Chapter 1041: Princess and the Maid (1)

Everyone stared in stunned silence as President Kang Gam-Chan announced that he intended to step down as the president. However, I objected immediately. Kang Gam-Chan had protected me every step of the way while building Hoop Entertainment into what it was today. It was my turn to protect him.

"Mr. Kang. I'm sorry, but no matter what happened, I can't accept that order."

As if he had expected my reaction, Kang Gam-Chan repeated himself. "Chief Jung. Do as I say. I'm making this decision for the good of the company."

At that moment, President Pi Sang-Deuk cut in. "You were stubborn when you were young, and you're still just as hardheaded. Listen, President Kang... no, Gam-Chan. If my five S-class celebrities and I join Hoop Entertainment, your company has everything to gain. And I'm telling you I'll keep my mouth shut for the rest of my life, so what's there to think about?"

Kang Gam-Chan glared at Pi Sang-Deuk and shouted, "I know exactly what'll happen if you come into this company. You'll ruin my people. You think I'd be crazy enough to let you into Hoop Entertainment?"

Pi Sang-Deuk sneered. "What a joke. So you're saying I'm dirty and you're clean? Give me a break! You're no different. You ruined celebrities too!"

"I know. That's why I've been living with unbearable guilt ever since. But unlike you, I never deliberately pushed anyone into hell!"

The moment I heard them arguing, I realized the secret Kang Gam-Chan had been hiding involved an incident that had happened while managing a celebrity. That made me even more determined to protect him. There was no way Kang Gam-Chan had deliberately ruined someone's life.

I said, "Mr. Kang, then let's do this. If I can't resolve the matter, you can step down as the president afterward."

Kang Gam-Chan had always been the type to shoulder every burden alone. That was why I had lost him so meaninglessly before the regression. This time, I intended to carry that burden with him.

Director Kang Ji-Yung immediately backed me up. "That's right. If it's serious enough that you're willing to resign as the president, then at least tell us what happened. If Chief Jung can handle it, all the better. And even if he can't, you should at least give us a chance to respond."

Finance Director Jung Soo-Hyuk spoke up as well. "Exactly, President Kang. Now that he's openly threatened you, it wouldn't be surprising if whatever happened came to light at any moment. We need to know what we're dealing with if we're going to prepare."

After listening to us, Pi Sang-Deuk looked at Kang Gam-Chan with a mocking smile. "Gam-Chan, do you really think you can tell them? Come on. You've kept it buried for thirty years..."

Kang Gam-Chan flared up. "I didn't hide it because I wanted to! I couldn't tell anyone! But..." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Now that I think about it... I guess I can finally tell the truth."

"What?"

"Because now this company has someone I can trust to look after the celebrities in my place."

"Hey... hey. You're really going to do it?"

Kang Gam-Chan looked at me. "Do you know Moon Soo-Jung?"

Moon Soo-Jung was forty-seven years old this year and, for the past decade, had built a reputation as a talented supporting actress who almost exclusively played court maids and senior court ladies in historical dramas. A traffic accident years ago had left her with a slight facial asymmetry and a limp.

She usually played villains, but among everyone I had ever met, she was one of the kindest people I knew. In my previous life, she had been the mother of Han Bo-Bae, the teenage actress I managed, so I met her countless times.

I nodded and answered, "I do. She's an actress known for playing court maids and senior court ladies. Even though she's physically disabled and usually cast as a villain, she's a wonderful actress who's dedicated to every role."

"That's right. She's a wonderful actress and a wonderful person. But the reason Soo-Jung ended up with those injuries...was because of me."

At that moment, Kang Gam-Chan finally began telling the story he had carried for more than thirty years—a story from when Kang Gam-Chan was a first-year talent agent.

***

The first company Kang Gam-Chan joined was a now-defunct entertainment agency with organized crime ties called Yumyung Entertainment.

Back then, talent agents had to work under conditions that were incomparably harsher than they did now. It was far worse than anything I had endured during my own first year. On top of that, they had to learn the job while being beaten by senior employees, gangsters, producers, and directors.

Then one day, Kang Gam-Chan was assigned to look after Moon Soo-Jung, who at the time was both a high school student and a singer. She was only seventeen years old. She was so cute and beautiful that everyone at the company called her "Princess Soo-Jung," fully intending to make her a star.

However, blinded by greed, Moon Soo-Jung's mother took her talented daughter away from television dramas and had her perform at late-night nightclub shows instead.

Kang Gam-Chan protested that a minor couldn't be sent to perform at those venues, but after being beaten countless times, he had no choice but to obey orders and escort Moon Soo-Jung to the performances. After all, there was no way a talent agent could stop something that the actress's own parents had agreed to.

