The Idol Who Returned from Hell Chapter 174

The cold winter air quickly grew warmer.

With March’s arrival came spring along with fragrant flower scents.

“Ah, what an outfit that goes perfectly well with spring. Hmm, yes indeed.”

“It’s fine, brother. I personally think you guys got the most decent outfit.”

“Then would you like to wear it instead of Ha-ru?”

“Nah, that would break the rules, so no way.”

I was still suffering from the aftereffects of the fan meeting costume vote.

I wanted to avoid the penalty somehow to prevent creating dark history, but unfortunately I failed.

Even trying to get something relatively decent among the penalty outfits, I failed miserably here too.

I, Ma Si-hyeok, and Yu Ha-woon each picked items 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place respectively from the voting options that fans would participate in.

Having chosen 1st place, I was inescapably stuck with the bizarre outfit that Kang Seon-woo had submitted as a penalty costume: ‘Pink Pink Princess Full Set Outfit Moe Moe Kyun!’

Chae Ha-ru, who shared a room with me, threw consecutive punches while grinning.

“If you break your promise, the fans might be disappointed—.”

“Got it. I won’t change it.”

Ah, Chae Ha-ru’s mother was fortunately in recovery, he said.

Since she received rapid treatment shortly after symptoms appeared, there was no worsening, Chae Ha-ru had reported.

The cost issue that had been the biggest worry was also resolved thanks to my quick thinking.

Perhaps because of this, Chae Ha-ru was able to regain a much more stable state.

Of course, since he’d returned too much to normal, he’d subtly hit my bones like now.

Just wearing that dress full of lace seemed like it would be torture enough, but Kang Seon-woo fanned the flames even more.

“Si-hwan, you know, right? The additional condition I set? You have to do ‘moe moe kyun!’ or ‘oishiku nare!’ while wearing that!”

“No, what the heck is that even—.”

“Reference footage coming up!”

Kang Seon-woo, having escaped from being perpetually last place and having clumsy hands, was in high spirits.

The video that guy showed with a grin like a Hahoe mask was recent trending shorts content.

I immediately squeezed both eyes shut after seeing a creator casting spells in a cute tone while even throwing hearts.

“I won’t do it. Absolutely can’t do it.”

“Ah hey, how can that be, Ryu Si-hwan! You have to fulfill all the conditions set by the submitter for it to be a penalty! Just declaring a strike and that’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“Just wearing that dress makes me feel like I’ll die.”

“Since you’re already feeling that way, let’s go all the way to the end properly!”

He was really excited since it wasn’t his problem.

I had no choice but to escape Kang Seon-woo’s pressure only after promising ‘I’ll add some charm depending on the situation then.’

As for other daily life…… hmm, there wasn’t anything special.

It was a schedule of mechanically performing set routines to make perfect preparations in all aspects before the fan meeting.

Morning and evening physical training at the gym.

Group practice during the day and dawn hours.

And even during break time, we discussed with members what content would make fans happy during talk time.

On top of that, there was VCR filming to be inserted mid-stage, so we spent extremely busy days.

Before we could properly enjoy the spring that came after a long time, the end of March arrived.

The end of March approaching meant.

“Let’s check if it came in properly.”

It was time for my promised overdue settlement money to come in.

I entered the banking app with a calm expression.

I already knew a considerable amount would greet me after witnessing the other members confirming their settlement amounts and nearly fainting.

Since I wasn’t someone who urgently needed money right away like the other members, I thought I wouldn’t feel much emotion.

[Balance: 753,248,099 won]

“……”

The moment I confirmed with my own eyes an amount I’d never touched in my entire life, some strange feeling rose in my chest.

After staring at that nine-digit number for a while, I finally understood why the younger ones had reacted that way.

Of course the absurdly large amount played a part.

But the main thing must have been that the results of our difficult efforts up until now had finally come out as compensation.

It was confirmed that the settlement money had come in properly.

Now what remained was how to use this amount so people would say it was well spent.

‘Should I buy stocks first.’

I considered just comfortably buying stocks and treating it like money I didn’t have.

But somehow burying my first settlement money seemed to lack symbolic meaning, so I postponed it for now.

While I was turning this over in my head, the calendar placed on the dorm desk suddenly caught my eye.

Just a little more and it would be April.

In April there was the fan meeting, and also…….

‘Before that, there was Seong-hwi’s birthday.’

I recalled the members’ personal information I’d memorized before.

Kang Seon-woo’s birthday in February had overlapped with the comeback schedule quite a bit, so we couldn’t celebrate it grandly.

Since everyone’s wallets had gotten fat too, on the 6th the members would definitely prepare various gifts in their own way.

I pondered Seong-hwi’s tastes for a moment.

‘Either give something completely weird, or something that perfectly matches his taste.’

Actually, he’s the type who’d like anything if it’s a gift from a member, but I still wanted to give a gift that left a strong impression.

If I gave some mediocre item, I probably wouldn’t feel satisfied either.

So I took advantage of a time with no practice schedule and changed into going-out clothes.

‘It’s really been a long time since I’ve been to a department store.’

I went wearing a hat and mask as basics, but even with more than half my face covered, there was wariness that someone might recognize me.

