Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Accident
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I took a few steps forward and glanced back slightly. The manager was eating instant noodles as he asked,
“You? Flustered?”
“Yes.”
“The Cha Dowon who spiked hard serves at those sly reporters during the press conference? The Zenith maknae who fed them shit? You got flustered?”
Anyone overhearing would think I’d actually thrown a ball.
“Nah, that was just luck back then.”
I smiled brightly as I replied.
“I couldn’t do it again even if you asked me to right now. The reporters dropped their guard because I was young—that’s how they got hit. If it happened again, I’d block it myself. How could I handle viper-like reporters.”
Of course, people should live humbly.
“No, but why were you flustered?”
“She cried. Telling me not to get hurt.”
I walked slowly forward.
“I was surprised. That someone would worry about me and cry. It’s amazing. I haven’t done anything for her.”
“You’re an idol.”
“Sure, my job is being an idol… but in that moment, I got flustered. Well, I’m happy, though. I did wonder a bit if I should be happy.”
“As if you’d ever worry…”
What kind of image did I have stuck in the manager’s head? I think a lot, even if I don’t show it.
‘Whatever, none of my business…’
I shrugged and kept walking.
“Anyway, that’s why I’m going to try not to get hurt from now on.”
“Hey, you think that’s up to you? Look at me. I’m the poster boy for safe driving, and I almost had a huge disaster today. Ah, my heart’s still pounding. Bad luck all day today. What mess is gonna happen on a day like this.”
I stared at the manager. The round-faced man crunched away at the instant noodles, still grumbling nonstop.
“Don’t tell me it’s nothing. I’ve got surprisingly good instincts. Any shamans nearby? Or a church would work. Ah, should I grab some holy water?”
“Anyone can take that stuff?”
“Seems like it? But Dowon, you really don’t know? Your mom was a shaman, right? Didn’t she have a network of good shamans or something? No list?”
As if that’d exist. Even if it did, I wouldn’t know.
“The famous ones are all booked solid. Just like my mom back in the day.”
“I see. Ugh. Guess I’ll swing by a church. My heart’s still racing.”
“Something realistic would be better than shamans. No matter how I look at it, checking the airbag and blackbox makes more sense. No fault on your end, right, Manager?”
“Of course not! Airbag and blackbox are the best money can buy. We waste so much time on the road. Ah, shit, that was creepy.”
He was seriously freaked out.
‘Not a big deal, but an accident’s still bad news.’
I quietly switched the screen back to cheat mode.
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Heo Yongdam Manager traffic accident airbag deploys safely]
[Change completed.]
[Side effect: Thirst for 20 minutes starting in 2 minutes.]
[cheat mode 2/3]
The side effect was pretty subtle this time. I switched the smartphone back to normal and told the manager,
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah. The guys are waiting.”
I quietly climbed into the car. Exactly two minutes later, thirst hit me like it had been lying in wait.
“But seriously, that car almost rear-ended us?”
“Yeah. Weird, right? That spot didn’t call for it. Drunk driving maybe.”
Oh dear.
I rummaged through the van and pulled out a water bottle.
“Felt like they were aiming right for us.”
“We’ve got plenty of time to the destination, right? Super safe driving today.”
“Huh? Sure.”
I took a sip of water and sank into thought.
‘Deliberately?’
It felt like someone held a grudge. Did we have people who’d grudge us that much?
‘Ah, too many to count.’
Vita, Hershey, that one shot at Sa-hyuk, and VIP.
‘But would they go as far as staging an accident? They’re not some crime syndicate.’
This was organized crime territory.
‘No. Not entirely unrelated. The entertainment world used to be their turf.’
Even now, it wasn’t free of it.
‘How did VIP crash and burn?’
A bad thought crossed my mind. That’s when it happened.
Bang—
A massive shock rippled through my skin. My breath echoed, and the moment stretched out long.
‘What hit us?’
I shielded my face with one arm. Face first, no matter what.
‘Damn.’
Even in the chaos, a bitter smile tugged at my lips.
‘Told the fans I wouldn’t get hurt. Sorry about that.’
Good thing I had my seatbelt on. I gripped the handle with my other hand. My butt lifted once, my body slammed back against the seat, then bounced.
Silence fell. Tinnitus rang in my ears from the impact. But the front-seat airbag deploying? That sound was crystal clear.
I blinked. My blurry vision slowly came into focus.
‘What the hell?’
I moved both hands first. My body trembled. The arm clutching the handle throbbed.
‘But I’m okay.’
Legs worked, other arm fine. And most importantly, my neck was good.
I forced out a sound.
“Ah…”
My voice came through fine. Only then did the stretched moment snap back to normal. I hurriedly looked around.
‘Damn.’
Car accident. The van, stopped on the shoulder, had its usual Ki Jaeyoon-side caved in.
‘Someone hit us. And the rear airbag didn’t even deploy.’
Fuck.
“Manager, you okay?”
“Huh? Yeah! Airbag probably saved me—seems fine!”
Good.
“Let’s get out first.”
I grabbed only my smartphone and opened the door. Pain shot through when I used that arm on reflex. I yanked the door open with the other one instead.
Fresh air rushed in as I stepped out. I tapped the driver’s seat. The manager, dazed, scrambled outside.
“Call 119, the insurance company. I don’t know the drill.”
“Huh? Right. Ah, the car… accident… oh yeah, it happened.”
