Chapter 38
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 38
Chapter Title Friday Night Idol Fever
Hurry, hurry! Turn on the TV!
Eat your dinner first
Its starting soon! Ugh, come on!
Lately, every Friday turns the house into a total uproar.
Pyo Joohyun, who was trudging through her grueling third year of collegethe supposed hardest phasewatched as her little sister tossed her bag onto the sofa.
This kid, you come home from studying hungry, so I said eat first and then watch.
Mom, Ill bring Jihyun her food. Shes glued to the TV otherwise.
Tell her to eat before you even start boiling the ramen.
Pyo Joohyun flashed a grin and pulled out the folding table.
Then she smacked her sisters back and ordered her.
Move back a bit. Im setting up the table.
No way, I took my contacts out at school, so I have to sit close.
Then Ill find your glasses, so at least fix your posture. Spinal surgery costs 17 million won.
Ugh, fine.
Halfthreatening tone got her an obedient reply.
Pyo Joohyun braved the hassle and retrieved her sisters glasses from her desk.
She set the stillsteaming ramen on the table, earning a thumbsup from Mom sitting at the kitchen chair.
Sis, turn up the volume.
Dont you have hands?
My hands are busy eating ramen!
Pyo Joohyun fiddled with the remote, and the EDM backing track blasted louder through the living room.
Glancing at the 15 rating on screen, she casually asked her sister.
This the show youre always watching?
Yeah. Idol survival.
Pyo Jihyun slurped her ramen carefully while eyeing her sister.
Now that you mention it, whyd you quit fandom stuff, sis? A few years back, your room was plastered with posters, and Mom chewed you out.
No money or time for it anymore. Back then I was twenty, could party with my brain turned off, but now Im drowning in assignments.
Hmm. Anyone you wanted to stan?
Nothing really clicked lately.
Pyo Joohyun had been a huge idol fan in the past.
But faced with time and money shortages, shed quit almost by force.
Maybe because old stories came up, she felt like checking out this apparently famous idol show today.
Whyd you get hooked on this all of a sudden?
Me? High school senior, so everythings fun except studying. Half my class was watching, so I tried it? Way more fun than expected, and tons of hot guys.
Pyo Jihyun sipped some broth and waggled her eyebrows.
Wanna watch with me, sis?
Kinda curious how hot they are.
Perfect timingranking announcement today? Bet theres at least one right up your alley.
Her sister hadnt sounded this confident in ages.
Pyo Joohyun straightened up and pulled out her phone.
Log in after all this time?
She remembered the SNS account shed made for fandom two years ago.
Shed quit posting because of real life, but figured some folks were still in the idol scene.
Sure enough, her timeline was flooded with Idol Training Simulation posts.
Heart pounding so hard Im losing it
pic Chinese whales already prepping Jigwang for Hyeongkong?? If he tops the live vote today, its legit over
Everythings great, just let my baby survive the first cut. Wanna see one more stage
After live vote ends and Jigwang drops, whos down for the long haul grind.
Pyo Joohyun scrolled with growing interest.
Practice photos popped up here and thereher sisters hype made sense.
Yeah, the top contenders all got that oneface vibe.
Sis, put the phone down. Its starting.
You finished that ramen already?
Just one packduh, its quick!
Epic music swelled.
The darkened screen played a teaserstyle clip.
I want to survive. I have to survive, please.
I dont want these memories to be my last. I want to leave behind a better stage, no matter what.
They say its over the moment you give up? Im never giving up!
I will survive.
EP 05 Crossroads
While Pyo Joohyun marveled at the movielike editing, her sister slurped broth and grumbled.
Bet they drag it out, show random stuff before rankings.
Duh, even I know that and Ive barely watched survival shows.
Wanna see Yooncheol ASAP.
Her bias, apparently.
Pyo Joohyun searched Yooncheol.
A stream of photos from one trainee loaded up.
Hot, but looks kinda young.
Profile said 17.
Yeah, too young.
Stanning that felt more like mom vibes.
She scrolled Ji Yooncheol posts absently until one pic grabbed her eye.
Holding my breath till they become Team Anz
Blond hair stood out on the trainee.
Snowwhite skin and broad shoulders blended boyish charm with manly appeal just right.
Hey, whos this guy?
Sis, look! The kids are coming out!
She was about to ask about him when episode 5 proper kicked off.
Trainees entered in pairs through the door emblazoned with the Idol Training Simulation logo.
Whoa, waitSong Hyeongbin permed his hair!
Whos that? The current top guy?
