Chapter 388: Family Risk (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 388: Family Risk (2)
Articles regarding the exposé continued to pour out. The reports were fueled by sensationalist claims, suggesting that this was an opportunity for the children to admit their wrongs and reflect, while also providing a means for the other members' families to protect their own children.
The statements in the articles were strangely directed not just at us, but at the members' families as well. The intent was clear: to pressure them into thinking their children were surely being harmed and that they should take action.
With this, enemies had emerged both internally and externally. This was exactly what people meant by being caught between a rock and a hard place.
Just as I was clutching my throbbing head and trying to organize the points that needed clarification, I received a call from Polo. Before I could even greet him, Polo explained that he knew I was busy and would get straight to the point.
— I gave the company a bit of a shaking up this time. I told them I couldn't trust them or work for them when there are so many suspicious things going on.
Being a veteran has its perks. You can actually push back against the company. I was envious.
— I told them to spill everything they haven't said yet because we don't want to be dragged down and insulted along with everyone else... but I heard something quite shocking.
"Is it something I'm allowed to hear?"
— It’s something you need to know, I-wol.
Polo hesitated for a moment.
— About Je-ho’s dating rumor. It turns out MYTH was the one who leaked it.
I had suspected as much. But even if I knew this, would it change anything?
— But the route through which MYTH obtained those photos... it seems it was your father, I-wol.
I couldn't believe my ears. I asked him again to make sure I had heard correctly.
Polo confirmed the name of the informant for me. It was a name I never thought I’d hear from the mouth of an industry insider.
I thanked him for letting me know and hurriedly hung up. I needed time to process this.
To think they would hold onto something to torment someone else—not even me—and then launch a preemptive strike to tie the two of us together publicly to blow the whole thing up.
Now that there were more targets to criticize, the public's digging had doubled, and the posts and comments had doubled along with it. There was no way they hadn't aimed for this exact effect.
‘They must have waited until the drama aired.’
While the full-scale promotion had only just begun, articles about my joining the cast and stories from the filming set had been coming out steadily. The fact that my past remarks and the fortune-telling broadcast had been brought back up due to the drug offender case also played a part.
Since they were so interested in the advertising fees and drama appearance fees, they were clearly targeting the window of time when money was coming in and I might have to cough up alimony or damages if things went south. They must have judged that I wouldn't be able to refuse giving them money under these circumstances.
How anxious they must have been, waiting for my recognition to grow and for the professional risks to escalate.
It was ridiculous and sickening. I couldn't bear to face the team or Choi Je-ho. Especially Choi Je-ho—he ended up with a paparazzi on his tail just because he was associated with me.
‘Did you put someone on us?’
How badly did they want to get revenge using the exact same method? Even though I had never put a tail on anyone.
I slumped over, resting my head on the desk. I pressed my temples several times, but the headache wouldn't subside.
The headache didn't leave me even as Jeong Seong-bin found me and pulled my hands away, saying I was bruising myself, or as Choi Je-ho, after hearing the situation, tried to send me home, saying I didn't need to explain any further.
As soon as the articles broke, the members' families, including Seong-bin’s mother, called the dorm one by one.
If they just wanted to check on their own kids, it would have been easier to contact them individually, yet they insisted on calling when everyone was together...
— "I know exactly how well you older boys take care of the younger ones."
...And at the end, as if they had all made a promise, they added words like those.
My mother and father’s plan to create enemies within the group had failed. I was beyond grateful.
When only one household was left to hear from, my phone rang.
It was a call from Lee Cheong-hyeon’s father.
I scrambled to the balcony to answer.
"Yes, this is Kim I-wol!"
— Are you busy?
"No, sir, I'm fine!"
Through the balcony window, I locked eyes with Lee Cheong-hyeon, who was crossing the living room. When I pointed at the phone, he gave me an 'OK' sign and disappeared from view.
— I saw the articles.
"Ah, yes...!"
Cold sweat poured down my back. It hadn't even been a year since I asked him to trust me with his son, and now things were in this state. How resentful he must be. I had no excuses, even if I had ten mouths.
— It doesn't look like a problem that will go away just by staying quiet.
"Yes... I was planning to resolve it as quickly as possible."
— How?
"I'm discussing options with the agency."
Even though he wasn't standing in front of me, my knees kept buckling. The phone felt heavy even though I was holding it with both hands.
— You need to tie up the loose ends properly so this never happens again.
"You're right. I plan to make sure of that."
I assured him confidently, but I was worried. Why is it that in our country, you can't legally separate from first-degree relatives? It would be great if there were a way to sever ties with direct blood relatives, just like a divorce.
The clearest way to settle the connection would be litigation, but with the idol scene already reeling from drug-related crimes recently, no one would welcome a group with a member embroiled in a lawsuit.
