Genius Idol’s Strategy to Conquer the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 32

“Muk Hye-sung, did you make the kids cry?”

“The kids like me.”

“Are you saying the kids like you?”

Unbelievable. There exists someone in the world who could speak so bluntly to Muk Hye-sung.

It was so shocking that one of the trainees from Hye-sung’s group started hiccupping.

“They like me.”

Muk Hye-sung turned to look at Ju Yeon-ho with a slightly grimaced face, but he didn’t seem upset.

This kind of conversation seemed like their daily routine. There seemed to be a reason why they had been group project partners for 20 years.

“I was worried this would happen when I heard he was coming out here.”

“Why are you saying that in front of the kids?”

Oh. I shouldn’t laugh, but it’s funny. It’s like an older brother teasing his younger sibling.

When I investigated, I found out that Muk Hye-sung was the youngest in the group, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.

Before I knew it, they had even half-abandoned the formal speech they were using for the camera.

‘So, Muk Hye-sung is indeed the youngest.’

Some people looked as if they were thinking the same thing.

In the brief moment Muk Hye-sung was talking to Ju Yeon-ho, he suddenly pointed at me.

“Raon.”

“Yes.”

“As the class president, please prove it to him.”

Wow, what a treat.

I clasped my hands politely and began to speak.

“Yes. First of all, Muk Saem is my role model.”

Thank you very much, General Yi Sun-shin, for all your help so far.

“He’s such a respected mentor that when we were choosing songs, I persuaded all our team members that it had to be a Chronicle song. The reason I wanted to be the center was also because it was Muk Saem’s part. I really like him.”

Actually, I was trying to play the character of Muk Hye-sung’s superfan during this program. Let’s just focus on the outward results.

[He likes you. Muk Hye-sung Favorability +1 Current Favorability +14]

Setting aside the half-hearted message from the system.

‘When did his favorability reach 14?’

It seems the failure reward from the quest to make zero F-rank members last time increased the mentor’s favorability by 10 at once.

It’s frustrating. The favorability that barely went up no matter what I did suddenly jumped by 10 just because I failed one quest.

Muk Hye-sung, who was as difficult as a stone wall, looked at Ju Yeon-ho with a triumphant expression.

“Did you hear that?”

“Oh, this is like getting a reward after being prodded in the side.”

“Why did I call this guy?”

Muk Hye-sung seemed genuinely regretful at Ju Yeon-ho’s sly response.

“Well, I think that’s enough chit-chat.”

Ju Yeon-ho glanced at the paper on the desk and began his feedback in a gentle tone. In that short time, the atmosphere had remarkably relaxed.

[You have experienced the skilled atmosphere-making of a 20-year veteran idol group leader. Wisdom +1]

If Muk Hye-sung was ten lashes and one carrot, Ju Yeon-ho was ten sugar cubes and a playful tap on the head.

“Raon, you clearly show that you’ve observed Hye-sung closely in every move. It was clear that when you said you admired and respected him earlier, it wasn’t just words. The details were well-executed. You have the basics well-established, indicative of your background from a large agency. Now, just add your own style to it. Can you do that?”

“Yes!”

To me and other trainees from Hye-sung’s group like Ban Yo-han, who only experienced Muk Hye-sung’s harsh feedback, Ju Yeon-ho’s feedback was healing.

But I still preferred Muk Hye-sung’s feedback because it significantly improved my understanding.

Isn’t it obvious that an NPC who scolds you but gives good rewards is better than one who only says nice things?

Ah, is there no NPC who gives good rewards while saying nice things?

[None.]

Get lost.

* * *

Maybe we did well, but Group 2 started their lesson looking a bit deflated.

They seemed to lack confidence.

However, in the middle of showing what they practiced, Kim Jun-woo, who made eye contact with me, suddenly raised his voice and led the atmosphere, so it ended on a good note.

I felt strange, as if I had been used as a stimulant.

“Well, I’m looking forward to your performance.”

“Thank you!”

In a short time, Ju Yeon-ho significantly increased the trainees’ favorability before leaving.

And then, time flew by, and the final day of the camp arrived.

After having breakfast in a drowsy state, Groups 1 and 2 gathered in the same practice room according to the production team’s instructions.

I thought there would be a lesson today too, but…

“Before today’s practice, we’ll be filming the Romantic Leading Man Selection. It’s footage that will be included in the first ranking ceremony broadcast.”

The production team handed out three single-page scripts per team and instructed us to pick three people suitable for each line.

“I can’t do it. Absolutely not.”

Song Jung-hwan’s first words after reading the script.

It was understandable. The lines were so embarrassing that if they were broadcasted, they would definitely become internet memes for ages.

However, my goal was to escape the game in the near future, so I volunteered without hesitation.

“I’ll do it.”

“Then that’s one for On Raon. We need to pick two more.”

I nudged Ban Yo-han, who was watching with a smile.

“You should do it too.”

“Why me?”

“Because good-looking people are supposed to do these things.”

Ban Yo-han nodded in agreement.

“Oh, then I’ll do it too.”

With Oh Hyun-jin, who also had a striking appearance, joining in, we quickly selected our participants.

The exact rules of the Romantic Leading Man Selection were as follows:

Each team sends out one participant to have a staring contest. While doing so, they take turns reciting the given lines. If they close their eyes, look away, or laugh, they lose.

The more serious they become, the more the other person’s cheeks would suffer.

