Chapter 49
My Fostered Idol Is a Mess
“Wh–why is this…?”
Kang Yunseok’s face drained of all color.
“Kid? Did I hear that wrong?”
Jung Jaeyoon smirked coldly.
“Urgh…”
Kang Yunseok clenched his teeth, his gaze still fixed on the screen.
Under stark white lighting, the video showed him with young girls tucked under each arm, scattering bills into the air.
The footage itself was dark, but his face was unmistakably clear.
“Hey! N–no, Jaeyoon!”
Yunseok grabbed Jaeyoon’s arm in panic.
His eyes darted around relentlessly.
“Let’s not do this! If this spreads, I’m not the only one who gets screwed—you’ll be in trouble too!”
“Pfft.”
Jaeyoon snorted.
“I can just say I ran into an old friend. Worst case… I’ll just quit being an idol.”
“Hey, Jung Jaeyoon…!”
Kang Yunseok’s fist trembled.
‘Just because I accepted one damn drink…’
The drinking gathering a few months prior—introduced by Im Jonghyuk—had been the root of all this.
Jaeyoon’s first impression wasn’t bad.
For a kid, he was bold but polite, and above all, he knew how to “treat his seniors.”
But only later did Yunseok learn that the girls who tagged along weren’t bar employees but trainees.
Everything had been a pre-planned trap.
‘Damn it…’
After staring for a long time, Yunseok raised his voice, almost desperate.
“…I didn’t have a choice!”
And it was true—he had done everything he could.
Just like Jaeyoon wanted, he sabotaged Lumis so they couldn’t get onstage.
Knowing he’d get cursed out, he even shoved a trot song into their assignments.
Everything had gone smoothly.
Lumis drew the trot genre, and the guest didn’t show up until right before recording.
‘Perfect!’
Everything seemed to be wrapping up flawlessly.
But he hadn’t known.
“Teacher!?”
“Sorry, I’m late.”
“Ah…”
“What? Is this a problem? Should I call Director Kim for you?”
“N–no! It’s fine! Totally fine!”
He hadn’t expected Jin Hoon to suddenly show up… and become Lumis’s wings.
“Who’s that kid?”
With trembling hands, Yunseok pulled out a new cigarette and narrowed his eyes.
“Who?”
“That kid who’s always glued to Lumis. The brat sticking to Jin Hoon right now too.”
“Oh, Ruuha?”
“I know the name. I’m asking what he is.”
“I dunno, he’s Yoon Taejin’s nephew. Because of him we were supposed to do Our Youngest at Home, but he said he wouldn’t appear. Uh—do you know anyone on that side of the show?”
“Taejin’s nephew?”
Yunseok’s brows furrowed.
“Great job, sir—!”
“Aigo! My marine boy!”
Jin Hoon’s warm smiles and gentle eyes were directed at the child.
He wasn’t moving for Taejin or Lumis.
It looked like he was moving for that kid.
“What are you thinking about?”
“…Nothing.”
Jaeyoon stepped closer and brushed dust off Yunseok’s collar.
“PD-nim, you have to help me.”
“…”
“You’re the only person I can trust.”
“You have Director Im and Jonghyuk.”
“Ugh, don’t even bring up those two Im’s.”
Jaeyoon’s expression twisted.
“…Why not?”
“They’re old, but they’re useless. All they do is tell me not to do this, not to do that.”
“Still, you’re only here because of them.”
“Ha!”
Jaeyoon let out a low laugh.
“PD-nim, I’m Jung Jaeyoon. They survive because of me. Without me, they’re both done.”
Kang Yunseok wasn’t a clean person either.
He had sold out seniors and juniors to climb upward, done plenty of dirty work to get his cut.
He knew it too—he wasn’t going to heaven.
But the kid in front of him… was even more dangerous.
“Anyway, whatever. I don’t like this. I’m blowing something up soon, so just be ready to benefit.”
Yunseok stiffened.
“Blow up what? What else do you have!?”
“There’s something.”
“Hey!”
Jaeyoon waved him off and turned away. Yunseok hurried after him.
“…Look at these bastards.”
In the shadow of the corner,
Ruuha—who had overheard everything—watched with icy eyes.
“Oh! Over here!”
Spotting Han Jinseo entering the café, Yoon Taejin waved brightly.
“Where’s Jindoheon?”
Instead of greeting, Jinseo immediately asked about Doheon.
Taejin puffed his cheeks in annoyance.
“…Are you more curious about Doheon than the person right in front of you?”
“No, I mean—we haven’t seen him in forever. I wanna know how the defeated guy is doing.”
“Hey… don’t say it like that.”
Taejin glanced around nervously.
A little farther away, Ruuha sat at a table with sunglasses, a mask, and a newspaper.
Through the tiny holes he’d poked, the five-year-old’s eyes gleamed.
“So where is he?”
“Doheon? Not coming.”
“What? He really died!?”
“What are you talking about…”
“I mean, his phone’s been off forever. Can’t reach him.”
“Ah… he’s far away.”
“Far, where?”
“Just… somewhere…”
Taejin trailed off and took a sip of his drink.
‘Yeah, Jindoheon is full-on in his edgy phase.’
