Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Regretting the Bet?
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“How about it? Regretting our bet?”
Lee Hyun-jun finished recording in record time and sauntered over to me with a cocky grin.
...Even the recording was done so quickly.
Come to think of it, he’s an idol with plenty of experience. No reason it’d take him as long as it did me, getting feedback along the way.
“Gotta admit, you’re a tone bully.”
“Oh? You’re actually saying it?”
Fine, I’ll admit it.
Lee Hyun-jun really was a tone bully.
“But you’re still a step below tone mobster Kim Suhyun, aren’t you?”
“Mobster? Isn’t that the same as bully?”
“Mobster’s more intimidating.”
Similar, right? Still, from my perspective, “organized crime” sounds tougher.
“Ha, then I’ll go with tone mafia.”
Tone mafia?
Was that really coming out of an adult’s mouth?
“...How old are you again? Why so childish...”
“Hey, that’s rich coming from you.”
I furrowed my brow like he needed to act his age, and Lee Hyun-jun bristled.
“Hey now, getting mad? I’ll open up the community. Famous idol The Beasts member...”
“You’re joking, right? And what’s The Beasts?”
“Oh, wait—what’s the group name again?”
“It’s Beasts. Keep that up, and fists might fly for real.”
Whoa—seeing the tension in Lee Hyun-jun’s right fist, I clamped my mouth shut.
Sigh, back when I was a guy, that would’ve been nothing.
“...If I really shut up, what does that make me? You gonna hit me or something?”
Lee Hyun-jun looked genuinely troubled once I quieted down at the sight of his fist.
Sure, he wouldn’t actually hit me. Still, I wasn’t about to push it...
“I’m just safety-first, you know? Can’t be too careful.”
I knew all too well the difference in strength between my old male self and now.
So yeah, caution came naturally.
“...You’ve got a talent for putting people in awkward spots. I’ve never hit anyone.”
“Whoa, I’ve never been hit either.”
“Yeah, I can tell.”
Answering me wasn’t Lee Hyun-jun—it was Hyun-su.
He’d been fiddling with the PC but seemed done and wandered over to our sofa.
Man, how many sofas does this studio even have? Feels like one every three steps.
“So, we’re totally done now?”
“Yeah, that’s it for today.”
Hyun-su slumped onto the sofa with a relieved sigh at Lee Hyun-jun’s reply.
Now that I thought about it, Hyun-su had been working nonstop.
And with his own recording and all the other stuff...
No wonder he skips school. He’s insanely busy.
“Oh, right. I’ll tweak today’s recording a bit and send it over.”
“Sweet, thanks.”
“No problem, you worked hard.”
Hyun-su’s a total good-luck charm.
If he weren’t some hairy-legged high school boy and more like a cute girl like Tenshi-san, I’d wanna hug him.
“Why’re you staring like that?”
“Nothing.”
“So, you heading out now? I was thinking of ordering dinner.”
“Dinner?”
Hmm... Should I stick around and eat?
I’d skipped out every other time, so staying once shouldn’t hurt.
Mrs. Jang eating alone sadly tugged at me a bit, but one night wouldn’t kill her.
“Sure, what’re we getting?”
“Anything you wanna eat?”
“Hmm... Whatever.”
“You know that’s the hardest thing to hear?”
“Seriously, anything.”
I’m not picky.
“Why not ask me?”
“You always say whatever too, hyung.”
“’Cause I’m not picky either.”
Lee Hyun-jun seemed the same type as me, so it was unanimous—Hyun-su picks whatever.
“Cool, I’m really ordering what I want then?”
“Yeah, go wild.”
How weird could it be, what Hyun-su picks?
Chicken or pizza at worst.
But the delivery was a little unexpected.
“Tteokbokki?”
“Yeah, this place has been hitting lately.”
Tteokbokki, fritters, sundae—the works.
Makes sense, Hyun-su’s a schoolkid.
Lee Hyun-jun eyed the food with a baffled look.
“Tteokbokki for dinner? This is a meal?”
“You said whatever.”
“Okay, true...”
Lee Hyun-jun grumbled a little but didn’t protest much.
Well... If he didn’t want this, he shouldn’t have said whatever.
People who say “order anything” when food arrives need to own the consequences.
Even I thought tteokbokki and sides for dinner was iffy... Nah, it’s been ages since street food—pretty good.
“Tastes great.”
“Right? Told you it’s good.”
Of course it did.
Lee Hyun-jun’s lips had pursed at first, but once he dug in, he was chowing down.
After we finished eating, it was time to head out.
“Want a ride? Manager-hyung’s here and all.”
Lee Hyun-jun offered as we wrapped up, but I shook my head.
“What if someone spots us and snaps a pic? Nah, I’m good.”
Easy ride for me, sure—but getting caught? No thanks.
Honestly, Moon Chang-sik had me a tad worried too.
