Chapter 65
Production Team: There has been recent controversy surrounding the “Let’s Leave” team.
[Ha-eun: Honestly, since I’m in a different team, I only found out about that stage recently.]
[Yu-hyun: From the perspective of someone who didn’t know anything… It was a bit surprising. It’s not like Ryeo-yu unnie is not capable of main vocal level, so why take away all her parts?]
[Suin: If she gave away the taken parts to Cheong unnie, it wouldn’t have been that surprising. Cheong unnie is the main vocal after all. But giving them to Juhong? That’s a bit…]
[Juseon: Personally, I didn’t find it strange at all.]
Production Team: Why didn’t you find it strange?
[Juseon: It’s not strange that Ryeo-yu unnie has been taking all the parts so far, but it’s strange that she received fewer parts this time. It doesn’t seem consistent.]
[Kyunga: Honestly, I never expected such controversy to arise. Because. I had a similar experience too. I also competed with Ryeo-yu for main vocal, and at that time, Ryeo-yu won, so I gave her a lot of parts.]
Production Team: That’s right.
[Bora: This is a competition. If someone takes more parts, isn’t that… not such a strange thing? I wondered why there was no controversy before and suddenly now.]
[Baek-young: No one did anything wrong. This time, Ryeo-yu got fewer parts, but next time, she might get more parts again. Isn’t that how groups and group activities work? That’s what I thought.]
[Kim: Maybe someone is maliciously… pushing Juhong and Cheong unnie out.]
Subtitle: Is there a conspiracy theory here?
[Kim: Otherwise, this wouldn’t have escalated like this.]
[Baek-young: Even if we give way a hundred times, it might be understandable that Juhong became controversial. Anyway, it’s a fact that Juhong took many parts. I thought Ryeo-yu’s fans might be upset about it. But the arrows were a bit…]
Production Team: Yoon Cheong trainee received the most criticism.
[Baek-young: That seems like a really strange point.]
[Bo-ra: More than anything, the opinions of the parties involved are important. If Ryeo-yu unnie and Juhong reached an agreement, then there shouldn’t be a reason for controversy, right?]
Subtitle: So we asked the parties involved.
[Ryeo-yu: ….]
Subtitle: Kim Ryeo-yu trainee who can’t hide her embarrassed feelings…
[Ryeo-yu: I feel really sorry to the Colorists. It’s all my fault.]
Production Team: What are you sorry for?
[Ryeo-yu: I just… when Juhong asked me that favor… I was a bit taken aback.]
Production Team: Favor?
[Ryeo-yu: Oh, Juhong asked me if she could have some parts. So I asked her which parts she wanted. She wanted the killing parts.]
Data screen:
[A few days ago…]
[Interview with Yeon Juhong trainee during part distribution]
Production Team: Why did the part distribution suddenly change?
[Juhong: I asked for it. From Ryeo-yu unnie. As the final stage approaches. Because my ranking is quite average. I wanted to show a bit more. Fortunately, Ryeo-yu unnie accepted it willingly.]
…
[Back to the present.]
Production Team: Then why did you agree to the request?
[Ryeo-yu: At first, I was a bit confused… but Juhong asked so earnestly. It was hard to refuse in that atmosphere. Also… the team atmosphere was a bit… you know.]
Production Team: Was there a problem with the team atmosphere?
[Ryeo-yu: It’s not like that. It’s just that everyone except me is quite close. But after Hee-on, whom I relied on a lot, left. I felt really lonely. In that situation, I didn’t want to darken the team atmosphere by refusing Juhong’s request.]
Production Team: Were there any pressures from other trainees to give parts to Yeon Juhong trainee?
[Ryeo-yu: Well, if I put it bluntly, it wasn’t like that. It’s just… I got scared and felt that way. Haha. So, I felt sorry to the Colorists. If I hadn’t been scared there. If I had refused, I wouldn’t have made the Colorists who support me upset… I felt like I was too weak and caused this.]
Production Team: What does Yeon Juhong trainee think?
[Juhong: I…]
***
“Juhong.”
Before Yeon Juhong’s interview turn came.
I called Yeon Juhong separately.
“Yes?”
“They will definitely ask you during the interview. What do you think about this controversy?”
“Then I’ll just say everything! Actually, Ryeo-yu unnie-”
“No.”
“Huh?”
I firmly held Yeon Juhong’s hand.
