The Malignant Member Has Returned! Episode 94
The moment that video came out, those who knew who the child and man in it were buried their faces in their hands, heads hung low.
“Ahh, why that of all things…!”
It was Seong Wonhyeop, the oldest trainee of
And the moment people saw that reaction, they caught on to what time it was.
‘It’s time to squeeze out tears before the ranking announcement!’
The alpha and omega of survival shows: the debut ranking announcement.
Before conducting the ranking announcement where cruelty coexisted with emotion and trembling.
Wasn’t the whole scheme of family videos exactly to inform them that ‘the trainees being evaluated here are all someone’s precious child,’ and forcing them to ‘Cry!’ through such videos?
And sure enough.
- “Our son definitely has to become a singer. His voice is so loud, and he’s handsome too….”
“…Kng.”
Seong Wonhyeop was already rubbing the area below his nose, embarrassed by the praise from his young father in the video.
The camera captured the family watching Seong Wonhyeop from below the stage once, then immediately switched to the face of a fan moved by the sight and the slogan they were holding.
[Our Wonhyeop, Deserving of Love]
With direction so picturesque it seemed drawn, people were indignant at the fact that they suddenly had to cry, yet couldn’t help but well up with tears.
‘No, PD Joo Cheol-young never did this kind of thing before! Wasn’t he the devil of cruel survival? But why in this
Excluding those who already knew the inside story, only one person at the scene had caught on to why this emotional narrative direction had appeared.
The person who knew PD Joo’s modus operandi best, thanks to having suffered at his hands more than anyone else here.
That was Kim Chunyong.
‘So this was originally meant to mess with someone.’
Liu Wei, who had left the indoor gymnasium immediately after the ‘Aiming’ stage ended earlier.
And Director Shin Giho, who was still keeping his seat in the staff section.
Liu Wei had originally planned to finish the debut evaluation stage, then wait in the audience seats for the other trainees’ ranking evaluations.
So by showing videos like that, the intention was probably to taunt him with, ‘You don’t have family here, so you can’t get this, right?’
Of course, there was no way to check Shin Giho’s face from the stage, where he sat far away together with CEO Do Jaechan.
Still, Kim Chunyong could easily predict that his jaw muscles were probably clenched tight.
‘Well, he screwed PD Joo Cheol-young over too. I guess it evens out.’
In the meantime, the venue was slowly becoming a sea of tears.
- “Gao Yan definitely has the qualities of a star. He’s inherited the spirit of our family.”
- “Mm, Father is right. Gao Yan will surely become a star. This is as certain as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.”
- “Gao Yan. Who taught you such words?”
- “I always tell you. The one who teaches Gao Yan is Gao Yan himself, Father.”
Though people almost smiled at Gao Yan’s appearance, exactly the same as he was now even as a child….
- “Yes, smart Gao Yan, do what you want. We who love you most will always cheer for you.”
“Kheung….”
Even
Seong Wonhyeop, Gao Yan. And Tsubasa, Li Mingshen, and other Korean trainees.
If they didn’t have childhood videos, they gathered photos to make one like a video, and if even that wasn’t enough, they used recent video call interviews.
Amidst this short yet intense direction, Kim Chunyong’s family eventually revealed themselves as well.
“Ah….”
A sigh escaping unconsciously was only natural.
In the center of the screen, where childhood photos had been gathered and pieced together. There, a photo of all of Kim Chunyong’s family gathered in one place, smiling.
No, actually, saying they were all smiling wasn’t quite right.
Because Kim Chunyong had his lips pouted out with a sulky face.
To others, it might have looked like he was showing off a childish pout at this emotional time, but….
“…….”
Kim Chunyong, who knew the story behind that photo, had to click his tongue lightly and make an effort not to scrunch up his eyes.
Because the day that photo was taken was the day Kim Chunyong first told his family he wanted to become an idol.
“You can’t sing, you idiot.”
“Right. Kim Chunyong can’t sing.”
“Nari. Did Mom say you could call Oppa by his name like that or not?”
“I said I’m good at dancing!”
“Idols have to be good at both singing and dancing, you idiot?”
“You kids should get along. Otherwise, no ice cream.”
The family had thought young Kim Chunyong’s words were just child’s play for a while.
And Kim Chunyong himself had been half-right about that intention.
