#23. Schedules Schedules Schedules (1)
As expected, things were falling into place perfectly.
With a flood of casting requests pouring in, Manager Noona skillfully slotted the members into schedules left and right, filling them up fast. The guys were baffled—they finally got to pick the shows they'd always wanted to hit.
"Everyone's cool with you jumping in. Think of it as a free pass."
"Our country's the type that once it gets boiling, it just keeps bubbling over nonstop, right?"
I shook my head at the neatly organized schedule Manager Noona had laid out for me. Too much. Way too much.
"Why are they calling me for a morning health show?"
"Something about vocal health."
"...Pass. Hard pass."
There were plenty of spots where I could shine—why waste time on that crap?
I went through the offers one by one. Each had the co-stars listed, mostly other members. Priority one: shows for the whole group. Priority two: ones where we could look good. Priority three: stuff the members begged for.
"All packed now."
"Your turn to crush 'em."
"Uwaaaah~!"
The lineup was wild. The company had caught on that I could handle more than expected, so unless it was total garbage, everything landed on my desk. Of course, a few were ones they really pushed.
"This one's mandatory."
"...Just me? Hate solo gigs like this. If you're booking, why not the whole crew?"
KBB's charity concert. Televised, with ARS donations for the underprivileged and all ticket profits going to charity.
"Haha, yeah. Sigh."
Manager Noona gave an awkward grin and a little sigh. I could tell she hadn't taken the request lying down.
They probably said a male idol has no business performing there.
A big charity gala like that? Higher-ups pull strings hard. Who'd dare invite a male idol? My invite came from my Mask Singer king title proving my vocals.
Invited as Mask Singer champ, not idol.
I almost said screw it, but held back.
Noona knows. Showing up anywhere like this is huge for me.
This flips my "idol" tag to "real singer with chops." Gold for future solos. Sure, Mask Singer made me famous, but masked. Now's when face-time counts.
"You're in, right?"
"Gotta be. Big boost."
"Yes! Knew you'd get it."
Her face relaxed.
"One more must-do."
"Another? What?"
"Idol Survival Star One."
"...The one filming trainees?"
"Bingo."
"What am I doing there?"
"Mentor. Think cameo."
Cameo, huh.
"What qualifies me? Might just get laughed at. My trainee days were basically zilch."
Mentors need creds. Should've felt the trainee grind to preach "I did it too—keep pushing."
Cheat keys swallowed mine. Lecturing effort would mock theirs.
But Noona saw it different.
"Short trainee time, but skills top-tier. Long trainees sucking compared to you? Their fault."
"..."
Cheat keys, actually.
"Not saying tell 'em talent rules, quit. Just share singing tips, cheer 'em on. Pump 'em up."
"Hype man, got it."
"Yup. Boost buzz with your face. Time to shed rookie skin? Show senior vibes, done. No sweat now?"
Short shoot, fancy title for face-time. Relieved, but a twinge of regret.
If they've got advice-worthy stuff, I can give it.
Noona insisted no worries.
"Your skills blew up. Trainees see you as a hero. They'll freak—in a good way. Q&A, autographs, out."
"Got it. That's all the musts?"
"Yup. More might come."
"Cool, this is the plan."
"Good luck."
A few days after wrapping schedules with Noona, the grind restarted full throttle.
Domestic focus post-overseas hiatus meant the agency wrung us dry for max efficiency. I barely saw Taeyang for 10 straight days.
Tough.
Stamina pouch kept me going physically, but mentally? Drained, mood in the gutter.
Even stages demanded my solo spot, shuffling orders. Members crashed while I hustled more—body and mind frayed, edges sharp.
—Taeyang called me mama yesterday.
Video calls with him kept me sane.
"For real? Talking already? Taeyang's a genius!"
—Thought so too, but Jua says no. All parents think their kid's a prodigy. Grandma thought I was—turns out nah.
"Taeyang's special. Could be a genius!"
I couldn't buy Jua's doubt. Calling "mama" already? Plus my talent genes? High odds.
—Whoa, you're as bad as me, super dad mode.
"Wait'll you see. He's a genius."
Healing with Taeyang and Jua was fleeting.
"Gotta head to shoot."
—Nap time for him.
"Yeah. You two keep me going. Sigh, call later."
—Hang in there, hubby. Fighting!
Hung up, headed to set. Here for Idol Survival Star One.
Pre-shoot bathroom break for a breather.
Airtime under 5 minutes. How many hours today?
Idol life: absurd. 3-hour drive for 10-min stage. Full-day shoots cut entirely. Wasted effort stings.
Today's the same. Over 2 hours to get here, airtime? Under 5. Still, we grind the pointless slog.
"Woooah~!!"
"Mentor from Airplane, Jin Haesol, everyone! Give him a big welcome!"
Waaaah!!! Clap clap clap! Clap clap!
Trainees cheered—pure broadcast hype, fake applause. But eyes on me? Mostly positive.
Some competitive fire, jealousy. That one's trash-tier.
Where'd they scrape these thugs? Didn't know they'd prop up pros one day. I tsked inwardly.
Pro amateurs can't hide emotions on camera.
"Hey everyone, Airplane's Jin Haesol."
"The white-haired prince riding the black horse wave, super popular. Came to cheer Star One trainees despite the rush."
"Walking in, the heat hits first. Meant to boost you, but your passion's charging me up."
"Special perk reveal! Top mid-eval team gets mentor advice!"
Oooh! Wow~!
Mask Singer beast's tips? Huge. Active idol? God-tier to trainees—industry snubs males, but not this.
"Do we gotta senior all active idols? Not craving advice."
...Some twisted ones, sure.
That line airing okay?
Plenty good vibes, but the shade stuck like arrows. Whatever—guys dissing don't need my worry. Ignore.
Will any haters top the eval? Cocky ones' rankings? Fun watch.