Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: I'll Make You Do It
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Heo Yongdam spoke to himself and laughed alone.
“Our Dowon is subtly polite. The first time I saw him, I thought he must’ve grown up in a house with his grandparents. But it turns out he was raised by a single mother—I was so shocked…”
This manager’s eyes narrowed at the corners. Heo Yongdam kept going.
“On top of that, his mom was a shaman. That’s why his intuition and judgment are downright ghostly. Ah, come to think of it, sometimes it feels like he can see the future? He nails things so scarily well at times.”
This manager asked right away.
“A shaman? Cha Dowon’s mother?”
“Yeah. I was stunned at first, but now it all makes sense! Of course! That’s where his ghostly side comes from!”
“I, I see.”
This manager couldn’t meet Heo Yongdam’s eyes again.
“W-well, I’ll get going now.”
“Ah, sorry for holding you up when you’re busy. Go on!”
This manager hurried off, nearly tripping in the middle. Heo Yongdam scratched his head as he watched the man’s retreating figure.
“Did I boast too much about our Dowon?”
But it was worth boasting about.
‘That surprised me.’
While Cha Dowon was deep in filming, a call came from Sa Hyeok’s manager. Hearing that Dowon was the one who’d connected him to a lawyer, he was truly amazed.
‘This kid helps out so casually.’
And without even bragging about it.
“He’s got a heart of gold and doesn’t even know it.”
That he acted like any other kid his age in that way? That was a secret.
That was when Sa Hyeok’s former manager emerged from the van. Heo Yongdam rushed over. The man’s complexion, which had been so gloomy when he arrived, looked a bit brighter now—and for some reason, that made him smile.
***
***
Kang Minje was definitely a genius. I listened to his track again in the recording studio. Whatever tweaks he’d made, it felt even more polished.
“I beefed up the percussion a bit. What do you think?”
“I don’t even know what percussion is, but it sounds better.”
“Really?”
Pleased by the praise, the fox’s face turned pink.
“You’ve been crazy busy lately.”
“It’s good for an idol to be busy. Means I’m making money. Duh.”
“You’re not worn out?”
“Can’t be yet. We’re just getting started.”
I glanced at the lyrics sheet and muttered.
“It’ll only get busier from here.”
“Wh-what? Even more than now?”
“Yeah. Obviously.”
“Dowon, you’re literally on TV every time I flip it on.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. He wasn’t wrong. The CF gigs Director Joo had lined up were incredibly varied.
“The probiotic one sticks out the most.”
That CF was hilarious.
The actress who couldn’t use the bathroom and felt heavy—I scoop her up, hand her the probiotics quietly. She eats them, lightens up, and floats off into the sky.
“Smiling at the sky and saying, ‘Ah, sent another one off,’ cracked me up.”
“I saw it too. Hilarious.”
“They say it boosted sales big time because the reaction was so good.”
Director Joo had whooped about his rising value.
“Can’t wait for next month’s settlement.”
“How much you think you’ll rake in?”
“No clue. But maybe it’s time to buy a place.”
“Where?”
“Haven’t settled on that.”
He was torn between a house or a building.
Earning money sure beat the alternative. I still couldn’t quite believe it. That I could fund my sister’s studies on my own.
‘She chewed me out when I offered to bankroll her clinic, though.’
Yelling about why I was sticking my nose in.
‘Classic sister.’
I chuckled and turned back to the lyrics sheet.
“But Minje hyung. Why’d you call just me to hear this?”
Kang Minje tilted his head.
“Don’t like being alone with me?”
What’s with this guy? Turning into Jeong Ji-seok? No, that’d be worse.
Thinking of Jeong Ji-seok made my whole body shiver. First time I’d ever prayed for a shoot to wrap up fast.
Kang Minje caught my expression and turned his head away, sulking.
“You really hate it, huh?”
I didn’t hate it, just not for that reason.
“Nah. It reminded me of this movie shoot.”
“Oh, you got buddy-buddy with Jeong Ji-seok?”
“Buddy-buddy? Don’t say creepy shit.”
A sigh escaped me on its own. I grimaced again, and Kang Minje grinned like a fox.
“Got it. Not close. Phew, good.”
Good how?
“I know you’re slammed, but here’s why I called. Uh, it’s about the track.”
“What about it?”
“It bounces around a lot pitch-wise. But making it, I knew this part had to be you, Dowon.”
Kang Minje pointed to a section on the sheet music. I frowned instantly.
“Looks brutal even at a glance.”
“I’ll guide you. Just follow along.”
“You sing it, hyung.”
“No way. This part needs you.”
I squinted at the section.
‘Not sure, but pre-regression, Kang Minje hogged all the prime parts…’
What’s got into him?
‘Actually, thinking about it, Kang Minje seems kinda different lately?’
I stared at him steadily.
‘Pre-regression, this was when he and Sa Hyeok got tight.’
Sa Hyeok dropped an album after and blew up.
‘Kang Minje wrote most of it. That’s what launched him as a producer.’
Sa Hyeok sealed his spot in the industry.
But things were different now.
‘Sa Hyeok’s on ice—no album, nothing.’
No word yet on his ex-manager’s choice. Mentions had died down, but Sa Hyeok’s violence rumors still popped up on portal mains now and then.
‘Sa Hyeok’s changed—so the fox is too?’
For better or worse?
“Dowon?”
“Ah, sorry. Got lost in thought.”
