Chapter 220.

Laugh, Why Don’t You (8)   “We’ll have a Q&A segment later.

Please listen to Ms.

Chae Bo-Ra’s official statement first.” Chae Bo-Ra’s manager said into the microphone.

Chae Bo-Ra’s head was hanging low.

She looked glum as she sat next to her manager.

‘Her facial expression is quite the sight.’ Hyun Sung-Beom snickered as he stood amongst the reporters gathered under the stage.

Now that he had some concrete evidence on hand, Chae Bo-Ra seemed much more detestable than before.

Bzzt! It was a call from Cha Hyung-Jin.

Hyun Sung-Beom took a while to consider whether to answer but ultimately brought the phone to his ear.

Cha Hyung-Jin was the type to call relentlessly until he answered the former's call.

“Yes, senior.” — Where are you right now? “At Chae Bo-Ra’s press conference venue.”

— Why did you go there?! The deal’s done, so come back to the office right now.

“It’s all spilled milk.

I should at least see it till the end.” — What now?! Are you really looking to get fired after just converting into a full-time reporter?! “I'll talk to you later.

Goodbye.” — Hey, hey! Hyun Sung-Beom...! Hyun Sung-Beom turned his phone on silent mode and kept it away in his pocket.

Chae Bo-Ra was about to speak now.

“...First of all, it wasn't my intention, and I'm extremely sorry for causing such public controversy.

I am also deeply reflecting on myself for making the fans, who have been giving me all your love and support, worry so much.” Chae Bo-Ra paused for a moment and placed a hand over her chest.

She shut her eyes tightly, her face looking heartbroken.

“As all my fans and the reporters present here know, I had recently just encountered an unfortunate event.

I was shocked after getting defamed for manipulating an assistant writer to delete the manuscript of a certain famous writer.” ‘What a joke.

That's all you too.’ Hyun Sung-Beom scowled, and he spat quietly inside while his fingers still kept typing diligently on his laptop.

He was writing the article that he would be uploading shortly.

On the podium, Chae Bo-Ra dabbed the tears off her face and continued with much difficulty, “I needed some time off to console my exhausted body and mind.

That's why I rejected appearing on shows and was resting at home.

My trip to Japan was a sort of healing trip for me as...

Sob.” Chae Bo-Ra could not continue on and let out a sniffled sigh.

Her manager handed her a bottle of water and patted her shoulder.

“I have never met CEO Lee Dong-Myeong over work before.

There were talks between the agency and Dongmyeong Networks with regards to the drama that I am in talks to be cast in, and that's it.

We don't contact each other personally at all." Her words made Hyun Sung-Beom shake his head, and his mouth went agape in shock.

He even wondered how anyone could come up with such a lie and be so confident and natural with it.

It was extremely questionable how her outstanding acting skills would fail to appear in her acting projects.

“It was only during my healing trip that I found out CEO Lee was staying in the same hotel as I was.

I thought it was a good opport — Come back to the office first.

Let’s talk over dinner.

Cha Hyung-Jin hung up the phone first.

Hyun Sung-Beom kept his phone away, wondering why Cha Hyung-Jin did not kick up a fuss.

Cha Hyung-Jin sounded strangely calm rather than furious.

‘Anyway, I have no regrets.’ Hyun Sung-Beom stretched his body as he stepped out of the now-empty press conference hall.

He had written the article he wanted and had even got it posted.

He had no regrets, even if he got fired after this.

*** - She’s so scary and dirty;;; Which means her helping the needy back then was all an act;;; This betrayal;;;; - How could she do something like that with a man around her father’s age....

I still can’t believe it after everything was revealed.

- She can’t deny[2] it at all kekekekeke.

Look at how flustered and pale Chae Bo-Ra and her manager turned at the breaking news.

I burst out laughing while watching the livestream kekekekeke.

- This is just pure malice.

I still believe in you, unni.

- Please, enough with the shielding already;;;; Are you a high-level anti? - They say once you’ve seen one, you’d seen them all, and I really think that Chae Bo-Ra is the culprit of Ha Jae-Gun’s incident.

- Yeah, and it’s above 99% that she’s the culprit.

Humans never change, they say.

The comments were all about Chae Bo-Ra.

The public’s opinion of Chae Bo-Ra had plummeted to the abyss in just a day.

The CEO of ICU Entertainment was pleading with the advertisers in front of a screen.

“No, director.

I wasn’t aware of this as well.

I’m the CEO of ICU Entertainment.

Had I known about this, I wouldn’t have been watching all this time.

What? Claim for damages? Director, please calm down and let’s talk calmly over dinner...

Hello? Director? Hello? Ah, fuck!” Slam! He slammed the phone on the table.

The department head retreated a few steps out of fear with hands.

“That darn—I was foolish for even caring for a girl like her just because she's pretty...! Darn it, who can I blame?!” He bit a stick of cigarette and lit it.

As he took a deep breath, the smoke he let out filled the office.

His shoulders quivered as he smoked.

“It’s over now.” He rubbed the cigarette on the ashtray and said, “I can stop Cho Cheol-Won from See&Good on my end, but that’s the best I can do.

Not only Dongah Osaka, but even YoongJin Products also sent word that they’d be claiming for damages as well.” “Which means...” He bit a second stick of cigarette in his mouth.

He then let out a puff of white smoke as he stared into space.

Eventually, he regained some of his composure and said, “It’s time to abandon that pawn.” The department head closed his eyes and nodded.

He knew the CEO would say that.

“Let’s focus on Han Yu-Na and HyeprSoda, and try contacting Writer Ha Jae-Gun and AppleT’s Lee Chae-Rin.” “Are you talking about the collaboration single album? I understand.” The department head was about to turn around when he cautiously asked, “Then...

what shall we do about Chae Bo-Ra?” “What else can we do with a pawn we've decided to abandon? Just leave her be.” “Yes, sir.” The department head removed Chae Bo-Ra from his speed dial list as he left the CEO’s office.

Chae Bo-Ra's contact details were replaced with Han Yu-Na’s contact details.

The Internet was in chaos, but the corridor before him was extremely silent.

*** — I definitely told you to leave the apartment right away, didn’t I? “Director...! Please, just give me a few more weeks’ time...

Where else can I go now? I need to pack my stuff too—”

A firm voice from the other side of the line cut off Chae Bo-Ra’s desperate pleas.

— I have no thoughts of being considerate toward a dirty and crude woman.

Leave my apartment immediately, and don’t ever think of taking my car with you.

Leave it in the car park; just remove yourself from my apartment! “Director, Director Cho...! Please...!” Beep! The phone call was cut off unilaterally by Cho Cheol-Won.

Chae Bo-Ra buried her face in her hands.

“What did I do wrong?! I was also doing my best, and things just turned out this way! This is unfair! Everyone else is trying to survive just like me, so why am I being picked on for trying to survive?!” Chae Bo-Ra's malicious voice pervaded the house.

Just then, she heard noises coming from the door of the house behind her.

Someone was keying in the password to the door behind her.

Were they from her agency? Chae Bo-Ra's face was contorted like a used tissue as she turned around to face the door.

1.

Mansae means ‘YAY!’ And people would sometimes raise both hands while saying that.

? 2.

The original slang used here is ????.

It refers to someone who definitely/absolutely can’t do anything/is left with no other choice.

?