Chapter 316: 11.8

The day after their successful Music Bink debut, everything went as usual. They trained for their next show as five until Han Hyung had to leave because he needed to work, and Jay Hyung was called by the CEO-Nim.

"Hm… guys, do you think something happened with Jay Hyung?" Kyong asked Taeyang and Taesa while they were practising as three.

"Hm? What do you mean?" Taeyang asked.

"I see nothing wrong with him, though," Taesa added.

"It's just my gut feeling, but I feel like Jay Hyung has been very tense the whole day," Kyong said. "I'm afraid that he will be pressured to do something, you know…"

"Let's just hope that nothing will go wrong. Let's continue with our practice!"

***

Han accompanied Jay to the CEO office. Although Jay already said that he didn't need Han Hyung to accompany him. Han insisted on at least wait for Jay outside as moral support, he said.

Jay felt touched by Han Hyung's attentiveness to him. In fact, Jay was very nervous right now. He thought that he had signed a devil contract that he couldn't escape. Although he didn't care much about popularity as an individual, Han Hyung was very devoted to this group.

If this was the way for him to help Han Hyung, then so be it.

Jay entered the room while Han was waiting outside. They were a poor company, so noise insulation inside the CEO room was not really good. Han could hear everything clearly, as it was his true intention.

Han eavesdropped on the conversation between their CEO and Jay. Although he couldn't catch everything, he could at least get the general information from this conversation.

'Jaehwa, Mr. Lee Yongsun called me this morning and said that he will sponsor you. Im Jaewha, I know that you are a great dancer! I know you can do it! Don't worry about anything else, okay? As long as you make a successful solo debut, then everything will be great!"

'Yes, sir… but, about the contract… what if I don't succeed…'

'Ah, you mean, the risk of getting sold as a male prostitute? Don't worry, you are a great performer! You are a great artist! I believe you can succeed no matter what! Just work as hard, and you can, okay? As long as you succeed, then you don't need to be sold like that."

'But what if—'

'You will succeed! I believe that! There is no way you can fail! Just trust me!'

Jay was silenced. His boss must have been stuffed with money by Mr. Lee Yongsun, so he wouldn't say anything over that part of the contract. Since there was nothing he could do, the CEO said that he could leave while the CEO discussed with Mr. Lee Yongsun over the solo debut.

Jay went out with a bitter smile on his face. He saw Han Hyung, whose face also paled, "You heard everything, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"Hyung… do you think I can do it?" Jay asked. He wanted to get an assurance from his beloved Han Hyung.

Han hugged Jay to pacify him, "I believe you can do it. Jay, you are a great artist. You have my full support, don't worry."

Jay engulfed Han with his arms and pulled Han to his embrace. Jay tried hard not to cry. Jay accidentally let out few sobs because the pressure was too much for a nineteen years old.

"Han Hyung, if I succeed, then you don't need to work so hard…" Jay said.

[Okay, this is too much, Pupa. Jay is only a young man, nineteen years old. The risk of being turned into a male escort was too much! What is this industry! This is unfair!]

[Pupa: You know this also happened in real life, right? There are few reported cases of the CEO handing the trainee to some creepy old men for a night in exchange for some exposure or money for their dying group. That is reality.]

[But…]

Yunyu couldn't find a counter to that argument because what Pupa said was true. Although he was just a small actor in his real world, he heard many rumours about showbiz, especially the dark rumours of prostitution for sponsor and exposure.

He just didn't expect himself to be thrown into such a problem in this world.

[I cannot let this happen. Although I don't love Jay, that doesn't mean I will let him get too stressed because of a scum man! Don't worry, Jay, your Hyung will save you!]

Han and Jay separated after they went to the CEO office. Jay returned back to practice while Han went to work for his part-time as a Barista.

Well, that was what Han said to Jay, but instead of going to the coffee shop where he worked, Han went to the nearest park and called the number that he just copied from Jay's phone yesterday.

Beeep.

Beeep.

Han thought someone as important as Mr. Lee Yongsun would never answer a call from a random number. But strangely, he picked up the call, and his heavy voice made Han tense immediately.

"Who is this?"

Han automatically zipped his mouth when he heard this voice. Even though he already braced himself before he called, he still got that nervousness.

"G—Good evening, sir, t—this is Kim Haneul from BXB69. I want to talk about my friend's contract, Im Jaehwa," Han said meekly.

There was a momentary pause before Lee Yongsun said, "I don't have anything to do with you. All the contract and procedure has been handled by your CEO. Don't waste my time."

Knowing this was his only chance to save Jay, Han got a boost of adrenaline rush. He hurriedly snipped before Lee Yongsun hung up the call, "Sir, what you did to my friend has violated human rights!"

"Human rights? Hahaha, don't make me laugh," Lee Yongsun laughed mirthlessly. "You know that he signed the contract fully conscious. He had also read the content twice. Do you think I have enough time to deal with your friendship with him?"

"I—I will report this to the police if you dare to do anything with Jay!" Han said courageously. Although, for Lee Yongsun, it sounded stupid and childish.

"So you want to report me to the police? Do you think they can do something?" Lee Yongsun said nonchalantly. "At best, you will be dismissed. At worst, you will get kicked out by your CEO."

…

"What do you want, really? I don't have time for useless banter," Lee Yongsun asked.

"I… I want you to abolish that part of the contract that made him a male escort if he fails! Mr. Lee, Jaehwa is a great performer, but it puts too much pressure on him!"

"Well, perhaps that can be negotiated," Lee Yongsun said. "But I don't want to negotiate a contract on the phone. Send your current location, and I will send you my subordinate. He will pick you up, and we can talk about this."

Han gulped. He was unsure about Mr. Lee Yongsun's intention, but he couldn't miss this chance.

"Yes, Mr. Lee. Thank you so much!" Han said, and Lee Yongsun hung up the call.

***

Lee Yongsun hung up the call as he smoked his cigar. He chuckled amusedly, "Right into my trap."