There Are Four Top Idol Uncles - Chapter 218

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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, Episode 44
* * *
Early morning, an empty classroom.
Yewon had arrived at school earlier than anyone else, her resolve steely.
She had to complete not just the Main Quest but the Sub Quests as quickly as possible to protect Lee Doha.
[…Quest Success Condition: Gain ‘Favor’ or ‘Recognition’ from a majority of the Film Club members (?/60)]
[The number of people who currently hold ‘Favor’ or ‘Recognition’ will now be revealed…]
[(11/60)]
[‘Favor’ and ‘Recognition’ are only counted when they are unwavering feelings, not ambiguous ones.]
“…Eleven people?”
The number was higher than she’d expected, and Yewon was actually surprised.
She’d assumed only her close friends would count, but this was far more than she’d thought…
Yewon recalled the composition of the Film Club membership.
About twenty per year level. Of those, roughly fourteen to fifteen are in directing, and five to six are actors.
It seemed there were minor adjustments to the numbers each year depending on circumstances.
The first-year actors were Yewon, Jeongyun, Baek Yun, Harin, Seoa, and….
There was one more male student, but she couldn’t remember his name….
‘The second-years are completely a mystery to me.’
At least the third-years she’d had some contact with during auditions… but the second-years? No contact whatsoever.
Yet there were eleven of them?
‘Even if I count myself, Inhee, and Seoa… that’s still eleven?’
Yewon tried to puzzle out who on earth might favor her, then gave up.
Rather than waste time on that, she should focus on how to earn recognition from the remaining nineteen…!
As she was staring intently at the Quest Window, her brow furrowed,
“…Hey.”
“!”
Someone tapped the back of Yewon’s shoulder.
“You okay?”
She turned around in surprise to find Sihu looking down at her with a rigid expression.
When had he arrived?
Yewon was flustered, but soon smiled brightly and nodded.
“Yeah. Sihu, you got here pretty early too?”
“….”
His brow narrowed, as if the answer he’d received wasn’t what he’d hoped for.
But then, with a resigned sigh, he pulled something from his bag and handed it to her.
“This is…?”
Yewon looked at his hand with a puzzled expression.
This was the script for “Summer’s Proof.”
“You got cast too!”
At Yewon’s surprised tone, Sihu nodded.
They’d said only five first-year directing students would be selected, and it seemed Sihu had made the cut.
“I heard the competition was really fierce among the first-year directing team. You’re amazing, Sihu.”
“They said I’d be good at using my strength.”
“….”
At those words, Yewon looked at Sihu again.
His frame was certainly striking—noticeably taller than his peers, broad shoulders, clean bone structure.
He’d probably be popular if not for that uptight-seeming personality.
“…?”
Sensing something odd in Yewon’s gaze, Sihu took a step back.
“Oh. I didn’t mean—I was just thinking you must have done sports. Am I right?”
“…I used to. Swimming.”
“That makes sense.”
The lines of his body told the story.
“You must have trained pretty seriously?”
“….”
Sihu hesitated, then gave a small nod.
What was with that timid expression over something so trivial?
Wait… could it be….
“Was swimming your dream? As in, to become a competitive swimmer?”
“…….”
The silence stretched longer, but Yewon felt she’d received a clearer answer than words could provide.
So that’s how it is. But because of your aunt, I end up here, which has nothing to do with my dreams….
Yewon felt a bitter pang.
“Have you told your aunt that Yewon has no interest in Haion, that you only want to act?”
“No.”
“Then go tell her. Maybe your aunt will keep you from wasting your time here. I—”
“I’m not going to.”
“!”
Yewon looked at Sihu with startled eyes. It was the first time she’d heard him speak so firmly.
“I’m sorry to your aunt, but… I don’t want to do that.”
Sihu’s expression clouded again.
Watching him, Yewon thought how strange he was. At times he seemed utterly resolute, and yet other moments he appeared so hesitant.
She couldn’t pin him down.
“…If you’re all right with it, I want to be here now. In this… school.”
“Why?”
A genuine question. Both his dreams and his reality seemed to have nothing to do with this place—so why would he want to be here?
“…Just. I want to be here now. And….”
He stammered for a moment before adding:
“I hope you’ll be okay.”
“!”
“Right now, you don’t look okay.”
That resolute gaze again.
Looking into those inscrutable chestnut eyes, Yewon felt something stir within her.
There was something about this gaze that made her feel she could tell him things, share secrets she normally wouldn’t.
“…I want recognition. From everyone.”
“….”
“But it doesn’t seem to be working. What should I do?”
Without quite realizing it, Yewon whispered like she was telling a secret—her voice barely audible.
Sihu leaned forward, afraid of missing a single word, then tilted his head.
“Why are you even worrying about that…?”
As if he’d just heard the strangest concern in the world.
“What?”
“There’s no way there’s anyone who wouldn’t recognize you…?”
“!”
