Chapter 323
Chapter 323
Park Moon-dae going to meet Ryu Gun-woo with Ryu Cheong-woo… I see.
“Moon-dae, were you really surprised? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
How the hell did things escalate this quickly? I pressed down on my eyelids to keep them from trembling.
So… Ryu Cheong-woo had finally tracked down Ryu Gun-woo’s whereabouts. Right, let’s start with that.
“I was a bit surprised. I’m curious how he suddenly got in touch.”
“Right? I felt the same way.”
No, your reason and my reason are definitely different. Regardless, Ryu Cheong-woo continued his explanation with a faint smile.
“One of the grandsons from the main family met him at the Seoul Civil Service Training Center and reached out.”
“I guess a lot of people in the clan remembered him.”
I had a feeling it wasn't just that "a lot of people remembered him."
It was more likely that the elders of the clan—who would do anything for Ryu Cheong-woo, the former national gold medalist and current Grand Prize-winning idol—had badgered every person they knew to track him down.
‘Well, it makes sense.’
A single title is already an overdose of national pride, but with double titles, it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin.
That’s why they managed to apprehend Ryu Gun-woo’s body the moment he started his professional life.
Setting the situation aside, I accepted the logic. I nodded silently.
‘But how do I turn this car around?’
The day this guy notices the bizarre vibe between me and the Park Moon-dae inhabiting Ryu Gun-woo’s body, I’ll be booking a room in a psychiatric ward. My mind raced frantically.
At the very least, I needed to get Ryu Cheong-woo to just drop me off in front of Ryu Gun-woo and drive away…
“I’m sorry. I think I got too excited and made this a surprise. You probably needed time to prepare yourself mentally.”
He was making excuses for me. I struggled not to look relieved and answered solemnly.
“Well, I’m grateful, but I’m so nervous and overwhelmed that I’m worried if I’ll even be able to hold a proper conversation. How about we head back for today?”
It would be idiotic to suddenly blather, “I changed my mind, I don’t want to meet him,” right after I’d made such a fuss about finding him when the topic of the "price of a life" came up.
‘I’ll take my time and slowly steer us away.’
However, Ryu Cheong-woo spoke with a worried expression.
“Really? If we don't do it today, it’ll be hard to find time for a while… We have the tour right after the awards ceremonies.”
Damn it.
“Hmm… I suppose I should try to make time somehow.”
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a soft smile.
“Don’t worry too much. Since I have my license… I can manage to sneak you out behind the company’s back for a bit.”
“……”
“You don’t have a license, Moon-dae.”
“……Right. Thank you.”
This is driving me crazy.
‘Sigh…’
Now that this guy already knows, it’s difficult to just wash my hands of it and meet Ryu Gun-woo separately.
Moreover, since he went through the trouble of setting this up, rejecting him and whining for the contact information instead could turn into an emotional issue.
‘He’d think I flipped my stance after he turned the whole clan upside down to find him.’
I even started thinking that maybe it was better to just stay in this car and see him today. I weighed various possibilities.
Then, I reached a conclusion.
“If you’re too nervous, we can head back for now, and I’ll talk to the company to set aside some time—”
“No. I’ll try to calm down on the way.”
“Mm, alright.”
Let’s not make this a bigger deal than it is. The moment I mention it to the company, it might leak to staff or reporters, and then things will truly turn into a mess.
‘There are already too many people interested in Park Moon-dae’s past.’
Ryu Gun-woo is a civilian, but he’s Ryu Cheong-woo’s relative. I couldn't guarantee that no one would try to dig into his financial situation or family environment.
“……”
Fine, fuck it. I’ve decided. I’m going now.
Since things had come to this, I forced a smile. If I looked like trash here, it would only arouse more suspicion.
“Anyway… thank you so much. It’s a bit shocking, and my heart is racing.”
In more ways than one.
“Haha. I get it. We still have some time, so I’ll drive slowly.”
I tried one last time to induce a "mid-way drop-off" by suggesting he could just drop me off and go, in order to eliminate him before the meeting with Ryu Gun-woo, but…
“Hmm, how would you get back?”
That shut me up instantly.
If I didn't want the company to find out, I couldn't call a manager. If I took a taxi, there would be sightings.
‘Either way, Ryu Cheong-woo is better for security…’
Once I gave up, I felt strangely at peace. Let’s just do what needs to be done.
I deleted the draft of the text I was writing, which contained two or three candidate numbers for "Big Moon." I couldn't risk Ryu Cheong-woo seeing a record of it if we exchanged phones or something.
‘I’ll just pretend to exchange numbers and part ways quickly.’
