166: Chapter 166 Kim Tae-yeon's Jealousy

Song Tianhao logged into his encrypted email and opened the email sent by Park So-yeon titled "Preliminary Investigation Report on Shin Se-kyung's Father's Investment Dispute."

The attachment contained several PDF files with detailed content. He opened the first one and browsed through it quickly.

The report's timeline spanned a long period, tracing back eight years. Shin Dong-min, Shin Se-kyung's father, was running a medium-sized construction materials company at the time, primarily handling the supply of building materials for small to medium-sized residential projects.

Business was initially stable until he was introduced to a large-scale complex project by "New Century Real Estate," a subsidiary of CJ Group at the time that specialized in commercial real estate development.

The project's prospects were attractive, and the initial cooperation went smoothly. To secure a long-term supply contract, Shin Dong-min not only staked most of his company's working capital but also took out significant loans in both his personal and company names to expand production capacity and front the costs for initial goods.

Problems arose in the middle of the project. Using excuses like "design changes" and "adjustments to material standards," New Century Real Estate unilaterally and significantly modified the procurement list and inspection standards, causing a large batch of materials already produced by Shin Dong-min's company to fail to meet the new "standards" and be rejected.

At the same time, the project's payment cycle was extended indefinitely. Shin Dong-min's capital chain snapped quickly; banks demanded loan repayments, and suppliers chased for payment. He attempted to take legal action, but the contract terms were complex, and since the other party was a company under a conglomerate, the litigation process was long and arduous.

Ultimately, Shin Dong-min's company went bankrupt and was liquidated, leaving him with massive debt. His family home was mortgaged, and his life plummeted. The report included several copies of financial documents and screenshots of news reports from that time, with the lines revealing the helplessness and struggle of a small to medium-sized entrepreneur under the rules of the conglomerate's game.

Song Tianhao's gaze lingered on the latter part of the report. Park So-yeon's team had tracked down the "introducer" from back then, a broker named Oh Sung-hwan.

This person had a complex background, having spent his early years in the construction industry before transitioning into an intermediary, specializing in brokering deals between various companies and conglomerate projects, with a reputation that was mixed.

More importantly, the data showed that around the time of Shin Dong-min's incident, Oh Sung-hwan was in close contact with a certain director at New Century Real Estate who was in charge of the project at the time. Furthermore, shortly after Shin Dong-min's bankruptcy, this person suddenly acquired an apartment in Gangnam District.

That director, named Lee Jae-min, was noted in the documents with another identity—a distant cousin of the current CJ Group Chairman, Lee Jae-hyun, and he still held a key position within the CJ system.

"A setup..." Song Tianhao repeated the word in a low voice, leaning back in his chair and tapping his fingers lightly on the smooth tabletop. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting alternating light and shadow across his face.

Years had passed, and the chain of evidence had likely long been cleaned up; overturning the case was almost impossible.

However, the value of this report lay in the fact that it pointed out a direction, confirmed suspicions, and more importantly, it revealed the not-so-clean methods that CJ was accustomed to using in certain areas.

He closed the file and opened another email, which was a formal letter of intent from Kim Sae-ron's mother, Ms. Kim Mi-sun.

The tone was polite and cautious, first expressing gratitude for Song Tianhao's care for her daughter on set.

Subsequently, Ms. Kim Mi-sun tactfully suggested that, given her daughter's interest and talent in Acting, as well as the need to balance her studies and entertainment activities at the current stage, she hoped to discuss part of Kim Sae-ron's entertainment management contract—specifically her film and television contract—with Sky Entertainment, which focused more on the long-term development and personalized cultivation of artists.

These two matters seemed independent, yet they faintly pointed in the same direction: CJ Group.

The old grudge of Shin's father and the potential dissatisfaction of Kim's mother with the existing partner (part of Kim Sae-ron's management contract was with a subsidiary under CJ).

Song Tianhao picked up his coffee and took a sip; the liquid, which had already gone cold, was bitter. He set down the cup, picked up his phone, found Ms. Kim Mi-sun's number, and dialed it directly.

