Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 16 

Soon, the music flowed through the air, which had become cooler because of the tension.

Heart Attack involved complex movements synchronized with off-beat rhythms and intricate steps that connected one movement to another. Moreover, the choreography required continuous dancing for about 4 minutes and 30 seconds from the first verse to the third, with no rest periods while moving along the trajectory, and no repeated movements.

In short, unless one had exceptional dancing skills, it was considered an insurmountable challenge to master it perfectly within three days.

The production team that chose Heart Attack as the signal song probably didn’t expect all the trainees to succeed. 

If anything, they might have hoped the trainees would struggle and have their mentalities shattered.

Anyway, it was just as difficult, so it was worth noting that it would be quite hard to catch Muk Hyesung’s eye.

Especially if they hadn’t practiced properly.

After finishing the first verse, I calmed my panting breaths and waited for Muk Hyesung’s words.

Muk Hyesung, who had been watching us with sharp eyes, finally spoke.

“Koh Minhyung trainee, Lee Yoojin trainee, Bae Jisan trainee.”

Muk Hyesung called out the names of four more trainees. I thought I knew what they had in common.

“Even though you’re trainees, you didn’t practice at all, right?”

These were the guys who loitered around without doing anything, despite me and the other trainees urging them to practice several times. They would say they would do it on their own and then slowly avoid it.

He still had an uncanny knack for picking them out. How did he identify them after just one look?

Even though it was obvious that they were bad at dancing, it was evident.

The trainees, whose names were called, either looked startled, as if someone had hit their weak spots, or showed uncomfortable expressions reflected in the mirror. 

That would definitely get close-up shots and be broadcasted.

“Why didn’t you practice?”

“……”

“Was it too hard? Did you think you couldn’t do it even if you tried? Did you assume you’d be in ‘F’, anyway?”

“……”

“Didn’t you come here to debut? Is there anything in this world you can achieve just by sitting down?”

Muk Hyesung seemed determined to root out any semblance of laziness. He continued speaking in a calm, yet cold voice.

“You didn’t come here to just watch others. You have work to do. Surely there were things more beneficial to you than doing nothing.”

“……”

“Knowing that and still not doing it is deceiving the people who support and believe in you, who aspire to become idols in this uncertain dream.”

At his last words, tears began to fall from Koh Minhyung and Bae Jisan’s eyes. The other trainees also had reddened eyes, likely thinking of their families.

Of course, I, who had no family, was fine.

Maybe it bothered Muk Hyesung that I was standing upright with a relatively indifferent expression.

His attention turned to me, who had the class president sticker prominently stuck on my clothes.

“Class president.”

“Yes.”

“What were you doing when you saw them not practicing?”

“I’m sorry.”

Actually, I told them to practice, but they didn’t listen.

But if I said that, it would crush the already fragile mentality of those guys, so I didn’t bother to voice it.

When I apologized with a compliant attitude, Muk Hyesung’s stony expression softened a little.

“As the class president, you should take responsibility and take good care of your classmates.”

“Yes, I’ll try harder.”

Thinking that I had let the past go, the trainees who had been slacking off showed a notification that their favorability towards me had increased.

No need for long words. Just do well from now on.

And so, the full-fledged lesson began.

Muk Hyesung demonstrated each movement from start to finish, explaining the choreography with a quality different from what I had done.

Even if I estimated his age conservatively, he must have been in his mid-thirties, yet his joints… Could they do that? Well, he was doing it, so they must.

He then had groups of five to six trainees come forward.

“Don’t stop midway and do everything you can. Only then can I see and correct you.”

Watching the clock on the wall, Muk Hyesung corrected mistakes at a pace faster than when he started the class.

I was also subject to his corrections.

Seeing me, who was relatively good in this class, being thoroughly scrutinized by Muk Hyesung, the other trainees wore exhausted expressions.

“Raon, why are you smiling? Did you hear me properly?”

The understanding that had been rising with every factual hit from Muk Hyesung finally exceeded 40%, and I couldn’t help but manage my expression.

“Yes. I really like that Teacher Muk is teaching me… But I did listen properly!”

“Show me”

I immediately corrected the parts pointed out by Muk Hyesung to the best of my ability.

“Oh wow”, a few trainees admired.

Without saying much, Muk Hyesung turned his attention to the next trainee.

The trainee who received detailed corrections after me had a crumpled expression. They looked almost on the verge of tears.

When Muk Hyesung passed, only the crushed mentality of the trainees remained.

Even if he were to scold them, he should at least give a mix of harsh and gentle critiques, but he just went on relentlessly.

Teacher, I know you’re amazing, but what about the morale of our future stars? What will you do about it?

Although Jing Xiao’s skills were improving after diligently practicing, he received ten criticisms in just one minute. Afterward, he hung his head low, dejected.

I hesitated for a moment before impulsively raising my hand and opening my mouth.