He wanted to become someone who shone on stage. He wanted to perform in front of countless people.
Wasn’t that something anyone dreamed of at least once as a child?
However, that memory from back then had ultimately made the Kim Chunyong of today.
“…You got street-cast? Someone as scary-looking as you got casted?”
“Tsk, isn’t it a scam… Is it some thug casting?”
“What are you talking about. It’s not a scam. It’s Queens, okay? They have quite a few idol groups here. About three teams. So even though I always get looked down on by you two, I’m actually this capable—”
“Kim Chunyong.”
“…Why are you calling me like that. Am I getting scolded again? Was I too self-conscious?”
“No, you punk. Are you doing this because you want to?”
“…Huh?”
“You said you wanted to be an idol when you were little too. This, getting a business card. You didn’t bring it just to brag, but because you want to do this, right?”
“Ah, no? I obviously just brought it to brag….”
“I know you saved up your allowance and went to vocal academy for a month.”
“…….”
“It’s no use looking at me. I’m not the one who told. Unnie already knew too?”
“…Hah.”
“Be honest. That’s the only way I’ll have something to say to Mom and Dad.”
‘I think we should stop making him study and just let him do what he wants.’
Before anyone knew it, Kim Chunyong’s family photo had long since passed by.
But inside his heart, still. As always, it was filled with his family’s faces.
‘…How much time did I spend regretting?’
What the hell was that trip for.
Holding the first settlement money, such a meager amount, why did he want to show off so badly.
And even at the moment he fell into the abyss, unable to come to his senses, why did he insist on hearing words he didn’t need to hear?
Perhaps, thinking occasionally that he deserved to hear such things.
Why had he spent time thinking that maybe he was left alone because he ended up in this situation?
“…….”
Kim Chunyong pressed his lips into a straight line at the thought he’d recalled before this moment arrived, and let out a low murmur.
- X: Why did I choose you of all people… This is somewhat philosophical? Like a proposal? Maybe?
- X: Mm~~ I technically can’t tell you this because of our company rules
- X: Since I happen to like you, maybe as slight off-the-record info? I’ll let you know? LOL
- X: Of course… First, among the candidates who came in back then, those who were desperately eager! And had a reason they absolutely had to come back!
Because you had the highest chance of failing.
- Kim Chunyong: …You chose me because I had a high chance of failing?
- X: Yeah, something like that? After all, we’re a company, so there has to be some profit
- X: What if everyone succeeds with venomous determination and becomes the greatest idol in K-pop history? O_O This could be considered a huge loss for the company
- X: We do gain something the moment you achieve your goal even while supporting you like this, heh
- X: So basically, we seek out kids who won’t make it to the end, right?
- X: Anyway… that’s roughly it? Don’t be mad
- X: These reasons don’t mean that everything I do to support you isn’t sincere
- X: Remember? You were fuming because you thought you’d get eliminated? LOL
- X: I really took a liking to you, so…
‘I hope you debut, and then steadily climb the next steps!’
Thump, thump, thump….
The sound that had come out before the first video started was returning.
“…Hoo.”
Kim Chunyong thought it probably resembled his own heartbeat right now, and opened his eyes wide.
The tears that had eventually welled up despite his efforts earlier had already evaporated.
Right. This was definitely not the time to shed tears. Tears were a luxury.
If the malignant member with the highest chance of failure was going to somehow debut and atone afterward, thrashing about came first instead of time spent crying in agony.
And that moment was now right before his eyes.
* * *
In the filming that had already passed two hours, it wasn’t just the cast and crew growing tired.
2,000 standing seats, 4,000 seated.
An audience so large it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they had gathered all the fans of some small idol group.
No, in fact, they were indeed fans of an idol group.
Because if the trainees of
‘Crazy, it’s really soon now. Soon!’
In that moment, Kim Jieun, who felt both overwhelmed and frightened by that fact, gently grabbed the shoulder of the person next to her who looked half-dead and spoke quietly.
“Neulbom-nim, I think they’re really going to announce the debut members now….”
“…So it seems.”
Neulbom Mireu, her face pale from fatigue, gripped the white-barreled camera in her hand tightly and muttered.
“It would be nice… if he makes it.”
One might say that since Liu Wei, whose last confirmed interim rank was 4th place, had dropped out, a gap had opened up in the debut members. Wasn’t this a good situation?
