Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: I Can't Lose
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My insides boiled with rage.
"I can't lose."
They were impressive guys. Was it going to be like this every time we clashed, those bastards?
'I need to make them regret it properly.'
It wouldn't be easy to stick to them like this, though.
"Do, Dowon?"
"Let's head to the shop quick. Minje hyung. Tell them to do a full setup from head to toe."
"Our radio has a natural vibe, so casual is fine?"
"How can we show that to the fans."
"That's, that's the concept?"
"Then we'll do a full setup that looks natural."
I grabbed his arm and headed straight for the front door. The manager hurried after us, saying,
"Kids! I'll drive! We have to go together!"
"Dowon, I need to grab my phone at least."
Damn. Everyone was really running late.
"Hurry up."
Kang Minje fumbled for his phone on the floor in a panic. The manager had already dashed out. I ground my teeth. It wasn't enough even if I ground them to dust and drank the powder.
***
We stopped by the shop, and the full setup that looked natural was complete. The stylist noona brought over a knit with the shoulders slightly exposed, saying she hadn't really expected us to wear it.
-This is from an expensive place. I'm only putting it on you and Minje because it's you two?
Still, there was no reason to wear different colors. Kang Minje looked at his white knit and said,
"If I spill coffee, I'm screwed. You're lucky yours is black, Dowon."
Yeah.
I nodded with a reluctant face.
"Did you see the cue sheet?"
"I skimmed it."
"Dowon. What do you think is the most important thing on radio?"
Huh, why was this guy asking something like that?
I answered honestly.
"No editing. The full 1 hour 30 minutes airs as is."
"Correct."
"Speech patterns, actions, habits—all of it shows. And it's just you and me."
"Right."
"If we do well, our personalities will shine through."
Kang Minje laughed and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"We have to be careful. On radio, I mean."
"Yeah."
"But I think you can just be your usual self, Dowon."
Was that praise?
"We're used to each other, right?"
Damn. What was he saying? Was he crazy? A chill ran down my spine.
"What, so we should bicker like usual for the broadcast?"
Wasn't that contradictory on a human level? Our usual selves couldn't be broadcast material.
"Yeah. Like on Stereo Star level is good."
"Got it. I'll follow orders."
Had to do what the DJ said.
Pleased with my response, Kang Minje blinked his heavy eyelids.
"Yeah. Let's go."
He grabbed my arm and pulled me along. I let myself be dragged while changing my expression.
'Act close.'
That's what the fans liked. For the fans, we'd do anything. That's what being an idol was.
I took a few deep breaths.
'Wait for it, you VIP bastards.'
I followed him, grinding my teeth. There was nothing I couldn't do.
***
I'd never listened to Kang Minje's radio. I monitored variety shows sometimes to analyze them, but I hadn't paid attention to his radio.
'That was my mistake.'
He'd said it was a natural concept, so I'd thought it was a relaxed spot.
'Did "natural" mean Mother Nature?'
The studio had leaf drawings on the walls. Kang Minje naturally pinned on a rabbit brooch and sat down.
'What the hell.'
Bewildered, I stared, and Kang Minje grinned.
"On our radio, you have to wear something natural when you come in."
"That's a rabbit?"
"Yeah."
Wait, wait. If the DJ had a rabbit brooch, what about the guest?
Cold sweat dripped down instantly, but I was an idol. I smiled brightly with all my heart and soul.
'Yeah, fine.'
If we're doing it, better do it right. The more you back out of stuff like this, the less fun it is, no impact, and families and society crumble.
The writers, gauging my reaction, handed me a white hat. Looking closely, it was a bear.
'They want me to wear this.'
I casually put on the hat with eyes like go stones that I wanted to smash. Suddenly, the writers covered their mouths and let out shrieks.
'Why are they so happy?'
Over this hat?
The music faded out. Kang Minje put on his headset stylishly and spoke.
"Hello. A Spoonful Under the Moonlight. The Natural Visible Radio. This is Kang Minje. Today, we have special guest, trendsetter idol Cha Dowon."
"Hello. Zenith!"
"To you."
"Cha Dowon of Zenith here."
"You can watch the visible radio live on the app and video sites. Please tune in."
Music played again. Was this the exhaustion of greetings?
'I have to win. VIP.'
What couldn't I do? I'd wear this hat a hundred times.
I desperately steeled my resolve.
"Dowon, you okay?"
"A bit dazed, but fine."
"Don't push too hard."
"Haven't done anything yet."
I took deep breaths, waiting for the music to end. Then Kang Minje's soft tenor came through.
"The reactions are hot. They say the hat suits you well, Cha Dowon."
I smiled brightly at the camera.
"Thank you."
Surely they didn't expect more here?
"Yes. Cha Dowon. There's a request: 'Show us some aegyo.'"
Damn. My bad premonitions never missed. I quietly looked at the camera. Aegyo. It'd been a while.
"Come on in, noona. I prepared dinner."
It was nothing special, but the writers covered their mouths. Why? Did they all want home-cooked meals? Noona loved this line the most.
"Nice. Dowon's food is really delicious."
"It's nothing much, but the hyungs eat it well."
"No, it's really good. Like eating at a restaurant. No, better than a restaurant. Sometimes when I ask how he made it, he mentions powders I've never heard of."
