Chapter 7

07

"Is this really where Joo Sung lives?"

"Of course, I saw him go in last time…."

While I was sitting at the cafe, I could hear the whispers from the nearby tables.

Judging from the way they were spreading out Joo Sung's photos and causing a commotion, they were probably sasaeng fans. The way they kept glancing around nervously and checking their phones made me even more suspicious.

"But it's really hard to meet him, right? Joo Sung really hates this kind of thing…."

"But if we can last a week, we might at least get to see his face with a mask on."

They really were sasaeng fans.

I took a sip of my grapefruit smoothie and lifted my phone again. There were a lot of messages.

Not from Im Hyun-soo, not from the manager, not from Seo Ho-jin.

But they were glancing over at me.

"Hey, is that guy a celebrity?"

"I don't recognize him from anywhere…."

"Is he a trainee or something?"

"Ah, maybe he's a backup dancer trying to get into a group?"

No… I'm not a trainee, but I'm probably a half-idol. I heard I made it to the recording of the debut song, even though I couldn't attend the showcase.

Anyway, all the effort I put into completing the quest had meaning. With my charm increased, people around me started to react.

[Character: Seo Ho-yoon.

Trait: Excessive self-awareness]

'I'm going to die.'

The system window started to pick a fight.

'I can't help it. Today is an important day.'

[Quest Arrived: 'Curiosity of the System Window.' Why did the show-off Seo Ho-yoon suddenly dress up?

Resolve the system window's curiosity.

Success: Nothing.

Failure: The system window gets upset.]

"Are you really abusing it?"

I ignored it. Anyway, you'll find out the reason soon. The system window really got upset and didn't show any more alerts. This kid made of 0s and 1s really does everything.

When I lifted my phone, which was buzzing, I saw a big catch.

[??: Who are you?]

[??: Who?]

It's a bumper year.

[Me: ㅎㅎ]

[Me: If you're curious, come to the cafe.]

I sent the message and checked the other messenger.

[Manager: Ho-yoon, think about it again. I don't know what you're thinking, but people shouldn't be pretentious. If you come back now, the members will accept you, so please… (omitted)]

I ignored the manager's message.

Next, Im Hyun-soo.

[Im Hyun-soo: Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey]

[Im Hyun-soo: Mr. Seo Ho-yoon]

[Im Hyun-soo: Ho-yoon, lol]

[Im Hyun-soo: It's amazing, the song is really good]

[Im Hyun-soo: Nice]

[Im Hyun-soo: Ah, lol, I must be a genius, lol]

[Me: Send it.]

[Im Hyun-soo: You're really annoying]

It was the morning after I threatened Im Hyun-soo. Since the output was good, Im Hyun-soo was boasting. I ignored him and planned to give him a compliment in the afternoon.

Then, back to the first messenger's owner.

[??: Wait]

Yeah, you should. I smiled contentedly.

Amidst the chaotic messages, there was only one thing I needed right now. And if people were quick to notice, they would know who I was messaging.

While I was skimming through the messages, the cafe owner suddenly handed me a cake. What's this? I stared at it, and the owner smiled.

"This is on the house."

"Ah, thank you."

Feeling good, I smiled and was about to chat when, ding, the cafe door opened at just the right time.

Really, it wasn't just a ding, it was a ding-ding. Ding-ding.

It must have been urgent.

"Huff, huff…."

A man covered in black from head to toe.

With a cap, mask, and tracksuit, the man was panting as if he had run, but everything about him, from head to toe, was a luxury brand.

He's here.

Our next mark.

"Huh? That's…."

"Could it be…."

The sasaeng fans stiffened when they saw him. The man ignored the shocked owner and looked around the shop.

"Is it Joo Sung?"

Joo Sung, a member of the top Korean idol group Black Call. A group that succeeded by pouring all their resources into a large agency, famous overseas composers, and California dancers.

But now, he's just my mark.

I slowly raised my hand and called out to him with a wide smile.

"Bro!"

Mark!

I didn't want to call a 25-year-old "bro," but what could I do? I'm 23 now, having rejuvenated by 10 years.

[Quest Arrived: 'Now, it's up to you.'

Mr. Seo Ho-yoon, you're doing a great job even without a quest.

Why don't you try threatening Mr. Joo Sung?

Success: +10 Charm

Failure: -100 Reputation]

As I called out, Joo Sung slowly fixed his gaze on me. Then he frowned and approached me.

"Is that you?"

"Bro, you finally came."

Joo Sung wouldn't recognize me now. But when I pretended to know him, his face showed a look of disbelief.

"What are you doing? Who are you?"

"Ah, what kind of joke is this?"

"What?"

I laughed playfully and got close to him. Lowering my voice to Joo Sung, who still didn't understand the situation.

"There are sasaeng fans of Mr. Joo Sung around here."

"…."

"If you don't play along, strange rumors might spread."

Joo Sung, who had something to hide, shut his mouth. Then he forced a smile.

"…You won't even play along with a joke, bro."

"Ah, bro! I've been waiting for a long time."

"Sorry. Uh, it's a bit awkward here. Should we go upstairs?"

"Sure, let's do that."

I stood up with a smile and gave a light nod to the cafe owner.

As Joo Sung and I were about to move, the sasaeng fans tried to follow us in a hurry. Joo Sung frowned and quickly left the cafe, shaking off the sasaeng fans to reach his home.

"Your skills are impressive."

"…."

Joo Sung ignored me. But he must have some idol experience.

As soon as we entered the apartment, the marble floor showed that he had made some money.

