Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 79

Chapter 79. Bomb! (1)

“Did I… understand you correctly?”

Eun-seok asked, drawing in a slow breath as if steadying himself.

Hajin, already back to his usual self, shoveled another forkful of cake into his mouth, chewed, and nodded brightly.

“You heard me exactly.”

“Mm. So you’re saying I should just… spend money instead?”

After a brief pause, Eun-seok straightened. His posture sharpened, eyes locking onto Hajin with a businessman’s focus.

He looked gentle—but he was the heir to a mid-sized corporation. A man raised as a rich man’s son, trained his entire life to read people.

And he quickly realized this:

The twenty-year-old sitting in front of him—his little brother’s friend—had already filled in the answer sheet before walking in.

“…This sounds like it’ll take a while. If you’re alright with it, should we move to my office and talk in more detail?”

“Uh… I’m sorry, but is it nearby? My place is pretty far, hyungnim.”

“I’ll send a driver to take you home. You’re my little brother’s friend—at least I can do that.”

“…A driver?”

Long live rich friends.
The older brother of a rich friend (even if that “friend” is younger) is even better.

Feeling a mildly intoxicating rush of power, Hajin whistled under his breath.

* * *

Eun-seok’s office wasn’t far.

But one detail made Hajin internally scream.

This “office” wasn’t at the company.

It was Eun-seok’s personal office.

Separate house, separate company, separate office. Is this what their world looks like?

Eun-chan’s so-called “studio” (calling it a room was already shameless) had shocked him before—but this was another level.

I really need to make money. I have to succeed. No matter what.

Carving that vow into his bones for the thousandth time, Hajin sat where Eun-seok gestured and set his bag down.

“Alright. Let’s go over it again.”

Eun-seok, having changed into comfortable clothes, sat across from him. With angular glasses on, the softness of his features faded—he looked even more like Eun-chan.

“So. To avoid suspicion that I’m ‘pushing’ my brother with money—what money, and how exactly am I supposed to spend it?”

This was the turning point.

Hajin kept his expression open and trustworthy, his gestures minimal.

“The show we’re on—Miro Maze—airs on Ntv, but it’s produced by an external production company.”

“My brother’s on it. I know that much.”

“Yes. And because you know, I want to strengthen the production company’s position enough to check the broadcaster’s CP.”

“In what way?”

“I have proof that CP Yoon rigged viewer votes.”

“…!”

“And I plan to hand that over to the production company.”

Eun-seok’s composure flickered—but only for a second.

“Even with that, it’s difficult to threaten a broadcaster. They can cut off the tail.”

“Exactly,” Hajin said smoothly. “That’s what I’m aiming for.”

“……”

“A production company can’t threaten a broadcaster. But the production company CEO used to work in the variety department. He can at least have dinner with a senior. And that senior happens to be an Ntv division head.”

Hajin smiled lightly.

“Over drinks, he offers a careful word of advice.

‘It looks like CP Yoon accepted money and manipulated votes. If this gets exposed, the fallout will be huge. And aren’t you up for promotion to bureau chief soon, hyungnim?’

“As a junior, I’m worried. What should we do? Wouldn’t it be better to quietly—very quietly—cut the tail and deal only with CP Yoon and the trainee involved?”

“…Hajin. You said you’re twenty?”

“I’m a beautiful twenty-year-old who can chew rebar.”

(Granted, he had regressed four times and was living his fifth life—but that stayed unspoken.)

“Anyway, this is where I need your help.”

Eun-seok studied him.

“Don’t tell me you want me to arrange a dinner between the production company CEO and a broadcaster division head?”

That was the typical place money entered.

But Hajin shook his head lazily.

“Hyungnim, your scale is smaller than I expected.”

“That was my way of saying I have absolutely no idea what you’re thinking.”

My little brother really made an extraordinary friend, Eun-seok thought.

“It’s similar, though,” Hajin continued. “The CEO needs something in return if he’s going to take my evidence and ‘threaten’ the division head.”

“So… bribe the production company CEO?”

“Don’t say scary things like that. I hate under-the-table money. Let’s do this properly—through investment.”

He pulled out an L-shaped file.

“You’ve been pushing a younger brand image lately, right? Then produce entertainment content.”

Eun-seok flipped through the neatly organized document.

Web variety tailored perfectly to Judy’s new branding direction.
Video content featuring Miro’s artists.
Structured rollout plans.

Hajin had stayed up nights with Ji Suho to refine it. Old PD instincts—pitch decks, proposals, production logic—were alive and sharp.

“Remove CP Yoon and the problematic trainee completely.
Minimize Judy’s furniture exposure through editing.
If any issue arises, prioritize Eun-chan’s image and personal protection above all.”

“……”

“And this is conditional—only if, after all that, Eun-chan safely debuts through this survival show.”

If the issue was “work,” then guarantee work.

Miro couldn’t inject enough capital to move a production company. And this couldn’t look like a corporate power struggle between Miro and Ntv.

The cleanest narrative is simple:

A little brother nearly became collateral damage in a vote-rigging scheme.
An older brother lost his temper and threw money around.

Anything else risked turning Eun-chan into “the CEO’s favorite.”

Hajin trusted PD Kwon. With proper traffic control, she could handle the rest.

Eun-seok read the proposal once.

Then again.

Then again.

