Top Star By Luck [EN]: Chapter 116

The moment Trainer Kim Ah-sung spoke, the outcome was obvious.

“You can do more.”

“……!”

Song Woo-dang’s eyes widened. Just a few minutes ago, he’d dismissed the previous two, complaining about watching them, but now he was asking for more.

Was there any need to overthink the meaning?

“It’s worth watching, so why stop?”

This was as clear an invitation as the predictable back-and-forth in a cheesy romance novel.

‘As expected.’

Unlike the hesitant Song Woo-dang, Lee Min-ki, feeling vindicated, turned to his manager.

“Manager, what do you think? Isn’t this enough?”

“Well, it certainly is.”

Manager Park Han-mo nodded.

“To be honest, I was skeptical, wondering how good he could actually be. But yes, this is a level of skill that deserves admiration.”

“……!”

“I’ve seen plenty of people claim to be good dancers in this industry, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed this level of talent firsthand.”

It was high praise indeed.

At those words, Song Woo-dang looked like he was about to faint.

He just kept opening and closing his mouth, speechless.

He couldn’t even manage words of gratitude, nor could he formulate any questions.

There were so many things he wanted to say.

So many words he had prepared in his head.

Yet, he was too overjoyed and utterly lost for words.

“Uh, uh, uh……”

He was like someone too surprised to close their mouth, just stamping their feet in place.

Meanwhile, someone else was equally thrilled.

‘As expected, Song Woo-dang.’

It was Lee Min-ki.

Watching the dance, he felt like he could foresee the success of their content.

Lee Min-ki Challenge?

There were some decent submissions among the videos sent in by others, but Song Woo-dang was in a completely different league.

It was like the business principle where one top-selling product outperforms ten moderately successful ones.

‘If he’s this good, he’s bound to go viral.’

I hope it spreads overseas.

If I could selfishly add my own desires, it would be even better if my name recognition spread as well.

In Song Woo-dang’s dance, as Lee Min-ki saw it, there was a raw, explosive power that would propel the content itself.

No, that was only natural.

He had essentially discovered a national talent who was about to ignite a dance craze in Korea, one step ahead of everyone else.

He was lucky.

He was the one who had snatched him up.

‘I don’t know how far it will go, but from now on, I have to refine it.’

From now on, it’s all about the practical execution.

He had roughly assessed Song Woo-dang’s potential.

Like taking a rough diamond and turning it into a dazzling ring, he was contemplating which studio to send Song Woo-dang to and what kind of direction to use when shooting the video.

“Thank you!”

Finally, Song Woo-dang, having calmed down a bit, bowed deeply.

“Um, well. There was something I wanted to say.”

“Take your time. We have plenty of time.”

“Ah, yes! Haa!”

Song Woo-dang repeatedly took a few deep breaths, as if he still wasn’t completely relaxed.

He did that for a while.

Finally, he spoke.

“……I wanted to support you with a proper video, but circumstances didn’t allow it. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

“It’s a bit strange to say I gave you an opportunity; it’s more like talent couldn’t be contained, right?”

Lee Min-ki chuckled, responding to the words overflowing with emotion.

Now that a good outcome was assured, there was no need to keep the atmosphere so serious.

But separately from that.

‘I need to address this for sure.’

What Lee Min-ki was about to say was potentially a sensitive topic.

Even though he wanted to only talk about happy things in the midst of this joy, he still had to say what needed to be said.

Lee Min-ki, gathering his courage, began.

“Those students from earlier, you’re not exactly close with them, are you?”

He was directly addressing the issue of potential bullying.

“……Yes.”

“I thought so. You didn’t seem particularly friendly. And I kept hearing strange laughter in the videos you sent.”

“That’s…”

Song Woo-dang swallowed hard, unable to give a proper answer and only glancing nervously at the practice room entrance.

Due to the soundproofing in the practice room, their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

‘He’s being very cautious.’

Lee Min-ki nodded, convinced that his suspicions were correct.

‘It was only a matter of time anyway.’

He remembered that Song Woo-dang had revealed this incident himself a few years later, but he didn’t recall him getting proper justice.

Perhaps it was because too much time had passed, and there was no concrete evidence.

He was just moderately harassed by netizens, and that was it.

That alone was a form of punishment, but even that felt insufficient.

‘Did they even file a counter-suit?’

The ending was messy and unsatisfying.

The perpetrators even claimed that they were not the perpetrators, and used the fact that Song Woo-dang had become a celebrity to try and discredit him, despite the lack of solid evidence.

A lingering unpleasant memory remained.

He didn’t want to see it end like that this time.

‘Depending on Song Woo-dang’s actions, the outcome could be different this time.’

Lee Min-ki, having organized his thoughts, spoke.

“Take this. It’s my business card.”

“Ah!”

A business card with the letters JC Entertainment Actor Lee Min-ki embossed on it.

Admiration was evident in Song Woo-dang’s expression as he received the newly printed business card.

Lee Min-ki felt an inexplicable sense of pride and continued.

“When you start working seriously, old grudges might resurface and cause problems. They can be quite persistent. Not that I’m talking about anyone in particular.”

“…….”

“If you contact me, I’ll look for ways to help. It’s better to handle these things cleanly, right?”

Lee Min-ki asked Manager Park Han-mo, who was sitting next to him, as if seeking confirmation.

And, as expected, the words that followed were:

“Yes, JC is also a specialist in these matters.”

It was as if he had anticipated this from the beginning.

* * *

Recently, a video had been generating a lot of buzz online.

