Debut or Die - Chapter 387

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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 387
“Hmm.”
The message I’d sent just moments ago still hadn’t received a reply.
But let’s see.
Lee Sae-jin, who currently belonged to the idol group Zairop, was scheduled to enjoy a brief rest period following their tour.
She probably wouldn’t suspect that I’d known about it when I reached out, but in any case, it meant she could spare a day or so during those few days.
But here’s where the bait comes into play.
An actor with the same name—Bae Sae-jin.
A rising actor with the added story of sharing the same name—an impeccable choice for networking purposes.
Definitely worth raising the priority of management.
‘Stopping by home and having half a day free the next day wouldn’t be unreasonable, would it?’
…Wouldn’t someone like Lee Sae-jin, who managed to obtain the MC’s number from her first solo variety appearance, think exactly that?
As expected.
The darkened phone screen soon vibrated again.
[Cool Dongsaeng Sae-jin: lololol hyung how’d you time it perfectly when I just cleared my schedule!]
[Cool Dongsaeng Sae-jin: what date were you thinking?]
That’s right.
Ryu Chung-woo glances at the screen and lets out a wry smile as he speaks.
“You’re in contact with Sae-jin too. You must be having a rough time.”
“…Well, not really to that extent.”
I was about to answer that there was nothing rough about it.
“Hyung Moon-dae! Put ‘cool’ in front of my name too! I’m the cool tiger Cha Yu-jin….”
“Shut up, idiot… huh?”
…No, I only set that up as bait… well, whatever.
“Oh!! Kim Rae-bin, did you just call me an idiot?”
“It was a mistake!”
Thanks to Kim Rae-bin naturally becoming the center of attention, I managed to avoid my contact list becoming even more chaotic.
And a few days later, in a private restaurant room in Seoul.
“So Lee Sae-jin’s coming soon? You don’t remember her?”
“Yes.”
Bae Sae-jin appeared decked out in sunglasses, a hat, and even gloves, but once seated, he was nervously gulping down water with a somewhat tense expression.
I couldn’t understand why he was acting like that when we’d shared the same dormitory not long ago.
‘Though we really didn’t get along at first.’
Maybe he was still affected by the stress from back then.
In any case, I’d have to wait another thirty minutes before he arrived, so any tension would surely dissipate by then.
I’d deliberately met with this guy earlier for that reason.
“But hyung, how are things at the company?”
…I wanted to ask what on earth he’d done to receive the CEO’s formal apology.
And the moment he heard the question, Bae Sae-jin’s face came alive.
“Well… it’s not bad.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, I just… updated the contract to match industry standards, changed the manager, and made sure he can’t reject scenarios anymore.”
“…?”
“And I got recordings and written agreements so he can’t pull this on anyone else either… not bad, right? Ahem.”
“….”
Just go ahead and brag openly.
Bae Sae-jin’s face screams ‘Look how spectacularly I handled this!’ to anyone watching.
Fine. I opened my mouth willingly.
“That’s impressive. It’s not easy to handle things so quietly without any news breaking, you know.”
“Hmm, it wasn’t that difficult. I just… handled it according to common sense and proper procedure.”
“Oh.”
Is this the moment he’s going to explain his methods?
“The CEO was embezzling company funds for illegal gambling.”
“…!!”
“And I have evidence. Video evidence!”
He said he didn’t realize it was evidence back then, but only found out years later when it broke in the media.
‘Given this guy’s personality, he must have run through simulations of how many times he could have exposed it himself….’
Still, to think he even received a formal apology—it seems he didn’t waste his time meeting with lawyers.
“Of course, reporting it to the police and handling it properly would be better for society… but then I wouldn’t be able to work for a while.”
“Ah.”
Bae Sae-jin fidgeted with his water glass.
“I… I need to help you debut, after all.”
“…!”
“So it’s more advantageous for me to keep working. But! I made sure the CEO can never do something like that again.”
“….”
Seriously.
Only someone who could convince himself this wasn’t reality would come up with such a pragmatic compromise without hesitation.
“Thank you.”
“Hmm, don’t mention it. We’re all in this together!”
After that, Bae Sae-jin’s tongue loosened completely, and he smoothly explained how he’d cleanly gotten rid of the manager and corrupt employees.
