Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Aftermath of 1st Place
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The staff signaled for us to go on. We bounded onto the stage with energy.
‘Not bad at all.’
The lights hit us, and my blood started pumping. I took a deep breath under the bright glow.
‘No matter what it takes.’
I’m going to climb higher.
Music poured through my earpiece. I moved through the familiar choreography, flashing a small smile.
***
[Thanks to all you Dowonhyang fans for your support. We were promised a company meal if we hit No. 1, but it didn’t happen, so the members are bummed. To cheer everyone up, I treated today! It’s just simple spaghetti. Eat up and let’s keep pushing hard!]
Lee Jin-ah stared holes into her beloved oppa Cha Dowon’s SNS. On the dorm table sat spaghetti he’d made himself. It looked humble, but it absolutely wasn’t.
The rose spaghetti plated on white dishes looked delicious at a glance.
‘That’s not the point.’
Lee Jin-ah trembled with rage.
“No way. Why didn’t my oppa get No. 1?!”
The digital chart did great, and they’d been on tons of shows. There was no reason they shouldn’t have won.
“Did those broadcast station bastards rig it again?”
GBS was notorious for screw-ups like that. There had been times when the No. 1 winner got changed later.
“Argh. Pisses me off.”
She immediately posted on SNS.
I can’t understand why Zenith didn’t get No. 1.
-Yeah, it’s so frustrating.
-Dowon oppa’s spaghetti looks tasty even in this mess.
-Oppa should have a cooking show.
-But seriously, why no No. 1? I’m at a cafe and a Zenith song is playing. It’s blowing up like this, so why not No. 1, GBS? You rat bastards! Who says they’re not rats? They’re totally full of crap!
Countless allies chimed in with agreement. Lee Jin-ah left another post right away.
We’ll make sure oppa gets No. 1 on the next music show.
-Me too.
-I’ll mobilize every phone in the family.
-Let’s do it together. I’ll pitch in with my IV hand too.
--Whoa, you’re still on IV? Haven’t you been discharged?
---Tomorrow. ^^ Just chemo left now! But they won’t take the IV out yet. It’s killing me, so uncomfortable.
Lee Jin-ah quietly vowed war. She couldn’t let Dowon oppa end up making spaghetti again.
“Oppa, get No. 1 and make the executive director buy meat!”
Lee Jin-ah shouted that and clenched her fist tight.
***
‘Five days later, maybe?’
The fans had rallied, but I hadn’t expected results this good.
In the meantime, Zenith kept hitting the stages hard. Whether it was No. 1 or No. 2. We danced like it was the finale every time.
‘The effect is killer.’
We quickly became No. 1 contenders on another network. GBS might be swayed by ad deals, but KTBC was decent about fair stats.
Zenith was waiting for the KTBC No. 1 announcement right now.
‘The manager said it looks promising.’
I glanced at the members.
Lee Seungjun stood silently, but his fist was clenched. Hajin hyung was panting with nerves. Ki Jaeyoon had his eyes closed, mumbling.
Finally, I looked at Kang Minje. The fox was wearing his usual faint smile, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
‘Everyone’s tense.’
Time was fair even in anxiety. One second passed like always.
The MC tapped the tablet PC. Then announced in a bright voice.
“Zenith, congratulations on No. 1.”
I grinned. The fans in the live audience screamed with joy. I turned to them. Our eyes met, and their cheers grew louder.
‘Such lovelies.’
Fans. We love you and thank you.
The other performers from the finale stage offered congrats. I bowed politely to them, even though I didn’t know their names.
“Wow, No. 1 right after debut. Zenith is amazing.”
Yoo Hajin bit her lip, eyes a bit teary.
‘What’s to cry about over this.’
You’ll faint when we go higher, our leader.
“Take the trophy.”
Yoo Hajin accepted it and hugged it to her chest. I positioned myself where the cameras could see well while greeting the other singers.
“Please, a word on your thoughts.”
The mic went to Yoo Hajin.
“First off, thanks to everyone at Friends who worked so hard for us. Manager hyung, executive director. Our members! Especially Minje—you killed it making the song.”
The fans let out pterodactyl shrieks. I kept smiling, but suddenly Yoo Hajin’s arm was around my shoulder.
What?
“Our Dowon worked hard too.”
Huh.
I gave a bright smile and whispered no, it’s fine. All an act, of course.
‘I worked the hardest.’
But I got something out of it. You watching, Hershey bastards? Thanks a ton.
Yoo Hajin, true to form as leader, locked eyes with each member and continued.
“Seungjun-ah, thanks for always holding it down quietly. Jaeyoon-ah, thanks for giving it your all.”
Textbook victory speech. Pretty solid.
Good call making Yoo Hajin leader.
‘Pre-regression Zenith botched their first speech big time.’
After their first album flopped, they finally hit No. 1 on the second. Back then, Kang Minje gave the speech with a prickly face.
-I’m thankful for everything that made me weak. That’s how I got here.
Even watching live, I was like, what the hell?
Yoo Hajin waved to the fans.
“The biggest thanks go to our fans. Zenith’s fan club, Jenny! You watching? We love our Jennys.”
The leader bowed at the waist. We followed suit, then looked up. The cheers roared louder.
‘He’s really good.’
Hajin hyung’s personality—probably prepped this in advance?
“And with the encore performance, Music Discovery comes to a close. Thanks to all who tuned in.”
The encore started. I quietly inhaled.
‘First No. 1...’
A laugh bubbled up. But it wasn’t enough.
‘I’m hungry.’
This was nothing. Like a sip of porridge in my mouth.
‘I know. Even this is hard to get.’
In the idol world, line them up and there were tons below. In the massive entertainment industry, unknown actor Cha Dowon was one of them.
‘I’ll go higher.’
