The Singer's Secret in the Laundry Corner

Ye Hyeonjung's class schedule was simple.

Morning classes for core subjects, followed by major-specific lessons, and then after-school sessions.

Students who skipped after-school classes went to academies or private lessons instead.

Yuyeon had filled hers entirely with private lessons, thanks to Yoo Sera's help up until now.

So she'd had almost no experience hanging out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with friends outside of school.

That made the chatter in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the academy shuttle bus feel fresh and new to her.

Students short on free time used the ride to swap gossip or listen to pop songs.

But lately, Yuyeon's friends were obsessed with something weird.

A bit tired, Yuyeon had leaned back and closed her eyes.

But she couldn't ignore the bizarre lyrics and snapped her eyes open.

'That damn evil spirit!'

Yuyeon's friends had fallen hook, line, and sinker for some idol group called Evil Spirits, thanks to YouTube's algorithm.

The addictive melody paired with insane high notes that pierced like bullets, and lyrics that blasted past fourth-dimension into sixteenth—impossible to tune out.

"What the hell is this cringey song?"

Sunhwa lit up at Yuyeon's rare interjection and launched into an explanation.

"This? It's 'Little Evil Spirit,' Evil Spirits' debut track. What, you into the oppas now too?"

As if.

Yuyeon had spent her life cycling between violin practice, home, and lessons—no time for pop music.

She didn't even know a single male idol name her age-mates swooned over.

She had picked up that middle schoolers could make bank as idols, sparking mild curiosity.

But not for this freakshow group.

"No, what even are these lyrics? I can't listen to this. This is what's trending now?"

Yuyeon grimaced, and Sehee, who'd been watching, stifled a giggle.

Sunhwa was hooked, but Sehee secretly agreed—it was all too much.

She was just playing along for her friend's sake, half for laughs.

"Nah, it's an old track. Like, Y2K era. All songs back then were like that."

Sunhwa reeled from Sehee's true feelings slipping out.

"What? You said you liked 'Little Evil Spirit' too!"

"I do, I do. But it's fun-cringe, you know? 'The little evil spirit by my side…' Pfft."

Sehee finally burst out laughing, leaving Sunhwa feeling utterly betrayed.

"Yowon, you… you're not like this too, right?"

"Huh? Nah, I prefer Elixer over the song."

Sunhwa beamed at Yowon's words.

"Right? Elixer's main vocal, main dancer, and visual. How's that even possible?"

Sunhwa, equally obsessed with Elixer, rattled off praise, but Yowon looked awkward.

"No… I like Elixer 'cause he looks just like you, Yuyeon."

A question mark popped up on Yuyeon's face.

"…Huh? Like me?"

"Not 'like'—he's basically you. Look, just wipe off that weird makeup…"

Sunhwa muttered, puzzled.

"Now that you mention it, his voice kinda sounds like yours too. Didn't notice with the mic effects."

"Hmm."

Then Sehee snatched Sunhwa's smartphone with a mischievous grin.

"Yuyeon, try singing this!"

Chills raced up Yuyeon's spine.

Of all the parts, they looped the most unbearable one.

"Hey! Are you insane?!"

"C'mon, just once~ Please~!"

Yuyeon couldn't hold out against Sehee's persistence.

She'd nag for days otherwise.

"…The little evil spirit by my side is whispering!"

Silence blanketed the shuttle bus.

It took Sunhwa a while to speak.

"W-what? It's identical. Like Elixer's reincarnated."

Yowon deadpanned.

"Elixer's not dead. He's alive and kicking."

Yuyeon was the most shocked—of course.

Face and voice match?

A deep-buried memory surfaced: her mom's voice.

—Our Yuyeon's voice is just like Oppa when he was little~!

"Hold on. Let me see that."

Snatching Sunhwa's phone, Yuyeon stared at the screen's Elixer.

Hidden under outlandish makeup, but unmistakable.

'…That's my brother.'

Yuyeon realized Elixer was Jang Namhun.

Another memory bubbled up.

—Yuyeon-ah, the angel's on TV!

—…Angel!

Evil Spirits' first album had Elixer as a heaven-sent angel concept.

The video showed him with massive white wings.

"Yuyeon, what's wrong all of a sudden?"

"Nothing… just a bad memory hit me…"

The TV angel she'd adored as a kid was her own brother, Namhun.

The world seemed to crumble.

Sunday morning.

Jang Namhun took his three siblings to a massive hypermart.

Belly Coffee ad.

D-Sync Entertainment vocal trainer.

Wedding singer gigs.

Logistics center, odd jobs, neighborhood academy trainer.

Triple jobs all around, but income had skyrocketed.

He'd worried when the trot offer came, but his wallet suddenly had breathing room.

No need for the living expense support Won-hyung had proposed.

—Glad it's working out, but it's all shaky income that could vanish anytime. Save up now. Tell me if money gets tight.

Namhun had nodded at Won-hyung's advice.

