Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 199

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 199. Epilogue (4)

[Are you filming me?]

Hello, EVEL.
It’s nice to meet you.
My name is Ryu Bora.
Everyone probably assumes my name is purely Korean, but it’s actually not.
I use the Chinese characters for “preserve” and “beautiful,” written as 保 and 娜.
My late grandfather gave me this name.
I’m not entirely sure what meaning he intended behind it.
Was he telling me to preserve beauty?
When I was young, I didn’t much care for what my name meant.
If I had to preserve something, I thought it shouldn’t be beauty itself.
Rather, I believed I should preserve the essence within it.
Because beauty is fleeting, while essence is eternal.
But.

[I didn’t even wash properly today. I’m going to shower now.]
[That’s fine. You’re just as beautiful either way.]

Now I’m beginning to understand my grandfather’s heart a little.

[Really? Our Bora sure knows how to say the right things.]
[…Baek-young, you don’t seem to believe you’re pretty yourself.]
[Ha. When the prettiest one says things like that, it’s not very convincing.]
[Enough of that.]
[Oh my, if I want to keep up with our Bora’s looks even a little, I’d better wash up thoroughly. I’m going to shower.]
[Please stop saying such strange things.]

I realized that beauty might not only refer to outward appearance.

[What, what. Why are you filming me? I’m a mess today.]
[You’re always a mess anyway.]
[Are you awake?]

I’ve been photographing my members’ everyday lives lately.
It’s my favorite thing to do.
Many people ask me why I don’t act anymore.
It’s not that I dislike acting.
It’s just that now I don’t want to be the protagonist of a story.
I want to live as Ryu Bora of Steel Blue.

[What are you doing right now?]

I’m photographing Yun Chung right now.
She’s like the pride of Steel Blue.
Both Ever Blue and Steel Blue take pride in her.
I’m proud to be her member too.

[Right now… I’m baking French toast. Ju-hong wanted French toast with cinnamon powder sprinkled on it, so I’m baking it carefully.]
[It smells wonderful.]
[If Bora had made it, the burnt smell would’ve been overwhelming by now. Right?]
[…Sister.]
[Just joking, joking.]

After my child acting career, what I realized was.
That nothing in this world is permanent.
Not the world’s love for me, nor their favorable gazes.
It was all so fleeting.
The moment I understood that if I stopped doing child acting—which was nothing but joyful and lovely—the world would withdraw its love from me.
I simply couldn’t continue acting.

[Bora, how’s the documentary about my Achievement going?]
[…I told you, we’re not filming that.]
[That’s disappointing. What happened to the promise between us?]

But videos were different.
People disappear, but videos seemed eternal.
So the moment I quit acting, I devoured every video I could find.
Films, dramas, documentaries… anything at all.
Ah.
Everyone worries so much about my family.
My family closed down all the businesses bearing my name.
From what I hear, they wrapped everything up last year.
Even after that, I received quite a few calls.
But ever since my new manager met my family, I haven’t heard from them once.
It seems they’ve all moved on and are living well without me.
My members seem quite worried that I have to live without family.
But I’m not particularly sad about it.
It’s a clichéd thing to say, but.
I’ve gained a different family.
My members and EVEL have become my family.
I don’t feel hurt or disappointed.
I’m not lonely either.
My members try so hard to stay by my side that it’s almost exhausting.
Sometimes I wish they’d let me be alone.
But I can’t say such things for fear of disappointing them.
Maybe someday I’ll be able to.

[Later, you should definitely film the achievements of the great Yun Chung. Or how about the footsteps of the great Steel Blue?]
[Why do you keep saying “great”?]
[Then great it is. Are we pathetic?! Should we be ashamed?!]
[You be quiet, Kim Geum.]

Kim Geum keeps interjecting since earlier.
Kim Geum is still as loud as ever.
I thought she’d quiet down once she became an adult, but apparently not.
I stuff French toast into Kim Geum’s mouth.
Now that she’s quiet, shall I continue the story?

[Still, I hope someday Bora films her own story.]
[Even while being an idol?]
[There’s no rule saying a person can only have one job. Director Ryu Bora is still Ryu Bora.]
[….]

Yun Chung has been consistently encouraging me to film videos.
Thanks to her, I’ve been able to film several Steel Blue videos myself.
It’s been a joy.
But there’s something Yun Chung doesn’t know.

[Ju-hong makes a grand entrance!]
[Ju-hong, you woke up because of that French toast smell.]
[Who could possibly sleep through cinnamon, sugar, and butter?!]
[Well done… our little nose.]

