Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: If Possible, the Easy Path Is Better
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“Happy.”
What?
“Everyone thinks that way, don’t they?”
“That may be true. But it’s not just anyone—it’s you, Dowon, who feels that way.”
I slowly edged away from Kang Minje.
‘Has this guy lost his mind from the pressure?’
I scanned him up and down. He didn’t look sick or anything.
“Feels good. That you trust me.”
I forced my face not to grimace.
After laughing for a while, he suddenly said something out of left field.
“I know.”
Know what?
“Even if my song is weak, you’ll pull it up for me.”
I shook my head immediately.
“If possible, the easy path is better.”
“I know that too. Still, it feels great. Ah, I get it now.”
Kang Minje chuckled softly.
“This must be what being saved feels like.”
I took a few steps back right away.
‘He’s crazy.’
Talking about salvation after a few words—this guy had clearly lost it.
“Hyung, want to go see a counselor? It’s not just for serious cases. Lots of people go quietly.”
Whether he did or not wasn’t my business, but this guy had to keep making music from now on.
‘Even if he’s nuts, he needs to hold out until then.’
I sighed and said,
“Noona told me idols have a ton of stress. She said if something’s wrong, run over there quick.”
Yeah. This won’t do. I need to figure out what to do with him.
I was seriously considering dragging him there by force when the door suddenly opened, and the manager said,
“Dowon, Minje, time for photos.”
Ah, work’s getting in the way.
“Think about it. Better to go before it gets serious.”
He seemed to be pondering it seriously, but Kang Minje just grinned.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Did he actually get it, this guy?
‘Should I use a cheat?’
I eyed him suspiciously. Whether he knew my thoughts or not, the fox just kept smiling.
***
“Minje, Dowon. A bit to the side. Good.”
Surprisingly, the photoshoot didn’t take long. I posed with Kang Minje in front of the green wall.
“Shoulders closer. Perfect.”
Click—
I kept staring at the camera intently when the manager’s voice came.
“Huh, these two look good together more than I thought.”
A staff member replied.
“We thought the same. Their images are so different, but it works, right?”
“Weird, huh. But seeing them like this, I get it.”
I silently switched poses.
“Dowon’s growing up. He’s gotten so handsome. Suddenly Minje looks even prettier?”
Oh no.
For a split second, the guy next to me’s hand trembled.
I smirked inwardly.
‘Now you’re free from the pretty boy label.’
I smiled brightly at the camera.
“Good. Dowon. Minje! Your expression stiffened!”
“Ah, yes, sorry.”
This guy—looks fine, but he’s shocked.
The camera clicks kept sounding good.
After who knows how long, the photographer said,
“Great work.”
Done.
The manager handed me water. I gulped down the bottled water. Today, plain water tasted especially sweet and cool.
Kang Minje watched me and said,
“You like that too much, don’t you, Dowon?”
Sharp as a ghost.
“What?”
“Growing up?”
“Well, I can’t sell the pretty maknae image anymore, so it’s a bit regrettable. But, um…”
I smiled with all my heart and soul.
“Now hyung can wear the shorts.”
Kang Minje staggered for a moment.
‘The outfit didn’t make me think much, but long pants are better anyway.’
The fox trembled slightly and turned to me.
“Dowon. We’re recording today?”
“Yeah, I know. Chunhyang follow-up. You sent the guide track three days ago.”
“Get ready.”
This petty fox.
But I had countermeasures ready. I kept beaming.
“Yes. Gotta work hard. I know what kind of person you are, hyung. You don’t nitpick uselessly. I still trust you on that. Musically, I want your nagging. It’ll make better music.”
Kang Minje’s eyes wavered.
Oh, you fox.
‘This hand, I’m one step ahead.’
Leaving his dumbstruck face behind, I walked off slowly. Felt refreshingly good, like I’d nailed it.
***
The recording studio was the same as ever.
I put on the headset and looked at the sheet music. Kang Minje’s notes were meticulously marked.
“Dowon, that part again.”
The music started soon. I dragged the first note just as the fox had pointed out.
-The fading scent reaches you.
It was the end of my part. Kang Minje’s voice came.
“Good. That’s it.”
I took off the headset and stepped out. The Zenith members were huddled on the sofa.
“Wow…”
“Amazing.”
I shrugged and sat on the armrest.
“What?”
Yoo Hajin pushed up his slipping glasses.
“No. Wow, Dowon. How did you…”
I marked the spots Kang Minje noted with a pen. The sheet was already a mess.
“The way to handle tough assignments is preview and review.”
I handed them the sheet with about 100 notes. Ki Jaeyoon read slowly.
“Breath unsteady. More power on ‘re.’ End with chest voice.”
“All from preview. Effort doesn’t betray.”
“Ugh… so annoying.”
“Jaeyoon, you’ve had it easy lately. Want me to make everything uncomfortable?”
“S-Sorry! I was jealous ‘cause you’re good.”
Still brutally honest to the point of nausea.
‘Well, at least he apologizes right away.’
One of Ki Jaeyoon’s few virtues. Whether he reflects or not, anyway.
I tapped the smartphone in my pocket.
‘Cheats sure are convenient.’
But upgrading cheats that directly help with idol stuff had massive side effects. So during busy schedules, I naturally held back.
‘Problem is, I’m never free.’
Year-end stage reactions were good, so inquiries were picking up. Executive Director Joo grinned, saying no issues with the schedule.
‘That one’s capable too.’
Not for nothing the pillar of Friends. Pig President’s fine, but Friends’ core is Executive Director Joo.
Then. The door opened, and a familiar figure entered.
‘Can’t sit still, huh.’
