Chapter 195
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195
[Yeon-ri (Lia Purple): I’ve wanted to perform on stage with you for a long time!]
“Yeon-hu hyung, you said you wanted to do a stage with me before, didn’t you?”
“I—I did? When?”
[Gu Chan (Mars): There haven’t been many opportunities. I’m so excited to think we’re finally doing this together right before the performance…]
“There haven’t been many opportunities until now.”
“No, I mean, since when did you…?”
“Aren’t you excited?”
[Yeon-ri (Lia Purple): I’m so nervous and my heart is fluttering!]
“My heart is fluttering, though.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
I intercepted every single line written in the script.
Everyone, from the cast to the staff, stared at me with wide eyes, but it had been ages since I’d known the meaning of words like embarrassment or shame.
However, there was one person.
“Cu~t!! Wow, what is this tension?!”
“Ahaha, should we do it again?”
Only the PD was clapping in delight.
When I slyly beat the others to the punch, he shook his head vigorously.
“No, no. I love it just like this!! Per—fect!! The friendship between rivals! This feeling of mutual recognition!”
He then tapped his megaphone and gave the order to pack up, noting that the restaurant rental time was almost over.
The man was Ju PD. I had never worked with him before, but I’d heard enough stories to know the gist of his style.
They said he used to ruin program after program until he worked with a writer who wrote incredibly detailed scripts. After that resulted in a mid-tier hit, he became a total script-believer.
“Good work today.”
Setting aside my personal distaste, everyone has their own way of working. Regardless, the essence of a PD is always the same.
If it’s entertaining, it’s a win.
That’s why he let my unilateral ad-libs slide.
As I got up to head back to the van, the maknae of Lia Purple, who had been standing a few paces away with her eyes darting around, bowed deeply.
“Ho-yun-ssi! Thank you for your hard work today!”
“Good work, Senior.”
Even after the greeting, the Lia Purple members lingered nearby before calling out to me cautiously from a few meters away.
“Seriously! Today! Thank you so much!!”
She gave me a big thumbs-up, and as if that distance wasn't enough, she scurried even further away. I let out a small smirk watching her.
Well, that’s one insurance policy secured.
The Mars vocal, seeing this, looked slightly fed up. He rubbed his eyes as if exhausted, waved a hand saying he had another schedule to get to, and walked away.
Just then, the assistant director approached to check the schedule one more time.
“—Then we’ll relay the additional filming schedule with Kang Yeon-hu-ssi through your manager! Great job today.”
“Yes, thank you.”
The AD left with a beaming smile, clearly pleased to have salvaged some usable footage.
A short distance away, the High Five manager and Kang Yeon-hu were deep in conversation.
I also said my goodbyes to the staff and headed toward the underground parking lot. The manager had gone down ahead of me to start the van and pull the car out.
Habitually, I opened the Item Shop.
As I scrolled down past the slots that were still more than half empty, a product I had kept my eye on earlier sparkled brilliantly.
[Good Deeds Travel Fast~!
You can leak your own good deeds to the outside world as if someone else spread the rumor.
Seo Ho-yun-ssi, let’s do something kind and create a positive image together!
※ The target of the good deed is limited to a third party unrelated to the player, and the criteria for 'good' follows general standards.
※ The designated good deed will be automatically exposed to a random number of people in various formats.
Cost: 1,000 Points]
Not that my image is particularly bad right now.
But this should wrap things up cleanly.
I read the text on the system window thoroughly one more time as I stepped into the elevator. I waited without pressing the close button, and just before the doors shut, a hand reached through the gap.
“Excuse me, Seo Ho-yun-ssi.”
It was Kang Yeon-hu.
I straightened my back from the elevator wall as the person I was waiting for appeared and gave him a bright smile.
“Hello.”
“I’m not doing particularly well.”
Kang Yeon-hu strode into the elevator and closed the door.
“What are you thinking?”
He had been flustered and dragged along by my pace during filming, but it seemed he had regained his composure the moment it ended.
“Aw, Hyung. What do you mean?”
“That’s disgusting, so stop it. Since when were we close enough for you to call me ‘Hyung’?”
I felt a strange sense of satisfaction seeing him look like a bristling cat, but Kang Yeon-hu spoke with a frown.
“A sharp-witted person like you, Seo Ho-yun-ssi, couldn't possibly be unaware that doing this might trigger a backlash from the fandom if you’re not careful.”
He was likely referring to our time on Shining Star Season 2.
Since we were strictly rivals competing for the top two spots.
I nonchalantly scratched my neck and stared straight ahead.
“Seo Ho-yun-ssi, I’m getting déjà vu here.”
“From where?”
“From Shining Star. I know you intentionally hyped up Jeong Won-ha-ssi only to cut him down. Because of Jeong Da-jun-ssi.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I had even made that 'hearing' joke in front of Seong Ji-won, so it would be more surprising if he didn't know.
[B4 Floor.]
Kang Yeon-hu pressed the close button again, turned his body completely, and looked me straight in the eye.
“Even if you speak smoothly to my face, I have a general idea of what you’re pulling behind the scenes.”
“Hmm.”
“I don’t care what you do to other people, but don’t even think about using me.”
Looking at the disgusted Kang Yeon-hu, I felt strangely amused.
It wasn't like he was wrong, either.
