Chapter 191: Preparing for the Follow-up Project (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 191: Preparing for the Follow-up Project (2)
UA spent a considerable amount of money on this comeback. It almost seemed like they were trying to pay off their debts to the Idol Dynasty Annals, or perhaps they had finally realized they needed to strike while the iron was hot.
As a result, Spark ended up wearing two different suits just for the group choreography scenes. Usually, they would have made do with one outfit, but this time, they were breaking the scenes down into meticulous segments to fully showcase the members' visuals.
Why am I suddenly bringing this up?
“Guys, let’s get changed! Double-check your name tags!”
“Gi-yeon, don’t forget you need to change and get your hair reset!”
It’s because I was assigned an absurd idol look: a crop jacket.
And I had to wear it on my bare skin.
‘A crop top?’
When I first saw the costume concept art in the meeting room, I thought I was going to faint.
To make matters worse, the jacket had a slit down the back. A very large one, right in the center.
The stylists likely designed it to highlight the erector spinae muscles. The problem was that if I wore that, it would turn into a grand reveal of my scars.
Beside me, Jeong Seong-bin’s mouth hung open, though he couldn't find the words to speak.
Should I ask to swap outfits with Choi Je-ho? But he was wearing a harness on his bare skin inside his jacket. Either way, wouldn't the level of embarrassment be the same?
Which was better: exposing my back and stomach, or exposing my chest?
I racked my brain until it felt like it would explode, but no answer came.
In the end, I cautiously raised my hand.
‘I have scars on my back. Is it okay for those to be exposed in the music video or on broadcasts?’
‘Scars? If you don’t want them shown, we can cover them up! We can just edit them out of the music video.’
‘No, it’s just that...’
My hand instinctively went to my back. If I asked them to manually edit all of that out, the video editor would probably want to kill me.
They say seeing is believing. I called Jeong Seong-bin over and pulled my shirt out of my pants.
With his help, I lifted my shirt in the meeting room and strongly expressed my point: ‘I cannot wear a crop jacket.’ And then...
‘Should we avoid outfits that show your back from now on?’
‘It doesn’t have to be that extreme. I don’t personally mind! If it fits the team’s aesthetic...’
‘Then let’s cover them with stickers.’
‘Pardon?’
...And so, it was decided that I would have tattoo stickers of a flower bouquet applied to my back.
I thought it was a bit unseemly for a man like me to have flowers on his back, but I had no choice but to agree when they told me the fans would absolutely love it.
Jeong Seong-bin quietly asked if I was okay with it, but since I wasn't trying to hide the scars out of shame, it didn't really matter to me.
“I-wol, I’m spraying the water now! It’ll be cold, but try to stay still!”
Actually, maybe it did matter.
It was incredibly embarrassing to be the only one sitting half-naked on a sofa, clutching a blanket while stickers were being applied to my back.
I couldn't tell if what the stylists were spraying was water or my own tears. I was also mortified that this would eventually be uploaded as a Behind Cam.
This was a style I had never imagined in all my years as an office worker.
Back then, I thought the only part of my body that would ever see the sun was my forearms. Truly, there is nothing in this world you can be certain of.
“Whoa, hyung, isn't this your most revealing look yet?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon approached and asked.
He was wearing a mock turtleneck with a harness, so why was I... No, let’s not get jealous over something like this.
“It’s definitely the most revealing. And the most humiliating.”
I wept inwardly as I applied the body oil the makeup staff had handed me.
Whether I was crying on the inside or not, Lee Cheong-hyeon gave me a thumbs-up.
“But you look like a total idol! It’s cool!”
“Thanks.”
Choi Je-ho watched our heartwarming conversation from a distance. To Spark’s representative of skin exposure, our chat must have seemed quite unsatisfactory.
With Choi Je-ho, the exhibitionist, and me, the exposure novice, leading the way, Spark began the second group choreography shoot in their more daring outfits.
Since it would be problematic if people suspected member favoritism because I was the only one with flowers on my bare skin, they decided to deck the other members out with dried flowers, tattoo stickers, and chain accessories.
Thanks to that, my vision was flashing the entire time we danced under the lights. I felt like I was in a jewelry store rather than a studio.
After dancing until our footsteps synced perfectly with the heavy beat, we finally got the "OK" sign.
