Chapter 345
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 345
“Ugh, I can’t believe I have to work at this ungodly hour.”
While it was a self-evident truth that one needed money to survive, she utterly loathed the act of working itself.
Through a relative, she had managed to land a lucky break—an internship at an office for a professional underwater filming company. It was a place where she could secure her future if she learned the ropes well, though for now, she was still just the errand girl. Dragging her heavy feet, she headed toward the set.
I think they said it was an idol group today.
Since this was the most famous underwater filming company among the few that existed in the country, she had plenty of opportunities to see celebrities who came to shoot for magazines, dramas, commercials, and movies.
Because of that, she was indifferent to the news of an idol group coming. To her, it just felt like the start of another grueling day of labor.
Entering the workplace with a gloomy expression, she approached her boss, who was also her blood relative.
“Uncle, is the safety training over?”
“‘Is the safety training over?’ she asks, and only after just showing up! Hey! Didn’t I tell you to get your butt over here early and learn more?!”
“Yeah, yeah, sorry. So, we’re filming today, right?”
“You cheeky brat.”
Her uncle glared at her briefly before scratching his head roughly, as if he couldn't help it.
“I set a generous schedule just in case, but they followed directions so well that we finished early. The kids were all so nice and gentle.”
Having been lazy for the past few days, she had felt the pressure to show up early today. She checked the office supplies and even made sure the hot water was running properly.
Since the tasks managed by a part-timer were minor things far removed from actual safety, she finished up quickly. Letting out a yawn, she plopped down on the small sofa in the corner of the office.
“But I’m a bit worried. One of the members seemed sick.”
“If he’s sick, he should rest. Why be so stubborn?”
“You really...! He was so diligent, it was good to see!”
They should just do the bare minimum. Why live such exhausting lives?
Wasn't it a job where you just had to look polished on the outside anyway?
There were more than enough people who would love them as long as they pretended well, so why go out of their way to suffer?
Just as she was sipping the warm lemon tea her uncle handed her—a reward for working since dawn—the idols scheduled for the shoot arrived.
“Hello.”
“Hello! We look forward to working with you again today!”
Perhaps because of the music video shoot, their makeup was a bit heavy, but they seemed like the most sparkling celebrities she had ever seen—
“Pffft!!”
“Gah! Hey!”
—or so she thought, until she accidentally sprayed her lemon tea everywhere.
Her uncle, who was standing next to her, recoiled in disgust, but she didn't have the luxury of worrying about that.
“Cough, ah, crazy...”
The figures in front of her were definitely The Dawn.
The very idols who were currently rising through the ranks at a terrifying pace—the ones people sometimes mockingly called the "Miracle of a Shitty Little Agency" to keep them in check.
But more than that, there was a specific reason she was horrified.
I used to be a fan of TEW!
TEW.
A group that had been walking a relatively smooth path until their momentum was completely crushed after Shining Star Season 2, leading them into the shadows of the entertainment industry.
Of course, she had only been a fan for six months, but she had been active enough to boast that she loved them more intensely than anything else at the time.
She had even gone as far as handing out candy on the street to promote them for the Shining Star Season 2 votes.
My poor Won-ha...
Her taste was the "spoiled young master" type who grew up wealthy and was openly rude.
The moment she saw TEW’s Jeong Won-ha, she felt it was fate. Of course, after a string of dating rumors and consecutive scandals, she had left K-pop entirely.
That didn't mean the irritation she felt toward The Dawn during Shining Star Season 2 had faded, though.
Her eyes narrowed as they landed on Seo Ho-yun.
Tsk.
Whether it was for a concept or not, he looked so pale that his veins were visible.
Besides, didn't he take first place by using that pitiful "family history" of his as an excuse?
He’s really doing well. How annoying.
Everyone had predicted a massive backlash, but as if he were born under the star of a leech, The Dawn hadn't collapsed. Instead, they had clung on and crawled their way up, and now they were even being mentioned as candidates for this year's Grand Prize.
As she was coldly sizing up The Dawn, her uncle, who had moved close again, nudged her.
“Niece, don't lose your mind just because they're handsome. Hurry up and help with the work.”
“It’s not like that?!”
When she barked back, her uncle chuckled and walked toward the storage room. She followed him to prep the equipment, but her ears remained tilted toward The Dawn, who were talking outside.
“The weather is so gloomy today... I want to eat fish cakes!”
“They don't sell fish cakes in this season.”
