Chapter 181

What am I going to do there?

“No, I didn’t cry. Something got in my eye.”

You’re kidding me. Ian snorted.

Im No-eul didn’t say anything after that. He just shook his head slightly and lowered it, but Ian noticed the comment section of a popular portal site on the screen of his phone.

“No-eul, why are you looking at that?”

“I’m curious about the reactions.”

“You should go to the fan cafe if you’re curious. You shouldn’t look at that stuff.”

This feels familiar. It reminded him of the old memory when Kim Young-hyun came to him when he was looking at the internet reactions during the early days of his debut as Awi.

‘So this is how it turned out.’

Im No-eul thought Ian would leave soon, but he was still sitting on the opposite chair. He rolled his eyes and glanced at Ian.

“Why, are you uncomfortable? Should I just go?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Ian decided to wait until Im No-eul opened his mouth. It was also a way to vent out when someone had a problem.

Of course, when Ian was Kim Yong-min, he had no one to talk to.

[Isn’t this a waste of time?]

‘Why do you think it’s a waste?’

Jin kept nagging, but Ian ignored him. He wanted to try being a kind senior for once.

“Hyung.”

Ian lifted his head. Im No-eul called him, but he was silent for a long time.

Ian didn’t rush him and waited until the next words came out.

“Is it always like this?”

Im No-eul, who was wondering if he could talk about this, finally opened his mouth. It was a vague question without a subject, but Ian knew what he was talking about right away.

[It’s always like that.]

Jin immediately answered, but it wouldn’t reach Im No-eul. But Ian couldn’t say anything.

‘It’s hard.’

The public’s interest in the agency increased as the affiliated singers continued to succeed. Some people even became fans of the agency itself.

Fever, who followed Black Rush and Awi, received explosive attention even before their debut. It was more so because their debut period coincided with Awi’s hiatus.

‘We got more attention than when we debuted.’

He had checked the internet communities from time to time during the filming of ‘Z-Day’, so he knew well how Fever, or Im No-eul, received attention and how they were provoked, fabricated, and criticized.

Ian crossed his arms and leaned back on the chair.

‘What should I say?’

It was inevitable as a public figure. It was always like that, and it was not something we could stop. Saying that would sound like ‘It’s been like that, so you have to endure it.’

“I don’t think I can give you an easy answer.”

“Really?”

Im No-eul lowered his head in disappointment.

“It’s not that your problem is trivial. It’s hard for me too.”

Im No-eul lifted his head again at Ian’s words. He had lived two lives in the entertainment industry, both in his previous and current life, but Ian was also a human being. As a human being, he couldn’t help but get hurt by excessive criticism.

‘I’m just used to it, not comfortable with it.’

Ian had just learned how to deal with it.

“Well… I don’t have anything to say except to toughen up your mind.”

“How do I do that? I don’t know, hyung.”

Im No-eul fiddled with the corner of his phone that had turned off the screen and asked casually.

“Well… If I have learned anything, it’s self-righteousness.”

“Self-righteousness?”

“If I do it, it’s romance. If someone else does it, it’s adultery.”

“Ah…”

Im No-eul uttered an exclamation with a blank expression.

“Of course, if you do something wrong that makes the headlines, you can’t think like that. And of course, you can’t do anything immoral or illegal either. That would be a big problem if you’re self-righteous. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yes.”“Anyway, other than that, you have to keep thinking that you’re right and they’re wrong.”

Im No-eul was leaning his upper body toward Ian and listening to his words attentively.

“You’re cursing me? What are you so good at? You’re just a basement dweller who writes fake rumors and hate comments on the internet. You better get ready for a lawsuit. Something like that. Do you understand?”

“…I think I get it.”

Im No-eul muttered blankly.

You have to blame others, not yourself. If you get swayed by the hate comments and think ‘Did I do something wrong?’, you might end up like Jo Tae-woong.

‘Giving advice is hard.’

Ian gave him some time to sort out his thoughts and then added.

“But it took me a long time to think like that.”

He was criticized for something he shouldn’t have been, and he was cursed more than a criminal for just making a small mistake. That was the life of a celebrity.

“Even Taewoong, who has been in the entertainment industry since he was a child actor, had some trouble recently.”

“That’s right…”

“That’s how it is. Anyone can have these thoughts.”

As Im Noeul listened to Ian’s words, he felt the weight that had been pressing down on him lighten up a bit. He also felt ashamed of himself for pouring out his worries over such a trivial matter.

“Don’t keep it in your mind too much.”

“Yes.”

Ian smiled with satisfaction as he saw Im Noeul’s expression improve.

“By the way, is Taewoong hyung okay now?”

“He’s much better. He’s preparing for his album now.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Im Noeul hesitated for a moment and then added another word.

“Are you okay, hyung?”

Oh, right. He was my fan. Ian laughed as he remembered the fact that he had forgotten.

“I’m fine, Inma.”

He wanted to tell him to worry about himself, but he didn’t say it out loud because he appreciated his concern.

Ian suddenly checked the time and got up abruptly. He had a lot to prepare for his comeback and the awards ceremony. He couldn’t stay here any longer.

“…Congratulations on your debut.”

He patted Im Noeul’s shoulder lightly and headed to the practice room of Awi.

Im Noeul, who was left behind, stared blankly at Ian’s back. Then he shuddered as if he remembered something.

‘Come to think of it, I’m pretty awesome, right?’

