Chapter 177
Chapter 177
Translator: Penny
Chapter 177
"Yongcheol Hyung has gotten way too popular."
I propped my chin on my arm, which was resting on my thigh, and grumbled to myself as I watched a rerun of Drop the Beat Season 3, Episode 6. My back ached, so I leaned back comfortably against the sofa.
Yongcheol Hyung was smoothly establishing himself as the MVP of this season, just like before the regression. His Instagram followers had skyrocketed compared to before Drop the Beat, making him practically a celebrity.
I'm convinced that my advice to get a clean haircut played a major role in this surge in followers.
To be honest, that messy, mop-like hair had been dragging down Yongcheol Hyung's looks by at least 60%. Men really do look better with the right hairstyle.
On the TV screen, an interview was playing, showcasing the pre-battle psychological warfare.
D.I: Compared to Flodeuk? Well, I'd say I'm better.
Flodeuk: He said he's better? Wow, Yongcheol has really grown up.
The segment was edited to make it seem like they were comparing skills, but I heard directly from Yongcheol Hyung himself that he was actually talking about appearances.
Yongcheol Hyung was so averse to directly discussing his opponents' skills out of consideration and respect that even Wnet seemed to have given up on trying to get him to do so.
When it came to looks, Yongcheol Hyung was the clear winner against Flodeuk. But I bet Flodeuk would have reacted the same way even if he knew Yongcheol Hyung was talking about appearances.
Seo Yehyeon... damn it, I've got nothing left to bet. Fine, I'll bet on Kim Dobin's rapping skills.
That Hyung always complained about being unfairly edited, but if the real victims of Wnet's malicious editing heard him, they'd want to punch him in the face.
This wasn't even "devil's editing"—more like "devil's lackey" editing.
As I watched Yongcheol Hyung's performance, I blinked my dry eyes a few times.
It was because I'd spent the past few days practically pulling all-nighters, memorizing lyrics, reviewing legendary Drop The Beat stages for mental practice, and... well, honestly, I just couldn't sleep. My chronic insomnia had flared up again.
Whenever I'm under extreme stress, sleep eludes me. What a pain. But I couldn't take sleeping pills either.
I'd always been wary of them, but after vomiting and hallucinating from a sleeping pill, the trauma was so deeply ingrained that I couldn't even bring myself to look at them anymore.
At least when Seo Yehyeon was my roommate, I could try to fall asleep to the sound of his peaceful breathing. But my current roommate, Kim Dobin, was often awake until dawn.
I couldn't sleep because of my insomnia, but Dobin seemed to have no need for sleep at all, spending the early hours glued to his phone.
So, to protect our eyes, we'd been keeping the lights on in our room until dawn lately.
I was covering my mouth to yawn when I felt someone plop down next to me.
Since only I and the Maknae Line were interested in DTB from Reve, I figured it was either Ryu Jaehee or Kim Dobin. I flicked my hand without taking my eyes off the TV screen.
"Bring me some vitamins and water."
A moment later, I mindlessly accepted the glass of water and vitamins handed to me, then paused.
"Jun, was that you?"
Instead of answering, Gyeon Hajun chuckled and sat down beside me again. I swallowed the vitamins with the water and awkwardly mumbled, "You could have just said something."
"It's fine. It's not like getting water and vitamins is a big deal."
"If it had been you, I wouldn't have asked you to do such a simple errand. Anyway, thanks."
I finished the remaining water in one gulp and set the glass down. For the rest of Yongcheol Hyung's performance, we sat side by side without exchanging a word, simply watching the stage.
There's no way Gyeon Hajun suddenly became interested in Drop The Beat overnight. So why is he watching this with me...?
A sudden question popped into my head. Now that the stage was over, I turned my head slightly. Gyeon Hajun, who had also turned to look at me, asked, "That schedule is for tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, the pre-recording is around 4 PM."
"If you need to be in good shape tomorrow, shouldn't you get to bed early tonight? Dobin told me you've been staying up past 4 AM for the past few days."
So that's what you wanted to talk about? I rubbed my eyes and sank back into the sofa.
"I want to, Jun-a, but I can't fall asleep."
"Why? Are you nervous?"
"Yeah."
I nodded, then met Gyeon Hajun's steady gaze.
"Why... why are you looking at me like that?"
"No reason. It's just... it's strange to see you nervous before a performance. You were the only one who wasn't nervous during our debut stage."
Well, it wasn't my first debut stage. Did I even get nervous during my real debut? I vaguely remember being pissed off at the song and the stage outfits.
"Maybe it's because it's not our stage, but someone else's," I said, even as I mocked myself.
-Featuring an idol rapper for the semifinal stage ㅋㅋㅋ This will be remembered as the dumbest move in history, even after seasons pass.
-Yongcheol has been coasting on popularity and made it to the semifinals too easily. He must have been bored. But this self-inflicted penalty is beyond redemption. What's he gonna do?
-There are tons of talented rappers out there. Why bring out an idol? OMG, is he that desperate for votes from those fangirls who don't know shit about hip-hop?
Once the song drops, listening to the version without the feature is my last act of loyalty.
I could ignore most hate comments, but the ones about Drop The Beat kept nagging at me.
What if they were right? What if I really would ruin Yongcheol Hyung's performance? What if this stage would become a lifelong regret for him, but in a different way than before the regression?
I rubbed my forehead and squeezed my eyes shut when Gyeon Hajun's calm voice cut through my thoughts.
"Still, isn't this the kind of stage you've always wanted to perform on?"
