Chapter 422
Chapter 422
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 422
Chapter Title: Idol Maker (60)
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The day of the music video shoot for Citrus's second album title track arrived before they knew it. Siwoo, the producer in charge of Citrus, headed to work in high spirits. There had been some bad news a few weeks back with their bond level dropping, but... that was just a minor hiccup. Yuki's troubles were resolved now, so all that was left was for the bond level to climb from here on out.
It's been a while since the last shoot... they're probably all excited, right?
Seizing the upbeat mood, Siwoo resolved to boost their favorability. Grinning from ear to ear, he entered the practice room and called out to the members in a lively voice. To show his dedication from the morning, he planned to personally escort them to the set.
"Team leader, you're here?"
"...Where are the girls?"
"With the vice president."
"What?"
"He said it's a big day, so he's handling the pickup instead. The girls just went to get in his car. Oh, and I just heard this too."
"...I see."
But he couldn't give them a ride.
Once again, the vice president had meddled cluelessly in Citrus affairs. Siwoo felt irritated enough to chew out Park Jin-su, but he clamped his mouth shut, fearing it might drop their bond level again. Letting out a sigh, he barely calmed himself down. Convinced there'd be opportunities at the studio, he headed to the set with Park Jin-su.
"Haa, haaa... Ngh, mmph..."
"Ciel, are you feeling sick?"
"Hieeek?! M-Me?!"
"Yeah, your face is all red."
"I-I'm just coming down with a little cold... Ahaha..."
However, nothing much happened at the set either.
Were they all coming down with colds? Every break, the members vanished into the lounge. He'd planned to praise them and raise their favorability, but he couldn't force conversations when they weren't feeling well. At least the vice president was nowhere in sight—a small mercy. He'd put on that show of being diligent... probably off napping somewhere.
...Or so Siwoo thought, all on his own.
"Alright, everyone, pull down your panties and show me."
"Ngh, mmm... I-It's embarrassing... Haa."
"Ciel, keep that up and I'll switch your dildo to vibrate mode only."
"Eeeeh?!"
Back at the studio.
As the shoot wrapped up, the vice president strolled over from afar. His hair was damp, like he'd just washed his face. Seeing this, Siwoo couldn't hold back his displeasure. Why the hell did that guy show up? Forcing a smile, he welcomed the vice president.
"Still not done?"
"Hahaha... Just the final scene left."
"Yeah? Yawn... Takes forever for a music video."
"Y-Yeah, it does. Haha..."
But the vice president seemed utterly uninterested in the music video. Yawning widely, he dismissed it as something they could just slap together. Siwoo bit his lip at the man's ignorance of the idol world—no, the modern media landscape entirely. Was this guy really the agency's vice president? He was about to snark at him when the shoot mercifully ended. A music video shoot with zero gains for Siwoo.
"Vice president! Haa... haa, did you see my acting?"
"Of course. You were great."
But... the lack of gains applied only to Siwoo.
The moment filming ended, Yu Jin-hee rushed to the vice president, tears welling up as she hugged him tight. Siwoo couldn't hide his shock. The two faced each other so naturally. Then the vice president embraced her back...
It looked awfully suspicious.
Too close for a mere hug. Siwoo spotted Jin-hee's breasts pressed flat against him and recoiled a step. The very thing he'd only imagined in his head... the vice president was doing it right now.
Like lovers, feeling each other's body heat...
Sharing happy smiles.
Stunned, Siwoo was speechless. Jin-hee's face radiated trust and affection for the vice president—more than for her producer, Siwoo, who was supposedly nothing to him. Disgust welled up, and Siwoo stepped back. Jealousy and rage boiled in his chest like molten lava.
"J-Jinhee! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Hoho. It's fine, team leader. Looks heartwarming to me."
"...What?"
"No one would misunderstand that. Don't worry."
To everyone else, it was just a wholesome scene. Everyone at the studio knew the vice president had coached her acting. Siwoo ended up looking like a fool all by himself. He stared at them in disbelief.
But... no matter how he looked, those two weren't just mentor and student.
Jin-hee panting as she rubbed her chest against him, the vice president slyly groping her ass. This crosses the line, Siwoo thought, fury rising—when the rest of the members approached. And like Jin-hee, they hugged the vice president one by one. Eunha alone went to Park Jin-su by his side and embraced him.
"......"
Yet, even as the crew dispersed...
No one came to hug Siwoo.
The unpleasant companionship didn't end there.
Every time comeback prep ramped up, the vice president tagged along, ferrying the members. Siwoo wanted to snap at him, but he held his tongue. It was because of the Citrus girls laughing and chatting happily with the vice president every time.
"Vice president, look at this. Doesn't it turn out great?"
"Euna, you look pretty even in candid shots."
"Mm... Fair enough."
"M-Master... I mean, vice president. How about me?"
"Yuki looks cute too."
