Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: It's Fun to Observe
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Ki Jaeyoon bolted upright, letting out a roar like a dinosaur facing the end of the world.
"No way! I can't end it like this!"
He was really serious. He might actually wail like a beast any second. No helping it. I flashed a grin and said,
"Executive Director Joo wouldn't really ban you from eating for three years, would he?"
"Huh?"
"If you improve your performance and ask to eat, he'll probably say yes."
"R-Really?"
I crossed my arms, wearing a smile of trust.
"Isn't mine delicious?"
"Yeah."
"You're calling me hyung now, right?"
"Uh? Yeah! Dowon hyung!"
He actually called me that.
"You want to eat it again, don't you?"
"Yes, hyung!"
"You'll listen well from now on, right?"
"If you give me this, I'll do anything!"
If he does well, I could even vouch for him.
'He's such an easy guy.'
Well, good is good. I smiled benevolently and pointed to the last plate.
"Enjoy it to the finish, sir."
"Yes, hyung!"
Ki Jaeyoon took a bite of the hamburger. Then he let out a proper howl.
"It's, it's spicy!!!"
Lee Seungjun had the look of "here it comes," while Kang Minje looked flustered, his face stiffening.
"Too spicy!"
Ki Jaeyoon gulped down water. Then, tears streaming, he looked at me.
"How did you know?"
Know what?
"I love super spicy stuff, hyung."
Oh no.
I blinked in bewilderment. Ki Jaeyoon took another bite of the spicy hamburger and shivered.
"This is totally my taste."
Crazy.
'What kind of guy is this?'
Is he okay? As an idol—no, even before that, okay to let loose in society? Is he some wild animal?
'He's a truly bizarre creature.'
Kang Minje covered his mouth and sidled up to me.
"You look defeated."
Defeated? What?
"It feels like defeat."
"Dowon seems weak to fools."
I nodded. Come to think of it, I'd always been played by Ki Jaeyoon.
"Ki Jaeyoon must be my natural enemy."
At my words, Kang Minje's waist suddenly bent in half. Not just that—the fox kit clutched his stomach and staggered.
"Hyung?"
"Uhahahahaha! Uhahaha!"
Kang Minje gripped the table, laughing uncontrollably.
'What the hell.'
He laughed like his soul was leaving his body. Then, wiping tears, he said,
"Keup. I see. Kheup. Kup. Kuck! Cough! Cough!"
Either cry, laugh, or talk—one at a time would be nice. Finally, choking, Kang Minje twisted his body.
'He'll die at this rate.'
Can't have that. The fox kit has to make music.
I clicked my tongue and brought him a glass of cold water.
He wiped his tears and said,
"Thanks."
I shrugged and returned to the counter. Ki Jaeyoon was now savoring the hamburger, cherishing it like it was truly the last.
'That guy's a sight too.'
Don't think about it. Don't try to understand. I shook my head and lit the burner again.
That was when Kang Minje, still with tears in his eyes, spoke up.
"Dowon, whose are you making this time?"
"Hajin hyung and the two managers. Executive Director Joo's too. Similar ones, so it won't take long."
"You're making all of them?"
"We've got plenty of patties and buns. Gotta use them up."
Kang Minje smiled softly and said,
"One person's missing."
I nodded right away.
"Oh, right. The president's is missing."
Missing the top dog's order? That could've been trouble. Better to start from the top.
Kang Minje placed a hand on my shoulder.
"No, not that."
"Someone else I need to make for?"
"When are you gonna eat?"
For a moment, I was speechless.
"Oh, I forgot."
"The most important person's missing."
"I often forget while cooking. Well, I gotta eat too."
"Eat now, then cook."
Why was the fox kit acting like this?
"I can make mine later."
"No. You must be hungry. You can eat next to Seungjun and cook."
"It's fine."
"Hyung's asking. Eat now."
Did the fox kit eat something weird? No spoiled ingredients, though.
I stared at him intently. The guy who'd been laughing madly was gone, replaced by a fairly serious-faced Kang Minje.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
'Well, it's not an unreasonable request.'
I nodded. Kang Minje smiled in relief.
"You gotta take care of your body, Dowon."
"I'm probably the one who takes best care of himself at Zenith."
"Dunno. From what I see, you forget to eat when you're focused on work."
Had I?
"Dowon is fun to observe."
Crazy. Is this guy losing it?
"Sometimes you remind me of a feline."
"Cheetah or leopard?"
"Yeah. That kind."
That was when Kang Minje suddenly covered his face with both hands. Then he started trembling.
Has the crazy guy finally snapped?
"Minje hyung? You okay?"
"No. This isn't pain."
Kang Minje waved me off with one hand.
"Feline creature..."
His pupils shook wildly. He looked like he'd done drugs, so I furrowed my brow.
'Ambulance is 119, police 112—what's the number for drugs?'
Doctor or cops?
As I pondered, Kang Minje suddenly yelled.
"This isn't the time to be like this!"
Whoa, startled me.
"Inspiration hit! Filming's done, right? I'm, I'm going!"
"Where to?"
"Anywhere! If I can make this! It's here! Bye! See you later! Good work, everyone! I'm off! Don't look for me!"
Kang Minje bolted, tripping over a cord but somehow not falling, and ran off. I watched his back, then said to the camera,
"No need to report him anywhere, right?"