As I swallowed hard, I heard his voice again over the phone.
— I have a capable person among my alumni.
"Pardon?"
— Not all lawyers are the same. You need to leave it to someone who specializes in this kind of thing to minimize the headaches.
At the same time, my phone vibrated. A text message with a phone number had arrived.
— I’ve already spoken to them, so contact them and get it resolved. Don't just mindlessly leave it to the agency's lawyer without a plan.
"Ah..."
— I figured you'd only be an idol for a few years anyway, so I let it slide as long as you didn't do anything foolish with the contract, but looking at it now, it's a complete mess. If they say you have to use the company lawyer, tell them to call me.
The man who hated inefficiency more than anything had brought the most definitive solution. I doubted if I had heard him correctly.
However, there was one thing concerning me since it was his acquaintance, so I spoke up cautiously.
"Thank you for your concern. Fortunately, the company has decided to support part of the legal costs... so I'll look into it within the range that the company and I can handle first."
If he hadn't said he'd already spoken to them, I wouldn't have gone this far. It could look like I was rejecting his kindness. But since the conversation had already happened, I couldn't just ignore it.
Going blindly to someone he connected me with would likely incur astronomical legal fees. With the company offering support, I didn't want to increase the costs for something with an uncertain timeline.
I only hoped I wouldn't offend him. I knew all too well how much he was looking out for my situation.
The answer that came back was beyond my expectations.
— I’ve already arranged to pay the retainer myself.
"What?"
— It’s not a lot of money for our family. You won't be charged anything. There's no problem using a bit of money now that you'll get back once you win the case.
"No, sir. Even if it's not company money, I can sufficiently pay—"
— I raised my children to know nothing of such filthy business. There is nothing more pathetic than wasting time on a tedious problem over a few pennies.
"..."
— Resolve it quickly, without making any more noise.
With that, the call ended.
To anyone else, his tone could easily be misunderstood. It wouldn't be strange if it sounded like something out of a drama: "Take this money and stop being a nuisance."
But the core message was what mattered. He was telling me he would help, so I shouldn't try to handle it alone. In a difficult situation, I wasn't about to be picky about the wrapping paper.
Above all, the fact that he didn't ask if I was at fault, but immediately asked about the direction of the resolution, showed that his actions stemmed from trusting me.
I remembered Jeong Seong-bin saying he was worried about me. And his desperate attempt to hold down the filing cabinet.
+
[SYSTEM] A work order from the 'Person in Charge' has arrived.
▶ Assistant Manager Kim, these are documents that were stashed away in that cabinet, okay? They're old, so just give them a quick look and throw them away as you see fit. I'll have them brought to your desk.
+
If the system truly cared for me even a little, those words might also be out of concern. Telling me not to read through every document myself, attaching evidence, and revealing every single thing that happened, but to just let it go.
‘Is it telling me not to agonize over old matters?’
I did think they were persistent. I also thought about how I wanted to cut them all off and just be with my sister.
If there was no longer any benefit to being with them, it would be better for my mental health to settle things. Wouldn't it?
"Who were you talking to that made you look so desperate? Did someone say something?"
When I went back into the living room, I ran into Lee Cheong-hyeon again. He asked while eyeing my phone.
"No, it was a good call."
"Who takes a 'good call' looking like their knees are about to glue themselves to the floor?"
"The more grateful the call, the more polite you have to be when receiving it."
I went into my room and changed my clothes as quickly as possible.
Then, I politely stormed into Choi Je-ho’s room.
"Choi Je-ho."
"What?"
He scanned me from head to toe. He seemed surprised by my secret weapon: the full Business Black Suit.
"I think the time has come to settle this."
"Settle what?"
"The family business."
At my words, Park Ju-woo, who was on the opposite bed, sat up with wide eyes.
I’ve endured it until now because it was embarrassing and I couldn't face the members' families, right?
But I'm not going to do that anymore. I can't stand by and watch them poke around other people's homes and ruin the group career we've built up so well.
"I'm planning to clean house this time. What about you? If you don't want to get involved, I'll try to fix things so your family's business doesn't flare up any further."
"I'm so damn anxious I have to join in," Choi Je-ho said, looking like he was staring at a plate of stinky tofu.
I rummaged through his closet, pulled out a black dress shirt and slacks, and thrust them at their owner.
"Then let's go on a tour with me."
"Where?"
"We're stopping by the company, and then we're going to a law firm."
"What?"
Choi Je-ho, sitting on the bed, looked up at me.
"I realized too late that we crossed the point of no return a long time ago."
"..."
"I have to end this. Let's file a lawsuit."
At my words, he blinked slowly. Then, after a moment of silence, he slowly changed his clothes and took the lead.