Rookie Talent Agent Knows It All-Chapter 492: December 12th (1)

I opened my eyes to a familiar setting.

'It's a dream... This is definitely a dream... But why does it feel so real?'

At that moment, I saw someone who shouldn't be here.

"Y-Yung-In? What are you doing here?"

The thirty-three-year-old Ju Yung-In frowned. "What are you talking about so early in the morning? Did you have a bad dream, oppa?"

Her hair was messy as if she had just woken up and she was wearing a slip. In her hands was my suit.

'This is a dream. It has to be a dream.'

However, the overwhelming realism made my head spin.

"What's wrong, oppa?"

"I-it's nothing. What day is it today?"

"It's November 12, 2029. You don't even know the date?"

'Wait. That means... Today is the day I collapsed?'

I glanced at the clock in panic. The current time was 4:30 a.m. Today was the day Min Gyu-Ri won Best Actress at the Hwangryong Film Association, which meant it was the exact same morning and exactly one month before I died.

Everything was the same except for one thing: Ju Yung-In was at home and acting far closer to me than she ever had before.

"Yung-In."

"Yeah?"

"H-has Kim Dong-Soo been up to anything lately?"

Ju Yung-In frowned. "Why are you asking about President Kim?"

"President Kim?"

"He's the president of your company. Top Entertainment."

I blurted out in a shocked tone, "...What!?"

Ju Yung-In, now looking worried, reached out her slender hand and placed it on my cheek. "Oppa, you're a vice president now. You should leave things to your subordinates. You've worked too hard... Maybe that's why you're having weird dreams."

That's when a sudden thought struck me.

'Is this some kind of prophetic dream?'

Urgently, I asked, "Then... What about Yoo-Jin?"

Ju Yung-In's voice sharpened instantly. "Why are you suddenly asking about Yoo-Jin?"

She dropped the suit she was holding and glared at me like she was ready to tear me apart.

However, assuming this was just a dream, I ignored her reaction and pressed on. "I'm just curious. What happened to Yoo-Jin?"

"Oppa, what's with you today? You haven't spoken to her since Miso died. Wait, don't tell me you're still in touch with her?"

'Miso... died? And I lost contact with Yoo-Jin?'

At that moment, a gust of cold wind swept through.

Whoooosh.

The moment the winter air brushed against my nose, everything around me froze, even Ju Yung-In. At the same time, the ground beneath me began to shake like an earthquake. The dream world started to crumble.

-Oppa~~

A voice echoed in my head as if someone was speaking directly to me.

Struggling, I forced my lips to move. "Wh-what...?"

Then, everything around me crumbled like a tower of Lego blocks. Simultaneously, a blinding white light filled my vision.

***

"Oppa, are you okay?"

My blurry vision sharpened. In front of me was Yoo-Jin looking at me with deep concern. Only then did I realize I was lying in my own bed.

'It was just a dream.'

However, it felt way too vivid. My heart pounded as I quickly asked, "Yoo-Jin, what day is it today?"

"December 12th. Why?"

Because something about that dream felt off, I reached for my planner and opened it. However, the contents had been updated with disturbing new information.

[Everyday V12]

[Date: December 12, 2020]

[Fortune of the Day: Fate is difficult to change. A crucial choice must be made today.]

'A crucial choice?'

If there was one thing I knew better than anyone, it was that changing fate was never easy. Every decision I had made to alter my future had come at a cost. And yet, for this message to appear today meant something important in my fate had yet to change.

At that moment, a chilling memory from my dream surfaced.

'Miso dies.'

I glanced at my phone to check the time was 12:12 p.m. Exactly one year ago, this was the very time I had returned to the past. And that was the day Miso died.

Only then did I take in the full sight of Yoo-Jin.

'What the hell...?'

Bathed in the soft noon sunlight, Yoo-Jin looked exactly as she had when I first regressed. She was even wearing the same red parka she always wore to film sets.

'Don't tell me... Is Miso going to face the same fate today?'

At that moment, Yoo-Jin reached out and placed a hand on my forehead. "Oppa, you don't have a fever but you're sweating like crazy."

It was a different setting but the same scenario as if the goddess of fate had prepared a twisted one-year anniversary event.

'Is that why it says I need to choose wisely?'

My head spun. If fate truly repeated itself, Miso might die today.

'I need to calm down.'

With Yoo-Jin watching closely, I forced a neutral expression and gently took her hand off my forehead. "I'm fine. I just had a weird dream."

"What kind of dream?"

"Nothing important. Just nonsense. But why are you wearing that red parka? Isn't this the one you used to wear on set?"

