Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: The Problem is Getting Hurt
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Executive Director Ju let out a deep sigh.
“That thing explodes, but you can’t get hurt again, right?”
“Even if I do get hurt, it’ll be worth it if it goes off properly, don’t you think?”
The wounds heal thanks to the cheat anyway.
At that moment, someone grabbed my shoulder hard. I didn’t need to look to know who it was.
“Minje hyung, what’s up?”
“You’re not getting hurt too much, are you?”
Why’s this fox acting like that?
‘He must’ve noticed. Every time I get hurt, it somehow benefits Zenith.’
I flashed a bright smile.
“You don’t have to try to stop me, hyung. Even if I get hurt, I’ll do it smartly.”
“Do you have to get hurt?”
“If it’s beneficial.”
Did I say that too bluntly? The meeting room atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. Wondering what was wrong, I looked around, and everyone’s eyes were trembling.
“No, I’m not talking about breaking anything.”
Why are they taking this so seriously?
Then Kang Minje whispered.
“Breaking isn’t the only injury. Doesn’t it really bother you?”
“What?”
I had no idea what he meant.
I shrugged, and Executive Director Ju sighed.
“If we leave Dowon alone, it’ll be a big problem. Zenith, if Dowon tries anything weird, stop him.”
Anyone would think I was running a self-harm extortion ring. No, more than that, I had more to say on this point.
“Executive Director Ju, honestly, Minje hyung is more of a problem than me.”
Executive Director Ju looked at Kang Minje and asked.
“Why Minje?”
“That hyung doesn’t care about sleep when inspiration for music hits. He was all skinny and weak during that special stage last time.”
He can’t collapse. Kang Minje, you’ve got so many songs to write ahead.
“Oh, I heard from Manager Heo.”
“It was just for a bit.”
“Really, what’s with these kids? One says he’ll get hurt, the other doesn’t know his own limits. Goodness.”
Executive Director Ju crossed her arms.
“Should I assign more managers? Starting to worry. Manager Heo’s a good guy, but he’s too lax. You guys cover for a lot because you’re thorough.”
She knows. Of course she would.
‘Separate from being a good person, his skills are iffy.’
Executive Director Ju looked at me and Kang Minje.
“Both of you, take it easy. And Dowon, do you really want to be treated like you’re made of glass? Fans have noticed even if the public hasn’t.”
Oh no.
“The maknae image is barely getting you ‘Our Dowonie’s young and frail!’ but if you drive in one more wedge, you’ll really be glass-bodied. Anyway, how’s your burn?”
Oh dear.
I lifted my shirt to show my back. The cheat was slowly fading the remaining scars. I hadn’t checked closely, but they were probably faint enough.
“Oh, much better. Doesn’t hurt?”
“It’s fine.”
“Phew, young bodies recover fast from this stuff.”
I lowered my shirt and looked around.
“Executive Director Ju, I have something to say.”
“What?”
“I could say it alone, but it’s fine now. I want to appear in a drama.”
Executive Director Ju sat down and gestured for me to sit across. I quickly went over and plopped down.
“What production?”
“It’s called Jealousy, a teen drama.”
I knew this one.
‘Famous for flopping.’
It lingered in infamy due to the lead actors’ immature performances.
‘A shame.’
Script and direction were decent. The problem was the two leads couldn’t act to save their lives. Reading from a textbook was secondary; their lisps were pure noise.
‘It ended early.’
Viewers begged for subtitles every episode until it wrapped prematurely.
‘But it had ratings.’
Just that viewers consumed it as comedy, not drama.
“What role?”
“A villain. Jealous of the genius protagonist.”
Sadly, the script was good. The villain had solid backstory.
“Huh? Just jealous because genius?”
“There’s narrative. The villain’s under family pressure. Not a genius but has to be one. Desperate for a scrap of attention at home. But the protagonist’s relatively free. Dates the heroine the villain likes, that innocent love stuff.”
Kinda cliché in a way.
‘Reminds me of Amadeus, Zi and love and Salieri. Could be amazing if done right.’
Wrong leads turned it into a gag show.
Of course, Korean drama style, it went makjang too.
“Turns out they’re fraternal twins. Protagonist’s family poor, so mom abandoned one at an orphanage.”
“Oh my, that’s too much.”
“Villain loses at the contest despite best efforts, and at the end, says just ‘Big brother’ to the protagonist.”
I really wanted this role. And if I took it...
‘Investment would change.’
Noisy, but I was trending. Joining would likely swap the foot-acting heroine.
‘Plus, decent perks.’
Something solid ahead.
I smiled brightly. Executive Director Ju nodded at me.
“Not bad. I’ll adjust the schedule.”
“Please do.”
“No problem. But you’ll be insanely busy. Okay with that?”
“My stamina’s solid.”
*Cough*-
Glancing back, Yoo Hajin was fake-coughing.
