Chapter 268
Chapter 268
Let’s set the premise.
The production crew for this TeSTAR documentary are the same bastards who laundered their reputations by starting a new studio after Idol Inc. 2 flopped.
And they cut a video in breach of contract, keeping only the parts that favored them, before trying to sneak it out—only for it to be leaked.
“…….”
These motherfuck—… No, let’s stay calm.
Summarizing it only makes it feel more absurd.
‘I need someone to give me feedback.’
My head is heating up, which might lead to leaps in logic. I need to maintain my mental balance.
I decided to relay the facts to the guy who could think the most coldly right now.
“…No wonder.”
The playful smirk vanished from Keun Se-jin’s face as he listened to my deduction. He looked like everything finally clicked.
“Their attempts to squeeze a story out of us were way too aggressive for a documentary.”
“Exactly.”
Because they were mixed in with actual documentary staff, I’d mistaken it for ‘documentary-style passion.’ But no, that was pure variety show malice.
The TeSTAR documentary might have been entertaining because of it, but since they’ve dragged everything into the mud like this, they’ll have to deal with the consequences.
‘I need to shatter their rice bowls.’
I have no intention of ever seeing these bastards work again, whether it’s in variety shows or ‘human documentaries’ that are just variety shows in disguise.
What should I do?
First, there’s the easiest and simplest way.
“How about we tell T1?”
“Hmm, wouldn’t the company have known from the start that they were the Ajusa 2 crew? Looking at it now, it seems they gave them our documentary because they were part of the company’s internal line.”
I shook my head.
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then what?”
“I’m going to plant a seed of doubt regarding the circumstances.”
If I shift the perspective of this incident just a little, it becomes a sentence the company will be very sensitive to.
‘I think they intentionally took sensitive footage of their own artist to sell it to another company or use it as leverage.’
It’s a suspicion of a fatal betrayal.
And not just a mistake, but a deliberate attempt to profit.
As proven during the industrial spy incident with Gold 1’s agency, the bigger the corporation, the more they tend to fly into a rage when they feel like they’ve been played for suckers.
‘Then I just have to make them feel like suckers.’
After quickly explaining the plan, I added a final touch.
“They’ll probably be even angrier because they’ll feel like they got stabbed in the back after helping them out.”
Let’s subtly nudge them to think: ‘We saved these losers after they crashed and burned with Ajusa 2, and this is how they repay our grace? They’ve lost their damn minds.’
‘Well, it’s not exactly a lie.’
Then the headquarters will take it upon themselves to cut them off so they can never set foot in the major industry again.
And even if that doesn’t happen, it won’t matter. The mere suspicion will make them look detestable and untrustworthy. It’s common for a small, struggling studio to vanish overnight.
It’s a clean, powerful social despair.
“…….”
Keun Se-jin rubbed his chin, then let out a bitter laugh.
“Honestly… I think it would work. You’re always so good with words, Moon-dae.”
“But?”
“Right. ‘But’… that doesn’t really benefit our current situation, does it? It’s just revenge.”
“…….”
Keun Se-jin shrugged.
“I mean, someone like Bae Se-jin hyung might like it well enough… but if we do this, it just ends with the matter being handed over to the company. It doesn’t help us.”
“…True.”
I wasn’t sure if Bae Se-jin would actually like it, but the latter part was correct.
There’s a side effect to this method.
‘It has to end there.’
It would be difficult to publicly mention these guys again during Cha Yu-jin’s official explanation.
T1’s pressure would inevitably be seen by the public as unfair corporate bullying.
And that would overlap with the nature of Cha Yu-jin’s controversy.
Comments like that would surface, causing a backlash.
I have to handle them quietly under the surface to end their careers smoothly without anyone coming to their defense.
And that would be the wise way to do it.
“…….”
But damn it, why do I hate this plan so much?
It’s just as Keun Se-jin said.
I slammed my hand against the armrest of the sofa.
“I don’t like that part.”
“Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t.”
It pisses me off to imagine these production bastards having a ‘moral victory,’ thinking they only closed shop because of unfair pressure.
Besides, even if I don’t bring it up, T1 is likely already thinking along similar lines.
If they have any brains at all, wouldn’t they have reached a similar conclusion?
‘I’d just be blowing a little wind into a fire that’s already starting. It’s not exactly a brilliant idea.’
And… it’s also true that even if I pull this off, it doesn’t practically benefit Cha Yu-jin.
‘Dammit.’
I leaned my head back against the sofa. I need to make things even worse for them.
“Whoa, whoa. Moon-dae, you want some ice water?”
“No.”
Let’s think.
Is there no way to completely wreck these bastards while also benefiting Cha Yu-jin?
Then, I spoke without thinking.
“…Can’t we frame them?”
I was asking if there was a way to throw these guys to the internet wolves as scapegoats in Cha Yu-jin’s place.
