Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: 14. Virtue Among Virtues (4)
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After the recording wrapped up.
I apologized profusely to the minimum staff.
Because this precious Heavenly Demon had caused another broadcast mishap.
It wasn't for nothing that rumors spread among fans that the Heavenly Demon was bullying his manager.
He was probably the first idol ever to flip off the camera on air.
But PD Minimum loved it.
"I didn't cast him without knowing what he was like, so no need to apologize, Manager So. If anything, I would've been disappointed if he hadn't pulled that kind of aggro."
Had the Heavenly Demon's image in the industry solidified to that extent?
Relieved it wouldn't blow up into a big issue, I caught Lion Rep staring at me again.
"Why are you looking at me like that again?"
"Just thinking how much you must be suffering."
"......"
For Lion Rep to say something like that, which even my own kids or the rep hadn't said.
"You pulled an all-nighter too, didn't you, Manager So?"
"Seems like it."
"Must be tough. And you without any inner energy."
"...Pardon?"
"The Gu File Bang members must have built up inner energy from all those all-nighters. They're young too. ...Why the face?"
"Ah. Aah. No, nothing. You meant that kind of inner energy."
"I hear it's a common expression in Korea. Inner energy."
"...Yes. Very common."
I got startled thinking he knew something.
...No, is he teasing me on purpose knowing?
Given Lion Rep's personality as I've gauged so far, it's entirely possible.
Lion Rep smiled mysteriously and spoke in a gentle tone.
"You must be exhausted from the all-nighter, and I showed up out of the blue—must've thrown you off. I lacked consideration. Sorry."
Hmm.
Lion Rep seemed a bit playful, but more normal in conversation than I'd thought.
I'd kept my distance thinking he was some arrogant type who scouted out of nowhere.
But since the Heavenly Demon didn't mind him, he probably wasn't a bad sort.
I dropped my guard and replied softly.
"No, Rep. You worked hard till the end of the shoot too."
"Did I work hard?"
"You... did...?"
"Then eat with me."
How does that connect?
"I already had catering earlier."
"OK. Watch me eat."
"Why watch that?"
"I eat well. Don't you wanna see how well?"
"I don't."
The Heavenly Demon sidled up, looking intrigued.
"Lion, what's your ham count?"
Calling Lion Rep "Lion," huh?
"Ten sets easy."
"If true, this lord wants to see."
Right. Heavenly Demon's hobby was watching mukbangs.
At his words, Lion Rep clapped delightedly.
"King Burger all together?"
"This punk's town slaps 'King' on everything."
"No."
I shot it down flat, and Lion Rep furrowed his brow softly.
"If I'm making you uncomfortable..."
"Our kids are idols. It's not me rejecting for no reason—even just eating with you could spark sponsorship rumors."
"We can eat somewhere private."
"Private spots look even more suspicious."
Lion Rep seemed oddly indignant, about to retort, when Dang Sa-cheon spoke up innocently.
"I know the perfect spot."
"What? Where..."
I stopped mid-question.
The private place Dang Sa-cheon meant felt exactly like what I suspected.
Sure enough, he said exactly as I'd guessed.
"My parents run a mala tang joint right nearby."
Yep, that one.
I'd half-expected it since the shoot was near Daehak-ro.
Now stopping it was impossible.
"Your family business..."
"Yes. Anyang Mala Tang."
The Heavenly Demon's red eyes flashed as he declared sternly.
"Lead the way."
* * *
"Ooh...!"
Standing in the middle of the shop with arms spread, the Heavenly Demon exclaimed nonstop.
"So this is Anyang Mala Tang...!"
To like it that much.
Should've brought him sooner.
"More dank and aged than this lord expected!"
...He does like it, right?
Dang Sa-cheon gazed fondly at him and introduced his parents to us.
"These are my parents."
Surprisingly, they were incredibly ordinary folks.
With extremely pleasant faces too.
The kind where you'd run into someone five times on the street saying, "You have such a nice face."
The Heavenly Demon whispered in my ear.
"Where'd Dang Sa-cheon pop out from?"
"Please keep that to yourself."
Despite his rudeness, they just smiled kindly.
"The broadcast wasn't exaggeration. We've been waiting since you left a review, Heavenly Demon-nim."
"We hung the closed sign, so eat comfortably."
"Yeah, idols can't even eat in peace—tough gig."
"Thank you, sir, ma'am. Sorry for dropping in suddenly."
"Handsome young lads coming to eat? I get an eyeful. Even the girl's a looker."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Oh my, your Korean's flawless. Don't just stand—sit, sit."
Dang Sa-cheon's mom guided us to seats and handed over menus.
But the Heavenly Demon didn't even glance at his.
"Is the mala tang here that good?"
"You bet, delicious. How delicious?"
She beamed and added.
"Four eat it, four keel over without knowing."
"Most promising."
...Wasn't something weird just said?
No, restaurants joke like that all the time.
Thinking that, I glanced aside—and Dang Sa-cheon had a sly smirk, so I whacked him with the menu without thinking.
Dang Sa-cheon, hit out of nowhere, gawked at me.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Your face just now..."
"My face?"
"...Sorry, reflex."
"Hyung, my parents are here..."
"That I'm really sorry for. Don't make it weird."
"It's my natural face... I'll watch it."
Lion Rep, watching, spoke in a voice suppressing laughter.
"Always like this?"
"Pardon?"
