Idol of the Heavenly One - Chapter 71.1
Baek Jae-heon said that before meeting me, he must have lived the same life over and over again.
Hearing that, an inexplicable sense of responsibility rose within me.
I, who had not appeared in his previous two lives, came into his fourth life as someone his age. The thought crossed my mind that perhaps saving this child was the reason I had been born anew.
[Headline: “Father of YEARZ Member Baek Jae-heon, Who Filed a Restraining Order, Demands Huge Sum.”]
It was revealed that Baek Jae-heon, a member of the rookie boy group YEARZ, had been asked for a large amount of money by his biological father.
CZ Entertainment released an official statement on the 24th, saying, “The father of our artist Baek Jae-heon demanded a large sum of money, threatening to expose their past family matters.” They continued, “This is a clear act of blackmail and a violation of the artist’s human rights. The company will not accept any unfair demands.”
The agency added that this information was disclosed in accordance with Baek Jae-heon’s own wishes. They emphasized that he had been a victim of continuous domestic violence since childhood and stated, “Our company prioritizes the artist’s safety and well-being and is currently considering legal action.”
Among the materials released was CCTV footage showing a recent altercation in an underground parking lot. In the video, Baek Jae-heon’s father could be seen charging toward his son and violently resisting the manager and security staff who intervened.
The article was published.
Baek Jae-heon had personally consulted the manager, who asked each member for their opinion one by one. When every member agreed—saying unanimously, “It’s fine to release it. No, actually, let’s release it right away”—Jae-heon made up his mind, and the report was published without delay.
Baek Jae-heon had lived four lives. And in three of them, he went through the same thing. In two of those, he ended up giving his father money, hoping to resolve the situation. Whether he had truly believed that was the best choice, or simply couldn’t see another way, the result was the same—it had never led to anything good.
At first, it seemed he would let things unfold the same way this time. But this time was different.
Since I had returned to his side, I thought it was better to cut things off at the root, even if it would be exhausting right now. So I suggested revealing the truth to the world instead—refusing the extortion and making it known that he was the victim.
I knew all too well how draining such a choice could be. From now on, countless eyes would follow him. His heart could waver at every word in the media, every single comment. It might have been easier, quieter, to hide the truth and bury it with money.
Even so, I believed this was the right thing to do.
For the sake of the life he still had to live.
Public opinion soon tilted in Baek Jae-heon’s favor.
Part of it was because the CCTV footage had been made public, but mostly it was thanks to Jae-heon himself, who chose not to hide and faced the situation head-on. Fans showed support, saying, “This isn’t his fault.” The general public also voiced sympathy, hoping the victim would no longer suffer.
There were still worries, of course. Many feared that his father might attack again. The company didn’t rule out that possibility either. They tripled the number of security guards. Guards followed every movement in his schedule, and surveillance was tightened around both the waiting room and dorm.
Because of that, the gray hoodie that had occasionally appeared vanished completely.
With security reinforced threefold, no unfamiliar shadows dared to approach. The members, myself included, and even Baek Jae-heon himself began to look slightly more at ease. As the restless glances around us lessened, even the air in the dorm seemed lighter.
While everyone was finally beginning to feel at peace, the company announced that a new mini-album would be released. Originally, there was supposed to be a longer break, but since the article had drawn attention, they decided to move up the comeback schedule.
They claimed to act for the artist’s well-being, yet the moment a situation could be used for marketing, they seized it without hesitation. It was coldly calculated, but at the same time, I understood why this agency was considered one of the top in the industry.
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