Chapter 292
Chapter 292
The moment Chae Seo-dam brought up the "recording," the atmosphere took a sharp turn toward the stereotypical.
Meaning, it was hilarious.
What is this bastard thinking?
If he recorded something he intended to use, the standard move would be to keep his mouth shut until the right timing. Why was he running his mouth and giving me time to prepare?
Hmm, is he trying to seize the initiative through intimidation?
Surely he wasn't hoping I’d lose my cool and demand he hand over the recording?
Well, I was curious to see what he’d do whether I admitted the conversation was sensitive or not. I opened my mouth immediately.
"You’re aware that third-party recording is illegal, right, Chae Seo-dam-ssi?"
"Pardon? Oh... I was just trying to record my daily life. I only asked because I didn't want any potentially embarrassing background noise from you sunbaenims to be included."
Chae Seo-dam bowed his head deeply.
"I’m truly sorry if it was a sensitive conversation!"
Oh.
So if I say it was sensitive, it becomes a weakness; if I say it wasn't, he loses his grounds for questioning.
I crossed my arms and smirked.
He was definitely trying to provoke me.
"Hmm... I imagine this happens quite often. It’s an illegal invasion of privacy, after all."
Forget your excuses—I’m telling you it’s illegal.
However, his next move was somewhat unexpected.
"Yes! I’m being careful to make sure that doesn't happen. For now, I’ll delete anything that might have captured your voices right here."
Chae Seo-dam pulled a button-shaped recorder from his back pocket.
Is it a Bluetooth model?
Then he took out his smartphone and played the recording right in front of my eyes.
—Hmm, I don't know where this is.
—My legs hurt...
Behind Chae Seo-dam’s voice—which sounded like he was intentionally speaking aloud while sitting by the door—faint sounds could be heard.
It wasn't clear, but since the recorder had been pressed right against the crack of the door, some sound from inside the waiting room had leaked in.
—Aiming for the Grand Prize...
Ah, it started from there.
Right from the talk about viral marketing.
I identified Cheong-ryeo’s faint voice. Then, Chae Seo-dam immediately tapped the file and deleted it completely.
"It’s deleted."
"Ah, right."
Was I supposed to clap? I nodded and stared at him.
"……."
He looked flustered.
What, am I too calm for your liking? Did you think playing the recording would make me anxious as I replayed the conversation in my head? Nice ambition.
"Anything else to say?"
"No. I’ll be going then. I’m sorry for causing trouble for you sunbaenims."
The guy bowed and turned around.
I checked the other "sunbaenim" he had mentioned.
Cheong-ryeo.
"……."
He was silently staring at the departing jerk.
That look...
Just then, Chae Seo-dam suddenly turned back toward us.
"But... Sunbaenim, do you trust me?"
"…!"
What kind of nonsense was this now?
"I’m really sorry, but I don't know much about technology. I was wondering if there would be any issues if the file remained somewhere and got hacked... or something like that."
"The recording, I mean."
He was trying to create anxiety—implying that even though he performed the act of deleting it, he might still have it.
I’m starting to see the outline of how this guy lives.
He constantly tries to manipulate and gauge the other person's reaction. He must have a talent for taking a small opening and blowing it out of proportion.
But to pull such a stupid stunt when there's such a massive gap in our status... Ah, is he calculating that I’ll be cautious because I have more to lose?
"Hmm. Then I think you’d be the one in trouble, Seo-dam-ssi."
"…Me?"
"Yeah. An idol who secretly records other people's conversations... well, you know how it is."
I leaned against the doorframe.
"If I were you, I’d be careful."
The moment that recording leaks, I’m dragging you down with me.
Chae Seo-dam momentarily lifted his head defiantly, but soon bowed again.
"…Thank you for the advice."
He then walked away quickly and disappeared down the hallway.
What a joke.
I don't know why he’s trying to sabotage himself when he’s barely managed to debut... but if he wants to ruin his own life, what can I do?
I shrugged and straightened up.
It depends on how well that bastard's recording turned out... but let's calculate the maximum potential damage if I were to just sit back and do nothing.
Informal speech and viral marketing, huh?
Both were negative factors. If I had to categorize them, the keywords would be "attitude controversy" and "public deception."
—I don't care how close they are, what's with his way of speaking? Is he really talking down to him like that?
