Chapter 7 (1/2): The Problem Was Me

“I said no.”

[Huh?]

Oops. I ended up snapping back without thinking. But seriously, that churup? That was way over the line. Churup?

What the hell kind of pervy thoughts was he having while calling me?

Ugh, I just got chills automatically.

I continued, addressing CEO Jo, who still didn’t seem to fully grasp what had just happened.

“Ah, I’ve been really lacking in practice lately, so unless it’s something urgent, I don’t think I’ll be able to meet for a while.”

Of course, you’ll have something very urgent come up soon. You creepy bastard.

“Anyway, please get in touch again some other time, sir. Thank you.”

[Haram, wai—]

Click.

The moment I heard his voice again, it felt like staring at a cockroach’s hind legs—I hung up without hesitation.

Honestly, it’s kind of impressive how he can evoke such visceral imagery with such ease.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

From the driver’s seat, Manager Woo glanced over with concern in his eyes.

“Yes. The faster you look into the favor I asked, the better I’ll feel.”

So hurry up and get moving as soon as we wrap this up.

“You’re already bossing me around…”

Manager Woo muttered with a sigh as he drove steadily down the road.

“So, why the sudden trip to the bank?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Soon, his old, worn-down car came to a stop in front of a building far too upscale for it.

“For parking… where’s the entrance…”

“Hold on a second. If you go around this way—”

Following my directions, Manager Woo turned the car behind the building, then shot me a puzzled look.

“A VIP-only entrance? You’re that kind of person? I had a hunch ever since you asked me to help start a company.”

I shook my head vigorously and gestured beside him with my hand.

Manager Woo’s gaze followed my hand to the side.

“VVIP? Haram, that entrance’s for company chairmen. You’re not the CEO of some major corporation or anything…”

Oh, but I kind of am. I kept shaking my head and hand to the side.

His gaze finally landed on a rather modest, tidy-looking door.

“What’s that plac—”

“Ms. Kim Haram.”

Before Manager Woo could even finish the question mark at the end of his sentence, a well-dressed man approached the car window and spoke.

“Whoa! That startled me.”

“You are Ms. Kim Haram, correct?”

The man looked straight at me.

“Yes. Are you Manager Lee Bokyung?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

After confirming my face, Manager Lee flashed a dependable smile.

“Right this way, please.”

He pointed to the very door Manager Woo had just been looking at.

As he dropped me back off in front of the building, Manager Woo muttered:

“I’ll escort you to the VVVVIP room.”

“Please don’t call me that.”

“No, Chairman. I will be calling you that from now on. Chairman.”

Ugh. He’s so annoying.

I had just returned from showing Manager Woo the full prize money.

1.5 billion dollars.

Roughly 1.96 trillion won in Korean currency.

Thankfully, the foreign bank had a major branch right here in Korea.

Luckily, since the foreign bank had a significant presence in Korea, it wasn’t too difficult to track them down.

The moment the amount was confirmed, I suddenly recalled Manager Woo’s reaction.

[Woo Taeyoon’s trait, “Ambitious Seeker of Good and Justice,” pledges even greater loyalty!]

…What the heck? Isn’t that a bit materialistic?

“Now that the Chairman has so generously prepared the funds, how could I possibly sit back and do nothing?”

“What are you talking about? It’s not like you can use it all at once anyway.”

“I’m not planning to. 50 billion won will do just fine.”

Given the exchange rate—and the fact that moving that much money into the country at once is no easy feat—he had only requested 50 billion won in liquid cash for now. Honestly, even that was no small sum.

“Well then, shouldn’t you hurry off and get to work? You’re going to be a busy man from now on.”

I flashed a cheeky grin, and Manager Woo playfully raised both hands over his head.

“Yes, yes~ I’m off, Chairman~”

He cracked a joke as he climbed back into the car.

“I’ll call you as soon as the request is confirmed, so keep your phone close, alright?”

“Of course.”

Just as he was about to start the car, he glanced at me with a worried expression.

What? Why are you looking at me like you’re full of regrets?

“…And if that CEO Cho guy calls again, try not to answer. I’ll let him know you’re hard to reach.”

Oh—it wasn’t regret. It was concern.

And here I was misreading warm concern through a jaded lens… I must’ve gone sour from talking to CEO Cho two days in a row.

Yeah. For the sake of my mental health, I should avoid his calls altogether.

“If I ever need to contact him, I’ll go through you first.”

Hearing that, Manager Woo looked visibly relieved and drove off.

