Chapter 101: The Puppy Who Knew Too Much

DreamN Entertainment.

“Mmm~ It’s really delicious, isn’t it?”

“Yeah?”

“Hyung, are you a wizard? How do you make it taste this good?”

Tae-hwan was watching the broadcast of ‘Countryside Three Meals’ on his smartphone, his gaze fixed on one person.

“A wizard…… It’s just that the ingredients aren’t great right now. Wait a bit. I’ll show you my real skills soon.”

“Wow~ As expected! It’s a shame only we get to eat this.”

“It’s fine. Those people eat even better stuff than us.”

The sight of him happily devouring the food Seung-kwon made was adorable, and the way he spoke prettily was more than enough to win over viewers.

– Hyeon-jae is way too cute lololol I want to eat that too.

– It’s such a tease that he only appears sometimes ㅠㅠ I wish they showed him the whole time.

– Having one bright kid among the quiet cast really livens up the mood.

└ Exactly, ever since he joined, Seung-kwon and Hae-jin talk way more. I love it.

└ At first I wondered why they added him, but now I get it. Na Young-jae’s instincts are unbeatable.

Compared to previous seasons, viewer reactions were even better, and although only a few episodes had aired, clips compiling just Hyeon-jae’s parts were already circulating and gaining massive popularity.

“Not bad at all…….”

The first time he had noticed Hyeon-jae was during ‘Blue Sky Spring.’ Back then he was just a decent-looking rookie—nothing more, nothing less.

But after seeing ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ and now ‘Countryside Three Meals,’ his opinion had completely changed.

“The more I watch, the better he looks.”

His visuals shone even brighter on screen, and the more screen time he got, the more his acting skills stood out. There was no one else like him.

“Jayden~”

“Jayden says he likes me more than you.”

“Hey, you’re really doing this? Hahaha, acting cute now…….”

Watching him hug his puppy and laugh brightly made Tae-hwan want him even more.

“Tell the team leader to come in.”

Tae-hwan called the team leader through his secretary, and soon the man came running in, out of breath.

“Yes, did you call for me?”

“How many male rookies do we have who debuted less than five years ago?”

“Uh…… around seven.”

Suddenly summoned and asked about rookie numbers, the team leader was flustered but answered faithfully.

“Seven? That many?”

“Huh?”

The team leader was dumbfounded. DreamN’s operating method was simple: gather as many actors as possible, throw them everywhere, and push only the ones who got responses.

“Which of them are actually making money?”

“About…… two…….”

“Ha, so the rest are useless trash? Why are we keeping trash around? Am I running a charity?!”

As Tae-hwan suddenly exploded and started shouting, the team leader thought, ‘Here we go again,’ and lowered his gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

“Clean up the trash quickly. Sell them to another agency or kick them out.”

“B-but…… they’re working hard going to auditions and practicing acting. If you just wait a little longer, they’ll…….”

“Wait a little? How little is a little? A week? A month?”

“That’s…….”

Tae-hwan knew full well it was impossible to rise in a week or a month, yet he was being unreasonable.

‘Why the hell is he doing this?’

Whenever Tae-hwan threw one of these hysterics, the team leader desperately wanted to quit.

“That Jung Hyeon-jae guy landed a lead role in less than a year since debut, and our kids are still running around auditions?”

At the name Jung Hyeon-jae, the team leader instantly understood. It was the hottest rookie name in the industry right now; there was no way he wouldn’t know it.

“Even a tiny agency like that can raise someone, so what’s wrong with our company that we can’t?”

“Hyeon-jae just got lucky…….”

“Luck? Do I have to tell even you that luck is part of skill?”

“No, sir.”

Tae-hwan was the absolute superior; the team leader was the subordinate. The hierarchy was crystal clear, so the team leader groveled.

“Get rid of the useless ones fast.”

“Understood.”

“And…… make contact.”

There was no subject, but it was obvious who he meant.

“He’s a rookie, so his contract is probably still fresh…….”

“That’s exactly why we need to bring him in now while he’s still clueless and train him properly. Once they get big-headed, they’re a pain.”

“Ah…….”

He was telling him to poach an actor who was doing perfectly fine at his current agency. The other company wasn’t stupid; they wouldn’t just let him go.

“CEO, that’s…….”

“CEO!”

Just as the team leader tried to speak, the door burst open and Jung-woo stormed in.

“Knock.”

“Ha— knocking isn’t the issue right now!”

“You can leave now.”

Tae-hwan dismissed the team leader, who seized the chance and hurriedly escaped the office.

“Isn’t this working hours?”

“I’m so furious I can’t sit still. Did you at least find out who leaked that article about me?”

After the recent article about his poor work attitude, he had no choice but to show up every single day without fail, all while being watched suspiciously by everyone around him.

“I looked into it.”

“Who is it! Who wrote that damn article?”

“He already fled overseas.”

Tae-hwan had quickly found out who had damaged his most valuable asset, but the person had already taken a long leave and escaped abroad.

“If the reporter ran away, we should at least go to the press company and make them pay!”

“Do you know how much bribe money we feed those reporters? You want me to cause a scene after paying them? Should I deduct that bribe from your settlement?”

At the mention of settlement deductions, Jung-woo could only fume silently.

“It’s probably your rival side trying to keep you in check. I already nailed it down that it was because you were visiting the hospital and that you’ll work diligently from now on. Stop coming here and just do your job.”

“I’m dying of embarrassment here, what am I supposed to do!”

“Deal with it.”

“Something’s been weird since last time! It feels like someone is deliberately screwing me over!”

When the military scandal broke, he had thought he was just unlucky. But now with this incident too, it felt suspicious.

“When you get popular, everyone tries to keep you in check. You did the same to Jae-hyun out of jealousy.”