Keun Se-jin’s voice turned subtle.
“Man, that would be the best, but… hmm.”
Meaning it’s an unrealistic pipe dream.
He’s right. The fact that they’re from Ajusa 2 would just be met with a “So what?” People would just say we’re trying too hard to manipulate public opinion.
My head cools down.
Fine. Let’s stop the useless delusions and make a realistic judgment.
I can ruin the production crew whenever I want. I’ve verified that possibility, so I’ll keep it in reserve for now.
‘And the only path that actually benefits Cha Yu-jin is….’
…I’ve thought about it over and over, but right now, there isn’t one.
So, let’s think further ahead.
When people start getting bored and tired of the Cha Yu-jin ‘power trip’ story, I need to release a narrative that his fans can hold onto for comfort.
‘Someone who can talk about how Cha Yu-jin usually behaves.’
What I need… is a witness.
“I should suggest we gather testimonies.”
“Testimonies? Like, ‘Yu-jin is actually a good kid~’ that kind of thing?”
“Yeah. So it can be used later.”
“…Right. For now, that seems like the best bet.”
It’s cliché, but if we time it right and release it quickly, it’s a method that might actually work once some time has passed.
Keun Se-jin gave a bitter smile. Was he feeling frustrated?
‘It feels like I’m the one having a moral victory here….’
I clicked my tongue and tossed my smartphone onto the sofa. Keun Se-jin patted my back.
“Moon-dae, Moon-dae, you worked hard. Don’t overthink it too much.”
“Yeah.”
…I really wanted a beer.
Four days passed like that.
And as expected, public opinion didn’t magically flip just because time had gone by.
Since no other incidents had cropped up, it was quieter than the first day, but there were still plenty of people digging up Cha Yu-jin’s past videos and saying things like, “I see it now, he’s always been sketchy.”
As planned, vague or meaningful posts defending Cha Yu-jin began appearing from shops TeSTAR frequented or staff members they had worked with.
However, most were drowned out by ridicule, with people claiming the ‘agency is working hard.’
‘If Cha Yu-jin goes on stage for the concert like this….’
I don’t know. Whether he looks fine or looks like his mental state is shattered, it’ll become a topic of gossip.
“Phew.”
I put my phone down. My head was throbbing.
It was then.
“Moon-dae-ssi, sorry, but you have a call.”
“…? Yes.”
The manager, who had been sitting in the corner of the studio, brought his smartphone over and handed it to me.
‘There’s no one who would contact me this way.’
Just as I was feeling suspicious through my fatigue, the manager whispered.
“It’s… a member of Mirinae.”
“…!”
In an instant, several deductions about the reason for the call flashed through my mind.
Could it be?
I brought the phone to my ear.
“I’ve taken the call. Hello.”
—Hello, sunbaenim!
It was the voice I’d spoken with last time.
‘Was it the junior who debuted in 2nd place on Ajusa 2?’
It had been a while, but the situation was too urgent to waste time on pleasantries. I got straight to the point.
“I assume you’re calling because you have a reason.”
—Huh? Yes!! Actually… I was asked for a favor.
My deduction was getting closer to reality.
I couldn’t hold back.
“Did a staff member from Mirinae’s concert ask you?”
—…!! Y-yes? No, I mean….
And finally, the answer I wanted came out.
—Yes. Your judgment is exactly right…!
“…….”
A staff member for Mirinae’s concert.
TeSTAR hadn’t brought all the staff we worked with in the US to Japan. Japanese performances tend to rely heavily on local staff.
Instead, those staff members had been assigned to Mirinae’s small-scale US tour, which the General Manager was pushing.
So, the staff member this junior was talking about….
‘There’s a high probability they worked with TeSTAR when we were filming the documentary.’
The junior continued speaking, her voice trembling slightly but determined.
—The… the unnie who takes care of our muscles said she worked during your concert as well. She said she heard you were looking for witness testimonies….
Yes.
—This is really… she wants to make sure her identity is absolutely! Absolutely protected as a condition….
“Of course, we must do that.”
—Yes, yes…!
After the sound of the junior swallowing hard, the main point came out.
—That unnie… she said she has a recording.
Holy shit.
I gripped the smartphone with all my strength.
‘If she’s a massage therapist… she’s the staff member who was right next to them when the documentary crew was provoking Cha Yu-jin!’
This is it. This is it! If we present this as evidence, at least half of the public opinion will—
—Sunbaenim?
…No, stay calm. Verification comes first. I regained my composure.
“What kind of recording is it?”
Tell me it’s a recording of the documentary crew acting like pieces of shit.
—Uh… well…….
The junior answered in a voice that sounded uncertain.
It was something I hadn’t even imagined.
—She said… that Cha Yu-jin sunbaenim protected her.
…What??
The story from the staff member who provided the recording was as follows.
