Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Translator: Penny
Chapter 51
Our final schedule for the week was Popular Music.
As expected, we had to share a dressing room with KICKS. Was it because of yesterday's confrontation? A frosty tension hung between the two groups.
"Hyung, it looks like they had a fight," Ryu Jaehee whispered in my ear, lowering his voice.
The once-close camaraderie had vanished, replaced by petty infighting. Watching them squabble was deeply satisfying.
"That's the fate of guys who bond over backstabbing," I replied nonchalantly, rising to my feet.
"Where are you going?"
"Bathroom."
I shoved my hands into my pockets and sauntered out.
As I washed my hands at the sink, a familiar face appeared in the bathroom mirror.
Just five minutes ago, we were in the same room.
Before I could walk past, KICKS' Parachute spoke to me first.
"Long time no see, Yoon Eden."
"Isn't it a bit odd to say 'long time no see' to someone you were just in the same room with five minutes ago?"
"But it's been a while since we've talked like this, just the two of us, right?"
"Weren't there other people around even when I called you 'Parachute' back then?"
This was why I'd been so shocked when the Parachute had revealed the truth to me before my regression, claiming to be a whistleblower.
Before leaving Newborn, I'd been furious about Gyeon Hajun's expulsion from the Debut Team and had confronted the Parachute, calling him "Parachute" to his face.
Objectively speaking, he was indeed a Parachute, so it wasn't exactly a lie.
"Let's bury the past. After experiencing things firsthand, I've realized that people like Eden, who openly insult you to your face, are far better than those who stab you in the back with their shady gossip."
This was something I'd heard even before my regression, so it came as no surprise.
Those backstabbing bastards who trash-talk everyone but themselves? Of course they'd gossip about Parachute.
No wonder he sided with me after I confronted him directly.
"So, what's your business?" I asked, shaking the water off my hands.
Parachute cut straight to the chase. "Who's the whistleblower who leaked the gossip about Yoon Eden?"
It's you, from both the past and the future.
But even if I told you, you wouldn't believe me, and I'd risk being labeled mentally unstable. So why should I bother?
"Why are you asking? Didn't I tell you before? Don't you know about the Whistleblower Protection Act?"
Parachute smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
"Because I want to get closer to you. If you have the guts to blow the whistle, you're one of the only two sane people in our group—including me, of course."
Yeah, congrats on being the only sane person at KICKS, Parachute.
"Knowing won't change anything."
Because it's you.
Well, in a world of lunatics, clinging to the hope that there's at least one other sane person out there might not be such a bad way to survive.
"By the way, did you know Choi Hyeonmin has been anonymously spreading rumors about Yoon Eden's character?"
"That bastard used to pick fights with me every time he saw my face, starting with our first encounter. Does he think I'm an easy target now?"
As I muttered, making no effort to hide my displeasure, Parachute shook his head briefly.
"It's not so much that he thinks you're an easy target... It's more like he was forced to switch positions after Yoon Eden left—to rap. If you want to get technical, it's resentment. Ever since Yoon Eden kicked the Debut Team to the curb and left Newborn, Choi Hyeonmin has been spewing curses and insults."
I used to tease him about why he was rapping with skills similar to Seo Yehyeon's, but I never knew there was this backstory.
Even during our Debut Team days, I found his subtle disdain for rap and his vocal superiority complex ridiculous. Serves him right, I thought.
I snorted, a bitter smile twisting my lips.
"Tell him to keep spreading rumors. If he wants to see photos of that bastard smoking as a minor all over the internet."
I'd stumbled upon the photo while idly scrolling through my phone's gallery. I never expected to find a picture from our trainee days still lingering, but it was perfect blackmail material.
Since he's still a minor, any public exposure now would inevitably spark controversy.
This bastard openly smoked as a minor—something even I, with my underground background, was too scared to do for fear of my past being exposed. What a nerve.
That's just because you're a coward, Hyung.
Hyeonmin, keep acting up and I'll leak this online to ruin your debut.
But if Hyung and I debut together now, Hyung will be ruined too. Good luck.
The conversation they'd shared back then, leaning against the wall behind the Newborn agency building and snickering, resurfaced hazily in his memory.
Back then, they'd assumed they'd debut in the same group. Who could have imagined that their playful threats, captured in photos, would become genuine blackmail material?
And besides the underage smoking photos, in just a year, he could ask his DJ friends at a Gangnam club to get photos of male idols socializing at club gatherings.
He still remembered that guy who became a club regular the moment he turned twenty.
Just as I was about to leave and return to the waiting room, Parachute suddenly thrust his phone at me.
"Can I get your number?"
I raised an eyebrow, and Parachute grinned.
"Judging by your clueless expression about the rumors, it seems you haven't been keeping up with updates. Let's do Whistleblower 2. I really want to get close to Yoon Eden."
"What is this, some kind of 'Victims of Backstabbing' alliance?" I grumbled, but I obediently typed in my number.
60% to find out what kind of rumors the KICKS bastards are spreading and what dirty tricks they're pulling.
40% to see if Parachute will use this as an excuse to make the same demands he did before my regression.
I paused as I was about to save the missed call.
"What's your name?"
I remembered the names of the other KICKS members because we'd spent time together, but I had no obligation or loyalty to memorize Parachute's name, so I didn't know his real name.
