Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Embarrassing Scandal
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“Isn’t this just not like me?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re being honest.”
Kang Minje pressed harder on my shoulder.
“But it’s not bad. I never knew songs could come out even in a state like this. At some point, making music stopped being fun for me.”
Ah. I see. So making songs had been tough for Kang Minje.
‘Who cares.’
It was truly useless information.
“But ever since becoming Zenith, things feel easier somehow. Weird, right? Schedules are packed, and the pressure to produce hit songs is still there.”
Why ask me?
‘But it is kinda strange.’
He’d always been on edge. Never had a shred of leisure.
I bullshitted an answer.
“Because you’re not the leader.”
Kang Minje blinked.
“As the leader, you don’t just make songs—you don’t have to watch over the whole group or do interviews first.”
What else did leaders do?
“You don’t have to mediate between the company and members, or force yourself forward on variety shows. Oh, and no need to look after Ki Jaeyoon.”
Saying it out loud, I felt bad for Yoo Hajin.
‘I should buy ingredients and cook something tasty for him.’
Our leader deserves my care.
Is Yoo Hajin okay? Come to think of it, he’s been taking antacids lately. Stomach acid overflowing at such a young age—poor guy.
‘Why, though?’
Because of Ki Jaeyoon? Should I chew him out a bit?
I pondered lightly when Kang Minje next to me covered his mouth.
“I-I see.”
His eyes shook mercilessly. Then it burst all at once.
“Puhahaha! Hahaha!”
Why’s he laughing?
“I-I see! I knew it, but damn, that’s really it?”
I propped my chin on the table. Laugh all you want, but let go of me, you bastard.
Kang Minje wiped tears as he spoke.
“Truth is, I was shocked. Didn’t think we’d blow up this fast.”
Kang Minje gripped my shoulder harder.
“I know the reason. It’s thanks to you. You stirred up the buzz on purpose, right? You?”
He knew after all. I shook my head.
“If you know, act better.”
“Yeah. Puhahat!”
While Kang Minje laughed uncontrollably, the manager came with a tray.
“Good vibes. Here!”
The manager set cocoa in front of me.
“Minors drink this.”
I clicked my tongue in disbelief. The manager grinned at me, then said to Kang Minje.
“Done talking?”
“Oh, forgot. No. Talking now. Dowon, what’s ‘Flower’s Choice’ about? I’m kinda confused on the vibe to go for.”
“Want me to give you the script?”
“Got episode 1 script. But even reading it, I don’t get it. Guess acting’s not my thing. Scripts just don’t click.”
Yeah, right.
‘That’s why his acting debut flopped.’
I sipped the cocoa. Disgustingly sweet.
“It’s about a sister who falls for her sibling’s man, a guy who loves two women, and a sibling fighting to protect their love.”
“What kinda plot is that.”
“One word summary for this drama: ‘Inevitable Love.’ You know, that thing where you say it’s wrong but fall anyway.”
The manager stared at me blankly.
“Sometimes you don’t seem like a middle school third-year.”
“You too, Manager Brother?”
“How do you say stuff so maturely? Thought you had an old soul in there.”
Old soul, huh.
I shook my head. Come to think of it, what do kids my age say? Gotta go to school to know. Lee Taejin used abbreviations. Maybe learn some.
“Need more explanation?”
“Nah. That’s enough. They fall helplessly in love. Got a feel for the vibe now.”
“You called me here to talk about this?”
Could’ve asked at the dorm.
Kang Minje grinned.
“Love cafes lately. Used to hate the crowd noise, but now I like it.”
I see. Kang Minje likes cafes these days. Really didn’t need to know that.
“Why?”
Who cares.
“Let’s head out. Manager, what’s tomorrow’s schedule?”
“Three events. Out at dawn.”
Damn.
The manager picked up the tray with cups and left. Me and Kang Minje stood, grabbing our hats and masks.
Kang Minje added sunglasses.
‘Didn’t notice before, but his hair’s long—makes him look girly.’
Face alone, you’d mistake him for a woman.
‘Whatever. Not my problem.’
Following the manager, Kang Minje put his hand on my shoulder again. I sighed and walked slowly. Felt like my shoulder would rot where he touched, but no choice.
***
The morning event went smoothly. We bowed our heads and stepped off stage. Just as we boarded the new van and I pulled out the script, Ki Jaeyoon yelled from behind.
“Hey, Cha Dowon! You’ve got a scandal! Das Patch!”
What the hell.
The manager yelled right away.
“Hey, what! Scandal? Dowon, what got caught? Who’re you dating!”
I quietly pulled out my smartphone.
“Tell us! What! What!”
So noisy.
Searching Cha Dowon, there was an article from a paper famous for clear shots.
‘That’s my outfit?’
Not photoshopped, huh?
I clicked the photo. And froze solid.
Ki Jaeyoon said from behind.
“Rising CF star, idol Cha Dowon. Caught dating an older woman.”
I quietly looked at Kang Minje.
“Wow, Cha Dowon. You’ve got skills? Hooked a girl during that schedule?”
Kang Minje must’ve checked his phone too. He didn’t twitch either.
Yoo Hajin said.
“Yeah, it’s really Dowon. What happened?”
The manager yelled urgently.
“Hey, what! Spill! Real?”
I bit my lip hard.
“Real……”
Made my teeth grind.
Ki Jaeyoon, excited, kept asking.
“Who? Pretty? Bob haircut. That your type?”
“Ki Jaeyoon.”
I smiled brightly at him.
“Shut up.”
“Hey! You drop the scandal! Don’t tell me to shut up!”
“Shut up. Unless you want your mouth torn.”
