Chapter 71

Chapter 71

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

Episode 71: TwoBear, The Home Of S Rankers.

Gyeoul stood cautiously in front of the panel, with a sticker that had the letter “E” and her name, Han Gyeoul, affixed to the chest of her black super crop top.

Seeing the surrounding cameras, Gyeoul bowed politely at a 90-degree angle. She found herself alone, surrounded by dozens of cameras, as Ye Han-na, who had guided her, disappeared somewhere.

“…Hello. I’m Han Gyeoul.”

Gyeoul greeted timidly, but none of the staff responded.

She was confused whether they were worried about noise during filming or if it was just part of the concept.

“…Um, should I just go in?”

Just as Gyeoul, feeling restless and trying to muster courage, was about to walk forward, three trainees appeared from the opposite hallway.

“Wow, is this the photo call location? It’s decorated so well!”

“Wow, look at the number of cameras. Is this also a camera?”

“Yujin, don’t touch that!”

Gyeoul looked at the stickers on their clothes and the alphabets written on them.

A, A, A. All three had an “A”.

Gyeoul guessed that they had skills incomparable to hers.

Such confidence was necessary to have that designation.

Feeling particularly embarrassed by the “E” on her chest, she shrank further.

“Oh, there’s someone who arrived first?”

“Where are you from? TwoBear Entertainment? Never heard of it.”

“Yujin, how much do you know about agencies to say ‘never heard of it’?”

“Well, I can say it even if I don’t know. Ignorance isn’t a sin!”

“Whether it’s a sin or not, people will immediately notice you’re ignorant.”

Even in the short moment they walked to the panel, they chatted like a storm. Gyeoul felt as if there were three Gaeuls.

Regardless of her feelings about such people, being with those with such overwhelming extroversion made Gyeoul feel like the battery inside her was completely draining.

And she realized that in the entertainment industry, she would meet hundreds of such human energy bundles.

‘Ugh, Taeyang ssam, please help me.’

However, he couldn’t follow her here.

Unfortunately, this was a battlefield she had to navigate alone.

As two trainees bickered, Gyeoul hesitated to react, and a trainee with short hair and a slender, model-like figure spoke.

“Guys, we should greet the trainee over there first.”

“Oh, right!”

“Yujin, you’re always like this.”

“Hey, Garnet, you forgot too!”

“Stop! Guys. Remember we’re being filmed.”

The trainee who organized the atmosphere looked at Gyeoul and counted the rhythm, and the three trainees changed their positions and greeted her neatly.

“One, two.”

“Hello! I’m Han Sora from Neulbom Entertainment.”

“Kim Yujin.”

“And I’m Garnet.”

The camera captured the three of them and Gyeoul, who reflexively bowed her head at a 90-degree angle in surprise.

“We previously worked as a trio under the group name Counter. We released a mini-album and shot two music videos.”

“And then we failed.”

Han Sora said with a sigh.

“…Yujin, please behave here.”

“But Sora, I’m not wrong, am I? If we succeeded, we wouldn’t be here. So they probably know we failed!”

“Still, we have fans who believe in us and support us. How would they feel if we said we failed?”

“Oh, right!”

“Yujin, you’re always like this…”

“Hey! Garnet! Let’s spar. Follow me to the rooftop, you brat.”

“Get your mouthpiece ready. You know joint locks are forbidden between tough girls, right?”

“Guys, please! This is being filmed. If you really want to fight, take me on instead!”

“You can’t beat the Beast, Han Sora…”

“…I agree.”

Swept away by their wave of words, Gyeoul, who was floating like a buoy, realized she hadn’t greeted them and bowed.

“Oh… Hello! I’m Han Gyeoul from TwoBear Entertainment! Please take care of me!”

“Wow, Han Gyeoul. What an impressive name! Is it your stage name or real name?”

“It’s my real name!”

Kim Yujin nodded and said,

“Oh, your parents have great naming sense. It’s simple, sounds pretty, and is memorable, making it a great choice for an idol name. That’s probably why your agency didn’t give you a stage name.”

“But where did you learn it’s okay to comment on someone else’s parents’ naming sense? How would you feel if someone said your parents have great naming sense, Yujin?”