I drew up several scenarios, but for some reason, I had a nagging feeling in the back of my neck.
And then, a practical question occurred to me.
“By the way… is the appointment with him confirmed?”
“Huh?”
Ryu Cheong-woo shrugged.
“I got word. My relative who’s at the training center with him said he agreed when they asked if he could spare a moment to meet someone who wanted to see him.”
What?
*
A short while later, at a training center on the outskirts of Seoul.
People who had just finished today’s training were pouring out of the gates.
Because the training had been rushed in Seoul due to appointment issues, there was no dormitory stay; they were just commuting… Not that it was any of my business, since I hadn't even passed the exam.
The important thing was that "Ryu Gun-woo" was actually waiting in a room at the restaurant next door.
‘This guy.’
I was stunned. There was no need to doubt whether he’d fall for such a flimsy line as "someone wants to meet you."
He had fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
“Oh, um, hello.”
Seeing that reaction, the one inside was definitely "Big Moon." I became certain as I listened to the tone of a guy who looked like he was about to break into a cold sweat.
It was irritating, but it was also a relief.
Ever since I saw him in the mental world, I thought I’d feel a similar sense of uncanny dissonance when I saw him in person, but that wasn't the case.
On the contrary, since it was my first time seeing him move Ryu Gun-woo’s body in person… it felt quite profound.
Perhaps this is what it would feel like if I had a younger brother.
“Did you… come to see me?”
Yes, you punk. I want to know why the hell you’re physically fine but haven't contacted me, yet you show up for a suspicious meeting like this.
…Since I couldn't say that, I calmly bowed my head first.
“Hello, Hyung.”
“Ye-yes?”
“You remember me, right? I’m Park Moon-dae, the one you helped.”
Get with the program. Please.
Big Moon looked at me and Ryu Cheong-woo quickly, then answered with a look that practically had an exclamation mark floating over his head.
“Ah, a-ah~ Moon-dae… right!”
“…Yes.”
We’re screwed. This guy has zero talent for acting.
However, although Ryu Cheong-woo looked a bit puzzled, he seemed to think the guy was just flustered and greeted him with a smile.
“I was surprised to hear that Moon-dae had a relative who helped him so much. Thank you for meeting us like this.”
Given our profession, it seemed like he was going to stay put, considering that various difficult situations could arise.
In fact, since he was Ryu Gun-woo’s relative and Park Moon-dae’s groupmate, there was nothing to criticize about him sitting there.
‘In fact, trying to kick him out might cause hard feelings.’
He’d probably leave on his own once he felt he’d sufficiently broken the ice. Until then, there was nothing I could do. I watched the scene with a heavy heart.
“Don’t mention it…! It’s not like I did much. I actually… Gun-woo… h-hem.”
I knew you’d be like this. I immediately changed the subject.
“Let’s eat first.”
“Ah, let’s do that. What would you like, Gun-woo Hyung-nim… Ah, is it okay if I call you that?”
“…Yes.”
It’s a disaster. I was planning to just have tea and leave quickly, but now we’re ordering food.
My stomach churned as I watched Ryu Cheong-woo order a course meal. The path to covering for him already felt miles long.
‘Damn it.’
…And an hour later.
By the time we had finished the appetizers and were putting the main course, Peking duck, into our mouths, the number of times I’d had to fix Big Moon’s slips of the tongue had exceeded five.
“……”
A personal record.
‘I had a feeling.’
At this point, it was becoming a habit. It wasn't that Big Moon was particularly careless. It was just that Ryu Cheong-woo kept trying to lighten the mood by leading the conversation, and the wrong terms of address would slip out occasionally.
For instance, when explaining how Park Moon-dae and Ryu Gun-woo met:
—Ah, back then, really, while buying him a meal, even though it was the first time we met, he gave so much advice…
—Hyung gave it to me. I still remember it well.
It was like that. It was a close call.
Big Moon tried his best to speak while being conscious of our swapped bodies, but it wasn't easy for a guy who had done nothing but study for four years to do that while eating.
For the record, the Dongpo pork course just before this was the peak.
—Back then, Gun-woo Hyung… Uh-oh.
He’d messed up the honorific.
I won’t lie. I broke into a cold sweat there, too.
—…Yes. I was saying that ‘Gun-woo Hyung was a big help, and I’m grateful.’
—…….
Honestly, I thought we were done for.
But Ryu Cheong-woo merely replied quite gently.
—Ah, I see.
And a moment later, he whispered to me in a low voice.
‘I guess he’s a bit tired from talking so much after only studying for so long. I’ll hold back.’
‘…….’
