Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: In the Fever
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‘Let’s just feed him this quickly and send him off.’
That way he won’t spout any nonsense.
I popped open the lid and scooped in a generous heap of pickled ginger. Then I poured in a ton of honey and topped it off with hot water. Good enough.
“Here, drink this.”
Burn your tongue, why don’t you.
But my wish fell flat right away. Kang Minje went to sip it immediately but felt the heat, so he blew on it with hoo-hoo sounds.
‘Looks just like a CF. So damn annoying.’
I sighed and whipped up the rest of the ginger tea.
“This is good. Tastes like it’ll cure a cold.”
“You have a cold?”
“Nah, just feeling a bit chilly.”
I quietly recalled tomorrow’s schedule in my mind.
‘Uniform CF, right?’
I stared straight at Kang Minje.
“No personal schedules outside the group ones?”
“Oh, no. But I’m tweaking some tracks. Sometimes it’s nice when it takes a lot of work.”
Damn it.
‘So he’s spending all his free time just listening to music?’
Fatigue aside, what about his hearing, Kang Minje?
“I see. Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”
“Hmm, yeah, but if I don’t push now, there won’t be any chances.”
Fair enough.
“I want to climb up too. I want recognition. So, to them…….”
Kang Minje bowed his head deeply. I narrowed my eyes at him.
‘Huh?’
I approached the little fox cautiously.
I waved my hand in front of his face.
‘This guy…….’
Why the hell is he suddenly passing out?
I snatched the mug from his hand.
‘No need for me to escort him.’
Then I quickly headed to my room.
“Seungjun-ah. You still up?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Help get Minje hyung to bed.”
The bear jumped out of bed in a flash. He spotted Kang Minje, half-conscious on the living room table.
“Why’s Minje hyung dozing off at the table?”
“No idea. But he looks wiped out for sure. Help carry him.”
Lee Seungjun nodded. Then he hoisted Kang Minje onto his back and crossed the living room.
I quietly opened Kang Minje’s door.
‘Whoa.’
A wry smile crept up on its own. What do you even call this?
“Impressive.”
The room was a total trash heap. Books scattered all over the floor. CDs strewn everywhere, and six laptops blinking away.
“What a mess.”
At least the bed was clean, so Lee Seungjun laid him down.
I glanced around and said,
“In this day and age, all this stuff’s online…….”
“But CDs have the best sound quality.”
I crossed my arms and looked at Kang Minje.
‘Come to think of it, before regression, Kang Minje collapsed during his second album activities.’
My brow furrowed on its own.
‘No way…….’
I placed my hand on Kang Minje’s forehead. It was warm to the touch.
Damn.
“Seungjun-ah, Minje hyung’s got a fever.”
Lee Seungjun flinched in surprise.
“What do we do? Call Manager hyung?”
“Yeah. Let’s give him some fever meds first and make the call.”
Though I’ll use a cheat before that.
As I swept back Lee Seungjun’s hair, I said,
“We should tell Hajin hyung too.”
“Well, he’s the leader.”
I shook my head. Why doesn’t this idiot say something when he’s sick? A sigh escaped me.
***
The manager said he’d be right over. Hajin hyung sighed as he said,
“This is all the fever meds we have.”
It was orange syrup. Of course.
‘Weird. Why only kids’ syrup?’
Better than nothing, but still super odd.
“Minje-ya. Wake up. Take your medicine.”
Lee Seungjun propped up Kang Minje, and Leader hyung held out a spoonful of syrup.
“Just one sip.”
“No.”
Wow.
Out-of-it Kang Minje was surprisingly firm.
“It’s medicine.”
“No.”
“You need it to bring the fever down.”
“No. I’d rather die.”
So damn annoying. What are you, a preschooler?
I shook my head.
‘Just use the cheat.’
That’ll wrap this up.
I was about to head back to my room when Kang Minje whispered,
“Auntie…….”
I furrowed my brow. An old memory flashed back.
