Chapter 408: Study With Me (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 408: Study With Me (2)
Choi Je-ho’s pizza shop lowered its shutters before it even opened for business. It was all because he’d been caught by Kang Gi-yeon’s sharp eyes.
『Hyung, what are you even doing right now?!』
『You said you didn't like stingy pizzas.』
The dough, which looked like laundry that had been hung poorly and wrinkled at the edges, was currently being drenched in tomato sauce. The layers of pepperoni toppings, looking like something straight out of an American family restaurant, were also a sight to behold. The bell peppers and onions that Park Ju-woo had sliced—predicting there would be leftovers—were already gone.
『Won’t it all fall out when we eat it...?』
『We can just roll it up.』
Choi Je-ho dispelled his younger brothers' worries with a single sentence and created a magnificent pizza, but he couldn't escape the crackdown by Jeong Seong-bin, who had been dispatched after a nudge in the ribs from Kang Gi-yeon. Some of the removed toppings were redistributed into a two-part "stingy pizza."
『When are you baking the pizza?』
『Whoa, you scared me! When did you get here?』
Lee Cheong-hyeon popped up over the shoulder of Jeong Seong-bin, who was in the middle of the pizza remake. Baek Hae-won quickly checked her phone. Kim I-wol was on the screen, working tirelessly by himself.
『Cheong-hyeon reached his limit. He didn't have the confidence to fill the full five hours.』
『It’s impressive that you even passed four hours. Good job.』
Jeong Seong-bin comforted Lee Cheong-hyeon. To an outsider, Seong-bin might look like a simple, sweet leader, but Lee Cheong-hyeon really had done something impressive. Spark had a pre-recording early this morning, and they had just come back from a music show recording and a group variety show. After finishing all those schedules, sitting down and doing nothing but studying for over four hours was no easy feat.
『I’m still going to head back after eating pizza, though.』
『Because I-wol Hyung isn't finished yet?』
Kang Gi-yeon glanced toward the living room.
『I can’t just go to sleep right after eating. Weren't you four going for a run after this?』
『...』
At Lee Cheong-hyeon’s words, Jeong Seong-bin and Park Ju-woo avoided eye contact simultaneously, as if they had rehearsed it.
≫ It’s midnight right now and they’re going for a run...?
≫ I wondered why you guys were suddenly eating pizza at this hour lol
≫ It’s okay to eat like this once in a while ㅠㅠ
≫ Look at the Main Vocals' faces hahahaha
Baek Hae-won quietly folded her plan to eat cup ramen. She couldn't shake the feeling that a late-night snack was a luxury for someone like her, who planned to sleep immediately after the live stream ended.
The pizza, which was "once petty but reborn through grace," was finally served. The name was given by Lee Cheong-hyeon after he heard the circumstances.
『Let’s call it the Han-eun Pizza for short.』
『Like the Bank of Korea?』
Jeong Seong-bin asked, but before the Han-eun Pizza could even consider a name change, it was dismantled into six slices.
Jeong Seong-bin was the first to put a freshly cut slice on a plate. He then cut it into bite-sized pieces and delivered it to Kim I-wol along with a fork.
『I’m okay, though.』
『Eat it if you get bored.』
After serving sparkling water as well, Jeong Seong-bin returned to enjoy the Han-eun Pizza with the other members. Watching the screen, Baek Hae-won sighed and poured water into her cup ramen.
『This is teasing me. I want more.』
『Another one is baking right now...!』
『Is this one also a pizza blessed with overflowing toppings?』
『It’s just a normal pizza.』
Watching Choi Je-ho respond indifferently, Lee Cheong-hyeon suppressed a laugh.
≫ Kim I-wol is eating pizza
≫ I-wol-ah, eat something while you work!!
Perhaps he had been monitoring the comments, because Jeong Seong-bin whispered something to Kim I-wol as he delivered the second baked pizza. After checking the chat window, Kim I-wol began to eat the pizza with his fork.
≫ He’s eating
≫ hahahaha I feel like I’m watching a wildlife documentary
≫ Aren't your legs numb...?
≫ I feel like I’m seeing all the expressionless I-wol I’ll ever see in my life today
Baek Hae-won nodded at the last comment. Even though his smiling face was the prettiest, fans were greedy. For Sparklers, who weren't satisfied until they saw every possible expression, an expressionless Kim I-wol was a rare find.
And yet, right before the fans' eyes! Today!
≫ The college student Cheon Yun-seong doing assignments actually exists
≫ A hundred praise stickers for Kim I-wol bringing the sweatshirt and messy hair combo
Including the pizza tasting time, a full 5-hour version of Kim I-wol in his "side job" moment was released...! (Since his main job was being a bright, smiling idol.)
≫ We... just wanted a few CSAT tips
≫ The CSAT Warrior who emphasizes that pure study time is more important than tips
≫ The idol who is the best at sitting still among all idols
≫ I’m so glad we didn't lose him to S-University...
