Chapter 79

79

"…Seo Ho-yun, are you really a devil? Wow, this is making the back of my neck so cold."

"Hahaha! It's summer~."

Enjoy it. Everyone shook their heads in disbelief. I covered my mouth with my hand and winked.

"I'm really, really looking forward to it."

"You really look like a complete idiot…."

"Thanks for the compliment~."

With little opposition, the additional plan was set, and I got up feeling good.

As I left the meeting room, the manager looked at me with a really annoyed face.

"Ho-yun, you… You're going to get divine punishment for this."

"Should I buy a lottery ticket? If I get struck by lightning?"

"If you get struck by lightning, you'll die, Ho-yun. …But shouldn't you go and tell them now?"

"It's more fun as a surprise."

I won't say it's revenge for the last surprise.

'Kang I-chae seems to have noticed.'

No matter how much he jumps around, he's still in the palm of my hand. The manager hesitated.

"Still…."

"Ah, Manager. I'll do that."

"Huh?"

"'Camera, Please' audition, I'll go."

"Eh?!!"

The manager's eyes widened. Thanks to that, the 'Seo Ho-yun Rural Healing Program Incident' that had been troubling him until just now seemed to be completely erased from his mind, and he immediately started to get excited.

"Why?! Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"The script is interesting."

I let out a ridiculous lie and ran my hand through my hair. There's no way I'd go just because the script is interesting. I don't even know the first thing about acting, and even if the script is interesting, I wouldn't have considered auditioning under normal circumstances.

But, 'I need to confirm something.'

No matter how much I think about it, that 'Lee Jung-hoon' character is bothering me. Seeing the system window remain silent at this moment deepens my suspicion.

'How exactly did they use my life?'

If I go to the audition and get to know writer Kim Sook-hee, I can find out by gently persuading her later. I'll have to approach her slowly and carefully since I don't know her.

"Well, I'll at least go to the first round of the audition. Since the CEO and the manager have been so considerate, I should go once, right?"

"…Wow, I'm touched."

"Why?"

"You think I'm a complete tyrant who does whatever I want…!"

"……."

"I thought you were a dictator who doesn't listen to the members and always does what you want…!"

"……Yes."

The manager took out a handkerchief and wiped away tears. I walked away with a slight feeling of disgust, giving a casual response.

"I can see it, I can see it…! The face of the million-actor Seo Ho-yun…!!"

"……."

"You're really an idol, but you have a strange actor vibe. Really, really!"

"Manager, that's enough~."

"…That's enough~."

After the content shooting ends, I'll go straight to the audition. I organized the schedule and tasks in my head while the manager chuckled.

"You don't really need to worry about the audition. I'll tell you a secret… The lead role for that drama has already been cast. From our company."

"Really?"

"If things go well, the CEO can speak to the drama production team when you audition!"

It's what they call a push sale.

Inserting supporting actors into a drama with a popular lead cast.

One of the things drama production teams hate the most.

'Hmm…'

I don't really want to go to such lengths, but then again, there aren't many stars in this agency who can wield that much power….

'Wait.'

Who from our company?

I asked, trying to recall.

"…Who?"

"Ahaha! Someone you know~."

A wave of unease swept over me. The moment the name I had hoped wouldn't come up was mentioned, my face contorted.

***

"Hello~."

"Hello!"

We (except for me) headed to the countryside with a sense of excitement. Unfortunately, it rained all morning, and the large van moved slowly on the narrow, sloping road, causing us to arrive a bit late.

When we arrived at the shooting location, the rain stopped, and the sky cleared up.

Jeong Da-jun, who had arrived earlier, saw the busy production team preparing for the shoot and quickly opened the car door, waving his hand.

"Kyaa!"

"It's a vacation~!"

It's not a vacation but a content shoot. But I didn't really want to stop him. The smell of grass and the humid summer breeze hit me.

The members, who got out of the car a beat later, were excitedly looking around.

"Wow! There's a field here too!"

"Can we cook and eat with this?"

"How did they get this?"

"They rented it for the variety show location."

The team leader must have put in some effort. He laughed wryly, but no one noticed.

"Should we make bibimbap?"

"Okay, okay."

"Do you know how to make a fire?"

"Anyone have a lighter~?"

Everyone looked at me.

"I don't have one?"

"You make me proud."

Jeong Da-jun looked at me with a strangely affectionate gaze, which I ignored as I stepped over the threshold of the old but neatly arranged countryside house. It seems the cameras haven't been set up yet….

"Let's do it here."

I tapped the ground and smiled contentedly. When the 'time' comes, I'll tell them to set it up here.

"Oh, memories."

While looking around the room, I found an LP record player and a small bookshelf with LPs. As I looked through the familiar titles, I noticed that the LPs on the right were jutting out in a mess. I picked up a few and found a crumpled pack of cigarettes hidden in the corner.

It must have been left by the staff or cast of the variety show that was filmed here before.

"What are you doing?"

"Wow, what a surprise."

After taking it out and organizing the LPs, I was looking at it absentmindedly when Kim Sung-hyun appeared in front of me.

"…You."

'Oh no.'

Did he misunderstand?

