WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

[ Translation - Aren ]

I'm a Reporter, Please let me get off the Stage

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Chapter 21

―It does have a good vibe.

“Right? The hook is pretty solid.”

Composer Dojun kept humming along to Baek Gyeom’s two demos, concentrating.

―the melody is pretty catchy, but… Can I be honest?

“Yes. Of course.”

―It feels a bit outdated.

Hah, that guy has no sense. This was going to become the next big hit next year, you know?

“Well, let me be honest with you as well, Mr. Composer."

―Sure.

“What do you think makes K-pop music ‘sophisticated’?”

―Well, I guess……

“It's money, right?”

―Yeah, that's true, haha.

Even though Composer Dojun frowned slightly he still agreed to it.

“They bring in thirty composers, have each of them write a line, and then turn the whole thing into a competition. How are we supposed to compete with that?”

―Yuyoung, you really aren't talking like a normal idol. Usually when mid-tier idols talk about this stuff they tend to whine a lot, but you are acting quite cynical.

“One has to face reality to go into a new direction.”

……This might have seemed like a constructive conversation, but in reality, these were just the lamentations of a broke idol and a struggling composer.

“Trying to appear sophisticated here would just make us seem like cheap imitators. Instead we'll just use familiar melodies, familiar hooks.”

―That does sound plausible, but……

“I have a lot of confidence in this hook. One of our members made it so we're also quite attached to it. That being said, I would like to make you an offer.”

―Oh, what kind of offer?

“Let's split the profit 50/50.”

[Your Eloquence decreased! Consider a more realistic alternative.]

What? No way! This time, this is going to go my way!

―……That drastic offer makes me kind of suspicious, you know?

Of course, normally composers weren’t offered as much as half of the profit.

I mean, between how many people would that song be split?

Giving 50% to the composer was pretty unheard of, I knew that.

But I absolutely needed to secure this composer.

There was a good reason for this.

The melody and song I hummed just now was originally made by this composer.

It was a tune this composer would create a year from now!

‘Negotiating with the composer in the past while showing him his future work…’

Honestly, I kind of felt like a jerk doing this.

……So that was why I offered to share half the profit with him.

“……I trust you, Mr. Composer. Please do your best.”

The song had to turn out perfect.

This was the only possible bait I could use to get Seo Haedun back into the group.

* * *

On our way back from the broadcasting station, Chae Ire offered me some advice

“Haedun Hyung is a bit of a perfectionist, which isn't really bad or anything. He works extremely hard to improve himself, sometimes to the point where he even gets into fights with you, haha.”

“Oh……”

“How much exactly don’t you remember? Did you lose your entire life or something?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Just kidding. Anyway, maybe Haedun Hyung left the group because he didn’t see any future in it. He can be quite ruthless. So what if…… we are starting to do well? Maybe we can persuade him with that?”

It seemed like he was someone who valued the results above all else.

People like that could be both easy and very difficult to deal with.

Easy, because if you show results, they can be easily persuaded without having to appeal to their emotions.

Difficult, because…… Without money, WEEKANIZ couldn’t really produce any flashy results.

Therefore, making this song was more important than anything else.

To satisfy the CEO, to get Seo Haedun back.

And to save my life.

* * *

The day of the recording of <Dance-off>’s first episode.

I hadn’t heard anything from Haedun, but still headed to the recording site, undeterred.

Of course, I wore those glasses. I didn’t know for how long I would be able to keep them on, but I might as well experiment a little while I’m at it. With so many people around, someone would probably be able to get me to a hospital if needed.

The scene was pretty chaotic with numerous staff members and participants, including Producer Yang running around.

“Oh~ here is the poor leader of that idol group that failed despite daddy’s backing~”

Producer Yang’s bratty comments were quite infuriating today as well. I turned around, forcing a smile.

“Yes, I’m here to cheer for Haedun.”

“Too bad. There’s no cheering section for the first episode.”