‘Thinking about it, this punk had crazy high fevers as a kid.’
Every time, it was busy fortune-teller Madam Cha Yeonhwa who woke him up and dosed him.
A sigh slipped out. I told Hajin hyung,
“I’ll do it.”
“Huh? You can?”
“Minje hyung.”
His mind was all over the place. I channeled my voice from the danjeon, like spitting it out.
“Aah~~”
That’s how Madam Cha Yeonhwa fed him meds. Kang Minje reflexively opened his mouth. I shoved the spoon right in.
‘Makes me want to curse.’
He swallowed it down his throat like a champ. I pulled out the spoon and stood up.
‘My hand feels rotten.’
Shaking it off in disgust, I felt Hajin hyung’s gaze.
“What?”
“Uh, how’d you do that?”
“Just did.”
Didn’t even want to explain. I clenched and unclenched my fist. Irritation and embarrassment hit me at once.
“Amazing. How does that work?”
“Please don’t ask. When’s the manager coming?”
“Soon.”
“Alright, I’m heading out. Oh, I boiled ginger tea in the kitchen—have some. You too, Seungjun.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
I shook my head and went into my room. For some reason, I was pissed, so I balled my fist tight.
“Why, when you’re sick, do I think of my mom?”
You punk, Kang Minje.
And why’d you have to go and ruin things for me.
Pre-regression memories surfaced and sank. My gut boiled over. I sighed and picked up my smartphone.
Needed to cool my head.
I’m Cha Dowon. Zenith now.
‘Past is past, present is present.’
I desperately recalled what I needed to do now.
‘Oh, right, the cheat.’
Why’d it take so long to remember? I shook my head and swiped the screen.
[cheat mode 2/3]
[Recover Kang Minje’s body]
[Change complete. Body will be altered.]
[Side effect: Dizziness for 10 minutes starting in 10 seconds.]
[cheat mode 3/3]
Pretty harsh side effect for a recovery. I gave a bitter smile and leaned against the bed.
“Yeah. You can’t be sick.”
I knew Kang Minje was overdoing it because of Chunhyang.
‘Even pre-regression, this guy barely succeeded with his second album.’
Back then, the first one had totally flopped. No need to see it—I knew he’d have sharpened his blade even more than now.
‘So he collapsed mid-promos.’
My head spun. I lay back on the bed and sighed.
‘This guy needs to keep making music.’
That’s how he succeeds.
The fluorescent light was too bright—everything spun. I closed my eyes. Then I heard footsteps. Cracking them open, I saw Lee Seungjun holding a mug of ginger tea.
“Minje hyung suddenly got better.”
Of course. I used the cheat.
“Manager hyung came and chewed him out. Lecturing him about taking care of his body.”
“He shouldn’t have overdone it in the first place.”
“Yeah, but it’s because of the tracks.”
I nodded, then lay back down from the dizziness.
“Dowon-ah? You okay?”
“A bit. Should be fine in about eight minutes.”
“What kinda answer is that.”
A chuckle escaped. What the hell am I even doing.
I rolled over in bed and muttered,
“Weird night tonight.”
“Yeah. Oh, thanks for the ginger tea. Was feeling cold anyway.”
“Sure. Drink up and don’t get sick.”
The bear went quiet. I peeked—he was smiling silently.
“Why the grin?”
“Nothing. The maknae’s the one looking after us. Funny, right?”
“You laugh at anything. Best thing for cold vibes. I know from experience.”
I pulled the blanket up to my chin.
‘There were days like that.’
I quietly recalled pre-regression. No matter how young and healthy, all those part-time gigs wrecked my body.
‘When I was beat, everything hit hard.’
Colds were regulars.
‘Drank a ton of ginger tea.’
A sigh came naturally. Compared to then, this was nothing. Plus, I had cheats.
‘I’ll stand tall.’
No matter what it takes.
Dizziness faded, and sleep crashed in like it was waiting. I quietly surrendered to it.
