Chapter 58 - At the Kind Voice

“You still haven't picked?”

“Just a moment, Manager-nim.”

On the way back after finishing a photoshoot.

Baek Hyeon-woo had brought Kanade to a giant cream bread shop that was trendy these days.

It was a service for Kanade, who had suffered today because of a fussy photographer.

“I want to eat the milk cream bread, and the choco cream bread, and the strawberry cream bread, and the caramel cream bread, and the red bean cream bread...”

However, no matter how long he waited, Kanade couldn't choose from the menu.

And she kept glancing sideways at Baek Hyeon-woo.

“You know you can only eat one, right? It's a calorie bomb, so you can't eat several.”

“D-Do you think I'm some kind of pig? I'm only going to eat one!”

It was Kanade who made a wronged expression, but she immediately asked cautiously.

“Do I really have to eat only one?”

“So you did want to eat several after all.”

“Ugh, I can't eat this kind of thing often. I have to eat it when I have the chance.”

“I'm telling you, it's not good for your body if you eat a lot.”

Managing the members' health is also Baek Hyeon-woo's job.

Eating several of those huge cream breads was something he could not permit.

“Ugh, I want to try the milk cream bread, and the choco cream bread, and the strawberry cream bread, and the caramel cream bread, and the red bean cream bread...”

However, Kanade was still unable to choose what to eat.

Seeing that, Baek Hyeon-woo came up with an idea.

“Should we just buy one of each kind?”

“Huh?”

“We can just take them to the dorm and eat them with the members. If we cut them into several pieces and share them, you can taste various flavors.”

As he suggested the idea of being able to taste several kinds of cream bread at once, Kanade's eyes shone.

“Manager-nim, you're a genius!”

Kanade gave a thumbs-up.

However, she immediately tilted her head.

“Huh? But weren't you buying this for me today because I worked hard at the shoot? If you buy it for the other members too, the meaning...”

“Kanade, then I'll order one each of the milk cream bread, choco cream bread, strawberry cream bread, caramel cream bread, and red bean cream bread.”

“M-Manager-nim, just one more to eat on the way to the dorm...”

Kanade grabbed the arm of Baek Hyeon-woo, who was about to order, and pleaded.

At that moment, the shop clerk peeked her head out and spoke to Kanade.

“Um, you're Kanade, right?”

“Huh?”

“Ah, I knew it!”

The clerk clasped her hands together, her eyes shining.

“I watched 'The Idol'! Could I please ask for an autograph?”

“Ah, i-it's okay...”

Kanade urgently let go of Baek Hyeon-woo's arm and blushed.

Watching Kanade give an autograph with an awkward look, Baek Hyeon-woo scratched his head.

“We'll have to be careful when going outside from now on.”

Until now, there had been no problem even if she went around without a particular disguise.

People were gradually starting to recognize Newstarz.

……

TVX's new program, 'The Idol', was creating a tremendous buzz.

Just the fact that it was a program where established girl groups, including N.A.N, faced off directly was newsworthy enough, but Newstarz had even achieved the splendid feat of pushing aside that N.A.N and taking 1st place.

Just as Seo Dong-cheol had expected, an underdog had risen, overcoming the status gap with skill.

— N.A.N stans, before the broadcast you were all talking like N.A.N would dominate everyone, serves you right lololol

— Turns out N.A.N were the ones who got dominated lololol

— Sir, can I get a N.A.N refill over here!

— Is it true N.A.N is popular overseas? With that level of skill, aren't they embarrassed to perform live overseas?

N.A.N was being bashed immensely on the internet.

In fact, there were more groups that showed a worse performance than N.A.N, but because the expectations were so high, the criticism was concentrated on them.

— So Newstarz was a real skilled group

— To be that good a cappella is really amazing

— Their rhythm didn't go off at all until the very end

— Wasn't the maknae amazing at singing? Is the new version of Gravity the only track she's sung on for now?

— I liked the scene where they gathered together during practice and resolved to become the best group. I heard they weren't that close in the past, but now it seems they're tightly united

Meanwhile, the positive reactions were concentrated on Newstarz.

Choux-pop, who was in 2nd place, also received good evaluations, but they probably couldn't leave as strong an impression as Newstarz.

The stage video uploaded to the official YouTube channel increased in views at a tremendous speed, and the internet media also intensively spotlighted Newstarz's stage.

