Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Saheok and Kang Minje
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82. Saheok and Kang Minje
2022.04.09.
The first one to ask was the manager.
“Th-that... explain it. What did you do?”
“Nothing much.”
“Dowon. Spill it quick. I'm dying of curiosity here.”
Even amid the curry and shit correlation talk, everyone's eyes were sparkling.
“It's about top star Saheok. I dumped shit on him, and he slipped and fell.”
I said it vaguely on purpose, and they seemed even more confused. But Kang Minje smirked.
“Ah, I've been hearing a lot lately. People saying he's worse than a child actor, causing a stir?”
“He would've done better if he'd just copied my acting.”
Yeah, that dog-shit pride of his is the real problem.
“How'd you dump the shit on him?”
“I just showed him my acting right in front of his eyes. There were two choices, and he picked the worst one. If he went in a different direction from my acting, he was bound to flop. Any guy with a brain would've swallowed his pride and copied me. Tsk tsk tsk.”
Ki Jaeyoon glanced at me nervously while eating his curry.
“Scary guy.”
“Jaeyoon, you wanna stop eating curry?”
“S-sorry!”
Ki Jaeyoon buried his nose back in his plate and just ate.
Kang Minje mumbled as he chewed.
“I thought Saheok had talent?”
“Well, he does. Successful as a solo singer, and decent as an actor.”
That's that, and this is this.
“So our Dowon made a talented guy step in shit?”
Kang Minje. Maybe because they were close before regression. He's giving Saheok high marks.
But oh well.
“Minje hyung. They say Saheok might've orchestrated our scandal.”
The fox's brow furrowed properly.
The manager tore into his kimchi and slapped my shoulder.
“Hey, it's not confirmed.”
“It sure seems like it. Anyway, 'Flower's Choice' is one thing, but I don't get why he came at me from the start. Manager, did I take something from Saheok?”
Ki Jaeyoon answered.
“Probably that police PR ambassador thing?”
Ah.
“He'd been doing it forever.”
“Yeah, he brought it up right when we met.”
I didn't know.
“Is that such a big deal?”
The manager thought for a moment and said.
“Maybe that's it? The government gives tax breaks for public service ads.”
I really hadn't known that.
“He got pissed because he lost that?”
A smirk escaped me.
“He can't hog the police PR forever by himself.”
“Once you climb as high as Saheok, you get attached to your spot.”
Totally pointless.
“Who cares anyway.”
It pissed me off even more. Getting back at him with ratings wasn't enough.
‘What kind of shit should I dump? When did Saheok start his downfall? Come to think of it, he came out once this time, blew up, and that was it.’
I suddenly turned to Kang Minje.
‘Saheok's hit album, Kang Minje worked on it.’
Thinking about it, when did Kang Minje and Saheok get close?
As I stared at Kang Minje, he said.
“Got something to say to me?”
“What do you think of hyung's opinion on Saheok?”
“Hm, if not for this mess, I'd think he was good material. As a composer, I'd want to work with him once.”
No way.
“I see. But Saheok totally looked down on our group. He sees solo top artists as real, and groups as just people banding together because they can't make it alone.”
Ki Jaeyoon cursed right away.
“Wow, what's he got that's so great!”
“Since he's successful as a solo singer and actor, groups must look like trash to him.”
Kang Minje furrowed his brow.
‘But hey. Little fox. Weren't you thinking something similar?’
Before regression, Kang Minje saw groups as dead weight holding him back.
Kang Minje whispered while eating curry again.
“Saheok kinda sucks.”
Huh. His thinking changed a bit.
Ki Jaeyoon jumped right on it.
“Right? Dowon, you gotta keep making him step in shit.”
The manager nodded.
“Step in it good and make him slip.”
Wow. A whole cheer squad.
I shrugged.
“Thanks, everyone, but we don't really cross paths. No idea when we'd meet again. We'll overlap during activities, but right now, we're distant.”
“True.”
“But they'll come at us. More curry?”
Everyone raised their hands. I got up and put the pot on the table.
“Everyone be careful. They're the ones dumping shit this time.”
As I ladled more curry, the door opened. Lee Seungjun rushed in.
“Curry for me too!”
Hungry?
“Yeah. Go wash up.”
Lee Seungjun quickly went to wash his hands.
Yoo Hajin let out a small sigh.
“I see. Saheok might attack us.”
“Everyone watch your private lives.”
“Yeah. But Dowon, can I ask one favor?”
I looked up at the leader. Yoo Hajin's lips trembled as he said.
“Let's not talk about that while eating curry when someone might need the bathroom.”
Oh.
“I've wanted to say that since earlier.”
I nodded.
“Ah, sorry.”
“No. Just don't from now on.”
Lee Seungjun, hands washed, scooped rice from the cooker and sat. I silently ladled curry for him.
Quiet Lee Seungjun asked.
“What were you talking about?”
Ki Jaeyoon muttered.
“Curry and shit?”
Oh.
Yoo Hajin smiled faintly and tugged Ki Jaeyoon's ear.
“Aaa! It hurts! Hyung!”
“I told you not to.”
“I won't! I swear! Just stop!”
I shook my head. Lee Seungjun asked again.
“What's that mean?”
“I'll tell you later. It's nothing.”
