Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Not the Kang Minje from Before?
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‘Why act weak when you’re doing all this?’
He wrote lyrics, composed music, produced it himself, and even knew how to leverage his assets.
‘Genius bastard.’
He really was a golden goose. I shook my head and kept listening to the track. It was definitely languid.
“Want to try going in and recording it first?”
“Yes.”
I stepped into the booth. A staff member who’d been eating bread hurried back to his seat.
‘Never thought I’d be singing a song where emotion matters more than vocal technique.’
I took a quiet deep breath. Then I recalled the house I’d lived in before regressing.
The song mentioned rain falling. I thought back to those everyday times. Maybe because the roof was thin, sometimes the rain sounded like hail.
Still, I figured it was better than a basement apartment.
‘Well, stretching the world out, it was no big deal poverty-wise.’
If there’s a bottom, there’s a negative too.
But I couldn’t laugh. It had been tough. Really tough.
I recalled the humidity from back then. My sister’s voice and exhaustion flashed through my memory and faded.
Music played. I followed the melody with humming.
The low voice scattered in the small space.
‘Funny, right?’
What I wanted to infuse wasn’t exhaustion or loneliness.
‘Comfort.’
Things like “good days are coming” felt trite and boring. And half-assed “hang in there” pep talks didn’t land with the weary.
‘But music’s different.’
It wasn’t until years of being an idol that I truly felt music’s power. I carefully finished the last phrase.
I looked up, but there was no reaction. I took off the headset and opened the door, finally seeing Kang Minje’s expression.
“Hyung? Should I do it again?”
“Huh, huh?”
He couldn’t speak.
“What’s wrong?”
“No, this is…….”
The staff member eating bread spoke up instead.
“Better than I thought.”
Kang Minje nodded right away.
“Yeah. Hyung.”
“I figured it’d just be sweet, but it feels comforting.”
I gave a wry smile.
‘Glad I brought it to life properly.’
Thinking about it, I’d sung every song at Kang Minje’s request. This was the first time I’d put my own emotions into it.
“Oh, I was a bit thrown off.”
Kang Minje rubbed his dry face.
“It’s better. So good it’s weird.”
“What kind of response is that?”
“I’ve never had it turn out even better on a retake.”
He was excited—there was a faint flush on his cheeks.
“It can be like this.”
Kang Minje said with a grin.
“Maybe because it’s you, Dowon. Yeah, this is good. For real.”
The smooth talker was rambling incoherently.
‘He’s hyped.’
I grabbed a cold drink from the mini fridge and handed it to him. He took it but didn’t drink.
“Drink up first, hyung.”
I even twisted off the cap for him. Only then did he gulp some down.
“Minje never drinks cold stuff!”
“I know. You stick to lukewarm for your throat.”
But it was the best for calming excitement. After a few sips, he let out a long breath.
“What do I do? It’s too good.”
Good thing.
“This means I gotta redo the rap too. What to put in? What would work?”
Kang Minje’s excitement wouldn’t settle. As I stared blankly, the staff forced me onto the sofa.
“You’ll have to wait a bit, Dowon.”
“Ah, is he like that because inspiration hit again?”
That inspiration strikes anytime.
“Yeah, seems like it. Happens a lot lately. Before Zenith, he never used to get like this.”
Good or bad?
I tilted my head, and the staff laughed.
“Good thing. Funny, right? The guy’s face has been brighter since Zenith.”
“Weird. Usually it’s the opposite with busy schedules.”
“Yeah. Didn’t know why till today.”
The staff handed me a bag of bread I’d bought. I declined saying I was fine, so he gave me cool water instead.
‘Can’t say I’m not eating at all.’
I opened the bottle and took a sip.
“Must be Zenith.”
“Cough! Cough!”
I choked, tears coming out. I wiped my eyes and said,
“You’re joking, right?”
“Nah. The guy’s expressions are genuinely better. Always looked like he was wringing himself dry.”
I couldn’t believe it. I recalled the pre-regression Kang Minje.
‘Always super skinny.’
Even at the top, he looked that drained.
‘And now Zenith makes him more relaxed?’
Does that make sense?
‘Kang Minje isn’t the old Kang Minje?’
No way.
The moment I muttered that, the underwater shoot set came to mind. The blue water looked deep. Shallow compared to the ocean, but it seemed unusually so.
But when you jumped in, it wasn’t that deep.
‘I’m not actor Cha Dowon anymore.’
A lot had changed.
My sister wasn’t a nurse now. She was in med school. Zenith was different members except Ki Jaeyoon.
Yeah. Different.
‘So Kang Minje isn’t the guy I knew back then either?’
Damn. Complicated. Or simple, in a way.
‘Amazing.’
I looked at Kang Minje. The fox was scribbling away furiously.
‘So what does a stress-free Kang Minje in the group turn into?’
For better? Worse?
An old memory flashed. Yumiho’s face came up, and I shook my head.
Couldn’t conclude easily.
Then Kang Minje spoke.
“Dowon!”
“Yeah, hyung.”
“Let’s record again. The first take’s good to go, but there are parts to redo.”
I stood up.
“Sure.”
His face was still reddish. He looked ridiculously happy.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve seen that face since he joined Zenith.’
Never saw it pre-regression.
A sigh escaped me. I needed time. But one thing was clear.
