Chapter 29

29

I said to my cousin.

The first of the three rules I mentioned!

Don't trust any of the bastards at the broadcasting station.

"Bro, the vocalist of Nightmare seems really nice."

"Why?"

"He said I was the best-looking here the moment he saw me. Wow, and he even gave me a sandwich. Do you want to eat it?"

"Hey, did you eat something from a stranger you just met? I told you not to."

"It's delicious!"

As soon as we arrived at the recording site, Jeong Daejun, who was obsessed with food, was eliminated.

Second!

Be careful with your words.

"Ah, Refine, bro."

"What is it?"

"I met him in the waiting room at the end of the year, and his specialty was talking about grades without using his brain… Hyun, bro, was really pissed off."

"…I told you to be careful with your words, didn't I?"

"Oops~."

The fearless mouth of Kang Jichae, who doesn't care about the situation, was eliminated.

Third!

Trust Seo Hoyun unconditionally!

"Seo Hoyun."

"What?"

"…Do you really think it's okay to react like that? The reaction might be really bad, right? Should we reconsider…?"

"Can't you trust me?"

"If you ask like that, I have nothing to say…."

The overly anxious Kim Seunghyun, who was as stiff as a rock, was eliminated.

…When I see such scenes, I worry even though I think they'll do well.

Knock knock.

At that moment, a staff member entered the waiting room.

"It's almost time to enter. The camera will follow you."

I nodded and looked around.

There was still some time before the stage. We were going in to shoot the entrance cut.

When we entered the studio, the rookie idol group Nightmare, who had debuted a year ago, was already sitting there.

"Hello, we're The Dunn."

Nightmare's enthusiastic response was amazing, as if they were trying to get caught by the camera as much as possible.

The Dunn members bowed and sat down, and the idols entered one by one.

Refine, Mars, and finally… Today.

I smiled slightly and turned to look at Today, who was greeting everyone very smoothly.

"Hello, we're Today!"

"Nice to meet you!"

"Oh!"

"They're the seniors from Today."

"They won first place last time… the quadruple crown."

The surrounding idols started to murmur.

I glanced at the members.

No expression.

No comment.

Ignoring.

'Good.'

This is how Today should act. Even Kim Seunghyun, who was anxious earlier, was looking at Today with a stony face.

Yeah, trust me, kid.

I smiled contentedly, and my eyes met with Yoo Hyuk's. A faint sneer appeared on his lips and then disappeared.

As Today approached the seats where The Dunn was sitting, the rookies and newcomers around them started to buzz.

And he lowered his voice and greeted them subtly.

"Hi."

This kid seems to be trying to imitate Joo Sung.

"Guys, that… is Hoyun, right? How are you? We couldn't sleep at all~. We were too busy."

"Uh-huh."

I answered with a single word, resting my chin on my hand. The Dunn members, who already knew my personality, didn't pay much attention, but the eyes of the junior Nightmare members were wide with shock.

'Can you really talk to a senior like that…?'

No, you can't.

But if you know where to lie down, you can stretch out.

"…?"

Yoo Hyuk was greatly flustered.

"Seo, Seo Hoyun, are you nervous?"

"No."

A crack appeared on Yoo Hyuk's smiling face.

"…Oh ho."

Kim Hee-young PD, standing far away, seemed interested and signaled to the VJ. The camera followed closely. It was probably going to be a close-up.

How will it come out on the broadcast? It will probably come out as rude. It's impossible to package someone who is genuinely nervous as a polite person.

Then, how will the public react?

-Seo Hoyun's character, what is it?

-The way he treats seniors, , really, , it's disgusting. Young people these days have no manners, , ~!

-LOL LOL LOL idol rivalry is so funny LOL

Yoo Hyuk and Today's members' eyebrows shot up.

I turned my head, meeting each of their eyes, and then my eyes met with Kim Hee-young PD, and I smiled.

"Senior."

"What?"

"Do you need a receipt? Why are you talking to me?"

Yoo Hyuk's face was worth seeing. His blonde hair contrasted with his red face, making him look like a fresh vegetable.

His trembling hands seemed ready to grab my collar, but he couldn't do it in front of the camera.

'You should have just left me alone…'

Ding!

[His character is really…]

The world made me this way.

"…Seo Hoyun."

"Why?"

Finally, after watching Yoo Hyuk grumble and move away, Kim Seunghyun poked me. He sighed softly at my indifferent response and turned his gaze forward.

He's following my instructions, but he's sweating from anxiety.

[Ignoring senior idols in the entertainment industry], how good of a topic for a popular YouTube video.

'Wait, maybe it's really okay?'

While seriously considering this, the MC entered, and the audience burst into applause.

Long, flowing hair that swayed with every step, and a face that looked like a celebrity.

"Hello, everyone."

National Little Sister, Yoo Ji-a.

"I am actor Yoo Ji-a, the MC of Shining Star."

"Wow!"

"Wow, it's really Yoo Ji-a Senior!"

She rose to the status of National Little Sister with her cute and friendly image, and later transitioned to acting, steadily building her career as the next generation's romantic comedy queen.

Since I rarely see her, this was my first time seeing Yoo Ji-a.

Rifine, sitting next to me, muttered.

"Wow, she's really beautiful…."

"But she looks a bit cold."

'At least there's no one in The Dunn who talks like that, which is a relief.'

