Chapter 29
“What exactly do you plan to teach the trainees?”
“Ah, yes. I was going to tell Kim Ryeoyu to stop being too considerate and take competition more seriously…”
“They’re just kids. Why would those kids be walking on eggshells around Kim Ryeoyu? Obviously, it’s because of the adults.”
President Hong spoke coldly.
“You’re bringing trainee education as your suggestion? Seems like the ones needing education are you guys.”
“I’m sorry…”
“I’m disappointed today. I was hoping for something constructive, but everyone is just too scared to say what really needs to be said.”
As President Hong calmly voiced her thoughts—
“President.”
Director Kim entered.
“I heard it’s been a while since you visited. Have you been enjoying your vacation?”
A gulp could be heard.
And understandably so. Director Kim’s words were a subtle jab.
Basically saying: why are you interfering now after abandoning the company all this time?
Of course, President Hong wasn’t oblivious to that.
“Yeah. I’ve been enjoying it just fine. But I guess it’s time to wrap it up.”
“You can take more time off, you know. The executives and staff here are putting their passion into everything.”
“Passion is good. That’s why I want to respond with a little of my own.”
Crackle.
The two locked eyes, tension rising.
There was a reason Director Kim could be so bold toward the company president.
The shareholders favored him.
Because to them, he was sweet and polite—while being ruthless to the employees.
Freezing salaries was the norm, and if someone didn’t perform well, he’d find any excuse to push them out.
He’d run the company with the bare minimum workforce.
It was partly because of people like Director Kim and the shareholders that President Hong had taken a break in the first place.
She had truly been working nonstop until then.
But now, she couldn’t afford that anymore.
“I think I’ve enjoyed my break enough. I’ll return to the company—though not at full throttle right away.”
President Hong gave a sharp smile.
Then pointed to the presentation monitor.
“Don’t you think I need to take care of that before I can face the shareholders again?”
Naturally, Director Kim’s face contorted.
After the second mission ended, the on-site voting results were announced first.
But this time, it wasn’t as nerve-racking as the first one.
Partly because they’d been through it once already—
“Why are they announcing rankings twice in one day?”
—But mostly because the real “Ranking Announcement Ceremony” was coming next.
The two were different.
The On-Site Voting Announcement only reflected votes from fans who physically attended the performances.
This time, there were 360 fans in attendance.
60 more than last time.
From the look of things, it seemed they picked about 30 fans per trainee.
However, this time, each fan could only vote for two trainees.
Previously, they had to rank all the trainees.
Now, they simply voted for the two that impressed them most.
Meaning a total of 720 votes.
Twelve trainees would split those 720 votes, and rankings would be based on vote counts.
It was a strong indicator of audience reaction, and the team with the most votes would receive a benefit in the next mission.
However, what the trainees were really afraid of was the Ranking Announcement Ceremony.
That one reflected pure popularity.
While on-site votes could be influenced by luck—
The Ranking Ceremony was based solely on online votes and showed how many real fans were supporting them.
Also, the Ranking Ceremony allowed voters to select either all twelve trainees or just one.
The on-site votes might include people who considered you their second or third favorite.
But the ranking votes were cast only by those who truly wanted to see you debut.
That’s what made it nerve-wracking.
“It’s like taking a mock exam and the college entrance exam on the same day…”
Yeon Juhong said while lying on the sofa in the waiting room.
What a high schooler-like comparison…
Moments like this really reminded me how young these kids were.
“Even if it doesn’t directly affect debut, rankings still matter emotionally.”
“Exactly.”
Doing badly even on a mock test ruins your mood.
I silently agreed.
“Even if your rank is low this time, you can always climb back up later.”
At that moment, Kim Geum arrived with four bottles of sports drinks.
“Take one each.”
She handed drinks to Yeon Juhong and me.
“Hey!”
Then tossed one to Lee Juseon.
“M-Me too?”
“Aren’t you part of our team?”
