Assistant Manager Kim Hates Idols
SS Chapter 6: Role Change (2)
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TL: FoodieMonster007
Park Joowoo's admiration for Choi Jeho had an unusual side.
Befitting the Center Emperor, Choi Jeho had a charm that drew people's gazes. At 188cm with a broad chest, his physique alone was a huge advantage. His T-zone was sharp enough to build a fortress wall, and his shadow was so handsome you could make a trophy from its cast.
Coupled with his unrestrained behavior, Choi Jeho boasted a high proportion of male fans, much like Rok Juwoo. The show 'We'll Visit Instead of School' showed students swarming around Choi Jeho. In fact, Kang Kiyeon even said he joined UA after seeing Choi Jeho.
It was unclear which aspect of Choi Jeho captivated Park Joowoo. Whether it was because Choi Jeho would b-boy in their room or because he always won at arm wrestling, Park Joowoo followed him quite well. He had praised how cool Choi Jeho was at every opportunity since their debut. From an otaku's perspective, Park Joowoo's favorite member in spArk was Choi Jeho.
Since a favorite is determined by fate, Baek Haewon didn't question it further.
As Kang Kiyeon said, a fan wants to know everything about their idol. It was a state beyond mere imitation, one of becoming a single entity with the subject. That was Park Joowoo right now.
『Joowoo | Is it cloudy today? Why is it so dark?』
『Iwol | That's because you're wearing sunglasses, hyung.』
『Joowoo | Ah.』
Park Joowoo's synchronization rate reached 100%. He reacted with perfect composure after spouting nonsense about the dark while wearing sunglasses.
He might have devoured Choi Jeho's soul. Baek Haewon suspected.
The white-haired Choi Jeho—no, Park Joowoo—shamelessly occupied the sofa. He suddenly shot up and headed to his room. When Park Joowoo reappeared, he held a pizza blanket.
『Seongbin | Aren't you going to put that away?』
Jeong Seongbin picked a fight as if struck by lightning. His voice, a complete opposite of the refreshing morning greetings he offered his younger brothers, radiated a demonic aura.
『Joowoo | Why?』
『Seongbin | Didn't I tell you to try and pick something that fits the concept, even for a blanket?』
This one had swallowed his hyung, too. A line that sounded like it came from Kim Iwol popped out automatically. Kim Iwol, playing Lee Cheonghyeon, and Choi Jeho, playing Kang Kiyeon, busily rolled their eyes at the intense method acting.
As for how Park Joowoo responded to Jeong Seongbin's nagging…
『(The center walks his own path)』
He wrapped himself tightly in the pizza blanket and lay back down like a chrysalis. His movements showed no hesitation. The acting stunt show from the same-aged members was incredible.
『Jeho | Hey, when did I ever do th—.』
『Cheonghyeon | Kiyeon, get a grip…!』
Lee Cheonghyeon, who had been itching to speak, held back his laughter and stopped Choi Jeho. Only Kim Iwol, who had lost the images of both Choi Jeho and Park Joowoo, forgot his mission to imitate Lee Cheonghyeon. He stared back and forth between the two with a vacant expression.
The members of spArk were quite good at imitating one another, given the years they had known each other. The observant Lee Cheonghyeon's acting was particularly high quality. Even when standing briefly in the living room, he used a cleaning mop for support. Whenever he sat, he neatly pressed his legs together.
Kim Iwol, who likely knew everything about spArk except their bank account passwords, was just as formidable. He was initially embarrassed about referring to himself in the third person, but now he showed no hesitation.
『Iwol | People say Iwol holds a long grudge~ but from what Cheonghyeon can see, Jeho, who's still using that one pizza blanket, seems to hold a bigger grudge. I think it's a protest that he doesn't like the gift!』
Kim Iwol cleverly used Lee Cheonghyeon's talkative and honest traits to vent his own frustrations. His voice even radiated confidence.
『Iwol | Iwol, didn't you buy a turtleneck knit recently? How about wearing it for the first time to celebrate your new clothes?』
He also showcased a high-level scheme, naturally getting Jeong Seongbin to try on his new item. Jeong Seongbin had no right to refuse. The Kim Iwol he was playing was the kind of hyung who would do anything his younger brothers asked.
And so, Lee Cheonghyeon obtained a black-turtleneck-wearing Jeong Seongbin and a glasses-wearing Jeong Seongbin. No wonder Jeong Seongbin's fans posted thank-you messages in the comments. All the while, his hands diligently worked on a diamond painting. Kim Iwol looked like he wanted to get rid of that blasted diamond painting as soon as possible.
Choi Jeho's portrayal of Kang Kiyeon was also quite plausible, likely an effect of their similar personalities. While the members in question might disagree, many fans believed spArk's dance line was similar in many ways.
≫ Muindoz share a soul
Anyway, that was that. The only major thing that changed about Choi Jeho was his fashion. His tone and words seemed similar to his usual self but strangely carried Kang Kiyeon's scent. Even Kang Kiyeon himself tilted his head. Why doesn't this feel unfamiliar…?
After Park Joowoo's member-possessed performance and whirlwind adaptation, it seemed everyone had found their footing.
