The Vicious Member Has Returned! Episode 196
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What form does a “normal” sibling relationship usually take?
Opinions were divided on this.
Just as the opening of a certain novel states, happy families are all alike, while unhappy ones are each unhappy in their own way.
Applying this to siblings, even if they were not quite “unhappy,” “normal” could likewise mean something different for everyone.
“Ah, so when Hwaseong says ‘hyung,’ he means his cousin? So that’s why he’s been calling himself ‘the second son of the Ji family’ all this time?”
“Yep. My cousin lived with us for a long time. It’s awkward to keep saying ‘cousin hyung’ every single time, so I just call him hyung.”
“Huh, you must be really close. Logan, you said you were an only child, right?”
“Yes. Looking at it this way, it seems like everyone except Yuchan-hyung and me has siblings...! I’ve always been curious about having them. I don’t even have cousins!”
“Yeah, I do have a cousin older than me... but I’m not very close with her. She hates having her face shown, so she didn’t even come to the final round of
“Huh? Is that... um? Is that okay? Yuchan-hyung must have felt really hurt by that.”
“Uh... not really. Couldn’t that happen? We’re cousins. Well, even if we were immediate family, really.”
As could be glimpsed from a conversation between certain Tioje members exchanging family information some time ago.
“That’s right, Logan. My older brother couldn’t come to the final round because he’s in the military. I mean, that sort of thing—you come if your situation allows it.”
“But the siblings of the other three members all came!”
“Well, Jang Siwon-seonbaenim, Siu’s older brother, is so incredibly devoted to Siu that we expected it. As for Jaeha, his younger siblings are all really young, so maybe he felt bad about leaving them at home?”
“I hadn’t thought about it that deeply... So there was a reason for everyone.”
“Well, Jaeha’s siblings seem to adore him, too. Whew, they were clinging to him all day in the waiting room....”
The type who were close but focused more on their own lives depending on the situation.
The type who were not particularly close and viewed their own life and the other person’s life as separate.
The type who were close and affectionate, rejoicing in the other’s success and happiness as much as their own.
“Aww, well. Compared to Jaeha-hyung’s family or Siu’s side, I found Yongyong-hyung’s family a bit more fascinating. Yongyong-hyung calls his family so often. Don’t people usually not go that far? And it’s not even his parents, but his older sister and younger sister....”
“Oh, I’ve seen Chunyong-hyung’s older sister once. In the parking lot during the
“Oh, wasn’t she the one who posted that clarification on Outgram about Chunyong’s rumor? What does she look like in person?”
“Um... They look alike. They resemble each other physically, but, huh. If she has the kind of personality it seems like Chunyong-hyung was born with, I feel like it’d give off that kind of vibe....”
“Ehh? Are you saying she’s scary, Logan, just in a roundabout way?”
“No! I mean, rather than affectionate, she’s kind of... normal? Should I say fiery? Chunyong-hyung was getting scolded by her?”
And those who shared all these traits in between—truly the “average” siblings.
“Really? When I imagined her, I thought she’d seem more mature! Since she’s seven years older than Chunyong....”
“Sheesh, Yuchan-hyung. That’s prejudice. The most mature person I’ve ever seen is Jaeha-hyung. Even compared to my mom and dad, phew. Don’t get me started.”
“Yeah, I know that, but I got the feeling Chunyong relies on her a lot. You guys know too, right? Whenever family photos come up, Chunyong gives a whole speech about ‘if only Nuna hadn’t looked out for me.’ This is a bit strange.”
“That’s what I’m saying. If you only listen to Chunyong-hyung, you’d think they’re incredibly desperate...? And affectionate...? But I’m saying it’s not really like that.”
In the past, and now.
The way Kim Chunyong’s two older sisters treated him was quite plain and straightforward.
“What? Why is Kim Chunyong wearing his uniform properly today?”
“He said he’s doing a profile shoot at Queens today. He even borrowed a tie from Dad.”
“Tch, a little makeup isn’t going to change that face of his. I swear, what if he causes a scandal after debuting?”
“But Unni, me, and Kim Chunyong—we all look exactly the same, so saying that...”
“Kim Nari. I told you not to say that. Still, you and I are better than Kim Chunyong when it comes to....”
“Hey, don’t badmouth me behind my back!”
