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Chapter 177: Choi Man-Sik (2)

“Instead of pestering us, why don’t you call Mr. Kang and ask him directly?” I asked.

Even though shareholders owned the company, they couldn\'t exercise rights arbitrarily as long as the management rights were with Kang Gam-Chan.

When I pointed this out, Choi Man-Sik gave an ominous smile. “I believe it would be impolite to call Mr. Kang while he is recovering from surgery and rehabilitating. He should be allowed to rest.”

\'Why, this bastard...he even knows that Kang Gam-Chan is ill?\' I wondered.

I thought he would eventually find out someday but did not expect the information to already leak. But thanks to this, I learned that this man was capable of handling information just like Kim Dong-Soo.

Kang Ji-Yung quickly took over the conversation. “It was just a minor surgery.”

“Is that so? But I heard he has a brain tumor?” Choi Man-Sik replied.

Kang Ji-Yung continued to stand her ground. “Mr. Choi, you seem very interested in my dad. It was a brain tumor in name but it was actually just the size of a grain of rice. Anyway, try calling him like Team Lead Jung suggested. Let\'s see what he thinks.”

\'I\'m sure it was definitely bigger than a grain of rice,\' I remarked inwardly.

After pondering for a moment, Choi Man-Sik eventually nodded. It seemed like he had no intention of backing down easily, perhaps because of his pride.

Click.

-Hello? Yoon-Ho?

“Yes, Mr. Kang. I\'m in Ms. Kang\'s office right now. I called you because there is something urgent we need to discuss.”

-Hmm. Is that so? It must be official then. Alright, go ahead.

The healthy voice of Kang Gam-Chan came through the speakerphone.

Choi Man-Sik looked displeased when Kang Gam-Chan’s voice sounded better than expected.

Kang Ji-Yung began to calmly explain the situation up to this point. “Mr. Kang, currently President Choi Man-Sik has visited as a representative of the shareholders and......”

Hearing the story, Kang Gam-Chan spoke in a booming voice loud enough for me to hear through the speakerphone.

-President Choi Man-Sik, are you trying to shake up the company just because I’m away for a bit? Shareholders don’t have the right to interfere with company matters, do they?

“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Kang. It seems there has been some misunderstanding over the phone. It’s not interference but a request. Recently, Mr. Lee\'s circumstances have become difficult...” Choi Man-Sik stuttered while replying.

Choi Man-Sik instantly changed his attitude 180 degrees unlike before the phone call.

-There’s a reason why things can’t be done. You should have some common sense. Do I really need to explain such basic things?

“No, Mr. Kang.”

Faced with Kang Gam-Chan’s charismatic response, Choi Man-Sik repeatedly nodded as if Kang Gam-Chan was right in front of him.

-Then let’s end it here.

Beep.

The tension between Choi Man-Sik and me, which had been tightly drawn, disappeared with a single phone call.

\'As expected of Kang Gam-Chan,\' I thought to myself.

Kang Ji-Yung shrugged. “It seems like the situation is pretty much over. You should probably go no.”

Choi Man-Sik stared at us intently. “Phew

“I\'m listening,” said Kang Ji-Yung.

Choi Man-Sik spoke as if he owned the room. “Would you mind stepping out for a moment? That was just a side topic I happened to bring up, but I actually came today because there are some matters to discuss with Team Lead Jung.”

“You can talk to Team Lead Jung with me in the room,” Kang Ji-Yung said, refusing to back down.

Choi Man-Sik leaned back on the sofa and crossed his arms as if he wouldn’t speak if Kang Ji-Yung were there. “Suit yourself. I have plenty of time.”

Looking at Choi Man-Sik insisting on a private conversation with me, I nodded at Kang Ji-Yung. “I\'ll be fine."

“Are you really okay with it?” Kang Ji-Yung asked with a concerned look.

I nodded. “Yes.”

Kang Ji-Yung got up from her seat and told Choi Man-Sik, “Finish the conversation within five minutes.”

“Okay.”

Kang Ji-Yung sighed heavily and left the room.

Thud.

Watching her leave, Choi Man-Sik smirked. “Such a personality...But that blunt nature is also her charm.”

Choi Man-Sik took a cigarette out of his pocket despite the no-smoking policy and lit it with a Zippo lighter.

Click!

Taking a long drag, Choi Man-Sik stared at me intently in silence. The smell of smoke was harsh, but I had no time to mind it as I figured he was about to propose that I join their line.

Finally, Choi Man-Sik spoke. “Team Lead Jung.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m much older than you, so I’ll speak informally if that’s okay?”

“Go ahead.”

The look in Choi Man-Sik’s snake-like eyes seemed to scan my entire body.

“Then let me ask you just one thing. What exactly is your relationship with Ji-Yung?”

A question I hadn’t anticipated made my head throb. I was prepared for a factional fight, but suddenly I was dragged into a jealousy fight.

