Top Star and the Second Night Together (2)
The Korean music industry had been shaken to its core.
It was all because of **sajaegi**.
Sajaegi was the method companies used to create accounts on specific music sites—thousands, sometimes even tens of thousands—and inflate view counts.
In other words, they deliberately boosted the numbers.
Not only did this deceive fans, but it was also a crime under South Korean law.
It fell squarely under the violations punishable by the Music Industry Promotion Act Article 26.
A few years back, balladeer singers had sparked massive controversy by rigging their own tracks.
That was why fans reacted so sharply to any talk of sajaegi.
“Entra is doing sajaegi?”
If view counts suddenly spiked, fans would definitely start to suspect.
Especially when the surge happened in a single day instead of the usual slow climb.
Sure enough, when they clicked on the songs, the comments were overwhelmingly negative.
Most were about sajaegi, and fans had already sensed something was off.
Of course they had.
“Neon Heart’s songs were overwhelmingly good.”
Even Entra’s tracks sounded overwhelmingly trash.
Fans would notice that.
Suddenly overtaking Neon Heart to claim the #1 spot.
The fans began to suspect Entra of sajaegi one after another.
—Odo dok.
Park Siwoo finished the cereal, stood up from the table, and carried the used bowl to the sink.
He dried it thoroughly, stepped out of the kitchen, and checked his phone.
He looked calm on the surface, but inside he was burning with fury.
How could he not be?
Neon Heart had just been robbed of the #1 position.
Sajaegi was normally carried out in secret.
The big scandal a few years ago had only been exposed because an insider whistleblower had come forward.
That meant that without a whistleblower, there was only suspicion—no solid evidence.
“Tsk.”
Park Siwoo clicked his tongue.
For Lee Yena, he needed to earn a decent amount of money.
Of course, even the money she had already earned amounted to hundreds of billions.
Still, he didn’t like relying on the money she earned.
After all, he had been the one who had promised to take full responsibility for her.
“Probably Entra didn’t intend to do sajaegi.”
Any company that flaunted such obvious rigging would have been finished long ago.
“Entra has a traitor inside.”
For some reason, it felt as if the culprit was right there.
In reality, it was painfully obvious.
There was only one kind of person who would commit such an act.
“Kim Miru’s doing, huh.”
“…”
Park Siwoo exhaled a hot breath.
“How the hell am I supposed to handle this bastard?”
Just as his tightly clenched fist started to itch, his phone rang.
—Ddong!
The caller ID was hidden.
“…”
Park Siwoo checked the message and let out a faint, knowing smile.
Right then—
“Siwoo-ssi?”
“Ah, Yena-ssi. You’re up?”
“Yes…”
She stepped inside the room with a slightly sulky expression.
Even though her hair was a complete mess, Lee Yena was still beautiful.
Park Siwoo walked over to her, gently fixed her hair, and said, “Go back to sleep. Why are you already awake?”
“I can’t just sleep when you have to go to work, Siwoo-ssi.”
“You should rest. You worked hard yesterday.”
“I’m fine. I’m the one who felt good. You must be the one who’s tired.”
She smiled softly, took his hand while he was stroking her hair, and pressed it gently against her cheek.
The soft, firm flesh of her cheek filled his palm.
Lee Yena closed her eyes for a moment, then asked, “What time do you finish work today?”
“I probably won’t make it until a little late.”
Park Siwoo answered, then brushed his thumb gently across her cheek.
Swoosh. Swoosh.
She felt the touch for a second and said, “You won’t come home early today?”
“Yes… today has a lot on my plate.”
Lee Yena pouted.
Park Siwoo smiled awkwardly. “I’ll be home by ten at the latest.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Park Siwoo nodded.
At that moment Lee Yena stepped closer.
“I’ll tie your tie for you.”
He went to work with the utmost respect Lee Yena could give him.
* * *
Upon arriving at the company, Park Siwoo headed straight to the media and promotion department.
Kim Suhyun, the team leader there, was an old acquaintance from when he had joined the company.
“What is it? You came all the way here.”
Kim Suhyun looked at the sudden visitor with a puzzled expression.
“Could we step outside for a cigarette? I need your help.”
“I see… You only come when you really need something, huh?”
“Sorry. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
“Steak.”
“Okay.”
The two laughed lightly and headed up to the rooftop.
No one was there.
Early in the morning meant everyone was probably busy preparing.
Anyway.
Park Siwoo lit a cigarette and took a long drag.
“You know any reporters?”
“Reporters? What reporters.”
“Entertainment reporters. You know who handles that side, don’t you?”
“I do, but why do you need them?”
Park Siwoo exhaled smoke.
“You know I started something new recently.”
“Ah, right. What happened? You suddenly became a producer.”
“There’s a story behind it.”
“There’s a story? You’re really doing this?”
“Later, when the time comes, I’ll tell you. Anyway, can you give me some reporter contacts?”
“Whew… okay…”
Kim Suhyun smiled in disbelief, but his fingers flew across his phone.
