Chapter 130
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 130
The Drama Awards, held on December 30th. It’s a place to see which dramas were the most popular that year, who acted the best, and who truly immersed themselves in their characters.
On the surface, at least.
In reality, winners were decided by a combination of factors beyond just acting: the trends of the time, competition between broadcasters, and behind-the-scenes power struggles.
This year, Please Take Care of the Camera was naturally nominated in several categories. While some criticized it for sweeping the nominations, Min Ji-heon and Yoo Ji-ah both ended up as candidates for the Top Excellence Award.
Regardless, the plan was to prepare a celebratory performance to give the show one last push until the very end…
“Wow…”
Yoo Ji-ah marveled.
“Ji-heon, …you know.”
“Yes?”
“……Why are you so much like a robot?”
Despite her hesitation, Yoo Ji-ah’s words were blunt. Min Ji-heon, standing in the center of the practice room, gave an awkward smile. While he was a flying ace when it came to acting, his dancing was so bad it was almost impressive.
A robot? No, that was an insult to robots.
Yoo Ji-ah shook her head as she watched Min Ji-heon move like a piece of junk that couldn't be fixed even if you oiled the gears.
“Speaking of robots, I have a joke!”
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t particularly want to know either,” I added.
Yoo Ji-ah and I turned away, trying not to react, but Min Ji-heon was persistent.
“What sound does a robot make when it’s making chicken~?”
“Senior Yoo Ji-ah, how much longer are you going to practice?”
“Sorry, I think I have to leave soon…”
“…The, the sound is~?”
Unable to ignore Min Ji-heon’s expectant gaze—which was directed at her, unlike my cold shoulder—Yoo Ji-ah finally waved the white flag and replied.
“What is it?”
Min Ji-heon answered with a flushed face.
“Wing… chicken. Wing… chicken.”
“…….”
“Hehe.”
He really brought out a joke that even middle-aged dads wouldn't use these days….
I looked pityingly at Min Ji-heon, who clearly hadn't been born with the "funny bone" gene.
“It’s a relief you have a 'mysterious' concept, Sunbae.”
“…Yes, I have to make a living somehow.”
Min Ji-heon muttered, “Was it really that bad?” looking embarrassed. If it were Jeong Da-jun, he might have laughed for him.
I quickly cleared my ears and gulped down some ionic drink before looking back at Min Ji-heon, who had resumed practicing. Beside him, Yoo Ji-ah offered various bits of advice with a face that screamed, ‘Oh, this is a bit much,’ but she couldn't bring herself to openly scold him.
“Mmm….”
Even though Yoo Ji-ah had debuted first, Min Ji-heon’s career as an actor was longer.
For Yoo Ji-ah, who had fully transitioned into acting, he was a difficult person to criticize.
However.
“Senior Yoo Ji-ah.”
“Ah, yes. Ho-yun.”
“I’ll help Senior Min Ji-heon. I wasn't very good at dancing at first either… I can use that experience to coach him.”
Here stood Seo Ho-yun, the man who would work his absolute ass off for his idol activities.
Now was the time for my "nuisance" side to step up.
“Oh! Could I ask you to do that?”
“Yes.”
Yoo Ji-ah’s face brightened instantly.
Min Ji-heon, who had been listening, widened his eyes and looked back and forth between the two of us.
“…Ji-ah, are you leaving? Then it’s just me and Seo Ho-yun practicing?”
“Um, I have some things to take care of….”
“It’s okay, Sunbae.”
I flashed a bright smile.
At that, Min Ji-heon seemed to realize something and took a step back.
“Ji-ah, don’t leave me here alone~. We were on such good terms~.”
“Ahaha. Sorry… I’m not particularly talented at teaching.”
I bet. Having practiced with her, I could tell Yoo Ji-ah was in the same league of natural geniuses as Ju Woo-seong.
“Senior Min Ji-heon. I’ll make sure to help you with everything I’ve got.”
