Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Ideal and Crisis
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The music video had no dialogue. That meant they couldn't rely on lines. Expressing everything through facial expressions alone was tough for a beginner actor.
‘That’s why I didn’t have high expectations.’
Yumi’s music video had her with her eyes closed for half of it, so there wasn’t much pressure. But this was different. They had to act properly.
“Good, right?”
“Yeah, good enough that I need to redo my calculations.”
That’s what worried him.
‘A crazy ambitious kid. How should I use you?’
How could someone pull this off so casually?
“It’s weird. I was wondering how to use Minje when I met him, and now I’m having the exact same dilemma because of this guy.”
“Does this kid sing well too?”
“Hmm, he’s decent. Not standout, but solid.”
He even had great presence on stage.
“If Minje is a musical genius, this kid’s like a diamond with evenly distributed stats. Acting skills are rare among idols, so he stands out even more……”
Executive Director Joo was concerned.
“But above all, he’s 16.”
“The younger, the better, right?”
“Yeah. Our contract is seven years.”
“Already thinking that far ahead?”
“Planning for the future is my job.”
What will you be like at 23?
“How can I use you effectively?”
The boy on the screen had desperate eyes. It was impressive enough that Executive Director Joo shook his head.
“The noonas will love him. Our little maniac.”
“Hey, I like this!”
“Good, right? I like it too.”
He’d felt it clearly on set.
“This kid doesn’t seem 16 at all.”
“You mean he’s good at the love scenes?”
“That too. Kim Secretary, take a look at this.”
The screen changed to SNS. Secretary Kim tilted his head at the modest meal spread.
“Minje hyung’s birthday meal?”
“That’s what he actually made. That one.”
“A 15-year-old cooks like this?”
“The food’s impressive, but the key is the SNS.”
His face was already getting known, with tons of comments below.
“What do you think an idol’s job is, Secretary Kim?”
“Hmm, kids who dance and sing?”
“Close, but not quite.”
Executive Director Joo looked at the SNS posts from their agency’s celebrities.
“It’s a job selling images.”
“That’s true for any celebrity.”
“True, but idols take it further. They have to fill and satisfy more aesthetics. Close but untouchable, friendly but shining.”
Secretary Kim tilted his head.
“They have to satisfy vicarious thrills about success too. Why do fans love it when their favorite idols do well? Vicarious satisfaction is an ancient form of entertainment passed down through the ages. Idols basically just dress pretty, sing, and dance. Our job is to convert that into an image.”
“Director, I don’t get it.”
“This kid’s smartly fulfilling that ‘ideal’.”
Executive Director Joo pointed at the SNS.
“Minje hyung, birthday meal. He loved it. Worried because hyung looked tired.”
“Aw, they seem close.”
“That’s the intent. Showing the members get along.”
Further down was the music video set.
“Good work. Hope it turns into a great music video. Old-school vibe, but good sentiment. Not mentioning the actress was smart too.”
Next was a practice room selfie. The editing was amateurish, but the expression was pro. And at the edge was the stoic Lee Seungjun.
“Feels like peeking into private life. Clever guy.”
“Fans want to know how their favorite idols spend their time.”
“This distance is perfect.”
Executive Director Joo grinned.
“A gust will become a typhoon and sweep the music industry. He’s the real deal.”
“Y-Yeah, I guess. Not sure I get it.”
“Half excitement, half worry. For real.”
Executive Director Joo grinned.
“Where’d this come rolling in from?”
Secretary Kim left with a smile. Executive Director Joo tapped the monitor.
“How far will the typhoon go, Dowon?”
Cha Dowon on the monitor, of course, said nothing. Executive Director Joo shook his head and stood up. He still had work to do.
***
“It might rain on debut day!”
Damn.
Ki Jaeyoon checked the date and screamed. I caught my breath and reviewed the choreography. Yoo Hajin immediately checked Ki Jaeyoon’s smartphone.
“We’ve got live broadcast tomorrow. This is bad.”
“Yeah, hyung. We’re dead! What do we do?”
I nailed the final leg move.
“Manager hyung didn’t say the shoot was postponed?”
Sweat ran down my cheek. I wiped it away.
“F Company Broadcasting Station goes ahead at 50% chance of rain.”
“Really?”
“That’s how it is. How bad is the rain?”
“Sudden gusts and showers. Be careful?”
Damn.
‘If it goes wrong, debut stage will be a flood.’
I kept checking angles.
“Hajin hyung, this angle right?”
“No! Like this.”
Yoo Hajin adjusted my arm slightly. I matched it.
“You’re so consistent, Dowon.”
“Haven’t even debuted yet. What consistency?”
“You do abs whenever there’s a gap.”
“Building stamina means working out, right?”
Ki Jaeyoon shook his head.
“No, normal people don’t.”
“I see. But to make it, we can’t be normal.”
I repeated in the mirror. The shaky parts flowed smoothly now.
“True……”
“Anyway, can’t control the weather.”
Yoo Hajin sighed.
“Yeah.”
Then Kang Minje, who’d been quiet, spoke.
“Our situation’s bad.”
I nodded.
‘Didn’t expect this……’
The MV was good, choreography too.
‘Of all things, a big typhoon.’
Everyone was glued to typhoon updates. Amid that, the teaser dropped, and we did the showcase.
