Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Yeonwoo's Dumpling Obsession
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Lately, Yeonwoo had been obsessed with dumplings.
A new dumpling shop had opened near the studio building, catching his eye.
And who could ignore it, with all that fresh white steam billowing out every single day?
They had all kinds of dumplings, but Yeonwoo's absolute favorite was the king dumplings.
These massive ones, bigger than his fist, with slightly thick, moist skins— one bite, and the filling welcomed him warmly.
He wasn't picky about the varieties. Spicy, hearty kimchi king dumplings were delicious, and so were the meat ones.
The only downsides? They tasted awful once they cooled, and he couldn't just eat them at home whenever he wanted.
So he switched to frozen dumplings he could buy and steam at home.
They weren't quite as good as the king ones when steamed, but frying them in a pan or air fryer made for some tasty fried dumplings.
That opened up the whole world of fried dumplings for him.
Yeonwoo could polish off an entire bag by himself, sitting right there.
And it wasn't even much—a couple bags were no sweat.
Word that Yeonwoo was hooked on dumplings spread like wildfire through JOP.
Why?
Because starting today, Yeonwoo was commuting to JOP.
“Get every kind of dumpling ready! And bring some from that king dumpling place we scouted before! You got the steamers, right?”
The operations team and the youngest staffers scrambled to prepare ahead of Yeonwoo's visit, setting everything up in the recording studio.
“Whoa... what's all this?”
“Looks delicious...”
The six members of the newly finalized debut group stared at the spread, mouths watering.
The studio wasn't just stocked with dumplings—it had all sorts of finger foods Yeonwoo might like. For trainees on strict diets, it was pure torture.
“You guys, this is all for Representative Yuin. Don't touch it, or you'll get caught.”
“Representative Yuin's super picky about food. Mess up, and you might get fired.”
Of course, the "fired" part was half a joke.
The problem was, the trainees took it as a joke too.
“Nah, no way.”
“That little... I mean, the representative's gonna fire us?”
“He seems too nice for that.”
They'd heard the rumors about Yeonwoo, sure. But face-to-face, he just looked like a small, cute kid.
To them, he was an adorable little brother. Or worse—easy prey.
“One won't hurt, right?”
Nangong Jin, the one with the biggest appetite, crept toward the food.
“Hey, aren't you right on the edge of your target weight? Go over, and it's fasting for you. Fasting.”
“That guy got caught sneaking out for blood sausage soup at dawn last time—straight red card.”
“Dude, this stuff won't make you gain weight. Dance for thirty minutes, and it's gone.”
Nangong Jin inched closer to the food as he spoke.
That's when it happened.
“Everyone, eyes up here.”
The door opened, and the management team leader stepped in. He'd been a star at one of the big three agencies before getting scouted here.
And he was one of the three big bosses the debut group feared most.
Rumor had it he'd done his military service in something like HID or the special forces before becoming a manager.
“Nangong Jin. What do you think you're doing?”
True or not, the team leader's glare at Nangong Jin hovering over the food was downright terrifying.
“Ah, T-Team Leader. It's not...”
The team leader jerked his head, signaling Nangong Jin to get back with the members, then pointed to the chair they'd set out for Yeonwoo.
“Representative Yuin, have a seat right there.”
“Thanks, mister... I mean, Team Leader.”
“Haha, call me whatever feels right. 'Mister' works just fine.”
“Then you drop the formal talk too. Feels weird hearing it from someone my dad's age.”
“Business is business. Once we get more personal down the line, we can loosen up.”
The members stared at the team leader, dumbfounded.
The guy who terrified them was grinning warmly at Yeonwoo, eyes dripping honey.
“Hello, everyone. I'm Yuin. Real name's Yeonwoo, but call me Yuin here—official setting and all.”
“Yeah— I mean, yes!”
Clueless Anurak said "yeah" before catching the team leader's deadly glare and correcting himself.
“Alright, everyone, take a seat... Whoa! Food!”
Yeonwoo gawked at the spread with a wow, then shook his head side to side.
No, hold it together for now.
“It's all for you, Representative Yuin. Dig in.”
“I know you're all on debut diets. Can't eat in front of starving folks—that'd be cruel. I'll sneak bites in the booth where you can't see.”
“Ho ho, such a big heart.”
Yeonwoo brushed it off with "not at all" and turned to the six debut members.
“Shall we get started?”
Yeonwoo smiled cutely.
Well, cute only to the six who didn't know him yet.
