Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 275

If you were to ask someone what their life’s goal is, Ji Mok-hwa would have had an answer ready in his heart for years. It was simple:

Meet my brother and punch him in the gut.

Those who didn’t know him well would laugh, saying things like, “Your brother must be really strong,” or “You must not be on good terms with your brother!”

It’s a common misconception that siblings often fight, and usually, the older brother is physically stronger during adolescence.

He hadn’t truly processed his parents’ death. His younger brother had tried to fill all the emptiness himself.

A bright and cheerful child, someone who adults pitied but couldn’t understand why.

Whenever he thought of that, Ji Mok-hwa realized how different he and Ji Dong-hwa were.

If he had been the older brother, could he have blocked the misfortune with his whole body?

He would try, but he couldn’t be sure he could do it.

‘That’s not something you can usually do with just sheer willpower.’

The new parents he met after leaving his brother’s embrace were just slightly closer than strangers.

He was grateful to them and would try to repay their kindness for the rest of his life, but he could never sincerely call them Father or Mother.

Ji Mok-hwa always felt sorry for that. His definition of family only included one person.

Thus, the only goal in his life was created.

To meet his brother again and punch him in the gut.

There was so little he could do as a student, but he would find a way when he grew up.

At least before his brother turned thirty, Ji Mok-hwa hoped (surprisingly, Ji Dong-hwa didn’t seem to want to stay in one place and moved as often as he ate. And thanks to Lee Hyun-jae, who frequented the area, noticing the private investigator tailing him and handling it beautifully, that dream wasn’t realized).

Anyway, once he set a goal, all his values were reorganized.

Tact and connections built with appropriate distance for success, and the money to find his brother, topped the list. Next was his dream since childhood: to debut [as an entertainer].

As Ji Mok-hwa lived his life doing his best step by step, something happened that would allow him to achieve his goal so unexpectedly.

“…Already 3 years.”

It’s already been 3 years since that punch. He lay down on the bed.

Suddenly appearing on a survival show with a debut on the line and reuniting—such a scenario didn’t exist among the countless reunion scenarios he’d imagined.

His brother became an idol to reunite with him, but Ji Mok-hwa didn’t believe it.

His brother wasn’t crazy, and he could have just gone to his adoptive parents. There was no way he would have such a bizarre idea of becoming an idol and then meeting him.

‘He’s definitely hiding something, that damn brother of mine.’

Even though it’s been suspicious for 3 years, he figured there must be a reason to hide it if he’s hiding it, and he’ll tell him someday, so he didn’t ask outright, but he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of telling him.

Even though he kept probing with the nuance that it was okay to tell him!

As time passed, Ji Mok-hwa didn’t like the modern idea that even families need secrets.

He looks happy, so I can’t even press him, damn it. I’m dying of curiosity.

He groaned and rolled around on the bed, and his upper body fell off the bed due to too much movement.

Even though his head hit the floor with a thud, his curiosity only intensified, and he didn’t even groan in pain.

“Wow! What is it!”

Kim Hyun-jin, startled by the sound of him falling, rushed into the room and asked.

“Hyung… what are you doing?”

A scene that raises the question of why he’s even alive if he’s going to lie on the bed like that. Kim Hyun-jin was dumbfounded.

“I’m thinking about how to make someone tell a secret.”

Even if his brother is upside down, he should at least straighten his posture when his younger brother comes in, but who answers with their back bent like that?

Once the conversation started, Kim Hyun-jin sat on the bed.

*That hyung* is handsome even when you look at him upside down, it’s infuriating. How can he not look humiliated from that angle?

“A secret? Who’s hiding something? Maybe dating?”

Finally, our group is going to have a dating scandal! The perfect chance to tease the *hyungs* [older male members of the group] officially!

“I don’t do things like that.”

“Then?”

“My brother.”

Yeah, there’s no way that guy would date. Kim Hyun-jin burst into laughter.

There’s no one in our group who’s likely to have a dating scandal. The guy hanging upside down in front of me is going to dance during his dating time, and the leader is keeping a tight grip on the rest.

“Then you just ask, and if they don’t answer, you fight.”

“Huh?”

At Kim Hyun-jin’s words, Ji Mok-hwa straightened up.

“Fight?”

“Yeah.”

“At this age?”

“Hey, siblings always fight, even when they’re grown up.”

“…Is that normal?”

“Yeah! If *hyung* is curious enough to ask, it must be pretty important, right? Then you fight until you find out, you know. I fought a lot because I thought my younger sibling was doing something bad. It turned out he was smoking! But now he’s a non-smoker thanks to me.”

“How do you fight about that?”

Kim Hyun-jin’s expression immediately soured.

Why are you asking something like that? You’re not stupid enough to need to learn how to argue, *hyung*.

“I’ve never fought with my brother before. I was wondering what it’s like for other siblings.”

“…Wow.”

Kim Hyun-jin put on a mischievous smile.

This smells interesting.

“I’ll help you, *hyung*.”

* * *

The day the Simba-ssi special episode of Mental Class was released, I read the posts in front of me.

[Simba-ssi]

(Mental Class Capture)

Simba-ssi

Comments

―Simba-ssi

―Simba-ssi

―Simba-ssi

―Is the rule here that only Simba-ssi can write?

└Simba-ssi

This is a bit… a bit crazy.

[Ji Dong-hwa Likes Animals]

It’s because they’re the same species.

