A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 618

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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 618

No matter how much he had been counted as a championship candidate from the beginning of this season, this kind of baseless confidence was troublesome.

HYEQ, who had been the most dangerous opponent, was eliminated so we could breathe a sigh of relief, but Crazy No had also been consistently ranking high from the beginning and was mentioned as a championship candidate.

And objectively speaking, excluding the personal feelings of DTB producer team members, my fans, etc., the reason Choi Hyeongjin was counted as a championship candidate was partly because he had made it to the main competition’s second round in Season 4.

By the way, in the rankings that the producers lined up after the second preliminary round ended, 3rd place was Crazy No and 4th place was G-TE. It got flipped in the group music source mission though.

“Don’t let your guard down until it’s over, man. We don’t even know who Jiwon hyung brought as featuring.”

No matter how subtly I asked what kind of ultimate move Jiwon hyung had brought, he wouldn’t tell even me. Since we’re competing teams in the semi-final, is it business is business and personal is personal?

But I couldn’t help being curious. The featuring singers that Jiwon hyung, a top producer with wide connections, brought during the semi-final to final period were always a hot topic for DTB.

The one that caused the least buzz was Seo Raon sunbae, whom he brought as Yupi’s featuring in Season 4?

He brought Korea’s top female solo singer with guaranteed buzz, but unfortunately I pulled out the joker of calling Yongcheol hyung to complete the graffiti narrative when I was the opposing team’s producer in DTB’s main competition second round…

Still, even though it got overshadowed by me, there were many reactions of admiration that such a precious person came all the way to humble DTB, wondering if DTB’s status had risen this much.

“No matter who he brings… is there anyone who could beat you?”

“Our narrative was already milked dry in the main competition’s second round, so now there’s nothing left to milk – it’s just bland broth. Don’t expect any narrative effects.”

“Am I Yupi? Why would I care about narrative effects. I said that just considering the song and stage, you know?”

When I told the cold reality to Choi Hyeongjin, who insisted on me as the semi-final competition song featuring until the end, Choi Hyeongjin grumbled.

This guy’s dependency was so bad I worried whether he would have even tried to get on stage if I hadn’t been a producer in Season 6.

“Develop some independence, Hyeongjin. What are you going to do about the final stage where I won’t be doing featuring?”

“If we drop G1’s team here anyway, there’s no need to worry about the opponent’s featuring.”

Choi Hyeongjin, who had regained his shamelessness, replied confidently.

“But just how amazing is this featuring that they won’t even put them on the rehearsal stage and hide them so thoroughly?”

After finishing the rehearsal stage, I stared intently at Jiwon hyung who was giving feedback to Crazy No and muttered.

I saw T.no, the rapper known as the featuring success formula, walking around in the waiting room corridor, but the fact that T.no didn’t perform on this stage meant it was SYRA’s featuring.

Jiwon hyung, whose eyes met mine, smiled confidently. As if he was confident enough to beat our stage.

I was slightly irritated but didn’t show it, smiled back, and pushed Choi Hyeongjin toward the stage.

“What are you doing, Hyeongjin. Go up there quickly and show them there’s no one who can beat me as featuring, man.”

“Why is this bastard suddenly irritated?”

After perfectly completing that pre-emptive rehearsal-

With only curiosity about the opponent’s stage filling my mind, DROP THE BEAT SEASON 6 SEMI-FINAL main stage began.

Round 1 was Crazy No’s first attack and G-TE’s follow-up.

Round 2 was Yupi’s first attack and SYRA’s follow-up.

I sat on the waiting room sofa where cameras were installed to capture reactions and watched Crazy No’s stage.

After the first verse ended, it was finally time for the hook. Lights poured down onto the screen in the center of the stage. The screen slowly split apart to both sides.

High-pitched screams burst from the monitor like a flood.

The figure who walked out through the opening gap of the screen in the center of the stage, appearing with blue lights behind them, was-

“…Crazy, it’s an ultimate move.”

“Wow, Jiwon hyung really sharpened his blade properly to beat us.”

As soon as I saw the featuring singer’s face, I unconsciously jumped up from my seat.

Why is Cha Yeonho coming out here…?

I rubbed my eyes and checked again, but it really was Cha Yeonho who was revealing his presence on stage and casually handling the high notes of the hook part.

I plopped back down on the sofa with Yongcheol hyung’s hand pulling me from behind.

“It’s worth hiding so thoroughly.”

I roughly messed up my bangs and grumbled.

Cha Yeonho was, annoyingly to admit, a skilled main vocalist of a first-tier idol group recognized by the public. His vocal tone wasn’t as good as Gyeon Hajun’s, but that’s a matter of personal taste, so whatever.

Not only had he imprinted his vocals on the public with his solo songs, but in the duet song he released with KJ, he made people upload a version with KJ’s rap parts removed on YouTube.

There were more comments from pure music fans thanking them for making a vocal-only version they wanted to hear than complaints from fans asking why they were cutting parts from a perfectly good duet song, which says it all.

