Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Dance Midterm Evaluation (Complete)
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Is this bastard for real?
Even though I knew I shouldn't get swept up in his tricks, my heart was riding a rollercoaster up and down at just one word from CEO Jeong Byeong-in.
Not because my mental fortitude was lacking.
I just couldn't help it.
"Hmmm."
Unlike the snap decisions he'd made until now.
I could visibly see Jeong Byeong-in agonizing over it at length.
What could he be hesitating about like that?
"Personally, compared to the stages we saw right before, I did feel a certain unique charm... but even giving you the benefit of the doubt, the polish is a bit lacking, don't you think...?"
"H-Hyun-ah unnie couldn't even dance a week ago. She's improved this much by practicing day and night without rest. We can polish it up as much as needed!"
"That's right!"
"Eeeeeeng!"
At the CEO's hesitation, the Luminous members were sweating bullets.
They appealed more desperately than ever.
"Hmm, alright then, how about this."
Did their desperation get through to him?
Or was this another one of Jeong Byeong-in's schemes?
I didn't know for sure, but unlike the other teams, our team had a sliver of hope. That much was certain.
"Everyone, do you see Mr. Wang Im-hwan who's here with us today?"
"...!"
At Jeong Byeong-in's natural introduction.
Everyone gathered in the practice room turned their gazes to the man beside him.
With heavy dark circles under his eyes.
And a body that looked somehow frail, he was the kind of guy who made you think, "Is this really a famous choreographer...?"
'He won't collapse mid-dance, will he?'
I muttered that inwardly.
Then Jeong Byeong-in added to the introduction.
"Have you kids heard of it? Kayla's Hysteria, Hewid's White Sky."
"Of course! Those are super famous hit songs!"
The adults, all over twenty, shouted in unison like elementary school kids.
They were that famous.
In fact, it was said that the choreography made the songs, not the other way around.
"The choreography for those songs, along with the stage direction and planning, was all done by Mr. Wang Im-hwan here."
"Whoa!"
...He really is impressive.
After hearing the explanation, all the suspicious elements from moments ago suddenly looked like the hallmarks of a celebrity.
Those deep dark circles were probably from working too hard on his creations.
"Ahem, that's embarrassing..."
"No need to be modest. It's just the facts. Anyway, today's midterm evaluation is important, of course. But receiving Mr. Wang Im-hwan's approval is just as crucial. If no one catches his eye, he'll just stay quiet... but if there's a team he likes, even if they fail here, consider them passed. They'll get a debut song, after all."
"...?"
So that's how it was?
The trigger had naturally shifted from Jeong Byeong-in's hands to Wang Im-hwan's, who had been quietly observing.
So if he likes us, we're basically passed?
And we could even get a debut song outright.
"Uh, um... this is..."
Everyone's gazes grew even hotter.
Especially Isabella and Mercedes, who had just been declared failures—they looked ready to charge out at any moment.
If Wang Im-hwan gave the word, they'd probably go down on him without hesitation.
But honestly, we were the same.
Ah, of course, in our group, I was the only one who'd go all the way.
'Damn it, I'll offer everything, even my ass—just let us pass!'
Before I knew it, there I was, gazing at him desperately with those thoughts.
But why does he keep making eye contact with me?
Am I imagining it?
"It's a bit burdensome with everyone staring... but I have to say it. All the teams so far showed great appeal. But like the CEO said, the most uniquely charming one right now... is Luminous."
"...!"
"Personally, watching Luminous gave me inspiration for new choreography. So I'd love to work with them."
He phrased it politely.
But it was no different from declaring Luminous passed.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
"Yes!"
"Awesome!"
Forgetting we were all being watched, we let out roars of joy right there on the spot.
I hadn't expected to feel this good.
I was so excited I started hopping in place like an idiot.
Each time, my violently massive breasts bounced up and down uncontrollably under the thin white T-shirt.
But whatever.
Time to serve a little extra fanservice, hehe.