Now even just mentioning CENTIX’s name anywhere, most people would know.

That’s why I set out on solo action without even telling the manager to avoid drawing attention as much as possible.

I slowly looked around from the 1st floor while picturing Seong-hwi’s image in my head.

Seong-hwi, whom fans had linked with me in the ‘noble young master’ image even before debut.

Mix in a bit more cat-like sharpness here and you get exactly Seong-hwi.

What would suit such a guy perfectly?

‘Still, it’d be nice if it cost a bit since we’re at it.’

Having that thought, my footsteps naturally headed toward jewelry.

While browsing various accessories displayed in glass cases, a decent idea suddenly occurred to me.

‘Come to think of it, he recently got new piercings in his ear cartilage.’

I haven’t pierced my ears yet, but Ma Si-hyeok and Seong-hwi quite like earrings.

So they pierce several spots in their ear cartilage besides their earlobes.

“Are there any designs among men’s earrings that sell well these days?”

“Ah, yes! If you come this way, I’ll show you several products!”

“Thank you.”

With the clerk’s help, I examined earrings of various designs.

After roughly going through the earring colors Seong-hwi had worn during past stages in my head and eliminating them one by one.

“I’ll take one set of these.”

“Thank you! I’ll help you with payment over here.”

I chose earrings that seemed quite good and completed the mission.

The clerk wrapping the case in luxurious packaging paper kept staring directly at my face intermittently and hastily turned away whenever our eyes met.

It was a familiar feeling.

“I’ll help you with payment!”

After completing payment, the clerk looked at me with hesitant eyes and suddenly blurted out a question.

“Excuse me, are you by any chance CENTIX’s Si-hwan…?”

“Hello.”

“Gasp!”

When caught like this, it’s best to acknowledge it quickly. Random stories might circulate online otherwise.

The clerk instinctively started to make a loud sound but covered her mouth.

“I’m a total fan—!”

“Thank you.”

It was hard to properly hear the words mumbled through her palm, but I conveyed thanks with sharp prediction.

After taking a handshake and selfie, and asking her to keep my visit here secret, the situation seemed to be wrapping up.

But at that moment, something entered my sight.

“Excuse me, it says the bracelets displayed here are custom made. Could I ask how they’re produced?”

“Ah, custom made bracelets are literally made by applying designs or phrases that customers want. Many people commission them for personal gifts or commemorative events!”

“I see.”

Custom order bracelets.

I thought of the huge assets currently sitting in my bank account and ran through various plans.

‘……It seems like it would be nice to make it as a surprise gift.’

It seemed my desire to spend my first settlement money somewhere meaningful was a bit strong.

I took out my card again and smiled at the clerk whose gaze was fixed on my face.

“How should I make the custom made design for you?”

* * *

“Brother, I want to go to the birthday cafe myself too—.”

“No way. There are already too many fans gathered from before opening, and if you go too, it’ll really explode, you know?”

“That’s so disappointing.”

Seong-hwi made a dejected expression after hearing the manager’s firm words.

As always, MILLENNIUM gathered tremendous firepower and reached the target fundraising amount.

Thus succeeding in holding Seong-hwi’s birthday cafes at four locations near Hongdae.

Since my episode from last time had become widely known in the community, there were noticeably more fans preparing for the cafe opening rush, hoping they might see the member in question.

Seong-hwi, who couldn’t refuse such interest, expressed his desire to definitely go to his birthday cafe, but was gently rejected for safety reasons.

So to change the topic, I decided now was the time and handed over the gift box I’d prepared in advance.

“Hey. Happy birthday.”

“What, giving presents so suddenly like this?”

“Then how should I give it to satisfy you?”

“Looking at this brother, he has no romance, no romance. If you gave it just when I’m blowing out the cake candles later, how pretty the picture would be.”

Even while scolding me, Seong-hwi couldn’t hide the blooming smile on his face.

“Oh, earrings?”

“You didn’t seem to have any black earrings.”

“Looking at it this way, you do have sense. I find Brother Si-hwan more and more fascinating the more I look.”

“At least I’m not an alien, so don’t be too curious.”

“Ahahaha! Your joke skills improved too. Thanks for the gift, brother. I’ll use them right away during the fan meeting stage.”

After I handed over the gift, the other guys scattered to their respective rooms as if not to be outdone.

Soon colorful gifts filled Seong-hwi’s arms.

“Brother Hwi, happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday.”

“Wow, I can get a separate birthday party next year too, right guys?”

“Brother Seon-woo! Let’s really set aside a day and party properly then!”

The members enjoyed the long-awaited leisure time while putting greasy food into their stomachs.

In the middle of Seong-hwi’s birthday party, I went outside after receiving a call from the manager.

“Yes, brother. The event preparations are going well, right?”

[Yeah. I just got the confirmed plan, so come here and just give me confirmation. Hey, but you should have talked to me before preparing this, judging by the quantity this must have cost a lot of money.]

“It has to be meaningful if I buy it with my own money.”

[You’re really an amazing kid too, seriously.]

“I have to give back what I received or I won’t be satisfied.”

I spoke with a grin.

It seems my idea delivered to the planning team is now complete too.

The fan meeting really doesn’t have much time left.