Chapter 51: Justice Will Prevails (2)
The small story that reporter Do Yeon had launched quickly grew into countless articles.
It was she who had exposed the drug scandal of former rising star Jeon Chaeyeon, but as more celebrities became involved, the scale of it grew massively.
Of course, Kevin’s name was among them.
Because Stardust Project was soaring in popularity, public sentiment rose even faster than Jeon Chaeyeon’s drug exposure incident.
In no time, a flood of articles poured out.
[“Top‑ranked contestant in Stardust Project suspected of marijuana use—will the show go into crisis?”]
After actress Jeon Chaeyeon tested positive for marijuana according to the National Forensic Service results, a trainee under Doubles was suspected of being involved and was expected to be investigated.
Trainee A is currently appearing on Stardust Project, and during the recent ranking selection event, secured first place, placing them within debut rank.
Although the subject’s identity was not revealed yet, the exposé was so detailed.
Fans watching Starp could very easily guess who “the subject” was.
If the first‑place trainee… that must be Kevin, right?
└ They even exposed the program… haha it has to be Kevin for sure
└ He got first place in both the 1st and 2nd ranking—can’t be anyone else…
└ Crazy, he really did drugs?
‑ That trainee must have some nerve hahaha Doubles doesn’t manage their trainees well? How could an undeclared trainee do marijuana?
└ Doubles’ reputation is ruined
└ Debut was so close, why ruin it with drugs? He really shot his chance in his own hands, sad…
└ Sad? It’s sad for the trainees who dropped in ranking because of that drug‑user, haha let’s be real
└ For real, what about the kids who got eliminated because of him?
└ Think about PD Pick giving him screen time lol it’s huge collateral damage
‑ Have you seen Kevin’s fans lol what you were promoting as “so graceful” was actually a drug‑user
└ No wonder his eyes looked glazed over
└ How can you blame the fans who knew nothing? If we’d known we wouldn’t have supported… ㅠㅠ
└ Mentally everyone’s broken so just shut up
‑ What am I even hearing lol it’s legal to smoke weed in America, Kevin cheer up, debut!
└ So what? This is Korea, okay?
└ Are you kidding, calling that a defense? You should emigrate then
└ Kevin’s living unashamedly—dude did drugs and still comeback fine~
└ Ignore the trolls
The comment section burned all day.
‘Kevin’, ‘Kevin weed’, and ‘Stardust Project’ stayed on the trending searches in internet communities without letting up.
Once things escalated to this point, Doubles Entertainment couldn’t help anymore.
Kevin was expected to be summoned to the police station for questioning this week.
As a trainee, Kevin’s career was over.
A makeshift office was set up in one corner of the studio.
The manager handed Kevin a few thin sheets of paper.
“You know what this is.”
“……”
“It means you’re being dropped from the program. And the documents on the right are the trainee contract termination papers.”
“W‑what?”
He was being asked to leave not only Stardust Project, but also Doubles Entertainment.
From the agency’s point of view, it was only natural.
However…
It was not a decision Kevin could accept lightly.
“W‑what are you saying? The test results aren’t even out yet.”
He spat the words in trembling voice.
Kevin bit his lower lip hard, as if refusing to believe.
“We’re doing this over one article? I’ve been here for years. You know how hard I practiced.”
“……”
“Does something like this even exist? At least try to stop this for my sake!”
“…Kevin.”
The manager called his name in a low voice.
“Did you really take drugs?”
Hearing that, Kevin firmly closed his mouth.
“……”
A single test would reveal marijuana.
It meant that now even denial was pointless.
Kevin let out a hollow laugh and finally spoke truthfully.
“It was just one time.”
“But you were doing it regularly.”
“Th‑that… even if you sum it all up, it wasn’t many times. You know Jin‑hu hyung? The guy who left Doubles a year ago. He told me to try it once, and I got dragged into it.”
Kevin added in a desperate tone.
“In this field, everyone and anyone does it, just curiosity one time. There are many celebrities who use drugs lightly and still appear fine on TV. I was just young and made one mistake… It’s too unfair to end it like this. Please… won’t you stop this just this once?”
“Ha, Kevin.”
“You could stop it, at least temporarily. This is not some hole‑in‑the‑wall. It’s Doubles! You could publish that the drug article is baseless…”
“How could we stop it if the article is already out? Do you really think that’s possible? You think reporters and cops are stupid?”
The manager frowned and slid the papers forward again.
“I don’t want to waste time on such nonsense. Sign.”
