Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Long Crossed the Path to the Underworld
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“Seeing this makes me think of you back at the audition.”
What’s he saying?
“Yeah, right.”
Is he talking to himself or to me? Pick one, Kang Minje, you bastard.
“You’ve changed.”
What? Didn’t you just say you didn’t believe I’d changed?
I smiled innocently and asked,
“Is that a good thing?”
Kang Minje chuckled and shook his head.
“Hmm. Well. Actually, I came to talk you out of it.”
“Me? Why?”
“Don’t become a trainee. I know because I was one, but it’s really tough. And in this industry, the hardest thing is half-baked talent.”
I clenched my fist.
‘Who are you to discourage me?’
Half-baked talent, on top of that?
Damn it.
“Am I that half-baked?”
“No.”
Hey! Then why discourage me?
“I’m discouraging you precisely because you’re not half-baked. Once you get into this industry, I feel like you’ll charge ahead without looking back. And it seems like I’ll end up using you.”
Kang Minje grabbed my shoulder.
“I use people roughly.”
My shoulder hurt. I stared at the hand gripping me.
What now?
‘Is this a threat or a declaration of war?’
I had no idea how to react.
“When I use people, it always ends badly.”
I see.
“It’s fine with others. But you, Dowon... you know my past that I don’t even know well.”
“You mean we’re close?”
“Is that how it is? Are we close?”
Hey! Don’t ask me! Do you really want to ask a middle school second-year that?
“That depends on you, hyung.”
Of course, no matter what you think, we’re enemies.
“Is that so? Hmm, I want to get close. I think it’d be good to get close.”
“Then let’s get close.”
“Right?”
The more he talked, the more it felt like I was the one discouraging him. I let out a deep sigh. What’s your point, Kang Minje?
“Dowon.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Can I use you?”
I furrowed my brow. I couldn’t even pretend anymore. What did that mean?
‘You say you use people roughly and it ends badly, but you still want to use me?’
Declaration of war, right?
Suddenly, I burst out laughing. I covered my mouth, laughed, and looked up.
I met his eyes.
Yeah. Kang Minje.
“Go ahead.”
Kang Minje’s pupils shook. What’s your scheme, you punk? You know I’m just a middle schooler now, right?
“I won’t break.”
I broke spectacularly before.
“But you have to give me something in return, hyung.”
I gripped his hand tightly. He was human, so he had body heat.
“What I want.”
You’re good at making songs, right? If I’m on the same team as you, success will follow, won’t it? Even if it’s dirty and unfair, I’ll stick with it, so hand over that success.
‘Raise me until then.’
I’ll be a good tool. I’ll dance to your tune.
“Hmm, what do you want?”
I smiled like an innocent kid.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“It’s hard to say. Who lives their life with everything planned out? So, hyung, I’ll tell you later.”
Kang Minje smiled awkwardly.
“R-Really?”
“For now.”
I shook his hand lightly.
“Let’s start by getting close. Like old times, hyung!”
It was honestly ridiculous. The Kang Minje in front of me wasn’t the kid next door who got beaten by my mom every day. Nor was I. The guy who innocently trailed after him calling him hyung hyung had long crossed the path to the underworld.
‘What’s left?’
Just blazing revenge and desire like hellfire. It’ll burn great. I’ll keep feeding it every last piece of firewood.
‘Let’s see, Kang Minje.’
I’ll give it my all.
I smiled brightly with all my heart. He lowered his head and scratched it.
“Ah, yeah. Dowon.”
I let go of his hand. He looked at his arm and said,
“Wanna eat? Have you eaten?”
I was a bit surprised for a moment. An old memory surfaced.
‘The first time I met him after a long time, I said that.’
-Hyung, have you eaten? Wanna eat together?
The situation was different, but it felt oddly sticky hearing him say what I’d said.
‘Feels gross.’
Could I swallow food looking at that face? Wouldn’t it come back up?
“Dinner? Aunt’s coming over. We have some inheritance stuff to handle.”
Oh, I shouldn’t say it like that. I need to say what he hates most.
“Aunt and Uncle are there, and my sister too. Wanna join?”
“Your sister... Cha Sora?”
His face twisted horribly. I laughed inside. Right, he’s natural enemies with my sister.
“Yeah.”
“Hmm, can’t it just be us?”
“Does it have to be today? I’m joining Friends Entertainment. I’ll probably eat with you a ton there.”
Of course, I’ll avoid you.
“Oh, right. We’ll see each other a lot.”
“Well, you seem like a big shot, so who knows if we’ll even run into each other.”
“Our levels are different, huh.”
He thought for a moment, then looked at me and said,
“Then I’ll head out today.”
“Too bad. Yeah, hyung, get home safe.”
He patted my head, then suddenly lowered his head. I tried to step back as he approached in an instant, but his whisper was faster.
“Why is your nose like that?”
Damn. Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t let it slide.
“It’s not a disease. Not pneumonia either.”
“It’s not contagious, right?”
“Yeah. They say it’ll heal soon.”
A year is soon enough.
“Don’t let the company find out. They’ll send you home.”
“As long as I don’t cough, it’s fine. Oh...”
I looked straight at his face.
“You won’t tell, right?”
Kang Minje grinned.
“You trust me?”
Damn. Like I’d trust you?
“You said you’d use me, right?”
