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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Vocal Team's Urgent Meeting
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“…”
“…”
This silence right now, what's going on?
It was the silence of the vocal team, who had entered an urgent strategy meeting.
Lee Gyeong-a’s heart must have sunk at the sight of my slightly tear-filled eyes, as she immediately summoned Ryu Bo-ra.
Ryu Bo-ra had to be dragged away from vocal practice and sit in the practice room.
Ryu Bo-ra said nothing much. She pretended not to notice, but she was a very perceptive kid.
She must have immediately sensed that something had happened the moment she walked in.
“Alright, I’m not exactly the leader of this team… but as the eldest, I can’t just ignore conflict, things like this.”
Lee Gyeong-a already knew about the conflict between Lee Ju-seon and Team Four Seasons.
And she was a trainee who knew what would happen if such conflicts weren’t properly handled.
“Hui-on, you… you might have some lingering resentment towards Cheong. But that’s all old news, isn’t it? Why do you keep bringing it up?”
“Unnie, I—”
Jo Hui-on pouted considerably, seemingly feeling wronged herself.
However, she also seemed to know that she didn’t really have anyone on her side here.
“No, whatever it is, you shouldn’t make someone cry.”
“I didn’t mean to say it with that intention…”
“Then why bring up conflicts that happened at our old agency? That’s not a necessary thing to say.”
“It was just small talk, small talk. I just think it’s admirable and great how wonderfully Cheong has grown.”
Are you my mother? Admirable?
It was absurd.
Jo Hui-on was scolded mercilessly by Lee Gyeong-a.
If Park Ha-eun had at least been there, she might not have been pushed around like that.
But here, there was only Lee Gyeong-a, who wanted to avoid controversy at all costs, me, and Ryu Bo-ra, who had no interest in anything.
Ryu Bo-ra literally had ‘indifference’ written all over her face.
I’ve been thinking this since last time… she really does her own thing…
Should I say I’m… envious…?
“Bo-ra, what do you think?”
Lee Gyeong-a, seemingly frustrated, couldn’t hold back and asked.
“Hui-on Unnie, do you still have feelings left over for Cheong Unnie?”
“I said no.”
“Cheong Unnie, do you have anything you want to say?”
Plenty.
I recalled the things Jo Hui-on and Kim Ryeo-yu had done.
No, rather, I recalled what they ‘should have done’.
That ‘incident’ where Yun Cheong utterly botched her third mission.
Actually, Jo Hui-on and Kim Ryeo-yu had indeed pressured Yun Cheong psychologically, but so far, it had been minor.
But ‘that incident’ was on a different level.
Because it was something that could ruin a trainee’s entire career.
The problem was that, timing-wise, ‘that incident’ wasn’t supposed to happen yet.
It happened in my previous life, but it might not happen in this one.
I looked at Jo Hui-on.
Is it right to give her one more chance?
Will she truly make a different choice in this life?
“…If Hui-on doesn’t have any, then I don’t either.”
I don’t have a justification yet.
For now, let’s just watch quietly.
“Then that’s settled. I think everyone should just focus on practice.”
Ryu Bo-ra, with her characteristic indifferent eyes, merely curled the corners of her lips into a slight smile.
“…Whew. Okay. Let’s move past this for now. Still, Hui-on, if you happen to have any lingering resentment, please talk about it when everyone is present. Got it?”
“…Yes.”
Jo Hui-on conceded for now.
She must have known that pressing the issue further would only worsen her image.
“Since we’re all gathered here, why don’t we discuss the concept and stage?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
I immediately echoed Ryu Bo-ra’s words.
Just what I wanted.
“Is it about the choreography?”
Lee Gyeong-a also seemed to know what I wanted to say.
“Yes. And the producers also mentioned something about it.”
Actually, during a recent recording, Danha and Han Jae-yi had made a suggestion.
‘Just because you’re in the vocal position doesn’t mean you have to stand still and sing.’
‘Right, right. It’s just about maximizing the charm of the vocals.’
‘If you need any kind of staging for the performance, I hope you utilize everything.’
Whether it was choreography or anything else.
The intention conveyed by the two producers was clear.
Do whatever helps the stage itself.
“Indeed, I was also thinking about adding choreography.”
“I think it’s a good idea too.”
Lee Gyeong-a, perhaps having considered the suggestion herself, immediately spoke up.
Surprisingly, Jo Hui-on also agreed.
At least she’s cooperative, that’s a relief.
“I do have something in mind.”
“Oh, Cheong.”
Lee Gyeong-a clapped dramatically.
The eldest’s efforts to somehow lift the mood…
It tugs at my heartstrings…
“So… like this… this part like this… what do you think of this?”
“Oh, wow.”
