Chapter 14

Chapter 4: Daily Life and Accommodation

Two weeks after the year-end evaluation.

After a brief golden vacation in Gunsan for three days, I turned 22, welcoming the new year.

2014.

The entertainment industry was abuzz from the very beginning of the year.

News of a famous girl group member and a top actor's romance flooded the entertainment news, and a drama recalling the 90s was a constant topic of conversation on TV.

And there was a big event coming up.

It was something about a kingdom.

Ever since Jiho saw the trailer on MiTube, he had been shouting, "Bro! Bro! You have to watch this!" non-stop, and the animation was about to premiere.

Should I buy tickets for him?

While checking the showtimes on my smartphone, I closed the window when prompted to log in.

Ah, what a hassle.

If only Biju or Riheuk had asked me to do it.

I zipped up my padded jacket all the way.

The alley in Sinsha-dong was being swept by a cold wind.

I walked into the Lemon Entertainment building with quick steps.

Just as I was about to head to the practice room to get to the heater, I saw a stranger standing in front of the elevator.

A woman in a black mask and a padded jacket.

She pressed the elevator button several times and, upon finding a note that read, "It's broken, please understand," she started to complain.

"Ah, I'm so frustrated!"

Her voice was clear and resonant.

She must be a singer.

"Why does it have to break down on a day like today!"

She seemed to be getting worked up, thinking she had to carry her luggage up.

A heavy-looking suitcase.

"Let me help you…."

"Why today of all days!" she shouted again, and I quietly stepped back.

I am the weakest link in this company.

As a commoner, I just passed by quietly, pretending not to be there.

"Excuse me."

And my attempt to escape ended in failure.

"Excuse me?"

When the black mask slid down to reveal her chin, her porcelain skin was exposed.

She had large, distinctive, and beautiful eyes.

And it was a face I knew.

One of the members of the company's senior group, Scarlett.

"Sorry, can you help me with this?"

"Sure!"

I nodded and smiled broadly.

"Of course, I should help."

The basics of social life are to make a good impression on your seniors and be liked by them.

Besides, it's just a suitcase.

Thinking I could finish quickly, I grabbed the handle of the suitcase.

"Be careful, it's really heavy-"

"Relax, I can handle this... Oof!"

I almost fell over as I lifted the suitcase.

"I told you, it's really heavy."

"I didn't expect it to be this heavy."

Even after being discharged from the military and doing 100 push-ups every day, it felt like a bag of rice.

After several attempts, I finally managed to lift the suitcase, and the other person started up the stairs, offering me a hand.

"What is it?"

"I asked for your help to move it."

"Yes, you did."

"I meant to carry it together."

Although I didn't really want to pass the luggage to her, I reconsidered when I saw her petite frame and slender limbs.

I thought it would be better if I did it alone.

"I'll carry it, senior. Just show me the way."

As I slowly climbed the stairs, the person who was playing a game of rock-paper-scissors with me by taking one step at a time looked at my face carefully.

"I haven't seen you before. You must be a new trainee, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm a senior singer."

She smiled with a dignified air, and I laughed.

"Of course I know who you are."

"Of course."

I know your name too.

"Isn't it Daisy senior?"

"Yes."

Daisy, a member of Scarlett, smiled contentedly.

"You're a great junior."

"Thank you... Oof."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm, I'm fine, senior."

"You don't look fine. You look like you're about to collapse, grandpa."

"..."

My heart sank.

"Phew."

Lemon Entertainment, 2nd floor.

After passing the recording studio where I learn composition from Jo Gyu-hwan every week, I entered a deeper part of the building, where another studio appeared.

When I finished moving the luggage, sweat was pouring down my armpits and back.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Daisy handed me a tissue as if to wipe away my sweat.

I watched her open the suitcase, wondering what was inside.

It was packed with ginseng boxes.

No wonder it was so heavy.

I was taken aback when she added something else.

"Do you carry dumbbells to the studio?"

"They're for propping up my feet. Like this."

The petite senior singer lifted the dumbbells with a struggle and placed them under the studio chair, tapping her feet.

"The height is just right."

She seemed to be saying, "Wow, isn't that impressive?" but I was just stunned.

"Senior."

"Yes?"

"Have you heard of footrests? One of the great inventions of the 21st century."

"..."

"Senior?"

She wasn't listening at all.

Daisy, humming a tune, filled the studio fridge with ginseng drinks and then handed me several boxes.

"Thank you for your hard work. Have a lot of it."

"Thank you."

I immediately drank the ginseng juice I received.

The bitter, healthy taste.

Free is always the best.

I looked around and asked.

"This must be the Scarlett seniors' studio, right?"

"Yes."

I envy them.

Will we get our own studio someday?

"Who did the interior design?"

"Who do you think?"

She asked, as if expecting an answer, and I pretended not to know.

"Did you do it, senior?"

"Yes, I did. Isn't it great?"

A pink sofa with zebra-patterned cushions.

If an interior designer saw it, they would probably offer to redo it for free.

"By the way."

Daisy asked while closing the fridge door.

"I heard you're collaborating with Jang So-won senior?"

"Yes."

"It's been a big rumor in the company."

"What kind of rumor?"

"The publicity team was gossiping about how a new trainee did a great job. They said the team leader was so happy because it would be free publicity."

She showed curiosity.

"How is it going now?"

"I'm not sure. They said the negotiations with Hwa Entertainment are ongoing."

Daisy hummed and then spoke.

"Well, I hope it goes well."

"Thank you."

With that, I said my goodbyes.

"It's time for my lesson. I'll go now."

"Wait a moment."

