Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Hyung, Aren't You Busy?
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In present-day Korea, the nation's hottest idol flashed a crinkly-eyed smile and nodded. Staffer A froze, her mind going blank for a moment. By the time she snapped out of it, everything was over.
'Best day ever.'
A day that had started with kneeling to some jerk had turned into paradise. She clutched her signed item like treasure and grinned until her cheeks hurt.
The world was still worth living in.
**
'Yeah, he used a wallet like this.'
The Kang Minje I knew never changed out anything he liked.
'When it broke, he'd just buy the exact same one.'
I frowned at the shopping bag. He always pulled stunts like this.
"Kang Minje will love it."
"Of course he will."
I knew that guy's tastes better than anyone.
"By the way, is Minje-hyung at the dorm right now?"
"Who knows. Want me to check?"
"Nah, of course he's not."
With the new album out, he was swamped just doing music shows. Honestly, I was in the same boat with my drama filming.
'Hard to even see Seungjun's face these days.'
Something seemed off with that guy too.
'I'll grill him the second I catch him.'
The manager punched in the door code. The dorm was the same as ever. But there was an unexpected face.
"Oh, Dowon's here?"
Kang Minje—the busiest guy of all—emerged from the living room. I gripped the shopping bag tight.
"Hyung, aren't you busy?"
"Super busy."
"Then why are you in the living room?"
"Ah, just felt like some good lyrics might hit me today."
Crazy. That guy's gonna collapse again.
I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and switched straight to cheat mode.
That's when the manager spoke up.
"I'll head out then."
"Yeah, Manager. See you tomorrow."
As the door clicked shut behind him, I tapped the screen.
[Cheat Mode 0/3]
[Zenith Stamina Recovery]
[Change applied.]
[Side effect: Extreme hunger in 5 seconds.]
[Cheat Mode 1/3]
I grabbed a chocolate bar from the fridge and said,
"Hyung, you tired?"
"Huh? Whoa?"
Kang Minje rolled his shoulders.
"I felt beat just now, but weirdly, I'm good."
Of course. I cheated.
"Sometimes it just lifts like it was waiting for you."
The side effect hit—ravenous hunger. I chomped into the chocolate bar and said,
"Hyung, talk with me. It's important."
"Huh? Now?"
"Yeah. Can't?"
Kang Minje shook his head.
"Nah, it's fine."
"Let's go to your room."
"Can't we do it here?"
I grabbed him and dragged him to his room.
"Feels important. Oh, hyung."
The second we were inside, I handed over the bag.
"Happy birthday."
"Oh, right, birthday. Thanks."
"I'm busy, so I'll head out quick. What's this?"
"Huh?"
I blocked the door to keep him from leaving.
"Hyung, it's not your birthday."
The smile vanished from Kang Minje's face.
"Why'd you change your birthday password?"
"Ah, you caught me."
"Yeah, it was weird. The old house code was your birthday. Made me wonder why no one else could get in."
Kang Minje's eyes trembled.
"Came to some weird conclusions. One, Minje-hyung changed his birthday. Two, no one knows the old one. Three, does this have anything to do with you being loaded, hyung?"
He said nothing, just let out a long sigh.
"Took you long enough to notice, Dowon."
"Yeah, I guess. Should've figured it out sooner."
"I thought you were pretending not to know for my sake. Guess you really didn't."
Damn. What was that supposed to mean?
'Not really my business anyway.'
But right now, it was. If this wasn't the pre-regression Kang Minje, I needed to know why.
"Wanna hear it?"
"That's why I'm asking."
"Not sure I wanna tell."
My brow furrowed on its own.
"Does it have to do with your mom?"
His eyes shook again.
'Bingo.'
I thought of his mom. Looking back, she was seriously messed up.
'Starved him, neglected him.'
Even hit him.
"Back then, your mom said she was gonna ditch you, right?"
"Yeah. Kicked me out. It was when I was little."
"Your mom's doing okay health-wise?"
Kang Minje gave a bitter smile.
"No contact. No idea if she's alive or dead."
"I see."
I sighed.
"She's just like my dad."
Kang Minje cracked a small smile.
"Oh yeah. Your dad's out of touch too."
"I'm not that curious if he's dead or alive."
"Same here."
Damn. Why do we have this in common?
'I heard building rapport like this is basic talk skills...'
Problem was, it was real.
"What's the reason? Why change your birthday?"
"Have to spill?"
"I wanna know."
I had to.
'One reason Kang Minje might betray me—changed birthday.'
He never talked much about himself anyway. But he answered if asked.
'Just hard to pry.'
Kang Minje clamped his mouth shut and stared. In the weird silence, I still blocked the door.
'Playing hardball, huh.'
I was used to waiting. I crossed my arms and grinned.
"I'm not leaving till I hear it."
"Yeah, figured you wouldn't."
"Then one way out."
I met his eyes.
"Spill it. What is it."
"Have to?"
"Won't leave otherwise."
"Huh? Don't care if you... "
What?
