Chapter 387: Family Risk (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 387: Family Risk (1)
My mind went blank.
There was only one new article, the one I had just seen. The report, which claimed to have received a direct tip-off, featured a still cut of Cheon Yun-seong from Exclusive Report that had just been uploaded.
[Exclusive] ‘Exclusive Report’ Kim I-wol, Mother’s Exposé Surfaces: “I want the child who grew up to be a degenerate to repent”
20XX.09.XX 10:03 AM
(Photo.jpg)
[Actor Kim I-wol. Photo｜UA Entertainment (TVm)]
Testimony has emerged from the family of Kim I-wol—the rising rookie actor and idol who recently confirmed his appearance in Exclusive Report following the drama In My Office—claiming that he engaged in deviant behavior throughout his youth.
On the 2nd, Kim I-wol’s mother reported to Weeklyan, stating, “I am concerned that there will be innocent victims due to the hypocritical actions of my violent child.” She further added, “I sincerely want the child who grew up to be unfilial to repent.” The following is the full text of her handwritten letter.
.
.
.
That I was violent.
That I engaged in hypocritical behavior to the point where she feared there would be victims?
I re-read the same lines over and over. But nothing changed.
I clicked on the handwritten letter—one I had never seen before, making me wonder if my mother had even written it herself. Dense handwriting filled the screen.
...Because he was born with an exceptionally sensitive temperament since early childhood, he caused constant discord until he moved out. I tried to educate him with a sense of responsibility to ensure he wouldn't harm his peers, but all I received in return were indiscriminate police reports claiming I was abusing him. As parents, we felt a sense of helplessness for a long time due to the child's refusal to improve.
.
.
.
I searched everywhere to find my child after he ran away, but no police station would accept a runaway report for an adult child. I barely managed to find out who his agency was and went to see my son, but his violent tendencies had only worsened.
I want to ask UA. Is it right to leave children younger than my son in an unsafe environment just because he has star quality? If you tolerate such self-centered behavior simply because he is marketable, who could ever pursue their dreams with peace of mind?
My husband and I have lived in constant fear that there might be innocent victims of our child’s hypocritical actions. While we reproach ourselves, wondering if we should have withheld the funds he used to run away, we feel we couldn't have made any other decision when thinking of our child spending the cold winter outside. The thought that this complacency ruined him keeps me awake at night.
It is shameful that we, as parents, were so lacking that we couldn't stop our son from growing into a degenerate, but we hope our child sincerely repents so that there are no more victims like us.
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.
.
I didn't have the heart to read any further. Even after I closed the laptop, the afterimage of the letter wouldn't disappear.
I heard the sound of the keypad on the door lock. Manager Dae-yeon’s voice followed, calling for me. After a knock, the manager opened the door and appeared.
“I-wol, did you sleep well?”
“....”
“About the monitoring... Since there will be a lot of articles today because of the Exclusive Report news, the dedicated team said they would check everything collectively...”
“Manager.”
I knew what he was trying to say without hearing the end of it. And I knew all too well that just hiding wasn't the answer.
“I saw it.”
“....”
“I should probably go to the company and talk, right?”
It had been a hot summer until just recently, but my fingertips felt freezing. I slowly stood up and picked up the file box I had packed in my suitcase a few days ago.
Upon arriving at the company, I was sent to the practice room instead of a meeting room. Everyone except the younger members was gathered there.
“Did you hear about the article?”
At my question, Jeong Seong-bin’s face darkened.
“...Then that makes things quicker. First of all, I’m sorry.”
“Isn't this something you shouldn't be sorry for?”
“I don't think it's my fault either. And I know that saying sorry out of habit isn't a good thing.”
But my mother is the one who did this.
Hearing my words, Choi Je-ho let out a sigh. It was a deeper sigh than ever before.
“...Are you okay?”
Park Ju-woo cautiously reached out. He took my hand and looked startled for a brief moment, but then, pretending nothing was wrong, he began to massage my ice-cold hand.
“I’m not exactly great, but it’s not critical. The important thing is that I have to explain. I was going to go find Ju-gyeong first anyway, but they told me to wait for a bit.”
The impact was on a completely different level compared to the last time when some unknown person posted a slanderous thread.
What kind of comments and speculative posts were being written even at this moment? My mouth felt bone-dry.
“Can family matters really be explained that easily?”
Choi Je-ho muttered. He knew. He knew how difficult it was to prove what happened between family members exactly as the victim experienced it.
“I’m not going to act rashly. Seeing as they were determined enough to give a tip-off, there’s a high possibility of a follow-up. I think I should lay low until I know exactly what they want. Though I’ll have to contact the Exclusive Report team and tell them it’s clearly not true.”
The incident where my father showed up at my sister’s first job was a kind of trauma for both of us. Even though her colleagues pretended not to notice, my sister changed jobs not long after.
The feeling of an eternal shackle slowly rolling toward you. Drinking with me for the first time, my sister had used that metaphor to describe how she felt when she had to face our father back then.
Since then, we had always lived with a sense of mental preparation. We imagined the day our workplaces would suddenly be invaded. We prepared so that when they stood at the company entrance and denounced us as children who didn't know the grace of those who raised them, we could maintain our composure and send them away.
When I joined Hanpyeong Industry, nothing like that happened. However, whenever I heard there was an outsider with unverified identity in the lobby, or when a delivery man I’d never seen before visited, or when outsiders came for safety inspections, I couldn't help but think of their faces.
