Chapter 22
Chapter 22
I spent the days leading up to the broadcast of Episode 3 balancing exercise and practice, trying to build up my stamina.
Fortunately, it seemed Park Moon-dae’s natural aptitude wasn't bottom-tier; he followed along well enough as long as I put in the effort.
The downside was that I had already maxed out most of my practice achievements at 500 repetitions.
‘It’s going to be hard to fill up my stats quickly through level-ups now.’
It was a relief that stat rewards occasionally popped up from fame or stage success events.
In any case, after a fairly productive week, Friday finally arrived.
I headed to the meeting place around five in the afternoon.
It was an officetel located quite a distance from a station on the outskirts of Seoul. It likely belonged to one of my former teammates.
And on my way out of the subway station, I experienced something surprising.
“Excuse me!”
“Yes?”
“Are you… by any chance, from Idol Inc.?!”
Someone had actually asked me that.
Technically, it was a question, but the person’s eyes were already sparkling with absolute certainty.
I hesitated for a moment before nodding.
I hadn't worn a mask. If someone took a photo, I’d be caught red-handed in a lie if I denied it.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Ah, I knew it!”
The woman who had approached me was visibly delighted.
“I’m really enjoying the show! You’re such a good singer… Um, would it be okay if I took a photo with you?”
What should I do?
I had dressed reasonably well, thinking Keun Se-jin might want to take some proof shots, but unlike during filming, I was completely bare-faced.
I knew from experience. Most idols needed some editing on their bare-faced photos.
‘…That’s why whenever I took photos during rehearsals, I’d usually put in some basic touch-ups before selling them, just for the sake of my conscience.’
However, in this situation, it was more important to avoid any unnecessary friction.
“Sure. Should I look here?”
“Ah! Yes, yes! Just a second…!”
The woman quickly opened a camera app with filters and took a selfie with me.
I was glad she was someone who knew the unspoken rules of the game.
“Oh, thank you so, so much! I’ll definitely vote—no, I’ll buy your stocks!”
“Ah, thank you.”
Seeing as she couldn't even remember Park Moon-dae’s name, she probably wouldn't, but I might as well say thanks since she offered.
Meanwhile, perhaps because of her reaction, people’s gazes began to linger on me. Passersby started stealing glances, and it was starting to feel a bit overwhelming.
I quickly gave a polite nod and made my exit.
“I have an appointment, so…”
“Ah, yes! Thank you for the photo…!”
The atmosphere felt like she was about to ask, ‘What kind of appointment?’ so I hurried away.
As soon as I got outside the station, I bought a mask at a convenience store.
One could call it self-importance, but since an incident had already occurred, I intended to be careful on the way back.
Still, it was surprising that someone recognized me on the street already. I knew Season 3 was doing well, but this was unexpected.
‘It’s going to be insane by the time the show reaches its later half.’
The place I was staying now was just a cheap room with terrible security. If Park Moon-dae continued to avoid being edited out, I might need a plan for that later.
Lost in thought, I soon arrived at the meeting place. The officetel looked clean and had good security, as if it were a new building.
I didn't know whose place it was, but they seemed to be living well. I was a bit envious.
“Oh~ Moon-dae, you’re early! Come on in!”
“Ah, hey.”
When I rang the doorbell, Keun Se-jin and Seon A-hyun popped out.
“Living room’s this way~”
As Keun Se-jin led the way, Seon A-hyun followed closely behind. It seemed this was Keun Se-jin’s place.
Well, it was only natural for the host of the gathering to invite people to his own home.
I looked around the fairly impressive interior of the officetel and gave an honest compliment.
“Nice place.”
“Right? I wish it were my house!”
“……?”
Did he mean it was a monthly rental and not his own?
My brief confusion was cleared up by Seon A-hyun’s words.
“Th-thank you.”
“…….”
So… this was Seon A-hyun’s house.
In the meantime, Keun Se-jin practically sprawled out on the living room sofa, while Seon A-hyun sat upright in the corner of the couch.
I stared at this bizarre situation where the guest acted like the host for a moment before I stopped thinking about it.
Whatever. Let’s just watch Episode 3 and get out of here.
*
In an editing room in a corner of the 9th floor of the Tnet building, the production crew of Idol Inc. was working overtime again today.
“The editing is so backed up because of the PR video live preparations.”
