Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: The Art of Unhurt Conversations
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Whether it was humiliation or not, the sobbing voice vanished. The rabbit mask stayed silent. And so the impromptu rehearsal came to an end.
And Some Time or Other became Gaeul's song.
The kids celebrated Gaeul. The walk back was lively and boisterous. They praised Gaeul or cursed out the rabbit mask. When Yeoreum vented her frustration, Winter would empathize. Gaeul, listening in, grinned from ear to ear.
But occasionally, her expression would go blank, as if she were worrying about something. If he had to guess, it was probably related to Jeong Yu-ran.
Should he pull her aside and talk? Or not? The regressor pondered. If he did speak, it wouldn't just be simple reassurance. Since he planned to change her life a bit, he was being cautious.
Dormitory.
As he sat on the sofa, continuing his deliberations, Bom came over and sat beside him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Gaeul."
"Ah..."
"Bom, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Should I tell her or not?"
Bom's eyes widened round.
It was a question without any context. Perhaps the regressor saw Bom as something like an answer key.
"What kind of question is that?"
"If I had to pick one..."
"You should tell her."
"Why?"
"If you don't, she won't know."
"There are times when it's better not to say anything."
"......"
Bom tilted her head back to gaze at the ceiling. Who knew what she was thinking. Or if she was peering into fate itself. She fell silent for a moment.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course."
"Do you trust us?"
His answer to that took some time.
Thinking about it, he did now.
"I trust you."
"What if I'm wrong? I can't always give the right answer."
"Even if you're wrong, it's fine. I won't hold you responsible."
"Then it all becomes your responsibility, Ajusshi?"
"Yeah."
"......"
Bom looked at him with a slightly sulky expression, then spoke as if sighing.
"I think you should tell her."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah... If you're worried, go comfort her. If you need to change something, help her however you can. If you love her, just hold her quietly. That might be the best way. Probably."
It's said that the Green Clan often lives as oracles in Ascalifa. Was that why?
Even though her words bordered on Zen koans, the regressor felt a sliver of conviction.
"Thanks."
"Hehe. Piu piu~."
Piu piu!
Evening stroll time with the chick.
During Gaeul's time walking with the chick, he followed along.
Sitting on a bench, gazing at the scenery, the evening sunset was fading, dyeing the world orange.
"But what's up? You said to come along."
After walking for a while. Break time.
Her golden eyes turned to him.
"I have something to tell you."
"Huh? What is it?"
Thinking back.
The Gold Dragon in his 4th cycle was also just a kid.
A kid who debuted at eighteen, knowing nothing.
The somewhat rough English-speaking entertainment industry. Human relationships there were incomparably treacherous compared to the Lair. Before her fame grew, offers for sponsorship and entertainment poured in from all sides. After her fame grew, rivals swarmed.
Unlike the malice steadily exposed in the media. Conflicts between people often happened in specific places, at specific times. And in those moments, the eighteen-year-old BY would cry so easily.
He recalled her sniffling voice as she confided in her counselor, 'I don't know why everyone treats me like this.'
That BY had pondered human relationships on her own. Worried. Corrected her attitude and words.
By twenty-five, she no longer got hurt easily in relationships.
Grown through countless wounds, situations, and agonies.
"Want to hold my hand?"
Yoo Ji-tae extended his hand to the child.
Holding hands was a bit more special for dragons. A question mark formed in Gaeul's eyes.
"I don't like your hands, Ajusshi. They're rough..."
"Try it."
"Okay...!"
One hand cradling the chick. The other grasping his.
Naturally, the dragon's mana seeped into his body. He didn't resist.
"Worried?"
"About what?"
"Her. Jeong Yu-ran."
"Ah..."
Gaeul nodded.
"Yeah... a little."
"Scared of what she'll say?"
"Yeah. I didn't do anything wrong... but... I trusted her."
"......"
"Even though I know she's not my friend anymore. It still feels like betrayal... I'd rather run away than face her blushing."
Land after rain hardens, accepting roots that stab into it, growing stronger. Learning the art of unhurt conversations.
If she had to live through it. If she had to internalize it. Like BY, Gaeul would cry a lot. Hurt a lot.
But the regressor didn't want her to go through that time.
From now on, he'd use a shortcut.
"Let me tell you a story about a girl I know."
"A girl? Who?"
"There was this sensitive girl. She'd cry easily during conversations. Couldn't sleep if she got yelled at."
"Hehe. Sounds like she had weak mental fortitude."
"Yeah."
Yoo Ji-tae recalled those memories from back then. Conflicts with managers. With the agency. With sasaeng fans crossing lines. With male singers harboring ill intentions. With jealous senior female singers. Composers. Choreographers. Vocal coaches.
— Sit down. I said sit.
— Can't you hear your employer?
— Or are you ignoring me too?
And conflicts with him.
In the end, things went a bit off track. But on stage and behind the curtains, BY formed excellent relationships. Flawlessly, until her pet parrot slipped up.
Conversely, the media fabricated and reproduced non-existent words, dragging one person into the swamp.
"......"
Gaeul's expression went blank as she immersed herself in his words.
Immersed in memories and emotions. His words were halting, but Gaeul absorbed the story itself.
Finally, when the tale ended. Gaeul, half-dazed, asked Yoo Ji-tae.
"Who was that girl...?"
He let go of her hand.
"I told you, a girl I know. Why?"
"She's so pitiful..."
"Pitiful?"
"Yeah. Heartbreaking... Must've been tough..."
Then she stroked the dozing chick's head.
