Chapter 41
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41
I have a question.
What kind of person is Kim Seong-hyeon?
First up: Seong Ji-won.
"Huh? Seong-hyeon? He’s nice. He always gives in to others and is very considerate. He looks a bit scary, but honestly, if we’re going by looks, you’re no walk in the park either, Ho-yun… Ah, okay! I’m joking!"
(He says he’s not joking!) (I’m not! Ho-yun, you know I didn’t mean it, right?)
Second up: Kang Yi-chae and Jeong Da-jun.
"Why are you asking all of a sudden? Well… sometimes he’s more of a parent than my actual parents. I heard he has a lot of younger siblings, so maybe that’s why he has such a strong sense of responsibility."
(Hyung remembers every little detail! He even remembers that I stubbed my pinky toe on the doorframe two years ago and tells me to be careful every time!) (Nobody asked.) (Yes, sir…)
Third up: The Manager.
"Just thinking about our Seong-hyeon brings tears to my eyes…"
(He actually starts crying.)
"He was our company’s very first trainee. He’s followed us faithfully since then. We couldn't even do much for him, but he always listened and called me 'Manager-nim, Manager-nim.' He’s the real deal."
"……."
"If I had a son, you know? I’d want him to grow up just like him. What about you, Ho-yun? Hmm… if my son were Seo Ho-yun, I think that would be a little terrifying. Yeah. Sorry, Ho-yun."
"Sigh…"
"Don't sigh! It's scary!"
I ignored the manager and turned away.
No, why does a guy who gets nothing but praise have a school violence scandal?
After practice ended, I glared at Kim Seong-hyeon. Misunderstanding my gaze, he pulled out a fresh bottle of water and tossed it to me.
"What? Not that one? Want something else?"
"No, this is fine."
But what was I supposed to say here?
What happened back then? Is the bullying scandal true?
How could I just ask that out of the blue?
"What’s with you? So vague."
"Forget it…"
"Tell me if you’re hurting anywhere. We’ll go to the hospital right away."
"I said forget it."
"You’re extra prickly today."
Kim Seong-hyeon clicked his tongue and walked away.
Thinking back, Kim Seong-hyeon didn't get angry easily. Let’s recall the moments he actually did get mad.
‘…Am I the trash here?’
No matter how much I thought about it, Kim Seong-hyeon had done nothing wrong.
His criteria for getting angry were always for the sake of the team or others. Based on the Kim Seong-hyeon I’d seen so far, I couldn't imagine him harming anyone.
Then again, you never know. You can measure the depth of the sea, but not the heart of a man. And such things were especially common in the entertainment industry. It was a place where someone could smile brightly to your face while stabbing you in the back.
I had to trust only the facts.
The important facts were that Kim Seong-hyeon had dropped out of school and that there was a school violence scandal. Even if he was innocent, people would only believe the rumors, and he would be branded for life. If that happened, The Dawn was finished.
What should I do?
[A Quest has arrived!
Investigate Kim Seong-hyeon’s past.
Kim Seong-hyeon is extremely reluctant to talk about that incident.
Ask him for the full story.
Success: Increase Kim Seong-hyeon’s Trust, progress Main Scenario.
Failure: Massive drop in Awareness, unable to release an album for one year.
Note: Three days until the school violence scandal breaks.]
"Crazy."
The quest window, appearing for the first time in a while, seemed quite excited. I stared at the quest floating above and ruffled my hair. Still, it was helpful.
Three days until the scandal breaks.
That meant someone already harbored ill will toward Kim Seong-hyeon.
I calculated the dates. Three days. Two days after that would be the start of the 2nd Competition. If we couldn't resolve the scandal by then, we were obviously doomed.
"Let's practice again."
At Seong Ji-won’s words, I jumped to my feet. It wasn't the right time to ask anyway.
By the time we finished practicing, dawn was already approaching.
Jeong Da-jun muttered, "Don't you think we’re really going to make it this time?"
"The song turned out well."
"Honestly, I think it’s better than Today’s original version."
"Right?"
"Yi-chae hyung is actually really good at composing."
"You only just realized my greatness?"
