LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 227
Chapter 227
“When did you get here?”
Seo Moon-gyeol answered smoothly to On Raon’s casual question as he closed the CEO’s office door.
“Since you said, ‘It’s all thanks to luck.’”
“I wasn’t speaking that loudly… You didn’t put your ear to the door and eavesdrop, did you?”
“I didn’t.”
On Raon laughed lightly, saying it was a joke when he saw Seo Moon-gyeol denying his words, slightly flustered.
‘So, he doesn’t know exactly what I was discussing with Ban Ga-eul.’
Fortunately, it was Seo Moon-gyeol.
If it had been anyone else, they would have easily figured out that Ban Ga-eul’s call was related to composing the new title song.
Unfortunately, despite his superior skills, Seo Moon-gyeol was a man who often missed social cues, leading him to miss out on many aspects of life.
Therefore, Seo Moon-gyeol merely perceived that On Raon was once again giving up a good opportunity for the sake of the group.
“But hyung, where are we going right now?”
On Raon asked in a puzzled voice.
Instead of heading back to the practice room where the other members and the chicken were waiting for On Raon, who had been called by Ban Ga-eul, Seo Moon-gyeol was leading them out of the company.
Although On Raon followed Seo Moon-gyeol, who was walking ahead, once they reached the dimly lit lobby and the stairs leading to the ground floor, he couldn’t help but ask.
“Because Seong-ha and Ji-woo hyung seem to eat a lot. I’m going to buy one more.”
On Raon’s eyes widened.
“They said they’d wait until I got back, though?”
“Well…”
Seeing Seo Moon-gyeol’s expression, who was obviously lying, On Raon quickly understood what was going on.
While hesitating in front of the lobby door, On Raon soon smiled, as if resigned, and took out his phone.
“Let’s go. I’ll contact Ji-woo hyung.”
“Okay.”
On Raon sent a message to Kang Ji-woo, telling him to start eating because they would buy one more, and then he casually put his phone back into the pocket of his cardigan, which he wore due to the cold air conditioning in the meeting room.
In the meantime, Seo Moon-gyeol also contacted the chicken shop to order one more and brought two hats, handing one to On Raon.
“What did you say?”
“I told them we’d buy one more and to start eating.”
Realizing that On Raon had seen through his flimsy lie, Seo Moon-gyeol awkwardly avoided his gaze.
In truth, Seo Moon-gyeol had used the chicken as an excuse to get some alone time to talk with On Raon.
Regretting not being honest from the start, Seo Moon-gyeol fell into the typical remorse of someone unaccustomed to lying.
“Hyung, never try to deceive anyone…”
“Okay…”
“Of course, I know you wouldn’t, but still, don’t. Don’t ever think of imitating Ban Yo-han. Got it?”
“Got it. But Raon, it’s Yo-han hyung…”
“It’s the American style.”
“Okay.”
Suppressing the urge to tell Seo Moon-gyeol that accepting such nonsensical explanations so easily was why he often failed, On Raon began walking.
Due to the late hour, there were few people around.
After a quiet walk, Seo Moon-gyeol was the first to break the silence.
“What do you think of our team?”
“Why ask that all of a sudden?”
On Raon responded with an awkward smile at the slightly cheesy question that Kang Ji-woo might ask.
“I like it.”
Seo Moon-gyeol, observing On Raon’s expression, answered in a monotone.
“Really? Ji-woo hyung would be pleased to hear that.”
At that moment, On Raon relaxed a bit more.
After all, it was Seo Moon-gyeol, not someone else.
People who didn’t know Seo Moon-gyeol well often misunderstood him as difficult to approach due to his aloof demeanor and rare changes in expression, even more so than Gyun Seong-ha.
However, those who knew him well found him the least intimidating and easiest to deal with.
Honestly, he was almost as approachable as Gyun Seong-ha.
“What about you?”
“Me too. I wouldn’t have stayed if I didn’t like it.”
On Raon then asked.
“Why do you like our team, hyung?”
It wasn’t just a simple reason; there must have been a specific reason why he brought it up.
“Why…”
“Yes, why.”
After a brief hesitation, Seo Moon-gyeol spoke in his usual monotone about something he had thought about multiple times.
“We don’t feel ashamed of working hard. We genuinely celebrate each other’s growth, and we can do whatever we want in our team.”
“…”
“I really like that.”
Despite the profound nature of his words, Seo Moon-gyeol’s low voice made them clear in the still summer night air.
“I see…”
On Raon naturally wondered what it meant for Seo Moon-gyeol to be able to do whatever he wanted within the team.
