Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 234

Predicting someone’s behavior is a troublesome and annoying task.

[Are you saying that while writing several A4 sheets to make predictions?]

Especially predicting the behavior of someone you haven’t even met.

Judging based on their status and surrounding rumors is truly a headache.

[And you still did it, yet you’re complaining! I would have just ignored it because it’s too much trouble.]

Fortunately, thanks to the cooperative help from Woori Gyeongeoo and others—though I didn’t really do much, just helped Hwayang—we were able to achieve a happy ending.

[But.]

Shut up. Quiet, Gijisaeng [a Korean term for a female entertainer, similar to a geisha].

[To hear writing with your ears, you’re synesthetic.]

Anyway, how wonderful would it be if achieving a happy ending meant the story ended like in a novel.

Unfortunately, this damned life must be lived until death.

[You have to live even after death.]

Oh dear, eternal life. If we meet later, teach me some tips during eternal life. Anyway, thanks to Gijisaeng, I haven’t had enough time to think alone lately, which is a problem.

I’m not sure exactly what impact I had on PD [Production Director] Jung Gyeongeoo’s mind, but it’s definitely the most ideal form.

The only regret is that he might believe I have some connection.

I wanted to hide behind Hwayang, not even a strand of hair showing, but there was no other way to touch Woori Gyeongeoo.

So, we need a conversation.

I need to clear up the complicated thoughts in his head and instill the conviction that I am just a common celebrity rolling around on the streets.

“W-What kind of conversation would you like to have, Woori Donghwa?”

Why are you avoiding eye contact? It hurts my heart. I’m just a countryside grandma with a slightly shady side. Someone you can see commonly wherever you go.

“If you have time, I’d like to have a secret talk with you, PD-nim [term of address for a PD].”

“…Secret?”

The PD blankly gestured to a chair.

I politely bowed and sat down. The air density seemed to increase, and a moderate discomfort settled in the silence.

Woori Gyeongeoo carefully asked, looking around.

Is this even a plausible picture? Something is seriously wrong. I enjoyed it until a little while ago, but I must prevent anything that would disrupt future work.

“What kind of secret talk is it?”

“It’s about my respect for you, PD-nim.”

“…Yes?”

“I wondered if you were favoring a specific trainee, but I was wrong. I didn’t even realize you were planning to change public opinion by releasing additional clips.”

“…Yes?”

“So, I came to tell you that I respect you. I’m just ashamed that I momentarily misinterpreted the intentions of such a wonderful person with my foolish thoughts.”

“That’s not it.”

“I know. You don’t have to deny it so much. I’m just embarrassed at how ridiculous I must have seemed.”

Woori Gyeongeoo was staring at me with a shocked expression. Maintain the expression, as if all of this is true.

Respect is a lie, but what if it’s a lie? It’s better to be a naive fool who doesn’t know properly and acts out of high spirits than someone who knows too much.

There’s nothing more to know, and comparing the editing with the reality clearly shows ‘favoritism,’ but because of his righteous nature, he was subtly bothered by it, but because of his twisted personality, he couldn’t say it outright, and with a lot in his head, he made a fuss with strange metaphors, just a young pup.

That’s all I want.

* * *

‘Ah, that guy is 100% lying.’

I know what he wants now. The words ‘I don’t know anything, respected PD-nim!’, a seemingly innocent expression, and the feeling of admiration read from it.

It’s scarier, damn it. Why is he doing that, what is he?

“I see! Ah, that’s right. I was surprised too.”

But I can’t ask him directly in front of me, and furthermore, I’m even afraid to complain anywhere.

Who knows, maybe he’s a hidden relative of a large corporation. Or someone being taken care of by a politician. Just because his parents passed away doesn’t mean he has no power; that might be a hasty judgment.

Especially those eyes, they’re too deep. I don’t know what he’s thinking.

So, Jung Gyeongeoo could only think about resigning someday. He’ll probably return to broadcasting since that’s all he knows, but he won’t see that person for a while anyway!

So, Jung Gyeongeoo smiled.

“Woori Donghwa thought so… I was embarrassed. But I’m grateful that you understand my heart like this.”

What if it’s a lie? It’s better not to know than to stir up trouble.

And Ji Donghwa, who was watching him, smiled back and thought to himself.

‘This person doesn’t believe me at all.’

If it were Ryu Ideun, he would have been fooled, so I guess that’s why we’re doing group activities.

But fortunately, PD Jung Gyeongeoo was looking at him with eyes that said, ‘Please pretend you don’t know, each other.’

Ji Donghwa smiled contentedly, thinking that there probably wouldn’t be any backtalk.

* * *

“…That’s the end?”

It’s not really the end, as the idol production arc hasn’t finished yet.

“Yeah, now we just have to watch them debut.”

They’re doing a live broadcast on the last day, but it’ll be hard to congratulate them on-site. I plan to finish my schedule and watch it with the members.

I hope Eun-gu debuts. The squirrel that lived precariously on the tree in front of my house is leaving to find the forest, and as a dog guarding the house, my heart is full of congratulations.

“Ugh, I almost feel sorry for our PD-nim… He did do something wrong, though.”

“Yeah.”

After saying that, I glanced at Seokjun, who was dozing off next to me. His expression, without any worries even though I’m talking like this next to him, is impressive.

“Are you excited?”

Our leader misunderstood my feelings and offered a hasty guess.

In the van right now are me, Seokjun, and Ryu Ideun. Ryu Ideun is just riding along because of another schedule.

