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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Cover Song Mission Competition Day
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The day of the cover song mission competition.
The twelve trainees moved to the studio after getting their makeup done.
It was the same studio where they had filmed the debut song, “Make a New Color,” last time.
Of course, the stage set had changed a lot.
Overall, the set had a much simpler atmosphere than before.
Well, it’s not like it’s a broadcasting station that spends that much money every time.
I recalled PD O Baek-gyeong, who used to grumble about budget issues every day.
My turn in this mission’s final evaluation was ninth.
It was a decent spot.
“Ughhh…”
In the waiting room.
Sounds of groaning, sighing, and sharp, sensitive noises due to tension could be heard from everywhere.
It was possible because the cameras were briefly off for the first time in a while.
…But once the cameras were back on, everyone would smile brightly as if nothing had happened.
“Huuuh…”
Next to me, Yeon Ju-hong was clutching her head tightly.
Her mental state seemed a bit precarious since the mid-term evaluation.
Today, she was completely out of it.
“Are you very nervous?”
“Of course.”
Yeon Ju-hong couldn’t even cover her face to avoid smudging her makeup, so she just sighed.
“It’s my first time performing in front of so many people.”
There was a monitor in the waiting room where they could watch the stage.
On the monitor, the empty stage and the packed audience seats alternated.
Perhaps due to the effect of the self-introduction videos, the audience seats were full of slogans cheering on each trainee.
Yun Cheong’s name is there too.
Seeing the name Yun Cheong instead of Baek Nok-ha, my heart felt strange.
“What if I hit a wrong note?”
“What do you mean 'what if.' You just pretend it didn’t happen.”
Because you can’t ruin the entire performance just for one wrong note.
I said firmly.
“It seems like the people who cheered for me are here too. They’ll be so disappointed in me. What if they came in just looking at my face and then run away after seeing my skills?”
“…Well, there’s nothing you can do about that.”
It was the fans’ freedom to cheer for whomever they wanted.
However, Yeon Ju-hong became even more dejected at my words.
“I’m even right after Unnie’s turn!”
“Hmm, well. You don’t like being after me? Anyway, the votes aren't cumulative, so there’s nothing bad about being later.”
If the votes were accumulated, being later would be a disadvantage.
This was because there was a risk of being edited out due to lack of screen time and pushed to the next week.
However, perhaps because the broadcasting station had already received criticism for such a system once before, they didn't do it this time.
Only the votes from the final episode would be reflected in the results.
The voting results, announced every two weeks, were merely a kind of indicator.
“No. Being later isn’t the problem. Being right after Unnie is the problem. I already lack skills, so I’ll be completely compared…”
Yeon Ju-hong kept muttering beside me.
Was she always like this? In my previous life, I remembered her as someone very strong and flawless.
“You don’t lack skills.”
“Oh, come on.”
Even after hearing my words, Yeon Ju-hong waved her hand.
“You don’t need to try and comfort me. I know my skills are lacking compared to the other Unnies.”
“Why do you think that?”
I tilted my head.
“Well, because I always get criticized. Even the trainers say I’m mediocre. The vocal trainer, the dance trainer, even the rap teacher said, ‘Hey, Ju-hong, how can you even rap so ambiguously?’”
Yeon Ju-hong perfectly mimicked the rap teacher’s tone.
Surprisingly… she’s good at mimicking?
“I’ve heard ‘mediocre’ so many times, I even thought about changing my name from Yeon Ju-hong to Yeon Jung-gan (Yeon Mediocre).”
Yeon Ju-hong’s lower lip jutted out as she grumbled.
“I actually think that’s even more amazing.”
“Huh?”
Yeon Ju-hong narrowed her eyes and looked at me.
“That means you’re above average in dancing, above average in singing, and even above average in rapping, right?”
“…Uh…”
“Isn’t that what an all-rounder is?”
“My skills are a bit… lacking to be called an all-rounder.”
Yeon Ju-hong looked dejected and pulled at her pink hair.
Hmm.
A hallucination of rabbit ears…
“Objectively speaking, you’re above average here. Of course, I won’t say you’re the most outstanding performer. You’d know that better than anyone.”
I said, recalling Yeon Ju-hong’s mid-term evaluation performance.
“Just looking at your last stage, you did well enough. For a trainee who hasn’t even debuted yet, that’s good. Of course, you’ll have to do better after debuting, but you’re young, so you’ll improve.”
“…”
Yeon Ju-hong looked at me with very bewildered eyes.
Did I say something wrong?
“Unnie.”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve been hearing a lot lately that you’ve changed, haven’t you?”
