["The boss is always generous, never stingy with his own!"]
["As the target who brought the boss culinary joy and life's happiness, a reward is due."]
[Reward: Plump, Hydrated Skin.]
[Target: Park Sun-young.]
[Reward distribution in progress… Complete.]
Busy with his conquests, Lee Jin-woo missed the prompt until the next day.
The stamina from a dozen oysters was no joke.
Luckily, Park Sun-young had no work in the morning. Her evening broadcast meant heading to the station by afternoon.
"Oppa, the station chief called me in, said they're switching my role. Did you do that?"
"Mm, called Chief Choi."
Lee Jin-woo lounged in bed, sipping his morning coffee.
No delivery apps yet, but Korea's takeout was top-notch.
Every Seoul district had shops delivering coffee, snacks, full meals, convenience store goods.
You just needed their number.
"Oppa, another cup?"
Seeing his empty mug, Park Sun-young offered a second.
Koreans' coffee obsession was next-level.
Morning and noon cups were office workers' lifelines.
High-pressure fields—doctors, lawyers, journalists, finance—kept coffee close during crunch times.
Among countless options, iced Americano reigned: cheap, widespread, and a wake-up punch.
Nothing beat it for a quick jolt.
"Keep it for yourself." He rolled out of bed, heading to the bathroom.
A quick rinse—he had places to be.
"Oppa, any big moves at your company?"
Park Sun-young leaned on the doorframe, grinning. "The industry's buzzing about Zy Plus."
"Is it?" He smirked, noncommittal.
No surprise. Zy Plus was making waves.
IU's Good Day was skyrocketing.
Zy Plus cozying up to CJ, flirting openly—hard to ignore.
Big firms always drew eyes.
"Settling into work?"
"Oh, hosting's my dream."
"Dreams are good. Zy's launching a channel soon. Step up, yeah?"
"Oppa need my help?"
"Of course. A talent with your looks and skills? You're a hot commodity!"
"Oppa~"
"Wait. Why always 'oppa'? You're older."
"Oppa~ How can you bring up a woman's age?"
"So, every guy's an oppa?"
"Mm~~"
She shook her head. "Only hotties like you get to be oppa."
"Aigoo."
Pinching her chin, puckering her lips, he laughed. "This pretty mouth's too sweet."
She closed her eyes, offering her full, rosy lips.
Pop~
Squeezing her apple cheeks, he grinned. "Gotta go. Work to do."
"Oppa, when'll I see you?"
She leaned on the frame, one leg rubbing against it.
Aish, this woman…
Vixen, total vixen.
SBS Korea Supermodel Awards, Seoul finals.
"Girl, hurry up!"
"Aish, what took so long? Forgot your alarm?"
"Mianhae, unnie, traffic jam."
Lee Joo-bin handed her bag and clothes to her assistant, rushing to the crew.
"Kamsahamnida."
"PD Son, Joo-bin's here. Seoul traffic's awful, mianhae, really mianhae."
"Mm, she's here. Prep quick."
"Ne, thanks."
After sweet-talking, Noh Yoo-ran returned, warning, "Girl, you gotta shine."
"This is the Supermodel Awards. Show your absolute best, arasseo?"
The SBS-backed Korea Supermodel Awards rivaled Miss Korea.
Making the finals, even without winning, was a resume goldmine.
"Oh~ Unnie, I'll try hard."
"Try? Go all out, all out."
"It's not just you now. You've seen Sung-min's potential. You get it, right?"
Lee Joo-bin nodded, feeling the pressure.
Lee Sung-min's arrival was a massive challenge for everyone.
Her blatant ambition and hunger for success tensed the whole company.
Aish~
Damn it, things were so chill before. What's this mess?
"Unnie, how's her contract? Did the President pay?"
"Aish, that's your concern?" Noh Yoo-ran snapped. "Focus on your job."
Seeing her sulk, Noh worried she'd been too harsh.
If it tanked her performance, she'd be the company's sinner.
"The President's coming to the finals."