Right when I was debating whether I should retort sharply someone stepped in between me and Producer Yang.

“Mr. Yang~ Didn’t you promise me no nasty or childish remarks~?”

[Seo Eunhye, Main Writer : Network Level 11]

Oh, what a high level.

Adjusting my glasses, I gave her a polite bow.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Seo Eunhye.”

“Hello. I’m Yuyoung from WEEKANIZ.”

“Of course you are allowed to cheer him on! There’s no designated cheering section, but you can hang out in the waiting room, right?”

“Yes. Of course.”

A broadcast appearance, huh? Not bad.

……Although it could end pretty badly with Haedun’s fans plastering me with hate comments sticking to me like barnacles, which would lead to my guaranteed demise.

“Please wait in the waiting room. Is Haedun here already?”

“I’ll check. Thank you.”

“Okay. A camera will follow you~”

Producer Yang immediately clammed up like an oyster when Writer Seo arrived. Like that he just looked like a grumpy old man.

I walked into the set and stood in front of the waiting room door.

Finally! My long-awaited first meeting with Seo Haedun.

I opened the door with a nervous heart.

“……What? He isn’t here?”

It seemed like Seo Haedun hadn’t arrived yet, as I couldn’t even see any bags that might belong to him anywhere.

“How could he just wander around without a manager.”

Grumbling to myself, I turned around, thinking of just grabbing a coffee.

“I saw a café on the first floor…… Huh?”

“……”

Standing by the open waiting room door was a man, leaning casually against a wall with his arms crossed.

It was Seo Haedun.

“Ah.”

I inhaled sharply, like a noob gamer who just encountered the final boss.

Damn it, did he notice? Did he see me flinch?

[Name : Seo Haedun (Haedun)

Age : 25

Affiliation : WEEKANIZ

Position : Main Dancer

Stamina : 150/150

Appearance : A

Vocal : B

Dance : S

*Notoriety below 50]

He was the only member with a notoriety level below 50. This meant that the fans that were targeting Seo Haedun were relatively few compared to those who were targeting me for example.

……Still, we were supposed to be like the two oldest of the group, yet the gap in our stats was truly disheartening.

Was this bitterness I felt just in my head perhaps?

Regardless, Seo Haedun was staring at me quite intently.

He seemed calm, or maybe angry, or was he perhaps curious? It was hard for me to read him since this is the first time we met.

I should just take the initiative and speak first.

“……Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

Ah, shit……

That sounded kind of lame, didn’t it?

At least the status window informing me of my Eloquence decreasing didn’t appear, so maybe it wasn’t that bad?

“……Would you want to answer if you were me?”

Ah, right.

That guy was the same age as Ahn Yuyoung……

He spoke to me using informal language.

Plus, he was speaking in a low voice with a dialect layered on top of it.

No one would definitely say that this guy gave off a good impression.

“Even if you didn’t want to, can’t you at least hear me out?”

“Are you lecturing me?”

You little punk, I’m five years older than you, you hear?

Frustration was boiling up inside of me, but I forced it down.

“……I’m not lecturing you. I just came to support you. Thought you might feel lonely.”

“Hey.”

“What?”

Seo Haedun gave me a nasty look.

I couldn’t describe it any better than that.

“……Forget it. I’m leaving.”

And then he started to walk out of the waiting room, totally ignoring me.

Where did he think he was going? This was his waiting room!

“Hey, hey, hey, hey!”

“?”

At that moment, something appeared behind Seo Haedun.

I quickly ran over and grabbed his arm.

“Ah! What are you……”

“We’re going to start filming in the waiting room~.”

It was a camera crew.

I desperately held onto Haedun’s arm and pulled him back into the waiting room with me.

Haedun also at least forced a smile when he noticed the camera.

Look, even if he didn’t like me he still wanted to do broadcast activities.

“Hello there! This is Yuyoung from WEEKANIZ~ I’m here to support Haedun.”

