Episode 36
The controversies related to Yujin Kim were surprisingly resolved quickly.
The biggest reason was.
-Let's just see after the audition ends first *trembles*
-Since we have to make our Yujin 1st place, even though I'm f*cking pissed, I'll endure it.
It was because fans' opinions unified towards not causing unnecessary bad controversies in a situation where it was almost certain that Yujin Kim would finish the audition in 1st place.
Of course, Yujin Kim's fans just didn't directly vent their dissatisfaction with MusicNet's behavior, but that anger hadn't disappeared anywhere.
Some extreme fans even directed that anger towards criticizing other trainees.
In that situation, a captured photo posted on a community.
It took less than a day for this photo to shake South Korea.
[National Idol Season 2 Chinese contestant's disparaging remarks about Korea?]
[Chinese audition participant's past remark exposed: "Korea is a vassal state of China."]
[Flood of demands on the National Idol website for the Korean-disparaging Chinese trainee to leave the show.]
The past Korean-disparaging remarks of a Chinese trainee participating in 'National Idol Season 2'.
With such provocative material, the articles covering the incident instantly dominated not only the entertainment section but also the social affairs section.
Not long after the articles broke out, netizens immediately revealed the identity of the Chinese trainee involved in the incident.
-The Chinese trainee is OOG.
└Why can't you say Li Yige? I'll say it loud and clear, Li Yige is a f*cking bastard.
└Downvoted. Prepare your presentation by tomorrow.
└Downvoted. Come out to the gym by tomorrow.
-He was 40th anyway so he'd be eliminated soon, but he's really going to the abyss like this hahahahahaha
└Fr, we'll never see him in Korea again. Goodbye, I won't come to see you off.
-This is why they say we shouldn't cast Chinese trainees!
The incident grew out of control, not simply as Li Yige's personal transgression, but as criticism towards Chinese trainees and Chinese idol members.
-Li Yige is getting eliminated anyway, but Wei Qianyu is going to the abyss with him hahahahahaha
└No, why touch Wei Qianyu? Are we applying guilt by association just because they're both Chinese?
└They're from the same agency, right? Wei Qianyu and Li Yige looked close, is there any proof they're different? At this point, isn't it undeniable?
-It's rather good. Wei Qianyu is popular so I was giving up thinking he'd debut anyway. Let's take this opportunity to drop all foreign members. I'm too scared of them calculating when to bolt, I can't stan a group with Chinese members.
└2222222222 This is right. Let's just fill it with Korean members. Why try to include foreign members anyway?
-From now on, I'll unconditionally filter out groups with Chinese members in the idol community.
└Not all Chinese members are like that, please don't unconditionally generalize.
└Yeah, your oppas will also run off to China in no time.
Actually, the talk about Chinese members in idol groups wasn't something that started just yesterday.
There had been many precedents, and fans rolling in the idol community all had experiences of being hit hard in the back of the head.
With those accumulated complaints combined with the buzz of the hit program 'National Idol' which had viewership ratings nearing 10%, it burned uncontrollably.
***
"Senior, what do we do about this?"
PD Lee, who had stayed up all night in the editing room, stretched for the first time in a while and answered the voice of his junior calling him.
"Haaah, about what?"
"It's about trainee Li Yige. You have to decide, Senior."
"Is there more to think about? Contact their agency and tell them Li Yige is leaving the show."
"Li Yige is from Star Road, you know. You want me to contact them? I can't do it! Can't you do it yourself, Senior?"
"Ah really, Star Road or whatever, it's their kid's fault so why should we be scared? Alright. I'll call them later, so stop being annoying and get out of here."
When PD Lee, who had signaled his junior—who tried to pass the annoying work to him—to leave, was about to start working again.
Bzzzzt-
"Who is it at this hour? PD Kim, didn't you see my phone?"
"It's right here. Gasp! Senior! Director Shin from Star Road!"
"So they're contacting me first. Give it here. Your Director Shin."
Taking the phone from his junior, PD Lee answered the call.
