From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show



June arrived at the apartment, still feeling a bit down, when he bumped into Grandma and Minjun along the way. He removed his hood and mask and greeted them with a smile.

"Well, if it isn't our favorite trainee," Grandma exclaimed. "Did you get another break?"

"Brother!" Minjun exclaimed, running to June and hugging his legs. 

June smiled when he saw the two of them. It somehow made him feel better after what happened on the bus. 

"Yeah," I said. "I have around ten days before we go back to the filming site."

"Then, you'd be here for a long time?" Minjun asked with wide eyes. 

June knelt down to his level and pinched his cheek. "I thought you didn't want me to be here, huh, kid?"

"Yeah," Minjun said, looking away from June. "I'm just glad I have a person I can tease now. Grandma's no fun to tease."

June shook his head. "You still haven't changed, kid."

"Well, it looks like you've changed a lot," Grandma said, fondly smiling up at him. "Since when have you been this handsome? I swear, you get more handsome every time we meet."

"It's those creams you gave me," June said. He noticed that the visual level-ups only made subtle differences. It doesn't really change his features; it only enhances them. And he wasn't lying when he said the creams that Grandma gave were actually helpful. 

He hasn't had a pimple since he started using them!

"Huh," Grandma said. "I should really start using them, too."

"Yeah, they're good."

"Do you want to head back with us?" Grandma asked. "I'm going to make beef stir fry today."

"Hell yeah," June said. He already missed her cooking! 

"Let's go," June said, taking the grocery bags from Grandma's hand. 

They arrived at Grandma's apartment complex, and June noticed that they had a new TV. 

"Woah!" June exclaimed, sitting down on the floor. "What's this thing?"

"It's a TV, duh!" Minjun retorted, sitting beside him. 

On the other hand, Grandma went to the kitchen and started cooking the beef. It wouldn't take a long time since the thin beef slices didn't take that long to cook. 

June scoffed. "I know that. Your old TV was fine. Why'd you buy a new one?"

Minjun kept quiet and played with his fingers. Grandma chuckled and answered from the kitchen. 

"He wanted to get a better quality one so he could see you clearer. He begged her mom to buy it for us. Fortunately, since his parents are working in the States, they bought the latest model."

June smirked and nudged Minjun's shoulder. "So, you actually support this big brother, huh?" he boasted. 

"Shut up," Minjun snapped. "I just want to watch Little Meow Meow better." 

"Sure, whatever you say," June said, looking at their new, widescreen, 126-inch smart TV.

From the looks of it, this TV is very expensive. And now that he thinks about it, Minjun's and Grandma's items always looked brand new. 

Heck, Grandma's bag is even from a luxury brand. They can even afford to eat beef every day! 

"Hey, kid," June called out. "Your parents are working in the States, huh?"

He nodded. "Yeah…"

"What do they work as?"

"Don't know," Minjun shrugged. "My Grandma says that it's business. I don't know. My mom and dad don't live together, but they both have businesses."

"Oh," June said. "Your parents are separated?"

"Yup!" he nonchalantly said. "But it's okay because Grandma is with me."

"If your parents work there, then why don't you move to a better place?" June couldn't help but ask. It was obvious that his parents were well-off. The new TV is a testament to that. 

Minjun gestured for June to come closer, so he did. "My dad wants me to live with my other Grandma. They have a bigger house, but I like my Grandma better. So, I decided to stay here since she didn't want to move anywhere else. This place stinks, though. It doesn't even have an elevator! But don't tell my Grandma that. She's going to be sad."

June looked at Minjun with amusement. This kid was very good, after all. June smiled and pinched his cheek. "Don't worry, I won't. Unless you give me your old TV."

Minjun rolled his eyes. "Grandma already asked the landlady to bring it to your apartment."

"Sweet," June exclaimed, the thought of a new TV making him elated. 

"Dinner's ready, boys!" Grandma yelled, so the two of them quickly set up the table and waited for Grandma to bring in the main dish for tonight. 

The aroma of beef, vegetables, and soy sauce lingered in the air, causing June's stomach to rumble. He quickly sat down and shoveled the food into his mouth. Grandma watched him fondly. Ever since he gave her that coffee, she started treating him like his real grandson.

"Eat up," she warmly said. 

June nodded, continuing to eat. 

As they ate, June suddenly remembered what Minjun said a while ago. 

"Hey, Grandma," he said. 

"Hmm," Grandma hummed. 

"You've been living here for a long time, right?"

Grandma nodded. "I've been here before Minjun was even born. Why?"

"Then, did you also notice when I first came here?"

"Why, yes," she responded. "I'm always aware of the new tenants in the building. The landlady and I are the same age, and we often talk to each other."

"Then, did you meet me before?" June warily asked.

Just then, Grandma's expression shifted and she brought her utensils down with a dark look on her face. She nodded, her face void of any emotion, making it hard to read what she was thinking. 

"Umm," June trailed off. "If you've met me before, can I ask this question…"

"How was I before?" 

Grandma let out a long sigh before gulping her water down. 

"It's hard to tell," she started off. "For starters, you were a quiet kid. But there's one thing evident on your skin."

"What is it?"

"Bruises," she said. "You always had cuts and bruises."