Chapter 98: The Techniques of an Idol Who Never Fails

My parents listen to the songs I compose all day long, so I think it wouldn't be bad to create music that suits their tastes.

When the royalties from "Let's Meet This Year" come in, I was planning to buy them gifts, so I'll show my filial piety through material things. But if Park Hee-young sings the song I composed, they will be amazed beyond comparison.

[What's this track, sis? Why is there such a good one all of a sudden??]

[Great singer Park Hee-young: She said she put it aside because the melody didn't come out right. As soon as I asked, she took it out.]

It seems that this track looks too adventurous for Park Hee-young, who has always relied on her overflowing energy, so it has been put on hold.

Since Park Hee-young doesn't reject the songs from the composition team, it seems the composition team also tends to make safe choices.

Park Hee-young couldn't have missed what I felt.

[Great singer Park Hee-young: It seems the composition team also had things they couldn't say.]

Even a singer of Park Hee-young's seniority seems to go through trial and error.

* * *

A few days later, we arrived at the filming location.

"Visiting Workers," hosted by Big Blue member Choi Jeong-min.

This is a good opportunity to appear on a popular variety show, but I'm worried that the members might be shy.

The first filming was at a café near the broadcasting station.

Fortunately, after experiencing survival shows twice, the members were less intimidated by the camera.

Now, I just need to do well. My heart still flutters a bit until I get closer to the staff.

While we were gathered at the café, Choi Jeong-min appeared, wearing a stylish coat and drinking an Americano. Beside him was regular cast member of "Visiting Workers," comedian Kang Dae-hyung.

Choi Jeong-min was as relaxed in front of the camera as if it were his own home. I genuinely envied that ease.

Choi Jeong-min said to us, who were already dressed for work:

"You should have worn something prettier before we left. There won't be any chance to look pretty there."

Then he arrogantly sat in the chair he had reserved and said to Kang Dae-hyung, who was sitting opposite him:

"Ah, it's good to have idol juniors on the show again. Finally, my juniors have come out."

"Be careful. He uses his seniors like that, so how much more will he use his direct juniors?"

"How much have I used anyone, really?"

The atmosphere was different from when we were with Big Blue. There, he was an idol, but here, he was a variety show star.

An idol who is skilled at standing in front of the camera. To the First Light members, he was a fascinating presence. The kids couldn't interject while the two were talking, so I raised my hand and said:

"Can we do a cheer?"

Kang Dae-hyung reacted enthusiastically:

"Oh, you have one?"

"Yes, we actually do. Our leader is so introverted that he can't get the timing right for the cheer."

At that, Choi Jeong-min sprayed his Americano. After choking and laughing, he wiped his mouth with the tissue Han Hyo-seok hurriedly handed him and said to Hwang Saebi:

"What do you do if the leader can't get the timing right for the cheer! I've never seen a leader like that before."

"Ah, it just doesn't fit my personality..."

"If it doesn't fit, another member should have done it!"

Hwang Saebi's response was just "Ah..." If this continues, there won't be any banter, and he'll just get scolded by his senior, so I quickly interjected:

"Originally, I was more suited to be the leader, but Saebi took over to compose freely."

"Really? That's touching."

I gave the members a look to encourage them to speak up. An Joo-won, who is more outgoing, said:

"Still, our leader always accurately keeps track of the number of people and their positions."

At that, Min Ji-ho seemed to remember something and said:

"He's always lying down, but when he hears the door lock, he asks, 'Who went out...?' and gets up."

"Sounds cool at first... but lying down?"

Noticing the members' introversion, Choi Jeong-min asked me directly:

"Does this friend look like he's just tired?"

At that, Choi Jeong-min and Kang Dae-hyung burst out laughing. Their reactions were so good that I quickly gained confidence.

Most importantly, Choi Jeong-min's character setting for the members' introversion from the beginning made the show feel smoother than ever. This is what a good MC can do.

Kang Dae-hyung said:

"But these guys look really strong overall. Are you good at shuttlecock?"

"Do you want to play later?"

When Shin Ji-woon, who loves sports, asked, Kang Dae-hyung arrogantly replied:

"Wow, a challenge. We'll win even if we're drunk."

"We're also good at shuttlecock."

"Who's good at it?"

When Choi Jeong-min asked, Park Seon-jae said:

"Our members are good at different things, but they all have good sports skills. Ah, they're also strong! We really plan to do a lot of work today."

"Ah, these kids are introverted but full of energy."

With that, he laughed heartily and finished the opening, and we started the main recording.

Because there were many members, the task was quite big this time. The branch school had been abandoned after closing down, and it was to be cleaned up to create a Korean language school for multicultural families and the elderly.

But since the location was not ideal and it had been abandoned for a long time, I heard there was a lot of work to be done. Indeed, from the video the staff shot during the preliminary survey, it seemed that just clearing the weeds would take half a day.

"Visiting Workers" is such a well-received variety show that there were many sponsorships. An Joo-won, an art student, carefully chose the colors of the eco-friendly paint we received as a sponsorship while watching the video.

After finishing the color combination, Choi Jeong-min said:

"Joo-won, go to the flower market with Ho-hyun right away."

"Got it."

An Joo-won got up, looked outside the café where Choi Jeong-min pointed, and chuckled. Park Ho-hyun, a regular cast member of "Visiting Workers" and a model turned actor who majored in art, was waiting there. An Joo-won bowed to us and left for landscaping. Choi Jeong-min asked the rest:

"Who has experience with weed clearing?"

"I clear weeds every holiday, senior."

When Han Hyo-seok raised his hand, Choi Jeong-min said:

"Pick another member with good stamina."

"Ji-woon hyung."

"Okay, follow Dae-hyung. He's a weed clearing god, that hyung."

