LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 79
With her head hung low, a bashful teenage girl was taken to a nearby convenience store.
I settled her at an outdoor table and picked out two chocolate milks that I heard the trendy kids these days loved, then came back to pay.
“Here, drink this for now.”
“Okay….”
Kim Yuna (15) still couldn’t lift her face and kept it down.
Is she really that embarrassed?
Well, her dancing was a bit awkward, but she’s still young, right? It’s understandable.
Besides, wasn’t she dancing better than I could?
“Lift your head! What’s there to be embarrassed about?”
“…But you laughed so much?”
Well, that was because… the situation was funny.
I’m innocent!
“Still, you being embarrassed turned it into a funny scene.”
If she had been more dignified, would I have laughed?
Hmm… probably not.
“Really…?”
“Yeah, why would I have anything to laugh at you about?”
Why would I laugh at this middle school girl?
To be honest, it was a bit cute.
I had heard there was a trend with TikTok going around among the younger kids, but seeing it in person felt strange.
“Well, you’re pretty, though… Doesn’t it look silly seeing someone like me dance?”
Hmm? Oh, I guess it makes sense to think that way.
But Kim Yuna (15) was prettier than many of her peers.
Of course, anyone could look better than me in comparison, but she was just too young to understand the world well.
“Listen up, Yuna, I’m going to give you some advice.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve never seen anyone prettier than me in my life.”
Well, if we’re counting people beyond the screen, it might get a bit murky, but I’ve never met anyone prettier than Kim Soo-hyun (Female).
“What??”
“So, it’s only natural you feel inferior looking at me.”
Kim Yuna (15) looked at me as if trying to figure out what I was talking about.
Finally, she lifted her head!
“What on earth are you saying?”
“I’m saying you should look at yourself, not compare yourself to me.”
“I know… But what can I do about what I see? It feels like there are so many pretty people in the world.”
Hmm… do teenagers these days think like this?
Or should I be relieved that it’s not all about rebelling! Running away! Fights!
But why feel inferior? Why do TikTok? I only just met her today!
It seemed there was a reason for her doing TikTok.
“Why do you do TikTok?”
“Well, that’s…”
Kim Yuna (15) hesitated to answer.
I guess it’s a bit embarrassing to talk about it with a cousin she hardly knows?
But that doesn’t help at all.
Everyone carries their own burdens.
If they don’t release them, they’ll rot and eventually show on the surface.
“Are you more embarrassed about getting caught while dancing?”
“No? Ah, not really…”
“Then tell me; I’ll listen.”
I wasn’t as good as our manager, who was a master of the broadcast, but having been around for a while, I’ve picked up a thing or two from them.
“Come on, spill it! I can handle your problems pretty well, right?”
I hadn’t really helped before, but having a job that involves dealing with people should give me some ability to help with issues.
As I stared at her intently to push her, Kim Yuna (15) finally opened her mouth after hesitating.
“I just want to be recognized…”
“Recognized?”
“Yeah…”
Hmm… recognition.
That’s a tough problem.
There’s no end to recognition.
Once you’re recognized by one person, you want recognition from two, three, and so on, increasingly wanting more of it.
To wish for that already, and it feels a bit ambiguous from my perspective.
“But why TikTok?”
Wanting recognition from posting dance videos on TikTok? If it were me, I would’ve aimed for better grades!
The parents of Kim’s lunch friends aren’t that strict, are they? In fact, they’re a bit wealthy and relaxed, right?
Or maybe their leisure has led to them being too lenient, causing their child to stray a bit?
“Actually… I dream of being a dancer.”
“Oh….”
However, Kim Yuna (15)’s answer seemed a bit distant from typical teenage rebellion.
A dancer, huh? Considering my condition after the holidays, thinking about taking dance lessons twisted my entire body, that seems pretty impressive.
“But my parents are against it… They say that’s a job that leaves you starving and want me to look for something else.”
Hmm… so even the relaxed ones would oppose their middle school daughter wanting to become a dancer.
After all, what’s the perception of the adults towards dancers?
They probably just think of those behind famous idols when they’re dancing or singing.
Well, nowadays, they’ve been appearing on TV quite a bit, so it seems they’ve reached some recognition…
“So, if I get people’s recognition on TikTok, my parents might acknowledge it a bit?”
“Wow.”
Wow, this kid is admirable.
So there was good intention behind it?
I thought it was just a childish behavior of dancing on TikTok, but it’s actually a courageous move towards her dream.
“That’s impressive! You’re actually taking action!”
What was I doing at that age? I was just stuck in a comic bookstore reading comics with the older guys.
But already trying to work toward a dream? I can’t not open my wallet here.
Just as I instinctively tried to reach for my wallet again…
Tap.
Kim Yuna (15)’s tiny hand reached out towards my arm that was opening my wallet.
“Uh… you don’t have to give me allowance anymore. I’ve received enough.”
“Oh, really?”
