A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 155

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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 155

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to the Korean beef set we received as a prize, we had a Korean beef party at the dormitory after a long time.

 

This time, unlike before, it could proceed in a harmonious atmosphere. Of course, Seo Yehyeon only ate a few pieces and didn’t touch the meat after that.

 

“Hyung, aren’t you eating more?”

 

“Mm, I’m full…”

 

“Huh? Yehyeon hyung only had three pieces of meat.”

 

“It’s 6:10 right now.”

 

But considering he was the main culprit who almost made us unable to receive the Korean beef, I didn’t particularly want to tell him to eat more.

 

More concerning than Seo Yehyeon, who had put down his chopsticks, was Ryu Jaehee, who was uncharacteristically picking at his meat with a dark expression.

 

He kept burning the meat, so Kim Dobin had to take away the tongs and grill it himself.

 

“Youngest Member, is something wrong?”

 

At my question, Ryu Jaehee shook his head with a forced smile.

 

“No. It’s nothing.”

 

What do you mean nothing. Your face looks completely dejected. While I was silently pushing more meat toward Ryu Jaehee, his phone vibrated.

 

On the incoming call screen, the word [Mom] was displayed.

 

Ryu Jaehee looked back and forth between the veranda and his room, then bit his lips tightly, picked up his phone, and headed to his room.

 

-So I told you…! Why on earth…!

 

I picked up the remote and turned up the TV volume so we couldn’t hear Ryu Jaehee’s voice faintly coming from beyond the door, shouting something.

 

“The soundproofing is really terrible. I thought we picked a decent place, but as expected, the CEO’s judgment can’t be trusted. Right?”

 

As I clicked my tongue and muttered, Kim Dobin, who was diligently grilling meat instead of Ryu Jaehee, tilted his head.

 

“Does he not get along with his family? Come to think of it, aside from occasionally mentioning his younger siblings, I don’t think I’ve ever heard much about Jaehee’s family.”

 

“Don’t be curious about other people’s family affairs and just flip the meat. The meat is burning, man.”

 

At my scolding, Kim Dobin pouted.

 

“There’s a saying that burdens become lighter when shared. Honestly, I think I’d be more grateful if someone asked me what’s wrong when I’m having a hard time.”

 

“Are you Ryu Jaehee? Don’t just think from your perspective. Didn’t you hear him say it was nothing just now? And I haven’t told you about my family either.”

 

“That’s because the relationship between you and me isn’t the same as between Jaehee and me. Hyung, didn’t you tell Hajun hyung about your family?”

 

At my name coming from Kim Dobin’s mouth, Gyeon Hajun glanced at me and shook his head.

 

“I even know that Eden’s family dog is named Podo.”

 

“Didn’t you say it was Baduki before?”

 

I told Seo Yehyeon, who had interjected, the accurate facts.

 

“That was the first one who crossed the rainbow bridge when I was little. Podo is the second one we’re raising now.”

 

“Whoa! Hyung, your family home has a dog?”

 

“Yeah, want to see a picture of our Podo?”

 

I grinned and brought up a recent photo of Podo that Mom had sent me on my phone.

 

As I watched Kim Dobin cover his mouth and give an excellent reaction saying it was cute, Seo Yehyeon hesitated and finally asked me, apparently quite curious.

 

“Hey… I’m really curious about something… Is it named Podo because it’s a Pomeranian…?”

 

“Ugh, that reminds me. Naming a dog Choco or Podo is like naming a person Cyanide.”

 

Kim Dobin clicked the tongs and burst into laughter.

 

“My mother named it, so what?”

 

When I raised my eyebrows and asked, Seo Yehyeon and Kim Dobin attempted a quick change of stance.

 

“No, it’s a name that suits the dog really well. Looking at it again, it’s round and looks just like a grape.”

 

“Even if someone’s name was Kim Cyanide, I’d think it’s a unique and cool name! But how did the conversation drift here?”

