Chapter 185: < Protect – Episode 184 – Shotgun [3] >

“Hey, hey! Lee Jung Hoon! Did you…”

Lee Jung Hoon hung up the phone. The manager in the driver’s seat glanced over and asked.

“Was that Ha Sung Jin again?”

“Yeah, it was that crazy bastard.”

“Hm, it’s okay to curse, but do it in front of people you don’t know.”

“I know. I’ll be careful.”

The manager was surprised by Lee Jung Hoon’s easygoing answer.

‘Did he mature?’

It wasn’t just his manager that was surprised. The assistant manager, as well as the coordinator, were shocked. They tried their best not to make it show, but they were unable to fool an actor.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“So… sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I’m just kidding.”

It was Lee Jung Hoon who was embarrassed by the apology he received. He then let out a deep sigh.

‘I must’ve done wrong after all.’

He finally realized how much he hurt the people around him after becoming famous.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’ll forgive that bastard, Soo Ho!’

He called him Soo Ho out of respect but added ‘bastard’ to emphasize his rage, but that didn’t mean he wanted him to die. Since he still had some affection for him, it was hard to describe how he felt. Some might have cussed at him calling him a spoiled pig, but he wasn’t fond of Ahn Soo Ho’s dark shadow.

‘But what can I do? He’s still family…’

Lee Jung Hoon, who faced the cruel reality, saw just how important family was.

‘What if it was me?’

Just thinking about living life with a disability made him feel hopeless. How would he have accepted it himself if he became a cripple? Would he be able to accept the cold truth? Lee Jung Hoon shook his head.

‘I’d probably just commit suicide.’

The easiest way to escape the pain of reality was to end life. This was the first time Lee Jung Hoon ever thought about suicide. Until now, he thought of people who committed suicide as mental patients. However, some just didn’t have enough courage to live on, and that was a heavy burden and disease that Lee Jung Hoon wouldn’t imagine.

He witnessed people with demolished hearts.

‘There are very few who are strong enough to get back up from despair all by themselves.’

If they could, that was something extraordinary, but average people weren’t that strong in their hearts and bodies.

“We’re here.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as the car stopped and the door opened, Lee Jung Hoon thanked him. After spending many days with Logan, he learned to appreciate the smallest things. That was a surprising change for him. He used to just assume someone opening the door for him was obvious. Hosoo Entertainment didn’t have salons they regularly employed. The company already had all of the beauty departments necessary with hairdressers, dermatologists, and nurses working within the agency, and it wasn’t just dermatologists, but dentists, optometrists, and orthopedic doctors. As a result, the beauty industry of Cheongdamdong and Apgujeong weren’t happy, but what could they do? After that, all the top stars waited to be called upon by Hosoo Entertainment. In the Korean entertainment industry, Hosoo Entertianment’s celebrities became the top stars.

“Long time no see, Jung Hoon.”

“You’re right. How have you been?”

“Wow! Did you just ask me that?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been very immature until now. Please forgive me.”

Lee Jung Hoon bowed down. The rumors about him being rude were probably still going to remain for a while, but he intended on changing it one step at a time. The salon employee was pretty pleased and talked a lot more than usual as a result.

“I understand. We all make mistakes when we’re young, but did you go to a temple or something? I haven’t seen you around.”

“I went on a vacation.”

“Really? That’s good. Men need to face the world to realize life. Back in the day when I went to Paris…”

Lee Jung Hoon listened to her story about her studying abroad days in France. If this was before, he would have told her to shut it. However, he recently learned how enjoyable it was to listen to others, so listening in on her story made him feel better. Time that was lost would never return. So the manager interrupted the employee for him.

“Please use your scissors instead of talking so much.”

“Oh yeah! You seem to be in a good mood today, Manager.”

“Ahem!”

Before Lee Jung Hoon came to his senses, they would have talked about what a jerk he was. Salons weren’t just for hair and makeup. If that was the case, they wouldn’t have bought another building next to Star Tower just for that. Salons were there for celebrities to socialize, gossip, and obtain information on their competitors.