While Min Ji-heon trembled, wondering how to escape this crisis, Yoo Ji-ah quickly packed her bags and left the practice room with her manager.
“Th… then I’ll be going too.”
As soon as the door closed, I grabbed Min Ji-heon as he tried to slip away.
“Where do you think you’re going, Min-gro?”
“…Look at how fast this guy’s attitude changes.”
“It’s my charm.”
A person needs to be a bit selfish to live well.
The practice continued for a long time after that, and I hounded him relentlessly at the slightest mistake.
“Hey, not there, here.”
“Are you really desperate for the stage??”
“Ji-heon! Let’s just withdraw!!”
And Min Ji-heon’s reactions were like this:
“Oh, was it not here…?”
“Mmm, I wouldn't say desperate… I’m sorry~.”
“Wow, Hyung, you’re really in your element right now~.”
I channeled Seong Ji-won, correcting everything from his positioning to his hand gestures and even his gaze, but Min Ji-heon only managed to improve to the level of a functional robot.
Satisfied with the sight of Min Ji-heon panting on the floor with a slightly depressed face, I let him rest for a moment.
“Hey, drink some water.”
“You give me the disease, then the medicine, then the water bottle….”
Min Ji-heon grumbled that even "Min-gro is human." Maybe the guy had a talent for rapping.
Snorting, I leaned against the practice room wall and checked the time on my phone.
“Well, let’s wrap it up soon. I’m busy.”
In truth, I had something more important to worry about than Min Ji-heon’s dancing. I needed to contact Kim Jae-yeon.
‘I’m definitely going to expose Yun Hee-eon.’
The problem was the timing.
‘At the beginning of the year? Or when his joining Shining Star is confirmed?’
The latter would make for a better picture, but there were too many unpredictable variables.
As I was organizing my thoughts, Min Ji-heon, who had been rolling on the floor, suddenly approached and plopped down next to me.
“Are you contacting that person?”
“Who.”
“You know. That paparazzi who was following me around.”
My hand, which had been checking various things on my phone, stopped, and I looked down.
When I didn't say anything, Min Ji-heon looked up at me with his chin resting on his hand.
“Hmm, Hyung, do you like your members that much?”
What kind of nonsense was this now?
“Use the five Ws and one H when you speak.”
“Last week at the year-end stage, some gutsy bastard picked a fight with you by bringing up your members, didn't he?”
“…….”
“And you probably lost your mind and decided to do something you didn't even have to do….”
Min Ji-heon, who once again read my mind like a ghost, playfully tapped his bangs that were falling over his smooth forehead.
“Right?”
There was no point in asking how he knew. He was saying it because he already knew anyway.
“…Min Ji-heon, be honest. How many snakes did you eat to get this sly?”
“Wow, coming from you, Hyung.”
Min Ji-heon was right.
Actually, there was no reason to go this far.
The 33-year-old Seo Ho-yun was like that. No matter how annoying, infuriating, or bothersome something was, if the profit was small compared to the effort, he would cleanly look away.
But since I didn't feel like explaining all that to him, I tried to brush it off. Min Ji-heon emptied a bottle of water and casually threw another comment my way.
“I wonder who it is~? Seong Ji-won?”
…That was also correct, but this wasn't just for him either.
‘He’s more composed than you’d think.’
He was a guy who knew what was going on, even if not as much as I did. He wouldn't have wanted to take some petty revenge just because of a passing comment from some random guy.
But you never know.
“Whew…….”
Just because you’re used to hearing such things doesn't mean they don't hurt.
I ran a hand through my hair, remembering Seong Ji-won turning pale and trembling in the recording studio, before the showcase, and a few weeks ago.
‘I’m really making a mountain out of a molehill here….’
“Hey, Min Ji-heon.”
Click.
I shoved my phone into my pocket, twisted open a new water bottle from the floor, and gulped it down.
“You’re wrong.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m doing this because I want to take down those shady bastards one by one….”
I wiped the moisture from my lips with the back of my hand and gave a refreshing smile.
