Chapter 102: What Must Explode Will Explode (2)
102. What Must Explode Will Explode (2)
The problematic scene was the moment when Yu-geon casually chose Won-ho's team—or more precisely, the moment he assigned Won-ho's team as his battle benefit.
—Hey.
—Huh?
<Yu-geon suddenly calling Hajin before making his selection>
—What do you think Kim Won-ho would like?
—Hurry up. You're close with him, right?
The scene where Yu-geon asked Hajin about Won-ho's preferences to decide his team was broadcasted as-is. Up to that point, there was no issue.
—......? Because Kang Hajin recommended it?
Right after, a brief interview clip was attached where Yu-geon answered in a tone that made it seem like no big deal.
And that was the problem.
@dldbrjsgkckgo
#Yu-geon_AreYouHavingFun?
Can't even sing properly but has the audacity to act all high and mighty, dragging his teammate into an attitude controversy. Truly disgusting.
@odlfkkja
The fans defending him look like fools now. Stop stealing others' opportunities and just quit.
#Yu-geon_AreYouHavingFun?
@fxckinggun
So Yu-geon and Hajin teamed up to screw over Won-ho, huh? LMAO. He was literally raising his hand for song #1, and they ignored him right to his face.
(Blurry screenshot of Won-ho's finger gesture)
What was meant as Yu-geon picking a song his rival Won-ho wanted had been twisted into something entirely different, spreading like wildfire online. Malicious screenshots—no one knew who started them—circulated alongside the attitude controversy from Episode 2, fueling rumors that spiraled out of control.
[Isn't Kim Won-ho making the number '2' with his fingers?]
(Low-quality screenshot where Won-ho's finger gesture clearly forms a '2')
Isn't he showing Hajin that he wants #2?
Why are people saying he asked for #1?
— Go rewatch the clip.
└ YOU go rewatch it. Looks like a '2' to me.
[I went to school with Yu-geon.]
Same school when he was at H.M. High.
Dude was infamous even back then.
Rumors about him clubbing every night,
riding motorcycles—
people saw him and everything.
— (BEST) Oh yeah? Then show some proof instead of spreading baseless rumors. Post your student ID if you're so confident.
— (BEST) ?? Yu-geon went to Shin-A Arts High though?
└ He transferred to Miro in his second year. Originally at H.M.
— (BEST) Honestly, regardless of whether Yu-geon was some delinquent or not, he should just quit the show. Zero motivation—why's he even here?
— (Agree/Disagree Reply) First time? Could be editing. Twice? That's just his personality. Clearly wasn't raised right... Saw him butting heads with that same member again during team battles. Uncomfortable to watch—just quit already.
└ Miro's obsessed with him. He's got talent, charisma, dances well... but who knew he'd be this much of a trainwreck on TV?
Episode 3 ended after showing about one verse of Cinderella, performed by Jung Si-woo, Joo Eun-chan, and Kim Won-ho. But online, instead of anticipation or praise for the stage, reckless insults and baseless rumors about Yu-geon spread faster than wildfire.
'Why did it escalate so suddenly?'
Yu-geon's attitude on-screen had been undeniably lackluster. But at some point, the discourse shifted from truth to rumors for the sake of rumors, criticism for the sake of criticism.
<Why the Yu-geon Attitude Controversy Makes No Sense.jpg>
Though quick rebuttals were posted, it was too late to quell the fire. Even if the interview scene could be explained, Yu-geon's demeanor across Episodes 1-3 still rubbed people the wrong way.
And Hajin, fully aware of the situation, had come to Ji Soo-ho's office to discuss it.
"You said you can see auras when problems arise. Didn't you sense anything from Yu-geon?"
Hajin's tone was sharper than usual. Soo-ho removed his glasses, pressing his throbbing temples with a frown.
"Sit down first. Let's talk properly."
"Didn't you notice the issue during the Episode 3 preview? No, it's insane that you and Kwon PD missed this. You redirected all the hate toward me, so why suddenly—!"
"Kang Hajin! Calm down."
