Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All
Chapter 551: Park Sang-Gyu (5)

Chapter 551: Park Sang-Gyu (5)

The small director's office in Hope Hospital contained only an old table and a worn-out sofa.

Seo Hwan-Hee, who made coffee himself, began explaining the situation surrounding the hospital's land sale. "My childhood friend Kim Chang-Soo is handling the contract on my behalf. He knew the hospital was struggling and found a buyer for the land. But he said a garbage incineration plant is going to be built nearby soon, so we need to sell quickly. He warned that if we wait, the land price could drop from 2 million won per pyeong to under two hundred thousand won."

Hope Hospital owned a total of five thousand pyeong of land, including the open lot behind the hospital. With a market price of around 2 million won per pyeong, the expected sale price was approximately 10 billion won.

However, hearing that the land value might drop to one-tenth made Seo Hwan-Hee panic as he had been covering the hospital's losses by selling land for years. To make things worse, the bank had refused to extend their loan just a week ago. So, in a rush, he had signed a provisional contract yesterday with 10 percent of the price, a billion won, as the down payment.

The whole thing felt like a scam, and I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. "I think your friend and the bank colluded to deceive you, sir."

It was clear that a real estate agent who got wind of the development plans and the bank were working together to swindle an innocent landowner. And since any deal becomes binding once stamped, it would be tricky to accuse them of fraud. As for the bank employee, they could simply claim they applied strict loan standards.

At that moment, Seo Hwan-Hee leaned back on the sofa and let out a sigh. "That bastard Chang-Soo... doing something like this... Sigh... Unbelievable..."

Seo Hwan-Hee had dedicated his life to the hospital and patient care, so he lacked real estate knowledge. Now betrayed by a friend he had known since they were seven, his face looked devastated.

"I can't believe I couldn't see through someone after all these years. I'm ashamed."

"You can still set things right. And since Daeheung Savings Bank offered to help, this is a good chance to switch loans too."

Since the realtor and the bank were clearly in cahoots, switching the loan was the first step.

Then, Seo Hwan-Hee mentioned a familiar bank name. "Alright, then I'll pull the loan from Future Imagination Savings Bank..."

"Wait, did you say Future Imagination Savings Bank?"

"Yes. Is there something wrong?"

Future Imagination Savings Bank was owned by Choi Eun-Tae, but in reality, Choi Man-Sik held the reins.

I realized we needed to ask Choi Yung-Ho directly for help. "Just a moment."

I wasted no time calling Choi Yung-Ho. When he looked into the bank's land involvement, he said the same thing.

-That land... Future Imagination Savings Bank is on it too.

"Yes. So I believe it would be best if you handled it personally. If there's a profit margin of hundreds of billions, Choi Man-Sik definitely knows about this too."

-I agree. I'm nearby anyway, so I'll head over with the real estate team. And we should use this opportunity to move Mr. Seo's loan to our bank.

"Yes, thank you so much."

If this worked, we could save Hope Hospital and land a serious blow to Choi Man-Sik. If the land had gone to him, he would have pocketed hundreds of billions.

After ending the call, I turned to Seo Hwan-Hee. "Mr. Choi is coming himself. You can discuss everything with him when he arrives."

Just then, the elderly Seo Hwan-Hee stood up suddenly and bowed deeply to me. "Thank you, Mr. Jung. You've saved not just the staff and patients of this hospital, but their families as well."

Startled, I stood up and folded in half to return the bow. "Oh, please don't do this, sir. If anything, I'm the one who should be grateful..."

Hope Hospital was the only place that had taken in Lee Sa-Yeon, who had been in a vegetative state. I simply wanted to repay Seo Hwan-Hee's kindness. Without him, Park Sang-Gyu and Lee Sa-Yeon wouldn't have been able to see each other again.

Seo Hwan-Hee, seemingly uplifted, bent at the waist and laughed heartily. "They say good deeds bring blessings. Looks like that's true after all."

"Indeed."

Just then, Chewy Blossom's 'Hurry Up!' out as the ringtone from Seo Hwan-Hee's phone.