‘I’m not Kang Minje. I’ve got the best stamina here? Why this reaction?’
Executive Director Ju nodded suspiciously.
“I’ll allow it for now, but no getting sick. Got it?”
Even if sick, cheat fixes it.
“Yes. Please.”
“Phew, worrying. Alright, meeting over! Good luck on stage tomorrow.”
Zenith stood and bowed. Stretching my shoulders, I said.
“Longer meeting than expected.”
As I headed out, Leader hyung strode over.
“What?”
“You’re doing the drama?”
“Yeah. It’s after our activities end, so should be fine. I’ll join toward the wrap.”
“Stamina really okay?”
“My stamina’s good. Wait, why? You’d think I’m a hospital regular.”
Joking, but they all nodded.
Huh.
‘Come to think of it, I have gotten hurt a bit.’
I counted ER visits on my fingers.
‘I do get hurt often.’
Oops.
Some were intentional for gain. I grinned wide.
“Won’t go anymore.”
“You say that, but will you stay away?”
“Worried.”
“Even fine, something happens and you get hurt.”
Why everyone like this.
“Not this time.”
Light laugh, but they sighed.
“Heals fast anyway. Why so worried.”
“The problem is getting hurt.”
“Can’t you avoid it entirely?”
Wow.
‘Running out of excuses.’
No choice. I smiled and headed to the door.
“I’ll try. Let’s go. Gotta beat VIP on music show tomorrow.”
Number one showdown, exciting just thinking. I opened the door and gestured; they got up.
“Oh, gotta watch Dowon closely.”
“Or he’ll get hurt somewhere.”
Why that reaction.
I shook my head. Fortunately, they let it slide.
***
Number one candidates.
‘Number one means a lot to VIP.’
Japan trip made them fading gradually. Zenith rising from below was threatening.
Plus, lost to another song last week.
‘Song’s weak, not overwhelming like before.’
Heard chaos. Unlike them, members urged votes on SNS, booked tons of shows.
‘But our momentum’s no joke.’
Trendsetter, great song, Executive Director Ju’s aesthetics. Her investment even more.
‘Vita scattered anyway.’
Friends short male idols, Zenith seized and advanced.
‘But...’
I crossed arms, looked around. Spacious waiting room, dancers debating artisan-made Jiwoosan.
“Using this today.”
“Bought new one.”
Oh.
‘Even Friends excited for number one?’
Surprising. Friends big in entertainment. They get most number ones, why so hyped.
Answer close.
“Friends raids empty houses well.”
Fox whispered smiling.
“Why fight hard when ‘easy roads easy’ is Executive Director Ju’s motto.”
Got it. Not bad. Better in that environment.
“Zenith’s different. Weird. That Executive Director Ju suddenly aggressive.”
“Confidence?”
Who changed her? Not me. I clicked tongue, opened two scripts with multi-ability. Handy.
“If number one today, she’ll do something big.”
Oh. Better not fail.
Ki Jaeyoon butted in.
“Really? Buy food?”
Monkey’s monkey. That something food?
Reading script, I muttered.
“Everyone hyped. Even if not seeming.”
Suddenly quiet. Looked up; all staring at me.
“Not?”
“Hiding to not tense you!”
Oh. Tension?
To Lee Seungjun:
“You tense?”
“A bit?”
“Really?”
Stoic guy, no sign. To Leader hyung and Kang Minje:
“Hyungs tense?”
Yoo Hajin nodded, Kang Minje shook head.
“A little.”
“Not really?”
Got it.
Fox has big scale. No tension here. Back to script.
Monkey tugged costume.
“Me, not ask?”
What now.
Odd. Ki Jaeyoon sleeps or phones. Shockingly, just rolling eyes in waiting room.
“Of course tense.”
“Gasp! How know?”
Smiled brightly.
“I know you well.”
“Huh?”
Ki Jaeyoon’s eyes shook like earthquake.
“Confess! Ate ham from fridge yesterday!”
What.
“And rice frozen, leftover curry too.”
“On diet?”
“Hungry, couldn’t sleep! Know taste, how hold!”
Well, fridge cleanup would toss anyway. Eating fine.
Issue elsewhere.
“Got it, Jaeyoon.”
Oh no.
Leader hyung grinned darkly, pressing Ki Jaeyoon’s temple with fist.
“Our Jaeyoon ignored my warnings, ate frozen curry midnight.”
No smell in living room somehow.
“Hyung! Sorry! Ate on balcony for perfect crime!”
“Location irrelevant! Eating’s issue! Diet strict, costume still tight! Wanna rip clothes?”
No good. Handle this.
Quietly switched phone to cheat mode.
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Ki Jaeyoon drops food if eats without permission]
[Change complete.]
[Side effect: Itchy tongue for 5 seconds after 5 seconds.]
Huh.
Side effect mild. Like someone helping.