Chapter 20: The Cost of Counseling
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: The Cost of Counseling
I gave Rize a nudge as she lay motionless on the sofa, looking like a corpse.
"Rize. You alive?"
The back of her head twitched.
Then, she answered with surprisingly clear pronunciation for someone with her face buried in a cushion.
"……Yes, Oppa. I’m alive."
"Mmm. How’s your ankle?"
"It hurts a bit, but I can walk."
It felt like I was having a conversation with the back of her head.
Judging by her voice, it didn't seem like a major injury, but I decided to check her condition just in case.
"Let me see your ankle first."
I helped Rize sit up on the sofa and inspected her ankle.
"......"
It was definitely swollen. I pressed the area very lightly with my finger just to be sure, and I saw her brows knit together in pain.
"You need to go to the hospital. Get ready quickly and come down to the parking lot."
"I think I'll be fine if I just rest."
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Yes, sir."
Rize eventually trudged toward the bathroom.
While I waited in the parking lot, Rize limped down about thirty minutes later.
She wore a hat pulled low and a plain white T-shirt. A jacket to keep out the cold, and a pair of shorts that fully revealed her long, slender, model-like legs. To top off the unconventional look, she was barefoot in a pair of classic three-striped slippers.
Her legs, stretching out refreshingly long, were dazzling enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.
I watched Rize limp toward the car and said, "If a paparazzi catches you, it’ll be all over the news. 'The Shocking Daily Wear of an Idol Leader.'"
"I was in such a rush to come down that I didn't have time to prepare."
Underneath the low-brimmed hat, her face was almost unfairly beautiful.
Rize had her usual calm and relaxed expression, but the atmosphere around her felt slightly different than usual.
"Does your ankle hurt a lot?"
"It’s just a bit uncomfortable when I walk."
Rize answered nonchalantly as if telling me not to worry, but having seen her limping toward the car, I couldn't believe her.
When I stared at her without a word, Rize let out a sigh and looked out the window.
"Actually, it does hurt quite a bit."
"You should have said something sooner. Were you planning on hiding it the whole time?"
".....I thought it would get better if I rested. I'm sorry."
I understood how she felt.
They were supposed to resume their schedule now, and she probably thought that if she got injured and schedules were canceled, she’d be a burden to the team.
Because of her position as the leader and the eldest, it was highly likely she intentionally didn't tell the members about her injury.
The weight of a leader's responsibility must be heavy on those slender shoulders.
"……But did you really roll off the bed while sleeping?"
"Actually, I was working on music until dawn and fell asleep in my chair… and I rolled off of that. I’m sorry. I should have been more careful……."
"……No, it can’t be helped."
I replied and stole a glance at Rize.
With her wine-colored hair and calm, delicate eyes, she had an overwhelming aura that made it strangely difficult to strike up a conversation when she was silent—likely due to her position as a girl group leader.
To think she hurt her ankle by falling off a chair.... How absurd.
Glancing at Rize’s white legs stretching out from under her shorts, I started the car and asked, "By the way, why did you wear shorts? Isn't it cold?"
"Just in case."
As I found out later, Rize’s decision to wear shorts was quite practical.
After going to the hospital, getting her ankle examined, and even taking X-rays, the diagnosis was a sprain—stretched ankle ligaments. She was told to avoid any strenuous exercise for at least two weeks.
A short while later, Rize emerged from the hospital with her ankle in a cast.
"Oppa, I'm sorry for making things so difficult for you."
"It's fine. I'd much rather be out getting some fresh air like this than being stuck in the office."
I had already informed the Team Leader that Rize had strained her ligaments.
Upon hearing that the leader of the girl group currently enjoying the highest popularity at KG Entertainment was injured, the Team Leader ordered me to keep checking on Rize’s condition and told me it was fine if I returned to the office late.
".....I'm sorry."
Rize, with her hat pulled low and a mask on, let out a sigh. Even though I couldn't see her face, I could feel her immense guilt.
Seeing Rize follow me on crutches, sighing like an old soul, I offered some words of comfort.
"Don't be sorry. If anything, I'm just glad it wasn't a bigger injury."
