Chapter 46

46

"Wow, there are so many people today."

"Right."

"Is there a variety show being filmed today?"

It was decided to film the reactions to the fourth episode, which had already been broadcast, at the tvK broadcasting station. As I peeked out from the van, there were more people in front of the broadcasting station today than usual.

Even when filming a variety show, there aren't usually this many people, right?

'I might as well wait in front of the agency, rather than in front of the broadcasting station, where I don't know when they'll arrive...'

If I camped out in front of the broadcasting station, I'd get to know the PDs and staff faster than the celebrities.

The manager glanced at me in the rearview mirror and asked,

"Want to get out first?"

"Ah, sure."

Since it didn't matter whether I entered through the underground parking lot or the main gate, I nodded and got out of the van.

But suddenly, a loud voice called out to us.

"Whoa! The Dun!"

"Da-jun!"

"Ho-yun! Seo Ho-yun!"

'...'

This was unexpected.

"Should we get back in?"

"Hey, are you kidding? We can't get back in."

In response to Jeong Da-jun's innocent question, Kang Eun-chae pushed him out of the van. I quickly grabbed the dazed Kim Sung-hyun and bowed repeatedly as we entered the broadcasting station.

After rushing into the broadcasting station in a daze, we looked at each other blankly.

"What?"

"Uh..."

"Isn't that... What just happened?"

"I don't really..."

We kept asking and repeating each other's confused questions. Honestly, we couldn't understand what was going on.

Even inside the broadcasting station, the gazes we felt were the same.

Before the manager arrived, the writer of Shining Star came out in a hurry.

"Oh, our little bundle of joy!"

"..."

It was a term I still couldn't get used to, even after hearing it again.

"Good to see you, good to see you. Was the trip here difficult?"

"It's fine."

"There are a lot of people outside today, right?"

"Ah, yes."

"All of them are here to see The Dun and the Shining Star cast, you know? Shining Star's ratings have been skyrocketing lately."

They have, I admit.

Thanks to this, even if we don't come in first place here, our popularity seems to be maintained to some extent.

The reason they haven't mentioned Kim Sung-hyun's school bullying controversy and talked about him leaving is because we are, after all, the ratings boosters.

Although they were always polite on the surface, there was always a strange line. Today, however, they seemed unusually friendly, which made me narrow my eyes. My mind was racing. Ah, now I get it.

'They must have received a reward for the good ratings.'

"Envious."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"No, nothing."

Envious. Jealous. I glared at the writer.

By sacrificing us, the ratings for the fourth episode reached nearly 6%. If I were in their shoes and received a reward for the ratings, I would also treat The Dun with extra care.

The tvK broadcasting station was now completely covered with Shining Star posters. The popularity that I hadn't felt just a few months ago hit me hard.

"Come, sit down. Sit down."

The writer led us to the prepared location to film our reactions to the fourth episode and invited us to take our seats. We sat at the large table in the conference room and turned on the wall-mounted TV, where the pre-set video started playing.

However, I couldn't focus on the reactions because I was worried about the unseen Kim Hee-young.

Where did he go?

"Oh, Hyun-woo looks so handsome!"

"Looks good, doesn't he?"

I couldn't react to the compliments and kept thinking about Kim Hee-young's absence. Before I knew it, the fourth episode had ended. At the same time, another staff member came in to start the third round of competition.

"Let's start the introduction for the third round of competition, shall we?"

"Yes!"

"For the third round, you can do anything you want, as long as it fits the concept you choose!"

"..."

I thought it would be intense, and I was right.

Jeong Da-jun, looking around, asked,

"Didn't we already do that?"

"This time, it's different! This time, you can produce everything from the concept to the song, all by yourselves. However, you can't use songs that were already released on the original album!"

'I see.'

The Today side must have already prepared thoroughly, as if for a comeback. So, they must have given us the freedom to choose our own concept, thinking it wouldn't matter what we did. I calculated in my head.

"The remaining time is..."

"One week to rehearse on stage, and ten days until the live broadcast!"

"Ten days to create a new song?"

"Yes!"

These guys...

The production team, unaware that I could still spit in their faces even with a smile, beamed brightly.

But with the camera rolling, I couldn't really spit, so I just clicked my tongue.

It's a bit of a predicament. Even if all the groundwork is laid, if we present a bland performance in the third round, the perfect narrative won't be complete.

After the production team finished their part, we were given time to discuss among ourselves.

"Ten days means we need to choose a song within the next two days, right?"

"Does that make sense?"

"Well, if we were given a demo, maybe..."

"Usually, other agencies would have songs they've been holding back, so we could pick from those..."

"Do we have any songs we've been holding back?"

"...Pineapple."

"Pass!"

We can't use such a great song as the final for Shining Star.

Should I pressure Im Hyun-soo a bit? But even if I pressure Im Hyun-soo, the time is too tight, and there's no guarantee it will turn out well. Besides, Im Hyun-soo is useful in many ways, so I'd rather keep him as a reserve card.

Ignoring Jeong Da-jun's hopeless muttering and spinning the pen, I met Kang Eun-chae's eyes.

He looks like he wants to say something.

"What?"

"..."

Kang Eun-chae, uncharacteristically, started to act coy. This is suspicious.

"What is it, you. Speak up."

"Hyun, it's the broadcasting station."

"Oh, right."

Since I'm a worn-out office worker, I tend to swear a lot.

Pretending to zip my lips, I got a light laugh from the other members.

"Hyun, Hyun, Da-jun. I'm Kang Eun-chae."

"I know, your name is Kang Eun-chae."

"I... I have five songs I've been working on."

What!

I clenched my fist but held back. No, if I get my hopes up and it doesn't work out, I'll be the one who's sad.

"Didn't you just arrange them?"

"Hyun, don't be so disappointed. Of course, I've learned a lot from composer Im Hyun-soo. Do you want to listen?"

Kang Eun-chae then held up his phone.

To play it right there, he must be pretty confident.

With a mix of anticipation and worry, we all stared at Kang Eun-chae's phone as the first song played. Before the first verse was even over, all the members' faces lit up.

"Eun-chae."

"Yes."

"You're quite interesting."

Kang Eun-chae lived up to his name.

'Really well done.'

"Kang Eun-chae, if you can do this, why did you say you wanted to do Pineapple?"

"I learned this recently. I just got interested in what the composer was doing and tried it out a bit."

'Im Hyun-soo would cry if he heard this.'

Can a song turn out this well just by trying it out a bit? Do you even know how to play an instrument? I looked at Kang Eun-chae with doubt, but he just fidgeted.

After listening to a few more songs, the music finally stopped.

"I'll ask the composer again, just in case."

"Hey, this is really, really good as it is."

Kang Eun-chae scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.

Anyway, it was good. I picked up a piece of paper and checked the songs.

"I like the second one the most. It's grand and has an orchestra, giving it a finale feel."

"Finale... sounds good."

Sung Ji-won nodded. Kim Sung-hyun, who had been noticeably deflated since the last time, was watching.

"Yes, Kim Sung-hyun."

"Uh..."

"If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Kim Sung-hyun hesitated a few more times before finally speaking.

"...What about a 'Birth of a Star' concept?