The Idol Training Simulation I Messed Up

Chapter 13

Continuing activities with four people instead of five was difficult for them as well. Jae Min knew that fact.

The members worked even harder so that he wouldn’t feel too sorry.

They had to hold Jae Min’s spot until he finished his rehabilitation and returned.

However, even after he had recovered enough to be somewhat active, Jae Min’s return was delayed.

According to the company, even though his leg injury was healed, they had to be cautious, so he couldn’t resume activities until he was completely fine.

No one knew if Jae Min would suffer from aftereffects of the injury, but the company demanded assurance.

No matter how much he insisted that he was fine, even with the doctor’s opinion, the company’s response remained lukewarm.

Despite the injury occurring during activities, the company blamed Jae Min’s negligence and maintained a firm stance.

However, they didn’t even have the right to protest.

“[Myung Jae Min. They say he’s blacklisted by the higher-ups?]”

“[Wow. Still, it’s too harsh considering he got injured while working.]”

“[It’ll cost a lot to rearrange the choreography and the music without him.]”

The responsibility fell on the group.

They continued their activities as a four-member group for several months, just waiting for the company to allow Jae Min’s return.

During that time, a new trainee, Yunhwan, joined the company, and not long after.

“Jae Min suddenly disappeared.”

“Disappeared…?”

While the four of them were briefly away for a local event, all of Jae Min’s belongings vanished from the dorm.

The members were worried that something had happened, but the company was annoyed, claiming that he had disappeared without permission.

Time passed without knowing the reason. The members only later learned that his contract had been terminated by mutual agreement.

Yunhwan then joined as a new member in Jae Min’s place.

“At first, we didn’t know why he disappeared…”

He only found out later after overhearing the staff talking behind his back.

“[It was such a headache figuring out how to replace him, but he left on his own, so it worked out. Thankfully, he had some sense.]”

“[Hey, weren’t you too obvious about it?]”

“[What did I do?]”

“…Who was that staff?”

“They’re gone now.”

Woohyung spoke calmly, as if the anger had already dissipated.

‘Damn it. I should have fired them.’

The reality was much more brutal than I imagined.

Jae Min had disappeared without telling the members, making it seem like he was expelled due to his own fault.

‘…To spare the members from feeling guilty.’

If he hadn’t accidentally learned the truth, the members might still have resented Jae Min for vanishing without a word.

A member who had been with them for years silently took all the blame and disappeared.

Even as they continued their activities as a new five-member group, Jae Min remained an indelible sore spot in their hearts.

‘How many lives have I ruined with my own hands…’

She looked at the members with bitter expressions, one by one.

Could she ever compensate for their lives?

She also had a debt to repay to Jae Min, a former member of Monochrome.

***

It was past 9 PM.

She was moving in a car driven by Secretary Choi, with Woohyung accompanying them.

She felt sorry for making them work overtime suddenly, but Secretary Choi dismissed it with a simple, “It’s fine.”

‘How hard would it have been without Secretary Choi.’

The reason they gathered at this late hour was because they had found where Jae Min was.

She had pondered and brought it up after days of consideration about how impactful it would be to recruit him back, and although the members were confused, they quickly agreed.

At the very least, their desire to meet him again was strong.

Since Jae Min had completely disappeared from the entertainment industry after leaving the group, it took some time to locate him.

They were heading to a convenience store a little away from Seoul.

‘An ex-idol now working part-time at a convenience store…’

She watched the streetlights pass by with a bitter feeling.

Woohyung, sitting in the passenger seat, tapped his leg with his fingers at every signal, nervous that they might be late.

Though she couldn’t see Woohyung’s face from the back seat, it felt like she could see his expression even from the back of his head.

They moved during late hours to coincide with the end of Jae Min’s part-time shift at 10 PM, thankfully avoiding traffic.

Finally, the car stopped.

“Welcome.”

“Jae Min.”

As Jae Min, who had been looking at his phone at the counter since there were no customers, heard the door open and greeted them, he looked up.

Woohyung called him with a red face, either from the cold winter wind or rising emotions.

Their eyes met.

“Hyung…?”

Woohyung reached over the counter and hugged Jae Min tightly.

“I…I…how much… I…”

Woohyung sobbed without letting Jae Min go.

He must have originally been the type who cried a lot.

‘How much had he held back in front of Yunhwan?’

Jae Min, caught off guard, stiffened in surprise. Soon, his eyes reddened, and he wiped away tears with his fingers.

Watching the touching reunion right beside her, she felt his own eyes welling up.

‘I think I’m going to cry too…’

But this wasn’t the place for her to express her emotions. The protagonists of this moment were those two.

She watched the two bask in their reunion for a long time.

She hoped that this would heal at least some of the wounds caused by his actions.

***

“It’s cold, why don’t you wait in the car?”

“I’ll just wait here.”

Jae Min’s part-time shift still had some time left.

While the others waited in the car, Woohyung sat on a bench in front of the convenience store.

Jae Min wouldn’t disappear before his eyes, but having lost him once, he felt uneasy.

Woohyung never imagined he would see Jae Min again like this.

