Reason for Marriage - Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Throw away cards
Ji-hee’s cell phone rang loudly as she passed the return gate at Incheon International Airport.
“How come you know like a ghost and start calling as soon as I turn on my phone? Why? What’s going on?”
It was a phone call from Yoon Se-hyun, a subordinate of Ji-hee’s company ‘Music Encore’.
“President… There’s… a press conference in the practice room.”
“A press conference? Who would do this without my permission? Is it Kwon Seok-dong?”
“Yes.”
Team leader Yoon’s voice crawled in.
“Oh, my. What is he doing? All right, then. I’ll come right away, so buy as much time as you can. Stop him from reaching Park Sang-yeon! Do you understand?”
A more intense welcome party than ever was waiting for Ji-hee.
Sang-yeon had not heard about the press conference in advance either. He entered the practice room in anticipation of the usual rehearsal, and was taken aback by the numerous reporters gathering, but soon regained his composure.
The members stood up at once his appearance. All the reporters stood as well, but only one reporter, Heo Jong-min, did not.
He was a newcomer, who had just been assigned to the Ministry of Culture from the Ministry of Politics, and he did not understand at all the changing atmosphere when Park Sang-yeon entered, so he kept his seat with his legs crossed.
Under the intense flash of the cameras, Sang-yeon walked to the prepared photo wall of the press conference and leaned slightly against the table instead of sitting on a chair. Only then did the members and reporters sit down when Sang-yeon gestured.
“I’ve repeatedly told you that I hate cumbersome and formal press conferences, but our President Kwon finally prepared one. Aren’t these events usually held to promote concerts? Manager Kim, didn’t the tickets of our last concert sell well?”
Manager Kim of the City Hall Secretariat, who entered after Sang-yeon, was very nervous when his name was called.
“Ah… Yes… As soon as the reservation opened, everything was sold out in an hour.”
Manager Kim stuttered and barely answered.
“One hour? Is it accurate?”
“Ah… To be precise… It was exactly 57 minutes and 12 seconds.”
Reading the information he searched through the documents he was holding, Manager Kim was proud of his thorough preparation.
“Is that so? Then there’s nothing to promote to the reporters. You’re not here to see the rehearsal, right?”
Reporters were confused by Sang-yeon’s arrogant attitude and looked at each other.
“Don’t think about writing a few lines after the preview rehearsal here, and write a review of the performance after watching it yourself. Ah! Of course, only those who book it in 57 minutes and 12 seconds will be able to do it. In the future, there will be no invitation rights for reporters, critics, sponsors, VIPs, etc.”
It was a declaration of war. It completely broke the practice of the performance world.
It was natural that the more tickets were distributed free of charge, the fewer seats were sold for a fee. In the case of performances with low sales rates, tickets were distributed to boost the morale of the artists on the stage, but Sang-yeon’s performance was now popular with sufficient recognition.
Then, there was no reason to bend by distributing the most expensive and best seats only to the privileged.
In addition, didn’t President Kwon pressure Sang-yeon by talking about the orchestra’s deficit? In other words, Sang-yeon was making a super-strong move to make a surplus in profits. At the same time, it was also a dangerous remark that would greatly offend his superiors. They could not have known this in advance.
A reporter raised his hand and asked a question.
“I understand that you will be performing with the young violinist James Jung. I’m curious about why you chose him, because there is so little information about him.”
“The collaboration with James Jung has been canceled due to schedule issues. It seems that the performance program will inevitably change from Schumann’s Violin Concerto in D minor that was originally scheduled. We will make an official announcement for the press later. Then, should we end the meeting with this?”
At that time, reporter Heo Jong-min raised his hand and stood up from his seat.
“I’m Heo Jong-min from Mungyeong Daily News. As far as I know, it’s not a matter of schedule, right?”
The practice room was agitated again by the topic thrown by the newbie.
“According to the information I obtained, there was an assault between the two of you, and as a result James Jung’s jaw got injured and he can’t play for the time being. Therefore, I would like to hear Conductor Park-nim’s explanation.”
It was a scoop! Reporter Heo enjoyed the attention focused on him, fluttering inside.
“I’m very curious about the source of the information. Is it Jirashi Kardera’s agency?”
People laughed at Sang-yeon’s relaxed response.
“If you slander me with groundless rumors, I’ll sue you for defamation. Reporter Heo Jong-min-nim?”
“Conductor Park-nim seems to like to sue. I heard you said that on the plane, too. ‘If you continue to take pictures of me without my permission, I will sue you for infringement of the right of publicity’.”
Just then, the door to the practice room opened and President Seo, the legal representative and manager of Sang-yeon, entered.
President Seo, who had been running while listening to reports of the situation through team leader Yoon’s phone call, removed her wireless earphones and shouted at the reporters.
“Reporters, you didn’t have breakfast because you had to come early, right? Shall we go to have brunch together?”