Kang Dae-hyung got up and left the café with two members, saying:

"Wow, they look strong and reliable."

Choi Jeong-min got up with the rest of the members and said:

"The rest will clean, and one person will cook with Su-kyung hyung. Tomorrow, we'll all do the plastering."

Kim Su-kyung, like Kang Dae-hyung, is a comedian known for his large hands. He's probably not here now but is buying ingredients for the food we said we wanted to eat.

It was seven in the morning after the opening. Since the overall atmosphere and concept of the show are about manual labor, the filming time is also adjusted accordingly.

* * *

After a two-and-a-half-hour drive, we arrived at the filming location.

The school had been closed for about five years, but parts of it had already been remodeled, so the interior was relatively clean. However, it hadn't been cleaned at all.

But with so many people, the cleaning progressed visibly. Choi Jeong-min and I went outside the building, and he showed me a high-pressure washer and asked:

"Have you used one before?"

"Um..."

It's my first time, so why does it not seem like I've used one...

"I'll show you how to use it, and you can follow."

Choi Jeong-min immediately demonstrated how to use the high-pressure washer. Perhaps because they've done all sorts of manual labor on "Visiting Workers," the regular cast members could do anything. The weed clearing team was already familiar with the task, and the flower market team was repairing broken areas with cement.

I took the high-pressure washer and followed Choi Jeong-min's demonstration to clean the exterior of the building. Choi Jeong-min said:

"Why are you so good at it?"

"I found my calling."

After answering, I continued cleaning.

I usually live with what I have, and I don't like complicated things, so it felt refreshing to see the old grime wash away with the high-pressure washer.

Thinking about how this place will become a shuttle bus stop and a space for learning made it impossible for me to do a half-hearted job.

* * *

Before dinner, we set up a tent in the schoolyard and rested inside. I felt excited as I lay in my sleeping bag with the wood-burning stove on.

I was about to go to sleep when I called the members.

"Are you sleeping?"

"......Jeong-hyeon, go to sleep. Don't be so clingy."

Hwang Saebi answered, but I didn't give up.

"Let's chat a bit before sleeping. I'm too excited about camping to sleep."

At that, Park Seon-jae, who was playing a game on his phone, rustled and got up to say:

"Can you play with us?"

Shin Ji-woon scolded him:

"Only a maknae would ask to play."

"The lighting, temperature, and humidity... don't they make you sleepy?"

"It's cold and dry today."

Han Hyo-seok interrupted me. He usually doesn't interrupt his seniors, so he must be quite annoyed. Heehee.

"Saebi, play with us."

I zipped up my sleeping bag as much as possible and said. The members said they would play now, but I pretended to be asleep.

Lunch from the food truck was delicious, but dinner was a real feast.

The show, as expected, focused more on eating than working. Of course, we did more work, but it couldn't be shown extensively on the broadcast.

The members, who only knew about meat, wanted meat and noodles. After working hard, the members, who had taken a short break, came back to life and rushed to the meat.

Kim Su-kyung pointed at Hwang Saebi and said:

"I've never seen a guest who eats as much as I do since the show started."

"We eat a lot."

"Is this a lot?"

The meat, clams, and sausages were cooking on the charcoal grill. There was also plenty of salad and fruit at Han Hyo-seok's request.

I was exhausted and wanted to sleep more, but I woke up after eating Kim Su-kyung's pork belly with soybean paste.

"......Wow, this is insane."

Shin Ji-woon said to Kim Su-kyung:

"When this hyung says it's good, it really is."

At that, Hwang Saebi said:

"Jeong-hyeon sometimes says eating is a hassle."

Kim Su-kyung looked at me with a devastated expression. Then he called me over and said:

"I'll make you gain 3 kg today."

"Okay, that's fine."

Good. Heehee.

* * *

The members gobbled up everything they had prepared and finished all the ramen they had bought.

After eating their fill, Kim Su-kyung started making side dishes with a happy expression. Kang Dae-hyung said:

"Wow, they keep eating even after the filming is over."

At that, Shin Ji-woon, who had become a bit closer today while clearing weeds, said:

"Everything we do will be shown on the broadcast, so we'll look like weird kids."

"Your stomachs are weird. Didn't you know?"

Choi Jeong-min asked me:

"Perla... is the food budget okay?"

"Usually, I manage my diet, so I don't eat this much."

At that, Choi Jeong-min chuckled and looked at Manager Kang Young-ho:

"Manager, your expression says otherwise, doesn't it?"

Hehe, embarrassing, hehehehe...

Choi Jeong-min said to me, who was embarrassed:

"The atmosphere of today's filming is good. I've never seen a bad reaction when the members work as fiercely as you do."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Ah, and the effort you put in, everyone will know about it someday. The members and the viewers too."

Choi Jeong-min said something out of the blue, patted my back, and left.

* * *

Feeling tired from eating, I took my phone and acoustic guitar and headed to the back of the branch school.

I sat on a bench in the beautiful garden decorated by the two art majors and tried playing some chords on the acoustic guitar with a capo.

Most of the time, after learning composition, I've been working in front of a composition program indoors. This was the first time I tried composing with just an acoustic guitar outdoors.

Enjoying it, I tried to recall a melody when my phone flashed. The text message I received was strange.

[This is Kang Hyo-jun from VVV Entertainment's A&R team. Congratulations on the daily 1st place. I wish First Light a smooth journey.]

It was a genuine congratulatory message with no hidden agenda.

But the beginning was strange, and the end was even stranger. VMC was trying to use the boys and me separately, so why would VVV Entertainment, which is in the same league, wish First Light a smooth journey?

...With the opponent being who they are, everything seems disgustingly sinister.