"Oppa's coming?" Lee Joo-bin's eyes sparkled.
"Yah!" Glancing around, Noh warned, "Outside, call him President."
"Ah, mianhae, forgot."
Apologetic, her gaze drifted to a rival contestant.
"Unnie, unnie, what's that woman's agency?"
"Where?" Following her finger, Noh saw a pure, striking face.
Alarm bells rang. Danger, danger, danger…
A real threat. Whose rookie was this?
Noh glared, whispering, "You prep. I'll handle this."
Sending the assistant with Joo-bin, Noh approached a staffer with the roster.
"Aigoo, SBS events always draw a crowd!"
"Ne, Seoul's packed. Finals will thin it out."
"Getting here's already huge. Seoul's Seoul…"
Chatting to cozy up, Noh casually pointed. "That's a contestant, right? Here alone, no escort?"
"Oh~ Isn't that your agency's? Asking me? Don't know her?"
The staffer flipped through the list, double-checking. "No impostor, right? Really don't know?"
"Really?" Noh's hostility flipped to glee.
"Aigoo, probably joined while I was out. Big company, can't know everyone."
"Thought it was a fake. Scared me."
"Aigoo, sorry for the trouble."
Brushing it off, Noh's legs carried her to the girl.
"Annyeonghaseyo!" Beaming warmly, she probed for a name.
The girl bowed nervously, hand on chest. "Ne~ Nana, Im Jin-na."
"Aigoo, gorgeous, so gorgeous… Relax, I'm Agent Noh, Zy Plus's Noh Yoo-ran. Heard of me?"
Seeing her awkward headshake, Noh linked arms. "Aish, ne!"
Im Jin-na relaxed, her gaze warming.
She'd come to find Noh Yoo-ran. Rep Yoon said to join her for the contest.
But her reaction—did she forget to call?
"Secretary Ha, today's the Seoul finals?"
"Yes, Agent Noh's there."
"Mm, celebrate when they're back!"
No further orders, so Ha Joo-hee added, "Sung-min's contract is done. Chief Kim's is in progress. Rep Yoon will report tomorrow."
"Mm, Kim Sung-hoon? Any news?" Lee Jin-woo asked casually.
He'd told Chief Ahn to make Kim Sung-hoon "disappear" from Seoul, never to return.
How it was done, he didn't know.
Ha Joo-hee hesitated, then turned on the TV, flipping to news.
It covered China's 2008 Olympics progress.
As he looked puzzled, a ticker flashed.
Former agency head Kim Sung-hoon arrested for bribery. During interrogation, he hanged himself with his tie…
Ha Joo-hee stood by the wall, head down, fingers twisting, betraying her unease.
"Joo-hee-ya, go work." Lee Jin-woo swiveled to the window.
Today, he felt the chaebol's power and ruthlessness up close.
When Noh Yoo-ran returned with good news, he'd left.
"The President had business… This is for you all. Celebrate!"
The lavish seafood spread on the conference table soothed their disappointment.
"Thanks to the President's treat, we'll dig in."
After the initial buzz, Ha Joo-hee asked about the day.
"Our Nana got fifth—great job. Sung-min and Yoon-joo took first and third. Aigoo, gotta drink!"
Noh Yoo-ran adored Im Jin-na, seeing star potential.
Barely trained, she had rock-solid stage presence.
Natural talent, pure gold!
Under Noh's fond gaze, Im Jin-na bowed shyly. "Hello, I'm Im Jin-na."
Seeing mixed looks, Noh pulled her close. "Our Nana's so polite. Stick with me!"
Im Jin-na nodded awkwardly. "Ne."
A newbie, clueless, how could she refuse an agent's favor?
Meanwhile, Lee Jin-woo drank alone at a stall.
A bottle of soju, dried fish, and spicy cabbage.
His mood wasn't as bright as it seemed.
Not guilt—something complex, unnameable.
He'd wanted company but found no one to share a sullen drink.
Aish, even money can't cure loneliness.
(End of Chapter)
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