I said to Kang Minje in the front seat.
“What do you think?”
“Oh, damn.”
Lee Seungjun, who’d been quiet, checked his phone and snickered. Yeah, you caught on.
Yoo Hajin said worriedly.
“Scandal real?”
“No big deal.”
“It’s a dating rumor?”
“Hajin Hyung, look closer at the older woman in my dating rumor.”
Yoo Hajin stared at his phone. Then he voiced the truth.
“Familiar outfit. No way it’s Minje?”
I rubbed my forehead and nodded. First time feeling this humiliated since debuting.
Kang Minje, of all people.
Every curse swirled in my head.
Ki Jaeyoon yelled from behind.
“Huh? The woman in the pic is Minje Hyung?”
Yeah, bastard.
The manager screamed while driving.
“What! I’m losing my mind! Explain!”
Yoo Hajin said clearly.
“The woman Dowon’s supposedly dating is Minje.”
The manager’s jaw dropped. Fly’s gonna fly in. I had no energy to speak.
Then.
“Snicker—”
A small laugh. I quietly looked toward it. Ki Jaeyoon was covering his mouth, laughing.
As I moved to speak.
“Puhahaha!”
Manager this time. I shook my head. Sure enough, Yoo Hajin joined in.
Amid the raucous laughter, I sighed.
‘Gonna go insane.’
I glanced at Kang Minje. He covered his mouth, at a loss.
‘How to fix this.’
Honestly, it was a farce. Paparazzi should snap something believable, not this crap.
“Minje Hyung.”
Kang Minje looked at me.
“What now.”
“Any way out? Just be honest.”
I looked at my phone again. Kang Minje had his arm around my shoulder.
‘How’s this bulk look like a woman?’
Paparazzi eyes all crosseyed?
I closed my eyes quietly. Laughter wouldn’t stop even now.
‘What to do.’
Didn’t wanna just take it. The humiliation was too much.
‘Make it bigger instead?’
Not bad, but how?
Pondering, a call rang like it waited. Checked the number—Executive Director Joo, as expected.
“Cha Dowon speaking.”
-D-Do, Dowon? What happened? Not like you, so meticulous. A girl? How old? What’s she do? Really dating? This won’t do! You’re an idol! Shot tons of ads! No! And you’re still middle school!
Sounds panicked. Jumbled words—not like Executive Director Joo.
-No. No. No way. Dowon. Real? Real?
Gonna pass out. I told the truth.
“That woman’s Minje Hyung.”
-Wh-what? Huh?
“Minje Hyung. Look close. Hair color’s the same.”
Sounded like Executive Director Joo tripping over the phone. Crash— I moved from speaker.
-That’s Minje?
“Yeah.”
-Then not a scandal.
“Of course not. Manager was there too from the start.”
-Huh?
Manager, laughed too hard, was wiping tears.
-Ugh. Felt ten years older. Okay, Dowon. Good work.
What work.
-No, Das Patch crazy. They usually had some credibility.
“Kinda weird.”
-Yeah, super weird. Normally blackmail for money first before dropping this.
Ah.
-Sudden article’s suspicious.
I propped my chin, deep in thought.
‘What’s the point of an article like this?’
Answer came quick.
‘Damage my image.’
Paparazzi usually want money. But article dropped first.
-Anyway, I’ll post it’s Minje on the homepage. Soothe advertisers.
“Oh, that. Executive Director Joo. Let’s do it differently.”
I glanced at Kang Minje.
“Don’t use company homepage. Our SNS. Play it off fun and light.”
-Why? Promote SNS?
“Yeah. And make it no big deal, so no image hit.
-Okay. I’ll contact advertisers first.
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Hung up, stood slightly. Manager, Yoo Hajin, Ki Jaeyoon still wiping tears, laughing.
I shoved my face close to Kang Minje.
“Minje Hyung, got yesterday’s clothes at dorm?”
“Obviously?”
“Hat and sunglasses too?”
“Yeah. Why?”
I exhaled like a sigh.
“Go dorm, post on SNS. Same angle as the article.”
Kang Minje looked back.
“Just official notice on company site.”
“No. Too serious. Gotta play it totally casual. Seems like whoever dropped this wants image damage.”
“Whose? Mine, yours?”
Sat back, said.
“Both.”
Who could it be. Who’d pull this.
‘Plenty of suspects, honestly.’
Blue-chip ad star rises, reverse viral’s standard.
‘Other agency?’
Not Hershey, right?
‘Heard I just didn’t renew with Hershey, so unlikely……’
Then who.
I quietly rubbed my forehead, stared out window. Manager, tears streaming mid-laugh, drove like a pro.
Lee Seungjun next to me said.
“Dowon, you okay?”
“Yeah. No biggie.”
“Looked shocked earlier……”
“Was shocked.”
Damn. Remembering soured my mood more. First scandal with Kang Minje. Nightmares aren’t this humiliating.
“Place looks like a cafe. Met Minje Hyung alone yesterday?”
“Called me out for drama OST questions.”
“Just you two?”
Why’s he prying.
“Manager was there. Why?”
Lee Seungjun turned away smiling.
“Just curious.”
“Curious about everything.”
Damn right, Kang Minje. Why call me out alone.
Kang Minje in front whipped around.
“Dowon, should I cut my hair? Do I look like a girl?”
Who cares.
“Do what you want, Hyung.”
Even if Kang Minje did pigtails, what’s it to me.
Yoo Hajin muttered from back.
“Ah, funniest thing lately.”
Funny for you. Humiliating for me.
I shook my head, stared out window. Car sped smoothly on.