Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 24

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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 24.

“What?”

I’ve only been finding outfits for Lee Ju-seon this whole time.
The words rose to the back of my throat, but Yeon Ju-hong barely managed to swallow them down.
It was truly remarkable patience for a seventeen-year-old.

“Are you trying to hint at something…? I came here to help Ju-hong, and Kim Geum isn’t even here…”
“No, that’s not it…”

Those unnies are busy making songs right now, so that’s why.

I thought I’d already picked out everything for you.
“No, but you keep talking about Kim Geum, and it makes me feel so left out… I’m a team member too… Can’t you just not exclude me? I know my ranking is low and that I’m not trustworthy because of it. Kim Geum is first place, so… she’s popular, so I understand why you pay more attention to her… But it hurts so much. I feel like I’m being left out.”
“What?”

As the word “left out” kept coming up, Yeon Ju-hong’s mind went blank white.
If there was one word that should never appear in a team mission, it was “left out.”
It was essentially a death sentence.
Yeon Ju-hong stammered, unable to form words.
When had I ever excluded Lee Ju-seon?
And besides, I’d never even thought about rankings in the first place.
I’d simply chosen Kim Geum as the leader because the concept suited her best…

“You know I didn’t mean it that way. I’ve already picked out all your outfits, and since I need to adjust all the other team members’ costumes to match yours-”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I’ve caused trouble again. I… if I keep going, I think I’ll cry in front of the cameras… I’m going to step away.”
“What? What? Unnie…?”
“If I cry now, it’ll look bad for the team image… I’m sorry.”

With those words, Lee Ju-seon disappeared.
Yeon Ju-hong stood alone in the middle of the Market, dazed.

***

Production Crew: I heard she sent a message saying she was going to leave the team.

[Ju-seon: I sent it to Ju-hong. According to what Ju-hong said, if I’m the reason all the team members’ outfits need to be modified… it’s such a burden. I started thinking it might be better if just I disappeared instead….]

Production Crew: Leaving the team is essentially the same as giving up the competition, isn’t it?

[Ju-seon: …Ryeo-yu’s team heard about my situation and suggested I come over to their side instead. So I also asked Oh PD if it might be possible to switch teams….]

Caption: An unprecedented situation
Caption: Request to change teams during a team mission

Production Crew: Switching teams to that extent seems quite risky.

[Ju-seon: That’s how… how desperate my situation is…. If I stay on that team any longer, I feel like I’ll suffocate…. Right now, I’m just waiting for Oh PD’s permission….]

As the screen changed, a different person appeared—neither Lee Ju-seon nor Yeon Ju-hong.

Production Crew: I heard Lee Ju-seon was planning to switch teams?

It was none other than—

[Ryeo-yu: Yes. I suggested it first.]

Kim Ryeo-yu.

Production Crew: Why did you make such a suggestion?

[Ryeo-yu: Because I thought she needed to be saved.]

Production Crew: Saved?

[Ryeo-yu: Yes. The mission is important, and debut is important too. But what’s more important than that is the person and the member.]

[Ryeo-yu: To be honest, I think teamwork is more important than the mission itself. Considering and respecting each other is essential in an idol group.]

Production Crew: Are you saying Lee Ju-seon’s original teammates lacked that respect?

[Ryeo-yu: There are some regrettable aspects. Ju-seon kept being anxious about the concept, and she was anxious about the tight schedule too. Even if we couldn’t accommodate everything to Ju-seon’s needs, I think it would’ve been better if they’d shown some flexibility.]

Production Crew: How do the other team members feel about Ryeo-yu’s decision?

[Hee-on: I think she did well. Honestly, even though I’m on a different team, I kept watching Team A and thinking, “Wow, that’s risky, that team.” Ju-seon is talented and impressive, so she’ll fit perfectly with our team.]
[Ha-eun: We’re really welcoming her. Since Ju-seon and I play the same position… I think we can create great synergy by helping each other out.]

Caption: Team B overall radiating harmony

It wasn’t just Kim Ryeo-yu—Team B was largely welcoming Lee Ju-seon’s arrival.
Park Ha-eun and Jo Hee-on were both close with Lee Ju-seon, just like Kim Ryeo-yu was.
Since a familiar face was joining, there was little resistance.
Of course, there was also satisfaction that something significant had gone wrong with Team A, which had two likely debutants.
They were all enjoying the conflict between Lee Ju-seon and Team A.
Internal team discord was a problem that could snowball into major controversy.
One misstep could cost them public favor.
So for the other trainees, it was good news.

Caption: But was everyone really thinking that way?

[Gyeong-a: ….]

Production Crew: Lee Gyeong-a, the oldest member of the team, doesn’t look very pleased?

[Gyeong-a: I do think Ju-seon coming is a good thing.]

Production Crew: Then what’s bothering you?

[Gyeong-a: Well, nobody asked for my opinion. From my perspective, I closed my eyes for a moment and suddenly there’s a new teammate… Couldn’t they have asked me first and then proceeded? If teamwork is really that important, shouldn’t we naturally get each other’s consent for something like this? That’s what I think.]

