Chapter 144: Sniping

[Hello. This is Big Win Entertainment.

We have become aware that our actors Ha Muyoung and Kang Bora are being mentioned in the school violence exposé posts circulating online. We have confirmed the truth of the matter with the actors, their alumni, and their acquaintances.

To get straight to the point, the exposé post, Ha Muyoung, and Kang Bora are completely unrelated.

The evidence is that some of the content written in the post is completely different from our actors’ school days. We ask for your understanding that while there is objective evidence, we cannot disclose it as it is our actors’ private lives.

However, we will fully cooperate with the investigative authorities if necessary, and currently, deleted posts are being used to spread malicious rumors and reproduce reckless speculation.

Therefore, we will take strong legal action against any acts that defame the actors’ reputation and interfere with their activities.

We are always grateful to those who love Ha Muyoung and Kang Bora, and we hope that this current situation will be resolved quickly. Thank you.]

“Clean.”

The important thing was not to sue the post’s author, but to sue the malicious commenters. The post’s author could be a real victim.

There could be a rookie actor in a similar situation to Muyoung.

Some actors were mentioned in the comments, though there wasn’t a perfect match.

“I hope this dies down.”

Muyoung muttered as he carefully read the company’s statement.

He had never been beaten by kids, but he had been beaten by his stepfather.

If the person who wrote the post had really gone through that, he could deeply empathize with their pain.

Snap!

“No. Not that kind face.”

“What?”

Junho snapped his fingers in front of Muyoung’s eyes to get his attention. As if to tell him to get a grip.

“The post’s author isn’t at fault. If anything, the real culprit is the school violence perpetrator. But the author made a mistake. If they were going to expose someone, they should have written it so that only that person could be identified. They should have thought about how this post could harm other innocent people.”

It was about their school days, so the first part was understandable, but couldn’t they have included other signals?

If they had mentioned what works he had been in, or even the name of the school he attended, Muyoung wouldn’t have been caught in the crossfire.

“They made a mistake. That’s for sure. Why do you think celebrities risk everything for their image management?”

Articles about school violence were already spreading like wildfire.

Would the public, now aware of the incident, want to know the outcome?

“Only your fans will want to know the truth. The rest don’t care. Who has the time to care if Ha Muyoung or Kang Bora were bullies or not? They’ll just carry that image around in their heads like a coffee stain.”

And the antis.

They wouldn’t care either. If anything, they’d be enjoying this. Like a pack of dogs finding a bit of joy in their miserable lives.

“If the author has a conscience, they’ll write an explanation. Otherwise, the company will have to find them. It’ll take some time if it’s an overseas IP… but that just smells fishy.”

“Even after the company’s explanation?”

“Do you think people will believe it?”

“But they believed the post.”

An exposé with no evidence, just words.

Junho sighed and replied.

“It only takes one sentence to stir up trouble, but dozens of documents and evidence to refute it.”

You know, Goebbels’ famous words.

At his gesture, Muyoung added.

“…And by the time you try to refute it, people are already swayed.”

“This is a nuisance.”

Junho said that and picked up his phone to order chicken. Muyoung sat there blankly, chewing over the situation.

“Um!”

“…?”

Muyoung jumped up and gathered his energy. Junho looked at him in confusion.

“…What are you doing?”

“Looking for anomalies.”

A strange answer. But Junho just brushed it off. It’s not like this was the first time.

“Do you want half-and-half chicken?”

“No! Order two chickens!”

Muyoung stretched and tried to clear his head. It was certainly a serious and annoying incident, but he was okay.

He wasn’t going to fall apart over this, and besides, he didn’t see any smog, so it wasn’t a big hit…

“Oh! Smog!”

“And cheese balls on the side?”

Muyoung remembered the smog on the fan letter. It had been a while. It had been a while since he had seen smog related to him, not someone else. Muyoung ignored Junho and rummaged through the box.

“Huh?”

