Cheating way through to Stardom chapter 10- To Keep My Sister’s Hands Clean

That’s why I couldn’t give up, even with Kang Minjae around.

‘Would that cover living expenses?’

If I could just take care of food, shelter, and clothing, I’d be relieved.

My sister rubbed her face.

“So you want to turn it into rent?”

“No one’s going to live here. It’s a waste. We can put the furniture in storage. We’ll have to take our clothes with us.”

“Are you okay with losing this house?”

I smiled broadly.

“Wherever you are is my home.”

My sister’s face twisted in discomfort.

Why? I was serious.

“Did you eat something bad…?”

I kept smiling. My sister pinched her thigh repeatedly.

“Think that I’ve matured.”

“Maturity doesn’t just happen suddenly…”

“Well, good-looking people mature early.”

What a ridiculous excuse.

“I guess that’s true.”

Wait, did that work?

“By the way, you want to be an idol?”

“Yes. I really want to.”

“Isn’t that hard? They say a hundred people audition and only three debut.”

“Probably.”

I brought my face close to hers.

“But I’ll be fine.”

“Hey, your breath stinks. Move your face.”

“Because I’m good-looking.”

My sister narrowed her eyes and looked me up and down. Then she sighed deeply.

An unusual silence filled the room.

I quietly leaned back against the chair.

Brace yourself.

My sister’s hands are quick.

“I guess.”

Wait, what?

‘Did that work again?’

What is this? Does my face solve everything? Or is my sister weak to my face?

Suddenly, my back felt a chill. I shook my head immediately.

‘She can’t be weak.’

I need to reflect. That was a silly thought.

I repent! I was wrong. Forgive me, Mother in Heaven!

“Yeah, I guess.”

My sister sat weakly in the chair.

“I won’t stop you.”

“Wow. Why?”

“You seem like you need to be an idol.”

I tilted my head in confusion.

She never said this before my regression.

What’s the reason?

“You crave attention.”

“…”

“I knew when you danced and sang at the butcher shop because they gave you meat when you were little.”

Did I really do that?

“And when you danced in the market because they gave you cheap cabbages during kimchi season.”

I vaguely remember, but I don’t recall well.

“Mom was happy you got it cheap.”

Of course, Madam Cha Yeonhwa would be happy, but I can’t accept that. Noona.

“Don’t avoid my eyes.”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

“Are you a politician testifying in a hearing?”

I chuckled.

“Don’t assume only politicians say that!”

“Hey!”

“I’m not even in a wheelchair yet!”

“You little! Anyway!”

My sister adjusted her glasses and brushed her hair back.

“Being an idol seems fine. Even if only one or two out of a hundred debut.”

I bowed my head.

“Thank you for your permission, noona.”

“If you fail, I’ll take care of you.”

Huh?

“As a doctor, I can feed you.”

“Um, noona…”

“Go for it! Give it a try!”

At that moment, my sister looked really cool.

Wow, my sister is amazing!

My heart raced! She said she would take care of me!

“What if I get lazy because of that?”

“Then I’ll personally take your life.”

Ki-killing me?

“As a doctor, I can legally do it.”

S-scary.

I bowed my head.

“I will do my best to not dirty your hands, sister.”

“Good. And there’s also something Mom said.”

Huh, what’s this?

“What did Mom say?”

What words did Madam Cha Yeonhwa, the light and truth of our family, leave behind?

“She said I should make a career out of seeing blood.”

“That sounds like you.”

I smiled a little. My sister never strayed from the medical field. She even managed surgeries when she was a nurse.

“I guess you lack blood.”

S-sister?

“She said you should be on stage.”

Well, of course.

I recalled the small theater stage I once stood on. The lights from the ceiling and the passing audience flashed by.

“Otherwise, you’d be clapping instead.”

“I didn’t know that.”

I shook my head, imagining myself performing a ritual. Damn it. All gods, please don’t come. I want to be on a big stage.

“That’s a profession too, but I’d rather be an idol.”

“Give it your all.”

I smiled brightly at my sister. Come to think of it…

“You just said something similar to me.”

“What?”

“You said you’d support me as a doctor.”

My sister’s lips trembled slightly. I whistled.

“You’ve made up your mind, right?”

Just as she knew me well, I knew her well too. She must have already made up her mind.

‘Once we set our goals, neither of us looks back.’

My sister nodded.

“A dull boy suddenly got sharp.”

“Indeed.”

“Cha Dowon. I’ll ask you one last thing.”

“Ask me anything.”

She rubbed her face and spoke.

“Can I really go to medical school?”

I rested my chin on my hand and smiled bashfully.

“Yes. Please go, Noona.”

“This is driving me crazy.”

She leaned back in the chair and let out a heavy sigh. I looked at her.

‘I feel it again.’

My sister was only twenty at this time.

“Noona, go for your dream. I’ll go for mine.”

“I’m worried, leaving a 15-year-old alone…”

“It’s okay.”

I tapped my chest.

“You can trust me.”

“Do you think I can really trust you?”

My sister’s pupils shook at my words, filled with despair.

Why?

‘Well, I guess I haven’t earned her trust yet.’

How was I in eighth grade?

I can’t remember at all.

“Seriously, this is driving me crazy! Really!”

It’d be a big problem if my sister actually went crazy.

“Come on, once we eat, you’ll feel better. Noona.”

For her mental and physical well-being, I hurriedly got up and stirred the curry.

Just then, the rice cooker signaled that it was done, releasing steam.

“That’s true. We should eat first.”

My sister took some side dishes out of the fridge, and I poured the curry.

We set up a rather appetizing meal.

“Smells good.”

“It’ll taste good too.”

“But you know, did you know how to cook?”

I gave a small laugh.

“I didn’t, but it turns out I can do it.”

“Was cooking just something you could do if you tried?”

“Everything in life is possible if you try.”

Of course, it’s because we can that we do it.

I tapped the smartphone in my pocket. If it weren’t for this, I wouldn’t be having these thoughts.

“I don’t understand anything.”

“Don’t think too hard.”

“How can I not? This is about you. By the way, did you get accepted into the agency?”

“Not yet. But I will soon.”

“When is soon?”

Just then, the house phone rang loudly. I smiled as I answered it.

The news I’d been waiting for came through the receiver. I handed the cordless phone to my sister with a grin.

“Now?”

Her lips trembled again. Oh, she must be flustered. I calmly smiled back as she took the phone.

My sister focused on the call, looking at me. When our eyes met, she smiled too.

‘Perfect timing.’

She shot me a brief glare before returning her full attention to the voice on the phone.

I cheerfully swung my legs up and down.

‘This call is going to take a while.’

My sister is thorough.

I didn’t want to waste time. I got up and stirred the curry.

Might as well make a few side dishes while I’m at it.

I opened the fridge to get some kimchi, then paused.

‘Oh, come to think of it…’

I looked back. My sister was calmly asking questions, as if she had never been flustered.

‘This is the moment I cried and longed for ten years ago, lying in bed.’

Getting accepted into an agency.

I had thought I would sell my soul to the devil for that, back when I was in the throes of middle school angst.

‘Adolescence…’

I should’ve been practicing singing instead of wishing.

Shaking my head, I sautéed the kimchi in the frying pan.

Soon, a delicious smell filled the kitchen.