The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 161

After the fourth round of evaluations, which came with live broadcasts and text voting, the tension in the trainee dorms was on another level.

“Ah!”

“Ack, s-sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

“…It’s fine. I get it.”

Even small mistakes were enough to fray nerves and shake confidence.

Maybe because more than half of them would have to return to trainee life once this was over.

The smiles on once-bright faces faded into worry, and even if someone tried to lighten the mood, it rarely stuck.

And in the middle of it all—Li Ming Shen…

“One eight, two eight, da, da… Yes. Yes. G—good.”

“Th-thank you.”

He was doing a good job keeping centered.

From the start, Li Ming Shen hadn’t joined Targeting Star with debut in mind. If anything, when the show ended, he’d go back to China and prepare for a proper group there.

“…Let’s take ten, then go again.”

“Th-thank you!”

As dance mentor Jin Dasol left the studio, Li Ming Shen leaned against the mirror, trying to catch his breath.

With the choreography of “Groggy” using the full stage, he and Kim Chunyong had to hold the center formation—meaning a ton of stamina burn.

More than he’d ever needed for any past performance.

“Rest up. I’ll grab drinks. Ion drinks okay?”

“Ah, yes. Thank you, Chunyong hyung…”

“Thanks, hyung!”

“No problem. I’ll be right back. The vending machine’s just outside.”

But Kim Chunyong, who’d put just as much energy into the routine, walked out like it was nothing.

“I’ll take care of this stuff from now on. I am the oldest, right? Ha, gotta act like a hyung at least once in a while.”

“I’m actually the same age as you, Chunyong…”

“Well… just think of it as part of the Korean hospitality package.”

He only said that so he could keep everyone’s spirits up.

‘The vending machine’s technically close, but you’ve gotta go down another floor.’

Li Ming Shen couldn’t stop the thought from pushing into his head.

‘Chunyong… really is…’

“He’s kind of… interesting, huh? Chunyong hyung.”

“…Huh?”

Li Ming Shen blinked in surprise at the hesitant voice beside him.

Jang Si Woo—famously shy, known among the trainees for being quiet—was the one who had spoken up.

‘Isn’t he the type who doesn’t open his mouth unless he really has to?’

…Just like Liu Wei.

At the sudden memory of his friend’s name, Li Ming Shen bit the inside of his cheek.

Since the day he pushed Liu Wei away, they hadn’t spoken directly.

Still, with everything between them, it was only natural Liu Wei would keep popping into his mind.

‘…No way to not think about it.’

Regardless of what Li Ming Shen was feeling, Jang Si Woo had gathered the courage to speak and was now carefully continuing the conversation.

“Um… Chunyong hyung is… really good at keeping the mood light.”

“Yeah? I didn’t really know. This is my first time teaming up with him. We’ve run into each other during mini games, but practice is a whole different thing.”

“Yeah. This is my second time, and… he really takes care of everyone.”

Si Woo’s eyes darted like a cat’s as he glanced at Li Ming Shen, then blushed as he stammered.

“I caused a lot of trouble last time… This time, I really want to do better.”

Not just standing there getting helped all the time.

As Si Woo spoke, Ahn Jin Woo naturally chimed in from beside them.

“Same. No matter what else, Chunyong hyung’s just amazing, right? He picks up choreography so fast, his vocals are solid, and his dancing—he’s seriously good.”

Ahn Jin Woo had been sitting at eighth place before Chunyong bumped him down.

AG pureblood, strong basics, good looks. But still a trainee with a lot to learn.

If Targeting Star didn’t lead to his debut, he’d keep training underground with AG.

In a similar situation to Li Ming Shen, Jin Woo could admire Kim Chunyong with an even purer heart.

“There’s just so much to learn from him. And he explains things in such an easy way…”

“Right. So you thought so too, Jin Woo hyung…”

“This is my first time practicing with him too, but… yeah. I wish we could’ve teamed up more often.”

Hearing the words of the two Korean AG trainees, Li Ming Shen pressed his lips together and rubbed lightly at his forehead.

There was nothing wrong in what they said.

Being on the Team ‘Groggy,’ practicing together, spending time that was—honestly—more enjoyable than anything that came before.

Maybe even beyond just a survival show.

By now, Li Ming Shen’s desire had taken full shape.

‘Before I go back to China, who knows when I’ll get to be onstage with such a great team again.’

So just this once.

He wanted to forget Liu Wei, forget his family, and just put together a truly good performance.

“I’m back. I’m not too late, right? I was in a rush, so I just got the same drink for everyone!”

“I’m good with that. Uh, Chunyong hyung, by the way…”

“Oh, right. Si Woo, want some yakgwa?^[1] Found some in my pocket.”

“…Thank youu.”

There he was, looking sharp enough to be scary, yet radiating kindness—this Korean trainee.

But.

How could he possibly understand Li Mingshen’s secret desires?

“Not bad. Mmm, Trainee Li Ming Shen. Let’s pay attention to that flat note in the second verse. Trainee Jang Si Woo, too. Ahn Jin Woo, memorize your lyrics!”

“Yes!”

“As for you, Kim Chunyong—your falsetto could be thinner when you go up for the high notes. Your voice is already a bit husky, so the tonal contrast needs to be clearer.”

“Yes! Thank you, mentor!”

“Well. Out of all the teams I saw today, yours is the most polished. I’m looking forward to the performance.”

Following Min Si Young’s vocal mentoring, Li Ming Shen headed toward the dorms, trying to settle his stirred-up heart—only to be stopped by a voice grabbing at his nape.

“Wait.”

A voice that, on any other day, would never have chosen to speak in Korean—

“…Liu Wei.”

Li Ming Shen let out a shallow sigh and blinked slowly.

No matter what others said, the relationship between Liu Wei and Li Ming Shen was more tangled and strange than anyone else’s on Targeting Star.

Childhood friends tied together by family since forever, yet unable to be truly honest with each other.

When one shined, the other had to fade—two sides of the same coin.

Liu Wei gripped Li Ming Shen’s shoulder with a sharp snap and muttered low.

“This time, you follow properly.”

Because clearly, you’re not seeing the situation right.

“…….”

The moment he heard those words, something in Li Ming Shen’s gaze dulled as well.

Whatever anyone else said, the one word that defined them was still friends.

They pushed and pulled, backed down and tiptoed around one another, sometimes not even saying what they wanted to say.

And yet— Wasn’t there a saying? That when friends break apart, they can become worse than strangers.

He wasn’t sure if such a proverb existed in China, but…

“…Alright. Let’s talk.”

Whether they really would end up worse than strangers, that was something they’d find out now.

T/N:

^[1] ↩

Traditional honey cookie in Korea