Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 121

121.

Observation Variety Show.

After consulting with Lee Hyun-jae and Ryu Yi-deun, I learned that it’s a type of broadcast designed to satisfy people’s shady desires—the desire to see celebrities’ private lives.

However, the program we’re scheduled to appear on isn’t a terrestrial broadcast, and it’s a new show, so they say that’s why we were cast.

But then, how is that different from a reality show featuring idols? Isn’t it just a program to milk celebrities’ fans? They probably made it because they were too lazy to write a broadcast script.

Anyway, those broadcasting station guys never do their jobs properly. My hatred for broadcasting stations, which has been steadily growing since I became a celebrity, is now in full bloom.

Today, we got in the car because a meeting with the lazy broadcasting station guys was scheduled.

“I—, I wanted to try— filming an observation variety show—.”

Some people might enjoy showing their daily lives to others. But since I’m not one of them, I can’t actively sympathize.

“I’m going to show everyone— the awesomeness of Fruits World!”

So that was the reason. You’re probably the only one who thinks of using broadcasting to promote your object of adoration, Jun.

With such cozy stories, we entered the broadcasting station’s conference room. This time, unusually, only we came in without Team Leader Jang Hae-jin or Chief Manager Kang Seung-won. I guess it’s because we’re only going to talk about the broadcast structure.

A broadcasting station official comes in after a while.

“Oh, hello, everyone from Blossence.”

Sitting down, he slowly begins to explain.

“First of all, our program is an observation variety show, but you’ll have to do something a little unique! Since just observing daily life is too common, we’re going to throw you into situations that are hard to encounter in everyday life and film how you move.”

Observing how people react in controlled situations is what we commonly call an experiment, isn’t it?

“And! What you’ll be doing until the day of filming is a secret to everyone. Only a very few of our broadcasting station team members know. Of course, the entertainment companies probably know, but they won’t tell you. Doing new things with a thrilling and exciting heart—isn’t it fun just imagining it?”

He’s a very self-loving person. The greater the affection for his own work, the greater the sense of loss when it fails.

“So, there’s not much to tell you at the meeting. Instead, we have something prepared! Here are the safety guidelines. Please read them carefully and come to the filming day prepared as written.”

In other words, they’re going to film how a person pushed to the edge of a cliff without any countermeasures acts and profit financially from the public. It’s a very sadistic broadcast.

“Anyway, that’s all. Do you have any questions?”

What is the intention of asking after creating a situation where questions are impossible?

“No one has any questions! Then, please take good care of our broadcast. We heard you’re starting to do well these days, so we quickly cast you!”

We had nothing else to say, so we just nodded. A job where information about what you do is limited to the maximum—what kind of job is this?

Soon, Mok-hwa will debut, and I’m worried sick. I hope the dirty hands of the broadcasting station guys don’t reach my younger sibling.

* * *

“Hey, Dong-hwa, isn’t the content of these safety rules a bit bizarre?”

At Ryu Yi-deun’s words, I take a closer look at the safety rules. What immediately catches my eye is the phrase ‘Train your body.’ …Ha, the will to push us hard is excessively transparent.

“What are they going to make us do? Are we going to a construction site or something?”

You have the kind of health that makes you seem like you’d do well even if you went there, Yi-deun. I wish you wouldn’t say you’re okay so nonchalantly.

“Even so, would they make us do such hard work? Dong-hwa hyung might collapse if they do.”

Lee Hyun-jae’s words. It’s not wrong, but I can’t help but feel sorry for his attitude of treating me like a paper doll.

“Hey, even if his body gets tired and collapses, Dong-hwa will endure with his mental strength.”

“Then you shouldn’t do more of that! Otherwise, after the comeback, on stage…”

Cha Hae-min covers her mouth with both hands and closes her eyes tightly, as if she had a terrible imagination at Ryu Yi-deun’s prediction. Crazy rabbit.

“…There’s nothing we can know by predicting it now.”

In the first place, the safety rules are only things that can be applied to any job. Of course, there are some slightly heterogeneous contents.

I wonder if we have no choice but to live like people waiting for the final day.

“What are they filming that takes 2 nights and 3 days with this…?”

Nevertheless, Ryu Yi-deun starts groaning as if he has a lot of thoughts. I think it would be better to give up quickly.

Anyway, the full-scale filming is said to take place after the Lunar New Year holiday. In other words, it will be done after resting at home with Mok-hwa, so there won’t be any physical problems.

* * *

During the Lunar New Year holiday, Ji Dong-hwa’s fans were simply happy, forgetting the fear of the upcoming semester for a while. Because they could see Ji Dong-hwa in hanbok [traditional Korean clothing] from the morning. Even Ji Dong-hwa writing a poem in a seodang [traditional Korean school] came out in his own content.

The sight of him seriously holding a brush and writing a poem in Chinese characters was shocking in itself. In the history of idol fandom, there was not a single idol who wrote a poem when asked to write one. When translated, the poem was as follows:

No one will come to the snowy mountain village

I walk alone in the moonlight
A plum blossom in the snow greets me

I sit next to the fragrance and sigh

It may be debatable whether the work is good because it was written in a hurry, but the fact that he can write this in Chinese characters is a crazy point.

Moreover, since he majored in Korean literature, he knows it, but he even made a poem with rhyming characters. When I shared it on the community and SNS, everyone uttered swear words with one mind and one heart. Because it was so good. What kind of human being was he living as!

She was splitting the video into nano units and replaying it from morning till now. Then the door burst open and an angry voice rang out.

