Chapter 34
Seol Yuhyun.
What kind of trainee was he?
Se-rang evaluated him in one sentence.
A raw gem underestimated because he was suppressed by Jung Taeha.
At first glance, Seol Yuhyun might seem to have the weakest presence among the three. He seemed to stand right in the middle between Seo Dowon and Jung Taeha, whose individual colors were both ridiculously strong.
But because of that, Se-rang actually thought Seol Yuhyun’s presence was essential.
Without Seol Yuhyun, the three of them probably would not have felt harmonious at all.
And after the leap Seol Yuhyun had just shown, what would the other two be thinking?
In truth, Jung Taeha probably had never felt any sense of crisis from the other two. If anything, he worried about them.
What about Seo Dowon? Seo Dowon probably aimed for Jung Taeha rather than Seol Yuhyun. He must have thought Seol Yuhyun was in the same position as him, a relatively weak position.
But just now, Seol Yuhyun proved himself. He proved that he was not someone overshadowed by Jung Taeha, nor was he someone stuck between the two of them who had climbed up thanks to his friend.
Then how would Seol Yuhyun feel now?
In truth, Seol Yuhyun probably had no certainty in himself. He probably had no expectations either. No expectation that he could beat Jung Taeha.
That was probably why he agreed to follow Se-rang’s suggestion so fearlessly. If he had no expectations, there would be no disappointment either.
Of course, he would never have imagined that he could handle those parts as well as Jung Taeha. Since it was only a rehearsal, he probably challenged it with even less fear.
But just now, he challenged it, and as if to show everyone, he succeeded.
That was the exact point Se-rang focused on.
This group only needed one success.
It didn’t matter whose success it was.
Because that success would become an enormous stimulus for everyone else’s growth.
“At this rate, Yuhyun might even snatch the main vocalist position.”
“…!”
“Taeha, I don’t think you’re in any position to worry about others right now?” Se-rang said that, grinned, and stepped back. “The filming team is here. Everyone, get yourselves together and do it with your original parts. Do it the way you practiced. Of course, you’ll need to do a little better than when you practiced.”
You understand without me saying it, right?
Se-rang left the dazed three trainees behind and walked out of the practice room.
This interim evaluation was not only for Se-rang’s team. The teams of the other two producers were also participating.
Seeing the other trainees appear after a long time, Se-rang could tell even without anyone saying it that her team’s spirits had shrunk.
No, why are the best-looking guys here so scared?
Didn’t they know idols were all about momentum? She would have to teach them that while she was at it.
Thanks to spending every bit of money she could spend, Se-rang felt proud of how radiant her trainees’ skin looked, but she also felt strangely irritated.
Look at them, not even knowing how much they shine. That’s the taste of rookies, I guess….
This is all happening because the program hasn’t launched yet.
For Se-rang, who was certain the public reaction would land perfectly even without seeing it, it was unfortunate.
They needed to taste the fans’ true love first to recover their self-esteem and finally realize what kind of people they were.
Right now, they were just chicks one, two, and three, intimidated by the other trainees.
Tsk. Se-rang clicked her tongue, then looked up at the team going first.
The first turn belonged to Seungha’s team.
Jo Ideum, Alex, Yoo Minho, Kim Hyunseo, Han Sangyu.
Hmm.
Since Seungha herself had been an idol, this combination clearly showed she understood the importance of skill.
Rather than stage-dominating charm or eye-catching individuality, it felt more focused on stable ability and impressive skill.
To put it nicely, it meant she was confident she could teach them star quality herself. To put it badly, it was a composition that could result in a somewhat boring stage.
I wonder how she taught them. Se-rang watched the trainees take their opening formation with interest.
“Hello, we are Producer Seungha’s team, <Victory River>! The title of the song we prepared this time is <Fantasia>!”
What is with that naming sense? Looks like someone who loves literal translation got mixed in there.
“This team was one everyone had high expectations for from the start. Producer Seungha picked out only the aces from each entertainment company. All five members are skilled enough to become main vocalists or main dancers no matter what debut team they join.”