Sis, Song Hyeongbins popularity is insane. Half my class has him as bias? He topped prevotes too.
Pyo Joohyun eyed the TV closely.
Tall and handsome, sure, but
Not my type.
You dont go for hamster faces? Hmm, maybe our biases overlap?
No, there was this one guy I was gonna ask you about
Right then, two lean figures slipped through the door.
Physiques that popped even among the tall trainees.
Blond hair visible from afar.
And a refined, comicbookhero face filling the screen.
Ready, S?
Of course, Si.
The duo nailed their lines and thumbsupped each other.
Subtitles showed blond as Karis von Walden, partner Kang Siyoon.
Taking one letter each to call themselves Sushi?
Pathetic yet hilarious.
No, more than thatthis Karis von Waldens face was nextlevel.
Saw your reaction. The one you meant was Karis?
Yeah. Hottest out of everyone so far?
Face alone? Agreed. Even my class admits it. Untouchable tier. So not bias material, but everyones keeping him as second fave?
Pyo Joohyun was baffled.
With a face that exceptional.
How do you relegate Karis von Walden to second place?
Meanwhile, national producers were hyping Karis and Kang Siyoons entrance all over SNS.
pic Omg so freaking cute lololololololol
Our Sma just set some unspoken rule.
Two giants thumbsupping Sushi! wtf
Smas face so serious, is he for real thinking Sushi slaps or just playing for laughs? No clue
Sushi aint the point. Our Sisama halfbanged is badass af
Wtf true?? Just noticed
Fr Sisama always had bangs, insane
pic pic Screen grabs, legendary
Face is straightup number one.
Havent been moved by a face in forever 4real
Sma I love you debut pls youre Koreas idol hope
Karis von Waldens face moved more than just them.
Jihyun.
What, find your type?
What ranks Karis usually?
At Pyo Joohyuns question, her sister smirked.
Told ya, someone for your taste. Buzz lately says hes surging? Debut zone maybe not, but high today for sure.
Safe bet, huh.
A spark ignited in her chest after so long.
Reallife woes faded as desire surged hard.
Pyo Joohyun decided to watch the full ranking reveal.
Idol Training Simulation, welcome to the first ranking announcement. Only 51 trainees survive today. Nearly half head home.
Choi Sia strode center stage in a suit.
Before checking the round 1 winning teams and their perks. Trainees sent messages to national producers, right? PR video behindthesceneslets watch.
Ugh, knew it. Dragging again.
Pyo Jihyun griped once more.
But her attitude flipped 180 at the footage.
730 AM
Trainees fast asleep
? closeup Spotting something off
The surveillance cam panned sleeping trainees, zooming hard on one cell.
A super tall trainee hugged a rabbit plush way too small for him.
Face barely visible, but Pyo Joohyuns sister screamed.
No way, thats Ji Yooncheol?!
Ji Yooncheol trainee cherishing a plush smaller than him
Sleeping like it kinda matches?
Image flip for sure.
Huge guy whose feet nearly hung off the bed end.
Soon sirens shattered the dorm peace.
Alert to all cells! Check the box at your door now! All cells, now
Halfawake trainees stumbled up, minds blank.
Half with eyes halfshut. Half not even up.
Except one spot.
Cell 31 moved sharp and snappy.
Well, precisely one guy.
Better wake up quick, everyone.
Karis trainee already up
Shower done too!
Karis von Walden diligently roused his roommates and snatched the door box.
Splitscreen showed other cells barely opening theirs.
Seeing the gym clothes and name tags inside, Karis smirked confidently.
Whoa, hes seriously hot.
Pyo Joohyun blurted admiration without thinking.
Never knew freshoutshower glow could shine like that.
Cell 31, all prepped fast, hovered at the door handle cautiously.
Whatre you waiting for, open it! Go first!
Wanna see Karis hyung massacre everyone!
Hearing whos out there first is battle basics.
The three huddled tightpathetic and cutebut Kariss low voice was dead serious, making it funnier.
Treating a variety game like real war, full focus.
Speech and looks scream crown prince, but personalitys the total opposite?
Big gap moe trainee? Pyo Joohyun thoughtuntil her take shattered.
But they didnt know.
Trainees changing into gym clothes with sunny smiles
What waited beyond the door.
Trainees sticking name tags on each other, saying itll be fun
What, what is itwhy this eerie music.
Show always like this?
Dunno.
Ominous music built tension with heavy subtitles.
That day, the trainees remembered.
The terror of merciless slaughter.