Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All

Chapter 514: Concert Accident (3)

While driving Yoo Sang-Myun's car toward the Gangnam Tancheon parking lot, I checked my disguise in the rearview mirror. I had used Yoo-Jin's wig, mask, and black hat, which I had stored in my car, to make myself look like Yoo Sang-Myun.

'Lee Chan-Dong better fall for this...'

Currently, Lee Chan-Dong was on the run after Ace Entertainment became the target of a prosecution investigation.

At first, I planned to report him to the police, but even getting them to pick up Yoo Sang-Myun from the venue had taken half a day since it was Christmas. So instead of waiting, I was going to catch him myself.

If Lee Chan-Dong found out that this plan had failed, he would undoubtedly target my celebrities again before the police could catch him. I had to take him down for good this time.

Screech.

As soon as I exited COEX, I hit a red light at the Samseong Bridge intersection. At that moment, I got a call from Lee Yung-Jin.

-Yoon-Ho, I'm on my way too.

Just before leaving COEX's parking lot in Yoo Sang-Myun's car, I had met Lee Yung-Jin. I handed him the keys to my Binz and told him to block Exit 4 of the Gangnam Tancheon parking lot with the car. After finishing his report to the company, Lee Yung-Jin was now following me.

"Okay, block Exit 4. And if you see an old Ekuus trying to leave, stop it with your car."

-Got it. Oh, and Mr. Gu, Mr. Park In-Ki, and the other team leads are on their way too. Hold out until they get there.

"Okay. Thanks."

Since the parking lot was right next to COEX Mall, the team leads who had been checking the event setup were now heading straight there. In just a few minutes, all exits of the Gangnam Tancheon parking lot would be blocked.

The light turned green. I turned left at the Samseong Bridge intersection and headed toward Entrance 3 of the Tancheon parking lot. It was around 12:30 a.m., and the entire parking lot was dark.

Buzz.

After getting a parking ticket, the barrier at Entrance 3 was lifted. I slowly drove into the lot.

"Old Ekuus... Old Ekuus..."

Exit 4, where Lee Chan-Dong had said he would be, wasn't far from Entrance 3, so I moved slowly as I scanned the parked cars one by one. However, contrary to what Lee Chan-Dong had said, there was no old Ekuus near Exit 4.

'Did he try to trick me?'

Just then, headlights flickered about 30 meters behind me.

Flash!

I checked the rearview mirror, and it was Lee Chan-Dong's Ekuus.

'Cunning bastard.'

Being paranoid, he had been waiting behind a pillar near Entrance 3, probably worried that someone other than Yoo Sang-Myun would show up. That way, he could escape in the opposite direction if needed.

Screech.

When I stopped the car, Lee Chan-Dong stuck his hand out of the driver's side window, holding up his phone. He was signaling for me to pick up.

Yet I couldn't answer because I had left Yoo Sang-Myun's phone turned off back at COEX. Instead, I stuck my gloved hand out the window and made an X with my arms as if to signal I couldn't talk on the phone.

Lee Chan-Dong, still suspicious, didn't get out of his car. Instead, he slowly started driving toward me.

The distance between us was slowly shrinking.

I took a quick look around. To my left, a truck and a bus were parked. To my right, a massive support pillar for the overpass stood tall.

'Just a little closer...'

I had planned to cut him off with my car and drag him out once he got close.

At that moment, Lee Chan-Dong screamed, "Fuck! That's not him!"

Perhaps because my disguise wasn't perfect, he realized I wasn't Yoo Sang-Myun. The moment he did, he slammed on the accelerator.

Vroooom!

His Ekuus sped up, trying to escape past me. At the same time, I also floored the gas pedal.

Vrooom!

Our cars raced side by side. I had a slight lead right now, but Lee Chan-Dong's car had better performance. If this kept up, I would lose him. I made a quick decision and yanked the steering wheel to the right.

Screeech.

I cut in front of Lee Chan-Dong's old Ekuus, and his car crashed into my right bumper.

Thud!

The impact sent a jolt through my body and both of our cars tangled together, slamming into a bridge pillar.

Boom!

The double collision made my body lurch forward.

"Ugh."

Luckily, I wasn't injured as the crash was at short range and I was wearing my seatbelt. Shaking off the shock, I threw the car into reverse and rammed the rear of Lee Chan-Dong's Ekuus.

Crash.

Now, his car was wedged between the bridge column and mine.

"Fuck!"

Realizing he was trapped, Lee Chan-Dong bolted out of the car and started running.

Tap, tap, tap.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out as well. Lee Chan-Dong was staggering as he ran, but I caught up to him in no time. Then, I threw a punch straight into his gut.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

Lee Chan-Dong doubled over and clutched his stomach as he collapsed onto the dirty ground. His gray clothes were instantly stained dark from the mud and melting snow.

