Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Genius Idol's Entertainment Conquest Strategy
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After meticulously laying out Plan A and then Plan B, I dove straight into the work... no, the persuasion.
"Hyung, we need to practice."
"Just trust me this once."
"Yo-han hyung, you want to be an idol, right?"
After all sorts of convincing, Ban Yo-han nodded with a smile that made his lips quiver.
Sincerity really does get through to people.
Fine then.
Anyway, I started seriously training Ban Yo-han.
I had a feeling. This guy was going to be my early-game shuttle.
"The teacher said to relax here earlier. You'll get hurt if you don't."
"Got it."
If Muk Hye-seong was a cold but excellent mentor, Ban Yo-han was a laid-back yet clever student.
With his suspiciously high intelligence—seriously, what was the number?—he absorbed even the messiest explanations like a sponge, making me feel a renewed sense of crisis.
"No, you have to stomp hard here and transition over."
I gave a quick demonstration.
"Yeah. But it doesn't look like you're doing it perfectly either."
"Teaching and skill are separate things."
I was confident. Thanks to memorization, I knew theoretically that this was correct.
Ban Yo-han stared at me for a moment before obediently correcting the choreography as I said.
"Like this?"
"Yep."
This guy's inner thoughts are getting ruder by the minute. Who can't take care of themselves?
This nauseatingly difficult dance's proficiency shot past 30% in half a day.
No matter what, the brutal truth bombs from Muk Hye-seong had the biggest effect.
Every time he pinpointed the parts I sucked at the most, my proficiency skyrocketed.
I wondered how much it'd go up tomorrow.
Classes were already something to look forward to.
On top of that, teaching the other trainees bumped it up a bit, and solo practice added a decent amount too.
I was smugly admiring the proficiency when Ban Yo-han, hands on his knees and panting, spoke up.
"Can't we take a break now?"
"No. We have class with Teacher Muk tomorrow morning. No time to slack."
"Did I do something wrong to you?"
"You say that, but I know you're grateful."
I can hear his every inner thought. This damn picky bastard...
The roommates practicing a bit away glanced over and whispered.
"That hyung's been extra annoying since earlier."
"Yeah. You really do have to live kindly."
You guys make it sound like I'm bullying Ban Yo-han.
Look closely.
It's a heartwarming scene of me diligently caring for a struggling idol hopeful who can't keep up.
PD-nim, writer-nim, if you're watching this, please push me as this season's genuine good-guy character.
In these shows, screen time is everything, and a compelling narrative comes next. A good narrative, that is.
No matter how skilled you are, if you're not on screen, you're done.
But stay on screen too long showing only self-serving behavior, and you turn into a hate sink with rankings in the gutter.
Do nothing, and you lack footage for viewers—a true dilemma.
These shows really grind down trainees' mental health.
"We'll head out first. Don't stay too late since we've got tomorrow too."
"Good work."
"Good work."
The trainees who'd come early to practice packed up and left.
Ban Yo-han, slyly plopped on the floor to rest, stared longingly at the door as they closed it.
Nope, you're not going.
I flashed a bright smile and blocked his path.
We only wrapped up when the staff knocked, saying it was time to go.
After one final run-through with the music, Ban Yo-han sprawled out starfish-style on the floor and didn't get up, eyes closed. Dead?
Jing Xiao poked his cheek, apparently thinking the same.
"Don't touch hyung right now..."
The moment his finger touched, a ghostly voice leaked out like a pre-recorded button had been pressed.
Nagase Ritsu snickered at Jing Xiao scurrying away.
For the record, I was sprawled out next to him too. Bet if I closed my eyes now, I'd be out.
Fatigue at 95— a warning flickered in my vision.
No strength left to even flick a finger and close the window.
"Get lost..."
I grumbled at Jing Xiao poking my cheek now, dismissing the system window in the process.
With the eyesore gone, my mind eased.
