Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: No Need to Know Everything About the World
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I turned my head straight toward Yoo Hajin.
“Hyung, you’re here.”
“Yeah, sure. Seungjun, what happened to your face? Why’s Dowon crying?”
“Did you guys fight? Who won? Judging by the crying, you lost, right, Cha Dowon?”
Damn. Shut up. Close your mouth, you monkey bastard.
“It’s different reasons for each of us. We didn’t fight.”
“Why beat around the bush? What happened? Why’s it like this?”
It wasn’t worth answering.
“Minje hyung, let’s start the meeting.”
Kang Minje shook his head like it was hopeless and said,
“Sit down first. Jaeyoon.”
“What is it! What’s the reason! Tell me!”
I shut my mouth. He was really annoying.
Kang Minje spoke slowly.
“The reason we’re in the meeting room today is because of the debut mini-album.”
Ah. He meant the one we recorded the other day.
“The title is ‘Faust.’”
I already knew it well from seeing the song’s creation process.
Faust. It sounded pretty cool.
‘A man tempted by the devil.’
Well, if done right, it seemed okay.
At that moment, Ki Jaeyoon asked,
“What’s Faust?”
Damn.
Yoo Hajin answered.
“It’s a Goethe play. You don’t know it?”
“Who’s Goethe?”
“Jaeyoon, you don’t know The Sorrows of Young Werther either, do you?”
“Why’s Young Werther sad? Did he fail in love?”
Wow. His knowledge was pathetic. Well, not knowing didn’t hinder life.
‘He got it roughly right, though. Impressive.’
He seemed ignorant, but anyway.
I shook my head and said,
“Don’t let that guy do interviews. We’ll get labeled as an ignorant group.”
“Hey! Then do you know it?”
“I know it well. Well, he ends up redeemed in the end.”
Kang Minje grinned.
“The original is super philosophical, but we’re going in really lightly.”
I nodded. Sure, I’d seen it once, but it was boring. No matter how well adapted.
“Any opinions?”
That’s when we were lost in thought. The meeting room door opened, and Executive Director Joo and the plump manager came in.
“Hello. Good morning. Oh?”
Executive Director Joo tilted his head at my nosebleed and Lee Seungjun’s bruise.
“Did you two fight?”
For a moment, Executive Director Joo seemed on the same level as Ki Jaeyoon.
Lee Seungjun spoke first.
“No, sir.”
“Different reasons for each.”
“Cut it out. Your bodies belong to the company now. Don’t come in hurt like this.”
Wow.
“We’re very sorry.”
“You don’t look sorry at all? Whatever. The nosebleed will stop, and Seungjun, if yours doesn’t heal by music video shoot, I’ll make you cake on two centimeters thick.”
What’s fade?
“Anyway, our treasures Minje, Minje—Kang Minje. You made a song that’s gonna blow up~. I heard the recording yesterday, and it’s so good.”
Executive Director Joo sat at the head and turned on the computer.
“My expectations are through the roof. What are you gonna do about it! I’m so excited I can’t sleep!”
You look excited, Executive Director Joo.
“Right? Manager Heo?”
The fleshy manager scratched his head.
“You know I don’t know much about that stuff.”
“Ah, right. Anyway, I couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned in bed all dark night thinking. What concept should we go with?”
A black belt floated on the beamed screen. Wondering what it was, singers wearing it across their chests appeared in a row.
‘Why wrap their bodies in leather straps?’
I tilted my head, but surprisingly, the others seemed to know.
Kang Minje said,
“Harness, right? That?”
Huh? Wait.
“Dog collar?”
On a person?
“Ah, there’s human versions too.”
That wasn’t the point. Human version wasn’t the issue. What do you even use that for? Make slaves for farm work?
Ki Jaeyoon said,
“You get a lot of fun stuff searching harness.”
So he’d searched it.
Executive Director Joo laughed like a madman and said,
“Doesn’t it fit our concept perfectly?”
I quietly turned my head.
