Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 71

71.

I sat at the table with Ryu Iden and, with a bit of embellishment, told him what I knew.

I told him that in the future I saw, Yoon Sung-ho would have a team member’s drug addiction exposed, and that Lee Ji-hyun’s father, likely a drug dealer, would almost harm him.

I stopped short of mentioning Gijisaeng or other possibilities, worried about Gijisaeng’s warnings regarding the stability of space-time rifts.

Well, saying it out loud, it sounds like a street legend. Would he even believe this?

“Wow, the situation is a little more serious than I expected. It’s like dealing with a dark organization.”

…Seriously? Amazing. Someone once said they trusted dogs more than humans, and that statement is definitely true.

“…Right.”

“Well, you must have gone through a lot. Do you often see terrible things happening to others in the future?”

…Well, I wonder if it was really suffering. However, helping the members was definitely a satisfying memory.

“…Not often, but I’ve seen something about you too, hyung [older brother or male friend].”

“Oh? Really? What was it like?”

Ryu Iden’s voice is excited. I want to tease him a little.

“You were having chicken and beer, and smoking.”

“…What? Me?”

“And you quit exercising too.”

Ryu Iden’s face crumbles.

“What? That’s ridiculous!”

The reaction is more intense than I expected. Just how much value does this guy place on his health? I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“…Just kidding. There’s no way you’d do that.”

It’s not a joke, but since I recanted, it’s no different from a joke.

Ryu Iden calms down from his surprise and gets back to the main point.

“So, what are you going to do? You said you want to minimize the harm to Sung-ho.”

To answer that, I need Gijisaeng’s information.

Gijisaeng, respond.

Ding!

[Currently settling things one-on-one with my target. This notification was sent automatically. I am leaving this answer in advance, anticipating your question, to let you know that I do have some time.]

…Settling things?

I try not to show my embarrassment on my face. Is he pushing himself harder than I thought?

…Let’s answer Ryu Iden first.

“…First, I want to know when Lee Ji-hyun first started using drugs. We still have some time.”

“His sister said he frequents entertainment districts. Hasn’t he been exposed already?”

Why did that guy even want to become an idol? It’s such a nuisance to those who seriously prepared for the job.

“…I don’t know exactly when, but not yet.”

“Then after you find out?”

I mimic Ryu Iden’s expression and grin.

“Then we’ll have to figure it out together.”

* * *

Ryu Iden couldn’t help but burst out laughing when he heard that.

“Wow, finally! Ji Dong-hwa is finally acting like a hyung!”

How many humiliations did he have to endure to persuade his sister, who wouldn’t talk because of her conscience as a reporter!

My sister, who likes to run around and gather information herself as an entertainment reporter, is more interested in uncovering crimes committed by celebrities than trivial personal lives. In other words, she’s more suited for the social affairs desk than the entertainment desk.

She had been hearing that some idols, including God-A, frequently appeared in back alleys and was gradually collecting data. Ryu Iden himself had been cautiously suspecting Yoon Sung-ho after seeing Ji Dong-hwa, but the future Ji Dong-hwa saw was related to Yoon Sung-ho, so it all fit perfectly!

It was as if someone had prepared this situation.

He wasn’t sure if Ji Dong-hwa really saw the future, but seeing how well it matched up, it must be true.

‘…By the way, it was obvious that you weren’t joking earlier.’

I can understand the drinking with a generous heart, but smoking and quitting exercise?

Ryu Iden thought that and reaffirmed his commitment to his health.

Ji Dong-hwa carefully watched Ryu Iden’s changing expression and casually left a comment.

“…I’m relying on you in my own way too.”

Then Ji Dong-hwa left, saying to talk later if he has more precognitive dreams. So, he’s just giving me back the words I used to say?

“Hey! Dong-hwa! Hyung! Say it again! Quick!”

Ryu Iden quickly went to Ji Dong-hwa’s room and opened the door.

Click.

The door was locked, as if he had already expected him to follow.

‘Ha, I should have recorded this to tease him for the rest of my life.’

Ryu Iden, who is quite serious about teasing Ji Dong-hwa, regretted the missed opportunity.

* * *

Now, before starting preparations for the next album, we have a week of official vacation.

However, between talking with Ryu Iden from time to time and participating as a composer on Jun-seong’s album, only two days were left before I knew it.

So today, I have to meet Mok-hwa and heal.

I first entered the house I lived in with Mok-hwa and took off the black mask I was wearing.

Damn mask. It’s been quite a while since I became a celebrity, but I can’t get used to the mask that covers half of my face.

I put the groceries I bought before coming home on the table.

‘Mok-hwa must have made it into the debut group.’

Yesterday, they had an internal audition to select the debut group. That’s why I’m only seeing his face now, even though it’s a vacation.

But the damn kid hasn’t told me whether he made it into the debut group or not, so I’m worried.

‘…I’ll have to torment him today until the answer comes out of his mouth.’

Even though we’re not related on paper, I secretly asked Kim Hyun-jin because of the guardian’s curiosity, but all I got back was, ‘I’m sorry! Mok-hwa hyung said it’s a secret!’

‘…He must have passed. That’s why he’s hiding it as a secret.’

I already get headaches sometimes, but worrying about my brother on top of that is killing me.

I take out an apron, put it on so that nothing gets on my white shirt, and take out the ingredients, standing in the kitchen.

If he failed by any chance… could I comfort him? At times like this, I think my ability to comfort is severely lacking.

And then, I hear the sound of the door lock opening.

“Hyung… I’m home…….”

Followed by Mok-hwa’s dejected voice.

