Chapter 191: Chapter 191

Yoon Heeun’s anger seemed to peak as his tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.

The honest and naïve Kim Seonghyeon was at a loss, his eyes darting around nervously as I rubbed the back of my neck and watched the scene unfold.

Have I influenced them too much?

Letting this pass would be the easiest way to avoid the situation, but I thought it was a good opportunity.

“Thank you for congratulating us on getting first place.”

I responded to Yoon Heeun’s sarcasm in what was (probably) a rather polite tone.

“Yes, it seems like being in Shining Star paid off.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, considering how popular you got at the end, it would have been strange if you didn’t get first place, right?”

Yoon Heeun glared with his eyes wide open.

It was clear what he wanted to say, but I kept a smile on my face.

“It’s really unfortunate about your parents.”

“…!”

“Well… it doesn’t seem like it turned out all bad, though……”

As expected.

Why did people like him never fail to meet expectations?

Instead of responding, I counted to three in my head.

“Sunbae, that was a bit harsh.”

Kim Seonghyeon, who had been nervously observing the situation, suddenly stiffened and looked directly at Yoon Heeun.

“I think there are some things you just shouldn’t say.”

“Hmm?”

A low voice cut through the tension between Yoon Heeun and us.

Yoon Heeun tilted his head slightly and chuckled.

“Haha, did I really say something that harsh? I don’t think it was something I shouldn’t have said.”

“…”

“Honestly, comments like this will follow you around in the future. And facts are facts, right? There are people out there far worse than me. If you’re shaken by something this minor, how will you handle it when it’s something much worse?”

Right.

This was exactly what I expected.

I pulled the tense Kim Seonghyeon, whose jawline was bulging with stress, back and stepped forward with a bright smile.

“As expected of you, sunbae. You’re so experienced and knowledgeable that you generously offer advice to your hoobae without holding back.”

“…??”

“If it were me, I’d be too busy worrying about my own future.”

The implication was clear: why waste time here when you should be thinking about how to climb back up from your current decline?

“Well then, goodbye~.”

Deciding this was enough, I dragged Kim Seonghyeon along and headed to the waiting room.

Yoon Heeun could only watch with his mouth agape as I passed by.

Sorry, but if you wanted to beat me, you’d need at least another 50 years of training.

So, is it Kim Seonghyeon’s turn now?

I deliberately said nothing and walked slowly, waiting for a reaction.

Kim Seonghyeon still seemed to be calming himself, clenching and unclenching his fists.

“What are you doing?”

“Sigh…”

At my question, Kim Seonghyeon paused as if to brush his hair back, then let out a deep sigh.

“…It’s just… No one should say things like that, and you don’t deserve to hear them.”

Kim Seonghyeon’s words were idealistic.

What Yoon Heeun said was reality.

The things I did during Shining Star would follow me, even if I left the entertainment industry.

However, both Yoon Heeun and Kim Seonghyeon overlooked something.

Since my time as a PD, numerous labels had been attached to me, and adding one more didn’t do much to affect me.

In fact, I sometimes used those facts to my advantage.

Just like now.

Our innocent Kim Seonghyeon looked gloomy just because a fellow group member heard something unpleasant.

“I should have done better.”

Oh, come on.

I thought that even if he did better, nothing would change, but I didn’t say it out loud.

He was just overwhelmed with thoughts as a leader.

Well, thanks anyway. Because of you, I hit the jackpot.

There was a reason I backed down so easily.

I figured that someone like Yoon Heeun would find a way to pick a fight with me, and naturally, Kim Seonghyeon would be provoked.

I discretely flicked my hand out of Kim Seonghyeon’s line of sight to bring up his stats.

[Kim Seonghyeon

Still just a shining light—

—But the person next to him, Seo Hoyun, is a bit…….

Singing: B0

Dancing: S-

Variety: C0

Acting: D0

??: ???

Charm: A-]

Kim Seonghyeon’s dance stat had been stuck at S- for a long time.

It had been more than half a year since the “Kill the Lights” activity, and it hadn’t improved, which was disappointing.

Actually, more than that, Joo Woosung went to California and came back with an EX-, but our kid, despite working hard, was stuck at S-, which was frustrating.

Was this why everyone talked about studying abroad?

What was so special about California?

Should I send our kid there too?

At that moment, a good item and perfect timing came along.

