The Talent to Enchant People (2)
Lunchtime in the Mu-jika clubroom. Han Soye sunbae sat smack in the middle of the sofa, tapping away at her smartphone screen as she read the article aloud.
"Originally, they had a ballad stage prepared, but apparently Ji Soeun requested a complete concept overhaul."
"There were conversations going back and forth with Kim Seryeon right before they started filming the behind-the-scenes video, and that played a big role."
"In fact, even before that, she drew a lot of inspiration from Kim Seryeon's old dark and melancholic songs...."
It said the emergence of dark Ji Soeun had been foreshadowed long ago. Rather than filming the behind-the-scenes with me, she'd already flipped the stage concept based on my advice beforehand—that was what Ji Soeun had mentioned.
So, I could guess what she was talking about.
Hmm.
But spilling it honestly in front of the sunbaes felt kinda embarrassing. This was basically admitting it out loud: me, Kim Seryeon, had a deeper connection with Ji Soeun than anyone imagined.
"So, Seryeon junior."
Unable to hold back her curiosity, Han Soye pressed relentlessly.
"What exactly did you say to her?"
"No, really, it was nothing much."
"Nothing much, and she talks about you all wistfully like that? 'It's all thanks to Seryeon sunbae. Thank you so, so much'?"
She was even doing a voice impression. As expected from the acting majors, she nailed it.
"I said, really, it was nothing."
"Liar. Ji Soeun might look like a pushover, but she's got sky-high pride. She's the undisputed ace among JK Ent trainees. For her to scrap the whole concept right before the competition means it wasn't some casual 'nice song' compliment."
The other sunbaes chimed in one by one.
"I'm dying to know too. What did you say to get an idol shouting you out on broadcast?"
"Did you maybe go, 'I'll write a song just for you' or something?"
"Ewww, that's so cringey."
The sunbaes' imaginations were starting to run wild.
"Right answer: 'Win, and I'll be your boyfriend.'"
"Right answer: 'You're pretty no matter what. So just be yourself without worrying.'"
"Right answer! 'Once this audition's over, I'll marry her.'"
"Ugh, my hands and feet are curling up."
What the hell did they think I was?
Even Baek Yul sunbae, who was face-down nearby, poked his messy head out from under the blanket.
"I'm kinda curious too."
"Right? Oppa, you're curious too, huh?"
"More than that, the fact that the girl who ignores even the JK Ent CEO listened to you."
Sharp observation, as always. Amid the sunbaes' swooning, Baek Yul's analysis cut through like a knife. The phrase "a crane among chickens" fit perfectly.
"Now that you mention it, yeah."
"Whoa, now I'm curious too."
Han Soye and Baek Yul, the one-two punch couple, were syncing up their curiosity. And the other sunbaes' eyes were starting to sparkle.
The Mu-jika musical club had turned into curiosity central. No way I could just brush this off anymore.
"I have a hunch, but it was just something I said offhand back then."
"Ooooh."
"There was something!"
"Yeah, yeah, knew it. Go marry Ji Soeun right now."
"?"
I was momentarily speechless at their reactions, but then I calmly recounted what happened that day.
We'd been chatting via Discord or DMs as usual. There was a moment when the usually playful Ji Soeun dropped her mask and revealed her anxious inner self.
She was saying that since it was the finals, it was time to show a serious side, but she was worried it'd feel off. And understandably so—Ji Soeun's everyday vibe was all playful, bubbly, and quirky.
Hmm, yeah, but I'm not sure I can give proper advice. What flashed through my mind then was something Baek Yul sunbae had said during the music video shoot.
Not everything bright gets loved.
Should I just copy-paste that? It was from genius director Baek Yul sunbae, no less. Good advice. Probably true.
But honestly, I couldn't fully buy into it. Because of memories from my past life.
The life of the ugly, depressed Kim Seryeon. The world was colder than it seemed—raw, unpolished sadness just became an object of disgust and avoidance. I knew that down to my bones.
So I couldn't relay it verbatim. Instead, I mixed in my own experiences and emotions, and out came a slightly twisted version.
"That's basically what I said. 'Soeun sunbae doesn't have to be pretty and bright for people to like her, right?' Something like that."
Han Soye sunbae leaned back against the sofa with a deflated sigh.
