Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 128

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

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Chapter 128.

[Sun-jin: It was such a joyful and meaningful experience! I’m a bit disappointed we couldn’t show our fans more stages, but… we’ll be back with another opportunity~]
[Tee-si: We’re all fine, but we’re worried that Se-a might feel sorry toward us. That’s the only thing we’re concerned about.]
[Se-a: It all feels like my fault… I’m truly sorry.]
[Se-a: I apologize to my members and to all our fans….]

The internet’s reaction flipping completely was an inevitable outcome.
It wasn’t just Sugar Dream’s fans who were upset.
Every viewer watching Top of Idol was furious.
Public opinion began shifting, with people saying, ‘Kim Ryeo-yu shouldn’t have appeared on Top of Idol.’
There had always been considerable backlash against Kim Ryeo-yu,
but this time something felt different.
As Kim Ryeo-yu’s true colors began to show, doubt started taking root in the hearts of her core fans.

★
Everything else is fine, but honestly, not doing live vocals was too much..
She messed up during that one performance too, but we cut her slack because we thought it was because she was trying so hard at live singing. But not doing live vocals at all? That’s not right.
Don’t embarrass your fans… I’ll try to give her the benefit of the doubt about her character, but what am I supposed to do about her skills lolol
I didn’t stan you for your personality—I only looked at your skills. I’ve been lenient because of that. But if you can’t even manage yourself, what are you trying to do?

‘An idol with a somewhat sharp personality, but undeniable talent.’
Her core fans, who had been obsessed with that description of Kim Ryeo-yu, began slowly backing away.
The core fans remaining now had actually stayed because they liked Kim Ryeo-yu’s character flaws as a ‘little devil’—they enjoyed her precisely because of them.
The way one might love a villain in a movie, they loved Kim Ryeo-yu as a flawed but charismatic character.
Moreover, most core fans had excused Kim Ryeo-yu’s misdeeds as mere ‘ambition.’
They even gave her epithets like ‘ambitious idol’ and ‘fierce idol.’
Their logic was that she was still young and just made some mistakes because she wanted to succeed so badly—why make such a big deal out of it?
But all of this was only possible if Kim Ryeo-yu had appeal as an ‘idol.’
Without appeal as an ‘idol’—what was the difference between her and just an ordinary person with poor character?
Director Kim, realizing this, scrambled to reverse public opinion about Kim Ryeo-yu through viral campaigns.
But the public sentiment had already reached its breaking point.

‘Is she giving up?’

As if this were the end.
I carefully monitored the public’s reaction to Kim Ryeo-yu.

‘But I’m not ending it here.’

There’s still one last thing left.
This time, I need to bring it to a truly complete end.

***

“It’s a relief there’s some time before the third mission!”
“Everyone else has their schedules packed for year-end. That’s why we’ve been doing back-to-back shoots, so it’s fine to rest a bit.”
“…And you came here to rest?”

Early morning.
We all gathered at the Gym together.
It was entirely my decision.
These girls are way too fragile.
Kim Geum and Seo Baek-young had naturally healthy constitutions, so I wasn’t worried about them.
Especially Seo Baek-young—perhaps from her long career as a dancer, her muscles were clearly defined.
But Yeon Ju-hong and Ryu Bora?
I couldn’t fathom how they managed to survive with such thin, muscular-less legs and waists.
During this break, I wanted to help them build up their stamina and muscle mass.

“But the mission seems really difficult.”

Kim Geum sighed.

“I’m already swamped, and now they’re asking when I’ll create a new song and how I’ll pull together a stage.”

That was right.
The theme of the third mission—the final mission—was:
【A new song stage with a concept never attempted before】
.
A concept never attempted before.
We’d tried everything during Make a New Color, so this wouldn’t be easy.

“This time, let’s not compose ourselves. Let’s get a song from someone else.”
“!”

Relief and disappointment flickered across Kim Geum’s face.

“But….”
“I understand the disappointment. Still, you need to rest too. Your schedule is packed right now. Composition is important, of course, but let’s focus on the performance first.”

