Chapter 52
Chapter 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Our Idols (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The members and manager's gazes were on me.
“What, there's a reason behind naming it that way, right?”
“Oh, as expected. Ambitious one, huh.”
I furrowed my brow.
“Executive Director Joo is a genius at handling images. Just go along with it for now. Anyway, once your debut anniversary passes, your true colors will show. Well, it's not a completely unrelated image.”
Not quite... nope. Where do I look like the maknae on top who's a crazy acting genius?
‘Each one is off, and when put together, it's even more off.’
As I shook my head, the manager nagged.
“In that sense, hurry up and get ready. We have to go to rehearsal, and today's packed!”
I got up and put the dishes in the sink.
‘Oh, come to think of it...’
Things had changed since debut.
‘They actually bring in people to work.’
After schedules, there was laundry, dishwashing, and even simple meals.
‘The taste is just so-so, though.’
It felt weird hiring people.
‘Well, it's all coming out of the earnings.’
I finished preparing and headed out. Honestly, I still couldn't tell what had changed.
“Hurry up and get in the car.”
We were just about to leave the dorm when it happened. As we stepped out of the apartment entrance, a sharp scream rang out.
“Kyaaak! Dowon!”
Wh-who?
‘Someone I know?’
The screamer was a stranger. No.
‘Isn't that the high school girl who was with my dear senior Heo Suyong?’
A memory of using the cheat flashed by. The girl whose name I couldn't quite remember stretched her arms toward me like a maniac.
“Dowon! I love you to death!”
The manager hurriedly stepped in front of me.
“Ah, damn it. Kids, get in the car quick.”
I was dumbfounded. And honestly, it wasn't just her. They had gathered from somewhere—about a dozen fans jumping around.
“Ouch!”
Ki Jaeyoon's sleeve was grabbed. I quickly turned and pulled him toward me.
“Ugh!”
“Why'd you let yourself get grabbed?”
“Then should I just ignore it when they grab me?”
Hajin hyung and Lee Seungjun looked flustered too. Soon the fans shoved smartphones at us. I hurriedly said.
“Let's get in first!”
“Y-yeah!”
We rushed into the van. I couldn't quite grasp what was happening.
Yoo Hajin brushed back his hair and asked.
“How many were there?”
Lee Seungjun answered.
“About 30.”
“The apartment's gonna be noisy. What do we do?”
The kind leader worried about the residents first. I tilted my head and asked.
“Wasn't this dorm originally Vita's?”
Kang Minje replied.
“Vita wasn't this popular.”
Hmm, I see.
Ki Jaeyoon asked.
“So, we're more popular than Vita now?”
Kang Minje scratched his cheek.
“W-well, is that how it is? Fans camping out at the dorm isn't exactly the measure of popularity, but...”
That's when the manager climbed into the driver's seat.
“Phew. Persistent ones. A few Vita fans too.”
Out of pure curiosity, I asked.
“Why were Vita fans there? Didn't they know the dorm changed?”
Yoo Hajin shook his head as he answered.
“They switched from Vita.”
“Not a bus or anything... Ah!”
I got it.
“They ditched Vita and decided to like us.”
The manager said.
“They could like both Vita and us. Fans' love is fickle.”
Ah, that could be true.
“Plus, since we're from the same agency, it's easy to switch. Zenith, you guys are loving this now, right? But when you're the ones losing fans' love, it'll sting.”
I grinned brightly.
“Then we should lock the exit door.”
Even if they leave sometimes, make sure they come back.
“Oh? You think that's easy?”
“Of course it's hard.”
But I could do it.
“Ah, where are we headed now?”
“Our Idols.”
Aha.
“They said we'll film the meeting first.”
Script based on interviews, probably.
“Do well.”
That's when Yoo Hajin asked worriedly.
“Who's the opposing group?”
Oh right, ‘Our Idols’ always featured two idol groups.
“Hmm, Hush.”
I asked Lee Seungjun.
“What group is that?”
“Somewhat known. Idols you kinda know but not really?”
“They're the benchmark group. Beat Hush, and you're solidly mid-tier.”
Aha.
“Then let's win this time.”
The members blinked at me.
“Were you planning to lose?”
“N-no.”
“You know this isn't about some silly game result on a variety show, right?”
Kang Minje asked.
“Talking popularity?”
“Well, popularity's good, and recognition too. We need to make them like us more than Hush.”
I chuckled.
“Let's live smart.”
The manager spoke up then.
“Hush plays dirty?”
Huh?
“How much?”
“Petty and annoying. They'll probably mess with you acting like seniors when you arrive.”
Heaven's helping us.
“Manager, is the Our Idols director and writer close with Hush?”
“Doubt it. ‘Our Idols’ is famous for no editing—just raw broadcast. No favoritism. It's just a broadcasting station there.”
Perfect. A smirk escaped me.
‘Then, maybe provoke them a bit.’
That's my specialty.
“Looking forward to today's shoot.”
Fresh hot rice had just arrived. I decided to eat quietly.
‘It better be a fresh experience unlike with Vita.’
You want some too?
I tapped the smartphone in my pocket.
‘What to post this time.’
Vocals? Acting?
Laughter bubbled up naturally. I quietly gazed out the window. The road to the broadcasting station felt exceptionally refreshing.
***
“Go in over there. We'll edit it, so just be natural.”
Only a fool would trust the station.
