Chapter 41

41

Question.

What kind of person is Kim Sung-hyun?

First batter. Sung Ji-won.

"Huh? Sung-hyun? He's nice. Always gives in, very considerate. He looks scary, but if you think about it, you're not exactly easy to deal with either, Ho-yun... Ah, I get it. Just kidding."

(Not kidding!)(No, I'm not! Ho-yun, you know I'm serious.)

Second batter. Kang Eun-jae, Jung Da-jun.

"Why do you suddenly ask? Well... Sometimes he seems more like a parent than our own parents. I heard he has a lot of younger siblings, so maybe that's why he's also very responsible."

(He remembers everything, even the small details! He still reminds me to be careful about the time I stubbed my toe on the threshold two years ago!) (I didn't ask.) (Yes....)

Third batter, the manager.

"Thinking about our Sung-hyun, I start to cry first... (He really starts crying)

He was the first trainee in our company, and he's been with us since the beginning, even though we didn't do much for him. He always listens well and calls me 'Manager, Manager.' He's really a gem.

"

"......"

"If I had a son, I'd want him to grow up like that. What about you, Ho-yun? Hmm... If my son were Seo Ho-yun, that would be a bit scary. Yeah. Sorry, Ho-yun."

"Phew..."

"Don't sigh! It's scary!"

The manager ignored him and turned away.

But why does someone like Kim Sung-hyun, who gets such high praise, have a school violence controversy?

After finishing practice, I glared at Kim Sung-hyun. Noticing some misunderstanding, he threw me a new bottle of water from the side.

"Why? Is that not it? Do you want something else?"

"No, that's right."

But what should I say here?

What happened to you? Is the school violence controversy real?

How can I suddenly ask that?

"What, boring."

"Alright..."

"If you're in pain, tell me. We'll go to the hospital right away."

"I said I'm fine."

"You're more irritable today."

Kim Sung-hyun clicked his tongue and walked away.

Thinking about it, Kim Sung-hyun didn't get angry easily. Let's think about the moments when he did get angry.

1. When I joined and the team almost fell apart.

2. When I got hit by an egg.

3. When I picked Today and said I would take full responsibility.

'...Am I trash?'

No matter how I think about it, Kim Sung-hyun didn't do anything wrong.

He only got angry when it was for the team or for others. Based on what I've seen of Kim Sung-hyun, it's hard to imagine him hurting anyone.

But, I don't know. You can know the depths of a ten-foot river, but not the depths of a person's heart. And in the entertainment industry, such things are common. People can smile and then stab you in the back.

I should only believe what's certain.

The important thing is that Kim Sung-hyun dropped out of school and has a school violence controversy. Even if he says he's innocent, people will only believe the rumors, and he'll be branded. Then it's all over.

What should I do?

[Quest arrived!

Find out about Kim Sung-hyun's past.

Kim Sung-hyun is very reluctant to talk about it.

Ask him about the incident.

Success: Increase Kim Sung-hyun's trust, progress main scenario

Failure: Drastically reduce recognition, unable to release an album within a year

Note: Four days before the school violence controversy breaks out]

"Damn."

The quest window, which had been absent for a while, was very exciting. I ran my fingers through my hair as I looked at the quest that appeared. Still, it was helpful.

Four days before the school violence controversy breaks out.

It means someone already has ill intentions towards Kim Sung-hyun.

I calculated the dates. Four days, and two days after that is the start of the second round. If we can't resolve the school violence controversy by then, we're doomed.

"Let's practice again."

At Sung Ji-won's words, I jumped up. It wasn't the right time to ask him now.

After a long practice session, it was already approaching dawn.

Jung Da-jun muttered.

"Really, I don't think we'll do well this time."

"We were chosen well."

"To be honest, it's better than the original Today."

"Right."

"Really, Eun-jae, you're a good composer."

"Did you just realize my greatness?"

"What about composer Im Hyun-soo?"

"Compared to him, my skills are trash..."

Kang Eun-jae unusually lowered his head. He really seemed to admire Im Hyun-soo.

I was so exhausted that I was crawling on the floor of the practice room.

"Let's head back to the dorm. We need to get some sleep."

"What's up, practice demon?"

"Of course, after a few hours of sleep, we'll come back to practice."

"Where's my human rights?"

Kang Eun-jae grumbled but got up to follow Sung Ji-won. But Kim Sung-hyun suddenly hesitated.

"What's up, Kim Sung-hyun. Not going?"

"I want to practice a bit more. I might forget if I don't do it now."

"Wow, you're really crazy."

"Alright, but you need to get some sleep too."

"I will."

"Let's go, Ho-yun."

I hesitated. I wanted to go back to the dorm and sleep, but I couldn't miss this chance to talk to Kim Sung-hyun alone.

"I'll practice a bit more and then go."

"Ugh, why are you both like this?"

"Ji-won is possessed by the practice demon."

Kang Eun-jae clicked his tongue. Everyone was tired and didn't say much as they got up and left the practice room.

Kim Sung-hyun glanced at me.

"Where do you want to start practicing?"

"I want to start here with determination."

"Alright."

As soon as he said that, the song arranged by Kang Eun-jae started playing. The grand orchestral prelude was interspersed with the sound of a flute.

As we practiced in sync, Kim Sung-hyun suddenly stopped and tilted his head.

"There's an expression about walking on clouds. Here, it would be better to change it to a group dance that expresses the wind blowing."

"How?"

"If I lead here..."

Kim Sung-hyun continued explaining in detail. Honestly, I wasn't really listening. Even if I had listened seriously, I probably wouldn't have understood. I could only feel how serious he was about this stage.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"I wasn't."