—They call him a puppy, but he’s actually a total son of a btch lol*
—Honestly, this is a turn-off.
—So from the VTIC simultaneous release to the heavy rain performance, it was all planned to look like a coincidence? That’s actually so creepy.
Is that about the extent of the expected responses?
However, if you asked if it would be fatal, that was a question mark.
I’d get a lot of hate, and it wouldn't be good.
But both were defensible as long as I had enough lead time. Ultimately, it was a matter of framing. Especially if I coordinated with the person I was talking to, it could end as a tempest in a teapot...
"This is interesting."
...This guy was perfectly composed, probably because I’m the only one who loses out if the recording is leaked.
No, from his perspective, wouldn't it actually be a gain if it blew up? In this standoff, the more TeSTAR loses, the more VTIC stands to gain.
No wonder he kept his mouth shut.
I massaged the back of my neck and stepped back into the waiting room. I planned to get some work done until the others arrived.
But a question came from behind me.
"I’m curious to see what you’ll do."
"Why are you curious about that, Sunbaenim?"
"I’m the one who told you to speak informally, so I feel like I should cooperate. Hmm, is there some kind of grudge?"
"A grudge?"
Is it even that deep?
Honestly, I didn't understand it. My only point of contact with him was that one time I cursed at him. Was that enough to make him so pissed that he’d pull a recording stunt?
Is it just a 'since I'm screwed, everyone should be screwed' mentality?
The psychology of a random terrorist.
However, the point Cheong-ryeo raised was clear.
"He didn't even seem interested in negotiating with me... This is another unique case."
"……"
Hmm.
Right, he specifically targeted me... I see.
"So, I’d like you to tell me what you’re going to do."
"Well... we'll see."
I finished the text I was writing and sent it. Since Chae Seo-dam went straight to threats, unless he’s a complete moron, he must have realized that I’d prepare for the recording being leaked.
In that case, he definitely wouldn't leak it immediately; he’d do some additional legwork.
I’ll squeeze out every bit of risk.
Since any scandal is a loss, I’ll observe for now. Until that careless bastard's goal is revealed and his weakness shows.
*
A few days later, I was lying on the living room sofa after getting off work early for once.
"Moondae-Moondae, what’s this?"
"What."
Keun Se-jin thrust his smartphone over my head.
It was an interview transcript.
The question was "Close celebrity connections."
The subject was... a member of the debut group from this season's Idol Inc.
========================
Chae Seo-dam: Recently, I received some advice from TeSTAR’s Park Moon-dae sunbaenim. He guided me very kindly, which made me think I should work even harder.
…….
========================
It was a typical rookie interview, trying to gain clout by mentioning a heartwarming story about a popular senior.
The problem, of course, was that the senior and the rookie were me and Chae Seo-dam.
"I asked Hee-seung right away, and he said the guy keeps giving this same answer."
"……."
"Look."
Keun Se-jin switched the screen.
[Hee-seung: Moondae-hyung, are you really close with that guy? This is a plot twist I never saw coming, Wow!]
...This Gold 2 kid has been on two survival shows now, and he’s completely soaked in internet slang.
Anyway, I understood the situation.
"Is he trying to use my name value?"
Chae Seo-dam seemed to have a brain for this kind of thing.
He was using this as a positive factor to the best of his ability, given his own poor public image. Even my fans were accepting it as a heartwarming story, albeit with some hesitation.
He’s scratching right up to the limit.
He seemed to be trying to reap as much benefit as possible, right up to the line where I’d stay quiet to avoid risk.
Furthermore, if I were to contact him personally to get angry or show a negative reaction, he’d probably record that too. That’s how he’d link us.
Cunning bastard.
I guess he’s been doing similar things for a long time.
...Of course, regardless of my analysis, the immediate situation was another matter.
Keun Se-jin lowered his phone and asked.
"So, Moon-dae-ssi. Why on earth did this jerk suddenly decide to use the name Park Moon-dae?"
"……."
"Did something happen?"
That was the question.
And this was something that could pose a risk to the team, no matter how well I prepared or blocked it.
I decided to come clean about everything.
"Wait, I’d like everyone to gather in the living room for a moment."
It was time for a confession.
And a moment later.
"So... you spoke informally to Cheong-ryeo sunbaenim?"
"…Yeah."
