“I looked out for you since the beginning... and now your senior’s career is about to collapse from a dating scandal, and you’re just going to ignore me?”
Did he already forget? He dated a shitload.
And I’m your blackmailer, you bastard...
I stayed quiet without bothering to clap back, but across from us, Jeon Saeyoung and Lee Hanju whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Right now Seo Hoyun is looking at Woosung-hyung like he’s pathetic...”
“Our hyung really is embarrassing anywhere he goes.”
“Hey, we can hear you.”
...Oops, guess it showed.
I slowly raised my hand to rub my chin and finally spoke.
“...I don’t think this will end your career.”
“Th-that may be true, but... it’ll leave a mark!”
I scanned Joo Woosung with narrowed eyes.
The only reason I had helped him back in Nugu Actor Tycoon was one:
He looked unstable.
Like someone who felt nothing at all, a lethargy draped over him that seemed dangerously fragile.
That just didn’t suit a guy born to shine like him.
So, do I help him or not?
Like he said, there would be some impact.
But not much. WH Entertainment would cover it well enough, and eventually the truth would surface.
“I’m supposed to make my solo comeback at year’s end, but what if this ruins it, huh?!”
“Haa...”
...Well.
Since he was at least trying to change his mind and live the idol life, I could help once. Just once.
Deciding this might drag on, Kang Ichae slipped aside and quietly started texting the other Dawn members.
“You’re absolutely sure you’ve never met her? This one here looks pretty intimate.”
I pointed at one of the photos. Woosung flailed his hands.
“No! I’ve never! It’s all photoshopped.”
“Hmm. Alright, let’s say that’s true. If it’s just edits, your company and hers will handle it. I don’t see why I need to interfere.”
Like I’d said, it would be strange for me to meddle in something that was clearly the agency’s job.
Woosung’s lips jutted out in a sulky pout.
“I didn’t expect you to actually solve it for me. But shouldn’t you at least pretend to care? After everything I’ve done for you.”
So that’s why he did all that—for leverage.
I clicked my tongue inwardly, but plastered on a business smile.
“Senior Joo Woosung.”
“What?!”
“I believe life is more beautiful because it has ups and downs. Think of this as one of those trials.”
“So basically you’re saying I should eat shit once.”
At my side, Kang Ichae recited my exact inner thought, and I elbowed his ribs to shut him up.
“Anyway, Ichae and I are busy, so we’ll get going. Fighting, senior!”
I bowed and started to leave, but Woosung arched a brow and crossed his arms, speaking sourly.
“You really won’t move a finger unless there’s profit... Fine, what if I do a variety show with you? Then will you help?”
...What’s with that tone?
I frowned, but once again, behind him, Jeon Saeyoung and Lee Hanju whispered.
“Didn’t they just say WH was planning to gather everyone for a variety show anyway...?”
“Yeah. And funny how he always calls Seo Hoyun like he’s doing him some big favor, when really he has no friends.”
“Are you guys on my side or not?!”
Woosung groaned, then muttered under his breath.
“I am frustrated, but... I really just want to do right by my fans. I don’t want to disappoint them...”
“Hoo...”
“Oh wow... Hyung actually has noble thoughts?”
Saeyoung and Hanju looked at him with softened gazes, but I only stared, unimpressed.
“...Seo Hoyun.”
A hesitant voice called me.
A few steps away, Chae Jungwoo beckoned with a gentle smile. As I approached, he carefully persuaded me.
“Could you play along a little? Looking closely at the article, I think if you help clear things up, it’ll resolve much faster.”
“Mm.”
“It may not be serious, but with such a long inactive period, if a member takes a hit, it affects the whole group. Also... if possible, could you guest on my radio show again? Last time the response was good.”
That last part was probably a reward for my cooperation.
He really was good at handling people.
I weighed it briefly, then purposely cleared my throat loudly and said,
“...Hmm, radio? With all of The Dawn?”
“I’ll check and let you know. But don’t worry.”
Jungwoo met my eyes and smiled brightly.
“When I say it, it usually goes through.”
I immediately turned to Woosung.
“Woosung-hyung, what time are you free today?”
His eyes had narrowed into sharp little slits full of sulkiness.
What? Why? You mad?
***
[Holy shit Joo Woosung dating]
The rumor of Woosung dating an actress spread instantly.
[LOL knew it, should’ve hidden it better. Woosung kept acting like a homebody, but bringing a girlfriend over to live together, what a class act]
[Fangirls are pathetic. Still insisting it’s photoshopped, how sad...]
[While you’re shielding him, your oppas are out there using your money to go on ♡dates♡ with their girlfriends~~]
[The photos say it all. Look at his stupid grin.]
The photos in the articles were perfectly timed, yet looking closely, there was something odd.
Fans suspected photoshop but couldn’t find the originals.
[Fuck no, Woosung wouldn’t do this]
[It’s hopeless. Even if he explains, they’ll just call it shielding. How the hell does he clear this]
[Can’t even find the originals, shit. Looks like eyewitness accounts]
Just when Bloys were despairing—
[Hoyun: (photo)]
[Hoyun: Noeul, hello.]
[Hoyun: Have you eaten?]
As always, Seo Hoyun’s PopPop messages to fans popped up.
[Hoyun’s photos are god-tier.
└Looks like someone else took it?? So well shot.
