Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 535

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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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535. Eye of the Typhoon (2)
Yet bad premonitions have a way of always coming true.
Kang Ha-jin, who had swept into the entertainment industry like a whirlwind amid its tedious monotony, was a source of delightful fascination for some—but for others, merely prey to be torn apart.
[Did Kang Ha-jin even do idol activities?]
I was curious about the Miro days so I looked it up, but there’s literally nothing;
Usually when a company is like this, don’t they just rotate them through local festivals and stuff?
– The company wasn’t even that bad, it was just a mess lol
– There wasn’t nothing, but when they disbanded the fandom exploded and the old-timer fans probably deleted all the data
– Usually a failed idol like that would have crazy sasaeng fans attached, but it’s weird that they didn’t even have that lol
– Didn’t they wrap up activities before even two years? And that was ten years ago, so if anything’s still left it’d be even weirder
[Is this the thing about Kang Ha-jin being a PD for another idol group?]
https://www.itube.com/watch?…
From 14:28 onward, the PD in charge of Song-ah sounds and has a similar build to Kang Ha-jin
Seeing him caught in the corner of the frame, it’s true he’s really buffed up now that he’s on TV lol
The way he laughs while talking with Song-ah suggests they were pretty close?
– Comment 1: An idol-turned-PD would have a hard time letting self-management slip, but since he was a failed idol it didn’t matter?
└ OP: Nah, the ones who trained hard before tend to go harder when they lose it lol. Look at the veteran male idols who fell off—they all have beer bellies and smoke like crazy. Kang Ha-jin seems like that type
– Comment 2: (photo) Is this Kang Ha-jin? Doesn’t look like it, looks pretty bloated
└ OP: Lol that’s just a bad angle, from other angles it’s not that bad. It’s him
– Comment 3: Hmm but does a PD usually talk that much with the cast…? I liked him because he seemed like Ha Tae-jin’s type, but seeing him giggle with a female idol and desperately try to squeeze in one more word… suddenly it’s a turn-off lol
– Comment 4: This was already covered in the interview, why are you acting like you found something amazing?
– Comment 5: Kang Ha-jin’s fans are really attached lol, posts digging up the past keep coming up yesterday and today
└ OP: Is looking something up because you’re interested being a fan? Lol your standards are funny
└ Comment 5: You say you’re interested but you’re subtly creating conspiracy theories about how he got fat and was close with girl groups lol
[Was there a test here? I’m confused]
I’ve been getting interested in Kang Ha-jin lately…
Looking into it, I found out that there were some rumors about the Group Members having conflicts or discord back in the day, you know?
And like, bad personality?? I saw those kinds of stories too, and stuff about being ostracized or excluded within the group??
Seeing those keywords like that is making me confused for some reason.
I wonder if there are any fans who knew exactly what was happening at that timeㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I want to ask somewhere, but really, the only thing I can ask is hereㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ(If it becomes a problem, I’ll delete itㅠㅠ)
– I don’t know much but… there was definitely some controversy? They didn’t do live broadcasts together much, I remember. Even when they did, they’d do them separately or include someone else
– I was really into it back then and I remember hearing those rumors. Especially that Kang Ha-jin had really bad relations with one of the members—all the fans knew about it lol but nothing ever blew up on camera
└ Wasn’t it just that the camera wasn’t rolling enough for problems to surface?
└ Damn, that’s harsh
└ I wonder ㅠㅠ Is 2U the member you said was not good?? Is it him? Actually, I’m thinking a little bit right now after reading that post.
└ Oh you know lol yeah it was him, but from what I remember it wasn’t like one of them was the problem—they just didn’t get along back then. Though that’s ancient history now lol
Slowly, bit by bit, from somewhere.
Not openly poking, but like drizzle soaking through cloth, gradually.
By the time one noticed, the hem was already wet—so slowly, yet so certainly.
– Ah; Kang Ha-jin’s face is totally my type, but why does he have such a heavy aura;;
There was no way to know whether all of this was truly Essentric’s reverse viral campaign, or simply a routine ‘rising verification’ procedure.
But one thing was certain―,
【Studio A_Kwon Myung-eun Senior ‖ Hey Ha-jin, why aren’t you answering your phone?】
【Studio A_Kwon Myung-eun Senior ‖ I told you to keep a low profile until your first broadcast starts】
【Studio A_Kwon Myung-eun Senior ‖ Don’t look at the internet for a while, don’t do anything, just stay quiet】
【Studio A_Kwon Myung-eun Senior ‖ Nothing’s really blown up yet, but the atmosphere feels off】
【Studio A_Kwon Myung-eun Senior ‖ Just be careful for now, understand???】
This was absolutely not a favorable wind for Kang Ha-jin.
“Huh….”
I, Kang Ha-jin—the very architect of this entire situation—scratched my cheek with a bewildered expression as I finished reading through the worried advice that had come flying from Kwon Myung-eun.
Then, with an untroubled face, I murmured softly to myself.
“Our senior has really become quite the coward in the time we haven’t seen each other.”
Of course, I was fully grateful that this concern stemmed from worry that her junior—myself—might be torn to shreds by anonymous blades and discarded before even the pre-meeting footage aired, let alone the first broadcast….
Still maintaining my nonchalant posture and attitude, I gazed at the messenger screen for a while longer before easily tapping the phone screen with one hand. Despite the new phone not being particularly small, my long, straight fingers made it an effortless task.
【Senior】
My response, written without a moment’s hesitation, was concise.
【Have you ever seen me take on something I can’t handle?】
Since the moment I planned to make a big play and catch Essentric in their own trap.
Or rather, since before that—when I planned to appear on In the Chaos by leveraging my connection with Kwon Myung-eun and the Main PD.