Sure enough, there was a faint smog, just like before.

But strangely, there were tiny sparkles embedded in it. Muyoung tore open the seal.

Rustle-

“What are you doing? Charging your energy with fan love?”

“Uh… I wish.”

There were more than five letters in the thick envelope. And they were front and back, filled with tiny writing. Muyoung wiped away the smog and read the words.

[Muyoung-ssi. I love you so much. Even if the whole world turns against you, I’m on your side. Your bright smile is so lovely. I always support you. I love you. I’m different from other fans. I’m not a leaf that falls with the wind, but a pine tree, steadfast and true. I truly support and love you.]

…The same content was repeated over and over.

On five letter-sized pieces of paper. Muyoung stopped in confusion. Junho, seeing it from behind, frowned.

“What is this madness?”

“…”

Normally, he would have thought it was a bit much, but it was a fan who loved him.

But with the smog and the situation, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

“What are the comments saying?”

“I haven’t looked. Want me to?”

At Muyoung’s nod, Junho checked the portal again. Articles spreading the statement were everywhere, and Muyoung’s name was plastered across every community.

‘He’s doing well.’

Junho suddenly thought.

After all, he was a rookie actor who had been on a hit streak for two years since his debut.

He was on such a successful run that it was hard to find another example. No wonder the public was so interested.

-Muyoung, I believe in you.

-The company released an official statement. It looks like they have objective evidence, so I guess it’s not true?

-Can’t show the evidence but ask us to believe them~

-If that’s the case, the original poster doesn’t have evidence either, right?

-If you’re poor and have no time, just shut up. Legal action, blah blah blah~ Let’s carry protractors~

-If they say it’s not true, why are people making such a fuss? Really?

-Are you high? As if they’d say, “Sorry, the victim has no evidence, but since the post came up, I guess I have to admit it. Sorry, victim~.”

-Flower field? I’d rather bust some heads, left and right; why would they admit to something that’s not true? If anything, the victim should prove it. What are they expecting the accused to do?

-I support Ha Muyoung! Life is full of ups and downs. And as a celebrity who earns a lot, you should expect public scrutiny~

-Donate some money and live right. That’s why this happens.

-Typical top commenter) Has never donated a dime in their life.

-Company, please destroy every single comment. There are too many people spouting nonsense just because they’re anonymous.

-Muyoung, I truly believe you. Don’t be too upset, and stay cheerful as always! Fighting! Love you!!!

-What about the guy from the all-boys school who did well in school and recently had a dating scandal? KSM? YYD?

-It’s clearly HMY. The all-boys school background aside, the dating scandal with an old friend only fits HMY. KSM said in an interview that he wasn’t a good student.

-But YYD also had a scandal with a high school friend.

-But he transferred from a co-ed school to an all-boys school.

“How’s it looking?”

Muyoung asked cautiously. Junho, scrolling through the comments, threw his phone on the sofa as if to say, don’t ask.

“It’s better for your mental health if you don’t look today.”

“So, it’s still a mess.”

Muyoung lay down on the floor and muttered.

If he didn’t look at his phone, it was so peaceful, but inside that little screen, it was a war zone.

“Junho, what do you think?”

“What?”

“Do you think the person who wrote that could be someone I know? I’m having some dark thoughts.”

What if someone wrote it out of malice?

As Muyoung pondered and muttered, Junho immediately shook his head.

“I don’t think so.”

Surprisingly firm. Muyoung lifted his head from where he lay.

“You know the law of conservation of misfortune?”

“What’s that?”

“You had a rough time in school, so you’re done with misfortune. You had bad parents, so you’ll have the best luck with people.”

It’s a weird logic, but strangely comforting.

Muyoung smiled and started cleaning the living room. He set aside the problematic smog-covered letter.

Ding-dong-

“The chicken’s here!”

He tried to forget about the outside world and enjoy a peaceful holiday with Junho. He really tried…

Buzz-buzz-

“Huh? It’s Manager Ko.”

