Chapter 29: Why Are You Unhappy?

"Cheers!"

In a small restaurant famous for its home-style cooking, a group of peers were chatting happily, glasses raised. The room was boisterous, save for one corner that remained quiet.

Lin Shouxia was not particularly close to the young artists around him. As a newcomer who had just entered the industry and skipped the rigorous life of a trainee, he had yet to cultivate his own circle. Furthermore, since everyone else belonged to the same group, his silence made him seem somewhat out of place.

"Shouxia’s stage presence was absolutely maxed out tonight."
"Did you hear the cheers from the audience during your performance?"
"The fans were all rooting for you."

As a senior in the industry and the leader of the boy band entrusted with looking after the newcomer, he felt a pleasant surprise upon hearing the applause—but more than that, he felt genuinely happy for Lin Shouxia. For a rookie just starting out, taking over two of Kim Wooseok’s stage slots was a rare and significant amount of pressure.

Lin Shouxia had overcome that pressure well, but... was the dazzling singer on stage really the same person as this dejected soul at the table?

"Why aren't you happy?"
"Wasn't the stage a success? I saw how much everyone loved your collaboration with Yuna."
"No, I'm not unhappy."

Lin Shouxia’s attention was fixed on his phone, his voice soft and listless. Today’s performance on the main stage had won him the admiration of his seniors and the recognition of the audience. Since completing the collaboration with Shin Yuna, it felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from his chest, significantly easing his burden. Yet, his final solo stage had felt distracted; even though the audience cheered for him, he couldn't bring himself to feel satisfied.

In truth, he rarely felt pressure while singing anymore. Thanks to the guidance of Liu Jimin during those long nights of constant practice, he had overcome much of the nervousness he used to feel when meeting senior collaborators. It should have been a perfect day; until he stepped off the stage and heard Liu Jimin’s voice again, it had been a day worth remembering.

But now...

He was in a foul mood. He wanted to take a break, to let his taut nerves relax so he could regain the strength to focus.

"Are you just exhausted?"
"That’s normal. When we first appeared on the Music Festival, we were all tired like dogs, unable to even lift our hands to eat dinner."

Seo Changbin, indifferent to the newcomer's reaction, kept eating the food on the table. Only Bang Chan watched Lin Shouxia for a long time, feeling as though he had seen this familiar state in the youngest member of his own group before.

Was it a breakup? But hadn't everything been fine just before going on stage?
Or was it withdrawal? Was it an inevitable reaction to the end of his collaboration with Yuna?

Lin Shouxia hunched his shoulders and, upon looking up, focused all his attention on the glass in front of him. He was unwilling to be seen as just a younger brother, yet he lacked the courage and confidence to confront Liu Jimin.

*Maybe getting drunk will help?* If he were drunk, there would be many things he wouldn't have to think about, many things he wouldn't have to agonize over.

"If you want to spend more time with Yuna, you can just come to us. We’ll make sure you and Yuna get to see each other more often," Seo Changbin said, his lack of subtle observation typical of a man, barging into the conversation without noticing the subtle change in Lin Shouxia's expression.

The others noticed the increasingly awkward look on Lin Shouxia’s face, but they assumed he was just embarrassed at having his feelings guessed. Only Bang Chan found it strange; he felt that Lin Shouxia’s expression had nothing to do with shyness.

But what exactly was this guy struggling with?

"No need."

With another drink, a flush crept onto Lin Shouxia’s face. His hand swayed in mid-air; he was clearly intoxicated.

"Shouxia-xi, have a little more."
"Get drunk, and maybe your mood will improve."

Seo Changbin patted the man’s shoulder nonchalantly. The idea that a good drink could wash away a thousand sorrows was a sentiment that never went out of style.

"By the way, the Shouxia and Yuna pairing really performed well on stage."
"When I was scrolling through my phone earlier, I saw plenty of fans posting fan-taken photos of the two of you."
"There should be 'ship' accounts popping up soon. Having a popular 'ship' makes the path ahead much easier."
"I'm envious. It’s been seven years since I debuted; never mind a cross-gender 'ship,' I barely even have any in-group ones."

Seo Changbin began to talk about something that made him incredibly sad.

"Look at your physique management—your arm is almost thicker than Yuna’s waist. What girl would be crazy enough to 'ship' themselves with you?"

"..."
"Hey, don't expose people's shortcomings."
"I'm an artist, too, you know!"

Amidst the noise, the members of Stray Kids began their usual routine of bickering. It was then that Bang Chan noticed something strange. There was a person, a voice, that hadn't appeared for a long time.

He turned his head and found the newcomer, now reeking of alcohol and completely passed out amidst a pile of empty bottles.

"..."
"What do we do?"

The people at the table looked at each other, unsure how to handle the drunkard. Calling their manager to contact LOEN would be the easiest way. But they had just been asked to look after the company’s newcomer—handing him back as a drunkard might cause friction between the companies.

But if they left him here...

"Should we take him back to the dorm?"
"We can't. He’s this drunk; someone needs to watch him. We have a schedule to catch tomorrow."
"Then call the manager. We can't just leave him here. It’s freezing; he’ll catch a cold."

The artists argued, looking at the unconscious Lin Shouxia. They knew they couldn't leave him, but their own schedules left them with no room to maneuver.

"Should we ask Yeji?"
"Are you planning on having Yeji take him to the ITZY dorm?"
"Yeji is close with the members of aespa, and the members of aespa seem quite familiar with Shouxia-xi, too."
"What if? What if they know how to contact his home?"
"Let's try it. It’s better than leaving him here, isn't it?"