Chapter 281: Staying Out Overnight (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 281: Staying Out Overnight (1)
“A concert…”
Jeong Seong-bin muttered. The words seemed to slip out of his mouth unconsciously.
A concert already? Even if we release a full-length album in the first half of the year, will we have enough songs?
If we threw in unit stages and cover performances, we could probably scrape together a decent setlist.
However, in this era of high inflation where concert tickets exceed 100,000 won, I didn't want to put on a show that only looked plausible. If you’re selling a product for money, it needs to be worth the price.
In other words, this meant I’d have to work like my life depended on it for the next year. They say if you suffer for one year, the next will be easy, but I wondered when my "next year" of ease would ever arrive.
At least it’s a relief that UA has plenty of experience hosting solo concerts.
While we would be their first idol group, UA had organized numerous concerts before. Some were quite large in scale, as their affiliated artists tended to perform and tour frequently.
If UA had talked about holding a concert this year without any prior experience?
I wouldn't have sat idly by. Even if I had to suffer double nosebleeds, I would have pulled all-nighters in the office to make every employee feel guilty and uncomfortable.
Anyway, I was glad I wouldn't have to mess with the sound engineering or stage planning. Surely the technical expertise they already possessed wouldn't suddenly evaporate just because it was Spark’s turn.
Still, something felt off. Usually, the System would hand out such a big event as a KPI, wouldn't it?
I could bet it was one of two things: either it would give me a task even more grueling than a concert, or a massive disaster would strike that would make the concert impossible. If I couldn't have it easy either way, I’d prefer the former.
It’s going to be a rough year.
The future looked bleak. I felt as overwhelmed as I did when I first became an assistant manager.
I glanced at Jeong Seong-bin next to me. He was nodding along, listening intently to Ju-gyeong’s words.
Well, at least I have five teammates. That thought crossed my mind.
Until mid-January, Spark’s dorm was thick with tension.
Because of Jeong Seong-bin and Park Ju-woo’s entrance exam issues that started in early January, a "vocal cord protection campaign" for the two main vocals had been in full swing until the day of their practical exams.
“You don't really have to go that far.”
“Hey, this is a crucial time! We have to help!”
Lee Cheong-hyeon, who had strictly warned them to save their voices except when singing, ended up returning from the studio at the crack of dawn the very next day and drawing Jeong Seong-bin’s ire. Aside from that, however, all the members did their best not to upset the examinees.
As a result…
“You look bright.”
…Spark was able to see the two of them return to the dorm with proud faces.
Between filming self-produced content to be uploaded during the Lunar New Year and attending Indenia events, the holiday was suddenly right around the corner. Just before the break, a much-needed vacation—like sweet rain during a drought—was granted to Spark.
I was ready to protest in front of the UA building if they didn't give us a break. I’m glad it didn't come to that.
“Two whole weeks? Straight?”
“You guys haven't had a long vacation much. You worked through most of your off-seasons.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon was moved by Manager Chan-yeong’s words.
This kid… he’s already learned the heart of an office worker who treasures their leave. When you’re a student, a month-long break feels short, but once you’re a member of society, even getting four days off by attaching annual leave to a weekend is a struggle.
After the official vacation announcement, we spent time discussing how we’d spend our break. Choi Je-ho, Jeong Seong-bin, and Kang Gi-yeon decided to go to their family homes as usual.
“What about Ju-woo Hyung? Are you going to Daejeon?”
“Probably…?”
“Then what about Iwol Hyung?”
Lee Cheong-hyeon asked me. When I replied that I planned to stay at the dorm, an uproar broke out from all sides. Even the manager joined in, making my ears ring.
“Iwol, do you want to come to my house instead?”
Manager Chan-yeong went as far as to suggest I come with him. He eventually retracted the offer, saying he’d be too anxious during his commute to leave me alone.
I’m not a child.
It was a bit absurd, but then I realized that to people who would install a nurse call button in the dorm, this was probably a natural reaction, so I stayed quiet.
“Should I just stay behind?”
“Why don't you go this time? It’s been almost a year since you’ve been home, Seong-bin.”
“Actually, they have been calling me lately asking when I’m coming…”
Lee Cheong-hyeon clicked his tongue at Jeong Seong-bin’s words.
“If you don't want to go, you don't have to force yourself. But don't stay behind just because of me.”
“Hyung, you stay quiet for a second.”
Lee Cheong-hyeon snapped at me. He seemed genuinely annoyed, so I decided to keep my mouth shut for the moment.
Amidst a flurry of suggestions—taking me to Jeong Seong-bin’s house, Seong-bin staying behind, taking me to Kang Gi-yeon’s house, and so on—someone raised their hand.
“Um…”
Park Ju-woo spoke up hesitantly.
“Hyung, do you want to come to my aunt’s house?”
And before I knew it, I was in Daejeon. At the home of Park Ju-woo’s aunt and her family.
Manager Dae-yeon did the driving.
I told him I’d look into train tickets, but he insisted that since it was a weekday, he had to work anyway, and he’d already gotten permission from the company. Wanting to express my gratitude somehow, I bought him every snack available at the rest stop.
I only started hearing specific details about his aunt’s house after the car left the rest stop. Park Ju-woo, who had moved to the back seat to eat some roasted potatoes, shared various stories.
