Became The Leader of a Girl Group Destined To Fail - Chapter 82

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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 82.

In a certain sense, I found it remarkable.
What on earth was she relying on to be so confident?
Just thinking about debuting with her made my vision darken.
The contract period would be at least seven years.
Seven years of seeing her like family, twenty-four hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year?
I could only pray that Yun Chung’s second wish wouldn’t take such an impossibly long time to fulfill.
If it turned out to be something that took far too long…
I’d have to find some way to get her out before then.

“First, I want to express my gratitude to all the Colorists who selected me. Despite my many shortcomings and inadequacies, thank you so much for loving and cherishing me. It was a short time, but… I was happy.”

Huh?
A chill ran down my spine.
It wasn’t just me who felt it—the other trainees’ expressions were hardening too.

“And I also want to apologize.”

…Was she trying to apologize for her own mistakes?
Would an apology now even matter?
It wasn’t even that serious of a mistake.

“I truly worked hard, desperately hard, and kept working. I was determined to debut and repay the love you’ve shown me…”

Suddenly, Kim Ryeo-yu began to cry.
We all lowered our heads, not wanting to reveal our stiffening expressions.
Everyone probably felt the same way, even if we didn’t say it.

“I’m afraid I won’t be able to meet your expectations. I placed fifth in the final vote, but… I won’t be joining this group.”
“?!”

At those words, the lowered heads snapped up.
What did she just say?

“However, I want to make it clear that my journey doesn’t end here. I believe that someday, all the misunderstandings surrounding me will be resolved. If you’ll wait for me until then, if you’ll believe in me…”

What on earth is happening…?
I was momentarily stunned, but I quickly understood.

“I will definitely come back.”

Hong President.
He’d made up his mind firmly.

***

Hong President had indeed intended to debut Kim Ryeo-yu.
He’d thought that if they buried the minor issues and pretended not to notice, they’d be forgotten once she was active.
After all, small noise gets drowned out by bigger noise—that’s how the world works.
But this wasn’t just small noise.

“Director Kim has been in this industry as long as I have. I don’t think you’re unaware of what’s going to happen next.”

Director Kim struggled to maintain his composure.
Of course he knew.
She’d tarnished the team’s name before they’d even debuted.
Individual core fans might solidify, but group fandom would continue to fracture.
And the group’s public image was another matter entirely.
It would take an enormous amount of time for this to be completely forgotten.
In the meantime, broadcasting stations wouldn’t call on them much, and advertising deals were out of the question.
There were plenty of idols with pristine images to choose from.

“…Eventually it will be forgotten. It always has been.”
“That’s true. It will fade. But it’s going to take an enormous amount of time and money.”

Hong President was genuinely exhausted.
Because of that girl standing before him now, head bowed, trembling.
Her plan was falling apart.
A plan that had cost a tremendous amount of money.

“But Director Kim, I really… I feel like I’ve given your niece so many opportunities. I’ve covered for her as much as I could. Haven’t I?”
“President. If you would just listen to what I have to say-”

Director Kim lifted his head urgently.

“I know that trainee is Director Kim’s biological daughter.”
“!”
“Since she’s his biological daughter, I understand why he’s so partial to her. But.”

The moment the words “biological daughter” left his lips, Director Kim’s mouth snapped shut.

“She’s not my biological daughter, so I’m not particularly partial to her. I have no intention of covering for her at the expense of my own finances.”

Hong President had deliberately invoked the term “biological daughter” for a reason.
If she rejected his proposal from this point forward, he would stop overlooking her weaknesses as well.
If this scandal broke publicly, Kim Ryeo-yu would lose even her last chance.

“For now, I won’t terminate her trainee contract. So step back for the moment, and let’s see how things develop.”
“But…!”

At Hong President’s final ultimatum, Kim Ryeo-yu, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“Shop Owner. I—I really made a terrible mistake. But if you’d just give me one more chance… I swear I won’t cause any more trouble. If you’d just let me debut, I really won’t cause any more trouble. I was just so desperate to debut. If you’d just let me debut, I’ll fix everything. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do. Please.”

She wanted to debut so badly.
That was why she’d sabotaged the others.
Hong President’s expression grew weary.

“Do you think I haven’t seen kids like you with poor character before?”
“…!”
“I’ve seen plenty. That’s why I was going to let you debut anyway. There are so many kids with ruined character these days. But the thing is, Ryeo-yu, they at least know how to hide it.”
“From now on, I will! I’ll hide everything. Really, if you’d just give me one more chance…!”
“I’ve already given you several chances.”

Hong President rose from his seat.

“I’m giving you exactly two options. Either you go on stage yourself and announce that you won’t be debuting, and apologize for causing a disturbance. Or you have Do Hee-young say it on your behalf.”
“Shop Owner!”
“The first option is better for you. At least that gives you another chance. The second option will take away even that next chance.”

