Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Embers
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Anyway, that old leech's debts had nothing to do with me.
'Whether it's for my sake or Zenith's, who knows.'
Well, it might amount to the same thing.
'Since I know now, maybe I should ask for more security.'
Those pissed-off creditors would probably come after me.
'I'll call Aunt then.'
I had zero intention of compromising on the debt. It wasn't mine to begin with. Who in their right mind lends money to a 16-year-old? Too bad, but I didn't feel even a mustard seed's worth of pity.
'Even if it means a nasty legal fight.'
If I backed down here, everything I'd built would crumble.
I flashed a bright smile at the moderator. He hurriedly resumed the event.
"Questions not related to the movie will be problematic. From the next one, I'll use my discretion to cut off anything inappropriate."
Quick on the uptake, this guy.
A few more reporters raised their hands.
"Yes, you there with the black scarf?"
"Yes. A question for Cha Dowon. Great movie. You left a strong impression with your acting. Even if not directly to your grandmother, do you have anything to say?"
Acting-related, so I could dodge.
'Proper bottom-dealing.'
I smiled again. But questions like this weren't bad.
"Thanks for the praise. Hmm, this time I do have something to say."
Camera shutters clicked wildly again. Amid the flashing lights, I delivered my prepared line.
"Tomorrow at 7 p.m., Zenith's second album teaser drops."
The reporter's face soured.
'What, you asked, didn't you?'
Wasn't this what you wanted to hear?
I beamed. Even as I smiled wide, the mood was awkward as hell.
That's when it happened. Laughter erupted from beside me.
"Pfft!"
I didn't need to look. It was Jung Jiseok.
Someone unexpected joined in.
"Hehe! Hohoho!"
Teacher Yoon Mihyeon covered her mouth laughing. I glanced at the director in disbelief. He was in the same boat.
"Pffft!"
He stifled it so hard it came out weird.
Oops.
No helping it. I kept smiling too.
In the cheerful atmosphere, I looked at the moderator. Everyone was laughing in that moment—except him, who looked ready to cry.
***
"It's blowing up, Dowon."
I rested my chin on my hand and closed my eyes.
"Video site views are skyrocketing."
Press events even stream live on video sites these days.
"Search terms are climbing too. 'Cha Dowon press event!' 'Cha Dowon has nothing to say.' 'Zenith teaser.'"
Oh boy.
I rolled my shoulders and gazed out the window.
"Didn't know there were embers left."
"Me neither. We got burned, Dowon."
I checked search terms on my smartphone. Just like Manager said, they were shooting up.
"SNS is insane too."
"Fans are worried. What if they hear crap somewhere and side with me blindly."
"Nothing you did wrong, so it must eat at them."
How could I repay them?
"I wanted to be an idol who just makes people happy watching, but I'm turning into the accident-prone one. For those fans at least..."
I sighed and resolved once more.
"Guess I gotta crush VIP and climb higher."
"Huh? What's the conclusion?"
"I just gotta do better. Winning's gotta be one of the things fans wanna see."
I murmured, staring out the window.
"That's what an idol is."
No wonder they're called idols.
"Hey, more than that..."
"Hope the teaser views do well."
"It's on real-time search, so it'll be fine."
We chatted away and soon arrived at the company.
I grabbed the bread bag and stepped out of the van. Inhaling deeply, I caught a savory scent.
"That from Jung Jiseok?"
"Yeah."
After the event, he'd vanished then returned with bread. The big bag was stuffed with all sorts from a bakery.
'Troublesome.'
But I couldn't refuse when he shoved it at me saying it'd cheer me up.
A sigh escaped naturally.
'Guess I can share it around.'
Should call and thank him?
'Might as well check on everyone. They must've been shocked.'
Bread bag in hand, I walked. That's when I spotted a familiar face after ages.
I headed to the elevator, smiling wide.
Well, if it isn't...
"Hello, Sunbae-nim."
I greeted brightly, and his face twisted horribly.
"Off to practice, I see."
My dear Heo Suyong Sunbae-nim.
'Still a trainee?'
Aw, poor thing.
The elevator lobby had quite a crowd waiting. A few girl group trainees too. I greeted them first.
"Hello."
"Oh, hello! We're Friends trainees!"
Yeah. The sunbae next to you is a Friends trainee too.
"Um... We've been watching you. Dowon Sunbae-nim!"
I made a slightly troubled face.
"I haven't been a trainee that long, so maybe not sunbae."
"No! You are. For sure. I joined as a trainee after Zenith debuted!"
Ah, got it. Recent addition.
I eyed the girl closely. She looked kinda familiar.
'Where've I seen her?'
Not my business. I held out the bread bag.
"Pick what you want. Got a ton."
"Wow!"
"Any trainees in the practice room?"
"Yeah! Dance practice starting soon."
If all else fails, leave it there.
The girl trainees eagerly picked breads.
"Just take whatever you want."
"R-Really?"
"Jina, you're already warned about gaining weight!"
"Not eating! Gonna preserve it with preservatives for generations. How can I eat this? It's from Dowon Oppa!"
Huh.
I smiled awkwardly. What was this now?
"It's fine to eat."
At that, the trainee's face flushed red.
