Chapter 1064.1: Omen (1)

In Hoop Entertainment's underground theater, Yoo-Jin appeared on stage holding Miso's hand. Yoo-Jin was dressed in a black suit, while Miso wore a white one-piece dress with a pink crossbody bag.

Miso was wearing the same outfit from the farewell scene outside the hospital in episode 17 of Land of Happiness, while Yoo-Jin was dressed in the outfit Yoon Kkot-Nim's adoptive mother had worn in that same episode.

The reporters who had just watched episode 17 of Land of Happiness became even more excited. And yet, surprisingly, not a single one of them raised a camera.

'Huh? What's going on?'

Entertainment reporters, often called trashporters, normally had a habit of shoving cameras into people's faces first. Even if it earned them curses and contempt, they would do whatever it took to chase views. Yet now, all twenty entertainment reporters were behaving with impeccable manners.

At that moment, Yoo-Jin, Miso, and I all stared blankly at them in disbelief.

Then Reporter Yoo Han-Gyu spoke up in a loud voice, "Ms. Yoo-Jin, I'm sorry!"

The other reporters quickly followed.

"Yeah, we've gone way too far all this time."

"We were so blinded by chasing stories that we treated you terribly. Please forgive us."

"Miso, I'm sorry!"

As unbelievable as it was, the entertainment reporters were actually apologizing to Yoo-Jin and Miso. Anyone in this industry would have suspected the reporters were on their deathbeds after seeing something like this. It looked like today, I had cast Jung Yoon-Ho's magic a little too powerfully.

'Who would've thought those trashporters could turn into real reporters?'

Yoo-Jin looked at me in shock and whispered, "Did you tell them to do this?"

I shook my head and answered, "As if. Do you think these people would listen just because I told them to?"

"Then why are they acting like this?"

"I'll explain later. Everyone's waiting."

Yoo-Jin nodded before turning back to the reporters. "Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you saying that. I accept your apology."

As soon as Yoo-Jin accepted, the reporters let out sighs of relief.

Then Yoo Han-Gyu politely asked Miso, "Are you feeling better now?"

Miso answered with a bright smile, "Yes! I'm all better now!"

"That's good to hear. Then... would it be all right if we took some pictures now?"

Miso looked at her mother. Yoo-Jin nodded, and the two of them struck their poses. Only then did the reporters begin firing off their camera flashes.

The underground theater was flooded with bright flashes until the entire room glowed. After the photo session ended, the reporters began asking surprisingly thoughtful questions.

"Miss Jung Miso! Could you tell us more about what you were feeling while filming Land of Happiness today?"

"How were you able to perform the scenes where you couldn't move your legs?"

"The scene after you fell out of the wheelchair was especially impressive. Was that part written into the script?"

Just as the reporters were firing off one insightful question after another, a Kk Talk message came in.

Buzz.

[PD Ju Se-Hyung: Chief Jung, the viewership ratings hit 30.1%! Seriously, what is going on today?!]

'I guess it's time to finish this once and for all.'

To whip the reporters into an even greater frenzy, I called out to the ones already busy writing their articles. "Everyone! Episode 17 of Land of Happiness just hit a 30.1% viewership ratings!"

Yoo Han-Gyu snorted excitedly and shouted, "Seriously? I knew we were right! Got it, Chief Jung. Our company's going to throw its full support behind this, so send us any additional material you've got!"

Beside him, Reporter Park Sung-Chan from Entertainment Peak Time yelled, "Send it to us too!"

"Yeah! I'll have everyone at the office work overtime tonight, so send us everything!"

The reporters all shouted excitedly, asking for follow-up material from the company. The gleam in their eyes was like a horde of zombies spotting the last living human on Earth.

In just a single day, the results of Jung Yoon-Ho's magic over the reporters had descended into pure madness.

'Maybe... I overdid it.'

***

At Ace Entertainment president's office, Kim Dong-Soo looked at his phone and let out a disbelieving laugh.

The entertainment reporters who had been dismissed as tabloid vultures were suddenly acting like respectable reporters from major newspapers. Now they were even writing articles that practically made them the personal cheer squad for Jung Miso and Hoop Entertainment.

"Did these trashporters all get drugged or something? What's gotten into them all of a sudden?"

[Jung Miso Announces Return to Activities. Appears at Press Conference and Declares She Will Face Malicious Comments Head-On.]

[Jung Miso Hopes for a Healthier Online Comment Culture.]

[Land of Happiness Episode 17 Sets New Personal Best of 30.1% Thanks to the Child Actors' Passionate Performances.]

[SBC Daily Drama Declares Complete Comeback. At the Center of It All Is Jung Miso.]

[Land of Happiness: Yoon Na-Ra and Yoon Kkot-Nim Begin Their Tearful Journey to Find Their Lost Family.]

...

What truly left Kim Dong-Soo speechless, however, was that the business section had started covering them as well.

[Estimated Economic Value of the Cultural Influence of Mother-Daughter Duo Jung Yoo-Jin and Jung Miso Exceeds 300 Billion Won.]

