Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 251

It wasn’t my plan to become an idol – Episode 251 (219/343)

The final stage of filming the first episode of the Problem Solver Agency.

After cheering for a while because the last password thankfully matched, we got out.

We reported to the nearby police station—we could see through the camera that it had been arranged in advance—and then, feeling the quiet atmosphere of the suburbs, we went for a walk with light hearts.

Sharing what we each did along the way, I told them the story I saw in the video, one by one.

“…That’s a bit unfortunate.”

“I thought so too at first, but then it was so absurd that I completely lost my sympathy. He said his own life was precious and tried to kill us.”

If you make a choice, you have to take responsibility. Some people take responsibility even for choices they didn’t make, so it’s ridiculous.

“That’s bad. Think of all the hardship Dong-hwa went through.”

“We suffered too, Jun-sung. Especially you, think about how many times you rolled on the floor.”

“How psychologically difficult it must have been to be alone!”

“…Well, that’s right. It was very difficult.”

“See!”

Resignation.

Jun-sung *hyung* [older brother or male friend] already feels so much pity for his imagined ‘Ji Dong-hwa,’ a junior trembling with fear, that he can’t tell him the truth.

I just hope he doesn’t feel betrayed after watching the broadcast.

“So, what was that cat cry, anyway?”

“Well, Han-ho *hyung* found a record of his cat phobia treatment in the second room? He has seizures just from hearing cat sounds.”

That could be. I can vaguely understand why the grandmother asked us to go find the cat.

“…Where did you get that recording?”

“It was there with him?”

Why? What purpose does it serve to go around exposing your weaknesses?

Han-ho *sunbae* [senior colleague] laughed heartily at my incredulous expression.

“*Maknae* [youngest member], I made a fuss about it for about ten minutes, so no matter how much more you say, it won’t make the cut.”

“Wouldn’t they cut *hyung’s* part and use Dong-hwa’s?”

“Kang-hee, I’m definitely going to get you one day.”

“That’s why I always stick close to Kyung-woo *hyung*.”

Finally arriving at the grandmother’s antique shop. A place her grandson provided out of filial piety, scraping together his salary and even taking out loans.

No one knew what to say, so everyone was silent.

“…Thinking about it, the grandmother was a bit bad too, wasn’t she?”

“I guess she couldn’t report it herself. I understand, but still.”

“Right? I have harsh words stuck in my throat.”

“Spit them out, *hyung*.”

“It’s incredibly annoying.”

If it’s Han-ho *sunbae*, I wonder if that’s a mild way of putting it.

Knowing that he’s much more scathing when it’s not on air, I could tell how much he was suppressing himself.

“Dong-hwa, go say a few words to her. If you say a few words like you did to her grandson, she’ll wake up!”

Kyung-woo *sunbae*, wouldn’t that cause a controversy about my personality? I had the excuse of carrying out a mission earlier.

While we were chattering on and on, the door opened and the grandmother poked her head out.

Her heavy expression revealed her apologetic feelings. She’s a good actress.

“…You’re here?”

“Oh, elder, why did you come all the way out here?”

Kyung-woo *sunbae*, you say that, but you’re being too warm to her. If I had done as you said, I would have been the only one in trouble.

“…I’m sorry, our young people.”

“*Aigoo* [expression of dismay or frustration], we got out with all our limbs intact.”

Kyung-woo *sunbae* and Kang-hee *sunbae* gestured to comfort the elder, and Han-ho *sunbae* remained silent, wanting to finish quickly so he could go home after a hard day.

Lastly, our… Jun-sung *hyung* was standing behind me, looking at me with a slightly resentful expression.

“This, please accept this. After you left, my heart ached…….”

A heavy envelope in the grandmother’s hand.

Han-ho *sunbae* quickly erased his tired expression and looked embarrassed.

“Oh, elder, really, you shouldn’t have…….”

But his hand honestly accepted the money envelope right away.

The actress was momentarily flustered, as if thinking, ‘Oh? I was preparing to offer it two or three more times?’

Regardless, Han-ho *sunbae* made a ‘hoo’ sound and checked the inside, then smiled contentedly.

“Oh my, really, you don’t have to feel so sorry, well, really. Still, people commit sins, but money doesn’t…….”

A man who values practicality over honor, that’s him.

“*Hyung*, reduce your greed a little. You’ll ruin your life.”

“Kyung-woo, I’m just gratefully accepting the elder’s heart. Would you be upset if I saw this as greed?”

I bit my lip tightly to hold back a laugh. I honestly couldn’t tell if that was his persona or not.

Even in the midst of all this, our… Jun-sung *hyung* muttered from behind, ‘Money isn’t the problem…….’ A man who values honor over practicality.

It feels like watching Kim Sang-heon and Choi Myung-gil arguing in Namhansanseong Fortress [historical drama setting known for conflicts between practicality and honor].

* * *

“You worked hard today, everyone!”

As the filming of the first episode ended, all the cast members complained of exhaustion.

Kyung-woo *sunbae*, who was the only one with energy left, or rather, seemed to be holding on with his mental strength, patted the cast members and muttered.

“Ah, the PD [Producer-Director] said that after seeing today’s filming, he’s going to prepare the next shoot even harder. It’s already this tight.”

“That’s right, the PD said he’s glad the footage turned out well even though it was different from what he expected. Saving Dong-hwa, originally we were supposed to subdue the killer outside and go in to save him, but we saved him in a very dangerous way.”

“Excuse me?!”