However, that was a misconception. Kim Iwol chattered ceaselessly while stuck to Kang Kiyeon's back. Choi Jeho couldn't remember who was playing whom and kept messing up titles, defaulting to 'hyung' for everyone. Lee Cheonghyeon headbanged while passionately singing into a watering can.
The members' astonishing immersion performed a kind of alchemy. It awakened the 'truly strange person when unleashed' ego dormant inside Jeong Seongbin's gentlemanly shell.
Flustered by his colleagues' outstanding performances, he remembered that he, too, was a pro idol of the shining Republic of Korea. At the same time, his rage toward the hyung who never listened awakened.
Jeong Seongbin sat up, straightening his back. He set aside the leader's role and began to recreate Kim Iwol from his own, 100% pure perspective. He had become completely shameless.
『Seongbin | Ah~ I wonder if Kiyeon will bring us a selfie full of natural light, with that 'boyfriend material' vibe~.』
『Seongbin | Hyung heard the commendable news that our Joowoo uploaded a song to BubblePop, but why wasn't this news delivered to his precious members? Don't tell me you don't want to let us hear your go-to song anymore?』
『Seongbin | Choi Jeho, stop being glued to the sofa and get up. Your muscles are going to starve to death!』
What kind of person was Kim Iwol? He was a vending machine of truths whose quotes could fill an encyclopedia, a chatterbox recognized by the public. When such a Kim Iwol unshackled his mouth, an endless stream of nagging ensued.
『Seongbin | Our Cheonghyeon's camera is awfully quiet today. Has he still not developed the habit of taking a selfie immediately after putting on new clothes?』
Jeong Seongbin wrapped an arm around Kim Iwol's shoulders. A fake gem fluttered weakly from the tweezers of Kim Iwol, who had been giggling while dressed in the younger member's clothes. Kim Iwol forced a smile and replied.
『Iwol | I was just about to take one!』
『Seongbin | Right? Hyung believed in Cheonghyeon. Let's take 300 shots, then pick the best cut together.』
『Iwol | You should be in it too, hyung. A two-shot has its own unique charm, you know.』
『Seongbin | Yep, after you take 300 of your solo shots first!』
Kim Iwol, suddenly tasked with taking 300 selfies, tried to drag the other down with him, but it didn't work. This was the karma of someone who never backed down on providing fan content.
The scolding didn't stop at the members. Anything that interfered with spArk and their work was a target.
『Seongbin | What reason is there for winter yellow dust to exist on Earth? It's bad for the skin and the respiratory system. How can we work with this air quality? Move aside, I'm getting the air purifier!』
『Seongbin | The meeting is delayed by 10 minutes? I'm going to lie down and protest right now.』
With eyes clearer than anyone's, Jeong Seongbin vividly reenacted the true nature of his hyung, which he hadn't dared to expose before. What word other than 'rampage' could describe it?
『Joowoo | If you're going to lie down, I can lend you a blanket.』
Park Joowoo joined in, spouting nonsense with a deadpan face.
『Seongbin | Are you kidding me? Get that out of my sight right now.』
『Joowoo | Why should I?』
It was the kind of banter, serious only to them, that was unique to the eldest hyungs. Unconcerned with the aftermath, neither backed down, each fiercely chipping away at the other's dignity. The runaway train carrying Park Joowoo and Jeong Seongbin charged ahead as if there were no tomorrow.
Thanks to them, Kang Kiyeon, who had to play the leader, looked like he was at his wit's end. The pressure of being the sole Ji Seongin weighed heavily on him.
Meanwhile, Jeong Seongbin, who had emerged wearing his hyung's black tracksuit jacket, sat on the floor. He then winked at Kang Kiyeon.
『Seongbin | Seongbin, aren't you curious about how to clean the floor in five minutes? I'm confident I can do it, should I show you?』
Lee Cheonghyeon, who was supposed to be playing a flustered Park Joowoo, forgot his role and burst out laughing. Covering his mouth with his long sleeves, Lee Cheonghyeon hastily ran into his room. The moment the door closed, cackling laughter rang out.
Just as it became doubtful whether Kang Kiyeon could even manage a faint smile…
CRUMPLE…
Kang Kiyeon, playing the role of spArk's leader, quietly headed to his room. In the returning Kang Kiyeon's hand was a small notebook.
『Iwol | What's with the notebook?』asked the former Kim Iwol, now Lee Cheonghyeon.
Kang Kiyeon rummaged through his pocket. The beaded bookmark that Jeong Seongbin had last left behind appeared.
『Kiyeon | I think the time has come to use this friend.』
Kang Kiyeon took out a ballpoint pen. It was a red pen from the handful he had bought for Jeong Seongbin as a Christmas gift.
On the pristine white notebook's cover, 'Ginseng Sleep Murder' was written in Hangul. No one teased Kang Kiyeon by saying, "It's not in Hanja this time?" The power of the red letters was just that strong. The neat handwriting made it even more chilling.
『Kiyeon | If you get caught three times…』
The notebook was shown in a close-up. The members' names were entered one by one into five columns.
『Kiyeon | I've already tried serving a young master, so this time I'll treat you like young ladies.』
Kang Kiyeon smiled brightly. It was the refreshing, innocent smile seen only in their music videos. Before this immense power, the hyungs trembled helplessly. The new spArk's uproarious day drew to a close.