Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 18. The Most Effective Way to Remove a Bomb (3)

“Seven years. Seven years. I’ve been doing this for seven years.”

Like someone who had just been freed, Seo Taehyun began to vent.

“I endured being forced to act cute because I was a ‘cherry boy’, even though I wanted to try singing different songs. I endured having to always perform bright and lively songs. But I didn’t complain because it was a blessing just to be able to stand on stage.”

“……”

“But I was eliminated in the final round for being too fresh. They said I was too cute, like a kid. I wasn’t even given a chance to show a different side.”

He must have been talking about his time on “Boy’s World”. I recalled the complex feelings I had when I watched Seo Taehyun on that show in my previous life and decided to listen to him for now.

“I endured when I was only sent to events because of the Director, and when I had to stay cooped up in the practice room doing nothing because of him. Because I wanted to debut. I really wanted to stand on stage.”

“If you endured so well, you should’ve just held out a little longer.”

“I wouldn’t be able to debut even if I endured longer!”

Seo Taehyun shouted, unable to contain his anger. However, realizing what he had done, he quickly swallowed his breath, shocked by his own outburst. His voice grew deep and husky as he hesitated, remembering my words, and lowered his head.

“…Sorry. For shouting.”

“……”

“I’m just going to quit everything. I’m tired of smiling and putting on a front to please everyone.”

“Ah, hyung. What are you talking about? Why would you quit?”

Seo Taehyun, speaking with tears held back, seemed to have made up his mind. Dan Haru, taken aback by his close hyung’s resignation announcement, whimpered like a puppy and tried to console him.

And I thought.

‘What’s this guy’s deal?’

To be honest, I once suspected that this guy might be the Chosen Regressor. After all, among the trainees at Miro, he had the most obvious motive to frequently regress.

‘But if he were the Chosen Regressor, he would’ve regressed and debuted instead of talking about seven years here. Seo Taehyun isn’t the one.’

Then there’s the second option.

Is Seo Taehyun suitable as a colleague needed for a successful debut? I even calculated this while watching him sleep in the pet store last time. After all, he guaranteed attention.

‘But I know. I know this guy’s future.’

He doesn’t make it. He didn’t make it. I’m also sorry that he didn’t make it, but the data from my previous life says so.

Then there’s only one possibility left.

‘A bomb that needs to be defused. …The problem is, this one has potential.’

An idol trainee, unable to control his emotions before debuting, entered another agency and got into a fistfight with a member of that agency’s upcoming boy group, and not just any member, but one of the main ones.

If it were just a fight between boys with no significant injuries, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But if it involves idols, the story changes. If this incident blows up, and rumors spread after debut, it could ruin his reputation in an instant and make him an easy target.

[Maple] Wow, being an idol is really something.

There are fans who shield them even after they beat people up.

* * *

– My pointㅋㅋㅋㅋ no shame at all

– Honestly, if it were a girl group, they’d be done for but the double standardㅎ

└ Ah, stop turning this into a gender issue

└ He’s already getting enough hate

└ 22 Honestly, I agree…ㅋ if it were a guy, it’s just this much

└ People say boys can fight a bit, what’s the big dealㅋㅋㅋ the shielding is crazy

‘I already fear the reactions on the community boards.’

I had to make a ‘successful’ debut at all costs. If Seo Taehyun was a bomb, I had no reason to stop him from leaving.

Despite this, the only reason I couldn’t shake off this guy from my mind was just one.

“Seo Taehyun.”

“……”

“Why did you hit Cha Minseok?”

Because the face of the guy who said he couldn’t debut looked just like me when I gave up on everything and lay in bed in my previous life.

“Answer me. Why did a guy who should be practicing at Miro come here and hit Cha Minseok?”

“……”

“Are you not going to answer?”

“I didn’t hit him.”

So, I planned to decide based on his answer whether to let Seo Taehyun be ‘defused’ or not.

“We were just talking, and it got loud. A passing employee nuna misunderstood and it blew up.”

What’s this statue?

A white statue stood in front of the meeting room door with an angry face, as if saying, “This golden building was built for me.” The incredibly handsome face seemed familiar.

“…Minseok hyung.”

Ah, Cha Minseok.

Only after hearing Dan Haru’s voice did I recognize the much more polished and plain next sculpture of Renes, who walked into the meeting room with a rather twisted expression.

Cha Minseok’s face, hidden under a black coat and gray turtleneck pulled up to his neck, was surprisingly intact. Not a single crack.

“What? I heard you beat him up?”

“Stop wasting time with a guy who doesn’t even have the guts to hit someone.”

“……”

“Stop making a big deal out of this and just leave.”

This guy’s tone was something else too. Seo Taehyun glared sharply at the irritable Cha Minseok, then looked away as if he didn’t want to see him.

“If this gets noisy, it’s not going to be good for me, so just go.”

But what the hell is this guy talking about?

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

“Can’t you see I’m scolding someone here? Be quiet.”

“You’re talking to the victim….”

