Save a Failed Idol’s Life

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: NicoleTempest

Chapter 268 Moving Forward Together

The Vice Chairman smiled and readily agreed to my request.

“Of course, I’ll make it happen! Just let me know when you want to talk. I’ll make room for you even if I have to change the business hours.”

I laughed at his starkly different reaction from before. When Cheon Ise was still a nobody, there would have been a controversy if he gave special treatment to the owner’s son who was an idol.

But now that we were treated as second-tier or higher, no one would mind if he made a special place for us. They would think, ‘It’s a promotional sponsorship, so it makes sense.’

‘I remember there were some snarky comments when we did a real promotional collaboration before, just for renting a room.’

I felt the change in our status anew, even though not much time had passed.

“Yes, I’ll talk to the members and let you know the schedule. Is it okay if we do it sometime this week?”

I cautiously added a condition that might be a bit unreasonable, but the Vice Chairman didn’t change his expression and smiled.

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be able to do that for you? Don’t feel too pressured.”

You said it wasn’t possible last time. I wanted to retort, but I held it in and got up from my seat.

“Thank you. I’m tired, so I’ll go to bed early today.”

As I got up from my seat with a light smile, the Vice Chairman looked a bit disappointed, but he didn’t stop me.

“Okay, get some rest. You must be exhausted. And don’t push yourself too hard if you feel unwell in the future. Your health is the most important thing.”

I felt like I had made him worry too much, but I couldn’t blame him. I didn’t argue and smiled as I headed to the bedroom.

I walked awkwardly into the room that Cheon Ise used to use, and I saw the sight of the room that had nothing to do with me.

The room was full of Cheon Ise’s real things, from one to ten. I opened the desk, drawers, and closet that Cheon Ise used to use with a bitter taste in my mouth and checked the contents.

The first time I opened my eyes as Cheon Ise, the studio apartment had only new things that had been bought recently or new items that hadn’t even been unpacked.

But this was the room that Cheon Ise had used since he was young, so there were all kinds of old junk, from old diaries to cell phone air conditioners, notebooks, and student IDs.

‘Why so much…’

I felt it anew, but as I looked at the traces of Cheon Ise’s life, I realized that this moment was the life that I had been given by someone else.

‘So I have to live harder.’

Even if Cheon Ise himself had given up once and lost the right to claim his own things.

It was a fact that Cheon Ise had given me this unbelievable opportunity. So I had to be grateful and think about what I could do for the real Cheon Ise.

I reaffirmed my will and went to bed a little earlier than usual.

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I saw a lot of messages from the members on my phone screen.

[Kyunghwa] When are you coming? 9:13 AM

[Kyunghwa] Aeoong is waiting. 9:14 AM

[Kyunghwa] (Picture) 9:14 AM

[YJ] Aeoong misses Pposil. 9:16 AM

[Kyunghwa] Why are you saying that? He’s doing well in another house. 9:17 AM

[YJ] It’s a fact that he misses him. 9:17 AM

[One] (Picture) 9:18 AM

It was obvious that they were trying to get me to the dorm as soon as possible. Were they that worried? Or did they prepare something like a discharge celebration party?

I snickered as I scrolled down and found a picture that made the blood drain from my face.

[Seon-woo] (Picture) 9:30 AM

‘What?’

At first, I couldn’t believe what I saw with my eyes, so I rubbed them several times.

It was because Seon-woo in the picture was putting a marshmallow sandwiched between cookies that looked very high in calories with chocolate syrup sprinkled all over it.

[Me] Are you crazy? 10:51 AM

As soon as I sent a reply, the read confirmation popped up in an instant. These kids are getting smarter. I was speechless at how fast I reacted to this.

[Kyunghwa] It’s too late. 10:51 AM

[Yi-jun] If you want to save Seon-woo now, come to the dorm quickly. 10:52 AM

[Kyunghwa] (Picture) 10:52 AM

In the picture, Yi-jun was about to put the second cookie sandwich in Seon-woo’s mouth, making a fuss. I could see Seong-won making the third sandwich on the side.

And then, Yu-geon was sitting on the sofa, smiling and making a V sign towards the lens as if it was a commemorative photo.

The picture was taken by Kyunghwa.

I can’t believe this. I got up from my seat as if I had no choice and checked the neat luggage I had prepared yesterday.

I had my phone, charger, card, and wallet. Nothing was missing.

Most of the stuff was still in the dorm, so it wasn’t a big problem if I just went with my body.

“I’m going to the dorm now.”

I knocked on the door and said in a loud voice, and the Vice Chairman and the other family members had already left for work, and only the people who worked there saw me off.

“Thank you for having me.”

