Chapter 329
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 329
Why Kang Yeon-hu?
As an artist under WH Entertainment, he certainly had every right to participate in the talent show. However, High Five was currently in the middle of an active promotion period.
They were busy enough as it was. They probably hadn't attended this workshop because they wanted to, but because attendance was mandatory for everyone. But to go as far as entering the talent show?
‘They shouldn't have even had time to prepare properly.’
My brows furrowed.
He was by no means an easy opponent.
“Yeon-hu, over here.”
Chae Jeong-woo smiled brightly as he guided Kang Yeon-hu to the center of the stage to draw everyone's attention.
“I’m so happy and excited to see Yeon-hu, a junior I’m very fond of, in a place like this. Come to think of it, you were quite the active participant during Halloween too, weren't you?”
“…Hahaha.”
Looking at him like a doting parent, Chae Jeong-woo stared at Kang Yeon-hu with eyes dripping with honey.
“So, Yeon-hu. Could you tell us why you decided to come out today?”
“Of course.”
Kang Yeon-hu gave a soft smile.
If you only looked at his expression, you might be fooled into thinking he was relaxed and brimming with confidence.
That is, if his ears weren't still bright red.
“Our youngest has been very interested in composing lately.”
Kang Yeon-hu squeezed his eyes shut and held up three fingers, thrusting them forward.
“I want to take third place and win that MIDI controller for him.”
Immediately, an image of a MIDI controller from a famous brand—the third-place prize—appeared on the projector screen behind the stage.
Now that he mentioned it, I recalled hearing that High Five had a member who composed.
Kang Yeon-hu had also mentioned having a slight interest in it himself.
“Ah! A MIDI controller! That’s a wonderful gift for anyone who makes music!”
But couldn't you just buy it with your own money? Did you really have to come out here?
As I stood there feeling disgruntled by the appearance of an unexpected rival, Kim Seong-hyeon whispered in my ear.
“Don’t you think Senior Kang Yeon-hu is going to be really good? That prize looks pretty decent too… Don’t you think Kang Yi-chae would want it?”
“Why would he?”
That guy probably already had his studio decked out with the latest gear.
I didn't know much about composing equipment, but I was certain of one thing: Kang Yi-chae would value a rare indie band CD you couldn't buy with money far more than a piece of hardware like that.
I turned my head away in annoyance, only to realize the other members were missing.
“Where are the others?”
“The maknae is over there grabbing food. I don’t know about Seong Ji-won and Kang Yi-chae. I haven't seen them for a while.”
Kim Seong-hyeon shrugged, figured they were around somewhere and nothing was wrong, and poured wine into my empty glass. When I downed it in one gulp out of frustration, he nagged me, asking if I thought I was drinking soju.
“Now, let’s begin our first performance! Presented by Kang Yeon-hu! It’s Lia Purple’s—.”
Fine, Yeon-hu. Give it a shot.
Let’s see just how good you are.
“—‘Pretty is Hard’!!”
“Woooooah!!”
The cheers from the WH Entertainment staff erupted.
“What is wrong with him, seriously?”
As I looked on with genuine disgust, Kim Seong-hyeon, who was in the middle of pouring himself a glass, froze and muttered.
“Wow, Senior Yeon-hu really came prepared.”
I expected him to choose one of High Five’s usual bright, refreshing tracks or perhaps a medium-tempo ballad that suited his vocal color. To my surprise, Kang Yeon-hu had chosen a girl group song.
Specifically, Lia Purple’s “Pretty is Hard.”
Back when Lia Purple wasn't very popular, this was the song that finally got their name out to the public. It had been a massive hit, particularly within the military.
The lyrics themselves were cringeworthy, essentially complaining about how exhausting life is when you're too pretty, just like the title suggested…
‘That song is dangerous.’
I had learned this firsthand through year-end stages.
When a male idol performs a Lia Purple song, the reaction is always explosive.
While the intro played, Kang Yeon-hu pulled an angel headband out of his back pocket, fumbled to put it on, and then shamelessly fixed his expression.
Of course, his ears and neck were still flushed crimson.
“Wow…”
Realizing a beat late that Kang Yeon-hu was actually embarrassed, Kim Seong-hyeon spoke in a pitying voice.
“Why… would Senior Kang Yeon-hu… go out there… and dig… his own grave…?”
“He’s the same type as you.”
“…Me?! Like me?!”
Ignoring his protest, I turned my gaze back to the stage.
Kang Yeon-hu, who had been biting his lower lip with grim determination, suddenly winked and smiled brightly the moment the spotlight hit him.
