June burst out the door of their dorm, startling his members. They appeared to be stressed just as he was, already knowing the truth behind the photo that had been posted.
At the moment, the post has already garnered more than four million views and a two hundred thousand likes. People who weren't even interested in tuning into the issue flocked to it like hungry hyenas.
"June?" Jaeyong stood once he saw him. "Is the shoot done already?"
June sighed and raked his fingers through his hair.
"I was sent home," June said.
"What?" Jisung asked. "Is it because of the dating news?"
"I believe so," June responded.
"They let you leave only because of that?" Casper exclaimed. "Show me the people who made you leave! I'll teach them a lesson."
June clicked his tongue and placed his hand on Casper's shoulder, forcefully bringing him down.
"Behave," June said.
Ren pursed his lips. "So, what's going to happen now?"
June shook his head. "I also don't know. They told me to go home and nothing else."
"Goodness," Jaeyong said. "And to think that all of this is happening because of some unconfirmed dating news."
"Did the company say something already?" June asked.
Sehun nodded, already appearing disappointed. "It's the usual company response—'we're looking into it.' Jay already told them that it's not true! Them saying that 'they'll look into it' will only make the public speculate."
June shook his head, not really expecting much from their company. Once again, they wanted to show the public that June's dating news was his sole decision and not the company's.
"What are we going to do now, then?" Zeth asked.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"I'm going to rest," June said, leaving his members and going to his bedroom.
As soon as he got there, however, he didn't rest at all.
Instead, he contacted one person whom he should have contacted a while ago—before all of this even started.
It only took a few rings before Bo Wen answered the phone as if he had already been expecting his call.
"Master!" Bo Wen said with a concerned tone. "Are you alright?"
"Have you heard?" June asked.
"Everybody and their mothers have heard," Bo Wen said. "Even the big guys that I work with have been talking about it. They're saying that your career is ruined."
"It's not," June said with confidence. "I'm not dating anyone."
"You're not?" Bo Wen asked. "You don't have to deny it. Your partner will be sad."
June clicked his tongue. "I'm really not dating anyone. Just…help me with something."
"Yes, whatever you need," Bo Wen said.
June nodded in satisfaction.
"I need you to dig into Director Bong Gwan," June said.
"The director that was paid by Laohu and Lin Zhi?" Bo Wen asked, causing June to smirk.
"So, you already know?"
"Of course," Bo Wen sighed. "Eyes and ears are all over the company. I don't have any concrete evidence just yet, but I'll look for some and get back to you tonight."
"Good," June smiled, causing Bo Wen to beam in happiness. He felt great after being complimented by his Master!
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"I have one question, though," Bo Wen said. "How will this help debunk your dating news?"
June shrugged. "It's not," June said.
"What—"
With that, June ended the call, leaving Bo Wen confused.
He sighed and sat on his bed.
At first, he thought of some ways to debunk his dating news, just as Bo Wen had said.
However, putting out a statement while the fire was at its peak will only add to its intensity.
June was sure that nobody would believe him.
He also couldn't ask Jenny for help since his cousin was already going through a lot. As much as Jenny was annoying, she was also his cousin—one who got dragged into the issue without any reason.
Then, after a string of continuous thoughts, June realized that he, himself, wouldn't be able to do anything.
Denying the dating rumors would be the company's job.
Now, what he needed to do was find a greater issue that would top his current one.
And what better person to expose than Director Bong, one of the most beloved Korean directors of all time?
***
Dawn came, yet June was still waiting for Bo Wen to contact him back.
Fortunately, just as he was about to fall into slumber, his phone lit up, revealing a text from
Bo Wen.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Baldie:Here is what I've found about Director Bong.
Baldie: *sent a file*
Baldie: I can't find anything about Lin Zhi and Laohu. Those bastards have been more careful these days. I'll continue to look for some evidence, but for now, I'm sending this to you. I know that you're waiting.
Baldie: I hope that everything goes well for you, Master. I'm rooting for you! No matter what happens, I'll be right by your side.
June frowned as he ignored Bo Wen's last text. Instead, he focused on the one before that—where he couldn't find any evidence against Lin Zhi.
Nonetheless, he felt grateful that Bo Wen was able to find some dirt on Director Bong. The photos and files he sent were very powerful, one that could ruin the director's career in an instant.
June smirked as he scrolled through the information. Then, he sent the files to Minjun.
June: Do what you want with it.
June knew that the kid was probably sleeping, but he wanted it to be the first thing that Minjun sees in the morning.
This might not lead to Lin Zhi's and Laohu's downfall just yet, but June was going to eliminate their connections in the industry....
...one by one.
***
Meanwhile, in a wide, luxury apartment in Seoul, a troubled figure huddled over his laptop.
He read over the contents of his post over and over again and hesitated to press the 'post' button.
"Maybe I shouldn't," he muttered. "I'm not even concerned with this! I should just let this be so we can be the most popular boy group again!"
However, guilt began eating his mind as he thought about the hardships that June was probably going through.
"Fuck it," he cursed, finally posting the short paragraph that appeared seemingly innocent.
Then, he shut his laptop close before slumping on the table and closing his eyes.
"Hopefully, we can finally be friends after all of this," he muttered.