***

I froze on the spot, stunned by the question about my relationship with Kang Ji-Yung.

“There\'s nothing between you two, is there?" Choi Man-Sik asked.

Seeing Choi Man-Sik misunderstand the situation made me more irritated. “I’m just an employee.”

\'Well, an employee who has once reached the position as high as vice president, topped the industry, and even made a comeback,\' I thought to myself

Choi Man-Sik looked at me like a predator eyeing its prey. “Then why does Kang Ji-Yung so blatantly take your side?”

But I responded calmly to his gaze. “Isn’t it normal for a superior to take the side of their subordinate?”

“You’re joking. Don’t you know how hard Kang Ji-Yung worked to get you appointed as a team lead?” Choi Man-Sik replied.

I was aware there were obstacles to my promotion to team lead due to Lee Gi-Cheol\'s opposition. At that time, Kang Ji-Yung had visited the shareholders herself to persuade them and secure my appointment.

“That dignified woman bowed down 90 degrees to ask for help, saying you’ll soon be a talent that sustains the entire Hoop Entertainment even if you\'re not from Suhyaejong,” Choi Man-Sik continued as his stare intensified.

I was momentarily at a loss for words. I never imagined that Kang Ji-Yung would go to such lengths for me.

“Now, let me ask again. Is there really nothing between you two?” Choi Man-Sik questioned.

I swallowed dryly and glared at Choi Man-Sik. “I’m just grateful that Ms. Kang thinks highly of me.”

Choi Man-Sik approached me from a distance close enough for me to feel his breath. Then he stared at me intently. Blinking as he stared into my eyes, he smirked and soon stepped back.

“Alright, I’ll trust you for now. But remember, that woman is mine. Don\'t even think about winning her over,” Choi Man-Sik threatened.

Such affairs of the heart were a personal matter and not something I wanted to be involved in. Nonetheless, the image of Kang Ji-Yung sacrificing her pride to get me promoted made me so upset that I raised my voice slightly at Choi Man-Sik.

“That won\'t happen. But with that said, why is Ms. Kang yours?”

Choi Man-Sik frowned. “Look, Team Lead Jung. I’m warning you. I’m only putting up with so much, so keep to the line. I have guys under me who wouldn’t even bat an eye at dealing with one like you.”

Following Choi Eun-Tae in the Myeongdong loan sharking business, Choi Man-Sik had gangsters under him. But I was not someone who would be intimidated even if he brought a truckload of such people.

At that moment, Choi Man-Sik started laughing as if he couldn’t believe what he was doing. “Ha ha ha. I can’t believe I’m dealing with a low-level talent agent like this...”

Being 37 years old in his prime, he found it ridiculous to be wary of someone ten years his junior.

Choi Man-Sik extinguished his cigarette in Kang Ji-Yung\'s cherished potted plant, stood up, and said, "Then let\'s meet again next time."

His words left me confused. \'Wait, that\'s it? Was the sole reason for this private meeting just because of Kang Ji-Yung?\'

As Choi Man-Sik was about to leave the office, I hurriedly spoke to him as I had planned to use this conversation to learn more about him.

"Was the reason you wanted to see me just that?"

Choi Man-Sik let out a laugh. "You are as sharp as I heard. Yes, originally I wanted to invite you to join our line."

"Why didn\'t you say anything then?" I asked.

"I figured you wouldn\'t come. I can tell these things too. You don\'t like me, do you?" Choi Man-Sik replied.

"So you said nothing because of that?"

Choi Man-Sik laughed mockingly. "I heard you\'re quite talented, but do you think you can climb up just with talent? Wake up, my friend."

I knew better than anyone what he was implying. The most important thing in the entertainment industry was not talent but having the right connections, and even more so, money and power.

But I was different. Even with all these constraints, I had once reached the top solely on my ability in my past life. A talent agent who handled celebrities well was a walking corporation in themselves. Once you reached a certain level, celebrities followed the talent agent, not the company.

If I could regain my position from my past life, investors would line up from Apgujeong to Jamsil.

For that reason, Choi Man-Sik\'s words didn\'t resonate with me at all.

\'That\'s your thought,\' I thought to myself.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Choi Man-Sik scoffed. "The higher-ups seem to think well of you, but I disagree. Somehow, you seem like a guy who doesn\'t belong in our company."

I pondered over his words. \'Wait a minute. Other shareholders including Choi Eun-Tae think highly of me but he doesn\'t? He\'s the only channel through which the shareholders\' opinions are conveyed to the company but he has different thoughts from them?\'

That\'s when a sudden insight flashed through my mind.

\'Was he planning to betray Choi Eun-Tae from this moment?\'

I seemed to have caught a glimpse of why Hoop Entertainment split in my past life.

