I Refuse This Kind of Protagonist 82

“These are photos that can easily be manipulated if you put your mind to it. I thought you were smart, but I’m disappointed. Was the reason you called me out in the middle of the night just because of these shoddy photos?”

“So now you’re going to use the anger strategy.”

Lee Dojun wore an expression that seemed to say ‘go ahead and try,’ as if he found this interesting. That frivolous attitude only fueled my anger further. To pull such a low-quality prank and then make an expression like he finds it interesting.

“…Does being a CEO give you the right? I didn’t know you were someone of this caliber. Go ahead and do whatever you want. And as of today, I’m quitting as manager. That means I’m someone unrelated to Youth. That’s what I came here to tell you today.”

After finishing my words, I walked resolutely toward the door. If I continued conversing with Lee Dojun, I felt like I’d lose my rationality and hurl profanities at him.

“You’re coming on stronger than I expected. If you walk out that door right now, something interesting will happen. It seems you have something to rely on.”

“What benefit is there for someone who’s a CEO to do something like this? What do you want?”

I finally exploded at his behavior of subtly testing me. I slammed the door shut and walked back toward Lee Dojun.

“Who knows.”

“Let’s say I’m Cha Jaehyun, as you said, CEO-nim. Let’s say these photos are all true. But what does that have to do with you, CEO-nim? You seem to have a nasty hobby of grabbing and toying with the throats of complete strangers. But what can I do? I have no intention of playing along with you. …Do whatever you want.”

“What you’re showing me now must be your true nature. It must have been really hard for you to work while putting on a good-natured face all this time.”

“Don’t cross the line any further.”

I felt disgusted by his attitude, like a cat batting around a mouse with its paw before devouring it.

“You’ve done all this and yet you’re so brazen. Well, I suppose you’d need to have that kind of mental state to engage in such reckless behavior.”

Lee Dojun picked up several photos and threw them at me. The explicit photos I never wanted to see again fell at my feet.

“If you leave now, you’ll be able to see photos like these everywhere tomorrow morning.”

He picked up one photo again. It was a photo of Seo Hanryul. Seeing that photo, my head cooled down and my rationality returned.

Even if Cha Jaehyun was a hated existence, I thought that the Daejin side would block photos like the ones Lee Dojun was showing. Since I entered this body, I haven’t committed any more crimes.

Chairman Cha Taesan would want to block anything that would harm the corporate image. Of course, he’d block these photos and then permanently expel Cha Jaehyun from Daejin. Expulsion or whatever—seeing Lee Dojun raging in front of me just made me feel sick and tired of it all.

But if it’s Seo Hanryul, the story is different. Would the Daejin side really block photos of Seo Hanryul too? No, there’s absolutely no need for that. There’s no need to bestow such favor on just one celebrity.

‘Then what about Seo Hanryul?’

With the contract almost over, it’s not my concern what happens to him. But Lee Dojun’s cold words made me feel uncomfortable.

The image of Seo Hanryul smiling brightly during filming came to mind. That guy shines most brilliantly when he’s filming. If these photos spread, there would be considerable repercussions. These photos would drag Seo Hanryul down.

While it’s true that Seo Hanryul is annoying, I thought this wasn’t right.

‘I need to stay calm.’

This isn’t just my problem. I’m angry, but thinking comes first. I need to figure out why Lee Dojun is suddenly acting this way.

“Ha…. I apologize for suddenly getting angry. You suddenly showed me these photos, so my emotions got the better of me momentarily.”

“So now you’re scared of something? Does Seo Hanryul-ssi also know that you’re such a filthy bastard? Ah, looking at these photos, Seo Hanryul-ssi must know too. That person is just as strange.”

That photo captured the moment when Cha Jaehyun grabbed Seo Hanryul’s nape and forcibly kissed him. In the photo, Seo Hanryul wore a disgusted expression. They diligently took all these photos. Cha Jaehyun was pathetic, doing all sorts of things and walking around without even knowing he was being photographed.

‘He should have avoided getting caught.’

“Are you in a sponsorship relationship with Seo Hanryul-ssi? When this gets out into the world, people’s reactions will be quite amusing.”

