I Became An Idol To Pay Off My Debt

As Yerin’s tears fell, the members of Rookies started to rise one by one when a voice interrupted.

“…So what are you going to do?”

“……”

It was Park Yoo-jung.

But Park Yoo-jung was also equally shocked by Ha Ye-rin’s tears, so instead of aimlessly trying to stop the members, she asked a specific question.

“…How do you plan to help Yerin unnie?”

“……”

Yoo Seol took a moment to think before responding to Park Yoo-jung’s question.

“Like Yoo-jin said…, let’s post something supporting Yerin.”

“…Unnie.”

“Yoo-jung.”

Yoo Seol was not someone who would ever be overshadowed by Park Yoo-jung.

With determination in her eyes, she gently patted Park Yoo-jung’s shoulder and persuaded her.

“Even though this is a burdensome thing, you know the chances of us getting into trouble because of it are low.”

That was true.

It was because Park Yoo-jung was taking extreme safety precautions that the odds of Rookies being at risk for simply posting something on social media were almost nonexistent.

“You’re not going to help Yerin because of some potential minuscule danger? …Then you’ll surely regret it a lot someday.”

“Hah…”

Just as Park Yoo-jung let out a deep sigh at Yoo Seol’s persuasion, it was then.

“I’ve almost finished writing mine.”

“…Me too, about halfway.”

Seo Yoo-jin and Lee Hye-jeong.

Especially Seo Yoo-jin, who was like a bulldozer, was quickly scribbling down her post.

“Ugh…, Yerin unnie….”

To Seo Yoo-jin, Ha Ye-rin was nothing short of a savior, a benefactor.

If it weren’t for her outstretched hand, she wouldn’t be here at all.

Yet, what tormented her was that she couldn’t be there for Ha Ye-rin when she cried….

She didn’t even know what kind of hardships Ha Ye-rin was going through.

So even if Rookies opposed her, Seo Yoo-jin was determined to act unilaterally.

“Can I post it then?”

“Wait, let me see it first.”

Just as Seo Yoo-jin was about to post, a startled Yoo Seol quickly rushed to her side.

Since Seo Yoo-jin seemed out of her mind, she wanted to check for any mistakes in her text.

And the post filled with unconditional support and heartwarming stories for Ha Ye-rin was…

“…You wrote well.”

Though it was a bit disorganized and lengthy, there were no problematic parts.

In fact, the rawness made it feel even more genuine.

“Then I’ll post it?”

“Yeah.”

At that moment, Seo Yoo-jin became the first among Rookies to post a message supporting Ha Ye-rin.

[Nah Han-na has posted *15 seconds ago]

“……Huh?”

“……Hmm?”

…Seo Yoo-jin wasn’t the first.

Seo Yoo-jin and Yoo Seol, who were looking at the same screen, could only be surprised.

Did that usually sleepy and slow to act Nah Han-na post something first?

It was utterly unbelievable. Turning their heads to Nah Han-na, who had finished posting earlier and stood up with a face that said, “What’s the problem?”

“Yoo-jung.”

She approached her same-age roommate Park Yoo-jung, who was still hesitating.

“I think you’re misunderstanding. Na Ah Ah has already ended it.”

“……!”

“It doesn’t matter if we’re successful or fail; we’re in the same team for a year.”

Same team.

At those words, Park Yoo-jung paused, while Nah Han-na continued to speak.

“When one person in Na Ah Ah sat down, we just ignored it and kept running forward. Na Ah Ah is all about survival of the fittest.”

“……”

“But now, that’s not the case. Under the name Rookies, we live and die together, no matter what.”

Hearing Nah Han-na’s statement stunned not just Park Yoo-jung.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Yoo Seol, Seo Yoo-jin, and Lee Hye-jeong also.

Despite having good relationships with their members, they had not completely escaped the mindset of Na Ah Ah.

But thanks to Nah Han-na’s words….

“But now, that’s not the case. Under the name Rookies, we live and die together, no matter what.”

They managed to break free from Na Ah Ah’s endless competitive cycle.

Nah Han-na looked at the still-stunned members not with half-closed eyes as usual, but declared with wide-open eyes.

“In fact, this was something that should have been addressed regardless of whether it was Yerin unnie or someone else.”

Yes…, even if it weren’t for the affectionate Yerin, the members should have stepped up.

Because they were now … the same Rookies team.

“…Alright.”

Park Yoo-jung finally nodded at Nah Han-na’s persuasion.

“…I’ll post too.”

“……!”

Then, like the other members, she turned on her phone and began writing her post.

Yoo Seol nodded in agreement and started writing her post as well….

Soon, 5 posts detailing who Ha Ye-rin was, how the members had been helped by her, and how much the members supported her flooded social media.

It was proof of how precious Ha Ye-rin was to the members and a moment when the meaning of being a team called Rookies was once again engraved in their hearts.

When the incident broke out, public opinion was sharply divided.

For Ha Ye-rin, there was ‘sympathy.’

-ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I wonder how hard our Yerin must have had it under that evil company.

-Ah, ㅠㅠ I’m so proud of Yerin for winning Na Ah Ah in such a situation ㅠㅠ.

-I hope Yerin is happy..

-Ah, Yerin ㅠㅠ.

