Chapter 121:
Chapter 121
It’s been a while since they disbanded…
“This week’s number one is… Awi. Congratulations!”
On the last day of their music show activities, Awi won the first place without fail and sang an encore song before going down the stage.
“How many video fan meetings do we have left?”
“Three.”
“That means this promotion is over too.”
The members had some minor individual activities planned before the next album came out. Lee Juhyuk tapped Jo Taewoong’s shoulder.
“Taewoong, you’re going to start filming a drama tomorrow, right?”
“Good luck.”
“Bro, fighting.”
“Yeah…”
Jo Taewoong answered weakly to the soulless cheers of his members. Since this comeback, they had reconciled with Nnet, and their music show schedule was full for a week.
The music show was not the end. They also had to film a dance video for the broadcasting company’s MyTube content.
“It was nice to rest on Thursday.”
“Agreed.”
Ian, who got on the van, looked at Jo Taewoong who was sitting in the back seat.
“Who’s the drama director?”
“Yoon Hyunjoon PD. Why?”
“Just curious.”
Yoon Hyunjoon… He didn’t recognize the name even after searching his past memories.
‘Is it you?’
[I don’t remember well…]
‘Have you lost your memory lately?’
[…No.]
Ian ignored Jin’s sulky answer and sank into his thoughts.
If neither of them remembered him, he must not be a famous director. He had a bad feeling ever since he heard the director’s name.
‘Something bothers me…’
Actually, he couldn’t do anything about it even if he was anxious. Jo Taewoong had already confirmed his appearance and was going to shoot tomorrow.
‘It won’t be a big deal.’
Awi’s van left the broadcasting station and entered a busy street instead of their dorm. Kim Myungjin parked the car on the roadside and said.
“Ian, have fun and come back. Don’t forget to send me the location.”
“Yes.”
“Put on your mask before you go.”
Ian put on his hat and a black mask and got out of the van.
“Ian, have fun!”
“Drink moderately but come back late.”
“Just come back tomorrow morning!”
The members who verified Ian’s drinking habits shouted from behind. They felt sorry for Ian who stayed at home even when he got a rare vacation and ate leftover holiday food.
“What are you saying.”
Ian snorted as he looked at the members who were noisy until the van door closed.
He wandered around the alley and headed to a restaurant without a signboard. Jin quickly approached the front of the restaurant and scanned the exterior of the restaurant with his lens.
‘What’s wrong?’
[Wow, crazy. This place is so hard to make a reservation… Liminha, you filthy golden spoon…]
He told the staff Liminha’s name and headed to the corner of the restaurant. The staff opened the sliding door and Liminha, who was already there, raised his hand.
“Did you come?”
“What’s this, why is it so fancy here? Let’s just have pork intestines and soju.”
“I can’t eat pork intestines. My taste is high-end.”
“You’re ignoring pork intestines?”
The male idol group Miracle’s Liminha became close friends with him after saving him at the year-end music festival rehearsal. Ian sat across from him.
“Why did you call me to this high-end bar for some sensitive talk? You’re paying, right?”
“Of course. By the way, I called one more person because he was nearby.”
“Who? Hey, how can you tell me that now?”
At that moment, drizzle, the door opened. The person who appeared was Kang Juwon, who was from ‘Project Idol’ and I-One.
“Hello, hyung.”
“Hi. I didn’t come for nothing, right?”
“No, it doesn’t matter because it’s hyung. It’s just that he didn’t tell me in advance so I’m pissed off.”
Liminha was famous for being a troublemaker in the idol industry because of his natural appearance and family background. He wondered if he was trying to play a bridge role like Seohyun. Liminha chuckled as he noticed his mind.
“That’s right, you had a dating rumor. A dating rumor without dating.”
“What?”
As Kang Ju-won watched Ian and Min-ha bicker, he laughed heartily.
“It’s been a while, Ian. Is this the first time we’ve met since the airport and the music show?”
“Yes, it is.”
Before the food arrived, they finished catching up and toasted as soon as the food and drinks were served.
“But, can I ask about Do-hyun? It feels a bit awkward to ask him directly.”
“Do-hyun?”
“I-One.”
Was he talking about Kwak Do-hyun, who was second in Project A? Ian smiled bitterly.
Kwak Do-hyun was someone Ian, then known as Kim Yong-min, had been somewhat close to during Project A. When they were both ranked low in the early stages of the show, they were even called a duo.
“Trainee Kwak Do-hyun! Your skills are improving rapidly. How do you feel about it, Kim Yong-min, our golden duo?”
As Kwak Do-hyun’s concept evaluation received positive responses, the gap in their rankings widened. Ian had hoped to debut with I-One but was eventually eliminated. Their contact dwindled and they naturally drifted apart.
“I heard his contract was tied up in a double deal? Some kind of transfer of rights to another company.”
“That’s shady.”
“Fortunately, he found out about it a week before it took effect.”
As Min-ha excitedly discussed this intriguing topic, Ian quietly sipped his drink.
He had been too busy with life to notice such things back then. It was regrettable.
[It’s common practice. Such contracts are often made secretly. Many entertainers probably fall victim to them without realizing it.]
“That’s really dirty.”
Ian poured more drink into Kang Ju-won’s empty glass. The empty bottles kept piling up. But was it okay for everyone to drink this much?
“They even set up a paper company to embezzle money.”
“That’s crazy. Weren’t there already many companies taking their cut?”
“Many. N-net takes some, N-net affiliates take some, and the original agency takes some…”
A paper company? Ian was shocked that there could be a company worse than Diamond Agency.
“How did Do-hyun find out?”
“Our settlement and his were vastly different. Since agency settlement rates are usually similar, he initially just had suspicions…”
Kang Ju-won took a sip of his drink.
