Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 271

A little while ago, on the way back to the dorm.

By some coincidence, On Raon ran into the resident from the first floor again.

Coincidence. Was it really just a coincidence?

Ever since he returned the ring that Ban Yo-han had lost, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

– By any chance, did you really find this ring in front of the house?

No matter how lucky Ban Yo-han claimed to be, could such a series of fortunate events, including the timing of losing it, really happen?

He knew Ban Yo-han too well to simply ignore what had been bothering him.

The resident, caught by On Raon’s gaze, hesitated before speaking.

– Actually, the truth is…

* * *

“I heard everything.”

“……”

“I’m sorry.”

On Raon apologized again.

“So why are you apologizing now…?”

“Wasn’t the point of this to make me feel how bad it is to be treated like an idiot who knows nothing?”

After understanding all the circumstances surrounding the ring Ban Yo-han claimed to have lost, he struggled to calm his cheeks, burning with shame and anger.

How ridiculous must I have looked running to him with the ring?

“On Raon.”

“Consideration? Character?”

Recalling the day when he proudly handed over the ring he received from the first-floor resident, and Ban Yo-han happily accepted it, the humiliation towards himself surged up to his head.

“Did you think that was good consideration and great character?”

“……”

Ban Yo-han’s mind simultaneously thought, ‘He figured it out’ and ‘This isn’t right.’

“Instead of wasting time laughing and joking with that person, couldn’t you have just come and talked to me?”

As On Raon spoke, grinding out each word, the more he felt the anger welling up in his chest.

While some of that anger was directed at Ban Yo-han, more of it was directed at himself.

“The thing I regret and think was wrong was bringing you to that place. I’m really sorry about that.”

He was the cause of the situation.

Whether things went wrong or not, he shouldn’t have taken Ban Yo-han there.

He shouldn’t have burdened someone else with a responsibility he should have fully handled himself, just because he trusted them.

“But I’m a petty and narrow-minded person who only has pride. Even though I know I’m the one at fault, knowing that you orchestrated the whole thing makes me feel really…”

On Raon, who had been searching for the right words with a downcast face, finally finished his sentence quietly.

“Empty.”

For Ban Yo-han, how easy and simple it must have seemed to change someone’s mind, and actually do it too.

For me, it’s harder and more difficult than anything else, and it’s something I desperately want.

After the incident, I seriously considered whether it would be okay to rely on others when problems arose, but suddenly, it all felt meaningless.

So from now on, if I face any unrealistic problems as an individual rather than as a team, it might be better not to think about getting help from others and just find a way to solve it as if nothing happened.

“……”

That was when Ban Yo-han, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.

“Have you finished being angry?”

“Does this look like I’m just being angry to you?”

“I’m glad.”

“What?”

“Now, get angry.”

“This crazy bastard…”

Since the profanity filter penalty was applied immediately, On Raon might have just blown his chance to spew even more severe curses in the escalating conflict.

But it was such an absurd statement that he couldn’t help but curse.

Get angry?

It was like pouring fuel on the fire while he was trying his hardest to suppress his temper.

Despite hearing such sharp words, Ban Yo-han remained calm.

“This is something you should be angry about.”

More than the content of his words, it was Ban Yo-han’s unusual demeanor, unlike his usual gentle smile, that struck On Raon as odd.

“What are you…”

On Raon frowned as the hint of heat in his anger cooled slightly, taken aback by Ban Yo-han’s apparent sincere effort to understand his feelings.

There was a significant difference between understanding and now trying to understand.

At least, to On Raon.

“Hurry up. Don’t try to understand me; just speak purely from your own perspective.”

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“Promise me. No matter how selfishly you act from now on, I won’t hate you. I also won’t speak recklessly like last time.”

So, what kind of bullshit is this bastard spouting now?

* * *

One hour later.

Without moving an inch or dropping their feet, two people stood firmly as if nailed to their spots, with only silence filling the not-too-close, not-too-distant gap between them.

