Sigh.
Harin’s mother let out a sigh, sounding like someone burdened by a tragic life story, and then spoke as if she had made up her mind.
“Reporter, look at these. Since you’re here, you really need to hear about our situation.”
Harin’s mother searched for her wallet in a luxury bag that looked quite old, pulled out several credit cards, and spread them out before us as if throwing them down.
“These are Harin’s cards. She only used them for exactly one year after her debut. I mean, who the hell settles payments a whole year later? Anyway, one day these cards suddenly stopped working. No matter how many times I swiped, it didn’t work. They were deactivated. I tried contacting Harin, but she wouldn’t answer. If I called from a different number, she’d pick up, but the moment she heard our voices, she’d hang up. That went on for five whole years.”
Harin’s father took a long swig of makgeolli as if adding an accompaniment to his wife’s lament, letting out a loud, “Kuaah!”
“Reporter, you really have to write about this. Did that brat Harin only block the cards? I had the settlement account in my hands, but she changed the account. She debuted at eighteen. What would she know at that age? I had to manage the money for her. But as soon as she turned twenty, she changed the account, cancelled the cards, and turned her back on us, that brat. Do you have any idea how hard our lives became after that?”
“Now, now, honey. That’s why I tried my best to make money.”
“Tried? Tried?! This man went around trying to find Harin, got into fights with this person and that person, and hurt his back. Then he went to gambling dens hoping to hit the jackpot, only to get beaten up and end up in debt. More money went into hospital bills, you old man! I truly felt like I wasn’t even living.”
Myeongjin and I sat there, mouths agape, speechless, like a frozen frame.
“So, in a way, you could say that 800 million won is the price she pays for abandoning us. My god, where is the child who abandons their parents? I saw articles several times saying she makes donations. No, if she has money to give to complete strangers, she should give it to us. Isn’t that right?”
“Speaking of which, this man really worked hard on the prenatal education. Not anyone can give birth to a child that beautiful. I even made sure she only looked at photos of pretty celebrities. That’s why our daughter became so beautiful.”
“Right, Reporter. By any chance, do you have the contact information for Harin’s fans? If we create a sponsorship account and announce it, wouldn’t it help pay back the 800 million? And we could use some of it too.”
“Honey. Not just the debt. I have a good feeling this time. If we get sponsorship money, I can try my luck again with…”
“You old man! Let’s take things one step at a time.”
Harin’s mother smacked her husband’s back and continued, as if she still had more to say.
“I wonder if we could get tickets for Harin’s fan meeting? I heard that selling them as scalped tickets brings in a decent amount of living expenses.”
Beyond just understanding why Harin had severed ties with her parents, I felt a sudden urge to flip the table of drinks on her behalf.
I couldn’t listen to this any longer.
However, I had to find the evidence.
“Do you happen to know who the person was that handed over the 100 million won?”
“Why? If we help you find that person, are you going to give us some money, Reporter?”
“Honey, of course he should! Do you know how high-quality the information we’re giving him is!”
I hadn’t failed to anticipate this kind of situation.
I pulled out a white envelope I had prepared in advance from the inner pocket of my jacket.
As Harin’s mother’s expression instantly brightened and she reached to snatch the envelope, I tightened my grip to keep it from her and asked again.
“I’ll give it to you once you answer. Who was that person?”
“We only met briefly in the middle of the night, so I don’t know the name. They just gave the money, saying Harin was sorry for not being in touch. So I called Harin, but she didn’t answer again. If she had answered then, we wouldn’t be hiding like this now, and she wouldn’t be in a difficult situation, right? Anyway, filial impiety is such a great sin.”
“What did the person look like?”
“Tall and masculine. Oh, right. That ponytail didn’t really suit him.”
Only then did I loosen my grip and let Harin’s mother take the envelope.
I had gathered all the information I needed, and I had heard everything that would be advantageous for Harin.
Not wanting to exchange another word, I bolted from my seat.
Myeongjin, feeling the same, quickly followed me.
“Reporter! You need to be more generous. Who can survive on a million won!”
Harin’s mother spoke, having counted the money in the envelope in that short time.
“Mr. Reporter. We know you filmed us. Do you think the parents of a celebrity lack that much intuition? You know what happens if our faces go on air, right? You’ll need to prepare a lot of money then.”
Harin’s father went a step further.
I turned around, looked at them, and spoke.
“The faces might be blurred, but the content of the interview will go on the news. I hope you experience firsthand what kind of boomerang those words will become.”
“What are you talking about? What did we say that we couldn’t say? When it airs, come find us with the appearance fee. Otherwise, we’ll go to the broadcasting station and lie down in protest.”
This is why it’s so difficult to converse with people who have absolutely no awareness of their own wrongs.
A conversation only happens when there is a common understanding.
As I unconsciously clenched my fists, Myeongjin grabbed my hand and led me toward the car.
Thus, Myeongjin and I walked silently to the parking lot without a word.
Because if I opened my mouth, curses would come pouring out.
No, I simply couldn’t stand it.
I turned back from the path to the parking lot and stood before Harin’s parents once more.
