A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 598
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A Regression Guide for Idols Who Lost Their Original Intent Episode 598
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After somehow finishing the meeting that the organizer had ruined and slipped away from alone, everyone scattered toward their respective schedules.
“Hyung, please give me at least a hint! You’re going to plan 10 again, but end up showing results that are inflated to 100!”
“This time it’s really 10, 10! The result will definitely come out as 10 too! I bet Seo Yehyeon’s high note skills that this time is different!”
“Hey! Why are you betting my high note skills!”
“That’s right! Why are you betting that! That’s basically betting nothing!”
“Youngest Member…?”
“What’s wrong with betting hyung’s high note skills? It’s not like I can bet hyung’s looks.”
“That’s true though…?”
After selling Seo Yehyeon another jade cutting board and finally shaking off Ryu Jaehee who persistently clung to me until the end, I headed to the DTB filming location.
Today was finally the day to start recording for the DTB main competition first round battle song.
I had sent the Inst file and assigned them homework to write their own lyrics. Since the main competition first round was to check if participants’ styles matched ours and filter out team members to work with, I didn’t set specific guidelines for verses and hooks.
The production crew had only one request for the producers in the changed main competition first round.
‘Skills are important, but please select participants who match the producer team’s style so that conflicts don’t arise between producers and participants during the main competition.’
This made sense because in last year’s Season 5, fierce conflicts arose due to opinion clashes between team producers and participants during the main competition. The problem was eliminating rappers who perfectly fit the team style and only keeping participants chosen based on skills alone.
Both producers and participants got thoroughly cursed at, asking why they even have producer team selection if this was going to happen. So this season had no choice but to be conscious of that public opinion.
Actually, because of this request, Yongcheol Hyung and I put our heads together and worried quite a bit about the battle song beat.
Currently, our team has strong championship candidates G-TE and Yupi.
The problem was that choosing one beat could create a favorable environment for either one of them.
If I chose the beat my way, it could become too advantageous for Choi Hyeongjin, who had previously attempted to block me by perfectly copying my style, and had just led and created a song with my beat in the immediately previous group music mission.
Going with Yongcheol Hyung’s way was also problematic. Since Choi Hyeongjin had chosen Team Wonbaek&D.I in Season 4, he was somewhat familiar with Yongcheol Hyung’s style too.
If a beat favorable to one of the two was provided, it could sound like we were openly pushing only that one person as a championship candidate, so we had to be careful.
In the end, choosing a beat that didn’t lean toward either side was the key to this assignment.
But if we completely changed the beat style to something that wasn’t either mine or Yongcheol Hyung’s style, it wouldn’t fit the purpose of the main competition first round that prioritized ‘producer team style’ most.
“Sigh, no matter what we choose, people will say it’s advantageous to G-TE.”
“Hyung, let’s change our way of thinking. We can just flip what the production crew requested.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Look, why did Season 5 become such a mess? It exploded because team producers and participants were stubborn about their own ways. So this time the production crew said ‘choose according to producer team style.'”
“So what are we flipping?”
“Instead of insisting on our colors, let’s say that adapting to our team members is our style. Our direction can also be called our team ‘style.'”
I suggested a different direction to Yongcheol Hyung who was sighing deeply and lamenting. Since Yongcheol Hyung has a somewhat rigid side, he needed someone with open thinking like me.
“We can’t go too obviously, hyung. This is the current trend. A change of perspective.”
When I tapped my head with my fingers and grinned, Yongcheol Hyung messed up my hair roughly.
“I thought you’d become more solid and serious as you got older, but somehow you’re getting more troublesome by the day, huh?”
“Hyung, I only act like this in front of you. I’m usually so serious. I’m so serious in daily life that our group members start eating only after I pick up my spoon!”
“What kind of 21st century patriarchal myth is that?”
So the beat that was finally created was a bit removed from mine or Yongcheol Hyung’s music style, but it was an insanely harmonious beat that could best utilize the weapons that G-TE, Yupi, and Bug Kim each possessed.
“Alright, everyone prepared? Let’s start recording with Bug Kim.”
Bug Kim, who seemed quite hurt by being treated as a predetermined elimination candidate, came very well prepared with his blade sharpened. I quite liked his fierce attitude of not giving up despite being in the most disadvantageous position among the three.
Choi Hyeongjin and Yupi also didn’t dismiss the main competition first round as confirmed advancement and showed attitudes of preparing intensely and approaching recording with attitudes that wouldn’t lose to Bug Kim.
The satisfying recording ended with them properly utilizing their killing parts that I had secretly hoped to save, and the cameras turned off with words of appreciation for their hard work.
