Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Episode 13. An Unexpected Opportunity (1)
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The karaoke party stretched late into the night.
Only after singing through the bonus extension time they’d been given did they finally step out of the place.
The sky was already draped in the dark curtain of nightfall.
“Let’s wrap it up here and head home.”
Since it felt like they’d taken up too much personal time already, PD Yoo Tae-hwan suggested breaking up.
The others seemed to agree with PD Yoo Tae-hwan, nodding along.
“PD-nim, we’ll head toward the station.”
“Right.”
PD Yoo Tae-hwan responded as if he’d expected Jeon Yoo-hyun’s words.
They had parked at the BLT station and come from there, so they needed to go back to retrieve their car.
The station wasn’t too far from their current spot anyway—just a short walk.
But before that.
“Han-do.”
PD Yoo Tae-hwan beckoned Kang Han-do over discreetly.
“……?”
Not understanding why he was being called, Kang Han-do still approached right away.
After all, how could he refuse the PD overseeing the program he was on?
“Yeah.”
“It’s about Ye-hee-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“Has she ever done any singing professionally before?”
“As a singer?”
“Yeah.”
As if.
Of course, not too far in the future, she would debut as a singer and rise to become Korea’s top female solo artist.
But up until then, she had zero experience in the industry.
She just loved singing and would hit up the local karaoke spots—that was it.
“Not that I know of. As far as I remember, she has no such background.”
“Really.”
“Yes.”
“Hard to believe. She’s got skills that could rival a pro, and she’s a total amateur.”
PD Yoo Tae-hwan held Choi Ye-hee’s singing talent in very high regard.
For someone with his long experience in broadcasting to give such glowing praise meant her voice could absolutely hold up on a TV stage.
That thought crossed Kang Han-do’s mind, so he pressed on just in case.
“You’re saying she could debut as a pro without issue?”
“At least from what I’ve seen. It’s not just the singing... Though I hate to objectify her, she’s got good looks, a glamorous figure. Pretty enough to call a beauty. You think so too, right?”
“Yes, definitely.”
Choi Ye-hee was indeed a beauty.
She kept up with stretching, jogging, swimming, and the like, so her figure was well-maintained.
On top of that, she was smart enough to attend a top Seoul university’s law school and had a great personality.
“With the right push, she could make a solid singer.”
“…….”
Kang Han-do’s mind grew complicated for a moment.
For Choi Ye-hee, this was an opportunity out of left field.
A shot at debuting in the industry.
And fulfilling her dream of becoming a singer!
Kang Han-do supported her too.
If there was any way he could help, he’d push her forward with all he had.
This moment was no different.
If PD Yoo Tae-hwan saw potential in her, grabbing this chance seemed like the best move.
“If you’re thinking of giving Ye-hee-ssi a leg up, PD-nim, could I ask you to?”
“Shouldn’t we check with Ye-hee-ssi first? Sure, she sings great, but whether she even wants to be a singer is the key.”
“Ye-hee-ssi has always dreamed of being a singer.”
“Oh ho.”
Perfect timing—she wanted it too.
If she dreamed of debuting, leveraging connections like PD Yoo Tae-hwan was far safer than going solo.
“Got it. If a good spot opens up, I’ll recommend her.”
“Thank you, PD-nim.”
“But it’s just a recommendation, so don’t get your hopes too high. I don’t have tons of ties in music anyway.”
“Yes. I’m grateful just for you saying it.”
“Haha, alright.”
As the two men hashed out their deal,
Jeon Yoo-hyun, who’d been waiting for PD Yoo Tae-hwan, raised his voice louder.
“We really gotta go now!”
“Got it, got it. Look at this impatient guy.”
PD Yoo Tae-hwan joined Jeon Yoo-hyun and Lee Yeon-sin.
Meanwhile, perhaps thrilled by the unexpected opportunity, a joyful smile kept spreading across Kang Han-do’s face.
* * *
After that secret deal with PD Yoo Tae-hwan, a long-forgotten contact lit up from an unexpected source.
“Hello?”
Kang Han-do had just been about to grab lunch at home.
As he picked up, a familiar man’s voice came through.
-This is Go, Han-do-ssi. Hope you’ve been well?
“Ah, Reporter Go!”
It was Go Jeong-do, CEO of True Journal and an entertainment specialist who’d helped immensely with the Jeon Yoo-hyun incident. He hadn’t called in ages.
-Haha, you remember me. Glad to hear it.
“Of course. I was actually thinking of calling you about that thing I mentioned last time.”
The ‘thing’ Kang Han-do referenced was asking him to dig into VQ Entertainment’s dirty secrets via the singer Noni.
