Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 120. The Reason for Actions (7)

As soon as Hajin arrived at the broadcasting station, his immediate thought was, ‘Wow. It’s been a while.’

‘Maybe it’s because it’s been nearly ten years, but this place has changed a lot too.’

Of course, the fact that he was recalling the appearance from ten years into the future made his choice of words a bit ambiguous.

Should he say it’s changed, or should he say it’s become shabby….

“Does it feel a bit nostalgic?”

“Pardon?”

While the other trainees were busy sightseeing around the broadcasting station, Suho quietly approached Hajin and asked, making sure no one else could hear. Hajin, noticing that Suho was asking about his ‘past life,’ chuckled softly.

“Well, it has been a while since I’ve been in Sangam.”

“Did you work here too?”

“Work… not exactly. My first program was with Ntv. I used to come here often.”

“Oh, you mentioned you worked on the production side.”

At twenty-nine, Hajin was an outsourced PD contracted as a freelancer, rather than a full-time broadcast station PD.

In this era where YouTube was more familiar than TV, being an outsourced PD rather than a full-time one wasn’t a major flaw….

Still, Hajin used to feel envious at times. Seeing those who confidently wore their employee badges as they walked in and out of the broadcasting station.

“I used to visit the 8th floor frequently back then. Never thought I’d come here as an artist one day.”

“Why the 8th floor?”

“That’s where the editing rooms are.”

Spent many sleepless nights there.

Hajin shuddered momentarily, unsure whether it was a memory or a nightmare.

“Team Leader, I’ve brought the access passes. Shall we go up?”

“Oh, right. Gather the others.”

A manager with a short crew cut and a large build approached and reported to Suho.

Today, a newcomer from the management team had come out to assist. He was learning the ropes by working wherever extra hands were needed.

– Having at least two staff members ensures that the broadcasting station won’t take us lightly.

The entertainment industry was a place that valued people quicker than anyone and ruthlessly assessed their worth.

Suho was being exceedingly cautious to prevent any potential harm to the pre-debut trainees.

Hajin lightly tapped Suho on the arm, who seemed more nervous than the actual trainees themselves.

“It’ll be fine. We even brought an extra bodyguard just in case.”

“…Actually, that’s the part I’m most worried about.”

Hajin and Suho’s gazes simultaneously turned toward one person.

Their eyes passed by Taehyun, who was taking pictures of Jaeyoung in the lobby…

“If you guys wander off and get lost, I’m not coming to find you.”

“Yugeon hyung, that’s mean!”

“Yugeon is bad!”

“Yeah, I’m really bad.”

Their gaze finally landed on Yugeon, who was grabbing Haru and Jaiden by the scruffs of their necks, preventing them from running off excitedly.

Last night, Hajin, who had felt uneasy about the flag he had set up, had hastily recruited today’s mercenary.

“If you send him with the kids whenever they go out, nothing’s likely to go wrong.”

“How on earth did you persuade Yugeon? He’s not the type to follow someone here in the morning.”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

“…It’s a trade secret.”

Hajin avoided Suho’s eyes and cleared his throat.

The events of last night automatically replayed in his mind.

– Ah, why should I go there!

Last night, Hajin had abducted Yugeon, who was about to head back to his room after finishing his shower, and dragged him into his own room.

Yugeon, who had found himself thrown into someone else’s room in the blink of an eye, promptly refused Hajin’s order(?) to become Taehyun’s bodyguard for the day, locking the door behind him.

– Are you really going to just sit back and watch while your good friend Seo Taehyun might get harassed by some shady characters in this perilous situation?

– Shady characters? Come on, it’s just a stage performance and then it’s over! What’s there to worry about?

– Why not? I ran into you when I went to the convenience store in the next village with Dan Haru to buy ice cream!

-…Wait, why are you bringing that up now—No, anyway. What difference would it make if I went?

– It makes a difference. Put your hand on your heart and think about it. Which is safer: Seo Taehyun, who looks like an innocent lamb, walking around alone, or him with you by his side?