(Fan signing event, wearing cat ears and dancing.gif)

Comments

―Regarding my bias [favorite member], who I thought was an animal farm manager, actually being an animal.

└I’m getting excited.

―Ha… Ji Dong-hwa is really… I think the way he looked yesterday is the closest to his real self, so I feel so strange.

―He’s usually highlighted for his cold face or Korea University image, but he’s just someone who can talk to animals and smile innocently, damn it.

└It’s like secretly discovering the top student in school, who doesn’t talk much and only studies, feeding the rabbits every morning and smiling with dirt on his cheek.

└That analogy is exactly how I feel lolololol I think my one-sided love would start that day

└Isn’t it because his face is Ji Dong-hwa?

This is a shameful post.

[Yesterday’s Harvest]

(Mental Class Behind-the-Scenes Cut: Ji Dong-hwa and Simba-ssi’s One-Hour Condensed Video Link)

It’s the first time I’ve seen Dong-hwa not being aware of the camera at all. He even readily sat on the floor, which he doesn’t usually do unless he’s really tired, and there was an indescribable joy when he leaned against the glass window.

Comments

―But it’s amazing. Are tigers really that good at remembering…?

└He sometimes bragged on the *w app* [fan communication app] that he had video calls with Simba-ssi lolololol

―My bias has changed as of yesterday. To Simba-ssi.

└lolololol Let’s decide on a fandom name!!!!! Release the goods, research lab!!! What are you doing!!! You’re so bad at your job!!! My wallet is open and you can cover the research costs!!

└I hope for Simba-ssi’s purring sound asmr release.

└I hope for a Dong-hwa and Simba-ssi photoshoot release.

└Ha, I’m breaking my savings account…

―I lose my mind when Dong-hwa treats the members like animals.

―PD-nim [Producer]… I don’t know how to react when you always torment Dong-hwa and then make such a lovely video…

―I’m grateful for the development of the internet. To be able to collectively simp for Simba-ssi like this, *덕질* [pronounced deokjil, meaning obsessive fandom] is so fun, really.

This is a post that makes me feel like my secrets have been revealed.

I searched for the Mental Class video I filmed with Simba-ssi because it was released, and I was drawn to the title [Simba-ssi] and watched a bit, and it was full of amazing things.

It’s nice to know what our fans like, but the shame is just as great.

“Wow, *hyung*, I didn’t know you could smile so brightly!”

And I didn’t realize it because I was obsessed with Simba-ssi at the time, but this guy teasing me is also a big problem.

“I should capture this and make it my profile picture.”

“…Eden.”

“Why?”

“How far are you going to make me fall?”

“Hmm, if you hit me once with your fist instead of a brick, I think I’d be like, ‘Okay, I should stop now.'”

Oh, then there’s no way he’ll ever stop, damn it.

I imagined Ryu Eden still trying to tease me when I was seventy, and I gritted my teeth just thinking about it.

I hope my body is healthy enough to wield a brick at that time.

I was making such a prayer when my phone rang.

A text from Mok-hwa.

―*Hyung*, I’ve finished preparing for war.

“…Why is he always like this from the start.”

An incomprehensible sound.

Last time, he said it was a misunderstanding because Kim Hyun-jin was joking.

I sent a short text saying, ‘Why?’, and a reply came back immediately.

―It’s war. Just meet me.

Oh my god, what is this, this is really scary.

I immediately handed the phone to Ryu Eden.

“Why is he doing this?”

“Huh?”

Ryu Eden, looking at the phone and quickly grasping the situation, nodded with a smile.

A gesture that anyone could tell meant he had figured something out. This is socially agreed upon in Korea.

Our eyes met, and Ryu Eden’s mouth slowly opened.

“How would I know.”

Don’t ignore social agreements.

“You have to know.”

“No, this is too much! Still, last time it was understandable, but this time, I’m not a fortune teller, how would I know!”

Hmm, what could it really be? Did I commit some great sin?

I think we parted on a very positive note when we recorded the radio show last time.

I was troubled because there was nothing I could think of that would warrant this, even if I looked back on all my actions.

Could it be because I was sincerely grateful for the long underwear gift? Damn it, I should have known more about new generation culture.

Just as I carefully wrote the five letters ‘What’s the reason’ and closed the phone, a face that I couldn’t tell whether I was happy or disgusted to see suddenly popped out.

“What are you doing, Dong-hwa-ssi?”

The PD bastard.

“It’s the day we’re going on a trip, you should smile! Oh, Dong-hwa-ssi is always like that unless he’s in front of Simba-ssi!”

The PD bastard jumped up and down as if he was excited too. We’re just in a business relationship that you only see on Mental Class.

“Hello, PD-nim.”

“Don’t be so distant! Anyone would think we’re strangers.”

Except for a few, everyone is a stranger to me.

“I was so excited while planning today’s trip. It’s also my first time producing a reality show for idols. I’ve been working hard with the hope that our relationship will continue and lead to a regular segment.”

“Are you really going to feed us this time?”

That thing that we know even without saying it.

“You have so much distrust.”

While I was talking to the PD bastard, the members who had been scattered around packing their luggage gathered one by one.

“Everyone! The concept of today’s trip is relaxation.”

I tapped Ryu Eden on the back and signaled ‘lie’.

“So don’t worry and just trust me.”

Ryu Eden nodded very slightly, acknowledging, and bowed to the PD-nim with a smile.

“Oh, thank you. PD-nim! Please take care of us today too.”