Chapter 53
Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Our Idol (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Is that so? I didn’t know that.”
‘But why are you getting mad?’
Why are you mad that I didn’t fix it?
“Really? You didn’t even get double eyelids?”
“I didn’t.”
“Fuck. It’s because you’re with Friends, right?”
I tilted my head, asking as if I was genuinely curious.
“What does the agency have to do with it?”
I could feel the director laughing behind my back. No, the broadcasting station guys were covering their mouths and snickering.
Ahh, this is some great BGM.
“Hey, you fucking bastard. You think we don’t know Friends does plastic surgery like it’s an art form?”
“Is that right?”
I looked at Yoo Hajin and said,
“Hyung, is that true?”
“Well……”
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile. Just as it felt like it was heating up nice and toasty, Yoo Hajin stepped forward and bowed his head politely to them.
“Sorry about that, seniors. Dowon’s only been a trainee for four months.”
In an instant, the Hush guys’ eyes darted around wildly.
“We’ve been at it longer, but he got pushed up in a rush. Thanks to that, he doesn’t know much. About the company or the industry. Please understand, seniors.”
Wow.
‘Our leader’s got some moves.’
He helped me out perfectly.
I smiled brightly and continued.
“Sorry. I don’t know much. I debuted in a rush, so my dancing and singing are lacking compared to the members.”
They’d know if they saw my debut footage.
‘I’m not that sloppy.’
Unless it really stands out.
It was just a smooth deflection.
When the Hush guys went quiet, the director stepped in.
“Alright, alright. Let’s wrap this up. Zenith, get out of here quick—fast, pronto.”
We exchanged goodbyes and left the conference room packed with cameras. As we walked down the hallway, I asked Kang Minje,
“Does our company do good plastic surgery?”
“I don’t really know.”
“Anyone among us gotten work done?”
Suddenly, Ki Jaeyoon, who was following behind, stumbled.
Ah.
‘You did, huh.’
I won’t ask.
A faint question arose.
‘That face needed it?’
Wow. Medicine isn’t all-powerful, huh.
I won’t ask that either. It happens.
Ki Jaeyoon grabbed my arm and said,
“Hey, you……”
“Yeah. What?”
“That face is natural? Fucking lucky. Shit.”
Yoo Hajin covered Ki Jaeyoon’s mouth.
“Let’s use pretty words, Ki Jaeyoon.”
I chuckled.
“Thanks for the help earlier, Hajin hyung.”
“Our maknae was charging into enemy territory like a weapon. Even I, the leader, had to help.”
He knew exactly why I did it.
Kang Minje said,
“Provoking them is fine, but don’t get hurt.”
“Me? Hm, well, I could get hurt.”
If that happens, though.
“I wouldn’t just let it slide.”
Hush wouldn’t get off easy either? This body of mine is precious.
Kang Minje looked at me worriedly. Then Lee Seungjun whispered from the side.
“Leave the physical stuff to me.”
“Nah. Why would I leave it to you? Is your body made of alloy or something?”
I glanced down at my pocket. My smartphone was always tucked in obediently.
With the cheat, it was entirely in my favor.
“This shoot’s gonna be exciting.”
Yoo Hajin shook his head and patted my shoulder.
“Please, don’t just charge off alone to cut the enemy general’s head. Dowon.”
“Hm. Then you come with me, hyung?”
Yoo Hajin’s eyes wavered.
Oops. I patted Hajin hyung’s shoulder.
“I’ll go alone for now. This much support is plenty.”
Kang Minje let out a deep sigh as he looked at me.
‘What’s with that guy?’
Anyone would think you’re the one worrying about me.
‘Well. You’ve got your own stuff to handle separately.’
I smiled brightly at Kang Minje.
“How’re you gonna arrange Kim Sangseok’s song?”
Color immediately bloomed on Kang Minje’s face.
