Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Dance Midterm Evaluation (3)
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The suffocating feeling in my chest suddenly lifted.
"……."
I froze for a moment, wondering if this was really okay... but then I realized it was the exact opposite.
This was why she had to become an idol—in situations like this, she could do something like that.
While everyone else had given up.
Got angry.
And only shown pessimistic attitudes.
She was the only one seeing something different.
"……."
That behavior, that presence—it gave me strength.
She's definitely going to make it.
No, she had to.
In my 25 years of life, I'd seen plenty of idols, but Kang Chae-rin was the first one as bright as her, someone who could give strength to others.
As someone who had become her fan without realizing it, I hoped more than anyone that she would succeed as an idol...
That she would achieve her dreams.
"Uh, unnie, weren't you happy to see me?"
Eek.
Since I was lost in thought and my response was late, she must have misunderstood—Kang Chae-rin's face fell.
"The opposite. I was so happy I was dying to act like I knew you, but with Go Min-cheol right there, you have no idea how much I held back and hesitated."
"Really?! Hehehe, that's awesome. Hug! Hug! Hyun-ah unnie hug!"
"……."
Where on earth did this ridiculously cute and adorable girl pop out from?
I wanted to stuff her in my pocket and kidnap her.
"Eeeeng... H-Hyun-ah unnie, what are you doiiiing...?"
"Whoops! I didn't even realize... Sorry.
When I snapped out of it, I had been pulling at her soft, squishy cheeks from both sides.
And I was shocked.
Why were the cheeks of a 20-year-old so soft? Like a baby's.
"Ow, why are my cheeks suddenly...?"
"No, you're just too cute—I couldn't hold back."
"Eeeee! Really? I looove compliments like that! It just makes me feel so good! Kyaaang!"
Excited, Kang Chae-rin threw herself at me and hugged me tight.
"……."
A pleasant scent and soft sensation enveloped me completely.
Just that alone made all my fatigue and worries vanish.
Ah... Now I get why so many fans spend hundreds of thousands of won to go to fan signings. If you could feel like this, it might be worth it.
"Take good care of me from now on, unnie! Hehe. Praise me more! I looove compliments like that!"
"Got it. But wasn't it trouble because of me?"
"Gasp!"
Kang Chae-rin put on a surprised expression.
Then she quickly glanced around both sides seriously to confirm no one was there.
And cutely covered her face with one hand as she whispered to me.
"This is a secret from the other unnies, but it wasn't any trouble for me at all."
"……?"
"Sure, dropping out of next week's dance midterm evaluation might be a little disappointing and sad for me too. But thinking about meeting Hyun-ah unnie like this, and even getting to be on the same team with you from now on... it makes me think practicing for another 6 months wouldn't be bad. No! Just imagining spending another 6 months as trainees together with Hyun-ah unnie has my heart racing already?"
Should I seriously drag this girl in front of some depressed patients?
It feels like even their depression would heal...
"Chae-rin, you're so positive."
"Gasp! I hear that a lot. Though I don't really know if I am. Hng, anyway, Hyun-ah unnie, is it because you're not wearing a bra? Your chest feels soooo soft. Heung."
"Hey, you."
Before I knew it, Kang Chae-rin was rubbing her face all over my ample chest.
No wonder it had felt ticklish ever since she hugged me earlier.
She was straight-up using my chest as a pillow.
"...Wow, unnie's chest is really huge. What cup size is this? Almost E-cup, F-cup? And the shape is pretty, it's soft, and the bounce is great. A chest like this existing in the world? Whoever gets to touch it must be the happiest person alive."
"You're touching it right now."
"That's why I'm the happiest person in the world right now, eng!"
Just chatting with Kang Chae-rin like this, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.
I was the one feeling happy thanks to her.
In a way, it's because I became a woman that she can approach me so comfortably, right?
No, if I hadn't become a succubus in the first place, I wouldn't even have this connection with her.
Thinking like that, even the curse that turned me into this body felt like a stroke of luck.
"Anyway, don't worry about anything, Hyun-ah unnie. I'll somehow persuade and sweet-talk Ji-woo unnie and Su-bin unnie."
After everything that happened, this was why it turned out like this.
Why Kang Chae-rin was even brighter than usual, trying to boost my spirits.
The first dance midterm evaluation.
Me, the new member who couldn't dance at all.
And if we failed there, debut would be delayed another 6 months.
"What if we practice 24 hours a day, full throttle for the whole week starting now...? Still too hard, right?"
"Uh, um... Yeah."
Even the super positive Kang Chae-rin had to turn away at that question.
"Uh, unnie's dancing... how should I put it? It's not something that can be fixed in a day or two, you know? What I saw earlier was really, insanely..."
That bad, huh.
Of course. It was just someone who didn't even know what dancing was, flailing around roughly to the beat.
I felt a sigh coming on,
but I held it back and changed the subject.
"By the way, wasn't that Han Nam-do guy too much earlier?"
"Why, what's wrong with teacher?"
Her innocent questioning face only made me angrier.
"He only scolded you. And he even swore while saying such harsh things."
"Oh, that? Well, I messed up. That's how it always is when idol trainees take lessons. If anything, he said compared to the others, mine was mild. And my skills really improved a lot from his lessons! Ahem!"