“Alone with me and you’re zoning out? I’m hurt.”
Well, the annoyance was consistent.
“Had stuff on my mind. So you want me on this part?”
I slowly scanned the sheet music he’d handed me.
Hold up.
“Mi-Minje hyung?”
The fox beamed.
“Yeah? What?”
“You want me to do this? The pitch is all over the place!”
“It’s fine. You got this.”
“You do it! Hell, only you could pull this off!”
“Nope. You can too.”
Kang Minje gripped my shoulders.
“I’ll make you do it.”
Ah, damn it.
‘Why’s he on this kick again?’
I sighed at the sheet.
“Fine. Let’s try.”
I sang slowly.
-Your scent, I sink into it.
Wow.
One line, total disaster.
“Hmm, more power on the first note. Abs are solid now, but vocal strength’s lacking. Gotta work on vocal cord closure.”
What the hell? Damn it. Close my vocal cords how?
“This won’t click short-term anyway.”
“When’s recording?”
“Uh, two weeks?”
That’s soon—but two weeks is short-term, right?
“Heading to Gangwon tomorrow.”
“Right, movie shoot.”
“Yeah. Week planned. No way I master this that fast.”
Kang Minje clamped both hands on my shoulders.
“Nope. You can. Signal good in Gangwon? I’ll coach over the phone.”
This guy’s lost it.
“Just sing it yourself!”
“No. Has to be you. C’mon, Dowon, give it a go. I’ll watch. Oh, need solid closure drills. Strain that throat starting today—lots of warm tea? Got it?”
Damn it. Help.
“Let’s start, Dowon.”
I stared at him. Kang Minje looked thrilled.
‘Seriously, one guy after another…’
I let out a deep sigh.
‘Fine. If I gotta, I gotta.’
Flashy part, but key—definitely a spotlight grabber.
‘All eyes on me, huh?’
No clue on his angle, but I’ll make him regret passing.
“Alright. Let’s do it.”
I stood quietly. Kang Minje looked up with a grin.
“Power to the core.”
I did as told. He stood, placed hands on my stomach and back.
“Breath rising? Say ahh.”
“Ahh—”
“Close the throat.”
I followed—and coughed for some reason.
*Cough*—
I clapped a hand over my mouth quick.
‘Damn, forgot…’
Still dealing with side effects.
“Dowon?”
“It’s nothing. Be right back—bathroom.”
I bolted out the door. Hands slick with blood.
‘Catch a cold once, and it’s hospital city.’
Time heals excuse? Yeah, right.
I shook my head with a sigh. No time for this. That godawful part needed every second.
‘Back to Kang Minje, stat.’
Gotta nail it right.
‘Wait—vocal cord closure skill?’
I whipped out my phone right away.
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Cha Dowon vocal cord closure ability]
[C. Change?]
[To A]
[…]
[Changed]
[Side effect: 1 sec later, severe dizziness for 30 min.]
[cheat mode 2/3]
‘No—hold on, one sec later?’
Tried stalling the side effect—bam, full dizziness hit. I grabbed the wall. World spinning like mad.
‘What, not like I’m anemic.’
Recalled schedule quietly. Next thing: one hour out. Good.
‘Damn. Priority’s Kang Minje now?’
Leaned on bathroom wall, inched along carefully. Then—
“Dowon, you okay?”
Ah, insane.
Tried saying fine, peeled off wall—lost balance completely.
“Dowon!”
Kang Minje caught me from below. I bit my lip hard.
‘Damn it. Leaning on Kang Minje now?’
On a scrawny twig of a guy—mortifying.
“I’m good.”
“Hospital?”
“Nah. Totally fine. Hyung—deal. Can I shut eyes and lean somewhere for 29 minutes?”
“Huh? Where?”
“Wall or…”
Wanted his reaction, but dizzy—vision blurry.
“Okay. Lean on me.”
“Hyung?”
“On me for 29 minutes.”
Damn it. What? Skinship already spiking—now this?
“Hyung, just prop me. Or park me against the wall. That works.”
“How? You can’t even stand.”
Ah, freaking side effect.
“Studio first.”
I nodded—nausea surged. Propped by Kang Minje, barely made it back.
Crashed onto the sofa. Heard him.
“Symptoms?”
“Dizzy.”
“Lie down. Better that way.”
I sprawled awkwardly on the two-seater. Kang Minje dragged a chair over to my side.
‘Lying does help.’
Dizziness lingered, though. Fought nausea desperately, muttered.
“How you know this stuff, hyung?”
“Bad seasick.”
“Boat fiend?”
“Nope. Once as a kid. Mom tried dumping me on an island.”
What?
“Hang on. That mom—the hardcore neglect one?”
“Yeah. Guess I wore her out.”
Gulped.
‘Yeah. Without shaman Cha Yeonhwa spotting him in Seongnam, this hyung starved.’
Mom scooped the skeletal kid up, fed, dressed, bathed him. Bluntly? He was a wreck back then.
“Dowon—know what? You’re the only one who knows my past.”
“Haha. Honored.”
“Wanna bury it deep.”
“Me, blab?”
Felt his stare.
Asshole. That what you think of me?
“Spread good stuff.”
“Sports rag’d pay.”
“Hyung—I’m Cha Dowon. TV’s got me on now. Pocket change for what?”
Kang Minje laughed.
“Ah, right. Our Dowon’s loaded now, huh?”