“That name! Why bring it up…….”

He started to snap at the mention of Jae-hyun but quickly swallowed it when he remembered who he was talking to.

“Seeing you come here and whine like this, it seems you’ve forgotten.”

“Jung Jae-hyun got lucky beyond his station, and I’m finally reclaiming what’s mine.”

“Yeah, yeah, got it. Now get out of my sight, I’m busy.”

In other places Jung-woo might be the predator, but in front of Tae-hwan he became prey that could be devoured at any moment.

“I’m already looking for your next project the moment you’re free. Stop worrying and behave.”

“You’re really looking for something?”

“Of course. Star director, star writer—I’m searching.”

Tae-hwan, who had been wielding the whip, now dangled a carrot. Jung-woo took the carrot and obediently left. Truthfully, he had no other choice.

‘Ugh~ That’s why I hate kids who get too big for their britches. You have to bring them in while they’re still clueless.’

Tae-hwan opened his phone again and stared at the frozen image of Hyeon-jae on the screen.

It was a rare day off from filming, so I was sprawled out sleeping at home when Kyung-ho’s voice rang out.

“Jung Hyeon-jae! How long are you going to sleep?”

“Mmm…….”

“If you’re going to sleep more, at least eat first.”

“Mmm~ Smells delicious.”

The scent of food drifting in woke my senses one by one.

“Meat!”

Then the smell of my absolute favorite—braised short ribs—snapped my eyes wide open.

“You and that dog nose of yours. Hurry down.”

Confirming I was up, Kyung-ho headed back to the kitchen.

“Hehe, looks yummy.”

“Woof! Woof!”

Jayden, at my feet, was scolding me for only just waking up.

“Sorry. I’ve been so busy lately I’m sleep-deprived~”

“Hmph!”

Even my apology earned only a snort from Jayden.

“But hyung earned a ton of snack money. Look forward to it.”

At the word “snacks,” Jayden wagged his tail and licked my face as if forgiving me just this once.

“Let’s go! Time to eat!”

I got out of bed and went downstairs, where Kyung-ho was setting the table.

“Wow~ Isn’t this way too extravagant for breakfast?”

“Look at the clock. Is this breakfast?”

“Ah…… lunch.”

I must have slept like the dead; it was already almost noon.

“Sit.”

“Yes! Thanks for the food~”

No matter how delicious the food I bought outside was, nothing compared to what Kyung-ho made. Maybe because it had been a while, it tasted even sweeter than usual.

“As expected, your braised short ribs are the best, ajusshi.”

“Slow down. Were you starving on set? Doesn’t Ha-yoon feed you?”

“As if that hyung would ever let me go hungry. He feeds me ve~ry well.”

“Then good.”

“Actually, yesterday on set…….”

While eating, I poured out all the things I hadn’t been able to tell Kyung-ho lately.

“So bam! I took it, and turns out it was the director from that ad shoot!”

“The weird one you mentioned?”

“Yes!”

“Life really is full of strange connections.”

“Isn’t it funny?”

I was in high spirits from finally having a normal day and kept talking nonstop until Kyung-ho asked about tonight.

“Are you free this evening?”

“No. I was just planning to stay home and play with Jayden. Why?”

“We promised to have dinner with Chaechae’s family last time. They just texted asking if tonight works.”

“Ah~”

I remembered promising to treat them to dinner while cleaning the village for the shoot.

“I’m totally fine with it!”

“You sure?”

“Of course~”

“Then I’ll tell them yes.”

I hadn’t properly thanked them for helping me last time, so this was perfect. Evening came, and I headed to Chaechae’s house with Kyung-ho and Jayden.

“Come on in~”

“You didn’t have to bring anything, yet you brought so much!”

“Woof! Woof!”

The whole family of three welcomed us warmly the moment we arrived.

“I felt like I never properly thanked you last time.”

Kyung-ho and I had gone to the next town over to buy a fruit gift set and premium beef.

“Oh come on~ No need for thanks.”

“What’s going on? What happened?”

“You don’t need to know, honey. We’ll enjoy it, thank you.”

“It already smells amazing!”

“Right? Just wait a little longer and it’ll be ready.”

Smoke was rising from the brazier set up in one corner of the yard.

“Wow~ The kids are already going wild.”

Jayden and Chaechae were busy running around the yard playing.

“Please sit over here.”

“Thank you.”

“Sir, your outfit today is really pretty!”

Chaechae’s dad complimented Kyung-ho’s clothes.

“Ah, this kid bought it for me…….”

“Looks great on you, right?”

“Hyeon-jae-ssi has great taste~ As expected of an artist.”

I had just bought what the store clerk recommended, but being praised as an artist made me a little shy.

“I’m not that much of an artist…….”

“We watched all of your drama on Mving.”

“It’s seriously so good! Honestly, I started watching out of loyalty, but it turned out to be insanely fun.”

“Really?”

“This one can’t lie to save his life; it shows on his face.”

There were no cameras rolling today, unlike usual.

“So…… you’re not filming today?”

“It’s fine! We don’t film every day.”

“Days like this are for relaxing.”

They were being considerate so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

“Honey, I think it’s almost done. Come check.”

“Got it.”

“Should I help?”

“No need. Guests aren’t supposed to move.”

The husband pulled a perfectly roasted duck from the brazier, and a mouth-watering table was set.

“There’s another one, so eat plenty!”

“Thank you for the food~”

Just as we were about to start eating, a high-pitched female voice rang out.

“Unnie!”

It was the close editor friend she had mentioned last time.

“Uh…… why are you here?”

She looked flustered by the uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared, but the woman pretended not to notice and claimed a seat at the table.

“Nice to see you again~ We met last time, remember?”

The moment I saw her, my animal instincts kicked in.