Chapter 234
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234
‘What do I do about this?’
The situation was unfolding with an eerie similarity to what had happened in Japan. I took a moment to gauge the atmosphere before cautiously opening my mouth.
“……Yi-chae.”
Kang Yi-chae jerked his chin at me, his expression practically screaming for me to try and come up with a decent excuse.
“There’s no way that’s true. Why would I ignore you and—”
“…….”
I cut myself off and clamped my mouth shut.
Yi-chae’s eyes flashed with even more intensity.
“What, done already?”
He let go of the headboard and gripped the IV pole. For a second, I thought he might actually swing the thing at me.
Tilting his head to the side, he continued.
“I specifically told you to rest at home. You insisted on watching the performance anyway, and then you collapsed. How do you think it feels to hear from a total stranger that you’re on your way to the hospital?”
One of Kang Yi-chae’s defining traits was that the angrier he got, the more his expression vanished. Facing him like this was pure torture.
“And to top it off, the person who called was Min Ji-heon. Isn’t that random?”
I’d been listening quietly, but I felt the need to correct one thing. Even though I’d made it very obvious that I disliked Min Ji-heon, he wasn't exactly a stranger to me or Yi-chae.
He was a senior at our agency, after all.
“…I guess so.”
However, thanks to my max-level social intuition, I realized that one more wrong word would lead to a point of no return. I stayed quiet.
‘Is he thinking I pulled some other stunt?’
Well, he wasn't entirely wrong.
But if it hadn't been for Min Ji-heon, I might actually be dead right now.
I agonized under the pressure of Yi-chae’s stare, which demanded the truth. It didn't seem like lying would work anymore.
But I couldn't exactly tell him the whole story either.
Min Ji-heon hit me in the chest, and I was already in my unconscious world. When I woke up, I was in the hospital.
‘Does that even make sense?’
I’d be lucky if they didn't drag me straight to a psych ward.
It seemed true that Min Ji-heon brought me here after I collapsed, but since I didn't know the details of what happened in between, I couldn't risk speaking carelessly.
‘…I don’t know if this will work, but.’
To accelerate our idol activities moving forward, I absolutely needed the help of Kang Yi-chae, who produced most of The Dawn’s songs.
“Yi-chae, let me explain.”
I decided to try and soothe him by sharing only the parts of the truth I could reveal.
“I appreciate the concern, but I didn't expect this either. I felt fine while I was watching the performance.”
Yi-chae’s eyebrow twitched.
“But then it suddenly got worse…. It just so happened that Min Ji-heon had a schedule at the station. We ran into each other, talked for a bit, and he helped me out. That’s all.”
“…….”
“…That’s really it.”
What else could I say?
“That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
I didn't have any more excuses to give, nor did I want to.
“I’ll make sure it doesn't interfere with our future activities. I’ll take care of my health. We have to climb higher, after all.”
I added that last bit, infusing it with my genuine ambition to reach the first-tier of idols.
Surely that was enough?
I had so much to do, and I needed to repair my relationship with Yi-chae quickly.
I had to check the fans' reactions, see how the company was handling the aftermath, and figure out the shortest route to clearing this damn 'Idol Tycoon' game.
However, Yi-chae’s silence stretched on, becoming unsettling.
Finally, his lips parted slowly.
“Activities….”
One corner of his mouth curled up into a crooked smirk.
“I have a question, Hyung.”
“……?”
“You’re smart, so I’m sure you can give me an answer.”
The veins on the back of the hand gripping the IV pole were bulging.
Faced with that threatening sight, I instinctively scooted my butt back on the bed.
“What happens if we just leave you out of the next album promotions?”
“…What?”
“What if you just suspend all activities entirely?”
Are you insane?
The sentence was phrased as a question, but he wasn't looking for an answer.
‘Is this guy actually crazy?’
It felt like he was ready to beat me into submission just to force me to take a break.
“Wa-wait a second.”
Just as I was about to jump up and try to calm him down, the hospital room door slid open with a clatter.
“…I’m here.”
I froze and turned my head to see Seong Ji-won, the tip of his nose bright red.
‘I’m screwed!’
I’d heard that before Shining Star’s final stage, these two had fought over whether or not to let me perform.
According to Kim Seong-hyeon, the situation back then had been quite serious….
