Chapter 27: The Technique of an Idol Who Never Fails

[Jaewoon 😂😂😂😂😂 You missed your timing 😂😂😂😂😂]

[My heart's star 😂😂😂😂😂 So cute 😂😂😂😂😂]

Fortunately, the fans found it cute and let it pass, according to what the members said. Well, no one would really think an idol would say someone else is "not good" on a broadcast, right? I have my doubts, but I can't be sure.

Regardless of it passing smoothly, I smacked Shin Jaewoon's back.

"Hey, you crazy bastard."

"Ah, ten thousand won."

"You, this guy. Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind?"

"I was going to say 'my heart's star' too, just a bit late."

"You're joking."

"Wow, you're reading my mind."

I really want to hit him. Ah, I already did, but it's not satisfying.

Anyway, I don't think we'll be opening a live stream on our own for a while. Even if the company allows it, I need to stop it. Hehe...

Suddenly, I thought about the first day of Kukseon-a.

I was really nervous that day, and Shin Jaewoon was sitting next to me. The shock on his face disappeared as soon as he opened his mouth.

"I thought my parents would get mad if I became an idol."

And he laughed, "haha."

Even though I was a stranger, I felt embarrassed for Shin Jaewoon and stopped him. If someone asks why you want to become an idol, just say it's a secret. Absolutely don't say anything. You'll get away with it because you have a good face...

And fortunately, he did get away with it.

* * *

After the filming ended and before returning to the practice room, Jung Hae-won gathered the members again after the staff left.

"Guys, gather for a moment."

The members gathered, thinking the time had finally come.

"Now the real nagging will start."

As expected, the nagging continued for a while. Then, Jung Hae-won summarized and said,

"I have two requests. First, during this activity period, no matter what kind of joke another member makes, you must accept it."

"…How can I accept everything Min Jihoo says?"

"Hyoshik, that's what I'm saying."

When Han Hyoshik and Min Jihoo protested, Jung Hae-won made a praying gesture and said,

"Just for this activity period. Please."

When they quieted down, he continued,

"And second, I know I'm just a person, but I really believe idols should be bright in front of the camera. At least during the activity period, please try to be bright."

It was something Jung Hae-won had told us at the beginning of Kukseon-a. The members listened to the nagging, even though they were suffering. After the talk, they looked at each other, and Hwang Saebek spoke up.

"But I also want you to know something."

"Me? What?"

"From the moment we became the same group, I never thought we could have a very good relationship with VMC."

Hwang Saebek continued to Jung Hae-won, who was taken aback.

"Of course, I don't want to be completely at odds. But still, I'm on your side as much as possible."

"…"

"If it weren't for you during Kukseon-a, I would have always slept in and failed. An Joo-won and I would practice until dawn. Shin Jaewoon… I'll pay ten thousand won. That guy is a completely different person, and I always had to stop him from fighting with 06. The maknae, you practically raised him."

"Ah, hyung, that's true, but I'm not that much of a kid."

Park Sunjae whined, and Hwang Saebek continued,

"Throughout Kukseon-a, you played the role of being angry. Honestly, how can you say it's not our fault?"

"Stop saying that."

"Even if Jung Hae-won goes all out, you can go even further. I'll back you up."

"…"

"We discussed this in our group chat."

"…You have a group chat without me?"

"Yeah, we do. Aren't you mad?"

"Of course…"

"Since you're a member, we didn't include you."

"…"

"We just discussed it when you joined. It hasn't been long."

Hwang Saebek, without realizing it, was making excuses and immediately invited Jung Hae-won to the group chat.

Jung Hae-won looked at his phone for a while, then entered the group chat and said,

"But, don't make decisions in the group chat without the managers. Talk to the company first…"

"Ah, you're a member, not an employee."

"Hyung, job change."

Min Jihoo said, and Han Hyoshik, who was momentarily annoyed, replied,

"…Being a member is better."

"Wow, Han Hyoshik accepted that."

"Hyung, do you really have to accept that? Is that how it should be?"

The members reacted strongly, and Han Hyoshik sighed and lowered his head. His ears were bright red.

Jung Hae-won, finding it ridiculous, laughed and said,

"Ah, you have to accept it. Of course. Let's go practice now."

"Okay."

Shin Jaewoon replied, put his arm around Jung Hae-won, and said,

"Hyung, I'm a puppy."

Shin Jaewoon, who couldn't relate to the cute concept, reluctantly said,

"Ah, you're a puppy."

"Can you be more positive?"

"Wow, you're a puppy."

Jung Hae-won reluctantly said and pushed him away, making Shin Jaewoon giggle.

After the V-app ended and not long after the practice started, an employee burst into the practice room.

"We're on the real-time chart! Exactly 100th place!"

Real-time chart 100th place.

The members rushed to find their phones, which they had thrown anywhere.

"How do you check the real-time chart?"

When I asked, an employee came over and showed me how to check it. While I was learning, Min Jihoo said,

"Wow, it's already trending before we even perform."

Then he turned around and said,

"Someone, accept it quickly."

Han Hyoshik replied,

"Would I not accept it? It's true."

It was our first entry on the real-time chart. The members downloaded the music and streamed it to contribute.

Before we could get too excited, Manager Kang Young-ho came over with his phone.