Kang Yeon-hu, you really are smart.
As Kang Yeon-hu tried to leave the elevator after saying his piece, I snatched his arm.
“It’s a request from Chae Jeong-woo sunbae-nim.”
“……!”
When I spoke honestly, Kang Yeon-hu stopped in his tracks and turned his head.
“Why Jeong-woo hyung?”
“Well, I owed him a bit, so I’m paying him back.”
As I let go of his arm and took a step back, Kang Yeon-hu seemed to fall into thought for a moment.
I didn't know exactly what their relationship was, but I knew at least that Chae Jeong-woo looked out for Kang Yeon-hu’s well-being, and Kang Yeon-hu trusted him quite a bit.
“Yeon-hu-ssi, I don’t lie very often. You can trust me.”
“After what you did to Jeong Won-ha?”
“Maybe?”
“…….”
“I’m joking.”
When I chuckled, Kang Yeon-hu’s brow furrowed sharply.
“Well, there might be some backlash. But isn't this better than wasting time filming something boring by following a stiff senior-junior concept script because you're too scared to try anything?”
“…….”
“And why don't you check the reaction after this program ends? See just how much your image changes.”
I curled the corners of my mouth, thinking of the item I had just purchased.
“I’m going to pick out something especially delicious for you, so just sit back and eat what you're given.”
“……Sigh.”
Kang Yeon-hu ran a hand through his hair with a deep, confused sigh.
He had a long trainee period and had been through his fair share of struggles, so he thought he could remain composed no matter what happened. But getting entangled with someone like me seemed to have thrown everything off, leaving him in a state of mental turmoil.
Well, not my problem.
High Five was doing well.
They had stumbled a bit recently, but they were still a card that a major agency hadn't given up on yet. This level of a slip-up was something that would return to normal after a few broadcast appearances.
Right now, Kang Yeon-hu himself was the one being anxious, impatient, and insecure.
It didn't help that their senior group was Black Call. Having been on a path to success only to briefly deviate, he seemed terrified that his past would repeat and he’d end up back at square one.
The occupational hazard of a long-term trainee.
The label of 'failure' was engraved deep in his bones.
For a moment, I was reminded that Seong Ji-won had gone through the same experience, which soured my mood, but I immediately wiped it from my mind.
“Senior.”
When I called his name to break the cycle of unpleasant thoughts he was trapped in, his slightly trembling eyes met mine.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
I am thorough with my calculations. If I suffer a loss, I inflict a greater one. If I owe a debt, I pay it back somehow.
However, since we are adults, the responsibility for the outcome lies with each individual.
“But you know what to do when the cameras are rolling, right?”
Whether Kang Yeon-hu looked dazed or not, I gave a smirk and stepped out of the elevator first.
I’d bet the banana I ate this morning that before this guy spent ten years rotting in a major agency, he was one hundred percent the Kim Seong-hyeon type.
*
“Wow! So this is Daepasung!”
“Yep.”
“I heard there are rumors they want to change the company name to DPS lately!”
It seemed Daepasung had finally realized their company name was tacky.
After two more additional shoots with Kang Yeon-hu over the course of a week, we moved the filming to Daepasung to work on the music.
As I was briefly discussing today’s schedule with the AD, Kang Yeon-hu happened to get out of his van.
“You’re here?”
Ever since our conversation in the elevator, Kang Yeon-hu’s mouth twitched slightly whenever he faced me.
I barely held back a laugh and just gave a light wave.
“Ah….”
“…….”
“He… He… He… llo….”
“Hmm?”
With a face that looked like he had severe indigestion, Kang Yeon-hu muttered.
“…Hello, Ho-yun-ssi.”
Who would ever think we’re close if you act like that?
His acting was atrocious.
Ding!
[He’s so pitiful….]
Wait, is it because I’m the one he’s facing?
Well, it wasn't a particularly important matter, so I let it slide for now and guided the staff into the building.
“Let’s start with the music work.”
“Ah! Are you working with Kang Yi-chae-ssi? Most of The Dawn’s songs were written and composed by Kang Yi-chae-ssi, right?”
“Come to think of it, he’s really famous!”
“Is our kid that famous?”
As we opened the doors and entered the lobby, my shoulders puffed up with pride at the staff’s words.
“Of course! He’s known for turning down all the love calls.”
That’s just because Kang Yi-chae is the type of guy who only does what he wants.
Still, even I highly evaluate Yi-chae’s genius.
The guy even had an S- rank in Charm.
He was in the same league as Ju Woo-seong, so that said it all.
I was certain that if he just whipped up a few songs, it would drastically increase the buzz for this program.
I’ll throw Kang Yi-chae out as the first runner, and then show off Seong Ji-won’s vocals.
“Ahaha, is that so?”
Pondering how to melt the members' individual charms into the show, I led everyone to the recording studio.
I expected to see a nice shot of Kang Yi-chae working with his headphones on as usual. I opened the recording studio door, and—
“……Eek?”
I was met with Kang Yi-chae, wearing the pineapple hat I had worn during the concert, crouching on his chair with his feet up, spinning around and around by himself.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The staff fell into a collective silence.
I quietly, slowly, closed the door.
I had to use up my entire day’s worth of patience to stop myself from storming in, grabbing him by the collar, and shaking him while screaming, “I told you I was coming today!”