Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Multitasking Ability
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“I thought you’d flop, but you really shone out there.”
Oh. Not picking a fight after all.
“An honor.”
“You haven’t been a trainee for long. How’d you level up your skills like that?”
I brushed my hand over the smartphone in my pocket.
“Hard work and luck. Met a great teacher.”
“I heard our company’s vocal trainers suck. Things change?”
“Vocals were thanks to Minje hyung.”
That rude bastard who’s overflowing with talent.
“Oh, right. The guy who wrote Vita’s song?”
“He’s a genius at composing.”
“Ooh. Would love to collab sometime. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I set the pen down on the paper.
“Meat’s in the fridge, along with all the leftovers. I’ll make sea snail soup tomorrow before I go.”
“Thanks. We’d be screwed without you.”
“No big deal. You looked pretty serious, though.”
A chuckle escaped me.
“Like we were possessed or something? Must’ve been ugly.”
“Hey, special circumstances. I know that’s not the real you.”
Yumi covered her cheeks with her hands, embarrassed.
“What a way to shame myself as a senior…”
I flashed a bright smile.
“Don’t sweat it. If it bugs you, call it even for the favor. I got a huge boost from you seniors. Oh, right—sorry. I overheard ‘Yumi’s guy’ somehow.”
This kind of rumor hurt women way more than men. Plus, I had no fame to lose, but Yumi sure did.
“People slapping labels on us after one MV and stage? They’re the weird ones. I don’t care.”
Cool as ever.
“Hey.”
Yumi leaned in, whispering with her head down.
“Was I a total mess today? No makeup, weird outfit.”
“Nah. The broadcast concept’s ‘country life,’ right?”
Isn’t that the point of the show?
“What’d you think?”
“Looked comfy. I liked it.”
Female idols’ stage outfits leave nowhere safe to look.
Yumi covered her mouth and laughed.
“Ahahaha!”
Why’s she laughing?
“Senior?”
“What am I doing, seeking approval from a kid? I’m heading in to sleep.”
“Huh? Okay.”
“Won’t sleep easy, but I should try. Yeah, that’s best.”
Yumi dashed inside. I shook my head at the empty spot she left.
“What’s that about.”
Women are tough.
“Well, if she can’t sleep, I’ll help her out.”
I switched my smartphone to cheat mode.
[ Singer Yumi falls into deep sleep in 5 minutes ]
[ Changed. ]
[ Side effect: Itchy eyes for 3 seconds in 3 seconds. ]
[ Cheat mode 3/3 ]
[ Resets at midnight. ]
I rose quietly from my spot. Cheat let me skip sleep, but closing my eyes seemed smarter.
‘Now, what’s on tomorrow’s to-do?’
Boil sea snail soup, whip up some veggie pancakes. Pretty hearty for breakfast, but the issue was they’d probably eat junk again once I left.
‘Wish I had four hands.’
Or multitasking brain. Multitasking rocks—attack and defend at once.
How great would it be to handle two things simultaneously?
‘Could study English while memorizing lines.’
Suddenly, I shot up from my seat.
Why think it’s impossible?
‘I’ve got cheat!’
Side effects scare me, though…
I checked the time on my smartphone. Past midnight—reset done.
‘Gotta wake at 5.’
Deep breath. I tapped the screen carefully.
[ Cha Dowon multitasking ability ]
[ D rank. Change? ]
I went for it.
[ Change to A ]
[ Impossible with current body state. ]
Haven’t heard that in a while. Stubborn as ever, huh.
[ Change to B ]
Obviously impossible with current body, right?
‘Two-rank jumps never work.’
I waited calmly for the expected result.
[ Changed to B rank. Body adjusting. ]
Huh?
[ Side effect: Severe headache for 3 hours starting in 3 seconds. ]
No time to cancel. Three seconds later, my head exploded in agony. I clutched the blanket tight. Breathing hurt.
‘Crazy…’
Felt like someone was scooping out my brain with a spoon. How would I survive three hours?
‘Damn…’
I exhaled shakily and glanced outside. Dim lights flickered like candy.
‘Right.’
This is the set.
A hollow laugh bubbled up amid the pain.
“You think I’ll lose?”
I wasn’t no-name actor Cha Dowon anymore. I was Zenith’s rising Cha Dowon.
I covered my mouth, laughing at the ceiling. Vision blurred from pain.
“I won’t lose, you bastard.”
I stroked my smartphone lightly.
“Think I can’t take it?”
Three hours? Piece of cake…
Hot breath escaped. I shut my eyes. Hurt like hell, but laughter kept coming. I wiped cold sweat, gasping.
‘Yeah.’
It hurt, but I wasn’t dying. Intense pain, but bearable.
‘Bring it, bastard.’
I sucked in a breath. Every minute, every second dragged insanely.
***
Sunlight stabbed my eyes.
‘Country mornings come early.’
Three hours passed—I knew instantly. The killer headache vanished clean. I wiped sweat and looked around. Soaked blanket.
‘Like surviving a war.’
Panting, I blinked. Dust floated in the sunlight, then gone.
Yeah. It’s over.
Now to test what I earned through hell.
‘Simple way.’
I pulled out yesterday’s recipe paper. Grabbed pens in left and right hands.
‘Left: circles. Right: triangles.’
If multitasking worked, this should. Never succeeded pre-cheat. I moved my hands steadily. Paper filled with clear circles and triangles.
A snicker escaped.
‘Multitasking for real?’
Two tasks at once.
