Debut or Die-Chapter 322
A few days later.
A stage clip of TeSTAR was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of the music service company that hosted this year’s first awards ceremony.
It was the very stage they performed immediately after winning this year’s first Grand Prize.
[Hwi-ik!]
Using a makeshift underwater rig adapted from the concert stage, water and light burst forth to support the dazzling choreography.
Fans who had seen the concert were already hyped thinking, “That was awesome, right? But the concert itself was even better,” so they set out to create a stage that would let them brag—and it turned out like that.
Naturally, it ranked among the trending videos in real time.
[(RMA) TeSTAR | Intro + 약속(Promise) Live Performance]
Of course, VTIC’s performance was ranked there too, but who cares whether they waved cloaks or rode a ship.
My own stage, which I hadn’t done in a while, was so impressive it filled up all the space in my brain.
I stifled a sigh.
“I’m just glad I didn’t mess it up.”
My body narrowly remembered everything in time to keep me alive. I almost botched the choreography on the very stage after the Grand Prize.
“After that, it would’ve been a total meltdown.” 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
Strangely enough, the reaction to my acceptance speech was ridiculously better than I expected...
If the stage had gone that way too, I couldn’t have blamed people for saying I was “overcome with emotion.”
It really comes down to whether you have a professional mindset or not.
But that didn’t happen—and instead, all that remained were a few unnecessarily intense close-ups.
[Nal-ah-ga-neun ha-neu-re soong-ui-seom
u-ri-neun Fly so far!]
“Oh~ Mundae hyung, smile~”
“......”
Okay, I admit it. I got a little excited.
The thumbnail showing a compilation of comments in the recommended videos earlier was a sight to behold.
– Mundaengdaenge happiness 100%ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– I know, right? My dog’s face on a walk looks just like that.
– Tibet level zero hyper pure puppy mode
I was watching my own close-up with my grin split from ear to ear, then silently turned off the screen.
“What the...! You’re watching me!”
Don’t talk as if you were the one who popped out of the bathroom mid-toothbrushing and caught me watching.
I switched the screen to a magical girl cover stage, and Cha Yoo-jin ran off.
“Hyung, that’s not fair!”
If you feel wronged, grab the remote next time.
I was about to turn off the screen when I casually noticed the Ti-holics standing in the background of the magical girl performance.
[Nal-aganeun ma-beob-ui Heart bullet!]
They looked dazed. Their overwhelmed expressions added just the right touch of absurdity.
“Come to think of it, I think they sent a congratulatory message for the Grand Prize too.”
I opened my smartphone and checked.
It wasn’t as bad as Big Sejin, who managed messages and calls until his phone died the moment he got home, but I did get quite a few.
After winning the Grand Prize, I’d received contacts from everyone—from Young-rin to someone I’d met once on a variety show—so they definitely sent one too....
[TeSTAR, listen up. We also deserve a Grand Prize trophy each. Hope you’ll keep treating us like seniors.]
[Pretty please.]
[Of course we couldn’t actually grab one. It’s probably in the company president’s office.]
Did these guys even create a new group chat just to send that?
On top of that, I’d gotten personal messages asking if they could post a screenshot on their variety show SNS.
“They sure know how to hustle.”
No wonder they’ve milked the variety route all this time.
I politely replied, “Feel free to post it, but if any controversy arises, handle it yourselves.”
The rest of the trivial replies could be handled with a respectful tone and there’d be no problem.
Just then—
“Hey, why is Mundae doing a penalty stage... Oh, Ti-holic sunbaenim~”
The quickest one to pick up on this shoved his head over my smartphone.
“This guy’s privacy is disappearing by the minute,” I thought.
But I didn’t bother covering the screen. Dealing with Ti-holics was basically business as usual.
However, that wasn’t the point he wanted to bring up. Big Sejin grinned and sat down on the sofa.
“As expected, Ti-holic sunbaenim~ One message on KakaoTalk! Hmm, but did any of the other sunbaenims say anything?”
No need to ask who he meant. He was talking about the sunbaenim who barely lost this year’s Artist of the Year award.
VTIC, that is.
So I can see why he was curious.
“If they sent messages to every award and appearance but keep their mouths shut here, that’s even funnier.”
Of course VTIC had shown they were still going strong by winning Album of the Year at the finale.
And probably in about half of the awards ceremonies after this, they’d be pushing to win Artist of the Year against us.
