Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Five Stars
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White... I burned it all...
Like a boxer from some manga who'd set his own body ablaze, I dragged myself back to the waiting room and collapsed.
I couldn't remember a single thing from the interview.
From the start, that blunder I'd made had blocked everything from going in one ear and out the other.
Thud thud-
'Aaaah!'
The memory of that moment resurfaced, and I pounded my own head while writhing in agony.
Jeong Da-jeong, are you really that much of an idiot?
Love for the members? What kind of appeal is that?
In an interview where the members haven't even been decided yet, did you seriously think nonsense like that would land?
Of course, the results didn't matter either way.
It was a foregone conclusion from the start, and I hadn't applied to become a Virtual YouTuber with any real intention anyway.
But even so.
Throwing out that kind of black history line and sinking alone was utterly mortifying.
They were probably tearing me apart in the interview room right now.
Ugh, I want to die.
"Those who are finished with their interviews may go now. Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you!"
As I hid my face, trying to cool off, the door to the waiting room opened, and the female staff member from earlier announced that we could disband.
Yeah, let's just head home.
I'd achieved my goal, so this was more than enough.
It would've been nice to see more of the other members, but asking for that much would be too greedy.
Now all I had to do was eagerly await the debut date and prepare to fan out.
Before that, I needed to replace my creaky old computer desk first.
It squeaked every time I sat down, screaming 'Save me!' and it was starting to prick my conscience.
I gripped the strap of my waist bag tightly, slinking out of the waiting room like a cautious squirrel, when—
"Da-jeong."
"Y-yes?"
A pleasant voice suddenly called out.
Realizing it was calling my name, I whipped my head around in surprise.
There stood Ji-ah, eyes wide like a startled rabbit at my reaction, staring at me... no, not Ellin, but Ji-ah.
"If you're not busy, want to grab a coffee at a café and chat? I'm curious how your interview went, too."
"A café?"
A café. You know, that place where women gather, sip drinks that cost 6 or 7 thousand won a pop, and laugh and chat away.
I'd never been to one, but I knew about them from comics.
No matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like my kind of spot.
"Um, sorry... I need to get home early today..."
A one-on-one fan meet with Ellin herself? Of course I wanted to go.
But with my clumsy way with words, I'd only end up making her uncomfortable.
I'm a fan who knows when she's being a nuisance.
So I made a lame excuse and turned her down.
Ji-ah looked genuinely disappointed.
Not like hanging out with someone like me would be any fun anyway.
"Oh, well, nothing to be done then. Does your place have a strict curfew, Da-jeong?"
"Curfew...?"
The unfamiliar word made me tilt my head, and Ji-ah elaborated.
"Yeah, like your parents telling you to come home early... That's how it was for me in college."
"Ah."
So that's what a curfew meant.
Come to think of it, I'd heard some girls had house rules like that.
Probably for stricter families.
But it had nothing to do with me.
"Nothing like that. I don't even have parents."
"...Pardon?"
Ah, I shouldn't have said that.
It was so routine for me that I'd answered on reflex before realizing.
Ji-ah stared at me with wide, blank eyes.
Feeling the mood sour, I grabbed my waist bag strap to make my escape.
"I-it was so great meeting you today. You have to pass, Ji-ah!"
I clenched my fist toward Ji-ah, frozen like a statue, and bolted from the waiting room.
I heard her calling 'W-wait a sec!' from behind, but I ignored it.
Huff, huff.
Why is this body so frail anyway?
Even just going down three flights of stairs was a struggle. I really needed to start exercising.
After the first offline interviews for the Blue Project concluded.
Kang Haneul, seated at the head of the conference table, flipped through the self-introductions one by one.
Known online by her nickname Haneul Bom, she was a major female streamer—and the head of this company.
"President, what do you think? Those four you mentioned earlier seem just right."
"Indeed. No major red flags, and we could stamp them as passed as is..."
Kang Haneul nodded quietly at the male staff member's comment from the joint interview.