His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. My eyes snapped open, and I reflexively turned to face him.
"You've been watching Drop The Beat religiously since season one, haven't you?"
"Who watches these shows because they want to see people perform? We watch because we like hip-hop and the drama of survival shows. Plus, it's a chance to see if any familiar faces show up."
Even to my own ears, it sounded like a lame excuse. I subtly avoided Gyeon Hajun's gaze, pretending to be distracted. He nudged my shoulder.
"Do you think I don't know you? Your expression while watching the show gives you away completely."
Caught red-handed, I awkwardly rubbed my face. Gyeon Hajun continued, "Even though it's just a feature, forget the pressure and treat it like your own stage. Show them everything you've been wanting to show. After all, performing on stages like this has always been your dream, right?"
Feeling a heavy hand on my shoulder, I chuckled and muttered, "You haven't changed a bit."
It was exactly like back in our trainee days, when he'd thrown me a Milestone, giving me the confidence to walk this path.
"Thanks, Jun-a," I said with a grin.
Gyeon Hajun turned off the TV and helped me up. "Yeah, go get some sleep. If you can't sleep, I'll switch rooms with you so you can sleep alone in my room."
"Nah, I'm good. I just need to tell Kim Dobin to turn off his phone."
I shifted my pre-stage nerves into anticipation and headed to my room. Tonight, I felt like I might actually be able to get some sleep.
"Why don't we just borrow stage outfits and wear those? Since we're already getting criticized for being idols, let's show them exactly what idol charm looks like, Hyung!"
The Maknae Line was chattering noisily beside me as I carefully chose what to wear on the day of Drop The Beat's schedule, after a refreshing night's sleep.
"Yeah, and let's wear berets instead of snapbacks!"
"Berets? Get real. I'm not wearing any hat, you idiot."
I retorted, tossing a blacklisted short-sleeved tee and a white sports jersey with three black stripes onto the bed. Since this broadcast was sponsored by the brand, it should be fine.
"Should I sweep my bangs up or leave them down?"
After picking out my clothes, I stood before the mirror with a serious expression, repeatedly sweeping my bangs up and then letting them fall back down.
Ryu Jaehee, who had been watching intently with an equally serious face, offered his advice.
"Slicking it back makes you look more intimidating, but covering your forehead makes you look better-looking."
"Then I'll slick it back. Gotta establish dominance."
As soon as I said that, I swept my bangs back. Ryu Jaehee immediately pressed them down to cover my forehead.
"I told you to go for an idol look!"
"Hey, even if I shaved my head, I'd still be the best-looking guy there."
After getting my hair and makeup done at the salon, I arrived at Wnet Studio, where the Drop The Beat filming was taking place. A long line of fans was already waiting for the pre-recording viewing.
Seeing the line, I was once again struck by the immense popularity of Drop The Beat Season 3.
Jiwon Hyung, who was pacing the waiting room corridor with his hands in his pockets, spotted me and waved.
"Yo, Yoon Eden! Aren't you a bit underdressed for an idol?"
"Yeah, maybe I should have worn a uniform or something."
I playfully retorted, giving Jiwon Hyung a light high-five as he wished me luck for my performance today. Then I headed backstage to the waiting room.
"Going for a stroll in the neighborhood park?" Yongcheol Hyung asked dryly, eyeing my casual outfit of a short-sleeved shirt and jersey.
"I didn't want to outshine you, Hyung. Thought I'd give you a break."
"How thoughtful of you."
As Yongcheol Hyung and I exchanged banter, a staff member called us.
"BQ9 rehearsal time!"
Waiting backstage for my turn, I watched BQ9's rehearsal performance.
"Wow, they're really good," I exclaimed, taking a sip of bottled water.
"I told you! They're fucking amazing. I was so nervous about matching up against them in the semifinals."
"We'll face them in the finals anyway, if both of us make it."
"But we'd get a week's grace period."
"You'd think we've already won the finals, judging by your attitude," I teased, nudging Yongcheol Hyung in the ribs with a grin.
Yongcheol Hyung chuckled confidently. "With you featuring, of course we'll make it to the finals."
Before the regression, BQ9 had won the competition, with Yongcheol Hyung finishing as runner-up. Ironically, Yongcheol Hyung had become even more popular afterward.
So, if Yongcheol Hyung wins this time, will BQ9 become even more famous instead? For now, Yongcheol Hyung's Instagram follower count far surpasses BQ9's.
"D.I rehearsal time!" a staff member called out.
As we headed toward the stage, we briefly crossed paths with BQ9, who were walking backstage. I frowned at the dismissive glance they gave me, and they quickly averted their eyes and brushed past.
"Wow, they're throwing shade with just their eyes," I muttered.
"Then tear up the stage and show them what you're made of," Yongcheol Hyung said, patting my back reassuringly.
First, I stepped onto the stage and checked my movements. The venue was structured like an underground club, with the stage and audience area quite close.
"You need to make a huge impact when you appear in the song's final section! Approach it with the determination to shatter the song's predictability!" Baek, the team producer chosen by my hyung, emphasized, slapping me forcefully on the back.
Initially, Baek had been the most vehemently opposed to Yongcheol Hyung's plan to feature me. But as the song's production progressed, his fierce opposition flipped into fervent support.
"This entrance will be far more impactful than just walking out from backstage," I retorted.
Baek gave me a thumbs-up. After roughly coordinating our movements on stage, we wrapped up the rehearsal.
"DROP THE BEAT Season 3 SEMI-FINAL! Let the show begin!"
And finally, the main performance began.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny