Before the regression, Min Gyu-Ri was a habitual liar. She swore up and down she had never had a sponsor, yet she was being sponsored by three people at the same time. She claimed she had broken up with her boyfriend, but they were still living together. Even while cohabiting, two-timing was a given. Whenever one of her sponsors or her boyfriend found out and threatened to go to the press, I would be the one to wear myself out trying to buy their silence. Just thinking about it still made my hands and feet tremble. Anyway, that was the reason I didn't believe a word that came out of Min Gyu-Ri's mouth. She felt no guilt when lying for her own gain. Naturally, I stopped caring about anything she had to say. That's when Min Gyu-Ri noticed how indifferent I was and spoke again. "Our president is cooking something up. If you don't hear me out, you're going to be in big trouble." Since I was the one who exposed the cloned phone scandal at TNT Entertainment, there was no doubt President Yoo Kang-Seok had it in for me. Yet judging by Min Gyu-Ri's confident tone, she seemed to know something concrete. I would have brushed her off without a second thought before, but this time, I figured I might be able to extract information from her. The Min Gyu-Ri in front of me wasn't the sly nine-tailed-fox she used to be. She was more like a baby fox with just one tail sprouting. I shrugged. "Go on, let's hear it." "But I have one condition." 'What a cheap trick.' "If you don't want to talk, don't bother." As I turned away to show I didn't care, Min Gyu-Ri rushed to speak. "Ah, why are you so hasty!? Fine, I'll tell you." Min Gyu-Ri looked around, then whispered quietly. "Our president is trying to sell the company." "He's... selling the company?" That was more information than I expected. Before the regression when the cloned phone scandal broke, TNT Entertainment pinned all the blame on lower-level staff and played dumb. Then they tried to recover from the financial damage by borrowing more money to expand, but ended up going bankrupt. However, this time, he was planning to sell it instead of expanding. "Who's he selling it to?" "That part hasn't been decided yet. But I'll let you know once it is. Oh, and there's one more thing our president is planning..." Seeing her pause and glance at me, I realized this was what she actually wanted to talk about. "What is it you want?" When I asked first, Min Gyu-Ri grinned. "I knew you'd catch on. Alright, I'll be straight with you. Take me in, and I'll tell you what he's planning." "Excuse me? What did you just say?" "I want to join Hoop Entertainment. Oh, and you don't have to give me a signing bonus. Just split the profits seventy-thirty. Of course, I get the seventy." Min Gyu-Ri's condition was that I take her into Hoop Entertainment. She said once TNT Entertainment was sold, she would be free to leave. Right then, memories of all the messes she caused before the regression came rushing back. 'Ugh, just thinking about it gives me the chills.' Now that I knew TNT Entertainment was being sold, that was enough. As for whatever Yoo Kang-Seok was planning, I just had to stop it. "Thanks for the info, but I have no intention of taking you in, Miss Gyu-Ri. I don't need anything more." Min Gyu-Ri blinked in disbelief. "Why... why not? You know I've been getting great reactions in the advertising world! I'm not even asking for a signing bonus, so why won't you take me? Is it the seventy-thirty split? That's negotiable." Just like Min Gyu-Ri said, after her recent performance in Hwaranjeon, the industry was buzzing about a new star. While it was true TNT Entertainment spent a fortune promoting her, she also showcased impressive acting from her debut. I even heard she was overwhelmed with ad offers and casting calls. But still, I had no intention of taking her in. In this life, I didn't want to end up with a hole in my stomach from looking after her. "I don't think we're a good fit, Miss Gyu-Ri. Even if it were thirty-seventy with you getting thirty, I'd still say no." "That's ridiculous. If you take me in, you're guaranteed praise from the company. I've got several ad deals lined up and I'm reviewing an offer for a new drama. If you sign me, all of that becomes part of your record." I flatly rejected her offer. "I don't need the recognition. Try someone else." But then, Min Gyu-Ri looked at me with suspicious eyes. "Don't tell me... it's because you're dating Jung Yoo-Jin sunbae?" "What did you just say?" "Oh, come on. I've heard the rumors too. Fine, I won't fight with Yoo-Jin sunbae anymore. Happy now?" Min Gyu-Ri was completely delusional. "I don't know what you've heard, but no. Yoo-Jin and I are just a talent agent and an actress, nothing more." I saw no reason to continue the conversation, so I turned to leave. But then I heard Min Gyu-Ri mutter to herself. "Yeah, right... It's so obvious. But seriously, talk about low standards. How could you like a woman with a kid?" 