Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Let's Go Our Own Separate Ways
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“Doesn’t she follow you around like goldfish poop for something like that?”
Oh no. Yumiho. She’s gotten some weird nickname.
“Like a stalker or something?”
“Hard to answer. But it’s not a crime, at least. She only watches you on set.”
“Excuse me. That’s how crimes happen.”
I pulled the spray from my pocket.
“My manager prepared it for me. I carry stuff like this...”
“Good job. But the best thing is not to be alone. Stick close to your manager as much as possible.”
Oh.
‘Am I seriously getting worried over by a senior girl group member?’
Something felt off. I tilted my head, and Senior Bitna spoke up.
“You’d win physically, but scandals are the issue.”
Ah, right. That too.
“I’ll be careful.”
“That’s why I came to tell you. She’s been acting really off lately.”
“Is she ostracized among the actors?”
Bitna glanced at Yumiho.
“They don’t talk to her.”
“I see.”
“Thanks to that, Jeremy backed off after trying to hit on her.”
I hadn’t known that.
“Ah, that’s why Jeremy got even angrier. The girl he was going after only had eyes for you.”
My brows furrowed on their own.
“Creepy.”
Just dealing with Kang Minje and Yumiho was a headache, but adding Jeremy made it total chaos.
‘Something’s gonna happen at this rate.’
I let out a long sigh.
‘Why is Yumiho even in this drama to begin with...’
Is it really because of me? Damn.
“She must be really annoying, huh?”
“Pretty much.”
“Hang in there.”
I bowed my head and lifted it.
“Thank you, Senior.”
“Yeah. I’m off.”
Bitna stood, so I got up and bowed again. I was being extra polite on purpose, and she seemed to like it. She flashed a bright smile and left.
‘She’s surprisingly warm.’
I’d felt it at the press conference too—her quick judgment of situations.
‘Working with people like this would be nice.’
The problem was I wouldn’t only run into people like her.
I let out a long breath. She was annoyingly persistent.
***
‘VIP’s on their last legs, right?’
‘They’ve been out of the country and went out of style.’
‘Honestly, this comeback flopped. Zenith crushed them.’
Jeremy almost threw his smartphone but stopped. If he smashed another one, he’d have nothing left.
‘Fuck.’
The harsh criticisms came from his playmates. They said it to cheer him up, but Jeremy knew better.
‘These guys think I’m a joke?’
As soon as his popularity dipped, the mounting started.
‘Just a few months ago, they were all “hyung, hyung”...’
He couldn’t stand the anger. He almost chugged his drink but held back. He’d been drinking a lot lately, and the comments about his face were piling up.
‘I can ignore fans, but...’
The president had said it. No, ordered it.
‘Fix your face...’
That was stressful too. He was the clear lead in the drama, yet kept getting compared to the villain ‘Cha Dowon.’
‘Community posts comparing us?’
Jeremy ground his teeth. His playmates had sent screenshots.
-Hyung, maybe get a facelift?
-You’re not taking care of yourself!
“Fuck you bastards!”
Jeremy clutched his head. He was truly cornered.
‘VIP’s sinking, the company shoots weird CFs, my screen time’s shrinking, the kids won’t listen...’
On top of that, contracts were nearing end. Renewal used to be automatic, but now he didn’t know the members’ intentions.
‘After I made them big by doing what I said...’
Talk of “we’ve been at it too long” was starting.
‘We still sell in Japan!’
The idiots wouldn’t listen. Jeremy snorted irritably. They just needed to obey, but lately they were mouthing off.
‘It’s all because of...’
Jeremy turned around. The guy was nowhere in sight.
‘Cha Dowon...’
Just a high schooler, yet his face was puffy everywhere. Jeremy had clashed to crush his momentum, but somehow he was the one bleeding out.
“Fuck!”
He tore at his hair. Honestly, every clash ended in a draw.
‘He’s nothing special!’
His face was decent at best. So why did he keep losing ground?
‘If only the album hadn’t flopped...’
He shook his head. That was the agency’s fault.
‘That concept was wrong...’
He thought it’d work, but it bombed spectacularly. Initial sales shook, then tanked.
Jeremy cracked his knuckles.
VIP’s fall was palpable.
‘Staff attitudes too, and most of all...’
His eyes tracked a woman. A fairly pretty supporting actress caught his eye.
‘Even nobodies ignore me...’
It wouldn’t have been like this before. Everyone hovered, dying to chat with VIP’s Jeremy.
The supporting actress didn’t look his way. She just kept chasing that damn Cha Dowon.
Just like now.
‘Cha Dowon again?’
The supporting actress slipped away subtly. You could tell Cha Dowon was at the end of her path with one glance.
Rage surged. Jeremy shot to his feet. He couldn’t stand watching them flirt.
***
‘I’ve been dodging well...’
Doing crunches while reading my script, a shadow fell over me. I knew without looking.
‘He times it perfectly when the manager’s gone.’
I’d avoided him hard. No manager? Stuck to staff. Worst case, hid in the van.
‘Waiting here since we’re on standby...’