└└Yeah, like a hot Instagram vibe LOL]
[Hoyun’s black clothes are covered in cat fur]
And fans who had long traced WH Entertainment idols immediately recognized the wallpaper and sofa cushions.
Switching to private accounts, they shared info.
[Wait, isn’t this Joo Woosung’s house?]
[Oh, guess he’s with Woosung]
Hoyun had never really shown personal friendships via SNS, PopPop, or lives.
[Hoyun’s actually close with Woosung]
[Yeah, there were hints before—sometimes Hoyun showed up with white fur on his clothes. Everyone wondered, thought he was dating. Turns out it was Woosung’s cat LOL]
But this time, Hoyun openly referenced it.
[Hoyun: Oh, you mean the fluff?]
[Hoyun: Cat fur. Wearing black, it really shows...]
[Hoyun: Sorry, I should’ve cleaned up before taking the photo.]
Noeuls were delighted, but Bloys sniffed something odd.
[Hold up... Hoyun’s clothes are covered in fur. But Shim Jungyoon isn’t. Weird, right? Anyone who’s been to a cat house knows the fur sticks all over.
└Oh shit, true;;
└Yeah. If she had been at his place, her clothes would’ve shown fur too. Why didn’t we think of this?]
[Forget Woosung, let’s dig into Hoyun too]
Black Call fans then tore into The Dawn’s YouTube, Twitter, SNS, PopPop.
[Wait, the outfit Woosung wore in the alleged date photo is identical to what Hoyun wore in the Dawn vlog prepping for the workshop. That means Woosung was in the practice room LOL
└Right!! And Woosung even sent a PopPop saying he was with Hoyun then. The times match.
└LOL even the practice room clock in his selfie lines up]
They pieced it together, cross-referencing Woosung’s posts and Black Call’s official account.
[Found the pre-edit originals. All from overseas fanshops. Damn, the photoshop was good. Share your editing software, please LOL]
Adding fan sightings, alibis lined up for every supposed time.
Except for a few solo schedules, Woosung had been with Hoyun the whole time.
[Wow... Woosung...]
[He really only ever sees Hoyun]
[LOOOOOOOL]
[Fuck, what even is this friendship]
[Just checked drama staff’s Instas—Shim Jungyoon was filming in Bali at that exact time LOL rumor’s bullshit]
└LOL the truth revealed by cat fur
└└Hilarious]
The whole situation flipped into a farce, trending on Twitter: ‘Joo Woosung dating,’ ‘cat fur,’ ‘what the ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) fuck,’ ‘Seo Hoyun PopPop.’
[Woosung-kun... 5252... his whole schedule was just WH practice, nothing else]
[Shitty clickbait trash articles]
[Okay, chain-block time. Got all PDFs saved, let’s sue them all]
The dating rumor faded quickly.
Meanwhile, Hoyun’s reputation among Black Call fans rose sky-high.
[Seo... like Woosung’s guardian spirit?]
Though quickly deleted, that word guardian spirit stuck deep.
[Seo Hoyun is god...]
.
.
.
Just in case, I monitored reactions at Woosung’s place, answering fan messages before slipping my phone away.
I looked at the still-sulking Woosung and dropped a line.
“How about your junior cleaning everything up in half a day?”
Woosung slumped in the armchair and muttered,
“Fucking amazing.”
“Lucky to have a junior like me, right?”
Honestly, WH would’ve fixed it themselves anyway.
I had just sped it up by baiting the fans a little.
Dragging things out would only backfire. Official statements often made people suspect cover-ups.
But even though I’d helped, Woosung still sulked and grumbled.
“So where’s my thank-you?”
“Fuuucking thank you.”
Shaking my head at his tiny generosity, I picked up Meowy, who was padding around by my feet.
The warmth of the cat rubbing against my neck made me chuckle.
“By the way, you said we might do a variety show together.”
“Maybe. Not confirmed yet. The company has to arrange it.”
“Ah... but hey, Woosung. No exes inside WH? Wouldn’t it be awkward if you run into them?”
I scratched Meowy’s chin as I asked. Woosung blinked rapidly.
“Well, they said as long as it wasn’t simultaneous, it was fine, right?”
“......”
“It was fine when Ha Seoyeon and Han Chaeri were around too.”
But silence hung heavy.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“...What. There’s more?”
Still no answer.
“Don’t tell me not two, but three...”
“......”
“...Four?”
“......”
I stood up and headed for the door. Startled, Meowy sprang off my lap and dashed into the dressing room.
Woosung fidgeted, avoiding my eyes, then hurried after me.
“Seo Hoyun, where are you going?!”
“Leaving. This place is filthy.”
“Hey! Hey! No, it’s not what you think! Don’t imagine weird shit! I swear I never dated anyone or brought them home!”
“Sure.”
“It was just... a vibe? But I never seduced anyone. It’s just a few people liked me, so yeah, it might be awkward seeing them again. But you—you! Stop looking at me like that! I’ve reformed! I’m living as a pure idol now! Is it my fault I’m popular just by existing?!”
Move, you crazy bastard.
“For the last three years I’ve really met no one—”
—Bang!
I shoved him out and slammed the door.
Walking out of the apartment, I muttered, offering silent condolences to Chae Jungwoo and the Bloys.
“That guy should probably just retire now.”
Ding!
[This time, I agree.]
Brushing cat fur off my black hoodie, I reaffirmed my vow.
Even if I went back to being a PD, I would never cast Joo Woosung again.
