[Hey, did you guys see the news that Seongbin is a XXXX?]

A post from Seongbin's old classmate?

They uploaded a graduation photo and a yearbook picture as well.

Is this trustworthy?

[Allegations Summary from @wazz0lq_56]

1. He was a bully who drank and smoked when he was in school.

2. I don't think he committed school violence, but he was a playful kid who harassed girls in class.

3. He was making a fuss in class, and when the teacher gave him a warning, he got so angry that he kicked his desk.

4. He said that when he debuts, he will go around flirting with top female idols.

The quality of the 'product' is not good.

Make your own judgment~~ ^^

What on earth does this mean? The allegations look like they were made up by a four year old.

I definitely knew something was wrong, but I couldn't digest it right away.

I looked up at Jin Sehyun.

"What even is this account?"

"I'm not sure... Like a burner account? Something like this."

Jin Sehyun took out his cell phone and showed me his screen.

To put it simply, it is a basic account without a profile picture set, designed to make a single post and leave.

Most of these types of accounts claims were nonsense, but if the evidence is detailed, public opinion can rapidly deteriorate.

As it was spread around, the allegations were not something that could be easily overlooked.

I held my throbbing head and asked Jin Sehyun.

"What do you think hyung?"

"Seongbin... I don't think he is that kind of person."

He did this in high school?

Seongbin had just turned 21, that was only three or four years ago.

How much can a person change in just three or four years?

Seongbin back then probably is similar to him now. He may have a bit of an unusual atmosphere, but he's not a gangster.

Sehyun lowered his voice with a worried look.

"Will this be a problem?"

"Probably not. Heavy allegations but not much evidence."

As Jin Sehyun said, it was baseless gossip likely to subside quickly.

However, if the target is a rookie, they would be perfect prey.

Not only was his core fandom not yet built up, but it was right after the survival program. There were too many solo fans who would bite if they got the chance.

I could tell public opinion just by looking at the comment section on the post.

-Is Stardust cursed to have controversies?

ㄴSeongbin, this is the debut spot that Lee Dokyung gave up. ^^ If you think it's not yours, return it quickly. I feel sorry for the child who fell.

ㄴSeongbin, come to your senses, if a rookie who hasn't even debuted is already this controversial, how noisy will you be during your comebacks/promotions?

-I always got the vibe of a gangster from him, kind of like Kevin.

ㄴHe was always a bit too friendly

ㄴHe definitely seems involved with that situation.

ㄴKevin already revealed that he's with a girl, so I bet there will be rumors of Seongbin dating in just a year.

ㄴputting all the other allegations aside, number 4 is... It's so strong

-Just dropout before official debut.

ㄴ2222 Let's withdraw cleanly now !! ^^

ㄴIf you're going to leave, it's time. Come out on all fours before you get kicked out ^_^

"The reaction is not good."

Of course, there were fans among them who believed in Cha Seongbin.

-They're criticizing things without any real evidence just a stupid checklist from someone without a pfp picture or identity.

-Yesterday you guys were gushing over his blue hair and now you're rioting against him? I don't know bout you guys, but im sticking with Seongbin.

-Honestly, the only evidence is a classmate's photo and a graduation picture?

ㄴThat's enough like do they have to bring pictures of him smoking and drinking during his school days?

ㄴI mean yeah? Like I could dig this photo up and caption it 'Seongbin was a bully and a drunk driver in high school' here's the proof, and all I do is use a photo of him in uniform. It's easy to spread misinformation. If you're going to attempt to ruin a career, bring more evidence. It's a matter of life.

-What if he just got the graduation photo from somewhere online and is messing with it?

-No. 1, no evidence. No. 2, no evidence. No. 3, no evidence. No. 4, no evidence. The conclusion is that there is no evidence, so I'll be off.

ㄴAre you a fan of Cha Seongbin? lol

ㄴYup! I'm a fan of Seongbin. If it makes you uncomfortable, leave ! ^^

ㄴ222 I trust my child, so if you're going to criticize him, bring REAL proof

After scrolling down and checking all the comments, this is my impression:

"It's serious."

There is a battlefield.

It seems like it will take a couple days for the situation to calm down..

We only have two weeks left until our debut, I'm worried that Seongbin could have a mental breakdown if he finds out.

I pressed my hand to my itching forehead and spoke firmly.

"First of all, we have to take away Seongbin's phone."

"That is... it's a good idea, but would be tricky

Although Sehyun did not know that Seongbin was a sunfish, he thought that it would be better not to let this story get to Seongbin, two weeks before his debut.

Sehyun rubbed his chin, pondered, and then opened his mouth.

"Should I ask Siwoo?"

"Oh, yeah. Good idea."

If we forcibly take his phone, he'll get suspicious, but if all the other members were forced to submit their cell phones, I don't think he would find it particularly strange.

The problem is...

Cha Seongbin has a worse attention span than a kindergarten student. How can we take his phone for more than 24 hours?

Jin Sehyun added with a serious face.

