Chapter 204: Chapter 205:

Translator: MarcTempest

Editor: Rxel

Chapter 205

Was this for real? His luck was unbelievable.

If there was a newspaper called Soufflé Daily, the headline for tomorrow would surely be ‘Leader Seon Woojoo, can you keep your unlucky hand like this?’

Woojoo heard laughter from around him as he made a face of despair.

If it were any other time, he would have laughed along with them. But not now.

This couldn’t be happening…

The recording started at 7:30 p.m.

Considering the instrument setting and the panel comments in between, the last performance would start well after 10 p.m.

Can he manage the members’ condition until then?

What should he do? This.

It wasn’t a mistake he made on purpose, but he felt so sorry for his siblings.

He should have drawn a better lot.

He just put on a smile for the broadcast when he saw the phrase [5th – New Black ‘Life’] on the screen.

-Yes, New Black drew the first one. We’ll continue to draw lots in order.

The other singers drew their lots one by one.

They did interviews about their expected order and reactions to their actual order, just like he did.

The lottery ended and the letters popped up on the screen.

1 Lisa

2 Cha Woohyun

3 Jo Yuri Band

4 Song Bohyung

5 New Black

Lisa got the first spot because the number one didn’t come out until the end, just like the last time she drew the first song.

Jo Yuri Band, who had to perform right after the heavenly vocal Cha Woohyun, had their faces turn sour.

Song Bohyung smiled brightly and said he was lucky.

Cha Woohyun answered briefly with a calm face, ‘Second, huh.’

“Good job, everyone!”

Woojoo got off the stage after the lottery.

Everyone received drinks from their managers and started talking about their order.

Minki Hyung and Dowon Hyung handed Woojoo drinks and patted his shoulder, seeing his slightly wilted look.

On the way back to the waiting room, Woojoo scratched his head and said to his siblings, “I’m sorry. Really. Of all people, I had to draw the last one…”

It wouldn’t matter much if he was doing the show alone.

He just had to do as much as he practiced, with the mindset that he could do more or less.

But he felt guilty all the time because he had to lead the members.

“It’s okay, Hyung.” Bijoo smiled and said, “You didn’t draw it on purpose, Hyung. It’s luck. There are some good points to being the last one, too.”

“That’s right.”

Their youngest also opened his eyes wide and said, “The main character always appears at the end, right? My dad also goes in last when he has a meeting.”

“Hyung. Lean on me. Your shoulder.”

While Junghyun massaged Woojoo’s shoulder, the two of them cheered him up, saying ‘Cheer up! Cheer up!’

“Well. It could be a good thing, if you look at it that way.” Rihyuk said, “You didn’t get what you wanted, but strategically, it’s not bad. You promised Teacher Noh Jaehyun that we would be number one, right? If we go first, we might have a good condition, but you’re easy to forget by the audience.”

“That’s true.”

“Today’s likely winner, Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim, is also relatively early, and we’re the last, so if we do well…” he said seriously, “There’s a chance. Today.”

“…”

“There might be some variables, like condition or stage quality. But drawing the last one could be a blessing in disguise, you know.”

It made sense.

Woojoo nodded his head as he persuaded him, and Rihyuk poked his side and said, “So don’t hang your head like a sinner. It doesn’t look good for an old man.”

“…”

“And what do you mean, you’re the only leader and a pro?”

Rihyuk made a dissatisfied expression.

“We can also control our condition well, you know?”

“That’s right. We’re adults now.”

…They said, while sucking on chocolate milk like adults.

Pururup.

Just then, Junghyun made a sound of scraping the bottom of the chocolate milk with a straw.

A moment of silence.

“…”

They looked at each other with that in their hands and burst out laughing.

They laughed together for a while and then Woojoo tapped his siblings’ shoulders and said, “Yeah.”

He shook off the thoughts of the lottery that had been in his head until a moment ago and smiled.

“Let’s go get ready for the rehearsal.”

***

New Hall Open Hall.

The rehearsal was in full swing here, and the lights were sprinkling colorful light.

The lighting director gave instructions and the lighting equipment moved back and forth.

-Yes. Then let’s go for the rehearsal.

