Chapter 346
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 346
Music video production wrapped up quickly following the underwater shoot.
Whether Managing Director Han’s promise to push The Dawn was more than just talk, the newly assigned, capable staff were incredibly efficient and didn't hesitate in their work.
I had grown somewhat accustomed to the status effects—knowing exactly when my nose would bleed or when I would cough up blood. This allowed me to act quite skillfully during the remaining music video filming.
Though, there were moments when I thought I might actually die, like when I had to stand in front of a massive industrial fan for dozens of minutes for a specific effect or repeat a grueling group choreography dozens of times.
‘Just a little longer...’
I pressed my index finger firmly against the space between my eyebrows.
‘...Woo-seong Broadcast.’
With Black Call’s return to activities still uncertain, Ju Woo-seong, who was preparing for a solo comeback, had recently been uploading self-produced content to his personal Nutube channel on a regular basis.
It was an unexpected move, considering he didn't seem to particularly enjoy variety schedules despite his obvious wit and talent. Then again, he always worked hard once he actually started.
[Title: Seo Ho-yun & Ju Woo-seong Hawaii Episode
Hawaii Episode Summary:
If Ju Woo-seong and Seo Ho-yun’s friendship is an act, I’m never trusting anything in this world again.
└ They’re seriously ride-or-die.
└ It’s so good to see Seo Ho-yun taking care of Ju Woo-seong and respecting him like that ^^
└└ Isn’t this just a Bloy being generous because the workshop footage was released?
└└ True ^^
└└ LOL but seriously, is that "taking care of and respecting" him?
└ I nearly had a stroke when he shoved Woo-seong away while yelling "It’s dangerous!" when a motorcycle passed by like ten feet away.
└ Whenever Woo-seong and Ho-yun appear together, the views and entertainment are guaranteed. I loved the editing, it was just like the Racing Me episode.]
[Title: Is Seo Ho-yun Ju Woo-seong’s only friend?
Let’s exclude Jeong-woo since he’s a member...
I honestly thought they were just business partners, but my mind changed after seeing this Hawaii episode.
Until Seo Ho-yun started being "nice" to him, they were bickering like every five seconds.
Are they actually best buds and not just business?
└ If you ask them directly, they’ll probably say business.
└└ RT
└└ Even that is such a "best buds" thing to do...
└ They’d probably love it if antis insulted them by calling it business...]
The Hawaii vlog seemed to be quite popular; most searches for Ju Woo-seong and my name together mentioned that trip.
Around that time, Lee Ji-hyeon, who was coordinating schedules with the management team, turned to me and spoke seriously.
“You’d be a fool not to go on Ju Woo-seong’s show this time. It’s like having a feast laid out for you and refusing to eat.”
“I guess the bonus was pretty sweet?”
“...Yes, well.”
“That’s a relief.”
Given my current condition, I wanted to postpone the schedule if I could, but—
[Quest Arrived!
Increase your awareness by filming ‘Woo-seong Broadcast’!
Success: If views exceed 1.5 million within three days of the Nutube release, you will receive 15,000 points.
Failure: Status effect duration extended by 1 week.]
A sweet quest had dropped.
Ju Woo-seong’s latest video, uploaded just the day before yesterday, was already nearing 2 million views. Unless I had gone insane from the pain, I had to go.
“Fuck, seriously...”
Feeling the pain wash over me like a rising tide, I leaned my head against the wall of the new WH Entertainment building’s hallway and crunched on painkillers while waiting for the road manager.
Just then, a familiar voice called out to me.
“Ho-yun, hi!”
I shifted my gaze to see Seong Ji-won, a familiar smile gracing his lips. He was holding a white paper bag in his right hand.
“...Hey.”
“Ho-yun, you look so haggard. Are you eating well?”
“Are you saying I look ugly?”
“Aw, no way.”
Seong Ji-won chuckled and played along with my nonsense.
“Sorry I haven't been able to make it to practice much.”
“It’s okay. I heard you weren't feeling well.”
The album set for September was something we had been preparing and honing since last year. Thanks to that, I had the choreography down pat; the moves would come out automatically if the song played, even if I were asleep.
Still, I felt a bit uneasy skipping the practices everyone else was attending under the pretext of being unwell.
“It seems to be lasting a long time this time. Is it an aftereffect from when you were sick before? Or was the underwater filming too much? You weren't in good shape then, either.”
“If I die later, just sprinkle money on my grave.”
“Ho-yun. Don't say things like that, even as a joke.”
The expression vanished from Seong Ji-won’s face instantly.
I was about to apologize and awkwardly rub my chin when the phone in my pocket began to buzz incessantly.
[Jeong Da-jun: (Photo)]
[Jeong Da-jun: Hyung, this is what we ate at the dorm today.]
