Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 8

Chapter 8. The Crazy One in This Neighborhood Is Me (3)

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“He looks way too rude.”

Since they couldn’t nitpick Hajin’s skills, the Director played the “personality” card.

He claimed Hajin’s stiff, expressionless face made him look arrogant—like the type who would end up in a school bullying scandal.

“Pierced ears, hair pushed back… You can just tell. His face screams delinquent. I don’t like it.”

“Sir, didn’t you cast our second member because he had that ‘delinquent charm’?”

“That was charm. Not delinquent.”

Oh, so now there’s a difference?

Seo Tae-il crossed his arms. As someone who had endured countless fabricated scandals about drinking, smoking, and even drugs—all based purely on image—he wasn’t thrilled to hear that.

“Well, when I spoke to him while he was waiting, he was extremely polite. Very respectful.”

Section Chief Kim defended Hajin. The Director waved him off.

“I saw it earlier. No expression, just ‘yes, sir, yes, sir.’ I’ve seen kids like that for years. You can tell.”

Everyone looked exhausted. The Director’s opposition was clearly opposition for its own sake—but no one dared say it aloud. Despite often causing trouble, he was close to the CEO and held executive-level authority inside the company.

“Maybe he was nervous?”

“Did he look nervous to you? You’ve still got a long way to go. He didn’t smile, didn’t shrink. That’s the face of someone who’ll cause a major incident someday.”

Seo Tae-il shot Ji Suho a look.

Do something.

Suho tapped the table.

“Then let’s do an interview. Maybe making him record immediately made him tense.”

“I’m in.”

“You, Seo Tae-il—”

“You changed the audition method to your liking, didn’t you? Let me test him my way.”

The Director ground his teeth. He hated Suho.

But he couldn’t push further.

“Fine.”

Tae-il stepped into the hallway—

“…Kang Hajin?”

And froze.

“…Are you crying?”

At the end of the corridor, sunlight streaming through the window—

Hajin was sobbing.

Ugly crying.

Trying to hold it in, but failing.

It looked like a drama scene.

Then Tae-il noticed what Hajin was holding.

Chocolate. A card.

Ah.

A first fan letter.

Upia’s youngest member had reacted exactly the same way.

“Oh—no—it’s not—that’s not—”

With red eyes and a red nose, Hajin finally looked like a nineteen-year-old kid.

Tae-il chuckled softly, feeling both relieved and a little guilty for misjudging him.

He patted Hajin’s shoulder.

“It’s okay. You can cry it out.”

Hajin cried harder.

Trainees and staff passed by, staring.

Eventually, even the Director, Section Chief Kim, and Ji Suho saw it.

And so a new rumor began spreading around Miro:

Seo Tae-il has personally secured another trainee.

Humiliating.

My eyes were still swollen.

Seo Tae-il was looking at me like I was his little brother.

Maybe I should change agencies.

The system went into full panic mode.

< System Alert: Further quest sabotage will not be tolerated! >

“Relax.”

Then they handed me a contract.

MIRO ENTERTAINMENT
Exclusive Trainee Contract

If I signed this—

I would officially become a trainee.

For some, that’s the beginning of a dream.

For others, it’s endless competition.

For me?

It’s re-grabbing a dream I once threw away.

With the added weight that I must succeed.

Then—

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“I don’t think I can.”

Silence.

< System Alert: System gives up trying to understand the Fixed Regressor. >

What? You told me to be crazy.

I decided to reject Miro the moment Tae-il muttered:

“What are they talking about with a kid like this…”

He thought he whispered.

I heard everything.

There is someone here who doesn’t like me.

The delayed interview proved they were discussing me.

If this were a survival show, Tae-il would’ve slammed a Super Pass for me.

So why the hesitation?

I need to know who’s on my side before I step into a political battlefield.

Reasons for rejecting:

Identify my enemy.

Secure a solid ally.

The sour-faced Director was obvious.

But the mysterious Team Leader?

Even more suspicious.

At least Section Chief Kim and Seo Tae-il clearly liked me.

That’s something.

And I had insurance.

Seo Tae-il’s personal manager’s business card.

“If you change your mind, call.”

If Miro didn’t bite the bait, I’d call that number instead.

Whoever chased me the hardest—

That person would be my ally.

“And if they clean out the one who hates me in the process? Even better.”

< System Alert: The system is impressed by the Fixed Regressor’s meticulousness… >

Three days later—

Someone came to find me.

“Kang Hajin.”

I looked up.

Of course.

The most suspicious one.

“Hello. I’m Ji Suho.”