Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Rude but Polite Guy
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“Looks like the scene has changed.”
“Yeah.”
“When’s the revised script coming?”
“It’ll come right away once you give the okay. Probably via quick delivery?”
“From the script, it seems like it’ll be handled as a dream sequence in the story.”
I’d have to see the details to know for sure, though.
“Um, Dowon. I’m sorry.”
“You knew that much, huh.”
“We were in a real bind back then.”
“It took me a while to realize it too. The company was in a serious crunch.”
I took a swig of the calcium soy milk and tossed it back. It tasted awful.
“If it hadn’t been that kind of music video, it wouldn’t have blown up.”
“W-Well, yeah.”
“And softening the image afterward? That was your doing, Executive Director.”
If we hadn’t gained popularity, it would’ve ended there. But she turned it into a real success. I knew exactly what that meant.
‘A weakness.’
It’d make for some prime blackmail material down the line.
‘Well, better not to use it, but if I do, I’ll use it right.’
Exposure wouldn’t be a big deal for me, but I had to think of the fans who’d be upset.
“You must’ve really needed that number one back then.”
“Uh, y-yeah.”
“Debuting and hitting number one isn’t easy. Some people say we climbed too fast.”
Executive Director Joo let out a sigh.
“I think they’re right. We did climb easily.”
“No, we didn’t.”
“No. We need an objective view. It was easy.”
Hershey and Sa-hyuk flashed through my mind. Well, it wasn’t super easy, but how many idols are there who can’t even appear on music shows?
“But that’s that, and this is this. Executive Director Joo. Thank you. I’m grateful, but still.”
I leaned in with a smile and whispered.
“We’ll go with the exposure if we fall way behind. Using it too soon would spoil the fun.”
“R-Really?”
“But the swimsuit’s a bit much. The swimming scene itself is fine, though. We’ll just wear clothes when we go in.”
Executive Director Joo pondered for a moment. She was thinking of compromises.
“You can make it happen, right?”
“I’ll try.”
“Thank you. Oh, wait!”
I rubbed my chin and said.
“You wanted to change our image.”
Executive Director Joo nodded.
“The line between boy and young man is beautiful.”
She wanted to capitalize on that boy-to-young-man transition.
‘Makes sense. It’d last longer than just pretty boyish looks.’
It could still work even after twenty.
“I-I checked the references. Your body’s in good shape.”
“Mine’s pretty good, yeah.”
“Still worrying, though. What if you don’t grow taller like this? You need to grow more.”
I spread my hands wide to show Executive Director Joo.
“My hands are big.”
“Th-They are, huh?”
“They say big hands mean you’ll be tall. At least 180cm, so don’t worry.”
“Right. And your shoulders are decent too.”
Shoulders out of nowhere?
“Idol tip for you, Dowon. Male celebs need good shoulders.”
I nodded obediently.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Not just keep in mind—treat it like gospel! Well, face is king, of course.”
Huh. No clue what’s what anymore.
‘Guess having both is the way?’
I nodded.
“I’ll etch it in deep.”
“Good. Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“I’ll enjoy this.”
I finished the soy milk and stood up. It still tasted awful.
“Is this okay?”
“Tastes bad.”
“You don’t have to force it down if it’s bad…”
“How could I? It’s a gift.”
I got up and headed to the door. Executive Director Joo’s sigh and grumble leaked through the crack.
- Ah, seriously. Rude but polite guy.
Oh. Quite the honor.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. I gave a silent bow to the secretary whose eyes met mine and finally escaped the office. My mood was decent.
***
‘I’m going to school on graduation day.’
It had been a while since I messaged the app, and Lee Taejin replied right away.
-Wow, for real. Wow.
‘Told you I was busy.’
-Wow, aren’t you going too far? Skipping school like that? If education crumbles, families crumble, society crumbles!
Oh dear, everything’s crumbling.
But he had a point. I racked my brain trying to recall how many days I’d actually gone to school.
‘Pretty brutal.’
I thought I’d gone quite a bit.
‘Well, even when I did, it was just hanging with Taejin or taking tests.’
Must be a huge number missed. Not that I checked.
‘Was too busy, couldn’t help it.’
-Still too much. Didn’t even miss me?
This guy’s weird sometimes.
-So you’re coming to school for graduation.
‘Ooh! Let’s take pics then.’
-Yeah, yeah.
Now he was annoying. I tossed my smartphone on the sofa and opened the script again. Of course, I didn’t forget leg exercises.
Then Hajin hyung spoke up.
“The vibe’s kinda weird.”
What is?
I scanned the living room. The members, together after a while, were each doing their own thing.
Kang Minje had headphones on, doing crunches while hammering away at his laptop. Inspiration must’ve struck; he’d been like this since yesterday.
‘No, it is weird. Doesn’t he have gear in his room?’
Why out here?
‘And sometimes he stares at me with those unfocused eyes.’
Seriously no need to report him? Back to normal once the song’s done?
I shook my head to clear the thought. Then a low voice sounded.
It was Lee Seungjun. He was silently hanging from the living room workout gear.
‘He’s really going at it.’
Sweating, he tossed off his top and dove back in. He didn’t forget occasional rap practice either.
‘That body didn’t come easy.’
His low voice made the room feel oddly tense. Rap sounds like a spell if you hear it raw.
