The office was unusually quiet, as though the walls themselves were holding their breath. Inside the sleek glass conference room of Aether Entertainment, the mood was thick with tension. A massive LED screen glowed at the front of the room, flicking through media coverage, angry hashtags, fan petitions, and brand press releases.
"#Minji_Betrayed_Us is trending in five countries," one of the PR staff said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Fanbase engagement has dropped by 27% in the last twenty-four hours. Comments are flooding every official page."
At the head of the table sat Director Moon, her fingers laced tightly under her chin, eyes sharp. "Which sponsors pulled out?"
"Four so far," said the brand manager, flipping through a folder. "The skincare campaign, the luxury suit brand, the sportswear collaboration… and Hanju Beverages. They terminated their deal effective immediately. Said the image no longer fits their vision of a 'dedicated, fan-first idol.'"
A heavy silence followed.
Minji's manager, Jae-Hyun, leaned forward. "He's not some rookie. He's held the industry on his back for years. One relationship doesn't erase his talent."
"That may be true," Moon replied coolly, "but this isn't about talent. It's about marketability. Idol culture is unforgiving, and right now, we're bleeding from all sides."
Another assistant chimed in, "There's also been a sharp divide in the fandom. The international fanbase seems more supportive, but domestically it's chaos. Fan café members are demanding an apology or even temporary hiatus."
"Do we respond publicly?" Jae-Hyun asked.
Moon's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not yet. Let the dust settle a little. Any direct statement now might fuel the fire. We'll monitor sentiment. But we do need to put a lid on the girlfriend situation before things spiral."
That one word girlfriend hung in the air like smoke.
"She's not a public figure," one of the legal team members added. "No online trace yet. But we can't keep it that way for long. Someone's going to dig."
Moon narrowed her gaze. "Then make sure no one gets to her. Get a team to track down any leaks before they hit the press. That girl needs to stay buried in mystery."
"...Seo Jin's been sniffing around again," said another manager.
"Of course he has," Moon muttered. "That reporter's been circling Minji for months. If he finds her, it's over."
Outside the room, a muted buzz continued phones ringing, staff typing rapidly, assistants rushing to and fro. The agency was moving like a shaken beehive, all trying to clean up a mess too big to contain.
---
Minji POV
Minji was sitting on the edge of his bed, the blinds half-closed, the soft gray morning barely filtering through. His phone had been buzzing nonstop, but he hadn't looked at it in hours. His world felt quiet, too quiet for the chaos that was erupting outside it.
Then, the ringtone he couldn't ignore.
Jae-Hyun, his manager.
Minji sighed and answered on the third ring.
"Minji," Jae-Hyun's voice came in sharp, low, and stressed, "you need to stay low. Don't go out. Don't answer anyone. And whatever you do, don't post anything."
"I already posted a poem yesterday," Minji replied, voice hoarse. "It was nothing direct."
"Well, congratulations," Jae-Hyun said flatly. "That nothing is now headline news. Fans are dissecting every line like it's a manifesto. They think it confirms everything."
Minji rubbed his face, suddenly tired. "And so what if it does?"
"Listen to me." Jae-Hyun's tone dropped, like a warning. "Four brands dropped you in twenty-four hours. There are fan sites shutting down, hate hashtags going viral, and Seo Jin is now personally calling everyone we've ever worked with. Stay hidden. Let this blow over."
"Is that what the company wants?" Minji asked quietly.
"It's what I'm asking as your manager. And your friend," Jae-Hyun softened. "They're already trying to dig into her identity. The agency is doing damage control, but if anyone finds her... if they drag her into this..."
Minji's chest tightened.
"She didn't ask for this," Jae-Hyun continued. "But she's in it now. So do what you can to protect her. And that means staying silent and off the radar for a while."
Minji hung up without another word.
The silence returned.
But this time, it felt louder than ever.
-------------------------------
Seo Jin leaned back in his office chair, his screen reflecting in his tired eyes. For days, he'd been chasing shadows or snippets of rumors, half-glimpsed photos, an oddly timed Instagram poem. Nothing concrete. Nothing publishable.
Until now.
His editor had forwarded the viral video early that morning. A casual sunset vlog. A lake. At first glance, harmless. But the silhouettes in the background the couple strolling caught his attention instantly.
He replayed the clip for the sixth time, pausing exactly at the frame where the man turned slightly toward the camera.
Seo Jin zoomed in. Even pixelated, even from afar that profile was unmistakable.
"Minji."
He leaned forward, heart racing. Then he scrubbed the timeline again, stopping at the girl.
Not clearly visible. Just a faint outline. But there was something soft about the way she smiled at him. Something real.
He knew this was it.
His phone buzzed. It was a message from his boss.
"You said you needed one breakthrough. You've got it. Find the girl. Confirm it's Minji. We go live Monday."
Seo Jin smirked. "On it."
But as he opened his database of sources, he paused. He wasn't the only one watching.