Chapter 389
Chapter 389
I already knew how Seon A-hyun lived here.
‘Because it pops up.’
Articles.
Interviews, magazines, WeTube…
The fact that typing just ‘Seon’ into the search bar brought up Seon A-hyun’s name via autocomplete was no different from reality.
However, the keywords were different.
…Because the Seon A-hyun of this world hadn't quit ballet.
[Seon A-hyun Wins Prix de Lausanne… Bright Future for Korean Ballet]
[Ballet Joins the K-Syndrome? Seon A-hyun: “I approached it with sincerity”]
After starting to win awards at a certain international competition for teenagers, he began to stand out in various other competitions and eventually joined an overseas ballet company.
Since he was naturally good-looking, he became famous in Korea as soon as he hit the WeTube algorithm, and he’d even filmed a few commercials after appearing on a talk show.
So, I figured I’d never run into him unless Ryu Gun-woo debuted.
But the man himself had suddenly appeared and was talking to me.
Without stuttering once, and in a tone far more refined than the voice of the guy I knew.
“Shall I get you another coffee?”
“…No.”
It felt like I’d been smacked in the back of the head. Damn it.
I drained the rest of the drink in my mouth and muttered.
“Thank you. I enjoyed it.”
So please, just go.
“Yes.”
But Seon A-hyun didn't leave; he quietly sat down next to me.
‘What is he doing?’
I reflexively checked him out. He was wearing a black turtleneck that looked like casual wear, and his hair wasn't styled.
It wasn't the state he’d be in if he’d come to the set as an idol for filming.
“…….”
It wasn't that I was suddenly wondering why Seon A-hyun wasn't an idol.
I knew for certain at which point the life of the Seon A-hyun who became an idol diverged from this one.
[Sehwa Arts Middle School Graduation List]
‘Chae Seo-dam wasn't among his classmates.’
Because the age group was different here, Seon A-hyun hadn't met Chae Seo-dam in middle school.
That’s why he graduated without any trouble and continued to walk the path of a ballet major.
Without any derailment.
—A-actually… there were issues with my, my body type, for continuing ballet.
The guy had previously mentioned things like his feet or pelvis when he said he’d quit, but it seemed there had been psychological reasons as well.
Seeing as he was still doing ballet here even though his physical conditions hadn't changed.
‘…That’s why I didn't even try to contact him.’
In reality, there was no way to meet him without it being incredibly unnatural, and even if we did meet, what kind of suggestion could I possibly make?
To a guy who had already achieved professional success in a completely different field at an age similar to his real-life counterpart.
…Wouldn't he just be confused if I tried to trigger an Awakening?
‘I was planning to just… let him live his own life and clear this.’
I silently folded the paper cup and set it down.
Then, a voice suddenly cut in.
“I’m sorry if I disturbed your rest.”
“It’s not that.”
Let’s make up an excuse.
“I was just a bit surprised. I didn't expect to suddenly see… Athlete Seon A-hyun in a place like this.”
He wasn't an athlete, and I’d spoken as if I were addressing a national representative, but it didn't matter.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Ah…. Yes.”
He gave a faint smile and opened his mouth as if to say something, but his smartphone began to vibrate in his pocket.
Buzz.
His expression shifted to one of slight embarrassment.
“If it’s alright, could you keep it a secret that you met me here? I made a mistake.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you. Ah,”
Seon A-hyun went out of his way to pick up the paper cup I’d left on the floor, then hurried down the hallway while answering the ringing phone.
The fact that he even turned back to give a polite nod showed that his inner self was still the same.
[Why is Seon A-hyun here….]
I suppressed a sigh.
‘It’s obvious.’
We met in the middle of a hallway on a program set that was in full preparation, and he asked me to pretend I hadn't seen him?
It meant he was appearing on the program.
Not as an undisclosed consultant for choreography advice, but as a genuine special guest.
For example… right. A judge.
“The theme for this performance is ‘Art.’”
Filming resumed.
On stage, the CEO was excitedly holding the microphone and speaking again.
If I were to summarize his long explanation that started with ‘A singer may perform special stages in various collaborations and commemorative performances, so they must be able to properly express meaningful stages,’ it was this:
—We recruited special guests related to art! We have to use them!
‘Seon A-hyun must be included in that group.’
And as expected, before announcing the randomly formed teams, the CEO introduced them under the title of ‘Special Judges.’
