Chapter 142

Episode 142

– Staff from an entertainment establishment linked to the ‘Celebrity Drug Scandal’ gets sent to prosecutors.

– The celebrity drug list that started with Park Min-ho and Oh Byeol couldn’t escape even 우수현, who won Best Actor at the Pile Film Festival.

– [Journalist’s View] How should we respond to the drug crisis so it doesn’t become a ‘Blind Man Touching an Elephant’ scenario?

The entertainment industry was buzzing with the drug scandal centered around actors.

I nodded as I read those articles.

“Effective, indeed.”

It seemed reporter 임송아 was feeling the pressure. With how early she dropped the article, it was evident. Remembering that in previous instances, articles were only released seven months later when I wasn’t involved.

Yes, indeed. The reason this drug scandal erupted now was because of me.

In fact, the choice Cheon Jong-hoon presented—playing the song of Girl Revolution for DJs or igniting a major issue to divert attention from the Jin Yeoreum controversy—were not equally valuable options.

Choosing the latter and causing a drug issue with an SS artist would indeed harm stock prices and brand image, making it substantial. So, in that regard, the risks for SS and Cheon Jong-hoon could be similar. But for me, it wasn’t.

You see, connecting with DJs around the world was beyond my capabilities, but inciting a controversy like a drug issue was no big deal for someone like me, the reincarnator.

Of course, it had to be the right timing and conditions, but fortunately, now was just that perfect moment.

About seven months from now, an article about 우수현’s drug controversy will emerge from reporter 임송아, but knowing that fact and possessing the evidence, using this issue to overshadow the Jin Yeoreum controversy would be tricky without some background context.

If I hadn’t later grabbed a drink with reporter 임송아 to hear the details, that is.

At this point, actor 우수현 had already done drugs, and 임송아 had secured evidence. The reason she wasn’t breaking the story now was that she was looking to negotiate with 우수현’s agency using that evidence.

Once that deal fell through, 임송아 would unleash the article seven months later, but I had no intention of waiting that long.

So, I called 임송아 and said, “I have evidence of 우수현’s drug use; are you willing to buy it?”

Naturally, I didn’t have any evidence, but initiating a boring psychological warfare over the price of information and mentioning I could sell it to other media outlets must have made 임송아 quite anxious.
However, watching me mention that I could create a dull standoff over the price of information and potentially sell it to other media outlets must have made Im Song-ah urgent in her heart.

The evidence of Oh Soo-hyun’s drug use, which they thought was exclusively theirs, has spread enough that even someone like me has it, and there was a nervousness that if they were too careful with the evidence, it might end up being meaningless in a follow-up report.

Im Song-ah felt that sense of crisis, and the result is what we have now.

Someone like me, a wolf, decided to publicize the issue before I could write the article first.

Our TwoBear’s staff didn’t miss that opportunity.

While maintaining a strong stance prioritizing Jin Yeoreum’s protection, they did their best to calm the issue through clarification and statements related to it, all while also trying to retain the newly gained fanbase.

Of course, it became a given that Sunny is Jin Yeoreum, but the backlash was not explosive like everyone had predicted; instead, the focus shifted to the more provocative issue of Oh Soo-hyun and the actors’ controversies.

…Still, it’s true that malicious opinions and antis toward Girl Revolution have increased significantly.

The level of negativity was quite severe, forcing the members to once again suspend their SNS and internet usage.

However, compared to the situation of debating whether to oust Jin Yeoreum, which could determine the fate of the company, this was definitely an improvement.

Seok Hyun-woo, who had been running around in the battlefield of public opinion, took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, saying,

“Hah, honestly, at the beginning of Yeoreum’s controversy, I was ready for my salary to be delayed, but thank goodness the drug incident centered around top actor Oh Soo-hyun broke out. I can breathe a sigh of relief now. Really.”

Jo Narae from the publicity team, who was checking documents next to him, sighed and replied,

“This isn’t a situation to be relieved about. The sharp rise in Girl Revolution’s popularity has indeed been halted because of this controversy.”

“Still, among girl groups, they’re pretty exceptional…”

“It’s true that there hasn’t been a girl group that has made a significant impact for almost six months, but this time it’s Alcest.”

