Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 185

Even as she said that, she quickly checked social media on her phone. Her timeline was flooded with Luminus [Blossence’s fandom name] responding to questions about who that person was and expressing their excitement.

“Another legend being made….”

Her friend nodded in response to her mumbling.

“Donghwa looks so hot with that makeup on. I think I’d be swayed if someone like that came onto me.”

“Right?”

“Yeaheon, he’s so handsome… He could be an actor.”

“I don’t know much about TOT, but isn’t it their contract renewal season?”

“Oh… is there a chance they might disband?”

“You can consider it zero. They’re still doing well.”

Watching her friend slowly fall into the world of idols, she nodded. Finally, she was discovering the right way to spend her money.

* * *

Backstage at BMW.

How am I supposed to handle this situation where everyone I meet is ‘shushing’ me? Even people I’m not close to are saying ‘Shhh!’ after watching the performance.

Sitting next to Yeaheon in the waiting room, sipping water, he looked utterly infuriating.

“…Yeaheon.”

“Finally dropping the ‘hyung’ [Korean term for older brother or senior, used as an honorific] honorific. Right? We’re close enough in age to be friends.”

“You said this wouldn’t get much attention.”

“I just thought it would be perfect!”

So, he lied. He drove me, who wanted to be as quiet as a mouse on this stage, into a death trap. I was a fool to trust him just because he was my senior.

I tried to make my gestures as inconspicuous as possible, choosing small movements, but why was it so noticeable? This idol scene, which I still don’t fully understand, was burying me in embarrassment.

“…Ha, anyway, one thing’s over.”

“Ah, right. By the way, are you guys performing at the HBC Gayo Daejeon [HBC Song Festival, a major year-end music show] this time?”

“Yeah.”

“Haha, there’s going to be another controversy.”

“…Controversy?”

That’s the word I hate the most.

“Yeah. Because of the timetable. Traditionally, HBC and Niche [entertainment company] aren’t on good terms.”

“There hasn’t been any trouble until now, though?”

“When you’re a rookie, it’s all the same anyway. Even if you lose time, it doesn’t really show.”

“Ah.”

“Right. You guys could get more than 8 minutes for your performance this time, but they’ll probably give you a rushed 3 minutes.”

What, that’s not a big deal. I calmed my surprised heart. Of course, that’s just me, and it might feel like a big problem to other people, but anyway.

[Ah, I’m so happy these days]

Coming home and having so much to watch that I’m worried about what to watch first is happiness… everyday happiness…?

Comments:

—The kids all made legends ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅠㅜㅜㅠㅠ So crazy with their moderately mature faces ㅜㅠㅜㅜ――222222222222222

—33333333

—A group where everyone will be adults in a month… Blossence… a strange feeling…

—Wow, Hyunjae is twenty years old now… I thought he’d be a minor forever…

—LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL At some point, everyone in the company dinner can drink alcohol now――It’s amazing that it’s already been 3 years..

For idol fans, the end of the year is an exciting time filled with lots of content and the thought that the members’ careers are increasing by one year.

Of course, the feeling of excitement about the increasing years only comes when the idol is on a successful path, but Blossence is literally growing.

Lee Hyunjae blushed as he looked at the comments on the post.

‘…Soon to be an adult!’ Finally, he was old enough to complete schedules with his hyungs until the end. Leaving award ceremonies early is only until this year, now it’s okay. When I return to the dorm alone, I don’t show it, but I don’t know how lonely it is.

When the college entrance exam was just around the corner, I had to study without breaks, but now that studying has temporarily disappeared from my head, Lee Hyunjae was exploring posts as usual.

It felt quite rewarding to meticulously analyze what the fans liked and what parts they cheered for, and then tell the other members.

Our group had a strong tendency to produce works as a cottage industry. First of all, Donghwa hyung is crazy talented, and Hamin hyung is deeply interested in stage routes and movements.

