Stopped by a bodyguard in a black suit, Kang Myung-Gil spoke with an awkward expression, worrying that the premium fruit basket he had gotten to wish Jang Jun-Hyuk a speedy recovery might get damaged as he turned his body.
"Please tell them that I am from Hoop Entertainment."
The bodyguards in charge of VIP protection hesitated for a moment before getting confirmation over the radio that Hoop Entertainment's talent agent was the one who had saved Jang Jun-Hyuk.
"Yes. Yes, sir. Do you want me to let him in? Okay, I understand."
When the bodyguards received instructions through their radios, they quickly cleared the way.
Kang Myung-Gil bowed slightly and headed for the hospital room where Jang Jun-Hyuk was staying.
When the door slid open, Jang Jun-Hyuk's manager, Lee Seung-Hoon, appeared.
"Oh? You're not Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho..."
Lee Seung-Hoon looked for Jung Yoon-Ho as soon as Kang Myung-Gil walked in. However, Kang Myung-Gil made a broad smile and opened his mouth.
"Ah, Yoon-Ho is a bit tied up, so I came first."
"Oh, is that so?"
Not knowing when Jung Yoon-Ho would arrive, Kang Myung-Gil continued to lie. Then while exchanging words, Kang Myung-Gil glanced inside the room and spoke.
"Could I possibly have a word with Mr. Jang Jun-Hyuk?"
"That might be difficult. He needs to be resting fully."
"Ah, I see. Sorry about that. Please accept this for now."
As Kang Myung-Gil handed over the fruit basket containing well wishes for a speedy recovery, Lee Seung-Hoon bowed his head in gratitude.
After taking a moment to catch his breath, Kang Myung-Gil continued.
"Um... It might be a bit difficult to discuss this now, but there's something I would like to seek your advice on, Mr. Lee."
"What is it?"
"I heard a rumor that Mr. Jang is looking for a new agency. Is that... true?"
According to the information Kim Dong-Soo had gathered, Jang Jun-Hyuk was in the midst of looking for a new agency after hastily going independent and struggling to manage things properly on his own.
After all, the biggest reason he had an accident today was because he was finishing a schedule on his own.
"Yes, it's true. Jun-Hyuk hyung's schedule was too overwhelming."
"That's why I was thinking... What do you think about signing a contract with Hoop Entertainment? We will make the best offer in the industry."
Lee Seung-Hoon appeared contemplative upon hearing Kang Myung-Gil's words.
"It's a decision for Jun-Hyuk hyung to make but I don't think he would be opposed to the idea. He was briefly awake just now and we did have such a discussion."
"Ah, is that so? That's great news."
Wearing a happy expression, Kang Myung-Gil wiped the cold sweat from his palms onto his pants and held out a document.
"Then, I would like him to review this when he wakes up. I will make sure the conditions are the best."
Lee Seung-Hoon seemed slightly annoyed by Kang Myung-Gil's suggestion to immediately sign a contract. However, it was true that Jang Jun-Hyuk needed a contract as soon as possible. He needed a company to handle the broadcast cancellations that would arise during his hospital stay.
"I understand. Please leave this here and I will pass it to him."
"Oh, would you do that? Please also feel free to contact me at the number on my business card."
As Kang Myung-Gil smiled happily, Lee Seung-Hoon muttered to himself while looking at the business card he had just received.
"Division 3? Does that mean Mr. Jung Yoon-Ho is also from Actor Division 3?"
Kang Myung-Gil was about to answer with an awkward expression.
But at that moment, a young man's voice was heard from behind.
"No, I'm from Division 2."
Feeling a shiver down his spine, Kang Myung-Gil turned to see Jung Yoon-Ho holding a cup of orange juice as a recovery gift.
***
'This is just unbelievable.'
Seeing the business card and contract in Kang Myung-Gil's hand, I immediately understood the situation.
'Was he trying to make Jang Jun-Hyuk sign a contract using my name?'
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
"I am in Actor Division 2, Mr. Lee."
As I made my affiliation clear once again, both Kang Myung-Gil and Lee Seung-Hoon's expressions twisted simultaneously.
"Hm. Is that so?"
When Kang Myung-Gil heard Lee Seung-Hoon's cold voice, he hurriedly gestured with his hands, suggesting that everything was a misunderstanding.
"Well, I'm from Actor Division 3 and Jung Yoon-Ho is from Actor Division 2. But since we're from the same company..."
But Lee Seung-Hoon cut off Kang Myung-Gil's ridiculous excuse and put down the documents and the business card he was holding.
"I will consider this not received."
"N-no, I mean..." Kang Myung-Gil stammered.
"You can either see yourself out or I can call the security."
Kang Myung-Gil quietly stood up from his seat upon hearing Lee Seung-Hoon's firm tone.
"I apologize for the inconvenience."
When Kang Myung-Gil bowed, Lee Seung-Hoon spoke again.
"Oh, and you should take back the fruit basket you brought."
"No, please keep it. I genuinely brought it out of concern for Mr. Jang Jun-Hyuk."
"Hm. Alright. Since there are many patients in the hospital, we'll donate the fruits to them."
Finding himself at a loss for words, Kang Myung-Gil turned around. Then, he headed to the elevator after glaring at me for a moment.
It was ridiculous to see him upset when he was the one trying to pull off a sneaky move using my name.
After Kang Myung-Gil disappeared, Lee Seung-Hoon left the fruit basket in the corridor and opened his mouth.
"We almost ended up signing a contract with someone other than you, Mr. Jung."
Lee Seung-Hoon tried to lighten the mood with a strained smile.
He explained that he thought Kang Myung-Gil had visited them on my behalf because I was too busy.
"Ah, my car is a huge mess right now. That's why I was late—I had to take the bus."
"Oh, that. We'll make sure to handle the insurance properly."
Lee Seung-Hoon, looking somewhat flustered, took my hand and bowed his head.
"Anyway, I can finally greet you properly. You saved Jun-Hyuk hyung's life. Thank you so much."
"It's nothing. Anyone would have done the same."
"Well, I don't know about that. Now, please come on in. Jun-Hyuk hyung is waiting inside."
Lee Seung-Hoon headed towards the hospital room and began to explain in detail what had just happened before I arrived.
'Kim Dong-Soo. He really is something.'
I started to realize just how dangerous the situation with Kang Myung-Gil earlier could have been.
'If I had arrived even a little later, Kim Dong-Soo might have secured a contract with Jang Jun-Hyuk.'
Come to think of it, Kim Dong-Soo had an amazing talent for digging up information even in my past life.
'I didn't know it would be to this extent, though.'
Having heard the whole story, I was determined to pay Kim Dong-Soo back in kind.
After all, there was an actor that Kim Dong-Soo was trying to recruit that I needed to bring over to my side.
'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.'