The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol - Chapter 89
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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 89
Bewildered, I turned my head and saw Yoo Ho-seung with sparkling eyes, brimming with anticipation.
“But… we’re still in the middle of filming the music video. We don’t know when we’ll be called back.”
As I emphasized that we were on standby, both Rua and Yoo Ho-seung’s shoulders drooped simultaneously.
‘Honestly, as a rookie, isn’t it right to wait quietly in the Waiting Room?’
“Lusbo members.”
The Buffet Manager, who had been quietly observing the situation from a distance, approached us.
‘Am I about to get scolded?’
A rookie on the verge of debut thinking about playing around at the Filming Location—
I had nothing to say in my defense.
‘I just hope the scolding isn’t too harsh…’
I swallowed my nervousness and looked at the Buffet Manager.
“Actually, I anticipated this and got permission in advance.”
‘…What?’
An unexpected statement came from the Buffet Manager’s mouth.
“We need plenty of self-produced content for the debut anyway. Management already approved that you can ride the Amusement Park rides during any downtime while filming the music video.”
As I stared blankly at the members, they were all smiling brightly.
‘Am I the strange one…?’
It seemed I was the one being rigid here.
“But only two of you can go. Once Kang Chan and Seo Ha-yul finish filming, the next turn needs to start right away.”
Fortunately, the Buffet Manager wasn’t someone who spoke thoughtlessly.
“I think it would work best if you divide into two people going first and two people on standby.”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
Suddenly, a strange tension filled the Waiting Room.
“How do we decide who goes?”
‘Honestly, I could skip this.’
I much preferred sitting on the sofa and resting to riding the Amusement Park.
Just as I was about to yield, I saw the red light on the self-produced content camera and closed my mouth.
‘Since it’s early in our debut, I need to show that I’m working hard at everything.’
I didn’t want to ruin this atmosphere by saying I’d skip.
“Should we decide with rock-paper-scissors?”
Rock-paper-scissors was always the fairest method and left no complaints.
“Great!”
“If you don’t throw, you lose.”
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
‘…Damn.’
☆☆☆
“Si-woo, should we ride the roller coaster this time?”
“Let’s do it.”
The winners of rock-paper-scissors were Yoo Ho-seung and me—we’d both thrown cloth.
The frustrated expressions on Rua and Kim Sun-yu’s faces, who’d thrown rock, were quite entertaining.
‘We’re going to get plenty of self-produced content out of this.’
I followed Yoo Ho-seung’s excited lead as we began riding the amusement park attractions one by one.
Since we’d rented out the entire Amusement Park for the music video shoot, we could ride without waiting—which was absolutely perfect.
“Oh, Si-woo! Can we stop by there on the way?”
Yoo Ho-seung was pointing at the Souvenir Shop.
Since a souvenir shop was an essential part of any amusement park content, I nodded readily.
“Sounds good.”
True to his instincts, he had an uncanny knack for securing self-produced content.
As we stepped through the souvenir shop door, the atmosphere shifted entirely.
Shelves lining the walls displayed themed souvenirs arranged in neat rows, and plush toys were stacked like towers beside the counter.
Everything from keychains small enough to fit in your palm to stuffed animals so large you’d need both arms to carry them—the sizes varied considerably.
“Wow! There’s so much cute stuff here!”
“Right? Amusement park souvenir shops have really upped their quality lately.”
“Si-woo, let’s try those on!”
Yoo Ho-seung naturally gravitated toward the headband section.
One side of the display held animal ear headbands, glittering crowns, and balloon-shaped headbands arranged in a neat row.
“I’ll wear this one!”
Yoo Ho-seung had chosen a pair of long rabbit ear headbands.
The white rabbit ears bobbed slightly atop his head.
“Does it suit me?”
Finding it awkward once he’d put it on, Yoo Ho-seung gently pressed one of the rabbit ears with his fingertip.
“Yeah. It’s cute. It really suits you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. This is definitely a photo moment.”
I switched on my phone’s camera and began snapping shots rapidly.
Click. Click.
With his youthful features and large eyes, the rabbit ears were absolutely perfect on Yoo Ho-seung.
‘The fans are going to love this.’
“Si-woo, stop taking my photos now and pick out a headband for yourself!”
Embarrassed by the continued photography, Yoo Ho-seung was changing the subject.
“Hmm….”
‘A headband at my age.’
Being an idol was something I felt acutely every time—it was never easy.
‘Honestly, I’d rather not wear one….’
I was deliberating while looking into Yoo Ho-seung’s hopeful eyes.
“If you wear a headband, the fans will definitely love it.”
“Then I have no choice but to wear one.”
If it makes the fans happy, I could wear a hundred headbands without complaint.
‘Alright. Let’s pick the coolest one.’
Most animal headbands projected a delicate image.
‘A squirrel? Too weak, disqualified. A cat? That’s Seo Ha-yul’s choice.’
I was deeply absorbed in deliberating which headband to select.
“I’ll go with this one!”
‘Men really do look best in something powerful.’
I’d chosen a gray wolf-ear headband.
“Wow… it really suits you, Si-woo.”
“Right? A strong animal definitely matches me better.”
“Si-woo, this is a memorable moment—let’s take a photo together.”
“Sure. We can post it on DalStagram later.”
Thinking of our fans, I switched my phone to selfie mode.
“Cheese!”
Click. Click.
“This time with a flower pose, Si-woo!”
“Got it.”
Click. Click.
After taking several photos following Yoo Ho-seung’s expressions and poses, we finally left the Souvenir Shop.