‘I don’t know what it is, but digging deep probably won’t be fun. That harness.’
Just let it be. No need to know everything about the world.
Kang Minje said,
“Sounds good. But it’s summer—won’t it look hot?”
“We’ll put them in tight short-sleeves. So from today, you guys……”
Executive Director Joo ordered ominously.
“If you don’t manage your bodies, you go back to trainee status?”
Diet and exercise management.
‘Well, it was coming.’
That’s standard for celebrities. Body management.
Executive Director Joo poked me and the other members.
“Cha Dowon, Lee Seungjun, Kang Minje, Yoo Hajin—maintain current status.”
Aha.
The only one left out was Ki Jaeyoon. As eyes turned to him, he jumped and made excuses.
“Why, why! What’s wrong with my body!”
“You’re out!”
“I need to eat to dance?”
“Who said starve? Eat healthy only. Jaeyoon.”
“Uh, until when?”
“Next seven years. Contract ends then, eat whatever.”
Wow. Tough, Executive Director Joo.
“That’s too much!”
“The too much one is your body! When members look sleek, you want a tadpole belly? Leader’s Hajin, right? Hajin, you handle it.”
Yoo Hajin smiled good-naturedly.
“Yes, Director. Jaeyoon, from today, no burgers, no chicken, got it?”
“This is a dream. My bacon mozzarella deluxe combo giant burger!”
Specific menu.
“Now music video time. Last night rolling in bed thinking harness, I realized. Zenith has!”
Executive Director Joo pointed at me.
“Ambitious Cha Dowon!”
I furrowed my brow. What about it?
“I believe in your acting, Dowon! You’re the lead!”
Ah, that’s what he meant.
“What role?”
“Handsome high schooler seducing his brother’s girlfriend.”
“Just trash.”
Executive Director Joo laughed like a witch.
“Trash is fun across east and west, ancient and modern!”
Is that so? Well, true for trashy dramas.
“I’ll do my best. Give me the scenario as soon as it’s set.”
“Of course. Don’t get hurt till then? Ambitious one!”
Yoo Hajin said,
“Story MV, what about us?”
“Supporting roles a few times, and dance footage.”
Ki Jaeyoon shouted.
“That’s unfair! Cha Dowon’s the lead!”
“Then Jaeyoon, you do it?”
“I can do it well too!”
The three excluding me shook their heads right away.
“No.”
“No way.”
“We’d flop.”
Rejected by the three opponents.
I smiled brightly and said,
“Everyone has their specialty. Minje hyung’s producer side, Hajin hyung’s great tone as leader, Seungjun’s rap and vibe, mine’s acting.”
“Well said. Dowon’s right. Let’s do our best in our fields! Don’t covet others’!”
That’s when it happened. Ki Jaeyoon clenched his fist and slammed the table.
Bang-
“Me, me! What about me?”
Ah, startled.
“What?”
“What’s my specialty? Praise me too.”
Annoying guy.
“Dance, but eat a dozen bacon mozzarella deluxe combo giant burgers and that dance goes to another member too?”
Executive Director Joo covered his mouth laughing.
“Do I have to say it? Ki Jaeyoon?”
Figure it out yourself.
“Praise me too! Don’t leave me out!”
Childish.
I shook my head, and Yoo Hajin patted his shoulder.
“Our maknae’s Dowon, but Jaeyoon seems more maknae?”
Don’t compare to that.
“Alright, meeting over. Oh, and the most important. I got my fortune told.”
Fortune telling’s the most important?
“From a really accurate person. This one’s spot on.”
More than Yeonhwa Bodhisattva famous in Seongnam, Gyeonggi?
“Shed blood and we hit big.”
What fortune is that.
“Should we do a ritual?”
“No, blood’s already gonna flow?”
What nonsense.
That’s when it happened. Red blood dripped onto the table.
‘The tissue plugging my nostril loosened.’
When I plugged my nose with the tissue someone handed me. Strange silence fell.
The first to yell was the manager.
