Save a Failed Idol's Life C.208:

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: NicoleTempest

Chapter 208 Putting Each One in Their Place (2)

What do you want me to do for you? I frowned reflexively.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to help. It was because it was obvious that it would be very awkward and difficult if I intervened.

What could I do for a minor who was taken away by their parents for protection?

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Besides, we were twenty-four and twenty-nine respectively. It wouldn’t be very desirable for a minor of our age group to encourage running away… but if we did, it wouldn’t be a mere scolding, but a kind of kidnapping.

I don’t know what the legal situation is, but it would be like that from the parents’ point of view.

“Um… what kind of help do you need?”

I asked cautiously, hoping that my hunch was wrong. But as with many things in the world, when you strongly hope and wish for something not to be true, it often is.

“I want to take Naru with me.”

I was silent for a long time. An awkward silence flowed between the phone, and Hwijin didn’t add anything because he knew it wasn’t a very positive situation.

“…”

I had no desire to become a kidnapper at twenty-four. Maybe if Naru was an adult in a week.

I stalled for a while and answered.

“So… you’re asking me to help you persuade Naru’s parents?”

Then Hwijin quickly opened his mouth.

“It would be nice if they would listen…”

What do you mean, it would be nice? If they don’t listen, you just have to let go. It wasn’t like we were crazy people who had clear evidence of abuse.

They were flipping their eyes to use a kid who wasn’t even twenty yet for money.

I thought I had to assess the situation accurately and asked Hwijin clearly.

“Hwijin, I don’t know much about Naru’s parents. Is there a clear reason why Naru’s parents shouldn’t exploit him?”

If not, it would be best to cheer him on to do well under his parents.

Regardless of how much of a bond we had as team members, family is originally a fate community that is bound more tightly than any other person until death, even if I don’t want it.

‘Even if I don’t want it.’

I clenched my fist as I thought of the family that was living off the inheritance that went against my will.

It wasn’t my immediate task to punish them, so I was just holding back.

“I don’t know the details… but Naru seemed to be very scared of his parents.”

And then he hesitated for a while, as if he had something to hesitate about, and added.

“Can you watch a video I’ll send you?”

What are you sending again? I nodded my head, still tense and straightening my back.

“Yes, I’ll watch it.”

Ding dong. The call ended with a cheerful tone, and soon a three-minute video arrived on the messenger.

Naru was arguing with a middle-aged woman in a room that I guessed was the Floss hostel that I had seen on the web entertainment.

“…Do I have to go?”

“Why are you so stubborn?! I’m so angry I could die, and you won’t listen to your mom?! What can you do here? You can’t do anything, but you’re so stubborn!! Why don’t you listen!”

“… Please. I’ll take care of it, mom. Can’t I stay here until everything is settled?”

“You call that talking now? I want to go and tear up the contract with President Hong right now, but I’m holding back because I have a face. You got that?!”

“Ha, don’t do that! You don’t have to do that. It’s embarrassing…!”

“Look at him. Are you saying you’re embarrassed by me? I’m doing this for your own good, not to ruin you. You have a meeting tomorrow, so pack your stuff quickly if you want to go back and forth easily. If you don’t pack everything, I’ll tell you to throw it away.”

“…”

It was a draining conversation just by looking at it. It was the first time I saw Naru so submissive and unable to stand up for himself.

He was the one who raised his voice and snapped at me when he hid at the end of the hallway, embarrassed by the earpiece incident. He just stared blankly and didn’t comfort me.

I had a rough idea of what he felt like since he was young.

‘A mama’s boy… but afraid of his mom.’

Naru’s weak resistance ended when his mother raised her arm as if she was going to slap him.

‘This is worrying…’

But of course, I couldn’t intervene either.

I couldn’t leak this video to the outside world to protect Naru. ‘Floss’ Shim Naru, troubled by family discord. Shouting at the dorm…’ That kind of headline would be a big deal.

Not to mention the video. The comments would be full of nasty words, not to mention the people who would deliberately troll with malicious comments.

I didn’t even want to imagine the possible comments.

‘Besides…’

I don’t know what Naru thinks of his parents. But if his feelings for them are not pure 100% resentment and hatred, it would be more complicated.

They were the ones who hurt me and made me suffer, but as long as there was a bit of affection left as a family. I wouldn’t enjoy watching them become the scum of the earth and get bombed by public opinion.

It’s not easy to turn your family, who make up a large part of your world, into enemies.

‘Hmm…’

It’s not easy for an adult to cut off their family completely. Can he do it at nineteen?

This is what worries me the most.

Becoming a money-hungry trash who interferes with someone else’s family and destroys a happy home.

‘Well… Naru’s parents would think that way even more.’

