Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: I'll Get Revenge.
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"What do you mean?"
I furrowed my brow.
"I'm your friend, don't forget that."
I was about to say something when Hajin hyung, who had been staring at us, muttered again.
"Ah, the leader's got it rough. Says he's gonna help him again. Please don't cause any trouble. Are they seriously doing a double? Who's gonna stop them? Me? Ah, my stomach hurts."
What the hell, seriously.
I needed someone to explain the situation. Who was left? I stared at Ki Jaeyun. He noticed my gaze and spoke up right away.
"Dowon-ah. Am I really unpopular?"
Damn.
I shook my head. None of them were easy.
***
When I arrived at the practice room Yumi had reserved, it was already bustling with people. Kang Minje was fiddling intently with his headset and laptop, and Yumi was crouched beside him.
That much was somewhat expected. But there was one unexpected person.
I bowed my head briefly.
"Executive Director Joo!"
"Dowon-ah. Long time no see."
"You look great."
She chuckled and beckoned me over. As I approached, Executive Director Joo pinched my cheek and stretched it.
"It just hit me, but you worked hard at the press conference."
Isn't that all over now? Why bring it up?
"You worked hard too, ma'am."
"Sigh. This kid really pulled it off."
"It was a spot we had to shine in."
"Good boy..."
Executive Director Joo released my cheek with a wry smile.
"Sorry I couldn't fully trust you back then."
Damn.
I shook my head.
"Trust me next time. I get it done."
Though I do it to make it happen.
Executive Director Joo nodded slightly. I grinned brightly. Owing a favor to a capable boss felt pretty good.
"The stage yesterday was great, right?"
"Of course. We did it."
"I complained a bit about VIP too, but those bastards."
Executive Director Joo straightened her shoulders.
"I'll get revenge. On those broadcast station jerks."
"Count me in."
"Aigoo. Such a cutie. Yes, yes."
Yumi was still listening to the track Kang Minje had arranged. She quietly gave a thumbs-up.
"Wow, you're really a genius?"
Yumi took off her headset and raised her other thumb too.
"When Dowon said you were amazing, I didn't quite believe it at first, but wow, this is no joke. You."
"Did Dowon say that?"
Damn.
"Yeah. You're a genius! No, you're the god of arrangement! Where do these ideas come from?"
"Ideas..."
Kang Minje glanced at me with a sly, fox-like smile.
"I have a member who sparks my inspiration."
Yumi clapped once.
Clap—
"Who's that?"
He stared straight at me.
Me? Kang Minje? What are you looking at?
'Been a while since I wanted to land a solid punch.'
Doing it here would make me the real lunatic.
I shook my head. Unfortunately, Yumi caught on and smiled with her eyes.
"Is it Dowon?"
"Dowon's pretty passionate, you know. Watching him keeps things from getting boring."
"I get that too!"
Yumi burst into giggles. Whatever had soured her mood earlier was gone; she was back to her usual self.
Soon the other members arrived. Executive Director Joo stood up.
"Alright, attention!"
I sometimes wonder who started saying "attention" first.
Executive Director Joo extended a hand to Yumi. The senior grabbed it and stood up effortlessly.
"Zenith members! I'm pissed right now."
Damn.
"Because they dared to make our Zenith pre-record the year-end stage. So, we~ won't~ lose~."
If we do, we're in big trouble.
"Our goal is simple. Make them forget VIP's stage ever happened."
Executive Director Joo and Yumi exchanged smiles.
"Our company's big investment—no, big stars! We can do it, right?"
So the "investment" part was the real thought.
Yoo Hajin replied.
"We can."
"Can I trust you?"
"You can!"
I furrowed my brow. It was starting to feel like a religious rally.
"I'll support you. Squeeze out the best value and make a killer stage."
Still so straightforward.
Executive Director Joo beamed and waved.
"Then I'll take my leave."
She backed away just like that.
'I sometimes think...'
I quietly gazed at the ceiling.
'This company has a lot of weird people.'
From the president to the executives and managers. It wasn't that they were missing screws; they seemed to have extras.
Leader hyung said.
"She has high expectations."
"Seems thrilled at the thought of revenge."
"I'd be excited too."
"Why? Do you know something?"
Yoo Hajin grinned.
"It's because of you."
What now?
"What did I do?"
"You're always winning the popularity contest. That's given her courage. Meaning this is all your fault, Dowon-ah."
A wry smile escaped me. What is this?
"You're saying I turned her into that?"
"Yeah."
"You're saying something scary, leader hyung."
"Is that so? Come on, Dowon-ah. You created this situation, so take responsibility."
Responsibility my ass.
I stood and stretched.
'Fine, whatever.'
I looked at myself in the mirror.
'I have no intention of losing.'
And I was pissed about VIP too.
'We already hit them once with the Sweet Kiss collab.'
Broadcast hasn't aired yet, though.
'We landed a blow, but didn't pin them down.'
To do that, we needed more.
I glanced at Yumi. The senior, dressed plainly in workout clothes, was still stunning.
'Time to unleash a finisher.'
With Yumi, it should work.
We'd been given a real weapon. Now, how to make it land perfectly.
As I pondered, Kang Minje spoke.
"Listen to the track I arranged from yesterday first. It's Yumi sunbaenim's 'Shooting' reworked."
