Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 457: Treviang (1)

I explained, "First, I plan to speak to Mrs. Oh and arrange to postpone the filming schedule by about two weeks."

Han Woo-Hyuk stretched out his frail arms and looked uncertain. "Will my body really recover in just two weeks?"

"That's why I've prepared an excellent doctor for you."

I told Han Woo-Hyuk to wait for a moment and immediately called Kim Soo-Myung.

When Kim Soo-Myung answered, he spoke calmly.

-Mr. Jung. What kind of patient is it this time?

Because I frequently used Life Clinic whenever there was a problem, Kim Soo-Myung now naturally thought of himself as the exclusive doctor for Team Jung's celebrities.

"We have a stomach cancer patient who just finished chemotherapy."

-Excuse me—what?!

However, I knew he could help Han Woo-Hyuk. Before my regression, I had witnessed him work a miracle turning an anorexic idol into a healthy individual within just a few weeks.

-Mr. Jung. Do you think of me as some kind of one-man general hospital or something?

'How did he know?'

Since I had been caught, I replied boldly.

"Yes, that's correct. Actually, my dream is to help you expand Life Clinic into a ten-story general hospital!"

-No, no. I don't have such grand dreams. I just want to live a modest life without going bankrupt...

Even before the regression, Kim Soo-Myung's only wish was not to go out of business. But life never went as planned. Even before my regression, Kim Soo-Myung had to accept the rapid growth of his clinic after meeting me. In this life, I intended to grow his clinic several times larger than it had been.

After all, Hoop Entertainment's celebrities would enjoy an even healthier career with Kim Soo-Myung around.

I joked, "You know it's already impossible to stop now, don't you?"

-Sigh... Fine. Bring him in later. We'll do an endoscopy to check his condition and start on a recovery program with a tailored diet.

As expected, he got right to the point.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Kim."

When I hung up the phone, Han Woo-Hyuk looked at me with admiration. "You came fully prepared, didn't you?"

I smirked and moved on to discuss the most challenging topic. "By the way, about the fee for your role in Hwaranjeon... I'm sorry, but it's one million won per episode."

At the peak of Han Woo-Hyuk's career before the regression, even twenty million won per episode wouldn't have sufficed.

I worried this might hurt his pride, but Han Woo-Hyuk shook his head. "The fee for my first episode in Cheerful Scholar was five hundred thousand won. It was when I had just debuted... Ha ha ha, well, this is a 100% increase, so it's fine. I'm just grateful you're willing to cast me."

Even though he had earned billions through drama commercials back then, he downplayed it to ease my concern. Han Woo-Hyuk's character was as flawless as ever.

I said, "I'll make sure you get a better fee for your next project."

"Thank you for even saying that, Mr. Jung."

I then called Oh Bok-Hee and secured a two-week delay in exchange for agreeing to the fee. I also made sure future filming schedules would accommodate Han Woo-Hyuk's condition. Only after concluding the successful negotiation did I hang up the phone.

Once again, admiration was evident on Han Woo-Hyuk's face. Then I handed him a paper bag I had brought along.

Han Woo-Hyuk took the heavy bag and tilted his head curiously. "What is this?"

"It's porridge."

"Porridge?"

"I've picked out the most palatable ones from the porridge I've tried."

Stomach cancer patients often struggled with eating, and it was no different for Han Woo-Hyuk, who had just finished chemotherapy. I had carefully chosen the most delicious porridge from what I had eaten before the regression.

"Pine nut, pumpkin, beef, octopus, and abalone. They're all packed in microwaveable containers for easy consumption anytime."

Han Woo-Hyuk held the gift bag and his face lit up with gratitude. "It seems I've got the right talent agent, ha ha ha."

Han Woo-Hyuk had a melancholic expression when we first met, but now his face was full of bright laughter.

Seeing such genuine smiles from celebrities was a privilege only talent agents could enjoy.

***

After leaving Han Woo-Hyuk at Life Clinic, I returned to Hoop Entertainment.

Although I could set River Entertainment aside, I had to report the conflict with Lee Seon-Chang of Queen Jeong-Hee.

As I was putting my things down in the office and preparing to meet Kang Gam-Chan, Do Ran-Hee rushed in.

"Huff, huff. M-Mr. Jung! You need to check the second-floor practice room immediately!"

"Why?"

"There's a fight between Ms. Han and the choreography team over Treviang's debut song choreography!"

Chief Han So-Yoo from Singer Division 1 was already overwhelmed preparing for Treviang's debut, having personally trained them for three years.