The version of 'Gravity' with Yoo Jeong-ah as the main vocalist climbed back up the charts on various music sites, and the 'Music World' stage video's views also caught fire again.

Currently, Newstarz was, in a word, a new rising star itself.

……

“Congratulations, Assistant Manager.”

Eun-joo, whom he met in the practice room, greeted Baek Hyeon-woo.

“It seems the Newstarz sunbae-nims hit the jackpot on 'The Idol'.”

“It's also thanks to your help, Eun-joo.”

As Baek Hyeon-woo said that, Eun-joo covered her mouth with her sleeve and made a mischievous expression.

“Then I guess you used it?”

“Yeah, it just so happened.”

The one who had confirmed that there were smokers in N.A.N was Eun-joo.

During her trainee days, Eun-joo was close with many employees, and they say she heard all sorts of rumors circulating inside UBX from those employees.

Among the rumors she had heard like that, there was also talk that there were several smokers in N.A.N and that they would have smoke breaks among themselves.

“Actually, if N.A.N had shown that they were going to compete fair and square with their skills, I was just going to stay quiet. But their side picked a fight with us first.”

“Then you have to counterattack. You did well.”

UBX is trying to get revenge on Haram Entertainment because of the grudge from having their drama role snatched away.

If so, our side can't just stand by and take it either.

“But is it true that you can tell who smokes just by looking at their face? I heard it from Director Choi.”

“Actually, it's not that I can tell with just anyone. I can only tell with people for whom it's severely obvious.”

“Ah, as expected. It didn't make sense medically.”

The only time Baek Hyeon-woo can confirm whether someone smokes is when extremely limited conditions are met.

They have to have smoked a combustible cigarette, not an e-cigarette; it has to have been not long since they smoked, so their blood carbon monoxide level is maintained at a high level; and as a result, their physical ability must be in a state of decline enough for it to be displayed on the status window.

Acting as if he could hunt down every smoker was nothing more than a bluff.

“Without even knowing that, N.A.N must have been extremely worried. That you, Assistant Manager, would expose their smoking to the media.”

“They probably were. Since they're competitors on a survival program, they would have been more worried.”

In the end, N.A.N shot themselves in the foot and self-destructed.

It was a situation with no physical evidence, and if they themselves had had a clear conscience, there would have been no problem.

“Still, they've probably composed themselves by now. Because if they continue to show a poor performance like this, their image will be greatly damaged.”

“That's probably true.”

You can't get through a survival program with just bluffing.

From next time, N.A.N will display their original skills again.

“Assistant Manager, then isn't it time to use 'that' too?”

She only used a pronoun without speaking specifically, but that alone was enough for communication.

Because there was one more 'N.A.N's weakness' that Eun-joo had tipped Baek Hyeon-woo off about.

“If that gets out, N.A.N will be really shaken.”

“As it is, I looked carefully during the last recording. But it seemed more serious than I thought, so I don't think I should touch it carelessly.”

“Ah, really? Then again, if this gets out, will the program 'The Idol' itself also take a big hit? Then the Newstarz sunbae-nim will also be directly or indirectly harmed.”

N.A.N's other weakness.

This was a more serious problem than the smoking issue.

“Then are you just going to do nothing?”

“Not exactly.”

Baek Hyeon-woo shook his head.

“For now, I'm thinking of making direct contact. There was also a part that was bothering me during the last recording.”

……

UBX Headquarters' Training Center.

Director Kim Do-gyun's fiery roar fell upon the N.A.N members, who had come for a lesson.

“Are you guys not going to get your act together?!”

Splat!

As the plastic container was overturned, the bright red sauce splattered in all directions.

It was because Kim Do-gyun had kicked the tteokbokki container.

“Is this the time for you to be eating this? Are you out of your minds?!”

Today, one of the N.A.N members had brought takeout tteokbokki to eat as a snack during break time.

They were planning on secretly eating it just among the members, but they got caught by Kim Do-gyun, who came for an inspection, and all hell broke loose.

“After getting 3rd place on 'The Idol', you can still swallow tteokbokki? Huh? Can you swallow it?”

“……”

The members had their heads down and couldn't say anything.

However, there was no one with a repentant expression.

They were just pouting their lips in dissatisfaction.

