Chapter 19: The Technique of an Idol Who Never Fails

In the middle to late stages of the broadcast of the idol chosen by the nation, there was a variable for Group C. The lyrics of the song they were practicing were completely changed halfway through. This made the mid-term evaluation for Group C much more challenging compared to the other groups. During that mid-term evaluation, Jeong Hae-won sang the lyrics before the revision. The vocal trainer, unimpressed by his uncertain singing, sighed deeply and asked, "Hae-won, didn't you practice?"

To which Jeong Hae-won, looking at the floor, replied, "I did."

"What did you say?"

Jeong Hae-won, glaring at the vocal trainer who was questioning him with a serious face, retorted, "I said I did. I practiced."

* * *

In the broadcast, the part where Jeong Hae-won sang before the lyrics were revised was cut, making it seem like he forgot the new lyrics and sang the old ones during the mid-term evaluation. Watching this, Hwang Saebi, who was in the same Group C, thought the editing was too harsh. Previously, Jeong Hae-won had received severe criticism for his vocals and had spent the night at Yang Eun-hyung's studio re-recording and practicing. Despite this, the vocal trainer harshly criticized him, and he couldn't help but respond that way. Hwang Saebi also thought that Jeong Hae-won, who was already at a disadvantage, should have been more restrained. Given that he knew he would be edited this way, he should have just bowed his head and apologized. If he had, he wouldn't have suffered as much.

Every time Jeong Hae-won couldn't hold back and lashed out, it became delicious fodder for the ratings.

Now, Jeong Hae-won is much calmer and more laid-back than when he was eighteen. He thought that if it happened now, he would handle it more flexibly.

Songwriter Yang Eun-hyung's post on SNS after the special video did not criticize the editing of the 'If I Were a Star' broadcast. However, the fact that Jeong Hae-won's opinion was reflected in the revised lyrics gave a strange feeling to the fans of First Light, who had become fans based on 'If I Were a Star.'

[Didn't Guksun forget the lyrics back then? Couldn't remember the revised lyrics inspired by himself?]

[↳He was so irresponsible...]

[But the story of Polaris is a bit sad]

[↳I also... this was my favorite part]

[I thought it was about a broken relationship, but after listening to the songwriter, it doesn't seem so]

[I was the only part of the lyrics I didn't understand, but now it's all clear. Guksun sings the ending.

'Even if I don't shine the brightest, find me'

I thought this part was disconnected from the rest of the lyrics, but now I see... the lyrics were about Guksun...]

[Wow, it was this...]

[Can't believe it's about waiting for me even if I'm not chosen this time? Is that it? No, it's not, right? Please say it's not...]

[It seems people are feeling sorry for Guksun after a long time since the show ended lol]

[↳If they remake Guksun, the feeling will disappear immediately lol]

First Light fans, who consistently checked all the news related to First Light, felt a bit strange.

Hwang Saebi, after checking the fans' reactions, got out of the car and entered the shop. As soon as Hwang Saebi came in, Jeong Hae-won approached and asked, "Be honest."

"About what?"

"Do I look tough?"

"Your hair? But you look tough even without bleaching it."

Hwang Saebi's answer made Jeong Hae-won frown and reply, "Stop talking so nicely, you damn dog."

"Be honest, you said. And you shouldn't talk like that if you want to be an idol."

"You talk so nicely, you dog."

"True."

We've had this conversation before. Hwang Saebi chuckled and continued, "If you don't like it, ask for a change."

"What are you talking about? If I signed a contract, the company decides my hair color."

Despite his complaints, his words revealed that he had been in the management team for a while. Hwang Saebi laughed and said, "Still, you did sign a contract."

"I said I would. Didn't you trust me?"

Jeong Hae-won shrugged and smiled. Seeing him act so slyly, it seemed his old personality had returned, but his self-esteem, which had been damaged, hadn't recovered at all. He was only reading the reactions around him negatively.

Jeong Hae-won didn't seem to like his silver hair, but after listening to the staff, Hwang Saebi thought it was too striking and should be covered with another color. However, it would be a shame to cover up his current look, so they decided to take photos or videos to keep it. After a long discussion, they decided to cover it with another color when they start 'Turn On the Light' and proceed with the silver hair for today's shoot. Jeong Hae-won, who had been waiting, immediately agreed with the TRV staff's suggestion to keep the shoot as planned.

* * *

This time, the members who decided to bleach their hair were me and Shin Ji-won.

I felt a bit uncomfortable with a striking hair color, but seeing Shin Ji-won's bright blonde, I felt much better.

"Wow, you look like a punk."

"No, I'm a puppy."

"Hey, puppies are cute. You're not."

"What are you talking about? I'm always cute."

Shin Ji-won said this, bent down, and stuck out his tongue at the mirror. He seems to know he's not, which is a relief. His eyes are normal.

The shoot location was about three hours away.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I found it too uncomfortable to sleep, so I kept my eyes open. Beside me, the new manager, Kang Young-ho, said enthusiastically, "Mr. Hae-won, you can sleep. Trust my driving!"

"I trust your driving, but I'm just uncomfortable."

