Chapter 24
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24
I was in no position to be picky.
“We’re still nobodies.”
When I spoke without sugarcoating it, everyone’s shoulders slumped. It was great that we’d charted and had momentum, but we had to keep it going.
“If we want to strip away that ‘unknown’ label, we have to secure public recognition, even if it means burning through our image a bit.”
“Mmm…”
“Let’s do this program.”
“……”
Everyone looked conflicted. Amidst the silence, only Kang Yi-chae spoke up, casually chewing on a piece of dried squid.
“Yi-chae is down for it~”
That was easy.
“I’m in, too. I want to do this, thinking of it as our last chance.”
Seong Ji-won added to the momentum. His eyes were burning with fierce determination.
Kim Seong-hyeon and Jeong Da-jun glanced at the other members before slowly nodding their heads.
“Let’s do it.”
“I’ll follow the hyungs.”
“Okay.”
The atmosphere was finally settling. Once the situation was more or less settled, I waited for the right moment and spoke up.
“Then listen to this. Including this competition program, there are three important rules we need to follow if we want to make it big.”
“What are they?”
They had been debuted for a year, but they were clearly still pure rookies who didn't understand the ecosystem of a broadcasting station.
I held up a finger.
“First.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t trust a single soul at the broadcasting station.”
“……Excuse me?”
“They’re all foxes. Every one of them has a couple of snakes coiled in their hearts.”
“Hyung, are you describing yourself?”
I ignored him.
“Don’t give them anything they can use against you. No matter how friendly they act, doubt everything. Especially idols, actors, officials, and staff members who could spark a scandal—don’t even let your fingertips brush against them. Okay?”
Everyone burst into hollow laughter.
“Did you get all serious just to say that?”
“Our company doesn’t even have a dating ban, though?”
“If you’re going to date, don’t be an idol.”
“……Wow, okay~.”
They seemed a bit taken aback. But I wasn't joking. For an idol, a dating scandal was fatal.
A group that was just starting to gain traction had to be especially careful. I didn't blackmail Ju Woo-seong with his dating life for nothing.
“If you get a note with a phone number on it, hand it straight to the manager. Don’t even open it.”
“Hand over the notes?”
“The only things you’re allowed to open are fan letters.”
“We can’t even look at them…?”
I let out a sigh.
“Jeong Da-jun, I even quit smoking to be an idol.”
“…….”
“You’re telling me you can’t quit dating?”
I sucked on the red ginseng extract Seong Ji-won had given me and grabbed Jeong Da-jun by the arms, shaking him.
“Hyung, what does your lungs turning black have to do with dating…?”
That hit a little close to home.
“Quitting smoking and celibacy are both matters of self-control.”
They all had ‘whatever’ expressions on their faces, but I was serious. Maybe they didn't understand the struggle because they weren't smokers.
That’s when Kang Yi-chae spoke to me.
“Hyung… you know what?”
“What?”
“I entered the entertainment industry feeling like I was entering a Buddhist monastery.”
“Excellent. Everyone, follow Kang Yi-chae’s example.”
“Haha, I dedicate this honor to my pet hamster.”
“You don’t have a hamster.”
“He’s my imaginary friend.”
When I clapped for Kang Yi-chae, he scratched his head with a bashful smile. The other members, however, looked like they were rotting inside.
“I get the first rule. None of us are dating anyway….”
“Yeah. It’s fine.”
Jeong Da-jun nodded.
Good, they seemed to have understood.
“Since you’ve got that down, let’s move to the second. Watch your mouth. Always keep your lips zipped, both in your daily life and inside the broadcasting station. Whether the cameras are rolling or not.”
“Mmm… isn’t that a bit much?”
Seong Ji-won still didn't know the broadcasting world well enough.
“Broadcasting stations aren't just full of officials; there are plenty of part-timers from the general public, too. And among the officials, there isn't a single person you can trust. So, don't say anything unless it's just us members. Especially badmouthing others. If a recording of that leaks, there’s no coming back. You know that male idol who got ruined two years ago because a conversation of him dissing a senior leaked.”
