Chapter 174
Chapter 174
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: This Is Work
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Red leaves were crushed in my palm. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted out.
‘This is work.’
I can do this.
‘The fans will love it.’
If they like it, what can’t I do? I’ve handled worse than this.
‘I might die of embarrassment, though….’
Every curse word I knew flashed through my mind. But I desperately pulled myself together.
‘Yeah. Let’s do it.’
I’d just grit my teeth and endure for a few minutes.
I scattered the petals on the floor. Of course, I didn’t forget to beam brightly.
Ridiculously, the petals I thought would just fall straight to the ground caught the wind somehow and drifted right to his feet.
The host’s voice rang out.
“Oh?”
Damn it.
My lips twitched, but I poured my heart and soul into smiling as wide as I could.
Kang Minje blinked. The sly fox was flustered.
Soon the mic approached. I readjusted the lush bouquet in my arms.
“Oh my, Cha Dowon-ssi. What was that all about?”
Yeah, what was it? I’d like to know myself.
But I said casually,
“Ah, I just wanted Minje hyung to walk a flower path.”
Damn it.
‘Noona, are you watching?’
I miss you today, noona.
‘But I can’t act embarrassed right now.’
Better to be shameless as hell.
I repeated to myself inwardly.
‘I’m Cha Dowon. Trendsetting idol. I can do anything if the fans like it.’
I said to the reporters,
“It’s not much, but at least here, I wanted to make him walk a flower path.”
Laughter rose from the reporters.
‘Damn. Goosebumps all over, I’m gonna die.’
I kept scattering petals as I approached Kang Minje.
He stared at me, then walked over in a daze.
‘That’s the most flustered face I’ve ever seen on him.’
Take it, you sly fox.
As soon as Kang Minje arrived, I handed him the bouquet.
“I prepared it for you, hyung.”
I said it, and I got the goosebumps.
‘Noona, I really miss you today.’
But Kang Minje showed no sign of taking the flowers. He just stood there blankly.
‘What’s his deal?’
I whispered softly.
“Hyung?”
“Huh? Thanks. I was a bit caught off guard…”
The sly fox finally took the bouquet. The host said,
“Wow, Zenith really has great chemistry. Cha Dowon-ssi! Before you go back, how about giving a congratulatory message?”
Well, I’d planned to anyway. Even if I didn’t have anything prepared.
I let out a long breath and took the mic again.
“Hello. Zenith, to the top! This is Cha Dowon of Zenith.”
Flashes exploded. I was a little curious how the articles would turn out.
‘Well, everything’s already streaming live anyway.’
It was probably up on video sites already. The quick fans would be watching this moment.
“Today, my Minje hyung is releasing his first solo album. First off, um… I have no idea what part of me this song is supposed to resemble.”
Laughter came from the reporters’ seats.
“If I’m the inspiration for such a great song, it’s an honor. It’s fine, hyung. I’m not mad.”
We’ll settle this after the showcase, Kang Minje.
I turned away from Kang Minje and faced forward, looking at the reporters.
“Hyung works really hard. Zenith’s songs were tough, and making his solo was no different.”
Camera flashes popped nonstop.
“I think hyung’s a genius, but I also know how much effort it took to create something this good.”
He’s a total maniac during production. Nothing just comes easy.
I turned my head toward Kang Minje.
“Congrats, hyung.”
Congrats on the successful first solo album, you sly fox.
‘In my past life, it flopped. Not this time, huh?’
We’ll see.
‘What part of me does it resemble, anyway?’
The poor student waiter vibe? The owner who forgives the cat no matter how much destruction it causes?
‘If that’s it, fine…’
But something felt off.
‘No way it’s the cat, right?’
Damn. How? You saying it’s like that destructive cat girl?
I smiled with all my heart, and Kang Minje said,
“Ah, I’m in for it now.”
Laughter burst from the reporters instantly. Damn. He knew and did it anyway.
“We’ve seen Zenith’s tight-knit friendship. Kang Minje-ssi, care to respond to the congrats?”
Damn. No need, host.
“W-Wait, do we usually do this too?”
No.
“Come on, it’s a special day.”
Kang Minje glanced at me and mumbled,
“Honestly, when a member releases a solo album, I’d think jealousy comes first. Even with great chemistry, people are people, you know…”
The sly fox smiled softly.
“Didn’t expect a flower path, though.”
More laughter.
“Thanks, maknae.”
I smiled back brightly in response. Of course, goosebumps covered my whole body.
‘Fans, I did my best. Noona, I’ll call you later.’
I want to hear your voice, Cha Sora noona.
Only then could I return to my seat. When I sat back down, the manager next to me was wiping tears and snot.
‘What’s this now?’
Why are you crying?
“G-Good friendship.”
Where do you see that?
‘Capitalist friendship, probably.’
I rummaged in my pockets. No tissues thanks to the outfit. A nearby reporter handed some over.
I bowed my head slightly in thanks.
“Thank you.”
I passed the tissues to the manager, who blew his nose.
“Sniff sniff. Such good kids.”
No.
“How can they be this heartwarming? You’d think at least one would get jealous and pull something…”
Is that what you wanted?
“Well, true. They’re doing way better outside music anyway. No need. That’d be heartless. And he’s even doing dramas.”
I said nothing, but the manager kept asking and answering himself.
The manager blew his nose again.
“But a flower path!”
“Bit over the top, though.”
“No, it wasn’t. It was excellent and gorgeous!”
Why English all of a sudden?
