Chapter 330 ·Bad Ending
Chapter 330: Bad Ending
It felt as though my blood had turned cold.
Running a hand through his bangs, Do Seojun spoke in a low voice.
“Have these idiots collectively lost their minds?”
He had always known.
Treating people like disposable parts was simply how this industry worked.
It wasn't just the writers and staff who were worked to the bone at the bottom.
Even the celebrities under contract with agencies were no different.
But even being scumbags had its limits.
This had definitely crossed the line.
“They're sending a kid who collapsed from illness to Europe? What kind of bastards are these?”
If he hadn't been stuck working through the night, he would've gone to pick Seohan up when he was discharged.
He should've stormed in and flipped the place upside down right then.
Apparently, his warning over the phone hadn't meant a thing.
Feeling the last remnants of his composure slipping away, Do Seojun let out a deep sigh.
“U-Um... Producer....”
Challenge Tour's head writer, Heo Yoon, swallowed nervously as she watched him.
After working beside him throughout the production of the show, this was the first time she'd ever seen Producer Do this angry.
Carefully watching his expression, she cautiously spoke.
“Are you alright?”
At her words, Do Seojun paused briefly.
“...I'm not sure.”
No.
To be honest...
“I'm not alright.”
There was no way he could be at peace.
On one hand, he was ashamed that someone who was supposedly a broadcasting station producer couldn't even step in over something like this.
On the other...
If someone asked whether he truly bore none of the responsibility...
He couldn't confidently say no.
The very last schedule Do Seohan had before collapsing...
Had been Challenge Tour, the program he himself was producing.
In the middle of such a hectic schedule...
Had Seohan overexerted himself just to keep that ridiculous promise and appear on his show?
Had it been a mistake from the very beginning to make his younger brother, who'd always been timid since childhood, work at a Haunted House?
Perhaps...
Was he the one who had pushed his brother until he collapsed?
As his resolve weakened, stray thoughts flooded his mind.
'This is why I opposed it from the beginning.'
His younger brother becoming famous?
He'd loved it.
Watching him achieve his dream and shine brightly had made him happy.
That was why he'd supported his dream.
But nothing was more important than his health.
He understood that someone his age would naturally have lofty ambitions.
He'd only wished...
That Seohan wouldn't push himself too far.
Something was going wrong.
Yet he couldn't find where it had all started, and the frustration was suffocating.
Do Seojun's expression darkened even further.
Just then—
“Um... Producer?”
Head writer Heo Yoon poked his shoulder.
Only then did Do Seojun snap back to reality and raise his head.
When he turned around, the assistant director was standing awkwardly by the door.
With a troubled expression, she quietly said,
“Producer, I think you should step outside.”
“Hm?”
“Your younger brother is here.”
At those words, Do Seojun's eyes widened.
“...Do Seohan?”
He'd thought Seohan would run away from this issue.
Instead...
Do Seohan had come to the broadcasting station of his own accord.
Had the broadcasting station lounge ever been this quiet before?
Breaking the awkward silence, I cautiously spoke.
“I came because I wanted to talk.”
My brother silently nodded.
I stole a glance at his expression.
He was definitely angry.
It was the reaction I'd expected.
I'd made the decision about my schedule on my own.
And it was true that I hadn't taken my physical condition into consideration.
Double즈 had opposed it until the very end.
Convincing the company had been incredibly difficult.
Sehyun-hyung had helped me as much as he could.
And so...
The Europe tour two weeks from now had finally been confirmed.
If the fans' reaction was the final mountain I had to overcome...
Then Do Seojun was the second one.
I carefully chose my words.
“You went to the company?”
“Of course I did.
After seeing what happened to you.”
Frowning, Do Seojun answered curtly.
“I was planning to flip the whole place upside down, but I stopped before it got that far.”
“…….”
“And let me make one thing clear.
This wasn't just my decision.
Mom and Dad agreed too.”
He let out a deep sigh as he looked at me.
I swallowed hard while gauging his mood.
I hadn't expected this to end easily.
Even now, I felt like I was suffocating.
Then his sharp question came.
“Why are you forcing yourself to keep doing schedules?”
At first, he'd probably assumed Double즈 was making me work against my will.
From the company's perspective, that would've been incredibly unfair.
But it had also been the most reasonable assumption.
