Chapter 191
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 191
Yun Hee-eon’s face was flushed with rage, his clenched fists trembling slightly.
The upright and kind-hearted Kim Seong-hyeon stood there, eyes darting around in distress, while I watched the scene unfold while rubbing the back of my neck.
Did I rub off on him too much?
The smoothest way to handle this would be to just walk away, but I figured this was a good opportunity.
“Thank you for the congratulations on our first-place win?”
I replied to the comment Yun Hee-eon had spat out earlier, using a (presumably) very polite tone.
“Yes, it seems doing Shining Star was worth it.”
“Yeah.”
“I mean, after gaining that much popularity at the end, it would’ve been weird if you didn’t get first place, right?”
Yun Hee-eon’s eyes narrowed.
It was obvious what he was trying to imply, but I kept a smile plastered on my face.
“I’m truly sorry to hear about your parents.”
“...!”
“Well... I suppose things didn’t turn out entirely bad for you in the end, though...”
As expected. Why do these guys never fail to meet my expectations?
Instead of snapping back, I counted to three in my head.
“Senior, that was uncalled for.”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been tensely observing the situation, spoke up. His face had gone cold as he glared straight at Yun Hee-eon.
“I believe there are lines that should never be crossed.”
“Hmm?”
A low, heavy silence settled between Yun Hee-eon and us.
Yun Hee-eon tilted his head slightly and let out a smirk.
“Haha, did I say something that bad? I don’t think it’s something I can’t say.”
“...”
“Honestly, these kinds of rumors are going to follow you forever anyway, and a fact is a fact. There are plenty of people out there way worse than me. If you’re going to get this worked up over something like this, how do you plan on surviving?”
Right. That’s the spirit. Keep it coming.
I pulled back Kim Seong-hyeon, whose jaw was tight with suppressed emotion, and stepped forward with a bright smile.
“As expected of a senior. Perhaps it’s because you have so much more experience than me, but you’re so well-informed and even give such generous advice to your juniors.”
“...??”
“If it were me, I’d be too busy worrying about my own future.”
I was essentially asking him why he was wasting time acting like a brat here instead of figuring out how to fix his own declining career.
“Well then, bye-bye~.”
Deciding that was enough, I dragged Kim Seong-hyeon toward the waiting room. Yun Hee-eon just stood there with his mouth agape, watching me walk past.
Sorry, but if you want to beat me, you’ll need at least fifty more years of training.
Now, is it Kim Seong-hyeon’s turn?
I walked slowly without saying a word, waiting for his reaction. Kim Seong-hyeon seemed to be trying to compose himself, his fists still clenching and unclenching.
“What are you doing?”
“Sigh...”
At my question, Kim Seong-hyeon started to run a hand through his hair but stopped and let out a deep sigh instead.
“...Just. No one should say things like that, and you have no reason to hear them.”
Kim Seong-hyeon’s words were an ideal.
Yun Hee-eon’s words were reality.
The things I did during Shining Star will follow me forever. Even if I leave the entertainment industry.
However, there was one thing both Yun Hee-eon and Kim Seong-hyeon were overlooking.
I’d had countless labels attached to me since my days as a PD. Adding one more wasn’t going to hurt.
In fact, I sometimes used those facts to my advantage.
Like right now.
Our naive Kim Seong-hyeon looked depressed just because a fellow group member had heard something nasty.
“I should have done better.”
Give me a break.
I wanted to tell him that nothing would change even if he did better, but I kept it to myself.
It seemed he was just overwhelmed with various thoughts as a leader.
Well, thanks anyway. You helped me land a big one.
There was a reason I backed off so easily.
I knew Yun Hee-eon would try to pick a fight with me no matter what, and I was certain Kim Seong-hyeon would be provoked by it.
I flicked my hand out of Kim Seong-hyeon’s line of sight to pull up his stats.
[Kim Seong-hyeon
Still a literal light today—
—but the guy next to him, Seo Ho-yun, is a bit...
Singing: B0
Dancing: S-
Variety: C0
Acting: D0
??: ???
Charm: A-]
Kim Seong-hyeon’s dance stat had been stuck at S- for a long time.
It had been over half a year since just before the Kill the Lights promotions, and it was frustrating that it wouldn’t budge.
Actually, it was more annoying that Ju Woo-seong hit EX- just by going to California for a bit, while my kid was stuck at S- despite working his ass off.
It made me wonder if this was why everyone was so obsessed with studying abroad.
What the hell was in California?
