The Villainous Member Has Returned! Episode 102
While Kim Chunyong was briefly lost in thought, the two same-aged kids were jostling each other, struggling to claim a spot in the kitchen.
“Ah, Hwaseong! Give me some cereal too. Let’s eat breakfast together!”
“Ugh, no way. This cereal is mine. I brought it from the trainee dorm!”
“How can you be so stingy? Just one bite!”
“Hmph, it’s just one bite… Hmm, do you want some too, Yongyong-hyung?”
“I already ate. For now, I think I’ll sit down and rest.”
Kim Chunyong planted himself on the seat across from the table where the two same-aged kids had sat down to eat their slightly late breakfast, and opened his mouth with a sly look on his face.
Right now, while Son Jaeha, Jang Siu, and Bang Yuchan were asleep.
And now, with Logan—who still lacked a bit of Korean social tact—by his side, it was the perfect time to start working.
You know.
“I was just thinking about something.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Before the reality show starts, I was thinking of moving into the closet room you use, Hwaseong.”
“Well, it’s not a bad idea… Huh?”
It was the first step of the ‘Hwaseong and Jaeha Relationship Recovery’ project that had made him decide to return to the dorm so quickly.
“No, Yongyong-hyung, you don’t have to go that far? Why are you doing this? Don’t tell me you’re trying to steal my angel image? This is quite troubling….”
Kim Chunyong draped his arm over Ji Hwaseong’s shoulder—who had suddenly started speaking faster—and grinned.
“No? Actually, I’m even worse. I’m looking out for Jaeha-hyung and Siu, and taking care of you too.”
“…Huh? You’re taking care of me?”
“Yeah. Ji Hwaseong, you’re such a coward. You screamed so much during the courage test mission.”
“Argh! Why are you bringing that up again, it’s embarrassing. No. And! What does that have to do with sharing a room—”
“—How scared would you be if a ghost came out of the closet room? I have to help you.”
The moment the words ‘I have to help you’ came out.
Ji Hwaseong looked at Kim Chunyong with wide eyes.
Kim Chunyong’s sharp eyes were already curved into a pleasant smile as he said that.
‘You think I don’t know?’
Perhaps it was only natural that Ji Hwaseong momentarily made an expression of utter defeat at that meaning.
“Jesus, if a ghost comes out, call me too. I really want to see it!”
“Sure, Logan. If a ghost comes out, I’ll definitely call you. Let’s watch together.”
I don’t know what kind of ghost it would be….
“And watch Hwaseong scream too.”
Perhaps for Ji Hwaseong, who was now strangely breaking into a cold sweat, the night before the reality show started might be scarier than any ghost.
* * *
Now, the other members who had slept in late to relieve their survival show fatigue had woken up and were huddled together in the living room.
Kim Chunyong also casually brought up another method he had thought of for the ‘Hwaseong and Jaeha Relationship Recovery’ project.
“Yuchan-hyung, Jaeha-hyung.”
“Hmm? What is it, Chunyong?”
“So, about our dorm. Isn’t it too empty?”
To that probing remark, the one who reacted immediately was, as expected, Bang Yuchan.
“Whew, I was thinking the same thing. The pot for boiling ramyeon is too small, and there aren’t enough cups. I was thinking of going out to buy some later. I shouldn’t have only bought a ton of snacks.”
‘Yuchan-hyung, nice.’
Feeling like everything was falling perfectly into place without him even having to say anything, Kim Chunyong smiled broadly and chimed in.
“Rather than that, let’s use the company card. How about a few of us go out to buy some daily necessities? Considering the luggage and stuff… about four people.”
“Four people? Why four?”
“I thought it would be good if two people stayed back to clean the dorm. It’s called division of labor. Division of labor.”
Kim Chunyong’s thought process was as follows.
First, create a situation where Son Jaeha and Ji Hwaseong could talk alone, and if that didn’t work, he would intervene.
‘If they can just talk it out and resolve it, there’s less work for me. And even if not, the other members will get some time to get closer.’
