Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 197

#197.

“So crazy.”

“Our team has a dating scandal article too…….”

“That too, about Do-jae hyung [older brother or respected male figure]?”

The members, upon seeing the article’s headline, simultaneously murmured in surprise.

Haru had a great special stage performance and even won first place.
The members had returned to the dorm to order dinner and were waiting for the food.
The members, who were initially bewildered, soon began to check the contents of the article.

[……MOST, a group that has emerged like a comet in the music industry and is enjoying great success.
This year, they have been under the spotlight more than ever, with consecutive hits like and .
And at the center of it all is Kang Do-jae, who is exceptionally talented in many ways.
From teenagers to those in their 50s.
Kang Do-jae’s popularity among women is beyond imagination.
‘Life goes beautiful~’
And what has made Kang Do-jae’s life beautiful is his own butterfly, Jin Haru.

*Beautifly was written by Kang Do-jae.

(Photo of MOST’s van and Jin Haru’s sports car parked side by side in a parking lot in Gangnam [affluent district in Seoul])

Jin Haru is a world-renowned photographer.
In the photography world, Jin Haru is even more famous than MOST.
Jin Haru first met MOST’s Kang Do-jae while working on a photo shoot.
From the moment Jin Haru said she would work with an idol group, the industry reacted with surprise.

(Photo of Kang Do-jae facing Jin Haru in a cafe)

In an interview after the shoot, Jin Haru frequently praised Kang Do-jae as ‘the perfect subject I wanted,’ openly expressing her affection.
It is possible that romantic feelings had already developed at that time.

(Photo of Kang Do-jae and Jin Haru smiling at each other in a cafe)

It is unknown when the two became lovers.
However, what is clear is that they were enjoying their time together at a cafe in Gangnam.
They took advantage of the fact that no one suspected them because of their large age gap.
However, Jin Haru’s lovers have always been younger men around Kang Do-jae’s age.

(Photo of Kang Do-jae seeing Jin Haru off as she gets into her sports car after leaving the cafe)

According to an acquaintance of Jin Haru, Jin Haru’s love for her 10-year-younger boyfriend is extraordinary.

(Photo of Jin Haru kissing Kang Do-jae on the cheek)

Fans may be a little heartbroken, but we hope they will support the love of this hot couple, who do not hide their affection for each other even in broad daylight in the middle of Gangnam.
……Joyful Life Reporter Jeong ○○]

“……!”

The dorm fell silent for a moment.

The members, having read the entire article, could not say anything more.

Although it was written that they hoped people would support their love, it was clear that the article was baiting for heated criticism and controversy.
The fact that they even quoted the lyrics of was quite a spectacle.
As soon as the exclusive report was released, abusive articles began to spread like wildfire.

[10 Years Older? Who is Jin Haru, Kang Do-jae’s Unconventional Lover?]

[Kang Do-jae♥Jin Haru Dating Scene Captured, Internet Buzzing]

If you were to ask anyone on the street to name the five hottest male celebrities in Korea right now, Do-jae’s name would be on the list.
That’s how popular MOST and Do-jae are at the moment.
But even so, a lover who is ’10 years older’.
It was enough to make the internet explode in an instant.
Today, with the stage, attention was already pouring in on MOST in various ways.
Do-jae in a scandal.
The members, who had read the article with a sense of disbelief, laughter, and mere surprise, blankly looked at Do-jae.

“This is…….”

Seeing the photos in the article was disconcerting.
Even when they saw the photo of Do-jae and Jin Haru smiling affectionately at each other, the members shook their heads, thinking it was too far-fetched.
But a kiss on the cheek.
No matter how light the kiss was, a kiss was a kiss.
Even though their heads and hearts were saying, ‘No,’ their eyes were fixed on the photo of the kiss, and the members’ minds were not just complicated but on the verge of exploding.

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Do-jae looked at the members and said firmly.

“Haa…….”

“Hah…. I thought I was suffocating!”

“Hoo…….”

At the same time, sighs burst from the members’ mouths.
They didn’t think it would be true, but if there was even a 1/10000 chance that Do-jae would admit it, they didn’t know how to handle the situation…….
The members had a moment of darkness for about a second.

“……Okay.”

Ki-joon, the leader, was the last to answer, as if agreeing.

“Then what…. what is this photo?”

The members were the type of people who, if Do-jae said it wasn’t true, would believe it even after seeing the kissing photo.

“Did they even do a composite [photo manipulation]?”

Do-jae sighed softly at the members’ questions and said.

“This is a photo taken that day.”

Do-jae recalled the events of two weeks ago.

***

[From Muse to Lover?! MOST Kang Do-jae, Date with Photographer Jin Haru♥]

-Crazy

-헐 (Heol – Shocked)

-헐… (Heol… – Shocked)

-So shocking

-Not even you, Kang Do-jae

-Is it real? To be doing that in Gangnam in broad daylight, so disappointing

-Goodbye, Kang Do-jae lol [laughing out loud]

-I’ll stay still until the agency releases a statement

-With the photo, it’s undeniable

-ㄹㅇ (Real)

-Jin Haru studied in France, right? Maybe it’s just a cheek kiss as a greeting?

-Yeah, French people just do cheek kisses as greetings

-lol, but they’re Korean

-Yeah, next mental victory [rationalizing the situation to feel better]

-If they were doing that at a cafe in broad daylight, they had no intention of hiding it? It’s amazing we didn’t know until now

-Fans must be really upset

-MOST is doing so well, what a mess

-I feel bad for the other membersㅠ [crying emoji]

-Pretended to care so much about the fans..