“How about we boil some at the dorm?! Should we ask Ho-yun hyung too?”
“...Just hold back for now. If you boil them, I feel like I’ll get sick even if I’m not.”
Stretching her neck to peek through the door, she saw the leader, Kim Seong-hyeon, and the youngest, Jeong Da-jun, bickering. Based on their conversation, they seemed to get along well.
What was the latest gossip about The Dawn?
Even though she had left the fandom, she still habitually frequented various online communities, so she knew most of the rumors.
Hmm, was it a discord rumor?
WH Entertainment’s security was famously tight, making it hard to see even a shadow of a sasaeng near their dorm. However, strange rumors had been circulating lately.
It was the rumor that Seo Ho-yun didn't seem to be at the dorm.
People said that while it was rare since they were in a break period, he still attended official schedules diligently and nothing felt particularly different—but strangely, sightings of him with the other members had completely stopped.
Thinking she had found a fun topic to scribble about on the community boards, she watched Seo Ho-yun approach the set first, then slunk toward the waiting area where the other members were.
“Will Ho-yun hyung really be okay? He’s basically a conscious zombie at this point...”
“We have to trust him. At least today is the last day, so that’s a relief.”
“Didn't he overdo it yesterday too? He should have just come to the dorm and rested, but he insisted on going home.”
So it’s true that he left the dorm.
She strained her ears, picking up and putting down equipment she didn't even need to touch.
Just then, The Dawn’s main vocal, Seong Ji-won, tucked his smooth brown hair behind his ear and cautiously offered an opinion.
“Um, let’s watch a bit longer, and if it really seems like he can’t make it, shouldn't we all just take him to the hospital? Like Seong-hyeon said, Ho-yun said he’s fine, so we should trust him.”
“Has Ho-yun hyung ever said he wasn't fine?”
The staff will dry them all with hair dryers anyway. Such a fuss.
Even if the water was cold during filming, the showers had plenty of hot water. Besides, once they came out, they’d have other people drying their hair, wiping their bodies, turning on heaters, and treating them like kings. She couldn't understand what there was to worry about.
“Don't you think so, Yi-chae hyung?”
When Jeong Da-jun clung to the main rapper, Kang Yi-chae—who had red hair and sharp eyes—and whined, a brief answer popped out, sounding somewhat annoyed.
“How should I know?”
“Huh?”
“He’ll take care of it.”
“……”
“……”
A cold wind blew through his voice, enough to make even her, the eavesdropper, feel a chill.
Is the discord rumor for real?
She was focusing intently on the intriguing conversation when suddenly—
Splash!
The sound of something heavy falling into the water echoed. Turning her head, she saw Seo Ho-yun swimming gracefully. Before she knew it, several people who looked like WH Entertainment staff were holding cameras, likely filming behind-the-scenes footage for the music video.
Look at them, acting like a big agency now.
She clicked her tongue instinctively.
Anyone could see his face was haggard. If they uploaded something like that, what were the fans—who habitually lived for the angst—going to do?
They’d probably cause a riot with hashtags demanding artist protection. If they were lucky, it would end with them praising how "professional" their babies were. Either way, it was pathetic.
“Ah, good! Great!”
He was continuing the shoot quite well for someone in poor condition. After surfacing several times for air, Seo Ho-yun took a deep breath and submerged for the final shot.
“Now, close your eyes! That’s it!”
The music video director smiled satisfactorily at him and shouted.
“Seo Ho-yun-ssi, you can come up slowly now!”
But there was no reaction.
“Seo Ho-yun-ssi?”
Seo Ho-yun just kept sinking toward the bottom with his eyelids firmly shut.
“……Eh?”
He had responded quickly to all the previous directions, so for him not to hear this...
“Uncle.”
Regardless of her personal feelings toward The Dawn, she turned to her uncle in shock. Her uncle also had a serious expression and hurriedly signaled to the staff.
“Quick! Get the gear ready! We’re diving in right now—”
Just then.
Splash—!
Seo Ho-yun, his eyes snapping open, kicked off the bottom of the tank and surfaced.
“Whoa!”
The nearby staff all rushed over, practically hauling him out. They wrapped him in towels and pointed heaters and hair dryers at him.
With a clear face dripping with water, he laughed playfully.
“Ahaha, did I scare you?”
“Hey! You shouldn't play pranks like that!”
“Aw, just a little surprise.”
Normally, she would have just cursed him out for being a total airhead and moved on, but something felt unsettling.