"Oh, I had to step outside for a bit and it was freezing. I just threw this on and came right back. Oh, right. Let's go eat. Mrs. Jung is heating up oyster soup for lunch. Deok-Bae, Han-Wool, and Yeon-Woo oppa are all here too."

Yoo-Jin had apparently invited everyone over for a meal with oyster soup from Tongyeong. She added that Deok-Bae and Han-Wool had brought cages to take Happy and Love home.

"Got it. I'll wash up and come down."

As I sat up, I noticed the sheets beneath me were drenched in sweat.

Yoo-Jin grinned and ran downstairs. "Alright. Hurry down, okay? I'll go ahead."

Taking a deep breath, I gathered the damp sheets and left my room. After tossing them in the washer, I stepped into the shower to let the warm water soothe my pounding heart.

***

I picked at my oyster soup, lost in thought. If my dream was right, Miso's fate could repeat itself today.

'Should I just cancel everything and stay home?'

However, I quickly shook my head upon realizing Miso had died at home that time. That meant this house wasn't safe.

And if there really was a god controlling fate, an accident would find a way to happen no matter where we were. Every destiny that had unfolded before me always behaved like the movie Final Destination. Whatever was supposed to happen would happen.

In the end, I decided to stick to my original schedule while staying extra cautious. If any real danger came up, I trusted that Everyday would notify me.

'I trust you, Everyday.'

I decided to still attend the casting meeting for Missing: The Lost Ones with Ahn Jung-Hae as planned. Because Yoo-Jin and Miso had a busy schedule in the provinces starting the day after tomorrow, today was the only chance to meet him.

'Alright, first things first. I need to eat up.'

If something did happen, I needed to be well-fed and ready. I quickly finished my oyster soup.

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We sent Happy and Love home with Deok-Bae and Han-Wool after lunch. Then, I headed to the parking lot with Yoo-Jin and Miso. In the yard, our usual van and my Binz sedan were parked side by side.

Miso stood between them, doing her usual playful routine. "Which one should we choose? Let's find out! Ding dong dang dong! This one!"

Yoo-Jin smiled. "You picked?"

Miso excitedly pointed to the Binz sedan. "Yep! Mom, let's take this one today!"

Normally, I would've let her have her way. However, I firmly shook my head as I had recently removed the child car seat from the sedan because it had become loose.

I said, "Miso, let's take the van today."

"Why?"

"The sedan doesn't have a car seat right now. When the new one arrives, you can ride it then."

Miso pouted and stomped her feet in protest. "But I really wanna ride that one today~!"

I felt my resolve waver for a moment, but I stayed firm and spoke gently. "No, Miso. We have to be safe."

Miso turned to her mom for backup, but Yoo-Jin sided with me. "You have to listen to Uncle Yoon-Ho, Miso."

Miso nodded with a small sigh. "Okay... I understand."

I lifted Miso into the van's car seat and secured her seatbelt. The thick cushioned Powertuff girls straps hugged her snugly.

I confirmed, "Are you sitting properly?"

"Yes, Uncle Yoon-Ho!"

I double-checked Miso's seatbelt before walking around to the driver's seat. Before starting the car, I glanced at Everyday again to check there were no new notifications.

I took a deep breath and started the engine.

Vroooom.

The Binz Springer's engine purred smoothly. I prayed that today would pass without incident and gently pressed the accelerator.

***

Ahn Jung-Hae had set up his production office on the third floor of Reverse Entertainment after securing funding from them.

Because of that reason, we were on our way to Reverse Entertainment now. However, oddly enough, the Olympic Road was completely clear.

'That's weird.'

I was driving on an open road for the first time in a while. Maybe because of that, every car on the highway seemed to be going faster than usual.

I stayed in the third lane and checked my rearview mirror. A red light had stopped the cars behind me, leaving my lane empty.

When I glanced at the backseat, I saw Yoo-Jin and Miso laughing at a tablet screen. Miso was watching the drawing segment of Round and Round Friends! on EBC and tracing the shapes with her finger on the tablet.

I had thought she gave up on drawing after joining food programs, but apparently not.

"Miso, do you still like drawing?"

"Yep! I'm gonna be a celebrity artist when I grow up!"

'Miso as a celebrity artist...?'

Cold sweat trickled down my spine. It would take at least a hundred years before the world could properly appreciate Miso's chaotic drawings.

Just then, the theme song of her favorite children's show started playing.

『Round and round, the little circle~ Round and round, my drawing too~』

Miso happily sang along in her clear voice. Yoo-Jin also harmonized with her, turning it into a full duet. Their cheerful singing filled the car.

'Huh?'

