There Are Four Top Idol Uncles - Chapter 174
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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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Part 2 Prologue
Prologue. The Entrance Ceremony More Terrifying Than an Awards Ceremony
“Hey, Eun-o. You listening?”
Inside a neat classroom that had been finished not long ago.
Several middle schoolers with faces mixed of thoughtless malice and juvenile spite were huddled together, giggling.
“So Yewon’s in the new class, right? But I heard the real thing is totally underwhelming. I’m dying to see.”
“She looked so pretty on screen. No way, right?”
“She only got famous because of her dad’s connections anyway. They must’ve splashed cash on retouching.”
“You guys coming to check her out later? Eun-o, you coming with us?”
Even as the kids chattered among themselves, they kept sneaking glances at the boy at the center of their group—the one they called Eun-o.
But when Eun-o gave no response and offered no reply, they all grew awkward and exchanged glances with one another.
“What, you think you’re something? Why would you care about that?”
“You psycho. You’re not even Eun-o, so why are you acting like it? Just because you stand next to him doesn’t make you his equal.”
Despite everyone addressing him or talking about him,
Yoo Eun-o kept his eyes fixed on the entrance ceremony script in his hand, giving no one his attention.
As if he had no desire to be entangled with any of them.
The awkward third-years quickly shifted the subject.
“Damn, journalists were swarming the place this morning. I thought some bullying scandal had broken at our school.”
“Yeah, apparently some school violence thing happened at Hyunbong, so the new student admissions dropped, man—wild stuff.”
“For real?”
“Yeah, school violence went down. Mun Hyeok exposed it.”
“What a lunatic.”
“Hey, did Mun Hyeok show up today? That bastard’s been dragging journalists along since day one, and—”
“Let’s keep our mouths shut when the press is around, everyone.”
“!”
The moment Eun-o spoke for the first time, the third-years fell silent instantly.
“Think about it—everyone here is going to debut. We need to start managing our images now.”
“….”
At Eun-o’s words, the third-years exchanged glances,
“Right. We’ve got to manage our images like Yoo Eun-o says.”
“Honestly, only Eun-o looks out for all of us like this.”
“That’s why he’s student council president. Hey, Eun-o—when you make it big, don’t shut us out, okay?”
Soon they laughed it off and settled down.
Once the atmosphere had calmed somewhat, Eun-o let out a small sigh and looked out the window.
From the fifth floor—the highest level in the building—the entire school grounds spread out in full view.
The March courtyard hadn’t yet shed its winter barrenness; it was bleak, chilly, and….
“….”
Through it all, he spotted a child just now entering the school gates.
Despite journalists swarming toward her, she didn’t bat an eye, handling the interviews with practiced ease; bowing her head to ask that they spare consideration for the other students and parents around her.
A child who ‘stood out.’
At that child’s single word, journalists who had refused to cooperate with security and school staff began slowly stepping aside.
Eun-o took in the girl who never lost her smile throughout the entire spectacle.
Ah.
Really….
I hate this, he thought.
* * *
[…Unfortunately, Yewon did not win an award at the Berlin Film Festival, but receiving an invitation to the competition section alone is a noteworthy achievement….]
In a room where the Han River shimmered with spring light.
On a large TV, Yewon’s radiant smile played against the reporter’s disappointed voice,
and in front of it stood a boy awkwardly touching the school uniform, looking at himself in the mirror.
Behind him, a middle-aged woman approached.
“My goodness. After all that fussing and carrying on, and she didn’t even win an award….”
The woman looked at the screen and clicked her tongue.
“They spent so much money on promotion. If they’d put that into the company instead, something would’ve come of it. Right, son?”
“…Yes.”
The boy answered his aunt, suppressing his discomfort.
“Are you sure you’re okay? It’s your entrance ceremony soon. You don’t look like you’re in good shape. Our Si-woo.”
When their eyes met in the mirror, the boy stopped fidgeting with his uniform and nodded awkwardly.
“I’m just a little nervous.”
“Nervous? Why would you be? Our Si-woo has never disappointed your mother and father. You’ll do fine on your own this time too.”
…Mother and Father.
Si-woo nodded. His real mother and father had disappointed him over a hundred times, but….
This false mother here had never let him down, not once.
At his aunt’s heavily weighted words, the boy turned his head slightly instead of answering, gazing out at the window where the Han River came into view.
In a home with a view like this.
