Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Star Maker's Turn
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“Let's practice until we master the main choreography today.”
“Yes.”
“Think of tomorrow not as going to a lesson, but as going to prove ourselves.”
“Yes.”
While Seul-bi and Seol-ah’s eyes burned with determination, as if they were ready to face what was coming, the expressions of Ro-si and Yi-na, who were comparatively weaker dancers, seemed to resent me for stirring up trouble.
“…But can we really learn the whole choreography by tomorrow just from the video? We don't have a mirrored version, and it was only filmed from the front.”
Yi-na said dejectedly.
“Don't worry about that. I'll teach you.”
The members looked at me with a mixture of emotions.
Given my track record, they couldn't outright ignore me, but it was also hard to believe I had memorized the main choreography for four people just by watching over their shoulders.
But I've never once bluffed or lied.
As we walked toward the elevator after arriving at the company parking lot, the sound of a car door being flung open echoed.
“Timjang-nim! You're back!”
Choi Yoo-jun greeted me loudly.
“Don't be so over the top. It'll get on people's nerves.”
“Yes, sir!”
“How was the music video shoot?”
“We finished safely. I never realized how pretty Artist Lee Yoo-ah was.”
Lee Yoo-ah got out of the car.
With her naturally curled long black hair, she wore a long padded jacket to ward off the cold, but the short skirt and high-heeled black long boots gave her the distinct aura of a celebrity.
“Wow! Yoo-ah unni, you're so pretty!”
Ro-si scurried over and circled around Yoo-ah. Since Yoo-ah hadn't debuted yet, she’d never had a reason to get this dressed up.
“You're prettier.”
“Nooo! Unni, you're seriously so beautiful.”
Me and the Answer members smiled warmly at the sight of the two complimenting each other.
Their bond had deepened ever since the chicken dinner at Yoo-ah's family restaurant.
“Seol-ah unni! Congratulations on winning!”
“It's just the first round. But thanks anyway.”
My nose tingled for some reason seeing Yoo-ah holding hands with Seol-ah.
I'm so glad things are working out for you.
“Min-jun oppa, congratulations. You worked hard.”
“I knew you were pretty, Yoo-ah, but you look especially beautiful today.”
A subtle, twitching smile appeared on Lee Yoo-ah's face as she tried to suppress a huge grin.
“This is nothing. On the set, she was like a goddess... Ah... Not that she isn't pretty now, but...”
As Choi Yoo-jun fumbled his words, Lee Yoo-ah stepped in again.
“I haven't even debuted yet, but I'm truly grateful. I'll be sure to repay you later!”
Lee Yoo-ah gave a sincere 90-degree bow.
“I didn't do much, but you succeeding is the best way to repay me.”
After a few moments of heartwarming chatter, Lee Yoo-ah and Choi Yoo-jun left the parking lot to return the outfits.
* * *
“So that's what happened.”
The Isa-nim and the CEO, whom I had briefly updated on the situation, watched Answer practice through the video feed.
“If I'd known, I wouldn't have gone with Yurifox.”
“No, it's actually a good thing. Thanks to them, we have a better idea of what the blind mission is.”
“That's true.”
“But will one lesson really be enough?”
The Isa-nim asked, her arms crossed.
“Yes. We have the video, but I've also memorized everyone's positions and movements.”
“Don't push yourself too hard. If it looks like you won't finish before the music video shoot, I'll book more lessons.”
“I won't disappoint you.”
CEO Park Jae-yong spoke up, a hint of dissatisfaction on his face.
“You seem more polite to Isa Lee Sun than to me.”
“Perhaps it's just your imagination?”
“…Right?”
“Well, I'll be heading back to the lesson.”
“Oh, okay. Min-jun, don't overdo it, and ask for support if you need anything.”
When I entered the practice room, the Answer members were focused on the choreography video with serious expressions.
[Trait 'Star Maker' Activated]
Every word and movement Yurifox had made in the dance studio came flooding back to me.
“Alright, let's get started. Let's try the choreography.”
Ro-si and Yi-na sighed and stood up.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.”
The distinct parts of the choreography began, timed to my count.
The female trainees in the corner of the dance floor started whispering, their attention fixed on us.
“Looks like that manager oppa is teaching dance again.”
“I heard he's amazing at singing too.”
“Of course, that's why he almost became a member of Fire Emblem.”
“They said he was the original main vocal. So handsome, and he can sing.”
“Eh, but for real, he can't compare to the Oppas' visuals, right?”
“Hmm... I don't think so. The Oppas wear makeup, and that Oppa looks like he's only wearing toner.”
I think I’ve gotten completely used to being judged like this.
While my interview had brought a bit more attention to Answer, it was hard to say my own reputation had improved. Not that it mattered to me, since Answer's success was my primary goal.