Go Jeong-do seemed to remember well, jumping right into it.
-That’s why I’m calling.
“You mean...”
-I got in touch with Noni-ssi and uncovered those shady practices at VQ Entertainment you mentioned.
“……!”
It took a while, but Go Jeong-do delivered.
-I’ve got the docs ready. Article’s prepped to go out... But since this scoop came from you, I figured I should give you a heads-up first.
“I see.”
-Can I treat you to dinner later as thanks?
“Haha, no need. Protecting active singers—and future ones—from that predatory company is reward enough.”
-What a stand-up guy. Then let me buy you a big dinner anyway. Check your schedule and text me a good date.
“Yes, will do.”
After hanging up,
Kang Han-do gazed at the ceiling and let out a small chuckle.
Now, the disputes from Choi Ye-hee’s past agency were history.
Plus, through PD Yoo Tae-hwan, he could personally make his beloved’s dream come true.
“Life’s good.”
He couldn’t check it, but his happiness stat had surely soared past 400.
* * *
Choi Ye-hee had all the talent needed to be a singer.
But later, due to a fallout with her agency VQ Entertainment, she’d hit the darkest period of her career.
Back then, Kang Han-do— a powerless rookie comedian pining for her—couldn’t help.
But now was different.
He had future knowledge of the industry. Knowing she’d clash with VQ, he just needed to steer her away from the start.
That’s why he enlisted Go Jeong-do and True Journal.
In exchange for tips, they’d expose VQ’s misdeeds without him lifting another finger.
True Journal, hunting for scoops, connected with Noni thanks to his lead and uncovered multiple unfair clauses in VQ’s singer contracts.
Press releases were already out, and papers ran pieces criticizing VQ’s sloppy dealings point by point.
Kang Han-do bought two or three copies from different outlets, stuffed them in his bag, and headed somewhere.
His destination: the café where he often met Choi Ye-hee.
“Ah, Han-do-ssi! Over here.”
She’d arrived first and waved him over.
He walked to her and greeted first.
“Thanks so much for making time today.”
“No, no. You said you had something to tell me.”
“Yes, this.”
He pulled out the bundle of papers from his bag.
He opened to the entertainment sections and pointed to headlines.
-VQ Entertainment’s Dark Side!
-Major Agency Corrupting Music Scene!
-Big Label’s Atrocities—Is This Okay?
“This is...”
Ye-hee’s pupils shook.
VQ Entertainment was the very agency she’d prepped an audition for not long ago.
Back then, Kang Han-do had talked her out of applying.
Instead, he’d promised to show proof later why he advised against it.
“This is the reason I told you about last time.”
“…….”
“There are multiple victim singers highlighted. One interview here says VQ execs forced her into bed with higher-ups.”
“B-bed...?!”
“That’s how rotten they are. VQ Entertainment.”
“…….”
She’d nearly applied to that dangerous place. She might’ve ended up who-knows-where.
Choi Ye-hee trembled in fear.
Watching her sadly, Kang Han-do spoke slowly.
“I couldn’t stand by and let you go through that. Even if it seemed meddlesome, I wanted to protect you.”
It might’ve been nosy.
But to Kang Han-do, Choi Ye-hee wasn’t just anyone.
The woman he loved.
His feelings hadn’t changed—from the future or now.
That’s why he’d run around on foot for what might seem like someone else’s problem.
Did his efforts touch her?
“Thank you, Han-do-ssi. You saved me from a huge mess.”
She expressed genuine gratitude.
She didn’t fully know why he went so far for her.
But she had a hunch.
Maybe he had romantic feelings, and that’s why.
Still, she decided against assuming.
That’d be too arrogant.
Even so, she couldn’t just take the help and do nothing, so she made a counteroffer.
“Got time next weekend?”
“Weekend?”
“Yeah.”
“Hold on. Let me check my schedule.”
He pulled out his smartphone and opened the calendar app.
After scanning his memos,
“Looks free.”
“Then come to my place?”
“My place? At yours?!”
Kang Han-do couldn’t hide his surprise.
Invited to her home, of all places.
But one concern lingered.
“Won’t your parents be there? I’d feel awkward...”
“It’s fine. They’re leaving for the Philippines next week. Gone about a week.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ll be home alone, so come hang out, no pressure.”
“Alone...”
The phrasing felt a bit off, but being invited by Choi Ye-hee felt great.
No real reason to say no.
“Alright. I’ll come by then.”
“You have to! Promise!”
“Haha, yes.”
And so Kang Han-do made another promise with Choi Ye-hee.