‘Fans at the showcase were decent for a debut, but……’
The company pushed articles hard, but they got buried in typhoon news. Maybe that’s why. I heard the track and MV views were at risk.
“If it goes wrong, we might flop.”
“I see.”
I readjusted.
“Not scared?”
“Chanting we’ll flop changes nothing.”
I felt Kang Minje’s gaze. No, all the members’ stares burned.
“Better to do what we can.”
I smiled brightly.
“Plus, we haven’t done the debut stage yet. Too early to flop.”
“Tracks usually decide it.”
“There’s a typhoon. You made a great song, hyung.”
The next move was perfect.
“Believe in me?”
“You? Surprising.”
I matched the leg.
“If I were you, I’d trust your songwriting at least.”
Angle off again? I glanced at Yoo Hajin, and he fixed it with his hand.
Perfect sync.
“Thanks, Hajin hyung.”
“Huh? Yeah.”
My balance was slightly off. Crucial to steady when shaking. Like Zenith now.
I matched footwork and glanced at Kang Minje, startling.
‘Why that face?’
He covered his mouth.
“Minje hyung, you okay?”
“N-No. Just unexpected.”
What?
“Didn’t expect Dowon to say that.”
Kang Minje smiled shyly.
“You believe in me!”
My expression slipped.
“I-I mean, your skills?”
“Hahaha! Yeah!”
His face flushed shyly. Gross—I turned away. Damn! What did I just see?
‘Losing my mind.’
I deep-breathed desperately. Saw something I shouldn’t, like a crime scene.
‘Want to wash my eyes.’
Rubbing my eyes, Yoo Hajin clapped three times.
Clap clap clap—
“Let’s cheer up.”
Yoo Hajin smiled warmly.
“We’ve got plenty of chances.”
Then Ki Jaeyoon said,
“What chances? No schedule like this, we flop.”
That monkey’s too dumb.
“So we should flop?”
Ki Jaeyoon shook his head fast. I bowed my head and whispered low.
“We gotta nail the schedule we have. Our debut stage. Dream stage we fantasized about as trainees.”
Members’ eyes sparkled suddenly.
I recalled pre-regression. Compared to then, this was nothing.
“Just devour the stage.”
Gazes focused. I grinned.
“No confidence? Weird.”
I shrugged.
“I think we can devour it.”
Hard to gather guys this handsome. Plus music genius and warm leader.
‘If not this group, which?’
Plus, a rich company got us public broadcast debut.
‘Rain? Who cares.’
Tons watching?
“TV broadcast gonna be thrilling, right? Sure, it’ll be routine later, but not now.”
I couldn’t imagine this group flopping.
‘If so, I’ll find another way.’
Plenty paths to raise fame.
‘Even if it takes time, this group will make it.’
Or I’ll make it happen.
“Y-Yeah.”
Yoo Hajin scratched his cheek.
“Dowon’s right. Do what we can. Great song, killer choreo. We got this.”
As Ki Jaeyoon nodded, Lee Seungjun said heavily,
“Let’s practice.”
I smiled faintly.
‘That’s it.’
Practice to devour the stage.
“Yeah! Practice time.”
We took positions. Music played, practice started.
Don’t worry too much, everyone.
‘I’ll get us to peak condition.’
I adjusted moves, smiling. Tomorrow was exciting.
***
F Company was infamous for proceeding at 50% rain chance.
‘Know from stepping there.’
Bad habit from tradition, unfixable.
Stylist Noona fussed with outfits. Manager chattered ahead.
“Kids, do great? Stay calm! Just like rehearsal.”
His yells echoed in the hall. No proper waiting room? Felt chaotic.
‘Didn’t know rookies get no waiting room.’
Felt celebrity world’s brutal meritocracy again.
‘Harsh.’
Maybe why members’ eyes blazed with venom.
“Did makeup waterproof at salon since rain expected.”
“Thanks.”
“Not to me. Outfits though—I made ’em, pretty cool, right?”
Stylist Noona adjusted the harness.
“Wondered why this concept, but Director Joo’s plans are genius.”
I looked down. Felt like pointless belts strapped everywhere.
‘Why on body? No, don’t think.’
No idea why cool, but thinking felt like losing.
I quietly held my phone, long-pressed C. Screen went black.
[Zenith Members Condition Recovery]
[Changed]
[Side effect: Neck stiffness for 3 seconds after 3 seconds.]
Cheat still stingy on recovery.
Neck yanked wildly soon. But 3 seconds flew. Back normal, chaotic hall visible.
‘At least a partition.’
Shabby.
Manager stomped at hall end.
“Kids, going soon. Ah, nervous!”
Why more tense there?
Then Lee Seungjun stretching said,
“Weird. Body sometimes feels ready like it waited.”
“Huh, you felt it too, Seungjun?”
Yoo Hajin rolled shoulders.
“Stomach hurt from nerves, but just got better.”
Hajin hyung pukes when tense? News to me.
‘Thought he was fine……’
What about Kang Minje?
He seemed normal.
“No nerves, Minje hyung?”
“More worried than tense. But, hmm.”
Kang Minje’s eyes slyly crinkled like a fox.
“Feel strangely solid.”
“Why?”
“Dunno.”
Staff yell soon.
“Zenith! Come out!”