Chapter 128
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[Seonjin: It was such a joyful and valuable experience! It’s a bit disappointing that we couldn’t show more performances to our fans, but… we’ll come back with another opportunity~]
[Tishi: We’re all okay, but we’re worried Sae-ah unnie might feel sorry for us. That’s our only concern.]
[Sae-ah: I feel like it’s all my fault… I’m just so sorry.]
[Sae-ah: I’m sorry to the members and to the fans….]
It was only natural that the reaction on the internet turned completely upside down.
It wasn’t just the fans of Sugar Dream who were the problem.
All viewers of <Top of Idol> were furious.
The public opinion was beginning to change, saying, ‘Kim Ryeo-yu shouldn’t have appeared on <Top of Idol>.’
Although there had already been a lot of resentment towards Kim Ryeo-yu,
this time, it felt different.
As Kim Ryeo-yu’s true colors gradually began to show, doubts started to form in the hearts of her ‘core fans’.
★
Everything was fine, but honestly, isn’t it too much not to do a live performance?
She messed up during the ㅁㄴㅋ era, but we covered for her because we thought she tried hard during the live performance. But not doing a live at all is a bit much.
Don’t make fangirls ashamed… I might have hoped her personality was misunderstood, but what can I hope for about her skills? LOL
I didn’t become a fan because of your personality but solely because of your skills, so I ignored everything else. But if you can’t even manage yourself, then what’s the point?
‘An idol with a somewhat sharp personality but definite talent.’
The core fans who were crazy about such a description of Kim Ryeo-yu started to back off little by little.
The remaining core fans of Kim Ryeo-yu actually stayed because they liked her lack of personality, calling her a ‘little devil’.
They liked Kim Ryeo-yu as one would like a charming villain in a movie.
Moreover, most of the core fans simply regarded Kim Ryeo-yu’s misdeeds as ‘ambition’ and protected her.
They even gave her nicknames like ‘ambitious idol’ and ‘vicious idol’.
Their logic was that she was still young and made mistakes because she desperately wanted to succeed, so why nitpick about that?
However, all this was only possible because Kim Ryeo-yu had charm as an ‘idol’.
Without the charm of an ‘idol’ – what difference was there between her and an ordinary person lacking in personality?
Director Kim, realizing this, hastily tried to turn public opinion around through viral marketing for Kim Ryeo-yu.
But by then, the public opinion had already ended.
‘Maybe she’s giving up.’
As if this was the end.
I monitored the public reaction to Kim Ryeo-yu carefully.
‘But I don’t intend to end it here.’
There’s still one last thing left.
This time, I really need to put an end to it completely.
***
“It’s a relief that there’s some time before the third mission!”
“Everyone else has a packed year-end schedule. That’s why we’ve been cramming the filming, so it’s okay to take a break.”
“…You call coming here taking a break?”
Early in the morning.
We all gathered at the gym.
It was entirely my will.
These girls’ bodies were too frail.
Kim Geum and Seo Baek-young had naturally healthy constitutions, so I was relieved.
Especially Seo Baek-young, perhaps because of her long years as a dancer, had well-defined muscles.
But Yeon Juhong and Ryu Bo-ra?
I wondered how they managed to live with those thin, muscle-less legs and waists.
Let’s help them build some stamina and muscle during the break.
“But the mission seems too difficult.”
Kim Geum sighed.
“We’re already so busy, when are we supposed to make a new song and prepare the stage?”
That was true.
The third mission, the final mission’s theme was.
<A new song stage with a concept never tried before>
A concept never tried before.
It wouldn’t be easy, considering we’ve tried almost everything during Menucal.
“This time, let’s not compose it ourselves, but get a song from outside.”
“!”
Kim Geum’s face showed a mix of relief and disappointment.
“But….”
“I understand you’re disappointed. But you also need to rest. Your schedule is too tight right now. Composing is important, but let’s focus on the stage first.”
