Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 321

As the car headed towards the main gate of Korea University, Lee Hyun-se was talking to Ji Dong-hwa but couldn’t bring himself to ask. *How* on earth did he end up hiring a butler? And what was the world like from Ji Dong-hwa’s perspective?

“It’s been a while since I’ve been to school.”

Ji Dong-hwa was looking at the campus with a nonchalant expression.

Rather than being happy to be back after a long time, he looked utterly bored. It seemed like it was already Dong-hwa *hyung’s* [older brother or close male friend] second time experiencing school life.

“Right. I’m a little excited, though.”

But not for Lee Hyun-se.

In reality, they didn’t have ordinary college lives.

Other people took around 18 to 21 credits, but they took 12, or even less sometimes. Completing a year seemed like a distant dream.

Still, it was good. It was the result of his efforts and the major he had chosen. No one forced him. That alone made going to school enjoyable.

Lee Hyun-se opened the window a little and looked at the roadside trees.

From the school gate to the surrounding roads, ginkgo trees grew densely.

It was early autumn, so the leaves hadn’t changed yet, but in a little more time, they would dye the road yellow.

Lee Hyun-se liked that scenery, so he felt a little sad. Of course, only the scenery.

“Ah, when will I be able to take classes with *hyung* again?”

“I don’t know.”

The car stopped in the parking lot near the student union building next to the College of Humanities as they exchanged trivial conversation.

“Should we buy coffee from the Zelkova tree like old times?”

“Didn’t we just have some?”

“It’s okay.”

Buying coffee there in the morning and going to class was their routine. Dong-hwa *hyung* seemed to want to relive that routine.

The two bought coffee and first sat on a bench near Jaha Pond.

The sight of two ducks walking across the pond was always serene.

It was afternoon. The summer semester was over, so only the zombies from graduate school and a few people doing club activities were on the desolate campus.

They sat side by side on the bench in silence.

A comfortable quietness without the obligation to talk. It was the peace that only Dong-hwa *hyung* and he could enjoy together.

To submit a leave of absence, a professor’s stamp was needed. In the case of Korea University’s College of Humanities, the department office kept the stamps of each advising professor, so they said you could just go and submit it.

Of course, if Ji Dong-hwa hadn’t stopped Lee Hyun-se from clicking the button to request a meeting with the professor, he might have spent an awkward time with the professor.

And then.

“Oh, you’re here.”

A well-dressed gentleman spoke to them.

As soon as he turned around, Lee Hyun-se politely stood up and bowed his head.

“Hello, Professor.”

He met his advising professor while coming to submit his leave of absence. Lee Hyun-se’s body stiffened slightly.

He had signed up for the professor’s class as an elective, but there were only seven people in the class, so they all knew each other’s faces very well.

“What brings you here? You’ve been quite busy.”

A warm smile. Evil rumors about professors were widespread, but fortunately, his advising professor was a really good person.

Still, it was a bit much to say to his face that he was here to take a leave of absence.

Lee Hyun-se hesitated and then made up his mind.

Dong-hwa *hyung* said that college was like an open-range farm, so 90% of professors didn’t care what college students did.

“Ah, I came to submit a leave of absence…”

But 10% was still a possibility.

In the game that Jun-ie *hyung* played, there were characters that appeared with a 1% chance.

The professor’s expression darkened rapidly as if the sky was falling. It looked like he was about to drop the coffee he was holding.

“Perhaps, is that agency preventing you from studying?”

“Ah, no, I have an overseas schedule for about a month.”

“…Ha.”

A deep sigh, a pitiful look.

Professor, what’s wrong? Lee Hyun-se wondered.

* * *

Lee Hyun-se might not know, but I know that look.

Professors with good character tend to recognize students who are truly passionate about academics.

You can tell roughly just by reading the contents of the assignments (that’s why only professors with good character can recognize it, because it means they grade the assignments and exams themselves).

That’s definitely the look they give when recommending graduate school. I know it well because I’ve been through it too.

“Oh dear, what a shame. I thought you would take my class again this time.”

“Haha…”

“Talent becomes like this when they’re busy. Well, studying can be delayed a little. You can learn more deeply as much as it’s delayed.”

The implications were deep. The words ‘learn deeply’ pointed to one conclusion.

Do what you want to do now, and come to graduate school later when you want to learn academics, aren’t you still young?

The professor was shouting that with his whole body.

By now, Lee Hyun-se should have noticed, but unfortunately, our *maknae* [youngest member of a group] didn’t even anticipate the ‘graduate school recommendation situation’ itself. You can tell by the way he’s so troubled while being filled with questions.

“I really enjoyed reading your last final assignment, too.”

He certainly wrote it well. I nodded inwardly while drinking my coffee.

Lee Hyun-se would ask me if there were any major parts to fix before submitting the assignment. Every time, I told him to submit it as is.

“…Thank you.”

And the professor and I made eye contact.

A person I was meeting for the first time. It was natural since I had never taken a Korean literature elective.

The professor’s eyes contained regret that ‘you took my student away.’

Sir, I’m sorry, but he’s also my tutoring student.

“Be sure to come back to school later.”

“Yes.”

“Work hard too.”

“Yes.”

I didn’t outwardly express the joy that the awkward situation was ending, but I could see it. I could feel it from Lee Hyun-se’s back as he bowed to the professor’s departing figure.