[Jeong Da-jun: (Photo)]
[Jeong Da-jun: Hyung, this is the dessert we had at the dorm today.]
[Jeong Da-jun: (Photo)]
[Jeong Da-jun: Hyung, I did the dishes again today... -_- They say I’m no fun.]
[Kim Seong-hyeon: Jeong Da-jun’s phone is dead. He’s whining that he misses you.]
[Kim Seong-hyeon: That’s a total lie, hyung. This is Da-jun.]
[Kim Seong-hyeon: I’d never say I miss you.]
[Kim Seong-hyeon: But hyung, when are you coming back?]
My vision was already dizzy, and the rapid-fire messages in The Dawn’s group chat made it hard to read.
As I switched the notifications to silent, it suddenly bothered me how quiet Kang Yi-chae was being.
‘He’s not the type to just let this slide.’
I tried to scroll up and check the chat properly, but I turned off the phone once I realized the world was spinning. I took a deep breath and looked up, only to see Seong Ji-won looking slightly troubled.
“The kids are bothering you, aren't they?”
“It’s just because I haven't been back to the dorm. I wouldn't be surprised if they put all my luggage outside the door soon.”
“What?!”
It was meant to be a joke to lighten the mood, but Seong Ji-won grabbed my shoulders with a serious look.
“We would never do that. So don't worry about Ho-jin and feel like you have to walk on eggshells around us. Just think about yourself for now.”
“...”
“You can come back to the dorm whenever you want.”
Then, returning to his usual self, he curled his lips into a gentle smile.
“Oh! Here... take this!”
He reached out and handed me the paper bag he’d been holding. I took it reflexively and looked inside to find a small tumbler and some emergency medicine.
“It’s yuja tea. My grandmother made the yuja marmalade herself, and it’s delicious. I went to my parents' house yesterday and told her you seemed low on energy lately, so she packed this, saying it’s the best thing for a bad cold. I used to drink it a lot when I was little... I thought it would be good for you too...”
Suddenly, I remembered a day when I sat on a narrow set of stairs with Seong Ji-won, drinking canned yuja tea.
“Thanks.”
When I thanked him after brushing my hand against the tumbler, Seong Ji-won gave me an even brighter smile.
“Call me whenever you need anything.”
As he waved and walked away, I caught a fleeting glimpse of the young Seong Ji-won—the one who had been hurt, abandoned, and full of spite in that hotel lobby.
It was a strange feeling.
It felt like something was scratching at my chest, and at the same time, I felt a cough coming on.
I stopped thinking and squeezed my eyes shut against the returning headache.
*
Just before getting out of the van, I checked my reflection in the mirror.
‘...Who is this skeleton?’
Even heavy makeup couldn't entirely hide the redness under my eyes and my hollowed-out cheeks.
Deciding to claim this was a new "edgy" concept I was pushing, I stepped out with my suitcase and gear, wearing my professional business smile.
“Ah! Seo Ho-yun, long time no see!”
“Yes, hello.”
I saw several familiar faces from the Hawaii vlog shoot.
“Wow, you’ve gotten even more handsome! Your jawline is so sharp now, it really brings out that sensitive, chic vibe! Did you lose weight?!”
“It’s just the makeup. All stage magic.”
I made small talk while scanning the surroundings.
This was the same place where we had filmed a horror special under the guise of a "Rural Healing Program" for The Dawn’s self-produced content a few years ago.
It didn't seem to have changed much. I looked over the field where I’d pulled radishes with Seong Ji-won, the wooden platform where we’d made bibimbap with the members, and the path where Jeong Da-jun had run away screaming. Then, Ju Woo-seong sauntered over.
“Oh, you’re here.”
Despite the sweltering heat and the sun beating down so hard that heat haze shimmered off the ground, he was wearing a baggy white T-shirt and those flashy floral mompbe pants, as if he’d been out picking herbs.
I had no idea where the Ju Woo-seong I’d last seen—the one draped in luxury brands who looked like a born top star—had gone.
“You did a great job ignoring my texts, but for a variety show, you sure show up—”
“...”
“—right on ti...?”
Ju Woo-seong, who had been grumbling while pulling off a sun visor that covered half his face, paused and scanned me from head to toe.
He flicked his eyes toward the camera and then forced a smile, checking my reaction.
“When did I ever ignore your texts?”
“Whatever, come here.”
He practically dragged me into a room, supporting my arm.
He turned on a fan, pointed it directly at me, and started rambling to himself.
“I wanted to rest, but I felt bad just playing around. Jeong-woo suggested I film some self-produced content to promote my solo album and show my face to the Bloys. But my personality doesn't really fit with being crowded by people. So I thought I’d just invite a few close acquaintances and show my daily life... and that’s how this happened...”
“Where’s Nyang-nyang-i?”
