Chapter 7
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Stunning Performance
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With the final line delivered, silence fell over the practice room.
Kim Han-soo and the trainer stared at me with dumbfounded expressions.
'Is something wrong?'
Their prolonged silence started making me uneasy. They should say something by now.
No way they froze because it was that bad, right?
'I'm getting anxious for no reason.'
I'd concentrated harder than ever before, so it felt like I'd done really well—but that only made me more nervous. What if they said this was just average for my best effort?
I'd forcibly used "Ho, Not Bad," but its effect was...
The user's 'current ability' is fully maximized.
...ambiguous as hell.
I needed to know my baseline ability to gauge it, but without that, I had no clue how it turned out.
"Team Leader?"
"...Ah! Sorry."
Kim Han-soo, who'd been blankly frozen, snapped to attention at my voice.
But the smile that had never left his eyes since we first met was gone now.
Was there really a problem? It felt like I'd nailed it.
"I was lost in thought for a second."
Not about my acting just now?
"Lost in thought?"
"I was wondering why Do-jun wants to be an idol so badly."
What was that supposed to mean?
"Well... plenty of idols transition to acting after debuting."
Even the trainer seemed to be under some weird misconception.
Of course, I wasn't against acting. If they gave me the chance, I'd jump on it—especially in my current situation.
Idols had short careers, with few exceptions. Solidifying a spot as an actor would be ideal.
But regardless of my situation, Kim Han-soo was clearly misunderstanding something.
To clear it up, I repeated what I'd heard nonstop during my trainee days.
"No. They said my acting was average."
"...Who did?"
"The GH trainer."
The acting trainer scowled deeply.
"You call that feedback? Sounds like bullshit. That guy's mouth must be for farting."
After that outburst, the trainer looked me straight in the eye and continued.
"If that acting was average, then no one in the world is good. What's that guy's name? He was from GH, so he shouldn't be a total hack. Did he cut you on purpose?"
I had no idea what he was talking about.
"Thanks to him, we got you—and you're a benefactor to us."
Still confused, I watched as Kim Han-soo flashed an even bigger smile and spoke.
"Do-jun, have some confidence. You were really good. We were just so shocked we forgot to speak."
"Ahaha, thank you."
"No, I'm not just saying it to be nice. For real. We signed a contract, so I'll give you an honest evaluation."
"Exactly. It's a jackpot. If they called this level average, I'd love to see what they consider good."
I thought they were just buttering me up, but their reactions said otherwise.
"You seem dazed yourself. Want to watch it back together?"
"Oh, yes!"
At Kim Han-soo's gesture, I hurried over. The camera's small screen filled with footage of my performance.
"Whoa..."
"See? Pretty good, right?"
"I can hardly believe that's me."
I kept my shaky gaze fixed on the screen. The me inside looked like a completely different person—like I was in another place entirely, detached from everyone else.
"You've seriously never gotten praise before? Doesn't GH give feedback?"
Of course not. And I'd never performed like this even once.
There was only one difference between then and now.
The user's 'current ability' is fully maximized for 2 hours.
Separate from the original remaining time, a new timer showing about 1 hour and 50 minutes left sparkled brightly.
'This is insane...'
It forced me to use it, but the effect was ridiculously good. And...
'What a waste.'
My stomach suddenly started hurting.
If I'd known it was this effective, I'd have saved it for something important—like an audition or a TV appearance. Such a waste. I really wanted to take it back.
"Whew."
I let out a sigh of regret, and Kim Han-soo patted my shoulder.
"What do you think? Good, right?"
"I guess I was just in top form."
"Haha, if good condition made everyone this good, anyone could be an actor."
No. This was real. Without the item, I couldn't have pulled this off.
But I couldn't exactly tell Kim Han-soo, "Actually, I used an item..." and spill everything.
That would land me in the hospital first—not a regular one, but a mental ward—instead of debuting.
'Four left now, huh?'
I had to cherish them and only use them for crucial moments.
That gave me one more reason to grind for coins—fast and a ton of them.
Honestly, if I had the coins to spare, I'd buy hundreds of these.
'Thinking about it, this is ridiculous.'
System, you bastard. What, like a supermarket free sample? Force me to try it then make me buy? By force, no less.
'Sigh...'
It felt shady, like with the Pida contract too.
It'd be nice if it just clearly told me what it wanted. But it never responded to questions like that.
As the footage ended, Kim Han-soo packed up the camera and said,
"We'll check singing and dancing this evening. Practice in the meantime and rest up."
