Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Humiliating Shoot
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“Jaeyoon’s been struggling so much. I was wondering if it’s really that tough.”
Ah.
“Wasn’t it hard for you, hyung?”
“Hmm, I’ve always been naturally good at singing. I was good from the start. Is it really that difficult?”
Wow. What a jerk.
I nodded. Right on cue, Ki Jaeyoon shuffled over after finishing his business.
I did exactly as Kang Minje instructed.
“Your~ scent~ reaches me!”
My well-rehearsed breaths flowed smoothly. Satisfied with my vocalization, Kang Minje grinned.
“You’re doing great.”
“Well, you taught me, hyung.”
I’d just turned on the faucet when Ki Jaeyoon suddenly yelled.
“That’s not fair!”
Huh. When did you get here?
“Cha Dowon, why do you nail it on the first try?”
What kind of obvious question is that?
“Practice?”
“I practice and still can’t do it?”
I replied while washing a carrot.
“Then just do it.”
“I would’ve if it were that easy!”
“Did you really follow Minje hyung’s advice? Control your breathing and muscles while putting strength into your vocal cords?”
Ki Jaeyoon swallowed hard.
“Stop saying it’s hard and try it like Minje hyung said. If you do, I’ll give you a reward.”
“A, a reward?”
He’s like a kid, tempted by treats.
“I’ll make you a super deluxe bacon cheeseburger from scratch.”
Ki Jaeyoon’s pupils trembled.
“I’ll grill the patties in the oven myself.”
“T, two patties?”
“Three with cheese on top.”
Ki Jaeyoon’s arms shook.
“Y, you mean it.”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not lying? Lying about this would make you inhuman.”
“I don’t lie about stuff like this.”
“Deal!”
Ki Jaeyoon dashed back to the sheet music. Peeling an onion, I said,
“Praise seems important.”
Is this what teaching feels like? I could almost understand my mom’s feelings. Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Kang Minje nodded quietly.
“Isn’t food just more important to Jaeyoon? Amazing. A deluxe burger works better than my advice.”
“It’s not just any deluxe burger—it’s a bacon cheese deluxe.”
He went crazy for it.
But what now? I glanced quietly at the camera.
“You really need to edit this well. Sorry. This wasn’t what I had in mind when I suggested it.”
Things were spiraling into chaos.
‘If it just ended with Jaeyoon improving, great. But it’s getting weird.’
I gave an awkward smile, and a PR staffer shook their head.
“No, it’s good!”
“Yeah!”
You mean that? PR staff?
“This’ll be tough to edit no matter what.”
Will this gain Jaeyoon fans? Will overseas fans find it funny? It’s just a guy practicing vocals for a deluxe burger.
‘He looks like your average neighborhood idiot.’
All that’ll be left is the burger. Will fans really accept this?
‘They won’t like the idiot part.’
We need to rein it in. I looked at the camera worriedly. But the PR staff kept smiling and thumbs-upping.
“It’s fine.”
Why are they so confident? Do they have a plan? It’d be perfect as a fake documentary, but this is real life.
I sighed involuntarily. Planning isn’t for just anyone.
Just then, the front door opened. I knew who it was without looking. The only one not here was Yoo Hajin.
“Whoa, smells good.”
“Oh, Hajin hyung. You’re eating, right?”
“Yeah, obviously. But Dowon, why make it yourself when you’re busy?”
The conversation felt off.
“I had time. Plus, I figured I should feed Seungjun a bit.”
“What’s up with Seungjun?”
I shook my head right away. The bear noona thing is a secret, so I can’t say.
“No, nothing big. Just wanted to.”
“Still, just order delivery. You’ve got a lot on your plate too.”
I shook my head. Well, there’s plenty of chicken breast the fox bought to build muscle—enough to make a bunch.
“Dowon. You know tomorrow’s the awards show performance, right?”
“Yeah. Film festival. VIP sunbaenims closed the first half, and we open the second?”
“Right. Hope the movie you shot wins something, but probably not?”
“Gwiju Victory? Release timing’s tricky—might spill into next year.”
I smiled brightly. Come to think of it, film festival.
‘Famous for no applause.’
Will they clap for us? Maybe prepare something special.
‘If VIP sunbaenims are there, we should show something different.’
Show the difference. Make the actors cheer and wipe those smug VIP faces.
Chopping veggies, a great idea hit me. I turned and said,
“Leader hyung, can we talk over stew?”
“Huh? Sure. About the film festival performance the day after tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Then later... Huh?”
The PR camera was still rolling. Ladle in hand, I said,
“You’re still filming?”
“Oh, yeah. The conversation’s kinda fun.”
What?
I blinked, and the PR staff smiled shyly.
“It’s like a sweet couple prepping dinner together.”
What? What did I just hear?
My hand went slack. Clunk—the ladle hit the kitchen floor pathetically.
“St, staff?”
“Oh, sorry. But that’s why I kept the camera on—it’s been hilarious.”
Cold sweat trickled down my back. Hajin hyung panicked, covering the camera with his hand.
“The kid’s shocked! Turn off the camera first!”
“Huh?”
“Dowon, you okay?”
Picking up the ladle, I muttered,
“Haven’t felt this powerless in ages.”
“Snap out of it!”
“I felt it once back then, thought it’d never happen again...”
Yoo Hajin grabbed my shoulders.
