Chapter 5: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

While Jeong Gihoon was on the phone, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Unnie, the Camellia kids said they have extra costumes and will lend them to us."

"Idol clothes?"

Park Heeyoung didn't seem too pleased, so I said,

"Ah, they'll be pretty. They're always pretty."

"Just focus on driving."

"Really, don't say anything to me today."

Even though I said that, no one in the car responded.

Park Heeyoung, looking embarrassed, sniffed and then said in a coquettish tone,

"Manager Jeong, you really saved us today. Haven't you slept in almost forty hours? How did you wake up?"

"I just suddenly felt a chill."

"What, that's scary. Is there someone in your family who has received a divine calling? No, don't answer! Just drive!"

Feeling anxious, my hair stood on end, and I couldn't fall asleep anymore. Park Heeyoung's hair was somewhat messy but manageable, and Yuseonah quickly finished her makeup in a state of intense concentration.

Jeong Gihoon kept making calls, pulling his hair out as he said,

"Ah, how can there be no size 230 shoes?"

"I came in a hurry and wore slippers. I must be crazy."

Park Heeyoung groaned.

No matter what chaos was happening behind me, I drove across Seoul with my life on the line. It had only been three months since I got my license...

When we arrived at the Olympic Park, there were tents lined up behind the stage where singers were waiting. Everyone was busy preparing, but our singer had to do a camera rehearsal as soon as she arrived.

While Park Heeyoung was changing, perhaps because I had been listening to the shoe talk the whole way, I absentmindedly checked people's shoes and found a pair that looked about size 230. They belonged to Lee Ye-young, one of the stylists for the "Nation's Chosen Idol."

I ran over to Lee Ye-young, who was holding a suitcase.

"Unnie! Ye-young unnie!"

"What? What is it, Hae-won? Why are you here?"

Lee Ye-young, who had heard about my reclusive life, looked at me as if I were a ghost. Without time to explain, I asked,

"Unnie, what's your shoe size?"

"Shoes? 230. Why?"

"Sorry, but can you lend me your shoes?"

Meanwhile, Park Heeyoung followed and pointed to the sliders she was wearing.

"Switch with these!"

"What? These cost 55,000 won..."

"Ah, great, I love them."

Park Heeyoung said, taking off the branded sliders and giving me the 55,000 won shoes. Yuseonah applied some oil and sprinkled glitter on the plain pink shoes, making them stick.

Jeong Gihoon attached some fake flowers to the shoe straps from somewhere. They worked well together, having worked together for a long time.

While adjusting the shoes to match the outfit, Lee Ye-young cautiously said to me,

"Hae-won, the Firstlight kids are here. Shouldn't you greet them?"

Firstlight was the group reformed from the "Nation's Chosen Idol" audition, excluding the members who were found to have been manipulated.

In my premonition, Firstlight's performance wasn't great. They didn't release many albums after 2-3 years. If we could just make it through the next year, we wouldn't see the members much in the music industry.

I didn't answer, but Lee Ye-young nodded as if she understood my thoughts.

Then, Park Heeyoung took a deep breath and called me.

"Chul-soon, let's do a fighting pose."

Confused by who Chul-soon was, I looked around, and Yuseonah laughed, patting my arm.

"Hae-won, you."

"Me?"

"Yesterday, when we were drinking, Heeyoung unnie said your name was too pretty and gave you a new one. Chul-soon."

"But my parents put a lot of thought into my name."

Despite my protests, Jeong Gihoon joined in, and they all laughed together. Being the youngest, I was the target of their jokes.

I sighed and reluctantly did a fighting pose. Park Heeyoung's expression brightened, having had a good laugh at my expense.

Luckily, the previous act went over by three minutes, giving me time to check the stage while Park Heeyoung quickly talked to the sound director. She then said as she stepped on stage,

"Thank you for coming to see Park Heeyoung! I love you, everyone!"

Since most of the festival attendees were idol fans, she seemed to be trying to draw their attention with her opening lines. Seeing her adjust her lines even in such a hurry, it was clear she was a natural on stage.

Her stage presence was a talent she was born with.

After confirming the location of the restrooms and buying some snacks, I was completely drained. I told Yuseonah and Jeong Gihoon,

"The shoes... you know, from Ye-young unnie. Please return them to her. I'm going to sleep in the car."

"But Chul, I don't have a license..."

"I have a learner's permit..."

Regardless, I waved them off and sat in the passenger seat, leaning the seat back as soon as I got in. As I was about to fall asleep, I saw a status window.

[(Crisis Averted) You have been rewarded with 3 Silver Tickets.]

[You have obtained Silver Tickets.]

[×3]

[You can obtain D~B grade potions.]

"Later, later."