The one insisting on pushing through...
Had been me.
The one who made the impossible happen...
Had also been me.
I had to make it clear that this was my own decision.
With absolute conviction, I answered,
“Because I want to.”
“What?”
“I was the one who spent forever convincing the company. Of course they opposed it. I was the one who insisted.”
“Why?”
“Because I think it'll give me strength.”
“You...
Did something happen?”
Do Seojun's expression turned ice cold.
He'd clearly interpreted my cryptic words in an entirely different way.
Just looking at how pale he'd become, I could roughly guess what he'd imagined.
His voice became urgent.
“...Is someone making your life difficult?”
“No.”
“Is there a problem within the team?”
“It's not that either.”
“Hey, Do Seohan.
Would you stop hiding things and tell me the truth?”
Grabbing my shoulders, he pressed me for an answer.
I brushed his hands away and mumbled,
“Ah, it's not that kind of thing.
I literally mean it gives me strength.”
“You're not hiding something from me?”
“I enjoy being on stage.
And we've had great results this year.
People always say to strike while the iron's hot.
I'm only planning to push myself until the end of this year.
That's all.”
The tension in Do Seojun's expression eased slightly.
“I understand why you're worried.
But it's a promise I made to the fans.
I started this overseas tour with my own hands.
So I want to be the one to finish it too.”
Everything I'd said was sincere.
But using it like this made my conscience ache.
I'd practically used everyone attending the Europe tour as my shield.
Slowly, I closed my eyes.
“…….”
When I opened them again,
Do Seojun was staring at me suspiciously.
He clearly didn't fully believe what I'd just said.
But after I'd stubbornly insisted this much, it seemed he had no choice but to back down.
For one last time, he asked,
“You're telling the truth?”
“Yeah.”
There were too many things I couldn't say.
Being unable to tell the whole truth...
Was simply the fate this damned situation had forced upon me.
But...
Part of me also hoped my brother would never find out.
If things stopped going our way.
If this world was no longer on our side.
Then the ending waiting for us...
Would be a Bad Ending.
[Dustys, let's have dinner ><(with Seojji)]
Seo Haim, who had been typing the livestream title, let out a few nervous breaths.
“Hoo... Hoo....”
“Hey, what's wrong?”
“Sehyun, I'm so nervous.”
Ever since the livestream had been decided, Seo Haim had been trembling nonstop.
Beside him sat Seo Ian, nervously darting his eyes around.
After the announcement that I'd be resuming activities was posted,
Just as Double즈 had feared...
The fans' reaction wasn't good.
-So they really brought back a sick kid LOL. These money-obsessed bastards.ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Why is Double즈 forcing Do Seohan onto the Europe tour?
└ Probably because overseas fans were demanding refunds for the concerts.
└ The ridiculous part isㅋㅋㅋ they could've easily resold those tickets at a higher price, so why are people whining about the sick kid not coming?ㅎㅎ
-There's no way Double즈 actually listened to European fans one by one. They just want to grind our boy into dust.
└ They seriously don't protect their artists at all.
└ This is supposed to be an agency?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└ Double즈 seriously deserves to get beaten up.
-I honestly thought he'd be suspended for at least several months when the announcement came out. They never even properly explained why he was sick, and now they're sending him on an overseas tour??? Is Seohan really okay? Double즈, explain yourselves.
└ I'll only believe it after I see Do Seohan with my own eyes.ㅠㅠ Ha...ㅠㅠ
└ Double즈: That's why we brought him~
└ Get lost.
└ Ah, damn. I'm already scared they're actually going to do that.
└ I seriously hate thisㅠㅠ They aren't going to drag a sick kid onto a livestream and make him smile, are they?
└ That'd be straight-up psychopathic....
Even after today's livestream ended, all kinds of rumors and controversies would undoubtedly continue.
Still...
We'd decided it would be quicker to calm things down by showing my face directly.
Of course...
Putting all those excuses aside...
The truth was that I simply wanted to gain strength myself.
It had only been a few weeks since my last livestream.
But it felt like it had been months.
Seo Haim squeezed his eyes shut and muttered,
“Ah, whatever.... I'm just going to start it.”
“Hurry up.”
“I really don't know what happens after this...!”
Click.
The moment Seo Haim pressed the button,
The camera finally turned on.
