Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Punishment
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"Yes. So it doesn't seem all that effective."
I scratched my cheek lightly with my uninjured hand. What was the root cause of all this?
"So, Suyong hyung must be jealous of me and that's why he's pulling this stunt, right?"
"Probably."
I grinned broadly as I said it.
"In that case, I don't want any punishment."
Executive Director Joo covered her mouth in surprise.
"What?"
"Oh, have Suyong hyung evicted from the dorms. Anyway, the teams change after the monthly evaluation, right? We'll only butt heads for a little while."
"W-Wait a minute!"
"I thought about what would hurt him the most. I'm just going to keep making him envious."
I didn't stop smiling.
"If I hide away somewhere out of sight, his jealousy might fade."
"Wait, you're not the ambitious one, are you, Dowon?"
Word about that ambitious guy had spread all the way here.
"Tell him to keep watching."
I'd keep succeeding from here on out.
'Jealousy's hell for the one feeling it.'
I glanced at my wrist in the half-cast. Honestly, I felt endlessly wronged. What kind of ridiculous mess was this?
"I don't get why he's jealous of me. There are way more successful stars out there."
"People lose their minds hardest when someone close to them starts surging ahead. Of course, that doesn't make this okay."
Executive Director Joo swept back her hair, looking utterly baffled.
"I was just going to kick him out normally?"
"Don't do it the normal way."
"Can't you just let me expel him?"
"You're too much, Director. How could you do something so harsh?"
The director's eyes wavered.
"Kicking out Suyong hyung, who's so obsessed with his status as a Friends Entertainment trainee—adults can be so cruel."
"I think you're the cruel one here."
I kept flashing a sly eye-smile as I whispered.
"What? I just want him to watch."
Me, succeeding from here on out.
Executive Director Joo let out a massive sigh.
"Normally, I'd smack you for being so cheeky."
"Go ahead?"
"You've got this weird way of sweeping everyone up. Kid, you're a natural actor, aren't you?"
"It's my specialty."
"Not a single word fazes you."
Executive Director Joo shook her head while finishing her cola.
"The music video exceeded expectations."
"Thank you."
"You might get more offers."
"I'll do my best."
"Congrats on making the debut team."
That caught me off guard.
"Tha—... Wait, I did?"
Oh, I really made it.
"You're a bit raw, but we saw potential and bumped you up."
"I'll work hard."
"Am I pushing a kid too young...?"
Executive Director Joo stared at me intently.
"You're 15?"
"Yes."
"Damn, you really are young."
I flashed a grin. Without thinking, she reached out and ruffled my hair before yanking her hand back.
"Sorry. You reminded me of my nephew for a sec."
"Nah, it's fine."
"Making the debut team doesn't mean you debut."
I shrugged. I knew that already.
"If you don't fit the project, you're stuck on the debut team forever."
But I knew better.
'It'll fit perfectly, though?'
Just like I'd predicted.
Still, a little humility never hurt.
"I'm terrified."
"Your face doesn't look terrified."
"I really am. Believe me."
Why was I so untrustworthy?
Executive Director Joo sighed and swept back her hair again. She looked utterly exhausted.
"Go on. Wait, no—with that leg, it'll be tough. I'll call your manager."
"Yes. Take care."
She told her secretary to summon the manager, then stretched out her legs on the sofa.
"Ugh, my poor body. Hey, kid—don't you need to call home?"
I thought of my sister in med school and shook my head.
"It's not a big deal."
"Look at you. Kid, it is a big deal. You're hurt."
"Oh, right."
Come to think of it, maybe I should explain. She didn't seem the type to cry about it.
"Director Joo, there's something I need to tell you."
"What?"
"I'm an orphan."
Her eyes trembled.
"What?"
"It's only been less than a month since I became one."
"W-Wait!"
Executive Director Joo first asked her secretary to delay the manager a bit. I smiled brightly.
'She's quick on the uptake.'
She'd figured out right away that I didn't want the manager knowing.
"What happened?"
"They passed from cancer. Oh, but I'm not broke or anything. They left behind a good amount of money."
The name Yeonhwa Bosal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, was still pretty famous. Back when Mom was working, the place was always packed.
"Family?"
"My sister. But I can't burden her with this."
"Why? Something going on?"
"She's in med school."
Executive Director Joo's glasses slid down her nose. Looking flustered, she shook her cola can dry before setting it down.
"The first year is the toughest."
"It is, but..."
"The body's tough. It's not terminal or anything. Why bother your studying sister? Oh, but you've got people you can rely on, right?"
I thought of my aunt and uncle.
"They're truly wonderful."
"Y-Yeah. Got it. You've got your circumstances."
I was so grateful she let it slide. Right on cue, the manager arrived, and I let him help me out into the hallway.
"What'd Executive Director Joo say?"
I just smiled without answering.
"Did you get chewed out?"
"I'm the victim here—why would I? Oh, you might get chewed out a bit, Manager."
His round face filled with dismay.
"You should've just kicked him out while you were drinking."
The manager sighed deeply.
"Being too nice is a good trait, but..."
Leaning on the chubby guy, I said.
"You've gotta be nice to the right people."
Otherwise, you end up on the losing side.
'Like me.'
Kang Minje popped into my head.
'This is just the beginning, Kang Minje.'
A laugh bubbled up automatically. I tried to hide my expression, but he even stopped supporting me.
"Manager?"
"Y-You, youyou, youyouyou!"
The chubby guy couldn't get the words out.
"What's up?"
"You're saying the exact same thing as Mira!"
Damn. Who's Mira?
"Scary kid. You know me way too well, you little punk!"
I didn't want to know, so I shook my head. Even if I had figured something out, I wanted to forget it fast.
