-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Results Are In
-----------------------------------------------------------------
When her name was called, Yeon Ju-hong stepped forward, her face trying hard to hold back tears.
I frowned. Yeon Ju-hong was ninth? No matter how subjective judging could be, ninth?
In this evaluation, Yeon Ju-hong should have been at least sixth.
It wasn't just me who thought so; a hint of doubt appeared on the faces of the other trainees as well.
It seemed there had been 'some' manipulation in the rankings.
I suppressed my anger internally.
I'd seen a lot of dirty tricks in the entertainment industry, but it was truly amazing how ceaseless they were.
Do Hui-yeong announced the remaining rankings in a heavy voice.
11th, Park Ha-eun
10th, Lee Ju-seon
9th, Yeon Ju-hong
8th, Bang Su-in
7th, Shin Yu-hyeon
6th, Jo Hui-on
"Alright, and now, fifth place. I will call out the name."
From fifth place onwards, these were the debut-spot rankings, so the announcement became even more tense.
"This trainee has consistently shown stable skills since first joining Colors."
I didn't even hear the name, but I already knew who it was. I could already hear the next line coming.
"However."
Of course. The 'however' had to come out.
"The world of true professionals is cold. You must show something beyond just stable skills. Though you've made it into the debut spots today, you must have realized that you cannot be complacent. Please step forward."
Along with Do Hui-yeong's words, the screen changed.
5th, Seo Baek-yeong
"Trainee Seo Baek-yeong."
As expected, Seo Baek-yeong didn't look happy at all, even though she was in a debut spot.
It was obvious she was trying to act happy.
"...Thank you. I will continue to strive and show a better version of myself."
Still, Seo Baek-yeong managed to finish her remarks well enough. Though her eyes were hardened, she was still just a trainee. She was bound to be inexperienced.
The scariest disappointment in the world isn't someone else's disappointment.
It's your own.
Seo Baek-yeong must have been feeling a mix of emotions right now. Frustration over not standing out as much as she'd hoped, and the unfairness of her agency.
None of these emotions were easy to overcome.
Perhaps understanding Seo Baek-yeong's feelings, the other trainees all seemed downcast.
The remaining rankings weren't particularly surprising.
4th, Ryu Bo-ra
3rd, Kim Geum
2nd, Kim Ryeo-yu
Only, I was excluded.
12th, Lee Gyeong-a
1st, Yun Cheong
***
"How cheap and dirty."
Returning to my gosiwon, I threw myself onto the bed.
"Seeing them go to such lengths to keep me in check, it seems they have a preferred debut lineup."
The members who originally debuted as StillBlue were:
Kim Ryeo-yu, Seo Baek-yeong, Yun Cheong, Kim Geum, Jo Hui-on.
This was probably the lineup Colors was pushing.
"Anyone could see Kim Ryeo-yu wasn't really second place, but they deliberately picked her for it."
In my opinion, if they swapped Kim Ryeo-yu and Seo Baek-yeong's rankings, it would have been perfect.
They pushed her so overtly that it just looked ridiculous.
But something felt off.
Even if their eyes were messed up for Yeon Ju-hong's case...
...Why didn't Ryu Bo-ra debut?
Wasn't Ryu Bo-ra the most popular one here?
I tried to recall my memories of Ryu Bo-ra.
But Ryu Bo-ra had never debuted as an idol.
Not with Colors, nor with any other agency. At least, not in Baek Nok-ha's memories.
She didn't become an actress either.
She just quietly disappeared at some point.
Looking at her during the interim evaluation earlier, she certainly wasn't lacking in skill.
She was much better than at least Kim Ryeo-yu or Jo Hui-on.
...What happened?
I couldn't possibly remember every single detail from ten years ago. Good grief.
I glared at my phone, but it remained silent.
Is it not time for me to know yet, then?
"By the way, delaying the mentor announcement... it seems they're up to something."
What other dirty tricks were they planning?
I sighed.
Even getting first place didn't make me happy. What's so great about being recognized as the only adult among newborns?
Not getting first place would have been an insult. Rather, I was much more concerned about the next broadcast.
And the overall atmosphere concerned me too.
Judging by today's atmosphere, Director Kim's influence seemed strong. Even for something as obvious as the stage performances, they clearly coordinated the evaluations and rankings.
Indeed, Director Kim Mo-gyeong wasn't an easy person to deal with in my past life either.
I glared at my phone once more.
I'm trying to overcome her tyranny and debut in first place, so can't you give me a little more help? Give me a hint, anything.
It's incredibly frustrating. The next filming day is two days from now.
How am I supposed to wait until then?
***
Production Team: How was the interim evaluation?
[Ryeo-yu: I was a bit disappointed. I could have done better.]
[Production Team: You're disappointed even though you came in second?]
[Ryeo-yu: I'm always disappointed if I'm not first. I'll definitely get first place in the main evaluation.]
[Kim Geum: I'm satisfied. I'm grateful for that much.]
[Baek-yeong: ...My ranking was lower than I expected, but it's because I was lacking. I'll have to make up for it in the main evaluation.]
[Ju-hong: Hehe...]
Subtitle: Trainee Yeon Ju-hong ultimately can't hold back her tears...
[Ju-hong: Actually, I've heard it a lot before, so it's okay.]
[Production Team: What do you mean you've heard it a lot before?]
[Ju-hong: I think I always heard that I was 'ambiguous'? That I didn't have anything truly my own...]
Ju-hong sniffled with red eyes, then giggled again.
[Ju-hong: It's not the ranking that upsets me. I think ninth place is more than I deserve. It's just frustrating that I keep getting the same evaluation every time but can't improve...]
