The Malicious Member Has Returned! Episode 76
* * *
These things happen from time to time.
Like the person who was sued for trashing a restaurant too viciously on an internet mom café, and when they actually met face-to-face, it turned out to be a man in his 40s running a nearby restaurant. Or the person who used to open every post with ["I know because I've been to Korea University"] and made a name for themself as the ["online Korea University student"], who turned out to be a five-time retaker.
What needs to be noted here is "how they ended up getting caught as themselves."
Because the hatred toward the other party was too great. Because the admiration was too great.
That they couldn't control that degree.
To give another example from that point, there was an anti-fan SNS account that poured all its passion and energy into cursing me out.
[ㅇㅇ @RETREASH12345 (photo) (photo)
Heok ㄷㄷ Rex coming out of the club after drinking today too♡ #RexTrash #Rex #Arrows_Supporter #Archer_FriendIntroduction #IdolFans_Gather #Slaydix #Leopold #SummertimeBoys #ChoiGaon]
[⎿Ah f*** this crazy b*stard, don't tag our oppas on RexTrash]
[⎿WTF there are photos too, how is this possible]
[ㅇㅇ @RETREASH12345 The photos I upload on my account♡ are all♡ taken by me♡ personally♡]
[⎿Following him around to curse him out is seriously amazing…]
[ㅇㅇ @RETREASH12345 (photo) (photo)
Our #Rex oppa suddenly ran out of the studio! When I checked why♡ he came out♡ I found out♡ news that he fought with the PD-nim during variety filming ㅠㅠ Thanks to that♡ filming all stop♡ even though others are waiting♡ Rex oppa doesn't care about that♡]
[⎿Take the post down. Don't you know we sign audience confidentiality agreements? If you post stuff like this, from now on A-rrows will film without audiences]
[ㅇㅇ @RETREASH12345 ㅇㅅㅇ… there aren't♡ many even now, so what♡ and I'm♡ not an audience member♡ I'm #Rex oppa's fan♡]
The owner of that account eventually got their tail stepped on by Shooting Rex noona, who had fire lit in both eyes.
Because she took every single photo herself, and because she doggedly followed my every schedule and every single move—was it only natural?
[ShootingRex @Shooting_REX
SNS account @RETREASH12345 nim, not @siwooow1223 nim!
You were the malicious fan who grabbed and tore off S.S.'s bag keyring at Narita Airport during the Japan schedule last time, right? I recognized it because S.S.'s keyring was visible at the bottom of the photo you uploaded ㅎㅎ You knew that was custom-made, didn't you?]
[Even though S.S. politely told you you'd be in trouble if you did that, you ignored him and tore it off, and you're quite experienced at pulling out other members' hair too ㅜㅜ]
This incident was one I couldn't easily forget because it involved not only me but Siwoo as well.
Siwoo was awkward despite being a victim himself, and since it wasn't like I had done anything right either, it was awkward for me to open my mouth too.
Attached to Shooting Rex noona's post were remarks like [I don't think this is something the malicious member's mother should be saying ㅠㅠ], comments that muddied the waters, leaving nothing but wounds in many ways.
Now, so, the lesson learned here.
If the aggro is too severe, people frown.
If the tail is long, it gets stepped on.
So, you have to control the degree well.
And surely, there was definitely no one in this world better than me at controlling that degree.
Because I had watched the entire history of SNS aggro for eight years, and because I was the one getting beaten in the center of it.
"Haha…."
Who knew getting bashed on SNS would be helpful like this.
No, should I even say it's helpful? This.
If I had behaved properly toward my family, members, and fans from the start, I wouldn't have needed to do something like this.
But still, now that I've returned like this, I had no choice but to do it.
Because the [Fortune Cookie B] skill I checked in the morning even said, "If you make a decision, there might be good results?"
"…
Hu."
I rubbed the sweat soaking my palms against my pants and let out a light sigh.
On my phone screen was the timeline of the SNS account I had created in advance yesterday.