Or even before that.
Since the moment Thirteen told me I needed to carve the name ‘Kairos’ back into this entertainment industry.
‘Discord rumors and character controversies? That’s cute.’
I had long anticipated that my past would be laid out on the chopping block like a dead fish. And I had prepared myself for it. Besides, it didn’t frighten me much at all.
Even though this place was my ‘worst timeline,’ and even though I was an endlessly twisted and prickly hedgehog of a person here….
Honestly, I didn’t care.
[My dreams and life were completely trampled because of Kang Ha-jin Kairos Kang Ha-jin Character Exposure Miro Maze]
-To be honest, there’s no real reason.
-What?
-He just happened to be unlucky. That’s all.
Because I already―.
-I thought everything was my fault all this time…. But it wasn’t, was it? Mom.
-Just, I’m so grateful for that.
-I’m grateful that I can be a good person.
Because I knew I was someone who could be a ‘good person.’
“We’ve arrived at your destination, sir.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you, driver.”
While I was lost in those memories for a moment, the taxi I was riding in arrived at its destination. After paying with my card and stepping out, a call came through from someone immediately.
“…?”
The caller ID read ‘Joo Mol.’
Honestly, I’d expected Kwon Myung-eun to call me the moment he saw my reply, clutching the back of his neck and fuming. But the fact that Eun-chan was faster than that—that surprised me a little.
I was genuinely amazed at how many times Ju Eun-chan had shown me a different side of himself since arriving in this timeline.
“Hey, Eun-chan.”
-Hyung, have you arrived?
“Yeah, I just got off.”
Ju Eun-chan, who knew today’s destination, asked my location with a worried tone. I answered him half-heartedly while slowly surveying the area around where I’d gotten off.
Not far away, my final destination came into view.
-Why don’t you just take our driver’s car? The taxi fare must have been quite a bit.
“Nah, that’s not it. If anything, I’d rather drive my own car. But if I took yours when you don’t have one, your older brother might actually kill me.”
-What? Our hyung isn’t that petty.
“…No, the problem is he’s too hot-headed.”
My mind drifted to another ‘Joo’ brother—the older one—who had also shown me a markedly different side of himself since coming to this timeline.
The younger one had somehow become quicker to pick up on things and snappier in his movements, but the older one had become somewhat cooler and more intimidating. When I’d once tempted him with salary negotiations starting from fifty million won, he’d seemed all for it—but now, if he so much as sensed I might cause Eun-chan any harm, he was already prepared to strike me down.
‘Well, it’s probably all because of Ju Eun-chan anyway.’
In the original timeline, the reason Ju Eun-chan lacked perceptiveness was because his life had never required him to read others’ moods.
Good looks, good skills, good physique, and an even better family background.
Even against Han Sung-woo, who openly targeted him, Eun-chan had merely felt some stress—he was moderately arrogant yet consistently diligent.
And the reason he could be that way was because his only older brother had cared for him with parental devotion.
‘That became poison here instead. If a sibling-obsessed guy like Joo Eun-seok didn’t develop some compulsion, that would be stranger.’
Recalling the events the Joo brothers had experienced in this place, it was only natural that Joo Eun-seok’s personality had become so sharp.
With that thought, I began preparing to end the call.
I was almost at my destination now.
“Anyway, let’s hang up. I’m going in soon.”
-Okay. …Oh, hyung!
“Yeah.”
-Please… do well out there.
Through the phone, all of Ju Eun-chan’s worry came through clearly. Knowing exactly why he was reacting that way, I let out a soft laugh, and though Eun-chan felt embarrassed, he steadfastly conveyed his support.
-Do well, and when you come back, please come back together with me.
Together.
That word carried so many emotions within it.
And in this moment, I wanted that more than anyone else did.
Reaching my destination, I grasped the glass door handle with my hand and nodded.
“Yeah, let’s definitely go together.”
-Okay, I’ll hang up.
“Mm.”
The call ended. As I stepped inside the building, the bell attached to the door chimed with a pleasant sound. At the same time, a familiar voice came from within.
“Welcome to Yu Convenience Store…”
Cynical yet mechanical, yet not without sincerity, and not particularly kind either.
Just a familiar greeting extracted like a spinal reflex according to the capitalist logic carved into the body.
The employee, worn down by work to the point of becoming one with it, emitting the aura of a professional part-timer, trailed off upon spotting me.
Ha-jin regarded the employee’s reaction with an air of expectation, walking toward him slowly with a faint smile. Then he opened his mouth in a courteous tone.
“My, my.”
“….”
“You know, it’s rude to leave a greeting unfinished like that, Cafe Employee.”
Ha-jin, who had been tapping his fingers against the neatly arranged snacks the employee had displayed moments before, now stood directly before him.
His younger sister had always been passionate about beauty, and it seemed that passion hadn’t faded—the man’s hair color was such a stunning grapefruit shade that one could never imagine him as an ordinary person.
“You….”
Words tumbled from the man’s lips as though he’d seen a ghost, but Ha-jin paid no attention to his reaction whatsoever, his gaze sweeping from the man’s head to his feet. Then, slowly bringing his finger toward the name tag on the man’s chest, he leaned in closer.
The two men’s eyes, still at nearly the same height, collided in the air between them. Ha-jin grasped the name tag firmly in his hand and smiled as though delighted.
【STAFF YOO GUN】
“‘You’ is casual speech, you disrespectful grandson.”
The incarnation of capitalism, a slave to money, the patriarch of this age.
In this worst of timelines, the grandson who ironically conducted his social life with the utmost diligence—whose very nickname was Yoo Gun—felt his expression gradually transform into shock.

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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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