Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 546

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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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546. An Unexpected Encounter Before Filming (2)
【In the Chaos】 was a short-form series consisting of twelve episodes in total, and all details about its content were kept under wraps.
Even I had only heard the description that it was “a program where participants engage in an intellectual survival competition,” including from my previous timeline, and despite now having a clear cooperative relationship with Kwon Myung-eun, I still didn’t know the detailed contents.
“Wow, but seriously…. They’re not telling us anything here?”
A man who was supposedly an announcer from a prestigious overseas university—clearly selected as the intellectual type—spoke up in an exasperated voice. A few of the participants waiting in the tent set up outdoors in the rather chilly weather reacted to his words.
“I was just told during the pre-meeting that it was some kind of immersive survival program…. You’re all at about the same level as me, right?”
An influencer who was relatively older among the participants spoke up.
He was someone who researched various mysteries and deduction quizzes on his AiTube channel, and had recently gained attention in a similar survival broadcast for his eloquent speech and political maneuvering.
“One thing’s for sure—it’s not a survival show that relies on physical prowess. There are a lot of female participants. Usually, survival shows that require physicality don’t do it like this. …It’s probably because winning through strength alone wouldn’t work.”
A broadcaster with an athletic background chimed in with an air of authority.
A fleeting expression of disdain crossed the faces of several female participants at his remark, but no one refuted him.
With no way of knowing what would happen inside the filming studio, creating unnecessary enemies was out of the question.
“So… we don’t even know if we’re all on the same team or not right now?”
“Right. Thinking back to the last shoot, it seems like we might be….”
“But since we don’t know anything, I actually find it more fun? It’s like playing an escape room game.”
Speculation about the broadcast flew around from all directions.
The somewhat bleak atmosphere gradually loosened as they conversed, and jokes and banter naturally led to a time of mutual exploration. It was quite different from other survival programs that typically kept participants from even seeing each other before recording to maintain the tension of the first episode.
“But, I wonder if he doesn’t know either?”
As the conversation deepened, attention naturally shifted to someone who wasn’t present.
The one who gathered everyone’s gaze with a single gesture was Son Je-u, a rookie actor who Essentric, an entertainment agency for actors, had been pushing as their main prospect recently. His gaze was directed at a tall man in the distance who had an assistant director at his side.
“Oh, Ha-jin? Right, now that you mention it, he’s from here originally, isn’t he?”
“No, I worked with him once before, and seriously, it’s no joke. The way his mind works is… wow…. Like, ‘Is this what it means to look at things from the question-setter’s perspective?’ kind of thing?”
“I was curious and asked him about it, but apparently that’s exactly why he maintains such strict confidentiality. He apparently didn’t know anything even during the zombie shoot last time.”
“I’ve never seen an idol-turned-PD before, but a PD-turned-idol is even more of a first for me. Isn’t his background really unusual?”
With a common topic established, people began adding their own commentary about me, one after another. Son Je-u, who had sparked the conversation, subtly stepped back and blended into the crowd’s chatter.
I was still busy in the distance, patting the youngest assistant director’s shoulder and explaining something to him. Among the people chattering away, the “joke” that Son Je-u had been aiming for finally landed.
“Right? Kang Ha-jin must know something, right? You know, production teams usually plant spies like that.”
It was said in an obviously joking tone, with a clear “yeah, right~” vibe, but that was enough.
In that moment, Son Je-u saw the eyes of the people left in the tent quickly light up with suspicion.
Thinking “there’s no way that’s true” was essentially the same effect as thinking “that could be possible.”
“Well, actually…. You know, during that zombie shoot too….”
“Oh my, are you all talking about something without us? If you start forming factions already, it won’t be fun~?”
Just as some secretive conversation was about to begin, it was interrupted by the arrival of female comedian Nam Sa-ra.
She was the first among them to become SNS friends with me, and she was also part of the “Pro-Ha-jin faction” who had gotten plenty of screen time thanks to my help during the last shoot.
As she entered among the participants with her round, affable personality, smiling brightly, the direction of the conversation that had been heading toward me momentarily faltered.
“What, you’re all here? I thought you’d all gotten in the cars, so I’ve been hanging around the bus area since earlier.”
Following her, actor Ha Tae-jin, who had publicly given me a shout-out after the last shoot, made his entrance.
At the arrival of his direct senior, Son Je-u quickly got up and headed toward Tae-jin. In situations like this, you had to ride on the tiger’s back to survive as a fox.
