The S-Rank Paparazzi Reincarnates as an Idol Chapter 99

Chapter 99 

 

“I’m good at taking photos.”

“Oh, right! Siwoo, you’re really good at photography. That’s how you won the center position for the survival show’s theme song stage, right?”

“Yes! I’m really confident when it comes to photography.”

“Since you’re here today, could you take a few pictures of me as you did back then?”

‘Is this karma from my paparazzi days?’

I never imagined I’d end up taking pictures of Yoo Haein again in a situation like this.

“Of course.”

I accepted the camera a staff member handed me and adjusted the lens.

Carefully calculating the composition and lighting, I pressed the shutter.

Click. Click.

“Wow… these came out really well.”

Yoo Haein genuinely admired the photos after checking them.

Even the production staff beyond the glass window gave thumbs-ups and crowded around the monitor.

“Siwoo, if it’s okay with you, could we use this as our radio show’s official main photo?”

“Of course.”

Yoo Haein continued praising the photos, and before long the flow of the broadcast naturally shifted in our favor.

After the talent-show segment ended, the conversation moved to the main topic of our appearance, the song itself.

“Siwoo, what would you say is the biggest highlight of your new song, ‘First Greeting Hello’?”

I smiled lightly as I looked into the camera lens.

Right now, I needed to completely hook the listeners.

“There’s a line in the lyrics that says, ‘our first page.’ I think this radio broadcast with our fans is one of those pages, so I’d choose that as the key point to appreciate.”

“That’s touching. Since it’s a first page written together with your fans, it feels even more meaningful.”

Taking advantage of the warm atmosphere, Yoo Haein drove the point home.

“At this rate, don’t you think you have a real shot at being nominated for first place next week?”

‘Looking at our current momentum, it’s not impossible if we secure enough broadcast points.’

“It would be an incredible honor. If we were nominated, we’d be truly grateful.”

“Everyone, did you hear that? Send in lots of messages and stories right now! Those all count toward broadcast points!”

The live message board exploded.

Messages flooded in so quickly they were impossible to read.

“Sunyoo, could you say a few words to the fans listening right now?”

At Yoo Haein’s gentle prompting, Kim Sunyoo adjusted his microphone.

His gaze became more serious than usual as he looked beyond the camera.

“Even though this is only our debut song, we’ve received far more love than we ever expected. Honestly, it still feels like a dream. We know all of this is thanks to the fans who believed in us and waited for us. Thank you sincerely.”

“I’m sure the fans are deeply moved by that.”

The listener Q&A continued, and before we knew it, the show was approaching its end.

“And of course, we can’t end without a live performance. We’ll wrap up today’s show with Lucy Star Boys performing ‘First Greeting Hello’.”

“Thank you for listening, everyone!”

“Please give lots of love to our debut song!”

“Please stay with us for all the pages we’ll write from here on out!”

“We had a wonderful time with Senior Yoo Haein. Please continue supporting this radio program as well.”

As we finished our closing remarks, a cheerful instrumental filled the studio.

The radio broadcast concluded successfully, including a live performance.

 

☆☆☆

 

I honestly had no idea where the last hour had gone.

By the time I took off my headset, even my ears felt sore.

“Rua hyung, that talent of yours earlier was insane!”

“Hyung, I almost died trying not to laugh at your window-cleaning sound effects!”

The moment we stepped out of the booth, the members started laughing and patting each other on the back.

It was the laughter of people relieved after successfully finishing their first radio appearance.

“Lucy Star Boys, for your first radio appearance, you all did really well.”

At Yoo Haein’s warm smile, we all bowed ninety degrees in unison.

“Thank you so much, sunbae.”

“We were able to finish safely thanks to your guidance.”

“Haha, not at all. You all did great on your own.”

After dealing with nothing but arrogant senior idols in music-show waiting rooms, Yoo Haein felt refreshingly different.

“So, how’s idol life? Is it manageable?”

“Yes! We’re having fun!”

“That’s good. If anything ever gets difficult, let me know. Maybe because you all debuted from the survival show I hosted, I keep finding myself worried about you.”

“Thank you so much for looking out for us, sunbae.”

It was such a heartwarming senior-junior interaction that it could have brought tears to someone’s eyes.

“Oh, right. I brought a little gift for you all, but it’s in my waiting room. Could one of you come with me?”

“We can’t possibly make our sunbae carry things himself! We’ll all go together!”

At Sunyoo hyung’s words, Yoo Haein waved his hands and laughed.

“Haha, it’s fine. I’ll only be gone for a moment.”

After looking over the members, he smiled his usual harmless smile.

“Hmm… Siwoo looks strong. Why don’t you come with me?”

He specifically singled me out.

‘When a senior tells you to do something, you do it.’

That was simply how this industry worked.

