Protect Ha-yeon (1)
Sudden sobs from my little sister threw everyone into panic.
Not just me—everybody, including the crowd that had come to gawk at the gorilla.
"Uh... should we head out for a bit?"
The quick-witted Lee Wooju caught on to the situation and started toward the door, but...
"D-don't... go..."
Ha-yeon, scared out of her wits for some reason, clung to everyone desperately.
Mom and Dad were both out working their dual-income grind, so the empty house probably amplified her fear.
"Calm down and tell us slowly what happened."
I dropped my backpack and plopped down on the living room floor.
"Then we'll step out for a sec."
"Let us know if we're in the way."
My friends and senior who had followed me settled in cautiously and turned their eyes to Ha-yeon.
"Actually... I haven't told anyone... but I think I messed up the contract..."
Ha-yeon, still sniffling and not fully calmed, slowly explained her predicament.
"Oppa might not know, but... I'm actually a million-follower influencer..."
"We already knew."
She looked a bit surprised at my response, but her expression didn't brighten.
"Not just on Insta, but TikTok too—I was doing pretty well, so at first I made money doing short lives here and there?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Then later, product promos and ads started rolling in..."
"Isn't that great?"
No wonder she had so much cash...
Before coming home, I'd scoured Ha-yeon's SNS. Just like she said, one in every five posts was an ad, and there were products from pretty big brands.
But...
"I thought it was great at first too. Earning this much money at my age... But most companies hesitated to sign because I'm a minor. No agency, keeping it secret from parents..."
"Is that a problem?"
I tilted my head, not getting it, and Kim Taeyang—who's always into this stuff—filled in the blanks.
"It's legally dicey a lot of the time. Even for part-time jobs, they won't hire without parental consent."
Everyone nodded like it made sense now.
"Yeah... I felt so wronged. Just because of my age, no money? It was my fault for not letting go of the greed."
Ha-yeon kept going.
"Huh? But I saw your Insta, sis—tons of ad posts."
"...I saw too."
Lee Jihye pointed it out, and even my senior agreed.
"Exactly. So what's the deal?"
I figured her story didn't add up either.
"Well..."
Ha-yeon hesitated, then burst into tears again.
"Take it slow... we'll wait as long as you need."
Chae Serin sat beside her, patting her shoulder.
After about five minutes of silence, my sister finally spoke again.
"About two months ago... some company contacted me. Said they could fix all my issues."
Ha-yeon pulled up her DMs to show the company's messages.
"Terms weren't bad. They'd handle all the promo paperwork, split earnings 80-20. Said they had tons of minor influencers, so no worries."
Tsk...Already stinks to high heaven.
"Scary at first, but the meeting guy seemed fine. Company was legit online... So we chatted, and I asked about extras."
"They probably didn't show their hand right then."
"Right. Said nothing like that, just confirm the split, shoved the contract at me. Never imagined it'd bite me like this..."
Ha-yeon clenched her fists, biting her lip.
"After that, money I never dreamed of hit my account... Company pushed me hard. I was thrilled... Getting famous, money, fame, all mine... But..."
"But...?"
"It was all setup for today."
She showed the DMs and call logs she'd gotten.
We stared in horror.
***
"Serin, stay with Ha-yeon for now. We'll talk in the living room."
Figured it'd be best with someone she knew a bit.
"And Ha-yeon. Even if Mom and Dad hate SNS stuff, you should've talked this over."
"Sorry..."
Ha-yeon hung her head, tears like chicken shit streaming down.
"Still... thanks for telling us now."
I stroked her hair, blocking the view of her face with my body.
"Hic... huwaaa..."
She grabbed my collar and wailed like the house was collapsing.
She's a pain in the ass gorilla anywhere I put her, but...
Fucking bastards.
No big bro leaves family-touchers alone. Doesn't exist.
A vein throbbed on my forehead; my face crumpled in real time, fist revving to pulverize those pricks.
"Everyone, living room. Now."
Colder and icier than ever. But no one flinched or got scared.
We were all the same.
***
In the living room, I grabbed colas from the fridge and passed them around.
Everyone stayed silent, grasping the gravity.
I sorted my thoughts... just cracked open a cola wordlessly.
"This... is Korea's reality, huh."
Lee Wooju spoke first.
"Unbelievable. How could they do that to a kid that young..."
Kim Minji showed a rare shocked face, still reeling.
"...We need a solution."
Senior analyzed seriously too.
Sudden gathering of near-strangers bonds tight over one problem.
"The contract just says 'help if company asks'—not that crap!"
"Right, even if she lied about age, she's middle school. Forcing sexy photoshoots? Against the law, no?"
"...And penalty's 100x earnings? Insane."
Yeah.
All true.
Ha-yeon had stuck to cute concepts so far, nothing overboard.
But now? Adult-mag level explicit. Refuse? Breach.
Law exists, so they can't pull that shit... but...
Why Ha-yeon? Why this?
NP Entertainment.
Company name on the contract scrambled my brain.
Cuz it existed in the original too.
Victim was Chae Serin.
Her dance club SNS blew up; offers flooded. Signed with NP Entertainment.
Same tricks dragged her down, but she escaped—insider blew the whistle, sank the company.
Not now.
Storm in, beat 'em, shred contract? Nah.
NP was backed by underworld gang. That's why they filmed minor exploitation vids guilt-free, sold 'em secret.
If Ha-yeon went today? They'd film her for sure.
Powerless middle-school girl vs. gangsters? No escape.
Blackmail forever.
"Ha..."
Problem's bad enough, but knowing it all fueled my rage.
Grinding teeth, racking brain to smash 'em.
"Legal route? Lawyer fees ain't cheap. Even with her earnings... finding a trustworthy ace..."
"Leave that to me!"
Lee Jihye thumped her chest. Right, chaebol heir.
"Still... not pocket change..."
"Can't do that much for my future sister-in-law?"
She meant it, but...
"S-sister-in-law?"
"...Who?"
Kim Minji and senior's brows twitched, faces souring.
"Then I'll dig up dirt on that company. Need solid evidence for public backlash~?"
Kim Minji lit up, proving her worth.
"...Me too. Might've hit band connections."
Senior struck a fighting pose, all in.
"Everyone... thanks so much."
I thunked my head on the table.
"Won't be easy... but please!"
"Hey, Haon-kun, you didn't forget us?"
"We'll go all out. Rally friends first—stir Insta, TikTok a bit?"
"Stir?"
"Yeah, influencers die without fan support. Key to have fans backing us against the company."
"Taeyang's right. Legal fight turns frontal? They'll troll and stir shit... but if we own it first?"
"Ooh..."
These idiots' bullshit finally pays off!
Wooju and Taeyang nailed what I hadn't thought of.
"Okay... you guys handle that..."
I got my own mission.
Can't drag 'em into danger.
Toughest one's mine.
"We're off then!"
"We'll text live—keep your phone close."
"Comfort Ha-yeon. Must be terrified."
Bustling house emptied quick.
Ha-yeon cried herself out, crashed asleep.
"Where to start..."
To-dos lined up in my head.
First...
"Son, Mom's home. Dad soon."
Neatly explain to parents.
Then...
Keep Ha-yeon indoors awhile.
Those scum might kidnap.
"Mother, I swear everything I say now... is true."
Big shock, but...
For sis, no choice.
After spilling it all, Mom just hugged Ha-yeon silently.
"It's okay... it's okay..."
Tears endless.
Crunch—
Original's iron law?
I reformed, no incident... so it twists to screw others?
Bam!
Fuck that.
Original blocks my life?
I'll smash it to bits.
"Seohwan, talk. Meet at our usual convenience store."