Chapter 142
“What’s up?”
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Seeing KangYoon’s bland reaction, JooAh’s cheerful expression cringed a little .
“Tch, what’s up with that reaction? Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“We saw each other a while ago . How am I supposed to react?”
“Ah, how cruel . Do we only amount to this much? I’ll tell HyunJi-unni about this . ”
JooAh brought Lee HyunJi in as well, but KangYoon did not bat an eyelid . JooAh grumbled saying that he was no fun .
KangYoon got JooAh some coffee and snacks . Seeing that, JooAh became cheerful again .
“Thanks . Wow, the coffee smells good . ”
“It’s there for guests . Fill it back in later . ”
“Nah, it’s between us . ”
“What’s there between us?”
“…Sheesh, I’ll get upset if you keep doing this . ”
KangYoon and JooAh joked with each other and talked about a lot of things .
JooAh told him that she was in her resting period after a period of activities in Japan . She was the de facto number 1 Korean star in Japan, and she had an endless stream of activities . Moreover, this time, she had an extra month scheduled which was more than usual and as a result, she was extremely fatigued .
“I can understand a week or two, but a month is definitely long . ”
“Right? Sheesh, does the company have no one else but me? I feel like they’re acting weird lately . ”
JooAh grumbled, saying that she didn’t like the company .
‘Extending the activities by a month? They should have considered image consumption . ’
KangYoon was confused . There was no way MG did not consider image consumption . Only after pulling out after a set period can she make a comeback next time . But using a superstar like JooAh in such a manner… .
“What’s up? You’re quiet . ”
When JooAh saw that KangYoon’s expression suddenly turned serious, she pouted . KangYoon also shook out of it .
“Nah, I just thought up of something . ”
“Sheesh, you really get serious about anything . Rather than that, where’s HeeYoon? I heard she came to Korea . ”
KangYoon told her that she just took her flight back to America . JooAh clapped .
“Ah, I should have come by a little earlier . ”
“Yeah, it’s such a pity . ”
“…I guess I can’t help it . Today, I’ll stick with you . ”
“Hey . ”
Although he said that, KangYoon couldn’t just turn away his guest .
KangYoon headed to a Soondae restaurant near Lunas with JooAh .
On their way there, JooAh talked about Lunas, World Entertainment’s own theater . She found it interesting that there was a theater exclusive to an entertainment company .
“There’s a band that performs every week, so we got one for them . ”
“Aren’t you investing too much?”
“Won’t they get me back just as much later?”
Hearing KangYoon’s nonchalant words, JooAh gaped in shock .
“…I can see a path of pain for HyunJi-unni . ”
However, unlike what she said, she also thought that the artists belonging to the company should be very happy . Didn’t what KangYoon say literally mean that they were able to perform whenever they wanted to? Although KangYoon said it like it was nothing, there should have been many variables and circumstances behind the construction, and he had overcome each and every one of them . As someone who also had to overcome various circumstances herself, JooAh could understand that .
The two eventually arrived at the Soondae restaurant . As members of World Entertainment frequented this place, the owner greeted them in a relaxed manner . Though, that wasn’t the case today .
“J . . JooAh?”
KangYoon shrugged his shoulders when he saw the lady owner having a different reaction than usual . Well, JooAh was definitely popular regardless of age or gender . Moreover, her image was very good as well .
JooAh took a photo with the owner and gave her an autograph .
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“Oppa, this place is good . ”
JooAh had a grin on her face when she tasted the plentiful Soondae set and the soup .
“It’s rather well-known around here . ”
“Oh, really? I’m putting this restaurant on my list . ”
JooAh smiled when she had something good to eat . KangYoon also ate .
The two were eating when the door to the store opened and two people, a man, and a woman, came in .
“Welcome . Oh, it’s MinAh . ”
“Hello?”
The always cheerful Jung MinAh and her temporary dance teacher, Bang SanHyuk had visited .
“Your boss is here today . ”
“Ahjussi is?”
Jung MinAh looked around when the owner said that . She saw KangYoon eating with JooAh .
“Ahjussi!”
KangYoon turned around when he heard a familiar voice . When he had a look at the entrance, Jung MinAh and Bang SanHyuk were approaching him .
“Oh, MinAh . ”
“Ahjussi! You’re here to ea… wait, seonbae-nim!?”
Jung MinAh was approaching KangYoon but then became shocked when she saw that JooAh was sitting in front of him .
“Hi! It’s been a long time . ”
“Hello . ”
Jung MinAh became very stiff . JooAh used to be a very difficult senior at MG . Although they now belonged to different companies, her usual habit still came out .
JooAh waved her hand seeing that Jung MinAh was so stiff .
“You don’t have to be so nervous . Are you here to get some lunch?”
“…Yes . What is seonbae-nim doing here?”
“Me? I paid a visit to World and I’m here to eat out with oppa . Oh, wait . SanHyuk-oppa?”
JooAh stood up after seeing Bang SanHyuk approaching from behind Jung MinAh .
“JooAh! It’s been forever!”
“You too! Wow, how have you been?”