“Hmm, what should I do? Extend the intro, do some of our dance, then go dark into a ballad? Ah, mix in some EDM? Or combine it with classical? Put in strings and winds, all of it.”
Up to here.
“You’re a genius, hyung. You’ll nail anything.”
Kang Minje’s cheeks flushed pink.
“Huh? Really?”
“Do whatever you want.”
It’s not my money going into the music.
‘If it’s too much, the executive director will rein it in.’
Kang Minje’s eyes shook, as if moved.
‘Such an annoying reaction.’
I turned my head, and my eyes met Ki Jaeyoon’s. The guy who’d just escaped Hajin hyung’s hand looked at me and said,
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Of what?”
“You don’t know what Hush might do. Not afraid?”
A chuckle escaped me.
“Jaeyoon, types like Hush are actually easy. The station’s dying to catch them slipping up and blow it up. Ah, Hush’s agency isn’t big, right?”
Yoo Hajin answered.
“Not big. Mid-tier at best, generously speaking.”
Then swaying public opinion will be tough for them too.
In that sense, Vita was way more of a hassle. Why would I be scared of a weaker foe?
“Cameras are rolling. They gonna punch? Kick? Ah, even better if they do.”
“Sounds like it’ll hurt……”
“Pain’s nothing. Popularity’s what matters.”
I let out a small breath.
“If you’re scared, just stay put.”
Yoo Hajin rubbed his forehead.
“I’m seriously worried about you, Dowon.”
“Why?”
“Your ambitions are too big. Ah, that’s why your nickname’s Ambitious One.”
Ah, damn. That choreographer who gave me that nickname first needs a beating.
“Why make a fuss over this? It’s nothing.”
I grinned.
“My dreams are a bit higher.”
Yoo Hajin shook his head at my answer. Lee Seungjun looked worried, and Ki Jaeyoon trembled anxiously.
‘Skip Kang Minje.’
He’s too busy being thrilled about arranging and releasing Kim Sangseok’s track.
“This is gonna be fun.”
In all sorts of ways.
That’s when the manager approached. Following his wiggling butt signaling the next schedule, I quietly pulled out my smartphone.
[Zenith Condition Recovery]
[Changed.]
[Side effect: Dizziness for 5 seconds, 3 seconds later.]
Recovery was still generous. I stood still for a moment to shake off the dizziness, then moved forward again. Nothing was in the way.
***
Schedules flew by in a blur. Music shows, events, interviews. But the day of the decisive battle arrived.
I smiled brightly at the Hush guys sitting next to me. The ones whose names I didn’t know still ignored our greetings.
‘So childish.’
I was smiling when one of the Hush guys said,
“What’re you grinning about?”
I immediately wiped the smile off my face. Looking at the ground with an awkward expression, they snickered among themselves, thinking they’d won.
‘Cameras are rolling, you idiots.’
The camera director had turned them on for a test just 5 seconds ago. The lights were on—can’t you see?
‘And they’re focusing right now.’
They probably caught my awkward smile perfectly.
Soon the MC arrived, and I stood to greet him.
“Let’s start! Standby! Cue!”
The junior writer clapped loudly, and the MC’s greeting began. Throughout the casual position intros, the guys next to me were busy dissing away.
‘No gaps in the audio.’
The audio director’s hearing it all. Fearless bastards.
Then the MC said,
“Alright, let’s get to the showdown! First event: Chopping firewood!”
I gave a solid reaction.
I muttered with a surprised look.
“Chopping firewood?”
“Can you do it?”
“Who’s doing it?”
Lee Seungjun answered sincerely.
“I’ll do it.”
By the book, yeah, you should. But here’s the thing.
‘It’s not just strength—it’s technique, right?’
I thought this back then too, but why did Hush pick this event?
“Pick five people each—the team that chops the most wins!”
Cameras cut, and the staff brought in axes and firewood to the studio. I squatted and eyed the axe blade.
‘Dull.’
Just grabbed some random from a hardware store, huh.
