Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 80

Chapter 80. Bomb! (2)

Kang Hajin’s (past life) workplace boss—who was now the main PD of Miro Maze—was PD Kwon Myeong-eun.

Right now, she had arrived alone at Miro’s headquarters because of an abrupt summons from Ji Suho.

What is it now? Ugh… I’m already drowning in work.

Her head was a mess. Lately, stress had kept her from sleeping, and her stomach felt twisted into knots. Even just now, she had come straight from storming out of the CEO’s office.

I went freelance to avoid office politics—so why do I have even more “bosses” now?

Myeong-eun quickly tried to deduce why Ji Suho had called her in.

Officially, it was about “planning next steps and urgently injecting new content,” but the atmosphere didn’t match.

If it were just that, why tell me to come alone? Why leave Writer Go out of it?

He was probably probing the Episode 1 screening delay. There was no way Ji Suho didn’t know CP Yoon was forcing edits under the excuse of “post-production.”

And I heard Kang Hajin is on Ji Suho’s line… so it’s probably about that.

Thinking of how Miro’s direction directly conflicted with CP Yoon’s demands, Myeong-eun steeled herself. The CEO seemed ready to cave out of fear, but she disagreed.

Kang Hajin is going to debut. If we push him, the show comes alive.

Even if it meant clashing with CP Yoon, if Miro decided to fight, he wouldn’t be able to stop it.

The meeting room door opened. Ji Suho walked in.

He was alone.

“Ah, PD Myeong-eun. Hello.”

“Hello, Team Leader.”

“You must be swamped these days—sorry to call you in. It’s just that—”

Ji Suho placed a tablet on the table and sat across from her.

Or rather—

He was about to.

“Team Leader. I know everything.”

“…Pardon?”

“You’re frustrated, right? It must feel absurd and infuriating. We never imagined it would drag out this badly either.”

“Um—excuse me—”

“I’m really, really sorry!!”

Myeong-eun bowed so hard her forehead nearly hit the table.

Ji Suho froze mid-motion.

When he didn’t respond, she lifted her head with exaggerated pitiful eyes.

“But we’re dying over here too…”

Ji Suho looked at her scrunched expression and thought:

…She really was Hajin’s former boss.

Same moves.

“Let’s sit first. Sit and talk, PD.”

“Ahem. Shall we?”

She instantly switched modes, adjusted her glasses, smoothed her hair, and acted as if nothing had happened.

Ji Suho gave a short laugh.

“Well… that’s a relief.”

“…A relief?”

“You look like you’d actually enjoy swinging a knife.”

“…A knife?”

She inhaled sharply.

* * *

Hours later, after everything was discussed, Myeong-eun left.

Ji Suho remained alone.

He removed his glasses, rubbed his face, and sighed before making a call.

—Hello?

Kang Hajin answered.

—How did it go?

“She said she’ll do it.”

—Figured.

“Like you said—it was an instant yes once the numbers lined up.”

—That’s how she is. Practical… but insanely proud of her work.

“But there’s one problem.”

Ji Suho’s voice lowered.

“You’re included in the vote manipulation too.”

It wasn’t just that CP Yoon tampered with Han Seongwoo’s votes.

“He didn’t just pad Han Seongwoo’s votes. He moved your votes to Han Seongwoo. That means your current vote count isn’t normal either.”

If Hajin’s plan worked—if Han Seongwoo “voluntarily withdrew” before Episode 1 and was edited out—then Han Seongwoo’s votes would become invalid.

It was only possible because voting wasn’t paid.

“The issue is, we don’t know exactly how many of your votes were moved. If we conceal the manipulation, your stolen votes will be buried too.”

If only they had acted earlier.

If he had stopped Hajin the moment they suspected fraud—

Ji Suho swallowed his regret.

Coldly speaking, this was the most beneficial method for Miro.

No “rigged show” stigma.
The broadcaster owed them.
Investment secured.

If the former division head were here, he would sacrifice Kang Hajin without hesitation.

But Ji Suho couldn’t.

He cared.

—Team Leader.

Hajin’s voice was calm.

—Do you think I stepped on a landmine without calculating first?

“You… then—!”

—You said you’d be on my side no matter what.

“……”

—Tell PD Kwon I handed her a big knife. She better dance properly. And edit properly too.

I’m hanging up—

The call ended.

Ji Suho stared at his phone.

From the beginning… he knew he’d be the one to lose.

The votes Han Seongwoo stole weren’t small.

And yet Kang Hajin acted like it didn’t matter.

What are you planning?

After steadying himself, Ji Suho called again.

—Yes, this is Kwon Myeong-eun.

“PD. This is Team Leader Ji Suho. Let’s proceed.”

—…Yes. Understood. I’ll 연락 you soon.

“And there’s one more thing. Not a proposal—a condition.”

* * *

Han Seongwoo’s morning had been terrible.

He left without an umbrella.

A sudden downpour.

The umbrella he bought snapped in under ten minutes.

Then he stepped into a puddle and ruined the shoes he had bought yesterday.

Nothing goes right!

Han Seongwoo shook rainwater from his hair and entered the building.

There was a shared shower room. He would wash up and change.

This is disgusting.

That was when—

“Aigoo, hyungnim.”

The voice he hated most.

“You’re soaked. What a tragedy.”

“Get lost. I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh my, how scary. Eek.”

Kang Hajin didn’t even change tone.

Han Seongwoo clenched his fist, then forced himself to calm down.

Once Episode 1 airs… once rankings are revealed… that bastard won’t run his mouth anymore.

CP Yoon had already told him.

He walked past.

But Kang Hajin called out lazily:

“You going in? If I were you, I’d turn off my phone and go home right now, hyung.”

Han Seongwoo ignored him and headed to the lockers.

“Oh, Gyeong-ho. You’re early.”

“……”

Gyeong-ho glanced at him and left.

Others avoided him.

The trainees who used to flatter him now acted as if he didn’t exist.

Han Seongwoo felt something cold crawl up his spine.

He hurried down the hallway—

“Seongwoo.”

He froze.

“Come see me for a moment.”

At the end of the corridor stood Ji Suho, face completely devoid of warmth.

Han Seongwoo instinctively sensed danger.

“T-Team Leader… could I wash up first? I got caught in the rain—”

“No. I want you in my office. Right now.”

In that moment, one sentence echoed in his head:

If I were you, I’d turn off my phone and go home.

Rainwater dripped from Han Seongwoo’s hair.

Down his body.

Pooling at his feet.

What the hell is this—what the f—?!