“He just said it wasn’t a victim but mutual. They were just talking, right?”

“This is our company!”

“And who cares?”

Cha Minseok blinked at my annoyed voice. He looked like a royal prince, but his personality seemed far from it. Even at my words, he stood tall and defiant, and a strange tension flowed between us.

Just when the atmosphere was getting tense without a word exchanged.

“Let’s just go. Hurry up and come out. Taehyun, get ready to be scolded.”

Just in time, Ji Suho opened the meeting room door and called us. Ji Suho, who was practically a guardian to the trainees, spoke, and there was no way we could stubbornly stay. After all, it was true that we barged in.

We had to leave in the uncomfortable atmosphere.

“Seo Taehyun.”

Cha Minseok suddenly called Seo Taehyun, who was leaving with Dan Haru. Seo Taehyun deliberately ignored him and walked past, but Cha Minseok didn’t stop there.

“I’m debuting in June.”

“…So what.”

“You’d better spend this time practicing your vocals if you don’t want to call me senior.”

“…What?”

“Although practicing won’t be enough.”

Is this crazy bastard for real?

[System Alert: The system is impressed by ‘Cha Minseok’s’ amazing personality…]

Are you sure this is an impressed point?

Even I could barely suppress my urge to punch him. Thankfully, Seo Taehyun, having fully regained his senses, ignored Cha Minseok and walked out of the meeting room with firm steps.

Though I saw him biting his lips hard again, I couldn’t stop him this time.

* * *

“……”

The road to the parking lot where Ji Suho had parked his car was filled with endless silence.

Seo Taehyun, now with his full senses restored, seemed to be calculating the aftermath of what he had done. His face, sunk in gloom, looked like he had lost everything. Ji Suho seemed preoccupied, thinking about how to report this to the company.

And Dan Haru, who had just wanted to eat tteokbokki with his close hyung, was now on the verge of tears. Despite that, he clung to Seo Taehyun’s arm, worried that he would really quit and leave.

“Dan Haru. If you cry, I’ll leave you here.”

“…I’m not crying.”

“Then stop sniffling and speak properly.”

Seo Taehyun frowned as Dan Haru and I sat him in the back seat as if we were escorting a prisoner.

“The passenger seat is empty!”

“Hyung, you’re exercising your right to remain silent now.”

“Why are you exercising my right to remain silent?”

“Because you’re the offender. Okay, Team Leader, let’s go.”

The car slowly drove out of the parking lot, leaving behind the bickering Dan Haru and Seo Taehyun. Each of us had many thoughts running through our minds, but no one spoke out loud.

The car stopped momentarily at a red light. While Ji Suho was momentarily distracted by reporting to the company, Dan Haru quietly asked.

“Hyung, are you really going to quit?”

“…Why. Will you miss me if I quit?”

“Yes.”

“……”

“I want to debut with someone like you.”

Seo Taehyun paused at those words. After a brief silence, he finally spoke as the car started moving again.

“…I just said it out of frustration.”

Only then did Dan Haru relax and lean back comfortably. Although it was still a mystery why this guy had gone to Renes and caused a commotion, today didn’t seem like the right time to talk

about it.

‘I’ll let it slide today and try to get him to talk over coffee tomorrow.’

And I realized how foolish that was, just 24 hours later.

* * *

“So no one has been able to reach Taehyun? Got it. Let me know if anyone hears from him.”

Seo Taehyun had disappeared.

This crazy guy had taken all his belongings and left the dorm. His phone was still off, and I even contacted his family in the countryside just in case, but they had no idea he had disappeared.

‘Wait, isn’t this actually better?’

Cha Minseok had said it wasn’t his fault, but the fact remained that Seo Taehyun had caused trouble at another agency. I had already thought it would be difficult to debut with such a ticking time bomb.

‘He decided not to do it and left, so what can you do?’

Having calculated all this, I felt at ease. It seemed that Seo Taehyun’s fate was to wander around debut groups and eventually disappear from the entertainment industry.

‘Yeah, maybe he was destined to leave early this time. Live well, Seo Taehyun. Maybe quitting early is better for your future…’

“Let’s go find him!”

“But… we don’t even know where he went?”

“I have a hunch.”

Why am I even here?

“Remember the place we all went to before? When Minseok hyung was still around.”

“Ah, you mean?”

“He said it was his uncle’s pension. He must be there. He’s close to his uncle.”

“Wait, wait. Stop. Everyone, quiet.”

If I didn’t step in, Dan Haru and Joo Eunchan would start planning a full-blown mission to bring Seo Taehyun back. I hurriedly waved my hand to stop them.

This place, which I was starting to get used to, was Joo Eunchan’s officetel. I had been about to head home after practice, but these two had dragged me here.

“Let me make it clear, I’m not going. I’m not going. Don’t involve me.”

At my firm words, the two young lambs looked at me in shock.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that? Why should I go looking for Seo Taehyun in the first place?”

“How could you say that, hyung?!”

Dan Haru, who now looked almost betrayed, shouted.

No, what did I do…?