Kim Ryeo-yu met Hong President’s gaze and understood.
This man was absolutely not someone she could negotiate with.
Why had she underestimated him all this time?
In the end, Kim Ryeo-yu acquiesced.

“…I’ll go up on stage myself… and withdraw….”
“That’s a wise decision.”

Hong President finally smiled.

“Wait a moment.”

At that, Director Kim stood up.

“So you’re planning to debut them as a four-member group?”
“Why are you asking that, Director Kim?”
“The shareholders have consistently supported a five-member structure over a four-member one. Colors has traditionally never released a group with fewer than five members—”

Director Kim spoke with one last glimmer of hope.
Somehow, he had to grasp at this final lifeline.
If Kim Ryeo-yu debuted, the company might suffer some losses.
But wasn’t that how the entertainment industry worked?
If you endure, you see the light.
No matter how much you stumble through the mire, witness degradation, and hear cruel words.
Debuting was better than not debuting.
For now, Kim Ryeo-yu’s presence might be a liability to the company, but someday it would become an asset.
Director Kim was confident.
It wasn’t merely because Kim Ryeo-yu was his daughter.
In Director Kim’s eyes, Kim Ryeo-yu had talent.

“I never said I’d debut them as four members.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said to remove Kim Ryeo-yu, not to go with a four-member structure.”

Hong President sighed.

“When the fifth-place trainee is removed, wouldn’t someone naturally take that spot?”

***

Everyone was taken aback by Kim Ryeo-yu’s sudden withdrawal announcement.
Of course, there was one person who wasn’t surprised.
It was Hong President.
From the start, Hong President hadn’t expected Kim Ryeo-yu to back down so obediently.
So while the camera was focused on Kim Ryeo-yu, he sent another cue card to Do Hee-young.
Of course, Do Hee-young let out a hollow laugh the moment she saw that cue card.

“Please, trust me and wait just a moment.”

When it became clear that Kim Ryeo-yu wasn’t going to leave quietly, Oh PD gave Do Hee-young a signal.

‘Just cut it off.’

Oh PD silently celebrated Hong President’s decision not to debut Kim Ryeo-yu.
It wasn’t that he disliked Kim Ryeo-yu debuting.
Honestly, Oh PD had no interest in Kim Ryeo-yu at all.
But Kim Ryeo-yu’s voluntary withdrawal was absolutely compelling broadcast material.
He could already envision the ratings soaring through the roof.

“Yes, we’ve heard Kim Ryeo-yu’s final words. Although her connection with Make a New Color ends here, we could see that Kim Ryeo-yu will find her own path elsewhere.”

Do Hee-young had to rack her brains to find the most neutral comment possible.

“Make a New Color is a program launched by Colors Entertainment in collaboration with MEN to discover the next generation five-member girl group. We’ve looked not only at skill and appearance, but also at character, potential, and the talent and charm each trainee possesses to shine in their own way.”

Do Hee-young subtly brought up character.
It was on Hong President’s orders.

“With Kim Ryeo-yu not joining, StillBlue now has only four members remaining.”

Do Hee-young smiled and approached the trainees.

“Yeon Ju-hong.”

And she stood in front of Yeon Ju-hong.
Yeon Ju-hong’s jaw dropped as her name was suddenly called.

“Yes?!”
“Colors Entertainment is Yeon Ju-hong’s first agency. We’ve been watching your journey from the moment you first dreamed of becoming an idol until this very moment. You possess outstanding talent, remarkable passion, and a warm heart that loves your fellow trainees. The other trainees also have unwavering trust in you. The fact that our Colorists gave you such a high ranking of sixth place shows their trust and affection for you.”

The longer Do Hee-young spoke, the more Yeon Ju-hong’s expression wavered between disbelief and reality.

“Colors has always believed in trainee Yeon Ju-hong, and we wish to believe in her once more.”
“I… I… thank you so much!”

Yeon Ju-hong’s face gradually returned to the present moment.
Half fear, half hope.

“So Colors would like to ask trainee Yeon Ju-hong this question.”

Do Hee-young paused for effect before continuing.

“Will you become Colors’ next generation Color Muse and the final member of StillBlue?”

Yeon Ju-hong opened her mouth wider than she ever had, then opened her eyes wider than she ever had.
Then she closed her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut.
And she spoke.

“Yes. I really… really want to do this…”

Boom.
The moment Yeon Ju-hong finished speaking, flower petals scattered once more.
Not for sixth place. Not for a fifth-place substitute.
For the final member.
In that last moment.
The ten trainees gathered in a circle, linked arms, and blessed each other’s futures.

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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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