Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 13

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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 13.

When my name was called, I stepped forward with tears held firmly back.
I frowned. Yeon Ju-hong ranked 9th? No matter how subjective judging could be, 9th?
In this evaluation, Yeon Ju-hong should have placed at least 6th.
It wasn’t just me thinking that—I could see a hint of doubt flickering across the other trainees’ faces as well.
Looking at it this way, it seemed the rankings had received some “slight” manipulation.
I swallowed my anger internally.
I’d seen plenty of dirty dealings in the entertainment industry, but it never ceased to amaze me how relentless it was.
Do Hee-young announced the remaining rankings in a heavy voice.

11th place, Park Ha-eun
10th place, Lee Ju-seon
9th place, Yeon Ju-hong
8th place, Bang Su-in
7th place, Shin Yu-hyeon
6th place, Jo Hee-on

“Now, we move to 5th place. I will announce it.”

From 5th place onward were the debut positions, so the tension in the proceedings intensified.

“This trainee has consistently demonstrated stable skills since first joining Colors.”

I already knew who it was without hearing the name. I could already hear the next line coming.

“However.”

That’s right. The “however” had to come.

“The world of true professionals is merciless. You must show something beyond merely stable skills. Even though you’ve entered the debut positions today, you should understand that you cannot rest easy. Please come forward.”

As Do Hee-young finished speaking, the screen changed.

5th place, Seo Baek-young

“Trainee Seo Baek-young.”

As expected, Seo Baek-young didn’t appear happy despite ranking in the debut position.
It was painfully obvious she was forcing a smile.

“…Thank you. I’ll work harder and show you better performances going forward.”

Still, Seo Baek-young managed to wrap up her remarks well enough. Her eyes had gone rigid, but she was still a trainee after all. Imperfection was inevitable.
The most terrifying disappointment in this world isn’t the disappointment of others.
It’s my own disappointment.
Seo Baek-young must be experiencing a tangle of emotions right now—frustration at her own inability to shine as brightly as expected, and resentment toward her agency’s unfairness.
Neither of those feelings is easy to overcome.
The other trainees seemed to understand Seo Baek-young’s feelings; the entire room had grown somber.
The remaining rankings weren’t particularly surprising.

4th place: Ryu Bora
3rd place: Kim Geum
2nd place: Kim Ryeo-yu

Except for me alone.

12th place: Lee Gyeong-a
1st place: Yun Chung

***

“How petty and disgusting.”

Back at the Gosiwon, I threw myself onto the bed.

“The way they’re sabotaging like this, there’s definitely a debut lineup they’re pushing.”

The people who originally debuted in StillBlue were as follows.
Kim Ryeo-yu, Seo Baek-young, Yun Chung, Kim Geum, Jo Hee-on.
This member composition was probably the one Colors was pushing.

“Anyone can see Kim Ryeo-yu wasn’t second place material, yet they deliberately ranked her second.”

From my perspective, if they’d just swapped Kim Ryeo-yu and Seo Baek-young’s rankings, it would have been perfect.
The way they pushed so blatantly made it look cheap instead.
But something feels off.
I can excuse Yeon Ju-hong’s absence as their poor judgment.
…But why didn’t Ryu Bora debut?
Isn’t Ryu Bora the most popular trainee here?
I tried to recall my memories of Ryu Bora.
But Ryu Bora never debuted as an idol.
Not just from Colors, but from any entertainment company. At least, not in Baek Nok-ha’s memories.
And she didn’t become an actress either.
She simply vanished quietly at some point.
From what I saw during the interim evaluation earlier, she wasn’t lacking in skill.
She performed far better than Kim Ryeo-yu or Jo Hee-on, at minimum.
…What happened?
I can’t possibly remember every detail from ten years ago. This is frustrating.
I stared at my phone, but it remained silent.
Is it not the right time for me to know yet?

“Anyway, the way they postponed the mentor announcement suggests they’re plotting something.”

What scheme are they cooking up now?
I sighed.
Ranking first didn’t bring me any joy. What’s so satisfying about being recognized as the only adult among newborns?
Failing to rank first would be humiliating, sure. But I was far more concerned about the next broadcast.
And the overall atmosphere was bothering me too.
From today’s vibe, Director Kim’s influence seemed stronger than I’d anticipated. The judging comments and rankings were clearly coordinated, even though the performances were obviously different.
Then again, Kim Mo-gyeong wasn’t exactly a pushover in my past life either.
I stared at my phone again.
If I’m supposed to overcome someone like that and debut in first place, couldn’t you offer a bit more help? Give me some kind of hint.
This is unbearably frustrating. The next filming is in two days, they said.
How am I supposed to wait until then?

***

Production Team: How was the interim evaluation?

[Ryeo-yu: I was a bit disappointed. I could have done better.]
[Production Team: You’re disappointed even though you placed second?]
[Ryeo-yu: I’m always disappointed unless I’m first. I have to place first in the actual evaluation.]
[Geum: I’m satisfied. That’s more than enough for me.]
[Baek-young: …The ranking was lower than I expected, but that’s because I fell short. I need to make up for it in the actual evaluation.]
[Ju-hong: Hehe…]

Caption: Trainee Yeon Ju-hong ultimately couldn’t hold back her tears…

[Ju-hong: Actually, I’ve heard this kind of feedback for a long time, so it’s okay.]
[Production Team: What kind of feedback have you been hearing?]
[Ju-hong: That I’m always vague? I think I’ve heard that kind of thing. That I don’t have anything distinctly my own…]

Ju-hong’s eyes were red as she sobbed, but then she laughed again with a hehe.