Anyone who'd been produced by him would warn them:
That's no cute smile—it's the devil in disguise.
But oblivious, they kept their casual vibe.
Guys, especially young ones, are simple. No matter the rumors, if someone looks like an easy mark, they'll match or climb over them.
Yeonwoo didn't mind much.
They were older, after all. He got why they'd see him as a kid.
But he could tell this atmosphere wouldn't let them sing properly.
“Jimin hyung, you first.”
He sent in Kim Jimin, the best singer, and hit the talkback.
“Did you practice the song I assigned?”
“Yeah— I mean, yes!”
The assignment was a male-key arrangement of Hadassah's debut track, Fly High.
He'd handed out the MRs and told them to practice for three days. Looked like they had, judging by Jimin's confidence boost over auditions.
“Alright, playing the MR. Sing along. Oh, Wakana noona's not here. One sec.”
Yeonwoo glanced at the management team leader.
“You mean PD Fujii Wakana?”
“Yeah, she said she was hitting the bathroom, so I came ahead. Probably lost in the halls somewhere.”
The team leader nodded and stepped out, returning moments later with Fujii Wakana in tow.
“Noona, play the MR.”
“Got it.”
Wakana cued it up and hit play.
Kim Jimin gripped the mic stand and started singing along with the backing track.
Yeonwoo listened to the first verse stone-faced, then signaled Wakana to cut the music. He stared silently at Jimin.
Wakana, watching from the side, shrugged.
‘Here it comes—that look.’
Yeonwoo's signature glare, the one that could eat someone alive.
He hit the talkback with that glare on.
“Jimin hyung.”
-...Yes?
Jimin locked eyes with Yeonwoo through the booth glass and flinched.
Even seeing him as a kid, that gaze crushed his spirit.
“Don't you want to debut?”
-What? No, of course not.
“Then why are you doing it like that? Compared to the final audition, you're not even half as good. Total mess.”
-...
“Let's go one by one. You felt it yourself, right? You dropped the beat in the third phrase and the intro to the first chorus.”
-Oh, that was...
Yeonwoo cut him off.
“If you don't know this, you shouldn't even be a trainee.”
-I know, sorry.
“And you were a tiny bit off at the start of the second verse, and flat on the highest note in the second chorus. Honestly, out of all my songs, Fly High is the easiest.”
He wasn't wrong.
It was basically his first song, not high-level by his standards now, and easy to sing.
“Debut's your chance to start easy. If you can't keep up, I'll have to cut you, Jimin hyung.”
-...
Kim Jimin went pale staring at Yeonwoo.
At 18, a high school senior, this was pretty much his last shot.
Idol debuts were skewing younger—18 made you a veteran trainee.
Guys had a bit more leeway than girls even at 19, but debuting from a place like JOP? Tough.
-S-Sorry, Producer! I'll do better!
Watching Jimin's attitude flip, Yeonwoo softened his gaze.
“Sorry for being so harsh, hyung. But this is our company's first idol with my name on it.”
As Jimin nodded vigorously, the team leader eyed the rest of the debut group.
“Right, you're Representative Yuin's first idols under his label. A Melboard chart-topper's raising you, and you think he's just some kid? Bellies full already?”
“No, sir!!”
He continued as they shouted in unison.
“Company president's orders: top priority on everything is stuff related to Representative Yuin. That's how important he is—how amazing. Get your heads straight. You're debuting rookies judging a guy Olivia Snow calls master based on looks?”
The debut group looked at Yeonwoo. Still kid-like, but scolding Jimin in the booth? No child's words.
Think producer, not kid, and it chilled you to the bone—forcing you low like Jimin.
“Alright, take two.”
As Yeonwoo donned his headset, the team leader told the members:
“Do it right. A Melboard #1 producing you... what agency has that? I'd be kowtowing.”
Some of the debut group snapped to attention.
He was right.
A Melboard-topping musician with the Midas touch sat before them.
They'd nearly blown this golden chance with childish thoughts.
“Let's do this, guys.”
Yoon Habin rallied them, and they all nodded.
‘Handsome guy with leadership too?’
The team leader smiled at Habin stepping up.
‘Guess my job here's done?’
The branch president had sent him to prevent group mob mentality dismissing Yeonwoo.
Mission accomplished—time to bow out.
“I'm out.”
He paused at the door, glancing back at Yeonwoo.
‘Didn't even need to step in, maybe.’
Had climbing to Melboard given the kid some gravitas?
The young rep's charisma even surprised the team leader.