Chapter 91
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Nursing Home Visit
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The bus pulled up at a nursing home on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province.
It wasn't quite the vibe I'd pictured.
The service club was full of kids from wealthy families.
So I'd assumed the place we'd be volunteering at—despite being called a nursing home—would be some luxury facility rivaling a hotel.
But now that we were here, that wasn't the case at all.
It was a nursing home with pretty rundown facilities, honestly a step below average.
"We're really doing it here...?"
"I've never been to a place like this."
The other first-years seemed just as shocked as I was, clearly having had no idea.
Chae Si-hyun had mentioned the name of the nursing home back at orientation, but I doubted anyone had bothered looking it up.
"Hmm."
"There's places like this, huh."
Song Ha-na, arms crossed and brow furrowed, scanned the surroundings like the whole scene was alien to her.
Moon Woo-hyuk and Kim Sun-woo were checking out the nursing home too.
It was built in such a remote valley that there was nothing around but mountains.
"Attention."
Chae Si-hyun, the last one off the bus, immediately commanded the chaotic group's focus.
The second-year service club members who'd come along lined up beside her.
Today's volunteer work would be led by us first-years new to the club, they'd announced.
The seniors, Chae Si-hyun included, would just assist from the sidelines.
"Why the long faces?"
Chae Si-hyun scanned our expressions as she spoke.
It wasn't said harshly, but anyone who'd been grimacing probably felt called out.
Not that any of them had ever been to a place like this before.
Even I found the sight unfamiliar—who knew how these rich kids would handle it.
"I get it. It's your first time, so it'll feel strange and uncomfortable."
She wasn't all tough edges after all.
Chae Si-hyun spoke in the gentlest tone she'd used since we joined the club.
"But I don't think any of you in our service club would have shameful thoughts or act poorly."
She knew how to gently rein us in.
No wonder she represented Cheongyeom Arts High starting her second year.
She had the charisma, the leadership, and overflowing talent too—it was inevitable she'd rise to fame.
"I'll show you to the waiting room, so first-years, head there and wait. Me and the second-years will handle the prep work."
***
We first-years were waiting in the lounge the nursing home had provided.
It was pretty cramped for eight new members.
We were used to spacious practice rooms and classrooms at school, so cramming in like this had everyone's faces twisted in unfamiliar discomfort—at least to my eyes.
To me, it looked a bit worn but well-maintained.
The cleaning seemed thorough enough.
Song Ha-na, though, gave her seat a once-over before pulling a handkerchief from her pocket and spreading it out to sit.
"I'm gonna get claustrophobic. Where's the bathroom?"
"You don't get claustrophobia that easily."
Especially not someone like you.
Her mental fortitude was obviously above average.
Song Ha-na shot me a sharp glare at my words.
...Someone come quick.
After about ten minutes, the door creaked open.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Chae Si-hyun and the second-years arrived at the lounge.
She gave us silent newbies a quick scan, then rattled off the schedule.
"Lunch party starts at noon, put on by the nursing home. We'll perform during the tea time in the lobby after the seniors finish eating..."
Today was the nursing home's "Culture Day" for the elderly residents.
Not just us Cheongyeom Arts High kids—several teams were slated to take the stage.
Our turn was in about an hour.
"Don't forget: the stage we're putting on today isn't about cool acting. It's about fun acting."
Fun acting?
The unfamiliar phrasing put question marks on everyone's faces.
"Think of it like a talent show. Our goal is to entertain the seniors."
Song Ha-na muttered, frowning at the words "talent show."
"...Talent show?"
"You can't expect VIP treatment here or only do what you want. This much space is the best they can offer us. Keep in mind we're not here to play."
Chae Si-hyun aimed that last bit right at Song Ha-na.
She fell silent, no comeback.
There probably weren't many high schoolers who could shut down Song Ha-na like that in one go.
"Pull out your scripts."
Chae Si-hyun had handed them out on the bus ride over.
"It's more fairy tale than musical, but nothing in it should make the seniors uncomfortable. Compared to our school's standards, thirty minutes is plenty for this length."
I'd skimmed it on the bus—no big deal.
It wasn't heavy on dialogue anyway; mostly "talent" bits.
The first-year service club members were four from musical theater and four from other majors.
Clubs like this naturally revolve around certain departments over time, and musical theater had always been the core here.
That's why musical performances popped up often in their activities.
The kids from directing, art, and such had signed up knowing this, so no complaints.
They weren't getting any song parts anyway.
Just simple bit roles.
Memorize lines, and it was easy.
The goal wasn't some impressive production, like Chae Si-hyun said, so prep was straightforward.