But actors and idols? Their fans are on another level of persistence.
I’d already gotten heat on Bluebird once—no repeats.
“Well, paparazzi aren’t as bad these days... But if you say no, I won’t push.”
Lee Hyun-jun knew the risks too, so he headed home without insisting.
“Alright, I’m out.”
“Take care.”
“You not going home?”
“I’ll work here a bit and crash.”
Hyun-su nodded toward the break room.
Not just sofas—this studio had a proper bed in the lounge.
More like Hyun-su’s crash pad, really.
Still, a student staying out like this... Something up at home?
Eh, like I thought last time—everyone’s got their issues. Not getting involved.
“Cool, well—if you’re up late, watch my stream.”
“Stream?”
“Yeah, doing one from home tonight.”
I had something planned that even Hyun-su could enjoy.
“Alright, if I’m up, I’ll tune in.”
“Cool, heading out.”
“Take care. Want an escort?”
“Nah, station’s right there.”
With that, I left the studio and headed home.
Once there, I ignored Mrs. Jang’s pointed glance from her lonely dinner and did a quick face wash before diving straight into the soundproof booth.
Booted up the PC, checked email—Hyun-su had already sent the finished ‘Tranquil Lake’ with my vocals. Forwarded it straight to Manager-nim.
Moments later, phone rang.
“Hello?”
[Hey, Miro-nim.]
“Yeah, what’s up?”
[The song’s amazing. With your voice, it’s way better than the guide vocal.]
Manager-nim sounded thrilled over the line.
That good, huh?
“Right?”
I’d felt the same recording it.
Hyun-su’s version was solid, but mine? Total game-changer.
[This is insane. With a proper MV...]
He sounded giddy just imagining it.
Yeah, it’ll do well, but...
“Gotta brace myself either way.”
[Ah...]
Gotta prepare.
This thing’s poison or holy grail.
Worst case, mild food poisoning-level poison—but still, mental prep’s key.
[Eh, you’ll be fine, Miro-nim.]
“What’s that mean? Sweet-talk me like the others.”
[You wouldn’t listen anyway. And sweet-talk? Isn’t that negative?]
“Sweets aren’t good for you.”
[You’re quick. Ever thought of managing? You’d be great.]
“Managing?”
[Like that hidden cam content—try a week as 2nd Gen manager. Didn’t you call yourself their manager at the interview?]
“Oh.”
Right, the debuting 2nd Gen. Totally slipped my mind.
Been busy, y’know? No time to think.
“Speaking of, you guys fill the 2nd Gen spots?”
[Yep, prepping now. Bonding, vocal lessons, the works.]
“Ooh... They’re getting vocal lessons we didn’t...”
[We offered, but only you applied, Miro-nim—and you quit quick.]
“Hey, they sing fine.”
[Still, brace yourselves when 2nd Gen drops.]
We’ll see.
A year in VTuber land? That’s big.
2nd Gen’s building on our foundation, right?
Not easy to surpass.
“So, how are they? Anyone stand out?”
[All solid. But if I pick one... That one from the interview keeps catching my eye.]
“O... Favoritism?”
[Call it evaluation.]
“Of the two I met, who? Habin?”
Habin’d be awkward.
She teabagged me without me knowing, remember?
Seemed decent otherwise...
[No, not her—the one after.]
“Oh.”
Seo Eun-ha?
She’s kinda scary.
“The scary one?”
[Scary? Thought she’d vibe with you.]
“Newfangled duel challenge? Step into the ring?”
[Beating up your charge? Disqualified manager.]
For real fight? Crap, real-life ring? Not confident.
“Ahem, anyway—off to stream. MV’s on you.”
[Dodging? Fine, I get it. Gotta hustle on that MV.]
“You’re making it?”
[I’m overseeing production.]
Overseeing too? How much does this guy do?
“...Busy man. Thanks for the hard work.”
[Appreciate it. What’s on stream tonight? I’ll catch it at work.]
“Tonight? Might be tough while working.”
[Why?]
He’d be disappointed, but yeah—impractical.
“Doing a co-watch.”
[Ah.]
That content I’d mentioned before.
Movie co-watch with viewers.
Top-tier easy content for me.
[Yeah... Can’t watch at work.]
“Replay it later. Gotta go for real.”
[Got it, good luck.]
Hung up, stayed at the PC, set up stream, prepped the movie.
Tonight’s pick: That hit 10-million-seater from a few years back.
Why this? Plot’s whatever...
Peeked at the cast under the synopsis.
Cast: Lee Dong-seok, Seo Ye-na, Moon Chang-sik, An Jeong-hwa...
Moon Chang-sik in the lead. Been saving it for that.
Movie: *Return*.
An SF tale of heart-pounding drama set on Korea’s fictional space station ‘Shelter-17’, where the protagonist’s trapped in space by some incident, and those fighting to rescue him.