Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 214

“No. What are we to you?”

While I was struggling with a headache, the question buzzed in my ear, leaving me unsure of how to answer.

Unlike when I had just woken up and he had been breathing heavily and pressing me, Gyun Seong-ha had now calmed down and asked his final question in a subdued manner.

When I had just become a Seed trainee last year and clashed with Gyun Seong-ha, he had pushed me away with all his might and a nervous attitude. So why did that quiet question just now pierce me more sharply than his previous aggressive behavior?

As I rolled my eyes to look at Gyun Seong-ha blankly, he grimaced suddenly.

Regardless of his calm tone, it was clear that Gyun Seong-ha was angry.

I accepted Gyun Seong-ha’s rightful anger.

The members, the company people, and Aeri all had every right to be angry with me.

Especially since it seemed they had somewhat figured out that I had deliberately collided with Oh Hyun-jin, they would see me as someone who foolishly acted out of personal feelings rather than considering the group’s activities.

If it weren’t for Lee Young-min covering for me beyond expectations, I would have had to stay in the hospital for a while.

Even if I had been healed perfectly without any aftereffects by grace, a minimum recovery period was needed to avoid looking strange to others, which would have inevitably disrupted my subsequent plans.

Still, I thought it had to be done.

If not now, I felt like I would never be able to do it. If I were to do it, it had to be now. Every situation surrounding me seemed to be saying so.

‘That’s my situation.’

Their anger towards me was entirely justified.

But the slightly unfair part was,

It was because I wanted them to understand something I couldn’t reveal to them.

I wanted to tell them.

That a few years ago, something unfortunate and sad had happened to On Raon, which partly matched my past, and as someone who had inherited his life, I had an obligation to return what I had received if possible…

“Why can’t you speak? Is that something to ponder over?”

In fact, I had once given up a safe, risk-free opportunity to help you.

‘It’s a pointless thought.’

I was pathetic for trying to defend myself in this situation.

Anyway, before Gyun Seong-ha, with his immense strength capable of supporting two people at once, could hit me, I decided I needed to say something.

“Ugh…”

I grimaced as I belatedly realized the dry state of my locked throat.

“Drink slowly.”

Recently evolved into a melancholy handsome man, Seo Moon-gyeol quickly handed me a bottle of mineral water.

After I mouthed a thank you and drank the water, the hospital room door opened, and Ban Yo-han, the only member who wasn’t present, entered.

“You’re awake?”

I was slightly taken aback by his nonchalant comment.

The reason I specifically took Ban Yo-han to the schedule was to fill in for me as the host due to the serious injury likely to result from the confrontation with Oh Hyun-jin.

Among the generally emotional members, Ban Yo-han was the one I judged to be the most rational and quick to respond to unexpected situations.

Thanks to the sudden intervention of Lee Young-min, I managed to avoid injury, but I still fainted from accumulated fatigue during the broadcast, resulting in a situation similar to my initial plan.

Although it wasn’t certain, Ban Yo-han seemed to have figured out that I had intended this from the start.

Had he been so pissed off that he had lost his mind?

* * *

A few hours ago, Jang Haena, who had arrived in Korea, got off the plane and joined her husband On Hyun-woo, who had just set foot on Korean soil for the first time in a while, and her eldest son On Se-ha, who was born in the United States and had never left American soil since birth, unlike On Raon, who had lived in Korea for a while when he was young. They went to the hospital where On Raon was admitted.

To find out about On Raon’s condition as soon as possible, the family, following the staff sent by Ban Ga-eul, took a separate elevator to the floor where On Raon’s room was located, avoiding a few reporters camped outside the hospital.

Honestly, it seemed unnecessary to go to such lengths for ordinary people who weren’t known to the media.

As soon as Ban Ga-eul met the family, all of whom had stunning looks, she realized her judgment had been correct.

Especially the older brother, On Se-ha, who, except for a slightly colder aura and taller height, closely resembled his younger brother On Raon in overall appearance. If no precautions had been taken, he would have certainly been caught by the reporters wandering around.

“[Hello. I’m Ban Ga-eul, the one you spoke with on the phone.]”

“Hello.”

“Hello. You can speak in Korean.”

“Oh, I see.”

On Se-ha, who couldn’t understand Korean except for simple conversations, seemed a bit displeased but didn’t join the conversation.

“I’m truly sorry we’re meeting under such circumstances.”

Looking even more haggard than when she had dealt with the school violence controversy involving Gyun Seong-ha a few days ago, Ban Ga-eul bowed with a grave apology.

“No, it’s alright.”

On Hyun-woo, gesturing for Ban Ga-eul to rise, started speaking in a composed tone.

“We thought our child was doing well in Korea.”

