Chapter 15
“Whose mentor will you steal?”
“I will…”
I pretended to hesitate, looking at the camera and buying time.
Broadcasts start with clickbait and end with clickbait.
PD Oh would probably cut here and move on, I need to give him an editing point.
The more I pull in the clickbait, the more screen time I get.
“I will not steal.”
“!”
PD Oh’s eyes widened as much as possible, as if he was really surprised.
“Why… why won’t you steal? There are many disadvantages if you don’t have a mentor.”
But PD Oh quickly regained his composure and tried to persuade me.
“During the mission, the mentor helps with arranging the song, choreographing, and training. You’re saying you can give up all those benefits?”
PD Oh looked at me with doubtful eyes, as if he couldn’t understand.
“Does Yoon Cheong trainee have that much confidence in her abilities? Are you saying you don’t need a mentor? Or, what, it doesn’t mean anything unless it’s the president?”
I could feel it instinctively.
This, the subtitles will be huge.
With a meaningful BGM.
I could already hear it.
Caption: Yoon Cheong, the trainee who refused a mentor. The reason is…?
I have to answer well here.
Depending on what answer I give here, the editing direction of my character will be determined.
If I say I’m not confident, I’ll look like a weak-hearted fool.
If I say I’m confident, I’ll look like a cocky trainee who dismisses all senior idols.
The former is a boring character, the latter is a villain character.
And I can’t go with such a character from the beginning of the broadcast.
“It’s not like that at all. I think mentors are really important, so I decided not to steal a mentor from other trainees.”
I tried my best to look calm.
But I can’t stiffen my face.
“So how are you going to prepare for the competition alone? Without a mentor?”
Got it.
As soon as I heard PD Oh’s question, I shouted for joy inside.
It was the question I wanted.
“Instead of stealing a mentor from another trainee-”
I took a deep breath,
“I will create my own mentor.”
“…?”
I let it out.
PD Oh looked at me with eyes that said, ‘Has she lost her mind?’
I endured his unpleasant gaze and spoke directly to the camera.
“I will ask other trainees for help. I will consider my colleagues who have been watching me as my mentors.”
“!”
PD Oh looked at me again with surprised eyes.
But this time, it was closer to a positive surprise.
“I see what you mean.”
“…Is it okay to do that?”
I deliberately asked for PD Oh’s permission.
People like PD Oh like it when you ask for their permission.
Why?
If I insist on doing it my way without asking for permission, he’ll want to suppress me.
Those kinds of people are like that.
They value ‘authority’.
“Honestly, I’m a bit taken aback….”
Sure enough, PD Oh’s expression softened right away.
“But it seems like it could work. It seems like it could be interesting. Right, Writer Kang?”
“I think it’s okay too. In the original audition program, trainees help each other. I think it’s okay to formalize that a bit.”
Main writer Kang also nodded his head.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
“But you know.”
PD Oh smiled wickedly.
“So, does Yoon Cheong trainee believe that other trainees will help her? This is a competition. And I hate to say this with my own mouth…. but other trainees are currently considering Yoon Cheong trainee as a strong candidate for debut.”
I kept silent.
It wasn’t good for this to go out on the broadcast now.
Being a strong candidate is, of course, a good thing.
But when it goes out on the broadcast, there are more disadvantages.
Why?
There were two reasons for that.
First, you become a target of containment.
To put it nicely, you become a target of containment, to put it badly, you become everyone’s enemy.
Considering the future vote, that was the worst direction.
Second, you become ‘that person’ in the ‘Surely that person won’t make it? Other people will vote for her. Let’s vote for the urgent one first.’
This has happened in many audition programs.
Even the absolutely stable candidates who seemed like they would never fall, have fallen.
Why?
Because of this.
You must not become a subject of relief. No matter what happens.
I really wanted to shut PD Oh’s mouth.
But showing a lack of confidence by saying, “I don’t think I can debut,” was not a good choice either.
People don’t find people without confidence attractive.
At first, you might get sympathy votes.
But that’s just sympathy votes.
It’s not popularity.
