Chapter 84
Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Flower's Choice Talk Show (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
84. Flower's Choice Talk Show (1)
2022.04.13.
Scheming, huh. Using such a tough word, my princess.
“Shall we head to the waiting room anyway? My liege?”
“Yes. My husband.”
We walked down the hallway, chuckling. It was time to find our nameplates. A strange sound came from a slightly ajar waiting room door.
Slap-
Huh.
‘That’s the sound of a slap.’
I glanced at the door. The name on the waiting room belonged to that guy I knew.
‘Sa Hyeok.’
But why this noise?
No need to get closer. A shout leaked through the crack.
“You fucking bastard! I told you it wasn’t this!”
“I’m sorry!”
“Get out!”
Something crashed again. Sure enough, a guy with a swollen cheek burst out.
I frowned.
‘The manager?’
Come to think of it, I’d seen him pass by once.
The manager spotted me, startled, then shut Sa Hyeok’s waiting room door.
An awkward silence fell.
“Excuse me.”
My princess broke the quiet, as expected.
“Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine.”
Yeah, right.
I let out a small sigh.
‘Sa Hyeok’s a real piece of shit.’
His nose had bled from the slap. A-yeon immediately offered her handkerchief. The manager dabbed at his bloody nose with it, staggering.
“Thanks. So, you’re A-yeon, right?”
A-yeon nodded.
“You’re around my daughter’s age.”
“You have a daughter?”
Oh boy.
‘That’s why he can’t quit.’
He looked desperate at a glance, which made my chest tight. But there were limits. This was too much.
“If it weren’t for my cousin’s company……. I’d be out in a heartbeat…….”
I bit my lip, then spat it out.
“Even if it’s your dad’s company instead of your cousin’s, shouldn’t you quit?”
The shaky man’s eyes widened.
“That’s too harsh. Your daughter would be heartbroken if she knew her dad was like this.”
The manager’s arm trembled slightly. I sighed deeply.
“I get it—livelihood dulls the mind. Surviving’s no joke. But this? No way.”
The manager’s arms shook as he wiped his dry face.
“But there’s no other way…….”
I slipped the recorder from my pocket into his breast pocket.
“This is…….”
“One press records. No need to return it.”
I still had a dozen or so from my aunt, probably.
“Make a killing. Go civil, criminal, media—blow it all up. Get the upper hand, squeeze a settlement. Or punish him if that’s your thing. But settlement’s smarter. Sa Hyeok looks well-connected—you’d know better.”
Guys like that always complicated things coming in and waltzed out easy.
“D-Dowon.”
“Your call. Want a lawyer intro? Hand over your phone.”
The manager handed it over without protest. I saved my aunt’s number.
“Save the boss as ‘local chicken joint.’”
Might leave a record later.
I gave the phone back, and he bowed deeply. A-yeon primly whispered at his crown.
“Take my handkerchief too.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“Hang in there.”
I nodded slightly to the manager then lifted my head. The middle-aged man looked utterly wrecked.
‘Poor guy.’
Hard to stir pity in me, and he pulled it off. Impressive.
I took A-yeon’s hand again. Luckily, our waiting room wasn’t far.
‘Wonder what he’ll choose.’
Better make the right call.
A short walk later, we spotted the nameplate: [Cha Dowon][Lee A-yeon].
Oh.
“Same waiting room for us.”
“Yeah.”
Inside was a small room. A-yeon’s mom and my manager were already there.
“Oh my, why so late?”
“You’re here?”
I shook my head with a sigh.
‘A young girl and a teen male idol. Even so, sharing a waiting room…….’
A-yeon and her mom seemed fine, but it was overkill.
Stylist Noona rushed to me.
“Dowon, got a different shirt.”
“Yeah, can I change now?”
“Yep.”
I started unbuttoning casually, then caught myself.
‘Gotta turn for the ladies.’
As I turned, Stylist Noona said,
“Hurry up!”
“Whoa, Noona!”
She yanked my buttons open and ripped the shirt wide.
“Noona, hold on. There’s a kid here.”
“Oh!”
I quickly glanced at A-yeon.
Huh.
“A-yeon?”
Her eyes sparkled at me.
“Oppa’s abs are killer!”
“Uh, from working out?”
A-yeon’s mom crossed her arms, eyeing me.
“Sure are. Those waist muscles look solid too.”
Uh, ma’am?
‘A-yeon’s bold streak from her mom?’
Lost for words. Best to just change fast into the new shirt.
“Ah, this suits you better.”
Stylist Noona smoothed it out. I sighed quietly.
‘Weird vibe.’
Whatever. Showtime approached. I skimmed the cue cards when a knock came.
“Child actors, out you go.”
Mic on, A-yeon grabbed my hand first. We followed the writer quietly to the set.
‘Blinding lights.’
The network talk show set was decently spacious. I sat where the writer directed—far left end.
‘Token guests, obvious.’
They’d called us for optics.
‘Whatever…….’
No rule against screen time.
I beamed at the camera on me.
“Recording starts!”
No time for hellos—action. MC jumped in.
“Thursday night fun, Talk Show Joy! Here we go. This week, the Flower’s Choice drama team!”
