Chapter 29
“What kind of training are you going to give to the trainees specifically?”
“Ah, yes. I told Kim Ryeo-yu not to be too considerate and to take the competition more seriously…”
“They’re kids. Why would they care about Kim Ryeo-yu? It must be because of the adults.”
CEO Hong spoke coldly.
“You brought training for the trainees as a proposal… Isn’t it you who should be educated now?”
“I’m sorry….”
“I’m a bit disappointed today. I wanted something constructive, but everyone is just looking around and can’t say what’s really needed.”
As CEO Hong spoke in a soft voice,
“CEO.”
Director Kim came in.
“I heard you visited after a long time. You’ve been enjoying your vacation, haven’t you?”
The sound of swallowing was heard.
That’s because Director Kim’s words were subtly dissing.
Why are you butting in now after you’ve been neglecting the company so far?
Of course, CEO Hong wouldn’t be unaware of that.
“Yeah. I’ve been enjoying it very much. But I guess I need to finish it now.”
“You can take more time off. The employees here are all passionate.”
“Passion is good. So I want to respond to that passion.”
Fizz.
A staring contest ensued between Director Kim and CEO Hong.
There was a reason why Director Kim could be so strong against his boss.
The shareholders liked Director Kim.
Because, Director Kim was a boss who was affectionate to the shareholders and inhuman to the employees.
Freezing salaries is basic, if you can’t show a little performance, you’ll find an excuse to kick you out of the company.
And also trying to run the company with the minimum manpower.
CEO Hong was furious at the sight of Director Kim and the shareholders, so she decided to take a break for a while.
Because she’s been running non-stop.
But now it seemed like she couldn’t do that.
“I think I’ll enjoy my vacation a bit more and return to the company. I don’t plan to return completely from the beginning….”
CEO Hong smiled.
And she pointed to the presentation monitor screen with her finger.
“I have to solve that much before I can face the shareholders, right?”
Of course, Director Kim’s expression crumpled.
***
After the second mission ended, the on-site voting announcement ceremony was held first.
But in fact, it was less tense than the first on-site voting announcement ceremony.
Even though I’ve experienced it once-
“Why do you announce the rankings twice a day?”
It was because ‘ranking announcement ceremony’ was right next.
The ranking announcement ceremony and the on-site voting announcement ceremony were different.
The on-site voting announcement ceremony allows only fans who came to the competition to vote.
This time, a total of 360 fans came.
It increased by 60 from last time.
Perhaps it felt like about 30 fans were selected per trainee.
However, this time, only two people could be selected.
Last time, the entire trainee’s rank had to be ranked.
But this time, it was a method of choosing the two members who liked the most.
Therefore, the total number of votes is 720.
After the twelve trainees shared 720 votes, the ranks are determined by the final number of votes.
Of course, it’s an indicator that you can feel the on-site reaction, and the first place team is given a benefit for the next mission.
But what the trainees are trembling about is the ‘ranking announcement ceremony’.
This was literally a popularity ranking itself.
If various fortunes work in on-site voting….
The ranking of the ranking announcement ceremony, which only reflects internet voting, is to find out how many fans really support me.
Moreover, the ranking of the ranking announcement ceremony can select all twelve people in a day, but it can also select only one person.
On-site voting includes people who are ‘second love’ for me.
But the ranking of the ranking announcement ceremony is just like the number of ‘people who want to make me a girl group’.
So it’s bound to be more tense.
“It feels like taking a mock test and a college entrance exam in a day….”
Yeon Juhong spoke while lying on the sofa in the waiting room.
You make a metaphor like a high school student, you….
At times like this, I felt their age.
“No matter how unrelated the voting rank is to debut…. People’s hearts aren’t like that.”
“That’s right.”
Even if you don’t do well on the mock test, you feel bad.
I quietly agreed.
“Even if you get a low rank, you can go up next time.”
Then, Kim Geum, who brought four ion drinks, spoke.
“Take one each.”
Kim Geum handed one drink each to me and Yeon Juhong.
“Hey!”
And finally, she threw a drink at Juseon.
“Me, me too?”
“Aren’t you our team?”
“….”
“I bought it because I thought you might say you were marginalized again.”
“Why is your grudge so long, you?!”
Kim Geum clicked her tongue.