‘Heavier axes are better.’
I rolled my shoulders and loosened my arms.
A laugh bubbled up automatically.
“Leave it to me.”
“Dowon?”
“I’ve done this before.”
Before regression, I’d worked part-time at a pension. Only two months, but I got sick of “chopping firewood” back then.
The pension did barbecues and mushroom farming, and it had a wood-cutting machine. But in peak summer season, the damn thing broke down. So on a scorching heat-warning day, the owner couple had to keep chopping.
Sadly, human stamina has limits. The day they collapsed, chopping fell squarely on me.
‘They paid extra, though.’
Looking at the shiitake field I’d earned with blood and sweat, my eyes watered.
“Who’s going first?”
I raised my hand right away.
“Ooh, the maknae first?”
“Yeah.”
The Hush guys huddled, and eventually, the yellow-haired one stepped up.
“Ready! Go!”
I positioned the log right and swung the axe down.
Thwack—
Even without full power, it split clean.
“Gasp!”
The MCs gawked with exaggerated reactions. I grinned and swung again.
Thud—crack—
‘Hit along the grain—that’s the trick.’
Swing against it, and it wouldn’t split right.
I kept swinging. The MCs oohed, then headed to Hush.
“No way~ No way~ They’ve got three already over there, and zero here!”
“This is harder than it looks!”
“Hush! Zenith’s killing it!”
Some Hush guys pointed at me.
“That guy’s from the countryside?”
“How’s he so good with an axe?”
Fucking jerks. Looking down on the countryside?
‘Seongnam in Gyeonggi isn’t exactly rural, but……’
I ignored them and kept swinging.
“Maknae! Maknae! Wow!”
My shoulders and wrists ached. I breathed out, and Lee Seungjun took over.
“I got it.”
“Got the trick?”
“Yeah.”
Lee Seungjun swung.
Thwack—
Unfortunately, the log bounced off.
‘Damn.’
I grabbed the axe.
“I’ll just do it.”
“Sorry.”
“What’s to be sorry about?”
It happens.
‘It’s different from boxing.’
The MC, overhearing us, said admiringly,
“You guys are so close!”
I shook my head right away.
“Nope!”
“Nah, you look tight for real.”
I looked at Lee Seungjun and said,
“Hey, we’re not close. Say something.”
“We’re not?”
The bear’s pupils shook.
‘He’s serious.’
Dude, we’re recording! Normally, you deny it here to make drama.
‘Shit.’
He’s just a kid too. I awkwardly swung the axe again.
“Nah. We’re close.”
The bear beamed.
“Right? We’re close, yeah?”
Yeah. Please, let’s act a little, Lee Seungjun.
I shook my head. The camera director, who’d caught it all, chuckled.
‘Damn.’
Whatever happens, happens.
The MC shouted,
“Time’s up! Ah, no need to check results. Zenith wins!”
“Woo!”
Yoo Hajin and Kang Minje gave soulless reactions. Ki Jaeyoon pouted and said,
“You’re good at chopping firewood too?”
“Yeah, did it before. Relative grows shiitakes.”
Barefaced lie, no spit on the lips, but perfect excuse.
“Zenith, how can you leave it all to the maknae!”
Yoo Hajin massaged my shoulders and said,
“Yeah, right? Dowon, you okay?”
“Eh, it’s fine. Hyung! Rub a bit higher. It’s knotted.”
Yoo Hajin thumped my shoulder blades. The MC laughed and said,
“Such a close team. Now, how about Hush?”
The MC went to Hush. I quietly watched them.
“Hey! You said you’d do it!”
“Didn’t know they’d be that good!”
Oops.
‘Don’t give such a cliché reaction, Hush.’
Ruins the dynamic if it’s too obvious.
I hadn’t noticed while chopping, but the buffest guy had his shirt off.
‘That won’t get censored?’
I heard male chest exposure is okay one side, not both.