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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Chapter 32
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“The 50,000-vote benefit is something I’m incredibly grateful for. But it’s not something I achieved alone; Kim Geum, Lee Ju-seon, and Yeon Ju-hong—our entire Team Four Seasons—achieved it together.”
I quietly sent heart gestures to my team members.
Yeon Ju-hong responded with a cheerful “Woowoo!”
“And because I know how incredibly hard Kim Ryeo-yu worked, I want to congratulate her more than anyone today.”
I clapped for Kim Ryeo-yu.
“Furthermore, I want to extend my congratulations and the honor of the first-place title to all the trainees participating in this competition. I believe everyone here is a true first-place winner.”
I looked at each trainee, from 12th place all the way to 2nd, one by one.
“I am simply so grateful for the sincere support of everyone who voted for me. And I am equally happy just by the genuine well wishes of the other trainees who truly congratulate me.”
I took a deep breath.
The moment I first thought I wanted to become an idol.
And the moment Yun Cheong first thought she wanted to become an idol.
All those moments overlapped.
In those moments, did the complicated adult world or rankings really matter so much?
No, they didn’t.
What truly mattered was—
“I believe what’s truly important isn’t the title itself, but the fact that we are all genuine, and that everyone who supports us is also genuine. To that sincerity, I want to respond with nothing less than my own genuine heart. Thank you!”
It was these genuine feelings.
I hoped those genuine feelings wouldn’t be forgotten simply because of a competition like this.
***
Can we just stop fighting for today, guys?
Don’t you guys feel anything after hearing kids half your age speak?
Honestly, I reflected a bit after hearing Yun Cheong’s speech today.
Honestly, when I saw the benefit, I was like, ‘Ugh, this is gonna turn into a total mudslinging fest again,’ but Yun Cheong’s speech alone made me reconsider.
Yun Cheong isn't a Baby Beast, she was seriously an Unnie Beast todayㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ
Cheong Unnie, I’m 29, can I call you Unnie? If you're cool, you're an Unnie.
Ah, hell, I seriously can’t escape Yun Cheong now. Cheong-cheong, take responsibility for me!
I’m going crazy, please, what are we going to do about our god-tier Yun Cheong? What are we going to do about our god-tier baby who says ‘as long as we’re sincere’? Ugh.
YunBlue, are you perhaps on your second life?
Yeah, this is all those M-bal-nom-deul’s fault. Let’s burn M-Ten down!
└Burn those Col-bal-nom-deul too.
Just let all 12 of them debut already! Our Queen Cheong said to just let them all debut.
Back in the 8-pyeong studio apartment.
The Colors all-fan nodded, watching the furiously burning timeline.
Truth be told, she had a lot of worries today.
Because it was the ranking announcement ceremony.
Her top bias was Yun Cheong, and her second bias was Kim Geum.
Since both were expected to rank high, she wasn’t particularly worried about the rankings themselves.
The problem, however, was the benefit.
When she heard that both Yun Cheong and Kim Geum would receive a 50,000-vote benefit, her anxiety surged.
It would be one thing if they both took 1st and 2nd place in the public vote, and then the 50,000-vote benefit just cemented their 1st and 2nd positions…
But if the rankings shifted because of the benefit, the fans of the originally ranked trainees would, naturally, be furious.
Of course, this particular ranking wouldn’t affect the final debut lineup, but how could anyone’s heart remain unaffected?
There were countless fans who, desperate to get their ‘child’ to first place, not only campaigned tirelessly among their acquaintances but also held events with prizes on social media.
All just to see a single smile grace their ‘child’s’ face.
So, if the order was overturned because of the judges’ pick, it was only natural for them to be upset.
The Colors all-fan had even prayed that Yun Cheong wouldn’t become the MVP.
But to anyone watching, Yun Cheong’s skill was truly exceptional.
Unless the judges were blind, Cheong should naturally have been the MVP… so the judges were blameless.
If there’s any sin, it’s that our Cheong shines too brightly!
…While she was having such a ridiculous thought.
And then, Yun Cheong truly did take first place because of the benefit.
The original first place had been Kim Ryeo-yu.
“Damn it. Of all people…”
The Colors all-fan pressed a hand to her forehead.
Kim Ryeo-yu was the trainee with the most anti-fans and loyal fans within Make a New Color.
She had a truly immense number of anti-fans due to rumors of being a ‘family pick’ and a few subtly unsettling interviews.
It was rare for a trainee who hadn’t even debuted yet to have such a massive anti-fan base.
The problem was this:
Those anti-fans actually fueled the loyal fans even more.
The loyal fans threw themselves into voting even more fiercely, worried that Kim Ryeo-yu would be hurt by the anti-fans.
★
#KimRyeoyu_ProtectAtAllCosts_ShowThemWhatVotesCanDo
It just goes to show how intense they are if their hashtags are like this.
Colors fans generally have incredible dedication, but Kim Ryeo-yu’s fans took it a step further.
In fact, Kim Ryeo-yu’s fans were behind the majority of the vote verification events on social media.
So, there was no way she couldn’t worry.
But then?
Yun Cheong completely nailed it in her speech, outright stating that first place belonged to Kim Ryeo-yu.
Along with that, she also delivered thoughtful remarks, making sure fans wouldn’t feel slighted.
Haha, she’s totally laying the groundwork to avoid getting cursed out. I mean, she knows her place, right?
└Ryeo;yu is too kind, honestly ㅠ Why is she sitting there congratulating a cyanide? She’s too good-hearted, seriously ㅋㅋ
└└It’s so obvious she’s cunning, seriouslyㅋㅋㅋ Of course our Ryeo;;yu is first place, why are you even mentioning it and making a fuss?
