Chapter 154: Hostility (2)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Because of the fresh article that had just gone live.

《[Exclusive] Top Actress Jeon So-hee's Former Manager Reveals "Jeon So-hee Has Been Illegally Using Propofol for Years"》

Jeon So-hee's team inside the van descended into chaos. Everyone, from the driver and front passenger to those in the back seats, was busy answering calls.

"Yes! CEO!! Yes, yes, So-hee ssi just checked the article! Yes! I asked her several times, but she wouldn't really answer... Ah! I'm sorry!!"

Of course, they were in emergency mode. Amid the clamor of the entire team answering calls, the General Manager sitting in the passenger seat abruptly twisted around.

"So-hee!!"

"......"

Jeon So-hee, staring blankly down at her phone, didn't answer right away. The frantic General Manager called out to her loudly again.

"Jeon So-hee!!"

Only then did Jeon So-hee snap back to her senses.

"...Huh?? Ah, yeah."

"Get a grip! What's with that article? Is it true?? The Director told me to confirm that first, so answer me. Is it true or not."

If it was the Director, it was obviously someone from Jeon So-hee's agency, 'GOO Production'. However, Jeon So-hee.

"I... don't know. I don't know."

Began denying reality. Quite vehemently.

"Ah!! I said I don't know! I don't! I don't know!!"

"Ha... this is driving me insane. If it's a former manager, it must be one of the guys who handled you before I came along. Just tell me straight. I'm asking if this article is true. It's not, right??"

"...I don't know!!!"

Half out of her mind, Jeon So-hee began tearing at her hair with both hands. What was this? Why the hell was something like this happening right now?? For a moment, she thought everything was a dream. But her scalp hurt far too much as she tore at her hair.

In other words, it was unmistakably reality.

With her brain on the verge of breaking down, Jeon So-hee retraced everything she'd done from the past until now. She didn't even have to go that far back. Illegal propofol use?

'Ha, fuck. Would it work if I just denied it to the bitter end??! What do I do?!'

Because it was true.

'No, more importantly, who the hell is this fucking manager!!!'

Jeon So-hee had no idea who the 'former manager' mentioned in the article was. She'd been in the entertainment industry for far too long, and countless managers, road managers included, had come and gone around her over the years.

At that moment, the General Manager, who had just hung up another call, screamed at her.

"Jeon So-hee!! Tell me straight! Is it true or not!!"

"I, I just! I just couldn't sleep! I only did it so I could get some sleep!!"

She had phrased it indirectly, but it was still an admission that Jeon So-hee had illegally used propofol, and the General Manager covered his face with one hand.

"......Ha, fuck. We're fucked."

After that.

The scandal over Jeon So-hee's illegal propofol use, which exploded with a bang on the morning of Sunday the 4th.

"W-What the hell is this!! Jeon So-hee, illegal propofol??!"

Quickly came to the attention of media outlets everywhere.

"Hey!! Reporter Kim! Stop spacing out and start firing them off! Get the article out first!"

"Ah! Yes!!"

Before long, countless reporters' fingers began flying across their keyboards.

It took less than thirty minutes for articles about Jeon So-hee to blanket the portal sites.

《Top Actress Jeon So-hee Rocked by Illegal Propofol Scandal!》

《Illegal Propofol Use? Looking Into Jeon So-hee's Former Manager's Revelations / Photos》

《High-Flying Jeon So-hee, Headed for Rock Bottom Over Illegal Propofol Use?》

Was this the clout of a Top Actress? An enormous flood of articles poured out, and their contents spread across social media and countless online communities.

All of this happened in barely two hours, and by late morning, Kang Jae-ha was in an 'MEG' conference room meeting with people from 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'. Quite a few people had gathered in the conference room.

PD Do Jin-deok, of course, along with writer Song Eun-hee, the CP, and even the head of LBS's Drama Department.

On MEG's side, Kang Jae-ha, Lee Chan-hoo, and Cha Chung-hyeon were present. Moon Ji-a and Yoon Da-yeon were also expected to join them within roughly thirty minutes. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say all the key figures behind 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' were gathered there.

And right now, they were completely preoccupied talking about Jeon So-hee, whose name had taken over the internet.

