Chapter 78: Unexpected Luck (3)
78. Unexpected Luck (3)
The reason Kwon PD and the production company were hesitating was obvious.
—Looks like Yoon CP is using editing as an excuse to pull some strings.
—Since Miro is the main investor, Kwon PD seems to be trying to convince them that our stance is the most important... But the production company's CEO sees it differently.
Even though these days, 80% of programs aired by broadcasters are produced in collaboration with external production companies, at the end of the day, the broadcaster still holds the upper hand.
'Especially since they're a new company still trying to establish themselves. If they have to choose between an entertainment agency and a broadcaster, they'll lean toward the broadcaster.'
So Hajin decided to add a little more weight to the scales to make the production company's decision easier.
'He should be arriving around now...'
Just as he tapped his phone screen to check the time and glanced toward the café entrance, someone approached him.
"Are you Kang Hajin?"
A handsome man in a classic suit with a warm demeanor.
But the moment Hajin recognized those vaguely familiar features, he quickly stood up.
"Yes, hello. I'm Kang Hajin."
With a trustworthy, polished smile, he extended his hand for a handshake to the man who would serve as his counterweight.
"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice."
"Ah, I was a bit surprised... But when I heard it was about my little brother, I couldn't say no."
The man clasped Hajin's hand with a practiced grip—his handshake was surprisingly strong.
Haha. Hajin subtly pulled his hand free with a small laugh.
While Eun-chan's older brother, Eun-seok, went to order drinks, Hajin examined the business card he'd been given.
<Judes Furniture - Joo Eun-seok, PM>
Judes Furniture was one of the top three furniture companies in the country.
Their main products were high-end furniture fit for a CEO's private study.
But according to recent articles, they had also successfully launched a soft line targeting single households in their 20s and 30s.
'And the driving force behind that change is that guy over there.'
...or so he'd read in an article.
'What was it again? Something about gentle leadership paired with bull-like determination...'
Though the article was clearly meant to promote Judes Furniture's youthful, aggressive rebranding, Hajin easily saw through it—this wasn't just about the brand.
Dozens of media pieces with similar keywords were all singing the praises of one man: Joo Eun-seok himself.
In other words, this was image-making for the future successor of Judes Furniture.
'Eun-chan, you bastard. You're not just any golden spoon.'
No wonder the department head and Han Seong-woo had been so desperate to pin the nepotism label on him.
As Hajin crossed his arms in thought, Eun-seok returned with a tray carrying warm coffee and a rich chocolate cake. He naturally slid a fork toward Hajin.
"......?"
"Ah, my little brother mentioned his roommate has a sweet tooth."
"Well, I do, but..."
"I'm grateful you've been looking out for him. Go ahead."
"In that case, I'll enjoy it."
Rejection was never an option in Kang Hajin's dictionary.
He picked up the fork and took a large bite of the dense mousse cake. The sweetness softened his slightly tense mood.
"So, what's going on with my little brother?"
Given the significant age gap between the brothers, the way he smoothly broached the topic made it clear he was used to playing the guardian role.
'Well, Joo Eun-chan is 18, and this guy looks mid-30s. Must feel like raising a son.'
Understanding the protective instinct, Hajin cut straight to the point.
"There are people trying to sabotage Eun-chan."
"...Could you repeat that?"
Seeing Eun-seok's stunned expression, Hajin slammed his hand on the table with a bang.
"A PD from the broadcaster is colluding with a trainee to harass Eun-chan, hyung-nim! Ah, is it okay if I call you hyung-nim? Seeing Eun-chan's face every day makes me feel so close to you already!"
Then, with the fastest and most precise diction imaginable, he laid out Han Seong-woo and Yoon CP's misdeeds!
[System Alert: Tsk tsk... (Meaning: What kind of crazy scheme is he planning now? I can't even guess.)]
Whether or not Sipsam—now well-versed in Hajin's antics—floated a faintly smiling emoji, Hajin showed Eun-seok the screenshots saved on his phone as the man nodded blankly.
"This is...?"
"Posts from an anonymous community over the past few days."
[These days, even trainees need money, huh...]
Had a friend who was a trainee but quit. Heard some things, lol...
Ugh, these days, even dreams need money to dream. So bitter.
[Do golden spoon trainees get pushed more by their companies?]
Rich family + that kind of image = more selling points, right?
—Not sure about pushing, but definitely a selling point.
—That's how it is these days lololol The whole 'tragedy idol' thing is outdated.
—Golden spoon but no skills/no charm? X
Skills + talent + golden spoon? O
└ This right here lololololololololol
└ Teens these days are obsessed with that 'rich family + classy' image.
[Honestly, if they're from a well-off family]
It's a win for the agency too lololololol
Those kids aren't twisted or anything.
Their families can support them, so trainee life isn't a burden.
Easier to land ads and stuff later too.
High-end image-making is simpler.
These days, agencies push those kids more lololol
Multiple posts with similar keywords. Eun-seok scrolled through Hajin's budget smartphone screen with the expression and posture of someone reviewing a company report.
His fingers and gaze paused abruptly on the last screenshot, which stood out from the rest.
@miro_wake_the_f*ck_up
Miro's trainee got in through family connections.
First they gave him special treatment, now they're openly pushing him lol
The moment he saw that last post, a cold glint flashed in Eun-seok's round, gentle eyes. The disjointed flow of the previous screenshots suddenly made sense.
