Chapter 24

24

I'm not in a position to be picky about cold or hot water.

"We still have to listen and watch."

When he said it bluntly, everyone's shoulders slumped. It was good to keep up the momentum by appearing on the chart show.

"To get rid of the 'listen and watch' title, we need to firmly establish our image, even if it means some wear and tear."

"Um…"

"Let's appear on this program."

"……"

Everyone looked thoughtful. Meanwhile, Kang I-chae, munching on dried squid, replied casually.

"I-chae likes it."

'So easy.'

"I like it too. I want to do it, thinking of it as our last chance."

Sung Ji-won pushed the momentum, his eyes burning with determination.

Kim Sung-hyun and Jung Da-jun glanced at the other members and nodded.

"Let's do it."

"I'll follow the seniors."

"Okay."

The atmosphere was gradually settling. I waited for the situation to stabilize before speaking.

"Then listen to this. To become popular, including on competition programs, there are three important rules."

"What are they?"

They've been debut for a year, but they're still naive rookies who don't understand the broadcasting ecosystem.

I raised my finger.

"First."

"Yes."

"Don't trust anyone at the broadcasting station."

"…What?"

"They're all foxes. They raise a few snakes inside them."

"Seniors, this is an introduction, right?"

I ignored him.

"Don't give them any chance to find fault. No matter how friendly they seem, always be suspicious. Especially avoid any contact with idols, actors, staff, or anyone who could cause a scandal. Okay?"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Did you set the mood just to say that?"

"Our company doesn't prohibit dating, does it?"

"If you want to date, don't be an idol."

"…Wow, okay~."

They were slightly flustered, but I wasn't joking. For an idol, a dating scandal can be fatal.

Especially for a group just starting to gain popularity, extra caution is needed. I didn't threaten Joo Sung for nothing.

"Hand over any notes with phone numbers to the manager. Don't even open them."

"Hand over the notes?"

"You can only open fan letters."

"Can't even open them…?"

I sighed.

"Jung Da-jun, I quit smoking to be an idol."

"…"

"But can't you quit dating?"

I sucked on the ginseng juice I got from Sung Ji-won and grabbed Jung Da-jun by the arms.

"What does smoking and dating have to do with black lungs…?"

It's a bone-chilling question….

"Both quitting smoking and abstinence are about self-control."

Everyone had a 'what do you want' look, but I was serious. Maybe non-smokers don't understand this pain.

Then Kang I-chae spoke to me.

"Seniors… do you know?"

"Why?"

"I already came in with the mindset of a monk entering the temple."

"Excellent, everyone should follow Kang I-chae."

"Ha-ha, I dedicate this honor to my hamster at home."

"You don't have a hamster."

"It's my imaginary friend."

I clapped for Kang I-chae, who scratched his head with a shy smile. The other members' expressions soured.

"I understand the first one. There's no one dating in the group anyway…."

"Yep, it's fine."

Jung Da-jun nodded.

Good, everyone seems to understand.

"Since you understand, let's move on to the second one. Be careful with your words. Always keep your mouth zipped, both in and out of the broadcasting station, and even when the camera is not rolling."

"Um… isn't that a bit extreme?"

Sung Ji-won still doesn't understand the broadcasting station well.

"Besides the staff, there are many part-time workers. And among the staff, there's no one you can trust. So be careful with your words, especially gossip. If it gets recorded and leaked, it's really over. You know about the male idol who got into trouble for bad-mouthing a senior two years ago, right?"

Seeing their pale faces, they seem to know.

Good, this should be fine.

"Then, the last one."

This is the most important.

"No matter what happens, trust me."

Actually, the first two points are just to set the stage for this.

Everyone laughed, thinking it was a joke.

"We naturally trust Ho-yun."

"Of course, he's a complete genius idol, isn't he?"

But I didn't laugh. The other members patted me on the shoulder and moved on, thinking it was a joke.

This conversation is a bit premature. But it's fine.

Eventually, when things happen, everyone will understand.

***

"Hello! I'm Deden!"

"Hey, yeah. Hello."

The male idol, who had been in the industry for three years, glanced at his phone and gave a casual greeting. We stubbornly handed out our non-commercial albums and kept smiling.

'Ah, that guy…'

I remember him. He was famous for his foul mouth, and the guy next to him was the one who kept calling me 'PD, PD.'

"What's Deden?"

"It's our group name."

"Is it Dedeok?"

It felt humiliating to pretend to be a rookie and greet such guys. Especially when I had to lower my head for no reason and say something insignificant.

But everyone stubbornly greeted them. Especially Kang I-chae, who didn't seem to care.

"Ah, yeah. Ha-ha… Just do your best."

It sounded like encouragement, but the sneer was clear. Everyone seemed used to such treatment and responded calmly.

"Thank you."

As we went around greeting, as expected, a few notes were exchanged. Especially in the broadcasting station, some guys were openly flirting, which was not a wise move.

The highlight of the situation was when the members who had been in the industry for five years passed by.

"Hello!"

I noticed they were looking at Kim Sung-hyun a bit too much. They smiled and greeted him, slipping a note into his hand. The manager's eyes narrowed.