"Yes, yes, ah, Li Yige? Ah, no. It can't be helped. How would the agency know everything about what he did in the past. Damage... there is some. So um... yes, I understand. Do that with Li Yige. Yes. Then let's do that... Yes? No, that is..."
'Senior, what's wrong?'
PD Kim asked, moving his mouth exaggeratedly.
'Later.'
PD Lee replied lightly and continued the call.
"Ah... that seems a bit difficult. Yes? No. I'm busy. Let's meet after the audition ends. Yes. Ah... as for that matter, I'm not going to touch it. Okay. Yes, you can hang up."
"Senior! What's going on?"
"Ah, come on. Let me speak."
"Why? Did they throw a fit saying Li Yige won't leave?"
"They have brains too, you think they'd do that? We've decided to kick Li Yige out."
"Then what did they say couldn't be done? Did they ask us to manipulate something?"
"Yeah, that's right."
When PD Lee answered calmly, PD Kim's face turned pale.
"Wow, these bastards are really going all out? So what did they say?"
"They just said they'll set up a seat and to meet, it's obvious. It must be because of Wei Qianyu."
"Ah, Wei Qianyu is also from Star Road. No wonder... So what did you decide to do?"
"Why would I meet them now. I'm busy to death."
"Senior, tell me honestly. How much are they offering?"
"Are you trying to stab me right now?"
"No... it's not that..."
Looking at his junior making excuses, PD Lee opened his mouth.
"Tae-hyung. Do I look like someone who would end it with just this?"
"I'm sorry, Senior."
"Do you think I wouldn't get caught later if I took the money? I'm not an idiot, why would I create my own weakness. Even without doing that kind of shit right now, the program is doing well enough. And I told you. Once this ends, I'm moving straight to the headquarters. You too, don't just eat up whatever they give you without thinking. Keep yourself safe, got it?"
"Yes Senior... I understand."
Perhaps feeling bothered by his junior's sullen expression at his own words, PD Lee spoke lightly.
"Did I tell you before? About Kang Ah-jin."
"Why Kang Ah-jin?"
"Kang Ah-jin is Kang Ah-rin's younger sibling."
"Huh? Kang Ah-rin... who is Kang Ah-rin? Ah!! Ah-rin? Sweetie's Ah-rin?"
"Yeah, I was going to use it later, but the program was doing well and I didn't think I needed to blow it up, so I forgot about it. But they're using it this time?"
"Who's 'they'? Star Road?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"But they're blowing that up instead to bury this incident? Doesn't it bother you, PD-nim?"
"Well, they'll do what they want."
"No, even if it's Kang Ah-jin, that's still a debut ticket. If Wei Qianyu gets axed and even Kang Ah-jin gets axed..."
"Who said they're getting axed?"
"Huh?"
PD Lee spoke as if it was no big deal to the bewildered PD Kim.
"They must be in a rush and blowing it up without knowing, but it doesn't matter even if it explodes."
"Why? Still, once a controversy breaks out..."
"Ah, I'm telling you I know. Now go, I have to edit quickly!"
Forcing PD Kim out of the editing room, PD Lee sat back in his chair.
On the monitor screen, Kang Ah-jin's smiling face was visible.
"He does look like his sister. If he's like his sister, then for about a week... he'll probably hold on."
***
A day passed after Li Yige left the program due to the disgraceful incident. The atmosphere in the practice room was still heavy.
With the 3rd competition not far away, and the unexpected incidents, everyone seemed to be on edge.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Yes, trainee Seonwoo Rin too."
I finished my interview in the Room of Truth and stood up from my seat.
However.
"Excuse me, trainee Seonwoo Rin... you're on the same team as trainee Kang Ah-jin, right?"
"Huh? Yes, I am."
Normally, the writer wouldn't talk privately to a trainee. But strangely today, she spoke to me first.
"By any chance, did you see the news this morning?"
"No... I didn't bring my phone."
"Ah, trainees can't use their phones. I said something unnecessary."