On Raon had been making a name for himself quickly among the Korean-American community in America this year, thanks to his activities in variety shows.

The handsomest idol in history, they said. He spent a delightful time with Muk Hye-sung, who was a distant relative of his from Ten to Ten. He also became the new MC for a music show.

Except for the recent accident at the dorm, On Hyun-woo had only heard such good news intermittently, so he couldn’t understand the current situation.

“As I briefly mentioned to you earlier, it appears that Raon experienced significant bullying when he was a trainee at his previous agency, True Entertainment. Did you know about this?”

“No. This is the first time I’m hearing about it.”

Before becoming a trainee, On Raon had been somewhat of an outsider among his peers in America, but he was never directly targeted with violence.

In fact, he had been quite a model student.

Jang Haena and On Hyun-woo, considering their second child’s unique disposition that even made parents uneasy, had carefully chosen a school for On Raon to attend in America. They were certain of this.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. When Raon called us to say he was quitting as a trainee at True, he only mentioned that he had made the decision because he had failed to make the debut group.”

At On Hyun-woo’s words, Ban Ga-eul nodded cautiously.

“I see. And you heard that Raon had an incident where he fell down the stairs while talking alone with Oh Hyun-jin, an idol from True, right?”

“Yes. The other party claims it was an accident. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s correct. However, based on the testimony of a reliable witness, we believe Oh Hyun-jin pushed Raon down the stairs. We’ll need to hear the exact story from Raon after he wakes up….”

“How about the manager who got hurt while protecting our child? Is he alright?”

“Yes. Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and he is currently stable.”

“That’s a relief. He even had to undergo surgery, so he must have been seriously injured while saving our child. We’d like to visit him separately and thank him.”

“Oh, Mr. Young-min’s post-surgery recovery has been excellent, so I believe we can arrange a meeting today.”

At that moment, On Se-ha, who had been silent, spoke with a tired face from the long flight.

“Where’s Damian? Is he still not awake?”

While the adults, including Jang Haena and On Hyun-woo, called On Se-ha and On Raon by their Korean names, the brothers, who were more accustomed to English than their elders, referred to each other by their English names.

Momentarily taken aback by the unfamiliar English name, Ban Ga-eul soon remembered it was On Raon’s given name and was about to respond when her phone vibrated.

It was Gwak Sang-hyun.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“It’s alright.”

As soon as Ban Ga-eul answered the call, Gwak Sang-hyun quickly updated her on the situation in the hospital room.

– President, Raon is awake.

“Really? I’ll bring Raon’s family over immediately, so be prepared.”

– Raon’s family? Ah, yes. Understood.

* * *

Among the four people, Ban Yo-han, who looked the best, surprisingly didn’t seem very angry.

In fact, his light smile seemed to reveal a bit of excitement.

Even On Raon, who had just woken up, was puzzled by Ban Yo-han’s demeanor, which contrasted starkly with his irritable state the previous night when he had been as tense as he was during his high school midterms.

But Kang Ji-woo, who knew Ban Yo-han well, grew increasingly uneasy seeing his smile.

‘He has no reason to be happy in this situation. What happened to him overnight? Or has he finally snapped from being so furious?’

As Kang Ji-woo speculated the same thing as On Raon, Ban Yo-han, who had drawn his own conclusion, spoke.

“You like me, don’t you?”

“What?”

“You like Kang Ji-woo, Seong-ha, and Gyeol too. You like Sang-hyun hyung as well. You like everyone at our company, and your fans too, right?”

“You like us.”

He must have gone mad.

Kang Ji-woo was convinced.

Regardless of what Kang Ji-woo was thinking, Ban Yo-han continued with his own conclusion.

“And you want to show only your best side to the people you like, right? You don’t want to show even a little bit of what you consider to be your out-of-line behavior to us, do you?”

That was the conclusion Ban Yo-han had reached after forcibly suppressing his anger for two days.

“I don’t think the method itself is bad. But you’ve already messed up.”

On Raon’s eyes shook greatly at the words that felt like a death sentence.

“You’ve already shown us the worst of your worst. Acting on your own, making fools out of people, deceiving and mocking them. I’ve never been treated like this in my life, so honestly, it really pissed me off.”

“Hey, your words…”

Ban Yo-han, spewing out words close to insults in a kindly polished tone, smirked sharply again.

“You said you did it because you liked us, so I can’t help it, right? So just quickly apologize. I’ll let it slide just this once.”

Then, Ban Yo-han waited for On Raon’s response as if challenging him to try.

While no one could speak easily, Gwak Sang-hyun, who was waiting outside the hospital room for On Raon’s family, knocked on the door.

“Guys, Raon’s family is here.”