Chapter 514
Chapter 514
Those Iter bastards got cast in the renewed version of True Competition, a show we had already staked our claim on.
The moment we arrived at the filming set, I saw them making the rounds in the hallway, greeting the other cast members at their waiting rooms. My first thought was this:
Why didn't I hear about this?
How did we not know those guys were appearing?
I questioned myself for a moment, then clicked my tongue.
It was obvious. The production crew had intentionally kept it under wraps.
They probably figured we’d throw a fit.
Anyone who had spoken to a few people at our agency would know that TeSTAR wasn't exactly fond of Iter. It just so happened that none of the current cast members belonged to an agency like LeTi, which would have meticulously vetted the additional cast and exerted pressure beforehand.
So, the crew had stalled for time by saying, "The casting hasn't been finalized yet."
My eyebrow twitched.
They took us for fools.
To be honest, I hadn't expected this specific situation. No, more accurately, I hadn't felt the need to predict it. I had calculated that Iter’s agency, Wonder Hall, wouldn't dare push them into this.
Hadn't they already learned their lesson with the Waterbomb incident?
Inexperienced rookies are bound to get absolutely wrecked if they’re compared to us in a head-to-head match.
That was why I’d left their mole in our company alone, planning to dangle some bait and lure them into a trap...
But they walked into this of their own accord?
Is this their final desperate struggle?
The fact that a company like Wonder Hall wouldn't usually resort to such shallow tricks made my brain work even faster.
"Alright, let's head inside first~"
"Yep."
TeSTAR entered our assigned waiting room without a word. However, our staff members looked like they had a lot to say, judging by their expressions alone.
Steer Ryu Cheong-woo must have seen them too.
Normally, he was the type to read the room and grasp the situation instantly, but for some reason, he just followed along in silence.
Hmm.
Once we were inside the waiting room, I spoke to him.
"That group is Iter. They debuted by benchmarking TeSTAR."
"I see."
A mechanical response came back.
If he was the guy who had investigated TeSTAR so thoroughly, he definitely should have known, yet he was excessively calm and composed. As if he were reacting to a topic he had no interest in.
"..."
I made a note of his reaction and turned my gaze.
The angry company staff were talking amongst themselves, looking like they were about to breathe fire.
"No, this is a total lack of respect for us..."
"We can't just let this slide, can we?"
They were genuinely pissed. Of course, part of it might have been an act of exaggerated fury to prevent TeSTAR from snapping at them for not knowing sooner.
Regardless, a few high-ranking staff members even stormed out of the waiting room to confront the production crew. Even if it was just a face-saving gesture since the broadcasting station held all the power, protesting with some restraint was better than doing nothing at all.
I noticed a few members catching on, either wearing bitter smiles or shrugging their shoulders.
"How could they do this? It's basically deception!"
"Well... yeah, I guess so, Hyung."
...And then there were those who were just genuinely angry.
There was also someone who approached me with a tense face to ask a question. It was Steer Kim Rae-bin, who had said he wouldn't stand on stage but had diligently accompanied us for the filming.
"Um, is there anything I should be doing...?"
"It's not a big deal. Just rest. Sit down."
"Yes..."
He sat down on the sofa with a complicated expression. I nodded.
"Besides, we'll be seeing the parties involved soon enough."
"...?"
I waited.
And a short while later, a guest arrived at our waiting room.
"Hello, Sunbaenims!"
Iter.
As expected, the guys who had been making their rounds had finally come to us. And in that moment, I realized what Wonder Hall was aiming for.
"We look forward to working with you!"
The boys bowed.
Meeting them in person, the members of Iter... were unassuming, introverted-looking kids with no hint of arrogance. In other words, there wasn't a single sly fox, a cunning brat, or even a strong-willed character among them.
I swallowed a groan.
Damn it.
So this was what those Wonder Hall bastards were after. These Iter kids had gentle personalities that were socially irreproachable.
