deep sigh. "What is this? Deok-Bae just smiles like some old soul, and the talent agent dodges questions like he's been doing this for over ten years? What is this duo?"

Since Deok-Bae had experienced a tough life from a young age, he was already quite mature. On top of that, he had a lot of experience, so he avoided all of Lee Sun-Ae's traps.

And I was a talent agent who had returned from the future. So no matter how provocative Lee Sun-Ae's questions were, neither of us took the bait.

I smiled and reassured her. "Even without being provocative, the viewership ratings will be fine."

Lee Sun-Ae grumbled in reply. "Tch. Fine, I admit it. Honestly, I am amazed that a kid from that kind of environment can maintain such a pure calmness."

"Maybe it's just his nature?"

"Yeah. I really hope so. When I'm filming documentaries, there are times I want to believe in Mencius' theory that people are inherently good."

Thanks to Deok-Bae, she said her belief in Xunzi's theory that people are inherently evil had shifted toward Mencius' belief in inherent goodness.

Just then, the waiting room door burst open and AD Lee Jung-Sae came in.

Bang.

"Mr. Jung, there's a big problem!"

I turned my head, forgetting about the makeup. "What problem?"

"Ace's Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon is scolding Deok-Bae right now!"

Yoon Joo-Yeon, who had come to film the extra teaser for next week, was causing trouble.

In that instant, I shot up from my seat like a spring, makeup forgotten, to go save Deok-Bae.

***

As I ran toward where Deok-Bae was, I asked Lee Jung-Sae, "But why is Joo-Yeon scolding our Deok-Bae?"

Panting as he followed me, Lee Jung-Sae said, "Huff, huff... she said... he didn't greet her... huff, huff..."

That was ridiculous. I had told them countless times how important greetings were in the entertainment industry, so there was no way Deok-Bae or Jung Sang-Bong, who trusted my words implicitly, would fail to greet someone.

Running quickly, I arrived at the waiting room hallway in the blink of an eye. Just as Lee Jung-Sae said, Yoon Joo-Yeon, from Ace Entertainment and the Third Queen in Hwaranjeon, was pointing her finger at Deok-Bae.

"Hey! When you see a sunbae who's so far above you, you should have run right over and greeted me immediately. How dare you give some half-hearted greeting and try to walk off?"

"I'm sorry, sunbae-nim. I was in a hurry to get to the waiting room and prepare for filming, so I made a mistake."

"You little brat, making excuses. They spoil you on the filming set, and now you think this place is your own living room?"

It was absurd nitpicking, but Deok-Bae was holding it in.

Then Jung Sang-Bong apologized again. "Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon, we're sorry for missing you earlier and greeting you late. But since we have a shoot now, could we visit you afterwards instead?"

"Hey, talent agent. You keep your mouth shut. Did I say I needed your apology?"

Even so, Jung Sang-Bong spoke again. "I'm sorr—"

"I told you to shut your mouth!"

At that moment, Yoon Joo-Yeon raised her hand, about to slap Jung Sang-Bong across the face. Even if I gave her the benefit of the doubt and said the greeting wasn't done properly, this was too much.

I quickly ran forward and grabbed her wrist tightly.

Clench!

"That's enough, Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon."

Yoon Joo-Yeon's arm trembled as she snapped her head toward me. It was a slender arm, but the force she had been about to swing with was so strong it made my arm sway.

"What? Hey! Chief Jung, how dare you! Let go of my arm!"

I looked at her with a calm expression. "Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon. I said stop."

"Hey! Let go of me! Are you letting go or not?"

I wanted to keep holding on, but if I did, I might leave a bruise. I had no choice but to let go.

With her hand freed, Yoon Joo-Yeon stumbled back two steps. "Ugh... both the actor and the talent agent are a matched pair of brats..."

I was about to fire back when a sudden thought flashed through my head.

'Could this be because her screen time for next week got cut, and she's taking it out on Deok-Bae?'

Originally, next week's guests were supposed to be Yoon Joo-Yeon and rookie actress Sun Hye-Joo. But since Deok-Bae had suddenly been booked, her screen time must have been reduced. Recently, Yoon Joo-Yeon had been the lead, so she must be angry about it.

Creating some distance, I whispered to Lee Jung-Sae who had come with me. "Was there a cut in Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon's filming for next week?"

Looking around cautiously, Lee Jung-Sae whispered back. "Yes. Since Mr. Deok-Bae and you were added, her portion was cut in half."

I was right. This whole thing was because she had been overshadowed by a rookie in a variety program. She was taking out the frustration she should have aimed at the production staff on Deok-Bae instead.

'In that case... let's see how this goes, Ms. Yoon Joo-Yeon.'

I immediately leaned in to whisper in Lee Jung-Sae's ear. "Please bring the PD here."

"Right now?"

"Yes. Right now."

Lee Jung-Sae nodded and ran back down the hallway we had come from. Then I stepped in front of Deok-Bae and Jung Sang-Bong to block them, and shouted toward Yoon Joo-Yeon. From the direction of the waiting room, I saw the MBS Documentary 7 Days film crew running over with excited expressions, cameras ready.

'Make sure you film this well, Ms. Lee.'

"Are you not ashamed to take out your frustration on a rookie just because you lost screen time in a variety program?"

As soon as a provocative scene emerged, MBS Documentary 7 Days' Lee Sun-Ae's face lit up. Even in a cultural program, a bit of stimulation wasn't a bad thing—at least, for everyone except the actor abusing their power.

Unaware of the MBS Documentary 7 Days team, Yoon Joo-Yeon kept yelling. "These brats! Now you think you can say anything you want to me?!"

From that point, I started laying out all of Yoon Joo-Yeon's petty behavior so it would be caught by Lee Sun-Ae's camera.

And then, faster than I expected, The Omniscient Viewpoint's Park Eun-Chan came running over. Beside him was CP Baek Seok-Joo, one of the candidates for the next director position.

"What the hell are you all doing!? Stop this right now!" Baek Seok-Joo's booming voice echoed through the waiting room hallway.

'If I play this right, I might be able to finish her in one shot.'