The Hit Song of This Life Is Revenge - Chapter 81

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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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My hit song in this life is revenge.
81
The next morning.
Park Jeong-cheol ordered two cups of tea.
Today, however, he chose a private space rather than an open area.
The tea on the table had cooled to just the right temperature to drink.
“Have you been waiting long?”
When he turned his head, a woman in the same hoodie as before came into view.
Park Jeong-cheol straightened his posture slightly.
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
The woman took her seat easily with casual conversation.
“Have some tea first. It spreads its aroma best when it’s still warm.”
It sounded like a suggestion to wait a moment.
The one eager to get to the point probably wasn’t him, but her.
After the teacup had touched his lips three times, the woman spoke first.
“You must know where YU is heading now.”
Park Jeong-cheol interlaced his fingers without speaking.
Sometimes silence carried more weight than words.
Lee Jae-i’s pupils moved slowly.
Their eyes met.
There was something different in his gaze than before.
This time, he opened his mouth.
“I’ve seen the articles about Lee Jae-i.”
“Yes.”
Jae-i tilted her head slightly.
“Then have you also seen information about the Voice File Commission?”
Park Jeong-cheol’s shoulders moved ever so briefly.
Jae-i tracked that minute movement with her eyes.
Since he had arranged this meeting, she guessed he hadn’t merely dug into embezzlement alone.
Besides, she needed confirmation.
Embezzlement alone wouldn’t be enough to bring Yoo Young-jae down completely.
He paused to collect himself, then spoke.
“I’m planning to bring relevant documents and retain a lawyer. However, regarding matters related to Lee Jae-i…”
His voice grew quieter.
“I believe your own will is what matters most. This isn’t something I should take action on by myself.”
The words were indirect, but the meaning was precise.
Exactly the answer she needed to hear.
Having confided this much, there was no need to verify his resolve.
He seemed to be holding two things.
Evidence of Yoo Young-jae’s embezzlement and the Voice File.
Then one piece was missing.
‘He seems to know nothing about the industrial espionage.’
All exits had to be blocked.
Yoo Young-jae was the kind of man who could slip a scapegoat through the smallest crack.
Jae-i straightened her posture and resumed speaking.
“I understand about the Voice File creation. But would Yoo Young-jae have done it himself?”
“That’s unlikely. I confirmed he was in the office at that time.”
At Park Jeong-cheol’s response, Jae-i nodded as if she’d been waiting for it.
Without hesitation, she posed her next question.
“What if the person who acted on Yoo Young-jae’s orders was someone from Star Entertainment? How would you accept that?”
“Well…”
His eyebrows shifted asymmetrically.
He needed to think before answering.
After a brief silence, Park Jeong-cheol’s lips moved.
“It would have been a convenient choice. Easy access to internal information and straightforward execution.”
Jae-i returned with a more direct term.
“Exactly. I’ve identified evidence that my schedule and audio files were leaked.”
Park Jeong-cheol’s gaze fixed completely on Jae-i.
She didn’t miss the moment and immediately continued.
“The person who leaked it was my manager.”
Park Jeong-cheol’s expression turned rigid.
“…So there was a separate purpose that required convenience. I understand.”
Park Jeong-cheol chose his words carefully before questioning her.
“But why not make it public immediately? If it’s a leak, the right thing would be to stop it as quickly as possible.”
Jae-i adjusted her voice to match his shift in tone.
“Because now isn’t the time.”
“Ah… I see.”
Park Jeong-cheol’s lips pressed together with resolve.
Perhaps her explanation lacked persuasion.
But Jae-i chose a firm stance.
The Park Jeong-cheol she knew wasn’t someone swayed by lengthy explanations.
It was then, in the silence that held.
Park Jeong-cheol spoke quietly, almost to himself.
“I wondered how much deeper it went, but now I can’t even measure it.”
And he lifted the now-cold teacup to his lips.
Jae-i waited for his response without speaking.
Park Jeong-cheol looked up and met her eyes.
“When you’ve decided on your timing, let me know. I’ll be waiting for your call.”
It was a perfect answer that made months of waiting feel worthwhile.
* * *
On the way to Star Entertainment.
Jae-i pulled her hoodie down low, her gaze buried in her cell phone screen.
After the concert, she’d been too busy with urgent matters to check public reaction carefully.
Just one day.
The moment she accessed the portal site, the articles that appeared had already changed.
But her finger went straight to the community forum.
That’s where the raw reaction was most accurate.
The white window filled with text.
Her name appeared across the screen, and the same went for Baek Song-ha.
Jae-i didn’t deliberate long and clicked on one post.
[Lol Baek Song-ha pushed back her comeback, thought this was her moment but guess not lol so lame.]
└Yeah. I get why she delayed but it does look bad though.
└Obviously she saw the lineup and chickened out lol
Apart from the comments, there was a tinge of regret.
Delaying her comeback was the safest choice for Baek Song-ha.
‘Why not come out as brazenly as she did on the final stage?’
If she had, there would have been more speculation tangled up with the show controversy.
Jae-i pushed aside the regret and clicked on another post.
[How wronged must she have been to prepare like that. Jae-i must have gone through so much heartache ㅠㅠ seriously breaks my heart.]
└I never doubted from the start. This is what I’m saying after watching the real concert.
└What kind of battle was she fighting alone. No matter what happens, we’ve got you.
└Grandma stands with Jae-i.
These were comments that would have made her laugh in the past.
The hearts of fans supporting a singer had always seemed so pure.
But text connected to herself felt completely different.
It was like someone walking quietly behind her, matching her pace.
A warm emotion bunched up in her chest, making her feel a little stronger.
“I don’t have time to struggle.”
Jae-i suddenly pressed her moistening eyes shut with her eyelids.
Then she quickened her pace.
She entered the Star Entertainment Office.
It was to greet Han Myeong-geun, who had worked so hard for her.
‘Where could he be?’
She expected to see his face, but instead she was greeted by an empty chair and a cluttered monitor.
Naturally, Jae-i’s eyes scanned the screen.
Stacked contact requests.
She’d heard that several programs had reached out after the concert.
But she hadn’t expected this many.
Her gaze drifted downward when it suddenly snagged on one line.
‘Sungmun Electronics CM Song…?’
In that instant, a forgotten melody rang in her head.
‘Ding-ling. Swipe. Ding-ling. Swipe. Feel free to enjoy it. Swimming Time.’
At the same time, a vivid image from the commercial surfaced—a cell phone being retrieved from the bottom of a swimming pool.
If the two words “Sungmun” brought the song to her mind now, its ripple effect was immeasurable.
That song everyone in the nation had hummed.
‘The timing seemed to be around then…’
Jae-i’s expression grew serious.
Han Myeong-geun, having returned to his desk, raised his voice brightly.
“Jae-i!”
Jae-i smiled warmly and bowed to greet him.
“I came by to thank you for working so hard.”
“Oh! It’s my job anyway. But when did you commission that material? I thought something had gone wrong at first—my heart was pounding like crazy.”
She felt bad for surprising Han Myeong-geun.
But she’d had no choice, to block any possibility of information leaking.
“I’m sorry. The schedule was so tight there was no time to brief you.”
Jae-i hurriedly changed the subject and pointed at the monitor.
“What’s this, though?”
Han Myeong-geun smiled lightly as he spoke.

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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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