“That will only disadvantage you. You have to hold back for now. Because you did an interview before. You admitted that you asked Ryeo-yu. So why did you lie?”
“Wha-what should I say then…?”
Yeon Juhong’s face showed utter confusion.
Of course.
“There’s only one way.”
“…?”
“You have to make it look suspicious.”
***
[Juhong: I really… didn’t expect things to turn out like this.]
Production Team: What didn’t you expect?
[Juhong: I just did what I was told…]
Production Team: Who told you to do that?
[Juhong: ….]
[Juhong: PD-nim.]
“?!”
Interviewing, PD Oh was shocked.
“Stop. Stop. Stop. Hold on a second.”
PD Oh was genuinely perplexed.
“What? Is it my fault? My fault?”
“….”
“Why are you… Why are you clinging onto me like this? Are you crazy?”
Yeon Juhong remained silent.
Just as PD Oh, taken aback by the sudden ambush, was about to speak to Yeon Juhong,
Ring.
PD Oh’s phone rang.
***
“Trainee Yoon Cheong, can we talk for a moment?”
It was Writer Kang.
Anticipating what she might say, I followed her without hesitation.
Unexpectedly, there were other people in the meeting room we arrived at.
“Hello.”
“Yes, Trainee Yoon Cheong. Is today your first time meeting directly with us? Please have a seat.”
It was CEO Hong.
Next to her was Director Kim, who seemed a bit nervous.
…Probably because of CEO Hong.
Why would that heavy-set aristocrat come all the way here?
This situation seemed more serious than I initially thought.
Hong Yeonseo seldom got involved in minor scandals.
As a former top idol group member, she had groomed only a few of Korea’s top idol groups.
For her to personally get involved, it must mean she considers this issue important.
“For now, Trainee Yoon Cheong, you’re aware of the recent controversy, right?”
“Yes. I am aware.”
“I roughly heard about it from PD Oh and Writer Kang. Trainee Yoon Cheong is not at fault for this incident.”
…Did she just take my side?
I glanced again at Writer Kang and PD Oh.
I thought they were only interested in protecting themselves.
But apparently not?
“Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu’s lack of choice in the song selection… It’s partly because of me.”
Huh?
“I was having a private conversation with her at that time.”
Ah.
So that’s where she went. She was summoned by CEO Hong?
Now things were starting to make sense.
“So, I also feel a bit responsible for this incident. However…”
CEO Hong’s expression turned colder.
“I’m not sure if I’m responsible for the part distribution. Could you explain what happened?”
“…Initially, the part distribution was set to be fair, with almost equal amounts for everyone.”
“Then why did Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu get fewer parts and Trainee Yeon Juhong get more?”
“It was Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu’s request. She personally asked Trainee Yeon Juhong, and Trainee Yeon Juhong accepted.”
CEO Hong turned her gaze toward PD Oh as if to ask if that was true, but PD Oh shrugged.
PD Oh still seemed bewildered.
Did Yeon Juhong say what I told her to?
The so-called ghost plan.
Say that PD ordered it, and the interview will have to be stopped.
“Well, it doesn’t seem like she mentioned it when there were cameras. It wasn’t in the footage we shot. But there are other things.”
“Other things?”
CEO Hong stared at PD Oh, demanding an explanation.
“Yes. During a personal interview, Trainee Yeon Juhong said it herself. She said it was her request. That she desperately wanted to debut and expressed her ambition for parts.”
“Didn’t I mention it before? Trainee Yeon Juhong personally pleaded with Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu, and Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu had no choice but to yield!”
Director Kim raised his voice.
“When Trainee Yeon Juhong asked directly, she even said that the interview itself was requested by Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu.”
But even that didn’t sway CEO Hong.
CEO Hong remained very calm and composed.
“Of course, she would say that in her favor.”
CEO Hong then looked at me.
“Trainee Yoon Cheong. Did you bring what you mentioned earlier?”
“Yes.”
“!”
Director Kim’s eyes widened.
Do you still not understand why I’m here?
I took out my phone.
And turned on the recording I had prepared.
“I’m fine. I hope Juhong shines more this time. I’ve been selfish all this time. This time, I sincerely want to concede to others.”
“…Why…? Why should I ask for a change in parts?! Why?”
“I don’t want to give the impression that I’m favoring you over the other girls. I don’t want to fuel the discord between Cheong and me.”
Just hearing this much should be enough.
I stopped the recording.
And looked up at Director Kim.
“This is what I prepared.”
To send your niece to the gallows.