Subtitle: Trainee Yeon Ju-hong, who had to hear the same words every evaluation
[Ju-hong: I... I need to work harder! Please watch me! Someday, I'll appear with a weapon of my own!]
Production Team: Which other trainees' performances caught your eye?
[Ryeo-yu: Trainee Ryu Bo-ra. She's really, really pretty. Even doing the same thing, she just shines more.]
[Hui-on: Trainee Kim Geum. She definitely... raps well.]
[Kim Geum: Trainee Yun Cheong. Doesn't everyone pick Trainee Yun Cheong? No? Why??]
[Bo-ra: That... was on another level.]
[Ju-hong: Why didn't Unnie debut sooner? Her skills were more than enough to debut.]
Subtitle: Trainee Ju-hong, if you cry and laugh, you'll grow horns on your butt
[Gyeong-a: ...Her skill was so good that I wasn't upset about getting 12th place at all? I need to work hard to catch up.]
[Yu-hyeon: I'm really looking forward to the main evaluation.]
[Su-in: That Unnie could be a judge herself, couldn't she?]
Production Team: Then, conversely, was there any trainee who disappointed you?
[Ryeo-yu: Baek-yeong Unnie?]
[Ryeo-yu: Oh, I keep feeling like I'm going to look like a really bad person. But it's not like that.]
Subtitle: Does she know...?
[Ryeo-yu: She used to be really good. So that ranking was quite shocking. I bet Unnie herself was shocked too?]
[Kim Geum: Ryeo-yu.]
[Production Team: Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu came in second, didn't she?]
[Kim Geum: She did.]
[Production Team: Then why?]
[Kim Geum: Honestly, that wasn't a second-place performance, was it? Felt more like fifth place.]
Subtitle: Honest Gen Z....
[Ju-hong: Oh, you shouldn't ask questions like that!]
[Production Team: Still, if you had to pick?]
[Ju-hong: ...Ryeo-yu Unnie? She did well, but second place...? I thought the judges' eyes must be different somehow.]
[Su-in: Me, well, I expected it. That Ryeo-yu would be in the top three at least.]
Production Team: Why?
[Bo-ra: (laughs)]
[Gyeong-a: Because she's Director Kim's relative. They say she's her niece, but I wonder if she's secretly her daughter?]
[Hui-on: You're asking if Ryeo-yu got special treatment because she's Director Kim's relative? No, not at all.]
[Production Team: Other trainees seem to think differently?]
[Hui-on: Isn't it just jealousy towards Ryeo-yu? I think Ryeo-yu definitely needs to debut. Not because she's my best friend, but truly. No one works as hard as Ryeo-yu.]
Production Team: What do you think about the special treatment controversy?
[Ryeo-yu: ...]
Subtitle: Tears welling up again...
[The hidden behind-the-scenes story... What is Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu's true feeling?]
[Check it out next week at this time!]
***
And, as PD O Baek-gyeong had predicted, 'Make a New Color' garnered a lot of buzz.
Yun Cheong, seriously?
No, I'm not starting with 'no' because I'm Korean, but genuinely, no.
I knew our Bo-ra-baby was pretty, but you really can't fault her visuals.
Ah, our Ju-hongieㅠㅠㅠㅠ Ju-hong-ah, Unnie's cryingㅠㅠㅠ(gif)
Look at Yun Cheong's face. If you're done, listen to Yun Cheong's song. If you're done, now watch her dance. She's just insane.
Yun Cheong hype rising right now.
My entire timeline is about Yun Cheong, lol. So, some Yun Cheong pics plsㅠ
But doesn't Kim R.Y. seem a bit off? ㅋㅋ Heard other trainees talking and she seems a bit off ㅋㅋ
└Oh, look, the 'shady-sommelier' is here ㅋㅋ It's only episode 2, just chill lol
└R.Y., don't become 'forest friends' again lol
Kim-three-letters seems to have come out relying on her connections ㅋㅋ As expected, Korea is all about school ties, regional ties, and 'blood ties'.
It was a huge hit, truly.
And so, 'Make a New Color' Episode 2 viewership rating was—
1.8%.
***
With the mentor meeting filming delayed, the final evaluation day was naturally pushed back by one day.
Most of the trainees were grateful for the extra day of practice.
Of course, I wasn't particularly happy.
I had already finished my practice, and the more unprepared the other trainees were, the more I would stand out.
...Well, I guess.
"One, two, three. No, the tempo's off there."
"Are you going to keep rushing the moves, Hui-on?"
"Ju-hong. What did the teacher say? I told you to fix that habit of coming in off-beat at the start."
It's pathetic how I still feel competitive with them.
They're all just fledglings, and I'm a seasoned veteran.
...Let's not get petty.
"Baek-yeong. Are you going to focus? Your evaluation is the day after tomorrow!"
"Ryeo-yu. Your power suddenly drops sharply from the second verse."
This was the Colors practice room.
Today wasn't a major filming day; it was a day to film the trainers watching the trainees' performances.
The two trainers who participated as judges were also Colors' actual trainers, so they were teaching the trainees.
I continued to practice like the other trainees.
...The only difference was that I received almost no critiques.
This might be a problem if I stand out too much.
Should I pretend to make a few mistakes?
"Cheong. Focus. Your pitch is off."
As soon as I deliberately let my pitch waver slightly, a critique immediately came.
"Yes!"
"Don't get complacent just because you got first place in the interim evaluation. The main evaluation is what's truly important."
"Understood."
This was the first critique I received today, and also the last.
What was odd was that no praise came my way either.
As if they had decided to treat me as if I didn't exist.
-------------------- Wanna support me personally, or suggest a series i should pick? you can do all of this and more at my ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/vinez --------------------