Chapter 50

If I don't debut, I'll get a disease that will kill me 050

"Sure. I'll support you, Mr. Park Moon."

"Thank you."

Cheongrye accepted the rejection gracefully without further comment.

I wanted to draw out more conversation to get a more desperate scene, but it didn't seem like the kind of person who would go for that kind of script.

'First, his name is too big.'

As the winner of last year's grand prize, the gap was too wide. It was more likely that 'Park Moon' would just look insignificant.

"Then I'll tear up this contract."

Cheongrye picked up the contract, held it up for the camera to see, and tore it in two.

'Performance, huh.'

It seemed like a pre-arranged act.

"You must have had a hard time making that decision. I hope you do well in the future."

"Thank you. I hope you finish your activities in good health, Senior Cheongrye."

We shook hands and bowed to match the dramatic atmosphere.

"Ah, have you seen our recent activities?"

"Huh? Yes."

Wasn't this supposed to be the end of the shoot?

For some reason, he continued the conversation. I decided to respond sincerely.

"I really enjoy listening to this album."

"Wow, do you have a favorite song?"

Is this kid doing this on purpose? Surely he's not trying to tempt me because I refused.

"Um, I especially like 'Starry Night.'"

I picked a random track. I hadn't actually listened to it because of the lack of time, but I saw it mentioned in a fan post on social media while searching for 'Park Moon.'

"Oh, I wrote the lyrics for that one."

Cheongrye pointed to herself with a friendly smile.

'She's taking care of her own promotion.'

Even though she's already doing incredibly well. She truly is a seasoned idol.

"Ah, you mentioned it on purpose."

I just smiled. It would be strange to say no, and it would also be strange to say yes, so I had no choice.

Cheongrye smiled back, then suddenly went out the door as if something had just occurred to her.

'What is it?'

When she came back in, she was holding an envelope.

"It's not much, just ginseng. I brought it for you to stay strong."

"Ah, thank you."

The red envelope with the brand logo in gold was clearly a PPL (Product Placement).

'Well, ginseng is always welcome.'

I took it, and Cheongrye gave a final greeting.

"Then, good luck!"

"Thank you, good luck."

The shoot ended with us smiling at each other.

The staff immediately came in to take care of Cheongrye.

Some adjusted the camera and fiddled with tablets, but most were clearly focused on Cheongrye. They were probably from VTIC.

'They're really giving it their all.'

Given her value, I would do the same.

After confirming that the staff had removed the microphone from her clothes, Cheongrye quietly spoke.

"Mr. Moon."

"Yes."

Unlike before, her face lacked a smile.

Not that she looked stern, but she had a natural expression for someone starting a conversation.

"Though it's hard for me to say, LeTi is a good agency. The settlements are good too. If the situation allows after the program, give me a call."

"…!"

It meant to contact her if I got eliminated.

'Really?'

But why would she try to recruit a trainee here, when she's not even an agency executive?

'Ah, does she own company shares?'

That would make sense.

Still, I don't understand why she's doing this for Park Moon, but maybe… they need a good main vocalist for the debut group.

I nodded without much comment.

"Yes, thank you."

"You're welcome."

The conversation ended there. I left the room and moved to the waiting room as directed by the staff.

It seemed they were isolating me to prevent spoilers, as I hadn't yet taken the surprise psychological test.

"Bro!"

As soon as I entered, Kim Raebin, who was already sitting, spoke to me.

"Did you receive an offer from anywhere?"

"LeTi."

"Me too!"

So, more VTIC members were involved.

Kim Raebin, unusually excited, started telling the story of meeting VTIC. As I nodded and listened, Ryu Cheongwoo, looking tired, came in and acknowledged me.

"Ah, you guys finished first."

Ryu Cheongwoo's face clearly showed the mental conflict he had experienced.

'Could he be from VTIC too?'

3 out of 10 is a generous probability.

Another participant, whom I only knew by face, chimed in.

"Bro! Where did you get a casting call?"

"I… Wonderhole."

It was the agency of Tiholic, a large agency known for consistently producing good idols over a long period.

'That's not bad either.'

I heard a sigh of admiration from the one who asked. However, Ryu Cheongwoo sat down with a deflated expression.

'Strange.'

He seemed to be considering a run even though his debut was almost certain. There must be some reason.

Participants gradually returned to the waiting room. Soon, the first ten participants were all back.

'So, everyone refused in the first round.'

Honestly, I thought a couple from the lower ranks might have run, but it was surprising. The lineup of agencies was better than expected.

In the second round, everyone returned to the waiting room. By this point, some were developing a strange sense of pride and satisfaction.

"Joo, he seemed like a good person."

Sun Ah-hyun, who returned late, mumbled with a bright face. It seemed a solo singer had been very kind and encouraging.

"But you still refused."

At my playful comment, Sun Ah-hyun jumped up, shocked.

"Of course, we have to finish…! If I go there… we can't debut together…."

