Holy Idol [EN]: Chapter 163

October 2nd.

3 PM.

Inside the agency break room…….

We started practicing the song, and the choreography was also commissioned.

Ah, starting song practice means we’ve chosen the title track and new songs for the album.

I hope the choreography isn’t too difficult.

5 PM.

The choreographer sent a short video and asked, “How about this?”

It’s a traditional dance from some country, and they said they’re going to interpret it in a modern way and create the choreography.

Hye-gyeol liked it as soon as she saw it, saying, “Awesome! The best! Amazing!” but…….

I felt like I was going crazy watching it. Which country dances their traditional dances so intensely?

I don’t know who dances the traditional dances of that country like that.

9 PM.

Around 6 PM, Jang Tae-ri sent a text message, comforting me not to worry too much since she can’t dance either.

When I said I wasn’t worried at all, she changed her words and asked if I should worry a little.

Jang Tae-ri said that since this is something I chose, it’s right to work hard even if I’m not used to it.

Hearing that, I felt like I knew why Jang Tae-ri succeeded. That’s how hard workers succeed.

* * *

October 3rd.

I went to record after a long time.

We filmed a scene where the three of us go to an amusement park for the holiday, and Jang Tae-ri and Shin Jo-woon kept trying to get me on strange things that looked scary, as if they expected I wouldn’t be able to ride any rides at all.

They say, “I saw you riding the Viking well on TV before, why?” but in reality, they just want to tease me.

How absurd!

There’s something I need to make clear. It’s not that I can’t ride amusement park rides—like roller coasters or things like that. It’s just that I didn’t want to ride them.

Isn’t that right? Why should I spend my money to be flipped and shaken in the air?

When I said this, Shin Jo-woon explained that people want to feel the thrill. When I told him to ride as much as he wants since he knows so well, Shin Jo-woon suggested a bet.

When I asked what kind of bet he wanted to make, he said the person who doesn’t scream while riding the roller coaster wins.

When I asked what the benefit of winning was, he said the winner gets to slap the loser’s mouth three times.

* * *

It was after singing with the composer for three hours to distribute the song parts.

While the members were taking a break, Jong-woo came out to the hallway to get drinks.

“Are you Wild Animal’s manager, Lee Jong-woo?”

As he was getting a drink from the vending machine, he heard a bright voice next to him.

It’s not uncommon these days for an acquaintance to pretend to know him, so Jong-woo calmly turned his head and was surprised.

“Oh, hello?”

It was the manager of a very successful solo idol.

“Did you come to get a song?”

As soon as the other person asked friendly, Jong-woo hurriedly added unnecessary information and revealed the purpose of his visit.

Even after speaking, he blamed himself for being foolish, but he felt intimidated because of the position of the idol the other person was with.

Jong-woo regretted inwardly, ‘I need Yeon-woo’s mindset in times like this.’ How confident would I look if I didn’t bat an eye no matter how great the other person was.

Fortunately, the manager approached him with good intentions, so he didn’t laugh at Jong-woo for being intimidated.

After exchanging a few words of greeting, Jong-woo took the drinks he had 뽑은 [pulled out] and turned around after bowing.

But the other person’s business wasn’t over yet.

“Manager Lee Jong-woo.”

The manager who called Jong-woo approached him affably, handed him a business card, and asked.

“Is Yeon-woo’s schedule busy this Saturday?”

“Yeon-woo?”

Jong-woo quickly checked the calendar and then answered.

“No, we just need to work on the album this week.”

The manager was pleased with that answer and asked.

“Then, could Yeon-woo possibly do a feature for our Milling on ‘Power Idol’ this week?”

“A feature?”

When Jong-woo asked with wide eyes, the manager turned on last week’s music show video on his phone and showed it to him.

It was a stage where Milling was singing, and then another person would come out, dance briefly together, do the feature, and then leave.

“The person who featured on the album is different, but they said they wouldn’t be on stage. So, we’re inviting special guests for each music show to ask them to do the feature only on stage.”

“Ah…… It’s okay in terms of the date…….”

Jong-woo mumbled hesitantly. Milling’s feature. It wasn’t a bad stage to be on. But in the video that Milling’s manager showed him, he was bothered by the fact that the person who featured did a bit of choreography with Milling during the stage.

“I don’t know if our Yeon-woo can dance this.”

On stages like this that go up for a short time, there were many cases where they learned the song and choreography in one or two hours and went on stage.

But Jong-woo felt uncomfortable with Yeon-woo learning the choreography in an hour or two and going on stage.

“Haha, it’s okay.”

However, Milling’s manager seemed to have specifically picked Yeon-woo as the feature partner, and repeatedly recommended that they wanted to be together if there were no problems.

After much deliberation, Jong-woo accepted. Yeon-woo’s recognition was quite high, but his image was closer to an entertainer than an idol, and Jong-woo was always concerned about that.

But if he did a short feature for such a top idol…….

In the end, after thinking, Jong-woo decided to send Yeon-woo to Milling’s feature.

* * *

“You called Woo Yeon-woo?”

Milling, who was discussing the interpretation of the song with the composer in another recording room, was taken aback and asked again after hearing about the Woo Yeon-woo feature from the manager who had gone out to get drinks.

“Really? No, why?”

The manager handed a 홍차 [hongcha – black tea] drink to Milling and a carbonated drink to the composer, grinning.

“Why, he’s good at singing. Good voice. Why, you’ve always wanted to work with Woo Yeon-woo, right?”

“That’s true. But that means I want to work on recording together, not just do a short feature like this.”

The composer, who was listening to the conversation next to him, popped open the can and asked with a chuckle.

“Why? It’s good for publicity.”

