Chapter 98:


    [Time left until the test ends (contract expires): 5 days]


    Shit.


    Its still not gone.


    How high do I have to raise it for them to spare me?


    I checked the clock and saw that it was already past 9 p.m. I had spent more time than I thought moving around.


    Wow Itll be almost midnight by the time we get to Wangsimni?


    All I could hope for was not to get caught by the manager or the agency staff.


    The manager was now calling not only me but also the other members.


    Wow, the message from the manager is no joke.What did he say?


    Kyunghwa turned around with a worried expression.


    He said he wont let you off easy if he catches you.


    What would he do if he didnt let us off easy? In the end, the music chart ranking went up and if I didnt do this, I would have died without doing anything.


    Breaking a little from above and losing my life. If I had topare which one was more desperate, it was obviously my win.


    Turn off all the phones.


    I cant. I have to connect to the music source.


    Then turn them to silent mode. Dont even use vibration.


    Yi-jun nodded. Then he excitedly captured the SNS screen.


    Ive sent all the captures to the group chat, okay? The reaction is really good. I guess the fans are guessing where were going next and moving around.


    I nced at the rearview mirror to see if there was a car following us. There was a taxi in the distance, but


    I hoped there werent any kids following our car. Luckily, I saw it disappear around the corner in the distance.


    I sighed and headed to the next location.


    ***


    Wow, there are so many people trying to guess where were going. Theyre flocking here in no time.


    As soon as we arrived at thest ce, the fans had already crowded around the door, as if the license te had been sold out.


    Excuse me! Ill just pass through.


    Yi-jun!!! Please take this!


    The fans kept trying to put something inside the van (it looked like a gift), so I quickly got out and locked the door.


    Thank you for waiting!


    When I climbed onto the stage that was slightly elevated like a podium, the citizens who had been resting peacefully moved aside thankfully.


    Thank you!


    I never expected so many people to be looking for us and moving around.


    The street was so packed with people that it was impossible to get through.


    The pedestrians who were just trying to pass byined because of the crowd.


    Whats so great about these idols that theyre causing such a fuss?


    Oh my Isnt that the guy who came out as number 24?


    Should we listen too? What are they waiting for so long?


    I felt my face burning, but I greeted them calmly.


    Hello, we are Climax! Were sorry we couldnt give you a proper guide today, but were really grateful and happy that you joined us.


    I nced at Kyunghwa, as if to tell him to take over. He smiled and shouted to the people.


    Thats all we prepared for our surprise live performance today. We wanted to meet more of you, but we have to say goodbye here because of the time limit. Were really sorry.


    Then Seon-woo took over, as he was now also an MC.


    Next time, well see you with a better opportunity! Enjoy with us, this is our new song Drink me!


    Yi-jun ruffled Seon-woos hair as if he did a good job. Then they quickly changed their expressions to serious ones and stood at their starting points.


    [A siren rings in my ear ring ring]


    [Theres nowhere to hide cant breath]


    The stage that I wouldnt regret even if I died right now began.


    * * *


    [It feels like youre breaking me down, poison, its sweeter this feeling.]


    Finally, thest novel ended. I stepped forward to say goodbye.


    Thank you.


    Its really over now. It was such a happy moment to be able to sing and dance in front of you today.


    I had to say myst farewell, but I couldnt speak because of the lump in my throat.


    When I didnt say anything and kept silent, the members looked at me curiously.


    The fans took advantage of the gap and shouted for an encore.


    Encore-! Encore-! Encore-! Encore-!


    Encore!


    Seong-won, please do one more song~!


    Encore!!!!!


    The atmosphere was on fire and it didnt die down. Everyone was singing their lungs out without microphones. They were beyond words.


    The autumn night was almost winter and quite chilly. We had been sitting quietly in the car while moving, but our bodies were still frozen.


    When we danced, we heated up and sweated a lot, but then we cooled down and our skin felt like ice.


    Can we do our song fromst year just once?


    Seon-woo asked hesitantly, seeking the agreement of the other members.


    Now there were so many people who came to see us that we couldnt count them.


    Since youre asking like that, we have to meet your expectations, right?


    Yi-jun smiled slyly and lifted his top to chase away the heat. Every time his abs were slightly exposed, screams erupted.


    This guy is not doing this because hes hot, but on purpose, right? I couldnt help butugh at his absurdity.


    It seems like everyone agrees. Shall we y the song?


    Seong-won nodded his head without arguing with Yi-jun for once.


    [When summer ends and the waves leave.]


    [You will forget me as if nothing happened.]


    [But I, who am blind to you, will wait for the next summer.]


