Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 48: That’s Just A Conspiracy Theory, Isn’t It?.

I instinctively turned away to avoid seeing the ghostly woman’s exposed appearance, and she said,

“I’m wearing it.”

When I turned back to check, the white dress was visible. It seemed she was wearing it under the bloomers.

…Did she really have to take it off to prove it?

“…I understand, so please put it back on.”

The ghostly woman silently folded the dress and put her pants back on.

“So, why are you here? The cleaning isn’t finished yet.”

“I finished cleaning the women’s restroom and came to help. I didn’t expect you to still be at it.”

“I’m slow, sorry.”

I could have just splashed some water and been done by now, but my pride wouldn’t allow it. Since I started, I had to give it my best.

“No, there’s no need to apologize. This isn’t a size one person should handle alone.”

…No wonder it felt so damn big.

“I’m not trying to be critical, just genuinely curious, why was I left to do it alone then?”

Without answering, the ghostly woman started scrubbing the stains off the urinal beside me. Her skilled movements seemed quite professional. She must have been cleaning for a long time.

I let it pass that she didn’t answer and continued cleaning the urinal. After silently cleaning six urinals, she spoke again.

“Actually, the director doesn’t have volunteers clean the bathrooms, that is, do manual labor.”

Then what am I doing now?

“He thinks volunteers would quickly get tired of it. He’s not wrong. Most people would run away if given such tasks.”

Most people probably would. If it weren’t for my ambition to create the next Bubble Shower, I would have quit halfway too.

Starting with cleaning a smelly bathroom was a bit much.

“So, the director assigns educational volunteer work. She hopes volunteers build a bond with the children and maintain interest in the orphanage and volunteering.”

“That’s what I thought of too when I considered volunteering at an orphanage. The director’s decision seems influenced by that common perception and expectation.”

“That’s right. I don’t see anything wrong with educational volunteer work. It’s valuable and fun too.”

The ghostly woman frowned slightly and said,

“But do you know what’s funny?”

“…What is it?”

“Even with educational volunteer work, 96% of volunteers don’t come back. I counted it myself, so this is an accurate figure.”

I could sense a bit of resentment in her words. She seemed quite upset.

However, I believe that even a single instance of volunteering or donation holds significant value. So I defended the volunteers, even though I didn’t know them personally.

“I’m speaking without knowing the internal circumstances, but even if it was just once, wasn’t their dedication valuable enough?”

She shook her head and said,

“It doesn’t really matter to me if they don’t come back. But most people make promises lightly in the atmosphere of educational volunteering.”

I scrubbed the stains off the urinal with my brush and asked,

“What kind of promises?”

“To come back next time. To bring gifts. To take them somewhere.”

I stopped scrubbing for a moment and looked at her.

“The children believe those words. Just one more time. This time, it’s different. They trust like that. But most end up disappointed.”

Her face, while scrubbing, showed discouragement. It wasn’t just the orphanage children who were disappointed. She seemed deeply disappointed herself.

“So I ignored the director’s advice and had them do manual labor. With a provocative thought like, ‘If they’ll disappear after one visit, don’t show your face to the children.’”

She stopped scrubbing and lowered her head.

“In the end, you cleaning the bathroom now is due to my rude unilateral decision.”

I understood her feelings.

When the pain from being hurt by people was too much, some would try to avoid situations where they could be hurt. I thought her having me clean the bathroom was a result of such an avoidance mechanism. Revealing this mechanism to others was not a good look.

However, her quick acknowledgment of her mistake and apology made her seem mature despite her young age. So I accepted her confession and apology positively.

“Thank you for being honest with me.”

To change the mood, I joked playfully,

“But by telling me this, can I assume you see me a bit more positively than the 96% of volunteers?”

The ghostly woman gave a small smile at my words and said,

“…Yes, you do seem like a slightly different, strange person.”

It was the first time I saw the ghostly woman smile. I thought her smile was really beautiful.

Ah… should I seriously consider offering her to become an idol? With that kind of charm, she could be worth it even if her dancing or singing were a bit lacking.

But that smile felt strangely familiar, like I’d seen it somewhere before.

As I continued to ponder while looking at her, everything hit me like a jolt of electricity. Her face and name both came to mind.

I unconsciously repeated the name that came to mind.

“…Jin Yeoreum.”

How could I have forgotten that face?

