Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 22

“Excuse me.”

“No excuse necessary.”

The house was so neat and tidy that it was hard to believe Grandpa lived alone.

A large family photo hung in the living room.

Grandpa told me to at least contact my mother, then he made soybean paste stew.

I pretended to call my non-existent mother and sat in front of the table. The smell was mouth-watering.

As I took a spoonful and slurped the stew, I could feel Grandpa’s sincerity. It was almost overwhelming.

‘Grandpa… how much soybean paste did you put in this…….’

Although the stew was very salty, I gulped down water and scraped every last grain of rice and drop of soup from my bowl.

After all, it wasn’t easy for him to do this for a student he had never met before.

While I was rinsing my mouth with water, Grandpa asked me,

“Do you do any housework?”

“Although I was born to parents who aren’t very interested in me, I grew up delicately enough to never have a drop of detergent touch my hands….”

“Good grief, so talkative. Stop jabbering and wet the cloth to clean the table.”

“Yes, sir.”

Instead of Grandpa, who had a bad back, I did the dishes, fetched water for the many plants in the veranda, mopped the floor with a wet cloth, and hung the laundry from the washing machine.

Then, I got praised for doing a good job. It felt quite fulfilling.

Grandpa took an apple out of the refrigerator and asked,

“Do you know how to peel fruit? …Looking at your clueless face, I already know the answer.”

“For your information, I’ve only ever eaten fruit that others have peeled for me all my life.”

Grandpa looked at me with eyes that seemed to say, ‘What nonsense.’

“You should learn in advance. When you meet a good partner and get married, you earn points by peeling fruit nicely like this.”

“I have no intention of getting married….”

The only marriage I’ll have in my life will be the in-game marriage content. And only if there are benefits attached.

“……What?”

Then Grandpa’s barrage of scolding began.

At first, I sat quietly and listened.

“Are you planning to grow old and die alone? You look like someone who’s never dated a girl before, and thinking like that means you really have no hope.”

But this Grandpa showed no sign of stopping.

Eventually, I started arguing back while munching on the apple that Grandpa had cut into cute rabbit shapes.

“No way! There are people who’ve asked to date me just knowing my name and face!”

“Good grief, such boasting. They must be blind. What’s so great about you for them to cling to? I’ll show you a photo from my prime to snap you back to reality.”

I may not have any outstandingly handsome features, but I don’t have any ugly ones either.

To say such things right to my face, that’s too much.

“Watch closely! I don’t have any ugly features!”

At those words, Grandpa, who had been rummaging through the drawer to find a photo, looked at my face for a long time and grudgingly muttered that I was right.

Let’s not forget. My face may be less handsome than the original, but it’s definitely not ugly. Absolutely not.

Let’s hope for it again today.

Please give me back my face.

* * *

When I charged my phone, which had run out of battery, and turned it on late in the day, I found missed calls and messages from Ban Yo-han.

Honestly, I didn’t think he cared much about others, but seeing this made me feel a bit sorry, so I used an emoticon to explain.

Anyway, Grandpa Go Soo-jong’s house was heaven.

Great Wi-Fi, warm boiler.

Honestly, I never want to leave here.

[This is a temporary place.]

That system seems determined to kick me out.

While I was peeling and eating tangerines and watching a music program, Grandpa casually asked,

“Why did you fight with your mom?”

“I told you, I didn’t.”

I’ve never fought with my in-game parents or the parents who gave birth to me outside the game.

After answering like that, I popped a tangerine into my mouth. Then, I made a sour face.

“Ugh, sour.”

“You silly boy. The ones I peeled are soft and sweet.”

Grandpa pushed the plate with the peeled tangerines towards me.

I split one in half and put it in my mouth.

“Do you think I’ll let you live here forever?”

“Huh? Really?”

“What’s so lovable about a brat like you? As soon as the sun rises tomorrow, you’re out.”

Tomorrow?! I grabbed Grandpa’s hand and made the most pitiful face possible.

[The effect of the trait ‘Inborn Pitiful’ makes Go Soo-jong see you like a cute puppy-like grandchild.]

Good, good. Well done, my system.

[Phew…. Go Soo-jong’s favorability +8. Current favorability +26.]

I’ve thought this for a while, but there must be someone behind this system.

Otherwise, how could it make people so effectively angry?

“…If you go out and have nowhere to go, you can come back.”

“Yes!”

Hehe, I’ve got a home.

* * *

OnRaOnPickHeart [Just saw it after charging my phone]

OnRaOnPickHeart [I’m home now]

OnRaOnPickHeart [Sorry for making you worry]

OnRaOnPickHeart [(A puppy emoticon expressing regret)]

Ban Yo-han frowned slightly as he checked On Raon’s reply, which came after a long time, and turned his phone over.

He had felt something was off when On Raon mentioned the strange line about letting him sleep if he won and tried calling, but the phone was off, making him seriously worry that something might have happened.

If On Raon had been in any contact with Ban Yo-han, he would have received a message that Ban Yo-han’s favorability had dropped significantly.

Watching Ban Yo-han, Kang Ji-woo, a trainee at Seed Entertainment, asked,

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

He didn’t look like it was nothing.

