Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Let's Get Close
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“Hey, what an honor.”
I wondered what expression my late mother would make if she saw this situation.
‘Lady Cha Yeonhwa would probably just tell me to take the whole set.’
She’d even offer packaging and delivery. Though no returns, of course.
“Ahaha, don’t be flustered. It’s just a joke! A joke!”
Phew, that’s a relief.
“You already got burned by one family, so you don’t need another one, right?”
She knew that much.
“Dowon, one noona is enough for you, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry for all the fuss my guy caused in the meantime. This one... well, it was on purpose.”
Usually, people deny intent.
“Uh, Dowon.”
Jeong Ji-seok grabbed my shoulder.
“From today onward...”
The mood turned strangely wistful. I hurriedly looked around. I nearly fainted seeing the manager and staff who had suddenly appeared, watching us fondly.
‘Damn. What the hell is this?’
Jeong Ji-seok’s low voice bounced off the wall.
“Let’s get close.”
“Did you have to say it like that?”
“Should I kneel?”
“Why kneel!”
“Then give me a piggyback ride?”
Wow.
I was floored. As I pointed at him in disbelief, his wife burst into laughter.
“Kyaa~ So cute. So cute! Wow, honey, you’re really cute!”
“That’s why I tease him!”
“Did you see his lips quivering? Wow, even when a handsome guy gets mad, it’s cute.”
Damn. They were really enjoying themselves.
I rubbed my forehead. His wife approached with a beaming smile.
“It’s a joke.”
“Joke twice more and it’ll be trouble.”
“Hehehe. Then, shall we go eat?”
What now?
Jeong Ji-seok mumbled awkwardly.
“I came to buy you a meal.”
“You worked so hard, after all. You have no idea how worried I was watching that press conference. I kept thinking if that kid was okay.”
“Food didn’t taste good. Eating with someone else helps it go down.”
What misunderstanding was this?
I’d never skipped a meal before or after the press conference. Wasn’t it all for eating and living?
“I got permission from your manager ahead of time.”
“Let’s eat together. I reserved a nice place.”
I looked at my manager again. Heo Yongdam gave a thumbs-up and nodded. A chuckle escaped me.
‘When times are tough, the real ones are the ones who show up.’
All things considered, Jeong Ji-seok wasn’t half bad.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
As Jeong Ji-seok linked arms with me, Lee Mi-kyung hooked her arm through his. Half-dragged by the couple, I left the venue.
‘Damn.’
Why didn’t it feel bad? That nagging feeling was oddly unsettling.
***
I looked at the person in front of me. Their complexion looked much healthier than before.
‘Lately, a lot of people have been coming to see me.’
Visitors were plentiful. I said to the person seated across from me,
“You look okay.”
“Yes. It’s mostly resolved.”
Sa Hyeok’s former manager scratched his head and smiled. It was obvious at a glance.
‘You got 500 million won.’
Well, that was the better choice anyway.
“Uh, I saw the press conference. That was probably Sa Hyeok’s doing. He’s close with the reporters.”
“Wow. Then he must be eating shit right about now.”
“The reporters will just put out other articles like nothing happened and boost their click counts. That industry’s always like that.”
Dirty, so dirty.
“Are you okay?”
“Everyone keeps asking that. Do I look that worn out?”
“You look fine. But you need to act a bit fragile too.”
What did that mean?
“Fabricate some counseling records from a psychiatrist. Show the public and fans that you’re strong but with a hint of vulnerability. So they don’t push for more extreme stuff.”
“Ah, I see.”
Excellent advice.
“Yes, that’ll make your future activities smoother, Dowon.”
“Well, alright. Counseling it is.”
Money down the drain, but unavoidable.
“The entertainment business looks glamorous on the outside, but it festers within. Since you’re doing it anyway, get a real diagnosis.”
Hm. Not sure, but they might kick him out saying he’s not a patient.
‘Should I fool them completely?’
But a proper psychiatrist would see through that. Maybe find a quack.
As I mulled it over, Sa Hyeok’s former manager cautiously spoke up.
“I’m sorry. For barging into the company out of the blue.”
“No. It’s fine.”
“I wanted to apologize but didn’t know where to find you. I contacted your manager and came straight here.”
“Apologize for what?”
Sa Hyeok’s former manager continued calmly.
“I’m sorry. I settled.”
“No. It was your choice.”
“Watching you at the press conference, I regretted it so much. I wondered if none of this would’ve happened if I’d kept going.”
Such pointless thoughts.
“Isn’t it unrelated to your job? Sa Hyeok would’ve done this regardless of you.”
A chuckle escaped.
“Ah, I kinda miss Sa Hyeok’s face now.”
“He’s probably drowning in booze by now.”
“He must look even uglier. Makes me wanna see him more.”
The manager finally smiled a little.
“Good thing you turned it into a blessing, Dowon.”
“Well, it wasn’t a big deal to begin with. Fail to handle it, and you’re gone.”
“Once again, I apologize.”
“Once again, there’s no need.”
Sa Hyeok’s former manager’s voice trembled slightly.
“T-Thank you for saying that.”
He’s gonna cry. I steered the conversation lightly.
“How’s your wife?”
“She started working.”
Self-employment’s risky. Recalling my pre-regression part-time jobs, I looked at the manager worriedly.
“She got a job at a real estate firm. She already had the license.”
Ah, that’s better.
“She’s still an employee, but she’ll open her own soon. Even the kid approved.”
“Fine daughter you have.”