The nightclub performances began that way, but as Moon Soo-Jung's popularity grew, a serious problem arose. She was invited to perform all over the country, and her schedule became absolutely brutal.

When school vacation began, it became even worse. Kang Gam-Chan traveled across the country with Moon Soo-Jung while averaging less than three hours of sleep a night. He managed to endure it for one week. By the second week, his health had begun to deteriorate. By the end of the month, even living on stimulant drinks to stay awake wasn't enough to keep his mind functioning properly.

Eventually, after finishing an event in Gwangju and driving back to Seoul, he fell asleep at the wheel on a rain-soaked highway. That day, Moon Soo-Jung's future was destroyed.

Moon Soo-Jung suffered injuries that required twelve weeks of recovery. Her face and pelvis were severely damaged, leaving her unable to walk properly or even eat normally.

"The life of that bright, shining Soo-Jung was ruined just like that. If only... I'd resisted the pressure from above a little more and cut back her schedule, none of it would've happened... She would've become one of the biggest stars. Instead, because of me... her entire life changed."

Kang Gam-Chan spoke with overwhelming guilt, his face filled with bitter regret over having ruined a young woman's life. He was convinced that Moon Soo-Jung still hated him with all her heart.

'I never imagined something like this had happened.'

The revelation hit me so hard it felt as though something had crashed inside my head.

Back at Woojoo Entertainment, there had been the incident involving Yeon Bo-Ra's father, Yeon Sung-Jin, who died while she was under his management. However, he hadn't been directly responsible for that tragedy. This time was different. This was an accident in which he believed he himself had been the one at fault.

"That's why I'm stepping down as the president. If this ever comes to light, it'll affect Hoop Entertainment too. More than that... I don't want Soo-Jung to be forced to relive that pain because of something that happened thirty years ago."

I understood how Kang Gam-Chan felt. What I couldn't understand was the situation itself. If Moon Soo-Jung still resented him, there was no way she would have remained silent for the past thirty years.

More importantly, when Kang Gam-Chan died of a stroke before my regression, Moon Soo-Jung had been one of the people who cried the hardest at his funeral. Rather than showing anger, she had been utterly devastated.

I couldn't believe she still harbored that kind of hatred. So I carefully asked, "Mr. Kang... have you met Ms. Moon Soo-Jung recently?"

"No. I haven't seen her once since the accident."

"What?"

"As soon as the accident happened, I sold everything I owned and scraped together one hundred million won. I wanted to make sure Soo-Jung received the best treatment possible. But after taking the money, her parents threw me out in front of her hospital room. They said she'd gone into a panic attack the moment she heard I'd come. I tried visiting again several times after that, but her parents kept saying she still had panic attacks whenever she heard my name, so I stayed away. No matter how badly I wanted her forgiveness, what mattered most was that she wasn't hurt any further. So... even after I returned to the television industry, I never found the courage to see her."

One hundred million won thirty years ago was an enormous sum. More astonishing than that, though, was the fact that a talent agent—not even the company—had paid the compensation. However, what surprised me most was learning that the two of them had never seen each other again after the accident.

'Something doesn't add up...'

Just then, Ahn Yoo-Ra, the top actress who had come with Pi Sang-Deuk, spoke to me. "Chief Jung. You know who I am, right? I'm Soo-Jung's best friend. She may hate Mr. Kang, but if her only best friend asks her to reconcile, she'll listen. So if you take President Pi and the five of us into Hoop Entertainment, I'll talk to Soo-Jung and bring her over too. What do you think? There's no need to let this become another news story."

Even at forty-seven, Ahn Yoo-Ra remained strikingly beautiful. She was a charismatic actress best known for playing queens, empresses, and the wives of wealthy chaebol families.

Ahn Yoo-Ra had also begun acting at seventeen and was Moon Soo-Jung's closest friend in the entertainment industry. When she was young, she was known for playing princesses in historical dramas and daughters of wealthy chaebol families in modern dramas, earning her the nickname "Princess Ahn."

Ten years ago, she was the one who brought Moon Soo-Jung back into the entertainment industry after she had been struggling to make a living working in a restaurant kitchen, even helping her land acting roles.

People praised Ahn Yoo-Ra's kindness at the time, but I had managed both her and her actress daughter, Go Min-Yung, before my regression. I knew better than anyone how jealous she was and how easily she lied. Which meant there was a good chance she was lying about Moon Soo-Jung hating Kang Gam-Chan. It was a lie meant to get herself into Hoop Entertainment.

In that case, there was only one thing for me to do. After all, I was the only person in the world who knew that Moon Soo-Jung had felt far more regret than resentment toward Kang Gam-Chan.

Ignoring Ahn Yoo-Ra completely, I turned to Kang Gam-Chan. "Mr. Kang, I need to meet Ms. Moon Soo-Jung myself."