“I… lived at my aunt’s place for a long time. So when I’m not at the dorm, I usually go there for vacations. My aunt and uncle are there… I’m not sure if my older brother and sister will be around. They like going out. …Both of them are older than you, Hyung.”
While the "specifics" were heavily centered on Ju-woo, I couldn't pry further. I couldn't ask why he lived with his aunt or since when. Family affairs are usually like that.
I also heard that Park Ju-woo’s aunt had commanded him to bring me along the next time he got a vacation.
I wondered why. Was I finally going to experience the classic line I’d escaped at Jeong Seong-bin’s house: “I won’t allow my Ju-woo to be in a team with someone like you, not even over my dead body!”? Would she listen if I begged for mercy? From what I’d heard over the phone before, she seemed like a nice person.
All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. Realizing it wouldn't change anything, I stopped thinking by the time we passed the tollgate.
Since my most venerable superior, Jeong Seong-bin, had told me I had the kind of personality that would be loved wherever I went, I had no choice but to believe him.
“Have the other members ever been to your aunt’s house?”
“Only Seong-bin. A long time ago, when I decided to become an idol…”
“…Did he go there to say, ‘Please give Ju-woo to our team!’?”
A snort came from the driver’s seat. Why are you laughing? I’m being serious.
“It… didn't feel like that was the vibe.”
Darn. Suddenly, I was the only one who looked like a makjang drama fanatic.
“How did they react when you said you were going to be an idol?”
“They were happy… but they worried a lot, too. They wondered if a kid with no social skills could really be an idol.”
Park Ju-woo gave an awkward smile.
He wasn't wrong. If he hadn't trained desperately during his trainee days, Park Ju-woo would have faced many difficulties. Just like in the past.
“They must have been surprised to see how well you’re doing. Right?”
“Yeah. Every time I call, they ask how a person could change so much…”
Ju-woo laughed. It was a different kind of smile than before. A smile that was clearly shy but happy.
He said his whole family watched the live broadcast of the quiz show he recently appeared on with Lee Cheong-hyeon. He showed me a photo they sent him of the family gathered in front of the living room TV.
Park Ju-woo had indeed stood out on that program. He correctly identified salt water by concentration and found where cables needed to be connected just by listening to the sound of the current. (I think it was because the grounding was poorly done during the set construction.)
Especially when he was contemplating which route to take to catch an NPC monster with very little time left…
‘Cheong-hyeon, …how many points did they say we get for each monster?’
‘The purple ones are the highest at 100 points.’
‘Then… let’s run that way.’
…He showcased his ability to find the escaped monster by the scent of fabric softener lingering on the monster costume.
Watching him win by catching the most difficult monster that no one else could find was truly moving. I’m sure his family enjoyed it too.
Wait. In that case, wouldn't it have been better for him to bring Lee Cheong-hyeon?
I briefly retraced my memory to see what the most recent broadcast I’d done with Park Ju-woo was. Unfortunately, it was the "Roommate Swap" self-produced content.
To have to meet his elders after being branded as an overbearing and nagging person… the seat of the new car felt like a bed of thorns.
Manager Dae-yeon dropped us off at the apartment entrance and vanished. We forced a wild honey set we’d prepared into his hands before sending him off. I’d overheard that the UA holiday gift was a ham set, so I’d prepared something different for the manager.
Holding the honey set for the aunt in one hand, I grabbed Park Ju-woo’s hand with the other and said solemnly.
“If I get splashed with water, you have to bring me a towel. Got it?”
“Huh…?”
Park Ju-woo looked at me as if I’d lost my mind.
You innocent soul. When we get back to the dorm, Volume 1 of King Terra is mandatory reading for you.
“Oh my, oh my! Iwol, it’s so good to meet you! I’m Ju-woo’s aunt!”
“Yes, ma’am! Hello—”
“Goodness, you’re much more handsome in person than on TV.”
The disaster of getting a face full of water didn't happen. Instead, I received a passionate welcome from the aunt.
“Why didn't you come together last time?”
“Haha, I went to Busan with Cheong-hyeon then.”
“Busan is nice. Did you see the ocean? You could have come with Cheong-hyeon as a trio. Right, Ju-woo?”
The aunt told us to put our luggage down first and headed toward a room, carrying one of my bags and one of Ju-woo’s.
At that moment, someone came running toward me like a gust of wind.
Turning my head, I saw Park Ju-woo being pulled into a hug by a young woman.
“Oh my, if it isn't our youngest, whose face is so hard to see!”
“Hi…”
“Jju, your arms are getting firmer and firmer. Do you work out a lot?”
“Yeah…”
“When did our baby grow up so much that he’s doing weight training… time really flies.”
My eyes met those of the woman, who seemed genuinely saddened by how much he’d grown. She looked like the older cousin sister Ju-woo had mentioned.
Had he said she was also a member of the workforce? The moment our eyes met, we both immediately donned our professional personas.
“Hello, I’m Kim I-wol, from the same group as Ju-woo!”
“Oh, right! I heard you were coming, but I completely forgot and showed you such a chaotic side of myself!”
And then, a handshake. It wasn't exactly the kind of greeting a woman in pajamas and a man in semi-casual attire would usually share, but at any rate, I probably didn't leave a rude first impression.
Two family members down, two to go. I only had one life.
Even if it was a kindness diluted with three liters of water, I sincerely hoped his family wouldn't see me as the "bad hyung" who put Park Ju-woo in difficult spots.