***
Morning came, and Kang Minje was fine, like nothing happened. Healthier than ever.
‘Makes my blood boil.’
I started to shake my head but stopped. The makeup artist was spritzing my face busily.
“Whew, pretty! Done!”
I smiled brightly at her.
“Thanks for your hard work. Oh, here—have this.”
I handed her the sandwich I’d gotten via the manager ahead of time. She cheered.
“Oh my, so sweet! Thanks!”
“No biggie.”
She threw up double thumbs-up.
“As expected of today’s trendsetter!”
Oh. Inspiring responsibility?
I smirked and checked the mirror. First thing: the gray uniform.
“A uniform…….”
Come to think of it, first time since the debut MV.
I flipped through the storyboard, picturing the shots in my head. Staring intently, I heard boisterous laughter beside me.
‘What’s that?’
I turned—Leader hyung was dry-heaving in his uniform.
‘Oh no…….’
I knew why instantly. A groan escaped me.
“Ah, uniforms don’t suit you…….”
The stylist marveled, genuinely impressed.
“How can it not fit like that?”
I bit my lip. It was literal. Yoo Hajin desperately didn’t suit it.
“Puhahaha!”
Ki Jaeyoon burst out laughing immediately. Lee Seungjun had his back turned, shaking, and Kang Minje avoided eye contact.
“Guys. Just laugh outright.”
“Puhahaha!”
Ki Jaeyoon rolled on the floor at my words.
“Kyaa! Jaeyoon-ah! You’ll ruin the clothes!”
The stylist rushed over to stop him.
I clamped my mouth shut and looked around. Lee Seungjun clutched the wall, tearing up; the fox cub covered his mouth.
‘Gonna burst.’
I took a deep breath.
Lee Seungjun wiped his tears and said,
“Really doesn’t suit you.”
“Hajin’s handsome but looks old.”
“Don’t poke weak spots. Already worried, and it’s a uniform CF of all things.”
The leader slumped his shoulders and muttered,
“Even in high school, teachers said that a lot.”
Oh.
I hurriedly comforted him.
“Maybe the glasses.”
The stylist nodded too.
“Yeah, could be.”
Leader hyung shook his head.
“Nah. Wanna see?”
Yoo Hajin took off his glasses and pocketed them in the uniform. We all lost words.
“Uh…….”
“Hmm…….”
Kang Minje whispered,
“Looks like a handsome student teacher.”
Leader hyung bowed his head.
“That was my nickname. Uniform looks like a suit.”
Oh.
I turned away to hold back laughter. Kang Minje bowed again.
But Ki Jaeyoon was steadfast.
“Puhahaha!”
“Jaeyoon, you’re laughing too much?”
“But hyung, it’s hilarious!”
I deep-breathed. Honestly, now I got the storyboard.
“Hyung, you checked this?”
Leader hyung nodded pitifully.
“Yeah.”
“Didn’t get why it was like this, but it’s because of Hajin hyung.”
“Too much, right.”
Yoo Hajin sighed deeply.
“They enjoy my embarrassment or what.”
Probably.
‘Of course they do.’
Handsome but old-looking. Why miss that?
‘Executive Director Ju’s doing?’
Felt like her touch.
Then, the assistant director said,
“Dowon-ssi first.”
“Ah, coming.”
I stepped out of the tent right away. Walking slowly, I spotted a familiar face.
“Director Ihakje?”
The guy from my debut shoot grinned.
“Ah, Dowon-kun—no, Dowon-ssi now.”
“Long time no see.”
“You’ve gotten super famous.”
“Just lucky.”
Ihakje extended his hand. I shook it gladly.
Still fresh in memory.
‘This hand flicked off the director’s thing.’
Impressive guy.
Director Ihakje let go and said,
“Great seeing you again.”
“Same. How’ve you been?”
“Good. Everywhere I go, praise for you.”
“Nah, just luck. Met good people.”
Ihakje shook his head.
“I know better. I was the witness.”