By the time he had smoked about half the cigarette, it rang.
“Sent. If you say I introduced you, they’ll treat you well.”
“Thanks.”
“Steak. Don’t forget.”
—Tap!
He stubbed out the cigarette first, turned his back, and said, “I’m heading out first. Call me when you’re down.”
“Got it. Take care.”
Kim Suhyun left the rooftop.
Park Siwoo watched his retreating figure for a moment, then looked at the phone number he had been given.
[Happy Today, Entertainment Reporter Kim Jiwon]
010-xxxx-xxxx
Happy Today was a well-known entertainment media outlet in South Korea.
With a large subscriber base, the company had long relied on them to spread or suppress news.
Park Siwoo sent a message to Kim Jiwon’s number.
[Hello, this is Guitar Hero. Have you seen the Bugs rankings? I’d like to discuss something regarding that.]
[Attached file]
Less than a minute later, he received a reply.
[Could we meet right away?]
Park Siwoo smiled.
He could deliver a devastating blow to Kim Miru.
* * *
The night before, while Park Siwoo had been enjoying precious time with Lee Yena.
Kim Miru was grinning with delight.
After all, the group he had been nurturing—Neon Heart—had been surpassed by his own.
“So, now you see I’m different?”
He spread his legs wide and addressed Kim Soyeon, who stood beside him.
She had been watching the monitor with him and nodded.
“How did you do it? You were buried at the bottom until recently.”
Kim Miru ground his teeth at her sarcastic tone.
“Who’s the one suffering because of whom?”
He forced himself to calm down and said, “I had to use some connections. I know people in the industry.”
“Hmm.”
Kim Soyeon looked at him.
After a moment of thought, she asked quietly, “So what happens to Park Siwoo?”
“He’s finished. Can’t you see he lost the #1 spot? He must be furious.”
He laughed coldly.
“Even though it’s his first debut, the expectations for Park Siwoo are huge. So if he doesn’t win, the disappointment will be massive.”
“So?”
“That’s just how it is.”
Kim Miru spoke matter-of-factly, and Kim Soyeon frowned.
“Is that all?”
“That’s it.”
“Tsk.”
Kim Soyeon clicked her tongue.
She wanted Park Siwoo to sink completely.
The fact that he hadn’t despaired even after she had left, and now he was with a younger, prettier woman—that jealousy burned inside her.
Kim Miru, who couldn’t possibly know that, said in an aggrieved tone, “You had your husband come home already—what’s the problem?”
“What?”
“That’s enough. What are you going to do today?”
Kim Miru rubbed his stiff shoulders.
Kim Soyeon frowned. “What?”
“We agreed to do it today. Sex.”
“You only want sex because I’m pretty.”
Kim Soyeon turned her face away.
It had been over a month since Kim Miru had been unable to touch her.
“Did I marry you because I liked you? Huh?”
“…Are you angry at me right now?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Fine. Sleep in the living room tonight.”
Kim Soyeon turned sharply and walked into the room.
Left alone, Kim Miru clenched his fist tightly.
“Fuck…”
Was marriage really this difficult?
He wasn’t even respected as a husband.
No matter how angry he got, he couldn’t vent his rage at Kim Soyeon because of the child inside her.
“Goddamn it.”
He muttered a curse under his breath.
He had been the happiest when he had stolen a woman from Park Siwoo.
Now the victim felt like it was him.
—Tap tap!
He moved the mouse impatiently.
“If only I could kill Park Siwoo…”
Kim Soyeon wouldn’t be able to say anything about it either.
Then he could live as the perfect husband she wanted.
But with the current view count, it wasn’t enough.
He needed more.
Much higher.
“I need to buy more.”
He contacted the sajaegi company.
He didn’t consider it illegal.
With his rap skills, reaching #1 was only fair.
They had simply accelerated the timing a little.
So—
“Take a good look, Park Siwoo.”
He smiled a creepy smile.
* * *
Park Siwoo was smiling a similar creepy smile.
“Hello, this is Entertainment Reporter Kim Jiwon from Happy Today. Is this Mr. Park Siwoo?”
“Yes, it is.”
“I checked the photos you sent. Are they real? Did Entra really do sajaegi?”
“Yes. I have solid evidence.”
“Solid evidence…”
“Yes.”
Park Siwoo nodded.
Kim Jiwon’s eyes sparkled.
A famous idol group rigging the charts—that was a major scoop.
“So can you show me right away?”
“No, I have conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“Yes.”
Kim Jiwon nodded as if she understood.
It would be strange for such a big story to come without conditions.
“I’ll publish the article whenever you want. And I’ll also give you other material besides sajaegi.”
“Not right now?”
“Yes. This evidence will stay with me only. It’s for you, the reporter, only.”
“…I understand.”
She nodded.
Park Siwoo finally handed over the files.
Kim Jiwon’s eyes trembled with excitement as she received them.
“Kim Miru… did this?”
The files were about Kim Soyeon—his current wife.
—Odo dok.