Chapter 332
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 332
In the end, I had gained nothing and was empty-handed, so I tried to keep my mouth shut. However, Ju Woo-seong, thrilled to have found something to tease me about, showed no signs of stopping.
"Hey, of course. Do you have any idea how much this guy nagged me just to give you that? I did him a favor by getting on stage with him after he begged and pleaded, and then what? Look at this junior suddenly changing the parts however he wants!"
Listening to Ju Woo-seong’s sarcastic remarks, Kang Yi-chae scratched the bridge of his nose with his index finger.
"Hyung, really… I honestly can't tell what you're thinking sometimes."
"……."
"Where on earth did you get the idea that giving me a CD would soothe me?"
He then scanned the CD in his hand from side to side and asked, "Hey. Have you ever heard Seong-hyeon hyung say something like that to you?"
"What?"
"That this place… is a place where you can return comfortably…."
Return…?
"……."
He didn't finish the sentence.
Instead, he just brushed back his red hair and let out a faint sigh.
"Hyung, you're too materialistic."
"…Do you think the term 'mammonism' was invented for nothing?"
Beside me, I heard Ju Woo-seong mutter to himself, "I think it'd be better if you just stayed quiet." The members standing nearby seemed to be glancing over, gauging the atmosphere.
"I don't need gifts or CDs like this…."
Kang Yi-chae exaggeratedly waved the CD.
"I just wish we, the members, could take a photo together every year. For the memories."
"Every year?"
"Yeah."
Is that really necessary when we see each other every single day?
However, following Ju Woo-seong’s advice, I stayed quiet for the moment. Then, he added a beat later.
"For five years… no, maybe ten……."
"That’s quite a long time."
"Until the members no longer have the strength to press the shutter…."
"……."
"……."
Ju Woo-seong pointlessly turned his gaze toward the distance, and I opened my mouth to speak but closed it again without adding a word.
"Anyway, thanks~."
Kang Yi-chae chuckled and tapped my arm with the CD before heading back to where the other members were. With a mischievous look on his face, he leaned on Seong Ji-won’s shoulder, then pretended to be shocked and made a fuss when he saw the studs on the jacket.
I’m the one who doesn't know what you're thinking.
How am I supposed to appease him…?
As I watched him with a sour expression, Ju Woo-seong poked me in the side.
"Kang Yi-chae is freaking creepy…. But did you do something wrong to him? Why are you walking on eggshells like that?"
"…I suppose I did do something wrong."
"Really?"
Ju Woo-seong’s eyes widened slightly, seemingly surprised by my honest answer, and he shrugged.
"The way he looks at you… it feels similar to how Chae Jeong-woo used to look at me back in the day…."
Don't you dare compare that look to the way one looks at a god-awful problem child.
Ju Woo-seong picked up a panel and thrust it forward.
"Well, anyway. Since we’re going, let’s just go and clear our heads. You’re pretty free lately, aren't you?"
"Let's look into how to get a refund instead."
"I'd rather get a refund on our relationship, you bastard."
Was our relationship even something that could be refunded?
Ignoring the grumbling Ju Woo-seong, I turned my attention to the bustling surroundings. It seemed everyone was planning to go for a second round after the workshop, as they were all gathered near the entrance.
"Hyung!"
Black Call was no different. Among them, Black Call’s maknae, Lee Han-ju, raised both hands high and called out to Ju Woo-seong.
"…Hmm, let's talk more later. They're calling me."
Ju Woo-seong, looking embarrassed yet a bit proud as he straightened his shoulders to leave, was interrupted.
"I wanna know your Eye Color!"
"Lee Han-ju, that little punk…."
Pissed off by the teasing that followed, Ju Woo-seong shouted as he practically ran toward them.
"Do I look easy to you now? Huh?!"
"Ahhh, Woo-seong hyung~! You were so cool earlier! Shouldn't we go for a drink ourselves?!"
Merged into the group of Black Call members, Ju Woo-seong no longer looked out of place. Chae Jeong-woo, who had worked hard as the MC today, gave me a slight nod with a gentle smile.
I returned the greeting with my eyes and turned around.
"Ho-yun hyung! Hurry up."
Naturally, The Dawn was waiting for me.
"I'm going to meet Min Ji-heon for a moment. You guys head back to the dorm first."
"Eh! Are you going to get an autograph?!"
I let out a short laugh at Jeong Da-jun’s words and walked away.
Perhaps because everyone had left so quickly, there was actually no one near the stage. Min Ji-heon was sitting on the stairs leading up to the stage. Beside him was a pile of Hanwoo sets.