They'd planned for four members from the start when accepting applications for the Blue Project.
It was the most common number for Virtual YouTuber group debuts.
Odd numbers risked leaving someone out in group content.
Too few, and the chemistry between members felt lacking.
Too many, and management got tricky, plus they'd split the pie too thin.
Four hit the sweet spot.
And the four self-introductions in her hand were the ones she'd earmarked.
The first member had majored in dance, solid foundation there.
She'd seemed quiet at first, but once she opened up, she was a total chatterbox.
With some streaming practice, she'd shine in just-chatting content. That's why Kang Haneul had taken note.
The second was what you'd call a reincarnated Virtual YouTuber.
Someone who'd streamed before but graduated due to poor results, now applying here.
She'd checked the contract with her previous company—no issues, cleanly ended.
The experience alone was a huge plus.
Her personality was bright and full of variety show flair.
The third was unique: mixed-race.
Father from Ireland, was it?
No rough edges, with a reliable big-sister vibe that'd let her lead the team well as the eldest.
Her past vocal majoring was another point in her favor for Kang Haneul.
The fourth was the so-called fox type.
Her personality and speech oozed seductiveness, even palpable in the interview.
Kang Haneul had even been shocked to hear she'd never had a boyfriend.
Anyway, these four meshed well, filling each other's gaps. Satisfying.
But even with the members essentially set, one self-introduction lingered in her mind.
It belonged to a girl named Jeong Da-jeong.
- My love for the members won't lose to anyone's!
"Pfft."
The girl's voice replayed in her head, and Kang Haneul couldn't hold back a laugh.
If it'd ended there, fine—but realizing her slip, she fumbled adorably like a squirrel panicking over a lost acorn.
And there was one more reason this girl stuck sharply in Kang Haneul's memory.
- Oh, and you didn't list family details on your self-introduction... Any reason?
- T-truth is, I don't have any family. Sorry...
- Ah...
Yes.
The girl was a lonely orphan.
If she'd just said her parents passed away, it might've been less piercing.
But 'I have no family.'
That firm phrasing carried a solitude that stabbed at Kang Haneul's heart.
And it wasn't something to apologize for.
If anything, it was their fault for not considering it and forcing it out.
Her awkward smile as she apologized was unforgettable.
'Come to think of it, her clothes looked a bit worn.'
Recalling the girl's outfit, Kang Haneul pondered.
White t-shirt and short denim shorts reaching her thighs.
Thoroughly practical clothes.
The kind you could wash repeatedly without worry, fine for home or outings.
Of course, judging by appearances was hasty.
But given what she'd heard, the inference was inevitable.
'Still cute, though.'
That didn't diminish the girl's striking looks or charm.
No— it actually stirred more desire to protect.
Not that it'd be good for the girl herself.
'Maybe her family situation isn't great.'
Too rude to ask outright, so she hadn't.
The girl's face kept circling in Kang Haneul's mind.
Even the song recording sent with her self-introduction...
Now that she thought about it, it captured perfectly the voice of someone left alone in the world, emotions dried up, singing sorrow plainly without contrived pathos.
But maybe because it was her real story.
As the puzzle pieces clicked in her head, Kang Haneul's gaze hardened.
'Love for the members unmatched by anyone...'
The girl surely didn't know who the Blue Project members would be.
No acquaintances, not even seen their avatars yet.
Yet she'd said it confidently, eyes shining, without hesitation—almost with pride.
Maybe, just maybe, if there was one in a million chance.
This girl could be the final puzzle piece, cherishing the members Kang Haneul had assembled more than anyone.
That faint hope solidified her decision.
Flip-
The four self-introductions in her left hand.
A fifth layered atop them.
A bold red circle drawn over it with a pen.
The two staff members watching casually went wide-eyed in shock.
The meaning was simple.
"I've made up my mind. The Blue Project will have five members."
Looking at the staff, Kang Haneul announced firmly yet gently, with a soft smile.
Today, the stars for her treasure chest were finally set.