Seeing the status abnormality window for “affection deficiency,” I froze for a moment…
“I’m not affection-deficient…”
I shook my head, denying the status window.
Sure, I was an orphan in my past life, and in this life too, I didn’t receive enough love from my parents.
But it’s not like I only lacked love from my parents; since being reborn in Ha Ye-rin’s body, I’ve been hogging all sorts of attention from those around me.
Boys confessing love to me daily, and even those I’m not close with trying to get a little closer.
It got even worse after Na Ah Ah came out.
Right now, there are tons of people on the internet who praise and adore me.
I have plenty of friends among the Na Ah Ah participants, like Seo Yoo-jin, Lee Hye-jeong, and Park Yoo-jung.
I quickly pulled out my phone to look up symptoms of affection deficiency.
…No matter how I looked, it seemed far from me.
So, I shook my head and turned off my status window.
Then, while eating my mom’s unbelievably tasteless miso soup, I thought to myself that the status window seemed faulty.
That was the first moment I denied the status window.
The next day, my dad and mom lived the same life as the first day, as if to prove they really changed.
Leaving for work early in the morning and returning at night.
Doing all the housework and personally preparing my meals.
Of course, just that alone doesn’t fully make me trust my dad and mom, but… since they continued to show different sides from before, my wariness towards them gradually crumbled.
While my life at home changed, my life outside saw huge changes too.
Now, not just at school, but even on ordinary streets, the number of people recognizing me had skyrocketed.
Some even claimed to be my fans, asking for signatures or photos…
“Excuse me, um, wow—! I’m such a huge fan!”
“You look way prettier in person—!!”
“Um, could you give me an autograph?”
“Just one photo, please….”
Some bold ones even dared to ask for a handshake or my number.
“Could I… just hold your hand once… um, could I shake your hand, please?”
“If I DM you, will you respond or can I get your number…?”
So, whenever I went out, my essentials became a mask and a hat.
But it seemed like even that had its limits, as Kang Hyung-man finally said…
“Ye-rin, from now on, Sang-gu will be providing you with 24-hour close protection.”
“…Huh?”
“You never know when some crazy guy might appear. I can’t be with you every day since I’m busy, so I’ll have Sang-gu stick to you.”
Sang-gu, who usually stuck with me and acted as my manager, was assigned as my bodyguard.
Of course, having Sang-gu—who’s 190 cm tall, muscular, bald, and has a fierce look—defending me is reassuring, yet…
“…Isn’t Sang-gu busy? Does he have time to follow me around for 24 hours?”
I knew Sang-gu was an executive in Kang Hyung-man’s organization, and I wondered if we could really use high-ranking personnel like that as my bodyguard.
“That’s true, but the other guys are too reckless and punk-like, so they aren’t suitable for your protection. Sang-gu is reliable and sturdy, so it’s reassuring.”
“Oh…”
“Sang-gu’s work will be handled by the others, so don’t feel pressured.”
With that, Sang-gu became my bodyguard, and I could finally roam freely wherever I wanted.
“Um… could I get your autograph… huff.”
People would start approaching me, but when they saw Sang-gu’s face behind me, they would immediately back off.
However…
“Um, sorry! I’m sorry.”
“No… let me sign for you…”
“Ah, no! I’m really sorry…!!”
…It turned out the effect was too good, and I couldn’t complain.
Seeing people parting like the Red Sea as I walked with Sang-gu made me exhale deeply.
‘This is just great… a Na Ah Ah participant walking around with a thug as a bodyguard might make it into an internet article….’
Sure, Sang-gu’s a thug, but still…
“Ye-rin… I’m sorry. Because of me…”
“No… it’s not your fault, Sang-gu…”
When I went out without Sang-gu, too many people gathered, causing problems. When I went out with Sang-gu, people were too scared, causing problems.
Because of this, even though I haven’t debuted yet, I was already living a life where I rarely went outside of buildings.
