Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: It's Been 2 Weeks Since You Arrived?
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“How was Yumi?”
It was the usual exercise time. As I stretched my legs, I looked at Bear, who had struck up a conversation. He was so bright now, it was hard to believe he was the guy who had attempted suicide.
“She was pretty.”
“That’s it? What about her personality?”
“She was kind.”
“That’s it?”
Why was he prying like that?
I rolled my shoulders and tapped the cheat.
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Cha Dowon and Lee Seungjun's stamina recovery]
[Changed.]
[Side effect: Blood flows from your back.]
[cheat mode 2/3]
My back stung for a moment. I lifted my T-shirt. One of the scratches Yumi had left had burst open.
“Hey, what’s wrong with your back?”
“It happened somehow. Hey, got any bandages here?”
Bear stopped immediately and rummaged through the drawer to grab some bandages. He quickly applied them and tilted his head.
“You must be giving off phytoncides.”
What was that supposed to mean?
“Sometimes when I’m around you, I feel better. Like I slept really well and woke up refreshed.”
Cheat effect, huh.
“Amazing.”
He stretched his body this way and that. He looked noticeably lighter already.
I whispered softly.
“If it’s so amazing, treat me well.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. But let me ask one thing.”
Bear grinned. I got on the treadmill and asked.
“How do you get into the debut group?”
“Hmm, do well in the monthly evaluation?”
“Just good dance and vocals?”
“Nah. Plus face and body management.”
So, you can’t gain weight? That was a given for me, so none of my business.
Bear climbed onto the treadmill next to mine and said.
“You just thought that one’s obviously satisfied, so no worries, right?”
This guy was starting to resemble his mom, the shaman.
“They look at foreign languages, diligence, all sorts of things, but in the end, it’s face, body, vocals, and dance.”
“Guess I just need to raise vocals then.”
I upped the treadmill speed.
“Trying to make debut group this month?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s only been 2 weeks since you arrived?”
“So?”
I whispered while running.
“Doesn’t it feel like perfect timing to aim for debut group?”
Lee Seungjun gave me an incredulous look, then grinned.
“Yeah, it does. Whatever you say happens.”
“You believe me? Thought you wouldn’t.”
“You’re weird like that. Anyway, fine. Let’s go together.”
Huh. You’re aiming too?
I furrowed my brow. Well, debut opportunities were equal anyway, none of my business.
“Bear. Sounds like you’ve been holding back on purpose until now?”
“I skipped monthly evaluations for three months.”
I almost asked why, but shut my mouth.
‘Because his sister died.’
You really lived recklessly, huh.
I clicked my tongue and shook my head. Bear stared at me intently.
“I want to stick around with you longer.”
Whatever.
“On that note, tell me.”
“What?”
“Was Yumi really just pretty? That’s all?”
The topic circled back. I furrowed my brow and said.
“Yeah, that’s it.”
“Nothing happened, right?”
“What would happen?”
Yumi would sleep well now, her condition would improve dramatically.
“No some kinda thing?”
“Me and Yumi are 8 years apart?”
“Oh, right.”
I said while running on the treadmill.
“Besides, people with a lot to lose don’t have room to relax.”
No place to give her heart. Yumi must be insanely busy.
The treadmill belt kept turning endlessly. Just like I had to run on this, Yumi was doing her given job.
“Well, she was a cool woman.”
“Really no spark at all?”
“Told you, no.”
Why was this guy nagging?
I glared at Bear while running. Lee Seungjun grinned awkwardly and just focused on his own treadmill.
I let out a sigh.
We’d meet again someday. But not as a trainee idol and top singer.
‘My position will have changed by then.’
I pushed my legs harder. Looking forward to that.
‘First, let’s make debut group.’
With a clear goal, no hesitation. Breath came heavy, but I felt good today.
***
To raise abilities with cheats, I needed experience. I rubbed my throat, checking my vocalization. I’d held it for hours, but no improvement.
‘Arts like this are the problem.’
Practice didn’t raise it right away. But skip practice, and it showed immediately.
“This is when you need an expert.”
Someone to pinpoint exactly what I lacked.
‘Normally, ask the vocal teacher...’
I shook my head right away. Unfortunately, Friends Entertainment’s vocal teacher was no good.
‘Feels like he’s just killing time.’
No passion, everything half-assed. Total contrast to the choreographer who worked my body to the bone.
‘The latter’s way better.’
Even with that damn ambitious nickname, he taught with passion.
“Gotta find a way.”
A sigh escaped naturally.
‘Need another teacher.’
Suddenly, a certain bastard floated into my mind. I stomped it down in annoyance, but no matter how I shook, only him.
“Kang Minje.”
That guy sang damn well.
‘And he’s a composer too.’
I recalled some nameless K-pop docu. He made a girl group song. Had members record one by one, but instead of the pretty sweet-talking one, he made all four cry properly.
‘Poor girl group members.’
They learned the hard way his temper wasn’t a joke. Guy had a razor in his tongue.
“Damn. But is he the only one?”
Cursing didn’t scare me. If my skills lacked, fill or fix them. But seeing his face pissed me off.