I decided to sleep first, regardless of the roulette or anything else.

* * *

I woke up feeling a threat to my life and saw Park Heeyoung driving next to me.

She had been driving for at least ten years longer than me, so her skills were unquestionable, but her eyes were half-closed, and I was sleeping next to her.

Thinking it wasn't safe, I muttered, "Roulette."

Park Heeyoung responded,

"What? What is it?"

"Ah, I was dreaming about a game."

I quickly spun the roulette twice.

[D-grade Health Potion]

[Your current fatigue decreases by 5%.]

[C-grade Health Potion]

[Your current fatigue decreases by 10%.]

Fortunately, the two potions I needed most came out. I drank both bottles and said,

"I'll drive now."

"No, you rest. We're almost at the company."

"I'm worried about an accident. If Park Heeyoung causes an accident in the middle of Seoul, it will be chaos."

Park Heeyoung reluctantly pulled over. I stretched and took the wheel. Feeling guilty for waking her, she sat in the passenger seat and said,

"Yong-gyu is always MIA. How can he be so irresponsible?"

Feeling sorry for her, I couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm not tired, so go to sleep."

"Our Chul-soon really has great stamina. Well, you're at the age where you can chew steel."

Park Heeyoung said, then leaned back and fell asleep, relieved. Honestly, Park Heeyoung was the most exhausted.

I told the two people in the back, who were trying to stay awake,

"Unnie and hyung, just go to sleep."

"Ah, how can we sleep?"

"Right, how can we sleep when the youngest is working so hard? We don't need to sleep."

"Really, you can sleep."

Despite my words, they stayed awake until the end, but they didn't have the energy to talk. The car was quiet as we headed to Yeouido. Strangely, I felt a sense of satisfaction. Overcoming a crisis gave me confidence.

* * *

Just as I was about to end the nerve-wracking day, the company's CEO, Park Jong-ryeol, who was impressed by today's events, called me to join a drinking session.

I was dragged back to another drinking session. Park Heeyoung, who came with me, excitedly said,

"If there's an accident, it happens. If it weren't for Chul-soon, I would have messed up. Imagine messing up at such an event."

This company could easily go bankrupt due to drinking, especially with the CEO, Park Jong-ryeol, who was also a trot singer. Or rather, starting with Park Jong-ryeol.

The company had many trot singers, and they often had drinking sessions, even during their busiest times, due to their close relationships.

Park Jong-ryeol handed me a drink and said,

"Chul-soon, I only pour drinks for the ones I truly care about."

"Thank you."

I downed the drink in one gulp, and Park Jong-ryeol patted my back.

"Let the main character give a toast."

"Me?"

Pushed to the front, I stood up with my glass. If I was told to do it, I had to.

"Then, if I say 'I love you,' can you say 'you'?"

Using the toast from Park Heeyoung's hit song, the drunk people laughed. Park Heeyoung and Park CEO looked at me as if I were their child.

When I shouted "I love you," the trot singers and staff loudly shouted "you" and drank.

After drinking non-stop, I woke up to the morning alarm in the practice room, with the last few stragglers lying around me.

Since we had to work the next morning, we followed Park CEO's suggestion to return to the practice room to face the new sun with a fresh mind and get more alcohol.

Park CEO was also passed out.

I quietly left the practice room without a word.

"Ah, damn, my liver is going to explode."

I checked my schedule for the day and walked down the company hallway.

There's a large award ceremony this weekend in a foreign country, hosted by the broadcasting station where Hae-sun was scheduled to appear. I'm dreading running into people I know.

To minimize stress for the mandatory schedule, I found a cigarette and went to the smoking area, lighting it in a hurry. The nicotine helped clear my head a bit.

There was something shockingly bad that happened at this event, but I couldn't remember it right away.

* * *

We traveled to Bangkok for the award ceremony in the business class of a plane without first class.

Of course, all three of us, including Park Heeyoung, were in business class. The company's policy, due to Park Heeyoung being their treasure, was to not leave her alone. This was all thanks to the revenue she brought in.

"Chul, take care of everything. This is the boarding pass, and this is unnie's passport."

"Really, can I go? I can only say 'Good morning, I'm fine, thank you' in English."

"Don't worry, the local staff will handle everything."

I had only been abroad once, when I went to the UK to see my sister's exhibition in middle school. I'm glad I went.

Since I had only been abroad once with my parents when I was young, Park Heeyoung, with a serious face, teased me,

"Chul-soon, do you remember where to take off your shoes on the plane?"

"Ah, I've been on a plane before."

"From business class onwards, you really have to take off your shoes."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Sigh, is it fun to tease people like that?

Although childish, Park Heeyoung always felt good after teasing me, so I had to react enthusiastically, like playing with a child.