The singer comes up to the voice of the main PD with a microphone.

After a simple movement check, the song started.

The singer’s calm voice echoed in the open hall, and the camera captured his appearance from various angles.

Below, the managers filmed their singers’ performances with their smartphones.

-Thank you for your hard work.

A brief greeting and a courteous applause.

In that atmosphere, the singers went up and down repeatedly.

A serious atmosphere that suffocated.

It was not a situation where curses and shouts were exchanged as they did when they cleaned up the set in the morning, but it was still solemn.

Challenge, Legendary Song Discovery Team!

A program that PBS Entertainment Department ambitiously invested in with competent staff and budget.

There was also a pressure that the upper line showed great expectations, but more than anything, today was the long-awaited first competition recording.

It was something that would determine the ratings and popularity in the future, so no mistakes were tolerated.

“Hoo…”

The production staff who were breathing deeply or swallowing saliva here and there.

Their faces were full of anxiety and tension.

But as time went by, the production staff’s expressions gradually changed.

“Everyone…”

A writer pointed to the stage and stuck out his tongue.

“They’re doing great, aren’t they?”

“Yeah.”

“…They’re doing much better than we expected.”

They all nodded.

As the rehearsal progressed, the anxiety on the production staff’s faces gradually disappeared.

They were still nervous about the recording with the audience, but the anxiety they had been holding on to was resolved.

No matter how well they planned and edited, it was nothing but a matter of opening the board.

The important thing was how much the performers caught the public’s attention on the board that the production staff laid out.

In that respect, today’s stage was all good enough to pass the passing score by far.

Lisa, Cha Woohyun, Jo Yuri Band, Song Bohyung.

With a well-arranged arrangement and the singers’ excellent skills, a splendid stage continued.

“Wow…”

Song Bohyung, who returned to the backstage with a pleasant smile, was admired by the assistant director.

“It’s amazing that he’s doing this well even though it’s a rehearsal. He’s not doing it with a hundred percent skill.”

He asked the main PD, who was looking at the cue sheet next to him, cautiously, “PD, how do you feel?”

“I feel good.”

The expression on Baek Sunghyun PD’s face, who had been stiffened by the reason of the first competition recording, rose for the first time.

He smiled and said, “They all came prepared. If we go to the main stage like this, we don’t have to worry about the audience’s reaction.”

“Right? I feel like I can hear people screaming already.”

As they were talking, the last rehearsal stage came up.

“…Next is New Black.”

The production staff looked at the cue sheet and made a strange expression.

‘Why are they the last ones?’

They were famous for being good at skills among the rookie idols, but the order of New Black was awkward.

Whoever the previous four were.

They were famous for having a lot of stage experience, and one of them was vocal skills that they could boast of as the best in Korea.

But among them, the relatively weakest rookie idol was doing the finale stage.

They couldn’t help but feel a little awkward.

‘…It would be nice if they just did the practice video.’

They had received the stage practice video from the agency to make the camera line, but that was just a practice video.

A video that they shot until they got it right.

That was why no one knew what they would show in the real game.

“Hello!”

The production crew saw the members of New Black politely greeting the audience as they climbed onto the stage.

The handsome boys with various styles lined up in a row.

PD Baek picked up the microphone.

-We’ll start the rehearsal now.

As he gave the signal, the performance began.

The darkened public hall.

As the lights came on one by one, the voices of New Black members filled the venue calmly.

And then.

“…?”

They all blinked at the unexpected situation.

‘They’re good?’

Contrary to their expectation that they would do the basics, New Black on the stage perfectly captured the mood of the song.

Especially the main and lead vocals had skills that were not much different from their seniors.

“They did this well? It sounds great…”

“They’re good. They must have practiced hard.”

As everyone was surprised.

There was one person who was the most surprised at this place, namely PD Baek Sunghyun, who had personally cast New Black.

‘What?’

He knew they were good.

He had seen their performances with Jang Sowon on PBS Music Cafe, and their live of Night Sea on HBS’ radio ‘Wonderful Night’.

He had all the materials to show what kind of group New Black was in terms of vocal aspects.

But this was beyond his expectation.

‘They’re much better than I thought…?’