    Maybe it was because we had performed this song before. Our bodies moved on their own and found their ces.


    [Heat your wave!]


    Seon-woo stepped forward and winked, a move he had practiced so much.


    Kyaa! Cute!


    The same exmations poured out.


    [When summeres back again]


    The moms who had nced at Yi-juns body as they passed by couldnt take their eyes off him. Oh my my my. It was only natural.


    [This blue sea, this hot summer night.]


    As Seong-won calmly turned around with his back to Yi-jun and came forward, shes went off everywhere.


    [Remember me, Im the sea for you.]


    We all stretched out our hands to the fans as if we were ambassadors for the coastal park and wrapped up the performance. I felt like it was really over now.


    I had been on stage for a long time without a break, so I should have been exhausted, but my heart was still pounding.


    I wish this moment would never end.


    It was such a cool experience to have so many people cheering for me.


    The moments when I danced and sang as Cheon Ise were like a zoetrope passing by.


    You all worked so hard today!


    Yi-jun, Ill stream a lot when I get home!


    Seong-won oppa, I love your new song! Im looking forward to the music shows!


    Youre all handsome!


    There were a lot of fans looking for Seong-won and Yijun, probably because they were more popr, but I didnt mind.


    Like anyone else, I didnt want to die. I wanted to repay their support.


    Thank you for cheering for me.


    I wanted to show them more that we were a group that they could trust, like, and support without regret.


    I wanted to sing more songs for them.


    Even after the encore stage was over, people didnt disperse and kept waiting in front of us, expecting something.


    Some of them were quietly chanting for another encore in the corner.


    Thats all we have prepared for you, unfortunately. Thank you so much for today. Im sorry that I cant say anything more than thank you because Im not good with words!


    Kyunghwa bowed to apologize after checking my stunned expression.


    Suddenly, I felt relieved.


    If I hadnt turned off my phone, it would have been ringing like crazy and I would have gotten a lot of scolding for why I did such a rash thing before the countdown was over.


    But I didnt regret it at all.


    At least I got to face so many peoples energy and support before I died.


    Even though it wasnt the real me, Lim Hyun-seong, but Cheon Ise who stood in front of them.


    I was d that I could meet them with all my sincerity.


    I felt sorry for the people who cheered for me so much, but I never looked at their hearts and just died.


    Thank you!


    The moment I waved my hand to the crowd and gave myst greeting.


    Ugh!


    My heart squeezed as if something was forcing it.


    There were still four days left before the countdown was over, right? Why?


    What is this


    Before I could even figure out what was going on, everything around me turned pitch ck.


    ***


    When I opened my eyes, I was in an unknown space. It felt like I was in the sea when I died as Lim Hyun-seong.


    My body was swaying back and forth with the waves, sinking down.


    Was I dying again? No, thats not it, was I really dying?


    The days I lived as Lim Hyun-seong shed by. I was proud that I lived more fiercely than anyone else in my forty-something years.


    I never thought I would make it big in the restaurant business when I dropped out of high school and started working part-time.


    I was scammed so horribly.


    I couldnt count how many people had stabbed me in the back (figuratively speaking).


    From the boss who took my investment and ran away with the franchise idea, to the agent who leaked my recipes and business data to the rivalpany.


    The reason I never stopped helping others and creating a childrens foundation, even after being betrayed so many times, was topensate for my childhood.


    No one ever loved me, but I survived. I grew up to be a sessful adult who could help others.


    I didnt need those trashy family members. I did well enough on my own.


    I wanted to prove myself to the world.


    And there were people who supported me.


    I thought I had lived a lonely and desperate life, without trusting anyone. But as I looked back, like watching an old ck-and-white movie, I realized it wasnt true.


    There was thendlord who generously lowered the rent when I was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the economic crisis.


    There was the local merchant who donated millions of won to the childrens foundation without hesitation.


    I only believed that I had no one to rely on, but that was not the case.


    I must have had a chance to open my heart and be sincere with the people around me.


    The scene changed with time, and I reached the moment when my fiance broke up with me.


    I think I was too inadequate to be of any help to you, Hyun-seong.


    I was sorry. If only I had paid more attention to my surroundings. But it was toote to regret it, and I had nowhere to go.


    Was I really going to die? As I slowly blinked and surrendered to the waves.


    I found you.


    A sharp voice that I had never heard before spoke to me.


    And at the same time, I was dragged out of the water as if by force, and my eyes snapped open.


    Whats wrong? Did you just stumble, Ise?


    What happened?


    Isnt it just a misstep? You were fine just a moment ago.


    Someone shouted loudly among the fans.


    You just hit number one on Fine live!