...No, if you're evaluating, do it all at once. What a waste of an item.
We'd planned acting after lunch and vocals in the afternoon once my voice warmed up, but after using "Ho, Not Bad," the remaining 1 hour and 40 minutes felt insanely precious!
What about the rest of the time?!
As Kim Han-soo left for the office, the trainer extended his hand.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Me too!"
Right then, as I shook his hand, I remembered something I'd forgotten.
"Trainer, one favor?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Do you use Goodstar?"
"Goodstar? Yeah, a bit..."
"Then like all my photos, please."
"...Pardon?"
"Every single one."
"...Every?"
Not a single one skipped. All of them.
❤
Pida Entertainment Executive Director Go Moo-seo ruffled his hair roughly.
Spread out before him were documents related to their upcoming idol group B.O.Y (Beside of You).
He'd scouted all of Pida's star actors, earning a quick promotion to executive director and a solid reputation in the industry.
But producing idols was a whole different beast. They barely had two confirmed members, and progress was stalled at just a name. It made his chest tighten.
Was this a mistake? But to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with top agencies, they needed idols.
Big win or total bust—that was his current gamble.
"Executive Director!"
The door flew open without a knock, and Kim Han-soo rushed in. Go Moo-seo's already frayed nerves sharpened his glare.
"Can't you knock properly?"
"I have a report on the new contract, Lee Do-jun."
Ignoring the rebuke, Kim Han-soo cut straight to it.
Damn guy. Thought he'd shape up as team leader.
But there had to be a reason for the urgency.
Go Moo-seo clicked his tongue and replied,
"The kid from GH?"
"Yes, him."
"What's up with him? Total dud? Bad contract?"
Even after thorough checks, some turned out to be duds.
Was Lee Do-jun one of those? Maybe that's why he hadn't debuted.
"The opposite."
"Opposite?"
"Yeah, he's too good."
"Good is good—why rush in like there's a problem?"
Go Moo-seo's face relaxed. Not the nightmare scenario he'd imagined. Relief.
"His acting is too good."
The tone was like they'd snagged a pro actor.
Wasn't this an idol trainee?
Go Moo-seo stared at Kim Han-soo before speaking.
"Can't sing or dance, but good at acting?"
"No. He's just good at acting."
Go Moo-seo faltered, speechless. But Kim Han-soo pressed on.
"Haven't seen singing or dancing yet—we did acting first. It's no joke."
He wrapped up with, "He could debut as an actor right now, no issues," grinning brightly.
But Go Moo-seo frowned at the overly glowing review. It didn't add up logically.
"You lost it or something?"
"Pardon?"
"Why would GH let a kid like that go?"
Despite the sharp tone, Kim Han-soo just shrugged. Not a mishearing, then—it was real.
Go Moo-seo sighed lowly and asked again.
"...What about singing and dancing?"
"Videos looked good, solid enough for GH's debut lineup."
True enough. That's why he'd fallen into Pida's net to make B.O.Y succeed.
'Flame's success went to their heads?'
The thought flickered, but no—GH was a business. They wouldn't trash good talent just because another group succeeded.
If there was a reason, it was probably a flaw in the product.
"...He got a bad personality or something?"
Good at everything, great face. Otherwise, GH wouldn't release him—that was Go Moo-seo's math.
"Our staff vouched for his character."
"Hey! That makes no sense otherwise."
Kim Han-soo had no comeback to the outburst. It was a reasonable worry.
"Anyway! Thought he was rough, but he's a gem?"
"Exactly."
Go Moo-seo fell silent for a long moment. Then he started rummaging through the papers on his desk.
'It was around here earlier...'
Acting was pure talent. Couldn't teach what wasn't innate.
They'd picked up Do-jun for B.O.Y's success.
A seven-year GH survivor could motivate the others—that was the plan.
But hearing this from trusted Team Leader Kim Han-soo, it felt wasteful to just slot him in.
He found the paper he wanted and gripped it tight.
"Kim Han-soo, you sure he's the real deal?"
"Want to check yourself?"
Kim Han-soo's voice brimmed with confidence.
"Fine. Bring the footage. Let's watch."
"Yes."
"Oh, and."
Go Moo-seo stopped Kim Han-soo, who was leaving with a bright face, and handed over the paper.
"Just in case, swing by promo on your way up and grab this contact too."
Kim Han-soo's eyes gleamed meaningfully at the document.