Executive Director Joo in a black suit strode in and shouted,
“Attention! Zenith!”
An executive’s order—no choice. I stood right up and yanked Ki Jaeyoon to his feet.
“Hey! Why!”
“Executive Director, have a seat.”
“Aigoo, so polite. Thanks, Dowon! But I’ll sit later. Kids, war’s broken out!”
What?
I quickly rummaged through past memories. Any big wars on Earth?
“VIP’s coming back around the same time as us.”
Oh.
I recalled the VIP I’d glimpsed in the hall. Honestly, their faces were blurry; didn’t remember well.
‘Just that their outfits were a bit tacky.’
And those guys are coming back?
Kang Minje muttered,
“Weird. No reason to do it now.”
Executive Director Joo sat where Ki Jaeyoon had been, crossing her legs.
“I thought so too. But I’ve got a hunch.”
She propped her chin and grinned.
“It’s your fault, Zenith.”
“Our final pre-stage, that’s the only thing.”
“Our buzz was subtly better.”
A chuckle escaped.
I stretched my neck.
Got it.
“They think they need to crush us now.”
Executive Director Joo mimed shooting guns with both hands.
“Bingo! That’s what I think.”
Oh.
Leader hyung said,
“Push back our album release?”
She shot it down immediately.
“No. They picked the fight—why dodge?”
She grinned wide.
“I don’t dodge fights that come to me.”
Feisty.
“So, what do you all think?”
Leader hyung rubbed his forehead and bowed his head. Ki Jaeyoon’s eyes trembled. Lee Seungjun was as usual, Kang Minje thinking.
I grinned.
“Sounds good.”
Executive Director Joo jumped up and grabbed my shoulders.
“Why?”
“Was hungry. And it rolled right in.”
Hajin hyung said urgently,
“Dowon! We might not get number one!”
“VIP’s pretty big, right?”
“Super popular. Especially in Japan.”
“That’s not bad either.”
Laughter bubbled up.
“Hey, they’ve got Japanese fans we don’t—blanketing the place.”
“Love moves.”
I quietly pictured it in my head.
“Japanese fans won’t just see VIP, right? They’ll check us out too.”
Switching faves happens in a flash.
‘Or they could like both, whatever.’
Didn’t matter.
“We’ll eat them. VIP.”
How to eat ‘em so word spreads we ate well.
Couldn’t stop laughing. Blood boiled again.
Leader hyung covered his face and laughed weakly.
“Hahaha.”
Yoo Hajin looked pleadingly at Executive Director Joo.
‘Wants her to stop it.’
But, oh well.
Executive Director Joo leaped up, hugging me tight.
“Well said! Cha! Do! Won! Boy, harbor ambition! Kyaa!”
Oh.
‘She’s fired up.’
She released me gently, locking eyes with each Zenith member with blazing eyes.
“Do your best. Go fight.”
Ahh, switch flipped.
I bowed my head slightly then lifted it.
“We’ll do our best.”
“I believe you! Boy!”
Executive Director Joo strode out triumphantly. Her back alone looked like a victorious general.
Leader hyung whispered pitifully,
“Is the fighting spirit contagious?”
“Leader hyung worries too much.”
I smiled brightly.
“Dowon. Half your worries are self-made. Isn’t it too risky?”
“Once in the ring, you beat the opponent. Plus, they started it.”
Why dodge? So ripe for the taking. Bet the juices would drip.
From behind, Kang Minje said softly,
“I agree with Dowon on this.”
The fox smiled leisurely.
“Wanted to vie for number one with VIP once. They’ve got that famous producer, Vivi or something, right?”
I nodded.
“Wanna see a real showdown.”
“Hyung, you knew VIP would pull this?”
“Yeah. Saw them years ago—super jealous types.”
I turned to Leader hyung.
“Can’t lose, Hajin hyung.”
“Spare me.”
“Win or lose. One or the other. So what’ll you do?”
I smiled brightly again.
“I wanna win.”
Truth is, losing’s not even on the table.
Yoo Hajin sighed as if the ground would cave. Then quietly raised his hand in surrender.
“Got it.”
“Thanks.”
I turned to Lee Seungjun.
“I’ll do my best.”
Good kid. Follows the cue.
“Thanks.”
Now Ki Jaeyoon.
“Uh, do we have to fight?”
“Have to even if we don’t want to.”
“I wanna sit out?”
“Leaving Zenith?”
“Crazy? How hard was it to get in!”
Ki Jaeyoon whispered shyly.
“Beat VIP, we get popular, right? Personal fans too?”
Oh.
‘Classic rice bowl chaser.’
Probably common.
I turned slightly to Kang Minje.
“I’ll do my best, Dowon.”
Got everyone’s buy-in. I bowed my head.
“Thanks. I’ll do my best too.”
Leader hyung asked worriedly,
“But how?”
“Rails are Executive Director Joo’s job.”
She’ll do her utmost within limits.
“We just do our best on the rails.”
Wonder what she’ll snag for us, our Executive Director Joo.
“So, in that spirit.”
I looked at Ki Jaeyoon.
“Jaeyoon, let’s nail the recording first?”
“Gah! Forgot…”
Kang Minje smiled and beckoned Ki Jaeyoon in. He slouched in.
I sat where Ki Jaeyoon had, picking up the sheet again. Yoo Hajin asked,
“All done and still reviewing?”
“Yeah, preview and review are musts. Plus, might go live. Gotta prep ahead.”
Leader hyung blinked in surprise.
“Ah… right.”
Yoo Hajin bowed his head.
“I need to reflect. You’re already… I see.”
“Avoiding’s not always the answer.”