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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: 31화.
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Do Hui-yeong once again explained the rules of Make a New Color.
“In the final ranking announcement ceremony, the four trainees in the Top 4, along with one trainee chosen by the judges, will ultimately debut. Therefore, the fifth-place trainee cannot be considered completely safe. While they are in the debut zone, there's a possibility that the judges might not choose them.”
If that's the case, shouldn't they avoid calling it the 'debut zone'?
I cursed inwardly.
“That means there’s still a chance for the trainees whose names haven’t been called yet, those outside the debut zone. Please continue to show us your potential. Our judges will evaluate you based on your potential. We will make our judgment based on the potential you haven’t fully shown on broadcast.”
It was meant to be comforting words for the lower-ranked trainees, but no one looked particularly happy.
“Now, I will announce fifth place.”
Fifth Place
Seo Baek-yeong: 213,452 votes
The moment Seo Baek-yeong’s name appeared on screen, she swayed, tilting to the side.
Ryu Bo-ra caught her, steadying her.
She didn’t seem like it, but it looked like she was more nervous than I thought.
…Should I say pitiful?
Seo Baek-yeong stepped forward to give her speech.
“I’m the oldest here… and I have many shortcomings, so I was a bit anxious. I also wondered what I would do if I couldn’t debut this time. I’m so grateful to the Colorists who gave me this opportunity. Moving forward…”
It was a calm and sincere speech, typical of Seo Baek-yeong.
The fact that her speech was quite long was also typical of Seo Baek-yeong.
As soon as Seo Baek-yeong sat in the fifth-place chair, the broadcast continued.
“Now, I will announce the fourth-place trainee.”
Fourth Place
Ryu Bo-ra: 235,785 votes
As the camera turned to Ryu Bo-ra, she flashed her usual bright smile.
Sparkling eyes and lips subtly curved upwards.
It was the face of a female lead in a drama, falling in love.
Not the face of someone who had achieved good results in a competition.
…A strangely incongruous expression.
“I’m so grateful to the Team Bubble Gum trainees. Especially our leader…”
Ryu Bo-ra expressed her gratitude to her team members and fans in her speech.
It was a standard and brief greeting.
She did well, not even a single tremor in her voice.
“I will now announce third place.”
Third Place
Kim Geum: 284,987 votes
“!”
I could feel the murmuring around me.
Kim Geum was a strong candidate for first place, so it was inevitable.
Perhaps Kim Geum herself thought so, as her eyes seemed to tremble slightly.
However, Kim Geum quickly composed herself and bravely walked up to the podium.
“First of all! I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the Colorists!”
Wow, listen to that voice.
Kim Geum’s voice was booming from start to finish.
…One thing I really like is how spirited she is.
“Now, only first, second, and twelfth place remain.”
The remaining people were me, Kim Ryeo-yu, and Bang Su-in.
In reality, everyone was already predicting who would be twelfth.
Bang Su-in, the person in question, had her eyes tightly shut.
It was clear she was holding back tears.
As I always felt, it was truly a cruel system.
If they announced twelfth place first, at least they’d be given time to accept it.
“As announced initially, the twelfth-place trainee will be given a handicap. The details of this handicap will be revealed during the next mission. Now, I will announce twelfth place.”
Our three faces appeared on screen in a three-way split.
“Trainee Bang Su-in.”
Twelfth Place
Bang Su-in: 45,512 votes
A remarkably low number of votes.
More than the ranking, the enormous vote difference was what truly hurt.
Bang Su-in walked up to the podium and took the microphone.
“I am lacking, yet I sincerely thank the Colorists who voted for me this much. I will show you a more improved version of myself in the future.”
Bang Su-in seemed to force back a surge of tears.
“I think I was too complacent. I will work even harder… I apologize to my family and my fans who had high expectations for me.”
There was no reason for her to apologize at all.
I felt uneasy.
All the trainees felt the same. We bowed our heads. Knowing what that feeling was like, we couldn’t bear to watch.
Do Hui-yeong seemed to feel the same, her eyes filled with sorrow.
“Trainee Bang Su-in. Please think of this as just an interim evaluation. Trainee Bang Su-in is doing very well. If you continue to improve, many people will recognize your true worth.”
In the end, Bang Su-in burst into tears.
It seemed the warm comfort had made the tears she’d held back finally burst forth.
Do Hui-yeong hugged Bang Su-in, then helped her back to her seat.
As Bang Su-in sat down, other trainees also approached and patted her on the back.
Because even though it was a competition, emotions hadn't disappeared.
“Now, I will announce second place.”
I felt the camera focusing on Kim Ryeo-yu and me.
Soon, both our faces appeared on screen in a two-way split.
Both Kim Ryeo-yu and I had calm expressions.
It couldn't be helped.