“Show them that you’re the real fit for the role, not that loud girl. And then you can transfer back to international middle school. Just have our Si-woo work hard for a year or so, all right?”
Foster parents with the influence to send him to any school they wished, whenever they pleased.
“…It’s not hardship.”
Everything they gave him was more than he deserved.
Hyun Si-woo knew full well that he had no right to resent an order to crush a single girl.
“Besides, even my sister doesn’t understand it—offering such a massive company like Haion to a child who won’t even take the Hyun name….”
“Yes, that’s strange.”
So Si-woo could never dare to complain.
“Anyway. Mother will lay the groundwork carefully, so Si-woo shouldn’t think about anything else. Just focus on your ‘role’ at school. You understand.”
Even if that girl happened to be Yewon—his idol.
Si-woo lifted his head, gazing at his idol in the TV screen, waving toward him.
Soon.
From now on, he would….
Have to crush his idol.
* * *
‘Finally, I’ve made it here….’
Yewon looked up at the stage with a tense expression.
After all the twists and turns, here she was.
[Hyunbong Arts Middle School 31st Entrance Ceremony]
Fourteen years old—the age at which she had died in her past life.
‘…This feels so strange.’
She never thought she’d attend a middle school entrance ceremony twice.
Once her original age returned, a strange sensation tickled deep in her chest.
‘…I can’t.’
School life isn’t what matters right now.
[▶Main Quest
Win the Best Actress Award before you reach adulthood!
※ Whether it’s a film or drama, the genre doesn’t matter. Any will do!
Quest Failure: Glitt Dissolution, Lee Doha Death]
Fourteen years old.
The age at which she had won the Best Actress Award in her past life.
[▶Main Quest – Success!
Our little one has finally managed to save Uncle!
…
Quest Success Reward: The deadline for the promise given to the child is extended until age 14, granting a reprieve from Lee Doha’s death]
Now the age at which the safety guarantee for Lee Doha—who had become one of the most precious people in Yewon’s life—comes to an end.
‘Get it together, Yewon.’
First you have to win an award and save your uncle.
That’s why you’ve been concentrating on acting without a single break all this time.
She could feel the other children glancing at her, but Yewon didn’t care.
She wasn’t the type to lose her nerve over mere stares.
What truly broke her spirit was….
“……?”
Hyun Rion, grinning from ear to ear, sitting in the corner of the stage.
Why was Uncle here…?
* * *
Meanwhile, in the Director’s Office.
Six men with magnificent silhouettes even from behind were watching the entrance ceremony through a monitor.
Kim Manager sighed as he observed the six towering men tracking their ‘child’ with eyes that looked ready to pop right out of their sockets.
“Wouldn’t it be better if you all just observed from the auditorium like normal parents…?”
That would surely be better than occupying the Director’s Office….
“Now, now. What are you saying, Manager?! Our baby Soda made us promise ‘absolutely not’ to cause any trouble to other parents or students, so we agreed to meet in the cafeteria after the ceremony is over!!”
“It’s annoying, sure, but our kid’s got a point. If we’re in the auditorium, reporters will be scrambling to sneak in. Makes for a pretty good headline tomorrow.”
“…Nobody knows Yewon’s heart better than we do.”
At the words of Weon, Ian, and Yeonho in turn, Kim Manager’s eyes grew deeply skeptical.
I don’t believe the young lady meant for you to watch from the Director’s Office….
Kim Manager turned to look at Lee Doha, who still hadn’t answered. He wanted to see what he thought.
But the moment he saw Lee Doha’s expression, Kim Manager abandoned the question.
‘One wrong word and he’ll break down.’
A strikingly handsome man standing on the verge of tears, clutching a handkerchief and an enormous bouquet.
Nothing had changed from seven years ago when they first met—the very picture of an idol’s ideal image.
‘…With that face, no wonder he never stops drawing attention.’
The other members looked aged enough to make one wonder if they’d lived a lifetime, but Lee Doha was truly remarkable.
“Then, sir, you’re certain you don’t need to go watch as well?”
At Kim Manager’s question, the man addressed as “sir” smiled faintly and nodded.
“Yes.”
Hyeon Yuseong gazed at his daughter, who shone with unmistakable radiance even among the multitude of children, and added:
“My role is to protect Yewon from where she cannot see me.”
His daughter remained blissfully unaware….
This school was a perfect stage he had prepared for her, spinning in the palm of his hand.
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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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