“Blood! Blood! Director! Blood!”
“Oh my god! Real blood!”
“Z-Zenith’s gonna hit big! Like prophecy, blood gushing like this! Dowon! Bleed more! Gush it!”
Look at this guy.
“That really accurate fortune teller! Wow, I got chills!”
Me too. Chills from childishness.
‘Why believe that.’
No one to trust in the world, so fortune telling? Better buy food with that money. Not a waste?
Kang Minje said,
“Just let it be. Director’s hobby.”
“Constructive hobby. Well, shamans gotta eat too.”
Like our house back then. Of course, real shaman Lady Cha Yeonhwa in Seongnam was legit.
Kang Minje laughed and stood.
“All done, I’ll go arrange. See you in choreography room later.”
“Ah, choreography’s out today too.”
“Got it. I’ll go.”
With Kang Minje leaving, I stood too.
“I’ll go work out.”
“Blood pouring, you sure it’s not too much?”
“I’m fine.”
Staying here’s more headache.
Glancing at the clock, an hour had passed. I went to the hall, pulled out the hemostatic tissue.
‘Blood means big hit?’
Well, good’s good. I shook my head and walked.
***
The song title was definitely ‘Faust,’ but the music video was a trashy drama.
Checking the cue sheet felt like, well, this is…….
‘Wow. Flour family.’
Plus, Korean music video style, there was a twist.
‘It’s from the woman’s perspective.’
A woman dating an ordinary guy goes to greet his family for marriage. Meets a high school boy there.
Woman falls for the boy at first sight.
‘No, if you fall for someone else, don’t marry.’
But she marries the boy’s brother and enters the house.
‘Total spectacle.’
Woman keeps bumping into boy at home, peeking. Can’t take eyes off his daily life, later hugs his clothes tight.
‘Dangerous woman.’
Of course, the twist you’d miss if absent came.
Boy napping on living room bed, woman approaches hesitantly. Hesitates, but kisses. Unfamiliar feel wakes boy, woman startles and tries to flee. But boy grabs her arm and pulls.
“Stays frozen a bit, then lets go.”
Woman hurries out, drops a brooch.
‘Scene changes here.’
Boy’s graduation photo, boy drags suitcase out. Woman lowers head seeing from window.
‘But twist here.’
Boy walks slowly, clutching the brooch his sister-in-law dropped.
Music video ends like that.
“Mind-blowing.”
I looked at the ceiling.
‘So the boy liked her too?’
His brother’s woman.
‘What’ll he grow up to be doing this.’
Cue sheet outfits all school uniforms.
“This okay?”
Won’t it fail review?
Trashy love story of a flour family. Personal feelings aside, one thing clear.
‘Stimulating, so it’ll get views.’
Composition fresh, bizarre, sticks in memory. Don’t know fan age target, but broad appeal.
“Executive Director Joo’s amazing.”
Mixed taboo without exposure.
‘That’s his skill.’
Not for nothing called witch.
I set down the storyboard and shook my head.
‘Still, this is almost gambling?’
Role impossible with amateur acting.
“I can do it.”
No, seems only I in Zenith can.
Grin escaped. I covered mouth laughing, lay on bed.
‘Come to think, what was pre-regression Zenith MV.’
Summer dance track, swimming scenes. Kinda tacky.
‘That changed to this.’
Choose between pre and post-regression MV, obviously this.
Looking at storyboard and script again. Washed up Lee Seungjun entered room.
“Your bruise okay?”
“Not sure if placebo, but seems much better.”
Of course. Used cheat.
“Swelling’s down. Makeup’ll cover.”
“Good then.”
“Wanna pack early? We move tomorrow.”
Ah, right.
I stood. Lee Seungjun pulled out boxes and said,
“Not excited for move?”
“Nah, not really. Just hassle.”
Packing, I sighed softly. Few days ago, during choreography, told to move dorms.
“But members changing.”
“Ah, Jaeyoon living with too.”
Gonna be noisy.
“Bigger, better place.”