Sa Hyeok’s manager smiled faintly.
“She’s too good for me.”
“So what will you do?”
“I submitted my resume yesterday.”
“Where?”
Sa Hyeok’s former manager beamed at me.
“As a manager. This time, I think I can enjoy it.”
“Congratulations.”
I didn’t know why he wanted back in, but I congratulated him sincerely.
“Thank you. Sounds silly, but I love this job. Confident I can do well.”
“Of course. You stuck with Sa Hyeok, and he’s no ordinary guy.”
“Please take care of me.”
What?
“I’m on another team now, but someday I’ll be Zenith’s manager.”
Laughter burst out.
“Pfft!”
“I may lack experience, but I’m useful. Zenith’s about to hit the top. You’ll need my help someday.”
“Did you negotiate a good salary?”
“Not bad.”
I leaned back in the office chair. The laughter wouldn’t stop.
‘Things like this happen too.’
I felt incredibly cheerful. Sa Hyeok, thanks. You left me a good person.
“I know some English and Chinese, by the way. That’s why my uncle assigned me to Sa Hyeok.”
Wow.
Thanks, Sa Hyeok. For letting go of talent.
“What did your uncle say?”
“He said to cut ties. Honestly, it hurt back then, but your press conference cleared it up.”
“Good for you. Plenty of inhumane people out there.”
“Yes. Family’s what matters to me. And...”
Sa Hyeok’s manager looked at me with moist eyes.
“Dowon, you’re important to me now too.”
He was overly grateful for something so minor.
“Don’t say that. You have a daughter.”
“Grateful I can repay my benefactor.”
“This is crazy.”
Sa Hyeok’s former manager—no, Friends Entertainment’s manager—grinned. The smile from someone always so timid looked decent enough.
‘Wonder what Sa Hyeok’s up to?’
I really wanted to see his pathetic state.
***
Crash!
Another bottle shattered. Sa Hyeok couldn’t steady himself in the trashed living room.
“Fuckin’ bastard!”
The guy slumped off the sofa and collapsed. Glass shards sparkled on the glossy marble floor.
“All of ’em are fuckin’ assholes!”
The manager he’d crouched with earlier suddenly turned on him. He’d barely pacified him with money, then used reporters.
But Cha Dowon counterattacked.
‘So what... Rookie punk...’
All he had was child actor creds. Sa Hyeok trembled, reaching for something to throw. Nothing within grasp.
Then.
A mechanical beep. The front door opening. Sa Hyeok bolted up thoughtlessly. Only his ex-manager knew the passcode.
“Wow.”
A familiar voice. The guy he wanted to beat senseless had brought two more.
There was the ex-manager. The other, he didn’t know but could guess.
‘That punk’s bodyguard?’
With two escorts, the guy looked smug.
“What a mess. Who’s cleaning this?”
Cha Dowon crossed the living room without removing his shoes. He greeted Sa Hyeok on the sofa.
“Hello? Zenith’s Cha Dowon, at your service!”
“Shut up.”
“I heard you were ill, sunbae, so I came personally. Sorry for the late hour. But I was worried.”
He set a fruit basket in the middle of the living room.
“Brought visitation fruits too. These were pricey.”
“You little shit!”
Sa Hyeok tried to stand and crumpled. Cha Dowon approached slowly, hands in pockets.
“You only have one liver, sunbae. Gonna overwork it?”
“Crazy bastard!”
“You’re drunk and out of it. The gentle guy from before... what happened?”
He scanned the room with a smile.
“Nice place. Wonder how much this costs. Hm, makes sense. A top star who conquered Asia can afford it.”
Cha Dowon turned to the ex-manager.
“Manager, how much for a place like this?”
“Well, my wife might know. Great Han River view, but not that livable. Humid too.”
“Reality ain’t romantic, huh. Romances are often illusions.”
“Still pricey. That’s the romance.”
Cha Dowon nodded.
“I see. Money fixes humidity, I guess.”
Sa Hyeok rubbed his eyes, straining to see the intruders. Drunk, his body wouldn’t cooperate.
“I’m worried about you, sunbae.”
“Hey!”
“Always wondered. Why do people change when they make it? Think fame and money justify anything? Why?”
Cha Dowon plopped down next to Sa Hyeok.
“Even if they think that, showing it gets you out, right?”
“You shit! Who are you to bitch at me?”
“Then who are you to bitch at me? Ah! ’Cause you’re Sa Hyeok?”
Cha Dowon stood.
“Sa Hyeok still worth something? News to me.”
Sa Hyeok lunged, swinging wildly, then twisted his ankle and fell off the sofa.
“I’m saying this out of worry, for you~ sunbae.”
“Dowon, let’s go now.”
“Ah, time’s up. I’ve been busy lately, sunbae.”
Cha Dowon sauntered off lightly.
“Oh! Forgot why I came. Visitation? Yeah, but also wanted to see your face. Climbing so hard just to crash spectacularly.”
Cha Dowon grinned.
‘Yeah. After all I went through because of that punk.’
The middle school third-year idol added,
“But you know this ain’t all, right? Our president’s pissed. No idea what he’ll do.”
Whatever it was, Cha Dowon seemed eager.
“If you really become a has-been with nowhere to go, call me. I’m not big enough to pick anyone yet, but I’ll think about it. If production won’t budge, oh well.”
“You fuckin’ shit!”
Cha Dowon bowed politely.
“Thanks for giving me a good person too, Sa Hyeok. Looking forward to meeting again.”
The idol left leisurely.