“Jun and Donghwa appearing on a variety show alone. I can’t even imagine what kind of picture it will be.”

“…Yeah.”

That’s exactly it. I don’t have that many memories of talking to Seokjun alone.

When Lee Hyunjae was clinging to me, Seokjun was practicing being a loner.

Some might pick me, Ryu Ideun, or maybe Lee Hyunjae as the most mentally strong person in our team. Personally, I’d pick Seokjun.

If ‘strong’ means not changing due to other people, then there’s no one as strong as Seokjun.

There’s a reason his birth flower is a pine tree. He cries consistently, he’s happy consistently, he’s consistently… crazy.

I still vividly remember Seokjun crawling out like a cockroach when I was being nursed. There’s definitely evidence that dinosaurs and cockroaches lived in the same era.

But our strong Seokjun has been avoiding me a little lately.

“What do you think?”

“He’s scared of you. Jun talks about it in our room sometimes these days.”

It was a playful voice, but it wasn’t easy to brush off. Why, these days, like this, everyone. I frowned.

“What does he say?”

“He says Donghwa hyung’s [older brother or male friend] eyes are scary. Like he’s going to hit someone.”

“…Oh my god.”

I wouldn’t even hit someone with a flower. You’re the first person I’ve ever hit, Ideun. How could Seokjun think that?

“If I were you, I’d stop hitting me first.”

“Nonsense.”

Trying to take away one of my few joys in life, you’re a disqualified leader.

Ryu Ideun pretended to be sulky when his words were dismissed, then suddenly opened his mouth seriously.

“And I don’t think he’s avoiding you.”

“Yesterday, when they were both in the living room, they didn’t say a word to each other.”

“That’s…”

Ryu Ideun tried to say something but closed his mouth. His facial muscles twitching clearly meant there was something he wanted to say.

I was about to force him to spit it out.

“Ideun-ssi [formal address], you need to get off!”

“Yes!”

Ryu Ideun waved his hand at me with a refreshed face. He even tapped Seokjun, who was sleeping, to wake him up and insisted on receiving a greeting.

“Oh, hyung-nim [term of respect], should w-we get off?”

“No, not yet.”

Ryu Ideun definitely woke Seokjun up on purpose. He’s not the kind of person who would recklessly wake up his sleeping younger brother.

After Ryu Ideun got out of the car and only the two of us were left, silence.

Seokjun stretched and rejoiced, feeling good after waking up refreshed.

“Hyung-nim.”

“…Yeah?”

“Are we just listening to the explanation and coming back today?”

“Yeah.”

Thinking about it, I haven’t given him much attention with the mindset of ‘Seokjun will live well on his own.’ If the laissez-faire based on trust felt disappointing to Seokjun…

Seokjun took out a notebook from his bag. It was a pink notebook with numerous stickers on the cover.

Really, to confidently take out something that would be hard for me to handle, all I can say is amazing.

Something I wouldn’t normally pay attention to.

But if it’s a step towards improving the relationship, that’s a different story.

“What’s the notebook?”

Come to think of it, it’s strange. Why are there so few memories of being alone with Seokjun? It always seems like other members, especially Chae Hamin, were involved.

“It’s a sticker storage.”

What is that? If the purpose of the notebook is to store the stickers on the cover, you’ll have to learn economics with me. I’ll force you to teach you.

“…Can I take a look for a moment?”

Then Seokjun widened his eyes and nodded vigorously, handing me the pink notebook.

If the cover is really everything, you’re going to relearn the value of goods, got it? You’ve always spent money really… like water…

And as soon as I opened the notebook, I closed my mouth. It was full of creatures with bizarre appearances. When I didn’t know the identity of Gijisaeng, I vaguely guessed that it might look like this.

Each time I turned a page, creatures with completely different shapes were staring at me threateningly.

“I knew you were collecting them, but all of these, all the way to the end of the notebook, are…”

“Yes—all—’Jukwae’ [likely a playful or childish term].”

“What’s that?”

It’s not a metal lump.

“Pocket Monsters, don’t you know! Hyung-nim, you lived in the same era as me!”

I don’t remember watching TV when I was young. By the way, why is the name like that?

“There’s one more here!”

Our Seokjun, whose words sped up after a long time, took out three more notebooks from his bag.

“…Is that all?”

“Yes! I’m proud!”

No, you shouldn’t be proud, Jun. All the money you earned has been replaced with something whose ingredients you don’t even know.

“This one was really hard to get, so I ate a lot of bread!”

“…Oh.”

Come to think of it, I remember getting one too. It tasted terribly bad.

“So, every day I go to exercise following Ideun hyung! It was really hard for me!”

You’re really… amazing.

Um, wait a minute.

“So, that’s why you haven’t had any energy lately?”

“Yes! Really! Ideun hyung rolls me like he’s going to kill me!”

That damn bastard.

“Anyway, all I need is one of these!”

Seokjun held a notebook in one hand and pointed with his index finger at a rat that was clearly contaminated with radiation.

Oh dear, that child has a lot of genetic damage. It seems more ethical to send him away now.

“…Okay.”

Seokjun stroked the notebook with a bright expression and handed one to me.

Oh dear, he means for me to be exposed to radiation too.

I don’t know what kind of process went on in his head, but it might be his way of showing intimacy.

“It’s the first time hyung-nim has shown interest first, so I’m happy.”

I blamed my past self for falling into pointless worries, accepted the notebook, and lost it that very day.