"…"

It seemed Sun Ah-hyun was extremely invested in the positive peer relationships she had just experienced.

'If the deal had been a bit better, the others would have all run.'

I felt a bit sorry for him and nodded.

"Right."

"Y-Yes!"

Sun Ah-hyun responded positively. Kim Raebin looked at him with a curious expression.

As the third group started to return, the atmosphere became even more interesting.

"LeTi is a shame~ So disappointing!"

Daesejin, the first to return, sat down and said with a smile.

He had also received an offer from LeTi.

'Kim Raebin, Daesejin, and me.'

It could be a coincidence, but the agency tendencies were quite intriguing.

Daesejin's comment was even funnier. Saying it was a shame.

'He's just saying it.'

His goal seemed to be to debut as quickly as possible, so he wouldn't go to LeTi.

However, after confirming there was no microphone or camera, Daesejin mumbled.

"Ah~ I should have switched. It's a bit disappointing."

"…"

He seemed to have thought about it more than I expected.

Given that his current agency wasn't very reliable, it seemed to have slipped out naturally.

It was a rare opportunity. Switching to a better agency without fulfilling the contract period was practically impossible in the industry.

The fact that the final debutees' agency rights were transferred by 'Ajusa' was essentially a form of bullying by a major broadcasting company.

In layman's terms, it was gangster behavior.

While the agencies had to accept it grudgingly, it seemed like the company was reusing the trainees who didn't make the debut group for the show.

'A lubricant for the relationship with the broadcasting company.'

However, this season was doing so well that there seemed to be subtle pressure.

Pressure to voluntarily drop out and stay with the agency.

I recalled something Daesejin had mentioned casually during a break in filming.

- "Lately, I've been hearing that. 'Isn't it better to debut with the juniors you've practiced with?'... People are really amusing, you know?"

There was no real incentive, so it was hard to be swayed.

"It's a joke. We have to debut here~"

Daesejin laughed and joked, but it was clear he had genuinely considered it.

'Surprisingly, many in the upper ranks were wavering.'

I shrugged. Wasn't anyone willing to leave to reduce the competition?

Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

Only one person from the lower ranks dropped out.

"Participant Choi Wookil has responded to the casting call from agency Traveler and will leave 'Idol Corporation' from today."

I was impressed.

'He saw the opportunity well.'

Based on the public opinion from this episode, he must have decided to cut his losses quickly.

He seemed to have trouble controlling his emotions due to his young age, but he seemed to have some sense, so he probably didn't leave with a smile.

"Our agency?"

I heard Gold 1, who was behind me, mumble in surprise.

'Ah, he was from Traveler.'

He had apparently struggled to reject the offer from Tiholic. It seemed he had some attachment to his original agency.

'He also had the guts to continue.'

In any case, that concluded the 'Casting Call' event.

While I was disappointed that the goal wasn't achieved, the footage was secured.

'They won't cut the VTIC footage, right?'

They wouldn't waste what they had worked hard to secure.

The production team took a few shots of the trainees' reactions to Choi Wookil's departure and then immediately started preparing for the ranking announcement.

As a result, the participants had to sit in the same seats they had before the 'Casting Call' event and endure a boring wait.

However, this time, the conversation topics were so lively that everyone seemed to be chatting away.

"Wow, that agency?"

"Amazing."

"Wow… How was Senior Cheongrye in person?"

The tension before the ranking announcement was even lower.

"Phew, the lineup was impressive. It's no wonder many were conflicted."

Daesejin whistled and listed the agency names. He then glanced around and whispered with a strange smile.

"Hey, did you know?"

"What?"

"That guy sitting there, my namesake, was also very conflicted."

He seemed to be referring to actor-turned-idol Lee Sejin.

'Now that I think about it, he joined the latest.'

Lee Sejin had arrived almost simultaneously with the news of Choi Wookil's departure.

I hadn't paid much attention, but… I still don't really care.

Daesejin, who had always seemed to have a grudge against Lee Sejin, was now more relaxed and started to open up.

"Originally, he was with an acting agency. Did he really want to switch to being an idol?"

"Maybe."

If he wanted to continue being an idol even if he was eliminated, switching might be a good option.

It would be difficult to aim for the next team if he didn't debut soon due to his age.

'It's his decision, after all.'

Realizing I didn't care, Daesejin shrugged.

"Is that so."

That was the end of the spare time.

Then, the official ranking announcement shoot began.

* * *

As the participants prepared for the ranking announcement.

The agency entertainers who had made surprise appearances for the 'Casting Call' event had already left for other schedules.

Even VTIC, whose schedule starts in minutes, was no exception.

The two in the van were looking at their smartphones until they finally spoke when ordering lunch.

"Bro, how was it?"

"Just work."

Cheongrye answered matter-of-factly.

"Did you see three people, and was there anyone who caught your eye? I thought the ones I met were pretty good."

"Maybe."