novelraw Chapter 88 : To a Guy Like That, the 1st Place Spot
Chapter 88 : To a Guy Like That, the 1st Place Spot
Chapter 88 - To a Guy Like That, the 1st Place Spot
Newstarz Dorm.
When Seo Na-eun, Kim So-yeong, and Kanade were eating together, Kim So-yeong abruptly brought up a topic.
“Na-eun-ah, about that story from last time.”
“Last time?”
“The story that came up when Director Choi Tae-hyung called.”
Seo Na-eun stopped using her chopsticks.
“I told you. I really have no relationship with Yoon Si-kyeong sunbae-nim.”
“No, not that.”
“Not that?”
“I mean about Hyeon-woo oppa.”
At that time, Seo Na-eun had hastily assumed it was a scandal with Baek Hyeon-woo and had panicked.
“Do you have a special relationship with Hyeon-woo oppa?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then why did you react like that back then?”
“……”
Seo Na-eun was silent for a moment at Kim So-yeong's confirmation.
“I went to the beach with Hyeon-woo oppa last time. I was worried that a photo might have been taken then.”
“The beach?”
“Pfft!”
Kanade, who had been listening quietly, spat out the water she was drinking.
“Y-you went to the beach with Manager-nim? Then you two wore swimsuits and went into the sea together...”
Kanade blushed while wiping up the water with a tissue.
“I-Isn't that too erotic?”
“What's erotic about a swimsuit?”
“It's the same as underwear. A man and a woman playing together in the sea in that kind of attire is too promiscuous.”
“I think you have a bit of a strange prejudice? In the first place, I never played in the sea in a swimsuit with Manager-nim.”
Seo Na-eun spoke calmly to the overreacting Kanade.
“I just asked Manager-nim because I wanted to observe the 'Music Big Show' special stage at the Super Marine Festival.”
“I-Is that what it was?”
“Yeah, I explained it to Director Choi too.”
At that moment, Kim So-yeong opened her mouth again and pressed her.
“But why didn't you say anything about that until now? I don't think I've ever heard it.”
“Because there was no need to bother mentioning it.”
Seo Na-eun answered in a stiff voice.
“And, I also hated being misunderstood like this.”
“Misunderstood?”
“Being misunderstood as having a special relationship with Manager-nim, or something like that.”
Saying that, Seo Na-eun lowered her gaze.
“It's a nuisance to Manager-nim too.”
“……”
Hearing those words, Kim So-yeong was silent for a moment.
“Then again, I'm not in a position to say anything to you either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because I also went to see a musical with Hyeon-woo oppa once. We ate together that day too.”
“……”
Seo Na-eun looked straight at Kim So-yeong.
“That's the first I'm hearing of this.”
“Well, today is the first time I've heard the story about you going to the beach with Hyeon-woo oppa too, you know?”
“……”
The two older members who always took the lead in guiding Newstarz.
A tense atmosphere flowed between them.
“Hweek…”
Caught between the two, Kanade sweated profusely as she secretly sent a message on her phone.
—Kanade: Laura unnie
—Kanade: We’re in big trouble right now
—Laura: What is it?
She couldn't tell the youngest, Yoo Jeong-ah, about this, so she sent a message to Laura first.
—Kanade: Na-eun unnie says she went to the beach with Manager-nim.
—Kanade: So-yeong unnie says she saw a musical with Manager-nim.
—Kanade: The two of them are in a battle of nerves right now.
—Laura: What are you talking about all of a sudden?
—Laura: Are you saying Hyeon-woo oppa went on dates with the unnies?
—Laura: Explain in detail
While Kanade was pondering how to explain, Kim So-yeong suddenly chuckled.
“Sorry, I was being too mischievous.”
“Mischievous?”
“I didn't particularly want to criticize you, Na-eun-ah. Since I don't think you did anything wrong in particular, I hope you don't misunderstand.”
Saying that, Kim So-yeong shrugged her shoulders.
“What's the problem with going out to hang out with Hyeon-woo oppa, just the two of you? It's a problem if you're meeting any random guy, but there's nothing wrong with going around with your manager.”
“Is that so…?”
“Of course, if a manager keeps going around with only one specific member, it is a bit suspicious. But if he's spending time with various members evenly, aren't you actually more dignified? You can just say, 'We've always been close like this,' and that's it.”
“……”
Seo Na-eun was lost in thought for a moment.
“That's persuasive.”