The two are clearly different.
“In this situation, do you think other trainees will help Yoon Cheong trainee?”
It was a valid question.
But it was also an expected question.
“Yes.”
“!”
PD Oh and Writer Kang’s eyes widened.
Perhaps because I spoke much more firmly than they thought.
“How can you be so sure?”
How can you be so sure?
…Well.
I hesitated a little and then answered.
“I don’t think it’s about being sure, I think I have to be sure.”
“You have to be sure?”
PD Oh raised his eyebrows as if surprised.
“Yes. Because-”
***
An 8-pyeong one-room.
On the television, the hottest idol audition survival program these days was on.
It was ‘Make a New Color’.
Even though it was just the start of the 3rd episode, the reaction was insanely hot.
The raw appearances of the awkward trainees, the devil’s editing but barely crossing the line.
But the most important thing in an idol survival program is, after all-
“It’s the visuals and skills.”
A Colors fan who opened a can of beer in her room muttered.
Why did she call herself a fan of the agency ‘Colors’, not a specific idol group?
In other words, a Colors fan.
She had her own pride in the name of a Colors fan.
Why?
Because the guys at Colors do a good job?
No.
From the perspective of a Colors fan, Colors was terrible at their job. They only knew how to squeeze the artists, they didn’t know how to treat the artists well.
But.
“…They have an eye for talent.”
Honestly, I don’t know who the casting director of Colors is, but that person should take all the salary.
At least she thought so.
Anyway.
I didn’t have much expectation when I first saw ‘Make a New Color’.
Because there were already too many idols under Colors.
She didn’t want to dig into a new idol.
Because reality was too heavy and hard.
When I get off work, I feel like I’m going to faint, a new idol?
It was a mentally very hard thing to do.
Then why are you watching?
“…It’s on Friday night!”
Just right for working people to watch while drinking beer!
She muttered and watched the screen.
Honestly, she didn’t like Colors, but all the kids were outstanding.
“That’s why I can’t let go of Colors….”
She sighed deeply and drank her beer.
All twelve trainees were really full of talents without exception.
It would be heartbreaking if anyone couldn’t debut.
But even among them, there was the best, and there was a kid who anyone would think should debut.
That was the one coming out now-
Production Team: You have to be sure?
[Yoon Cheong: Yes. Because….]
Yoon Cheong.
The wisdom of 8 years of Colors fandom told her.
‘Colors’ unique visual, charisma, and dance skills, they’ve got it all…!’
She couldn’t miss it!
But, talent and charm are different areas.
So far, she just objectively thought, ‘Ah, she’s pretty good.’ when she saw Yoon Cheong.
Because no standout character has been seen so far.
But.
Something that would slowly touch her heart was starting.
[Yoon Cheong: This survival isn’t the end, is it?]
The face of a trainee with a light makeup, and a black hair that was roughly groomed.
She looked young enough to be believed to be a high school student, but she said she was 20.
[Yoon Cheong: Whoever debuts, this isn’t the end. This path isn’t an easy one. Sometimes there will be thorny paths, and sometimes there will be flower paths.]
Just by listening to the tone of her calm voice, it felt like an adult who had lived a life.
It was strange for a 20-year-old atmosphere.
But there was a force that made you nod and listen.
[Yoon Cheong: We are the ones who will walk that path together. We are destined to support each other and be for each other.]
…The heart of a fan was slowly being touched.
[Yoon Cheong: Everyone wants to debut. But everyone knows that debut is not something ‘alone’.]
Yoon Cheong was speaking with a straight, but clear-eyed look from beginning to end.
[Yoon Cheong: We are one group, and I don’t think of other trainees as just rivals. I think of them as future members.]
Production Team: It sounds like you firmly believe you’re going to debut?
[Yoon Cheong: Yes.]
Yoon Cheong on the TV was smiling brightly.
[Yoon Cheong: I think everyone believes that. Because everyone is worthy.]
And that smile was touching the heart of a Colors fan.
[Yoon Cheong: So, I want to take other trainees as mentors. I believe they will willingly help me.]