The call was answered quickly, and a gentle yet capable female voice came through: "Yoboseyo? President Song, hello."

"Ms. Kim, hello. I have read your email. Thank you for your trust." Song Tianhao got straight to the point, his tone calm and respectful. "I wonder if you are available this afternoon? There are some details that might be better communicated in person. You can decide the location."

The person on the other end seemed stunned for a moment, not expecting Song Tianhao to be so quick and direct. Immediately, Ms. Kim Mi-sun's voice held a bit more genuine laughter: "President Song is truly decisive. I am free after three o'clock this afternoon; how about the 'Cloud' tea house in Cheongdam-dong? The environment there is quiet."

"Good, three o'clock, Cloud tea house. See you then."

After hanging up the phone, Song Tianhao checked the time; it was ten-thirty in the morning. He stood up, walked to the walk-in closet, and changed into a well-tailored dark gray suit and a white shirt. He did not wear a tie and unbuttoned the top button of his collar.

He carefully pinned the teardrop-shaped silver brooch onto the left lapel of his suit, creating a perfect accent against the dark gray fabric.

He adjusted himself in the mirror; the man in the reflection had calm eyes, an introverted temperament, and only that silver glint at his collar shimmered with a cool luster in the indoor light.

At two-fifty in the afternoon, Song Tianhao arrived ten minutes early at the "Cloud" tea house, located in a quiet alley in Cheongdam-dong.

The tea house was in the traditional Hanok style, with deep courtyards and green bamboo screening, isolating it from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Guided by a waiter, he walked into a private room named "Listening to the Pines." Ms. Kim Mi-sun was already there.

She looked to be around forty, wearing a high-quality beige suit, with appropriate makeup and a gentle temperament that revealed the composure accumulated through experience. Seeing Song Tianhao enter, she stood up and bowed slightly: "President Song, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule."

"Ms. Kim, you are too kind; please sit." Song Tianhao returned the gesture and sat down opposite her. In the middle was a log tea table, on which delicate tea sets and a few plates of tea snacks were already laid out.

After a few pleasantries, the topic naturally turned to the main subject. Ms. Kim Mi-sun did not beat around the bush too much; she frankly explained the current dilemma:

Kim Sae-ron's talent and audience appeal were obvious to all, but the agency Kim Sae-ron was currently primarily working with was CJ Entertainment, which was more inclined to treat her as a "child star cash cow." Her schedule was packed, commercial activities outweighed Acting refinement, and the planning for her future was vague.

As a mother, she hoped more that her daughter could accumulate Acting experience without delaying her normal studies and growth.

"Sae-ron loves Acting, but she is also a child; she needs rest and time to spend with her peers."

Ms. Kim Mi-sun's tone carried a mother's worry: "Last time on set, I saw how you treated Se-kyung and other young actors—with patience, respect, and guidance rather than coercion."

"This touched me deeply. Moreover, I heard that Sky has specialized supporting facilities for the studies and personal development of its artists?"

Song Tianhao listened patiently and handed over the documents he had prepared in advance at the right moment. "This is the standardized support plan formulated by the Sky Entertainment Actor Department for underage artists, as well as several successful cases."

The document was not thick, but it was clear and organized, covering everything from the provision of exclusive managers, academic tutors, and psychological consultants to protective clauses like mandatory annual leave and prohibitions on night filming. "We believe that an actor's vitality lies in continuous growth. Draining the pond to catch all the fish is not Sky's style."

Ms. Kim Mi-sun carefully flipped through the documents, her eyes becoming brighter. These terms were far more detailed and humanized than what she was currently exposed to.

"Regarding the management contract, we can adopt a very flexible model." Song Tianhao continued, his tone steady and carrying a convincing power. "The film and television contract can be signed with Sky, while other activities like music and variety shows can be coordinated with the original company depending on the situation, or negotiated jointly by the three of us."

"The profit-sharing ratio can be discussed, but the core is that Sky must have the leading planning rights for Sae-ron's film and television career to ensure that every appearance of hers is an addition to her identity as an actor, not a consumption."

