Chapter 46: I Read Faces, That Name’s Unlucky

"Annyeonghaseyo, President-ssi."

"Mm."

Watching the President enter the elevator, Lee Ri-ya sighed, wistful. "Aish~ When will he notice me?"

"He has, he has." Her senior nearby shrugged. "Didn't see? He nods at you every time."

"Ah~~ Nods count?"

"Of course. Want him to bow? Aish~ Greedy girl."

"Sunbae-nim, think I could be a trainee?"

Eyeing Lee Ri-ya preening in the mirror, Hwang Joo-in sighed. "Aish~ With your face, I'd try."

"Try what?" Ri-ya asked, curious.

"Duh, charm the President, become Mrs. President."

"Yah."

"Yah?"

Hwang's face hardened. "Lee Ri-ya, talk proper. I'm your senior."

"Aish, front desk senior?"

"Aish? You nuts?"

"Hey, what're you two doing? Wanna lose your jobs?"

A sudden scolding froze them.

Too busy bickering, they missed Rep Yoon standing there.

Behind her, new faces—likely new artists.

They were toast.

"Mianhae."

"Mianhae!"

Bowing, they braced for a lecture, but it never came.

"Lee Ri-ya, right?"

"Ne."

"Want to be a trainee… Come with me."

Yoon Hye-na smiled, striding to the elevator in khaki stilettos.

"President, Rep Yoon's back."

"Mm, send her in."

Lee Jin-woo looked up, seeing a head-to-toe revamped Yoon Hye-na.

"How's it look?" She spun, beaming, decked in designer gear.

"Closer, let me see." Beckoning, he praised, "Wow, fits perfect. Our Rep Yoon's got a killer figure."

As he spoke, his hand slid to her hip, as usual.

Smack~

Swatting it, she glared, nodding outside. "President, people are waiting!"

"Secretary Ha, bring them in."

Four artists were taken from Kim Sung-hoon's agency.

Ji-yeon stood out most.

The other three, past their prime, had lackluster careers.

Their gigs: small commercial events, occasional "auntie/uncle" cameos in dramas.

"Welcome to Zy Entertainment. Rep Yoon's explained the details. Let's work hard, make it big, okay?"

"Ne, President-ssi, kamsahamnida." Seasoned pros, they acted extra humble.

No, cautious.

They sat on chair edges, as if sitting fully was a crime.

Newbies, fine, but as veterans?

Who'd believe Kim Sung-hoon, that devil, killed himself over guilt?

This young, handsome man with a "fierce" neck tattoo and gentle smile was scarier than Kim.

"Secretary Ha."

"Ne."

"Show them around, let them settle. Chief Kim will handle their work."

"Ji-yeon, you stay."

"Kamsahamnida!" They bowed, fleeing the room.

If their contracts hadn't transferred to Zy, they'd rather quit.

Alone, Ji-yeon's heart raced.

Fearing old nightmares would resurface.

Kim Sung-hoon had pushed her toward vile acts.

His pressure grew brutal, nearly breaking her, when he landed in the hospital.

She thanked the heavens daily for that reprieve.

Then, news of his suicide.

All her fear and pressure vanished.

But then, Yoon Hye-na appeared.

Now, new dread loomed, with a foe far scarier than Kim.

Her imagined scenarios nearly broke her.

Thankfully, Rep Yoon and the receptionist were here, or she'd have bolted.

"Ji-yeon, change your name."

"Ne, huh?!"

Baffled, she stared. What was this?

He kept her just to rename her?

"I read faces, got it? Your name's unlucky with your features. Try Seo Ji-yeon, Lee Ji-yeon… Sung Ji-yeon. You pick."

She was floored.

This was… a choice?

Letting her decide, he turned to Lee Ri-ya. "What's this about?"

His own receptionist, he remembered.

"President, her looks are solid, and she's eager to debut…"

A front-desk girl aiming for stardom? No issue.

A natural beauty like her, wasted at reception.

"Give it a shot." He nodded.

Lee Ri-ya clenched her fists, whispering, "Lee Ri-ya, fighting!"

Leaving the office, Ji-yeon became her new self—Lee Ji-yeon.

"Ji-yeon, got a place to stay?"

"Oh."