“I brought her. She’s probably sleeping in the inner room. A cat’s life is the best. Better than mine.”
I wiped away sweat with the back of my hand, forcing my trembling body to stay still.
It was a relief it was summer. No one would take this sweat as a sign of pain.
It felt like tiny insects were crawling inside my brain, and then my consciousness would shatter and snap like breaking ice.
As I leaned weakly against the wall, Ju Woo-seong, who had been fussing around, stopped and looked down at me.
“Hey...”
“...”
What.
“Are you sick?”
“No.”
“You are.”
Why ask if you’ve already decided on the answer?
I checked the camera mounted on the ceiling and kept my expression neutral. Ju Woo-seong, seeing the emergency medicine Seong Ji-won had given me in my open bag, pressed further.
“A cold? Exhaustion? Gastritis?”
“I said I’m fine.”
As I answered, the countless lectures Ju Woo-seong had given me in the past flashed before my eyes. At the same time, a chilling ringing began in my ears.
Just as I was thinking how exhausting it would be to deal with him—
“Tsk.”
Ju Woo-seong clicked his tongue softly. He ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair as if choosing his words, then asked in a calm tone.
“...Seo Ho-yun, do you still want to film?”
Do I want to?
I furrowed my brows and lifted my chin.
“What are you talking about?”
Points and the promotion for our last activity of the year were on the line.
I curled my lips into a confident smirk, doing my best to act normal.
“I’m not sick. And once I decide to do something, I never stop until I see it through to the end.”
Ju Woo-seong narrowed his eyes and stared at me for a long time before finally nodding.
“Fine.”
As he headed back outside, he shouted toward me.
“Hey, there’s kimchi in the back, go get some.”
Kimchi fried rice again?
I forced myself up and walked behind the building as he’d directed. There was a row of large earthenware jars. I pulled a few heads of kimchi out of the largest one, put them in a stainless steel basin, and brought them back. Ju Woo-seong was already cooking.
“What are you— cough.”
I clamped a hand over my mouth and grit my teeth to suppress a sudden coughing fit, but once it started, it wouldn't stop.
“Cough, cough! Hack...”
After finally swallowing the urge to cough, I looked up to find all the staff members staring at me with eyes full of worry.
“...It just went down the wrong pipe.”
“Like hell it did.”
Ju Woo-seong pouted in annoyance and chased me back into the room. A short while later, he awkwardly handed me a tray centered around bean sprout soup with chopped kimchi.
“Here.”
“...”
My stomach still felt too uneasy for solid food, so I just took a spoonful of the broth.
Surprisingly, it was refreshing and warm, and it seemed to soothe my cough.
“...I thought you were making kimchi fried rice?”
“Do you think I eat that for all three meals?”
Yes.
Yes, you do...
Even for a top-tier idol, the public doesn't usually know their favorite foods in such detail.
But almost everyone in the country knew Ju Woo-seong’s favorite food was "kimchi fried rice." His obsession with it bordered on madness.
Instead of arguing, I sipped the soup.
‘He’s actually a decent cook.’
He pushed the side dishes toward me and then stood up without even sitting down.
“Keep eating.”
“...Okay.”
I heard busy sounds from outside.
I pretended to eat a few more bites, then tried to open the door to help with the dishes and get some screen time, but Ju Woo-seong burst in first.
“Ah, the dishes...”
“Already done. Hey, drink this.”
He thrust something else at me. I looked down; this time it was pear and balloon flower tea.
Normally, he’d be bragging, saying things like, "Wow, I worked so hard to boil this and only this much came out! Drink every drop with a grateful heart," or "I’m only giving this to you because it’s you. Where else in the world would you find such a great senior? I’m seriously too perfect." Instead, he just stood there silently, waiting for me to take it.
“Don't leave any, even if it’s hot. Drink it all.”
I took the cup and sipped, observing him.
It was warm, bitter, and slightly sweet, so it went down easily, but...
“...What?”
...What is up with this guy?
“Is it too hot?”
Why is he being so quietly kind?
No fuss, no exaggeration.
I expected him to at least say that being stubborn when you’re sick just causes trouble for others and that I was being reckless—the kind of "right" thing to say that makes you even angrier.
“...No.”
When I finished the tea, Ju Woo-seong pointed toward the inner room in the back.
Assuming he wanted me to follow, I nodded, and he led the way.
He spread a mat on the floor and tossed a pillow onto it.
“Take a nap.”
“...Excuse me?”
I stared at him, looked at the bedding, and then looked back at him.
“Hey.”
“What.”
I opened the memo app on my phone and typed a short sentence so the microphone wouldn't pick it up.
[Are you conscious of your "kind senior" image in front of the camera?]
In an instant, Ju Woo-seong’s expression changed to that of someone who wanted to kick me right then and there.