Vol. 2 Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Vol. 2 Chapter 39:

Translated by Chef

Edited by Chef

“It’s the first time I’ve had that much alcohol in a while. I was lying down like a sieve.”

Kim Kangwoo, who was sitting next to him, continued chattering.

“I was picked up by my brother-in-law that day. I was scolded by my older sister. My older sister is really scary. Did hyung get home well that day?”

“…..”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Kim Kangwoo asked without saying anything, looking at his blank expression.

“Oh, no. I’m okay.”

“Are you really okay? You don’t have to go to the hospital?”

Kim Kangwoo asked as he pulled out his cell phone from his pocket. It seemed that Inseop’s health condition had been firmly questioned.

“I’m really fine”

Inseop laughed and shook his head.

“I’m glad the schedule was canceled yesterday. Otherwise, I would have really died.”

A mischievous smile appeared on Kim Kangwoo’s face again. Inseop replied weakly, saying,

“By the way, the actor has really good stamina. Even if it’s been a day, it would be hard if you drink that much. Look at his shining face.”

Kim Kangwoo pointed to Lee Wooyeon on the stage and admired him sincerely.

“Actually, I’ve never lost to anyone with alcohol, so I was confident that day. But now, I will never drink with the actor. He’s worse than our seniors. …Are you sure you’re okay?”

Kim Kangwoo asked Inseop, who seemed particularly weak, anxiously. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Sorry. It’s been a while since I drank, so my hangover lasts for a long time.”

“Can I buy you a hangover drink?”

“It’s totally fine.”

“Tell me if you need anything. I’ll buy it for you right away.”

Kim Kangwoo smiled brightly, not showing any signs of annoyance. Inseop laughed along with him. He was a person who made him feel good just by looking at him.

“Thank you for your consideration. Thank you for helping me.”

“What? Of course we should do it together.”

Today, Lee Wooyeon’s fan club applied for a movie theater rental, so he went to his fan meeting and greeted them on stage. Since there were more things to worry about than usual stage greetings, Kim Kangwoo worked hard to help Inseop, who was hecticly working from the morning.

“The actor is really well-dressed. Does he do any other shoulder exercises?”

Kim Kangwoo muttered while looking alternately at Lee Wooyeon on the stage and his shoulder.

Wearing a beige knit under his dark gray slacks, Lee Wooyeon’s shoulders looked exceptionally wide today. Lee Wooyeon turned his head, probably feeling his gaze. Their eyes met. Inseop looked down in surprise, like someone who had been burned.

“Is the actor looking at you this way?”

“Is that right?”

Inseop couldn’t lift his head. He hadn’t done anything wrong, but it was strangely difficult to meet his eyes.

Last night, he spoke with Lee Wooyeon on the phone. When asked if the work was completed safely, Lee Wooyeon answered yes. Inseop didn’t ask any more. He didn’t want to hear any more nonchalant lies coming out of Lee Wooyeon’s mouth.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand it. He had no reason to lie about his schedule. Does he have a secret he can’t tell him? Though he tried not to, his thoughts drifted in the wrong direction.

Why the hell did Lee Wooyeon lie? Is there anything else he hasn’t said?

If he asked him what happened that day, would he tell him the truth?

He didn’t feel well.

Inseop lowered his eyes to the gloomy day.

“Then today is the time you’ve been waiting for the most.”

The host continued speaking in an excited voice.

“We will draw a seat number and give you a gift and a picture with Lee Wooyeon’s autograph. Among them, there are Lee Wooyeon’s cherished items, so you can look forward to it. Please check the seat number you are sitting on carefully.”

At the word cherished item, the audience started buzzing. There were also several fans who put their hands together and prayed.

“Can I upload that later?”

When Kim Kangwoo pointed to the box, Inseop nodded.

This stage greeting was attended as a fan service. So, all the presents were prepared by the agency. Lee Wooyeon, with an expressionless face, merely signed a dozen autographs on his self-portrait.

“But other than that, does he like things like that?”

Kim Kangwoo looked at the large teddy bear with its head sticking next to the box and seemed curious. Lee Wooyeon did not understand the event of giving away the cherished items of stars.

He would say,

‘Why give someone something I used to use? To make them feel bad?’

Of course, no cherished items could come out of Lee Wooyeon’s hands. It was also Inseop who ordered the teddy bear for this event.

“Is it very strange?”

Inseop looked back at the teddy bear with passionate eyes and asked.

“It’s not strange, but it doesn’t match the actor’s image. I don’t think he’ll ever leave something like that at home.”

It was an irrefutable fact. Lee Wooyeon’s house, except for furniture, was all about books and records. He didn’t receive any gifts from fans, and he hated such things as figures. The reason was that it was dirty and annoying because of the accumulation of dust.

“But fans who get dolls as gifts must be happy. If my favorite idol gives me that, I think I’ll hug it every day and sleep.”

“I hope so.”

“Of course. If you’re getting it from a celebrity you like, you’d be jealous of a piece of paper.”

Inseop was relieved by Kim Kangwoo’s words. He hoped that the recipient would be happy as much as possible.

Every time the host called the seat number, the joy and sorrow of the audience were divided. The gifts were gift boxes and autographs filled with products advertised by Lee Wooyeon. It consisted of quite expensive products, so all the fans who received the box were grinning from ear to ear.

