Cheating way through to Stardom chapter 48- Nuisance

“This song feels like it should be played while stealing something in a suit.”

“Yeah. I composed it with that kind of vibe.”

A rapid beat was accompanied by sharp, unfamiliar mechanical sounds.

The intense sound continuously pierced my ears.

“This song really sticks in your memory.”

“Does it? I tried to mix it up for fun…”

Just then, the door suddenly burst open. Startled, I looked up to see Kang Minjae quickly standing up.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Who is it?

“Ah, you’re debuting, right?”

There was a sharp edge to the voice. I stared at the person until I finally recognized him.

‘Vita’s Jiki?’

Vita from Friends Entertainment. Not a top-tier idol but somewhat in the upper ranks.

‘He’s often criticized for messing things up.’

I stood up and bowed my head.

“Hello.”

“Oh, I know you.”

Jiki said with a crooked smile.

“You’re the one who replaced me, right?”

Ah, he’s the one who lost the position for the CF because of a DUI.

“The CF sucked.”

That one line told me all I needed to know about him. I smiled brightly.

“I can’t do it as well as you, senior.”

“At least you know your place.”

Jiki pointed at Kang Minjae.

“Unlike this guy.”

Ah. No need to watch any longer.

‘Idiot.’

Does Friends Entertainment have a habit of collecting idiots in certain proportions?

The guy who suddenly shoved me from behind came to mind and then vanished.

‘But this guy seems to dislike Kang Minjae?’

Well, I dislike him too.

I looked at Kang Minjae. His neat face showed no expression.

‘He gets like that when he’s angry.’

I smiled again.

‘In times like this, it’s best not to defend or argue.’

I knew from experience in customer service.

“I’m a lot less capable compared to you, senior.”

Jiki’s gaze shifted to me.

I knew the answer.

‘Flattery.’

It’s funny, but it works in this world.

“Even so, I ended up filling in somehow. I’m lacking, but it’s like you gave me the opportunity, senior. Thank you.”

“You really know your place, huh?”

“I’ve always wanted to greet you if I ever met you. Glad I got the chance. What brings you here, senior?”

I smiled brightly.

“I’m happy to see you, of course.”

“Ah, my business…”

Jiki turned back to Kang Minjae.

“Hey, bastard. If you use the song we set aside as your debut song, you’re dead.”

So that’s what this is about.

“I already set it aside.”

“You damn bastard. If even a single bar of that song appears in your track, know that you’ll break your arm again.”

Wow. A gangster?

‘And an arm?’

Well, this is fresh.

Jiki glared at us and then left. Once the door closed, Kang Minjae sat down again.

I took off my headset completely.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? Oh, of course, I’m fine.”

You don’t look fine at all.

“Change the front door password immediately.”

“I did, and then he pissed in the hallway.”

Disgusting and nasty.

‘I have a rough idea why he’s acting like this.’

It’s obvious.

‘Jealousy.’

I couldn’t help but laugh. Wow, celebrities have so much free time? Being jealous of a trainee?

“No CCTV?”

“He was caught on it anyway.”

Kang Minjae said as he brushed back his hair.

“The footage is saved.”

“Make sure it’s cleaned up nicely.”

“You can clean it up?”

“Of course. Should I introduce you to a good company? My aunt knows a reliable place that ensures privacy.”

Kang Minjae chuckled.

“There are many ways, but…”

He sighed.

“It’ll all be resolved once I make it.”

‘Well, will he really admit he’s wrong if he make it big?’

I shook my head.

‘He’ll probably act up even more.’

“Regardless of the process, the company will have to choose.”

Kang Minjae said with a bitter smile.

“Me or him.”

Geez.

‘I wish I could side with the winner.’

The problem was that I was in the same boat as this guy.

‘And I can’t stand that bastard.’

I pressed the sponge part of my headset.

“We have to rise quickly. So high and fast that Vita can’t catch up.”

Kang Minjae rubbed his face.

“Yeah. So please, help me.”

He seemed desperate.

‘So this is what’s going on.’

I stared at him.

‘Before I came back, the first album flopped…’

So what was the relationship between Vita and Jiki?

‘Well, not my concern.’

Kang Minjae looked up.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It’s fascinating.”

“That I’m serious?”

I nodded. Kang Minjae finally seemed to relax and smiled a bit.

“You’re harsh. How do you see me, Dowon?”

“A capable senior.”

And an enemy.

‘Damn bastard.’

I clenched my fist, reminiscing old memories.

“Still, I’m relieved.”

Kang Minjae whispered softly.

“Having you here makes me feel more secure.”

Damn. What’s this now?

“We’re in the same boat. I need to rise quickly to make a living too.”

“Yeah, right?”

“I need money.”

“How much do you need?”

“As much as possible. I have to support my sister in med school.”

I didn’t know what kind of doctor my sister would become, but everyone knew medical school was expensive.

‘And my aunt is going to lose the election anyway.’

Having a rich nephew would certainly help.

I quietly put on my headset.

“Play the next track.”

“Oh, okay.”

Soon, lively music filled the room. I focused on the music in silence.

***

‘How can a group make it big?’

It was a very basic question. If everyone knew the answer, every idol group would be famous.

‘Making it big is probably less than 1% of the total.’

Of course, I didn’t intend to be part of the 99%.

Let’s be honest.

‘The song has to be good.’

Yeah, that was the problem.

‘Friends Entertainment already make up the most for the lacking.’