Even swallowing No. 1 whole wasn’t enough.
I sang the encore, chewing down the hunger. I needed something bigger, grander. Bitter, sour—whatever. I wanted to shove it all in.
***
“Huff—huff—”
Sunlight flickered over the perfect 195cm frame. The man wiped sweat and stepped off the treadmill. His breath rose to his throat and fell.
“This week’s No. 1 is Zenith.”
The man chugged water from the bottle, then tossed the rest. The manager scrambled to pick up the trash.
The manager eyed the PET bottle he’d retrieved.
The foreign-labeled water was still half full. He quietly set the now-trash aside.
“Get a new one.”
“Yes.”
The manager hurried to grab a fresh bottle from the fridge.
“Do I have to tell you every time? Can’t you just anticipate?”
“Sorry.”
“You idiot. Always like this. Hey, that’s why I keep you around.”
The manager bowed deeply.
‘Fucking asshole.’
But he couldn’t say a word.
Korea’s top solo dance singer. Sa Hyeok. Riding the K-pop wave, raking in Chinese cash—a top star.
‘If he didn’t bring in all our company’s money...’
The manager clenched his fist.
Sa Hyeok, scouted by Korea’s big four agency Our Entertainment, swept No. 1s from debut. He starred in movies and dramas nonstop, most hits.
“So, Zenith?”
Sa Hyeok chucked the bottle cap at the manager.
Ping.
It nailed his forehead and rolled across the floor.
‘Damn it.’
The manager closed his eyes. His fist trembled.
“Who the hell are they?”
“Friends.”
“Oh, that place. The one with that girl. They picked up scraps and managed one success, huh?”
“They’re rising fast. Not to be underestimated.”
“Still just idols. Different from a solo like me.”
The manager clenched and unclenched his fist.
“They swarm in groups. I do it all solo. No comparison.”
“Of course, you’re on another level.”
“They lack skill, so they bulk up numbers. Obvious.”
Sa Hyeok gulped down water.
“It’s gotta be looks or acting. Obvious. Grabbed a decent composer, drilled dance to death, and out they go.”
“Rumor is a member wrote the song?”
Sa Hyeok hurled the bottle at the manager. It smacked his face and hit the floor.
“Idiot. You believe that? Total image ploy.”
The manager started to argue but shut his mouth.
“Whatever. Got it. Get out. Oh, clean up first.”
The manager asked cautiously.
“You heading out?”
“Got a meetup.”
The manager bowed, frowning.
‘Drinking again.’
Lately, Sa Hyeok’s meetups were frequent. Even off-schedule, was this okay?
The manager’s lips twitched, then clamped shut.
“Got it. I’ll go.”
“Yeah.”
The manager vanished like he’d been waiting. Sa Hyeok whistled to the mirror, inspecting face and body meticulously.
Same flawless physique as yesterday.
“I’m the best. I’m the best.”
That’s why he was Korea’s top star.
Sa Hyeok whistled to the shower. Water flowed, but he ignored the messy living room. It’d be spotless when he returned anyway.
He grinned and turned on the shower. Lukewarm water rained down like patter.
***
“Got it, noona. I’ll call next time.”
I ended the call and exhaled. My noona, calling to congrats on No. 1, just said good job—then nonstop nagging.
‘That worried?’
Noona was the same as ever. Why was she identical pre- and post-regression?
‘At least she’s in med school this time. Lucky.’
She complained it was tough, but I could feel her joy.
I smiled and looked up. That’s when it hit—an odd sound from the empty dorm living room.
“Rain?”
Water droplets streamed down the window. Rain poured as if on cue.
I crossed my arms and peered out.
‘Outdoor shoot tomorrow—probably canceled.’
Wasted effort memorizing the script.
Lost in thoughts, I heard footsteps behind. No need to turn—Yoo Hajin’s reflection showed in the glass? No, Kang Minje.
“Not asleep?”
“Should be. You?”
“Can’t sleep.”
Kang Minje held a glass.
“Booze?”
“Whiskey. Nights like this, wanna sip. Want some, Dowon? Nah.”
He set the glass with melting ice on the table.
“Our Dowon’s underage.”
“Even as an adult, no booze.”
“Huh, why?”
“Mom said don’t.”
She’d drilled it in—drink and you die. I’d broken it once.
‘Nearly did die.’
Mrs. Cha Yeonhwa wasn’t kidding. Mom’s words are light, truth, salt.
I turned back to the window. Rain intensified.
“They said typhoon’s coming.”
Crap. Outdoor shoot fully canned.
“Dodged a bullet. First concept, and we’d be sunk.”
I chuckled. That’s what happened pre-regression.
“Good we changed?”
“Yeah. Smart listening to you, Dowon. This song and concept suit us better.”
Obviously.
“Dowon-ah, isn’t it wild?”
“What?”
“We got No. 1.”
That big a deal?
“GBS seemed rigged anyway.”
“Still, No. 1 means a lot to me.”
Wow. Zero interest.
“I really made it here.”
What’s with you, Kang Minje.
‘What’s “here”?’
Unaware of my thoughts, he stepped closer.
“Always dreamed of No. 1. Remember? As a kid. That woman always had the TV on music shows. Come to think, she liked them too.”
That woman—his mom?
‘Who was she again?’
Left in the morning, never fully came back. Kid Kang Minje lived on a bag of bread for meals.
‘Mom found the grubby kid and fed/sheltered him.’
Why’d Mom bring home an alligator hatchling? Childhood memory pissed me off.
“That’s when I wanted No. 1.”
“I see.”
“So I’m thrilled now.”
Yeah, be thrilled. Talking to you boils my blood—let’s wrap.
“Alone, I couldn’t. All this only possible with ‘Zenith.’ Learned that this time.”
Not curious at all.