Chapter 127
Chapter 127
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Taking Gains
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“How can I not worry?”
Kang Minje’s pupils shook mercilessly. I pulled down the hand he was gripping and motioned for him to lean in with his ear.
The face of the fox cub I wanted to slug came right up close. I whispered softly.
“Minje hyung, remember? There used to be this group called Hush way back when.”
I dredged up a distant memory. One that was less than a year old, fresh as a sprout.
“VIP’s on a whole other level from Hush, right?”
“Of course. They’re not even in the same league.”
“But what’s different now?”
They were already gone, out of sight. Probably huddled up discussing among themselves, but there was no way this would all blow over.
Not my problem, anyway.
“They’ve come down a peg. From pretty high up, too.”
I rubbed my cheek with the back of my hand. It burned hot. The intent behind that preemptive strike was obvious.
‘Scare me into shutting up and playing along.’
Too bad.
I just burst out laughing. If this was enough to scare me, why debut in the first place?
The writer came over with some ointment and a bandage. She applied it carefully, muttering under her breath.
“Ugh, what a shame. Ruining this handsome face!”
Well, well. She gets it.
“Dowon, sorry the bandage is so small. And it’s super colorful too. What do we do? This is all I’ve got right now…”
“Is this the one you use personally, writer noona?”
The sky-blue polka dots stood out. She nodded right away.
“Yeah, I use it for my heels.”
“Thanks. For sharing something personal.”
“It’s nothing. But is it too small? Up close, I see nail marks too.”
VIP sunbaes are impressive. Even scratched me with their nails.
“No blood, so it’s fine.”
“Think the ointment and bandage will do?”
“I just need to hold out till the end of recording.”
I reassured the staff. That’s when the MCs came swarming over.
“Cha Dowon, you okay?”
“I’m good.”
“We’re continuing the shoot? Ah, we can’t go soft now. We were supposed to be tough today.”
Oops. Can’t have that. That’s that, and this is this.
“Keep it tough, please.”
The MCs’ eyes went wide. I smiled brightly and kept going.
“That’s the charm of Stereo Star. A few hours in, I was already thinking how fun this’ll be on air. Don’t worry about the scratch. A scratch is a scratch, and ratings are ratings.”
Right. The more eyes on us, the better for getting Zenith out there.
“Phew, glad you say that. Honestly, this shoot’s been solid.”
“Minus VIP, yeah. They’re getting cocky now that they’re big.”
“Shh. What if VIP hears?”
“It’s the truth. You were trash-talking them earlier too.”
Well, well. Just as I figured.
My read on the situation was spot on.
“Anyway, thanks for taking care of us.”
“No, thank you. Ah, maybe it’s the handsome face, but that bandage suits you.”
I grinned and patted my cheek.
“Think a CF offer’s coming my way?”
“Puhahaha! Shoot one of those? You’re trending now—too small-time.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hand off the small gigs to us. We gotta eat too.”
“Well, if an offer comes, the execs decide.”
The mood lightened up in a flash. The MCs headed back satisfied, leaving just Kang Minje behind.
His face was still dark.
The fox cub let out a sigh.
“I’m fine, hyung. Let’s keep shooting.”
“Do we really have to go this far?”
“If the payoff’s double, it’s worth it.”
Right on cue, my dear VIP sunbaes returned. I shot up from my seat and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
“Rest well, sunbaes?”
I felt the staff’s eyes on us. No one said a word, but they were all watching.
My heart pounded with anticipation.
‘Wonder how our VIP sunbaes will react?’
If they blew up here, they’d be straight Hush-tier. If they let it slide, they’d be a bit more slick.
Then one sunbae shouted.
“You little shit!”
Wow.
I clapped inwardly. Good thing. Not slick after all.
“Kao, don’t get mad.”
“But Jeremy hyung!”
“Zenith, this is just a game.”
What a joke.
“Since when does ‘it’s just a game’ in our country make everyone go ‘oh, right’ and drop it? Do other countries do that? Still adjusting to the time difference, huh? No…”
I grinned wide.
“Sorry. Jeremy’s your name, so I forgot you might be foreign. Ah, right, you might not know much about Korea then.”
Globalization era—who knows. I forgot to keep all possibilities open.
That’s when Kang Minje cut in smoothly.
“Dowon, Jeremy hyung’s Korean.”
“Ah, sorry. Stage name then.”
Eh, idols and stage names are common. Not the issue here, though.
I smiled with all my heart.
“I’m still new to the industry, so I mess up like this sometimes. Please forgive me, VIP sunbaes. I’m not used to it yet. Sometimes I don’t even know who’s popular, and the hyungs chew me out for it.”
Of course, that never happened. But their faces turned a satisfying shade of dirt.
‘You said we don’t know you?’
We don’t, sunbaes. You’re fading to the back, but why would I keep track?
“Hey, who the hell are you!”
Right then, I heard the slate drop.
“Get ready to shoot!”
Ah, time already. I hustled back to my spot. Glancing around, the staffer dropping the slate winked.
‘Helping out.’
I bowed my head in thanks, then lifted it. The staffer threw a finger heart and yelled.
“Two minutes till we roll!”
Damn.
I whipped out the smartphone from my pocket. Switched straight to cheat mode.