【 Ah, I looked in the mirror and I’m just too pretty
You know I’m beautiful too (pretty)
Our eyes have been meeting for a while now
I’m walking past you on purpose (woo) 】
Tsk. I clicked my tongue instinctively.
He used his smooth yet distinctive vocal tone, mixing in just enough nasality to enhance the song's charm, while simultaneously building up the performance with the key choreography.
He was a formidable competitor, as expected.
【 You say you don’t like me
I don’t care, it’s hard to play coy
Come just a little bit closer to me 】
‘Hmm.’
However, judging objectively, he was below our team—specifically, below Ju Woo-seong.
Since I was aiming for second place, I was debating whether I should hold back or gauge my performance based on the people coming after him while sipping my wine…
【 Being pretty is so hard, really (pretty)
Ah, it’s seriously so exhausting (tired) 】
“KANG! YEON! HU!”
“KANG! YEON! HU!”
…As time passed, the atmosphere in the hall grew strange.
‘…Wait!’
It wasn't just Chae Jeong-woo. All the WH Entertainment employees had warm expressions on their faces, clapping loudly and cheering as if they were at their own grandson’s first birthday party.
“Senior Kang Yeon-hu is really popular. Is it because he was a trainee for so long?”
Kim Seong-hyeon’s comment, made while snacking on a canapé, was spot on.
If Ju Woo-seong and Chae Jeong-woo were the proud sons of WH Entertainment, Kang Yeon-hu occupied the position of the adorable, beloved first grandson.
He had the longest training period among all the idols who debuted under WH, and he was the type to strictly manage himself without being told. Naturally, most of the people sitting here knew him well.
Even Jeong Seon-ui, who had been radiating a ‘Why the hell are we doing a workshop when we’re so busy, fuck’ vibe all day, was now watching Kang Yeon-hu with a proud expression.
【 Being pretty is so tiring, ha (pretty)
It’s really, really so tiring (tired) 】
Cold sweat ran down my back.
A new variable was being added to my plan in real-time.
“KANG! YEON! HU!”
Dammit.
How much does the audience's evaluation influence the result?
I still didn't think his stage was first-place material, but it was becoming difficult to gauge how much effort I should put into my own performance.
As I massaged my temples, my mind racing, Kang Yeon-hu finished his packed four-minute set by throwing candies he had prepared into the audience.
“Whoa! Candy!”
I wanted to mock the scene for looking like a middle school retreat, but I kept my mouth shut when I saw our maknae, Jeong Da-jun, snatching a candy from the very front row.
Having finished his performance, Kang Yeon-hu wiped his sweat with the back of his hand and bowed deeply.
“Thank you! I really want to win third place! Please look kindly upon me!”
Third place, my foot. At this rate, he might actually take first.
As he walked down the stairs, Kang Yeon-hu’s eyes met mine. Perhaps sensing that the reaction had been good, he had a somewhat triumphant look on his face.
“Senior Kang Yeon-hu seems like a really good person… Whoa, shit, you scared me.”
“…….”
“Hey, Seo Ho-yun. Fix your face.”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been cheering, covered my face with one hand and shoved a glass of wine into the other.
However, he soon turned pale as he saw the song selection for the next act.
“Next up is ‘I am Manager Jang, even backwards I’m Manager Jang,’ Manager Jang from the Planning Team! Performing Ju Woo-seong’s ‘Myth’!”
“Woooooah!!”
Manager Jang from the Planning Team came out and performed Ju Woo-seong’s solo track, “Myth.”
【 Can I stare into your eyes 】
“He’s… singing… Senior Ju Woo-seong’s… song?”
Beside me, a shocked Kim Seong-hyeon coughed repeatedly.
【 I want to act simple in front of you
Can I hold you tight… 】
If Ju Woo-seong himself had seen this, he surely would have made a scene about witnessing something he shouldn't have.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
“AS! EXPECTED! OF! OUR! PLANNING! TEAM! MANAGER! JANG! HE’S! MORE! HANDSOME! THAN! JU! WOO! SEONG! …Wait, no he’s not!”
“I want to act!! Simple!!”
For a moment, I recalled Ju Woo-seong’s face as he had scoffed at me earlier.
Just as he said, this competition was fiercer than I had imagined.
Now, sweat was pooling in my palms as well as on my back.
At a mere company workshop, I was feeling a surge of tension greater than when I had aired my first program as a lead PD.
“…I’m going to go get more wine.”
“Sure…”
Kim Seong-hyeon, who had been staring blankly at Manager Jang’s performance, shook the wine bottle and stood up, saying he’d bring a new one.
