The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 18
‘…This song isn’t danceable.’
Right.
This song lacked recent trends in idol performances like group choreography or dance breaks.
Therefore, Exolarity also showcased vibrant vocal colors and facial expressions as the main focus in “The Sunshine behind me,” complementing intense high notes and powerful choreography presented in other title tracks. However, unlike Exolarity, Kim Chunyong couldn’t present two songs.
“There’s only one stage each trainee can showcase.”
Each trainee could submit only one song, limited to a production team arrangement of around 2 minutes.
‘Oh, if I do this, Min Si Young will say something again, and I can’t keep covering everything….’
Nevertheless, after understanding the situation, Na Ji Hyuk quickly wrote down what he wanted to shield next to Kim Chunyong’s personal information’s sheet.
Although it was challenging to cover everything, they were getting paid for it, so he couldn’t do it half-heartedly.
Just then,
“…Huh? What’s wrong with the sound?”
Jitter-jitter. Jitter-jitter.
About a minute into Kim Chunyong’s performance,
The MR, which was coming out well, started to crackle and cut in and out, and then the beats of other songs were mixed in from the back.
The anomaly puzzled the mentors and even the off-camera crew.
“The sound team confirmed there’s no equipment malfunction.”
“Well, why does the current song sound like that?”
“Do we need to stop this and go for another take? Ah, this is driving me crazy.”
As everyone was in chaos, worrying only about the shooting, someone staring at the center of the stage spoke in a small, hesitant voice.
“… Intentional, it seems.”
It was Jin Dasol.
He had been silent in his evaluation of the trainees until now, and when he spoke, everyone looked at him with wide-eyed stares, then moved their heads back to the stage in surprise.
“…Oh my God.”
Jin Dasol was right.
The moment the song abruptly cut off, while it seemed like a broadcast accident, Kim Chunyong, smoothly bouncing his joints in time with the beat, inserted the microphone into the stand.
Without anyone noticing, he flipped a new beanie from his pocket, turned it inside out, and started stepping on the stage.
In the meantime, the song had completely changed to a different one.
The whistling sounds from “The Sunshine behind me” remained, but it was now a pop song with a sleek, synth-driven beat.
It was a song that Kim Chunyong had practiced tirelessly in the rehearsal room.
“I love your black shirt
Oh, a black shirt.”
In sync with the lyrics, Kim Chunyong stretched out his arms and legs.
Then, when the whistling sounds from “The Sunshine behind me” played, he coolly executed a turn, refreshing the potentially awkward choreography.
“When you smile
I feel something, you know
That’s what you think, baby.”
This song and choreography held a special meaning for Kim Chunyong.
It was the first year of his debut, before his family was still in an accident.
It was the dance he had performed on a special stage at the Gayo Music Awards.
“This was the first and last fancam to hit a million views.”
Reflecting on his growth, or lack thereof, considering the unchanged stats after a year since his debut, Kim Chunyong knew he had to make choices and focus.
What to showcase, what to give up, and how to safely secure his debut.
So, he chose this.
In an idol survival competition, what if an idol recreated their legendary stage?
Naturally…
“Woah, amazing!”
Na Ji Hyuk, who had exclaimed in admiration, opened his mouth wide and began erasing the phrases he had written on the information sheet.
The dance that Kim Chunyong is performing right now?
Even if 5-year-old kids were watching, they would clap their hands, asking him to play with them.
No, there was no need to go to 5-year-old kids.
“…..”
The expressions of other trainees who had just finished their stage and were sitting down immediately conveyed the message.
They all had the same facial expression, which all said the same thing.
“What on earth is he doing, dancing like that?”
“Don’t say anything, baby
We can Stay, Sleep, Dream
Together”
‘Debut? I’ll make it happen. The greatest K-pop idol in history? I’ll do it, I’ll do it!’
So…
‘I will never go back to those days.’
With a bitter smile, Kim Chunyong tossed away the beanie he was wearing.
“Together.”
The stage ended at the perfect moment.