Finally—

“Did you make this?”

“More or less.”

“…Have you considered getting a job instead of becoming an idol? I’d give you a good position.”

“If I don’t become an idol in this life, I won’t live to see my natural lifespan.”

Eun-seok laughed, unaware it was literal.

“Even your rejection is entertaining.”

He made a call.

“Yes, Chief. It’s me. I’m coming down now—please prepare it. He’s my little brother’s friend.”

Probably the driver.

“For now,” Eun-seok said, standing, “I’ll review this positively. But it’s company money—I can’t decide alone.”

“Of course.”

“Can I have your number? If we move forward, I’ll contact you directly.”

“Couldn’t you just contact me through Team Leader Ji Suho?”

Eun-seok gently patted Hajin’s shoulder.

“My youngest has been talking about you a lot.”

“……”

“Before, even when I called, it was always about training. About himself. But one day, he started talking about his friends—happily.”

Eun-chan had always been lonely, even if he pretended not to be.

“‘Hyung Hajin made dinner today.’
‘Hyung Hajin taught Hari and Taehyun board games. I won three times.’”

“……”

“He also said you call him before bed and pretend to fall asleep just to mess with him.”

“…Why would he tell you that?”

“That’s why I agreed to meet you. I wanted to know who this hyung was that my youngest liked so much. I was even a little jealous.”

Only then did Hajin enter his number without hesitation.

Having a chaebol hyung wasn’t a downside.

“Could I contact you if something happens with Eun-chan? He never tells me when he’s struggling.”

“Yes. If anything happens, I’ll let you know.”

“I know it might feel like a burden.”

“…I have a younger brother too. I understand.”

Thinking of Hawon, Hajin smiled softly.

“Then I’ll head out. Thank you for the driver. I’ll wait for your response.”

“I’ll review it soon. And… please take care of my youngest.”

“Well, we don’t even know if we’ll debut together.”

“If you don’t debut, 연락해 anyway. I’ll make a place for you at the company.”

“…Then I guess I have no choice but to debut. Unless I want to be forcibly employed.”

Eun-seok laughed.

Hajin got into the waiting car downstairs.

The seat felt significantly more luxurious than public transport.

He sent Ji Suho a short message.

Then he leaned back and closed his eyes as exhaustion hit.

Every piece was in place.

The week-long break was ending.

* * *

The break ended.

The trainees returned to reality.

But the practice room buzzed with unexpected energy.

“Apparently we hit trending? Did you see the comments?”

“I’m too scared to check. If my name isn’t there, that’s humiliating.”

“Dude, my old photos and private Insta got dug up. I’m terrified.”

Attention-starved trainees had been awakened.

“It’s wild though. If you search us now, we actually show up.”

Their gazes drifted toward the person most expected to rank high.

“I’m jealous of Seong-woo hyung. When I searched, there were so many posts about him.”

Han Seong-woo smiled gently, soaking in envy and admiration.

“Ah, no. The first episode isn’t even out yet.”

“When it airs, it’ll be even better, hyung. You’re Wings tier and you won your battle too.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely debuting.”

“We all just need to work harder,” Seong-woo said modestly.

(Work hard all you want. You’ll just become sacrifices for my edit.)

He had panicked after botching the last stage.

But once he heard CP Yoon’s editing direction for Episode 1, his confidence returned.

• “We’ll emphasize your clash with Kang Hajin.”

• “Hajin will be framed as an overambitious newcomer.”

• “You’ll be the long-trained but insecure one who awakens and barely wins.”

Viewers watch what’s broadcast.

And he would be the main character.

A vocal slip? Fix it in post.
Lyrics mistake? Spin it as pressure.

If Episode 1 lands, it’s over.

His gaze slid toward Hajin in the mirror.

Hajin was lying at the edge of the room, head resting on Hari’s legs, laughing while teasing Eun-chan. Taehyun quietly moved toward Siwoo and Doha.

Just watch. I’ll win.

Hajin, feeling the stare, snorted.

“Stare all you want. Only your eyes will hurt.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Wow—Hari’s legs are comfy.”

Hari blinked.

Beside them, Eun-chan fumed after losing rock-paper-scissors nine times in a row.

“One more time!”

“Do you need ten losses before accepting reality, our Chani?”

“Are you sure you didn’t cheat?”

“How do you cheat at rock-paper-scissors?”

Even Hari and Eun-chan eyed him suspiciously.

Thirteen popped up:

“If it’s you… (≖_≖ )”

“What do you think I am?!” Hajin protested.

He shadowboxed dramatically.

“Hah. Jjini is so upset.”

“Hyung, stop.”

“That’s crossing the line.”

“…Doesn’t work, huh.”

Then his phone vibrated.

He checked it—and grinned.

“Chani. You may be a ‘Bo-babo’ who always throws paper first, but hyung loves you.”

“What—ugh! For real?!”

“Hyung doesn’t lie about this.”

He winked shamelessly.

Eun-chan recoiled.

“Where are you going, my love?”

“Today, no matter what, I’m switching rooms with Doha hyung!”

Eun-chan stormed off.

Hajin smiled faintly.

His messenger app glowed.

<Judy’s Furniture_Joo Eun-seok | Proposal approved. Take good care of my youngest~>

You little lucky charm.

At last—

It was time to detonate the bomb.