Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: A Friend in Need
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Chapter 217.
Sseondi entered the cafe wearing ivory loafers, a dark brown dress that fell to her knees, a light brown sweater with a deep neckline layered over it, and a leather eco-bag slung over her shoulder.
“Huh? I’ve seen her somewhere.”
“She looks like a celebrity.”
“Isn’t she a celebrity?”
‘What have I been doing for the past ten years, ever since I was a trainee?’
At the common reaction from people who seemed to recognize her but didn’t know who she was, Sseondi smiled bitterly and headed to the second floor of the cafe. She then found a table that offered the most privacy from prying eyes and sat down.
Sseondi was grateful to Seul-bi for staying in constant contact with her, a connection born from a minor encounter on a filming set.
‘Why is she so nice to me when there’s nothing she can gain from it?’
Ever since Seul-bi had eliminated her from the dance competition program, then brought her to a JD Enter company dinner, she had been incredibly kind.
No matter how she tried to doubt her, there was nothing Seul-bi—who had already risen to stardom and was climbing higher by the day—could possibly gain from her.
*Bzzzt.*
-Seul-bi: Sseon-yeong unni, I’m so sorry… The shoot ran way later than expected.
It was already twenty minutes past their scheduled meeting time.
-Sseondi: Oh… it’s okay. Go home and get some rest. Let’s meet another time.
Sseondi sighed and began to pack her bag again.
-Seul-bi: No, no. I was so tired I passed out as soon as I got in the car. Just 10 more min, please. I’m almost there.
Seul-bi’s text made Sseondi’s eyes well up for some reason.
-Seul-bi: Unni, sorry, but could you buy me an iced Americano in advance…? I’ll treat you to dinner later!!!!
Asking her to buy coffee when she was already late might seem shameless to some, but Sseondi knew Seul-bi’s true intentions. Seul-bi wasn’t that kind of thoughtless person.
This was Seul-bi’s grand plan, a considerate gesture to use the free coffee as a pretext to pay for everything herself today. Her thoughtfulness was so beautiful and touching.
‘…I really want to repay her. If only I could succeed…’
Sseondi resented and worried about her own life, which felt like it was about to hit rock bottom, far from success. That was why, despite her gratitude, she could only manage a stiff reply.
-Sseondi: Okay. I’ll order it now.
-Seul-bi: Thanks!!
Sseondi picked up the coffees she ordered and went back up to the second floor. Just in time, the first floor grew noisy.
“You’re so pretty!”
“Thank you! Please be sure to upload the photos!”
“You’re much prettier in person.”
“If you’re going to upload them, please use the ones where I look pretty!”
Seul-bi was coming up to the second floor, dressed in a light blue pleated miniskirt, black-and-white checkered knee-high socks, an oversized T-shirt with an exaggerated rainbow pattern, and flashy makeup.
“Over here!”
“Ahh! Sseon-yeong unni! You dressed up so nicely. You look so cute!”
“Really?”
Sseondi had put thought into her outfit, trying to look presentable enough not to embarrass Seul-bi, but not so flashy as to draw attention.
“You look like a freshman who just graduated from high school.”
Being with Seul-bi and catching the eyes of those around them, Sseondi felt a strange sense of pride.
Seul-bi took a sip of her iced Americano, which was filled to the brim with ice, and shivered in ecstasy.
“Ahhh. That’s good.”
Watching Seul-bi with a fond smile, Sseondi spoke.
“You didn’t even have time to change.”
“Right? It’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
Seul-bi said, looking down at her loud outfit, but Sseondi waved her hands dismissively.
“Not at all. It’s very idol-like.”
“Pfft. What’s idol-like? We just finished shooting the music video for the follow-up track today. I have a really good feeling about it.”
“The song is amazing, too. I bet it’ll be played every summer for the next ten years or more. It’s so summery, fresh, and upbeat. And so catchy.”
At Sseondi’s sincere compliment, Seul-bi’s eyes widened as she spoke.
“But do you know who composed it?”
“Who did?”
“The CEO.”
“…Huh? CEO Park Jae-yong?”
Sseondi was taken aback. It was a cool and refreshing song that didn't fit CEO Park Jae-yong’s sultry image at all.
“Maybe it’s because Min-jun oppa arranged it, but it’s amazing.”
“He does producing too?”
“Ah. This is a secret.”
“Oh, uh-huh.”
A few seconds of silence passed between Seul-bi and Sseondi. The silence felt heavy to Sseondi, who finally broke it.
“Anyway, you don’t have to feel so sorry about what happened back then. It was the expected outcome, wasn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“I’m just saying you don’t have to go out of your way to worry about me, carving out time from your busy schedule.”
Seul-bi, who had been momentarily dazed, laughed in disbelief.
“Ha! Unni, honestly. Your self-esteem is just as low as Ro-si’s.”
“?”
