Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: After the Storm
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Episode 129.
-This is from a former SJ Enter employee who knows reporter Do Chang-ryeol well. Feeling a pang of conscience for his wife, who has dedicated her life to supporting him, I am writing to inform you of the reporter’s long-standing affair and compensated dating…
I sent a slightly embellished version of the truth to the reporter’s wife.
-…If this continues, it is certain that even the assets in your name will be spent on Reporter Do’s twisted desires. It is clear that both SJ Enter and JD Enter will soon be coming after him. I pray that you will take wise action to reclaim your past sacrifices and ensure that good triumphs over evil.
After sending the text, I looked at the 7.5 million won gold key in my hand and gave a bitter smile.
Wouldn’t the world be a better place with at least one dark hero who doesn’t shy away from using dirty tricks against villains? Not that it matters if it isn’t.
I searched for Answer.
An article by reporter Shin Dong-min, a favorable rebuttal, was decorating the main page, and it already had numerous comments.
-See? I told you all to stay neutral.
-Seriously, where did all those fucking idiots go who were raising hell without even checking the facts?
-So, are they saying it wasn't Answer?
-Are you illiterate? What have you been reading? It was a malicious article about Answer, and they even issued an apology.
-Wow, that reporter has some nerve. Aren't people driven to suicide because of false-rumor spreaders like him?
-But don't reporters get punished? For just writing articles like that?
-There are definitely a lot of reporters who spread false information, but the punishments seem light.
-It's because of bastards like him that all reporters get lumped together and called "trash reporters."
-As a fellow reporter, I'm truly disgusted. I hope JD Enter sues for proper damages.
-So in the end, does this mean Your G-something Girls were behind it?
-You shouldn't blame the girl group for something like this, you should blame the company that's managing them.
-Careful, careful. That son of a dog is a lawsuit fiend.
-You all know the drill, right? Leave out the subject.
Many of those who had been aiming their arrows of fury at Answer were now even more enraged, attacking Reporter Do and SJ Enter.
[Quest ‘Answer in Crisis’ Objective Complete.]
Everything has returned to normal. This incident may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise for you and everyone around you.
Success Reward: 5 distributable points have been awarded.
Total Distributable Points: 36pt
Commencing S-Rank Random Draw.
Silk Pouch Stratagem (S)
Time Slip (S)
Map Hack (S)
Charisma (S)
⋮
Time Slip?
There was an item like that?
*Bam-baba-bam.*
Reward: ‘Silk Pouch Stratagem (S)’
Allows you to overcome moments of crisis.
A brilliant rainbow-colored flash sparked before my eyes.
It was a reliable item I’d used once before.
With this, I felt I wouldn't have to worry about any emergency. I was a bit curious about what Time Slip was, though. Well, I’m sure I’ll get it someday.
*Zzzzng.*
It was a call from reporter Shin Dong-min.
“Yes, Reporter-nim.”
-How on earth did you do it?
It seemed Reporter Shin had also been on standby all day, worried about Answer. Otherwise, he couldn't have known about the resolution so quickly.
“Your information was a great help, Reporter-nim.”
-Oh, please. What could you do with just a phone number and a name? But really, what did you do?
I gave him a rough summary of the situation.
-…I’m at a loss for words. Someone like you, Timjang-nim, would have become incredibly famous as a reporter or a profiler.
Reporter Shin praised me for a good while.
-Ah, and by the way, the embargo on the point card is being lifted early tomorrow morning.
That was a relief. My little concern could now be resolved at the perfect time.
After hanging up, I called a famous local bakery.
“I’d like to order 33 sets of handmade cookies and dutch coffee, packaged and ready by 10 AM tomorrow. I’ll transfer the payment right now.”
I entered the office.
It was nearly 8 PM, but several employees from the marketing and PR teams were still at their desks, completely drained and doing nothing. They must have been in a state of burnout after a full day of dealing with calls, emails, and comments.
“Aren’t you all heading home?”
“…We will… after the meeting.”
“My throat is completely hoarse from being on the phone all day.”
“I think I’m getting arthritis in my fingers.”
My question unleashed a torrent of complaints from the exhausted employees.
“Huh? Hyung, you’re here?”
I saw the face of Choi Yoo-jun, who had been hidden with his head down on his desk. The dark circles under his eyes told me he’d had a rough day too.