If Jiwon hyung had simply aimed for Cha Yeonho’s recognition and forced him in as featuring that didn’t blend with the song, we would have definitely secured an advantageous position, but Crazy No’s verses and Cha Yeonho’s hook were displaying absolutely insane synergy.

To the point where it was now hard to even imagine this song without Cha Yeonho handling the hook part.

Even if there were people who didn’t like idols appearing as featuring on DTB itself, the talk about bringing a first-tier idol just to use their recognition would at least die down.

Moreover, the opposing team’s stage featuring was me – a main rapper of an idol group similar in scale to Altair, before being a DTB team producer.

Being grouped together by the common denominator of being idols, the featuring part became a Cha Yeonho vs me structure.

On top of that, they could compete over whether vocals or rap were better for the hook part.

Jiwon hyung used his head quite well.

Of course, this was only possible because he had the skills to produce songs convincing enough just by watching the stage. He really was a formidable opponent.

“But wouldn’t it create a better picture if idols faced off against each other? Why did he pair Cha Yeonho with Crazy No?”

I wiggled my finger and answered Yongcheol hyung’s question, which seemed genuinely curious.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, hyung. Jiwon hyung knows this industry well, so he paired them like this. If he had paired SYRA with Cha Yeonho sunbae, Jiwon hyung would have already been lynched online by those fans.”

“Why?”

Yongcheol hyung still didn’t seem to understand, but to explain this in a way he could easily understand, I’d need to bring Ryu Jaehee who could immediately search for examples of how each group’s fans react when male and female idols share a stage.

“Hey hey hey hey, Yoon Eden. Your group is more popular than Altair, right? Please say yes.”

Choi Hyeongjin asked me with a desperate voice, shaking his legs and hands. Hey, you bastard. You showed such firm trust in me, but now that Cha Yeonho appeared, you’re immediately abandoning your faith in me?

“We did win when our regular follow-up song activities overlapped with Altair last time, but I can’t be certain.”

“Ah, really? Then we won’t lose unfairly due to lacking popularity.”

Choi Hyeongjin immediately calmed down. I was dumbfounded seeing his face become indifferent right away, as if his nervousness had disappeared somewhere. Was that what he was worried about?

“G-TE, please get ready.”

At the staff’s call, we stood up together while receiving encouragement from Yongcheol hyung and Yupi.

The narrative exploitation of rivals standing on stage together ended in the main competition’s second round, and now only the hand of competing purely with our rap and our harmony remained.

Of course, I wasn’t nervous. I believed in my skills, and I believed that Choi Hyeongjin, who was tenacious if nothing else, wouldn’t miss the opportunity.

When I arrived backstage, Cha Yeonho’s vocals reaching their climax pierced my ears clearly. Next to me, Choi Hyeongjin kept making annoying exclamations of admiration.

“Wow, Cha Yeonho sings fucking well? Is he your group’s main vocalist? He seems similar to that guy?”

“What are you saying. Our youngest member is way better. Are your ears broken?”

“Are you living with rose-colored glasses even in your ear holes?”

“You should clean your ears and listen to our youngest member’s singing again. You don’t know the first thing about music.”

“Is that something to say to a rapper?”

While I was exchanging jabs with Choi Hyeongjin, Crazy No’s stage ended.

I watched as Crazy No, drenched in sweat, returned backstage with Cha Yeonho and exchanged thanks.

Cha Yeonho, who was looking around with his head down searching for Jiwon hyung, made eye contact with me.

Contrary to my prediction that Cha Yeonho would avoid my gaze first and pass by pretending not to know me, Cha Yeonho approached me directly as soon as he saw me.

“Let’s talk for a moment after filming ends.”

Cha Yeonho whispered to me. From his anxious face, I could infer that Cha Yeonho still hadn’t reconciled with KJ.

I searched and checked every time I thought of it, but there weren’t any particular discord rumors. Rather, looking at recent photos, the two seemed to stick together well, but they still haven’t reconciled?

I wondered if these two were really 14-year friends, but when I recalled that it took quite a long time for Gyeon Hajun and me to completely reconcile after resolving our misunderstandings and old feelings toward each other, I thought ‘that could happen.’

Before answering Cha Yeonho, I approached Choi Hyeongjin, who was staring blankly at me and Cha Yeonho from a little distance away.

“I’ll definitely handle blocking that team’s featuring, so don’t worry and pour out 100 percent on stage. Got it?”

“That’s fucking reassuring.”

At Choi Hyeongjin’s reply mixed with laughter, I also chuckled and lightly patted Choi Hyeongjin’s back.

“Make it to the finals while I’m here.”

“Geez, didn’t you tell me not to let my guard down until the end earlier.”

“The featuring identity was revealed. You bastard, even when I’m encouraging you, you make a fuss.”

After sending Choi Hyeongjin to the stage first, I finally turned to look at Cha Yeonho.

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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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