Chapter 19: Survival Show - Cover Song (4)
We had a quick lunch at a restaurant near the filming site.
“You know, in hindsight, it might have been for the best. I realized it after hearing Joo-Han hyung play ‘Moon Sea’, but I honestly prefer it over ‘Goblin.’”
“Same here. I really love the serene flow of the dance line, moving gently as if floating in the air. Can we just keep this choreography as it is without making any changes?”
“Actually, wouldn’t dreamy be a more fitting description than floating for that kind of performance?” I asked.
Lee Jin-Sung stuck out his tongue at my correction. “They are the same thing. You must feel good being so smart."
"We should say dreamy on the broadcast, not floating," I suggested.
"Isn't that a given? Anyway, what's the deal with the team that took ‘Goblin?’ Just how ambitious are they?" Lee Jin-Sung grabbed two pieces of meat and spoke while chewing.
Joo-Han shrugged. "I’m not sure. Normally, we'd know the well-performing trainees since they stand out, but I have no idea about them."
I chimed in. "If a trainee is looking for cigarettes on set, they shouldn't become famous."
"True. It was shocking to see."
It was not like I had something against them because I used to be a trainer, but I had always found it off-putting when trainees didn’t act properly. In my experience, those individuals usually ended up facing setbacks, and they often caused problems for those around them. I really didn’t want to get entangled with them during this show.
The frustration was palpable among us after the filming. Each of us had our own unique characteristics, but we were always taught to be respectful toward our seniors. Hence, to have our senior’s signature song taken away from us? That hit us somewhat hard.
I put some fresh pork belly on the grill to change the mood. "Let's discuss our next steps."
At that moment, the manager's smartphone buzzed. He then checked the message, smiled broadly, and handed the phone to Joo-Han.
"They said they are uploading the competition stage to UTube, and your profiles just went up on the official website. Check it out."
"Finally, it's up?"
After hearing the manager’s words, all of the other members crowded around Joo-Han, huddling over the phone in excitement. It was a funny sight.
"Huh? Why did they use this picture? I told them not to because it's my worst shot."
"Well, you still look better than me. I look so awkward."
"Uh... I have lost so much weight since then. Can I ask them to update it?"
Seeing the members evaluate their profile pictures with dissatisfaction, the manager laughed heartily and flipped the meat.
"I will get it fixed. Also, before the Red Riding Hood premiere tomorrow, behind-the-scenes footage from the profile shoot will be uploaded to Chronos's official UTube channel."
"We have a channel now?"
The manager nodded in response to Joo-Han's question. "I just heard about it. We got the approval."
"That's great. It finally feels like we are making our debut."
Joo-Han turned to look at the profile photos, joining the other members in their laughter and banter over the less-than-perfect pictures. Observing the scene, the manager glanced my way as I turned off the grill.
“Aren’t you going to check your profile, Hyun-woo?”
“I’ll take a look later after the others have seen theirs.” I felt it would be somewhat childish to eagerly check my photo right away. Besides, something was pressing on my mind...
‘Yes, I should ask right away.’
While flipping the meat, I pretended to be calm and asked, "By the way, can I borrow your phone later, hyung?"
"Why do you need my phone?" counter asked the manager.
"Do you have the numbers of Allure seniors? Da-Win hyung told me to let him know how the shooting went."
"Da-Win? Well, sure."
Knowing I had been close with Allure's Da-Win for a while, the manager casually allowed me to use his phone. I then grinned and joined the other members.
"Hey, you are heavy!"
"Let me look at it too."
If there was no guarantee that we would get the song, it was better to just give it to Air Senior. After all, we had to focus on maintaining our image.
For my peace of mind... To increase Chronos's chance of winning…
***
After Chronos finished their lunch and returned to their accommodation, a video was uploaded to their newly established official UTube channel.
The rookie group, Chronos, previously only featured in articles, was veiled in mystery the whole time. However, their behind-the-scenes footage from the profile shoot was finally updated on the Pick We Up channel, showcasing their first real appearances in a video. Except for a few individuals who discovered Chronos’s channel through social media, the majority of netizens flocked to the relatively quiet Pick We Up channel, causing it to explode in popularity after the release of an audition video.
LoveyouAllure · 30 minutes ago
LMAO Reina is watching as if she is looking at a fascinating creature ahahaha
Likes 200 Dislikes 1
Comments 2
└ Da-WinTicktock · 30 seconds ago
AHAHAHAHA! Seems like that one dislike is from YMM's CEO
KimNuri · 30 minutes ago
When the baby main dancer suddenly threw his wig and bent his body in the middle of the performance, I felt like I was going to become a fan of this group.
Likes 102 Dislikes 1
Comments 4
└ anonymous · 2 minutes ago
That's a crazy point of attraction
RuntoYou · 1 hour ago
Who's the member in the back with the adult Cha Cha outfit? Love you, bro.
Likes 1.5K Dislikes 31
OnlyOneWithoutNintendo · 1 hour ago
Ahahaha! I just watched the profile pics on this group's official channel. It's so hard to adapt to this video after watching that. Lmao!
