Chapter 294
Chapter 294
This was the crucial part.
‘I’m going to drive it home.’
I took my smartphone out of my pocket and placed it on the desk where it was clearly visible.
Then, just as this bastard had done to me last time, I played a recording.
—You’re aiming for the Grand Prize, right?
—Any singer would be.
The audio quality was much clearer than the one Chae Seo-dam had recorded.
Because I was the one who recorded it.
“You’re not the only one who can record things.”
I smirked as I stopped the playback.
“Did you really think I’d start sobbing and beg you not to reveal that I spoke informally to a senior?”
“…….”
“I could just go on a variety show right now and use that conversation as proof of how close I am with that senior. That would be the end of it.”
Chae Seo-dam seemed to be struggling to process the situation.
It wouldn’t help him at all, but in his state of denial, he was reflexively searching for a rebuttal.
‘Should I wait for him?’
Only after several more seconds passed did he desperately open his mouth.
“The new song leak! You said that was all planned…!”
Ah, that.
“Well. Did I? I only said that because I didn’t want to drag out the conversation… but everything depends on how you frame the situation, doesn't it?”
Without another word, I manipulated my smartphone again.
I went into my contacts and hit dial.
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Senior]
Ring, ring. The acoustic version of VTIC’s latest title track played as the dial tone for a moment before… it connected.
Click.
—Hello, Junior.
“Hello, Senior. About that conversation we had in the waiting room last time—would it be alright if I used it as material for a variety show?”
The sound of laughter from the other end of the line was a bit annoying, but Cheong-ryeo answered as planned.
—Of course. Go ahead. I was the one who told you to drop the formalities, after all.
“Thank you.”
—Don’t mention it.
I hung up.
“That’s what he says.”
“…….”
There. Both things you were gloating over as my weaknesses have vanished.
The idiot in front of me, who had been lunging at me with bloodshot eyes just moments ago, had now turned docile.
‘I guess that frantic energy doesn’t last long.’
He really had a powerful instinct for self-preservation.
I knew this was the timing to ramp up the pressure one step further.
So, I quickly shifted the topic.
“So, I believe that answers your questions… Next is the matter of the school violence report we were originally going to discuss.”
Since I’d blocked my weaknesses, it was time to talk about yours.
I spoke as if it were nothing.
“Wouldn’t it be cleaner to just have the victim do an interview with a journalist?”
“…!!”
“Doing something like this officially would send a good message to society, and since there’s plenty of evidence, I think everyone will believe it.”
Evidence.
I’d bet my recording that the conversation he had with Seon A-hyun was flashing through his mind right now.
I finished my thought.
“If we add the context that you were trying to find weaknesses in others by recording them even now, it’ll be a perfect fit. I’m planning to proceed immediately. That’s all.”
I picked up my smartphone and started tidying up my spot. It was a gesture that I was done talking.
“…Wa-!”
Chae Seo-dam stood up, looking as shocked as if he’d been hit by a bomb.
“Wa-wait. This… why, why are you doing this?”
Right, you’re asking why I’m explaining all this to someone like you? Thanks.
I replied with a faint smile.
“To tell you to give up.”
“…….”
“Since we’ve already agreed to release everything, I thought I should notify the party involved. Now, all you have to do is wait.”
It was a notification of his doom.
“…….”
Chae Seo-dam froze in his seat.
It was a normal reaction. By this point, most people would be overwhelmed.
The opponent had no intention of negotiating, his own preparations had been completely dismantled, and he’d just been warned of a fatal attack on his own weakness.
For now, the only thought in his head was that he was cornered with no way out.
Regret and disbelief.
And this bastard, with his bloated ego, began to derive a different conclusion in his head.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
He was blaming others.
“I didn’t do anything wrong to you! Just because I didn’t get along with Seon A-hyun in school… does this make sense? Are you serious… why would you do such a thing?”
Chae Seo-dam began to ramble incoherently.
“You can’t ruin a person just by believing Seon A-hyun’s words! To try and bury me like this, unilaterally….”
“Is that so?”
I said indifferently.
“What you did to Seon A-hyun was something anyone would do in that environment, but what’s happening to you is cowardly and unfair?”
“…….”
“You knew exactly how much damage you were causing the other person when you did that to Seon A-hyun. It was the same when you recorded me.”
Chae Seo-dam looked like he’d been slapped.
Bastards like this only seem to show something resembling reflection when they’re the ones suffering like hell.
“If I were you, I’d be too embarrassed to say those words. Wouldn’t it be better to just accept the consequences?”
Of course, I only said that knowing he wasn’t the type to accept them.
“No, Seon A-hyun too! If a story like this comes out, he’ll be hurt….”
Right, if he were the type to reflect because of something like this, he wouldn’t have come this far.
I shrugged.
“If he says he’ll do it, why should I care about that? Who gives a damn?”
“…!!”
“It’s not like I’m the one going down.”
Chae Seo-dam shut his mouth tight.
By this point, he couldn't help but think:
‘This guy is a total lunatic.’
‘He really intends to crush me, whether it hits his group or his members or not.’
…That realization must be sinking in deep.
Furthermore, he was probably using every bit of his imagination to envision the level of destruction I was preparing for him, creating his own personal hell.
‘That bastard is preparing for my social death!’
Well.
It was a lie, of course.
I’m not an idiot; I have no intention of bringing this issue to the surface.
‘It’s just a threat.’
“Everyone is responsible for their own actions. Isn’t that right? Since there’s evidence.”
“N-no….”
This was the same.
We had realized during our discussion that Seon A-hyun had recorded the situation. However, that file’s audio quality was too poor to identify Chae Seo-dam himself.
All that remained were the counseling records Seon A-hyun had mentioned at first, but those would likely turn into a messy dogfight once the public got involved.
Regardless of all that, I had no intention of adding more private life drama to this group, which had already been through enough.
But Chae Seo-dam didn’t know that.
“…….”
He was completely swept away and sunk by this massive bluff.
Having lost his will to fight, he seemed to have fallen into a state of panic where he couldn't even think of crying or getting angry.
‘I’d like to leave him like this for about a week, but…’
If I did that, another variable might pop up, so it was time to offer him something that looked like a lifeline.
I tapped my smartphone under the table.
It was time for the final helper to make his entrance.
A few seconds later.
Knock, knock, knock!
The door burst open along with the sound of urgent knocking.
“H-hyungs.”
It was Gold 2.
He had an expression somewhere between urgency and tension.
“…Kwon Hee-seung.”
Even in his dazed state, Chae Seo-dam must have been writing all sorts of scenarios, as he whipped his head around to look at him.
But the atmosphere changed the moment Gold 2 spoke his next words.
“I heard about the talk in the meeting…. Moon-dae Hyung, I mean, no matter what, couldn’t you please hold off until the official announcement?”
“……Hmm.”
I intentionally didn’t answer. As if I were slightly conflicted.
“…!”
A sudden glint returned to Chae Seo-dam’s eyes.
It was hope.
“Seo-dam Hyung must be reflecting a lot too. R-right, Hyung?”
Chae Seo-dam nodded as if he were truly sincere. Then he hurriedly opened his mouth.
“I-I’m sorry.”
He realized this was a timing where he could actually try something.
“Yeah.”
“For recording… and trying to, uh, use it. I was thinking wrong. I misunderstood….”
I waited for an appropriate amount of time before answering.
“I don’t think you would have apologized if things hadn't turned out like this. Anyway, I understand.”
“I’m telling you, Seo-dam Hyung completely understands because of the situation! H-hyung. Tell him what you understood.”
I could see Chae Seo-dam’s brain working at Gold 2’s words.
In the end, he almost repeated what I had said earlier.
“…That I shouldn’t try to succeed by causing great harm to others… that it’s a wrong kind of effort, yes.”
‘Good.’
He finally said it.
I don’t know if he was being sincere—this guy who had lived his life blatantly violating that obvious premise—but it was important that he said it with his own mouth in a shocking situation.
Because if he wanted to justify his actions in a positive light as time passed, he would have to affirm that admission as well.
And in the moment of silence that followed, Gold 2 pushed the situation again.
“P-please think about it, Moon-dae Hyung! If Seo-dam Hyung leaves on such bad terms… things might get bigger than expected… and then this year’s schedule might be difficult….”
“…….”
I stared at Gold 2 without a word. Gold 2 met my gaze and swallowed hard, looking like he was about to break into a cold sweat.
Gulp.
At the very last moment, I finally shrugged.
“Well… if the company suffers damage, it means more work for me.”
“……!”
I glanced at Chae Seo-dam as if suppressing a sigh, then nodded.
“Just this once.”
Everything after that was simple.
A relieved Chae Seo-dam, fueled by Gold 2’s prodding, signed the contract and withdrew from the team of his own accord in an instant.
‘The nuance of the contract was important too.’
It wasn’t about Chae Seo-dam keeping the conversation that just took place a secret; it clearly stated that we were the ones keeping Chae Seo-dam’s weaknesses quiet.
In exchange for burying the story of his school violence and his attempt to spread rumors, the contract ensured he would leave quietly and not cause trouble for the team.
