Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: This Kind of Thing Is Better Handled by Someone Good at It
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97. This kind of thing is better handled by someone good at it
2022.05.14.
This time, the president shot to his feet.
“A press conference? You?”
“Who else but me?”
The president shook his head.
“Don’t do it. You’re not a politician. How are you going to deal with the reporters?”
“Why not?”
“You’re still in the third year of middle school.”
“What does my age have to do with anything all of a sudden? Sure, being young helps sell me as an idol right now.”
I met the president’s gaze.
“No other way?”
He shook his head.
Wow, so there is a way?
“What is it?”
“Waiting it out.”
How textbook.
“Hunkering down in the sea of oblivion, watching our step? People usually call that laying low. I didn’t commit a crime or anything.”
“People have lost their minds right now. Things will change soon enough.”
How long am I supposed to wait for that?
“Whatever.”
Executive Director Joo cried out.
“Dowon?”
“No thanks.”
I stared at her steadily. Her face was full of grievance and embarrassment.
“In our country, family ties are strong. Even if a family member’s a total scumbag, they get sympathy if they’re abandoned. Alcoholism, gambling, crime, cheating, violence, fraud—you name it. Even if the family tries to save them and fails, they still hear, ‘But they’re family.’”
I hopped up onto the table.
“‘They’re still family’ is the universal key, right?”
“Dowon.”
“Tell ’em to piss off. I’m the victim here—why are they making a fuss?”
I looked around. The president’s cow-like pretty eyes were shaking.
“Calm down first.”
“I’m not worked up. I’m perfectly calm. Anyway, Director, President—this calls for a frontal assault.”
“Let’s just wait. Zenith just debuted. You guys have plenty of time.”
Do we, though?
I turned to Yoo Hajin. Poor Leader Hyung couldn’t lift his head.
This was the most important reason we needed to push through now.
“I can’t break. If I do, it’ll keep happening.”
“W-what do you mean by that?”
“You both know. In Zenith, Ki Jaeyoon’s the only one from a good family. Stuff like this will keep coming up. I’ve got my grandparents, but next time it could be parents or siblings for someone else.”
Executive Director Joo was speechless.
“Come on. That’s why you picked us, right? Honestly, our rough family backgrounds were a plus. Everyone but Jaeyoon had it tough, so you figured we’d work hard.”
The president swallowed hard.
“You... knew?”
“Yeah. But it worked out well.”
“Ah......”
Executive Director Joo rubbed her dry face.
“Anyway, back to the point. I can’t break. With everyone’s family situations being what they are, the higher we climb, the more these bombs will keep dropping one by one.”
Yoo Hajin suddenly grabbed my hand tight.
‘Exactly.’
Leader Hyung’s family is a mess too. How did I even bring Yoo Hajin here?
‘Dragged him when he was gonna cosign for them.’
I smiled to reassure the leader.
“I’ll say it again. Prepare the press conference.”
Yoo Hajin whispered softly.
“This is for us?”
“Among other things. Better if it’s me. The other members couldn’t handle a press conference. Once this is sorted, it’ll offset whatever comes up from their families.”
Better for me to take the hits.
“How do you plan to do it?”
“Convince those trash reporters.”
The president grabbed my hand.
“You sure you can pull it off?”
“Gotta try.”
“Can I trust you?”
I grinned brightly in response.
“At this point?”
What choice do you have but to trust me?
Pig President blinked.
“I’m the crazy maknae, remember? My image’s softened a bit lately, though.”
Executive Director Joo groaned.
“Can’t catch a break. I’ve never once relaxed since launching Zenith.”
“That’s why you’re hanging in there. High risk, high return!”
I hopped down from the table. The president nodded.
“I’ll set up the press conference.”
“Make it soon, somewhere good.”
“I’ll soothe the advertisers.”
“Tell them to call after the conference.”
All sorted.
I glanced quietly at my watch. Could I still make recording time?
I said to Yoo Hajin.
“Let’s head back.”
“Y-yeah.”
Yoo Hajin nodded, his face beet red.
I quietly left the director’s office with Yoo Hajin. The manager waiting outside looked pale as he asked.
“H-how’d it go?”
“Good.”
“How?”
“We’re doing the press conference.”
The manager’s mouth fell open.
“That’s good?! That’s what celebrities do when they’ve got nothing left to lose!”
“Feels like using a sickle to stop what a spoon could’ve handled.”
I’d thought of more efficient ways, but nothing came to mind.
‘Plus, better for me to tank it.’
At least if I go down, Zenith won’t get hit with this crap.
“D-Dowon.”
Yoo Hajin grabbed my hand again. I looked at the trembling leader.
“I-isn’t there something I can do to help?”
I tilted my head.
“Dunno. Oh, yeah—your existence is support enough, so cheer me on.”
“O-okay.”
Yoo Hajin rubbed his dry face again.
“Sorry. I’m the leader, but I should be the one protecting you...... Cheers? Why can’t I do more?”
Wow.
I burst out laughing. Hearing me laugh out loud, Yoo Hajin rubbed his teary eyes.
“You’re doing great as leader. For the record, I couldn’t handle being leader. No way I could deal with Jaeyoon.”
I patted his wing bone.
“You’re doing the press conference partly because of my family stuff, right?”
“Yeah. But that includes you. Seungjun and Kang Minje are unstable too. It’s fine, though. This kind of thing is better handled by someone good at it.”
Yoo Hajin clung to my arm, trembling.
“Who’s good at stuff like that?”
“Right in front of you.”
Annoying and frustrating, but not a dead end.
“How’re you gonna do it?”
“I’m a genius actor.”
I walked down the hall again. Yoo Hajin followed, still gripping my hand tight.