Eden hyung has a good ear, so he often sits next to Donghwa hyung like a totem, and Jun hyung writes his own lyrics from the start. Even I had participated in lyric writing a few times.

Maybe that’s why, I wanted to contribute a little more. I didn’t have the crazy talent for composing or writing lyrics, and all I could do was organize data.

I’m realizing these days that my head isn’t that bad. My parents used to nag me so much that I thought I was stupid, but Donghwa hyung told me. He said ‘You’re smart,’ but Donghwa hyung is a kind person, especially to the members, so it’s probably an overestimation.

‘…If I practice a little more and can have the same memory as Donghwa hyung.’

Then I’m confident I can give you statistics right away no matter who asks what. Unfortunately, my memory is not yet developed.

“Oh, what’s this again.”

[Gayo Daejeon cue sheet leaked this time ^^]

(The Blossence part and the Hoppin part are highlighted. Blossence 4 minutes 20 seconds, Hoppin 6 minutes 40 seconds)

A long-standing history of bullshit

Comments:

—Ha ㅅㅂㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋㅌㅋ Until when are they ㅅㅂ――I think the president has to go and kneel to solve it―I’m a latecomer, but what the ㅅㅂ is this even make sense? [ㅅㅂ is a Korean slang, abbreviation of “sibal”, which is equivalent to “fuck”]

—Traditionally, Niche-affiliated idols and HBC have been on bad terms

—I heard something happened during TOT’s time, but has that continued until now?

—Yeah, yeah, but it seems like Blossence was treated leniently as a junior idol ^^ㅣX ―Don’t put a target on Hoppin, there’s a younger sibling there…

—ㄱㅆ) I’m not trying to do that, but it’s just absurd ㅅㅂ Considering it’s Dion, it’s just ㅅ같잖아――I understand ㅇㅇㅇㅇ I cursed as soon as I saw it―It’s better than what tot suffered, but ㅎㅎ I can’t help but get angry every time I see the timetable ㅎㅎ―That’s ㅅㅂ I’ll let it go, but these bastards leaked the cue sheet even a few years ago, and they’re doing it again ㅋㅋㅌㅋㅋㅋㅌㅋ Can’t you manage it like that――Oh, but this is a bit strange How can the cue sheet be leaked 4 days before, not even a day before?

—Wow, what is it? I’m drawing a Luminus spy movie in my head right now, is this right?

—Illegal leak, but she tried to tell us the truth in advance… Dark Knight…

‘Ah, so this is it…….’

Lee Hyunjae blankly read the post and simply smiled. Since he already knew about it, he wasn’t really shocked when he received the schedule. All the other members also took it in stride, smiling at Team Leader Jang Haejin, who felt apologetic.

However, as Lee Hyunjae was about to read the next post without much thought, a single idea struck him.

Wait a minute, this might not be something to laugh about.

‘Hoppin getting more than 6 minutes…….’

Ah, they were supposed to be on good terms as sibling groups, but there might be arguments among the fans. Considering they are rookies, it might seem like the time we should have received went to Hoppin.

The essence of the problem is that HBC [a broadcasting station] is being petty, but the broadcasting station is amorphous, while Hoppin is not. Usually, in events arising from structural contradictions, criticism is directed at the people involved in the event, not the contradiction itself.

A passage from the book Lee Hyunjae read with Ji Donghwa suddenly came to mind, and it felt like a bitter taste was lingering in his mouth.

‘Hyunjin or… Mokwha, they all became close…….’

Thinking that the people who love him might criticize his friends, his judgment feels shaky. Both are so precious to Lee Hyunjae that he doesn’t know what to hope for.

“Hyunjae, it’s time to eat.”

Ah, he must not have heard the knock. Lee Hyunjae composed himself.

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Ji Donghwa quietly looked at Lee Hyunjae and tilted his head.

“…Is something wrong?”

“Well, uh, take a look at this, hyung.”