"What about the composer Blue Tiger?"
"Compared to her, my skills are trash…"
Kang Yi-chae backed down surprisingly fast. It seemed he truly respected Blue Tiger.
Exhausted, I crawled across the practice room floor.
"Let's head back to the dorm soon. We need some sleep."
"What’s gotten into you, you practice demon?"
"Of course, we’re coming back to practice after sleeping for three or four hours."
"Where did my human rights go?"
Kang Yi-chae grumbled but stood up to follow Seong Ji-won. However, Kim Seong-hyeon alone lingered.
"What, Kim Seong-hyeon? You’re not going?"
"I want to practice a bit more before I go. I feel like I’ll forget the feeling if I don't do it now."
"Wow, hyung, you’re insane too."
"Fine, but make sure you get at least a little sleep."
"I will."
"Ho-yun hyung, let's go."
I hesitated. My heart wanted to go back to the dorm and sleep, but I couldn't miss this chance to be alone with Kim Seong-hyeon.
"I’m going to practice a bit more too."
"Ugh, what is wrong with both of you?"
"Ji-won hyung’s practice ghost must have possessed them."
Kang Yi-chae clicked his tongue. Everyone else was too tired to argue and left the practice room.
Kim Seong-hyeon glanced at me.
"Where do you want to start?"
"From 'I want to decide right here.'"
"Okay."
As soon as he spoke, the song arranged by Kang Yi-chae began to play. The sound of a flute drifted through the grand orchestral intro.
While we were syncing our moves, Kim Seong-hyeon suddenly stopped and tilted his head.
"You know the part about 'walking through the clouds'? I think it’d be better to change it to a group dance that expresses the wind swaying."
"How?"
"If I stand at the front here…"
Kim Seong-hyeon continued to explain calmly. Honestly, I wasn't listening to half of it. Even if I had listened seriously, I probably wouldn't have understood. I could just feel, quite poignantly, how sincere he was about this stage.
"Hey, are you listening?"
"I wasn't."
"Seo Ho-yun, you…"
"Let's talk when the others are here. I think I’ll understand better if I see the whole picture."
I said that and flopped onto the floor.
Kim Seong-hyeon looked annoyed but continued to scribble on a piece of paper, deep in thought.
"Kim Seong-hyeon."
"Yeah."
"Why are you an idol?"
"…Huh?"
I tried to ask casually, but it must have been an unexpected question for him. He stopped writing and looked at me.
"What about you? Why are you doing it?"
"I had no choice."
"What do you mean, 'no choice'?"
"Sometimes things like that happen in life…"
Like a system window suddenly appearing and forcing you to be an idol… practically blackmailing a perfectly fine person…
When I said that, Kim Seong-hyeon let out a hollow laugh as if he found it absurd.
"Just answer me."
"You’re really weird today."
Kim Seong-hyeon glanced at me, tossed his pen, and sprawled out on the floor.
"It’s the usual story. I used to be a b-boy, got scouted on the street, it looked fun… and I liked the guys."
"Were you always with Daepasung?"
"Yeah. Unlike Seong Ji-won, I’ve been with Daepasung from the start. I’m the first idol trainee here, you know?"
"Yes, Senior Kim Seong-hyeon. Please teach me well."
"First, make sure to take your vitamins, and definitely get enough sleep…"
Since I cracked a joke, Kim Seong-hyeon started nagging me, half-joking and half-serious. I covered my ears to block him out before throwing the bait.
"Since high school?"
"Huh?"
"Have you been a trainee since high school?"
At the casual mention of high school, Kim Seong-hyeon’s face stiffened noticeably. His answer came only after a long silence.
"Not back then."
"……."
"Back then, I just… I just liked dancing. Like a fool."
Like a fool.
I was watching his face when he suddenly stood up.
"That’s enough practice. Let's go back, take some supplements, and sleep. We have to leave soon to match up with the others."
"…Sure."
I had tried to gently probe and dig up his past, but I failed. I couldn't ask any more when he was making a face like that. I shrugged and followed him out.
* * *
"Whoa! If it isn't the Insubordinate Idol!"