Having had some insight into Seo Moon-gyeol’s background through Seo Joo-won and his parents, On Raon couldn’t help but be curious.
“Hyung, when you gave us a pep talk last time, you said, ‘Let’s be free.’”
“Yeah.”
Before going on stage or starting a schedule, the members of Orca would cheer each other on with team slogans.
During those times, each of the five members, not just leader Kang Ji-woo, would take turns shouting the slogan.
Seo Moon-gyeol often included the phrase “Let’s be free” in his pep talks, especially before the second performance at Pick Heart.
“Why do you say that?”
“I mean it…”
“You mean it?”
Seeing Seo Moon-gyeol’s vague response, On Raon looked puzzled.
Who wouldn’t understand the phrase “Let’s be free”?
Realizing that Seo Moon-gyeol didn’t fully grasp the question, On Raon rephrased it.
“Why did you specifically choose the word ‘free’?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Hyung, you often say ‘let’s be free’ before we go on stage.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah, you say it eight or nine times out of ten. Didn’t you know?”
“I didn’t…”
It wasn’t something he said before ordinary variety show recordings.
“When I first learned to dance.”
“Uh… why are you going that far back? Anyway, go on.”
“I was amazed that my arms and legs moved the way I wanted them to.”
That’s usually not the case at the beginning.
On Raon recalled Kim Jun-woo, who had danced quite a bit, and Jing Xiao, who was known for being extremely uncoordinated, both lamenting how their bodies wouldn’t move as they intended when learning choreography. He let out a vague smile.
“And when you’re young, there aren’t many things you can do as you please.”
“That’s true.”
“But after practicing, when a performance goes exactly as I imagined, I feel an unparalleled sense of freedom.”
At that moment, he could enjoy complete freedom, escaping from all other circumstances and environments surrounding him.
On Raon nodded, understanding more about Seo Moon-gyeol’s psychology than what was explicitly said.
“I see.”
“Yeah. During those times, I want my fellow members to feel the same way. That’s why I say it a lot.”
“Hyung, you’re really…”
“Hm?”
“You’re an amazing and good person.”
“So are you.”
Seo Moon-gyeol, hiding his embarrassment behind his stoic expression, replied calmly.
After safely receiving their chicken at the restaurant, the two continued their conversation on the way back.
“I’m enjoying the advantages of being in a team where I don’t have to make concessions.”
That was true.
When practicing, the members often struggled to meet Seo Moon-gyeol’s standards.
To be precise, it wasn’t that Seo Moon-gyeol unreasonably demanded the other members to keep up with him.
The other members pushed themselves to keep up with Seo Moon-gyeol, who would advance steadily on his own, disregarding others.
If they didn’t, they couldn’t avoid being compared to Seo Moon-gyeol on stage.
And no member ever complained about Seo Moon-gyeol not adjusting to their pace.
Of course, they believed it was the right thing to do.
“And I think it should be the same for you.”
Seo Moon-gyeol’s calm voice, directed at his beloved younger member, still sounded affectionate.
However, his naturally stern appearance made Seo Moon-gyeol’s demeanor seem much colder than usual.
Gone was his earlier relaxed attitude, and On Raon, now noticeably tense, could finally understand why others saw Seo Moon-gyeol as someone distant.
“So you don’t need to make those kinds of considerations.”
Just like CEO Ban Ga-eul had said.
At least Seo Moon-gyeol didn’t welcome On Raon sacrificing himself unilaterally for the group.
Looking directly into Seo Moon-gyeol’s dark eyes, On Raon clearly realized what he had felt since the Pick Heart filming.
Seo Moon-gyeol was deeply considerate but not devoid of pride.
‘In fact, in this aspect, Seo Moon-gyeol might be the most….’
“Do what you want to do. We’ll adjust.”
“What if what I want is to maintain the status quo?”
“That won’t do.”
“Hyung, you’re funny…”
On Raon chuckled lightly and changed the subject.
“You said you went to your parents’ house recently. How did that go?”
* * *
Seo Moon-gyeol and I returned to the practice room just as the first chicken was getting a bit cold.
“More chicken has arrived!”
“Wow!”
“Why did it take so long? You must’ve gone back and forth three times.”
“How did you know? We did go back and forth three times.”
“What, really?!”
“Just kidding.”
“Hey…”
“Guys, you must be hungry. Thanks for waiting. I’ll give you the money later.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to.”
“No, I’ll give it to you. Quickly wash your hands and eat.”
While Seo Moon-gyeol and I washed our hands, Kang Ji-woo set up the new chicken and started talking.
“Oh, right. The CEO shared some good news earlier.”
“What is it?”
“Our earnings are coming soon.”