Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Meeting with the Rookie Girl Group (4)
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Kang Han-do briefly explained in front of the camera what kind of hidden camera prank they would pull off next.
In the middle of it, Min Hye-young PD asked a question.
“In your opinion, Han-do ssi, which member do you think will recognize you first?”
The predicted member. Kang Han-do did have someone in mind.
“I think Eun-young will notice first.”
“What’s the reason?”
“Eun-young seems to have a wide field of vision. When a delivery guy shows up, she won’t just focus on the food—she’ll pay attention to his face too.”
Maybe because she was the leader, but compared to the other members, Eun-young had a broader view. Kang Han-do was betting on that.
After receiving the metal delivery box, Kang Han-do cautiously headed to the underground practice room.
CEO Na Un-chan already knew that the delivery guy was Kang Han-do.
“Delivery’s here.”
Na Un-chan moved first.
When he opened the door, he exchanged a secret glance with Kang Han-do without the members noticing.
Cameras were already secretly installed in the practice room. Everything inside would be captured on those.
Kang Han-do even memorized the positions of all the cameras. That way, he could adjust his position so the members’ faces would be visible from the camera angles.
Kang Han-do deliberately placed the food where it would be clearly visible to the cameras.
Whatever. The VSLine members were entranced by the Chinese food they hadn’t seen in ages.
“Wow!”
“Tangsuyuk looks amazing!”
“The jjambbong here is seriously good.”
“Sister, can I have a bite of your fried rice?”
“Then give me something too.”
“Ugh, so unfair.”
The members, who had been intensely practicing just moments ago, chattered away energetically without a hint of fatigue.
‘Not a bad reaction.’
Kang Han-do smirked inwardly.
After setting down all the food, he closed the metal box.
“Then, enjoy your meal.”
“……?”
There was one woman who had been particularly attuned to Kang Han-do’s voice from the start.
It was VSLine’s Eun-young.
“Excuse me.”
Eun-young belatedly called out to Kang Han-do as he tried to leave the practice room.
“By any chance…… haven’t we met somewhere before? Your voice sounds really familiar.”
She didn’t seem entirely sure it was Kang Han-do’s voice.
She couldn’t see his face. Because Kang Han-do was deliberately wearing a helmet that covered it.
Kang Han-do cleared his throat and shook his head.
But that only made him look more suspicious.
“If it’s okay with you, could you take off the helmet for a second?”
“…….”
Kang Han-do had no intention of revealing himself for free.
It was a variety show, after all. Just taking it off would kill the fun.
“You guys are a girl group, right?”
“Yes. We haven’t officially debuted yet, though.”
“Then, if you show me a dance performance that satisfies me, I’ll take off the helmet.”
“Ah……!”
In that instant, Eun-young caught on.
As expected. It was someone she knew.
CEO Na Un-chan secretly gave Eun-young an okay sign.
Only then did Eun-young realize this was all a hidden camera prank.
“Girls!”
Eun-young urgently called the VSLine members.
“What, sister?”
“The thing we were practicing just now. Let’s do it one more time.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
“But we’re about to eat……”
“The delivery guy says he’s a fan of ours. He wants to see it once.”
“Oh my gosh! Really?!”
The members’ energy skyrocketed.
Kang Han-do knew better than anyone how precious a fan was to an unknown girl group.
But at that moment, one member raised a rational suspicion.
It was So-ha, the group’s visual担当 and main dancer.
“But we haven’t even debuted yet. Isn’t it suspicious that someone already recognizes us……?”
“So-ha, So-ha? Just trust your sister and go along quietly, okay?”
“……?”
Eun-young winked at her multiple times. It wasn’t a cute flirtatious wink—it was loaded with “get the hint” vibes.
But So-ha just tilted her head.
Normally, she should’ve caught on by now. Yet So-ha still wore a clueless expression.
Kang Han-do found the situation hilarious.
‘So-ha, was it? That girl’s got this quirky charm.’
At their first meeting, he’d thought she was super polite and mature-looking. Who knew she had this unexpected side? Kang Han-do mentally filed away ‘So-ha = quirky character.’
From now on, every time he met the members, he’d discover and remember their charm points. That way, he could create opportunities for them to shine on camera.
Following Eun-young’s instructions, the members formed their positions.
They had a cover song they’d practiced performing at events before their official debut.
VSLine began moving to the backing track of a song called “Discovery.”
He’d seen footage of them performing at events a few times, but this was his first time seeing them dance live.
‘They’re good.’
Maybe because all the members had long, slender builds, even small movements looked big and refreshing.
Main dancer So-ha stepped forward for the killing part and owned the solo spotlight.
‘The quirky girl from earlier is on another level!’
He thought the others danced well too, but So-ha’s skills stood out the most.
Once the music ended.
As the members caught their breath, Eun-young approached Kang Han-do.
“You’ll show your face now, right?”