"Manager So gets more fun the more I see. Makes me wanna tag along."
"You have unique tastes."
The Heavenly Demon, eyeing us alternately, blurted.
"Tang punk, no perilla leaves here?"
"Why perilla leaves suddenly?"
"Wonder if that punk would share if placed between us."
"Stop with the internet already."
After jabbing him, I finally checked the menu.
"...What the hell."
The listings were no joke.
[Sichuan Tang Clan Mala Tang]
[Options: Paralysis Poison / Knockout Poison / Lethal Poison / Random (HOT)]
Glanced and thought Sichuan Mala Tang.
But no—Sichuan *Tang Clan* Mala Tang.
"None of this makes sense—what's random?"
"One random bowl has poison."
What?
"You didn't know?"
Dang Sa-cheon looked shocked.
"Why Anyang Mala Tang's famous. The poison."
"What're you saying?"
"Random's most popular. Can't tell which bowl's poisoned till someone keels over."
"That's..."
Namgung Mu asked gravely.
"Isn't that food hygiene violation?"
Not the time to worry about laws.
The Heavenly Demon said indifferently.
"This lord's immune to all poisons, so no matter."
Just save yourself?
No normal reaction from him expected.
"No, immune or hygiene laws— that's not the point! Random poison?"
Lion Rep raised one brow, baffled.
At least one sane person—relief.
"Wanna bet who dies? Loser pays."
Right. He's a gambler.
"Dead guy pays the bill?"
"Dead don't need money."
Staying here's mind-melting.
"This crap actually sells?"
"This crap?"
"Random order."
"Heavenly Demon-nim?"
"I'll check if yours has poison."
Has to eat the poisoned one that bad?
"Jun-ah, you skipping, right?"
"Uh... I have some poison resistance too, so fine."
For real?
"Hyung, this is the trend for the in-crowd now."
"Hoo. Inssa (人死) culture."
"Don't shoehorn hanja."
Whatever... No way they actually put poison.
Just spicy levels as a gag.
But when random poison mala arrived, I couldn't grab my spoon.
Because.
"Green tint's novel. Photos showed red."
No clue what makes that color.
Saw Lion Rep quietly set down his spoon.
Namgung Mu too.
Only the Heavenly Demon grabbed his without hesitation.
"...Hm?"
After one bite, he tilted his head—then his face hardened.
"What's wrong?"
"Poison."
No way, but it was?
You madman Dang Sa-cheon?
"Paralysis poison. This lord just feels a tingle on the tongue, but a punk without a scrap of inner energy like you— who knows the mess."
"...Tingly tongue?"
"You know it."
"Mala tang's supposed to be like that."
Feeling something off, heard Dang Sa-cheon chuckle softly.
"No way we'd add poison? That's just the mala level."
"......"
Now realizing—that sly grin earlier was to troll.
Should've hit harder.
"You guys are so naive. We don't joke with food."
"Says the guy who spiked the rep's tea."
"Sichuan Tang Clan Mala Tang's a concept. We do legit business."
"You're dragging your concept into your parents' shop? It's a restaurant."
"Pardon?"
Dang Sa-cheon blinked blankly.
"It's my parents' idea."
"...Really? You grasp trends well."
Thinking about it—his real name Dang Sa-cheon.
Means his folks named him that.
Dang Sa-cheon heart, Dang Sa-cheon me.
I quietly finished my mala tang.
* * *
"Today was really fun."
After eating, Lion Rep dropped me at the dorm.
Namgung Mu had business at home, so I'd sent him off with Dang Sa-cheon—no ride back anyway.
Plus Lion Rep said he had something on the way.
Heavenly Demon vanished, not wanting to third-wheel.
But till the dorm, Lion Rep just tossed light jokes.
"Mala tang was tasty."
"Took a lot to even eat."
"Saw new sides of Manager So."
"Only weird sides, I think."
"The poison-weak side was cute."
Cute how?
This guy's nuts too.
"And I gave you my number today."
"? Never got it."
He grinned cat-like.
No way.
I pulled out the Lion6 he'd given me today and checked.
Only one contact saved.
As "Future Rep-nim."
His beaming smile at me slowly faded.
"...You changed the name just now?"
Wouldn't "Yang Deok (Lion)" be easier?
Out the window—the dorm entrance.
His Bugatti pulled smoothly up front.
"Well..."
I unbuckled and bowed to Lion Rep.
"Thanks for today, Rep."
"My pleasure. Thanks for humoring me."
"No biggie. Heading in."
"...Manager So."
As I went to exit, Lion Rep grabbed me.
Turning, he spoke with a somber face.
"After today, knowing what a good person you are..."
What was he beating around for?
"I'm not involved with Rep Sa at all."
"Pardon?"
Why would I need to know about our rep?
Then he added softly.
"So. If anything happens, feel free to come to me."
Not just personal vibes—I caught that instantly.
He definitely knows something about our rep.
"...Got it for now."
First time accepting instead of refusing, he just smiled faintly.
Light nod, about to step out—someone blocked me next instant.
"Little Manager."
Big sunglasses, hoodie pulled low.
A young guy.
"...What're you."
Greenwood leader, Woochi.
Lion Rep got out, eyeing us like what’s up.
Woochi spoke in a scared-ish voice.
"I... gotta talk."
"Talk?"
Hesitating at Lion Rep, Woochi said carefully.
"It's about your rep."