Debut or Die - Chapter 269

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 269
The entertainment of condemning controversy loses its appeal without fresh fuel; as time passes, it inevitably becomes stale and tedious.
Especially those who had already exhausted the scandal surrounding Cha Yu-jin over five days grew excited at the newly emerged plot twist and incident.
It wasn’t about removing a target for abuse—it was about supplying a new one.
-The Documentary Production Crew’s power trip is insane
-Where do these kinds of people keep coming from, they pop up every time, what the hell are they doing to the staff
-Ajusa impact lolololol
-This isn’t even a mafia game, what’s with all the plot twists
-The staff must have been really scared. I’m glad they recorded it.
Even without Cha Yu-jin being a celebrity, the Documentary Production Crew still generated significant buzz.
Idol Corporation was already a famous series, and particularly because Season 2 had failed so spectacularly.
People found the revelation of the production crew’s history fascinating, as if a secret had been exposed.
And to more easily condemn the new target, they repositioned Cha Yu-jin as a victim.
Just as they had done to Park Moon-dae when criticizing Cha Yu-jin.
-Because of these crazy bastards, Cha Yu-jin got unfairly cursed out, I would’ve gone insane
-I feel so bad for him I can’t even speak, seriously
-I’m suspicious the production crew leaked the video themselves, isn’t that why Cha Yu-jin looked bad?
└Wow, seriously
└That would be genuinely chilling…
The public opinion was smoothly transforming, now viewing the Documentary Production Crew as possessing even more despicable character than Cha Yu-jin had before.
And as public opinion rapidly showed signs of reversal, quite a few fans and people felt a profound sense of exhaustion.
-They cursed first lololol, humanity destroyed
-Even if you say to stay neutral, the video is the most concrete evidence, right? No wait, just give it a little more time.. just a little
└Back then the circumstances really weren’t clear enough, can’t blame people for cursing
└Seems like a fan, just be grateful it’s resolved now, that’ll put your mind at ease, these guys don’t change..
Even if the situation couldn’t be fully understood, there was no choice. Throwing cold water on this current public opinion where Cha Yu-jin had finally gained the upper hand was far too dangerous.
There were too many people who wanted to rationalize having cursed Cha Yu-jin in any way possible.
So even these fans kept quiet, accepting as people condemned the Documentary Production Crew and restored Cha Yu-jin’s image.
And Cha Yu-jin’s recovery rode this backlash, spreading momentum steadily.
This atmosphere intensified further when the Agency quietly released a statement.
[“Worried about harm coming to a third party”…T1 Stars, Testa’s Cha Yu-jin clarifies position]
-Didn’t know it was being recorded so just released a statement, worried the staff would be misunderstood and harmed so couldn’t say anything hastily
I’m literally crying right now.
-Eugene, let’s do even better, you’re so amazing and wonderful, I don’t understand why you have so many unfair things happen to you, I hope only happy things fill your future..
-Seriously impressive, I don’t think I could’ve waited like that
-Thank god the staff member reported it, you really should treat people around you well
Of course, some people noticed the discomfort between the lines.
Even if it was a backlash against the situation of public opinion recovering.
-But why did Cha Yu-jin press the camera? The production crew specifically held the camera and did that to the staff..? Hmm
└It must have been during documentary filming, they edit it themselves anyway so it wouldn’t have mattered
└And they’re really trying to tear it apart no matter what. Even with the recording transcript, they won’t believe it?
Did you get fired from your part-time job at Mangju Studio or something? lol
-There’s a recording transcript, so what were they doing for 5 days? Weren’t they creating the transcript during that time and handing it over to the media?
└They say this person is expected to receive a lawsuit from T1 Stars
Of course, this side was mercilessly torn apart by Cha Yu-jin’s fans, who had regained their spirits and were flying around energetically.
Cha Yu-jin’s fans spread the news everywhere as if they were venting the frustration of the past five days, pouring all their energy into reframing the narrative.
-The Ajusa 2 production crew… seems they can’t break the habit of ruining people’s lives
Cha Yu-jin was just trying to stop the abuse of power, but ended up taking the fall for it instead lol
-Somehow, no one gave an explanation. Is it because the studio from Azusa, a member of the T1 family, becomes
As the fanbase, which had always been strong in these matters, actively joined in, public opinion shifted rapidly.
