Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Rice Truck
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Wow.
'A fresh reaction, huh.'
I grinned broadly. What was our senior trying to do? Was he telling us to go grab something since the coffee truck had arrived?
'No way.'
He's just bragging, plain and simple.
"Thanks for the treat, Senior!"
Huh?
It was a bit unexpected. I'd thought our senior, who I figured would pull a sour face, was smiling for once—a rare sight.
'Why?'
Sure, it was a crooked smirk, but I got my hopes up a little. What was he going to say?
My esteemed senior Jeremy spoke up himself.
"You guys don't have anything like this, right?"
Wow.
'For a second there, I thought he was a camellia flower.'
Why did that line about spring potatoes tasting good pop into my head?
I blinked and gave an awkward smile. People actually say stuff like this in real life. Amazing.
'Well, in novels, it's cute when the heroine says it.'
A guy over 30 doing this? It's just tragic.
'It can be creepy when it's childish.'
No wonder Sa-hyuk came to mind. I put my whole heart into flashing a smile.
"Yes! I'm so jealous, Senior."
I said exactly what he wanted to hear, but his face soured.
"You..."
"Coffee truck, huh? This stuff must be expensive, right? Nah, money's not the point. I can feel the love from the fans. As expected from VIP—they're popular even in Japan!"
He still had fans, huh.
'If you know how they feel, treat them better, Jeremy.'
You have to cherish what's precious. What are you gonna do when they're all gone?
'Not my problem, though.'
Pretending to check out the coffee truck, I slowly backed away. From behind me, Manager Han said,
"I thought it was déjà vu."
"They do look a lot alike, don't they?"
But this guy's a step above Sa-hyuk. At least Sa-hyuk didn't hit and run.
'Though he did screw me over at that press conference.'
Thinking about how he splashed dirty water on my clean image made me want to burst three more of his discs.
"Coffee truck..."
I stared at the coffee truck plastered with our senior Jeremy's face.
"Are you jealous?"
"No, not exactly... Um..."
I pointed with my finger.
"Why don't we have a cup? It's free."
Pfft—
Manager Han covered his mouth and laughed.
"Sure."
"Get the expensive one, Manager. The one loaded with all the fancy stuff."
"Should I?"
We were approaching the coffee truck slowly when I spotted a red truck in the distance.
'What’s that?'
The truck pulled up slowly. I blinked.
'My picture?'
I immediately asked Manager Han,
"Manager Han, did the company call us or something?"
"No, I haven't heard anything. Let me check right away."
Manager Han made a call somewhere. I stared blankly at the truck with my face on it.
'That looks like a rice truck, doesn't it?'
I'd seen them often on movie sets.
'Okay, I get the situation.'
From the fans?
'No, I'm already grateful they watch over me so kindly, but to spend money like this too.'
My heart swelled. Hot emotion poured down from the top of my head.
'What do I do? I'm so thankful.'
The truck parked next to Senior Jeremy's coffee truck. The door opened, a few people got out, and they started setting up.
One of them spotted me and said,
"Cha Dowon-ssi, the fans sent a rice truck."
I craned my neck and looked around.
"Are they here?"
"Oh, yes."
They'd come all the way to the set but apparently had no intention of approaching me. They glanced over furtively, faces a bit flushed, but quietly got to work.
'They’re saying with their whole bodies, "Don't talk to us."'
Why?
Soon tables were lined up, and small lunchboxes stacked high.
'A rice truck with lunchboxes?'
I caught a glimpse of desserts. But that wasn't the point.
'Stickers?'
Every disposable cover had my face photo stuck on it.
'How much effort did they put into this?'
I was about to give thanks when some of them snapped photos eagerly and walked off without looking back.
'I can't just let them leave like this.'
As I turned to stop them, the returning manager grabbed my shoulder.
"Dowon-ssi, don't."
"They prepared so hard. Can't I at least say something?"
"They left on purpose. To avoid gossip."
I tilted my head.
"What do you mean?"
"That rice truck was probably funded by a group donation. If you interact or talk to them, other fans will say they got special treatment."
"No, but still, letting them go without a word?"
"The best way to help them is for you to stay put, Dowon-ssi."
Tricky.
I watched the fans' retreating backs.
'I still have a lot to learn.'
I'd thought I was good at communicating with them, but apparently not.
I let out a long breath and looked at the tables.
On the cloth-covered tables sat wrapped shopping bags.
'What's this?'
They looked extremely luxurious. The manager glanced around and said,
"Looks like a gift for you, Dowon-ssi."
"Y-Yeah."
Not even my birthday?
There was a 'Graduation Gift' sticker on the wrapping.
'I already got so many...'
Why this too?
I carefully unwrapped it to reveal an album.
"Uh, Manager Han. Got any gloves?"
"Pardon?"
"I think we need to handle this carefully."
I'd worked part-time before regressing, so I knew. Gloves are essential for valuables.
"Wait a sec!"
Manager Han rummaged in his bag and pulled out white gloves.
