Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: What the Left Hand Did, the Right Hand Should Know Too
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I forcibly shook off the manager.
“So, what’s the situation with Vita’s Giki?”
“He’s on indefinite suspension.”
“I see. And the rest of Vita?”
“They claim they don’t know anything about it?”
Oof, got brushed off.
“Vita won’t get in the way of your activities! The executive director and the president both ordered a clean separation!”
Well, nothing to be done about that.
“Um, Manager. Let’s get discharged first.”
“You sure you’re good to go?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Right on cue, a nurse came in. The manager looked into the procedures, and I asked to have my IV removed.
I stared at my smartphone.
‘Would experience on the nice side be okay with you?’
Then, a brilliant idea hit me. I grinned and took off the top of my patient gown.
***
Vita’s Giki.
He was the comic relief character on variety shows.
Sure, call it a variety character all you want, but in truth, his singing and dancing barely kept up with the other members. The company had tried pushing him into acting since he had a bit of talent there, but he bombed every single time.
‘Squid Giki.’
That was the nickname fans had given him after one too many flops.
From the moment he’d joined Vita, he’d been on thin ice. The members looked down on Giki for not being able to keep up. His only solace was Vita’s leader, Kiki.
As long as he listened to Kiki, the members’ complaints died down. Well, they still simmered, but at least they didn’t say it out loud.
It was just so convenient.
‘Just listen to Kiki.’
That was the survival strategy 17-year-old Vita’s Giki had figured out.
Vita had started strong but was clearly trending downward.
‘Why can’t you guys just blow up already?’
Still, it wasn’t so bad. They hit number one now and then, and they had name recognition. Vita’s Giki was reasonably content with his position.
Anywhere he went, people recognized him as a Vita member, and it made picking up girls at clubs a breeze.
‘There’s no one who’s great at singing, dancing, and acting anyway.’
But such a person did exist. No, worse—a comet streaked in who outshone them all.
‘Kang Minje.’
That guy who wrote his own lyrics and compositions had rubbed him the wrong way from the start. The way the company fawned over him was infuriating.
The problem was, that bastard didn’t even seem fazed by all the special attention.
Giki was pissed, but what he couldn’t stand was Vita’s leader Kiki. Kiki hyung had told him to sabotage the group debuting with this newbie Kang Minje.
“You’re banned from comebacks indefinitely.”
The executive director announced it and turned away. Giki had been upfront about it, but they didn’t believe him.
“They say it’s because of you that Ambition—no, Dowon—collapsed. Doing a great job, huh? Why are you so childish?”
He was floored. That guy had played dirty, and he collapsed? Childish?
It was suffocating. Even Leader hyung wouldn’t back him up. The one who’d told him to do it now claimed ignorance.
‘Damn it!’
He felt like he’d go insane from the injustice. What the hell was he supposed to do?
Vita’s Giki had extreme thoughts.
‘Should I kill those two and then myself?’
He’d pick up a weapon several times a day, only to put it down.
That’s how his days dragged on. Then, while lying in bed, his manager suddenly called.
“Giki, you’re number one on real-time search right now!”
“Why? Drunk driving? That’s old news.”
Did they find out about last week’s club visit? Vita’s Giki anxiously searched his name.
- Vita’s ‘Giki’ Donates 30 Million Won to Malnourished Children
- Seems Like ‘Reflection’ on Drunk Driving
Giki rubbed his eyes.
“What the hell is this?”
Why would I donate to malnourished kids?
“It’s on the live billboard! You’re number one, Giki. 30 million won! That’s a huge amount!”
Giki forced an awkward laugh. Not me? Am I crazy? Who would do something like this?
‘Kiki hyung, for my image?’
Giki wasn’t dumb, just not the sharpest. He shook his head right away.
‘30 million won…’
Suddenly, laughter bubbled up.
‘It’s the money I gave that guy.’
Once it started, the laughter wouldn’t stop. Vita’s Giki rolled around on the bed, howling.
“You son of a bitch.”
“Giki? You talking to me?”
Oh, right, still on the call.
“No. Not at all.”
“Phones are blowing up. The exec director says it’s a chance to revamp your image. How’d you do something so noble! Gotta go!”
The manager hung up. Giki let out a hollow chuckle, then burst into full laughter again.
“Puhahaha! Crazy!”
That bastard was something else.
“It wasn’t Kang Minje. It was him.”
Fits the psycho vibe.
“He’s the problem. But his name was…”
Vita’s Giki searched again. Friends Entertainment new group—up popped the slick-faced kid.
Giki slowly read the name.
“Cha Dowon. 16 years old. Wait, middle school third year?”
He’d looked young, but the attitude didn’t match, so he’d wondered. This young?
Giki was stunned.
“I got played by a middle schooler?”
Holy shit.
He was floored.
“What the fuck does that punk think he’s gonna be, starting this shit at 16!”
Laughably, he wasn’t even mad. Just absurd.
‘It’s gotta be that punk.’
No one else cared about his comeback, but that punk had opened the floodgates.
“Fuck.”
Giki rolled on the bed, spewing curses. Laughably, he was a little grateful. That pissed him off more, so the curses kept coming.
***
[Cha Dowon Recovery]
[B. Change?]
[To A]
[Impossible in current state.]
The company hallway was buzzing on my way to the meeting room.
‘Looks like word’s out.’
All I’d done was make sure the right hand—and the whole neighborhood—knew what the left hand did, but the ripple effect was bigger than expected.