He did not exaggerate how abundant Sky's resources were but instead repeatedly emphasized keywords like "planning," "growth," and "protection." This was exactly what Ms. Kim Mi-sun valued most.

"President Song," Ms. Kim Mi-sun closed the folder and looked up, her gaze sincere. "What you said is exactly what I expected. To be honest, I have contacted several companies, and there are not many who, like you, put terms into practice and truly consider the long-term development of the artist."

She paused, seemingly touched by emotion. "Especially seeing the help you gave that child, Se-kyung... That child, her personality is actually a bit stubborn; once she has set her mind on something or someone, ten cows couldn't pull her back. President Song, please bear with her."

This was said implicitly, but Song Tianhao understood the subtext. Ms. Kim Mi-sun and Shin Se-kyung seemed to have a good personal relationship; these words were both a reminder and implied a certain recognition of his character.

"Ms. Kim, you are too kind. Se-kyung is very hardworking; it was she herself who conquered her fear." Song Tianhao brushed it off calmly and brought the topic back. "Then, regarding Sae-ron's matter, can we have our legal department draft a memorandum of intent first, and we can discuss the details in depth after you have reviewed it?"

"Of course." Ms. Kim Mi-sun readily agreed, a relaxed smile appearing on her face. "Communicating with President Song is very pleasant."

The preliminary intent was reached, and the atmosphere became even more harmonious. The two chatted about the current state of the child star market and the South Korean education system, and Ms. Kim Mi-sun's insights and manner of speaking made Song Tianhao quite appreciative. At three-forty, the meeting ended in a friendly atmosphere.

After seeing Ms. Kim Mi-sun off, Song Tianhao did not leave immediately. He sat alone in the tea house for a while longer, slowly finishing the tea in his cup that had gradually cooled.

Outside the window, the bamboo shadows swayed and rustled. He raised his hand, his fingertips unconsciously touching the brooch on his suit lapel; the cold sensation made his thoughts clearer.

Shin Se-kyung, Kim Sae-ron... and perhaps even more. The intersection with CJ seemed to have started earlier and deeper than expected. This was no longer simple market competition; it was starting to involve specific people, specific pasts, and specific grievances.

[part:gemini-3.5-flash]

He paid the bill, left the tearoom, and got into the waiting car. "Back to the company," he instructed the driver.

The office building where Sky Entertainment was located appeared busy and full of vitality in the afternoon.

Song Tianhao went straight to the top-floor conference room. Park So-yeon, Jang Se-hoon, as well as T-ara's leader Ham Eunjung and main vocalist Park So-yeon, and Girls Generation's leader Kim Taeyeon and main vocalist Jessica Jung, were already waiting in the room. This was a small-scale meeting of the core team to discuss the upcoming important schedules of the two girl groups.

"President," everyone stood up to greet him as he walked in.

"Sit down." Song Tianhao walked to the head seat and sat down, casually draping his suit jacket over the back of the chair, revealing his white shirt and that eye-catching brooch underneath. Park So-yeon's gaze lingered on his collar for a tenth of a second before shifting away as if nothing had happened.

Jang Se-hoon also took a glance but said nothing.

On the other hand, Ham Eunjung blinked and whispered to Park So-yeon next to her, "Oppa is wearing a brooch today? I've never seen it before. It looks really nice."

Park So-yeon pursed her lips and smiled, not replying.

As the meeting began, Jang Se-hoon first reported on the follow-up promotion schedule and overseas fan meeting plans for T-ara's third mini-album, "Why Are You Being Like This." Currently, the music show promotions were drawing to a close, but the popularity remained high, requiring preparations for official follow-up promotional activities.

"The initial feedback from the Japanese market is better than expected," Jang Se-hoon pulled up the data. "Especially the choreography for 'Bo Peep Bo Peep,' which has gone viral very quickly. Partners from Japan have reached out to ask if we can arrange a small-scale tour or a joint performance."