At my words, Kim Geum eventually relented.
I figured it was because she loved the stage more than anyone else.
Everyone liked and loved performing, but Kim Geum transcended that level entirely.
She seemed like someone born solely to stand on that stage.
I’d wondered why Kim Geum was particularly that way.
She was the only member who didn’t fear people.
She wasn’t the slightest bit afraid of the audience in front of the stage, and she extracted only positive reactions with precision—that steely mentality of hers.
Precisely because she was so oblivious, her mental fortitude was remarkably strong.
In any case, the other members worried about and paid attention to the audience’s reactions….
But I’d never seen Kim Geum suffer emotionally over such things.
Far more than I did.
I’d asked her how it was possible, and her answer left an impression on me.

“I’ve been a fan of idols before, so I understand.”
“Huh?”
“Fans would want me to go my own path without worrying about others’ reactions.”
“…!”
“To accept legitimate criticism with an open heart, but not listen to malicious attacks. Isn’t that what fans truly want?”

Kim Geum said that and flashed her characteristic refreshing smile.
Each time, the corners of her eyes curved upward attractively, folding slightly.

“That was the emotion I felt when I loved idols. So I believe fans feel the same way toward me.”

It was truly a privilege only those who had genuinely loved someone could enjoy.
I envied that heart and trust of hers.
I still can’t manage it well.
Looking at it objectively, I’m the coldest among us, but inside I’m an extreme romantic.

“Then who will you entrust it to?”

Kim Geum asked with a pouty expression.

“Who do you think? You recommend someone. Your ear for music is the best among us.”
“Well, I do have an exceptional ear, if I say so myself.”

Kim Geum quickly broke into a grin and flipped through the playlist.

“Actually, I’d love to get a song from Lee Sol or Seo Baek-young, but they’re so busy these days that it probably won’t work out.”
“It’s best to source from within Colors if possible.”
“Should we ask White Noise? Seol-hee is really good at composing!”
“They’re even busier than that.”
“True.”

You can’t ask idols on overseas tours to compose for you….
They won’t be able to help anyway….

“Then should we ask the composers at our company?!”
“Among our company’s composers, the only one who can escape Director Kim’s influence is Director Sung.”

That’s right.
At first, I’d considered finding a composer through Hong President.
But I quickly changed my mind.
Why would Hong President bother gathering information through first-year and second-year idols?
It must be because his position within the company isn’t entirely absolute.
The manager being Director Kim’s tool was evidence of that, and within Colors, both Director Kim and Director Sung—who’d handled most of the actual work—wielded considerable influence.
But I couldn’t simply entrust this to Director Sung either.
There was almost no information about him.
From what I’d heard about Burnash, that guy didn’t seem like a good person either.

“Idol seniors probably won’t give us strange songs since they’re putting their names on broadcast.”
“That’s true. Their reputation is on the line.”
“So… if Greysh won’t work and White Noise won’t work, that leaves All Colors and Burnash.”
“….”

Of all things, boy groups again….

“Exclude Burnash. I’ve worked with them too much personally.”
“Right. Then what about Day from All Colors?!”

Ugh, I don’t really like Kim Day.

“I… guess… so….”

Everyone seemed uneasy about it.
Probably because they’d all heard bits and pieces about Day’s personality.

“But I heard that senior is really clumsy.”
“Right. They say she’s a senior who’s thoughtless, clingy, clumsy, and a bit scatterbrained.”
“She doesn’t get along well with Lee Sol, apparently.”
“Why?!”
“Lee Sol doesn’t really like that clumsy character type.”
“!!!! So what do I do?!”

So Yeon Ju-hong, you’re aware that you have a somewhat clumsy side too.

“No. Your clumsiness is a different kind, Ju-hong.”

At my words, Yeon Ju-hong tilted her head in confusion.

“How is it different?!”
“That person just has bad luck.”
“Hehehehe. Yun Chung, you’re harsh.”
“Are you close with Day?”

Ryu Bora suddenly thrust her head forward.
Startled.

“Not really. I just heard about it from Lee Sol.”

This is somewhat true.
…Though it’s something I heard as Baek Nok-ha.

