When Han-Ul and Deok-Bae stepped out in front of the set, reporters were clamoring for an explanation about the current situation. Just then, a van pulled into the parking lot and a group of people got out. They were my secret weapon for public opinion, brought here at my request through Lee Soo-Chan—the elderly folks from the 'shantytown' neighborhood. These were the people who had found Deok-Bae in the shantytown and raised him. They knew everything about him. "Grandpa, use your cane as you step out." "There you go, Grandma. Slowly, slowly." Six seniors, all in their seventies or older, were helped out of the van by Lee Soo-Chan, Lee Ho-Jae, and the younger brothers of Reverse Entertainment. Then, out stepped Park Dong-Joon—the one who had pickpocketed my wallet and led me to meet Deok-Bae—along with his grandmother. Since Park Dong-Joon lived with Deok-Bae and Han-Ul at Yoo-Jin's house in Amsa-dong, he had brought along the spaceship-shaped pet carrier with Han-Ul's dogs, Happy and Love, strapped to his chest. At that moment, the elderly folks who got out of the car, dressed neatly as if heading on a picnic, shouted out. "Is our Deok-Bae over there?" "Aigoo, our Deok-Bae. There he is! What a handsome boy!" "Deok-Bae! I'm here!" Puzzled reporters turned to me and asked, "Chief Jung, who are they?" I grinned and replied, "They're the ones who took in and raised Deok-Bae after he was abandoned in the shantytown. They're no different from parents to him, so they'll be able to clear up your questions." "They raised Deok-Bae?" "Yes. Let me bring them forward first, and then I'll explain briefly." Many of the reporters had never heard Deok-Bae's story. That was because I had deliberately stopped Jang Moon-Ki from publishing Deok-Bae's life story last night for this very moment. Soon after, the elderly folks came closer and stood behind us. Fresh from a sauna and dressed in new clothes, their faces were glowing. They patted Deok-Bae's hand and comforted him, saying he must have gone through a lot. Deok-Bae looked up, startled. "How did you get here?" The eldest of the group, eighty-year-old Song Ill-Seop, smiled gently while leaning on his cane. "My grandson is being criticized for something he didn't do. How could I not come? I should've come sooner. I'm sorry, it must've been hard holding on alone." Song Ill-Seop was the first to find Deok-Bae abandoned in front of the shantytown grocery store. "No, I'm more sorry. I didn't mean to make you worry ." Then Park Dong-Joon's grandmother said, "Deok-Bae, you can count on us. We'll testify about how you lived." "That's right. Trust us, Deok-Bae." As the elderly folks from the shantytown cheerfully chatted, a few reporters couldn't hold back their curiosity and asked, "Chief Jung, explain what's going on here. Who are these elderly people?" I handed my phone to Lee Soo-Chan, who had brought the elders. I asked him to record the interview from here on. Lee Soo-Chan nodded, took my phone, and began filming from a distance. Then I promised Han-Ul, who was holding my hand, that I would give him a chance to speak soon. "Han-Ul, since people don't really know who Deok-Bae is, how about I talk first and then you tell your part?" After patting Han-Ul's head, I began explaining to the reporters what kind of life Deok-Bae had lived. "Deok-Bae was abandoned in the shantytown as a child..." Thirty entertainment reporters looked at me wide-eyed and began taking notes. Just by telling Deok-Bae's story, the expressions of several reporters began to change. After all, staying upright in a life that could have easily gone astray wasn't something anyone can do. And each time I spoke, the elders from the shantytown would add more to the story. "Oh yes~ From when Deok-Bae was five, he tried so hard to help us." "That's right. Deok-Bae used to run my errands for medicine and he even called 119 for me." "Exactly~ Our shantytown couldn't function without Deok-Bae." "One winter, I slipped and was groaning in pain. That kid went out and broke the ice on the slope all night with his tiny hands." "Even the welfare workers had to ask our Deok-Bae for directions around the shantytown, you know?" As stories of Deok-Bae's good deeds poured out from the mouths of the elders, Deok-Bae hugged Han-Ul and bowed his head. He wasn't used to praise, so this situation was embarrassing for him. I continued, "Because Deok-Bae has lived that kind of life, we believe in him. And we at Hoop Entertainment officially state that we are certain he did not commit any acts of violence at school." At that moment, reporters raised their hands, eager to ask questions. "Chief Jung! May we ask something?" However, I signaled for them to wait a moment. "Before the questions, Deok-Bae's younger brother Han-Ul came all the way to Gyeongju because he really wanted to say something to you reporters. Please hear him out first, then ask." That's when the only reporter who knew the full story, Weekly Star's Jang Moon-Ki, quietly asked, "That kid is the one Deok-Bae started looking after, right?" "Okay, got it. I'll wait." Just then, Han-Ul brought his hands together and bowed his head. "Hello. I'm Choi Han-Ul. I just entered first grade in elementary school this year." As the cute and handsome little boy gave a full bow, smiles crept onto the faces of the reporters in their 30s and 40s. Han-Ul was about the same age as their sons or nephews. "Wow. What a bright-looking little guy." "Handsome too. Aren't you planning