“Teacher, can I ask a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Is there anything I did well?”

“What?”

“Well… could you sometimes say something nice instead of just harsh words? I want to improve on what I’m good at as well as what I’m not. I think everyone feels the same.”

“……”

It was chilly. A dagger seemed to pierce me.

I had hoped that my Inborn Pitiful effect would make Muk Hyesung’s heart soften.

But the effect, which operated arbitrarily from activation to execution, showed no signs of life.

It was over. I was filled with regret for doing something I had debated over.

At that moment, a familiar calm voice filled the air.

“You did well in mastering the choreography. Memorizing it from start to finish in a day is harder than it seems.”

Whoa.

“Your movements are smoother than yesterday. This is your strength, and it shows that the choreography becomes more yours the more you do it.”

Whoa?

“And I heard from Junwoo that you helped the others diligently yesterday and today. That was good too.”

Whoa!

Unexpectedly, Muk Hyesung, who had thrown out compliments, continued speaking to the other trainees.

“I was so focused on pointing out the things that needed fixing today because the time was too short…. I realized I was only thinking about myself.”

The previously perfectly composed face now appeared a bit more human.

“I’m sorry. I’m not used to teaching anyone like this. I would have never realized it if it weren’t for Raon.”

[Muk Hyesung appreciates your consistency. Muk Hyesung’s favorability +2, current favorability +3]

[The trainees in Hye-sung’s class are impressed by your bravery. Overall favorability +3]

As a result, I unexpectedly became a trainee who dared to receive an apology from a first-generation idol.

Feeling bewildered, I watched Muk Hyesung, who was now being pestered by excited trainees, asking, “What about me?” or “Please praise me too!”

‘Why is he so cool with this?’

The PD would be pleased with this scene, happily editing it with plenty of added tension like MSG, airing my performance from yesterday with delight.

When that day comes, Muk Hyesung’s fans might come after me.

How dare a mere trainee have the audacity to receive an apology from a senior as esteemed as him?

While the future seemed daunting, I decided to enjoy the moment.

‘At least the atmosphere for practice has improved.’

At this rate, having no F grades was not entirely impossible.

After the dance lesson, trainees who had received at least a word of praise from Muk Hyesung looked different. Even those who didn’t hear anything good were determined to get praise during the vocal class in the afternoon, burning with determination to practice.

I had the responsibility of convincing those who wanted to skip lunch to go to the cafeteria and eat.

“Guys, we are doing this to survive, so let’s eat first.”

The atmosphere in the subsequent vocal class was good as well.

Muk Hyesung’s indifferent sharp criticisms remained, but now they were followed by words of praise or encouragement.

Even if it was small and trivial, it was an excellent stimulant for the trainees who were starved for the praise.

With a single word of praise from a senior like him, the trainees jumped with joy.

“One and two and three and ddan-ddara-ddan, bang!”

“When our eyes meet,

When you say my name,

I’ll set my sights on your heart,

Heart a-ttae-ttae-tack!”

As I watched, Ban Yohan nudged my side with his elbow and said.

“Hey, you’ve influenced them all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Now even the other kids also look forward to getting scolded.”

“That’s because they’re happy to receive accurate feedback to improve their skills.”

[Ban Yohan feels strange being with a weird guy. Ban Yohan’s favorability +1, current favorability +19]

As always, I wish I could block his inner thoughts.

In any case, thanks to Muk Hyesung’s unexpected actions, I was one step closer to completing the sudden quest, and we also managed to get some good footage for the show.

The next day went smoothly too.

The practice participation rate was high, and no one was discouraged

Surprisingly, a sense of pride even arose among our group’s trainees as they bragged about being praised by Muk Hyesung.

Personally, the only disappointment was that my understanding of the Heart Attack choreography barely surpassed the 50% mark due to my lack of stamina, and the song was still not fully ‘mastered’.

Both seemed to be affected by my basic stats.

‘It can’t be helped.’

While I shook my head, the production crew set up a camcorder in front of the practice room and left.

Nagase Ritsu, sitting near me in front of the camera, seemed uneasy as his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.

Other Star Production trainees were holding his hands tightly on either side with similarly stiff faces.

Today was the day we filmed the grade evaluation video.

It was an important assessment.

It determined whether one could stand on stage or not, and how long they could stay on stage to show the dance they had practiced with all their might for three days.

‘The center for the entire Heart Attack performance will probably be chosen from the ‘A’-grade trainees.’

The fact that there was only one chance to shoot the video seemed to be the biggest burden for the trainees.

‘What if I make a mistake in the middle? What if I forget the lyrics? What if I miss the beat?’

The eyes of the trainees seemed to be saying just that like dark clouds hung over them.

Among the trainees oppressed by tension, the only ones who seemed calm were me and Ban Yo-han.

At this rate, nothing would work out.

Meaning all the effort I put in would go down the drain.

‘I can’t let that happen.’