Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Chart-Topping Reversal
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It was past midnight.
A post appeared on one community forum.
There was a trainee lined up to debut with Flame. But after losing consciousness in an accident for over half a year, GH dumped him the second he woke up ㅠ
Luckily, he switched to Pida, debuted on radio, and his busking video blew up on Viewt too.
Yep, it's that legit Lee Do-jun everyone knows ㅇㅇ
He was killing it, hitting #5 on charts right after debut, then bam—an exposé claiming he assaulted someone.
Didn't name him outright, but the keywords all pointed straight to Do-jun.
Before he could even respond, Do-jun and Pida became the bad guys. They denied it, but haters kept piling on, so all schedules got halted.
Thank god Flame's Lee Jae-yoon and a GH staffer stepped up with their real names to clear it ㅠㅠ
If not, he'd have been buried with an unfair assault label.
Three-Line Summary
1. Lee Do-jun unfairly booted from GH, debuts at Pida
2. Anonymous post pops up calling Do-jun the assaulter
3. Turns out it was a rumor spread by GH, exposed by Flame's Lee Jae-yoon and an internal staffer
Mad the whole read through ㅠㅠ How can people pull this shit?
Our leader's such a good guy ㅠㅠㅠ Even now everyone's got his back ㅜㅜㅜ Framing a sweet kid like that as an assaulter ㅠㅠㅠ
God Jae-yoon picking sides against his own agency for a bro...
★☆★☆ Please flood them with protest calls. We gotta boot this exec or Flame takes the hit too. ㅠㅠ Spread everywhere! ★☆★☆
Right ㅇㅇ Gotta uproot them completely. That exec Moon Dae-chan's infamous. Time to take him down!
Let's max out streaming to push it higher... ㅠㅠ Our boys are rookies—if GH pressures stations, we're screwed ㅠㅠ
Just a passing Flame fan, but rooting for you! B.O.Y fighting!!
Just like that, people banded together to support their favorite celebrities.
Bright sunlight slipped through my closed eyelids. Instinctively, I pulled the fluffy blanket up over my head.
Then Jae-ha's voice came.
"Hyung."
Ah, I was finally sleeping deeply without dreams for once... what is it?
I rolled over without answering, wriggling under the covers, but then he started shaking me through the blanket.
"Get up."
There were no schedules at all, so why wake me? This was my first real good sleep in ages.
The moment I forced my heavy eyes open to say something—that was when it happened.
"Hyung! Do-jun hyung!"
"Eek!"
Kim Ha-woon burst in yelling loud enough to shake the room, leaped in with a thud, and jumped straight onto the bed.
"H-Heavy..."
"Look at this! Quick!"
I squirmed to shove him off, but Ha-woon ignored me completely and shoved his phone in my face.
The screen's glare forced open my still-sleepy eyes.
- Everyone who was bashing Lee Do-jun is in deep shit now ㄷㄷㄷ
- GH's always been ruthless, but this is next-level shameless lololol
- Why are commenters in trouble? GH's the one screwed ㅡㅡ
- Upper commenter left hate comments? Lmao why so triggered?
- Poor Do-jun ㅠㅠ Even after hospital records dropped, people mocked and hated—hope they all get punished ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
"Huh?"
But the lingering sleep vanished the instant I checked the screen.
What was this? Totally different from the comments I'd seen the past few days?
Scrolling up, it was the article I'd seen right before bed. Back then, it was all just chart position jokes...
"Check this too."
As I blinked dazedly, Jae-ha showed reactions from another community.
That scum Moon Dae-chan, knew it was him. Old fans know GH messes always trace back to this bastard. If you have any conscience, turn yourself in and fuck off.
Our leader too sexy ㅠㅠ Must've been hard speaking out as a GH artist. Perfect from looks to personality...
Here, it was mostly hate for GH—or specifically Moon Dae-chan—and Flame fans, but overall positive toward us.
I'd slept in, and the world around me had flipped completely. Just like that saying.
Still dazed and swapping phones back and forth, Jae-ha said,
"Manager said the situation's mostly resolved and public opinion's turned."
"For real...?"
"Yeah. He told us to let you sleep, so we didn't wake you, but it's already past four in the afternoon."
Glancing at the clock, it pointed to four PM. Insane. How long did I sleep?
That was when it happened.
"Hic, sob."
Ha-woon, who'd been beaming moments ago, suddenly buried his face in the blanket and burst into tears.
...Why's he crying now?
As everyone panicked, Park Tae-hoo smacked the now-sobbing Ha-woon's back.
"Hey! Why cry all of a sudden? Be happy!"
"Hic, sniff. Too happy..."
"Anyone'd think we won a music show! It's just a brief #1 on digital charts!"
"What?"
Was I still half-asleep? Or did I hear wrong? #1 on digital all of a sudden?
"Oh, right. Check this."
The music site Jae-ha showed had our song 'Look at Me' at real-time #1.
"No way..."
Was this a dream? I'd wished everything would resolve as I drifted off—had I dreamed something nice?
"Jae-yoon posted again at dawn. Said he wants to see hyung hit #1 after all the hardship."
"I saw. Other Flame members shared it too!"
Even hearing Jae-ha and Tae-hoo, I couldn't believe it. Was that even possible?
"So Flame fans boosted our track?"
Even if Flame was post-comeback and their chart slipping a bit...
"GH pissed off Flame fans a lot during their promo, so high participation as protest. Team leader said so."
Jae-ha shrugged with a playful grin as he finished.