With no one around, Joo Sung showed his guard again.

I walked over and sat on the sofa. Even though my body was young, my nature made me want to lie down on the sofa.

"Nice place."

"Who are you?"

It was the same reaction as Im Hyun-soo yesterday.

"Why are you threatening me now? Are you a reporter? Or a scammer?"

"Your imagination is… really lacking."

Yesterday, Im Hyun-soo at least had a cute side, trying to figure things out. Frankly stating my opinion, Joo Sung clenched his teeth.

"If not, how did you get this!"

Joo Sung huffed and showed me his phone. It was a photo of him hugging another idol closely. I couldn't see clearly because he turned his head, but it was obvious they were very close.

A relationship.

The sin of idols. Almost on par with drug use, drunk driving, and violence.

While the general public now supports idols in relationships, the core fans do not.

"It's like a drama, isn't it?"

It was a pity, but now it's just good blackmail material. It was taken very clearly.

"Are you a paparazzi? I've never told anyone…."

"Something similar."

I had planned to do a special on sasaeng fans for a reporting program. Someone had slipped me this photo then, and I didn't expect to use it now.

"Who are you?"

"Wait, let's calm down."

"Are you going to report me?"

I called him calmly. Since the atmosphere wasn't calming down, I decided to 'slightly' put him in his place.

"It's not me who's regretting this…."

"…."

"If I snap my fingers, the email will be sent. The media people are drooling."

What would happen then? I kindly explained the reality to Joo Sung.

<Joo Sung's Secret Date, Partner is a Pure Girl Group Idol?!>

"Would you dominate the real-time search tomorrow?"

And the internet reactions would be like this.

-I told you not to tell anyone I'm an ATM machine lol

-Really, I'm so mad

-Joo Sung said he only had fans as girlfriends, lol. Was that ring a couple ring, damn….

"Whatever… I guess it's fine. A lot of idols are in public relationships these days."

But here's the thing.

"But it changes every three months. Last time it was four months, before that two months, and before that three weeks."

That's right.

"Almost everyone who appears on music shows seems to have dated."

Joo Sung was a playboy.

Not a two-timer, but the speed at which he changed girlfriends was LTE-level. It didn't end with the White Cherry girl group. The idols and actors he dated filled a truck.

If this were to come out, Joo Sung's clean image would be completely ruined.

"And one, two, three… If Joo Sung's ex-girlfriend list is slowly revealed on the internet…?"

"…."

As I slowly explained, Joo Sung's face turned pale.

It would blow up soon.

-Closing my home. Goodbye to my hot summer

.

-Really, I'm leaving. Crazy bastard.

-Closing my home permanently. Check the refund form on Twitter.

The homemas would leave.

-Crazy bastard, he dated them in rotation lol

-Wow, what a slut lol I can't believe I liked him

-How did he deceive fans for five years???

The final act.

-Official/We demand Joo Sung's expulsion

"Where would a site demanding Joo Sung's expulsion appear…."

Joo Sung covered his head. After a long moment of despair, he finally asked.

"Money? Would money work?"

'…Really, I'm so mad?'

I wanted to say that line too.

Coming into this parallel world and losing all my money, I would be so pissed.

"How much will you…."

"…."

"No."

There was something more important. Even Joo Sung, who was almost begging on his knees, made me feel sorry.

"How much…."

"…."

"No."

The important thing was something else. Even Joo Sung, who was almost begging on his knees, made me feel sorry.

"Money isn't what I want. Honestly, what did the idols who dated Joo Sung do wrong? To meet the wrong guy…."

"Stop it. Then what? What do you want?"

I laughed bitterly. As expected, this guy's imagination was really lacking. At least Im Hyun-soo's mind worked a bit better.

"Do you know who I am? You need to know that first."

"Do I need to know that?"

Of course, you do, kid.

"Seo Ho-yoon. An idol."

"…."

"…."

Silence filled the air. After a long moment, Joo Sung moved his dry lips.

"You… are a crazy bastard?"

[Choice

-Dehehe! (Grinning, gently tapping the head with a fist_adorably underlined) I'm not a crazy bastard!

-Crazy for success (star).

-Flirting and flirting]

I clenched my hand. Time passed in a dizzying way.

As expected, the words came out randomly.

"Dehehe!"

Not just the words. I grinned and gently tapped his head with my fist.

"I'm not a crazy bastard!"

"…."

Damn….

"…You're a crazy bastard…."

Joo Sung, genuinely accepting it, looked at the crazy bastard with pity. I just wanted to bite my tongue and faint.

I pressed my forehead and reflected on my past life, wondering what I did wrong. There were too many things to grasp.

"Crazy junior, okay, I get it. I understand you're an idol. I didn't recognize you because I hadn't heard of you."

"It's okay. You won't forget being blackmailed by a junior idol now."

"…."

Joo Sung, feeling dizzy, pressed his forehead and then gathered his patience and asked.

"So, what do you want? From the way you're talking and showing me this photo, you must want something."

"Of course."

"Then what, if not money?"

It seems this guy can't adapt like Im Hyun-soo.

I sighed and decided to write the answer with a red pen. Joo Sung looked at me anxiously.

"What I want right now? It's very, very simple."

Suddenly speaking calmly, Joo Sung shivered as if he had goosebumps.

Thinking back, Joo Sung seemed to avoid me even when I was a PD. Even though we had no contact.

What was it, what did he say….

Why did he avoid me.

"Bro, you're a good actor, right?"

I'm a good person, after all.