‘Stepping away for a minute should be fine.’

“Yes, understood. Guys, I’ll be back soon!”

I followed Yoo Haein down the hallway toward his private waiting room.

Even as we walked, he kept up his friendly senior act.

“How’s idol life? Is it worth doing?”

“Yes, I’m doing my best.”

“Really? That’s good to hear.”

Eventually we reached the room, and he opened the door.

Inside, mountains of trendy desserts that had recently gone viral on social media were stacked on the table inside transparent plastic boxes.

‘People line up for these these days, right? Are they really that good?’

It was my first time seeing them in person.

“Sunbae, is this it?”

Just as I reached for one of the boxes…

Clack.

The sound of the door locking echoed behind me.

The moment I turned around, my entire body froze.

The Yoo Haein who had been smiling warmly moments ago was gone.

Standing there was a Yoo Haein whose eyes had turned ice-cold.

‘What…?’

A chill ran down my spine.

My instincts were screaming.

‘Danger.’

“…Sunbae?”

For the first time, I saw an expressionless Yoo Haein.

The man who always smiled now stood there in complete silence.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“Unexpected. I thought someone with a paparazzi background would have a much harder time adapting to idol life.”

“…!”

There was no anger.

No mockery.

His tone was as calm as if he were commenting on the weather.

That calmness was exactly what made the situation terrifying.

‘What the hell is this guy?’

It felt like my heart had dropped straight to the floor.

Yoo Haein knew.

He knew the past I had hidden from everyone.

The past that absolutely could not be discovered.

“Sunbae, what do you mean by–”

“Ah, there’s no need to pretend, Siwoo.”

He walked right up to me and stopped close enough for our breaths to mingle.

His eyes were as still as a deep swamp.

Then he snapped his fingers.

Ding.

A familiar notification sound rang out.

But what appeared wasn’t my system window.

A completely different purple system window materialized in midair.

 

[Skill: Observer’s Eye synchronizes the target ‘Cha Siwoo’s’ information.]

[Special condition satisfied: The target’s (Past) Status Window has been opened.]

 

‘…What?’

 

—

[(Past) Status Window]

Name: Cha Siwoo (25)

Appearance: A-

Singing: C-

Dance: E

Charm: D

Stamina: B+

Ability: ???

Status: Paparazzi (Pre-death Log)

—

 

“What is this…?!”

My mind nearly stopped functioning.

The notification mocked me mercilessly.

[Warning: Observer ‘Yoo Haein’ is finding your journey extremely entertaining.]

“I came back too, just like you.”

“…What did you say?”

“But my system is a little unique. It lets me read other people’s past logs.”

He lightly tapped my cheek.

The warmth of his fingertips felt as cold as a corpse.

“Do you remember before the regression? We met several times.”

“…”

“I still vividly remember that stubborn look in your eyes when you spent three days and nights staking me out to take scandal photos. It left quite an impression on me.”

He wasn’t angry.

He wasn’t resentful.

He was simply observing me with curiosity.

Like some detached spectator watching everything unfold.

Swallowing against my dry throat, I finally voiced the question that had bothered me from the start.

“Are you… trying to get revenge?”

That would make sense.

Back when I was a paparazzo, Yoo Haein had been one of my targets.

“Hmm… revenge, you say?”

He narrowed his eyes and smiled.

“No. Emotions that wasteful don’t really suit me. I’m just curious.”

His finger pressed against my chest and slowly slid downward.

“What does it feel like to hold a microphone with the same hands that used to ruin people’s lives?”

“…”

“What kind of expression would your fans make if they found out that the lips singing those songs once sold other people’s private lives for profit?”

His voice dropped low.

His eyes sparkled like a child staring at a favorite toy.

“Siwoo. I want you to reach first place.”

“…”

“No, go as high as you possibly can.”

“The higher you climb, the more enjoyable it’ll be for me to watch your fall later.”

The tension in the room became suffocating.

A small smile appeared on his lips.

“Take the desserts and share them with the others. Don’t worry… I didn’t poison them.”

‘You think I can swallow those right now?’

“I sincerely hope you enjoy a long, healthy, and happy career in entertainment.”

Click.

He turned the doorknob.

The lock disengaged with a cheerful sound.

Then, just like that, the kind senior from the radio booth returned.

“Congratulations in advance on your first-place win. With this momentum, you’ll probably get the award. I’m looking forward to your future performances.”

‘This guy’s a complete psychopath.’

“Every time you smile on stage, I think I’ll have a wonderful time remembering the photos you took of me.”

He stepped closer and lightly patted my shoulder.

Under the suffocating pressure, my thoughts suddenly became crystal clear.

“But you weren’t exactly innocent either, were you, sunbae?”

“What did you say?”

“You got photographed by me because you were involved with drugs, weren’t you?”