I said this and closed my eyes.

Feeling embarrassed after saying I was uncomfortable, I fell asleep soon. I was tired from the detailed work on 'Turn On the Light' recently. As the first song, it took a lot of mental and time investment. I'll get used to it as I make more songs.

We arrived at the shoot location after almost three hours.

Upon arrival, it was a three-story building in a remote area. It was clearly an old building that hadn't been lived in for a while.

The first floor was filled with abandoned materials, but when we went up to the second floor, a clean corridor appeared, and beyond the glass door, a set that looked like a company was set up.

And on the glass door, it read:

[Light Company]

"Then, is there a First Company?"

Min Ji-ho asked, and TRV's PD Kim Jae-sung answered, "Yes, on the third floor."

"Really? Oh."

The proactive Min Ji-ho ran up to the third floor and found that it was almost the same as the second floor, with 'First Company' written on the door.

"Wow, what a scale."

Min Ji-ho, impressed, continued, "Our variety show's views are usually around 30,000. Is it okay to invest this much?"

"Then, they'll invest even more."

Han Hyo-seok, who followed, answered.

Before the shoot started, the members returned to the first floor where the abandoned materials were. PD Kim Jae-sung distributed employee ID cards with lanyards to the gathered members.

Shin Ji-won, Min Ji-ho, and An Ju-won went to First Company, and I, Hwang Saebi, Han Hyo-seok, and Park Sun-jae went to Light Company.

Park Sun-jae asked the members, "Where are you going? First Company or Light Company?"

"Already shortened it?"

An Ju-won asked, and Park Sun-jae excitedly replied, "Yeah. You're First Com, go over there."

"Even First Com?"

"You're Light Com."

Seeing PD Kim Jae-sung listening carefully, I thought the subtitles would be different for First Com and Light Com during editing.

Before the shoot, we took individual profile shots for the broadcast. All seven of us were in suits and shoes, wearing employee ID cards, making even high school students look a bit like office workers. I managed to take mine with a stiff expression.

After the profile shots, the main shoot began. PD Kim Jae-sung briefly explained the content.

"What you need to do today is 'acquisition.'"

"Acquisition?"

"You all received employee ID cards, right?"

"Yes."

After the members answered, PD Kim Jae-sung continued, "You are employees of First Company and Light Company. This building contains information and incidents related to each company."

While listening, Hwang Saebi asked me, "Do you know everything?"

"No, I only suggested it, so I don't know the details."

This was true. I only gave a general presentation, so I don't know the details.

Still, I didn't expect President Park Hee-taek to go this far in setting up the set, even though he said he would support everything I said. It felt like he didn't care about the budget.

Wow, this is so stressful...

But since the company made the decision, it's not my responsibility.

PD Kim Jae-sung continued, "First, First Com will go to the second floor where Light Company is, and Light Com will go to the third floor where First Company is. You need to understand what each company is. Due to the difference in numbers, First Com has 10 minutes, and Light Com has 7 minutes. The team that finds more information in that time wins the first round."

"Is there a prize?"

Shin Ji-won asked, and PD Kim Jae-sung replied, "The reward for the first round is that the winning company gets to choose the host for the acquisition meeting."

Then, Han Hyo-seok raised his hand and asked, "Isn't it too advantageous if the host is from the winning company?"

Min Ji-ho answered for him, "Then, you need to win."

"No... Ah, never mind."

Han Hyo-seok ignored him, making Min Ji-ho even more annoyed. I wonder if they'll become close friends like this.

PD Kim Jae-sung said, "Then, I'll start the countdown."

"Do we need to exclude the time to go up the stairs?"

Min Ji-ho asked, and PD Kim Jae-sung checked his watch and said, "It's included. Now, then."

All the members stopped chatting and focused on PD Kim Jae-sung.

"Three, two, one. Start."

As soon as PD Kim Jae-sung said this, the six members ran up the stairs.

I couldn't immediately go in front of the camera, so I stopped to take a deep breath. The members running up the stairs somehow stopped too.

"Ah, Hae-won, come on."

An Ju-won said, and Park Sun-jae added, "Bro, if we lose, it's your fault."

All the members here are very competitive, with a look in their eyes that they want to win no matter what.

Fortunately, I am too.

* * *

Two days after the shoot, a teaser for First Light's own variety show 'iRound' was uploaded to the First Light account.

The teaser, starting with a black screen and no explanation, showed the words 'First Company' with noise, followed by the empty company.

Company Name: First Company

Type: ???

Establishment Date: ???

Industry: ???

Revenue: ???

Company Name: Light Company

Type: ???

Establishment Date: ???

Industry: ???

Revenue: ???

Leaving many question marks, the teaser ended, and the comments were filled with question marks.

[What is this?]

[Did the PD change? The atmosphere is completely different?]

[Why T.T.T.T The knitting reaction was good last week T.T.T.T]

[Hat lol lol lol lol lol]

[What is this? So frustrating T.T.T.T]

[How do I wait until Saturday... If you're going to do this, don't give us a teaser...]

Amid the fans' worries and curiosity, on Saturday, the first episode of the new series of the variety show was released.