 

Bang, when the door opened, we all closed our mouths without anyone going first. I pretended not to notice and pushed meat toward Ryu Jaehee, who had returned to the living room with reddened eyes.

 

“Youngest Member, if you have worries, tell us.”

 

At Seo Yehyeon’s careful consolation in his own way, Ryu Jaehee smiled as if nothing was wrong.

 

“It’s really nothing. I just brought down the mood for no reason. Doby hyung, pass the tongs! I’ll grill.”

 

None of us believed Ryu Jaehee’s lie. We just pretended not to know as the youngest member wanted.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

 

“Come to think of it, we should do a reverse support event on our last music show day. Even if the agency supports us, they probably won’t support even half like last time, so let’s think of it as us paying most of it.”

 

Second week of music shows, unusually Seo Yehyeon brought up the reverse support event first.

 

Although the settlement day was still far off, we had enough money saved up, so everyone readily agreed.

 

Except for one person.

 

Ryu Jaehee, who would normally have been more proactive in pushing for this, kept his mouth tightly shut.

 

Since I roughly knew why Ryu Jaehee was acting this way thanks to what happened before my regression, I sighed and said.

 

“Never mind, I’ll pay for everything this time.”

 

Ryu Jaehee’s eyes widened as he looked at me. When our eyes met, Ryu Jaehee blinked a couple of times and hurriedly looked down.

 

Compared to before my regression, many things had changed, but many things remained unchanged as well. And those ‘unchanged things’ were beyond what I could do anything about.

 

How could I interfere with someone else’s family affairs?

 

“Huh? Isn’t hyung pushing yourself too hard alone? We can pay too.”

 

Kim Dobin tried to stop me.

 

“That’s right, Eden. This is a reverse support event for our fans, so why are you trying to handle it alone? We should all pay together.”

 

“Just get the support money from the agency and split the remaining amount, that’s it.”

 

Gyeon Hajun and Seo Yehyeon also tried to stop me. Every time the members said a word to dissuade me, I could clearly see Ryu Jaehee’s hands on his knees flinching.

 

“Do you know how substantial the copyright fees coming into my bank account are thanks to our beloved members? The money I’m paying includes all of our members’ shares, so don’t feel burdened.”

 

I said while waving my hands dismissively.

 

Of course, this is a one-time mindset that only applies to this special situation. It would be troublesome if they tried to continuously extort my money using this as an excuse.

 

That’s why I made sure to say “this time” earlier.

 

“Eden hyung…! As expected, god leader…! Hyung is a textbook leader! I’ll acknowledge it now!”

 

“Since when did money become part of the textbook for leaders?”

 

Kim Dobin covered his mouth and looked at me with moved eyes. Seo Yehyeon, who belatedly noticed that Ryu Jaehee’s mood was unusual, giggled jokingly.

 

“Oh, then will you give us copyright fee shares too?”

 

“Hyung, you’re crossing the line? Are you my muse? Huh? Even Jun, who contributes the most to production, isn’t demanding anything.”

 

To that comment meant to lighten the mood with no sincerity in it, I also responded playfully.

 

“Would you give it if I asked?”

 

Though I hesitated at Gyeon Hajun’s serious question.

 

Would giving be the right thing to do…? If I had to give shares, what percentage would be appropriate?

 

As I was thinking, Gyeon Hajun chuckled and waved his hand.

 

“Just kidding.”

 

Damn it, Jun. Don’t use your acting skills like that.

 

The atmosphere smoothly flowed toward me bearing all the remaining costs except for the company support money.

 

Since it was late, everyone went to their rooms to sleep, and I sat on the sofa meaninglessly flipping through channels with the remote.

 

And next to me, Ryu Jaehee was sitting firmly on the sofa without going to his room.

 

I was trying to enjoy some solitary contemplation, but the most concerning guy had to be holding out here.

 

Ryu Jaehee was the first to speak.