Some employees, sensing the initial commotion, peeked out of the office, murmuring things like “What’s going on?” or “Are they fighting?” But upon sensing the tense atmosphere, they quickly retreated, pretending they saw nothing.

Those who entered the office also quickly gauged the situation by glancing at the two and quietly passed by, making the company entrance eerily silent.

Employees who knew about Ban Yo-han and On Raon reacted to their clash with a sense of inevitability.

“It’s actually a relief it happened early.”

“Right. If they had accumulated more emotions, it would have been harder to resolve later.”

“How long have they known each other? About a year and a half?”

“Yes, it’s been just about that long.”

At that time, there wasn’t much worry that Ban Yo-han and On Raon would truly fall out.

The most serious concern was, ‘I hope they don’t get so heated that they forget about last week’s comeback and start hitting each other.’

However, as another 30 minutes passed without any sign of conversation resuming, worries began to grow even among those who were busy with their own work in the office.

“Are they still not talking?”

“Yes. If they keep this up, their legs will really hurt…”

“Seriously, I’m getting concerned about what’s going to happen.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if they just fought it out? Maybe we should tell them to go have a brawl.”

“Who just suggested fighting like that?”

“It was a joke. I’m sorry.”

“But Raon might get sick the next day if this continues…”

“It hasn’t been long since he went through something big… Yo-han should be more mature about this.”

“We don’t know for sure why they’re like this, so let’s not make unnecessary comments.”

“Still, shouldn’t Sang-hyun step in? They would at least listen to him…”

“Shh…”

An employee, who had stood up to peek through a slightly open door to gauge the outside atmosphere, whispered.

“They seem to be talking now.”

* * *

On Raon remained silent, too proud to speak just because he was told to, or to get angry just because he was told to. He had been standing in the same position for so long that his calves, ankles, and feet ached all the way down his lower back.

Holding a bag full of luggage brought from the dorm and snacks bought for the employees, On Raon was particularly exhausted.

Ban Yo-han, who knew On Raon’s stamina well from their time in Pick Heart, realized that more time had passed than he had thought.

Time seemed to flow twice as fast when they were fighting.

“Your legs must hurt.”

“No.”

“Then at least put down the luggage. It looks heavy.”

“I’m fine.”

“…Standing here is a nuisance to others too. Let’s move.”

On Raon agreed readily to this. He had been concerned about the employees who kept glancing at them or those inside the office.

The two looked for a place within the company where they wouldn’t be noticed and went into the practice room.

With the other members at the temporary dormitory, the practice room was empty, but since people could still see inside from outside, they naturally moved to the vocal practice room.

On Raon, who felt comfortable from not seeing anything, including Ban Yo-han’s face, could now understand why Gyun Seong-ha had once locked himself in the vocal practice room and asked not to turn on the lights.

Fortunately, On Raon wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to turn on the lights.

Ban Yo-han also settled against one wall of the dark vocal practice room without bothering to turn on the lights.

“Let’s just sit and talk. My legs hurt.”

Before On Raon could say anything, Ban Yo-han sat down comfortably.

He stretched out his numb legs and lightly patted them. Noticing that On Raon was still sitting uncomfortably with his legs folded, Ban Yo-han remarked.

“Stretch your legs too. It’s weird if only I do.”

On Raon found it somewhat absurd that Ban Yo-han, who normally didn’t care about others, was saying such things.

In a way, doing something uncharacteristic meant he was making some effort.

When Ban Yo-han lightly grabbed one of On Raon’s legs and forced him to stretch it out, saying, “Unless you don’t want to touch me?” On Raon reluctantly stretched out the other leg too.

In the narrow vocal practice room, their outstretched legs inevitably touched.

Though he still couldn’t see much, sitting close and facing each other like this felt more conducive to conversation than standing apart earlier.

“Do you even want to talk to me?”

“Who would get angry just because they’re told to? Is that what you think talking is?”

…Maybe it was.