Chapter 57
I’m translating the chapter now and keeping the HTML structure aligned with the source shifts in scene and dialogue. I’ll preserve the special in-universe text as styled blocks where it appears and keep the prose natural rather than literal.CHAPTER_TITLE: A Trap Set Before the Morning Meeting
The word left my mouth, and even I thought I sounded far too relaxed.
"When this blows up, who do you think gets their head handed to them first, Manager Park?"
It wasn’t just my voice that was calm.
My mind was calm too. My heart was, too. It was a strange thing to feel in a place like this, but I didn’t bother overthinking it.
For baiting Park Hyeong-sik, this version of me, laid-back and unhurried, was exactly what I needed.
"Kwon Ho-jun’s going down with me, but I think you’ll be in trouble too, Manager Park. Isn’t that right?"
Park Hyeong-sik could not hide his irritation.
"I had nothing to do with this incident!"
His lips trembled.
"That bastard Kwon Ho-jun using drugs has nothing to do with me! So why the hell am I the one getting my neck chopped off?"
It was true.
According to Reporter Seo’s investigation, Park Hyeong-sik had no direct connection to Kwon Ho-jun’s drug use.
Of course, there was no connection only in the narrow sense. He did stand by and do nothing.
There was probably a deeper story behind that negligence, but it had nothing to do with me right now.
I leaned forward.
"I know you weren’t directly involved. But, Manager Park."
A faint smile touched my lips.
"Who’s going to believe that now? That you and Kwon Ho-jun had no close relationship at all?"
Park Hyeong-sik clenched his teeth.
"...So what? You want me to cooperate with you because no one will believe me?"
"No, you don’t have to cooperate."
I shrugged.
"But you should choose your side carefully, shouldn’t you?"
"..."
"You know better than anyone that changing jobs in this industry isn’t easy. Especially for managers like you and me. If you want an outside offer, your career has to be truly solid..."
I let the sentence trail off and tilted my head.
"What company would ever take in the manager who covered for a drug-addicted idol?"
"!"
"And do you really think Seoul Forest will protect you? I’ll leave that one to you."
Park Hyeong-sik picked up his glass.
He drained three straight glasses, one after another, and his face turned red at once.
His lips parted.
"...What exactly do you want from me? No, before that, why are you making me an offer like this? You?"
"I need a little help from you too, Manager Park."
I dropped a well-seared piece of beef into his bowl.
"Kwon Ho-jun’s role in Black Bride is pretty big this time, isn’t it? Once the article comes out, the film’s image is going to get splashed with filth..."
I met Park Hyeong-sik’s eyes and let him see what I really meant.
"I hate that. That’s why I came to meet you like this, to make sure Kwon Ho-jun is finished."
Park Hyeong-sik’s eyes widened.
"...You contacted me because of Black Bride?"
"Yes. Like you said earlier, Black Bride is my project, isn’t it?"
"..."
"I put Seo Tae-jun and Lee Ha-eun into it. You know what happens to my position in the company if a project of this scale starts to wobble."
I lifted the corners of my mouth in a bright smile.
"So I have no reason to threaten you. I need your help too."
Park Hyeong-sik’s eyes wavered.
Seeing that, I could be certain.
I’ve got him.
People call it business, but business built on business alone couldn’t earn real trust.
So I laid my sincerity on the table, and that sincerity seemed to shake Park Hyeong-sik’s heart.
His expression had changed from a moment ago as he muttered, "What do you need me to do?"
He was all but in my pocket.
But I didn’t let any urgency show. I kept the easy pace all the way through.
"Nothing major. Just help me make sure there’s proof Kwon Ho-jun is absolutely, undeniably a drug addict."
"So what do I get out of this?"
I shrugged.
"If Kwon Ho-jun goes down for real, won’t that be the only way Manager Park survives?"
"..."
"Of course, that alone isn’t enough. I’ll let you know the timing for the article in advance."
Park Hyeong-sik tilted his head.
"How is that good for me?"
"Because then you can negotiate."
"...Negotiate?"
"Yes. Take the exposure timing I give you and use it to bargain with the CEO of Seoul Forest Entertainment."
"!"
"You say this incident was Kwon Ho-jun’s crime alone. That means we have to cut him loose to save the rest of us, so what did the other Hi-top members ever do wrong?"
"..."
"Push the story in that direction and dump every last bit of blame on Kwon Ho-jun. That way..."
I trailed off and raised my glass.
"You won’t end up being falsely accused yourself, will you?"
Park Hyeong-sik stared at me in silence.
After I let the gaze pass by without reacting, he finally lifted his own glass.
"...Not bad."
"Then we’re on the same team now?"
Instead of answering, Park Hyeong-sik clinked his glass against mine and downed it in one shot. His face, now even redder than before, carried a newly visible spark of resolve.