JooAh was very joyful to see him . After the breakdancing performance, they had exchanged contact info’s and she received some advice from him from then on .
The four of them sat together and they talked about the ladies, Jung MinAh and JooAh .
“Oho, so MinAh is going solo?”
“Yes, it should be out soon . ”
JooAh had a glance at KangYoon hearing that Jung MinAh was doing a solo album .
“You have it good . It’s really relaxing to work with him . ”
“You’re completely right . There’s something about him that just calms my mind . ”
“So you do get it . ”
The senior and junior talked about various things in front of KangYoon . JooAh was especially interested after hearing that Jung MinAh’s dance routine this time had elements of breakdancing in it . As someone who had experience in that herself, they talked about it in a lot of detail .
KangYoon turned around to Bang SanHyuk .
“You started early today . ”
“MinAh’s progress is really fast . She’s got the routine down already . She was the one who asked me to start practice early today . Thanks to that, I’m here already . ”
“Haha, sorry for that . ”
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Seeing KangYoon act a little embarrassed, Bang SanHyuk shook his head .
“Not at all . This kind of passion is really good to see . I feel really good seeing that your artists are so energetic and cheerful . ”
“Thank you for thinking about it on such a positive note . I’ll buy lunch today so please eat as much as you wish . ”
“Oho, I won’t refuse then . ”
Bang SanHyuk didn’t decline . KangYoon ordered a set of bossam (boiled pork belly) on top of another set of soondae . Of course, he asked the owner to get MinAh more meat than fat since she had to take care of her body . Although he had to pay more for that, this kind of investment was not much to him .
Seeing him so considerate, JooAh lightly shook her head .
“You’re still as ever, oppa . MinAh has it good . ”
Not long later, their meal came out .
This was rather luxurious for a lunch meal . The four had a joyful lunchtime together talking about practice and activities and all that .
After the meal, the four stood up . KangYoon headed to the counter with a credit card in hand and Jung MinAh followed him .
JooAh and Bang SanHyuk left the store first .
“Now then, JooAh . Have you been practicing well in Japan?”
Seeing that Bang SanHyuk was being playful with her, JooAh replied as though it was obvious .
“Fufu, well, yes of course . Who can follow me in that?”
“That’s my JooAh . But you know? Kids these days are frighteningly quick to catch up . ”
This was a bare provocation . JooAh narrowed her eyes with a grin on her face .
“What? Is there someone interesting?”
“Right there, MinAh . ”
Hearing that, JooAh replied as though it was only natural .
“She’s originally someone who was great at dancing . That’s how she was selected to be a trainee in the first place . It’s just that she isn’t as good when it comes to singing . And here I was wondering what you were about to say… . ”
This was something she already knew . JooAh immediately lost interest and turned around .
However, Bang SanHyuk had a smile on his face .
“So that’s why . At first, I didn’t believe in the team leader when he said that I should consider MinAh like you . But when we got to practice… . ”
“Wait . Who said what?”
When her name was mentioned, JooAh immediately perked up . Bang SanHyuk flinched back a little after seeing that .
“Uhm, the thing is… . ”
“Say it again . KangYoon-oppa said what?”
She was acting very scary . In the end, Bang SanHyuk was pressured by her into revealing that KangYoon had told him to consider Jung MinAh as her when it came to dancing .
‘Ho, this guy… . ’
She knew that KangYoon had a good eye for people . However, someone was acknowledged when being compared to her? By KangYoon of all people? The fact that he said that meant that there was some backbone to the words .
At the perfect timing, KangYoon and Jung MinAh left the store .
“Thank you for the meal . ”
Jung MinAh politely thanked him for the meal . KangYoon shook his head saying that it was okay .
“You’re going back to practice, right?”
“Yes, we should get going . ”
“Thank you for the wo… . ”
Just as KangYoon was about to send the two off, JooAh interfered .
“Oppa, can I watch MinAh practice?”
“Eh? You told me you wanted to take a look around the theater though?”
(T/N: So they’re going in the same place anyway…?)
KangYoon was rather confused due to the sudden change in schedule . She suddenly wanted to watch the practice?
However, as KangYoon knew of JooAh’s personality, he understood and turned around to Jung MinAh .
“MinAh . Is that alright with you?”
“What? Oh, yes… . ”
When JooAh looked at her with a not-smile-smile on her face, Jung MinAh couldn’t refuse . Her ex-senior’s gaze was very scary .
Like that, the four headed towards Lunas .
Seeing the rather shabby look of the building, JooAh was confused and was almost disappointed at first, but when she saw the neat facilities inside, she couldn’t help but shout out in surprise .
However, that was only for a moment .
She headed towards the practice room on the 4th floor with Jung MinAH .
“So this is the practice room . ”
JooAh had a look at the wide room with mirrors in it . It was a rather ordinary practice room with nothing special . It was just a little peculiar that the room itself was on the 4th floor . There was nothing else .
Jung MinAh didn’t shrink back at the sight of her senior and stretched out . Just as she was stretching her legs, JooAh stood up and asked KangYoon .