'Preserving it? Fan, huh.'
Honestly, spray preservatives or freeze it, not my problem. Fans do what they want.
"Yeah. I-I'm a Dowon Oppa fan."
"Thanks. Glad you like me."
We were having a heartwarming chat when cursing came from behind.
"Bullshit."
Ah, forgot our sunbae-nim.
I bowed and lifted my head for my long-unseen sunbae.
"Long time no see, Sunbae-nim. Hope everything's going strong like a horse. Ah, sorry. Been reading a lot of historical drama scripts lately, so weird phrases slip out. Gotta snap out of it."
Apologetically, I held the bag in front of him.
"Take some too, Sunbae-nim. Practice lively for that late bloom."
Heo Suyong's face twisted horribly.
"You little shit!"
Passersby in the hall glanced over. I smiled brightly.
"How can you curse out of nowhere?"
I glanced at the girl group trainees.
"You're scaring them."
After all, my precious fans.
"Don't pick fights, you mutt."
"Pick fights? How can you say that! I'm a public figure, can't do that stuff."
Turns out being public weighs heavy.
"Gotta watch myself. But sad, huh."
I made the face of someone who missed a local famous spot's sauce chicken 1+1 deal.
"I just wanted to share bread."
Heo Suyong's face turned like he'd chewed crap. As he opened his mouth for more curses, a girl group trainee yelled from behind.
"Don't pick on our oppa!"
Huh.
The shrill voices of two trainees echoed off the walls.
"If you don't want bread, don't eat it!"
"Our oppa's got enough stress?"
Laughter bubbled up. Wow, I'm loved.
I shook my head.
"Nah, it's nothing. Don't say that. Hyung's just like that. Me and Suyong Hyung are tight. Shared a dorm room even."
"Oppa, weren't you bullied back then?"
"That guy looks like he'd push you from behind."
How'd they know?
"Ah! I heard! Oppa got shoved down stairs before debut!"
"Was it that guy?"
I smiled sweetly at Heo Suyong.
'Lying's a pain, but...'
Telling the truth here might make him bolt from Friends.
'Can't have that.'
Stick around here long-term. You're obsessed with being a 'Friends Entertainment trainee.'
I smiled brightly.
"No way."
Elevator arrived just in time. Me and the girl trainees got on, but Heo Suyong stayed put.
'Destinations similar, though.'
Esteemed Suyong Sunbae-nim seemed uninterested in riding with me.
I said cheerfully,
"Going up first, Sunbae-nim."
Stay there, Heo Suyong. I'm heading up.
His face twisted again, but not my problem. Smiling, I hit close.
***
"What's with the bread?"
"Jung Jiseok bought it. Hajin Hyung, check this out. Seungjun, Ki Jaeyun, gather 'round. Minje Hyung too."
I handed my smartphone to Manager.
"Manager-nim, take a pic."
"For SNS?"
"Yeah. Make the bread look good."
Manager snapped it right away. Members smiled idol-style.
Ki Jaeyun grabbed a bread first.
"Wow, can I eat all these?"
Leader Hyung quietly grabbed his arm.
"Jaeyun? All you can eat is chicken breast and cabbage, right?"
"Aaah! Too harsh!"
Oh dear.
I told Lee Seungjun first.
"Pick what you want."
True to his bulk, he grabbed freely. Kang Minje sidled up.
"You're close with Jung Jiseok, huh."
"Yeah, press event today."
"Something happen?"
I smiled sweetly.
"Nah. Just promoted the teaser a bit."
Yoo Hajin released Jaeyun and approached me.
"Something did happen, right?"
Lee Seungjun chewed bread, searched, then flipped his phone screen for everyone.
On the small screen, I said,
"I have nothing to say."
Oh boy.
"What, another mess?"
Manager answered.
"Nah, not this time. Reporters pulled trash. At the press event, they grilled Dowon on his grandma."
I shrugged.
"Thanks to that, promo went great."
"That's not the issue..."
Lee Seungjun forgot his bread and asked me.
"You okay?"
"Of course."
I set the bag down and stood.
"Getting practice clothes. Chunhyang choreo today, right?"
Ki Jaeyun ignored Hajin's attempts to stop him and bit one anyway.
"I choreographed a lot of that!"
I stared at the monkey bastard. He stepped back as I held my gaze.
"O-Okay, j-just one bread."
Well, two wouldn't hurt.
'Tough call.'
Should I praise him here?
'Feels like raising kids.'
I forced a smile.
"Good job."
"Huh?"
"Looking forward to the choreo."
Not costing money, so praise is fine. Ki Jaeyun panicked and dropped the bitten bread.
Plop-
Cream smeared the floor messily.
Oh dear.
"Clean that up yourself."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Of course, my mess."
He fumbled for tissue and wiped. I exhaled softly and headed to the lockers.
Door closed, but Ki Jaeyun's voice carried.
"Dowon praised me, right?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Wow, Cha Dowon praised me! Wow! What a world!"
Too over-the-top.
'Am I stingy with praise?'
Should I do more?
'Who, how much?'
Changing shoes, it hit me.
'Feels like parenting.'
I'm an idol, why worry about praise? A slight doubt lingered.