Debut or Die - Chapter 221

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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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A Fatal Illness if I Don’t Debut – Episode 221
As the bell rang and exam papers were distributed, several sentences flickered through the test-taker’s mind simultaneously, appearing and vanishing in quick succession.
‘Come to think of it, Park Moon-dae should have silver hair right now, but black hair? What’s going on? Is that a wig? Could it not be Park Moon-dae after all?’
‘Even if it’s not Park Moon-dae, seeing someone with such a similar vibe makes me feel like I’ve been played.’
‘Wait! Won’t I be able to see their face during the identity check!?’
‘Oh oh oh! That’s right! When they pass out the exam papers, I can turn around and look… no wait. The Exam Proctor will be handing them out.’
Some of these thoughts held truth, while others were mere assumptions.
For instance, Park Moon-dae had used color spray to conceal his silver hair, and he did briefly lower his mask during the identity check to show his face to the Exam Proctor.
However, the test-taker sitting behind him couldn’t see it clearly enough, and since the Exam Proctor was an older man, he didn’t immediately recognize Park Moon-dae and simply remained composed.
‘Ugh!’
Thus, the test-taker in the back row could only suffer from frustration and curiosity, letting out an internal scream.
Yet an unexpected opportunity soon presented itself.
“Please pass the exam papers back.”
“…!”
The papers were being distributed by passing them forward from the person in front!
And the test-taker finally saw it.
‘Gasp.’
The man in front turned back ever so slightly, handed over the exam paper in an instant, then straightened his posture.
Despite wearing a mask, the test-taker could be certain.
Those distinctly wide, sharply defined eyes!
‘It’s Park Moon-dae!’
It really was Park Moon-dae!
The test-taker received the exam paper in a state of near-fainting.
Their heart pounded so violently they couldn’t tell if they were receiving an album at a fan signing or taking the GED exam.
Not that they’d ever won a fan signing lottery anyway!
“After the bell rings, you may begin solving the problems.”
‘S-save me.’
The test-taker screamed silently without a subject, but thanks to extensive mock exam experience, they managed to unfold the exam paper and begin solving problems.
Yet their mind had gone completely blank from shock, and they couldn’t see anything before their eyes.
Still, a moment later.
‘…If I solve this faster, I’ll get to see Park Moon-dae’s back that much sooner!’
This strange thought gave the test-taker, who couldn’t bring themselves to lift their head and kept their nose buried in the exam paper, a twisted realization.
And so the test-taker began solving problems with fierce determination. The moment when failing the GED moved one step further away.
‘Ahhh!’
And remarkably, for Park Moon-dae alone, he was not the only one in this classroom aware of his presence.

* * *
‘Not bad.’
I set down my pencil after finishing the last elective subject, Ethics.
The exam had progressed smoothly without incident.
Lunch had been slightly risky, but I’d managed by eating in a quiet corner near a distant stairwell corridor with a view of the window.
‘Besides, it was easy since I could eat quickly.’
And most importantly, the exam itself was easier than the average year based on past papers.
I’d worried that Social Studies and Science might only test the sections I’d forgotten, but those fears proved unfounded.
‘I don’t think I missed anything.’
I was nearly certain of a solid pass and did a light stretch.
“Huff.”
I heard an odd sound from behind—someone who seemed unwell. It was a bit irritating, so I just lowered my arms.
‘About ten minutes left…’
Then I waited quietly for the exam to end.
For the ride back, I’d already called a taxi on time, so I just needed to head downstairs and get in.
‘All set.’
But the reality that greeted me ten minutes later didn’t quite match my expectations.
After grabbing my smartphone and waiting for everyone to leave, someone from my classroom approached me.
“Excuse me, student!”
“….”
“Are you… Park Moon-dae? The one who makes hotteok?”
I hesitated briefly here.
Whether to shout “You’ve got the wrong person!” and bolt.
But it seemed there were multiple witnesses, so I decided against it.
Besides, this woman was speaking quietly as if whispering, so it seemed like I could wrap this up quickly.
“Yes. I came to take the exam.”
“Oh my! I see. Well, if you don’t mind, could I get an autograph? My daughter is such a huge fan!”
“Of course.”
I quickly signed her exam admission ticket and tried to leave.
But I was already a step too late.
“Um, excuse me, would you mind signing for me too…?”