Most tabloid gossips traced back to a salon. The reason why Hosoo Entertainment managed their own salon was to invest on their celebrities, but it was also to control the rumors and gossip that went around. The effects of Alexa’s proposal could be seen almost immediately and in terms of scale and everything else, Hosoo Entertainment’s salon was a giant, and people liked and trusted anything big and huge.

The entertainment bulletin boards didn’t care about the truth behind the rumors. Alexa used the people related to the beauty industry to control the information and rumors that flowed through. They controlled fashion and advertisement through Kim Na Hee and Rosette group, news through Kim Soo Jung and HBS, and the back alleys through Do Kyung Ho’s dark reputation.

Hosoo Entertainment Academy’s aspiring celebrities and broadcasters gave Ahn Soo Ho and Hosoo Entertainment a favorable image. Whether the owner cared or not, the people below him were working hard to build an entertainment empire. There was a clear reason why Ahn Soo Ho didn’t want to put his hands on manufacturing.

‘It takes a long time to be acknowledged!’

The most effective way to make his name famous was to use famous people who already had reputations of their own.

“Oh! Jung Hoon!”

Kang Mi Na approached with only half of her makeup complete. Hosoo Entertainment’s Yesterday took 1st place recently, and as a result, Kang Mi Na was starting to become just as popular as Jang Seol Hyun.

“Why aren’t you answering my calls? Are you ignoring me?”

“No. Sorry. I was busy.”

For the time being, he had to apologize to pretty much everyone.

“Where are your other members?”

“In the next room, but where did you go that you couldn’t contact me?”

“America.”

“America?”

One of the biggest issues lately was Lee Jung Hoon’s disappearance. He was being talked a lot in a negative light because such a rookie was threatening big names of the industry. He was talented and worked hard, but he acted so arrogantly as a result of his sudden popularity that he ended up getting insults left and right. No matter how friendly Ahn Soo Ho was to him, he was the owner of Hosoo Entertainment group as well as a tycoon that controlled Korea’s entertainment industry.

They were just half-brothers, but they were still brothers.

There were many people around Lee Jung Hoon trying to get to Ahn Soo Ho. Once he got used to getting sucked up to, he just assumed that was a given, and when that happened, he naturally became entitled.

“Do you have time today?”

“Why?”

“What kind of response is that?”

Kang Mi Na was taken aback by Lee Jung Hoon’s cold response. After his debut, Lee Jung Hoon lived a vibrant life as a celebrity and a party people. Just because he was Ahn Soo Ho’s brother, he received invites to pretty much all events.

“You’re not going to Ha Sang Jin’s party, are you?

“Yup?”

“Hey!”

Kang Mi Na had question marks in her eyes, but Lee Jung Hoon was unable, to tell the truth.

‘I can’t tell her he’s a piece of trash…’

Chairman Lee Tae Goo of Shilla Group had three daughters, and he also had a little sister with a large age gap just like Chairman Kim Dae San. Just like Chairman Kim Dae San, he pretty much raised his little sister. If one were to look for a difference, it was that in contrast to Kim Dae San, Lee Tae Goo kept his little sister close even to this day.

Ha Sang Jin was the son of Chairman Lee Tae Goo’s little sister, and before Ahn Soo Ho appeared, he was known as the crown prince in the Korean entertainment industry. There was a myth that he could make any no-name celebrity into a top star with the utterance of a few words, and that was half true.

“I have no interest in getting involved with him. You should keep your distance, too.”

“Why?”

“He’s a drug addict.”

She heard her answer from behind her

“What?”

“What?”

Lee Jung Hoon and Kang Mi Na were just surprised while the hairdresser and manager were absolutely shocked. Ahn Soo Ho’s appearance caused a fuss. Since meeting Hosoo Entertainment’s owner was unheard of, the regular employees were ecstatic. As soon as the secretary escorted the hairdresser and manager out, it was just Lee Jung Hoon, Kang Mi Na, and Ahn Soo Ho inside the room.