[Experience Event: Time is Gold.

Practice with people around you to slightly increase proficiency in a designated stat.

※ No restrictions on the target person.

※ Only one designated person, excluding the player, can have their stat increased.

※ Charm is excluded from the designated stats.

※ The duration is 168 hours from the start date setting.]

When Joo Woosung’s schedule was wide open.

When Kim Seonghyeon’s motivation was at its peak.

The timing…

Although the event specified that only one person, aside from myself, could increase their stat, there was no rule against practicing with multiple people.

Designating Kim Seonghyeon while pushing Joo Woosung hard felt like the perfect strategy.

It won’t be easy, though.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I put on that smile the members hated and placed my arm on Kim Seonghyeon’s shoulder with a thud!

“Hey kid, are you worried about hyung?”

“Uwaah! Why are you doing this to me?!”

I chuckled as I watched Kim Seonghyeon shake off my arm and take a few steps back.

Jeong Dajun had been influenced by Kang Ichae, so teasing Kim Seonghyeon, who had the best reactions lately, was my current source of healing.

I spoke softly in a gentle tone.

“If you’re sooo worried about hyung, can’t you do me a favor?”

I was just going to ask him straight out.

.

.

.

– “No.”

Having dealt with Kim Seonghyeon, next was Joo Woosung.

To make most of the rewards, I reorganized our schedule and prepared in advance so that we could practice at least five hours a day.

Then, I called Joo Woosung.

But the answer that came back was firm.

No?

I scratched my head, mulling over Joo Woosung’s words.

“…Does that mean you don’t want to do it?”

– “Are you kidding? I just don’t want to.”

As I tried to process the situation again, Joo Woosung grumbled.

– “What do you mean, calling me out of the blue like this? Do you think I’m someone who just comes when you call and helps when you ask?”

“…”

Weren’t you?

He even did the Shining Star mentoring because of me.

I started counting on my fingers the number of times Joo Woosung had helped me, but I gave up.

It was hard to count on one hand, and I was too lazy.

I didn’t really have any intention of repaying him anyway.

“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

– “You’re basically asking me to watch Kim Seonghyeon’s dance, right? For several days, no less.”

“That’s right?”

Even I felt a bit shameless saying it.

It seemed like the pushover had finally come to his senses.

– “…I don’t want to do that.”

“…Why not?”

– “You little punk. You’re flustered, aren’t you? You called assuming I’d do it for sure, right? But too bad, I don’t like Kim Seonghyeon.”

If we were face-to-face, I could at least read his expression, but I had no idea why he was acting like this.

I clicked my tongue and changed my voice to speak kindly.

“Stop playing hard to get and just tell me what you want.”

– “I wish you wouldn’t call.”

“…”

Today, his prickliness had a real sting to it.

Thinking it wasn’t going to work, I considered changing my approach and finding someone else, when a familiar voice chimed in.

– “Hello!”

“Oh, hello.”

It was Chae Jeongwoo.

Was he nearby?

He spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice.

– “I watched the music show today! Congratulations on getting first place.”

“Thank you, Chae Jeongwoo-sunbae.”

I replied out of courtesy, but I could hear Joo Woosung grumbling on the other end of the phone about why someone else was taking his call.

Chae Jeongwoo asked me to wait a moment, and soon the background noise quieted down.

It seemed he had moved to a different location.

– “Ugh, sorry about that. I just wanted to have a quick chat.”

“No problem, sunbae.”

– “I accidentally overheard while practicing with Woosung today. Sorry about that. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine.”

– “Well, Woosung is naturally talented, but he also works really hard… So, he tends to have this personality where he wants to do everything himself. He’s quite ambitious.”

“Ah…”

Finally, everything clicked into place.

Joo Woosung was bothered by Kim Seonghyeon reaching or surpassing his level.

It must be rare for him to encounter someone better than himself.

Just as Chae Jeongwoo said, he was very ambitious.

You childish brat.

The thought that Joo Woosung held Kim Seonghyeon in such high regard filled me with pride, but at the same time, I found Woosung quite childish.

Then I remembered his age and stopped criticizing him.

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

I had no intention of dragging someone who didn’t want to practice.

Just as I was about to give up and end the call…

– “Could you do me a favor? If you do, I’ll try to persuade him.”

“Excuse me?”