While there were some rough edges, his drive was solid and he seemed to have made a genuine effort to handle things carefully, so there didn’t seem to be anything I needed to intervene on.
‘Not bad.’
And apparently he’d originally planned to change his name to ‘Bae Sae-jin’ as well, but held off for now to maintain his recognition.
Oh, that reminds me….
“How about your biological father?”
That drug-dealing villain.
“….”
Bae Sae-jin opened his mouth with a slightly bitter expression.
“…He’s missing?”
“…??”
How in the world is this place even structured?
“Anyway, I’ve already divorced your mother, so it’s all settled! Don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Well then.
The conversation shifted back to recent updates and future plans.
“…Right! The movie releases in a few weeks. Hmm, we’re thinking of coordinating the promotional campaign with your survival show debut….”
Knock, knock.
“Oh.”
A knock sounded from the private room.
‘Not a staff member.’
Glancing at my watch, I knew who it was.
“Come in.”
Exactly four minutes before the scheduled time.
Lee Sae-jin opened the door and stepped inside.
“Hyung, I’m here! Hey~ Hello everyone!”
The guy with dyed hair hidden under a hoodie removed his mask and greeted us.
“Welcome.”
“Ah, my place is nearby so I timed it perfectly! Everyone arrived early.”
Nearby, sure—he probably waited nearby and timed his arrival accordingly.
I gestured for him to sit down across from me.
“This is Lee Sae-jin, an actor.”
“Ah, wow~ I’ve been really enjoying your movies!”
“Oh, yes.”
Bae Sae-jin nodded. This reminded me of the Ajusa days.
“I was really impressed by ‘Seahorse’ that you filmed recently too.”
Lee Sae-jin seemed to have done thorough research beforehand, as expected.
“You looked like such a genuinely terrifying med student that it gave me chills. I’m always amazed at how well you capture that sensibility, truly!”
Bae Sae-jin, who had only played psychopaths four times in a row, answered nervously.
“Since I keep doing the same kind of acting… well, yes.”
“….”
For a moment even the legendary Lee Sae-jin seemed at a loss for words, but soon he laughed and responded.
“Come on, you do so well every time that it probably just feels the same!”
“That’s not quite it… but anyway, thank you.”
“Haha, yes!”
And it seemed Lee Sae-jin immediately abandoned all career-related small talk topics.
But even after that, all of Lee Sae-jin’s personal questions bounced right off.
“Ah, that coat suits you really well! Do you wear coats often?”
“Well… my manager gave it to me.”
“Your manager has great taste.”
So Bae Sae-jin, who had just received praise from his manager that morning, answered accordingly.
“…Well, I’m not sure.”
“…”
He couldn’t just gloss over the facts and respond with lies—that wasn’t who he was—so he kept closing his mouth.
‘This is a mess.’
I accepted it cleanly.
These guys just… weren’t compatible.
‘Looks like I’m taking the lead here too.’
“Let’s talk more over dinner. You must be hungry.”
“…! Oh~ sounds good. What did you order, hyung?”
Korean course dishes arrived, and I began creating small talk topics that weren’t in my nature.

* * *
‘Ah… it fell apart.’
Lee Sae-jin evaluated the gathering while eating, internally.
Building a connection with that actor sitting across from me wasn’t going to happen.
‘Did he not want to come? Why is he like that?’
Actually, it seemed like if she persisted and tried hard enough, she could probably become close with him… but somehow she didn’t want to.
‘Actor connections aren’t absolutely necessary anyway.’
To pursue individual acting work, she’d need at least a few more years. Lee Sae-jin had no reason to rush. …Probably.
‘…No, should I be more careful?’
Looking at the team’s situation, even contract renewal seemed difficult. Finding a way out within a few years left a bitter taste in her mouth.
‘Getting worked up over something like this.’
It was funny, in a way. Still, the team was doing well right now…
“The galbi here is delicious.”
“…! Oh, right~ I can’t believe I didn’t know about this place!”
“I heard fans post a lot of hashtags about it.”
“Right, right~ they post a lot.”
Ryu Gun-woo gently steered the conversation forward when the exchange between Lee Sae-jin and the other person wasn’t flowing well.