"Seo Ho-yun, you..."

"Let's talk when the others come. I think it will make more sense when we see it as a whole."

I said that and lay down, exhausted.

Kim Sung-hyun, though annoyed, was still deep in thought, scribbling on a piece of paper.

"Kim Sung-hyun."

"Yeah."

"Why do you do idol work?"

"......Huh?"

I asked indirectly, but it must have been a sudden question for Kim Sung-hyun. He stopped what he was doing and looked at me.

"Why do you do it?"

"I had no choice."

"What do you mean, no choice?"

"Sometimes, life just happens... You know, like when a system window suddenly appears and forces you to be an idol... and intimidates you..."

At that, Kim Sung-hyun burst out laughing, finding it absurd.

"Answer the question."

"Really, you're acting strange today?"

Kim Sung-hyun glanced at me, threw his pen, and lay down.

"Pretty obvious, what. I was a b-boy, got cast on the street, and it looked fun... The kids were nice too."

"From the beginning, you were a star?"

"Yeah. Unlike Sung Ji-won, I was a star from the beginning. I was the first idol trainee here?"

"Yes, Senior Kim Sung-hyun. Please teach me well."

"First, take your vitamins, get enough sleep..."

He started nagging, half-joking and half-serious. I covered my ears to block out his nagging and then threw out a bait.

"Since high school?"

"Huh?"

"Have you been a trainee since high school?"

At the indirect question about high school, Kim Sung-hyun's face stiffened. It took a while for him to answer.

"Not back then."

"......"

"Back then, I just... liked dancing. Like a fool."

Like a fool.

As I looked at Kim Sung-hyun's face, he suddenly got up.

"That's enough practice. Let's go back, take supplements, and get some sleep. We need to leave soon if we want to match up with the others."

"...Alright."

I tried to gently probe and dig up his past, but I failed. With that expression on his face, I couldn't ask any more. I shrugged and got up.

***

"Wow! Isn't that the 'Underdog Idol'?"

After barely getting some sleep at the dorm and coming to the company, I found Joo Woo-sung grinning in the lobby. The members, unsure of what to do, were fidgeting.

I looked exasperated.

Why is Joo Woo-sung here? Actually, before that.

"What's an 'Underdog Idol'?"

"You don't know? It's your nickname now."

"My nickname?"

Why is that my nickname? Still half-asleep, I took a sip of water, and Joo Woo-sung chuckled.

"Wasn't it yesterday, the second episode aired? Even though the first round hasn't finished, everyone who knows knows. That you picked Today."

"Oh, that."

So that's why I'm the 'Underdog Idol.' I need to be more careful. I don't want to get beaten up by Today's fans.

"Wow, I knew this kid was crazy, but I didn't expect him to be so bold."

"Did you come here to talk about that?"

"No, not really. I just wanted to check on you guys and have a chat."

Joo Woo-sung clicked his tongue and looked at the members. Realizing the meaning, I gestured to the members.

"I'll be right back. Go in first."

"Okay."

"If anything, let me know. Senior, I'll go in now."

"Sure, good luck."

Sung Ji-won bowed, and the other members, relieved, rushed into the practice room.

I looked around the lobby and subtly led Joo Woo-sung to the conference room.

"This isn't something to talk about in the lobby, right?"

"Can't we go to a cafe? I don't want to breathe in the dust from your shabby building."

"I'll get beaten up if I go out now."

"Ah, you do care about such things."

Are you kidding? When I was a PD, I used to sneak out through the back door and hide in the parking lot to avoid my haters. Kim Hee-young asked what kind of idol I was...

'Wait, thinking about it, I'm an idol now?'

"Listen."

"Ah, yes."

I quickly returned from my trip down memory lane and looked at Joo Woo-sung. He sat in a chair, fiddling with the conference room microphone, and asked.

"Unlikely, but..."

"Yes."

"Just asking."

"Yes."

"I'm not suspicious, but..."

"Just get to the point."

Why is he taking so long?

As I showed my annoyance, Joo Woo-sung scratched the back of his head.

"Did you meet a paparazzi?"

My eyebrows twitched.

Ah, I think I know what Joo Woo-sung is worried about.

"Did you meet Mr. Kim Jae-yeon?"

"It wasn't that name. Ah, maybe an alias."

"You're dumber than I thought..."

I muttered, pressing my temples. I knew Kim Jae-yeon was like that from the previous world, but his threats were a bit weak.

I was already dealing with uncontrollable things, and this made me even more irritated. I sank into my chair, thinking about how to handle it, and our eyes met.

"Phew."

I mocked him.

"Did you come here because you were afraid I might have told him?"

"This kid really needs to learn some manners."

"No, there's nothing for you to worry about, Joo Woo-sung."

Despite my firm words, Joo Woo-sung still seemed skeptical.

"Then why did you meet him?"

"Playing a game."

"What?"

"To become the number one on Shining Star."

"What? Are you still chasing a pipe dream?"

Joo Woo-sung laughed sarcastically.

"No way. Today's agency seems to be pushing hard this time. You can tell from how the production team treats you."

"I know. I understand."

"But why?"

"There are many ways in this world..."

I spoke indirectly, and Joo Woo-sung didn't press further, but he shrugged.

"Good for you, but take care of your team members too."

"......"

"When I mention you, everyone is silent, but do you know what's written on their faces? On the left, worry, on the right, concern. They're all anxious because they don't know what you'll do next. It's pitiful."

"......"

I opened my mouth to argue but closed it.

I had no real response. Only questions circled in my mind.

"Have you ever done something like that, Joo Woo-sung?"