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[Talks Trending] Altair’s Cha Yeonho Disrespected by a Junior
https://yxxtu.be/4dKliLmCjAo
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The post included a staff badge photo for verification and a link to a YouTube video.
The YouTube video was simply a black screen with audio, but the voices were unaltered, making it easy to identify the speakers.
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The audio is choppy and unclear, but here’s what I could transcribe:
Eden: Oh, I really don’t like people who are two-faced. And honestly, sunbae-nim (senior), you’re kind of like that.
Yeonho: Standing out is fine, but too much of a standout gets hit, Eden-ssi.
Eden: Thanks for the advice.
Yeonho: All of REVE’s songs are great.
Eden: You’ve been complimenting our songs for a while now, but it doesn’t feel good. Someone clueless about music
working in the entertainment industry…
Yeonho: Oh, are you offended by that?
What the heck? Is he insane? How can he talk to a senior like that?
Sure, Yeonho’s nickname is “Dark Strategist,” but it wasn’t made for juniors to mock him!
The audacity—calling him clueless about music? Like REVE is even remotely comparable to Altair!
No way. Was Yeonho’s post about feeling down because of them? How could he not feel crushed after hearing such things from a junior with zero seniority?
└ And they’ve barely been active for a year? Unbelievable.
Yeonho is such a good person—worried about the junior’s feelings after hearing that? Shouldn’t he be the one upset?
Hold on. The dialogue feels a bit weird, like the flow is off.
└ What’s so weird about it? Stop defending this nonsense.
└ Oh, is this the daydreamer fan who stans rude idols?
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I scoffed at the absurdly manipulated recording.
“So this is why every search on my name comes with a deluge of insults.”
It all made sense now.
The conversation, twisted into this, was a work of someone truly talented at “devil’s editing.” I’d wondered why they dragged me into a pointless chat back then—turns out it was for this charming little surprise.
Using a staff badge to lend credibility to this malicious post? Child’s play.
And to think they posted a vague message about Yeonho’s supposed “depression” just before releasing this audio, only to delete it later—it was all a carefully laid trap.
“Maknae, I feel so wronged.”
“I didn’t say anything, hyung.”
“I was worried you’d get mad and call me crazy.”
“You don’t even seem scared.”
Ryu Jaehee answered me with a calm, indifferent tone, without a hint of guilt.
“To be honest, I doubted you a little at first. But hearing how Yeonho-sunbaenim’s voice is so fuzzy while yours is crystal clear, it’s obviously fake.”
“If even you could figure that out, won’t everyone else realize it’s edited?”
“Unlikely. People are more likely to believe it’s real, and even if it’s exposed as fake, proving that will be a much harder battle.”
He sighed deeply, lamenting the malice of it all.
“So, what do we do? Can’t you spread the word that it’s fake? You’re good at things like that.”
“What do you think I am, a secret agent? I already hinted it was fake on social media, but I got dragged into a fight instead.”
Ryu Jaehee shook his head in exasperation.
“Honestly, there’s no real solution. We can only hope for a miracle: that it blows over quickly, the original recording is leaked by chance, or Cha Yeonho-sunbaenim steps up and clarifies. One of the three has to happen.”
“Got it.”
With a resigned nod, I waved him off as he muttered about relying on prayers before heading back to his room.
Staring blankly at the air, a notification popped up before me:
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[Surprise QUEST★]
▶ Clear the Personality Scandal!
Details: You’ve been unfairly caught up in a personality scandal. Why not resolve it before your reputation sinks further?
Reward: +5 initial intention
Deadline: One day
※ Failure to completely clear the rumors will result in a regression penalty!
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I already knew it. If I couldn’t resolve this scandal, the “rude junior” label would permanently block my path to the top.
And if that happened, regression would be the only option.
“Damn it. This is so annoying.”
Tugging my hair in frustration, I sat at my desk and dialed Cha Yeonho’s number. The call went to voicemail. Again.
It happened three times in a row. By the fourth, the line barely rang before it was abruptly cut off.
It was so blatantly intentional it almost made me laugh.
“Hey, maknae. Your hyung is feeling wronged.”
“Honestly, this might be a lost cause,”
By the fifth attempt, the call connected. Finally.
“Ah, Eden-ssi. Sorry, I just saw your missed calls.”
He sounded anything but apologetic.
“For someone who just noticed, you hung up pretty quickly on the fourth call.”
“I don’t usually answer calls from people I’m not close to. Having a few conversations doesn’t mean we’re close, does it?”
Wasn’t he the one who asked for my number first?
“Well then, I’ll hang up now.”
Not even asking why I called? Clearly, he had a pretty good idea.
“I’m someone who worries a lot.”
That stopped him from hanging up, as expected.
“You see, I have this habit of recording conversations when I’m alone with someone who seems uncomfortable.”
“Why should I believe you? You’re good at bluffing, Eden-ssi.”
“If you want, I can play it for you. Also, I’m too kindhearted to resort to threats.”
Opening my laptop, I played the recording I’d prepared. A faint laugh came from the other end.
“Should I upload this online, or would you like to clarify things yourself? You know better than anyone how public sentiment will shift once the original is out.”
The silence from the other end was deafening.
“You have until 10 p.m. tonight. If this isn’t resolved by then, I’ll release the full recording myself.”
“Hey, Eden…”
The previously composed, laid-back voice now came through the receiver as a rough, scraping sound.
See? That’s what happens when you act all high and mighty, pretending to be above others. Begging desperately with a strained expression is a lot more tolerable, you know.
I wonder if they realize that kind of attitude just makes me want to drag them down even more.
“Since when were we close enough for you to call me so casually by my name? Having a few conversations doesn’t exactly make us close, does it?” I deliberately mimicked Cha Yeonho’s earlier words, stretching the last part of my sentence for emphasis.
A muttered curse came through clenched teeth on the other end of the line.
“You little sh—.”
“Yes, my phone’s a Galaxy, senior. Wasn’t yours an iPhone? Why don’t you switch to Galaxy while you’re at it? Unlike me, you can’t release the original recording even if someone were to manipulate it like you did. Wouldn’t that be unfair?”
The call abruptly cut off, likely out of fear that their recorded words could leak. Staring at the call log displayed on my phone, I let out a quiet laugh.
What a vindictive move to stifle a rising star. You little bastard.
The tension that had filled the room snapped the moment the call ended, dissipating with the sound of the call disconnecting.
“Wow, hyung. You were really villainous just now. You could totally play the bad guy in a drama,” said Kim Dobin, clapping his hands enthusiastically.
“I can’t act, so no thanks. That only worked because my words were sincere,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Is this… really okay? I mean, they’re still your senior…” Seo Yehyun asked hesitantly, his face clouded with concern.
“What was I supposed to do? Just sit back and let myself get hit?”
If someone punches first, it’s only fair to hit back twice as hard. The only reason I didn’t do more was because the quest’s time limit forced me to take a quicker route. And yet you’re asking me if this is okay?
Seriously, how do you plan to survive in this world with that level of fear? Tsk, tsk.
But now that I think about it, why did you crash into me so recklessly before? Is your fear selective, depending on the person?
***
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