Chapter 4 - Please Leave It to Me
In the end, Yuri was carried off to the hospital.
This was because her condition was so serious that she couldn't stand up on her own.
Being unable to support her own weight means a Grade 3 ankle sprain, where the ligament fibers are completely torn.
Since it's a complete rupture of the ligament, surgery will be necessary, and she will have to undergo long-term rehabilitation training.
To recover enough to get back on stage, it will likely take more than six months.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi, how on earth did you notice? Can you tell just by looking?”
“When you work at an orthopedic clinic, you end up seeing a lot of patients with ankle injuries.”
Baek Hyeon-woo gave a vague answer to Park Yeong-ho's question.
“There are often cases where someone with an injured ankle exercises unreasonably, causing the ligament to become tattered. Then the joint becomes unstable, they injure their ankle again, and in the end, they suffer a major injury.”
“Ah, so then...”
“She's On's Yuri-ssi seemed like such a patient. That's why I said what I did.”
Even though her ankle hurt, her overall condition was probably good.
In fact, on the status window, both her Body Condition and Mental Condition were in the 80% range.
That's why Yuri went on stage without thinking it was that serious.
Perhaps she thought that gritting her teeth and going on stage even with an aching ankle was the mark of a pro.
Or she might have been in a state where she felt less pain because she had taken strong painkillers.
She went on stage with such a complacent thought... and ended up suffering a major injury.
“Hyeon-woo-ssi, you're a complete human X-ray. You didn't even examine her up close, you just saw her dancing on stage, and yet you figured all that out.”
“Well… I've continuously worked in this field.”
In truth, if you see a patient up close, you can get a feel for most things.
Because if there's something wrong with the body, specific patterns appear in their posture or movements.
However, being able to make a specific diagnosis from a distance like just now was entirely thanks to the status window.
‘Even I think it's a truly amazing ability.’
If the status window appeared for everyone, he would have seriously considered going back to the hospital.
Because by using this ability, he could probably help a great many patients.
But Baek Hyeon-woo's ability seemed to apply only to people in the entertainment industry.
Since the status window didn't appear for the actor-turned-MC who was rehearsing earlier, it seems it only appears for current or former singers.
If that's the case, how should he best utilize this ability?
“Team Leader Park, but...”
While having these various thoughts, Baek Hyeon-woo turned his gaze towards the stage.
Because of the accident just now, the rehearsal was in a state of suspension.
“What happens when something like this occurs? Yuri-ssi doesn't seem like she'll be able to go on stage today.”
“Um, well.”
Park Yeong-ho tilted his head to the side as he looked at the empty stage.
“For now, just as you said, Hyeon-woo-ssi, Yuri is in a situation where she can't go on stage today... so the remaining She's On members will probably go on stage without Yuri.”
“Is that okay?”
“The fans who were looking forward to Yuri's comeback stage will be very disappointed, but what can you do. The remaining members will just have to do well.”
Hearing that, Baek Hyeon-woo carefully opened his mouth.
“The remaining members, will they be able to perform properly?”
“Pardon?”
“Since Yuri-ssi had an accident like that, I think they'll be very shaken psychologically.”
“……”
At that moment, the rest of the She's On members came up on stage.
It seemed they were about to proceed with the rehearsal again, without Yuri.
Turning his gaze to them, Baek Hyeon-woo confirmed that his prediction was correct.
‘As expected, their Mental Condition has dropped significantly.’
When Yuri collapsed, Baek Hyeon-woo had witnessed the Mental Condition of the She's On members rapidly declining in real time.
At the start of the rehearsal, their Mental Condition was over 80% on average, but it dropped to around 50% in an instant.
And now, the Mental Condition of the girls who had returned to the stage... had dropped below 50% for all of them.
‘Seeing Yuri end up like that, they all had a complete mental breakdown.’
The message [* Mental Condition is severely lowered.] was being displayed for all of them.
Perhaps as a result of that, a negative correction was also attached to their Vocal, Dance, and Visual.
‘If they go on stage in that state...’
While keeping his eyes fixed on the She's On members' status windows, Baek Hyeon-woo asked Park Yeong-ho a question.
“Team Leader Park, if the She's On members are unable to go on stage today, what happens to that empty slot?”