“This is driving me crazy.”
It was a precarious situation where the final version was completed only a few hours before the broadcast.
Writer Ryu Seo-rin thought irritably.
‘I told them we should have just outsourced the PR videos.’
They had crammed in advertisements, but the production budget had only been increased by a pittance, so they couldn't afford to outsource.
Thanks to that, her schedule—having only recently escaped being the youngest junior writer—was a continuous cycle of all-nighters.
Furthermore, the edited version she checked while working on the subtitles… was completely unexpected.
‘Why did they kill off those kids and push these ones instead?’
Ryu Seo-rin’s own suggestions hadn't been properly reflected!
She wanted to grit her teeth, but she didn't even have the energy for that. Her vision was yellowing from staying up for two nights straight.
‘Not like I have any power anyway.’
Still, it was a shame, as she had made the suggestions for the sake of the show’s entertainment value.
‘I had some expectations after seeing the editing direction of Episodes 1 and 2.’
She sighed and left the editing room.
With one hour left until the broadcast, she planned to catch a few winks in the duty room.
*
“It’s starting!”
“Hoo-ha, hoo-ha! Please, let our team do well this episode! Please!”
The former teammates gathered at Seon A-hyun’s house spent the time eating delivery food and chatting about their recent lives.
Mostly, they excitedly talked about the reactions of their acquaintances after Episodes 1 and 2 aired, but it wasn't very substantial.
—Moon-dae, should we order chicken feet?
…The most memorable thing was Keun Se-jin asking that with a grin.
Anyway, as I half-listened, the broadcast time soon arrived.
‘It’s nice watching it on a big screen.’
I thought absentmindedly as I looked at the massive wall-mounted TV that took up a quarter of the living room wall.
“Ah, it’s starting.”
Seeing the guys who had been sprawled on the sofa or floor sit up straight now that their stomachs were full, it seemed I wouldn't be disturbed while monitoring, which was also quite nice.
But I was mistaken.
[Since it’s the first team match, I’m sure you all have participants you’d like to work with, right?]
As the MC’s words aired, interviews were immediately inserted.
[Cha Yu-jin: I want to work with Rae-bin!]
[Lee Se-jin (B): Me? (Edit) Oh, Moon-dae is good too!]
[Park Moon-dae: (Shakes head)]
“Aaaah! Hyungs, you’re on!!”
“Keun Se-jin hyung, your interview cut looks great.”
“Wow, I said your name! But it didn't make it in.”
Every time one of the teammates appeared on screen, everyone reacted wildly.
It was driving me crazy because it was hard to focus on the screen.
Meanwhile, Keun Se-jin even burst out laughing. He didn't seem to mind being labeled as Lee Se-jin (B) just because there was someone with the same name.
“Park Moon-dae, did you really do that? Pwahahaha!”
“……No.”
As if I would.
Keun Se-jin had probably listed about seven names hoping one would stick, but clearly, only my name made it to the broadcast.
Anyway, let’s try to keep focusing on the screen.
Despite the chatter, the broadcast continued.
[Whoa!!]
[Our team is great!]
First, the moment the team was formed was shown in a heartwarming light.
By focusing on us hugging and spinning around, it made it look like we were genuinely happy to be with the participants we wanted.
What was unexpected was the editing direction for the opposing team, which included the former national archer, Ryu Cheong-woo.
[Lee Do-jun: Ah, this is a bit…….]
[Park Jung-seop: Why did it have to turn out like this?]
[Choi Sang-jin: Was it fun? (Edit) It didn't really feel like that.]
[Ryu Cheong-woo: Oh boy. (Hollow laugh)]
Although the atmosphere had been relatively low, it was a team that Ryu Cheong-woo had quickly brought under control, but on the broadcast, it looked like the atmosphere had completely tanked.
“Uh……”
“Hmm.”
Awkward exclamations came from beside me, as if they didn't know how to comment.
It was a situation where it was hard to be happy, yet awkward to criticize.
After showing the formation process of the other teams, next was the song selection process.
Gold 1 appeared in a solo cut, screaming as he pressed a button on the panel without even looking properly.
“Aaaah……”
Gold 1 groaned in agony as he watched his own dark past. On the screen, he was blabbering nonsense like an idiot.
[I-Is it an error?]
And the following edit… was not serious.
