“...Seo Hoyun-ssi, let’s be careful. We’re in a sensitive period right now.”
He really hadn’t changed.
After throwing a warning my way, Kang Yeonhoo deliberately pretended nothing had happened and kept a prim attitude.
I tilted my head innocently while half-listening to the chatter of the members, who were too busy talking among themselves to be fazed anymore by the sight of me poking at someone’s nerves.
“What did I doo~?”
“......”
Kang Yeonhoo’s brow twitched as he failed to keep his expression in check. He ground his teeth and whispered like a ventriloquist.
“Stop using that creepy weird tone, and let’s just film quietly today. Please.”
“What did I even do.”
He rolled his eyes upward and let out a long sigh before walking off toward the Hi-Five members who had just arrived. Resting my chin on my hand, I watched him for a moment before standing up, leaving our maknae’s silly joke behind.
After scanning the hall, which had grown calmer now that preparations were nearly finished, I stepped outside.
“—Ah, damn...”
Bingo.
After just a few steps, I spotted Kim Heeyoung at the vending machines, fumbling in her pocket.
“PD Kim.”
I slipped the bill in first and pressed the button for the coffee she usually liked. Handing her the can, I asked:
“Do you need anything else?”
“...Wow, Seo Hoyun-ssi, that was totally like a commercial. If I were the advertiser, I’d extend your contract for six months on the spot.”
Lucky she didn’t hit me with the can.
Hiding my real thoughts, I smiled and got to the point.
“I was really surprised this time. Not only did you manage to bring in the entire Black Call, but you even convinced WH Entertainment, famous for their high nose, to put their name on the broadcast. I was genuinely impressed by your ability, PD Kim.”
“......”
“I saw it used to be LV Entertainment before... does that sort of thing happen often? I’ve only ever seen such groundbreaking planning from you, PD.”
“Seo Hoyun-ssi, we both know what’s what, so stop circling around and just ask directly.”
“Ahaha.”
Running her fingers through her bangs, Kim Heeyoung casually popped open the can.
“WH reached out to me first.”
WH Entertainment?
Seeing my expression, she snorted.
“Could you try hiding that ‘did their executives take a bullet to the head’ face? A whole group promoting together isn’t unusual.”
“Still, it’s not common for so many agency artists to appear all at once.”
“Well, true... rivals showing up together is odd.”
Tilting her head slightly, she shrugged it off as nothing important.
‘As expected.’
I had already guessed roughly why WH Entertainment was acting like this.
Hearing that they had contacted her first only confirmed how things had unfolded.
WH Entertainment’s nose was sky-high. Practically stabbed the heavens.
They never sold °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° their artists cheap.
Everything came down to money for them.
In other words, those bastards were putting us and Hi-Five on the scale.
Which side would earn them more.
Even if controversy arose, they’d shield themselves with the armor of “WH Entertainment putting forth many candidates,” so they figured the blows wouldn’t be too sharp.
‘Not surprising, but still... fucking annoying.’
Catching my glance, Kim Heeyoung scratched her neck.
“Our production staff is on edge this time. I’ll edit as prettily as possible... I really don’t want any more controversies on my show.”
“Really?”
“I’ll bet ten packs of cigarettes on it.”
Judging by her solemn face and even staking her smokes, she was serious.
“...Anyway, Seo Hoyun-ssi, you’ll have it rough until the year’s over.”
“Exactly, PD-nim. My heart already aches.”
She laughed and crushed the empty can with one hand.
“Either way, we put a lot into this WH episode, and I’m confident it’ll turn out well, so work hard. Not that I need to tell you—you’ll do fine.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Having said her piece, she waved lightly and went back inside.
I exhaled faintly and fed more bills into the machine, just in case someone happened to see and I needed the excuse of “buying drinks and running into the PD.”
As I pressed a few buttons, the vending machine glass reflected a face already too familiar—an idol’s.
‘Well, it’s been a long run.’
Thinking that this too was nearing its end, I stacked the cans in my arms and returned to the waiting area.
“Guys, let’s do well today.”
“Yeah! We’re totally taking 1st place!”
“Can we plug our songs too?”
There was Kang Yeonhoo, earnestly instructing his groupmates like a big brother. Smirking, I turned and tossed a can to each of my members.
“Here, drink this.”
“Oooh, what’s this~? Hyung, when did you get so thoughtful... whoa, they’re all SolOnun....”
***
“Unfortunately, Hi-Five’s Kim Chaejun couldn’t make it today due to personal reasons. So, we’ll divide into four teams of four.”
Some actors had scheduling conflicts, leaving only Black Call, Min Jiheon, Hi-Five, and The Dawn for the show Let’s Go on a School Trip.
After everyone gathered, changed into school uniforms, and shot the opening, we exchanged greetings and split into teams.
I checked my random slip and sat next to Min Jiheon. From Black Call, Chae Jungwoo seemed to have been chosen for our team, but I noticed him slyly handing his slip over to Joo Woosung.
“Hey, Woosung, you’re the odd man out, huh?”
“......”
Hesitating for a moment, Joo Woosung glanced at Chae Jungwoo, then strolled lazily over. When our eyes met, he muttered excuses.
“Uh, Chae Jungwoo told me to come over....”
I arched one eyebrow, then looked away without replying. On the Hi-Five side, Kang Yeonhoo snatched the slip from their maknae and walked over.
