Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: I Was Curious About Something Else
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“I was curious about something else.”
“Sometimes I get chills thinking about what if you hadn’t actually joined Friends.”
“Hyung stopped me, didn’t he?”
“Hahaha! That’s right!”
Kang Minje looked pretty pleased. The more excited he got, the more my mood sank in equal measure.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Had that sly fox changed because of me?
‘Damn it.’
Well, I’d talked him out of that doomed debut track and gotten it changed, then given him inspiration for the next song thanks to the drama. He must’ve felt pretty grateful.
‘It wasn’t on purpose, though.’
Still, no reason to complain about a golden goose happily laying eggs. But a corner of my mind felt oddly uneasy.
‘Damn. How did things end up like this?’
I let out a long sigh and said,
“I’m gonna hang up now.”
“Yeah! It was fun talking!”
Crazy.
I ended the call and leaned against the wall. All the energy drained out of me.
That’s when a voice came from beside me.
“Um...”
Yoo Miho was still staring at me.
‘She hasn’t left yet?’
So she’d heard everything?
‘Well, she probably didn’t catch all of it.’
Besides, nothing problematic had been said.
‘But what was she doing just hanging around?’
Yoo Miho took a step closer. I backed away the same distance.
“Am I some kind of germ? Why are you dodging me!”
Worse than that.
“Why won’t you talk to me?”
Because I don’t want to.
I pulled away and sidestepped. I desperately wanted to just pass by.
“Hey!”
Her voice echoed down the hall. I kept walking forward, pretending not to know her.
“This guy!”
But Yoo Miho was persistent as ever. She dashed ahead and blocked my path.
“You, you. Yeah, you. Are you close with Mr. Kang Minje?”
I blinked. For a second, it felt like I’d gone back in time.
‘I got a similar question before...’
After a home-cooked meal, Yoo Miho had asked me that.
‘I said we were close.’
Her expression had turned subtle after that—I remembered.
“With that personality of yours, your members must treat you well, huh? You’re so rude. Aren’t your members too nice?”
Even this line was similar to the past.
‘Wow, you have a hyung you’re close to? He must be super nice!’
The wording had gotten rougher. In a bad way.
Her intentions were obvious. Since I wasn’t answering, she was trying to provoke me.
But I still didn’t see the point in responding.
I flashed a bright smile. Yoo Miho’s brow furrowed.
I brushed past her and kept walking. Right away, she yelled from behind.
“Hey! Why won’t you talk to me!”
That’s when it happened. The waiting room door flew open, and Manager Han burst out.
“Dowon! We were wondering why you weren’t back yet.”
“Ah, I was on the phone with Minje hyung.”
“We were worried.”
“Sorry about that.”
Manager Han spotted Yoo Miho and immediately stepped between us.
“Did she bother you again?”
Oops.
I shook my head with a smile.
“No. We just ran into each other.”
Yoo Miho’s eyes narrowed. I said politely,
“We didn’t exchange a single word. No issues at all. Let’s head in, Manager Han.”
The skinny guy like a matchstick adjusted his glasses and glared at Yoo Miho. I shook my head, grabbed his hand, and dragged him into the waiting room.
“Use the electric shock device if she gets dangerous.”
“It’s not that bad. I’m partly at fault too.”
I’d been so focused on the call that I hadn’t noticed her still lurking around.
‘The call was just too shocking, though.’
I shook my head and closed the waiting room door. That’s when a beastly roar came from outside.
‘Whoa.’
That had to be Yoo Miho.
‘Surprising. Did she scream like that?’
I couldn’t have imagined it before regression.
‘So this is what she does when she’s mad.’
It was both like her and not, leaving me tilting my head. Manager Han heard the roar and reached for his waist.
“Manager?”
“I’ve got self-defense spray here.”
Oh.
“How’d you even get that?”
“My wife’s hobby.”
I see.
“She likes flashy, shiny things. Like knives, for example.”
“Ah, you mentioned she has a permit.”
Manager Han pulled a small spray from his pocket.
“Yeah. Anyway, you should keep this gripped tight.”
“She’s not that dangerous.”
“Look at her screaming. She’s a side character anywhere you look, while our Dowon is the lead. She has less recognition and still charges in without fear.”
Huh.
“She’s stretching her legs to fit the bed she’s lying in.”
Wait, why was this getting so profound?
“She knows you wouldn’t tell the director to cut her minor role just like that, so she’s acting up.”
What the heck is shaba shaba?
“That’s a bit harsh.”
“You’re cocky, but you wouldn’t stoop to that.”
“No, normal people just don’t do that.”
“True.”
Manager Han nodded.
“Anyway, that’s why she’s howling like that. Damn.”
Huh, he swore?
“Let me call my wife for a homemade gas gun or something...”
Whoa.
“She won’t do anything weird! She’s not that type!”
“She’s been tailing you. It’s mild now, but it’ll blow up later!”
“You’re overreacting. Calm down. It won’t happen.”
Probably.
“How can you be so sure?”
I couldn’t exactly say I knew her well.
‘No.’
Only now did it hit me.
‘They’re similar, but different people.’
Just like with Kang Minje, Yoo Miho too.
‘Damn.’
In the chaos, I hadn’t realized, but yeah, I’d gone back to the past.
I sat on the waiting room sofa and sighed. My head was a mess.
“Cha Dowon?”
“Ah, just some worries.”
“Huh?”
