IWDAR Chapter 33

After the meat restaurant feast with the members—which Wooyoung felt truly lived up to the word “feast” given the amount they ate—he had to return to the company. 

 

Ha-jin, along with the leader, Sunwoo, called Wooyoung in and brought up the recording schedule and the future direction of their practice.

 

Since the missing member was the main vocalist, a significant amount of time would be spent on re-recording, as many parts needed to be re-harmonized with the other members.

 

Recording itself wasn’t difficult for Wooyoung, who was used to it, except for quickly memorizing the song.

 

The problem, however, was dance practice.

 

It was unknown how much this world’s Han Wooyoung had learned in terms of singing and dancing at Lilac Entertainment. 

 

However, the Han Wooyoung from his past life had never danced a day in his life. As a demonstration, he tried following a simple choreography in front of Ha-jin and Sunwoo, but both of them wore rather subtle expressions.

 

“Hmm… your body is slender and your limbs are long, so your lines are pretty, but…”

 

“I think it’d be best to start from the basics.”

 

“Wouldn’t that take too long?” 

 

Sunwoo said with a darkened face, recalling Jaewon’s situation.

 

“There’s no other way. But his basic skills aren’t completely terrible, so if we push him hard enough, it should be alright. What do you think, Jin-young?”

 

The man called ‘Jin-young’ was Eden’s dance instructor. He had been checking every single move Wooyoung made without missing a beat, and now shrugged with a troubled expression.

 

“It’s not completely unbearable, but….”

 

It meant that it wasn’t bearable either. In fact, Wooyoung, who had been receiving all sorts of embarrassing praise every time he sang, was so mortified by this situation that he wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. 

 

The fact that he had sincerely tried his best during the demonstration made it even more embarrassing.

 

“With effort, he can definitely pull his weight. Of course, it all depends on his own effort.”

 

Jin-young, with a gentle face, glanced at Wooyoung, who was standing upright and quietly listening to him. 

 

He wondered just how much effort this frail and soft-looking body, devoid of any fighting spirit, could truly put in.

 

It seemed Jin-young wasn’t the only one thinking this, as a heavy silence fell upon the practice room.

 

Wooyoung looked at Sunwoo’s troubled face.

 

‘Wooyoung, your voice gave us, who were insecure, confidence again. So you don’t have to feel sorry at all.’

 

He didn’t want to disappoint Sunwoo, who had said such words to him. And more than anything else…

 

“We have to show this to the CEO next month, will that be possible?”

 

Ha-jin, who had spoken frankly to Jin-young, looked at Wooyoung with a slightly apologetic expression. Wooyoung gave a small, awkward smile.

 

Yes, more than anything else, Han Wooyoung didn’t want to show an embarrassing side of himself to that man, Mo Tae-uk.

 

With that in mind, Wooyoung slowly raised his right hand, like a child about to answer a question in class. All three of them looked at him.

 

“I will work hard and make sure to pull my weight, as you said. I’ll do my best, so please take good care of me.”

 

As he bowed deeply with his back straight, showing his resolute attitude, Hajin and Jinyoung were a little taken aback. It could have been uncomfortable to have a discussion about his shortcomings right in front of him, but Wooyoung showed no such sign.

 

Sunwoo, who blinked in surprise at Wooyoung’s unexpectedly firm demeanor, burst out laughing.

 

“Yeah, that’s the spirit, Wooyoung!”

 

“Th-thank you!”

 

Sunwoo laughed even harder, finding Wooyoung’s even more energetic reply cute. Wooyoung, unconsciously, smiled along with his clear, refreshing laughter, which made the listener feel good.

 

Ha-jin, who had been momentarily worried, chuckled in disbelief at the rather heartwarming situation, and then spoke to Jinyoung.

 

“Since the kids are going to work hard, please take good care of them, Jinyoung.”

 

“Don’t worry. As long as they have the will, I can teach them well.”

 

“Then we’ll start re-recording next week, so Wooyoung, let’s learn the basic choreography for the title track before then. Are you free tomorrow?”

 

“Yes, I am. I’ll work hard!”

 

“Okay, okay.”

 

Wooyoung exchanged phone numbers with Jinyoung and immediately scheduled a practice time for the next day right there. 