If I gave her quite a bit, was it enough that she’d refuse?
Well, she probably got some from other relatives too, but isn’t this the age when no amount seems sufficient?
“Isn’t it a sign of encouragement from your older sister? Can’t you just take it?”
“Oh, no… it’s fine…”
“There’s a lot you can use it for, right?”
Oh dear, when an adult says that much, it’s polite to accept.
Just as I was about to stuff money into the pocket of a teenage girl…
I suddenly thought.
Is money the only thing I can give her?
I’m not some retired grandpa; is there no other way to help?
Not something too big, just something I could lend a hand with… um, there’s something I could do.
“Well, how about I help you with something else?”
“Yeah?”
“So, for TikTok, you just need to get your parents to recognize you, right?”
“Yeah? That’s true.”
What would the parents’ generation know about TikTok?
They’d probably think that if a lot of people see it, it’s recognized, right?
And I think there’s an even more eye-catching element than a middle school girl’s awkward dance videos.
“How about I appear in one of your videos? I’ll help draw some attention.”
The situation is perfect for this.
With the moonlight casting down a narrow alley, a newly blossoming adolescent girl with her exquisitely beautiful cousin together in front of the camera.
How romantic is that!
Well, it’s not like it’s some national broadcast, so appearing in TikTok just once is okay, right?
I’m barely made up and just got out of bed.
But I’ve got a solid base; I’m much prettier than others, so no one will recognize me out in public.
“Really?”
Kim Yuna (15) looked wide-eyed, not knowing what to do when I said I would appear in the video.
Is she that happy? This is like having a cheat key!
To be honest, it might end up getting buried, but once it starts flowing properly, it should gather some attention, right?
Of course, keeping the audience interested will be up to Kim Yuna (15).
There might just be comments saying where that cousin is and then get buried again.
But it’s better than passing up an opportunity.
“Okay, I’ll help you.”
“Really? Do you know any dances?”
Uh…
“I can’t dance…”
“What?”
“I’m actually terrible at it.”
I may not be terrible exactly, but I certainly can’t do anything close to dancing.
You need muscles to control your body in the first place.
“Well… what do we do then?”
Hmm… what can I do if I can’t dance….
If I try to learn a short routine right now, it probably won’t work either.
Then…
“How about this?”
Do I really need to dance?
So, in the deep night,
Under the moonlight and streetlights, I ended up filming unexpectedly with my cousin sister.
**
The next morning.
When I woke up, I had received a message from a surprise character.
(Lee Hyun-jun): Hope you had a good holiday
(Lee Hyun-jun): (Gift)
(Lee Hyun-jun): I sent this to make sure you don’t starve because of me! No misunderstandings, please!
A holiday gift from none other than Lee Hyun-jun.
And it looked like a set of beef that clearly demanded a second look.
Wow, I’ve received something like this!
More than that, it feels nice getting something like this during a holiday!
It’s definitely because he’s an idol; he knows how to gain favor.
I should learn from this; I’m basically a (virtual) idol too!
After thanking him, I bought a set of beef as a follow-up gift to send to everyone who had helped me.
What should I do with the money I’ve earned? I should spend it for times like this.
And I sent it to everyone who had helped me so far.
Well, I sent something to Hyejeong as a courtesy, and also to the other Celestial Realm members, Hyeon-su, Ah-young, Kang-hyeok, and even the composer in the band.
And I was sending it to my manager, who I kind of owe a lot to, so a lot of money went out in an instant, but still, I felt an indescribable sense of fulfillment.
Yeah, this is what giving is.
When a person earns, they should know how to spend it.
But about Lee Hyun-jun… isn’t he from that famous group, Beast or something?
Is this a matter of connections? Maybe there’s a way he can help my cousin sister, but… nah.
I don’t have much of a relationship with him; is it too hasty to act?
Kim Yuna (15) still has to pave her own way with just a little help.
If she grows from here, that’s great; if not, then that’s just not her path.
And after all the hard filming we did yesterday, that should be enough.
I accepted the thanks from other members with moderate hospitality, then came out to the living room.
“I’m telling you, my daughter, who never shows it, just came to me with this!”
In the living room, the department head Kim was showing off Moon Chang-sik’s signature to relatives.
Although Kim usually seems a bit gruff, he looks more lively with his siblings around.
“Wow, I’m jealous! I didn’t know Soo-hyun could get something like that!”
“What did he say? Something about running into him while taking care of some business?”
“Business?? What does Soo-hyun do?”
“I’m not sure, but my wife made sure to collect ours…”
Oh, wait!
Hey, department head Kim, how far are you going with this?
It’s a fact, but what would the relatives think if you say something like that?
I just came out of my room, and now all the adults’ gazes are directed at me.
The relatives are supposed to be leaving today… why is this unfortunate event happening?
Indeed, one can never let their guard down during Chuseok.
For now, I shut my eyes tight, overwhelmed by the dizziness that welled up inside.