Kim Chunyong looked at Jang Siu, who was sitting hugging his knees tightly and rolling his eyes around restlessly.
“Hey, Siu. Want to eat this? The CEO gave it to us, it’s cookies.”
“…I-I’m fine.”
“Oh, okay. Let me know if you want to eat some later!”
“O-okay….”
Although he seemed to have improved somewhat after
If the conversations shared in daily life like this increased even a little, it would definitely help him open his heart.
‘Thinking about Jaeha-hyung and Hwaseong is important, but I can’t forget to take care of our maknae either.’
Having finished his thoughts, Kim Chunyong sprang up from his seat and naturally called out the members he had in mind.
“Then me, Yuchan-hyung, and Logan and Siu. Let’s go out, the four of us. Get dressed quickly. I’ll call the company.”
“Huh? Why does Yongyong-hyung get to decide who goes out!”
And naturally, Ji Hwaseong raised his voice in confusion at those words.
Normally, he would just accept it, happy that he could rest comfortably in the dorm with Son Jaeha.
But right now, that hyung he used to follow so obediently wasn’t entirely comfortable.
Perhaps realizing he had overreacted a bit, Ji Hwaseong quickly tried to change the subject with an ‘oops’ expression.
“No, well. I don’t mind, but you should ask Jaeha-hyung’s opinion too. Right? He’s the leader!”
Those words from Ji Hwaseong were a plea for help.
A plea for help asking for a grace period, since hyung must feel a bit awkward talking to him right now because of his attitude.
However.
“…Well, sure. It’ll be nice to get used to the dorm too. Hwaseong and I will do some cleaning. The four of you go on and come back.”
Son Jaeha very gracefully rejected that plea for help from Ji Hwaseong.
“Uh…?”
“The ‘leader-hyung’ said so, right? Listen to him, punk.”
Kim Chunyong didn’t even try to hide the smile spreading across his face as he patted Ji Hwaseong’s shoulder and moved toward the closet room.
This was perhaps a natural result.
‘There’s no way Jaeha-hyung didn’t think of what I was thinking.’
“Then, have a good trip. Chunyong.”
Wasn’t Son Jaeha the one who had appeared in his dream and pointed out the current situation?
As always, a kind, friendly, and slightly sly leader hyung.
‘Well, a dream is a dream and reality is reality. But I’m sure hyung also thought he needed to talk with Hwaseong.’
Kim Chunyong, wearing a ball cap turned backward to hide his red hair, alternated his gaze between the members waiting for him in front of the door and the other two, then slowly nodded.
Thinking that he would watch and see how things turned out for now.
* * *
The shopping trip for the four members, including me, was quite smooth….
Or so I’d like to say.
Even though everything fell within expectations, it wasn’t exactly easy.
“Where do trainees with their faces plastered everywhere think they’re waltzing off to, seriously….”
“What? No! It’s too uncomfortable without a power strip! If they’d put one in the dorm from the start, this wouldn’t….”
“Haha! Hahaha! Please, just this once! We’ll really be careful not to draw any attention! Logan, aren’t you going to say thank you for the ride?”
“Huh?”
The subtle tension with the company employee who had come out for us since we didn’t have a road manager yet.
“Uh, um. Is this good? Or… a smaller one?”
“Oh, Siu. You picked better than I thought….”
“No, this one is on discount, and we need the large-capacity one. Let’s go with this. It’s heavy, so hyung will carry it.”
“…….”
“Uh… Yuchan-hyung?”
“…Gasp. Siu, bring it back! Bring it back! I was wrong, uh. Let’s buy ten of those!”
“No, no. We can buy what you said….”
“Let’s buy half and half. Half! Then it should work!”
A miscommunication between Yuchan-hyung and Siu, who still didn’t fully understand each other, like oil and water.
“…Hey, Logan. Come here. Punk, you already have playing cards. What are you buying more for?”
“Oh, Chunyong-hyung, listen. If I buy one more of these, we can play different games. I’ll teach you in detail. From the overhand shuffle technique, to secretly pulling out cards in between….”