Interviews with the teammates were shown along with comedic, bumbling background music.
For reference, Ha Il-jun is Gold 1, and Kwon Hee-seung is Gold 2.
[Lee Se-jin (B): Did you see our faces?? Like this!]
[Kwon Hee-seung: What… do we do? Hehehe…….]
[Seon A-hyun: (Smiling and shrugging his shoulders.)]
[Ha Il-jun: …I’m sorry. Ugh.]
[♡ Into the New World / Malang Dalkom ♡]
The panel flashed in the background like a joke.
…And here, for some reason, Park Moon-dae’s interview appeared.
[Park Moon-dae: I liked it. (Thumbs up)]
A caption appeared.
[Fan heart conquers all…! ☆]
The living room became a sea of laughter.
“Ahahaha!!”
“Gasp, wheeze, my stomach hurts from laughing too much…!”
Even Keun Se-jin was turning red, trying to hold back his laughter.
“Pfft, is that for real? Did you really do that?”
“…I just said the team was good.”
“Ahem, cough, oh~ really? Well, thanks.”
Keun Se-jin snickered and buried his face in the sofa.
I… just stuffed a piece of chicken into my mouth.
‘Don’t get swept up in it.’
After that, the atmosphere remained lighthearted through the choreography practice and the trial and error of the trainer’s feedback.
[Let’s match it like this!]
[Hmm, okay.]
This was because the early practice, which had actually been reasonably bleak, was edited to look like we were working hard without knowing any better.
The first time tense background music played was when we received the choreographer’s harsh criticism.
[I can’t see anyone. …What are you even trying to do?]
The subsequent personal attacks were broadcast exactly as they were, with words emphasized by giant captions.
“It’s still harsh, even hearing it again.”
“I’m only saying this now, but I was really scared.”
“Yeah. You looked it.”
“Yeah. You too.”
As the screen showed the teammates with stiff expressions, sincere words were exchanged in the living room like jokes.
Fortunately, the scene where Seon A-hyun was scolded by the choreographer didn't focus on me but instead centered on the shocked Seon A-hyun.
And then, at an unexpected timing, an unexpected scene appeared.
[Are you tired?]
[A-Ah, no…….]
A scene appeared where I spoke to Seon A-hyun, who was being edited as ‘Participant Seon A-hyun, unable to focus on practice.’
It was the conversation where I had used the ‘That sounds right (C)’ trait.
Even the timing was off. That conversation had happened after the arrangement was decided.
“U-Uh?”
“What?”
Seon A-hyun must have been startled because he dropped the chicken he was eating.
I was also a bit puzzled.
‘I said that when all the main cameras were gone and only the fixed cams in the corner were running.’
I didn't think they’d bother using it for the broadcast.
However, because the camera was fixed, it actually gave off an ‘off-the-record’ vibe.
Thanks to that, the conversation sounded more sincere.
[D-Do you really th-think I can d-do well…?]
[Why would I lie?]
[…!!]
When moving editing was added to that, it looked like a scene from a shonen manga where a comrade is recruited.
I became confused.
‘No, I mean, it’s good that they edited it well, but…….’
Considering the character the production crew had been building for me since Episode 1, it was an out-of-the-blue choice.
Did they decide to scrap that because the footage wasn't coming out right?
In the meantime, the Park Moon-dae on the screen uttered ‘that line’ accompanied by cool background music.
[Just think about ‘getting this done.’]
And the living room erupted with reactions.
“Ooooh~”
“Getting… this done?”
“Moon-dae-ssi, you usually think like that? Wow~ what a quote!”
Let’s just… ignore them.
Amidst the barrage of teasing—whether it was jeering or admiration, I couldn't tell—the broadcast showed a short interview with Seon A-hyun.
[Seon A-hyun: I-I was r-really grateful…….]
[Seon A-hyun: I thought… (I should) work hard. I-I have to get it done.]
Seon A-hyun might be a bit timid, but he certainly was loyal. I immediately thanked him.
“Thanks.”
“U-Uh… n-no, I’m the one who’s gratef……”
“Ah, how heartwarming.”
“Indeed.”
While Seon A-hyun, whose conversation had been hijacked, became even more flustered, a cut finally appeared on the TV screen showing the arrangement process under Mudie’s advice.
[Guys. First, we need to decide on a direction.]
Right, this was the important part.