“…Okay.”

Even my voice becomes quiet as I try to gauge Mok-hwa’s mood.

‘…If he failed, there’s no rational reason to hide it.’

Mok-hwa is similar to me yet different, so there are times when he’s hard to understand, but he doesn’t usually do irrational things like this.

Then, I see Mok-hwa’s index finger fiddling with his middle finger.

…A master of acting.

Mok-hwa’s habit when he lies. It’s hard to fix unless someone points it out, and it’s a habit I intentionally don’t point out.

It’s fascinating how he hasn’t changed at all since he was young.

And when Mok-hwa tells a lie, I usually play along unless it’s morally problematic.

So, this time too…….

“By any chance… did you fail, Mok-hwa?”

I’ll play along, you damn brother.

As I respond with a gloomy voice, Mok-hwa looks at me powerlessly. His sad face is noticeable. He’s taking acting classes at Dione Entertainment, and it’s definitely improved.

“…Hyung, I’m hungry.”

“Okay, wait a little bit.”

I go to the kitchen, playing the clumsy older brother trying to comfort his powerless younger brother.

A false meal where we deceive each other… It feels like we’re playing a bluffing game. It’s so enjoyable that I wonder if it’s okay to be this happy.

I made spicy braised chicken, which Mok-hwa likes. When he said he wanted to eat chicken, I made it as a substitute, and later, when I bought him chicken, he said the spicy braised chicken was more delicious.

The memories embedded throughout this house are revived…….

Ding-!

[You look very happy. It’s very nice to see. Very good. You look really happy. Someone just finished fighting against all of their colleagues.]

I’m momentarily taken aback by the notification window that suddenly appears before my eyes, but I’m shocked as soon as I read the contents.

…Fought?

I talk to Gijisaeng while waiting for the spicy braised chicken to simmer down.

‘So… you’re saying you fought with all your colleagues to give me information, Gijisaeng?’

I use honorifics with Gijisaeng for the first time in a while, expressing my respect.

[I installed devices in my colleagues’ studios that would ruin their work, and activated them if they didn’t take my side!]

…What on earth did you do…….

[An easy-to-understand example would be like working on a novel from the first chapter to the end without intermediate saves, and then the computer forcibly shutting down because of me.]

What have you done, Gijisaeng.

[Don’t worry, I’m not stupid enough to be taken down by those guys!]

…Have I ever seen such a crazy human, no, creature? I’m more worried about your colleagues. Isn’t that excessively unethical intimidation?

[I’ve forgotten quite a bit of human morality! Thanks to that, I was able to effectively threaten everyone without any pangs of conscience!]

…I can’t praise this, and I don’t know what to say.

[Anyway, I’ll tell you. Exactly about two months from your perspective, the remaining members except for those two will all be exposed to drugs. Wow, amazing! To be able to shake the order of a single universe with just a word!]

…Let’s get a grip. Whether a person’s life is more important than the order of the universe or not is as difficult as Kant and Bentham reaching an agreement [referring to a philosophical debate about morality].

Two months from now… It happens to overlap with our comeback.

‘…Thanks for now, Gijisaeng.’

[I’m going to receive my punishment now! The timelines are different, but if I calculate it, I might not be able to contact you for about 3 weeks!]

‘…Is it a big punishment?’

[Telling you would only cause guilt. Just don’t know.]

And silence. I thank Gijisaeng for his sacrifice and turn off the heat under the spicy braised chicken.

‘…I should finish the game I was playing with Mok-hwa first.’

When I bring the spicy braised chicken, Mok-hwa has already finished setting the table.

The guy who still had a gloomy expression on his face slightly relaxes his expression as soon as I put down the spicy braised chicken, then quickly regains it.

“…So what are you going to do? Is there another debut group audition, or any replacements?”

“There might be, but not for me…….”

If I didn’t know it was a lie, my heart would have dropped. You damn brat. It’s the kind of thing that anyone would take as giving up on being a trainee.

“…What does that mean, Mok-hwa.”

“Because I passed!”

Then, he suddenly gets up from his seat, turns on a song, and starts dancing.

He adds ridiculous motions to the song I gave him to use during the audition a while ago and dances an urban dance.

…Finally, has Mok-hwa gone crazy?

I couldn’t help but make a genuinely bewildered expression, not an act.

“Hyung, you were totally fooled! Congratulate me quickly! I’m almost confirmed for debut now!”

I give a helpless smile and tap the table to the rhythm of Mok-hwa’s dance. He’s still young.

His dancing skills have improved a lot. The lessons he learned from Chae Ha-min last time must have been effective, or he was originally talented.

That’s how another memory is added to this house.

Mok-hwa is so happy that he fooled me that he keeps tapping to the rhythm even after the song ends and picks up his spoon.

I put two chicken legs on Mok-hwa’s plate as he shouts that he’s going to enjoy the meal.

“Oh, right. I heard Jun-seong is making his solo debut this time, Hyung!”

He remembers what I told him when I was working on the song and asks.

“…Yeah.”

“I’ve been a fan of Jun-seong since the early days of TOT, I’m really looking forward to it.”

You should have told me sooner, Mok-hwa. He’s just a top idol in name only, and he lives in my studio, so I would have introduced you if I had known in advance.

I also take a spoonful of rice and subtly add.

“…It looks like his title track for this solo album will be the song I wrote.”

At that moment, Mok-hwa drops his spoon.

How clumsy.

“…Hyung, you suddenly look incredibly great.”

A laugh leaks out. Damn it, I’m too happy. I don’t know how long this will last.