Chapter 393
Chapter 393
The internet was flooded with reactions to the aired episodes. I decided to go through them in chronological order.
First, starting from Episode 7—but before that, let’s check the general sentiment.
Specifically, the ecosystem after Episode 6, where Cheong-ryeo picked the outlier Ryu Gun-woo to complete that "sexy" keyword concept stage.
To be honest, I expected more visceral reactions since we used a keyword like "sexy," but at this point, analytical comments about the performance itself dominated the top ranks.
‘It means a lot of people are coming back to rewatch it.’
It also meant people were starting to project narratives onto them. The group’s image was beginning to solidify.
‘Cha Yu-jin has been fully accepted, too.’
The synergy of the once-out-of-place Cha Yu-jin fully absorbing the LeTi style drew people into the performance itself.
Yes, by this point, viewers were already busy predicting the debut lineup.
People were starting to grasp the outline of the post-program debut group. The "National Support Supplementary Class" teaser at the end of Episode 6 didn't even draw much bait.
Everyone just viewed them as a passing obstacle and stayed focused on the existing participants.
And then, Episode 7.
Ryu Cheong-woo made his entrance.
At first, everyone was terrified yet incredibly intrigued by this unexpected big shot from another field.
…I think my reaction played a part in that, too.
[Now, let’s watch the reaction of a person whose relative, who they were living with, suddenly appears as a contestant on set.]
Over the red captions scrolling across the screen, my interview cut appeared.
[Ryu Gun-woo: …I mean.]
[Ryu Gun-woo: (Speechless)]
[It took a full day for Gun-woo to regain his usual eloquence.]
‘Damn it.’
I knew those broadcasting bastards would do this… The way they exquisitely zoomed in on my blank face and juxtaposed it with other interview cuts made for a great variety show moment amidst the tense atmosphere.
As Ryu Cheong-woo’s sincere interview and his serious, cooperative preparation process were shown, the on-air reaction was fairly favorable.
At least, until the spoilers spread far and wide.
========================
[Did you see the LeTi Survival spoilers?]
They say Ryu Cheong-woo passes and Choi Tae-jun gets dropped. Is this for real?
========================
But until then, the prevailing opinion was that it was a fake spoiler or just someone stirring the pot, so it stayed simmering under the surface.
The viewer sentiment, which had been skeptical, finally exploded after Episode 8 aired.
The general consensus among the negatives was that Ryu Cheong-woo was "riding the bus" because I did well.
Ryu Gun-woo’s challenging spirit in jumping into a Main Vocal vs. Main Vocal battle was a character trait worth appealing to in a survival show.
However, the fact that Ryu Cheong-woo chose that specific team seemed suspicious… or so they said.
‘I knew there would be side effects.’
In fact, the atmosphere was crossing the line into talk of rigging and deep-seated corruption, but the situation flipped again when the general public—not just the viewers—bit the bait.
‘His general public likability is unconditionally high.’
No matter how well Wise was doing, it was still just an idol survival show. There was a gap between it and the general public.
Thanks to that, people who didn't even watch the show joined in, and it almost became a total mess… but the self-purification process worked to some extent, and the bashers were suppressed.
Still, resentment was seething beneath the surface…
Until this broke right before the guerrilla concert.
[Video of Wise’s Choi Tae-jun popped up]
Captures of a video showing that "Club Main Vocal" bastard drinking and smoking.
A video from a few years ago, posted on social media by someone who had a birthday party at a certain bar, was discovered. He was caught in the frame for a few seconds at the end.
Comparing it to his appearance at the time, it was undeniable proof.
And everyone coolly flipped their stance.
If this had broken in the middle of the show, the fans’ heads would have exploded from the pain.
Choi Tae-jun was talented, had a decent fanbase, and was the CEO’s pick, so he was unlikely to be eliminated under normal circumstances.
Fans would have spent sleepless nights in agony, fearing the CEO would try to drag him along anyway.
Moreover, if a participant scandal breaks out, it negatively impacts the program's image since it's an in-house survival show.
‘But it ended up looking like Ryu Cheong-woo sniped him right before it happened.’
Thanks to that, he was being treated like some kind of hero.
Since the re-evaluation was fun, fans of all sorts of participants joined in happily, adding their own friendly comments.
‘No wonder there were so many fans of guys who weren't involved with the Club Main Vocal at all.’
It seemed the factions that hadn't commented on the situation were having the most fun playing around.
Furthermore, the game ended when a fancam was uploaded showing Ryu Cheong-woo flying across the stage at the guerrilla concert, having regained his TeSTAR-level skills.
