Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: I Burst Out Crying "Wahhh"...
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The heavy silence left by Im Jihye's ballad hadn't even begun to fade when all the studio lights went out.
A split-second stillness.
It felt just like the calm before a storm.
Because everyone knew who was waiting next in line.
Beep—!
The shrill blast of a whistle tore through the silence.
At the same moment, blinding white pin lights poured down on the center of the stage.
There stood Siyeon, dressed in a sky-blue crop uniform top and a white tennis skirt.
A nine-year-old's small frame, but the air around her already commanded the stage like a conqueror.
"Scream it out!!"
With Siyeon's shout, a grand brass section exploded in a flashy burst. She dashed toward the center of the stage with light steps, matching the intro.
-Come on, get up! Even if your breath's right up to your throat!
-Toward your dreams, don't stop, Go, Fight, Win!
The song was an uptempo track with a rocking beat.
Siyeon's voice wasn't heavy like Im Jihye's.
Instead, it was sharp and solid like a needle, carrying a strange freshness that made adrenaline surge just from listening.
Her choreography was more like cheer routine moves than intricate dance.
Punching fists sharply upward, stomping feet, and bold arm swings typical of cheerleaders.
But when those simple motions met nine-year-old Seo Siyeon's cuteness and explosive energy, they created a synergistic blast.
The usually expressionless Seo Siyeon sang with a bright smile, and the audience began to stir.
Every intense movement sent her white tennis skirt fluttering dynamically, while the flexible motions peeking from under the crop uniform stole the viewers' gazes.
-Play on, legacy!
-Lift the trophy!
The camera zoomed in on judge Kayseop.
His eyes were filled with shock.
It was a completely different kind of impact from watching Im Jihye's desperate effort.
A perfectly calculated business-like stage that paralyzed rational thought and ignited instinctive excitement.
From her outfit to her gestures, it all screamed determination to crush Im Jihye in this matchup.
Siyeon was embodying the ideal idol form that Im Jihye had desperately sought—with a nine-year-old's body, no less.
As the song hit its climax, blue and white confetti cannons fired from both sides of the stage.
Siyeon rushed to the edge amid the shower of confetti, reaching out toward the audience.
-If we're together, any trial at all!
-We'll leap over it, fly to the end!
Siyeon unleashed an explosive high note without a single hitch in her breath.
A flawless live performance amid the fierce routine.
Her fresh voice climbed to its limit without a hint of pitch waver.
It reached the exact same register as the high note Im Jihye had just belted out moments ago.
Honestly, even Seo Siyeon herself was a bit surprised it worked.
Just last month, she couldn't have handled a high-note-heavy song like this.
At this point, she was starting to feel confident that Seo Siyeon herself had real musical talent.
For the final verse, Siyeon returned to center stage and stared straight into the camera.
In her past life, one of the idols she'd produced was a pro at winking.
'PD-nim, winking is all about momentum. Like, "I'm the cutest in the world!" That's the mindset!'
That's what she'd said.
Maybe because Siyeon had watched her since she was really young, they were close.
Vivid memories surfaced of learning forced winking techniques from her.
Honestly, she'd wondered back then what she'd even use it for...
'Never imagined a moment like this would come.'
Who could've pictured auditioning as a girl?
I narrowed my eyes and pierced the main camera straight ahead.
Her nagging echoed in my head. Momentum? Yeah, I've got plenty. Right now, in this studio, nothing shines brighter than me.
I dragged out the song's final syllable long and sweet, a smile on my lips that was fresh bordering on arrogant. The instant the camera lens filled with my face, I winked my left eye—light but intense.
"Waaaaaaaaah—!!!"
A second later, cheers exploded, tearing at eardrums.
People jumped to their feet, clapping wildly, some audience members giggling in a daze from the afterimage of that wink.
Panting, Siyeon glanced at the judges and crowd. She was certain.
This was a guaranteed win.
The judges' evaluations followed.
I snagged 2 out of 3 judge votes and 90% of the live audience votes, advancing smoothly to the next round.
Just one mildly infuriating thing, though.
"That Yoo Sanghyeon guy..."
Wasn't he into me? Why'd he vote for the other side?
His reasoning was that my stage was great, but Im Jihye's effort in nailing that tough vocal track was admirable...