Due to repeated delays, their debut was finally set for January. Before that, they planned to appear as guests at Cherry Blossom's joint concert in late December as part of their pre-debut promotions. At the concert, Treviang's leader, Oh Ji-Ah, was also scheduled to perform a solo original soundtrack song from Hwaranjeon.

But now, Han So-Yoo was reportedly arguing with Choreography Team Lead Seong Eun-Soo over Treviang's debut choreography.

I asked, "Treviang's debut song choreography was already finalized and even the music video was filmed, wasn't it? Why are they fighting about it now?"

The choreography for Treviang's debut song "Treviang" was created by HIT-TEAM, a hip-hop choreography group recommended by Bang Sang-Yung. The music video had been filmed at MakeWith.

Do Ran-Hee explained, "Ms. Han said the choreography was terrible and suggested changing parts of it."

"At this stage?"

"Yes."

It seemed like a serious issue.

"I'll go check myself. Follow me."

"Yes, sir!"

Together with Do Ran-Hee, I took the elevator to the second floor. The moment we stepped off, the raised voices of two people pierced through the practice room door.

We hurried to Practice Room 1. Through the transparent glass door, I saw Seong Eun-Soo shouting.

"Seriously, Ms. Han! How could you demand choreography changes now? Most girl groups fail anyway! Debuting these older girls is pointless. They're going to flop, so stop wasting effort and..."

Smack!

At that moment, Han So-Yoo slapped Seong Eun-Soo across the face.

***

The slapped Seong Eun-Soo collapsed to the floor.

Nearby, HIT-TEAM's Choreographer Ahn Chang-Hoon, who had worked on Treviang's choreography, stared in disbelief.

After slapping Seong Eun-Soo, Han So-Yoo began yelling furiously. "How dare you! How dare you say something like that so recklessly!"

Seong Eun-Soo held her reddened cheek and shouted back. "You! Did you just slap me?"

Han So-Yoo retorted with her voice full of rage, "Do you know how hard the girls have worked? They've barely slept, yet they endure every day in anxiety! Instead of supporting them, how could you say they'll fail? You call yourself a teacher after that?!"

Han So-Yoo was higher-ranked, but Seong Eun-Soo was a year older and had a longer career at Hoop Entertainment. Additionally, Seong Eun-Soo had been a sunbae to Han So-Yoo during their time at Suhyaejong.

However, hearing her beloved Treviang described as doomed to fail flipped a switch in Han So-Yoo.

Seong Eun-Soo, still holding his cheek, stood up and raised her voice. "You think you can look down on me, your sunbae, just because you're a chief?"

But the unfazed Han So-Yoo pointed at Treviang members huddled in a corner. "Cut the nonsense and apologize to my girls!"

In one corner of the practice room stood the three members of Treviang drenched in sweat and teary-eyed.

The twenty-five-year-old leader Oh Ji-Ah stood about 162 cm tall. With short pink-dyed hair and wearing a black tracksuit, she had an androgynous look reminiscent of a young boy.

To her left was the twenty-four-year-old Hong Mal-Sook with a height of 172 cm. Her long, streaked hair was tied into a ponytail, and she exuded a feline elegance with her fair skin and pink tracksuit.

Lastly, the youngest twenty-three-year-old Seong Ji-Hyo stood at 164 cm with long straight hair, a cute, round face, and a curvaceous figure. She was dressed in a white tracksuit.

Before the regression, these three had dominated the stage with charismatic performances as a skilled girl group. But for now, they were just despondent trainees. The only thing they could do was hold each other's hands tightly and grit their teeth.

Watching this, Do Ran-Hee urged me. "Mr. Jung, Treviang seems completely broken. Shouldn't we step in?"

"Yeah, I was about to."

As I grabbed the doorknob, HIT-TEAM's choreographer Ahn Chang-Hoon standing near Seong Eun-Soo intervened.

Having turned thirty-eight years old this year, Ahn Chang-Hoon was an external choreographer contracted by Bang Sang-Yung specifically for Treviang's debut. He was also a graduate of Suhyaejong and a sunbae to Han So-Yoo.

Ahn Chang-Hoon stormed toward Han So-Yoo with his imposing presence. "Han So-Yoo, have you lost your mind slapping your sunbae?"

But Han So-Yoo shot back with veins bulging in her neck. "Sunbae, you're no better than her! Even if the music video is done, shouldn't you at least pretend to listen when the singers ask for changes? What's this nonsense about ‘choreography is just choreography'? Why take the job if you're not skilled enough to deliver?"

"Wow. You've got a real loose tongue, don't you?"

"I'm calling it out because the choreography sucks!"

"You little bitch. How dare you talk to your sunbae like this?"

When Ahn Chang-Hoon raised his hand, Treviang huddled in the corner screamed.