“Right?”
Watching Seo Na-eun, who looked tempted, Kim So-yeong laughed.
“And don't you pity Hyeon-woo oppa? He's in the prime of his life, but because he's working as a manager, he can't even get a girlfriend.”
“That's…”
“So if we hang out with Hyeon-woo oppa, it's good for him too. Don't you think?”
“……”
Seo Na-eun was lost in thought again.
“That's persuasive.”
“Right?”
Watching the convinced Seo Na-eun, Kim So-yeong spoke in a soft voice.
“Na-eun-ah, don't take it too seriously. It's not like you're dating behind the fans' backs like others; going out accompanied by your manager is no big deal.”
“That's…”
“If a picture of you going out with Hyeon-woo oppa gets taken and a dating rumor breaks out, I'll step up and clarify it. I'll ask, 'I've also gone out to play with Hyeon-woo oppa, so what's the problem?'”
Saying that, Kim So-yeong smiled.
“So, don't worry about this incident anymore either. Okay?”
“Yeah, thanks, So-yeong-ah.”
Confirming that a heartwarming atmosphere was forming between the two, Kanade swiftly sent a message to Laura.
—Kanade: Ah, the atmosphere is resolving heartwarmingly for some reason, so never mind.
—Laura: Hey! Give me an explanation!
—Kanade: I think it'll work out if you date Manager-nim too, Laura unnie.
—Laura: What on earth are you talking about!
Laura demanded an explanation, but Kanade put down her phone with a peace of mind and resumed her meal.
……
Broadcasting station waiting room.
Baek Hyeon-woo tilted his head while checking Seo Na-eun's status window.
‘Somehow, her Mental Condition seems to have gotten better.’
It seemed Seo Na-eun's Mental Condition had become much more stable than last time.
‘Was there an event that put her mind at ease?’
Kim So-yeong and Kanade's Mental Conditions were also good.
Recently, everyone had been stressed because of the scandal with Yoon Si-kyeong, but now they all wore relieved expressions, as if they had put down the burdens on their shoulders.
“Laura, about today's recording.”
“Wh-What is it?”
For some reason, only Laura's Mental Condition fluctuated violently whenever she faced Baek Hyeon-woo... he couldn't guess the reason.
“Jeong-ah, the sound director says he has something to discuss, so let's go together.”
“Yes, Hyeon-woo oppa.”
Meanwhile, Yoo Jeong-ah's Mental Condition had been stable from the beginning.
When he asked indirectly, she said she wasn't shaken in the slightest because she trusted Seo Na-eun from the start. Saying that Seo Na-eun, the leader of Newstarz, would never make a mistake.
“Ah…”
While walking down the broadcasting station hallway with Yoo Jeong-ah, they ran into Drum Fire again.
However, they didn't pick a fight with Baek Hyeon-woo like last time.
“Tsk…”
The leader, Seok-joon, clicked his tongue and frowned.
Like that, Drum Fire just passed by without saying a single word.
“Somehow, everyone seems to be in a bad mood.”
“It's because the dating rumor article isn't coming up no matter how long they wait.”
“Pardon?”
“That company over there was trying to break a scandal to keep us in check.”
“……!”
Hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's explanation, Yoo Jeong-ah made a surprised expression.
“Is that true?”
“Yeah. Fortunately, talks went well with the media outlet that had the source, so I don't think the article will come out.”
Currently, Choi Tae-hyung is pressuring News Wind in cooperation with Yoon Si-kyeong's agency.
Since they prepared rebuttal materials to the max and pressured them strongly, the atmosphere suggested News Wind would likely back down.
“I've also set it up so that rebuttal articles will go up in other places immediately if the dating rumor article is released.”
“Ah… then it should be okay.”
Yoo Jeong-ah nodded.
“The entertainment industry is really scary. But with this, that problem is over, right?”
“No, it isn't over.”
“Huh?”
“It only ends when the price is paid.”
Saying that, Baek Hyeon-woo checked Seok-joon's status window, which he had looked at earlier.
Was it because he was under a lot of stress that Drum Fire might lose to Newstarz?
Today, too, that phrase was visible in Seok-joon's status window.
“I was introduced to a reporter from a different media outlet through Director Choi's connections.”
“A different media outlet?”
“Yeah.”
Baek Hyeon-woo nodded.
“It's the most famous media outlet regarding celebrity scandals, one specializing in investigative reporting.”