– He might look a bit meek, but he’s not the type to get bullied anywhere, okay?

-…Hey, I’m standing right here, you know.

Taehyun, who had been dragged into the room by Hajin even before Yugeon arrived, quietly tried to assert his presence, but neither Hajin nor Yugeon paid any attention to him.

– Anyway! You’re just as intimidating as I am!

– I’m too soft-hearted for that.

– What a joke!!!!

Yugeon was horrified and argued back against Hajin, who shamelessly claimed to have a soft heart.

– Why me, of all people? There’s Doha hyung and Joo Eunchan too!

– They said they have separate schedules tomorrow.

– How about Kyungho? He looks just as rough as I do.

– Do you think he’d be watching over Seo Taehyun if he went to the broadcasting station? It’d be a miracle if he didn’t get distracted by all the celebrities.

– Then what about me?

– Even if a female idol walked right past you, as long as she’s not a regular customer at your convenience store, you wouldn’t care.

-……

Yugeon couldn’t argue against that.

He thought about it, and out of the 17 trainees, he was the only one who was disinterested enough to not be distracted at the broadcasting station.

As Hajin and Yugeon’s difference in positions (if it could even be called that, given how one-sided it was) showed no sign of narrowing, a third party intervened.

– Yugeon hyung.

-……?

It was Eunchan, Hajin’s roommate, who had been listening to the entire conversation from the start.

Eunchan, holding a phone with a money transfer screen open, approached Yugeon with a glint in his eye and made an offer.

– 100,000 won for the day.

-……!?

– I’ll transfer it right now if you accept.

– Deal.

And the offer was highly effective!

– That capitalist slave…!

– Se-Seo Taehyun! Calm down!

The typically calm INFP Seo Taehyun was visibly upset, but well.

‘As long as he’s here, that’s what matters.’

Now that he had brought him along, Yugeon was indeed proving to be helpful.

Even Taehyun, who had been a bit sulky this morning, seemed more relaxed now that they were at the broadcasting station, thanks to having a friend his age around.

As Hajin and the group headed for the elevator, he confirmed today’s schedule with Suho once more.

“We just need to finish the pre-recording and then we can leave, right?”

“Yeah. We’re only doing a special stage, so no interviews, and we won’t be participating in the live broadcast either. After resting in the waiting room and recording our stage, we’re done.”

All they needed to do was get through the next three to four hours without any issues, and they’d be done for the day.

Praying for a peaceful day, Hajin stepped into the elevator.

* * *

After arriving at the waiting room, the Sad Ending team changed into their stage outfits and touched up their worn makeup.

“Do you have any flesh-colored tape or something? The kind you use to cover tattoos.”

“Oh, yeah. I do, but why? Do you need it?”

“Could I borrow just one?”

Hajin took the taping band from the stylist and headed to a corner of the waiting room.

His palm hadn’t fully healed since he injured it last time, so he had put on a regular bandage. He planned to tape over it to make sure it wouldn’t come off.

“…Ah, this isn’t working well.”

The taping itself went fine, but trying to do it subtly was tricky, and it didn’t seem to stick properly. Since it was on his palm, the ends kept peeling off with just a little sweat, which was very annoying.

As Hajin was contemplating what to do, staring at his hand, someone took the taping band from him.

“…?”

“No matter what you do, that’s not going to cover it. Fans will just wonder what that band is on your hand, Hajin.”

Taehyun, who had already finished his makeup touch-up and outfit, sat down beside Hajin, sighing habitually.

When Hajin didn’t respond, feeling slightly awkward, Taehyun grumbled softly.

“You scolded me about having a scar on my lip, asking if you’d have to Photoshop it out. Yet you get a cut on your palm.”

“That’s entirely different, you know. Yours was intentional, mine was an accident.”

“You always have to have the last word, don’t you.”

