Free Web NovelJY Entertainment practically existed for one reason — to manage Cheon Jiyoung. The company’s CEO and managers were, for the most part, people from Chunha Group.
I was the one who had given them a legitimate way to make a living instead of using their fists, and in return, they repaid me by protecting Jiyoung with absolute loyalty.
They provided her with every possible form of support, carefully hiding any trace of gangster background.
Even when they had to bow their heads and swallow their pride to prevent trouble from reaching Jiyoung, none of them hesitated.
That was why it was shocking to see that familiar bowing gaze in Manager Hong Sunghyuk’s eyes now turn cold and dangerous for the first time.
Manager Han, who saw that expression, flinched — but perhaps because of pride, he instead barked even louder.
“You little punk! You’ve barely been in this business for a few years, and you say what to your senior? You wanna die?!”
“Watch your mouth. Keep talking like that and you’ll vanish one night without a sound. That’s all I’ll say. Go home now — unless you really want this to go all the way.”
“What? What did you just say? Go all the way? All. The. Way?”
Hong Sunghyuk slicked his hair back with one hand, glaring like he could kill. His voice, though restrained, was still thick with fury.
“Manager Han, let’s stop this.”
He bit down hard on his lower lip, visibly forcing himself to stay calm.
Even though his fists were the size of pot lids, Manager Han arrogantly jabbed a finger into his chest, intentionally provoking him.
“Say it again, you bastard. How long you been in this business, huh? A few years? Think you’re some big shot just because your actress landed a lead role? You think you’re somebody now? Keep running your mouth about killing me — go on, I said it, now what? Kill me?”
Unable to take any more, Hong Sunghyuk grabbed his finger.
The moment he tightened his grip, pain twisted across Manager Han’s face, and a strangled groan escaped his throat.
Leaning close enough that only we could hear, Hong spoke in a voice as cold as ice.
“Han, keep this up and you really will die.”
Jiyoung was frozen, glancing back and forth between me and them, unsure what to do.
So much for cheering her up — she didn’t need to see this kind of scene.
I exhaled heavily and addressed Hong.
“Manager Hong, that’s enough. Too many eyes are watching.”
He obeyed immediately, shoving Han back roughly and stepping away.
“You little— you bastard!”
“Let’s stop this here,” I said calmly.
“And who the hell are you supposed to be?!”
Manager Han turned on me, his face bright red.
They say even a house dog from a noble family barks differently — he clearly thought this set was his territory. I lifted my shoulders lightly and gave him an indifferent apology.
“I really didn’t recognize Ms. Lee Songhee because I’m not interested in the entertainment world. So please understand and take your actress back. There’s no good in making a bigger scene. Look around you.”
Manager Han glanced around reluctantly — only to realize the whole place was watching, murmuring.
“You’re the sponsor people keep whispering about, huh? The one backing Cheon Jiyoung? You look pretty young... What exactly do you do?”
He rubbed the wrist Hong had just crushed and looked me up and down with a smirk.
I let out a quiet, humorless laugh. I hadn’t planned to escalate — for Jiyoung’s sake, I wanted this to end quietly.
But there’s always someone who crosses the line.
“Manager Hong, take Jiyoung inside.”
“Oppa—”
She called out in alarm, but when I turned my face toward her, she immediately shut her mouth.
My expression must’ve hardened — she shook her head, but I gave a sharp look that left no room for argument.
“Manager Hong.”
“Yes, sir.”
He led Jiyoung away. Then I stepped closer to Manager Han and murmured low enough that only he could hear.
“Go on. Say it one more time.”
“What? You little—”
“You keep saying sponsor, sponsor. Is it because the woman behind you has one? Guess trash only sees trash, huh?”
“You son of a—!”
He lunged to grab my collar, but Manager Ma caught his wrist effortlessly.
A quick twist — and the man’s scream filled the room.
“Ah! Agh!”
“When someone tells you they don’t want trouble, you should just walk away. Why keep pushing? I said I didn’t know her.”
Manager Ma’s strength was monstrous. The color drained completely from Han’s face.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Lee Songhee’s shrill voice tore through the air. Funny how she’d been silent when her manager was bullying others, yet now that it was her turn, she suddenly found urgency.
I turned to her with a mocking smile.
“Ms. Lee, do you know me? No, you don’t. So isn’t it strange that you’re angry just because I didn’t know ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) you? I’m not angry, after all. Then again, maybe that’s why you’re washed up.”
“What did you just—! What did you say to me?!”
“How does it feel now? Looks like you came here jealous of Jiyoung — it’s pathetic. Stop embarrassing yourself.”
Her eyes widened with rage, but with everyone watching, she couldn’t throw another tantrum.
Then several people burst into the cafeteria. Spotting the commotion, they hurried over.
“Who are you? What the hell is—”
They started questioning me before even figuring out what had happened. I could only laugh.
So this was her turf, huh?
Then one man whispered something in the first one’s ear.
“Oh— my apologies. You’re Jiyoung’s cousin, right? I didn’t realize. I’m Director Lim Seungho. But what on earth happened here?”
“Nice to meet you. Kim Muhyuk. Well... I came to cheer for Jiyoung, sent over a catering buffet from Myeongdong Hotel, and suddenly Ms. Lee decided to pick a fight.”
The director sighed and cast a weary glance at Lee Songhee before bowing slightly.
He looked used to this kind of thing — like it wasn’t the first time.
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing, Director? Are you saying this is my fault?”
“Sunbaenim, please. Let’s just calm down first.”
She raised her voice, clearly wanting everyone to hear, but Director Lim looked utterly drained. He turned to me again and apologized once more.