“They hired a fan as an employee. The fan found out and passed the information to Do-hyun.”
“But is it okay to tell us this?”
“Do-hyun wants it to be widely known. He feels wronged.”
After Kwak Do-hyun sent a legal notice, his agency started a vicious media play. They spread rumors that he demanded expensive accommodations, had a terrible personality, and even had sponsor suspicions.
“It’s going to be tough… The lawsuit will take a long time.”
Having experienced a contract termination lawsuit in his past life, Ian felt deeply for Kwak Do-hyun’s situation. Kang Ju-won looked at Ian and thought he was a genuinely good younger brother.
“Actually, I’m going through a tough time myself right now.”
“Why?”
“Because of people’s attention.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be happy about getting attention?”
Not understanding, Min-ha looked puzzled as Ian spoke on behalf of Kang Ju-won.
“He was the top contestant in Project A, the national center. Plus, I-One dominated that year. Can you imagine how high people’s expectations are?”
“Oh…”
“But weren’t your results good?”
“I thought they were really good…”
After I-One disbanded and Kang Ju-won re-debuted as a solo artist, he downed another glass of drink. Ian deliberately didn’t pour him more drink for fear he might get drunk, but Kang Ju-won grabbed the bottle himself and filled his glass.
“But people have higher standards for me. ‘He’s from I-One and that’s all he can sell?’, ‘Why are his music rankings so low?’. They say Kang Ju-won is on the decline.”
“Come on, that’s just online talk. Other people don’t think that way. They either don’t care at all or…”
“Still… I can’t help but care about community reactions since Project A…”
That program did have its issues. Ian also frequently browsed the internet partly due to his appearance on ‘Project Idol’.
“I didn’t commit any major crime, but I got all sorts of insults just for making one mistake in recycling!”
And the standards for ‘Project Idol’ alumni were particularly harsh compared to other idol groups. Perhaps because of the image that they were chosen by the public, there seemed to be a tendency for people to feel entitled to control the singers.
“I even got hundreds of hate comments for undercooking meat! And it was beef!”
“Just ignore them, bro. They’re doing this because they want to see you react like this. You have many fans too.”
“Did I do drugs or drive drunk?! I don’t even have a license!”
Thinking about it made him angry! Kang Ju-won tore at his hair. Ian leaned back as Kang Ju-won’s sudden burst of anger reddened his face.
‘Is he the type to vent when drunk…’
Ian took away Kang Ju-won’s glass, but it was too late to undo what he had already drunk. Kang Ju-won hung his head and mumbled.
“It’s been so long since I-One disbanded… All over a 100 won text vote…”
“…Calm down, bro.”
“They still think they’re the national producers…”
With that, Kang Juwon collapsed on the table. Lee Minha was already drunk and leaning against the wall, nodding off.
They drank too recklessly. Ian looked at them alternately and said with a sigh.
“I can’t believe this…”
He hoped he wouldn’t have to carry them both.
***
Fortunately, his worry didn’t come true. When it got late, their managers came to pick them up.
The next day, after finishing the video fan signing event, Awi gathered in front of the TV in the living room.
“Today is Taewoong’s drama premiere, right?”
“Let’s watch it together.”
The members excitedly switched the channel. The drama’s opening was about to end.
The scene explaining the background of the drama passed by, and Jo Taewoong caught the female protagonist who was about to fall. The members’ smiles grew wider as they got closer.
“Wow, Taewoong’s entrance is so cool!”
“He’s a fiery gentleman, a fiery gentleman.”
“Seriously! Choi Ian, you don’t seem like you’ll ever do a romance scene?”
Jo Taewoong screamed in embarrassment. But his eyes didn’t leave the TV.
The members who had already read the original novel of the drama that Jo Taewoong was starring in also immersed themselves in the drama with anticipation.
But as time went by, Ian had a puzzled expression on his face.
‘…Something is weird.’
Ian, who had also read the original novel, felt that Jo Taewoong’s character was somehow strange. It wasn’t that Jo Taewoong couldn’t interpret his character, but he seemed to be floating somewhere.
Was his acting like that? Ian tilted his head. Jo Taewoong suddenly got up.
“I’ll go to my room to watch it,” said Jo Tae-woong.
“Why? Let’s watch it together,” replied another member.
“It’s hard to concentrate with everyone being so noisy,” Jo Tae-woong explained.
“Is that so?” the member wondered.
Despite the members’ nonchalant attitude, Jo Tae-woong’s expression was troubled as he entered his room. The drama, a mix of mystery and romance, seemed to make him uncomfortable.
“Mr. Tae-woong, come here,” called the director, Yun Hyun-jun.
Jo Tae-woong had joined the drama ‘Secret High School,’ based on a webtoon about mysterious events at a high school. The director pointed at the monitor and asked sharply, “This part here. Why is your acting like this?”
Jo Tae-woong cautiously replied, “I thought it would be better to do it this way based on the original work.”
“Mr. Tae-woong,” sighed Yun Hyun-jun.
“If we stick to the original, it won’t be fun. Dramatic adaptation is necessary. Why are you acting like an amateur?”
“But…”
“Let’s follow the director’s guidance. You were good as a child actor, but why this now? Just because you’re a successful idol, you think the director’s words are a joke?”
“…No,” Jo Tae-woong replied, clenching his fist in frustration at the mention of his group.
***
Entering his room, Jo Tae-woong collapsed onto his bed.
“Can’t act at all? Wasn’t he a child actor?”
“Such a letdown for fans of the original work.”
“Is it the director’s directing or Jo Tae-woong’s acting?”
“Honestly, he was only good as a child actor. There are plenty of better adult actors.”
Jo Tae-woong put down his phone after reading the live reactions online. Covering his face with both hands, he gritted his teeth in anger and frustration.
“Damn it…”
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