By Zephyria “Then what do I do! How do I tell the CEO and Team leader… and the others that you’re always deserting! Even the manager Hyung’s words don’t work on you anymore, who will trust you if you keep doing this!”
“Even so, how can you say an accident….”
“Hyungs, stop it! Why are you fighting?”
Jeong-min, who had turned pale, jumped between Gun-woo Hyung and me.
“G, Gun-woo Hyung is just saying that, Tae-kyung Hyung, don’t get angry first… please…!”
I finally came to my senses when I saw Jeong-min, who was so surprised that his hands were even trembling.
“Jeong-min, it’s not that Hyung was trying to get angry….”
When I came to my senses, Gun-woo Hyung also had a tearful face. As soon as I confirmed that all the younger siblings were frozen, my heated head cooled down in an instant.
“Gun-woo Hyung, I’m sorry. I got too excited. I must have been out of my mind for a moment.”
As I was patting my cheeks with both hands, Soo-in grabbed my wrist tightly.
“D, don’t do that, Tae-kyung Hyung-nim.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I patted kind Soo-in’s hand and looked around at the members one by one.
“I’m really sorry to the members, but it’s a really important matter for me. I can’t possibly ask you to understand….”
“Accidents don’t necessarily have to be scary. You can just wrap it up with a light scratch.”
Although he was speaking with a stern face, Gun-woo Hyung’s eyes were shaking. Seeing those eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to leave right away, so I grabbed Hyung’s hand and acted cute.
“Thank you, Gun-woo Hyung. I’ll repay you for everything once this is over. I really promise.”
“Just go quickly.”
Only after seeing Hyung, who was curtly shaking me off, could I turn my feet. I only sent eye greetings to the youngest ones and hurriedly left the practice room.
“So, what am I supposed to do at the hotel?”
[It’s simple! Hold his hand tightly and say, ‘Congratulations on your solo debut!’ And promise to keep watching over him!]
[The time limit is until the end of the celebration party!]
It’s really too simple, isn’t it? I looked at the Status Window with suspicious eyes, wondering if there was some kind of trap.
[It’s simple, but the penalty and reward are enormous! Please look forward to it!]
I didn’t even notice the reward.
“Tell me what the penalty is first.”
I turned on the taxi app and came out of the company. Even though it was mid-March, a chilly wind slapped my cheeks as it passed.
[Ah! Ah! I’ll tell you the penalty!]
The hand holding the phone tightened.
[The risk of an accident for genius idol Sung Se-han increases by 30%!]
Shit. I felt like my eyes were bloodshot.
Increasing by 30% meant that my Inferiority Score would increase by 30 points. I felt like spitting out a harsh curse at the Status Window.
How did I lower the score that far…!
[There will be no problem if you successfully complete the event!]
“Ah, damn…!”
I almost blurted out a curse in my own voice. I shouldn’t let my guard down, as I don’t know what I’ll be subjected to if I curse at the Status Window.
[It’s me who made it possible to go back to before Sung Se-han’s accident, right?ㅋ]
“……”
I couldn’t even look straight at the Status Window’s red sentence and turned my gaze out the window. Thump-thump. My heart began to beat anxiously.
The fact that I can go to meet Sung Se-han now, and the fact that Sung Se-han was able to make a splendid solo debut, was all thanks to the appearance of the Status Window.
I couldn’t even lean back in the seat and bowed my head politely.
“I’m sorry for being cocky.”
“Huh?”
I realized that I had accidentally said it out loud because the taxi driver turned around.
“Ah, driver. It’s nothing. I was just talking to myself while thinking about something else….”
I was so embarrassed that my head bowed automatically. I took out my earphones and phone and replayed the showcase video, trying not to look at the Status Window anymore.
Jeong-min told me that there are quite a few complaints from group fans in various communities right now.
Complaints about the agency spending a lot of money on the music video and showcase, and spending a huge amount of money on Sung Se-han’s solo activities, are all directed at Sung Se-han.
In fact, it was understandable to some extent that complaints were coming out.
Sung Se-han’s showcase was held at the Harriet Art Hall, which was twice as large as the Blue Wave Hall, which was Perfect Puzzle’s showcase venue, and the amount of material poured into the stage was incomparable.