And each time resistance emerged against that rapid shift, articles and circumstances popped up one after another.
[Ajusa 2 production crew releases statement]
[Anyway, staff misunderstanding.jpg (feat. statement)]
[T1 finally cuts ties with the abusive studio]
After that operation repeated three or four times, the controversy slowly cooled down and faded away.
And so Cha Yu-jin shed the label.

* * *
I checked the latest article.
Comments on a new article related to the documentary controversy.
[“Abusive studio” closes… Film J Website shut down (21)]
The scale had shrunk to only dozens of comments, and most were brief emotional outbursts with nothing substantial.
“Mm.”
I lifted my gaze from the screen and looked up.
“It’s over. Looks like we’ve moved past it.”
“Phew!”
“Ughhhh….”
“Thank goodness, Eugene….”
Members collapsed here and there, groaning as if dying.
It was because we’d barely done any Internet monitoring up until now while waiting for the matter to be resolved cleanly and maintaining our performance condition.
It was that usual atmosphere.
‘The people not directly involved are making more of a fuss.’
I watched the guy sitting alone on the sofa, perfectly fine, cracking open a beer.
Click.
Cha Yu-jin set down the can and spoke seriously.
“You’re a genius, hyung.”
He sure knows how to talk.
It seems this evidence manipulation was quite impressive to him.
“Thank the Massage Therapist Staff. I only handed over her recording to the company.”
[Of course I’m grateful! I’d like to give her a gift….]
“Absolutely not. Just accept my gratitude.”
If word gets out that I gave him a gift, those gossip-mongers will spin another story.
T1 will make sure that staff member is taken care of, so it’s better for both of us if I just send my feelings.
“Umm, Okay.”
Cha Yu-jin nodded.
Then, with considerable politeness, he handed me the non-alcoholic beer he’d grabbed.
“…?”
“No alcohol! Brother, drink a lot! Thank you very much!”
“…Sure.”
Looking closer, it really did have ‘0.0%’ printed on it.
Now even this guy was keeping track of my alcohol-free preference. I picked up the can with a slightly bittersweet feeling.
“Moon-dae! Moon-dae! Let’s toast first!”
“Wait, hold on…! I haven’t even opened mine yet….”
“….”
Unbelievable.
After a brief pause, I clinked my beer can against theirs anyway.
Only then did they snap to attention, cheering enthusiastically with bright smiles.
“This is nice~ When you’re relaxed, the food tastes better. Right?”
“Yes! The room service food at this hotel really does seem delicious.”
Right. We’re all in a hotel room right now.
Today is the day when the team members stay together in the same room once a week.
The thing Ryu Chung-woo had suggested.
Since the Japan tour had wrapped up, we set a nice atmosphere today—part celebration for finishing the tour, part commemoration of Cha Yu-jin’s recovery.
I shrugged as I looked at all the food and drinks spread around.
‘Actually, it seems like they originally planned to book additional tour dates.’
The Company had apparently planned an encore at Tokyo Dome, but it fell through when it overlapped with the Cha Yu-jin controversy and we decided to play it safe.
So we’re heading back to South Korea tomorrow.
Of course, it’s not like we’re resting.
“Let’s wrap up the encore concert in South Korea well too.”
“Sounds good~”
We’d be holding the encore concert in South Korea soon. It was good news for domestic fans who’d been exhausted for weeks.
‘When you think about it that way… maybe the bad luck of the dome tour overlapping with the controversy was actually a blessing in disguise.’
Almost no footage from the Japan performances circulated, and at best only reviews and blurry photos made the rounds, so Cha Yu-jin was probably able to perform more comfortably.
It was just fortunate that the article broke before the new concert.
I reviewed the performances from the past tour once.
‘Hmm, the tour itself went well this time too.’
While the main shows had their own special flavor, overseas performances had their own charm.
‘Translating into the local language or including one famous local song in each set—it all felt fresh, you know.’
For the first time in a while, I focused solely on the performances and enjoyed my beer. …Non-alcoholic though it was.
And I listened to the others chattering away.
“Eugene, you must have had a rough time, but you pulled off the entire concert beautifully. You worked so hard. I’m sure the audience enjoyed every moment.”
“…You did well.”
Even Bae Sae-jin was awkwardly patting Cha Yu-jin on the back. The power of alcohol, perhaps.