I had to rescue them quickly. Before they broke down completely.
“Everyone, pack your things. And search for Answer online.”
As I headed to the planning office, I heard the clatter of keyboards, followed by exclamations from the staff.
I feigned ignorance and knocked on the planning office door.
*Knock, knock.*
There was no answer, but I opened the door and went in anyway.
A faint smell of cigarettes. It wasn't strong enough to suggest they'd smoked in the meeting room, but the smell clinging to their clothes subtly filled the air.
“The smell of smoke…”
Only Director Lee was glaring at me with wide eyes; everyone else stared ahead with vacant, exhausted gazes.
“It’s been resolved.”
“……?”
Even though they must have heard me say it was resolved, they just stared at me as if asking what I meant.
They had clearly been so dejected that they hadn't checked the media in a while.
“I have to stop by Answer’s dorm, so I’ll be leaving first. It looks like we’ll need an early meeting tomorrow morning. You all worked hard.”
“…Whoa!”
As I was leaving the planning office, I heard the Daepyo-nim’s exclamation from inside.
“Hey, Min-jun! How did you do it?”
“I met with Do Chang-ryeol and persuaded him. I’ll tell you the details tomorrow.”
Soon, a surprised-looking Director Lee Sun hastily grabbed her handbag and followed me.
* * *
After being bombarded all day by comments denouncing them, the members of Answer seemed to have given up by evening.
What hurt Answer the most were the people from their own fan cafe, their supposed allies.
The fan cafe was filled with malicious comments and jeers from members who had left, and eventually, Choi Yoo-jun gave up trying to manage it and temporarily shut it down.
“…Haaaah… I don’t even know anymore.”
Seul-bi flopped down on the living room floor.
“We’re totally screwed, aren’t we?”
At Yi-na’s casual remark, Seul-bi started fiddling with her phone.
“Why are you looking again? It’ll just make you angry.”
Despite Seol-ah’s listless words, Seul-bi stubbornly continued to operate her phone.
“…I’m not looking at articles. I ordered spicy fried chicken, pizza, and rosé tteokbokki.”
“…Are you crazy?”
“Our entire schedule for this week is canceled anyway. If I’m going to die, I’d rather die with a full stomach.”
Seol-ah gave a wretched smile at Seul-bi’s words.
“Why is everyone like this? I told you to trust Min-jun oppa, didn’t I? He seemed to have a plan earlier. And he succeeded in getting the shareholder list.”
Ro-si, who had been cosplaying as an heiress, tried to lift the somber mood, her makeup still on.
But the Answer members, worn down all day by the media, comments, and calls from acquaintances, had no energy left.
“Ro-si. Let’s go buy some alcohol.”
“…Haaaah…”
“I’m going even if you try to stop me.”
“Alright.”
A short while later, Ro-si and Seul-bi returned, their arms full of beer and soju.
“Huh?”
Seul-bi saw that Seol-ah, who had just been trying to stop them, had set up glasses, plates, and utensils on the table, and she let out a weak smile.
“Since we’re all depressed today…”
Before Seol-ah could finish her excuse, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from outside the front door.
*Thump, thump, thump.*
“Ah, fuck. How is there no elevator on the fourth floor? Ugh. I should charge extra for delivery.”
*Bang, bang, bang!*
“Delivery!”
The delivery driver pounded on the door, annoyed, despite there being a doorbell.
“Coming!”
*Click!*
The driver, who had been full of irritation, froze in surprise at the sight of Ro-si’s otherworldly beauty.
“I’m sorry for the trouble. Please have this.”
“…Ah! Yes. Thank you! Huh?”
The driver, noticing Ro-si’s unique ash-blonde hair, glanced inside the apartment and saw Seul-bi’s similar hair color. His face turned to one of shock.
When Ro-si quickly handed him a warm coffee she’d bought from the convenience store, the driver grinned foolishly and went back down the stairs.
“Haa… We’re people like this, and they call us patricidal?”
Yi-na grumbled as she opened a chicken box. Answer’s small, depressing party had begun.
“Kuh. It’s bitter.”
Watching Seul-bi and Yi-na focus on the food, Seol-ah lifted her soju glass.
“…Kuh… Don’t be so pessimistic. It might take time, but the truth will come out.”
“…Nom. Will Answer still be around by then?”