Now, Ryu Cheong-woo wouldn't be ostracized, at least until the final.
‘Clean.’
As if someone had painted a picture.
“……Good grief.”
And who else could have painted such a picture?
[Shin Jae-hyun: Currently rejoicing at the smooth progress (^-^)]
It was this guy’s handiwork.
I called him as soon as I checked the Colleague List.
[Shin Jae-hyun: Currently answering a call from a colleague (^▽^)]
The call connected shortly after, and I asked him directly.
— Hmm, didn’t you ever think it would have broken around this time anyway?
“I don’t know. If the timing is too perfect, it’s usually because someone made it perfect.”
I heard laughter over the phone.
— I suppose it could be seen that way.
It was practically a confession.
“How did this not break originally?”
— Originally… well. Wouldn’t the person who posted the video have had their account hacked for some reason and quietly disappeared?
Right, I see how it went.
This bastard must have managed VTIC’s scandals one by one with extreme care. Well, I guess that’s how they stayed at the top for ten years.
‘I have to give him credit for that.’
I thought for a moment and then asked in a friendly tone.
“The program final is coming up soon. Is there anyone else you’re planning to send off?”
— Oh, do you want to do it yourself?
“It’s not like I couldn’t.”
He laughed before answering.
— There is one… but I think it would be more balanced if they were naturally eliminated through the program.
“Who is it?”
— Well.
What?
— Because it’s cleaner if I do it. I’ll leave the fun of guessing to you, Junior.
He was consistently a guy who knew exactly how to piss people off. If he were in front of me, I would have thrown a punch.
— Then get some rest. See you at the practice room.
“Be ready to talk.”
— Haha.
The call ended.
‘I’ll have to make him spill it before filming starts.’
I gnashed my teeth and closed the call screen.
Then, I saw message pop-ups I hadn't checked earlier.
That was a trace of a brief conversation with him after he heard about the recent filming.
The next one was a message that just arrived.
Lee Se-jin.
It seemed he contacted me right when filming was supposed to end.
I had asked him a few things about the tour last time, so that’s probably why he was asking.
I replied casually.
-
Is he trying to butter me up?
I chuckled and sent a reply.
Replies poured in immediately.
Hmm?
Based on his usual management cycle, it shouldn't be time for us to meet yet. I thought we wouldn't talk about meeting until after the final.
‘Well… filming is over for now, so there’s no reason to refuse.’
He’s good at reading public opinion, so he might catch things in Wise that I missed.
I replied readily.
And the appointment was set swiftly.
Meeting out like last time was awkward timing-wise, and I was worried about sightings, so the place was either his house or mine.
Excluding the guys living in dorms… the conclusion was already reached.
Ding-dong.
“Hello~”
9 PM. Lee Se-jin arrived at the officetel with a gift set.
Of course, I wasn't the only one at home.
“Hello. Oh~ I heard you guys were living together! I’m enjoying the show.”
“Welcome!”
“Hmm.”
“…?”
Beyond Cha Yu-jin, who was waving excitedly, Ryu Cheong-woo looked closely at his long-time teammate and gave a thin smile.
“Have a good time. Ah, since you’re my senior, is it okay to say it like that?”
“Ayy~ please be comfortable! I know you’re the older one.”
“Haha, shall I? Thanks.”
Lee Se-jin handed over the gift set and entered the officetel. He was making social comments like "The house is really nice" as he reached the living room sofa.
“If you do the backrest like this, it goes up.”
“I’ll take the cushion out.”
“…Ah~ yes! Okay.”
Since I reflexively catered to his preferences, a look of "How on earth did you know?" almost flashed across his face for a moment.
Still, Lee Se-jin successfully composed himself and continued his sociable small talk, but before long, Ryu Cheong-woo and Cha Yu-jin stood up.
“Then we’ll go do some grocery shopping.”
“Eat whatever delicious thing I find!”
Since I was in charge of making late-night snacks, those two decided to handle the ingredients.
“Oh, if it’s okay, should I order some delivery?”
“It’s totally OK~ Enjoy!”
Cha Yu-jin answered Lee Se-jin simply, and the two of them left.
Click.
Lee Se-jin watched the closed front door and reacted with appropriate politeness and nonchalance.
“Gosh… I feel bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. They’re always like that, it’s not because you came.”
I chuckled.
“Let’s watch your tour.”
“Ummm, shall we?”
Lee Se-jin cleanly switched gears and actively operated the devices.
The Blu-ray disc he brought began to play, and the video successfully appeared on the TV screen.
