The Malicious Member is Back! - Chapter 98
Just before the street dance battle was about to begin.
“Are you sure this is okay? Honestly, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
IlRic crew member Lee Hwe Jin finally spoke up, unable to hold back any longer.
This whole situation was spiraling out of control, with one rash decision following another.
Challenging people from the broadcast industry and trying to humiliate a trainee on a national show? It was reckless, especially when they couldn’t be certain about the future of their dance crew.
“Look, it’s still not too late, hyung. We could just show some sportsmanship, offer to move our performance somewhere else, and maybe get them to help with some promo. Wouldn’t that be better? Seriously, this feels all wrong…”
Despite Hwe Jin’s concerned plea, Choi Gun Young just hummed a tune, his face plastered with arrogant confidence.
“Hey, don’t worry. I’ve got this. I’m definitely going to win. Why should we move? Just warm up for the performance after I rip this apart. Relax, I’ve got it under control.”
‘He’s our leader, but wow, what an idiot. There’s no denying it anymore. His confidence comes from that empty head of his…!’
Hwe Jin thought, barely able to hold back a sigh.
Of course, having trained and performed alongside Gun Young for three years now, Hwe Jin was well aware of his hyung’s deep admiration and respect for Jin Dasol.
[Street Dancer Jin Dasol Joins AG Idol Survival Show <Targeting Star> as Dance Mentor!]
“What…? Jin Dasol-nim is going to be on TV?”
“Oh. If that’s true, we should tell Gun Young hyung…”
“No! Don’t you dare! He’ll lose it and break the studio TV! Do you want to deal with that?!”
Hwe Jin had known about Jin Dasol’s role as a judge on Targeting Star from the start.
But he had deliberately kept that information from Gun Young, who avoided social media.
“I-I want to dance like that too. No, scratch that! I want to dance *with* him! Lee Hwe Jin, you should join me too. I’m telling you, we’d make an absolutely insane combo.”
“I… I mean, I want to, sure. But is just wanting it enough? Hyung, come on. Think about it for a second…”
“What do you mean it’s not enough, you idiot? We just have to get better, that’s it. After that… well, we’ll camp out in front of Dasol hyung’s studio on our knees if we have to.”
“And if he still doesn’t let us in…?”
“Then we’ll stay there until he does!”
This was the way Choi Gun Young operated—charging forward without any thought for what lay behind. This left even Hwe Jin uncertain about what his hyung might do next.
‘To think we’re in a situation where we’re actually facing off against the people from that broadcast… What are the odds?’
Lee Hwe Jin’s thoughts were swirling, watching from the sidelines as Kim Chunyong, the trainee warming up nearby, caught his eye.
‘Kim Chunyong… That’s his name, right?’
Earlier, their crew’s youngest had mentioned that he’d seen Targeting Star and that this trainee had been personally invited by Jin Dasol to join his crew—a recognition of considerable talent.
“So, are we choosing the song then?” Chunyong asked.
“That’s what they’re saying, but if you’re uncomfortable with it, I can talk to—”
“Nah, it’s fine. No need to trouble yourself. Let’s get it over with quickly so we can get to our mission shoot.”
‘He’s really planning to shoot right here? That means… what? He’s confident he’ll impress Gun Young hyung or even beat him?’
Lee Hwe Jin thought, watching Kim Chunyong’s calm demeanor.
With his laid-back attitude and focus on stretching, the flashy trainee wasn’t giving anything away, which only made Hwe Jin more uneasy.
‘To be fair, I had initially thought Dasol hyung was just hyping up the trainee for the broadcast…’ However, if it was Jin Dasol who said it, then things start to feel a bit different.
With a face like that and such impressive dance skills, he’d have fans trailing him no matter where he went.
Always maintaining a reserved demeanor, expressing himself through dance rather than words, Dasol was the quintessential dancer’s dancer.
“Dasol! Take me with you!”
Lee Hwe Jin let out a wry smile, recalling the time when Gun Young had shouted into his phone during Dasol’s win at the International Dance Competition.
‘No wonder Gun Young’s eyes flipped. He’s been telling everyone that the next crew member
had to be him.’
Lee Hwe Jin, too, had always assumed that if Dasol were to add a new member to his crew, it would undoubtedly be Choi Gun Young.
Not just because they were crew members but because Lee Hwe Jin knew his skill well.
Anyone who had seriously danced before could tell how good someone was simply by looking at their muscles during stretches or their light steps.
That flashy-looking trainee could certainly tell what kind of dancer Gun Young was.
‘But his attitude… it’s so laid-back. Almost as if…’
…he had something to back him up.
Lee Hwe Jin, known for his sharp eye in picking up choreography quickly, was also quite skilled at reading people.
The way he was watching Chunyong now was proof of that.
But despite his observations, Lee Hwe Jin had neither the time to dissuade the Targeting Star production crew nor to smack Gun Young on the back of the neck to resolve the situation.
“Hey, what’s this? Is IllRic getting TV time?”
“Wait, wait. Is that a Music Days camera?”
“Hold on… aren’t those the trainees from that idol survival show that aired yesterday?!”
“Whoa, no way, that’s Logan, right? LOGAN! LOGAAAN!”
“That’s crazy—this is insane. What are the trainees doing here? Must be an outdoor shoot.”
The fame of IllRic within Hongdae, the presence of the cameras, and the shining faces of the trainees attracted a crowd that robbed Hwe Jin of any choice in the matter.
“Okay, we’re set.”
As if he had been waiting for this exact moment, Gun Young stretched his arms above his head and called out loudly to the crowd.
“Hello everyone, I’m Gun Young from the dance team, IllRic!”
Woah.
Cheers erupted, though still slightly reserved and shy. Smiling, Gun Young continued speaking.
“Some of you may have followed our team for a while, and for others, it’s your first time seeing us. But today, I, the head of IllRic, am going to dance with someone special.”
Gun Young extended his long arm, pointing at the trainee standing on the opposite side— Kim Chunyong.
“This is a trainee currently appearing on an idol survival show. For those of you who don’t know him, let’s have him introduce himself!”
‘Oh, for the love of—Don’t provoke him just because you think his recognition’s low!’
Lee Hwe Jin mentally screamed, covering his mouth in distress.
“Hello! I’m AG trainee Chunyong, currently appearing on Music Days’ survival show, Targeting Star! Chun as in spring, Yong as in dragon!”
The skill advantage that Kim Chunyong possessed came through as he confidently announced his name to the crowd.
