NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37
“……”
“……”
The usually emotionless Kang Soo-hyun created a sad atmosphere, causing the mood to drop sharply.
Soo-woo quickly sensed it and shifted the conversation from Yoo Seol to the next topic.
“Ah…, haha…. Now that the seating selection is done, we’ll start the ranking evaluation. Wow…, I’m excited. Wow…, Han Si-woo is coming out…, wow…. Haha….”
“……”
What on earth happened with Yoo Seol that made her look so gloomy?
Could it be related to Kang Soo-hyun quitting as a trainer at JJ and leaving this industry?
‘If not, does the old-timer who couldn’t debut after 9 years of training look pathetic?’
…It doesn’t seem like a good story.
Since Kang Soo-hyun didn’t seem keen to talk about it, I decided to just focus on the broadcast.
[Han Si-woo: Alright, then let’s start the ranking evaluation from now on—!! Show me your dream!]
[Waaahhhh—!!!!]
The broadcast quickly moved through the introduction of the trainers and announced the start of the ranking evaluation.
The editing direction of the broadcast was as I expected.
At first, they showed the participants’ enthusiastic appearances…
[Han Si-woo: Did you know your pitch was completely off?]
[Han Si-woo: It felt like watching a high school talent show stage.]
As the harsh and cold critiques from the trainers followed, it felt like cold water was poured into the atmosphere, causing it to cool down drastically.
Reactions in the comment section split in half.
– Hm? Is that the standard?
– I thought it was okay.
On one side, some viewers thought the trainers’ evaluations were too harsh.
– So are you better singers than Han Si-woo? Better dancers?
– You idiots are even critiquing the judges now.
– Even I can see they weren’t good, it’s right that they’re evaluating properly.
Thus, with the comments divided and igniting a fiery discussion, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious.
‘Could the production team have planned this too?’
If there’s a debate, the program’s viewership and topics will definitely rise.
Certainly, while the Na Ah Ah production team may have questionable morals, their ability to draw attention from the broadcast was razor-sharp.
[Han Si-woo: Oh Hyun-hee trainee. It says here you’ve been training for a year. Is that right?]
[Oh Hyun-hee (Tai Hai): Well, to be precise, it’s been a year and a half….]
[Han Si-woo: What exactly have you been practicing during that time?]
[Stifling silence.]
[Q: How did you feel at that time?]
[Oh Hyun-hee (Tai Hai): At that time, I really wanted to just leave everything and run away….]
– Ah, poor thing…
– Shouldn’t have done well on stage then.
– The judges seem to be sharpening their knives; they are all intense.
– Na Ah Ah is tough.
[Han Si-woo: …Tai Hai’s Oh Hyun-hee trainee’s rank is F.]
Just like that, the broadcast continued as the production team desired, maintaining a cold atmosphere.
It was the same when SAV Seo Yoo-jin appeared.
[Seo Yoo-jin: Hello, I’m Seo Yoo-jin from SAV Entertainment.]
– Wow!
– Finally, Yoo-jin is here.
– Show us some solid SAV skills.
– SAV idols are famously known for not having any performance controversies.
As her turn approached, there was a significant buzz among the comments again…
There was anticipation that she would be the first to receive an A rank in this cold environment.
[Kim Ye-sol (Vocal Trainer): Seo Yoo-jin trainee. This must be your first performance on such a stage, but you don’t seem nervous.]
[Seo Yoo-jin (SAV): Yes, I’m not nervous.]
[Kim Ye-sol (Vocal Trainer): Why is that?]
[Seo Yoo-jin (SAV): Because I’m from SAV!]
[Q: You seem to have a lot of attachment to your company?]
[Seo Yoo-jin (SAV): Yes, it’s my first company, and with so many impressive seniors, I’m really proud of my company! I want to show a good appearance so that I won’t ruin the company’s honor!]
[A confident smile.]
And the Na Ah Ah production team nicely edited Yoo-jin’s appearance.
They highlighted her confidence while removing any parts that might seem arrogant.
Then the stage for Seo Yoo-jin began….
– In a strange atmosphere, I can’t let you go.
Seo Yoo-jin delivered a performance that met the viewers’ expectations.
As she showcased far superior stage skills than expected, the comment section reignited.
– Wow!
– Wow!
– Wow, she’s pulling off Tae-hwan’s
– No way, this is amazing?
– As expected, it’s SAV.
Seo Yoo-jin’s vocal ability and dance skills even earned praise from Kang Soo-hyun and Lee Ji-woo.
“Well…, she’s talented.”
“There are many areas to improve on, but… her dance lines are pretty and she dances well.”
– This should definitely be an A, right?
– This is definitely a must-have A.
– Our Yoo-jin ㅠㅠ First A congratulations congratulations.
Just when everyone was sure that Seo Yoo-jin would receive an A rank for the first time, it happened.
[Han Si-woo: Don’t you think your performance was a bit too showy?]
Of course, Han Si-woo stepped in and flipped the atmosphere upside down.
Even now, it didn’t seem like Seo Yoo-jin’s evaluation stage was enough to earn a B.
Somewhere in the vague boundary between B and A.
But Han Si-woo highlighted the weaknesses of Seo Yoo-jin’s performance…
[Han Si-woo: Seo Yoo-jin trainee, there’s too much tension in your neck. You need to tone down the technique.]