“Ahahaha!”
Laughter burst out. Worth the pain.
‘Okay, what next?’
I checked my smartphone. Three hours of headache trashed my condition. Tapped the screen.
[ Cha Dowon condition recovery ]
[ Changed. ]
[ Side effect: Itchy ears for 2 seconds. ]
[ Cheat mode 2/3 ]
Perfect. Great. I stood up. Time to resume filming.
***
Morning sun bit. I checked camera paths, poured batter into oily pan lid. Sizzle—the grease pop was art.
Then Yumi approached.
“Dowon?”
“Oh, you’re up?”
The Beauty Trio gawked at me. I grinned and kept working.
Right hand flipped pancakes; left stirred with ladle. Steaming rice already sat in the yard corner.
“Huh, when’d you wake?”
“Early.”
I plated veggie pancakes. At the golden-brown beauties, the Trio cheered.
“Made plenty. Eat over days. Reheat as needed.”
“Wow, all this?”
Camera circled me. Yoon Mihyun gazed in awe.
“You really are our savior, Dowon.”
Yumi tilted her head.
“But your left and right hands are doing different things?”
I grinned.
“Pondered how to multitask. Turns out it works.”
I ground my teeth unconsciously.
‘Hurt like death. Without cheat recovery, I couldn’t stand here.’
Precious cheat used, but effects always top-notch. Refreshed, I multitasked.
‘Killer.’
Felt like split brain. Multiple tasks, no mix-up. Brain auto-assigned everything.
‘Should’ve done this sooner.’
Could’ve learned vocals and dance together.
I plated more golden pancakes.
“Breakfast time?”
The Trio beamed.
“Yeah! I’ll set the table.”
They bustled. Perfectly plated dishes drew gasps of “So pretty!”
I tried the sea snail soup first. Fresh ingredients made it perfect.
“Dowon leaving soon?”
“Yeah.”
“What’ll we do?”
Good question.
I handed over last night’s scribbled recipes.
“Wrote some basics.”
“Oh my, oh my!”
No bragging here—rookie move.
“Just fundamentals. So you at least avoid sand.”
Look as innocent as possible.
Yoon Mihyun thumped her chest, truly touched.
“What do we do with you?”
“No biggie.”
“How’s that no biggie?”
“Right. All for us.”
True enough.
I played shy at praise, topping Yoon Mihyun’s spoon with pancake.
“Rushed it, so haven’t tasted. How’s it?”
She chewed and swallowed.
“Delicious. So good.”
“Meat’s separated in fridge. Marinated bulgogi too. Grill straight, or add soy sauce, water for bulgogi hotpot.”
No more weird soybean stew, at least.
“Oh my god.”
Yoon Mihyun rubbed her eyes mid-bite.
“Teacher?”
“Truly, thank you. What do we do with this kid.”
She grabbed my hand.
“Wish we had one of you at home.”
Uh.
‘Bit dangerous phrasing?’
Eun Seongju chimed in.
“Right. One Dowon per household.”
Ah, that meaning. Time to play humble.
“No biggie. Sorry I can’t do more.”
Yumi handed Yoon Mihyun tissue. The five-time Best Actress veteran dabbed her eyes, patting my hand.
“Our Dowon. Tell me if anything comes up?”
“Huh? Sure.”
Acted flustered, but inwardly grinning.
‘Old folks hear our music? Game over.’
Show oddness now, trust crumbles. Recalled countless service jobs.
“Should’ve prepped more food. Worried now.”
No ingredients left, though.
Yoon Mihyun, genuinely moved, stood and hugged me. I smiled, patting her shoulder gently.
“Our Dowon.”
She whispered in my ear.
“Want a movie role? Hit me up.”
Bingo.
I hid the thrill, widening eyes in mock surprise.
She held the hug long, then released. I stood.
“More soup?”
“Oh, you sweet thing.”
“Our savior.”
Might start a cult. I refilled soup quick. They ate like it was now-or-never.
I grinned watching. Camera kept rolling.
***
“I’ll head out.”
“Alright. Safe travels.”
The Beauty Trio saw me off. Final bow, then off the set. Manager clapped my shoulder.
No more cameras.
“Good work.”
“Man, exhausting.”
“Cooked a ton.”
“Hey, it’s my strength. Lucky. You sleep okay, Manager?”
“Went to Seoul and back. Slept there.”
Ah, got it.
“Members okay?”
“No issues. But you mad?”
At what?
“The station?”
“Nah, at me. Ditched you for Seoul runs.”
“You’re Zenith’s manager, not mine.”
Personal schedules piling up soon—wonder how that works.
“Blunt in weird ways.”
“Greasy instead?”
“Got you an extra manager.”
Ah, figures.
“You guys blew up. Company treatment’ll change.”
“Current’s fine.”
“Van upgrade too.”
“Current’s solid. Sturdy’s what matters.”
Safety first, maybe.
‘Heard idols gauge stardom by van tier.’
Good’s good. I slid into the car, exhaling.
“Wiped? Looked rough.”
“Restless sleep. But fine.”
“You’ve got stamina. Never seen you beat.”
I smiled faintly. Cheat perks.
“Next schedule?”
“Yeah, music show. Then event.”
All performances.
“College fest call.”
Festival season already?
“Got it.”
Pull gigs where possible. Events pay cash.
“Bumped fee, still begged us.”
“Got it.”
“Not thrilled?”
“Thrilled.”
Will rise more anyway.
“Plus this music show—we’re #1 contenders.”