Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 10

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 10.

Production Team: How did the other trainees’ song selections turn out?

[Bora: Everyone picked well, I think?]
[Ju-hong: No, everyone except me is a genius. How do they all come up with things so smoothly? I’m the only one who bombed, right?]
[Geum: …It’s not easy?]

Production Team: Which trainee do you think made the best choice?

[Ryeo-yu: Baek-young? She seemed to know her own charm precisely. That unnie is annoyingly good at this.]
[Hee-on: Everyone did well, but… still….]
[Gyeong-a: Chung.]
[Su-in: Trainee Yun Chung.]
[Baek-young: Chung.]
[Ju-hong: No, I was really shocked. Does that unnie have an IQ of 200 or something? How does she come up with ideas like that?]

Production Team: Why do you think Trainee Yun Chung made the best choice?

[Yu-hyeon: I naturally only thought of the seniors currently active.]

Production Team: What kind of senior is Purple Apple? Why didn’t you think of her?

[Hee-on: Well, strictly speaking, Purple Apple isn’t from our agency. That’s why we didn’t think of her.]
[Baek-young: Surely you weren’t planning to cover the agency president….]

That was exactly it.
Purple Apple, whom Chung had chosen, wasn’t actually under Colors.
To be precise, only Hong Yeon-seo, the representative of Colors, belonged to Purple Apple.
Hong President, like many entertainment company presidents, was a former idol.
The production team debated whether to approve this, but ultimately decided to allow it.
How did it get approved?

“It’s fun, isn’t it? I think it’ll generate some buzz too.”

That single remark from Oh PD sealed the approval.

[Bora: And that’s not something you can really say you came up with on the spot, you know? As a senior, it’s tough without confidence. It was nice seeing that confidence.]
[Ju-hong: A song from 25 years ago, no less! That’s insane.]
[Ryeo-yu: Is it really that impressive? Honestly, I think everyone considered it. We just chose not to go with it.]

Producer: So Ryeo-yu, you did think of it?

[Ryeo-yu: I did think of it. But I really admire the White Noise seniors.]
[Ju-seon: If we’d had more time, everyone would’ve thought of it. But the time limit was so tight that we couldn’t.]

Producer: …Is that so?

[Geum: Another trainee is saying that? That if they’d had more time, they would’ve thought of it too?]
[Geum: (bursts out laughing)]
[Geum: Columbus’s egg, seriously.]
[Geum: Well… then you should’ve thought of it sooner. You have to give credit where it’s due. I thought Chung’s choice was good.]
[Ju-hong: No, I didn’t see it that way, but that unnie is a dark horse! Like with her original song last time!]

***

Producer: Why did you choose that song from Purple Apple?

[Yun Chung: Ah, well….]

Caption: What is Yun Chung’s shocking answer…?

[Yun Chung: First of all, I really admire the Purple Apple seniors.]
[Yun Chung: (shy smile)]
[Yun Chung: And, well, the moment I heard the word ‘mentor,’ it just came to mind.]

Producer: Why?

[Yun Chung: If I’m going to choose a mentor anyway… wouldn’t it be better to choose the most senior person? Especially if it’s the president….]

Caption: Burning ambition…!

[Yun Chung: Oh, I’m just joking. It’s just that I really admire our president. But, well, would they actually come as a mentor? They’re so busy. I don’t have high expectations.]

Caption: Yun Chung, poking at the producers’ pride

[Chung: Well, just getting to cover a song is an honor in itself. I’m not expecting to have the president as my mentor!]

Of course I had expected it.
Hong Yeon-seo, also known as Hong President—what kind of person was she?
Fundamentally, she was an attention-seeker.
She loved being in the spotlight. It wasn’t because Hong President had worked in the entertainment industry—it was just how she naturally was.
She played the part of being impressive well enough, but to my eyes, she was simply someone desperate for attention.
I figured she probably hadn’t done much broadcasting lately and was itching to get back on camera. Her fingers were probably twitching with anticipation.
But she couldn’t just appear out of nowhere without losing face.
So I was throwing her the bait. Giving her a reason to show up.
There was a reason I’d bent the rules to specifically target Hong Yeon-seo like this.

“Chung. That idea you had earlier was really good.”

Kim Ryeo-yu.
It was because of her.
I glanced at the camera. The red light blinked steadily as it recorded.
She was speaking up because we were in front of the camera.

“Oh, thanks. Your song choice was really good too.”