I don’t simply enjoy filming videos.
I love filming Steel Blue.
Those fleeting moments with my members that only I can capture.
The instant they shimmer and shine.
I love capturing those moments when each member’s hidden beauty comes to light.
It feels like a privilege I have because I’m part of Steel Blue.
Preserving these people on film, protecting them forever.
This has become my way of safeguarding beauty.

[Can’t you make pancakes too?!]
[Today’s a music broadcast recording day. I need to stay light. If I eat too much, my stomach will hurt.]
[Aww.]
[I’ll make them for you as a late-night snack when I get back.]
[Yes!]

Ju-hong breaks into a radiant smile.
I need to capture this quickly.
I love when my members smile, but when Ju-hong smiles…
It’s truly different.

[Oh no, unnie! Don’t film me! I just woke up!]

Sparkling bright.
Ju-hong is… an adorable and fascinating person.
All the members fear most the moment that smile fades from Ju-hong’s lips.
Especially Yun Chung—she acts as though the world would end if Ju-hong ever looked sad.
She gives her everything she asks for while raising her.
I worried her habits might spoil, but…

[Try it.]
[Hehehehehehe. On a scale of one hundred for taste, I’d give it a hundred million points.]

…She’s so cute.
I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it.

[Baek-young’s done.]
[Who’s next to shower?]
[I’ll go.]

Baek-young finished washing up and came out.
Baek-young is a good person.
All my members are good people, but… Baek-young is exceptionally good.
No, she might be the kindest person in the world.
Actually, that’s sometimes what makes her feel so distant.

[Oh, French toast?]
[I made rice for you too, noona. Please eat.]
[Wait. Who cooked this?]
[…Yun Chung made it. Do you really not trust me that much?]
[Ha ha. Bora, it’s not that I doubt your cooking skills…. It’s just…. Well…. We have different…. tastes….]

…She doesn’t seem like a good person either.
Anyway.
Today is the day our first full-length album, 【My Blue Letter For You】, releases its title track on a music broadcast.
After we briefly showcase 【Blue Sparkle】, which Geum composed.
Our title track will air.
This album’s concept is ‘a letter from StillBlue to Ever Blue’.
We all wrote letters to Ever Blue through the song lyrics.
But the title track is a letter I’m writing to my members.
Ever Blue saved StillBlue.
But it was my members who first saved Ryu Bora as a person.
I hope you’ll understand.

[Bora, aren’t you eating?]
[I will. Just one slice, please.]
[Eat two. You’re too thin.]

Yun Chung hands me a piece of toast.
Just looking at it, sweetness drips and falls.
And Ju-hong is pouring syrup all over it.
These people must have been born sweet.

[You said to put the camera down while eating!]
[Who said that?]
[Chung-chung!]
[….]

I should put the camera down for a moment.
Yun Chung’s words are our law, after all.
Instead.
Please watch the music video for the title track I filmed, EVEL.

P.S.
Oh, that’s right.
You all know the title of the title track, don’t you?
【The Verdant Letter】.
I’m sending it to you with all my heart.

From Bora.

***

Pep-peu had come to the Wangcheon Rice Festival after a long time to film Ryu Bora’s fancam.
The weather was clear, and the breeze was refreshing.
Since Steel Blue had maintained first place for three consecutive weeks yesterday, all the fans were in perfect condition.
Now whenever summer came to mind, Steel Blue followed—and whenever Steel Blue was mentioned, summer came to mind.

‘Gasp.’

Bora.
Pep-peu immediately raised the camera, framing Ryu Bora in the viewfinder.
July.
A pale green bustier and high-waisted cream denim shorts that perfectly complemented the summer season.
An emerald choker sat adorably around her neck.
Her striking red hair fell in a short bob with bangs that grazed her jawline.
Everyone had delighted in it, saying it looked like a cat had suddenly appeared.
In the moment sunlight cascaded across her porcelain skin.
Ryu Bora noticed Pep-peu’s camera.
Her eyes squinted slightly as if dazzled, and she smiled.

‘Now I could die without a single regret.’

Ryu Bora was famous for remembering every fan who came to events and fan signing sessions.
She remembered not only her own fans but also the fans of her fellow members so well that she would often point out their locations to the other members.

‘I suppose it’s because she’s naturally a kind person.’

Pep-peu nodded in agreement.
Come to think of it, Bora had written the lyrics to this song as well.
These were lyrics that only a truly kind person could compose.

‘Ah, it’s starting.’

The intro flowed out.
Ryu Bora’s opening verse began.

Among green four-leaf clovers
You are my blue three-leaf clover
Even in countless strokes of fortune
I would not hesitate
To choose you

Lyrics written for her members.
Fans too would grow warm and fuzzy from such tenderness.
But what brought the greatest happiness to Pep-peu’s heart was.
Ryu Bora singing with the most radiant smile in the world.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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