Yumiho couldn’t wait and approached.
‘Ignore her.’
I looked at the script again. But she spoke from above.
“What’re you doing?”
Why does this woman keep talking to me?
“Ignoring me again?”
I silently turned the page. Please go away, Yumiho.
‘Was she always this persistent?’
Well, as an actress, she had grit.
“If you keep this up, I’ll write an article! ‘Lead Ignores Supporting Actress!’ I’m not kidding!”
‘Even if that article drops, plenty on set would testify for me now?’
Dodging Yumiho made me chat more with staff. The set vibe was mellow lately.
‘For me, anyway. Not for seniors.’
My increased screen time was obvious. Jeremy complained, of course.
The director’s excuse was gold.
‘Jeremy, I just shoot what the writer gives me.’
I chuckled. Director, you prepared well. What could he say to that?
Jeremy was losing lines with eyes wide open.
‘I thought he’d storm off set...’
Surprisingly, he didn’t.
Lost in thought, Yumiho yelled.
“Hey!”
Ah, still here.
I kept my head down.
“If you keep—!”
Yumiho slapped the script I was reading. It flew onto my abs in an instant.
‘Finally resorting to actions.’
What now.
Then—
“Flirting?”
Huh. A familiar voice.
I hugged my script and peeked out. A familiar face approached.
‘Oh no.’
Senior’s here—can’t do crunches. I clutched the script and stood, passing Yumiho.
“Hey, Cha Dowon. Dating the supporting actress?”
I blinked and smiled faintly.
“Didn’t exchange a word with her today.”
“What?”
“As you know, Senior, I’m being careful these days. Popularity brings scandals.”
I glanced at Yumiho behind me.
“Besides, she’s someone I know. She was in Chunhyang music video. Say hi. Yumiho. You know Senior Jeremy?”
Yumiho blinked.
“Huh?”
“VIP? She’s their leader. Of course, our drama’s lead too.”
Jeremy’s face twisted. I beamed.
‘Didn’t expect this?’
I met Yumiho’s eyes. She wasn’t clueless. She bowed her head.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Cha Dowon!”
“Ah, shoot...”
A staffer waved from afar.
“Time to film. I gotta go. Yumiho!”
“Huh?”
“You’re up too. Scene 67, we’re together. D2 studio.”
I nudged Yumiho ahead and escaped Jeremy. Hilariously, he bought the filming line.
Yumiho muttered ahead.
“D2?”
I scanned around. No Jeremy, no watchers.
“Nope. No shooting.”
Yumiho stopped.
“Ah, that staffer waving earlier...”
“I asked them to wave if Jeremy approached.”
Gotta give them snacks later. I sighed, looking at Yumiho.
“You know I’m not engaging. So why?”
She’d been hovering. Even Bitna Senior and other staff warned me.
“You don’t talk, that’s why!”
“That’s why I don’t talk to you, Yumiho.”
I smiled brightly.
“Please, just leave me alone.”
Past is past—let’s go our separate ways now.
“Why avoid me like this?”
“You’re annoying.”
She couldn’t say she wasn’t.
“Like I said before, I don’t wanna chat with someone who calls me an alien.”
“I’m not crazy!”
“Hmm, crazy people don’t admit it.”
Yumiho’s face flushed red.
My sister’s words popped up.
-You’re great at being rude and ruthless. Use your specialty.
I almost laughed.
‘But Sis, that might make her hover more.’
Was she always this curious?
“Hey. Cha Dowon. Am I worse than Bitna?”
What?
“You two seem close.”
“Senior Bitna? We’re not close.”
We greet passing by, and she’s talked lately, but close?
“We’re both idols.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Scandals freak us both out. Close? Please.”
Yumiho’s lips trembled.
I smiled brightly.
“Enough already, Yumiho. You’re annoying.”
Please, this life—let’s go our separate ways.
“You, you!”
I’ll check casts from now on anyway.
‘Filter her out if possible.’
Or take unrelated roles. Really don’t wanna meet again this life.
“What’s your deal? Why only weird with me!”
Didn’t wanna answer. As I tried to pass, she grabbed my shoulder.
“You’re different with others!”
“What?”
“You’re nice to others. Why hate only me!”
Why can’t she get it?
“Why reply to someone calling me alien?”
Her face reddened again. I shook my head. So damn annoying.
“You’re hiding something.”
Jumping to conclusions.
“Think what you want.”
Yumiho didn’t let go.
“Cuz I’m supporting?”
What now.
“Right? That’s it! You treat me like this cuz I’m supporting, not a big deal yet!”
I snickered.
‘She’s weird.’
Words not getting through?
‘Is that why she did that before regression?’
Getting tiresome. Repeating myself.
“Need my answer?”
Yumiho’s shoulders twitched.
“You’ll think what you want anyway.”
Why, though? Even that felt bothersome.
“I’ll climb up top.”
Go. Won’t stop you.
“See if you act the same then!”
I shook off her hand.
‘That’s her conclusion, huh.’
Not my problem.
This time, I passed Yumiho for real. Truly impressive woman.