Chapter 95:
Chapter 95
Idol Uni. (2)
The camera caught Ian slightly frowning and tapping his head.
The trainee who finished singing looked around nervously.
Zhao Ga was the first to pick up the microphone for evaluation.
“*Hmm… Your basics are very poor. Why did you choose this song?”
Zhao Ga glared at the trainee with fierce eyes.
The song was his own.
The trainee was intimidated by Zhao Ga’s harsh criticism and shivered.
‘How should I set the concept?’
Should he be tough and blunt, or gentle and soothing? After some thought, Ian picked up the microphone.
“*Your vocal technique is very wrong. It hurt my ears when you hit the high notes. How long have you been singing?”
The answer that came back after Chen Shin-hui’s interpretation was that he had never learned formally and had only been singing for two months.
“*You can fix it enough. Your vocal range is not bad, and I see potential in you.”
Since Zhao Ga seemed to be going for the scary mentor role, Ian decided to offer a carrot. The trainee left the stage with tears in his eyes.
Then the next trainee stood in the center of the stage.
‘He’s not bad.’
Ian circled the trainee’s profile. He was sure that he would be a good singer with a little polishing.
Then the next trainee stood in the center of the stage. She greeted them with a nervous face.
“*Hello! I’m Zhi Xie from Phoenix Entertainment!”
Zhi Xie’s hand holding the microphone was trembling slightly. Ian tilted his head.
‘Where have I seen her before?’
[Remember, there was a group that lost to Eos for the rookie award. Friday.]
‘She’s a member of that group?’
[Yeah.]
He wondered why he felt familiar when he heard the name of the program, Idol Uni. It was because of this trainee.
“*Let’s hear your song first.”
She clenched her trembling hand and picked up the microphone after him.
‘Her voice is stable… and her tone is nice.’
He could feel her nervousness from her shaky voice, but her basic tone was clear and refreshing, which suited a female idol main vocal.
When her evaluation stage ended, Zhao Ga nodded his head and Ian clapped his hands with a smile.
“*I enjoyed your performance.”
“*Thank you.”
“*You already debuted, right? ‘Friday’… You were also a nominee for the rookie award, right?”
“*…Yes.”
“*Why did you appear on Idol Uni?”
The mentors all looked at her face at Chen Shin-hui’s question. Ian looked at her face closely and raised one eyebrow as if he realized something.
“*My former company… They only favored one popular member and neglected me…”
Tears welled up in Zhi Xie’s eyes.
“*The company didn’t listen to my request to be active… I felt like no one would remember me if I stayed still like this…”
Friday, who had missed the rookie award due to being overshadowed by a large agency, changed their strategy to focus on their popular member, leaving out the other members.
“*Being an idol is my dream. I couldn’t end it like this.”
He remembered that Friday’s agency was criticized when Zhi Xie’s situation spread on the Korean community when he was Kim Yong-min.
‘So she was that person…’
She was the one who stood next to Ian at the AAMA rookie award announcement and bowed her head with a stiff expression.
[There was also a trainee from MI Entertainment in the dance group evaluation earlier.]
‘Really?’
[There are about 10 Korean idol trainees?]
There were 10 out of 88 trainees, which was more than he expected. There were also people who had trained or debuted in Korea, but had disbanded due to poor performance and returned to their hometowns.
It wasn’t just Koreans. There were also trainees who had debuted in China as failed idols.
‘It’s none of my business…’
Chen Shin-hui, who was listening to Zhi Xie’s story, also seemed to empathize with her and made a sad expression.
Chen Shin-hui and Zhi Xie. He didn’t know the details, but they must have suffered a lot to succeed as idols in a foreign country. Ian picked up the microphone.
“*I remember seeing you at the awards ceremony. It’s a shame you didn’t get the rookie award.”
“*Yes…”
“*I liked your song, and I hope you get a good result here.”
Idol Uni doesn’t grade the stage right away. The mentors and MC gather in a separate studio to discuss and decide.
Zhi Xie’s expression darkened at Ian’s calm words. She looked anxious that her grade would be low.
“*Next trainee, please come out.”
“*Hello! I’m Jang Ye-rye from Ha Sung Culture!”
A trainee with long hair tied high stood in the center. Ian looked at her with anticipation at her confident expression and greeting, but soon sighed deeply.
[His throat is killing him.]
‘Ugh…’
He was at a loss where to start with the vocals. Ian put a question mark next to Jang Ryeo-rye’s profile picture.
***
The evaluation stage for the trainees was over and the recording was temporarily stopped.
The trainees went to get their dorm room assignments, and the mentors and MC gathered around a round table in a separate meeting room.
Cheon Shin-hwi read the script from the cue card.
“*How were the trainees?”
“*I think they were all good.”
“*They seem like they can follow well if I teach them dance.”
Wi Ha-o and Jang Hyuk-gun said. Cheon Shin-hwi looked at Ian.
“*What about you, Ian hyung?”
“*I’m half and half. There are some who are really bad… but I guess I’ll have to teach them to find out.”
The dance trainees had some confidence in their skills and came out with the basics, but more than half of the vocal trainees had no basics at all.
“*It wasn’t the time to look at their personalities, they need to have the skills to do anything.”
Jao Ga-ga threw a pile of trainee profiles on the round table with a thud. Jin, who was watching, exclaimed.
[Wow, he’s so cool. He’ll definitely attract a lot of attention.]
Cheon Shin-hwi looked at Wang Yi-feng.