I even wondered if I should send my kid there too.
But then, the right item and the right timing arrived.
[EXP Event: Time is Gold
When practicing with those around you, proficiency increases slightly faster, limited to a designated stat.
※ There are no restrictions on the target person.
※ Stats will increase for only one designated person, excluding the Player.
※ Charm is excluded from the designated stats.
※ Duration is 168 hours from the moment the start date is set.]
When Ju Woo-seong’s schedule was clear.
When Kim Seong-hyeon’s motivation was at its peak.
That was the timing.
It said only one person other than me could raise their stats, but it didn’t say I couldn’t practice with multiple people.
If I designated Kim Seong-hyeon and worked Ju Woo-seong to the bone, it would be perfect.
It won’t be easy, though.
Nothing to lose by trying.
I wore the smile that the members hated so much and slapped an arm over Kim Seong-hyeon’s shoulder.
“Aw, is my little brother worried about me?”
“Whoa! Seriously, what is wrong with you?!!”
I chuckled as I watched Kim Seong-hyeon shake off my arm and scramble a few steps away.
Since Jeong Da-jun had been corrupted by Kang Yi-chae, teasing Kim Seong-hyeon—who had the best reactions lately—was my biggest source of healing.
I spoke in a soft, gentle tone.
“If you’re thaaaaat worried about me, could you do me one favor?”
I was basically telling him he had to do it.
*
[No.]
Now that I’d handled Kim Seong-hyeon, Ju Woo-seong was next.
I rearranged the schedule to use the reward as efficiently as possible, made sure we could practice for at least five hours a day, and then called Ju Woo-seong.
But his answer was firm.
No?
I scratched my head and processed Ju Woo-seong’s words.
“...Does that mean you don’t want to not do it?”
[Are you kidding me? I said no.]
As I was trying to wrap my brain around the situation again, Ju Woo-seong grumbled.
[What’s with this sudden call? Do you think I’m the type of person who just comes when you call and helps when you ask?]
“...”
Weren’t you?
He’d even done the Shining Star mentoring because of me.
I started counting the number of times Ju Woo-seong had helped me on my fingers but gave up.
It was hard to count on one hand, and it was a hassle anyway. I didn’t really have any intention of paying him back, either.
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
[You’re asking me to look over Kim Seong-hyeon’s dancing. For several days, no less.]
“Right?”
Even I felt a bit shameless saying it.
I wondered if the sucker had finally come to his senses.
[...I don’t want to do that.]
“...But why??”
[You bastard, you’re flustered, aren’t you? You called me assuming I’d obviously do it, didn’t you? But too bad. I’m not doing it for Kim Seong-hyeon.]
If we were face-to-face, I could at least read his expression, but I had no idea what was causing this.
I clicked my tongue and changed my voice to a sweet tone.
“Stop playing hard to get and just tell me what you want.”
[I want you to stop calling me.]
“...”
He was being extra prickly today.
I was considering switching tactics and finding someone else when I heard a familiar voice.
[Hello!]
“Ah, hello.”
It was Chae Jeong-woo. Was he with him?
He spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice.
[I saw the music show today! Congrats on the win.]
“Thank you, Senior Chae Jeong-woo.”
As I gave a polite response, I could hear Ju Woo-seong grumbling in the background about why he was snatching someone else’s phone.
Chae Jeong-woo asked me to wait a moment, and soon the background noise went quiet. It seemed he had moved to a different spot.
[Whew, sorry. I wanted to talk to you for a second.]
“No problem, Senior.”
[Woo-seong and I were practicing together today, so I accidentally overheard. Sorry about that.]
“It’s fine.”
[Well, Woo-seong is naturally gifted, but he also puts in a lot of effort... Maybe that’s why he’s the type who secretly wants to be the best at everything. He’s very ambitious.]
“Ah...”
The pieces finally clicked into place.
Ju Woo-seong was uncomfortable with Kim Seong-hyeon becoming as good as him or reaching a similar level. Even though it would be hard to find someone better than him in his entire life.
As Chae Jeong-woo said, he was ambitious.
Wow, you petty brat.
I felt a surge of pride that he viewed Kim Seong-hyeon as such a threat, but at the same time, I thought Ju Woo-seong was being incredibly childish.
Then I realized his age made it somewhat understandable and stopped cursing him in my head.
“Well, then there’s nothing I can do.”
I had no intention of forcing someone who didn’t want to be there to practice.
Just as I was about to give up and hang up.
[Could you perhaps do me a favor? If you do, I’ll persuade him for you.]