…Right. Because I really have changed.
My very soul was swapped, so there’s no way I’d be the same.
“Well, I didn’t know you that well to begin with, so I don’t know if you’ve changed or not…”
Yeon Ju-hong’s expression was a mix of confusion and something subtle.
“You just feel very different, Unnie.”
“Different?”
“Yes.”
Hmm.
Should I have acted more like Yun Cheong?
I started pondering what it meant to act like Yun Cheong.
“It’s like… you’re already a senior idol who has debuted.”
*Gulp.*
“I don’t mean it in a bad way.”
“Then?”
“It means you’re cool.”
Yeon Ju-hong looked at me with a determined face.
“Honestly, I don’t know much, but… anyway, I’ll try not to be nervous on stage today.”
Oh, dear.
I chuckled.
“Good. That’s a start. Not getting nervous on stage, that’s incredibly difficult.”
Even I, with ten years of experience, always got nervous.
It’s amazing if you just manage not to be nervous.
***
[Yes! That was trainee Bang Su-in’s “Make a New Color” stage. It was a truly powerful performance!]
All the preceding stages ended, and finally, it was my turn.
[Now, we will introduce the next stage. This trainee has been a big topic of conversation since her self-introduction video.]
While waiting below the stage, I heard the announcer introducing me.
I also did some last vocal warm-ups and tried out my voice.
Yun Cheong’s vocal cords were quite strained, so I was actually worried about my voice cracking.
But well, that’s up to fate.
Right now, I couldn’t let such worries ruin the stage.
I could feel my heart pounding.
This sensation is new again after a long time. A feeling beyond mere nervousness.
What do you call this?
[PurpleApple’s “StillBlue.” Now, it’s Yun Cheong’s “StillBlue.”]
…I guess you’d call it the thrill of a rookie.
“Trainee Yun Cheong, please go up.”
Following the staff’s guidance, I slowly walked onto the stage.
Ah, it was truly familiar yet—
You say no, but shh
Your eyes are on me
It was a sensation I would never get used to.
***
Spoiler Alert) Make a New Color First Mission Audience Review
※Subjective Opinions※
※If you disagree, you’re right※
※Will probably be deleted soon※
First of all, all the kids were amazing.
You could really feel those Colors kids grinding their teeth…
As expected from Colors, famous for being a girl group powerhouse, the overall quality of the kids was really high.
First, I’ll just write reviews for the kids that stood out. It’s too tiring to write about all 12.
First up was Kim Geum. She sang an All-Colors song and she was seriously incredible. Kim Geum fans can just relax, her rap skills are just overwhelming. No way she won’t debut.
…
Ninth was Yun Cheong.
Everyone’s expectations for Yun Cheong must be high, mine too.
And it will definitely be a stage that won’t disappoint.
She covered some old song, and I heard it was Hong Yeon-seo’s song from her idol days.
I don’t know how they got permission, but it was truly a stroke of genius.
The concept itself was just insane.
I thought she’d go with a delicate and innocent concept like in her self-introduction video, but BAM the instrumental was super intense, it was crazy.
It was kind of a snake concept, but less sexy and more like a super cool Unnie concept.
It was definitely a female-fan-targeting concept.
She wore a rider jacket, a white shirt with a black tie, and leather skinny pants.
※The tie is f***ing important※
The quality is bad because I secretly took it with my phone camera, but check it out if you want to see.
(Photo)
Of course, her singing skills were beyond words.
Just insane. She danced well too?? Who said she couldn’t dance because she’s a main vocalist?
She was just crazy. The other kids were good too, but she looked like she’d been debuted for 10 years.
★
Make a New Color Yun-blue Spoiler♥
(Video)
#MakeANewColor #YunCheong #NecktieCheong #RiderCheong
Play? ▶
***
Step closer, girl
I’m here for you
Taking root and bearing fruit
In the video, Yun Cheong was shaking her black straight hair, her eyes shining.
I’ve been waiting for this moment
Bite into me, here we go
Yun Cheong untied her necktie and pulled it with both hands.
And then she covered her eyes with the tie.
After perfectly delivering the chorus with her eyes covered, as the song reached its climax.
The song’s atmosphere changed.
There’s nothing to fear
Bite into me
I’ll remove what’s covering your eyes
Matching the lyrics, Yun Cheong pulled down the tie that had covered her eyes.
The camera also zoomed in on Yun Cheong’s eyes.
The stage lights shone on her eyes, where beads of sweat had formed.
Then, the tear mole under her right eye sparkled.
I am your new world
And the song ended.
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