“That kind of thing depends on the venue...”
On stage, She's On began their rehearsal again.
They were dancing to the upbeat music, but every single one of their movements was stiff and awkward.
Watching that, Baek Hyeon-woo was certain.
She's On would not be able to stand on stage today.
It was a regrettable matter, but what's done is done.
If that's the case... couldn't this situation be used in a way that benefits Haram Entertainment?
“Since the time allotted to She's On is going to waste, won't that time be distributed to the other singers?”
“Ah…!”
Hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words, Park Yeong-ho moved urgently.
* * *
“We got to do 20 more seconds!”
As Park Yeong-ho entered the waiting room and raised his voice, the Newstarz members' eyes widened.
“Really?”
“We were given 20 whole seconds more?”
On stages like this, it's rare to perform a full version of a song from start to finish.
They have to shorten the song to fit the time allotted by the staff, and there are many cases where they have to perform only up to the first verse and come right down.
“The structure was to go straight from the first chorus to the second chorus, right? But now we can insert a dance break in between.”
“Ah…!”
The more time they're given, the more they can show.
That's why everyone wants to secure as much time as possible, but the decision-making authority for that ultimately lies with the production team.
But today, an opportunity was given to Newstarz.
This was because Park Yeong-ho, realizing that the time allotted to She's On would be completely empty, ran straight to the person in charge.
Fortunately, the person in charge was someone Park Yeong-ho had known for a long time, so the talk went smoothly.
In the end, Newstarz was able to obtain an additional 20 seconds of time.
It was thanks to hearing Baek Hyeon-woo's words and moving swiftly, one step ahead of the others.
“Our new song, we put a lot of effort into the dance for the instrumental break, didn't we? This is our chance to show it.”
Park Yeong-ho said in a serious voice in front of the Newstarz members.
“There will be many people who are disappointed knowing that She's On isn't coming out. Let's capture all of their hearts. Got it?”
“Ah, yes…!”
Newstarz is the girl group that represents Haram Entertainment, but they don't enjoy the same tremendous popularity as She's On.
It's been almost three years since their debut, but they've never once won first place on a music show, and have continuously remained at a middling level.
That's why every time an opportunity comes, they must do everything in their power to appeal to people with their charms.
This 20-second opportunity they've gained... they must make the most of it.
“Especially, Seo Na-eun.”
Park Yeong-ho's gaze turned to Newstarz's leader, Seo Na-eun.
“As the main dancer, your role is important. Step forward with confidence and show them your performance. Got it?”
“……”
Seo Na-eun's expression was stiff.
Looking at her, Park Yeong-ho smiled.
“You don't have to be so nervous. You've practiced hard all this time, so you'll be able to do well. Just do as you always do.”
“Yes…”
The voice of Seo Na-eun as she answered... was trembling faintly.
* * *
The landing halfway up the emergency exit stairs.
In the dim space where no one passed by, Seo Na-eun was crouched all alone.
‘What do I do.’
Back then, Baek Hyeon-woo had accurately predicted that Yuri could seriously injure her ankle ligament.
From listening to his conversation with Park Yeong-ho, it seemed he was someone who originally worked in the medical field.
“About ankle pain… Do you know a lot about it?”
As Seo Na-eun asked with a trembling voice, Baek Hyeon-woo nodded and replied.
“Yes, I know it well.”
“Th-Then…”
Seo Na-eun was about to explain her current situation and ask for help.
However, right at that moment.
Tears suddenly gushed from her eyes.
This was because the anxiety and fear she had been forcefully suppressing all this time surged up at once.
“P-Please do something…”
Even seeing Seo Na-eun crying, unable to even speak properly, Baek Hyeon-woo did not panic.
Baek Hyeon-woo maintained a calm expression and slowly walked down the stairs.
“Please don't worry, Na-eun-ssi.”
Having come down the stairs, Baek Hyeon-woo lowered his body and met Seo Na-eun's eye level.
And he spoke in a calm voice.
“Please leave it to me. I will help you get on stage in the best possible condition.”
For some reason.
To Seo Na-eun, the young man before her, who was nothing more than a short-term part-timer, felt more reliable than anyone else in the world.