Chapter 86
So the filming finally ended.
We were given a three-day vacation.
The members quickly packed their things and left the dormitory one by one.
“Cheong-cheong, aren’t you going anywhere?!”
“No. I’m not going.”
Yeon Juhong looked puzzled.
She seemed hesitant to ask further questions, fearing she might make a mistake.
“I don’t have a family.”
At my words, the other members looked at me.
This kind of attention felt a bit burdensome.
“It’s not something I need to hide. Both of my parents passed away when I was young. I don’t have any relatives either… so I don’t have anywhere to go. Anyway, you all have a good time. Juhong, are you going home?”
To avoid making everyone uncomfortable, I changed the subject.
It’s not that I don’t have a family, but rather that Yoon Cheong doesn’t.
Their sympathy felt more awkward than comforting.
“My grandmother booked a plane ticket so we could have fun for three days. We’re going on a short overseas trip as a family! Don’t worry, I got permission from the company.”
“Where are you going?”
“We don’t have much time, so we’re just going to a resort for a bit!”
“She’s a rich kid. It’s not just any resort; it’s going to be somewhere very expensive.”
Kim Geum, who was eating melon ice cream, added.
Ah.
So Yeon Juhong was from a wealthy family.
I had a hunch.
I had heard her address before, and it was the same neighborhood where I lived in my past life.
It was an expensive area, where I moved after becoming successful.
“Make sure to sing 100 songs for your grandmother and come back stronger.”
“Kim Geum, are you a demon or something?”
With that, Yeon Juhong left for her grandmother’s house.
“My brother is joining the army… My mom wants me to come and watch because she thinks it’s funny that she shaved his head. I didn’t want to go, but I think I’ll go to see his ugly face. Just imagining it is already funny.”
“If he’s your brother, doesn’t he look like you?”
“How dare you say that. Do you have a problem with me, Cheong-cheong? He resembles the dirt under my toenails.”
“Sorry…”
Kim Geum then left for her parents’ house.
“I’m going home to see my family and debut again.”
“Take lots of pictures of your dog. And if you get the chance, bring it over sometime… Please.”
I love dogs.
Anyway.
Seo Baek-young also left to see her dog and family.
“I’m… just going to go home for a bit.”
In the end, it was just me and Ryu Bo-ra left.
“Are you okay?”
“No. Honestly, not really.”
I didn’t know all of Ryu Bo-ra’s circumstances, but I knew she found her family burdensome.
I couldn’t help but worry.
“How about not going and staying at the dorm instead?”
“They’re causing a fuss over the contract, so I don’t think I can.”
“Contract issue?”
What now?
“They’re asking for more money, of course.”
Ryu Bo-ra smiled bitterly.
“My father recently succeeded in business, so it’s not like we’re short of money now. But I guess it’s never enough for them.”
Recently.
There had been a topic trending on social media.
Ryu Bo-ra was born with a golden spoon.
Her father is the CEO of 00 Company (annual sales of 28 billion won), a rapidly rising company…ㅇㅇ
+ Her family lives in a 50-pyeong apartment in Gangnam
++ Comment tip-off: Her younger brother attends 00 School in the US, which costs at least 500 million won a year
I thought she was the breadwinner of her family, but she’s doing idol activities as a hobby.
Wow, Bo-ra, buy me an ice cream.
No wonder she looked wealthy.
└ For real, wealth can’t be bought with moneyㅋㅋ She’s not just wealthy-looking, but genuinely rich.
└└ Didn’t she appear on a variety show a long time ago and say she was the breadwinner? What a scam…ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Stolen poverty, living in a Gangnam apartment and claiming to be the breadwinner…? I’d love to be that kind of breadwinner.
└ We don’t know if it’s rented or bought yet, do we?
└└ Truly poor people can’t even rent in Gangnam^^
But 00 Company really rose rapidly recently, so maybe they only started living well recently?
└ Still, she can’t claim to be the breadwinner;;
There was some controversy in the industry, claiming that Ryu Bo-ra’s name was used to attract investments.
└ Really? Isn’t that a problem?
└└ Fortunately, the investment paid off, so it didn’t matter. If it had failed, Ryu Bo-ra would’ve been dragged down too.
It had been quite a controversial issue in many ways.
Colors remained silent, but for a while, ‘Ryu Bo-ra gold spoon’ was one of the top search terms.
Ryu Bo-ra didn’t seem to care much.
When members asked,
‘It’s not my money. I haven’t taken any money from home for three years. I live on the money I earned as a child actor.’
That was all she would say.
She pretended to be okay… but who knew if she really was.
“…Many people are like that.”
“I do like money, but I don’t think I could covet my child’s money.”
Ryu Bo-ra sighed and lifted her bag.