'Ah, could it be we got picked thanks to these tits?'
That moment midway when everything seemed ruined.
Kang Chae-rin's slightly small bra tearing off was a godsend.
That's when the momentum shifted, I guess?
"Hmm, I see. If that's Mr. Wang Im-hwan's opinion... Luminous was borderline in my eyes too. So we'll pass you with an eye on the long-term future."
"...Thank you, CEO."
"No, no. We're the ones excited to work with the choreographer this time. Looking forward to it."
Jeong Byeong-in subtly shifted the blame to Wang Im-hwan, tying him down even more inescapably.
What a scary bastard...
"Then Luminous, prepare well for next month's final evaluation. Pass that, and you'll debut right away. The company will provide full support."
"...!!"
Even Han Ji-woo, who always stayed calm, had her pupils trembling at the word "debut."
I could see she couldn't settle down.
"But as you are now, I can't pass you. Your debut would be delayed. No matter how great the debut song, if you can't pull it off, it's meaningless. That golden opportunity could go to another team, so no slacking off—work hard."
At that moment, Luminous shouted in perfect unison.
"Yes, CEO!"
"We'll work hard!"
"Luminous fighting!"
"Thank you."
What did I even say in response?
I was too hyped to remember.
But...
"Ah, right. Kim Hyun-ah."
"...?"
In the midst of it all, Jeong Byeong-in called my name.
And even.
"Kim Hyun-ah, I'd like to have a private meeting with you later. That okay?"
"Uh... yes, sure. I'll come when you call."
He specifically singled me out for a private meeting in front of everyone.
'This is nuts.'
The already stinging glares doubled in intensity.
More precisely, the jealousy and frustration aimed at "Luminous" the team now focused on me personally?
'Does that bastard have some grudge against me or what?'
Did he figure out I sneaked into this agency with ulterior motives?
Or does he know I got a good offer from Sun Entertainment before coming here?
Or maybe CCTV caught me having sex with Go Min-cheol somewhere I don't know about...
Damn, too many guilty spots—can't calm down.
Even so...
"Unnie, we passed! We passed!"
"Waaaaaah, we passed! We did it!"
"I believed in us!"
This was the time to bask in the joy with "my team."
I hugged the Luminous members tight.
[Grand Bathhouse]
Whoa, I'm seriously exhausted. Feels like I could die.
No exaggeration—I could fall asleep standing up.
"Passing the dance midterm evaluation."
We'd all been shaving years off our lives chasing just that.
The catharsis of passing faded, and the fatigue we'd forcibly ignored crashed in all at once.
It pressed down on our eyelids with a ton of force.
Even so, we couldn't sleep yet, so we headed to a big bathhouse near the agency to unwind.
"Four adults."
"Here you go. Take two towels each."
"Thanks."
...Huh?
I drowsily took the towels handed over at the counter without thinking, then tilted my head.
Why are we getting towels here?
'Aren't they usually in the changing room?'
More precisely, the standard is a stack right by the door when you exit the bath...
No, wait.
'Am I really going into the women's bath?'
It hit me a beat late through the sleepiness.
Women's bath. Women's bath...
An idol trainees' women's bath, no less!
A forbidden zone for men.
Even CEO Jeong Byeong-in probably hasn't set foot here.
"Gulp."
My heart started pounding wildly.
"Unnie, what are you doing? Hurry up."
"Huh? Oh, yeah..."
I shrugged blankly as I replied.
Don't get your hopes up, Kim Hyun-ah.
A women's bath won't be that big a deal anyway.
'Think back to your first bathhouse visit.'
It wasn't much.
Just naked guys soaking, scrubbing off grime, then leaving. That's it.
How different could the women's side be?
Right?
"Unnie, what're you doing?"
"Huh? Just checking if there are scrubbers..."
"...Huh? There aren't any. If you don't have one, share mine."
What?
"Ah, unnie! That's someone's reserved spot—you can't sit there."
"Huh?"
No toiletries up top, so how do you know it's reserved?