He tried not to show it, but a note also slipped into my pocket. I looked up, and he winked at me.

I bowed and smiled, but as they walked away, I turned to the manager and handed over the note.

"Manager, here."

"Me too."

To my surprise, Kim Sung-hyun handed over the note first. He seemed genuinely dedicated to being an idol. The manager, though flustered, firmly took the notes.

"Hey, why are you guys so popular?"

"Maybe it's because we had a brief moment of fame."

"I don't think so…."

We did make it to the chart show, but we weren't that popular yet. If we were truly popular, the broadcasting station staff would try their hardest to get us to talk, even for a second.

"Wow… that senior just now! He's someone I really admire!"

"Do you want to quit being an idol?"

"Uh?? That's not what I meant… Yes, sorry!"

The members were whispering, and I cut them off sharply. Honestly, I didn't care about their preferences. When young men and women, especially those known for their looks, gather, it's natural for feelings to develop, and dating isn't a sin.

But for an idol, it is.

'Sorry, but I want to be popular.'

For idols, especially rookies, dating is fatal, and if it's discovered, it becomes a poison. Established groups might have some protection, but rookies just sink to the bottom.

If it's discovered… it's really over.

Kim Sung-hyun didn't seem particularly disappointed, just shrugged.

But as we moved, the back of my neck felt unusually hot. The male idol who had ignored us earlier was glaring at Kim Sung-hyun.

'…Why is that guy doing that?'

I subtly turned my body to shield Kim Sung-hyun. I decided to check later and took a few photos in the waiting room where other groups were gathered.

"Hey, when are we going in?"

After that, as expected,

"Three hours left?"

"We've been waiting for two hours…."

Waiting,

"…Let's practice."

Waiting,

"…More practice?"

"More, of course."

Waiting.

"I'm hungry…."

I had heard that there's a lot of waiting when filming an idol music show, but I didn't fully realize it since I'm not an expert in this field. I didn't expect it to be this much.

But it was good to have time to practice. I glanced at the quest window.

[Complete one week of a music program!

Now, Deden is finally making a slight move away from being a 'listen and watch' group.

Appear on a music program to boost your popularity!

Success in appearing on 5 music programs: +30 Charm, +20 Dance, +10 Singing, 1,000 points]

Hmm, not bad.

The system is giving us a break this time. I put aside the thought that it's the calm before the storm and threw it far away.

As I practiced, listening to Kim Sung-hyun thoroughly explaining the dance steps, a staff member opened the door and shouted.

"Deden, get ready to perform."

"Yes, we understand!"

Everyone's faces were tired, but it was just a rehearsal, so they were just checking things out.

"Let's do our best today."

"Of course."

"Let's go."

"Ah, seniors! What is it?"

Jung Da-jun answered energetically, a far cry from his initial dejected and teary face. His determination was firmly set.

"Hello!"

"Please take care of us!"

We greeted everyone we met on stage and saw fans coming in for the pre-recording.

I counted about twenty-five people. Not bad, more than I expected.

I checked the name tags on our uniforms and organized the microphone cables. Jung Da-jun waved to the fans.

"Hello, we're Deden. Please take care of us."

Kim Sung-hyun greeted the staff and bowed to the fans. I hesitated and just waved, but I got a response.

"Ho-yun! You look good today!"

Actually, I felt a bit… guilty. We were waiting in a chicken coop-like waiting room, but they had been standing the whole time.

"…"

I was about to go down without saying anything to avoid giving them a chance to find fault, but somehow the words slipped out.

"…Um, have you eaten?"

What a first sentence. I could have said something better. I regretted it a bit, but the fans responded.

"Is food important now!! I got a ticket to the audience!!"

"Ha-ha."

A smile crept onto my lips.

"Still, take care of your meals. We're doing this to live, after all."

"Affectionate… unfamiliar… I can smell the scent of a stranger…."

"Is Ho-yun just wearing a different skin?"

Jung Da-jun and Kang I-chae were shocked, and the fans burst into laughter. Sung Ji-won agreed and laughed.

"Take care of your meals as Ho-yun said. We will too."

The staff signaled that the rehearsal was ready, and Kim Sung-hyun bowed to the fans again.

For the sake of the fans who had been waiting since early morning, we couldn't do the rehearsal half-heartedly.

[Be afraid of this strange déjà vu]

We formed a line and put all our effort into it, just like the real performance. I don't know if I looked at the camera properly or if I danced well. After the rehearsal, we were told to prepare for the pre-recording.

Despite the short rehearsal, seeing the faces of our fans made it strangely okay.

'Can I see them again later?'

As we bowed and came down, Kim Sung-hyun whispered.

"It's your calling."

"What do you mean?"

"Not that I was worried, but you didn't need to be."

What do you mean?

Kim Sung-hyun should add a subject and object when speaking. He smiled and left.

Just as we were about to go back to wait for the next pre-recording.

"Hey, Sung Ji-won."

A voice I hadn't heard before. The guy who had glared at Kim Sung-hyun earlier.

He approached with his dyed blond hair and smiled brightly at Sung Ji-won.

"Feeling good? Now that you're a bit popular, you don't even greet your seniors?"

"…"

Sung Ji-won's previously soft expression hardened.