Chapter 342
Chapter 342
I never gave him my address, and we never made an appointment, yet here he is, standing right in front of the dorm door.
He’d left a hell of a lot of missed calls without even ringing the doorbell.
And what if that guy already had a track record of legendary madness?
‘Shit.’
I double-checked Cheong-ryeo’s expression through the gap in the door chain.
His face was still strikingly void of emotion.
“What are you doing here?”
“I didn’t come here on purpose. I just stopped by on my way back to my dorm.”
“I don’t recall ever giving you my address.”
“I told you last time.”
No, he didn't.
“You told me what floor you lived on.”
“…….”
Right. Back when I ran into him in the early morning while he was with his dog, I had mentioned it in passing to lighten the mood before bringing up information about ‘Ryu Gun-woo.’
And if he knew which wing I lived in, it wouldn't be hard to figure out the exact unit...
‘You just pieced it together after digging for info, you bastard.’
It was the kind of habit only someone with a "restart" button left to push would have the gall to maintain.
I didn't think he was far gone enough to lose his social judgment to this extent, but Cheong-ryeo wasn't finished.
“I have some news to share.”
“What news…?”
Then came the unexpected answer.
“Kong-i is sick.”
“……!”
What?
“I’m on my way back after leaving her at the hospital.”
Only then did I correctly interpret his bizarre behavior.
The guy… was out of his mind with worry.
‘Shit.’
I suppressed a sigh for a different reason.
“Hold on.”
Click.
I unlatched the chain and stepped out, closing the door behind me. It didn't matter since our dorm was the only one on this floor.
“…What’s wrong with her?”
“Acute renal failure.”
Cheong-ryeo’s eyes twitched slightly.
“She was right on the verge of it. The person working for me… brought grapes and didn't clean them up properly.”
“…….”
“This is a first for me.”
His voice was calm enough that I’d believe him if he said he’d just smashed the back of that ‘worker’s’ head with a sledgehammer.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose.
“Did you get an apology?”
“Does that matter? It’s not like their words will take the pain away.”
It was the value judgment of someone who had earned more money than they could spend in a lifetime.
‘So he rushed out to take care of the dog first.’
And once the emergency measures were taken… a lot of thoughts must have crossed his mind on the way back.
‘Was that why he called so many times? To tell me this?’
I guessed the reason behind the missed calls. Cheong-ryeo continued quietly.
“I won't be able to send any update photos of Kong-i for a while, so I thought I should explain.”
“…….”
“You like Kong-i, don't you, Hoobae-nim?”
For crying out loud.
“You could have just sent a text.”
“Ah.”
Did he seriously just realize that?
But he quickly pivoted.
“Well… I figured I could just tell you in person.”
“You could have told me over the phone, too.”
“That was just a heads-up. It would be rude to show up unannounced. I had to be careful since there might be others in the dorm.”
“……How did you even guess I’d be here?”
“If you weren't, I could just go back. Why would I need to guess?”
He was spouting nonsense as if it were perfectly rational. He really wasn't in his right mind.
I rubbed my eyes.
It seemed he was so incredibly anxious that he just wanted to talk to someone, but he didn't realize he was in that state at all.
“Your dog will be fine.”
Cheong-ryeo tilted his head.
“Really? I’m not sure how you can be so certain.”
“You must have left her at a specialized hospital, right? If they let the guardian go home immediately, it means she’s stable. They probably explained the prognosis to you, too.”
“…….”
He stared into space for a long time before speaking again.
“They did.”
“…….”
“They said because we acted fast, her kidneys weren't severely damaged. She took the IV well, and they said they’d call if her condition suddenly worsened, though they said the chances were low.”
“See.”
“I have a schedule starting tomorrow anyway, so I wouldn't be able to look after her myself.”
“Right.”
I nodded.
“You made the right call, so what’s the problem?”
“I don't know. I guess I just realized how often unexpected accidents happen in life.”
“…Hmm.”
His eyes were dark.
I hoped he was still talking about the dog. Surely he wasn't planning to cause an "accident" for the person who dropped the grapes.
