Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Time to Admit It
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At my words, Lee Seungjun let his head, which had been tilted toward the sky, drop downward.
“If it were you, I thought you’d scold me......”
“You didn’t say all this just to hear a scolding from me, did you?”
The Bear nodded. Wow. What does this guy think of me? I was so flabbergasted that I automatically clicked my tongue.
“I don’t give straight talk to people close to me.”
“I didn’t expect Dowon you to understand.”
What kind of person does he think I am? I sighed and shook my head.
“Well, I have a sister too.”
“Right. Yeah, you do.”
“Why did you want me to scold you?”
“I need to snap out of it. I shouldn’t hate the kid. And it’s about time I admitted it.”
He lifted his head again and gazed at the sky.
“I know I can never see my sister again. I get it. But still, sometimes I wait for her call.”
I narrowed my eyes. What kind of presence was his sister in his life? My own mother, Madam Cha Sora, loomed large and heavy inside me, but not to this extent.
“Thanks. For comforting me.”
“You bland bastard.”
Suddenly, he squinted his eyes and smiled. He’d brightened up a lot, but he was still the taciturn type. I’d seen him smile more lately, but this was a first.
“Anything you want to eat?”
“Pfft!”
Lee Seungjun suddenly covered his mouth and laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, um...... Secret? I want to keep it to myself.”
What’s that supposed to mean?
Lee Seungjun laughed again as he saw my expression.
‘Yeah, laugh it up.’
Better than moping around. I patted his shoulder and was about to leave the walking path when he whispered softly.
“The thing about my sister was kind of a secret to me.”
“So?”
“It’s unfair. You spill one too, Dowon.”
My eyes narrowed on their own. Anyone would think I was threatening him to talk.
“I don’t have any secrets.”
I have quite a few, though.
“Wow, shut down in one go.”
“If you feel wronged, go dig around. You won’t find any......”
“Hmm, I know one, though.”
I spotted the manager in the distance. I grabbed the Bear and walked over.
“You don’t like Minje hyung, right?”
My steps halted for a moment.
‘How did he know?’
Did it show on my face?
Lee Seungjun covered his mouth and laughed again as he looked at me.
“No one else would know. Only I do.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I hate Minje hyung?”
I flashed a bright smile.
“He composes songs for me, he’s got money. He even treats me to meals sometimes. How could I hate someone who buys me food?”
“Hmm, so why do you hate him?”
Wow, sharp guy.
‘Come to think of it, this bear’s got real strength and quick wits.’
I grinned widely.
“I told you, I don’t hate him.”
“You don’t have to lie.”
“Who’d misunderstand if they heard that? Why would I hate Minje hyung? If anything, I like him. A lot, really a ton. Desperately, more than anyone in the world? Nah.”
The Bear stared straight at me. I smiled brightly and averted my gaze.
“If you really want me to believe that, fine. I’ll pretend I do.”
This guy’s not buying it till the end.
The manager approached.
“Aigoo, what are you doing here?”
“I texted you ahead of time.”
“I know. You found your way just fine. But Zenith duo, what if fans surround you out here?”
Oh no.
Lee Seungjun and I looked at each other and said simultaneously.
“Oh, that could happen.”
“Ah, I see.”
The manager let out a deep sigh.
“You guys live so carelessly, you’ll get in big trouble one day? We need to hire more managers to fill these gaps. What if something happens like this.”
“We’re getting more managers?”
“We’re being cautious with hiring because of my own issue too. You Zenith guys are our hope; we can’t just bring in anyone willy-nilly. And......”
The manager whispered softly.
“My abilities are starting to fall short lately.”
Huh. That caught me off guard.
‘He knows.’
I don’t know about his skills, but you’re such a good person. That’s why you have so many blind spots.
“It’d be nice to reinforce with someone sharp and decisive.”
The mild-mannered manager scratched his head and smiled. I narrowed my eyes. He’d wilt if I didn’t toss him a compliment.
“You’re not bad either, Manager.”
Not good, but not bad. That’s the problem.
‘Well, he drives well and has a great personality. His weird dancing and loose lips are the big flaws, though.’
Still, experience has taught me it’s not easy to find a manager this decent. It’s probably worse in the industry. So much goes through them.
“Ah, no!”
I suddenly realized and slapped my forehead. At my half-hearted compliment, the manager shed tears like a chick.
“Sniff. Saying that...... Thanks. Worth feeding and housing you all.”
When did you ever feed and house us?
“Sniff! When I first saw you, I thought you were a crazy punk! You didn’t even chew me out for my huge mistake...... Dowon, you’re an arrogant bantam rooster on the outside, but inside you’re the Pacific Ocean. No grudges at all.”
Is that an insult or praise?
Huh. He cared about that big mistake? He seemed so nonchalant, I thought he’d forgotten.
“No one knows how deep you really are.”
Then Lee Seungjun behind him spoke up.
“Not no one knows. I do.”
“That’s right! Seungjun-ah! You get it!”
I narrowed my eyes. These two were having a blast.
“Probably only I know among Zenith. And that’s......”
Lee Seungjun beamed at me.
“What I like. A lot.”
For a moment, I was speechless.
‘What’s this about?’
Teasing or praising?
A sigh escaped me naturally. I looked up at the sky and whispered.
“Let’s head in now. Oh, wait. Let me get that contact info first.”
“Huh? Whose?”
“This hospital’s welfare foundation.”
I turned and looked at the hospital. It was a decent-sized one in Seoul. Perfect for sponsoring.
‘Doing good deeds feels most rewarding for kids and fans.’
I grinned and quickly headed to the hospital lobby. Madam Chayeonhwa’s favorite saying was that good deeds bring blessings. I didn’t believe it, of course. But it’s a one-time life. Helping desperate people seemed pretty mood-boosting.