Huh, Shooting? The title made me chuckle.
'The song I danced to in the audition.'
I crossed my arms and turned to Kang Minje. Yumi smiled.
"You know our concept? Queen of Hearts and trump soldiers."
Right.
"The Queen of Hearts says 'off with their heads.' Minje combined it with Shooting."
"Chop heads and shoot guns, huh."
"Exactly! That's it."
Yumi made a finger gun.
"I'm shooting."
She winked and fired at the mirror.
"You guys chop heads."
Damn.
"An honor."
It was the queen's command.
Yumi beamed at my words and clapped twice.
Clap clap—
Then her dance team rushed in with sticks, as if waiting.
Damn.
'Using sticks? This'll kill us.'
Mastering props in a short time wasn't easy. Plus, Korean audiences had high standards.
'Unless it's flawless, it won't even register.'
Sloppy use just gets you hate.
'Gotta steel myself.'
I rolled my shoulders. As I warmed up, Yumi's clear voice rang out.
"Wanted axes, but they said no even without blades."
Probably safety before broadcast laws.
"So we went with sticks. Got them quick, and luckily they're not heavy."
The dance team handed us sticks. I took mine and smiled faintly. Come to think of it, familiar faces.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah. You rascal, ambition—no, Cha Dowon! You're super famous now."
Damn.
"Good debut and luck."
"More than good. You're everywhere. I thought, 'oh crap' when I saw."
What?
"Should've made a noose..."
He smiled shyly and pulled something from his pocket, then gripped it into my hand.
"Bribe."
I stared blankly. No idea what face to make.
"Good stuff."
"Pomegranate juice?"
The red liquid sloshed in the pouch.
"Shake it well before drinking."
"Ah, sure."
"Let's forget the past with pomegranate juice."
No clue what that meant. As I fixated on the juice, the dancer patted my shoulder and passed.
Yumi's laughter echoed from afar. My brow furrowed on its own. Baffled, I rubbed my dry face, and Yumi sauntered over.
"He's serious."
"Ah, sure."
"He's a pomegranate juice fanatic."
"I see."
Super nutritious info.
"Best he's tried. Some small company award-winner."
"Ah, sunbaenim. That's enough on the juice."
No more, please.
I sighed deeply, and Yumi giggled again.
"He regrets being cocky to you."
I recalled the past. Ah, yeah.
"Don't remember."
"Huh?"
"So tell him it's fine later."
Whatever it was, no more juice. I shook my head, and Yumi covered her mouth laughing.
"As expected, Dowon-ah. Always fun with you."
Is that so? Not sure, sunbaenim.
Yumi patted my shoulder and sauntered off like she came. She picked up a prop gun and adjusted her stance. I gripped the black stick.
Light, but no joke.
***
'Worries confirmed.'
The dancer bellowed at us.
"This is horizontal."
The stick spun. Whoosh.
"This is vertical. Good. Try the stance."
I mimicked exactly. Whoosh whoosh by my ears.
"You you you! Pass! You you! Fail. Fails redo!"
Fails were Lee Seungjun and Kang Minje. They tried again.
'Huh?'
Weird. Lee Seungjun nailed it, but Kang Minje didn't.
'That slick guy failing?'
I tilted my head, and Yoo Hajin beside me whispered.
"Minje's weak at dance."
Huh.
'Didn't know.'
Always seemed effortless.
'Thought he aced everything but acting.'
As if reading me, Yoo Hajin whispered.
"Minje practices dance like crazy despite this."
"News to me."
"Basics are solid, so he's managed, but this needs application."
I nodded. Yeah, this dance was pro-level.
'Not that we're amateurs...'
The dancer told Kang Minje.
"Aren't you the music-making kid?"
"Yeah."
He smiled softly.
"Well, nobody's perfect. I'll give you special training. Rest, follow me."
Kang Minje wiped his smile. I stared.
'Even if dance was his weak spot...'
Something off about his state.
'Not resting?'
His rest time flashed in my mind.
'That fox bastard didn't sleep at dorm, kept tweaking music.'
Yesterday, he was cursing but inspired.
I narrowed my eyes. When did this guy rest?
'Group schedules, solos. Plus lyrics, composing, arranging.'
Not as bad as me, but swamped.
'No way...'
Was I right?
Pondering, the dancer yelled.
"Now diagonals! Follow! Real basics."
I got into stance and copied. My eye for detail made it not too hard.
***
Over ten hours passed. Choreo halfway. Kang Minje kept lagging.
Wrists numb, taping them when dancer yelled.
"Break!"
Damn.
Everyone collapsed. Kang Minje headed to his laptop amid it.
'That bastard...'
I glanced. Then Ki Jaeyun said.
"Today's our stage airing, right?"
Yoo Hajin checked the wall clock.
"Ah, collab stage."
"I'll put it on the tablet!"
Ki Jaeyun, tireless, monkey-jumped for the tablet. Yoo Hajin and Lee Seungjun peered at the screen.
'Kang Minje's not coming.'
He was donning his headset.
"Ours is next."
Yoo Hajin beckoned me.
"Watch together, Dowon-ah."
I alternated between leader hyung and the fox.
'Damn.'
I grabbed my smartphone and the fox's arm.