Prince From Another Dimension Becomes An Idol [EN]: Chapter 230

#230.

A small antique shop in Insadong [a district in Seoul known for its traditional crafts and tea houses].

It had been over twenty years since ‘Jang,’ the shop owner, took over the shop from his father.

However, unlike his father, Jang didn’t have much of an eye for antiques.

As a result, the number of customers was steadily decreasing.

Fortunately, the number of tourists visiting Insadong was increasing every year due to the Korean Wave [Hallyu, the global popularity of South Korean culture].

Thanks to that, he still had about three or four groups of customers a day.

Though even that was rare in winter…….

“Welcome.”

Just when he thought he wouldn’t make any sales today.

The bell on the door rang as customers entered.

It was a group of young Koreans, not foreign tourists, for the first time in a while.

Two women who looked like college students.

In fact, most of these customers just browsed and left.

So, Jang simply greeted them and stood idly by the side of the shop.

He was watching to make sure they didn’t damage any of the items when one of the women glanced at the innermost table and shouted, “What?!”.

“Why is this here?!! Hey, hey! Eun-jeong!!! Look at this!!!”

The one called Eun-jeong came over and looked closely at what her friend was pointing at.

There was a white paper under the glass of the table, and the three letters written on it were very familiar.

“……!”

Eun-jeong’s pupils widened in surprise.

Eun-jeong looked back and forth between the Chinese characters written on the paper with a brush pen and Jang’s face, and then asked in shock.

“Mister…. No, perhaps your father?!”.

“Do-jae’s father?!!!”

The friend who called Eun-jeong also spoke in surprise.

Then, as if realizing something, she poked Eun-jeong in the side and mouthed the words.

‘Hey, Do-jae’s father isn’t here!’

“Ah…. That’s right. I’m sorry. No, I don’t need to apologize to you…….”

“Then, maybe an uncle? Someone like that?”

“But he looks too old for that.”

They were whispering as quietly as they could…. But the shop was too small, and it was right in front of Jang.

For a moment, Jang wondered if he was invisible to these friends.

“What is your relationship with Do-jae?”

“Relationship? It’s just the name written there.”

At Jang’s words, even more question marks appeared on their faces.

“I know. But you’re not related to Do-jae at all? The Chinese characters are the same, and the handwriting is the same as when he signs, it’s definitely Do-jae’s…….”

“What is it? Then how is this really here?”

Jang recalled the young man who had written his name on the paper.

He had only seen him once, but he couldn’t forget his face.

Even though he was from Insadong, he was second to none when it came to having no taste, but there was no way he could forget the strange atmosphere and piercing gaze he felt from the young man.

Moreover, even the item he left behind was special.

He had left his name in the same handwriting as Grand Prince Anpyeong [a famous calligrapher and artist of the Joseon Dynasty].

Of course, the reason Jang couldn’t forget Do-jae even more was…. Because of the teacup he had sold.

He had confirmed that the teacup he sold for 30,000 won [approximately $25 USD] had been sold for more than a hundred times that price.

‘He knew and took it.’

That’s why he asked if he had gotten an appraisal, if he would really sell it at this price, and even left his name.

It wasn’t that he didn’t regret selling the teacup at a low price, but if it had remained in his hands, it would have remained a 30,000 won teacup.

“He was a customer at our shop. Do you know that student?!”.

“Yes? Of course, we know him!”

“No, not really know him but…….”

Different answers came from the two people.

Jang looked at them curiously, and the two people smiled and explained.

“He’s a celebrity, a celebrity!”

“What? A celebrity?! No wonder…. He had such a striking appearance.”

“Our Do-jae is a bit like that. No, but if he was a customer, what did he buy?! And why did he leave his name?!”.

It was an incredible stroke of fate that the paper with Do-jae’s name on it caught the eyes of the two people who were ardent fans of MOST.

However, now there were tens of thousands of MOST fans all over the country, no, the world.

It was an item that would have been discovered sooner or later.

It was just great luck that it was discovered by these two people.

The two people poured questions at Jang, explaining how amazing a group member Do-jae was.

“He even received the grand prize a few days ago!!!”

“What, MOST?!”.

“Yes. Don’t you know?! It’s the group that sings songs like ‘Life goes beautiful’!” [Likely a fictional song title].

Perhaps it was thanks to Eun-jeong’s sincerity in even singing the song.

Jang pretended to know.

“Ah, that! I’ve heard that song on the street! Isn’t it famous?”.

“That’s right!”.

“It’s totally famous!”.

“He was such a famous singer?”.

“Ah…. If it was more than 5 years ago, then he would have been a trainee at that time…….”

“A trainee?”.

“Yes. Ah, mister. Would you sell this to me?! I’ll pay you properly!”.

“You’d…. Buy this?!”.

Jang’s eyes widened.

Eun-jeong quickly nodded her head.

‘Someday, someday when I become famous, it will still be quite valuable.’

It was as if Do-jae’s confident voice was ringing in Jang’s ears.

“To think that someone would actually want to buy this…….”