Even as the pizza piled up like a mountain on the plates through the third pizza, Kim I-wol remained steadfast. Baek Hae-won finished her cup ramen and renewed her resolve.
『Well then, we’re going to go get some exercise!』
『Cheong-hyeon will be back for the study live~.』
With those closing remarks, the cooking live ended. Lee Cheong-hyeon gathered the pizza plates and returned to Kim I-wol’s side.
≫ Okay, everyone, let’s go study
≫ Open your books
≫ It’s not easy living a god-tier life like an idol...
≫ I have this on while I study, but I don't think I can do better on the CSAT than Cheong-hyeon
≫ If UA has a conscience, they should give I-wol a salary
≫ His office worker core is strong
After that, the silent self-study session resumed. It felt like being in a library. Perhaps because the atmosphere Kim I-wol and Lee Cheong-hyeon created wasn't in vain, Baek Hae-won actually managed to go through almost everything she had brought. All that was left was organizing her study planner.
‘Don’t you guys ever get tired...?’
Baek Hae-won had also woken up at the crack of dawn to go to school. No matter how much of a fitness fanatic Spark was, there was no way they weren't tired after being awake for a similar schedule.
Should I really start exercising? If I become a gym regular like Spark, will I be able to do self-development even with a schedule like this? Baek Hae-won decided she would look into gyms as soon as the CSAT was over.
“Hyung, should we wrap it up now?”
“Huh?”
Jeong Seong-bin sat down beside me and spoke.
“It’s already 3 AM.”
“What?”
I hadn't realized because the kitchen lights were so bright. I remembered telling Lee Cheong-hyeon to go in and sleep if he was done, though.
“You haven't slept yet either?”
“I napped for a bit.”
Jeong Seong-bin’s focus was a bit blurry. He really did have the face of someone who had just woken up. When I told him I’d finish up and head in soon, he stumbled back to his room.
“I’m sorry. I barely got to talk to you today. For those of you still here... is your schedule for tomorrow okay?”
≫ Planning to skip class
“Skipping class... make sure you check if you have enough attendance days left before you do that. You all remember how Seong-bin almost got an F last semester because of poor attendance, right?”
Whether he had fallen back asleep or not, there was no reaction from the room where Jeong Seong-bin was.
Urgent messages telling me to go to sleep followed. I sat still and read the chats as they slowly scrolled up.
≫ Who is making the Muse of the Ministry of Employment and Labor work until this hour???
≫ If UA isn't paying you, shake your mouse
≫ Stop giving work to a kid who’s already busy enough just being an idol ㅠ
≫ You’re not preparing for the concert all by yourself, are you? Tell me you’re not
“I should have explained better; I made a mistake. I definitely don't work like this every day! The company always tells me I can delegate things. It’s just my personality—I can’t relax unless I check everything myself. I’m slowly cutting back. I also intentionally saved some work to do for today’s content.”
However, I couldn't dismiss the fans' anxiety as mere overprotectiveness. After all, no one worried about my every move as much as Sparklers did.
I took the phone that was filming the live stream and moved it to a position where my face was clearly visible. After checking that it was in focus, I spoke carefully.
“There’s been a lot of work lately, right?”
As if by magic, the chat window stopped.
“When I’m working, it helps clear my head, so I like it. I’m not overdoing it. It would be defeating the purpose if I tried to relieve stress and ended up hurting my health instead. I’m only doing it to the extent that it’s a healthy way to blow off steam! You don't have to worry too much. I felt like I really needed to tell you that I’m doing well.”
Seeing the chat window turn into a sea of tears made me feel uneasy. I quickly added an excuse.
“It’s not just me who thinks this; even Seong-bin said that I look more energetic when I’m doing a certain amount of work!”
≫ If the Leader gave his permission, then I accept it
≫ Okay
≫ If Seong-bin certified it... lol
“...Why is the level of trust different from when I said it?”
≫ Because Sparklers ㅠ have to follow the Leader’s words like law ㅠ that’s what I-wol said ㅠ so we’re just following his words ㅠ
≫ Why do you think
≫ Seong-bin never says anything wrong. Not that you’re saying anything wrong, I-wol, but anyway, Seong-bin is never wrong
≫ If Kim I-wol doesn't go to sleep soon, Young Man Seong-bin will come and scold him
≫ You were the one who told us to just trust Seong-bin~! hahahahaha
As we laughed and chatted, time flew by again. If I let the fans stay up any longer, I was going to be disqualified as an idol.
“The last thing I really want to say is...”
I looked into the camera and spoke.
“Everything I do is because I want to show Sparklers a better result. There have been difficult moments, but it’s never been exhausting. Please watch over me, thinking of it as my effort to look my best for you. I’ll work hard while enjoying myself.”
I ended the live stream with my closing remarks. I felt more refreshed than tired. I had really wanted to say those words.
I hope they can feel the sincerity in my voice. The reason I work is entirely because of Sparklers, and nothing makes me feel more accomplished than their praise.