Like any newly made SNS account, there was a default picture of a person with arms spread wide and a randomly assigned nickname.
[Crumpled Receipt @QORHVMEK
Follow 0 Following 0 Posts 0]
On this empty account with no followers and no following, I began to write quickly, but precisely.
One to be posted in exactly two hours, and one in four hours.
[Would you like to schedule a post? Yes / No]
What I had prepared were very small embers.
But if they drew attention, they were embers that would burn uncontrollably.
Beyond the wall of the bathroom where I sat, I could faintly hear Team 'Submersion' rehearsing.
- Dive, jump in
deeper below, beneath those waves
sinking breath, tightening hidden throats
but this moment alone is So sweet
once more Dive
jump in
Between the dreamy sound, Ryu Wei's voice seeping through was cold as always.
With emptiness, tension, and a subtle competitive spirit, I gritted my teeth and sprang up.
…
Ryu Wei.
After you dive in, whether you can come back.
Let's see about that.
* * *
As all audience members for
The youngest writer, I Ha-jun, who had been running around delivering guidance to staff, was running to the basement with a dying expression.
"They really only give me this kind of stuff…!"
"P-Producer Ju. Today, both Director Shin and CEO Do from AG are coming to watch the competition."
"…Both? Hah, damn. So the Director wants to pay attention since it's the last stage before the live broadcast. I'm the one who called only CEO Do, though."
"What should we do? If we're going to seat both in the special judges' section, we need to tell the assistant directors to set it up now…"
"Hey. I can understand CEO Do, but what kind of judge is that b*stard Director Shin? Of course we adjust the equipment positions to make room. Ha-jun, aren't you going to come to your senses?"
"S-sorry!"
"Forget it. They'll arrive in separate cars, so tell them their seats. I'm going down for a smoke."
"No, Producer. M-me…? I'm supposed to go tell them?"
"Then should I do it? You'll handle on-site control, and I should go down and roll out the red carpet for those guys?"
"They just order people around with their mouths… I'm the one doing all the annoying work!"
Though his mouth screamed curses at Producer Ju as if shrieking, his feet diligently climbed the stairs.
'If I guide them to separate seats, they'll complain, "Why is that person there and I'm here?" Why do their arrival times have to be the same!'
In the underground parking lot of Music Days used by staff, Director Shin Gi-ho's sedan and CEO Do Jae-chan's sleek sports car had already arrived.
The reason the two, who were already thoroughly familiar with the broadcasting station layout and filming set, hadn't bothered to walk up on their own was simple.
A subtle battle of nerves.
One might say, embarrassingly, what are grown adults doing, but it was true that their relationship had recently become subtly awkward.
That Shin Gi-ho had tried to backstab Do Jae-chan regarding Logan's withdrawal without him knowing.
Moreover, that Do Jae-chan had reached his hand into the production of
They had clearly joined hands to make an idol succeed and raise AG's fallen name value, but somehow things had come to this.
"Ugh, if they know the way they should just come up on their own… making me do pick-up too…."
There was no way the salaried youngest writer could have known that situation.
"…Tch."
As I Ha-jun, who anyone could tell was from the
They too didn't want to see each other's faces today.
"…I didn't know you would come to watch today's competition, CEO-nim."
"Me either, I suppose. Did I think Director Shin would make such precious steps this way?"
"Well, I've been consistently checking all the trainees' competitions. …Since I'm also the one who received full authority over this survival program within AG."
"……."
Do Jae-chan, whose face looked slightly stung, pretended not to hear and looked away awkwardly.
The reason Do Jae-chan had come to the broadcasting station was simple.
He wanted to see AG's pure-blooded trainees finish their last stage before the live broadcast well, but…
More than anything, Ju Cheol-yeong's words weighed on his mind.
- Please come once during the 4th competition. We can talk more about what we discussed then, too.
"…Isn't my work finished since Logan didn't withdraw?"
- No, CEO. Think about it.
