A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 135
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Initial Intentions Episode 135
The story goes back four days.
“A birthday party?”
At my question, Lee Jiwon nodded.
“Yeah, I’m renting out a club and only letting in people with invitations, so if you’re bringing friends, let me know.”
“I can’t give you a definite answer right now, I’ll check my schedule and get back to you.”
The fact that the birthday party venue was a club was a bit concerning, but I did receive a 2 million won birthday gift last year.
He’s also a close hyung I need to maintain connections with, so I was already leaning toward going to the birthday party.
Plus, it overlapped perfectly with the schedule, making it a great excuse not to appear on that show.
“Oh, and I’m not accepting birthday gifts over 500,000 won.”
“Hey, why are you saying this when you spent 2 million on my birthday?”
“Listen here, you brat. Don’t overdo it, just give something reasonable.”
“2 million is reasonable for me now though?”
When I said this with a smirk, Jiwon pressed down on the top of my head, telling me to save money instead of spending it recklessly.
After finishing my workout and returning to the dormitory, the system suddenly displayed a status window in front of me.
[Would you like to use a Random Ticket? Yes/No]
“What?”
I’m not going to use it right now? I had no idea why it was suddenly trying to force a sale again.
But this damn system flashed colorfully in front of my eyes, changing colors frantically as if telling me to touch yes immediately.
There was still plenty of time left on the expiration date, so I wondered what all the fuss was about. My eyes hurt so much that I eventually touched it irritably.
[‘Entertainment news from sometime’ has appeared!]
You tormented me like that just to give me this? As soon as I grumbled and opened the news article, I straightened up and read carefully at the ominous headline.
[Dispatched after drug report… Marijuana discovered at club]
Rapper Riburn (32) and three others caught at the scene, drug test results show positive for marijuana…
Riburn was an overground rapper who was also quite close with G1.
From my memory before regression, the two of them cut ties and it became somewhat of an issue.
Club, Jiwon’s birthday date written in the article, Jiwon’s connections.
I remembered the story I heard before regression. It was a long time ago so I didn’t have a sense of the exact timing, but if that story was about this incident in this article…
‘I’m screwed if I attend.’
I can’t regress after having my image ruined here.
Just having my name mentioned in connection with such an incident would damage my image, let alone anything else.
What if I drink, let my guard down, and my old heavy smoker habits kick in, so I accept a cigarette, and surprise—it was marijuana! That kind of horrible disaster could happen.
The system would probably throw an initial intentions punch to snap me back to my senses before that, but you never know with human affairs.
Just being there could be enough to damage my image.
Would the public bother to find out that what happened at that club was a birthday party, not a drug party?
Even I, before the crew hyungs told me the exact truth, thought ‘They’re throwing drug parties by renting out clubs? They really have money to burn for all kinds of crazy shit, tsk tsk.’
But skipping the birthday party without a good reason would also be awkward.
Having a conflicting schedule was the most understandable excuse I could give.
And it had to be a schedule that lasted several days, not something short that ended the same day.
So I concluded that , which runs for 5 nights and 6 days, would be most appropriate.
Finishing my recollection and returning to reality, I saw the members still looking at me with disbelief.
“What are you looking at? Just eat your food.”
As I grumbled and resumed eating, Ryu Jaehee asked cautiously.
“What on earth happened to make hyung volunteer…?”
I checked the relationship improvement window and answered with a trustworthy smile.
“I’m the leader, after all.”
The relationship improvement levels I checked again remained the same. Meaning these damn members weren’t moved at all by my sacrifice.
Seo Yehyeon, who had been looking at me with suspicious eyes, was the first to voice a conspiracy theory.
“The agency must have dangled something as bait. Otherwise, there’s no way Yoon Eden would volunteer to go.”
“Could it be a solo album?”
“Maybe they’re giving whoever goes a packed schedule afterward?”
“Why can’t you trust people? Do you have trust issues?”
Here I am sacrificing myself to prevent our group’s image from being damaged.
If my image gets damaged, our group’s image gets damaged too, so it’s the same thing.
“No, it’s just weird that you suddenly developed a spirit of sacrifice. Just a few days ago, you were desperately trying to push it off on others.”
When Ryu Jaehee said this seriously while resting his chin on his hand, Kim Dobin nodded enthusiastically beside him.
“Really? Then is there anyone who wants to go instead of me? Are you talking to me like that because you want to go?”
When I asked with a leisurely smile, Ryu Jaehee and Kim Dobin frantically covered their mouths with their palms and shook their heads like crazy.
