Chapter 1021: Attempt (2)

It was currently 11:10 a.m. Yet a schedule entry had appeared saying that Yoo-Jin would be attacked in less than an hour.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: June 1, 2021]

-12:00 p.m.: [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin]

[Entertainment Big News] (Breaking) Top Star Jung Yoo-Jin Rushed to Hospital After Attack. "Will We Never Hear Her Clear Voice Again?"

(Emergency: All schedules postponed indefinitely.)

There had been plenty of incidents involving top stars, but Yoo-Jin had always suffered more than most. Part of it was because she had achieved success faster than anyone else and had plenty of people who envied her, but more often, my enemies attacked Yoo-Jin to get to me.

The question Yoo-Jin had asked on our way here suddenly began circling through my mind.

'Should I make her quit being a celebrity, like she said?'

Ever since I regressed, I had done everything I could to protect Yoo-Jin and Miso, but lately, it felt as though Yoo-Jin was only becoming more endangered because of me.

'If Yoo-Jin ends up getting hurt because of me...'

"Oppa!"

Yoo-Jin's loud voice snapped me back to my senses. Startled, I looked to the side and saw not only Yoo-Jin but Director Yeo Ik-Hwan staring at me.

Yoo-Jin leaned in until her face was right in front of mine. "Why do you look like that? Did you get some bad news?"

'It's bad, all right. Someone is going to attack you and leave me unable to hear your clear voice like this ever again.'

Still, this was a future only I knew, so I couldn't tell her. Then I saw the worry on Yoo-Jin's face, and what I had to do from now on became clear.

'Right. Whatever it is, I just have to stop it.'

When I thought about it, there was no way my enemies would stop targeting Yoo-Jin just because she quit being a celebrity. They would probably see her as an easier target and try to crush both Yoo-Jin and me. So whoever was targeting Yoo-Jin, the better solution was to show them that coming after her would get them destroyed.

I answered, "It's nothing. Someone's trying to slash the advertising fee to a ridiculous level."

Yoo-Jin narrowed her eyes. "You looked like you were about to kill someone over that?"

"Yeah."

Yoo-Jin let out a sigh of relief. "Sheesh. I thought it was something serious..."

Yeo Ik-Hwan also sighed in relief. "I thought something terrible had happened too."

"Sorry. There are too many thieves trying to cut Yoo-Jin's commercial rate in half. Hahaha." After brushing it off with a joke, I told him I would take Yoo-Jin with me. "Then I'll take Yoo-Jin to get her makeup touched up."

Yeo Ik-Hwan nodded. "All right."

I immediately took Yoo-Jin to the waiting room connected to MBS's public hall.

On the way there, I warned her. "Yoo-Jin. It's the last day of filming, so be careful. Especially with food and drinks. Don't take anything from anyone."

"Okay. But oppa, I've barely had any water since yesterday because of my diet, and I'm really thirsty right now. Can I get some water?"

"After your makeup's done and you're onstage rehearsing, I'll bring you some water from my car."

Until noon, I couldn't trust any food or drink inside MBS, so I told her I would bring bottled water from the small refrigerator in my Ventley Flying Spur.

"Okay. I'll hold out until then."

Fortunately, Yoo-Jin followed my instructions without complaint.

***

In the waiting room at MBS's public hall, the production staff of She Was Beautiful were fully prepared and waiting to get Yoo-Jin ready.

Chief Gong Soo-Ji, who was in charge of hairstyling, pointed to a chair as soon as Yoo-Jin entered. "Miss Yoo-Jin. I'll touch up your makeup first."

"Okay, Ms. Gong."

Yoo-Jin sat down at the table.

Gong Soo-Ji flipped through the storyboard on her tablet, then pointed to the Montres Baguette watch on Yoo-Jin's left wrist. "Hmm... Miss Yoo-Jin. I think you'll have to take off that watch. Lee Byul-Bit is a singer who just reached number one, so I don't think she'd go onstage wearing a luxury watch."

"Okay. Got it."

Yoo-Jin immediately took off the watch, opened the small handbag she always carried, and put it inside.

"Oh, right. Miss Yoo-Jin. Want something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm not thirsty."

Countless people could come and go through the waiting room, so Yoo-Jin firmly refused.

"Really? All right. Then I'll get started."

The makeup touch-up began. Yoo-Jin had already done the basic styling before leaving home, so they said they only needed to make a few adjustments. Yoo-Jin seemed thirstier than I had thought, though. She wet her lips with her tongue and gripped her skirt tightly.

'Just hold out a little longer, Jung Yoo-Jin.'

I wanted to get her some water right away, but I had no idea what might happen, so I couldn't move carelessly.

At that moment, the door opened and a familiar face peeked inside.

Click.

"What? Jung Yoo-Jin. Were you getting your makeup done?"

