Chapter 98
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Woo-hyuk's Personality
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“Woo-hyuk?”
Was that question about his personality, or his skills?
Depending on which it was, my answer would differ quite a bit.
It was a dilemma, and I couldn’t exactly ask for clarification.
Moon Kang-hyun nodded.
“Since you two compete on skill level, I figured you might have some thoughts on him. With all the buzz around you, Do-hyun, I’m curious about your take.”
Phew. At least it seemed like it was about his skills.
I took a moment to think about Moon Woo-hyuk in response to Moon Kang-hyun’s question.
The most recent performance of his I’d seen was when he played Lee Hyun-woo during tryouts...
Lost in thought, I felt my dad poking my side.
Coming from Moon Kang-hyun of all people, it felt like a signal to answer carefully.
“Definitely...”
Moon Kang-hyun looked down at Do-hyun’s contemplative face.
He was genuinely curious about the young man’s opinion.
It wasn’t about whether his own son was good or not.
He knew his visible skills better than anyone, getting daily reports on them.
No, he was just interested in what Do-hyun, the top talent in his class, thought.
Do-hyun had swept first place in every test since the start of the first semester last term.
For an ordinary 17-year-old, it was the perfect setup for arrogance.
Unlike Kim Sun-woo and Song Ha-na, whom he’d watched grow since childhood.
Raising Do-hyun, this sudden wildcard, alongside his son as running mates meant avoiding any arrogant types—they’d be exhausting.
“Hard to find a style like that in Korea.”
But contrary to Moon Kang-hyun’s expectations, Do-hyun wasn’t your average student.
Moon Kang-hyun grew more intrigued by the casual response.
He’d anticipated something basic like “better than me” or “not quite,” but this objective assessment of a classmate?
“A style hard to find in Korea?”
“His volume and vocal technique come from a resonator that’s rare in the East. Physically, we’re just built differently—organs and all.”
There wasn’t a hint of malice; it was purely an evaluation of Moon Woo-hyuk.
‘Ho.’
Moon Kang-hyun quietly waited to hear what this unexpected wildcard would say next.
“At first, I thought he was just relying on that and pushing too hard, but now it’s fun working with him. He has things I don’t... and it’s the style I’ve always wanted.”
“Wanted?”
Oops, I’d slipped up without thinking.
“Oh, I’ve admired that kind of vocalization since I was a kid. You always envy what you don’t have, right?”
I answered with a grin, like ad-libbing my way out of a stage mishap.
“So... you’re envious, which means you’ve given up on that style?”
“More like... put it on hold for now.”
Moon Kang-hyun smiled at Do-hyun’s shrugging shoulders.
Self-awareness is tough enough; acknowledging others is even harder.
Some people never manage it in a lifetime.
And Do-hyun was just a 17-year-old high schooler.
Top of Cheongyeom, no less, yet this humble.
Moon Kang-hyun saw Do-hyun in a new light.
“But...”
Answering about Woo-hyuk’s skills or talent was effortless.
His personality, though—that needed fixing.
He’d be doing team activities as a musical actor down the line; how was he supposed to handle group work with that attitude?
I debated saying it, but figured the parents at least deserved to know.
Moon Kang-hyun would be the one educating him closest, after all.
He needed some parental discipline.
“Yeah?”
“Woo-hyuk’s personality... you know, right?”
The reaction came from an unexpected direction.
Whack.
“Ow.”
My dad had suddenly slammed my side hard.
***
Dad quickly toured the dorm and then left.
I tidied up all the side dishes he’d brought, then flopped onto my bed.
The spot he’d hit still ached.
How did he nail the exact pressure point like that? Had he secretly trained in martial arts?
Then, the phone I’d left on the side buzzed.
Ding.
A message from Song Ha-na.
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - Teaming up with me means another first place.]
What the heck was this out-of-nowhere comment?
Clutching my throbbing side, I raised my arm to reply.
[Do-hyun - Evidence?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - My existence is the evidence.]
I was speechless at Song Ha-na’s utterly confident declaration.
Technically, she wasn’t wrong, and I had nothing to add.
I turned off the screen without arguing,
Ding.
Another alert.
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - Plus, if faces get revealed? Ugh. Thinking about it already tires me out.]
You don’t become a YouTube star that easily.
Though with her skills and looks, maybe she could.
[Do-hyun - If you’re worried, don’t reveal your face. The assignment doesn’t require it.]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - I’ll decide that myself.]
If she’s just gonna say her piece, why message...
I had no idea how to reply, so I left it alone, and another came flying in.
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - What’s our concept gonna be?]
Finally, a productive question.
What should we do, though?
Surprisingly, nothing came to mind.
Better decide quick.
[Do-hyun - Later?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - Later when?]