No, more than that—are they casually reserving bath spots?
And why are the toothbrushes tied together?
"...?"
Facing bathhouse culture for the first time, I turned into a broken robot.
What the hell?
Just changing from man to woman, and it felt like a whole different world...
Is this really the bathhouse I knew?
"Pfft, unnie, what's with that face? Anyone'd think you've never been to a bathhouse."
"Huh? Ah, no, it's not that..."
It was my first women's bath.
But are men's and women's baths supposed to be this different?
...I couldn't quite ask.
Bubble bubble...
I dunked my face in the bath quietly, peeking around with just my eyes above water.
"...?"
A bit disorienting at the totally different sight.
But yeah, this is paradise.
My eyes felt purified.
Through the steamy mist rising from the hot bath, various creamy-skinned bodies filled my view.
Breasts of all sizes bobbed up and down.
And those tantalizing asses—I wanted to bury my face in them right then.
'A place that'd awaken long-forgotten male desires... nice.'
A phantom dick felt like it'd harden any second...
But the most overwhelming among them.
"Kyaaaaang! Unnie!"
"Is the water okay? Not too hot?"
"Hoo, this hits the spot. Good work, everyone."
Were our own Luminous teammates, of course.
From the slim-but-charming Han Ji-woo.
To Seol Su-bin with breasts and hips as violent as mine.
And finally, the adorably killer figure of Kang Chae-rin, sneakily stacked too.
"Should I have borrowed Su-bin's underwear knowing this?"
"You mean when your bra ripped at the end? Nah, wearing Chae-rin's was the godsend. Pretty sure that's why we passed."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I noticed during the dance—the choreographer couldn't take his eyes off you after that. You swapped numbers too, right?"
"He said to contact him if we need anything for the choreography. Or ask if he had questions about me. Probably would've taken anyone's number."
"But he specifically swapped with you."
"...?"
Han Ji-woo leaned back more comfortably in the bath as she spoke.
"How to put it... he didn't seem the type. Still, be careful, unnie."
"Of what?"
"Just in case he has bad intentions toward you. Especially since, well, you have such an amazing body."
"Right! Chae-rin unnie's body is insane!"
"Kyaa!"
Before I knew it, Kang Chae-rin was in my arms, freely groping my breasts like it was nothing.
Is this standard in women's baths?
Come to think of it, I've seen it in Japanese anime sometimes.
"A body that bewitches even women!"
"Chae-rin-ah, don't get reported for sexual harassment by Hyun-ah unnie. Get off now."
"Eeeeeeng! Chae-rin wants to stick to Hyun-ah unnie!"
"Ah, Ji-woo-ya. It's fine with me..."
That was when.
"Then can I touch them later too?"
"Me too!"
Seeing Han Ji-woo and Seol Su-bin with uncharacteristically serious eyes, cold sweat dripped down my back.
No, as a succubus.
It's not bad getting pounced by girls.
And with such pretty ones, it even rekindles forgotten male urges... so why am I so scared?
"M-Maybe later if there's a chance...? For now, just Chae-rin is enough to handle."
"Waaaaah! Hyun-ah unnie is the best!"
"...?"
They watched enviously as Kang Chae-rin kneaded my breasts freely.
Then Han Ji-woo spoke up again.
"Just in case."
"Yeah."
"If the choreographer uses us as an excuse to make weird demands of you, just refuse firmly. We can debut a bit later. Unnie, you've already been through a lot in that area..."
"Ah..."
I felt quietly touched.
Han Ji-woo was the one who'd been most desperate for debut.
Yet here she was, looking out for me.
'What great girls.'
I smirked, feeling warmer inside.
"Got it. Don't worry. And like you said, that guy earlier?"
"Mr. Wang Im-hwan?"
"Yeah, he didn't seem like that type."
At that point, I had no idea.
[Excuse me, Kim Hyun-ah? Could I see you privately for a bit?]
That I'd get a text like this from Wang Im-hwan...