└└└Ryeo;yu, please think about the feelings of the fans who spend money to make you first place, okay? Not that cyanide’s feelings ㅠ
Ugh, I wish YC would stop pretending to be nice, lol.
King-bal, no, of course RY is first, why is she making a fuss about ‘ceding’ it or whatever? Lol.
She’s really laying the groundwork to avoid getting flamed, lol.
Ugh, I guess she thought she’d get flamed too ^^
No, the girls get along fine, why are you trying to sow discord? Solo stans, please just disappear.
└They haven’t even debuted yet, what ‘solo stans’? Lol. It’s a system where you can only vote for one person anyway, so how *couldn’t* solo stans emerge?
Of course, that didn’t mean everyone’s reaction was favorable.
Naturally, a minority of people cursed Yun Cheong’s speech, calling her cunning or saying they could clearly see her calculating.
It wasn’t just Kim Ryeo-yu’s fans who reacted this way.
People who already disliked Yun Cheong were no different.
“…Still, calling someone ‘cyanide’? Really?”
What creative pieces of trash they were.
The Colors all-fan, filled with rage, took screenshots and saved them as a PDF.
With the intention of reporting them to Colors someday.
Of course, Colors is notorious for not pursuing lawsuits… but if she didn’t even do something like this, she felt like she’d die from sheer frustration.
“Anyway, congratulations on first place, Cheong-ah.”
Even though the benefit had an impact,
That benefit was something you earned through your hard work.
To us, you’re number one.
***
After the ranking announcement ceremony concluded.
We moved to another studio, following the staff’s guidance.
I’d thought they’d let us finish filming early today, but the schedule seemed incredibly tight.
As a result, the trainees had to move on without any time to compose themselves.
“Alright. I know everyone must be very tired today. So, I have some good news for you all.”
Do Hui-yeong must have been tired as well, yet she showed no hint of fatigue.
Experienced professional, indeed.
While we were all utterly drained.
“Up until now, all of you trainees have been commuting from your own homes, haven’t you?”
We each nodded.
Even I commuted from a goshiwon.
About half commuted from their own studio apartments, and the other half from their family homes.
I heard Seo Baek-yeong commuted a three-hour round trip every day.
And yet, she’d stay in the practice room until dawn.
How on earth did she get home at dawn, I’d wondered, only to hear she took a bus that ran at that hour.
It was truly incredible.
“It must have been very difficult for you all until now. But starting tomorrow! We will begin our dormitory life!”
Gasp.
We could only roll our eyes.
I’d always expected to hear about dormitory life eventually, but I never thought it would be today.
Why today, of all days, when the atmosphere has sunk to its absolute worst?
“Today, please go home and pack your bags, and tomorrow, we’ll meet at your new dorm with your luggage.”
At that moment, Yeon Ju-hong shot her hand into the air.
“Are all twelve of us going to live in one house?”
“Yes, of course. There are a total of four rooms, so three of you will share each room.”
Three people to a room…
A chill already ran down my spine.
I had never once experienced living in a dorm.
Because I used to be a solo singer.
Even though the company had provided a dorm, I’d had it all to myself.
But could I suddenly endure a place with twelve people in one house, three people to a single room?
“We’ll decide roommates tomorrow. Alright, see you all here tomorrow!”
***
The next day.
Thanks to finishing work precisely at midnight last night, we had to pack our bags in the predawn hours.
Because today’s filming was scheduled to start at 6 AM.
And so, that morning, we showed up without even a speck of makeup.
Dark circles had begun to form under our eyes.
You broadcasting station bastards…
They’re still growing sprouts, for goodness sake, let them get some sleep.
It hadn’t been long since the second mission ended, so everyone was desperately sleep-deprived.
So most of us caught a quick nap on the bus.
A battle of nerves with Kim Ryeo-yu?
There was no way that was possible.
There wasn’t even enough time to sleep. We didn’t have the energy to fight.
And so, the bus arrived at an apartment complex.
Still unable to shake off our drowsiness, we disembarked from the bus.
Twelve haggard-faced trainees, dragging suitcases as large as their own bodies.
Anyone looking at us would have thought we were heading off on a school trip.
It truly did feel like we were going on an actual school trip.
“It’s not that far from the agency, is it?”
“Yeah. Probably just one or two bus stops away.”
“Since they’re getting us a place anyway, why couldn’t it be right next to the agency? There’s an apartment building right next door!”
Yeon Ju-hong grumbled quietly.
Ju-hong, that place is probably too expensive…
This place must be incredibly expensive too.
“Let’s live there after we debut.”
“Oh, I like that.”
At Kim Geum’s ambitious words, Yeon Ju-hong hummed her agreement happily.
Following the staff, we arrived at the very top floor of the apartment building.
They’d said there were four rooms, and the apartment was indeed quite spacious.
Each room was two or three times the size of a typical household room.
…Well, it would have to be that big if three people were going to live in it.
“Wow, this place is amazing.”
“It feels ten times bigger than my own house, doesn’t it?”
“The apartment is so pretty. I want to live here forever…”
“As expected of Colors! They never skimp when it comes to money!”
…And lose at everything else?
Well, I suppose. Their ethics do seem to be lacking.
As soon as I stepped inside, I immediately counted the number of bathrooms.
Damn it.
There were only three.
Twelve girls and three bathrooms?
That practically means ‘don’t shower’.
“Alright, have you all had a quick look around the apartment?”
“Yes!”
Do Hui-yeong called out to us, her voice full of meaning.
“Then, it’s time to decide on your rooms and roommates, isn’t it?”
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