Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 329

Ryu Iden felt a bit wronged and upset.

He had treated Ji Dong-hwa so well, yet he felt like he was being made fun of, which made him feel humiliated all over social media (though he wasn’t really humiliated, which probably made him an easy target).

However, there was an even bigger problem than feeling wronged or upset.

Why was he always the one getting played these days?

It was somewhat enjoyable, but he also had a small desire to tease Ji Dong-hwa again, like in the old days.

“Ah, I want to trick Dong-hwa and mess with him a little…”

The resulting heartache was so great that Ryu Iden skipped his evening workout.

* * *

A scene that could be well described as exotic. We gathered at a Southeast Asian restaurant for a meal.

Today, we were planning to eat and then film some behind-the-scenes content at this restaurant. We had taken a break during the tour for some reality show filming.

I heard that our reality show viewership had increased due to strange rumors (rumors that the group was really weird).

Except for Ryu Iden, our group isn’t weird at all, so it’s either a lie or a misunderstanding. Either way, it’s not the truth, so it doesn’t matter, right?

“Today, things will proceed peacefully. Nothing that will embarrass you all.”

The PD [Production Director] said, making eye contact with me. He looked like he was hoping for praise.

I responded with an eye smile. Death to the PD.

“But, Iden, what’s that on your head…”

“Yes, I’ll take it off during filming, PD.”

“Okay… more than that, even if today goes smoothly, there inevitably has to be a penalty for the sake of the show’s entertainment.”

Oh, dear.

“Each team will decide on their own penalty, so you don’t need to be too scared. Of course, there are some scary or embarrassing options on the list, but it’s up to your judgment. Just choose a penalty that you think you can handle.”

Where else could you find someone like this?

He says the broadcast will proceed smoothly, and he’s considerate enough not to push us to be overly competitive. What a wonderful person PD Jung Kyung-woo is.

On the other hand, that guy is so…

“Who gets to decide on the penalty?”

Just then, Ryu Iden suddenly raised his hand and shouted.

“You can coordinate within your team, and if you can’t agree, it’s rock-paper-scissors.”

“Oh…”

After hearing the answer, he looked at me and smiled. A meaningful smile.

I immediately raised my hand.

“How are the teams selected?”

“It’s like a lottery. A random three-versus-two split! It’s not a game where the number of people matters.”

Suspicious. I took a sip of the spice-filled broth, deep in thought. Ryu Iden’s intentions were obvious.

I frowned, smelling the strong cilantro.

Well, it’s not inedible, but if you asked me if I wanted to eat it, I’m not so sure.

“Iden, hyung [older brother or male friend].”

“Huh?”

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“I don’t know, really.”

With that, Ryu Iden quietly got up and left for the bathroom. What kind of mischief was he up to this time?

So, that kind of scheme is just like cilantro.

If you asked if it would be a problem if I got hit with it, I’d say no, but if you asked if I wanted to get hit with it, I’m not so sure.

“Dong-hwa.”

“Yeah.”

“What are you thinking so hard about? You two have a very strange vibe today.”

Chae Hamin is quick to notice these things, almost to a fault.

She noticed the strange tension between Ryu Iden and me and is trying to figure out why. Even Lee Hyunjae is just putting up with Seokjun’s whining and hasn’t noticed.

After quickly looking around, Chae Hamin whispered in my ear so only I could hear.

“Are you two fighting?”

“Just playing around.”

Chae Hamin covered her mouth with a gasp.

“…Why, without me?”

“Sorry.”

First, I need to check what Ryu Iden is up to.

* * *

Ryu Iden pretended to go to the bathroom while diligently rolling his eyes.

Ryu Iden just wanted to crack Ji Dong-hwa’s smile a little. It wasn’t quite hatred, more like affection, but it was ambiguous.

The obstacle to his simple plan of getting on the same team as Ji Dong-hwa, getting the right to choose the penalty, and dying together was that he had to get on the ‘same team’ in the first place.

The staff were busily preparing something among the props.

As soon as they saw Ryu Iden coming, they quickly hid it, but he had already scanned everything.

A paper box and two types of badges.

They seemed to differ in shape and material. The shape had a slight difference, and the material seemed to be the difference between gold and silver. Assuming they were plated, there wouldn’t be much difference, but assuming that was the main material.

“…Weight or fingertip feel.”

One of these two things would definitely have a difference.

Well, if he could figure this out, he could win rock-paper-scissors no matter what.

Ryu Iden leaned his head against the hallway wall, pondering. What should he do?

Assuming Ji Dong-hwa picked first, Ryu Iden was confident he could pick after him.

Whether it was weight or feel, it was a field he had become extremely sensitive to. Even if it took a little time, if he fiddled with them inside, he could figure out what Ji Dong-hwa had picked.

As he was thinking about what to do.

“Are you going to leave the order to luck?”

A chill ran down his spine.

Ji Dong-hwa’s voice came from right behind him. He knew he would follow, but he was still taken aback by the cold voice.

He even saw through his intentions, this guy is really not right in the head.

He only shows that madness to himself, the only hyung in the group, but if he were the maknae [youngest member], every member would unanimously pick Ji Dong-hwa as a madman.

“That’s right. That’s what I’m worried about.”

But as the hyung, how could he be flustered in front of his younger brother? Ryu Iden said confidently and turned around.

Ji Dong-hwa was smiling.

“Hmm, should I pick for you from behind?”

“Wow, you’re plotting something weird in your head again! You’re going to tease me again! Let me tease you too! Why are you the only one having fun! I’m your hyung, give me a break!”

Ryu Iden spat out, exasperated.