“Oh, look at the enemy’s revenge.”
The two quarreled for a while.
But somehow, their relationship didn’t seem so bad.
Both of them were eating ion drinks diligently while laughing.
“Hey, Ryu Bo-ra!”
“Why.”
Kim Geum didn’t end there and even talked to Ryu Bo-ra, who was looking at her phone alone in the corner.
“Where do you keep getting that phone from?”
When the musical shooting started in earnest, all the phones were confiscated.
And it was returned when the shooting was over.
It was an exception during the team mission because they had to contact each other.
“Use your brain, Geum.”
“? Is this a brain attack…?”
Kim Geum approached Ryu Bo-ra and sneakily peeked at her phone screen.
But Ryu Bo-ra fiercely hid her phone.
“What’s up, why are you hiding it?”
“Privacy.”
“What is it?”
“Personal life.”
After turning off her phone altogether, Ryu Bo-ra glanced at me.
And she pointed at Kim Geum.
…Is she asking me to… take her?
“She’s your kid, sis. Please take her.”
Since when was she my kid?
But I dragged the struggling Kim Geum without a word.
“But you too.”
“Me?”
“You too, be careful. Phone.”
If you get caught, it’ll be really annoying.
Considering the controlling personality of PD Oh, there’s no way he would have reacted well if Ryu Bo-ra didn’t listen to him.
“…I’ll take care of it.”
Is puberty here?
***
The break time ended in an instant.
The on-site voting announcement ceremony shooting started right away.
“Everyone worked hard. The second mission is already over. All three teams showed excellent performances. As a mentor, and as a senior, I am proud.”
Do Hee-young always had a mature feeling, as always.
I never thought she was mature in normal times, but why does she look so mature here.
“Today, the colorists who will color you all voted for the two trainees who caught their eyes the most. Today, a total of 360 colorists participated. Then, I will announce the total vote ranking of each team first.”
After a bit of explanation, Do Hee-young immediately pointed to the screen.
All the trainees were staring at the screen with tense eyes.
3rd team, 140 votes
2nd team, 233 votes
1st team, 347 votes
“!”
A not-so-calm wave occurred among the trainees.
The difference between the 1st and 3rd places was significant.
The on-site voting was conducted without any behind-the-scenes being revealed.
It was a result that came out just by looking at the stage.
But such a big difference.
Everyone’s expression was not good.
It meant that the difference in ability on the stage was that great.
Especially since it was a stage that was made from start to finish by themselves, it was even more so.
“First, I will reveal the 2nd place team.”
Following Do Hee-young’s words, the screen changed.
2nd place.
Team Bubblegum
233 votes
-9th place, Bang Su-in (▲1) 31 votes
-8th place, Shin Yu-hyun (-) 34 votes
-4th place, Ryu Bo-ra (▲1) 80 votes
-3rd place, Seo Baek-young (-) 88 votes
“Two debut rankers have come out. Team Bubblegum. There is no one whose rank has dropped. Congratulations.”
The fact that no one’s rank has dropped in Team Bubblegum means….
On the contrary, someone’s rank has dropped in another team.
The atmosphere of Team Bubblegum was pretty good.
It wasn’t a feast atmosphere, but everyone generally felt relieved.
The four people were holding each other’s hands tightly.
Ryu Bo-ra has made the debut.
Considering that my original rank was 4th and Ryu Bo-ra was 5th….
It meant that my rank also changed.
Is it a good meaning, or a bad meaning?
“Then I will announce the 3rd place right away.”
3rd place.
Team Love You
140 votes
-12th place, Park Ha-eun (▼3) 20 votes
-11th place, Lee Kyung-ah (-) 23 votes
-10th place, Jo Hee-on (▼3) 27 votes
-6th place, Kim Ryeo-yu (▼4) 70 votes
“!”
All four people in Team Love You didn’t make any sound.
It wasn’t just them.
Everyone didn’t make a single peep.
Then the screen changed right away.
Next to the 3rd place team, the number of votes for the 1st place team also appeared.
1st place.
Team Four Seasons
347 votes
-7th place, Lee Juseon (▲5) 59 votes
-5th place, Yeon Juhong (▲1) 74 votes
-2nd place, Yoon Cheong (▲3) 105 votes
-1st place, Kim Geum (-) 109 votes