Chapter 118
**Ha, today’s Top Idol episode aired.**
└It’s going to be a rough day for my heart.
└└I barely managed to get my kid out of one survival show… only to see them thrown into an even harsher one…
When will that detestable Ryeo finally disappear? Please just go away, plz..
I wish Kim Mokyung and Ryeo would just hold hands and walk away together, seriously.
Honestly, I can just change the channel whenever Ryeo appears, but our little ones can’t close their eyes every time they see her.. I just hope Colors fails.
When will those Mnet idiots ever come to their senses? They keep pushing a school bully…
The only consolation is that we get to see the Slope performance by the trainees… everything else is just… ugh.
Prism Homma watched Mnet with a troubled expression.
Today was the second episode of **<Top of Idol>**.
The first episode aired last week, and the internet went wild.
At this point, is Kim Ryeo-yu’s dad the CEO of Mnet?
It’s at the level where there should be a national investigation.
Hahaha, they might as well debut her at Mnet~^^ It’s truly impressive.
Prism Homma was also very angry.
I couldn’t believe they actually pushed her into the same program as our kids.
At this point, I started to question the sanity of both Kim Ryeo-yu and Colors.
I was already angry that they were doing another survival show, but adding Kim Ryeo-yu to the mix was infuriating.
However, amidst all this, Steel Blue was still beautiful.
They were so beautiful it hurt the hearts of their fans.
I knew Seo Baek-young was pretty, but today she was really stunning. She stood out in the group shot because of her height.
Juhongㅠㅠ Look at her profile… How can she be so delicate and pretty? She’s like a baby bird…
I never understood the phrase “celebrity among celebrities,” but after seeing today’s performance by Ryu Bo-ra, I get it. She literally shone; no joke, she was glowing.
Kim Geum was itching to make jokes in the middle, but she was holding back in front of leader Cheong.
Cheong Cheongㅠ She must have had a hard time; she’s so skinny… like a paper doll…
Cheong Cheong changes her style so drastically it drives people crazy. Today she looked so melancholic… like an Arctic fox.
Still.
I could endure everything today.
Because, if I just held on a little longer, there would be the <Slope> performance.
Cha Yul’s <Slope> was a song that all idol fans acknowledged as a certified masterpiece.
It was a vocally demanding song of the highest difficulty, but its unique atmosphere and stage presence made it a regularly covered song.
However, that meant it was a song solely for, by, and about Cha Yul.
Many idols had covered it at year-end stages, but none had received good reviews.
At best, they were deemed ‘cute.’
Is Steel Blue performing Slope today?
Another poor rookie is going to be crushed…
It must feel like putting on a talent show in front of the original artist.
Haven’t other idols tried covering it? It’s a guaranteed failure every time.
No expectations.. that song always fails when attempted.
Even <Hawaiian Pizza> would have been a better choice.
Ah.. Ryeo’s coming out.
At that, Prism Homma lifted her head to watch the TV.
Sure enough, Kim Ryeo-yu appeared.
Unlike her Menucal performances, her styling was much softer and her tone more cautious.
Even so, her true nature had already been revealed.
But Prism Homma had seen it all over the years.
There were celebrities who survived even worse scandals than Kim Ryeo-yu.
If given the right push, scandals would be forgotten, and everything would be dismissed as ‘the past.’
So, she couldn’t let her guard down.
Mnet could always frame Steel Blue as the villains.
If they edited it to favor Kim Ryeo-yu and only showed bad footage of Steel Blue…
Public opinion could turn at any moment.
That’s why now was crucial.
[**Ryeo:** I came to have a date with senior Lumi~!]
Even while playing happily with HiHiho Lumi.
[**Ryeo:** Senior Lumi gave me advice about <That Summer Day>.]
[**Ryeo:** She also gave me a lot of great tips about idol life… It was such a grateful time!]
[**Lumi:** Personally, I don’t think there’s any junior like her.]
[**Lumi:** She has such a high understanding of the song, I thought she was really talented and amazing. She’s such a kind and gentle junior.]
[**Lumi:** It must have been tough, but I hope <Top of Idol> becomes an opportunity for her to soar!]
Playing happily with HiHiho Lumi, what a ridiculous combo.
Prism Homma barely suppressed her bubbling anger.
In the first episode, Lumi had turned Everblue fans upside down with her interview.
**Production team:** There are rumors you’re close with Steel Blue’s Yoon Cheong?
[**Lumi:** Ah~ Cheong? Yes, I know her well! We were in the same agency. Originally, Cheong was supposed to debut with us, but she didn’t in the end. It was really unfortunate.]
**Production team:** Being the same age, you two must have been close.
[**Lumi:** We were at one time.]
[**Lumi:** I used to see her often before she joined the Menucal. After that, she became so busy I couldn’t see her anymore.]
It seemed innocent, but there were subtle barbs in her words.
She was essentially saying, ‘She changed after becoming famous.’
ㅇㅊ ㄹㅁ
Are they not getting along?
Lumi outright said she changedㅋㅋ
But from Cheong’s perspective, she has no reason to stay close to someone from the group that dumped her.
Of course, she changed after becoming famous, no surprise.