His voice carried such pure, unwavering conviction that Yewon couldn’t help but laugh—a small, surprised sound.
“Why, why are you laughing….”
“Oh. It’s just. I… I didn’t expect you to say something like that.”
As Sihu’s face flushed crimson, Yewon hurried to continue.
“…In my opinion.”
“Hmm?”
“I think… it would be enough if you just reached out first.”
Reach out first?
Struck by his unexpected suggestion, Yewon listened attentively to what Sihu was saying.
“Everyone here is curious about you, but since nobody knows who you are… nobody dares to approach you. If you speak to them first, you’ll understand.”
“Understand what?”
“That they’re all ready to like you.”
Stunned by his words, Yewon stared at him blankly.
As he spoke, his eyes grew steady again, firm and unwavering.
“None of the students here haven’t seen your work… so it’s only natural.”
And then.
He smiled.
For the first time, Sihu smiled—his face, which had looked like someone was strangling his breath, now luminous with warmth.
So this was what he looked like.
Without meaning to, Yewon gazed at him intently.
That smile, shimmering with light, was remarkably tender.
* * *
Hours later, during club hours.
‘He said to reach out first….’
All the way to the practice studio, Yewon turned Sihu’s words over in her mind.
“That they’re all ready to like you.”
It was honestly an overestimation of her, but the idea itself—that she should simply approach someone first—was deeply persuasive.
Throughout middle school, she’d been so consumed with thoughts of her uncle that she’d paid no attention to anyone around her.
So who should she talk to first?
Just as Yewon was surveying the practice studio, she froze.
“?!”
She felt a jolt of alarm.
‘What…?’
There were far too many eyes glancing at her—stealing furtive looks from all directions.
What am I doing wrong? Why is everyone staring at me…?
In that moment of confusion, she caught Sihu’s gaze from across the room.
He was watching her intently.
“!”
Sihu’s eyes widened as if to say, ‘See? There—do something.’
‘Okay, okay…’
Yewon hesitated for only a moment before tapping the shoulder of the nearest boy—tap, tap—with no particular reason except that he happened to be sitting closest to her.
She didn’t know who he was, but she could tell he was a freshman.
“Um…”
“W-wha—?!?!?!”
Where exactly is the decibel limit?
His reaction was far more explosive than she’d anticipated, and the boy actually leaped to his feet.
“Oh, oh! I just—you startled me by suddenly talking to me! That’s all!”
“Ah, um. S-sorry?”
“No! I didn’t mean—why would you apologize! But why, why would you—?!”
“Oh. Um. You’re… a first-year too, right? I was just curious what project you got put on….”
“Huh.”
Huh?
This reaction was entirely unexpected.
Yewon stared at the boy in bewilderment.
“I’m on the <Summer’s Proof> team! Yes. So, um. I’m from the music department, and I love composing, and also—! I watched your audition too. You’re really good at acting and—um. The director said that ‘sound’ would become paradoxically this huge, defining element in the film, and the moment I saw your audition, this musical idea came to me, so I’ve been composing really hard, but the CEO didn’t seem to like it….”
The boy spilled all of this out in a single breathless rush before suddenly catching himself and gulping air back down.
“Wow. Insane. Sorry. That was totally TMI….”
“No! No. I was the one who asked. Can I—would you mind if I listened to what you composed?”
“!!!!!!!!”
The boy nodded his head approximately one hundred and twenty-four times and whipped out a tablet PC and earphones with the speed of lightning, pressing them into Yewon’s hands.
Even exhaling excitedly through his nose.
‘He’s… this thrilled just from that…?’
Yewon accepted the earphones uncertainly. How much could someone love music?
“Um….”
“Yeah?”
“If you l-listen and think it’s decent, c-could you please just ask Lee Doha for me… to listen once…? And then… g-get feedback…?”
Ah.
Now Yewon understood the true source of this boy’s joy.
“Oh, you know my uncle composes…?”
Yewon honestly hadn’t expected boys his age to know much about GLEET, unlike girls her own age.
GLEET was a fourteen-year-old idol group, and her classmates were only thirteen years old.
And yet.
“What?”
“?!”
“How could you say something like that.”
The boy’s reaction was anything but casual.
“My dream is to become like Lee Doha. Of course, I’m not nearly as handsome. But still. I know that Lee Doha participated in all of GLEET’s songs. I know he’s been South Korea’s number-one K-POP composer for fourteen straight years. I’m going to become an amazing composer like him and make tons of money. A life where money flows in just from breathing… that’s literally my entire dream.”
“…….”
“So if you could just introduce me to him once….”
Right.
Yewon nodded quietly.
I’ll support your dream…!
“Yeah. I’ll definitely tell him.”
At that moment.
Ding!
[Congratulations! Someone has begun to hold ‘firm’ Affection toward you!]
[…(12▲/60)!]
“…….”
Yewon fell silent for a moment, searching for words.

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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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