Chapter 29
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 29
Chapter Title Wink Breakthrough
Hahaha! No way, they zoomed in on that so much?
Karis bro, I never got a good look at your muscles twitching like that. Its kinda refreshing!
Whats so refreshing about it exactly?
Back then, you werent used to just winking casually, so it was tough! Thats the vibe, right? But now I can see how hard you were working. Super refreshing!
Im not some fish on display at the market.
First time in my life someones called me refreshing to my face.
I chugged the bottled water in my hand.
Truth be told, even if its just variety show filler, it doesnt matter.
No, now that I think about it, its actually a good thing.
The footage completely contrasts with the image Karis von Walden has built up so far.
In short, it offers a fresh side to fans whove only seen one facet of his charm.
I hate to admit it, but Heo Yubins word fits the situation perfectly.
On screen, Karis kept staring into the mirror, desperately trying to wink.
Since the closeup lingered, an edit point was probably coming up soon.
Q Have you always struggled with winking?
Karis Ahaha Its a bit embarrassing to say it outright.
Just as expected.
I watched the crown prince scratch his head with a faint smile.
Hed put some effort into coming up with that excuse on the spot.
Karis Back in my home country, I was a kid with barely any facial expressions. But the moment I wanted to become an idol, I started studying Korean and checking out stagesand there were so many different styles.
Karis A brief silence It was unfamiliar territory, so there was a lot to learn from scratch, and it was tough. I still havent mastered it perfectly, but I think enough practice will sort it out.
Mm, mm. A man keeps his word. Thats manners.
I practiced hard.
Thats a compliment, you idiot.
Kang Siyoon playfully bopped me on the head.
Now the scenes of you and me practicing our asses off should come up.
This was scheduled footage too.
No need to give practice narrative and variety vibes to every passing trainee.
Theyd deliberately inserted these scenes assuming a certain amount of airtime.
And to make the effect stick, it couldnt just end on the funny failsthey had to show the overcoming.
I struggled with winking at first too. Heres a tip dont force your eye shut
The simple camera fixed on one angle replayed the same scenes in sequence.
Karis repeatedly drilling choreography while perfecting his wink.
Kang Siyoon tirelessly checking Kariss moves and demoing key points.
And Heo Yubin leveraging his strengths to help with vocals and join the dance practice.
Fastforwarding implied time flying by.
Karis von Walden, on a break, suddenly stood up like he was possessed and launched into the chorus again.
Twice, three times, then as he tried that disastrous wink from before.
Miraculously, one eye halfclosed successfully.
The moment proficiency unlocked.
His moves definitely felt smoother than before.
As we watched in silence, a closeup captured Kang Siyoon and Karis getting hyped simultaneously.
Then, piercing the lowquality handheld audio, an epic cheer erupted.
Whoa, Im tearing up, Karis! At first, I thought you were a wooden puppet, but now youre blinking normally. Im seriously crying!
Just dont cling to me and sob like this!
The trainers teach us for this exact thrill!
Ugh, dizzy! Stop shaking me!
Were reclaiming all that lost airtime here. Perfect.
We got the most practice time out of any cell, bros!
Just minutes ago, my roommates had been down about Song Hyeongbin hogging parts.
Now, confirmed with ample footage, they highfived with satisfied grins.
I slapped their incoming palms and let out a relieved breath.
Good to see they didnt cut us out entirely.
Ccut us out? What do you mean?
With 96 trainees, they cant cover everyone.
Heo Yubin blinked at Kang Siyoon, who jerked his chin toward the TV.
Like those guys.
Footage zipped through allnighters for final tier evaluations.
Trainees bundled in crosscuts and fastforwards, faces flashing 12 seconds without solo airtime.
No impact, and even with airtime, they wouldnt draw fans. So they filtered them early. Idol survival or not, its a massive capitalbacked showproducers have to do this.
I knew it, but its suddenly scary.
Heo Yubin nearly relapsed into corner hikikomori mode, but I nipped it with quick action.
No need to be scared. Focus on whats in front of you. Hey, Yubin, finishing those peanuts? Im stuffed already.
