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Jung Dajoon and Kang Yichae were playing excitedly, perhaps they planned to enter together when all the members gathered. Next to them were the planning team’s maknae and the manager.
Her name was Lee Jihyun, right?
I bowed slightly and approached the members.
“Hey, get out of my way.”
Don’t get on my nerves. I couldn’t pass because the two guys were busy doing this at the narrow entrance. Then Kang Yichae was startled.
“But, it’s my place?”
“I… I’m sorry!”
“Hey, stop taking pictures and quickly get out of the way! What are you guys doing?”
These guys… What’s with their mentalities? Can I say this it’s a good thing?
I was worried that they might be suffering from hate comments on the Internet due to the sudden popularity, but my concerns were unfounded.
Seeing our conversation, a little bit of laughter was already bursting out among the manager and production team,
“Ah! It hurts!”
“Stop it, you punks.”
While I was hitting them lightly, Kim Sunghyun and Sung Jiwon appeared.
“What are you doing?”
“You must have done something to deserve getting hit…”
Sung Jiwon, who looked at us curiously, and Kim Sunghyun, who understood the members too well.
I greeted them with a slight glance and looked at the sketchbook that Lee Jihyun, the planning team’s maknae, had hurriedly written down.
[Please react as you enter the dorm!]
Okay.
Everyone looked excited as they dragged their suitcases. Kang Yichae pressed down the password he had just learned and applied the BGM.
“Ta-da!”
“…Ta-da?”
“Indeed, it’s The Dawn’s dorm?”
‘…It’s shocking.’
Naturally, I thought of Ru* House [1] and heard Netf*x’s opening beat, it felt familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
In the meantime, I could see the dorm through the door that Kang Yichae playfully opened.
There were two rooms and one living room, and it was a bit narrow, but it was a space where five people could live. There was only one bathroom, so it looked like there would be an explosion in the morning, but… It was good enough.
Since they said we were filming behind the scenes, the important thing was the cameras.
Where is it? I scanned it with hawk’s eyes. One on the teddy bear, one on the TV stand, two on the side of the sofa…
‘You did it better than I thought.’
I was trying to react in moderation, but Kang Yichae jumped into the sofa. And while holding a pose, he said his lines.
“What’s wrong with you…?”
“So dazzling…”
“Are you completely okay?!”
‘…?’
Even Sung Jiwon entered the living room with anticipation.
“Why are they so excited?”
“H-Huh?”
When I talked to Kim Sunghyun and looked at him, he was not in a position to talk to others either. He was busy looking around with the same flushed face. A sudden surge of sorrow rushed into my heart.
‘You guys… You really didn’t get treated right at the company…’
Even for me, who was famous as an evil producer, the treatment of these unknown idols was really serious. It was possible that Daepasong itself was unique.
With a hardened face, I put the suitcase in the corner of the living room.
The planning team came in and took a camera focusing on filming Kang Yichae.
The big room belonged to Jung Dajoon, Sung Jiwon, and Kim Sunghyun. And the small room was for me and Kang Yichae. When I made eye contact with Kang Yichae, he snickered. Be anxious.
Lee Jihyun, the planning team’s maknae, looked around and started to speak.
“Everyone, do you like the dorm?”
“Yes!”
“That’s a relief. Um… The camera isn’t always rolling, so don’t worry. We will only shoot when there is content, and the editing is all done by our company, so don’t worry.”
I am worried.
“Today, we’re going to lightly unpack the suitcase, choose a roommate, and film a music video reaction. For music video behind-the-scenes shooting, you just need to lightly monitor it..”
Lee Jihyun turned over the sketchbook several times. Everyone answered obediently like a good child and dragged the suitcases they had gathered in the corner.
‘You’re filming the suitcases?’
What’s fun about taking videos of the suitcases?
It might be fun for the fans. Because fans were curious about what idols eat.
Still, I was worried that there wouldn’t be much content.
And exactly a minute later, my concerns collapsed.
“Hahaha! Hyung, what’s this?”
“Red ginseng set and ginseng juice….”
The first was Sung Jiwon. Half of his suitcase was filled with red ginseng. Sung Jiwon laughed, embarrassed.
“Hyung, what are you going to do if half of your suitcase is filled with red ginseng?”
“My grandmother took care of it. Let’s eat all together.”
“Your grandmother is very kind….”
“Woo~ Yichae hyung is so mean~”
“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant.”
Kang Yichae quickly changed his tune and hurriedly made an excuse. Taking advantage of that gap, I sneaked up to Sung Jiwon and asked.
“Can I have one?”
“Oh, of course.”
I immediately picked up a piece of red ginseng juice Sung Jiwon had given me and thriftily squeezed it out and swallowed it.
His grandmother was very wise… When I was a producer, I used to squeeze this out every morning.
Sung Jiwon packed his suitcase again.
The next person.
