A Blank Slate Regression for the Idol That Lost His Original Mindset - Chapter 65

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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 Initial Intentions Episode 65

[Dear Love]

As we stood in formation, a whisper-like narration could be heard, followed by the intro of .

We didn’t bother arranging this one, just adjusted the vocal range appropriately.

We didn’t have time, and there was no need to mess with it anyway.

Since there were no rap parts, I took the most manageable vocal part and pushed the rest to Seo Yehyeon.

I was far from innocent, while Seo Yehyeon was close to innocent.

And seeing the stage costumes, I once again realized that blessings come to those who don’t get greedy.

Since I didn’t get greedy with parts, wouldn’t I be caught less on camera wearing this stage costume?

Thanks to Kim Dobin who modified the girl group choreography so it wouldn’t look awkward when performed by a boy group, at least that was one consolation.

If this had been a pre-recorded stage instead of a live one, wouldn’t it have been less embarrassing?

Unlike me, who was trying hard to manage my expression while thinking about my initial intentions level, Kim Dobin was practically tearing up the stage, bouncing around with a face that boasted 100% job satisfaction as he smiled brightly.

To be able to smile so happily while wearing these shorts and doing this choreography – what exactly is fan devotion?

If I could go on stage for a brief 30 seconds wearing this outfit with Taker, the foreign rapper I respect… hmm…

‘Still, I don’t think I’d smile that much.’

Of course, since Taker is deceased, the probability of me taking the stage with him is zero.

I thought this while doing the rather cute choreography of raising my index finger, spinning my arm around, then bringing it to my lips.

After finishing the eternally long 1 minute and 12 seconds in many ways, when it was our turn to step back, I finally caught my breath.

The screen split and Adora’s second verse stage began immediately as they appeared at the front of the stage.

Adora’s stage costumes were similar to ours. Fluffy ivory or white colored fur knits with black skirts that came above the knee and knee socks.

Of course, unlike us, the Adora seniors were pulling off these innocent and lively outfits well.

After Adora’s second verse part ended and the final chorus began, Adora and Rev naturally mixed together to form the formation.

Although we only had three joint rehearsals, the collaboration stage between the two groups was proceeding quite naturally.

There was a move where Adora would take Rev’s hand and spin around like dancing a waltz, so when I extended my hand, the Adora member next to me lightly placed her hand on my palm.

I worried whether my initial intentions level might decrease for holding hands with a girl group member, but fortunately it didn’t. It seemed the system was lenient about choreography on stage.

Right, it wouldn’t make sense if it didn’t allow at least this much.

[I’ll remember our pink love story]

The stage ended with singing the final part while making a hand heart with the Adora member next to me.

We hurriedly came down from the stage and did stage monitoring, internally marveling at the cameras that were still focused on feet now just as they were 7 years later.

After finishing monitoring, we exchanged greetings with Adora before going to the waiting room.

“Good work!”

“Good job.”

“You modified the choreography so well. I was amazed watching it because it was so natural without any awkward parts.”

“Oh, really. I was worried it might look funny when a boy group performed it, but it was really good.”

“Thank you!”

Kim Dobin, who received the praise, smiled sheepishly.

Natural or whatever, we just wanted to quickly change clothes and head to the waiting room when Adora’s leader suggested.

“Should we take a group photo here before we go? For SNS.”

You want to immortalize these outfits on SNS? Isn’t that too cruel to us…?

But since we were rookies with less experience, we had no choice but to obediently nod at the seniors’ suggestion.

Since the Adora members happened to be wearing skirts, they had to stand in the back, and we had no choice but to crouch in front.

My attempt to cover my bare legs flew away without even being able to mention it.

Finally returning to the waiting room, I changed into the stage costume while the other members changed back into stage costumes for the final stage greeting.

Only then did I let out what I’d been holding in – whether it was breath, a sigh, or a lament, I couldn’t tell.

“Whoa, Eden hyung. Look at this.”

Ryu Jaehee suddenly thrust his cell phone screen at me as I was sprawled on the sofa, going over the rap part lyrics one last time.

-what did i just see

-1st verse male idols’ intensity is insane

-Phobos selected ‘Stage where calling it intense despite the innocent concept doesn’t feel awkward’

-Innocent top but not-so-innocent bottom and legs and face

-Do you think everything becomes innocent just by putting on innocent and lively outfits lololol

-Isn’t that guy from that group, the male idol who did Adora rehearsal as Yuan’s substitute that went viral on YouTube before

└He still looks happy, though I wonder if the members were happy

-It’s fine it’s fine, shorts are way better than our oppas’ Sponge experiment man outfits!

“Jaehee, is this funny to you?”

“Building this kind of friendly image is good.”

“We’ve been building familiarity with the generation that grew up watching Sponge ever since we performed on stage wearing those Sponge experiment man-like jumpsuits.”

While grumbling, I was relieved that we finished the stage safely without any mistakes or controversies, and was stuck in the group waiting room when I got up at the sound of someone calling me.