Milling sighed briefly and turned his gaze away.

“If Woo Yeon-woo sings incredibly well, it’s helpful to work on a song together. But if he’s not that good and just sings well on stage, it’s not helpful and just gets compared. Besides, I can get to the top of the real-time search rankings just by myself.”

The composer’s eyes widened.

“No, Milling, you’re good at singing, right? Why are you so insecure?”

Milling didn’t answer and just tapped the 홍차 [hongcha – black tea] can with his fingernails gloomily.

“He’s also handsome…….”

“You’re handsome too.”

The manager and composer were surprised and comforted Milling. Still, Milling seemed concerned and touched his hair, so the manager cleared his throat and said as if telling a secret.

“It’s okay, Milling. To be honest, we didn’t ask Woo Yeon-woo to feature because he’s good at singing.”

The composer narrowed his eyes and chuckled, poking the manager’s side with his phone.

Milling asked, puzzled.

“Then why did you ask him? Because you wanted more publicity?”

“No. Because he can’t dance.”

Milling’s eyebrows furrowed.

“What do you mean?”

“Woo Yeon-woo has the singing and voice, but he can’t dance. He can’t even handle the choreography for his own song, so would he be able to handle your choreography after practicing for a short time?”

Only then did Milling say, “Ah,” and nodded in agreement.

The manager chuckled and patted Milling’s back without hurting him.

“Just think of it as bringing in publicity. And when people see you and Woo Yeon-woo dancing side by side, they’ll know for sure who the star is.”

* * *

That Saturday.

Rembrary woke up early in the morning, went to the shop to get a slightly darker makeup than usual for the first time in a while, and then went to the broadcasting station.

Milling’s manager and Milling, who were in the waiting room, and Milling’s dance team welcomed Rembrary with surprising enthusiasm when he appeared.

“Thank you for accepting.”

“No, it’s an honor for you to call our Yeon-woo.”

Rembrary also greeted them right away, and after that, for three hours, Rembrary tried to memorize the simple movements he would do while featuring and the choreography where everyone would dance together in the chorus.

“Can you do it?”

“Jong-woo.”

“Yeah?”

“I believe you already know the answer.”

Jong-woo became newly anxious about Rembrary, but he forced himself to feel relieved. The fact that Rembrary can’t dance was a fact that most people interested in this field knew. It goes without saying that he has excellent singing skills.

No one would click their tongue just because he can’t dance. As the rehearsal began, Jong-woo suppressed his anxiety and patted Rembrary on the back.

“Do your best.”

* * *

―Milling called who as a feature!!! ㅠㅠ

ㄴ Milling himself if you know itㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴ Didn’t the company call him?

ㄴ I don’t know. Whoever called him is to blame! It’s all that person’s fault!

―Wow. I thought Milling was all about star quality. But next to Woo Yeon-woo, Milling is buried ㄷ

ㄷ;;

ㄴ Is that star quality?

ㄴ No, whyㅋㅋㅋㅋ Isn’t being that bad at dancing also star qualityㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴ I’ve never taken my eyes off Milling while 덕질 [deokjil – being an avid fan], you know? I 팔았다 [palatda – sold/betrayed] for the first time today.

―I realized that if a person who dances well and a person who can’t dance dance side by side, you end up looking at the person who can’t danceㅜㅜ

―Save Milling!ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

―Woo Yeon-woo is so bad at dancing that his awkwardness next to him is 시강 [sigang – attention-stealing], you 망할 [manghal – damn] company guysㅠ

* * *

Around the time Milling’s fans and the public were once again lamenting Rembrary’s dancing skills.

The Wild Animal members were learning the choreography for their new title track from the choreographer.

But…….

“Is it okay to do it like this?”

“Yeon-woo doesn’t seem to be able to keep up.”

Since the choreography was difficult, Rembrary couldn’t keep up this time either. As always, Rembrary memorized the dance quickly this time as well, but he couldn’t digest it into natural movements.

The choreographer shrugged.

“That doesn’t mean you guys have to give up your performance to match Yeon-woo’s level, does it?”

The members awkwardly looked at each other at the choreographer’s brutal remark. He was right.

In the end, the members started learning the choreography again.

After three days, Hye-gyeol was the first to be able to perfectly digest the choreography. It was definitely a choreography that made you admire it when someone who dances well danced it.

CEO Im came down to the practice room for an initial check and watched the dance and song, and then excitedly told his secretary that he was very much looking forward to this album.

Other employees also guessed that the song seemed 무난 [munan – decent/average] but had mass appeal and would come out well.

After a few more days, most of the members except Rembrary digested the choreography plausibly. The part distribution of the song was all finished. This album flowed as if it had a smooth sailing.

Until one of the employees came to find something, saying, “Did you see this?”

Jong-woo was showing Rembrary the choreography this time, complaining, “What if I dance better, huh?” and then quickly turned off the music.

“Why?”

The employee placed the tablet in the middle of the practice room.

Jong-woo leaned his head into the tablet.

“What is it?”

The members who were laughing while watching Jong-woo dance also approached the tablet screen on their knees.

“I want to see too.”

“Ah, move your head.”

But the commotion immediately subsided when they saw the video.

The video was a video of another idol group practicing choreography in the practice room, and one of the members explained it as ‘the choreography for the new song on the next album.’

Everyone whispered. Even Jungseo’s usual expressionless face was broken and surprised. It couldn’t be helped. The choreography in the choreography video was the highest level of unique choreography that Wild Animal had been 갈고 [galgo – honing/sharpening] and preparing for this time.

Jong-woo’s complexion darkened and he asked the employee.

“When is their new song release date?”

“It’s a little earlier than ours.”