Chapter 74 - You Can Do Well, Right?

Getting flustered and giving a vague answer here would be an amateur move.

Even if I drag it out by making excuses, the misunderstanding will only grow.

Having judged it to be so, Baek Hyeon-woo chose to tackle it head-on.

“Alright, I'll tell you the truth.”

Originally, Ha-ryeong's transfer to Haram Entertainment is a confidential matter.

That's why even though Seo Na-eun had been suspicious until now, he had been keeping it a secret.

However, now they were in a situation ahead of a decisive battle with N.A.N, so he had to eliminate any factors that could affect Seo Na-eun's mental state.

“Ha-ryeong-ssi is scheduled to transfer to Haram Entertainment soon.”

“What?”

Seo Na-eun's eyes went round.

“Is that really true?”

“Her contract period with UBX is ending. So she's also leaving N.A.N and is planning to do solo activities at Haram Entertainment.”

“Then your contact with her all this time was...”

“Last time, Ha-ryeong-ssi's ankle was in bad shape, so I treated it. We formed a connection then.”

Like that, Baek Hyeon-woo briefly explained the things that had happened.

“As you also know, moving agencies is a very sensitive issue. That's why we were proceeding as secretly as possible, so I'd appreciate it if you could keep it a secret too.”

“I'm sorry. Without even knowing that...”

“No, there's no need to be sorry. From your perspective, you were bound to be concerned.”

N.A.N is the opponent they are competing against for the win on 'The Idol'.

If he said he had formed a private connection with their main vocalist, they were bound to be concerned.

“Still.”

“Hm?”

“It's true that you promised to meet separately, right?”

Baek Hyeon-woo was at a loss for words for a moment.

“I think you promised to have a drink together.”

“That's because we have to discuss the direction of her future activities...”

“Isn't a discussion something you can just have in a place like a meeting room?”

Seo Na-eun continued to press him.

“Even though you said you strictly separate public and private matters.”

“That's true, but... this much is part of official business.”

“Are you saying that the two of you having a drink alone is not a problem?”

“Yeah, it's not particularly a date or anything, it's just to talk about work.”

While working, there have been many times when he's had drinking sessions with broadcast or event officials.

If you think about it in the same context, there was no problem.

“Then there'd be no problem if you and I had a drink together, just the two of us.”

“……?”

As Baek Hyeon-woo stared at her, Seo Na-eun turned her gaze away with an expression as if she had made a mistake.

“Do you like to drink?

“No, it's not that, but.”

Seo Na-eun said, avoiding Baek Hyeon-woo's gaze.

“I'm sorry. I was just talking.”

“……”

Baek Hyeon-woo was lost in thought for a moment.

Originally, Seo Na-eun is not the type of person to show this side of herself.

Perhaps stress had been accumulating from continuously showing a responsible side as the leader of Newstarz all this time.

“Yeah, come to think of it, we haven't really had a chance to have a relaxed conversation, just the two of us.”

“Huh?”

“If we win 'The Idol', shall we go out together?”

Seo Na-eun's eyes widened at Baek Hyeon-woo's proposal.

“Let's slowly talk about things like future plans. Whether it's food or drinks, I'll buy, so if there's anything you want, just say it.”

“R-Really?”

Seo Na-eun confirmed in a trembling voice.

“Really, you'll go out with me? Is that okay?”

“Something like that is no problem.”

He had gone out with Kim So-yeong last time in the first place.

However, he thought that if he brought that up now, Seo Na-eun's reaction wouldn't be good, so he just didn't mention it.

“But only after we win 'The Idol'.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Seo Na-eun hurriedly nodded.

“We will definitely win.”

Something different from a competitive spirit newly dwelt in Seo Na-eun's eyes.

……

And, finally, the day the final episode of 'The Idol' would be broadcast had come.

Just like with a music broadcast, it's a format where they do a pre-recording in the morning, then air the edited version at the broadcast time and announce the final winner via a live broadcast.

“Honestly, it's hard to predict which side will win.”

Inside the studio, Director Park Yeong-ho said in a nervous voice.

“The Choux-pop and other group fans have sided with us, but the N.A.N fans are no pushover. The internet public opinion battle is very fierce.”

“Still, it's not an atmosphere where we're being completely pushed back like at the beginning, right?”

“That's true.”

“Then in the end, the outcome will be decided by which side shows a better performance.”

The floating votes that haven't yet decided which side to pick.

The side that pulls them in will win.

“But… look at them.”

N.A.N came into the studio with their managers.

Looking at the members' expressions, they were all much more serious than usual.

“It looks like they're resolved to definitely win.”

“Because if they lose here, it's a huge disgrace.”

As they were having that conversation, Director Kim Do-gyun casually approached.