“*What about you, Yi-feng sunbae?”
“*Really… I don’t know what to say. Their skills are…”
Wang Yi-feng sighed deeply. His expression darkened. Wang Yi-feng was in a desperate situation, because all the trainees who couldn’t dance or sing were assigned to rap.
“*Let’s decide on the detailed grades first, shall we start with the first profile?”
“*Dongbang Records Ryu Seol-young.”
“*I rated her B, what about you guys?”
“*I was undecided, so F.”
Woo Sang Uni had four grades in alphabetical order. The best trainee was S, followed by A, B and F.
The mentors continued their heated discussion. The interpreter sitting next to Ian busily translated Ian and the Chinese mentors’ words.
“*Ha Sung Culture’s Jang Ryeo-rye.”
“F.”
The mentors unanimously agreed. They quickly moved on to the next trainee.
“*Next, Phoenix Enter’s Zhi Xie.”
“*S.”
“*S.”
As soon as Zhi Xie’s name came up, Ian and Jao Ga-ga answered at the same time.
“*It seems that the Korean trainees are all rated high.”
“*Korea makes idols well, you know.”
Wang Yi-feng agreed with Wi Ha-o’s remark. Ian smiled faintly. It would be edited out on the broadcast anyway, but he felt good.
***
The evaluation of the trainees was the end of today’s shooting.
The mentors stretched after finishing the last trainee’s evaluation.
“*It feels so far away already.”
“*We’re going straight into lessons tomorrow, right?”
The production staff nodded affirmatively and Wi Ha-o licked his lips regretfully.
“*If it wasn’t for tomorrow, we could have had dinner together…”
“*Ha-o hyungnim, you just want to drink, don’t you?”
Everyone laughed at Jang Hyuk-gun’s remark. Ian, who didn’t understand, just smiled politely.
“*Let’s have dinner together sometime, Ian too.”
“*Let’s have dinner together later.”
Ian answered that way, even though he might not have time to eat together because of his comeback schedule. He followed the Korean staff’s guidance and left the studio.
“How was the recording? Did you do well?”
Park Dong-soo, who was waiting outside, approached Ian.
“I did well enough, I guess. The trainees didn’t seem to do very well though.”
“The Chinese kids aren’t that good at skills?”
“Can I teach them well?”
“You can do it.”
Park Dong-soo said with a smile. It wasn’t just lip service, he was sure that Ian could do it well. Park Dong-soo was the one who witnessed the changes of Jo Tae-woong and Park Seo-dam right next to him.
“There were some friends who debuted in Korea too.”
“Really?”
“Shin Hwi too… It was a pity.”
Ian leaned his forehead against the window.
***
[The investor must have cared a lot.]
‘That’s right.’
Ian stared blankly at the spacious hotel room, then dropped his luggage and jumped onto the bed right away.
‘I’m tired…’
He wanted to fall asleep like this, but he still had work to do.
Ian took out his phone and made a video call to Jo Tae-woong.
Fortunately, there was only a one-hour time difference, so the members were still awake.
(Hey, superstar. How was the recording?)
(Is that Ian?)
(You’re late.)
From the background of the video call, it seemed that they were still practicing in the studio. The members crowded around the screen.
“Don’t even say it. There are many people who are above average in dancing, but singing is not…”
(Not good?)
“The level is much better in Korea.”
(It must be a headache to teach them all.)
“I have another vocal mentor, but he’s very sarcastic.”
Lee Joo-hyuk suddenly popped up on the screen.
(Oh, hyung!)
(We can’t see the screen!)
The members shouted. Lee Joo-hyuk ignored them and asked Ian.
(So? How are the other trainers? Are they okay? Are they not arrogant?)
“They’re all kind. Shin Hwi is leading them well. And there’s also Unnown’s Wi Hao.”
(Unnown… Pigeon?!)
The members gasped loudly. Park Jin-hyuk’s jumping figure was seen on the screen.
Lee Joo-hyuk’s phone was passed around to Jo Tae-woong and Kim Joo-young, and the screen shook back and forth.
(Pigeon is coming out?)
(Wow, I loved Unnown, but they went downhill because of Pigeon.)
(You too? I used to follow Unnown’s dance moves!)
Eventually, the members agreed on a point and put the phone on the speaker and stood side by side.
It looked fun. He should have been there… Ian tried to hide his regretful expression and asked.
“Did you finish our choreography?”
(Kind of?)
“Send me the video and I’ll practice here before I go.”
(You want to? Do you have time to practice?)
“I have to make time.”
(Ooh~)
The members cheered at Ian’s words. He felt sleepy as he was lying down and talking. He closed his mouth tightly and yawned inwardly.
“I have to go to the lesson tomorrow, so I’ll hang up now.”
(Teacher! You’re awesome!)
(Hyung! Do well!)
Ian sighed after hanging up the phone. The profiles of Woosang Uni trainees were sticking out of his bag.
‘How should I teach them…’
***
After midnight, the mentors’ stage was uploaded as a preview video of Woosang Uni on a Chinese video site.
-First of all, he’s handsome.
-Not only his face, but also his skills are good. He paid a lot of attention to the song arrangement.
-He respects the culture! Very good!
-Who is he from where?
-If you’re interested, watch this (link)!
-He’s young and he’s a mentor?
-But with this level of skill, age doesn’t matter. He dances and sings very well.
Chinese Awi fans posted busy sales posts and sales pictures.
Later, Ian and Awi’s names rose to the real-time search terms of China’s large portal site.
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