LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Even after returning from the rehearsal, the practice did not stop.
It was thanks to Sae-bom Jung, who was moved by my passion for dance and came despite it being a day without lessons, and Kang Ji-woo, who saw the potential in my vocals and dragged me into the small room—no, the vocal practice room—right after dance practice ended.
Honestly, I think Sae-bom Jung used it as an excuse to see someone she likes.
As for Kang Ji-woo, this guy… he’s the real deal.
“Raon, that was good this time. But if we do it once more, I think it will be even better. Let’s try it again.”
This guy said the exact same thing an hour ago.
I was starting to suspect that perhaps the ghost of someone who died singing had attached itself to him.
As I continued singing, Gaestem took pity on me, boosting my strength, stamina, and even my perseverance, praising my effort.
Stats aside, just let me live.
“Did you come from some sort of endurance training?”
Ban Yo-han asked the moment he saw my face after I finally escaped the vocal practice room—no, the singing prison—just as it was time to go home.
“Don’t talk to me….”
In contrast, Kang Ji-woo, who followed me out looking refreshed, grinned and asked.
“Ban, do you want to join in too?”
“Yeah. Get lost.”
Does he still have the energy to do more?
‘This guy is crazy about singing….’
There’s a reason why Kang Ji-woo has maintained a friendship with Ban Yo-han for over ten years.
It’s because Kang Ji-woo himself isn’t quite sane either.
* * *
Before dawn the next morning, Ban Yo-han, Seo Moon-gyeol, and I left the dormitory.
Kang Ji-woo, who seemed to have no limits to his stamina, had woken up early to make breakfast, while Gyun Seong-ha, who came out with sleepy eyes, saw us off.
“Guys, go crush it.”
“Brother Gyeol, do well.”
“Gyun Seong, what about Raon and me?”
“Do well or don’t…. Just don’t embarrass our company. And don’t shorten people’s names as you please.”
This guy… he’s genuinely determined to exclude Ban Yo-han and me.
“Anyway, we’ll be back!”
Gwak Sang-hyun took us to the studio in Ilsan where the competition would be held.
“You all seem unfazed by the pressure, just do well.”
“Yes!”
The studio was bustling from early in the morning.
The trainees were dressed up and getting their makeup done, preparing for their first competition stage.
With everyone looking this prepared, they all looked like idols.
“Your makeup is really well done, so absolutely do not touch your face! Even if a mosquito lands on it, don’t touch it.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Thanks to the incredible makeup, I also received a +30 charm buff today. Since the makeup was thicker than last time, the increase was double.
The TOXIC outfits turned out to be sleek suits as I had expected. Our team wore clean black suits, while the opposing team wore burgundy.
At least in terms of outfits, we had already won.
Nothing beats a black suit.
At that moment, Ban Yo-han, having finished his makeup, approached me.
Everyone around me, regardless of gender, had their jaws drop open.
“Wow, this brother is really… handsome.”
I quickly changed my words just before saying something crazy, narrowly escaping the risk of foul language filtering.
“Suddenly?”
Ban Yo-han looked at me as if I were some kind of strange person.
I’m not someone who usually says things like this.
Ban Yo-han, wearing a neatly fitted black jacket with an unexaggerated white frill shirt that reached below his hips, looked so well-suited that he could be mistaken for a third-generation chaebol.
It seemed to fit him well because of his natural, affluent young master-like image.
I considered myself quite critical of people’s appearances, but saying this made me feel quite annoyed personally.
But then again, Ban Yo-han being annoying isn’t a new thing.
I’ve somewhat gotten used to his consistently casual and playful attitude, always yielding significantly better results than others.
At that moment, Ban Yo-han, after seeing my outfit, casually remarked.
“You look pretty good today too.”
…Why does this guy manage to sound annoying even when saying something nice?
I take back what I said about being used to him.
“Raon, you look handsome?”
Kim Jun-woo, who was nervously muttering lyrics and pacing around, overheard us and commented.
Kim Jun-woo, too, looked quite good in a standard suit. If Ban Yo-han was a young master, then Kim Jun-woo seemed like his subordinate. Yes, it was a compliment.
“Jun-woo, you look handsome too.”
“Isn’t Ban Yo-han just cheating?”
“I’m dancing next to him almost the entire time.”
At my words, Kim Jun-woo, looking suddenly less tense, patted me on the shoulder.
“That’s tough. Hang in there.”
Bastard.
Other than Ban Yo-han and Kim Jun-woo, trainees who had finished preparing also walked past me near the door, offering a word or two.
Most of them said things like do well, you look handsome today, or aren’t you nervous?
“Hyung, I’m so nervous I could die.”
Jing Xiao, whose face shone as much as Ban Yo-han’s, exaggerated his nervousness, while the final boss-like Seo Moon-gyeol stood behind him.
They say there can’t be two suns in the sky, but today alone, I felt like I had already seen three suns.
“Looking at your face, it makes me feel deflated.”