"Straight from a staffer who's 1st-gen official Flame fanclub."
"Isn't liking Flame betrayal if you're at Pida?"
Amid Jae-ha and Tae-hoo's banter, sniffles mixed in. Still crying, huh.
Tae-hoo finally grabbed tissues, plopped them on Ha-woon's head, and scolded.
"Stop crying! No more worrying about missing chicken!"
"Hic! It's not about chicken..."
The kid who'd usually clap back was sobbing pitifully.
"Thought we were really done for..."
Suddenly, I recalled Ha-woon smiling bravely back then, saying it was fine.
He must've been anxious the whole time. Younger than me, probably worse.
Yet he hid it in front of me to not worry anyone. Felt like a hammer to the head.
And it wasn't just Ha-woon—Jae-ha and Tae-hoo too.
Everyone acted normal to spare me. I was grateful.
Heartwarming, and I really felt how good these guys were.
'We've only known each other a short time.'
No one blamed me for nearly tanking us.
I'd felt guilty with no face to show, but their normal attitude eased me a bit too.
I hadn't even considered they'd be anxious because of my mess.
That realization hit with overwhelming guilt.
"It's okay, Ha-woon. Don't cry."
My voice cracked as I spoke. I looked up to hold back tears, but it'd meet the others' eyes.
Looking down, I grabbed the tissues still on Ha-woon's head and handed them over, forcing words out.
"Thanks, everyone. Really, thank you."
"Psh, of course! We're a team! We'd split a flea liver!"
"Sob, sniff... It's not flea liver, it's half a bean?"
"Ah! Same diff."
In that short moment, Ha-woon and Tae-hoo started bickering again.
But it eased my heart even more.
"Here."
As I watched them, wiping ignored tears, Jae-ha held out tissues.
"Let's keep doing well. Hyung. No—Leader."
Pida Executive Director Go Moo-seo, clutching a stack of scripts in one hand, eyed the one on his desk.
It was the drama script from CBK where Park Min-ha and Lee Do-jun were set to appear together.
Go Moo-seo scowled sharply.
"Why's this still here?"
"Aigoo, told 'em not to send it back, but they did anyway."
A trailing staffer rushed over, swept the script off the desk. It slid smoothly like curling straight into the trash bin beside.
"All cleaned up."
"Mm, good."
Satisfied, Go Moo-seo sat, setting his script down.
"Should've waited when I said to."
They'd ditched first anyway. No need to reconnect with a tough spot that cut ties in hard times.
Now, time to pick new scripts—better terms even.
As he checked the top script's production company, Management Team 1 Leader asked worriedly,
"Will it be okay? Dropping Min-ha too is..."
Go Moo-seo replied leisurely,
"Did Team 1 Leader tell her not to go?"
"Pardon?"
"She changed her mind, right?"
But even his firm tone didn't lift the shadow on Team 1 Leader's face. More cautiously,
"CBK won't see it that way."
"Done this once or twice? Castings flip after confirmation articles all the time—it's half the job. We didn't even discuss formally."
"True, but..."
"And if Min-ha says no, what can we do? If you're that worried, convince her. If she agrees, we'll proceed."
Team 1 Leader's face brightened.
"Really?"
"Yeah, handle it. Team 2 Leader, how's B.O.Y?"
Kim Han-soo, standing silently, plopped a thick stack of documents on the desk like he'd been waiting.
Team 1 Leader's eyes widened at the hefty pile, glancing between it and Han-soo.
"Team Leader Kim, don't tell me that's..."
"Event and broadcast inquiries for B.O.Y. Some pictorials and interviews mixed in."
"Th-This many?"
Expected, but beyond imagination. Jaw dropped, Team 1 Leader stared as Han-soo shrugged.
"#1 on digital sites, top traffic. Story stuck with the public after this mess—natural."
"Hmm, at this rate, music show win candidate?"
"Yes, sir."
That moment, Team 1 Leader thought.
Maybe linking with him beats letting Min-ha do another drama this time?
"You know now's key. Chance made, CEO's watching closely."
Go Moo-seo boosted morale brighter than usual. He was in the best mood ever.
Especially the VP who'd nitpicked during the crisis now clammed up like a dead clam—pure satisfaction.
"Tell the kids to toughen up and charge."
He eyed Han-soo with burning intensity.
"No more management screw-ups. Ever."
"Yes, sir."
Go Moo-seo smiled at Han-soo's firmer-than-usual reply.
"Right. Let's snag that first album's music show #1."
With those weighty words kicking off, the meeting for B.O.Y's activities continued.
"What're you gonna do?"
GH Entertainment CEO's voice was sharply irritated.
Executive Director Moon Dae-chan stood before him, head bowed like a criminal.
No quick reply, so the CEO bellowed again.
"What're you gonna do?!"
Papers scattered across the desk with a rustle.
Moon Dae-chan answered heavily.
"I'll take responsibility."
CEO snapped his head.
"Take responsibility? For the stigma of a giant agency moving to bury one rookie, and failing to control our own idol not even a year post-debut?"
Moon bit his lip at the sarcasm. Teeth grinding.
Head still low, CEO missed it.
"Yes. I'll recover the damage within a year."
"Sigh... Dae-chan."
"Yes, CEO."
"Chin up."
Moon raised his head.
"I like you for one reason. Achieving goals no matter the means."
CEO's eyes burned.
"Trust builds slow, crumbles fast. Can I still trust you?"
This question meant decision made. Sensing it, Moon replied swiftly.
"I'll prove it with results again, CEO."