I’m glad I trained for this. So that I wouldn't be overly flustered when the actual situation arose. If I hadn't prepared, I would have been at a loss, not knowing what kind of attitude to take.
“I really never did anything like that, okay? I have evidence too. I won't do anything to backstab you guys or disappoint the fans. So...”
I had to reassure the guys who had suddenly been saddled with a 'teammate risk.'
As I tried to take the file box out of my bag, Jeong Seong-bin blocked me.
“Hyung.”
He looked like he was about to cry.
“Can we... not make this public?”
Choi Je-ho and Park Ju-woo looked at Jeong Seong-bin. But Seong-bin’s eyes were fixed solely on me.
“We believe you, Hyung. We’ve seen your family too. If testimony is needed, we can do it, but...”
Jeong Seong-bin spoke without even taking a breath, his voice trembling as much as his pupils. He looked desperate.
The day I first took the file box outside, Choi Je-ho and Jeong Seong-bin were outside the door.
I remember Choi Je-ho coming in as the door opened, so Jeong Seong-bin must have entered the meeting room together with him that day.
“Seong-bin.”
“....”
“Did you see it?”
The rims of Jeong Seong-bin’s eyes were red.
“This isn't right, Hyung.”
“....”
“Just wait a little. There must be a way. Just like last time, things might settle down with just your explanation. No, just ask the company to release a statement. It’s all a lie anyway. I’ll tell them we should take legal action.”
I grabbed the shoulders of the guy who looked even more anxious than I was. Then, I spoke as calmly as possible.
“If you’re worried about image damage or something, you don't have to care that much. I don't want to win a sympathy vote either. I’m going to resolve this cleanly...”
“I don't care about any of that.”
It was rare for Jeong Seong-bin to cut me off. He was the type of person who waited for everyone to finish speaking.
Seong-bin shook his head. It wasn't just a desire to stop me; it was an action that seemed driven by a sense of mission.
“I saw the article too. Even though it was an article that had nothing to do with me, I felt horrible. I’m not the only one who felt that way. Chan-yeong Hyung did, and Ju-woo did too.”
“That’s because you guys are kind...”
“On the contrary, Hyung, you’re too calm. That’s why I’m more worried.”
He bit his lip.
“If you were bracing yourself for this... if that’s why you’re so composed right now, then I absolutely do not agree with bringing up the past in front of everyone.”
“Seong-bin.”
Jeong Seong-bin was worried that I might break down at any moment. He probably thought that being calm about something that shouldn't be okay wasn't a proper reaction.
“...Alright. I won't decide on this part alone.”
At my words, Seong-bin’s expression softened slightly. Though he still didn't let go of the hand holding the file box.
However, time was always insufficient only for those who were wronged.
Less than a day after notifying the Exclusive Report team that the issue was a groundless rumor and announcing a strong response...
≫ Is Spark becoming a group of degenerates? Choi Je-ho’s father claims, “My family abandoned me”
≫ Spark Parents Group states, “We will arrange a place to demand the truth be acknowledged”
...Choi Je-ho got dragged into this.
Additional rumors targeting me were also added. A video—filmed by an unknown person—showing me receiving headache medicine from a manager in the waiting room was spread with titles like “The idol who gets away with blatant drug use.”
Videos alleging 'attitude problems' were also created by compiling my expressionless face from the drama or scenes of me monitoring. Those videos were screenshotted and plastered all over various posts.
≫ Can’t we sue this channel owner?
Who the hell takes drugs in a waiting room lol
Unless they’re insane lololol
└ Do drugs even come in pill form like that? Isn't it usually powder or needles?? I really don't know
└ I guess they insist anything white is a drug, otherwise the kids would’ve been called to the police station long ago... I hope these wreckers die
≫ [Shared] What’s being said about Je-ho’s family history right now
I thought fans who liked Je-ho’s blunt way of talking had broken 'dislike sensors,' but seeing what he said to his own dad, it’s even more appalling lol
I guess he really was only nice to the fans. I acknowledge the relative fan service. Sparklers must be so happy to get special treatment from their oppa.
-----
Is this for real? What does everyone think?
└ Seeing as his dad was the only one missing from the family trip, it seems true they have a bad relationship, but I wonder if he really said those things ㅠ
└ It’s obviously a hate post... let’s just ignore this
└ Guys, think about it. Je-ho speaks bluntly, but he’s never been rude ㅠㅠ If we get swayed by these fabrications of things that never happened, they’ll become 'facts' in an instant! I know all Sparklers are feeling uneasy lately, but let’s keep our heads straight!
≫ How is it that everything brought up as an 'insincerity controversy' is either him acting or just a frame-by-frame capture?
At this point, isn't this just a viral smear campaign?
└ Kim I-wol is such a pro idol that there’s never a day he’s expressionless in front of the camera, so I actually like it. But I’m still reporting the video.
└ They must have had so few clips that his clothes are the same in all of them...
└ Are there actually people who fall for this?
└└ You’d be surprised how many people have zero IQ.
└└└ What is this country coming to...
It didn't even take a day for the group image we had worked so hard to protect to turn into a mess.
I became the absolute trash who insulted his parents, stole money, and engaged in delinquency like staying out during my upbringing. Choi Je-ho became the thug who pressured his parents to divorce and blocked contact between his father and the rest of the family.