Grinding his teeth in rage, Lee Chan-Dong glared up at me. "Shit.. I should have crushed you earlier..."

I looked down at Lee Chan-Dong with a cold expression. "If I were someone you could take down, I wouldn't have started this in the first place."

When I spoke as if he was beneath me, his body trembled with rage. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I pulled out the cable ties I had prepared.

Rip.

I tightly bound Lee Chan-Dong's wrists. Then, I called Lee Yung-Jin.

"Yung-Jin, I got him."

The time was 12:40 a.m.

I had finally captured Lee Chan-Dong, the mastermind behind this entire scheme.

***

Since it was Christmas, most officers had been dispatched elsewhere, leaving only four at the station.

We handed over Lee Chan-Dong, his hands still bound with cable ties.

The officers looked bewildered as they processed the wanted fugitive. "Where did you find him?"

Before I could answer, Kwak Moo-Hyuk spoke up on my behalf. "He was waiting nearby for Mr. Yoo Sang-Myun. We ambushed him and..."

Kwak Moo-Hyuk carefully chose his words to keep me out of trouble. Fortunately, knowing he was guilty, Lee Chan-Dong didn't say a word about what had happened at the parking lot.

As Kwak Moo-Hyuk continued speaking with the officers, one of them dragged Lee Chan-Dong toward the holding cell. Inside, Yoo Sang-Myun was already sitting in a corner with a few others.

Clang.

The cell door opened and Lee Chan-Dong stepped in with his head lowered. Seeing Yoo Sang-Myun huddled in a corner, he muttered with pure resentment, "You useless piece of shit."

At that moment, Yoo Sang-Myun, who had been leaning in the corner of the holding cell, suddenly jumped up and threw a punch at Lee Chan-Dong.

Thud!

Lee Chan-Dong collapsed onto the floor. "Ugh!"

Seething with rage, Yoo Sang-Myun kept swinging his fists.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

"You fucker! My life is ruined because of you!!"

The officers watching the sudden outburst panicked and shouted. "Hey! Stop him! Restrain him!"

One of the officers rushed into the holding cell and swept Yoo Sang-Myun's legs out from under him.

Thud!

Yoo Sang-Myun crashed onto the ground, groaning in pain.

"Ugh..."

Seeing the opportunity, Lee Chan-Dong gritted his teeth, stood up, and kicked the restrained Yoo Sang-Myun.

Whack!

"Ugh!"

Yoo Sang-Myun clutched his shoulder, his face contorted in pain.

"You useless idiot. You couldn't even handle one simple job!"

Unable to contain his fury, Lee Chan-Dong continued kicking him.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The situation had flipped. Now, Yoo Sang-Myun was the one getting beaten helplessly.

The officer restraining Yoo Sang-Myun quickly shifted and pinned down Lee Chan-Dong instead.

Bang!

Lee Chan-Dong hit the floor as well.

The officers were so fed up that they started cursing at them while breaking up the fight. "You fucking morons, what the hell are you doing?!"

Just like that, both of them had added mutual assault and obstruction of justice to their list of charges.

***

Along with Kwak Moo-Hyuk, Gu Seong-Cheol, Lee Yung-Jin, and the other staff who had gathered at Tancheon parking lot, I left the police station.

I would have treated them to a warm meal on any other day, but with the on-site crew still waiting, we headed straight back to COEX DX Hall[1]. By the time I finished explaining the situation at DX Hall, it was already 2 a.m.

Leaving the scene in the hands of Performance Brothers' executives, I made a brief detour to Cheonho-dong as I had a Christmas present to deliver to Miso.

Screech.

I parked outside the house since I needed to return to the venue soon. Stepping out of the car, I reached into the backseat and pulled out a Santa Claus costume. My plan was to leave the gift without being seen, but there was always a chance Miso might wake up.

Since my previous disguise as Yoo Sang-Myun had been too sloppy, I put extra effort into this one. I attached a white beard, even wore colored contact lenses, and transformed into a perfect Santa Claus.

Then, I sent a message to Yoo-Jin.

[Jung Yoon-Ho: Yoo-Jin, I'm in front of the house. How's Miso? Is she asleep?]

It didn't take long for her to reply.

[Lovely♡Yoo-Jin: Yes, oppa. Miso was trying to stay awake to see Santa, but she just fell asleep.]

Apparently, Miso had been holding out in front of the Christmas tree but had finally dozed off.

[Jung Yoon-Ho: Got it. I'll come in now. Just leave the door unlocked quietly.]

[Lovely♡Yoo-Jin: Okay. Come in slowly.]

[Jung Yoon-Ho: Alright. I'll be in within three minutes.]