"...What do I need to do, Manager Kwon?"
The corner of my mouth twitched.
I’ve roped Park Hyeong-sik in exactly as planned.
Keeping my expression under control, I rolled the glass in my hand.
Now that Park Hyeong-sik was on my side, how should I use him?
The answer was already decided.
I offered the suggestion casually, in a light voice.
"There’s no way Kwon Ho-jun is getting out of this alive anyway."
Of course, what I was saying was anything but light.
"So I’m thinking we should just get a clean shot of him using drugs outright. What do you think, Manager Park?"
Park Hyeong-sik’s eyes shook violently.
Thailand, Bangkok.
Thai K-POP fans shouted themselves hoarse as they watched Kwon Ho-jun, fresh from his fan meeting, wave back at them with that eye-smile of his.
"Khop khun khrap, khop khun khrap."
After barely getting out of the fan meeting venue, he climbed into the van and let out a long, tired breath.
"Ugh, I’m exhausted. Hyung, you got water?"
"Isn’t there some in the back seat?"
"Yeah. Zero Cola would be fine too, but there’s nothing to drink?"
Kwon Ho-jun fanned himself with a heap of fan letters and gift boxes before tossing them aside. Glancing over, his manager handed him an iced Americano.
Kwon Ho-jun barked out a laugh.
"You’re giving me coffee in this weather? Are you trying to dehydrate me?"
"That’s all there is. Want me to go buy something?"
"No, forget it. Just drive already."
The manager at the wheel started the van.
With his eyes closed, Kwon Ho-jun muttered, "No schedule after today, right?"
"Uh... probably not."
"Then take me straight to the hotel. I’m staying alone all day, so don’t call me."
The manager’s voice trembled.
"Oh, you’re doing it again today?"
"Why are you acting so surprised all of a sudden?"
Kwon Ho-jun snorted.
"You know why I even came to Thailand, right?"
"...Still, isn’t it a bit much?"
"Why are you talking so much today?"
The manager’s throat bobbed.
"Because I’m worried."
"Worried now? Spare me the act and just bring me a few women. Ones without any fallout."
"...Hey, if you keep this up, you’re really going to end up in trouble."
"Hyung."
"What?"
"What the hell is with all the talking today? You’re pissing me off."
The manager’s shoulders jerked. In the rearview mirror, Kwon Ho-jun was staring this way with a cold look in his eyes. The manager’s lips moved.
"I... sorry."
"Forget it. What happened with the manager from Lee Ha-eun’s side?"
"I’m working on it."
"Handle it faster. I’m going crazy."
The corner of Kwon Ho-jun’s mouth rose.
"Ha... I saw her for the first time in the lobby, and she really was stunning, Lee Ha-eun."
"..."
"I thought an angel had come down from heaven. But damn, her temper’s something else too. If I’m going to pin someone down, it should be someone like that, right?"
The line of Kwon Ho-jun’s mouth curved upward again, and the shape of that smile rippled with desire.
"So hurry up and make some room for me. Got it?"
The manager forced a smile.
Kwon Ho-jun smiled back.
A little later, when they reached the hotel, Kwon Ho-jun got out of the van and headed for his room.
The manager who had followed behind him called out with a hesitant expression.
"Uh... Ho-jun."
"What."
"...Can’t you just not do it today?"
Kwon Ho-jun turned around.
He looked steadily at the manager, whom he had worked with for two years, with those distinctly benevolent eyes of his, then suddenly stomped hard on the manager’s foot.
"You want to keep lecturing me?"
"...No, forget it."
"Good. Then go out and bring me some women."
The manager gave a bitter smile.
"Sleep well."
"I will. After one shot of this..."
Kwon Ho-jun tilted his head.
"Even if I don’t want to, good dreams come to me. Hyung, why don’t you try it sometime?"
The manager didn’t answer. He just turned away.
Kwon Ho-jun didn’t bother stopping him and went into the room.
Not long after that, Kwon Ho-jun’s personal manager arrived with Reporter Seo.
"By now, he’ll have stuck the syringe in."
"Thank you, Manager-nim."
The manager didn’t answer. He just turned around.
After letting out a heavy sigh, he rode the elevator down and disappeared.
Watching his back, Reporter Seo shrugged and went into the room.
A cry of amazement burst out of his mouth.
"Whoa... now this is performance art."
Kwon Ho-jun was sprawled across the sofa.
A syringe was stuck into his wrist.
Unidentified drugs were scattered all over the place.
Reporter Seo clicked his tongue.
He’s completely gone, huh?
This was an airtight arrest in the act.
Just as Reporter Seo let out a low laugh and raised his camera, Kwon Ho-jun, his pupils blown wide, muttered, "...........What the hell? Why is there a camera?"
"!"
"Is this dream a stage?"
"..."
"Yeah, a stage sounds nice..."