-Didn’t we have Kang Do-jae’s personality appreciation posts on our community every day? lol

-Fan deception lol

-Why is it a problem for idols to date? Idols can date too!

-Only been 3 years since debut, fandom collapsing

-The problem is the deception

-Dating a 10-year-old noona [older sister or respected older female].. Do-jae, next time me too? lol

-Jin Haru’s skills are amazing

-As expected, even when busy, they do everything they want lol

-I knew it, Kang Do-jae felt off from the beginning

-ㅇㅈ (I agree), I also felt it, but the fans kept telling me he was okay

-The sommelier is here again, again and again [referring to someone who analyzes situations and predicts outcomes, often negatively]

-(((((Kang Do-jae))))) It’s not the first time we’ve been fooled by reporters, stop it

-There’s a photo, what are you being fooled about?

-Joyful Life? Which media outlet is this? Naeil Daily should be nervous lol

-Seems like a new one

-Another media outlet invading privacy is born..

-I don’t even find him that handsome

-Hey, no matter what, that’s not true

-There are so many people his age, but a ten-year-old noona lol, so wild

-There’s probably a reason why the new trainees ostracized him

-Wow, crossing the line hard

-You’ll probably get a PDF (legal complaint) [referring to a collection of evidence for a lawsuit]

-Seeing how much hate they get for dating, being an idol isn’t worth it

-If an idol dates so openly, they have no sense of duty

-Jin Haru has only dated younger men, she’s a killer

-Innocent Kang Do-jae probably got tricked

-Whatever, Kang Do-jae knows everything and is dating

-I’m still not going to hate until Do-jae releases his statement

-If Do-jae chose it, there must be a reason

-Exactly.. Considering what Do-jae has shown us so far..

-Fans are cryingㅠㅠ;; [crying emojis]

As soon as the article was released, all sorts of communities and social media were buzzing.
The reaction was naturally negative, as a popular idol was caught being affectionate with a lover 10 years older in broad daylight.
Even fans who had given Do-jae their full trust and support were unable to hide their embarrassment and were waiting for the company’s statement.
For MOST, it was the biggest crisis since the sound source manipulation controversy.

***

“Yes. Hello. Yes, yes. Of course, it’s groundless. The official statement will be released soon, please wait a moment.”

“Hello?! Ah, Reporter Yoon! Ah, of course, it’s absurd! We’ll release a statement, please wait a little, please!”

“Haa…….”

Kingdom Entertainment was also turned upside down, of course.
Team Leader Kim Seok-cheol and Jung Gil-ju were responding to the phones ringing off the hook, trying to prevent any further follow-up articles from being released.
Planning Team 2, including Team Leader Jung Hee-young, who turned her car around on her way home from work and entered the company, was writing a statement regarding the scandal article.
Even smoke from a fire that wasn’t started can obscure the truth if left for too long as if it were real smoke.
A quick response was crucial in such matters.
Moreover, Do-jae was a celebrity with a particularly good image.
Just as even small wounds stand out on clean skin, Do-jae’s small problems could be exaggerated.

‘Of course, there was nothing to be a problem in the first place, though.’

Team Leader Jung Hee-young bit her lip and thought.

“These trash-like bastards! They didn’t even do a basic fact check!”

Team Leader Jung Hee-young eventually cursed while organizing the statement.
It was rare for such a big article to break unexpectedly in the evening, not in the morning.
Moreover, when posting photos, they usually give the agency a heads-up first.
To receive other news items to ‘deal’ with, or at least adjust the timing…….
But releasing the article like this meant that the agency was to be helpless.

“They seem to have made up their minds because they’re new.”

“With this kind of reaction, they’re probably thinking of it as advertising costs even if they get sued and have to spend money.”

It had been less than an hour since the article was released.
Seeing how the whole neighborhood was buzzing, Joyful Life’s judgment seemed to be correct.

“Anyway, those things that only imitate humans…….”

Team Leader Jung Hee-young felt disgusted and reviewed the statement.

“Ms. Jung, we can release it as is.”

When Assistant Manager Lee Jung-yeon asked for confirmation again, Team Leader Jung Hee-young nodded.
There was no need for Do-jae’s separate confirmation to write the statement.
This was because Jung Gil-ju was also at that spot on that day, which was written as a ‘cafe date’ in the article.
That day, Do-jae and Jin Haru had a commercial shoot together.
Because trendy artists became models, Do-jae and Jin Haru, as well as other artists, participated in the commercial shoot.
Do-jae, who knew Jin Haru, had a brief conversation with Jin Haru over coffee.
The reporter seemed to have taken the photo at a perfect timing while Jung Gil-ju went to get a drink.
And when they claimed that Do-jae and Jin Haru kissed on the cheek, Jung Gil-ju was starting the van.
Jin Haru was about to say something but was conscious of the surrounding ears and spoke a little closer, but in the photo, it looked like they were kissing on the cheek.
They probably took dozens of photos per second in continuous shooting mode and deliberately found that angle.

“But will they believe this? That it was a commercial shoot…. They’ll believe it when the commercial comes out soon…. But still, this angle…….”

Team Leader Jung Hee-young fully understood Assistant Manager Lee Jung-yeon’s concerns.
They would quickly deny it to somehow manage the situation, but it might be difficult to completely manage it because of the photo.

“Let’s release the statement first…. I need to contact Haru-ssi [term of respect].”

The one who held the key to completely resolving this absurd situation was, after all…….

Jin Haru.

[MOST Kang Do-jae’s Side Denies Dating Rumors as ‘Groundless’]