Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 48

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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 48.

Though it seemed like she was asking everyone, she wasn’t.
Kim Ryeo-yu’s gaze was fixed precisely on Jo Hee-on.
Consequently, everyone’s attention turned toward Jo Hee-on.
Jo Hee-on felt her breath catch.
I haven’t done anything right, really.
This entire situation just suffocates me.
I wanted to run away.
Even opening my mouth felt unbearable, so I just stood there gasping for air.

“I’m fine with it.”

The one who answered was Ryu Bora.
Ryu Bora’s face was perfectly serene.

“Haven’t you ever been sick in your life?”
“Huh?”

Kim Ryeo-yu barely managed to lift the corners of her mouth in response to the question thrown back at her.
But internally, she was flustered.
If Yeon Ju-hong, Kim Geum, or Seo Baek-young had answered, she wouldn’t have been caught off guard.
Those three had always protected Yun Chung anyway.
But Ryu Bora had always seemed aloof, a silent bystander who said nothing from the sidelines.
So why was she stepping in now?

“People get sick sometimes. There’s nothing we can do about whether we’re fine or not, right? If you must ask, then yes. I’m perfectly fine with it.”

Ryu Bora said this while looking directly at Jo Hee-on.

“And the person who’d be most upset about missing rehearsal is Yun Chung—our team knows that better than anyone. If someone who worked that hard couldn’t make it to rehearsal, then she must be pretty sick. Isn’t that right?”
“Bora’s right.”

Lee Gyeong-a nodded quickly in agreement.

“And I believe Yun Chung will come tomorrow. Even if she doesn’t, the three of us can fill her spot well.”
“That’s right. We appreciate your concern for us, but Yun Chung is our priority.”

Ryu Bora spoke and looked toward Oh PD.

“PD, have you heard anything from Yun Chung?”
“…Yeah.”

Oh PD wore his characteristic sinister smile.

“Trainee Ryu Bora, your timing is impeccable, isn’t it? She just arrived.”
“!”

The trainees’ expressions shifted instantly.
She must have arrived earlier.
But he simply didn’t mention it because he wanted to watch us fight among ourselves.
An unsettling premonition swept through everyone.

“Trainee Yun Chung should be able to be discharged tomorrow, fortunately. She’s recovering well. She can attend the performance without issue, and she asked me to convey her apologies for missing today’s rehearsal. She’s been focusing solely on recovery because if she pushed herself today, her throat could be damaged tomorrow.”
“I knew it!”

Yeon Ju-hong exclaimed with joy.

“Our Yun Chung always has a plan! How many times do I have to tell you all that she’s incredibly meticulous and calculating before you believe me?”
“…Be quiet, will you.”

Kim Geum covered Yeon Ju-hong’s mouth with her hand.

“But here’s the thing.”
“?”

Oh PD wasn’t finished speaking.

“They ran tests at the hospital… and they’re wondering if she might have ingested something wrong.”
“What?!”
“It’s not confirmed. Just a suspicion.”

Oh PD quickly waved his hand.

“So it’s not food poisoning?”

Seo Baek-young asked with concern.

“Well, I’m not entirely sure about all the details. But we do suspect that something might be wrong with the food. The problem is, you could all potentially eat that food too, right?”

That was true.
The trainees all nodded in agreement.
In the Dormitory, everyone shared the food in the refrigerator.

“The thing is, Yun Chung can’t remember what she ate this morning. So we’ve decided to review the footage.”
“…!”
“Fortunately, our youngest made a mistake and left the camera running. We’re planning to check it early tomorrow morning. Until then, please don’t touch anything in the refrigerator. If you’re really hungry, buy something from outside. Understood?”
“Yes!”

Everyone answered cheerfully right away, but there were two people who couldn’t.
Jo Hee-on and Kim Ryeo-yu.

***

“What are we going to do?”

The moment they got off the Bus and everyone headed toward the Dormitory.
Jo Hee-on grabbed Kim Ryeo-yu, who was about to enter the Dormitory, and dragged her outside without hesitation.
Once they were far enough away from the Apartment.

“If they review the footage, everything I put in that food will show up!”
“…Calm down a bit. Does yelling solve anything?”

Kim Ryeo-yu, on the other hand, appeared composed.
At least on the surface.
But that wasn’t the truth.
Kim Ryeo-yu was only twenty years old. Still young.
She could maintain composure when things were in her favor, but not when they weren’t.

“Let me call my aunt first. Wait for me.”

Kim Ryeo-yu called Director Kim, feigning indifference.
But inside, she was already burning with anxiety.