It had been difficult to see his face on-site for a while, but it seemed he had personally attended since it was the final round.

“Team Leader Park, Assistant Manager Baek, it's been a while.”

“Hello, Director Kim.”

After exchanging greetings, Park Yeong-ho corrected his title.

“Our job titles have changed. Hyeon-woo-ssi here has become Team Leader Baek, and I am now a director.”

“Ah, really?”

Kim Do-gyun nodded with an expression of no particular interest.

“Honestly, I didn't know Newstarz would come this far. You completely surpassed our expectations.”

“Haha, you did?”

“The atmosphere at Haram Entertainment seems very good these days. I'm curious what on earth you're doing and how.”

Kim Do-gyun's words were pointed.

“You even pushed in a complete rookie at the HBS drama audition. Thanks to that, we were completely screwed over.”

“Uh…”

As Park Yeong-ho was making a troubled expression, Baek Hyeon-woo opened his mouth in his stead.

“It seems you have a misunderstanding, but we did not intervene in the HBS drama audition.”

“What did you say?”

“We did ask to be put on the audition list, but that was all.”

“……”

Kim Do-gyun's face stiffened.

“Then what? Are you trying to say that our Ryu-hwa lost the audition because her skills were lacking?”

“I believe the audition was held fairly. Aren't they professionals too?”

Baek Hyeon-woo snapped back with a cold attitude.

“They're not the kind of people whose audition result would change just because you slip them some bribe money.”

“……!”

Kim Do-gyun's eyebrows shot up.

Because it was no different from a remark sniping at the UBX side, who had slipped bribe money to HBS.

“I've let this slide long enough...”

“Wow, the recording hasn't even started, and the battle of nerves is already amazing.”

At that moment, a relaxed voice cut in.

PD Seo Dong-cheol was approaching with his hands in his pants pockets.

“Should we also record the battle of nerves between the agencies and air it? How about it?”

“Ah, no.”

Kim Do-gyun backed down.

Seeing that, Seo Dong-cheol chuckled.

“The atmosphere on the internet is very hot right now. There's still a long time until the main broadcast, but it's already buzzing. It would be good if we could throw them some more material to talk about.”

“Um, still, there's no need to go that far...”

“I don't mind.”

Unlike Kim Do-gyun, who was showing his reluctance, Baek Hyeon-woo answered with a composed expression.

“If it's for the broadcast, you have to do whatever it takes.”

“Whoops, your mindset is great, Hyeon-woo-ssi. Then what are you going to do, Director Kim?”

This puts Kim Do-gyun in a difficult position.

Baek Hyeon-woo already has name recognition among the viewers. Because he showed a good side of himself by saving Joo Ga-hee in the last broadcast.

But then Kim Do-gyun suddenly pops out and films a scene of him fighting with Baek Hyeon-woo?

The viewers will become Baek Hyeon-woo's allies and will bash Kim Do-gyun.

“The main characters of the program are the idols... there's no need for us managers to bother showing our faces. I think it's better not to.”

As he made that excuse as a last resort, Seo Dong-cheol laughed once again.

“If you don't want to, then fine. Then we'll just film Hyeon-woo-ssi alone.”

“Pardon?”

Leaving the wide-eyed Kim Do-gyun aside, Seo Dong-cheol placed a hand on Baek Hyeon-woo's shoulder.

“We're going to film a video and upload it to the official SNS account right away, so say a word.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, hurry.”

Seo Dong-cheol went to call a cameraman.

At that, the Newstarz members who had been watching from nearby flocked over.

“Manager-nim! I'll fix your hair!”

“Oppa, close your eyes for a moment!”

“I'll smooth out the wrinkles on your clothes!”

In the blink of an eye while he was stammering, the styling was finished.

As Baek Hyeon-woo was bewildered, Park Yeong-ho, who was watching from the side, chuckled.

“Team Leader Baek, you've suddenly gotten much more stylish? You really look like a celebrity.”

“Do I…?”

“Haha, it seems the Newstarz kids have been waiting for this. They've styled you perfectly, Team Leader Baek.”

In the meantime, not only the camera but also the lighting was set up.

Seo Dong-cheol personally gave the sign to start, and Baek Hyeon-woo swallowed once and then opened his mouth.

“Hello. I am Team Leader Baek Hyeon-woo, the manager in charge of Newstarz.”

With many people watching, Baek Hyeon-woo began to speak.

He thought about saying something witty, but he decided to just speak with a serious attitude.

Because showing his sincerity as a manager was the most important thing.

“We have all worked hard with one heart and one mind for today. We will show you a good performance, so we ask for your abundant support.”

……

DP Entertainment practice room.

Joo Ga-hee, who was looking at her phone during break time, checked the Shorts video uploaded to 'The Idol's' official account.

