Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Victory and its Aftermath
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“But I don't think we'll cry even if we win.”
“Yeah. The first round felt too much like the finals.”
“Quiet down and smile.”
The members of Answer whispered amongst themselves.
-As we mentioned before, our 'Best Idol: Rookie Girl Group Edition,' initially planned as a four-part special, has, thanks to the overwhelming support of our viewers, prepared a special live broadcast stage where we'll be accepting your precious votes!
“Huh? I didn't hear about this.”
“Me neither.”
“What about our schedule?”
-We'd like to once again thank the president and vice president of KVM for making this special stage possible, and of course, all our viewers.
“…Woooow!”
At the production staff's cue, Answer and the other contestants all cheered and clapped.
Soulless...
-One of the reasons for this decision was the feedback that we focused too much on the blind mission, preventing the teams from showcasing their true skills. We, the production team, are confident that the live broadcast stage will surpass any lingering disappointments and be the best performance yet.
They were making a blatant attempt to help Your Girl make up for their low scores. Not that it mattered; it would only end up benefiting our group, Answer.
I roughly estimated the timing of the live broadcast and realized it would be a great opportunity to promote the new album. We'll save on promotional costs.
Unlike the bewildered and displeased expressions on the faces of Answer and Choi Yoo-jun, I was actually enjoying this.
-Of course, the viewer votes will be added to today's score, so today's results are also very important. Judge Yurifox, are the results in?
-...Yes.
-Then, could you give us your evaluation?
A myriad of expressions crossed Yurifox's face as she held the microphone.
-Just like Your Girl, the choreography was covered perfectly.
The host, flustered by the brief comment, raised his microphone.
-Yes... It must be a difficult position for you, Judge Yurifox. No matter who you choose, there's bound to be some regret.
-...Yes.
Yurifox replied bitterly, as if imagining a frustrating future.
-...But both sides can't be winners. It's time to make a choice.
At the host's words, Yurifox gave a smile of resignation.
-...The winner our team has chosen for today is Answer, who not only perfectly mastered their opponent's choreography and made it their own, but also flawlessly executed a live performance on top of it all.
“Kyaa!”
“Congratulations!”
Your Girl clapped reluctantly, while the other contestants genuinely rejoiced and congratulated the members of Answer.
⋮
-For winning this second round, Answer will be involved in various promotions, including the OST for a drama currently in production at our station, as well as commercials for our sponsors' cars, travel packages, food, and local tourism. Let's have another round of applause!
“Woooow!”
Besides the recognition and popularity gained from this win, I estimated an expected profit of at least several billion won from direct and indirect advertisements.
The thought of the hefty first payment the Answer members would receive put me in a very good mood.
-For the live broadcast, we've planned a mini-concert for the four semi-finalist teams. We eagerly anticipate wonderful performances from each of them to appeal to our viewers.
“Cut.”
As main PD Hwang Beom-seok yelled "Cut," the staff clapped with expressions of relief.
“Huh? What about the closing remarks?”
“These days, they say they cut straight to commercials to boost traffic, making it seem like it's not over yet.”
“Whoa...”
Seol-ah answered Yi-na's question and bowed her head.
“Good work, everyone!”
“Good work, Director!”
“You all worked hard for three days and two nights. We came all the way to Sokcho, so we have to get some raw fish. We'll get a headcount, so let me know if you can make it.”
“Thank you!”
PD Hwang Beom-seok, having called the final cut, spoke loudly, and the contestants, their faces free from the immense tension, greeted one another.
Answer, along with all the other teams, headed toward their managers.
But Your Girl and Yurifox did not.
Yurifox, sensing she was being misunderstood, gave a bitter smile and tried to avoid Your Girl.
But Seyun and Perry deliberately moved to block Yurifox's path.
“…What are you doing?”
“Pretending to be on our side, but you were really favoring Answer, weren't you?”
At Seyun's words, Yurifox's face twisted into a grave expression.
“…You girls are being incredibly insolent.”
“No wonder those Answer girls knew every little piece of information.”
“Are you crazy right now?”
“I knew it since that thing with their shoes.”
As the atmosphere grew hostile, Yurifox's team swarmed over, turning it into a Your Girl versus Yurifox's team situation.