And for Brotherhood Planning, there was ‘anger.’

-F*ck, what era is this that scumbags are running rampant?

-Shouldn’t that trash company be raided?

-I’m protecting Yerin no matter what.

-Those bad guys.

Of course, there were a few with slightly different thoughts.

-If she was under a gangster company, isn’t she a gangster too?

-Lol, I liked her because she was pretty at first, but now with this controversy, she seems unlikable.

Especially a small number of anti-fans who were negatively viewing Ha Ye-rin seized the moment to spread malicious rumors and begin to criticize her.

Initially, Ha Ye-rin’s fans tried to ‘eat the gold’ — that is, ignore these anti-fans, but when inappropriate comments became too much, they couldn’t hold back and began to fight back.

-Actually, didn’t Na Ah Ah win because of promotional tactics? Didn’t they charm the broadcasting station staff with tours? Lol.

└Stop with the nonsense and just shut up.

└Am I wrong? Is that not a valid suspicion? It’s unreasonable for trainees to win after a month.

└This guy must not even know anything about Na Ah Ah to say that.

-Yerin’s victory wasn’t because of her skill? Seriously, are these people not watching the show?

└Yup~ The Ha Ye-rin you envy has already been thoroughly used by the PD.

└ㅠㅠㅠ Your life is so pitiful that you’re writing these pathetic comments out of jealousy of a 19-year-old girl. ㅠㅠ.

-Did Ha Ye-rin purposefully dual-contract? To rip off her advance payment?

└That makes sense, right?

└It’d be a right hit, you idiot.

└Haha, if you were innocent, why wouldn’t you clarify it right away? You must be hiding something.

-I’m capturing all the comments here and sending them to NAS, so everyone watch out and ignore this.

└Honestly, Ha Ye-rin won because of her looks, right?

└Shut up with the nonsense.

└Lololol, you say ignore! But you get triggered right away, huh? ㅋㅋ.

Thus, the anti-fans trying to dig into Ha Ye-rin and fans who couldn’t hold back anymore became intertwined, making the internet increasingly tense, and this atmosphere continued right up until Ha Ye-rin’s press conference.

And then, the eagerly anticipated Ha Ye-rin’s press conference.

Currently, the hottest potato in the South Korean entertainment industry was Ha Ye-rin, so many people flocked to her conference streaming.

Ha Ye-rin’s fans, a small number of anti-fans, onlookers who just thought it looked fun, and countless cyber trolls.

The streaming of Ha Ye-rin’s press conference set a record with a total of 210,000 live viewers, breaking the highest viewership record for the broadcasting station’s channel.

-Oh, what? Is it starting?

-They started earlier than scheduled.

-Oh, Yerin is coming out.

-Wow, she’s so pretty.

-Does anyone know where to get the sweatshirt Yerin is wearing? Help me ㅠㅠ.

As an overwhelming number of viewers tuned in, the press conference began ahead of schedule.

[The reason I am here today is to completely refute the claims of MS Planning’s representative and my parents.]

-……Huh?

-What?

-?

-What?

-?

-?

-?

Those who had been harshly criticizing Brotherhood Planning began to feel confused when Yerin denied that fact.

[I state that all claims I had a dual contract with Brotherhood Planning and MS Planning are false. This is all the work of interference by MS Planning to change my affiliation, and my parents colluded in this matter.]

-What?

-No way, what does that mean?

-So does that mean MS Planning is the bad guy and Brotherhood Planning is good? What does that even mean?

-Don’t tell me she’s denouncing her parents?

-Ah, ㅠㅠ Yerin.

No matter what, turning against the parents who gave life and raised her was a bitter thing to do. A small number of Ha Ye-rin’s anti-fans began to attack her, pointing out that aspect.

-Ah, lol, no idea what’s going on, but she’s throwing her parents under the bus to save herself.

-I thought she was nice, but she’s surprisingly ruthless.

-Let’s all just listen, you idiots!

But at that moment….

Drip.

[…S-sorry. I’ll say it again. My parents….]

Thump, thump, thump.

[…Hehe…].

As Ha Ye-rin started to cry….

-Oh?

-Ah.

-Ah.

-Ah?

The comment section froze.

Because it was the first time they saw Ha Ye-rin crying.

Especially compared to the members of Rookies, who knew her inner struggles, her fans, who only knew her outward appearance….

They were taken aback since they only saw her as strong.

And that surprise turned into…

[My, my parents…., Huh….]

[My parents…, …have exploited and abused me for 19 years.]

Soon, a massive uproar ensued.

-F*ck, who are the scumbags?

-F*ck, who made her cry?

-What? Abuse? Exploitation? What does that mean?

-Ah, Yerin ㅠㅠㅠ.

-ㅠㅠㅠㅠ.

-Wow…

-No way…

-I feel like my heart is being ripped apart.

-F*ck, who did this?

-Abuse? Ah ㅠㅠ.

-What the hell is this?

-Parents abused her? Where could a child ever be abused?

-Those f*cking bastards.

-Yerin-chan…! Ahh, she looks so pretty even when crying…! www.

And that uproar began to turn into a wave of anger that threatened to overturn everything that tormented Ha Ye-rin along with her tears.

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