A PR team staffer who'd arrived smiled and replied,
"Huh? Report where?"
"Uh, 119? 112?"
The hand holding the camera shook. What was so funny? I was being serious.
"Nah, no need."
Really?
I eyed the camera lens suspiciously. Finally, the staffer bent over, laughing hysterically.
***
"Long time no see."
I sat on the sofa opposite. Executive Director Joo smiled and told her secretary,
"Secretary Lee, get our kid some calcium soy milk."
"Yes, Director."
I furrowed my brow. What was that?
"What's with the calcium soy milk?"
"You gotta grow tall, Dowon. Grow big and strong."
I felt intense enthusiasm. I narrowed my eyes.
'Something's up.'
Well, my height was growing fast lately. My knees had been aching like crazy.
"Why'd you call me here alone?"
"Got a favor to ask. And some questions."
"I see. Well, I wanted to see you too, Executive Director Joo."
I handed over a shopping bag.
"Huh? What's this?"
"A bribe."
Executive Director Joo jolted, shoulders shaking in surprise.
"How'd you know? That I'm weak to bribes?"
Oh dear, he was.
"It's not expensive."
"Hup. How'd you know? Amazing? I go crazy for cheap bribes."
Aha. So that's what it was.
'He meant he's weak to sincerity.'
His jokes were hard to get. Executive Director Joo pulled out the contents right away.
"A hamburger?"
"A homemade one. There was that fake documentary shoot with Ki Jaeyoon today."
"Oh, right. Did Jaeyoon eat a lot?"
I nodded immediately.
"Tons. Gluttony doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Man."
"I handed him straight to the trainer. Even I cut him off midway. If I'd let him keep going, his stomach might've actually burst."
"That bad?"
"Yeah. Whatever you saw, it was worse."
Executive Director Joo let out a deep sigh, like the ground was caving in.
"The kid's so innocent and nice..."
His assessment wavered.
"No brakes when it comes to eating."
"Seems like just hamburgers, though."
"Hajin's managing now, but what later? When we lived together, the leader held him back, but you'll all live separately someday."
Very true. I nodded in agreement.
'Well, when that happens, I'll use cheats.'
Not my problem if Ki Jaeyoon gains weight, but a member turning pig and waddling would be trouble in many ways.
'If he's always been like that, fine, but gaining during activities is different.'
Gotta stop it somehow. This was a Zenith brand value issue.
'I raised it so high...'
Couldn't let Ki Jaeyoon's potbelly squash it.
Every jiggle of his gut would tarnish Zenith's image. Every cheek wobble, a CF gone.
No way.
Cold sweat trickled down my back. First real chill in a while.
"Executive Director Joo, I'll actively stop him too."
"Please do."
"Yes."
As a sense of duty welled up and I clenched then unclenched my fist, the secretary set a mug of soy milk on the table.
Thud.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
'Calcium soy milk, huh?'
I met eyes with Executive Director Joo.
"Need to grow taller for something?"
"Yeah. Well, your height's fine now."
Executive Director Joo averted his eyes. Looked guilty.
'Why's he like that?'
I cut straight to it.
"What's going on?"
"Dowon, can you wear a swimsuit?"
"For a photoshoot? Need to build muscle?"
Executive Director Joo shook his head.
"Photoshoot's Photoshop-able to some extent."
Got it.
"It's video. Video can be Photoshopped too, but it costs a ton. Ah, that's why the staff like you. Minimal touch-up needed."
"Well, use me more if you like it."
"Shoot more here? You're something else."
"Strike while the iron's hot. Though the cute kid appeal window's closing."
Executive Director Joo shook his head.
"Up to 20, it's still viable."
"Keep using us?"
"No, we'll switch before that."
"Is now the time?"
I saw him flinch.
"You've got sharp instincts."
"No instincts, no trendsetter idol."
She swallowed hard. Took a deep breath in and out.
What was with that? Asking me to vouch?
"Dowon, got something to say first."
"Go ahead."
"I care about you, in my own way."
Well, in his own way.
I smiled brightly.
"Honored."
"D-Don't misunderstand my sincerity."
"Yes. I won't."
She downed her coffee in one go, wiped her mouth with her hand.
"Wear a swimsuit in the drama."
"How many times?"
"Just the first scene. 'Melody's Narrative' called. Can you swim underwater? Dowon, you okay showing your upper body?"
I started to nod, then stopped.
'How much exposure?'
Plus, burn scar on my back.
"Just the front?"
"Yeah. When I heard, I planned to drop 'Melody's Narrative.' You're a hot commodity now. No need for that."
Fair. But dropping a drama over one scene was another matter.
'Old me would've said fine right away.'
But now I was idol Cha Dowon. That's when I got why Executive Director Joo was tense.
'He had precedent.'
I smiled brightly. Memories of that brutal first MV flooded back.
'Ah, first music video was with Yumi sunbae.'
So, second music video?
"You feel guilty about something?"
Executive Director Joo hung his head.
"Yeah."
"You knew, huh, Executive Director Joo."
"How could I not?"
"I'm fine, but the fans might not be."
Executive Director Joo nodded.
"Some would love it."
"True."
"Is the swimsuit scene essential in 'Melody's Narrative'?"
"Revised first scene. You swim and retrieve something from the bottom."
No such scene pre-regression. Meaning, my casting changed it.