Kang Han-do nodded.
The moment he took off the helmet.
The members were stunned.
“Han-do oppa?!”
“How is oppa here……?”
As soon as Kang Han-do’s identity was revealed, the practice room door flew open, and a bunch of cameramen rushed in.
Min Hye-young PD entered with them.
The moment they saw the staff, the VSLine members reflexively bowed in greeting.
Only Eun-young had caught on early.
But Eun-young pretended not to know.
Kang Han-do secretly gave her a thumbs-up for her quick thinking.
Pretending not to know and reacting naturally looked better on camera.
Kang Han-do smiled warmly at the flustered group.
“That was your VS Together first filming commemoration hidden camera!”
This surprise event was a resounding success.
* * *
Now standing properly in front of the camera, VSLine greeted the viewers.
From now on, they would film VSLine and handle debut activities simultaneously for the next two months.
Kang Han-do wouldn’t be with them every time for VSLine shoots. They planned to capture their real daily lives on camera too.
Cameras were mainly installed separately in the practice room and dorm.
Kang Han-do asked the members a question.
“Won’t it be uncomfortable having cameras in the dorm?”
Eun-young answered on behalf of the group.
“It’s fine. As long as privacy is guaranteed, we don’t mind. All the members agreed. If it’s okay with you, want to come check it out?”
“Eh?! Is that really okay?”
“Of course!”
“But isn’t that a girls’ dorm?”
“It’s fine. We cleaned up everything in advance, just in case.”
It wasn’t a sudden schedule change.
In fact, the VSLine dorm visit was already scripted. They were acting this way to emphasize the realism.
As he MC’d, Kang Han-do was repeatedly impressed by Eun-young’s acting skills.
‘She was great during the hidden camera too. And now. She’s got real talent.’
Pretending not to know something you do know is harder than it seems.
Sure enough, some members looked awkwardly expressive.
Like So-ha. Or So-ha. Or, yeah, So-ha.
‘So-ha’s getting cut from this take a hundred times over.’
Kang Han-do gave a wry smile.
Kang Han-do headed to the dorm with the girls.
Before entering, he beckoned to Nemid.
“Bring that from the car.”
“Yes, one moment.”
Nemid scurried off. A moment later, she handed Kang Han-do a small box.
Kang Han-do passed it to the members.
“This is a dorm visit commemoration gift.”
“Oh my, what’s this?!”
“Open it up and see.”
The camera kept rolling. Eun-young and the members carefully angled it for the camera and unwrapped the package.
Inside were diffusers.
“No specific perfume name. I made this perfume myself.”
“You did, oppa?”
“Yeah. I went to a perfume shop, and they had a corner where you mix your own. Made it there. Think of it like a lavender scent.”
“Wow! Thank you so much, oppa!”
“We’ll use it well!”
“Thank you!”
The members were thrilled.
They had been planning to get some diffusers for their newly moved-in dorm anyway. This worked out perfectly.
As Kang Han-do entered the dorm, he felt a bit nervous inside.
‘Feels exciting ’cause it’s a no-boys-allowed zone.’
Maybe because it was for filming, but the interior looked spotlessly clean.
And well-organized.
It wasn’t huge. UltraBig Entertainment wasn’t exactly rolling in money.
A few bedrooms for sleeping, one space for group meals, and a living room. That was it.
They’d spend more days out anyway. The members didn’t seem to have major complaints.
To make the broadcast pop, he needed to create directorial moments here that would hook viewers.
Kang Han-do pointed to the numerous bear dolls lined up on the bunk beds.
“Whose bed is that? In-young must really like them?”
“Oh, that’s mine. Actually, collecting bear dolls is my hobby.”
Main vocal Rinna raised her hand high.
It was a hobby that perfectly suited her girly, cute image.
“Anyone else with a collecting hobby like In-young?”
The members all pointed straight to Eun-young without hesitation.
“Eun-young sister’s doll collection is on another level.”
“You have to see Eun-young sister’s room. It’s insane.”
They all recommended Eun-young’s room.
Eun-young looked extremely embarrassed. Kang Han-do would soon learn why.
It was filled with cute bunny dolls.
‘Unexpected, but yeah.’
It clashed a bit with her charismatic big-sister vibe.
Still, that gap would appeal to fans as extra charm.
After touring the rooms.
Kang Han-do sat with the members in the dorm living room.
“When’s debut?”
“In two weeks for us.”
“Title track?”
“Still deciding.”
Kang Han-do had heard during the pre-meeting that they were torn between two songs.
“Only two weeks left. Isn’t it time to pick?”
“We should…… Han-do oppa, want to hear them? Come to the studio and pick the better one.”
Kang Han-do had already gotten a request from CEO Na Un-chan last time to help choose a song.
It wasn’t like his choice would unilaterally decide it.
Just soliciting opinions.
“Got it. To the recording studio?”
“Yes!”
Their next destination was set.