So all we could do was encourage Naru to get away from his parents on his own, not to intervene actively.

I racked my brain for a while and called Hwijin again.

“Yes, Hwijin. I saw the video you sent me.”

“Oh, yes.”

Ugh… I have nothing to say. I don’t want to leave him alone like this.

But I didn’t want to risk becoming a kidnapper who destroys a family. I hesitated for a moment.

If I ignore him, he will remain a regret. So I have to use my brain.

“First of all, I’m against taking Naru out of the house and bringing him here. Have you thought about where he will stay if he leaves home?”

Hwijin quickly answered with confidence.

“I’m going to tell him to stay at my place.”

I raised my eyebrows and asked.

“What about you?”

Hwijin paused and opened his mouth.

“I’ll stay at the dorm for now and move to my place if I have to check out.”

The room wasn’t too small, so it wouldn’t be too cramped for two people. But the lack of a plan was still the same.

“Then what part do you want me to help you with?”

I leaned against the wall and swallowed a sigh. Hwijin couldn’t continue.

“If you’re asking me to help you kidnap a minor, I can’t lend you a hand.”

I had finally gained some recognition from Chairman Cheon after being out of his favor for so long. I had also managed to raise some capital. I didn’t want to ruin everything by causing trouble.

Hwijin muttered sullenly.

“Ah… I guess there’s a risk of looking like that…”

Hwijin seemed to have some room to judge the situation rationally, but he fell silent again.

Then… There was only one way to get Naru out of this situation.

‘To be honest, I don’t really want to go that far to get him out.’

The problem was that I couldn’t ignore this as someone else’s business. I tapped my temple with my fingertips and said.

“There is a way. But I need your cooperation, Hwijin. And you’ll have to bear some burden too. Are you okay with that?”

I had to think of it as 1+1. I sighed briefly and tucked my phone between my shoulder and ear, crossing my arms tightly.

A little later, I changed into my outdoor clothes and went out to the living room.

Just like yesterday, I was dressed in a neat suit and the members’ eyes widened as they focused on me.

“Going out again?”

Yi-jun asked with a hint of worry in his voice.

“Yeah, I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry too much.”

I waved my hand lightly and headed for the front door. Aeongi and Pposili followed me to the door as if to see me off.

I bent down and gently stroked their warm and round heads.

“Are you going to the WePlanet headquarters again today?”

Kyunghwa looked at me with a concerned expression. I shook my head right away.

“No. I have something else to do today. I’ll be back soon and tell you everything.”

There was nothing definite yet, so telling them beforehand would only cause more confusion.

“Okay.”

Surprisingly, Kyunghwa nodded as if he accepted it.

I was relieved for a moment. But then Kyunghwa’s words hit me hard.

“I hope you don’t try to solve everything by yourself if it’s related to us. I know you’re the representative now, so you have more responsibility, but… we all protected Climax together, right?”

He was right. I guess they had the right to know what was going on in real time.

But I didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily, since it was a risky thing.

“I got it. I’ll let you know if anything happens.”

I ended up giving a near-lie answer and opened the door.

I’ll tell them when everything is settled. I felt a pang of guilt as if my conscience was pricked by a needle, and headed for the parking lot.

As I drove the car with a dark tint that made it hard to identify the driver, I arrived at the Floss’ residence. There were fewer reporters than when I delivered the lunch box, but they were still hiding everywhere.

‘It won’t be easy to pick him up like this.’

As I waited for a moment at the entrance of the parking lot, Hwijin came out in a disguise that looked like a local resident who had come out to sort out the garbage.

His face was carefully covered with a cap, a mask, and glasses.

He was tall and big, so I thought he might be recognized, but who would think that an active idol would go out like that? It was a ridiculous outfit.

The reporters also ignored him as if he had a terrible fashion sense. He checked my car number and approached the passenger seat. He tapped the window lightly and squeezed into the passenger seat.

“…”

He looked even worse up close.

He wore Hawaiian pants that forgot the season, and a stupidly thick long padding that contrasted with them. And three-line slippers. He looked like a jobless person who had been in the house all day and came out to buy cigarettes. He seemed like he hadn’t washed his hair either.

I looked at Hwijin with disbelief and he shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

“This is how they can’t recognize me.”

“You’re going to wear that?”

Hwijin panicked and shook his head.

“No! Can I go to my place first?”

He was so flustered that his ears turned red.

“Oh, okay…”

Should I say hello to Yu-geon on the way? We’re in the same building…

I thought of meeting the members for the first time in a while and grabbed the steering wheel.

It was the moment when the roommates from the virtual space reunited, but the only one who remembered that was…

‘Probably just me.’

I felt a bitter sadness and sped up to the officetel.