Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 223

There are many ways to become known to the public: acting in dramas, appearing on variety shows, having a song that tops the music charts, or even through successful publicity stunts [noise marketing refers to controversial or attention-grabbing marketing techniques].

Recently, one group has garnered significant public attention by achieving success in all these areas simultaneously.

[Chae Hamin reminds me of old memories]

There was this one kid… always wanting to be friends with everyone, mistaking admiration for affection, quietly staying put to avoid disrupting the atmosphere, only to realize it was unrequited love after the other person left… Pathetic, but not hateful….

Comments

―Hey, use the character’s name, lol. I got confused. Let’s use the drama name, Dongmin.

―Wow, he could compete with rookie actors.

[I’m glad Ryui-deun appears on talk shows a lot these days]

I knew he had MC [Master of Ceremonies, a host] potential, so I was hoping he’d appear, and it’s great.

Comments

―I already lost it when Ryui-deun’s health content came out.

―I’m proud of our leader…

As HighSix’s activities became less frequent and their popularity waned, Blossom Sense seemed to be directly targeting Ilgun.

Among all the members, one name was frequently mentioned, with both positive and negative posts creating clashing controversies. This member was the subject of discussion following the release of the first episode of the idol production workshop.

[Ah, is Ji Dong-hwa qualified to be here?]

The person with the shortest activity period has 7 years. Ji Dong-hwa has 3 years. Honestly, how is he different from a trainee in terms of skills?

Why is he talking like he’s teaching his juniors? Even if it’s true, it’s off-putting.

Comments

―Check the music charts…

└Yeah, *sajaegi* [bulk buying of albums to artificially inflate sales figures].

└Is that enough for that ranking… Get off the internet and live in reality… There are simpler things than conspiracy theories.

└What’s *sajaegi* for music rankings? It’s for album rankings. Is your brain detachable? Are you a *Byeoljubujeon* [a character known for foolishness in a Korean folktale]? Your liver is way out of your stomach.

―He’s not teaching his juniors; he’s politely pointing out the problems.

└lol

―Everyone who wanted to praise him did, what’s the problem?

―But it might be better for the trainees; he feels like a senior.

└Considering Dong-hwa’s personality, he definitely won’t say good things in the future, so I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also worried to death, lol.

―His bad personality is showing.

After the first episode aired, some criticized Ji Dong-hwa for ‘being rude’ when he was ‘pointing out flaws.’

Even though his career was shorter than the other coaches, his unique tone, which felt cold despite his accurate observations, was the reason.

While watching these controversies, Ji Dong-hwa simply thought, ‘It’s noisy late,’ and didn’t dwell on it, but the other members felt differently.

“…I shouldn’t have looked at the internet.”

Unlike Ryui-deun or Lee Hyun-jae, who were usually online, Chae Hamin, who had little interest in online communities, groaned, suffering from a stomachache.

“I know.”

How can Dong-hwa have such a strong mentality…? After seeing the posts, Chae Hamin couldn’t eat for a day while handling events and radio appearances. On the other hand, Ji Dong-hwa, the person involved, was doing cross-stitch and looking peaceful, which was absurd.

“Ignorance is bliss…”

“Knowledge is power, Hamin.”

Ji Dong-hwa finished a realistic rabbit picture, smiled contentedly, and replied. Oh, what should I do? I feel like something is boiling inside. Chae Hamin gritted his teeth.

“How can you be okay…? There were a lot of weird posts.”

“Sadomasochism patients are happy when they get angry.”

Chae Hamin didn’t understand that at all, but it sometimes happened when talking to Ji Dong-hwa, so he accepted it.

“So, am I making you happy?”

“Um…”

Ji Dong-hwa hesitated, then put the cross-stitch in a round frame and handed it to Chae Hamin.

“A gift.”

“Wow! Ugh, ah, wait a minute.”

Chae Hamin tried to jump up but collapsed back down, feeling sick.

“I made rice porridge.”

Ji Dong-hwa knew how to handle Chae Hamin. No matter how little appetite Chae Hamin had, he couldn’t refuse food made with care by others. However, Chae Hamin didn’t feel like he could eat anything right now.

“Um, can I eat it?”

Ji Dong-hwa was dumbfounded, then suddenly said,

“What if you collapse?”

“I’m worried. That’s how I usually feel, Dong-hwa.”

“Not worried, but wouldn’t you not be able to nag me anymore then?”

“…Wow.”

Chae Hamin grabbed his mouth. An unexpected fact. A deep realization. Ji Dong-hwa really knew how to handle Chae Hamin. He forced him to eat by using the right to nag him as bait.

“That can never happen!”

“Then be quiet and wait, I’ll give you the porridge.”

Ji Dong-hwa left Chae Hamin alone. Chae Hamin was happy looking at the rabbit picture. Born into wealth and receiving countless expensive gifts, he was happier with this sincere gift.

Recently, he had been secretly expecting it after seeing Ji Dong-hwa giving each of the members animal pictures, but his joy didn’t fade. A fox for Lee Hyun-jae, a dog for Ryui-deun, and a rabbit for himself.

And at this point, Chae Hamin couldn’t help but wonder.

“…Does Dong-hwa really see us as animals?”

A small question arose after hearing Ryui-deun say, ‘Ji Dong-hwa definitely has us saved as animals in his head.’ Why does he see himself as an animal?

