Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: As Rude as He Is, He's Got the Skills
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I rested my chin on my hand and watched the chaos unfold. At the scene where Yoo Hajin's parents were yelling their heads off, I shook my head.
'Lucky break.'
Yoo Hajin had thankfully thrown the pen away. I'd been ready to stop him if his trembling hand tried to sign it, so at least that was a relief.
'Damn. Why do I have to care about Yoo Hajin this much?'
That damn Zenith.
'No. Zenith is important.'
It was my lifeline, my source of cash, my career from here on out.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Yoo Hajin's parents' voices rang in my ears.
Noisy bastards.
'The world is full of crazy parents.'
How do you ask a kid who just turned legal to stand as a guarantor? If they need one so bad, they should do it themselves.
'Aha.'
I kind of got it now.
'They know their firstborn's business is doomed.'
Sneaky bastards.
Yoo Hajin shook off his parents' grip and stormed out. When I glanced over, he looked like he was smiling, so I tilted my head.
Why the hell is he smiling?
'Is that guy nuts?'
Well, he might be a little unhinged. He'd just admitted his parents were a mess.
Yoo Hajin finally stepped outside. Once I confirmed he'd disappeared, I left the cafe a bit later.
The air was still cold; winter hadn't fully left yet.
'What a waste of time.'
I should've hit the treadmill instead.
I clicked my tongue and started walking when I spotted Yoo Hajin a short distance ahead.
'Well, duh. Same destination.'
He was heading back to the dorm too.
I lightly tapped the arm of the guy walking in front of me. My hand was still shaking—cheat mode must've been ongoing.
"Hyung!"
"Oh? Ah, it's Ambition Boy Dowon."
Damn it.
"It's cold out. Why are you here?"
I played dumb, even though I knew everything.
"Grabbing something. What about you, hyung?"
"Meeting someone."
That someone was obviously his parents.
His hand was still trembling.
"Hyung, why's your hand shaking like that?"
"Huh? Yeah, weird, right?"
Yoo Hajin hid his hand behind his back.
"Stress? Makes sense. Wonder why it's shaking."
"Shouldn't you go to the hospital, hyung?"
Yoo Hajin clenched and unclenched his fist as he spoke.
"It's nothing serious. Oh, right."
Yoo Hajin wrapped his trembling arm around my shoulder.
"How about hyung buys you some beef?"
Crazy. That damn beef again.
"Dowon-ah. Hyung was a real jerk today."
"If not standing guarantor makes you a jerk, then just be a jerk."
"You think? Well, I've always been a disappointment. Being a jerk on top of that... whatever."
Yoo Hajin grabbed my shoulder and started walking forward.
"Anyway, I'll buy you meat."
"I don't mooch off suckers."
"You're not a sucker anymore."
I looked him up and down. Yoo Hajin flashed a bright, strangely refreshed smile.
"Ah~ Feels good."
"You ditched the guarantor thing?"
"Yeah. Just now. Ah, thanks, Dowon-ah. Your advice back then saved me."
I shook my head.
"Anyone who heard your story would've said the same."
"Hmm, not sure a 16-year-old would say that to a 20-year-old..."
Oh, right. I'm 16.
"Why not talk to a few more people? Executive Director Joo alone would've stopped you right away."
"You think?"
Yoo Hajin murmured while gazing at the sky.
"Feels embarrassing, you know. I'm the debut group's leader, or so I thought. Never had issues before, didn't wanna turn into some pitiful guy."
Still young, huh. Is this the time to worry about that?
"At least you know you're pitiful."
"Yeah? Puhahaha!"
Yoo Hajin's laughter made my shoulder shake too.
"Dowon-ah. Call me hyung."
Whatever. A title doesn't cost anything.
"Hyung."
"I love hearing that. 'Hyung.' Maybe 'cause I've always been the little brother type."
Crazy. I don't care at all.
"Anyway, thanks."
I sighed. Fine, you should be grateful to me. Standing guarantor as an idol isn't just a problem—it's life-ruining.
"Yeah. Go ahead and be as grateful as you want."
Yoo Hajin grinned and tightened his arm around my shoulder.
"Hyung's buying meat! Beef! For stews!"
What's with this guy?
"Fine. Let's hit the butcher."
"You're really gonna make stew?"
"Yeah. Cabbage stew. Wanna join?"
Yoo Hajin's eyes widened.
"I always make plenty. Side dishes are kinda scarce, though."
Maybe whip up something else. What's quick and easy?
That's when Yoo Hajin covered his mouth and burst out laughing like a maniac.
"Hajin hyung?"
"Puhahahaha!"
What the hell is so funny?
"You're one hell of a guy!"
"Making sides?"
"That too. Puhahahaha!"
My ears were ringing annoyingly. Fine, laugh it up. It's not gonna kill you.
As we walked, Yoo Hajin trailed along with his hand on my shoulder. I shook my head and glanced at him.
'Well, better than a deadbeat.'
Call it an investment for the future. If he's leader, I'll lean on him a bit.
The world was still winter. Come spring, maybe debut shapes up.
I dragged the heavy guy along, irritation spiking as white snowflakes started falling.
***
Executive Director Joo stared at the screen with her hands clasped. Kang Minje's footage played on the monitor.
"Pause there."
She hit the spacebar. The president, stroking his plump chin, said,
"He stands out."
"Right?"
