episode_0284

“We’re not exactly the type to grab a meal together, so what brings us here? I hear you’ve got some beef with Yang Harin?”

“…I guess so.”

Kim Iseo gave a faint smile and filled her glass with soju.

Did she just fill it? She filled the glass to the brim and immediately brought it to her lips. The CEO of CT Entertainment, who had been watching Kim Iseo’s actions, burst out laughing.

“Straight to the booze, huh? Looks like our Mystic CEO has quite a bit built up inside?”

“Yeah. So, is it okay if I drink a little today?”

“I welcome it! Let’s drink our fill and get honest.”

Did Kim Iseo have beef with Yang Harin? No.

Of course, this was just a ploy to lower the CT Entertainment CEO’s guard.

She had previously tasked Kim Seon-a with this role, but it almost failed because Kim Seon-a got drunk. That’s why Kim Iseo had no choice but to step up herself this time.

‘…I took a bunch of hangover remedies beforehand, so I shouldn’t get too drunk, right? It has to go smoothly.’

Anyway, the two began to share drinks in earnest, and the CT Entertainment CEO said,

“Because of Yang Harin, ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ has been completely stopped, right? You must have a headache.”

“Of course, I do. Haaa.”

“See, that’s why you need to surround yourself with good people. If you keep a rotten egg like Yang Harin around, everyone suffers. Just look at me, right? I fed her, raised her, gave her everything, and in the end, I got betrayed.”

“Aaaaah, is that so.”

Of course, at first, it was just superficial talk.

But they couldn’t just go back after just scratching the surface. Kim Iseo didn’t come here today without the intention of getting something concrete. Therefore…

Glug glug glug—

Kim Iseo poured more soju.

“CT Entertainment CEO-nim, you should have some too.”

“…This much? Well, I’m not complaining, but I didn’t know the Mystic CEO liked to drink this much?”

It was to get the other person to drink more too.

Honestly, Kim Iseo isn’t a big drinker either… But she has no choice but to forcibly hold onto her senses. The real information will only come out when the other person is drunk and their guard is down.

Therefore, Kim Iseo kept her mind racing.

‘If Yang Harin is truly innocent, there’s no way the CT Entertainment CEO wouldn’t know that. They must just be driving her to the edge of a cliff out of spite.’

In what way was the CT Entertainment CEO driving the innocent Yang Harin to the edge? She needed to hear that.

Cheers—

How many drinks had they shared?

Soon, a touch of drunkenness was showing in the CT Entertainment CEO’s actions. Kim Iseo, as if she had been waiting for this, brought up the words she had prepared.

“I’m not the type to stand idly by.”

“Huh?”

“I repay kindness twice over and revenge more than five times over. That’s the secret to Mystic’s survival. So, um…”

Here, Kim Iseo suddenly stopped talking.

And unexpectedly shakes her head.

“…No, I shouldn’t say things like this.”

“What? Why stop in the middle of a sentence?”

As expected, the CT Entertainment CEO reacted as if unable to contain their curiosity.

Saying something and then not finishing it. What better way to amplify the other person’s curiosity? It’s a common, yet incredibly effective method.

Glug glug glug—

However, as Kim Iseo continued to fill her soju glass without any intention of speaking again, the CT Entertainment CEO finally urged her on.

“What is it? Don’t do that, finish what you were saying.”

“Well, I’m also the CEO of an agency, so I don’t think I should be saying things like this. I should hold back.”

“Did we drink soju to hold back? Didn’t we create this setting to be honest today? Close your eyes and just say it!”

Kim Iseo, having confirmed that the CT Entertainment CEO was properly anxious, slowly started her engine.

She flicks the fishing hook.

“You know that our Sua has the Midas touch, right?”

“Of course, I know. She’s never failed once, right? Everything she touches turns into a jackpot.”

“That’s right. But now, thanks to Yang Harin, that’s in danger of collapsing for the first time. So, um, I shouldn’t be saying this as a CEO, but I really want to kill Harin-ssi.”

“Hahahahahaha! That’s it?”

The CT Entertainment CEO’s expression brightened twofold, and at the same time, they couldn’t control their laughter.

It was only natural, as they had heard the words they most wanted to say through Kim Iseo’s mouth.