Ki Jaeyun was out dancing, leaving just me and Hajin hyung. I was on the sofa doing leg work while reading the script.
“The vibe is a bit off.”
“Yeah. It’s like…”
Hajin hyung tilted his head.
“It’s contagious.”
What is?
“Doing one thing while doing something else at the same time.”
I nodded. The overall mood was like that.
“Time is money. We’re time-strapped idols.”
“True.”
“Try it, Hajin hyung. Focusing on one thing isn’t bad, but.”
The leader nodded knowingly and sat on the sofa.
“You’re doing a drama?”
“Yeah. With Jeremy.”
“Whoa! Isn’t that risky? What if he pulls something again?”
I shook my head.
“He won’t. I’ll lay low for a bit.”
“Their side looked busy.”
News to me. I looked up from the script at Yoo Hajin.
“Something happen?”
“Nah, they’re suddenly shooting a ton of CFs.”
“In our country? Or Japan?”
“Both.”
Why? They’re not at bargain-bin ad level yet.
“Shooting weird stuff too.”
“Yeah. Looks like they’re rushing to sell off stuff past its expiration date.”
Something internal?
‘Not my business, though.’
Good to know the trends.
“VIP’s lost some steam.”
“Yeah.”
“Our fault? Or VIP’s own issue?”
I felt the members’ eyes. Meeting the fox kit’s gaze through his headphones, I whispered low.
“I hope it’s our fault. They’d realize if we keep clashing. That they messed with the wrong ones.”
Idols plotting crimes instead of scheming comebacks. Those guys are something.
Hajin hyung sighed deeply.
“Can’t we win without clashing?”
“Well, ‘one day we turned around and we’d won’ sounds nice, but they keep poking us.”
VIP deliberately synced schedules. We just stayed put.
“Nah, they wouldn’t dare again.”
“VIP can do anything, hyung.”
Well, no more personal threats since blackmailing Kao.
I clenched then unclenched my fist in anger. Suddenly, a smartphone rang and vibrated.
Kang Minje’s.
He pulled off his headphones and answered.
“Yes. Yes? Yes.”
What, only yeses?
“Yes. Got it. Yes.”
Kang Minje hung up and exhaled softly. Yoo Hajin asked immediately.
“What’s up?”
“Radio guest’s not coming.”
“What? That happen?”
I narrowed my eyes. Smelled fishy.
“VIP sunbaes’ doing?”
The fox kit nodded.
“Probably.”
“Other guests?”
“Nope. It’s the day that girl group’s doing comeback.”
All guests bailing?
I stood right up.
“Minje hyung, radio’s in three hours? Lucky. I’ve got nothing after.”
“Dowon, you’ll go?”
“If I can. Company needs to coordinate.”
Then the dorm door unlocked. Knew who without looking.
“Hey, Zenith’s chilling nice.”
The round-faced manager beamed.
“Minje, you hear?”
“Yeah. What about the guest?”
“PD and writers are freaking out. Zenith, only Dowon’s free this afternoon?”
“Yeah, just me.”
Manager sighed heavily, scrolling his screen.
“Sorry, but can you fill in?”
“Company okay?”
“Executive Director Joo approved. PD and writers too.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Thanks. Get ready.”
I nodded and rushed to wash up. Door closed, but voices carried.
“Good thing. Minje, you care about radio. Stuff like this happens.”
“Not company’s fault, not PD’s. Why though?”
“Dunno. Seems complicated.”
Beloved VIP sunbaes’ fault.
‘Got a sure source.’
I quietly texted the venerable Senior Kao.
[Your doing?]
Reply came fast.
[Jeremy hyung…]
Figures. But guest no-show? Petty.
‘Not just us—they’re enemies with the radio station too.’
Girl group’s issue isn’t mine, but VIP pulling this off is wild. Your skills keep leveling up?
Drying my face, their voices again.
“I’ll post on SNS that Dowon’s special guest.”
“Do it. Executive Director Joo okayed.”
“Listener ratings’ll spike.”
I opened the door. Water dripping, didn’t care.
“Minje hyung, visual radio?”
“Yeah. Light makeup’s fine.”
“Go full.”
“Huh?”
You bastards. Daring to test me?
“Video site live stream too?”
“Yeah. App too.”
“Then show well for fans. Perfectly. Manager, salon quick.”
Kang Minje grabbed my arm. His warmth made me want to shake it off hard.
“Dowon.”
“Yeah. Minje hyung. Something?”
“Thanks. For filling in. Was anxious.”
I narrowed my eyes. Fox kit anxious. Lame joke.
‘But can’t say that honestly.’
I grinned as bright as my irritation.
“No biggie. We’re a team. Let’s boost those ratings while at it.”
Kang Minje grinned.
“Reliable.”
“I’ll post on SNS too. Oh, real-time chat?”
“Video site, yeah.”
“You read live comments?”
“Sometimes? But harsh ones exist, so usually writer noona filters.”
That’s the system. Done visual radio before, but this was new.
“Real reactions, huh.”
Looking forward.
“Nice. Communicate with fans today, mess with sunbaes too.”
“Oh, right. VIP sunbaes on another radio same time.”
Couldn’t help laughing. Wow. Our sunbaes are pros. That’s why.