Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Shall We Go More Aggressively?
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‘I was thinking of going more aggressively.’
‘Kang Minje’s making music, Lee Seungjun’s building muscle, Leader Hyung’s studying foreign languages, and Ki Jaeyoon’s sleeping.’
It was business as usual.
I lay down on the floor right away. It was time to work on my abs. As soon as I started exercising, the manager shook his head.
“Hey. You crazy ambitious bastard.”
Damn. When would that nickname finally die?
“Why?”
“People are saying Zenith is the next big thing. Their momentum is insane.”
“They’ve got good eyes.”
“You think so too?”
Why ask the obvious?
“Yeah.”
“I see. I’m worried, though.”
I narrowed my eyes while doing crunches.
“About what?”
“Well, they say you can crash hard after riding a wave like this. If your luck sucks and you mess up just a little.”
I couldn’t help but snicker.
“You think we’ll crash?”
“Oh, no, not that, but I’m still worried. Idols have short careers, so it has to be now or never. Even if you do nothing wrong, you could end up struggling like last time.”
Wow. Really...
“That’s unnecessary worrying.”
Just then, a knock came from outside the door. The manager, nimble despite his belly, opened it, and Yumi walked in.
“Oh, sunbae-nim.”
I stood up from my spot. Everyone bowed their heads except for the sleeping Ki Jaeyoon, then lifted them again.
“How’s everyone feeling today, hoobaes?”
Leader Hyung took out his earphones and replied.
“We’re all good.”
“I’m good too. I slept like a rock.”
Yumi beamed at me.
“It’s not Friday the 13th today.”
Superstitions still getting to her, huh.
I glanced at the waiting room window. The frosted glass meant no one outside could see in.
The manager said.
“Hey, Yumi. It’s snowing today.”
“I’m fine now. Superstitions too.”
Yumi met my eyes.
“Someone smashed them for me. Haven’t believed since.”
Good to hear.
Yumi tapped my shoulder.
“Dowon-ah. Guess we’re fated or something. We keep running into each other.”
I shook my head.
“I’m the one always in your debt. From the music video to this stage.”
“First time going on late, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Just this once. You’ll be headlining soon enough.”
Wow. High praise.
“It’s like this today, but someday I might owe you!”
“If that day comes, gladly.”
“Dowon-ie still talks so pretty.”
“That’s my charm.”
Yumi beamed. Good thing she didn’t seem nervous around her sunbae-nim.
“So, hoobaes!”
Yumi looked at each Zenith member one by one.
“Once again, take care of me.”
Leader Hyung replied right away.
“We should be saying that to you.”
“See you later!”
Yumi turned with a bright wave and left. Leader Hyung let out a deep sigh.
“Yumi sunbae-nim’s so nice, why were you nervous, hyung? She’s not intimidating.”
“Dowon-ah, you’ve met her a few times, but we haven’t. Plus, I’m a little scared of her.”
Scared? Of what?
“She’s so soft and beautiful offstage, but onstage her charisma is insane. Feels like a different person.”
I snickered.
“Isn’t that normal?”
The manager answered instead.
“Nope. Yumi’s especially like that.”
Really?
“But it’s still the same Yumi sunbae-nim. People have multiple sides. No need to be the same, right?”
Then Kang Minje chuckled.
“Hajin-ah. Dowon won’t get it.”
“Why?”
“That part’s similar. Dowon’s eyes change onstage too.”
“Oh, right.”
Was that a jab?
I tilted my head, and the manager flicked his belly laughing.
“Minje said it well. That guy’s not crazy for nothing!”
I stared at Kang Minje. Yeah, that was a jab.
About to fire back, but the sly fox smiled smoothly.
“It’s a good thing. Matches this song especially well.”
“This song’s all about shooting and beheading.”
“Yeah. I leaned into your natural vibe and tweaked the percussion. Was fun.”
What’s that mean?
‘Sometimes I think artists talk in riddles.’
That’s when the door burst open, and a writer came in.
“Zenith, get ready.”
“Whoa! Yeah. Jaeyoon-ah, up! Stage time!”
Ki Jaeyoon shot up and looked around.
“What! Already?”
“Jaeyoon, mirror and go.”
Seriously.
I got up leisurely and walked over. Stylist Noona brushed off my clothes. A black coat dangled from her hand.
“Do great.”
“Thanks.”
“Want to keep dressing you like this, but probably just this once. Shame.”
I snickered.
‘Yeah, now a high school freshman.’
No more ‘pretty boy.’
I grabbed the black stick and headed out. Yumi and the dance team were already there.
“Let’s do this! Zenith!”
Leader Hyung replied right away.
“Yes. Take care of us.”
Quite a crowd walked the hallway together.
‘Stage soon.’
Gonna be packed. Wonder how many would notice me.
My mood lifted naturally. I didn’t hide it, just smiled.
***
The MCs’ voices rang out.
“Next up, Yumi and the rookies rising scary fast. You know ‘em, Daewoon-ssi?”
“Of course. Yumi and Zenith together.”
“They rearranged ‘Shooting’ cool, huh? What do we do, GN-ssi? My heart’s pounding already.”
“No way, Daewoon-ssi. Heart pounding or not, you gotta watch the stage.”
“I’ll take my meds! Ahh, can’t wait. Anyway, together!”
“Wonderful! Stage on!”
Always sounded so cheesy. Why write scripts like that? And year-end stage feeling like a music show? Total disconnect.