I quickly swung the glass door open and stepped inside. "If you swing that hand, you'd better be ready for me!"

My booming voice reverberated through the practice room.

Ahn Chang-Hoon paused with his hand still in the air and turned to look at me. "Team Lead Jung, stay out of this! This is a matter of the Suhyaejong line."

"The matter of the Suhyaejong line? Do you think this is your school reunion or something? And trying to hit a client over a complaint? I'm sorry, but are you crazy?"

Ahn Chang-Hoon fumed and replied, "Look. There's a limit to complaints! Do you know how many times this has happened already? They've already shot the music video and changing the choreography now is ridiculous!"

I knew Han So-Yoo wasn't someone to make unreasonable demands. If she was asking for changes, the choreography must genuinely be terrible.

For a moment, our gazes locked in a tense standoff. It was Seong Eun-Soo who backed down first.

Still holding her cheek, she tugged at Ahn Chang-Hoon's arm. "Chang-Hoon oppa, let's just go. Let them handle their own mess."

Ahn Chang-Hoon glared at me before sighing deeply. "Fine, let's go. It's pointless trying to reason with people like this."

As they headed for the door, Seong Eun-Soo spat venomous words. "We'll stay out of it from now on, so handle it yourselves. Do you think pouring effort into a group that's destined to fail will change anything? Oh, and since you don't respect your sunbae, I'll treat you by your rank. Wake up, Ms. Han!"

Seong Eun-Soo continued her tirade as Ahn Chang-Hoon followed her out.

At that moment, Han So-Yoo shouted after them. "Hey! Where do you think you're going? Apologize to my girls before you leave!"

She tried to chase after them, but I quickly stepped in her way to avoid further trouble. "Ms. Han, please hold back for now."

Held back by me, Han So-Yoo stopped in her tracks with tears streaming down her face. "Sigh. Seriously... the girls... they've worked so hard..."

When Han So-Yoo collapsed to the floor, drained, the three members of Treviang approached her with their own tears flowing. They hugged Han So-Yoo tightly.

"We're sorry, Ms. Han. It's our fault for complaining about the choreography..."

"What are you sorry for? That choreography was fucking garbage even to me!"

Even in this situation, Han So-Yoo hugged and comforted the girls.

Watching this, I fiddled with my phone.

'It seems like you've crossed the line, Chief Seong.'

In my planner, there was still one remaining entry about Seong Eun-Soo's corruption. It seemed like the time had come to make use of it.

But for now, calming Treviang was the priority.

***

After crying for a long time, Han So-Yoo and the members of Treviang finally managed to calm down.

I entrusted Treviang to Do Ran-Hee and called Han So-Yoo outside the practice room. "Ms. Han, what exactly happened?"

Han So-Yoo let out a deep sigh. "The final choreography was just unbearable, so I couldn't help it."

"Still, it's far too late to request changes. Asking for new choreography when the music video is already completed?"

Han So-Yoo explained her side of the story. "I've been requesting changes to the choreography for over a month. Especially for a girl group, the movements need to be refined and elegant. But even after two revisions, the choreography still looked like it was meant for a boy group. That's why I asked for another revision."

She had also complained to Bang Sang-Yung about it, but he was so focused on clashing with me that he didn't take Han So-Yoo's concerns seriously. Instead, he insisted they proceed with filming the music video due to time constraints.

Eventually, Treviang was unable to bear it any longer and voiced their refusal. But instead of being consoled, they were berated by Seong Eun-Soo, who told them they should be grateful for the attention despite debuting at an older age.

After hearing this, I couldn't help but feel that slapping Seong Eun-Soo was actually lenient.

"So that's what led to this chaos."

The three members of Treviang were already past the typical debut age for idols. If this debut failed, they would likely have no choice but to retire.

Telling these girls who had spent anywhere from six to eight years as trainees that they were doomed to fail was practically telling them to give up on their lives.

I suppressed my rising anger and responded calmly. "I see. How much of the choreography needs to be revised?"

"About 30% needs to go. And since we're talking about it, the music video is terrible too."

It turned out that the production company, MakeWith, which Bang Sang-Yung had recommended, had also made a complete mess of the music video despite being paid one billion won.

I suggested, "Would you like me to help you with this? But answer carefully. Working with me will mean frequent conflicts with the Suhyaejong alumni network."

However, Han So-Yoo didn't hesitate in the slightest. "The Suhyaejong line can piss off. My girls are more important to me! Please help us, Mr. Jung."

"Understood. Then let's start by reviewing the choreography."

I would never stand by and let the sweat and tears of these girls go to waste because of adults' petty politics.

It was time to save Treviang from despair.