'The reason Director Shin tried to make Logan withdraw is because he's currently appearing perfectly fine, isn't he?'
"…Shit."
As expected of Do Jae-chan, who showed regrettable sides due to his outspoken personality and hasty judgment, anxiety was clearly revealed on that face.
He shouldn't have met Director Shin here, he thought.
But perhaps, fortunately?
"……."
Even that meticulous Director Shin Gi-ho didn't have the leeway today to observe Do Jae-chan's face and probe, "Are you thinking something else?"
"Contacting me unilaterally and then keeping silent? …Ha. This cocky little bastard."
"E-Excuse me, Director-nim."
"Hu… speak."
"W-well, Chief Choi said that, um. Ryu… Wei's filming attitude is very poor…."
"……."
'I'll go see for myself.'
Because he needed to intimidate Ryu Wei after seeing the face he had heard about.
"Ah, then we'll go straight to the filming set…."
Ha-jun, running toward the two AG pillars who stood with their respective positions, began carefully guiding them toward the filming set.
"……."
"……."
The two middle-aged men, lost in their own thoughts, silently followed Ha-jun.
And the person suffering in that silence was predetermined, too.
'Do I need to say something? Is this how they usually are? Ah, if only it weren't for the Producer, I could've just stayed at the filming set!'
That was the position of the youngest.
If told to peel, you peeled. If the atmosphere called for keeping your mouth shut, you shut it; if told to open it, you had to open it faster than a loosed arrow.
Be strong, youngest. Be strong, I Ha-jun.
As if someone understood that pitiful Ha-jun's heart?
At the moment when the long, long guidance journey ended and they were within sight of the filming set.
Rrrrr─
A muffled phone ring from inside a pocket echoed raucously through the broadcasting station hallway.
Though Ha-jun slightly wiped tears at the joy of finally being able to open his mouth, he muttered without hiding his confusion.
"…I think you have a call?"
Both of you.
"……."
Director Shin Gi-ho and CEO Do Jae-chan.
Both of their faces hardened strangely.
Other company employees already knew about their schedules; unless it was quite an urgent matter, they wouldn't contact them directly like this.
Which meant, in other words, "this call is urgent."
"Yeah, it's me. Talk. Not too long, quickly. We have to go watch our kids' stage now…."
It was CEO Do Jae-chan who spoke first.
However,
"Say that again."
It was Director Shin Gi-ho who received the news quickly and had his expression ruthlessly crumpled.
"…First, it's not an article that came out right now, so keep the reporters' mouths shut. Make sure no sources get in. Understand? I'll go back in. Tell Chief Choi, too."
"…Got it. I'll check again when I go in later. Yeah."
Their expressions became similar, then one crumpled more greatly, and one almost looked like they were smiling slightly.
Click….
The two middle-aged men, who received the calls, talked, and even hung up at similar times, glanced at each other once.
"……."
"……."
Both clearly had much they wanted to say, but their expressions showed they couldn't say it now.
"─Something urgent has come up, so I don't think I can watch the stage. Sorry for having you guide me all the way. I'll head back."
And in that process, it was Director Shin who raised the white flag first.
"Excuse me? If Director Shin is leaving, uh."
At Director Shin's sudden declaration of withdrawal, I Ha-jun looked toward CEO Do with bewildered eyes, but CEO Do only shrugged once and pushed Ha-jun's shoulder.
"Let's go in for now."
It seems Director Shin has urgent business.
"It's not my business, so I'm fine."
"……."
For a moment, was it Ha-jun's imagination that Shin Gi-ho's face contorted miserably?
However, the SNS alarm in his pocket proved that Ha-jun's imagination was not imagination.
[Real-time SNS Trends
– Trending around you
1. TargetingStar 40247 posts
2. Rum Tata Trainee Rankings 777 posts
3. Tata Live Broadcast Repost Event 432 posts
4. Wei What's Going On (New!) 2467 posts]
Especially, if one looked at that phrase that had just risen in the trends.