“Hey.”

“Oh, hello.”

Kang Mi Na stuttered in response to Ahn Soo Ho’s greeting. Back during the Asia Tour, she was the one trying to screw the CEO over, but the situation had changed drastically. He wasn’t just a rich man with a lot of money. He was an issue maker that controlled Korea as well as the star of a national syndrome.

“If it’s all right, I’d like to speak to Jung Hoon alone.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Kang Mi Na nodded at Ahn Soo Ho. She waved at Lee Jung Hoon and then left. When it was just the two of them remaining, it was awkward. If he wasn’t surrounded by salon equipment, he would have followed Kang Mi Na.

“Are you mad?”

“I’m not a little kid, you know.”

“But you sound like one.”

“Then did you expect me to smile and hug you?”

Lee Jung Hoon understood his brother while also feeling angry. He wasn’t sure if he could have done the same thing to his younger brother. He matured, but he was still in his 20s. In contrast to his internal maturity, he still had 10 years until he was physically at his prime.

Ahn Soo Ho smirked.

“Did you learn lots?”

“Well… I’m thankful for that part.”

He was thankful that he made him face reality.

“But don’t learn any crazy dating tricks from them.”

“Apparently, women are instinctively drawn to strong men.”

“You can’t become a white guy even if you tried bulking up. Don’t waste your time and just work out normally. Photoshop has gotten pretty good these days.”

There wasn’t much to Logan and his underlings’ dating technique. It was all about stripping. Since they were well-built as a result of training, all women thought they were attractive. But for a mercenary, dating only lasted one night. If one thought about it, his underlings might have been partly responsible for Lee Jung Hoon’s playboy ways.

“What do you want, Soo Ho? I have an interview today. I have to get my hair done.”

Lee Jung Hoon knew that Ahn Soo Ho was here to make amends. Was he caring about him? He didn’t mind it. He realized just how sly people can be.

“You don’t have to be good to me, but be good to your mom and sister.”

“Is that what you came here to say?”

“Yeah.”

“Seriously? I was going to do that anyway.”

“But do even better.”

Ahn Soo Ho got up from the table he was leaning on and flicked his brother on the forehead.

“Agh! Don’t use violence!”

“Then sue me. Sheesh.”

Ahn Soo Ho opened the door to leave and then turned around toward him.

“Don’t ever hang out with Ha Sung Jin.”

“Why not?”

He asked just like how Kang Mi Na asked him earlier.

“Grrr! If you hang out with him, the tigers will get you.”

******

“Is that bastard Lee Jung Hoon ignoring my calls?”

Ha Sung Jin growled and threw his expensive phone against the wall. And of course, it broke.

“Does he think he’s just like us because we played with him for a bit?”

“He’s just a slave. We hyped him up too much. Should I call my uncle and start a scandal?”

“Are you crazy? Don’t you know who’s behind Lee Jung Hoon?”

“Isn’t Ahn Soo Ho busy being the chairman of that reformation committee or whatever?”

“Everyone has some kind of dirty past. I bet Ahn Soo Ho has things we can expose, too!”

The young men and women gathered in a suite room overlooking a view of Seoul were the children of the most powerful people of the country.

“My old parents freak out whenever they hear Ahn Soo Ho’s name.”

“Mine, too.”

“What’s his deal anyway? Seeing how China, Japan, and America are keeping quiet too, he must have been skilled as a mercenary.”

“America is scared of a mere mercenary?”

“Maybe he’s like Jason Borne.”

“That’s a movie.”

“Who knows? Maybe there’s one in real life…”

“But Ahn Soo Ho was born in Korea. He only worked in America for 10 years. If America was scared of him, wouldn’t he have made him into an American to win him over?”

“That’s why he’s impressive! He’s not someone that could have come from Hell Joseon!”

“Are you Ahn Soo Ho’s fan or something?”

“Come on. He’s impressive. That’s the truth! Dissing him won’t change reality.”

