Chapter 17: Becoming the Older Brother of a Top Star

Hongdae Street, located in Mapo District, Seoul, is a hot spot in South Korea with a large commercial area.

It's a place where you can see unique and diverse fashion, earning it the nickname "Hipster's Paradise." You can also meet many young talents who dream of becoming singers, performing busking on the streets.

"It's still early, but there are so many people."

"We're the ones who come straight from school after classes end."

As her friends said, many students in school uniforms were also visible.

They were all enjoying the various sights and activities on the street.

"Should we get something to eat?"

"Are you craving tteokbokki?"

"Suddenly, I want tteokbokki too."

Men prefer grilled pork and cutlet, while women prefer tteokbokki and pasta, right?

Even when I was a manager, I found it interesting how women would always look for tteokbokki whenever they got a chance.

"Brother, how about you? Do you like tteokbokki?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm fine with it."

"Then let's go to a place I know!"

Our group of five, including Yuna, headed to a tteokbokki restaurant.

However, I've been feeling sharp gazes from all around since we got here.

I subtly turned my head and noticed that people passing by were looking at our group.

To be precise,

"They all seem to be looking at Yuna."

Yuna, who seemed excited to be out with her friends, had been chattering and bouncing along the street.

People glanced at her, and some even stared at her blankly.

"Wow. Brother, you must feel uncomfortable here."

"Huh?"

"People are all looking at you."

At me?

"What? Brother, didn't you know?"

"You're funny. Or are you just indifferent to others' gazes?"

"Take a good look."

I paid attention to the surrounding gazes, as Yuna's friends suggested.

Was I too focused on the gazes directed at Yuna?

"All the guys are looking at Yuna, and all the girls are staring at you."

"Ah-. I guess we shouldn't have come here. We're just like dried squid now."

"Min-ju, even without Yuna and Brother Yoon-seong, we're already like dried squid."

"Black. I'll wash away this sadness with some super spicy tteokbokki."

"Agreed~!"

These friends... they're really cool.

Maybe it's because Yuna has a laid-back personality, but her friends are also very interesting.

Just listening to their conversations is never boring.

"This place is a bit hidden in an alley, but I guarantee the taste!"

As we went deeper into the alley, there was indeed a tteokbokki shop, looking quite shabby.

The interior of the restaurant was typical of a snack shop.

An auntie was boiling tteokbokki in a large pan, and behind her, round tables were set up where students in school uniforms were gathered, eating.

"Wow. It looks delicious."

"How are we going to eat it?"

"Brother, can we have spicy tteokbokki?"

"Sure. You can have it however you like."

I looked at Yuna.

She was already gaping at the tteokbokki.

As expected, Yuna can't resist food.

"I'll buy it."

"Ah! No, Brother. Let's do Dutch pay."

"It's fine. I got a lot of pocket money this time."

After hearing that I helped PD Kim several times, my father generously gave me a lot of pocket money.

"Don't feel bad. Order whatever you want. Yuna, what do you want to eat?"

"Um-. I... I..."

"Probably something with chicken. They have tenders here. Do you want me to order that?"

Yuna's choice was easy.

Just find something with chicken.

"Sure! And odeng too!"

"Alright. What about you guys?"

After taking everyone's orders, I walked to the counter to place them.

"Welcome!"

"Hello, ma'am. Three servings of tteokbokki, and tenders... "

I placed the order smoothly, as I did when I was a manager.

Since I always ordered for multiple people, I was confident in remembering and relaying the orders.

"But, student."

The auntie, who had taken our order, looked at me carefully and said,

"Are you by any chance... an idol trainee?"

"No."

"Then a model?"

"No."

"Really? Phew. I just asked because you look so handsome. Many trainees come here, but I've never seen a student as handsome as you. Hehe."

"Thank you."

Your face is just... as it is.

I heard that a lot in my previous life.

But since I've been in Jung Yoon-seong's body, I get compliments on my good looks at least once a day.

As a human, I can't help but feel good when I hear such compliments, even if I'm not used to them.

"Here's your order."

"Wow. It looks like there's a lot. Did you take the wrong order-"

"Hehe. I added a bit more as a service. Eat up, students."

The owner's kindness left Yuna's friends in shock.

"Wow. We've never received such service."