“After receiving the Inst, it was quite unexpected. I thought I shouldn’t try to predict Producer Yoon Eden.”
Yupi spoke with a somewhat crooked smile.
“What kind of plan were you expecting?”
“Well, a plan where the beat comes out in Producer Yoon Eden’s style or Producer D.I’s style, and I get an image of doing well without losing even against someone who has an advantageous environment due to fan sentiment and experience? It would be even better to get a pitiful image of not being pushed by the team producers. Originally, that kind of narrative is what attracts core fans.”
I changed direction knowing that would come out. The concept I set for this main competition was a flying producer above running participants.
Yupi, who was voicing that plan, was quite a cunning guy too. Choi Hyeongjin clicked his tongue with a face that said he’d seen all kinds of sinister people.
“Scary, scary. Why do you calculate and consider all that while rapping?”
“You know well that you can’t win Show Me The Money just by rapping well, right? Especially for ordinary people like me who have nothing to show off in terms of specs or looks.”
At Yupi’s sarcastic self-deprecating words, I unconsciously glanced at Choi Hyeongjin.
“What! Why are you looking at me! Don’t use me as the standard, you bastard!”
Choi Hyeongjin seemed quite stung and made a fuss with fierce eyes. He even spewed unnecessary TMI about receiving DMs saying he was handsome too.
I don’t know what to do about that. Even my dog Podo, whose photo I posted on Instagram, gets DMs saying he’s handsome. It was a selfie taken with Podo, but there was no mention of my face, only mentions of Podo’s face, so I remember it being impressive.
Get away from the Instagram world that even extracts dog looks, Hyeongjin.
And don’t you see Yongcheol Hyung’s expression? Don’t you see that subtly smiling expression as if he finds it ridiculous? I think Yongcheol Hyung probably receives 100 times more of those DMs than you.
“Anyway, to overtake naturally gifted people, I have no choice but to be diligent. Being a sparrow that tears its legs trying to follow a stork once was enough.”
Yupi, who shrugged and threw out his last words, looked at me with a meaningful gaze.
I felt very wronged being treated like a naturally gifted guy who doesn’t make any effort. I also used my brain quite a bit during DTB Season 4. Anyone listening would think I’m some kind of natural troublemaker.
“D.I Hyung, but they really emphasized team style this time, is it okay to adapt to us like this?”
At Choi Hyeongjin’s worried question, Yongcheol Hyung smiled good-naturedly and waved his hand.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Eden made a good excuse.”
“Ah, hyung. It’s not an excuse, it’s Team Yoon Eden&D.I’s Real Style.”
Even stealing requires coordinated hands and feet. We need to at least get our stories straight.
After announcing the stage practice schedule and location, I casually spoke to Choi Hyeongjin before everyone scattered.
“Hey. Hyeongjin. Do you happen to have anyone around you who can contact Riburn?”
As I expected, Junbeom Hyung had quickly cut ties with Riburn and his acquaintances long ago. There’s a reason why people have such long-running success as networking hotspots.
“Riburn? That drug addict broker who got caught smoking weed at G1’s birthday party and went to prison?”
When I nodded, Choi Hyeongjin frowned as if thinking.
“Our crew hyungs absolutely told us not to get involved, not to even look at that label, and he ended up in prison after all. Our crew hyungs seemed to know all along? I don’t think there’s anyone around me, but… HYEQ might know? The generation is about…”
“By generation, HYEQ is higher than Riburn. Ask Moltic hyung-nim to be a go-between? But I think Moltic hyung-nim will definitely tell Jiwon Hyung. I want to keep it from reaching Jiwon Hyung’s ears.”
It would be awkward to make him recall an old friend he cut ties with after getting caught smoking drugs at his own birthday party and even having 100 strands of his hair pulled out, right?
Then, Bug Kim, who had been only rolling his eyes, spoke up.
“As far as I know, Riburn got out and joined Flodic’s label.”
“Wait, Flodic, if it’s Flodic…”
“Are you still in contact with Skoen? Then it should be possible to connect through connections.”
I found the shining name Skoen in my contacts and clenched my fist. See, there’s no useless network in the world.
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“Wow, isn’t this where we recorded 【All Right or Night】? Wow, I really found this place.”
“The memories are really vivid…”
I silently offered a bland apology in my heart to the members who were looking around the recording studio, moved by being in that place from 5 years ago.
Guys, please understand. This is all because of Kim Dobin.
I originally tried to finish recording warmly, but if it weren’t for the useless meeting Kim Dobin called, I wouldn’t have had to come up with this kind of idea, right?
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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