Of course, most trainees other than me now use their phones freely, but well, putting that aside.
What exactly was she trying to say?
"You may go now."
"Yes... I understand."
At the writer's expression that seemed to find it difficult to say anything more, I greeted her and left the room.
On the way to the practice room.
A few trainees I passed by were openly taking out their phones, looking at something and talking.
Then when I passed by, they noticeably hid their phones?
Did you guys commit a crime against me?
'It seems like something happened.'
This is when the Boo brothers should be around. But peculiarly today, they were nowhere to be seen.
At that moment.
"Hey, Yujin..."
"Hyung, this way."
Just as I was about to enter the practice room, I ran into Yujin Kim coming out the door.
And as soon as he saw me, Yujin Kim signaled me to follow.
"What is it? Did something else happen?"
"Just look at this first."
Instead of answering my question, Yujin Kim showed me his phone screen.
"National Idol contestant Kang Ah-jin, Sweetie Ah-rin's younger brother? Ah-jin's older sister was Sweetie's Ah-rin?"
Sweetie's Ah-rin.
Sweetie wasn't a first-tier girl group, but their leader Ah-rin was an ace member who enjoyed popularity comparable to an A-class idol.
Then at some point, her activities suddenly became sparse.
"But what's the problem with this? Because his sister is a celebrity? That he got in through backing?"
"Hyung, don't you remember how Sweetie disbanded?"
"Now that you mention it, something did happen..."
"It was because of the bullying controversy."
"Ah...!"
Right. I remember rumors started circulating about one member being bullied in Sweetie, and eventually, when the theory spread that the ringleader of the ostracization was the team's ace, Ah-rin, the team itself fell apart.
It was quite a hot topic back then. Why couldn't I remember?
"It's understandable you don't remember well. The bullying rumor broke out back then but got buried quickly because of the Olympics. Of course, the group got buried along with it."
"How do you remember all that?"
"It's one of my hobbies. Let's skip that. Anyway, Ah-rin retired from the entertainment industry after that incident. But..."
"Now, thanks to Ah-jin, that incident is rising to the surface again?"
"Yes, that's right."
"But whether Ah-jin's sister actually committed the bullying or whatever, that's not Ah-jin's fault."
"Of course it's not Ah-jin's fault. But."
Yujin Kim stopped talking for a moment, then looked at me and spoke.
"There are... people who want that to become Ah-jin's fault."
***
After talking with Yujin Kim, I headed to the practice room with a worried heart.
What if Kang Ah-jin crumbles because of this incident...
'No, I don't know yet.'
With such thoughts, when I opened the door to the practice room.
"Hyung! You're here!"
Entering the practice room, I saw Kang Ah-jin sweating profusely, along with the other team members including Woo Jung-woo and Han Su-won, who were practicing with slightly bewildered expressions.
"Come here quickly."
'What's this? Is he forcing himself to act okay?'
Kang Ah-jin greeted me brightly and spoke.
Don't people have those times, when they are struggling inside but don't want to show it on the outside.
When I was thinking that Kang Ah-jin might be in that state right now.
"Since everyone is here, I'll tell you. First of all, I'm really sorry for ruining the team's atmosphere because of me."
"Ah, no, Ah-jin."
"That's not even your fault, why are you apologizing."
The other team members answered, startled by Kang Ah-jin's apology.
And I also looked at Kang Ah-jin, a little surprised inside.
'He's breaking through head-on like this?'
Perhaps Kang Ah-jin was a much stronger person than I had thought all along?
"And I'm really sorry to ask this. But I have one favor to ask the team members."
'Huh? A favor?'
When everyone was waiting for Kang Ah-jin's words with curious expressions.
Kang Ah-jin opened his mouth with the most serious expression I had ever seen from him.
"I want to be the center for this competition."
-Kang Ah-jin has entered an awakened state.
-An emergency mission has been generated.
Mission: Success of Kang Ah-jin's Awakening
Reward: The trait 'Perfect Match' evolves into a higher-tier trait.