—Hello?
“Oh, Aunt. It’s me. Did you hear that the camera was rolling back then?”
—Yeah, I heard. But I figured poking around would just raise suspicion, so I left it alone.
“They’re going to review the footage now. Apparently Yun Chung ate something wrong or whatever.”
—…What?
“Hee-on’s really anxious about it. Can’t you do something to help her out?”
—Hang up for now. I’ll talk to Oh PD about it.

Click.
The call ended.
Kim Ryeo-yu shrugged and looked at Jo Hee-on.

“I’ve done everything I can. Just wait. My aunt will handle it.”
“They might already be watching it right now!”
“Then what do you want me to do about it?”

Kim Ryeo-yu replied with irritation in her voice.

“Can’t we go to the Broadcasting Station and delete the footage ourselves?”
“What are you talking about? You’ve watched too many movies. How would we delete it? Just wait.”
“You…!”

Jo Hee-on clenched her teeth.
She’d assured me it would never be discovered, and now she was backing out.
Rage churned inside her.
But Jo Hee-on held it in.
If she pushed back now, everything would fall apart.
It’s fine. Either way, if I go down, all of them go down with me.
Jo Hee-on studied Kim Ryeo-yu.
She was the most rotten person I knew, but at least she wasn’t stupid.
She would understand that this ship wasn’t sinking with me alone.
If it sinks, we all sink together.

“Handle it well. Make sure. Take responsibility for it.”
“I said I would. Just wait a bit, Hee-on. You waited so patiently for a hopeless debut—why can’t you wait a few more hours?”

…A hopeless debut?

“You… don’t tell me you’ve been thinking this whole time that I have no chance of debuting?”
“Ah, there you go being sensitive again…”

Kim Ryeo-yu let out a sigh.

“No, Hee-on. It’s just that debuting is incredibly difficult, you know? I wasn’t singling you out—I was talking about how for everyone, debuting is like threading a needle. And you’ve been waiting patiently to pass through that needle’s eye. Now that we’ve finally reached the summit, let’s just hold on a little longer, okay?”

Kim Ryeo-yu mustered the last of her patience to say this.
Only then did Jo Hee-on’s expression soften slightly.
It was because of those words—that the summit was within reach.

“…Okay. Since the summit is right there.”
“Right, exactly.”

Kim Ryeo-yu forced a smile.
Ugh, this is so annoying.

***

Morning arrived without any contact from Yun Chung, Oh PD, or Director Kim.
Jo Hee-on felt like her insides were burning up with each passing second.
Kim Ryeo-yu, sitting in the chair beside her, seemed completely unbothered as she held up her phone camera, rambling to herself.

“Today is finally~! The day of our third mission stage! Soon we’ll get to see the Colorists, and I’m so excited. Are you all as nervous as we are? Probably not as much as me, though. I’ve never even had a crush before, but right now it feels kind of like a crush? Am I crushing on the Colorists?”

This crazy lunatic.
I’d known it, but she was even more insane than I thought.
Jo Hee-on, you idiot. Why did you go along with this deranged girl’s plan?
You’ve lost your mind and dug your own grave.
As I spiraled through these regrets, makeup was applied to my face, and my stage outfit was pulled over my body.

“Hee-on.”

Final stage check and dress rehearsal.
The Vocal Team was naturally going last today as well.
It was because Yun Chung hadn’t arrived yet.

“The PD is calling for you. I think it’s because of our self-cam.”
“Ah, okay.”

When the three of us approached Oh PD, he waved his script with a delighted expression.

“Hey, come here. Vocal Team.”

Oh PD deliberately handed the camera to Ryu Bora.

“This is your camera. Film yourselves. Handle the Yun Chung situation however you see fit. She’s getting an IV, I’m worried about her, you know the drill, right?”
“Yes.”
“Looking like you’re faking it versus looking like you’re crying your eyes out because the kid’s sick—the latter’s more beneficial for you anyway. Of course, I’d enjoy the footage more if you made it look like malingering, but.”
“PD….”

Even Satan would weep at such a remark, and Kang Writer quietly covered Oh PD’s mouth.

“Anyway, whether you shield her or throw her under the bus—figure it out yourselves.”

Why are they dumping this on us?
Lee Gyeong-a looked at Oh PD with confusion, but Ryu Bora and Jo Hee-on had already grasped the situation.
They were shifting responsibility onto us.
Not devil’s editing—these people are the devils themselves. What can you do?

“Um, PD.”

Regardless, a bad person doing bad things was hardly surprising.
What mattered was something else entirely.
Jo Hee-on barely mustered the courage to speak.

“Yeah, what?”

Judging from his expression, he didn’t seem to have seen the video.
Should I ask? Should I stay quiet?
Did Director Kim really manage to bury it that well?
Or hasn’t he seen the video yet?

“About yesterday’s video….”
“Oh, that.”

Oh PD laughed with a snort.

“Jo Hee-on, why are you trembling like this?”

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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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