 

He felt overwhelmed by how quickly things were progressing, but he didn’t show it and tried his best to keep up.

 

Ha-jin, having relayed all the important information, was about to wrap things up and gave Sunwoo a heads-up.

 

“In your spare time, please keep an eye on Wooyoung and Ha-bin’s choreography too, along with yours. Got it?”

 

“Yes, of course.”

 

At the sudden mention of Habin’s name, Wooyoung unconsciously glanced at Sunwoo. Sunwoo, however, seemed unfazed.

 

“Yes, you always work hard, Sunwoo. Once things settle down a bit more, the CEO will confirm the debut date, so until then, take good care of the kids who are feeling anxious. It won’t take too long, okay?”

 

“Yes.”

 

After patting Sunwoo reassuringly, Ha-jin lightly patted Wooyoung’s shoulder as well before leaving. That simple, casual touch strangely calmed Wooyoung’s heart.

 

｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈•  ｡ﾟ

 

“Wooyoung, you’re late today. Haven’t had dinner yet?”

 

It was the housekeeper, whom he had recently become closer to, who greeted Wooyoung when he returned to the mansion. She adored Wooyoung, saying his age was just like her own children’s.

 

“I’m making beef jeongol  right now. Go wash your hands and come eat. I made a lot of rice too. Enough for tomorrow as well.”

 

(T/N: Beef hot pot)

 

“Wow…”

 

Wooyoung’s face brightened at the mention of beef jeongol, but he soon shook his head with a dejected expression.

 

“I can’t eat dinner today, Auntie…”

 

“What? Wooyoung not eating dinner? What do you mean? Are you feeling unwell?”

 

The housekeeper asked back in surprise, as if she had heard something truly bizarre. Wooyoung felt embarrassed, wondering if he had been that gluttonous.

 

“I ate too much for lunch, so I was told to skip dinner…”

 

“What did you say?!”

 

Wooyoung had a few bites of the kimchi naengmyeon that Si-on had pushed towards him, and then his appetite exploded, leading him to enthusiastically devour meat with the other members. 

 

Sunwoo and the other members showered him with compliments, making him feel good and lose control of his portions. Ha-jin, who returned to find the members reeking of meat and saw the cost on the receipt, had jumped up and scolded them.

 

‘Even if I told you to eat as much as you want, how can you not know your limits?! Look at them, they even drank cola? Are you saving zero-cola for soup? Do you even think?! All of you, take pictures of yourself exercising and send them to me as proof, and skip dinner!’

 

Remembering that terrifying voice, Wooyoung could only shake his head despite his mouth watering for the beef jeongol.

 

Shocked by Wooyoung’s earth-shattering words, the housekeeper was indignant.

 

“You’re so skinny, and you’re skipping meals?! Is that company trying to make skeletons instead of idols?!”

 

Skeletons… might be a bit of an exaggeration considering he ate very heartily at every meal…

 

“I, it’s okay, Auntie. Everyone here manages their weight like this.”

 

“Even if everyone does it, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s absurd! What kind of company makes their employees skip meals these days?!”

 

The fuming housekeeper soon sighed deeply.

 

“The CEO specifically requested this, so I put a lot of effort into making it. What am I supposed to do if you don’t eat it?”

 

“…Did the CEO ask you to make beef jeongol for me?”

 

“Just beef jeongol? All your meals so far have been personally requested by the CEO. Did you not know? I thought you knew, so I didn’t mention it because you always eat together.”

 

The housekeeper asked Wooyoung, her eyes wide.

 

Wooyoung fiddled with his intertwined fingers and slowly shook his head.

 

“…I didn’t know anything.”

 

“Oh dear. Anyway, how about you at least have some of the broth? Jeongol broth won’t make you gain weight. It’s packed with good things, so it’s more like a tonic.”

 

Korean broths, especially, were high in sodium, so his adoptive parents always excluded broths from his meals the day before important events and forbade him from even touching them. 

 

He knew this fact fully well, but since Tae-uk had ordered the dish, Wooyoung’s heart stirred and he nodded.

 

“Then, just a little bit…”

 

“Oh, good thinking! I should contact the CEO and see if he can eat tonight as well.”

 

The housekeeper smiled brightly and hurried off to the dining room.