[Do-hyun - After dinner?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - What time? After dinner, what time?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - And where?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - Practice room seats available?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - Any ideas yet?]
[Musical Dept. and Song Ha-na - Dinner’s the cafeteria food?]
The question-mark murderer had descended upon the chat.
Her speed was too much; I froze on the first one.
What time?
That’s when Woo-sik snuck up beside me.
“Having fun...?”
“Jeez!”
How did he approach without a sound?
Considering how loud he usually was, it was uncanny.
“Fun? Working with Song Ha-na got you all happy?”
“Happy my ass.”
I was about to say I was already exhausted.
“But what’s with all the messaging on day one!”
Woo-sik yelled in outrage and shoved my face into his T-shirt.
“Blow on it quick!”
“Ow, hold on!”
I finally wriggled free.
Couldn’t breathe properly trapped in there; I gasped for air.
Staring at him in disbelief, I paused.
This texture...
I looked down at my hand, which had just been inside Woo-sik’s shirt.
“You...”
I yanked up his shirt fast.
His belly was bulging out.
Unbelievable.
“What the hell did you do over break?”
“B-building... volume!”
Woo-sik seemed flustered, then bellowed unnecessarily loud.
“You’re hopeless.”
After all the work I put into you last semester, I can’t let you fall apart like this.
“W-why?”
“Come with me.”
Still an hour till dinner.
I dragged the whining Woo-sik to the field.
This won’t do.
Time to remind him of last semester.
***
“Run!”
Woo-sik and I started jogging the field.
“Did I come here for height or arts high?”
Woo-sik ran with a miserable pout.
“Run like this, and dinner’ll taste even better.”
“No... huff. Even without, huff. it tastes... huff. good.”
“Faster! Move those legs! Already slowing down?!”
Woo-sik started lagging and stumbling after just a bit.
No good; I turned and ran backward, urging him on.
“I’m done. I give up...”
“A real man doesn’t quit over this!”
“Please... shut up...”
Then,
“Lee Do-hyun!”
I heard my name from behind, stopped mid-stride, and turned.
“Song Ha-na...?”
Why was she out here?
Song Ha-na sprinted right up to me.
Way faster than Woo-sik.
She stopped inches away, face flushed with anger.
“You ignore me during something this important? Are you insane?”
Ignore?
Oh, right. Ding.
Got distracted by Woo-sik’s gut.
“Don’t live like that. Plans are everything in life! How’re you compensating for my time you just stole?”
What, now it’s a life lesson?
Compensating what...
No good.
“Uh... sorry.”
Apologize first.
Get out of this ASAP.
“If ‘sorry’ fixed everything, why have laws or cops? Hey, Lee Do-hyun! You listening?”
Song Ha-na wasn’t the type to let it slide that easily.
She even caught my eyes glazing over.
Ugh, exhausting.
Is this how Woo-sik feels?
Suddenly, I kinda got his pain...
No, I’m doing this for his own good.
“Sorry...”
Please stop...
Meanwhile, Woo-sik watched from a distance, unable to approach, muttering softly.
“That’s a real man...?”
***
I ate dinner with a heavy heart.
Woo-sik unusually ate quietly without a peep of envy the whole time.
How’d she know we were at the field?
Time was up for my meet-up with Song Ha-na, who’d chased me there, so I hurried to the practice room.
Creak. Click.
I eased the door open; Song Ha-na was already there, on her laptop.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Good, she didn’t seem mad anymore.
Why was I relieved after gauging her mood?
I straightened up unnecessarily.
“What’re you doing? Sit.”
Right, sit.
I plopped down next to her laptop.
Huh? What?
Song Ha-na stared at me like I was an idiot.
“Why sit here?”
“To watch together.”
She looked at me like, what the hell?
“We’re finding references today, right? No laptop?”
“Don’t have one.”
“No laptop...?”
Her shocked face said she couldn’t comprehend a high schooler without one.
...Most Korean high schoolers don’t have laptops.
“Fine. Watch on this then.”
Stunned speechless by my confession, she slid the laptop my way.
“But what’s this? Looks nice.”
No joke, better than the one I barely afforded in my thirties.
“Company’s. Not out yet.”
“...Ah. Got it.”
Company’s, huh. Heh.
Best not comment. Not my world.
I pivoted topics quick.
“Find anything?”
“Yeah. Looked up stuff for two people. Check it out.”
I scanned the videos she’d queued up.
Then, a sticker by the keyboard caught my eye.
“You like this stuff?”
A Blue Bean animation character—didn’t suit Song Ha-na at all.
“Yeah. Why? Can’t I?”
I hadn’t said a word, but she snapped defensively.
I just stared at her quietly.
Somehow... this meeting might wrap up quick today.