* * *

“…Say it.”

“I can’t, hmph. I can’t hear you.”

“……Say it.”

“I said I can’t hear you?”

“I love you! You idiot, stupid sea anemone sea cucumber!”

As soon as the trainee from the other team yelled the childish line, we burst into laughter. Our team’s participant, Oh Hyun-jin, couldn’t hold back his laughter either.

But this was just the weakest part.

“If God asks what my sin is, I would answer that it was loving the CEO with my life.”

“I don’t say things like ‘cheer up.’ Such irresponsible words. Instead… This is now your personal chest for life. Cry or hug, do both.”

“Have you ever seen me smile at anyone else but the CEO? Have you ever seen me hug anyone else but the CEO? I, Ban Yo-han, am saying I love the CEO right now.”

The lines seemed more like a selection from early 2000s internet novels rather than a romantic leading man contest.

Moreover, it was even funnier because the term used was ‘CEO.’

Still, the trainees, who were willing to endure embarrassing lines for the sake of screen time, were all doing their best.

Two cameras were filming the scene diligently. The footage would likely show close-ups of our faces on the broadcast.

“Oh my, I feel light-headed due to lack of oxygen.”

“Ahahaha! These guys are crazy, they must be crazy!”

I didn’t think much of it, but some of the participants in front of us unexpectedly put all their effort into acting, making it a bit burdensome.

When my turn came, I faced off against Kim Jun-woo from the other team. Of all people, why him?

Perhaps because we knew each other to some extent, just making eye contact made us want to laugh. Kim Jun-woo seemed to feel the same way.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing my laughter, I began reciting my lines.

“I’m sorry. I won’t have the surgery. I’d rather die right now than lose my memory of you, CEO. What’s the point of living without you?”

Then something unexpected happened. Tears welled up in Kim Jun-woo’s bloodshot eyes. It seemed like he had dry eye syndrome.

No, that’s not the point.

‘…He might cry.’

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought that. Kim Jun-woo’s expression momentarily changed before returning to normal.

We exchanged silent signals with our eyes.

I paused for a moment, gauging the timing, and then delivered my final line with emotion.

“During the one month I have left, please only look at me. That’s my last wish.”

[The effect of the trait ‘Inborn Pitiful’ adds plausibility to your pitifulness in the setting of a ‘sad ending internet novel’s terminal sub-character.’]

Along with the trait effect notification that seemed to pop up for the first time in a while, as soon as I finished speaking, Kim Jun-woo shed a tear.

‘Are you the female lead?’

Naturally, everyone else burst into laughter. When tears started to well up in Kim Jun-woo’s eyes, people began nudging each other and rolling on the floor, and when they actually fell, they couldn’t breathe and were gasping with laughter.

Even the cameraman who had entered the practice room was covering his mouth and laughing quietly.

“Wow. He cried, I mean, made him cry.”

“It’s a talent to make someone cry and to cry over something like this

.”

“I know the rule is to lose if you laugh, but what happens if you cry?”

“I don’t know, but I think I’m going to die of laughter. Seriously, why is he crying?”

Kim Jun-woo, who blinked a few more times to shed the remaining tears, wiped his eyes with a tissue he found somewhere, his eyes, ears, and cheeks all red.

“No, seriously, at first it was because my eyes hurt, but at the end, I felt genuinely sad. Why did On Raon make me cry…?”

“Why are you blaming me for crying because of your dry eyes?”

“Shut up. Don’t break the mood.”

“That mood was created by me, you know?”

It seemed inevitable that the footage would be broadcast.

As I was thinking about that, Kim Jun-woo and I made eye contact and burst into laughter simultaneously.

* * *

The camp ended at midday.

The cars that had arrived in advance began to take the trainees, who came out dragging their suitcases, one by one.

Watching them, I fell into a familiar dilemma.

‘Where should I sleep this time?’

When would I finally secure a stable residence in this game world?

I didn’t even have the energy to get mad at this wretched game anymore.

Just then.

[Tip! The player can designate a temporary accommodation as a residence.]

Oh?

[Temporary accommodations cannot be stayed in consecutively, but if designated as a residence, the restriction is lifted.]

[Residences provide buffs that benefit the player, and the buff effects also apply to cohabitants. However, be cautious as the residence cannot be changed for a year once designated.]

[Current recorded temporary accommodation: Go Soo-jong’s apartment]

[Would you like to designate Go Soo-jong’s apartment as your residence?]

[Y/N]

After carefully rereading the explanation, I hesitated and then closed the window without making any choice.

Despite this game’s shameless audacity, my conscience and decorum were those of a model citizen.

It felt awkward to impose on Grandpa as a guest due to the system.

How much time passed after I dismissed the undesirable option?

A shadow fell over me as I sat dazed. It probably wasn’t long.

“On Raon.”

It was Ban Yo-han, dressed in casual clothes, and Seo Moon-gyeol, from the same agency.

“It seemed like you didn’t have a proper place to stay last time.”

Ban Yo-han started off nonchalantly, and Seo Moon-gyeol, standing like a statue, finished with a questioning tone.

“If you’re okay with it, would you like to stay with us for a while?”

…Is this light? Suddenly, it felt blinding.

“That’s because we have the sun behind us.”

“…Did I say that out loud?”

“Yeah.”

Though Ban Yo-han was usually an annoying fox, at this moment, I couldn’t deny that he looked like a savior.