“I thought you would at least ask once. How Harin is doing, or if she is sick anywhere. Are you really not curious at all? You say 800 million is the price for abandoning her parents? Then what would be the price for the two of you driving Harin into a dead end? I suggest you check the news for yourselves.”
— Standby, cue.
PD Ji Minsu’s signal came through the in-ear.
Kim Dusik greeted the audience with an expression more confident than ever.
“Good evening, viewers. This is KCN <9 O’Clock News Prime>. We begin with our first story.”
Today was finally the day.
The day that would trip Harin up, force her to renew her contract with CEO Choi, and put her in the good graces of that person who could sway the number one spot in the country.
When anchoring the news, one must not look too bright, nor too stiff.
Therefore, Kim Dusik worked hard to suppress the cheekbones that kept trying to rise.
Maintaining a natural and comfortable expression, yet projecting an atmosphere of subtle tension, he delivered several major news items.
“Now for an exclusive report from KCN <9 O’Clock News Prime>.”
Harin’s news segment had arrived.
As long as No Seungsik did his part, everything would be fine.
“Our reporting team received a tip that Harin, a member of Luna Prism and known as the Queen of OSTs, received a ‘sponsor’ during her days as a girl group trainee. It is said that behind her financial troubles lay her parents’ gambling debts. Reporter No Seungsik has the details.”
The screen filled with a wide shot of the SOME Entertainment building.
Then came Reporter No Seungsik’s voice.
— There are two rumors circulating about Harin of Luna Prism. First, her parents’ gambling debts, and second, allegations of a sponsor during her trainee days. Combining these two, one can make a reasonable inference that she accepted a sponsor to pay off her parents’ gambling debts…
No Seungsik’s voice continued to flow.
However, the longer No Seungsik spoke, the more Kim Dusik’s pleased expression began to harden.
Because No Seungsik had defied Kim Dusik’s instructions and spoke in a way that asserted Harin’s innocence.
— I was unable to hear any such stories from SOME Entertainment, where I am currently reporting. Consequently, our reporting team was able to secure more specific testimony by interviewing Harin and her parents.
What?
An interview with Harin and her parents?
At this unimaginable turn of events, Kim Dusik’s mouth went dry.
No Seungsik’s absurd report continued.
— It was true that the 100 million won recently delivered to Harin’s parents was used as gambling funds; however, that money turned into 800 million won a month later and returned to Harin as debt collection. This is an illegal high-interest rate, with a monthly interest rate of 700 percent, which converts to an annual rate of 8,400 percent. As for how this absurd situation came to be, <Lee Hyeonwook’s Prime Focus> will report on it in more depth.
Normally, the screen should return to the anchor’s face as soon as the reporter’s news report ends.
But just as Reporter No Seungsik’s final comment suggested, the next segment skipped Kim Dusik and went straight to me.
Finally, it was my showtime.
“We will approach you with news that goes one step deeper. Allegations of a sponsor during Harin’s trainee days and blackmail due to parents’ gambling debts with an annual interest rate of 8,400 percent. These are fatal scandals for a girl group idol. While investigating the truth of this matter, our reporting team also came to have a question. Why, of all times, did the tip regarding this issue come in right now?”
I looked straight into the camera and spoke clearly.
Toward Kim Dusik, who would be watching this screen, and toward the thug-like CEO Choi of SOME Entertainment, as if I knew all their hidden intentions.
“From now on, I will first reveal the truth. Did Harin truly have a sponsor during her trainee days? Let’s confirm this directly through Harin’s interview.”
I first addressed the sponsor allegations, which people would be most curious about.
Harin had agreed to the interview filming herself, stating she wanted to prove her innocence.
— It is true that I was called to drinking parties during my trainee days. However, at that time, the CEO told me it was a private audition. That’s why I went. He said that because broadcasting officials are busy and have a lot of work, they only have time at night, and I believed those words. I have evidence here.
Harin showed a text message to the camera.
[There is a private audition scheduled for 10 PM tonight. I’ll send a manager separately, so move together.]
— This is the text I received from the CEO when I was a trainee. I haven’t deleted it just in case. The place I went to, thinking it was an audition, was a drinking party. I was suddenly told to pour drinks, and I did so because I was scared. That was all. I worked as hard as I could, almost to the point of death, because I never wanted to experience that again. I thought that if I only debuted, if I only succeeded, those things wouldn’t happen. I swear to heaven that the sponsor rumors are not true.
Because of her parents, who constantly changed their stories, it had become natural for Harin to collect evidence.
She said it was especially because of the many times they would ask to borrow a certain amount of money for a specific reason, and then flatly deny it after receiving it.
After being deceived several times, whenever she presented evidence such as recordings or notes, they would say that’s not how family treats each other, or they would frame her as an unfilial daughter who treats her parents coldly.
After meeting Harin’s parents in person, I knew they were exactly the kind of people who would do that.
— The gambling debts of my parents are true. My father has gambled since I was young. At the time, I didn’t know any better and thought that if I succeeded and made money, all the problems would be solved.
Harin began to talk about her parents.
It was now time for the news viewers to see the true nature of Harin’s parents, the same nature I had witnessed firsthand.
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