They wanted to show this to the public.
If they intended to break the "mystique" they had been building up until now right here... their plan was to completely soften the conflict with TeSTAR.
If they couldn't kill the "successor" image, they had pivoted to extract as much benefit from it as possible. By strengthening the relationship.
It's so obvious.
Iter, the group that learns well from their TeSTAR sunbaes in a heartwarming senior-junior relationship despite being on a competition show! Add a bit of a "human" touch, and the public is bound to be generous toward young rookies who seem innocent and guileless.
And since the mockery and controversy surrounding them "copying TeSTAR" wouldn't fit this new image, it would naturally fizzle out. The moment people feel a sense of familiarity with someone, they start being selective about their dislikes.
That’s how it would go.
And by humbly showing how they were startled by the talk of being TeSTAR's successors, they would safely secure the "Super Rookie" image. The performance itself just had to not be a total disaster.
Solidifying the "Rising Star" image.
Minimizing the risk.
I resisted the urge to rub my temples.
They really thought this through.
The bigger problem was that I couldn't necessarily call it a lie. I scanned the Iter members huddled together.
These guys really are just kids.
They were teenagers who had debuted after practicing their hearts out, knowing nothing about their agency's schemes or whatever. Model students who didn't really understand how the situation was unfolding, or at best, only understood it superficially. There was a high probability they were even banned from using smartphones.
They specifically picked out kids like this to debut.
I could see Wonder Hall's calculation. In the future, the agency would take all the heat, while these kids could step aside—a tactic they could use several more times. Because the fans would know they were truly obedient and innocent kids.
"...And I'm Nu-a, the leader. We've been watching your performances diligently. We truly admire you, Sunbaenim!"
As they introduced themselves and continued their greetings, their faces were a blur of tension, discipline, and shyness. The silver-haired boy who seemed to be the leader shouted energetically while clenching his fists.
"We will work really hard!"
Isn't saying that to a competitor on a survival show technically a provocation? But since it was clear they had no such intention, the members just gave them reasonably good reactions.
"Yep~ We look forward to it."
"I hope you find the strength for today's filming...!"
"...! Thank you!"
It was the same kind of kindness they showed when talking to any other junior they had no particular feelings toward. Wonder Hall had probably aimed for this too.
They know our agency practically moves according to our whims.
So, they were trying to soften any resentment TeSTAR might have toward Iter, making it impossible for us to be harsh to these kids. To make us hesitate even if we tried to take action.
Moreover, it would be even more effective when the cameras were rolling.
If we react poorly during filming, TeSTAR will be the ones looking petty.
I nodded inwardly, then smiled naturally and shook hands with Iter's leader.
"I'll be looking forward to a great performance."
"Thank you, yes!"
After carefully requesting to give us their albums—which were covered in long letters—the kids left the waiting room with flushed faces. I closed the album that began with a long letter saying, "I've been a fan since Park Moon-dae Sunbaenim sang <You Might Not Know>."
The other members seemed to have similar complicated feelings, as most of them took a look at the albums.
This album benchmarked <Haengcha>.
The fact that they could hand it over with such sincere respect... was likely due to the disconnect between the company and the group.
Well, it's not enough to shake me.
I shrugged and set the album aside. It wasn't like crazy things happening in this industry was anything new. Besides, we had even experienced supernatural events that defied logic.
The guy sitting right next to me was living proof of that.
"..."
I glanced sideways. Steer Ryu Cheong-woo had already tucked his album away on the table in front of the sofa and was lost in thought with his fingers interlaced.
Since "Ryu Cheong-woo" was TeSTAR's leader, he had moved to sit here while greeting the juniors who came to the waiting room. However, he showed almost none of his usual leadership-driven proactiveness.
"Noona~ we're starting filming within 30 minutes, right?"
"Of course. Oh, and I heard this issue has reached the CEO's level. A proper protest will be filed, so don't worry!"
"Oh... is that so?"