‘Gonna need to observe.’
I went back to the booth and put on the headset. Kang Minje’s voice came through.
“Make the ‘da, da, da’ a bit slower. More whispery.”
“The chorus start?”
“Yeah. Let’s go again.”
Music flowed soon after. I sang as instructed, and suddenly I wanted to laugh.
‘Sang thinking of my pre-regression home, only to realize now’s different…….’
Ironic.
The headset music stopped.
“Dowon?”
“Ah, sorry. Let’s go again.”
I caught my breath, clenching and unclenching my fist. Right now, focus on Kang Minje’s solo album finale.
Music started again. This time I followed the melody to the end, fully concentrated.
***
‘Complicated.’
I adjusted my jacket and let out a small breath. Since recording with Kang Minje, I’d been lost in thought more often.
‘No conclusion.’
Damn. Why so complicated.
Another sigh, and Manager Han driving said,
“You look tired.”
I chuckled. The formal speech made me feel like the chairman.
“A bit. Manager Han’s driving today.”
“Manager Heo had another schedule. You’re headed to the ‘Melody’s Narrative’ production press conference, right, Dowon?”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m dressed like this.”
Stylist Noona had greeted me smiling today too. And dressed me in pants that showed my ankles.
‘Well, as long as it’s not shorts…….’
Why does it feel more experimental each time? Did she see my graduation outfit and decide on this? Whatever, gotta wear it.
“Looking forward to today.”
“Eh, just okay. Thought there’d be script reads, but press conference first surprised me.”
So I didn’t know the cast.
‘Just Jeremy’s confirmed.’
As long as the heroine wasn’t disastrously bad at acting, anyone was fine.
‘Jeremy’s bad acting is enough.’
Already saturated.
‘Pre-regression, the heroine wasn’t easy either.’
But with me involved, the whole cast changed.
‘Who’ll it be.’
Hope it’s someone solid.
‘This a changed future too?’
Pre-regression, this drama bombed completely. No word on if the writer or director did anything after.
‘Director maybe, but writer must’ve struggled.’
Especially a debut work.
‘With me, it won’t flop totally.’
Decent change.
Lost in thoughts staring out the window, Manager Han spoke.
“Nervous?”
I chuckled.
“Why get nervous for a press conference? Not my first.”
“Heard there’s a weird one there.”
“Senior? Yeah, they’ll make a fuss.”
What’s the worst—scolding?
“Just take it in stride.”
“I, I see.”
“You’ll enjoy it too, Manager Han. Reminds me of Sa-hyeok a bit.”
Why do the ones who freak out act alike.
Manager Han stifled a laugh while driving.
“Thought it’d never end, glad it did.”
“Yeah. But trials drag on.”
“Right. Unless settled, they do.”
I smiled wryly.
The hit-and-run showed no sign of resolution. Manager Heo was getting called around too.
‘Well, police handle that.’
Heard they caught the guy, so results soon.
“What worries me is your safety, Dowon.”
“I’m fine.”
“No. Not at all. And you don’t even realize.”
Here we go again.
“Hide my face and no one knows it’s Cha Dowon. Korea’s safe, and I’m a guy.”
“That’s the problem. You got popular too fast, don’t see it.”
“I know I’m trending now.”
Manager Han sighed deeply.
“That’s why I worry.”
Such needless worry.
We chatted till we arrived. I looked at the familiar Latte Cinema.
“Waiting room first.”
“Yeah.”
Manager Han parked well. Before he could open the door, I did it myself and got out.
“Ah!”
He groaned, seeming disappointed again.
‘Manager Han’s quirky too.’
Why want to do that? Sa-hyeok’s influence?
Straight to the waiting room. I sighed long down the hall. Even brief rests got complicated by Kang Minje.
‘Hard to conclude.’
Damn. Keep working nonstop? Might as well train abs and vocals. Nonstop rush leaves no room for stray thoughts.
‘Hope it doesn’t get more complicated here.’
I sighed again, and Manager Han glanced. I waved it off like nothing.
Then. Sharp heels clicked. Glancing back, I nearly cursed.
“Long time no see!”
The woman smiled brightly. She acted nonchalant, but I knew. Her lips twitched faintly.
‘Ah, forcing a smile.’
I sighed and kept walking.
“I, ignoring me?”
She glanced around, whispering as small as possible.
“Hey! Alien!”
Annoying couple.
I ignored, heading in. But she whispered loud again.
“Thought I’d give up?”
Just give up.
I turned.
“Who were you again?”
Yumiho’s face flushed red instantly.
“Y-you don’t remember me?”
“Ah…….”
I pretended to think, like recalling a stranger.
“Ah, got it. Hi. Long time no see.”
My service-industry bright smile made her face redder.
“Y-you really don’t remember?”
“Now I do. How’ve you been? What brings you here? Ah!”
I looked down the hall.
“You in ‘Melody’s Narrative’? Nice. So your name was…….”
“Y-Yumiho!”
“Ah, right. Sorry. Meet too many people lately.”
I smiled with full sincerity. Yumiho’s lips quivered.
‘Roughly done, now go.’
So annoying.
“Y-you really don’t remember me?”
“Yes.”
“F-for real?”
“Yes.”
She seemed pretty shocked.
‘Not my problem.’
Why’s she here anyway? Really in ‘Melody’s Narrative’?