"Whew... You saw the articles, right? The ones about Jeon So-hee."

Starting with PD Do Jin-deok, everyone gathered in the conference room made a huge fuss. And they had every reason to.

"Of course I saw them. Whew... If we'd actually cast Jeon So-hee, seriously...... That would've been a nightmare."

Because Jeon So-hee had almost become the Female Lead of 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'.

"PD Do. If any article comes out later saying our broadcasting station has even the slightest connection to 'GOO Production' or Jeon So-hee, draw a line immediately."

"Yes, yes, I know."

"But that article about Jeon So-hee... is it true?"

"Who knows. But from what I read, the witness and the evidence both looked solid. At this rate, there's a good chance more witnesses will come forward. She'll just hit Rock Bottom."

For dozens of minutes, the people from 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' went on and on about Jeon So-hee, while the disguised Kang Jae-ha merely listened. At that point, the department head, PD Do, and the others suddenly expressed their gratitude to Jae-ha.

"Thank you, Director. Seriously, if it weren't for 'MEG', we would've been in huge trouble."

In the end, the situation had turned into one where 'MEG' had made LBS owe it a favor. Of course, it had all been part of Kang Jae-ha's design.

Kang Jae-ha gave a suitable smile, then steered the conversation away from Jeon So-hee and back to 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'.

"Things might be a little hectic for a while, but 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' still needs to move forward without any setbacks."

As though telling him not to worry, PD Do Jin-deok declared emphatically.

"Of course! Now that we've got a favor to repay 'MEG' too, I'll stake my life on 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'!"

The department head grabbed PD Do Jin-deok by the shoulder.

"That's right, you punk. Nice to see that fighting spirit again. We dodged a bomb too, so let's break a 10% Viewership Rating with 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'."

"Why stop at 10%! We should set our sights on 15%!"

Watching PD Do Jin-deok, Kang Jae-ha recalled the Deja Vu he'd seen of 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'.

'A monster hit with a Viewership Rating of over 20%. Writer Song Eun-hee's writing chops definitely played a part in that success, but so did PD Do Jin-deok's touch. In other words, his directing must've contributed too. It's probably best to let this guy run wild however he wants.'

Murmuring inwardly, Kang Jae-ha crossed his legs and gave an indifferent nod.

"The same goes for the writer, but PD-nim, take 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' wherever you want, exactly as you envision it. There must be no interference from anyone. Just as the contract stipulates."

As he spoke, Kang Jae-ha swept his gaze over the department head and the CP. It was silent pressure. A warning not to interfere too deeply with 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'. PD Do Jin-deok understood and nodded.

"Yes, of course."

Meanwhile, Cha Chung-hyeon, sitting beside the Commander, was staring into empty space with a languid gaze. He wasn't spacing out, but roughly calculating everything from the expenses for 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' to the money it would bring in later.

Cha Chung-hyeon quietly spoke.

"Hmm... PD-nim. Have you figured out the scale of the Total Production Cost for 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'?"

"No, not yet. Once we enter pre-production, the first thing we'll do is calculate the estimated Total Production Cost."

"Ah, I see."

"Estimating the Total Production Cost won't take long. We're starting work tomorrow, so I should be able to let you know soon."

These days, drama production costs varied wildly. The entry of OTT platforms into the market had only made the disparity even more extreme. As a result, budgets ranged from several billion won on the low end to tens of billions of won on the high end. Some dramas billed as blockbusters had Total Production Costs reaching 100 billion won.

PD Do Jin-deok, who knew this well, continued explaining.

"As you know, Contemporary Dramas are still the cheapest. Historical Drama-style productions like 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' can't help but cost more. There are more things than usual to worry about, from all the makeup and sets to actors in Minor Roles, CG, and so on."

In other words, 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' would cost more to produce than a typical Contemporary Drama. The disguised Kang Jae-ha replied as though he already knew.

"It doesn't matter, so just let us know as soon as you've calculated the Total Production Cost."

"Yes, yes, Director."

The calculator in Cha Chung-hyeon's head became even busier.

'The Total Production Cost is definitely going to clear 10 billion won. Let's see, the profits we can earn by investing in 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' are...'