'What? A woman with a kid?' At a young age, Yoo-Jin made a decision that most people couldn't even fathom. She was just a high school student, scared and alone after losing her parents and her sister's family, yet she risked everything to raise Miso. I couldn't stand the thought of someone mocking her for that choice. Especially since, as someone who grew up in an orphanage, I found Yoo-Jin's decision nothing short of admirable. I immediately turned and marched toward Min Gyu-Ri. I was so furious I couldn't speak calmly. "Repeat what you just said. Clearly. Right now." Min Gyu-Ri flinched at my sudden change in tone. "I-I mean, if you're not dating her, then... you're not. There's no need to get so worked up." "I don't care about rumors that I'm dating Yoo-Jin. Let people talk. But what? Someone like a woman with a kid? Why? You think someone with a child doesn't deserve love?" Startled by my intense reaction, Min Gyu-Ri began to stammer. "I-I just meant... it's a bit complicated, you know... between a man and a woman, if there's a kid..." If Min Gyu-Ri weren't a woman, I might have punched her right then and there. "Yoo-Jin is a hundred times, a thousand times more lovable than you'll ever be, so don't worry about that. And don't worry about her future either. Unlike you, there are plenty of people who will cherish both Miso and Yoo-Jin." I took a deep breath, barely containing my rage, then issued a warning. "So listen carefully. If I ever hear you say something like that again, I won't let it slide. Got it?" Min Gyu-Ri just trembled, unable to speak. She had grown up being coddled and was always praised for being precious. So she had never been pushed before. In the end, she bowed her head and avoided my eyes. Because right now, I was someone she couldn't handle. "Al... alright. I... I was wrong..." I didn't believe her apology, but I didn't want to argue anymore, so I turned my back to her. I silently made a vow that if Min Gyu-Ri ever caused trouble again, I wouldn't let her get away with it. And one day, I would make sure Yoo-Jin found someone who could understand everything about her. After we finished shooting on set, I traveled back to Seoul with Yoo-Jin. As soon as we hit the highway, Yoo-Jin, seated in the back, asked, "Oppa. Did something happen with Min Gyu-Ri earlier?" Yoo-Jin lifted her fingers to her eyebrows, mimicking Min Gyu-Ri's glare. "When we left the set, I saw her glaring at you ." "It's nothing. She just said something that deserved a scolding, so I gave her one." Yoo-Jin cracked her fingers as she spoke. "What did she say? Tell me. I, Jung Yoo-Jin, will remember it well and deliver sweet revenge on set." The way her eyes lit up worried me about what she might do during filming, so I brushed it off. "It's really nothing. She just said she wanted to join our company. Something about how signing a successful rookie like her would help my career." Yoo-Jin scoffed in disbelief. "Wow. Seriously? She tried to flirt with my talent agent? Oppa, should I rip her hair out during the next shoot?" When Yoo-Jin raised her fingernails like claws and bared her canines, Yang So-Ri mimicked her exactly. "It's fine. I already gave her a proper scolding." Yoo-Jin rolled up her sleeves, fuming. "No way, I can't just let this go. Since it came up, I'll put an end to it once and for all. I've never liked her anyway. Who does she think she is, trying to flirt with my talent agent?" Seeing her all fired up, I couldn't help but smile a little. 'Yeah. Yoo-Jin could handle whatever Min Gyu-Ri threw at her. I just need to support her.' Shaking Min Gyu-Ri's words from my head, I answered. "It's fine, so don't worry. And if someone needs to make trouble, it should be the talent agent, not the celebrity. You're a lead actress now, remember?" Thanks to Choi Ji-Yung's final coaching, Yoo-Jin was now officially being treated as the lead of Hwaranjeon. Yoo-Jin clicked her tongue, clearly disappointed. "Alright. But if she says anything like that again, make sure to tell me. Got it?" "Seriously, I already told you everything, so stop worrying and focus on tomorrow's commercial. Once you get home, shower and go straight to bed. Don't let your face puff up." Tomorrow, Yoo-Jin and Miso were filming a commercial for the new bottled water THE Pure by Jinseong Foods. Just then, Yoo-Jin suddenly remembered something. "Oh? Oppa. You said I could eat two meals today, remember?" "That was when you couldn't walk on your own." "What? That's not fair. And I didn't even eat a real meal earlier. I only had porridge and kept filming. So technically, I haven't eaten at all." Yoo-Jin gave me a pitiful look, clearly feeling wronged. I did feel bad, but I couldn't let her eat with the shoot starting early tomorrow because her face might get puffy. I was about to promise her something tasty after the shoot if she just held out for today. Just then, Yoo-Jin turned her head away while sulking and blew cold breath onto the window. As frost formed on the glass, she started writing something. 'Huh? Wait for what? Is that toward Min Gyu-Ri? Or... me? And what's with that heart?' Yoo-Jin stopped writing there and gave a meaningful smile. It was obvious she knew I was watching through the rearview mirror. 