The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 69
The next afternoon.
The production team of <Targeting Star> was bustling to welcome the guests who would surprise the trainees.
“When is Leopold arriving?”
“They’re stuck in traffic near Apgujeong, so it’ll take about another hour.”
“Tell them it’s fine if they come later. It’s better if they enter while the trainees are practicing.”
“The Lady Swan members are here!”
“Get the mics ready!”
When planning a cover mission on an idol survival program, having the original artists show up is the best.
By bringing in the original artists, the production team aimed to create a heartwarming scene between seniors and juniors and direct the fans’ attention to the trainees of <Targeting Star>.
Moreover, the trainees’ miraculous draw had lined up a stellar cast.
Leopold, who held a steadfast position in the male idol fandom’s elite ranks; 2OCD, who won the Rookie of the Year award last year and were on the rise; and Lady Swan, Do Jae Chan’s struggling favorite.
And then….
“Can I go down now?”
“Uh, what? Si Young, your team’s trainees aren’t ready yet,”
“It might make a better scene if I’m already in the practice room when the trainees come in late. They were poorly prepared for yesterday’s mid-evaluation, so their evaluation wasn’t great. I want to give them a stern talking-to.”
The current top female solo artist of AG, the reigning queen, and the vocal mentor of the idol survival program <Targeting Star>.
“If a mentor who’s seen all their performances says something, what can the trainees do but listen, right?”
Min Si Young.
“Well, I….”
‘Hah, of course, she’s singling me out because I’m the easiest target….’
The youngest writer, Lee Ha Joon, who applied for the overseas music camp team but was assigned to the survival team, looked anxiously at the main writer in response to Min Si Young’s words.
However, the main writer was currently too busy giving orders related to the newly arriving guests.
Naturally, there was a manual in place for situations where it was impossible to pay attention to each cast member individually.
For Min Si Young, the manual said:
“Just listen to what she says as much as possible. With her experience, she won’t be unreasonable. Trying to argue with her will just make things worse. Just listen.
“…Really?”
“I’m busy. I want to start filming quickly. I can make good content.”
So what she’s saying now isn’t unreasonable but persuasive?
Lee Ha Joon felt like crying.
“Um, so….”
Stammering, Lee Ha Joon gestured to the junior camera team member who came with him.
‘No way, you crazy guy!’
The junior camera team member shook his head desperately but ended up being dragged to stand beside Lee Ha Joon.
“…Let’s go.”
The junior writer, the junior cameraman, and Min Si Young. The three of them started climbing the stairs to meet the “Beyond the Waves” team.
“…….”
Throughout the entire walk to the practice room, Min Si Young’s face was stern.
No. Since she watched the “Beyond the Waves” team’s performance yesterday, Min Si Young hadn’t smiled even once.
‘You can’t perform like that.’
What kind of song was that?
To Min Si Young, “Beyond the Waves” was a precious opportunity that Do Jae Chan, who was like an uncle to her, had secured for her before her debut.
The song was meant to be her stepping stone for the youngest female solo debut in both Korea and Japan.
At that time, Do Jae Chan didn’t have much influence in the domestic entertainment industry, so her official debut was postponed for a long time, but the memory of that first recording shaped who Min Si Young was today.
“Our Si Young, you’re the best!”
The clear voice of young Min Si Young resonated through the microphone, Do Jae Chan smiling behind the glass, and the director giving constant thumbs-ups.
‘…If it weren’t for that song, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’
So, when she first heard that Kim Chunyong’s team had chosen that precious song, she wasn’t pleased.
But she couldn’t let that affect her.
“Si Woo, did you practice hard today?”
“Si Young noona….”
Jang Si Woo, whom she cherished and adored since he was young, like seeing her younger self, was in the same team as Kim Chunyong.
But the one who ruined the performance was Jang Si Woo.
And the best performer in that performance was Kim Chunyong!
“Trainee Jang Si Woo, if you continue like this, a debut will certainly be difficult. Pull yourself together.”
She had scolded harshly from the judges’ seat, but her heart couldn’t have felt good.
That’s why she was now, despite being the senior-most in the original artist lineup, the one rushing to meet the trainees first.
‘Si Woo is diligent, so he’ll probably be the first one out here practicing. I’ll try to soothe him first, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll get angry.’
I trust Si Woo.
I trust in the diligence of our August trainees!
Seeing a figure moving inside the practice room, Min Si Young urgently pushed the door open and called out in a nightingale-like voice.
‘Si Woo, noona is here!’
“Oh my, the trainees are already out here practicing….”
…What?
However, what greeted Min Si Young as she burst into the practice room wasn’t our hardworking black cat Jang Si Woo sweating through practice, but:
「(WEL) Min Si Young, the best solo singer in the universe (COME)」
A welcoming message scrawled in poor handwriting on A4 paper.
And.
“W-What is this…?”
“Hello, Min Si Young seonbaenim! It feels a bit strange to call you seonbaenim instead of mentor, haha!”
Bang Yu Chan greeted her with a bright smile.
“Well, Yu Chan hyung and I came early to set things up… I hope you like it.”
Kim Chunyong, who always looked like a thug no matter how you saw it, gave an awkward smile.
Min Si Young did her best to manage her expression, but she couldn’t contain the scream inside her.
‘Why isn’t Si Woo here!?’
Why were the two older members of the “Beyond the Waves” team waiting for her instead?
The reason was simple.
“Yu-chan hyung, I have something to discuss with you.”
“…Oh? What is it?”
“It’s about Si Woo.”
“Whoa, if it’s about that, just spill it right away!”
It was all part of Kim Chunyong’s plan to get Jang Si Woo to pull himself together.