He was even estimating how much money they could make. The most obvious sources were advertising and PPL. Then there were sales to various OTT platforms and overseas broadcasters, along with Secondary Revenue from VOD, reruns, streaming, Nutube, and so on. And if the drama became a hit, the avenues for profit would multiply even further.

'Since the Commander is pushing it, let's assume it'll at least do moderately well. We should make at least twice our Investment Funds. Roughly 20 billion won or more.'

Of course, Cha Chung-hyeon was only saying that because he didn't know 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' would become not merely a moderate hit, but a monster hit.

A few hours later.

With PD Do Jin-deok and the rest of the 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon' group gone, MEG's conference room fell quiet again.

Kang Jae-ha.

"......"

Sat there with an impassive expression, looking down at his phone. He was checking the current situation surrounding Top Actress Jeon So-hee. At that moment, the man sitting across from him spoke.

"Commander, how's it look."

It was the narrow-eyed Lee Chan-hoo. Kang Jae-ha smiled faintly at his subordinate's question.

"It's blown up big time. Now all that's left is for Jeon So-hee to go down."

"That actress is an idiot too. All she had to do was stay quiet, but she just had to mess with you or us for no reason. Ah... I guess she hadn't actually made a move yet? Still, if we'd left her alone, she would've acted up 100%."

Slowly crossing his legs, Jae-ha replied quietly.

"It's always best to clean things up before something happens. Once it blows up, no matter how you handle it, it just creates more work. Annoying."

"Right, right."

Cutting off problems or incidents beforehand, before they could erupt, was a method Kang Jae-ha particularly favored. He had used it often in the Mercenary Corps as well. He would send out Ha Yeon-ji and the rest of the Scout Unit to secure information ahead of time, then act quickly based on what they found.

The situation with 'GOO Production' and Jeon So-hee had been the same.

Kang Jae-ha had predicted that 'GOO Production' wouldn't sit still regarding 'The Cooking Teacher of Joseon'.

'There are plenty of reasons. First, 'MEG' hasn't been open for very long. From the perspective of 'GOO Production', which has been in the business for quite a while, they probably feel like they've been made the sacrificial lamb. And it could make it look like their marquee star, Jeon So-hee, lost out to Moon Ji-a.'

More than anything, 'GOO Production' was deeply under the sway of Chinese capital.

'Their pride won't allow it.'

Kang Jae-ha had experienced situations like this countless times with the Mercenary Corps in the Other World. So he'd prepared in advance. He hadn't used Lee Chan-hoo, Ha Yeon-ji, or any of his other subordinates in Korea.

He put Sato Shota in Japan on Jeon So-hee full-time.

Shota could see a target's key memories from the previous day. Immediately after receiving the Commander's orders, he began checking Jeon So-hee's memories from the previous day and caught a scene worth reporting to his Commander.

It was the scene where 'GOO Production' and Jeon So-hee had tried to dig up dirt on 'MEG' or Moon Ji-a.

Immediately after receiving the report, Kang Jae-ha extracted Jeon So-hee's weakness, packaged what he'd uncovered, then released it to the world. Her illegal propofol use.

'If they'd stayed quiet, nothing would've happened. But if they're going to harm us, harm me, then I need to crush them properly.'

This was the illegal propofol use of one of Korea's most prominent Top Actresses. It had already begun, but given a little more time, everywhere from search sites to Nutube and beyond would be thrown into an uproar.

Truthfully, even if he left things as they were, it was obvious that Jeon So-hee and 'GOO Production' alike would be too busy scrambling to contain the fallout to do anything else.

But Kang Jae-ha had a second and even a third strike prepared.

Before long, another subordinate entered the conference room.

"Commander... We've finished investigating the finances of 'GOO Production', just like you asked."

"Give it to me."

"Yes, yes."

Jae-ha intended to strike not only Jeon So-hee, but 'GOO Production' itself right at its core. So that it would never dare act up against 'MEG' again. After Jeon So-hee.

"Well, I expected it, but it reeks of rot."

'GOO Production' was destined to be wiped out as well.

*****

For more chapters, join my Patreon: https://patreon.com/dreamscribe

If you enjoy this novel, please review and rate it at Novelupdates. Thanks! 😊

To receive the latest update notifications or report mistakes, join our Discord server linked below.