Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: As Planned
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When I opened my eyes, hazy light swayed in my vision. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, looking around. No one was there.
The IV line tugged at my arm.
‘Ah, the IV drip.’
I’d deliberately raised my temperature, but it was a waste of fluids.
They’d changed me into a patient gown, but my smartphone was right beside me. I turned it on immediately and swiped the screen.
The familiar screen appeared, and I switched straight to cheat mode.
‘No need for video calls anymore.’
First things first, I had to fix this.
I tapped the screen.
[Change Cha Dowon’s burn mark to a pretty shape]
[Value is not precise.]
Ah, it couldn’t recognize ‘pretty.’ I touched my back with my hand. It hurt just from the contact.
“An idol can’t have scars.”
But if it vanished right away, that’d be suspicious.
A chuckle escaped me. What kind of scar would look good on my back for a little while?
‘Stylist Noona said the burn wasn’t that big, right?’
Whether it was consolation or the truth didn’t matter.
[Change Cha Dowon’s burn scar to a cool wing shape]
[Change complete. Body will be altered.]
[Side effect: Chills for 5 hours starting in 5 minutes.]
[Cheat mode 3/3]
I tapped the burn area. It had hurt a moment ago, but now it felt fine.
I stared down at my smartphone.
‘You only changed the shape, but it healed it too?’
Service? No, wait—pretty shapes don’t work, but cool wings do?
‘Still doing whatever it wants, like a damn merchant.’
A chuckle escaped me. I exited cheat mode and opened the portal. I was about to search for articles, but I didn’t need to.
There was one right at the top of the entertainment tab.
“Wow.”
I clicked it with a grin.
[Zenith’s Cha Dowon Collapses in Broadcasting Station Lobby]
- Inured during ‘Our Idol’ filming.
- Circumstances unclear.
“It blew up more than I thought.”
I scrolled down the article, curious about the comments.
- Isn’t their agency overworking him?
- ‘Our Idol’ seems sketchy. My idol got hurt there too.
- Are they even popular?
- Aren’t they Zenith?
- What? Why’d he collapse?
I chuckled. It was going exactly as planned.
‘My luck’s better than expected. Didn’t think it’d get this big.’
It was already one of the top articles for teens.
‘The bigger the scandal, the better.’
I could feel the recognition building.
‘Idols need to be known first and foremost.’
Whether they become fans comes later. Getting the name out there one more time was key.
‘Solid core fans and all that? Just a fantasy.’
Nothing beats sheer volume. And core fans only form after you go mainstream.
‘Though there are exceptions.’
I looked back at the screen.
The article stuck to facts, but the comments were full of speculation. This should get mentions in online communities too.
‘As planned.’
So, how should I spin this further?
That’s when my stomach growled.
‘Ah, side effect.’
Hunger hit me hard. No one around—should I go buy something?
Right then, the hospital room door burst open.
“Ah, Director Joo.”
Director Joo, in a black suit, strode in holding a porridge container.
“When did you wake up?”
“A little while ago.”
“You... you!”
Her lips trembled. I held out my hand.
“I’m hungry—give me the porridge!”
“Is porridge the issue right now?!”
She said that, but handed it over carefully. I smoothly set up the table and placed the container on it.
“Thank you.”
“You, you!”
Director Joo couldn’t continue. I quietly scooped up some porridge. It was perfectly cooled, easy to eat.
“H-how’s the burn?”
“It’s fine.”
“Fever?”
“Gone.”
I chewed while looking at her. She panted, then finally yelled.
“Cha Dowon! Listen up!”
“Yes.”
I kept eating. The abalone was chewy.
“Burns are a no-go.”
I smiled brightly.
“Idols are fantasies. Broken arms or legs are okay—they’re pitiful. But burns? That’s just injury.”
What’s the difference?
It was hard to grasp, but I could interpret it.
‘Irreparable wounds feel too real.’
Beings who must stay in fantasy can’t fall to reality.
“Are you telling me to leave Zenith?”
I kept eating porridge.
“That’s! Absolutely! Not it!”
Director Joo sighed.
“Oh, good. I was scared!”
“A scared kid scarfing down porridge?”
“Director Joo.”
I smiled prettily at her.
“You’re making a 16-year-old do brutal adult stuff.”
“Dowon!”
“No need to explain. Idols who crash back to reality? Kinda lame. Unless it’s a full dropout, you’re just sidelining my parts and spotlight, right?”
Director Joo’s pupils shook.
‘Dirty.’
I went through it point by point.
“This injury? Not my fault.”
“I know. We’re just refreshing your image for a bit. Not benching you for good.”
Sharp as ever, our director.
Image, huh. That’s good. And it was right up Director Joo’s alley as an expert.
“Director, wanna bet?”
Her brow twitched.
“The station and Hershey are about to go at it. You know my burn came from them splashing oil on it, right?”
“I know.”
“The station will blame Hershey for causing it. Hershey will counter that the station’s at fault for my collapse and leak they didn’t send me to the hospital.”
I stopped eating porridge and refreshed the articles on my phone.
‘As expected!’
A new one popped up.
[Zenith Member’s Collapse Due to Burn]
-Oil splash during cooking battle cause.
-Blamed on opposing group’s recklessness.
Yeah, fight it out, you two.
I showed the phone to Director Joo. She narrowed her eyes.
“I respect your opinion, Director. But people love characters who overcome adversity.”
I recalled countless scripts and scenarios. Sure, not all stories were like that.
“That’s the most mainstream appeal.”
Guaranteed across genders, ages, East or West. Right?
Director Joo said nothing.
