Every time I step into the bathroom, I end up agonizing over it.
‘...Should I just wash my bangs?’
If I go to the salon at dawn tomorrow, the stylist will fix it for me anyway.
But the me reflected in the mirror is shaking her head in denial.
“That’s right, Dohui. You can’t even imagine it, can you? You looking grimy...”
—Hey, hurry up and wash!!
“That’s... not you...”
—Turn on the shower already!
There’s noisy interference coming from outside.
But right now, it’s time to focus on my inner voice.
—Hey! I’m turning off the light?
Shwaaaa.
I turned on the shower.
‘Sheesh... so impatient...’
Then be better at rock-paper-scissors.
What’s the point of letting her void the bet?
She’ll just lose again anyway.
In any case, the problem is this long, straight hair.
Washing it and drying it takes a clean thirty minutes.
‘Should I really just cut it short...?’
I turned off the shower for a moment and faced the mirror again.
“But when you think of Lee Dohui, you think long straight hair... and when you think long straight hair, you think Lee Dohui...?”
The bathroom light went off.
“Ah, unnie! I’ll wash quickly! I’m washing right now!”
The light came back on.
Phew...
* * *
Variety show producers often cast idols.
There were all sorts of reasons, but at the root of it was ratings.
So naturally, they always had a list of members they wanted.
The first priority was members with high buzz.
The second priority was members with a strong sense for variety.
If someone had both, they were priority zero.
The PD of Job Experience: Life on the Scene, “Job-Life Scene,” felt that keenly while editing.
Those two were priority zero.
Members of Seven.
And members of the newly debuting Debonair.
Lee Dohui and Kim Seoyun.
‘The problem is their appearance fees have gotten a bit expensive...’
Both of them fundamentally had excellent variety sense.
Even when they appeared separately, they were reasonably funny.
But in his opinion, the two were definitely maximized when put together.
Because the two had a distinct characteristic that set them apart from other girl group members.
Generally, girl group members have chemistry.
The sight of them adoring each other and finding each other cute.
In other words, “relationship dynamics.”
That was certainly an element loved not only by fans, but also by regular viewers.
These days, with healing variety shows being the trend, there was demand for it everywhere.
But... was it funny on a primal level?
Not really.
Yes, these two didn’t just act warm and friendly all the time.
If anything, they were busy teasing and messing with each other.
That, at its core, was the comedy code.
That didn’t mean they crossed the line, either.
It wasn’t uncomfortable for the viewer.
It was simply something that came out because they were truly comfortable with each other.
The PD decided to continue editing.
Job-Life Scene basically proceeded according to the plot.
Fixed panelist Jang Seungho’s chatter.
—Nonsan? Come on~ It’s not the training center, right? I finished reserve forces ages ago, okay? I’m in civil defense, civil defense.
The job to be experienced today.
—A strawberry farm experience? That makes sense.
Guest introduction.
—But why are there so many staff members today? Is some top-tier guest coming?
—Top idol? No way, NND? Really?
—Ah, they must actually be at the training center. NND, fighting!
—You’re saying it’s Seven members? Ailee!? I did a show with Hana before, so we’re super close!
And the guests’ entrance.
[Jang Seungho: What do I do? My heart is totally fluttering! Ailee!]
Of course, contrary to panelist Jang Seungho’s mention, two people got out of the van.
[Seoyun: ...? Hello, I’m Ailee.]
[Dohui: Ah... I’m A-Ailee, Yeeun...!]
Naturally, Jang Seungho gave an awkward laugh.
[Jang Seungho: Hahaha, it’s Seoyun and Dohui, my favorites! Hey! PD Yang! Why did you lie!]
[PD: They are Seven members.]
[Dohui: Yes, I’m Yeeun...!]
[Seoyun: One, two! Hello! We’re Ailee~]
As if trying to change the subject, Jang Seungho started throwing questions at the two of them.
[Jang Seungho: Dohui and Seoyun! What have you been up to lately? Are you redebuting like Ailee too?]
[Seoyun: I am Ailee, though!]
[Dohui: Yes, I’m Yeeun...!]
[Jang Seungho: Girls, would it be enough if I got down on my knees...?]
After drawing out a few decent laugh points, the promotional comments followed.
[Seoyun: We’re now debuting as a group called Debonair!]
[Jang Seungho: Oh~ Debonair! But what does that mean?]
[Dohui: We’ll just be Ailee today. It’s hard to explain.]
[Seoyun: We’re Ailee~]
[Jang Seungho: Wow, I’ve never seen a grudge like this. I’m sorry! I said I’m sorry!]
And after the full-scale group promotion, the guests were introduced to the job they would experience today.
[Jang Seungho: Actually, today might be a bit hard for you girls.]
[Seoyun: Why?]
[Jang Seungho: This is Nonsan... right?]
At Jang Seungho’s grave tone, Dohui watched his expression, then spoke.
[Dohui: The training center...?]
[Jang Seungho: Correct. Today, it’s a soldier experience.]
It was a part he had actually considered cutting entirely.
The reality was that it was only a strawberry farm.
And even if Jang Seungho, who had served in the military, brought it up, military service was a sensitive issue to deal with on broadcast.
‘People pick fights at the drop of a hat these days...’
And if it involved girl group members, it was even easier for people to nitpick.