to make him an actor?" Jang Moon-Ki cleared his throat and said they could talk about that later. "Hey, zip it. Let's hear what he has to say." Only then did the reporters finally quieten down and raise their cameras. Once the room was silent, Han-Ul slowly began to speak. "Dear Mr. Reporters, I came because I wanted you to tell people about my hyung." After saying that, Han-Ul pulled an A4 sheet from his pocket. The white page was densely filled with large letters. After taking a deep breath, Han-Ul began reading his prepared speech in a clear, confident voice. With those words, Han-Ul began telling Deok-Bae's story. "I'm Choi Han-Ul, and I've just entered Cheonho Best Elementary School. I came here today because I wanted to tell you about my older brother. Ever since I was little, Deok-Bae hyung has taken care of me in place of my birth mom, who passed away. Wearing his school uniform, he used to cook for me because my mom was always sick in bed. He carried me on his back to show me the world. Thanks to him, I didn't starve, and I got to see many things for the first time in my life. Right before my mom died, she asked hyung to take care of me. And he nodded without even a hint of hesitation. Because of that, I've been able to live this healthy life. To help me study, hyung would always bring back books from recycling piles and read them to me. He said I was smart and that I would grow up to be someone even better than him. Thanks to him, I got to have a dream for the first time. To me, my brother is a dad, a mom, and a great teacher. So, I know hyung would never do anything bad. Because my hyung is a good person. That's why I believe in him. So please, dear Mr. Reporters, tell people to not hate my brother, because he's truly a good person. There's no one kinder than my brother. Dear Mr. Reporters, I'm counting on you." After finishing his speech, Han-Ul bowed his head. "Thank you for listening to the words of a child like me." As Han-Ul spoke with heartfelt emotion to defend his brother, the reporters who had been ready to criticize Deok-Bae now looked sheepish. "Hmm... Seems like we really might've misunderstood." "If Han-Ul was a baby back then, that means Deok-Bae was in middle school, right?" "If he was wearing a school uniform and raising a kid, did he even have time to be a delinquent?" "Well, there were even rumors that the kids who posted those slanderous comments about Deok-Bae on social media were actually the ones who used to get into real trouble..." Apparently, the reporters had done some digging overnight and they were starting to come around. Han-Ul, who had been worried his message might be misunderstood, let out a sigh of relief. He gave a big smile and looked up at Deok-Bae. That eye-smile as if asking 'Did I do well, hyung?' was so precious and beautiful. Deok-Bae wrapped Han-Ul in a tight hug. That's when the reporters raised their cameras again to capture the two brothers embracing. The heartwarming display of brotherhood of an older brother who dearly cared for Han-Ul, though they weren't even related by blood, and a young boy who stood in front of the press to defend his brother, was enough to shift the public narrative. Despite it being a celebrity press gathering, the scene had turned unexpectedly warm and touching. But just then, a sharp voice cut through the crowd. It was Reporter Park Bong-Seo from Entertainment All Times. "I understand that Mr. Deok-Bae did good deeds in the shantytown, but what does that have to do with school violence during middle school? Did you even verify that? I mean, Han-Ul was just a baby back then, and you said the elders here couldn't get around easily, right?" At that moment, several reporters frowned and scolded Park Bong-Seo. "Reporter Park, give it a rest." "Are you serious? Aren't you sick of being called a trashporter?" "Read the room, jerk. It's clearly over." Despite the rebuke, Park Bong-Seo raised his voice even more. "What? You people believe this melodramatic crap? You seriously call yourselves reporters? What a bunch of bleeding hearts!" Entertainment All Times had been one of the driving forces behind this controversy, and now Park Bong-Seo wasn't willing to back down. That's when the elders from the shantytown, the trump card I had prepared, stepped forward. "Excuse me, reporter sir," began Song Ill-Seop with a gentle smile, "Deok-Bae was so malnourished back in middle school that he was always the shortest in his class. Have you ever seen the tiniest kid in class go around beating people up?" Park Bong-Seo flinched and muttered, "Well... we don't know that. One of the alleged victims said he was a vicious one." "Vicious? No, sir, that word applies better to people like you, doesn't it?" "W-what did you say?" Park Bong-Seo's face turned red. "Have a kind heart, reporter sir. I may not have much or know much, but if you live like that, you'll surely regret it when you're my age. Don't dismiss the wisdom of someone older. Take it as advice not to live like me." Grinding his teeth, Park Bong-Seo suddenly pulled out the gangster rumor. "Then what about the gangs behind Mr. Deok-Bae? There's credible info about a pickpocket gang that was active around Seoul Station last year. It's said that Mr. Deok-Bae was part of it, and the gang backing him was so scary that his classmates couldn't even breathe near him!" Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽 This time, Park Dong-Joon stepped forward. "Doek-Bae Hyung was never a pickpocket. I know because I was in that pickpocket gang." Park Dong-Joon put his hands together and bowed. "I turned myself in to the police and there's a record of it. But I wasn't detained because I was still under the juvenile law. I'm sorry about what I did. But if I didn't pick pockets, the older guys in the gang would beat me and threaten to hurt my grandma. I had no choice." Park Bong-Seo blurted out in panic, "D-Did Mr. Choi Deok-Bae tell you to say that?" "No. The boss of the pickpocket gang was someone named Wang-Pal. Deok-Bae hyung wasn't one of them. He rather fought Wang-Pal hyung to get me out of the gang." Faced with all this contradictory evidence, Park Bong-Seo finally lost his temper and shouted, "Then you're just another criminal bastard! How can I trust anything a criminal like you says?" That's when Jang Moon-Ki stepped up and glared at Park Bong-Seo. "Hey, Reporter Park! You do realize that's slander, right? Should I report you to the police?" Other entertainment reporters started pointing fingers as well. "Isn't Reporter Park overreacting a little too much? We should dig into this guy, don't you think?" "Right? Entertainment All Times was the one who spread all that trash gossip about Deok-Bae in the first place." As every reporter began to turn on Entertainment All Times, Park Bong-Seo started sweating. "W-wait, it's not like that..." Originally, more than half of the thirty reporters present were on Entertainment All Times' side. But now, public sentiment had flipped to 29 against 1. Finally, Jang Moon-Ki delivered the knockout blow. "If you don't back off right now, I'll start investigating how Han Sun-Myung and Entertainment All Times are connected. Got it?" Park Bong-Seo flinched and backed away. "F-Fine! I'll leave, alright?" Unable to withstand the icy stares from his peers any longer, Park Bong-Seo fled the scene. 'Adios, Entertainment All Times.' I took that moment to check EveryDay. [Date: March 4, 2021] (Deleted Schedule Entry: [NEW. Jung Yoo-Jin] Entertainment All Times, "Popular star Jung Yoo-Jin accused of defending a school bully." (Meeting Note: Episode 15 viewership ratings of Hwaranjeon dropped from 26% to 21%. Queen Jeong-Hee overtook in viewership ratings. MBS demands Choi Deok-Bae's removal. Jung Yoo-Jin told to retract her statement of support.)) At last, the schedule entry was deleted. Only now could I finally breathe a sigh of relief. Just then, Jang Moon-Ki gave me a sly smile. "Chief Jung, what we have is already enough, but... think you could give us just a bit more? Of course, we'll be asking about Deok-Bae." "Absolutely. I'll also see if we can film a scene with Deok-Bae acting." Oh Bok-Hee had rarely allowed filming on set, but she had said she would grant any request once this matter was resolved. "Yes. I'll take the reporters' questions about Deok-Bae first, and I'll let you know after I speak with Mrs. Oh." The reporters smiled brightly and raised their hands one by one. "Mr. Deok-Bae! Take my question first!" Every single reporter was now on Deok-Bae's side, all asking about his connection with Han Sun-Myung. All of Han Sun-Myung's schemes were crumbling to nothing. I led Deok-Bae and the elders to a quiet corner of the filming set. After watching Deok-Bae film today, the elders were planning to enjoy a 4 day sightseeing trip in Gyeongju. I had agreed to cover all their expenses. Lee Soo-Chan, Lee Ho-Jae, and the younger brothers of Reverse Entertainment were using it as an excuse to take a long-overdue vacation. Meanwhile, articles from the reporters started to go up. [Choi Deok-Bae, who plays Kim Beop-Min in Hwaranjeon, receives real testimonials from middle school classmates.] [Elders from shantytown who raised Mr. Choi Deok-Bae refute personality controversy! "There's no one as kind as Deok-Bae!"] [Choi Deok-Bae is a wrongly accused victim. Evidence shows assailant Mr. H framed Mr. Choi Deok-Bae.] [Han-Ul, the little brother Deok-Bae embraced with his heart, reads "My Brother Is a Good Person" statement.] [A rare kind soul in today's world: Choi Deok-Bae.] [Hwaranjeon's action star Choi Deok-Bae to appear as Kim Beop-Min starting Episode 20.] As all the rumors about Deok-Bae were cleared up, article after article praising him began to flood in. Even fans who once defended Han Sun-Myung were turning sides. An incredible miracle was unfolding. At that moment, I walked up to Oh Bok-Hee with my phone. "Mrs. Oh, the reporters are asking to film on set. Could you perhaps allow it?" Oh Bok-Hee had said she would agree to anything once Deok-Bae's issue was resolved. When I showed her the articles, she nodded. "Alright. But I can't give them too much time. Filming has already been delayed because of what happened yesterday and today." "Yes, of course. They'll just film Deok-Bae's acting scene from a distance without getting in the way." Oh Bok-Hee instructed Assistant Director Lee Cheol-Hyun to bring the reporters onto the set. When I offered to go, she shook her head. "Mr. Jung, please wait here for a moment." Just as I was wondering why, she turned to Geum Eun-Dong and said, "Eun-Dong, can you go bring Han Sun-Myung and Chief Yang? We need to wrap this up properly, don't you think?" With a cold expression, Oh Bok-Hee made it clear that she was going to take care of Han Sun-Myung. And for that reason, of course I had to wait. After all, I had unfinished business with Han Sun-Myung too. 'You're finished now, Han Bong-Pil.'