The big bear accepted it right away. That's why he's a good kid. I pushed kimchi his way.
***
Flower's Choice finale hit 22%. Lame compared to its early peak, and people blamed Saheok's acting. It was quite the hot topic.
‘Good reviews.’
Kang Minje checked his OST performance. Streams were solid, video site views too.
‘Top video's the child actor Dowon filmed?’
Comments weren't just Korean. Korean dramas had gotten popular overseas at some point.
‘How to explain this.’
Content made for Korea was now selling abroad.
‘Time for me to prep for this market too.’
Rest on your laurels here, and you're out.
Kang Minje scrolled comments on his track, took off his headset. The walled-off space let in people's noise.
He closed his eyes, enjoyed the din. Weird. He never noticed before, but now it felt like music.
Maybe that's why.
‘The music I'm chasing got more diverse.’
Variety pleased Chief Joo.
‘Trendy tracks are good, but maybe try experimental ones sometimes.’
As he pondered, a stranger sat across.
Kang Minje wasn't flustered. Just surprised.
‘Saheok?’
Ah, the guy who tried scandal-ing me and Dowon.
Kang Minje smiled with his eyes.
“Hello.”
“Uh. Hi?”
Why sit here? Kang Minje sipped cold espresso and asked.
“Something you need?”
“Why's a composer like you killing time in a place like this?”
Kang Minje tilted his head. He came because he wanted to.
‘Manager was worried, yeah.’
Said it was risky with people around.
Kang Minje kept smiling at Saheok. The artist he'd thought decent tapped the table.
“Come out of Zenith.”
And said something totally out of left field.
“Come to my side. I'll raise you.”
Kang Minje didn't reply.
“I'm dropping an album. Need your skills. I'm Saheok. Work with me, you'll rake in cash.”
Kang Minje lowered his eyes slightly. Why's Saheok popping up like this? Honestly, he knew.
‘Digging into private lives hit a wall.’
Zenith members were all busy. Sadly, including him. No room for slip-ups.
Nothing to find.
‘Targeting me now.’
So childish.
Top star dangled bait again.
“I'll let you do whatever you want.”
Not worth answering. Trust what?
‘You're just salty Dowon beat your ratings.’
Heard I'm producing?
Kang Minje fox-smiled. Pathetic.
‘Right, Dowon.’
That's why you dumped shit on him.
But here's the thing.
‘I can dump shit too.’
Kang Minje smiled and said.
“I can't work with you, sunbaenim.”
“Why?”
“You're too brilliant.”
Saheok's face lit up.
‘Likes such nonsense flattery...’
Childish as Ki Jaeyoon.
“I'm getting recognition, but still lacking a lot. My vessel's small. Zenith alone overwhelms me.”
“R-really?”
“Yes. Honored you came personally. Sunbaenim. Pure curiosity as a composer.”
Saheok grinned, pleased.
“What's your next album concept?”
“Agency's pushing office worker vibe, but it looks cheap. I'm Saheok. Club playboy maybe.”
First okay, second not.
‘Saheok's fans are 20s-30s women, right?’
Not their taste.
“Let's test it. Club playboy album—lame?”
Totally lame. Maybe ten years ago.
Kang Minje laughed inwardly. Time to dump shit.
“You're Saheok, sunbaenim.”
Saheok grinned ear to ear. Stepped in it.
“Do whatever you want. No one like you. Idol groups come and go, but Saheok's irreplaceable.”
“Right? You get it. Really no thought to work with me?”
“Sorry.”
“Like you, but shame. Hey, Zenith flops, hit me up.”
Saheok gave his card, stood.
“Busy, gotta go.”
Kang Minje stood, bowed.
“Yes. Honored to meet you.”
The tall top star strode away. Kang Minje tapped the card with his finger.
‘He'll flop soon.’
Times changed, club playboy? Playboy image didn't fit Saheok.
“Office worker would've been better.”
Kang Minje tore the card to shreds.
‘What's the point of a soon-to-fall guy's contact.’
He wiped his smile, shook his head. Wasted precious break on trash. Mildly annoyed.
‘But I dumped shit too...’
Will Dowon like hearing this?
‘Probably.’
Thinking that cheered him up. Do well, maybe get praise and beef mushroom stew.
Kang Minje grinned. Yesterday's curry was good, but Dowon's mushroom stew best.
***
Yoon Mihyeon Teacher called while moving.
“Wanna do a movie?”
No greeting, straight to it. Lost words for a sec.
“Teacher?”
“Small role. General's son, dies taking arrow for dad.”
Such a movie?
Suddenly, a 10-million viewer film flashed in mind.
‘No way, Kwiju Victory?’
Gang Gamchan's Kwiju Victory on screen, Chuseok release, huge hit.
‘And arrow instead role...’
An idol did it, bombed acting, got flak.
No need to think. I beamed.
“Yes. I'll do it.”
“Wait, how do you say yes without knowing the role?”
“You recommended it.”
“Oh my, oh my!”
Of course, I knew it'd hit big.
“I'll tell the director.”
“Please do.”
“Pretty thing. Hanging up.”
Cut off before goodbye. I turned off the screen, shook head.
‘Son role, not much story.’
Few scenes probably. Won't overlap Zenith activities.