Chapter 7 |
“Even so, it’s only been 2 months. If someone like you debut, imagine how much disappointment the other trainees will feel.”
He drew continuous lines on the paper with my profile written on it using a marker. He had his nose stuck to the profile the whole time during the performance, so I knew this was coming. He first looked at the trainee experience and had no intention of properly watching the stage.
Indeed, two months is cute.
‘I can’t just say I’ve been in this industry for over ten years, hoobaenim.’
“You should be an actor or a model. What are you doing here?”
The soloist Seezy, who was sitting next to him, gave a look to the other trainers as if to say “What the f*ck is wrong with him?“. Haneul, the girl group member sitting next to her, rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
In this cold and tense atmosphere, to deliberately make me speak meant he was clearly trying to humiliate me.
My insides were seething.
‘Because Korea is obsessed with Confucianism.’
There was also a way to shed tears and gain sympathy from the public. However, while it could immediately boost my fandom, a pitiful and fragile image could become ingrained in the public’s mind.
‘I suppose an exemplary answer would be best.’
“I’ll do my best to show you great performance next time.”
I spoke calmly in a gentle tone and lowered my head. The intention was clear, ‘I understand what you’re saying, now keep your mouth shut‘.
Then Frick snorted, “No, don’t give me that formal answer. Answer my question. Can’t you understand what I’m saying?”
…..This b*stard, seriously.
Do Yuda had a face that seemed to say ‘Oh no, what is he going to?‘ and was clasping his fingertips together. He seemed to have a pounding heart, worried about what I might do next.
“…….”
If it had been my previous life, I would have jumped right in and and confronted him. I would have said things like “If you’re unhappy with me, let’s settle it with skill“. But this life was different. I realized that such a response would have only led to my downfall, and Han Seungbeom also did not have the kind of appearance that would make a violent attitude effective.
The angle at which I opened my eyes, the tone of my voice, the way I held the microphone; all of it had to be flawless, with not a single mistake.
“….I.”
I swallowed my anger and opened my mouth.
“I don’t think actors or models are professions that can be attained simply by having outstanding looks. Of course, I am truly grateful for the compliments I receive, but I understand that it’s not a profession that can be taken lightly, as I am aware of the efforts that the seniors who are currently active in those field have put in.”
You had the audacity to disregard the efforts and achievements of your seniors whom you face in the same industry.
“I have been consistently training with the goal of becoming an idol long before I became a trainee, and even now, that goal has not changed.”
My experience cannot be compared to the mere trainee period stated in my profile.
“Therefore, instead of being complacent with the praise from other trainers, I will carefully reflect on which aspects of my performance that Trainer Frick might have found lacking.”
Among the many trainers, only you have belittled me, but there is no clear basis for your criticism.
“I will definitely prove it with my skills in the future.”
It meant I could overcome it with my own skills.
“Haha! Good! I’ll look forward to it.”
After the long speech ended, before Frick could even respond, Jay laughed and clapped. Seeing this action from Jay, who had the most impressive career among the trainers, the other trainers nodded and joined in clapping.
Frick’s face hardened, realizing that his image had been completely ruined before he could retort.
If things broadcasted this way, he would be the one who’s getting caught in the devil’s editing.
‘Frick might get cursed at a lot.’
Don’t quit weakly. I’m not done yet.
“I’ll announce the grades.”
My profile and Do Yuda’s appeared on the screen. We both entered the S-Class.
“Trainee Han Seungbeom and Trainee Do Yuda’s grades are S. Please come down from the stage.”
As I walked off the stage and up to the ranking seats, I made eye contact with Jay.
‘Thanks, you little brat.’
As I lowered my head, Jay tilted his head with his eyes closed. I swallowed a chuckle.
‘This brat, he did that on purpose.’
He laughed to draw everyone’s attention in the studio to himself, and he clapped to give validity to my statement. Since Jay didn’t add anything, Frick’s words became nothing more than an argument, and a boundary was formed between the other trainers and Frick.
“……”
As I glanced away, I saw Frick’s face, which still seemed to be upset.
‘You’ve completely fallen out of Jay’s favor, dumbass..…’
Idols who were under the spotlights were all very clever. Their hectic life left no room for leisure activities like nurturing chicks, and getting caught up in editing that squeezed out tears and snot would do more harm than good.
For similar reasons, I also turned down every offers to be a judge on audition programs in the past.
I could clearly see what kind of trainers were in this place.
A leader who truly felt a sense of accomplishment and passion in training others. Or a loser who was pushed out from the spotlights and had no other choice.
Most of the trainers, including Jay, were the former, and Frick was the latter.
‘Plus, it seems like his group is on the verge of disbanding, with all sorts of dirty rumors going around. I bet he thought he can gain a cool and professional image by snapping at the trainees who couldn’t fight back.’
It seemed that Jay saw through that sly intention right away.
And I, too, didn’t like those kinds of people. If he continued to maintain that arrogant attitude, I was planning to make him pay the suitable price.
‘Who are you trying to act superior in front of?’
This sunbaenim is coming in. Make way, you disrespectful hoobaenim.
***
Once the filming of the grade evaluation was complete, the 77 trainees moved to the Lucky Center, a facility set up for the program. By the way, the trainees who performed right after us received the lowest rating.
While sitting on the large bus and listening to ‘1 Hour of Calming Music‘ for the duration of the trip, my phone vibrated.