[GY-ROP - FIRST DROP: THE OPENING CONCERT]
“Ah, they put the letters in so big~”
“It’s fine as long as it’s visible.”
And then, the first song performed in a fairly large venue.
“Oh.”
After the opening of a heavy hip-hop-based track with an intense beat, a light reggaeton dance track followed.
I rested my chin on my hand.
‘A choice that shows the group’s color.’
A typical style of rebels combined with synchronized choreography. Still, the quality of the song and choreography was good, so it seemed they would have many fans.
“You’re good.”
“Ahaha… thanks.”
While his words were naturally bright, Lee Se-jin watched the screen with rather sunken eyes.
It was a look unlike someone who had excitedly brought his own video.
I knew the reason.
‘He must have heard that he stands out too much.’
It was a funny thing. This guy tends to obsess over the overall balance in group songs. Thanks to that, his daily routine used to be holding Cha Yu-jin back and pulling Bae Se-jin up during dance practice.
Which meant….
‘Those bastards are visibly half-assing it.’
Under the pretext of doing it live, they weren't holding their dance lines. So when Lee Se-jin danced properly, he stood out instead. Because his movements alone looked large.
Since he was already a big guy, I could see him being consciously careful, but as the song progressed and he got more immersed, his movements grew larger again.
Moreover, in the unit song the three of them did… it felt like a difference in quality.
[Yes, forward, forward! Just further ahead~]
I watched him roughly skip over a floor choreography move by just leaning down instead of actually lying down, and then I asked him point-blank.
“Didn’t you feel it was a waste?”
He would obviously say no, but still, it’s more refreshing to just say the damn thing, and the person listening would also feel…
“It was a waste.”
“…!”
It was a dry voice.
But he immediately became cheerful again.
“…That Hyung-nim was a bit sick back then~ so it’s a stage we were both a bit disappointed in!”
I nodded.
“…Right.”
“…….”
A brief silence followed.
“Ah~ but it’s embarrassing to keep showing my stage to you like this, Hyung. Want a drink? You’re non-alcoholic… ah.”
He stopped mid-sentence. The moment I also stopped moving.
“Wait, was I wrong? Ah, I thought I heard that last time. My apologies~”
“…….”
I moved again.
“No, non-alcoholic is good.”
“Ah, really? Then should I go get some?”
“But I don’t have any at home.”
He burst out laughing.
“Ah~ Hyung, what is that!”
I just brought out some soda. Lee Se-jin accepted it quite politely.
“Ah, thank you~”
“For what.”
The atmosphere relaxed again. I sat down and turned my gaze back to the GY-ROP tour video.
And I remembered.
The guys who originally did this work together, but were now working in different places.
Bae Se-jin, Seon A-hyun.
And the person on the screen… Keun Se-jin.
“…….”
In fact, hadn't I already reached a rational conclusion?
‘There’s no point in spinning the gacha anymore.’
Unless Kim Rae-bin comes out, it would be better to dump all the Awakening Points into myself and try some cheat-level bullshit to make all my stats EX.
But still.
‘It’s irritating.’
Seeing a guy who was in the same group as me feeling his limits and struggling with bottom-tier teammates over there.
Wouldn't it be more comfortable for him to know his true situation?
‘I have plenty of points to spare.’
Since Fame Points were steadily coming in.
I hesitated for a moment, then opened the status window. And with a movement that wasn't noticeable, I repeatedly tapped the 10-pull button for [Recruit Colleague].
Light, light, light.
But what if Seon A-hyun comes out while I’m doing this?
‘I don’t know, fuck it!’
I’ll think about that when it happens.
Starlight continuously sparked around the GY-ROP tour screen.
[I-I think we’ve spent about a hundred thousand points…?! 100 times!]
Is that so? I kept pressing.
And after pressing about twelve times.
[Uh-oh?]
A strong light finally exploded from the pop-up.
A light so intense it obscured the GY-ROP tour screen.
And the stars displayed on the status window.
[Whew~]
[★★★★★ Lee Se-jin / Main Dancer]
“…….”
I got him.
[Would you like to accept him as he is?]
The status window asked.
I kept my eyes on my drink and opened my mouth.
To Lee Se-jin.
“I’m just saying.”
“Yeah?”
“If there was more of your success somewhere else that you hadn't noticed.”
“…….”
“I mean… if there was another result of your hard work, but you just hadn't realized it yet.”
I asked.
“If there was a way to know that, would you want to try it?”
“Yeah.”
“…!”
the answer came back without a single gap.
I turned to look at him. Lee Se-jin was looking at me without expression.
“Try it.”
“…….”
“What is it?”
I reached out my hand.