A relative of Director Kim, one of the judges.
Kim Ryeo-yu had disclosed from the beginning that she was Director Kim’s blood relative.
She did it to preemptively shut down any controversy that might arise later.
After all, the debut lineup would be decided by voting, and she was confident enough in herself as Kim Ryeo-yu alone, not just as Director Kim’s trainee relative.
What was interesting was that she’d actually gained popularity because of that attitude.
People found that kind of confidence attractive.
…It was certainly a rare character type.

“This mission was solo, so we couldn’t work together, but let’s do well together next time.”

Kim Ryeo-yu extended her hand to me.

“Sounds good.”

And I took her hand in mine.
We were in front of the camera anyway—what couldn’t I do?

“Should we head to practice now?”
“Yeah. I need to try singing on my own. In the Vocal Training Room.”
“Let’s go together. I’ll practice in the room next to yours.”
“…Okay. Let’s do that.”

If it weren’t for the camera, I would have refused immediately.
There’s no helping it.
…But why is she acting so friendly with me specifically?
I headed to the Vocal Training Room alongside Kim Ryeo-yu.
To keep Director Kim in check, I’d need someone like Hong President on my side.
I’ve learned something from rolling around in the entertainment industry.
You have to pick your allies carefully.
If you’re going to pick one, it has to be the strongest.
The one who’ll fall last.

***

D-3.
Three days before the mission evaluation—
the day of the highly anticipated mid-point check.
And the day we’d meet our mentors for the first time.
In Make a New Color, mentors held considerable significance.
Since the mentors were senior artists directly under the agency, the company actively encouraged active mentoring.
From small things like vocal and dance advice to larger collaborations on concept development.
Because of this, the mentors’ role was undeniably crucial.
So everyone was bound to be nervous.

“Alright, everyone.”

Once all the trainees arrived, Oh PD got down to business.

“Your performances will be watched directly by three judges. The mentors will receive video recordings.”

Right. Twelve mentors couldn’t all show up.
I nodded in understanding.

“Does anyone have questions?”

Before Oh PD could even finish speaking, a hand shot up.
Ah, that’s….

“Yes, Yeon Ju-hong?”
“When will we find out who our mentor is?”

Yeon Ju-hong.
Among the trainees, her evaluation was sharply divided.
Some said,

‘Hmm, isn’t she a bit ambiguous? Her skills aren’t the best, and her visuals aren’t outstanding compared to others.’

That’s how they assessed her.
But others said,

‘She might be in a position that makes debut difficult.’

Yet even as they said that—

‘But if she actually debuts, she’ll probably be the most popular.’

That’s what everyone ultimately concluded.
And I agreed with them.
Because.

“Ah, you’ll find out after all the mid-term evaluations are complete. You’ll meet your mentors with your evaluation scores and evaluation videos.”

The truth was, Yeon Ju-hong had already debuted and was incredibly popular.
More so than anyone else here.

“Whoa, no way.”

Though she hadn’t debuted with StillBlue.

“Alright then, let’s start the lottery for the mid-term evaluation order. Kim Ryeo-yu, come pick one and head back.”

Kim Ryeo-yu drew first, and the trainees picked their numbers one by one.
I drew somewhere in the middle of the order.
Let me see what mine is….
Number 12.
The last slot.
Perfect. Going last really was the best way to make an impression.
…Though it would depend on how they edited the footage, I suppose.
The other trainees all seemed reasonably satisfied with their positions.
Except for one—Yeon Ju-hong, who’d drawn number 1.

“I’m doomed….”

Yeon Ju-hong was pulling at her hair in despair.
Why was she so devastated?
Did she lack confidence in her abilities?
Though to be fair, her live vocals were definitely shaky in the early days of her debut.
She was the growth-type character, after all.
And because she showed that growth so visibly to everyone, she’d become incredibly popular.
People love the hardworking genius archetype.
And while Yeon Ju-hong might not be a genius, she’d certainly become a hardworking talent.
She trained more intensely than anyone else, and she’d clearly improved her skills dramatically.

“Ahhhhhhhhh….”

But she didn’t look the part.
…And the way she spoke didn’t seem to match it either.
So this was the fierce Yeon Ju-hong everyone talked about.
I’d crossed paths with her a few times during my own activities.
Whether on variety shows or on stage, she always performed with such intensity that I found her impressive.
…But before debut, it seemed she had a clumsy side to her.

“The judges will be entering now!”

At a single word from the staff, a long table materialized in front of the Practice Room in an instant.
Four chairs were arranged in perfect formation.
Before long, the judges filed in.
It was the first time I’d seen them since filming began.
All the other judges commanded an imposing presence—but the one who truly stood out was unmistakable.
Kim Mo-gyeong, a company director and producer.
Kim Ryeo-yu’s relative, and the true power broker of Colors.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

And someone I would eventually have to eliminate.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————