“And take the number one spot while the house is empty.”
“…….”
Min Ji-heon stared at my face blankly before slowly backing away.
“……I’m glad I’m not an idol.”
“I feel the same way sometimes.”
“It’s scary because I can’t tell if you’re being serious or joking. And you’re still a total psycho….”
Are you describing yourself?
Seeing Min Ji-heon after a while, he was still the same.
I’d heard he was swamped preparing for a movie set to be released in the middle of next year….
Moreover, the rosary he always wore was missing from his wrist, which was exposed since he’d rolled up his sleeves because of the heat.
When my gaze lingered there, Min Ji-heon gave a slight wave of his hand.
‘Strange fellow.’
Min Ji-heon was leaving it alone on purpose.
From experience, I knew that with his personality, he wasn't the type to open up easily unless he chose to bring it up himself.
I didn't know why he was interested in me, or if he just found it fun to tease me, but I wasn't the type to spill everything someone wanted to know just out of goodwill either, so I backed off to some extent.
The worst part about dealing with Min Ji-heon was that even the things I dismissed as nonsense at the time would resurface in my mind later like a recurring thought.
“Isn't asking a favor more normal than blackmail?”
—Like this.
Because what he’d said before applied to Seong Ji-won’s situation now.
I looked at the guy whose face was still brilliantly, annoyingly handsome, and…
Suddenly, I felt that Seong Ji-won and Min Ji-heon were similar.
‘…Am I crazy?!!!’
I quickly erased the ridiculous thought, telling myself I was just out of my mind because so much had happened lately.
“But you know.”
While I was mentally apologizing to Seong Ji-won, Min Ji-heon let his body slide down the wall and glanced at me while pushing his hair back.
“There’s something I’m really curious about.”
“Let’s just keep being curious.”
“…Rude. Anyway, Hyung, do you ever get blackmailed?”
“What?”
Me, getting blackmailed? Instead of doing the blackmailing?
“Ah, judging by your reaction, I guess not.”
Then he muttered.
“But why did you act like that at the awards ceremony….”
“…….”
It didn't seem like a question he wanted a clear answer to, as Min Ji-heon shrugged and began humming the song for the celebratory performance, seemingly losing interest in me.
I felt like I’d just keep having useless thoughts if I stayed with him, so I looked for my wallet in my sports bag to go to a nearby convenience store for a sugar fix.
Buzz—, buzz—
Min Ji-heon’s phone, which he’d tossed aside carelessly, rang loudly. Even when I looked back, Min Ji-heon showed no intention of moving, so I finally spoke up.
“Hey, your phone’s ringing.”
“Hang up for me…. It’s a hassle….”
“Without even seeing who it is?”
I picked up the vibrating phone to throw it at him, but I happened to see the name on the screen.
[♡Princess♡]
“…Is this for real?”
Is this Min Ji-heon guy in a relationship?
“Hmm? Why?”
“South Korea is not a constitutional monarchy, Mr. Min Ji-heon.”
I was revolted by the cringeworthy contact name, but Min Ji-heon, who had been lying lazily, bolted upright at those words.
“…Oh, Chae-yeon?”
“……?”
“Wait, wait! Don’t hang up, give it to me!”
Clatter!!
Regardless of my confusion, he rushed over, snatched the phone from my hand, cleared his throat, and answered.
“Princess!!”
“???”
“What made you call?”
I could see Min Ji-heon struggling to suppress a laugh as he spoke.
That bastard is definitely teasing someone right now.
Goosebumps broke out on my arms. I instinctively took a step away from him.
But Min Ji-heon didn't stop there.
“Why, do you have something to say to your Oppa?”
“Ugh….”
Princess and Oppa??
I looked at him with a withered gaze, but Min Ji-heon glanced at me for a moment before turning away and continuing the conversation.
“Uh, yeah, yeah. Oppa’s been a bit busy lately so I couldn't go home…. Oh? Ahaha, is that so? I’m sorry~.”