At my words, Kim Geum finally agreed.
I thought it was because she loved the stage more than anyone else.
Everyone liked and loved the stage, but Kim Geum was on a different level.
She seemed like someone born solely to stand on stage.
I wondered why Kim Geum was particularly like that.
It seemed to be because she was the only member who wasn’t afraid of people.
Her steel mental strength that wasn’t afraid of the public in front of the stage, only drawing in positive reactions.
She was so blunt that she was rather mentally strong.
While other members worried about the public’s reaction and were affected by it….
I had never seen Kim Geum suffer from such concerns.
Even more so than me.
I wondered how that was possible, and her answer was impressive.
‘I know because I’ve been an idol fan.’
‘Huh?’
‘Fans want me to not care about others’ reactions and just go my own way.’
‘…!’
‘Accepting fair criticism with an open mind, but not listening to malicious slander. Isn’t that what fans feel?’
Kim Geum said that and gave her characteristic refreshing smile.
Her eyes curved attractively every time she did that.
‘That was the feeling I had when I liked idols. So I believe fans feel the same way towards me.’
It was truly a privilege that only someone who had genuinely liked someone else could enjoy.
I envied that trust and those feelings.
—
I still wasn’t getting it.
Looking at it, I was the coldest among us, but inside, I was extremely warm-hearted.
“So, who are we going to ask?”
Kim Geum asked sulkily.
“Who would be good? You suggest someone. You have the best ear for music.”
“Well, I do have an excellent ear.”
Kim Geum smiled brightly and began scrolling through her playlist.
“I actually want to get a song from Sol sunbae or Hee-young sunbae, but they’re too busy these days, so that might be difficult.”
“It’d be best if we could get someone from within Colors.”
“Should we ask White Noise sunbaes?! Seol-hee sunbae is really good at composing.”
“They’re probably busier.”
“That’s true.”
We shouldn’t ask idols who are on an overseas tour….
They can’t help anyway….
“Then should we ask the composers from our company?!”
“Among our company’s composers, the only one who can avoid Director Kim’s influence is Director Sung.”
Right.
At first, I thought about finding someone through CEO Hong.
But I soon changed my mind.
Why would CEO Hong go to the trouble of gathering information through first-year and second-year idols?
It must be because her position in the company wasn’t entirely absolute.
The manager being Director Kim’s lackey also showed that in Colors, Director Kim and Director Sung had strong influence due to their practical handling of affairs.
But that didn’t mean we could just ask Director Sung.
We had almost no information about them.
From what I heard from Burn Ash, they didn’t seem like a particularly good person.
“Idol seniors wouldn’t give us a bad song because their reputation is on the line.”
“That’s right. Their honor is at stake.”
“Then… if Grayish sunbaes and White Noise sunbaes are out, that leaves All Colors and Burn Ash.”
“….”
Why does it have to be boy groups….
“Let’s exclude Burn Ash. We’ve collaborated with them too much.”
“That’s true. Then how about Day sunbae from All Colors?!”
I really don’t like Kim Day.
“Let’s… do that….”
Everyone seemed hesitant.
Probably because they had heard about Day’s personality.
“I heard that sunbae is quite a handful.”
“Yeah. They say he’s full of nonsense and a bit crazy.”
“He doesn’t get along well with Lee Sol sunbae, I heard.”
“Why?!”
“Lee Sol sunbae doesn’t like that kind of playful character.”
“!!!! Then what should I do?!”
Yeon Juhong, do you know you have a bit of a playful streak?
“No, Juhong, you’re a different kind of playful.”
At my words, Yeon Juhong tilted her head.
“How is it different?!”
“That person is just annoying.”
“Oh my gosh. Cheong, you’re so blunt.”
“Are you close with Day sunbae?”
Ryu Bo-ra suddenly leaned in.
Oh, you scared me.
“No, I’m not. I just heard from Lee Sol sunbae.”
That’s somewhat true.