“As the person in charge of this set, I apologize.”
At least he seemed like a decent man. I waved a hand.
This wasn’t his fault — the apology should come from the one who’d caused the scene.
“No, you don’t owe me one. I’d just like an apology from Ms. Lee herself.”
“That... might be difficult...”
He glanced nervously at her.
A director afraid of a supporting actress — there had to be a reason for that.
Still, I had no interest in dragging this on.
“Forget it. We’ll be leaving now. I’m taking Jiyoung with me tonight.”
“Mr. Kim, you can’t just—”
Director Lim’s voice wavered as I looked around.
No one glared at Lee Songhee, yet a few cast members were clearly frowning toward the direction Jiyoung had gone.
“From the look of things, there are plenty of people here who already resent her. I won’t leave her in a place like this.”
I turned away.
Manager Ma released Han’s wrist and followed behind me.
“Hey! You bastard, stop right there!”
Han, unable to swallow his anger, came charging after us, shouting curses.
“What a nuisance.”
I muttered under my breath. Before he could get any closer, Manager Ma turned around and punched him square in the face.
Han crashed into a nearby table with a loud thud and collapsed — completely out cold.
I glanced back at the still-glaring Lee Songhee and smirked.
“Go ahead and file your lawsuit if you want.”
Her lips trembled, eyes blazing with humiliation, but no one — not a single person — stepped up to defend her.
It was suddenly obvious who ruled this set.
Even the director, the staff, and the other actors were all walking on eggshells around her.
As I headed for the exit, people parted like the Red Sea.
“W-wait, please!”
Director Lim hurried after me out the door.
“You can’t just leave like this! What about today’s shoot?”
I stopped and turned back. Dedicated to his job — sure — but hopelessly blind to where authority really lay.
“Is that what matters right now? The atmosphere here is rotten. Even while we were eating, I could see the way some of your cast looked at Jiyoung — with disdain. And you want me to leave her here alone?”
“...”
He didn’t deny it. If he’d managed things properly, this would never have happened.
“If it’s this bad even when others are around, imagine how much worse it gets when she’s by herself. I’m not leaving my sister in a place like that.”
“Are you saying you’ll terminate the contract?”
“That’s for Jiyoung to decide.”
“There will be penalties—”
I let out a dry laugh.
How many people here even knew the extent of Jiyoung’s wealth?
And even if she couldn’t pay it — I certainly could.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it. Must be rough, though — a director who has to watch his actors’ moods.”
Director Lim’s face flushed red with embarrassment, but I turned away.
Then I opened the car door where Jiyoung sat waiting.
“Oppa...”
I dismissed the driver, Hong, and the staff, leaving only the two of us.
She looked up at me, eyes trembling — already guessing what I was about to say.
“Jiyoung.”
“...”
“Cheon Jiyoung.”
“Yeah...”
“I don’t mind you working in this field. But I can’t stand watching you get looked down on.”
I never let my people get humiliated.
She was my family — someone precious. Protecting her was only natural.
If it were up to me, I’d make Lee Songhee, her manager, and every one of those silent bystanders regret ever opening their mouths.
But if I did that, Jiyoung’s career would be over.
“Oppa, but...”
“I know what you’re about to say, so don’t. I don’t care if she’s your senior, or if ‘that’s just how this industry is.’ None of that matters to me. You matter more.”
Her lips parted slightly.
She clearly had plenty to say, but knowing me, she stayed silent.
“I’ll take care of this. For now, drop the film.”
“I don’t want to.”
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“It’s something I really want to do, oppa. Roles like this hardly ever come my way. No matter what you say, I’m doing it.”
Her firm tone caught me off guard — I’d never seen her this determined.
“I know you don’t like it, but I’m still doing it. You’re the one who said I should do what I want. So why stop me now?”
Her eyes glistened, full of tears and resolve, and for once, I had no words.
After a moment, I exhaled and nodded.
“Fine. If you want to do it, do it.”
“Really?”
Surprised by how easily I agreed, she blinked — the tears already drying.
Ah, acting really does suit her. She even fooled her own brother.
I chuckled softly and patted her shoulder.
“I can’t tell you to stop and then preach about freedom. But Lee Songhee’s out.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll take care of it. Just rest for a few days.”
“But the filming schedule—”
Jiyoung glanced up anxiously, realizing how much I was already conceding.
“They’ll figure it out. That’s as much as I’ll compromise. If you can’t agree, then I won’t either.”
“...Alright. I’ll rest a few days.”
“Good. Just until I remove Lee Songhee.”
When the conversation ended, I tapped on the door. The staff returned, and I gestured.
“Everyone except Manager Hong, back in the van.”
They looked to Hong, who nodded, and the rest climbed in.
Once we were alone, I looked around briefly and asked,
“Hong, she’s been bullying Jiyoung, hasn’t she?”
“...Not outright. But once that kind of atmosphere takes hold, it doesn’t go away easily. Little things — snide remarks, subtle humiliation. Others joined in too. I complained several times, but all I got was, ‘don’t make a fuss.’ Even Jiyoung told me to leave it.”
If Hong had wanted, he could’ve destroyed this set overnight.
But he’d held back for Jiyoung’s sake — to keep rumors from spreading.
I knew that, and I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I understand. You did well.”
“Thank you.”
He bowed deeply. He, too, must’ve been under strain for a long time.
“But tell me — who’s backing Lee Songhee, that she acts so high and mighty?”
Hong glanced around cautiously, then leaned closer and spoke.
The name that came out of his mouth was one I hadn’t expected at all.