Because both of us already knew the results.
Second Place
Yun Cheong: 293,980 votes
Gasp.
I saw trainees covering their mouths with a gasp.
At the same time, the screen changed.
First Place
Kim Ryeo-yu: 300,609 votes
“With a difference of 6,629 votes, Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu has taken first place.”
A very narrow margin.
However, both of us maintained composed expressions.
Especially me, as I had learned the results yesterday.
[Kim Ryeo-yu, 'Make a New Color 1st Place', 300,609 votes… Yun Cheong settles for 293,980 votes]
Because such an alert had come to my phone.
I don't know why the Cotton Lump tells me even things like this...
It must be telling me to prepare myself beforehand.
For these provocative articles.
Why provocative?
It's obvious.
The real first place was—
“Then, we should now add the benefits.”
Me.
My votes were 293,980. Adding the 50,000 benefit votes, it becomes 343,980 votes.
Surpassing Kim Ryeo-yu’s 300,609 votes.
Director Kim knew the vote counts for Kim Ryeo-yu and me, so she deliberately set the benefit at 50,000 votes.
Instead of giving the benefit for the next mission, she intentionally gave it for a meaningless interim popularity vote.
To make the fans and the public fight amongst themselves.
Kim Ryeo-yu’s fans would naturally claim Kim Ryeo-yu was the true first place, while my fans would question such a notion.
She was trying to draw attention this way, even if it meant creating sympathy for Kim Ryeo-yu.
“First, Trainee Kim Geum, who took first place in the on-site voting. Adding 50,000 votes, she has 334,987 votes.”
Kim Geum also seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere, as her expression wasn’t particularly pleased.
“Next is Trainee Yun Cheong, chosen as the MVP by the judges. Adding 50,000 votes, she has 343,980 votes.”
As Do Hui-yeong pointed to the screen, the rearranged rankings appeared once again.
Third Place
Kim Ryeo-yu: 300,609 votes
Second Place
Kim Geum: 334,987 votes
(284,987 + 50,000)
First Place
Yun Cheong: 343,980 votes
(293,980 + 50,000)
With the benefits added, Kim Ryeo-yu, who was originally first place, had dropped to third.
It was an unpleasant situation for everyone.
Even Kim Geum and I, who had become first and second place due to the benefits, weren’t pleased.
So this was why they chose me as MVP.
I tried diligently to hide my bitterness.
I wondered why they hadn't given the MVP to Kim Ryeo-yu.
They must be trying to make Kim Geum and me get criticized this way.
Even if the votes were legitimately earned, this was essentially giving Kim Ryeo-yu’s fans an excuse.
“Trainee Kim Geum, congratulations on achieving second place. Since we heard your speech earlier, we will omit your speech this time.”
Do Hui-yeong also congratulated Kim Geum with an ambiguous expression.
“Then, Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu. Please give us your third-place speech.”
Kim Ryeo-yu’s expression didn't change even at the mention of third place, and she walked up to the podium.
While 'spirited' might be the right word, to my eyes, knowing the circumstances, she just looked shameless.
“First, I thank all my team members who trusted and followed me. I was a lacking leader… my team members should be ranked higher than me…”
As Kim Ryeo-yu said that, she suddenly burst into tears.
“I’m also so grateful to the Colorists who voted for me. I will definitely repay everyone who believed in me… and cherished me. Honestly… honestly, I’ve been so exhausted… I will remember today forever and be grateful for the undeserved opportunities I’ve been given.”
Do Hui-yeong offered Kim Ryeo-yu a handkerchief.
Kim Ryeo-yu buried her face completely in the handkerchief, wiping away her tears.
“Many misunderstandings… I will prove them wrong, one by one, through my actions, so as not to embarrass the Colorists who supported me. And.”
Kim Ryeo-yu turned her head and looked towards me.
Then the camera also focused on me.
“Cheong-ah, congratulations on first place, truly. I’m so happy for you, honestly. Having a friend like you makes me feel so secure.”
I smiled with the most touched expression I could muster.
So secure that you tried to ruin someone?
She was truly something else.
“In the future, I will show, through my results and my actions, that all the stories about me are misunderstandings. Thank you!”
Are they really just misunderstandings, though?
After her multifaceted, significant speech ended, Kim Ryeo-yu sat in the third-place seat.
“Now, first place, Trainee Yun Cheong. Please come up.”
And then it was my turn.
“First, I thank all the Colorists who voted for me. 293,980 votes – I will never forget them and will cherish them in my heart. The reason I decided to become an idol was because I desperately longed for moments like these. Because I know that if I approach it with sincerity, there will be people who sincerely support me. I will consider today to be such an occasion.”
I slowly turned my head.
“However, just for today, I want to give the title of first place to Ryeo-yu.”
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