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Minseok holds in a sigh and ignores the water bottle in front of him for a can of soda in the center of the table. The marketing manager jumps up, grabbing a cup and filling it with ice before Minseok can even open the can.

“Is it a show that erases baseless tabloid articles and hate comments?” Minseok asks wryly as he pours the soda into the offered cup.

“Minseok-ah,” Hanbin admonishes him.

Minseok quickly dips his head in apology though he is not sorry. Everyone in the room knows about the issues surrounding WDB. A dating scandal alone might not have been bad. But Sooyeon had been the nation’s girl next door, and Jongdae was blamed for tarnishing her innocent reputation.

There are some who even claim Jongdae took advantage of Sooyeon, since her reputation was so pure. And, like they’d been waiting for a chance to bring WDB down a peg, antis have started flooding forums with hate. The group’s formerly pristine image has cracks in it now—and the company doesn’t want any more to form.

“What’s the show?” Minseok sips the soda before letting the fizz settle. The bubbles dance in his nose.

He glances across the table, locking eyes with the nervous marketing manager.

It’s overwhelming for the man. He’s never met someone so young who’s so casually charismatic and confident like Moonster. He pushes nervously at the wispy bangs that don’t do a good job of hiding his receding hairline, glancing at the creative director.

She just leans back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Why don’t we wait for our other guests to arrive so we don’t have to explain it twice.”

Minseok glances at the empty seats with water bottles set in front of them. Perhaps the producers of the reality show are coming. That’s happened before, so they can pitch the concept directly to the boys.

The privilege of being so sought after that producers will come to you. At least that hasn’t changed yet.

Minseok realizes he can’t rush this meeting. So, he might as well relax. He grabs one of the doughnuts in the center of the table. Hanbin gives a little cough of warning, ever vigilant of the calorie intake. So Minseok obediently breaks it in half.

Hanbin says, “Since we’re waiting, it’s a good time for me to get this conversation out of the way. Have you seen the article about you and Shin Hyeri?”

Minseok doesn’t even pause in lifting the doughnut to his lips. He’s been waiting for this. In fact, he assumed the last-minute meeting was about the article. That’s why he was surprised to be told it was about his upcoming schedule.

He replies casually. “I skimmed it. Complete garbage. Not even worth addressing.”

Hanbin frowns and Minseok lifts a brow. At least, itwasn’tthe type of article they’d ever address. But that was before JD’s scandal.

Hanbin sighs. “Well, things are a bit different now. We’ve been shaken lately.”

“Then we should say it’s a misunderstanding. That it’s not like that between me and Hyeri and it was an accident. That’s the truth.”Mostly.

The marketing manager clears his throat, and the room turns to him. The attention makes him sweat. But he knows he has to play his role. “Not all of the comments are negative. We’ve been monitoring them.”

Minseok grins at that. “Good, then we’re fine?”

“Most of them are not favorable,” the creative director adds.

Minseok wonders if this was all scripted before he arrived. A kind of good cop, bad cop routine. And if so, what are they trying to get him to do?

“The issue is that, in the past something like this wouldn’t have touched your reputation,” the marketing manager says hesitantly, his eyes shifting imploringly to the creative director, looking for support. She gives none. The marketing manager gulps audibly. “However, recently with WDB’s, well, issues, it seems some are quite happy to question your behavior and spread conjecture. And there are some who are alleging you were harassing Hyeri.”

Minseok feels the first true stab of fear. There are many rumors one can easily ignore, but rumors about bullying and harassment aren’t among them. He’d hoped that the few groundless comments about harassment would be easily dismissed since they were clearly false. “Are you saying we have to worry?” For the first time since their debut year, Minseok wonders if WDB’s future is really in trouble.

“Well, most of the negative comments are about Shin Hyeri,” he says slowly.

“Why are you saying that like it’s a good thing?” Minseok scowls.

“Huh?” The marketing manager blinks rapidly in confusion.

“She is one of your artists too.” His eyes sweep the table, landing on the director. “So, what are you going to do about it on her behalf?”

“Excuse me?” the creative director asks. She is not used to having artists question her so bluntly. She thought she’d be offended by such a thing, but instead it amuses her. Moon Minseok is clearly protective of Shin Hyeri. She wonders if they can use that to their advantage here.

Minseok turns to Hanbin. “You said that the article should be addressed. But I’m not the only one with a reputation to protect. You should be protecting Shin Hyeri’s too. Are you going to do that?”