“Hmm, did I?”
Kang Minje backed off easily. I clenched and unclenched my fist. Punk. Still strong. Can’t let my guard down.
“See you later, Dowon.”
“Yeah, hyung.”
Kang Minje slowly walked away from the bus stop. Only then did I notice. He’d parked a foreign luxury car at the end of the stop.
‘Pay the fine, punk.’
Normally buses would honk, but maybe because it’s a luxury foreign car, they avoided it, not wanting trouble.
‘Dirty. So dirty.’
He disappeared coolly from sight. I let out a small sigh.
“Feels like my head’s polluted.”
More than that, wasn’t he the same age as my sister? Just turned twenty? Did his family get rich enough for him to drive a luxury foreign car?
‘No way.’
I shook my head to clear the thought. Must’ve hit the lottery or something. Whatever.
“Feels like I stuck my head inside a devil’s skull.”
That’d be true if I had no info.
I grinned.
“Sorry, but I’m not the old me.”
I stood up and stretched my legs. Even if Kang Minje showed up and messed with me, I had to do what I had to do.
‘Time to run, Cha Dowon.’
Cheat doesn’t boost stamina. So I have to build it the proper way.
I started running again. Come to think of it, one question popped up.
‘How did he know I was here?’
That one really bugged me.
***
Golden time flew by in an instant. I sat in the back seat of the sedan, staring out the window. Fog made everything hazy.
“Worried?”
My aunt asked while driving. I shook my head right away.
“No.”
“I’m worried. What’s this about idols and agencies?”
I grinned. Yeah, if your niece whose mom suddenly died says she’s transferring schools for an agency, you’d worry.
“And turning the house into a rental...”
“Good that someone showed up quick.”
“I don’t get it!”
Honestly, signs were good. House rented fast, stuff except clothes and essentials went to storage. Sister would stay with aunt for a while.
“Aunt, take good care of sister.”
Good thing aunt’s house had an empty room.
“You! Won’t Sora go to dorms soon?”
“Yeah.”
“You sure it’s okay, Dowon?”
I shrugged.
“What’s wrong with deciding your path early? It’s my choice.”
“But it’s too big a step.”
I shook my head.
“No. I haven’t bet anything yet.”
We arrived and stopped. I got out, grabbed my bags from the trunk. Aunt helped, still looking worried.
“It’s fine, aunt.”
“I’m not fine at all. It’s your life. Giving up school okay?”
I wasn’t cut out for academic success anyway. Sure, if I killed myself studying, maybe, but I wanted to be an idol.
I pulled out my ultimate shield.
“Aunt, if I don’t make it as an entertainer, Mom said I can be a lawyer.”
“Oh! Your mom?”
“Yeah. It’s a pro job too, but I like having a big audience.”
Aunt nodded like she got it. Mom really was the universal key.
Dragging my bags, a plump guy rushed out from the entrance.
“Are you the mother?”
I almost said I’d introduce her as aunt.
“Yes, I’m Dowon’s mom.”
Huh.
“I see. I’m Heo Yongdam, manager and caretaker for the kids.”
Unique name.
I smiled brightly and bowed.
“Hello!”
“You must be Dowon. Come in. Don’t worry too much, ma’am.”
I said bye to aunt and followed the guy. Then aunt grabbed my padding hat and pulled me back.
“Dowon!”
No time to speak.
Aunt pulled a pen from her inner pocket and whispered secretly in my ear, head close.
“It’s a recorder.”
What? Why?
“Recording’s essential in group living. Oh, my mind. Gotta give you batteries too.”
Aunt handed over fifty small mercury batteries from her pocket.
No, why do you have those? And so many?
Whether she knew my shock or not, aunt clipped the recorder to my shirt collar and smiled.
“Now I feel relieved.”
What?
“Gather evidence thoroughly.”
“I’m just here to trainee...”
“Group living East or West, crap happens constantly, and law and money come from evidence.”
Aunt patted my shoulder. I was speechless.
“Go on strong!”
“Ah, yeah. Get home safe?”
“Son! Mom believes in you!”
What do you believe in! The recording? Wait, you’re not Mom!
“If they hit you, take it and call me. You know my job?”
Nothing to say. I dragged my bags forward. Smiling awkwardly at the guiding manager, the familiar question came.
“What does your mom do?”
Almost said shaman, but shook head. No, aunt’s job now.
“Criminal defense lawyer.”
Manager stumbled, losing balance. I looked at the recorder in my shirt pocket.
‘Women in my family are so cool.’
Cool to the point of cold.
“G-Gonna use that?”
I grinned wide.
“I use everything I’ve got.”
Might as well use what’s given.
Manager stumbled again.
“You okay?”
Why so startled? Weak lower body.
“Uh, so Dowon?”
“Yeah, hyung.”
“St-Still, this is a place where people live, so maybe no need to record?”
I chuckled.
“That’d be great, but since people live here...”
I looked at the villa entrance and smiled.
“Probably occasions to record, right?”
I want to live well, but disputes happen. Manager whispered looking at me.
“Crazy...”
I tilted head like I didn’t hear.
“Me?”
“Did you hear? Oh, sorry.”
“No.”
I grinned wide. Look closely. Pretty boy smile.
“Yeah. Crazy.”
That’s why I passed, no need to correct. Manager looked at me like an alien, but not my problem.