Several more formidable performances followed.
I was waiting for Kim Seong-hyeon—who hadn't returned, likely caught somewhere—and the wine he was supposed to bring. Just as I was about to move myself,
“Why are you shaking your leg so much?”
A voice I didn't particularly want to hear reached my ears.
Just as a fresh citrus scent reached me, followed by a sweet whiff of coconut, I realized someone was already sitting in Kim Seong-hyeon’s seat.
“Hi.”
It was Min Ji-heon.
He held a fresh bottle of wine and gave a smirk.
“What are you doing here?”
“Ah… I worked so hard to get here quickly. Luckily, filming ended earlier than expected.”
I had heard he was incredibly busy lately filming the fantasy historical drama The Day the Daffodils Bloom.
I heard he was playing the role of Jeong Hwon, a fictional royal illegitimate son of the Joseon era, and was breaking viewership records every day.
Regardless, there was no reason for him to have time to attend a WH Entertainment workshop.
“Why are you here?”
Min Ji-heon, looking a bit hot, slumped in the chair and fanned his T-shirt before picking up a random glass and pouring wine into it.
“I’m technically under Daepasung too. Or should I say WH now?”
Despite having every title imaginable, from Hallyu star to the King of K-Dramas, he still seemed greedy for work, consistently filming dramas, movies, and commercials without much rest.
After gulping down the wine like water, he wiped his mouth.
“Well, it’s also nice to see you, Seo Ho-yun.”
Min Ji-heon’s eyes, following his playful remark, fixed on me.
No, to be precise, he was scanning the area just behind me very meticulously.
“……But.”
Then, with an expression as if he’d lost his appetite, he set the wine glass down and rested his chin on his hand.
“Has anything changed lately?”
I narrowed my eyes and studied Min Ji-heon.
What did he mean by that?
The System? The frequency of it talking to me? Quests?
Or Kang Yi-chae?
Cutting through the thoughts sprouting like weeds, I gave a blunt answer.
“No.”
“Then, have you been sick lately?”
“I fainted right in front of you before.”
“No, not that. Recently.”
“I’m healthy.”
“Oh… really?”
Min Ji-heon tilted his head, his finger tapping the table as if something was bothering him.
“That’s strange.”
But a moment later, he scratched his head and spoke nonchalantly.
“I guess I saw something wrong.”
“…Is that it?”
“I’m not entirely sure about it, so…”
“I’ll be the judge of that, so tell me everything.”
Whenever Min Ji-heon acted like this, something always ended up happening.
I figured it was best to hear whatever he had to say.
“Seo Ho-yun, do you remember last year by any chance?”
“We will now take a short break! But we have to keep having fun, right?! It’s okay if you didn't sign up for the talent show separately. Anyone want to volunteer?! …Ah, no one?”
“Back then, at the broadcasting station—.”
“Then, Camera Director, please pick anyone from the audience!”
Just as the story was about to begin, a spotlight hit Min Ji-heon.
“—Ah.”
Simultaneously, Min Ji-heon’s awkward face appeared on the projector screen.
“Min Ji-heon has been chosen!! Could you please come up to the stage?”
“Haha.”
Min Ji-heon, running a hand through his hair as he stood up, leaned down and whispered to me.
“Let’s talk again later. It’s probably nothing serious. …Maybe.”
Then, making eye contact with every single person cheering for him, he walked up to the stage.
“Hello, I’m Min Ji-heon.”
He took the microphone from Chae Jeong-woo and greeted the crowd.
“Personally, as a fan of Min Ji-heon myself, I’d love to see a performance from you. Would that be alright?”
“Hmm, then could I sing a song?”
His usual dazed and slow way of speaking was gone; Min Ji-heon answered clearly with the precise pronunciation he used when acting.
Chae Jeong-woo asked with a wide, delighted smile.
“Yes, of course. What song will it be?”
“I’ll sing an OST from the drama I’m currently filming, The Day the Daffodils Bloom.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the entire staff went wild, waving their arms.
“Aaaaah!! I’ll love Daffodils forever!!”
“Min Ji-heon! Min Ji-heon!”
Our maknae was, of course, included in that group.
Seeing him, Min Ji-heon deceitfully rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand.
“But I’m a bit shy to do it alone.”
“Ah, yes!”
“My insolent PD, whom I met through my previous drama, Please Take Care of the Camera—.”
Then, with a slight tug at the corners of his mouth, he began to speak.
“—Could Seo Ho-yun join me?”
No, fuck no.
But the excited cameras and lights were already swinging toward me.