"......."
Despite my comfort, Rize’s expression didn't improve.
She wasn't usually one for big emotional displays, but right now, the atmosphere was so gloomy it was obvious she was feeling down.
The reason was that several of Estella's schedules for next week had to be canceled.
The fan events remained, but the university festival performances were set to be called off.
Depending on how her recovery went, more events might be canceled later.
Ever since she heard that news, she had been in this depressed mood.
"Haa... because of me, schedules are being canceled for no reason."
"How is that your fault? It’s that chair’s fault. Don't worry about it too much."
Once back in the car, Rize didn't make a scene, but she occasionally let out deep sighs while staring blankly out the window, lost in thought.
Even someone as oblivious as me could tell she wasn't doing well, especially since she was usually so relaxed and composed.
Before starting the engine, I spoke up.
"The Team Leader told me to feed you before taking you back to the dorm. Is there anything you want to eat?"
"Not really, at the moment...."
No reaction, even to the mention of food.
Left with no choice, I decided to use my trump card.
"Want me to buy you a drink?"
"A drink?"
She showed a slight reaction at the mention of alcohol.
Encouraged by her slightly brighter voice, I nodded.
"Yeah. I don't mean going to a bar or anything. Let's just grab a couple of cans of beer from a convenience store on the way and go get some fresh air."
"......"
"If you don't want to, that's fine. Should we just go back to the dorm?"
When I made a motion to turn the steering wheel toward the dormitory, Rize stopped me with a serious face.
"No. I think that's a great idea, Oppa."
"But it's a secret from everyone else."
"I'll keep it a secret from the members, too."
We exchanged looks like we were plotting something wicked, and after reaching a silent agreement, we both nodded at the same time.
.
.
.
Spotting a convenience store along the way, I left Rize in the car and went inside alone.
Beep—
"That will be 8,000 won."
"Here you go."
I paid for the alcohol with my own money.
Of course, Rize earned far more than I did, but I didn't want to be a moocher to a girl younger than me.
After buying some beer, soju, and snacks, I left the store.
Before returning to the car, I opened the app.
===========
Name: Rize (Real Name: Shin Ara)
Age: 23
Date of Birth: August 7, 2001
Physical: 169cm, 50kg, Type B
Sexual Experience: None
Erogenous Zones: Breasts, Clitoris, Armpits, Anal
Fetishes: Viewable!
Current Hypnosis List:
[Rize, the leader of the girl group, wants to confide her worries to her manager, Seo Ji-hoon.]
[She confesses all her worries honestly and feels a sense of relief every time she receives counseling.]
==========
I felt a bit bad for Rize, but I thought this situation was actually a stroke of luck.
I intended to use this as an opportunity.
First, I checked Rize’s trait list, which had been unlocked as the app leveled up.
=============
1. Possessiveness (21%)
2. Dependency (23%)
3. Obsession (32%)
=============
"Mmm......."
These were some pretty extreme fetishes.
To think that Rize, who always led the group without complaint as the idol leader, had this side to her.
But can these even be called fetishes?
Or were they related to her fetishes?
Feeling momentarily puzzled, I went ahead and added a new hypnosis.
===========
[Every time she receives counseling from Seo Ji-hoon, she feels affection for him. In return, she relieves his semen using her mouth or hands.]
[Points required to set this command: 4,000]
============
"There we go."
Having added the hypnosis, I headed back to the car where Rize was waiting, carrying the convenience store bag.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Rize was waiting for me, wiggling her toes where they peeked out from the cast.
"Sorry for the wait. Here."
Seeing the bag full of canned beer, Rize’s face brightened, and she gave a small smile.
"Thanks, Oppa. I feel better already."
"Is it thanks to me, or are you just happy because you're about to drink?"
"Well, it's basically the same thing."
Rize’s thin eyes curved beautifully at my joke.
"Aren't you scared? If we get caught, I'll just get scolded, but you might get fired as a manager, Oppa."
"Well.... I'll just have to pray my crypto does well then."
"Don't worry. I'll keep it a secret."
"Gee, thanks."
Sharing light conversation like that, I drove the car toward the park.