Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 419

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

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419. If You Cannot Escape, Then Enjoy It (5)
“Alright, that’s enough. Monitoring done for today.”
After staring at fan reactions and articles for so long that my eyes began to ache, I clicked my tongue once and closed the System window I’d been using for monitoring.
In any case, seeing the positive response lifted my spirits. The fans who had been stressed for so long seemed to be starting to enjoy themselves now.
Actor Kang Ha-jin, who had been persistently attempting to muddy the waters with the name, seemed to be losing his edge—news about him had grown scarce for quite some time now. His grand promotion for some new dating show had been completely buried under the flood of same-named individuals.
While that was satisfying, I didn’t particularly want to view it as karma either.
“If someone’s genuinely talented, they’ll rise on their own.”
It was something I’d told Yu Gun repeatedly not long ago, but ultimately, success in this industry is half luck and half skill. Regardless, the fact that I’d built a foundation of recognition by selling my name remained unchanged—whether he’d survive this “Kang Ha-jin crisis” or get swept away would depend on him.
With that thought, I leaned back deeply into the comfortable chair in my studio when my smartwatch vibrated softly. Curious, I pulled up the System window linked to my phone, and immediately a cascade of messenger notifications unfurled before my eyes.
Man, even seeing it again, it’s incredible. It’s the best. So cool. It’s like a completely futuristic system straight out of sci-fi.
“Man, System. How would I even live without you?”
Thinking that I’d eventually have to part with this cutting-edge interface, my chest ached and tears blurred my vision. But watching Su-ho struggle so intensely with the aftermath of losing his ability, it did seem like I should mentally prepare myself in advance….
“Is there some web novel about the life of a protagonist who got reincarnated into a world after a panel system novel ended? This kind of thing requires proper preparation….”
With that absurd thought, I checked the topmost message in the messenger list displayed on the System window.
The sender was Su-ho, who had recently departed overseas with Endway, and the content was….
【Miro_Su-ho_Executive Director ‖ (AiTube link)】
A video link.
What’s this?
【Miro_Su-ho_Executive Director ‖ Daisy’s AiTube content just uploaded】
“Oh, this was going up today?”
What Su-ho sent was a video link from a famous female beauty creator that Si-u and I had collaborated with.
If 【Come Here Navellera】 had been a reverse viral targeting unknown actor Kang Ha-jin, this was a countermeasure against that BJ… what was their name again, anyway, that person.
【Miro_Ji Su-ho_Director ‖ But didn’t you come here to make me feel too bad? Hahaha 】
【Miro_Jisooho_Director ‖ Hahahahahahaha I can’t see it】
Looking at the before-and-after makeup shots of Si-u and me in the thumbnail, I recalled that day’s shoot, and Su-ho—having apparently already watched the entire video—mercilessly mocked and giggled at how I appeared in it.
Though I hadn’t seen the edited version yet, I knew better than anyone how I’d acted that day, so I replied to Su-ho’s mockery without hesitation, writing exactly what had happened.
【Sorry, but】
That’s what I was going for lol
A massive creator with nearly three million subscribers.
Already a decade into her career, maintaining a clean image with no personal life controversies, and already in a public relationship with a popular model for over three years, so there was virtually no possibility of getting caught up in scandal.
In every way, she was the opposite of that BJ… (what was their name again, seriously….) so if I had to be linked with one of them, this was far better.
By the way, the concept I’d captured that shooting day was “a straightforward male friend vibe, but with an undeniable idol aura and an absolutely insane physique—a naturally gentlemanly type.”
I’d deliberately set things up so rumors would spread everywhere that “Kang Ha-jin and Daisy had insane chemistry.” Fortunately, Daisy herself played the role of “a fan of the senior” without any awkwardness in response to my concept.
“It’s perfect, win-win.”
This was exactly killing two birds with one stone, a two-for-one deal, a one-punch triple combo…. Wait, was that last one not a thing? Anyway, something like that.
On her end, she’d get viral content with a makeover video of the hottest male idol member right now and rack up views, I’d cleanly shake off being awkwardly entangled with some female streamer (when I hadn’t even done anything!), and Si-u would….
-Anyway, so…. I was thinking about doing a collaboration with Daisy, but if I went out alone, it felt like I was only pushing myself, so I was wondering if maybe this time we could go out together with you, hyung—that kind of feeling….
-Yeah.
-Huh?
-Let’s do it. Sounds fun.
Jeong Si-u, well… he seemed fun enough, so that’s good.
Anyway, this is a total win.
I clicked on the video link Ji Su-ho had sent me, feeling slightly nervous. The moment I did, I could see the view count climbing at a terrifying pace despite having just been uploaded, along with the real-time comment section filling up before my eyes.
– Why is Kang Ha-jin so masculine?
– Izzy, aren’t you so openly excited? Hahahahahahahaha
– Wait, are you serious? Kang Ha-jin and Jeong Si-u? I’d faint too
– Today I envy the older sister, I’m jealous of her, I resent her, I hate her, I ache for her…
– When we were just with the Kairos guys I didn’t realize it, but seeing them like this separately, Kang Ha-jin and Jeong Si-u really are total alphas with insane physiques and amazing voices… When we were together they seemed like clueless older brothers…
I felt it during filming too, but the overall vibe was excellent.
The chemistry was solid, and even though we didn’t do anything special, the reactions came pouring in, so both Si-u and I felt more comfortable with it. At this rate, it might not reach the buzz level of “Come Here, Nabillera!” but when people think “internet broadcaster Kang Ha-jin,” Daisy would probably come to mind before whoever else.
“…If I leave it at this level here too, they should back off for now.”