“Now that we have our headbands, should we really start having fun?”
“Let’s do it. Roller coaster first!”
Costume really did make a difference.
Wearing the headband, I felt inexplicably compelled to ride the attractions with a combative spirit.
After riding about ten attractions with Yoo Ho-seung, it happened.
A message from the Buffet Manager forced me to turn my steps toward the Waiting Room.
☆☆☆
“Cha Si-woo, we’re starting your individual cuts now.”
“Understood!”
With six members in the group, individual cuts weren’t as extensive as I’d expected.
Considering we also had group choreography and group shots, it was only natural.
“Cut! Perfect. Moving to the next scene.”
“Yes.”
The filming proceeded quite smoothly without major mistakes, following the script precisely.
Since the location had time constraints, the Director called cuts decisively, and as a result, only the final individual cut remained.
“For the last one, we’ll film you taking shots around the area with a camera.”
“Understood.”
A Staff Member approached and handed me a camera.
“…!”
The moment I saw the camera, nostalgia washed over me.
‘Isn’t this one of the cameras I used to own?’
It had a substantial yet familiar weight to it.
“Si-woo, this is an expensive camera, so please handle it carefully.”
“Yes, understood.”
‘I never thought I’d encounter this camera again in a place like this.’
The moment I picked up the camera that had captured countless subjects over the years, my heart began racing without my realizing it.
“We’ll start filming right away.”
“Yes!”
“3… 2… 1… Action!”
As I raised the camera, the world entered through the viewfinder.
The landscape beyond the lens appeared far sharper than reality itself.
I lowered the ISO and tightened the aperture.
‘What should I shoot?’
The Amusement Park mascot character came into view at the edge of my frame.
‘Let’s go with that.’
I calculated the precise angle where sunlight would catch the metal structure.
The focus was already locked in.
I positioned the subject dead center in the frame and held my breath.
‘It’s been so long since I’ve taken photographs with this camera.’
Before pressing the shutter, the familiar sensation of tension building in my finger felt comforting.
In this moment, even my heartbeat seemed like noise to be filtered out.
Click.
A subtle recoil traveled up through my wrist.
The tactile sensation of the mechanical shutter descending was unmistakable.
“…Brings back old memories.”
A smile escaped my lips unbidden.
This time, I switched to continuous shooting mode.
Without lifting my finger, the shutter sounds continued unbroken.
Click. Click. Click.
“Cut! That scene was absolutely wonderful.”
I bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle toward the Director who had wrapped up filming so smoothly.
“Thank you!”
Finally, all of my individual cuts had been completed.
“Cha Si-woo.”
“Yes?”
The Director’s head tilted slightly.
“Have you perhaps received formal training with cameras?”
‘Oh no.’
I must have gotten too excited reuniting with the camera I used to work with after so long.
“It’s just that the way you hold the camera looks remarkably natural.”
‘Well, I lived with a camera in my hands every single day without fail.’
It was only natural—I had once made my living with a camera.
Without realizing it, my instinctive handling of the camera seemed quite unusual to the Director.
“Yes, I know how to use it a little.”
The situation was too ambiguous to lie, so I answered with something close to the truth.
“An idol who can handle a camera—that’s impressive. Thanks to you, we wrapped up filming quickly.”
“Thank you.”
“But… have you ever thought about pursuing acting later?”
‘Out of nowhere?’
It was a truly unexpected question.
‘If it were Yoo Ho-seung, maybe, but not me.’
I was already overwhelmed just adapting to life as an idol—why would I pursue acting?
“No, not at all.”
My goal was solely to become a world-class idol.
I, who didn’t even know the first character of acting, had no intention whatsoever of dreaming of becoming an actor.
“Your acting is so natural. It seems like a waste to only be an idol.”
“Ha, thank you for the compliment. But I have no interest in anything other than being an idol.”
I made my refusal clear once more, careful not to hurt the Director’s feelings.
“Well, you’re a rookie just debuting, so you might think that way now. But consider it sometime.”
‘I’m telling you, I’m never going into acting.’
“Yes, I understand.”
Out of courtesy, I gave the answer the Director wanted to hear.
“Good. You worked hard today. Rest for a bit, and let’s meet again for the evening shoot when the sun sets.”
“Yes, thank you!”
By the way, I was the last member of our team to film individual cuts.
Thanks to that, all the daytime music video shooting was complete.
Once night fell, we’d film the group scenes with the illuminated Amusement Park as the backdrop, and that would wrap up the music video shoot.
‘The filming ended earlier than I expected.’
It was largely thanks to the other team members acting naturally, aside from Kang Chan.
I made my way to the Waiting Room where the members had gathered.
‘What are those guys doing now?’
When I finally opened the door to the Waiting Room, the inside was strangely quiet.
“…Huh?”
Despite the lights being on, the space felt devoid of human warmth—completely empty.
On the sofas lining the walls lay only a blanket scattered about, as if it had been used just moments ago.
“Where did everyone go?”
On the table sat only a single sheet of paper and one wolf-ear headband.
“…What is this?”
When I picked up the paper, the crooked handwriting became clear.
[Find the members who have transformed into animals!]
‘This careless handwriting has to be Seo Ha-yul’s.’
I held up the paper toward the camera with the red light on.
“Everyone, it seems the members have given me a mission.”
The members’ signal to extract footage was unmistakable.
“Instead of just one, I’ll go catch them one by one.”
I stepped out of the Waiting Room again, the wolf ear headband that had been sitting on the table now perched on my head.
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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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