“Time to channel a seasoned politician.”
Teardrops plopped onto the floor. Not mine, of course.
I smiled brightly enough to match Yoo Hajin’s tears.
‘Leader Hyung’s softer than I thought.’
How’s he gonna survive this harsh world like that?
I wanted to hand him some tissue, but of course there wasn’t any.
Then someone thrust white tissue right in front of Yoo Hajin.
“Hngguh!”
Round-faced Manager was holding out tissue while bawling his eyes out.
‘Come on, why are you crying too?’
I turned away in disbelief, and Manager wailed even louder.
“Such good kids getting dragged into this nonsense!”
Jeez.
‘I’m not that good......’
In that spirit, I said to the manager.
“Manager, was it you who leaked that I’m from a shaman family?”
“Gasp!”
Round-faced Manager deflated like a balloon.
“Wasn’t it?”
“S-seemed like it. The president said.”
“You’re the one who said it first, right?”
“S-sorry.”
“Better not to do it at all if you’re gonna apologize later.”
“W-what do we do? Me?”
What do you mean, what?
“Bring me a good suit for tomorrow. A proper one.”
I stuck out my sleeve.
“H-huh?”
“I’ve been growing lately. Anyway, let’s go record. My time’s more precious than gold.”
I smirked and kept walking. Manager looked like his legs had given out, standing there dumbstruck.
Yoo Hajin, still sniffling, said.
“Can we even record today?”
“We have to, whether we can or not.”
Leader Hyung suddenly hugged my shoulders.
“Don’t push yourself.”
“Hajin Hyung, this isn’t pushing. You know the fastest way out of a pit?”
Yoo Hajin shook his head.
“Do your best with what you can in that situation.”
Sure, sometimes it still doesn’t work. In my past life, no matter how hard I tried, nothing budged.
I smiled a little. Honestly, compared to back then, this was paradise.
‘Hold on, Sa-hyeok.’
I’ll make you eat dirt soon.
‘After I sort this out first.’
I opened the recording studio door and said to the members.
“Let’s keep going.”
Kang Minje nodded. I picked up the lyrics sheet again.
Yeah.
‘This is paradise right now.’
Just one fly buzzing around.
I smiled genuinely. It felt so exhilarating I could die.
***
The press conference was scheduled pretty quickly. I got the time and thanked them.
The next day, 10 a.m.
I got up early and showered first. The sound of water dripping was just another ordinary day.
***
“Our Dowon looks so handsome.”
The stylist and hair stylist fussed over my clothes desperately. I handed them the sandwich I’d bought that morning.
“Have some and then work.”
“Aigoo, our Dowon’s still so sweet.”
I looked in the mirror and lightly brushed back the hair the stylist had worked hard on.
“You did a great job. Thank you.”
Even the makeup was good today.
I’d just said thanks, but my hair stylist’s lips trembled.
“Teacher?”
“Sorry. This is all I can do.”
I smiled and shook my head.
“No, you did such a great job today—why cry?”
“Ah, those jerks are the worst. How can they do this to someone as sweet as you!”
Wow.
‘Not really......’
I’m just being nice for the benefits?
‘Can’t have them badmouthing Cha Dowon’s personality anywhere.’
That was it.
“Where’s the venue?”
“G Hotel lobby.”
“Aigoo, thinking of our Dowon getting torn apart by those trash reporters makes me wanna die of frustration.”
Stylist Noona pounded her chest. I grabbed her hand.
“You’ll bruise yourself.”
“Dowon! Don’t back down!”
The cheers were passionate. I smiled brightly and stood.
“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”
“Aigoo, it’s infuriating.”
Leaving Stylist and Hair behind their sniffles, I quietly stepped out. Manager and the security were waiting.
I held out my hand to security.
“Thanks as always, but I’ll be relying on you again today.”
“It’s our job.”
“Sorry for the hassle.”
“No problem.”
A firm hand gripped and released mine.
“Dowon’s always so humble.”
“Manager’d disagree.”
“No, always.”
“I haven’t been an idol long. Too short to call it ‘always.’”
“You’re young, so you’ll be around a long time.”
His way of saying the idol life wasn’t over yet—buck up. I shook hands one by one with everyone helping me today, smiling.
“Really counting on you.”
The security guards’ eyes trembled. Manager was already sobbing loudly.
“Dowon!”
“No one’s dying. Manager, why cry?”
“No, you’re just so good and handsome.”
“The game hasn’t even started. The good part’s coming up.”
Security opened the car door. Come to think of it, new car.
“President lent his own.”
“Nice ride.”
“Lease, probably?”
Info I totally needed. I smirked and got in.
“Lease or not, drive safe. Scratches cost money.”
“My accident-free record’s long! But yeah, first time in something this pricey.”
“Please get us there safe. Not just me—security too.”
Manager wiped his chicken-tear eyes and climbed in. Even on lease, the expensive car purred smoothly to life.
I quietly pulled out my smartphone. Switched to cheat mode, and the familiar screen appeared.
‘Wondered what cheat to use.’
After agonizing, yesterday I’d just gone to sleep.
I carefully swiped the screen.
[Cheat Mode 0/3]
[Today, Cha Dowon’s voice will be heard clearly by anyone.]
[Change complete.]
[Side effect: Ears go deaf for 3 minutes starting 3 seconds from now.]
[Cheat Mode 1/3]
A smirk escaped me.
‘Shut up and listen, basically.’
Wonder if our reporter friends will hear me crystal clear.
Silence fell. I lifted my head and rolled my shoulders and arms amid the traffic.
The car didn’t stop and soon reached the destination.
A massive crowd of reporters was waiting.