Chapter 13
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Dawn Idol Stakeout
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheongdam-dong, huh? Come to think of it, it was pretty close to our apartment.
'Now that I think about it, when I was checking out one-rooms around here, the monthly rent was almost a million won. Even near where we live now, it was 700 or 800 thousand. The landlord's basically an angel.'
I muttered that to myself inwardly, but I still couldn't figure out why we'd come here.
[Pure Cheongdam Main Branch]
[Center Shop]
[Let's Makeup]
No matter where I looked, every shop was a hair and makeup salon. Some of the more famous ones, where celebrities dropped by, charged 300 or 400 thousand won per session.
If you wanted a full-day makeover, places like that scoffed at a million won. It was a different world from someone like me, trembling over 600 thousand rent.
'What the hell is this?'
Maybe she wanted to look pretty in case she ran into her favorite idol group? Starting from the crack of dawn?
"Ah, not here either."
Not what, exactly?
Even at 4:30 a.m., quite a few hair and makeup shops were lit up and open. Inside, there were celebrities getting made up or regular folks clearly prepping for some early schedule.
"Guess they changed spots."
Just like that.
Oh Hana was darting from one hair and makeup shop to the next, even though she wasn't going in herself. Her phone had a whole list saved up—probably shops she planned to hit someday. More than that, her hands were bright red from fiddling with it. I worried they'd freeze solid if left like this.
"You okay? You should've at least worn gloves."
Of course.
January 31st at 4:30 a.m. was brutally cold. Even without winter, dawns chill you to the bone, but a winter dawn? If I pissed right here, I bet it'd turn into an icicle on the spot.
Yet Oh Hana had shown up in her prettiest coat and skirt for this freezing hour—no gloves, even. The fashion scarf around her neck didn't look all that practical, either.
"I'm fine, oppa. Hehe."
Her nose was running, but she grinned like an idiot. Hard to push it after that. We'd wandered a bit longer when...
We hit the fifth shop or so. A wide parking lot held two vans, and inside, things were buzzing even more.
[Cheongdam Cheongdam Hair & Makeup]
"Found it."
Found it?
Something off about that word made me peek inside, half-dreading... and chills ran down my spine. No need to think hard—it was the human version of that doll she always carried. The one tucked under her arm at meals, coffee runs, walks. She even took it to the salon.
Genesis Eleven. The group with a comeback stage today.
"Heh, they switched to here."
She wiped her nose with a cozy smile and that hehe laugh. Chills exploded across my skin.
Hold up. This looked straight-up stalking...
"Ah, wanna take a pic, but no way, right?"
"......"
"What to do? They must be sleepy from waking early. Wish I could bring hot packs. Ugh, oppa. What if we buy drinks and leave them at the entrance...?"
"No."
If the steamy 19+ manhwa vibe from yesterday flipped to thriller overnight, it'd feel like this. I couldn't even look her in the face.
Couldn't ask if she was a stalker, either. Might shatter our current life.
"Riki's seriously so cute... Amazing."
Her breath fogged with every word. Nose and hands beet-red, she had to be freezing—but every yawn from that Riki guy inside made her lips curve into a smile. Watching twisted something in my gut.
"Hoo, hoo... Huh?"
I blew on her hands from behind, then wrapped her in a light hug. Took her hands and stuffed them in my pocket.
"Supporting your fave as a fan is cool, but it's freezing too. Gonna keep watching from here?"
"Ah, yeah! Planning to. Hehe, it's been ages since they've done domestic activities. And since debut's a while back, seems like they hole up at home lately."
"Got it. Then stay put."
Best I could do right now. Ease her cold a bit from the side, make sure she didn't cross any lines.
"Ah, manager's off for lunchboxes... I could go instead. Ah, should've applied as a manager? Nah, I'd just be a burden..."
No matter how you spun it, Oh Hana wasn't in her right mind. Eyes locked on Riki all day, no plans to budge.
"Riki probably asked for an idol sandwich and veggie red bean bun. He always eats that during winter makeups."
For real?
...While I pondered that, two manager types showed up with bags, handing contents to the Genesis members inside.
