Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Sorry, I Don't Trust People
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“What, even if it’s not about money, do I really seem like the type who’d do that?”
Kang Minje fell silent.
‘This bastard, seriously.’
I opened my eyes, then squeezed them shut again as dizziness hit me.
“Hyung, we’re in the same group from the start. What’s the point in screwing over a member? If Zenith falls, I lose even more.”
After all the effort I put into feeding and raising it, why would I destroy it myself?
“Dowon. Sorry. I just don’t trust people.”
Damn it. Is this fox going through puberty or something?
“Ah, whatever. Fine, let’s say that’s true. But hyung, you’re great at making songs.”
“Hmm, thanks?”
“From concept to lyrics, composition, arrangement—you’re a genius.”
Even if it pisses me off.
“Kang Minje is a golden goose that lays eggs.”
I heard Kang Minje’s laughter.
“Do you think I’m an idiot? Why slit open the goose’s belly? Leave it be, and it’ll keep laying gold—why kill it?”
His laughter grew louder.
‘I’m going crazy.’
Why do I have to say crap like this? It was truly humiliating.
Kang Minje laughed for a while before whispering.
“I see. Dowon wouldn’t slit my belly open.”
“Sometimes it feels like you overthink things needlessly, hyung.”
“Haha!”
Do all composers act like this?
My irritation made the dizziness worse. I let out a slow sigh.
‘When will this side effect end?’
The 30 minutes dragged on endlessly.
“I see.”
Kang Minje’s low voice tickled my ear.
“You’re on my side.”
Damn, what?
“Your side, hyung?”
“You said you wouldn’t betray me. That makes you my ally.”
What nonsense is this?
‘I want to deny it right now, but…’
That would backfire. No point unsettling this suspicious guy unnecessarily.
“Yeah, sure.”
Gotta play nice.
“I’ll stick by your side until you turn your back on me first.”
Words are cheap. Kid much? Picking sides like this.
“Ahaha!”
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the fox. He covered his mouth with his hand, laughing with genuine delight.
“Hmm, then. Dowon. Can I ask you one thing?”
“You’ll ask anyway, even if I say no.”
“I guess so. Hey, Dowon.”
Kang Minje whispered softly.
“Why did you suddenly collapse?”
That damn bastard.
‘Asking something I can’t answer, what a jerk.’
I barely managed to blink. Kang Minje stared at me intently from up close.
What now?
‘A lame excuse won’t convince him.’
It might shake the fragile trust I just built.
“Later…”
I turned my head away.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Can’t you say now?”
“No, I can’t. But I’ll be honest when I do.”
He fell silent.
‘Good. It worked.’
When excuses are tough, delaying is the best move.
“You want me to wait?”
“Yes. Wait for me.”
He stayed quiet. Left with no choice, I added.
“I’m looking forward to it. The day I tell you the truth, hyung.”
Looking forward my ass. Damn it.
“Then I’ll be honest too…”
I trailed off wistfully and shut my mouth. I felt Kang Minje’s gaze but ignored it.
‘I’ll just say I forgot later.’
I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. Kang Minje didn’t ask more.
‘Good. He bought it.’
I heard the rustle of his clothes as Kang Minje moved away. I inwardly cheered.
‘Sensitive bastard.’
The door opened, and I heard him leave. I blinked immediately. Twenty-nine minutes had passed, and the dizziness was completely gone.
I slowly sat up.
“Ah, damn it.”
I felt mentally tainted. I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and tapped it.
“All your fault.”
Why after just one second?
‘I didn’t expect the side effect to cause this mess.’
I shook my head and sighed deeply. It was humiliating to think about.
***
“Dowon, try taking a long breath in and singing that part.”
I adjusted my earphones and sang the part again.
“Your scent~ lingers on the tip of my tongue~”
“Good job. Amazing. How did your vocal cords adapt so quickly?”
I clenched then unclenched my fist. Thinking about the humiliation from that guy’s vocal cords still made my blood boil.
“Hard work pays off.”
“Hahaha! That’s my Dowon! Still, adapting this fast is incredible!”
Yeah. Think it’s incredible. No need for excuses—perfect.
“I’ll hang up now. Shooting’s coming up.”
“Okay! Good luck with the movie shoot! Don’t forget to practice!”
“Got it.”
I ended the call and shivered. The manager chuckled as he watched me.
“Why are you laughing?”
“You’re unexpectedly soft on Minje. Here, warm water.”
“I prefer cold water.”
“Minje specially requested it. For your throat.”
I sighed involuntarily and forced down the water.
I’ll drink it since you gave it, but cold is still better.
“But it’s cold.”
“Must be Gangwon-do.”
The autumn mountains were ablaze with color. I looked around and rolled my shoulders.
“You’re not dying today, are you?”
Anyone hearing that would think it’s real.
“We are filming a death scene.”
“But it’s boring. I imagined arrows raining down dramatically as you die coolly.”
I chuckled. No matter how pretty the autumn mountains, I was shooting in front of a blue screen.
“CG’s way cheaper, right?”
“The romance of movie shoots is gone.”
“Does romance pay the bills? Efficiency is better.”
I finished the water, and the assistant director came running.
“Dowon, get ready.”
“Yes. Coming.”
I stood up. The manager followed with a blanket, looking around.
“Hey, where’s Jung Ji-seok?”
“Said he’s getting into character in the car.”
“His precious daughter’s dying, and he doesn’t even show.”
Thinking of Jung Ji-seok made me shudder. Better if he doesn’t come.
‘Stay in the car, Jung Ji-seok!’
Please focus on your emotions.
At the set, the director was setting up with the camera guy. The slick director patted my shoulder.
“Dowon, you know the scene?”
“Yes, getting hit by an arrow and collapsing.”