As a top-class company, we could avoid most of the terrible planning. Although, things like calculations and other issues were less of a burden.

‘The problem is the song.’

No matter how good the company’s planning was, if they made a mistake, a bad song could still come out.

‘Isn’t there a way?’

I quietly took out my smartphone.

‘If this works…’

Cheat mode was really ambiguous.

‘Let’s see if this works.’

I long-pressed C to turn on cheat mode.

[cheat mode 0/3]

[Kang Minjae’s song]

[Cannot find the target]

Ah, I see.

I quietly changed the name of the song Kang Minjae gave me.

“A song that failed in the summer, a boring song, an experimental but interesting song.”

[Kang Minjae’s failed summer song analysis]

[15%]

[cheat mode 1/3]

15%. At first, I thought the cheat didn’t work because it simply showed a number.

“No, the cheat chance is gone.”

I tapped the screen again.

[Kang Minjae’s boring song analysis]

[20%]

[cheat mode 2/3]

I let out an involuntary groan.

“20%. Is 100% the maximum?”

How badly did it fail to get a score of 20%?

[Kang Minjae’s experimental but interesting song analysis]

[98%]

[cheat mode 3/3]

I couldn’t help but laugh. I carefully wiped the smartphone screen.

‘You’re quite something.’

With this, I could tell which song would be a hit.

‘But is 100% really the maximum score?’

Of course, the cheat didn’t answer. I shook my head.

‘Should I try other songs too?’

But I had already used up all the cheats.

‘The other two songs weren’t suitable for a title track.’

So the answer was clear. This was the song.

‘I wonder if this works for dramas or movies too.’

I couldn’t stop smiling. For now, I had to accept whatever jobs came my way, but with this, I could be selective.

‘It’s a shame the limit is three.’

If it were unlimited, I’d be invincible.

I quietly turned my smartphone back to normal mode. There was no need to wait. I got up and headed upstairs in the villa.

‘I need to tell Kang Minjae.’

Making a song successful was like rolling dice, but with cheat analysis, it was much easier to find the way.

I couldn’t stop smiling. This really felt like a cheat.

***

When I told Kang Minjae about the song, he readily agreed. He seemed quite relieved and said he’d talk to Director Joo about it, looking very pleased.

‘It’s a bit experimental, so I couldn’t push it, but since you say so, I’m relieved, Dowon.’

Suddenly, the notorious jerk seemed gentle, which gave me chills.

I nodded as if I understood and went back downstairs.

The debut preparations were going smoothly. It was obvious from the increased busyness of the company staff.

***

“Let’s talk.”

I was learning the new choreography. While Kang Minjae was missing, working on a song, our dear senior appeared before me.

Yoo Hajin smiled warmly.

“Hello, senior.”

The insincere Ki Jaeyun hurried over to Vita’s Jiki.

“Hello! I’m Ki Jaeyun.”

“Yeah. Hi. Hey, you, come out.”

Jiki pointed at me. I smiled at his filthy finger.

“Me?”

What’s going on?

“Yes, you!”

I guess I should go. As I started walking, Yoo Hajin blocked my way slightly.

“Um, senior, it’s practice time.”

“So?”

Oh boy.

I patted Yoo Hajin’s shoulder and stepped forward.

“Hyung, it’s okay. Just tell the choreography teacher that Vita’s Jiki called me out. Surely, Vita’s Jiki wouldn’t call me for something weird. After all, he’s Vita’s Jiki!”

Senior’s eyes twitched slightly.

“Surely, Vita’s Jiki wouldn’t…”

“Okay, got it.”

Yoo Hajin spoke worriedly.

“Go on. I’ll explain.”

“Yes, hyung.”

I stood before Vita’s Jiki, smiling with all my heart and soul.

“What can I do for you, Vita’s Jiki senior?”

“Uh, well…”

He seemed flustered.

“Let’s talk outside first.”

“Yes, senior.”

Vita’s Jiki lowered the sunglasses he had perched on his head. Come to think of it, it’s spring now, but he was wearing a fur coat.

“Aren’t you hot?”

The fur coat looked greasy.

“Do idols these days dress like that?”

So damn tacky.

Inside the coat, there was even a thick gold chain.

“Hahaha.”

In other words, he came all decked out.

“He really went all out. This idiot.”

What’s his game plan?

I quietly followed Vita’s Jiki. The guy, who got his activities suspended for drunk driving, led me to the underground parking lot. He pointed to an expensive foreign car.

“It’s my car.”

“Yes.”

Though I couldn’t see his eyes behind the sunglasses, Jiki’s gaze was explicit.

‘Am I supposed to be jealous’

Are you serious?

‘Where do I even start?’

I smiled broadly.

“Senior, your car looks amazing. How much did it cost? How many of these are there in the country? No, in the world? Wow, look at that color!”

After I praised it to the max, Vita finally spoke.

“It’s a limited edition. I’m the only one in the country who has it. Get in.”

Crazy bastard.

But he must have a lot of money.

“Did Vita make that much money?”

‘Weren’t they just mediocre hit?’

‘Well, if everything’s aligned, it might be possible.’

‘Savings are planned, expenses are systematic. You newbie.’

‘If it were me, I would invest in real estate.’

I pretended to be happy as I got into the car. While it was nice to ride in, I was uncertain where to go.
“Do you know it’s an honor? Do you think anyone can ride?”

Do they really think like this?

“Thank you, senior!”

I started the car in Vita’s guarding tea. Watching the car move, I erased my smile.