The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 94
Inside the van heading toward the bustling streets for Targeting Star’s first-ever outdoor shoot.
“My gosh. Won Hyeop hyung, are there really that many people? It’s a weekday, and it’s still morning!”
“Ah, yeah. Even in the morning, it’s packed. There are students heading to school, and it’s such a famous area.”
“Wow, I’m so excited. Seriously! This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and today is my ‘dreams come true’ day….”
Logan, who had been unable to contain his excitement ever since getting in the van, finally quieted down after shouting, “I need to plan my song list for the performance!” and putting on his headset.
As I watched him calmly, I pushed aside the curtain on the window and glanced outside.
The more we drove, the more young people crowded the streets. Flashy outfits, swaying signs along the road—my eyes caught the writing on one of them:
“Hongik University, Street of Youth….”
“Um… The item on my Korea Bucket List is… ‘Busking in Hongdae!'”
One of the variety shows currently being produced by Music Days alongside Targeting Star is a music travel program called Can You Heal Me.
The concept is ‘famous Korean singers busking in foreign countries where they’re not known, connecting with people through music.’
With the synergy of talented Korean artists and the beauty of famous tourist spots abroad, *Can You Heal Me* became far more popular than anyone had imagined.
<2 Million Views! Ha Ye Bin’s Heavenly Voice on a Venetian Gondola – Can’t Stop Me Now (Cover)>
<Can You Heal Me Frankfurt Edition – Theo’s Highlights Edited>
Every performance video consistently ranked at the top of the music section on Korean YouTube, solidifying Can You Heal Me as one of Music Days’ flagship variety shows.
But for Logan to have randomly watched the Liverpool episode of Can You Heal Me…
And then, because of that, to have sent an audition video from the UK to Music Days and ended up on Targeting Star…
It felt less like a coincidence and more like fate.
‘When you think of Logan’s image, well. It does suit him.’
I let out a small laugh and slowly went over everything that was about to happen.
Busking in Liverpool might be romantic, but…
Busking in Korea—especially in Hongdae, the holy ground of Korean street performances—well…
“Chunyong.”
I was deep in thought, and suddenly, someone just had to call my name.
“Huh? Me?”
“Yeah. Why are you so startled? Haha, that’s embarrassing….”
With a slightly sheepish expression, Won Hyeop hyung patted my shoulder, then glanced over at Logan, who was busy with his headphones, focused on his song list.
He leaned in close and whispered to me so that the production crew up front couldn’t hear.
“Hey, is there something going on between you and Logan?”
“…Between us?”
“Yeah. You guys are roommates, and you seemed pretty close before… but now it feels like there’s a bit of distance. I thought maybe I should know if something’s up.”
…Oh.
The production crew hadn’t even noticed. But from just the slight decrease in conversations between me and Logan, hyung could tell there was some awkwardness between us.
“Oh, no, hyung. It’s nothing like that. How did you even think that?”
“Eh? Well… you know, it’s just a feeling. Like something’s a bit off from usual? Haha, maybe I’m wrong. I wasn’t exactly super close with you two, so I could be mistaken….”
I clicked my tongue and scratched my cheek.
Seong Won Hyeop hyung…
He got dropped from the debut lineup twice at his previous company for various reasons, right?
Maybe it was the long years of being a trainee in such an unstable situation that sharpened his awareness.
I thought for a moment about how to respond, then smiled brightly and answered cheerfully.
“It’s really nothing like that, hyung. You don’t have to worry. I just had some things on my mind.”
“…It’s really nothing, right? It won’t interfere with the shoot or anything….”
“Oh, no way! Hyung, do I look like the type to lie?”
“Well… when your mouth’s closed, you do look a bit scary….”
“Haha, this hyung, you’re quite the joker!”
I loudly patted Won Hyeop hyung on the shoulder and turned my gaze to Logan, who was still furiously jotting down song titles.
“Oh… Chunyong hyung! I’m so happy to be shooting together again.”
Although he didn’t show it outwardly, it was clear that Logan wasn’t entirely thrilled that I had chosen his room.
After that firm conversation we had in the early morning, jumping right into a shoot probably wasn’t something he was too excited about.
It’s always better to have some time before facing each other again, letting things naturally ease up.
But, well, I don’t have much time, Logan.
“We’re almost there! Trainees, please get ready!”
“Yes, understood!”
And besides, once we arrived at the filming location, there’d be no time to think about any awkwardness anyway.
I pretended to check my makeup while discreetly pulling out my phone to glance at the app and my conversation with X.
“…What the hell is this?”
[Don’t Cry, Stay Strong (D): Allows the user to calmly handle unexpected situations during performances.
Effect: Confidence of the user and their co-performers + 10%]
“I mean, I asked for something good, and you give me this….”
“Huh? Chunyong, what did you say?”
“Oh, nothing! Haha. My little sister, she just sent me a message.”
“You must have a good relationship with your family. It’s nice to see!”
“Oh… I’m jealous.”
At my hasty excuse, Won Hyeop hyung let out a hearty laugh, while Logan, who had been excitedly gazing out the window, flinched for a moment.
…No matter how you look at it, Logan definitely has some family issues.
I took note of Logan’s slightly furrowed brows and quickly sent a message to X.
– Chunyong: Yo, what kind of skill is this?
– Chunyong: Don’t you have something like [They Like Me After All]? Something that helps me directly?
– Chunyong: This is supposed to be the first-place reward, and you’re sending me this weird stuff?
– X: Dude, do you know how good that skill is, you asshole.
– X: Can you guarantee that nothing will go wrong on stage from now on? God, you’re talking like you don’t know anything again.
– X: If something happens, you better bow and thank me!
– Chunyong: How am I supposed to bow to you?
– X: Emojis, you fool!!!
“Tsk….”
Shoving my phone back into my pocket, I glanced out at the scenery as the van slowly began to park.
Well, even if it wasn’t the skill I was hoping for, I teased X a bit. It wouldn’t be completely useless.
Especially when a chaotic street performance at Hongdae, quite different from the romantic busking in Liverpool, was waiting for us.