When I first played the video, my mouth dropped open at the stage setup, which looked like the garage from the music video had been moved.
Just looking at the rows of luxury cars made me think, why so much on the showcase stage…?
But from the moment Sung Se-han, who appeared later than the dancers, was captured in the video, all distractions flew away.
Seeing Sung Se-han, who was wearing a luxury Fayren suit, walking step by step as in the music video, I only regretted that there was no close-up.
At first, I was a little doubtful whether the black suit would suit him, seeing him dancing choreography close to street dance. But I realized that it was an unnecessary worry when Sung Se-han wore high-top sneakers stained with paint and a classic suit like his own clothes.
I knew that he was a guy with an amazing sense of using his body, but when he met the perfect solo choreography, he was just a fish in water.
Seeing him accurately control the dance, which could have been easily disrupted, with a solid foundation that gave leg bending to the floor and a cool physical, I felt pleasure beyond jealousy.
I have to be able to plant this level of steps on the stage too… I suddenly became impatient and my legs were shaking.
I want to stand on the stage soon. I want to open my throat and sing…!
This time, I want to let the fans hear my real song. As soon as possible….
“Thank you!”
After getting out of the taxi near the Century Hotel, I immediately called Sung Se-han. As I had feared, it only continued to ring without connecting.
The party wouldn’t end until dawn, so there was plenty of time.
Pressing down on the creeping anxiety, I looked back at the Century Hotel, which stood tall like a mountain. Seeing the building, which emitted a light more brilliant than starlight, I thought it suited Sung Se-han.
“Hoo….”
Such class to throw a debut celebration party in a hotel penthouse competing for the top spot in the country. Sung Se-han has become so much more distant from me.
I slowly looked around, but I couldn’t find a cafe to kill time.
What should I do? Should I go to the park nearby? Or should I go to the lobby first…?
“Lee Tae-kyung.”
My head snapped around at the welcome voice. The Vice Manager in a suit was waving his hand at the hotel entrance.
“Vice Manager! I’m so glad to see you!”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I ran towards the Vice Manager. How could he show up exactly when I needed him?
“I didn’t hear that Lee Tae-kyung was coming?”
The Vice Manager, who usually doesn’t show much expression, seemed to have relaxed his facial muscles a bit today.
“Yes, I don’t have an appointment with Se-han. But there’s something I need to see him about right now.”
“Lee Tae-kyung, you always come so unexpectedly. It’s a bit difficult.”
I was relieved that the Vice Manager was much softer than usual, probably because he had consumed some alcohol. I smiled as brightly as possible and bowed my head.
“Please, let me see Se-han.”
“If you want to see him, I have to let you. What else can I do?”
I followed the Vice Manager past the hotel entrance and into the lobby. The moment I confirmed the grandeur of Century Hotel, which I had only heard about, I felt a little intimidated. I was distracted by the various sculptures, and when I looked up at the high ceiling, I felt dizzy.
“Lee Tae-kyung, follow me closely. Don’t get lost.”
The Vice Manager, walking slower than usual, glanced back at me and beckoned with his finger. He definitely had a high blood alcohol level today.
The Vice Manager even kindly explained that to get to the Athena Penthouse on the top floor, you have to take a private elevator.
After getting on the elevator, I gave my greetings with as much sincerity as possible.
“Vice Manager, your suit looks really good on you. You look the most handsome today.”
The Vice Manager looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard I’m handsome.”
“What? No, you’re really good-looking. It’s just that you usually have such a fierce aura that people don’t notice…”
Oops, that was a slip of the tongue. But before I could fix it, the Vice Manager was already staring straight ahead with a cold face.
Just then, the elevator doors opened. I followed the Vice Manager out, trying to make amends.
“What I meant was that the Vice Manager usually has a very strict aura, so people might misunderstand…”
My words trailed off. It seemed to be an elevator connected to a guest room, and as soon as I got off, my eyes widened at the sight of the luxurious living room that unfolded before me.
“Wow…”
The first thing that came out was an exclamation at the sight of the wide picture window with the night view. It was only then that I noticed the glamorous people chatting in various places under the soft lighting.
“Oh my, Tae-kyung!”
A long-haired woman chatting in front of the window waved at me.