“What happened back then?”
“When the scandal with Minje hyung broke.”
With trembling eyes, I confessed.
“That’s when I first regretted becoming an idol.”
“R, right.”
“Gives me chills.”
Hajin hyung whirled around.
“Our kid’s really shaken! Why say stuff like that!”
Ahh, please.
I clutched Yoo Hajin’s shirt tightly.
“Hajin hyung, stop...”
“Dowon, you gotta speak up.”
“No, it’s embarrassing me more.”
I wanted to crawl into a hole.
Yoo Hajin nodded and stood. Ki Jaeyoon, getting tutoring from Kang Minje, had overheard the disaster.
“Minje hyung, are Hajin hyung and Dowon filming a drama?”
“Shh! Pretend you didn’t hear.”
Damn. Don’t pity me.
‘Your stew’s off the menu today, Ki Jaeyoon.’
Always stirring up trouble. I sighed and stood. It sucked, but the sun rises, Earth turns.
***
Honestly, I didn’t think this stage would get approved. Needed film festival agreement. Proposed thinking it’d fail, but they said yes.
‘Why?’
Dressing, I tilted my head.
‘Awards shows aren’t usually like this.’
Stylist noona tugged my hem. She said,
“Ah, today’s outfit looks cool.”
I turned slightly, winking one eye.
“You know I’m always grateful, right?”
“Aww, such a good boy. Did I outdo myself today?”
Black hem draped down. Embroidery too, this time.
“Sponsor item? Must’ve been tough picking it up.”
“Nah, easier now. Zenith’s popular.”
“Fame helps with that too?”
“Obviously. What industry doesn’t?”
Got it.
“Wanna make things even easier for you, Stylist noona.”
She clutched her forehead, pretending to swoon.
“You talk so sweetly. What wouldn’t I do for you? All done!”
I bowed slightly and headed out. Members held props.
“Ziusan dancers hand it over on stage.”
I took the flower basket, brushing petals. Fragrance scattered. Then Manager said,
“Zenith! Attention. Please.”
Why’s this company all about ‘attention’ lately? Who started this trend?
“You’re giving flowers at the film festival today.”
I nodded. Honestly, an uneasy stage.
‘Only one rehearsal.’
Live broadcast too—screw-up means disaster.
“Who’re you giving to?”
Ki Jaeyoon yelled first.
“Obviously Noona Yoo Jimin! If she’s close enough!”
Manager shook his head vigorously.
“Jaeyoon, who are we?”
“Ze, Zenith?”
“We’re pretty popular?”
“Yeah?”
“Give flowers to actress Yoo Jimin? Fans’ll be disappointed.”
Ah, got it.
“No, fans won’t care about that!”
“Fans don’t complain much these days. But why risk it? Keep the peace.”
“No, what! Why suddenly? Cha Dowon’s done it fine without issues.”
I smiled brightly.
“Now even I’ll struggle?”
“Exactly!”
Manager shot me a loving bullet. So horrifying, I closed my eyes.
“We’re not nobodies anymore. Even Dowon can’t piggyback middle-aged guys or chatty teachers now?”
Oof.
‘Not a big deal, but kinda annoying.’
Gotta drop that from my talents. Nailed airtime with it, but no more carrying middle-aged men.
‘They make me do it every talent show.’
Everyone seemed eager to try.
‘Not my problem.’
Manager grabbed and patted my shoulder.
“We’re popular now? Watch your behavior.”
“Why tell me? I behave.”
“Jaeyoon just needs self-control, but...”
Manager trailed off. Leader hyung muttered,
“Dowon could get targeted too.”
Huh.
“Me?”
“Hajin! Good point! Dowon’s popular—could spark misunderstandings! Dowon, talk only to men and older teachers! ‘Only’! No SNS with female celebs!”
SNS was a no-go anyway to avoid drama. But that’s too much.
Frowning, Manager pleaded earnestly.
“Better safe. Zenith members, look after Dowon. He’s high school first-year soon?”
Kang Minje and Lee Seungjun nodded. Wait, agreeing?
I eyed them alternately.
“Shouldn’t you worry about them more?”
I’m young, out of range rationally, but they’re not?
Kang Minje cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem. Anyway, got it.”
Fox acts suspicious when caught.
“Fine. Bottom line: flowers only to male actors and teachers today!”
Do we need to be that cautious? It’s just a performance.
‘They must have reasons.’
No more needless rumors for me. I looked at the flower bunch.
“Anyway, let’s do well.”
Yoo Hajin smiled, offering his hand. I tucked flowers under arm, placed mine on his. Members’ hands piled on.
“One, two, three!”
“Let’s do well!”
I shouted the chant and tilted my head.
“When’d we make this up?”
“Oh, you had a solo schedule then! Whaddya think?”
I smiled a bit.
“Not bad. Hands are warm.”
“Right?”
Yoo Hajin put a hand on my shoulder as we walked. VIP’s stage just ended. Sunbaenims came backstage.
We bowed deeply. I scanned quietly. Plenty of staff, good.
One VIP member said,
“You guys too?”
Yoo Hajin pushed me back.
“Yes. Opening second half.”
“Oh, okay.”
Then Jeremy said,
“Who’re you guys again? Sorry, too many groups like you these days.”
I stifled a laugh. He said ‘you guys too’ earlier. Doesn’t add up, sunbaenims?