Kang Gam-Chan answered, "Didn't you hear what I said? Just hearing my name is enough to send Soo-Jung into a panic attack."

"That happened thirty years ago. Back then, you endured those impossible schedules for an entire month despite never wanting them in the first place. You may bear some responsibility for the accident, but it wasn't something you caused deliberately."

"Chief Jung..."

"And if she still resents you, then I'll kneel beside you and beg for her forgiveness. If the public condemns us and throws stones, I'll stand there and take them with you. You've always said Hoop Entertainment is one body, haven't you?"

Kang Ji-Yung immediately followed up. "Chief Jung's right. You're the one who taught us that everyone at Hoop Entertainment should stand together."

Jung Soo-Hyuk nodded in agreement. "That's right, President Kang. Let's apologize with everything we've got one more time. And if she still can't forgive you, then I'll stand beside you and take whatever stones the public throws."

Kang Gam-Chan looked at us in silence before letting out a helpless laugh, his expression impossible to describe. "...This would've all been so much easier if I'd simply left."

I smiled and shook my head. "That would be the hardest path of all."

Kang Gam-Chan let out a long sigh. "All right. Then let's finish the apology I never got to make thirty years ago. But you go meet Soo-Jung first and see how she feels. Just make protecting her your top priority."

"Then give me full authority."

"You have it."

As long as Moon Soo-Jung forgave him, we could resolve everything—even if the story became public. Once the victim had forgiven him, no one in the world would have the right to throw harsher stones.

Just then, Ahn Yoo-Ra shouted at me. "So you're planning to make a deal with Soo-Jung behind my back? Well, let me tell you something. You'll never get to meet her! Got it?"

'That's what you think.'

I already had a way to meet Moon Soo-Jung, no matter what obstacles stood in my way. I didn't so much as blink.

At that moment, Pi Sang-Deuk abruptly stood up. "So you're determined to make this difficult. Fine. I'll give you one last chance. Decide by nine o'clock tonight whether you'll take us in. If you refuse, an article exposing Kang Gam-Chan's past will be published at exactly nine."

With that, Pi Sang-Deuk walked out of the meeting room with the five top celebrities.

Bang.

The moment the door shut, I jumped to my feet. "I'm going to see Ms. Moon Soo-Jung right now."

Twelve hours was more than enough time to settle this.

***

After getting the address from Kang Gam-Chan, I headed straight to Moon Soo-Jung's home in Yongsan. Parked outside the entrance to the neatly maintained two-story house was a black Merciless Springer van. It was the same one I had seen Ahn Yoo-Ra arrive in that morning.

She confidently claimed Moon Soo-Jung would never agree to meet me, yet she had come herself to block me. She must have been worried after all. However, it didn't matter. I had the magic key that would open Moon Soo-Jung's front door.

Ding-dong.

I pressed the doorbell, but there was no response.

Ding-dong.

When I pressed the doorbell again, Moon Soo-Jung's clear voice finally came through.

-I'm sorry. I don't want to talk to anyone from Hoop Entertainment.

There was no doubt Ahn Yoo-Ra was inside trying to interfere. If I managed to clear up the misunderstanding between Kang Gam-Chan and Moon Soo-Jung and reconcile them, their blackmail would fall apart. Which meant it was time to use my magic key.

"We should talk about your situation too, Ms. Moon Soo-Jung, but I actually came because I'd like to discuss your daughter."

-...About Bo-Bae?

The key was Moon Soo-Jung's daughter, Han Bo-Bae. Before my regression, Han Bo-Bae had been an actress under Top Entertainment. She was a talented actress whose career never took off because she lived in the shadow of Ahn Yoo-Ra's daughter, Go Min-Yung.

Unlike Han Bo-Bae, whose beauty was understated and elegant, Go Min-Yung had inherited her mother's glamorous looks, enhanced through cosmetic surgery. For this reason, whenever a role became available, Go Min-Yung was always recommended first. It also helped that Ahn Yoo-Ra, already an S-class actress at the time, belonged to Top Entertainment, so everyone catered to her.

Yet Han Bo-Bae had inherited her mother's exceptional acting talent. If she were simply given the right role, she had more than enough ability to become a star. That was why I had come to recruit her. Han Bo-Bae had also belonged to HK Entertainment, and with the agency gone, she was now without representation.

A moment later, Moon Soo-Jung answered hurriedly.

-J-Just a moment. I'll open the gate.

Just then, Ahn Yoo-Ra's voice rang out through the intercom.

-Soo-Jung! Don't open it! I told you not to trust that man!

-But this is about Bo-Bae. How can I not? He said Hoop Entertainment wants to sign her.

-That's just an excuse. He obviously came here to dig up your past!

-...Even so... I'm her mother. If it's about my daughter, how can I refuse to hear him out?