In her purely bright expression. As immersion showed, Yoo Ji-tae felt the face of that child from back then emerge, one he'd forgotten.
Anyway. Now was the time to tie it up.
"Make a promise with me."
"What kind?"
"That feeling you're having now. Promise never to dwell on it normally."
"Uh... it's such a heavy feeling. I probably wouldn't anyway... So, when should I think about it?"
"Only when someone tries to hurt you. Or when you have to be sincere with someone. Only then, recall and immerse in that feeling. Got it?"
At the regressor's words, Gaeul stared blankly at him. Then her head tilted slightly downward at an angle.
A gaze looking down on people. A decadent smile played on her lips.
Finally, she spoke.
"...Why should I?"
Thwack— "Ow!"
Only after a flick to the forehead did she burst into giggles. 'Busted? Just kidding, kidding...! I promise!' She stuck out her pinky. Meaningless as it was, Yoo Ji-tae hooked his too.
After that, Yoo Ji-tae watched Gaeul more closely. She carried on as usual. Regained her bright smile.
But the impending incident didn't veer off.
One day, a club summons message arrived. Gaeul headed to the clubroom. Yoo Ji-tae decided to follow from a distance.
Was it his worry coming true? On the way, Gaeul seemed a bit anxious.
Arriving at the clubroom, Jeong Yu-ran, who had been chatting with other cadets, faced Gaeul.
He stood far in the hallway, watching them.
A bit worrisome. The pressure from someone's conflict. Betrayed by a trusted friend. A situation where she might get hurt. Even immersed, could she handle it properly?
As Yoo Ji-tae watched, ready to drag her out if needed.
'That's me, right.'
The moment Gaeul threw the first line. The instant that confident expression from back then appeared on her face. His worries vanished quickly.
Jeong Yu-ran's face sharpened too.
'You... I didn't see you like that. I'm really disappointed, Yoo Gaeul.'
Having arrived early to lobby club friends, the cadets' expressions soured too.
'Every time I made you sing, you must've mocked me behind my back? Is that your hobby? Toying with people?'
'What? When did I ever?'
Maybe because Gaeul's expression was so different from usual. Curious glances appeared.
'I've never liked you. Pretending to be pretty and dumb isn't sustainable. Flirting with boys too. Thought I wouldn't notice?'
Thinking the time had come, Jeong Yu-ran's true feelings poured out. But Gaeul was smiling. A sneer. As if she'd expected it.
'I figured. Your dirty mind, I just learned about it. Kinda surprised me.'
'What?'
Now it was clear. Gaeul was off. The cadets watching tensely widened their eyes.
Her usual bright tone remained, making it feel even more alien.
'Felt bad from the start? Instead of me flirting, maybe you just had a victim complex?'
'Hey, Yoo Gaeul. Watch your mouth. What do you know?'
'Oh, so that's it? Making me sing. Wanted to shove me into your good field and look down? Pathetic...'
'Hey.'
'The dumb part? I'm just oblivious. If I wasn't, I'd have kept pretending to suck at singing.'
'Hey—! Shut your mouth!'
'Don't yell so loud. Your late mom might hear.'
Sudden mom insult. Friends covered mouths. Some tried to restrain Gaeul, 'Gaeul, that's too much...'
'You guys have no idea. What happened between her and me at the promo office.'
'Shut up. I said shut it.'
Yelling ensued.
'Listen up. The other day...'
'Yoo Gaeul! Why are you doing this to me...! What did I, what did I do so wrong!!'
Losing it? Or unable to bear shame? Jeong Yu-ran squatted and sobbed aloud.
Yoo Ji-tae didn't know why, but Gaeul, deeply immersed, instinctively realized. It was a cry laced with political intent.
'Gaeul, what's with you today.'
'Calm down... Yu-ran's crying...'
'You two are both too emotional.'
Suddenly, Gaeul became the aggressor.
But to BY, who survived among tough women back then, it was child's play.
Splosh—!
Gaeul dumped her drink on the crying girl's head.
'Everyone, move. Unless you want to see me snap.'
Plastic bottle crumpled, liquid splashing everywhere.
The five or six girls in the clubroom panicked.
Gaeul approached faster, squatting before the crying child. Then whispered in her ear.
'Yu-ran, want me to share a secret?'
'That time. I had the watch app's recording on when I came.'
'See my left wrist?'
Mid-sob, panicked eyes followed her finger to Gaeul's wrist.
Dark screen. But up close, the recording app was still running.
Even more panicked eyes rose to meet golden ones.
A gaze looking down on her.
Gaeul stared expressionlessly. Then whispered again.
'We've known each other half a year. Right?'
'Lots of your friends love gossip. Like you.'
'Who should I play the recording for?'
When Jeong Yu-ran looked up again, pitying, sympathetic eyes awaited.
'Quit the club.'
'And give up the festival.'
'Don't come back. Unless you want to be miserable.'
Jeong Yu-ran dropped her hands.
Face etched with despair.
Gaeul, with a wicked smile, brought her lips to the ear. Then kissed the earlobe. Smack—
'That was fun.'
"Ugh... I must be crazy... I didn't mean to say anything that extreme?!"
On the way back. Gaeul bounced around.
"What do I do, I'm sorry? Ajusshi, didn't I go too far...?!"
"No. You did great."
"Huh? Great? I said some really harsh stuff...!"
The regressor stroked her golden hair. The chick chirped, asking if she was okay. He kept reassuring her it was fine.
He didn't care if others got hurt.
He just wanted Gaeul unhurt.
And today, Gaeul wasn't hurt.
"Next time, slap her cheek too."
The regressor was satisfied.