Seul-bi replied bleakly, a slice of pizza in her mouth.
“…Can you really say things like that while you’re eating?”
“I’m eating because I’m that frustrated. If I don’t eat right now, I think I’ll actually go crazy.”
“Then just eat quietly. Don’t make things more pessimistic.”
Seol-ah, now annoyed, snapped at Seul-bi.
“This isn’t pessimism, it’s reality. The company poured its last funds into this project. And right before we start, we’re branded a patricidal girl group.”
Sighs erupted at Seul-bi’s realistic assessment.
‘We’re crumbling like this because of one ridiculous rumor? Is the will of the powerful stronger than the truth?’
Perhaps the one making the most realistic judgment was Seol-ah, who had been comforting her younger members.
As time passed, everyone except Yi-na, who wasn't drinking, started to get drunk.
Seol-ah recalled the phone call she’d had with her mom back home.
‘Mom! I think we’re going to hit it big this time.’
-Your mom saw it with Yejun. Congratulations, my daughter. All your hard work is finally paying off, huh?
‘You’re the one who did all the hard work, Mom. You should start preparing to close your business.’
-What are you talking about? Why would I close it?
‘I’m going to give you everything I earn from now on, so you and Yejun should move up here. Let’s live together now.’
-Pfft. Thanks for just saying it, sweetie.
-Noo-na, Noo-na! What’s a biiig hit?
‘It means our Yejun gets to do whatever he wants.’
-Woooow. I wanna see a beaar, a beaar and a tiger.
‘Okay. Mom, Noona, and you will ride in a car through a safari and see bears, tigers, and lions, okay?’
-Yay! That sounds fuuun!
Seol-ah’s eyes welled up as she remembered the image of Yejun jumping up and down with joy on the other side of the screen.
“…*Hic*…”
Finally, the emotions she had been holding back burst forth, and Seol-ah broke into tears.
“Unni…”
Yi-na hugged Seol-ah from behind. Although it was just a small sob, all the Answer members understood how Seol-ah felt.
Feeling inexplicably sorry, Seul-bi also let out a deep sigh.
Seeing Seol-ah, who had always been the steadfast leader comforting her members, break down, tears began to well up in the other members' eyes as well.
* * *
Arriving at the dorm, I checked my phone.
-Everything’s been resolved. I’m heading to the dorm now. The director is with me.
It had been a while since I sent it, but no one had read it yet. What was going on? The message remained unread even as I arrived at Answer’s dorm.
As I was about to call one of the members, Director Lee Sun asked sharply.
“What? Why are you calling?”
“To let them know you’re here.”
“Don’t. It’s been a while. Let’s just see how they’re living.”
“Okay.”
I had a bad feeling. But since the issue was resolved, it should be fine, right?
“And Min-jun, don’t you go running off just because another place gives you a good offer.”
Director Lee said from behind me as she climbed the steep stairs.
“As I said before, as long as I’m treated proper…”
“You know that’s not what I mean.”
What did she mean, then? Director Lee continued.
“I’m asking for a chance to treat you right. You helped us overcome another crisis this time.”
“I have a desire to make JD Enter grow. That’s why I’m having Ro-si try acting, too.”
“…Writing hit songs would probably make you more money.”
It seemed she thought I was letting my talent go to waste because of all the miscellaneous tasks I was handling.
She wouldn’t know that after work, I returned to my Beat Room persona and was making money through various productions.
“You can just help me make more than my royalties, can’t you?”
“…I’m always thinking about it.”
It was dark because of the broken sensor light on the second floor, but I could faintly see the director’s bright smile.
We arrived at the dorm, and I rang the doorbell. I expected to hear the sounds of them scrambling around in a panic, but it was surprisingly quiet.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Min-jun.”
The door flew open, and with a strong smell of alcohol, Ro-si’s face popped out.
“What brings you here at this hour…!”
Ro-si froze when she spotted the director.
“Huh? Min-jun-sshii…?”
Seol-ah’s glazed eyes, which had been unfocused, instantly sharpened as she saw the director over Ro-si’s shoulder, who was slowly backing away.
Director Lee stepped into the entryway and took in the scene—a table and floor littered with leftover food and empty alcohol bottles. Her expression was devastated. No, it looked like she was about to explode.
‘…We’re so fucked.’