“Me!”
“Oh, yes, Dajoon-ah. Open it.”
Jung Dajoon opened his suitcase vigorously.
“…You only have snacks.”
“All I need is snacks!”
“Just take it out.”
Sung Jiwon was a gentleman. Next was Kang Yichae.
“Ta-da! Games!”
Laptop, Mouse, PlaySt*tion 5, Sw*tch…  He only had games.
Kim Sunghyun immediately covered the suitcase.
“Take it and throw it away.”
“Hyung, why!?”
“Go practice if you have time for games.”
“I agree.”
“No, my children…”
When Sung Jiwon joined in, Kang Yichae carefully fastened his suitcase.
“Next is Hoyoon.”
“Hn.”
I ignored them and opened my suitcase. Since it was normal, It had no impact, so it might get edited.
But there was silence.
“Hyung, what are these clothes?”
“What about them?”
“…”
Members who were looking at my suitcase quietly whispered to each other.
“Did you see his luggage is all black? I thought it was a black hole. I should’ve noticed that he only wears black…”
“I know, right. He always wears shadow fashion from head to toe.”
“Hoyoon hyung, what kind of idol are you…”
Even Jung Dajoon criticized me. I frowned. I didn’t think I’d ever been criticized for fashion.
“Why? Black is pretty.”
“Next, Sunghyun hyung!”
My opinion was taken lightly, and Kim Sunghyun, who came up last, sighed deeply and opened his suitcase. And really… He was Doraemon.
“This is Kang Yichae’s and Jung Dajoon’s. I knew you guys wouldn’t bring your clothes. Sung Jiwon, you get hot packs.”
“I wanted this!”
“Seo Hoyoon, you get vitamin.”
For some reason, it came back to me the most. I asked in bewilderment as I watched the vitamins pour out endlessly.
“Why do I get vitamin?”
“You collapsed last time.”
It was because of the system window.
“That’s right. Hoyoon hyung is weak.”
“So, Hoyoon needs to eat well.”
No, it’s the system window?
But I couldn’t say it, so I closed my mouth. I would be treated like a madman.
Kim Sunghyun proudly closd  the suitcase after giving everyone the items they needed.
Um… I wanted this to be edited.
I’d already monitored the music video countless times, but seeing everyone sitting on the sofa at a place called a dorm felt different.
But the problem was the maknaes.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Bam!”
“Stop it, guys…”
Kang Yichae and Jung Dajoon snickered and targeted Sung Jiwon. Sung Jiwon was lying on the sofa and dying. They also appeared, but since it was a music video with Sung Jiwon as the main character, it was easy to make fun of him.
“Y-Yichae is really cool, too! Like Hollywood.”
“Hn. I was cast the other day, but I turned it down.”
“…Yichae-ya, sometimes I envy your cheekiness.”
“It’s my charm.”
Sung Jiwon made a small counterattack, but it didn’t work for Kang Yichae, who had the best mentality. Sung Jiwon was already clenching his fist.
At this rate, sooner or later, will the day Kang Yichae attacks me come?
“Hoyoon hyung is really good at mixing cards.”
“Hyung, are you a gambler?”
“Stop moving… Are you playing tricks on me?”
“Puhaha!”
When the ornaments were neatly matched, the kids made a fuss.
As I suggested, the behind-the-scenes shoot came out as human theater editing.
I was very satisfied with [A Day of an Extreme Idol] with a rainbow-colored cursive font.
[Kim Sunghyun is going to the practice room again today
What are you thinking about when you practice?
(Kim Sunghyun) What I am thinking? I just do it…]
A behind-the-scenes shoot that was mixed with all sorts of memes circulating on the internet.
The more serious the members appeared, the funnier it became. The highlight was when Joo Woosung appeared.
[Joo Woosung: Hello~
Members: (Shocked) Hyung, why are you here…?
Seo Hoyoon: (Calm) Let’s practice]
“I was really taken aback at the time.”
“He’s really a celebrity among celebrities.”
Joo Woosung was just a guy who was preoccupied with dating.
I clicked my tongue and focused on the video. The behind-the-scenes shoot continued to the music video.
[The Dawn is serious today as well. Yichae-ssi suddenly stands up.
Kang Yichae: Hyung! How tall is a monkey?
Kim Sunghyun: (Given up) About 121cm…?
Seo Hoyoon: (Holding the answer) Monkey [2] .]
“I have goosebumps…”
“Hyung made me do that.”
Everyone laughed leisurely, probably because this reaction wouldn’t make it to the cut anyway. The planning team went back looking pretty satisfied, perhaps they had filmed it well.
“You’ve worked hard! Tomorrow morning you will be filming another music show, so take a break.”
While greeting the manager and the planning team, I made eye contact with the planning team’s maknae. Lee Jihyun flinched when I smiled naturally.
“Jihyun-ssi.”