They were watching a 16-year-old boy eyeing the debut group kids dancing in some national dance battle with a what-the-hell look.
"I get why the MV blew up."
"The CF's getting good buzz too. I was surprised. Didn't expect this much."
When the franchise bakery wanted a follow-up CF, she'd been shocked.
"As rude as he is, he's got the skills."
"You're right, Executive Director Joo. This kid's got talent."
The president patted his belly.
"I spotted it, didn't I, little sis-in-law?"
"I admit it!"
"Improving by leaps and bounds—perfect fit. Polite kid? Nah, he's like a 500-year-old ginseng root."
Executive Director Joo chugged her iced Americano.
"They call him Ambition Boy."
"Huh?"
"Not weird. From that 'Youth, Embrace Ambition' thing."
"Uhhahahaha!"
The president laughed with his cheek on the desk.
"Who came up with that?"
"Dunno. But it fits, right?"
"Thing is, the kid's a bit cocky."
The president lifted his head and eyed the screen again. The dance was over; they were hearing results.
"Worried if he'll mesh with a group. It's not solo."
On screen, Ki Jaeyoon was raging. Both Executive Director Joo and the president focused on Ambition Boy.
They figured the ambitious kid would ignore Ki Jaeyoon.
"Huh?"
"What the...?"
But on screen, the boy yielded to Ki Jaeyoon. As he slipped inside from the edge, brother-in-law and sister-in-law exchanged looks and quietly clapped.
Clap clap clap—
"Good news."
"Good news. Not a total arrogant punk."
"He knew he'd lose but yielded anyway. Lucky break."
The boy's eyes looked hollow watching victorious Ki Jaeyoon, but not bitter. Executive Director Joo rolled her shoulders and said,
"We can add him, right?"
"Have to. What'd Minje say?"
"Seemed welcoming. Ambition Boy Cha Dowon and Kang Minje are close."
The president frowned.
"They don't seem like a match."
"Surprised me too. But bro-in-law, apparently they've known each other since they were kids."
"Even then, doesn't scream 'friends.'"
"I agree."
If mismatched kids are close, conclusion's simple.
'One's accommodating the other.'
Executive Director Joo tilted her head.
'Not Minje, so the rude one?'
She chuckled.
"He might actually do well in a group."
"Why?"
"See? Strong against the strong, weak against the weak."
On screen, the boy was shaking his head.
"Yeah?"
"Guys like that pull it off despite the attitude."
"Hmm, Minje's strong against strong and weak alike."
"Minje's like that."
Executive Director Joo paused the video and swiveled to face her brother-in-law the president.
"Pretty much settled, right? Next group?"
"Gotta match 'em up."
"Photos too. Gonna be busy."
"Yeah. Us too."
The plump president pointed at the monitor with a finger.
"That kid's gonna be busy."
"To build recognition."
"Think he can handle it?"
Executive Director Joo grinned.
"Bet he can."
"Right?"
"He better. Friends Entertainment's new group adds CF star Cha Dowon as member—what a headline."
Frontman, or bait item. The clean, pretty boy was perfect for it.
"Okay. Deploy. Yumi wanted to borrow him anyway."
"Lend him. For what?"
"Awards show stage."
Executive Director Joo frowned instantly. Even almighty Yumi had taken hits at awards stages.
'They won't clap.'
Invite for opener, then sit there all high and mighty.
"Yumi's pissed."
"Fuming. Body's off, schedule's packed, but she insists."
"Yumi's a firecracker sometimes."
Executive Director Joo tapped the monitor.
"You can do it, right, Dowon-ah?"
The boy on screen, naturally, said nothing. Executive Director Joo drained her iced Americano and said,
"I'll start checking the selected kids' weights and skin conditions."
"Yeah. Check the combos."
"Center on Minje and Ambition Boy, shuffle around."
"Right on!"
The president stood and bowed slightly.
"Thanks for your work."
Executive Director Joo bowed back.
"Thank you, President. Oh, bro-in-law. Sis says she's watching you."
"W-What?"
"No more sweets."
The president quietly covered his mouth. Too cruel.
"No!"
"What do you mean no? Gotta stop. Already told Assistant Oh not to give you any."
"No! My beloved cola!"
"You know that now."
The president extended his hand quietly.
"What?"
"Just one. You like cola too, sis-in-law. I'll savor it."
Executive Director Joo turned away. The president shuffled off with betrayed eyes.
"Harsh, sis-in-law."
"Sis's orders are absolute."
"I'll get revenge."
No helping it. Executive Director Joo slipped a lukewarm cola into the departing president's hand. He pocketed it and whispered,
"Won't forget this kindness."
"Don't get caught."
I'd die if sis found out. She's scary when mad.
Executive Director Joo watched her brother-in-law's retreating back, trembling in fear. She clasped her hands in prayer.
'God, Buddha, Allah, spirits on our nation's mountains—please, don't let me get caught.'
Of course, she didn't believe in any gods.
***
I flinched for a second.
'What the hell.'
I rubbed my eyes quietly. Vision blurred then cleared, but what I saw remained the same.
'Not the wrong room, right?'
I backed up and checked the practice room. Unfortunately, it was the one the manager mentioned.
'So why's it like this?'
An empty room would've made sense. But I'd seen about twenty people lying down with eyes closed.
I quietly shut the door and crouched. Dim, but light seeped through the crack.
'They're breathing.'
They didn't look dead.
'Then why?'