Though I heard it from Day when I was Baek Nokha.
“I see.”
“Anyway, he’s not a bad person, so let’s ask through the manager unnie.”
He wasn’t someone I wanted to contact directly.
So, I left it to the manager.
“Tomorrow is finally the year-end stage!”
“Yeah. Let’s hope it goes smoothly without any mistakes.”
Already, there was worry and concern. Worry and concern.
The only comforting thing was—
Yoon Cheong (Baek Nokha)
Singing: 99/100
※ Yoon Cheong’s vocal cords are now completely healed!
There would be no more suffering because of vocal cords.
Last night, when the points were all settled, my throat was also healed.
I didn’t even buy the <Vocal Cord Shield> item.
It must be the reward promised by the fluffy bundle from last time.
Considering that it hadn’t even been two weeks since the fluffy bundle said so, it seemed they had some leeway.
I’m glad they healed me early.
“But it’s strange.”
Seo Baek-young said while drinking water.
“Shin Yuhwa sunbae suddenly stopped contacting me.”
“What’s up with him?”
“Exactly. It makes me anxious.”
“No need to worry.”
I reassured Seo Baek-young.
“Why?”
“Just a hunch that there’s no need to worry.”
Why indeed.
Because I’m dealing with him.
By now… he should be busy cleaning up the mess.
“Rather than that, let’s talk about tomorrow’s year-end stage.”
***
“…They took a photo?”
Meanwhile, at Colors’ headquarters, in the director’s office.
In the spacious private office, there were two people: Director Kim and another individual. It was Shin Yuhwa’s manager.
“Wasn’t that already agreed upon? Are you thinking of backing out now?” Director Kim frowned at Shin Yuhwa’s manager.
Everything had already been agreed upon. In exchange for investing generously in Shin Yuhwa’s agency, which was on the brink of collapse, Kim Mokyung’s family had made a deal.
Shin Yuhwa would take ‘certain’ photos. Specifically, paparazzi photos of a scandal with Yoon Cheong.
Since Yoon Cheong and Shin Yuhwa had no relationship, a bit of fabrication was necessary. Fabrication was easy. They just needed to capture a moment of the two in a private space, write a few lines of a fictional article, and the public would interpret it on their own.
Not only would they interpret it, but they would also spread it around, creating more fictional stories. At the right moment, Shin Yuhwa could then announce that Yoon Cheong had been stalking her, following her around unilaterally.
CEO Hong’s backlash and suspicions would be strong, but they were prepared for that.
But now, coming here saying the photo was taken?
It was laughable.
In fact, they hadn’t planned to release it this quickly. They had intended to release it after splitting the label next year.
Until then, they had been slowly gathering fake evidence, planning to release it all at once to bring Yoon Cheong down.
But ambition had been overcome by something else: motherhood.
Kim Mokyung had recently been thinking of his daughter, who spent her days in tears. Everyone pointed fingers at her, and everyone misunderstood her. She was being chipped away by the wounds the world inflicted.
He couldn’t just stand by.
If he could change the target of the fingers pointing at her, if he could redirect the incoming waves, then maybe Ryeo-yu could find peace.
“That’s not it. The photo was taken, but… the target was wrong.”
“The target was wrong?”
“As per your instructions, I sent Yuhwa to the underground parking lot of the dorm apartment. But the person who came wasn’t Yoon Cheong.”
Yesterday.
Director Kim had given a secret instruction to Steel Blue’s manager.
Kim Min-ah, Manager (Steel Blue)
Send Yoon Cheong to this address
To the underground parking lot
Make sure she encounters Shin Yuhwa
But
The person who showed up in that parking lot wasn’t Yoon Cheong.
Then who was it?
Wondering if the manager had mistaken Seo Baek-young for Yoon Cheong, Director Kim furrowed his brow.
“Then who showed up?”
“Well….”
Shin Yuhwa’s manager hesitated, then spoke.
“It was Kim Ryeo-yu….”