'Honestly, I sang better.'
Okay, she sang a tad better technically... but factor in the kid bonus points, and I edged her out.
That stage was basically a career-high live for me too.
"Hah... Feels good."
Anyway, I won.
That alone was reason enough to celebrate.
I suddenly recalled Im Jihye's despairing face from earlier.
Truth be told, she wasn't that pitiable.
She'd gambled against the top contender—me—and lost everything. Her choice.
But in that moment, past memories flooded my mind.
'I-is this... really elimination?'
'It's just dropping from debut lineup. If you want, the next group—'
'Wait another five years staring at walls? How can you be so cruel...?'
The kid who packed up and left the dorm the next day after saying that.
'Oppa, I'll succeed and prove your judgment wrong.'
Then years later, she opened a bakery and invited me to the grand opening.
Thoughts of trainees I'd pushed into despair.
Im Jihye must've felt that way once. And she was feeling it now too.
Plus, her old mentor Jina's brutal critique stuck with me.
'You've lost all your past color. The Im Jihye who was once number one in my heart seems gone.'
The tone, the content—it was savage. I might've ugly-cried on stage too.
"...Should I go check on her?"
This might be Im Jihye's last shot.
No, it probably was her last real chance.
Age was the issue.
The older she got, the harder it'd be to gain traction. Especially as a woman.
Comfort from my current adorable self might give her a real boost.
Who could hate a cute little girl like me?
Plus, it'd build a great broadcast image.
"Where's Jihye unnie's waiting room?"
I walked to Im Jihye's waiting room door with a smile.
A VJ trailed quietly behind, camera in hand.
Perfect picture: the overwhelming victor offering warm solace to the defeated.
Personally, I felt bad for her situation. Hoped she'd navigate the rest of her life well.
But as I reached the door, a strange unease hit.
Rough breathing and muffled sobs leaked from behind the firmly shut door.
I knocked lightly.
"It's Seo Siyeon. Can I come in?"
No answer. But I turned the handle slowly anyway.
The room was a wreck.
Props from the vanity littered the floor, and in the mirror, Im Jihye stared with one eye visible amid smudged mascara and tangled hair.
As I entered, her shoulders twitched visibly.
'Ah, shit. This is bad.'
But no backing out now. I spoke carefully.
"Unnie, your stage was amazing today. Honestly, I was on edge too. Like Yoo Sanghyeon judge said earlier..."
"Get out."
A low, gravelly voice.
But feigning childlike innocence, I took another step forward.
An old bad habit from my past life.
Not taking no for an answer, stubbornly pushing.
It had built my success before, but doubling down now was a clear mistake.
"I mean it. I learned so much from your singing..."
"I said get out!!!"
A scream, and something whooshed past my face, smashing into the wall.
-Clang!
A metal tumbler.
A bit more off, and it'd have nailed my head. The trailing VJ let out a short groan and pulled back the camera.
The tumbler rolled noisily across the floor.
'Should've just left when she told me to.'
"What do you know? What gives you the right to look at me with that disgusting pity face?"
Im Jihye shot up and yelled, lunging toward me verbally. Her eyes had lost all reason.
Inferiority, defeat, and the devastation of ten years denied by mere cuteness swallowed her whole.
"Must be nice being a genius like you. Throw on a short outfit, wink once, and the world grovels! My time? My effort? Doesn't matter, right? To you, I'm just a stepping stone for your stage!"
She hurled a brush holder from the vanity. This one landed at my feet, brushes scattering everywhere.
"Comfort? Don't make me laugh. Even hearing my name from that smug mouth makes me puke. Get out of my sight! Die, you little...!"
I stood frozen, staring. The camera captured every raw moment of the outburst.
Ah, miscalculation. Total blunder.
The resentment and inferiority she harbored toward me were way beyond what I'd imagined.
My body trembled like a leaf.
First time in this life facing such blatant hostility and rage?
In my past life, I'd have sighed indifferently and tidied up.
Stressed trainees on bad days threw hysterics often; I was used to it.
But now, tears welled in my eyes.
"Sob, hic...!"
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
People rushed in asking what happened, and regret and panic flooded Im Jihye's face too late.
"Wah, waaah."
I burst into heartbroken sobs right there.
The first genuine tears of this life.