Parachute looked at me with a slightly sour expression, as if he couldn't believe I didn't know his name. He took my phone and typed in his name:
Jeong Iseo
My phone had a lot of contacts, and since his name wasn't particularly unique, I added a note in parentheses to help me remember who he was:
Jeong Iseo (KICKS Parachute)
Knowing that entering the waiting room together would draw suspicious glances from the other KICKS members, I went in first.
As soon as I sat down on the sofa, Ryu Jaehee tugged at my sleeve and whispered in my ear again.
"Did those guys collectively borrow money from Hajun Hyung and never pay him back? Why does everyone shut up the moment he opens his mouth?"
"They're all guilty of something. Anyway, what happened?"
"They were laughing about how they can't bark without Hyung around, then Yehyeon Hyung got pissed and started yelling. After some back-and-forth, Hajun Hyung said one thing, and they all clammed up. It was a mess."
"Why do they never learn?"
I shook my head and leaned back comfortably on the sofa as Parachute entered the waiting room.
A quick glance showed that no one was speaking warmly to him. It was clear why he'd cut ties with them and joined our side.
We waited in that awkward atmosphere until we were simultaneously called for the Nominee for 1st Place interview.
"Hello! Welcome to Live Popular Music, the fifth week of November!"
"Today's nominees for 1st place are three songs: KICKS' 'Time's Up,' Reve's 'Come to My Universe,' and Jinse's 'Another You.'"
Since the final ballad singer hadn't appeared on the music show, we were the only ones called up as nominees.
"Now, let's meet today's nominees! Please greet the viewers in turn."
"Two, three! KICKS the world! Hello, we're KICKS!"
"One, two! Dream of me! Hello, we're Reve!"
We exchanged scripted lines and briefly sang a verse of our choruses while performing the key dance moves. The interview ended quickly.
Popular Music's 1st place is the most highly regarded among the Big Three terrestrial music shows, as it's evaluated using the most objective metrics: fandom strength, public appeal, and buzz. This made it feel even more crucial than the previous two music shows.
I knew that if KICKS snatched first place from us here, everyone would say, "The real number one is KICKS."
Just looking at our stage outfits—which felt even more formal than usual, like school uniforms—and our meticulously styled hair, you could tell how much effort our stylist had put in.
"Let's secure a clean win today and go home," I said.
Hearing me, the KICKS Leader, standing nearby, encouraged his team as if to make sure I heard.
"Guys, you know Popular Music's number one is the real number one, right? Let's nail it today."
And so, in the fifth week of November, our second week after our comeback, Reve seized even the "real number one" title officially recognized by the KICKS Leader. We succeeded in never conceding a single first-place win on the Big Three broadcast networks to KICKS.
The final three weeks of their promotion period fell during the first week of December.
Reve had to concede first place to KICKS on W Countdown and Music Camp, but they secured the top spot on the remaining two major broadcast music shows, bringing their promotions to a successful close.
Total album sales reached 180,000 copies.
Having come from an era where rookie groups routinely sold 100,000 copies in their first week due to album inflation, this number initially seemed underwhelming. However, considering the current market conditions, these total sales were actually quite respectable.
"Hyung, was first-week sales really that important? Isn't total sales more significant? I heard people even buy albums in weekly batches just to influence the music shows."
This was a belated celebration of Reve's first #1 win, held after their successful promotion period.
While the CEO passionately ranted, holding a soju bottle with a spoon stuck in it, Ryu Jaehee whispered, "It doesn't matter. Like you said, Total Sales are more important."
For now. He swallowed the last part, picking up a piece of perfectly cooked beef from the grill.
Come to think of it, around their fourth or fifth year with Reve, First-Week Sales suddenly became crucial.
They used to pay little attention to First-Week Sales, but suddenly they started scheduling an insane number of fan signing events during the first week to boost those numbers.
Thanks to that, there were times when First-Week Sales hit 300,000 copies, while Total Sales showed 350,000.
So, with that memory ingrained in me, I must unconsciously still place more importance on First-Week Sales.
"To all our LnL family, thank you so much for trusting your incompetent CEO and following me this far. Let's all work together to ensure LnL continues to grow and improve..."
Wow, this acceptance speech is even longer than our own for winning first place.
But honestly, I've never really trusted or followed the CEO. If I had, we'd probably be stuck on the Flop Idol Route like before the regression, celebrating with ten people at a 삼겹살 restaurant.
As the CEO's speech dragged on, I tilted my soju glass and glanced around the bustling restaurant where our 회식 was in full swing.
The number of agency staff had grown considerably since the days when it matched the number of members. We'd even moved to a new office recently.
Why our dorm move keeps getting delayed, though, remains a mystery.
We could only pray that the reality show would air soon, exposing our dismal basement dormitory conditions to the world.
"Alright, everyone! Let's hear a toast from our Reve Leader, the MVP of the year! Let's get the mood going!"
Urged by the CEO, I raised my glass and awkwardly stood up.
Seven years with LnL Entertainment, I knew the CEO's favorite toast by heart.
"Thank you to everyone who worked so hard for us this year. Let's continue to rely on each other for the remaining days. When I say, 'We are!' you all shout, 'Not strangers!' We are!"
My lead was met with a thunderous response that shook the restaurant.
"Not strangers!"
I clinked glasses with the Reve members and downed my drink in one refreshing gulp.
Every time I give this toast, I can't help but think: Not strangers? Of course not.
📝 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