Soon after, the articles and announcements were released.
[Chae Seo-dam, 10th place in the new season of <Idol Inc.>, fails to debut due to “health issues”]
Since he had already gotten on the bad side of the debut group’s fandom due to various incidents, and the reason was “health,” the event passed without any major issues or backlash.
And Gold 2, who had swooped in at the end of the conversation to reap the benefits, was all smiles.
As you might have guessed, he was the one Keun Se-jin had recruited to play the role of giving Chae Seo-dam the carrot while setting the stage.
—Right, Moon-dae, you just swing the whip! Let’s have Hee-seung be the one to give him a bite of the carrot at the very end!
I couldn’t deny it. It was a good choice of personnel.
“You were a good actor.”
“Me? I was completely sincere.”
On the day Chae Seo-dam moved out of the room, Gold 2 took a long, deep breath as if he could finally relax.
“Phew… I mean, how did that guy almost debut again… whatever! Anyway, I feel so relieved that we sent him away quietly before the debut, seriously!”
I had no intention of blaming him, as having a ticking time bomb on the same team must have been nerve-wracking. I just laughed it off.
“Thank you for looking out for us again, Hyung-nim!”
“There’s nothing to be thankful for.”
“Ayy, Hyung, you really are amazing every time I see you! I’ll always be good to you, Hyung!”
After that, Gold 2 started sending me check-in texts more frequently.
And a short while later, another type of text arrived through the manager of the <Idol Inc.> debut group.
The sender was Chae Seo-dam.
It was a long text, and interestingly, the person he asked to receive it was Seon A-hyun.
[I thought everything was part of the competition and approached it competitively, but I think I hurt you more than I intended or realized, so I’m sorry. I really realized it painfully this time. That there might be a problem with my methods….]
To summarize this long-winded nonsense, he was saying he might have gone too far with Seon A-hyun during their school days.
Of course, half of it was close to a self-excuse.
“…‘More than intended’? He’s calling this an apology? He still hasn't come to his senses…!”
“I-it’s okay…!”
Seon A-hyun actually stopped Bae Se-jin, who was getting angry on his behalf.
“I didn’t expect to… get an apology. I thought I didn’t care, but an apology… I guess I wanted to receive one.”
“A-hyun….”
“T-thank you.”
Seon A-hyun bowed his head to those around him and then met my eyes.
“And, thank you, Moon-dae…. I wanted to help, but I feel like I’m always the one receiving help.”
“…?”
What are you talking about, when you’re the one who laid the groundwork to send Chae Seo-dam away?
Of course, if I answered like that, an endless stream of credit-giving would follow, so I just gave a simple reply.
“It was a collaboration. I’m thankful to you too.”
“Mhm…!”
Seon A-hyun smiled brightly and then coolly swiped away the screenshot of Chae Seo-dam’s text.
“Ooh!”
The members clapped as if they had just witnessed a victory ceremony. Seon A-hyun looked a bit embarrassed.
“Hmm.”
I watched the pseudo-apology disappear and thought to myself.
‘That bastard will probably forget about this and get full of himself again anyway.’
But I had set the stage with that in mind.
‘He’s the type of person who is incredibly good at avoiding things that bring him a disadvantage, so he’ll keep his mouth shut.’
And when someone almost gets ruined by such an overwhelming difference, they tend to have a sense of awe rather than a desire for revenge, engaging in mental gymnastics to cope.
‘Even in that situation, I handled it well and got out.’
Something like that.
Therefore, this guy wouldn't even dream of opening his mouth about this issue again. Seon A-hyun would forget about him.
‘I won’t be seeing him again.’
Since I had cleanly scrubbed him from the industry.
“…Hmm.”
I pondered for a moment and then sent a text that night.
[It ended well. Thank you.]
Well, it was a simple fact that he had been helpful in this matter, so I could do at least this much.
Ding.
Not long after, a familiar photo of a dog lifting its front paw arrived.
Is that a greeting?
“…Hmm.”
I rubbed my chin.
Surprisingly, he’s not being annoying. This guy is finally coming to his senses….
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Senior: Is that so? Then I’d like to receive a song in return.]
“…….”
Is he crazy?
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo Senior: Just kidding ^^]
I turned off the text without replying.
With that, all the impact from sending Chae Seo-dam away was settled.
And the very next day, it was revealed in a meeting that if we hadn't sent Chae Seo-dam away then, we would have ended up working with him.
“A more specific schedule has come out regarding the agency concert proposal….”
Because the topic of a joint concert for the agency’s artists—the symbol of a successful agency—had just come up.