Honestly, I hadn't planned to push this hard.
As the earlier trainees said, we'd wake up to full shooting tomorrow.
But seeing my skills improve with every practice— even if repetitive— made dancing and singing fun. Time flew.
The scrape of shoes on the floor, spinning in sync to the beat, even the sore throat from heavy breathing— all good.
"You two are actually good at the dance now."
Kim Jun-woo nodded at Jing Xiao's words. Pride swelled.
As we entered the dorm building, a staff member seated at a table called us over.
"Quick interview before you go up. Yo-han first."
The staff, looking as exhausted as us, took Ban Yo-han into a nearby room.
Meanwhile, I tidied my sweat-matted bangs in the wall mirror.
No real difference, but whatever.
Ban Yo-han emerged soon after with a smug grin. Did he badmouth me?
"You're up."
With some unease, I entered the room.
A mini version of the studio set from earlier was set up.
"Sit there. Nothing big, just answer comfortably."
"Sure."
I knew they turned nothing into something.
The camera's red light glared like a goblin's eye.
"What's your target grade?"
"I want an A, learning a lot from Teacher Muk."
"You helped your classmates a lot today, Raon. Didn't get tiring with everyone asking questions?"
"Dance and vocals are both super tough, right? Especially in our class—lots aren't used to this choreography. I'm not great either, but if what I know can help us all in this tough spot, I think it's right to share."
"Heard you were especially harsh on Yo-han till just now."
What did that punk say?
Regretfully, my goal wasn't to screw Ban Yo-han over but mutual win-win to rise together, so I smiled and spun it positively.
"Yo-han hyung's super smart. He memorized the choreo, but with his short trainee time, he struggles to embody it. As classmate and roommate, I wanted to help more."
"Got it. Good work. Send the next one in."
After the interview, Ban Yo-han had already gone to wash up.
I told Kim Jun-woo, lingering by the door, to go in, then headed up.
Quick rinse, back to the room— a thick blanket was on the floor. My spot.
Truth is, on the way back, Jing Xiao suggested rock-paper-scissors to settle the floor sleeper properly.
"..."
"How do you lose first try. And alone."
"Must be fate."
My confident rock fist was now loathsome.
Maybe my luck, down to 8 from initial 10 after forcing memorization, was the issue. Logical suspicion.
They say luck is skill too— in entertainment, luck rivals charm.
Those who rise do so with luck.
So, add Luck to stats to raise.
"Night."
"Good work today."
"[Good night.]"
Lights out, I crawled into my bedding.
Worried about sleeping in a game world, strange place.
But nope.
Lie flat, cover up, head on pillow— lights out like flipping a switch.
And.
Blink.
'Huh?'
The popup let me grasp it. Deep sleep means I slept?
'...I slept?'
No way. Eyes closed 3 seconds ago.
Felt less like sleep, more like a quick blink.
Does that mean I slept soundly?
As I thought that, a system window popped up.
With my current Stamina, Fatigue management was near impossible, so I took the risk and kept default.
[N]
Fatigue visibly down, but felt unslept— odd vibe as I sat up.
"You're up? You were out like the dead."
Kim Jun-woo, patting lotion on his damp face, glanced over.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Coming down from bed, I stepped on something by mistake— your arm. Seemed hard, but you didn't twitch. If no breathing, I'd think corpse. Sleep like a rock? Or I stepped lighter than thought."
...Come to think, left arm tingles a bit.
'Forced deep sleep— barely reacts to anything, huh.'
Faint pain, soon gone, no dance hindrance. Shrugged at Kim Jun-woo.
"What time is it?"
"7:30."
"When'd you wake, hyung?"
"Around 7?"
"Early riser."
"Eyes just opened."
"..."
Brief silence.
Eyes met, we smirked conspiratorially in unison, turning to the still-snoozing guys.
"Haha."
"Hahaha."
Grinning like third-rate villains with schemes, we pounced on them.