When the professor’s shadow was no longer visible, Lee Hyun-se leaned back in his chair as if he had collapsed.

“…What was that? Why is he being like that?”

The answer I can give is simple.

“Because you’re so good.”

It’s an answer that contains nothing more or less than the truth.

From past possibilities, I could almost understand how Lee Hyun-se started on the path to becoming a Korea University professor at the young age of 32.

That professor, looking quite old, must have retired at his retirement age, planting Lee Hyun-se in his place before leaving.

Of course, it was possible because Lee Hyun-se produced results worthy of it.

[That’s correct.]

Gi-saeng, who is only interested in Lee Hyun-se, sent a message after a long time.

See, that professor is a very dangerous person.

“…Hyun-se.”

“Yes?”

Lee Hyun-se was still dumbfounded.

“They say graduate school is not a place to go.”

I guess it’s okay to give this much advice.

“Huh? Um, the context is…….”

Lee Hyun-se pondered the conversation just now and slowly nodded.

“Ah, these days there are not enough graduate school applicants, so they’re regretting losing one.”

Then, as if he had understood on his own, he leaned back comfortably and started drinking coffee again.

Hyun-se, it’s not that they’re regretting losing *one*, it’s that they’re regretting losing *you*.

* * *

Universities do have a vibrant energy.

However, when walking alone, you encounter people preaching far more often than vibrant college students, which is also a part of university life.

“Are you a freshman?”

That means they want to proselytize [convert someone to a religion or belief].

“I’m sorry.”

And honestly, doesn’t my face look too weathered to be a freshman?

Lee Hyun-se went to the Korean Language and Literature department office first, and I moved to the Philosophy department office.

Since Jahayeon [a famous path/area in Seoul National University] is right above Building 1, Lee Hyun-se could go straight into the building, but unfortunately, I have to walk a bit more.

It’s not that I dislike people preaching. As long as they’re not cults, there’s nothing wrong with being genuinely devoted to religion.

“You’re wearing a mask because it’s the change of seasons!”

People who preach at universities are full of passion, so they don’t easily leave with a short “I’m sorry.”

In those cases, I just walk along the road, from talking about the weather to various everyday topics. Their intention to form an emotional connection was evident.

“No, I was startled at first. You look like my favorite idol.”

Um. I stopped walking abruptly.

Building 3 is coming up soon anyway, and it’s a time when there are no classes. I lowered my mask slightly.

“Would it be okay to ask if that person has this face?”

If not, I’ll put my mask back on and go my way.

“…Huh, what the F.”

If there were a god, they wouldn’t have said those words. I chuckled softly.

The person who was preaching covered their mouth and took a few steps back.

I don’t know what it feels like to meet your favorite idol from your own fandom while preaching.

“No, uh, what, this is.”

“Thank you for liking me.”

I bowed politely.

I could have signed an autograph, but unfortunately, the person who had been mumbling for a while turned around and ran away.

With a short scream of “Sorry, Dong-hwa!”

I had no choice but to move back to Building 3.

And when I arrived near the department office, someone opened the door and came out.

“…Hello.”

Goodness, how can such coincidences happen? I’m starting to suspect Gi-saeng’s manipulation ([No! Teacher is playing with Ryu right now!] A meaningless message came, but I couldn’t reply).

Lee Hyun-se accidentally meets his supervising professor, and then…

“Oh, long time no see!”

The person who has been my supervising professor from the last possibility to this one.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to submit a leave of absence.”

“…Ah, right, something like that could happen, since you have a main job.”

The same eyes full of regret as when Lee Hyun-se’s supervising professor looks at Lee Hyun-se.

“No, Dong-hwa, you’re the scholarly type.”

I’m sorry, being an idol is my calling (天職, literally a job given by the heavens) [a vocation or profession to which one feels ideally suited].

The conversation went on for a while, and it can be summarized as a repetition of ‘Why are you wasting that brain…….’ and my smiling in response.

“Well, well. Can’t be helped. But you never know. You might want to study later!”

Personally, if I had gone to graduate school, I wouldn’t have gone under this person. Ancient Greek major, it has its own flavor, but I decline it as a major.

I bowed to the departing professor.

“Wow, hyung [older brother/male friend], you seem to do well everywhere.”

Suddenly, Lee Hyun-se popped out of nowhere.

This damn building has many connected corners, so you never know who will pop out from where.

“They seem very disappointed.”

Statistically, there are many people with unique personalities among Ancient Greek majors.

For example, as you can see from my supervising professor opening his lab and running out now.

“Dong-hwa.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“This is a collection of presentations from our natural science practice this time, use it when you study alone. I don’t give this out carelessly, you know?”

It’s definitely not something to give out carelessly. This is the result of the blood and sweat of graduate students.

“…Thank you.”

“Oh my, you’re so sincere about academics that you’re grateful for this…….”

The bickering starts again.

Looking back, it might be my fault for listening to the professor’s class so diligently. I should have taken the class with a gangster-like attitude, but why doesn’t my conscience allow it?

Lee Hyun-se quietly stepped back.

It was as if he was thinking, ‘Wow, could that have been the professor from earlier…….’

Yes, Hyun-se. Now that you’ve realized it, let’s come back as confident gangsters when we return to school next time.

So that we have no qualms about living as idols.