Fans who knew how much Yoon Cheong had struggled in her previous agency couldn’t help but be furious.
They were already angry when Jo Hee-on talked about their old agency during the Menucal.
Now, the people directly involved were subtly criticizing Yoon Cheong, making them even angrier.
If only I could
Give you everything
On that dazzling summer day
Shouting only about love, you and I.
And to my frustration, Kim Ryeo-yu performed well on stage.
Even at a glance, it was clear that Kim Ryeo-yu’s fans were creating a frenzy, calling her an ‘idol who’s great on stage,’ which only made me angrier.
★
“No way, idols just need to be good at their job, damn it;;”
“Seriously, I’m lying down, overwhelmed after watching Ryeo’s stage.”
“She has the talent of a devilㅠㅠ.”
“Isn’t she just a devil?”
Prism Homma stared at the TV with a mix of anger and worry.
Of all times, Steel Blue was next.
I was worried, really worried.
Not only was the <Slope> stage incredibly difficult, but there was also the Cha Yul factor.
Why?
“Cha Yul’s character is so clear.”
“She loves those she likes immensely and doesn’t give a damn about those she doesn’t care about.”
“Isn’t it fascinating that an idol has such a character?”
“Cha Yul’s fans don’t mind at all; they even praise her as a proud artist.”
“Cha Yul is unexpectedly okay with being selective; people who she doesn’t trust always end up causing scandals, so everyone pays attention to her.”
└“Really? So, we should see who Cha Yul doesn’t trust on this Top Idolㅋㅋ.”
This was why the opinions were like this.
Although it seemed unlikely, what if…
What if…
Cha Yul didn’t like Steel Blue?
The public opinion would once again flip and shatter.
However, Prism Homma’s worries soon dissipated.
[**Yul:** Cheong, try singing this part.]
[**Yul:** And this one. No, this one and this one too.]
[**Yul:** Why are you good at everything? You sing this so well, even though it’s a part I struggled with a lot to make it work.]
[**Yul:** Hmm. It feels refreshing. You’re good.]
Cha Yul practically adored Yoon Cheong.
It was almost as if Cha Yul’s feelings towards Yoon Cheong were similar to how Prism Homma felt about Yoon Cheong.
“Why does Cha Yul like Yoon Cheong so much??”
“Does Yoon Cheong wear catnip whenever she appears on the show?? I’ve never seen our kid like someone this much, it’s strange.”
“I’m also keeping my distance because it’s so strange;; Cha Yul, why do you like Yoon Cheong so much?”
“Is it true that Cha Yul has turned into Yuldengdeng?”
“Yoon Cheong, are you wearing catnip or treats or something? Share your secret, I want to try it at a fan sign;”
“She’s practically a hardcore Yoon Cheong fanㅋㅋㅋ.”
└“What are you talking about? Didn’t you see them sticking together in the practice room? Get out of my post.”
When Prism Homma was still flustered by this unexpected development.
The production team asked a question that represented the viewers’ curiosity.
**Production team:** Why do you like Steel Blue’s Yoon Cheong so much?
[**Yul:** Just… because she’s cute?]
‘?’
?
**Production team:** ?
While Prism Homma, the viewers, and the production team were all puzzled.
[**Yul:** Also, I don’t like people who are more interested in things other than their main job.]
[**Yul:** Cheong is serious about her main job, so I like her. If you’re an idol, you should be passionate about music.]
[**Yul:** I don’t like competing just because we’re on a survival show. I just want everyone to work together.]
Subtitle: ※These are entirely Cha Yul’s personal opinions※
Subtitle: ※They do not reflect the views of Mnet or the <Top of Idol> production team※
“Wow, Cha Yul doesn’t hold backㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.”
“It’s obvious she’s targeting GR and LM…ㅋㅋ.”
“Lumi must’ve hated how Yoon Cheong was subtly criticizedㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.”
[**Yul:** Isn’t it cute that she chose my song right away? And it’s cute that she said she’s been a fan of mine.]
[**Yul:** In that sense, Steel Blue’s juniors are all healing to watch.]
“Was Cha Yul always this straightforward?”
“I’m watching Top Idol right now, and wow, it’s making me anxious.”
“ㅇㅇ. If you watch her personal content, she’s even more straightforward.”
“She’s solo, so there’s no one to stop herㅋㅋ.”
★
“I love Cha Yul. I love straightforward characters..”
“I heard that LM is even worse in real life than on the show? It’s funny that the edited version is what we see.”
Thus.
While Prism Homma enjoyed a small moment of satisfaction.
**Production team:** There’s a rumor that you’re monopolizing Cha Yul’s love?
[**Cheong:** Haha.]
Yoon Cheong appeared.
**Production team:** Don’t just laugh, tell us the secret.
[**Cheong:** The secret.]
[**Cheong:** I’m not sure. I’m just grateful if my senior thinks fondly of me. Who wouldn’t want to be loved?]
[**Cheong:** I’m just humbly grateful to be loved by such a wonderful senior.]
**Production team:** …They say so?
[**Geum:** The secret? You’ll find out by watching our <Slope> stage!]
Subtitle: Oh!
Subtitle: Stay~ tuned!