Chapter 139
Secretary Shim handed his phone to Do-heon, who was sitting in the back seat. A few seconds later, Do-heon’s eyes narrowed.
It was a scandal article about Cheong-yeon. The person in the photo, standing close with another man in an intimate pose, was definitely Cheong-yeon. Moreover, the circumstances that led to the article were quite detailed.
“It’s definitely Cheong-yeon.”
“And with the Gyuseong Daily’s article added, things seem to be getting complicated.”
“Gyuseong? What article did they publish now?”
Do-heon returned the phone to Secretary Shim and opened the internet on his tablet PC to search for Cheong-yeon’s name directly.
“—Yoo Cheong-yeon reportedly demanding inheritance from JT Group after divorce from chaebol”
“—The reason rookie actor Yoo Cheong-yeon only dates wealthy men”
Numerous sensational articles containing Cheong-yeon’s name appeared.
Even without checking each one individually, it was clear that the controversy about inheritance had originated from Gyuseong Daily. After all, only the JT family members knew that Cheong-yeon would inherit from his grandmother.
From Moon Hee-jin and Moon Tae-jin’s perspective, they couldn’t just sit by and watch, so they must have wanted to bring him down somehow while the scandal was breaking.
“Gyuseong Daily must have thought this was a good opportunity.”
“Of course they would.”
Do-heon said, tapping Cheong-yeon’s face on the screen.
“If left alone, it will appear as though Cheong-yeon is unreasonably demanding property division. Public criticism will be inevitable when the actual inheritance occurs, so Gyuseong Daily seems to have played this quite smartly.”
Do-heon nodded slightly at Secretary Shim’s explanation.
Raising the grandmother’s inheritance issue was an opportunity to damage Cheong-yeon’s image as an actor—something that had been a thorn in their side—while also potentially affecting the department store advertising contract scheduled for the next quarter.
Regardless of the truth behind the scandal, it was clear that this situation would not benefit Cheong-yeon.
“Have all the articles taken down for now.”
Do-heon instructed in his monotone voice. Secretary Shim looked troubled.
“The problem is that before we could intervene, they’ve already spread to too many media outlets, so it will take considerable time to delete them all.”
“Can’t be helped. What’s important now is to prevent this from escalating further.”
“Understood.”
“What position has Cheong-yeon’s agency taken?”
Secretary Shim, who was in the middle of searching for the agency’s response, answered while reading the text.
“A follow-up article stating that he and actor Han Iram are just friends has been published, but it doesn’t seem to be accepted as the truth.”
Do-heon quickly dialed Cheong-yeon’s number to call him. Then, changing his mind, he first checked if there had been any contact from Cheong-yeon during his business trip.
However, among dozens of missed calls and messages, Cheong-yeon’s name was nowhere to be found.
Come to think of it, despite more than a week having passed since the first article was published, Cheong-yeon hadn’t left even a single call for Do-heon. He must know that this was a difficult matter to resolve alone, with the inheritance issue compounding the scandal.
Do-heon stared at his phone as if displeased by this fact, then called Cheong-yeon.
But an automated response informed him that the phone was turned off.
He held the phone for a few seconds after the call ended, then spoke to Secretary Shim.
“Contact the CEO of Pin Entertainment immediately.”
*
Immediately upon returning to Korea after completing his business trip to the United States, Do-heon headed back to his office at the company. Naturally, work had piled up during his absence.
While he was reviewing documents brought by the secretarial office, Secretary Shim entered after knocking.
“Director, I’m reporting on the communication with Kim Kyung-seop, CEO of Pin Entertainment. He says there have been no special procedures except for issuing a statement and conducting interviews with a few media outlets.”
“What about the other party in the scandal?”
“Han Iram’s agency has not provided any additional explanations either.”
At Secretary Shim’s words, one of Do-heon’s eyebrows twitched, though his gaze remained fixed on the documents.
“When I inquired further, I learned that the final contract for the drama where Cheong-yeon was cast has been put on hold. Other previously scheduled activities have also been suspended.”
Do-heon put down the pen he had been holding to sign documents.
