The main writer, Lee Hyeon-jeong, looked around the set with a serious expression.
'The atmosphere is so bad.'
"Huuu, hngh... Ah, I have to stop..."
As for the trainees who sat crying on the side of the stage after the evaluation, well, it was unexpected. The ones still holding on and not crying were amazing.
Anyway, for trainees, tears, laughter, and anger are all part of the story.
So, the problem lies elsewhere.
...Mentors.
"Yes, trainee Kim Chunyong. Let's watch the song and dance together."
First of all, Min Si-young.
Her judging criteria was strict, too strict.
It was a given. Min Si-young was a living legend at AG.
Before AG became what it is today, she appeared like a comet as a genius soloist, sweeping the charts and winning the grand prize, so most trainees would not have caught her eye.
Unless they're really exceptionally skilled.
"But that won't do. If you're too honest, where will you get on TV?"
Lee Hyeon-jung shook her head and looked at the other mentors. It wasn't like the others were doing particularly well.
"..."
Jin Dasol, who was brought here because he was handsome and a skilled dancer, just sat there quietly without any reaction.
"Yes, trainee Kim Chunyong... I'll look forward to it, I will."
Na Ji-hyuk, who was trying to lighten the mood, is also unable to properly express his opinion due to Min Si-young's influence.
Right now, Moon Yoon-ha, who is considered the biggest bomb…
"Before we go on stage, just a moment."
"Oh, yes."
"Trainee Kim Chunyong, is this your real name?"
"That's right! That's my real name."
"You're coming out on a program like this without a stage name? It's a bit old-fashioned, it doesn't match your image."
That- doing just that!
Hyeon-jeong unconsciously facepalmed. Hearing the sounds around her, she realized she wasn't the only one feeling that way.
Are you here to see the trainees' skills or pick a fight?
Hyeon-jeong turned her head back, sighed deeply, and looked at PD Joo.
The PD's expression was indescribable. He just silently watched the trainee from behind the camera.
'Come to think of it, that trainee was the one the PD was keeping an eye on.'
Handsome but sassy.
Kim Chunyong, a trainee with a sharp and handsome face, but a country name.
Even though PD Joo saw a different side of him, Hyeon-jeong still disagreed.
She was skeptical.
Even if he were different from others, what more could he possibly do in this icy situation?
Being criticized not for his stage, but his own name.
"Ah, yes, that's my name."
It was a sight she saw all the time, but at times like this, Hyeon-jeong still found it difficult. She kept thinking she was doing something bad to the children.
'No matter what, pointing out names is too much. I'll tell the producer and take a break for a moment…'
And the moment Hyeon-jung takes a step towards PD Joo.
The main producer's eyes glistened.
"That's the name my grandmother gave me. Does it sound old-fashioned?"
...with Kim Chunyong's sly remarks!
The other people on set could only gape at this shocking sight.
'He… what did he just say?'
* * *
I gulped in embarrassment in the middle of the set.
For a moment, I was worried that the sound might be caught by the microphone.
"...the name my grandmother gave me."
Of course, it was a needless worry.
Moon Yoon-ha looked back and forth between the paper with my personal info and myself, her face scrunched up. It was as if she was displeased.
When I used the stage name Rex before, Moon Yoon-ha never said anything like that.
"Well, trainee Rex? Do your best. Give me some music."
Me saying my name was given by my grandmother was pure improvisation.
It was possible because I knew that in front of Moon Yoon-ha, it was better to be bold than compliant.
I still remember the look in Moon Yoon-ha's eyes as she looked at me and the Arrows members, who acted like obedient children when we debuted, with a bored look.
"Are you going to keep taking concept photos with those robotic faces? It's really annoying. It's not like the previous ones were any better either. Will you really continue like this?"
When we first started working together, she would facepalm with a blank look as she watched us faithfully follow her demands.
She even gave such an interview after she had stepped down from producing for our team.
"I'm not sure if these pretty, doll-like kids are really fit to be idols. They don't seem human, more like corpses, and it's kind of creepy..."
A producer who gives narrative and story, but wants them to live and breathe freely.
Aesthetic fanatic, Moon Yoon-ha.
The 'beauty' she loved also included confidence.
"Yes. Should I give myself a stage name? Oh, I never thought it would be unsophisticated..."
That's why I talked back to her with a shameless expression as if I knew nothing.
I guess it's a matter of luck whether my gamble will work or not.
Because this was much better than just sitting there waiting for a 'Cut!' or being given a stage name.
Moon Yoon-ha stared at me, then slowly opened her mouth.
"...What is the meaning of the 'Yong' in your name?"
"Yong Yong (龍) is the Chinese character for 'dragon'. It means 'dragon of spring'."
Moon Yoon-ha, whose mouth was slightly agape at my straightforward answer, nodded once and replied.
"The meaning is pretty. Take back what I said of it being tacky, I'm looking forward to the stage."
When she, who was like a ticking bomb, answered in such a manner, the atmosphere on set became more relaxed.
"Oh, wow. I also wanted to ask about your unique name, but I didn't know that Mentor Moon Yoon-ha would beat me to it."
"Chunyong! It's so catchy. I think I understand why you don't want to use a stage name."
MC Choi Ga-on also had a faint smile on his face, and Na Ji-hyuk, who was looking back and forth between me and Moon Yoon-ha while thoroughly frozen, felt relieved as he adjusted his posture.
"..."
Min Si-young seonbae and Jin Dasol didn't really react, but it was a success to an extent.
In this unexpected situation, if I'd gotten a decent response from Moon Yoon-ha and Na Ji-hyuk, I'd already have a good chance of winning.
...Because I have something prepared.
"Yes, yes! I'm really looking forward to the confident trainee Kim Chunyong's performance. Now, please come over here..."