Even though the person who was going to screw him over was right in front of him, he calmly offered advice.

How could this kind of person not be number one in madness! Ryu Iden couldn’t accept it.

If they weren’t on the same team, he would sell his soul to the PD, who was currently on vacation, to help him humiliate Ji Dong-hwa.

“You have to trust me.”

“There’s no one in the world who trusts you more than I do.”

He blurted out, grumbling. Ryu Iden was also human, and sometimes he felt a little hurt.

“That’s right. It’ll work out somehow.”

“I caught it from you, considering everything pessimistically.”

That’s a lie. Ryu Iden is far from Ji Dong-hwa’s pessimism. Ji Dong-hwa has never seen Ryu Iden pessimistically consider all the negative possibilities of a situation.

“My optimism must have rubbed off on you, hyung.”

That’s a lie. Ji Dong-hwa is far from Ryu Iden’s optimism. Ryu Iden has never seen Ji Dong-hwa rely on some inexplicable confidence like ‘Well, can’t we solve it somehow?’ like he does.

“I’m going to pick the gold one.”

There were only two gold badges. He didn’t know how he was going to pick it, but Ji Dong-hwa said that and walked back to where the members were eating.

* * *

After the meal, a short break passed, and filming began in earnest in front of the cleared table.

Ryu Iden took a sip of the traditional tea provided by the restaurant.

“Okay, everyone, rolling!”

“Yes!”

The opening cut was already taken when they entered the restaurant, so they started with the conversation after the meal.

“Everyone, did you enjoy the meal?”

“Yes!”

“Now that we’ve filled our bellies, let’s officially open the memory vault.”

“Memory vault.”

“Yes. You’ve all been working together for a long time, so you have a lot of memories, right? It’s a game where you have to guess a specific word from that scene, the next scene, or each other’s preferences.”

‘How is it, heartwarming, right?’ was the look on his face.

Ryu Iden almost frowned. What, if he’s on the same team as Ji Dong-hwa, how can he lose?

“However, I also know that Dong-hwa is too OP [overpowered]!”

As if expecting that reaction, the PD naturally opened his mouth.

“That’s right, we shouldn’t make Dong-hwa hyung compete in things like this.”

“Hyunjae, you too…”

“I don’t remember every word someone says without missing a syllable.”

“So, Dong-hwa can only give hints, and both teams can hear them.”

“Understood.”

“Of course, that’s only for the first game. You can be active when we move on to other things. Anyway, we’ll split into teams before the first game, so who wants to pick first?”

“I will.”

Ji Dong-hwa naturally stepped forward.

“Oh, good.”

He reached into the gap on top of the paper box that the PD handed him. He slowly fiddled with it a few times.

“…Ah.”

As if he had realized something, he quickly took his hand out and wrapped it in a fist.

“We’ll reveal them all at once later, so keep it in your pocket!”

“Yes.”

Ji Dong-hwa waved his hand at Ryu Iden. As if to say, trust me.

“Next…”

“I’ll pick.”

Ryu Iden blurted out in a strange tone.

“Yes, Iden.”

Take a deep breath.

There’s no need to trust or distrust Ji Dong-hwa. Ryu Iden’s policy is to fully trust Ji Dong-hwa in things he can’t do, and to fully trust himself in things he can do.

Anyway, there are two types of badges, and the PD has already set the stage with the idea that there’s no need to thoroughly determine the outcome.

The subtle differences in the badges wouldn’t have been a big concern.

What kind of crazy people would try to manipulate the teams in a content with the nuance of ‘Let’s revive past memories’ and the condition that ‘You can choose a mild penalty’?

That’s too absurd.

So, he just needs to trust his senses, classify them into two types, and take one from the one that’s missing.

Ryu Iden slowly put his hand in.

As he closed his eyes, the PD let out an exclamation of ‘Eh?’ for some unknown reason and then covered his mouth.

He could feel the energy of ‘Why are you thinking so hard?’, but who cares.

“Hmm.”

He carefully felt the texture of the badge back and forth with his fingertips. Ah, what is this.

“You really keep your promises.”

Why is he being like that? He doesn’t understand his intentions. Thinking about it, he wondered if he had been too harsh on Ryu Iden. Had he realized that?

What if he was so moved by the sight of his hyung always losing to him that he deeply admired him? That would be troublesome on variety shows. Really.

Ryu Iden suppressed a giggle and took out the last remaining badge.

The brilliant golden light visible through his fingers.

“Haha, wow.”

The PD tilted his head with an incomprehensible look and checked the timeline.

He checked how many seconds had passed since filming started and marked the editing point in advance.

It probably said ‘Delete.’ because he wouldn’t be able to explain what the promise was.

He went back to his seat and sat next to him. In Ji Dong-hwa’s hand on the table, the golden light peeked through the gap, as if he was trying to show it off.

Then, Ji Dong-hwa poured a cup of tea and pushed it forward. It was a way of saying, you must have something you’re curious about, so use this as an excuse to ask.

“What’s gotten into you, hyung? Why are you suddenly being so nice?”

“To cheer you up.”

He must have known he was a little upset, my little brother.

Ryu Iden grumbled inwardly again and sipped the tea. It had a subtle grain flavor.

The team name was decided.

“How about the team name ‘Eohwa Dongdongji’?”

Such a ridiculous naming sense.

It was just the two of them on the team, but only one name was listed, as if he was advertising that he had no intention of winning at all.

“…Okay.”

Ji Dong-hwa would probably try to stop him somehow, but Ryu Iden was confident in his own way. It’s a game where he gets 1 point to start with, after all.