The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 68
“…Phew.”
I let out a long sigh as I stepped out of the individual interview room.
I had grown accustomed to pretending not to be nervous, acting relaxed, and making it seem like I had everything under control, but that didn’t mean it was actually true.
Moreover, the main writer, Lee Hyeon Jeong, had an excessively sharp edge to her.
“This time, the judges gave us some harsh feedback because they saw that our team had room for improvement. In the next main performance, I want to surprise the audience. Thank you!”
I took my usual steps to avoid a negative edit, ensuring my best defense, when she said that one line.
“Trainee Kim Chunyong. Just a moment.”
“Huh, yes? If you have additional questions, I can sit back down.”
“Oh, this is more of a personal conversation, so there’s no need to sit. Just some advice.”
Was it impossible to avoid the eyes of someone who’s been in the broadcasting industry for so long?
“…This time, it’s better to resolve it visibly on camera.”
She seemed to be referring to how I handled conflicts with team members during the preparation for the ‘Aiming’ performance.
Back then, I pulled Ji Hwa Sung off-camera to resolve things, which resulted in less screen time. She was subtly hinting that I shouldn’t do that ‘this time.’
“Uh, well… I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Oh. Really?”
“Haha, I didn’t study hard in school, you know. But I can dance well. Want me to show you now?”
“……”
Despite Lee Hyeon Jeong’s sharp observation, I just kept smiling and quickly exited.
Resolve things visibly on camera, she said.
Me?
“Ha…”
She has to be kidding me.
Suppressing a sarcastic laugh, I turned my eyes to a tall man standing behind the vending machine, hidden from the cameras.
Even though doing it this way would still catch his voice on audio, the situation was what it was.
“Si Woo. I don’t know exactly what’s bothering you, but… let’s talk, okay?”
Yu Chan, who had styled his hair back and put on makeup that finally suited his mature charm, looked utterly exhausted.
And standing in front of him, looking pale, was the one who messed up our performance today.
“…….”
Jang Si Woo.
“I’m already twenty-two, and unlike the other trainees, singing is my only strength. I’m an individual trainee, and this is my first time in such an environment.”
“…….”
“That’s why this survival show is my last chance to pursue the dream I’ve kept in my heart all this time. So, I really want to give my best every moment, without any regrets. But when you zone out on stage….”
Yu Chan, who was always so composed, now looked desperate.
His furrowed brows and trembling voice were rare sights.
Knowing what he had been through to get here, I couldn’t bring myself to join the conversation.
…And it was clear that Si Woo was at fault this time. It couldn’t be helped.
Yu Chan, rubbing the back of his neck, prodded Si Woo with his voice once more.
“…Aren’t you going to tell me why you couldn’t focus on stage?”
“I….”
Si Woo opened and closed his mouth a few times, seeing Yu Chan’s worried and frustrated eyes, then clamped it shut again.
If Jae Ha was the kind to coax and comfort the members with endless kindness, Yu Chan was the type to sharply pinpoint problems.
And Yu Chan’s approach would feel like scolding to Si Woo.
“Next, trainee Bang Yu Chan, please come in.”
“…We’ll talk more later.”
Yu Chan, who had been patiently waiting for an answer, shook his head a few times at the call of the assistant writer and then entered the individual interview room.
“……”
Left alone and fiddling with his fingers, watching Si Woo made my heart ache.
Of course, I was angry too. How could I not be?
Remembering the reactions of the judges who watched our performance still makes my back break out in a cold sweat.
“…Please make sure my song doesn’t go to waste.”
That icy remark from the original singer, Min Si Young, added to the weight.
“I had high expectations, but… Jang Si Woo, the trainee, was a bit…”
Even Jin Dasol’s comments were dripping with disappointment.
“The stage direction is a mess. What kind of practice did you guys do? Ugh, seriously… edit this out.”
Even Moon Yun Ha’s curses, which couldn’t be aired, topped it all off.
And the final blow came from Na Ji Hyuk, who had consistently offered encouragement to the trainees until now.
“…Everyone.”
His voice was so cold that I doubted if he was the same Na Ji Hyuk who always covered for the other mentors’ trolling with an awkward smile.
They say a kind person is scarier when they’re angry. It applied to Na Ji Hyuk as well.
“The choreography you brought is good. Picking a famous anime opening song and constructing the stage from scratch, creating the choreography—it must have been tough. Individually, you all did well. But overall, the performance you showed us was really—”
Less coordinated than a kindergarten talent show.
Even I, who was trying my best to maintain my composure, felt my face flush with embarrassment at those words.
“Considering the audience comes all the way to Sangam to see you, I don’t think you should show them a subpar performance. I hope the main stage isn’t like this.”
Especially you, trainee Jang Si Woo.
I recalled Na Ji Hyuk’s bone-crushing critique with a bitter smile.
‘I hope it doesn’t come to that either. Really!’
Tap, tap—
“……!”
At the sound of my footsteps sliding across the hallway, Jang Si Woo, still standing by the vending machine with trembling shoulders, looked up at me abruptly.
“…….”
“…….”
We exchanged glances without speaking.
What should I say to Siwoo in his negative state?
Should I tell him, ‘Your performance was the worst today? At this rate, we might not debut together’?
Or maybe, ‘You can’t move forward if you’re stuck in the past like that’?
Burying those thoughts deep within me, I spoke softly to Si Woo.
“…See you in the practice room tomorrow.”
Let’s just get through this for now. Right?
Si Woo’s eyes darted around nervously before he gave me an awkward nod and hurried back to his dorm room.
“Hah….”
Watching his retreating figure, I clicked my tongue quietly.
No matter what I say—whether I comfort him, scold him, or express my anger—it won’t reach him right now.
Because I’m the one saying it.
We haven’t known each other for long, and to him, I’m just a stranger who doesn’t understand the walls he’s built around his heart.
A cat doesn’t easily allow a stranger to touch it.
Even if you’ve succeeded in approaching it, getting close to it is a different story.
Even though we’ve known each other for over eight years, he wouldn’t recognize that now.
“…Rex hyung. When you drink, does it make you feel like an adult?”
“Then… can I have just one sip? You’re drinking too much…”
It’s a bit disappointing, but well.
“Chunyong aniki… what do we do now?”
Ryota came stumbling down the hallway, whining.
“I-I! On the way here, Hwa Sung scolded me terribly. He said, ‘Why didn’t you act right then and there?’ and told me to do a dogeza in the hallway immediately—”
“Whoa, let’s stop there.”
I quickly threw my arm around Ryota’s neck, protecting Ji Hwa Sung’s idol pride.
“How can you go around talking about other trainees like that? Cameras are everywhere. Get a grip, Ishikawa Ryota.”
“Hnnggg….”
“I’m the one who should be sighing here, you know.”
Yeah, really. Ugh indeed.
In situations where I couldn’t solve things on my own, such pitiful sounds would escape me.
Of course, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t solve it.
This time.
I need help from someone else.
Someone who’s closer to Jang Si Woo than I am, someone he can lean on, someone who shares a similar plight.