The three listened intently to my suggestion with very thoughtful expressions.
“The idea itself seems really good. It probably won’t overlap with other teams. And it’ll be visually appealing.”
Ryu Bo-ra was the first to accept it.
“Yeah. It looks like it’ll be incredibly difficult, but it’s the kind of stage that’ll be rewarding once we pull it off.”
“I… I think the idea is good too.”
Surprisingly, it seemed to be accepted relatively smoothly.
That’s a relief.
Honestly, if it didn’t work out, I was planning to try to persuade Danha and Han Jae-yi.
Because usually, if you persuade those in power… things get resolved quickly.
“Especially in this part, if Bo-ra does this…”
“Good, good. I think Bo-ra would do really well with that.”
Lee Gyeong-a, looking pleased, clapped again.
“So then Bo-ra would practically be the center… right?”
However, Jo Hui-on had a slightly different reaction.
“Oh, no, that’s not it. The parts are all equally divided. It’s just in this section that Bo-ra—”
“Even so, if she does that, it’s true that Bo-ra will get the most impactful part, isn’t it? The public will naturally think Bo-ra is the center.”
So, she dislikes not being in the spotlight, that’s it.
I understand her feelings, but…
“Then, Hui-on, do you want to try it?”
“…”
Jo Hui-on’s reaction was ambiguous.
It was clear she didn’t think she could pull it off.
Naturally.
Because this part requires acting skills.
And I realized when she was picking a fight earlier, she can’t even act like she’s nice.
What kind of acting would someone like that do?
“If you have any other ideas, feel free to suggest them at any time. Let’s consider them all together.”
However, I couldn’t give her a pretext for conflict.
I had to clearly show that I was making an effort.
Especially since the cameras were rolling right now.
Of course, Jo Hui-on couldn’t answer.
Because ideas don’t just come easily when you’re told to produce them.
In the end, Jo Hui-on raised the white flag.
“But.”
Just then, Ryu Bo-ra suddenly spoke.
“I think Cheong Unnie would do better than me?”
Huh?
“The idea is Cheong Unnie’s, and you interpreted it much better. I think it makes more sense for Cheong Unnie to do it than me.”
Th-this isn’t right.
I barely managed to calm my trembling pupils.
Why does she refuse even when I spoon-feed her an opportunity?
“No, Bo-ra, you suit it much better than me. I’ve never even acted before.”
“Well, Unnie, you have the face of a good actor.”
What kind of face reading is that?
“Because there’s some kind of narrative in your eyes. Haven’t you heard that you look like you have a story?”
“…I don’t know about that?”
Yun Cheong had never heard such a thing.
It was ‘Baek Nok-ha’ who had heard such things.
I’d heard I had the face of a ruined kingdom’s princess or something.
I’m not sure what that even means, but…
But that’s my original face, not Yun Cheong’s face.
Isn’t Yun Cheong’s face rather delicate and sharp-featured?
“Oh, I think I know what you mean. It’s like, she doesn’t feel like she’s 20, but more like an adult. There’s a poised vibe about her.”
That… that is actually an accurate observation.
I was flustered by the strange turn the conversation was taking.
I’ve never acted before!
At most, I’ve had cameo appearances in dramas or acted in my own music videos!
Of course, I generally received good reviews, many saying I was surprisingly good, but…
That was ‘good for a singer,’ not ‘good for an actor.’
“Most importantly, you were the highest ranked here, Unnie. It’s good for us too if you become the absolute MVP.”
Lee Gyeong-a nodded.
“That’s right. For us to get benefits, the overall first place needs to be in our team. Among us, Cheong, you have the highest potential. I think we need to push you to some extent.”
It was persuasive, but…
Acting, of all things—it was such an unexpected suggestion that I was flustered.
“If doing it alone feels like too much pressure, how about this?”
As I continued to hesitate, Ryu Bo-ra looked me straight in the eye and said.
“The producers said it was a story about two people from the start, didn’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“How about Unnie and I do it together? It’ll be less pressure than doing it alone.”
This was truly tempting.
Hmm.
Should I try it?
“Good. Cheong-ah, what do you think?”
“Then… how about we just pair up?”
I glanced at Jo Hui-on.
Her face was about to explode.
“Gyeong-a Unnie and Hui-on as one pair. Bo-ra and I as another pair. We each take on the roles of ‘two people’ and perform on stage. I think it would be fun while also getting equal attention.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Jo Hui-on immediately cut in, not wanting to miss the opportunity.
It was a transparent move, but at least it was better than being listless.
We eventually reached that agreement.
“So, since the concept is all decided, shall we officially start planning the choreography?”
“Yep.”
And so, we were only able to leave at 3 AM.
I didn’t know then.
What kind of stir this stage would cause.
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