Chae Hamin couldn’t figure it out. He once heard that people who go to Korea University have a unique way of thinking. Is that really the case?

Although it’s close to prejudice, it’s true that Ji Dong-hwa is unique, so it’s half true. Ji Dong-hwa likes animals more than humans. He never told the members, but he treats them like animals purely because he likes animals more.

“Eat, Hamin.”

“Ugh…”

Ji Dong-hwa came in with porridge and water on a small tray, and Chae Hamin’s thoughts ended.

“Will you be okay with today’s schedule?”

It’s a relief that it’s an afternoon schedule and there’s time in the morning; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to feed him anything.

“Of course…”

“I told you to eat earlier.”

“I wanted to, but I really couldn’t swallow it. I didn’t know when I heard it, but when I saw it myself…”

“…Um.”

Chae Hamin struggled to chew and swallow the porridge Ji Dong-hwa made. Still, it’s delicious.

“I’m really okay.”

Chae Hamin forced himself to chew the rice grains.

“I used to take care of you a lot. The porridge I made back then was also terrible.”

When a person feels sad, old memories come to mind. Thinking about Ji Dong-hwa forcing himself to eat it all, he realized how much Ji Dong-hwa had cared for him. Tears welled up. Ah, it’s not good to be sick.

As the tears started, all the moments he had with his first friend flashed through his mind. Uh, what’s wrong, am I dying? Chae Hamin, who thought so for a moment with his head not working properly, swallowed the porridge and cried.

“…I’m really okay.”

Ji Dong-hwa misunderstood the reason for Chae Hamin’s tears and offered clumsy comfort. Chae Hamin, knowing that Ji Dong-hwa had tried his best to comfort him today and had been doing cross-stitch since dawn, cried even harder.

“No, um, uh.”

Unlike usual, Ji Dong-hwa malfunctioned, his hands and feet twitching.

“…Am I not okay?”

Ji Dong-hwa changed his words to a question, unsure himself. Ah, Ji Dong-hwa is really the best friend. Chae Hamin cried again, and Ryui-deun came in, surprised, and made fun of Ji Dong-hwa, ending the situation.

And Chae Hamin’s sudden tears had a great impact on Ji Dong-hwa’s state of mind afterward.

* * *

Why is he being like that? I wondered, seeing the bed empty.

Did Hamin have more personal schedules today? I came home, took a shower, and he disappeared. I put down the board game I was holding and sat on the bed. I feel a little lonely. I borrowed it from Lee Hyun-jae on purpose.

After that incident in the morning, Chae Hamin had become noticeably quieter and didn’t even participate properly in conversations….

“Dong-hwa hyung! What are you doing!”

While I was thinking, Ryui-deun knocked and shouted as he came in.

“…What’s wrong? Why do you look like a defeated soldier?”

When I was silent, he quickly scanned the room, and when he saw the board game, he smiled.

“Oh my, what should I do? Our Dong-hwa was lonely!”

“…Be quiet, hyung.”

I’m already embarrassed because I got caught. If Seok-joon had come in, he wouldn’t have noticed, but why him.

“Hamin said he went to the practice room.”

He was so anxious for me to rest, that bastard.

“Joon said he wanted to watch a movie together, do you want to watch it?”

“…Okay.”

It’s Wizney ending today [likely referring to the final episode of a show or movie].

“Don’t be too heartbroken. Try to feel how Hamin felt, being in a room without you all the time.”

Ryui-deun was determined to tease me. What should I do? I want to hit him.

“Oh, right. The response to Idol Production Workshop is good.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. This time, a surprise story about you visiting the classroom at dawn was uploaded on YouTube as a pre-release.”

Ryui-deun handed me his phone. The video, titled ‘Pre-release) Ji Dong-hwa’s Dawn Classroom,’ had six cuts of me coming to the practice room at dawn with coffee, distributed as thumbnails.

“…This?”

Why?

“That strangeness touches people’s hearts.”

“Send that to Chae Hamin too.”

“Oh, you’ve been awkward all day, what’s going on? Anyway, hyung doesn’t want to get involved in the fight between the younger brothers.”

It’s not a fight, but it’s true that the frequency of conversations has decreased today, so I have nothing to say.

“Leader qualification revoked.”

“Wasn’t I the one who insisted that you should be the leader from the beginning?”

Ryui-deun smiled brightly and turned around.

“Well, won’t Hamin come back tomorrow with his personality?”

I nodded and followed Ryui-deun.

* * *

And human predictions always fail to capture reality properly. Surprisingly, Chae Hamin seemed preoccupied, alternating between contemplation during schedules and going to the practice room afterward.

Ryui-deun, realizing the situation was turning strange, came to me, who was sitting blankly after the event, and whispered.

“Really, what’s going on? Dating?”

“…Nonsense.”

The Chae Hamin I know wouldn’t do that. There’s no way he would create something that would cause gossip himself.

“It’s not a fight either?”

“Yeah.”

It’s definitely not a fight. There was only one thing that happened: I didn’t comfort Chae Hamin properly when he was crying.

“…Today, I’m going to raid the practice room.”

Ryui-deun took a step back at my venomous voice. I have to see with my own eyes what he’s doing to be satisfied.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just ask?”

“…I can’t do that by nature.”

I gritted my teeth and glanced at Chae Hamin, who was still sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, thinking. Perhaps because of that, I didn’t see Ryui-deun covering his mouth and holding back a laugh.