From A Producer To A Global Superstar-Chapter 303: Digging deep

Dayo woke and did his usual before exercise before leaving his home he had atip sleeping at the office after him and Min-Jae went out.

He reached his studio.

The session started.

They worked through takes, corrections, timing, and delivery.

Dayo kept it straight. No long speeches. When someone missed a part, he corrected it. When someone got it right, he moved on.

About an hour into the session, Dayo’s phone buzzed again.

He checked the screen and saw Jang-Wook.

He stepped out to answer.

"What happened?" Dayo asked.

Jang-Wook’s tone had changed.

"Director... we have a problem."

Dayo didn’t panic. "Say it."

"Since last night, articles started dropping. Not just movie criticism. Real dirty ones."

Dayo’s eyes narrowed slightly. "About what?"

"About the cast," Jang-Wook replied. "About you. About the set. They’re pushing it like there’s drama behind the scenes. They’re calling it a toxic production. They’re dragging old things again."

Dayo stayed quiet for a second, listening.

Jang-Wook continued, "Some of the articles are clearly pushed. Like a coordinated hit."

Dayo’s voice stayed even. "Stop promotion."

There was silence on the line.

Jang-Wook sounded shocked. "Stop promotion?"

"Yes," Dayo repeated. "Pause it. Now."

"But director—"

"Listen to me," Dayo said, firm but controlled. "If they want noise, don’t feed them. Pause the push. Let the internet talk to itself."

Jang-Wook hesitated. "That will slow the momentum."

"It won’t," Dayo said. "It will reset the angle. And it will annoy whoever is paying for the attacks."

Jang-Wook didn’t argue after that.

"...Okay. We’ll pause and hold."

Dayo added, "I already sent someone to investigate. I’ll get the source. Don’t stress the team. Keep everyone calm."

Jang-Wook exhaled, like he was forcing himself to trust.

"Alright," he said. "I’ll wait."

The call ended.

Dayo put the phone down for a moment and looked at the hallway wall, thinking.

It wasn’t the first time someone tried to drag his name.

But the timing wasn’t accidental.

Someone wanted the movie to look dirty before it even touched the screen.

He returned to the studio and continued work like nothing happened.

He didn’t show it on his face.

Later that afternoon, another call came in.

Unknown number.

Dayo answered immediately. "Talk."

The voice on the other end sounded calm and confident.

"Got him."

Dayo’s expression didn’t change. "Who."

"Kang Min Ho."

Dayo’s eyes hardened slightly.

The investigator continued, "He’s the one who leaked it. He didn’t leak it as himself. He passed it through someone else, but he’s the root."

Dayo leaned back in his chair. "You’re sure."

"Yes," the investigator said. "And I have evidence."

Dayo’s voice dropped a bit. "What kind."

"A video," the investigator replied. "Clear enough. Kang Min Ho handing over materials. Another clip shows Jang-Wook’s assistant receiving it. Watching it. Talking about it and i also habe a recording when he talked about it."

Dayo stayed quiet for two seconds.

Then he asked, "So the assistant is involved."

"Either involved or careless," the investigator said. "But it’s enough to destroy credibility."

Dayo didn’t sound happy. He sounded focused.

"What is Kang Min Ho doing now?"

"He’s trying to cash out," the investigator replied. "He thinks he can sell you the ’real video’ and keep acting innocent. He wants money."

Dayo let out a short laugh, no humor inside it.

"How much."

"Enough to be bold," the investigator said.

Dayo replied with a dead voice. "We’re not paying him anything."

"Understood."

Dayo’s voice sharpened. "Set a meeting. Face to face. You do the talking. Let him think he still has power. Then crush it."

The investigator chuckled softly. "Already planned."

Dayo added, "If he refuses, tell him we would sue him to court. Tell him the evidence is enough to take everything from him. Don’t bluff. Mean it."

"Okay," the investigator said. "I’ll update you once I have the video in my hand."

The call ended.

Dayo placed the phone down and stared at the studio screen for a moment.

Before throwing himself back to work.

After work and he was home.

That evening, Min-Jae called.

It was a video call.

Dayo answered and saw Min-Jae’s face immediately.

Min-Jae didn’t smile. "What’s going on."

Dayo looked calm. "What do you mean."

Min-Jae frowned. "Don’t do that. I saw the sudden pause. The team stopped pushing. Something happened."

