The Scandal-Proof Producer

The week leading up to the showcase was a blur of intense, focused energy. With the threat from Director Kang neutralized and two powerful, contrasting debut songs in their arsenal, the atmosphere at Aura Management was electric with possibility. The tickets for their showcase—a modest, 500-seat venue in Hongdae known for its incredible acoustics—had sold out in less than ten minutes, a feat unheard of for a company with only two artists, one of whom had yet to be formally announced. The media buzz, fueled by their previous victories, was reaching a fever pitch. For the first time since Han Yoo-jin had walked out of Stellar Entertainment, everything felt like it was going their way. The path ahead looked clear, bright, and full of promise.

Yoo-jin was in the office late one evening, going over the final lighting cues for the showcase with a small production team he'd hired. The team was listening to the final mix of Lee Seo-yeon's debut song, "Thaw," their faces glowing with pride and excitement in the dim light of the conference room. Ji-won was even tapping his foot almost imperceptibly to the rhythm, the highest praise he was capable of giving.

Yoo-jin's personal phone rang, cutting through the soaring chorus of the song. He glanced at the screen, expecting a call from one of their new brand sponsors or a vendor for the showcase. His blood ran cold.

The caller ID read: Chairman Choi Tae-hwan.

He was surprised on multiple levels. Firstly, that the Chairman of Top Tier Media was calling him at all. Secondly, that he was calling his personal, private number, not the office line. Any official communication should have gone through Director Yoon. This was something else. This was a direct, personal contact.

He gestured for the team to lower the music and stepped into his private office, closing the door behind him. He took a breath and answered, his voice a calm, steady mask. "Chairman Choi. This is a surprise."

"CEO Han," the Chairman's familiar, warm, and charismatic voice boomed from the other end. It was the voice of a man accustomed to power, a voice that could charm a snake or command an army with equal ease. "I hope I'm not disturbing you. I was just calling to congratulate you. Your showcase is the talk of the town. A brilliant move. I even had my secretary try to secure a ticket, but they were all gone. You've created quite the demand."

"We've been very fortunate," Yoo-jin said, his guard immediately on high alert. Chairman Choi did not make idle chit-chat.

"Fortune favors the bold, my boy," the Chairman chuckled. "And you have been very bold indeed. In fact, I was so impressed that I made a few calls myself. I've managed to secure a private VIP box for myself and a guest. I was hoping you'd join me for a celebratory drink beforehand. A toast to your continued success."

It wasn't a question. It wasn't an invitation. It was a summons. "Of course, Chairman," Yoo-jin replied smoothly. "I would be honored."

The meeting place was not the opulent hotel dining room of their last encounter. This time, it was a place far more exclusive, far more intimidating. A dark, wood-paneled, members-only cigar bar tucked away in a discreet Gangnam alleyway. The air was thick with the rich, sweet smoke of expensive tobacco and the low, murmuring conversations of powerful men—politicians, chaebol heirs, and industry titans. This was a room where deals were made and fortunes were decided in hushed tones.

Chairman Choi was sitting in a deep, plush leather armchair in a secluded corner, a massive, lit cigar in one hand and a glass of dark amber liquid in the other. He looked completely at home, the undisputed king of this shadowy court. He gestured for Yoo-jin to sit in the chair opposite him.

"Impressive work, CEO Han," Choi began without preamble, his voice a low rumble. He took a long, slow puff of his cigar, letting the smoke curl towards the ceiling. "Your handling of the plagiarism scandal was… particularly elegant. A masterstroke of turning a defense into an offense. And I've heard through the grapevine that Director Kang Min-hyuk has been remarkably quiet lately. Tame, even. It seems you've learned how to handle the local pests."

Yoo-jin remained silent, his face a perfect poker mask. His heart was pounding. This was not a social call. This was a test. The Chairman wasn't just acknowledging his successes; he was demonstrating the reach of his own intelligence network. He was telling Yoo-jin, without saying it, I see everything.

Yoo-jin instinctively activated his ability, focusing on the powerful man sitting across from him, shrouded in smoke and secrets.

[Chairman Choi's Current Thoughts: The boy is learning far faster than anticipated. He neutralized Kang without my help, without using the line I gave him. This indicates he has his own sources of information, his own methods. This makes him a much more valuable asset, but also a more dangerous one. I need to know the extent of his capabilities. I need to know what he knows.]

"You know, the fascinating thing about our industry, Han Yoo-jin," the Chairman continued, his voice still friendly but his eyes now sharp as cut glass, "is that there are no real secrets. There are only transactions, and varying levels of discretion. For example, I know for a fact that Director Kang hired two low-level thugs from a second-rate gang to send you a 'message' in your parking garage. A clumsy, foolish move. And I also know, through a different, very interesting source, that someone sent Kang a very… personal photograph. A photograph that apparently convinced him to immediately and permanently back down."

Yoo-jin's blood ran cold. He kept his expression neutral, his hands resting calmly on the arms of his chair, betraying none of the shock that was coursing through him. He had been so careful. The anonymous email, the burner phone… he had believed he was a ghost. But this man saw him.

"My question," the Chairman said, leaning forward slightly, his eyes boring into Yoo-jin's through the swirling smoke, "is not a hostile one. It is one of pure, professional curiosity. How did you know about that photograph? That was a well-kept secret within Stellar's inner circle for years. To know about it, you would need an incredible source deep inside their company. Or…" He paused, letting the word hang in the air. "You would need an incredible ability to see things that other people cannot."

The directness of the probe was a stunning move. Chairman Choi wasn't just hinting. He was showing his hand.

He leaned back again, a predatory smile playing on his lips. "You don't need to answer that, CEO Han. I find I enjoy a man with secrets. It makes him interesting. It makes him useful." He put his cigar down in a heavy crystal ashtray.

"I'm telling you all this for a reason. You have proven you can handle a rabid dog like Kang Min-hyuk. But the war you find yourself in is not with him. He is merely a symptom of the disease. My true rival, Chairman Nam of the Stellar Group—a man who makes Kang look like a schoolyard bully—is becoming… interested in the disruption you are causing. He doesn't like loose cannons in his playground. And his methods are far more sophisticated than sending thugs to a parking garage."

He picked up his glass and looked at Yoo-jin over the rim. "You have talent. You have guts. And you have a unique way of finding things out. I believe it's time we discussed a more… formal and mutually beneficial partnership."

He took a slow sip. "This is not an offer to acquire your company. Your independence, I now see, is your primary asset. This is an offer for your unique skills. Top Tier Media has many interests, many rivals. Information is the most valuable currency in the world. And you, CEO Han, seem to have a gift for acquiring it."

Yoo-jin was trapped. Chairman Choi didn't just suspect he had a secret; he was actively trying to recruit that secret for his own vast corporate wars. He had escaped being a pawn for his company's survival only to be offered a promotion to a knight or a bishop in a global chess match, fighting someone else's battles. The choice he was being offered was no longer just about business or ethics; it was about the fundamental nature and purpose of his own mysterious power.