Chapter Fourteen: Seeking a Turning Point Amid Crisis

As night fell and darkness enveloped everything, it seemed to her that the entire world had shrunk to that vast, empty bed. Loneliness and emptiness slowly devoured her soul. No matter how dazzling and strong she appeared in the daylight, that sturdy facade crumbled utterly in this quiet moment.

She was actress Bae Suzy. If emotional emptiness could be numbed by work or entertainment, then who could fill the void of physical solitude? The unbearable loneliness of an empty bed was a torment of a different kind.

Listening to the rain outside the southern window, who would light the lamp to mend clothes through the night?

Fortunately, Suzy had found her own happiness. Her beloved was tall and handsome, and this 25-year-old actress did not hesitate to throw herself into the arms of this new love. Their public displays of affection, wrapped in each other’s embrace on the street, ignited the flames of her romance. No one knew what charm this dashing man possessed to make the nation’s first love surrender so completely. (Seoul Sports, reporter Chen)

The explosive revelation from Seoul Sports instantly drew a crowd of gossip enthusiasts, propelling Suzy back onto the trending list after her recent controversies.

Cheo Yoon-ho, having put down his phone, slapped his forehead in disbelief. What kind of third-rate reporter was this? Such a waste of talent! If this person wrote novels, they would surely be a master by now—perhaps even financially independent.

Ignoring Suzy’s affairs, his first thought was to soothe Se-jung’s mood. Luckily, the girl did not believe the media’s claims, making the explanation less troublesome.

“The company’s shuttle bus and the manager were buying hangover soup at a nearby restaurant. Those damned paparazzi cut and spliced everything—they’re such a pain.”

Cheo Yoon-ho now understood just how invasive these people were. Within mere minutes, they were caught on camera. Next, he needed to see how JYP would handle the situation. He himself would soon have to call a meeting to clear the air.

“Oppa, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why didn’t you answer my calls? I kept saying, how could Suzy sunbae be interested in a penniless, nameless poor university student like you?”

He had once been treated like a treasure, but now that the truth was out, Se-jung was both relieved and worried. After this ordeal, his job might be at risk. She also feared that Suzy’s fans might have extremists—what if someone came to attack her oppa?

She repeatedly urged him to keep a low profile for now, to avoid stepping forward if trouble arose. If the sky fell, Suzy would have his back.

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“That woman eats so well, yet after making such a huge mistake, she acts like nothing happened, still enjoying the sweetness of love. It’s infuriating!”

“I knew she wasn’t a good person! Such a loveless woman! And she even dares to speak up for women, all the while obsessed with men.”

“No new dramas for so long—turns out Suzy oppa’s been busy! Honestly, she should just quit the industry. Does she realize how much trouble she’s brought to her agency?”

Suzy seemed a little twisted inside, reading these harsh fan comments one by one, yet her face bore a carefree smile. One had to admit, a renowned actress harbored a remarkably strong heart.

She even paused to read some supportive remarks, teasing the impassive Cheo Yoon-ho. But his unwavering seriousness struck her as boring.

“Gotta say, the aesthetic is on point. Is that handsome guy a civilian or a rookie actor? In five minutes, I want to know his name.”

“Maybe a rich second-generation heir? But he gives off a really upright vibe. Mom always told us not to judge by appearances, but somehow I trust him.”

“Suzy oppa is single now, so what if she’s dating? Are you eating her rice? Why don’t you haters just disappear?”

“Let’s wait for a proper statement. But those photos of them walking home together don’t look good at all!”

Though Suzy appeared composed, she had just heard from her manager that the situation was far from favorable.

An incident this big wasn’t something the other side would just spill outright. They would certainly contact the agency, sometimes even the artist herself. But by the time the news spread everywhere, Suzy and her team were left eating the scraps along with netizens. The inside story was likely worse than anyone imagined.

Suzy’s contract with the company had six months remaining. Both sides knew the partnership was nearing its end. The artist had even been in talks with a new agency, Soop, and a verbal agreement had been reached.

It now seemed the company no longer wanted to invest, perhaps even trying to stir up scandal for publicity. It was also possible that negotiations had angered the newspaper involved. The manager hadn’t gotten clear answers from higher-ups.

“It’s probably not producer Park Jin-young’s doing. He’s just an artist in the company now, no longer involved in management for a long time.”

Bae “Rabbit” was still defending “Gorilla,” and the facts might support that. However, the fallout could be used by the new agency to drive down Suzy’s transfer value, severely impacting her market prospects.

“I take 100% responsibility for this. I only delayed Yoon-ho. If you lose your job, I’m willing to hire you personally. You can even come with me to the new company.”

Suzy’s words warmed his heart. He knew her situation wasn’t great. The filming schedule for “Rogue” had become prolonged, and though he didn’t know all the details, he could sense her emotional slump.

“Our company’s artist is not involved in any romantic relationship. The man in question is our security personnel. Please stop spreading false information. Malicious defamation will be prosecuted.”

JYP’s denial came swiftly, and Suzy posted a clarification on Instagram. Yet netizens remained skeptical. Such a handsome security guard? Was this a Korean drama? Were they comparing her to Go Anna from “The K2” (played by Lim Yoona)? The two looked like rivals—one in film, one in real life?

Accusations against Suzy’s professionalism grew louder. Even fools could see someone was fanning the flames behind the scenes. Though Bae Rabbit’s status in the circle wasn’t particularly high, his popularity made many envious.

Meanwhile, all parties allowed the scandal to spiral. JYP treated Suzy’s remaining months on contract with indifference. Potential new agency Soop saw an opportunity to lower costs. After a stormy ordeal, Suzy felt helpless.

Cheo Yoon-ho stared silently at the article from Han River Sports. He wasn’t fantasizing about his beautiful boss. Before Dispatch’s rise, Seoul Sports had been the dominant platform, but after Dispatch received massive investment from CJ, Seoul Sports was completely suppressed. Still, such sensational tactics were rare.

Leaving behind the worried beauty, Cheo Yoon-ho had some ideas stirring. Calls from an American woman kept coming, forcing him to stop his motorcycle, light a cigarette under the dim streetlight, and answer the overseas call.

“I have a purely professional relationship with Suzy. If you don’t believe me, that’s your problem.”

His sharp tone made the woman uneasy. Though she still doubted Suzy’s innocence, she spoke kindly, claiming she trusted the man’s character.

“By the way, I’ve been in the industry a while. Can you help me get contact info for Seoul Sports reporters? Which reporter? I think this Chen reporter is quite talented!”

He admired kind-hearted people most. With such a benevolent boss, he was willing to push things along. Amid Suzy’s great crisis, Cheo Yoon-ho glimpsed a chance to turn his own fortunes around.