Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Episode 33: Her Debut (3)
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As soon as they debuted, Lian Rose began appearing on various TV programs.
Album promotions were important, of course, but so was getting their faces out there to as many viewers as possible through broadcasts.
Their next scheduled appearance was on Star House, hosted by Oh Shin-hoon and Kang Han-do.
“Excuse us.”
The Star House production team visited the Lian Rose dorm.
They were there to film the members’ living space.
They couldn’t just buy up a whole building and turn it into a studio. Instead, the Star House team would get permission from the guests in advance, visit their homes to inspect the rooms, and then replicate everything by bringing the items to the studio and rearranging them.
Today’s visit was just for the preliminary survey, not to move anything yet.
“Come on in.”
“Excuse us.”
Since it was a dorm with only women living there, the production team had sent only female staff members.
It was their way of being considerate.
Leader Choi Ye-hee showed the team around and explained the rooms.
“This is the room where Mi-ha, Bay, and Cherry stay. And next door is me and Joo-ri. We live two to a room like this.”
“So, three in one and two in the other?”
“Yes.”
“I see...”
The writers’ hands started moving busily.
The writers dove into gathering data. At that moment, Cherry approached Choi Ye-hee.
“Unnie. Kang Han-do sunbaenim isn’t coming today?”
“Why would Han-do come here?”
“He’s the host, isn’t he?”
“Stuff like this is staff work. No need for Han-do to come all the way.”
“Ah.”
Still new to broadcasting, Cherry had a lot she didn’t know and a lot she was curious about.
She was at that age full of curiosity.
And it was that time for her.
Having just stepped into the entertainment industry, everything must feel novel.
Of course, Choi Ye-hee felt the same way.
‘Next week, finally... my first recording with Han-do.’
Choi Ye-hee had never imagined a day like this would come.
To her, Kang Han-do had been a distant figure.
A top comedian on a roll. A young MC being called the trend of the moment!
That was Kang Han-do.
‘I need to work hard so I can stand shoulder to shoulder with Han-do!’
Choi Ye-hee’s passion for broadcasting ignited.
* * *
The day of the Star House recording.
Today was the Lian Rose episode.
Oh Shin-hoon was skimming through the members’ profiles when he suddenly looked puzzled midway.
“Huh? Wait. There’s a familiar face among the members? Ye-hee? Where have I seen her...”
“You remember that recording with the civilians, sunbaenim? The group jump rope thing. That’s the girl who did it with you.”
“Ah! I remember! The one who sang really well!”
Oh Shin-hoon recalled Choi Ye-hee late, but since it wasn’t that long ago, Han-do’s words jogged his memory right away.
“Wow, she actually debuted as a singer. Makes sense. If you make an impression on TV, agencies scout you and all that. A girl group, huh... Suits her.”
Her visuals were no joke.
She wasn’t called Lian Rose’s visual and vocal ace for nothing.
On top of that, she was the leader.
“This girl’s a total all-rounder.”
“She’s smart too.”
“Yeah. Good academic background. You run into these types sometimes in life. The kind that make you feel God’s unfair.”
“Isn’t that the same for you, Oh Shin-hoon sunbae?”
“Huh? You think so?”
He’d gone through a long unknown period, but now Oh Shin-hoon was firmly established as Korea’s top national MC.
Even as a celebrity, he was practically the only one who’d never been tangled in any scandals.
He wasn’t called the god of image management for nothing.
That’s why he enjoyed such fervent public support.
The number one senior everyone admired—Oh Shin-hoon. To Kang Han-do, he seemed cut from the same cloth.
But it wasn’t just envy. Both Oh Shin-hoon and Choi Ye-hee had backed it up with effort.
As he looked over the script, Oh Shin-hoon shared his thoughts.
“That VTR from back when Ye-hee appeared—should we prepare it in advance? Could use it in editing.”
“Isn’t that from another show?”
“We can get permission and blur the logo. The PDs will handle it.”
Oh Shin-hoon didn’t need to worry about those details.
“Anyway, not much material on them since they’re a rookie girl group.”
The more you knew about guests, the deeper the talk could go.
But with rookies who had almost no public info, that was tough.
Kang Han-do was different, though.
“Don’t worry, sunbaenim. I know them well.”
“Huh? You do?”
“Yeah. I’m a huge Lian Rose fan.”
Kang Han-do didn’t bother telling Oh Shin-hoon about his history with Choi Ye-hee.
It was an excuse, but not a lie.
He was actually signed up for their fan club.
Oh Shin-hoon chuckled.
“You keep this up, you’ll end up hosting a girl group reality show.”
“Hahaha, no way.”
Kang Han-do denied it, laughing.
However.
Life was unpredictable.
* * *
The Star House recording site.