However, by that timing, Liu Wei’s rank had already been gradually dropping.
‘Our Chunyong’s interim rank was 8th. And though the response afterward was good… An Jinwoo, who was 7th, had been active in the same team, so no one knew how things would turn out.’
One out, one in.
But there were two candidates for that spot.
That was what made things so difficult for Neulbom Mireu right now.
“…Are you alright?”
“Yes?”
“No, you seem to have overdone it since dawn… your expression really doesn’t look good right now.”
At Jieun’s words, Neulbom Mireu silently touched her stiff cheek.
Of course it was hard.
Until now, she had filmed only while survival trainees were doing their survival shows, then waited until another survival show started.
She thought she was leading a very efficient hobby life.
‘…But to think I’m trembling and nervous over whether one trainee debuts. Making all sorts of goods.’
She looked at the high-quality fabric slogan clutched in Kim Jieun’s hand and let out a hollow laugh.
[My Spring ♬ CY]
The Kim Chunyong in the slogan had black hair, unlike when he was on stage.
When Kim Chunyong dyed his hair, Neulbom Mireu hadn’t been able to attend, and this was her first stage since then.
‘I picked the photo I thought was the prettiest. But I’m still disappointed.’
Neulbom Mireu unconsciously muttered toward Kim Jieun, who had been by her side all day.
“Um, Yongyongguri-nim.”
“Yes, yes!”
“You told me earlier when you were helping hand out fans. That you saw Chunyong at a practice room where he worked part-time before
“Ah, yes.”
“Could you tell me a bit more in detail? …It’s before they officially reveal the debut members.”
At Neulbom Mireu suddenly becoming calm, Kim Jieun briefly thought, ‘Ah, is she approaching me like this to dig up my personal info? Is this why online connections are scary?’
“I think hearing that would help me calm down a bit.”
Seeing Neulbom Mireu’s somehow affectionate demeanor, she quietly nodded and whispered.
“Um, there’s a place called Hanmae Individual Practice Room… He was practicing the song for
“…….”
Neulbom Mireu carefully pondered Kim Jieun’s words.
Then, she organized her thoughts inwardly. Thinking, ‘Ah, this might be the end.’
‘Still, you were the best, Chunyong. Even if you don’t debut, I….’
And in that moment.
“Ah, right. There’s really one thing I can’t forget.”
Kim Jieun’s clear voice pierced through Neulbom Mireu’s thoughts.
“Back then, Chun’s dancing was already really, really good enough, you know? But Chunyong, with his eyes sparkling….”
“…….”
“Said he’d do even better.”
As she said this, Kim Jieun’s eyes reflected the stage lights that were just beginning to pour down, gleaming like marbles.
“So, I thought someone like this absolutely had to become an idol. That’s when I became Chunyong’s fan.”
So.
“You must be tired from working hard… Let’s cheer hard for Chunyong until the very end today! If he debuts, you’ll have to attend even more filming events!”
Hearing Jieun’s words, Neulbom Mireu hung her head low.
Because shame and envy surged over her at once.
‘And here I thought I was the one who cheered for Chunyong the most in the world.’
It wasn’t just her.
The many people here. Especially those who had received Kim Chunyong’s hand fan and slogan from Neulbom Mireu earlier.
They were all desperately wishing for Kim Chunyong’s debut.
‘Thinking of the end already, I’m really pathetic enough to die.’
In that moment.
“…Yongyongguri-nim, come this way. Close to the fence.”
“Yes, yes?”
Neulbom Mireu grabbed Kim Jieun’s wrist and yanked her forward, speaking in a determined voice.
“I have to film Chunyong debuting from now on. I’d like you to help me a bit, Yongyongguri-nim.”
“…Okay!”
Having secured a good filming angle with Kim Jieun’s help, Neulbom Mireu watched the text slowly rising on the screen behind the stage and gritted her teeth.
“Now then, we will proceed to announce the trainees’ rankings in order!”
With Choi Gaon’s hosting, and with the roar of the crowd….
‘Right. I can’t leave behind only data of black-haired Chunyong. Reddish-brown, blonde, even blue!’
I’ll capture all of your debut appearances, Chunyong.
Neulbom Mireu’s shutter began to press wildly.