Chapter 366
Chapter 366
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 366
Chapter Title: Idol Maker (4)
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"Eun-a, how'd the lesson go?"
"Fine."
"Unnie, unnie! What'd the vice president say? Is he gonna teach you acting?"
"Nah, just to work hard."
"Eeeh? What the heck! That's so lame."
"Unnie, you didn't just get a lecture the whole time, did you?"
"Pretty much."
"What the... The vice president's such an old-school boomer!"
"Shh! Idiot, Jin-su oppa can hear you!"
"Oops, oppa'll pretend he didn't hear, right?"
"Hahaha, yeah, the vice president is kinda an old-school boomer."
The van was abuzz with chatter... and in the middle of it all, I felt that 'solitude in the crowd.' Everyone was dying to know about my lesson today, but there was no way I could tell them the truth. If I said I stripped naked in front of the vice president, it'd be total chaos.
Yuki and Ciel would burst into tears, Jin-hee unnie would panic, and Eun-ha would act all cool while calling the cops. It was obvious, so I just steered the conversation elsewhere.
Ah, right. 'Solitude in the crowd' is a term coined by an American sociologist... whose name was... anyway, an American sociologist.
"Eun-a, so is the lesson done for today?"
"No, it's for two months."
"Whaaat? Two months?! Unnie, you okay with that?"
"Holy... That many lectures?"
"Yeah."
"The vice president... he's a true old-school boomer among boomers..."
"Hey, Jin-su oppa can hear you!"
"It's fine. Just call me onii-chan later."
"Right, right."
"What the... Jin-su oppa, bro won't work?"
"Nope, that's a no-go."
"Holy shit! English discrimination!"
Ciel and Yuki were as adorable as ever. No way I'd make those two cry. The lesson had been gross, but hiding it was definitely the right call. And... if I spilled and they canceled the lessons, it'd just hurt me. Even if it was kinda disgusting, it was helpful, so I'd tough it out somehow.
"Hey... if it's tough, tell us."
"?"
"H-hey, if it's tough, say something! Listening to lectures all day can't be easy."
"Right, right. Back in the army, the mental training was the worst for me."
"Oh no, here we go! Jin-su oppa's army stories!"
"Everyone, cover your ears!"
"Sigh, I'm definitely switching managers next month."
"Eeeh, onii-chan! You're gonna ditch us?"
"Siiiigh..."
"Onii-chan, dame yo! Onii-chaaan!"
"Zenzen, I won't ditch you! Even if I wanted to, I couldn't!"
"Ehehehe, choroii yo, onii-chan."
Choroii (ちょろい) means 'easy mark.' I nodded in agreement with Yuki. A manager who folds at one 'onii-chan'—what a waste of his 190cm height and tough-guy face. Our agency was full of people who didn't live up to their looks.
I thought of the vice president, who looked like a total perv but had been surprisingly logical. Still, he was a perv, I figured, as I replied to Eun-ha. She always pretended not to care while looking out for me. Citrus really was full of good people.
"Thanks."
"No biggie. Wasn't trying to get a thank you..."
"Then I'm not thankful."
"Hey, you can't just take it back!"
"Hehe."
So I'd give it my all.
Our debut album hadn't gotten the love we'd hoped for. I couldn't repeat that result. For my teammates—who'd welcomed me like family even though I joined late—I'd reinvent myself as a true idol through these lessons with the vice president.
With that resolve, I'd even done my unwanted homework... only to be greeted by porn I'd never seen before. A woman naked on top of a guy, making weird noises. Holy crap. The bed scene had been steamy enough... but porn was on another level.
"Strip while you come in."
"Eek. Gotta strip again?"
"Want me to do it for you?"
"This place is hell."
"Cut the weird talk and strip while you watch. This position... doesn't it look familiar?"
"?"
What was this, some new kind of torment? Asking about porn like that—how was I supposed to answer? I just didn't. He'd explain it all anyway. Instead of replying, I carefully folded my clothes and stacked them in the corner.