The moment it was over, I doubled over. My arms instinctively covered my stomach.
“What’s wrong, hyung? Does your stomach hurt?”
Jeong Seong-bin approached. My reason wasn't serious enough to warrant such concern.
“It’s not that...”
“Then what? Is there another problem?”
Jeong Seong-bin persisted tenaciously. Feeling like a hamster whose hidden sunflower seeds had all been discovered, I spoke with a heavy heart.
“I just want to change my clothes as fast as possible.”
“Why! It looks good on you!”
Even as Lee Cheong-hyeon teased me, he reached out and pulled down my jacket, which had naturally ridden up when I bent over.
By the time we finished filming the drama scenes, the date had changed. Several times, in fact.
Most of the members were so exhausted they had collapsed; only Jeong Seong-bin and I were still standing.
Choi Je-ho seemed unusually wiped out, likely because he had to film wire action scenes, and Jeong Seong-bin... he was probably holding on through sheer willpower and a sense of responsibility. He’d likely pass out the moment he hit the car.
“Hyung, aren't you tired...?”
Park Ju-woo asked, his head wobbling. I tucked a neck pillow around him as I answered.
“I told you, I’m all better now. My condition is the best out of everyone here.”
“I guess it really is...”
Park Ju-woo gave a hazy smile. I only counted it as a smile because it was me; anyone else would have said he still looked expressionless.
People really need to realize that this is his smiling face.
I smiled back at him.
“I don’t tell lies.”
Kang Gi-yeon stared at me intently. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, but he had been staring at me like that occasionally lately.
“What? You want to object?”
“...No.”
I asked jokingly, but Kang Gi-yeon didn't give much of a reaction.
Maybe he was just out of it because he was tired. He and Choi Je-ho had filmed every single action scene there was.
“If you’re that tired, should I get you some energy tonic?”
“I’m fine. You should rest too, hyung.”
“I’ll rest when I get tired. I’m okay for now.”
“...Really?”
“Of course.”
Besides, would it look good if all six of the youngest guys on set were sprawled out? Everyone here has been working hard for days.
For today, I shall be the endorphin of this film set.
“Spark, we’ll check the footage one last time and then wrap up!”
“Yes, sir!”
The time had finally come for the final-final-final check.
I answered energetically, loud enough to cover for the exhausted kids. Behind me, I heard the sound of them diligently picking themselves up.
After returning to the dorm, everyone collapsed one by one.
Even the usually energetic Lee Cheong-hyeon fell asleep before he could even get his feet onto his bunk, leaving only the words, “Hyungs, I love you. See you tomorrow...”
As expected, Jeong Seong-bin passed out the moment he got in the car. He didn't open his eyes until the manager carried him up to the dorm.
For the first time since he started hearing my nagging, Park Ju-woo fell asleep without drying his hair. He’s usually a light sleeper, but he didn't wake up even when I held the hairdryer to his head on the warm setting.
Only after seeing Kang Gi-yeon fall asleep and Choi Je-ho turn his back to me did I finally find a moment to breathe.
I had been waiting for this moment. There was something I wanted to check.
‘Where was the explanation about cumulative fatigue?’
I intended to properly read the section on side effects that I had skimmed over before. No matter how distracted I had been by the anomalies, it was true that I hadn't read the explanation thoroughly.
Soon, the System displayed the familiar text.
+
[SYSTEM] The ‘Additional Labor Support Service’ is being notified to ‘Party B.’
.
.
.
▷ Physical side effects may occur due to various reasons, such as prolonged use of the service, excessive accumulation of fatigue, or when temporarily deducted fatigue exceeds a certain level.
+
Physical side effects may occur due to various reasons.
Isn't that an incredibly vague expression?
However, upon closer reading, it seemed unrelated to my dark circles. I’d had those dark circles since immediately after my regression.
There was something else peculiar. The words ‘Physical Side Effects’ were glowing.
As if possessed, I tapped the words, and a new entry appeared.
+
[SYSTEM] ‘Physical Side Effects’ are being notified to ‘Party B.’
▷ Physical Side Effects is a term that includes the somatization of damage, and ‘Party A’ unilaterally synchronizing ‘Party B’s’ previous body with their current body. (Current Synchronization Rate: 33%)
▷ Physical Side Effects may occur if ‘Party B’ commits an act that infringes upon the authority of ‘Party A,’ or if ‘Party B’ violates confidentiality agreements.