Didn't he actually lose consciousness just now?
Through the experience she had gained over several months here, she could roughly distinguish between a dangerous situation and one that wasn't.
Usually, when people are asked to pretend to faint, they instinctively hold their breath. But just now, bubbles had risen steadily.
Hmm...
Her eyes followed Seo Ho-yun intently.
While the WH Entertainment staff and The Dawn members let out sighs of relief, seemingly believing his words, Kang Yi-chae, who was subtly curling the corners of his mouth, stood up and changed the atmosphere.
“Alright, alright, let’s find some strength and move on to the next shoot, shall we?!”
“Let’s go!”
The air on the set instantly turned lively again. Just as attention was about to shift to the noisily chatting members of The Dawn, her uncle nudged her side again.
“Follow them and deliver some fresh towels. While you’re at it, check again if he’s really okay.”
“...Yes, sir.”
She gathered various items from the supply room and trudged toward the powder room, which was connected to the showers and sinks.
“……Huh?”
Shhhhh.
Since it was just for a quick warm-up, she thought he’d be done by now, but the sound of water was still audible. Moreover, it was mixed with a noise that sounded like someone gagging.
She hurried her pace. The moment she got close, Seo Ho-yun, who had apparently finished his shower and changed into a black T-shirt, was leaning over the sink. He turned his head and looked at her.
Gasp.
Eyes that were sharp and on edge stared directly at her.
She had thought makeup had made his complexion sallow, but his bare face was actually even paler.
She hurriedly took a couple of steps back, but Seo Ho-yun slowly straightened his upper body while maintaining eye contact.
“Do you have something to say?”
His tone was polite, but fierce.
“…Pardon?”
As she stumbled backward again, Seo Ho-yun turned off the sink faucet and swept back the hair clinging to his forehead. Water was still dripping from the tips.
“You’ve been watching me for a while now.”
Seo Ho-yun just stood there, leaning his hands on the sink, as if waiting for her excuse.
Danger alarms blared in her head.
“Ah, no! I, it’s nothing in particular... I just came to bring these towels...”
What should she do?
It was a classic case of a guilty conscience. She had been caught paying attention to The Dawn’s discord rumors for entertainment. Even if she said she was looking because he was handsome, what could he say? But if he officially lodged a complaint...
“A-and, I-I’m a fan?! Because I’m a fan!”
In her desperation, she decided to just throw anything out there. She added a drop of calculation, hoping he wouldn't be stingy to someone claiming to be a fan, and tossed out a common piece of lip service.
“…A fan?”
Seo Ho-yun repeated softly.
“A Noeul?”
“…Yes, yes! A Noeul!”
As she nodded desperately, Seo Ho-yun tilted his head as if trying to gauge whether it was true or not.
Damn it. It’s not working. I’m going to get a lecture.
If he said something, maybe she could just mumble to her uncle that he was being an idol-hater or something.
With her head bowed low, she tried to get her rusty brain working, but when Seo Ho-yun’s voice returned, it was much softer.
“…I gagged a bit because I swallowed too much water earlier.”
“……Pardon?”
“I feel like I drank several liters.”
And the murderous aura he had been emitting until a moment ago evaporated instantly.
Seo Ho-yun took the towels from her hand and showed a faint smile.
“We’re both working hard since dawn.”
“……”
“Have a good day.”
With that farewell, Seo Ho-yun passed her and walked out.
Left alone, she stood in silence for a moment while tidying the powder room, which wasn't even that dirty.
Clearly, just a few minutes ago, she had been fully intent on digging up The Dawn’s discord rumors to post them online, but suddenly, she didn't want to. Taking out the phone she had hidden from her uncle, she searched for The Dawn and clicked on the latest posts.
[Title: They say Seo Ho-yun is appearing on Woo-seong’s broadcast
Ju Woo-seong’s solo self-produced content lol
Those two really seem to fight every day, but they’re so close
└ No, Woo-seong, why on earth...
└ Seems like the taste of Hawaii was sweet for WH
└└ It’s business
└└ Still, he called the members first this time..]
She hesitated, writing and deleting several times, but eventually, losing to her desires, she uploaded a post.
[Title: Who said Seo Ho-yun was cute?
People kept saying he was cute, so I checked him out
He’s freaking scary in person fml,,,,
He is handsome though
└ Eh?? You saw him?
└ Lol what kind of clickbait is this]
The blood that had already washed down the drain—she never did see it.