"That last post was deleted after about three hours. There weren't many reactions."
"......"
"And similar SNS posts have been popping up and disappearing over the past few days. Almost like someone wants them to be found."
Eun-seok's gaze shifted to Hajin. Then, in a cautious voice, he asked,
"...Does my little brother know about this?"
"No, of course not. You know Eun-chan better than anyone—he's not the type to pay attention to this stuff."
"But this isn't true. Eun-chan is..."
"Your family opposes it, right? Him being an idol."
Eun-seok's mouth snapped shut in surprise at Hajin's knowing tone.
"Did Eun-chan tell you that?"
"No, not directly... He talks about you a lot but rarely mentions your parents. I noticed the emergency contact at the company is you, not them."
"......"
"And that's probably why he became a target."
Hajin didn't mention how Eun-chan had endured near-bullying for a long time due to Seong-woo's schemes.
'If it was something he could've shared, he would've told this guy already.'
From what he'd observed, there were two reasons Eun-chan hadn't told his brother despite the pressure from the department head:
Either he couldn't, or he didn't think it was necessary.
'If his parents are already against him being a trainee, hearing he's being bullied would just make them pull him out immediately. He must not have thought it was serious enough to risk that.'
So Hajin carefully shielded Eun-chan's circumstances while only sharing the external threats with Eun-seok.
He needed to appeal to Eun-seok's protective instincts while also showing this wasn't just about his little brother—it was a risk for the company too.
"How can you be sure this is the broadcaster's doing?"
"The CP asked for an investment on one condition: that the dorm furniture be sourced exclusively from Judes Furniture."
"......!"
This was something Hajin had heard directly from Ji Soo-ho during their last meeting. Today's meeting had also been arranged by Soo-ho at Hajin's request.
Tapping the table lightly out of habit, Hajin continued.
"Of course, that dorm will be fully featured on the show. It's not even PPL—they bought and installed everything themselves, so you probably didn't know."
But once it airs, Judes will get plenty of exposure, right?
Hajin shrugged with a sly grin, meeting Eun-seok's gaze. His expression clearly said, 'You get it, right?' Eun-seok coughed lightly.
"Kang Hajin... how—"
"Just call me Hajin, hyung-nim. No need for formalities. I'm basically your little brother's friend."
"...Alright. Hajin, how did you find all this out? And why tell me?"
Though there was a hint of suspicion in his tone, Hajin wasn't offended. Questioning the source meant he took the information seriously.
And Hajin had prepared an answer for this too.
"I overheard it by chance. That trainee and the CP talking."
[System Alert: That's a lie...]
Right. It was a lie.
If he'd really heard that conversation, he would've recorded it and spread it everywhere.
'But how would Joo Eun-seok know that?'
The important thing was making him believe I'm fully on his little brother's side.
"I haven't been at Miro long, but I was a trainee at another company before. So I know how dirty and cutthroat this industry is."
Hajin's sharp, intense gaze instantly softened, his voice growing quieter, almost melancholic.
[System Alert: Who the hell gave this bastard a C in expressiveness? Unbelievable...]
'Ah, this is really annoying, you bastard.'
Irritated by Sipsam's chatter, Hajin winked subtly to dismiss the system alert. (Since when did it have this function—?!) Then he resumed his wistful, lonely act.
"Eun-chan was the first person I got close to when I joined Miro. Even now, as roommates, he helps me a lot..."
Of course, Hajin had never once felt awkward at Miro. These days, Eun-chan's most frequent request was, 'Doha-hyung, please switch rooms with me.'
'But who needs to know that?'
Hajin sipped his iced tea dramatically, eyes shining.
"So when I found out this was happening to Eun-chan, I couldn't just stand by. That's why I asked Team Leader Soo-ho to arrange this meeting."
Finally, with even his eyes glistening, Hajin perfectly embodied the 'kind friend with a painful past' act as he looked at Eun-seok.
Eun-seok, seemingly moved by Hajin's (fake) sincerity, relaxed his furrowed brow and smiled warmly.
"...My little brother really lucked out with his roommate."
Got him.
Hajin cheered internally, clenching his fist as Eun-seok gazed at him fondly.
"Thank you. It's awkward to say this to someone else, but I've been so busy with work and family that I haven't paid enough attention to Eun-chan."
"Not at all. Ah, you got married recently, right? Belated congratulations, hyung-nim."
"Haha. This really feels like meeting my little brother's friend. He's never introduced anyone before."
Okay, secured the title of 'Little Brother's First Friend.'
"Hmm. But this is tricky. They've set things up so cleverly that an official statement from the company would just look ridiculous... And if my father hears about this, it'll be trouble."
Eun-seok rubbed his temples as he handed the phone back. It was clear that no matter how they handled it, the nepotism allegations wouldn't disappear cleanly.
At that moment, Hajin—who had been playing the role of 'bright and cheerful but secretly burdened by a painful past, unable to ignore his suffering junior's plight, the kind first friend'—instantly shed his mask and leaned forward with the eyes of a predator.
"So here's the thing, hyung-nim."
"...Uh, yes?"
"Why not just throw some money at this problem? Go all out."
[System Alert: That bastard's eyes just lit up. (Stop selling your schemes...)]
Eun-seok's pupils trembled.