To solve his question, PD Baek asked the managers of New Black nearby, “Did you practice a lot for this competition song?”

“Um…”

The manager made an ambiguous expression.

“We didn’t have much time to prepare for this song, PD. Of course, the members worked hard, though.”

“Really? They look good.”

“That’s because…” Seo Minki smiled warmly. “It’s because the kids practice like crazy all the time. They’ve practically lived in the practice room since their debut.”

PD Baek realized what he had overlooked.

‘They improved.’

The materials he had seen were all from a year ago or at least six months ago.

He didn’t think about the fact that they were growing rookies, unlike the other vocals who were already finished.

‘I didn’t know the stage quality would be this good.’

He was momentarily surprised, but soon he smiled at the thought that they would be good enough to show as the finale performance.

He made that judgment not only because of their vocal skills.

The assistant director whispered, “The arrangement and performance are good, right?”

“Yeah. They did a good job.”

He admired the arrangement that revived the original song in the style of the 2010s.

‘He did that.’

PD Baek looked back and forth between Woojoo on the stage and Woojoo’s name on the arranger’s name.

He was amazing.

He thought they were good in the practice video, but it felt different when he saw them perform live on the spot.

He pondered.

‘A rookie idol’s unexpected reversal stage… It would be good to attract people’s attention.’

The editing direction was drawn in his head.

He was going to decide on the matter after seeing the audience’s reaction, but he looked around and got confident.

“…”

Unlike the busy staff, those who were standing still were all staring at the stage.

A stage that naturally drew attention.

A stage that caught the production crew’s eyes even with the rehearsal would not get a bad reaction from the audience.

‘I’m looking forward to it.’

He smiled faintly and picked up the microphone.

-Good job, New Black.

And he added one more thing.

-I’m looking forward to the main stage as well.

-Thank you!

As New Black members bowed and left the stage with a sigh of relief.

A group of people who were standing far away at the top of the audience, near the exit, started to move quickly.

It was the managers who had been watching the rehearsals until now.

***

“Challenge: Song Discovery Squad – Round 1 Edited Version”

[#1] ‘Jo Yuri Band’ Waiting Room

A surveillance camera in the corner of the ceiling was filming the waiting room.

Four men and women in leather jackets were sitting with their legs stretched out.

Jo Yuri, the vocalist, snapped at the bassist who was shaking his legs.

-Stop shaking your legs, Hyung. You’re jinxing us.

-Hey, what can I do? I’m nervous.

Someone spoke as if agreeing.

-It’s frustrating. We can’t even see the rehearsal stage. We need to see what kind of performance the others are doing.

-Should we turn on the TV for a moment?

-No, we can’t. The camera is filming us.

The drummer pointed at the surveillance cameras placed around the room.

As if to show that, the screen was split into four and showed the surveillance camera footage of Jo Yuri Band from different angles.

The band members looked gloomy as they stared at the turned-off TV screen.

Usually, in music shows, they would be able to see the live camera footage through the TV in the waiting room.

But in this program, it was forbidden to watch the rehearsals of the other teams.

-Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim must have done the best, right? I got goosebumps the moment I heard the first note last time.

-I was drawn to that trot singer.

-But when it comes to vocals, Cha Woohyun Sunbae-nim is the best.

As various guesses came out, the manager of Jo Yuri Band opened the door and came in.

They asked him with a hopeful expression.

-Hyung, how was it? The other people’s rehearsals…

-Your impressions. Tell us quickly.

-Uh… they were all good. They had so much energy even in the rehearsal. Some of them sang so well that it gave me chills.

Someone asked eagerly.

-So, who was it? Which team did the best?

-They were all so good that…

The manager hesitated as if conscious of the camera and then answered.

-New Black.

Silence fell.

-…What?

-They were all good, but these guys, how should I say it? They were… uh, memorable.

-…???

The faces of Jo Yuri Band members, who were bewildered by the unexpected name, were caught by the surveillance camera.

[#2] Another Waiting Room

A scene where the situation that happened in Jo Yuri Band’s waiting room was similarly reproduced in another waiting room was briefly inserted.

In the split screen, several managers said in unison, ‘New Black was good’ and gave different answers.

