Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut! Chapter 99

Chapter 99 – Bomb? (10)

I knew he’d react like that.

Our brake-less eight-ton truck crashed straight into Lee Yugeon again today—right on schedule.

Even from a distance, Hajin could tell that Yugeon—rare for him—was flustered.

The first time that happens to you, the back of your head kind of goes numb.

…Good.

It was a relief that Lee Doha had reacted exactly the way Hajin expected.

For someone like Yugeon, people like Seo Taehyun or Dan Haru—those overly emotional, 200% empathy types—would probably be harder to deal with.

But Doha?

He stripped everything down and went straight to the point.

Now that he knew the truth, the parts of Yugeon that hadn’t made sense before—

finally started to click.

That light, almost careless attitude.

The trait Copy & Paste.

Even the debuff.

[Lee Yugeon (Miro)]

• Debuff: Stats decrease due to unique trait

• Vocal: D (C+)

• Dance: B+ (S)

• Expression: C- (A-)

• Charm: D+ (B+)

Special: Copy & Paste (B)
→ Can replicate immersed targets with high accuracy

Appeal Point:
“Even now, twelve ships remain”
→ Responsibility, perseverance, immersion

I don’t know what his actual trait is…

But one thing was clear:

He needed responsibility to immerse himself.
And only after immersing himself could he truly own something.

But—

if he never intended to debut in the first place…

then there was no reason for that responsibility to exist.

Which meant—

his growth had been stalled from the start.

But that only applies until now.

The quest hadn’t disappeared.

No matter what—

Hajin had to drag that bastard through this stage safely.

To do that, there was only one answer:

Make him feel responsible.

How do you even approach someone like that?

Do you just say:

“You messed things up, so take responsibility”?

…No.

That wouldn’t work on someone like Lee Yugeon.

While Hajin was still thinking—

someone raised a hand.

“…?”

Everyone turned.

Joo Eunchan.

And he wasn’t looking at Yugeon.

He was looking at Hajin.

Like he was asking permission.

“Uh… yeah. Go ahead, Chan.”

“Yes. I’ll speak.”

Eunchan sat up straight.

Then, calmly—

he dropped a bomb.

“So what you’re saying is, the reason Yugeon hyung couldn’t participate properly… was because of his part-time job, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“Then I can solve that.”

“…Huh?”

Everyone froze.

Including Hajin.

Wait.

Don’t tell me—

“I would like to hire you.”

Eunchan pulled something out of his wallet.

A familiar card.

Joo Eunseok’s card.

“As our choreography teacher.”

Silence.

“The contract will last until the survival show ends.
And when we’re on the same team—
I’ll pay double.”

…This was insane.

Not joking.

Not half-serious.

He was literally trying to hire him.

With money.

Everyone turned to Yugeon.

Waiting.

Bracing.

And then—

“…Customer, I’ll be happy to serve you kindly.”

Yugeon grinned.

“What kind of budget are you thinking of?”

…Unbelievable.

He sold his soul instantly.

To capitalism.

Of course—

that never actually happened.

Because Jung Siwoo shut it down immediately.

Calmly.

Gently.

And yet somehow—

completely.

“If rumors spread that trainees are exchanging money… what do you think happens?”

“…Ah.”

“Han Seongwoo is already a mess. Do you want to make things worse?”

That was the end of that.

Yugeon laughed it off easily.

Eunchan, on the other hand—

had been completely serious.

So then—

what now?

Surprisingly—

the answer came from Yugeon himself.

“…Actually, I already told the manager I’d quit.”

“What?”

“Why?”

Yugeon leaned back.

Like it wasn’t a big deal.

“I do have a conscience.”

“….”

“Even today, I tried to make it back in time. But that drunk customer thing… I lost my phone, couldn’t contact anyone…”

“….”

“Anyway, I figured I couldn’t keep doing this.”

“So… you can practice with us now?”

“…Yeah.”

He scratched his cheek.

A little awkward.

“They said they’d normally keep me until they found a replacement, but… the manager’s son just got discharged from the army.”

“….”

“So today was my last day.”

Silence.

Then—

Eunchan spoke.

“…What about your living expenses?”

“I’ve got some savings. And the appearance fee’s coming in soon.”

“….”

“I’ll figure it out for a month or two.”

He paused.

Then added—

more quietly.

“…And my siblings’ classmates watched the show.”

“…Ah.”

“They talked shit about me.”

That was it.

That was the reason.

“I don’t have much to leave behind for them anyway.”

He smiled.

Light.

As always.

“If I embarrass them too… then I’ve got nothing left, right?”

Silence.

Then—

he clapped lightly.

“So, should I start by wearing the collar?”

“It’s a choker.”

Hajin snapped immediately.

Almost annoyed.

For the first time—

laughter filled the room.

Even Siwoo turned his head, exhaling.

Only now—

had they reached the starting line.

Later – Practice Room

“Ha-jin-ssi, are you feeling okay?”

“Huh?”

Filming resumed in the afternoon.

The writer handed him water, looking concerned.

“When we heard this morning, we were really shocked.”

“I’m fine. I rested.”

“You have to take care of your body. It’s your asset.”

“Haha, thank you.”

The delay had been explained as Hajin being sick.

Which—

wasn’t even a lie.

“Did you film the self-cam yesterday?”

“Ah… that.”

Hajin picked up the camera.

Then—

put on the most apologetic face possible.

“We filmed really diligently… but I think I pressed something wrong. Nothing recorded.”

Lie.

A perfect one.

The camera had worked fine.

He had deleted everything himself.

Because—

none of that footage could air.

Too risky.

Too dangerous.

Especially for Yugeon.

“Really? Nothing at all?”

“I’m really sorry…”

The PD hesitated.

Then sighed.

“…It can’t be helped.”

Hook.

Line.

Sunk.

“Then today we’ll film your meeting and practice.”

Hajin smiled.

Then—

quietly steered the direction.

New Concept

“So for Blue Flare…”

“Clumsy trainees trying to act sexy?”

“Yes.”

Keywords:

• “Baby trainees learning sexy”

• “Yugeon’s chaotic rap training arc”

• “Doha & Yugeon – reversed mentor dynamic”

• “Eunchan’s first vocal spotlight”

Perfect.

All of it.

Instead of:

• Conflict between Siwoo & Yugeon

• Attitude controversy

They got:

• Growth

• Chemistry

• Comedy

Exactly what Hajin wanted.

“But why is Yugeon doing rap?”

The writer asked.

Yugeon hesitated—

then answered exactly as trained.

“I wanted to try something new.”

“My teammates encouraged me.”

“I want to show Desties a different side.”

“I’ll work hard with Doha hyung.”

Perfect delivery.

The PD looked impressed.

Then—

glanced at Hajin.

How did you tame him?

Hajin just smiled.

Reality (Off-Camera)

“No, how am I supposed to rap?”

Yugeon groaned.

“Didn’t you say you’d take whatever was left?”

“That’s different!”

“If you can’t do it, no one else can either.”

“….”

“Choose.”

Hajin’s voice dropped.

“Take rap willingly and keep your image.”

“Or get forced into leftovers—while wearing the choker.”

“…That’s the same thing!”

No.

Hajin thought.

The difference is—

You chose it.

And for someone like Lee Yugeon—

that made all the difference.