I slowly walked towards the center of the stage, following the MC's instructions, and thought about the message X had sent me yesterday.
- X: Are you really going to practice like that and go on stage?;;
- X: When I look at your stats, how could you become the best idol in K-pop history... could you even debut?
- X: You know when you go back, it's at the time when you were arrested, right? Can you handle it? I don't think so.
As X said, no matter how much I practiced and struggled all day, I couldn't restore all the lost stats.
To begin with, those were abilities I had built up for 7 years, and it'd be impossible to make up for 7 years in just one week.
"Why! Why can't I do this properly!?"
Because of the 'mental and physical disconnection' or something, my skills weren't even at their peak at this time.
I had no choice but to rethink my strategy, but I didn't even know if it would work until the end of the stage.
..something that I had never attempted, nor could have attempted, seven years ago.
In the end, it's all or nothing.
"I look forward to it!"
As I nodded slightly, the accompaniment to the song I had been listening to on repeat for the past few days began to flow out.
* * *
A whistle rang out throughout the set.
"...hmm."
Na Ji-hyuk, who immediately recognized the song, started nodding along to the beat.
This song was more popular than other titles due to the diverse vocals of the Exolity members and the musical stage composition.
'I watched it a few times because I thought I could use it as a reference when planning a festival stage later, but now it's on a survival program.'
Kim Chunyong, who was tapping his feet to the beat, began to sing at the end.
-Sometimes I
I felt alone in the dark
Because I didn't know you were behind me
Kim Chunyong's voice was unique.
His husky voice, with a slight crack, was smooth to the ears.
Although he wasn't good enough to be considered the main vocalist, he showed more strength when mixed with others.
Vocals that were perfected only when he sang with others, with a deep bass and high notes mixed with falsetto.
-The hand that caresses me
The paused steps start running again
Cuz You're the sunshine behind me
There was a small hint when he answered Moon Yoon-ha so slyly earlier, but his diction was really good.
For a singer, the ability to convey lyrics was one of the most important virtues.
Moreover, Kim Chunyong's tone was suitable not only for singing but also rapping.
'It's nice. A song that shows off his vocal range without being too pushy. He must've practiced for a long time?'
Yet, as he was happily watching Kim Chunyong's passionate singing, Na Ji-hyuk's expression soon turned serious.
He chose a song that highlighted his vocal tone since his vocals weren't strong, but there was a fatal flaw in Kim Chunyong's performance of
'...He can't dance to this song.'
Right.
This song didn't feature the latest idol trend of group dances or dance breaks.
That's why
They were mutually complementary.
However, unlike Exolity, Kim Chunyong was not able to present two songs.
"There is only one stage each trainee can perform."
This was because each trainee could only submit one song, and even that was limited to songs that were 2 minutes long, as arranged by the production team.
'Oh, if he does this, Min Si-young will definitely speak up. It's hard for me to keep covering for everything...'
Still, Na Ji-hyuk started jotting down ways to defend him beside his personal information.
Even though it was hard, he was getting paid to do it, so he couldn't do it half-heartedly.
It was then,
"...Huh? What happened to the sound?"
Jijik- Jijik- Jijik-
About a minute after Kim Chunyong started.
Static suddenly came from the MR that'd been working just fine. Then, the beat of another song began to mix in.
Not only the mentors, but even the production crew behind the camera were shocked by this strange phenomenon.
"The sound team checked and said there was no equipment defect."
"What? Then why is the song playing like that?"
"Should I cut that off now and start taking it again? Oh, this is driving me crazy."
As everyone scurried around in confusion with only filming in mind, someone muttered hoarsely while staring intently at the center of the stage.
"...it seems intentional."
It was Jin Dasol.
When he finally spoke after being silent the whole time, everyone looked at Jin Dasol with their eyes wide in surprise, then turned back to the stage.
"...oh my god."
It was just as he said.
That moment when the song suddenly cut off, like a broadcasting accident.
Kim Chunyong placed the microphone back on the microphone stand while naturally bouncing his joints to the beat.
Then, before anyone knew it, he pulled a black beanie from his pocket and put it on.
In the meantime, the song changed into a completely different one.
The whistling sound of
It was the song that Kim Chunyong practiced like crazy in the practice room.
-I love your black shirt
Oh, A black shirt
Kim Chunyong stretched out his limbs to the beat of the lyrics.
And when the whistle of
-When you smile
I feel something, you know
That's what you think, baby
This song and this choreography were special to Kim Chunyong.
In the first year after debut, before his family's accident.
This was the dance that was performed on the special stage at the Music Awards where they received the Rookie of the Year award.
'It was my first and last fancam to reach over a million views.'
Kim Chunyong looked at his stats, which did not grow enough to chew up the first survival, and made a choice.
Kim Chunyong looked at his stats, which weren't yet enough to conquer the first competition, and made a decision.
I had to concentrate.
What to show and what to give up, how can I settle down and make a successful debut?
So this is what I chose.
What if an idol reenacts their legendary stage at an idol survival show?
Well, of course...
"Awesome, awesome..."
Na Ji-hyuk let out an exclamation of admiration, his mouth agape as he quickly erased the words he had written as a defense.
What dance is Kim Chunyong doing now?
Even five-year-olds would applaud, praise him for being a good dancer, and ask him to join them.
But he didn't have anything to say to five-year-olds.
The expressions of the other trainees who had performed before him said it all. They were all saying the same thing with their faces.
What on earth is he doing dancing like that?
-Don't say anything, baby
We can Stay, Sleep, Dream
Together
"Debut? I'll do it. The greatest K-pop idol in history? I'll do it. Definitely."
Therefore....
'I'll never go back to that time again.'
Kim Chunyong threw away the beanie he was wearing.
-Together
The stage concluded at that perfect moment.