Chapter 28: Workplace Harassment (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 28: Workplace Harassment (2)
‘I guess he’s at least thorough enough to eliminate anything that could be used against him.’
It was pathetic. If he was that worried, he should have just behaved himself in the first place.
When I obediently held out my phone, Jang Jun-hu snatched it from my hand.
‘Not that it’ll do you any good.’
I had already deleted the photo of the lounge entrance before stepping inside.
That photo had served its purpose the moment it alerted me to the situation.
Whether intentional or not, I had no intention of using anything with potential legal issues, no matter how much I stood to gain.
It seemed the System’s intentions aligned with mine. The moment I finished deleting the photos, a notification popped up.
+
[SYSTEM] As ‘Party B’ has complied with ‘Professional Ethics,’ the penalty has been waived.
+
Unlike ‘Quests,’ which gave rewards upon completion but had no penalties for failure, ‘Professional Ethics’ seemed to only hand out punishments when they weren't followed.
‘I guess it’s telling me to do things the right way without using dirty tricks.’
Though for someone like me, who used to suffer from a guilty conscience if I didn't follow even the most nonsensical internal regulations at Hanpyeong Industry, it felt like a redundant rule.
Jang Jun-hu spent a long time rummaging through my phone.
“Hey, take it.”
“Yes, thank you!”
When he failed to find anything specific, he handed the phone back with a look of lingering suspicion.
“But, Senior.”
Following the rules was one thing.
“Did Seong-bin do something to deserve such a harsh scolding?”
Addressing a wrong was another matter entirely.
Where does a guy pushing forty get off bullying a kid who’s barely out of diapers?
Jang Jun-hu’s eyebrows twitched, clearly finding my words offensive.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“From what I saw briefly from outside, it looked like Seong-bin was being disciplined by you.”
“Hyung, it’s not like that…!”
This time, a pale-faced Jeong Seong-bin grabbed my arm.
Jang Jun-hu smirked and said, “He says it’s not like that himself. Don’t go around running your mouth.”
“I think you’re the one who needs to be careful about how you behave, Senior.”
“What?”
What I had said was that it looked like Seong-bin was being scolded.
In other words, the matter would have ended if Jang Jun-hu had simply said, ‘Did it look that way? That wasn't the case, but I should be more careful.’
‘He’s the one who got defensive and practically confirmed the situation.’
His guilty conscience was working overtime.
Clearly, this man wasn't particularly bright.
Though it was already laughable to expect any shred of humanity from someone who behaved like this.
“Even if your intentions weren't like that, it’s not great if others misunderstand, right?”
“Are you trying to lecture me right now?”
“No. I was just seriously contemplating something.”
I swallowed a laugh as I looked at Jang Jun-hu, who was trying to suppress me with his aura.
Is he seriously trying to intimidate me with an atmosphere that wouldn't even faze me after being tempered by Department Head Nam?
I’m sorry, but you’re ten years too early for that.
“I was wondering if I should stay at an agency where they snatch and search a passerby’s phone, even when they weren't caught bullying a trainee.”
Of course, I had no intention of leaving. In fact, if they told me to leave, I’d be the one begging for forgiveness.
‘But in this situation, Jang Jun-hu is at a total disadvantage.’
If I were a trainee like Jeong Seong-bin who had spent years at UA, I would have had no choice but to bow down to him.
He was a major senior in the industry, and we were under the same roof.
The more a person has to lose, the more they have to play it safe in front of those with power.
But I was just a trainee who had just joined the agency and knew nothing.
I was closer to the outside world than the entertainment industry—a newbie who had nothing to lose externally even if Jang Jun-hu tried to exert pressure right now.
‘Unless he wants to go viral for the downfall of a famous singer who tried to bury a trainee for whistleblowing on his misconduct…’
A whistleblower’s report is always subject to constant doubt regarding its sincerity and evidence.
And I could easily prove that I was actually affiliated with UA with just a single contract.
That was why I could act like a ‘clear-eyed newbie’ who lacked any sense of social cues.
A man who would search a stranger’s phone to destroy evidence couldn't be completely brainless.
Moreover, he was ten years older than me. He was at an age where he must have seen his fair share of mud-slinging fights.
“Ha, fuck…”
Jang Jun-hu muttered with a hollow laugh.
He seemed to have reached the conclusion that winning against me here would bring him no benefit.
He probably imagined the reaction if he bullied me just because his feelings were hurt and I ended up exposing everything.
≫ Is it true that JJH power-tripped a trainee at UA?
└ It’s true lol. The kid who exposed it even provided certification.
└ But we can’t say it was a power trip just from the post… putting it in neutral gear for now.
└ Fuck the neutral gear people, can’t we just split them in half and throw them to both sides? It’d be easier to just divide their brains in two beforehand if they’re gonna keep saying ‘neutral gear’ all the time.
≫ Who the hell is JJH anyway?
Is the whole board really just talking about JJH?
└ There’s a singer who was a flash in the pan and then became a has-been immediatelyhahaha
└ You’re being pathetic toward kids who are just preparing to debut, mister ㅠㅠ
This, too, was a mild reaction that would only happen because I hadn't debuted yet.
If I had debuted, there would be a lot of talk like ‘It’s noise marketing’ or ‘He was disrespectful to his senior,’ but such assumptions meant nothing to Jang Jun-hu, who thought I could leave UA at any moment.
In the end, Jang Jun-hu left the lounge after only telling me to watch my mouth. He slammed the door so hard I wondered if the hinges had snapped.
“Hyung… are you okay?”
Jeong Seong-bin, who had been caught between me and Jang Jun-hu like a crushed soda can, asked.
“Why wouldn't I be okay?”