“One, two, three, four, five... Hold on.”
Seul-bi and Seol-ah had already perfectly understood the positions and major movements, but Ro-si and Yi-na were visibly struggling.
“Ro-si, step out for a moment and come to where I am.”
Ro-si stood beside me with an embarrassed look on her face, and I took her spot.
“We'll follow the mirror, okay? One, two, three, four…”
We continued the movements while facing the mirror.
I was trying to show Ro-si the moves from behind.
“Here, on the second repeat, you act like you're being pulled by your right hand, but then you turn in the opposite direction and switch places with Seul-bi. Got it?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, now Yi-na, you step back. Ro-si, come in.”
Yi-na, who had been struggling, switched places with Ro-si, and the choreography started again.
“Five, six, seven, eight.”
“Oh, he's like a real dance teacher.”
“He seems so systematic.”
“I wish I had a manager like him.”
“Are you kidding? It'd be exhausting.”
“Ah, true lol.”
“Pfft! Why is this so funny?”
“They can hear you, idiot.”
I clicked my tongue at the giggling trainees without realizing it.
You all could use some training someday.
I focused on Ro-si and Yi-na's movements and positions.
Thirty minutes? An hour? Maybe more passed.
“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! Much better.”
Ro-si and Yi-na's understanding of their positioning was showing results.
Now that the overall formation was set, it was time to work on the details for Seol-ah, the main vocal who needed to shine during the chorus.
“Let's go again. One, two, three, four…”
The turns performed by Seul-bi and Seol-ah, which had the feel of a high-class dance rather than something suited for glittery outfits, would surely become a magnificent piece of choreography once polished.
However, since this was their first time attempting ballet-style turns, Seul-bi and Seol-ah kept forgetting the key points and lines.
“Stop for a moment.”
“…”
“We learned this earlier, right? If you're not conscious of your center and your gaze isn't fixed?”
I looked at the members, waiting for an answer.
“You can't create beautiful lines.”
“And the turn will stop in the wrong place, or you'll end up in a different spot.”
Seol-ah added to Seul-bi's explanation.
“Exactly. Now that we have the positioning down, let's focus on the details.”
“Okay.”
The members nodded.
“Focus on your center. Center on your left foot. Center on your left foot. Fix your gaze, fix your gaze.”
I kept reminding Seol-ah every time she turned. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead from the excessive force she was using and the many turns she had to execute.
A dancer's seemingly effortless turn is the culmination of over a decade of hard work, so it was natural for Seol-ah, even at a respectable dancer level of 72, to find it challenging.
After all, those who can execute a perfect turn belong to the top 1% of choreographers.
“Let's have just Seol-ah try it. The rest of you can take a short break.”
At my words, Seul-bi, who often bickered with Seol-ah, pouted.
“Tsk. You try it, Oppa. This is completely different from regular dancing. I know you're good at everything, but this is different from dancing with just muscle…”
I spun on the spot.
I could feel an elegant aura emanating from me, as if I were a ballerino.
Seul-bi, who had been chiding me, was speechless, her eyes wide with surprise.
I extended a finger and pointed at the trainee who had said my visuals couldn't compare to the Fire Emblem members.
[Trait 'Charisma Lv2' Activated]
A heavy aura radiated from me, filling the practice room.
Startled by my pointing finger, the guilty party started to hiccup.
“Once you've decided where you're going, stare straight at it. And keep your thighs tight, 360 degrees in one turn! One, two, three, four!”
One turn, two turns, three turns, four turns.
Without a plié to land, I performed a continuous chaîne turn.
A stationary turn is already highly difficult, but the difficulty of a continuous chaîne turn was on another level.
“Whoa.”
“Woooow.”
After four chaîne turns, I landed exactly in front of the trainee I had designated.
I turned back and pointed at Seol-ah, who was covering her mouth.
“If your angle is off even slightly, you'll end up somewhere else, so you must focus your gaze!”
A sudden idea struck me. Instead of the fixed arm movements Yurifox had taught, I added arm movements like a spinning figure skater.
Imagining a swan on a lake slowly raising its head, I spun while staring intensely into Seol-ah's wavering eyes.
Startled by my approach, Seol-ah backed away, but her back hit the mirror, leaving her with nowhere to go.
“Woooow!”
Gasps erupted in the practice room as I finished my turn perfectly, right in front of Seol-ah's nose.
“Hey! Are you insane?!”
CEO Park Jae-yong entered, clapping with his mouth agape. He must have been watching the whole time.
“I'm a Min-jun fan starting today. You seriously need to debut.”
CEO Park Jae-yong said with an emotional expression, grabbing my hand.
Ugh… Let go of my hand.
“I'm in the middle of a lesson.”