 

“Hyung, do you happen to know about my situation? Is that why you did that?”

 

Meeting his eyes that used to be round but had now become quite sharp and fierce, I replied indifferently.

 

“If you don’t tell me, how would I know?”

 

Look at this kid glaring at his hyung just because he’s grown a bit. I threw down the remote and reached out to press down firmly on his head, and Ryu Jaehee made an “oops” expression and opened his eyes gently again.

 

The channel I stopped on was showing a late-night movie. It was a Korean noir film. Looking at the meaninglessly mosaiced cigarettes and cigarette smoke, Ryu Jaehee muttered.

 

“I think I understand why people smoke.”

 

At Ryu Jaehee’s random comment, I knocked his head gently and grumbled.

 

“Don’t even think about wanting to smoke or smoking, man. Do you know how hard it is to quit once you start?”

 

“Have you smoked before, hyung?”

 

I was a heavy smoker who used to smoke half a pack a day. In a timeline that no longer exists. And I barely managed to quit.

 

When I deliberately avoided answering while looking into the distance, Ryu Jaehee chuckled, interpreting it somehow.

 

Damn nutria bastard, do you know the struggles of a heavy smoker who almost dislocated his jaw chewing nicotine gum?

 

“What is family, really?”

 

Ryu Jaehee let out a heavy breath as he looked up at the night sky visible through the veranda window.

 

“Why, what’s wrong?”

 

“They want me to pay off their credit card debt. They said they trusted me and spent it. This is why I wanted to succeed but also didn’t want to succeed. I knew Mom and Dad would just spend more. But if I don’t succeed, our house will…”

 

Ryu Jaehee trailed off and buried his face in his knees with a thud.

 

“When I asked what they would have done if I didn’t have that kind of money right now, they said they were going to use loan sharks. Ha, paying off those loan shark debts would be my responsibility too. The younger members are still in middle school.”

 

At least now that Rev had taken off, it seemed he could pay off the card debt with the money he’d saved so far. Before regression, Ryu Jaehee had to pay off his parents’ loan shark debts.

 

“So I don’t have money right now. I used it all to pay off debts. Of course I should be giving back to the fans, I should be contributing money… But when hyung said he’d pay for everything, I felt relieved…”

 

Ryu Jaehee’s eyes reddened as he bit his lips tightly.

 

“What’s there to be sorry about? You’re the one who sang that song and brought it into the world anyway. Did you think I was just saying empty words?”

 

More precisely, it was Ryu Jaehee and the four members, but.

 

“And, youngest. Cutting ties also takes courage.”

 

This was the only advice this hyung could give, having witnessed firsthand the hardships and regrets of the past Ryu Jaehee who cut the shackles that bound him far too late.

 

Ryu Jaehee nodded silently and got up.

 

“Going to sleep?”

 

“Yes, I’m going to take some sleeping pills and sleep. We have a schedule tomorrow, so if you can’t sleep either, hyung, how about taking one and resting?”

 

The sleeping pills that Kim Dobin got prescribed after whining about not being able to sleep occasionally proved their usefulness to the members except me like this.

 

For reference, Kim Dobin’s insomnia wasn’t actually insomnia but his sleep pattern changing from using his cell phone at night.

 

“No, I don’t really…”

 

“Hyung, I don’t see any sleepiness in your eyes at all. Don’t stay up all night for no reason.”

 

Ryu Jaehee, who had shaken out one sleeping pill, tossed the sleeping pill container to me with a flick.

 

Since it was true that I really couldn’t sleep, I stared at the sleeping pill container with reluctant eyes, then opened the lid thinking I might as well try taking one.

 

I tilted the sleeping pill container wrong and pills spilled all over my palm. My head throbbed.

 

I put all the pills back in the medicine bottle except for one, received a water cup from Ryu Jaehee, and the moment I swallowed the sleeping pill down my throat.

 

I threw it right back up.

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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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