Debut or Die-Chapter 294
From here on, it got serious.
‘Time to press the attack.’
I pulled my phone from my pocket and placed it clearly on the desk. Then, just as he had last time, I played the recording file.
“You’re aiming for Daesang, right?”
“All singers do.”
The audio was far cleaner than Chae Seodam’s recording—I had recorded it myself.
“Recording isn’t something you have a monopoly on.”
I stopped the playback and smirked.
“You really thought I’d beg you to keep quiet just because I spoke casually to a senior?”
“.......”
“I could go on a variety show right now and prove how close we are as evidence.”
Chae Seodam looked like she was trying to make sense of the situation. It didn’t help her reality denial, but she reflexively searched for a rebuttal.
‘Should I give her a moment?’
A few seconds passed before she spoke in a panic.
“You planned the hit single! Everything was a ploy...!”
“Oh, that.”
“Did I? I just wanted to move on without dragging it out... It all depends on how you frame it.”
Without another word, I navigated my phone to the contacts and dialed.
[VTIC Ryu Cheong-ryeo Senior]
Ringing, then for a moment the acoustic melody of VTIC’s new song played as the ringtone... before disconnecting.
Click.
“Hello, junior.”
“Good day, senior. About that conversation we had in the waiting room—could we use it as source material on a show?”
I could hear Cheong-ryeo chuckle over the line, which annoyed me, but he answered as planned.
“By all means. I’m the one who told you to speak casually.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I hung up.
“She said it’s fine.”
“.......”
Just like that, both of her supposed leverage points vanished. The fool before me, who had been gleaming with confidence, was now meek.
‘That fire didn’t last long.’
He’d been a coward all along, driven by self-preservation.
I knew it was time to escalate once more.
“Now that that mystery’s solved... let’s move on to the school-bullying report you wanted to discuss.”
I’d blocked her attack; now it was time to hit her weakness.
“Wouldn’t it be cleaner for the victim to give an interview?”
“...!!”
“Official statements like that send a good social message, and with the evidence, everyone would believe it.”
Evidence. I’d bet she was picturing her conversation with Ah-hyun right now.
I finished.
“If you frame it as proof that you were still recording to dig up others’ secrets, it’ll be airtight. Let’s get that underway. End of discussion.”
I picked up my phone and straightened my things—my way of saying I was done speaking.
“...Th-that!”
Chae Seodam sprang up, stunned.
“W-wait. Why... why are you telling me all this?”
Exactly. Thank her for asking why I’d bother explaining to someone like her.
I smiled faintly.
“Because you should give up.”
“.......”
“We’ve agreed to reveal everything, so I thought you ought to be notified. Now all that’s left is waiting.”
It was a decree.
“.......”
She froze in place—a perfectly normal reaction when someone realizes they have no escape: the opponent has no intent to negotiate, has dismantled all your preparations, and is about to strike your weakest point.
Regret. Distrust.
Her inflated ego soon produced a new hypothesis.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
Blaming others.
“I haven’t wronged you! Just because Ah-hyun and I had a rough time in school, this happens... how is this fair? It’s insane!”
Chae Seodam began babbling.
“If you believe only Ah-hyun’s side and try to destroy someone unilaterally....”
“Is that so.”
I said indifferently.
“You think what you did to Ah-hyun was something anyone in that environment would do, while what she did to you was cowardly and unjust?”
“.......”
“You knew exactly how to hurt someone when you recorded me—and it’s the same with Ah-hyun.”
It was like she’d been slapped across the face. People like her only reflect when they suffer themselves.
“I’d be too ashamed to say that. Better to accept the result.”
I knew she wasn’t the type to concede, but I tossed it out anyway.
“No, Ah-hyun too... if this comes out, she’ll suffer damage...”
Right—if she were the remorseful type, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
I shrugged.
“You decided to do it. Why should I worry about your feelings? It’s not like I’ll go under.”
“......!!”
She snapped her mouth shut. Surely the thought must have crossed her mind:
‘This crazy lunatic is preparing my social death!’
That realization sank her into panic so deep she couldn’t even cry or yell.
‘I’d like to keep her in this state for a week...’
But unpredictability could arise, so I decided to offer a lifeline—something that looked like a rope.
I slipped a finger under the table and touched my phone.
It was just about time for my final accomplice to appear.
Seconds later—
Knock, knock, knock!
The door burst open.
“Se-senior...”
It was Gold 2.
He looked torn between urgency and fear.
“Kwon Hee-seung.”
Even in her shock, Chae Seodam managed to spin scenarios as he pivoted to look at the newcomer.
But the moment Hee-seung spoke, the atmosphere shifted.
“I heard about the meeting... Mundae hyung, could you hold off on an official statement for just a bit longer?”
“...hmm.”
I deliberately delayed my answer, feigning conflict.
“...!”
In that instant, Chae Seodam’s eyes flickered with hope.
“You’ve really been reflecting a lot, right, Seodam hyung?”
She nodded earnestly, then blurted out,
“I-I’m sorry.”
She’d realized the moment was ripe.