Talking to that camera as if I were addressing a person still felt pretty awkward to me.

Did celebrities imagine that this camera lens was a pair of eyes or something?

That thought was kind of scary yet fascinating.

“……Yes. Hello. I’m Seo Haedun.”

Haedun, on the other hand, was looking into the camera as if it was second nature for him as an idol.

Even if he was currently my enemy, I should humbly learn from him.

“As you all know, our Haedun is an incredible dancer, but that hasn’t really been shown in our group activities~.”

“……”

“Though <Dance Off>, I hope Haedun’s talent can be highlighted 200% more, that’s what I hope for as the leader, haha.”

I said cheerfully, sliding my arm around Haedun’s shoulder.

Meanwhile, it seemed like Haedun was trying to telepathically tell me something like ‘What kind of bullshit is this?”. I could feel it.

Please, let’s try to get along. This is just as tough for me.

“……Yes. It feels reassuring to have our leader acknowledge me so much. I’ll do my best.”

Cameras sure were magical objects.

They tended to make everyone act insincerely before them.

Headun responded rather stiffly. However, since he usually was a bit brusque, it didn’t really stand out that much.

“……Can we hear some words of determination from you, Haedun?!””

“Ah, yes. I’ll do my best. I’ll give 200%.”

“Hahaha!”

After this loud and pointless interview ended, the camera crew moved on to the next waiting room.

Now it was just Haedun and me again.

Urgh, this pressing silence was killing me.

Being alone with Haedun felt like being in one room with a cursed doll.

“Hey, I don’t know why you’re here, but……”

“I’m here to make a deal with you.”

“There’s nothing to trade though.”

“No, I do have something. I want to play you a song.”

I suddenly handed one of my earbuds to Haedun.

He took it reluctantly.

“It’s a song that Baek Gyeom worked on. We’re going to make a comeback with it. As a full group. So you need to come to record as well.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Then it’ll be your damn loss. This song is going to be a hit.”

Haedun looked at me with slight surprise.

What? Was it because I cursed?

Didn’t kids our age curse a lot though?

Anyway, Haedun seemed a bit surprised after listening to the demo.

Well, it made sense. The song turned out pretty well. It sounded almost identical to the one I remembered hitting it big a year later.

“……How much did you pay for this?”

“Pay? Our infinitely talented member Baek Gyeom made it. I told you, didn’t I?”

“……He made this?”

“I’m not asking you to rejoin right away. Just focus on <Dance Off> for now.”

“And?”

I swallowed hard and spoke with determination.

“……If you win, I’ll let you go. If not, rejoin the group.”

“……”

It seemed as if I had struck a nerve.

Haedun knitted his eyebrows.

“What? Are you scared? Then quit before the first episode airs.”

“Are you threatening me? What do I gain from rejoining the group?”

He had a point.

Even though he was still pretty young, he was making some rational arguments here.

“If this song doesn’t make it into the top 10 on the charts, I’ll officially let you leave the group.”

“……”

“Do you understand what that means? I’m 100% confident that this song will even hit number 1”

“Hah.”

“Think about it. Winning <Dance off> would be even better for you. No matter your decision, I'll be rooting for you. Fighting~”

“Hey, where are you going?”

“Since I already cheered you on, I'm heading back to the dorm now.”

As I slowly closed the door to the waiting room I kept it just a bit open and peeked my head through again.

“You'll be thinking of the chorus when you sleep at night, you know? Call me, haha.”

“……”

……Was that last comment a bit too much?

But there was no harm in teasing him a little bit.

After all this was a fight that I couldn't lose.

Haedun would get eliminated in the third episode.

……Knowing that and using it to my advantage pricked my conscience a little.

But in the end we all had to survive somehow, right?

Sorry, Headun, but I couldn't let you kill me.

This was the only way for both of us to make it out alive.

Muttering to myself, I left the broadcasting station.

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