'Time for a new plan.' We needed to get to Seoul quickly so I could at least give her half a cup of warm milk to prevent an even bigger incident. As soon as we got up the next day, I took Yoo-Jin and Miso to Jinseong Foods' headquarters. When we arrived at the first-floor lobby, Director Park Bull-Chool and the staff were already busy preparing for the shoot. THE Pure would be filmed in the large convenience store located in the lobby. Later, Lee Tae-Poong and Go Jae-Soo were coming to shoot THE Best commercial in the 10th-floor office and rooftop. "The convenience store is pretty spacious, so we'll shoot as much as possible in here. Keep CG to a minimum, and the props team, go in for the final check." At Park Bull-Chool's command, the filming crew entered the store and began setting up. Just then, Park Bull-Chool noticed us. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Jung. Miss Yoo-Jin, Miso, it's been a while." Yoo-Jin and Miso bowed with an idol-style greeting. "Hello, Mr. Park." "Yeah, yeah. It's good to see you," Park Bull-Chool chuckled and handed over some A4 papers. "We made a few changes to the storyboard this morning. Please take a look and confirm." As he handed me the storyboard, Park Bull-Chool continued explaining. "For the first scene, you need to come in as confidently and shamelessly as possible. Got it?" Then Yoo-Jin asked, "Mr. Park, this isn't going to be like that weird Burger Queen ad with absurd humor again, right? I looked at the storyboard and it kind of has that vibe..." Park Bull-Chool glanced sideways at me, then quickly turned his head. "Hahaha. It's a comedy! Comedy! What do you mean, absurd humor?" The storyboard described a Silla-era princess who used magic to leap through time and space, appearing in a convenience store. This was because she needed pure spring water to cure the king's illness. Fortunately, Yoo-Jin didn't question it much. As she read the storyboard with Miso, the two of them burst into giggles, completely immersed. Then Miso held the divining rod prop to her forehead. "Mom, I grew antennae!" "Pfft... you really did." Yoo-Jin and Miso couldn't stop laughing as they mimicked the storyboard. Just then, the stylist from the ad agency called for Yoo-Jin and Miso. "Oppa, we'll go get changed now." "Alright, see you soon." Yoo-Jin and Miso headed to the makeshift dressing room on the first floor. Meanwhile, Park Bull-Chool grinned and addressed the staff. "Today's shoot might look serious and intense, but technically, it's comedy. Make sure no one laughs on set." At that moment, Jin Sung-Joon arrived and approached me. After greeting me, he remarked with curiosity, "Mr. Park is amazing. How does he manage to shoot two commercials in one day?" "Hahaha. He's just that talented." Since directing the Burger Queen ad with Yoo-Jin, Park Bull-Chool had become known as a genius in the commercial world. "By the way, when is the actor playing the counterpart showing up today?" "Ah, perfect timing. There they are now." At that moment, Team Lead Nam Pan-Gyu arrived with Park Sang-Gyu. Today, Park Sang-Gyu was cast as the supporting actor at the convenience store register, reacting to Yoo-Jin and Miso's performance. Park Sang-Gyu came over, apologizing for being late. "I'm sorry. My wife moved a little more this morning, so we left a bit late. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." "Oh, no worries. You're not late." His wife, Lee Sa-Yeon, who had been in a vegetative state, could now move her right hand. Though she still couldn't speak, her communication had become faster thanks to using a tablet. "Thanks... Oh, and I really appreciate the ad opportunity." Though his role in the commercial was minor, his appearance fee was five million won. He hadn't officially debuted yet, but since he was the lead in the upcoming Doppelgänger, they were able to secure a high rate. Then Jin Sung-Joon offered his congratulations. "Congratulations, Mr. Sang-Gyu." Park Sang-Gyu quickly bowed. "Ah, th-thank you, sir." After greeting Jin Sung-Joon, Park Sang-Gyu ran over to Park Bull-Chool. Park Bull-Chool handed him the storyboard and gave him direction. "When Miss Yoo-Jin and Miso come out of the convenience store entrance, act indifferent. It's a world where time travel is normal." He then pointed to the convenience store entrance marked with a green chroma key. Detailed instructions and the final set preparations were wrapping up. Then Jin Sung-Joon looked at the storyboard and cautiously asked, "Um... will this ad really be okay? Looking at the storyboard, it feels a bit risky... Isn't this what they call absurd humor?" I firmly shook my head. "It's comedy!" "Ahem. I see. Hmm... but will this kind of ad really work...?" Being a serious man, Jin Sung-Joon clearly felt uneasy about this kind of concept. "Trust me. Every CF that Mr. Park made has been a huge hit." Jin Sung-Joon gave a small chuckle. "Hmph. Well, more than that... I trust Star Jung the Fortuneteller." I had nothing to say, so I gave an awkward laugh. "Hahaha. Thank you." About ten minutes later, everything was ready. As Park Bull-Chool finalized the actors' positions, he finally picked up the megaphone. "Alright! Let's stay sharp and get this in one take! Ready, action!" At that moment, Jin Sung-Joon's eyes widened as the shoot began.