We just got unluckily caught, that's what everyone was thinking.

“Do you know how much the company spends managing you? We manage you thoroughly, from your diet to your exercise, and take care of everything, but you go and buy tteokbokki on your own? If you're going to act like this, just quit!”

Panting with anger, Kim Do-gyun quickly scanned the members.

And he singled out the leader, the main rapper Wi-hyeon.

“Hey, Wi-hyeon.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Are you going to do it properly from now on?”

“I'll do it properly.”

“You're all talk.”

Kim Do-gyun clicked his tongue at Wi-hyeon's soulless answer.

“Are you guys by any chance doing this these days?”

Kim Do-gyun made a gesture of smoking with his fingers.

“We don't.”

“Really?”

“We really don't.”

The other members, including Ryu-hwa, also nodded.

Watching them, Kim Do-gyun let out a sigh.

“Just in case, absolutely do not touch them. Got it?”

“We know.”

“Tsk…”

Originally, UBX is not a company that strongly controls its affiliated celebrities' private lives.

The tteokbokki from just now affects an idol's weight management, so he nagged them about it, but he doesn't say anything about them smoking in secret.

However, now is a situation where a 'manager who can see through smoking' has appeared at Haram Entertainment.

He can't know yet if that's real, but upon checking, it was true that Han Se-ri had been kicked out because of cigarettes.

If that manager were to spread that so-and-so from N.A.N is a smoker, it would become quite difficult.

If there's no evidence like a photo, the media won't cover it in a big way, but in any case, getting swept up in such a controversy is not a desirable thing.

“Wait quietly and then take your lesson. I'm leaving now.”

After gesturing to the managers who were on the side to clean up the tteokbokki, Kim Do-gyun was about to go outside.

At that moment, there was someone who called out to stop Kim Do-gyun.

“Director.”

It was N.A.N's main vocalist, Ha-ryeong, who possessed a clear voice.

“I think my ankle hurts a bit. Can't I rest today?”

“Hey, now is not the time...”

Kim Do-gyun was about to get annoyed, but he saw Ha-ryeong's face and shut his mouth.

And he clicked his tongue with an expression full of dissatisfaction.

“Tsk, do as you please.”

“Thank you.”

Ha-ryeong bowed her head and expressed her thanks, but the other members protested.

“Director, isn't this too much of a discriminatory treatment?”

“Why do you always let only Ha-ryeong off?”

“What do you mean, let her off? She says she's sick, what can I do.”

Wi-hyeon, Ryu-hwa, and others continued to raise objections, but Kim Do-gyun sharply turned his head as if he didn't want to talk any further.

As Kim Do-gyun left, the members glared at Ha-ryeong.

“What the hell, really.”

“What a bitch.”

After throwing out a word each like that, the members, excluding Ha-ryeong, all headed to the hallway together.

Looking at the atmosphere, it seemed they were going to have a smoke break in some corner.

They would probably talk behind Kim Do-gyun's and Ha-ryeong's backs while smoking.

“Phew…”

Ha-ryeong let out a sigh and turned her head.

And she squatted down next to the managers who were cleaning up the tteokbokki.

“I'll help clean up.”

“H-Ha-ryeong-ah, we'll do it.”

“No. The lesson was canceled, so I have time, it's okay.”

Like that, Ha-ryeong cleaned up the tteokbokki with the managers.

However, the managers had a considerably uncomfortable atmosphere.

After silently finishing the cleaning with her mouth shut, Ha-ryeong left before the other members returned.

“Phew…”

She went outside the training center and took a deep breath.

Still, the frustrating feeling didn't disappear.

Being ostracized within the group was something she could never get used to, no matter how much time passed.

‘I never thought I would become an outcast.’

The first time Ha-ryeong was ostracized was when she was the first among the members to start solo activities.

She had been acknowledged for her vocal ability and got to release a solo song, but it seems that to the other members, it felt like the agency was only giving preferential treatment to Ha-ryeong.

It would have been good if she could have cleared up the misunderstanding right then, but her schedule was so packed that she had no time to talk with the members.

As time passed, her relationship with the other members gradually worsened, and in the end, all the members came to openly ostracize Ha-ryeong.

‘It is true that the Director has been giving me discriminatory treatment lately, but...’

It's true that the company has been giving Ha-ryeong preferential treatment recently.