That woman was Jin Yeoreum, the third generation chaebol of the Jinkang Group and the spark of Bubble Shower’s reverse climb incident. And she was also a former promising rhythmic gymnast who fell from grace after being caught doping at the Olympic qualifier.

In her promising days, she was called the ‘Smiling Angel’ and had a personal fan cafe, receiving national love, but the doping incident turned her into a national pariah almost instantly.

“….”

She sighed lightly, as if it were troublesome that I recognized her.

“Haa…. I thought you didn’t know, but you just didn’t recognize me.”

My eyes met Jin Yeoreum’s. And as if waiting for this moment, her status window popped up.

[Name – Jin Yeoreum (Female)]

[Appearance – A+ Potential A+]

[Vocals – C Potential B+]

[Dance – A Potential S]

[Rap – D- Potential D]

[Acting – C- Potential B-]

[Variety – D Potential C+]

[Suitable for main dancer. Highly recommended for recruitment.]

Ah, this thing was throwing out recommendations again. How could it suggest recruiting someone with national infamy?

Her potential was truly unbelievable. I never imagined there’d be another one like Gaeul.

But no way. I’m not doing it, damn it.

While I was cringing at the status window, Jin Yeoreum asked,

“So?”

“Yes?”

“Now that you know I’m that Jin Yeoreum, don’t you have something to say?”

No, not really… If I had to say something, it’d be ‘Let’s not get involved with each other.’

“If you have something to say…”

“Well, there’s the usual stuff.”

Jin Yeoreum put down the cleaning brush and looked at me.

“Why are you volunteering here? Aren’t you going to school? Why can’t this place get support? Doesn’t the Jinkang Group give money? Why did you dope?”

She bit her lip and said,

“…Why do you preach so arrogantly as a criminal?”

Jin Yeoreum looked like she was tormenting herself with those words. I didn’t want to add to her suffering. She seemed to be suffering enough already.

“Ms. Jin Yeoreum. Please don’t say things like that.”

“….”

“You’re not a criminal, are you?”

This was the sequence of events in Jin Yeoreum’s doping scandal.

Before the Olympic qualifiers, Jin Yeoreum tested positive for banned substances during a medical test. She denied the allegation.

The media reported Jin Yeoreum’s positive result, drawing national attention. People criticized her for tainting the sacred competition. Her fans and supporters defended her vigorously. Public opinion was split, leading to heated arguments.

Amidst widespread public interest, a thorough investigation was conducted, confirming her positive result for banned substances.

By this time, public opinion, which was divided, turned entirely against her. It was the moment when fans became anti-fans.

The Jinkang Group, led by her father, did not remain silent. They claimed it was the unilateral action of her personal doctor, who was ambitious for her success.

Not only did they inform the public, but they also took the personal doctor to court. Jinkang assembled top-notch lawyers and argued the same case in court. As a result, Jin Yeoreum successfully denied any intention and was acquitted.

However, even after the verdict, public opinion did not improve. They trusted the conspiracy theory that Jinkang used the doctor as a scapegoat more than the court’s judgment that she was also a victim.

Honestly, I thought the same. But there was no reason to say that to her face and provoke a fight.

“…You don’t have to say it just because I’m in front of you.”

…Did she catch on?

“I know all too well that everyone thinks I’m a criminal.”

Her tone was more self-deprecating defensiveness than reading my mind. She was lowering her expectations to avoid disappointment.

Whether she doped or not, it was clear her mental state was quite fragile. I spoke to her as gently as possible.

“I don’t think so. You were acquitted, weren’t you?”

“That’s probably because of lobbying or some dirty tricks.”

That was an accurate read on public opinion. I thought the same, but I wouldn’t say it out loud.

“That’s just a conspiracy theory, isn’t it?”

I said with an innocent expression,

“I’ll trust the court’s judgment over rumors. So please don’t call yourself a criminal in front of me.”

If I acknowledged that, it meant I’d been hanging out with a criminal.

“To me, you’re a strict senior who’s volunteering at the orphanage first. And I’m a volunteer junior cleaning the bathroom. Isn’t that enough to define us?”

Yeoreum, let’s just keep our relationship there. Don’t think of getting any closer.

Jin Yeoreum looked at me as if she were seeing a strange animal.

“…I’ll take back what I said about you being a slightly different, strange person.”

And she said, with that uniquely charming smile,

“You’re a very strange person.”