She stopped me as I was about to leave and took something out of her wallet.

"What's this?"

"It's a tip. Buy some snacks for the kids."

I felt like a gentleman.

All the fatigue I had felt so far seemed to melt away.

"Ah, it's okay... "

"Come on, say something. Take it before I change my mind."

"I'll take it gratefully, senior. I'll buy a good meal for the kids."

"Senior, what?"

She was about to add that I should call her more casually next time.

"Call me unnie next time."

"Excuse me?"

"Call me unnie more casually."

"Ah, if you want me to, I can... "

She tilted her head at my words.

"What are you talking about? You're not a high school student, are you?"

"I'm 22."

She blinked, suddenly speechless.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Wow, you look so young. Thanks for your hard work, see you next time."

I smiled quietly at Daisy's embarrassed attempt to smooth things over, bowed slightly, and left.

As I closed the door, I faintly heard her mutter, "Embarrassing!"

I took out my smartphone and searched for 'Daisy' in the search bar, and her profile appeared.

-Day-Z (Kim Nayun)

-Singer

-Birthdate: 1996.03.27

-Group: SCARLET

-Agency: Lemon Entertainment

She's three years younger than me.

What is this pleasant feeling?

I didn't feel this way when I was in high school, but now that I'm in my twenties, even hearing that someone is younger makes me feel good.

I should tell my younger siblings.

* * *

Lunchtime.

After finishing our morning routine, we were at a nearby specialty restaurant.

A black pork meat restaurant.

It was our favorite spot because it was cheap and delicious, and we visited it every lunchtime.

We ordered the usual pork stew and started talking about what happened to me that morning.

"So, what did you say?"

"I told her I'm 22, and her pupils seemed to shake."

The members burst into laughter.

We often laugh at trivial things because we spend so much time in the practice room.

Biju added,

"I can understand Nayun."

"Huh?"

"I felt the same way when I first met you. I thought you were younger than me."

"Me too, I thought you were a high school student."

"Yes, if you hadn't told us your age, we would have made the same mistake."

"Hmm."

This satisfying feeling, what is it?

"Still, I do look young, right?"

"Ah, not that young."

Jung-hyun laughed.

"Every time I see you, I feel your age."

"Yes."

"Whenever there's a chance, you go, 'Oh~' and massage your back."

Laughter similar to 'hahaha' spread among the kids.

Maybe it's because we've gotten so close.

They don't hesitate to tease me.

I looked at the bubbling duck stew on the gas burner.

This special meal was made possible by the 50,000 won someone had thrown at me this morning.

As I savored the delicious smell, Jung-hyun said,

"By the way, do you guys know? There was a post about us recently."

"What?"

"Just a moment."

Everyone gathered around Jiho, saying, "Really? Really?"

"Yesterday, the first episode of Street Boys' reality show aired. There were a few reactions, and ours were included."

[Have you seen the new K-net reality show?]

Most netizens start stan life through reality shows.

I turned on the TV and saw the Street Boys' reality show.

It wasn't very interesting, so I was about to turn it off, but the scene of the year-end evaluation was quite entertaining. lol

[37 comments]

-I rarely get into idols through reality shows or variety shows.

-The reality show was boring... I don't really want to watch more, even though it's only the first episode.

- Honestly, are there any debut reality shows that are actually fun? You watch them for the fresh taste.

-Who knows the name of the brown-haired guy in the screenshot? Urgent!

- What's the rush? lol

- What are you going to do with the name of trainees who haven't even debuted?

- How do you know the profiles of trainees who haven't debuted?

-He appeared briefly but did well... My attention was drawn to him.

-Are they all company employees or individuals? They're not just good-looking.

- Ah, it reeks of a high school boy's idol obsession. wtf

Suddenly, the middle part of the comments turned into a fight, and 70% of the 40 comments were arguments.

"What?"

Riheuk frowned.

"You said these were reactions to us, but is this all?"

"Strictly speaking, these are reactions to Universe."

"Right, Riheuk."

Biju laughed.

"Frankly, just being mentioned is a good feeling."

The members scanned the comments to see if they were mentioned.

Suddenly, they fell silent.

After a while, they followed a link and played a video, then looked at me as a group.

"What's going on?"

"Universe."

Their eyes were filled with amazement.

"Did you give up your college entrance exam to save a grandpa?"

They all seemed to have misunderstood something.

* * *

"Hey!"

During the break.

As I was drinking water and heading back to the practice room, Jiho shouted.

"A hero! A hero!"

This was followed by various jokes.

You guys are really into this.

Every time I hear the embarrassing title "hero," my younger siblings find it amusing.

While we were joking around and resting, our manager, Yun Seok-hwan, opened the door and appeared.

"What are you guys doing? Aren't you practicing?"

He always comes when we're resting.

Like my grandmother who comes into my room during exam periods to nag, he was about to start nagging.

"What brings you here?"

"Ah, right."

Seok-hwan nodded.

"I came to tell you some news. There are three good pieces of news. Which one do you want to hear first?"

"The best one."

"We just finished the revenue-sharing negotiations with Hwa Entertainment. Since we've signed the contract, the collaboration with Jang So-won will start soon."

Finally, the schedule is set.

"What about the other news?"

"Second, your accommodation contract is also finalized. You can move in this weekend, so adjust your schedules and come in as soon as possible. The sooner, the better."

We're getting accommodation too.

Everyone exchanged glances and muttered "jackpot" with their mouths.

We were expecting the last piece of good news, but we were taken aback by what he said.

"Lastly, the group name is finalized. It will be New Black, the name you came up with."

...Wait.

The name from my hoodie logo?