It was the music video for Boyana Olsen’s new song, “Treatment,” which had broken into the Billboard Top 10.

The success of this song was largely attributed to its simple and well-crafted nature.

A rhythm that instantly lifted your spirits.

A melody that stuck in your head even if you only heard it in passing.

Combined with Boyana Olsen’s unique and sensual musical style as a rising star, and lyrics that seemed to resonate with the anxieties of modern life, it was a song destined for success.

[I knew Boyana Olsen had potential]

[But I didn’t expect her to blow up this fast]

[I wrote a post online saying this song was good early on and got a lot of hate for it. What are those haters saying now?]

The overall reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

But the song’s popularity wasn’t solely based on its inherent qualities.

The music video played a crucial role in generating buzz and showcasing the song’s strengths.

[Lee Min-ki ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[That Asian guy is hilarious]

[Cute]

The scene featuring a Korean actor named Lee Min-ki dancing was a major talking point.

By now, anyone with even a passing interest in Korean Wave [Hallyu] content would recognize him, but he was an actor whose international recognition was somewhat limited due to his choices in projects.

But then…

[Lee Min-ki Challenge?]

A new twist emerged.

As if to capitalize on his contribution to the music video, he launched a challenge, offering prizes to those who could imitate his dance moves.

The prizes included Lee Min-ki’s official review, a personalized thank you note, gifts hand-picked by Lee Min-ki, and a small gift certificate.

[He’s doing something unexpected]

[I understand he’s trying to ride the wave while it’s there, but I’m still not sure about this?]

[In the first place, Lee Min-ki is just a cameo in “Treatment,” not the star of his own music video. Why is he acting like this?]

In the initial stages, the reaction was lukewarm.

Perhaps the fact that “Treatment” wasn’t Lee Min-ki’s own project was a significant factor.

But then…

[Hello everyone! This is Lee Min-ki! Drum roll, drum roll, drum roll… We’re about to announce the results of the Treatment Challenge!]

When the 1st place winner was revealed…

“……Wow.”

“Who is this person?”

The public’s reaction was explosive.

[Who is this person?]

A ridiculously skilled dancer had submitted a video under the nickname [CKED].

“Wow, isn’t it amazing? To be able to do shuffle dance while jumping rope like that! His long arms and legs make it so visually appealing.”

Lee Min-ki clapped enthusiastically, showering endless praise in his reverse support review video.

“Surprisingly, this person is said to be a high school student. I wonder if there’s another high school student in Korea who dances this well? I don’t know if this person is the best dancer in Korea, but at least he seems to be the best among Korean high school students.”

If you only listened to the words, it might sound like an exaggeration.

But if you watched the video while listening, Lee Min-ki’s expression seemed like an understatement.

[Is that even human?]

[He’s got a motor in his legs ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Does this person have a brain in their arms and legs?]

[Doesn’t the rope get tangled?]

[What am I even watching right now?]

[Is he famous?]

[No, no, no, I’m seeing him for the first time?]

The unfamiliar nickname [CKED] only added to the mystery.

To be this good at dancing and not show it off to the world, but only dance in his room until now…

[Why are you all hiding your talents so much?]

The fact that he was completely covered in a hoodie and mask was also striking.

Yes, it was exactly the same person as the [CKED] that Lee Min-ki had seen on TV in his past life.

Lee Min-ki smiled wryly at the irony of it all.

‘Smart.’

CKED, Song Woo-dang, had chosen to remain anonymous.

Not just to conceal his identity, but also because:

[It’s him. If I mess up in the future, they’ll harass me even more.]

It was to gather evidence.

[If they see me doing even a little bit well, they’ll try to suppress me. I’ll be active anonymously for the time being until I have enough proof.]

The newly created identity was [CKED].

Although the motive had changed, the name CKED eventually revealed itself to the public before Song Woo-dang did.

‘The world is so interesting.’

Lee Min-ki smiled slightly.

‘His mentality is also strong.’

To think that he would use the identity of [CKED] in this way.

Even though he could seek immediate revenge, he was holding back until the right moment?

It was a level of patience that an ordinary person couldn’t even imagine.

But why was that?

Unlike his past life, where Song Woo-dang’s revenge was weak and unsatisfying, he had a feeling that this time it would be like a freshly picked Zero Coke Lime Edition [a refreshing and satisfying experience].

Revenge was only a matter of time.

It seemed like that time would be soon.

“How is it? Isn’t it really amazing? There are so many hidden talents in the world.”

Anyway, now was the time to praise him.

As a planner, and as a fan who supported CKED.

‘I hope his life changes for the better this time.’

In fact, Lee Min-ki himself was still missing one crucial piece of the puzzle.

Was his past life ruined by bad luck?

In this life, where he had regained his luck, he had returned to where he belonged.

But his luck didn’t end there.

The overflowing luck, finally…

‘It’s the kind of luck that will never happen again in my life.’

It was even extending to others.

Song Woo-dang was a prime example.

‘I have to make the most of this opportunity for the actor who recognized my potential.’

It was an opportunity that filled him to the brim and overflowed, giving others the luck of a lifetime.

There would be more good opportunities.

If you were going to get seven, you would get ten.

If you were going to see the light after 5 years, you would see the light after 5 days.

The feelings that Lee Min-ki had been experiencing lately were not much different.

‘Why do people who get involved with me seem to be doing so well?’

It had happened repeatedly so far.

But what could he say?

He was a little more confident now.

‘If I can share this luck with others…’

Wouldn’t the world move in a better direction?