Song Tianhao looked at the data on the projection, his finger lightly tapping the desk. "We can follow up on the Japanese market, but the priority should be placed after domestic consolidation and Southeast Asian expansion. Eunjung, how is Jiyeon's Japanese study progress?"

Ham Eunjung, who was called on, immediately sat up straight. "Reporting to the President, Jiyeon has a great talent for languages, and daily conversation is no longer a problem. Soyeon-onni and I are also learning; simple greetings and self-introductions are fine."

"Speed up the progress. There might be Japanese schedules in the second half of the year." After Song Tianhao finished speaking, he looked at Park So-yeon. "What about the reserve of new songs?"

Park So-yeon immediately turned the notebook in front of her toward him. "Song collection has been ongoing. Currently, we have over a dozen demos, but the styles are not very consistent. Qri, Hyomin, and I have listened to them initially and feel that two dance tracks and one ballad are quite good, but we still need your final decision, President."

She paused and added, "In addition, a composer submitted a song through connections, specifically requesting Taeyeon to sing it. The style is quite unique. I listened to the demo and feel... it has great potential." As she spoke, she looked at Kim Taeyeon across from her.

Kim Taeyeon seemed a bit distracted, her eyes fixed on the brooch on Song Tianhao's collar. It wasn't until Jessica Jung next to her lightly nudged her arm that she snapped out of it and hurriedly said:

"Ah, yes, I listened to the demo of that song. The melody and lyrics both touched me deeply. It's a bit different from my usual style, but I'd like to try it."

Song Tianhao noticed her slight distraction but his expression remained unchanged. "Send me the demo. For T-ara's new songs, send me the full versions of the three selected tracks and the evaluation report before next week."

He looked at Kim Taeyeon and Jessica Jung. "As for Girls Generation, the preparations for the second studio album are about to start. Taeyeon, you can also start brainstorming your solo project simultaneously. Jessica, how do you feel about your Acting classes?"

Jessica Jung wore a light pink shirt today, which made her skin look even fairer. She brushed her hair back and answered seriously, "I've learned a lot. The teacher said my emotional immersion is much more natural than before. I've also been looking at some scripts lately, but I haven't come across one that truly captures my heart yet."

"No rush, build a solid foundation. Good scripts are hard to come by, but when you're prepared, you can seize the opportunity when it arrives." Song Tianhao's comments were as pragmatic as always.

He then inquired in detail about Girls Generation's recent group schedule and the members' individual conditions, and made arrangements for details such as security, logistics, and promotion for the upcoming overseas tour.

He spoke logically with clear instructions, seeming to have a thorough understanding of the characteristics of both groups, the strengths and weaknesses of the members, and the market trends. His questions went straight to the heart of the matter, leaving the core members present thoroughly impressed.

The meeting lasted for over an hour, and by the time it ended, the city lights outside were already starting to glow.

Everyone left one after another, but Kim Taeyeon lingered and walked at the very back. Once the others had gone out, she approached Song Tianhao and asked in a low voice, "Oppa, that brooch of yours... is it newly bought? I've never seen you wear it before."

Song Tianhao was tidying up the documents on the table. Hearing this, his movements didn't stop, and he merely gave an "Mhm," looking up at her. "Why?"

"No, nothing." Kim Taeyeon felt inexplicably a bit guilty under his gaze, her fingers twirling the ends of her hair—a little habit of hers when she was nervous. "I just think... it's quite unique. Like a water droplet."

"It is a water droplet." Song Tianhao closed the folder, stood up, and picked up his suit jacket. "Let's go. You should also go back and rest early. Music show promotions have been tiring lately, so take care of your throat."

"Yes, I got it." Kim Taeyeon puffed out her cheeks, watching Song Tianhao's tall and straight figure disappear through the conference room door, and whispered to herself again, "It must have been a gift from someone..."

There was a hint of subtle jealousy in her tone that she hadn't even noticed herself.