I signaled Yoo Hajin. The kind leader said to us.
“Let's be careful. Everyone here's a senior. Um...”
Yoo Hajin smiled softly at Ki Jaeyoon.
“Jaeyoon, you know to watch your words, right?”
“Why pick on me, hyung?”
“The other members don't need worrying.”
True that.
One writer clipped a mic on. She was short, so she bent her knees a bit. As her face got close, she covered her mouth and stepped back.
“Sorry. Too close?”
“Huh? Yeah. But no need to apologize.”
The writer smiled brightly and fixed the mic through my clothes. Then she quickly fled to where the other writers were.
“How is she?”
“Scary pretty.”
“16 years old. Fresh.”
“She said sorry. For what? I liked it. Ah, cute.”
We can all hear you, writer.
‘Better if she looks cool to us.’
If Hush is rude, it'll create synergy.
I turned away pretending not to notice. Yoo Hajin said gently.
“Let's go.”
We opened the door and entered the meeting room. The director and Hush were already there.
‘Hush has 8 members.’
The room buzzed because of it. We went in, stood, and greeted.
“Hello. Zenith to you! We are Zenith.”
Reactions to the chant varied. The director, used to idol greetings, responded normally, but Hush was different.
“‘Zenith to you.’”
“Sounds like an ero movie.”
Impressive.
‘Cameras are rolling, you know.’
Saying that out loud.
‘I see. These guys are real trash.’
No need to agonize.
The director gestured to sit. Ki Jaeyoon took a seat farthest from Hush with uneasy eyes, but I was different.
I smiled brightly and sat right next to them.
“Nice to meet you, seniors.”
They didn't greet back. Just snickered. I looked at the camera in front, made a troubled expression, and turned my head.
‘It's all on film, you punks.’
Sensing the off vibe, the director cleared his throat.
“This broadcast is a competition between two groups. We called you today to decide the events.”
Hush said.
“Come on, director. We're veterans here. Phone interviews would've been fine for this.”
“We need both groups' input for a fair competition.”
Yoo Hajin spoke first.
“Seniors, pick first. We're fine with anything.”
The director shook his head right away.
“Can't do that. Our show strips ranks and goes head-to-head.”
Ranks, huh. As if the station would do that.
I suppressed a laugh.
‘This show's ratings are solid, right?’
Simple reason.
The essence was idols' power struggles and true faces.
‘Trash punks.’
Good for ratings with kids bickering.
‘Usually, best to play nice and avoid trash-talk on these shows.’
But what if the opponent goes all out?
The scales tipped our way instantly.
‘If only one side looks pitiful, it's over, right?’
Would the station not know that?
‘Well, let's play along for now.’
It's to our advantage, and seems like that's what they want.
Yoo Hajin looked around at the members.
“What are we good at?”
Kang Minje answered.
“Sports?”
Lee Seungjun nodded.
‘Ah, he boxes well.’
But don't say it. If we do that, we look like the bad guys. And taking hits nonstop is no good.
The director shook his head.
“Sports are too common. Something unique?”
I answered.
“Cooking?”
The director nagged right away.
“You guys good at cooking?”
“Not the members, but I do a bit.”
“Ah, right. You're the one posting meals on SNS. Yeah, cooking's good.”
But jeers erupted immediately.
“Cooking favors them!”
“It's best of three, so one event favors you.”
“Then we do chopping wood.”
What?
‘Out of nowhere.’
No pension nearby, why chopping wood?
“Hush, you done that before?”
“We're strong. Built muscle for this album.”
Oh dear. Might as well do dumbbell curls.
‘They've never chopped wood.’
Need strength, but technique matters more.
“We can take shirts off while chopping, right?”
“Ratings will soar.”
“Girls love buff guys these days.”
“Theirs are all skinny except one.”
Hmm. Planning to crush with muscles.
I quietly eyed Hush.
‘Not all buff?’
One looks precarious even. Why assume they're all fit?
“Alright. That paints a good picture. Chopping wood and cooking. We'll decide the next one.”
Oh, what's it gonna be?
“Okay, meeting scene wrap!”
Director called cut, but the unmanned cameras kept rolling. I smiled and bowed.
“Good work!”
I started, and members greeted too. But Hush didn't even nod.
‘Fine for us, but not even to staff?
Makes the dynamic too obvious. Lame if boring.’
The director turned to us right away.
“Zenith, right? Saw your debut stage. It was a hot topic.”
Yoo Hajin smiled as he replied.
“Not sure if it's good luck or bad.”
“You suffered in the rain.”
The director spotted me immediately.
“You're the young master from that music video, right?”
I smiled brightly.
“Yes. You watched? Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Writers went nuts. Wow, look at that face. Delicate. You.”
“Thanks.”
That's when Hush from behind said.
“How long will that face last?”
“Months, not years?”
“Three months of schedules and it'll wreck. Ah, but Friends, so good management?”
One with red-dyed hair asked outright.
“Hey, what'd you do?”
I turned to look at them.
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
I kinda knew, but denying was better.
“Nose? Eyes?”
“What are you talking about?”
Director chuckled behind me.
“Fuck! Plastic surgery! Where'd you fix?”
Oh boy. What now?
I smiled awkwardly.
“Didn't do any.”
For a second, thought Red Hair's eyes would pop out.
“Didn't fix anything?”
“Yes. And I'm only 16.”
“Fuck! They do it at that age too!”