The Director’s Proposal

The world of dance is profound.

Of course, what field doesn’t have such depth?

But since I’m learning this right before my eyes and actually implementing it, I feel it more acutely.

Even listening to the same song, the expression method changes, and various choreographies intersect for just one short part.

The position of the feet, the angle of hands and shoulders, the gaze and direction… numerous changes occur with just slight differences.

Before I knew it, after a week of lessons, I was about to graduate from Class C.

“Wow! Really amazing. Graduating from Class C in just a week.”

“You were in Class E and D for three days, right? So it’s actually four days.”

“Anyway, it’s incredible. Is this what they call talent?”

A short break time allowing the body that moved intensely to rest for a moment.

I hear small whispering voices from here and there.

Sorry, my hearing is better than I thought.

But actually, I’m not a talent monster.

Rather, I was originally poor at dancing.

[This is all thanks to the goddess’s grace. Try to always maintain a grateful attitude.]

‘No, it’s not. It’s because I worked hard.’

I firmly reject the helper’s fact bomb.

Class C was essentially most of what could be learned at a general level.

Classes B and A were for people aiming to become idols after being trainees at agencies, or those trying to make dance their profession like small performance teams and backup dancers.

So, Class C is just right for me.

A level where graduation talk is starting to come up.

Of course, there are lacking areas compared to experienced people like skillfulness from experience, various repertoires, and useful skills that can be used in actual performance, but that’s not a problem that can be solved in a short time even with talent.

And it’s not like I’m thinking of this path as a future dream or job.

In that sense, I decided to end any further class promotions and practice the Rolling Dance I aimed for at first.

I use the video recording function on my phone after copying the choreography while watching videos.

I record myself dancing, check the differences from the original dance, modify, and repeat again.

If I get stuck while practicing, I ask for help from the Class C teacher and clear things one by one.

“Okay. There, rotate your waist more flexibly… That’s right! Good.”

The song was a little over 3 minutes long, but I’m exhausted after finishing one practice.

It’s because I’m practicing by cutting into parts since I’m not proficient enough to go directly from start to finish yet.

It usually takes about 10-15 minutes, and it’s not easy to keep moving steadily without rest for that time when you’re not a professional athlete.

“Haa, haa… Good work.”

Today too, I moved for about three hours packed full.

Now I feel like I’ve mastered the first half of the song somewhat.

I greet the teacher in charge and try to head to the shower room, when I make eye contact with the director who was waiting in the back.

She who’s been showing interest again since I was promoted to Class D.

She, marking her mid-40s this year, approaches with a smile she can’t hide all over her face.

“If you’re done practicing today, shall we talk for a moment in the director’s office?”

“… Let me wash up first.”

“Okay. See you in the director’s office.”

Our relationship became informal since she essentially started speaking casually to me while bestowing various benefits.

Like letting me use the practice room for a long time without additional cost, making teachers pay more attention to teaching me, and giving discounts on academy fees…

But her eyes have been unsettling for the past few days, what’s going on?

The uneasy feeling hit the mark exactly.

“No, I’m telling you I have no intention of becoming an idol.”

“Hani, just once, please. Okay? It’s a matter of our academy’s honor.”

She clings to my side pitifully at over mid-40s.

When I firmly refuse saying I have no intention of becoming an idol until the end, she lowers the conditions saying it’s okay to just audition then.

“As you know, JYC is one of our country’s leading entertainment companies. In a way, academies like ours can be called subcontractors of such large agencies.”

“……”

We connect promising seedlings to agencies.

That becomes both performance and external honor for the academy.

For example, like hanging a banner at the main gate saying “3 students from XX High School admitted to Seoul National University this year”.

If a student from the academy passes the audition for a famous agency like JYC, the number of people registering for the academy naturally increases.

“Even if you pass the audition, if it doesn’t seem like you’ll become an idol, you can give up, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“No, but that’s inconsiderate to them.”

“Are you an ant worrying about a lion now? Even if you pass the audition, you’ll just become one trainee. A trainee among dozens. Why worry about how much influence a trainee who’s just starting will have?”

“……”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

Listening to debut stories, I often hear about trainee life lasting 5-6 years.