“Seol-ah unni went to look at houses for her mom and brother, Ro-si went to acting practice, and Yi-na these days… Pfft!”
Seul-bi trailed off and started giggling to herself.
“Why, what about Yi-na?”
“She’s going through a bad case of eighth-grade syndrome, it’s a huge problem. I don’t know if she’s possessed by some pervy spirit or if she’s just got a bad case of princess syndrome. Whenever she has a spare moment, she just stands in her underwear in front of a full-length mirror, admiring her own body.”
For a moment, an image of Yi-na as the ending fairy on a music show, staring into the camera with sultry eyes, flashed through Sseondi’s mind, and a smile touched her lips.
“Hah. Really? But she does have a really beautiful figure.”
“That’s why I’m so nervous she’s going to cause trouble. She’s already pushing the limits on public broadcast.”
“I don’t know. From my perspective, it seems like a positive thing.”
“That’s because she’s still a minor. I think she got a warning from the broadcasting commission last time.”
“Ah, I forgot. She’s still only eighteen.”
Sseondi was genuinely grateful to Seul-bi for changing the subject to make her feel more comfortable.
“Anyway… thank you.”
“Sigh. There you go again. I’m the one who should be thankful. I’m so lonely these days because I don’t have any friends.”
“Oh, come on. You’re lying.”
Seul-bi said with playful arrogance.
“Hmph. It’s because I only focused on studying before making a sudden leap to JD Enter… It’s true. Believe it or not, I was at the top of my class. I didn’t have time to make friends because I was studying all the time.”
“Pfft. I’ll believe you. Now that I think about it, you do look very smart.”
“Huh? You think I look smart, for real?”
“Yeah. You seem to have an intellectual side to you.”
“Hehe. Really? Anyway, this is a secret, but… I think I’ve found my hidden talent in eating shows lately.”
“Gasp… Really? So?”
“I have to prepare for an upcoming show… so I want to experience a variety of restaurants, but I have no one to go with…. And you were the first person who came to mind! So, I was wondering, could you maybe go with me?”
“…Huh? M-Me?”
“Yep. Please, unni.”
At the sight of Seul-bi’s face, which looked like it was about to burst into tears, Sseondi couldn’t hide her joy.
She knew the CEO would scold her if he found out, but in her difficult situation, it was too hard to refuse Seul-bi’s offer.
“Of course!”
“Yes! Thank you! You’re the best, unni!”
The two high-fived with delighted faces. Seul-bi glanced at her watch, her expression full of excitement.
“I found a great restaurant near here. There’s still thirty minutes until it opens, so we can talk a bit more before we go.”
“Do we not need to line up before they open?”
“Nah. It’s a local spot that hasn’t been on TV yet. It’s not that popular.”
“Sounds good.”
Parched, they both brought the straws of their iced Americanos to their lips at the same time.
A brief silence followed, which was soon broken by Sseondi.
“…My contract finally expired.”
*Pause.* Seul-bi’s hand, which had been stirring her straw, stopped for a moment before slowly resuming its motion. Sseondi continued as if complaining to herself.
“…It’s for the best, I guess. I was so sick and tired of that awful place.”
“…What about other agencies? You must have gotten offers, right?”
Sseondi hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly and said.
“A few places contacted me… but they’re all known for being shady. The dark side.”
“What? Are people blind? The whole world knows you’re an amazing dancer!”
At Seul-bi’s furious reaction, Sseondi smiled bitterly. She could feel the sincerity in her words, which was a great comfort.
“Thank you. Anyway, I’m worried. I have almost no savings.”
“Still, that’s not right! Unni, what about acting? Like Ro-si.”
“I’ve tried it before. As soon as the camera starts rolling, my pronunciation gets all messed up. I tried learning, but it never got better. I’m seriously considering opening a dance school in my hometown.”
For a moment, Seul-bi’s expression turned flustered.
“…Sigh. I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“About what?”
“Our director asked for your number yesterday.”
“Director Lee Sun?”
“No, no. Min-jun oppa.”
Sseondi’s face went blank for a second.
“…Manager Min-jun is a director?”
“Yeah. He got promoted a few days ago.”
“Wow. That’s amazing!”
At Sseondi’s genuinely surprised expression, Seul-bi shrugged and said.
“He’s someone JD Enter has to hold onto, even if it means doing that.”
“Still, it’s incredible. Didn’t Producer Terry from KGM become some kind of director last year too?”
“He’s like twenty-eight, isn’t he? There’s a big age gap with my oppa.”
“But why would he ask for my number?”
Seul-bi spoke as if she had no other choice.
“Sigh, I was trying to keep it a secret. He recommended you for an audition program, so just wait a little bit.”
“Me? What kind of audition would recommend someone who’s already failed?”
“You can hear about that from him directly. But unni, it’s a beef curry udon place. Do you like that?”