Seeing their faces turn pale, it seemed they knew.
Good, then this should be fine too.
“Now, the last one.”
This was the most important.
“No matter what happens, trust me.”
In fact, the first two rules were just stepping stones for this one.
At those words, everyone burst out laughing, thinking it was a joke.
“Of course we trust you, Ho-yun.”
“Right, aren’t you our genius idol?”
But I didn't laugh. The other members just cracked jokes and patted my shoulder as they passed by.
As expected, it was a bit too early for this conversation. But it didn't matter.
They would all understand once things started happening later.
* * *
“Hello! We are The Dawn!”
“Oh, right. Hey.”
A male idol who was said to be in his third year since debut gave us a half-hearted greeting while staring indifferently at his phone. We stood our ground, not losing our smiles as we handed out our non-sale albums.
Ah, that guy…
I remembered him. He was famous for playing dirty, and the guy next to him was a bastard who used to cling to me, calling me “PD-nim, PD-nim.”
“The Dawn? What’s that?”
“It’s our group name.”
“The… Duds?”
It turned my stomach to have to greet guys like that while pretending to be a rookie. Especially when they said things like that just to try and intimidate us.
But everyone greeted them steadfastly. Kang Yi-chae, in particular, didn't seem to care at all.
“Ah~, right. Haha… well, good luck.”
The words sounded like encouragement, but they were laced with ridicule… I thought he was trying too hard. Everyone else seemed used to this kind of treatment and responded calmly.
“Yes, thank you.”
As we went around giving greetings, a few notes were exchanged, just as expected. There were quite a few people openly flirting inside the station, which was never a wise move.
The highlight of all this was when members of a group that had been debuted for five years and had been popular for a long time passed by.
“Hello!”
For some reason, they seemed to be looking a bit too much at Kim Seong-hyeon, and as they smiled and greeted us, they slyly handed him a note. Our manager’s eyes instantly flared.
They tried not to make it obvious, but a note was slipped into my pocket as well. When I looked up, she gave me a wink.
I bowed with a smile for now, but as soon as they were out of sight, I turned to the manager and handed him the note.
“Manager, here.”
“Ah, me too.”
Surprisingly, Kim Seong-hyeon handed his note over obediently first. I was glad he was someone who took being an idol seriously. The manager looked flustered but tucked the notes away securely.
“Hey, why have you guys become so popular all of a sudden?”
“We’re having a bit of a moment, so I guess we look okay.”
“I don’t think that’s it…”
We had made it onto the charts, after all. But we weren't that famous yet. If we were truly top-tier idols, the broadcasting staff would be dying to talk to us for even a minute—no, a second.
“Whoa… that senior just now! I really respect her!”
“Do you want to quit being an idol?”
“Huh?? I didn't mean it like that… Yes, sorry!”
I cut the members off as they started whispering. To be honest, I didn't care what the members' tastes were. When young, attractive men and women are gathered together, it’s only natural for feelings to develop, and dating isn't a sin.
However, for an idol, it was.
Sorry, but I want to succeed.
For idols, especially rookies, dating was fatal, and the moment it was discovered, it turned into poison. Groups with established recognition usually had some sort of shield, but rookies would just sink to the bottom.
If you get caught… you’re dead.
Kim Seong-hyeon didn't seem particularly disappointed; he just shrugged.
However, with every step we took, I felt a stinging gaze on the back of my head. The male idol who had ignored us earlier while we were handing out albums was now glaring intensely at Kim Seong-hyeon.
…What’s his problem?
I shifted my body slightly to shield Kim Seong-hyeon as we walked. I made a mental note to check on that later and entered the waiting room where other groups were gathered to take a few photos.
“…Hey, when do we go in?”
After that, as you might expect…
“You’re saying there’s still three hours left?”
“We’ve already been waiting for two hours…”
Waiting.
“…Let’s just practice.”
Waiting.
“…More practice?”
“Might as well.”
Waiting.