Even if I pass and become a trainee, I won’t be included in the debut group right away, and from such a huge company’s perspective, they wouldn’t feel anything even if I quit.

“Maybe this kind of experience could be helpful later…”

I have no idea how an audition for selecting agency trainees could help my life.

As I make an indifferent expression with that feeling, the director plays her trump card.

“Full refund of registration fee just for trying!”

“…!”

“And I’ll give you an honorarium if you pass the audition.”

“Okay! Thank you, thank you!”

For a moment, I feel possessed by the character who mindlessly shouted “4 dollars”.

You should have done this from the start.

I’m still hungry with my bank account completely empty.

---

I heard the schedule.

The audition date was the first Saturday of November, so there was about a month of time to spare.

To apply, I need to prepare one song and one dance each.

Well, since she said she’d help with anything needed for preparation or practice, all I had to do was invest time and effort.

‘Anyway, after doing the penalty broadcast this weekend, I’ll have plenty of time for a while.’

It was an opportunity to learn singing and dancing for free.

At first, I was planning to end at Class C level and just master a few dances I could use for reactions besides Rolling, but this changes things a bit.

‘Maybe this audition challenge could become good content. This kind of experience isn’t common.’

I feel a sharp YouTube angle.

On the way home, I contacted Yoonjae and talked about this matter.

Then Yoonjae gets excited saying it’s totally YouTube material and amazing.

“But you’re not really going to debut, right? If you become an idol, they probably won’t allow personal channels by contract. Then I’ll be unemployed…”

“No! Do you think you can just become an idol if you want to? Geez, what a worry-wart.”

I did raise the Natural Connections ability to level 2 with points scraped together this week, but it’s not a small agency, it’s JYC.

If I compete with rivals aiming to be trainees at such a huge agency, I’ll probably have a hard time getting even a speck of attention from the judges.

‘What audition pass. I’m just getting YouTube material and free lessons for almost two months.’

There’s no loss at all and only gain, so I feel light-hearted.

“Huh?”

The last main road before going home.

It was a place with quite a lot of foot traffic even during the day.

As I’m hurrying my steps, a soju bottle rolls to my feet.

What’s this? Looking closer, the cap is open and there’s no contents inside, it’s an empty bottle.

A few more such empty bottles roll this way.

“Ah! You scared me.”

“Ah, what’s this?”

People in front avoided the rolling empty bottles with unpleasant expressions.

They were dirty in spots, probably thrown away with other trash.

Looking further ahead, an elderly woman with a bewildered expression was busily picking up spilled empty bottles around her.

Shabby clothes and a bent back.

People hurry their steps while pouting their lips.

“……”

I silently picked up and gathered the empty bottles rolling around.

“G-girl. Leave it. Your hands will get dirty if you touch them.”

The elderly woman who noticed me hurriedly approaches and waves her hands.

No, this much is nothing.

I touched food waste with bare hands while cleaning mess tins in the military.

But not just the elderly woman, people around also have surprised expressions.

Then I realize.

Right now, I’m not 28-year-old male Lee Gangjun, but 24-year-old Lee Hani with world-class beauty that doesn’t suit doing this kind of thing at all.

But so what?

“It’s okay. I’m near home and on my way back from exercising, so I’ll wash up anyway.”

“Th-thank you, thank you.”

I picked up and gathered the spilled empty bottles around with the elderly woman.

As I stepped up, people who were watching also helped.

The street was quickly cleaned up.

I exchange greetings with the elderly woman and return home.

[Excellent. This is a true act of conveying the goddess’s love.]

“Then give me some points.”

Ignoring the helper who immediately closes his mouth, I wash up lightly, have dinner, then turn on the broadcast.

-Haha! Meaning Hani hi.

-Huh? No cam today too? This is a bit much;;

-Aren’t you doing broadcasts too roughly relying on the penalty broadcast? How can a female cammer be like this?

“No, how am I a female cammer? I started with communication and game broadcasts from the beginning, and did my first cam broadcast a month after starting.”

-I don’t care. How can that face be a game BJ? You’re definitely a female cammer.

-It’s been so long since I saw noona’s face that I’m forgetting what she looks like. Turn on the cam please.