At that moment, a soccer ball bounced onto the road fifty meters ahead. A young boy about Miso's age chased after it from the sidewalk.

'No!'

I was in the third lane, so I wouldn't hit him. However, the fourth lane was a different story. If the boy kept running, he could get hit. I instantly eased off the gas and honked the horn.

Honk!

The loud sound echoed through the street, but the boy was too focused on the ball to look up.

I honked again.

Honk! Honk!

Only then did the startled boy finally grab the ball and lift his head.

'Go back!'

I expected him to run back to the sidewalk, but he froze in place as he was too scared to move.

At that moment, a white sedan in the fourth lane blared its horn.

Honk!

The car screeched to a stop.

Screech!

Swerving to avoid the boy, the white sedan suddenly cut into my lane.

I shouted a warning and slammed on the brakes. "Yoo-Jin! Miso! Hold on tight!"

Screech!

The heavy Binz Springer rapidly slowed down and the tires screeched against the pavement.

Screech!

Thankfully, I narrowly avoided a collision with the sedan because I had slowed down earlier.

The sedan came to a halt at an angle with its emergency lights flashing. The boy, still frozen in fear, bolted back to the sidewalk. I quickly checked the rearview mirror. The cars behind us were at least a hundred meters away.

I turned back and asked, "Are you okay? Yoo-Jin? Miso?"

They had their heads down, but slowly lifted them.

"Yeah... I'm okay, oppa."

"I'm fine too, Uncle Yoon-Ho..."

Just then, I saw oncoming cars approaching from behind. If we stayed still, we might cause a secondary accident.

When I gave a quick honk, the white sedan in front of me finally turned off its hazard lights and started moving. The driver rolled down the window and waved a hand in thanks.

If I hadn't been so hyper-focused, this could have ended in a major accident. And if we had taken the sedan without a car seat today, Miso could have been seriously injured.

Everyday's warning really kept me on edge.

'I need to stay cautious. This might not be the end of it.'

Steadying my breathing, I gently pressed the gas and continued driving.

***

I parked in Reverse Entertainment's first-floor lot and quickly opened the backseat door.

"Miso, are you okay?"

Miso pointed to the Powertuff girls cushion strapped across her chest. "Yup! Mr. Butter protected me!"

The cushion had the drawing of the chubby and tough character from Powertuff Girls. Mr. Butter had kept Miso safe without a scratch.

"Did that scare you a lot?"

Miso shook her head and blinked up at me. "Just a little. But is that kid okay?"

"Yeah. Last I saw, his mom was giving him a good scolding."

Miso let out a big sigh of relief as if she forgot that she was in a dangerous situation because of the boy, "Phew~ That's good."

I also let out a sigh and held out my hand. "Let's all be extra careful today, okay?"

Yoo-Jin and Miso both nodded. "Yes, sir~!"

"Alright, Miso. Shall we go?"

"Yes!"

Together, we headed toward the building's entrance. That's when I noticed workers cleaning the exterior windows, suspended from ropes off the rooftop.

"Looks like it's cleaning day."

Miso squeezed my hand and looked up. "Hello, mister cleaners~!"

The workers didn't notice her, but Yoo-Jin and I smiled and waved along like Miso.

Then, we stepped through the glass entrance doors into the lobby. The ceiling soared nearly twenty meters high and the entire entrance was made of transparent glass.

At that moment, the boys spotted us and rushed over to greet us.

"Hyung-nim! You're here."

"Hi, Miss Yoo-Jin~"

"Miso, you made it!"

Miso clasped her hands together and gave a small bow. "Hello~!"

"Miso, how are you today?"

"I'm good! Super happy!"

The boys smiled upon seeing Miso's smile. No matter where she went, Miso was instantly popular.

After chatting for a bit, we avoided the elevator and took the stairs instead as I didn't want to risk anything today.

Click.

When I pushed open the third-floor stairwell door. Park Hyun-Soo and Lee Soo-Chan were waiting near the elevator.

Hearing the door, they turned toward us.

"Huh? Why are you coming from there...?"

"Hyung-nim? Why did you take the stairs...?"

They looked puzzled, but I just shrugged. Without explaining, I followed them into Room 301 where Ahn Jung-Hae's production company was.

However, someone I never expected to see greeted me with a bright smile inside as if it was fate.

'What a coincidence...'

Just then, Everyday vibrated with a new notification.

Buzz.

'It's here.'

The notification I had been waiting for all morning had finally arrived. I opened the planner right away without hesitation.

[Notification: December 12, 2020. A new schedule has been added for 'Jung Yoo-Jin'.]

And the moment I read it, I froze.