“Won’t it be tough? You’re already busy preparing for the mini album, so maybe we should send Yehyeon hyung or Dobin instead…”
When Gyeon Hajun asked cautiously, Seo Yehyeon looked back at Gyeon Hajun with a betrayed expression.
“Hey, Hajun. Why me…?”
“Hyung, you’d look good in short hair and military uniform?”
“Hajun hyung, why me…?”
“Even if there’s no age limit for military service, it’s a bit much to send Jaehee who’s a high school senior. If someone has to go, you’d be better than Jaehee.”
I answered Gyeon Hajun, who had achieved a K.O. on Seo Yehyeon and Kim Dobin, while casually running my hand through my hair.
“I want to go cool my head a bit since this song didn’t meet expectations. Is that enough now? What conspiracy theories are you making up? If you really can’t believe it, go ask the CEO directly.”
The digital single we released in March reached 4th place on the monthly chart.
It was partly a stopgap to prevent the hiatus from getting too long, and we only did music show activities for 2 weeks, so there wasn’t any particular regret or impact from the results.
But since everyone knew I had strong pride in my music, it worked well as an excuse.
Everyone nodded with unconvinced faces. Well, even I would think ‘is that bastard crazy’ rather than understand if someone said they were going on a military variety show because of the shock of their song reaching 4th place.
“Hyung, I’m sorry but I don’t think I can attend this year’s birthday party.”
When I carefully brought it up with the most apologetic face possible, Jiwon looked at me and asked.
“Why, is something wrong?”
“Well, I have to go to the military next week…”
Jiwon’s expression immediately became serious.
“Did you get into some trouble?”
“No, I’m not enlisting because of trouble, it’s a variety show, …”
At my urgent explanation, Jiwon nodded with a relieved face, but his expression soon changed to one of pity.
“Why does your agency always book those kinds of variety shows?”
“That’s what I’m saying. But what can I do? We’re a small company, so when the broadcasting station tells us to do it, we have to.”
“Well, it’s not like you’re actually enlisting, you’re just going to experience military life. Since you’re going anyway, have a good trip. From what I’ve seen, it’s not even 50% of what you actually go through in real military service. Oh, you know you have to take a deep breath during NBC training, right?”
I replied dryly to Jiwon’s giggling words as he patted my back.
“How do you say the exact same thing as my three military veteran friends?”
Even though I haven’t served yet, I know you’re screwed if you breathe in during NBC training. And surely they won’t do NBC training.
I thought a lot about whether to tell Jiwon in advance that a marijuana incident would break out at his birthday party.
If it were someone unrelated to Jiwon, I wouldn’t know, but the person involved was Riburn.
‘Hyung, if someone who’s close to you but not as close to you as I am told you to stay away from me because I’d smoke weed, what would you think?’
‘I’d curse them out and tell them to stop talking nonsense.’
‘But what if I really did smoke weed?’
‘Do you smoke weed…?’
‘No, it’s hypothetical, hypothetical. Could you not look at me with such a shocked face, hyung? Anyone who sees this would think I actually smoke weed.’
‘Well then… still, it would be awkward to face that person. At the point where you cursed them out.’
‘Could you go back to how things were before?’
‘If you curse someone out and then try to be friendly again, wouldn’t that make you either crazy or a psycho?’
Recalling my conversation with Yongcheol hyung, it really was best not to say anything, but thinking about how G1 suffered from false rumors about being a drug party ringleader before regression, it felt unsettling to just let it slide.
“Hyung, be careful. I heard there are some guys secretly smoking weed at clubs these days. You should probably crack down on it.”
“Hey, it’s fine, it’s fine. None of my connections would do something like that.”
When I gave him the best advice I could, Lee Jiwon responded half-heartedly and patted my back again.
Whatever, I did what I could.
* * *
After receiving accelerated basic training at the recruit training center and getting my unit assignment, I finally joined the original members of .
Since I was preparing for mini album activities, I couldn’t cut my hair short and had to wear a wig.
Looking at the awkward hairstyle where the wig was obviously fake, I really understood the saying that a man’s looks depend on his hair.
“Do you know what kind of special episode this filming is for?”
“I came without knowing.”
For some reason, the looks they gave me were pitying. I was able to understand the exact meaning of those looks a few hours later.
Combat training, a combat training special!
Starting with a march and being dragged to the combat training ground, I cried out inwardly. Of all times, to get stuck with the toughest special during the toughest period!
While performing PT Exercise number 8 after number 6, I blinked at the strange sense of déjà vu and finally remembered when I had experienced this before.
Our high school PE teacher made us do combat training.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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