We should be working harder than ever right now; we couldn't afford discord among the members.
“O-oh… Ji-won, you’re here.”
“……Ji-won?”
I tried to sit back down and offer a smile, but Ji-won, looking back and forth between Yi-chae and me, seemed to grasp everything in three seconds.
“Kang Yi-chae.”
He strode over and grabbed Yi-chae’s arm, pulling him back.
“Yi-chae, let’s step outside for a moment. Ho-yun is sick right now.”
“I’m not joking.”
Yi-chae allowed himself to be moved by Ji-won’s strength, but his gaze remained locked on me.
It seemed that once he flipped a switch, he lost sight of everyone else around him.
“You know how easy it would be to put your activities on hold, right?”
“……!”
Ji-won stopped moving.
The light in his eyes died down as he stared at Yi-chae.
Yi-chae wasn't wrong.
I could think of several ways to make it happen right now. It would cause some noise, sure.
But still.
‘What about me?’
My plan didn't include a hiatus.
I was already anxious during the time it took to prepare an album; if I took a long break, the public would forget me in an instant.
“…That’s enough, Yi-chae. Come outside and talk to me.”
Only then did Yi-chae turn away from me to look Ji-won straight in the eye.
“I don’t want to.”
Ji-won covered his mouth with one hand and turned his head as if thinking for a moment, then let out a short, hollow laugh.
“…You really won't listen, will you?”
It was an expression I’d never seen on Ji-won before.
Even though his lips were curved into a smile, his displeasure was palpable.
‘This is getting really dangerous.’
The atmosphere wasn't just chilly; it was rapidly hitting sub-zero temperatures.
“Hey, you guys….”
Just as I was racking my brain for a way to handle these lunatics before things spiraled further—
“Sniff!!!”
Jeong Da-jun made his entrance.
He was still sticking to his "I'm pouting" concept.
He sniffled and wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes before suddenly shouting.
“They said Ho-yun Hyung can eat now!! Hyung, honestly, your attitude earlier was super annoying, but you have to stay healthy, so let’s eat something delicious right away!”
“Hey, Jeong Da-jun. Keep your voice down.”
“What do you want?! Jajangmyeon? Pasta? Soybean paste stew?! Personally, I want stew!!”
“Sigh…….”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who followed behind with a pale face, looked even more haggard when he saw the state of the room.
“W-what are you guys doing?”
Seong-hyeon rushed over to Ji-won, who was at least the more reasonable of the two.
“Wait. Everyone, step back for a second.”
“Seong-hyeon, hold on. I need to talk to Yi-chae.”
“Hey, hey. What do you mean 'hold on'? Ji-won, you’re already angry!”
His tone was perfectly soft, but Ji-won’s eyes were half-crazed.
Finally sensing the mood, Jeong Da-jun looked back and forth between the members in shock.
“Again?! Not again?!”
He lunged forward and clung to Yi-chae’s arm, whimpering.
The way he did it suggested he’d had plenty of practice.
“Aaaah, Hyung, Hyung! This is a hospital room!”
“Da-jun, give me a second.”
Even at maximum rage, Yi-chae responded gently to the youngest.
“Stop fighting. Seeing you guys fight once was enough!!”
“We’re not fighting. I’m just saying we should go outside and talk. It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine!!”
Having seen blood before, Seong-hyeon and Da-jun were desperate to stop them.
The maknae stood in front of Yi-chae, hugging him to block his path, and asked me:
“Wait, why did this start all of a sudden?”
“Um, well….”
“D-did Yi-chae Hyung say something about your activities again?”
As I was calculating how much I should tell the youngest, Da-jun beat me to it.
‘Is he traumatized?’
It seemed like what happened during the final Shining Star mission had deeply affected everyone.
Ji-won frowned slightly, looking uncomfortable that such things were being discussed in front of me.
“—Yi-chae, fine. I’m sure you didn't mean that seriously.”
“I did, though?”
Yi-chae smiled as he faced Ji-won.
“I actually regret it. Why did I listen to you during Shining Star and leave Ho-yun Hyung alone?”
His voice was dripping with ice, and his gaze was lethal.
“This is the result of being persuaded back then.”
…He makes a good point.
‘Yi-chae, you’re good.’
Even I was momentarily convinced.
Seong-hyeon and Da-jun didn't say it out loud, but their expressions showed they agreed with Yi-chae to some extent.
