episode_0285

“I’ve acquired evidence that proves Yang Ha-rin’s innocence.”

With all schedules for ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ suspended, could there be words that Go Tae-min has been waiting for more than these?

“…!”

However, people become calm when they feel excessive surprise. Therefore, Go Tae-min said in a low voice.

“Are you saying that the information you have shows that Ms. Yang Ha-rin didn’t actually participate in the bribery?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Not just simple speculation, but you’ve acquired that information?”

“Yes, I have it in my hands right now.”

“Huh.”

Director Go Tae-min unknowingly pressed his palm against his forehead. He couldn’t believe how the situation was turning around.

But what can he do? He has to believe it!

Especially since the other party is none other than Sua and Mystic!

‘Right, Mystic wouldn’t lie about something like this. From the start, I believed in Sua and CEO Lee Seo, so I stopped all schedules and waited.’

The problem is.

[Media Pack] Catch Call Chief Kim called

[Media Pack] Catch Call Jo Hyun-cheol called

‘That, even at this moment, calls are pouring in.’

While Sua and Kim Lee-seo were fighting in their respective battlefields, Go Tae-min was fighting his own battle in his own way.

What kind of battle? The battle to stop all kinds of people involved from resuming the schedule right now.

The result is this. A downpour of countless phone calls. Everyone was saying that Director Go Tae-min and Sua were crazy, and they had to do something quickly.

Therefore, Go Tae-min asked.

“I understand that you’ve acquired some incredible information. By any chance, how long will it take to finalize everything?”

“It’ll be enough by 2 PM today.”

“2 PM today?”

Go Tae-min checked the time.

It was already 10 AM.

Are they saying they can do something in just 4 hours?

‘No, still, about 4 hours should be possible.’

Director Go Tae-min quickly made his decision.

“I think I can put a stop on things for about 4 more hours. And I’d like to meet you in person and talk, so when do you think you’ll be arriving?”

“I’ve already arrived. I’m in the parking lot.”

“I understand. Then, just a moment.”

After ending the call with Kim Lee-seo, Go Tae-min frantically moved his fingers, tapping on his phone.

─♩♪♬

The other party is, of course, the people involved.

“I’ll do as you all want. Let’s resume the schedule in 4 hours.”

Agreeing to the demands of those wanting to resume work, while also cleverly delaying it by 4 hours.

Director Go Tae-min had his own brand of shrewdness.

. . . . .

Bang─!

“It’s nice to meet you, Director Go Tae-min.”

Afterward, CEO Kim Lee-seo of Mystic came to visit Director Go Tae-min. Go Tae-min jumped up and greeted her.

“The information! What exactly is that information?”

Straight to the point without any pleasantries, but neither of them pointed out the lack of courtesy.

Because they didn’t have time for that. Every minute, every second was crucial.

Kim Lee-seo, maintaining her courtesy, said.

“Sua was the first to suggest that Yang Ha-rin was innocent, and after investigating, I found that her opinion was true. We need to start acting right away.”

“Acting as in?”

“Of course, it means proving Ha-rin’s innocence while also amplifying the promotional effect of ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ several times over. We need to recoup the losses tenfold, right?”

“….”

Director Go Tae-min’s impression was simple.

“…I would have no greater wish than for that to happen.”

“If you just give me permission, Director, can I do some free publicity as much as I want, using ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ and Ha-rin for the next 4 hours?”

“I trust you. Please do.”

From Go Tae-min’s perspective, there was no reason to refuse.

Didn’t he already benefit greatly from Mystic during the Kang Hak-man and Lee Joo-hyun affair? Perhaps he believed in Mystic even more than religion.

◈◈◈◈◈

At the same time.

“Huff─! Huff─!”

“Hwaaaah.”

Sua and Ha-rin were lying on the floor of the waiting room, side by side. Their commonality was that they were both covered in sweat. That’s because they had been practicing their acting with all their might until just a moment ago.

Yang Ha-rin, who was panting, asked.

“Sua.”

“Yeah?”

“Do I have to say that I’m having a hard time when I’m having a hard time? What should I do?”

Yang Ha-rin has lowered her guard a lot, so she’s been asking Sua questions more frequently than before.

But what should be noted in the midst of this is that she’s not just asking questions about ‘acting.’ Yang Ha-rin is asking Sua about ‘life’ more and more often.

Because she’s never had anyone around her, she’s starting to explore herself through Sua, who’s the first person she has.