Such comments would be perfect for getting hate if they were broadcast. Just the right kind of controversy.

The Dunn members clapped with calm smiles, without saying a word. It was a good attitude.

Yoo Ji-a looked around and smiled slightly.

"Welcome to Shining Star. Among the many idol groups that debut every year, which group will survive? To determine the best, we have planned this program."

The effect of using only stimulating words was evident, as some idols swallowed nervously.

"Let me explain the format of Shining Star. The program consists of six episodes, and apart from the first appearance performance, there will be three competitions."

Meanwhile, Today, who already knew the content, couldn't hide their bored expression.

I clicked my tongue and turned my gaze.

"The first and second competitions will be decided by on-site voting with a small audience, but the final competition will be decided by a live broadcast and the votes of the public."

After giving a brief explanation, Yoo Ji-a paused deliberately and smiled.

"But it wouldn't be nice to start talking about competition right away, would it?"

"…"

"Some of you are meeting for the first time, and some are not. Are you nervous?"

"Yes~!"

"Knowing that you would be, I prepared a simple icebreaker to help you relax."

"An icebreaker…?"

By the way, when the broadcasting station people say they'll do something as a favor, it's best to be suspicious.

Sure enough, Yoo Ji-a read the script carefully.

"Beforehand, we asked each group to write down their group's ranking and the reason for it… Han Sung of Nightmare, do you remember?"

"…Uh, yes, yes!"

"Can you tell us?"

"…"

Han Sung, the youngest member of Nightmare, hesitated. He had written it down as requested, but he seemed worried about the consequences if it was broadcast.

Silence was actually a good response.

"It's difficult, isn't it? I would find it hard to say too."

If the other party wasn't the production team of an idol competition show.

"So, I'll announce it for you! Each group will reveal the ranking they wrote for their own group right now!"

A large text appeared on the monitor Yoo Ji-a pointed to.

[Each group's final ranking prediction]

"…Wow."

Is this really how it's going to be revealed?

A hollow laugh escaped me. It was clear that everyone had written it down without much thought, and the room was buzzing.

It was clearly intended to heighten the tension rather than reduce it.

Mr. Kim Hee-young, you really made the program spicy.

[LOL LOL final ranking prediction LOL no conscience]

>[Is there anyone who wrote 1st place?? Here?? What is the production team thinking?]

I could already see the internet being set on fire with such headlines.

Especially, doing this among idols who aren't even trainees is just a direct challenge to start a fight.

"Hoyun."

Seungwon's face turned pale. I glanced at him and then turned my gaze away.

There are a total of five groups gathered here.

"Then, let's start. First, the final ranking prediction of Nightmare."

[Nightmare ? 3rd place]

"Wow, no, no way!"

"Think before you write!"

The Nightmare members were buzzing. They seemed a bit embarrassed. Hmm, Nightmare in 3rd place….

I was lost in thought for a moment, and then the rankings of the other groups followed.

"Next is Refine."

[Refine ? 2nd place]

[Mars ? 2nd place]

It was a tie.

"Did you write too low?"

Among the buzzing members, only The Dunn remained calm.

I stared silently ahead. I could guess what the production team was trying to do. I saw Yoo Ji-a glance at Today.

Yoo Ji-a must know that this program is rigged.

Among the buzzing members, only The Dunn remained calm.

I stared silently ahead. I could guess what the production team was trying to do. I saw Yoo Ji-a glance at Today.

Yoo Ji-a must know that this program is rigged.

"Next, Today. This is quite an unexpected result considering their popularity, isn't it?"

[Today ? 5th place]

"Aah! That's too much."

"What are you going to do, revealing it like this~!"

The whining of Today's members made Kim Seunghyun's expression stiffen. Today's members already knew they were 1st place.

But they were whining just to appear humble on camera.

Today's fans, who are mostly trashy adults, would praise them like they were babies, saying things like 'T_T Write a higher rank, they're so kind and humble,' 'As expected, they're humble.'

Yoo Ji-a, being a pro, didn't show any expression and followed the script.

"I'm very disappointed. I had high hopes for Today. I hope you can achieve a higher ranking than 5th place."

Yoo Ji-a smiled at Today, a performance that could fool even Today, who must have known the flow of the program.

'That's what a pro is…'

I marveled slightly as the next group's ranking appeared.

[The Dunn]

So, um.

[1st place]

A meaningful score. I stared at the monitor, which read "1st place" with a crown, while the person next to me gulped.

"Wow."

"What a bold move…?"

I could understand their reactions. While The Dunn has gained some popularity recently, they weren't at the level to be 1st place compared to other idol groups.

The ridicule and silence in the studio hit me like a physical blow.

What.

What are you going to do about it.

"Wow, you have a lot of spirit. The Dunn is the only group that wrote 1st place. Could I ask for a comment?"

Yoo Ji-a's bright smile made Seungwon nod frantically. But the staff member handed the microphone to me.

I slowly looked around the room.

The Dunn members, who were noticeably nervous, and Today, who was smirking.

I met the gaze of Kim Hee-young, who seemed to be thinking something.

"I wrote 1st place because I want to be 1st."

"You're very confident? Do you have a hidden strategy?"

"That's…."

I looked away from Kim Hee-young and smiled at the camera.

"I'll show it on stage."

"Wow!"

Cheers came from the other groups except Today. I heard someone imitating