The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 168

The fourth performance of Targeting Star—billed as the final viewing before the live broadcast—was ablaze with excitement.

Not just the trainees on stage, but their fans too.

It was nearly impossible to spot anyone in the audience without something in hand.

[My Star from Mars☆Ji Hwa Sung]

[Ahn Jin Woos♡]

[My Sensational Liverpool Boy]

Now that the trainees had carved out clear images for themselves, name-fan-designed slogan banners were freely distributed—

[The doctor cried when Gao Yan was born]

[! Bang Yu Chan ! If you keep this up, we might as well get married]

Personal placards, made with every ounce of effort to be caught on camera, and even a marriage registration form taped underneath one.

Waaaah…

When the camera captured Bang Yu Chan’s fan—who had unilaterally decided on marriage—the crowd rippled with laughter and murmurs.

“……”

And backstage, waiting for his turn, Liu Wei maintained a blank expression as he watched.

Because for him, the word marriage wasn’t something so light it could be laughed off.

“She’s said to be very fond of you.”

“Yes.”

“As I said before, this engagement will surely benefit you. Her family promised a significant investment into the company you aim to enter.”

“…That’s a good thing.”

An engagement planned entirely for Liu Wei’s success.

The family of Gao Xiumin, who had adored Liu Wei since childhood, invested heavily in AG Global, and Liu Wei would debut grandly with that money.

Once he’d built his name in Korea, he’d return to China with fame.

And alongside that plan, Liu Wei had another of his own.

To quietly sever the engagement once their investment had been recouped.

He might have reached out to them now in desperation to shake off Kim Chunyong, but if he could debut safely through it, this too could be handled.

With clenched fists beneath his long sleeves, Liu Wei closed and opened his eyes slowly.

All the shackles weighing on him would be removed.

Kim Chunyong, the engagement.

All by his own hand.

Right then, Choi Gaon—with mint-colored hair and a light baby perm—stepped onto the stage for his ment.

“Ah, I feel like going for a drive to the beach right now! Please give it up again for Team Pyo Je Yeol’s ‘Spontaneous Escape’ performance!”

Seong Won Hyeop and Logan, who had synced up once before during busking, joined by Han Sang Woo, Kim Joo An, and Ryota to form Team Pyo Je Yeol.

As expected of Pyo Je Yeol, who ranked every year as the singer you’d want to run into on a trip, the melody—sampling classic ‘80s city pop—instantly evoked a getaway vibe.

– This boring routine, it’s unbearable

All the pages flipping by are blank

Outside the square window, thunder and dark clouds

I can’t see the rainbow

The performance featured trainees in school uniforms and suits, acting bored, only to be surprised when Seong Won Hyeop entered in casual clothes, rolling in a suitcase.

– I’m suddenly like this

You know me and I know me

But I’m suddenly like this

If it’s not fun, I don’t like it

Even first-time audience members could easily follow the lyrics.

“I wanted to express that feeling—when you suddenly want to bolt out of the classroom or throw down your employee ID and run.”

Pyo Je Yeol, sitting in the special judge’s seat beside the mentors, wore a thoroughly satisfied expression. There was no need to explain how the stage had gone.

But Liu Wei didn’t care how they performed.

Because he knew he would do better.

“Yes, let’s now meet the next team! Special guest judge, senior Jeong Yeon Woo! Could you give us a brief explanation of the song?”

“…Ah, sure. Let’s do that.”

WAAAAAAH!

As the spotlight shifted to the special judge’s seat, the staff guided Jeong Yeon Woo’s “Groggy” team onto the center stage.

The performances were running in reverse rehearsal order, meaning Liu Wei’s “Diving” team would go right after “Groggy.”

Jang Si Woo, Li Ming Shen, Ahn Jin Woo, and Kim Chunyong.

Standing center stage, Liu Wei placed his hand on Li Ming Shen’s shoulder and crossed his arms as he locked eyes with Kim Chunyong toward the back.

He seemed to be clawing for something—gripping Ming Shen at his side—but it was clear that wouldn’t work.

Even if Ming Shen had completely turned his heart, there were only two weeks left until the live broadcast.

In that time, Chunyong wouldn’t be able to overturn anything.

No matter what Kim Chunyong tried, he wouldn’t be able to stop Liu Wei from flawlessly completing the next two stages and debuting.

Because that’s what was supposed to happen.

Because that’s what he had prepared for from the very beginning.

“…So it’s a song that gives the feeling of being trapped in your own world, disconnected from reality.”

“Wow, that sounds really exciting! Then let’s meet the ‘Groggy’ stage—performed by trainees Jang Si Woo, Li Ming Shen, Ahn Jin Woo, and Kim Chunyong!”

As Choi Gaon’s words came to a close, ‘Groggy’’s signature heavy bass slowly filled the stage.

The song began with Jang Si Woo and Ahn Jin Woo turning away from each other to sing the intro.

And right before that—

Liu Wei caught a glimpse of Kim Chunyong, standing backstage, mouthing something.

“――.”