"So, we should come here with Brother Yoon-seong from now on."

"Brother, I'll eat well."

"Sure. Eat well. Yuna, hurry up and eat."

"Okay!"

Yuna gave me a thumbs-up and started inhaling the tteokbokki, almost burying her nose in it.

"Ch, eat slowly, Yuna."

"Uu, I'm eating slowly."

She means she's eating slowly.

How does she not gain weight despite always eating like this?

It seems that a person's constitution can't be ignored.

"Ah~ It was so good."

"Ugh. I feel like I'm going to burst."

As expected of growing teenagers.

They eat a lot and just as quickly.

We got up from our seats as the plates were emptied.

"It was delicious."

"Oh, students. Are you leaving?"

"Yes."

The auntie even came out to see us off.

"Come back often. I'll give you more service. Got it? You must come back."

"Yes. I will. Goodbye."

Seeing the auntie's behavior, Yuna's friends were amazed.

"Wow. I've never seen an owner act like that."

"Didn't she just take the money and give us the food?"

"This is discrimination!!"

Despite their words, their faces were full of smiles.

Now, if we stop by a café for a drink...

"Desert! Let's go get some desert!"

At that moment, Yuna shouted.

Then, everyone chimed in,

"Of course we should."

"I want some strawberry cake."

"Ah! Now I suddenly want strawberries too. Where should we go?"

"There's a place that makes really good strawberry cake..."

Just a moment ago, she said she felt like she was going to burst.

What is she trying to eat now?

They say women have a separate stomach for desserts. Is this it?

The children found another good place and insisted on ordering strawberry cake.

"It's so delicious."

"Of course, after eating Korean carbs, the rule is to finish with Western carbs."

I watched Yuna stuff the cake into her mouth and chuckled.

She's completely lost in eating.

"What should we eat next?"

I'm starting to feel a bit scared.

"Um. Since we're full, let's walk a bit and then get some chicken skewers?"

"Ah~ Yuna, the chicken hunt has started again. But I do want chicken skewers."

"Hehe. We should eat them with spicy sauce later."

Is it because they haven't eaten for days, or is this typical for teenagers?

They think about food all day.

I feel like we'll end up seeing more food than the sights of Hongdae.

* * *

"Phew~. I'm full. Today was so much fun."

"Yeah. It's so much fun to come out and play instead of going to the academy."

After eating for a while, the children walked down the street, each holding a chocolate smoothie.

I only drank Americanos when I was older, but since I've been in Jung Yoon-seong's body, I've started drinking sweet things like chocolate smoothies.

"Ah~! Beautiful youth!"

"For the life that flows helplessly!"

This place, known as the street of busking, was filled with the sound of music today.

Some people were singing alone with just a guitar, while others were performing as a band.

People walking down the street would stop to listen to the songs they liked, much like a buffet with various dishes. Couples and friends visiting Hongdae would wander around, looking for performances they enjoyed.

"This is the fun we come for."

"Should we listen to some songs?"

"Let's do it."

It had been a while since we came to Hongdae, and it was also a while since I had watched busking.

It was fun to observe the auras of the performers.

'They all have average auras.'

There was no one with a particularly noticeable aura.

They all emitted auras of average size.

But I felt that there must be someone with an incredible aura here.

If I could find a good talent and bring them to the agency my father runs, it would be great.

"Oh~ Is that person...?"

"Huh? Is that the NewTube? Hongdae Karaoke!"

I've heard of the NewTube channel called Hongdae Karaoke.

They form a band on the streets of Hongdae and sing, inviting passersby to join them.

"Come on, everyone! Anyone can challenge. Many viewers are watching this broadcast. It's a great opportunity to showcase your talent! Feel free to challenge!"

As expected, the number of people gathered was quite large.

"Brother, should we watch? I sometimes watch this channel. It looks fun."

There was someone who caught my eye there.

A man playing the guitar in the band, whose aura was the strongest I had seen today.

I suddenly became interested.

"Should we?"

We squeezed into the crowd to watch.

The person with the microphone kept looking for challengers, but no one stepped forward.

"Is there no one? Really? Wow, this is strange today."

The man hosting the broadcast looked quite busy.

He had to pay attention to the reactions of the people gathered on the street and the comments of the viewers watching the live broadcast.