I tapped the screen again.
[Cha Dowon Recovery]
[B. Change?]
[To A]
[Changed. Nosebleed for 1 hour in 5 minutes.]
[cheat mode 1/3]
‘It worked.’
I shook my head. This really is experience-based.
‘Even good deeds level up.’
I clenched and unclenched my fist. No immediate change in my body.
‘But I’ll be less tired now.’
Or recover fully with just a bit of sleep.
‘I want to boost vocals, dance, stamina before debut, though.’
Right then, as if waiting, the nosebleed started gushing. I stuffed tissue up my nose and tilted my head back.
‘This during a schedule would suck.’
Wonder when this one-hour side effect ends.
Killing time with nothing to do, the door opened. A familiar figure entered the meeting room.
“Dowon? What’s up with you?”
“Ah, nosebleed.”
Kang Minje’s eyes widened in surprise. He came over, fidgeting anxiously.
“Shouldn’t you rest more?”
“It happens sometimes for no reason. It’ll stop soon.”
“Hmm, is this related to the blood when you cough?”
It was cheat side effect–wise, but physically? No way.
‘But good excuse.’
I smiled brightly.
“Yeah. Guess it builds up in my throat and comes out when I cough. Doc said once it heals, nosebleeds will be less.”
“No anemia or anything?”
“I’m healthy. You know that.”
Kang Minje frowned instantly.
“Even after passing out two days ago and riding in an ambulance?”
“That was a freak accident. Hospital didn’t say much.”
Kang Minje sighed deeply.
“This during schedules would be a problem.”
“I guarantee it won’t. Minje hyung.”
I glanced at the fox.
“During schedules, I’ll be the most energized.”
Kang Minje shook his head like he couldn’t argue, then sat across from me. Only the creak of the chair sounded.
“Good, then. But, Dowon.”
The fox narrowed his eyes.
“The donation in Vita’s Giki’s name—you did that, right?”
Busted.
“Caught me.”
“The amount matches exactly.”
“Must’ve been 30 million. Deposited anonymously, and the bank teller freaked out counting it with the machine.”
Weirdly honest about odd stuff.
“Why’d you do it?”
Kang Minje propped his chin.
‘He gets scheming ideas like this.’
I chuckled lightly.
“Dunno. Bored?”
“Dowon. Vita’s Giki will just vanish from the industry at this rate. Why give him a breather?”
“Told you, bored.”
Believe me a little.
“Guys like that come at you with knives. We need to debut soon—no one can get hurt.”
“No way.”
“Gut feeling, Minje hyung. Pushing someone to rock bottom isn’t great. They hold massive grudges.”
“If we climb high enough, he won’t even be able to hold a grudge.”
I chuckled.
“Minje hyung, I’m starving too. Even at the top, this doesn’t end well.”
Kang Minje’s eyes flickered.
“They might even bounce back harder from the pressure.”
“Pointless. You gave him a shot, but he’ll keep living like he always has.”
“Then nothing to do. Not my problem if that’s his limit. Anyway, he won’t come at us with a knife.”
Kang Minje exhaled long.
“Tricky.”
“Sorry for not asking you first.”
Total bullshit, of course. Like I need your opinion.
Just as Kang Minje’s lips twitched, the door opened, and the bear barged in.
He sauntered over casually, but I flinched.
‘Damn, what’s with that?’
I lifted my soaked head at his state.
“Seungjun. Who’s that? Who beat you up?”
The face that should debut soon was a swollen mess.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Seungjun smiled faintly.
“They jumped me when I said no to the money.”
Unbelievable. Who the hell? Seungjun’s a minor. Trying to scam a kid?
“Even leeches come in all kinds.”
I clicked my tongue, and Kang Minje stared holes into Seungjun’s face.
“Leeches love celebs. But Seungjun, your face okay?”
“Sorry. Bruises should fade soon, but not sure.”
Easy fix.
I quietly pulled out my smartphone.
[Seungjun’s wounds recover by tomorrow morning]
[Changed. Side effect: eyes sting for 2 seconds.]
My eyes stung like needles for an instant. Two seconds was short, but tears welled up.
Physiological tears streamed down.
“Who?”
I rubbed my eyes.
“Huh?”
“Who asked for money?”
Family like Yuhajin?
Tears slipped through my fingers.
Seungjun whispered softly.
“My sister’s husband.”
“Fucking hell.”
The world’s wide, leeches everywhere.
“Said he’d manage it for me.”
Wow.
“Why’d your sister marry a guy like that?”
“Dunno. Guess she’s bad at judging people. Anyway, that’s how my face got like this.”
No need to see more. I tapped the screen.
[Seungjun’s brother-in-law: remove all hair follicles except 20]
Love freebies? Enjoy the shine.
[Changed. Side effect: eyes sting for 3 seconds.]
[cheat mode 3/3]
Eyes stung again. More tears. Kang Minje silently pulled tissues from the box in the middle of the room and handed them over. I pressed my eyes while speaking.
“Ignore him. Who is he to manage your money?”
“Yeah. Reminded me of what you said last time. Manage my own money.”
“Obviously. World’s full of scammers. Get fleeced in broad daylight.”
Seungjun grinned through his battered face.
‘Must hurt like hell, why smile?’
Get mad instead.
As I sighed long, the door opened, and Yuhajin and Ki Jaeyoon entered.
“Eek! What happened? You two fight? Why’s one crying and the other’s eyes all puffy?”
What the hell.