“Ugh, so loud. Don’t borrow Dad’s tie; just wear your uniform tie. Why are you wearing something that doesn’t even suit you? You don’t even know how to tie it.”
As the only brother among three siblings, he was appropriately teased, looked after when necessary, and subject to unfiltered anger and jealousy.
The Kim Chunyong they had watched over for twenty years was a sibling who had grown up sharing such things in moderation.
However, the problem began at the point when Kim Chunyong returned from his Rekseuregi days.
“Hey, Kim Chunyong. Don’t just lie around because the survival show is over; go buy some ice cream. You know the one? Vanilla flavor, with... on top....”
“Ah, I already bought some.”
“...What?”
“The vanilla with strawberry syrup on top. And eight hard ice creams, five bags of chips. Ah! I also bought some beef jerky and cookies, but the expiration date....”
“Did you eat something wrong? Why are you suddenly doing things you never do!”
The size of the emotions Kim Chunyong held for his family was vastly different from what his family currently held for him.
From the family’s perspective, Kim Chunyong was just their ordinary son and brother who had debuted about three months ago. But to Kim Chunyong, those four people were his one and only precious blood relatives who had sacrificed themselves for him.
Therefore.
“The thing is, I told Nuna I’d send her sunbaenim Choi Gaon’s album... but I only received a few copies and couldn’t deliver them properly. So I think she’s really angry.”
“Hmm, I understand. She certainly could be... angry. But judging by this message, it seems like just a sister teasing her younger brother....”
“Ssip, does it look like that? But still, I didn’t keep my promise properly. Lately, I’ve been preparing for the repackage album, so I haven’t been able to call my family much, and I couldn’t visit home either. If I could, I think it would be better to go home....”
“Um, Chunyong-ssi....”
“But going home at a time like this is impossible, isn’t it? Still, just sending the album by itself feels a bit empty. If possible, I thought it’d be better to see them in person....”
“W-wait. Chunyong-ssi?”
“So what I thought was inviting Nuna and my younger sister directly to the agency or the broadcasting station. I know this is an imposition and a bit excessive. But my thoughts keep jumping there.”
“No, no! I think you’ve gone too far in every way right now!”
A scene of utter chaos.
This meant that a chaos belonging solely to Kim Chunyong had unfolded.
“Ah, I have to go get my hair and makeup done. I talked too much. I’m sorry, Hyung.”
“Ah, no. For now... please go inside and wait a moment. I’ll be right in.”
“Yessir.”
Yu Hobin, who had barely managed to stop the hole Kim Chunyong was digging, wiped the cold sweat thoroughly drenching the back of his neck and rolled his eyes frantically.
‘...I never expected this.’
Despite his appearance—often called a “delinquent pretty boy”—he was a member considered to be as deep-thinking as the leader, Son Jaeha, the two forming the group’s core.
A member who worked just as hard and rarely revealed his inner thoughts.
A member who was particularly devoted to his own group members and quickly stepped up if he sensed any disadvantage befalling them.
That was the image of Kim Chunyong that Yu Hobin had seen all this time.
‘I didn’t expect it, but it’s a good thing to care so deeply about family. People in this line of work tend to grow neglectful of their families. But this...!’
Yu Hobin now understood why Kim Chunyong, despite having accomplished everything he could these past few days, had been unable to fully enjoy that achievement.
A tour of the agency or broadcasting station for his family?
Absolutely not.
But... he wanted to do it for them. What could he do?
Such worries, such anguish.
“Chunyong-ssi, you’re a total fool for your family....”
Muttering those words without realizing it, Yu Hobin clamped his mouth shut with a gasp and looked around.
Fortunately, there was no one in front of the salon in the early morning.
Coo, coo-coo—
The only ones who heard Yu Hobin’s muttering were the flock of pigeons commuting from the mountain to the city early in the morning.
The pigeons, with bloodshot eyes from fatigue that looked just like Yu Hobin’s, seemed to say exactly this:
‘He’s someone who clings to his members so desperately, and you didn’t expect he’d be like that with his family?’
“Hoo....”
After that tense exchange of glances, Yu Hobin calmed himself and carefully observed Kim Chunyong’s face through the salon window as he sat on the sofa, once again wearing a mask of professionalism.
He wanted to make his family happy.
He wanted to do his current job better than anyone else.
But he had no time.
The circumstances wouldn’t allow it.