[Cheat Mode 1/3]
[Cha Dowon’s bruise will gradually swell for the next 4 hours]
[Change complete.]
[Side effect: In 3 seconds, your pinky toe will itch for 1 second.]
[Cheat Mode 2/3]
A light side effect for once. My body already felt no pain from the earlier cheat anyway. I pocketed the phone and faced forward. Shooting resumed soon.
The MCs picked up like nothing happened.
“You’re watching high-class music show Stereo Star. Today we’re with some handsome idols.”
“The best part of Stereo Star.”
“Special live starts now.”
“Who’s first?”
This time, my dear sunbaes raised their hands.
“VIP’ll go first.”
“Nah, why? Late like before?”
“Sunbaes should lead by example.”
“Weren’t you late ’cause you’re sunbaes?”
VIP’s faces soured, but the MCs didn’t stop.
“Come on, it’s fine to go first.”
“Don’t nitpick.”
“VIP! First up. Mini live—what song?”
“Yes. We’ll do Geunhyuk’s ‘Next.’”
Well, well.
‘Usually you get two solo stages, but they’re doing it together? One-shot chance wasted?’
I snickered. The meaning was clear.
‘No prep.’
Busy? Or ’cause they’re VIP?
The cast knew what I knew. The MCs looked displeased.
‘Can’t blame ’em for getting pissed at half-assing a show you’ve been regular on for years.’
I smiled as I watched the sunbaes prep. Nothing special, as expected.
Lights dimmed, stage started. I prepped my reactions.
VIP sang pathetically onstage.
“Next!”
Harmony was wrecked, of course.
“Next! My lover~”
What to even call this.
‘No fun, no feels.’
I grinned and pretended to focus anyway. Studio vibe was obvious trash.
Luckily, it ended.
“Yes, great job.”
“Very VIP.”
“VIP’s been global, so they nail it. So good we wonder if we even need to be here.”
Well, well. Backhanded as hell.
“Zenith next? Who’s up?”
I smiled brightly.
“I’ll go first. Don’t wanna follow Minje hyung.”
MCs cracked up.
“Why, scared of the comparison?”
“Trendsetter showing weakness.”
I nodded shyly. Looked humble. This was just a bonus gift. Real takeaways: two.
‘Good with members, surprise vocals.’
That’s how you snag screen time. I hopped onstage light, bowing silently to hardworking VIP.
“Zenith’s trendsetter Cha Dowon. ‘Once Again.’”
“Dowon, why this one?”
Perfect setup.
“Ah, my audition song. Nailed the month-end eval with it and joined Zenith.”
“Meaningful choice.”
I grinned at the camera.
“And the one who coached me? Minje hyung.”
Hear that, fans? We’re tight.
‘Not really, but whatever.’
MCs gawked at Kang Minje.
“Kang Minje, you teach vocals too?”
“Ah, Dowon begged me back then. I’m no instructor—too picky.”
“Cha Dowon, how’s learning from Kang Minje?”
I shivered my shoulders at the fox cub.
“Feels good when I nail it, but the process? Intense.”
“Puhahaha!”
“What kinda answer is that!”
“How bad is it?”
I glanced awkwardly at the ceiling, then floor.
“Feels like everything inside me’s getting realigned.”
“Puhahaha!”
“They say Minje produces Zenith a ton! Dowon, any members cried from his nagging?”
I grinned.
“No comment—to protect members’ privacy!”
MCs lost it again. I waited quietly. ‘Once Again’ started soon.
‘Funny, can’t remember how I sang it back then.’
Idols don’t get many solo spots.
‘On network TV, no less.’
Even VIP passing this up made no sense. Shouldn’t you grab every promo chance?
‘Whatever.’
I shot VIP an eye smile.
Watch from there, respected sunbaes.
Music flowed. I started the first note just like Minje taught.
“Once again, if I could see you~”
Abs engaged right. Energy shot from dantian to crown like a clear channel. Throat moved free like an instrument.
‘Fox cub’s lessons are brutal but killer effective.’
Follow instructions, reap huge rewards.
I closed my eyes to the camera.
‘Cheat effect kicking in now.’
Polka-dot bandage looked tiny. And I’d made the bruise swell.
‘Hope it’s etched in footage forever…’
Even non-Zenith fans would wonder: sudden bandage? Bruise?
‘Word’ll leak somewhere.’
Some bold reporter might dig.
‘That’s best-case, though…’
I just hoped VIP paid for their crap.
‘And if a spark drops, I’ll fan the flames.’
Pile it up, it’ll blow eventually. Sunbaes.
Song ended. I smiled, caught my breath. MCs who half-ass watched VIP now clapped.
“Surprise, Dowon.”
“Thought you just acted—decent singer too?”
“I figured pretty boy group entry!”
I grinned.
“Thanks for the praise.”
“Puhaha! Loves the handsome bit!”
Who wouldn’t.
“But seriously, better than expected.”
Now. I turned to Kang Minje.
“All thanks to hyung teaching so well.”
Kang Minje’s eyes shook—my praise caught him off guard.
Damn. How’d I end up hyping the fox cub on network TV?
Curses flooded my mind, but I patted his arm.
“Hyung’s strict, but he teaches damn good.”