Chapter 542: Myung Je-il Studio(1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 542: Myung Je-il Studio(1)
I’ve developed this weird prejudice ever since I got close to the Bald Man.
Basically, if someone is bald, they look incredibly competent.
Isn't it strange?
But it’s not just me; apparently, the other kids feel the same way. Thanks to the "all-rounder" image the Bald Man burned into our brains, every other bald person we see looks like a master of their craft.
You know how in those mangas, the protagonist is bald and insanely strong? It’s like that.
Anyway.
There’s only one reason I’m bringing this up.
Because another damnably competent bald guy has appeared.
Myung Je-il.
A talented photographer whom everyone practically begs to be shot by.
His feminine gestures and his shaved head were two things that shouldn't have gone together, yet they surprisingly did. It was like mixing kimchi, pizza, and tangsuyuk and somehow ending up with a single, cohesive dish.
Anyway.
In this modern society where baldness is becoming a symbol of competence, I started feeling a strange impulse.
"…Should I shave my head too?"
Maybe if I shaved it all off, some hidden SSS-rank talent would awaken and I’d become super competent?
"Don't talk nonsense."
"Pfft."
Oh Yun-ji and Senior Ju-hee, who were listening nearby, gave two very different reactions.
I wasn't being entirely serious, of course. I was just slightly tempted.
"Don't you remember after you were discharged from the military? You said you’d never cut your hair short again."
"Ah, right."
Yun-ji’s reminder brought it all back. I had vowed to myself countless times that I would never have short hair again as long as I lived. I made that vow every single day for exactly eighteen months.
"Why? I thought you looked quite cute like that."
Senior Ju-hee seemed to have a fond memory of 'Private Kim' with his buzz cut, but I certainly didn't.
I had promised myself over and over never to cut it short again, yet I’d forgotten so easily. I guess everyone forgets everything once they leave the military. Sometimes I still wake up in the middle of the night because of the kids, and I’m genuinely baffled by how I ever managed to pull night guard duty.
It really is a mystery.
While we were chatting, Myung Je-il was already scanning the girls one by one.
"Oh, it’s just as Jin-ah said! There are so many so beautiful children here!"
In my experience, I’ve never met anyone who actually speaks English like that who is actually good at English.
Am I just being too cynical?
Regardless, Myung Je-il walked around with the confidence of someone picking out a designer handbag before coming to a dead stop in front of me.
"Hoo, I see there is a nerd squeezed in among these beautiful ladies."
"Is this son of a...?"
The curse slipped out before I could stop it, but honestly, can you blame me? If you call someone a nerd to their face, you have to be prepared to get cursed out.
And I am Kim Woo-jin.
Given my personality—the kind that would headbutt the Chairman of Uju Group if insulted—I couldn't just let this slide.
"Well, you look like a gay guy, you know that? It’s annoying as hell."
"Oh, not yet."
What do you mean 'not yet,' you crazy bastard?
I instinctively took a step back.
I, Kim Woo-jin, knew from experience: you don't mess with people like this.
"Sigh, you are such a pathetic man compared to your brother. Even if this is a favor for Jae-un, this is just too much."
This guy even knew I was Big Hyung’s younger brother.
I was so dumbfounded I almost snapped back, but I held it in. If I provoked him, that "not yet" might progress into something much worse.
However, there was someone else to get angry on my behalf.
"Excuse me!"
None other than my biggest fan.
The woman who would scream "Kim Woo-jin!" if asked who her bias was.
The woman who commanded the roles of president, vice president, treasurer, and director of the Kim Woo-jin Fan Club all by herself.
Seo Da-mi was on the case.
"Our senior is not a nerd! Do you have any idea how amazing he is?!"
"Our?"
"Hah."
Oh Yun-ji and Senior Ju-hee snorted from the sidelines. They were already annoyed by Myung Je-il’s insults toward me, but Da-mi’s use of the word "our" seemed to grate on their nerves even more.
"How can someone famous not recognize a diamond in the rough? This is ridiculous!"
"Girl? Do you know how many actors I’ve seen? This boy is not it."
"This is starting to get irritating."
"……."
As the insults toward me continued, Oh Yun-ji crossed her arms, making no effort to hide her displeasure. Senior Ju-hee even clenched her fists as if she were about to step in.
I wasn't the only one who sensed the bloodlust.
Seo Da-mi seemed to feel it too, but...
"Wait a minute!"
She held up a hand to stop the two of them and made a firm declaration.
"I’ll handle this. I need to open the eyes of this fool who can't see even a speck of Senior Woo-jin’s charm."
"…Now I’m the one who’s uncomfortable."
I really wished she’d stop.
I’d rather just be a nerd.
But as if he were a character in an anime, Myung Je-il struck an exaggerated pose and nodded with a bright smile.
"Okay, stupid girl! I accept your challenge!"
Oh, for fuck's sake.
Why am I suddenly caught in the middle of this stupid fight?
"Hey, look. I’ll just be the nerd, so let’s not do anything weir—"
"Senior! Come here, quick! Let’s show this bald guy what’s what!"
"Da-mi, telling a bald person they're bald is really hurtful. Go apologize to the bald man right now."
She wasn't listening.
Seo Da-mi marched over and shoved me into a makeup chair.
"Makeup! Please!"