"Why protest? We are strong. So no need for protest... What? Sejin Hyung?"
"Be quiet, Cha Yu-jin."
Ryu Cheong-woo, who remained silent regardless of the noisy preparations for filming around him, felt like he was living in a different world.
"..."
Well, it wasn't like I was opening my mouth either.
I should start getting ready.
I shrugged and was about to stand up. It was then.
"I have something to say."
Steer Ryu Cheong-woo spoke quietly.
Hmm.
I stopped moving and looked back at him from where I sat.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
Ryu Cheong-woo gave a short reply, then slowly continued. It was a topic I hadn't expected at all.
"About my... 'memories'."
"..."
"I think it would be okay to give them back."
"...!"
Thirty minutes before filming. Suddenly, Steer Ryu Cheong-woo had withdrawn his stance of refusing to have his memories returned.
"I've thought about it... and I think I've been a lot of trouble. I acted a bit excessively."
As he said that, Steer Ryu Cheong-woo gave a faint smile. It was as if he had regained his mental stability and found peace.
But I knew. There was no way that was the case.
There's no reason for it.
There had been no catalyst for such a change. This guy hadn't reached some enlightenment or comfortably accepted the situation on his own.
No, rather...
I remembered his face from last night. Steer Ryu Cheong-woo's face after he had heard everything "Lee Se-jin A" had to say.
— If you want to try your best here, I'll cheer for you. ...You've worked hard all this time. Thanks for believing in me, and I'm sorry.
Right after those words, he had definitely looked... exhausted.
Burnout.
That... is weariness.
A hint of intense lethargy, hidden by habit, flickered across his face before vanishing. Then, he continued in a gentle voice with words that were advantageous for TeSTAR's situation.
"It's fine to proceed right after this filming is over. Um, we were going to do unit stages this time, right? I'll sit out for now."
Unit stages. I recalled the conversation we had this morning. It was a condition designed to break the monotony of competition programs.
— If there are too many people, the performances might overlap, so let's split the members up once or twice. We can schedule individual activities too.
"...Don't you think you might want to do it after you get your memories back?"
"That might be the case."
Steer Ryu Cheong-woo readily agreed. Then he answered nonchalantly.
"That's for that 'Ryu Cheong-woo' to handle."
It was a composure that felt almost chilling.
"..."
I narrowed my eyes for a moment, remaining silent as I thought. And then.
"Ah, yes."
I immediately agreed. I looked around and spoke up.
"About you not doing the stage this time. I was going to ask the others for their opinions anyway, so let's gather them now."
I immediately called over the members who were chatting nearby and had them sit around the table. The staff seemed a bit flustered, but it was fine. I had no intention of wasting time.
"About the units, let's take volunteers and group them up quickly. I want to check before filming."
"Ah, sounds good."
Since it was a topic we had already discussed, the others weren't caught off guard.
"Then, shall we see a show of hands? Hands up."
The response was immediate. Cha Yu-jin and Keun Se-jin raised their hands without a second's delay. The guys who never missed a chance to be on stage.
"..."
Next to naturally raise his hand was Seon A-hyun. The cautious and diligent one. And finally, even Bae Se-jin, with a stiff face.
In other words, everyone except for the two who only had memories of the Steer timeline seemed to have raised their hands.
A faint, bitter smile seemed to flash across Ryu Cheong-woo's lips for a moment. I nodded and declared.
"Four people in total. This should work. The number of people is just right."
Then, Steer Kim Rae-bin cautiously raised his hand from the side. He only spoke after being given permission.
"Um... isn't it five?"
"It's four."
"...Ah, you were excluding yourself. My apologies."
"Hmm?"
I tilted my head.
"I'm not doing it."
"...??"
"I didn't raise my hand."
"...!"
I announced.
"Cha Yu-jin, Lee Se-jin, Seon A-hyun, and Bae Se-jin Hyung. These four will do it."
Let's all not do it together.