“Huh? Oh, uh-huh. It must be Japanese style.”
“Yeah. The next show I’m going to is about a restaurant with a secret handmade curry recipe, so preparation is a must!”
Sseondi couldn’t help but be impressed by Seul-bi, who was studying for her upcoming show even with her busy schedule.
…And she was envious. To have something to work hard for, to be given that kind of opportunity.
*Shake, shake.* Sseondi cleared her head and returned to reality.
“So that’s how you earned the nickname ‘Mi-Seul-in’ on your last show.”
“Ugh, it’s so embarrassing. It was just one time… don’t you think it’s a bit much? I’m so mortified…”
“Not at all. I was actually moved when I watched that.”
“Pfft! Who gets moved watching an eating show?”
“It’s true. When you said you hated it when people play with their food, I was touched. Seriously.”
“Wow. For real. Unni, you’re totally a Ro-si type.”
“A Ro-si type? What’s that?”
“Ah. It’s a thing. It’s a compliment, a compliment. Hehe.”
Seul-bi smiled playfully and changed the subject, and the two began to chat in earnest about the restaurant they were going to try today.
***
The members of Earl Grey were groaning and tossing in their sleep at the dorm.
“Stop groaning already.”
At So Joong-han’s words, sighs escaped from all around.
“It felt like we were possessed by a ghost.”
“Huh, you too?”
Seo Bang-il chimed in after Yoon Woo-seong.
The memory of how they had suddenly been filled with energy after Min-jun’s words of encouragement on the set, and had sung passionately during the shoot, felt like a dream.
“If you had a good shoot, just forget it and sleep.”
“I’m just uneasy. Honestly, I’m fine with a B-grade concept or whatever, as long as it makes a lot of money. But I just can’t see how that’s going to make us money.”
At So Joong-han’s words, Jang Hyun-seung spoke in a drained voice.
“You were all for it when I was against it.”
“Things are different now.”
“It’s too late to turn back anyway. He seems capable, so I’m going to trust Producer Min-jun from now on.”
The other Earl Grey members stared at So Joong-han as if he were a strange new creature, and he just shrugged.
“What Producer Min-jun said is true. It’s impossible to make a band popular these days, so he wants to create some buzz. We’ve tried our best on our own for years. Now I’m going to leave it to the expert. If it still doesn’t work out, well.”
“If it doesn’t work out, what?”
Jang Hyun-seung asked, and So Joong-han replied with an annoyed tone.
“By the way, have you guys done the homework Director Lee Sun gave you?”
“Huh?”
“She told us to write in a diary every day. It looks like you guys wrote for a few days and then stopped.”
“…That’s because every day was the same old routine without anything special happening.”
“Isn’t today’s commercial shoot something special?”
“Haaah.”
The members, who had been lying on their bunk beds, rustled and got up. They soon found their respective diaries and began to scribble in them.
“More importantly, I’m worried about miscellaneous expenses now that we can’t book our own gigs.”
“They feed us, house us, and pay our utilities. What’s there to worry about?”
When Jang Hyun-seung countered Yoon Woo-seong’s point, Seo Bang-il quickly interjected.
“You don’t get haircuts? You’re not going to buy shampoo and soap when they run out? And are you confident you can go without coffee for six months? Are you only going to eat rice and no bread? We paid for our gym clothes with our own money, you know.”
“Ah.”
Jang Hyun-seung was momentarily speechless.
“I looked into the industry a bit, and it seems this is why musicians take out loans from their companies for living expenses. Then they get tied down and become slaves.”
At Yoon Woo-seong’s words, So Joong-han picked up his phone and opened their group chat.
-So Joong-han: Director Min-jun. Sorry to bother you so late. I have a question. Are we allowed to have part-time jobs in our free time?
At So Joong-han’s message, the Earl Grey members stared intently at their phones. A reply came back in just two seconds.
-Min-jun: Do you need a lot of money?
-So Joong-han: No. Our food and housing are taken care of, but we thought we’d need some spending money for small things. Even getting a haircut costs money, after all.
Even though the message was marked as read, Min-jun didn’t reply right away, and the Earl Grey members started to feel nervous for no reason.
-Min-jun: Are you all keeping up with the assignment Director Lee gave you?
Except for So Joong-han, the Earl Grey members’ eyes widened in surprise.
-So Joong-han: As far as we know, our only assignment is the diary, and we are keeping up with it.
-Min-jun: Understood. Let’s talk tomorrow.
-So Joong-han: Yes, understood. Good night.
-Min-jun: Yes. Good night to you artists as well. See you tomorrow.
“Is that it?”
“Something feels off.”
Jang Hyun-seung and Seo Bang-il grumbled.
“He didn’t say we could get part-time jobs. You don’t think he’s going to give us a loan, do you?”
“Nah. It can’t be a loan. We have the money from the commercial, right? Maybe he’s going to give us an advance on that.”