The stage wasn’t much of a burden since I just had to do the first verse featuring part and come down, just like the music shows we did before.

After finishing the short featuring, I watched Seo Raon’s stage from backstage and suddenly realized.

‘Before, I wanted solo activities, solo stages so badly…’

Was it because I originally viewed it as a stepping stone for solo activities?

Or was it because I rose to fame through luck and one person’s help alone, so emptiness and helplessness were greater than the bond with group members who had struggled through those difficult times together?

Before regression, I didn’t attach much meaning to the group.

Except for my friend Gyeon Hajun, they were just colleagues I worked with, nothing more, nothing less.

At most, I let Ryu Jaehee in because he kept trying to get into my circle.

So I was obsessed and desperate for that thing – the means to prove myself and the reason I entered the entertainment industry.

Well, like everything in the world, it didn’t go as planned.

But now, solo activities and standing alone on stage weren’t that desperately desired.

Instead, I wanted to take these guys a little higher with me.

Not simply to stop the infinite regression, but because I wanted to see how far we could really go with my songs.

Because I wanted to see with my own eyes how much potential we had that we missed before regression.

By doing so, I wanted to prove to myself that this regression wasn’t meaningless.

So…

“Please take care of me next year too, everyone.”

When I returned to the waiting room after greeting Seo Raon who had successfully finished her stage, and said this with a grin to the members who were each commenting that even the 25-second stage was cool, Ryu Jaehee let out an exclamation.

“It really is almost New Year. Even Eden hyung is giving these sentimental year-end greetings.”

“Can’t a leader say things like this, man?”

After seeing off Ryu Jaehee and Kim Dobin, who had to leave by 10 PM due to the “10 PM curfew” since they were still minors, only three of us remained – me, Gyeon Hajun, and Seo Yehyeon.

It was quiet without the youngest line who made up about 80% of Rev’s conversation share with their noisy chatter.

Our Rev was this peaceful as long as Seo Yehyeon didn’t pick fights with me.

I was resting my chin on my hand, watching Altair’s stage through the waiting room screen with indifference – they had smoothly secured a late-night slot at this year-end awards ceremony, beating out formidable seniors after 2 years, when I clicked my tongue.

Did they ever think that hit song would drag them down?

This is why people should live honestly and fairly.

Look at me. Even when they tried to drag me down into the swamp with them, saying they couldn’t die alone and shaking me down, not a speck of dust came out.

I didn’t know if the future would flow the same way this time, but judging by the fact that they came out with that song, their end probably wouldn’t be much different from the future I knew.

I leaned back comfortably on the sofa, envying the youngest members who left work early.

Of course, the youngest line didn’t think so, as they were whining in the group chat that they were disappointed they couldn’t be in the ending group stage.

After a few more groups’ stages passed after Altair, the time to end this tedious waiting period finally approached.

All the performers stood on stage for the ending group stage.

Since Rev debuted this year, our position was far from the center.

I suddenly remembered before regression when I could stand close to the center thanks to my years of experience.

A 90s hit song that anyone could sing along to just by hearing the melody rang out.

Watching the idol group next to us enthusiastically holding handheld microphones and singing passionately as if they were at a coin karaoke even though the cameras probably weren’t filming them, I chuckled briefly before glancing at the six people standing directly to my right.

‘But why are these bastards deliberately standing here?’

Then I made eye contact with Cha Yeonho. As I naturally turned my head away, I continued to feel his gaze from the side.

As soon as the camera that had been filming this way turned away, I turned my head back toward Cha Yeonho and asked directly.

“Do you have something to say?”

Seeing Cha Yeonho’s expression that seemed slightly flustered, I raised an eyebrow.

His face showed he hadn’t expected me to speak first.

But that was only momentary – he immediately composed his expression and shook his head briefly with a grinning face.

“No. I was just a bit surprised that you’re here right now.”

“Of course I’d be here since it’s the ending with all the cast members doing group greetings.”

When I responded with a question mark on my face, Cha Yeonho made a subtle expression.

Why is he acting like that after staring at me first? Makes me want to punch him.

Even before the regression, we weren’t connected through good relations, and my last memory of him was rather unpleasant, so whatever that bastard did, I found it annoying at first glance.

That said, there was no need to clash with him right now. What Altair had built up so far was still too weak to set the fuse on fire and blow it up.

I could just leave him alone and if he became an obstacle on the way to the first tier, I could use the secret I knew as a means to get rid of him.

Cha Yeonho and I, who had been making eye contact for a moment, turned our heads away as our respective members called us.

“Yeonho, are you having a staring contest with your junior?”

“A contest? It’s nothing like that.”

As I was half-listening to Cha Yeonho’s words as he laughed and subtly but firmly denied it, Gyeon Hajun, who had poked me, whispered in my ear.

“Like last time too, did something happen between you two?”

“No?”

How would that person know about things from the erased time? Even if he did know, as long as he doesn’t throw the first punch, there’s no need for me to retaliate.

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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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