* * *

Hmm, his complexion is a bit off, so I’m glad I asked. Something must be wrong.

I read the tablet Lee Hyunjae handed me.

“…Is this something to call ‘something wrong’?”

It’s all expected. It’s not even a result of our mistake, and it’s a vague level of incident that’s hard to see as having a significant impact on future activities.

“Well, you see. Hoppin got more time allocated than us.”

“Yeah.”

“Then what if the fans start cursing at Hoppin?”

And then a lengthy explanation followed. In between the explanations, he cited the contents of the book we read together as a basis, giving validity to the conclusion that ‘this is definitely something that will worsen the relationship between the fans.’

And when all the explanations were over, Lee Hyunjae had a confident expression. He was asking for my agreement.

But, I really don’t know. The explanation is clear, the grounds are logical, and it’s highly likely that such a thing will happen. But, I don’t know if that’s such a big deal.

“…Well, okay.”

“Yes?”

As soon as Lee Hyunjae saw my calm reaction, his expression changed in an instant, indicating that he couldn’t understand.

“Hoppin has hyungs [older brothers or male friends] and dongsaengs [younger siblings or friends]…….”

A short groan-like sound, like ‘how’.

“They’re not that weak, so it’s okay.”

I understand what aspects Lee Hyunjae is worried about. It definitely feels strange, the fact that my fans might pick on a group with my younger sibling.

But I’m not too worried because my younger brother isn’t a weak person. Besides, isn’t it Senior Junseong’s lesson that you can get cursed for trivial things when you’re working as a celebrity?

If it’s really hard, I’ll be there for them, so I want to watch over them first.

“I don’t know. This feeling is so strange……. I don’t know how to face the kids……. But it’s weird to blame the fans too. It’s not their fault, but they have to get cursed. It reminds me of Eden hyung or hyung’s situation during the survival show…….”

“Hmm…….”

I sat on Lee Hyunjae’s bed.

“Then, what can we do?”

“…Nothing.”

“No. We have to wait.”

I think it’s wiser to wait for two close people to reconcile rather than taking sides with one of them when they fight. Besides, it’s not a clear matter of who’s at fault, and the reason for the fight is also due to a misunderstanding.

“If the kids are having a hard time, just stand by them silently. Then.”

I took a breath and continued.

“They’ll understand.”

In the first place, the broadcasting station that’s making a fuss about what happened in the past to a junior group is more of a problem. And the fact that Hoppin is not the target we should be angry at.

Lee Hyunjae bit one side of his lip, as if he was pondering what I had said. It’s a habit Lee Hyunjae has when he’s worried about something.

“Hey, it’s good that you’re filming a drama, but come out and eat. Jun is drooling while waiting.”

Ryu Eden peeked his head inside the door and grumbled. Ah, he came to call us to eat, here.

* * *

Hwayang’s expression soured as she watched her grandson take off his mask and sunglasses in front of her.

“Grandson, show your face more often. How long has it been since I returned from Japan?”

“Halmeoni [Grandmother], do you know how much I missed you? I really squeezed out time from practice to come today.”

A classy Korean restaurant. A place where you could burn someone’s monthly salary in one meal. If it weren’t for the economic achievements Hwayang had made by rolling the money she had earned, Jinhan would never have set foot in this place.

“So, is everything alright?”

Jinhan nodded at the usual greeting.

“Everything’s alright.”

Of course, there was a keyboard war [online argument] between Luminus and Wish, but there’s no point in telling Grandma about it, and it’s not a big problem either. It’s a problem caused by the pettiness of HBC broadcasting station.

The door quietly opened and dishes were piled up one by one. He’s not a real grandson, but the affection is real, so it was composed only of foods that are good for the body.

“Come to think of it, this album is doing well.”

“Yeah, the composer is excellent.”

Hwayang smiled as she took a sip of the broth based on oxtail that had been simmered for a long time.

“I put it in myself.”

“…What?”