"Aish, forgot our Ji-yeon's a rich girl."

Seeing her awkwardness, Yoon Hye-na waved, laughing. "Kidding, kidding!"

"I heard about your past from seniors… That won't happen here. Treat this like home, everyone like family, and work hard, okay?"

Slipping a card from her purse, she smiled, placing it in Ji-yeon's hand. "Anything comes up, call me."

Clutching the card, Lee Ji-yeon nodded firmly.

At the elevator, she gazed through the glass at the sky.

The clouds from her arrival had parted.

The clear sky was stunning.

"Man-sik?" Answering a call, Lee Jin-woo flashed a rare, genuine smile.

Unfiltered joy, unseen on his face in ages.

"Choi Man-sik, oh~~ Choi Man-sik, you still alive?"

"Haha, hyung's kicking, so Man-sik's gotta keep up… Hyung, still at the docks?"

"Nah, quit ages ago… Man-sik-a, where you at? Let's meet, drink proper!"

"Oh, hyung, old spot, yeah?"

"Ne, see you."

Grabbing his keys, he dashed out.

"Driver Kim, take the day off, don't follow."

"Rep Yoon, I'm stepping out. Call if anything's up."

Yoon Hye-na barely got out a "Ne" before he vanished into the elevator.

His rush stung her.

Jealousy—she was jealous!

What woman made him so anxious, so eager?

Yoon Hye-na envied her.

Mayo-gu, riverside. He parked by a cluster of shabby brick shacks.

The rundown area: Seoul's slums.

Navigating muddy, puddled alleys, he reached an open seawall.

Below, a few crude stalls.

"Hyung." A baby-faced guy, waiting, waved excitedly.

"Hyung, your tattoo's fierce. Wow~ Bet no one dares look twice."

"Oh, want one? Kiss your job goodbye."

Choi Man-sik, eyes sparkling, deflated, mumbling, "Got Mom and Grandma to feed."

"Knew you'd remember." Lee Jin-woo poured him a drink.

"Cheers."

"Cheers."

Downing it, Choi Man-sik grimaced. "Ah~"

"Hyung, where you working? Need help?"

"Wanna join me?"

"For real? Oh~ Awesome, we'll be together again."

"Course it's real. When's hyung lied?"

Watching Choi Man-sik beam over a bowl of noodle soup, laughing nonstop.

Lee Jin-woo recalled five years ago, when "he" was broke, and Choi took him in.

Back then, noodle soup here too.

But he didn't want to dwell on past struggles.

Hardship's just hardship—no fond memories or value.

Life's worst advice: suffering's a blessing.

"Man-sik-a, hyung's taking you somewhere good. Let's go."

Dropping a 50,000-won bill, Choi freaked, trying to grab it.

Lee Jin-woo slung an arm around him, marching back.

"Hyung, that's 50,000 won, 50,000!"

Choi was losing it, yapping the whole way.

50,000 won could feed them for a week.

"Farewell. To the past."

Exiting the shanty maze, he pointed at the silver-gray Land Rover. "See that? Mine. From now on, you, Choi Man-sik, won't worry about money."

Itaewon. Taking the keys from the valet, he led a still-shocked Choi to the club.

"Sir, mianhae, his attire doesn't meet our dress code. He can't enter."

Stopped by security, Lee Jin-woo glanced at Choi.

Cute baby face, frayed jacket, faded jeans, work boots.

"Hey, you~" Spinning, he pointed at a passing trendy guy, smiling. "Come, let's chat."

Seeing his tipsy vibe and tattoo peek, the guy shuffled over.

Ten minutes later, Choi emerged from the alley.

Rocking hypebeast gear.

Oversized AJs, a bit clunky.

"Hyung, good?"

Never dressed like this, Choi was shy, rattled by stares.

"Oh, perfect." Slapping his arm, Lee Jin-woo eyed the guards. "Now?"

They exchanged looks, bowing awkwardly. "Ne, please enter, kamsahamnida!"

As they vanished into the club, another figure stepped from the alley.

Frayed jacket, washed-out jeans, cheap green work boots, and ten crisp 50,000-won bills.

Ah…

A hot-blooded youth, he didn't want this.

But the guy paid too much!

(End of Chapter)

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