‘Well, turns out it’s a two-time life for me, but whatever.’
Being able to help someone felt more fulfilling than expected.
‘Maybe this is why I came back?’
I chuckled. Didn’t matter either way.
***
Zenith’s dorm was decently quiet. Maybe that’s why I was a bit surprised the moment I walked in.
“What’s this?”
There were several cameras. I thought it might be a broadcast, but the one filming was someone I knew.
‘PR team staff?’
I gave a slight bow, and the staff smiled back.
‘Cameras: one, two, three. Total of three.’
One was on me. I reflexively flashed an idol smile.
“Huh, what’s going on?”
The other cameras were on Kang Minje and Ki Jaeyun.
‘Ah, this must be the thing I suggested.’
Kang Minje’s lower body was mid-workout. But his hands were playing a digital piano.
“Jaeyun-ah, again!”
“Ah-! Ah! Aah!”
“Not enough, again!”
“Minje hyung, spare me.”
Oh my. Looks great.
I watched them warmly. Kang Minje kept doing leg exercises while whispering in his clear voice.
“If we don’t finish today, we’re in trouble.”
“Minje hyung, spare me. How am I supposed to do this in such a short time!”
Kang Minje tilted his head. His brown hair swayed.
“You were doing well?”
“Wh-who was!”
Kang Minje glanced at me.
‘Huh, me?’
I smiled brightly and waved.
“You’re working hard. Fighting!”
“D-Do-Dowon?”
“Dowon did it in half a day—no, two hours. At first, Dowon was just a middle schooler who could sing a little.”
Yeah, back then that’s how it was. I nodded.
“Minje hyung’s training is tough, but the results are good.”
“Cha-Cha Dowon!”
That’s when it happened. Suddenly, Ki Jaeyun crawled toward me on his knees.
‘Must be that great flexibility......’
He’s fast. For a second, I thought it was a horror movie.
The monkey grabbed my pants leg.
“Y-You, how did you do it?”
“Hmm, well. Good?”
“Not that answer! How do you do that well!”
“Just do it?”
I did it because it worked.
I smiled kindly, and the monkey bit his lip.
“Cha Dowon!”
“Yeah?”
“Spare me!”
No one’s killing him, so why spare? Is he exaggerating or serious?
Curious, I glanced at the PR staff, but they just smiled kindly.
I turned to Kang Minje. The fox was now holding a dumbbell as he spoke.
“Come quick, Jaeyun-ah.”
“Eek!”
“Drink some lukewarm water and sing again!”
Ah. Hence the water?
I looked at the water bottles scattered in the living room. Ah, he makes him drink one every time he messes up.
“Minje hyung, you gave him salt with it, right?”
“Of course.”
The white powder on the table—salt, huh? Funny if you know, suspicious if you don’t.
Impressive, Kang Minje.
As I stared at the powder, the fox protested innocently.
“One sip every time he fails.”
“Ah, yes.”
“But he fails so much, it’s a problem.”
“Hyung, you’re too much of a perfectionist.”
“Hmm, Dowon-ah. I haven’t even brought out perfection yet. If I were a perfectionist, Jaeyun would be......”
Kang Minje smiled brightly at Ki Jaeyun. The monkey shuddered violently.
Oh dear.
I said to the PR staff with the camera.
“You’ll have to edit this well. If it airs as is, Zenith’s image is toast.”
The PR staff gave an OK sign in agreement.
Ki Jaeyun grabbed my pants again.
“I said spare me.”
“Hmm, Minje hyung’ll go easy if you show effort. I recommend showing some sincerity.”
“Y-You saying I haven’t shown any?”
I nodded. Unfortunately, Kang Minje and Lee Seungjun nodded too, and even the PR staff filming agreed.
“Jaeyun-ah, come quick!”
“Eek! B-Bathroom first! I drank so much water!”
“Hmm, not even 1L?”
“Minje hyung! I’ll drink cola instead!”
“No, carbonated drinks are bad for your throat.”
The fox bastard beckoned him over. But Ki Jaeyun bolted to the bathroom.
Oh dear.
‘Kang Minje records stuff like this......’
Jaeyun’s doomed soon.
I shook my head and opened the fridge door. With such a packed schedule, I couldn’t remember what was inside.
‘I wonder what Seungjun likes.’
He confessed something tough, so he should eat well.
That’s when it happened.
The freezer door swung open, and something came tumbling out. I quickly stepped back to dodge.
“Chicken breast?”
Individually packaged frozen chicken breasts rolled across the kitchen floor.
From the living room, Kang Minje shouted.
“Ah, that’s mine. Need protein to bulk up.”
Saying that, Kang Minje came over still holding his dumbbell. I scanned him up and down impassively.
‘This guy’s getting serious.’
Scary bastard. Wants it all.
I quietly picked up and gathered the chicken breasts.
“Bought plenty for Zenith. You can use it for cooking too.”
“Thanks. Yeah, there’s a lot. Could even make curry.”
“Curry today?”
“Want curry?”
“If you made it, I’d love anything.”
Cheesy bastard.
“Then stew it is. White cream stew. Something warm seems good. Minje hyung, cream stew okay?”
“Yeah. Anything’s fine. Oh, then I need more energy to work out. When’s Jaeyun coming out?”
“Soon, probably.”
I washed my hands and tied on an apron. Then all three cameras turned to me.
“You’re filming this too?”
“Yes. Looks fun.”
“Just daily life.”
As I bustled pulling veggies from the fridge, Kang Minje said.
“Dowon-ah. Sing the second paragraph of Chunhyang in falsetto.”
Why suddenly? I gave him a puzzled look, and the fox bastard smiled faintly.