To get the ‘perfect shot,’ the documentary crew tried to get interviews not just from TeSTAR, but from various staff members as well.
And this staff member was one of them.
—But unnie refused, saying that things like physical conditions are sensitive issues.
She told them they needed to get permission from the artist themselves if they wanted to interview her, but the documentary crew must have known that was impossible given Cha Yu-jin’s attitude.
So, they persistently and repeatedly made the request, or tried to induce a situation where she might accidentally let something slip.
It must have been incredibly stressful, but she said she endured it because the atmosphere wasn’t one where she could easily ask for help.
—But when that didn’t work… a few of them started acting threatening and mocking her.
Cha Yu-jin witnessed that and immediately came over to help.
—She said he was very firm.
And because her job often involved dealing with creeps trying to pull something, she always kept a recorder on her, and that moment was captured.
—She said she was so grateful that she agonized over it before deciding to speak up.
‘…At the same time, since this is an industry sensitive to recordings, she had a lot of concerns about revealing it.’
Still, she was moved by Cha Yu-jin’s actions and couldn’t stand by and watch the current situation, so she eventually came forward.
I crossed my arms.
“…Is what she said.”
“Oh, I remember!”
Cha Yu-jin answered brightly.
“You remember?”
“Yes! The person with the big camera was scaring the staff. They wouldn’t listen when she said no! So I said, ‘Stop it!’ and… Gack! Kim Rae-bin, are you crazy??”
“If something like that happened, you should have told us sooner!”
No one stopped Kim Rae-bin as he smacked Cha Yu-jin. Then, Cha Yu-jin began to shout as if he’d been wronged.
[Wait, wait a minute! If I say that, will people actually believe me? This is a different topic from me blocking the camera!]
Innocent brat.
“We just have to make it the same topic.”
“What??”
“Just watch.”
I called the company with the members in tow. We had already secured the staff member’s recording.
Five days after the leak of Cha Yu-jin’s video.
On the internet, Cha Yu-jin had already been torn to shreds and dragged through the mud.
And as the controversy was chewed up until the sweetness was gone, people looked for additional entertainment.
Specifically, the source of the video.
Furthermore, because the agency still hadn’t responded, people took this silence as a de facto admission.
The vague defense posts from staff members were far too weak compared to the impact of that short, intense video.
Just as Cha Yu-jin’s controversy was about to solidify into his permanent image, making further discussion pointless—
Only then did an article appear.
However, the focus wasn't on Cha Yu-jin.
[TeSTAR Documentary Filming Controversy… Concert Staff Recording Released]
[Another Broadcast Power Trip? Reconstruction of TeSTAR Documentary Crew Recording]
It was an exposé on the TeSTAR documentary production crew.
The outlet was known for invading celebrities' privacy, but because of that, there was a subconscious perception that their data was more factual.
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[(Exclusive) Why a TeSTAR Concert Staff Member Reported the Recording… “A Monster Created by the Station”]
January 202X. TeSTAR began their world tour. And they filmed a documentary showing the behind-the-scenes of the tour. (Photo)
The TeSTAR members in the documentary were earnest and sincere.
But was the filming process of this documentary equally sincere?
Recently, a recording from a staff member was submitted via email.
…….
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The article vividly described how coercive they were in order to film the documentary, and even more so, how rudely they treated the staff members who didn't have the power to push back.
=========================
Crew: Do you have trouble understanding words? Why can’t you give a proper answer?
Staff A: …….
Crew: You won’t even say if it’s good or bad. You’re being really uncooperative. If the shots don’t come out well, it’s partly your fault, OO-ssi. You know that, right?
=========================
And in the latter half, it revealed its true colors.
It linked Cha Yu-jin’s video with the recording in question. Although the video hadn't originally stemmed from this specific moment, the description was added to make it appear as if it had.
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Crew: I asked if you can’t hear me. This is—
Cha Yu-jin: (Running over and pressing down on the camera) Stop it!
=========================
It was the magic of editing.
However, even if they were the production crew, they couldn't prove this was a stitch-up.
The recording had an original, but the filming data didn't have an original anymore.
Furthermore, instead of mentioning Cha Yu-jin further, the article maintained a tone of: ‘How severe must the power trip have been for the artist to run over and stop them?’
It was written to look like an exposé for the sake of justice, not a defense.
=========================
As a result of an internal investigation, the reporter confirmed that the production crew in question was originally a variety show team, not a documentary team.
Specifically, from Idol Inc. 2…….
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And to wrap it up, it revealed they were from the failed Idol Inc. 2, which had collapsed due to excessive provocation and unreasonable stunts, making the message clear.
These were people who would absolutely harass others just to get a shot.
‘There’s plenty of justification to bash this crew.’
It was no different from a targeted hit.
It was someone’s powerful will to return the bomb Cha Yu-jin had been hit with back to the ones who made it.
And that will hit its mark.