– “I’m a bit concerned about Yeonhu.”

Suddenly, Kang Yeonhu?

“Are you talking about Kang Yeonhu from High Five?”

– “Yes.”

Chae Jeongwoo seemed slightly troubled as he laughed.

While listening to his explanation and request about Kang Yeonhu, I flicked my nails.

—It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.

Kang Yeonhu was in exactly the situation I had anticipated.

“It’s not really something I can do.”

– “I think you can. You’ve got great variety show skills.”

Of course. I used to be a PD; it was easier than dipping rice into cold soup.

“Let’s make a deal.”

– “Okay, then I’ll persuade Joo Woosung.”

“On one condition.”

Since it had come to this, I decided to make the most of my high-value skills.

“I’d like Chae Jeongwoo-sunbae to come along too.”

– “…What?”

“I’ve always been a huge fan of yours.”

I said, buttering him up.

Anyway, the more people I could bring in, the better it would be for The Dawn.

– “…Oh, haha, you need this level of shamelessness to get close to Joo Woosung, huh?”

“Chae Jeongwoo-sunbae, you’re talking about yourself, right?”

– “…Anyway, when?”

I slightly pulled the phone away from my ear to check the time.

“Right now.”

Why would I delay it?

Ignoring Chae Jeongwoo’s chuckle, I hung up the call.

***

“Why are you sulking?”

This guy.

Deciding it was best to head to the practice room right away, I skipped the details with the members and urged them to follow me.

After two hours of intense, repetitive dance practice, we finally took a short break.

When Chae Jeongwoo called to say they had arrived, I went out to the lobby to find Joo Woosung standing there with sunglasses on, arms crossed, and looking aloof.

“I don’t talk to nobodies.”

“I got first place today, you know.”

“…So what.”

Despite his pouty lips and grumbling, I pulled out the watch and wallet I had brought for Joo Woosung and slipped them into his sling bag.

Next to us, Chae Jeongwoo scratched his head with an awkward smile.

“Well, I did bring him here.”

Joo Woosung snorted and zipped up his bag with a haughty air.

“I don’t talk to Seo Hoyun.”

“Yes, talk to HouHou instead.”

“…”

I considered letting him go, but since he walked here on his own, I didn’t care about his opinion.

While I was pondering when to activate the rewards, Seong Jiwon, who had gone to the dorm for a moment, appeared carrying sleeping bags in both hands.

“Huh?”

“…??”

“…?”

“Hello, sunbae.”

We all froze, wondering what was going on, and then Kang Ichae showed up with blankets and pillows.

“What’s with the pillows…?”

“Oh, well, since we’re going to have a very intensive practice anyway, we thought it’d be a waste of time to move around, so we decided to wash up and sleep here before heading to schedules.”

Chae Jeongwoo’s mouth dropped open, and Kang Ichae, smiling brightly, pointed at Seong Jiwon.

“―that’s what Jiwon-hyung said.”

“Hahaha….”

“…”

Indeed, he was a practice machine and the leader of The Dawn.

When I set the stage and the other members agreed, Seong Jiwon seemed to be in high spirits.

From behind, Kim Seonghyeon, who was carrying an electric kettle and pot, saw Joo Woosung and dropped everything he was holding.

“Gasp!!!!”

Crash, bang….

“Wh-why is sunbae here…?”

Kim Seonghyeon, flustered, couldn’t pick up the items and stammered, while Jeong Dajun, who was running excitedly, tripped over the mess and fell forward.

Crash, bang, bang!!

Or so I thought.

With the vibe of someone used to rolling on the practice room floor, Jeong Dajun rolled twice cleanly in the company lobby and stood up, striking a V pose.

“Jeong Dajun, the master of ‘fall seven times, get up eight!’”

“Wooow~! Our Dajun, so cool!”

“Ah, as expected, the trendiest! The top of the hip-hop game!”

Seong Jiwon and Kang Ichae gave a roaring applause to the maknae.

Already accustomed to the group The Dawn, Joo Woosung remained unfazed, but Chae Jeongwoo watched Jeong Dajun with wide eyes and a proud expression.

Then he whispered to me in a small voice.

“Are all rookie idols like this these days? Fascinating.”

“Who knows?”

I found it more fascinating that Jeong Dajun knew the idiom “fall seven times, get up eight.”[1]

[1] 칠전팔기