“You're pulling this fucking bullshit on me based on mere suspicion? On me?”
“You're getting angry because it hit a nerve. Are you saying you have no connection with the girls you even bought shoes for?”
The fight between Your Girl and Yurifox was so brazen that it continued even as we were walking past them.
“Full-on rage.”
“She's relentless.”
Yi-na and Seul-bi said, snickering.
“Shin Yi-na! Do you really have no filter?”
“Huh? Seol-ah unni, you know what that means? Ah, ah... okay, okay. I won't say it again, for real.”
When Seol-ah blushed, Yi-na, sensing danger, spoke with an awkward laugh.
“Ahk!”
“Kyaa!”
“Let go of me!”
“You let go first!”
I turned back at the screams to see two of them locked in a standoff, grabbing each other's hair.
“…They're seriously crossing the line.”
“Totally hopeless.”
Even the production staff was trying to break it up, but neither would let go first.
“No matter what, how can a complete rookie act like that to a senior who's been in the industry for so long?”
Choi Yoo-jun said with a fed-up expression, then looked at me.
“Seriously, hyung—no, Timjang-nim, since when have you been building up to this?”
“...”
Everyone's eyes turned to me, as if expecting an answer.
“…Then again, it's not like you're a god, hyung. That would be overkill. How could you have known this would happen and bought the shoes...”
The members nodded as if thinking, 'That's true, there's no way.'
A needless sense of competitiveness welled up in me, and the words I'd been itching to say just slipped out.
“I did anticipate it, though.”
“Huh?”
“Ehh?”
“...”
To think I'd let such a flippant remark slip out...
The Answer members and Choi Yoo-jun were blinking in surprise. You all changed me into this.
I looked at Your Girl and Yurifox, whose scuffle had escalated from two people grabbing hair to two entire teams, and opened my mouth.
“Be thankful I am your ally, and lament that I am your enemy.”
At my words, Answer and Choi Yoo-jun shuddered.
“Hyung... that was... kinda cringey.”
* * *
The episode filmed at the resort aired. But I was so busy with various schedules—the album release, music video shoot preparations, showcase preparations, the official fan club inauguration ceremony, and so on—that I couldn't even monitor the broadcast. On top of that, I had my own personal work besides Answer, so I was spending every single hour of my busiest period since I started managing them.
“Ahh, I want some. Not from a capsule.”
Seul-bi said on the way to the office.
“I'll go get it.”
“Why would you go, Timjang-nim, when I'm here? I, Choi Yoo-jun, will go get the coffee.”
“No, it's fine. I want to go.”
“I'll go with you!”
As soon as I parked at the company, Seul-bi insisted on coming along to buy coffee.
“Wow... when did you put on tint?”
“Hmm? No idea?”
Seul-bi's face and lips, which had clearly been bare just moments ago, were now pleasantly toned up.
“Yoo-jun, there should be a box of merch next to the Director's desk.”
“Yes. I'll get right on it.”
As we left the parking garage, some fans in front of our company building started murmuring.
“Ah! It's Answer!”
“Hey, hey! Is that the girl who was dancing?”
“Yes! That's her! I'm Seul-bi, the main dancer of Answer. Please give us your support!”
As Seul-bi greeted them energetically amidst the murmurs, a few of the fans looked abashed.
“Unni, can I take a picture?”
“Of course! Want to take one together?”
Seul-bi's friendliness toward the fans made me feel good. I took the fan's phone and captured a shot of Seul-bi with the young fan.
“Go ahead and post it everywhere!”
Seul-bi, in high spirits, tried to link arms with me, but I smoothly avoided it.
“Let's avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“Huh? ...What's wrong with linking arms? People aren't like that these days.”
I couldn't help but chuckle at Seul-bi's words.
I opened the door to the cafe on the second floor.
The wave of coffee aroma that washed over me made me feel like I could fly.
“Mmmm. The beans must be good today.”
Seul-bi commented with a happy expression.
The customers, who nearly filled the cafe, began to murmur.
“Wow. They really came!”
“See? I told you we should get coffee here.”
The gazes directed at Seul-bi and the renewed murmuring told me that her recognition had improved significantly since our last visit to the cafe.