"Oh~. Gentlemen, I think I need to sing another song. No? You want me to stop now? But there are no challengers. Please, help me."

There should be at least one challenger, but today seemed to be a bad day, and the gathered crowd started to disperse.

"Strange. Why are there no challengers today? I wanted to see a live performance."

Yuna pouted, disappointed.

I patted her shoulder playfully and said,

"Then you do it."

"Huh?"

"You can do it."

Then Yuna looked at me with a serious expression.

"Really? Can I really do it?"

"Well, if you want to."

"Really? I'll do it?"

"Oh, go ahead. I won't stop you."

Of course, I didn't think she would really do it, so I was just teasing her.

"I'll do it!!"

"......?"

Suddenly, Yuna raised her hand.

The MC, who was struggling with the broadcast, turned to us with a look of relief.

Yuna shouted again,

"We'll do it!!"

"Oh! Finally, a new challenger has appeared! Come on, step forward!"

Yuna grabbed my hand and pulled me strongly.

"Let's go, Brother."

"Me too?"

"Of course! We have to go together. Are you going to send your sister alone?"

Wait. This isn't right.

"Wow-! Gentlemen, can you see this? A challenger with a legendary visual has arrived!"

The MC shouted at the top of his lungs, seeing Yuna and me.

The people who had gathered to watch the performance also burst into exclamations of admiration.

"Let's start with introductions?"

Yuna confidently took the microphone and said,

"Hello, I'm Jung Yuna. And this is my brother!"

Then Yuna handed the microphone to me.

"......I'm Jung Yoon-seong."

The MC immediately interjected,

"Wow. You two are siblings? Your names are similar?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Wow~. What a genetic class. Gentlemen, these two are siblings! Siblings! Is this visual even possible?!"

The chat window was hard to see, but I could tell the comments were flooding in.

"Wow. The chat window is going to explode today. Let's get straight to the song. What song will you sing?"

"Um...... What song should we sing......"

Yuna looked at me for help.

What? You came up here without deciding on a song?

I couldn't help but laugh.

Then,

"Can we borrow a guitar?"

I approached the man with the strongest aura.

"Uh? You want to play the guitar?"

"Yes, is it okay?"

"Of course."

The man readily agreed.

As I received the guitar, I also received his aura.

'Wow. His skills are amazing.'

Just as his aura suggested, his talent for the guitar was incredible.

I couldn't wait to play.

I sat down and got into position.

"Oh. The brother is holding the guitar? Ha ha. This is a first. Are you going to play yourself?"

"Yes, is it okay?"

"Of course. Just holding the guitar, you look like a model, a model."

I lightly strummed the guitar strings to warm up.

Ding! Diring!

Even though I was just warming up, I moved my hands quickly from one end to the other with a flashy technique.

"Wow-!"

"What? You play really well."

"Wow. Our brother is really intimidating."

This much?

It was just a light warm-up.

Since my hands were now warmed up,

"Yuna."

"Yes?"

"I'll play for you. Sing that song."

"That song?"

"The one you like the most."

"Oh-."

Yuna nodded and took the microphone from the MC.

The lights and cameras focused on her.

"Uu."

Although she came up here without hesitation, she was clearly nervous.

Her hand holding the microphone wouldn't stay still.

I called out to Yuna again.

"Yuna."

"Yes?"

"Don't worry. Relax."

And I smiled softly.

"I'm here."

Did that help?

"Yes!"

Yuna's tense body relaxed.

She regained her confident demeanor and took the microphone.

She carefully began to sing.

"I know."

As her clear voice flowed, my guitar joined in, moving together.

And at that moment,

'That is-'

I saw an aura flowing from above Yuna's head.

"I know where I'm looking."

The pink aura began to spread in all directions.

"My dream isn't far away~."

It soon colored the entire street,

"I always know it's there."

like a blooming flower.

"......"

I stared in amazement at the beautiful aura petals floating in the air.

My hands played the guitar unconsciously, but my eyes were fixed on the aura blooming from Yuna.

'This is Yuna's aura.'

The unique aura that only a top star can possess,

the one and only, incomparably beautiful aura,

"I'll take one step at a time. I'll keep moving forward."

spread throughout the entire street along with Yuna's voice.

Chapter 18