Chapter 69 of The Idol's Technique That Never Fails

[Seonjae's voice is so sacred T_T_T_T]

[This is it, this is how this voice should be written!!!!!!!!]

[VCR: Jiun in a suit with leather gloves, Seongho...]

[↳I want to die]

[↳Matteo himself...]

After the VCR ended, a dark stage with minimal lighting appeared. Hwang Saebi walked out slowly, leading a large group of dancers through a door between the partitions. He began the first verse, running his hands through his hair.

-A love I promised when you were not like an angel's message

[What's with the direction?]

[SB chills...]

[Hwang Saebi's atmosphere is really a treasure]

The scene then moved to the opposite side. Jung Hae-won, who had never done such a heavy eye makeup before, was wearing a leather glove on one hand and a Chrome Hearts ring on the other.

-I could have given everything I had, my happy moments are there even if you are not.

[Wow, I can't breathe during Hae-won's part]

[What's with Heme-ko?????? Can his face really look like that?]

[Oh, paradise]

[He's always cold, but making him even colder makes him look like a different person]

[He didn't make it to the debut group...? An idol who looks like that and dances like that...?]

[↳Haha, just seeing that Hae-won didn't make it to the debut group, I can tell how much the bad plot is]

[↳But if he doesn't smile, he looks like he'd just X or dismiss everything]

Then it moved to the pre-chorus and chorus.

-It can't be undone, I don't even ask for forgiveness

-Matteo, Matteo

-When everything I've known so far seems like a lie

-My young vow of love turns into meaningless lies

[The direction is really off the charts, these geniuses]

[All seven members have grown so much since the National Treasure A era]

[What the heck is this...]

[I love this song so much, I'm going crazy hahaha]

[This team really gets good songs]

[↳This was made by the composer member]

-When something more precious than my faith appears, I hope you can understand just this one heart

Min Jihoo moved between the partitions while singing the ending part, and the members were seated on six chairs surrounded by dancers. The stage ended as Min Jihoo sat in the empty chair at the center.

* * *

Throughout the broadcast of the stage, the First Light members kept checking the real-time reactions.

Jung Hae-won had been staring at the screen with his hands clasped together since the start of the performance.

Knowing that he always felt immense pressure whenever a song was first revealed, the members tried their best to quickly summarize and inform him of the reactions to the song.

Park Seonjae said, unable to close his mouth.

"Hyung Hae-won, I've never seen such a reaction before."

"Really?"

He had been glaring so fiercely, but as soon as the youngest spoke, his expression softened, and he looked over. Park Seonjae sat down next to him with his phone and said,

"All curses... No, I mean, they're cursing because they love it so much."

Only then did he feel relieved. After hearing various reactions from the members, Jung Hae-won finally relaxed and chuckled. He absentmindedly reached into his pocket for a cigarette but pulled his hand back. It seemed that this habit wasn't easily broken.

After all six teams' performances ended, all the participants went up on stage. Although it was a survival show, they had become much closer during the filming of The Rising, as they would be seeing each other for a long time as colleagues. The participants shook hands and hugged each other.

The New Days members also flocked to Jung Hae-won to greet him. They chattered about how many views 'Trace' had received, how much the fans loved it, and asked him to stay in touch after the survival show. They only returned to their seats after the staff asked them to. Some members from other teams were so captivated by the repetitive part of "Matteo, Matteo" that they inadvertently sang it and were startled.

It was time for the MCs to announce the final rankings.

MC Kang Yoon-seok said,

"Based on the cumulative scores from the third mission (50 points), the audience score from the final mission (20 points), the live text voting and global voting (20 points), and the score from the special judges (10 points), we will now announce the final winner."

The members of the six teams looked bewildered, not even knowing there were special judges. Videos of the special judges, who had been hiding in the waiting room, appeared on the stage screen.

Korea's top guitarist and producer, Shim Han-chul. A member of the idol group Big Blue, Lee Jun-hee. And finally, Kang Yeo-eun, who is always mentioned when selecting the best vocalist in K-pop history.

The three took turns giving heartfelt comments on the six teams. When it was First Light's turn, Kang Yeo-eun said,

-When I saw the stage, I just couldn't stop laughing. I just said, 'Oh, it's good.' I'm 40 years younger than him, but do I really need to evaluate him? I just thought, 'I've got a great fellow singer.'

It was an extreme compliment from a senior artist. The First Light members, who had been maintaining a contradictory concept, couldn't help but fidget and bow repeatedly at the senior's praise.

Without much delay, MC Lee Hee-se announced the winner.

"The Rising, the final winning team is... First Light."

* * *

[Minjo: Hyung Hae-won, our stage will be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

As soon as the broadcast ended, Min Jihoo posted a group photo taken on stage along with a message on Xbus. Fortunately, the fans really loved this stage, and the cold atmosphere temporarily thawed.

I immediately slumped in my seat when I heard the news of our victory. Although I didn't think winning this survival show was that significant, I felt a sense of triumph knowing it had ended 'well' and without any issues.

The members of Bad One, who had been competing with us for the final ranking, came over to congratulate us and helped me up. Then the New Days kids rushed over, hugging me as if it were their own victory. It was a touching moment.

Once the tension eased, the members returned to the dorm and, unusually, didn't eat any late-night snacks but went straight to their rooms and fell asleep. They must have been very tired.

I also went to bed early because we had a somewhat important event the next day.

All six members woke up early in the morning. Even though we would only be in a line, we decided to make a lunch box for Shin Jiun, who was taking the college entrance exam today.