Soo-ho raised his voice for the first time, cutting off Hajin's rapid-fire accusations.
Startled, Hajin fell silent. Soo-ho wiped his face dry and gestured toward the sofa opposite him—a silent order to sit and collect himself.
"......."
Hajin, fists clenched, reluctantly sat. Soo-ho handed him a cup of warm tea before explaining what he knew.
"First, yes—when someone's in trouble, I do see a dark aura around them."
"Then why—!"
"Listen. But that only happens when the problem is real. Celebrities live with scandals and gossip—not every controversy triggers it."
"......."
"Yu-geon always had a violet aura. Recently, it leaned closer to red, though faint. Meaning none of the rumors about him are true."
Separate from the attitude controversy, malicious hearsay about Yu-geon—school violence, delinquency, drinking, smoking—had spread online, fueled by his edgy appearance.
Soo-ho's aura vision confirmed Yu-geon's innocence in those rumors.
"No one raised issues about that scene until the preview aired. Even when it broadcasted, no one cared at first."
"......."
That was true. Hajin had watched Episode 3 with the other trainees, and no one found the scene odd. But maybe that was because they knew Yu-geon's personality and circumstances too well to judge objectively.
As Hajin unconsciously bit his lip, Soo-ho pulled up something on his tablet.
"The backlash started after someone maliciously screenshotted and posted about it online. They blurred Won-ho's fingers, rearranged subtitles and clips—making it look like Yu-geon was sabotaging him."
Someone had deliberately framed Yu-geon.
But who? And why?
Hajin knew he'd never get an answer. Some people hated others for no reason—he understood that better than anyone.
"Staff are tracking the original poster. Legal's preparing statements about the malicious rumors."
"...That's good. A lawsuit notice should shut most of them up."
"Production's also addressing the malicious editing. PR's uploading clarifications, so don't panic. You know how this industry is."
Soo-ho gulped his coffee, throat dry from talking.
Though Yu-geon was the main target, Hajin wasn't spared either. Rumors claimed he and Yu-geon were ganging up on Won-ho or that producers were bribed to push Hajin.
Speculation and insults about Hajin's personality, background—none of it was new, and he had to have seen it.
Soo-ho softened his voice, cautiously checking Hajin's state.
"...Are you okay?"
This was the hardest part of his job.
Telling someone drowning in hate and lies to just ignore it—knowing full well how irresponsible that sounded, but having nothing else to offer.
Hajin wiped his dry eyes and exhaled deeply.
"...Yu-geon says he's quitting."
"What?"
"He said he doesn't care about the hate toward him, but he can't stand his grandfather and siblings getting dragged. Si-woo barely talked him down—he's in his room now."
Hajin's eyes were hollow, voice low. His clenched jaw and tense veins betrayed his state.
Soo-ho suddenly felt something off.
—Yu-geon can't quit. Never!
'What...?'
A fleeting sense of déjà vu—a memory that shouldn't exist. Though this was the first time he'd heard about Yu-geon quitting, countless versions of Hajin informing him of it flashed through his mind.
Soo-ho stared at Hajin with trembling eyes. The man before him looked more than just exhausted from late-night practice...
"...Hajin, you—"
"If Yu-geon and I don't finish the third mission together, I'll regress."
"...What?"
"That bastard—whether he's a 'First Returner' or a 'Wanderer'—is determined to bleed me dry. I'll tear him apart if I ever meet him, that fucking—"
Raw, uncontrolled curses spilled from Hajin's lips. Soo-ho froze at the unfamiliar sight.
Worse—even this Hajin felt eerily familiar.
"Haha, surprised? Don't worry—you won't remember this anyway."
"You... don't tell me—"
"Team Leader."
Hajin's dead eyes locked onto Soo-ho's. His reddened eyelids, lifeless gaze—everything about him felt wrong.
"How many times do you think I've had this conversation with you?"
"......."
"I lost count. Twelve? More? After a while, numbers stop meaning anything. Haha!"
Soo-ho had no reply. That laugh stripped him of words.