Caption: Lee Gyeong-a looking somewhat disappointed

Production Crew: Did nobody give Lee Gyeong-a a heads up?

[Gyeong-a: Right. Since Ryeo-yu is the team leader, I naturally thought she’d tell me… but I didn’t hear anything.]

Lee Gyeong-a’s expression was troubled.
In fact, Lee Gyeong-a had been standing apart from the team from the beginning.
It wasn’t simply because her ranking was lower.
Lee Gyeong-a had never been particularly close with Ryeo-yu to begin with.
But since they were on the same team regardless, she was doing her best to cooperate.

[Gyeong-a: Of course, this is just something I find a bit disappointing… but I’m welcoming Ju-seon’s arrival.]

Caption: The discord among trainees continues to intensify…!
Caption: So how will this unfold…?

***

Lee Ju-seon wasn’t responding to any of our calls.
Kim Geum, Yeon Ju-hong, and I had all tried calling dozens of times and left countless messages.
But Lee Ju-seon remained completely silent.
The situation was utterly bleak.
We desperately attempted to contact the Team B trainees as well.
But even so, we couldn’t reach Lee Ju-seon.
Kim Ryeo-yu, however,

‘I don’t really understand why you’re coming to me now when you all pushed Ju-seon out in the first place.’

That’s what she said.
It was infuriating.
Only Lee Gyeong-a showed any sympathy.

‘Ju-seon… she’s supposed to join our team. I heard Oh PD approved it too. You didn’t hear about this?’
‘We haven’t heard anything at all.’
‘What a mess… But there’s nothing I can do either. Ju-seon is always with Ryeo-yu, and I don’t have a chance to talk to Ju-seon alone.’
‘Sigh.’

We were caught between a rock and a hard place.

“….”
“….”
“….”

Yeon Ju-hong, Kim Geum, and I couldn’t say a word.
We’d just learned some details about Team B’s individual interviews from the Production Crew.
It was scathing criticism, though veiled.
When they spoke like that on the broadcast, it was essentially the same as saying, ‘These people are the worst of the worst.’

“I think we should try talking to Ju-seon.”
“About what?”
“Ask if she’d consider coming back. We need to give her a chance.”
“But there’s no way Ju-seon will come back.”

Kim Geum’s face was dark and heavy.
There was no way around it—the situation demanded nothing less.

“It’s all my fault….”

The oppressive atmosphere within the team weighed further on Yeon Ju-hong’s shoulders, her head bowing lower still.
She’d already been carrying considerable stress, and now this added burden made her exhaustion painfully visible.
Yes.
Even I would find it unbearable.

“It’s not your fault.”

I placed my hand on Yeon Ju-hong’s shoulder.
This wasn’t about taking sides—Yeon Ju-hong truly bore no responsibility.
The concept itself had been thoroughly discussed by all of us.
We’d explicitly asked for her input back then.
Yet she’d never voiced any objection, only hesitated vaguely and said it was fine.

“If anything, the fault lies with me. I should have pressed Lee Ju-seon more directly—asked her if she was truly comfortable with it.”

Kim Geum’s expression was equally burdened, her face shadowed with guilt.

“As the leader, I failed to notice my members’ true feelings…. I wasn’t enough.”

Kim Geum condemned herself harshly.
This was likely her first experience with something like this, which made it all the more difficult.

“No.”

I gripped Kim Geum’s shoulder firmly with my other hand.

“Neither of you bears any fault.”

I glanced toward the camera.
It was the one I’d requested be installed earlier.
Originally, this Practice Room had no cameras, making it a well-known refuge for the trainees.
But I’d deliberately asked for a camera to be set up here.
Oh PD would certainly be listening intently to this conversation.

“This is between Lee Ju-seon and us. Let’s go to her one more time and convey our feelings. She’s still our teammate—shouldn’t we resolve conflicts within the team? Let’s try to persuade her one last time.”
“…Yes.”
“Yes…!”

Kim Geum still looked skeptical, but she seemed to acknowledge this was the only way.
Meanwhile, Yeon Ju-hong appeared to have regained a glimmer of hope.
I’m sorry, Yeon Ju-hong.
The truth was, I didn’t say this because I genuinely believed Lee Ju-seon would come back.
I was securing justification while simultaneously rebuking Team B for overstepping their bounds.
Not that I couldn’t understand—being generous—that Lee Ju-seon was hurt.
Honestly, Yeon Ju-hong should be the one hurt… but fine. Being extremely generous, let’s say Lee Ju-seon was hurt.
Then you should just comfort her, not drag her wholesale into your own team?
Isn’t that insane?
This was clearly an attempt to sabotage our team.
Not for Lee Ju-seon’s sake, but to send us plummeting into ruin.
Their true intentions were so transparent I didn’t even feel angry.
Just then,

“Oh my.”

Kim Ryeo-yu and Team B opened the Practice Room door.

“Sorry. Did we walk into the wrong practice room?”

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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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