After everyone from a pop art master to an orchestra conductor entered.
“It’s ballerino Seon A-hyun.”
“Whoa!”
I didn't know if it was okay to recruit someone like him for a program making a male idol group—the comparison was stark—but anyway, the CEO seemed thrilled.
Cha Yu-jin slapped my back.
“Hyung, did you see??”
“Yeah.”
I have eyes, of course I saw.
Fortunately, Cha Yu-jin’s level of fuss was being treated as just a reaction for the broadcast. Regardless, the lineup was indeed flashy for a survival show run by an in-house agency.
‘Did the show do well enough to attract more investment than before?’
I only knew one person there.
I looked back at Cheong-ryeo, but he naturally had his composed broadcast face on.
And when our eyes met, he smirked as if sending a signal about his thoughts on the special judges.
‘Even looking out for reaction shots, are you?’
He was a persistent guy in many ways.
‘Of course, it could be read in another way.’
I pulled up the <Companion List> from the Status Window.
Now, if I look at this, I can roughly figure out what he’s thinking….
[Shin Jae-hyun: Filming hard (^-^)]
“…….”
Can’t I get more detail than this?
[Hyung, privacy! You have to protect your colleague’s privacy!]
Ah, right.
I smacked my lips and closed the Status Window.
Separately, I could feel Keun-dal making a fuss on purpose through the pop-up. It was probably because I’d acted like a mess in the hallway before filming.
‘I’m fine now, though.’
Right. Filming was an act where time and space were carved out solely for work, so it was good for blocking out distracting thoughts as much as possible.
Since the sense of working was dominant, I could keep my head spinning toward my goals.
Thanks to that, the noise in my head was quieter.
‘Useless thoughts are forbidden from now on.’
I’d just end it at being glad to see a familiar face after a long time, and as for the first fansite master… well, she seemed to be living a fun life, so that was that.
Let’s leave it at that.
I just waited for the CEO to announce my team.
“The judges will also provide you with feedback as mentors, so we will form teams under each judge.”
I get it, you brat.
And the participants were called one by one.
Four teams of three were formed, and there was nothing particularly unusual other than the fact that Ryu Cheong-woo and Cheong-ryeo were on the same team.
Until I was called.
“Ryu Gun-woo, Jung Ju-dan, and… Jin Chae-yul.”
“…!”
“Your mentor artist is ballerino Seon A-hyun.”
“…….”
From Seon A-hyun to Jin Chae-yul.
‘I said I was fine because it’s filming, and they go and crank up the difficulty.’
It seemed this team battle was going to test my damn patience.
“Hyung, we’re finally on the same team!”
“I know. I’m counting on you.”
“Yes! I’ll work hard!”
Jin Chae-yul seemed to be in excellent condition. And he even spilled the reason himself.
“I think… the CEO really changed his mind. First the guerrilla stage, and now making us perform together again!”
Thoughts are free. And if that made his condition better, then fine.
Of course, it wasn't that the CEO had actually overcome his preferences and started liking the marine look stage.
I checked the team members and the mentor once more and reached a conclusion.
‘He did this on purpose to crush the marine look image.’
Since we were paired with a ballerino, we wouldn't be able to do a light-concept stage like last time, and he’d even thrown in Ju-dan to set the mood.
In other words, he probably intended to pull off something more impressive than the previous marine look stage to overwrite the image the combination of me and Jin Chae-yul had.
‘Dream on.’
If there was anyone in the world benefiting from Cheong-ryeo, it was that guy. How did an agency succeed with a CEO who held such uselessly stubborn preferences?
‘Anyway… am I the leader again?’
Since the other two were VTIC members, there was no choice. They’d both be yes-men.
And wouldn't it make for a better picture to be the leader again and receive high praise from the CEO?
“Then, let’s do our best.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Understood.”
I naturally picked up the practice sheet and proceeded with the planning.
First, the song had to be chosen from LeTi artists, and the collaboration was… dance.
…Of course. Since the mentor was Seon A-hyun. Fortunately, it seemed the agency experts and Seon A-hyun would handle the choreography and specific arrangement, while we just had to set the concept.
I spoke up as a matter of courtesy.
“Does anyone have a concept they want to do that fits the ‘Art’ keyword?”
I didn't expect an answer, but surprisingly, Chae-yul raised his hand with a look of great determination.
“Ah, I… I thought of an idea…!”
“…!”