"And you\'re loyal to President Kang Gam-Chan anyway, aren\'t you? So I will tell the higher-ups that you rejected the offer. Any objections?" Choi Man-Sik added.

I pulled myself together and shook my head. "No. Go ahead."

"Then take care. And I mean it when I say Ji-Yung is mine. If you dare cross that line, you\'re dead," Choi Man-Sik warned me.

A hollow laugh escaped me as I saw him shaking his clenched fist at me. "I have no such intentions, yet you keep repeating yourself."

"Who knows? People\'s minds can change day by day. We\'ll see," said Choi Man-Sik as he waved his hand and disappeared through the door.

***

After Choi Man-Sik left, I opened the windows wide to clear the room of the smoke from the cigarettes.

At the same time, I began to think about what Choi Man-Sik had said.

"Choi Eun-Tae has no sons so he could inherit everything just by waiting. Why on earth would he betray his adoptive father? It\'s not like he\'s going through a rebellious phase at his age or anything," I muttered to myself.

Choi Eun-Tae was 75 years old this year. In a few years, Choi Man-Sik would naturally inherit the vast wealth of Myeongdong\'s leading landowner.

\'But why is he going against his adoptive father now?\' I wondered.

At that moment, a scene from a drama flashed through my mind and disappeared.

"Ah...surely not."

But thinking it might be an important clue, I decided to look into Choi Man-Sik later.

Creak.

Just then, the coughing Kang Ji-Yung entered the room and began to open the opposite window.

Kang Ji-Yung fumed as she fanned herself. "Oh my goodness! He can go outside if he wants to smoke! Why would he smoke in my room? That asshole!"

After opening all the windows, I shared some of what had been discussed, excluding the part about Choi Man-Sik having a different thought from the main shareholders.

"So he really tried to recruit you. And he didn\'t say anything when you refused?" Kang Ji-Yung asked.

I answered, "He just said he would report to the shareholders that I rejected the offer."

"Is that all? How strange. He\'s not one to just let it go."

It seemed right to mention that Choi Man-Sik was fixated on Kang Ji-Yung. Currently, she seemed to only think of him as just an annoying guy.

"Actually..." I recounted the conversation to her.

As soon as she heard everything, Kang Ji-Yung\'s face turned red. "That crazy bastard. How dare that son of a bitch..."

Kang Ji-Yung waved her hands wildly in an exaggerated reaction and said, "L-look. I have absolutely no such thoughts toward you, Team Lead Jung. So don\'t worry! Got it?"

I nodded repeatedly, trying to reassure her.

But whether it was because of Choi Man-Sik\'s words or the way she glanced at me, I started to feel uneasy when I was sure I had no such feelings until just a moment ago.

***

After speaking with Jung Yoon-Ho, Choi Man-Sik immediately headed to the office of Kim Dong-Soo.

Slap!

A harsh slap caused blood to trickle from the corner of Kim Dong-Soo\'s mouth.

"Do you know why I slapped you?" Choi Man-Sik asked.

Kim Dong-Soo bowed deeply as if he were a criminal. "Yes, Mr. Choi."

Sitting on the sofa, Choi Man-Sik sighed heavily. "You should have done it quickly when I told you to schedule a meeting with Jung Yoon-Ho. If you were just going to drag it out like this, you should have stomped him down. Why did you do that? Did you do it because you thought I would join hands with him instead of you?"

Kim Dong-Soo couldn\'t say a word when Choi Man-Sik clearly read his mind.

"I have no excuse, sir." Kim Dong-Soo said as he bowed his head.

"Stop those unnecessary thoughts and just do your job well from now on. Understand?" Choi Man-Sik warned.

Kim Dong-Soo nodded with his body trembling. He was scared but wanted to clear the doubt in his mind.

"M-Mr. Choi. I have something to ask."

"What is it?"

"I\'m curious about the real reason the higher-ups are interested in Jung Yoon-Ho."

Choi Man-Sik snorted. "Our higher-ups have always been greedy. You know this already, don\'t you? They told me to bring him into our line this time."

Kim Dong-Soo wondered if he had misheard. "T-then perhaps...?"

"No. I realized he was not the right fit after meeting him. So I cut off the higher-ups\' order at my level."

Kim Dong-Soo swallowed hard. Until now, Choi Man-Sik had never once defied the will of the shareholders, known as the higher-ups.

But Kim Dong-Soo couldn\'t voice that out loud, because saying that would imply that Choi Man-Sik was harboring other intentions.

\'No, that can\'t be right. Why would Choi Man-Sik go against the shareholders\' wills? If he just waits, he\'ll become the majority shareholder.\' Kim Dong-Soo wondered.

That\'s when Choi Man-Sik quietly spoke with a firm expression.

At that moment, Kim Dong-Soo felt as if the blood in his entire body had turned cold.

"M-Mr. Choi..."