“From now on, I’ll go back to full schedule. Show the public me working even harder—what do you think they’ll say?”
“They’ll cheer.”
“Yeah. You know this industry: unless it’s a crime, any attention is good.”
Her gaze sharpened more.
‘She’s calculating.’
I smiled brightly.
“And if the burn scar looks cool?”
Director Joo swallowed hard.
“What bullshit is that?”
Swearing meant she was excited.
I took off the patient gown and unwound the bandage on my back.
“You’ll see.”
Luckily, it wasn’t tightly secured. It unraveled layer by layer to the floor.
I quietly showed her my back.
“Not the burn you imagined, right?”
“I-I thought it’d be blisters or something...”
That’s what most would expect.
“What do you think?”
“N-no way!”
Director Joo stared through the scar.
“What burn looks this pretty? It’s like a natural tattoo!”
I almost laughed.
‘Didn’t know the shape, but cheat mode made it seriously cool.’
Nothing more to see. I turned back to her.
“Gonna sideline me now?”
She bit her lip.
‘No, you won’t. Not you.’
A businesswoman who values opportunities wouldn’t let this go.
“No.”
She rubbed her forehead.
“Yeah. No. Not sidelining.”
“Good choice. Wise eye.”
“Damn it.”
She dry-washed her face.
“You’re a little devil.”
I beamed.
“An honor, Director.”
She let out a deep sigh.
“Anything you want from me?”
“Not really. You’re better at media and all that.”
“Thanks for the trust.”
“Yeah. You might not, but I trust you quite a bit.”
Director Joo grimaced on one side.
“Well, we’ve got time ahead, right?”
I said, eating more porridge.
“After spending enough together, you’ll trust me too.”
She clenched then unclenched her fist. Muttered softly.
“Just say you’re disappointed or whatever.”
A chuckle escaped. I shrugged and met her eyes.
Her wrinkled eye corners trembled.
“How do I discharge?”
“Ah, I’ll handle it. Finish your porridge and get ready.”
Oops, making the director run errands.
‘Her way of saying sorry, maybe.’
Whatever. She left, and I kept eating.
‘This part’s wrapping up. Now for the show?’
I whispered at the article on my phone screen.
“Who’ll win?”
No one around to answer. I smiled with all my heart.
***
[Exclusive] Hershey Reveals Separate Cause for Zenith’s Cha Dowon Collapse
-‘Our Idol’ staff didn’t send injured Cha Dowon to hospital?
-Cha Dowon’s agency silent on details.
<Breaking> ‘Our Idol’ Releases Unedited Video of Cha Dowon’s Injury
Cha Dowon’s agency [Friends...] posts statement on homepage: Will protect our artist no matter what.
“Flashy headlines.”
I wiped sweat and said. Yoo Hajin glanced at the article and sighed deeply.
“You really okay?”
“Totally fine. See? Full of energy.”
I checked my moves in the practice room mirror.
Lee Seungjun asked.
“Okay to jump back into practice like this?”
Instead of answering, I flowed into the choreography. They quietly got it from the smooth dance.
Ki Jaeyoon muttered.
“Tough bastard.”
Music to my ears—I chuckled at him.
“We’re getting attention.”
I continued the next move.
“If we nail it here, we might shoot straight to the top...”
I said, eyeing the members through the mirror.
“What do you guys think?”
Kang Minje narrowed his eyes. Yoo Hajin shook his head, and Lee Seungjun just stared at me.
“We should focus on what’s ahead. Why toss away luck that fell in our lap?”
The members exchanged looks. Then Yoo Hajin spoke.
“I was worried.”
Huh?
“Don’t make me worry from now on, okay?”
I smiled a bit.
“Yeah. I won’t.”
“Don’t just say yeah. Always trying to do everything alone. You don’t trust us either, do you, Dowon?”
I stared at Yoo Hajin.
Trust.
‘Can people really trust people?’
Noona, aunt and uncle—I trusted them naturally. They proved it before regression. But me? The members?
‘Honestly, no.’
But Yoo Hajin didn’t seem like a liar. Probably all genuine.
Scenarios flashed in my head. I exhaled softly. Too soon to judge.
‘Good is good, I guess.’
I answered Leader Hyung.
“I’ll consult you guys.”
Yoo Hajin grinned.
“Yeah. That’s enough for now. Alright, let’s practice!”
Time to line up again.
The door slid open with a rumble.
‘What?’
It wasn’t just one or two. Manager and a bunch of petite girls came in.
Who?
Total strangers, so I looked at the plump manager.
“Ah, ran into them out front.”
“W-we’re trainees! Zenith sunbaes!”
Oh boy.
Debuted less than a month ago, already sunbaes.
“P-please sign!”
Middle schoolers, maybe. They looked young. Awkward vibe—Yoo Hajin took a debut CD and signed silently.
“Greet them properly. They were huddled out front just to see you!”
So that’s why he brought them.
‘Managers usually shoo them away.’
I shook my head and signed the remaining CDs.
The tiniest one said.
“Ch-Cha Dowon sunbae.”
I looked down at an angle, and she bowed deeply first.
“I’m Lee Jina! Just became a Friends trainee! G-get well soon!”
Other signatures unfinished, but Lee Jina snatched her CD and bolted. Stunned at the empty spot, the other girls hurried out too.
Ki Jaeyoon yelled, baffled.
“What the— I didn’t even sign!”
Manager patted his belly.
“They’re shy. Cut ‘em slack. Puberty girls have complicated hearts.”
I shook my head. Then it hit me—a forgotten memory.
‘Lee Jina?’
Come to think of it, I’d heard the name somewhere.