He handled everything on his own and occasionally received help from the Tioje members, but this was something neither Kim Chunyong nor the Tioje members could do anything about.
Ah, every desire conflicted with the means available.
“.......”
Blinking his eyes, checking his schedule with the notebook and phone he always carried, preparing to head inside for makeup—Yu Hobin looked at him once more.
With the “W.O.W” album promotions and the year-end music festivals awaiting Tioje.
If there was anyone who could resolve the worries of an idol who did his best in everything, it was none other than his manager.
“...Let’s go.”
Having reached a compromise after a hundred questions in his heart, Yu Hobin stepped inside the salon with a determined expression.
His target: the red-haired idol under his charge.
Jingle—
“Um, Chunyong-ssi? Before you go get your makeup done, can we talk for a moment....”
“Huh? Ah... yes. Let’s.”
And the brief conversation, lasting about ten minutes, between Yu Hobin and Kim Chunyong....
“Could that... really work?”
“The timing works. It happens fairly often, too. So if you and the other members just pay a little attention....”
“...This motivates me more than anything I’ve ever heard.”
It served as the perfect spark to Kim Chunyong’s heart, which was already betting everything on this promotion.
* * *
An apartment complex near Yeonsinnae, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul.
Unit 4012, which should have enjoyed a reasonable amount of peace and quiet after its second son, who stood around 180cm tall, moved out....
“Bomi! Didn’t Mom tell you not to talk to your younger brother like that!”
“Ah, Mom. Why are you like this in the morning....”
“Why do you think? Should you really send a message like that to a kid who’s working hard out there? Huh? You’re really twenty-seven years old and still only find joy in bullying your little brother!”
“Ouch, ouch!”
From that morning, the apartment was as bustling as could be with the sounds of smacks against someone’s back.
All because Kim Bomi, the eldest daughter, had accidentally sent a message to the family chat room instead of the private one.
“Kim Chunyong wouldn’t even think much of it, so why! Mom, it’s not like you haven’t seen me and him messing around like that. It’s everyday life, I’m telling you, everyday life!”
“Oh, this child. Didn’t you notice how much more sensitive he became while preparing for the survival show? He’ll definitely take it to heart, I’m sure.”
“Honey, you’ll hurt your throat. You and Bomi both have to go to work, so let’s stop there. Okay? I’ll scold her when I get home from work.”
“Aaah, Dad!”
“How unusual—it’s not me or Kim Chunyong, but Unni getting scolded by Mom and Dad....”
“Kim Nari. You wanna die?”
“Bomi! Your mouth, your mouth!”
The mother of the three siblings, furious at the eldest daughter’s rare prank despite her normally mature demeanor, rubbed her temples and let out a low sigh.
“No, Bomi. Twenty-seven years old and what, an idol... an idol? Mom thought you quit all that fan stuff when you went to college. Did you push Chunyong into becoming an idol because of that? Huh?”
“Ah, Mom. I couldn’t have done that. Kim Chunyong wanted to do it himself. You know that! Don’t you remember me quitting my math academy so I could send him to vocal lessons?”
“Your words flow like a waterfall... You, if I catch you bringing up Choi Gaon or whatever one more time, I’m really telling your father to scold you.”
“Haa... what in the world is going on....”
Kim Bomi, made to pay an excessive price for a message she had sent, stuffed bread into her mouth with a tearful expression.
He hadn’t even sent the promised signed album properly, and she had only teased him a bit because she was miffed that her younger brother was suddenly filming a challenge with her bias.
She had merely played the same prank she always did!
“After all I’ve done for him, ugh....”
The entire family knew just what Kim Bomi had sacrificed to support and push Kim Chunyong through his trainee days.
But timing, really.
And the target of that prank, well.
“...Huh? Oppa sent a message.”
“This early in the morning? ...What does it say?”
“He says... you, me, Choi Gaon, and Si... Siu... might be able to meet... Siu? Did he say Siu? Does this mean I’m included too?! Yesss!”
“What?”
“Kim Bomi! Chunyong will take it to heart, didn’t Mom say so! You little brat, come here!”
“Uh, Mom. I didn’t know he’d be like this either! Oh my, why is he like this....”
The repackage promotion that was Kim Chunyong’s very own scene of utter chaos.
And it was the very moment that the three Kim siblings’ shared-yet-divergent dreams properly began.