Chapter 20: A Single Stone Stirs Up a Thousand Ripples

*Sports Seoul* did not forget to issue a clarification. By utilizing the materials they held, they cleared the names of Cha Lun-hoo and Suzy, implicitly acknowledging their previous selective reporting. This act of self-deprecation—admitting fault once the truth was uncovered—actually bolstered their credibility.

Under Reporter Chen’s advice, Cha Lun-hoo’s nightlife career was not hidden. In this hyper-connected digital age, dark secrets are impossible to keep, so it was better to present them openly. As Reporter Chen had anticipated, these masters of public opinion had an excellent grasp of the human psyche; they steered the narrative so that the revelations did not become a stain, but rather added a tragic layer to the story.

"Why would a national hero be forced to work in a nightclub? It’s understandable that the remnants of the Yushin regime would seek revenge, but why did the Moon administration fail to provide any post-service compensation to these men?"

"For such a loyal and capable officer to end up like this is a dereliction of duty by the bureaucrats. These heroes deserve to have their status restored; even if they cannot return to the military, they must be properly resettled."

"This truly chills the hearts of our soldiers. I bet the 'female leader' in prison is laughing her head off! If they had followed me in a righteous uprising, they would all be decorated by now!"

"A man of honor follows his conscience, not corrupt orders! When he said those words in the face of danger, I recognize him as a hero, no matter if he ends up in a nightclub."

"Give me a break! Can anyone selling drinks in a nightclub really be a good person? I think Bae Suzy was just hungry for some excitement!"

"So, the rumors were true after all. You can’t judge a book by its cover! He looks so upright, yet he’s so gifted—I’m in love! I want..."

"Wooo! My poor Bunny! How much must she have suffered? Even though she’s been in great shape since her debut, she can’t handle that kind of intensity!"

Amidst the general outcry for justice for Cha Lun-hoo, some bizarre comments emerged, but overall, things were moving in the intended direction. Suzy’s fans had also unified their narrative: they couldn't bear to see a man of integrity suffer, so they reached out to help, praising their idol as one of a kind. Furthermore, the fact that she was born in Gwangju naturally aligned her with the progressive political spectrum, making her sympathy for a young officer persecuted by Yushin remnants quite logical.

Others believed that beauty has always favored heroes, especially one as handsome and valiant as him—as evidenced by the candid photos. Besides, one can't work in the nightlife industry without possessing some charm.

Soon, the *Sports Seoul* exposé began to ferment across the internet. Cha Lun-hoo received many calls from former colleagues; he urged everyone to be patient, explaining that Reporter Chen would interview these young officers one by one, and there was even talk of the newspaper producing a documentary. Meanwhile, many citizens petitioned the Blue House official website, demanding that the government provide proper resettlement for these young men. This encouraged other colleagues from disadvantaged backgrounds to follow suit, and Cha Lun-hoo, having orchestrated the event, found himself the leader of this small group.

"It’s not enough! The fire needs to burn hotter. If the Blue House caves at the first sign of trouble, they aren't the Blue House—or rather, it would be an admission of their previous inaction."

Although the entire incident had been exposed to the public, to this seemingly ordinary middle-aged man, it was far from enough. His campaign had only just begun; he intended to turn his life around, just as Cha Lun-hoo was doing.

"Oppa! It was so dangerous back then. How could you be so reckless with your own safety? If your judgment had been off, or if things had gone wrong, what would have happened if you were sent to a military tribunal?"

Se-jeong, having read the full report, felt a lingering fear. Her *oppa* had always downplayed his experiences, but after reading the analysis by *Sports Seoul*, she realized he had been gambling with his life. He gently comforted Se-jeong, who was fussing like a mother; he never told those who cared about him anything that might cause them worry. His parents had also received calls from concerned relatives and had expressed their own fears.

But fortune favors the bold. He had nothing left to lose. If he didn't seize this opportunity, was he to go back to working in a nightclub? Or rely on the charity of an actress to survive as a bodyguard?

Se-jeong always said he was her idol. Was the idol she chose destined to live a mediocre life? Forget about silk robes and leaving a mark in history—was he supposed to wake up every day like a zombie in that dark, damp rental unit in Gangbuk? Although the older and younger women were happy to spend money on him, the "scholar’s gown" he couldn't take off made him feel twisted. Fortunately, he was mentally resilient; otherwise, he would have been driven mad.

"Lun-hoo! I had no idea you had suffered such grievances. You never mentioned any of this before!"

The older woman surnamed Zheng, who had just returned to South Korea, had reddened eyes. Things one cannot have are always enticing, and she knew she hadn't misjudged him; his integrity and sincerity were his eternal trademarks. If he wanted to fleece her of her wealth, he could easily wrap her around his finger, yet he always maintained a polite distance.

"How are things with your troubles, Noona? It’s just old history I didn't want to dwell on. Being expelled from the military wasn't necessarily a bad thing. That place has too many rules, and without power or connections, there was no point in staying."

This was, of course, a lie to soothe her. With his top-tier background from the Military Academy, his future had been guaranteed long ago. In the old days of the Japanese military academy, top-ranking students were promoted before anyone else.

Cha Lun-hoo could feel that this older woman was genuinely kind to him. While he had no ulterior motives, he was concerned about her situation. After her partnership fell apart, both sides were fighting for influence and control over the brand, and the partner, holding more shares, was eager to suppress her influence further.

The brand was her dream, a career she couldn't turn back from. Having chosen the brand over her group, she needed to prove she was better off alone. Her obsession had reached a point of madness; she would let no one take it away from her.

"If Bae Suzy doesn't want you, come work at my company! I’ll give you an office near mine so you can report to me at any time. Even if you do nothing all day, just watching how I hold meetings and listening to what I say and do—wouldn't that be a happy thing?"

Her words left Cha Lun-hoo speechless. He thought to himself, *What kind of 'tiger' am I?* Seeing her in such a difficult position, he decided not to add to her troubles. JYP, however, was likely relieved they hadn't let him go sooner; though he was on indefinite leave, he was still technically an employee, and the exposure had brought the company and Suzy quite a bit of praise.

Unlike Cha Lun-hoo, who was anxiously awaiting the next move, inside the Presidential Office at 1 Blue House Road in Jongno-gu, an elderly man with a square, dignified face looked at the documents in his hands with a triumphant smile.

He had been preparing for this since he took office, but the department in question was too deeply entangled. He hadn't expected a surge of public opinion to fall from the sky, providing the momentum he needed to push forward with the reform of the military intelligence apparatus. Truly, heaven was helping him.

The old man dropped the thin stack of papers and touched his forehead, where a physiognomist had once claimed he possessed the "bone of a sage," a sign of inevitable greatness. He looked relieved, as if a long-standing illness had finally been cured. The header of the A4 document read: "Draft Proposal Regarding the Dissolution of the Defense Security Command and the Establishment of the Military Security Support Command Preparatory Team."