“That’s a relief. …Um, did you say the manager called for you?”
“Ah. I lied about that so I could get into the lounge.”
“What?”
“More importantly, Seong-bin.”
“…Yes.”
“I think you have something to talk to us about, right?”
At my words, Jeong Seong-bin hesitated before nodding his head.
It was the second gathering since the fiery power struggle between Choi Je-ho and Kang Gi-yeon.
Even in Jeong Seong-bin’s own opinion, he hadn't been this kind of person from the start.
He had always been known for working hard and never giving up.
He had the conviction that the time he spent putting in effort would one day become his asset.
That was why the years of trainee life hadn't been difficult at all.
Until he met a senior who was far too difficult to handle.
‘A trainee?’
‘He is, but he’s been singing for a long time and he’s really good. Even Eun acknowledged him.’
‘Hyung, I’m not exactly at the level where I should be receiving songs with guide vocals done by a trainee, am I?’
Was the problem that someone as inexperienced and green as him had been tasked with the guide vocals for someone who had already debuted?
Or was his skill truly so lacking that it was embarrassing to show?
‘Hey. You recorded it like this and no one in A&R said anything?’
‘I’ve been listening to your guides, and your voice isn't exactly the type the public likes. It gets tiring to listen to.’
‘I heard you’re going to be the main vocal if you form a group? Isn't your team going to fail if you’re the main?’
Whatever the reason was. And before he could even find out what it was.
Every time he ran into Jang Jun-hu in the hallway or the lobby, Jeong Seong-bin had to listen to criticism disguised as ‘honest advice that an industry senior wouldn't give to just anyone.’
Those words were usually of no help at all. They only left scars on the listener.
To Jeong Seong-bin, Jang Jun-hu’s reproaches were no different from daggers.
Unfortunately, Jeong Seong-bin’s attitude of being ‘polite to elders, humble, and never neglecting self-reflection’ only made him look like an ‘easy target’ to Jang Jun-hu.
It didn't take long for teasing to turn into mockery, mockery into criticism, and criticism into verbal abuse.
His low monthly evaluation rankings. Feedback that took the form of praise but couldn't hide the disappointment.
Above all, his own self, who hadn't produced any results for years, was proving that Jang Jun-hu’s words were true.
When it became a given that guide vocals were specifically assigned to Jeong Seong-bin, and Jang Jun-hu would find fault with every little thing once the recording was finished.
Jeong Seong-bin began to think that he had truly become an incompetent person.
‘If you just keep doing what you’ve been doing, the day will come when you’re recognized. Truly.’
Until a blunt colleague who had just joined and had no reason to be considerate of him told him the words he had wanted to hear most.
Silence filled the practice room. Only Jeong Seong-bin, whose nose was red, let out a small sigh every now and then.
The first emotion I felt after hearing the whole story was guilt.
The fact that I had been happy about getting experience points while going to record guide vocals for Jang Jun-hu’s song, without knowing he was a total piece of trash.
What followed was rage.
A few years ago, Jeong Seong-bin was just a middle schooler.
He had taken out his frustration over his failed comeback on a kid twenty years younger than him for years?
It was something I couldn't tolerate, nor did I need to try to understand.
By this point, nothing but foul curses filled my head.
‘That son of a bitch…’
There are things a human should do and things they shouldn't.
Even I, who had to work 20 hours of overtime a month because of Spark, am living and breathing with these kids, so who the hell does he think he is to cause such a mess?
Forget watching my mouth; I just wanted to go, ‘Excuse me, is Mr. Jang Jun-hu here?’ and then set a fire around him while asking if he even considered himself human.
Choi Je-ho, who was next to me, was already swearing up a storm.
“Fuck, isn't that guy out of his mind?”
“I’m just as angry, but let’s not swear in front of the kids.”
It wasn't Seong-bin’s fault, and having the two oldest members raging wouldn't do anything but make the younger ones feel uncomfortable.
I suppressed my anger and asked Seong-bin.
“Seong-bin, how do you want this to be resolved?”
If Seong-bin wanted an apology, I was prepared to post a public exposure thread until that man’s face was pixelated on every news portal. I was confident in my ability to drag things out messily.
However, Jeong Seong-bin seemed to want everything to be buried quietly.
“With that senior… I don’t want to talk to him any more than I have to. Even if it’s for a resolution.”
“Right. Still, I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep doing things with him. Do you agree on that?”
“…Yes.”
“Then at least within the company, let’s move in pairs. Gi-yeon, look out for him a bit when you’re leaving school.”
“Okay.”
“And if you hear any nonsense anywhere, make sure to tell at least two other members. Got it?”
The strategy meeting to separate Jeong Seong-bin and Jang Jun-hu continued after that.
“What if another guide vocal request comes in? I know they’ve been leaving it to trainees to handle it easily within the company.”
“I’ll practice until my throat bursts and go instead.”
At Lee Cheong-hyeon’s worry, I raised my hand and volunteered.
I’d rather have my own throat bleed than send these kids into the lion’s den.
After finishing the meeting that lasted a full thirty minutes.
“Lastly, Seong-bin, I just want you to do two things.”
“Ye… Yes.”
“One is to never think that you’re lacking.”
I spoke as I looked at Jeong Seong-bin’s face, which still looked so young that I doubted he could even say a mean word if asked.
It was a face I had rarely looked at directly because I was afraid his suppressed sorrows might burst out.
“And when you feel a bit better later, bring me everything you have that could serve as evidence of that man being mean to you.”
That motherfucker. As if I’d let him snatch away a hardworking rookie.
We might not be able to get revenge right now because we haven't achieved anything yet.
But I’ll show him just how petty and persistent the dark heart of a working professional trying to protect promising young sprouts can be.