[Ju-hong: It’s not that I’m upset about the ranking. I think even placing ninth is more than I deserve. It’s just that I receive the same feedback every evaluation, yet I’m not improving, and that frustrates me…]

Caption: Trainee Yeon Ju-hong, who had to hear the same words every evaluation

[Ju-hong: I… have to work harder! Please keep watching! Someday I’ll show up with my own weapon!]

Production Team: Which other trainee’s performance caught your eye?

[Ryeo-yu: Trainee Ryu Bora. She’s really so pretty. Even doing the same thing, she just shines more.]
[Hee-on: Trainee Kim Geum. She’s definitely… good at rapping.]
[Geum: Trainee Yun Chung. Doesn’t everyone pick Trainee Yun Chung? You don’t? Why??]
[Bora: That was… on a different level.]
[Ju-hong: Why didn’t she debut earlier? She had more than enough skill to debut.]

Caption: When Trainee Ju-hong stops crying and laughs, horns sprout from her bottom

[Gyeong-a: …The skill level that makes me not feel wronged at all about placing twelfth? I need to work hard to keep up.]
[Yu-hyeon: I’m really looking forward to the actual evaluation.]
[Su-in: She could even be a judge on the panel.]

Production Team: On the flip side, was there a trainee who disappointed you?

[Ryeo-yu: Baek-young noona?]
[Ryeo-yu: Oh, I keep worrying I’m going to look like a bad person. That’s not it though.]

Subtitle: Do they even know…?

[Ryeo-yu: That unnie was originally really talented, you know? So that ranking was pretty shocking. I bet she was shocked too, right?]
[Geum: Ryeo-yu.]
[Production Team: Kim Ryeo-yu didn’t place second?]
[Geum: That’s right.]
[Production Team: Then why?]
[Geum: Honestly, that performance wasn’t second-place material, was it? I’d say more like fifth place.]

Subtitle: The honest MZ generation…

[Ju-hong: Ugh, you shouldn’t ask things like that!]
[Production Team: But if you had to pick one?]
[Ju-hong: …Ryeo-yu unnie? She did well, but second place…? I thought the judges’ eyes must work differently or something.]
[Su-in: Well, I expected it. I figured Ryeo-yu would definitely place in the top three.]

Production Team: Why?

[Bora: (laughs)]
[Gyeong-a: Because she’s Director Kim’s relative. They say she’s his niece, but is she actually his daughter?]
[Hee-on: You’re asking if Ryeo-yu got special treatment because she’s Director Kim’s relative? No, not at all.]
[Production Team: But the other trainees seemed to think differently?]
[Hee-on: Isn’t that just jealousy toward Ryeo-yu? I really think Ryeo-yu should debut. Not just because she’s my best friend, but genuinely. There’s no one who works as hard as she does.]

Production Team: What do you think about the controversy over special treatment?

[Ryeo-yu: …]

Subtitle: Tears falling once again…

[The hidden behind-the-scenes story… What is trainee Kim Ryeo-yu’s true feelings?]
[Find out next week at this time!]

***

And just as Oh PD had anticipated, Make a New Color generated tremendous buzz.

What is Yun Chung even doing?
No, I mean it’s not just because I’m Korean—it’s genuinely no.
I knew our Bora was really pretty, but you can’t compete with her face, seriously.
Ah, our Joohong ㅠㅠㅠㅠJoohong, look up to your sisterㅠㅠㅠ(gif)
Look at Yun Chung’s face. Once you’ve seen it, listen to Yun Chung’s song. Once you’ve heard it, now watch her dance. It’s just insane.
The Yun Chung surge is happening right now.
Tamra’s whole story about Yoon Cheong is so funny hahaha so here’s a picture of Yoon Cheong ㅠ
But isn’t Kim kind of intense? lol From what I heard from other trainees, she seemed pretty intense lol
└She’s a sommelier of intensity lol. It’s only episode 2, so maybe take it easy hh
└For real, let’s not become forest friends again hh
Kim with three syllables came out relying on her backing lol. As expected, Korea’s all about school ties, regional ties, and ‘blood ties’

It was truly a massive hit.
And so, the viewership rating for Make a New Color episode 2 was—
1.8%.

***

As the mentor meeting filming got pushed back, the final evaluation day naturally shifted by one day as well.
Most of the trainees were grateful for the extra day of practice time.
Of course, I wasn’t particularly pleased.
I was already fully prepared, and the more unpolished the other trainees remained, the more I would stand out.
…Well, whatever.

“One, two, three. No, the tempo’s off there.”
“Are you going to keep skipping moves, Hee-on?”
“Ju-hong. What did the teacher say? She told you to fix that habit of entering on the off-beat when you start.”

I’m pathetic for feeling competitive against them.
Everyone here is at a beginner level, and I’m a seasoned veteran.
…I shouldn’t get too petty about this.

“Baek-young. Are you paying attention? Your evaluation is the day after tomorrow!”
“Ryeo-yu. Your energy suddenly drops when you enter the second verse.”

I’m currently in the Colors Practice Room.
Today wasn’t a major filming day—it was one where the trainers watched the trainees’ performances and the cameras captured it all.
The two trainers who participated as judges were actually Colors’ trainers as well, so they continued teaching the trainees.
Like the other trainees, I kept practicing.
The difference was that I barely received any feedback.
If I stand out too much like this, it could become a problem.
Maybe I should intentionally make some mistakes.

“Gyeong-a. You need to focus. Your pitch is flat.”

The moment I deliberately sang slightly off-key, feedback came immediately as expected.

“Yes!”
“Don’t get complacent just because you ranked first in the mid-term evaluation. The real evaluation is what matters.”
“Understood.”

That was the first and only feedback I received today.
What was strange was that I received no praise whatsoever.
As if they had decided to treat me as if I didn’t exist.

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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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