The situation ended at once. Reporters folded their laptops and cameras and all moved to the location according to Yoon’s guidance. Except for one person.
“Oh my! You must have been excited to catch a scoop… Sir…?”
“I’m Heo Jong-min.”
“I’m Seo Ji-hee, the President of ‘Music Encore’, Park Sang-yeon’s agency.”
When President Seo handed Heo Jong-min her business card first, he also presented his business card.
“Wasn’t Na Kyung-sook-nim the one who was in charge of the Ministry of Culture from Mungyeong Daily News?”
“Yes, I’m a new employee. I was originally in the political department.”
“Aha? That’s why you’re so aggressive. We’ll see each other often then. Let’s eat brunch together, there’s a delicious restaurant.”
“It’s okay. I usually eat breakfast at home before leaving.”
A cold wind blew as Reporter Heo passed in front of her.
* * *
Will the collaboration between Park Sang-yeon and the new violinist James Jung be canceled?
Seoul – Mungyeong Daily News, Reporter Heo Jong-min: Park Sang-yeon, artistic director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Seoul, canceled the collaboration scheduled for February 21 with the new violinist James Jung (32). It is true that the attention was focused on James Jung because he was a newcomer chosen by Conductor Park Sang-yeon, who had only performed with famous domestic and foreign artists with proven skills so far. However, two days after the collaboration’s announcement, it was reversed again, drawing keen attention to the background.
“Heo Jong-min from Mungyeong Daily News…”
Chairman Seo muttered to himself while looking at the article on his office computer. After a while, his phone rang, and the secretary announced Ji-hee’s arrival.
“Tell her to come in.”
Ji-hee entered Chairman Seo’s room with a slightly nervous face.
“I have no excuses, Chairman.”
“Well, it’s not a good picture, but it’s not bad either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh, business people are so slow to turn their heads. There is someone more naive than President Seo.”
“I’m ashamed.”
“Yeah, being naive is not a compliment but a curse for a businessman. Anyway, isn’t that the same thing that brought James Jung to the surface? Everyone is in a state of chaos because they don’t know how to line up with Mayor Yoo Kyung-deok, and just knowing James’ true identity is threatening enough.”
James Jung was the only child of Seoul Mayor Yoo Kyung-deok, the next leading presidential candidate.
Hot star Jung Soo-kyung, who was a top actress in the 1980s, suddenly announced her retirement at the peak of her popularity, and later gave birth to Yoo Kyung-deok’s son in the United States and raised him secretly until now.
On the plane from Berlin to Korea, what James threw at Sang-yeon, ‘How dare you? Do you know who I am?!’ was not a groundless bluff.
Chairman Seo had been planning very carefully for a long time since he obtained this advanced information.
He hid his sharp claws and teeth and approached Jung Soo-kyung and James with the face of a good shepherd, capturing their hearts.
Chairman Seo was literally sent from heaven for Jung Soo-kyung, who maintained her past spending habits without considering her current economic situation, and James, who had a ridiculously big dream compared to his skills.
Along with material support, Park Sang-yeon was included as an option in the goodwill shown by Chairman Seo to them. Chairman Seo was planning to reach Mayor Yoo Kyung-deok by putting James on the back of Park Sang-yeon.
What he wanted in return for managing the Mayor’s Achilles heel while funding his campaign for the presidential election was power. Chairman Seo dreamed of becoming a president without a presidency, holding a power that could shake the country.
However, Sang-yeon ruined the sketch of this big picture.
“I don’t think intimidation is a good way.”
“Negotiation, not intimidation! Let the thirsty dig their own wells.”
“Are you saying that we should reveal James Jung’s identity first? How are you going to deal with it?”
“This issue should be covered with a bigger issue. Don’t you think so?”
Chairman Seo was planning to shake Yoo Kyung-deok’s life.
Rather than approaching him first, he was trying to turn his plan around to save Yoo Kyung-deok from a desperate crisis. But with what would he save him? What other cards was he hiding?
“How long has President Seo known Park Sang-yeon?”
“It’s been 20 years.”
“Then you know countless of his weaknesses.”
Ah! Chairman Seo had decided to abandon Park Sang-yeon. It was probably natural for a businessman to throw away a tool that had been completely used. However, he was not the type to do it nicely. He would try to make a profit until the end.
“That’s true but…”
“Just because you’re a woman, you don’t have to have only small dreams. Aren’t you curious how far you can go? To make a leap forward, you have to shake off the unnecessities and move lightly with agility.”
“It won’t be easy to cover up the issue of an extramarital child of a candidate in the presidential elections.”
“Let’s use some imagination. I’m looking forward to it, President Seo!”
Chairman Seo wanted a blockbuster-level scenario that could cover Yoo Kyung-deok’s out-of-wed child issue using Park Sang-yeon. As the author of the script, he chose Seo Ji-hee, who knew Park Sang-yeon better than anyone else.
Ji-hee also had to make a choice. Whether to cut Park Sang-yeon out of her life or not.