"Ehehe..."
After the photocard photoshoot, Gaeun and Yuki ran to the vice president for praise. Seeing them beam at his words—cute, pretty—Siwoo clenched his fists and ground his teeth. I'm the one who should be getting closer to them, he thought, but day by day, the vice president only grew tighter with the members.
How the hell did it end up like this?
Feeling the crisis, he approached the members, but he couldn't chat as casually as the vice president. The Citrus girls treated only him professionally. The bond with the members that producer Siwoo had so desperately wanted... was all being enjoyed by the vice president.
"Uuu... I'm so nervous."
"Jinhee, it's okay. It'll go great."
"You have a dazzling future ahead?"
"No... Euna, that was encouragement, not lyrics."
"Ah. Got it."
And it was the same on the day of the second album's release.
The vice president had come to the dorm, goofing around with the members. Siwoo wanted to kick him out but had no grounds to. In the end, he waited with everyone for midnight. Praying they'd crack the top 10, he closed his eyes and held his breath... and Citrus's second album dropped.
"I-It dropped! Wow! It's out!"
Soon after, the title track charted—50th, then 30th, settling at 1st. The dorm erupted into festival mode.
"Waaaaaah! Euna! Eunha! We got 1st! 1st!"
"Ow, sis, don't hit."
"We're number one! Waaah... Hwaaa!"
"Yesss! Congrats, girls!"
"You did it! You did iiiit!"
"Waaaah, Jin-su oppa, Siwoo oppa... Hwaaang!"
Park Jin-su popped champagne in genuine joy, while Siwoo flailed around, unwilling to lose out. Seeing the adults more thrilled than them, the Citrus members teared up. Their long-dreamed chart-topper. Yu Jin-hee threw herself at the vice president.
"Vice president, hwaaang... Chuup, chup... Haa, vice preeesident!"
Right there in front of everyone, she kissed him. No, a kiss wasn't enough—she stuck out her tongue, swapping saliva. Overwhelmed by emotion, she couldn't contain herself.
"Hnggh, hng... Vice president, haa... Chup, churuup..."
"J-Jinhee?!"
"Aaaang, chuup, chup... Haa, we're number one, haa... Vice president, mmph!"
Siwoo froze on the spot.
He knew they were close, but... this was too much. No longer heartwarming. Were they experienced? Jin-hee and the vice president tangled tongues so fluidly. Siwoo couldn't watch anymore and opened his mouth to speak—when someone wedged between them.
"Vice president. Mm, chuup, churuup... Congratulate me too."
It was Gaeun.
Shoving Jin-hee aside mid-kiss, Gaeun climbed onto the vice president and pressed her lips to his. Shyly parting her mouth, she licked his lips with sloppy sounds. She seemed awfully practiced too. Gaeun savored him outright. Her tongue work looked downright obscene.
Siwoo watched blankly.
"Oppa... Wanna do it too?"
"E-Eunha? Mmph!"
"Haat, mm... Churuup, haa... Mmph..."
"Eunha... Ngh."
But Siwoo's subordinate didn't sit idle.
Eunha had snuck up and started kissing Park Jin-su. Seeing Eunha as lewd as Gaeun shocked Siwoo. The innocent Citrus girls, this slutty? Disappointed yet aroused, he knew he should stop them—but his own desire burned stronger.
Forgetting his jealousy, Siwoo eyed the remaining Ciel and Yuki.
But they ignored him.
"Vice president... Haa, me too... Mmph, congratulate me..."
"M-Master... Ngh, v-vice president... Haa, reward me too, mmph..."
"Can't be helped. Euna, come here a sec?"
"...Hmph."
"Alright, let's do it together, all three."
Ciel and Yuki stuck out their tongues, lapping at the vice president's. Siwoo averted his eyes from the unexpected three-way kiss. He envied how the vice president fondled their young earlobes during that sleazy makeout.
"Euna... Wanna do it?"
"...Yeah."
But averting his gaze didn't bring him any luck.
Jin-hee and Gaeun embraced each other instead, swapping spit—blatantly ignoring him. As regret hit him, now-alone Eunha pounced on the vice president. She didn't care her sisters were kissing him. Displaced Ciel and Yuki burrowed into their kissing sisters' arms.
"Ngh... Eunha, you?!"
"Haa, mmph... This isn't a kiss, it's just... Churp... Haa, congratulations... Chuuup."
"No, still..."
"Just congratulations? Haa, mmph... Chup, chuup... Don't get the wrong idea... Ngh, haa..."
Eunha sucked on the vice president's tongue, insisting it was purely celebratory, nothing creepy. But neither she nor the other members offered congratulations to manager Park Jin-su or producer Siwoo.
In the end, Siwoo drowned his sorrows in booze instead of kisses. Lost in emptiness, he passed out alongside Park Jin-su.
But... unfortunately, his despair was far from over.