Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Dance Midterm Evaluation (13)
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Why did it feel like I couldn't catch my breath?
Was it because Chae-rin lent me underwear that was too small? Or maybe succubi just weren't meant to wear underwear...
Or perhaps it was the mounting tension as the evaluation time approached.
"Hoo..."
I let out a stifled breath and glanced around.
The practice room, which we usually had to ourselves, was now filling up with clusters of people.
There were four teams up for evaluation today.
Luminous and Mercedes were among them.
"Hong Yu-jeong didn't look so good. Did something happen?"
Seol Su-bin, who was double-checking her makeup and choreography beside me, asked.
I took a look, and sure enough, her expression was stiff and frozen.
"She got called out by Ji-woo in the bathroom earlier."
"Ah, why does she keep picking fights with Ji-woo unnie? Even dogs know who not to bark at. Is she worse than a dog?"
I could kind of see why people like Hong Yu-jeong always sharpened their claws against Luminous members.
These girls were inherently tougher than most.
"Eh?"
Ah, of course, Kang Chae-rin was strong in a whole different way.
"Hmm, but isn't this... a bit too see-through?"
"Oh, you're right. Now that you mention it."
It had looked fine when I checked in the bathroom earlier.
But now in the practice room, the white T-shirt I was wearing was so thin that everything showed through.
And since Chae-rin had lent me black underwear, it stood out even more.
It was a little embarrassing...
"What's the big deal? It's better than going braless. Besides, that kind of fashion is super trendy right now. Wearing thin clothes on purpose so your underwear peeks through subtly. You think girls wear tank tops to show their bra straps by accident? It's all intentional."
Seol Su-bin glanced at my chest, which was practically bursting, and flashed a knowing smile.
"And unnie, you should show off your boobs a little. It'll rack up some bonus points—total win. Oh, but not like full-on braless obvious. A woman's charm is in teasing, like you're not showing but you are."
It was absurd, but...
I nodded, convinced.
No wonder Han Nam-do had suspected me of being trans a few times.
I was too straightforward and aggressive.
Now that I was a woman, I needed to learn how to play coy a bit.
"Yaaawn."
That was when it happened.
A yawn echoed as someone appeared.
The faint murmurs filling the practice room vanished instantly.
"...It's the CEO."
Everyone shot to their feet in perfect attention stance.
Having been through the military and the towers, I quickly followed suit.
As I did, I finally laid eyes on the head of this trash agency.
I wondered what kind of scum would bind clueless young kids with contracts and exploit them freely.
'Huh?'
I'd pictured a sleazy, toad-like creep, but I flinched.
He was... way too normal. No, downright decent-looking.
Was it the luxury watch on his wrist and the perfectly tailored designer suit? Clothes make the man, huh?
Or maybe his unexpectedly masculine face?
Or was it my pussy, which got inexplicably wet for trash like him?
'Maybe I'm the problem.'
Why did I always get aroused first whenever I thought someone was scum?
Even now, my pussy was itching needlessly, nipples hardening, and the already tight underwear squeezed even more.
"Oh dear... looks like I arrived a bit early. Should I step out so I'm not stressing you all out?"
"No, CEO! We're fine!"
The man at the front answered promptly.
"Then why don't you all sit? You're making me uncomfortable standing there like that."
"Yes, sir."
Rustle rustle rustle.
The moment he finished speaking, everyone dropped to the floor like lightning.
Watching this, I thought... even if he was trash, he sure kept the organization disciplined.
He looked surprisingly ordinary.
Yet there was an oddly calm charisma about him.
'Even the CEO of a trash outfit like this isn't just anyone.'
Did I underestimate him?
Setting aside whether he was trash, his public image wasn't all bad.
Either way, it was an agency that put up decent results.
"..."
Tick tock tick tock.
It was so quiet I could hear the second hand on the wall clock.
First time I'd noticed it since coming here.
A moment later, frantic footsteps rushed in from afar.
"Huff huff, CEO... Evaluation starts at 10, why are you so early..."
"Sorry for being late, CEO..."
I didn't know who they were.
Probably managers or team leads from the various groups.
They all panicked at the sight of the CEO sitting alone in the chair.
And the last to arrive in this tense atmosphere was...
"Did someone die? Why's it so quiet?"
Section Chief Go Min-cheol, oblivious as ever.
"Hm, I was wondering who the last one would be. Section Chief Go."
"Gah! C-CEO..."
Go Min-cheol finally noticed and jumped in surprise.
"...S-sorry. I usually come early. But today, my stomach suddenly hurt on the way."
