Blessing in Disguise

Chapter 1

*As of 2024 July 26th all previous chapters have been taken down. I will be republishing the webnovel from start with both revised and newly added chapters. Please re-read from the beginning for the best experience. Thank you so much*

The book hit the floor and split open to a random page. The words weren't legible from where Siwoo stood, but he didn't have the time to care.

Siwoo looked up at his manager in disbelief. "Y-you want me to audition for that?" His manager sighed, picked up the book, and brushed her hand over the hard cover.

"It's been two years since someone reached out with an opportunity like this, Siwoo." She noticed the idol's trembling hands and looked away.

"But I've never played a lead role before, and I don't know anything about this... genre." Siwoo took a step back, feeling the heat rise to his face. "We should wait for another opportunity, or at least our next song. Starring in something like this might just cause more controversy..." He bit his lip. "I don't want to cause any more trouble for everyone, Hyunah."

Hyunah fell onto the couch and closed her eyes. "Siwoo, you know there might never be another opportunity like this again. Do you know how surprised I was when the casting director reached out to me?" She met the idol's eyes and squeezed the book in her hands.

"But everyone's been doing better these days... Ain got that musical role, Rae started a YouTube channel, and Fang's been participating in that rapper audition. If the agency just gives us a new song—"

"Siwoo... The agency hasn't been supporting CLOUDS for the past year and a half. The last thing they're going to do is spend millions on a comeback. And they'll continue this until they get what they want... and that's either you leaving the group or the group disbanding. It's their way of getting what they want without getting their hands dirty."

Hyunah bit her lip and watched as Siwoo stood there holding the words she had thrown at him. She knew it was an unspoken truth that everyone in CLOUDS already knew of, but in her desperation, she had ended up saying it out loud.

"This is a live adaptation of a BL webnovel, right?" Siwoo looked at the book in his manager's hands. His eyes glazed over with fear. "I'm scared of what people might say. I'm already unsure of how I'll perform as an actor, but what if people attack me for being desperate...?"

"I know what you're worried about. But first off, this isn't the kind of BL novel you're thinking of. It's not smut, and it's plot-heavy with serious themes. Also, don't worry about your acting. That's the casting director's job, and he chose you! It means you're more than qualified. All you have to worry about is doing your best and helping yourself and CLOUDS get back to where you all belong."

Hyunah brushed her hands through her hair before tying it up into a loose bun. "I've managed a handful of celebrities before you, and let me tell you... not a single one of them was ready when their time came. No one is born a professional, Siwoo. This industry runs on luck, charm, and timing. When there's an opportunity, you need to take it. Especially in your circumstances. A chance like this will probably never come again... and please don't say that the others are doing better. They're not. They're hanging on for their lives just to buy you some more time, Siwoo. They're waiting for you to find a way back." Her thick brows knotted in frustration.

"Take the role..." she pleaded. "We can't just sit around like this forever... W-when he's out there like that. It's not fair!" Siwoo noticed tears gathering at the corners of her eyes and stared in surprise. He had never seen his manager get so emotional. "You don't deserve this. You belong up on stage, Siwoo."

She wiped away the tear before another fell and sighed. "Isn't that what you think as well?" she asked as she stood up. "Isn't that why you're still here?"

Siwoo watched as Hyunah extended the book towards him. On the cover was an intricate painting of a man in the arms of another. A cherry blossom tree in full bloom painted the summer sky behind them a pleasant baby pink.

Siwoo looked at the couple's oblivious smiles and felt his heart grow tight. The air around him was so heavy, his head felt light and off-center. From somewhere in the room that had grown small and out of focus, he heard his manager's voice echo into the darkness.

"Wasn't this what you were waiting for?"