Chapter 143:

-……Isn’t that usually the opposite?

“Opposite? You think I bullied someone?”

-No, not that it is, but there’s a post about it on the community forums…… Sigh.

Ko Gyeongmin let out a sigh of relief. In fact, there’s no way that could be true, but the post was so detailed that it made his head spin for a moment.

But seeing Muyoung’s reaction, he felt reassured. He’s not the type to bully anyone.

-Just keep it in mind, but it’s not you, right?

But he needed a definite answer. After a moment’s hesitation, Muyoung replied,

“I’ll read the post and get back to you.”

-Huh? What?

“I’ve never hurt anyone, but you never know. It could’ve happened without me realizing it…… Anyway, just a moment. I’ll read the post and call you back!”

-Muyoung? Muyoung!

Click.

Muyoung ended the call without hesitation.

Junho, who had been listening with his ear perked up, burst out laughing.

“You? School violence?”

“There’s a post about it. Let’s see, oh my. It’s trending.”

“That’s ridiculous. Which idiot wrote a novel with zero plausibility? What an asshole, acting like they know something. Is it an alumnus? I need to find out who this bastard is.”

“Whoa, calm down. Calm down.”

Junho, suddenly enraged, spewed endless curses.

“Some dumbass is dragging an idiot who didn’t even know if there were bullies or victims at school into this? What the hell? Is there another idiot like Muyoung in the world?”

“……Are you defending me right now?”

“Of course! We were together for three years! If you’re a bully, then what am I, an ex-con?”

Does that make sense?

Muyoung smiled faintly and began searching for the original post. The post on the anonymous site had been deleted, and it could only be accessed through articles.

[Hello. Seeing a rookie actor on TV and screens these days reminded me of old memories, so I’m writing this. I’ve thought a lot about what good it would do now, but the past memories still affect me, so I gathered my courage. I’ll refer to the actor as A.]

Click-

“My name’s not there? Why are they saying it’s me?”

“Keep reading below.”

[I graduated from an all-boys high school. With his good looks and grades, he was popular not only with the teachers but also with the students. To someone like me, A, who was the center of the classroom and the mood maker, must have seemed quite ridiculous.]

As they read that paragraph, both tilted their heads in confusion. He did graduate from an all-boys high school…… Mood maker? Junho snorted.

“I was the mood maker. You were a total outcast.”

“Hey, I got along well with the other kids.”

Except for the awkwardness after the incident with his stepfather around graduation, his school life had been uneventful.

“This feels off.”

“Is there another actor from an all-boys high school who’s good-looking and smart besides me?”

“Are you saying you’re good-looking and smart right now?”

“It’s a fact.”

“Ugh, so annoying.”

Junho snatched the phone from Muyoung.

And scrolled through it smoothly.

“Every time I went to the school store, he would make me buy him food and not pay, and if I refused, he would curse and threaten me in front of the other kids. I can’t forget the humiliation. I was poor. I still don’t know why my old bag and shoes were a problem for him. A threw my things in the trash, calling them garbage……”

“Not me. Nope, not me.”

Just reading that far, the answer was clear.

Muyoung didn’t do that.

“After a successful debut, A is on the fast track. With a good education, a good family, and the love of the public. Every time I see him pretending to be innocent and clean, my mental wounds ache so much I feel like I’m going to die.”

“Oh dear. His emotional wounds must be deep.”

Muyoung empathized as if listening to someone else’s story. Oh dear, what can be done! Tsk tsk.

“But why do they keep saying it’s me?”

“Good education, good family, successful debut, and a smooth career. Innocent and clean image. Well, it does overlap with you a lot. Wait, there’s more to the post.”

It was a long post, written with great care.

“The actor said he’s never dated a woman, but that’s not true. There were quite a few issues with his girlfriend in high school. What stands out is that as soon as they slept together, he broke up with her, and she came to his house causing a scene. It caused such a big rumor that his reputation changed after that…… His parents barely managed to clean it up…… Huh?”

Junho stopped reading mid-sentence.

Muyoung did the same.

Muyoung’s parents passed away when he was young, and he lived with his stepfather during high school.

“Did Gyeongmin catch that?”

“Or maybe they thought his parents were still alive during high school.”

He didn’t mention when they passed away or about his stepfather.

“Here’s why people think it’s you.”

“What is it?”

“B, who was also rumored to be dating A, must know his true colors since they’ve known each other for a long time. She was from a neighboring school, and the rumors about her were wild. Given A’s personality, there’s no way he has female friends. Either a girlfriend or an ex-girlfriend. One of the two.”

“Ohhh.”

There were dating rumors again when he escorted Bora at the Cheongryong Film Awards.

The agency strongly denied it, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The public subtly imagined the relationship between the two.

“‘Known each other for a long time’ fits you and Bora perfectly. You’ve known her since high school.”

“But it doesn’t say B is an actor.”

“I don’t know. Some idiot wrote your name in the first comment, so everyone thinks it’s you.”

Junho muttered irritably, grinding his teeth. He was already mad that Muyoung was involved, but now even Bora, who was innocent, was being dragged into it and insulted.

-Crazy;; Isn’t this HMY? All-boys high school, smart, friends with GBR since high school. Dating rumors, too. It’s a perfect match.

-Wow, shocking. I never would’ve thought.

-Do you think celebrity images are created for no reason? It’s all calculated.

-I’ll stay neutral.

-Where’s the original post, damn it? Do you want to see the guardian freak out? Bring the original post!!!!