“Lastly, Lee Wooyeon’s cherished item remains.”

Inseop went up to the stage holding a teddy bear. Because of the size of the large bear, Inseop’s body was so tightly covered that it could not be seen. Fans sitting in the audience were buzzing.

“Oppa, didn’t you get it as a gift from someone?” shouted the fan sitting in front with a sullen look. It was a heartfelt remark. Lee Wooyeon was famous for not receiving gifts from fans. Now that rumors of a romantic relationship were made, there was only one person suspected of being the source of the teddy bear. Lee Wooyeon, who was handed a microphone, said with a smile that smelled like coffee.

“I bought it myself.”

Lee Wooyeon continued, reaching out and stroking the teddy bear’s head.

“I have some insomnia. So I can’t sleep without him. He’s always next to me.”

Inseop had ripped off the tag on the butt of the open bear.

“If you don’t want to take it, I’ll take it back. I brought my best friend.”

Lee Wooyeon said with affectionate eyes as if looking at the person he really loved. Then there were cries from all over the place, saying, “I’ll take it, I’ll raise it well, give it to me.”

Inseop gently pushed the teddy bear to him to hand it over to Lee Wooyeon. However, Lee Wooyeon only rubbed the bear’s head and never received the doll. In the end, Inseop had to stand on the stage, hugging the bear, feeling embarrassed.

“The person who will receive this teddy bear will be chosen by Lee Wooyeon himself.”

Lee Wooyeon’s smiled with his eyes lengthened at the host’s words.

‘You’re bothering me, fuck.’

Inseop could read the thoughts of Lee Wooyeon standing next to him.

Inseop glanced at the host with an anxious look. Then he met eyes with Lee Wooyeon. Inseop quickly buried his head in the back of the doll’s head.

“You picked something just like you, Inseop.”

Lee Wooyeon whispered in a low voice. He knew who chose the teddy bear.

“I’m sorry. Next time, I’ll think about it more and choose.”

He had a belated regret that it would have been better to buy books or records from his favorite authors.

“No, I like it.”

Lee Wooyeon dragged the doll’s arm and rubbed it on his cheek and laughed playfully. There were fierce glances among the audience, with a look that they must have that bear.

Lee Wooyeon stood smiling, holding the teddy bear’s arm. Inseop felt like his face was heating up for no reason, even though his hands were not held.

“Today’s gift will be given to the person who makes the best acrostic poem under Lee Wooyeon’s name. Mr. Lee Wooyeon can choose for us.”

“Hahaha.”

Lee Wooyeon answered with a smile.

‘How dare you bring such an idiot as a host?’

Inseop, who read the thoughts in Lee Wooyeon’s eyes, unknowingly raised his shoulders.

“Now, let’s lighten up the mood…”

The host’s gaze reached Choi Inseop, who was standing with a teddy bear.

“Who’s holding the bear there?”

“What?”

Inseop raised his head in surprise.

“Are you a student working at the theater?”

“I’m his manager.”

As if he couldn’t hear Inseop answer, who answered in a small voice, the host suddenly thrust the microphone towards him.

“Then shall the student go first? I’ll give you the rhyme.”

“Uh…”

Inseop didn’t even know exactly what an acrostic poem was. Seeing him at a loss as to what to do, Lee Wooyeon swallowed a laugh.

“So, Lee!!”

“Lee…?”

As Inseop followed the host’s words, laughter erupted from everywhere.

“No, you shouldn’t copy it, but you should make words that start with Lee. Student, did you live in another country?”

“I’m sorry. I’ll try again.”

There were whispers of how cute it was here and there. The image of a young man with big eyes holding a teddy bear bigger than himself in a bewildered manner drew people’s attention.

A feeling of displeasure began to rise in Lee Wooyeon. He wondered if he should take the teddy bear in Inseop’s hand, throw it away, and leave.

“Okay, let’s begin. Lee!” the host cheered.

“Lee Wooyeon…”

Inseop spoke behind his back in a nervous voice. Lee Wooyeon’s head tilted at an angle.

“Woo!”

“Woo, our company’s…”

Inseop’s voice trembled. Worried eyes, not sure if he was doing the right thing, alternately looked at Lee Wooyeon, Kim Kangwoo, and the host.

“Now, last letter, Yeon!”

“Yeon, is a celebrity.”

After finishing the acrostic poem with a trembling voice, Inseop lowered his head while clutching the teddy bear. There was no sound of breathing in the theater, as if a large piece of ice had pushed through it.

Blood rushed to Inseop’s face. He didn’t know what an acrostic poem was, but he was sure he had messed it up. He wished he could just disappear with the teddy bear like this.

It was then.

Lee Wooyeon covered his face with his arm and shook his shoulders. Everyone’s eyes fell on him at once.

“Haha.”

With Lee Wooyeon turning his body to the other side, he started laughing. Inseop blinked his eyes and looked up blankly at Lee Wooyeon. So did others.

“Ahahahaha.”

It wasn’t a light and pleasant fake laugh. Lee Wooyeon laughed loudly, covering his face with his hands. As if it was unbearable.

It was a first sight. Fans, managers, and even Lee Wooyeon himself.

Lee Wooyeon’s rare laughter lasted for a long time.