Since I had no immunity to such genuine pretentiousness, I decided to leave.
But Min Ji-heon blocked my path with his arm as I tried to pass.
“What.”
“Oh, he’s right here. Should I switch to a video call~? ……Ah, are you crazy?”
“……?”
“Hmm… wow, hmm. Our Chae-yeon, your tongue has gotten sharper since I last saw you. Yeah… it’s definitely my fault, sorry.”
He blocked me when I went right, and blocked me when I went left.
“What are you doing?”
He kept saying "Princess" and "Oppa," preventing me from moving until he finished the call, so I eventually stopped, crossed my arms, and glared at him.
The guy, who kept repeating apologies to the person on the phone until the very last second, was busy snickering as if he were having the time of his life.
“Do you tease the person you’re dating like that?”
“…Eh?”
And why are you holding me back?
I added the comment indifferently, and Min Ji-heon’s laughter followed.
“Dating? I’m not dating anyone. That was my sister.”
“Your sister?”
“Chae-yeon~.”
I’d never given a single thought to Min Ji-heon’s family, so I felt a bit skeptical.
‘Is he doing that because he doesn't want to get caught dating?’
But come to think of it, he wasn't an idol, and an actor of Min Ji-heon’s caliber didn't really need to hide the fact that he was dating.
“I have no intention of spreading rumors about your love life.”
“Want to see a picture?”
No.
Thinking it wouldn't even be worth blackmailing him over, I tried to lose interest, but Min Ji-heon insisted on rummaging through his photo gallery and shoved a picture in front of my eyes.
“Ta-da!”
I saw a brightly smiling Min Ji-heon and a girl who looked to be a middle schooler at most, glaring at the camera with a pouty expression.
She didn't even look like Min Ji-heon at all.
“Cute, right?”
“……You call your sister 'Princess'?”
“It’s fun because she hates it.”
Min Ji-heon babbled on about how he’d taken care of her since she was little because of the large age gap, and how she used to listen to everything he said but now she’s totally disgusted by him.
Of course, I had no desire to bond with Min Ji-heon over the joy of teasing a younger sibling, so I quickly opened the practice room door.
“She’s really prickly. Come to think of it, her personality is a bit like yours, Hyung.”
“Chae-yeon must be popular, good for her.”
“…Ahem, she’s not this shameless.”
Good personality, then.
At the very least, you’d need that level of "don't feed the trolls" ability to survive under the same roof as Min Ji-heon.
“Our Chae-yeon, no matter how much she likes you, she shouldn't take after you too much….”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ah, did I not mention it?”
When I turned my head with narrowed eyes, Min Ji-heon, who had been grinning the whole time, tilted his head.
“She’s a Noeul.”
“…….”
“And you’re her bias.”
“……Um?”
“I held onto you thinking she’d like it if I switched to a video call, but when I asked, she was absolutely horrified and asked if I was crazy. She said she wasn't prepared yet, and told me to please tell her these things in advance, asking if I had no brain at all as she chewed me out quite eloquently….”
“…….”
“…Chae-yeon, your Oppa gets hurt sometimes too.”
Even the Hallyu star Min Ji-heon, who was said to have easily conquered Asia, was just a lowly "loser" in front of his sister.
Whether he was hurt or not, my need for sugar was more urgent, so I left him there and went outside.
[This is White Christmas
Snow is falling slowly…]
True to Christmas, carols could be heard frequently on the streets.
It would have been nice if we had prepared something for Christmas too.
…The moment that thought crossed my mind,
‘…Wait.’
A chilling sensation struck me like a bolt to the crown of my head.
I fumbled through my pockets and quickly pulled out my phone.
[Yes, it's White Christmas
With you in a winter wonderland!]
No way, hey, it’s not, right? It can’t be.
We didn't prepare anything.
Sure enough, a massive article was posted on the entertainment news portal.
[Black Call releases surprise Christmas album ‘Christmas with you’…]
“The tyranny of big corporations is insane, dammit….”
With a groan, the Christmas season began.