Taehyun shook his head, peeled off the tape band on Hajin’s hand, and removed the original bandage underneath, revealing the not fully healed wound.

With a frown, Taehyun called out to Yugeon, who was sitting on a

chair outside the waiting room playing a game.

“Hey, Yugeon. You have bandages and ointment in your bag, right? Give them to me.”

“Why? Did you get hurt?”

“No, not me. This elder here.”

“Elder?”

Though slightly puzzled by the term “elder,” Yugeon naturally pulled out the ointment and a new bandage from his bag and handed them to Taehyun. But curious, he also walked over to where Hajin and Taehyun were sitting.

“What, did you get hurt, hyung?”

“…You might as well announce it to the whole world, Seo Taehyun.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed now that even Yugeon knew about the small wound, Hajin tried to hide his hand.

Or at least, he would have, had Taehyun not smacked his hand with a loud slap.

“Ouch!”

“This is payback for kicking my leg back then.”

“When was that even? And didn’t I beat Cha Minseok for you? You repay kindness with vengeance?”

“That’s why I smacked your hand, not your palm.”

“Hah…. The world’s going downhill. A grandson is hitting his grandfather.”

“Stop talking nonsense. My real grandfather is alive and well in Gangwon-do, so put out your palm.”

“Aww. Taehyun is so cold today.”

“…Hand. Before I show this to Team Leader Ji.”

“Yes, sir.”

Why am I so weak against types like Jung Siwoo and Seo Taehyun?

As Hajin handed over his injured hand, Taehyun carefully squeezed out the ointment and began gently applying it over the wound.

Watching this, Yugeon asked Taehyun in a cautious voice.

“…Seo Taehyun, do you have some kind of grudge against this hyung?”

“…Be quiet.”

Applying ointment was a simple task, but Taehyun’s movements were oddly clumsy.

First of all, he was terrified of seeing wounds, so he flinched three times a second before the ointment even touched the wound.

Then, somehow, he mismanaged the pressure while squeezing the ointment, so it barely came out at first, then suddenly burst out, leaving more ointment on Taehyun’s hand than on Hajin’s palm.

In the end, Yugeon couldn’t stand it anymore and snatched the ointment from Taehyun.

“Move aside. You go wash your hands. Ma’am, can I get a cotton swab?”

“Here’s a cotton swab~”

“Thank you.”

Pushing aside Taehyun, who was insisting he could do it, Yugeon borrowed a cotton swab from the makeup staff and, with practiced movements, squeezed out just the right amount of ointment and applied it to Hajin’s palm.

“Wow, a professional’s touch.”

“Applying ointment and sticking on a bandage is something even a seven-year-old can do.”

“Oh dear. Our grandson isn’t even seven yet.”

“…But it looks really painful! Like, it hurts me more than him.”

While Taehyun complained, Yugeon skillfully spread the ointment over the wound and neatly applied the bandage. Then he pointed with his chin at the taping band that Taehyun was holding.

“So, do I put this on too?”

“No. Instead, let’s stick a few more bandages on this hyung’s face.”

“My face?”

Surprised by Taehyun’s sudden suggestion, Hajin’s eyes widened. Taehyun handed the newly opened bandage box to Yugeon and said.

“The taping band looks more suspicious. It’s better to make it look like part of his style, like he’s going for a delinquent, troublemaker concept, rather than just covering it up.”

As Yugeon and Hajin nodded in agreement, Taehyun got up from his seat.

“I’ll go look for some items to adjust hyung’s school uniform style. Yugeon, make him look like a troublemaker in the meantime.”

“Should I ask them to add some fake scars too?”

“That would look too thuggish. Just a few bandages will do.”

Since the fans would only see him through the broadcast, at least they wouldn’t worry about him being injured.

Hajin was genuinely impressed by Taehyun’s final reasoning.

‘As expected. A veteran is different.’

Why on earth didn’t he debut? Or rather, why didn’t he make it when he did?

Hajin tilted his head, puzzled by the unresolved mystery of the day.