“…”
“If I didn’t buy you one, you’d say you were being left out again.”
“Why do you hold grudges for so long?!”
Kim Geum clicked her tongue.
“Tch, look who’s talking.”
The two bickered for a while.
But strangely, they didn’t seem like they disliked each other.
They were grinning as they drank their sports drinks.
“Hey, Ryu Bora!”
“What?”
Kim Geum didn’t stop there. She called out to Ryu Bora, who was sitting alone, staring at her phone.
“Where do you keep getting that phone from?”
Once the actual filming started, phones were supposed to be confiscated.
They only got them back afterward.
Team missions were an exception because they needed to contact each other.
“Use your brain, Geum.”
“…Is that a mental attack?”
Kim Geum tried to sneak a look at her phone screen.
But Ryu Bora quickly hid it.
“What is it? Why so secretive?”
“Privacy.”
“What’s on it?”
“Personal life.”
Ryu Bora then turned off the phone and glanced at me.
Then pointed at Kim Geum.
…Is she telling me to take her away?
Since when was that kid mine?
But I said nothing and dragged the squirming Kim Geum away.
“But you too.”
“Me?”
“Be careful. With your phone.”
If you get caught, it’ll be a huge pain.
Knowing how controlling PD Oh is, he definitely wouldn’t take it well.
“…I’ll handle it.”
Teenage rebellion much?
Break time was over in an instant.
The filming for the On-Site Voting Announcement began.
“Great job, everyone. The second mission is already over. All three teams did wonderfully. As your mentor and senior, I’m very proud of you.”
Do Heeyoung always had a mature aura.
Even though she didn’t seem that way outside of this setting, here she felt very grown-up.
“Today, the ‘colorists’ who will help ‘paint’ your journey have voted for the two trainees who stood out the most. 360 colorists participated today. We’ll start by revealing the total team vote counts.”
After a brief explanation, Do Heeyoung pointed to the screen.
All the trainees stared nervously.
3rd place team: 140 votes
2nd place team: 233 votes
1st place team: 347 votes
“!”
A wave of tension swept through the trainees.
The gap between 1st and 3rd place was huge.
The on-site voting had been conducted with no behind-the-scenes content shown—only the live performances.
And the results showed a dramatic difference in performance quality.
Since the trainees had created everything themselves from start to finish, it hit even harder.
“Let’s reveal the 2nd place team first.”
At Do Heeyoung’s cue, the screen changed.
2nd Place: Team Bubblegum — 233 votes
9th: Bang Suin (▲1) — 31 votes
8th: Shin Yoohyun (-) — 34 votes
4th: Ryu Bora (▲1) — 80 votes
3rd: Seo Baekyoung (-) — 88 votes
“Two members made it into debut-range rankings. No one’s rank went down in Team Bubblegum. Congratulations.”
If no one’s ranking dropped in Team Bubblegum…
That meant someone else’s ranking had dropped.
The team’s atmosphere was quite good.
Not exactly celebratory, but they all looked relieved.
The four members tightly held hands.
So, Ryu Bora had moved into debut rank.
Considering I was previously 4th and she was 5th…
That meant my ranking had changed.
Was it for better or worse?
“Now, let’s reveal 3rd place.”
3rd Place: Team LoveYou — 140 votes
12th: Park Haeun (▼3) — 20 votes
11th: Lee Kyunga (-) — 23 votes
10th: Cho Heeon (▼3) — 27 votes
6th: Kim Ryeoyu (▼4) — 70 votes
“!”
Not a single member of Team LoveYou could speak.
It wasn’t just them.
Everyone was stunned into silence.
Then, the screen immediately updated.
Next to the 3rd place results, the 1st place team’s results appeared.
1st Place: Team Four Seasons — 347 votes
7th: Lee Juseon (▲5) — 59 votes
5th: Yeon Juhong (▲1) — 74 votes
2nd: Yoon Cheong (▲3) — 105 votes
1st: Kim Geum (-) — 109 votes