‘Actually, neither is a particularly good sign.’
That dog clearly occupied a massive portion of his life. This was the first time I’d seen his mental state crumble like this since the VTIC main vocalist got kicked out.
‘…It is a similar situation.’
A situation where something important in his life was about to be ruined by an uncontrollable factor.
Wait… his Reset Syndrome isn't going to relapse, is it?
It wouldn't even be surprising if he suddenly suggested killing Gold 2 just to see what happens next...
‘I can't let that happen.’
I remained silent for a moment before speaking.
This guy needed to live with a bit more peace of mind, regardless of what he placed at the center of his life.
“Accidents happen no matter how you live. It’s impossible for anyone to be prepared for everything.”
“…….”
“So what matters is how well you handle the accident once it happens. In that regard, I think you did quite well today.”
“…!”
“Because you acted quickly, the dog didn't have to suffer as much. It’s a relief she’ll be healthy again thanks to that.”
I reached a short conclusion once more.
“You did well.”
“…….”
Cheong-ryeo stood there blankly for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“…Yes. I suppose so.”
“So, your dog will—”
“You’re right. As long as Kong-i recovers without any aftereffects, there’s no problem.”
We were still on different wavelengths. I expected as much.
Still, he seemed to have regained some composure; his tone had calmed down. His expression also returned to its usual state.
“Come see her once she’s discharged.”
“We’ll see.”
I nodded, and a faint smile finally returned to his face.
‘Good.’
I didn't know why I was providing aftercare for the guy who tried to kill me, but I found myself working for free.
And during the time I should have been doing other work, no less.
‘My break from the composition camp is….’
I looked down at the smartphone in my hand and realized there was a significant time gap between the missed calls and the last call.
‘It’s been almost thirty minutes.’
It seemed Cheong-ryeo had been standing outside this front door longer than I thought.
‘That’s an irrational waste of time by his standards.’
I suppose he felt frustrated because I was the only one who knew the specific circumstances of why he had that dog.
I hesitated for a moment before asking.
“Do your group members know?”
Cheong-ryeo answered readily.
“No. They’re not at the dorm right now. I sent them all to the company because of that matter.”
“…?”
That matter?
“Ah.”
Cheong-ryeo tilted his head.
“Hoobae-nim, you haven't checked the internet today, have you?”
“…….”
“Right. If you didn't ignore my calls on purpose, that must be it. You aren't using your phone? Are you preparing an album, or just resting?”
Why does this guy keep trying to deduce my status?
“Did something happen?”
Was it another scandal?
None of the remaining VTIC members seemed like the type to cause trouble, but then again, it’s not always the suspicious ones who mess up.
However, Cheong-ryeo looked indifferent.
“It’s not that something happened, but rather that what was bound to happen finally did.”
“Bound to happen?”
“Hmm? Everyone has to enlist eventually.”
“…!!”
A bolt of lightning suddenly struck my mind.
Is it already time…? No, it’s good for us, but it shouldn't be time for you guys yet.
“Isn't there still time left? I heard you guys got some cultural merit award and postponed your enlistment.”
“Well… we already finished discussing doing it on schedule.”
Cheong-ryeo leaned against the wall with a faint smile.
“We agreed that it would be best for the group’s longevity.”
“…Ah.”
No way.
“Simultaneous enlistment. Simultaneous discharge.”
“…….”
My suspicion hit the mark.
A legendary group action where every member enlists and gets discharged at the same time.
It was the fastest way to return as a full group, but it was a drastic measure that completely blocked any individual activities in the meantime.
To think there were people who would actually do that.
“That’s why I told you. Winning the Grand Prize this year will be a bit easier.”
“…….”
I slowly nodded. Now I understood.
“Then you’re going, too.”
So his mental breakdown wasn't just about Reset Syndrome or whatever; the pre-enlistment jitters must have played a part...
“Hmm? No.”
Hey.
“I told you, I’m only going for six months. I’ll be going next year. Isn't it obvious that it’s more impactful if we all get discharged together?”