Watching Lee Dojun keep smiling, I could vaguely tell. Lee Dojun didn’t seem to want anything from me. He just found this situation interesting.

“It’s something I did when I was immature. I’m still living in shame over it. …I don’t care what you do with me. But you’re not going to bring up Seo Hanryul-ssi’s photos in front of me, are you?”

“You’re going to protect your celebrity because you’re his manager? Slapping him, forcibly kissing him, and now taking his side. I can’t figure out the relationship between you two.”

“There was a misunderstanding with Seo Hanryul-ssi in the past. That misunderstanding has been resolved. This person is under Youth, isn’t he? I don’t understand why the agency CEO would threaten to spread negative past events about a celebrity.”

“You still don’t seem to grasp the situation. You’re not in a position to demand explanations from me right now, are you?”

Lee Dojun grabbed my chin and stared intently into my eyes.

This is a shitty situation. But if I got angry and stormed out, I felt like I’d see photos of Seo Hanryul everywhere tomorrow morning.

“You’re right. I’m not in a position to demand anything from anyone. But still, think carefully about Seo Hanryul. If a scandal like this breaks out, it won’t be good for the agency either.”

“So what kind of relationship is it?”

Lee Dojun’s eyes were very fierce as he looked at Seo Hanryul’s photo. I thought it was just because he found it interesting, but thinking about it now, that’s not it. He must have feelings for Seo Hanryul, so of course he’d lose it when he learns about this disgusting relationship.

“We’re just a celebrity and manager, nothing beyond that. Just tell me what you want. I’ll do pretty much anything.”

I had no choice but to soften my attitude and ask Lee Dojun.

“For someone who was getting so angry, the conclusion is far too anticlimactic. Not that it’s bad. Do everything Jaehyun-ssi says he’ll do.”

An open-ended answer is usually more negative. What does that crazy bastard want from me?

“Yes, I understand.”

“For now, let’s meet this weekend. I’ll send you the time and place soon. You can leave.”

Lee Dojun finished speaking and gestured for me to leave.

‘Crazy bastard.’

When he kept harping on about Seo Hanryul, I wanted to slap him, but I clenched my fists and stepped outside with the mindset of waiting and seeing.

* * *

After that whole ordeal with Lee Dojun, I came home with a headache. At this point, even the heavens in this novel clearly hate Cha Jaehyun.

‘A prison ending would be better than this.’

Didn’t he like Seo Hanryul? Then why is he trying to drag him down? Is his mentality that if he won’t look at him, he’ll destroy everything about him and keep him by his side?

‘What the hell does he want?’

He said to meet on the weekend. What on earth does he want from me? Today I left the CEO’s office in a muddle, but next time we meet, I planned to firmly establish one thing: don’t mess with Seo Hanryul in such a cowardly way.

I’m not afraid of prison anymore. If my fate is to be dragged around by these rotten characters until I return, then going to prison for the remaining time would be better.

‘What damned person solved everything?’

Ring ring ring—

Amidst the chaos, the phone started ringing. I don’t know who it is, but I wish they’d stop calling me.

‘…Why me?’

It was Chairman Cha Taesan. Since I possessed this body, the Chairman had never called me even once.

“Yes, Chairman-nim. What is it?”

“Can’t I make a courtesy call to you?”

“Chairman-nim, I’m doing well. I feel good that you’re asking after me first, Chairman-nim.”

“Let’s have dinner together this Friday. I’ll also hear about that plan you mentioned last time.”

A meal? Who will be participating in this meal? Surely it won’t be just the two of us. But I didn’t want to ask questions and drag out the conversation.

“Yes, Chairman-nim. I understand.”

“Good. I look forward to hearing what that plan is.”

After finishing his brief words, the Chairman hung up. I thought I’d have some free time after the contract with Seo Hanryul ended, but unwanted events keep occurring.

‘Poor me.’

My schedule is all messed up because of Lee Dojun, so I don’t have any plans right now. But it’s not like I can tell the Chairman that the second son of the great Yuseong Group is threatening me and ask for help. It just gives me a headache.