[Han Si-woo: The rank for SAV Entertainment’s Seo Yoo-jin trainee is B.]
[Shocking result.]
He led the narrative and assigned Seo Yoo-jin a B rank.
The comment section erupted in chaos.
– …? This is a B?
– Seriously, what do you have to do to get an A?
– That Han Si-woo is such a jerk.
– Is he, a former YW, suppressing SAV trainees? That’s disgraceful.
With Han Si-woo’s continued harsh assessments, public sentiment exploded.
– Are you saying you sing better than Han Si-woo?
– Han Si-woo is just doing his job, why are you cursing at him?
– Si-woo oppa, do whatever you want.
Of course, there were fans shielding Han Si-woo in the mix…
– Why are you upset? Han Si-woo is just being a jerk.
– What kind of high standard do they expect from trainees?
– Disappointing, Han Si-woo.
In front of the already turned public sentiment, even Han Si-woo’s reputed fandom seemed insignificant.
At that time, I recalled what the Na Ah Ah production team once said.
‘Isn’t throwing a sharp stone all about getting attention now?’
Throwing a sharp stone is indeed of interest.
In that sense, this was the moment where Na Ah Ah episode 1 gained the most attention.
The comment section was more active than ever.
And during this time of overflowing traffic…
[Next participant to show their stage is Brotherhood Planning’s Ha Ye-rin.]
…My ranking evaluation was approaching.
[Yes, Ha Ye-rin participant. Please introduce yourself.]
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …I’m 19-year-old Ha Ye-rin from Brotherhood Planning.]
As I appeared in the midst of this chaos, comments split in half again.
– Ye-rin is out.
– Ah…, please do well.
– She did well in the group theme song.
– What if Han Si-woo criticizes her again?
On one side, worried about me…
– SAV got a B; what can a tiny agency do?
– She probably won’t even get a B.
– I think she’s just pretty, haha.
The comments formed two camps; those who hoped for me and those who doubted me.
Then, one of the sides unified in response to Han Si-woo’s next words.
[Han Si-woo: Ha Ye-rin trainee. I’ve noticed your idol trainee experience is very short?]
[Han Si-woo: How long have you actually been training?]
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …To be exact, one month.]
– What.
– Wait, she’s only been training for a month?
– ???
– What does that even mean?
My incredibly short training period was revealed on the broadcast.
[Han Si-woo: So you participated after only one month of training… Did you have that much confidence in your skills, or… ?]
[Stifling silence.]
[Han Si-woo: Did you see the idol industry as something trivial?]
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Even though I’ve only trained for a month, I felt overwhelmed. … (abridged)… I absolutely do not underestimate the idol industry, which is full of people like that.]
Thanks to my lengthy justification, there were no comments criticizing my short trainee period.
[Han Si-woo: Then why do you want to become an idol?]
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): …Because of my parents.]
[Han Si-woo: …What?]
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Because of my parents…, I have to become an idol…. I must….]
[What could her story be?]
As subtitles appeared, a past interview clip we’d recorded before aired.
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): My family has some debts. (To pay it off….)]
After seeing this, comments expressed sympathy for my situation.
– Ah ㅠㅠ
– Such a dutiful daughter…
– Such a story…
Nonetheless, nobody in the comments seemed to expect much from my performance.
– Ah.. I hope she does well.
– Can someone who has only trained for a month do well?
– I hope she doesn’t embarrass herself.
Among them, there were those preemptively trashing the likely lackluster performance.
– Weren’t you in the center during the group theme song? Did you ride on beauty?
– Haha, is not training much a badge of honor?
– Seems like these days, you can debut just by looking pretty without any skills.
Thus, the concern for me, the people supporting me, those regretting Seo Yoo-jin’s B rank, and those cursing Han Si-woo’s harsh evaluations all converged on my performance…
[Ha Ye-rin (Brotherhood Planning): Now…, I will show you my stage.]
My performance had begun.
– Yeah, it won’t be easy, this is a world I’ve been granted permission to~
Starting acapella, the surprised faces of the judges appeared on the screen.
Especially Han Si-woo stared at the version of me on the screen with wide eyes.
The sudden start and song choice startled the comments section as well.
– Wait, is that this song?
– Ehh?!
– Tai, Tai Ilah-!
– Huh…? Would she really sing this song?
– What’s this song?
Before I could finish the first few lines of the acapella, an advertisement interrupted.
[What? The new work from Ansim Sanjeok writer Happy Ending is out? Let’s go watch it now! I became an idol to pay off debts; serialization ongoing.]
The timing of the Na Ah Ah production team’s ads was truly an art form.
– Ah bullshit, putting ads in now?
– Wait, did I hear that right? Was that
– Wow, I can’t believe I’m seeing this song on a girl group audition show.
– No way, I really like her now.
– Ye-rin!! Evolve me!! Ye-rin!!
– What’s this song again?
– Haha, it’s like both boys and girls here.
– Those who haven’t seen GDimon, just get lost haha.
– We were all back then….
– Ah, it’s GDimon? Look at how excited the oldies are haha.
– When will this ad end, bullshit-!!
Suddenly, comments that had previously not anticipated my performance were now cursing the ads and cheering for me.
Truly, the nostalgia attack from GDimon was effective.