“I see.”
“Still, she’s not a bad person… let me try asking through the Manager.”

She wasn’t someone I wanted to contact directly.
So I’ll leave it to the Manager.

“Finally, tomorrow is the year-end Stage!”
“Right. Hopefully we get through it without any mistakes.”

Already burdened with worry and concern. Worry and concern.
The one saving grace is—

Yun Chung (Baek Nok-ha)

Singing: 99/100
※Yun Chung’s vocal cords have been completely healed!

So I’ll never suffer from vocal cord problems again.
Last night, when the points settled all at once, my throat was healed too.
I didn’t even purchase the 【Vocal Cord Shield】 item.
It’s probably that reward Cotton Ball Entity promised me before.
Since it was healed before the two weeks Cotton Ball Entity mentioned were even up, it seems like they’ve gained some breathing room.
Not that I’m complaining about getting it fixed early.

“But that’s strange.”

Seo Baek-young spoke while drinking water.

“Shin Yu-hwa suddenly stopped contacting me.”
“What’s gotten into him?”
“Exactly. I’m actually worried.”
“There’s no need to worry.”

I reassured Seo Baek-young.

“Why?”
“Just a hunch. I have a feeling there’s no need to worry.”

Why indeed.
Because I’m handling him, that’s why.
Right about now, he’s probably busy cleaning up the mess.

“More importantly, let’s talk about tomorrow’s year-end performance.”

***

“…A photo was taken?”

Meanwhile, in the Director’s Office of the Colors Headquarters Building.
Inside the spacious private office were Director Kim and one other person.
Shin Yu-hwa’s Manager.

“Wasn’t that already agreed upon? Are you trying to back out now?”

Director Kim frowned at Shin Yu-hwa’s Manager.
It was a matter that had already been fully settled.
In exchange for making a substantial investment in Shin Yu-hwa’s agency—which was collapsing along with Kim Mo-gyeong’s family—
Shin Yu-hwa would take ‘certain’ photographs.
Specifically, paparazzi scandal photos with Yun Chung.
In truth, Yun Chung and Shin Yu-hwa had no relationship whatsoever, so some manipulation was necessary.
Manipulation was easy enough.
After capturing images of the two together in a private space, all it took was writing a few lines of fiction in an article, and the public would interpret it however they wished.
They didn’t just interpret it—they spread it around and reproduced new fabrications.
Then, at an opportune moment, Shin Yu-hwa would announce that Yun Chung had been stalking her unilaterally.
Hong President’s resistance and suspicion would intensify, certainly, but I had already steeled myself for that.
Yet here the Manager was, coming to report that photos had been taken.
It was absurd.
I hadn’t actually planned to expose this so quickly. I’d thought to wait until after splitting the label next year before detonating it.
Until then, I was simply gathering fake evidence bit by bit, planning to detonate it all at once at the end and send her plummeting into the abyss.
But something had overcome ambition and reason.
It was maternal love.
Kim Mo-gyeong thought of her daughter, who spent every day lately drowning in tears.
Everyone was pointing fingers at her, everyone was misunderstanding her.
My daughter was being worn away, bit by bit, by the wounds the world inflicted.
I couldn’t just sit idle.
If I changed the target of those pointing fingers.
If I changed the target of the incoming wave.
Then perhaps Ryeo-yu would find peace.

“That’s not it. The photos were taken, but… the subject was wrong.”
“The subject was wrong?”
“Just as you instructed, I sent Yu-hwa to the Dormitory Apartment Underground Parking Lot. But the person who showed up wasn’t Yun Chung.”

Yesterday.
Director Kim had given StillBlue’s Manager a covert instruction.

Kim Min-ah, Manager (StillBlue)

Send Yun Chung to this address.

To the underground parking lot.

Just make sure she runs into Shin Yu-hwa.

But then.
The person who appeared at that parking lot wasn’t Yun Chung.
Then who on earth was it?
Director Kim furrowed his brow, wondering if the manager had mistaken Seo Baek-young for someone else.

“Then who showed up?”
“Well….”

Shin Yu-hwa’s manager hesitated before speaking.

“It was Kim Ryeo-yu.”

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

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