Following the car ride, Ryu Cheong-woo had once again come up with an excuse on his own. It was a side of him that befitted a sincere, upright person who tried to understand others.
‘I agree. Let’s wrap this up quickly.’
I survived by quickly playing along with his assumption.
And finally, just before the final starch course arrived.
“I’ll be right back; I need to take a quick call.”
“Okay!”
Ryu Cheong-woo left the room.
Click.
The moment the door closed, I saw the guy opposite me let out a long sigh.
“Phew…”
You’ve had a hard time.
I crossed my arms and stared at the guy in front of me. Knowing his mistake, he kept his gaze lowered.
“……”
“……”
Good. No one was nearby.
I uncrossed my arms, opened my mouth, and brought up the real business.
“Why didn't you contact me?”
He looked perfectly fine. I was worried something else had happened, which made my calculations complicated.
But the guy opposite me was startled.
“I did…! I did!”
What?
“I didn't get anything, so I was about to contact you myself. What are you talking about?”
“Uh, I thought this was that contact… Ah, no. First of all…”
Big Moon replied with a deeply aggrieved face.
“I texted you right after I saw you win the award, Hyung…”
“……”
Wait. I went through a verification process.
“Right after watching the live broadcast?”
“Yes… You didn't reply, so I thought you were busy and waited.”
Hey.
“I told you… to contact me after the awards ceremony was over.”
“Huh??”
He had a blank expression as if to say, Isn't that the same thing? I pressed my temples and said,
“I have all numbers not in my contacts blocked, and while I’m working at an awards ceremony, I don't have time to look at my smartphone, so I can't change the settings.”
“…! Gasp.”
His text had been filtered out along with the countless other messages that arrived the moment we won. Big Moon bowed his head.
“I’m sorry…!”
“Forget it.”
It was my fault for not explaining the reason in detail. I suppressed a sigh.
“And if a stranger sets up a meeting like this, ask for more details.”
I didn't know where he got the nerve to accept such a suspicious invitation.
The guy opposite me muttered in a dejected voice.
“No… I thought this was some kind of signal you were sending me, Hyung.”
“A signal?”
“Like 007. Since we have the same ‘Ryu’ surname, I thought you’d contacted me this way or that… Since Ryu Cheong-woo-ssi is also a member…”
“……”
He really has a vivid imagination. But it was also funny because he had unexpectedly pierced through to the core of the situation.
I let out a short laugh.
“Right. You were right this time. I’m just telling you to be careful from now on.”
“Yes!”
Seeing a proud expression on Ryu Gun-woo’s face felt bizarre. It was even less like me than I had expected.
‘Does the impression change this much depending on who’s inside?’
I accepted that fact with a bit of distaste and then moved on to the next topic.
It was the most urgent subject.
“And the thing you need to be most careful about right now is watching your words so you don't get caught.”
“Gulp. Yes…”
He bowed his head as if he also felt frustrated.
“Actually, this situation is partly my fault for asking Ryu Cheong-woo to look into my body’s whereabouts. So don't worry too much. I’ll keep covering for you.”
However, I explained that he should avoid giving long answers and keep them short, using the excuse of being "tired from training."
The guy nodded with all his heart. It seemed he’d understood well.
I also gave myself a task.
“I’ll try to manage the topics from now on so that our past stories don't come up.”
The guy opposite me, his eyes sparkled.
“Ah, then should we talk about TeSTAR instead?”
“That would be fine.”
“Ahem, if it’s that, I can talk about everything from the debut days onwards.”
Good grief.
Perhaps he had relaxed a bit, as his shoulders slumped slightly. In the now-peaceful atmosphere of the room, I offered him the remaining pieces of Peking duck.
“Eat while you answer slowly.”
“Yes!”
But regardless of the atmosphere calming down, there was a thought that naturally followed once the topic of debut came up.
The experience in that mental world, where the scenery of our debut song Magical Boy’s teaser unfolded through the balcony window.
And the statement he made there that had been weighing on my mind.
“……”
I slowly opened my mouth.
“About you.”
“Yes!”
“…Last time, you said you’d be in my care for a while in that body. Do you plan on leaving that body soon?”
“……”
“You don't have to.”
The face that had been showing embarrassment and joy until now stiffened slightly. Instead, a strange expression, one that looked almost less than human, appeared on his face.
It was the same feeling I’d seen in the mental world. I fell silent.
His answer came without hesitation.
“I have to.”
What?
“But Hyung, it’s not my choice.”
“…Then.”
“The last date I lived as a human is already set, isn't it?”
The day this guy fell from the railing and made a wish to the system.
“That’s next summer.”
“……”
“So, the date I can use this body… is only until next summer.”
God damn it.