However, this is related to the contract renewal issue.

Because among the members, only Ha-ryeong's contract timing is different, and her contract period ends in a few months.

Because the Fair Trade Commission has set the maximum exclusive contract period for celebrities at 7 years, many celebrities often move agencies after 7 years.

The reason why well-promoting idol groups suddenly disband or have members leaving one after another when they reach their 7th year is due to these circumstances.

Currently, UBX is anxious that Ha-ryeong might not renew her contract and move to another agency.

That's why they were in a situation where they were providing Ha-ryeong with as much convenience as possible.

‘I don't want to receive special treatment by myself and hurt the other kids' feelings either... but my ankle really does hurt.’

Recently, She's On's Yuri injured her ankle and halted her activities.

When she thought of that, she couldn't help but be even more careful.

‘I have to rest my ankle as much as possible until the next recording. Because I can't cause trouble for others because of me.’

In the a cappella live of 'The Idol' episode 1, Ha-ryeong didn't make any particular mistakes.

As the main vocalist, she sang diligently, and there were no big problems with her pitch or rhythm.

However, the fact that she couldn't properly hold the center when the other members' rhythm went off weighed on her mind.

It was also true that her dancing was passive because of her ankle pain, so it probably had a negative influence on the viewer votes.

‘For now, let's rest as much as possible today... and work hard at the next recording.’

She doesn't know yet whether she'll renew her contract or not.

However, as long as she was a part of N.A.N, she always wanted to show only her good side to the fans.

Thinking such thoughts, Ha-ryeong walked down the street with cautious steps.

……

The day of 'The Idol' episode 2 recording.

Ha-ryeong took part in the filming with a gloomy feeling.

Because even though she had rested, her ankle continued to hurt.

‘Why does it hurt so much?’

Just in case, she had also applied a cold compress to her ankle, but it didn't seem to have gotten that much better.

What on earth is the cause.

“Hey, fix your face. We have to greet the judges.”

“Ah, sorry.”

The leader, Wi-hyeon, gave her a look, so she hurriedly apologized.

From today, the judges would be coming out to evaluate. So it was important to show the judges a good side.

“Ha-ryeong-ah, can you not hold us back?”

“……”

Ryu-hwa said a word in a whisper.

Ha-ryeong felt her chest tighten, but she suppressed it and forced a smile.

“The second session of 'The Idol'! From now on, the team that records the lowest rank will be eliminated! Today's mission to decide the eliminated team is...!”

However, the more the recording progressed, the worse the discomfort in her ankle became.

She even felt a tingling or burning sensation.

She tried to maintain a smiling expression, but sweat continuously flowed from her forehead.

“Sorry, I'm going to the restroom for a bit.”

“Hey, don't slack off and come back quickly!”

As soon as it was practice time, she ran to the restroom.

She took off the stockings that were part of her outfit and checked her ankle, but outwardly, there seemed to be nothing wrong.

However, when she touched the area around her ankle, for some reason it felt like the sensation in her skin had become dull.

“Why is this happening...?”

I wonder if a big problem has occurred.

She was suddenly struck with fear.

However, in the current situation, there was no way.

She couldn't stop the recording and ask to be taken to the hospital.

“……”

Forcefully holding back the urge to cry, Ha-ryeong put her stockings back on and came out of the restroom.

And the moment she set foot in the hallway to return to her original spot.

A severe pain was felt in the sole of her foot.

“Ugh…!”

She almost collapsed on the spot.

A sharp, electrifying pain was felt not only in her ankle but also in the sole of her foot, making it difficult to stand properly.

Still, she endured it with effort and tried to walk down the hallway.

However, it didn't go as she wished, and she staggered forward.

“Are you alright?”

“……!”

Still, Ha-ryeong did not fall.

Because there was someone who had extended a hand and supported her.

It was the dedicated manager of Newstarz... whose face she had seen at last week's recording.

“How come…”

This is supposed to be an area where managers can't enter, so why is he here?

Did he get permission from the staff?

“I am Baek Hyeon-woo of Haram Entertainment.”

Baek Hyeon-woo said in a calm voice, showing her his business card.

“It seems your ankle has been bothering you since last week, may I take a look?”

At the kind voice she hadn't heard in a long time, Ha-ryeong's eyes inadvertently welled up with tears.