***
[Cheat Mode 0/3]
[Cha Dowon Limb Recovery]
[Changed.]
[Side effect: Deep sleep for 5 hours starting 5 minutes from now. Cannot be woken.]
[Cheat Mode 1/3]
***
"Friends Entertainment has a total of 80 male trainees. Numbers go up or down with monthly evaluations and auditions."
I flexed my arm, now free of the cast. The movement felt a bit stiff.
"Out of them, 10 are on the debut team."
"That's few."
"It's a lot if one gets promoted per month. There were times it was one every six months."
I looked at Lee Seungjun. He was lying on the empty bed since his favorite roommate had left.
"Two this month, though."
I tried moving my leg next. Like the wrist, it was stiff at first. But after a few stretches, it loosened up.
"Everyone's buzzing about it. Even I felt it, and I don't care about that stuff."
"Anyone'd think you had nothing to do with it."
I smirked at him.
"Lee Seungjun, you made the debut team too."
"I always heard I'd make it. I just skipped the monthly eval."
Oh, really?
I lay back on the bed and massaged my arm.
"Is it okay to take the half-cast off so soon?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
"How's it better in one day?"
That's what cheats are for.
"You were out cold earlier."
"Oh, must've been tired."
"I was kinda pissed."
What now?
"At what?"
"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"
Like telling you would've helped?
I started to say it was nothing, then shut my mouth.
'Or I'd end up like the manager.'
That'd be too annoying.
"You're taking the same test."
Lee Seungjun's sharp eyes trembled slightly.
"Didn't wanna worry you."
He shut his mouth.
'That was the right answer.'
Should've said that to the manager too. Then I wouldn't have seen that time bomb.
"I see."
Lee Seungjun rubbed his dry face.
"But tell me next time, for sure."
If I said okay here, it'd blow up again.
"Yeah."
"Good."
He accepted it so easily—relief. I rolled my shoulders and got up.
"Let's go."
"Practice? I'm going, but can you?"
"I'm all better. C'mon, I know my body best."
Lee Seungjun shook his head. What a pain to convince.
"I won't push it. I'll take it easy."
Only then did he nod. Why was I the one soothing this guy? Feeling a bit pathetic, I left the dorm.
"Oh, by the way."
Lee Seungjun came up beside me.
"We're on the same team now, you and me."
"It works out that way?"
It was no big deal, but Lee Seungjun's face lit up with a grin. It reminded me of the Siberian Husky I'd raised as a kid.
'That thing was a bear cub—how'd it turn into a dog?'
No clue what he was so happy about.
'Whatever.'
I didn't care to understand.
We reached the familiar lobby, where a group in school uniforms shrieked. I gave them a casual nod and pushed ahead.
"Wow, popular much?"
"Guess the MV's getting good reactions."
"Good? It's blowing up."
Lee Seungjun patted my shoulder.
"It's a hit video."
Nice. Yumi's new song must be sailing smoothly.
"Hope it does well."
"Means tons of people saw you."
"I guess."
It wouldn't change my life or anything.
'Especially since no money's coming in.'
I'd heard trainees pay to perform, not the other way around. That said it all.
'Well, debut team gets a salary.'
Though Friends doesn't even settle accounts later. Big companies, huh.
"Oh, right—practice room change?"
"Yeah. To number 1."
Glancing at my watch, 20 minutes early. Perfect to warm up.
Click—
It was when I opened the practice room door. Countless eyes turned to me.
'What situation is this?'
I smiled brightly, changed my shoes, and stepped inside demurely.
"Hello."
"Hello, sir."
Eyes scanned me head to toe—not just one or two.
'They're glaring daggers.'
Scary seniors!
Whatever. I said what I needed to.
"I'm Cha Dowon."
"I'm Lee Seungjun."
We greeted them, but no reply. Blinking at the weird vibe, finally one responded.
"Oh, you're the kid from Yumi's music video. I'm Yoo Hajin."
A soft-featured handsome guy extended his hand.
'Handshake?'
What is this, a client meeting? Is this normal? Whatever. I shook it gladly.
"Nice to meet you."
"Congrats on the debut team. And Lee Seungjun next to you? Great build. Surprised me a bit."
"Thanks for the praise."
Obvious at a glance.
'He's the debut team leader type.'
What kind of guy was he?
'Longtime trainee, but different from our Suyong?'
Plenty of time to judge later.
"Dowon, right? How old?"
"Hmm, turning 16 this year."
Middle school third year, huh.
"Whoa, younger than I thought. Height?"
"Last measurement was 166. Probably grown since."
My pants felt shorter now.
"Ah, not small for your age. Hold on. Stand straight."
Yoo Hajin lined my head up against himself and grinned.
"Way past 170, easy."
"Really?"
Maybe measure properly later.
"Eh, no worries then. Gotta eat well, yeah?"
He was going all caretaker on me.
'Is he like this normally, or a trap?'
I smiled brightly.
"Yeah, now that I'm getting paid, I'll eat proper breakfasts. No more cornflakes!"
"Gasp, you don't mean you ate the dorm cornflakes for breakfast?"
"Yes!"
Free food.
I nodded, and murmurs erupted.
"Those expired a year ago."
"No one ate them, so they just sat there!"
Oh.
'They were kinda soggy.'
Still, filled me up during crunch time. But suddenly Yoo Hajin grabbed my shoulders.
"Eat right. Skip meals now, and you'll regret it height-wise? Dropping a project over that? What a loss!"
"Yeah, no cornflakes. No bugs in yours?"
None.
"It was fine."
"Poor kid."
I pointed at Lee Seungjun.
"He ate it too."
"You poor bastards! Two of you?!"
The debut team guys suddenly clung to each other, staring at me and Lee Seungjun with misty eyes.