"If I make him practice really hard... won't I be able to exhaust him to the point he doesn't go online?"

"Should we just knock him out?"

So, we came to our own conclusion.

"Let's do this."

Glass mentality Cha Seongbin.

We just need to make him not even think about reading comments.

* * *

The next day, practice time.

The intense practice has resumed, for which everyone except Cha Seongbin knew the reason.

Kang Siwoo glanced back at the members and took out a white basket.

"There are two weeks left until our debut. Starting today, you will hand in your cell phone during practice time."

"...Who agreed with this?"

"The members."

Cha Seongbin tilted his head and asked.

"I-I never agreed?"

"I agree."

"Me too."

When everyone handed over their cell phones without saying anything, Cha Seongbin's pupils shook.

'These people aren't usually this good at listening.'

I handed over my cell phone as calmly as possible, avoiding Seongbin's gaze.

"Please submit yours too."

It was the best acting I could do, even though I have no talent for acting.

Seongbin hesitated at my words and looked at Kang Siwoo.

"Surely not all day?"

"Until practice ends."

"That's...all day?"

Seongbin was not wrong as he was practicing for 14 hours straight.

Seongbin held onto his phone with both hands and let out a yelp of shock.

"How can people live without cell phones in the twenty-first century?"

"They can."

"What? You... you... you're a game junkie."

Jin Sehyun has been playing wordle in his spare time these days.

Cha Seongbin, who remembered that, hung the fact Jin Sehyun like a ghost, but that hyung was just as shameless.

"It's not a game, it's a strategic brain application. They say it's good for preventing dementia."

"What is he even saying now. You all are crazy."

This time, the arrow returned to the leader.

"Siwoo, you too! You grow trees all day!"

He's like a child throwing a tantrum.

Kang Siwoo's face heated up slightly in embarrassment at the unexpected words, but quickly cooled down.

"Stop talking nonsense and give your phone."

"Hey, really?"

Seongbin burst out laughing and fiddled with his poor cell phone.

Sehyun briefly clicked his tongue.

"Hyung, that's a lack of earnestness."

"...?"

"If you get off your phone and do something you don't want, your earnestness will come back."

"Is that so?"

Seongbin paused, pondering Sehyun's words.

"Do I... lack earnestness?"

Wow.

That guy is much simpler than the image I had in mind.

"...You have to find your true intentions."

Seongbin must have come up with his own reflection after deep thought, and in the end, he handed in his cell phone with a sad face.

Even though his eyes were somewhat filled with regret until the end.

"Ugh. Save Cha Seongbin~."

Cha Seongbin fell to the floor of the practice room, crying.

* * *

Of course, except for Cha Seongbin, we escaped by secretly receiving our phones from Kang Siwoo.

Like Kang Siwoo also secretly grows flowers.

That guy can't stop growing plants.

Anyway, that wasn't the point.

I finally got a short break for a moment,

I locked the bathroom door and took my phone out of my pocket.

I couldn't help but pay attention to the current situation, and began to monitor issues related to Seongbin.

I thought the heated reaction just yesterday had cooled down a bit.

A few more accounts were formed overnight.

Let's get rid of Cha Seongbin @_0293melswn33

[Cha Seongbin, did you go to the club the day the concept evaluation ended? Why were you not at the team dinner?]

My eyebrows furrowed at the blatant sniping,
it was completely different from the truth.

"What are you talking about?"

After the concept evaluation, everyone collapsed and went into the dorm. There was no team dinner.

Even the next account.

@sankwol2422_1

[Cha Seongbin was caught socializing with fans while playing around]

@weerenrub_107
[You even gave me your phone number, Seongbin lol]

@esopxe_24321
[010-2930-xxxx This is Seongbin's number. If you want, I'll tell you the last digits as well. ^^]

Ah, isn't this too evil?

My mouth dropped at the boldness of doxxing Cha Seongbin's phone number.

There wasn't even just one or two like this.

I clicked my tongue as I quickly scrolled through several similar-looking posts.

Let's just wait and see.

One.

Two.

Three...

"Too many."

The plan to cancel one person was clear, but the process was sloppy.

Issues popping up one after another like this... To be honest, it's too forced.

Will people actually believe this?

At this point, the reaction of the community that had been criticizing Cha Seongbin began to change little by little.

-Who did Cha Seongbin have enemies with in his past life? This is wild.

ㄴAt this point, these allegations and posts are just fan-fiction.

-No matter how I look at it, it looks like aggro.

-There is no evidence... they just keep posting new comments, this is aggro, right?

-But is that phone number Seongbin's real number?

ㄴTheir definitely a sasaeng.

-What the fuck.

ㄴthis is too much to do to a trainee who hasn't even debuted.

ㄴIt really gives me goosebumps ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

I chewed my lower lip and thought about the comment above again.

--There is no evidence... they just keep posting new comments, this is aggro, right?

Yeah, I mean.

Aggro is not the problem... I think it's just some petty sasaeng.

"It looks like these all are being posted by one person?"