A VTIC guy… has an opinion?
Let’s hear it first.
“Speak freely.”
“Yes! Um… the concept you did when we took those photos last time! That vampire concept.”
“……Um, yeah, that one.”
The problem was that it was so cringy it made my skin crawl.
I suppressed a groan as I recalled that pictorial, which had received a surprisingly good response on the internet.
“How about doing something with that vibe? Vampires feel elegant for some reason… and ballet is elegant too…!”
“That sounds good to me.”
“…Yeah, it’s not bad.”
No, actually, it wasn't okay.
‘Why?’
I found the answer in a strange sense of déjà vu.
Dance and vampires.
And a LeTi artist song selection.
‘Ah.’
This… overlaps too much with what we did in the first team battle of Idol Inc.
—come to me
come to me
Dazzling, the Paradise by your side
That stage where we did a horror arrangement of Malang Dalkom’s Into the New World.
‘Should I change the direction?’
But now the two VTIC guys were agreeing with each other and leading the conversation.
Since they were given codified guidelines of ‘what must be done’ and ‘what must not be done,’ these guys were starting to speak up.
“Is there a song you have in mind?”
“I’m not sure… Ah, should we look for a song from our agency that goes well with ballet?”
“A song that fits ballet… Then first, we should list the songs that used dance in their choreography.”
“Okay! Hyung, what do you… think of this? Does it look okay?”
To rain on their parade here, I needed both precise timing and a solid rationale.
The problem was that I knew, rationally, there was no real need to stop them.
‘They don't know.’
No one knows, anyway.
This isn't the world where Park Moon-dae went on Idol Inc., is it?
I knew it too. That stage doesn't exist in this world anyway. There’s no problem using it. But….
‘Shut up.’
I don't know why I’m whining like this. You have the answer key, so just use it.
Before it got any later and weird editing was involved, now, while my silence could be seen as careful deliberation.
I spoke up.
“I think it’s a good approach. I’ll look for songs too.”
“Yay!!”
Jin Chae-yul’s face brightened.
The guy said things like, ‘I thought I definitely had to be helpful this time. You suffered alone last time, hyung,’ and excitedly searched WeTube.
However, even after scouring all the songs LeTi had, there was no song that incorporated dance into its choreography as much as Into the New World.
That was to be expected. It was a song that transitioned into smooth dance without strong segments, to the point where it wouldn't be strange to call it ‘unique.’
“…….”
But… this much should be fine.
“I’ll also look for songs that would suit dance if arranged. That way, we can have them as candidates since they might show a new charm different from the original.”
“Wow… Yes, yes!”
I found four or five more candidate songs, listed them, and finished the selection process.
However, an hour later.
Seon A-hyun came as a mentor and gave this advice:
“Since every dance has a different rhythm, I’d like to recommend using a song that originally used dance choreography for the final quality.”
“Ah, then… how about this song?”
Chae-yul carefully pointed to a song with his hand.
[Malang Dalkom - Into the New World]
Seon A-hyun smiled and nodded.
“Yes.”
Ah.
If that’s the case.
“Gun-woo hyung, what do you think?”
“Sure.”
Let’s do that.
“I think it will be a wonderful stage. I’ll make sure the choreography comes out well to match the tempo as much as possible.”
“Yes!”
“Thank you.”
He spent some time kindly and in detail teaching us a few moves to get enough footage.
And before leaving, while they were changing the camera data, Seon A-hyun suddenly approached and spoke to me.
“I’m sorry for pretending not to know you earlier. They told me I shouldn't talk to the participants before the first filming….”
“No. We were filming, so of course.”
I reflexively pulled a return gift from the front pocket of my tracksuit.
“Thanks for the hot chocolate. I enjoyed it.”
“Yes.”
Seon A-hyun, who had accepted the glucose candy, didn't move even though the atmosphere suggested he should leave.
I didn't know why.
“Um….”
Just then, a loud voice was heard from behind.
“A-hyun-ssi! A-hyun-ssi?”
“…! Ah, I’m here.”
It must be an employee from Seon A-hyun’s agency.
I gave a small nod.
“Then, I’ll head in to practice.”
“…Yes. See you again.”
He walked away, following the employee.
“…….”
I turned around and headed to the practice room. To practice Malang Dalkom’s song once more.
No thoughts came to mind.
And the next time I saw Seon A-hyun was two days later, on the day of the mid-term evaluation.