“Yes, sure.”
“Hey! I’m really sorry, but could I get one as well?”
Several people still in the classroom immediately formed an orderly line. It was remarkably organized.
And not a single person seemed shocked by the situation.
A striking hypothesis occurred to me.
‘Did these people suspect me all along?’
Now that I thought about it, seven or so people had lingered in the classroom instead of leaving—it might have been because of me.
It seemed I’d been far too careless in underestimating Testa’s public recognition.
‘I’m breaking out in a cold sweat.’
What surprised me most was that none of these people made a single gesture during the exam.
If even one person had gossiped about it excitedly, it would’ve likely spiraled into a controversy about causing trouble.
In that case, I would’ve already figured it out by lunchtime and escaped.
‘…Thanks to them, I got through it well.’
Well, there’s no way to wriggle out of this. They essentially covered for my failed prediction.
I signed without complaint.
“Thank you!”
“Wow, thank you….”
After finishing autographs for the few people who had crowded around, I was about to leave quickly.
‘Let me slip out while things are chaotic, before photo requests come in.’
But as I picked up my bag, I noticed the person in the back seat was still sitting there like a stone statue.
“…?”
Moreover, without moving a muscle, they were staring at me with sparkling eyes, and when our eyes met, they opened their mouth.
I’d seen that expression plenty of times at fan signing events.
“Would you like an autograph?”
“…?! Yes! Y-yes yes!”
It wasn’t self-consciousness after all. That was a relief.
“I-I love you.”
“Thank you.”
I hastily signed the back seat person’s exam admission ticket and left.
“Have a good day!”
“Fighting with your activities!”
It was fortunate that this exam hall was at the end, so people from other exam halls didn’t see this.
I ran quickly across the corridor where most people had left.
‘I wonder if reviews will go up.’
There shouldn’t be any major issues.
Since no one interfered, they’ll probably just pity me a bit or scratch at it and be done.
I shrugged my shoulders, then headed out to the Sports Field and immediately got in a taxi.
The ride back to the Dormitory was quick, just like on the way there.
“Welcome~”
“So, how did it go?”
“Good.”
“How was the lunch we prepared for you?”
“It was delicious. Thanks.”
And under Cha Yu-jin’s strong insistence, using my exam as an excuse, we ordered pig’s feet.
Thanks to that, I ended up doing the strange thing of listening to a toast without alcohol again.
“Park Moon-dae, thanks for working hard on the exam today… let’s recover well until our next activity and show everyone another amazing performance.”
“Of course~”
“Yes sir!”
“I hope we have a fulfilling preparation period.”
“Hey, wait. Park Moon-dae, put your phone down!”
“…It’s just a video of a dog eating meat.”
Well, it had been a day befitting someone in the off-season.
Even dinner had been… delicious.

* * *
News of Park Moon-dae’s GED exam spread more slowly than he’d anticipated.
Since none of the people who received his autograph had taken a photo with him, many fans remained skeptical.
It wasn’t until three or four people authenticated their exam admission tickets bearing his signature that it became accepted as fact.
The decisive blow came from this review.
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[Went to take the test yesterday and saw my bias]
I bet a lot of people came in thinking of someone specific haha
Yep, my bias Park Moon-dae!
(Autograph authentication photo)
I even sat in the seat right behind the gate. I thought my heart was going to burst. Just looking at his back made him look so handsome. Even his bones were so handsome that I couldn’t raise my head.ㅠㅠ
The posture is so good and the shoulders are just beautifully wideㅠㅠ
(…)
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It was an authentication from the test-taker who sat directly behind Park Moon-dae.
And attached after that authentication was even a thoughtful disclaimer to prevent backlash.
========================
Moon-dae really just quietly took the test and when it ended and he was leaving, people recognized him so he signed autographs for everyone
Even though I was so frozen that I couldn’t even speak, I just sat and looked, and he asked if I needed an autograph, so he gave it to me.
I almost didn’t post this because I was worried about causing him trouble, but since everyone already knew anyway… I wanted people to know how well he treated us…
I’ve decided to hold onto my exam admission ticket until the day I die lol 😭😭
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It was an endearing and heartwarming review. Even fans who had felt somewhat wistful about Park Moon-dae taking the GED exam enjoyed reading this account.