The five Lian Rose members greeted the staff.
“One, two, three! Hello! We’re the idol group Lian Rose, here to be your sweet fragrance!”
Following Choi Ye-hee’s lead call, the other members struck poses and introduced themselves in sync.
The staff clapped to welcome them.
Oh Shin-hoon, who’d been watching their group greeting from nearby, nodded with a satisfied smile.
“So fresh. The dull set livens up the moment a girl group shows up. That’s why uncle fans exist, right? Isn’t that so, Han-do-ya?”
“Haha, yeah.”
Fine for Oh Shin-hoon, but Kang Han-do wasn’t old enough to be called an uncle fan.
He was in his twenties like them.
More like a friendly oppa?
Of course, pre-regression Kang Han-do would’ve been a full-on uncle fan, no question.
Lian Rose approached Oh Shin-hoon and Kang Han-do for another greeting.
“Hello! Lian Rose here! Please take good care of us today!”
“Yeah. You too.”
Seeing Oh Shin-hoon in person made the Lian Rose members’ eyes sparkle with wonder.
An entertainer they’d only seen on TV, right before their eyes.
Lian Rose themselves hadn’t fully grasped that they were celebrities yet.
It had only been a week since debut. It’d take a while for that to sink in.
The shoot progressed quickly.
Oh Shin-hoon and Kang Han-do introduced the guests right away and entered the studio set that replicated their dorm.
Oh Shin-hoon spoke first.
“Wow, super tidy. You didn’t clean up just for the cameras, did you?”
“We always keep it this clean. Unnie Ye-hee is super strict about cleanliness.”
“So Ye-hee-ssi is like the dorm sergeant?”
Choi Ye-hee denied it outright, but the members sneaked body language signals behind her confirming it was true.
They teased each other often, which just showed how close the members were.
Their reactions were solid too.
Choi Ye-hee’s were still a bit awkward, but the others covered for her seamlessly.
Watching them, Kang Han-do smiled inwardly.
‘Good team.’
Great agency, and they’d lucked out with members too.
* * *
They toured the studio set while keeping the talk flowing.
As a rookie girl group, Oh Shin-hoon had expected today’s recording to be tricky.
But it went against his expectations.
They spoke smoothly without stumbling. A little camera-consciousness here and there, but that was inevitable for rookies.
Otherwise, it wrapped up flawlessly.
After the recording.
Oh Shin-hoon praised the Lian Rose members.
“Good work. You all talk really well too. Did your agency train you in talk skills or something?”
“Not full training, but they did make us practice.”
“Makes sense. These days, singing well alone doesn’t guarantee stardom.”
You needed variety flair.
And the best stage for that was variety shows.
Lian Rose toured various programs, unleashing their hidden charms. Fans were multiplying by the day.
They had a radio appearance lined up next.
Choi Ye-hee had no time for a private word with Kang Han-do before heading to the next shoot.
“I’ll contact you later, Han-do-ssi!”
“Yeah. Take care.”
Kang Han-do saw Lian Rose off first.
Seeing her so busy filled him with pride.
He was the one who’d helped Choi Ye-hee avoid the rough side of the industry.
His good deed had clearly helped her a lot, and that made him happy.
After Lian Rose left.
Kang Han-do stopped by the waiting room with Oh Shin-hoon.
Just the two of them.
Oh Shin-hoon quietly called out.
“Han-do-ya. Got a sec? Need to talk.”
“Huh? Sure...”
“See, the thing is.”
Lowering his voice, Oh Shin-hoon broached the topic carefully.
“You know the program Entertainment Wire Focus?”
“Yeah, of course. You host it, sunbaenim.”
“Right. Been doing it for three years, but... I’m planning to step down at the end of this quarter.”
“Why the sudden decision?”
“Busy schedule.”
Simple reason.
And one that made total sense.
Few celebs were as jammed as Oh Shin-hoon.
He smacked his lips regretfully.
“I always want to stick with my shows till the end, but this time I just can’t. Talked it over long with the PD there and decided to leave.”
“I see. Too bad. I always watched it.”
Entertainment Wire Focus delivered the latest industry buzz to viewers fast.
Oh Shin-hoon hadn’t been the original MC. He’d taken over midway.
Now it was time to pass it on.
“Found a successor?”
“Yeah. A great pick.”
Oh Shin-hoon spoke like he’d already chosen one.
If he picked them, it’d be solid.
“Who?”
“Someone you know well.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Guess who?”
“No idea...”
Who could it be?
Kang Han-do racked his brain.
Then Oh Shin-hoon pointed.
His index finger aimed at...
Kang Han-do.
“Thinking of handing it to you. What do you say? Wanna give it a shot?”
Of course.
There was a reason Oh Shin-hoon brought this up with him.