“Hey! What are you doing from morning! Come and help your mom! Your father is also helping with the cooking, what are you doing!”

“Mom, I’m on a video date right now.”

“Bullshit, bullshit, really.”

The mother who came in carefully takes off her rubber gloves and slaps her daughter’s back hard.

“Ah! Mom! It hurts!”

“Come out quickly, you little brat. What video date, you idiot. You’re lost in a delusional date.”

After ending the video date like that and coming out to help prepare the food, she reaches the second ordeal. Turning on Archedae [Idol Star Athletics Championships] live on TV. I should have gone to the scene, damn it.

“Mom, I’m bored, should I turn on the TV?”

“…It’s not a TV to help your delusions.”

Immediately noticing her intention, her mother snaps sharply.

“Mother, when you work, you must be given fair compensation. How about replacing that compensation with TV?”

“Really, I sent you to college and you only learn strange things, turn it on. It doesn’t matter as long as you do your job properly.”

Before her words change, she quickly picks up the remote control and manipulates the channel. And she nods contentedly, watching the preview that it will start in 10 minutes.

“Come quickly and take the rice cake!”

After working for a long time and repeatedly glancing at the TV, she sits on the sofa with her mother to watch TV when the work is almost finished.

“Are those them?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, that one looks very smart.”

She smiled after confirming that the person her mother’s fingertip touched was Cha Hae-min.

“That one looks like she plays a lot. I don’t think she studied, huh.”

This time, Ji Dong-hwa. It seems that his slightly cold impression stimulated his mother’s prejudice.

“Mom, he’s from Korea University.”

“…No, what kind of young singer is that. Don’t lie. It’s obvious that you’re favoring him. These days, kids all come out as trainees.”

It’s useless to argue about a story that she won’t believe even if I tell her anyway.

‘Come to think of it, he told me to watch Dong-hwa’s quiz show because it’s a hit.’

I’ve already been injected with a lethal dose of Ji Dong-hwa from this morning’s New Year’s content, I wonder if I’m really going to die like this.

And, finally, the quiz show.

The beginning was quickly edited, but as it went on, the tempo slowed down, and finally, Ji Dong-hwa alone sat still and continued the production as if he was having a 1-on-1 duel with the MC.

A solemn background music, a figure like a famous general standing alone in a war, closing his eyes for a moment before writing the answer, organizing his thoughts, and writing down without hesitation. Everything starts to inject Ji Dong-hwa.

“Oh my, I guess he’s a kid who studied. Is he really a Korea University student?”

“Yeah, isn’t he cool?”

“He’s cool, but why doesn’t he continue studying…”

That’s the point of betrayal, but you don’t know it, Mom.

After entering the 90s, the names and theories of people that even I, who have eaten some college water, don’t know well are presented as answers several times. Writing the full name of a character in a Russian novel, which feels like a mean problem, appears as the last item.

The background music becomes more magnificent, Ji Dong-hwa smiles slightly after thinking for a while.

She fell into the ease shown by the winner.

The raised answer board is zoomed in and the answer, which is difficult to read at once, is emphasized.

Silence flows in the TV. I don’t know when it started, but the mother and daughter, overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere, put their hands together and waited for the MC’s mouth to open.

― That’s correct!

The music bursts out at the same time as the MC’s judgment. Ji Dong-hwa gets up from his seat and smiles slightly at the camera.

And after that, it was time for an interview with the MC, but for some reason, Ji Dong-hwa’s interview was not conducted. However, only the same team runs to Ji Dong-hwa and hugs him, which is a bit awkward.

“No, why doesn’t he do an interview? All the other kids did it to some extent. Is this that total edit?”

The words continued with her mother’s regrettable voice. Her mother was also expecting what kind of interview Ji Dong-hwa would do, so it was a natural reaction.

But that voice does not reach the daughter. Because she was already holding her cell phone and pouring out her anger.

“No, but he prepared to be a celebrity and studied like that. What are you, you little brat!”

However, at the same time, she soon let go of her cell phone due to her mother’s anger, which expanded in a different direction. Looking at such a figure, her daughter, who was doing phone calls next to her, seemed a little hateful.

‘…No, I’m being compared to my idol for studying.’

She stands in front of the waterfall of her mother’s pouring words.

“He is! He’s so handsome and smart, huh? He seems to be working really hard!”

Should I be happy with the praise for my idol, or.

“What are you doing, you! You rice-eating, shit-making machine!”

I couldn’t figure out whether to be sad about my mother’s nagging.

* * *

These mean broadcasting station guys, they cut it out as expected.

“Hyung, why didn’t you come out for the interview?”

“Study in advance. It’s the naked face of an unreliable human being.”

“Oh… Did the broadcasting station guys stab you in the back?”

Like a proud younger sibling, Mok-hwa understands right away with one word. Strictly speaking, I avoided what I was trying to hit in the most sure way.

“…Yeah.”

Lying is sometimes right. This level of lying will be allowed because it has an educational effect.

“Really, thanks to hyung’s early education, I think I’ll be less likely to be harmed by the broadcasting station guys.”

I nodded with satisfaction. Seeing him absorb it so quickly, Mok-hwa would have received excellent grades like Lee Hyun-jae if he had studied. It’s amazing that such a versatile guy is my younger sibling.

“Hyung, you have to be careful not to get stabbed in the back on the show you’re going on this time.”

I nodded.

“…Of course.”

I won’t be harmed by such a sadistic experimental entertainment show.