“Okay.”
“Recording and... trying to exploit it—I was wrong. I misunderstood...”
After a calculated pause, I replied,
“I don’t think I’d have apologized otherwise... but fine.”
“Right? You understand, Seodam hyung? Tell him what you understand.”
Under Gold 2’s prompting, Chae Seodam’s ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) mind clicked into gear. Eventually she repeated nearly my own words:
“...That you shouldn’t harm others in pursuit of success... that effort was wrong, yes.”
Good.
She’d just voiced the obvious principle with her own mouth. Later, if she tried to rationalize it, she’d have to affirm this admission.
As silence fell, Gold 2 fanned the flames again:
“Think about it, Mundae hyung! If Seodam hyung leaves on such bad terms, this could blow up—and the rest of this year could suffer...”
“.......”
I met Gold 2’s gaze without a word. He swallowed hard, sweat beading his brow.
Gulp.
Only then did I shrug.
“Well... more trouble for the company if this blows up.”
“......!”
I looked at Chae Seodam, barely containing a sigh, then nodded.
“This is the only time.”
After that, it was simple.
Relieved, Chae Seodam signed the contract in record time and walked out of the team of his own accord.
I had to get the nuance right in the contract.
It didn’t just guarantee confidentiality; it guaranteed that we would silence Chae Seodam’s rumors and bullying claims in exchange for him leaving quietly and not damaging the group’s reputation.
Then the announcement hit the press the next morning:
[ Season 5’s #10 Chae Seodam Fails to Debut, “Health Reasons”]
Given his unpopularity with some fans and the “health” excuse, the story passed without much fuss.
Gold 2—the one who had sweetened the deal—was positively beaming.
If you’ve noticed, he was the one Big Sejin used as the carrot to coax Chae Seodam:
“Alright, Mundae can wield the stick—Hee-seung will just give a single bite of carrot at the end!”
That was a solid pick.
“You acted well just now.”
“Me? I was totally sincere.”
The moment Chae Seodam vacated the room, Gold 2 exhaled in relief.
“Phew... I can’t believe he managed to avoid debuting again... I don’t care! Anyway, I’m glad we got him out before debut.”
With a ticking time bomb on the team, who could blame him? I just chuckled.
“Thanks again for handling that.”
“No need to thank me.”
“Aye, you really are amazing! I’ll always give it my all for you!”
Gold 2 began sending me check-in texts more frequently.
Shortly after, the debut team’s manager forwarded me another message—from Chae Seodam himself.
It was a long text, addressed not to me but to Seon Ah-hyun:
[I always thought it was all just part of competition, but I realize I hurt you more than I intended. I truly learned a lesson...I see now there might be flaws in my approach...]
In other words, he apologized for going too far in school. Half was excuse-laden, though.
“...‘More than intended’? He calls that an apology? Still clueless...!”
“Th-that’s okay...!”
Bae Sejin bristled with second-hand anger, but Ah-hyun hushed him.
“I didn’t expect an apology... I thought it wasn’t coming, but I guess I did want one.”
“Ah-hyun...”
“Th-thank you.”
Ah-hyun bowed repeatedly, then met my eyes.
“And thank you, Mundae... I wanted to help, but it seems I’m always the one getting help.”
“...?”
What? After setting the bait and sending Chae Seodam away, she says that?
Knowing more flattery would follow, I simply replied,
“We cooperated. I’m grateful too.”
“Right...!”
Ah-hyun smiled brightly and promptly deleted the screenshot of his apology.
“Ooh!”
The members applauded as though they’d witnessed a ceremony. Ah-hyun looked a little embarrassed.
“Hmm.”
Watching that pseudo-apology vanish, I thought,
‘He’ll probably forget again and get full of himself.’
But that was part of the plan.
‘He’ll avoid whatever harms him, so he’ll keep his mouth shut.’
And if you nearly get crushed so decisively, people tend to feel awe rather than vengeance:
‘Still, I handled it well and escaped.’
That’s how they justify it.
So Chae Seodam would never dare bring up that issue again. Ah-hyun would move on.
‘We won’t cross paths again.’
He’d been wiped clean from the industry.
“...Hmm.”
After a moment’s thought, that night I sent one last text:
[It’s settled. Thank you.]
It was a simple fact that he’d been helpful in this matter.
Ding.
Not long after, a familiar GIF of a dog raising its paw arrived.
A greeting, perhaps.
“...Hmm.”
I tapped my chin.
He hadn’t tried to provoke me again. Maybe he’d finally come to his senses...
[VTIC Ryu Cheong-ryeo Senior: Is that so? Then I’d like a song in return as a favor.]
“....”
[VTIC Ryu Cheong-ryeo Senior: Just kidding^^]
I didn’t reply and closed the message.
With that, all traces of Chae Seodam’s threat were gone.
The very next day, the meeting revealed that—had we not dealt with Chae Seodam—he might have been part of the upcoming company concert:
“We have more concrete dates for the agency’s group concert...”
And thus, the symbol of our agency’s success—our collective artist showcase—became the next headline.