“Ah, right! Sorry, sorry. Carry on, carry on.”
The Isa-nim and the CEO were now observing from inside the room.
[Moved by your passionate performance, Answer achieves a higher training effect in conjunction with the trait 'Star Maker'.]
I could feel the heightened focus of the Answer members.
“One, two, three, four. Seul-bi, you're too rushed.”
“Five, six, seven, eight. Seol-ah, there's too much tension in your arms, it's killing the lines. Be more elegant.”
As time passed, beads of sweat formed on the Answer members' foreheads, and their efforts began to show results.
*Tiring.*
[As a result of your efforts, related stats have increased.]
[Name: Min-jun (Age 21)]
Dance: 93(73+20)+1/97
⁝
Producer: 95(75+20)+1/99
Actor: 88(68+20)+1/93
[Name: Chae Seol-ah (Age 21)]
Dance: 72+1/78
[Name: Oh Ro-si (Age 20)]
Dance: 57+1/68
[Name: Lee Seul-bi (Age 20)]
Dance: 85+1/93
[Name: Shin Yi-na (Age 17)]
Dance: 67+1/79
* * *
“Lee Seul-bi! Aren't you going to wash up?”
“Too lazy.”
“Your fans would love to hear that.”
“It's not like I have many anyway... Ah, fine! I know how precious fans are, better than anyone.”
Seul-bi, who had been lying face down on the sofa, grumbled as she headed to the shower.
One by one, the members who had finished showering leaned against the sofa and turned on the TV.
All of them were watching the entertainment news with fiery eyes, hoping for any mention of themselves.
Seul-bi, who had been gone for less than ten minutes, came out with a towel wrapped around her wet hair.
“You usually take 30-minute showers, but when the bathroom's free you're out in five? Did you even wash your hair properly?”
Yi-na grumbled, but Seul-bi ignored her, running and leaping onto the sofa to lie down.
-Film director Baek Ho-min was arrested for drunk driving…
Lying on the sofa again, Seul-bi thought the members, all lined up with towels on their heads, looked like they were at a countryside beauty salon.
“Kekeuk.”
Yi-na turned her head and twirled a finger at her temple.
Seul-bi stuck her tongue out at Yi-na and lifted her left leg, resting it on her right knee.
“Agh, my legs... I feel like I'm going to get a cramp in my sleep.”
“I know. Turning is harder than it looks.”
Ro-si agreed as Seul-bi massaged her own legs while lying down.
“Ah!”
“What?”
Seul-bi bolted upright from the sofa, and Ro-si asked with a worried expression.
“I left my socks in the car!”
“I thought it was something serious.”
“They must smell awful from all the sweat.”
“Ew! You just left them there? You're gonna make the car stink?”
Yi-na's face was full of disgust as she whipped her head around.
“No, I put them in a bag.”
“Ugh... still gross.”
“Who else is going to get in? Don't worry.”
At Seol-ah's words, Seul-bi let out a small sigh and lay back down.
“Seol-ah unni, aren't you sore?”
“I am.”
Though everyone's eyes were on the TV, the members who had started massaging their legs looked dazed, as if lost in thought.
“But is Manager Min-jun always that good at everything?”
Ro-si asked Seul-bi.
“Yeah. It's crazy, right? He was like a figure skater.”
At Seul-bi's answer, Ro-si let out a deflated sigh, as if blaming herself.
“He said he practiced that much. That all he did besides eat was practice. We're benefiting a lot from it, so let's be grateful.”
“Okay, unni.”
Ro-si nodded at Seol-ah's words.
“Ooh. Our unni has changed, she really has.”
Despite Seul-bi's teasing, Seol-ah just chuckled, too busy massaging her tired calf muscles to respond.
“I wonder who Min-jun oppa will marry.”
“Hey! It won't be you, pipsqueak, so don't worry!”
Seul-bi burst out laughing at Yi-na's random question, and everyone else chuckled in agreement.
“Who said anything about marrying me? I was just curious, why are you always like this? I'm not getting married, ever!”
Everyone looked fondly at Yi-na, who was grumbling with a red face.
-Today's rookie to watch is Your Girl.
The bright, innocent-looking faces of Your Girl appeared on the screen.
-We'll be your love! It'll be your love. Hello, we are Your Girl!
The Answer members scoffed at their on-screen persona, which was so different from their rude real-life selves.
“I don't care about anyone else, but I really want to beat them.”
Seol-ah, who had been massaging her legs, suddenly stood up, grabbed a pair of socks, and put them on.
“…Are you going to the convenience store in your underwear?”
Seul-bi asked, her eyes wide.
“We made a bet with the dance teacher. We have to protect our manager's pride.”
Seol-ah began to practice the chaîne turn, moving from the living room toward the kitchen.