It was Ju Yung-In, who had said she would be coming today for a cameo appearance.

Yoo-Jin nodded. "Yeah. I just need a few touch-ups."

"Wow~ You must've dieted hard yesterday. Your jawline looks really slim."

"Looks like you put in some effort today too."

"Of course! I can't lose to you."

Ju Yung-In playfully traded barbs with Yoo-Jin before finally noticing me and greeting me.

"Oppa. Hi. Did you come because it's the last day?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I had to come watch today."

The moment I saw Ju Yung-In's cheerful face, though, I thought of a way to get Yoo-Jin some water.

"Yung-In. Come with me for a second."

"Huh? Why?"

"Just come outside."

I took the puzzled Ju Yung-In out of the waiting room.

***

"So you're saying someone might try to hurt Yoo-Jin?"

That was the question Ju Yung-In asked after I told her to watch Yoo-Jin until I got back from the car.

"Yeah."

"How are you so sure there's going to be an attack?"

"My intel team got a tip."

Ju Yung-In knew I had Lee Doo-Oh, so she nodded.

"Anyway, I'll be right back, so keep a close eye on Yoo-Jin. You've got good instincts when it comes to antis too, right? Just stop anyone suspicious from getting near her."

Ju Yung-In had been one of those actors with an unusually large number of anti-fans ever since her debut. Because of that, she had developed a strong sense of caution around people. Thanks to it, despite several attacks involving things like razor blades in fan letters and tiny cameras hidden inside teddy bears, she had never once fallen victim to any of them.

Then Ju Yung-In asked a pointed question. "Oppa, don't you think I might be the one trying to hurt her?"

I knew Ju Yung-In better than anyone else in the world.

I shook my head and answered, "No. Ju Yung-In's too proud to pull something that pathetic."

At my decisive answer, Ju Yung-In laughed in disbelief. "Tsk. If you put it like that, I couldn't do it even if you handed me the perfect chance. Fine, go. I'll keep watch, so when this is all over, you owe me a meal. An expensive one!"

"Deal!"

I watched Ju Yung-In head back to the waiting room with her arms crossed, then hurried to the parking lot.

***

"All done, Miss Yoo-Jin."

"Thank you, Ms. Gong."

The moment her makeup was finished, Jung Yoo-Jin could feel her mouth going completely dry. She had been dieting since yesterday and had barely drunk any water because of today's final shoot. Her condition suddenly began to worsen more than she had expected.

At this rate, she might not even be able to sing onstage, so Jung Yoo-Jin came up with an idea.

'Tap water!'

Jung Yoon-Ho had told her not to drink anything anyone gave her, so she figured she could go to the bathroom sink and just wet her mouth.

"Ms. Gong. I'm going to the bathroom for a minute."

"Sure."

At that moment, Ju Yung-In sprang up from the sofa. "I'll come with you."

Ju Yung-In followed Jung Yoo-Jin out of the waiting room.

As soon as they stepped outside, Jung Yoo-Jin asked Ju Yung-In a question. "Why aren't you getting your makeup done? Why are you following me around?"

"Someone asked me for a favor. I'll get my makeup done after I'm finished."

"Don't tell me Yoon-Ho oppa asked you to look after me when you two went outside earlier."

"Yeah. He said Jung Yoo-Jin was like a little kid left by the water and asked mature, responsible me to take good care of you."

Jung Yoo-Jin snickered. "You're lying, aren't you?"

"Sharp little brat. Anyway, it was something along those lines. Someone might try to pick a fight with you, though, so I really am coming with you."

Jung Yoo-Jin narrowed her eyes as she answered, "Who's going to pick a fight with me at a broadcasting station? Even if someone did, do you really think I'd just stand there and take it?"

Ju Yung-In knew full well that Jung Yoo-Jin was capable of doing some pretty bold things when it mattered, so she snickered. "Yeah, yeah. You're amazing. Still, you should be a little more careful. Remember that someone smiling to your face might actually be your enemy."

"You're not talking about yourself, are you?"

"I'm including myself."

Ju Yung-In narrowed her eyes in an attempt to look serious.

Jung Yoo-Jin only smiled. "I'll remember that, Ju Yung-In. And... thanks for making a cameo today."

"Wow. Took you long enough to say that."

The two of them fought over Jung Yoon-Ho, but after clashing so often, they had developed a strange sort of friendship.

They reached the end of the hallway, passed the entrance to the men's bathroom, and were just about to reach the women's bathroom.

Suddenly, a woman in her early thirties wearing a crossbody bag popped out from the entrance. Ju Yung-In and Jung Yoo-Jin flinched and stopped in their tracks. A broadcasting station guest badge was pinned to the woman's chest. She was clearly there to appear later as an audience extra in She Was Beautiful.