"Hyung, people will misunderstand if you say it like that."
They'll think weird white powder and call the cops.
"Oh right! Not that white powder! Shrimp powder, mushroom powder, stuff like that!"
"Yes. Uncle police, it's not a crime."
Kang Minje's laughter rang out.
'Yeah, hit them again here.'
I looked at the camera and said,
"I have a lot of powder know-how."
Kang Minje bent over laughing. Wiping tears, he said,
"Dowon. What if the police actually come?"
"I'm innocent. Tell them to search. What, there are white powders."
"What kind?"
"Wheat flour, starch powder, frying powder, etc."
"Uhahaha!"
Kang Minje kept laughing, so a writer handed him tissues. He frantically rubbed his eyes with them.
'Looking at it, this guy laughs at simple stuff too.'
Well, better than stiff. And I had to carry on for 1 hour 20 minutes with him.
Better be comfortable. Stiff wouldn't work.
"Oh, a question came in. Zenith wore strict outfits since debut. Any complaints?"
Strict outfits? What did that mean?
"Minje hyung, were our outfits tough?"
"Well, Harness for the debut song was kinda."
"Ah, true, not comfy. Faust and Chunhyang too."
Faust had a lot attached, Chunhyang was flowy. Special stages were kinda weird too.
'Well, I trust the stylist noona's sense.'
Still, stage outfits weren't comfy.
"Hmm, I managed. What about you, Minje hyung?"
"Me too."
"Oh, speaking of outfits, Seungjun. The kid who never complains."
"Seungjun's like that."
I recalled old memories. This much should be fine to say.
"But the stylist noona said no to Faust outfit for him."
"Harness?"
"Yeah. Apparently at some point there was a strap on the thigh too. Connected to the chest one. Seungjun tried it on and immediately said no. Can't move in this."
"Oh, I see. If even Seungjun said no, it must've been really bad."
"Stylist noona apologized and took it off right away."
After that, thigh straps vanished from all outfits. Thinking back, that outfit was weird. A kid who endures most things said no to that immediately.
"Didn't you have tough outfits, Dowon?"
"All manageable, but shorts for sure."
Kang Minje smiled bitterly.
"Felt like they always put them on the two smallest."
"Hmm, then next album I'll skip. I'm growing. If I grow smoothly, high chance Minje hyung wears them."
"Hup!"
He was drinking water and inhaled sharply.
"Dowon, can't we stay like this?"
"Can't stop growing."
"I'm not too fond of shorts...."
The fox looked dainty but subtly hated that stuff.
'Well, did Ki Jaeyun hate them too?'
Not my business. If unfair, grow yourself.
"Oh, comment up. Right. Dowon, don't grow. Stay like this."
Huh. That was trouble.
I whispered to the camera.
"Don't like me as a man?"
That'd be a problem.
Then the writers covered mouths and bowed heads again. What now?
"Hmm. Let's listen to a song. Yuha's 'Road to You.'"
Kang Minje took off his headset and smiled refreshingly. Then whispered,
"Ah, as expected of Dowon."
"Just being normal, seems okay."
"More than okay. Do well today, and we'll hit record listenership."
"Honor."
Music was ending. Kang Minje put his headset back on.
"Yes, A Spoonful Under the Moonlight. Kang Minje here. Still with Zenith's trendsetter Cha Dowon. Yes, question up. 'Is Dowon always like this?'"
I couldn't answer that. What did "always like this" mean?
"Dowon is... yes. Always like this. You might not believe it, but really."
"What does that mean?"
"See? No self-awareness."
Clueless, I looked around, and writers and PD gave thumbs up.
'If good is good.'
I waited for the next question.
"Next listener question. You two from Zenith. Any worries lately?"
Worries.
'Something good to promote.'
I said to the camera.
"In the piece I'm doing this time. High schooler role."
"Music?"
"Yeah. Uses several instruments. But sloppy shows right away."
"Right. Piano?"
"Main one's piano. Some violin too. Watched videos and practiced roughly, but doesn't feel right."
Needed a grand piano first. Company had pianos, but no grand.
"Grand piano? Know a place. Want me to take you?"
"Really?"
"I'll teach posture too."
Wow. Forgot the fox was around.
'Didn't think beyond vocals.'
I smiled brightly.
"What can I do for you? Minje hyung! Just say. Anything."
Yeah. What couldn't I? Especially when tough. I'd make radish soup in a bear pot.
"Talking food?"
"Yes. Whatever hyung likes. Can do most."
"Need your time more than food."
What now?
"Let's go out and get some air."
"Can just go out now. We live together."
"Anytime okay?"
"If no schedule. Today too."
Kang Minje grinned.
"Too late today. Next time. I'll buy something tasty."
"Yes. Good. Anywhere hyung goes is fine."
Steak last time was decent.
"But why? Reason?"
"Hmm, need to observe you a bit."
"Observe away."
Whatever.
'Probably song-related.'
Would benefit Zenith endlessly.
Kang Minje laughed.
"No, what makes you think you know?"
"Observe, right? Just watching."
"I-is that so?"
Kang Minje covered his mouth and bowed.
"What, making a big deal of a request. Just watch."
Wonder what he'd do after watching.
Maybe overdid the close act. Overdo and it might backfire hilariously.