"……."
I expected them to curse me out with their eyes, but surprisingly, a look of understanding passed through the eyes of the two namesakes. What was this?
"Right... the order just happened to be like that, so the two of you were together."
"You did well!"
Ah, these two knew that the guy was the reason for my vacation-time dogfight. They probably thought I spoke informally because I didn't feel he was worth using honorifics for.
However, the others seemed puzzled. Ryu Cheong-woo muttered.
"He did well...?"
"Ah, that, ahem, that guy has bullied Park Moon-dae before!"
"…!!"
"…Really? When?"
Now wasn't the time for that.
I cut off the conversation between Ryu Cheong-woo and Bae Se-jin. Kim Rae-bin’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out.
"It was a while ago, but anyway, I should have been more careful at the broadcasting station. I’m sorry. Also, he suggested that the way our recent song blew up was planned, and I didn't deny it."
"I’m sorry for that too."
"No!! The person who recorded it is the bad one! Moon-dae-hyung did nothing wrong!"
"He’s right. How could someone do something so rude and malicious..."
They were good-natured guys, even though they were about to get cursed at right after making their song a hit. I suppressed a bitter smile.
"Thanks, but a mistake is a mistake. It’s my fault. I guess I let my guard down."
"…Moondae-Moondae, how can a person live being tense all the time?"
Keun Se-jin put his arm around my shoulder and whispered quickly.
"It’s okay! A guy who hasn't even debuted yet is recording? We’ll just talk to them right away and—"
"T-Then! I’ll... I’ll try talking to him!"
What?
Suddenly, Seon A-hyun, who had been listening quietly, clenched his fists.
"That guy... he was mean to me, and if I tell people that he’s bullying you too..."
"A-hyun??"
"A-hyun, that’s not it!"
The living room became noisy in an instant. And I agreed with their reaction.
If he brings up a sensitive issue like school bullying without proper evidence...
If he wasn't careful, it would just turn into a mudslinging fight without any benefit to Seon A-hyun himself. There was a reason he hadn't brought it up during Idol Inc.
"Seon A-hyun, it’s better if the fact that I spoke informally gets out and we just target Chae Seo-dam as the one who recorded it."
Bae Se-jin chimed in.
"Yeah! Park Moon-dae’s informal speech is better!"
Hey.
"We can just make that crazy guy give an excuse! If not, we’ll just..."
"Just?"
"………Anyway, we can just make him announce clearly that he was fine with the informal speech."
Bae Se-jin shrank back at Ryu Cheong-woo’s follow-up question, as Cheong-woo didn't know the full details. I guess he thought he shouldn't say more since he wasn't the party involved.
Well, he was probably going to say we should threaten to release evidence... or just report him.
That was one way to do it.
Ryu Cheong-woo began to settle the atmosphere.
"Right. Anyway, Moon-dae, if you’ve been suffering alone without being able to speak up until now, don't worry too much..."
"Ah, I’ve already done some legwork."
"Legwork?"
"I recorded it too."
"……??"
I held up my smartphone to show them. It was a recording file.
"I felt a bit uneasy from the moment I started speaking informally, so I did it just in case."
If nothing happened, I could just delete it and there’d be no problem. There’s no harm in having a save file, no matter what you do.
And from all sides, the reaction was 'I knew you would'... Wait, you knew?
"That’s our Moondae-Moondae."
"Wow..."
Fine, whatever.
"I’ve already informed the company about everything related to this."
Just as I was about to say there was no need to worry about distortions or wrong responses.
Seon A-hyun raised his hand again.
"I... have something too."
"…!!"
"A recording?"
"N-No."
Seon A-hyun lifted his head and spoke firmly with a trembling voice.
"I have the counseling records from back then, Moon-dae...!"
"…!"
"I quit soon after, of course... but if I look for them, there will definitely be d-data left."
Seon A-hyun finished his sentence clearly.
"If it helps you, I want to use it."
….
With those words, two directions for handling this matter emerged.
One was to make Chae Seo-dam quietly disappear from the industry.
And the other was... to make him suffer like hell.
Let's go with the latter.
Yeah.
That’s the only way to balance the books.
That night, after the meeting ended in the early hours, I called the final collaborator.
—Have you made up your mind?
He answered immediately since he was overseas.
"Yeah. Cooperate with me."