……
“This is driving me nuts. Why isn't the article breaking?”
An officetel in the city center.
As Seok-joon, who was sitting on the edge of the bed shirtless, spat out a curse, the woman who had been lying next to him sat up.
“Oppa, is there a problem?”
“You don't need to know.”
“Eek.”
Seok-joon pushed the woman who was wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Ah, what the hell!”
“If we're done here, get lost. You're annoying.”
“What kind of bastard is this?!”
The woman got angry at Seok-joon's attitude, put on her clothes, and left.
Watching her leave, Seok-joon snorted.
That woman is a celebrity, too, anyway. Just because she holds a grudge over this, she won't go blowing up her relationship with him to the press.
“Ah…… damn it.”
Seok-joon lay back down on the bed.
“Tomorrow is the ‘Music World’ broadcast day; seeing as it hasn't come up by today, it's a bust.”
While he was muttering to himself and fiddling with his phone, a call suddenly came in.
It was an unsaved number, but since he was already handling the phone, he answered it inadvertently.
“You are Drum Fire’s Seok-joon-ssi, correct?
“Who is this?”
“I am Reporter Kang Cheol-ho from Dumble Issue.”
“……!”
Dumble Issue.
It is the most famous investigative reporting specialist—no, exposé specialist—media outlet in Korea.
Because they have broken massive scandals several times, even people with no interest in the entertainment industry know the name Dumble Issue well.
“You were at a Gangnam club today, right? Is it correct that you hung out with the idol Chaeryeon-ssi in a private room there and then left together?”
“……!”
Chaeryeon was the name of the woman who had just left the room.
However, Seok-joon tried his best to maintain his cool and asked.
“What are you talking about? Do you have evidence?”
“I don't have evidence, I just wanted to verify.”
Hearing that there was no evidence, Seok-joon let out a sigh of relief.
Usually, Seok-joon is careful to ensure no evidence like photos or recordings is left behind.
Even Dumble Issue wouldn't be able to recklessly release an article without such evidence.
“I have nothing to feel guilty about. So don't waste your time.”
“We contacted you after looking into everything, though.”
“And you know. Even if I did meet that woman named Chaeryeon, does that become news? I didn't know Dumble Issue dug into such trivial things like this?”
Chaeryeon is just an insignificant idol.
It's not like it's an affair, and it's not a scoop worthy of Dumble Issue latching onto.
“Haha, is that so? Understood.”
Suddenly, the call ended abruptly.
From Seok-joon's perspective, it was absurd.
“What was that about?”
If it was going to be like this, he couldn't understand why they called.
Are they perhaps investigating Chaeryeon, not him?
“Tsk, I'll have to ask the company tomorrow.”
Feeling the stress build up, Seok-joon took out the e-cigarette device he had hidden under the bed.
……
The day of HBS's 'Music World' broadcast.
Baek Hyeon-woo arrived at the HBS broadcasting station with Newstarz.
As they got out at the parking lot and started walking the ‘way to work’ toward the open hall, cheers erupted immediately.
“Newstarz fighting!”
“Unnie, I love you!”
The fans, who had been waiting since dawn, enthusiastically welcomed Newstarz.
Reporters also set off their flashes in succession.
He could realize anew just how popular Newstarz was these days.
“The reaction is incredible.”
“Indeed.”
Baek Hyeon-woo headed to the open hall while conversing with Seo Na-eun.
“Manager-nim, our 3rd anniversary is next week.”
“So it is.”
“Can we... get 1st place today?”
There is a jinx that if a girl group doesn't hit 1st place on a music show within 3 years of their debut, they will never get 1st place and will disband.
Therefore, they had to get 1st place this week.
“Don't worry.”
Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice.
“You guys will win.”
Just then, a fresh sound of shouting was heard from behind.
Drum Fire had also appeared on the ‘way to work’.
As Baek Hyeon-woo turned his head to look, his eyes met with Seok-joon, who was waving to the fans.
‘Punk bastard.’
Baek Hyeon-woo felt a sense of contempt.
‘To come here after sucking on that even on a day like this, he's a guy with no qualification to be a pro.’
After checking Seok-joon's status window, Baek Hyeon-woo didn't give him another glance and headed back toward the open hall.
‘We can't have the 1st place spot stolen by a guy like that.’
1st place on a terrestrial music broadcast.
To grasp that spot they had been longing for, today Newstarz would step on Drum Fire and soar.