He seemed unusually proactive.
‘…Unusually?’
I wasn’t sure why I’d think that after only a second meeting.
Well, even at a glance, he didn’t seem like the extroverted type. Lee Sae-jin simply moved her thoughts to the next context.
Anyway, why bring someone like that along? They should’ve just met one-on-one instead…
‘…But then again, I might not have come either?’
Right. She’d made time because of the mention of introducing new connections… or so it seemed.
She didn’t know. For some reason, her thoughts felt scattered and confused.
Lee Sae-jin didn’t show it, but she was somewhat flustered.
‘That’s strange.’
Still, the conversation continued. Similarly, it was strangely enjoyable… and comfortable.
“How was the tour?”
And once the conversation shifted to idols, activities, and the survival show program, deeper dialogue naturally began to emerge.
“The tour is so fun~ You’ll be doing it soon too. You’re so good at it! The 【Wise】 program is really popular too.”
“Still, when it comes to debut, the song and circumstances matter a lot. I can’t say it will necessarily go well….”
The way I list facts is similar to that actor, but Ryu Gun-woo finishes with a smile.
“Still, I hope it goes well. It seems like it would be really rewarding.”
“…Yeah. That’s true. The stage is tough, but it’s really fun work.”
“It is.”
Mi-rae asked a question befitting a survival show participant with an uncertain future, but there was nothing particularly earnest or persistent about it.
How should I put it? The person is understated.
“…Your agency is famous for handling tours well. It should be fine.”
So perhaps Lee Sae-jin unconsciously began offering a slightly more honest answer beneath the well-calibrated relational response.
The conversation naturally became more serious.
And then came this question.
“By the way… I wanted to ask what it feels like when you debut. How is it?”
When I debuted?
“It’s fascinating but everything moves so chaotically? I was so busy I didn’t even have time to reflect on the excitement, you know~”
It’s the truth.
But there’s also a truth beneath that which doesn’t need to be said.
“…Well, it might not be the feeling I expected.”
If you were expecting overwhelming passion and ambition, or the stability of being in the right place, I’d advise you to abandon those hopes.
Ryu Gun-woo asks quietly.
“Do you have any regrets?”
Regrets?
“I don’t think I’ve had any particular regrets. Of course, there are some unexpected difficulties…”
Elements like members that become impossible to change once you’ve debuted together.
“Like what?”
“Oh, well….”
Lee Sae-jin was about to open her mouth thoughtlessly when she suddenly realized it.
That she was being unnecessarily honest.
‘Why am I saying this….’
And she barely managed to change the subject naturally.
“…There’s nothing easy about making money~ That’s just how it is!”
“…Yeah. I’d think so too.”
“….”
Ryu Gun-woo didn’t press further. He seemed to have sensed something subtle, but it was a kind of consideration.
‘Ah.’
Lee Sae-jin felt both slightly disappointed and relieved.
‘…?? Why am I disappointed?’
Then, instead, the actor who had been eating diligently threw out a pointed remark.
“Right. There’s nothing easy about making money.”
“…?”
“People need to earn their keep.”
Suddenly?
I wasn’t sure when he’d dropped the formal speech, but since he was clearly older than me, I simply responded gently.
“Yes… of course. Right.”
The actor gripped his chopsticks so tightly that the veins in his hand stood out.
“If you just occupy a seat and act lazy, and eventually do things you shouldn’t… people like that don’t deserve to earn money.”
“Right, that’s not good. Really.”
I suddenly became serious while agreeing with him.
Because several recent examples came to mind that made me bristle.
Recalling the face of that kid who failed to manage his condition after drinking the night before the tour, I spoke coldly.
“There’s such a thing as professional ethics. And if someone like that is in group activities, the entire team suffers losses.”
“Exactly! No matter how talented someone is, a hardworking, good person is better than that!”
But despite his spirited declaration, the actor suddenly flinched and added something.
“Though… you might prefer someone who’s lazy or flawed but skilled over someone who can’t do it at all.”
And he quickly tried to recover.
“That’s usually how it is!”
“….”
I thought of giving some vague response like “Yeah, there are plenty of people like that~” but discarded it.