[Dohui: The soldiers must be having such a hard time in this cold weather.]
Fortunately, since Dohui nodded and mentioned the soldiers’ hard work, there was nothing to worry about.
‘She’s definitely smart for an eighteen-year-old. Is it because she’s good at studying?’
[Dohui: Sounds good.]
Of course, her expression was full of conflicting emotions.
[Jang Seungho: Really?]
[Dohui: Of course. I... I really like it!]
But even that instantly turned into a smiling expression.
If they just changed the camera angle, there would be absolutely no issue.
‘Wow, she’s a real pro. A pro.’
Even the PD, who had served in the military himself, couldn’t keep his expression under control whenever he thought of the army.
‘Ah, or maybe not? Is she able to do it because she hasn’t gone...?’
Dohui’s expression had been so vivid that he seemed to have momentarily mistaken her.
‘Right, it’s not like she’s a veteran.’
[Jang Seungho: Wow, Dohui, that’s amazing.]
[Dohui: Oh~ Of course!]
In any case, Dohui vented her emotions in a peculiar way.
After making a cutting motion with her fingers, signaling them to edit it out.
She tried to drag Seoyun off-camera.
[Seoyun: Ah, why. What is it?]
The PD decided to insert captions on this scene just as Dohui intended and pass over it briefly.
The viewers would probably only laugh without feeling uncomfortable.
※The original guest was Seoyun alone.
[Seoyun: Hey, hey! We’re filming! Filming!]
※Dohui was cast in a hurry the day before filming at Seoyun’s suggestion.
* * *
“This body has emerged. Go wash.”
The light went off at least three times while I was showering.
And if she had kept turning it off, I was planning to hold out for a long time.
But I, being kind, ended all my cleansing within thirty minutes for my pitiful Seoyun unnie, without even drying my hair.
And when I stepped out of the bathroom, the living room TV was playing a fancam of today’s stage.
Since today was our first music show, it seemed everyone had gathered to monitor it.
‘So Kim Seoyun was busy watching this, huh?’
I also went to the living room, gently toweling the water from my hair so I could check it.
‘Let’s see how pretty I came out.’
But what I heard was my unnies’ soft, even breathing.
Hidden behind the sofa, every single one of them was asleep under blankets.
“What the, why is everyone sleeping already?”
Was everyone that tired because it was the first day...?
Even Seoyun unnie, who had been turning the light off on me, was sleeping soundly.
‘Wow, at least she removed her makeup?’
Looks like she couldn’t wait for me to finish washing and ended up washing in the kitchen.
Still, if she was going to sleep, she should have gone to her room... It must be uncomfortable.
‘Ha... what is this? Was I just worried about Kim Seoyun? Am I seriously an angel?’
That’s right. As the angel I am, I fixed each of the members’ blankets over them. Then I turned off the living room light. I also raised the boiler temperature to a reasonable level.
Seeing how tender I was gave me another thrill.
‘Phew... I’ll definitely go to heaven.’
“Good night, everyone~”
With that, I entered my room and flopped down on the bed.
But I still had something left on my schedule.
The book by my bedside that I hadn’t finished reading yesterday.
‘Cicero’s On Duties. A very fine book...’
Books were nourishment for the mind, after all.
I turned on YouTube.
Not because the book was boring, but because I had realized something.
Checking myself was just as important as cultivating refinement.
‘That’s right. I’m a professional idol.’
When I scrolled, the latest videos came up according to the algorithm.
Challenges, stage fancams, previews for various variety shows.
The one that drew my eye the most among them was a video currently on the trending page.
‘Ah, this was today.’
It was the first variety show officially uploaded under the Debonair title.
[[SUB] You’re coming on together again...? A refreshing girl group’s strawberry game... Total chaos party | Debonair | Dohui | Seoyun | Strawberry Farm | Job. Life. Scene]
‘I was in a bit of a bad mood that day because of Kim Seoyun, so my expression might not have been great...’
Still, the comments were full of praise, so fortunately, it seemed they had edited it well.
—ㅋㅋㅋㅋ These two are seriously insane at variety
—This is such a perfect duo
—A combo that makes the corners of your mouth go up reflexively ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
—As expected, the Do-Seos never disappoint ㅋㅋㅋ Their back-and-forth was fun👏
In any case, I played the video to monitor it.
But my eyes quickly closed on their own.
‘Should I sleep...’
I should sleep.
I’ll still get about three hours and thirty minutes...
Sleepiness swept over me immediately.
Ka-talk!
While I was deep in dreamland.
The notification sound rang loudly.
I came to my senses for a moment, but soon fell back asleep.
Ka-talk!
It rang persistently.
‘Ugh, seriously, who is it...’
Even as an angel, I couldn’t find anything nice to say.
There were only a few chatrooms I left notifications on...
Whoever it was, I’d have to consider turning off their notifications when I woke up...
* * *
[Me: Dohui, what are you doing?]
[Me: I saw the challenge you filmed with Yeeun. (super shocked cat emoticon)]
[Me: When should I come? (expectant cat emoticon)]
[Me: I practiced so much~ (you can do it cat emoticon)]
[Me: Hana unnie says she can come too!]
[Me: Dohui, are you sleeping...? (cat hugging a doll emoticon)]
“She must be asleep... She must’ve been tired...”