-[“We’ll begin your first evaluation now.”]
Saturday morning, the 22nd, at the “Geubaekpeu” campus.
Gang Rojun was in the middle of running. A few participants, including his fellow trainees from Room 105, were struggling to chase after him. Rojun, who had been running as if it were nothing, was—
‘Hmm—episode 6 ratings still aren’t out.’
He was looking at his phone, as if he had plenty of leisure to spare. He was searching for the ratings of episode 6 of “Geubaekpeu,” which had aired yesterday. Perhaps because it was still early, the official ratings announcement was not out yet. However, he did notice another bit of news.
‘Ah, right. Today is “Geubaekpeu’s” first launch on Netflix, isn’t it?’
After skimming through articles for a moment, Gang Rojun opened something else. A memo file he had sent over from his laptop. As he read through the file, densely packed with writing, Gang Rojun gave a small nod.
‘Yeah. This doesn’t seem bad at all.’
The lyrics for “Witch,” the rap made by No. 58, had been completed in just two days.
Meanwhile, at Jamsil Indoor Stadium.
It was an enormous gymnasium, empty of spectators, in the midst of being set up with the feel of a volleyball court. It was a venue used for basketball, volleyball, handball, and the like, and on one side stood a familiar man looking up at the more than ten thousand spectator seats.
‘If it’s full, that’s 11,000 people—once the “Geubaekpeu” kids come here, their legs are going to shake.’
It was PD U Hanseok, his face full of fatigue. Why was he here when he should have been at the broadcasting station or the “Geubaekpeu” campus? Soon, PD U Hanseok asked the female writer standing beside him.
“Nothing unusual on the campus side, right? Anything you need to report to me?”
U Hanseok tried to stop by the Paju campus as much as possible, but since he was so busy, there were quite a few times when he had to be away. That was why he asked.
The female writer answered as if there was nothing much.
“Other than the participants practically dying over their choreography practice for the third screening these days, there’s nothing. No particular trouble either. Sometimes there are kids who talk back to Hanna, but they get suppressed right away.”
Then, as if something had suddenly occurred to her, she continued.
“Ah! No. 1 and No. 58 started doing something together!”
“That—apparently it’s less studying and more No. 1 conversing with No. 58 in Japanese. No. 58 asked for it.”
“I heard that too, but after that, it looked like No. 58 was teaching No. 1 something as well?”
“No. 58 was teaching No. 1?”
“Yes. We haven’t pulled the audio yet and only skimmed the video briefly, so—I’ll check right away.”
The female writer nodded. PD U Hanseok stroked his chin and let out a low hum.
‘Is there anything No. 58 could teach that No. 1? Hmm, it seems like it’d be something light—but I’ll just ask No. 58 directly for now.’
PD U Hanseok did not think too heavily of it. Just then, several writers, including Gim Sehui, and two stadium staff members appeared behind U Hanseok. One of the staff members looked at PD U Hanseok and confirmed.
“PD-nim, the performance rehearsal before the volleyball match on the 26th. Then the performance begins right before the match. That’s correct, right?”
PD U Hanseok nodded.
“Yes.”
There were only four days left until the surprise “Produce” performance, which would also serve as Group 1’s third screening.
“As discussed beforehand, please keep it a secret from the audience.”