“It’s gotten pretty late.”

Evening had quietly crept up on me.

My Woojin must be just about finished with practice by now.

I stepped back into the dorm, but standing blankly in the living room felt awkward, so I headed into my room.

The moment I opened the door, I was greeted by a musty smell—distinct from the one in the living room.

What is this? Is something else growing in here?

I unconsciously turned my gaze and noticed a small notebook lying open by Woojin’s bedside.

‘Ah, no…….’

An idol trainee’s notebook—open, no less.

…Well, it’s not my fault if it just happens to catch my eye, right?

Right?

My brief inner conflict didn’t stand a chance against the dark pull of curiosity. I gave in and picked it up.

A high schooler using a physical notebook in this day and age… What a kid.

“Things to Fix!”

• My left leg always feels more strained after practice! I think my balance is off when I dance. Pay attention!
• Need to use my left arm better! Still feels awkward when I extend it…

Below that were more notes—on vocals, facial expressions, and other things he wanted to improve.

I couldn’t help but smile at how earnest it all was.

I quietly flipped to the next page.

Don’t cause trouble for Haram hyung. Hyung is always working so hard on his own.

Seriously. How much more precious can this kid get?

There are still young people like this out there? This noona(?) is getting misty-eyed.

‘Maybe just one more page…?’

I couldn’t stop. I needed to know how far the rabbit hole of sincerity went. Was this the curse of curiosity?

I turned another page.

“Aww…”

This time, the content had a different vibe.

It was just a simple list—of food.

Things I want to eat a ton of someday.

Just plain old chicken, pizza, meat… The kinds of stuff any kid his age would love.

Buy both tteokbokki and potato hot dog and dip them in the sauce…

I suddenly recalled how excited he’d looked earlier that day when Manager Woo handed him 15,000 won.

‘I don’t know the full story, but…’

Sigh. ‘This kid really knows how to make people worry.’

The moment I saw that page, what I needed to do became as clear as day.

In this day and age, how could a teenager not be eating properly?

This grandma can’t stand to see that.

*****

“Wh-What’s all this?”

Woojin, back from practice, spoke in a flustered voice.

“Huh? Beats me.”

The guy who came in with him, also just back from practice, echoed the dazed sentiment.

“Woojin, you’re back? I was right around the corner—I guess we missed each other.”

Their eyes both turned toward me as I walked in through the front door.

The guy who practiced with Woojin… had to be—

“Hey, hyung.”

Lee Hyunjae… He was older than Kim Haram, right?

He had slightly wavy brown hair and a gentle, laid-back vibe that left a good impression.

Maybe he just had a naturally friendly face—he tilted his head with a casual smile.

“Yeah. But, Haram, what is all this…?”

“Oh, I told Woojin earlier, before he left for practice, that we’d eat something good tonight.”

I smiled as I watched Choi Woojin, still unable to tear his eyes away from the food.

“Do you like what I picked?”

Woojin turned to me with the biggest grin on his face. Gosh, don’t look at me like that—it’s embarrassing.

“I love it! It’s all my favorite stuff!”

Heh. Don’t think that’s the end of it—I’ve got one more trick up my sleeve.

“Let’s have this too.”

“Woooow…!”

Finally, his gaze drifted to the bag in my hand, and his mouth dropped open wide.

Whoa, Woojin—your mouth’s really big.

“Th-That’s the tteokbokki from the famous market down the street…! And the hot dog set…!”

Of course it is. Only the best for you.

Lee Hyunjae, who’d been standing silently with wide eyes, let out a small “Ooh…” as he looked at me.

His gaze said, ‘How did you even…?’

“I had to sneak around a bit to get it.”

In the end, an employee caught me, and I had to let them take a photo… nearly died of embarrassment. So this is the life of a celebrity, huh.

“I’ve… I’ve really been craving this lately, and—wow, hyung, seriously… huh?”

Woojin suddenly froze, staring at the bag in my hand with a flicker of realization in his eyes.

Tch, he caught on fast.

His gaze moved to the table—fried chicken… pizza… grilled meat…

And then—ah, I figured he’d notice eventually, but not this quickly.

“Hyung… no way…”

The tteokbokki…

“Are those… potato corn dogs?”

Potato corn dogs…

“Yup.”

Woojin’s ears instantly turned bright red.

“…Did you…”

Yes. It’s exactly what you think it is.

Before the flush spreading from his ears could take over his whole face, Woojin covered it with both hands.