Muyoung answered the call on speakerphone with his sauce-free pinky finger. Ko Gyeongmin’s troubled voice came through.

-Muyoung.

“Yes, hyung. Have you eaten? I’m having chicken.”

-I think we need to post on SNS.

“Why?”

-The post is up again.

At the manager’s words, Junho quickly grabbed his phone.

A new post had been uploaded under the name, ‘I wrote the school violence exposé.’

The original post was deleted, but in that short time, netizens had copied and immortalized it as an article.

[I’m surprised and grateful that so many people are interested. It shows how much love A receives from the public. But I think I’ll stop here. As I said, I’m a poor man. I can’t afford to create new wounds to heal old ones. I never knew a sincere apology could be so expensive.]

“That bastard…”

Junho muttered between clenched teeth.

It was clear now. It wasn’t a real victim, but someone targeting Muyoung.

[Lastly, to A. You haven’t changed, then or now. There are too many people destroying you in the name of love. Back then, it was your parents and friends; now, it’s your agency and fans. I hope you realize it someday.]

And there was one attached photo.

It was a bookshelf, and among the many items, something familiar caught the eye. It was Muyoung’s high school yearbook.

-It’s definitely HMY;;

-The agency must have threatened them.

-What? The post was deleted. When did they trace the IP and make contact? Is Big Win a police station? Do they even know who the author is?

-If the victim is saying this, it must be true, right?

-They must be scared to be talking in circles;;

Muyoung put down the chicken leg he was eating.

“Hyung. What happens after we post the explanation on SNS?”

-We’ll file a lawsuit. The company employees are checking their emails right now. We were just going to respond to comments, but it looks like we’ll have to request a full investigation. But the problem is public opinion…

“I understand. Don’t worry about that.”

And he looked in the mirror, checking his face from various angles. His hair was a bit messy, but it looked natural, so it was fine.

“I’ll do a live explanation on SNS.”

-What?

“I’m not good with words. To convey my sincerity, I think it’s better to do it face-to-face.”

-Just post what we wrote for you.

“I’ll say it directly.”

The exposé had a critical flaw.

That was why it was unrelated to him.

If that was the case, he would have to go into detail about his childhood, but could a few simple sentences convey that?

-Hold on. Let me discuss this with the team and call you back.

“Okay, I’ll go wash up~”

Muyoung hung up and rushed to the bathroom.

The cold water hitting his face cleared his mind.

“Junho, I think I’m more of a hands-on learner.”

“Looks like it.”

He patted on some toner and lip balm. He changed into neat clothes and finished preparing just as the company called.

-If you’re okay with it, the company is too.

“Yes, then I’ll start the live. Hyung, join in and like it~”

When he checked SNS, it was covered in swear words and malicious comments. Muyoung pressed the live broadcast button and stared into the camera lens.

“Uh, hello.”

He waved lightly and smiled.

Three thousand people joined instantly.

Wow, were they all waiting for me?

-In this climate, SNS?

-??? Is this live???

-Apologize to the victim quickly. I’m so disappointed.

-Muyoung! Tell them to shut up! I believe in you!!

The numbers kept rising, surpassing five thousand in an instant.

At this rate, ten thousand wouldn’t be far off. Muyoung touched his chin and silently stared at the screen.

-Is the audio muted?

-What’s going on? Are you apologizing?

-Say something.

He seemed to have gathered his thoughts and slowly opened his mouth. His voice was calm, like confiding a secret to a friend over drinks.

“You know…”

-Setting the mood, huh? What excuse are you making?

-It won’t fly with just anything.

-Muyoung, it’s not you! You said it’s not!

“Let me tell you a secret.”

-Okay, school violence perpetrator~

-??? What? So confident?

-Of course! Because it’s not true!

“I don’t have parents.”

-????

The chat was filled with question marks.

Such a curveball that everyone seemed to have lost their words.