“Oh… speaking of which, we ended up getting overtaken by Alcest in the chart rankings this time. What a pity. If it weren’t for this issue, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Seeing Seok Hyun-woo looking dejected with his head down seemed pitiful, prompting Park Miso from the publicity team to awkwardly raise her voice.

“…W-well, it’s good news still. It’s true that there are still malicious posts visible, but I think it’s still worth a go at this level. This isn’t the only opportunity. We can look for chances with the next album.”
“It’s true that what’s written here is visible, but I think it’s worth a shot at this point. This isn’t the only opportunity, you know? We can aim for the next album.”

“That’s true… No matter how I think about it, it’s a stroke of luck that this drug issue blew up right now. I almost want to bow to the journalist who exposed it.”

I lightly chuckled at Seok Hyun-woo’s fuss.

“Right?”

*

After finishing the music broadcast stage, Jin Yeoreum said she would stop by the restroom and secretly started to gag. With nothing in her stomach since breakfast, only stomach acid came up, but the gagging continued.

“Hah… Hah…”

Thinking that the other members and Seon Taeyang would be waiting, Jin Yeoreum hurriedly composed herself at the vanity to look as nonchalant as possible and left the restroom.

“Are you okay?”

At that moment, Oh Yoori, who was waiting outside the bathroom, spoke up.

“Huh? Oh, restroom? Just a quick stop, I’m fine…”

“Not that. I mean, you threw up.”

“…..”

Oh Yoori questioned Jin Yeoreum, who was silent.

“I feel like the trainee noona I saw before and Summer noona now look alike.”

“…What was she like?”

“She had stage fright.”

“…..”

Instead of arguing or defending herself, Jin Yeoreum remained silent, and Oh Yoori continued.

“If you leave that unattended, it could be dangerous. It’ll spread and create other pains too. And it’s practically impossible to overcome it alone.”

“…..”

“I can help you. But talking to Team Leader Seon would likely be more beneficial…”

“No, please don’t do that.”

“…Why not?”

Jin Yeoreum firmly raised her pale lips and replied.

“I don’t want to worry him.”

*

After finishing the music broadcast schedule and returning to the office, TwoBear’s staff was huddled around a monitor.

Curious, I approached from behind and asked, “What’s going on that has you all gathered here?”

Park Miso, nervously scrolling down with trembling hands, responded, “Team Leader Seon, do you think you’d believe if I said our Girl Revolution charted on Billboard?”

“Of course I wouldn’t believe it.”

“…That figures, right?”

Getting on the Billboard isn’t something you can just casually say.
The chart didn’t just fall into place that easily.

In a place where even the dinosaurs that dominate the Korean music charts can’t even knock on the door, it was a daily occurrence.

“But I think you need to believe it.”

Hearing her words reminded me of last time when Cheon Jong-hoon struck a deal that got DJs all over the world playing songs from Girl Revolution.

It was a choice made to boost music video views and attract international fandom, but if that had hit big, I thought there might be a chance on charts that weren’t just the Billboard Hot 100 but aimed at other international artists.

After all, being a global music chart, there were tons of varieties.

I pointed out the chart I thought had the most promise.

“Oh, did it chart in the Global 200 section? …Wow, that’s amazing!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then is it in the Global Excl. United States section? That’s impressive too!”

“That one too.”

“Then is it in the Radio Songs section?”

“That’s not it either.”

…Feels like I’ve mentioned everything that could have been it.

Hmm, what is it then?

Actually, I was already wildly overthinking it.

As I pondered silently, Song Johan, who was checking the monitor beside me, made way and said,

“You might want to check it out directly.”

I squeezed into the spot Song Johan had vacated and checked the monitor.

[Millboard Hot 100 – Albatross_English version (Girl’s Revolution) This Week 46]

“…”

Seeing the screen pop up, I became dazed and involuntarily said,

“…It’s the main chart, the Billboard Hot 100.”

“…Yes. It’s the world’s top chart that very few singers have succeeded in charting on from within the country.”

“And it’s 46th.”

“…Yes. It’s Albatross from Girl Revolution, composed by Team Leader Seon.”

“…”

Unaware of the employees’ astonished gazes fixed on me, I blurted out a word that popped into my head without a filter.

“Shit, what the hell is this?”

Before my very eyes was a miracle I couldn’t even imagine in my wildest dreams.

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