“I’ll go and try to fight it out.”
“Bo-ra.”
I picked up one of Ryu Bo-ra’s bags.
“Don’t try to handle it alone. If something happens, call me.”
“…How could I do that?”
Ryu Bo-ra took the bag from me and carried it herself.
“I’ll deal with it somehow. You get some rest.”
***
After sending off Ryu Bo-ra with a heavy heart, I collapsed and fell asleep.
I felt the accumulated fatigue washing over me.
When I opened my eyes, it was night.
Or maybe it was early morning.
Anyway, what I saw before me was—
[First mission reward settlement completed!]
[First update completed!]
[Would you like to hear the update explanation?]
“…Yes. I’ve been waiting.”
Let’s hear it.
What do they have to say?
As soon as I agreed to listen,
-Long time no see.
Something I hadn’t seen in a while popped out.
-To think you’d succeed in the first mission so splendidly.
It was the cotton ball creature.
I wondered why it hadn’t shown up.
“Yeah. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d succeed either.”
-I knew you would. You’re Baek Nokha. Isn’t it strange if you don’t succeed?
It had been a while since I heard my name.
Even though it’s my name, it felt so unfamiliar.
-How are the members? Do you like them?
The cotton ball creature sat lightly on my lap.
-There’s quite a difference from the original member lineup.
“…Yes, that’s right.”
-Why did you do that? The first mission was just to debut at number one. There was no need to change the members.
The cotton ball creature had a point.
If I had just focused on my rank and ignored everyone else, it might have been easier.
But there was a reason I did it.
“Who knows what the next mission will be. It’s probably going to be related to an idol career. In that case, having good members is important.”
-Aha, so you weren’t just thinking about debuting, but beyond that? Impressive.
“Of course.”
My goal wasn’t just to debut, but to save my mom.
Naturally, I had to consider the next missions as well.
-I hope your choice was the right one.
It left me feeling uneasy.
“I’ll handle that myself. Just tell me this clearly. If I succeed in this mission… you’ll send me back, right?”
-Of course. Everything I promised you will come true. The accident that happened to your mother will never have happened.
The cotton ball creature opened its mouth wide and smiled.
It looked creepy.
“…Then. What happens to Yoon Cheong if I go back?”
-Why ask about that? It’s none of your business.
“What do you mean it’s none of my business? I’ve gone through so much in this body. If what I achieved through my hard work isn’t my business, then whose is it?”
-Haha!
The cotton ball creature laughed loudly at my words.
-In that sense, yes. It’s only natural to be curious.
The cotton ball creature flew around my head in a circle.
-Nothing will happen.
“…What does that mean?”
-That’s all I can tell you. You’ll know more if you complete the remaining missions.
Even though it was annoying, it didn’t seem like it would say anything more even if I complained.
“Then just tell me the update details.”
-Let’s do that.
The cotton ball creature pulled up a strange window in front of my eyes.
It looked like a game notification window.
A window I occasionally saw.
[Have you been frustrated by random warnings?]
[From now on, you can proudly purchase them with points!]
[Current points: 100]
“What are points?”
-They are given every time you complete minor quests.
“What are quests?”
[<Sign for 1,000 people!>
(Condition: Only signatures at fan signings count)
Reward: 50 points]
[<Sell 100,000 albums!>
Reward: 100 points (10 points per 10,000 albums)]
[<Get first place on a music show!>
Reward: 50 points per 1st place]
…
-There are many quests like these. You don’t have to do them all. But every time you succeed, you’ll get points. Those points will help with your missions.
“I understand. So if I collect points, how can I use them?”
-Go to the shop and buy what you want.
[Read reporters’ minds:
You can view <Steel Blue>’s articles that will be released in the next three days. However, you cannot read future articles. Only articles about events that have already occurred can be read.
Required points: 500 points]
[Invisibility cloak:
You can move wherever you want without attracting attention.
(No fans or reporters will notice you!)
Required points: 200 points
Additional 50 points per accompanying member (only members can accompany)]
[Fans’ most earnest request:
Find out what fans most want from you right now!
Required points: 100 points]
[Cure-all:
Cures any stomach ulcers, enteritis, headaches, menstrual cramps, overwork fatigue, or fractures you might get during activities!
However, diseases or injuries requiring more than two weeks of hospitalization are not curable.
Required points: 100 points per area
To use on others: 200 points per area (only available for members)]
…
“They sell all sorts of things.”
-But they are all things you might desperately need at least once.
I couldn’t deny that.
There were times in my past life when I thought, ‘I wish something like this existed.’
It was almost as if it read my mind.
But if I couldn’t gather points, they were just pies in the sky.
Tch.
“Is that all?”
-I saved the most important part for last.
Right.
Let’s get to the main point.