『Hurry UP~! Listen UP~!』

Seo Hwan-Hee chuckled as he spoke. "Hahaha. Looks like it's telling me to straighten my back now."

"If Cherry Blossom says to hurry up, we have to."

I straightened up with a smile.

"So your ringtone is Cherry Blossom's song."

Seo Hwan-Hee nodded. "Yes. At first, my grandson liked it, so I listened with him. But before I knew it, I was hooked too. I even asked him to set it as my ringtone."

"You're a Cherry Blossom fan after all."

"Haha. Is that how it works?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you for loving Cherry Blossom."

As a talent agent, I naturally did a bit of fan service and we both laughed again.

At that moment, Seo Hwan-Hee's expression darkened as he looked at the screen. "It's my friend."

"Just tell him you'll call back later."

"Alright."

Seo Hwan-Hee answered the call.

"Something came up today, so I'm a bit tied up. How about we meet tomorrow instead?"

-What are you talking about? I'm already here, so let's just get the contract done real quick. All you have to do is sign it anyway, right? I'm coming up!

Click.

Kim Chang-Soo hung up after saying his piece. The flustered Seo Hwan-Hee reached to call him back.

Watching him, I said calmly, "Let him come. I might as well see what that face looks like."

Whoever he was, I had to hear whatever bullshit he was about to pull.

***

Click.

The door opened and in walked a man in a double-button navy suit. Though the same age as Seo Hwan-Hee at 80, he looked not even 60. He was Kim Chang-Soo, head attorney at Diligent Law Firm and a licensed realtor.

He entered the meeting room with a female secretary in her early forties.

Kim Chang-Soo took off his fedora and greeted Seo Hwan-Hee. "Really now, friend. Even if you're busy, today's the day of the contract. Don't be pushing it off."

Yet, Seo Hwan-Hee didn't return the greeting and remained silent.

"What's this? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Is something wrong?"

Kim Chang-Soo tried greeting again warmly, but Seo Hwan-Hee replied in a sharp tone. "There is. I lost a friend today. Someone who had been like a brother to me since I was seven."

With that one sentence, Seo Hwan-Hee ended their 73-year friendship.

However, Kim Chang-Soo's oily, yet composed smile didn't disappear. "Huh? What are you talking about? Someone must've filled your head with nonsense about this land again. That garbage incinerator..."

"That's enough. I don't want to waste words. Just turn around and leave."

Only then did Kim Chang-Soo lose his smile. "Why are you suddenly acting like this? You said the hospital was in trouble, so I introduced a good buyer. Why are you treating me like this?"

"You tell me. Be honest. You knew a major shopping mall was going to be built here, didn't you?"

A tremor flickered in Kim Chang-Soo's eyes. "Wh-who told you that?"

"So it's true. I've got nothing more to say. Get out and don't ever come back."

As Seo Hwan-Hee issued his order to leave, Kim Chang-Soo urgently grabbed his hand. "Director Seo, I think there's been a misunderstanding. Let's just talk for a bit. I can explain everything. The thing is..."

Seo Hwan-Hee firmly shook him off again. "Let go of me. I have no intention of talking with you any further. Just leave."

Then Kim Chang-Soo's burning gaze turned toward me. "Don't tell me it was this guy. He's the one who fed you that crap?"

I met his hostile glare and shrugged. "Not crap, just the truth. Mr. Seo won't be selling to you anymore, so you can turn right around. And as for the penalty, you'll wire back double the deposit."

Because of an issue with the provisional contract, only twice the down payment, not the full contract deposit, was needed to void it.

At the sudden declaration of cancellation, Kim Chang-Soo's cheek twitched. "Y-You... This arrogant little brat, where do you think you can get off doing this!"

Overwhelmed by panic and anger, Kim Chang-Soo pointed a finger at me.

I looked at that hand and spoke in a cold voice. "Sir, aren't you ashamed of trying to swindle money that could save hundreds of lives? I'm barely holding back, but if you cross the line, I won't even treat you as human anymore."