Dayo didn’t deny it. "They’re trying to ruin the movie early."

Min-Jae’s eyes sharpened. "Virex?"

Dayo nodded once. "Most likely."

Min-Jae leaned back slightly. "So what’s your move."

"I already handled it," Dayo said.

Min-Jae stared for a second. "Handled how."

"The investigator you helped me keep on ground," Dayo replied. "He found the source." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Min-Jae’s expression softened just a little. "Who."

"Kang Min Ho."

Min-Jae clicked his tongue. "That rat."

Dayo’s voice stayed steady. "He’s trying to sell the real clip back to us for money."

Min-Jae scoffed already guessing Dayo’s next move. "So you’ll sue him."

"Yes," Dayo said simply. "Or he hands the evidence over quietly and disappears."

Min-Jae nodded slowly. "Good. Don’t let it drag."

Dayo added, "I won’t. I’m still recording. I’m not letting this distract me."

Min-Jae watched him closely.

"You look calm," Min-Jae said.

Dayo replied, "I’m calm because I’m ahead."

Min-Jae gave a small smile. "Alright. Keep me updated."

The call ended after all Min-Jae had a stake in the movie also so he was worried about the sale of the movie.

At the same time, in a quiet corner of the city, Kang Min Ho sat in a small private room at the back of a restaurant.

He kept checking his phone. His fingers tapped the table like he was impatient.

He wasn’t alone.

Across from him sat a man dressed simply, nothing flashy. Calm eyes and a serious demure.

Kang Min Ho leaned forward.

"Let’s be direct," Kang Min Ho said. "I’m not doing charity. If you want that video, bring money."

The man across from him nodded like he understood. "You’re talking like you still have leverage."

Kang Min Ho smirked. "I do."

The man reached into a folder and placed his phone on the table.

Then he played a short clip.

It was Kang Min Ho’s voice.

Clear.

"Yeah, I sent it. I sent it to the assistant. He said it was good. He said we can push it and make it look real..."

Kang Min Ho’s face changed instantly.

His smirk froze.

"What the hell is that," he whispered.

The man didn’t raise his voice. "That’s your confession."

Kang Min Ho’s hand moved like he wanted to grab the phone, but he stopped midway.

"You recorded me?" he said angrily.

"You recorded yourself," the man replied.

Kang Min Ho’s chest rose and fell fast. "That’s illegal."

The man looked at him like he was tired. "You sold private footage and tampered it. You extorted. You pushed fake information. You ruined reputations. You think you’re clean enough to shout illegal?"

Kang Min Ho swallowed.

The man leaned forward slightly.

"Here’s the simple part," he said. "Give the real video. Give every file you have. Every message. Every proof of who paid you. If you do that, you walk out of here quietly and we handle the rest."

Kang Min Ho’s eyes widened. "And if I don’t?"

The man opened the folder and pushed it forward.

Inside were printed screenshots. Messages. Transfers. Call logs.

Kang Min Ho stared at it like his mind couldn’t accept what he was seeing.

The man spoke calmly.

"If you don’t, we sue you. We take everything you have. We freeze accounts. We drag your name in public with evidence. You won’t just lose money. You’ll lose your life in this industry."

Kang Min Ho’s mouth opened, then closed.

He looked around like he expected someone to rescue him.

No one came.

The man didn’t rush him.

"bring it," the man said. "Now."

Kang Min Ho’s shoulders dropped.

Slowly, he reached into his bag and brought out a small drive.

He placed it on the table like it was heavy.

"There," he muttered. "That’s it."

The man picked it up carefully and stood.

Kang Min Ho’s voice shook. "You people... you people are insane."

The man looked at him once.

"No," he said. "You were just stupid."

He walked out.

Kang Min Ho stayed seated, staring at the table, breathing hard like he just lost a fight he didn’t even understand.

Back at the studio, Dayo received the confirmation message.

Got it. Drive secured. Full package.

Dayo read it once, then locked his phone.

He didn’t smile. He didn’t celebrate.

He only turned back to the mixing board and adjusted the volume slightly.

Outside, people were arguing online. Headlines were flying. Virex was pushing dirt.

Inside, Dayo kept working.

He already knew the next move.

And Kang Min Ho’s mistake was going to become the proof that ended the whole fake story.