After barely catching some sleep at the dorm and heading to the company, I found Ju Woo-seong sitting in the lobby, grinning. Beside him, the other members sat on pins and needles, not knowing what to do.
I looked at him with a fed-up expression.
Why was Ju Woo-seong here? No, before that.
"What’s an 'Insubordinate Idol'?"
"You don't know? That’s your nickname these days."
"My nickname?"
Why was that my nickname? I was still half-asleep and drinking water when Ju Woo-seong chuckled.
"The second episode aired yesterday, right? Not all of the 1st Competition is out yet, but everyone who knows, knows. That you picked Today."
"Ah, that."
So that’s why I was the Insubordinate Idol. I’d have to be more careful when going out. Unless I wanted to be beaten to death by Today’s fans.
"Wow, I knew this guy was crazy, but I had no idea he’d charge in like that."
"Did you come here just to say that?"
"No. Well, I came to check on you guys and… I have something to talk about."
Ju Woo-seong clicked his tongue and glanced at the members. Realizing what he meant, I gestured to them.
"I’ll be right there. Go on in first."
"Uh, okay."
"Tell us if anything happens. Senior, we’ll be heading in now."
"Yeah, fighting."
Seong Ji-won bowed, and the rest of the members, seemingly relieved, scurried off to the practice room.
I looked around the lobby and quietly led Ju Woo-seong to a meeting room.
"This isn't something to talk about in the lobby, is it?"
"Can't we go to a cafe? I don't want to breathe in dust in your shabby building."
"If I go out now, I’ll get killed."
"Right, I guess you are someone who cares about that."
Are you kidding me? Back in my PD days, I used to sneak out the back door and hide in the parking lot just to get home and avoid all the antis. Seeing that, Kim Hee-yeong used to ask what kind of idol I was…
‘Wait, come to think of it, I actually am an idol now.’
"Hey."
"Ah, yes."
I quickly returned from my trip down memory lane and looked at Ju Woo-seong. He sat in a chair, fiddling with the meeting room microphone, and asked.
"I’m sure it’s not the case."
"Yes."
"I’m just asking."
"Yes."
"It’s not that I suspect you…"
"Stop being annoying and just ask already."
Why was he hesitating so much?
When I showed my irritation, Ju Woo-seong scratched the back of his head.
"Did you meet a paparazzi?"
My eyebrows twitched.
Ah, I think I knew what Ju Woo-seong was worried about.
"Did you meet Kim Jae-yeon?"
"That wasn't the name. Ah, well, maybe it was an alias."
"He’s stupider than I thought…"
I muttered, rubbing my temples. I knew Kim Jae-yeon was that kind of guy even in my previous life, but maybe my blackmail wasn't strong enough.
I was already dealing with enough uncontrollable variables, and this just added to my irritation. I leaned back deep into the chair, pondering how to handle it, when I locked eyes with Ju Woo-seong.
"Ha."
I scoffed at him.
"You came here because you were scared I might have talked?"
"This guy really needs to fix his attitude."
"Don't worry. There’s nothing for you to worry about, Ju Woo-seong."
Despite my firm words, Ju Woo-seong still seemed skeptical.
"Then why did you meet him?"
"I’m making a move."
"What kind of move?"
"To take 1st place on Shining Star."
"What? Are you still dreaming that impossible dream?"
Ju Woo-seong let out a hollow laugh.
"It won't work. It looks like Today’s agency is really pushing them this time. You should be able to tell by the way the production staff treats you guys."
"I know. I’m aware."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"There are many ways to get things done in this world…"
Since I spoke in riddles, Ju Woo-seong didn't press further. However, he shrugged his shoulders.
"It’s fine to do what you’re doing, but take care of your team members while you’re at it."
"……."
"When I brought you up, they didn't say anything, but do you know what was written all over their faces? 'Worry' on the left, 'Anxiety' on the right. They’re all on edge because they don't know where you’ll bolt off to next. I felt sorry for them."
"That’s…"
I tried to argue but shut my mouth.
In truth, I had nothing to say. Only a question lingered in my mind.
"Have you never felt that way, Ju Woo-seong?"