At Producer Eden’s words, Se-rang nodded.
“That’s right. That’s why I also have high expectations for them. I’m looking forward to seeing how comfortable and refreshing a stage they’ll show us.” Se-rang deliberately praised them to the skies.
This kind of thing had to start by raising expectations as high as possible. The higher the expectations were, the greater the disappointment when they failed to meet them.
Come to think of it, this team’s song was the one Baek Do-gyeong picked for them.
Let’s hear just how amazing a song you picked, Baek Do-gyeong. With that spiteful thought filling her mind, Se-rang watched Team Seungha’s stage.
And….
Move aside, this is our Fantasia
The very fantasy you dreamed of
She thought.
It’s too boring…!
Are you crazy, Baek Do-gyeong?
Are you secretly trying to help me? You gave such a boring song to such a boring team?
And what was Seungha thinking?
A team like this should have brought a fun song packed with killing parts!
(Translator’s Note: Killing part (킬링파트) — K-pop term for the most memorable or impactful part of a song or performance, often a hook, gesture, vocal line, or dance move that attracts public attention.)
Does she have no eye for songs, or were there just no songs available?
Even though it wasn’t her team, Se-rang felt troubled and silently stared at Seungha.
Sure enough, Seungha’s expression had hardened, as if she clearly felt the team’s problem too.
Se-rang deliberately did not speak first. Eden did the same. Since it was another team, they both judged it would be better for Seungha herself to open the conversation first.
“…Yes. I watched the stage well.” Seungha seemed to notice that too, so she eventually picked up the microphone first and spoke.
But deep down, she probably knew it too. Skill could somehow be taught, but charm and star quality belonged to a realm that was far harder to teach.
“First of all, when all of you are doing this stage… I can see exactly what you’re thinking. ‘I won’t make a mistake,’ ‘I’ll sing better than the trainee beside me,’ ‘I’ll stand out more.’ Those thoughts are so visible that even the person watching the stage can feel them.”
She speaks well. As expected from someone who had stood onstage herself, Seungha expressed it clearly.
“Can a stage like that really be charming? A stage where you’re not thinking about the people watching it, but only thinking about yourself performing it?”
After saying that, Seungha let out a short sigh and put down the microphone. Se-rang picked up from there.
“First of all, I can tell how hard all of you practiced this stage. Your angles were all precise and clean. Overall, it was a stage with no instability at all.” Se-rang started by laying down praise first. But of course, the main point always came at the end.
“However, I don’t feel any trace that you thought deeply about the song itself. What meaning this melody has in the song, what meaning the lyrics carry, how you can deliver them better to the listeners. I don’t see any trace that you thought about those things at all. I don’t feel any song interpretation or delivery. That was what felt a little disappointing about the stage.”
At Se-rang’s words, Seungha’s team lowered their heads deeply.
“Still, don’t blame yourselves too much. For now, you’ve already crossed the huge mountains called good singing skills and good dancing skills. Everyone here probably knows very well how difficult those mountains are to cross. So now, you only need to cross the next mountain.”
“…!”
At Se-rang’s hopeful words, the trainees’ eyes shimmered with emotion.
Mm.
They’re moved this much? Se-rang smiled awkwardly.
Looks like Seungha isn’t the type of producer who gives much praise.
“And there were definitely trainees who stood out more. Trainee Jo Ideum.”
“Yes!”
Jo Ideum answered in surprise, as if he had not expected to be called.
“You did well. You were the only one I saw moving while thinking about balance with the other trainees. Individuals are important, but teams are important too. It was impressive that you seemed to understand that.”
“Thank you…!”
That really was true. Even at a glance, Ideum stood out.
The other two producers here probably didn’t think much differently either.
In particular, Eden seemed deeply impressed while looking at Ideum, whose name sounded similar to his, and praised Ideum endlessly during his own feedback time.
This bastard.
He’s clearly desperate to recruit Trainee Jo Ideum. But I want Jo Ideum too.
“Then now, shall we watch Producer Eden’s team perform?” Se-rang had deliberately placed her own team last.
Because a hidden card was best when kept hidden.