LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 71
Chapter 71
I knew it wouldn’t be true, but I didn’t expect him to deny it so seriously.
“Raon, I just found out that what you did while practicing for Heart Attack was really amazing.”
[Kim Jun-woo belatedly respects you, who was the class president of the inferior class. Kim Jun-woo’s favorability +4, current favorability +49]
Kim Jun-woo, who casually praised me, confirmed once again that there was no one around us before venting his frustration.
“I seriously thought I was going to die preparing for the last performance. Sure, I understand that you can’t do it! I find dancing difficult too! But why don’t you practice? Why do you still mess up the parts we agreed to practice on our own!”
His words hit home, probably because they came from a leader who managed to pull off decent results with a team everyone acknowledged as hopeless.
Ban Yo-han, who was in the same team as Kim Jun-woo, nodded with a calm smile and added a word.
“I think group projects should disappear from the world.”
It seemed he had a lot of grievances about group projects. It looked like even S University had free riders.
“You had a tough time. But did you know Seo-joon hyung is a total jerk?”
This time, Ok Do-yoon, who had been quiet, opened up.
“He seemed nice.”
“No, not at all. If things don’t go his way, his expression immediately hardens, and when we practice separately, he suddenly snaps and starts swearing, and he subtly makes the younger ones do all the work. Chan-bin hyung from the same calling is fine, but I don’t know why he’s like that.”
Even Ok Do-yoon, who didn’t seem like someone to talk behind others’ backs, rapidly gossiped about Ha Seo-joon, who was in the same team during the second performance. He seemed to have a lot of pent-up grievances as well.
“And then he goes on TV with a cool and deep image. It’s so disgusting!”
“But why do you keep using honorifics, Do-yoon hyung? Let’s just talk comfortably.”
“The company told me to.”
“Xiao doesn’t do that.”
“I have a gentlemanly image, he has an innocent image.”
Ok Do-yoon’s response, as he pronounced ‘gentlemanly’ with a resigned tone, lightened the serious atmosphere, and everyone laughed.
Taking advantage of the lightened mood, I stood up and said,
“Let’s get back to practice. We’ve rested enough.”
“How can I argue to rest more when the one who looks like he needs the most rest says that.”
Grumbling, the team members slowly stood up one by one.
Two hours later, our first practice ended in a surprisingly gentle atmosphere.
The previous team’s harmony was good, but in terms of skill, this team was much better.
The biggest difference was that I was in a position to learn, not to teach.
If it continued like this, we might actually create a hopeful story for our group project.
In a friendly atmosphere, we ordered an early dinner for delivery and then parted ways.
I had to meet the second composer.
Fortunately, Ban Yo-han was also assigned to the same composer, so we could ride in Kwak Sang-hyun’s car again.
To add, Seo Moon-gyeol was also with us, but instead of going with us, he had to return to Jung Ha-neul’s studio as the original artist fixed with Rewind.
After confirming that we had fastened our seatbelts, Kwak Sang-hyun asked,
“Did you have dinner?”
“They ordered bossam for us.”
It had been a while since I had meat, and it was good.
“You must be tired. Take care of your health, especially you, Raon and Yo-han.”
“He should be more worried about him than me.”
Ban Yo-han answered with his eyes closed.
I was speechless.
“Honestly, hyung isn’t very strong either, right? In our team, you’re probably the weakest after me.”
Though he wasn’t as chronically fatigued as I was, Ban Yo-han, true to his intelligence character, didn’t seem to have great stamina either.
He tended to run out of energy quickly.
During the last training camp, his face was glowing, which was probably thanks to Kim Jun-woo’s cosmetics.
“Should I get some tonic after a long time….”
Ban Yo-han, too tired to refute my opinion for once, mumbled and started dozing off.
Seeing him through the rearview mirror, Kwak Sang-hyun spoke in a concerned voice.
“He has held up better than expected since suddenly stepping out…. He’s probably more exhausted now because of the training and weight management. The kid wasn’t originally very strong, so take good care of him.”
“I will.”
But instead of feeling relieved by my answer, Kwak Sang-hyun let out a deep sigh.
[I don’t know who I’m asking to take care of whom…. Kwak Sang-hyun pities your stamina. Stamina +1]
His thoughts might be harsh, but I appreciate the stamina anyway.
Your sympathy will save the future me.
‘Still, I’ve improved quite a bit lately….’
Why is my stamina always trash?
Even when my charm was 10, my appearance was above average by common standards.
The constant talk about being less handsome was only compared to my original face.