‘He lost his phone on his first day of work.’
‘So he’s using a phone under my name.’
‘Which means I’m paying two phone bills now!’
He couldn’t possibly say that aloud.
“What are you drinking?”
“No, I’ll go order.”
When Jinseo headed to the counter, Taejin quickly pulled out wireless earbuds and put them on.
“A–ah. Can you hear me?”
— Yep. Loud and clear.
Ruuha’s voice came through crisply.
Taejin glanced toward him; the kid nodded gravely.
“What’s that? Already…”
Returning to the table, Jinseo pointed at the earbuds with his chin.
“Do you need hearing aids now? Jeez…”
“They’re earbuds…”
“Since when?”
“Oh, uh… I’m used to them.”
“Huh?”
Jinseo tilted his head but didn’t question further.
‘Lucky… but why do I feel offended?’
With Ruuha’s first question, the avatar-blind-date interrogation began.
“You close with PD Kang?”
“Kang PD? Not really—just exchanging greetings, but we got close during filming.”
“Really? You think Bit12Y will… climb the ranks?”
“Ayy, I know exactly what you’re thinking. No, nothing like that.”
“Still…”
“What, are you trying to keep us in check?”
“We’re not the only ones who would.”
“…True.”
Jinseo nodded.
“But honestly, I don’t know. Seriously. The company completely benched me so rumors wouldn’t start.”
“What? Then…”
“Yeah, I’m totally off the production team.”
A bitter smile tugged at Jinseo’s lips.
He had replaced Jindoheon.
He denied it, but he knew. Everyone saw him as “Doheon’s substitute.”
That was why he clung so desperately.
To surpass Doheon—or at least fill the void he left.
But reality was merciless.
He wasn’t Jindoheon.
He wasn’t a genius.
And producing and composing were similar… yet worlds apart.
The company claimed they needed him as a RE:VIVAL judge, so he had to step away from Bit12Y’s production—but Jinseo knew the truth.
‘I’m just not good enough.’
“Ah…”
Reading the hurt in his eyes, Taejin quickly changed the subject.
“Then, uh… actually—”
— Ask him if he knew Im Jaehun, Kang Yunseok, and Jung Jaeyoon were rigging the show together.
“What!?”
“Whoa!”
“S–sorry.”
Taejin bent down under the table in panic.
“What do you mean?”
— No time. Ask him.
Taejin slowly straightened up, pale.
“You okay? You look sick.”
“I–I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“Just one question…”
He inhaled sharply.
“PD Kang, Jung Jaeyoon, and…”
The last name stuck in his throat.
He didn’t want to believe it.
“…Jaehun hyung. Are those three rigging things? Did you know?”
“What are you talking about? Rigging what?”
“RE:VIVAL…”
“…What?”
Jinseo’s eyes narrowed.
‘Why is he suddenly saying this…?’
Wait.
‘Then… that “let’s drink without Taejin” comment… didn’t mean…’
Puzzle pieces clicked.
“I–is it true!?”
Taejin asked urgently.
“Eh… no, I don’t think so.”
“You know something!”
“No, it’s just…”
He hesitated, then quietly revealed the conversation he’d overheard in the bathroom with Im Jaehun.
“…I thought maybe he didn’t want to drink with you because you’re his superior, but… it was strange. Your group is rising, and he still said that…”
‘How could Jaehun hyung…’
A wave of betrayal crashed over him.
— So? Ask when they’re meeting.
“….”
— Hey! Yoon Taejin!
Ruuha’s sharp voice snapped him back.
“Oh—uh! When are you meeting Jaehun hyung?”
“No set date yet.”
“…Then can you do me a favor?”
“Favor?”
Taejin took a breath.
“When you meet him… tell me what you two talk about.”
Jinseo looked troubled.
“I get how you feel, but passing messages between you two is…”
“It’s my request… and Doheon’s.”
‘Doheon asked me?’
Jinseo’s eyes lit up.
“He’s listening right now.”
Taejin pointed at the earbuds.
“R–really? Let me talk to him—!”
“No. But he wants you to keep this a secret. And if you keep your promise…”
Taejin swallowed. The next part was ridiculous.
“…he said he’ll praise you.”
“Praise me?”
Jinseo squinted.
‘I only said it because the kid insisted…’
Doheon was a child right now—of course he’d like praise stickers or whatever.
But Jinseo wasn’t a kid. There was no way he’d like—
“Okay! I’ll keep the promise!”
‘…He likes it?’
“I’ll set up a meeting today!”
Jinseo’s face turned bright red.
‘What is with this guy…?’
Taejin tilted his head.
The first simpleton meets the second simpleton.
A luxurious bar in Gangnam, lit by soft ambient lights.
Jazz piano filled the space.
The bartender polished glasses and glanced at the mismatched pair at the counter.
A sharply dressed man in his 50s.
A young woman in her early 20s—though if you didn’t meet her here, you might mistake her for a teenager.
Formal speech, stiff atmosphere.
And most of all—
“How is it? Nice place, right?”
The man’s gaze was the problem.
Snake-like eyes, a bitter, slimy smile curling at his lips.
“Yes, Director…”
It was Im Jaehun.