"Look who it is, our dear PD."
Even though I was the type never to regret the past, filming a drama with this guy was a lingering source of remorse.
Min Ji-heon slowly scooted over and patted the spot next to him, but I just stood there at an angle and stared at him.
"Somehow, this makes me feel like I've gone back to my theater days."
"What you were saying earlier."
Since there was no one around, I didn't feel the need to be polite.
"Say it again."
"…This person really doesn't know the meaning of small talk. Ah, fine. Do you remember when we were filming that variety show together last year, how you were coughing up blood and shaking at the broadcasting station?"
How could I forget?
I literally came back from the dead.
"It's because you look similar to how you did back then. No, to be precise, those sticky, viscous masses clinging to and surrounding you. They were always bizarre, but they seem even more unstably distorted than usual."
"……."
I remember that time clearly.
Through my unconscious, I had barely managed to reset the system that had glitched due to excessive loans and the risk of being caught by Seong Ji-won.
And I could easily deduce where my current status effect originated from.
Is it Kang Yi-chae……?
I thought time would solve it since I had cut him off firmly, but it seems the system isn't generous enough to wait for that.
"…But you look so perfectly fine……."
"So?"
Min Ji-heon, who was tapping the Hanwoo box with his finger, avoided my eyes unlike his usual self and wore an awkward smile.
"It might be a good idea to check your surroundings. Just like how I once shared your pain, someone else might be carrying your burden with you."
Those words suddenly overlapped with what Min Ji-heon had said during Unknown Actor Tycoon—that if you receive something important, a corresponding price will surely follow.
The guy, who stood up and brushed off his pants, looked at my face, let out a small sigh, and added one more thing.
"Live a long, long life."
I, who had been watching in silence, called out to Min Ji-heon as he tried to take the Hanwoo with him.
"Min Ji-heon."
"What."
"Leave the Hanwoo."
"……."
Min Ji-heon looked at me with a deadpan expression.
Since my misplaced conscience hadn't returned yet, I was fine.
"I won this fairly, you know."
"Yeah, thanks. I'll enjoy it."
"They say you save a drowning man and he asks for your bundle, and the old saying isn't wrong at all…."
He won the prize by rambling about 'Ho-yun' and 'Daffodils' anyway, so isn't half of it mine?
The pig kept looking back every three steps as if he couldn't let go, but in the end, he had to leave the meat behind and depart.
Left alone in the quiet space, I fiddled with my phone for a long while before dialing a number. After a few rings, the other person picked up.
[Oh, what's up?]
It was Seo Ho-jin, possessing a voice similar to mine yet slightly different.
"Can't I call you?"
[You said you were busy today. Didn't you have a schedule?]
"It just finished. Have you eaten?"
[Here we go again. Of course I ate. What about you, hyung?]
"I had some wine."
[What? Alcohoool? A person needs to eat food!]
Seo Ho-jin’s nagging, thinking I had skipped a meal and only drank, continued for quite a while.
"Seo Ho-jin, you… nothing hurts, right?"
[Hurts? No?]
"Really?"
[What's with you? Did something happen? I said I'm fine.]
"Be honest. I won't scold you for hiding it."
From what I had learned while raising Seo Ho-jin, my brother tended to endure as much as possible without showing it so that I wouldn't worry, even if he was in pain.
[…I'm serious? And why would you scold me? I'm twenty-five, hyung.]
"You only graduated from the baby bottle yesterday."
[Ugh, seriously…….]
Seo Ho-jin grumbled over the phone.
[You're so overprotective for someone the same age.]
To avoid an awkward silence, I looked around for another topic and said, "Don't you want some Hanwoo?"
[Hanwoo?]
"Want to see me now?"
[Huh?]
I told the bewildered Seo Ho-jin to wrap up and come to the dorm, then hung up. Fortunately, he sounded fine over the phone.
Scratching my head, I stepped out of the venue and heard the sound of people chatting nearby.
"No, so Seong Ji-won, why on earth did you go on stage? Kang Yi-chae said he was going to give this to composer Im Hyeon-su?"
"Haha, I gained our precious memories, didn't I?"
"Hey… I really trusted you…."
I told them to go ahead, but really.
"But Ho-yun hyung got the travel voucher! I'm so, so jealous of Hawaii. Can't we all go together to celebrate our debut anniversary?!"
"I'll have to think about that…. Wait, Kang Yi-chae smells like alcohol. Who gave him a drink?"