"Mr. Hae-won, this is a VMC employee."

Seeing the call come in at this hour, it seemed something was stirring online after the live broadcast.

I took the phone and went outside the practice room.

"Yes, this is Jung Hae-won."

-Oh, Mr. Hae-won.

"Hello."

I greeted without knowing who was on the other line.

It turned out to be an employee from the music content department of one of VMC's channels, TYT.

-There was a problem with the editing, right?

Wow, he got straight to the point.

I tried to be polite in my response.

"I'm sorry, but from my perspective, it was a bit unfair."

-Sigh, I'm not saying sorry. Anyway, it's only the people who didn't know who suffered.

I couldn't predict where the conversation was going. Then he said,

-We were busy taking care of the trainees who were affected by the manipulation, so we couldn't pay attention to you. We'll pay more attention now.

"Ah, I see."

-TYT is starting a new survival show. We need to prevent the issues from the previous series from recurring. I'd appreciate your advice.

He talks in a way that's hard to understand.

Does he mean, "If you keep stirring things up with your editing, there will be more noise when the new survival show starts, so keep quiet"?

Wow, I don't want to be an adult like that.

"To prevent it from happening again, shouldn't I speak up more? To ensure it doesn't happen."

-Still, a show needs to be entertaining.

"Ah, entertainment."

Right, entertainment is important...

-Editing is something you implicitly agree to when you appear on the show, right? The editing rights belong entirely to the PD. How can you interfere?

"Understood."

-Please understand. Oh, you're coming to TYT on Friday, right?

It sounds like a threat that there might be some disadvantage at the music show on Friday. I responded,

"I hope the next series goes well."

I added,

"I'll do my best as an idol."

-Ah, that's good.

Hehe, I guess I've become an adult. I didn't get angry or run away in fear; I even made the call.

After hanging up, I returned to the practice room. While doing individual practice, I sat next to Shin Jaewoon, who was resting in a corner, and asked,

"Do you have any videos or photos from Kukseon-a?"

"Many."

"Only bright ones?"

"No, there are others too."

"Send me some."

"What for?"

"Just keep them."

"You might not want to see them."

"I'm feeling better mentally these days."

After I said that, Shin Jaewoon thought for a moment and sent me two videos he had.

I opened the videos but immediately closed them.

"Ah, I can't watch them."

Near the end of the broadcast, even as I laughed and chatted with the members, I suddenly felt like I was going to die and went to a window in the broadcasting station to stay there for a while.

Seeing a video of my back, it seems the members knew I had fled there.

Wait, I was visibly struggling. Are the guys who are close to me okay?

At that time, the First Light members were at most second-year high school students. I asked Shin Jaewoon,

"Did you guys take any psychological tests?"

"Why would we?"

How could they be fine when a close friend was right next to them?

Moreover, this team had once been preparing to debut but was halted due to external reasons.

As soon as I finished talking to Shin Jaewoon, I messaged the support team to introduce a counseling center.

[Please set up counseling for all First Light members.]

[Understood. We'll discuss with the artist management team and contact you as soon as possible.]

Then I resumed practice.

* * *

It's really fortunate for me that we're releasing a digital single this time and not having a showcase. I don't think I could answer the reporters' questions smoothly.

Instead, I was busy shooting special videos. I can't even remember how many times I changed clothes.

Even after staying up all night and heading straight to the first music show, I couldn't fall asleep. Manager Kang Young-ho said to me,

"Mr. Hae-won, aren't you getting enough sleep?"

Then Min Jihoo, who had been dozing off in the seat behind me, woke up and said,

"That's what I'm saying. Hyung, get some sleep. You'll get more tired as the activities go on."

"Ah, I'll sleep."

I said, closed my eyes, but still couldn't fall asleep.

We finished the dry rehearsal with our hats pulled down. As soon as we returned to the waiting room, the members checked their phones.

Our staff now knew that the First Light members were people who cared a lot about their performance.

But having been through Kukseon-a with them, I knew that the First Light members were the type who only really go all out when there's a visible trophy. During Kukseon-a, it was about debuting, and now it's about the 100th place ranking.

I'm not much different.

I thought I wasn't expecting anything from the music chart this time. But now, I realize I'm more concerned about the performance than anyone else.

Losing track of time, we finally headed to the backstage.

It was quiet, even though the fans were there.

I don't have a religion, but I clasped my hands and wished to any god. The maknae next to me asked,

"Hyung, making a wish?"

"Yeah. I wish the Hae-sun fans enjoy the stage."

Please let the Hae-sun fans enjoy the stage, even if I'm there. I won't make any other wishes for a while, so can you please make this one come true?

After trying to make a deal, just before going on stage, the stylist came to put a half-mask on me.

"I'll just go up and see."

When I said that, everyone, members and staff, looked at me. Before the staff could stop me, the members said,

"Yeah, the Hae-sun fans will like it more."

"I'll do the chant!"

Min Jihoo volunteered, and the members all raised their hands. I put the half-mask in the pocket of my school uniform, which was my stage outfit, and extended my hand.

Min Jihoo used the lyrics from "Turn on the Light" to say,

"Light up this stage!"

The members chanted "light up" in response to the lyrics, and Min Jihoo continued the chant,

"Third, Second."

After shouting "First" with the members, we headed to the stage.