Kim Heeyoung pretended not to notice that the teams weren’t exactly drawn at random.
“...Hello, Joo Woosung-ssi....”
“Ah, yes, hello, Min Jiheon-ssi....”
Despite his looks, Min Jiheon was painfully shy, and his awkward exchange with Woosung made it obvious.
I worried at first that the lineup was too stacked with high-profile members, but if those two kept quiet, it might actually be balanced.
‘Standing out too much here would be bad.’
With Black Call’s rare variety appearance alone, ratings were already guaranteed.
If I acted clumsy and drew attention, my image would only take a hit. I could already imagine a post titled [Seo Hoyun is being a total jerk to Kang Yeonhoo latelyㅋ]. Clicking my tongue inwardly, I shook off the distraction.
Clearly, this was the time for the hit-and-fade technique.
“Sunbae-nim, I look forward to working with you.”
“Yes, me too.”
Kang Yeonhoo seemed to have the same idea, though he looked far too solemn about it.
Once all the teams were sorted and the room grew noisier, Min Jiheon pulled his chair forward.
“Alright, should we decide on a team name?”
“Weren’t we already the ‘Leftover Team’?”
My deadpan earned a sheepish laugh. Jiheon seemed amused by the whole setup.
“Ahaha... let’s go with something cute.”
Awkwardly smiling, Kang Yeonhoo tried to mediate between us. Joo Woosung looked like he couldn’t care less.
“Hmm, let’s see... what if we combine our surnames? Seo-Min-Kang-Joo!”
“......”
“......”
Lame.
Just as we were all about to ignore Jiheon’s hopeful expression, Kim Heeyoung cleverly announced the start of the game.
“Our first mission is the Condition Race!”
The Condition Race.
At the starting line, you spin in place once, then run to find the person or object matching the condition written on a slip and cross the finish line together.
Three rounds total, one member per team each time, no repeats.
“You’ve all tried this at school field days before, right?”
“Yes!”
“1st place earns 3 points for the team, 2nd place gets 2.”
Simple rules.
I glanced at The Dawn members.
I could already imagine the banter depending on what each slip said.
Kim Sunghyun, taking off his jacket, was clearly going first.
“Maknae, hold this.”
“Yessir?!”
Blushing, Jung Dajun hugged the jacket close.
“This is what you call a man’s sly foxiness....”
“Maknae, stop hanging around Kang Ichae.”
Cutting him off coldly, Sunghyun stepped up to the line. At the whistle, he spun fast and snatched a slip quicker than anyone.
Reading it, he immediately sprinted toward Joo Woosung.
“Sunbae-nim!!”
“Huh? Me?!”
Slouching in his chair, Woosung stammered in surprise. Sunghyun shouted, “It’s a huge honor to do a three-legged race with you, sunbae-nim!” and dragged him straight to the goal.
‘God, that’s unbearable.’
Checking the slip late, Woosung scratched his cheek and tapped Sunghyun’s shoulder before giving a stiff bow—just as annoying as expected.
No need to see the words to know.
“Hey, Seo Hoyun.”
Woosung, grinning ear to ear, shoved the slip at me.
“Seems like your member likes me better than you.”
“Oh, really.”
“What’ll you do? I’m more popular.”
“Wow, really.”
“Jealous? I’m too perfect as a sunbae.”
“Ah, yes, totally.”
“...Can you try sounding less half-assed?”
In the next round, a Hi-Five member drew “someone good at stage performance,” glanced at Kang Ichae, and nearly gave Kang Yeonhoo a heart attack. Thankfully, he went for Black Call’s Chae Jungwoo instead.
‘This much is fine.’
So far, nothing major.
At this pace, the program would turn out clean and pretty.
“What if you never get called once~.”
Ignoring Woosung’s bragging after being picked several times, I focused on calculating.
“Hoyun-ah!”
Sung Jiwon, the final runner, called my name as he ran.
Useless dumpling kid.
“He’s probably thinking, ‘Raising Sunghyun was pointless, Jiwon is way better.’”
“Cut the local broadcast.”
Sunghyun and Dajun whispered behind me. I shushed them as Jiwon gasped for breath.
“Hoyun-ah! Can you come with me?!”
“Of course.”
I sprinted with him and we took 1st place.
“Thank you! Hoyun-ah! I only won thanks to you!”
“Don’t mention it.”
But as Kim Heeyoung checked the slip, she let out a sharp sigh.
“Seo Hoyun-ssi, do you know what it says?”
“Huh? Wait a sec!”
Jiwon flushed bright red, frantically waving his hands.
“PD-nim, is it really necessary to reveal the content?”
“Jiwon, it’s fine.”
“Ugh...”
No reason to be embarrassed between us.
Folding my arms, I said calmly:
“Let’s see... maybe, bring the smartest person?”
“Wrong.”
“The most handsome here?”
“Wrong.”
What other adjectives fit me...
No matter the compliment, it’d apply.
“The person you like most?”
“Wow, Jiwon-ssi. You completed the mission exactly.”
Laughing loudly, Kim Heeyoung held the slip forward.
As I unfolded it, Jiwon fidgeted anxiously. I gave him a gentle smile.
“Hey, relax. Whatever it says, I won’t tease—”
Rustle.
[The most shameless person here]
“......”
The sound of The Dawn members bursting out in laughter spread loudly through the hall.