“How much should I give you? A hundred thousand?!”.

“Ten thousand?”.

“Huh?! You’re selling it for ten thousand won? I was talking about a hundred thousand.”

Jang’s eyes darted quickly.

Do-jae was said to be a very popular singer, and Eun-jeong in front of him seemed to be an ardent fan, so…….

“Write it down.”

“Then…….”

“Two hundred thousand.”

Jang made a V sign with his fingers [a common gesture for the number two].

Then Eun-jeong nodded without hesitation.

What kind of world was it these days, Do-jae’s photo cards started at 10,000 won per card, and rare ones were even priced in the 100,000 won range.

But if it was a good with Do-jae’s touch that would never exist again in the world!

Eun-jeong had nothing to regret.

“Deal.”

Thinking that this was a windfall, Jang lifted the glass covering the table.

However, as he was about to take out the paper, he felt a sense of regret.

He wondered if he should get more money, but…….

‘Should I keep it a little longer?’

He was a famous singer now, but it seemed like he would become an even more amazing person in the future.

He also thought that the ‘someday’ that Do-jae had said might not be yet.

‘I don’t know how much longer I’ll live but…….’

“But students, this friend’s handwriting.”

“Yes?”.

“Do you know that it’s similar to Grand Prince Anpyeong’s?”.

“Grand Prince Anpyeong? Oh…. Isn’t he a Joseon person? Is that good?”.

“Of course. He was famous as a great calligrapher even in Joseon!”.

“Wow. Awesome.”

The two were happy that they had more to admire about Do-jae.

“Was Do-jae really a king in his past life?”.

“He must have been at least a prince.”

“Ah, what can’t he do? He’s good at violin playing and calligraphy.”

“There’s nothing, nothing.”

That’s when the two were waiting for Jang to quickly take out the paper.

“I can’t do it.”

“Yes?”.

“I’m not selling it.”

“Huh?!! Is it because the money is too little? How much more…….”

“No, just. I’m going to keep it.”

“Ah, what is it. Mister…. You didn’t even know who Do-jae was…….”

The two persistently persuaded Jang, but Jang did not change his mind.

In the end, the two took pictures of the paper with Do-jae’s name on it and left.

“Then you can’t sell it to anyone else but me! If you’re going to sell it, you have to sell it to me!”.

“Ah, I got it.”

Eun-jeong even gave Jang her phone number and left the shop with lingering feelings.

No other customers came in that day besides the two.

Jang briefly wondered if he should have earned that money earlier, but…. He still thought he had made the right choice not to sell it.

Of course, Jang’s choice was a very right choice for him.

Looking at the slightly distant future (that is, a few years later), Do-jae became a ‘more amazing person’ than he thought.

And even thinking about the near future, it was the right choice…….

That day, Eun-jeong couldn’t resist the urge to brag and posted a review on social media along with the photos she had taken at the store.

Fans were enthusiastic about Do-jae’s traces before his debut, and of course, Eun-jeong’s post was retweeted a lot.

And it wasn’t long before Jang’s shop became one of the spots on the ‘MOST Tour.’

***

MVS waiting room.

The members were waiting for their stage and were busy preparing.

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], did you buy a teacup at an Insadong store a long time ago?”.

“Huh?”.

Do-jae, who belatedly heard the news through Woo-cheol, checked on his phone that Jang’s shop had become a kind of fan tour location.

Fortunately, it seemed that Jang was also happy because it helped with sales.

‘That’s a relief.’

He felt sorry for having harmed a civilian by using the knowledge of the imperial family (he couldn’t help it at the time, and it wasn’t illegal, but it was a sense of guilt he felt as a prince), but it seemed like a good thing.

Do-jae thought and checked the notifications that appeared on his phone.

[Choi Ri-na: Senior, Happy New Year! I was so, so happy thanks to you last year (heart)]

[Choi Ri-na: I wanted to say hello as soon as it hit 12! I have to go on stage later.. Anyway, please take care of me next year]

[Choi Ri-na: I still feel like a dream that I can talk to you like this (tears)]

Do-jae smiled lightly at the messages from Choi Ri-na that arrived in succession.

At the MVS , which is broadcast live on December 31st, all singers traditionally had to go on stage to watch the live broadcast of the New Year’s Eve bell ringing.

So, it seemed like she sent the message in advance because she couldn’t send a message on her phone.

Originally, MOST would have been on that stage together but…….

Do-jae carefully wrote a New Year’s greeting to Choi Ri-na, wishing her a Happy New Year as well.

Then, a New Year’s message arrived from actor Park Seung-ho.

Do-jae quickly sent him a reply as well.

The voice that the New Year’s Eve bell event was about to begin was heard from the monitor in the waiting room.

The members, who were preparing, hurriedly headed to the stage with the staff.

MOST was scheduled to decorate the first stage of the in the new year.

“Let’s just do well as we practiced.”

Ki-joon said, lowering his palm.

The members standing under the stage gathered their hands one by one.

In the opposite hands of the members were model swords with different colored strings tied to them.