[#3] Participant Interview

A musical actor sitting in front of a black curtain, dressed in stage costumes.

Lisa smiled coolly and said.

◆ Lisa: Who are you looking forward to? (Pause) I’m looking forward to New Black.

The production team asked why.

◆ Lisa: As soon as the manager came back from watching the rehearsal, he said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ (Laugh) I asked him what was wrong and he said, ‘When I saw New Black, they were grinding their teeth.’

Lisa smiled sweetly and answered.

◆ Lisa: I’m personally curious. What kind of stage was it that made the manager react like that?

***

6 p.m.

The scene was like a war zone, with an hour and a half left until the recording started.

The staff were running around the hallway, almost tearing it apart, and the stylists were carrying the clothes they had received by quick delivery.

It felt more real that they were facing a competition.

It was like feeling a huge cogwheel moving with a vague sense only.

All Woojoo could see were small cogwheels, but they seemed to be moving and making something huge turn.

“Hoo…”

As Woojoo walked down the hallway after washing his face, the youngest pointed outside with his eyes wide open.

“Hyung, look over there. There are so many people.”

“Huh… What?”

The space where people were waiting in front of the entrance to the public hall.

Woojoo was stunned to see hundreds of spectators holding tickets.

They came this much in the middle of winter.

Woojoo swallowed his saliva as he saw the waiting line that was tailing one after another, with 30 minutes left until the entrance.

Junghyun said, “We have to perform in front of them now.”

“Yeah…”

Woojoo felt a surge of nervousness and swallowed his saliva…

There was no sound.

“Bijoo! Not there!”

“Here?”

“That’s a dead end. Junghyun, grab his tail and stop him from going anywhere.”

“Okay. Hyung.”

Junghyun nodded and grabbed Bijoo’s sleeve.

He kept wandering off to different paths. They moved on with Bijoo in tow.

“Here.”

In front of the performers’ waiting room.

They heard a grumpy voice saying come in as they knocked. As they opened the door and entered, an old man in a wheelchair snapped at them.

“What is it this time? I’m exhausted from taking the plane…”

“We’re here, Teacher.”

“Ah.”

His expression softened abruptly.

Especially when he looked at Rihyuk, he had a face like he was seeing his lost grandson.

“Our Rihyuk is here.”

The youngest waved his hand behind him.

“Teacher, there’s someone behind Rihyuk Hyung.”

“Oh, right. There’s Mu-al-kol and the slackers too.”

“…Teacher, I want to be called Woojoo too.”

He smiled faintly.

Then he called a lady who was doing something nearby.

“Ms. Kang.”

“Wait a minute. Teacher.”

“Ms. Kang! Give these kids some tangerine juice! And one for me too.”

“Wait, please! Right now! You have a microphone on your clothes… a microphone!”

“Ugh. Always busy.”

Woojoo laughed as he watched the grumbling teacher Noh Jaehyun.

He was worried a lot when he said he would come to see the competition from Jeju Island.

But he looked very healthy by his complexion.

The lady whispered a secret to them when she gave them the tangerine juice.

“He worked hard on his diet because he wanted to see this today. He even exercised, which he never did before.”

They smiled at that.

They had a pleasant time chatting with the teacher for a while.

“By the way.” Woojoo joked, “Teacher, please give us your reaction after our stage is over. Like a surprised expression.”

“A proud or impressed expression would be nice too.”

“Hey, you guys. That depends on how good your song is…” the old man said gruffly, then coughed and put on a fresh face. “…So what do you want me to do?”

“Like this.”

Jiho and Woojoo acted out a moved and sobbing expression that didn’t know what to do.

He mimicked them.

He was spot on, thanks to his long career in the entertainment industry.

“Like this?”

“Yes, like that.”

They gave each other thumbs-up like mockers, and then burst into laughter.

They continued to chat until they had to say goodbye because of the manager’s call.

“See you later.”

“Good luck. I’m looking forward to your stage.”

He came out to the door in his wheelchair and they bowed to him repeatedly as they left the room.

The sky outside the window was darkening.

It was 6:30 p.m.

They looked at each other as they watched the excited audience enter.

It was time for the competition.