-Honestly, no cam for over a week is crossing the line.

Complaints spread among viewers.

I feel the need to somehow smooth things over.

So I decided to use the penalty broadcast that was mentioned earlier.

“There’s not much time left until Saturday anyway. Originally, delicious things taste better when you save them for the end. So, can you all endure?”

-Eat at the end? ㅓㅜㅑ!

-Whatever Hani says sounds suspiciously erotic.

“No, what’s erotic! It’s your minds that are weird.”

While communicating with viewers, I subtly boasted about my achievements over the past week.

“To be honest, I’ve been hiding it until now, but I think I have talent in dancing.”

-Actually, I have talent in the legendary league too. My current tier is Silver.

-Stop the nonsense!

-Honestly, I can acknowledge you as the highest level authority on robot dancing. Don’t tell me you developed other bizarre dances too?

“Geez… You all should prepare to apologize after seeing my Rolling stage on Saturday.”

-There won’t be anything to apologize for after seeing Hani’s dance ㅋ I’d rather believe Japan will apologize for past history.

-Just type ㄹㅇ.

-Honestly, seeing Hani’s confident look makes me uneasy. You’re not going to run away in underwear that day, are you?

“No, how do you see me!”

It’s been a long time since I shed my poor dancing past, but these ignorant viewers still look down on me.

As we bickered like that, talk of making a bet came up among viewers.

“A bet? What kind of bet?”

-If you’re so confident in your Rolling dance, let’s do a viewer vote on penalty broadcast day to make sure. If you lose, you listen to what viewers want, if not, the opposite.

-Oh, good. Then we can set the next penalty broadcast schedule right after watching the penalty broadcast that day ㅋ

-Genius? Is this creative economy!?

“You’ll regret it. Okay, if I win, what will you all do?”

-If I lose the bet, I’ll film myself bowing 100 times as an apology and post it on the broadcast station board.

-That’s too weak. I’ll shout “I’m sorry Hani-nim” for 1 minute wearing only underwear in Hongdae.

-Tsk tsk tsk. Is that all you can muster? I’ll cause a suicide scene on Mapo Bridge and even say the line “Please love New Continent TV’s goddess BJ Hani a lot” on TV.

-ㅋ The malicious ones are going crazy.

“Sigh! What expectations could I have for you all. Then let’s do this. I was going to do it anyway.”

I feel a bit deflated at the viewers’ nonsense party.

There’s no use getting excited over friends like these, I’ll only lose.

I decide to make a generous offer.

“I was planning to make something in about two weeks that’s not quite cooking… should I say confectionery? Anyway, I was going to make some Pepero.”

-No way? Is this for real?

-Is Hani a goddess? Is Hani a goddess? Is Hani a goddess?

-Hani-nim ㅠㅠ I only realized it was spring after the flowers fell.

November 11th next month is Pepero Day.

Valentine’s Day, White Day, Pepero Day… It’s been a somewhat common culture in the internet broadcasting world for a long time.

Female BJs sending viewers handmade chocolates, candies, or Pepero on these holidays as a way of repaying their usual love.

My male identity made me hesitate for a long time, but in the end, professional consciousness won.

The heart wanting to repay even a little bit of the love received from viewers as a BJ currently receiving much love.

I thought this was something that should naturally be done as a person, beyond the gender issue of male or female.

“Originally, I was thinking of making a lot even if it’s a bit of a strain and drawing about 50 people to give as gifts… but if I win the bet.”

-Noona, I want to eat Pepero! I love you noona!

-Hani-nim, I’m sorry to say this now but… actually I have a disease where I’ll die if I don’t eat Pepero.

-I’ll buy one of Hani’s handmade Pepero for 10,000 won!

The chat instantly becomes a pandemonium.

Suppressing that commotion, I declare in a low voice:

“That number 50 will be reduced to 10 people.”

-ᄃᆞᄒᆞᅧᅥᆨᄃᆞᄒᆞᅧᅥᆨᄃᆞᄒᆞᅧᅓᅑ!

-I think I’ll go out for lunch! I think I’ll go out for lunch! I think I’ll go out for lunch!

-Devil! Hani is a devil!

A serious match with viewers has begun.