I watched it all without thinking much, then heard something unexpected from the ones whose eyes met mine.
“You worked hard too, Moon-dae.”
“…Yeah. You were… amazing too.”
“…??”
Big Sae-jin suddenly burst into laughter beside me.
“Hey, you’re the one who caused all that chaos, so why do you have that expression~”
“Chaos?”
“Yeah! You were throwing your phone around, hitting the sofa—it was quite the spectacle~ Don’t you remember?”
“….”
I took a moment to recall my own track record.
‘That’s true.’
And I groaned.
“…I was just frustrated.”
“Why would you be frustrated? Huh? Isn’t it because you were so~ worried about our member Eugene?”
No. This time, it was genuinely a situation where nothing seemed to work, so I was fed up.
But Big Sae-jin, with his arm around Cha Yu-jin’s shoulder, was grinning from ear to ear.
“Ah~ our team really has such great vibes~”
“….”
Well, fine.
If I think about it that way… it might actually be true.
I never expected to feel this sense of belonging to this group to this extent.
And emotions always have their influence.
I eventually laughed and opened my mouth.
“Yeah. I was worried. I couldn’t help it.”
“…!”
And I spoke to Cha Yu-jin.
“You held up well. You worked hard.”
If he’d deserted, everything would have been twice as difficult, but since he remained composed, we could manage.
“….”
Cha Yu-jin kept his mouth shut and didn’t respond.
‘Now that I think about it, he didn’t respond to what the others said earlier either….’
Before that thought even finished, Cha Yu-jin began to sniffle.
“…!”
“E, Eugene?”
Instead of responding, Cha Yu-jin grabbed the head of the person next to him.
Kim Rae-bin, suddenly attacked, nearly dropped his champagne and gasped in shock.
“Hey, Cha Yu-jin!”
“Ugghhhhh!!”
Yet even Sun Ah-hyun didn’t stop him.
…This was the first time Cha Yu-jin had cried over something like this.
“…Hmm.”
Kim Rae-bin, witnessing Cha Yu-jin’s state, ultimately understood.
“Ugh….”
So Cha Yu-jin gripped his friend’s head and wept with cathartic intensity for quite some time.
It was a satisfying night.

* * *
The next day, on the flight back home.
Kim Rae-bin, considering the exceptional circumstances, graciously declared he would forgive his friend.
“Since Cha Yu-jin could have been prevented from group activities entirely, I understand the anxiety and worry he felt.”
A fair point.
So T1 had cleanly abandoned the studio side. It was a problem that could deal serious damage to the group.
Preserving one profitable and influential idol group was more advantageous than maintaining one studio with minimal returns.
Of course, even with such measures, as time passed, some criticism would inevitably circle back to Cha Yu-jin.
-Still, throwing the first punch is embarrassing
-Can’t really say Cha Yu-jin did well either, seems impulsive by nature
Likely… such comments would emerge. Once a controversy arises, it never truly disappears cleanly.
Going forward, Cha Yu-jin would need to exercise exponentially more caution to avoid creating similar controversies.
‘An inconvenient situation.’
Moreover, the biggest problem was… the fandom’s internal unity had shattered.
Most fans who loved the group itself and had criticized Cha Yu-jin were now apologizing, relieved, or becoming cautious.
It was the kind of tension that could be mended with one good piece of content.
The problem lay with the individual fandoms.
‘This… seems difficult to recover naturally.’
Cha Yu-jin’s fans appeared to have suffered tremendous shock.
The moment the incident broke, other members’ individual fans had voiced considerable opinions that Cha Yu-jin should be removed from the group.
-After watching our boy’s personality and behavior for years, the moment trouble hits you abandon him? Was waiting for a statement really that difficult?
-Cha Yu-jin should go solo? Maybe solo would be better than staying in this filthy industry
-Just feels so bleak.. I’m not asking you to take sides, but those who came out cursing him really went too far
“Yoon-jin is a guy who’s never caused trouble before, so the fact that something blew up makes you think he must’ve been provoked like crazy, and you immediately start cursing him out lolol”
Honestly, since multiple negative factors had accumulated and triggered this incident, it seemed unfair to blame only one side, but for the same reason, the rifts had deepened across the board.
‘This… needs separate work.’
…It seemed I’d need to build up this upcoming South Korea encore concert and leverage it well. In multiple ways.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————