"That can happen. But Section Chief Go, you always lead with excuses when you see me. Maybe work on that habit?"
Go Min-cheol bowed his head immediately.
"I'll fix it."
He was used as a tool to set the tone right away, getting chewed out by the CEO.
It felt refreshing, though a bit pitiful.
"I won't lecture the others long. But for all you trainees here and everyone else—get in the habit of coming early. That small habit creates unexpected opportunities and lets you seize them."
"Yes, CEO!"
The atmosphere left no choice but to respond in unison.
I nodded too, impressed.
'This guy's a pro at handling people.'
I'd felt it in the military too.
Training people to obey wasn't that hard.
A bit of carrot and stick.
And some gaslighting.
Before they knew it, they'd be your loyal subordinate.
Of course, it was a talent.
'A lot of people secretly want to be controlled.'
That's what he exploited.
Thinking is a hassle.
Leading things themselves is a pain.
People like that got easily used by types like the CEO.
'CEO Jeong Byeong-in...'
One of the few who'd survived independently founding an agency.
Survival meant strength.
'If I can get proof he's trying to force himself on me, maybe I can control this company too?'
As I thought that...
Choreographer Wang Im-hwan arrived, and the dance midterm evaluations began in earnest.
The order started with the male trainee team, then Isabella, Mercedes, and Luminous last.
'Who came up with these team names anyway?'
Since we were last...
I could relax a bit and watch the others' performances.
"Hello!"
"We're Maximilian!"
The male trainees' performance kicked off first.
"Whoa..."
The second it started, not just me—all the watching female trainees gaped in awe.
'Insane...'
The choreography's difficulty and their raw power were off the charts.
My heart was pounding just watching.
'Whoa, check out those solid abs...'
Gulp.
I swallowed without realizing and startled myself.
I used to see stuff like that and feel nothing.
Must be the woman thing.
Lately, my eyes kept drifting to things like that.
'Ah, I wanna touch my pussy right now.'
Instinctively, watching them dance made me itch to masturbate.
My mind raced with fantasies of them gangbanging me.
Ah... my pussy's soaked...
"Hoo."
I desperately suppressed the urge to touch myself.
Instead, when their prepared performance ended, I clapped harder than anyone.
Clap clap clap clap!
"Hm, let's see. Quite impressive, right? I can tell from everyone's reactions."
In the silence, CEO Jeong Byeong-in spoke.
The Maximilian members' faces lit up at the positive feedback.
"What do the rest of you think?"
"No need to say it twice—it's amazing."
"We have to pass them."
Did he really need others' opinions?
The CEO's word was law.
'Classic dickhead boss move.'
I'd been fooled by his decent looks for a sec.
But the more I watched, the more he seemed like trash.
Not someone to underestimate, though.
Don't let my guard down.
'How can I make this bastard try to force himself on me?'
It'd be nice if he got so excited by my body he'd call me secretly.
Then I could control this company in one go.
"Then Maximilian passes this evaluation. Prep well for the next one—you could debut soon."
"Thank you! We'll do our best!"
"Good."
Funny thing—people were more loyally obedient to trash.
If someone was too nice, they'd get taken lightly. Reality.
Exhibit A right here.
Because Jeong Byeong-in was trash, everyone was over the moon at his single praise.
'They'd hand over their livers and gallbladders.'
He must be pretty stingy usually.
"Next, Isabella."
"Hello, we're Isabella. We'll do our best."
"Alright, show me."
My hunch was right.
'Whoa, these girls are amazing too.'
To me, they were on par with active idols.
"Hm. Not bad. Next."
"...Thank you."
CEO Jeong Byeong-in's evaluation was brutally stingy.
'What? Am I blind?'
It was hard to believe this was the same guy who'd gushed over Maximilian moments ago.
Especially since Isabella nailed it.
That was when...
Han Ji-woo, watching beside me, bit her lip and muttered.
"Ah... If they do well, maybe no girl groups pass."
"What do you mean?"
"Looks like the CEO's made up his mind."
I tilted my head, confused.
"That's enough."
"...!"
"Does the Mercedes team even want to debut? The basics are all wrong. And Hong Yu-jeong, why can't you focus at all? You know you're the biggest problem right now?"
"S-sorry... sniff."
"Practice more instead of crying."
The two girls who'd been so cocky and picking fights with us in the bathroom were now sobbing side by side.
Feels good. Serves them right.
...Or so I thought.
"Next, Luminous team."
The thought that we could end up the same way made my body tense up with anxiety.
For some reason, it felt like we'd flop like this...
What do I do?