“But if they lose it after being on a winning streak, they’ll feel like crap.”
They might stop sending overly friendly messages like before.
“What’d they say to you?”
“Just a congratulations, I guess. But you know, you can read the tone, right? So I was wondering what they sent to the other members!”
Of course.
I smirked and began closing the message windows I’d left open for reference.
Finally, I found a message from a VTIC member.
But... it wasn’t a congratulation.
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo sunbaenim: So, do you have anything to say now?]
Ah, this.
“He got the vibe.”
Since November they’d been talking, and after hearing my speech at the Grand Prize, they must have caught on to something.
“This guy’s been waiting all along.”
Then I heard someone mutter quietly beside me.
“...Something to say?”
Right. From Cheong-ryeo’s perspective, knowing how bad our relationship was, this must have looked like a direct challenge.
“They must’ve taken it as, ‘Do you have anything to say?’—like a showdown.”
Our relationship was indeed terrible. So my excuse came easily.
“Oh, I almost had another fight over the Grand Prize issue.”
“What??”
“It was just a verbal spat. I’ll get a decisive win over the phone in a bit.”
I waved my hand.
“He can’t beat me. I have the recording.”
“...Mundae, you’re amazing. Really.”
Big Sejin shook his head as if fed up. Alright, if I steer the topic back....
“Let me hear it. I’ll ask Sejin-hyung to tell me who won.”
Oh ho.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be polite on the call. There won’t be an incident like last time.”
Given Cha Seodam’s recording fiasco, it’s no wonder he’s cautious.
But Big Sejin frowned.
“Who’s worried about that? Well, that is worrying... Hmm, Mundae’s been acting weird lately.”
“......”
Hmm.
“It’s like you’ve even forgotten the choreography, and when it’s your part you kind of space out and then come back into rhythm....”
No way.
While I stayed silent, Big Sejin finished his sentence.
“Are you secretly off on a NIS mission again?”
“......”
Just imagine. I stared at him in disbelief, but he just grinned.
“We practice every day and have schedules—when would you have time for that?”
“Early morning? Hey, wait. Cheong-woo hyung’s also a morning person, so it could actually be true?”
“Stop saying absurd things.”
“You even caught Rae-bin composing in the early morning. Could it be~? You saw it when he was leaving home?”
Is this guy joking?
Yet even as he spouted nonsense, he knew he was spouting nonsense.
He must know something’s up but meant to brush it off as a joke.
“......”
I sighed and said,
“I told you I’ll tell you when I can.”
“...!”
“It’s nothing serious. Everything’s being handled well.”
I continued slowly.
“Obviously it’s not the NIS. It’s just a personal matter. No issues with TeSTAR.”
“...I know.”
Big Sejin sighed, then forced a wry smile.
“Sorry. We’ve all been so busy. I was just wondering if you might be in a tough spot and couldn’t say anything.”
Sounds sincere.
I thought briefly, then answered just as honestly.
“If it gets tough, I’ll let you know.”
“Really?”
Yeah.
Big Sejin nodded when I nodded, wiped off his wry smile, patted my shoulder, and got up from the sofa.
“Okay. I trust you, Mundae~”
He then dragged Cha Yoo-jin off to the kitchen.
“Phew.”
I leaned back against the sofa.
“I wonder how long this will hold.”
But it’d be crazy to spill everything in anger and ask people to believe me. No wonder I’d kept quiet until now.
“We can stay together as a group so long, but here’s another wrinkle.”
It’s hard to keep things hidden—especially from people this perceptive.
And in some ways... I actually feel like telling someone about it.
“There’s no other option.”
I should figure out a plan later and take care of business for now.
I went out onto the balcony and made a call.
[VTIC Shin Cheong-ryeo sunbaenim]
After a long ring, the call connected, and a husky voice came through.
– Um... junior.
Did I wake him up? That’s not good.
I readied my lines for recording.
“Sunbaenim, did I wake you? I’m sorry.”
– No. I have an early morning schedule... um.
Cheong-ryeo paused briefly, then answered in his usual clear voice.
– It’s fine.
Decades of experience aren’t for nothing. He’s completely adapted to an irregular lifestyle.
– So, why did you call?
I detected anticipation in his tone. I answered calmly.
“I have something to say—just like you mentioned in your message.”
– Ah, finally.
Cheong-ryeo’s voice gained strength.