He really was consistently good at getting under people's skin.
“So, I’ll be the only one appearing at the award ceremonies at the end of this year. That’s what was reported in the media today.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
Regardless, Cheong-ryeo spoke as if it were nothing new. He looked a bit subdued, but nothing extraordinary.
‘The internet must be in an uproar.’
I started to imagine the situation online but stopped.
“Aren't you happy? A competitor who’s hard to beat is disappearing for you.”
“I can win even if you don't go.”
“Ah. I see.”
He clearly didn't believe me. Shit.
“How do you feel about it?”
“I don't know. Not great. Managing a hiatus is tricky.”
His reaction was more strictly professional than I expected.
Even though all the guys he lived with were leaving, he didn't seem to have much of a human emotional response.
‘Hmm…’
“It is a bit strange, though. It’s my first time making it this far.”
“…….”
“I’ll be using the dorm by myself, too….”
He suddenly stopped mid-sentence. At that moment, a sound came from the front door.
Beep, beep, beep.
The sound of the door unlocking.
“…!”
Then, a torso popped out.
It was Keun Se-jin.
“Mundae-Mundae, why did you go out—,”
He must have come looking for me because my break was almost over and I was nowhere to be found.
But he stopped talking as soon as he saw Cheong-ryeo standing nearby. Dammit.
“Lee Se-jin.”
“Wait.”
And the guy switched gears in an instant.
“Ah, Sunbae-nim, hello!”
“Hello.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you. What brings you here…?”
“A lot?”
“…….”
Keun Se-jin paused for a second but quickly replied in the same tone.
“Yes~ A lot.”
In the meantime, I heard Kim Rae-bin shouting from behind the front door.
“Hyung, is someone here?”
“Well~ about that,”
“Just a second.”
This won't do. I grabbed Keun Se-jin and pulled him back inside.
Thud.
As soon as the door closed, Keun Se-jin’s face hardened.
“Park Moon-dae, why is that guy here?”
“His dog collapsed… No, anyway, it’s not related to us. More importantly, VTIC is enlisting.”
“What??”
“Gasp, are the VTIC Sunbae-nims already enlisting?”
“…….”
“Oh my goodness. Did he come here to tell us that?”
Looking at Kim Rae-bin, who had rushed out, I realized the situation was escalating faster than I thought.
The guys gathered in the living room had at least heard Kim Rae-bin’s voice.
“Enlistment??”
“…That guy is outside right now?”
“Whoa, did Moon-dae hyung call him?”
“…! Did you perhaps recruit him to receive advice for our work…….”
“Wait.”
I stopped the conversation for now. I was breaking into a cold sweat.
“First of all, I didn't call him.”
“Then why?”
I mixed in his circumstances appropriately, making an excuse along the lines of, ‘His dog had an accident, but his acquaintances were all busy, so he had no one to talk to and came here.’
‘…Wait, now that I think about it, it’s not an excuse, it’s the truth.’
That’s just how it turned out.
“Oh, poor puppy….”
“I see.”
The guys who only knew that Cheong-ryeo and I had fought like cats and dogs seemed more or less convinced.
Bae Se-jin looked like he wanted to scream at him to get lost right now, but Ryu Cheong-woo was holding him back, so it should be fine.
I immediately threw out a closing remark.
“I’ll go send him off for now.”
“Ah, I should see the big Sunbae-nim off too~”
“…….”
Fine, do whatever you want.
I didn't bother shaking off Keun Se-jin and opened the front door again.
Cheong-ryeo was still leaning against the wall. Just go home already, you bastard.
“I guess everyone was home. Um, sorry if I caused any trouble.”
“It’s fine.”
What a headache.
“I thought of something to tell you as an apology.”
“Pardon?”
Cheong-ryeo shrugged, then opened his phone and sent a file to me.
“…?”
“…It’s an audio file.”
Keun Se-jin was right. But it wasn't a song.
[Future's Midday Radio – Spacer Kwon Hee-seung Cut]
It was a cut from a radio broadcast featuring Gold 2.