So corny.
‘Everyone close to Sa Hyeok like this?’
All on a downward slide.
Reactions first. I clapped mechanically.
“So many faces I wanted to see. First, Asia’s Star! Sa Hyeok!”
News to me.
‘Asia’s Star, huh.’
Felt bad for Asia. That clown a star? Overkill.
‘Local village star would fit better.’
Pretty Village Star. One Light Village Star. Poetic even.
‘Wasn’t Asia’s Star some other top celeb?’
All in the spin? Slap it on and done?
Tilting my head in confusion, intros reached me.
“Next up, Zenith’s Cha Do, Cha Do, Cha Dowon!”
Cringe. Total cheese.
I grinned wide and bowed.
“Zenith to the max. Hello, I’m Zenith’s Cha Dowon.”
Idol chant warmed the room. Staff and cast mostly smiled.
‘Just Sa Hyeok and MC with weird faces.’
Sa Hyeok propped his chin, smirking at me.
Prickly MC piped up.
“Cha Dowon, you’ve been busy lately?”
Camera-facing, I shot back.
“Nah. Pretty free right now.”
“You’re everywhere though?”
“That was then.”
Cast laughed at my reply.
‘Nothing big, but it’s a trap.’
Say yes? Cocky, chatty—done.
“Hoping for more spots soon.”
Another jab—staff cracked up too. Maybe why. Sa Hyeok’s smirk turned to a glare.
Why’s he like that?
“Me! Me!”
A chubby cast member raised her hand. MC pounced.
“Yes, Urami!”
“Cha Dowon! I’ve got one wish! Hug me too!”
On purpose.
Cast shock reactions caught on cam.
“Cha Dowon’s a minor.”
“Still middle school! A hug? Urami!”
“For real!”
Urami waved it off smoothly.
“No, not like that! Like Yoon Mi-hyeon, getting swept up by a guy’s my lifelong dream!”
“What’d Cha Dowon do to deserve hugging you!”
Outrage poured in.
‘Nailing the script.’
I stood and walked set-center.
Center cam locked on.
“It’s fine.”
Urami scurried over, flushed and eager.
‘Kinda cute.’
I scooped her up like Teacher Yoon Mi-hyeon.
“Whoa!”
“Dowon, arms okay?”
Heavyish. But cheat-fixed core held steady.
Urami, rosy-cheeked, said,
“Wow, thanks, Dowon.”
“No biggie.”
“Sorry. I’m heavy, right?”
I grinned big.
“Nah.”
Urami clutched her chest.
“Oh my gosh! My heart’s pounding!”
I spun her once in place, set her down gently. She bowed repeatedly.
“Really, it’s fine.”
“Eek! I’m losing it! Cha Dowon’s the best! Sis loves you!”
Praise overload.
Core fine, arms ached. Feeling the heated set, heading back—
Sa Hyeok’s voice cut in.
“Want me to?”
Silence blanketed the set. Off-script.
Awkward hush—MC barely responded.
“Oh, Sa Hyeok?”
“I’ll hug you too, Urami.”
Happy fixed guest rolled eyes desperately.
‘In a bind. Top Star, Urami’s not into it?’
I slipped back quietly to watch.
“Huh? No need!”
“I’ll spin you once—no, three times.”
“Ah, no…….”
Urami blinked, then forced it.
“For real! Lucky day!”
Pro fake smile. Total champ.
‘Super awkward for her.’
Hang in there.
Sa Hyeok strutted center. Urami edged up with a strained grin.
‘Night and day from me.’
Pre-talk matters.
Urami tentatively gripped his shoulder. Sa Hyeok hoisted her with a yell.
“Hup!”
Top-star grunt broke immersion. I watched stone-faced, then clenched a fist.
Held back a laugh.
‘Struggling?’
Core strength’s key.
Sa Hyeok’s face twisted. Balance off—obvious. Legs strained, long limbs quivered pitifully.
A-yeon whispered beside me.
“Gonna fall?”
About to reply—
Crash!
Sa Hyeok ass-planted hard. Urami with him, clueless.
‘Oof.’
Not that easy.
I eyed the staff. Sa Hyeok’s loss, PD’s gold. Crew eyes sparkled.
‘No cutting that.’
Ratings bait. Perfect foil too. I faked concern at Sa Hyeok. Pinned under Urami, he groaned.
A-yeon tugged my sleeve.
“Oppa, Sa Hyeok fell.”
“Yeah, must hurt.”
A-yeon beamed innocently.
“Why’d he insist?”
A-yeon, mics are hot. Oppa can’t say truth.
“Tougher than it looks. Gotta balance right.”
“Oppa did it, Sa Hyeok couldn’t?”
Past life fortune-teller? I awkward-smiled.
Chaos reigned—Urami only pro.
“Oh no, sorry!”
She scrambled to salvage. Sa Hyeok’s face twisted for real.
“I’m so heavy, took him down again.”
Oh.
“I’m the girl who felled Sa Hyeok! Hohohohoho!”
What’s pro? She desperately lightened the mood.
A-yeon whispered soft.
“Poor sis.”
Totally agree, princess. But mics roll always. Forgive this subject’s silence, please.