“Pardon?”
[I’m a bit concerned about Yeon-hu.]
Kang Yeon-hu, out of nowhere?
“The Kang Yeon-hu from High Five?”
[Yes.]
Chae Jeong-woo gave a slightly troubled laugh. As I listened to his explanation and request regarding Kang Yeon-hu, I tapped my fingernails.
—It wasn’t exactly something I couldn’t do.
Kang Yeon-hu was in exactly the situation I had predicted.
“It’s not really something I can do, though.”
[I think you can. You have a great sense for variety.]
Of course I did. I was a former PD; this was easier than eating cold rice in soup.
“Let’s make a deal.”
[Okay, then I’ll persuade Ju Woo-seong.]
“On one condition.”
Since things had turned out this way, I decided to squeeze every bit of value out of this, considering my own high-level labor was involved.
“I’d like you to come along too, Senior Chae Jeong-woo.”
[...What?]
“Because I’m a huge fan of yours.”
The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly.
Regardless, at this point, bringing in even one more person was a win for The Dawn.
[...Haha, I guess you need this level of shamelessness to be friends with Ju Woo-seong?]
“Senior Chae Jeong-woo, are you talking about yourself?”
[...Anyway, when?]
I pulled the phone away from my ear slightly to check the time.
“Right now.”
Why wait?
I ignored Chae Jeong-woo’s dry laugh and hung up.
*
“Why are you sulking?”
You brat.
I figured it would be better to get to the practice room first, so I dragged the members there without explaining the details. We had been repeating the dance for about two hours and were taking a break.
Chae Jeong-woo called to say they had arrived, so I went out to the lobby. Ju Woo-seong was standing there crookedly with his arms crossed, wearing sunglasses.
“I don’t talk to nugus.”
“I won first place today.”
“...Whatever.”
Whether he pouted and grumbled or not, I took out the watch and wallet I’d brought for him, unzipped the sling bag he was wearing, and dumped them inside.
Beside him, Chae Jeong-woo scratched his head with an awkward smile.
“Well, I did bring him.”
Ju Woo-seong snorted and primly zipped his bag shut.
“I’m not talking to Seo Ho-yun.”
“Fine, talk to Ho-u Ho-u then.”
“...”
I had considered letting him go, but since he’d walked in on his own two feet, his opinion didn’t matter anymore.
As I was debating when to activate the reward, Seong Ji-won appeared, his hands full of sleeping bags after a quick trip to the dorm.
“Oh?”
“...??”
“...?”
“Hello, Seniors.”
Everyone froze, wondering what was going on, when Kang Yi-chae appeared with blankets and pillows.
“Why the pillows...?”
“Ah, well. If we’re going to practice hard, it’s a waste of travel time. We figured we’d just wash up here, sleep, and head straight to our schedule.”
Chae Jeong-woo’s jaw dropped. A smiling Kang Yi-chae pointed at Seong Ji-won.
“—Or so Ji-won hyung said.”
“Ahaha...”
“...”
As expected of the practice machine and the real boss of The Dawn.
Once I set the stage and the other members joined in, Seong Ji-won seemed to be in high spirits.
Kim Seong-hyeon, who was bringing up the rear with an electric kettle and an electric pot, spotted Ju Woo-seong and dropped everything in his hands.
“Gasp!!!!”
Clatter, bang...
“Se-Se-Senior, what are you doing here...?”
A flustered Kim Seong-hyeon couldn’t even pick up his things, just stammering in shock, when Jeong Da-jun came running in excitedly, tripped over the mess, and tumbled forward.
Crash, tumble, bang!!
No, I thought he was going to fall.
With the 'vibe' born from countless hours of rolling around on practice room floors, Jeong Da-jun performed two clean rolls across the lobby floor, sprang to his feet, and struck a V-pose.
“Seven falls, eight rises! Jeong Da-jun!!!”
“Whoa~! Our Da-jun, that was cool.”
“Kyah~. Truly the hippest. The top of Korean hip-hop.”
Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae gave the youngest member a round of enthusiastic applause.
Ju Woo-seong, who was already used to the group known as 'The Dawn,' remained unfazed, but Chae Jeong-woo stared at the proud-looking Jeong Da-jun with wide eyes. Then he whispered to me in a small voice.
“Are all rookie idols like this these days? This is fascinating.”
“Who knows.”
Personally, I was more fascinated by the fact that Jeong Da-jun knew the four-character idiom for 'seven falls, eight rises.'