He had always been first place in monthly evaluations.
First in Stardust Project.
Never once in his trainee life had he lost that rank.
Of course he thought debut was his.
But in front of him lay the termination papers.
Kevin laughed like he had lost his mind.
It must be a dream.
It had to be a dream.
“Ha… ha ha… ha…”
I worked years to debut here.
Even though I knew it might never happen…
Even while enduring shitty audition shows just to stay in line…
At one time, they whispered sweet words, calling me Doubles’ next big hope.
They used those words to hold me in place.
‘Once something happens, you just ditch me?’
Kevin stared emptily at the now meaningless sheets of paper.
Then he muttered coldly.
“Fucking assholes.”
“W‑what… what?”
The manager glared and stood up abruptly.
“Y‑you… what did you just say?”
The mask was no longer needed.
There was no need to pretend to be a kind and diligent trainee anymore.
Kevin gave a bitter smile as he glared at the stunned manager.
“What, did I lose my mind from being high on drugs?”
“Huh… huh….”
The manager, at a loss for words, just stood there dumbfounded.
Kevin scribbled his signature on the papers in front of him.
He knew that insisting would only make things more miserable.
The agency would abandon him.
He was just a trainee after all.
Just a disposable cog in the machine if he didn’t work properly.
That’s the shitty entertainment industry for you.
Kevin clenched his teeth and cursed.
“Bastards, hope you crash and burn.”
Bang—
He slammed the door so hard the floor of the office shook.
There were too many spectators.
“…Ha.”
As soon as Kevin stepped out, he let out a dry laugh upon seeing the other trainees lined up along the hallway.
They were probably scrambling in their heads, trying to figure out what was going on while looking at the thin documents in his hand.
Who would take the spot if the top trainee dropped out?
Looks like a debut spot just opened up.
They were probably all thrilled together.
Murmur murmur.
The whispers were quiet, but still audible.
“Is he really… dropping out?”
“Was it true he did drugs?”
“There was even an article… so it must be true.”
“What’s going to happen now?”
“Looks like he already decided to drop out.”
Every single comment was something that annoyed Kevin.
It was already infuriating to be kicked off the program for getting caught with drugs.
But the way they whispered behind his back just rubbed salt in the wound, and Kevin, with his notorious temper, couldn't help but snap.
Kevin turned his head coldly.
Among the other trainees, Ha Junseo stood nervously, and next to him, Do Seohan was calmly watching Kevin’s downfall.
Kevin’s gaze, by coincidence, landed on them.
He spoke in a chilly tone.
“Hey, enjoying the show?”
That annoying face.
Out of all the trainees, one caught his eye first.
Step, step—
Kevin clenched his fist and walked toward Seohan.
Surprised by Kevin’s sudden approach, Seohan took a step back, but before he knew it, Kevin was right in front of him.
Kevin spoke in a cold voice.
“Happy?”
“Huh?”
“Are you happy that I got caught doing drugs?”
Kevin stared at Seohan with wide, icy eyes.
There was even a murderous intent in his gaze.
He had already fallen into the abyss, so he didn’t care about how others saw him.
Kevin raised his voice, gritting his teeth.
“You were nothing even during our trainee days. Are you happy now that I’ve fallen? Enjoying yourself?”
“……”
“Don’t kid yourself. If I hadn’t dropped out of this program, you’d never have even dreamed of getting first place.”
Even though he was being kicked off the show for drug use, he kept spewing out lines drenched in insecurity.
Kevin hated Do Seohan.
He had disliked him ever since the moment Seohan started bothering him.
That young kid, who couldn’t even reach his ankles in skill,
climbing up and being praised as a rival—it was infuriating.
Even now, that calm look as he looked up at him—it was revolting.
Kevin, full of spite, shouted at Seohan.
“Hey, am I wrong? You look like you’re about to lose your mind from joy!”
“……”
“Say something, bastard. You’ve got a mouth, don’t you?”
Just then.
Seohan, who had been silent for a long time, let out a short chuckle.
“Ah.”
He stared straight at Kevin and spoke.
“Did I… tell you to do drugs?”
“What?”
Kevin blinked, momentarily speechless at the unexpected reply.
Looking straight at him, Seohan calmly continued.
“I never told you to do drugs.”
In both the past life and this one.
Kevin eventually got involved with drugs, and he got caught because he overdid it.
“You made the choice yourself.”
Seohan shrugged and added.
“Then you should take responsibility for the outcome.”