After quickly scrolling through Daisy’s video, edited with a high-teen aesthetic, I returned to the messenger window. I would’ve loved to slowly watch Jeong Si-u’s incredible dark gothic vampire makeup transformation process, but since I’d been holed up alone in the studio for so long, I had a mountain of messages piling up that needed checking.
“Ugh, this is painful… I want to mark everything as read… Argh, but I can’t, so it’s even more painful, ugh, make the red numbers disappear… Ads, spam, stalkers, all of it, disappear…!”
I painfully squinted my eyes as I scanned through the list overflowing with unbearable red notification numbers. Even though it seemed like there were only useless messages, there were definitely important ones mixed in between.
I quickly blocked what needed blocking and quickly checked what needed checking, when a messenger notification that had arrived about five minutes ago caught my attention. The sender was completely unexpected.
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ hyung】
…Yoo Gun is sending me a personal message?
“What the hell?”
Suddenly getting goosebumps, I quickly opened the messenger window and started typing a reply.
【Why】
【What is it】
【What’s going on】
【Tell me everything except that you borrowed money】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ ?】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ What are you even talking about】
Yoo Gun replied flatly to my heartfelt response.
Does he realize this is his first personal message to me in the two years we’ve known each other?
Whenever Yoo Gun had something to say, he always used the group chat or called, so I spent a while racking my brain trying to figure out what could possibly warrant a personal message, when messages started arriving from him in quick succession.
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ I’m shooting something right now】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ Can you check which one looks better between two options】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ (photo)】
“Ah, what. I got scared for nothing.”
Why wouldn’t he just ask in the group chat…
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ If I post it in the group chat Seo Tae-hyun will make fun of me, so I’m sending it personally on purpose. If you post it in the group chat, no breakfast for you from now on】
【Got it】
【Hyung, I’m looking at the photo now, wait a sec】
There was no way I could give up Yoo Gun’s breakfast.
I immediately stopped myself from sending Yoo Gun’s photo to the Kairos group chat and carefully clicked on the image.
‘What magazine cover was he shooting today, or was it the sneaker brand campaign he’s modeling for…?’
As I recalled today’s schedule and checked the photo, sure enough, the screen filled with Yoo Gun’s A-cut, wearing sneakers from the brand selected as an advertising model.
In the photo, Yoo Gun sat defiantly against a wall covered in colorful graffiti, wearing a brown jacket and red training pants. The brightly bleached bridge of his hair, contrasting with his darker roots, only amplified his rebellious charm.
The moment I saw the photo, I sent Yoo Gun my first impression.
【Yoo Gun】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ Huh】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ Which one’s better?】
【Thanks for being an idol】
【Thanks for living so righteously, you brat】
【Such a good kid】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ What?】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ What are you talking about, asking me to look at a photo】
【There’s no such thing, man】
You’re the one, man. Because you’re an idol, this is edgy and cool, but if you were just some ordinary person with a crooked attitude….
I marveled at the insight of Desty, who had transformed this kid from an embodiment of back-alley delinquency into an unparalleled model and rapper of the Stone Board scene, and only then did I begin to properly compare the two photos. In truth, the only real difference was the presence or absence of these orange heart-shaped sunglasses, so I made up my mind in three seconds and sent a reply.
【The one with sunglasses】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ With?】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ The one with is better?】
【Yeah yeah】
【Miro_Kairos_Yoo Gun ‖ Ok thanks】
Whether that was truly all he needed, Yoo Gun coolly disappeared after getting his answer.
Still, this is our first personal message, so you’re not thinking of chatting a bit more?
【Yoo Gun, do you realize this is our first personal message? I’m so deeply moved and proud that our relationship has developed to the point where you sent me a personal message after two years just to ask me which cut of your photo was best…】
My Day is Everyday Christmas―.
“Huh, what.”
Look at our group’s fifth member’s cold and businesslike attitude (not really). I’m so hurt right now (not really).
Filled with that disappointment (not disappointed), I was composing a long letter to Yoo Gun, pouring out my heart with “Is that really all you have to say to me, you punk?” (Play with me, I’m bored), when suddenly a call came through.
“…Kwon Wook hyung?”
I was planning not to answer unless it was something important, or to answer later, but the caller happened to be Kwon Wook hyung, who had taken over full responsibility for Kairos’s schedule and management.
If it was a call from hyung, it was important to answer quickly whether it was good news or bad news, so I immediately found my phone that I’d tossed into the corner of the sofa and answered.
“Hello? Yes, hyung.”
-Yeah, Ha-jin. You’re at the studio, right?
“Yes, I was taking a break.”
-Right, nothing special. I just wanted to ask you about the schedule.
“Yes, go ahead.”
And fortunately, the news Kwon Wook hyung brought was like timely rain in this harsh and barren reality—good news indeed.
-I just coordinated the schedule with Touch High. They’re saying we’ll do a one-night, two-day shoot next Monday and Tuesday, so I wanted to confirm there’s no conflict with your and Do-ha’s work schedule. Is that okay?
Finally, it was time to use the appearance rights for the popular variety show during prime time on public broadcast that I’d been waiting for!

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

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