“Fine! Good for you, you bastard!”

“Shut up!”

Ha Sung Jin screamed once again and threw a beer bottle against the wall. And of course, that broke, too. The one who calmed him down was Chairman Lee Tae Goo’s second daughter, Lee Yeon Jin.

“Why are you in such a bad mood, Sung Jin?”

“Aren’t you mad, too? Hosoo Group or whatever they’re called is stepping all over Shilla!”

Lee Yeon Jin was a direct line while Ha Sung Jin was just a collateral line to the family, but he was the crown prince of the entertainment industry because he was favored by Shilla Group’s head.

“So do you have the courage to face off against Ahn Soo Ho?”

“Hmph!”

His anger cooled down as soon as he thought about Ahn Soo Ho.

“Don’t mess with his brother and get hurt.”

“Are you saying I’m in the wrong?”

“Well…it’s not a bad strategy to target his weakness, but it was never the method that was the problem.”

She didn’t say that he was in the wrong.

“Shit! I’ll get back at Ahn Soo Ho and Lee Jung Hoon one day!”

“Good. I’ll be cheering you on, Sung Jin.”

Lee Yeon Jin clapped for him but laughed at him on the inside.

“Agh!”

In response to the sudden scream, people looked out for which rich person was harassing a woman this time. However, the person that caught their eye was wearing a mask.

“Gasp!”

“Oh my god!”

To the commoners, it was a symbol of hope.

To the rich, it was fear and a monster.

To criminals, it was despair.

“Hello.”

Bridal Mask’s appearance made all of the famous people, celebrities, and industry people scatter, but within the suite room with its own swimming pool, there was nowhere else to run. What made them even more scared was that the servers who were serving them until now all had masks on. That meant there were dozens of Bridal Mask, not just one.

“If you’ve done nothing wrong, there’s no reason to be afraid. But…”

The head Bridal Mask grabbed a woman’s hair and smelled it.

“Gasp! I smell something rotten.”

“Agh!”

The woman struggled and fell into the pool. The people didn’t suspect that the guns the Bridal Masks were holding were fake. So they were unable to make any sudden movements.

“We’re ready.”

“Okay! Party time!”

The cameras were set up.

“Three! Two! One! Go!”

The red light turned on meaning they were on air.

“One, two. Mic test. Mic test! Hello, citizens of Korea! Also, the police who dispatched a result of a report! Let me give you a warning! Don’t irritate me by calling this suppression or whatever. If you do anything, I’ll make it explode.”

The cameras pointed at the explosives located on the walls. Shay Leeper was ecstatic. He was also known as a psycho, but Ahn Soo Ho was the true monster.

‘How did he think of such an amusing idea?’

He grabbed a stuttering man by the throat.

“What’s your name?”

“Ha… Ha Sung Jin.”

Ha Sung Jin felt a cold gun on him, so he just talked.

“Ha Sung Jin? Are you an heir?”

“No… no.”

“Hmm, let me ask you again. Are your parents rich?”

“No… Ugh!”

“Kids who lie must be punished. Now answer carefully, Ha Sung Jin.”

“I… I am! I’m an heir!”

“Of which family?”

“Sh… Shilla Group!”

“I see. Then is everyone else here rich as well?”

Ha Sung Jin looked at his cousins and other people in the corner before gulping.

“Gulp! Yes, Sir!”

“I see. Thank you for your cooperation, Ha Sung Jin. I’ll call you again when I need you.”

“Agh!”

Bridal Mask pushed Ha Sung Jin into the pool as well.

“Now! I only have one request!”

The camera zoomed in on Bridal Mask’s face.

“Save the Korean citizens that were kidnapped in Nigeria within 72 hours!”

Bridal Mask waved his gun around.

“If my request doesn’t get fulfilled, one person will be killed every hour following the 72-hour mark!”

Bridal Mask asked the Korean citizens.

Is there such a thing as ranks when it came to human lives?

< Protect – Episode 184 – Shotgun [3] > The end.

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