But today, he was ready to splurge.

In tough times, he'd dreamed of this.

One day, with some slack, he'd do exactly this.

"Kids, pick anything you want today! I'll buy it all."

The twins' eyes sparkled.

"Anything?"

"For real?"

"Yeah."

"Hyung, robot too?"

"Sure."

He'd tightened his belt so hard, he'd never bought them proper toys.

"Whoa!"

"Yay!"

"Kids! No running!"

Yuyeon tried reining them in, but failed against their excitement.

"Those rascals."

Namhun grinned at growling Yuyeon.

"Yuyeon, grab what you want too."

"Oppa, are you nuts? Where's this money coming from?"

"No more money worries."

Yuyeon looked up at him quietly.

'Oppa was… a singer? An idol?'

Learning Elixer's identity had thrown Yuyeon into chaos.

Communities had buzzed enough for an Elixer page on the wiki.

Sparse content, though.

Evil Spirits main vocal, main dancer: Elixer.

That was it.

Mystery concept meant scant public info.

No real name Jang Nam, no link to Namhun.

Yuyeon struggled to accept her brother was Elixer.

'Is that really Oppa in the ad?'

Namhun had been out of showbiz for a decade.

Yuyeon had watched him closely.

Hard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to swallow he'd been a celebrity.

Even if he was Elixer.

How'd he land an ad out of nowhere?

That part baffled her.

'But he said he found new work.'

She knew his looks were next-level, even as family.

Maybe the ad cast him as an Elixer lookalike?

Such thoughts crossed her mind.

"What're you doing? Go pick something."

Recalling her friends' words, Yuyeon glanced at Namhun.

Yeah, time to check.

Yuyeon eyed him slyly.

"Can I get a washer then?"

"What?"

"Ours is ancient. And tiny. A big one means no coin laundry for blankets."

A washer?

Namhun's heart twisted at her un-middle-school-like request.

He'd expected makeup or clothes, puberty and all.

'Oh, right—this is a mart.'

Realizing the venue mismatch, he added:

"Doesn't have to be from the mart."

"But I want a washer most. It's gonna break soon—makes weird noises."

"…Yeah, true."

Theirs was a near-20-year-old rental room hand-me-down.

Appliances right ahead.

'Let's check prices.'

Eyes widened at the washer-tower display tag.

"…3 million won? Damn, pricey."

Last he knew, washers ran 500k.

He always skipped appliance aisles.

"Do we really need a dryer?"

Wash-only models half price.

Yuyeon replied to his mutter.

"Kids say it's a game-changer. Dries in two hours, wear right away. Just air-dry no-dryer stuff—cuts chores big time."

"Really?"

These kids were plugged in.

Namhun pondered seriously.

They'd leaned on Yuyeon for housework out of necessity, but not forever.

'Yeah. If it's stressing her out that bad, buy one now.'

Going zero-help from her was unrealistic.

Still, lighten her load as much as possible.

He planned a loan for a full deposit house once he saved more.

New appliances then anyway—early purchase fine.

"Looking for something?"

A salesperson spotted Namhun hovering.

"Want a washer. Dryer too."

"Ah, washer-tower models then."

"What's the diff between these? Look similar, but million-won gap."

"This one's bigger capacity, extra features…"

The rep explained functions, but Namhun, clueless, caught half.

Quietly listening, Yuyeon asked:

"Why's the single-door pricier than double? And smaller?"

The one she pointed at mimicked a standard drum but tagged 4 million.

"Combo model. One machine washes and dries. Compact, so mini-washer fits below."

"Mini-washer?"

"Yeah. Families with kids do small daily loads? Stack a mini underneath."

"Ah."

The rep eyed hesitant Namhun and Yuyeon.

Twentysomething guy and young girl buying washer-dryer?

Veteran instinct gauged their situation; tactfully:

"These cheaper models here. Miss some bells, but essentials like auto-detergent all there. Our bestseller."

"Looks similar."

"Yes. Display unit's extra 20% off."

"So 2 million range?"

"Exactly 2.17 million."

"Detergent refill every few months?"

"Three or four, normally."

"I see."

Overhearing, Namhun marveled inwardly.

'How's she know all this?'

At her age, he'd been clueless.

Mom handled meals and laundry.

Busy with shows? Housekeeper auntie covered.

He'd grown without a drop of water on his hands.

First dishwashing: after joining b-boy crew.

Now a housework pro who could bleach Yuyeon's uniform stains.

But back then? Hopeless.

'…Situation's worse than I thought.'

He'd seen it as minor hand-borrowing.

"Wool course needs manual detergent tray, right? No auto."

"Yes—impressive for your age, you know everything."

The rep's genuine awe hit Namhun like rebuke.

To know this, she'd researched tons.

Meaning practice time stolen.

"We'll take this one."

"Pardon?"

"The priciest. And a dishwasher too…"

As Namhun snapped up high-end appliances, Yuyeon was convinced.

He was Elixer.