▷ Various forms of physical side effects may appear when ‘Party B’ utilizes the Additional Labor Support Service.
+
‘You’re telling me there’s more than one way my life is being shaved away?’
To put it simply, ‘Physical Side Effects’ was the parent category, and one of the sub-items was the side effect that occurred from using the ‘Additional Labor Support Service’ for too long.
I had been toggling that service on and off in my own way. That’s probably why it only resulted in a few nosebleeds when my fatigue accumulated...
But I didn't understand what it meant to synchronize my previous body with my current one.
Aren't the conditions already similar enough? At most, my stamina would just be a bit lower than it was in my early twenties.
‘And the synchronization has already progressed quite a bit.’
There was no further explanation regarding the synchronization. You’re going to wait for something to happen and then belatedly mock me, saying, ‘Assistant Manager Kim, you should have listened to me sooner,’ aren't you? I know your game, you bastard.
Or maybe the dark circles were an effect of the synchronization. Then I’d have to figure out if 33% directly translated to the dark circles, or if the dark circles were just included within that 33%...
My head throbbed. I never thought I’d be taking headache medicine—the kind I used to take at Hanpyeong Industry while lying and saying they were vitamins—this frequently here as well.
I opened my resume again to check my cumulative fatigue. Perhaps because of the music video shoot, the figure had risen slightly more than usual.
If I take it easy, I don't know what will happen to my sister; if I don't, I don't know how the system will grind me down.
In times like this, I wish I were a bit wiser.
There must be a better way than this. There must be someone who could overcome these problems more rationally than me.
Similar thoughts kept circling in my head.
However, I didn't feel as depressed as I did when I saw the memory data. This must be what it meant to lower the negative emotion perception rate to the minimum. It was quite convenient.
I swallowed a sigh.
What can I do? I’ve already traveled back in time.
I have to do well. Without complaining. Even harder.
I steeled my resolve. My mind was so full of things I had to do that sleep wouldn't come.
Baek Hae-won stayed up all night.
The series of concept photos released over the past few days had put her in this state.
It wasn't just Baek Hae-won who was in an uproar. Spark’s name was all over every community imaginable.
≫ Just saw the youngest’s blue-green hair and briefly visited heaven.
I-wol was right when he said handsome men need to dye their hair for the sake of the nation.
└ Seriously, it’s weird. Gi-yeon is ten years younger than me, but I want to call him ‘Director.’
└ Beep That is a normal reaction.
≫ The male idol who showed up with white hair today.
Subject: Spark Ju-woo.
He was famous among fans for having light hair colors often.
But this time he went for real, real, real white hair.
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The white hair + white shirt + white gloves tone-on-tone is insane.
His eyes are light-colored too, so it adds to the atmosphere.
└ Whoa, doesn't his hair get damaged? He’s got a hair spoon.
└ A hair spoon, lol.
└ What’s that transparent thing in his mouth??
└ Looks like a syringe cap?
≫ A legendary dilemma has appeared.
Dark Cheong-hyeon vs. Gold Cheong-hyeon.
└ As of today, I, Kim Firework, withdraw my support for Gold Cheong-hyeon. From today, Gold Cheong-hyeon and I are not one body, but I will consider any attack on Gold Cheong-hyeon as an attack on me.
└ I am no longer afraid of live-action Romance Fantasy adaptations.
└ Wow, the ultimate compliment.
≫ Emperor Je-ho’s reputation isn't going anywhere.
I’m looking at this once every hour.
Daily life is impossible. He’s flickering before my eyes like the last plate at a buffet that I had to give up on.
Seeing him biting that leather glove makes me keep imagining, ‘Who did he bury today?’
└ As expected of his name...
└ ‘Who did he bury today?’ lol.
└ Those thick eyebrows are truly ‘Man.’
└ His shoulders didn't even fit in the concept photo, but you can infer the Pacific Ocean just from the angle of his shoulder line. Seriously crazy.
└ Truly the man of size 115 tops.
And above all...
≫ No, I-wol, what on earth is your role?
...The moment she saw Kim I-wol’s concept, Baek Hae-won completely forgot everything her homeroom teacher had begged her to memorize for the exam.