“Arrow and background are all CG. You’ll do it in front of that bright blue—feeling lonely?”
I shook my head.
“Acting anywhere, anytime—that’s what actors do.”
“Nice answer.”
“Well, I’m an idol too. To the peak for you. Hello, I’m Zenith’s Cha Dowon.”
The director grinned, pleased with my response.
“Glad we cast our Dowon. Scary to think now—what would we have done without you?”
The camera director chuckled.
“We’d all be done for. Starting with the investors—whew.”
I shook my head.
“No. I don’t think so. The director, actors, staff—they’re all great.”
It was true. *Gwiju Victory* ended up hitting ten million viewers.
“Such a sweet talker.”
The director grinned and patted my shoulder again.
“If all young kids were like Cha Dowon, the world would be great.”
“Can’t all be like me. How would I make a living?”
“Hahaha. You know what I mean. Alright, Dowon. Ready to film Lee Jung’s death scene?”
I grinned and stood in front of the blue screen.
“Standby~”
I stared quietly ahead. My mind boiled then cooled. The familiar euphoria felt good.
“Action!”
I climbed the mountain path weakly. Reaching a spot, I looked around.
I shifted my gaze as if following an invisible arrow to be added in CG.
Then, I shuddered slightly.
My expression didn’t change. But Lee Jung’s legs buckled. The boy collapsed on the mountain after not going far.
The camera zoomed in close. Amid the fallen leaves, I clenched then unclenched my fist.
“Father…”
That was Lee Jung’s last word. The young boy died in the mountains, pierced by arrows.
“Cut!”
At the director’s call, I stood right up. Lee Jung’s emotions lingered, but monitoring came first.
The director stroked his chin.
“Good as always, Dowon.”
“Thank you.”
“We saved a ton on film thanks to you.”
“We’ll do another angle?”
“Yeah.”
I prepared immediately.
“Can you recapture that emotion?”
I chuckled.
“That’s what actors do.”
The director made a finger heart. I stood before the blue screen again and repeated the performance.
“Cut! Good work. Next scene, but when’s Jung Ji-seok coming?”
I pointed behind me right away. Jung Ji-seok, playing the father, ambled over.
“Ah, Jung Ji-seok, done focusing?”
“Yeah.”
Jung Ji-seok approached me. I bowed my head slightly then lifted it.
“You’re here?”
“Ah, son.”
Huh.
I stared at Jung Ji-seok. He wasn’t his usual hyper self.
“It, uh, got noisy?”
“What?”
“You don’t know yet?”
I narrowed my eyes and looked for the manager. The round-faced manager stared at his smartphone, pale.
‘What?’
I went straight to the manager.
“What happened?”
“Uh, Dowon.”
“Zenith? The company?”
“You. It’s you.”
Me?
I bit my lip hard. My heart pounded.
Really me?
‘No.’
I hadn’t done anything wrong. I took a quiet deep breath.
“What is it?”
“Uh, there’s an article saying you’re a shaman’s son.”
What? No big deal.
I chuckled.
“I see.”
“You’re so hot right now, the article’s blowing up. They wrote a whole novel. Even saying our music is satanic.”
“The country must be peaceful if they care about me being a shaman’s son. Satanic music? Satan must be bored.”
“It’s because you have that confident, bright, polite image.”
“Can’t a shaman’s son be confident, bright, and polite?”
I snatched the manager’s smartphone and looked at the screen. My article was on the portal main page.
“Don’t read the comments. It’ll shake you.”
“What, no big deal? Just lots of ‘waking up’ talk.”
“I said don’t! But your fans are busy defending you.”
“Grateful for them.”
I muttered softly.
“But it’s weird.”
“W-what is?”
“Few people know I’m a shaman’s son.”
I counted on my fingers.
“Executive Director Joo, Kang Minje. Manager. No way my aunt or sister leaked it…”
“T-that…”
Suddenly, all color drained from the manager’s face.
“Did you leak the article, manager?”
“No! Why would I? I, I told…”
“A reporter?”
“Are you crazy? T-to this manager…”
I recalled the person who avoided my eyes.
‘Ah-ha.’
My shaman’s son instincts told me. High chance it was him.
Then, the manager’s phone rang. Seeing Executive Director Joo, I answered.
“Executive Director Joo, Cha Dowon speaking.”
“Huh? Why’s Dowon answering?”
“You have something to say to me anyway. Tell me directly.”
“What do we do? That article. Advertisers are stirring.”
“I see.”
“I’ll suppress it as much as possible.”
“Can you?”
I heard Executive Director Joo’s laughter through the phone.
“Does our company have the power?”
“Will it really die down like this, Executive Director Joo?”
“W-why?”
“My shaman’s son senses say no. This won’t end here.”
If this manager leaked it, things got complicated.
‘Means someone planned and detonated it.’
Felt like a fuse.
‘Who?’
Who pulled this on me? Rival company’s anti-viral?
‘No.’
I named the most suspicious person.
“Feels like Sa Hyeok’s doing.”
“Sa Hyeok? That sneaky bastard finally went for it. Fucking asshole!”
Executive Director Joo’s cursing echoed faintly.
“Ah, sorry. Not for a kid’s ears. We were talking. So, Sa Hyeok?”
“Yes. If it’s Sa Hyeok, it definitely won’t end here. Oh, Executive Director Joo. I’m suspicious of this manager too.”
“The manager? Why?”
“Few know I’m a shaman’s son. Right after telling this manager, the article drops. Timing’s suspicious.”
Executive Director Joo went quiet for a moment.
“Got it. I’ll look into it. The president’s more expert at this stuff, though.”
“Better to suppress if we can for now.”
“Y-yeah. Would be good if it dies down. But Dowon, you okay?”