"What? That's so ordinary."
"That alone wouldn't move Ji Soeun."
Even Baek Yul agreed. The sunbaes who'd been listening threw out their guesses.
"It's got that nuance of 'you're cute and an idol, so fans'll love anything you do.'"
"Nah, it's just reassurance not to worry. Don't overthink it."
"Maybe she got emotional because she's her quirky 4D self."
"Ah, her personal point?"
But I knew. It wasn't that obvious comfort that moved Ji Soeun.
"Honestly, even I thought it sounded a bit cynical, so I added something else at the time."
"What'd you add?"
I hesitated for a second, then spoke.
"'No one's as lonely as someone loved by everyone....' Something like that."
The clubroom air froze for a moment.
"Surrounded by tons of people, but no one to show your real self to. I felt that in Soeun sunbae's singing."
"Like she's unconsciously just acting the part people want to see."
"So I said, even if it's selfish, just sing without hiding that loneliness."
Now it sounds profound, but back then, I was just blurting out what came to mind in a panic. It was chat, no face-to-face, so no reactions to gauge.
But now, I think I get it. Ji Soeun's eyes must've wavered then.
Her anxiety probably made her confront the emptiness she felt as an idol trainee right there.
It was my story too. The loneliness of staring at the world through a monitor in my room back then. And now, basking in cheers but terrified of anyone seeing the real me.
Those two overlapped strangely.
A brief silence.
Baek Yul sunbae, usually so aloof, tilted his head seriously and stared at me.
"......"
"W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Seryeon junior."
"Yes."
His gray strands parted, revealing eyes fixed on me.
"You've got some real sensitivity for this stuff."
"......Pardon?"
"Your acting sucks, but you know how to poke at people's hearts. The kind of sentiment writers have."
Surprisingly earnest praise. I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed.
"I just said what popped into my head."
"If that's what pops out off the cuff, you're even more talented."
The sunbaes piled on like they'd been waiting.
"Ah! Kim Seryeon doesn't use outside lyricists!"
"Right, yeah. You wrote all the lyrics yourself? Even Sky Autumn?"
"Literature king."
"Honestly, I've always thought your lyrics were great."
No, really, that's all it was.
Meanwhile, the internet was in utter chaos.
Ji Soeun's one line had poured gasoline on every Star's Birth-related community.
The initial reaction was unanimous praise. Understandably— the public knew Ji Soeun as just a fun, quirky ex-idol contestant. She had solid skills and sang well, backed by JK Ent's strong fundamentals.
But she lacked that winning impact. Without it, she'd risk fading as comic relief and dropping out.
Then came Ji Soeun's legendary stage. Her serious side unleashed killer vocals.
The kind of twist people love. The squinting smiler turns out to be a powerhouse. Or the skull's eye flashes blue. The prankster who jokes even in battle goes dead serious and slaughters with real steel.
└ What's depth?
└ Talent pool lol
That was the public's vibe. The problem came next.
It exploded during the post-performance comments.
"Seryeon sunbae, you watching? Thank you so, so much!"
At first, no big reaction. Viewers treating Star's Birth as variety actually liked it.
They real friends, wholesome youth vibes~
But that peace didn't last. High-buzz shows always attract overinvested fans. And Ji Soeun was a pre-debut idol trainee.
Soon, idol fandom communities hit the panic button.
In idol land, dating scandals are nukes. A pre-debut trainee dropping a real name and hearts? Prime ammo for antis, thunderbolt for core fans.
Public opinion ignited. Fans praying for her debut panicked.
This could frame her as "guy-obsessed" and boot her from debut group.
How to salvage? Damage control options:
Strategy one: Play up Ji Soeun as innocent airhead. Push her 4D pure image—but it fell short.
Then, fans rediscovered the key.
The Blue Lemon Sky (Bles for short) MV became the counterattack hub, proving Ji Soeun's innocence.
Fans tearfully spread their rival track like wildfire.
The bizarre result? Kim Seryeon x Kang Saero's summer track Blue Lemon Sky surged again.
"Yo, this song's actually fire?"
"Thought it was viral fluff, but quality's nuts."
"Kang Saero best girl."
Newbies discovered Bles via MV, and finally...
"......Is this for real?"
Insane.