Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Raise Three Idols Well And They’ll Launch a Confession Attack.

Episode 57: Do You Want To Try It, Mr. Seon?.

“It will feel like there’s a huge wall in front of you.”

“You might feel overwhelmed and scared.”

The choreography of ‘A World for You’ was designed for nine people.

It maximizes the use of all nine members, emphasizing the choreography and group dance structures to the extreme, so if only Han Gyeoul and Jin Yeoreum performed it, it would inevitably feel lacking.

“Even so, don’t give up. Move forward.”

However, their performance showed no signs of such a gap.

“Move forward. Don’t hesitate, just move forward.”

“Move forward. Don’t feel intimidated, just move forward.”

Han Gyeoul’s thorough foundation from continuous training with Lee Hyerin contributed to this, but the most significant role was played by Jin Yeoreum.

Jin Yeoreum used the small number of performers as an advantage.

She contrasted the choreography as if it were a duet dance, using sudden symmetrical changes to maximize the impact and utilizing the two-member setup to its fullest.

There was no way they had rehearsed this. There hadn’t been time for such preparation for this sudden stage. And Han Gyeoul was following the basic choreography.

The conclusion from these two premises was that Jin Yeoreum was adapting the choreography on the spot, turning the two-member setup into a charm. She visualized how the stage would look with contrasting Han Gyeoul in her mind, completing the image. An ordinary trainee was doing this.

Moreover, Jin Yeoreum was in a state where it was difficult to perform her choreography perfectly after a few years of hiatus.

“This is why geniuses are different…”

A pure admiration slipped out.

“At the destination, we’ll create a world for you.”

“A world where you can smile and dream.”

“A world for you.”

The performance ended.

Unlike Han Gyeoul, who maintained her composure except for a slight sweat, Jin Yeoreum couldn’t control her excited breathing.

Considering that Jin Yeoreum was close to being a national rhythmic gymnastics representative, it couldn’t be due to a lack of natural stamina. It was probably because it was her first performance in a long time.

Still, it was inevitable that she appeared lacking compared to Han Gyeoul.

Besides the lackluster ending, Jin Yeoreum made numerous small mistakes during the performance.

If you disregard her brilliant sense and choreography transformations that brought visual enjoyment, from an industry perspective, her performance wasn’t at a level fit for the stage.

“Scream and cheer for Yeoreum Unnie!”

But the audience, the children at the orphanage, showed an explosive reaction as if those deficiencies didn’t matter at all, rushing towards Jin Yeoreum.

“Let’s give her a shoulder toss! Shoulder toss!”

I could understand their feelings.

Jin Yeoreum was captivating.

To the point where all her shortcomings were invisible.

“…Wait a minute, kids. I understand, but…”

As Jin Yeoreum was flustered, Han Gyeoul stepped in.

“Wow! Shoulder toss! I want to do it too!”

“…You’re supposed to stop them, Han Gyeoul.”

The kids tried to lift Jin Yeoreum, but it seemed quite precarious due to their lack of strength.

“Hey, you need to grab the sides! What are you doing, grabbing the same spot?”

“I grabbed here first! You’re the one who cut in!”

“I don’t care! I’m staying here, you go somewhere else!”

“…But why does Eunyoung always cling to Gyutae like that?”

“Sigh. You’re clueless. You don’t know? Just grab Yeoreum Unnie’s leg.”

“Kids, can you have this conversation without holding me? Unnie will get angry.”

I stepped in to sort out the chaos.

“Wow, Team Leader Seon is here!”

Han Gyeoul cheerfully waved while holding onto Jin Yeoreum’s neck.

Held by Han Gyeoul and the kids, Jin Yeoreum looked at me as if she were saved and spoke.

“You came just in time. Could you help me get the kids to let go?”

“Just three times, kids.”

“…What?”

I adjusted the kids’ positions and supported Jin Yeoreum to prevent her from getting hurt, then guided the shoulder toss.

“One, two, three!”

“Waaaaah!”

“Wait, Team Leader Seon… Ahhh!”

The kids laughed brightly.

At some point, even the flustered Jin Yeoreum started smiling, finding joy in the moment.

It was a silly time.

But I hoped this time wouldn’t change.

Even knowing that one day, I would have to destroy it with my own hands.

The photo shoot continued.

“Kids, you need to eat the seasoned black beans too! The Director and volunteers worked so hard to make them since this morning!”

“Yeoreum Unnie, just give us rice with beans instead! Those seasoned black beans are like the rice police chief!”