As I expressed my genuine anger, Kim Chang-Soo slowly lowered his hand and so did the secretary in her forties, who looked like he was about to jump in.

At that moment, the office door opened and Choi Yung-Ho stepped inside.

Click.

"Oh? Mr. Kim Chang-Soo?"

Choi Yung-Ho clearly knew him.

Kim Chang-Soo looked completely caught off guard. "Bank President Choi Yung-Ho? What brings you here?"

"Ah, I'm here to help refinance the loan for this land and assist with the sale."

Now that Choi Yung-Ho of Daeheung Savings Bank, the top savings bank in Korea, had appeared, even Kim Chang-Soo had no choice but to accept that it was over.

"Damn it!"

Kim Chang-Soo turned and stormed out without accomplishing anything.

Choi Yung-Ho called out after him. "Mr. Kim, go tell Choi Man-Sik this: What kind of lowlife thugs try to snatch someone else's land for free?"

Shaking all over, Kim Chang-Soo, now reduced to nothing more than a shameless thug, vanished in retreat.

Slam.

Watching him go, Choi Yung-Ho turned to me. "That man was acting under President Choi Man-Sik's orders."

"Then... we landed a solid blow as we planned."

As I had suspected, Choi Man-Sik was involved.

Choi Yung-Ho smiled and turned to Seo Hwan-Hee, extending both hands. "From here on, Daeheung Savings Bank will handle all matters related to this land, including refinancing and finding a new site for the hospital."

Seo Hwan-Hee replied with a smile, "I'm counting on you."

A new hope had begun to shine on Hope Hospital.

***

At a Korean fine dining spot located in Apgujeong where you could savor premium hanwoo beef raised on alternating diets of apples and barley, Choi Man-Sik sat with Gwanwoo Entertainment's CEO Kim Gwan-Woo and his younger brother, Director Kim Jang-Bi, strengthening their bond in VIP Room 2.

Starting tomorrow, Kim Gwan-Woo would be appointed Vice President of Hoop Entertainment, and Kim Jang-Bi would take over as Managing Director, so they were getting acquainted in advance.

Choi Man-Sik said, "We'll be relying on you. Don't you think it's time we reclaimed Hoop for Suhyaejong?"

Kim Gwan-Woo nodded quickly. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Choi. Once we're in, we'll take back control in no time. I've already prepared several strategies timed with the IPO."

Kim Jang-Bi joined in with a sly smile. "Now that Managing Director Kang Ji-Yung has been promoted to Director, I'll be in charge of actual operations. Trust me. I'll get the team in line."

With Kim Gwan-Woo's experience leading a KOSDAQ listing and Kim Jang-Bi's specialty in consolidating power, even Choi Man-Sik couldn't hide his anticipation.

"Well then, let's toast. The restaurant's traditional liquor is brewed by the owner and is fantastic."

The three poured the translucent amber liquor and drained their glasses with gusto.

"Oh, and just so you know, Chief Baek Sae-Gi and Team Lead Ju Ho-Sung are handling internal coordination. Let's work together as alumni."

"Of course."

"Oh, and make sure to keep an eye on Jung Yoon-Ho. He's the key. Take him down, and the rest will fall."

With confident faces, Kim Gwan-Woo and Kim Jang-Bi replied. "He's just been lucky so far. Once we're in, we'll take care of him easily."

"I sure hope so, but..."

Just then, Choi Man-Sik's phone rang.

The caller was Kim Chang-Soo, the one he had tasked with creating the slush fund.

"Hello, Mr. Kim. Is the acquisition complete?"

-W-Well... A guy named Jung Yoon-Ho and Bank President Choi Yung-Ho got involved. From now on, Daeheung Savings Bank will be handling the land.

"What did you say?"

Choi Man-Sik shot up from his seat. The massive deal that could've secured him hundreds of billions in slush funds had just evaporated.

"Mr. Kim! You clearly said yesterday that the provisional contract was signed!"

Kim Chang-Soo responded with a trembling voice.