No, recently, he had been thinking about him a lot, especially since they had suddenly become four members again like back then.

However, he didn’t expect the company to make such a proposal first.

‘I still can’t believe it.’

He couldn’t tell if his trembling was from the cold or from nerves.

A few customers passed by, and as he seemed to exchange shifts with the next part-time worker, Jae Min came out.

Without a word, Woohyung grabbed his wrist and walked towards the car.

When he knocked on the window, the two waiting inside got out.

The four headed to a nearby franchise cafe. Since it was night, there weren’t many people, making it easy to have a conversation.

“You must have been surprised by the sudden visit. I’m Shin Joo-in, starting this year as a director at Newma.”

“Joo-in… sir?”

“…”

When she introduced herself, Jae Min heard her name and said that.

‘It’s a nickname my friends called me in middle and high school.’

Joo-in. A fairly common name, but adding ‘sir’ made it sound strange.

Woohyung elbowed Jae Min in the side.

Jae Min looked at him with a smile and said, “Ah, why.”

‘He’s quite cheeky, too.’

It seemed like it was just a joke. In any case, it was fortunate the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

“Everyone calls me director, but… well, call me whatever you like. The reason we came here today is…”

At Joo-in’s cue, Secretary Choi handed over an envelope.

“What’s this…?”

“It’s a contract. If you’re willing, we want to scout you back as a member of Monochrome.”

Hearing this, Jae Min’s eyes widened.

The previous contract termination was handled hastily, leaving it unresolved.

He thought the company was looking for him because of that.

Although he tried to avoid being involved, he had heard recent news about Monochrome.

He knew that after he left, Yunhwan, who was active as a new member, had withdrawn.

At the same time, he was worried about the members. But there was nothing more he could do.

He was just an outsider now.

Joo-in silently observed Jae Min’s expression as he stared at the envelope on the table.

“If you are interested, please read it. Read it thoroughly, and if there’s anything to adjust, we can always make adjustments. We want to be with you, not use you.”

Although she wanted to confirm it with him right then, it was too late at night.

She and Secretary Choi had to work tomorrow, Woohyung needed to be taken back to the dorm, and Jae Min was probably tired after work.

But Joo-in made sure to convey what she had to say.

“I’m ashamed that the company made things difficult for you and that we’re coming to you like this. Even if you don’t want to return, we’ll find a way to repay you for the trouble you faced. But what’s certain is…”

Joo-in looked directly into Jae Min’s eyes.

“If you come back, things will be different from before.”

There was a determination in her eyes.

In truth, Jae Min didn’t doubt her words even without all this explanation.

The fact that she brought Woohyung with her showed how sincere she was.

After the conversation ended and they left the cafe, Woohyung got Jae Min’s number.

Only after confirming that the call went through did Woohyung return to the expression Jae Min remembered from their leader.

“I’m not pressuring you to come back, but at least don’t disappear without telling us again.”

“Hyung, you’re just the same.”

Jae Min chuckled.

Even though he was older, they were all around the same age, but he always had this protective air about him.

Joo-in and Secretary Choi led the way, and Woohyung kept looking back at Jae Min as they walked to the car.

‘He’s really the same.’

Jae Min couldn’t take his eyes off them until the car disappeared from view.

***

Newma Entertainment required identification checks for anyone entering, as it was a place frequented by celebrities.

Someone holding a business card that read ‘Secretary Choi Dan-woo’ arrived at such a place.

As he passed through the lobby and headed straight to the director’s office, the employees who saw his face couldn’t believe their eyes.

It wasn’t long before Secretary Choi knocked on the director’s office door.

“Director. Myung Jae Min is here to see you…”

Before he could finish, Joo-in opened the door in surprise.

“Why, why are you here already?!”

It was understandable that she was shocked.

It had only been a day since they met Jae Min. Not even a full day had passed yet.

The first thought that crossed her mind upon hearing his name was, ‘Did he come to return the contract without even reading it?’

That made sense, as Jae Min was still holding the envelope containing the contract.

“I’m here to sign the contract.”

However, his answer was the opposite of her worry.

Her next thought was, ‘Did he even read it properly?!’

“You did read it… right?”

“From how confidently you spoke, I thought it was trustworthy.”

“This guy, this guy, you’re saying dangerous things.”

Who was he? He was the one who had the most severe fallout with the company.

Joo-in was ready to take him and go over every clause.

“I’m joking. My parents read it, too.”

Jae Min said with a smile at her reaction.

‘Is this something to joke about…?’

Given the situation, it wouldn’t be strange if she doubted or got angry, but he was joking and smiling. He was no ordinary person.

Moreover, the contract was delivered last night. She worried that they might have burdened his parents with this troublesome task late at night.

Jae Min smiled brightly and handed the envelope with both hands, unaware of her concerns.

“Please take care of me.”

At his smile, Joo-in’s eyes, which had been wide open, narrowed as she smiled in return.

She carefully accepted the contract Jae Min handed over.

Jae Min watched her, thinking.

She had come to him unexpectedly and extended a hand.

If he followed the path she led, he was sure there would be a much more splendid future at the end.