“Gyutae, don’t exaggerate too much. The volunteers might misunderstand. But I’ll try it first. Kids, the braised chicken is delicious. Eat a lot of it.”

Click!

“Yeoreum, why don’t you use the cleaner? It seems more convenient.”

“Potato peels are economical. If I save money here, the kids can eat something tastier.”

“Isn’t your labor more valuable than the savings?”

“….”

Click!

“Unnie, dance for us again!”

“That’s right! This time, do ‘Trouble Chaser’!”

“That’s a dance for a boy-girl duo. I can’t do it alone.”

“Eek! Do it!”

“You can do it with Taeyang Oppa, who’s filming over there!”

“That’s right. I saw you could dance last time!”

“…Would you like to try it? Team Leader Seon?”

Click!

“Sometimes I get anxious.”

“Are you afraid of what the future holds?”

“…It’s a bit different. I’m more afraid of the impact I might have on others than what will happen to me. I’m a national anti-hero, after all.”

“To the kids at this orphanage, you’re probably a national hero.”

“…What about to you, Team Leader Seon?”

“I’m participating this diligently, so by now, shouldn’t I be accepted as a friend of the orphanage?”

“…Haha, you’re right. I’ll acknowledge you as a friend of the orphanage.”

Yeoreum covered her mouth with her hand and laughed gracefully.

Click!

“Are you going to take a picture of this too?”

“It was too good a smile to miss.”

Then Yeoreum smiled even more brightly.

Click!

Naturally, I took a picture of that smile too.

[Quest complete! You have been awarded the ability to receive messages anywhere.]

Eventually, the quest was completed. It seemed the system deemed I had taken enough provocative photos.

“….”

Now there was no need to continue the act.

It was the end.

I needed to tell Jin Yeoreum. There was a slight mistake. We need to reconsider having you become an idol. Something to draw the line.

But now that the quest was complete, I didn’t say anything.

“Team Leader Seon, do you have something to say?”

“No, not right now.”

I just didn’t want to see that smile disappear right now.

Even though I knew the longer I delayed, the harder it would be to say.

Two days later, I returned to the orphanage with Han Gyeoul.

I justified it by saying it was important to show Han Gyeoul and Yoo Gaeul’s faces as often as possible for the long-term plan.

But Jin Yeoreum wasn’t there.

I asked Yoon Haneul, who was doing educational volunteer work.

“Is today a day Yeoreum isn’t coming?”

Well, she needs a break too. It was actually strange that she had been here every time I came.

“Kids, wait a moment. I’ll be back after talking with Team Leader Seon.”

Yoon Haneul got up, took me to a corner of the hallway, and handed me a letter.

“It’s a letter Yeoreum left. Please read it.”

The letter was a plain, single sheet, thin enough to be a postcard.

I read the single-page letter.

Hello, Team Leader Seon. This is Jin Yeoreum. I think it would be rude to leave without saying anything, so I’m writing this letter.

A better opportunity has come up for me. My father suggested that I study management, so I’m going abroad.

Instead of putting effort into changing my image, I think it’s more efficient to focus on supporting Jinkang and my family in another way. Given how things have turned out, being an idol, which was just a means to improve my image, has become a bad option for me.

As you probably already know, I always choose the best option. So you can probably guess what choice I’ll make this time.

I enjoyed the short time we had. Please consider the talk about the girl group as if it never happened.

-Jin Yeoreum-

The letter’s content was simple but not light.

It contained the shocking information that she chose to study abroad instead of becoming an idol.

It was such a sudden story.

Just two days ago, we were talking normally without any signs of this.

Maybe the study abroad program wouldn’t take as long as I thought.

She couldn’t have decided everything so suddenly, so this could just be the initial stage of planning.

I asked Yoon Haneul, who seemed to know something.

“How long will the study abroad take?”

Yoon Haneul shook her head.

“Yeoreum won’t come back here again.”

It didn’t seem like a temporary farewell.

Jin Yeoreum seemed to plan never to see me, Gaeul, or Han Gyeoul again.

Why? This didn’t happen in the previous iteration.

Things were messed up.

To focus on stabilizing the group for debut during the chaebol 3rd generation scandal in three years, Jin Yeoreum needed to keep volunteering.

I hadn’t anticipated Jin Yeoreum fleeing abroad.

I needed to understand the situation and come up with a solution.

“…Haneul, you know the exact reason why Yeoreum disappeared. Can you tell me?”

Yoon Haneul gave a somewhat bitter smile and said.

“Team Leader Seon, Yeoreum knew you never actually planned to scout her for TwoBear.”

“….”

…I’m really screwed.