Likes 366 Dislikes 1
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└ YoonHoo · 20 minutes ago
I agree lol. Whoever suggested this is a genius. It's hilarious thinking about them choosing this while others were preparing something cool.
└ TheHigh · 10 minutes ago
It's different from the YU side's High Tension haha
UNET also played a part in setting Chronos apart from High Tension right from the thumbnail. High Tension's thumbnail featured a stunning visual with a dramatic ending pose, while Chronos’s thumbnail showed Suh Hyun-Woo with a stoic expression, striking a unique pose. It was complemented by a bold, ancient-style font that declared, "I'm serious right now." While it might have seemed humorous, it caught the public’s attention, leading to a surge in views and reactions that surpassed High Tension’s.
Two members, in particular, stood out among the rest—Suh Hyun-Woo and Park Yoon-Chan. Despite his shyness about a short skirt, Park Yoon-Chan showcased a delicate beauty accentuated by his recent diet, captivating many. On the other hand, by being featured prominently in the thumbnail, Suh Hyun-Woo also received a lot of attention for his impressive presence.
MilkyWay · 20 minutes ago
Who's the member in the center? Totally my type <3 His face looks like he would get money just by breathing, but he seems like a weirdo aww. That's my ideal type. I like him so much!!!
Likes 2K Dislikes 1
Comments 23
└ SpecialSong · 5 minutes ago
Crazy lol.
└ EarnAsMuchAsMySubscribers · 3 minutes ago
While other members sometimes seem to get overwhelmed, this member genuinely seems to enjoy it.
└ MultiPurposeSpoon · 1 minute ago
Agreed. I get an unusual, strong vibe from him.
IAmWithDobby · 30 minutes ago
Who's the member constantly in the center? Totally my type... So beautiful and handsome, it's infuriating.
Likes 174 Dislikes 5
Comments 17
└ Whatswrong · 5 minutes ago
Why are you getting infuriated HAHAHA
Most were captivated by Suh Hyun-Woo’s appearance and the way he seriously danced in a red cape. He seemed to be enjoying it the most, almost like a lunatic.
However, Suh Hyun-Woo’s sleek look matched YMM’s taste and his somewhat contrasting behavior started to draw attention. But after a certain point, he and Chronos gradually became the topic of other discussions, stirring even bigger controversies.
YoongYoong@gardium · 4 hours ago
With the release of the video, I remembered something. Didn't someone say Chronos was involved in the lighting accident last time? The voice from the accident clip sounds just like him.
└Roundies @kimda_win · 1 hour ago
Replying to @gardium
Come to think of it, even though it's blurry, doesn't the injured member and this guy seem similar????...??????
Following the speculation of a BlueBird user, a renowned photographer and fan of Allure, rumors spread among Allure’s fanbase and other informed netizens, suggesting that Suh Hyun-Woo might have been the one involved in the previous lighting accident.
Simultaneously, as Chronos climbed the real-time search rankings on various portal sites again, Suh Hyun-Woo found himself in a cafe on the first floor of their agency building, meeting with Kim Da-Win, a member of the top-class idol group, Allure.
***
Being a trainee for a very long time had its downsides, but it also had its perks. One of the best parts was being able to dance and sing all day in the practice room without worrying about what others thought, while another perk was the ability to casually boast about my acquaintance with Allure, proudly declaring, "Yeah, we're from the same agency, so we're close." This satisfied my craving for attention.
I, Suh Hyun-Woo, had been a trainee for a decade. When I first joined YMM, I was just an elementary school student, while the members of Allure were still in their trainee phase. During those early days, I addressed them with utmost respect, calling them “hyung, hyung,”and they kindly looked after me, much like an older sibling would.
Now, even though my group members and I called them “seniors,” my bond with Allure had endured even as they made their debut, and I reached my tenth year as a trainee.
At the cafe on the first floor of the agency building, Da-Win, who always wore his sunglasses, jokingly laughed and said, “I watched it, and the clip made my day.”
“Ah, hyung.”
“I didn’t know you could do comedy too. You should have done it earlier, like that Cha-Cha.”
When I frowned at Da-Win's teasing, he quickly defused the situation. Of all the Allure members, leader Da-Win was the closest to me. Like Joo-Han, he took care of everyone since his trainee days, making him the most comforting person to meet.
“The way you danced in that audition, as if it was your only chance to debut, was impressive. It's just that your outfit was Cha-Cha.”
“Ah, stop teasing me! Every single one of us gave our all in that audition; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
I had nearly missed out on that chance, so I simply shared my feelings as I sipped my coffee, prompting Da-Win to playfully tap me on the head.
“You’ve really grown up, kiddo.”
“But hyung, aren’t you swamped with work these days?”
Da-Win pondered and shook his head in response to my question. “We're in the midst of preparing for our next album, but I can make some time. What’s up?”
Oh, what a relief. If he had mentioned going overseas again, it would have thrown a wrench in my plans.
I let out a sigh of relief, smiled lightly, and asked, “Could I possibly ask you for a favor?”
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