“Oh, hyung. I thought you were in your car….”
“Me? No, I’ve been chatting with the writers over there since earlier. Why are you suddenly hugging me when I saw you just a moment ago?”
“Hey, Tae-jin. Have you heard anything? We were just wondering what we’re supposed to be filming when we go in later.”
“I haven’t heard anything special… Oh, but it looks like filming’s about to start soon? They said once we go in, we won’t be able to come out for a while, so we need to mentally prepare ourselves. That’s why I was just getting some sun with Sa-ra.”
“Is that so? Man, then I should go smoke a cigarette before we start.”
The carefully cultivated “backstage gossip session” among the cast members crumbled the moment Ha Tae-jin and Nam Sa-ra appeared.
Son Je-u felt a bit disappointed that things weren’t unfolding as he’d planned, but he’d at least succeeded in planting seeds of wariness about Kang Ha-jin in everyone’s minds before filming began, so he decided to settle for that.
The bitter resentment of losing a cast position that had been rightfully his to some nobody who’d rolled in from who knows where—having to beg just to preserve his own spot—wasn’t something that dissolved easily.
“Tae-jin, you’re close with Ha-jin, right? Ha-jin says he hasn’t heard anything? I heard he’s from the production company. If you’ve picked up anything through the grapevine, let’s share information.”
At the athlete’s arrogant tone, Ha Tae-jin’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.
But before Ha Tae-jin could even compose himself professionally and respond, Nam Sa-ra, standing right beside him, had already beaten him to it.
“Ha-jin? Nah, if he’d known anything, he wouldn’t have suffered so much last time~ Just call him directly and ask. He’s over there. Ha-jin! Ha-jin!”
“What? No, no, hey, Sa-ra….”
“Ha-jin! Come over here! They said filming’s starting in a bit!”
True to her background as a classically trained comedian from a prestigious acting school, Nam Sa-ra’s vocal projection and voice were impeccable.
With just her vocal cords alone, she made the entire set reverberate, and even Ha-jin, who was far away, turned his head to peek over.
“Ah, there he is. Just ask him directly, hyung. Ask if he has any tips or anything.”
“No, why are you making such a big deal out of this….”
“Did you call for me? Oh, everyone’s here. Hello.”
At Sa-ra’s call, Kang Ha-jin moved in one swift motion, arriving as quickly as his long legs could carry him.
Unlike the other cast members, Ha-jin wore no special makeup or styling, and he greeted Tae-jin, Sa-ra, and the others with a friendly expression. Seeing him up close for the first time, Son Je-u was slightly taken aback by how sharp his features actually were and let out an awkward cough.
“Ha-jin, this hyung here has something he’s curious about regarding you.”
“Me? Please, go ahead.”
“Well, it’s nothing special….”
“Why, hyung? If you’re going to ask, you need to ask now. Filming’s starting soon, right?”
“…?”
With Sa-ra and Tae-jin laying out the red carpet so blatantly, the athlete found himself unexpectedly put on the spot, and his expression clouded with discomfort. Even though everyone was pretending to be indifferent and doing other things, he could feel all eyes subtly turning toward him.
After years in broadcasting, the man had long since lost the tenacity and persistence he’d possessed during his athletic days. Honestly, backing down now would be even more pathetic.
“No, no, don’t misunderstand. It’s just, Ha-jin here is from the PD department, right? So I was thinking, if you’ve heard anything beforehand or learned any information related to filming, maybe we could share that kind of stuff….”
Ah, he’d blown it.
Even by his own assessment, the athlete had just sounded incredibly uncool, and he awkwardly scratched his short hair.
If he was going to ask, he should have at least done it with some coolness.
Now that he’d asked so pathetically, Ha-jin probably wouldn’t want to share anything he knew….
“Ah.”
“…?”
…or so he thought.
“Well, I’m not saying I haven’t heard anything.”
At those words spoken so brightly and innocently, the atmosphere inside the tent shifted in an instant.
Those who had been participating in the conversation and those who hadn’t—everyone’s attention turned to Ha-jin. He caught every nuance of that sensitive shift, but he didn’t mind.
Because whether it was negative or positive didn’t matter….
“Would you like me to tell you?”
Once filming began, it would all become a single source of power that only Ha-jin could wield.
The sun-bright smile of Kang Ha-jin, the embodiment of provocation, blazed once more toward the innocent lambs—the sacrificial ones.

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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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