“We’ve received word from the advertising company that Cheong-yeon’s outdoor department store advertisement planned for the next quarter is now impossible. This incident seems to have significantly damaged his image.”
It was as Do-heon had predicted in the car. The fact that even the department store advertisement—which Moon Hee-jin had vehemently opposed—had been put on hold showed the severity.
“The Creative Director, was it? What’s her opinion?”
Do-heon asked, tilting his head slowly.
“If you mean Team Leader Kwon Hye-na… would you like me to contact her for consultation?”
“Since she’s the expert, that would be best.”
Do-heon suddenly wondered what Cheong-yeon might be doing now. Was he feeling disheartened?
An image of Cheong-yeon lying glumly on the bed formed in Do-heon’s mind.
“Where is Cheong-yeon now?”
“About that, his current whereabouts are unknown.”
“Unknown?”
Do-heon murmured lowly as if to ask what that meant.
“According to CEO Kim Kyung-seop, Cheong-yeon has been out of contact with those around him since yesterday, after being notified that his drama contract was on hold.”
Do-heon’s brow, which had remained unchanged until now, furrowed.
“When did you say the scandal article first appeared?”
“Last Thursday.”
It had already been eight days since the incident occurred.
With Secretary Shim still standing before him, Do-heon called Cheong-yeon again. Once more, Cheong-yeon didn’t answer.
“The other actor’s trait was Beta, wasn’t it?”
“Upon verification, he’s an Omega. However, his exact trait seems to be kept strictly confidential for various reasons.”
“As soon as Cheong-yeon’s whereabouts are determined, report to me immediately.”
“If you’re leaving, shall I have the car ready downstairs?”
Secretary Shim asked as Do-heon closed the document he had been reviewing.
“I need to work. You may go now, Secretary Shim. Transfer the remaining tasks to the secretarial office.”
He compulsively adjusted his slightly crooked necktie.
“I thought you might go in person…”
“To Cheong-yeon? Why bother when I can send someone? Tell the secretarial office to bring last week’s reports.”
Despite hearing that Cheong-yeon’s whereabouts were unknown, Do-heon professionally directed the next task.
Given his earlier urgency in seeking information, this unexpectedly indifferent reaction made Secretary Shim hesitate momentarily.
“Understood.”
Secretary Shim composed his expression, bowed, and left Do-heon’s office. Shortly after, a staff member from the secretarial office brought the reports.
Do-heon gestured for the employee to leave when asked if he needed anything else, then opened the thick file.
Though he had thought he’d resolved all urgent matters before departing for the United States, there were new documents piled up for review.
Do-heon began reading the first page.
However, unlike usual, the content wouldn’t register at all.
Even knowing that he needed to finish today to proceed with work smoothly the next day, his attention scattered continuously like grains of sand.
“—Where do Han Iram ♥ Yoo Cheong-yeon usually meet?”
“—Han Iram firmly denies dating rumors with Yoo Cheong-yeon”
The articles he had seen in the car kept needlessly circling in his mind.
“Tsk.”
Of all times, for this to happen while he was on a business trip.
It was bad enough to see Cheong-yeon’s face being sold for good news, but seeing his image plastered everywhere with negative stories was truly infuriating.
But what puzzled him was why Cheong-yeon hadn’t contacted him immediately when such absurd articles appeared.
Despite Do-heon being abroad, there were plenty of channels available if Cheong-yeon had wanted to reach out. He could have called directly, or at the very least, going through the secretarial office or CEO Kim Kyung-seop would have prevented the issue from spreading to this extent.
The matter could have been resolved in a day instead of suffering for eight days.
It was such a simple problem. Why had Yoo Cheong-yeon not contacted him even once?
As this question began to nag at him, nothing else registered. Soon, Do-heon reached the point where he wanted to go to Cheong-yeon immediately and ask him directly.
Just a moment ago, he had been completely indifferent, but now everything before him was unsatisfactory.
Cheong-yeon not answering his calls, the excessively negative media coverage, that man involved in the scandal, Gyuseong Daily—all of it.
Do-heon habitually checked his wristwatch. Over three hours had already passed since his return to the office.
And he realized he hadn’t turned a single page of the documents and reports.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