“…Um, thank you for the compliment?”

“Oh my god…”

As a pure exclamation turned into a swear word about to come out of Garnet’s mouth, Han Sora screamed in surprise.

“Ahhh! Guys, remember this is being filmed!”

The camera was capturing the entire farce.

Gyeoul had a feeling this scene would definitely be aired, even briefly.

A writer, seemingly satisfied with the footage, directed them to walk down the central corridor.

As the four of them walked awkwardly together, Kim Yujin spoke.

“The staff here don’t talk much and don’t explain things well.”

“You’ve only experienced music shows, Yujin. Why are you acting like a seasoned veteran?”

“One music show here makes you a veteran. There are trainees who haven’t even debuted.”

“…Hmm, that’s a convincing point.”

Garnet, curious about Gyeoul’s status, asked,

“You said your name is Gyeoul, right? Have you debuted yet?”

“No, this is my first schedule.”

“Hmm… I see. You must be very nervous.”

Resting her chin on her hand and nodding, Garnet looked at Gyeoul and asked,

“How old are you?”

“Yes. I’m 16 years old.”

Then Kim Yujin, smiling brightly, said,

“Wow, you’re so young! We’re all 19!”

“Hey, don’t speak informally without permission!”

“Oh, sorry! Gyeoul, is it okay if I speak casually?”

“Just asking doesn’t mean it’s okay, you blockhead! We’re working here, we need to be polite!”

“What should I follow then?”

As Garnet and Yujin started bickering again, Gyeoul screamed in fright,

“I’m… I’m okay with you being casual!”

“She said it’s fine, right?”

“…Fine, do whatever you want.”

Yujin smiled brightly and said,

“You must be nervous since it’s your first time.”

“Does it show a lot?”

“No, it doesn’t show on your face. Rather, you look so strong that you seem like you’d dominate everything. If we met in a classroom, I’d run to the snack bar to buy you pizza bread as a tribute.”

“Yujin!”

“Oh, what now?”

Gyeoul’s cold and sharp facial features, deep-set eyes, and natural blonde hair made her first impression seem strong.

Gyeoul guessed that the word “bully” was about to come out of Yujin’s mouth but was toned down.

“Then, how did you know I was nervous?”

“On your first schedule, you wrote ‘E’ for your level alphabet. That gives a sense of how you’re feeling in this position.”

Garnet, who had been quietly watching, also agreed.

“Well, Yujin is right. Honestly, you haven’t been a trainee for long, have you?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Garnet! Saying that might make Gyeoul feel uncomfortable.”

“Being inexperienced isn’t wrong. Pointing it out isn’t wrong either. You just need to learn a lot here.”

“Still, people’s feelings don’t always work that rationally.”

As Garnet and Han Sora started debating, Yujin suddenly put her arm around Gyeoul’s shoulders and said,

“Hey! Don’t worry too much! I’ll take care of you. You’re lucky to have a senior in the industry taking care of you like this, right?”

Though it was a considerate remark, Yujin, Garnet, and Han Sora seemed to view Gyeoul as an inexperienced rookie.

Gyeoul realized her current level from their common perspective.

This was a space for professionals.

Not a small practice room where only three girls dance and sing.

Even in that small practice room, where she wasn’t the best, barely following Gaeul in singing and barely following Yeoreum in dancing, she felt like a tiny insect here.

‘Team Leader Seon, I think it’s going to be hard to show a turnaround. As they said, I’m just a beginner… I’m sorry.’

Even though she hadn’t seen them on stage yet, thinking about the atmosphere and confidence they exuded, Gyeoul felt that even if she tried her best without trying to look bad, she would just become a laughingstock.

Gyeoul didn’t mind being a laughingstock.

But it was too sad not to meet Taeyang’s expectations.

If Seon Taeyang had recognized Gyeoul’s train of thought, he would have reacted like this.

‘No, the fact that you’re following world-class geniuses like Gaeul and Yeoreum means you’re a genius too, Gyeoul! That small practice room is a gathering place for S-rank talents! And you’re keeping up with both of them!’

Unfortunately, Seon Taeyang wasn’t here to point that out.