Late at night, Song Tianhao returned to his luxury apartment in Cheongdam-dong. The view here was open, offering a panoramic view of part of the Han River night scene. He didn't turn on the main lights, only switching on a floor lamp in the corner of the living room, its warm yellow glow creating a small, peaceful space.

He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, poured a glass of ice water, and drank it slowly.

Outside the window, the city's neon lights were like a flowing river of stars, and the lights on the opposite bank of the river reflected on the black water, shattering into dancing fragments of golden light. His fingers unconsciously rose, gently rubbing the water droplet brooch he had been wearing all day through his shirt. The coolness of the metal seeped through the thin fabric to his fingertips.

*Ding—!*

The phone in his pocket vibrated. He took it out and unlocked the screen.

It was a photo sent by Shin Se-kyung.

In the photo, she was clearly by the pool, her hair wet, with a few strands clinging to her smooth forehead and cheeks. Wearing no makeup, her skin was fair and translucent from the water, and her face carried a post-exercise flush.

She was smiling at the camera, her eyes curving into crescent moons, shining with a bright and vibrant light—the confident glow of someone who had completely dispelled her gloom.

Around her neck, the water droplet pendant rested against her skin. Under the illumination of the pool's overhead lights, it reflected a brilliant silver gleam, complementing the light in her eyes. The background was the deep blue pool water.

Below the photo, a line of text was attached: "President, my Swimming has not been neglected. Also, the pendant is very beautiful, thank you."

There were no superfluous decorations or melodramatic sentiments, just like when she was learning Swimming, carrying an obstinate earnestness and a straightforward report. But that smiling face and the light in her eyes were more powerful than any words.

Looking at the photo, the corner of Song Tianhao's mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly.

He raised his finger, tapped a reply on the screen, and typed two words:

"Very cool."

Song Tianhao thought about it and added another line: "I hope the movie filming goes smoothly."

Putting down his phone, he looked out the window again. The city night was still noisy, but at this moment, the study was so quiet that he could hear his own breathing.

The brief teaching in the summer Villa, the fear, sweat, encouragement, and success in the pool, the deep bow during the early morning farewell, the hot tears inside the car, and that water droplet pendant resting against her chest at this moment like a silent promise...

All the scenes and emotions seemed to be linked together by this small brooch and the bright smiling face on his phone, condensing into a clear and profound imprint of this summer.

It was not an end, but a beginning. It was the untying of a knot in Shin Se-kyung's path as an actress, and also an anchor for a brand-new relationship between them. Perhaps, it was also an unexpected pivot point when clashing with the deep waters of CJ in the future.

This realization caused slight ripples to appear on his calm heart, but they quickly settled back down, transforming into deeper contemplation and strength.

*Ding dong!* Another message notification tone broke the silence.

This time it was a work message. The production team of "Running Man" had sent the final script for next week's recording, with a large attachment. Just as he was about to open it, another voice message popped up, coming from Jun Ji-hyun.

Song Tianhao raised his eyebrow slightly and tapped to open it.

Jun Ji-hyun's bright voice, with its unique magnetic quality, immediately flowed out, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet living room: "President Song, have you read the script? We really need to run through the script for the 'Monday Couple' properly. We don't want the audience saying we don't have any chemistry when it broadcasts; that would be so embarrassing for me.

I'm free tomorrow afternoon. The usual cafe? And while we're at it... how about telling me your story of this summer?" She deliberately dragged out her tone, with a hint of amusement and inquiry. "That young girl, Shin Se-kyung, has made rapid progress, I've heard all about it."

Her tone was familiar and intimate, yet carried the kind of effortless probing unique to top female stars.

Listening to the voice message, Song Tianhao shook his head, a faint, almost helpless smile appearing on his face. This older sister was indeed well-informed.

He tapped his finger on the screen and replied succinctly: "Alright, see you in the afternoon."

Putting down his phone, he took one last look outside the window. On the river, a cruise ship slowly sailed past, leaving behind a long, broken band of light.

He raised his hand, unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and his fingertips touched that slightly cool water droplet brooch once more. He paused for a moment, then turned around and walked into the bedroom.