Kim Iseo, having confirmed that reaction, subtly went deeper.

“But, surprisingly, the reason we dislike Harin-ssi isn’t this recent escort scandal.”

“What? Really?”

“Yes. It’s just… this might sound bad, but I didn’t like her from the first time I saw her. She has no manners, her skills aren’t great, and I had been planning to get rid of her from the start.”

“…I didn’t know that.”

The CT Entertainment CEO rubbed their chin as if surprised, but Kim Iseo knew that her intentions had gotten through here.

Isn’t CT Entertainment currently driving the unfairly accused Yang Harin into a corner? Therefore, it was important for Kim Iseo to show the attitude of ‘I didn’t like Yang Harin from the start. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, I wanted to ruin her.’

“Sua’s name value is high right now, and I’m quite close with Starcatch too. Is there any way to screw over Yang Harin? This isn’t enough.”

“Just this alone is enough for her to fall into the abyss, right?”

The CT Entertainment CEO talked at length about Yang Harin’s escort-related story. But no additional information that Kim Iseo was satisfied with came out.

Kim Iseo sensed failure here.

‘Damn it, is this all the information I can get? It looks like it’s going to end without any sharp insight.’

That’s what she thought at that moment.

Suddenly, the CT Entertainment CEO said,

“But, if Mystic has so much animosity towards Yang Harin, there’s something I want you to help with.”

“Help with?”

Kim Iseo felt her fishing hook being pulled here, but she didn’t react too strongly.

Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm.

She tried to stay calm. This is like taking your head out of a turtle’s shell. If you act too eager, the other person will pull their head back in.

Therefore, Kim Iseo casually asked,

“What is it that you want me to help with?”

“Actually…”

The CT Entertainment CEO finally made up their mind and continued.

“…There’s some material that could help Yang Harin get out of the escort scandal, you know?”

“Really?”

Kim Iseo reacted in surprise.

“That wouldn’t do, would it? From our perspective, it’s good if Yang Harin falls into the abyss!”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m telling you.”

“Where is that material right now?”

“Well, it’s not actually in our hands. But I know a private investigator who has it.”

The CT Entertainment CEO continued.

“I don’t have much ammo left to negotiate with them, so I was in trouble, but Mystic can definitely sit at the negotiating table, right? Can you contact them, buy the information, and then completely get rid of it?”

“…So, if we get rid of that information, Yang Harin will have no way to escape.”

“Exactly! We can bury her as we intended!”

Kim Iseo’s lips twitched without her realizing it, but she barely managed to hold it back. She desperately controlled her expression.

‘Evidence that can prove Harin-ssi’s innocence is still circulating in the market through a private investigator.’

It was an opportunity she couldn’t miss.

Kim Iseo smiled at the CT Entertainment CEO.

“Connect me. I’ll buy it and erase it right away.”

◈◈◈◈◈

1 hour later.

Vroom vroom vroom—!

Kim Iseo was inside a taxi driving like crazy.

‘Sua is… seriously creepy…’

The first thing she felt was creeped out by Sua.

‘In the end, Sua’s gut feeling was right again, right? To know that Yang Harin is actually innocent?’

She was amazed by Sua, who had changed her, someone who never acted without objective evidence.

But for now, let’s put aside the creepy feeling. Right now, fixing the current situation is the priority.

“I don’t have time.”

—♩♪♬

Just then, a call came from director Go Tae-min.

“Hello?”

“CEO Kim Iseo!”

As soon as the call connected, Go Tae-min’s urgent voice was heard. Well, considering the situation of ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ right now, it wouldn’t be strange.

“CEO Kim Iseo, it’s hard to delay any longer. We have to move in some way.”

Kim Iseo understood his desperate feelings all too well, but despite that, she swallowed her saliva once. There was a reason to be calm right now.

“Can we talk in 10 minutes? I’m a bit busy.”

“…Are you saying there’s something more urgent than our work right now?”

“No. This is also our work. I think I can meet you in person and tell you in 10 minutes.”

Vroom vroom vroom—

Kim Iseo said, stepping on the accelerator.

“I’ve obtained evidence that Yang Harin-ssi is innocent.”