At this rate, we were about to enter round two of the fight between Ji-won and Yi-chae from Shining Star Season 2.
‘What do I do?’
“Ji-won, for now, just….”
“U-uaaaah….”
The leader and the maknae, having snapped back to their senses, began frantically trying to restrain Ji-won and Yi-chae again, as if those memories were a total nightmare.
They looked like two shrimp caught between two whales—about to get their backs broken.
Then, Da-jun’s eyes met mine, and his mouth moved silently.
Hyung! Do something!
I’m a patient.
……!!
Da-jun’s pupils shook violently as if he’d been betrayed.
Wait, hold on. I’m thinking as hard as I can here.
‘Should I create a sacrificial lamb?’
“Why are you looking at me like that!?”
Shouldn't a true leader step up at a time like this…?
But the quick-witted Kim Seong-hyeon read something in my eyes and tried to hide his body behind Yi-chae—not that he could actually fit.
Since I’d been caught, the effectiveness of that plan would be halved. Just as I was looking for the next method, the door burst open again.
“Gasp, huff, Hyung! I’m here…!”
With a face that clearly showed he’d been crying, Seo Ho-jin stumbled into the room, gasping for breath.
“Are you really sick? Are you okay?”
My idiot brother had arrived.
After watching the members growl at each other, seeing Ho-jin was like a breath of fresh air. Though his chubby cheeks were now a thing of the past.
“Sorry. I took a taxi to get here as fast as I could, but the traffic was terrible….”
Ho-jin closed the door and turned to us. Sensing the strange tension in the air, he let out a confused sound.
“…Huh?”
“……Ah.”
Even Yi-chae and Ji-won, who looked ready to tear each other apart, faltered at Ho-jin’s appearance.
Ji-won was the first to soften his expression, offering a gentle smile.
“Hi, Ho-jin.”
“Oh, hi….”
I thought this was the perfect chance to grab Ho-jin and make a run for it.
“Ho-jin, come here….”
“T-this is it!”
Suddenly, Da-jun let go of Yi-chae and rushed toward Ho-jin.
“Ho-jin Hyung, sorry!!”
“Wh-what?”
He stepped behind Ho-jin and—
“Ack!”
“Oof!”
—shoved him right onto me.
Caught off guard, my brother collapsed on top of me.
I felt a heavy impact and weight on my stomach. I’d raised him too well; he was taller than me and weighed quite a bit, so the shock was significant. A cough escaped me involuntarily.
“Cough. Ho-jin, you could have braced yourself! Are you trying to kill me…?”
“N-no! I was just flustered! Wow, I didn't think Da-jun was that strong. What’s with his power?!”
That kid is an elephant pretending to be a puppy….
He’s been eating a lot lately. His appearance hasn't changed much, but I guess he’s just been building raw strength.
“I learned judo, Hyung!!”
“…Good for you…….”
“Why are you praising him for that?”
I gave a half-hearted compliment as Ho-jin scrambled off me.
In the meantime, Da-jun looked around at everyone and spread his arms wide.
“Look! Both of you, stop fighting!”
“…….”
“This is… this isn't so bad, right?!”
Look at what?
Me dying under Ho-jin’s weight?
Everyone looked at the maknae with bewildered expressions at the sudden lack of context.
“Listen! Ho-yun Hyung is a patient! He needs stability first! Filling him with good things and only letting him see good things is the best way!”
He sure has a way with words.
“So….”
And he’s stuck.
“So, what?”
“It’s okay. Tell us, Da-jun.”
They probably meant to ask kindly since he was the youngest, but because Yi-chae and Ji-won’s eyes were still glowing with intensity, Da-jun’s shoulders slumped.
Seong-hyeon watched the situation with a tense face.
“Th-that.”
“…….”
“Uh… Hyung….”
This kid definitely didn't have a plan.
Seeing his eyes dart around as he stammered, it was clear he’d just spoken before thinking.
I opened my mouth to sigh and clean up the mess.
“Hey, let’s just—”
“Ho-yun Hyung!!”
My voice overlapped with Da-jun’s.
The maknae looked at the icy Yi-chae and Ji-won and clenched his fists.
“—How about… we lock him up?!!”
“…….”
……What did you just say?
A chilling silence filled the hospital room.