We secretly discussed the menu in a group chat without Shin Jiun a few days ago. We decided to make beef and vegetable soup and fried tofu rolls as the main dishes, along with side dishes like ham and egg rolls.

In the narrow kitchen, we cooked cautiously but busily. I, who was very far from cooking, took charge of filming.

"Making a salad?"

"The other members are only giving him meat."

"Thanks to you, our lifespan will increase by at least ten years."

Han Hyo-seok consistently fed us vegetables. Even when we ordered delivery food, he would always include a salad. Without Han Hyo-seok, our eating habits would have been a mess.

Hwang Saebi, who loved eating as much as he was interested in cooking, and An Ju-won, who was good with his hands, were making fancy egg rolls while watching YouTube.

"Jung Hae-won, try this."

Hwang Saebi ladled some beef and vegetable soup for him to taste.

"......Why is it so delicious?"

"How's the seasoning?"

"Perfect. What, why are you so good? Can I try the fried tofu rolls?"

"Sure, I made a lot. Guys, eat the fried tofu rolls while you work."

While Min Jihoo and Park Seonjae were frying ham together, Hwang Saebi completed the beef and vegetable soup and the fried tofu rolls with crab meat.

"Why is Saebi so fast?"

I couldn't believe the speed created by Hwang Saebi's desire for food, even though I saw it with my own eyes.

Once I finished filming, I tried the fried tofu rolls, and they were delicious. An Ju-won's egg rolls were surprisingly beautiful, and the ham was just ham.

When we finished packing the salad and fruit into the three-tier lunch box and the soup into the thermos, Shin Jiun woke up. He seemed to be about to order a delivery lunch box, looking at the delivery app, but then he saw us.

"Is this mine?"

"Come and eat first."

At Hwang Saebi's words, Shin Jiun came over and ate the food. Soon, he put on his school uniform, picked up the lunch box, and said,

"My parents don't even know I'm taking the exam."

"Probably didn't think an idol would take the college entrance exam. Go quickly."

As I pushed him, Shin Jiun hugged the lunch box tightly and left the dorm.

After making the lunch box from the early morning, all six of us were exhausted and sprawled out on the floor. We lay around the living room.

We were looking at the comments on Matteo's video from yesterday on our phones.

I sat on the living room sofa and turned on Xbus. Even though it was hard to read comments from other places, Xbus was mostly filled with fans, and it had a certain atmosphere that made me feel comfortable when reading. I was starting to feel a bit more confident that the people here wouldn't attack me anymore.

The reaction to 'Matteo' was explosive. When they saw the members with a strong concept setting, they asked who they were going to ask, and it was somewhat serious... Anyway, I really thought their faces were amazing.

I was giggling at the excited Haeul's reactions when I suddenly paused at my name.

[Oh, Jung Hae-won, let's get a divorce]

Why a divorce...?

I thought for a moment and started to write a reply.

[Can't we not get a divorce?]

...Is this too mushy?

Should I not post it? But why do I want a divorce...?

After pondering, I gave up on replying and moved to the next comment.

[Hae-won, I'm sorry... Please don't quit being an idol]

[Don't go anywhere T_T_T_T You have to stay with Haeul forever T_T_T_T]

Huh...? I'm not quitting...?

While I was confused by the continuous comments, Min Jihoo said, 'Huh?' and got up with his phone.

Then he showed it to An Ju-won, who was sitting next to him.

"Why?"

I asked, but neither of them answered me. Instead, they showed the phone to the other members, who also checked their phones.

"Hey, what's going on?"

I really hate being left out, so I quickly grabbed Han Hyo-seok's phone.

[Jung Hae-won, 2023 contract expiration... First Light to return to 6-member formation]

[Self-produced idol's independence imminent, Jung Hae-won to enter FA market]

"Huh?"

I checked other articles, feeling bewildered.

[Jung Hae-won, negotiating with Terminal Entertainment... Breaking free from idol limits to become a 'true artist']

Oh, the fans are only picking out the things they hate.

"They're really barking."

I handed the phone back to Han Hyo-seok. Then Hwang Saebi asked,

"Didn't you sign a six-month contract?"

"No, that's true."

"Did you sign a six-month contract and not tell us?"

"I was going to quietly renew the contract and tell you later. Would you sign the same contract if our starting points were different?"

I expected that the news of the renewal would come out, but I didn't expect it to break before the renewal and with such ridiculous rumors.

Anyway, I can handle one person being upset, but it's overwhelming with all five of them angry at the same time. At least one of them is taking the exam, which is a relief.

"And that's just barking. What 6-member formation now? I'm going to renew the contract right away. I planned to finish the negotiations before the concert. I don't know where these rumors are coming from..."

The atmosphere was so bad that I was mumbling to myself. Park Seonjae asked,

"If the rumors were true, wouldn't you have just left without renewing the contract if the fans' mood kept getting worse?"

"No..."

"You really care about us, don't you?"

Maknae... Our Maknae is mocking me...

It was a big blow to hear this from Park Seonjae, who had always been affectionate to me. Since I couldn't speak, An Ju-won tried to mediate.

"Jung Hae-won would have said something, right? The company must have proposed it. Let's confront the company."

Even though he said that, I could tell he was also upset with me, as he called me by my last name, which he usually didn't do.

Min Jihoo, whose emotions were clearly visible on his face, turned his back and sat facing away.

Sigh, they're angrier than I thought.

"Who the heck is writing such ridiculous articles?"

Feeling scared, I mumbled and went to my room to call the company.