He had somehow debuted in the same agency as his favorite star, became his junior, and had his favorite star listen to his troubles.

‘I don’t need to look for a successful life. It’s right here.’

He had been unable to get rid of the malicious comments from his mind until a moment ago, but now they were completely gone. Im Noeul walked lightly to find his members and headed upstairs.

****

“Is Kim Juyeong here!”

Ian opened the practice room door with a bang and shouted. The members who were sitting in a circle and deciding on the concept of their next album booed at him.

“What’s up, why are you so late?”

“You ruined our mood, you know.”

“Take responsibility.”

Ian squeezed in between them and sat down.

“So why are you late? You should buy us dinner since you’re late.”

“Yeah, buy us food.”

Park Seodam and Jo Taewoong pushed him. He felt like he would have to buy them food and coffee if he didn’t hurry up and explain.

“I have a reason for being late. Listen.”

He started to tell them about the conversation he had with Jo Minhwan. He said he received an offer to be a guest on Seong PD’s ‘Rural Life’. The members cheered excitedly.

“Oh, I watched season 1 and it was fun.”

“Isn’t Seong PD’s variety show a guaranteed hit?”

“So, are you going?”

“No, not me, him.”

Ian pointed his finger at Kim Juyeong. Kim Juyeong widened his eyes and poked his chest with his index finger.“Me?”

“You.”

The members turned their heads at the same time and looked at Kim Juyeong.

“Me on Seong PD’s variety show?”

“Yeah, you just have to say okay and we’ll pack our bags and head to Gangwon-do right away.”

He would have to consult with Kim Myungjin, but it was a no-brainer to accept a high-rated variety show. Kim Myungjin would welcome it and squeeze it in even if they had a lot of schedules.

“I recommended you because I thought you wouldn’t be able to do the job well.”

“Really?”

Kim Juyeong’s expression, which had been flustered, brightened up in an instant. ‘Rural Life’ was a weekend prime time variety show, as well as a trusted Seong PD’s show. There was no reason to refuse.

“Why not you and me?”

“Minhwan hyung said he was having a hard time. He had his phone taken away and couldn’t search for recipes. He said he only ate rice and kimchi.”

“Wow, that’s… perfect for Juyeong, isn’t it?”

Jo Taewoong, who was listening next to him, tapped Kim Juyeong’s shoulder and made a fuss.

“Hey, this is your chance. Go for it.”

“But what about our comeback preparations?”

Kim Juyeong hesitated. It was their long-awaited comeback, and he didn’t want to delay it by a day because of him.

“That’s something we can figure out among ourselves.”

“Juyeong, it’s not like it’s going to be pushed back that much just because you’re gone for a few days.”

“Right, can’t we just do our recording first while you’re gone?”

The members shouted for him to decide quickly. Kim Hyun frowned at Kim Joo-young’s words that followed.

“Can I do this well?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. How often do you get such an opportunity? Hey, someone tell Kim Myung-jin quickly.”

“I’ll do it.”

Park Seo-dam was already calling Kim Myung-jin. Ian went to her side and added his opinion.

“One day is too short… Ask him if we can get two days.”

“Then let’s finish recording as much as we can before we go.”

Lee Joo-hyuk quickly changed the recording schedule as if it was already decided, and managed to get Kim Myung-jin’s permission after a short call. Kim Myung-jin praised them for getting such a schedule.

“Joo-young got confirmed for a hit variety show, let’s go eat meat.”

“Meat? Hey, Jo Tae-woong, are you using Kim Joo-young as an excuse?”

“Joo-young is being exploited.”

They had only seen the food at the wedding and had not eaten yet. The members jumped up at Jo Tae-woong’s words and headed outside the practice room.

Kim Joo-young walked side by side with Ian and casually asked.

“Do you know the cast members well?”

“Min-hwan hyung has a similar personality to Jo Tae-woong, so you’ll get along with him quickly. Hye-ji noona is also kind.”

“What am I supposed to do there?”

What are you supposed to do? You go there and cook, clean, help out, and become a new servant to replace Jo Min-hwan.

“Just do what you did at Tae-woong’s grandmother’s house and everyone there will become your fanatics.”

“Whatever.”

“Seriously.”

Kim Joo-young was nervous because it was his first time doing this kind of variety show.

Ian stroked his chin and thought. ‘Rural Life’ season 2 had a lot of incidents and accidents. The water pipe suddenly burst, the farming tools were rusty, and they had trouble harvesting the crops in the field.

‘Min-hwan hyung complained that there were a lot of problems in the house and he didn’t have any tools to fix them, right?’

Ian recalled his memory and advised Kim Joo-young.

“If I had to say… bring some household tools and baking soda.”

***

(Dancing King Kim Joo-young 2) Choi Ian – 11:00

(Dancing King Kim Joo-young 2) This scary guy – 11:00

Kim Joo-young, who had gone to Gangwon-do to film ‘Rural Life’, sent a message out of the blue.

‘He says he arrived well like this.’

It seemed that Ian’s advice worked well. While he chuckled, the other members sent messages at Kim Joo-young’s random words.

(Hyun-hyun 3) ? – 11:02

(Jo Tae-woong 4) What? – 11:02

(Dancing King Kim Joo-young 2) There’s something like that, I have to give my phone to PD Sung, see you in Seoul – 11:03

After that message, Kim Joo-young did not show up in the chat room for two days.