Jun-sung *hyung* was startled for a moment and turned to look at me.

In the end, it doesn’t matter at all, but he’s a man who values honor, so he must be bothered by it.

“If you don’t want the picture to change, shouldn’t you give us a script?”

“If we were going to handle it with a script, would we have cast Kyung-woo? There’s one guy who can handle whatever situation arises.”

“*Hyung*, why do you treat me like that while saying that?”

“Originally, parasites are a bit less intelligent.”

The level of his remarks is amazing. Han-ho *sunbae’s* jokes are basically self-deprecating.

The broadcast is over, so I smiled faintly.

It’s comfortable because I don’t have to manage my expression since there are no cameras to worry about.

“After doing it once, I got a little fired up.”

Kang-hee *sunbae* declared, looking straight into my eyes.

“Yes?”

“Next time, I’m going to solve all the problems, really.”

Sighs echoed from here and there.

However, human potential is endless, so there’s no reason why he can’t.

In the first place, the problem with this program is that it often requires imagination, so Kang-hee *sunbae’s* free thinking might be helpful.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Kang-hee *sunbae* was rather flustered by my smile.

It seems like the intention was a joke, but I took it seriously.

“Yeah, let’s see next time. Whether Kang-hee awakens and solves everything like Jun-sung did today.”

“That’s right. Kang-hee is smart, even though he doesn’t show it.”

The other cast members also went with the flow and focused on praising Kang-hee *sunbae*.

With a face that was gradually filled with embarrassment and absurdity, somewhere in between, the *sunbae* shouted, ‘I, I’m going home!’

I hope it really turns out that way if possible.

* * *

On the way home. Like always, I rode in the same car as Jun-sung *sunbae*.

“How was the filming today? I got too immersed in the middle.”

“Me too.”

…Probably.

Ryoo Yi-deun’s advanced social skills lecture: First, empathize with your superior’s words.

“It’s fun. Really. The *sunbaes* take such good care of me too.”

Jun-sung *hyung* giggled and chattered about the episodes that happened today.

Unfortunately, the image of Jun-sung *hyung* that comes to my mind is the one of him trembling with fear and grabbing my arm, so it doesn’t match well.

But, it was fun. After filming a variety show, it’s the first time I’m looking forward to the next shoot.

When I go to film mental training, I’m always on edge wondering what kind of nonsense I’ll be doing today, and with other broadcasts, the pressure to show something takes precedence over fun.

But today, I felt like I was accomplishing something together, like when I practice with the members.

Especially when the other cast members came to save me, I realized that I was doing ‘something that couldn’t be done without that person.’

Heidegger said that being alone is a deficient way of being with others.

I never thought I would feel this sense from other celebrities, not even the members.

“I had fun too, *hyung*.”

“…Huh?”

Jun-sung *hyung* had a fit like he heard something he shouldn’t have, and suddenly sat up straight.

“Okay, our Dong-hwa, let’s say that again.”

Then he rummaged around and took out his phone, preparing to record.

If you prepare so openly, I don’t even want to do what I could have done.

“What, *sunbae*?”

“…I really think I could have become friends with you much earlier if you were just a little less smart.”

Jun-sung *hyung* put his phone away with a sullen expression.

That’s probably right.

Not that I’m smart. If I were someone who didn’t have a habit of measuring distance, like Seok-jun, I would have become friends much earlier.

People often make the mistake of associating calculative personalities with intelligence.

“I’m just a bit slow originally, *hyung*.”

“…Ha, you only do it after I put my phone away, really.”

He looked out the window with a hollow laugh. But even so, he seemed more relaxed than annoyed.

“I was really scared the day we talked about you and Ye-eun before.”

If you bring up that day, there’s not much I can say.

“Suddenly torturing me with a headache.”

“…Um.”

“But, I realized it while filming today.”

“Realized what?”

“That’s how you achieve your goals.”

I have no idea where he could have realized that while filming today.

“You use yourself as a means too, you. Once you set a goal, you use everything you can. I asked you to give me a signal to turn on the recorder, but watching you wait until all the doors were open, really……. I should have just told you I’d decide when to turn it on.”

Wow, if he’s this quick-witted like Ryoo Yi-deun, then.

“Anyway, it’s dangerous, very dangerous. You end up hurting the people around you.”

A few faces come to mind.

Somehow, the number of people I can call the people around me keeps increasing.

Even the person in front of me, I didn’t intend to get close to him at first, but somehow it turned out like this.

“…My thinking has changed a lot recently.”

“Still, habits don’t change easily. I know you’re thinking about the people around you, but that can be hurtful? I’ll be very heartbroken first of all, and the members or Mok-hwa will be even more so. Take it easy with work too. I know you went to get an IV behind the members’ backs?”

Wow, such a secret. I didn’t tell anyone except the manager. That’s a subtle threat to agree with what he’s saying.

I had no choice but to nod.

“…Yes.”

Jun-sung-*ssi* [honorific title] leaned back with a relieved expression, as if he had said everything he wanted to say now that we were close.

“So, are you going straight to the dorm to rest today?”

“…To the studio.”

Jun-sung *hyung* dropped his hand from the window. He looked very dumbfounded.

“There’s no way you, being so smart, could have forgotten what I said in this short time…….”

Then he muttered as if he realized something.

“Ah, you think I wouldn’t tell the members. Really, you know people well.”

Of course. He’s not the type of *sunbae* to stir up conflict.

“But one thing you didn’t know is that I can sometimes be rude to people I’m close to.”