"He was having a drinking contest with Ji-won hyung after the talent show."
"Seong Ji-won……."
"Ah, Yi-chae asked to drink first!"
As I took a few more steps, Jeong Da-jun, who was the first to notice my presence, looked up and came running over.
"Our Hawaii ticket is here!! Hyung! Ho-yun hyung-hyung!! Please pack me in your suitcase!!"
"You're too heavy now, so no."
I pushed Jeong Da-jun’s forehead away and instead held out the Hanwoo.
"I called Seo Ho-jin, should we all eat together?"
"Deal."
The members who had been waiting for me began to walk at my pace, chatting noisily once again.
* * *
After the WH Entertainment workshop ended, High Five’s album promotions also concluded successfully, and on the surface, harmonious days continued.
[It's a relief that Black Call is doing lives and filming commercials even during their break.... Otherwise, I would have burned WH to the ground]
[It's been 3 months since I joined the fandom.. and a break already...? The oppas are really raising me strictly]
[Ju Woo-seong is seriously so, so, so, so, so, so handsome]
In particular, Black Call’s fandom, the Bloys, were beyond peaceful—they were quiet and calm.
In fact, from a fan's perspective, there was nothing to dig into.
Just then,
[I heard WH had a workshop]
Before their eyes, as they searched for something new every day, a very fresh and lively piece of bait called the 'WH Entertainment Workshop' dropped.
[Omg, a workshop?!!?! F*ck, I always cursed them out for having workshops when they don't even work, but suddenly I want to see it so, so, so much ㅜ
└Sorry, but I don't think Woo-seong would want you to see it...
└└Ah right, Ju Woo-seong f*cking hates workshops because he cross-dressed when he was a rookie ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└└It's seriously the #1 video WH needs to release
It's like an urban legend now... The #1 video of rookie Ju Woo-seong's workshop that only has rumors floating around...
└└Ju Woo-seong worked hard for his life....
└└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋf*ckㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Ah, I'm so curious. Who came this time? What did they do for the talent show? What did they eat? Who did they talk to.....]
At that moment, as interest was peaking, a post appeared on an anonymous board.
[Title: My cousin works at WH
He said almost all the idols attended this time ㅋㅋㅋ
The Dawn and High Five had full attendance, and Black Call attended except for Lee Beom-hyun who had a schedule in Japan!
He said the talent show was f*cking intense this time
└Heol, can you tell us who performed?? They really didn't release a single photo this time
└└A lot of employees performed.. and for idols, as far as I know, Ju Woo-seong & Seo Ho-yun, Kang Yeon-hu & Seong Ji-won, Kang Yi-chae < these 3 pairs!!
Chae Jeong-woo was the MC and Min Ji-heon also made a brief appearance]
Then, a flurry of disbelief followed.
[Ju Woo-seong participated in the workshop?? No way, that's a total lie]
[Suddenly this lost all f*cking credibility]
[If Ju Woo-seong really went out with Seo Ho-yun, I'll stick my finger in boiling oil. Such a persistent and funny friendship]
Afterward, everyone seemed to have dismissed it as a lie, but the original poster uploaded another new post.
[Title: As a result of pestering my cousin, I found out one more fact
Ju Woo-seong and Seo Ho-yun
Danced to 'Eye Color'
Ju Woo-seong did the backup dancer part
└ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋAh f*ckㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└The 'Eye Color' I know??ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└It's a lie.. There's no way that Ju Woo-seong would do the backup dancer part... That guy who f*cking loathes workshops themselves....
└└ㅋㅋㅋI heard they might release the video later? Just wait for it
└└Hey, if this is real, I'm going on a pilgrimage to this post ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
Seeing that, some High Five fans frowned in frustration.
[Are they seriously doing a workshop during the promotion period, f*ck]
[These crazy bastards are going wild because they want to play. They should be suing malicious commenters in that time]
[Ah, seriously so inconsiderate....]
While the various fandoms were unable to find their footing amidst the mix of reactions without accurate information,
[No, f*ck, what is this]
Suddenly, airport departure photos appeared.
Of Seo Ho-yun and Ju Woo-seong.
Below the photo of Seo Ho-yun, dressed in black from head to toe, and Ju Woo-seong, dressed in white from head to toe, standing awkwardly while looking in different directions, the article title read:
《WH Entertainment’s ☆s are off to Hawaii… “We’ll be back in good health”》
[Pardon?]
Seo Ho-yun and Ju Woo-seong,
It was the start of their Hawaii vlog filming.