"Yes, ma'am."
A woman approached and began setting out an array of cosmetics. Since Da-mi had spoken with such confidence, I thought she was going to do it herself, but...
"A professional is always best!"
Da-mi gave a thumbs-up and then started backseat driving the makeup process.
"Like I said, please go for a natural look. Especially with Senior Woo-jin’s skin tone, once the lights hit him—"
Da-mi chattered on and on.
I thought it would be rude, but the makeup technician actually listened intently, saying she wanted to meet the client's needs.
Well, I’ll be.
Is this what a pro looks like?
Impressive.
The other girls came over to the neighboring chairs and started getting their makeup and hair done as well.
A massive mirror.
Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo sitting on either side of me.
It felt like we were at a group hair salon, and I felt a little flutter of excitement.
"I-seo, have you ever had this done before?"
When I glanced over and asked, Choi I-seo shook her head bashfully.
"No, it’s my first time. I’m a little nervous."
Normally, she should have had this done for a wedding.
But we never had a wedding.
…….
Well, it’s not like the three of us could have a wedding at the same time.
And honestly, we got pregnant before we got married anyway.
Still, I definitely want to see them in wedding dresses one day.
That was my dream.
It’s not like I don't have the money, so I believed that one day I’d be able to put them in wedding dresses.
"Woo-jin."
Seo Ye-rin called my name.
I couldn't turn my head, so I just shifted my eyes toward her. She gave me a mischievous grin.
"Want me to give you a pro tip for getting makeup done?"
"A pro tip?"
Since she used to be an actress, I figured she had some experience.
As I stared at her curiously, she suddenly started flaring her nostrils.
"It makes the time go by faster."
"…You’re just trying to be funny, aren't you?"
"Tsk. The unnis at the salon used to say it was cute when I did this."
Well, with Seo Ye-rin’s face, she still looked cute even while flaring her nostrils.
"Not cute?"
She asked, sounding a bit pouted.
I chuckled and answered.
"It’s cute."
"Hehe."
I glanced at Choi I-seo through the mirror. When I signaled for her to try it too, she narrowed her eyes and glared at my reflection.
"Not happening."
"Tsk."
"Woo-jin, you try it too."
Ye-rin flared her nostrils again.
It was so funny that I started to mimic her, when—
Slap!
Seo Da-mi smacked my thigh.
"Senior! I told you, you can't show any ugly sides! If that ahjussi saw that, we would have lost instantly!"
"……."
Is this girl really my fan?
On the other hand, Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo were barely holding back their laughter. They couldn't laugh properly or they’d ruin their makeup.
"Hey, Seo Ye-rin. You actually brought that?"
"Hehe, it’ll be fun."
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi Jin-ah walked into the makeup room. There was a bizarre sign hanging around Choi Jin-ah’s neck.
It was a sign that said [MINE!] attached to a short string so it could be worn like a necklace.
Choi Jin-ah was wearing it like a puppy.
"Yep! I brought it!"
"……."
Seo Ye-rin answered with a bright smile, while Choi I-seo squeezed her eyes shut, pretending not to see.
"What is that?"
I asked, wondering if I was the only one out of the loop. Yoo Ah-rin answered with a smirk.
"The leash you’re going to wear when we take pictures later."
"……."
They were making such bold statements so casually in front of the makeup staff. It wasn't that they trusted these people; they just didn't care what anyone thought.
I’d noticed it before, but the girls were getting more and more shameless.
I had a feeling I knew where they learned it from, though…
"You want me to wear that for the shoot?"
"Yeah, it’ll be fun."
"……."
Choi Jin-ah was swinging the [MINE!] sign back and forth.
Well, it was a bit strange.
But if the girls liked it, what was a little necklace like that?
* * *
Usually, hair and makeup take longer for women, right?
Especially for those with long hair like Seo Ye-rin, Oh Yun-ji, or Senior Ju-hee.
But I ended up taking the longest.
It was all because of one crazy sasaeng fan who acted like my mother, pointing out every little detail and demanding corrections.
Honestly, it was annoying at first.
But halfway through, I just shut my mouth.
Because Seo Da-mi’s eye for detail was actually quite impressive, and following her suggestions really did make me look better.
Even the technicians got excited when they saw me improving under Da-mi’s direction.
"Wow."
I marveled at my reflection in the mirror.
Am I really this handsome?
I was so shocked I almost touched my face, but the makeup artist stopped me with a gasp, telling me I shouldn't smudge it.
At this rate...
I wouldn't look out of place standing next to the girls at all.
Truly impressed, I walked out to the studio.
And then.
"……."
Myung Je-il looked at me, then immediately turned his gaze back to the girls.
The girls were all dressed up and looking stunning. They were always pretty, but today they were radiant.
But I wasn't lacking either.
I stood tall, shoulders back, basking in Myung Je-il’s gaze, but...
"You cleaned up well, but..."
He looked back at the girls with an uncertain expression.
"Compared to the ladies, you’re still a bit..."
Wait, me?
The current me, the ultra-handsome alpha male Kim Woo-jin?
This won't do.
Da-mi, bite him!
"Da-mi, go tell him—!"
"Dammit! I knew it!"
…Da-mi?
"I knew it wouldn't be enough!"
That bitch just gave me hope and snatched it right back.