Then, the moment the woman saw Jung Yoo-Jin, she cried out in surprise, "Oh? It's Jung Yoo-Jin!"

The woman quickly approached Jung Yoo-Jin.

Ju Yung-In instinctively stepped in front of her. "What do you want?"

At Ju Yung-In's sharp voice, the woman stopped in surprise. She was short and had a round face that gave her a gentle appearance, but Ju Yung-In didn't lower her guard. After all, one of her worst stalkers had once been a fan she had liked precisely because they looked kind.

As Ju Yung-In glared at her fiercely, the woman spoke in a trembling voice. "Ah. I'm a bit-part actor here to play an audience member today, and I'm a fan of Miss Yoo-Jin. Ah, seriously. I'm sorry, but could I please have Miss Yoo-Jin's autograph? Please?"

The woman in her early thirties fidgeted excitedly, looking like an obsessed fan who had just met her favorite actor.

Ju Yung-In, however, spoke firmly. "Sorry, but Yoo-Jin is focusing on her role right now. Ask her for an autograph after filming is over."

The woman's shoulders slumped as if her world had ended.

Jung Yoo-Jin watched her for a moment, then whispered quietly, "Let's just give her an autograph and go, Yung-In."

Ju Yung-In eventually stepped aside. If anything seemed wrong, she could intervene then.

The woman quickly pulled an autograph sheet and a pen from her bag. Jung Yoo-Jin took both and began signing against the bathroom wall.

"What's your name?"

"Choi Song-Jung."

"Miss Choi Song-Jung. Okay~"

As Jung Yoo-Jin repeated Choi Song-Jung's name while signing, she unconsciously ran her tongue over her dry lips.

Watching Jung Yoo-Jin, Choi Song-Jung pulled a bottle of water from her bag with a concerned look. "If you're thirsty, have this."

Around the bottle was a label with [Jung Yoo-Jin ♡ Jung Miso] and a photo of Jung Yoo-Jin hugging Jung Miso.

Jung Yoo-Jin exclaimed in surprise when she saw the photo. "That photo was only shared with Sincere members, the third-highest rank in You & Me..."

"Yes. That's right. I'm a member of You & Me."

You & Me was the name of Yoo-Jin and Miso's fan club.

"Oh, really?"

With several clues proving that Choi Song-Jung was a genuine die-hard fan, Jung Yoo-Jin relaxed slightly.

"Yes. So you don't have to worry. I brought this for myself, but I've been carrying it with an ice pack, so it's cold. Go ahead."

Choi Song-Jung held out the bottle again.

Jung Yoo-Jin still didn't take it. "I'm sorry, but I'll just accept the thought. I've been told not to eat or drink anything from outside today."

Choi Song-Jung looked disappointed. "It's just water... Can't you take a sip and let me get a picture? I want to post it in the You & Me fan club and on my social media too."

Despite her pleading tone, Jung Yoo-Jin refused. "I'm sorry."

Choi Song-Jung bit her lip slightly, irritation crossing her face.

At that moment, Ju Yung-In's eyes sharpened. Showing hostility instead of disappointment in this situation wasn't how a fan would react.

"Ms. Choi Song-Jung. Yoo-Jin already gave you an autograph, so please leave it at that and go wait in the audience seats. We're running late."

Sensing something was wrong, Ju Yung-In grabbed Jung Yoo-Jin's arm and tried to walk past Choi Song-Jung.

Choi Song-Jung immediately blocked their path. "Seriously, this is too much. Why? You think I put something in the water or something? Huh?"

Despite claiming to be Jung Yoo-Jin's fan only moments ago, she was now openly hostile.

Ju Yung-In responded just as aggressively. "Don't you know celebrities don't drink things strangers give them?"

"God, Ju Yung-In. You're just as damn rude as everyone says. Hey, stay out of this!"

That was when Ju Yung-In immediately grabbed her phone and tried to call Jung Yoon-Ho. Jung Yoon-Ho should be back soon, so calling him was far wiser than confronting Choi Song-Jung herself.

At that moment, Choi Song-Jung suddenly tried to open the bottle she was holding. "Damn it!"

Ju Yung-In instinctively shoved her. "What the hell are you doing?"

Stagger.

Choi Song-Jung staggered back several steps after Ju Yung-In shoved her.

That was when Choi Song-Jung gritted her teeth, twisted off the cap, and flung the liquid in the bottle forward. "Fuck!"

The clear liquid sprayed through the air. Startled, Ju Yung-In wrapped her arms around Jung Yoo-Jin and hunched over. Jung Yoo-Jin instinctively hugged Ju Yung-In in return and ducked her head.

The two of them, each trying to protect the other, braced themselves in terror for what was about to happen. Yet nothing happened to either Ju Yung-In or Jung Yoo-Jin.