My life became monotonous after that.
Going home, then to school, and after school heading to the agency to practice dance with Lee Ji-woo, returning home around midnight. Rinse and repeat.
I went through a few days like this, living a hamster wheel life.
That day was just like any other.
After finishing school, I got into Sang-gu’s car and went to the Brotherhood Planning office, changing into the prepared training outfit to wait for my lesson with Lee Ji-woo.
Looking at the clock, it was 4:30 PM.
Lee Ji-woo’s work start time is 5 PM, so I had 30 minutes to spare.
During that time, instead of looking at my phone, I read a book while waiting for Lee Ji-woo.
Recently, I hadn’t been checking my phone much.
Every time I turned it on, messages flooded in, making me dizzy.
I was curious how everyone got my number… since it was a hassle to block them every time, I just turned my phone off for a bit of peace.
‘Let’s see where I left off in my book…’
As I was about to find my bookmark and turn to the next page…
“Ye, Ye-rin—!!!”
“…?”
There was still 30 minutes until work time, but I suddenly heard Lee Ji-woo panicking and calling me loudly like the building was collapsing.
I hurriedly went outside…
“Teacher…! I’m here. But what’s going on? You’re here 30 minutes early…”
“Ye-rin! Why didn’t you answer my call?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I turned my phone off…”
“Ugh! Anyway, that’s not the problem! Look at this! It’s bad!”
Lee Ji-woo rushed over to show me her phone screen.
“…What is it?”
Usually, Lee Ji-woo tends to have big reactions, exaggerating small things.
I looked at the internet article on her phone screen without much excitement.
But…
[YW New Girl Group to Debut in 3 Months!!!]
“…Huh?”
This time it was real, and I couldn’t help but gasp.
Of course, YW, one of the top three agencies, formerly Han Si-woo’s agency, is debuting a new girl group…?
YW is notoriously known for not releasing girl groups. But…
‘If YW releases a girl group, they’re guaranteed to blow up.’
There’s a saying that girl groups that follow the YW lineage have all achieved top-tier popularity.
‘Has it been 6 years… no, is it 7 years since YW last released a girl group?’
Then, the cooldown surely must be up.
However, the problem is, their debut is just in 3 months.
“Ye-rin, in 3 months…”
“…”
“If Na Ah Ah wraps up within a month and takes a while to get the album out…”
“…Yeah, it seems so.”
…The groups launching from Na Ah Ah will overlap with their activity period.
“Geez, I was wondering why no one from YW was sent to Na Ah Ah but this was the reason…”
“…”
Seriously, I had thought it was just coincidence that SAV and JJ sent out trainees, but it seems there was a hidden reason.
“By the way, it seems YW’s YouTube channel has their practice video uploaded. Should we check it out?”
“Yeah… let’s see…”
Lee Ji-woo and I entered the YW channel with pounding hearts and pressed play on the latest video.
The 1-minute video that was uploaded a few hours ago already surpassed 100,000 views.
“There are 5 of them…”
In a place that looks like a practice room, 5 trainees stood wearing training outfits, their faces hidden by hats and masks.
Thud
♪♬♬-!!
As soon as the video started, a foreign hip-hop dance song played…
Swish-
And the trainees in the video started dancing in sync with the rhythm.
“…!”
I immediately sensed something extraordinary as soon as the video began.
Each of their dance lines and vibes were exceptional, but…
‘How can they move like this with such precision?!’
The five of them blended together perfectly, without a single mistake, like one body.
Maybe thinking the same, Lee Ji-woo murmured after the short video ended.
“…It seems like they’ve been training together for several years, at least?”
“Several years?”
“Of course, to understand their exact skills, we’d need to watch more, but in this video, the breathing and even the eye coordination are matched perfectly. Just like YW, it seems they’ve prepped intensively!”
“…….”