‘Whatever, script’s script. This is the stage.’
I bowed my head.
The stage was quiet. Only the audience’s murmurs.
Thump- Thump-
‘Shooting’s rhythm spread. Then laser beams slowly descended.
Green lights overlapped mid-air then scattered. The thumping mechanical beat grew stronger, then cut off sharp.
Yumi’s voice.
“Shooting.”
She rose slowly center stage. Audience cheers filled my ears soon after.
‘Kang Minje’s a genius.’
Flawless opening, not a single drop.
Her voice again.
“Shooting!”
Bang-
With that, dancers and we charged out. We spun our sticks once, jumped mid-air, landed smooth.
“Shooting!”
Timing was key. Twenty-plus people swung black rods in perfect sync like a mass game.
“Shooting!”
Beat picked up. Yumi strode the stage regally. Shredding notes merged with the main melody.
Heavy rap dropped. Lee Seungjun’s voice.
~Cheating with my friend’s girl~
Yumi shouted.
“Slice their necks!”
Dancers and Zenith swung rods again.
‘Once mid, stab left from right, back mid.’
Shifted weight left, spun mid-air once more, dropped.
~Shooting! Shooting! Gonna shoot you down!
Yumi fired center wildly. Recoil shook her body, jewelry trembling.
‘Stage is total art.’
I swung my black rod. Lasers descended again.
Moment I’d waited for.
Zenith stepped forward, shed black coats. Pin lights hit, revealing outfits.
Kyaaah-
Cheers erupted. I switched expressions.
~Shooting! Shooting!
Rod back, smirked.
‘Kang Minje was right.’
No acting needed for this track. Just bare my hunger to devour the moment.
Cheers swelled from the stage.
‘I know.’
Most weren’t my fans. Zenith still rookies.
‘Not my problem.’
Look at me.
Fans’ lightsticks sparkled like stars. I wanted to paint them Zenith colors.
Look at us.
Camera caught me. I bared my desire raw.
Smiled honestly. Excitement rushed to my fingertips.
‘Feels good.’
This must be what being alive feels like. Why I love the stage.
Positions shifted dynamically. I spun once, swung rod top to bottom. Zenith clustered, then spread.
Yumi sidled up. She toyed with her trump soldier.
She turned my face. No need to fake surprise. Trump soldiers existed for revenge.
‘Though really, they’re the soldiers in Yumi’s heart dreaming revenge.’
Winked left eye only. Cheers again—camera nailed it.
‘Moments onstage are short.’
But footage lasts.
Yumi drew trump soldiers’ power, strode center regally. Red cloth dropped.
‘Wow.’
Pretty convincing cannon. She took firework from Kang Minje, lit the cannon.
“Shooting!”
Fuse burned fast. Lights out instant.
Music cut. Only murmurs.
Boom-
Firework launched from outdoor stage, burst.
Yumi’s voice last.
“Shooting.”
I snickered. Stared at fireworks in dark stage.
‘Spent a fortune.’
Not agency money, probably. Network collab. Timing perfect.
‘Head of Ji really went all out.’
Chilly wind pierced outfits. Lights off made fireworks pop more. Enjoyed the sparkle atop outdoor stage.
‘Stars do that.’
Can’t stay up forever.
‘Not my problem.’
Could stumble a bit, but no quitting the climb. Crises yes, defeat no.
‘Did enough of that before.’
Unlike old days, no climbing despite struggles. Now I’m Zenith’s Cha Dowon.
Fireworks faded. AD’s voice.
“Yumi, Zenith, exit please.”
Sighed, looked around. Saw Yumi wipe tears. Our eyes met; she whispered.
“Sky’s so pretty.”
Sentimental one.
I smiled faintly. But afterglow ended quick. Stage over, we descended.
***
“Let’s take a pic!”
Yumi cheerfully handed her phone to the manager. We posed in the hall for the camera.
“Taking! One! Two! Three!”
Click-
Dancers checked their shots.
Korea’s top female vocalist grinned, eye contact with each Zenith member.
“Good work, hoobaes.”
Leader Hyung bowed politely.
“You worked harder, sunbae-nim.”
“Want more performances like this. Felt alive.”
I met her eyes.
“Call us, honor.”
“Always so eloquent. Zenith heading to dorms?”
Yoo Hajin nodded.
“Yes. You too, safe travels, sunbae-nim.”
“Good work.”
Not sure, but this felt like wholesome sunbae-hoobae vibes. Yoo Hajin put a hand on my shoulder.
“Yumi sunbae-nim’s great.”
“Told you.”
“Rare to be that clean, even if I don’t know much.”
Thought of Vita. Too good to compare to those clowns.
“Korea’s top vocalist for a reason.”
“Yeah. Good work, guys.”
Cheers from outside waiting room.
‘VIP?’
Snickered.
Passing staff in mind, I said.
“VIP sunbaes will top our stage, right?”
Yoo Hajin eyed me quietly, sighed soft.
“Of course.”
Playing along nicely.
“We’ll headline finals someday too, right?”
“If we work hard.”
Teen drama lines.
“That’s given.”
I whispered low.
“Thinking of going more aggressively. Leader Hyung.”
Yoo Hajin rubbed his forehead.
“Knew you’d say that.”
Damn.
“I’ll give you a heads-up.”
“Spare me. Leader’s tired.”
Then Kang Minje from behind.
“Gonna happen anyway.”