"No matter what you do, I'll be here."
"Yeah, sure..."
"Even after your schedule, when you come back—I'll still be here."
"Eh, fine by me."
This guy.
"You hate people in your space."
"Hm? Oh, yeah. But Zenith dorm life—I'm used to it now."
Damn.
My face twisted. Seeing it, Kang Minje turned away laughing.
"Got me good, huh? Dowon?"
"A bit."
"Yeah, well. Knew you'd catch on eventually."
Kang Minje sat in his composing chair.
"Not a big deal. After Mom tried dumping me, my bio dad showed up. Guy had money, needed me for something."
Got it.
"So I lived there a bit. Middle school, I think. Then he didn't need me, so separate living."
Hold up.
"Middle school? That's too young."
"Didn't send me out empty-handed. Gave me a place, money, even staff."
Still too much.
"You good with that?"
"Was fine. Became a Friends trainee soon after. Learned lyrics and composing—heaven. Getting kicked out wasn't bad."
Kang Minje whispered,
"Still sends money from that house. Probably to keep me away forever. Doesn't care what I do anyway. So, Dowon—am I rich?"
"Already knew. You buy fancy meals."
"That so."
Kang Minje tapped the keyboard. Headphones muted the sound.
"Now that you know the secret—thoughts?"
"Why ask for my take."
I leaned on the door.
"You haven't told it all."
He skipped why bio dad wanted him, how it was living there.
"Ha. Classic Dowon."
"Classic you—holding back the big part to slip away."
"Hm, not a compliment?"
I shook my head.
"Would be for business. That's why not."
Kang Minje smiled, eyes crinkling.
"See? Don't wanna talk now."
"Fine."
"You're cool with it? Thanks."
I could wait.
I grinned back brightly.
"Sure. So when will you?"
"Uh..."
Kang Minje hung his head.
"Classic Dowon. No pushover."
"Thanks for the praise."
"Hahaha."
He laughed weakly.
"Dunno. Hm, fine."
Kang Minje looked up at me.
"When Dowon apologizes to me, I'll tell."
I burst out laughing.
'Crazy.'
Kang Minje was Kang Minje.
"I'm curious too, y'know. Holding back."
"Fits you."
"Thought it fit you."
I shook my head. Couldn't counter that. I raised my hands in surrender.
"Fine. But hyung."
I eyed the bag.
"Must've been tough."
"Huh?"
"That's why you vanished. Long time ago, when we were kids. You disappeared, so I went looking."
Just a memory now.
"Checked the playground, the shop. Got dragged home by my sis though."
What'd she say?
'Said that kid's never coming back.'
Guy I ate and slept with every day—gone. I was pissed.
"I know."
"How?"
"Just figured. Dowon'd look hard, but hoped not too much... Surprised me."
What?
"You'd grown up at auditions."
Yeah.
"Growth aside, your personality changed so much..."
"For the better?"
"W-Well, yeah?"
Why the stutter?
"Never thought that kid'd be such a solid teammate."
"I see."
"Thanks for the gift."
Kang Minje unwrapped the bag.
"Opening it right away."
"Bit curious."
"Thought you'd trash it still wrapped."
The fox smirked.
"Not if it's from a stranger."
Pre-regression, yeah. Gifts piled up, wrapping intact.
He saw the wallet, looked surprised.
"Not your taste? Just toss it."
"Nah, this is great."
Of course. It's what you always used.
"Who picked it?"
"Me."
"Surprised me. Can wear it now?"
"Your gift, your call."
Kang Minje whipped out his phone.
"Can I brag?"
"Your call."
He set it on the table, snapping pics like mad.
'Fans'll know I gave it to him.'
Whatever, looks good.
'Gotta give fans stuff to talk about.'
Keeps 'em hooked on us.
He seemed thrilled.
'Sliding past weirdly easy.'
I muttered watching him.
"Someday, hyung."
Our eyes met. I sighed.
"Nah. I'm out."
"Would be nice if we could both share secrets, right?"
Damn. Scary guy.
"Bet you were gonna say that."
"Can't let guard down around you, hyung."
"That so. Fox-like, huh. But..."
Kang Minje tilted his head.
"Why fox? I like wolves."
"Wanna look like a wolf?"
"Yeah. Foxes seem weak."
I scanned his face closely. He meant it.
'That pretty face—far from wolfish...'
I smiled and opened the door.
"Ah, Dowon!"
Foxes are canines too.
'Sometimes seems like he hates his own face.'
Pretty boy complex? Ah, that's why he bulks up.
'Whatever, his choice.'
Bulk all he wants—still pretty-faced bulked-up Kang Minje. No need to say.
Left his room, bell rang. Wow. Sender: the love and respect of my life, Cha Sora.
'Already here?'
Delivery that fast?
I swiped. Her booming voice filled the air.
'Miss my sis.'
Grinned automatically. Her yelling didn't stop.
'Gonna get chewed out bad.'
Sis was the same then and now. Made me happy somehow.