It wasn’t the kind of thing that could be considered a privacy violation, and the situation naturally painted itself in everyone’s minds.
-I wonder if our dog likes people so much that he even gave us autographsㅠㅠㅠ
-He asked before signing? Park Moon-dae is really guilty of being charming.. That person probably couldn’t sleep when they got home
I would’ve dropped everything and just stared at your back the whole time during the exam, damn I’m jealous.
It circulated through online communities and SNS as a cute anecdote, carefully staying just short of becoming character promotion.
But as Park Moon-dae had anticipated, ‘scratching’ reactions naturally followed as well.
Only they were slightly more severe than he’d predicted.
-Honestly Park Moon-dae didn’t need to take the GED anyway, it’s just his own greed
-So he really does have an academic complex huh lol
-Good thing the other people in that exam hall were decent, what if some crazy fan had been there and he pulled something like that
-I can’t stand the lust for fame, but what can I do since I’m a high school graduate?
-He asked first if they wanted an autograph.. so humble..
It was intentional.
Because I kept cutting off or preventing controversies with impeccable timing, the genuine antis who had been sharpening their blades were finally ready to strike.
Of course, my responses were often less overt, so there wasn’t much credibility to the claim that I was obsessively concerned with public opinion.
But thinking that way simply made cursing me taste better.
They wanted to see me react excessively behind the scenes and then shrink back, showing obvious signs of nervousness.
“Gomer search X or whatever, I bet they’re watching this too lolol”
-Oh, don’t even think about using Geomgo as a piece of cake~ I’ll beat you up~ haha.
-Yeah bear, you know this is all just scratching and picking, right? You’re just gonna let it slide quietly?
-If I post something like this, it’ll be really funny. I’m certified as an idiot haha.
However, unfortunately for them, I was maintaining distance from the Internet.
The only things I checked were the fan community and YouTube. Whenever I tried to look at anything beyond that, the members would mysteriously show up and interfere, so there was nothing I could do about it.
In other words, the trolls were just fighting a lonely battle all by themselves.
As a result, a member who didn’t care about antis or any of that nonsense ended up responding instead.
“Hyung! Show us the chicken porridge Reviewer!”
“Sure.”
Thinking the rumors had already spread anyway, I coolly agreed, and Cha Yu-jin immediately uploaded the photos from that time.
[Moon-dae hyung had an exam so we made chicken porridge. Everyone worked hard on it. Best Teamwork! (tiger emoji) (photo set)]
From photos of various members shopping and cooking, to pictures of me looking flustered or smiling while eating the chicken porridge.
They were everyday shots with a story.
-?
-What is this
-Did he really post it?
And while the trolls were momentarily taken aback.
“Hm? Yu-jin posted photos?”
“Yes!”
“Oh~ I see.”
After seeing the situation, Big Sae-jin even uploaded a video he had filmed.
[It’s been a while since I’ve seen a smile like this from Moon University College of Education… After all, eating well is the best, right? Haha Lover is also delicious♡ (Video)]
Few fans would dislike seeing their favorite group getting along well and being close.
Naturally, the fans were set ablaze by the unexpectedly heartwarming additional content.
-Our kids are sincere about Testa, let’s stay like this forever the answer is dinner show
-I swore I’d never fall for idol family content again… shut up Testa is family
My heart has gotten so warm, you guys. Thank you for the good news.
The barrage of photos and videos was tremendous, and it wasn’t even something I had taken or posted myself.
As a result, the trolls ended up throwing punches at nothing and collapsing.
– Haha, we got into a fight.
-He must’ve asked the other kids to post it, didn’t you get hit with reality?
-It feels like he’s gritting his teeth and posting, am I the only one
Statements trying to rationalize it in every way followed, but it was ultimately just mental gymnastics.
In the end, the talk about “Park Moon-dae is a search addict” withered away in that awkward embarrassment.
For reference, Park Moon-dae himself was holed up in his room watching Lesser Panda videos.
“…Hmm.”
He was suffering from intermittent boredom, but there was nothing particularly to do.
There was only one thing he looked forward to.
‘Vacation starts tomorrow.’
Four days of leave were right around the corner.
For Park Moon-dae, who had never taken a proper vacation until now, this was a profoundly meaningful period.
‘This time, I’m going to have an absolutely amazing vacation.’
The plan was perfect. Or rather, it was.

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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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