Chapter 4

Producer Oh Na started to escalate the situation.

It's obvious, isn't it?

Ace trainee VS Black Hole trainee. First showdown?!

She must be planning to compare me with Baek-yeong using such subtitles.

According to Yoon-cheong's memory, Seo Baek-yeong is the acknowledged ace trainee.

She has been a trainee at Colors for the longest time and is truly a 'well-rounded' trainee.

Her desired position is main dancer.

However, she is also a very good singer, capable of vying for lead vocalist.

If you make a trainee who dances well enough to be the team's main dancer and a trainee who can't dance at all dance together,

they will naturally be compared a lot.

It was a setup that should be avoided as much as possible unless you're a fool.

"...Ah, from the beginning-"

"Yes, I'll do my best!"

But I'm a fool.

"Cheong-ah, you-"

"I'll learn hard by your side, unnie."

"Uh, y-yeah."

Seo Baek-yeong looked at me with a flustered face.

She must be thinking, 'Is this kid crazy?'

After all, we've only had this choreography for four days.

A four-minute choreography, and a rather difficult one at that?

Even Seo Baek-yeong, who is confident in her dancing, couldn't guarantee perfection.

Let alone, Yoon-cheong, who is a complete klutz?

"Then let's go!"

The trainees made space as the producer spoke.

"Always we are..."

And with one trainee starting the song, this absurd showdown began.

"..."

A few minutes later, the song ended.

But no one spoke.

***

As the moment of silence passed, people started to come to their senses one by one.

Of course, it wasn't because I danced so well that everyone was speechless.

I know best that it wasn't to that extent.

I wasn't a particularly famous singer known for my dancing.

Everyone was surprised simply because...

'Yoon-cheong... didn't mess up the dance?'

'Even when placed next to the ace Seo Baek-yeong, he didn't fall behind at all...?'

'What...? Baek-yeong unnie still had some parts where her movements were off.'

'He didn't miss a single move and danced perfectly...'

'Did he get the choreography early?'

The trainees were more shocked than the production crew.

They had seen Yoon-cheong directly.

It was surprising enough that he didn't mess up, but... Yoon-cheong even danced better than Seo Baek-yeong in some aspects.

That was what was shocking.

"Thank you for your hard work!"

I quickly greeted.

Everyone is misunderstanding something.

Yoon-cheong can't dance well.

That's true.

But that doesn't mean Yoon-cheong didn't know the choreography.

In fact, Yoon-cheong practiced more than anyone else to overcome his lack of dancing skills.

So, he knew the choreography well.

...His body just didn't follow.

His body would freeze as soon as he saw a camera or people.

So, 'Yoon-cheong' can't dance.

But 'Baek-rok-ha' is different.

I didn't even look at Seo Baek-yeong, just the mirror wall in front of me.

She's been a trainee for nine years?

I've been here for twenty.

Including Cheong's memories, it's thirty years.

A difficult choreography at the trainee level...

Compared to the solo choreographies I usually had to perform, it was nothing.

I didn't become famous for my dancing. I wasn't the best dancer.

But that doesn't mean I can't dance.

If I can't dance better than a trainee who hasn't even debuted, I should give up my position!

Talent has effort on top, and effort has experience.

Seo Baek-yeong definitely danced well. You could tell she had talent just by looking at her dance lines.

But she was still immature in terms of controlling her strength and expressions.

And I was confident I wouldn't fall behind in the latter.

"..."

Producer Oh was looking at me with a very subtle expression.

Then, after whispering to another writer, she stopped the filming.

"Thank you for your hard work. Now, we'll do individual interviews with the trainees. Please come in the order we call you!"

***

Before filming started, pre-interviews with the trainees.

The production crew had already interviewed all the trainees about their impressions and evaluations of other trainees.

For example, like this:

Production crew: What kind of person is Seo Baek-yeong?

Production crew: What kind of person is Yoon-cheong?

Subtitle: Resolute Baek-yeong... also scary?

***

After the Baek-yeong vs. Cheong showdown, the production crew asked the trainees for their impressions of the showdown.

Production crew: Why were you surprised?

Subtitle: Harsh evaluations of Yoon-cheong...!

Bora laughed and continued.

***

When it was Baek-yeong's turn for the interview, the production crew started laying the groundwork as if they had been waiting for it.

"Earlier, you mentioned to Yoon-cheong that you were worried about his dancing."

"Ah, yes."

Baek-yeong nodded, tense.

No matter how long she had been a trainee, she was still a trainee.

Being interviewed by so many cameras was naturally her first time.

Especially such an interview.

"Why were you worried?"

"Ah, Cheong... is..."

"Did you have any trouble with Yoon-cheong in the choreography during the evaluation?"

"Me?"

So, she couldn't help but be inexperienced.

"I heard from other trainees that Yoon-cheong couldn't keep up with the choreography and caused trouble for the team. Is that true?"

"Trouble... not to that extent."

"Then what was it like?"

"Just..."

Baek-yeong was flustered.

She didn't expect to be asked about Cheong so directly.

It was also surprising to hear that other trainees had said such things.

"Didn't you say in the pre-interview that Yoon-cheong couldn't dance? Wasn't that what you felt during the group evaluation?"

"That's... right."

"How was it today? Did he dance as usual?"

The production crew started asking persistently.

With a look that said, 'Just give us one slip-up.'

"He danced much better than usual today."

Actually, the person most surprised was Baek-yeong, who danced right next to him.

Baek-yeong didn't plan to dance the entire choreography. She intended to only dance the chorus and teach Cheong the choreography appropriately.

But during the four minutes or so,

she even thought that maybe Cheong should be the one helping her.

"Then, you suddenly became good after being bad in the group evaluation?"

"...Yes, that's right."

"Ah, then, did you hide your skills or something?"

"I don't know, but-"

"If you didn't hide your skills, how could you suddenly become so good at dancing in one day?"

Baek-yeong couldn't answer easily.

Can someone suddenly become good at dancing in one day?

It's an unrealistic idea.

A person who can't dance can become good at it.

With time and effort.

But in one day?

That's impossible.

"That would be difficult."

"Ah, then, could you say this to the camera?"

The production crew smiled kindly and asked.

"'I even thought that Cheong might have been hiding his skills.'"

Of course, their intention wasn't as kind.

***

The last interview was, of course, my turn.

They probably gathered material while interviewing the other trainees.

...Provocative material.

A strong candidate for the bottom suddenly becoming good at both singing and dancing?

This was bait that anyone making a show would want to use.

"Then, Yoon-cheong trainee."

"Yes."

Producer Oh started the interview with an unusually gentle voice.

It's creepy.

"Do you know what the other trainees think of Yoon-cheong?"

"Um, I'm not sure."

"The interviews are almost over, and everyone is puzzled."

The groundwork is starting.

"Really?"

"Originally, you were struggling with dancing to the point of getting an F, but today, you performed well enough to get an A."

"Ah, I can understand why they might be puzzled."

I answered without losing my smile.

If my face stiffens even once, they'll definitely edit it to make me look bad.

"Ah, is that so? Can you clear up the mystery for us?"

"Sure."

I answered with the brightest smile I could.

"I practiced a lot with Baek-yeong unnie. Thanks to her help."

Bait?

I'll bite it first.

So no one else can.