-Muyoung’s not like that. Look at his face. He looks like someone you couldn’t even hit with a flower. Are you blind? Brainless?

-That GB looks like a player from the start, lol.

-Agreed. Looks like he could pull off a cigarette burn, lololol.

-Stay neutral, you bastards.

-I’m compiling a PDF of everyone saying it’s Ha Muyoung and sending it to the agency. Get ready to be exposed, you Tlqkf guys~

-Fans, get a grip. Defending the perpetrator is secondary victimization.

-Then you’re tertiary victimization! Muyoung’s done nothing wrong, but you’re pushing this narrative!

-^^ᅟᅣᆼ Reality hits hard.

-The agency hasn’t released a statement yet?

-Is it really Ha Muyoung? The original post doesn’t even mention his flaws;; Is this just speculation?

It was a complete mess.

All sorts of words were mixed and tangled, pure chaos. Articles were pouring in like crazy, and new posts and comments were flooding the community forums.

Thud.

Muyoung took a deep breath and closed the screen.

The more chaotic it gets, the more you need to stay focused. The internet is always complicated.

But just closing the screen brings back the real world.

It’s okay, Muyoung. Focus! Ah! Concentrate!

Smack!

Muyoung clapped his hands as hard as he could. Junho quietly sat beside him and asked,

“Are you okay? Should I get a statement ready?”

“Funny. Imp Junho. Whose statement?”

“Yours and our alumni’s!”

“No need. Just clarifying about my parents will clear things up.”

“But what about you? What will you do?”

He was an adult but not yet a grown-up. The sweet honey of success was still dripping for him, so inexperienced.

What if strange people come after him because he has no family? What if they target him because he has no guardian?

“I’m fine, Junho.”

Muyoung, realizing his intention, smiled brightly.

Then he called Ko Gyeongmin again on his phone.

“If there’s a good way, I’ll do it, but if not, it can’t be helped. Not having parents is also what made me who I am now, so I’m fine. I’m not ashamed, and it’s not a weakness.”

“Or should I really ask Dad to adopt you?”

“Do you want to get your head cracked by him?”

“Yeah, that was a stupid idea. The situation is so ridiculous, stupid ideas come out.”

Junho hugged a cushion and searched for his phone.

Before posting a rebuttal on the community forums, he wanted to check on his girlfriend, Bora. But she seemed busy too, as the call wouldn’t connect.

“Ah, Hyung.”

-Yeah, did you see the post? No, right? Hurry and say it’s not true.

Ko Gyeongmin answered before the dial tone even finished, as if he’d been waiting for Muyoung’s call.

Muyoung firmly reassured him,

“It’s not me. I never did anything like that. I was good-looking and smart, but yeah, I was a virgin. And you know Bora and I aren’t dating. What else should I tell you?”

He rambled on, saying whatever came to mind, then paused.

“And I didn’t have parents since high school. I lived with my stepfather, but he wasn’t the type to clean up after causing a scene.”

Starting with that, Muyoung confessed about his school days.

It wasn’t much of a confession, really. He just added details to what they already vaguely knew.

“Anyway, it’s not me.”

-Yeah, I get it. The agency will release a statement saying it’s not true. We’ll take strong action against the rumors. And I’ll call you back. We’ll talk depending on how things develop. If it comes to it, we’ll post a clarification on SNS. Just in case, the agency will send you a draft, so rewrite it based on that and send it to me.

“Got it. Will do. Is my schedule okay?”

-Nepflix did call, asking if the school violence allegations are true.

Production was about to start. If there was an issue with the lead, they’d have to quickly replace him and find someone new.

“So?”

-I told them it’s not true, so no problem. The schedule’s set for a bit later, so it’s fine. The issue is the upcoming ‘Entertainment World’ interview……

“I’ll do it.”

Muyoung quickly caught the trailing words.

“I’ll do it. I’ll proceed as usual. It has nothing to do with me, so I’ll handle it like normal.”

Nothing would change.

Why should his schedule be affected when it’s not his fault? Muyoung firmly stated his position.

-Okay, got it. I’ll call you back. And, just to be safe, stay off the internet for a while.

“Don’t worry.”

-I’ll do my best to resolve this quickly.

Click.

Muyoung ended the call and turned to Junho.

He had finally reached Bora, constantly muttering into his phone.

“Hey, go see her.”

“Huh?”

Muyoung poked Junho’s calf and laughed.

“If you’re so worried about your girlfriend, go see her.”

“……Whatever. You know Bora? She’d worry about you first.”

“Bora! I’m sorry!”

Muyoung suddenly stuck his head in and apologized.

Bora’s voice could be faintly heard.

-Why are you apologizing! You only apologize when you’ve done something wrong!

She’s so spirited.

Muyoung smiled sadly as Junho ended the call with Bora.

“Bora says to stay with you.”

“Really?”

Bora had family, but Muyoung was alone. If even his roommate, Junho, left, he’d be alone in this big house. Muyoung lay quietly on the sofa and muttered,

“……Junho.”

In a pitiful voice.

“What.”

“Buy me chicken.”

“……A guy who’s made ten billion won?”

“Right! I’ve made a lot! Oh, suddenly I feel better. Hahaha!”

……What a weirdo.

Junho muttered to himself and picked up his phone to open a delivery app.

The main portal window he’d left open popped up, and Muyoung’s article caught his eye. And among them, a post marked ‘New’.

[Official Statement from the Agency Regarding Ha Muyoung’s School Violence Allegations]