“When did I ask how to cheat? Put it back. Hurry. Before anyone recognizes you.”
“Huh… You’re too much, too much.”
“Too much my foot, you punk. Just where did a guy who only ever studied learn sleight of hand like that… Wait. What’s this puffed rice snack doing here?”
“Chunyong-hyung. That’s not mine. I swear!”
“…….”
“Siu?”
Down to having to pull out the wish list items that the two members—who still very much had their youthful sides—had stealthily slipped into the pile.
“Sigh….”
I wiped my forehead, damp with cold sweat, and let out a light sigh.
When I recalled the company employee who had driven us back to the dorm and was strangely checking the receipts, my spine still chilled.
“He really sucked the life out of us….”
“Same here, Chunyong….”
While Yuchan-hyung, who had become slightly pale, and I exchanged glances of mutual respect for each other’s hardships, Logan shouted in an excited voice while carrying boxes full of luggage.
“Is this really enough, Chunyong-hyung? No matter how I look at it, it seems a bit insufficient!”
“No, Logan. We can buy things as we need them. If we buy too much in advance, it becomes clutter.”
“Huh, I see. Then let’s hurry back to the dorm before anyone recognizes us. Let’s all play a card game. I’ll put you all in your place!”
“Sheesh. Logan, you’re excited about cheating again.”
“No! Chunyong-hyung, I mean, it’s not cheating! Those are all skills in use—”
“Yeah, yeah. Logan, don’t get mad and come here. Let’s split the luggage!”
“Hmph. Chunyong-hyung, your lucky day.”
Yuchan-hyung and Logan, walking ahead while splitting the luggage, already looked quite close.
They’d tap each other’s luggage, burst into laughter out of nowhere.
“You two really got close fast… even though you were in different rooms throughout the survival show.”
At Siu’s bewildered words, Logan quickly opened his mouth as if he also found it fascinating.
“Um, that’s right. The first time I properly talked with Yuchan-hyung was last night. But we really clicked?”
“Right. Logan and I have the same ears, you know? Siu, did you know we use the same kind of alarm?”
“Right. I almost turned off Yuchan-hyung’s alarm!”
“I know, right. Same here. Yours went off so I thought mine was already off, but then it rang again.”
Watching the two chattering and high-fiving over meaningless small talk, I slowly smiled.
Well, in my opinion….
The reason the two got close easily wasn’t because of the ears thing, but because they had similar backgrounds.
The fact that they had been ordinary civilians before appearing on
So, rather than the other three who had been raised gently in the AG greenhouse, they could become friends more easily.
“…….”
Siu’s expression as he watched the two was strange.
Was it because he had never imagined becoming close with someone so easily?
He seemed a bit envious, and also a bit confused.
“—Siu. Come here. You carry this with me. You take the light one.”
I quickly grabbed Siu by one arm and pressed a light bag containing a power strip and such into his hand.
Because it wasn’t a very pleasant thing to keep watching the maknae make that kind of face.
“Uh, uh? …Thank you, hyung. I could carry the heavy stuff too….”
“Hey, what thanks. You can help me out later.”
When I’m struggling.
“Like, if you have trouble finding your vocal tone. Or if you struggle with stage movements? Don’t feel burdened.”
We’re on the same team now.
“…….”
Hearing my belated addition, Siu opened his eyes wide for a moment, then slowly nodded.
That his face looked quite a bit happier than before was something that didn’t even need pointing out.
“The song I heard earlier was really good. Can I find the audio source somewhere?”
“Uh, probably… It’s a famous commercial song… I’ll tell you the title later.”
“Holy, thanks, Siu.”
The four of us who got on the elevator together were in quite a nice mood.
At this rate, I should consider half of the initial goal achieved.
Ding, ding, ding, beep—
With a pleased smile, I opened the front door wide to check on the remaining goal.
And.
“—If it’s annoying, just say it’s annoying, Jaeha-hyung. That’d be much easier on both of us!”
It was very easy to tell that things hadn’t gone well at all.