But why was my stamina trash when it was 10 and still trash now that it’s almost 50?
‘I don’t get it….’
About 30 minutes later, feeling the car come to a stop at a moderate speed, I forced my eyes open, half-asleep.
It seemed Seo Moon-gyeol had gotten off at Jung Ha-neul’s studio in the middle.
“We’re here. Raon, wake up Yo-han if you’re awake.”
“I’m awake.”
We arrived at the True headquarters, which I had visited once before. The producer team Bibi belonged to True.
It seemed they accepted the casting because of their trainee, Oh Hyun-jin, even though they weren’t the type to appear in such competitive shows.
There was a high probability that Oh Hyun-jin composed the song. So, he would be there when we went.
Last time, I went without knowing anything, but now I clearly knew the harsh things ‘On Raon’ went through at True.
Moreover, what I saw was only part of it. If he experienced such things throughout his trainee life….
‘Bastards.’
The swear words came out naturally.
It was difficult to walk into True again like last time without any thoughts.
[Main Quest
Yeah. There was that quest too.
“Hoo….”
I took a deep breath to calm myself down, and a notification popped up that my breathing skill proficiency surpassed 70%.
Maybe because of the higher skill proficiency, breathing felt a bit easier these days.
Of course, it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable before either.
‘What exactly is this skill for?’
Even so, thanks to the usual trivial and insignificant skill, the tension I wasn’t even aware of eased somewhat.
“There are many True entertainment fans around here, so we might get our pictures taken. Check your face and get off.”
Being a large agency, there were many fans of the agency’s entertainers around.
The café on the first floor, which was closed last time due to the early hour, was open today and fully occupied.
Following Kwak Sang-hyun’s words, Ban Yo-han and I checked each other’s faces.
We even meticulously checked for anything stuck between our teeth.
“You have an eye booger.”
“Where? Get it off.”
“Are you out of hands or conscience?”
A grown man acting like a baby.
Although such behavior was detestable, it wasn’t unfitting, which made it even more annoying. This brain, so entrenched in looks….
Looking coldly at Ban Yo-han, who blinked slowly without responding as if still half asleep, I reluctantly removed the eye booger with a rough touch.
I didn’t want to cater to him, but Ban Yo-han seemed particularly pitiful today.
What kind of hardship is this, coming out on behalf of a friend? He hardly ate the bossam earlier, probably due to diet control.
And didn’t he even get followed by stalkers? His past deeds were being thoroughly dug up, even things he didn’t know about himself.
Although not as pitiful as me with no money or home, he seemed quite miserable.
While Ban Yo-han rinsed his mouth with mineral water and got his head clearer, I also put my mask back on.
“You must be tired, but go in with a clear mind and do well.”
Kwak Sang-hyun, deliberately putting on a stern face as if to make sure I understood, instructed.
“Yes. I’ll call you later.”
“Thank you for giving us a ride.”
As we got out of the car, we drew the attention of people eagerly waiting for True entertainers.
“Who are they?”
“They’re handsome, aren’t they? Are they trainees?”
“Aren’t they the ones from Pick Heart? Ban Yo-han and On Raon. They must be here for filming.”
“But why did they come together?”
“Then were those guys who went in earlier also from Pick Heart?”
Amidst the murmuring, we felt the presence of quite a few people taking pictures of us.
There were many foreign fans as well.
Whether we were True entertainers or not, they seemed to be taking pictures first and figuring it out later.
“Thank you. We’ll be passing through. Thank you.”
“[Please do a finger heart!]”
A foreigner shouted “Please do a finger heart!” loud enough to overwhelm other voices.
Instinctively, we made finger hearts in that direction.
It wasn’t until Kwak Sang-hyun got out of the car and cleared a path for us that we were able to enter the building.
“I wonder if that foreigner knew who we were when they asked for a finger heart.”
“Probably not.”
We quietly chatted as we filled out the visitor’s log, put on visitor lanyards, and passed through the security gate.
Unlike last time when we went to the basement, this time we were guided by an employee to the elevator and went up to the 7th floor where Bibi’s studio was located.
I took the opportunity to remove my mask.
Then, I took out a tint from my bag and applied it.
At first, it felt very awkward to wear something I had never used before, but now I had gotten quite used to it and applied it well.
There was no reason not to do something that increased my charm by 10, and by 20 with the burning effect.
As I confirmed that it was well-applied, the elevator dinged, and the doors opened.
“Welcome.”
As expected, the trainee waiting for us on the 7th floor was Oh Hyun-jin.
And then…