At my retort, Jing Xiao opened his eyes wide and then smiled brightly before heading to his seat with Seo Moon-gyeol.
[Jing Xiao appreciates your joke that eased his tension. Jing Xiao’s favorability +3 Current favorability +42]
I wasn’t trying to ease his tension. It was just my honest feeling.
Both Kim Jun-woo and Jing Xiao kept using me as their emotional stabilizer.
Finally, at 8:30 in the morning, all the trainees gathered in the waiting room.
The narrow waiting room was packed tightly with a hundred trainees, with a TV at the front to watch the stage.
Trainees nearby whispered.
“Did you see the crowd outside? There’s a lot of people.”
“I’m so nervous I could die, don’t talk about it….”
* * *
Due to the fatigue from the flood of survival programs regardless of genre, Pick Heart 3’s public interest had dropped significantly compared to previous seasons.
Nevertheless, Pick Heart had established itself as a major topic that anyone with an interest in idols couldn’t ignore.
[Jing Xiao, debut!]
[NA♡YUNJAE]
[Raon, what’s going on? If you’re this cute, you’ll get caught. Wanna come to noona’s house? I’ll treat you well, really.]
Even before the first broadcast, there were many people handing out various slogans printed with the names or faces of trainees in front of the studio from early morning.
After a long wait in line, the audience could finally enter the studio.
To prevent stage spoilers, they had to submit their phones along with their belongings upon entry.
To top it off, they had to undergo thorough body searches by security.
It was absurd to think that audience members coming to see their favorites had to go through body searches, but the Pick Heart production team remained unfazed, as they had done since Season 1.
With their phones confiscated, tired from the long wait, people started talking to strangers to alleviate their boredom before the competition began.
“Can I ask who your one-pick is?”
“Mine is Yoon-jae.”
“I’m rooting for Do-yoon.”
Some trainees, who had gained early popularity through previously released videos or fan meeting photos, already had established fan bases.
Finally, the hall darkened, signaling the end of the wait.
Jena, dressed formally, walked out from the inside.
“Hello, representatives of Pick Heart Entertainment. I am Jena, the singer and director of Pick Heart, who will be hosting today’s evaluation competition.”
The thousand or so audience members warmly applauded Jena, who had performed her duties without any scandals since her debut.
Jena smiled in appreciation.
“The reason you are here today is to find a trainee who makes your heart race. I wonder which trainee has already captured your heart.”
The audience loudly shouted the names of the trainees they were rooting for.
Their voices were loud enough to be heard in the waiting room where the trainees were gathered.
“Before explaining the rules in detail, let’s first bring out the mentors who have been guiding Pick Your Heart with dedication.”
The mentors, accompanied by members of their groups, walked out from the inside.
The audience cheered.
The mentors, holding hands with their group members, stood in a line at the front of the stage.
“Mentor Muk Hye-sung, could you say a few words?”
Reluctantly letting go of Joo Yeon-ho’s hand, which he had been holding as if to shake off something dirty, Muk Hye-sung, despite his rough actions, calmly took the microphone.
When the eldest Joo Yeon-ho exaggeratedly pouted at the youngest Muk Hye-sung’s rejection, laughter erupted among the audience.
Having worked together for nearly 20 years, Muk Hye-sung, used to such situations, spoke calmly.
“Hello. I am Muk Hye-sung of Chronicle. Seeing you all here, I can tell how much you are looking forward to this. Are you excited?”
“Yes!”
“So am I. I hope this time will be satisfying
for both the trainees who have worked hard and those who came to see the performance. Thank you.”
“Thank you for your wonderful words, Mentor Muk Hye-sung. Mentors, please take your seats.”
As the mentors took their designated seats, Jena continued on stage.
“Now, I will explain the rules and voting methods for this mentor song cover evaluation competition.”
Both the trainees and the audience listened attentively to Jena’s explanation.
“In this mentor song cover evaluation, as in previous seasons, the trainees have prepared stages covering the mentors’ songs. Each song will be performed by two teams, and the team that wins the match will be rewarded with individual fancams that will be released later.”
With the influence of fancam videos on fan engagement at an all-time high, this was a significant reward.
Especially in the early stages of the program, where even a small vote could determine survival or elimination.
“Representatives, after watching both teams perform a cover of the same song, you will use the wireless voting remotes you received to vote for the trainee you think performed the best. The team with the most combined individual votes wins the match.”
Jena glanced at her cue cards before continuing.
“And after all the performances, you will vote for the best team out of the total 14 teams. The team that ranks 3rd will receive 3,000 votes, the 2nd place team will receive 4,000 votes, and the team that comes in 1st will receive 5,000 votes, all distributed among the team members.”
The 3,000 votes awarded to the 3rd place team could significantly impact the survival or elimination of lower-ranked trainees.
The trainees’ faces showed a mixture of determination and tension.
“Now, let’s begin the mentor song cover evaluation competition.”
Jena declared the start of the competition.