Chapter 38: The Gifts Left at His Door

“……What are you doing?”

Shim Eun-chan pouted his lips and focused his facial features on the center. As he looked at Hyun Woo-young in that state, Woo-young leaned his upper body back slightly and asked back.

“You said she was pretty?”

“…….”

“Wow. Shim Eun-chan. This isn’t right.”

As Hyun Woo-young stared silently, unable to find a word to answer, Do Jun-seo, who was sitting on the lower sofa, wore a look of disbelief and burst into a sarcastic laugh.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“Ugh. Get your face away. Ah, I said don’t come near me.”

Do Jun-seo recoiled in disgust as Shim Eun-chan approached him and pushed him away.

Although Ryu Seo-o, who was sitting in front, looked at the two of them with a cold expression, put his index finger to his lips, and gestured for them to be quiet, so they immediately shut their mouths tightly.

Even after straightening his posture, Hyun Woo-young continued to stare at Shim Eun-chan for a moment.

Unexpectedly, everyone was so focused on watching that the bossam ordered for a late-night snack was finally opened only after the first episode had finished.

It was really fun.

Do Jun-seo opened the container of bossam that had cooled down and said.

“You mustn’t spoil it, Eun-chan.”

Ryu Seo-o, who was opening the kimchi lid, also chimed in.

It’s only the first episode, but it was seriously no joke.

“Wow. How does Eun-chan act so well?”

Moon Se-byeol and Jeong Min-yu let out an exclamation of admiration and picked up their chopsticks.

I think so too.

Hyun Woo-young took a small plate and placed them one by one, saying

Watching a drama they had starred in together and hearing the evaluation in front of them were completely different things. Shim Eun-chan looked down at his fidgeting fingers. It was an awkwardness, distinct from nervousness.

Eun-chan turned into a frog again.

At Ryu Seo-o’s calm voice, Shim Eun-chan released the air he had stuffed into his cheeks. As a result, a funny ‘poof’ sound came from his lips.

“Why? Weren’t you satisfied?”

Sim Eun-chan shook his head at Do Jun-seo’s question. The members stopped setting up the food and all fixed their gazes on him.

That’s not it. Of course not. I just said it because I was a little embarrassed.

He said, covering the lower part of his nose with both hands.

Well, that could happen.

As Do Jun-seo responded calmly and nodded, the atmosphere shifted to one of mutual agreement. They picked up pieces of bossam one by one and continued their conversation about the drama. Sim Eun-chan also followed the members’ lead, picking up a piece of meat and putting it in his mouth to eat. The savory flavor of the tender, moist meat was incredible. The spicy bossam kimchi also whetted their appetites. They say the power of familiar taste is the most dangerous. Even though they had eaten bossam several times before, it was delicious every time.

Shim Eun-chan said after swallowing the contents in his mouth.

I’m planning to practice a bit late tomorrow.

“Huh? What, how long are you planning to keep doing this?”

I’m thinking of doing it until the drama ends.

Everyone looked puzzled at Shim Eun-chan’s answer. It was a question implying, “What are you going to do about watching the drama live?”

“Since the drama is already finished filming, there is nothing I can do about it, but our comeback is just around the corner. I wanted to make it a bit more perfect.”

“I guess that’s true. I could just watch the rerun later. It’ll probably be uploaded to YouTube, too.”

Jeong Min-yu nodded.

After neatly finishing their late-night snack and cleaning up, the members decided to sit in the living room and play board games to aid digestion. Sim Eun-chan and Ryu Seo-o said they wanted to rest and went into their respective rooms.

When I entered Cosmos, I found it filled with thoughts and messages of support for the drama. It wasn’t just empty words; I was truly grateful. Although I couldn’t visit each and every one of them to say thank you, Shim Eun-chan’s way of repaying their kindness was to show them a more polished performance. Even if it wasn’t perfect, I wanted to meet my fans with a more improved version of myself.

Shim Eun-chan’s abilities were not outstanding in any one area. Only his appearance was A-rank; his singing and performance were B-rank. Nor was songwriting or composing his specialty. To put it nicely, he was well-rounded in many areas, but to put it negatively, he had no particular strengths or distinguishing features.

The only thing Shim Eun-chan could do right now was stage practice.

I had to practice at least one more time.

Shim Eun-chan started writing a message on Cosmos.

[FamFams, how was the first episode? I watched episode 1 with the members while having a late-night snack. It feels a bit shy seeing it on the screen, haha. Please look forward to episode 2.]

After sending the message and checking the fans’ reactions a bit more, Shim Eun-chan turned off his phone screen.

Could this really be a dream? It didn’t feel real.

I get to film a drama I missed out on in my previous life, and I can also practice for my comeback. Everything felt like a dream. Not a nightmare, but a good dream. I was truly happy just knowing that I could fall asleep looking forward to tomorrow.