And every time that happens. Sua just offers her sincerity.

“Of course, you have to say that you’re having a hard time!”

“…Just honestly say that I’m having a hard time, that it’s too hard? I’m worried about giving my weaknesses to the people around me. There will be people who look down on me, too.”

“The important thing is that you start to have the courage to think that it’s not a big deal even while you’re saying that you’re having a hard time.”

“The courage to think that it’s not a big deal?”

“Yeah. In the first place, how do you distinguish between great things and ordinary things? At least, this is how I distinguish them. Want to hear?”

“Yeah.”

When Yang Ha-rin nodded, Sua continued.

“If I’m worried about something because it’s a great thing, then it becomes a great thing, and if I think it’s no big deal, then it really becomes that kind of thing. Ordinary and special are determined by you. Having a hard time and not having a hard time are also determined by you.”

“So… you’re saying…”

Yang Ha-rin clenched and unfurled her fist for no reason, as if she felt something.

“Hey, Sua.”

“Yeah.”

“After listening to your words, I want to think that what’s happening now is nothing, and practice every day, you know?”

“Uh-huh.”

“…But I have to consider the realistic problems, right? About ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow,’ I mean, it won’t be indefinitely postponed, right? How long has it been postponed for?”

“Um, that’s…”

Sua stammered here for the first time.

How long has it been postponed for? It’s today!

That’s actually why Sua was feeling so anxious inside. Right now, there was cold sweat on Sua’s body in addition to pure sweat. Why? Because she was nervous…

Sua’s head was spinning too.

‘Did I drag out the time longer than I thought? Isn’t today the last day for that too? What should I do? Why hasn’t CEO contacted me yet! Did something go wrong?’

In the midst of this, Yang Ha-rin also subtly got up.

“…Why aren’t you answering? Did something bad happen?”

“Uh-huh?”

At that moment when Sua felt a sense of dismay.

Ding─!

Just then, her cell phone rang.

[Sender: Kim Lee-seo] ▷ Sua, did you soothe Ha-rin well? ▷ Everything will be over before 4 PM today. ▷ Just hang in there until then. ▷ You can trust me.

“Oh!”

Sua shouted without realizing it.

At the same time, she plans to endure with all her might until 4 PM from now, and trust Kim Lee-seo with all her might. Anyway, isn’t that what CEO instructed her to do? She has to put all her effort into it.

. . . . .

At the same time, Kim Lee-seo met Kim Seon-ah, “Raw Ginger”.

Kim Seon-ah, the team leader of Starcatch.

“…This is!”

As soon as Kim Seon-ah saw the data that would prove Yang Ha-rin’s innocence, her eyes widened, and Kim Lee-seo quickly continued to explain as if there was no time for that.

“From now on, Team Leader Kim Seon-ah’s operation is important. Can you do it?”

“I’m not sure, but…”

“You have to do it. I’m begging you.”

“…”

After hearing all the plans.

In the end, Kim Seon-ah nodded with a firm expression.

“…Okay. I’ll do my best.”

That’s because both Kim Lee-seo and Kim Seon-ah had a crazy amount of care for Sua. For them, this matter was not just about saving Yang Ha-rin, but also about protecting the ‘Midas Touch’ principle that Sua possessed.

◈◈◈◈◈

1 PM.

“Hoo!”

Kim Seon-ah, who got out of a taxi, entered a barbecue restaurant. It’s noisy everywhere because there are so many customers.

An employee approached.

“Do you have a party?”

“Please check with the name Kim Seon-ah.”

“Kim Seon-ah… Ah, this way. Would you like to follow me?”

After passing through the hallway, a very large space appeared.

There were nearly 30 people sitting densely in the floor-seating area, and they were all reporters.

‘In other words, this is the space that I have to work in today.’

Kim Seon-ah said that and took a deep breath.

The other reporters raised their hands and welcomed her.

“Who is this? Isn’t it the team leader of Starcatch?”

“Come and sit down quickly. We’ve just started grilling.”

You can tell from the conversation, but the reporters gathered here today are all from different companies and have different positions. It’s easy to think of it as a kind of social gathering.

…It’s called a social gathering, but how many people visited this place with pure intentions?

The thoughts in everyone’s head were obvious.

‘Let’s get something out of here.’ ‘Isn’t there any information that can be written as an article…?’ ‘I have to memorize all the information that comes out of here.’ ‘Don’t miss any useless words.’

Yes, they all gathered here only because they wanted information.