“I’m hungry……”
I’d heard there was a lot of waiting involved in filming an idol music program, but since I hadn't specialized in this field, I hadn't truly felt it. I didn't realize it would be this bad.
Still, it was good to have plenty of time to practice. I glanced at the quest window.
[Complete one week of music programs!
The Dawn is finally moving slightly away from being ‘unknowns.’
Appear on music programs and increase your recognition!
Appear on 5 music programs
Reward: Charm +30, Dance +20, Singing +10
1,000 Points]
Well, this isn't bad.
The system was being a bit lenient this time. I quickly pushed away the thought that this might be the calm before the storm.
I practiced while watching Kim Seong-hyeon thoroughly teach me the dance steps, until a staff member opened the door and shouted.
“The Dawn, please get ready for your appearance.”
“Yes, understood!”
The staff member’s face was just as exhausted as ours. Since the first run was just a rehearsal, they seemed to want to just do a quick check.
“Let’s do well today too.”
“Of course.”
“Look at you.”
“Ah, hyung! Come on.”
Jeong Da-jun answered energetically with a bright face. Unlike the beginning when he was tearful and slumped, his face was now full of resolve.
“Hello!”
“We look forward to working with you!”
After greeting everyone we encountered on the stage, we climbed up and saw the fans entering for the pre-recording.
I counted them, and there were about twenty-five. Still, that was more than I expected.
After checking the name tags pinned to my uniform, I tidied my microphone wire. Jeong Da-jun bounced around, waving to the fans.
“Hello, we are The Dawn. Please take care of us.”
Kim Seong-hyeon greeted the staff and bowed deeply to the fans. I hesitated for a moment before just giving a small wave, and I got a reaction.
“Ho-yun! You’re handsome today too!”
Actually, I felt a bit… sorry. Even if it was a cramped waiting room, we got to sit down while we waited, but these people must have been standing the whole time.
“…….”
I was going to head down without saying much to avoid giving anyone something to nitpick, but before I knew it, the words slipped out.
“…Um, have you guys eaten?”
I can’t believe those were my first words. There must have been better lines. I regretted it slightly, but answers came pouring out from the fans.
“Is food important right now?! I actually won the lottery to be in the audience!!”
“Pfft.”
A small smile escaped my lips.
“Still, make sure you eat. We’re all doing this to make a living, after all.”
“So kind… so unfamiliar… I smell a stranger…”
“You’re just wearing Ho-yun hyung’s skin, aren’t you?”
When Jeong Da-jun and Kang Yi-chae reacted with horror, laughter erupted among the fans. Seong Ji-won laughed in agreement.
“Like Ho-yun said, please make sure to eat. We will too.”
When the staff signaled that the rehearsal was ready, Kim Seong-hyeon bowed to the fans once more.
For the sake of the fans who had been struggling since dawn, we couldn't afford to take the rehearsal lightly.
[I fear this strange déjà vu]
Taking our positions, we truly gave it our all, as if it were the actual performance. I don't even know how I looked at the camera or if I danced properly. After the rehearsal ended, we were told to prepare for the pre-recording next.
We had worked so hard for this short rehearsal, but seeing the happy faces of the fans made it feel strangely okay.
I wonder if I’ll see them again later?
As we were heading down, bowing our heads, Kim Seong-hyeon whispered.
“You’re a natural.”
“What are you talking about?”
“No, I was just a bit worried. Turns out there was no need.”
What did he mean?
I wish Kim Seong-hyeon would use subjects and objects when he speaks. He just gave a smirk and walked off quickly.
It was just as we were about to head back to wait for the pre-recording.
“Hey, Seong Ji-won.”
It was a voice I’d never heard before. The man who had been glaring at Kim Seong-hyeon earlier.
Approaching with his blonde-dyed hair swaying, he smiled brightly at Seong Ji-won.
“You’ve really loosened up, haven’t you? You don’t even greet your seniors now that you’ve made it a little?”
“…….”
Seong Ji-won’s expression, which had been soft until a moment ago, hardened.