"These are for polishing swords—clean, though. Here, Dowon-ssi!"
Swords? Like knives?
'Why's he always prepared to polish knives anywhere?'
I blinked in confusion, and Manager Han quickly explained.
"I'm joining my wife's hobby."
Oh, the weapon collector.
"Shared hobbies strengthen marriages."
Info I really didn't need to know.
'Ignore it. This first.'
I carefully slipped on the white gloves and opened the album. Inside were messages from the fans.
"Oh, they made this for me, right?"
"Of course."
My heart stung. They'd put so much heart into this for me...
'After Mom passed, everyone but Aunt and Uncle was trash.'
The press conference flashed in my mind.
'Relatives who went crazy at the smell of money...'
But people who just like me do things like this.
Then the truck owner said,
"Cha Dowon-ssi, the meals are ready."
Oops. I smiled, bowed, and straightened.
"Please take good care of us."
"No problem. Our food's delicious. Eat up."
I looked around.
'Should start with the director?'
Taking care of the top person first is basic social etiquette.
The director was already nearby, checking out the rice truck. I hurried over.
"Director, hungry?"
"Oh, this is from your fans, Dowon-ssi."
"Yes. Such kind people."
"Looks delicious too. These must cost a pretty penny. Wow."
How'd he know?
"I get rice trucks often. Can tell from the side dishes alone."
Got it.
"You must be really popular, Dowon-ssi."
"I'm just grateful."
They even went for the expensive stuff.
How do I ever repay the fans? Is there a way?
"Better eat first."
The director shouted right away.
"Let's eat! It's from Cha Dowon-ssi's fans! Eat plenty and work hard! Oh, and don't forget to thank them before digging in!"
The staff rushed over like they'd been waiting. I asked Manager Han,
"Manager, how can I make the fans happy?"
"Oh, about the rice truck? Post on your SNS that you're thrilled. They'll want on-site reactions."
Ah, that kind of 'hope you use the gift' feeling.
'Take photos?'
Right, proof shots. I nodded and handed my smartphone to the manager.
"Take some pics."
"Sure."
Manager Han snapped away eagerly. But checking the results, I quietly resolved to take selfies from now on.
'How did he take these?'
They were all Picasso-level. Avant-garde art or what?
'On purpose?'
Manager Han averted his eyes.
'He knows.'
Oops.
'I thought he was calm and good at everything...'
Turns out he can't take photos.
'Whatever, no more delegating.'
I took proof shots, posted on SNS. Seeing the fans' pleased reactions, my nape prickled.
'That feeling when someone's glaring at me?'
I looked up—yep. My esteemed senior Jeremy was approaching personally.
'Oh no, what now?'
I pocketed my phone and faced him.
"You..."
Our senior seemed tired, couldn't even speak properly. So I struck first.
"You must see this stuff all the time, Senior, but it's my first. I'm thrilled."
He glared. I kept smiling brightly.
"You don't have a great rice truck li—"
I shook my head immediately.
"Wow, can't say that sober. How does that even come out of your mouth? See you later. Gotta eat—fans commented to stuff myself."
I brushed past lightly. Curses followed, but not my problem.
Manager Han said worriedly,
"That Jeremy guy's really pissed."
"Yeah. No idea what I did, but big trouble."
Manager Han cleared his throat.
"First, you didn't envy his coffee truck. Second, you got an even grander rice truck. Third, you called him childish."
Writing a paper? Numbering them.
"My bad. Too awesome for my own good."
"Indeed. Can't exactly be ugly now, can you, Dowon-ssi?"
I stared at Manager Han.
'Joke or serious?'
Working together reveals unexpected sides.
I straightened my shoulders.
"Manager, I'm so grateful to the fans. What can I do?"
"Keep doing what you're doing."
"No, something more."
Something direct for the fans.
"I wanna spend money too."
"Pardon?"
"Wanna give them gifts. Can't be the only one getting the good stuff."
Come to think of it, what do celebs give fans? Should search?
Pulling out my phone to search, I felt Manager Han's gaze.
"Manager?"
"As expected of you, Dowon-ssi. Fans precious?"
"Super grateful. That rice truck ain't cheap. They saved up for me—how can I sit still?"
What to do?
"I don't know idols well yet, but stars do reverse fan service sometimes."
Fun term. Reverse fan service.
"Probably when fans gather, right?"
"Yeah. How about the Idol Sports Day?"
"Sounds good. Wait—what's that?"
Sports day?
"Oh, schedule not set yet. But Zenith will join soon. Agency got the email. They're holding Idol Sports Day around the holidays this year."
I tilted my head.
"They can hold it, but all idols gather?"
"Probably."
Looked headache-inducing already.
"Other groups' fans come too."
"Naturally."
Sounds like chaos? No troubles?
"Wait, sports day—won't people get hurt?"
Manager Han nodded.
"Maybe they prepare for injuries?"
"Dunno. From my experience... probably not."
Broadcast station bastards.
'Yeah, they'd dodge responsibility even if someone got hurt.'
Typical.