“It was beautiful.”
Damn. Goosebumps again.
I scratched my arms vigorously. The fading goosebumps rose right back up.
‘The manager went overboard, but it didn’t look that bad, I guess.’
Hope the fans saw it well.
“The live chat’s going nuts, Dowon-ah.”
“Good nuts, right?”
“Of course.”
I stared at the ceiling. Today felt so long and exhausting.
‘No. From yesterday to now, it’s been nonstop chaos.’
What did I even do?
Got tied up and slept. Woke up, scattered flowers on Kang Minje.
“Hahaha…”
A hollow laugh escaped. Please, let this be the end. I wished with all my heart.
“Let’s head to the waiting room later, Dowon-ah.”
“Ah…”
It’s not over yet.
Now I even felt like crying. I let out a long sigh.
‘Well, he does have something to say.’
I blinked. Everything I’d been putting off came crashing down at once. It felt like the whole day was jinxed.
‘Bad luck day, huh.’
Well, it was the weird day where Kang Minje’s album—supposed to fail—was succeeding.
I let out another long sigh. The fact that it wasn’t over yet hit hard.
***
Kang Minje’s solo album showcase ended uneventfully. The manager dragged me into the sly fox’s waiting room.
“Oh? Dowon’s here!”
Kang Minje was sniffing the flowers. It suited his refined face so well it gave me goosebumps.
“H-Hyung, what’re you doing?”
“Ah, just savoring the flower scent.”
I know. I saw it up close.
“The flowers are pretty. Thanks for this.”
“Minje-ya, isn’t that…? We had something else prepared, but man, Dowon!”
I hurriedly covered the manager’s mouth.
“Mmph!”
“Manager-nim, my throat’s suddenly dry. Can you get me some cold water?”
“Hey, mmph!”
“I want some candid member talk. Give us the room? Got it?”
I glanced around. Luckily, no one else in the waiting room but us.
“You get it? Throat’s parched!”
“What’s the talk? Why leave you two alone? Gonna fight?”
“Why would we fight?”
“What if you break a mirror fighting?”
My face scrunched up on its own.
“What kinda talk is that?”
“Ah, right. It’s Minje and Dowon. Wouldn’t happen. Okay, talk. I’ll grab water.”
Damn.
The manager left soon after. I shook my head.
‘Sometimes I think about it, but I can never figure out what’s going on in Manager Heo Yongdam’s head.’
I sank into the waiting room sofa with a sigh. Kang Minje came over, bouquet in arms, and sat next to me.
“Thanks again.”
“No big deal.”
“And sorry.”
I narrowed my eyes.
‘Sorry for what?’
Tying my hands and feet? Or picking a weird motif?
‘Whatever.’
None of it mattered much. Tying me to the bed was a whole Zenith thing, and the music…
‘I told him to do it.’
Fine for beating VIP. Though I needed to ask what it resembled.
‘What I need to say right now…’
Words wouldn’t come. I sighed and rubbed my dry face.
“First off, hyung.”
“Yeah!”
“Congrats on the solo album.”
“How’s the song? Like it?”
“Love it.”
Kang Minje smiled softly.
“Wow, if our Dowon likes it, then it’s really good.”
“My tastes that bland?”
“Nah, not really, but you nail the average listener’s vibe.”
“That’s ’cause I suck at music.”
Acting’s another story.
“Nope. You’ve got good ears. Sharp and sensitive.”
“Well, I’m an idol who sings and dances.”
At least I know what’ll hit. Especially if it’s Kang Minje’s music.
“Relieved now. Was worried I made something weird and you’d chew me out.”
“You wouldn’t make anything weird, hyung.”
“This one was experimental. Felt like a gamble, but good thing it worked.”
“You nail experimental stuff, hyung.”
“Zenith’s fine.”
Kang Minje said, gazing at the flowers.
“Because of you.”
“This the extension of ‘you elevate Zenith’?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
“Fair enough. Yeah, I elevate it.”
Though no saving a bad song. But I doubted he’d ever make a total flop.
“With you around, it’s reassuring.”
“Hyung, hypothetically.”
I looked away from him. Laughter drifted from the next waiting room.
“If I wasn’t here.”
“Huh?”
“How would you feel?”
Kang Minje’s eyes shook.
“You, leaving the group?”
Damn it.
“No! Why would I leave?!”
After getting Zenith this far!
“Whoa, scared me. Thought you were quitting Zenith.”
“Not quitting.”
“Figured acting blew it up.”
I shook my head.
“Actor Cha Dowon’s worth less than idol-and-actor Cha Dowon of Zenith.”
“Dunno.”
“I said I love the stage.”
“Right, you did.”
Kang Minje beamed.
“Good. So what’d you mean earlier?”
“Exactly what I said. How would you feel without me in the team?”
The sly fox’s eyes narrowed.
“Just you?”
“Well, say Hajin hyung and Lee Seungjun are gone too.”
“Just Jae-yoon left?”
“Yeah. Assume the rest are different people.”
Kang Minje’s pupils trembled wildly.
“Isn’t that too cruel to me?”
“That bad?”
“Could that group even succeed?”
“Got Ki Jae-yoon, though.”
The sly fox shook his head.
“Sounds like Jae-yoon’s the best of the bunch?”
He was.
“Dowon-ah. What kinda nightmare scenario are you painting for me?”
Kang Minje paled, hugging the bouquet tight.
“That bad?”
“Feels like something huge’d go down mid-promos.”
Pretty much.