And Kim Seon-ah is going to use that.

Sizzle─!

Kim Seon-ah first quietly waited for the meal to proceed. Since it’s lunch time, the drinks aren’t going back and forth that much. It’s unfortunate if you feel it, and it’s good if you feel it.

There’s no need for Kim Seon-ah to be impatient.

Why? Because other reporters will take the lead.

“I’m getting full, so I want to chat a bit, is there anything interesting these days?”

“If it’s an interesting story… it’s the Yang Ha-rin story, right? It was completely overturned regarding the bribery.”

“But that also affected the ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ stop, right? What’s going to happen there? It’s going to be a house of mourning.”

Kim Seon-ah counted in her mind.

One, two, three.

Now is the time.

“Speaking of that, Yang Ha-rin didn’t do the bribery? CT Entertainment and Clive members were openly doing it together. The information is already circulating.”

Words spoken purely with pure eyes.

The result that will be brought about is obvious.

“…”

The reporters froze like stone statues for a while.

Exactly three beats later.

“Se, Se, Se, Seon-ah-ssi! What are you talking about?”

“Ha-rin-ssi is innocent?”

“Information? What information is circulating?”

A reaction like a bomb exploded. Kim Seon-ah then covered her mouth with her hand and widened her eyes.

Like she’s saying ‘Was this something I shouldn’t have said? Did I make a mistake!’ Of course, this was also acting that she had been instructed to do by Kim Lee-seo in advance.

Kim Seon-ah soon laughed awkwardly.

“Ah… please pretend you didn’t hear it. Pretend you didn’t hear it.”

Afterward, no one brought up that topic out loud, but suddenly, many reporters started to get up from their seats quickly.

“I’m busy with work, so I’ll be going now…”

“Me too.”

“The meat was delicious today.”

“See you next time!”

Their heads? There was no need to see them.

‘Yang Ha-rin! Information! Yang Ha-rin! Information!’ ‘Clive was the one who did it? It’s a scoop!’ ‘Kim Seon-ah, that stupid girl. Why is she leaking this kind of information?’ ‘Kim Seon-ah! Thank you so much!’

They’re fish who don’t even know that their mouths are hooked on the fishing line.

Now, there’s only one thing Kim Seon-ah has to do.

‘Secretly spread the materials to prove Yang Ha-rin’s innocence.’ I have to give the fish that are swimming busily some food, right?

◈◈◈◈◈

A little later. 4 PM.

“Hahahahaha!”

CT Entertainment’s CEO’s office.

The CEO let out a vile laugh.

There’s a lot of delivery food spread out in front of him, and the Clive members are eating deliciously. The commonality is that everyone in this space is smiling brightly.

“I feel so refreshed. Yeah, this is what happens if you stab me in the back! How dare a pathetic girl try to get ahead by herself?”

“I agree.”

Then, the leader of Clive nodded next to him.

“I didn’t like that she pretended to be clean when she fought with us and left. Serves her right. I hope she never does acting or idols again.”

“That’s right! I just hope she doesn’t come out on TV!”

“I hope she dies lonely in a place where we can’t see her.”

Here, the corners of the entertainment CEO’s lips rose even further.

“Ehehehe, but it doesn’t end here. Mystic and Starcatch are also sharpening their knives at Yang Ha-rin right now.”

“Wow! Sua’s agency and Starcatch?”

The Clive members’ eyes twinkled.

“That’s right? Actually, we were the ones who started the Yang Ha-rin incident, and we were also the ones who stopped ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow,’ so they should be resentful towards us, but they can’t do that and are hating Yang Ha-rin. Sucker bastards!”

“We really did well! It looks like nothing will be left of her bones if they start tearing Yang Ha-rin apart there!”

Everyone was talking excitedly when.

Bang─!

“CEO! CEO!”

Suddenly, an employee rushed into the CEO’s office, opening the door noisily. The CT Entertainment CEO frowned.

“I told you not to come in today without being called first because the Clive members are here today?”

“No! The problem isn’t Clive right now!”

Only then did the CT Entertainment CEO’s face also become serious. Same with Clive. Because the employee’s face was showing that much urgency.

“This! This is an article that just came out, please take a look at this!”

Finally, when the employee held out his cell phone.

“…Huh?”

The CEO’s brain stopped after reading the article on the screen.

[‘Bribery Scandal’ Found Data to Prove Yang Ha-rin’s Innocence. Clive, Re-examining Their Past Shameless Behavior]