The two continued arguing until the front gate unlocked.

Click.

Their voices disappeared from the intercom, so I opened the gate and stepped inside. The small yard welcomed me with flowers that had clearly been cared for with great affection.

Ahn Yoo-Ra, Moon Soo-Jung's best friend since they were both seventeen, lived in a luxurious three-hundred-pyeong villa in Seongbuk-dong. Moon Soo-Jung, on the other hand, lived in an old thirty-pyeong house.

One had always played princesses while the other played court maids in historical dramas. It left a bitter taste in my mouth that real life had turned out much the same. Especially since, according to Kang Gam-Chan, things had once been the opposite—Moon Soo-Jung had been the princess, while Ahn Yoo-Ra had been the one closer to a court maid.

Just then, the old front door opened.

Creak.

Moon Soo-Jung stood in the doorway, greeting me with an awkward smile. "I'm sorry I couldn't open the door right away. I had a guest."

I nodded. "I know. I saw Ms. Ahn Yoo-Ra's van outside."

"...That's right."

"May we go inside and talk?"

"Yes. Please come in."

Moon Soo-Jung limped slightly on her right leg as she led me into the living room. Inside the old house, Ahn Yoo-Ra was sitting on the worn sofa. She spoke sharply the moment she saw me.

"Do you really think I don't know what you're planning? You'll sign Bo-Bae, then leave her to rot. This is just your way of getting President Kang Gam-Chan forgiven for what he did, isn't it, Chief Jung?"

It was true that recruiting Han Bo-Bae would also help untangle the misunderstanding between Moon Soo-Jung and Kang Gam-Chan. However, I genuinely intended to develop her career after signing her.

At that moment, Moon Soo-Jung spoke calmly. "Yoo-Ra. No matter what, this concerns Bo-Bae's future. I'm going to hear him out."

Ahn Yoo-Ra immediately flared up. "Hey, I'll take responsibility for Bo-Bae. Don't you trust me? Once I join Hoop Entertainment and President Pi becomes the vice president, your daughter will naturally come over as part of the package deal. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Moon Soo-Jung hesitated before answering, "...You never told me that."

"I'm telling you now!" ℴℴ𝘮

With her own future at stake, Ahn Yoo-Ra was doing everything she could to stop Moon Soo-Jung and Kang Gam-Chan from reconciling.

Watching Ahn Yoo-Ra speak as though this were her own home while Moon Soo-Jung couldn't bring herself to firmly push back, I couldn't help thinking their real-life relationship mirrored the roles they had always played on screen. They were a princess and her court maid.

At that moment, I couldn't hold back anymore and snapped at Ahn Yoo-Ra. "So, Ms. Ahn Yoo-Ra... do you intend for Bo-Bae to spend the rest of her life as Min-Yung's maid too?"

Both of their daughters were currently first-year students at Hanyung Arts High School, the same school Haru and Sae-Ri attended. Among them, Ahn Yoo-Ra's daughter, Go Min-Yung, was the standout of her class. She was a rising star and fashion icon with over two hundred thousand followers on social media.

Compared to her, Han Bo-Bae was little more than Min-Yung's maid. She had played Min-Yung's friend in the drama Morning Dew, and even in LT Beverage's Fresh Water commercial, she had once again been cast as "Go Min-Yung's friend." She was always standing beside her.

Ahn Yoo-Ra didn't seem ashamed in the slightest. "So what? A plain girl like Bo-Bae should be grateful she's getting roles like that at all. Besides, don't you realize she's becoming more popular thanks to my Min-Yung?"

Even after hearing her daughter belittled like that, Moon Soo-Jung merely clenched her fist. She couldn't bring herself to argue. After all, Ahn Yoo-Ra was the one who had helped her return to the entertainment industry and made sure she could at least make a living by landing court maid roles. She was also the person who used her influence with agencies and advertisers to secure acting jobs for Bo-Bae.

Even so, whatever had happened between Kang Gam-Chan and Moon Soo-Jung, I couldn't allow this mother and daughter to remain dependent on Ahn Yoo-Ra any longer. No matter what had happened in the past, this was the problem I intended to solve first. Because no one had the right to treat another person this way.

"That's only what you think, Ahn Yoo-Ra," I said.

"What? Did you just call me Ahn Yoo-Ra? How dare you—"

Ignoring her completely, I looked at Moon Soo-Jung and spoke firmly. The princess-and-maid relationship had already lasted long enough in one generation.

"There was something special about Bo-Bae's acting the moment I saw it. That's why I intend to recommend Miss Han Bo-Bae as the female lead in Haru's next project, Happy & Happy."

Before my regression, Go Min-Yung had been the female lead of Happy & Happy. Han Bo-Bae had played the heroine's friend in that film as well.

This time, I intended to completely rewrite both of their destinies.