It was a video where Baek Hyeon-woo appeared, much more dressed up than usual.

‘Does he think he's a celebrity? Why did he do his hair like that?’

Watching Baek Hyeon-woo in the video asking for support for Newstarz, Joo Ga-hee felt a surge of annoyance.

“Hey, Ga-hee-ya, did you see the video that was just uploaded to 'The Idol's' official account?”

At that moment, Seong Hae-won, who was nearby, ran over, making a fuss.

“Hyeon-woo-ssi came out looking so cool? The online communities are in an uproar right now.”

“What's it to me? Stop being annoying.”

Joo Ga-hee snapped that and put her phone away.

With a deep scowl on her face, after pressing the 'Like' button on the video.

……

The final round of 'The Idol' proceeds in two rounds.

For Round 1, they choose and showcase one of the mission songs that were given in the missions so far.

Newstarz decided to sing composer Seol Woo-myeong's 'Lonely girl', which they had chosen in episode 4, again.

This was because when Baek Hyeon-woo checked one by one with his information window ability, the affinity for 'Lonely girl' was the highest among the mission songs.

Meanwhile, Round 2 proceeds by exchanging each other's signature songs.

N.A.N would showcase Newstarz's 'Gravity', and Newstarz would showcase 'Keep your eyes', one of N.A.N's signature songs.

Because this rule had already been announced last week, both groups had practiced in advance.

A cameraman from TVX had also come and filmed their practice scenes.

“Round 1 is over! Everyone has shown a wonderful stage!”

As the Round 1 showdown ended, the MC came on stage and began a talk segment praising both groups.

“Here, we will now check the trajectory the two teams have walked until now!”

While listening to the MC chatter on, Baek Hyeon-woo conversed with Park Yeong-ho.

“What's your take?”

“It seems N.A.N is N.A.N, after all.”

Park Yeong-ho said with a serious expression.

“Honestly, it's more than I expected. Did they practice a lot?”

Just as Park Yeong-ho said, N.A.N's performance was very excellent.

Actually, their song choice was also good. When Baek Hyeon-woo checked, it was a song with a 90% affinity with N.A.N.

“Newstarz also did well, but... honestly, N.A.N was slightly better.”

“So that's how you see it.”

“Though it's a slight difference.”

A moment later, Round 2 began.

N.A.N went up on stage and sang 'Gravity'.

“Gravity, the force that always pulled me──♪.”

Ha-ryeong's vocals filled the stage.

It was a voice with a unique charm that was different from Yoo Jeong-ah's.

————

[Ha-ryeong]

Vocal: S

Dance: B

Visual: S

Potential: B

– Body Condition: 75%

– Mental Condition: 85%

————

Was it because she had resolved to finish with a flourish on this stage.

Today, Ha-ryeong's Mental Condition was very stable.

She is a person who will soon be coming to Haram Entertainment, but for this moment, she was the greatest formidable enemy.

“And so everything held me back. But still, I──♪.”

It wasn't just Ha-ryeong.

The other members, like Wi-hyeon and Ryu-hwa, also showed a stable performance.

“Did UBX cancel all their other schedules and make them practice only this?”

Park Yeong-ho muttered, sweating.

To that extent, N.A.N had charmingly performed 'Gravity'.

“I'm going to climb high. Escaping from the force that pulls me down...!—♪”

Ha-ryeong also stylishly pulled off the climax.

Originally, Ha-ryeong's singing style is very different from Yoo Jeong-ah's.

Nevertheless, the reason she was able to perform it so charmingly was probably because of the experience she had accumulated as N.A.N's main vocalist for 7 years.

Like that, N.A.N finished their stage, showing the underlying strength of a global popular group.

“Hmph, they have to be at least that good.”

Kim Do-gyun, who was nearby, could be seen making a triumphant expression.

It seemed it was a performance that was satisfactory even in their own eyes.

However, Baek Hyeon-woo was not intimidated.

“Newstarz, please get ready!”

Following the staff's instructions, the Newstarz members came out onto the stage.

Baek Hyeon-woo checked the members with his eyes. In the middle of doing so, his eyes met with Seo Na-eun's.

‘You can do well, right?’

‘I'll do well.’

They conversed like that with their gazes.

Normally, he would have been with them and encouraged them until they went on stage, but today, because of the broadcast format, this was the only way.

As he was meeting the other members' eyes and encouraging them with his gaze, the sign to begin was given.

Dududung.

Along with a provocative beat, a dark red light came down.

The members came forward one step at a time.

“Keep your eyes on me──♪.” (originally in English)

And the moment the first line, whispering, 'Don't take your eyes off me,' flowed out.

“Wh-What the?!”

Realizing that something that surpassed his expectations had occurred, Director Kim Do-gyun's eyes widened.