[Hyung, are you okay?]
It was sent by Do Yuda, who was sitting next to me.
Since we hadn’t removed the microphone yet, it looked like he texted me for privacy. I lowered the brightness of my phone to the lowest possible level and replied.
[Yeah.]
[I was really nervous earlier. I was worried that you would lose your patience and charged like a bull, Hyung.]
[That almost happened.]
[Still, I’m glad that Hyung endured it well and let it go smoothly.]
[I never said anything about letting it go.]
[Oh, Hyung. Please. You sound like a gangster.]
As the trivial conversation came to an end, the bus screeched to a halt. We had already arrived at the Lucky Center.
“We have to go to S-Class Room 1!”
After quickly getting off the bus, Do Yuda looked at the accommodation floor plan and pointed to the room marked ‘S-Class Room 1’ with his finger.
The rooms, divided by grade, showed a stark difference in facilities, size, and location, ranging from S-Class to D-Class. It seemed they intended to heavily discriminate between the grades to put pressure on the trainees
“They’re cramming eight people into a room for D-Class.”
Looking at the benefits listed by grade next to the floor plans, it seemed that D-Class didn’t even have beds.
“Huh, really?”
‘Kids who got low grades must already be struggling mentally, but they’re openly being discriminated against like this.’
“There are three people in one room for S-Class.”
“Hyung and I are in the same room, right?”
“Yeah.”
“The other one is … Woo Kangwon-hyung.”
“I don’t know him.”
‘Was the stage done poorly?’
I couldn’t remember him at all.
“He’s the one who did the grade evaluation when you went to the bathroom. He used to be a judo athlete, but he quit, went to the military service, and then came here. He’s insanely tall, and his muscles are all bulky like Superman’s.”
‘Oh, military service.’
A trainee who has completed military service is quite rare in the idol industry.
“I want to be like that when I grow up, like a Muscleman.”
“…Yeah. I don’t think it will suit you.”
While we were having this silly conversation, someone came up behind us and looked at the floor plans. It was Lee Hwayoung.
‘Lee Hwayoung is in S-Class Room 2.’
“Oh, hello! We’re in the room next door. I’m Do Yuda, and this hyung is Han Seungbeom. I enjoyed your grade evaluation performance. It was impressive! Let’s practice together later. I look forward to working with you during the program filming as well. Would you like to go upstairs together?”
“…….”
The sociable Do Yuda spoke to Lee Hwayoung first, but was cleanly ignored. Lee Hwayoung let out a slight scoff at Do Yuda and swiftly turned around, disappearing toward the central elevator.
“Hngg. I’m embarrassed.”
“It’s okay. You did well.”
Seemingly embarrassed by the rejection, Do Yuda, with his eyes drooping like a scolded puppy, hid behind my back. Good boy. Good boy. If it’s not for your social skills, my dorm life will be plunged into darkness. Don’t get discouraged.
When we moved to the room, we couldn’t help but be amazed. Honestly, even though it was S-Class, I expected it to be shabby since it was a temporary place for trainees to live, but it was quite nice. Unlike the rooms of other grades, the bed wasn’t a bunk, and there was a TV, a microwave, and even an air purifier.
‘They’re really determined to make a broadcast concept.’
“Sanghwa Group electronics!”
Do Yuda exclaimed as he looked around the room. I wondered where they got the money to buy all this stuff, but it seemed like they were sponsored by the Sanghwa Group.
“Hyung, are you going to visit the other grade rooms later?”
“No.”
If walked in all proudly into other grade’s room wearing the S-Class uniform, I would become an inconsiderate fool. I absolutely hated the idea of the broadcast airing something like ‘Trainees in D-Class swallowing their tears as they watch the appearance of Han Seungbeom and Do Yuda (S-Class trainees)‘.
“Then I won’t go either. You must have your reasons, hyung. I’m a fool, so I don’t know a lot of things.”
“Okay.”
That’s smart.
‘Hmm?’
As I was unpacking my personal closet, I noticed something stuck to the inside.
<lucky center trainee life rules></lucky>
- Possession of smartphones and communication devices (SNS uploads are not allowed).
- Intentional damage to property is prohibited.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol are prohibited.
- Late arrival and absence from classes are prohibited.
- Entry of outsiders and animals is prohibited (butlers are not allowed to enter).
- Excessive physical contact is prohibited.
- Cooking with open flames is prohibited.
Violation of Rule 1 will result in immediate disqualification from the program. Accumulated violations of other rules will also result in disqualification.
.
‘What’s with the no butler rule?’
It’s obvious that it’s because of the young master Lee Hwayoung. A black limousine followed all the way to Lucky Center and then turned back. The rest of the rules were pretty normal.
“….Haha.”
Seeing these outdated, human rights-violating rules still being enforced in today’s world, I finally realized that I had become a trainee again. How many years has it been since I’ve dealt with this nonsense?
“Whew…..”
Even if you’re lacking in skill or not fully prepared, if you gain popularity with the public, you debut.
That was the nature of Idol Survival Project.
But I had no plan of debuting with a bunch of unqualified people.
Here’s my plan.
‘I’ll choose the members however I f**king* want’
National votes and all that were none of my business.
I’ll push the ones I like until they debut, and the ones I don’t like, I’ll push them off a cliff. Let’s start.
Translator’s Corner:
Please do not repost ^^