“Come on, don’t be like that. Health is the most important thing, so be careful.”

As I was about to leave the house with the gentle farewell of the housemaid, some people who I would have ignored before suddenly asked me for autographs.

“By the way, if it’s okay with you… my daughter is a fan of yours.”

“What, you want an autograph? Can I have one too?”

I had to sign four copies before I could get away. I felt how much my position as Cheon Ise had changed in the house as I hailed a taxi.

Even in the taxi, the driver recognized me and gave a long speech about how much his kids loved Offbeat. It was so embarrassing.

What did the real Cheon Ise think of the 180-degree change in the attitude of the people around him? Was he sad? Or…

I shook my head with a bitter taste in my mouth. Instead of thinking about things I couldn’t know, I had to think about how I was going to live.

‘I have to decide about the salad business too… whether I should be satisfied with doing it once as an event, or pursue branding more seriously…’

Now that my primary goal of success as an idol is gone. I didn’t have any obligation to maintain my activities as Climax.

Of course, I had already renewed my contract with the members, so I had to keep working until the end of the renewal period… but what about after that?

When I had just possessed this body, I wondered if I couldn’t succeed as a different entertainer than an idol.

‘Isn’t that obvious…’

Back then, being an idol was like an unknown territory that only young people liked. I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t have any sense of responsibility as an idol.

But now it was different. I started to understand why people wanted to be idols when I felt the thrill and the real-time feedback from the fans on stage.

I was just taking my first steps, but. I wanted to do better and give back more.

So for now… or as long as there are people in the world who want idol Cheon Ise, I want to see how far I can go.

I looked out the window as the taxi approached the dorm and got ready to get off.

“I was lucky today. I got to drive a celebrity. Have a good day.”

“Thank you.”

I waved my hand at the taxi that was driving away and went up to the dorm with a nervous heart.

Would they be angry at me for being so late, or not caring about how worried they were? Or would they be disappointed by my sudden change of attitude?

I hesitated for a long time with the guilt of not choosing them at the end, holding the doorknob, when the door suddenly opened.

“What are you doing? Come in.”

Seong-won looked at me with his usual grumpy expression, as if he was wondering what I was doing there.

“Huh? Uh…”

I calmed down my pounding heart and entered the living room. These guys must have eaten something they shouldn’t have… I thought as I opened the door and bang! A firework exploded with a loud noise.

“Welcome back!”

They all shouted and paper confetti poured over my head.

“Are you really okay now?”

“You still look a little pale.”

They all worried about me with a word or two, while Yu-geon sat on the sofa and smiled.

“You’ll be fine. Don’t worry too much. You always take care of yourself.”

He said as if it was nothing to brag about, but he ignored me when I pointed it out! He sounded like he still had a grudge from before.

Anyway, it worked out well, right? I pouted my lips and picked up Aeongi.

“I’m sorry for making you all worry. This won’t happen again.”

They would still worry even if I said that, but. I felt like I had come back to them when I saw Aeongi rubbing his head against me, trying to get rid of the unfamiliar smell.

There would be no Pposil or the real Cheon Ise in this peaceful scene.

But they waited for me without doubt, even when I changed into someone else and left my place.

“By the way, can you all spare some time for lunch or dinner this week? I have a place I want to go with you.”

I wanted to treat them as a thank you for the trouble I caused them. I wanted to share my favorite hospitality with the members.

“Uh… when do we all have no schedule? How about Thursday?”

The Climax members agreed with each other, and Yu-geon pointed at himself, looking at me as if he was included.

“Of course you’re included. I’ll contact Naru and Hwijin too.”

“…!”

He sparkled his eyes when I answered with a snicker.

Then Yi-jun joked as if he was teasing him.

“Hey, he’s our leader, you know. You can’t have him even if you fall for him.”

“What, I’m in the same unit as him.”

I laughed incredulously at their bickering. Could I be responsible for them not to be disappointed in the future?

I was half confident and half unsure. But I could do my best better than anyone else. I’ll try hard not to let you down.

I wiped my moist eyes with the back of my hand without realizing it, and Seon-woo hugged me.

“Don’t cry, hyung…”

I’m not crying. Before I could explain, Yi-jun made a fuss and ran to me.

“Quick, gather around! Surround them!”

As a result, even the reluctant Seong-won joined in, and the six of us ended up hugging each other like a ball.

“That’s enough, everyone, back off!”

I finally reached the limit of my patience and shouted for them to disperse. Only then did the dreadful welcome end.

The cake that we each ate a spoonful of and put down was sweet and delicious, and the dormitory that I returned to after a long time was warm enough to make my eyes moist.

‘I’m back.’

I had survived, and now all that was left was to move forward with these guys.