In a low voice, Kang Siwoo said,
“Oh, they're coming in.”
“Gasp.”
-What's "with Seojji" supposed to mean?? Did Seohan get replaced??ㅠㅠ
-Is Seohan okay now?
-Don't zoom in on Kang Siwoo.... My heart can't take it.
-You're way too handsomewww Do you know that?
I was standing behind the camera, watching the situation.
From the front, Ha Junseo urgently gestured to me.
It was the signal to jump into frame instead of bringing out the Seojji doll.
Naturally, Siwoo-hyung spoke first.
“Seojji?
Yep, we brought him today—
Hyung, do you have him?”
“Of course I brought him.”
Smiling, Ha Junseo rummaged through his black bag.
Just as Seojji was about to be pulled out—
“Wah!”
With a short shout, I leapt into the frame.
“Well, well, Do Seohan!”
“Hmm, it looks like the real Human Seojji has appeared~.”
-???????????
-Holy crap.
-DO SEOHAN. NO, SEOHAN. WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE? I CAN'T EVEN CLOSE MY MOUTH. FIRST OF ALL, ARE YOU OKAY?
-Ah, Seohan...
-Holy crap. I should've realized something was strange from the livestream title.
-He looks kind of pale. Is he really alright?
“Seohan, say hello to the Dustys.”
“I came because I thought everyone must've been really worried. I'm Do Seohan.”
I flashed a grin and waved at the camera.
The comments were pouring in at a speed incomparable to just moments earlier.
I glanced at the chat.
There were occasional comments criticizing Double즈, but perhaps because it was a live broadcast, most people were holding themselves back.
As for what would happen after the stream ended...
Even I didn't know.
I was the one who'd chosen to walk down this thorn-covered path.
“I was actually planning to rest a little longer....
But to be honest, I nagged the company quite a bit.”
I'd caught a severe fever.
My temperature had climbed over 40 degrees Celsius, and I'd felt awful for several days.
Originally, I'd planned to take a long break.
But because my condition recovered faster than expected, I'd resumed activities.
That was roughly the story Double즈 and I had agreed to tell.
“Anyway, I'm feeling much better now!”
-I'm still mad that Double즈 keeps using the members as shields, but I'm relieved he actually looks okay.
-Seohanㅠㅠ Please don't get sickㅠㅠ
-Seeing your face puts my mind at ease.
-Mam-Seohan.... I was seriously so worriedㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
I was smiling even brighter on purpose because I didn't want anyone worrying more than they already had.
I'd discreetly checked myself in a mirror earlier.
Thankfully, my complexion looked completely normal.
Which meant...
It was time to steer the conversation elsewhere.
Noticing the look in my eyes, Kang Siwoo clapped loudly.
“Anyway, now that we're welcoming Seohan back...!”
“Waaaaah~.”
“It's finally time for us to rearrange our dorm roommates.”
“We're changing them today?”
“That's right.”
It was a hastily prepared piece of content.
But we'd decided to switch roommates during today's livestream.
Grinning, Kang Siwoo looked at the camera.
“But today...
We aren't deciding it by drawing lots.”
At last.
We'd escaped randomness.
After hearing the leader's explanation, Seo Haim's eyes sparkled.
“Whoa! Then do we get to choose who we want?”
“Who do you want to room with?”
“Hmmm!
Well, definitely not you.”
Jin Sehyun was quietly minding his own business when he suddenly got caught in the crossfire.
“...Seriously?”
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ These two really are best friends.
-Seo Haim says that now, but when it's time to choose roommates he's definitely picking Winning Sehyun.
-If those two share a room, won't the third roommate have all their energy drained?
Avoiding Jin Sehyun's pointed stare, Seo Haim poked Kang Siwoo's shoulder.
“Siwoo-hyung, who do you want to room with?”
“Seohan.”
“What about you, Seohan?”
“I'd like to room with Ian-hyung.”
At that moment,
Kang Siwoo's intimidating gaze landed on me.
“…….”
Without realizing it, I swallowed.
Trying to avoid Kang Siwoo's overwhelming stare, I looked at the comments right in front of me.
One comment had just appeared...
As if perfectly expressing how he felt.
-This is exactly why people say there's no point raising kids. They're all ungrateful in the end.