“Snap out of it! Manager!”
My shout brought his shaky eyes back to focus. No time to waste. I quickly found Joo Executive Director’s contact and called.
It barely rang. He picked up right away.
“Cha Dowon?”
“Joo Executive Director, we had a car accident.”
“What? For real? Y-you okay?”
“Just me in the van. S Broadcasting Station intersection. Wrist feels off, but I’m good. Driving manager looks fine too—ER docs will check. Joo Executive Director, squash any articles that pop up. Probably won’t need to.”
I eyed the other car. Seemed too pristine for something that shoved us like that—then it suddenly lurched forward.
‘Huh?’
It peeled off in the opposite direction like it’d been waiting. I yelled into the phone with Joo,
“10 Deu 1023! Black!”
“Huh?”
“Joo Executive Director, jot it down quick! 10 Deu 1023! Black!”
“Ah, got it.”
I panted, mind racing.
‘This reeks of pros.’
Plate number wouldn’t mean shit then. I checked the van. Ki Jaeyoon sitting there would’ve been seriously hurt, but it held up decently.
‘Tough foreign make saved us, huh…’
A sigh escaped me.
“Dowon, got it. But you—you really okay?”
“Me? Arm’s a bit off, but just a sprain. No breaks or blood.”
“Manager really okay?”
“Physically, yeah. Mentally, he’s rattled.”
“No one walks away from a wreck unscathed. Both of you, hospital. Run every test! You call 119?”
“Manager’s on that?”
“Call it now.”
Joo Executive Director’s voice trembled just a bit at the end.
“Joo Executive Director?”
“Sorry. Reminded me of Yumi.”
“Ah, got it. But listen, Joo Executive Director—not the time for a casual ER trip. Got excited and forgot to say: the other car hit and run.”
Something clattered to the floor on the other end of the line.
“What, what?”
“Smells like pros to me.”
“Damn it.”
Joo Executive Director took a deep breath. I waited, smiling faintly.
“Cha Dowon. Right. Police’ll investigate. No sweeping this quiet now.”
“Exactly.”
“So hospital first. Arm’s weird, right? I’ll handle the rest. You just rest.”
Wow, he’s worried.
‘Kinda touching.’
Our Joo Executive Director’s changed. Not that he was ever bad.
“Deeply moved.”
“Huh?”
“Just… everything. But Joo Executive Director, the grudge behind this? Probably exactly that. Zenith gets another injury scandal, I’m in the ER.”
I glanced at my injured arm.
“You’ve seen me enough to know: I hate dancing to someone else’s tune. Got that contrary streak.”
Of course, topping it off by shoving shit down their throats would be ideal.
“Ch-Cha Dowon. What’re you planning?”
“What else.”
I looked at Manager Heo, frantically making calls somewhere.
“Stick to the schedule as normal.”
“You’re insane! Hospital, now!”
“Why? I’m a No.1 contender. How Chunhyang clawed her way to the top—I’m not tossing that.”
“Hospital. Cha Dowon. Please? You can’t do this. Feels fine now, but it could go bad.”
“ER after No.1.”
“You nuts?! Cha Dowon! Hospital! You don’t get how dangerous wrecks are!”
“Then after No.1, Joo Executive Director.”
I hung up. Dialed 114 right away for a call taxi.
‘Taxi apps aren’t out yet—such a pain.’
I gave the location and destination. That’s when the manager came over.
“Called 119. 112 too! Whew.”
“Manager, I’ll do the schedule then head out.”
“What? No way! After a wreck? Schedule?!”
“Can’t miss No.1.”
“Crazy! Ambition’s one thing—this ain’t it! You screw up, you’re dead!”
The manager was losing it, but I just smiled quietly.
“Thanks for the worry, but heading to the ER like this? I’d die of rage first.”
Where’s that damn taxi. I soothed the manager with deep breaths.
“Zenith’s injury rep? Half on me. But not anymore. Even without that, I wanna do the schedule.”
“Dowon!”
“Acting like nothing happened—they’ll react. Bet the one behind this freaks most.”
That’s why no hospital yet.
“So, music show and back.”
“Cha Dowon!”
“Then hospital. Hurt or collapse whatever, won’t blame you or Joo Executive Director.”
“Hey, brat! That ain’t the half of it!”
“Can’t go like this.”
Taxi pulled up right on cue. I held out my hand quietly.
“Taxi fare, please.”
“How much?”
“Roughly 100,000 won. I’ll pay you back. Nah—bill the company.”
“Yeah. Here… wait! Don’t go!”
“Manager, you handle 119. 112 too if needed. Blackbox caught the hit-run plate—deal later.”
“Gasp! Hit-and-run!”
Slow on the uptake.
I hopped into the taxi’s front seat quick. Driver asked destination—I said S Broadcasting Station.
In the car, I fiddled with my smartphone.
‘Use a cheat?’
I shook my head.
‘Will eventually. Just later.’
After the music show would do.
‘Real injury means nasty side effects—trouble.’
I took a deep breath. Honestly, only my wrist bugged me.
‘Hit the opposite side to begin with.’
Me and the manager—not bad impacts. But Ki Jaeyoon in that spot?
‘Damn.’
Could’ve been ugly. No guarantees on the second album or future activities.
‘Which bastard.’
Hershey? Sa-hyuk? VIP?
One of the three. First two already toothless, though.
‘Doubt they’d pull this off anyway.’
Then VIP?