I was grateful for the fact that I had been given such an unbelievable opportunity. I had to do everything I could.

The goal of winning the Grand Prize at the end of the year still felt incredibly far away, but I intended to do everything I could until then.

Shim Eun-chan, who was lying down staring at the ceiling, checked to see who had knocked and entered. It was Jung Min-yu.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Oh. You’re still awake.”

Yes. I’m going to digest my food before going to bed.

Considering that, although he was lying down, Jeong Min-yu did not say much.

But weren’t you playing a board game?

“I just came in for a moment.”

Shim Eun-chan waited to see what Jung Min-yu would say. After all, since he had gone out of his way to enter the room, it couldn’t really be just ‘just because’. Jung Min-yu suddenly thrust something about the size of a hand span toward Shim Eun-chan.

Upon closer inspection, it was an effervescent vitamin.

My parents tried it and said it was good, so they sent it to me. I tried it myself and it definitely works.

“thank you.”

Sim Eun-chan bowed while sitting down.

“Eun-chan, you worked hard. Really.”

Sim Eun-chan blinked at the following words.

“I was just watching the drama earlier, and I wondered how tough it must have been for you to handle both your filming schedule and our comeback schedule. Thank you for following along with everything without any complaints, even though it must have been really hard.”

Jeong Min-yu looked serious.

“You don’t need to thank me. You guys did it all too, and it’s something I was supposed to do anyway.”

“still.”

Jeong Min-yu stopped there and patted Shim Eun-chan on the shoulder.

Let’s do our best tomorrow too. Get some rest.

“Yes, brother.”

After finishing his words, Jung Min-yu left the room. It seemed his purpose was to tell that to Shim Eun-chan.

How much time had passed since then? Someone knocked on the door again.

This time it was Moon Se-byeol.

“Is Eun-chan sleeping?”

Not yet.

Moon Se-byeol said strange things like “The blanket looks nice” and “The wallpaper in the room is pretty,” then suddenly thrust something at me. I took it in surprise, and it turned out to be a cream bun that had recently become so popular through word of mouth that it was hard to find.

“What is it?”

You do it.

“yes?”

“I told you I wanted to eat it.”

Me?

I was about to ask back, but then I suddenly remembered what I had mentioned in passing last time. I think I had just said something like, “I’m curious why it’s so popular,” but I was grateful that you remembered and bought it for me.

I waited for the stock to arrive at the convenience store up ahead and bought one. Have this.

“Uh… thank you. Let’s eat together tomorrow.”

“No. Just eat it by yourself, Eun-chan.”

“yes?”

Moon Se-byeol cleared his throat.

“You seem to have lost a lot of weight lately. You’ve had a packed schedule too, so eat something else. Got it?”

Shim Eun-chan nodded, holding the bread bag, and replied that he understood. Moon Se-byeol patted Shim Eun-chan’s arm.

“Then rest. I’m out.”

Just as it was when it came in, it was like the wind when it went out.

Sim Eun-chan stared blankly at the things the two had left behind. How long had he been like that? Someone knocked on the door again. If it were Do Jun-seo, there was no way he would have knocked.

The visitor this time was Ryu Seo-o.

Eun-chan was awake.

“Uh… yes, brother.”

“……Did Sebyeol come and go?”

Ah, yes.

Ryu Seo-o glanced at Shim Eun-chan’s bed and muttered, “Quick.” He held something out to Shim Eun-chan.

Propolis spray.

“yes…….”

Sim Eun-chan, who accepted it in a daze wondering if his older brothers had all made a promise, belatedly offered his thanks. Ryu Seo-o shrugged his shoulders once and paused for a moment as he was about to leave the room.

That’s good.

Oh. Yes. I’ll make good use of it.

“……Okay, then.”

Ryu Seo-o twitched his lips once, nodded, and only then left the room. He was the type to occasionally look out for me, even if not often, so I never imagined he would act like this today. Shim Eun-chan looked down at the items placed in front of him.

As if by prior agreement, they handed over the gifts this evening.

Come to think of it, even in his previous lives, while Shim Eun-chan had gone astray and caused friction, there were no members who actually caused any problems. Shim Eun-chan, who had been sighing lightly while gazing at the items they had given him, looked up at the sound of a door opening.

It was Do Jun-seo.

Unlike usual, he seemed to be examining Shim Eun-chan’s face.

This can’t be…

I quickly scanned Do Jun-seo and noticed a hand suspiciously hidden behind his back.

“You’re here? The older guys already came and went.”

“omg.”

Do Jun-seo frowned, looking as if he was a step too late.

What’s wrong, everyone? Why are you acting like this? Did you all coordinate your stories about hosting an event today?

“No, that’s not it. …Well, something like that did come up, but I never imagined everyone would drop by one after another on the same day like this. Anyway, we all think the same thing.”

The items Do Jun-seo handed to Shim Eun-chan were nutritional supplements and an eye patch.