"Time's short, so let's jump into rehearsal."
We cleared space and got started at her word.
The script was an omnibus-style show, not reliant on group timing.
We could basically rehearse solo—no need to sync breaths.
Memorize lines, hit the stage, don't blank—that was it.
The non-theater kids could even cheat-sheet on their palms.
Sure, it wasn't their major—as long as no major flubs.
The issue was assigning one role from the script.
"Who wants the trot part?"
There was a role that kicked off straight into trot singing.
Not just singing—the script called for full-on showmanship.
True to the talent show vibe, it slotted personal flair into simple lines.
Good thing it was male; Song Ha-na looked relieved.
Kim Sun-woo and Moon Woo-hyuk didn't jump either.
Kids who sang art songs at best—had they even heard trot?
Yeah. What would rich kids know about trot vibes.
Skip that, it had few lines anyway. Better if I took it.
Performing tricks for seniors? Piece of cake.
I'd chased small-town gigs for cash back in the day.
No need to waste time here.
Prep window was just an hour—tight already.
"I'll do it."
Chae Si-hyun eyed my raised hand, then smiled brightly.
"Sure. Thanks."
Thanks?
Never thought I'd get a thanks for trot duty.
Chae Si-hyun struck me more and more as mentally well-adjusted.
No need to say thanks, but she did anyway.
With all her strengths, she could've been ostracized by peers, but now I saw why she had so many followers.
Cool and curt, yet voicing her thoughts right then— not easy.
Way better than petty pride and brooding silence.
A high schooler with that maturity? Impressive.
Stars are just built different, huh.
Assignments wrapped up soon enough.
"Alright, scene one!"
We first-years dove into full rehearsal, getting coaching from Chae Si-hyun and the seniors.
***
As expected from Cheongyeom.
Rehearsal wrapped in thirty minutes.
Now, time to change for the stage.
Multiple teams performing today, no dedicated dressing room—so we'd use this space.
Guys and girls took turns.
Girls first, now us.
"Sun-woo. Check it. My muscles look more pumped, right?"
Moon Woo-hyuk, impatient, flexed to show off.
Kim Sun-woo, midway through changing his top, turned and grinned.
"Haha. Yeah. They were already great."
"Kukuku. Right?"
Moon Woo-hyuk preened slowly while changing.
If he pulled that during the show, seniors would smack him silly.
I stroked his back smooth-like while thinking it.
Damn, nice back muscles.
"Eek!"
Moon Woo-hyuk recoiled in horror from my touch.
His pale face? Hilarious.
"What're you doing?"
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
Why freak? Fun to tease.
"Figured that's why you were showing off."
"You're insane."
Moon Woo-hyuk glared, utterly baffled.
"Sorry, sorry. If it's unfair, touch mine."
I shoved my back at him.
Hey, my back got props from Teacher Ji-woong.
But he grimaced, whipped his head away, dressed fast, and bolted.
"Tch. Chicken."
I snickered at the sight, finished dressing, and headed out.
Last one out, we all gathered in the hall.
Chae Si-hyun checked our outfits.
"Alright, let's go."
Clap.
She clapped once, turned, and led the way.
We trailed in line behind.
The nursing home lobby had mics and speakers pre-set in a row.
Dozens of chairs in front; seniors hadn't sat yet.
Twenty minutes left.
Quick stage check time.
Tiny stage—narrower than a black box, reach out wrong and hit the front row.
Gotta tighten the blocking.
"Huh."
Mapping it mentally while eyeing gear—
This speaker's over 30 million won... Wait, this mic's used price tops 6 million...
Not one or two—all top-shelf equipment.
No props, but they splurge on sound.
Felt the rich club vibe again.
As we tweaked blocking, seniors trickled in and took seats.
Definitely not a standard show.
Musicals or plays hide actors pre-show, but today skipped that ritual.
"Oh my. So pretty."
A sweet elderly lady spotted Chae Si-hyun checking the stage and beamed.
Fumbling in her pocket, calling her pretty, she handed over a small bag of candies.
"Hehe. It's all I got."
The grandma chuckled as she gave it.
Curious about Chae Si-hyun's reaction to the wrinkled bag, I watched.
Always cool and aloof at school or here—how would she handle this?
"Thank you."
Chae Si-hyun flashed a beaming smile we'd never seen, took the candies, and let the grandma grab her hand tight.
"Enjoy our show."
She even bent at the knee to chat with the seated grandma.
She had that side too.
I couldn't tear my eyes from Chae Si-hyun until she straightened up from her bow.