Manager Han jumped in surprise.
“You?”
What did that mean?
“I have worries too, you know.”
“Uh, uh...”
Manager Han plopped down next to the sofa.
“W-what’s troubling you? Did a rival company offer triple the pay to jump ship? Cha Dowon, Friends has great planning. They’re not the most reliable, but leaving would be a loss for you.”
What was this now.
“No plans to leave the company.”
I know it’s good here too.
“I see! Then what’s the worry?”
Like I’d tell you.
“Dowon, sharing worries helps solve them.”
“It’s not the kind that gets solved.”
“Still, try talking. I’m tougher than I look. *Cough! Cough!*”
Tough my ass. You need supplements.
I stared at Manager Han.
‘Well, he’s not one to blab.’
If it were Manager Heo, I wouldn’t even consider it, but this guy was trustworthy in that regard.
“A long time ago...”
*Cough, cough.* “Yes, Dowon. *Cough.*”
Sounds rough.
I stood, grabbed a bottle of water, and handed it over. The frail manager fumbled even that.
‘Oops.’
I quietly unscrewed the cap for him. He drank, calmed down, and wiped his tears.
“Yes, Dowon.”
“No, I...”
“Tell me! I’m ready.”
Ready for what.
With his bloodshot eyes wiping away, it felt like I had to spill or else. I let out a long breath and said,
“There were these close brothers—not blood, but close.”
“Yes.”
“Then suddenly, the hyung stole the dongsaeng’s girlfriend.”
“That’s tragic. The dongsaeng lost both love and friendship.”
“Yeah.”
It was shitty, for sure.
“But anyway, relationships end sometimes.”
“Right.”
“What I was really curious about...”
If it was just that he liked Yoo Miho, fell for her, couldn’t live without her...
‘I get it.’
I could’ve accepted that much.
“Why did the hyung block his dongsaeng’s future?”
“Huh?”
“The dongsaeng wanted to succeed. He finally landed a good role. But the hyung took it.”
I looked at Manager Han and said,
“Why do you think?”
The anchovy-thin manager just blinked. I chuckled.
‘It’s all in the past anyway.’
No way he’d have an answer.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts.
“W-were you really that close with him?”
“Seemed like it.”
“M-maybe coincidence? Or he got threatened...”
I kept smiling at Manager Han, then shook my head.
‘What’s the point now?’
I stood up. Schedule was over; time to leave the waiting room.
“Let’s go. Next schedule.”
“D-Dowon, it could’ve been coincidence.”
“Well, it’s an old story.”
I opened the door and said,
“But it kept happening after, so probably not coincidence.”
***
Bright sunlight poured down. Lee Seungjun furrowed his brow and adjusted his cap.
‘Where was the place again?’
Sunglasses darkened his vision. He looked around for a while before spotting the destination.
Lee Seungjun strode inside. Opening the door brought voices.
‘In the back.’
He passed tables, turned a corner. A few more steps, another door—familiar faces.
“Oh, Seungjun’s here?”
“Yes.”
A low, soft voice.
“Order first. What’ll you have?”
“Anything’s fine, Minje hyung.”
“That’s the hardest! I’m not Dowon; I don’t know your tastes.”
“Got it. Nothing sweet. I’m bulking, hyung.”
Kang Minje nodded and stood. Lee Seungjun stopped him.
“I’ll order. Sit, hyung.”
“No. I called you. I’ll pay.”
Kang Minje masked up and headed out. Lee Seungjun felt bad and couldn’t look up, until Yoo Hajin beside him said,
“It’s fine. Eat when hyungs buy.”
“Thanks.”
“Minje’s treating. No big deal. Jaeyoon’s running late from schedule.”
“I see.”
Kang Minje returned with drinks. Yoo Hajin smirked.
“Minje, that was quick.”
“Regular gets priority.”
“No customers, huh?”
“Busted?”
They laughed and sat. Then faced each other.
The warm vibe sank instantly.
“You know?”
They nodded in unison.
“You felt it too. Why we’re meeting here, not the dorm.”
“No way not to.”
Lee Seungjun sighed.
“How could I not? I room with Dowon.”
“Sleeping okay?”
“I sleep fine.”
Yoo Hajin looked at the ceiling.
“Must be exhausted, but glad he’s sleeping.”
“Somehow not collapsing.”
“Yeah. Two weeks already?”
The three men exchanged glances and sighed together.
“What the hell’s going on?”
“What’s the problem?”
“Why’s he like this?”
They asked each other, but no answers.
“I’m scared he’ll actually collapse.”
“I’m scared he’s handling it all.”
“I’m scared because the results are good.”
They locked eyes again. No sighs this time.
Kang Minje sipped herbal tea.
“Didn’t like the graduation gift?”
“He uses the pots and knives well.”
“Wears the clothes we gave fine.”
“Thanked us separately. Probably not that.”
They said in unison,
“Then what’s the problem!”
Voices rose, echoing in the cafe study room. They leaned back, staring afar.
Lee Seungjun muttered,
“When did it start?”
“Last week? After the press conference?”
Yeah, around then.
“He started working.”
Cha Dowon ramped up personal content, demanding stuff from the director. Up to there, normal Cha Dowon.
“Lots of work.”
“Too much.”
Zenith’s maknae was suddenly working like mad. They’d hinted to slow down, but no use. Cha Dowon took everything—shows, CFs, events, no discrimination.
“Like he’s possessed by work.”