Yeah! Peanuts are the best!
On screen, the final tier eval DDAY countdown ticked.
Cinematic edits made the dropping numbers feel urgent.
Hitting zero unveiled the dim, final stage.
Hello, National Producers. Welcome to the final preliminary stage before Idol Training Simulation enters full rounds the Final Tier Evaluation.
No judges or other trainees in sight.
The stark producer setup triggered bad memorieseveryone shuddered.
I dont even remember how I danced and sang there.
II nearly puked my first time up there.
Random draw for order announced, cue collective sighs from trainees and judges.
Oh, thatll ramp up the tension.
Brutal, brutal.
Trainees Group handovermouth
What did we do wrong, PDs?!
Overwhelmed by the dark tension, trainees crumbled, underperforming.
Cut to them sobbing in the reveal roommy stomach turned too.
Such a shame. She can do better than that.
Bae Kangwoo judge, unable to hide regretful eyes
But the pity was fleeting.
No solid stages, just endless choreo flubsHa Sangpil and Bae Kangwoos faces darkened.
Come on How do you mess up after drilling it that many times?
By now, it was clear to the naked eye.
Over half the level test Mainstream trainees held or climbed tiers.
Underground ones stuck at Tier 34.
No twists.
Need someone to blow up around now.
Judges, who knew this best, fiddled pens in frustration.
As always, KNets love for comparisons cut to toptier trainee stages, satisfying viewers.
One was Kang Siyoon.
You did pretty well, huh?
Amazing! Siyoon bros dance is the best!
Thanks to Yubin, my vocals stayed steady too.
Nah, I didnt do much.
I watched Kang Siyoon nail a flawless stage and snag final Tier 1.
Level test, he suddenly got that status ailment.
Kang Siyoons was Inhibition.
Midperformance, Inhibition hit, derailing his pace.
If from nerves and pressure, it shouldve recurred here.
But no signs.
Means the cause is something else.
Cant leave the eversmiley guy too comfy.
Next, Heo Yubins final eval.
Leaps in dance, clear solid vocals grabbed judges eyes.
Way more confident than before, he climbed from Underground Tier 3 to Tier 2.
Heo Yubin got his growth arc toosolid so far.
But my stage hadnt aired yet, faint tension building.
Even some prior Tier 1s went before me.
Why were producers babying Karis von Walden like this?
After about 20 minutes, familiar blond hair finally strode onstage.
Karis.
Still so handsome.
Hmm.
Dance judge Ha Sangpil closeup as I appeared.
Natural flashback ensued.
Karis. Karis Didnt you hear the same in level test? No feel in your dance.
!
I jolted.
The practice session I assumed fully cut aired.
Ha Sangpils sharpeyed critique from the start set a harsh tone.
A scenario flashed in my mind.
No way.
Lets start.
Intro blaredKaris von Walden exploded into choreo.
Smoother than the flashback dance.
Nailed the pivot that stumped countless others.
Pitch steady.
Bae Kangwoo halted his pen, leaning forward.
Eyes gleaming unusually.
Peak moment chorus, arms widetodays practiced wink.
That instant, stageimmersed Bae Kangwoo unconsciously fistpumped, yelling.
Yes! Thats how you use it!
She wasnt at this level days ago.
Even harsh critic Ha Sangpil shook his head, stunned.
Bae Kangwoo grinned slyly.
Caught her practicing late.
You saw, Kangwoo?
Passed the practice room light on my way outpeeked, it was Karis.
They actually edited it like this.
I gawked at the TV, mouth agape.
Latenight Bae Kangwoo spotting Karis practicing expressions.
Okay, lemme help a bit. More practice in you?
Whoa, you grinded that hard?
Karis bro, whend you sleep?
Haha I was way behind you guys, so I had to. Sleeps a luxury.
Todays variety all woven into narrative.
Karis started as the winkfumbling trainee, but clawed to goal with grit in this ep.
Shocked his own critic with growth.
Capped Tier 2 to 1 magic.
I recalled posts calling Karis von Walden talentless.
A smile crept up.
Exactly the development we needed.