"No idea? Fine, I'll show you. It's Citrus's debut stage video."
"?"
"This part. I'll loop it, so watch closely. Similar, right?"
"?"
"Still no? Here's the comparison."
"!"
What... it's identical?!
The porn actress having sex on top of the guy, and me dancing on stage. Shockingly, we were doing the exact same moves. Legs spread, rocking hips back and forth—her and me. What the hell? Total culture shock.
"As you know, this dance is way more common than you think."
"Eek."
"That's why tons of idols besides Citrus have done it. Not exactly the same, but all in that vibe. But Ga-eun, think the agencies didn't know it mimicked a sex position?"
"Uh... they knew, right?"
"Yeah, they all knew. And made you do it anyway."
"Chills."
"Why do you think?"
"Uh... 'cause the CEO's a perv?"
"No, because it's the most effective dance for 'sex appeal.'"
"Whoa."
"Imagine a guy lying under you. Big difference from the porn?"
"......"
"None, right? They choreographed it that way on purpose."
"Mind blown."
"Of course everyone knows it's a dance. But even knowing that, it sparks associations. 'Damn, these girls dance like they're fucking. So hot. Look at those hips. Man, I wanna fuck them...'"
"......"
"That's the point of the dance."
"I see..."
It was shock after shock.
Like opening Pandora's box.
Ah, Pandora's box is from Greek mythology... whatever. No energy to show off trivia now. The dance we'd done... was meant to make the public think that?
I'd learned something I wished I hadn't.
"Grossed out? Filthy? Don't think that way. I told you—learn to enjoy 'sex appeal.' An idol overcomes the public's lustful gazes. Remember that."
"Idol... this job's insanely tough."
"Didn't know? That's why acting's easier. Just play the scripted character."
"Should've gone for actress."
"You suck at acting."
"......Regrettable."
But if the vice president was right, Siwoo oppa thought the same? He introduced us to the choreographer... He looks so innocent, but he's got a sneaky side.
Maybe our agency really is full of people who don't match their looks.
"Anyway... that was the intro. This is the main point."
"This is..."
"You vs. Yuki comparison. Brutal, huh?"
"That's an unfair matchup."
"That 'sex appeal' from before—which one's better?"
"Me. I'm prettier."
"Real talk?"
"......Yuki."
"Right, barely different from porn. Dunno if she knows, but the more it mimics sex, the stronger the 'sex appeal.'"
"Hmm."
"You, on the other hand... total fail."
"Hmph."
"It might evoke sex, but different vibe. 'Ow, it'd just hurt with her...' Something like that."
"......"
"So today, we'll fix it."
"......That's the debut choreography."
"It's the foundation of 'sex appeal.' Good to learn."
"You do dance lessons too, vice president?"
"Nah, but this is 'sex appeal' lessons, so it's fine."
"?"
"I'm not teaching you to dance like Yuki... but to move your hips like that porn actress. Come here."
"!"
Saying that, the vice president shrugged off his jacket. The mood shifted instantly. He wasn't planning to have sex with me now, right? That... no way. Nervous, I swallowed hard, and he gave me that pervy look.
"Aren't you hot? Mind if I turn on the AC?"
- Beep
- Whirr
Ah, right. That's his real face.
The cool air brightened his expression.
"Now for practice."
"I'm calling the cops."
"Not that practice. Calm down?"
He pulled a pillow from a big bag. Pervy, but... not a dirty perv. Weird guy. Seeing no reaction even with me naked, one question hit me.
What if... he's a perv who can't get it up? Poor impotent perv. Pitying the eunuch in my head, he shot me an exasperated glare.
"You just thought something weird, didn't you?"
"Nuh-uh."
"You did."
"Whatever. Get on with the lesson. What's the pillow for?"
"Sigh... fine, lesson time. Get on top."
"?"
"We're imitating the porn now."
"Eek."
"Pretend you're the actress. Rock your hips on the pillow."
"!"
Really just a voyeur impotent perv?
The suspicion grew.