The idols bowed politely, taking lunchboxes, sandwiches, burgers—whatever. Even as a guy, I had to admit: stunningly pretty and handsome bunch.
Polite to boot. From afar, even I zoned out for a sec.
Then Riki's turn.
Huh?
Riki lounged on the sofa, barely nodding, rummaging the bag. No luck—he chucked a Vita Jelly on the floor, gesturing wildly like he was yelling.
That his image?
I'd only seen the sweet leader side of Genesis Eleven's Riki.
"Ah, seriously... Guess they didn't get what Riki wanted. Definitely idol sandwich and veggie bun. Manager must've changed."
"Huh? Y-yeah."
I stammered blankly. She saw that and wasn't fazed? I'd be shocked. Hell, I was.
Pretty-boy idol exploding, the manager who'd offered the bag sweating bullets, bowing 90 degrees over and over like he'd committed a capital crime. Surreal.
Manager? More like slave.
Then.
A guy in a sharp suit—unlike the casual managers—walked up on his phone.
"......"
Thwack—the sound carried. Suit guy kicked the manager's shin. He crumpled limply.
Suit ignored him, smiling at Riki, saying something. Riki finally turned, sprawling on the sofa.
-...!
Suit guy yelled more, and a manager bolted out sans coat.
Minutes later, bag in hand, sprinting back.
And the scene unfolding.
Riki pulled out the idol sandwich and veggie bun, waving his hand dismissively.
"......"
What the actual fuck?
Hallucinating? Nah, film that and upload—viral gold. Global star Riki with that personality? Wait, more than that...
"Riki's in a low-pressure mood today, I guess."
"......"
'Low-pressure' covers that shit?
You really like a guy like that?
...Words rose to my throat, sank back. No guts to ask.
Join Oh Hana's Fandom Activities
📍 Progress: 1 hour / 100 hours
Including the run here, an hour had flown by. Extreme survival training vibes. Felt like voluntary winter ops redo.
Freezing my ass off, while far away, that Riki prick lounged warmly, dozing through VIP hair and makeup. Stylists chuckled indulgently, handling his hair delicately.
"......"
Spotting the two managers huddled in the corner brought back my grunt days. Bullied by toxic sergeants and corporals—couldn't breathe in the army.
First time feeling not envy, but awe for friends who'd landed jobs first, drawing paychecks. Not everyone worked like that, sure, but salary under someone? Tough gig.
Suddenly got why someone with a solid job quits for part-time. Even the store manager...
"Ooh, this place is nice."
Doesn't she feel the cold? She was shivering—clearly did. Still, carefully checking her phone amid it.
[13th Hair & Makeup Shop]
[Cheongdam Cheongdam Hair & Makeup, Address: ...]
Should I stop her? Thought looped endlessly. But I did nothing. Best was hiding out of sight, quietly warming her.
"Oppa, time to move again."
"Huh? Where to?"
No time for answers—Oh Hana bolted. Running from cold? Nope. Three subway stops on foot this time.
"Hoo, haa, hoo...!"
Lungs burning from icy wind, I chased full throttle. Young folks built different? Or me out of shape too long? Nearly puked midway, but tailed her somehow.
[PBC]
Wondered where next.
Not far from Cheongdam: a fancy building cluster, all corporate giants.
Dominating center: decades-old public broadcaster building. At 5:30 a.m., lights blazed across most floors.
This early? Some clocking out, others in.
"......"
Suits, coats, parkas commuting—stirred buried self-loathing.
29 and still part-timing at a conbini? Shame hit hard...
"Oppa, that way."
"Huh? Oh."
In that sense, grateful for Oh Hana's hand-pull. But after Cheongdam... couldn't just enjoy.
[Parking Area]
Where to now?
Broadcaster's back lot. Not empty like Cheongdam—packed.
Fancy cameras, smartphones with press badges—plenty.
Most eye-catching, though:
[Genesis Forever] [Riki] [Hoi] … [Elix] [Jumin]
Genesis fan club.
Holy shit.
This weather, this hour—how many showed? More shocking:
[I Love You Riki!]
The girl who'd dragged me pulled her neatly packed picket sign from her bag and proudly joined the fray.