“Y-Yes, Hoyoon-ssi.”
“Thank you, I got good records thanks to your good plan.”
Lee Jihyun scratched the back of her head, bewildered. In fact, it was a face that said, ‘What’s wrong with this bastard?’ Lee Jihyun had just joined the company, so it seemed she didn’t understand why I was sticking to her rather than to the team leader.
But why am I sticking to Jihyun?
Of course, I’m laying the paving stones.
It was even more important in shiny projects, especially in competition programs.
Lee Jihyun answered meekly, while wary of the sudden trust.
“May I ask for some advice on the project later?”
“…Yes?”
“Jihyun-ssi, you’re good at things like this.”
“…O-Of course.”
Lee Jihyun clenched her fists.
I waited. Promotion? Bonus? Is she going to ask for more? It wasn’t within my authority, but I was ready to express it to the president or team leader as much as I could.
“Can I pour out all the settings I want?”
‘…’
“…Yes, of course.”
My answer came out a half-beat late. Maybe I was too realistic.
“Argh! Thank you! The settings I had in mind moved in 3D, not 4D, so this is really good! In fact, I also thought of a sequel to this Apocalypse, but how it continues….”
“Oh, I’m a little busy right now.”
I quickly cut her off. I didn’t intend to listen to an’s otaku ramblings here all day. Lee Jihyun said goodbye and moved away with a flushed face, looking disappointed the whole time. …Hmm, this was great.
I had done enough here.
I looked back.
“Oh, I’m tired, I’m tired.”
“Shall we grill pork belly?”
“Let’s practice.”
“Practice maniac…”
“Let’s practice.”
“…Yes, sir.”
All that remained was this one.
Leaving Kang Yichae muttering nonsense, ‘Does the losing side become an idol for life?’, Sung Jiwon the practice maniac was packing up his training clothes, probably to try to practice again. Sung Jiwon had the best balance among us so I wanted to see his stats.
‘Sung Jiwon’s stats.’
[View Sung Jiwon’s stats.]
[Vocal: A0]
Dance: A-
Entertainment: C-
???: ???
??: ??
Charm: B-]
Wow, what’s with Sung Jiwon’s stat? Vocal A0? Dance A-?
I knew he was good, but it was shocking to see it like this. His trainee experiences really didn’t go anywhere.
Entertainment and charms would come out when you were on TV anyway.
“Hey, you must have been born to be an idol.”
“Hn? What’s with you, all of a sudden? This is just how we are, Hoyoon.”
‘Oh, my God, you’re so humble…’
Sung Jiwon furrowed his eyebrow and smiled. Let’s push Sung Jiown into the tank role. I beckoned.
“Sung Jiwon, come here for a second. You too.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah.”
I had something to tell you. Kim Sunghyun, who was organizing his suitcase, also stopped and sat around in the living room.
“What is it?”
“The camera is off, right?”
“Yes, they were all taken.”
“Good.”
“What’s this, what are you going to say by setting the mood like this? Scary.”
This was important. I remembered warning them when I entered the practice room on the first day.
Everyone swallowed as if they remembered that day clearly. I slowly looked at the members’ faces and said.
“We’re invited to a variety show.”
Everyone dropped their jaws.
“Really?”
“Hyung, if you lie, it’s really not funny.”
“Don’t you trust me?”
All their faces were full of distrust.
“I’m hurt…”
“…Get to the point.”
Even if I pretended to be hurt a little, it didn’t work on the members. Even Sung Jiwon looked at me coldly.
“We are invited to a contest program. The president said that. It’s a program where we compete with other idol groups on cable and try to win first place.”
“Really? Us?”
Everyone opened their eyes wide. Then Jung Dajoon jumped up and down excitedly. Some were excited, and some looked worried when I gave a detailed explanation.
Kim Sunghyun pondered for a while and said.
“If you rush out, it may turn more negative.”
“That’s right, and the evil editing is severe. There are quite a few idols who ruined their image after going on similar programs. And then there’s a group that disbanded….”
“It’s not something that could be done by positive thinking alone…”
“Will it turn cool or not? Either way, the Internet will burn.”
Kang Yichae shrugged. At his words, everyone turned more somber.
Because they were rarely successful, The Dawn only had negative thoughts.
What should I do?
Give them some shock therapy like last time?
“Hmm…”
As I thought about what else to say this time, Sung Jiwon suddenly turned his head.
“Hoyoon, what do you want to do?”
At Sung Jiwon’s careful question, the members’ eyes were naturally fixed this way.
“Of course…”
My answer was certain.
“I have no choice but to do what I should do.”
This was the time to jump into the fire.
1. I have no idea what this is. It could be a reference to a brand, a movie, or a song, but I seriously have no idea. Netfl*x is easy enough to guess.2. Monkey in the answer is written like this  몽키 which literally romanizes to monkey. 키 means height. Haha.