“Oppa, can I try it with MinAh as well?”
“You want to learn the dance routine for the new song?”
JooAh nodded . KangYoon was rather confused . Although he wasn’t worried that she would leak the routine to some other place, he was curious about the reason behind it .
‘What’s up with her? Did MinAh provoke her or something?’
There was no way MinAh would act like that without a proper reason . She may just want to watch MinAh’s new album since she was doing a solo .
Regardless of the reason, he felt that it wasn’t something so bad .
‘It will be a great stimulus for MinAh . ’
KangYoon accepted . JooAh soon went to the changing room and changed into Lee SamSoon’s clothes since the two had similar statures . Then, she stood next to Jung MinAh .
“Shall we start then?”
Bang SanHyuk played the music . Along with a fancy brass sound that decorated the intro, Jung MinAh’s rapping filled the studio .
– Ah ah ah ah ah Come on – Come on Ah ah ah ah ah Come on do it
Jung MinAh kneeled on one knee . Then she looked lowered her head and shook her body along with the rhythm of the song . Stepping in a manner similar to breakdancing, she did a light wave . Her thin waistline waved and created a beautiful curve .
JooAh, next to her, followed her steps and imitated her actions . Although this was her first time trying, it wasn’t hard to imitate her moves .
On the first try, she was close to the real thing, and on the 2nd and 3rd tries, she was near perfect .
The problem began here .
Jung MinAh’s eyes sparked as well .
– Don’t be in a hurry, I’ll wait for you forever —
This was the highlight of the moves in the first section of the song . Jung MinAh suddenly put her elbow on the ground and flipped her body topside-down before stretching her legs out diagonally . This was a power move of breakdancing – elbowing .
‘Oho?’
JooAh was ignited as well . Although she had never done elbowing before, her junior could do it so there was no reason she couldn’t . She immediately put her elbow on the ground and did an elbow-handstand . In fact, she did a kick in the air and jumped with her elbow before landing on her feet .
‘These girls are no joke alright . ’
Bang SanHyuk was very surprised . Power moves that would usually take professional B-girls a long time to digest seem to be nothing in front of these two, so it was no wonder he was nearly shocked .
The effort the ladies’ put into their daily training was shining through here .
When it entered the middle section, the dance routine was mostly centered around the waist . Jung MinAh created pretty curves with soft waves .
Meanwhile, JooAh had power . It was the same wave, but it felt different .
The two were appealing to the potential audience to look at them and them only .
‘…This is better than I expected!’
KangYoon was surprised as well . JooAh did have experience learning breakdancing moves . Her ability to incorporate those moves were showing through today .
Jung MinAh seemed to have practiced hard as well and did not lose out to JooAh .
However, it seemed that experience couldn’t be ignored as JooAh’s facial expressions were much better than MinAh . However, MinAh was superior when it came to the appeal of their body lines .
– Till the day we fly into the skies, can fly~
The choreography ended with gazing towards the potential audience with a hand on their waists .
“Phew . ”
Two hours .
They did not talk with each other, and only practiced for the entirety of those two hours, and the two were now drenched in sweat .
“…MinAh, you’re amazing . ”
Sighing, JooAh spoke .
“Thank you, seonbae-nim . ”
“Forget seonbae . Call me unni . ”
“…Yes unni . ”
JooAh put her hands over Jung MinAh’s shoulders and headed towards KangYoon .
“…Tch . I can’t help but acknowledge her if it’s like this . When did she become so good?”
“She practiced without rest even while in America, you know? What, you scared?”
Hearing KangYoon’s provocation, JooAh frowned .
“What are you saying? There’s no way it’s like that . ”
“Oh, no . I think it is like that . ”
“What?”
JooAh charged at KangYoon . However, KangYoon smiled and dodged her .
After a round of quarreling, JooAh spoke in a serious tone .
“I have a country-wide tour in Japan starting this autumn . Can I invite MinAh as a guest?”
“Not every single time, no . ”
“Do you really think I’m that dumb? It’s just for the Tokyo Dome . I have to call someone who’s really skillful . I think MinAh is the perfect candidate . ”
There was no reason for KangYoon to refuse when it was about the Tokyo Dome performance . Actually, this was an opportunity for him as well . However, something did tug his mind .
“Won’t the company say anything about it?”
“Hmph, I’ll win . I’m not as overpowering as JinSeo, but I do have that kind of power . ”
JooAh pointed at herself with her thumbs with confidence .
Jung MinAh stood there blinking due to the sudden massive opportunity . However, she didn’t think much about it since it was still ways off .
‘Things are going well . ’
Seeing that JooAh and MinAh were getting along with each other, KangYoon had a satisfied smile on his face .
Author’s note
Elbowing is a difficult breakdancing move that requires you to support your body weight with just an elbow
It’s a difficult technique that requires a lot of practice, but I heard that some fellows with good training learn it fast (In the case of men anyway, since there are a lot of B-boys out there . )
In the case of B-girls…
There aren’t that many of them, and there wasn’t much material, so I wrote it under the assumption that it’s possible . Please understand .