For some reason, I was annoyed.
No, I agreed with him, so now he thinks I’m like that too?
“No, I think even if someone isn’t that skilled, a hardworking person is better?”
“…Really?”
“Of course~ If you’re going to keep working together, thinking about the future, the former will eventually become skilled anyway, right?”
“…!”
I reached a conclusion without realizing it.
“If it’s someone you’re going to walk the path with, that type is better.”
It felt refreshing.
“….”
The actor nearly dropped his chopsticks.
‘Why is she like that?’
But he quickly recovered and murmured in a noticeably brighter tone.
“…You’re right. Your point is valid.”
“Right~?”
For the first time today, our conversation ended on a proper note.
And I shifted my perspective slightly.
Well… his personality seems a bit eccentric, but he appears to be the type with vision when it comes to work.
‘That’s… not bad.’
And Ryu Gun-woo, who had been eating without interjecting in our conversation at all, finally spoke again.
“Since we’re on the topic of work, how much practice volume would be appropriate then? Acting and idol work are somewhat different fields.”
“Well, consistency is important, don’t you think?”
“…Yeah. Habits that become ingrained in your body are hard to shake.”
And naturally, the conversation progressed with all three of us participating….
“…!”
Wait.
‘…So he deliberately steered the conversation this way?’
That actor opens up during serious conversations. And while I’ve grown frustrated and abandoned small talk, I’ll engage in genuine discussion….
To keep the atmosphere between myself and the actor from becoming any more awkward.
“….”
Lee Sae-jin lowered her gaze to her bowl, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
She was a senior despite her young age, and being shown consideration in a situation like this felt strange.
But at the same time… her heart felt a bit more at ease. A sense of reassurance, perhaps.
‘Wow, he’s really saying all sorts of things.’
I eventually gave up.
It seemed I simply wanted to treat these newly made connections as friends.
‘…Having idol friends isn’t so bad.’
Lee Sae-jin suppressed a sigh and put a spoonful of miso noodles into her mouth.
It was delicious.

* * *
The meal with the person who shared the same name ultimately went well.
Though Bae Sae-jin offered this assessment in amazement the moment Lee Sae-jin left.
-That guy’s young but he’s basically the same kind of person!
Of course, this wasn’t the end.
-…Still, it wasn’t bad.
Meeting under different circumstances and positions, I found myself reflecting on the friction from our debut days.
I think I was realizing that if the situation had been different, we probably would have fought and made up sooner.
[It seems like you two will get along even better going forward….]
That could be true.
Anyway, I saw off Bae Sae-jin as he headed back to beat up the CEO again.
And I reunited with the other three who had gone out to pick out a piercing for Kim Rae-bin.
“Did you meet the Sae-jin hyungs? Invite me next time!”
Cha Yu-jin left that remark and rushed off with Kim Rae-bin to buy pizza.
And Ryu Chung-woo offered this assessment.
“Meeting Lee Sae-jin like that… you did it so that when his memories come back later, he won’t feel as disappointed, right?”
“….”
I lowered my smartphone.
“That’s not it. Having connections with senior idol celebrities with established names is convenient.”
Since I know all the information, there’s no reason not to use it. …And he’s a good fit anyway.
Ryu Chung-woo stood dazed for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“Got it! Moon-dae’s still the same. Just like Rae-bin.”
“…!”
“Ah, the kids are coming. I’ll grab some pizza.”
“No….”
This bastard never listens to me.
Either way, that evening I ended up spending time in the Officetel with these three guys, chewing on pizza.
‘What kind of reunion day is this.’
And while I was making up some excuse when Kim Rae-bin asked, “Would it be more comfortable if I called you hyung instead?”
On the Internet, new rumors and public opinion about the LeTi Survival were emerging.
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[Spoiler: Eliminated Contestant?]
Choi Tae-jun is eliminated.
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-???
-What are you talking about
-Who is ㄹㅊㅇ?
└That archery gold medalist, apparently a relative of that guy
-Why would he show up here
-Smells like rotten corruption…
As the new spark ignited and the flames spread across that arena, the Survival’s new filming session was about to begin.
…And an entirely unexpected coincidence was waiting there.

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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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