[Lovely♡Yoo-Jin: Okay~]

After sending the message, I grabbed the Santa sack from the backseat. The bag was heavy, filled with Miso's school bag and supplies for her upcoming entrance ceremony.

As I stood in the cold winter air, memories of my own childhood Christmas resurfaced.

'Back then, things were really tough...'

I thought back to when I was seven during Christmas time. Due to a sudden cut in funding for the orphanage, Mom had struggled financially, barely managing its operations. But the children, unaware of the situation, were excited, convinced that Santa Claus would come with presents.

I was just as hopeful at first, until I overheard Mom talking to another nun about the gifts and raised concerns.

That was when I realized Santa Claus didn't exist.

Summoning my courage, I approached Mom and told her that she was more precious to me than any imaginary gift from Santa. I assured her not to worry about presents, and that I would convince the other kids.

Mom looked startled, then silently pulled me into a tight hug with tears streaming down her face. She then whispered that Santa would come for us no matter what.

On Christmas Eve, donations from benefactors started pouring in as if by a miracle. Mom's once clouded face with worry brightened with joy, and that Christmas became one of the most abundant we had ever experienced.

I received a gift too. However, mine came with a letter unlike the other kids. It said Santa Claus was proud of me for always helping Mom and that I was a wonderful child. Even at a glance, I recognized Mom's beautiful handwriting.

Still, I pretended not to know. Then I went up to her and apologized. I told her that I had been wrong and Santa Claus was real after all.

From that day on, I never again saw Mom's face as radiant as it had been that Christmas. I hadn't understood back then, but now, I finally did. It was the heart of a parent wanting to protect their child's innocence.

"I wonder if Mom gave the kids their gifts this year..."

Snapping out of my thoughts, I idly fiddled with my phone. And just then, a message from Mom popped up as if she had sensed I was thinking of her.

[Mom: My son, I received the gifts you sent. The little ones will be so happy when they wake up and see that Santa Claus came. Thank you, my sweet and reliable Santa Claus son.]

Holding my phone, I muttered to myself. "Mom, you've been my Santa Claus all my life."

If not for her, I wouldn't be who I was today. Filled with gratitude, I sent a reply.

[Jung Yoon-Ho: I'm the one who should thank you. I'll visit once I wrap up urgent matters. Get some rest and take care of yourself.]

[Mom: Alright, I will~]

[Jung Yoon-Ho: And Merry Christmas~]

[Mom: Merry Christmas to you too, my son.]

After sending the message, I took a deep breath. Now, it was time to be Miso's Santa Claus.

"Alright... Let's go."

I slung the Santa sack over my shoulder and quietly opened the front gate.

Creak.

The frozen hinges groaned, but tonight, the sound felt oddly pleasant.

***

At the second-floor entrance, Yoo-Jin cracked the door open for me.

"Oppa, come on in."

I tiptoed inside, careful not to wake Miso. "Alright."

The Christmas tree, lovingly decorated by Yoo-Jin and Miso, stood in the living room. It twinkled with small glowing lights, fluffy white cotton clouds, and various ornaments.

"Where's Miso?"

"She fell asleep in front of the tree, so I moved her to her room."

"You must've had a hard time."

"It's nothing, really. Let me help you."

"No, I'm fine. Just sit on the couch and pretend to be dozing. If Miso wakes up and realizes you were in on it, the magic will be ruined."

"Oh, you're right."

Understanding what I meant, Yoo-Jin wrapped herself in a blanket on the sofa and pretended to sleep. Meanwhile, I quickly pulled out Miso's presents from my Santa sack.

Rustle.

Even though it was a small noise, it sounded unusually loud. I carefully took out the presents and placed them in front of the Christmas tree. Then, I slipped a set of Miso's favorite colored pencils into her stocking.

"Yoo-Jin, take a picture."

To make sure Miso wouldn't be suspicious, I asked Yoo-Jin to capture proof that Santa had been here.

Giggling, Yoo-Jin pulled out her phone.

Flash!

The camera flash went off and captured the scene. Just as I was about to say I was leaving, the door suddenly burst open.

Miso, her eyes still half-closed with sleep, exclaimed in delight. "Santa Claus!"

She might be disappointed if I left now, so I quickly lowered my voice. "Ho ho ho! Well, well, Miso, you're still awake! Ho ho ho!"

The moment I spoke in a deep, grandpa-like voice, Miso panicked. "W-Wait! Santa! I have something for you! Please don't leave! Please!"

Miso's desperate plea made me chuckle. I nodded with an exaggerated laugh. "Ho ho! Alright, alright. I still have other houses to visit, but I can wait a little bit."

"Thank you!"

Miso dashed into her room and quickly returned.

But what she held in both hands was something I had never expected.

1. COEX venue COEX is also where the Starfield Library is at ☜