Jung Yoon-Ho had suddenly rushed out of the men's bathroom and thrown his suit jacket over their heads, protecting them from the liquid.

***

"Let go of me!"

After rushing out of the bathroom and throwing my suit jacket over Yoo-Jin and Ju Yung-In, I snatched the nearly empty water bottle from Choi Song-Jung's hand. I set the bottle down and restrained her.

Yoo-Jin pulled my suit jacket off her head and looked at me. "Oppa?"

"If any of the liquid got on you, get to the bathroom and rinse it off with water! Hurry!"

Ju Yung-In answered for her. "Thanks to your jacket, not a single drop touched us."

"Go to the bathroom and check anyway! If any got on your clothes, rinse it off with water!"

"Okay."

Ju Yung-In got up and started toward the women's bathroom right beside us. Yoo-Jin, however, walked toward me.

"Yoo-Jin. I told you to go wash up."

However, Yoo-Jin strode over without answering and slapped Choi Song-Jung across the face as I held her.

Smack!

Choi Song-Jung's head dropped from the force of Yoo-Jin's sharp slap. The blow must have landed squarely on her jaw because she passed out.

"How dare you use my Miso to sabotage me? Do you have a death wish?"

Yoo-Jin huffed angrily and raised her hand again.

I hurriedly stopped her. "Yoo-Jin. I told you to wash up."

"Oppa, I'm fine too. More importantly, a few drops got on your jacket. What is this stuff that has you so worked up?"

I looked down and saw a few drops on my dress shirt. I immediately tore it off.

Riiip.

If my guess was right, the water bottle contained a colorless, odorless chemical used as a raw ingredient in agricultural pesticides. Depending on the concentration, it was a dangerous poison that could kill someone if swallowed. There was no way I could take any chances.

"I'll tell you later, so get away from here and go to the bathroom. Rinse anything even remotely suspicious with water! Wash your hair too! And cover your nose with tissue when you come back out."

"O-Okay."

"Oh, and pour some water over this woman's arm too."

A few drops had splashed onto the back of Choi Song-Jung's hand when I took the bottle from her.

"Okay." Yoo-Jin turned and checked on Ju Yung-In. "Yung-In, are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"Thank goodness. And... thank you."

"You're welcome."

After thanking Ju Yung-In, Yoo-Jin helped her drag the unconscious Choi Song-Jung into the bathroom. I ran to the bathroom as well, poured water over my upper body, and washed myself off before finally calling emergency services.

"This is the hallway outside the waiting rooms at MBS's public hall. A woman put what appears to be poison in a water bottle and tried to throw it at someone before she was stopped."

I also told them that only a small amount of liquid remained in the bottle and that we had rinsed ourselves with water.

-We'll dispatch a team immediately. Stay as far away from the water bottle as possible.

"Okay."

After hanging up, I checked Everyday.

[Everyday V13]

[Date: June 1, 2021]

-12:00 p.m.: <Schedule Entry Deleted>

(Deleted Schedule Entry: [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin]

[Entertainment Big News] (Breaking) Top Star Jung Yoo-Jin Rushed to Hospital After Attack. "Will We Never Hear Her Clear Voice Again?"

(Emergency: All schedules postponed indefinitely.))

Fortunately, the schedule entry had been deleted.

Just then, Ju Yung-In and Yoo-Jin came out dragging Choi Song-Jung, who was soaked from head to toe. I moved all three of them far away from the water bottle, caught my breath, and checked on Yoo-Jin and Ju Yung-In.

"Are you both okay?"

Yoo-Jin nodded. "Yes. But oppa, why did you come out of the men's bathroom?"

"I was bringing you some water, but I needed to use the bathroom, so I stopped by."

Since I might have to stay by Yoo-Jin's side the entire time, I had stopped at the bathroom on the way back. The moment I came out, though, I saw Choi Song-Jung opening the water bottle and threw my suit jacket. It was because before my regression, I had heard of cases where celebrities were attacked with chemicals mixed into bottled water.

"Ugh..."

Choi Song-Jung regained consciousness.

Furious, Ju Yung-In grabbed her by the collar and shook her. "Who the hell are you? Why did you do this?"

Choi Song-Jung thrashed and shouted, "That Jung Yoo-Jin bitch ruined my Yung-Ill oppa! That's why I did it! So what?"

Bae Yung-Ill was Trash Number One, the man who had tried to hit on Yoo-Jin a few days ago. Choi Song-Jung claimed she was actually a member of Bae Yung-Ill's fan club and began cursing Jung Yoo-Jin.

However, watching Choi Song-Jung pretend to be another celebrity's fan and one of Yoo-Jin's anti-fans right in front of me was almost laughable.

As a regressor, I knew her true identity.