“Your coffee is ready.”
“Yes, thank you.”
As Seul-bi and I were leaving with our coffee, the owner, who I rarely saw, came rushing out.
“These are cookies. Please have some.”
“Oh! Thank you, wow!”
The paper box he handed me was heavy, seeming to contain a generous amount of cookies.
“Don't mention it. We're the ones who should be thankful. Keep it up!”
“Yes. Hope business stays great.”
As the owner disappeared back into the cafe, Seul-bi looked at me with a joyful expression.
“I guess the owner is a real fan of ours, too. It's so cool.”
“Hmm... that could be, but isn't it more likely because business has gotten better thanks to us?”
“Oh! You think so?”
“The aroma of the beans is much better than before, right? I think it's because they have more customers thanks to us, so their stock turns over faster.”
“Oooh! So the beans are getting sold quickly while they're still fresh!”
Seul-bi's steps grew even lighter as she beamed.
* * *
“Ahaha!”
“Awesome, awesome.”
“What's my count? Hehe.”
Boisterous laughter could be heard from the conference room where Answer had gathered.
“Timjang-nim!”
Lee Yoo-ah, who was with Answer, greeted me with a happy expression.
The table was covered with printed letters.
“Yoo-ah, you're looking well.”
“My album cover came out, too.”
Yoo-ah beamed as she showed me her album cover on her phone.
It was a picture of Lee Yoo-ah standing with a guitar held like a sword. The composition was similar to an 80s or 90s style, but the black-and-white photo of the beautiful, melancholic Yoo-ah didn't feel dated. Instead, it made one desperately want to hear her story.
“Oh... it's beautiful.”
At my words, Yoo-ah bobbed her head, looking very pleased.
“Are you disappointed I can't push you as much as Answer?”
“Huh? Not at all. The title itself is a mashup project this time. In times like these, just being able to debut as a solo artist is a huge deal.”
Lee Yoo-ah's humble attitude brought pleased smiles to all the Answer members' faces.
But you're the one who's going to succeed before Answer, Yoo-ah.
Having vaguely seen Yoo-ah's future, I couldn't hold back a smile.
“I think you might reach the top even before Answer does, Yoo-ah.”
“Eek! That's taking the joke too far.”
Pleased yet embarrassed, a playful tone crept into Lee Yoo-ah's voice.
“Just because we made it in English like a pop song, you think I'm suddenly going to get love calls from America and Europe?”
“Yeah. That's why I suggested making it in English.”
At my words, Yoo-ah let out a few chuckles, her smile a mixture of disbelief and joy.
“She's right, unni. To me, it totally blows Adele and Katy Perry out of the water.”
“Yeah. I agree with Ro-si. Yoo-ah's pronunciation is practically native-level. And her vocal tone is on another level.”
With Ro-si and Seol-ah also chiming in, a red blush crept up Lee Yoo-ah's face.
“Ah, seriously, what's with you all! What are you going to do if I flop after all this!”
Lee Yoo-ah fanned her face with her hand, embarrassed.
“Stop laughing and sign faster. We don't have time to rest if we want to stay on schedule for the music video.”
“Kay.”
They had to finish signing the printed copies of their handwritten letters, which were part of the merchandise set to be distributed for Answer's fan club inauguration.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Nope, so just talk to us so we don't get bored.”
Seol-ah replied to Yoo-ah's question with a smile.
Seeing them getting along so well made me feel warm inside.
“I'm at the point where I'm just bragging to my friends that I'm close with Answer, but you all are hyping me up too much. It's embarrassing. This week's 'Best Idol' broadcast was so good, too. I even checked all the viewer reactions.”
“What did they say?”
Yi-na asked while signing.
“They're pretty, they're polite, they're good singers, they're good dancers, they're destined to be famous, they just haven't blown up because they got the wrong songs.”
“Ahahat!”
Yoo-ah's whisper, which seemed to be blaming CEO Park Jae-yong, made all of us burst out laughing.
“Hey, hey! Min-jun! Get over here!”
But the voice of CEO Park Jae-yong, calling from his office down the hall, startled them into a sudden silence.
There's no way he could have heard that...