Kim Sung-hyun, who had been the one to make the biggest fuss about quitting smoking, quickly threw the pack of cigarettes and raised his hands.

"I'm wronged!"

"……."

"I know what you're thinking, but it's not true."

"……Seo Ho-yun."

Kim Sung-hyun stared at me for a moment, sighed, glanced outside, and carefully closed the door.

"If you want to smoke… just one."

"What?"

"I won't tell the others."

Ding!

[????]

I and the system window were both surprised. That Kim Sung-hyun? The Kim Sung-hyun who had forbidden me from saying anything about smoking for the sake of being an idol, telling me it's okay to smoke one?

Speechless, I stood there…

"I, I… that."

My voice trembled.

"Um, hyung…"

Ah, I can't hold back my laughter. I clenched my teeth and made a joke.

"Hyung, smoking is just! Close your eyes once, puff… and let it go…?"

"……."

"Why are you closing the door?"

The smell will give it away anyway. The non-smoker's way of thinking is so funny that I giggled, and Kim Sung-hyun clenched his teeth, realizing I was teasing him.

"…I'm so annoyed."

"Hyung, can I have one? Two is not okay?"

"Enough, enough. Just go away."

"Eh~, three?"

"Go."

I giggled and teased him, and Kim Sung-hyun, annoyed, picked up the dropped pack of cigarettes and threw it in the trash. Then, as if he realized something, he rummaged through the trash and picked it up again.

"What are you doing, Kim Sung-hyun?"

"…If it gets caught on camera, it'll cause more trouble."

"Yaaah~!"

Kim Sung-hyun has learned a lot. As he went outside, I followed him cautiously and stood by the door.

"Kim Sung-hyun!"

"…What?"

He turned around, looking at me with a sense of trust. I crossed my arms and leaned against the door frame, smiling cautiously.

"Please don't tell the others…."

"……."

"I have a favor to ask, Sung-hyun…."

"I really hate it when you seize every opportunity to criticize me…."

Kim Sung-hyun gave me a condescending look and left. Seeing him hand the cigarettes to the manager outside, I couldn't help but laugh.

'He must have been teased a lot…'

But I could proudly say,

I quit smoking!

'Great, Seo Ho-yun. You're amazing.'

I put away any lingering thoughts about smoking and, wanting to play some music, checked if the turntable was working when a staff member came in with a camera.

I confirmed through the door that the manager was hurriedly putting the cigarettes in his pocket and placed the LP on the turntable.

[~♪♬?]

"The song is good."

The gentle sound of rain, the smooth LP sound, and the members who are fun to tease. I leaned against the wall with a satisfied smile.

Ah, indeed… it's a healing program.

.

.

.

"Ta-da~!"

After playing the song and leaving the room, I saw Kang I-chae proudly laying something out on the floor.

"Adorable I-chae made it! Let's take a selfie in this!"

"…What is this?"

I'm already feeling uneasy. Kang I-chae proudly held up a white T-shirt and threw it to the members.

"Try it on. I prepared heartfelt messages for each member."

He glanced at the T-shirt he gave me. He said he prepared messages that fit each member, and I saw large calligraphy on my T-shirt.

[True Scum]

"……."

Ding!

[Oh]

[Crazy]

[Really, I love Kang I-chae so much!!!!!]

The system window cried out, and Kim Sung-hyun, who had been harshly teased by me earlier, clapped and put on his T-shirt.

"I really like it, I-chae."

"Right??"

Since his says 'Light,' he'll wear it without complaint….

"Huh? What's written on the back?"

Looking at the back of my T-shirt with a frown, I saw [The Best Aggro King]. Turning Kim Sung-hyun around, I saw [The more I look, the more I need LASIK ㅅㄱ] written on the back.

Is Kang I-chae even aware he's an idol?

The person who made the T-shirts, Kang I-chae, put on his T-shirt, which said [The Best Handsome Man], and proudly showed it off.

"Kang I-chae, where's your conscience?"

"Why?"

"Are you the best handsome man?"

"Ah… I knew it."

Kang I-chae, who always has a smug attitude, turned around with a proud smile.

[LOL Stop being jealous~]

"……."

I'm so annoyed….

Next to me, Seong Ji-won, who was wearing a [Buddha] T-shirt, smiled gently, making me feel even more wronged.

"Why is he fine? I'm a scum and he's a Buddha?"

"Look at the back."

"Okay!"

[BU: Gentle CH: Execution]

"…I see."

"Right?"

And Seong Ji-won's T-shirt also had his face and the game nickname 'Let's Practice, Guys!!' written on it. As I looked at it with a frown, Jeong Da-jun, who was wearing a [Gang-Eul-Ju] T-shirt, ran in.

"Wow! I didn't see the back! What's written on the back, hyung??"

"…Turn around."

Now tired of arguing, I watched Jeong Da-jun spin around.

[Jeong Da-jun didn't read the back before wearing it]

…was written on it. In front of me, speechless, Jeong Da-jun ran around like a puppy, trying to see his own T-shirt.

"Hyung, what's written on mine??"

"……."

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!!"

Kang I-chae, holding his stomach and laughing, was really a troublemaker.