Chapter 219
The back-and-forth over Lee Se-hyung showed no signs of letting up. Those convinced by the Minwoo Party's explanation left comments wishing for his swift recovery and full ability to walk again, but plenty of skeptics remained.
This meticulous analysis post shot to the top of the portal main page on a wave of recommendations. Of course, it got taken down in under ten minutes.
News outlets and media focused less on doubting Lee Se-hyung's suspicious gait and more on who orchestrated the incident. Naturally, Lee Se-hyung and Lee Jung-chan seized the victim high ground in the court of public opinion.
Reporters swarmed the Light and Salt Foundation where Lee Se-hyung worked. Staff told them Lee had submitted leave paperwork to avoid harming the foundation and wouldn't be coming in—go home.
"Lee Se-hyung's really playing the victim card hard, huh."
Kang Minjae snorted as he read the article.
"Acting all noble like he's protecting the foundation and doesn't want to burden anyone."
"Did the foundation know about his scam?"
Oh Yanghun, the office manager, asked.
I shrugged.
Who knows. But since Lee Se-hyung started working there, Light and Salt got massive PR boosts. Lee Jung-chan's annual donations were one thing, but people currying favor with him poured huge sums into the foundation. No doubt there were words exchanged between Lee Jung-chan and Light and Salt. But that's not our fight. Leave some for the prosecutors—moderation is a virtue.
"Guys, it's not our regular broadcast day—why so many viewers today?"
They usually streamed once a week, but given the gravity, they went live specially on Monday. Already 7,000 viewers.
Kim Jeongu always nailed provocative titles that drew eyes. Hell, it even hit the news.
At this point, it felt like any hack could call themselves an internet reporter. Subscribe to streams like ours, snag the source material, slap in a sentence—boom, article.
Viewers hounded Jo Bongjun, who was chugging water at his desk prepping the stream. He glanced at chat, chuckling and firing back one-liners.
"Chill, guys. Jonghyeon hyung's still taking a shit. We'll start when he gets back."
Viewers were ready to riot. I'd be curious too. Especially Lee Se-hyung and Lee Jung-chan, probably watching anxiously right now.
The stream had already gone viral showing Lee walking on his own two legs. Even the Liberty Justice Party's statement name-dropped "a certain internet broadcaster," giving free promo. Favorites exploded; now they topped charts every time.
In that hype, an "additional tip-off video"? Panic city.
"Sorry, folks—took a sec memorizing the script. My bad."
Choi Jonghyeon stepped into frame.
"The hell? You told 'em I went to shit?"
"Hyung, sorry—they were hounding me."
"I memorized while shitting. No lie."
As banter dragged, Kim Jeongu waved from his PC—cut the chit-chat, start the stream.
The rookie who'd once trailed Choi Jonghyeon was now top dog. On his cue, they kicked off with the opener.
"Last time, our tipster—who led us to Jesus-level miracles—sent new footage. Watching this, I thought: This guy's out to destroy Lee Jung-chan."
"That 'fire' turned out fake, right? News said guys jammed CCTV with gunk and used dry ice to fake it. Basically, staged to test how Lee Se-hyung escapes. Right?"
"Yep. Means suspects were on-site, snagging this footage. Viewers are pissed—let's roll. PD, play it."
Kim Jeongu hit play on cue.
Screen pitch black at first. But on-site sounds rang clear: fire alarms blaring, distant panicked voices evacuating, staff urging lines.
Then green shapes emerged.
No clear shapes, but the cameraman panned, zeroing on Lee Se-hyung. Zoomed in: on stage, ass up from his wheelchair, flailing cluelessly.
A man in a suit leaped onstage—face mosaicked, but suit clear.
> "Get up and grab my hand—now!"
> "F-fuck, what about the wheelchair!"
> "This isn't the time for lower-body paralysis acting! It's getting real dangerous! I'll get you out unseen—hurry!"
Lee Se-hyung popped up from the chair like it was nothing, hunched and sprinting after the suit guy.
Video ended.
"Now, let's revisit Minwoo Party chief spokesman Oh Jang-hyeon's statement."
Kim Jeongu queued the clip.
"Lee Se-hyung can stand straight with help and walk assisted. Rumors of free independent movement are false."
"So, assisted walking yes, but no solo free movement?"
"But in that vid, he's moving freely as fuck. Jumps from the chair, even runs. Gotta say, Jesus descended right then."
"And this part—listen again?"
"Not the time for lower-body paralysis acting! Not the time for lower-body paralysis acting! Not the time for lower-body paralysis acting! Not the time for lower-body paralysis acting!"
"Lower-body paralysis acting, straight from the aide's mouth. It's out there. Lee Se-hyung was faking. If he was really rehabbing and couldn't stand? Aide would've hoisted him. Right?"
"If he couldn't carry, it'd be 'try standing with my hand.' If surgery was secret per Minwoo, he'd say 'no choice in this mess.' But no—'stop acting paralyzed.'"
Checking portals mid-stream on my laptop: captures and articles popping already. Minwoo Party couldn't stay silent now—ignoring this was admitting guilt.
"With this out, time to hear from Lee Jung-chan senior? Bet he's listening somehow. Sir, give us answers. Voters have a right to know. Election's soon—you're running, right? If it's been a national scam, own it clean and apologize. Stay silent and..."
"...we've got one more undisclosed piece. We'll drop it too. Once it's out, no going back. You'll have to admit it. So take this chance—admit, apologize clean. Stream ends here!"
Jo Bongjun's closer dropped; stream went dark. Remaining viewers wailed into the void.