"……."
It felt like my breath had cleared, but now it was getting stuffy again.
This endlessly positive and good girl about my issues was so lenient and indifferent about her own.
She even thinks sexual harassment is no big deal?
I saw it clearly with my own eyes.
Han Nam-do using the lesson as an excuse for sexual harassment.
Casually touching Kang Chae-rin's thighs and butt.
"But yeah, I got scolded extra hard today."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I overslept this morning and twisted my ankle a bit rushing to wash up."
"……What?"
I hadn't noticed at all.
She moved so energetically and full of vigor, I never thought her ankle was sprained...
"Can I see it?"
"Eh, it's fine..."
"Show me."
When I pushed hard,
she finally cautiously extended her ankle.
"……!"
When I checked her ankle, I jumped in shock.
The "slightly" sprained ankle was swollen up hugely. She needed to go to the hospital right away.
No, it was probably just a slight sprain before practice.
But the intense dance practice must have made it swell this much.
It must hurt like hell and be so annoying at this point. And in this state, she took the dance lesson without letting on in front of the people she'd been with for months?
I really felt the wall.
The idol wall... it's ridiculously high.
"Let's go to the hospital."
"No, I'm fine. I'm still young, so stuff like this heals after one night's sleep. Plus, if I go and wrap it, it'll get in the way of dance lessons... and the unnies would worry..."
"That's not what's important right now."
"It is important!"
"……."
I was speechless watching Kang Chae-rin puff out her cheeks with all her might, stubbornly refusing.
"What are you doing right now?"
"I'm making the scariest face I can. Trying to show with my whole body that not even unnie can break my stubbornness... Eeeeng! Eng!"
I grabbed her cheeks hard and nodded.
"Fine, you win. But at least let me do a simple treatment."
"Treatment?"
"Yeah, it's low-level, but I can use basic healing magic... Huh?"
I tilted my head, having said it so naturally.
How did I know I could use basic healing magic?
"Wow! My foot's really all better! Unnie, thank you so much! It doesn't hurt at all now! Kyaaang!"
In the end, I used Holy Power and Heal to treat Kang Chae-rin's swollen ankle.
Watching her excitedly jumping around brought a smile to my face,
but thinking about how I could use healing magic made my expression stiffen.
How the hell?
"What are you doing here during practice time?!"
That was when it happened.
He must have gone out for a smoke somewhere.
Han Nam-do, reeking of cigarettes, butted in from the side.
He looked so ragged I almost mistook him for a monster and smashed his crown with my fist without thinking.
"Gasp, so... sorry."
"Hey, Kang Chae-rin. You're a talentless girl—do you think you can slack off like this? Ugh, that's why you're the problem. No talent, and you don't even try. Don't you feel sorry for your unnies sweating blood to improve?"
"……."
Hah, this bastard...
When I glared at Han Nam-do like I wanted to kill him,
he flinched a little and cleared his throat.
"Ahem, if you get it, get back in the practice room and practice now!"
"Yes......"
The brightly shining Kang Chae-rin from moments ago now trudged dejectedly back to the practice room.
I can't just leave her to rot in a place like this.
I had to protect Kang Chae-rin.
With that resolve, I was about to follow her in,
when...
"Hey, Kim Hyun-ah. Come see me for a sec."
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. Follow me."
"……."
I told Kang Chae-rin to go ahead first, then followed behind Han Nam-do.
The place we arrived at was the emergency exit.
And even then.
Hiss!
This crazy bastard is smoking in the emergency exit?
Smoking indoors in a shared building was absurd enough, but in the emergency exit? Even more shocking.
"What? Wanna have one too?"
"……."
He even offered me a cigarette.
"What are you acting all coy for? Have one, bitch. I heard everything from the section chief?"
"What story?"
"Whoa, check out this bitch's attitude? The section chief was right. Fuckin' bitch, hey, hey! You still haven't come to your senses?"
"……."
Poke, poke!
Han Nam-do, holding a cigarette between thumb and index finger, jabbed my forehead with his middle finger.
For a moment, I was so pissed I seriously considered killing him.
Kang Chae-rin must endure stuff like this every day.
"If you joined Purem Entertainment as a trainee, you gotta act the part. Your eyes look like shit right now? Is that how you look at heavenly teachers or helpful adults above you? Fuckin' bitch. Lower your eyes."
"……."
"Hah, kids these days have no manners. Back when I was active, bitches like you got kicked out of the industry right away. Know that? Fuck, be grateful the world's gotten softer."
Active?
This bastard was an idol too? Suddenly the entry barrier feels way lower.
"You dirty bitch. Heard you whored your way into here?"
"……."
Did Go Min-cheol maybe warn Han Nam-do to watch out for my seduction?
If so, it might not be easy.
"Section chief was super shocked, they said. You barged in naked demanding to be a trainee? Fuckin' whore."
"……."
"But the section chief's impressive too. How'd he calmly turn you down when you came at him naked? I don't think I could. Speaking of which. Hey, you gonna give me a go too?"
I almost burst out laughing.
Go Min-cheol, you trash bastard... Yeah, that figures.