“You know that among the YW idols, there have been scandals regarding personal lives, but there’s never been a scandal about their skills, right? It seems YW worked hard, especially for this long-awaited girl group…”
Lee Ji-woo doesn’t lie about dancing. Seeing her saying this much, it seems the YW trainees show signs of potential success.
This made me feel gloomy for a moment.
‘If I debut, I have to compete against girls like these…’
While I wore a dark expression as I re-watched the video, Lee Ji-woo, seeing my expression, patted my shoulder and said.
“But Ye-rin! Don’t worry too much! Your talents, as well as the other Na Ah Ah participants’, aren’t lacking compared to them!”
“…….”
“The important thing is practice! So, let’s pump ourselves up and start practice right away?”
“…Yes.”
Pushing down my mood at Lee Ji-woo’s words, I stood up.
However, even during our practice, I couldn’t shake off the image of the YW trainees easily.
Around midnight, while on my way home in the car.
“…….”
I was sitting in the back seat, still rewatching the YW trainees’ videos.
At that moment…
Beep-beep-
The ringtone from Sang-gu’s phone, connected to the car’s Bluetooth, echoed, and Sang-gu turned to ask me.
“Ye-rin, I need to take this urgent work call; is that okay?”
“Ah, sure. Of course, go ahead.”
“Alright, then excuse me for a moment. Hello?”
As Sang-gu answered the call, an urgent voice came through the speakers.
[Hyung Sang-gu! This is Cheol-hee!]
“Ah, okay. What’s going on?”
[We’re having some issues regarding the collection case in Seocho District. Can you come right now…?]
“…….”
After a moment of silence at the request, Sang-gu replied.
“I’m currently taking Ye-rin home, so I can’t go immediately.”
[Oh… then please drop Ye-rin off and come as quickly as you can…! Time is urgent…!]
“…Understood.”
It seemed something had gone wrong with the organization’s operations.
After hanging up, Sang-gu continued driving, his face still expressionless, but….
Tap-tap.
I could sense that for some reason, Sang-gu seemed more anxious than usual.
Sang-gu certainly had a busy life being my personal manager.
Feeling bad, I stopped watching videos on my phone and told Sang-gu.
“Brother, it seems urgent… just drop me off here.”
“No, Ye-rin. I’ll take you to your house.”
He stubbornly refused my offer. Normally, I would have just stayed quiet and let him proceed, but…
“Aw, we’re just entering my neighborhood now. What’s the point?”
The car had already reached the entrance of our town.
Where I went to school every day… where I passed by daily.
“You know, my place is in a narrow alley, so it’d take longer if we went by car. It’ll take just 5 minutes if I walk, but it’ll take 10 by car.”
“…….”
“I wanna get home quickly, and you want to get to work quickly too. It’s a win-win, right?”
Though Sang-gu was someone who lived by Kang Hyung-man’s orders, it seemed this matter was particularly urgent as he hesitated before finally saying.
“Ye-rin, but since it’s late, be careful on your way back.”
“I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 10 years. Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”
Saying that, I put on my hat and mask for Sang-gu’s reassurance.
Only then did he let out a small sigh of relief and pull over.
“…Thanks, Ye-rin. You’ve worked hard today, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes, you did well too!”
I bowed a bit and got out of the car.
And just as I stepped out…
Vroom-
Sang-gu made a U-turn and sped off like lightning down the road he came from.
“Must be a hassle to drop me off every day…”
As I watched the rapidly disappearing rear of the car, I turned back.
I pulled out my phone again to rewatch the YW trainees’ video.
The neighborhood was rather dim, with few streetlights and CCTV, casting a spooky vibe, yet I wasn’t that scared.
After all, this was the same street I’d been on for 10 years.
Pad pad pad.
So, while checking my phone, I slowly walked toward home.
It was late at night, and the street was deserted except for me.
Pad pad pad.
Tap-tap-tap.
Pad pad pad…
“…….”
Slip.
Tap.
Pad pad pad pad pad…
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