‘Still, gotta overcome that too.’
If we end up in the same group, clashes would be daily.
“Think of it as a vaccine shot.”
I gripped my hair and sighed. Why was the only good singer around Kang Minje?
“Damn.”
I glared at the upstairs where he lived and yelled, but grumbling was a waste. I quietly got out of bed. If doing it, better quick.
***
[Cha Dowon's vocal ability]
[C. Change?]
[Change to B]
[Impossible with current body state.]
As expected, iffy as hoped.
Truth was, even C vocal was barely raised, coughing blood every time. Expected to learn something coming to the company, but vocal coach sucked, couldn’t even analyze songs yet.
‘Different from dance.’
Unlike dance, where watching experts reveals everything, couldn’t just listen and mimic singers.
So, the painful conclusion. With Chunhyang untying her skirt ribbon resolve, I stood before Kang Minje.
“Hello, hyung?”
I bowed my head slightly.
“Oh, Dowon?”
Freshly showered, water dripping from Kang Minje’s hair. I turned, wielding the ladle, and said.
“Sit down.”
“Uh, this...”
I beamed.
“Beef radish soup, your favorite, hyung.”
Eat up. Bribe.
“You remember?”
“Of course.”
You wolfed down three bowls when Mom made it.
“Not sick of it now?”
Kang Minje shook his head.
“Nah. Even bought versions don’t taste the same, so I forgot.”
I beamed.
“It’ll be that exact taste.”
Made with Lady Cha Yeonhwa’s method.
‘Flavor salt!’
So eat up, Kang Minje.
“Lunch yet?”
“Yeah.”
I bustled about, setting a full table. Kang Minje sat primly at the fancy setup.
“Dig in.”
“Thanks.”
Whatever. All for gain.
“Oh, heard. You’re in Yumi’s music video?”
“Yeah. Filming’s done.”
“Blew up. Lots of complaints about giving it to a non-debut kid.”
“Don’t know how I got picked.”
“Really?”
Profile, obviously. Tailored for it.
‘Surprising it actually worked.’
Could’ve half-assed for a pushed kid, but came back proper to me.
‘Whoever it is, great planner.’
Who picked me? The chubby president?
Kang Minje finally scooped some soup and said.
“Executive Director Joo pushed for you.”
“Who’s that?”
“At the audition, remember? The one who told you to strip.”
Appetite gone instantly. I scowled and shook my head.
“Only remember it was a woman.”
“She’s amazing. Was at W Entertainment planning before, came here last year.”
I tore kimchi and asked.
“W Entertainment’s a big corp. Why here?”
“Don’t know?”
Yeah. Really don’t. Why?
“Famous story. CEO was her husband, they divorced.”
Aha.
“She’s largely why W Entertainment led the pack.”
“Ah, picture’s clear.”
Divorced, left company same time, transferred to Friends Entertainment.
‘From this period, Friends Entertainment’s stock rose, so successful move.’
Didn’t recognize such a big shot. Industry buzz, but never surfaced?
Even recalling audition, no clear memory.
‘Whatever, skills good is fine.’
Planning’s out of my hands.
“Thank her later.”
“Yeah, obviously. If I remember who. Really no recall.”
“You too.”
Kang Minje shoveled faster. Sometimes I think it, but this guy’s surprisingly simple.
“Same old taste. Amazing.”
Yeah, flavor salt.
“Eat lots.”
He devoured mindlessly. Good, good. Eat up, teach some vocals.
“But hyung, thought this before too.”
I tore kimchi and said.
“Your place is way nicer than the dorm below.”
“Interior done.”
Honestly, dorm was guy-only mess. But Kang Minje’s upstairs was shiny, different vibe.
‘This guy really rich?’
Where’d sudden money come from?
About to ask, Kang Minje said.
“Something wrong?”
“Huh?”
“Came to ask me something, right?”
I smiled brightly. As expected, not dumb.
“Actually, struggling.”
“You?”
I pushed side dishes his way. He tilted his head.
“Dowon struggling? Unless your surroundings are, nah.”
Insult?
“Vocals not improving.”
“Who’s teacher?”
“Jayker.”
“Ah...”
Kang Minje sighed softly.
“Was a trainee. Good singer, but no debut.”
“Not my business. Problem is, no intent to teach.”
“I see.”
I placed monthly eval sheet music on table.
“You sing well, hyung?”
Zenith’s famed divine vocal. Kang Minje smiled awkwardly.
“Pretty well?”
“Teach me quick, crash course.”
“Hmm, can teach but...”
His soup bowl empty. I jumped up, refilled full.
“Kinda scary.”
“What?”
“I’m blunt and direct, make people cry.”
I snickered.
“Real.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Girls, whatever, but guy trainees too...”
Surprising.
“What’d you say?”
“Dunno. Just said what I thought, they cried.”
I breathed deep.
‘Well, experience’ll tell.’
If helpful, harsh fine.
“But for you, Dowon, I’ll go easy.”
“No.”
I shook head.
“Be honest, harsh, proper.”
Kang Minje blinked, surprised. I beamed.
“Hyung, I’m in a hurry.”