[The Magic of a Single Drama. Hwaranjeon Drives Gyeongju Tourism Up 2,000% Year-over-Year, Drawing the Attention of Mayors and Governors Eager to Recruit Jung Yoo-Jin.]

[Hoop Entertainment Stock Price Target Raised to 300 Thousand Won Per Share.]

[Securities Analysts Significantly Raise Hoop Entertainment's Growth Outlook.]

[Hoop Entertainment, Now No. 2 in the Industry, Expected to Claim the Top Spot Soon.]

...

"Damn it. Did someone shove bags of cash down those reporters' throats? There's no way those tabloid vultures would ever act like this otherwise..."

Just then, Yang Ji-Hoon and Park Sang-Ah, who were sitting across from him on the sofa, spoke up in turn.

"Hyung-nim, see? If you want to deal with Chief Jung, you'll have to join forces with us."

"That's right, Mr. Dong-Soo. Stop hesitating and work with us."

Since both of them already knew Kim Dong-Soo personally, they spoke casually.

Kim Dong-Soo set his phone down and repeated Yang Ji-Hoon's proposal. "So you're saying we'll take down Jung Yoon-Ho by consolidating Korea's entertainment companies into a giant corporation that surpasses Bunnies Production. And you want me in on it too?"

Yang Ji-Hoon nodded. "Yes."

"But if Bunnies Production has all those subsidiaries under a parent company, where does Ace Entertainment fit in? The parent company... or a subsidiary?"

"We'll use TK Entertainment as the core and absorb the other Korean entertainment companies as subsidiaries."

Kim Dong-Soo's face immediately twisted into a scowl as he glared at Yang Ji-Hoon. "So what you're really meaning is that you want me working under you?"

"Not at all."

"Cut the crap. To me, it sounds like you're telling me to kneel before you first if I want to take down that bastard Jung Yoon-Ho."

"It'll only be a TK Entertainment subsidiary in form. In return, we'll provide you with as much funding as you need."

The moment he heard that, Kim Dong-Soo shook his head without hesitation. "No."

"Hyung-nim!"

"Forget the 'hyung-nim.' I've got no intention of bowing my head to you, so let's just go our separate ways. Besides, I'm going to crush that bastard Jung Yoon-Ho with my own hands."

Yang Ji-Hoon stared at him silently before speaking. "You already failed, didn't you?"

Kim Dong-Soo raised his voice. "That's exactly why I'm making sure I don't fail this time!"

At Kim Dong-Soo's insistence that he was preparing something different, Yang Ji-Hoon backed off. "I understand. Then... would you at least be willing to maintain a cooperative relationship with us?"

"Cooperation?"

"Yes. If an opportunity comes up to strike at Jung Yoon-Ho, we'll work together."

"If it's something like that... then sure."

At that moment, Yang Ji-Hoon casually asked, "Then could you tell me a little about these preparations of yours?"

"I can't tell you that much. More importantly, what's your next move?"

Looking slightly disappointed, Yang Ji-Hoon replied, "We've already set a few things in motion. But before I explain them, I'd like to report our partnership to Assemblyman Park."

"You're one meticulous bastard. Fine. Do it."

Having secured only a half-hearted alliance, Yang Ji-Hoon rose from his seat to leave the president's office.

Just then, Park Sang-Ah waved him off. "You go ahead. I'll stay and talk with President Kim Dong-Soo for a bit before I leave."

"...Understood."

Thunk.

The office door closed. The moment it did, Park Sang-Ah crossed her legs and leaned toward Kim Dong-Soo. As her blouse shifted, the faint scent of her perfume drifted over to him.

"President Kim... how about you and I form a much closer alliance?"

Kim Dong-Soo looked at her in disbelief. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"You already know that Mr. Man-Sik and I agreed not to interfere in each other's dating lives. So if the two of us became a couple, wouldn't that make our alliance much stronger?"

Kim Dong-Soo's first thought was, 'Has this crazy bitch lost her mind?' Besides, no matter how beautiful Park Sang-Ah was, Ju Yung-In still occupied his heart, so he wasn't interested in the slightest. Even so, he kept his composure and declined politely.

"I'm flattered that you think so highly of me, but let's just pretend I never heard that."

Just then, Park Sang-Ah chuckled before pulling a crimson business card from her inner pocket. A phone number was embossed across it in gold lettering.

"Think it over one more time. If you change your mind, call this number. Through me, you'll have a direct line to my father."

Kim Dong-Soo silently looked at her before replying without even touching the card. "I'll... think about it."

Park Sang-Ah stood with an expression that said, 'Just as I expected.'

"I'll be waiting for your call."

After giving him a wink, she turned around.

Thunk.

The moment the door shut, Kim Dong-Soo let out a look of utter disbelief. "What a bunch of damn lunatics."

Whether it was Yang Ji-Hoon trying to swallow up half the entertainment industry just to take down Jung Yoon-Ho, or Park Sang-Ah trying to seduce him despite being involved with Choi Man-Sik, neither of them seemed remotely sane.

Yet Kim Dong-Soo had no choice but to step into that madness himself. After everything that had happened today, Jung Yoon-Ho had become the kind of opponent no sane person could hope to face.