His words slurred off, and Kwon Ho-jun grinned brightly.
"Come on, make me a superstar. Heh heh..."
Reporter Seo stared at him in silence for a moment, then broke into a dry laugh.
"Yeah, punk. I’ll make you a superstar."
With Reporter Seo’s declaration, the last shred of Kwon Ho-jun’s drug-soaked reason flew off into dreamland.
"Though it’ll be a little different from the superstar you’re imagining, you drug-addled bastard."
Click.
Kwon Ho-jun, high as a kite, was captured by Reporter Seo’s camera.
After finishing the job, Reporter Seo left the hotel.
Cigarette in his mouth, he frowned at the muggy Thai heat and muttered, "Hoo...! Look at this weather. I’m gonna get cooked alive, cooked alive...!"
He pulled his smartphone from his pocket and made a call.
After a few rings, a familiar voice came through.
Lighting his cigarette, Reporter Seo said, "Manager Kwon, the job’s done."
A low laugh drifted through the receiver.
"Good work, Reporter Seo. Get back safely, and let’s talk about the timing of the exposé when you’re in."
And so Reporter Seo spoke with Manager Kwon Chan of Baekhak Team 5 for a short while.
After Kwon Chan’s words of thanks and encouragement, Reporter Seo ended the call and muttered, "...Something’s changed, hasn’t it, this guy?"
He had definitely changed.
The Kwon Chan Reporter Seo had known had ambition, sure, but he didn’t cross lines.
But now this guy’s suddenly lost the line altogether?
Reporter Seo himself leaned toward the no-rules side, but this version of Manager Kwon was even worse than he was.
What the hell did he say to make a Seoul Forest Entertainment manager dump his own artist?
Did he actually threaten him?
Scratching his chin, Reporter Seo shrugged.
"Well, whatever. Doesn’t matter, I guess."
Unless Kwon Chan had become the enemy, they were on the same side right now.
As long as he didn’t betray them, Reporter Seo could stay on the same team as this changed Manager Kwon forever.
He flicked ash from his cigarette and lifted his head.
"Heh-heh-heh... what a gorgeous day."
It was autumn, but the Thai weather was still sweltering.
And by the time he got back to Korea, it would probably be the same there too.
When the source he had just nailed down was published, the Korean entertainment world would heat up in every possible way.
It had been a few days since I’d reached my understanding with Manager Park Hyeong-sik of Seoul Forest.
Monday came after I had thoroughly enjoyed the weekend that sat between us, and my eyes snapped open on their own.
"Hmm..."
Maybe it was because I’d slept so soundly after a long time.
My already good condition felt like it was shooting straight through the roof.
I got up, opened the window, and checked the weather outside.
"Feels like autumn."
It was getting a little too cool for short sleeves and shorts now.
After showering, I pulled a casual fall suit from the closet.
I checked the fit in the full-length mirror, then headed to Baekhak headquarters in a state of easy calm.
After tapping my card key at the lobby, I didn’t head to the management office. I went to the public relations department instead.
As the busiest department at Baekhak, PR was already packed with employees who’d come in early.
I stuck my head out like a meerkat and started looking for the PR team leader.
"Huh? Manager Kwon? What brings you here?"
I turned my head.
The PR team leader was standing behind me, coffee in hand.
The corner of my mouth rose.
"Good morning, Team Leader."
"...What are you doing here this early in the morning?"
"Hmm, I’ve got something to ask you. Do you happen to know the Vice President’s schedule today?"
"?"
The PR team leader blinked at me like an idiot.
"Why would you be asking about the Vice President’s schedule on a Monday morning?"
"Ah, I have something to tell him."
The PR team leader frowned and tried to stop me.
"Ugh... Manager Kwon, let me give you some senior workplace advice. You do not mess with an executive on Monday morning!"
"Why not?"
"He’s a person too, isn’t he? Do you think he likes coming in on Monday!? If it’s not something truly important, report it in the afternoon!"
I snorted.
The PR team leader tilted her head.
"What is it? Why are you laughing like that?"
Instead of answering, I showed her the full text of Reporter Seo’s article, which we had agreed to publish at six that afternoon.
The PR team leader adjusted her round glasses and read the article I’d shown her in silence.
After a moment,
".........Whaaaaaaaat!"
Her sharp cry drew everyone in PR to attention. But as if too shocked to care about the surrounding stares, the team leader stumbled over her words in utter confusion.
"M-Manager Kwon... this!"
Taking back the smartphone in her hand, I replied, "Yes, exactly. Hi-top’s supporting actor in Black Bride, this guy Kwon Ho-jun..."
My voice had heated with all the excitement and anticipation I’d been holding in all weekend.
"He was doing drugs like a pro. At this level, isn’t it fine to meet the Vice President on Monday morning?"
At that question, the PR team leader just stared at me, speechless.