– So? You seem back to normal.
“You’re right. I’m fine, and I received the Grand Prize well.”
– I see. Congratulations on your first Grand Prize. I hope you’re enjoying the moment.
He meant I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it going forward.
I thought of retorting, “I hope you’re enjoying it too, sunbaenim,” then erased it.
There wasn’t time. I got straight to the point.
“Thank you. May I ask about the call you were supposed to make then?”
Because he was supposed to check on ‘Ryu Geon-woo’s body’ too.
– Ah... that person.
Cheong-ryeo answered nonchalantly.
– I tried calling that phone several times. But every time, it said the phone was off.
“......”
What?
“So what’s his situation then?”
– Huh? Haha. Junior, how would I know that? All I know is that he doesn’t pick up.
“......”
Damn it...
– The next day was his departure schedule. He was doing a concert—when would he have time to take care of things domestically?
“...Right.”
Reasonable enough.
But hearing it from someone who even dug up his officetel address makes it feel like I’ve been outmaneuvered.
“Sigh.”
I pressed my temple.
Why was I trying so hard to find out Ryu Geon-woo’s whereabouts?
Because I still hadn’t received a separate message for the original Park Mundae... who is “Keun-dal.”
Once I opened my reception settings to get that message, I was flooded with spam and stalker-like messages.
“Hm.”
I decided it was better to wait until he contacted me himself. He’d just passed the civil service exam and must be busy.
Still, I was sure he’d contact me—but he hadn’t, not even after several days since the Grand Prize.
I had a bad feeling.
“He definitely said that before.”
– Then... I’ll be in touch for a while...
Why limit it? Of course I know his officetel address. I could go there if needed.
“Of course there are more... suitable methods.”
For now, I hung up.
“Understood. Sleep well the rest of the way.”
– Wait a moment. Is that all?
“Huh?”
What now?
– I thought you might share some impressions or something.
...He sounded a bit disappointed. He’s disappointed?
“......”
It’s weirdly out of character... but, well, I did get advice from him when he was in Ryu Geon-woo’s body.
I can’t deny it. He’s now a stakeholder too.
In the end, I added.
“I don’t think impressions over the phone are right. Let’s meet up when our schedules match.”
– ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Hmm... right. Sounds good.
I never imagined I’d be making casual get-togethers with this guy.
I ended the call with a sour feeling.
But I didn’t turn off the screen. Instead, I tapped the “Messages” icon again and opened a new text draft.
“I’m no fool.”
Of course I’d memorized at least part of Ryu Geon-woo’s number.
I just needed to send it—and he’d respond.
I entered the number I remembered and had written, “Keun-dal-nim, why haven’t you contacted me? Last time we met was in November....” when—
“Mundae!”
“...!”
I closed my smartphone, taking Big Sejin’s abrupt lesson to heart.
When I turned my head, I saw Ryu Cheong-woo walking down the corridor, waving at me from the balcony door.
“Are you busy? Or could you come with me to the office for a moment?”
He was less composed than usual. He must have urgent news.
Turning him down during break time would look suspicious.
“Yes. But what is it?”
“I’ll tell you on the way.”
Cheong-woo opened the balcony door and urged me out. This was unusual too.
“He must really need to talk.”
I grabbed my coat with reluctance and followed him out the front door. I planned to keep writing that message once we were in the car.
But as soon as I sat in the front seat and saw Cheong-woo set the GPS—
I realized something was off.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“This isn’t the office, is it?”
“Oh. Just a moment.”
The car started moving. Cheong-woo’s car shot out of the underground parking and zipped through the complex.
With a broad smile, Cheong-woo spoke again.
“Mundae, about the person you wanted me to find.”
“...?”
“Your call came back from the clan.”
“...!”
“About Ryu Geon-woo.”
What?
Cheong-woo lowered his voice slightly.
“They said he passed as a Grade-7 public servant. Maybe he was hard to track down because he was studying for exams.”
“....”
“He must’ve passed and finally got in touch.”
A sudden ominous feeling washed over me. I barely managed to speak.
“You’re not saying that... now?”
Cheong-woo grinned.
“That’s right. We’re on our way to meet him now.”
“...!!”
“I’ve got the car anyway, and I really want to meet him in person... Mundae?”
Ah... damn.
I’m about to meet Ryu Cheong-woo and Park Mundae in Ryu Geon-woo’s body at the same time.