-I-I'm sorry. Everything changed so suddenly that I couldn't react in time.

Unable to contain his rage, Choi Man-Sik barked,

"Then go back and demand the penalty! He'll cough up the 2 billion and I'll put pressure on him to repay the loan too..."

That's when Kim Chang-Soo said carefully.

-Uh, well... the penalty isn't 2 billion, it's just 200 million.

"Excuse me? 200 million? What the hell did you do when signing that contract yesterday?"

Blood rushed to Choi Man-Sik's head. He realized Kim Chang-Soo had tampered with the contract to skim money off the top. And with Daeheung Savings Bank involved, everything truly was over.

Choi Man-Sik's voice turned cold. "I treated you like a gentleman... and you've played me for a damn fool, Mr. Kim?"

-I-It's not that... If it weren't for that bastard Jung Yoon-Ho...

The moment Jung Yoon-Ho's name came up, Choi Man-Sik's fury exploded again. He couldn't understand why Jung Yoon-Ho showed up in Guro out of nowhere to block his path. At this point, he was starting to wonder if some kind of karmic grudge from a past life was haunting him.

Choi Man-Sik was enraged to the core, but his immediate target was clear.

"Enough with the excuses. And go ahead and contact a funeral service. You'll be needing it soon."

-M-Mr. Choi!

Click.

Choi Man-Sik ended the call with a murderous glare in his eyes. The money from this deal was meant to be funneled to Assemblyman Park Sang-Gon as bribes.

Enraged, Choi Man-Sik overturned the table in front of him.

Crash!

"Arghhh!! Jung Yoon-Ho!!"

As he screamed Jung Yoon-Ho's name in a frenzy, the room descended into chaos. The once-confident Kim Gwan-Woo and Kim Jang-Bi fell silent.

And in that moment, the name Jung Yoon-Ho etched itself deeply into both their minds.

***

After entrusting the Hope Hospital land deal to Choi Yung-Ho, I returned to the patient room.

Since Lee Sa-Yeon was asleep, I headed to the supply room with Park Sang-Gyu and Jung Sang-Bong, who were reading the script. It was time to record an audition video to send to Director Na Tae-Yang of Doppelgänger.

Inside the supply room Seo Hwan-Hee had shown us, the equipment was stacked high and one side had a white wall with open space.

"Sang-Gyu hyung-nim, have you finished the script?"

"Yeah, I read it all. I'd heard Mr. Na Tae-Yang was talented, but this script is something else."

Doppelgänger was a story where a single actor plays dual roles. The protagonist Kang Soo-Ho was a police officer, while the antagonist Kang Chul-Min was a psychopathic serial killer.

A psychological crime thriller centered on their intense mental battle, which left no room for boredom. But before the regression, it had failed because the lead actor couldn't keep up with the script.

"You'll act in front of this wall."

I handed my phone to Jung Sang-Bong and gave him filming instructions. Then I took the tablet back from Park Sang-Gyu and reviewed the script.

Park Sang-Gyu took a deep breath and asked, "But... with the way I look now... will it be okay?"

Park Sang-Gyu was currently very thin with shoulder-length hair. While not exactly a match for Kang Soo-Ho, he was perfect for Kang Chul-Min.

"It's actually perfect. You're just right for scene 23."

I had chosen scene 23 for the audition. In it, the psychopath Kang Chul-Min met his twin brother Kang Soo-Ho for the first time since they were separated as children. Seeing his brother live a wealthy, comfortable life stirs up envy and murderous rage within him.

Park Sang-Gyu nodded. "Got it. Let me settle into the emotion for a bit."

Facing the white wall of the supply room, Park Sang-Gyu began to slowly regulate his breathing. It had been two years since his last performance, so it took time.

After a while, Park Sang-Gyu closed his mouth and gave a slow nod.

I gripped the tablet tightly and called out boldly. "Ready~ Action!"

About ten seconds of silence passed before Park Sang-Gyu slowly opened his tightly shut eyes.

And at that moment, Park Sang-Gyu began to deliver an astonishing performance.