“That guy who called earlier?”

“Yeah. He looks like the type to easily get scammed, and he was saying weird things, so I was worried.”

“If nothing happened, then it’s fine. Tell me more about what happened there. How was it?”

Ban Yo-han, who was smiling slightly at that innocent remark, suddenly picked up a cushion lying nearby and started hitting Kang Ji-woo’s back.

Ban Yo-han’s strength stat was more than five times that of the newbie On Raon.

The undeniable power in the fluffy heart-shaped cushion made Kang Ji-woo bend over and scream.

“Ban Yo-han, are you crazy? I’m a patient. My cast isn’t off yet!”

Kang Ji-woo had a cast on his right leg from below the knee to the foot.

Seeing Ban Yo-han looking at the blue cast, Kang Ji-woo felt relieved, but the cushion beating resumed.

“What does that matter? Your leg is injured, but I’m hitting your body. And because of that cast, I had to go instead of you.”

“You were on a break and said it would be fun to go as a substitute….”

“Yes, it was me. But because of that, all the company trainees were out, and I was the only one left to go? If you’re proud of that, keep talking.”

“Haha, I’m not exactly proud, but I was just doing what was necessary….”

“Laughing?”

“Sorry. Ah, I’m just sorry!”

Only after thoroughly beating the cushion did Ban Yo-han wipe the sweat from his forehead with a relieved expression.

Then he smiled brightly and said,

“Yeah. Actually, it was more fun than I expected.”

“…Hey.”

There were some unpleasant things, but that was nothing.

Ban Yo-han shamelessly shrugged his shoulders.

Seo Moon-gyeol entered the break room holding a drink just as Kang Ji-woo, who seemed to have a bit of a personality problem, was vowing revenge on his childhood friend.

Seo Moon-gyeol handed warm chocolate drinks to Kang Ji-woo and Ban Yo-han, who usually seemed to get along well, and asked with a blunt expression,

“Hyung, did you get in touch with Raon?”

“Just now. He said his battery was dead.”

Kang Ji-woo, who was opening the can with a thanks, turned his head and intervened in a slightly sharp tone.

“Raon?”

“That guy from earlier.”

“On? On Raon? The one from True?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Why, do you know him?”

At the unusual reaction of Kang Ji-woo, who was usually lively, Ban Yo-han and Seo Moon-gyeol also became serious.

After contemplating with a serious expression for a moment, Kang Ji-woo opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“When he was in True….”

* * *

The next day, I left Grandpa Go Soo-jong’s house with a Shin Saimdang note, which carried his noble intention of not letting me go out in the cold and starve.

Of course, I refused the money out of courtesy.

“Take it. When an elder gives you something, just accept it with thanks.”

“Thank you!”

I was persuaded. I must become a cool grandpa like him in sixty years.

I left Grandpa’s house to record the signal song, “Heart Attack,” for Pick Heart3.

The staff had sent new materials last night, stating that the recording would take place today.

Because Grandpa went to bed early, I also went to bed early, so I checked the schedule

this morning and had to rush to get ready.

I took public transportation and arrived at the studio in Seoul.

There were about forty trainees in the studio along with the composer of “Heart Attack,” Jung Ha-neul, also known as Sky Jung.

Nagase Ritsu, who was with the trainees from Star Production, noticed me and waved slightly. I waved back.

The studio, designed in dark brown, had a luxurious atmosphere enhanced by soft lighting.

After a while, Jung Ha-neul, who had been sitting alone in a plush chair listening to music with his back to the trainees, stood up.

Jung Ha-neul looked at the trainees, who were uncomfortably seated on the long sofa or standing awkwardly nearby.

“Let’s see. Two, four, six, eight, twelve, fourteen…. Yes, all thirty-seven are here. Hello, I’m Jung Ha-neul, the composer of “Heart Attack.””

“Hello!”

“As you may have heard, we called you here today for the recording of the “Heart Attack” track that will be released in a few days. Basically, all trainees except those in the F grade, who are below the required skill level, will record over the next two days, but please know that those who best match the feeling of the song I envision will be the main vocalists.”

“Yes!”

After quickly explaining a few more things, Jung Ha-neul called out names and handed out lyrics sheets with certain parts highlighted.

“Trainee Oh Hyun-jin.”

“Yes.”

“Trainee On Raon, last.”

“Thank you.”

The lyrics sheet, which had my name and the number 23 at the top, had the chorus and refrain highlighted.

“The number next to your name is your order, so if you think you’re in the back, you can go to the next room to practice and come back.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t wear yourself out before the recording. Then we’ll start with trainee Seo Chan-bin. Go in and warm up your voice.”

Seo Chan-bin, clearly nervous, entered the recording booth. I, who had a later order, went to the next room.

Since it was a song we sang countless times during the training, there was nothing new to learn.

After warming up my voice appropriately with the other trainees, I just tried singing the highlighted parts in different ways while thinking about the feeling the composer wanted.

After returning to my seat before I got tired, the recording was in full swing.

When I asked a trainee next to me what number they were on, they said it was the 7th turn.

The recording was going slower than expected. The composer seemed quite meticulous.